Introduction: Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is typically described as a symmetric disease in its presentation and progression. However, despite this assumption, there are few publications that describe and study this symmetry. This study aims to evaluate the interocular symmetry of the integrity of external retinal layers evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with RP.
Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Hospital de Braga, Portugal. In this study, 29 patients with a diagnosis of RP observed between January and August 2017 were included. Data on age, gender, time elapsed since diagnosis, phakic status and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were collected. Data on the interocular symmetry of the thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and the integrity of the External Limiting Membrane (ELM), Ellipsoid Zone (EZ) and Interdigitation Zone (IZ) were evaluated.
Results: 58 eyes were analyzed. The mean BCVA in logMAR was 0.93 ± 0.63 in the right eye and 0.96 ± 0.68 in the left eye. There was a concordance between the assessment of the integrity of the ELM, EZ and IZ between the two eyes (p = 0.003, p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). There was a strong positive correlation between the measurement of ONL thickness in both eyes (rs = 0.884, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: This study confirms the high symmetrical nature of RP at the level of attainment of the different external layers of the retina. OCT is a sensitive and effective tool for assessing the symmetry of tomographic findings in patients with RP.


With the coming of information age, students' learning autonomy is strengthened while teachers' influence on students is weakened, which is a great challenge to the traditional role of college teachers. But students' internalization of knowledge is inseparable from teachers' guidance, and teachers' personality power, knowledge power and expressive power demonstrated in their teaching are still very important to the students' internalization of knowledge.


The study traces the major changes in the world community approaches to the agricultural policy shaping in response to digitization. The evolution of agricultural policy affected by high technologies is an important trend in the late 20th and early 21st century. In the last decade, the focus on creating level playing field for economic operators to access the agricultural market in the context of increasing digital divide is one of vectors in line with the overall transformation of agricultural policy. Digital divide in the farm sector is supplemented and amplified by the so-called "triple divide". The industry faces different access conditions for companies and individuals to manufacturing resources and market opportunities on gender, social and educational grounds. This situation exacerbates market discrepancy and social problems. Agricultural policy trends in the context of innovative development reflect the efforts of the world community to bridge the digital divide for the sustainability degree of the agricultural sector. Keywords—agricultural policy; digital divide; global market;


The essay provides both an interpretation and a theoretical reconstruction of the political philosophy of Martin Delany, a mid-nineteenth-century radical abolitionist and one of the founders of the doctrine of black nationalism. It identifies two competing strands in Delany's social thought, "classical" nationalism and "pragmatic" nationalism, where each underwrites a different conception of the analytical and normative underpinnings of black political solidarity. It is argued that the pragmatic variant is the more cogent of the two and the one to which Delany is most committed. It is also suggested that pragmatic nationalism can still serve usefully as a theoretical schema through which African Americans can understand and carry out their current political projects.


When one undertakes an arc flash study, one must develop a model based on the power system of interest. The model requires estimates of conductor lengths and other data. To ensure that the arc flash study that one is performing does not underestimate the magnitudes of the short circuit currents present within the power system, and to allow for limitations in the procedure by which one develops the model, typically visual inspection, one must carefully estimate the lengths of conductors. Computing "safety margins" can help to avoid errors, and maintenance switches can address the uncertainties involved. The final solution may be software that permits the percentage estimates for impedance elements to be built into the model for various equipment and used to compute arc flash levels on the secondaries of low-voltage circuit breakers.


What factors determine which firms in an industry ally with each other? This paper analyses a sample of 497 alliances, in ten countries, in the global pharmaceutical sector where alliances are prolific and central to corporate strategy. The results suggest that direct technological commonality (measured by cross patent citations between each pair), indirect commonality (measured by the degree to which they share common third-party technology sources), and prior alliance ties statistically explain the propensity that any two firms in a network will form an alliance. We also explore cross-border effects to see if companies originating in different nations are more likely, or less likely, to form alliances because of their national origins.


The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for frequency of readmission among heart failure patients at Assiut University Hospital. Research design: A descriptive exploratory research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: This study was carried out in the cardiovascular medicine department at Assiut University Hospital. sample: The study sample consists of a (100) heart failure patients; ages ranged from 18-65 years old. Tools: Two tools were used; tool one: a patient assessment sheet, tool two: re-admission assessment sheet. Results: Frequency of patients' readmission in a period of (6) months was (31%), (64.5%) have readmitted once, (29.03%) twice and (6.45%) three times. Highest percent was readmitted within 60 days of discharge (38.7%), (19.4%) readmitted within 30 days of discharge and (19.4%) readmitted within 90 days of discharge. Drug non-compliance, diet poor compliance, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, ischemia, anemia and worsening left ventricular function were the major risk factors for HF patients'readmission. Conclusion: Frequency of patients' readmission was (31%). Drug non-compliance, diet poor compliance, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, ischemia, anemia and worsening left ventricular function were the major risk factors for HF patients 'readmission. Recommendations: Design educational programs for patients with HF to reduce frequency of readmission of those patients.


In this paper I study whether the adoption of the Iso9001 certification in Italy, between 2011 and 2019, has helped small firms to reduce the gap in productivity, profitability and wages paid to the workers, with the leading group of firms operating on the frontier. After a pooled OLS estimation, a difference-in-difference model with fixed effects has been applied. I find that Iso9001 certification does support firms below the frontier to partially recover the gap in terms of multifactor productivity incorporating the mark-up and profits, while no robust effect has been detected for the mark-up corrected productivity and wages.


A method is described for studying the morphological features of endocrine cells of gastrointestinal mucosae in man and some animal species by semi‐automatic analysis of ultrastructural images. The method enables possible ultrastructural variations in gastrointestinal endocrine glandular cells of different types to be determined with an acceptable margin of error. Various causes of error are investigated. It is found that the main cause is the choice of microscope magnification, despite the corrections made. The factor of inconsistency in the reproducibility of measurements performed by several operators is also calculated.


Fungi of the genus Fusarium, which may infect many species of plants, as well as reduce the quantity of yield and deteriorate the grain and forage quality, are a threat because of the possibility of mycotoxin contamination of the forage. The ability to product mycotoxin is commonly found in many types of fungi. The European Commission has introduced a standardized content of these toxins in various products. Therefore, there is a need to determine mycotoxicity and mycotoxins content in various products, including the forage. Aim of this paper is to gather information about mycotoxins produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium and ways of detecting them.


Hadith Maja or Acehnese Proverbs are symbols which meaning understood by the users. The Acehnese proverbs contain values of warning for the people in their daily life. This research analized what cultural values consisting in those hadiths maja


Abstract : The goal of our program was to access the viability of using MEMS devices to detect tiring signatures from neurons. In order to evaluate these devices we needed to prepare and test MEMS devices biologically relevant situations and develop systems that will be sensitive to the rising and falling levels of potassium, present during neural activity. Several different MEMS structures were tested and one was found that gave a measurable resonance signal in water with ionic strength comparable to biological systems. The MEMS device showed efficient cation binding, however it was not selective to potassium. A potassium specific crown ether surface treatment was applied to the MEMS device, however this surface treatment did not lead to selective potassium binding. We are currently examining the surface coating to determine if the crown ether density was too low for efficient potassium binding. In a parallel effort we have developed methods for selective cell binding to TiN surface. Cell adhesion molecules were anchored to the TiN surface, promoting the adhesion of dissociated cells.


Some types of graphics software lend themselves to an automated form of quality assurance (QA) that greatly increases productivity and confidence in product quality. The techniques described below allow automated checking of graphics software output with adjustable error tolerances. In my own instance, I am able to automatically test the accuracy of my graphics product with much higher reliability than I had previously attained with ad hoc techniques, especially through the use of fuzzy comparisons described below.


Objective: Orthogonal array design was used to optimize the microwave-assisted extraction of total flavonoids from Chinese date seeds.Methods: Total flavonoids were spectrometrically determined using rutin as a reference compound.The effects of microwave power,extraction time,temperature,solid-to-solvent ratio and ethanol concentration on the extraction yield of total flavonoids were investigated by one-factor-at-a-time experiments.Subsequently,these extraction parameters were optimized by orthogonal array design.Results: Five extraction parameters were ranked in descending order of their effect on the extraction of total flavonoids as follows: solid-to-solvent ratioextraction temperatureextraction timeethanol concentrationmicrowave power.Their optimal levels were 1:60(g/mL),60 ℃,20 min,50% and 500 W,respectively.Under these conditions,the extraction yield of crude total flavonoids was 10.14%,and the total flavonoid content of the extract obtained was 7.00%.Conclusion: The extraction efficiency of total flavonoids from Chinese date seeds is remarkably increased by microwave extraction and orthogonal array optimization.


Frederick Mosher has written that "the professional composition of public agencies has substantially revolutionized their internal anatomy, physiology, and nervous systems, [while] the emergence of professions [has] revolutionized the precepts and practices of public employment."1 As time passes, debts to Professor Mosher grow dearer for his seminal insights regarding the "professional state" and its Janus-like implications for public administration and democracy. Certainly, professionalization -"the evolution of a core of commonly shared and recognized knowledge and expertise by members of a group" with a shared educational experience-has continued apace in the public service at all levels of the Madisonian political system.2 In fact, nearly one-third of today's public workforce claims professional or technical expertise in an identifiable and specialized occupation that requires at least a college degree and offers a lifetime career to its practitioners.


