Knowledge of the determinants of the viability of populations is essential in order to undertake effective conservation and management of endangered species. In this study, long-term demographic data was combined with genetic data to study the viability of an endangered orchid species, Epipactis atrorubens. The genetic analyses revealed low levels of genetic variation and the presence of population genetic differentiation independent of the spatial scale. Low levels of seed-mediated gene flow, possibly linked to low seedling recruitment, is the likely cause of the low levels of gene flow. Indications of slow post-glacial colonisation rates were found, which together with the low gene flow predict a limited capacity of the species to shift its range to more suitable habitats after environmental change. Low genetic variation as a proxy for low evolutionary potential also suggests that the species has limited capacity to adapt to new environmental conditions. Furthermore, poor seedling recruitment lowers population viability in small populations, as highlighted by the low population growth rates. In addition, we found a strong effect of stochasticity that limits the viability of populations. Both the genetic and demographic analyses indicated low viability of the studied species and that seedling recruitment could be the main determinant for the viability.


A new Humanitarian Emergency Fund, which received initial pledges of US$ 175 million towards a US$ 500 million target at the Millennium Summit in September, is due to be operational by early next year, subject to final approval by the UN General Assembly. The fund should speed up delivery of relief supplies in the event of natural disasters, like the tsunami, and allow for more timely interventions in crises such as those in Niger and the Darfur region of Sudan. But with its launch planned for next year, the fund may be in place too late to alleviate the situation in the southern African nations of Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland said he regretted that the fund was not already operational as this would have allowed the UN to jump-start its aid operations in southern Africa, where an estimated 12 million people face malnutrition. The UN launched a flash appeal in August for US$ 88 million to provide food aid, seeds and fertilizers for the hardest-hit country, Malawi, where up to 5 million of the 12 million population are at risk following failure of the all-important maize crop, But responses trickled in too late to buy agricultural inputs for the October planting season, which would have reduced Malawi's dependency on emergency relief next year. "Some win and some lose, and Malawi is now losing," Egeland said at a recent press conference. "It drowned in the drama of so many other things," he said in reference to disasters, such as the hurricanes in the Americas. With an average four-month time lag before aid pledges actually reach recipients, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a race against time in raising funds to avert starvation, Villagers in worst affected areas have already started eating water lily roots, which lack nutritional value but are one of the few sources of food available. "My children have all suffered from diarrhoea as a result of eating the water lilies. But I have no choice but to dive for them because there's nothing else [to eat]," said Dona Kijani, a mother of three young children in the village of Chigayeni in southern Malawi. Her husband died last year, leaving her to cope on her own. Malawi's Ministry of Health in the capital Lilongwe was due to conduct a nutrition assessment in October in the most vulnerable regions of the country. But even before the latest crisis, some 48% of children aged under five were classed as stunted--an indication of long-term chronic malnutrition--and 5% suffered from wasting as a result of acute malnutrition. More than 1000 acutely malnourished children were admitted to nutrition rehabilitation units (NRUs) in August; compared to 775 children in the same month last year. The Saint Montfort NRU in the southern district of Chikwawa, for instance, admitted 23 children in August, a rise of 130% over during the same period in 2004, Nursing officer Gertrude Mkwapu said admissions rose further in September and were expected to climb in the looming "lean season" ahead of harvest next March. …


Objective To study the clinical effects of different doses of Valsartan combined with Amlodipine in treating senile hypertension. Methods 160 cases of senile hypertension patients in Lin′an People′s Hospital from January 2011 to December 2012 were enrolled and randomly divided into observation group and control group treated with different doses of Valsartan and Amlodipine. Then blood pressure, renal function were detected before treatment and 3 months after treatment, correlation between blood pressure and renal function were analyzed. Results ①After treatment, 24 h SBP [(121.8±15.9) mm Hg vs(122.6±14.7) mm Hg, t = 1.038, P 0.05, 1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa], 24 h DBP [(72.8±9.8) mm Hg vs(73.1±13.1) mm Hg, t = 0.938, P 0.05] of observation group had no significant differences compared with control group, and 24 h SBPV [(8.4±1.4) mm Hg vs(13.8±1.9) mm Hg, t = 6.832, P 0.05], 24 h DBPV [(6.9±1.9) mm Hg vs(10.8±2.4) mm Hg, t = 6.384, P 0.05] of observation group were lower than those of control group; ②Scr [(82.8±11.3) μmol/L vs(121.8± 15.3) μmol/L, t = 5.893, P 0.05], BUN [(4.3±0.9) μmol/L vs(6.5±0.8) μmol/L, t = 5.374, P 0.05], 24 h urinary protein [(0.23±0.03) g vs(0.48±0.06) g, t = 6.842, P 0.05] of observation group were lower than those of control group; Ccr [(99.5±14.5) mL/min vs(89.5±13.8) mL/min, t = 4.982, P 0.05] was higher than that of control group; ③the SBP and DBP were positively correlated with Scr, BUN, 24 h urinary protein and negatively correlated with Ccr. Conclusion The treatment of double doses of Valsartan combined with Amlodipine has positive value in treating senile hypertension, and it is helpful to reduce blood pressure variability and improve renal function.


Comparisons of the development of the dimorphic leaves of anisophyllous shoots can be used to understand how ontogenies might be modified during evolution to produce morphological change. In anisophyllous shoots, leaves of different sizes are borne on the dorsal and ventral sides of plagiotropic stems. Anisophylly is regarded as an adaptation for light interception in strongly shaded habitats since the small size of dorsal leaves and orientation of leaf blades minimizes self-shading. Anisophylly affects not only the patterns of leaf development, but also shoot symmetry, phyllotaxis, and bud development. Pronounced anisophylly is widely distributed throughout the land plants as a result of convergent evolution, possibly in response to similar selection pressures. In taxa where the expression of anisophylly is fixed, leaf primordium size and correlated characters, including the development of procambium, differ between dorsal and ventral sides of the shoot from the first plastochron. In contrast, patterns o...


Link failure is a major problem that must be addressed, which occurs frequently in large networks. In a software-defined network, the recovery scheme for single link failure can be divided into two categories: proactive and reactive. For reactive scheme, it takes a long time to recover due to the controller participation. Though the proactive scheme can achieve faster recovery, it may consume a large number of forwarding rules, which is typically limited on switches due to expensiveness and power hungry. Therefore, this paper proposes a proactive recovery scheme for single link failure based on segment routing with less forwarding rules. In the proposed scheme, we regard the affected flows through the same link as an aggregated flow and use the link protection methods to achieve link failures recovery. The link protection methods calculate backup paths for each link of the working path, so we propose the backup paths calculation problem and formulate it as an mixed integer non-linear programming model. To solve the problem and avoid link congestion, we design an efficient algorithm to select the most appropriate backup path. In addition, due to the limitation of the maximal number of MPLS labels that the packet header can hold, we design an algorithm to divide the working and backup path into segments to meet the hardware requirements. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithms outperform CAFFE and SPR by 14.7% and 77.1% on recovery time, and outperform CAFFE by 21.5% on forwarding rules consumption. Moreover, the proposed scheme does not cause congestion in post-recovery network.


Summary A group of women employed as strippers produced significantly more exhibitionistic M on the Rorschach than three other matched control groups. Results were interpreted as supporting the position that the human movement response is related to actual behavioral tendencies.


Cognitive Radio Network (CRN) exploits the spectrum hole in licensed bands by allowing co located cognitive users to communicate among themselves when licensed users are idle. In such opportunistic communication, the cognitive users need to vacate the channel as and when the licensed user becomes active. Most of the time such sudden termination of ongoing sessions of cognitive devices leads to unacceptable overhead and degrades service quality. So, in this paper a new routing protocol is proposed which emphasizes on concurrent communication of cognitive users rather than opportunistic communication. In concurrent communication cognitive devices are allowed to communicate even in the presence of licensed users activity by controlling the transmission power of cognitive devices such that they do not interfere with the ongoing conversation of licensed users. The algorithm is based on the full location information with the assumption that each of the cognitive device can detect the location information of its own and any other cognitive device in the network. All cognitive devices are arranged into grid cells and every grid selects a grid Head (gH) based on some predefined criteria who takes care of routing. Further, the protocol also suggests a routing zone and forwarding region based on the location of the destination in order to reduce routing overhead and faster route establishment. The simulated results of the protocol is compared with CAODV protocol and observed an improvement in packet delivery ratio and routing overhead.


The aim of this study was to identify loci under selection pressure within two local populations of Pinzgau cattle and to differentiate between potential outliers under directional and balancing selection. The genome-wide scan was carried out using high-density genotyping data of 257 animals. In total 105 Austrian sires and 152 Slovak purebred animals registered by their breeder associations were genotyped using Illumina BovineHD and Illumina BovineSNP50 v2 BeadChip. After quality control and SNP pruning, the final dataset composed of a total of 37,775 autosomal loci. The FST outlier approach was used to identify loci under directional (positive) or balancing selection. From a general point of view, low levels of genetic differentiation between analysed populations were found (FST = 0.13) that confirmed the previously stated assumption of a common gene pool between Slovak and Austrian populations. Despite the weak signals of selection signatures across the genome, the applied approach was sensitive to detect genomic regions under strong selection pressure. From a total of 1,602 identified outlier loci, 1,278 markers were recognized as directional outliers and the rest were assigned as signal of balancing selection. The genomic response to differences in breeding schemes for both Austrian and Pinzgau populations resulted in the changes of allele frequencies in loci located mainly in genomic regions responsible for muscle formation and beef production (CAPN, MSTN, MYO3A) as well as control of the immunity system (IGF1, BOLA-DRA). The results of this study can help to understand the biological limits and mechanisms of selection and to detect genes of interest to breeding strategy.


