Adoptive transfer of allogeneic T lymphocytes, mostly used for treatment of hematopoietic malignancies, lias met with a remarkable success rate. The grafi-versus leukemia (GVL) effect, obtained using this approach, represents the most conclusive example that the immune system can cure cancer. The GVL effect is due mainly to recognition of minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAs). Unfortunatcly, the GVL effect is oflen associated to the graft-versushost disease (GVHD) that is caused by the recognition of epitopes on normal hosts celis by unselected allogeneic T ceils. Nevertheless, our team lias recently demonstrated that it is possible to avoid this problem and still have the GVL effect. This can be achieved by selectively injecting primed T celis targeted to a single immunodominant MiHA, H7a That H7'-specific CD8 T celis cause no GVHD was remarkable since this epitope is also expressed on normal host cells. This capacity of injected T celis to eliminate leukemia cells without causing GVHD raised three crucial questions: 1) Could T ceils targeted to a single dominant MiRA eradicate established solid tumors? 2) What are, in terms of differentiation program, the characteristics associated to immune responses targeting a dominant epitope like H7a. 3) How do T cells behave, in terms of migration, proliferative capacity and persistence, following adoptive transfer into tumor bearing hosts? The goal of this work was to address these fimdamental questions. To do so, three main objectives were established. The first objective was to determine the capacity of adoptively transferred T lymphocytes directed against a dominant MiHA (H7a) to eliminate established solid tumors (melanomas). Our studies sliowed that T lymphocytes pre-activated against the dominant MiRA H7' could eradicate established solid tumors (melanomas) in mice. The events leading to melanoma eradication by antiH7a T cells involve the following steps. first, primed T cells accumulate at the tumor site. This depends on interaction between VLA-4 on T ceils and VCAM-1 on tumor blood vessels. Second, local release of WN-y by anti H7a T celis inhibited tumor angiogenesis and caused the up-regulation of MHC I expression on tumor celis. finally, antiH7a CDS T cells undergo antigen-specific granule exocytosis in the tumor and thereby kilI tumor cells. The second objective of this work was to compare, in terms of differentiation program, T lymphocytes directed against a dominant MiHa (R7a) to T lymphocytes directed against a non-dominant MiRA (HY), in


This chapter aims to analyze and clarify some fundamental issues in language, reading and dyslexia research. In particular, questions and problems concerning definition, explanation and understanding are addressed. A central idea is that the cognitive and linguistic approach has had a limited significance when it comes to explanation of causal mechanisms in reading and dyslexia research. The reasoning brought forward in this chapter takes as starting point that we first need precise definitions of the phenomena to be studied, such as 'reading', 'dyslexia' and 'language', before we choose methods that in a best possible way may capture the important characteristics of the phenomenon. In the field of reading and dyslexia 'skill' is emphasized as an important phenomenon, and the core of this concept is considered to be potentiality. We suggest that language primarily should be defined as a skill and not as a system that exist more or less independently of humans and speech acts. The position taken is that mainstream definitions of 'language' are not well suited for the empirical study of language skills, because they were formulated to serve other objectives. Inspired by the philosophy of science from Karl Popper we suggest that the study of language, reading and dyslexia must be based on a more radical and consequent empiricism. First, we will present some characteristics of the cognitive and linguistic approach to reading and dyslexia. Second, we will identify some problems and limitations in this approach. In our suggestions for future research we first focus on conditions that should be imposed on definitions in research. Next, we propose a definition of 'skill' in general and 'language skill' in particular.


The goal of this paper is to investigate a class of algebras called sandwich algebras, which are certain complex Lie algebras with a nilpotent radical whose elements are sandwiches. We present a classification of all very special sandwich algebras.


The article presents the results of research into resources relating to music and musicians from Eastern Europe that are available in France, either as part of the collections of general libraries or as the focus of special institutions such as the Conservatoire russe de Paris and the Mediatheque de musique tcheque et slovaque in Tours. A historical survey indicates that cultural links between France and Eastern Europe go back at least to the 13 th century, when students from the east, in particular from Hungary, studied at the Sorbonne. Several institutes, such as the Bibliotheque Polonaise, were founded in Paris in the 19 th century, and from the end of that century onwards the cultural importance of Paris resulted in its receiving many musical visitors such as Georges Enesco, Stravinsky, Kodaly, Bartok and Laszlo Lajtha, a student of Vincent d'Indy. A detailed description of collections useful for their holdings of materials relating to the music and musicians of Eastern Europe is followed by a list of addresses and other contact details.


Growth stage is the most critical period for SMEs to achieve sustainab le and healthy development.This paper,combining the characteristics of the dev elopment process in enterprise life cycle,firstly analyzes the characteristics of growing small and medium size enterprises.Secondly,on the basis of the abov e study,the paper puts forward the competitive strategies model for SMEs to cho ose and the major factors of the impact of the suited business strategies on SME s during this period.Finally an universal framework of strategy matching for SM Es in the period of growth is built.


The utility model provides an elevator safety and synchronous self rescue device. The device is characterized by comprising an elevator compartment synchronizer, a self rescue device and a synchronization detection device, wherein the elevator compartment synchronizer is connected with the elevator compartment via a rack on a lifting guide rail; the self rescue device is connected with the elevator compartment synchronizer via a clutch; and one end of the synchronization detection device is connected with the elevator compartment and the other end is connected with the fixing part of the elevator compartment synchronizer. Synchronization operation of the elevator safety and synchronous self rescue device and the elevator compartment can be realized, the elevator compartment can be accurately positioned, people trapped in the elevator can manually drive the elevator to a safe position or an exit in the case when power is off, the lifting rope of the elevator is broken or other failures happen without damaging the elevator compartment for realizing self rescue, operation stability of the lifting rope of the elevator compartment can be judged to a certain degree, the efficiency is high, consumed time is short, manpower, material and financial resources are saved, people trapped in the elevator can be rescued timely, and safety of the trapped people can be ensured.


Travel writing about Central Africa in English reverberates with the language of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. This essay considers how that canonical text, in shaping twentieth-century travellers' understandings of Central Africa and the travel genre, also shapes literary critics' understandings of the same subjects.


, Familiarity breeds contempt'. So says a well-known and oft-repeated adage. It is a fact of life that we take many of the great simple and common natural events for granted and often give no serious thought to an understanding of such phenomena. The miraculous onset of the monsoon, which is due to set in a few days from now, bringing with it we1come showers to a thirsty and parched nation, is one such event which is so common but, one which is Jeast understood. It is a recurring climatic episode which merits closer study. S.eparately in this issue we have reproduced the gist of a talk by one of our revered and respected senior meteorologists -·Dr. Pisharoty. The talk was about certain aspects of Indian rainfall and water conservatIon. We would like to draw the attention of our readers to some of the points made by Dr. Pisharoty (see pages 608-612).


In recent years Direct Air Capture (DAC) has established itself as one promising approache to Atmospheric Carbon dioxide Removal (CDR) also referred to as Negative Emissions. However due to the amounts likely needed to be removed CDR Technologies (CDRTs) like DAC will only become climate relevant if they reach gigaton scale fast, around the middle of this century. The paper will give a brief insight into DAC and in particular, the modular low temperature DAC technology developed by Climeworks of Switzerland. It will discuss potential co benefits, in particular in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and conclude by suggesting some policy approaches on how a climate relevant scale could be achieved in time.


A simple, rapid, and precise gas chromatographic method for determination of serum diazepam concentrations is described. Two milliliters of serum is extracted with chloroform, and the extract is concentrated and injected into a gas chromatograph. Of the many drugs and serum samples tested, none interferes with the determination of diazepam.


Objective: to study the content of cadmium and lead in the hair of the inhabitants of the Trans-Ural region of the Republic of Bashkortostan (RB). Methods. Chemical-analytical studies of samples were carried out in the licensed laboratory of the Center for Biotic Medicine (Moscow) by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled argon plasma. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 6.0 software. Results. The distribution of cadmium and lead in the hair of the examined individuals was different from normal thus non-parametric methods of analysis were applied. The median (Me) content of cadmium in the hair of adult men was 0.089 |jg/g, which is higher than that for RB (0.075 |jg/g) and Russian Federetion (RF) (0.052 Mg/g). An increase in the level of cadmium compared to regional indicators was observed in 58.5 % of adult men. In the hair of girls aged 1-14 years, the level of lead was detected (Me = 0.764 Mg/g) compared with RB (Me = 0.410 Mg/g) and RF (Me = 0.727 Mg/g) lead level. The content of cadmium and lead in the hair of men and women had significant differences (p = 0.042 and p = 0.020 respectively). Conclusion: the results indicate the need to strengthen control over cadmium and lead level in the air, soil, water, food and develop measures to reduce the risk to public health.


Attribute Selection is an important topic in Data Mining, because it is the effective way for reducing dimensionality, removing irrelevant data, removing redundant data, & increasing accuracy of the data. It is the process of identifying a subset of the most useful attributes that produces compatible results as the original entire set of attribute. Cluster analysis or clustering is the task of grouping a set of objects in such a way that objects in the same group called a cluster are more similar in some sense or another to each other than to those in other groups (Clusters). There are various approaches & techniques for attribute subset selection namely Wrapper approach, Filter Approach, Relief Algorithm, Distributional clustering etc. But each of one having some disadvantages like unable to handle large volumes of data, computational complexity, accuracy is not guaranteed, difficult to evaluate and redundancy detection etc. To get the upper hand on some of these issues in attribute selection this paper proposes a technique that aims to design an effective clustering based attribute selection method for high dimensional data. Initially, attributes are divided into clusters by using graph-based clustering method like minimum spanning tree (MST). In the second step, the most representative attribute that is strongly related to target classes is selected from each cluster to form a subset of attributes. The purpose is to increase the level of accuracy, reduce dimensionality; shorter training time and improves generalization by reducing over fitting.