The investigations have been conducted by measuring fatigue crack propagation near fatigue threshold in various structural steels differing in chemical composition and strength level. The fatigue crack propagation measurements were carried out using the constant-load-amplitude test in Paris-region, R-constant and K max -constant method in near fatigue threshold region. Scanning electron microscopy at fatigue crack front on fracture surface was applied to interpret the influence of crack closure effects on the measured fatigue threshold. Marked fretting oxide deposits distributed on the fracture surface at threshold level were observed in a low load ratio resulting from the combined action of plasticity- and oxide-induced crack closure under laboratory atmosphere. Fatigue threshold dependent on the load ratio appeared to be related to the extent of the crack closure effect. By considering the relationship of reversed plastic zone size and grain size the fatigue threshold in region of crack closure was calculated theoretically. The result has shown a good agreement with the experimentally measured values.


Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Industrial Ecology Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resources Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China, Institute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China, Center of Environmental Systems Research (CESR), University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany


The authors compare the differences between main connection of UHVDC and that of conventional HVDC;expound the features of UHVDC protection;partition the protection zone of UHVDC and configure protection-measuring points.Besides,the action strategies of UHVDC protection for faults of converter transformers located at rectifier side or inverter side as well as the short circuit fault of rectifiers and inverters are proposed.Above-mentioned faults are simulated by EMTDC.Simulation results show that by means of the proposed action strategies,the faulty 12-pulse converters can be reliably deblocked to ensure continuous operation of UHVDC system.


Reports from 637 fish kills that occurred between 1984 and 2002 in Florida canals (n = 264), creeks/rivers (n = 64) and ponds/lakes (n = 309) were examined to assist management agencies that need to understand and respond to fish kill events. Critical investigation of 407 fish kills showed that 75% were caused by probable natural processes, 13% were from unknown causes, and 12% were human-induced. Fish kills occurred in every month of the year but were most abundant in summer from June through September as was the abundance of rainfall and warmer water temperatures. Canals, creeks/rivers, and ponds/lakes showed strong significant correlations (p < 0.05) between average monthly rainfall and monthly frequency of fish kills with correlation coefficients of 0.86, 0.73, and 0.72, respectively. The Florida lakes that had fish kills, where water chemistry data were available (n = 25), tended to be alkaline with mean pH and alkalinities of 7.7 and 55 (mg/l as CaCO 3 ), respectively. The fish kill lakes were also mostly productive with total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll, and Secchi depth averaging 69 µg/L, 1290 µg/L, 36 µg/L, and 1.2 m, respectively. These water chemistry averages were all significantly lower in nearby lakes that experience no fish kills, with the exception of Secchi depth, which was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05). We recommend that state agencies in charge of fish populations use resources to systematically investigate all fish kills and maintain reports that can later be merged with ambient limnological data to better understand and potentially predict the occurrences of fish kills.


This thesis goes into the augmented reality world and, being more specific in
Vuforia uses, searching as an achievement the analysis of its characteristics.
The first objective of this thesis is make a short explanation of what is
understood by augmented reality and the actual different varieties of AR
applications, and then the SDK's features and its architecture and elements. In
other hand, to understand the basis of the detection process realized by the
Vuforia's library is important to explain the approach to the considerations of
image recognition, because it is the way in which Vuforia recognizes the
different patterns.
Another objective has been the exposition of the possible fields of applications
using this library and a brief of the main steps to create an implementation
always using Unity3D, due to Vuforia is only a SDK not an IDE. The reason to
choose this way is due to the facilities that are provided by Unity3D when
creating the application itself, because it already has implemented all
necessary to access the hardware of the smartphone, as well as those that
control the Vuforia's elements.
In other way, the Vuforia's version used during the thesis has been the 1.5, but
two months ago Qualcomm was launched the new 2.0 version, that it is not
intended to form part of this study, although some of the most significant new
capabilities are explained.
Finally, the last and perhaps the most important objective have been the test
and the results, where they have used three different smartphones to compare
the values. Following this methodology has been possible to conclude which
part of the results are due to the features and capabilities of the different
smartphones and which part depends only of the Vuforia's library.


Pollen proteins from selected Ambrosia taxa and selected relatives were compared using four serological techniques: radial immunodiffusion (RID), rocket immunoelectrophoresis (RIE), 2-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2-D IE), and Ouchterlony double diffusion. Data revealed that all Ambrosia species were distinguishable from putatively related species, even within the tribe. Ambrosioid and franserioid species were very similar to each other, confirming the congeneric nature of these taxa. A particular protein, antigen E, was found to be different in the species of the two groups. The combined techniques of presaturated antisera with RID and 2-D IE proved to be valuable for helping to make taxonomic inter- pretations concerning Ambrosia. Comparative analyses of the protein spectra of living organisms have proven to be useful procedures for obtaining information about the de- gree of similarity of genetic materials and therewith of relationships. Without recourse to analyses of amino acid sequence, data concerning the degree of structural relatedness between the homologous protein molecules of different species (Sarich and Wilson 1966) can be obtained by serological methods. Recent serological characterization of pollen antigens from Ambrosia (Lee and Dickinson 1979) has begun to elucidate the fine protein spectra using immunoelectrophoretic techniques and suggests that such data are taxonomically useful. Various serological techniques have not been ex- tended to comparative investigation of Ambrosia and putatively related genera. Ambrosia was recently revised and Franseria was included (Payne 1964). The relationships among the approximately 42 Ambrosia species have been partially clarified (Payne 1964, 1976; Payne and Skvarla 1970). Numerous chemical data have been accumulating for Ambrosia species.


This study evaluated the effect of antioxidants on the physical and chemical parameters of a mixture of rice oil and rape-seed oil for using as insulating transformer oil. Antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene, tertiary butyl hydroquinone and propyl gallate were used. Experimental results showed that these three additives increased the oxidation stability index of the oil mixture, but tertiary butyl hydroquinone had the greatest effect and increased the oxidation stability index by 4 times. However, tertiary butyl hydroquinone insignificantly changes the physical and chemical parameters of the oil mixture except for the breakdown strength. This parameter of the oil mixture was increased by about 24% when tertiary butyl hydroquinone (0,3 wt%) was added. In addition, it was observed that tertiary butyl hydroquinone inhibited the aging process of the oil mixture at high temperatures. With the presence of tertiary butyl hydroquinone, the viscosity of the aged oil mixture only increased by 16% instead of up to 36% in case of without addition of the antioxidant under without oxygen or low concentration of oxygen.


Objective To comment the safety and effect of combining cooled-tip electrodes and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)for the treatment of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Sixty patients(totally with 128 tumors)with primary hepatocellular carcinoma underwent the treatment of combination of radiofrequency ablation with cooled-tip electrodes and TACE.Results During or after operations:sinus bradycardia,hyperkalemia and acute pancreatitis.CT scan obtained after RF ablation showed that complete necrosis was achieved in 108 tumors(84.3%),nearly complete necrosis in 16 tumors(12.76%)and partial necrosis in 4 tumors(3.1%)in 128 tumors nodules.All patients were followed up ranging from 6 months to 18 months.Conclusions The therapy combining RF ablation with cooled-tip electrodes and TACE for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma is effective and safe.


Electronic properties of the Al0.56In0.44Sb/Ga0.5In0.5Sb heterostructure grown by molecular beam epitaxy are investigated. We measure by means of x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and Hall effect measurements the key parameters involved in the achievement of a high speed and very low power consumption field effect transistor: conduction and valence band offsets, energy gaps of channel and barrier materials, electron effective mass, and density of states in the channel. We observe the influence of the quantum well thickness on the electron Hall mobility and sheet carrier density. A type I heterostructure exhibiting a room temperature electron mobility of 25 000 cm2 V−1 s−1 with a sheet carrier density of 1.5×1012 cm−2 is demonstrated for the widest channel. We show that the thickness of the channel influences both Hall density and mobility through a multisubband occupancy. We discuss about the scattering mechanisms limiting the mobility in the second subband.


Preface. Acknowledgements. Unit 1: Understanding Organisations. Unit 2: Understanding the Office Environment. Unit 3: Understanding recruitment, Selection and Training. Unit 4: Communicating Effectively. Unit 5: Applying the Secretarial Role. Unit 6: Understanding Record Management. Unit 7: Understanding Financial and Control Systems. Unit 8: Understanding Meetings. Unit 9: Researching and Presenting Information. Unit 10: Examining Office Equipment. Appendix 1: Studying Effectively. Appendix 2: Preparing for Examinations. Index.


In this work, a numerical model of rock breaking under hole assistance was established based on the finite element method (FEM) coupling with smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) to reveal rock-breaking mechanisms and analyze the reasons for crack formation and propagation under hole assistance. In addition, the numerical model was verified by experiment with and without a hole, and the simulation results are basically consistent with the experimental results in rock breaking. During the process of rock fracturing, the hydraulic splitter was first inserted into the predrilling hole, and then the wedges were pushed into the rock under the action of the hydraulic pressure. In this process, the splitter wedge was separated from the two sides, and the transverse bursting force was transmitted to the rock. Finally, the main fracture formed and the rock mass broke due to the bursting force. The results show that the cracks propagate along the approximately straight lines OO1 (the distance between the auxiliary holes and the left predrilled fracturing hole) and OO2 (the distance between the auxiliary holes and the right predrilled fracturing hole) before extending to the auxiliary hole which is unlike the crack propagation in rock without auxiliary holes, and the crack propagating direction gradually approaches horizontally and is vertical to the side after passing through the auxiliary holes. Moreover, when the auxiliary holes are located at the prefabricated angles α = 40° and 45°, the crack propagation can be well induced and the cracks pass through the auxiliary holes. However, at α = 50°, the auxiliary holes can no longer well induce the crack propagation in the process of rock breaking; however, the fracturing pressure is still less than that with no auxiliary holes, indicating that the auxiliary holes play a positive role in guiding rock breaking.