The Bush administration established the Terrorist Surveillance Program to conduct electronic surveillance on communications between suspected terrorists. Many advocacy groups, scholars, and journalists declared that the Terrorist Surveillance Program was unconstitutional and violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. For over a year, the Bush administration vehemently denied these claims and defended the program as a constitutional exercise of the president's power. After a federal district court ruled that the Terrorist Surveillance Program was unconstitutional, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated the lower court's opinion and remanded the case for dismissal on the grounds of standing. Despite the Sixth Circuit's decision, the administration terminated the program in January 2007 in response to public pressure. ∗ The author is a J.D./M.B.A. candidate at The Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law and Fisher College of Business, Class of 2009. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Baylor University in 2004. I/S: A JOURNAL OF LAW AND POLICY FOR THE INFORMATION SOCIETY 388 I/S: A JOURNAL OF LAW AND POLICY [Vol. 3:3


There is an increasing awareness of the role partial discharge monitoring plays in extending the operational life of electric power assets. For years, high value assets have undergone a periodic, off-line testing regimen; however, these tests are cost-prohibitive for the large numbers of transmission and distribution assets or even the electrical balance of plant equipment at generation facilities. This paper seeks to apply layered processing to extract meaningful information from real-time, on-line partial discharge signals, allowing asset health estimations from a highly reduced data stream consistent with distributed control systems.


Objective To analyze the relations of Beclin 1 with both clinical pathological grades of gliomas and glioma recurrence,and investigate its function and mechanism in drug-resistance of gliomas.Methods Fifty-three glioma specimens (WHO grade Ⅰ in 7,2 cases of recurrence; Ⅱ grade in 9,4 cases of recurrence; Ⅲ grade in 11,6 cases of recurrence; Ⅳ grade in 9,5 cases of recurrence),colleted in our hospitals from April 2012 to April 2013,were chosen in our study.The Beclin 1 expressions in these gliomas specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry and Westem blotting;drug resistant cell line U251AR and non-drug resistant cell line U251were cultured,and Beclin 1 and resistance protein P-gP expressions in these cell lines were detected by Western blotting; double-stranded small molecule Beclin 1 interfering RNA (siBeclin 1) was transfected into the U251AR cells and the Beclin 1 protein expression 48 h after the transfection was detected by Western blotting; the activity of U251,U251AR and U251AR-siBeclin 1 cells was detected by CCK8 after being treated with different concentrations of temozolomide (TMZ); the capase-3 expression in the U251,U251AR and U251AR-siBeclin 1 cells 48 h after being treated by 20 μm TMZ was detected by Western blotting; the capase-3 expression and the number of autophagosome in the U251AR cells after Beclin 1 being knocked down or after being treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were detected by Western blotting and acridine orange staining,respectively.Results The level of Beclin 1 was proportional to the grades of gliomas.The Beclin 1 level in recurrent gliomas of grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ was higher than that in primary tumors of grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ; the Beclin 1 and P-glycoprotein (P-gP) expression in the U251AR cells were signficantly higher than those in the U251 cells (P<0.05).As compared with interfered control group and blank control group,the interfered group had decreased Beclin 1 protein level 48 h after siBeclin 1 transfection; U251AR cell survival rate was significantly higher than that of U251 and si-Bec1-U251AR cells 24 h after being treated with TMZ (50,100,500 and 1000 μmol/L); 48 h after being treated with 200 μmol/L TMZ,the caspase-3 expression in the U251 cells was significantly higher than that in U251AR and si-Bec1-U251AR cells; both HCQ and Beclin 1 interference can induce decreased formation of autophagosome and increased caspase-3 expression after U251AR cells being treated by TMZ for 48 h (P<0.05).Conclusion The level ofBeclin 1 is correlated to grades,recurrence and drug resistance of gliomas,which may be used for malignancy diagnosis and prognostic evaluation; the drug-resistance role of Beclin 1 may stem from autophagy,and combined use of temozolomide and inhibitors of autophagy or Beclin 1 disrupters may help the therapy.

Key words:
Beclin 1;  Autophagy;  Glioma;  Drug-resistance;  Temozolomide


A highly sensitive capacitance‐change technique, suitable for thin polymer films, has been developed for the measurement of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) in the film‐thickness direction. Using this technique, we have determined the thickness‐direction CTE of Kapton polyimide to be about 81±4 ppm/°C, averaged over the temperature range 50–150 °C. This polymer was chosen because it is widely used in the electronics industry for the fabrication of flexible printed circuits. Two other techniques, a Fabry–Perot laser interferometric technique, and the more conventional but less sensitive thermomechanical analysis, were also investigated. The thickness‐direction CTEs obtained from the three techniques were at least a factor of 2.4 greater than the in‐plane CTE of about 34±2 ppm/°C. The in‐plane CTE, found here via simple length measurements, was in good agreement with literature values. It is speculated that the CTE anisotropy observed might be due to the in‐plane molecular orientation of the polym...


In this paper, the controllability of a Mecanum omnidirectional vehicle (ODV) is investigated. An adaptive drive controller is developed that guides the ODV over irregular and unpredictable driving surfaces. Using sensor fusion with appropriate filtering, the ODV gets an accurate perception of the conditions it encounters and then adapts to them to robustly control its motion. Current applications of Mecanum ODVs are designed for use on smooth, regular driving surfaces, and don't actively detect the characteristics of disturbances in the terrain. The intention of this work is to take advantage of the mobility of ODVs in environments where they weren't originally intended to be used. The methods proposed in this paper were implemented in hardware on an ODV. Experimental results did not perform as designed due to incorrect assumptions and over-simplification of the system model. Future work will concentrate on developing more robust control schemes to account for the unknown nonlinear dynamics inherent in the system.


In the physical sciences, subatomic particles will be particles much littler than atoms.(1) There are two sorts of subatomic particles: basic particles, which as per current speculations are not made of different particles; and com- posite particles. Molecule material science and atomic physical science concentrate on these particles and how they collaborate. As the 1930s opened, the electron and the proton had been seen, alongside the photon, the molecule of electromagnetic radiation. Around then, the late appearance of quantum mechanics was fundamentally changing the origination of particles, as a solitary molecule could apparently com- pass a field as would a wave, a conundrum as yet evading agreeable explanation. Via quantum hypothesis, protons and neutrons were found to contain quarks—up quarks and down quarks—now viewed as rudimentary particles. Also inside a particle, the electron's three degrees of opportunity (charge, turn, orbital) can separate by means of wave capacity into three quasiparticles (holon, spinon, orbit). Yet a free electron—which, not orbiting an atomic nucleus, lacks orbital motion—appears unsplittable and remains regarded as an elemen- tary particle. But According to my theory, In the nucleus of an atom other chargless particles are also present. They are known as "Micra" (.M) particles.(.M) Micra particles are called "Energy house" or "power house" of an atom. The formula of finding (.M) Micra particles in the atom is .M = P +X. Pp Where .M means Micra particles and p+ means proton present in the nucleus of an atom.


Objective:To study the feasibility and safety in the embolization of swine rete mirabile (REM) as cerebral arteriovenous malformation (CAVM) models with Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-n-propylacrylamide),Poly(NIP-co-NNP). To observe the acute histopathological changes induced by poly(NIP-co-NNP) and to develop techniques for endovascular delivery of poly(NIP-co-NNP) through microcatheters into swine rete mirabile.Methods:Thirty-five swine were used as animal models in this study. Common carotid artery was catheterized with a 4F/5F Cobra guiding catheter for angiography. Then, a Prowler 14 microcatheter was introduced into the ascending pharyngeal artery coaxially via the guiding catheter, with its tip located just proximal to the REM. Poly(NIP-co-NNP) was delivered as follows: after superselective angiography, rete mirabile was to be embolizated in the side by Poly(NIP-co-NNP) through microcatheter with injection rate of 0.6~1 ml/s and the total dose of 1.5~3.0 ml. The 0.5 ml saline was injected into REM of another side as contrast. Angiography was arranged to determine whether the REM was totally occluded. If not, more Poly(NIP-co-NNP) was delivered as described above until complete occlusion was achieved. The acute histopathological evaluations of REM was made after operation. Results:Thirty three of thirty five animals were successful to be embolized, where as two failure due to the hyperkinesia and thrombus of blood vessel. All the ascending pharyngeal artery,accipital artery, REM and internal carotid artery (ICA) were clearly visualized by the DSA before embolization. After embolization, angiography confirmed complete REM obliteration in embolized side of all cases, and all the internal carotid artery (ICA) of tirty-three cases and part ascending pharyngeal artery of twenty six cases could not be showed in the same side in DSA. There were no obvious angiography image changes in the side to be injected with saline. Fisher's exact test of statistics of the REM embolized results was used and P0.001; ② There was no difficulty in delivering poly(NIP-co-NNP) through the microcatheter and no occurrence of catheter "gluing" ; ③ Clinical responses to poly(NIP-co-NNP) embolization were follow-up: No animals died and all survived well and no twitch and extremity paresis occurred during and after procedure; ④ Acute histopathological results gross inspection: the ascending pharyngeal artery, REM and internal carotid were clearly visualized as DSA showed. The texture was harder in embolized side than in normal side in general specimens. The REM were easily peeled off from cranal fossa. The uniformity dispersion of Poly(NIP-co-NNP) with gelatinoid and complete obliteration of REM had been shown in all cases. Light microscopic examinations: the disappearance of erythrocyte in the the arterial lumens of REM presented that the lumens of REM were totally occluded without arterial wall angionecrosis. There was no evidence of an acute cellular inflammatory response or hemorrhage in the perivascular spaces. Conclusion:This study shows Poly(NIP-co-NNP), as a new thermosensitive nonadhensive liquid Embolic materials, can diffuse well into the swine REM and achive occlusion of swine REM safely and effectively. Its advantages of Poly(NIP-co-NNP) are non-acute toxicity and non-acute harmful pathological changes, without untoward clinical effects and without untoward catheter "gluing" .


