Background: Numerous rubbers tapping systems have been developed to increase latex yield. The objectives were (i) to test the efficiency of stimulation tapping systems and (ii) to describe the sucrose balance between supply and demand in the latex-producing bark of the rubber tree.Methods: The experiment was conducted at Thepa Research Station in Songkhla province. Eleven-year-old of RRIM600 clone was investigated. The experiment was designed as One Tree Plot Design (OTPD) with 4 tapping systems (Treatment; T) and 4 replications. Treatments were T1: S/3 2d/3, T2: S/6 d3, T3: S/6 d3 with RRIMFLOW and T4: S/6 d3 with LET. Result: S/6 d3 with RRIMFLOW tapping system in young-tapping rubber tree provided significantly highest averaged latex yield per tapping. The average cumulative latex yield was no significant difference comparing with the traditional tapping system. Rubber girth increment had no significant difference among treatments (P greater than 0.05). An averaged sucrose distribution in the trunk level of none stimulation treatments were high to very high sucrose values; however, it was medium sucrose values in the stimulation treatments. Inorganic phosphorus distribution in the trunk level showed medium to high values. Hence, the finding indicated that the use of ethylene stimulation together with tapping system should be considered for rubber tree and to control the balance of sucrose content in the trunk level of rubber tree.


Engineering nanomaterials surface exhibit unique physical/chemical properties and impart enhancements to engineered materials, including better magnetic properties, improved electrical activity, and increased optical properties. Studies on the complexity of such interactions, including electrostatic and hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces, have been conducted to better understand the adsorption of biomacromolecules or organic pollutants in the environment. It is important to standardize the nanomaterials properties for further use in various industrial nanotechnological products. Moreover, there is still a substantial need to comprehensively investigate all physicochemical and the biological properties of NPs to predict possible impact to environment. According to our knowledge doped-metals titanium dioxide nanoparticles are one of the most promising nanomaterials. However, experimental evaluation of nanoparticles is expensive and time-consuming process. Quantum-mechanical (QM) calculations combined with a quantitative structure-property relationship (nano-QSPR) approach applied on titanium dioxide nanoclusters (NCs), which will allow us to find structural features that are responsible for photocatalytic activity and toxicity properties to design highly functional nanomaterials with lower toxicity in accordance to principle "safe by design". In our project we have performed a systematic density-functional theory (DFT) study on the interaction of titanium dioxide TiO2 (anatase) with small gold clusters (Au8). For this purpose, the quantum-chemical calculations were performed for geometry optimization and the electronic properties, such as highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), the band gap, electronic charges, absorption energy and molecular electrostatic potentials. The preliminary results indicate that Au8 anatase substrate interaction is weak but the presence of oxygen vacancies enhances the binding of the Au cluster to the surface. Moreover, the Au states lie within the band gap of anatase TiO2 (101).


. The article proposes an optimization model of control over cutting tool demand in a machining shop. The model is based on application of one of the optimization problems, which occur at an enterprise depending on its current requirements: minimization of time and financial costs, and with convolution of these criteria. Furthermore, the work describes a software program used for calculation of required quantity of cutting tools necessary for meeting of production targets.


A flange encased or by it being formed from an injection molding material, may be hermetically sealed tray (100) or container (478). Tray (100) includes a side wall of the tray (114) has a flange (116) extending outwardly, irregularities caused by the manufacturing of the tray (100). Encapsulated materials, encapsulating the flange (116) at a substantially uniform thickness condition, defines the encapsulated rim with flange (116). Encapsulated materials, generally, polyolefin, nylon, or a plastic such as a polyester, may also be made from other materials. The encapsulating material covers a portion of the flange, and extends a predetermined distance from the outer edge of the flange (116).


Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are a complex of diseases that strongly affect grape productivity, wine quality, and vineyard longevity worldwide. GTDs occur in diverse regions, and in some areas disease agents are present in up to 100% of vines (Pintos et al. 2018). Recently, species belonging to Botryosphaeria and Diaporthe were identified as pathogens associated with GTDs in China (Dissanayake et al. 2015; Yan et al. 2013). During 2017 to 2018, interveinal leaf necrosis and wood white decay surrounded by brown necrosis in longitudinal section and black spots in cross section were observed in several grapevines (Cabernet) in Huailai County, Hebei Province, China. Disease incidence was up to 2 to 3% of the vineyard. Diseased samples (whole trunk and roots of 19-year-old vines) were collected and taken to the laboratory. Woody samples were cut into small chips, surface sterilized in 1.5% NaOCl for 3 min followed by 70% ethanol for 30 s, and rinsed three times with sterile distilled water (SDW). Once the samples were dried, they were placed onto PDA plates amended with ampicillin (0.1 g/liter). Plates were incubated at 25°C under dark conditions. After 14 days of incubation, hyphal tips of fungi growing from wood pieces were transferred onto new PDA plates and incubated until they produced conidia. One type of colony was consistently isolated from the discolored tissue, with honey brown mycelium, and producing a yellow pigment on PDA. Conidia were ellipsoid to allantoid, 3.8 to 6.2 μm long, and 1.6 to 3.2 μm wide (n = 50). Morphologically these isolates resembled species belonging to Phaeoacremonium (Mostert et al. 2006). For species confirmation, genomic DNA of three representative isolates (JZB3190001, JZB3190003, and JZB3190005) was extracted. PCR amplification was performed using two phylogenetic markers (actin and β-tubulin) amplified with primers ACT-513F/ACT-783R (Carbone and Kohn 1999) and T1/Bt2b (Glass and Donaldson 1995). The sequences obtained were deposited in GenBank under the accession numbers MK994188 to MK994193. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using maximum likelihood in RAxML, which was accomplished using RAxML-HPC2 on XSEDE in the CIPRES Science Gateway platform (http://www.phylo.org/). In the phylogenetic tree, the isolates from the present study clustered together with Phaeoacremonium minimum (CBS 246.91), with 100 bootstrap values. Based on morphological characters and phylogenetic results, the species isolated in this study was identified as P. minimum (Tul. & C. Tul.) D. Gramaje, L. Mostert & Crous (Gramaje et al. 2015). The pathogenicity test was conducted on healthy, 2-month-old, rooted 'Furcal' grapevines that were grown in an inoculation chamber. Roots were washed using flow water and rinsed with SDW. The ends of SDW-treated roots (roughly 1 cm) were cut with sterilized scissors, and the roots and trunk base of Furcal vines were dipped in a 10⁶/ml P. minimum spore suspension for 30 min. Inoculated plants were immediately planted in individual pots, and 10 ml of spore suspension was added to the soil per pot. SDW was used as a control. Two P. minimum isolates (JZB3190001 and JZB3190003) were used to do the pathogenicity test, and 10 plants were inoculated with each isolate and the control water. Temperature of the inoculation chamber was controlled between 24 and 25°C, and humidity was maintained at 60%. After 114 days of inoculation, the inoculated plants developed black necrosis at the base of wood but did not show leaf necrosis, whereas the control plants showed no symptoms both in wood and leaves. Koch's postulates were confirmed by reisolating and identification based on cultural and morphological characters of the inoculated isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. minimum associated with GTDs in China. The results of this study will enhance the capability of controlling GTDs in China by correct identification of the causal organism.


With the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) springing to life at the CERN laboratory near Geneva, the great data drought in elementary particle physics is finally about to end. Not since the second phase of CERN's Large Electron–Positron Collider (LEP) began operations in 1996 has the field been able to probe virgin territory and measure truly new and exotic phenomena. And that machine merely doubled the energy reach of electron–positron colliders into regions that had already been partially explored using the Tevatron at Fermilab in the US. Researchers at these colliders – the world's most powerful for over a decade – could only chip away at the outer fringes of the unknown. But the LHC, built by installing thousands of superconducting magnets in the LEP tunnel, will permit physicists to strike deep into its dark heart. There they will almost certainly discover something distinctively different.


Let p be a saddle fixed point for an orientation-preserving surface diffeomorphism f, admitting a homoclinic point p ′ . Let V be an open 2-cell bounded by a simple loop formed by two arcs joining p to p ′ , lying respectively in the stable and unstable curves at p. It is shown that f |V has fixed point index ρ ∈ {1,2} where ρ depends only on the geometry of V near p. More generally, for every n ≥ 1, the union of the n-periodic orbits in V is a block of fixed points for f n whose index is ρ.


Results: The body temperature upon admission was significantly higher in P2 than P1 (P1 34.7±0.9 vs. P2 35.3±0.6℃, P=0.011). After the initial procedure, following NICU admission, the body temperature was also significantly higher in P2 than in P1 (P1. 34.9±0.8 vs. P2 35.5±0.4, P<0.001). The IWL of the first and second day was significantly decreased in infants in the P2 group. Subjects in the P2 group demonstrated significantly improved initial blood gas results of base deficits and bicarbonate concentra- tion, as compared to the P1 group. Conclusion: New strategies for the prevention of hypothermia were beneficial for decreasing the recorded incidence of hypothermia and improving the IWL, and base deficits of the initial blood gas analysis in 23/24W.