Enamel hypoplasia was seen in 119 (54 per cent) of 219 children with some form of cerebral disorder, whereas only 8 (9 per cent) of 93 normal children had enamel hypoplasia. The highest incidence of enamel hypoplasia was seen in those children with choreo-athetosis (100 per cent) and simple spastic diplegia (84 per cent), and the lowest incidence in children with focal cerebral seizure and hemiplegia (38 per cent). Among the 312 children studied, enamel hypoplasia and one or more of 11 other abnormal factors studied occurred in 93. A definite correlation was found between the time the abnormal factors occurred and the time the enamel hypoplasia was estimated to have occurred.


The Earth Resources Laboratory sea remote sensing program has concentrated on project planning, data acquisition procedures, and data preparation techniques to establish a firm procedural basis for the program. Most of these procedural elements were established and proven during the three missions conducted in 1971. It is anticipated that the program in 1972 will see the analysis completed on the Mississippi Sound series and the first series of Eastern Gulf experiments allowing increased emphasis to be given to more intensive technique development studies, the interrelationship of parameters for the measurement and prediction of water circulation, and the demonstration of the application of these techniques.


Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) strains cause a large spectrum of infections. The majority of ExPEC strains are closely related to the B2 or the D phylogenetic group. The aim of our study was to develop a protein-based vaccine against these ExPEC strains. To this end, we identified ExPEC-specific genomic regions, using a comparative genome analysis, between the nonpathogenic E. coli strain K-12 MG1655 and ExPEC strains C5 (meningitis isolate) and CFT073 (urinary tract infection isolate). The analysis of these genomic regions allowed the selection of 40 open reading frames, which are conserved among B2/D clinical isolates and encode proteins with putative outer membrane localization. These genes were cloned, and recom- binant proteins were purified and assessed as vaccine candidates. After immunization of BALB/c mice, five proteins induced a significant protective immunity against a lethal challenge with a clinical E. coli strain of the B2 group. In passive immunization assays, antigen-specific antibodies afforded protection to naive mice against a lethal challenge. Three of these antigens were related to iron acquisition metabolism, an important virulence factor of the ExPEC, and two corresponded to new, uncharacterized proteins. Due to the large number of genetic differences that exists between commensal and pathogenic strains of E. coli , our results demonstrate that it is possible to identify targets that elicit protective immune responses specific to those strains. The five protective antigens could constitute the basis for a preventive subunit vaccine against diseases caused by ExPEC strains. 2 h at180,000 (cid:8) g at 15°C. The crude extract membrane fraction was collected and adjusted to 30% sucrose with 3 mM EDTA, pH 8.0, followed by a separation on a second discontinuous sucrose gradient. After centrifugation for 18 h at 150,000 (cid:8) g at 15°C, fractions of 1 ml were collected by piercing the bottom of the tube. To detect the inner membrane fractions, lactate dehydrogenase activity was measured as previously described (23, 47). LPS was used as marker of the outer membrane fractions and was detected by silver staining on Tris-Tricine SDS-PAGE. Statistical analysis. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the statistical significance of the lethal challenge data. The putative function of the c4424 gene product was inferred by homology. BLAST analysis revealed that this antigen was similar to SapB (60% sequence identity, accession no. CAC14217), a putative autotransporter of Salmonella enterica (51). A YadA-like motif is present at the C terminus of the protein also in YadA of Yersinia spp. (32) and now characterizing a family of surface proteins. The presence of additional motives related to the adhesins suggested that the c4424 gene product might be implicated in the adhesion pro-cesses.Thenucleotide sequences of the DNA fragment encoding the protective antigens were determined in a set of five clinical isolates of E. coli (C5, S14, S53, S132, and S26) used in the DNA array experiments. The amino acid sequences of the antigens deduced from DNA sequencing were identical in the five E. coli strains analyzed (data not shown). The conservation of these proteins suggests that these antigens might induce a protective immunity against several other ExPEC strains.


C, which resulted, optimal amplification. In all PCR reactions Reproducible amplifiable products were observed. Thus the results indicate that the optimized protocol for DNA isolation and PCR was applicable to plant cultivars/species belonging to different genera and this process is suitable for further work on diversity analysis. Ferthermore here we used suitable DNA isolation protocol for RAPD analysis to study the genetic variation in the future in Anacardiaceae species.


Computed Tomography in Patients With Normal Electrocardiograms To the Editor: On the basis of data collected from a large cohort of patients undergoing stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), Hachamovitch et al1 recently concluded in Circulation that, "Stress SPECT yields incremental prognostic value and enhanced risk stratification in patients with normal resting ECGs in a cost-effective manner." This summary conclusion is not fully representative of the study, and because it may significantly impact patient management, it warrants further discussion and clarification. The study did indeed retrospectively identify a group of patients who may gain additional prognostic benefit from SPECT versus exercise treadmill test (ETT) alone. For the majority of patients, however, the addition of stress SPECT to ETT was of no proven clinical value, and was cost-ineffective. In our view, therefore, the study as performed confirmed what these and other investigators have previously concluded, that nuclear imaging adds little prognostic value over ETT at an acceptable cost for the majority of patients with normal resting ECGs.2,3 By retrospective data analysis, SPECT imaging was felt to be able to reclassify intermediate and high-risk patients in a costeffective manner. The authors therefore concluded that the use of stress SPECT as a second test after a positive ETT might be of benefit because low-risk stress SPECT findings in these patients could help avoid unnecessary cardiac catheterizations. The costanalysis of the study, however, was not conducted to reflect such a 2-tiered, sequential approach. Adding a stress SPECT to ETT adds up the costs of 2 separate stress tests, and may also add a day of hospitalization and/or loss from work for some patients. Furthermore, it would have to be shown that a negative stress SPECT in patients who were determined to have intermediate or high risk after clinical evaluation and ETT is sufficiently reliable and powerful to eliminate the need for cardiac catheterization in clinical practice. In the study by Hachamovitch et al,1 there is no suggestion as to how the data influenced management decisions, and more importantly, patient outcomes. The study by Hachamovitch et al1 provides important information about the prognosis of different subgroups of patients with normal resting ECGs who undergo stress myocardial perfusion SPECT. It does prove that for low-risk patients, the addition of SPECT is not cost-effective. In non–low-risk groups, a negative SPECT result identifies patients who have relatively low rates of subsequent "hard events." Only a prospective study that utilizes a sequential ETT and exercise-SPECT approach, and one that analyzes the totality of costs involved including the costs of 2 separate stress tests, the costs of cardiac catheterization, and the cost of subsequent intervention would provide a definitive answer about the cost-effectiveness of the addition of SPECT to ETT in these intermediate and high-risk patients with normal resting ECGs. It would also be important to understand how the addition of SPECT to ETT would influence clinical management and patient outcomes.


Information technology and its uses unsettle the university as an institution. Institutions are shaped by the practicalities of information, and they exist largely to mitigate information problems (Melody 1987). Now, however, we are confronted with radically improved technologies of information. It stands to reason that the university as an institution will change. But how? Proposals are strikingly diverse. Some proposals treat the university as a purveyor of human capital; they envision a micromarketplace in learning services. Other proposals treat the university as a site for the pooling of knowledge; they envision the Internet as a tool to amplify this pooling on a global basis. Each type of proposal isolates one feature of the university as we know it today. Call them the commodity model -the university as a competitor in a marketplace -and the community model -the university as an idealized microcosm of society. Despite the inherent tension between them, the commodity and community models have always coexisted in the institutional design of the university. And no matter how radical the changes in technology become, I will argue that the university must continue to manage this tension.


The invention discloses a method for producing high-octane gasoline by light hydrocarbon non-hydrogenation modification, which comprises the following steps: mixing catalytic cracking dry gas and light hydrocarbon, and performing modification reaction in the presence of a non-hydrogenation modification catalyst, wherein the ethylene contained in the catalytic cracking dry gas accounts for 1 to 30 percent of the mass of the total feed of a reactor, and the light hydrocarbon is a C4 mixture or a mixture of the C4 mixture and distilled gasoline. The method of the invention can make full use of the catalytic cracking dry gas and the C4 mixture rich in a refinery to produce gasoline blending components and good-quality liquefied gas with low olefin content and high octane value.