Unless otherwise noted, the publisher, which is the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association (ASHA), holds the copyright on all materials published in Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, both as a compilation and as individual articles. Please see Rights and Permissions for terms and conditions of use of Perspectives content: http://journals.asha.org/perspectives/terms.dtl


The combinatorial optimization problem of multidimensional assignment has been treated with renewed interest because of its extensive application in target tracking, cooperative control, robotics and image processing. In this work, we particularly concentrate on data association in multisensor-multitarget tracking algorithms, in which solving the multidimensional assignment is an essential step. Current algorithms generate good suboptimal solutions to these problems in pseudo-polynomial time. However, in dense scenarios these methods can become inefficient because of the resulting dense candidate association tree. Also, in order to generate the top m (or ranked) solutions these algorithms need to solve a number of optimization problems, which increases the computational complexity significantly. In this paper we develop a Randomized Heuristic Approach (RHA) for multidimensional assignment problems with decomposable costs (likelihoods). Unlike many assignment algorithms the RHA does not need the complete candidate assignment tree to start with. Instead, it constructs this tree as required. Results show that the RHA requires only a small fraction of the assignment tree and these results in a considerable reduction of computational cost. Results show that the RHA, on an average, produces better solutions than those produced by Lagrange relaxation-based multidimensional assignment algorithm which has higher computational complexity. Also, using the different solutions obtained in RHA iterations, top m solutions can be constructed with no further computational requirement. These solutions can be utilized in a soft decision based algorithm which performs much better than hard decision based algorithm, as shown in this paper by a ground target tracking example.


WT5"BZ]Objective: To implant Posterior chamber IOL in eyes of the absence of capsular surpport and obtain binocular single vision. Methods:We implanted posterior chamber IOL by fixing its upper loop and lower loop in ciliary sulcus.Results:The mean period of postoperative follow-up was 24.5 months (range 6-48 months).In 25 cases (25 eyes),postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was achieved 0.5 or better with 18 eyes,0.2 to 0.4 with 6 eyes,0.1 with l eye.Conclusions:After being implanted posterior chamber IOL with ciliary sulcu suture fixatin,the patients could obtain better postoperative acuity,recover binocular single vision and avoid disadvantages and complications from comtact lens.


From the objective and subjective aspects, this paper makes profound analysis on the causes of the multiple accidents in the coal mine, and puts forward some suggestions and countermeasures for strengthening the safety in production of the coal mine such as establishing "the safety first and the people based" thought, adopting the practicable measures for strengthening the safety management, and setting up the coal mine's safety dynamic evaluation system, etc.


Grafting study was carried on with Xuelanhong as scion and Zuoshan NO.1,Shuanghong,Gongniang NO.1,beta as rootstock.The result showed that one year old mature branch of Beta was suitable stock,which rooting rate was 67.2% and survival rate was 61.2%.Stock scion healing early,have good compatibility,high root number,high fresh weight,high survival rate.Gongniang NO.1 as rootstock which rooting rate was 40.6% and survival rate was 32.1%,while Shuanghong and Zuoshan NO.1 as rootstock which rooting rate was 25.6%,stock scion do not heal well and die all after transplanted in nursery.Therefore,Gongniang No.1,Shuanghong and Zuoshan No.1 were not suitable for grafted rootstock.


This research aims to study the performance of a multi-blade flat horizontal axis wind turbine, where the blades used are a combination of the 4.5 tapper model developed by Herlambang et al [1] and the blade model with an output angle of 25 ° developed by Sahid et al [2]. The research begins with making 3 models of blades then installed on the generator performance test system, the next step is to test the efficiency characteristics of the rotation. The test results of the three models were reviewed by comparing the efficiency of each model. The results show that the horizontal axis wind turbine with 4:5 taper flat type and 25° output angle produces efficiency at speeds of 5 m/s and 7 m/s, which are 4.253 % and 1.947%. There was an increase from the 4:5 taper blade model at speeds of 5 m/s and 7 m/s, which were 75.38% and 91.13%, respectively. And the increase in efficiency from the 25° output angle blade model at speeds of 5 m/s and 7 m/s is 151.63% and 68.26%, respectively. At a speed of 9 m/s the 25° output angle blade model has the highest efficiency, which is 1.087% so that the 4:5 taper blade model has an efficiency decrease of 7.37%. Therefore, the horizontal axis wind turbine with 4:5 taper flat type and 25° output angle is the most suitable blade model for wind speed 7 m/s. The 25° output angle blade model is suitable for use at a speed of 9 m/s.


Objective:To search for the best,more convenient and cheaper therapy for neonatal ABO incompatibility.Methods:The effects,side-effects and results of early diagnosis and early intensive phototherapy on 425 cases with neonatal ABO incompatibility during last 15 years were summarized and analyzed to explore the suitable therapy for this disease.Results:During phototherapy,the average peak serum bilirubin level of all cases was controlled at(240+48.1)μmol/L,among the 425 cases,88% were controlled bellow 255 μmol/L and 99% bellow 340 μmol.None needed exchange transfusion,none bilirubin encephalopathy or death occurred,the side-effects were rare.All the eases were cured.The average hospitalization period was(5.4±0.8)d.Conclusion:Early diagnosis and early intensive phototherapy can minimize the need for exchange transfusion or high-dose gamma globulin.The current tendency of excess treatment for this disease should be prevented.


We consider a 2D curved surface embedded in 4D Euclidean space, and give the effective Hamiltonian describing noninteracting electrons with orbital spin by introducing a confining potential. We find that the geometry of embedding in 4D space, a nonzero torsion, constructs the gauge structure of effective dynamics, and the SO(2) symmetry of confining potential effectively converts an extrinsic orbital angular momentum into an intrinsic orbital spin. We further find that the geometric response of orbital spin contributes quantum Hall effect, the adiabatic response to torsion deformation provides Hall viscosity presented as a simultaneous occurrence of multiple Hall conductances.


Better decisions can be made in the profession of the users if they can filter out the relevant information from all the available information sources. The mass availability of the mobile devices has enabled the users to quickly access timely information from any location. The aim of this work is to identify a suitable way to provide timely information in context by capturing contextual information through the mobile device, to support the activities of the user. The context model tries to identify the context of the user by identifying the task being performed by the user. The system is aware of the information need and the information source for each task of the user and the relevant information is filtered out of the information source, by using the users context. The context model was designed and tested for the farming domain, to support the livelihood activities of the farmer, by extending the concepts of Social life networks. Social life networks aggregates information from various sensors on a mobile phone, other published data sources and micro blogs such as twitter to detect evolving situations and make that information available to the users in real time. This initial prototype was evaluated with a sample of farmers to check usefulness of provided information and usability of the application in order to support their day to day decision making process. The sample group strongly endorsed the various aspects of the prototype application and provided valuable insights for improvement. The current application is a specific instance of the SLN project and we plan to create more application for SLN to test and refine the context models.


. In this paper, by constructing a new non-homogeneous kernel of mixed hyperbolic functions, we establish a new Hilbert-type integral inequality with the best constant factor. We also consider the equivalent form of the obtained inequality. Moreover, by using the rational fraction expansion of cotangent function and cosecant function, some special Hilbert's type inequalities with the constant factors related to the higher derivatives of cotangent function and cosecant function are presented.


Studying optimization and decision for opening electromagnetic loop networks plays an important role in planning and operation of power grids. First, the basic principle of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is introduced, and then an improved FAHP-based scheme evaluation method is proposed for decoupling electromagnetic loop networks based on a set of indicators reflecting the performance of the candidate schemes. The proposed method combines the advantages of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. On the one hand, AHP effectively combines qualitative and quantitative analysis to ensure the rationality of the evaluation model; on the other hand, the judgment matrix and qualitative indicators are expressed with trapezoidal fuzzy numbers to make decision-making more realistic. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by the application results on the real power system of Liaoning province of China.


A close kinship of whales to hoofed mammals, and to hippopotamuses in particular, is discussed in two articles in the issue of 21 Sept., "The ancestry of whales," a Perspective by K. D. Rose (p. [2216][1]), and a Report, "Origin of whales from early artiodactyls: hands and feet of Eocene Protocetidae from Pakistan" by P. D. Gingerich, M. ul Haq, I. S. Zalmout, I. Hussain Khan, and M. Sadiq Malkani (p. [2239][2]). This is not a new idea. Rather, it is a vindication of the earliest explicitly phylogenetic classification of mammals. In 1866, the pioneering evolutionary biologist Ernst Haeckel classified the order Cetacea (in which he also included the sirenians) and the order Ungulata (with Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla as suborders) together under his legion Pycnoderma ([1][3]). In his formal classification, the hippos were placed as family Obesa, which, along with the pigs, anthracotheres, and their close allies, comprised section Choeromorpha under the suborder Artiodactyla. However, in his phylogenetic tree of the Mammalia (Plate VIII), he depicts the Cetacea and the Obesa as sister taxa; this whale-hippo clade was, in turn, the sister taxon to the clade containing the pigs and anthracotheres.

Later, Haeckel abandoned this phylogeny and considered the origin of whales questionable ([2][4]). Most subsequent cetologists dismissed or ignored the possibility of a relationship between whales and ungulates until the idea was revived by molecular biologists in the late 20th century.

1. [↵][5]1. E. Haeckel
 , Generelle Morphologie der Organismen (Georg Reimer, Berlin, 1866).

2. [↵][6]1. E. Haeckel
 , Systematische Phylogenie, Dritter Theil (Georg Reimer, Berlin, 1895).

