Our paper intends to trace the models that the Inca used in building his main piece of work. We know from Jose Durand's research -specifically the one in which he reveals the names that filled the Inca's library- some books that could have been decisive when it comes to adopting a mode of writing. Taking this data as a starting point and comparing the Inca's writing with that of other works and authors he knew (Pliny, the Historia general de las Indias by Francisco Lopez de Gomara, the Historia natural y moral de las Indias by Jose de Acosta we will probe into a series of traditions that served as a model for the writing of History of the Incario: the constant turning to the authority of the ancients and , closely linked to it , the taking into consideration of some aspects of natural history; the influence of a Judeo-Christian conception of history; the authority granted to 'having seen', originating in Greek historiography; the validity of the Renascentist historiographic model.


This paper investigates the possibility of charging the battery of electric vehicles at a various working place like offices, colleges, hospitals, universities etc in Delhi, India using solar energy. We have collected information from the Indian Meteorological Department and it is used to determine the optimal orientation of solar panels for maximum energy production in Delhi. The seasonal variation in solar insolation is analyzed to determine the energy available for EV charging. Due to low range per charge people prefer to rely on conventional vehicle, so by increasing the number of charging station in between every 25 km. India's per capita energy consumption is 23.35(GJ) gigajoules. India ranks 3rd in oil consumption with 211.5 million tons in 2016, after China and USA.


Abstract : To predict motions of SWATH ships in following seas, especially when the encounter frequency is small, unified slender-body theory has been applied. The longitudinal interaction term is computed and added to the results of the strip theory as a correction term. The added mass coefficients are computed to be much larger than those from strip theory, while damping coefficients are slightly less than two-dimensional results. There is improvement for heave motion for a limited range of frequencies, but the pitch motion is generally poor. To improve these results, further, the two-dimensional potential should be solved by the multipole expansion method rather than by the Frank close-fit method. (Author)


that our heuristic categories are naturally discoverable. We suppress the connectedness of social phenomena with bland warnings that the categories-to-be-memorized "shade off into" one another in some unspecified, metaphysical way. Thus a thoughtful student should not blame himself or herself for failing to grasp Dahl's (non)distinction between normative analysis (Ch. 9) and policy analysis (Ch. 10). Worse, Dahl's book, like its competition, is not really about politics, except in the strained sense that a pharmacopoeia is "about" the practice of medicine. It is psychology without the psyche, referring frequently to an abstract "Individual" and to sanitized "Individual Traits," without conceding much of anything to feelings and values. It is given to using economic analogies before denying an essential connection between politics and economicsChapters 1 and 2, for instance, cling to the quaint old view that socialism is merely an economic form.


s. P I T U I T A R Y G L A N D . Frazer, J. Ernest.—The Earlier Stages in the Development of the • Pituitary Body. " Lancet," September 28, 1912, p. 875. i A short account, with more than usual detail, of the early state of the * pituitary body. This body is, as everyone knows, formed by an ; upgrowth from the primitive mouth (Rathke's pouch), meeting a protrusion (the infundibulum) from the forebrain. Before the end of the first (foetal) month there is a comparatively large and open recess passing up from the upper part of the early mouth cavity and placed in contact with the back aspect of the optic recess of the forebrain. This stage in the pituitary development is interesting, because it shows the definite relations to each other of the regions from which the ; parts of the complete structure will grow. This is described in detail in Frazer's paper, which requires to be read in extenso to be appreciated. The result of this growth is that, in the middle of the third month, the originally simple stomodseal pouch has been divided into a pharyngeal part in the roof of the naso-pharynx and the free edge of the sept vim, and ; : an upper intra-cranial part that is forming the " glandular " portion of the pituitary body. The intermediate or basal part of the pouch disappears in the base of the skull. The occasional presence of a bony canal suggests that it may sometimes persist, though it is not improbable :that this may be only a persistence of vascular tissue in some cases. The : ; cavity of the infundibular growth apparently disappears during the third "i month, the process being composed mainly of neural cells continuous with : those in the floor of the third ventricle, but with a layer of fibi'es on their = ventral side. In the fourth month fibres have appeared among the cells. y To sum up: during the second and third months Rathke's pouch, at its ; dilated upper end, grows up on both sides of an infundibular or neural process, and encloses its proximal part, leaving its distal end freely projecting behind. At the same time lateral groups of epithelial ' processes spring from the front aspects of the pouch margins, and a • 'eutral group from its front aspect between these. The lateral groups t'xtend from below upwards, and thus reach the cornua that enclose the neural part, and in the interval thus occurring between them as they pass backward the central group comes to the surface. The groups, enlarging, b>na the great mass of the gland in the fourth month and push the <avity to the back, where it lies under the neural portion. The buccal portion loses its connection with the naso-pharynx about the beginning of flie third month or later, but a persistent tract remains below the skull running down the back of the nasal septum to the angle between the latter and the soft palate. Frazer has never seen any tendency of the neural part to invade the buccal portion, or to throw out any processes whatever. Macleocl Year si ey. Lodge, S.—Cases Illustrating some Intra-cranial Conditions of General ' • i Interest. " Brit. Med. Jo urn.," March 16, 1912. ; In this paper seven cases of disease of the pituitary gland are recorded. Acromegaly was the chief clinical manifestation of five of these, and <i liposity with sexual infantilism of the reversive form of the remaining i wo. 378 The Journal of Laryngology, [July, 1913. • One patient suffered from " uncinate fits." The report of an autopsy made on a subject of acromegaly with gigantism presents some interestingdetails of the morbid anatomy of the larynx, nose and ear in that particular syndrome. The transphenoidal route was adopted for draining a pituitary cyst in two patients. In one an osteoplastic flap of the nose was turned to one side; and, in the other, the nose was turned up by a large sublabial approach. The septum nasi was removed with its mucosa attached in both operations. The writer would strongly recommend in preference to either of these methods that elaborated by Cashing. The sublabial incision is not more than 2 cm. in length. The septum is removed submucously through a submucous resection speculum, the cavum sellse is entered, and the floor of the pituitary fossa removed ; haemorrhage is arrested, the septal niucosse fall together, and the sublabial incision is closed. One of Cushiug's patients after a simple decompression resumed her occupation after an interval of seven days. •Jushing further paints out that a sellar decompression facilitates radiotherapy, applied through the nares ; and. in states of hvpopituitarisni. will reduce the amount of pars posterior gland-substance required for efficient opotherapy. Author's Abstract. McCarthy and Karsner.—Adeno-carcinoma of the Thyroid with Meta stasis to the Cervical Glands and Pituitary: A Contribution to the Pathology of Abnormal Fat Formation. " Amer. Journ. Med Sci.," vol. cxliv, No. 6. Among the clinical varieties of excessive and aberrant fat formation. the form known as Adiposis dolorosa was found by the authors to be associated with lesions of the pituitary, thyroid, and sexual organs, ami of seven cases examined post-mortem by other observers, lesions of the thyroid consisting of atrophy with compensatory hypertrophy were noted in all, while tumours of the pituitary were present in three cases am! pathological lesions of the gland in tAvo others. Similar features are presented by some of the other varieties of lipomatosis, and while one of the cases here described appeared to represent an intermediate type between adiposis dolorosa and adiposis cerebralis. and showed an adeno-carcinoma of the pituitary body, the othei (described in much detail) presented features of the three groups— adiposis cerebralis, symmetrical adeno-lipomatosis, and adiposis dolorosa —and was associated with adeno-carcinoma of both thyroid and pituitary glands. In this second case the lesion of the pituitary was regarded not as a metastasis from the thyroid, but as the result of a compensatory over-action, followed by a degenerative process predetermined in its nature by an already existing similar condition in the thyroid. Thomas Guthrie. Hirsch, Oskar (Vienna).—The Operative Treatment of Tumours of the Hypophysis Cerebri by Endonasal Methods. " Archiv fin Laryngol.," vol. xxvi, Part III . In this important paper Dr. Hirsch gives a detailed account of the pioneer work on which he has been engaged during the past three years His experience of operations on the pituitary body by the endonasal route is unique, and the present paper is based on a series of twenty-five cases treated in this way. Four of the cases have been already reported July, i9i3.] Rhinology, and Otology. 379 (Archiv fiir Larynr/oL, vol. xxiv, 1910), but the description of them is here repeated in full, together with details as to their subsequent history. Cases of tumour of the hypophysis may be divided into three groups, according to the symptoms which they exhibit: (1) Cases of well-marked acromegaly, with enlargement of the hands, feet, nose, tongue and jaw, thickening and pigmentation of the skin, increase of hair on the body, .; enlargement of the larynx (hoarseness) and of the thyroid gland. The j( sexual functions are altered, and disturbances of vision are common. ^ (2) Degeneratio adiposo-genitalis. Increase of the body-fat together I with loss of sexual function, and very often certain trophic changes, such <" as falling out of the hair, brittleness of the nails, disturbances of sweat and urine secretion, and lethargy. Visual disturbances are the rule. Co) Disturbance of vision without striking changes in the general coni dition. Even in these cases. hoAvever, careful inquiry will almost always , disclose the presence of one or more of the symptoms mentioned in the ,-econd group. The visual disturbance takes the form in this, as in the ,= • »ther groups, of diminution of acuity and contraction of the visual field. The latter shows itself very frequently as a bitemporal hemianopsia. and is as such almost pathognomonic of pituitary growths. In the early stages colours are alone affected. The diagnosis of pituitary tumours is based on a consideration of the ; general symptoms presented by the case, a careful examination of the eyes, and the discovery by radiography of a widened sella turcica. In approaching the hypophysis by the endonasal route the choice lies lietween tAvo methods—1 he ethmoidal and the septal. In both local '<••• anaesthesia is employed. The first is carried out in three or four separate ;: -tages at intervals of a few days as follows: (1) Excision of the middle » ; i urbinal of one side; (2) removal of the posterior and some of the ( interior ethmoidal cells of the same side, so as to lay bare the whole ^ anterior Avail of the sphenoidal sinus ; (3) removal of the latter so as to f .; impose the widened sella, which is opened either at once or in a fourth • , "•tage. In the septal method, approach to the sphenoidal sinus, and so to >he pituitary body, is obtained by a submucous resection of the septum. ; ; Both sphenoidal sinuses are opened in the mid-line, and the whole opera'• • lion is carried out in one sitting, unless narrowness of the olfactory : fissure renders necessary a previous removal of both middle turbinals. j This method entails less risk than the ethmoidal of infection from the nasal cavities. It Avas employed by the author in all the cases except lie. In performing the operation the most scrupulous aseptic precautions are observed, the instruments being re-sterilised at frequent : uterAals during the course of the operation. Anaesthesia is secured by iie application of cocaine and tonogen solutions, and by infiltration, with •"M'hleich's No. 2 solution, of the whole septal mucosa from the sphenoidal , inns forward to the membranous septum. The operation is carried oui , >ith the patient in the sitting position. After remoAal of the greater part of the cartilaginous and bony septum, and the rostrum sphenoidale. •