This article presents an interview with the CEO of Primavera Systems, a maker of project management software. He says that software is useful when business is hectic to get as many jobs done as possible in a short period of time. When things are slow, software keeps waste down. A big issue, standard platforms allowing software programs to use one another's data, is starting to be addressed by extensible markup language (XML).


AMAcetyl-,-he,osanindases A andUwere purifled to homogeneityfromhuman placenta. 1n the imt'al step of purication, thfe enzymes were adsorbed on concanavalin ASepharose 4B and etuted from, the column with a-methyl D-mannoside. Subsequent purification steps includedc DEAE-cellulose column chromn-atography, QAE-Seph%adex Ediethyl-(2-hydroxypropyl)aminoethyl-Sephadex] column chromatography1 Sephadex G-200 gel flItratiQn an4 preparative disc polyacxylamide-gel electrophoresis, followed by another QAE-Sephadex chromatography for the hexosaminidase A prepration, and IDEAEcellulose column chromatography, calcium phosphate gel chromatography, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, QAE-Sephadex chrQmatography and CM-cellulose chromatography fQr the.hexosaminidase B preparation. The purifled preparations, particularly hexosaminidase A, had sinifscaxuy higher specific enzyme activities than previously reported. The preparationm moved on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis aj single protein bands, which also stained for enzyme activity. Sedimentation-equilibrium centrifugation indicated bomogeneous dispersion ofthe enzymes, and the molecular weight was estimated as about 11Q0000 for both enzymes. Complete amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of t,he two isoenzymes were determined, and, in contrast with prevouls suggestions, no si4lic acid was found in the enzymes.


To assess the performance and scalability of the Unified Forecast System (UFS) Short-Range Weather (SRW) application, case studies are chosen to cover a wide variety of forecast applications. Here, model forecasts of Hurricane Barry (July 2019) are examined and analyzed. Several versions of the Global Forecast System (GFS) and Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) physics suites are run in the UFS-SRW at grid spacings of 25 km, 13 km, and 3 km. All model configurations produce significant track errors of up to 350 km at landfall. The track errors are investigated, and several commonalities are seen between model configurations. A westerly bias in the environmental steering flow surrounding the tropical cyclone (TC) is seen across forecasts, and this bias is coincident with a warm sea surface temperature (SST) bias and overactive convection on the eastern side of the forecasted TC. Positive feedback between the surface winds, latent heating, moisture, convection, and TC intensification is initiated by this SST bias. The asymmetric divergent flow induced by the excess convection results in all model TC tracks being diverted to the east as compared to the track derived from reanalysis. The large differences between runs using the same physics packages at different grid spacing suggest a deficiency in the scalability of these packages with respect to hurricane forecasting in vertical wind shear.


Since its publication, Armed Forces and Society has established an international reputation as a journal by which teachers, researchers, students of public affaire, political analysts, and policy makers can keep abreast of the most important intellectual developments in war and peace studies. Armed Forces and Society combines a strong historical emphasis with a contemporary perspective in the social and behavioral sciences. The journal analyzes controversial problems with detachment and clarity. It is dedicated both to technical advancement in thesocial sciences and to high literary standards. The journal is published quarterly and is sponsored by the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society.


The aim of the study is to determine the nature, direction and significance of the interactions between earnings per share and dividend per share in the Nigeria oil and gas sector from 2004 to 2014. Engle and Granger 2-step co-integration and correlation approach was adopted in the analysis with an estimation of an error correction period. Stationarity of time series data was tested with the adoption of Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) procedure. All the study variables were integrated of the same order I(1), signaling a co-integration. Earnings Per Share has a short term positive and significant effect on Dividend Per Share while the long run coefficient shows a negative and significant influence on dividend per share. The error correction mechanism suggests that deviations from equilibrium are corrected at approximately 56% per annum. This implies that the distortions affecting dividend per share in the long run could be corrected in approximately one year and nine months (approximately 21 months). There is no causality running from either EPS to Dividend Per Share or otherwise, both at 1 year and 2 years lagged periods. The implication is that Dividend Per Share does not granger cause EPS and vice versa. The result further reveals that a very strong relationship exists between EPS and DPS at approximately 70%. Firms in the oil and gas sector that intend to increase their dividend pay-out propensity in order to give the shareholders and other proposed investors the signal that they are very healthy, in line with the signaling theory, should, therefore, pursue strategies geared towards cost reduction, elimination of wastes, full automation of production lines and being more socially and corporately responsible to their host communities, in order to improve their earning capacity.


Continuing the Journal's 2005 series of leading articles highlighting where laboratory science meets clinical practice, Professor Ng of Hong Kong outlines the importance of stem cell plasticity and chimerism.


It is important to predict and evaluate drug metabolism in drug discovery, because there are many pharmacokinetic problems arising from drug metabolism. Particularly, construction of the rapid and reliable prediction. evaluation methods is important in this study. The drug metabolism items that should be investigated are raised as follows: (1) hepatic clearance, (2) metabolite profile, (3) CYP identification, (4) CYP inhibition, (5) enzyme induction. In this presentation, I will discuss the construction and application of the prediction evaluation methods for hepatic clearance, metabolic profile and CYP inhibition in drug discovery.


Reaction behaviour of the interface between ZrO2 and Ti in loining zirconia ceramics and stainless steel with Ti foil as active metal was studied by means of EPMA, XRD, IMA, XPS and AES. The results show that O diffused from the zirconia into the Ti active metal zone to produce TiO. The amount of O in the denaturizing layer was found to decrease. The bonding state of Zr in the denaturizing layer changed from Zr4+ to Zr2+. At the same time, the diffusions of Ti and Zr were found in the zirconia near the interface between zirconia and Ti.


Geological structure of shallow strata in the Da Tay island region Truong Sa archipelago according to high resolution seismic profiling data


In recent years, because cancer treatment and palliative care have been conducted together, suitable and long-term survival prediction is required for cancer treatment and palliative care planning. Until now, the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) has been used for survival prediction systems. Therefore, in this study, we extracted prognostic factors using machine learning and Random Forest regression and created survival prediction systems using new factors (i.e., based on those extracted) that cannot be used for long-term prediction in PPI.Results show that the new prediction systems yielded higher accuracies thanPPI.


Aiming at the problem of poor foreground extraction in dynamic background images, an image foreground target detection method based on deep convolutional neural network is proposed. The VGG16-NET-based network model is used to extract the feature map. Using the deconvolution method and the pyramid pooling method ameliorates the defect that VGG16-Net can only classify the entire image, and the model can only receive fixed-size images.


Enforcement tools are needed to combat the illegal commercialization of wild red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, taken in the recreational fishery in northern California. We examine size differences between wild and farmed red abalone shells, meats and meat slices. Wild red abalone are larger in multiple measures of size distinguishing them from legally sold farmed red abalone. We find that abalone meat weights and lengths are correlated to shell length so that the original shell length of the abalone can be estimated even when the shells are not available to enforcement officers for prosecution.


Two kinds of skink (Leiolopisma), sympatric in the coastal Manawatu, are considered on morphological and ecological grounds to be separate biological species, rather than morphs of a single species. One is conspecific with the holotype of Tiliqua zelandica Gray, 1843, and should be called Leiolopisma zelandicum (Gray) even though it appears to accord with McCann's (1955) concept of L. ornatum. The second species is McCann's "L. zelandica", but this name cannot be applied, so the lizard is provisionally referred to as Leiolopisma sp. Common to both species is a basic pattern of longitudinal stripes and bands, and the colour is brown above and pale ventrally. However, subtle differences become apparent on close analysis, and certain metric and meristic characters differ between the 2 populations. Analysis of stomach contents reveals differences in both the composition and size of items taken. In the Manawatu the 2 species can be classed as neighbouringly sympatric, and their respective habitats are broadly ...


The free radical theory of aging suggests that oxidative damage caused by free radicals plays a key role in normal aging. We measured the anti-oxidant activity of acorns and asked whether it can modulate the aging process in Caenorhabditis elegans. Different concentrations of acorn powder were added to culture medium, followed by the monitoring of fertility and survival under oxidative stress. The anti-oxidant activity of 500 mg/L of acorn powder exhibited significant increases in the resistance to oxidative stress in vivo. Acorn powder also significantly extended both the mean and maximum lifespan of C. elegans (the mean lifespan was increased up to 22.4%). The fertility assay indicates the lifespan extension from acorn does not accompany a reduced reproduction, which is common in long-lived mutants. These findings indicate that acorn has a strong antioxidant activity and can induce longevity without the trade-off of reduced reproduction in C. elegans.


In the present paper, different types of metal doped ceria CeO(2)-MO(x) (M=Sc, Y, Dy, Zr and Hf) with fluorite structures have been prepared with a complex polymerization method. The O(2)-releasing potential of prepared samples was evaluated at 1773 K for two-step water splitting process The partially oxygen defected CeO(2)-MO(15) mixed oxides (M = Sc(3+), Y(3+) and Dy(3+)) exhibited an enhancement of the 02 evolution due to the crystal-chemical effect that cation with smaller ionic radius (Sc(3+), Y(3+) and Dy(3+)) mitigate the volume expansion of crystal lattice resulted in the reduction of Ce(4+) with smaller ionic radius into Ce(3+) with larger ionic radius. The CeO(2)-MO(2) (M = Zr(4+) and Hf(4+)) produced larger amount of O(2) than that for CeO(2)-MO(15) mixed oxides, since CeO(2)-MO(2) has no oxygen vacancy. While the ionic radii of Zr(4+) and Hf(4+) are almost equal, the higher O(2)-releasing reactivity of Ce(0) (9)Hf(0) (1)O(2) than that of Ce(0) (9)Zr(0) (1)O(2) is explained in terms of tonicity of M-O bond Thus, it was found that both ionic radius and tonicity play important role in the O(2)-releasing reaction.