 [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1065305
 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1063902
 [3]: #ref-1
 [4]: #ref-2
 [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text"
 [6]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text"


For a graph G, let D(G) be the family of strong orientations of G, and define d(G) = min{d(D)|D∈D(G)}, where d(D) is the diameter of the digraph D. In this paper, we evaluate the values of d(C 2n x P k ), where n ≥ 2 and k ≥ 2.


BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorders are often associated with cognitive deficits, which have an influence on social functioning and the course of the illness. These deficits have an impact on occupational ability and social integration.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
To ascertain cognitive function, level of dissociation and quality of life and their interrelations in patients with bipolar affective disorder in remission. Data from D2 Attention Test, Verbal Fluency Test and Trial Making Test, Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Quality of Life Satisfaction and Enjoyment (Q-LES-Q) and M.I.N.I. (MINI-international neuropsychiatric interview were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS
There are no significant correlations between applied cognitive tests and dissociation scale DES. There are no significant correlations between applied cognitive tests and dissociation scale DES. There were no differences between employed and unemployed patients in DES, pathological DES and in any of Q-.LES-Q domains.

CONCLUSIONS
We need further research to explore the role of cognitive functions and dissociation in bipolar affective disorder and its relationship to cognitive functions, emotional regulation, biological factors and therapy outcome.


Articular cartilage composition and structure are maintained and remodeled by chondrocytes under the influence of loading. Exercise‐induced changes in the composition, structure, mechanical properties and tissue integrity of growing and aging hamster articular cartilage were investigated. Articular cartilage samples (n = 191) were harvested from the proximal tibiae of hamsters aged 1, 3, 6, 12 and 15 months. The hamsters were divided into runners and controls. The runners had free access to a running wheel between 1 and 3 months (runner groups 3‐, 12‐ and 15‐month‐old hamsters) or 1 and 6 months (runner group 6‐month‐old hamsters) of age. Control animals were subjected to a sedentary lifestyle. Mechanical indentation tests and depth‐wise compositional and structural analyses were performed for the cartilage samples. Furthermore, the integrity of articular cartilage was assessed using histological osteoarthritis grading. Exercise affected the collagen network organization after a 5‐month exercise period, especially in the middle and deep zones. However, no effect on the mechanical properties was detected after exercise. Before the age of 12 months, the runners showed less osteoarthritis than the controls, whereas at 15 months of age the situation was reversed. It is concluded that, in hamsters, physical exercise at a young age enhances cartilage maturation and alters the depth‐wise cartilage structure and composition. This may be considered beneficial. However, exercise at a young age demonstrated adverse effects on cartilage at a later age with a significant increase in the incidence of osteoarthritis.


Innovative imagery is a health-patterning modality viewed from the perspective of Rogers's science of unitary human beings and Barrett's theory of power derived from the Rogerian paradigm. A health-patterning modality is a specific approach to enhancing power by assisting clients with their knowing participation in change. Innovative imagery is described as a unitary, nonlinear practice approach whereby clients are helped to go beyond the given to realize freedom and experience imaginative creativity. The science-base for innovative imagery as an active method for participation in the creation of one's reality including health and healing is presented. A case study from the author's private practice illustrates the application of innovative imagery as a health-patterning modality.


In hemihydranencephaly, the human brain lacks 1 complete hemisphere. An occlusion of the carotid artery, affecting all supplied territories, is thought to be the underlying mechanism. This extremely rare disorder, of which only 7 cases have been reported to date, is thought to occur before the last trimester of gestation (20th to 27th week), after neural migration but before synaptogenesis. We report on a 36-year-old man born at term, with no complications, from nonconsanguineous healthy parents. Cranial computed tomography had been performed because of left-sided headaches. Because of the imaging findings, the patient presented at our institution for additional MRI and clinical testing (including the Motor Activity Log, Wolf motor function test, 2-point discrimination test, Purdue pegboard test, gross motor function test, Physician Rating Scale, and Aachener aphasia test, including patterns for spontaneous speech, repetition, naming, comprehension, written language, and the token test). The patient's disabilities were related to deficits in fine motor control and reduced precision. Therefore, the patient was unable to perform the Purdue pegboard test with his affected hand. According to the Aachener aphasia test, no aphasia could be demonstrated for this strongly left-handed patient. Strong mirror movements were found. Cortical reorganization is possible if damage occurs in very early childhood. Motor function and speech were controlled by the remaining, nonaffected hemisphere, with a remarkable outcome. Because the damage is thought to occur before synaptogenesis, existing or prepared cortical areas and pathways have the potential to execute the lacking functions of the destroyed hemisphere.


IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, TEXAS WAS A STATE POOR IN COMMERCE and industry but rich in land. As part of the 1845 treaty under which it entered the union, the state kept its public domain; unlike the situation in the other western states, the federal government was not a major landholder in Texas. For half a century after gaining its independence from Mexico, the Texas government used its public lands to accomplish state purposes otherwise beyond its capabilities. It put to use nearly 150 million acres to encourage railroads, attract settlers, reward soldiers, and educate citizens.? The first land endowment for a university was voted by the Congress of the Texas Republic in 1838, but no surveys were authorized until eighteen years later. This land was sold without creating a university. In 1858 the original fifty-league (221,421 acre) grant was confirmed by the state legislature, and the future university was promised, in addition, one of every ten sections of land that had been reserved for the state in railroad grants.2 The Civil War and Reconstruction intervened at this point, and it was not until 1875 that the state government returned to the problem of creating a university. By that time, however, squatters had moved onto much of the hypothetical university's possessions. Fearing to incur the political opposition that would follow a confirmation of the university's title to these tracts, the authors of the Constitution of 1876 reneged on the one-in-ten section promise and substituted for it a million acres in the largely unsettled western half of the state. The legislature of I883 added approximately another million acres in the same


Understanding nature and projecting its future behavior has always been deemed to be a major breakthrough for survival and moving our civilization forward. In the age of Machine learning, data mining, data analysis, this particular process has received a dramatic improvement. This paper converged our focus into several significant machine learning algorithms to analyse their contributions to predicting weather patterns. Having access to a 20-year data of a single station has given us a centralized view to compare and determine which algorithm is better suited for weather forecasting. We have worked on AdaBoosting, XGboosting, Stacking KNN, Stacking Neural Network etc. to validate their performances and differentiate their scores on Confusion matrix measurements. We have found some astonishing achievements by these algorithms, mainly Stacking Neural Network, and distinguished their performances.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the prevalence of clinical anxiety, the possible impact of patients' anxiety on quality of life and the association between their anxiety levels and patients' perceived needs.

METHODS
Randomly selected disease-free patients with breast cancer who survived >2 years were invited to participate in the study. The participants were asked to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C 30 and the Short-form Supportive Care Needs Survey questionnaire, which covers five domains of need (health system and information, psychological, physical, care and support and sexuality needs).

RESULTS
Complete data were available for 146 of the patients, and 14% of them suffered from clinical anxiety. Anxiety score had a statistically significant correlation with all domains of quality-of-life measures. The only perceived need that was significantly associated with anxiety was the psychological domain.

CONCLUSIONS
Not negligible patients may suffer from clinical anxiety >2 years after their initial cancer diagnoses. Anxiety can impact on patients' quality of life, and unmet psychological needs are expected to increase anxiety levels. Management of anxiety could be one of the key components to improving the quality of life for breast cancer survivors and that reducing their unmet psychological needs may contribute to alleviating anxiety.


Two different kinds of water stress were applied to treat the wheat seedling.The scavenging activity of hydroxyl radical(·OH) hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical(O_2~-·) in stressed seedlings were determined.Results indicated that the normal growth wheat seedlings possessed reactive oxygen species scavenging acivity.Both discontinuous and continuous drought stress affected the response of reactive oxygen species scavenging activity of wheat seedlings.The response of root and the leaf to drought stress was different.The continuous drought-stress had greater effect than the discontinuous one.The reactive oxygen species scavenging activity showed different tendency after rehydration.


Excerpt INTRODUCTION To be among those who have received the award given annually in memory of Dr. John Phillips is an honor that I greatly cherish. Consequently, when President Fitz asked me to sp...


Change in condylar position following mandibular bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) has been implicated as an important factor in the appearance of immediate postoperative relapse during rigid fixation. It has been suggested that the control of the condylar segment following BSSO is the most important aspect in preventing relapse. The study was done to evaluate changes in position of condyle taken with lateral and frontal cephalograms with 20 patients were assessed, 10 male and 10 female patients were divided as group 1 and group 2. Patients undergoing sagittal split ramus osteotomy for mandibular set back were selected; radiographs before operation/surgery, immediately after surgery, 3 months and 6 months postsurgery. Differences between groups were measured by PAIRED 'T' TEST and time dependent changes in cephalometric measurements were examined by FISCHERS TEST. The present study results conclude significant difference occurring in both proximal and distal segment including condyle. Occlusal stability and skeletal stability also maintained post operatively


AN ADMINISTRATOR OF PREPARATION HAS A BODY ADMINISTRATOR including a solid PREPARATION AND HAVING AT ONE END CHANNEL ENTRY FOR THINNER AND THE OTHER END CHANNEL OUTPUT FOR PREPARATION liquid, a solvent container containing a solvent FOR dissolving, dispersing OR SUSPEND THE PREPARATION AND CONNECTED TO INPUT CHANNEL MANAGER BODY, AND A SYSTEM TO DIRECT THE PREPARATION THINNER WITH sOLID IN THE BODY THROUGH THE BODY OUT CHANNEL. A PREPARED SOLID IN THE BODY ADMINISTRATOR dissolves, suspended or dispersed in the solvent fed from the solvent container and ejected AS A PREPARED fluid through the outlet channel BODY.


Preparations for the shock heating devolatilization of coal continued. Preliminary tests, including calibrations, were conducted with the InSb detector and the Optical Multichannel Analyzer. The piston for breaking the diaphragm was fabricated, installed and tested. Testing of the coal injector model was completed. A test coal was milled and size graded.