CD20 plays a role in human B cell proliferation and is an effective target for immunotherapy. In this study, mouse CD20 expression and biochemistry were assessed for the ®rst time using a new panel of CD20-speci®c mAb, with CD20 function assessed using CD20-de®cient (CD20±/±) mice. CD20 expression was B cell restricted and was initiated during late pre-B cell development. The frequency and density of CD20 expression increased during B cell maturation in the bone marrow, with a subpopulation of transitional IgMhi B cells expressing higher CD20 levels than the majority of mature recirculating B cells. Transitional T1 B cells in the spleen also expressed high CD20 levels, providing a useful new marker for this B cell subset. In CD20±/± mice, immature and mature B cell IgM expression was ~20±30% lower relative to B cells from wild-type littermates. In addition, CD19-induced intracellular calcium responses were signi®cantly reduced in CD20±/± B cells, with a less dramatic effect on IgM-induced responses. These results reveal a role for CD20 in transmembrane Ca2+ movement in mouse primary B cells that complements previous results obtained using human CD20 cDNA-transfected cell lines. Otherwise, B cell development, tissue localization, signal transduction, proliferation, T cell-dependent antibody responses and af®nity maturation were normal in CD20±/± mice. Thus, mouse and human CD20 share similar patterns of expression and function. These studies thereby provide an animal model for studying CD20 function in vivo and the molecular mechanisms that in ̄uence anti-CD20 immunotherapy.


South Africa first implemented rolling blackouts known as load shedding to protect the integrity and maintain stability of their ailing electrical grid over a decade ago. Since then, load shedding has become a daily occurrence, which South Africa plans to alleviate through the addition of grid-connected renewable generation. Significant renewable energy (RE) additions can however negatively affect a grid, prompting South Africa to develop RE-specific grid code requirements as mitigation. Given this strategy to address the country's supply challenges using RE, and the still unknown effects of the country's aggressive RE integration planned, South Africa must perform the necessary simulations tailored to the country's unique grid conditions, and local RE-specific grid code requirements to ensure a RE-driven solution are indeed viable. Prompted by the lack of a suitably tailorable simulation platform, this paper proceeds to discuss the development of a tailorable grid code-guided renewable power plant (RPP) behavioral studies testbed. The testing methodology involves feeding grid disturbance event data to an RPP modeled after Eskom's Sere wind farm in South Africa, which is operated in line with local RPP-specific grid code voltage and frequency requirements to assess the testbed's grid code-guided RPP operating approach. Results show the testbed to effectively distinguish between grid code-specified no-fault, fault ride-through, and trip conditions, operating the simulated RPP accordingly. Consequently, as compared to comparable RE integration simulation platforms, the reviewed testbed has the potential of producing individualized results, owing to its tailorable grid, RPP, and incorporated grid code guiding specifications.


of deity, an object of worship, or a method of communion, (indicating) a common primitive tradition. "(VII) (Various items) witness to the early sanctity of marriage and its monogamous character over against the evolutionary theory of early promiscuity . . . explained onlyon the basis of a primitive revelation. "(VIII) Finally, belief in the immortality of the soul is universal ... proof of primitive revelation."


Innovation is the key driver of competitiveness, wage, job creation and long-term economic growth. Innovation is a part of visioning and of the collective capacity to imagine and choose new development trajectories for rural areas – farms, businesses, communities and territories.  The process of technological innovation involves interactions among a wide range of actors in society, who form a system of mutually reinforcing learning activities. Innovation system can be defined as a network of organizations, enterprises, and individuals focused on bringing new products, new processes, and new forms of organization into economic use, together with the institutions and policies that affect their behaviour and performance. Government, the private sector, universities, and research institutions are important parts of a larger system of knowledge and interactions that allow diverse actors with varied strengths to come together to pursue broad common goals in agricultural innovation. The paper investigates the organisation and functioning of the Agricultural Knowledge System in Romania. On the basis of qualitative and system analysis approaches, we critically examined the set of public and private organisations dedicated to research, education and extension, and their interaction with knowledge users (traditional farmers) and the main system failures and strengths in the innovation process in agriculture were identified. The empirical research in this study had a heuristic value. In Romania the hierarchy of organisations/institutions that mediate innovation is headed by the multinational companies that manufacture and supply inputs. They are followed by the universities and research institutes, research stations and different institutions that represent the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The main disturbing factors of innovation dissemination in Romania differ according to the perception of interviewed actors, namely: The innovation offices/agencies consider that there are several different factors that hinder innovation transfer, namely lack of finance, fear of novelty, lack of information, legislation, state; The farming companies believe that the disturbing elements lie in the state institutions, financial scarcity and the non-functional relationships existing between the farmers and the state in particular; The research organisations, governmental entities and cooperation clusters consider that the farm and farmer characteristics (absence of agricultural education and of vocational training, economic farm size) generate significant obstacles in the process of innovation diffusion and acceptance.


Point-of-care technologies (POCT) are transforming the healthcare landscape. As per the definition given by College of American Pathologists (COA) "POCT is the testing performed near or at the site of a patient with the result leading to a possible change in the care of the patient." With the tremendous growth in this segment and technological advancements, we can imagine the future where patients themselves will be able to diagnose the disease based on the bio-marker corresponding to that disease by a simple and handy diagnostic kit; a step towards personalized medicine that will help the clinicians to design appropriate therapy for patients [1,2].


Abstract Given a Polish group G of isometries of a locally compact separable metric space, we prove that each measure-preserving Boolean action by G has a spatial model or, in other words, has a point realization. This result extends both a classical theorem of Mackey and a recent theorem of Glasner and Weiss, and it covers interesting new examples. In order to prove our result, we give a characterization of Polish groups of isometries of locally compact separable metric spaces which may be of independent interest. The solution to Hilbert's fifth problem plays an important role in establishing this characterization.


Mao Zedong'a thought on physical culture in his article A Study of Physical Culture is the embodiment of the concept of physical education oriented towards students' all-round development, as well as the concept of the mass physical training for improving people's health and rejuvenating the Chinese nation. It also expounds on the function of physical culture in school education, and complies with the current "quality education". Therefore, Mao's thought still serves as the guidance for China's physical education system.


Using first-principles calculations in combination with the Boltzmann transport equation and empirical potential models, we investigate the thermal transport and thermoelectric properties of carbon foam. The results show that large anisotropic thermal conductivity can be observed in carbon foam. The Z direction of carbon foam has the highest thermal conductivity of 22.97 W/m K at room temperature, which is about 25 times greater than that of the Y direction. This is due to the lower phonon group velocity and stronger anharmonic interaction in the Y direction than those in the Z direction. Moreover, we find that the carbon form has excellent thermoelectric properties in the Y direction, the ZT can reach 0.5 at room temperature, and the ZT can be further improved to 0.84 at 800 K, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that in the Z direction. This results from the large power factor and ultralow thermal conductivity in the Y direction.Using first-principles calculations in combination with the Boltzmann transport equation and empirical potential models, we investigate the thermal transport and thermoelectric properties of carbon foam. The results show that large anisotropic thermal conductivity can be observed in carbon foam. The Z direction of carbon foam has the highest thermal conductivity of 22.97 W/m K at room temperature, which is about 25 times greater than that of the Y direction. This is due to the lower phonon group velocity and stronger anharmonic interaction in the Y direction than those in the Z direction. Moreover, we find that the carbon form has excellent thermoelectric properties in the Y direction, the ZT can reach 0.5 at room temperature, and the ZT can be further improved to 0.84 at 800 K, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that in the Z direction. This results from the large power factor and ultralow thermal conductivity in the Y direction.