Chest wall disorders, especially in a submammary location, occasionally mimic breast tumors. We report a case of a venous angioma between the pectoralis major and minor muscles. It presented as a palpable mass in the left breast. The mass mimicked a breast tumor both clinically and on mammography.


The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(2,4,6‐tri‐methyl‐3,5‐disulfonatophenyl)‐porphyrinato iron (III) (FeTMPS) in a model of splanchnic artery occlusion shock (SAO). SAO shock was induced in rats by clamping both the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk for 45 min, followed by release of the clamp (reperfusion). At 60 min after reperfusion, animals were killed for histological examination and biochemical studies. There was a marked increase in the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 to rhodamine (a marker of peroxynitrite‐induced oxidative processes) in the plasma of the SAO‐shocked rats after reperfusion, but not during ischemia alone. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a marked increase in the immunore‐activity to nitrotyrosine, an index of nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite, in the necrotic ileum in shocked rats. SAO‐shocked rats developed a significant increase of tissue myeloperoxidase and malon‐aldehyde activity, and marked histological injury to the distal ileum. SAO shock was also associated with a significant mortality (0% survival at 2 h after reperfusion). Reperfused ileum tissue sections from SAO‐shocked rats showed positive staining for P‐selectin localized mainly in the vascular endothelial cells. Ileum tissue sections obtained from SAO‐shocked rats and stained with antibody to ICAM‐1 showed a diffuse staining. Administration of FeT‐MPS significantly reduced ischemia/reperfusion injury in the bowel, and reduced lipid and the production of peroxynitrite during reperfusion. Treatment with PN catalyst also markedly reduced the intensity and degree of P‐selectin and ICAM‐1 staining in tissue sections from SAO‐shocked rats and improved survival. Our results clearly demonstrate that per‐oxynitrite decomposition catalysts exert a protective effect in SAO and that this effect may be due to inhibition of the expression of adhesion molecules and the tissue damage associated with peroxynitrite‐related pathways.—Cuzzocrea, S., Misko, T. P., Costantino, C., Mazzon, E., Micali, A., Caputi A. P., Macarthur, H., Salvemini, D. Beneficial effects of peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst in a rat model of splanchnic artery occlusion and reperfusion. FASEB J. 14, 1061–1072 (2000)


Cyanuric triazide reacts with several transition metal precursors, extruding one equivalent of N2 and reducing the putative diazidotriazeneylnitrene species by two electrons, which rearranges to N-(1′H-[1,5′-bitetrazol]-5-yl)methanediiminate (biTzI2−) dianionic ligand, which ligates the metal and dimerizes, and is isolated from pyridine as [M(biTzI)]2Py6 (M = Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni). Reagent scope, product analysis, and quantum chemical calculations were combined to elucidate the mechanism of formation as a two-electron reduction preceding ligand rearrangement.


The mathematical model of the mixing process in the intensive mixers, allowing to predict the values of quality indicators of the mixing process, depending on the time, ie to judge the readiness of the masses to be mixed.


Abstract : The United States Army is transforming its force structure. This transformation is designed to better meet the challenges presented by and to leverage the opportunities available in the future. This effort is designed to lessen the distinction between what the Army often refers to as its "heavy" and its "light" forces. America's Army was ideally suited for military operations in Europe or on the Korean peninsula. However, as the Cold War ended, America's enemies became more ambiguous, but no less dangerous. In this uncertain and dangerous world, the United States Army must be fully prepared to deploy rapidly to contain, stabilize or resolve conflict through shaping actions or decisive combat operations. Currently, the Army has transformed one infantry battalion and one tank battalion into its Interim Force Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadrons. These units are organized, equipped and trained to deal both the challenges and the opportunities of the near term future by providing reconnaissance and surveillance to the maneuver commander. While the Interim Force RSTA squadrons are a move in the right direction, there remain challenges for these units and for the Objective Force reconnaissance and surveillance units of the future. Force structure proponents must maintain a balance between the historical intelligence requirements and the futuristic information opportunities. This unit must be more than an intelligence gathering origination. It must incorporate emerging technologies and organizational techniques within its military infrastructure, always able to employ the correct force structure or combat power to achieve its battlefield mission.


Research indicates that student achievement is affected by five major learning style stimuli: en vironmental, emotional, sociological, physical, and psychological.' The Read ing Style Inventory ( RSI), based on the Dunn and Dunn model, was developed to diagnose the learning styles of young sters specifically for reading, and identi fies 18 elements of reading style (see Figure I). 2 When the Inventory was given to 293 students in grades two, four, six, and eight, the students differed significantly on ten elements of reading style: percep tion, motivation, structure, reading with adults, reading alone, reading with peers, reading with adults and peers, intake of food and drink, time of day, and mobility (see Figure 2).' These reading style differences may have cru cial implications for designing effective reading programs.


Time is a special economic variable. Meanwhile, whether the time investment is suitable or not will influence the amount of profit. Furthermore, it will perfectly confirm the direction of development of international free trade if two new concepts in time investment- time cost of opportunity and marginal time cost of opportunity are put into the international free trade, and the gain and loss and distribution in interest of both sides of trade are analyzed with the criterion-the dimensions of both time investment profit and time cost opportunity. Therefore, this original kind of mold of analysis will create a good prospect for the theoretical research in the international free trade.


Disclosed are an arc-less alternating-current relay device and a three-phase asynchronous motor arc-less alternating-current relay device. The arc-less alternating-current relay device comprises a thyristor relay device and a control circuit which are used for a main circuit. The thyristor relay device comprises an AC contactor normally open main contact, a bidirectional thyristor, a trigger resistor and an arc-suppression relay normally open main contact, wherein a first end of the AC contactor main contact is electrically connected with a first end of the bidirectional thyristor so as to form a power source connecting terminal. The relay device is compact and reasonable in structure and convenient in use, combines the relay with the thyristor, utilizes the characteristic that conduction time of the thyristor is short while conduction time of the AC contactor is longer, prevent spark generating when in connection and disconnection, not only prolongs service time of the contact of the contactor but meets safety requirements, has the advantages of no spark, safety and reliability and long service life, and is particularly suitable for special environments needing frequent start, such as oil fields, underground and coal mines.


A 3-yr study on height and frequency of cutting showed that alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cut at 5 cm from the soil produced significantly more dry matter per hectare than that harvested at 10 cm, but the differences between the two heights decreased with the years and the frequency of cutting. Forages cut at either height had similar mineral composition at any one cutting. However, the percentages of cell walls and of lignocellulose were, in general, highest in alfalfa cut at 5 cm. Height of cutting did not affect the stand nor the accumulation of food reserves in the roots in the fall. The two-cut system gave a uniform production from year to year and maintained the stand at a high level. The three-cut system, the last cut taken in October, yielded the highest yields of dry matter and of crude protein while the four-cut system produced the least and had the thinnest stand at the end of the experiment. Frequency of cutting gave rise to significant variations in the chemical composition of the forages, var...


SUMMARY The diagnostic features of some needle-cast and needle-blight fungi of pines, especially Dothistroma pini and Scirrhia acicola, are reviewed and compared.


We develop a theory of tubular neighborhoods for the lower strata in manifold stratified spaces with two strata. In these topologically stratified spaces, manifold approximate fibrations and teardrops play the role that fibre bundles and mapping cylinders play in smoothly stratified spaces. Applications include the classification of neighborhood germs, the construction of exotic stratifications, a multi-parameter isotopy extension theorem and an h–cobordism extension theorem. Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Definitions and the main results 3 3. The topology of the teardrop 7 4. The teardrop of an approximate fibration 14 5. Spaces of stratified neighborhoods and manifold approximate fibrations 22 6. Homotopy near the lower stratum 29 7. Higher classification of stratified neighborhoods 37 8. Examples of exotic stratifications 43 9. Extensions of isotopies and h–cobordisms 55 References 60


Nowadays,C4I system plays a more important role in the information war.Thus risk assessment to the C4I system becomes necessary.By using fuzzy evaluation theory,build a risk severity grade index evaluation system for the C4I system,assess the severity of risk at the base of expert marking method,confirm the risk sources,and then make special improvements.This research offers an effective method for the risk assessment and treatment of C4I system.