For a long time, the vibroacoustic behavior of structures was studied from a physical point of view with the goal of reducing sound levels and understanding physical phenomena. It has led researchers to elaborate upon physical models for sound radiation and transmission prediction, and also to establish vibroacoustic indicators such as radiation efficiency or sound transmission loss for acoustic performance criteria. Within the last decade, qualitative aspects of sounds have been integrated into the physical analysis to take into account sound perception and the expectation of subjects. This has yielded noticeable improvements in the sound quality of sources in various industries, mainly in the automotive industry. Our work aims at improving the acoustic performance of building structures which act as input filters to annoying sounds of the inner environment. The approach is based on coupling of the physical and perceptual analyses. We will present how structural parameter values and their accuracy can ac...


PURPOSE
To assess the surgical and refractive outcomes of a new technique of sutureless scleral fixation (SSF) using a single-piece foldable acrylic Carlevale lens (Soleko) SETTING: Department of Translational Surgery and Medicine, Ophthalmology, University of Florence, Careggi, Florence, Italy DESIGN: Prospective observational case series METHODS: Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with aphakia, dislocated IOL or subluxated lens who underwent sutureless scleral fixation (SSF) of a mono-piece hydrophobic acrylic Carlevale lens were studied. The patients' data including pre-operative and post-operative refractive status, complications during and after surgery were recorded. The intraocular lens tilt was evaluated using anterior segment (AS)- OCT.

RESULTS
Twenty-two eyes were IOL/bag luxations, 9 were aphakia and 3 were subluxated crystalline lens. Mean pre-operative BCVA was 0.46 ± 0.29 and at the 8-month follow-up had improved to 0.13 ± 0.12 logMAR (p<0.05) with a predictive error (PE) spherical equivalent of -0.24 ± 0.81 D; the intraocular tilt was 2.08° ± 1.19°. One patient (3.1%) experienced transient Cystoid Macular Edema (CME), and 1 (3.1%) vitreous hemorrhage; pigment dispersion with AS-OCT findings of reverse pupillary block was found in 2 (6.2%) eyes. Lens dislocation, conjunctival erosion and plug externalization were not observed in any eye during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS
SSF using Carlevale Lens represents a valid option for the management of aphakia, lens subluxation and IOL-bag complex dislocation with unique characteristics of stability. The advantages of this technique are the absence of haptic manipulation, the self-centration and the firm fixation of the lens.


1. Inference about demographic parameters of animal and plant natural populations is important to evaluate the consequences of global changes on populations. Investigating the factors driving their variation over space and time allows evaluating the relative importance of biotic and abiotic variables in shaping the dynamics of a population. Although numerous studies have identified the factors possibly affecting population dynamics, they have barely formally determined the routes by which these different factors are related to demographic parameters.


This paper presents a generic signaling mechanism for handoff control in ATM networks. In the past, signaling mechanisms for handoff control have been proposed in a very protocol dependent way. Each protocol is characterized by its distinct way to identify crossover switch (COS) and implemented in a signaling syntax different from the other protocols. In this paper, we propose a common signaling syntax which is independent of handoff control protocols being used. With this syntax, we can (1) make standardization of handoff control being protocol independent, (2) have a common evaluation base for different protocols and (3) implement signaling mechanism for handoff in a common software framework. The signaling syntax is defined as an extension to ATM UNI/NNI signaling specification and the descriptions for messages, states and signaling sequence are given in details.


10101Background: Performance status is often used to stratify cancer pts for treatment and to guide supportive care resources. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate whether PROs have p...


High unemployment particularly among youth is a serious burden for economy. There are many causes behind the high unemployment in the Escwa region, which differ from one country to another. Governments policies aim to solve this problem by creating new jobs symmetric with the sustainability of economic growth. These policies usually aim to increase growth rates and not to reduce unemployment. Inflation is another factor that has influence on unemployment rate, therefore economic growth and inflation are two factors that have impact on unemployment. Youth are the most affected group due to many reasons, the most important is the employment production act applied by within countries. For this purpose, this study investigates the influence of economic growth and inflation on youth unemployment in 16 countries belonging to the ESCWA region for the period 1991-2017. Pedroni Residual Cointegration Test statistic showed that there was no relationship between young unemployment, inflation and economic growth in ESWA'S economies. So, it can be clearly said that the series were not moving together for the long-term period. Furthermore, in this context, the results of Dumitrescu-Hurlin (2012) panel Granger causality test indicated that there is no causality relationship between youth unemployment and economic growth as well between inflation and economic growth. While a unidirectional causality moved from inflation to youth unemployment to inflation.


The crystal structure of the title compound, where TTM–TTP is 2,5-bis [4,5-bis(methylthio)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene]-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene, has been determined by X-ray analysis. The donors form a uniform stack, which is responsible for metallic conduction down to TMI = 20 K. The anions are composed of discrete I3− and an infinite chain of I3−. Each donor has anomalously large positive charge of +5/3.


Electrical impedance plethysmography has been applied to the vertebral arteries. By this method the tissue impedance which reflects volume changes, caused especially by the pulse wave, is recorded. A reduced pulsative arterial blood flow results in smaller impedance variations with each pulse wave. Special electrodes for placing against the posterior pharyngeal wall at the level of C2 have been constructed, and an attempt has been made to determine the optimal positions for skin electrodes when the head is in different positions.In normal persons rotation of the head when in the sitting or supine position does not give rise to changes in the impedance compared with the initial positions. With the head in the hanging position, especially when it is rotated in the direction opposite to the artery being studied, a smaller impedance decrease at each pulse wave than in other positions is normally recorded. This should indicate that some compression of the vertebral artery of one side is, in a certain position ...


Mesenteric ischemia is generally encountered in elder ages, but can be also seen in young population 1. Occlusive and nonocclusive entities broadly underlie the etiology. Although the complications of drug abuse usually occur much in cardiovascular or respiratory systems than gastrointestinal 2, a part of gastrointestinal tract can be affected with the use of foreign drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and spice. Herein, we aimed to present a case of intestinal ischemia related to drug abuse in a patient with history of colon cancer surgery.


The invention provides a diamond-like carbon composite film and a preparation method thereof. The diamond-like carbon composite film comprises a SiOxNy film layer and a hydrogen-containing DLC film layer which sequentially make contact with each other, wherein 0<x<=2, and 0<y<=1.3. The diamond-like carbon composite film not only has the good optical property, but also has the good hardness and abrasive resistance and can be suitable for devices which have requirements on both optical properties and mechanical properties.


Conductance measurements can be applied to determine the relative effects of bioreductively activated antimicrobial and antitumour agents under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Manipulation of the detection time measurements for Escherichia coli may be used to determine the relative toxicities of each drug on a concentration basis.


This work demonstrates the feasibility of designing and photoimprinting fiber gratings (FGs) with grating periods at least twice longer than conventional short-period FGs but with identical performance, functionality and applications. A theoretical analysis has been conducted.


The well-known results on the American put option problem obtained for the classical Black–Scholes model are generalized to the case of a diffusion model with level-dependent volatility. An early exercise premium representation of the value function of the American put option is established. The proof of this result is based on the properties of a stochastic integral with respect to an arbitrary continuous semimartingale over the predictable subsets of its zeros. A nonlinear integral equation is derived for the optimal exercise boundary of the American put option. The uniqueness of the solution of this integral equation is established by introducing the corresponding Cauchy problem with discontinuous right-hand side and with a unique solution in the second order Sobolev space.


Characteristics of vegetative growth,reproductive growth,and yield structure were primarily analyzed at early fruiting period.The results showed that test forest had early ripening and high yield;differentiation degree of reproductive growth was high at early fruiting period,and later stage management have influence on yield structure and yield of the forest stand at the early yield period.


Two different subgrid-scale combustion models were used for the Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) of turbulent chemical reaction flows in a model combustor with V-gutter flame holder.The subgrid eddy viscosity was determined by using k-equation subgrid-scale (KSGS) model.To take into account the influence of heat radiation on wall temperature and gas temperature distributions,heat flux model was applied to predict heat flux distributions.The LES equations were solved with SIMPLE algorithm and hybrid scheme.Comparison of numerical results with experimental data shows that the two different subgrid-scale combustion models can all be used to simulate the combustion,but the G-equation flamelet model is better than the EBU subgrid combustion model.These results provide confidence that the LES may lead to a better understanding of the combustion process.


A retrospective study was used to analyse canine pyometra cases in Segar Veterinary Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 2012 to May 2016 and to investigate the relationship between pyometra and breed and age of dogs. The study was done through secondary collection of data from ambulatoirs of pyometra cases which were diagnosed based on anamnesis, examination of clinical signs and ultrasonography and/or radiography. The data collected includes breed categorised into small, medium, and large breeds, whereas the age are categorised into puppies, adulthood and geriatric. The data was then analysed with tree classification analysis and CATPCA (Principal Components Analysis for Categorical Data) analysis using SPSS program. A total of 80 cases of pyometra were recovered from female dog patients over the study period. Small breed dogs at 72.5% (n=58) and geriatric dogs at 62.5% (n=50) had the highest percentage of pyometra. The breeds Mongreal, German Shepard Dog, Mini Schnauzer, Silky Terrier, Toy Poodle, Beagle, Chow Chow, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, Cocker Spaniel, White Terrier, Siberian Husky, and Pekingese aged older than 5.5 years had 100% from 37 cases of open-cervix pyometra. Geriatric and small breed dogs are inclined to have open-cervix pyometra. However adult and medium or large breed dogs have a higher possibility to have closed-cervix pyometra. These results serve to highlight the importance of public awareness regarding canine pyometra and further researches are needed to find out the effects of hormone therapy, frequency of births, and the bacteria present in uterus with pyometra. Keywords: Canine pyometra, Open-cervix Pyometra, Closed-cervix Pyometra, Age and Breed


Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) created a buzz in the chemistry community a decade ago when they were introduced as a metal-free catalytic system. A research team in Scotland has now taken the concept into unexplored territory by incorporating FLPs into polymers for the first time. Among other attributes, the reactive FLPs provide a new strategy for forming dynamic cross-linked networks that give polymer gels self-healing properties. "This is an exciting development and a very clever application of the notion of FLPs to access materials with unique properties and characteristics," comments Douglas W. Stephan of the University of Toronto, who wasn't involved in the new work. Stephan and coworkers introduced the FLP idea in 2006, discovering that when an electron-rich Lewis base attempts to share a spare pair of electrons with an electron-deficient Lewis acid and when the base and acid are dressed with bulky substituent groups or are separated by


In this paper, we construct a quantization functor, associating a complex vector space H(V) to a finite dimensional symplectic vector space V over a finite field of odd characteristic. As a result, we obtain a canonical model for the Weil representation of the symplectic group Sp(V). The main new technical result is a proof of a stronger form of the Stone-von Neumann property for the Heisenberg group. Our result answers, for the case of the Heisenberg group, a question of Kazhdan about the possible existence of a canonical vector space attached to a coadjoint orbit of a general unipotent group over finite field.