Learning Objectives: Extubation failure occurs in ~10% of mechanically ventilated children and is associated with increased mortality. Patients are often extubated based on clinical experience and snapshot metrics of respiratory effort, gas exchange, and vital signs during a spontaneous breathing trial. More advanced methods which examine breath-by-breath changes in time-series data may provide more insights into patients likely to fail extubation. Methods: Secondary analysis of physiologic data (esophageal manometry, spirometry, and respiratory inductance pletyhsmography) obtained around the time of extubation in 409 children. Analysis was restricted to children ≤12 mos. of age using ~5 minutes of data recorded pre-exutbation while patients were on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 5 cmH2O. Breathby-breath time-series of 9 respiratory indices were post-processed and filtered for artifact, such as RR, Vt, Vm, Ti, Te, Ttot, peak inspiratory flow, pressure rate product (PRP, peak-to-trough change in esophageal pressure * RR) and rapid shallow breathing index. Variability was quantified by means of the coefficient of variation (CV) and autocorrelation (AC). Outcomes were re-intubation or prolonged (>48 hrs) non-invasive ventilation (NIV) post-extubation. Results: The variability indices from 275 children were compared across post-extubation outcomes i.e. successful extubation (n=218), re-intubation (n=27) and prolonged NIV (n=30). There were no consistent trends in CV or AC analysis amongst the 9 indices when stratifying by extubation outcome for the entire cohort. However, upper airway obstruction (UAO) was present in 24% of the population, but 52% of the re-intubations. Children who developed UAO but did not require re-intubation had a lower pre-extubation CV in PRP and RR compared to those with UAO who were re-intubated (p=0.027 and p=0.040, respectively). Furthermore, the AC analysis revealed more coupling (i.e. less random variability) between consecutive breaths in PRP and RR for those with post-extubation UAO who had successful extubation compared to those who were re-intubated (p=0.006 and p=0.013, respectively). Conclusions: Increased CV and reduced AC of PRP and RR on CPAP pre-extubation are associated with re-intubation when patients are exposed to a new respiratory load post-extubation such as UAO.


Polymer materials are usually used as insulation in nuclear systems and space-based electrical systems. For the use of materials in such regions, it must be confirmed whether the electrical performance was affected by radiation and magnetic field. This paper investigates surface breakdown of irradiated polybutylene polymers under magnetic field. The samples were irradiated in air up to 100 kGy and then up to 1000 kGy with dose rate of 10 kGy/h by using a 60Co gamma source. The magnetic flux density (MFD) was 249 mT. The magnetic field was perpendicular to the electric field, which made the relative angle between the sample surface and the directions of E times B was 0, 90 and 180 degree. The effects of total dose of gamma-ray irradiation and the relative angle on the time to surface breakdown were discussed. Obtained results indicated that with the increase of the total dose of irradiation, the time to surface breakdown increased with PBN, but decreased with PBT. Under magnetic field, the time to surface breakdown of both PBN and PBT were delayed when the relative angles were 0 and 90 degree, but were shortened when the relative angle was 180 degree.


Using the Belkin and O'Reilly algorithm and high-resolution (1 km) satellite sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (chl-a) data from 2002 to 2011, fronts were detected off the east/northeast coast of Hainan Island, South China Sea. These fronts were mainly produced by upwelling off eastern Hainan Island, through which cold, high-salinity, high-density, and nutrient-rich bottom water was brought to the surface and subsurface and then transported to the northeast of Hainan Island by the along-shore currents. The fronts are anisotropic, with a dominant orientation SSW–NNE. A three-dimensional ocean model forced by the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) winds was employed to study the three-dimensional structure of these fronts as well as the relationship between the fronts and upwelling or summer monsoon. The results show that the front intensity (cross-frontal gradient) is strongly correlated with the along-shore local winds, and has a strong seasonal and a weak inter-annual variation with a maximum of about 0.5°C km–1 at the subsurface (about 15 m) rather than the surface.


Seedlings low quality can result due to problems in irrigation and/or nutrition of seedlings in their nursery phase . Regarding irrigation, problems can arise related to low uniformity of water application or its management , leading to lack or excess of water. While the excess can leach nutrients , the deficit can affect plant growth. Thus, this work had as objective to evaluate irrigation efficiency of a microsprinkler irrigation system at a forest native species nursery and also at sub-irrigation of forest native species being raised in recipient tubes The microsplinkler irrigation efficiency evaluation was performed in a native forest nursery at Itutinga - MG city, held in completely randomized design in split plots scheme, with the irrigation equipment on the plot (three levels: MA-20, Rondo and Inverted Rotor Spray) and three forest species on subplot. For efficiency evaluation in large tubes, the categories of subplot were: Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Ktze., Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman and Joannesia princeps Vell. In small tubes, the three levels of  subplots were the species: Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., Anadenanthera macrocarpa Benth. and Aspidosperma polyneuron Muell. The sub-irrigation efficiency evaluation was conducted in a greenhouse located at UFLA, in two sub-irrigation tanks with three replications, through calculation of uniformity coefficients for each sub-irrigated species, done in three replications. The largest application efficiency was obtained for the MA-20 emitter. There were no significant differences between the application efficiency of the emitters relative to the cultivated species, in both tube sizes. The efficiency in 300 cm³ tubes irrigation tank was 90.42%, while for 110 cm³ tubes it was 92.17%. Sub-irrigation tanks proved to be an interesting alternative for irrigation of the tested forest species seedlings, with high efficiency for both tubes sizes.


ABSTRACT: Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that is increasing with aging
population. This condition requires that the person has a great commitment to their
treatment and a positive attitude towards the disease is a factor that can produce
changes in the behaviour of the elderly, improving their quality of life and health.
Objective: To know the attitudes of the elderly with Diabetes Mellitus according to
the Diabetes Attitudes Questionnaire. Methods: This was a descriptive, crosssectional study of a quantitative approach carried out with elderly patients diagnosed
with diabetes mellitus from May to August 2017. Results: From the 114 elderly
interviewed, there was a predominance of women (72%), between 60 and 70 years
(71%), from Sao Luis (82%), brown (51%), married / De facto relationship (52%), with
up to four years of study (48%), retired (75%), with a family income of 3 minimum
wages (86%), who never smoked (73%) or consumed alcoholic beverages (62%).
They had type 2 diabetes (56%), diagnosed 10 to 20 years ago (39%). They
underwent pharmacological treatment (99%) with oral hypoglycemic (62%), diet
therapy (89%), glycemic monitoring (72%) and physical activity (60%). As for the
attitudes, the results showed an average in the score of 49.51, ranging from 34 to 75
points. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the attitudes of the elderly
were related to coping difficulties in the coexistence with diabetes mellitus.


Fractal geometry has been used for modelling natural objects that cannot be described by Euclidean geometry, and is also employed in aesthetic product design. However, the contemporary Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems are well developed only for semi-analytical and free-form objects, and they cannot deal with aesthetic appealing objects efficiently. As a result, new data structure or representation model has to be introduced in order to model and process the fractal geometry effectively in Euclidean-based CAD/CAM system. In this paper an algorithm is proposed for generating a 3D complex fractal from its mathematical models. To represent the 3D complex fractal object model in a CAD system, a voxel-based model is introduced. To fabricate a physical fractal object, Layered Manufacturing (LM) technology is employed. The geometrical information of the fractal object is extracted from its voxel-based model and the LM tool path can be generated accordingly. Applying the proposed algorithm, the fabrication of a fractal object can be realised.


Recently, text-to-image synthesis (T2I) has received extensive attention with encouraging results. However, the research still has the following challenges: 1) the quality of the synthesized images cannot be effectively guaranteed; 2) the human participation in the synthesis process is still insufficient. Facing the above challenges, we propose a text- and contour-guided artificial controllable image synthesis method. The method can synthesize corresponding image results based on the manual input text and simple contour, wherein the text determines the basic content and the contour determines the shape position. Based on the above idea, we propose a reasonable and efficient network structure using the attention mechanism and achieve amazing synthetic results. We validate the effectiveness of our proposed method on three widely used datasets, and both qualitative and quantitative experimental results show promising performance. In addition, we design a lightweight structure to further improve the practicability of the model.


The concise nature and modularity of the synthesis described for deguelin and tephrosin (retrosynthetic analysis depicted) should facilitate access to labeled analogues to dissect the mechanism of action of this important pharmacophore.


The invention provides a method for designing a composite frequency controller for the multi-loop model cluster of an aircraft. The method comprises the following steps of: directly determining to acquire the model cluster composed of amplitude-frequency and phase-frequency characteristics in a full envelope by virtue of a sweep-frequency flight test in different given heights and Mach number conditions; directly determining an open-loop cut-off frequency interval according to the amplitude-frequency characteristics in a flight envelope; directly determining a phase margin interval corresponding to the cut-off frequency interval according to the phase-frequency characteristics in the flight envelope; determining the compensation link number and parameter values by adding a multi-stage serial lagging-leading compensation link controller, and by virtue of a phase margin interval index in the full envelope of the aircraft and a model identification method in system identification; verifying the effect of the controller in case of the given decibels of an amplitude-frequency index L* in the full flight envelope of the aircraft; and designing the low-altitude flight robust controller meeting the full flight envelope, capable of suppressing flutter, low in overshoot and stable from the concepts of a phase margin and an amplitude margin.


A new methodology is presented for the automated recognition-identification of musical recordings that have suffered from a high degree of playing speed and frequency band distortion. The procedure of recognition is essentially based on the comparison between an unknown musical recording and a set of model ones, according to some predefined specific characteristics of the signals. In order to extract these characteristics from a musical recording, novel feature extraction algorithms are employed. This procedure is applied to the whole set of model musical recordings, thus creating a model characteristic database. Each time we want an unknown musical recording to be identified, the same procedure is applied to it, and subsequently, the derived characteristics are compared with the database contents via an introduced set of criteria. The proposed methodology led to the development of a system whose performance was extensively tested with various types of broadcasted musical recordings. The system performed successful recognition for the 94% of the tested recordings. It should be noted that the presented system is parallelizable and can operate in real time.