Chytridiomycosis, a mycotic cutaneous infection of amphibians, was first described in frog populations in Australia and Central America and was consequently found in wild and captive anurans and urodeles worldwide. It is now considered an emerging infectious disease and a key factor in the dramatic global decline of amphibians. The aetiological agent is Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a member of the fungal phylum Chytridiomycota in the order Chytridiales. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is the first and only chytrid known so far to be pathogenic for vertebrates. The keratinophilic fungus causes significant mortality in postmetamorphic amphibians, while tadpoles are spared. Clinical signs vary depending on species and include abnormal posture, lethargy, behavioural changes, loss of righting reflex, bilateral mydriasis, reddening as well as greyish-white discolouration of the skin, abnormal sloughing, and occasional erosions and ulcers. Death usually occurs within a few days after the onset of clinical signs. At necropsy, gross lesions are confined to the skin and are characterized by greyish-white discolouration and thickening and sloughing of the skin with occasional erosions and ulcers, particularly on the extremities and the abdominal and pelvic regions. Histologically, the skin lesions are characterized by marked hyperkeratosis with numerous spherical fungal thalli (zoosporangia) within the thickened keratin layer, irregular epidermal hyperplasia, intercellular oedema, and occasional necrosis of epidermal cells, as well as exocytosis of low to moderate numbers of mainly lymphocytes. A mild inflammatory infiltrate (heterophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages) may be present in the dermis. The pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis is largely unknown. However, it is thought that the epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis seriously compromise the function of the skin which is essential for respiration, water absorption, regulation of body temperature, and homeostasis of electrolytes and serves as a shield against pathogenic organisms. Diagnosis of chytridiomycosis can be achieved by routine histology. The fungal structures can be readily detected on H&E sections. Microscopic examination of skin scrapings stained with lactophenol is a quick method for detection of B. dendrobatidis on dead and living animals. Electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, PCR, and fungal culture are useful tools to confirm the diagnosis. Administration of azoles (e.g. fluconazole, itraconazole), baths with formalin/malachite green solution, and elevation of the environmental temperature have been described for treatment.

Funding: Self-funded.


ABSTRACT

Selling is the main activity of company, in addition cash or credit. Credit selling
has been chosen by many customers. The problems in credit selling can be solved with a
good credit selling account information system, which is we for record and report the
condition in company, create a trusted report, and also for electing.
The purpose of the research is to know the real condition about credit selling
account information system in Dexa Inti Utama Corporation. The methodology of this
research was use literature review and interview.
The systematic that were used include the function, document, account note, the
procedure that create system, the base system of intern controllization, and the diagram.
The writer compares the theory from standard accounting information system with the
real condition in Dexa Inti Utama Corporation.
From evaluation, the writer found advantages and disadvantages from Account
Information System in Dexa Inti Utama Corporation. Based that weakness the writer
gives suggestions to make a better Account Information System in Dexa Inti Utama
Corporation.


Abstract The spittlebug genus Anyllis Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae), endemic to Australia, is redefined and new autapomorphies are proposed to support the monophyly of the genus. A new sensillum found on the expanded flagellar base of antennae of Anyllis species, named as 'conical sensillum', and a new male genitalic structure, named as 'basal anal processes,' are named. Anyllis is moved from the tribe Locrisini Lallemand of Cercopidae to the tribe Aphrophorini of Aphrophoridae. A new species, Anyllis spinostylus Liang sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Tasmania, Australia.


Abortion advocates have attempted to lobby and shame pro-life Latin American countries into legalizing abortion for women who may contract the Zika virus. Although it has not been proven that Zika causes microcephaly and other congenital disabilities, pro-abortion groups have nonetheless assumed that it does. Apparently abortion activists think they know more about ZIKV than the medical community.


The distribution of stress in the supports and around the holes of reactor pressure vessels is discussed, and mathematicai solutions are given for finding stress distributions induced in a vessel and its skirts. (J.H.M.)


The project "Design solution in the end stripper system for the Grate, to define the impact of the thermal properties" is about the design solution in the end stripping system that has been suggest ...


A dual-loop eight-channel electrocardiogram (ECG) recording system with the fast settling mode is proposed for wireless real-time 12-lead ECG applications. It employs the frequency division multiplexing (FDM) technique to achieve multi-channel IA (MCIA). The FDM technique allows using smaller input capacitor and sharing of programmable gain amplifier (PGA), buffer, and ADC to achieve smaller area. To suppress the dc offset of bio-signal with faster settling, dual dc servo loops are proposed. The main loop employs the least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm in the digital domain to extract the dc offsets in different frequency channels. An auxiliary fast settling loop (FSL) in the analog domain can be enabled to shorten the settling time from 14 s down to only 0.6 s. A 16-bit <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Sigma \Delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> ADC, including the decimation filter, is adopted to achieve high resolution and avoid using high Q anti-aliasing filter in the analog domain. The MCIA achieves 112.5-dB common mode rejection ratio (CMRR), 113.0-dB power supply rejection ratio (PSRR), and 1.44-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu ~V_{\mathbf {rms}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> noise performance. The MCIA occupies only 0.3 mm2 and consumes 60 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{W}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> for eight channels. The whole ECG recording system was implemented in 130-nm CMOS technology.


W h e n I p r e s e n t e d m y r e s e a r c h on sexual practices, including sexual violence, by German soldiers during the war of annihilation at a public event in the spring of 2009, a man in the audience—who, as I later learned, had survived the Holocaust as a child—asked me if the Nazis had implemented rape as a strategy. I answered cautiously that the evidence suggested that the perpetration of this form of violence was pervasive during all stages of the war and the genocide in the Soviet Union, but I was not sure if the term "strategy" could be applied. He was clearly disappointed. Since then, the question of whether sexual violence was used as a strategy, tactic, or weapon in the German warfare and the genocidal campaign against the Jews in the Soviet Union has been posed to me many times. My replies have changed over the years, and they have sometimes led to fierce and emotional debates. Ultimately, I realized, my answer depends on what we mean by strategy, tactic, or weapon. Drawing on the empirical case of the German Wehrmacht in the Soviet Union, I would thus like to discuss in which ways military actors on different levels of command were aware that their men perpetrated sexual violence and how they made use of this knowledge in light of military objectives, political aims, and operational needs. In the process I want to contribute to recent efforts to develop a more differentiated understanding of the ways in which sexual violence can become a military weapon or a strategy.


Key Laboratory for Marine Drugs, Departme Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hosp Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China. E † Electronic supplementary information ( HRESIMS, UV, IR, and 1D and 2D NMR spe conformers for a, b, c, 2, and 3, the comput a and b, the in vitro antibacterial activity o enantiomers (+)-1 and ( )-1, (+)-2 and coordinates of the computed structures. S Cite this: RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 50254


A dynamic compensation to correct the trajectory deviation of roll hemming processes is presented in this paper. First, the general scheme of the compensation model is explained along with the robot (kinematic and stiffness) and the material deflection models. The model is simulated and tested on an industrial robot. As a result, the viability of the model is discussed and compared with other works by analyzing the forces and the deviation profiles in the tested samples.


Objective: to explore the side-effects of Pituitrin in treatment of liver cirrhosis combined with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Method: Various side –effects in cardiovascular system were retrospectively analyzed in patients with cirrhosis combined with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage who were treated with Pituitrin , comparison was performed with 20 mimic patients treated with Somatostatin. Result: The proportion of side-effects on cardiovascular system in Pituitrin group is higher than those of Somatostatin group, but significant differences can't be found in different gradient of liver function. Conclusion: The incidence of side-effect of Pituitrin on cardiovascular system is pretty high but fetal side-effect can't be observed.


In presenting this short paper to you it would be presumptuous to suppose that I could offer any new ideas or impart any knowl edge to this body of medical men upon a subject that has been studied so thoroughly, and my only object in asking your attention is to bring forcibly to your minds some of the facts relative to that most dangerous communicable disease—pulmonary tuberculosis. The relation of human and bovine tuberculosis; questions of heredity ; the importance and advisability of institutional treatment under State supervision; methods of transmission other than from sputum of the patient, and all other aspects of the tuberculosis question will be avoided and only the results of education of the public be discussed. Within the last year or two the whole world has been waking up to the truth. The great congress of experts at Berlin and later at London are but signs of the cosmopolitan interest in the disease. The four following facts present an epitome of the conclusions arrived at by these experts: 1. Tuberculosis is a communicable disease, due to Koch's tuber cle bacillus acting on an organism prepared to receive it, or unable to resist the bacilli when present in large numbers. 2. Tuberculosis is not to any great extent hereditary. 3. Tuberculosis may be prevented by reducing the sources of infection, by improving the environment, by strengthening the individual. 4. Tuberculosis, in many even of its severest varieties, can be cured. These propositions may now be accepted as scientific truths and will form the working plan of all future efforts directed against


The Canadian Quality Milk Program requires that the water used to wash milking equipment on dairy farms meet the provincial potability standards for bacteria. To comply with the program, some dairy farms will have to be equipped with onsite disinfection systems. However, the levels of turbidity and UV absorbance (UVA) are sometimes too high in water supplies, especially surface sources, for lower cost disinfection systems such as UV lamps. On some farms, the water will require the application of a pretreatment, such as coagulation flocculation (CF). The objective of this project was to examine the effect of water physico-chemical characteristics and temperature on the efficiency of coagulation flocculation of four surface sources supplying water to dairy farms in Eastern Ontario. Polyaluminum chloride (PACl) was used as the coagulant. For water sources with UVA remaining below 0.8 cm -1 , a single dose will be adequate throughout the year, but additional settling time should be provided in the winter when water temperature is below 8-10oC. For water with high variations in UVA, a simple online UVA sensor could be used to automatically control coagulant dose. The dosing system can also include a temperature sensor, but allowing additional settling time should be sufficient to adequately pretreat the water in cold temperature. There was no correlation between turbidity and coagulant dose, and UVA-based doses should apply to a relatively large range of turbidities (5 to 143 NTU).


Recently Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute, Mysore developed many improved cross breeds and bivoltine hybrids. Newly developed cross breeds recorded fibre characteristics which are significantly superior over existing control hybrids. This aspect has been investigated using X-ray diffraction technique. We have employed line profile analysis to compute microstructural parameters. These parameters are compared with physical parameters of newly developed cross breed silk fibers for a better understanding of structure-property relation in these samples.


Excerpt The study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of performing pleural biopsy in every patient with pleural disease, regardless of the presence of fluid. A total of 211 biopsies were perfo...