(1)Theoretical basis for the division of agricultural regions:
In a socialistic country, agriculture forms a part of national economy, every agricultural region being an indispensible constituent in agricultural development of the country and being also an agricultural complex of relatively independent nature which complies principal crops, secondary crops and subsidiary productions.
The purpose of division of agricultural regions is for rational solution of the problem of localization and specialization of the agricultural production in national economy. Therefore, we must take consideration of the demand of national eco-nomic development on agricultural production, principles of agricultural localization and specialization and regional conditions of agriculture in order to determine the direction of agricultural specialization of a region and to delimit the boundaries of agricultural regions.
The following principles are important for determination of the direction of agricultural specialization of a region:
(a)coordination of production and consumption;
(b) full utilization of natural conditions;
(c)full utilization of original basis of agricultural production;
(d)transport conditions of different regions;
(e)full utilization of labour resources;
(f)rational system of crop rotation to conserve and raise the fertility of soils.
(2)Suggestions for working out a scheme of agricultural regions of China: In a country like China, with a great variety of natural and economic
conditions, regional specialization of agriculture has important significance for raising agricultural productivity so as to assure a sufficient amount of agricultural products to meet the demand of national economy. In the present stage of econo-mic development of China, with successful progress of national industrialization and socialization of agriculture, it is necessary to carry on research on the division of agricultural regions of the whole country.
However, in the present, it is difficult to divide agricultural regions at once, because scheme of the division of economic regions has not been completed,
agricultural cooperatives are still in constant development, necessary data are insufficient and directions of agricultural specialization of different regions are far from apparent.
Under these conditions, the only practical method is that the Central Government Authorities, using available materials, work out a preliminary scheme of agricultural regions of the 1st order in which the main tasks of agricultural deve-lopment of provinces are pointed out. The Provincial Authorities, basing upon 12 year agricultural development plan of the province, draw a plan of future distribution of principal crops and group hsiens with approximately same direction of agricultural specialization to form agricutural regions of the 2nd order.
After that, by the same principles and methods, the hsien authorites can work out plans for the division of agricultural regions of 3rd order which may be used as a guide for county and agricultural cooperative planning.
After completion of the division of agricultural regions of the 2nd order, the Central Government Authorities, basing upon agricultural development plan of the whole country and taking in consideration of conditions and characteristics of agricultural development of every region, revise boundaries of the preliminary scheme of agricultural regions of the 1st order and complete an authorized division of agricultural regions of the whole country.


RF power transistors employing aluminum metallization can degrade and fail when the aluminum carries high-current densities at elevated temperatures. Two distinct mechanisms promoted by electromigration lead to failure. These are 1) the growth of etch pits filled with aluminum which penetrate and short the emitter-base junctions and 2) a reconstruction of the metallization which increases the electrical resistance reducing the device efficiency.


The pathogenesis of preeclampsia involves many environmental and genetic factors. An excessive inflammatory response during pregnancy could cause an imbalance in the immune system, and thus contributes to the development of preeclampsia. Inflammatory cytokines produced by T-helper 2 cells, such as IL-4, contribute to inhibiting cellular immunity and inducing the placental growth. Two common genetic polymorphisms were observed in IL-4, including C-590T and C+33T. We performed a study to investigate the association between IL-4 C-590T and C+33T polymorphisms and development of preeclampsia in a Chinese pregnant women. We conducted a casecontrol study that included 162 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 266 healthy controls. The genotyping of the IL-4 C-590T and C+33T was carried out by a method of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). By logistic regression analysis, the CC genotype of IL-4 C-590T was significant associated with a reduced risk of preeclampsia when compared with the GG genotype, and the adjusted OR (95% CI) was 0.39 (0.15-0.90). In dominant model, we observed that the GC+CC genotype was correlated with a decreased risk of preeclampsia in comparison to the GG genotype (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.35-0.97). In recessive model, we found that the CC genotype exposed a lower risk of preeclampsia than the GG+GC genotype (OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.16-0.94). However, no significant association was found between L-4 C+33T polymorphism and susceptibility to preeclampsia. In conclusion, our study suggests that IL-4 C-590T polymorphism could be a risk factor for preeclampsia.


Combining with international modified design to the strengthening of basalt fiber/resin matrix composite,the current research to the interface-reinforcing of the composite was introduced by studying the mechanism of the interface-reinforcing of basalt fiber/resin matrix composite.Besides,the importance of surface modification to the basalt fiber in the future was pointed out.


BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to compare population size of mudfish (Misgurnus mizolepis) between the agricultural practices and to investigate the causes of its differences. We also provided basic information for sustainable use of mudfish population in paddy fields. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mudfish and benthic invertebrates which are diet of mudifish were investigated from 8 sites of organic and conventional rice paddy fields in South Korea. Total number of mudfish were 1,882 individuals in survey sites. Mudfish population were 2.4 times larger in organic paddy fields (1,333 individuals) than in conventional paddy fields (549 individuals). The population size of mudfish was larger in Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do with relatively better environmental conditions than the other 5 sites including Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do, Gimje-si, Jeollabuk-do, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. Benthic invertebrates collected from survey sites were 74 species, 68 genera, 46 families, 19 orders, 6 classes and 3 phyla. According to agricultural practices, benthic invertebrates were identified 66 species, 62 genera, 41 families, 17 orders, 6 classes and 3 phyla in organic paddy fields while there were 66 species, 60 genera, 42 families, 18 orders, 6 classes and 3 phyla in conventional paddy fields. Dominant invertebrates were Chironomidae sp., Branchiopoda sp., Ostracoda sp., and Copepoda sp. There were no differences in dominant species between organic and conventional paddy fields. Population size of mudfish tended to increase with the population size of Chironomidae sp., Branchiopoda sp., Ostracoda sp., and Copepoda sp. But, only population of Chironomidae sp. and Copepoda sp. statistically related to population size of mudfish. The number of individuals of mudfish (Misgurnus mizolepis) was higher at the low rate of urban area than any other surveyed region and was affected by appearance ratio of main preys such as Chironomidae sp. and Ostracoda sp. CONCLUSION(S): The population size of mudfish in rice paddy fields could be affected by environmental conditions and agricultural practices such as organic and conventional methods.


A soft ware of Yeast Identification Program prepared by Barnett et al. and published by Cambridge University press in 1985 is introduced, details about how to use his program for classification and identification of yeast using IBM PC DOS are described. The program was used to identify 82 strains of yeast, obtained from forest soil of Jizhu Mountain and Zijin Mountain in Yunnan. Among them, 47 strais were identified to species level, 21 strains to genus level, and 14 strains were not nomed yet.


PURPOSE
Of our retrospective study was the estimation of the efficacy of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and intravitreal injections of SF6 gas in cases of subretinal macular haemorrhages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
In 20 patients aged 23-83 years, the subretinal macular haemorrhages were diagnosed, due to senile macular degeneration (9), hypertension (3), myopic retinochoroidal degeneration (3), other retinal heredodegeneration (2), retinal macroaneurysm (2) and trauma (1). We injected the solution of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator--Actilise (Boehringer Ingelheim) into vitreous cavity of these eyes. After lowering IOP, the intravitreous injections of 0.5 ccm SF6 gas were done, and following 24 hours down head positioning were carried out.

RESULTS
The initial visual acuity before treatment was: HM or CF, from less then 1 meter in most of our cases (12 patients). The after treatment visual acuity ranged CF from 2 meters to 0.7. The early treatment conditioned better acuity. Even in cases of delayed treatment, the diminishing of central visual scotoma could be awaited.

CONCLUSIONS
The new method of treatment in cases with subretinal macular haemorrhages despite of its symptomatic characters seems to be helpful in restoring the central vision in some cases.


Since the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, enterprises all the world have suffered from a crisis, which both threats human health and impacts production activities. Due to the particularity of listed companies in the pharmaceutical industry up against COVID-19, this study evaluates how COVID-19 affects the financial performance of pharmaceutical companies and the influential factors of the performance differentiation. Our research shows that COVID-19 leads to a decline in the performance of listed companies in the pharmaceutical industry. However, the impacts vary because of different domains of main products, among which the impact on listed companies producing commodities related to epidemic prevention and control such as vaccines and masks shows the least significant. In addition to the factors of listed companies themselves, we also find that companies located in less economically advantaged and less densely populated areas are slightly less impacted. According to the research results, policymakers should consider strengthening the financial supervision of enterprises and paying attention to the implementation of public health work. Moreover, business managers should choose suitable domains of main products and key development areas to reduce the negative impact of potential economic recession.


We solve numerically the equations of motion for the collapse of a shell of baryonic matter, made of galaxies and substructure of $ 10^{6} M_{\odot} \div 10^{9} M_{\odot}$, taking into account the dynamical friction and the parameters on which it depends: the peaks' height $\nu_{c}$, the number of peaks inside a protocluster $N_{tot}$ multiplied by the correlation function $\xi (r)$ evaluated at r=0, the filtering radius $R_{f}$ and the core radius of the cluster of galaxies, r_0. We show how the collapse time of a shell of baryonic matter depends on those parameters.


With the development of power market and wheeling,the transmission capability as a technique index and market signal becomes a more and more important parameter.The paper first discusses the basic concept and definition of total transfer capability(TTC),and analyzes some corresponding restrict factors by graphic solution.Then the solution algorithms of TTC are reviewed.Some available algorithms such as power transfer distribution factor(PTDF)method based on direct power flow,continuation power flow(CPF)method,optimal power flow(OPF)method and their implement are also compared.Lastly,the paper gives some prospects to further solution and study direction for TTC.


The color equation and changes of the enzyme activity related to enzymatic browning including the PPO,POD and SOD in fresh-cut Niitaka pear during storage were studied.This method can be used for the quality control of fresh-cut Niitaka pear during storage.The results showed that the browning degree increased continuously during storage,PPO activity rapid increased in the first seven days and then slow increased,while POD activity steady increased in during storage,POD activity is very high and the change is significant,while SOD activity increased in the first four days and then decreased.It indicates that PPO,POD and SOD affect enzymatic browning of Niitaka pear collectively.


The GRA 3 gene of Toxoplasma gondii was amplified from plasmid pGEX-GRA3 by PCR and ligated into pMD-18T simple vector for DNA sequencing.Then,the PCR products were inserted into pVAXⅠvector to construct a recombinant plasmid named as pVAX-GRA3 and characterized by PCR and restriction-endonuclease PstⅠand XhoⅠdigestion.Hela cells were transfected by plasmid pVAX-GRA3 with lipofection strategy and the expression of GRA 3 gene were detected by RT-PCR.The results showed that we have successfully constructed a recombinant plasmid of GRA 3 gene of Toxoplasma gondii,which established a base for further study of vaccines using the GRA 3 gene.