The sages, priests and prophets of ancient Israel were directly responsible for what we now call the Old Testament. Blenkinsopp looks at the character and development of these roles and how they functioned in their particular time and place. Based on sociological insights deriving from role theory and audience expectations, the book demonstrates how these intellectual leaders represented their own traditions while responding to the political and professional pressures of their unique situations.


We have devised a novel experiential approach to teaching students about the social impact of computers and the ethical, legal, and social responsibilities of computing professionals. Rather than teaching these topics in a traditional classroom manner, we teach them in a text-based online virtual educational environment known as a MOO. At the same time we use the environment's object-oriented design to instruct the students in object-oriented concepts. The approach is proving extremely successful.


Latest standards for DC fast charging (DCFC) stations enable up to 900 kW of charging power per Electric Vehicle (EV). Unfortunately, for a limited-capacity isolated Microgrid (MG), this high amount of power may lead to MG instability. In this research, a fully distributed event-triggered Dynamic Consensus (DNC) technique is proposed for controlling DCFC fast charging process. The proposed control determines a proper charging rate considering the estimated real-time sparse capacity of the MG. Meanwhile, a safety factor is used to account for the system losses, demand growth, and sparse capacity estimation error. Moreover, the admissible Communication (COM) delay effect is evaluated. The control scheme is validated using a MATLAB/Simulink model. Different case studies with different conditions were simulated. The simulated cases show success of the proposed control strategy to have successful fast vehicle charging under different operating conditions without loss of stability.


I have been lucky growing up and living in a safe and privileged part of the world, where I have benefitted from a historical high point in education, technology, economy, social structure and human freedom. I have also been lucky by meeting and relating to many interesting and gifted people, both in my private and professional life. This short memoir will describe some great moments in my academic life, and the lesson I want to teach the reader is how essential it is for a young researcher to be inspired by mentors and peers abroad and to visit their labs. Science can only exist and develop in this social context. Here, I will describe some individuals that have been important to my personal and scientific development. Unintentionally, I may have forgotten names that should also have been included but I have deliberately omitted everybody from my inner circle (own family and students) — bless them all.


Photograph of two women standing beside the damaged building at the Seaside Hotel after the 1919 hurricane in Corpus Christi. Inscribed on the back of the photo, "Seaside Hotel - Sept 1919 (my mother and sister)."


This experiment isolated and studied the effects of eye motions on visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) from the effects of foveal retinal slip velocity on VIMS. Eye motion has been shown to contribute to motion sickness. However, most previous work manipulated eye motion using eye fixation pointer. In so doing eye motion suppression was co-founded with increase in the relative velocity between the eyes and the visual stimulus (retinal slip velocity). Retinal slip is a necessary condition in perception of visual motion and could affect VIMS. However, due to difficulties in controlling eye motion in isolation of retinal slip, few work examined this topic. Guo et al. (2011) studied the effect of eye motion by controlling retinal slip velocity and showed that eye motion can still have significant effects on VIMS after retinal slip velocity is controlled. In this study, four conditions represent the factorial combinations of high (+) and low (-) levels of eye motions (EM) and foveal retinal slip velocity (FRSV). Peripheral retinal slip velocity was kept the same throughout the four conditions. A real time eye-slaved pointer was used to achieve the design and presentation of the conditions. Eight subjects participated in the experiment and within subject design was used. Results of Wilcoxon signed rank tests on preliminary data indicated that reduction of foveal retinal slip while keeping eye movements and peripheral retinal slip the same can significantly reduce levels of VIMS (post-exposure total simulator sickness questionnaire scores: p < 0.02 and 7-point nausea ratings: p < 0.05). Implications of these preliminary results are discussed in the paper.


This work is related to the design and development of instrumentation, data acquisition and graphical user interface of Photovoltaic driven Reverse Osmosis system for monitoring and performance evaluation purposes. Installed PV system comprises of 12 PV panels, trackers, batteries and inverter whereas RO system is equipped with pre filters, pumps, energy recovery devices and filtration membranes. Proper instrumentation is carried out in PV system to measure the irradiation, temperatures, voltage and current at various points. Moreover various sensors are used to measure the pressures, flows, salinities at RO unit. Signal conditioning circuits are designed to adjust sensor output signals for computer interface. A simple moving average filter is used to suppress the measurement noise. The experimental investigation of PVRO system is carried out by using LabVIEW interface capabilities. The developed system reveals and stores the pronounced impact of measured variables on the PV output power and specific energy consumption of the RO filtration system. The online data display in multi-scale window frame is very informative for system operation and analysis. During the experimental run of PVRO system using the developed DAQ system, the PV system generated 7.5kWh of energy during the whole day operation. Feed water having 7100ppm salinity and its flow rate was set to 850 lit/hour by adjusting the RPM of the high pressure pump. Clean water flow rate is recorded to be at 465 lit/hour having salinity of 115 ppm during the RO operation. Specific energy consumption of RO system comes out to be 2.083kWh/m3 for 7100ppm salinity of feed water.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Two British specialists on Russia report the results of a nationwide survey of 2,030 Russian adults, randomly chosen from each of 50 provinces of the Russian Federation. A survey instrument containing 300 questions was administered in face-to-face interviews during summer 1993, and explored attitudes toward the market, privatization, social order, minority rights, and nationalism. Testing three alternative explanations for the results of the December 1993 Russian elections, the authors present a nuanced argument that the Russian public has been drawing negative lessons about market democracy from the transition itself, as experienced since January 1992. A higher voter turnout, they find, would have augmented the strength of anti-government parties and candidates. Journal of Economic literature, Classification Numbers: H19, P29


Purpose: To study the usability, satisfaction and future expectation of the Library and Information Science professionals from LIS Links Social Network. Design/Methodology/Approach: A survey is conducted through questionnaire which is designed in Google Forms and distributed to 22,259 LIS Links members through LIS Links Broadcast Message. The results are analyzed and tally with statistics like LIS Links members, Google Analytics, Feedburner subscribers, Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter followers and so on to arrive at a conclusion. Findings: Gender-wise, male generally use social networking websites more than their female counterparts and they also respond more to any kind of survey. In case of Library and Information Science professionals in India, the users of LIS Links social networking site is higher and even greater than the users of other general purpose social networking site like Facebook and YouTube. Research Limitations: The LIS Links usability and satisfaction survey only cover 1.39% of the total population i.e. 310 respondents out of the total 22,259 LIS Links members. Practical Implications: The findings of the study will help the administrator of LIS Links in fine tuning some of its services and identify the priority areas for future endeavor. Originality/Value: The study will help the associations / organizations in the field of Library and Information Science in identifying core areas of their activities.


The initiating event in preeclampsia is thought be to reduced uteroplacental perfusion. Although we have reported previously that chronic reductions in uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) in pregnant rats results in hypertension and enhanced endothelin production, the factors linking placental ischemia and endothelial cell activation remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of angiotensin II type-1 (AT1) receptor activation on endothelin production induced by serum from pregnant rats exposed to reductions in uterine perfusion. To achieve this goal, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to sera collected from RUPP rats or normal pregnant rats. Arterial pressure was significantly higher in RUPP rats (135±2 mm Hg) than in pregnant rats (106±1 mm Hg). Six hours after exposure to RUPP serum (n=17), cell media endothelin concentration was 18.4±2.7 pg/mL as compared with 9.22±1.3 pg/mL from cells exposed to serum from normal pregnant rats (n=9). Eighteen hours after exposure to RUPP serum (n=7), endothelin concentration was 30.5±3.8 pg/mL as compared with 12.8±5.3 pg/mL from cells exposed to normal pregnant rat serum (n=6). In contrast, serum from RUPP rats did not increase endothelin production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells pretreated with an AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan (15 &mgr;mol/L). Eighteen hours after exposure to RUPP serum and losartan (n=14), endothelin concentration was 21.3±2.2 pg/mL as compared with 16.4±3.3 pg/mL from cells exposed to normal pregnant rat serum and losartan (n=10). These data indicate that serum from pregnant rats exposed to reductions in uterine perfusion enhances endothelin production by endothelial cells via by AT1 receptor activation.


The nature of socialism of Deng Xiaopings' Theory is an important component of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the starting point.The scientific concept of development is on this basis,by summing up since reform and opening up,especially the party's socialist modernization construction since the 16th Party Congress put the experience of people-oriented,comprehensive,coordinated and sustainable development concept,which is the further development and innovation of the nature of socialism.Exploring the relationship between the two theories and in-depth study and implement the scientific concept of development is of great historical significance and far-reaching practical significance to promote the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics constant development.


Higher engagement in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (PA) is related to better cognitive functioning in neurotypical adults; however, little is known about the impact of PA on cognitive aging in adults with Down syndrome (DS). Individuals with DS have three copies of the chromosome 21, which includes the gene for the amyloid precursor protein, resulting in an increased risk for/earlier onset of Alzheimer's disease. The goal of this study was to understand the relationship between moderate PA engagement and memory functioning in non‐demented adults with DS.


The public service is the most important front in the conflict between integrity and corruption in any country. A literature review explores models for the understanding of causes and consequences of corruption there, and appropriate measures against it. That probably no two countries have the same situation or could be improved by the same interventions indicates the complex nature of the phenomenon. A case study of Bangladesh public service corruption presents the historical and cultural context of a nation perceived in 2002 2005 most corrupt in the world, and compares an on-going anti-corruption campaign there with ideas in the literature. In that complex and volatile political environment a direct anti-corruption approach based squarely on legislation, institutional reform, deterrence and public education is problematical. An evaluation of the state strategy for reducing public service corruption suggests useful, less useful and neglected interventions and proposes areas for research.