The article describes the design and construction of a 15.3 km water tunnel under the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The new tunnel extends the existing tunnel network from the Saavedra connection structure to Moron. The contractual scope of works includes the excavation and lining of five access shafts and as well as the new tunnel. The article describes the geology of the site, construction methods, the tunnel lining, the tunneling machines used, shaft installation, and the break out and break in procedures followed during construction.


Monosialoganglioside fraction of YAC-1 lymphoma cells was comprehensively analyzed and structurally defined by nano-high-performance liquid chromatography (nanoHPLC) in on-line conjunction with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF MS). An efficient separation and sensitive detection of Neu5Gc-containing gangliosides from Neu5Ac-containing analogues was for the first time accomplished in a single nanoHPLC/ESI-QTOF MS run, as demonstrated for mouse hybridoma cell GM3 fraction containing GM3(Neu5Ac) and GM3(Neu5Gc) species and further applied for the analysis of YAC-1 lymphoma cell monosialoganglioside fraction. New insights into YAC-1 monosialoganglioside mixture heterogeneity were obtained: 31 distinct species, comprising 18 Neu5Gc-containing gangliosides and 13 Neu5Ac-containing species of GM1b and GalNAc-GM1b type were found to be expressed by YAC-1 cell line. On-line structural elucidation of individually separated Neu5Ac- and Neu5Gc-containing gangliosides provided strong evidence on the "GM1b-pathway" sourcing for monosialoganglioside synthesis. Such an analytical method is documented as superior to the classical approaches by increased speed of analysis, sensitivity and level of information, being thus a viable glycolipidomic tool.


This paper presents a FTC framework for a Real-Time MPC-based Controller applied to Integrated Urban Drainage and Sanitation Systems (UDSSs) which was proposed in the LIFE EFFIDRAIN project. This project deals with the pollution of surface waters due to CSOs and overflows from UDSSs during wet weather. The main purpose of the proposed FTC framework is to preserve as much as possible, the performance of the MPC-based Controller in terms of operation objectives when anomalies affecting the integrated ICT elements (sensors and actuators) occurs. The performance of the FTC controller has been tested using a realistic case of study.


TARGET AUDIENCE: Clinicians and researchers interested in spinal cord fMRI. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Functional MRI of the spinal cord is very challenging due its dimensions, physiological noise and its anatomy that cause distortions and loss of signal. The purpose of this study was to present a protocol to assess stimulus-related activation in the spine with SE-ZOOM-EPI to overcome some of these disadvantages. MATERIALS and METHODS: Acquisition Four healthy volunteers were scanned with a paradigm that involved localized sensory stimulation of the C6 dermatome over the palmar surface of the thenar eminence, using an MR-compatible electric rotating brush. The surface area of stimulation was 0.8x0.8cm2. For each subject, left and right hands were stimulated in separate, consecutive fMRI sessions. All volunteers were right-handed, two women and two men (mean age=33). A 3T MRI scanner (Philips Achieva TX, Best, Netherlands) with a 16 channel neurovascular coil was used for this study. All scans were performed with the Spin Echo ZOnally-magnified Oblique Multislice EPI (SE-ZOOM-EPI) sequence [1], using a reduced field of view for targeted areas of fMRI activations. The imaging parameters were TR=3600ms, TE=30ms, voxel size=1.19x1.19x4mm3 with 1mm gap between slices (reconstructed to 1.19x1.19x4mm3), acquisition matrix=64x40, 9 slices. The block design comprised 10 epochs of rest alternated with 10 epochs of activation, each one lasting 36 seconds. During each session 200 volumes were acquired in about 12 minutes. Scan coverage extended from the upper limit of C5 to the lower limit of C7 vertebral segments (Fig.1) and the slices were always centered transverse to the cord. Flow compensation was used in order to reduce artefacts from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow. Data analysis Data were processed by SPM8 software (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/) to detect the voxels showing activation. After slice timing, each dataset was spatially realigned using a least-squares approach to estimate a six-parameter rigid body transformation for each individual dataset. The temporal datasets were smoothed using a Gaussian filter kernel having a full width half-maximum (FWHM) of twice the in-plane voxel size. No physiological motion regressors were used in this study. Average signal change for the activated voxels through the time course was computed using Matlab (MATLAB, The MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA). RESULTS: 1) Spinal cord (C5/C6): The most consistent activity was found at C5/C6 vertebral level in each volunteer for right hand stimulation and in three out of four volunteers for left hand stimulation. These activations tended to be in ipsilateral grey matter and localized to the posterior horn of the grey matter butterfly (Fig.2). 2) Spinal cord (not C5/C6): In volunteers 1 and 2 there were no other activations inside the spinal cord. In volunteers 3 and 4 there were activations inconsistently seen at different spinal levels. 3) Extra-spinal activations: Random and inconsistent areas of activations were found outside the spinal cord for all volunteers. 4) Significance of activation: Significant activity is reported at p<0.01 (uncorrected). 5) Average signal change: 1.86 +/0.59 (mean+/-std). DISCUSSION: The more consistent activation (in term of localisation) among subjects was detected at spinal cord level C6 where it was expected. These activations tended to localize to the posterior grey matter horns, reflecting the somatic sensory stimulus that was employed. The extra-spine activations, found at different levels of the spine, were random and never falling in the same voxels in different acquisitions and in different subjects. The average signal change is in agreement with the results obtained in previous studies by Stroman[2].The ZOOM-EPI used is a Spin-Echo sequence, less sensitive than Gradient-Echo sequences to venous contribution and draining veins effects to the signal changes, which are known to contribute to fMRI signal in the spinal cord [3]. The high pixel bandwidth and reduced echo train length of the ZOOM-EPI sequence helped to reduce susceptibility artefacts [4]. The results support the detection of stimulus-related activation in the spinal cord using our research protocol. CONCLUSIONS: This is an ongoing research study about detecting spinal fMRI and further investigations implying different stimuli and group analysis statistics will follow. The ongoing project comprises improvements of the SE-ZOOM-EPI sequence and study of custom-made slice specific physiological regressors to be included in the General Liner Model.


We have used accumulated metal concentration data to investigate variability in the bioavailabilities of cadmium, copper, lead, zinc and iron to the amphipod Gammarus fossarum inhabiting the Biala Przemsza river system draining an area of lead and zinc mining. The highest bioavailabilities of most of the metals were found in a stream carrying water from mine drainage and flotation processes. Significant amounts of bioavailable cadmium entered via another stream receiving waters from ore processing. The bioavailabilities of copper varied little, indicating the lack of a local point source of entry. All metals other than copper showed seasonal variations with the highest concentrations recorded in October. Comparative data show the Biala Przemsza system to be contaminated with cadmium, lead, zinc and iron. The data presented exemplify metal concentration ranges in G. fossarum inhabiting industrial areas, and can be used as a reference for future surveys involving this species in Central Europe.


This paper presents an exploration of the possibility of a flight experiment for a small supersonic experimental aircraft by designing a flight trajectory. The guidance law was designed by combining an optimal ascent trajectory with minimum fuel consumption and a method to pass specified way points sequentially to accomplish an efficient flight experiment. Flight analyses were then performed. Although the results did not fully satisfy the mission requirements, technical issues and their solutions were explored. Refinements of the mathematical models and investigations of evaluation criteria and their values are necessary for the next design step.


Abstract: This article explores the relationship between reader and narrative purpose in Poe's "Mesmeric Revelation," arguing that this relationship bears resemblance to altered-state theories of hypnosis. It challenges predictable interpretations to open a new avenue for understanding the art of fiction. Primary emphasis is given to the reduced peripheral awareness experienced by readers. The cultivation of this focused attention, according to Poe's "The Philosophy of Composition," is essential for creating effective artistic products.


The shapes and attachments of cells determine the machinery of organs; for example, the shapes and attachments of neurons and glia establish the wiring of the brain. To understand how neuronal dendrites obtain their morphologies and make the appropriate connections, we used C. elegans sense organs as models. Previous work identified a requirement for the extracellular matrix protein DYF-7 in dendrite extension: DYF-7 anchors dendrites dendrite endings at the embryonic nose while neuronal cell bodies migrate away, and in its absence, dendrites fail to extend. Here, we show that these dendrites are part of a sensory epithelium composed of glial cells and neurons. The dendrites are ensheathed by glial cells, form adherens junctions onto glia, and are stabilized at their apical surfaces by the extracellular matrix protein DYF-7. In dyf-7 mutants, the pulling force of cell migration causes this sensory epithelium to rupture along the glia:glia junctions. By comparison, dendrites of the URX and BAG neurons are intimately connected to the external surface of glial cells but are not known to form adherens junctions and are not affected in dyf-7 mutants. To identify factors required for URX and BAG dendrite extension, we performed forward genetic screens for dendrite extension defects in these cells and identified mutations in the cytoplasmic protein GRDN-1/Girdin and the adhesion molecule SAX-7/L1CAM. We show that in wild-type embryos, URX and BAG dendrites also extend by attaching to the nose and then stretching during embryo elongation but, in grdn-1 embryos, they fail to remain attached. GRDN-1 can promote dendrite attachment by acting in glia—it localizes


▸ Social exclusion contributes to the unmet need for long-term care ▸ Welfare regimes modify the relationship between social exclusion and unmet long-term care ▸ Countries in the Eastern European welfare regime seem to be most at risk on this issue ▸ Policymakers should focus more strongly on the consequences of social exclusion when dev eloping long-term care policy


Motion graphics and their relationships within the scope of the kinematics unit are difficult topics for students to learn. In this study, an Arduino-based in-class physics activity was developed, in which students can analyze position-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs practically. Within the scope of the study, Arduino UNO and HC-SR04 distance sensors, which are very low cost and easily obtainable, were used in the material development process. Data analyzes were also carried out using the Excel program. The position values and time values of a simple car moving with constant acceleration were collected with the help of Arduino and then these data were transferred to the Excel program. Instant velocity and acceleration values were determined on the Excel platform. Then, graph types and relationships between graphs were analyzed by drawing time-dependent graphs of position, velocity and acceleration with the help of Excel program. The motion acceleration was determined as 2.388 m/s2 both by taking the second derivative of the position-time equation with respect to time and by using the slope of the time-dependent graph of the instantaneous velocity values found. Furthermore, the displacement was calculated as 0.363 m using first and last position values that were directly read from the distance sensor and 0.348 m using the area under the velocity-time graph. The two values are very close to each other, with a difference of +4.1. The change in velocity was calculated as 0.845 m/s by taking the difference of the initial and final velocity and calculating the area under the acceleration-time graph. In addition to providing students with important educational gains in graphic subjects, it is expected that such a study carried out with students in the classroom will also be effective in the development of technological literacy and data analysis skills.