Abstract The paper establishes connections between funerary art in the Eastern (Cappadocia) and the Western Mediterranean (Lombard kingdom in Northern Italy) during the seventh century. Jewelry pendants and gemstone decorations are also covered. The similarities of the image concepts suggest common design principles, with the cross as a symbol of the Son of Man when God returns on Judgment Day (Mt 24, 30). As celestial signs in the midst of stars and planets, these forms of the cross, which may also have influenced the Baiuvarian and Alemannic gold-leaf crosses, have a cosmic character. Under the sign of the concentric cross, according to Mt 24, 31, the angels gather together the elect (Christians) from the four directions of the world.


Two experiments investigated the links between feedback about goal progress, positive affect and task-switching in the face of competing goals. Several models predict that the willingness to shift resources to a competing goal will be higher if the progress in the focal goal is good. Moreover, Carver (2003) proposes that these shifts represent an increase in openness to other goals that is mediated by positive affect, which is triggered by good progress. Both predictions were tested using explicit progress-feedback that permitted the induction of affect during goal attainment and the measurement of subsequent effects on goal-directed behavior. While the results generally endorse the predictions about resource shifting, they contradict the assumption that the behavioral differences are mediated by affect. Therefore, if explicit feedback about goal progress is present, positive affect contains no relevant information and does not mediate changes in goal-directed behavior that occur due to feedback.


The objective of the research is to make a study on the impact generated on those unregulated microfinance La Libertad region, then opt for the supervision of the Superintendency of Banking and Insurance In the present investigation is designated as hypothesis the positive impact that has oversight of the Superintendent on the financial statements of microfinance unregulated to do an analysis of the financial statements in order to compare before and after monitoring was done, too a comparison of the most important ratios was conducted and concluded with an interview with professionals with experience in microfinance supervised and unsupervised. The reason for conducting this research is to note that due to the economic climate, there is variety of dedicated to microfinance companies, however not yet have a clear picture of those companies without being supervised choose to use some rules the superintendent , presented their accounts of the banking mode , thereby generating tax contingencies .


The prior distribution is a basis of the Bayesian analysis and has extensive application in many aspects of mathematical statistics.There are several ways to obtain the prior distribution.Among these approaches,the most important one is Jefferys' noninformation invariance prior principle.In this paper,by applying this principle,the prior distribution of a multivariate tmodel with Rao's simple structure is obtained.


In People v. Rivera , 33 N.E.3d 465 (N.Y. 2015), the New York Court of Appeals recognized that there is an exception to physician–patient privilege in child-protection hearings. The court considered whether the mandated reporting of child abuse creates an exception to physician–patient privilege


In his studies on the comparison between the Chinese culture and the Western's,Tang Junyi,the contemporary representative figure of the confucianists in Hong Kong and Taiwan,has revealed that the basic spirit of the Western culture is the spirit of "seeking displaying oneself consciously",this shows that the principal attainment of the Western culture is the formation of the objective world of the humanities;while the fundmental spirit of the Chinese culture is that of "pursuing realization consciously",which leads to the outstanding accomplishment of the Chinese moral quality.Both the spirits have their values,but also with the defects of their own.Therefore,the combination of the two cultures has become the right way for the development of the cultures.


The risk of unhealthy disposal of solid waste is one of the important problems in many societies. Environmental knowledge attitude practices of young people (like students) appears to be crucial as their point of view ultimately plays an important role in providing solution to future environmental problems. The study was conducted aiming to find knowledge attitude and practices of University students with respect to waste management. Total 300 students were included in this study. Data collected by self administered questionnaire and analyzed, using't' test. It was found that knowledge attitude and practices of University students regarding waste management was low, less favorable and moderate respectively and correlation between knowledge and attitude, attitude and practices was not found, but significant correlation was found between knowledge and practices.


OBJECTIVE
To objectively quantify the effect of flattening the crimps in Dacron tube grafts on the radial compliance under pulsatile pressure. We aimed to minimize the dimensional changes in woven Dacron graft tubes by applying axial stretch to the graft. We hypothesize this might reduce the risk of coronary button misalignment in aortic root replacement.

METHODS
In an in vitro pulsatile model that delivered systemic circulatory pressures to Dacron tube grafts, we measured oscillatory movements in 26-30 mm Dacron vascular tube grafts before and after flattening the graft crimps. We also describe our surgical methods and clinical experiences in replacing the aortic root.

RESULTS
Flattening the crimps in Dacron tubes with axial stretching significantly reduced the mean maximal oscillation distance measured radially during each balloon pulse (3.2 ± 0.8 mm, 95% CI: 2.6, 3.7 mm vs. 1.5 ± 0.5 mm, 95% CI: 1.2, 1.7 mm; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION
The radial compliance of woven Dacron tubes was significantly reduced after flattening the crimps. Applying axial stretch to the Dacron grafts prior to determining the coronary button attachment site can help maintain dimensional stability in the graft, which may reduce the risk of coronary malperfusion in aortic root replacment.


Objectives: To investigate participant experience of exercise programs for non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) and factors perceived to be important for engagement and participation. Methods: Qualitative methods with three focus groups facilitated by an independent, experienced facilitator. Participants: Eighteen people (> 18 years) who could speak, read and understand English and who had participated in an exercise program for NSCLBP. Design: Participants were guided with a set of pre-determined questions and encouraged to give personal opinions freely. Data were transcribed verbatim, read independently by 2 researchers and analysed thematically using grounded theory. Results: All focus group results concurred. Enablers for exercise participation included shared decision-making and effective communication; a history of exercise or fitness experience; individualised and supervised programs in a preferred environment; family support; variety and fun; motivation strategies; education and explanation. Barriers included lack of time, cost, boredom, symptom aggravation, consequences of stigma and dissatisfaction with formal exercise and gym 'culture'. Perceived benefits of exercise were improved general fitness, a sense of achievement and increased activity, participation and social engagement. These results have informed the development of a clinician checklist for exercise program design that includes shared decision-making. A draft questionnaire for participant exercise preferences is also proposed. Conclusion: People are likely to prefer and participate in exercise programs that are designed with consideration of their preferences, circumstances and past experiences. A mechanism for systematically recruiting information about patient preferences has not previously been proposed. Items suitable for inclusion in such an instrument are presented.


Here we examined the physical properties of one branded and five generic lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets (formulations A and B, C, D, E, and F, respectively), including their hydrophilia and tablet strength and the strength required to push the tablets out of a press through package. The wetting time of formulation F (38 ± 4 s) was approximately 1.5–2.7 fold of that of formulations A, B, C, D, and E (25 ± 2, 14 ± 1, 14 ± 1, 16 ± 1, and 22 ± 1 s, respectively). Formulations B, C, D, E, and F had hardness (>3 kgf) and friability (<1%) that could endure impact and vibration of the manufacturing process and transporting. However, formulation A did not have enough tablet strength. The press through package pushing out strength of formulation C (34.4 ± 3.0 N) was approximately 1.2–1.7 fold of that of formulations A, B, D, E, and F (20.1 ± 1.8, 29.7 ± 1.3, 28.0 ± 1.8, 22.3 ± 2.3, and 24.2 ± 2.1 N, respectively). These findings indicate that the physical properties of lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets, such as their hydrophilia, tablet strength, and press through package pushing out strength, differ between formulations. This study provides useful information for selecting lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets individually suitable for each patient.


The objective of this research is to improve upon existing reconstruction methods for static impedance imaging in electrical impedance tomography (EIT), both in speed and quality. A multigrid (MG) method is implemented to speed up the solution of the forward problem in EIT. Compared with direct solution methods and other iterative algorithms, it is more efficient, especially for large system models. On the other hand, due to the nonlinearity of the underlying problem, all existing methods suffer from local optima. In order to find global or at least near optima, simulated annealing (SA) is used to solve the inverse problem of EIT. Some strategies are also proposed, including the insertion of the forward problem in the annealing process, and the discretization of the configuration space. Simulation experiments show the advantages and feasibility of the proposed method.


Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is associated with corneal conjunctivalization that compromises corneal transparency and causes visual impairment. Previously, we found marked changes in proteasome population in corneas of rabbit with LSCD, and showed immunoproteasome (IPR) presence in central corneas during conjunctivalization compared to healthy rabbit cornea. In the present study, we further map the distribution of proteasomes population in the ocular surface.


This research work contributes to the improvement of the productivity of hard yellow corn, through the application of two botanical extracts for the control of the main pest: fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Today this scourge has had incidents in percentages of up to 80% in the cultivation, processing and control becomes difficult and expensive to have recourse to conventional chemical products (insecticides).
The experimental field of 4 blocks at random with four treatments, a total of 16 experimental units, worked two botanical extracts of tobacco, (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and Paradise (Melia azedarach L.). and, also the combination between these two products.

The study area is located on the altitude of 723 meters above sea level, in the ecological dry suptropical forest, with a rainfall of 600 ml per year.

The treatments studied were: T1 aqueous extracts of tobacco leaves (150gl of water); T2 aqueous extract of leaves of paradise 112.5 gl of water; T3 Mixture of the two partly same extracts and T4 an absolute control.

The variables analyzed were the incidence or plants with presence of active larvae, Survival of larvae after two controls consecutive; effectiveness of treatments based on survival by applying the formula of Aboot; plant height, number of leaves per plant; scale of foliar damage and grain yield per plot / acres.

The analysis of variance for incidence, survival of larvae to the second control, plant height yielded results highly significant and grain yield. In the field of study, the infestation caused by adults of Spodoptera frugiperda from sanctuaries in the vegetation in the area was low to overcome the scale 3 (table 1) affecting exclusively the area leaf plants, in the form of holes without causing damage to the ear. The larval density at the application of aqueous extracts of tobacco Nicotiana tabacum L and paradise Melia azedarach. The witnesses did not exceed 6 larvae, sample of 10 plants.
The effectiveness of the aqueous extracts of tobacco was less efficient to that of Paradise by analyzing Aboot corrected mortality and mixing the two compounds formulated, reached an effectiveness of the 100% .