Using a life-course/opportunity-cost framework we study racial differences in labor force behavior among African American and white men aged 55 to 69 [in the United States]. A multifaceted measure of labor force behavior is examined within a longitudinal framework. We perform the analyses with a merged sample of the 1984 and 1985 Survey of Income and Program Participation and we find that the most stable status is not working followed by full-time part-time and unemployed statuses. Results from multivariate logistic regression change models show race-specific effects of age health and not-working status on several labor force status and attrition contrasts. Researchers have much to gain by continuing to consider racial differences in late-life labor force behavior and by focusing on contemporaneous and lagged measures of life-course variables. (EXCERPT)


The important aspects of elastohydrodynamic lubrication, with a single, one-dimensional asperity, have been found by solving numerically the coupled transient Reynolds equation and the elasticity equation. Even though the assumption of a single asperity is highly ideal, this study sheds some light on the effect of surface roughness on elastohydrodynamic lubrication. The results show that the film pressure tends to increase more than the steady state pressure, and in particular, the increase in pressure reaches a maximum as the asperity approaches the inlet of the contact region. The asperity height and the pressure increase above the steady state pressure are closely related to each other; the higher the asperity height, the larger the pressure increase. In the pure rolling case, it has been found that a local pressure peak is not developed. However, in the cases of sliding and rolling, a small, local pressure peak is developed on the pressure profile when the asperity moves into the contact region. In general, the overall film thickness profile increases with increasing asperity height, but is not significantly affected by the asperity width. Moreover, the slope of the overall film thickness profile for the transient cases is much greater than the steady state profile, which is approximately constant across the contact width. The increase in the center film thickness also depends upon the width and height of the asperity.


The main objective of this study is to improve abrasion resistance and wet slip resistance of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by blending with ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber (EPDM) or polybutadiene rubber (BR) for the application of the footwear outsole materials. With addition of 10 wt% of EPDM or BR, TPU/EPDM and TPU/BR blends exhibited higher NBS abrasion resistance, tensile properties and wet slip resistance than TPU. However, with further increasing content of EPDM and BR, abrasion resistance and tensile properties of the blends decreased. Improvement in abrasion resistance and tensile properties with 10 wt% of addition of EPDM or BR may be due to better microphase separation of TPU.


The law consists of both internal and external rules, but in both cases they regulate the behaviour of the subjects towards each other. This can be viewed from a phenomenological perspective in the sense that people have a drive to make sense of their world, and the rules that are developed essentially enable them to relate to the world in this way. If anything interferes with this drive, then it causes peoples' existential upset. That is why the state both enforces these rules between its own nationals, but also with regards to the outsiders. However, in doing so, the state must also be mindful of ensuring that it interprets the rules fairly. If it does not do so, then this may negate the purpose of law by causing the existential unrest. Although in the past this may have been done on a national basis, in that it has been necessary to maintain just the national values of a state in order to ensure that people could lead their lives, globalisation has altered the identity of people. They are no longer just national citizens, but also global citizens, and are increasingly relying on global values to fulfil their existential nature.


The Kazan Cathedral is one of the most famous monuments in the center of St. Petersburg, it was constructed in 1801-1811 and designed with tufa from the settlement of Pudost near Gatchina (so called the Pudost Stone). This stone posed a number of problems for restoration workers. Tufa has calcite composition, with the pores being covered with microdruses of calcite rhombohedron crystals. Gypsum concentrates at the very surface and three reasons of origin could be named, they are: (i) chemical interaction of calcite with atmospheric SO3, (ii) plastering with alabaster, (iii) plastering with lime containing admixture of gypsum.


ROBUST PREPROCESSING TECHNIQUES FOR NON-IDEAL IRIS IMAGES By PURVA MADHAV BARVE The human iris has been demonstrated to be a very accurate, non-invasive and easy-to-use biometric for personal identification. Most of the current state-of-the-art iris recognition systems require the iris acquisition to be ideal. A lot of constraints are hence put on the user and the acquisition process. Our aim in this research is to relax these conditions and to develop a preprocessing algorithm, which can be used in conjunction with any matching algorithm to handle the so-called non-ideal iris images. In this thesis we present a few robust techniques to process the non-ideal iris images so as to give a segmented iris image to the matching algorithm. The motivation behind this work is to reduce the false reject rates of the current recognition systems and to reduce the intra-class variability. A new technique for estimating and compensating the angle in non-frontal iris images is presented. We have also developed a novel segmentation algorithm, which uses an ellipse-fitting approach for localizing the pupil. A fast and simple limbus boundary segmentation algorithm is also presented. © Copyright 2005 Purva M Barve All Rights Reserved


Objective: Assess the correlations between antipsychotic medication use in elderly dementia persons with neuropathological outcomes data, including cerebrovascular disease (CVD) pathology. Background A 2006 FDA-issued black box indicated that elderly patients with dementia treated with antipsychotics are at an increased risk of death, primarily from vascular complications (myocardial infarction and stroke) and infections (pneumonia). Despite the profound impact this warning has had on the field, the cerebrovascular consequences of antipsychotic use in dementia remain poorly understood. Design/Methods: We identified all subjects with a history of dementia related psychosis treated with antipsychotic agents (DPAP; n=32) in the University of Kentucky Alzheimer9s Disease Center Brain Bank. Control subjects were placed in two cohorts matched for age, gender, apoe, education and MMSE including subjects with dementia but no psychosis or antipsychotic medication (DNPNAP group; n=32), and subjects with dementia and psychosis but no antipsychotic medication (DPNAP group; n=32). Demographic, clinical, genetic, and neuropathological features were compared between groups. Results: Comparative analysis of vascular risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, myocardial infarction, smoking, diabetes mellitus, cardiac arrhythmia, and Hachinski scores) revealed no significant between group differences. Clinical diagnoses including Alzheimer9s, Lewy-Body, frontotemporal, and vascular dementia did not differ between groups. Cause of death including myocardial infarction, stroke, and pneumonia did not differ between groups (p=0.73, χ2 test). Braak, CERAD, amyloid angiopathy, and Lewy body scores supported the diagnoses of moderate to severe dementia in the majority of cases (86%), but did not differ between groups. No statistically significant differences were found between the 3 groups for degree of atherosclerosis (p=0.25) or lacunar (p=0.34), micro- (p= 0.67), hemorrhagic (p= 0.81), or macro (p= 0.90) infarcts. Conclusions: Antipsychotic medication use is not associated with increased burden of cerebrovascular disease on neuropathological examination. Future studies investigating causal relationship between antipsychotic use and increased risk of death in dementia patients is warranted. Disclosure: Dr. Singhal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Abner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schmitt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nelson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jicha has received personal compensation for activities with Pfizer Inc, Janssen Immunotherapy, and Eli Lilly & Company. Dr. Jicha has received research support from Baxter, Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Medivation, and Danone.


The modifying Taguchi's method is used in reliability estimation for the system or the component which the functional relationship of its stress and/or strength is known.the reliability calculated with the method is almost the same as that computed with computer simulation method,but the calculation of modifying Taguti's method is simpler.Moreover the methods to fit the pdf of stress and/or strength with the reliability data is also proposed in the paper which are important in ebgineering applications.


Ascending aortic and proximal transverse arch aneurysms may sometimes project to the left of midline and be difficult to distinguish from neoplasm. The authors have recently encountered three such cases that presented as possible neoplastic soft-tissue masses overlying the left upper lobe. They did not enhance on intravenous-contrast-enhanced CT scans, and in two cases the diagnosis of aneurysm was not confirmed until angiography was performed.


This paper addresses the coexistence of the different material formats of books (emerging and classical) from a sociological perspective, trying to argue that textual practices, devices and digital applications available to users are enabling a rearticulation of the book as an object, and some other written content, that surrounds them with new mediations. In addition, we make a brief review of some key points in the evolution of the technologies used to copy textual pieces and try to explain that in the recreation of shared routines and senses is where the future of the book may be establishing itself, so it is not appropriate to simply address the agency in a technology (such as the printing press before or Internet nowadays) unless we understand the technology as an contingency with a strong social component, not only as purely technical innovation. Apparently, we live in a time of transition in which several strategies are being developed by different corporations in order to impose their own conceptions of readings and books among the others. Either way, it is not questionable that also the attempts to capture the legal condition of the book may have a performative desire. Therefore, the technological environment of the book is suffering a kind of reorganization in several locations, where new and old elements try to fit themselves within variant levels of conflict.