This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Theological Studies at Digital Commons @ Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theological Studies Faculty Works by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. For more information, please contact email@example.com. Repository Citation Mayeski, Marie Anne, "Putting on the Mind of Ælred: Reflections of a Translator" (2012). Theological Studies Faculty Works. 120. http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/theo_fac/120


Abstract Two new heptaketides, pleosporalins H and I (1 and 2), as well as seven biosynthetically related known polyketides (3–9) were isolated from the endophytic fungus, Pleosporales sp. F46 by employing the one strain-many compounds (OSMAC) approach. The planar, relative and absolute structures of these compounds were identified by extensive spectroscopic analysis including HRMS, NMR, optical rotations and ECD calculations. The cytotoxic efficiencies of all isolated compounds 1–9 were evaluated against four cancer cell lines A549, CT-26, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Graphical Abstract


—A new dorippid crab, Medorippe tanabei, is described from the early middle Miocene Katsuta Group in Okayama Prefecture, Honshu, southwest Japan. The occurrence of M. tanabei together with Medorippe margaretha (Lorenthey in Lorenthey & Beurlen), new combination, extends the geologic range for the genus back to the middle Miocene. The discovery of the species from the middle Miocene of Japan suggests that the geographic range of the genus early in its history was far greater than it is now. A list of all known fossil species in the world assigned to the subfamily Dorippinae MacLeay is


HE dental lamina from which tooth germs are T derived develops at about the sixth week of -~embryonic life. Calcification of primary or deciduous teeth begins before birth and calcification of primary molar teeth and is completed during the second year of life. The cusps of the four first permanent molar teeth, which erupt into the mouth at approximately six years of age, actually begin to calcify around the time of birth. Calcification of all permanent teeth is usually complete by the age of twelve years (except for third permanent molars, which do not normally erupt until a person has reached 18-25 years of age). Fluoride ions have the unique ability to favour the deposition of hydroxyapatite from solutions of calcium and phosphate ions instead of the more soluble calcium phosphate salts and to maintain the integrity of the deposited mineral. Furthermore it has been suggested that the apatite deposited is of improved crystallinity. It follows, therefore, that for fluoride ions to play their full part in tooth formation they must be available from birth. The


Significance Modeling immune responses in vitro is critical for studying many facets of the B cell response. We show that during culture without stimulation, mouse B cells undergo massive changes in gene expression. Many of these changes are promoted by GPR174 signaling via Gαs. GPR174 and Gαs also contribute to reduced B cell viability during culture. We suggest that GPR174 antagonists may be useful to reduce the shift in gene expression and to augment B cell survival during culture. We also provide evidence that ligand engagement of GPR174 can activate this pathway in vivo. Variants in the GPR174 locus have been associated with autoimmune diseases. Our findings provide knowledge for understanding how alterations in GPR174 expression may contribute to disease.


This paper will detail the comprehensive planning for and the subsequent implementation of microcomputer use at the Clarke School for the Deaf. Several reasons can make the getting-started stage the most critical in this process. It not only sets the tone for all subsequent work in this area, but can also significantly facilitate the rate of implementation. Careful planning tends to engender positive attitudes and enthusiasm more easily as welt as reduce the amount and degree of mistakes made throughout the entire process.  If microcomputers are to become immersed in the curriculum, they need to he made available throughout the program, and the teaching staff as a whole needs to become computer-literate and computer-comfortable. Familiarity with authoring systems and the development of programming skills are seen as probable next steps for the staff.  The following strategies have been planned to meet the objectives for both students and staff: (a) establish a staff reading room containing a microcomputer system and related materials: (b) develop and conduct several in-service training sessions for the staff on computer literacy and on the effective selection and use of software: (c) develop and teach a computer literacy unit for students: id) set up several departmental microcomputer systems on movable carts; (e) create a microcomputer lab, to he supervised by a full-time coordinator: (f) arrange for programming and related courses to be taught to the staff; and (g) develop and offer extracurricular courses in programming and word processing for the students.  This process of carefully planning, coordinating, and implementing a comprehensive program for the use of microcomputers in an educational setting has been an especially valuable experience. A description of it can he of both interest and assistance to other individuals and programs involved in the education of hearing-impaired students.


The rise and attraction of Pentecostalism for Indian South Africans is the focus of this chapter. Though Pentecostalism existed from the 1930s, it is only from the 1990s that the movement started making its presence felt in a significant way. It is now easily the fastest growing religion among Indians and we undertake a sociological analysis of the rise of this phenomenon mainly by focusing on home-grown pastors. The church, this chapter shows, is more than a place of prayer but becomes a locus of a variety of activities from sport to picnics and charitable outreach work.


One of the most important contributing factors in the long life of LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) is keeping them cool, i.e., lowering the junction temperature, which can get as high as 150 °C. One way to accomplish this when building a circuit containing many LED packages is to use a thermal substrate. The majority of High Power/High Brightness (HP/HB) LED thermal circuits manufactured today are based on Metal Core Printed Circuit Board (MCPCB) technology. The MCPCB system consists of a copper foil, polymer dielectric layer and either an aluminum or copper base layer that are laminated together. The process of making MCPCB is a subtractive process, where most of the copper foil is removed. The copper foil is etched to create a circuit layer, the polymer dielectric provides the insulation between the copper foil and the metal base, and the aluminum or copper base provides thermal dissipation. The thick film copper paste discussed in this document is processed using an additive process, like screening printin...


Recently, the multi-core processor architecture is widely used in the digital signal processors for enhancing its performance. Multi-core processors are classified either as symmetric or asymmetric. Asymmetric multi-core processors are known to have higher performance and more efficient than symmetric multi-core processors. In order to study the performance enhancement of asymmetric multi-core digital signal processors over the symmetric ones, the trace-driven simulation has been executed for various asymmetric quad-core, octa-core and hexadeca-core digital signal processors and compared with the symmetric ones of similar hardware budget using UTDSP benchmarks as input.


Therapeutic Area: The focus of this book is on "drug interactions that should not be ignored in clinical practice," to use the authors' words. Format: Constructed as a soft-cover pocket guide, the size is suitable for a pocket reference. Audience: Health professionals involved in patient management and students of such a discipline would find this book useful. Purpose: The authors have created a reference that can be consulted quickly with the intention of identifying drug interactions that are relevant to clinical practice. While the original edition contained about 100 interaction monographs (hence the title), the current edition has grown to approximately 3000 drug– drug interactions. Content: Most of the guide is devoted to drug interaction monographs that are arranged alphabetically according to the object drug (generic name) or drug class. Monographs list object drugs and precipitant drugs, followed by concise descriptions of the nature of the interactions, numerical class designations, suggestions for alternative drug choices, and monitoring recommendations. The operational classification system ranges from Class 1 (risk of drug combination outweighs benefit, so avoid the combination) to Class 5 (evidence suggests that the drugs do not interact, so ignore). Users of the guide should realize that other references may use different risk rating systems. Following the monographs are short sections devoted to QT-interval prolonging drugs, CYP450 polymorphisms, herbal drug interactions, and tables identifying specific CYP450 substrates, inhibitors, and inducers. Each section contains relevant and useful information in a condensed format. A drug interaction probability scale that the authors derived from the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale appears at the end of the guide. Usability: Because many drugs are grouped by class, specific monographs are most easily accessed by consulting the index. The index is fairly complete, although it does have a few small omissions. For example, a table titled "Effect of Other Antibiotics on Warfarin" on page 143 does not appear to be referenced in the index. The CYP450 interaction tables provide the user with additional information on potential drug interactions. Highlights: Drs. Hansten and Horn are widely recognized as authorities in the field of drug–drug interactions. While their pocket guide contains information on nearly 3000 individual drug interactions, it is small enough to be easily carried on clinical rounds. Limitations: Owing to its compact size, the guide contains limited depth of material. Topics not covered include drug–food interactions, effects of smoking, and drugs used primarily during surgery. Comparison with Previous Edition: The Top 100 Drug Interactions has been updated for the 2006 edition (updated yearly editions have been published since 2000). Comparison with Other Related Books or Products: This pocket guide is not intended to replace more comprehensive and detailed drug interaction references such as Hansten and Horn's Drug Interactions Analysis and Management. Due to its small size and concise format, The Top 100 Drug Interactions provides more easily accessed basic information than some of the more bulky "pocket guides" currently available. It is not as current as a PDA download drug interaction program; however, the brief explanations and suggestions for management provide a very useful assessment. Summary: Hansten and Horn's pocket guide to drug interactions has been updated for the 2006 edition and continues to serve as a useful quick reference for


The effects of thinning density on growth and economic benefit of masson pine plantation were analyzed by 10 years data of 20-year-old thinning density experiment stand(including treatments of A,B,C,D,their density remained is 1 200,2 000,2 800,3 400 trees·hm -2 respectively),the results showed that it had significant effects on stand growth, stand structure ,log type and mill run. With the increase of stand density,diameter at breast height( DBH),single tree volume,crown diameter,ratio of crown length to tree height decreased,but tree height /DBH,self-thinning intensity increased. The thinning density had no significant effect on tree height. With stand age increasing,the difference of stand volume and total mill run of different density stand decreased. Trees percentage of small logs and mill run of small timber increased with the increase of stand density,but which of large timber decreased. So it is difficult to raise stand final productivity by thinning,but it can improve the wood quality. By a synthetic analysis of mill run,economic evaluation and growth law of masson pine plantation,stand density of cultivating short rotation industry timber could be determined as 2 000 ~ 3 400 trees·hm -2 when the stand age entered the middle-aged stage ,to cultivate large or middle diameter timber, which could be determined as 1 200 ~ 2 000 trees·hm -2 .