In terms of effects of the attack of "cogollero" (fall armyworm) in grain yield was obtained losses estimated at 23.3 to 27.5% in witness in relation to the average performance of the aqueous extracts of tobacco and paradise.


Phase II trial of pemetrexed and gemcitabine as first-line chemotherapy for elderly and/or poor performance status patients with stage iiib/iv non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Schwartzberg, Lee S.1 Blakely, Johnetta1 Keaton, Mark2 Schnell, Fred3 Henry, David4 Tucker, Steven5 1 Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Memphis, TN, USA 2 Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Augusta, GA, USA 3 Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Macon, GA, USA 4 Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Philadelphia, PA, USA 5 Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Singapore, Background: The combination of Pemetrexed (PEM) and Gemcitabine (GEM) in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC has shown synergy in both preclinical and clinical studies with a favorable toxicity profile compared to other doublets. Late-stage and symptomatic diagnosis in elderly patients remains an increasingly common problem. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of this doublet as first-line therapy for advanced NSCLC in the most difficult to treat patients, i.e. older patients and those with poor performance status. The goal of this novel doublet regimen is to preserve the activity of twodrug combinations while minimizing toxicity in an 'at-risk' population. Methods: Patients with age > 65 and ECOG 0-2 or age < 65 and ECOG of 2, with locally advanced or metastatic (measurable stage IIIB/IV) NSCLC by RECIST criteria were treated with biweekly cycles of PEM 500mg/m2 IV over 10 minutes, followed by GEM 1500 mg/m2 IV over 30 minutes on Day 1. Cycles were repeated every 2 weeks with a maximum of 12 cycles for stable or responding patients. All patients received vitamin B12 1000 μg and folic acid 1000 mg 7 days prior to the initiation of treatment and continued through treatment. Results: 45 patients were enrolled to this study. The median age is 72 (range 46-88). Five patients had stage IIIB and 40 stage IV, median number of sites of disease is 2. 62% are male. Patient performance status was as follows: ECOG 0=5, ECOG 1=27, ECOG 2=13 patients. Overall, 22 pts experienced a Grade 3 or 4 AE. Seven patients had grade 3 or 4 neutropenia with 2 patients having febrile neutropenia. There were 2 patients with grade 3 or 4 anemia, and one with thrombocytopenia. 30 patients were evaluable for best overall response, with 1 achieving CR (3%), 6 with PR (20%), 16 with SD (53%) and 7 with PD (23%). Overall, clinical benefit (CR+PR+SD) was seen in 76% of patients. Conclusion: Pemetrexed and Gemcitabine in combination on a biweekly schedule has substantial activity with a favorable toxicity profile for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. Overall response rates and clinical benefits are comparable to contemporary platinum containing doublet regimens.


The initial ingestion age and size and the digestive index of Argopecten ventricosus-circularis Sowerby II, 1842 veliger larvae were investigated using epifluorescence microscopy. Ten microalgae were tested as feed during the first 7 days of life at this stage. Results of ingestion experiments showed there was a significant positive correlation between the smaller geometric dimension of the algae and the larval age and size of initial ingestion. Out of the 10 species offered, only Nannochloris oculata (NANO), Isochrysis galbana (TISO), Monochrysis lutheri (MONO), Chaetoceros muelleri (CM), Chaetoceros calcitrans (CC), Thalassiosira pseudonana clone 3H (3H), and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PHT) were ingested. No ingestion was observed in Thalassiosira pseudonana clone s78 (S78), Tetraselmis suecica (TETRA) and Dunaliella tertiolecta (DUN) during the experiment. The digestion index of the larvae, defined as the degree of algal digestion at the third hour after ingestion, increased with larval age and size with TISO and MONO. With CC, 3H and CM, the digestion index was lower and no digestion was observed with NANO and PHT.


Low back pain is an increasingly prevalent and costly issue in the United States. It is a particularly relevant problem for Workers' Compensation patients, who typically experience worse surgical and functional outcomes than their non-compensated counterparts. Neuropsychologists often provide intervention and assessment services to compensated patients with back pain, and thus it is critical they possess a basic understanding of the factors that might predispose an injured worker to poor spine surgery outcomes. This paper will review the current literature regarding presurgical biopsychosocial factors which have been implicated in poor back surgery outcomes among injured workers. We provide some tentative guidelines for neuropsychologists to utilize in providing services to injured workers with back pain.


Fan vaults, the most spectacular structural form of the English Gothic architecture, has been admired by architect lovers for many centuries. The mechanics of fan vaulting raises several interesting questions, most of which are still unanswered, even though the maintenance and restoration of historic buildings would require the deep understanding how these fascinating structures work, how they respond to mechanical effects and how they carry their loads. The last major study on fan vaulting was published four decades ago, still in 1980, and since then there were only a few publications about the topic, rare and rather scattered. On the other hand, several modern methods were born since then which could advantageously be used for the analysis of the mechanics of fan vault. This paper gives an overview on the history and constructional types of fan vaults, then introduces what we know today about their statics; shortly introduces the most important modern calculation methods that are potentially usable for such studies and gives a list of open issues worthy of investigating.


The spectrum data were obtained by direct scanning apples with the portable near infrared analyzer.In order to decrease the force of the spectrum noise and sample graininess,raw spectra were pretreated by Savitzky-Golay smoothing and multiplication scatter correction.The establishment of the calibration model was based on partial least square method(PLS) and the model was optimized by wavelength variable selection with particle swarm optimization algorithm(PSO).To illuminate the performance of the optimized method,the PLS method based on swarm optimization algorithm(PSO-PLS) was compared with the PLS method based on the whole spectra(W-PLS) by the analysis of apple acidity.The calibration and prediction acidity models respectively gave the correlation coefficients of 0.9880 and 0.9833 for PSO-PLS and of 0.9553 and 0.9596 for W-PLS;the root mean standard errors of calibration(RMSEC) were 0.0197 for PSO-PLS and 0.0388 for W-PLS,respectively;the root mean standard errors of prediction(RMSEP) were 0.0193 for PSO-PLS and 0.0304 for W-PLS,respectively.The prediction results revealed that the prediction acidity values were closer to the chemical values for PSO-PLS than for W-PLS.Compared with W-PLS,PSO-PLS not only reduced wavelength variables and decreased calculation time,but also greatly improved the model performance and strengthened the prediction accuracy of the model.The results show that PSO-PLS can establish a good analysis model to accurately predict the acidity in apples and can be widely applied to rapidly analysis apple internal qualities in the field.


the ambiguous relation to the police, the military, and elites within a dynamic of repression and co-optation. These early developments set the stage for the codification of modern capoeira in its Regional and Angola styles during the mid-twentieth century. The next two chapters relate the complex social meanings, the details of formal techniques, and the narratives of the great Regional and Angola mestres, Bimba and Pastinha, and their followers.


The English Revision of the Authorized Version of the Bible was initiated in 1870 and drew upon the finest scholarship of established and non-conformist clergymen. It ushered in one of the most contentious, politicized debates in the history of Bible translation, even as it finally broke the hold of the King James Version. The conflict over the revision has been known only through published sources. A seal has remained over the dynamics between the two dozen members of the committee responsible for the revision of the New Testament. The official minute book yields nothing of the textual, grammatical, and translational debates nor of the voting patterns governing decisions. This gap can now be overcome with the discovery of two of the twenty-one notebooks kept by Brooke Foss Westcott, one of the members of the committee. His detailed account of each members' arguments over almost every verse of Matthew's Gospel provides an invaluable insight into the variety and alignments of English biblical scholarship in the nineteenth century.


In engineering practice, informed consent is not only to respect for individual freedom and rights, but the important means to maintain pub-lic interests and promote engineering practice. On the premise of "consensus paradigm", whether informed consent comes from the medical field may become the basic principle of engineering ethics is controversial, however, the practice of informed consent is also facing many difficulties such as formalism. It interprets and removes the arguments and difficulties to seek out the solution, which includes making up the defects of normative ethics with virtue ethics and promoting public understanding of engineering. It 'll not only promote engineering practice, but help to deepen the further research in engineering ethics.


Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) has fascinated physicians and sociologists at least since 1865, when de Crecchio published his famous autopsy and social report of a person whose sex of rearing was ambivalent in early childhood and who lived as a man, died in an apparent Addisonian crisis, and was found to have hyperplastic adrenals, a uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries at autopsy (described in Ref. 1). The hormonal basis of CAH was elucidated in the 1950s, illustrating the transition of endocrinology from descriptive clinical phenomenology to a biochemically based understanding of physiology and disease (reviewed by Ref. 1). This era employed the available crude tools and analytical chemistry to separate, isolate, and characterize steroids from blood and urine. Until recently, much confusion pervaded the literature on adrenal steroidogenesis and its disorders because only a limited number of circulating steroids could be measured by immunoassays.With theadventof radiolabeled steroids in pure form, isotope-tracing technology provided a glimpse of steroid pathways and metabolic flux (2), but the array of steroid biosynthetic and degradative enzymes was unknown, and the substantial differences in steroidogenesis among different mammals were not appreciated. Cytochrome P450 was described in 1962, and the first activity ascribed to P450 enzymes was steroid 21-hydroxylation (3), but it took another decade before it became clear that there were many distinct P450 enzymes participating in steroidogenesis. The advent of molecular cloning technologies in the 1980s rapidly permitted the identification of thevarious steroidogenic genesand their encodedenzymes (4). Today, we have a very detailed understanding of the molecular biology, biochemistry, and physiology of human steroidogenesis and its disorders (5), yet the discovery of new diseases and pathways of steroidogenesis constantly forces us to revise our ideas and to scrap some long-standing dogma. Now, with parallel advances in mass spectrometrometric methods for comprehensive steroid analysis (6), we have come full circle, and steroid chemistry has regained center stage. In this issue of the JCEM, Kamrath et al. (7) show how advanced technologies applied to urinary steroid analysis—coupled with a broader understanding of the pathways of androgen synthesis—are revising how we conceptualize the origin of androgen excess in CAH. The methodologies employed in this work and the insight gained from the data provide new analytes (biomarkers) that should improve the diagnosis of CAH and the management of this complex disorder.