Abstract: The effect of forest roads on species distribution and dispersal is an important conservation and management issue. We examined distributions of understory plants and their relationships to unpaved forest roads in a northern hardwood landscape in the Chequamegon National Forest, Wisconsin ( U.S.A. ). At six different sites, we recorded species cover, canopy cover, litter depth and cover, and bare ground at 11 distances ( 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 150 m ) from the road edge. At each of the 11 distances, we established a 60‐m transect parallel to the road edge, within which we sampled 10 randomly placed 1 × 1 m plots ( 660 plots ). We examined changes in species abundance ( percent species cover per plot ), richness, and Shannon‐Wiener diversity (  H′ ) with distance from the roads in an effort to determine the degree and magnitude of road effects on plant distribution. The species richness and H′ of native plants and the abundance of exotic species were clearly related to distance from the roads. Exotic species were most prevalent within 15 m of roads, occurring infrequently in the interior forest. The richness and H′ of native species were lower on the roadsides but reached interior‐forest levels within a short distance ( 5 m ) from the roads. The roads appeared to be associated with a disturbance corridor that affected site variables up to 15 m into the hardwood stands. At our six sites we detected 117 species, 25% of which occurred more frequently near the road, with only 12% having a 90% or greater preference for the forest interior. Our results suggest that roads have associated effects that alter interior‐forest conditions and thus plant species composition and abundance; however, these effects are limited in depth of penetration into managed forests.


Crosstalk between two twisted wire pairs of equal and unequal twist rate is analysed and compared. Low-frequency approximations to the Multi-conductor Transmission Line equations are used to derive closed-form expressions for near-end crosstalk. Such analysis on cable configurations with different twist scenarios gives insight into sensitivity on relevant twist parameters as well as dependencies of crosstalk on all other model parameters. Results show that crosstalk between twisted pairs of equal twist rate behaves similar to that between untwisted wire pairs. On the contrary, an ideal combination of twisted pairs, by for instance doubling the twist rate in one of the pairs, causes crosstalk to vanish up to linear order. The performed analysis and derived closed-form expressions agree to measured crosstalk results and can lead to good understanding of upper and lower boundaries for crosstalk in different cable configurations.


The algorithm for mold-filling simulation with consideration of surface tension has been developed based on the CIP method. As a test problem, a squeeze casting simulation was taken up. As an application to a practical casting problem, we also applied this scheme to a die-casting simulation and compared the numerical results with the experimental data on the size and the position of blow holes. Numerical results both with and without surface tension indicated the existence of blow holes. However, the simulation without surface tension tended to underestimate the size of blow holes. Through these numerical results, it is confirmed that the consideration of surface tension is very important for predicting the size and the position of gas trapped in mold cavities. Furthermore, we propose a criterion for estimating whether the gas remaining in the cavity is compressed or expanded during mold filling, and adopt it to a practical die-casting problem


An enormous amount of attention has been paid in recent years to the police practice of stopping and frisking citizens on the streets as permitted by Terry v. Ohio,1 and whether expansive use of Terry constitutes a form of harassment of minorities.2 But there is another significant application of Terry that has the potential to broaden its impact in the future: the car context. In 2014, in Navarette v. California,3 the Supreme Court addressed whether an anonymous tip from a 911 caller alone could justify a Terry stop of a driver, creating reasonable suspicion not only for the single incident alleged running the caller off the road but for ongoing criminality an inference of driving under the influence.4 The Court majority held that it could, as the tip satisfied the two elements of reliability basis


For linear delay systems with limited controls the notion of a proper control system is introduced. If the uncontrolled system \dot{x}(t)= Ax(t)+ Bx(t-h) is uniformly asymptotically stable and the control equation \dot{x}(t)=Ax(t)+Bx(t-)+Cu(t) is proper, then the control system is Euclidean null-controllable. We note that controllability is equivalent to the system being proper for delay systems with unlimited power.


Salt containing water sorbent has been synthesized by physical mixing of Ferroaluminophosphate Zeolite(FAPO4-5) and CaCl2. The CaCl2/FAPO4-5 water sorbents were characterized by several techniques such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), N2 and water adsorption analyses. The CaCl2/FAPO4-5 water sorbents show that they have a high water vapor adsorption capacity up to ~0.5 g/g-sorbent at the range of P/P0 = 0.1~0.3.


The World Wide Web is the biggest source of data that the general public has access to. Students and researchers working on data-related problems need a well-maintained source to get their data from. Most online services provide APIs to use their service. However, this may not provide all the data that they actually need even though it exists on the website. In this paper, "Scrapple" – a framework for creating semi-automatic web scrapers, which extract required data from the Web, is introduced. Users do not need to write the entire scraping programs - they only need to define a configuration file which is used to build the required scraper. The configuration provides support for CSS selectors and XPath expressions


Bromine, Br, is a trace element in Long Island's groundwater and surface water. It is mostly present as bromide, Br". Most bromide in the Long Island aquifer system is derived from precipitation originating over the ocean. Storm systems developing over the continent may also contain bromide. In continental storm systems, the bromide is probably principally derived from the combustion of fossil fuel. Non-atmospheric sources of bromide include agricultural chemicals and septic tank effluent. Once bromide is in the aquifer system it is largely unreactive and behaves conservatively. Hence, the bromide chemistry of the water may be used to identify different types of water (e.g., predevelopment vs. post-development water). In this study, a large number of ponds in Suffolk County and 13 wells were analyzed for bromide, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate.


To find an effective method,to compute the numerical solution of a series of mathematical seepage models for the Divide-well,implicit difference equations for one seepage model for the Divide-well are constructed using the finite difference method.And difference equations are solved using the pursuit method.Through the program with the Matlab language,the numerical solution of the seepage model for the aquifer of symmetrical medium are computed,without upper and lower supply,and with a fixed water level in well.The comparison between the numerical solution and the analytical solution.Absolute errors are analyzed.


Josiane Carvalho da Silva email@example.com orcid.org/0000-0002-2554-1546 Federal University of Technology Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Camila Sampaio Nogueira email@example.com orcid.org/0000-0001-7826-0062 Federal University of Technology Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Noemi Sutil firstname.lastname@example.com orcid.org/0000-0003-3095-3999 Responsible for translation Federal University of Technology Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Eduardo Massahiko Higashi email@example.com orcid.org/0000-0002-2621-1469 Paraná State Department of Education (SEED), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil firstname.lastname@example.com orcid.org/0000-0001-8327-9147 I email@example.com orcid.org/0000-0001-8327-9147 Instituição (SIGLA), Cidade, Estado, The demands of integration among areas of knowledge and the linking of school contents with the experiential elements of the subjects can be understood within the scope of the contemporary themes approach in Basic Education. This perspective can aggregate the problem-posing of relations between Science, Technology, Society and Environment (STSE), the positioning and the proposition of alternatives, towards controversial issues. Regarding this educational conception, in this experience report, some analysis are presented concerning the development of an educational proposal within the scope of the Pedagogical Residence of Physics, with students from the third year of a public institution in Curitiba, Paraná, from February to September 2019. These actions were undertaken considering the assumptions of approach of STSE relations and engagement, with theme related to the Production, Distribution and Use of Electric Energy. In reference to this process, the objective is to point out structural, curricular and methodological challenges. Among the developed educational activities, reading processes, discussions, experimental activities and model making stand out. The analysis focused on reports elaborated by residents, materials produced by students in Basic Education (written activities delivered on paper and in Google Classroom; models) and questionnaire. The written materials were analyzed considering elements of Content Analysis. In the data analysis process, aspects of student involvement and correlations with structural, curricular and methodological challenges were highlighted. It was evidenced student engagement in the activities, with recognition, problem-posing and proposition of alternatives to contemporary problematic situations. However, difficulties concerning student participation and the use of mathematical elements were identified. In terms of challenges, there was a need for adaptations and articulations, considering the characteristics of the institutions and the subjects involved; these comprised structural perspective, curricular organization and methodological approach, concerning the break with aspects of traditional teaching. It should be noted that the development of this proposal made it possible for residents to articulate theory and practice, with action and reflection towards the educational practice itself.


The implementation of the Imperial Examination System in the Sui and Tang dynasties helps produce more bureaucrats and central government officials among the scholar-official families.A careful observation and analysis of the Li family in Zhao-jun of that day discloses that the then scholar-official families gradually lost their dominance over the local regions,which explained the tension between the central government and Hebei in the Tang Dynasty.


Taking as starting point the book of Sinnott and Dunn, Principles of genetics: an elementary text, with problems, that may be considered the first textbook of classical genetics in the Kuhnian sense, and the analyses of the structure of biomedical and/or biological theories carried out by Darden and Schaffner, I will discuss the problem of the existence of fundamental laws or guide-principles in biology, in the light of the examination of classical genetics accomplished with the instruments of the structuralist conception of theories.


and the Jesus within each text. He focuses on the question 'what is the significance of Graeco-Roman philosophy for the early Christian understanding, narrative, and image of Jesus?' (p. 7). The first chapter describes this Graeco-Roman philosophical tradition and description of philosophical sages within it. The following chapters seek to analyse the Jesus found in each of the synoptic gospels to see whether gospel writers make use of any philosophical tropes in their image of Jesus. In Mark, for example, Thorsteinsson finds comparable material concerning 'ascetic appearance, abandoning one's family, attitudes toward material possessions . . . Jesus and the philosophers as messengers of God, the wisdom of Jesus, the philosopher's emotions, and the philosopher's suffering and death' (p. 179). These subject areas are common to his subsequent chapters on Matthew and Luke. He finds that only Jesus' emotions present a significant departure from the philosophical tradition, claiming that in Mark and Matthew Jesus is presented as more emotional than the ideal philosopher sage. He argues that the absence of emotion in Luke suggests that Luke 'made use of Graeco-Roman discourses portraying the philosophical sage' (p. 177). However, this might equally be explained by Luke's being the most literary of our synoptic authors. This volume is an important contribution to an underexplored area of study. It lacks sufficient engagement with other instances of philosophical influence within the Judaism of Jesus' time. Such engagement, especially Josephus's presentation of the various sects of Judaism within the philosophical schools, would help make the case for any philosophical influence on the evangelists more convincing. It is possible that Thorsteinsson has demonstrated that philosophical material has shaped the presentation of Jesus in the gospels. It is much harder to see that he has proved that the purpose of this presentation 'was to show that Jesus was not only on a par with the philosophers, he was superior to them' (p. 184).