Purpose: he purpose of this study is to conduct a basic research to develop an elementary school after school forest activity program, furthermore provide contents for a new after school program, and activate forest childhood education. Results & Conclusion: In investigating the awareness and needs of parents, the results showed that 54.4% had 'heard of forest activity program', and 89.3% responded that it is 'needed'. When investigating by background variables, there was no significant difference according to parents' education. However parents of students in grades 1 & 2 had the highest ratio of parents that had heard about forest activity program. Next, in identifying the detailed requirements of the after school forest activity program, '2 hours' was considered as most favorable duration for activities in one day (48.2%), class configuration of 'lower, upper grades' (36.9%), preference of 'forest commentator' (50.6%) as leading teacher, for the role of teacher 'safety manager' (46.4%), and 'Observations based navigation in accordance with the interests of the child' (38.0%) as educational method. Like such, all considerations and concerns were associated with safety. Parents that participated in the interview saw forest activity program becoming 'education that makes today happy', and 'education that prepares for the future', and showed their positive expectations.


Reflection high‐energy electron diffraction (RHEED) has been used to monitor the growth of La1.85Sr0.15CuOx (LSCO) thin films on (100) SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The films are grown using a combination of pulsed molecular oxygen and a continuous source of atomic oxygen, with the average background pressure maintained as low as 1 mTorr. The RHEED pattern is sharp and streaky, and the intensity of the specular beam oscillates during the deposition, indicating a two‐dimensional layer‐by‐layer epitaxial growth. The film thickness measured by x‐ray small‐angle interference is consistent with the thickness determined by the RHEED oscillation period with a growth unit of half a unit cell. Thin films of YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) with good RHEED oscillations have also been grown under similar oxygenation conditions. The low‐pressure‐grown LSCO and YBCO films are superconducting, with zero‐resistance temperatures of 15 and 80 K, respectively.


[1] A particle tracking velocimetry system was used to study the trajectories of saltating sand particles as they impacted either consolidated (solid) or unconsolidated (loose) silt surfaces in a wind tunnel. The tunnel friction velocity varied between 0.26 and 0.3 m s−1. The average coefficient of restitution, defined as the ratio of postcollision velocity to precollision velocity, was found to be e = 0.64 for the loose bed and e = 0.79 for the solid bed, respectively. The average ratio of energy loss to impact energy was found to be EL/E0 = 0.58 for the loose bed and EL/E0 = 0.37 for the solid bed, respectively. These indices demonstrate that the loose bed absorbs more momentum and energy from the impacting sand particle. The average ejection angle was lower at 18° for the loose bed than 23° for the solid bed. In the loose surface, crater formations were observed to form with each impact. Surface profile measurements suggest an average crater volume of >0.1 mm3. For both beds, the coefficient of restitution decreases with the particle impact speed. In the case of the solid bed, the dependence on impact speed is in good agreement with a model of two colliding spheres with identical material properties. With regard to the loose bed, a model of the impacting particle motion as it plows through and plastically deforms the bed material is tested. If the ratio of the horizontal to vertical forces on the particle as it plows through the bed is taken as a linear function of impact speed, the model is in good agreement with measured data. This suggests that compaction of the surface may occur along with the plowing and displacement of loose bed material.


. A problem of 且 nding a validated polynomial factor of 、 an analytic f 皿 ction is considered . A validated factorization method was pre8ented by Sakurai a 皿 d Sugiura in which the bounds of Taylor coeficients of the function 叺 ・ as assumed to be available . In th 玉 s paper , we use complex circular arithmetic to perform the calcUlation of validated bounds for the Taylor coe 伍 cients of a function . Numerical exalnples show the e 伍 ciency of the presented method .


More than a decade of experimental research confirms that external linguistic information provided in the form of word labels can induce a "mutually exclusive" bias against double naming and lead children to infer the name of novel objects and parts (Markman, 1989). Linguistic labels have also been shown to encourage more sophisticated reasoning, particularly with respect to superordinate and atypical object categorization (Gelman & Coley, 1990; Waxman & Markow, 1995). By contrast, however, the inverse possibility that the linguistic labeling of basic‐level objects may also developmentally support the kind of "phonological reorganization" (Werker & Tees, 1984) observed within infant speech categorization has yet to be theoretically isolated and experimentally explored. Yet the dynamic of relying on labels to inform object categorization clearly presupposes that potential word labels themselves have already been classified into language‐specific phonemic categories. However, a two‐staged strategy of first relying on basic‐level object categories to refine speech categorization, and then exploiting such learned speech categories to fine tune object categorization would reveal a cyclically opportunistic learner. A uniform assumption of a one to one pairing between (types of) words and (types of) objects allows bootstrapping not only from language to object classification, but also from basic object categorization to phonemic speech classification.


Abstract Background The sequence polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are valuable in forensic medicine and anthropological genetics. Aim We analysed the sequences of the mtDNA control region in 207 unrelated Tibetan individuals from the Naqu region, Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China, and investigated the population structure of the region by population comparison with other groups. Subjects and methods Genomic DNA was extracted and hypervariable regions (HVS-I and HVS-II) were amplified and sequenced. Subsequently, sequences were aligned and compared with the revised Cambridge sequence. Moreover, population comparison was performed between the Naqu Tibetan group and the other groups. Conclusion Our study provided available data for exploring the mtDNA haplotype of the Tibetan population in the Naqu region, and population comparisons found that the Naqu Tibetan population has its own unique structure.


Glycolide (GL) and e-caprolactone (CL) were copolymerized in bulk at relatively high temperatures using stannous octoate as a catalyst. To investigate the relationship among microstructure, thermal properties, and crystallinity, three series of copolymers prepared at various reaction temperatures, times, and comonomer feed ratios were prepared and characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR, DSC, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The 600-MHz l H NMR spectra provided information about not only the copolymer compositions but also about the chain microstructure. The reactivity ratios (r G and r G ) were calculated from the monomer sequences and were 6.84 and 0.13, respectively. In terms of overall feed compositions, the sequence lengths of the glycolyl units calculated from the reactivity ratios exceeded those measured from the polymeric products. Mechanistic considerations based on reactivity ratios, monomer consumption data, and average sequence lengths are discussed. The unusual phase diagram of GL/CL copolymers implies that the copolymer melting temperature does not depend on its composition alone but rather on the nature of the sequence distribution. The DSC and WAXD measurements show a close relationship between polymer crystallinity and the nature of the polymer sequence.


The empirical evidence that innovation policies often lead to innovation additionality is long-standing. However, innovation is an intermediate outcome. Innovations are important to the extent that they contribute to some broader goal, such as the competitiveness of firms and economies. To this end, we take exporting as an important indicator of competitiveness and investigate whether innovation interventions lead to exporting outcomes. Using the Mannheim Innovation Panel, the current study explores whether innovation interventions at various administrative levels associate with changing export behaviors among German Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise (SMEs). Our results provide evidence of the scope for policymakers to employ innovation interventions as export policy.


INTRODUCTION: We report the case of a 66-year-old female undergoing elective nephrectomy for a nonfunctioning kidney in whom an incidental renocolic fistula was detected. PRESENTATION OF CASE: She presented with recurrent urinary tract infections and left flank pain. Investigations revealed a nonfunctioning left kidney with a large staghorn calculus and features suggestive of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XPG). At nephrectomy, an incidental renocolic fistula was found ncidental enocolic istula anthogranulomatous yelonephritis and excised. DISCUSSION: XGP is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder of the kidney characterized by a destructive mass invading the renal parenchyma. Renocolic fistulae complicating XGP are uncommon and not widely reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: Herein, we describe a case of XGP with renocolic fistula formation, its management and a review of the literature. gical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Fig. 1. A non-contrast CT demonstrating a markedly thinned cortex with pernephric Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. © 2012 Sur


Recent work argues that the relationship between Islamic faith, the lack of support for gender equality and democratization is spurious. This paper analyzes the correlates of individual support for increasing the number of women serving in Indonesian legislatures. Indonesia is a relevant case because it is an emerging democracy, outside of the oil-rich Middle East, where over 85% of the citizenry registers a Muslim faith. We find that the willingness of Indonesians to support or oppose gender equity in politics is only minimally rooted in their faith or culture. This result buttresses the conclusions of cross-national studies that question the appropriateness of treating predominantly Muslim nations in the same way when studying questions of gender equity and democratization.