Spanning c. 1050–1500 CE, a burgeoning Swahili community called Chwaka built a sequence of four mortared coral mosques in their town of wattle-and-daub houses on Pemba Island, Tanzania. The mosques' placement, construction, and use played an active role in creating and strengthening an Islamic community and help us define changes in social practice within the town and the larger polity in which it existed. It is argued that the construction of each mosque was an act of assembling, drawing people, other-than-human things and affective social practices together in ways that help tell an urban story. This research provides insights into the residents' socioeconomic and cultural priorities and the town's changing relationship with villagers from the surrounding region, contributing to understandings of Swahili urbanism and urban practice.


This paper is dedicated space technology advances use architectural design in town planning for selected area of Gobustan district, Azerbaijan. It describes conceptual approach of the process of use space technology in initial stages of design process. This paper briefly observes an option of remote sensing platform for data collection with further geographical information system (GIS) technology applications.
The decision oriented on the importance of linking remote sensing systems with GIS. The use of GIS is contained in application such as image classification, calibration and environmental modeling.
There is clearly great complimentarily between remote sensing and GIS. Existing remote sensing method and GIS technology are operating and functioning independently. It is necessary to mention that by linking the technology, concepts and theories of remote sensing into GIS, information systems considerable richer and more sophisticated can be created for use in substantive applications.
The fact is that application indicated technology for collection necessary data during execution and decision making of engineering solutions. An advantage of use of space technology is an excellent instrument of merging and integration accessed data into geographical coordination stimulated of easily those definition and importance in all the stage of engineering executions.


Upper and lower bounds are derived for the number of pseudothreshold functions of n variables. (Pseudothershold logic is a generalization of threshold logic.) It is shown that a lower bound on the number of pseudothreshold functions P(n) of exactly n variables realized by zero-free structures is The number of pseudothreshold functions Q(n) of n variables realized by nontrivial structures is bounded by It is also proven that is a lower bound on the number of positive functions of exactly n variables.


Abstract The synthesis of magnesium smectite from heated slurries of magnesium hydroxide, silica and lithium fluoride proceeds through ready formation of torroidal structures visible under the electron microscope. These are associated with the synthesis of a smectite-like material with, however, only half the expected requirement for silica. True smectite only forms significantly with Si/Mg ratios > 1 and reaction times (at reflux) > 1-3 days.


We investigate the impact of import competition from low-cost countries on the exit of domestic firms from the manufacturing industries of eight European countries. We find a significant positive impact on the exit of large firms, while small firms are not directly affected. The empirical evidence is consistent with small firms having a comparative advantage in terms of flexibility and niche-filling capabilities, on a narrower relevant geographic market.


Looks at how we bring the trauma of our childhood into the workplace, considering our "family" at work, and probes more deeply into traits which abused adults carry with them daily. Finally, explores the long‐lasting effects with regard to communication patterns in the workplace as they appear in conflict resolution, performance appraisals, relationships with authority figures and co‐workers, and suggests what employee assistance programmes can do to help adults who have been abused as children.


Shot peening is a common procedure to improve the static and cyclic stre components. It is based on a multiple localized plastic deformation of regions. Ceramics show at room temperature the typical brittle materia failure before deformation. Thus, strengthening of ceramics due to deformalion ~indk~ced compressive residual stresses has been thought to be not possible. Recent investigations showed, however, that also in brittle materials like ceramics high compressive stresses can be introduced near the surface. This presentation compiles the status of the novel shot peening technique applied to silicon nitride ceramics. The results show that high compressive residual stresses in the GPa-range can be introduced in silicon nitride which may boost the static and cyclic load capacity of the near surface layer by a factor of up to 5. In addition, the fracture toughness of the near-surface region is dramatically improved. SUBJECT INDEX Ceramic, residual stress, strengthening, plastic deformation, fracture toughness. INTRODUCTION Non-transformation toughened ceramics show at room temperature the typical brittle material behavior of failure before deformation. Thus, strengthening of ceramics due to deformation induced compressive residual stresses the main mechanism of shot peening has been thought to be not possible. Recent investigations (Pfeiffer, 2002; Pfeiffer, 2004) show however that, under specific shot peening conditions, also in brittle materials like ceramics high compressive stresses up to more than 1 GPa can be introduced near the surface. By exposing these strengthened surfaces to loading situations which are characterized by a steep nearsurface stress gradient, a boost of load capacity could be obtained. Such loading situations exist in e.g. ball and sliding bearings or forming tools. The aim of this paper is to compile the present status of the ceramic shot peening process and the latest results for silicon nitride which is one of the most important ceramic materials used in mechanical engineering applications. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS Material investigated The material investigated was a commercially available silicon nitride ceramic, N3208 (H.C. Starck Ceramics). The most important material characteristics are a bending strength of 877 MPa and a fracture toughness of 4.2 MPa m1l2 (Rombach, 1995). Flat samples were prepared for the static and cyclic tests by polishing using 1-3 vm diamond abrasives. FATIGUE AND FRACTURE OF OTHER MATERIALS Shot peening The shot peening tests were carried out with a modified injection system. The pressurized air and the shot are applied to the jet nozzle in two different tubes. The shot is accelerated in the nozzle to a high velocity and hits the specimen's surface. The shot used was tungsten carbide beads with a diameter of 610 690 vm. The peening pressure ranged from 0.2 MPa up to 0.4 MPa. Typical peening times were 280 up to 840 seconds. The resulting Almen-intensity was in the range of 0.22 up to 0.28 mmA. The most important shot peening parameters are indicated in the figures. Determination of residual stresses and dislocation density The residual stresses and dislocation densities were determined by X-ray diffraction using CrKa-radiation and the (41 1) diffraction lines of p-silicon nitride. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the diffraction line was calculated to characterize the dislocation density. The macroscopic residual stresses were derived from the peak shift determined for I 1 y/-angles between +45" and -45" using an X-ray elastic constant 1/2s2 of 3.89 G P ~ ' and the well known sinZW-method (Muller, 1961). The penetration depth from which 67% of the diffracted X-rays arise was 8 pm. For depth probing of residual stresses, it was necessary to remove stepwise thin surface layers by polishing using 3 pm diamond abrasives. This mechanical material removal resulted in additional, but small compressive residual stresses. Determination of load capacity The static and cyclic load capacity was determined using the ball-on-plate test. The advantage of this test is the high surface sensitivity due to the in loading direction rapidly decreasing tensile stresses (Rombach, 1995). Fig. 1 shows the loading situation. The load on a silicon nitride ball is increased stepwise until a typical cone-crack could be detected by optical microscopy (see Fig. 2). Because of the statistical behavior of ceramics, the load which causes fracture varies from test to test within a certain scatterband. p pic all^, 5 up to 10 samples with equal surface conditions were tested. Fig. 1:Loading situation in the Fig. 2: Cone crack (0 400 pm) at ceramic ball-on-plate test. the surface of a plate after loading in the ballon-plate test. The tests were performed using a servo-hydraulic testing machine. In case of the cyclic experiments l o 6 cycles with a frequency of 60 Hz were used before inspection of the surface. Silicon nitride balls with a diameter of 10 mm and 4.78 mm were used. For ICSP9 : SHOT PEENING determination of the depth distribution of the static load capacity a stepwise material removal using 3 pm diamond abrasives was performed. Determination of fracture toughness The depth distribution of the fracture toughness within the near-surface region affected by shot peening was determined using the Vickers indentation technique (Warren, 1995) and a stepwise material removal using 3 pm diamond abrasives. Five up to 7 indentations were used to calculate average fracture toughness values. RESULTS Residual stress and dislocation density. The depth distribution of residual stresses and width of the diffraction lines (FWHM, as a measure for the dislocation density) determined for two typical peening conditions are shown in Fig. 3. The different peening conditions result in different residual stress distributions. In case of the lower peening pressure (0.2 MPa), the maximum compressive stress of 1.2 GPa occurs at the immediate surface and decreases continuously to approximately -150 MPa within the first 60 vm. The higher peening pressure (0.3 MPa) results in maximum compressive residual stresses of 2.0 GPa 25 30 vm below the surface. They decline to approximately -1 30 MPa within the first 80 pm. -00.2 MPa, 840 s 1 7 5 0 ~ , , , < , , , , , , , I -2000 U n0.3 MPa, 840 s depth in pm depth in pm Fig. 3: Depth distribution of residual stresses (left) and width of the diffraction lines (right) of shot peened silicon nitride using two different peening pressures. Static and cyclic load capacity The results of the static and cyclic ball-on-plate tests are shown in Fig. 4. The fracture probability as a function of the load is plotted for the shot peened (0.3 MPa 1840s) and the polished reference surfaces, respectively. FATIGUE AND FRACTURE OF OTHER MATERIALS Fig. 4: Fracture probability of polished 100 and shot peened samples, respectively, 8 c 80 determined in static and x e cyclic ball-on-plate tests. 5 60 Note that in case of the m I;! static tests of the shot 40 peened samples the 2 capacity of the test 2 20 equipment was P 'i-


A 3D display is a key component to present virtual space in an intuitive way to users. A motion parallax-based 3D display can be easily combined with multi-touch surfaces, and it is expected to bring a natural experience of viewing and controlling 3D space. However, since virtual objects are rendered in accordance with the head position of the user, their projected positions are not fixed on the display surface. We propose a novel formulation of head-coupled perspective that adaptively changes the position of the projection image plane to maintain touch consistency of direct interaction.