This article presents an experience that emerged in the Open University and Distance Education System at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), related to a program initiated in Ecuador to provide some degrees through distance education, thus developing the concept of e-learning among universities in Mexico which offer higher education degrees in psychology. This process started in 2006. At that time there was a growth which, among other things, led to problems in the quantity of thematic content and an absence of vertical order between subjects, which reflected the lack of skill of self-regulated learning in diverse student population. One of the efforts was aimed at improving the organization of material as well as promoting learning strategies based on cognitive models of self-regulation. The results of this research are presented in this article.


Purpose Brain malformations are caused by 17p13.3 deletions: lissencephaly with deletions of the larger Miller-Dieker syndrome region or smaller deletions of only PAFAH1B1, as well as various abnormalities, including white matter changes, in the distinct syndrome due to deletions including YWHAE and CRK but sparing PAFAH1B1. We sought to understand the significance of 17p13.3 deletions between the YWHAE/CRK and PAFAH1B1 loci. Methods We analyzed the clinical features of five individuals from four families with 17p13.3 deletions between and not including YWHAE/CRK and PAFAH1B1 identified among individuals undergoing clinical chromosomal microarray testing. Results Four individuals from three families have multi-focal white matter lesions and hypermobile joints, while a fifth had a normal MRI. A combination of our patients and a review of those in the literature with white matter changes and deletions in this chromosomal region narrows the overlapping region for this brain phenotype to ∼345 kb, including 11 RefSeq genes, with RTN4RL1 haploinsufficiency as the best candidate for causing this. Conclusion While previous literature has hypothesized dysmorphic features and white matter changes related to YWHAE, our cohort contributes evidence to the presence of additional genes within 17p13.3 required for proper brain development.


The network representation of word templates is presented. Using the network method, words are divided into segments, and same or different word templates can share segments. This not only reduces storage required, but also enables the system to focus on acoustically dissimilar segments. Yet, by retaining multiple examples of the same word, it encapsulates variations of speech. A word recognition system has been designed and implemented to facilitate network training by providing (1) relatively reliable segmentation, (2) a segment-based warping algorithm that tolerates inexact segmentation, and (3) incremental network generation. Two network generation methods for isolated word recognition are presented, one of which achieved 99% accuracy for speaker-dependent alphabets, 92% for speaker-independent alphabets, and 99% for speakerindependent digits. Several other methods of reference generation were implemented using the same system, and the incremental network technique proved to be superior to all of them. This research was sponsored by a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, and by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Contract N00039-85-C-0163. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the author and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or the US Government


Abstract Elemental composition (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn) was studied in semi‐natural grassland communities of the province of Salamanca (Central‐Western Spain) under the effect of a topographical gradient (two differentiated slope positions: upper zone and lower zone) and for the main botanical groups forming these communities (grasses, legumes, and other families). In the upper positions where the proportion in weight of legumes and other families is greater than in the lower ones, the P, Ca, Fe, and Cu concentrations were higher than in the lower. For elements like N, Mg, and Zn, the zonal difference in the grass was not significant, since this was counteracted by the greater nutrient content of the lower zones and a dilution effect due to the greater production of biomass in that zone. The mean value of the K:(Ca+Mg) ratio in the grass was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the upper zone than in the lower one, and all the samples were lower than the critical value for livestock [2.2]. The...


Image segmentation is the fundamental step in medical image analysis. Segmentation is a procedure to separate similar portions of images showing resemblance in different features such as color, intensity, or texture. Grayscale images are mostly used for the segmentation of medical images. Tumors are commonly stated as the abnormal growth of tissues and the brain tumor is a diseased part in the body tissues that is an abnormal mass in which the growth rate of cells is irrepressible. The mortality rate of people has raised over the past years due to brain tumors, hence this area has gained the attention of researchers. Automatic detection of brain tumors is a challenging task because it involves pathology, functional physics of MRI along with intensity and shapes analysis of MR image. After all, tumor shape, size, location, and intensity vary for each infected case. In this work, a novel hybrid approach is implemented by combing watershed segmentation, level set segmentation and K means clustering. First, the image is preprocessed by removing the skull. Watershed segmentation is applied to this preprocessed image. Level set segmentation is applied to the previous step. Finally, k means clustering is applied as the final step to detect tumor parts accurately. This Hybrid approach is compared with other four techniques such as Threshold segmentation, K means clustering, Watershed segmentation, and Level set-based segmentation methods. Statistical and Visual analysis is performed. It is found that the hybrid approach has better specificity, accuracy, and precision among all four techniques. Further, it is able to detect tumors more accurately. This research could help clinicians in surgical planning, treatment planning and accurately segmenting the tumor part with the most accurate method.


Honeybees are primary pollinators for the majority of the world's angiosperms (Ollerton et al., 2012), pollinating one or more cultivars of 66% of the world's 1500 crop species which is accounting for 15-30% of food production. About 80% of crop insect pollination is accomplished by honeybees (Singh and Singh, 2006). The European or western honey bee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is the most commonly managed pollinator worldwide.


ABSTRACT This narrative review synthesised the limited work that has been carried out into road safety education targeting parents. Parent education appeared to have a positive impact on child safety seat use and children's bike helmet use, but results regarding the impact of parent education on pedestrian safety were mixed. The review highlighted important gaps in the literature. A key gap being identifying effective ways to engage parents of low socioeconomic and ethnic minority backgrounds. Further, another gap is understanding effective ways to engage and support parents of children with additional needs to build their children's road safety skills. There is some evidence that parent education has a positive impact on these "at-risk" groups, but little work on how to engage with these groups and the type of parent education required.


Significant changes in respiratory disease have occurred over the last 20 years. There are two primary reasons for this. In the first instance, there has been the occurrence of two major worldwide plagues-PRRS and PCV2-associated diseases. The second reason has been the considerable advances in vaccination, which have become available for some of the respiratory diseases, in particular Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Vaccines have also become available for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRS), influenza viruses (outside UK) and probably in the near future against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2).


Bruegel Martin. Sanjay Subrahmanyam (ed.), Money and the Market in India 1100-1700. In: Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales. 52ᵉ annee, N. 6, 1997. pp. 1384-1385.


Over the 2 decades a growing body of evidence suggests that dairy proteins provide a potent stimulus to support resistance training-induced gains in muscle hypertrophy (1) and the maintenance of lean tissue with advancing age (2). The anabolic properties of dairy protein are primarily meditated by an ostensibly optimal relative abundance of essential amino acids and a high leucine content, stimulating skeletal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) (3).Intact milk protein contains 2 major subfractions: whey, which comprises 20% of milk protein and is rapidly digested, and casein, which comprises 80% and is slowly digested. Some (4) but not all (5) studies suggest that whey protein has superior anabolic properties to casein due to its rapid digestion and subsequent stimulation of MPS; however, few studies have examined milk alongside its constituent protein sources (6). Further, whereas protein digestion and amino acid absorption kinetics are important in determining postprandial increases in MPS, total amino acid bioavailability (i.e. plasma amino acid AUC) to peripheral tissue may also be important for anabolism, with implications for setting protein dose and source recommendations for low-habitual protein consumers and elderly individuals.


According to the low-calculation image compression algorithm introduced by Xu Yong,et al.,a new image compression algorithm based on adaptive Exp-Golomb coding was proposed to implement the high-speed image compression.Firstly,the image with 4-level 5/3was transformed with wavelet transform to obtain the optimal quantization step for each wavelet subband according to wavelet subband data model.Then,the JPEG_LS algorithm was employed to predict the value for the LL subband and to encode for all the wavelet subband data in the Zero-Run-Length algorithm.Finally,the adaptive Exp-Golomb coding was adopted to encode the data after Zero-Run-length algorithm.Experiment results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve a little better performance than Xu′s algorithm,when the bit rate is greater than 0.25bpp;and the Peak Signal-to-noise Ratio(PSNR)of the proposed algorithm can increase by 0.2-2dB when the bit rate is less than 0.25bpp.It means that the algorithm improves the performance of compression.The Exp-Golomb coding model is extraordinary simple and can be implemented by the hardware completely.


This work presents the novel photosensitive metamaterial (metaphotoresist) with silver (Ag) and dielectric multilayer for ultraviolet nanolithography overcoming a diffraction limit. The metamaterial consists of multilayer with Ag and photoresist (PR) layers. A plasmonic UV light coupling under diffraction limit in the metamaterial was numerically demonstrated by using a finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. Nanolithography was demonstrated by using the metaphotoresist (meta-PR) and a conventional UV (λ=365 nm) alignment system. The meta-PR was fabricated by spin-coating of PR and angled deposition of Ag nanostructures. About 150 nm nanopatterns were fabricated. We believe that the metaphotoresist provides new direction for nanolithography industries.