Information requirements analysis for data warehouse systems differs significantly from requirements analysis for conventional information systems. Based on interviews with project managers and information systems managers, requirements for a methodological support of information requirements analysis for data warehouse systems are derived. Existing approaches are reviewed with regard to these requirements. Using the method engineering approach, a comprehensive methodology that supports the entire process of determining information requirements of data warehouse users, matching information requirements with actual information supply, evaluating and homogenizing resulting information requirements, establishing priorities for unsatisfied information requirements, and formally specifying the results as a basis for subsequent phases of the data warehouse development (sub)project has been proposed. The most important sources for methodology components were four in-depth case studies of information requirements analysis practices observed in data warehousing development projects of large organizations. In this paper, these case studies are presented and the resulting consolidated methodology is summarized. While an application of the proposed methodology in its entirety is still outstanding, its components have been successfully applied in actual data warehouse development projects.


Improved SPECT reconstructions have been obtained by the use of an Inverse Monte Carlo (IMOC) reconstruction algorithm. Monte Carlo solution to the photon transport equation for SPECT generates an accurate system response model for use in an iterative Maximum Likelihood estimation (MLE) algorithm. Reconstruction from simulated projections demonstrate that the MLE algorithm continues to converge at 1000 iterations for noise free data. Reconstruction from experimentally acquired projections reveals superior RMS noise and resolution recovery when compared with filtered backprojection for simple phantoms. Compensation for scatter and attenuation is provided by including these effects in the Monte Carlo simulation.


Polymers and biopolymers are continuously subjected to the action of different stress factors, such as oxygen, heat, UV light, mechanical stress, humidity, etc., during their processing and service life, undergoing overall oxidative degradation, that causes performance and property deterioration. To improve the resistance at high temperatures and long-term weatherability of the polymers and biopolymers, usually, during their manufacturing, synthetic antioxidants and UV-light stabilizers are added. In the past decade, several concerns related to the impact of the synthetic stabilizers have emerged, and to reduce their negative effect on human health and the environment, their replacement with naturally occurring molecules, having similar protection abilities, is greatly welcome. It has been demonstrated that several natural polyphenols, vitamins, and carotenoids are efficient and suitable stabilizers for the protection of polymers and biopolymers from oxidative degradation. Besides, it is worth noting that...


Abstract : The report presents an extension and application of Maximally Flat Magnitude Driving Point Functions to the design of flat band-pass admittances using approximation procedures. Poles are pre-specified according to the low pass MFM array described in a previous paper. The resonator inverse inductances are taken as coefficients to be manipulated for the desired flat magnitude response. A tabulation of the sensitivities of the magnitude response at various frequencies to these parameters was shown to be sufficient for the design of flat driving point functions. A continuum of paralleled resonators with parameters distributed in some arbitrary continuous variable x was studied. It was shown that the properties of this function are closely related to the properties of a discrete paralleled resonator distribution with similar parameters. Realization of a general specified admittance magnitude using only paralleled resonators, and including shunt capacitance, is shown to be possible to within a ripple in magnitude. Several examples of admittance shapes are realized using a program designed on this basis. Methods are presented for analysis and design of a usefully large variety of admittances using only paralleled resonators. (Author)