Full-wave electromagnetic modelling of MIC/MMIC is required for efficient and accurate circuit analysis and design. Spectral-domain analysis (SDA) has been utilized frequently in the past but the application is virtually limited to cases where the circuit fits into an orthogonal coordinate system. For the analysis of arbitrarily shaped transmission line discontinuities, finite element/finite difference type methods (FEM/FDM) and transmission line matrix (TLM) method offer a high degree of flexibility. The need for large computer memory and supercomputer power is the main hurdle in implementing these methods. A technique with some potential to overcome these problems is method of lines (MOL). However, discretizing two spatial variables in a circuit that contains fine details requires a large number of lines and again leads to computer-time-intensive algorithms. To eliminate the shortcomings of the conventional MOL and take advantage of the attractive features of SDA, a combination of the two methods, the pseudospectral based method of lines, is developed for the analysis of arbitrarily shaped spatial 3D planar MIC/MMIC. For this application, the pseudospectral based method of lines is numerically very efficient, since most of the unfavorable properties commonly encountered with either SDA or MOL are avoided. The resonant frequency of a microstrip resonator dominant mode is analyzed.


1 School of Public Health, (Hohoe campus), University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. M. B. 31, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana. 2 Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies, Sandpiper Place, NYD 54/55 Nyanyano District, Suit 1 Langma, Central Region, Ghana. 3 Municipal Chief Executive, Hohoe Municipality, Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana. 4 Professor of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Vice Chancellor, University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. M. B. 31, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana.


Analysis of the simulation outputs and of the behaviour of some prototypes of shared-bus multiprocessors with cache memories showed that: (i) system performance depends on the percentage of write operations operating on shared copies and (ii) some events (such as process migration, execution of input/output interrupt routines on different processors, and so on) create a high number of shared copies derived from memory blocks belonging to private data of processes. Starting from these results, we have designed a new coherence protocol which works to reduce the number of shared copies. The basic new idea lies in (i) identifying the copies unused by the running process and (ii) destroying them when they are involved in shared-bus transactions. This paper describes this idea, the coherence protocol, the cache architecture requirements needed to realize such an idea.


The article argues for the key strategic line in giftedness development to be the support of a child's formation as the subject of his/her own life. Therefore the fundamental research tasks are to be the development and testing of the projective giftedness formation models based on subjectivity practices and the subsequent evaluation of the effectiveness of these models. The author analyses available theoretic conceptions of giftedness to propose a general methodological framework opening the subjectivity perspective. The particular focus is on the abilities of philosophic substantialism, on the one hand, and personality oriented anthropologic conceptions, on the other, to solve the problem of giftedness conceived as a phenomenon of subjectivity.


Abstract While it is scattered throughout a voluminous body of journalistic prose treating art, literature, drama, politics, philosophy, and manners, William Hazlitt's conception of what we now call culture is still recognizable, grounded as it is in language relations. It would not be too much to say, indeed, that for Hazlitt no subject may be considered but as it emerges from its characteristic expression in language. This essay argues that throughout his writings Hazlitt demonstrates a preoccupation with the nature of language, his views reflecting the philosophical (and political) divisions cutting across Enlightenment language theory. His conception of culture emerges from his acute sense of how the self-referential medium of language virtually constructs the world in which we live. ********** A guest at the Hazlitt home one day, the artist William Bewick was surprised to find no tangible indication of his host's formidable cultivation--"no appearance of books, no pictures or prints of any kind whatever!" He was, however, struck by the parlor's singular aspect: Over the mantel-shelf, upon the wainscot, instead of picture or looking glass, there was written, in good bold hand (Hazlitt's own writing) as high up as he could reach and covering the whole space, all manner of odd conceits (as they appeared to be), of abbreviations,--words,-names,--enigmatical exclamations,--strange and queer sentences, quotations,--snatches of rhyme,--bits of arithmetical calculations,--scraps of Latin,--French expressions,--words or signs by which the author might spin a chapter, or weave an elaborate essay. The chimney-piece seemed to be his table of mnemonics,--his sacred hieroglyphics,--all jotted down without line, or form of any kind, some horizontal, some running up to the right, some down to the left, and some obliquely. They seemed thoughts and indications of things to be remembered, put down on the instant. (1) More than simply raw materials, the "words or signs" viewed by Bewick over his host's mantel are elements of that elusive text termed culture, or rather the conventional tags out of which such a concept may arise, though perhaps not in any definitive sense. They are a "table of mnemonics," but they are "all jotted down without line, or form of any kind." They are "sacred hieroglyphics," but they have been "put down on the instant." William Hazlitt (1778-1830) would not have spoken of "culture" per se, for in its modern sense this term is a late nineteenth-century coinage. (2) But if Hazlitt's terminology was unfixed, his conception of what we now call culture is recognizable, even though (or perhaps because) it is scattered throughout a voluminous body of journalistic prose treating art, literature, drama, politics, philosophy, and manners. If he could claim to have written upon these subjects as an author, however, as a civil being he was immersed in their ambiance. Culture by any other name for Hazlitt is something surrounding us in which we live, read, and write. "The materials of thought and feeling," he observes in "Paragraphs on Prejudice," "the body of facts and experience, are infinite, are constantly going on around us, and acting to produce an impression of good or evil, of assent or dissent to certain inferences" (20:325). (3) This essay starts from the premise that Hazlitt's densely annotated front parlor, the great commonplace book in which he received William Bewick, is an apt figure for his concept of culture with its language-based epistemology. It would not be too much to say that for Hazlitt, whose views on language underlie both his philosophical and popular writings, no subject may be considered but as it emerges from its characteristic expression in language. In The Spirit of the Age (1825), he goes so far as to assert that "words have gained a mastery over things" (11:157)--to a degree, apparently, where language is our only means of extending the limited evidence of our senses. …


Screening colonoscopy for early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is recommended by national and international guidelines and allows both detection and resection of colorectal polyps in the same session. In fact, an endoscopic resection of low‐ and high‐grade colorectal adenomas as precursors of CRC is associated with a significant reduction of CRC incidence. However, the endoscopist needs to adhere to defined quality parameters such as an adenoma detection rate (ADR) of at least 25%. Recent data of a national registry demonstrated that a reduced CRC incidence was associated with a sufficiently high ADR. Therefore, several devices, which can easily be attached to the distal tip of the colonoscope, have been evaluated for its ability to increase the ADR. One of these devices is the Endocuff with a row of eight soft projections, which fold backwards during insertion and pull forwards during withdrawal to flatten colonic folds, providing an enhanced view of the entire colon. This should reduce the rate of overseen polyps and increase ADR. The current study of Floer et al. compared cap‐assisted colonoscopy (CAC) with Endocuff‐assisted (EAC) and standard colonoscopy (SC) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). They included 585 patients with half of them that underwent screening colonoscopy. They found no statistically significant difference in ADR between the three groups (EAC 32%, CAC 30%, SC 30%; p = 0.815). In concordance to the results of this study, Marsano et al. performed a comparable trial in 2019 and revealed similar results as there was no difference in ARD between EAC, CAC, and SC. However, studies have provided data for the superiority when using a cap or an Endocuff and showed an increased ADR compared to SC, while other studies failed to show any superiority of EAC or CAC on ADR. In addition, different RCTs did not find a difference when using EAC or CAC and showed even, in part, conflicting results. Two recent meta‐analyses included six RCTs and found no difference in ADR, withdrawal time or cecal intubation rate, but EAC detected more diminutive polyps. Another study compared all available attachable devices in a network meta‐analysis of 25 RCTs. Only a modest increase in ADR was found with EAC (relative risk [RR] 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03–1.23), in particular in low‐performing endoscopists. Based on the available data, the current study by Floer et al. only confirms previous findings on the topic of attachable devices in colonoscopy. Moreover, some limitations should be acknowledged. Overall, the achieved ADR of about 30% in the groups is lower than in the trials presented above. A possible explanation could be that the number of patients undergoing screening colonoscopy was higher in the other studies, and the authors did not mention whether (at least some of) the patients had prior endoscopies with polyp resection. In addition, withdrawal time was shorter than 6 min for some patients. Although they mentioned that not the latest version of the Endocuff device was used, there are no data indicating superiority of the new device generation. So, one could argue that there is no need for attachable devices as they have no benefit for the experienced endoscopist. Moreover, most studies compared Endocuff or cap to standard colonoscopy as reference and did not consider the effect of advanced imaging such as blue‐light imaging (BLI) or linked‐color imaging (LCI) alone, or in combination with new computer‐aided devices (CAD) that also have been shown to significantly increase the ADR. Furthermore, recent studies have shown ADR rates of more than 40% or 50% in control groups, thus an adenoma was found in almost every other patient. So, is there really a need to even further increase ADR with behind folds visualizing techniques (BFTs)? Based on the current definition of ADR, an increase in the number of polyps or adenomas detected in the same patient has no effect on ADR. In our opinion, an improved detection of adenomas per patient should be considered as primary outcome when evaluating BFTs, as overseen adenomas have the potential to become an interval CRC. In most studies that analyzed BFTs in colonoscopy, the authors found an increase in the rate of detected polyps or adenomas per patient. These indicators could be helpful to analyze the importance of cuffs, caps, or other mechanical attachable devices in screening colonoscopy and should be taken into account in further studies. In addition, a potential increase in the detection of diminutive polyps by BTFs will increase the costs of colonoscopy, which, in times of budget restrictions, adds to costs of the procedure. In conclusion, the additive effect of EAC or CAC is not elucidated yet, and further studies are needed before any advice for or against their general use can be given.