Background: Conventional prosthetic devices fail to restore the function and characteristic movement quality of the upper limb. The DEKA Arm is a new, advanced prosthesis featuring a compound, powered wrist and multiple grip configurations. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if the DEKA Arm improved the movement quality of upper limb prosthesis users compared to conventional prostheses. Study design: Case series. Methods: Three people with transradial amputation completed tasks of daily life with their conventional prosthesis and with the DEKA Arm. A total of 10 healthy controls completed the same tasks. The trajectory of the wrist joint center was analyzed to determine how different prostheses affected movement duration, speed, smoothness, and curvature compared to patients' own intact limbs and controls. Results: Movement quality decreased with the DEKA Arm for two participants, and increased for the third. Prosthesis users made slower, less smooth, more curved movements with the prosthetic limb compared to the intact limb and controls, particularly when grasping and manipulating objects. Conclusion: The effects of one month of training with the DEKA Arm on movement quality varied with participants' skill and experience with conventional prostheses. Future studies should examine changes in movement quality after long-term use of advanced prostheses. Clinical relevance Movement quality with the DEKA Arm may depend on the user's previous experience with conventional prostheses. Quantitative analyses are needed to assess the efficacy of novel prosthetic devices and to better understand how to train people to use them effectively.


Over time, inspection agencies gather information about firms that cause harmful externalities. This information may allow agencies to differentiate their monitoring strategies in the future, since inspections can be influenced by firms' past performance relative to other competitors in the market. If a firm is less successful than it peers in reducing the externality, if faces the risk of being targeted for increased inspections in the next period This risk of stricter monitoring might induce high cost firms to mimic low cost firms, while the latter might try to avoid being mimicked We show that under certain circumstances, mimicking, or even the threat of mimicking, might reduce socially harmful activities and thus be welfare improving.


CIRCUIT AND APPARATUS FOR RECHARGE BATTERIES batteries or electricals and specific uses. Is an apparatus FORMED BY A CIRCUIT IN WHICH HE IS AN INPUT AC POWER THAT JOINS IN SERIES TO A LAMP LIGHTING OR RESISTANCE, OR PARTICULAR SPECIFIC USE THAT PRODUCES A RESIDUAL CONSUMPTION, AND RECTIFIER TO KINGDOM ALSO IN SERIES to said circuit has an output DC POWER SWITCHED CHARGER, allowing use as a lamp, resistance, etc., WHILE THE LOAD OR WITHOUT THIS OCCURS OCCURS. APPLICATION TO RECHARGE BATTERIES IN APPLIANCES AND / OR ANY OTHER APPLIANCE.


A series of novel ammonium copper sulfates, (NH4)4[Cu2(SO4)4] (1), (NH4)3[Cu2(OH)(SO4)3] (2), (NH4)1.5[Cu1.25(SO4)2] (3), [Cu0.5(NH4)][Cu(SO4)2] (4), and (NH4)[Cu1.5(SO4)2] (5), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. X-ray single-crystal analyses reveal that compound 1 has a structure of one-dimensional (1D) chain; compounds 2 and 3 have two-dimensional (2D) layer structures; and compounds 4 and 5 demonstrate the structures of three-dimensional (3D) open frameworks with 12- and 10-ring channels, respectively.


A field investigation was carried in cattle in the vicinity of Aluminium industry and Fertilizers unit situated in the Eloor industrial belt of Ernakulam district, Kerala. Clinical surveys were conducted in randomly selected 119 cattle aged three years and above. Blood and urine samples were collected from the randomly selected thirty cattle, aged three years and above and the fluorine content was estimated. Dry, fat free bones were collected from the local slaughter house to estimate the fluorine content. Fifty five (46.22%) cattle showed clinical signs of lameness, dental lesions, bony exostosis, reproductive problems and gastrointestinal disorders suggesting fluorosis. The fluoride levels (ppm) in plasma, urine and bone were 1.247±0.123, 35.477±5.35 and 3523.057±591.885, respectively. It can be concluded from the present study that aluminium smelter and fertilizers units involved fluorine contamination in the Eloor industrial area and caused incidence of fluorosis in cattle.


Abstract Liquid metal (LM) plasma-facing components (PFCs) may provide a resolution to the challenging fusion environment, particularly the first wall and divertor surfaces. Transforming these concepts into viable technologies will require considerable research and development. With the fusion nuclear regime in mind, the Fusion Energy System Studies group examined LM PFCs in order to identify needed research thrusts that could accelerate their development and assess their viability. Liquid metal behavior, solid substrate aspects, and fusion facility integration aspects are examined, with concepts as the research focusing element. The concepts applied to a fusion nuclear device are the primary definer of the LM parameters, environmental conditions, and operational aspects. This forms the research strategy recommended for these complex systems.


We have already established a combined magnetic resonance (MRI) / ultra-wideband radar (UWB) prototype demonstrating the absence of any mutual interference between both systems, proving the feasibility of the UWB radar method to monitor respiratory and myocardial displacements in a 3 T scanner. In a further study we have shown the feasibility of UWB radar to detect involuntary head motions in the sub-mm range, demonstrating the feasibility of interfacing a MR scanner with an external UWB radar based motion tracking system. It is well known that simultaneous intracranial oscillation also occur, induced by respiration and myocardial contraction. Hence, it is only consequent to ask whether these oscillations are detectable by UWB radar.


Aromatic compounds with an acidic group, such as –OH, –SH, –COOH, –SO3H, >NH, (Remark: Graphics omitted.)CH, and (Remark: Graphics omitted.)B− (tetraphenylborate) were tested as extracting agents for potassium. The first four acids showed an extractability lower by far than that of the last three. Most inorganic acids exhibited no signs of extraction. Bulky and electronattracting substituents, such as nitro or halogen group, were proved to be effective in enhancing the extractability. The addition of iodine was also effective. A few kinds of surfactants showed considerably high extractability. Some factors influencing the extraction were speculated upon.


A method is described for filling thin-walled ampullae with volatile liquids with the total exclusion of air and water. In this way it is possible to weigh out accurately the amount of material used for a heat of combustion measurement before the experiment is made. To aid the combustion reaction in proceeding to completion a high platinum crucible is used covered with a platinum shield. In a normal heat of combustion reaction it is impossible to detect the presence of carbon monoxide in the combustion gases. The reproducibility obtained is 0.01-0.02%.


Quantum confinement effect on 2DEG density and distribution on the dependence of an interfacial layer has been investigated in InGaN/InN HEMT using self-consistent solution of one dimensional Schrodinger-Poisson equation. It is shown that the addition of an i-InGaN interfacial layer leads to an increase in 2DEG density. The role of quantum confinement effect in the 2DEG distribution with an inserted i-InGaN interfacial layer is revealed. In the classical model, the insertion of an interfacial layer has a negligible effect on 2DEG distribution. While taking the quantum effect along with polarization effect into account, it is observed that i-InGaN interfacial layer has substantial influence on the 2DEG distribution in InGaN/InN HEMT; with electron spillover into the barrier is sharply reduced. The maximum 2DEG density after insertion of an i-InGaN interfacial layer has been found to be 1 × 1014 cm-2 which is higher than the conventional GaN-based HEMT (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


Abstract : An investigation was made of sediment from Lake Starvation (northwest Hillsborough County, Florida) where hydrilla, though present, has not spread during a 10-year period. The sediment was treated with water, autoclaved, and the aqueous extracts separated into molecular weight fractions by ultrafiltration. One fraction, thus obtained, inhibited the growth of hydrilla by 30 percent, as measured by the weight increase, relative to control samples. The active fraction was characterized by inorganic and organic content, as well as trace metal content (iron, manganese, nickel, and cadmium). Subsequently, the active fraction was separated further using high-performance liquid chromatography, and the components thus separated were characterized by ultraviolet absorption spectra and by their effect on the size distribution of Chlamydomonas reinhardii. One component that showed significant bioactivity according to this assay was subjected to mass spectrometry. The maximum molecular ion for this component was less than 500. The available evidence is consistent with an aromatic molecule that contains a carboxylic acid. Further evidence includes the infrared spectra and the observation that all activity was lost when the sample was passed over an anion-exchange resin, whereas no activity was lost when the sample was passed over a cation-exchange resin.


Little Barley Grass (Hordeum pusillum Nutt.) is a well-known native food domesticated in the U.S. Southwest by prehistoric Hohokam farmers in Central and Southern Arizona. This domesticated grass has recently been recovered from a late Basketmaker III community in southwestern Colorado, far from its well-known Hohokam region. Although travel or trade could explain this new Colorado record, we review morphological, ecological, and other types of evidence to consider a case for independent domestication. This case is supported by Old World molecular evidence for independent domestications of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) in both the Near East and Tibet. Simple mutations, frequent in nature, can produce wild plant populations of possible interest to humans. Supporting evidence exists in the form of larger than usual grass pollen grains. Supplemental plausibility arguments can include prior familiarity with the domestication process, and finding modern mutations such as free-threshing grains or larger-than-normal polyploid plants. Molecular assessments of modern populations can elucidate Little Barley relationships between major regions of North America, subregions of the U.S. Southwest, and uncharred archaeological specimens. This new Little Barley example presents evidence upon which such stories are crafted, and reveals the importance of native domesticates in ancient subsistence regimes.


Ergotism is a relatively rare, but well described, arterial disease affecting primarily the lower extremities, although involvement of other arteries have been reported. The authors describe a case of a 50-year-old pharmacist who self-treated his migraine headaches with ergot preparations and developed abdominal pain. Evaluation of the patient with arteriography revealed a pseudoaneurysm and segmental branch stenoses of the superior mesenteric artery. Surgical exploration discovered a spontaneous dissection of the SMA treated with aorto-SMA bypass. This case, and a review of the literature, is presented.