Summary The paper presents a new revision of the ciliate fauna of the Lake Baikal shallow. During July and August 2008, free-living ciliates inhabiting macrophytes and sands in the open littoral zone of Lake Baikal were studied. Description of 18 species are given; seven of them ( Urotricha baikalensis Alekperov, Obolkina, Wilbert sp. n., U. pseudovenatrix Alekperov, Obolkina, Wilbert sp. n., Prorodon atypicus Alekperov, Obolkina, Wilbert sp. n., Frontonia disciformis Alekperov, Obolkina, Wilbert sp. n., F. cristallophora Alekperov, Obolkina, Wilbert sp. n., Condylostoma longicaudata Alekperov, Obolkina, Wilbert sp. n., Wilbertella baikalica Alekperov, Obolkina, Wilbert sp. n.) were described for the first time. Key words: ciliates, fresh waters, Lake Baikal Introduction As it is well known, Lake Baikal is the largest and deepest freshwater lake in the world. The studies of protists in this ancient lake began since the expeditions of Moscow University in 1900-01. Later Swarzewsky (1928a, 1928b), Rossolimo (1926), and Cheissin (1930-1932) have found rich endemic fauna of parasites which was then revised by A.V. Jankowsky (1973,1982a, 1982b, 1982c, 1986, 2007). The first detailed study of free-living ciliates in Lake Baikal was carried out by N.S. Gajewskaja during 1926 through 1928 (Gajewskaja, 1928, 1929, 1932, 1933) who found a series of fascinating new taxa that were regarded as endemics for Lake Baikal for a long time, while later on some of those taxa were found in other water bodies of the world. However, the peculiar habitats of the Lake Baikal shallow host very specific fauna, and biodiversity of free-living protists there excite a great interest in terms of both protist taxonomy and understanding of many unclear aspects of their evolution. The interstitial fauna, mesopsammon – a new freshwater commu-nity recently found in open Lake Baikal littoral sands (that means sands out of shallows and relatively well heated bays) (Obolkina, 1991, 1995, 2006) can be put as an example of the adaptive evolution of free-living ciliates. Psammophilous ciliates of Lake Baikal exhibit all the features of morphological adaptations typical to marine psammophilous ciliates (Remane, 1933, 1940, 1952) and have a series of divergent forms which are still poorly studied.


has two kinds of information, namely, words (lyrics, language information) and melody (music information). Does melody facilitate (or inhibit) word processing, and do words facilitate (or inhibit) melody processing? Or, are these two kinds of processing independent of each other? We explored these questions in two separate experiments, including a study and test phase. In Experiment 1, 40 participants listened to 20 words presented in sung or spoken style, and they attended to the words. Immediately after this study phase, they heard the same words along with 20 fillers which were presented in sung or spoken style. In this test phase, they responded with "old" or "new" for words. Two factors; the presentation style of words in the study phase (sung or spoken) and the presentation style of words in the test phase (sung or spoken), were manipulated across participants. We reasoned that if word processing is completely separable from melody processing, there should be no difference of performance between the four conditions in the test phase. Experiment 2 used the same design with 44 participants but the focus was on melody recognition. The presentation consisted of a sung melody with words or a hummed melody and participants attended to the melody. Likewise, we reasoned that if melody processing is completely separable from word processing, there should be no difference of performance between the four conditions in the test phase. In Experiment 1, using A' scores (a nonparametric measure of the accuracy of discrimination), melody facilitated word recognition when the presentation style of words in the study phase was sung. Similarly, in Experiment 2, words facilitated melody recognition when the presentation style of melody in the study phase was sung, but inhibited performance in the "hummed-melody study, sung-melody test" condition. These results suggest that melody could facilitate word recognition, but words can also facilitate and inhibit melody recognition. The asymmetry of relationship between words and melody in song representation is discussed.


We report recently obtained evidence concerning newborn chicks' predispositions to attend to social stimuli, considering in particular two types of visual cues characterising such stimuli: facial features and self propelled motion. Visually naive chicks presented for the very first time with face-like vs. non-face-like controlled stimuli show a spontaneous preference to approach faces, and, when briefly presented with objects that exhibit either self-produced motion or motion caused by physical contact, prefer then to associate with self-propelled objects. The role of several perceptual properties was also considered. Symmetry/asymmetry, spatial frequencies, contrast polarity and orientation of features representing the comb were analyzed with regards to face preferences. Spatiotemporal cues were considered with regards to sensitivity to self propelled motion. Overall, our findings support the existence of evolutionarily ancient, predisposed neural mechanisms in the vertebrate brain for the analysis of socially relevant cues.


The species-rank of Equus kiang was recently supported by molecular and genetic studies (RYDER & CHEMNICK 1990). Three subspecies are currently recognized in this species: eastern E. k. holdereri, southern E. k. polyodon and western E. k. kiang, differing in some cranial and external features (GROVES & MAZAK 1967). Kiang populations are scarce and widely separated at present; which was a reason for a reassessment of the taxonomic status and distribution of at least one or two of these three races. An interesting skull of kiang was recovered by N. Paklina and C. van Orden from Ladakh (India) in 2001. It is the only kiang skull from the most western population in Russian zoological collections. Museum materials can be divided into two groups. One (wild) group of specimens originated from North and North-East Tibet, including skulls and skins collected by Russian scientists and travellers: N.M. Przewalskji (in 1886), G.E. and M.E. Grum-Grzhimailo (in 1890), P.K. Kozlov (in 1900). These animals putatively belong to E. k. holdereri. The second group (captive) consists of animals from zoos, belonging to E. k. holdereri, too. The association of the Ladakh skull is questionable. Both groups (wild and captive) differ well in terms of skull proportions (38 % measurements and 19 % indexes, p < 0.05), but there is some overlap in their cranial variability. The mentioned skull from Ladakh is also intermediate with respect to cranial features. Discriminant function analysis (Statistica for Windows 6.0) based on a set of cranial measurements distinguishes these two groups well (Wilks lambda = 0.0006), and ascribes the skull from Ladakh to the captive group (by Squared Mahalanobis distance and Posterior probabilities). This result supports the view that the kiang populations from East Ladakh, North and North-East Tibet belong to the same subspecies E. k. kiang. Results also demonstrate trends of cranial variability in animals bred in captivity.


Failure of an instrument in a plant not only leads to unwanted shutdown of the plant, but also adversely influences plant safety and economy. By the redundancy and decision by majority system which employs a magnetic deviation detector and averaging unit, the reliability of plant instrumentation can be considerably improved. A description is given of its components, i.e., the magnetic deviation detector, magnetic operational applifier, magnetic ON-OFF switch in circuit, 2f -type magnetic amplifier for low-level signals, and magnetic multiplier-and-divider. The principles are first explained and then the results of experiments with the system are presented. It has been found that the system gives very satisfactory results.


A matter bouncing entropy-corrected cosmological model has been suggested. The model allows only positive curvature with negative pressure and no violation of the null energy condition. The result obtained in this paper is supported by some recent theoretical works where the combination of positive spatial curvature and vacuum energy leads to non-singular bounces with no violation of the null energy condition. An important feature of the current model is that evolutions of the cosmic pressure, energy density and equation of state parameter are independent of the values of the prefactors α and β in the corrected entropy-area relation. The validity of the classical and the new nonlinear energy conditions has been discussed. The cosmographic parameters have been analyzed.


BACKGROUND
High-resolution real-time ultrasonography (US) can detect characteristics of thyroid nodules, but the US differentiation between malignant nodules and benign nodules is not well described.

HYPOTHESIS
Ultrasonography is useful for predicting malignancy of thyroid nodules.

DESIGN
A retrospective study of 329 thyroid nodules (> or =5 mm) in 309 patients comparing US characteristics and pathological results.

SETTING
A center for the treatment of thyroid diseases where about 1400 thyroid operations are performed per year.

PATIENTS
Between January 1 and June 30, 1999, 309 patients were examined by US before thyroidectomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
The US characteristics to predict malignancy for both follicular and nonfollicular neoplasms by means of multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS
The sensitivity of preoperative US diagnosis was 86.5% for nonfollicular neoplasms and 18.2% for follicular neoplasms. The specificity was 92.3% and 88.7%, respectively. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, margin, shape, echo structure, echogenicity, and calcification were reliable indication of malignancy in nonfollicular neoplasms. According to a receiver operating characteristic curve constructed from this multiple logistic regression analysis, the best point not to overlook malignancy is the point at which sensitivity is 94% and specificity is 87%. The probability of malignancy at this point is greater than 0.2. For follicular neoplasms, ultrasonographic diagnosis was unreliable, even when multiple logistic regression analysis was applied.

CONCLUSION
We can predict malignancy of nonfollicular neoplasms of the thyroid by using multiple logistic regression analysis based on only 5 features: margin, shape, echo structure, echogenicity, and calcification.


The correlative threshold denoising of wavelet packet transformation is used to process the test data,and the RBF neural network with subtractive clustering and LMS algorithm is used to establish and compensate the transducer model.The study results show that the network structure is simple and astringency is fast,the modeling and compensation by using the new algorithm is effective to correct the nonlinear dynamic character of transducer,and noise elimination with correlative threshold plus wavelet packet transformation is superior to conventional noise elimination methods.