Granted the premise that things and the world comprising them exist in some nonarbitrary and not purely subjective sense, persons are almost unavoidably taken to be relatively autonomous individuals who can enter into relations both with one another and with other similarly existing parts of the world. That is, persons are typically thought of as living in the world, as standing out from it as unique and well-defined entities or processes dwelling or at least centered at this or that location-the site from which they come into contact with or view all that is other. But if this premise is not granted and it is instead held that there is no conclusive evidence of either independently existing things or an objective ground for such existence, such a construal of personhood proves untenable. It is the purpose of what follows to sketch out an alternative understanding of persons along lines suggested by the practical and metaphysical persuasions of East Asian and particularly Ch'an Buddhism. In short, it will be argued that a person should be seen as the intimately ongoing articulation of an originally ambiguous 'nature'-a process of disambiguation that is not only both irreducibly karmic and nonlocal, but an improvisationally achieved correlate of narrative virtuosity.


Collaborative practice has become the standard of care in many types of inpatient and outpatient settings (e.g. WHO, 2010). As physicians who work in these team settings, we strongly value collaborative practice and the benefits it provides to our patients and their families. As clinical educators, we emphasize to our medical students and residents the importance of interprofessional teamwork through our words and our actions. As education researchers, therefore, we are obliged to critically examine the broader educational processes that are supposed to be preparing our trainees for collaborative teamwork. Through this examination, we have come to question both the efficacy and the purpose of a major component of current preparation for collaborative practice – interprofessional education (IPE). We are, of course, not the first to question the benefits of IPE. Reeves et al. (2008), in their Cochrane Review, concluded that there was a lack of high-quality quantitative evidence regarding the efficacy of IPE. Other authors have expressed more specific criticisms. It has been suggested (Carpenter & Dickinson, 2011) that professional stereotypes may in fact be reinforced through IPE activities. There have also been concerns that poorly designed IPE activities may actually limit students' interest in collaborative practice (Rosenfield, Oandasan, & Reeves, 2011). That the efficacy of IPE remains unproven is not, in and of itself, a reason to doubt its educational value. It is difficult (if not impossible) to conduct rigorous outcomes studies in health professions education; too often, educators make outcomes claims that are inappropriate for their curricular products (Whitehead, Kuper, & Webster, 2012). However, in the absence of clear evidence of efficacy, we became curious about the degree to which IPE is being hailed as a solution for a multitude of health systems woes (Frenk et al., 2010; WHO, 2010). This led us to wonder what other purposes IPE might be serving. IPE is a social construct like any other, and the social sciences teach us that such social constructs are created and perpetuated because of social, cultural and economic forces (Berger & Luckmann, 1966). How, then, can we understand the play of these forces in the words and world of IPE? A useful lens with which to examine social constructs like IPE is through language. There are many different research frameworks that take language to be socially constructed (e.g. Mills, 2004); within a variety of these frameworks, the intersection between language and practice is seen as an enactment of power relations and carries implications for what is valued and privileged (e.g. Foucault, 1980). While the research literature does not yet provide a thorough analysis of the language of IPE, interprofessionalism is now clearly regarded as "a powerful global discourse" (Kitto, Reeves, Chesters, & Thistlethwaite, 2011, p. 209) – a way of seeing and describing the world through language that creates and gives power to particular practices.


The necklace-like TiO_2 nanoparticles were prepared by a sol-gel polymerization and subse- quent calcinations.The aggregates of hydrogelator,tetraethylammonium 3-{[(2S)-2-(octadecylamino)- 3-phenylpropanoyl]amino}butyrate(abbreviated as TC_(18)PheBu)in aqueous solution were used as the templates and tetrabutyl titanate(Ti(OBu)_4)was used as the source of titanium in the preparation of necklace-like TiO_2 nanoparticles.The images of FE-SEM indicated that the average diameters of TiO_2 nanoparticles were in the range of 200-400nm.The formation mechanism of necklace-like TiO_2 nanoparticles was discussed by FT-IR analysis,which indicated that the necklace-like TiO_2 nanoparticles were formed through the electrostatic interaction between positive charged TC_(18)PheBu and negative charged oligomers formed by the hydrolysis of Ti(OBu)_4.The XRD analysis indicated that the TiO_2 nanoparticles were in the form of anatase crystals.


The article analyzes two narrative models: detective story way and encyclopedia distinction made by Umberto Eco. The article demonstrates that this distinction is relative because the delinearization of narrarative presupposes the mise en abyme of potential plot variations which can be realized in a formally linear story. In case of historical narrative this mise en abyme is due to the conjunction of historical and detective plot elements: criminal investigation story is then a metaphor of the search of the past which is non-linear itself and is mise en abyme as such.


The Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) raises problems for enterprises accessing resources in federations. The integrity and availability of this SDI is a prime concern for the custodians and managers of these SDI's. This paper proposes the development of an Identity Management (IdM) system for assuring the security of the SDI. The IdM system would ensure that only positively identified entities are authorised to access and update GIS datasets that are part of the SDI. In this paper a new Federation Cluster Framework (FCF) is proposed to enhance the security and availability of the SDI. This paper also proposes the use of an Identity Management Framework (IdMF) for use within the SDI framework.


A fault diagnosis method of track circuit based on HMM (Hidden Markov Model) was proposed. On the basis of division of failure mechanism of the track circuit, a training mechanism of multi sample HMM model was established, and a track circuit fault diagnosis system was composed by multiple fault classifiers. Because of the universality of this system, taking the hump section of railway and a section of ZPW2000A non-insulated track circuit as examples, the correctness and effectiveness of the system were verified. The result shows that the fault diagnosis method of track circuit which is based on HMM can effectively achieve six kinds of track circuit fault diagnosis. And compared with BP Neural Network fault diagnosis, it has a higher accuracy rate and has a faster computing speed, which can be used as a new solution for fault diagnosis of track circuits. Keyword: Track circuits, Fault diagnosis, Hidden Markov Model, Multi-sample training


Abstract:
Background: Chronic empyema thoracis (CET) is common in developing and developed countries despite advancement in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Some of the cases of CET can be managed with antibiotics and tube drainage alone, some of them managed with less extensive surgical procedure like video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or open decortication alone, while some of the complicated cases need extensive decortication and debridement of necrotic lung tissue or lobectomy. Our aim is to present our experience of management of cases of chronic empyema thoracis in children.
Methods and Material: This is a retrospective observational study of cases, managed at tertiary care center with chronic empyema thoracis. Records of cases of CET admitted, referred or transferred to department of pediatric surgery at our center over last three years were studied. Demographic data, clinical, radiological profile, surgical/ non-surgical intervention, hospital stay, aetiology, outcome was analysed. Follow up was up to the last recorded outpatient visit. This study is a retrospective observational study with small number of cases statistical tool are not used to draw any statistical interference.
Results: Twenty-nine cases with median age 3 years, male to female ratio was 25:4 were admitted over three years. Pre-operative bronchopleural fistula was seen in four. Five cases were managed conservatively, twenty underwent decortication alone while four cases required decortication along with lobectomy.  Tuberculosis was detected in three cases. A pyogenic organism was identified in ten cases only. Post-operative ventilation was required in three patients. There was no mortality. All thrived well at 12-18 months follow up.
Conclusions: Management of chronic empyema should be case based. Cases of CET in children can managed with conservative (with appropriate drainage of cavity, proper antibiotics, and nutritional build-up of child), thoracotomy and decortications alone or some time removal of disease lung also required depending on clinical and radiological finding of cases.


The study on ionic conductivity versus reciprocal temperature of pure KBr and KBr crystals doped with 0.075, 0.35 and 0.75 mole % strontium has been carried out in as-grown quenched from elevated temperatures (200, 300 and 400 °C) and deformed by different percentages. The plots exhibits three well-known regions as II, III and IV (extrinsic regions). But the region IV is not shown in the plots. The intrinsic region I was not observed in the plots as the conductivity measurements were taken up to 575 °C. From the analysis of these plots activation energies for the migration of cation vacancy, the association of strontium ion with cation vacancy in the lattice of KBr crystals are calculated. The values are compared with previously reported values. Further the variation in conductivity is explained on the basis of formation of impurity-vacancy dipoles, vacancy-vacancy pairs (which appear in the form of precipitation), storage of cation vacancies in a form of defects; introduction of fresh dislocations etc.


The development of non-toxic, biodegradable vegetable oils as alternatives to petroleum derived quenchants and their influence on residual stresses and dimensional changes of AISI 4140 and AISI H13 modified C-ring steel test specimens is discussed. The C-ring test specimens were quenched in 6 different vegetable oil blends based on soybean oil and the results were compared to 2 different commercially available petroleum oil quenchants. Residual stresses were determined by X-ray analysis on cylindrical test specimens after quenching. Some measurements were also performed using the hole-drilling method to confirm the results obtained using X-ray analysis.


Corneal sequestration is a disease unique to domestic cats, clinically characterized by chronicity; signs of ocular pain with the development of a dark brown to black, opaque, oval, paracentral or central corneal plaque. The purpose of this review article was to approach and discuss about the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of the corneal sequestrum.


Purpose – This study aims to introduce a new cognitive style, dialectical thinking, to demonstrate how it can influence a leader's impact on team conflict and employee performance. Specifically, this study intends to answer the research questions "whether and how leader's dialectical thinking would influence employee performance" with conflict management perspective in the Chinese context. Design/methodology/approach – Multilevel structural equation modeling was used to test the theoretical model with 222 employees in 43 teams from Chinese high-tech manufacturing firms. Findings – The authors found that the leader's dialectical thinking had positive relationships with employee creativity and in-role performance and that the relationships were mediated by the leader's conflict management approach and team conflict in sequence. Practical implications – Selecting, recruiting or promoting of leaders with a dialectical thinking style or providing training to enhance leaders' dialectical thinking is important f...