Stunting in infants is influenced by maternal nutritional histories such as chronic energy deficiency (CED) and iron deficiency anemia. Maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy affect thegrowth of the fetus. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between CED status ofpregnant women with the incidence of stunting in children under five in the Tawiri health center inAmbon City. This research type was an observational with case-control design and using purposivesampling. The research subjects were children who had stunting with 76 cases and 163 controls.Univariate data analysis using frequency distribution, bivariate using Chi-square. The results showedthat pregnant women with CED, their children did not experience stunting (77.91%). LBW occurs inpregnant women who experience CED (70.00%), while LBW does not occur in pregnant women whoare not CED at 71.77%. Stunting occur in infants who are not LBW (64.47%). Stunting did not occurin infants with a history of no LBW (98.16%).
Keywords: CED status, pregnant women, LBW, stunting


As a new problem, the "big trees moved into town" craze in the course of urban garden planning exerts a lot of negative influence on ecological environment, landscape effects and tour\|rest function etc.. If it is not checked, the craze will bring about bad consequences. Through revealing the disadvantages and origin of the problem, the paper suggests appropriate measures in favor of a sustainable development in urban greenspcae construction.


1. The decision of Bernard Livesey QC, sitting as a judge of the Chancery Division in Land Securities plc (and others) v Fladgate Fielder (A Firm) [2009] EWHC 577 (Ch), is the first decision ever to consider the applicability of the tort of abuse of process to judicial review proceedings, and one of only a few decisions in all which consider the scope of the tort. Although arising in the context of a challenge to a grant of planning permission, its potential relevance would appear to extend generally to challenges brought in a commercial context, where the predominant purpose behind making the challenge is not to achieve any remedy that the court has power to give, but rather to gain a collateral benefit (such as money) that is beyond the court's power to award. A significant implication of the judgment is how the tort interrelates with the rules and case law on standing which, as is well known, have become increasingly liberal in recent years. I shall turn to that topic after an analysis of what was decided in the case itself.


The invention discloses a dry powder textured thermal insulation coating which comprises the following components, by mass: 6-10% of an insulation functional filling material, 15-20% of an inorganic filling material, 60-70% of sand, 0-2% of an inorganic pigment, and 8-11% of a dry powder mortar additive. The thermal insulation coating provided by the invention has a good thermal insulation effect, and is green and environment-friendly. With the coating, a production efficiency is high. The coating only needs to be mixed with water before construction, such that operation is simple and convenient. The economic cost is relatively low. With the coating, a decoration requirement can be completely satisfied, and good thermal insulation effect can be provided. The coating does not contain component harmful to the environment, such that the coating is healthier. The coating provided by the invention is in a dry powder state, such that packaging and transportation costs are reduced, and storage is convenient. The dry powder textured thermal insulation coating provided by the invention has high practicality and high promotion value.


Currently refractory and relapsed acute leukemia (AL) continues to develop a poor prognosis,and the treatment remains a significant clinical challenge.The use of priming regimen including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF) in clinic provides a novel method for the treatment of refractory and relapsed AL.This review summarizes the mechanism,method and efficiency of priming regimen in the treatment of all kinds of refractory and relapsed AL.

Key words:
Leukemia;  Priming regimen;  Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor;  Therapy


The present invention provides a crude sulfate turpentine achieve efficient separation of bound purified by washing with water after the oxidation adsorption process. The oxidizing agent is chlorine content of the present invention is 3% -10% sodium hypochlorite solution, modified activated carbon adsorbent is a molecular sieve with a mixture of water absorption. Specific purification process of the present invention is that the key isolated by washing with water after the initial oxidation, through the adsorbent, irritating odor removal, the crude sulfate turpentine can efficiently remove organic sulfur content, to reach a total sulfur content in line with further industrial applications 10ppm required standard. Excess oxidation by using a mixture of modified zeolite and activated carbon adsorbent for the water-absorbing means to simplify the purification process, to reduce the energy consumption and the cost of purification.


Optical polarimetry is presented for 163 radio-selected quasars, including a complete sample of 90 sources stronger than 2 Jy at 5 GHz. Synchrotron components are detected in over 30 percent of these flat spectrum quasars, with an optical polarization threshold of p greater than 3 percent. The fraction of polarized quasars is a strong function of the compactness of the radio emission, as measured on VLBI scales. Including the duty cycle correction, essentially every quasar with S(core) greater than S(ext) at radio wavelengths has a prominent blazar component at optical wavelengths. Virtually all of the radio sources with weak emission lines (or BL Lac objects) are highly polarized. Optical and radio polarization are not correlated, and there is no difference in the alpha(ro) distributions of high- and low-polarization quasars, or sources with strong and weak emission lines. Redshift information is incomplete, but BL Lac objects appear to have lower redshifts than strong-lined quasars. 76 refs.


The image texture analysis technique is introduced to analyze the scanning electron micrographs of the influences of La 2O 3 on nickel catalysts. One of the statistical texture analysis methods, SGLM(the spatial gray level cooccurrence matrix)?is successfully used to investigate the surface texture features of catalysts. It is found that entropy feature(F 9)?and energy feature(F 1)?are in close with activity and nickel crystalline particle size of catalysts. The results suggest that the image texture analysis technique is a useful tool for computer aided design of catalysts and study of surface structure.


Marriage and adoption for same-sex couples. Law 13/2005 that amends the Spanish Civil Code with regards to the right to marry.


In the paper a new broadband photonic crystal fiber coupler is presented. The proper application of the biconical taper technology has been used for manufacturing the coupler without air holes collapse in LMA10 fiber (NKT Photonics Crystal). This coupler, operates in the weakly coupling condition, protects coupling operation in range from 900 nm to 1700 nm. The coupling ratio between output arms is depending on wavelength and can be tuning by selection the proper input state of polarization. It gives opportunity to use the broadband crystal fiber coupler in many applications in which it is necessary to tune a coupling between output arms during the measurement.


The theory of Information Systems (IS) concentrates on getting the right information at the right time in the right format to the right user. The development of information systems, therefore, requires focus on organisational objectives, design and dynamics as much as it requires focus on the procurement of the most appropriate hardware and software. Today, the concentration on issues pertaining to computer-based information systems (CBIS) is often incorrectly emphasised. Computers play an integral role in the development and operation of information systems. However, the computer-related functions should be primarily supporting (to the information systems strategic objectives) in nature. The essence of the "systems analysis" should focus on the root of the problem, which is the need for information. Supplemental discussion, only then, should concentrate on the computer-related issues, i.e., the type of software and the specific hardware that is needed.


The conventional tertiary treatments for wastewater (chemical precipitation, ion exchange, or membrane technology) are usually not carried out because of the high cost involved. When organic contamination occurs in rivers and streams, the polysaprobic zone generally presents a high bacterial count as well as an absence of plankton and dissolved oxygen, whereas the α-mesosaprobic zone and, to an even greater extent, the β-mesosaprobic zone, show a decline in the bacterial count and an increase in autotrophic organisms and dissolved oxygen at the expense of the inorganic nutrients. This fact points to the possibility of developing a tertiary biologic treatment using algal biomass. With this reasoning, the experimental purification of a secondary effluent was carried out using multispecies microalgae cultures, and studying the evolution of chlorophyll, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, inorganic nitrogen, pH, conductivity, chemical oxygen demand (COD, using the potassium permanganate method), hardness, phosphate, chloride, and sulphate. The assays were done in both aerobiosis and anaerobiosis on a 9-day culture. Evolution was interpreted on the basis of the linear tendency and the mean values of the overall instantaneous specific rate (ISR) and that of the first three days of culture (ISR 3 ). According to the linear tendency and ISR, the parameters of inorganic nitrogen, conductivity, hardness, and chloride evidence greater purification in the process in aerobiosis, in which nitrogen fixation, when it occurs, does not take priority over the consumption of inorganic nitrogen. Purification is clearly favored in conditions of anaerobiosis, however, for ammonium and phosphate. The results obtained demonstrate the viability of tertiary biologic sewage treatment using an autotrophic activated sludge process. This type of treatment improves the quality of the effluent and increases yield, as the process is continuous and concurs with biomass recirculation. Although statistically significant differences were not established for aerobic/anaerobic conditions, a combination of the two could increase effectiveness.


progressive heterotopic ossification of skeletal muscle and soft connective tissues, leading to progressive ankylosis of all joints of the axial and appendicular skeleton. Individuals with FOP appear normal at birth, except for malformations of the great toes. During the first decade of life, inflammatory soft tissue swellings (flare-ups) progressively transform skeletal muscles and connective tissues into a second skeleton of heterotopic bone that immobilizes all of the joints of the axial and appendicular skeleton. 2 Cervical spine fusion, ankylosis of the temporomandibular joints, thoracic insufficiency syndrome, restrictive chest wall disease, and extreme sensitivity to oral trauma complicate airway management and anesthesia and pose life-threatening risks.


For acquiring the specific characteristics of solid metal, the solid material used for various heat exchangers or reactors is treated by heating and cooling process before forming. In the process of heat treatment, water at ambient temperature is used for cooling. When the solid metal with high temperature is cooled by water, there occurs sudden boiling of water at the surface of solid metal. It is important to control cooling time and cooling speed for the required characteristics of solid material. In this study, the boiling phenomenon with rapid cooling in water is analyzed by experiment and numerical analysis for control of heat treatment process. When the high temperature of solid metal is cooled by ambient water, the unsteady subcooled boiling model is suitable for numerical analysis instead of saturated boiling model and there exists considerable time delay before rapid heat transfer by boiling process.