If people could shrink themselves down and enter the world of nanoporous materials—solid materials like activated carbon or porous glasses that have pores of nanometer size—they would encounter exotic phenomena that were quite unexpected on the basis of everyday experience. Even thermodynamic properties thought of as constant such as the freezing point of water can be markedly depressed when fluids are confined in these tiny pores. And new phases sometimes appear that are different from typical bulk vapor, liquid, or solid phases.


Mineral carbonation is a process whereby CO2 is chemically reacted with calcium and/or magnesium containing minerals to form stable carbonate minerals which needs minimal long-term monitoring. The in situ transformation mechanism involves injection of CO2 into geological formations where the temperature, pressure, and pH parameters for mineral-carbonation prevails. However, the dissolution of CO2 into formation waters depend on temperature, pressure, salinity, and buffering of pH through fluid-rock reaction, which needs numerical modeling to see the combined effect of certain variables through time. This paper presents findings from combined effect of salinity, temperature and pressure in a local geological formation, Kuantan Basalt. The models show that the amount of trapped CO2 in the selected geological formation with pure water condition and at temperature ranges from 60-150 °C is much lower than that of CO2 trapped at higher salinity geological conditions. The models also show a general decreasing amount of trapped CO2 with increasing pressure for salinity range from freshwater to 20000mg/l of NaCl. However, an increased amount of trapped CO2 with higher salinity such as the gas field of Malaysian scenario is observed. These findings may provide clues as what could happen if CO2 is sequestered into geological formations with similar mineralogical composition, similar temperature, salinity and pressure conditions.


Cancer and cardiovascular disease remain the two leading causes of death in the United States. Progress in treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality will include the development of new drugs. Recent advances in induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology, tissue engineering, and microfabrication techniques have created a unique opportunity to develop 3-D microphysiological systems that more accurately reflect in vivo human biology when compared to 2-D "flat" systems or animal models. Our lab is developing 3-D micro- organ systems using iPS technology that simulate 1) the microcirculation, 2) cardiac muscle, and 3) solid tumor which can then be combined to create integrated micro-organ systems that simulate 1) perfused cardiac muscle, 2) perfused solid tumor, and 3) perfused cardiac muscle and solid tumor. I. INTRODUCTION There remains a great need for continued innovation in the development of new therapeutic options, including pharmaceutics, to treat cancer. 2-D cell culture systems do not capture the rich cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions of the 3-D in vivo tissue microenvironment that is so crucial to predict drug response. Moreover, while there is not normally an obvious connection (e.g., cardiac tumors) between the diseases, it is well-documented that several prominent chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., doxorubicin, cyclophosph- amide) have detrimental effects on cardiac function (1), and both cardiomyocytes and many tumor cells share expression of pro-survival proteins and tyrosine kinases (2). The development of advanced 3-D human micro-organ systems that include tumor, cardiac muscle, and the vasculature in a modular design could provide a major advance in anti-cancer drug discovery while minimizing cardiac side effects.


An X-ray apparatus for use with spool-mounted film enabling different film formats and different exposure patterns to be selected and comprising : a film supply section with a motor-driven feed roller and a film cutter assembly ; a film transfer section comprising two pairs motor-driven of belts located on a frame-shaped carriage mounted on rails for lateral displacements ; and a section for marking and storing the exposed film.


Crude ethanolic extract of Nerium oleander leaves was evaluated for its insecticidal and antibacterial activities. Stored grain pest, Trogoderma granarium and fruit fly Drosophila rufa larvae were used as insect model. The leave extract was prepared in ethanol. The recovered dried extract was 9.4g/100gram of fresh leaves. Dried extract was suspended in ethanol for exposing T. granarium and D. rufa. To check the contact effect of the crude extract, 2 nd and 4 th instar larvae of T. granarium and 3 rd instar larvae of D. rufa were used. Three methods viz.., filter paper, residual film and feeding were used. Concentration of N. oleander extract used were 10, 25, 50 and 100mg. T. granarium larvae showed 10% mortality after 72 hours at 100mg dose level. In D. rufa 10% mortality occurred after 48 hours and 15% after 72 hours at 20mg dose level. Antimicrobial activity of N. oleander crude extract was evaluated by disc diffusion method against both Gram-positive and -negative bacterial strains. Nine doses of crude extract i.e., 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.00, 1.2 and 1.4 mg/disc for each strain. Four strains i.e., Bacillus cereus, cellulose producing Bacillus, B. alves and Acinetobacter anitratus showed growth inhibition zones at all above concentrations.


Abrasive water suspension jet (AWSJ) machining process utilized increasingly in industrial applications. It is a nontraditional machining process and involves complex mechanics. A nozzle is required to perform abrasive water suspension jet machining for material removal with the help of very high velocity of water suspension jet. The main problem of AWSJ machining process is nozzle wear during the process. The wear depends on various parameters such as water jet characteristics, abrasive size and nozzle geometry, etc. The nozzle wear is not fully understood experimentally; also the uncontrolled nozzle wear can affect the effectiveness and surface finish obtained through the AWSJ machining process. In the present work, the effect of geometrical parameters of single step nozzle and abrasive size on skin friction coefficient at the wall of nozzle due to wall shear stress and jet exit kinetic energy has been analyzed by ANSYS software. This analysis is totally depends on nozzle geometry and nozzle material is taken same for all cases. This analysis can be highly helpful for understanding nozzle wear during the AWSJ machining process.


Purpose, to achieve efficiency and effective supply chain management (SCM) has become a potential to increase competitive advantage and improve business performance. Design/methodology/approach, in this research process the respondents as sample size is 125 and the data processing used program SmartPLS. Findings, it can be concluded that, first, supply chain management practices have a positive and significant impact on business performance; second, supply chain management practices have a positive and significant impact on competitive advantage; third, competitive advantage has an impact on business performance. Originality/value, first, the results of the study are used as a reference or new literature, and second, research  results will be useful for academics, and researchers Keywords: Supply chain management practices, Competitive advantage, Business performance,


Layout design and planning is becoming critical due to shorter product life cycles and highly dynamic demand conditions. In this context, cellular layouts are proposed over traditional layouts like product and functional layouts. But cellular layouts need a complete relocation of resources, which consume time and money. This paper studies the relative performance of virtual cellular layout, functional layout and cellular layout of an automotive component manufacturing industry. A simulation model representing the industry is built in WITNESS 2006 to study the layouts. The results indicate that the performance of virtual cellular layout is relatively superior to that of functional layout and marginally inferior to cellular layout in terms of cost and other performance.


The study reports the psychological reactions of flood victims in tile El Limon community (State of Aragua, Venezuela). Ten persons who lost all their belongings and some relatives (high victimization group) and ten persons who lost only their belongings (low victimization group) were given a short battery of psychological tests and an interview. Twenty non-victims (Control Group) were given tile psychological tests only. The work was guided by Taylor's Theory of Cognitive Adaptation (TCA) which focuses on three themes: The persons attempts (a) to find meaning for the aversive experience, (b) to regain personal control over the surroundings, and (c) to bolster selfesteem. Results showed that nine months after disaster the victims were equivalent to the non-victims in beliefs about personal control, control by powerful others, control by chance, passive hope, and self-esteem. At the same time, victims showed higher depression symptoms than non-victims, as measured by Beck's Depression Inventory. The specific symptoms in which victims were higher than non-victims were sadness, sleep, appetite, and sexual interest. It is concluded that the TCA was useful for explaining the psychological recovery of victims of a major natural tragedy.


The injection of an alternating carrier allows detecting the rotor position in PM synchronous motors. It is usually injected through the PWM, being therefore limited to about 1/5 of the switching frequency. By increasing the carrier frequency beyond the switching one, the bandwidth of the position observer can be significantly increased and audible noise can be reduced, among other advantages. A method is proposed to inject a carrier with a higher than the PWM frequency by coupling an external source through a transformer and a filter. An analysis of the advantages and difficulties, as well as experimental results, are presented.


On Friday the German legislator approved the " Dritte Mittelstands-Entlastungsgesetz ("MEG III"), which introduces a second domestic turnover threshold of € 5 million. This is expected to reduce…


Two Jasminum offcinale cultivars,'Fiona Sunrise' and 'Inverleith',were used to study their physiological response by investigating the membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes under NaCl stress.The results showed that electrolyte leakage(EL) and MDA content increased with the increasing of NaCl concentrations in the two cultivars,and the increases of EL and MDA in 'Fiona Sunrise' were less than those in the cultivar 'Inverleith'.With the increasing of stress time,ascorbate peroxide(APX),catalase(CAT),peroxidase(POD) increased in both cultivars;while the activity of superoxid edismutase(SOD) showed the different pattern.For the cultivar 'Fiona Sunrise',the SOD activity increased firstly,followed by a decrease and the peak was observed on the 15 th day.For the cultivar 'Inverleith',the SOD activity increased at 50 mmol · L-1 and 100 mmol · L-1,however,the SOD activity increased firstly and then decreased at 150 mmol · L-1.In conclusion,the two cultivars can reduce the harm of reactive oxygen by triggering the protective enzyme system in a certain range of NaCl stress,and the cultivar 'Inverleith' has a stronger resistance of NaCl than the cultivar 'Fiona Sunrise'.


The interpretation of the qur'an experienced significant development from the classical to the contemporary era. Shift paradigm is a change in the interpretation paradigm used by classical to contemporary commentators. The methods and approaches used by commentators are not stagnant in one understanding but experience real progress. It can be seen from the ijmali method to the hermeneutic method that is often used by contemporary commentators to interpret the verses of the qur'an. By using the literature method and content analysis, this study explains how changes in interpretation from classical to contemporary focus on feminist approaches. Feminist understanding which is increasingly known in the last century wants the position of equality between men and women or can be called by freeing women from understandings that marginalize women's positions.