Lonca (ADCT-402) is an antibody (Ab) drug conjugate comprising a humanized anti-CD19 monoclonal Ab, conjugated with a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer toxin. Lonca showed antitumor activity in a dose-finding Phase 1 study in relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-NHL (NCT02669017), and an open-label Phase 2 (NCT03589469) study in R/R diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), where patients received 150 µg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W) for two doses, followed by 75 µg/kg Q3W thereafter until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Here, we evaluated the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and tolerable doses of Lonca PBD-conjugated Ab (cAb). A pooled Phase 1 and 2 population pharmacokinetics model of total Ab and cAb data was used to generate individual cAb exposure metrics (patients with DLBCL [n=284] for efficacy; all patients [N=328] for safety), including average cAb concentration (Cavg). SAS© v9.4 and R statistical software v4.0.1 were used for the exposure-response analysis. Efficacy endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and duration of response (DoR); selected treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were used as safety endpoints. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze ORR and safety endpoints. Time-to-event Kaplan-Meier and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to analyze OS and DoR, as applicable. Significant relationships between exposure and response (ORR and OS) were observed. ORR was 64.8% for patients in the highest quartile (Q4) of Cycle 1 Cavg compared with 23.9% for patients with drug exposure in Q1. The odds of response increased 1.2-fold for each 0.1 µg/kg increase in Cycle 1 Cavg (p Significant positive relationships were found between exposure and increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), skin and nail disorder, and liver function test abnormalities (but no evidence of hepatotoxicity). The odds of Grade ≥2 GGT occurrence increased with Cavg in Cycle 1 (p=0.000669). Higher Lonca exposure resulted in improved response. As expected, probability of Grade ≥2 TEAEs overall increased with exposure. The dosing regimen using initial dose of 150 µg/kg with dose reduction after two cycles resulted in rapid attainment and maintenance of high steady-state levels, and is anticipated to aid in response durability while minimizing toxicity. Citation Format: Brian Hess, Weiyun Ai, William Townsend, David Ungar, Sam Liao, Lori Liao, Xiaoyan Zhang, Joseph Boni. Relationship between exposure and safety/efficacy of loncastuximab tesirine (Lonca) in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1367.


With the continuous increase of fuel prices and global environmental needs of carbon emission reduction, slow steaming has become one of the vital operations in maritime transportation. The development of slow steaming has moved forward from conceptual design to daily execution. Determining slow steaming speed often encounters a trade-off between fuel consumption and carbon emission reductions and shipment delays. A decision support modeling system is developed to assist maritime operations in consideration of fuel consumption, carbon emission, and shipment delay. The system has been applied to an Asia-North America service route in the Trans-Pacific trade to generate a recommended speed for slow steaming operations. Future development is discussed with an aim to improving the system by incorporating social cost of emission and emission regulation in emission control areas.


On December 16, 2012, a 23 year-old girl was brutally gang-raped by six men, including one minor, on a moving bus while her male friend was assaulted in Delhi. Both of the victims were attacked with an iron rod and the girl was severely injured and later died. The media was quick to hype cringe-worthy comments made by people in the limelight. The discourse around status of women in the society, patriarchal norms, gender sensitivity and umpteen related constructs became the content of comment threads on various web pages. The articulation of these discourses on a digital medium is both conflicting and intriguing. This paper will attempt to conduct the discourse analysis of the comment threads on few websites that posted updates around this mishap. Since the online medium gives people the advantage of anonymity which may not otherwise be available to them in the public sphere, the constructs of identity and ideology become even more critical. This research paper will attempt to identify the dominant discourses, analyse their ideological context and the potential and the role of digital media in these constructions. Does the digital media ecosystem reinforce the hegemonic ideologies or does it provide the space for liberal and alternative ideologies? Do perceptions of gender and sexuality assume fluid meanings or get re-negotiated in the digital media context? This research will attempt to use the discourse analysis of the web comment threads around the brutal mishap to discuss and analyse these questions.


The purpose of this study to determine the effect of service quality variables which consisf of physical evidence, reliobility, responsiveness, assurance, and empathyfor patient satisfaction Blambangan Banyuwangi hospitals. The num- ber of samples used l25 patients, whereas sampling in this study conducted in accidental, namely by directly giving questionnaires to hospi- tals inpatients Blambangan Banyuwangi. using multiple regression analysis found evidence that the physical evidence, reliability, assurance and empothy inJluence on patient satisfaction, while the responsiveness does not alfect the patient satisfaction Blambangan Banyuwangi hospitals

Keywords: Qual@ of service ond palient satisfaction


Reliable automatic detection of traffic jam occurrences is of big significance for traffic flow analysis related applications. We present our work aimed at the application of video based real-time traffic jam detection. Our method can handle both calibrated and un-calibrated scenarios, operating in world and in image coordinate systems respectively. The method is designed to be operated on a smart camera, but is also suitable for a standard personal computer. The combination of state-of-the-art algorithms for vehicle detections and velocity estimation allows robust long-term system operation in due to the high recall rate and very low false alarm rate. The proposed method not only detects traffic jam events in real-time, but also precisely localizes traffic jams by their start and end positions per road lane. We describe also our strategy in making computationally heavy algorithms real-time capable even on hardware with a limited computing power.


Interstitial cystitis is a diagnosis of exclusion. The strict criteria (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 1988) are valuable for research purposes because they ensure that the patient has the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/ PBS) by precisely ruling out gynecologic causes of irritative voiding symptoms [1]. However, as the authors mentioned, almost 60% of the patients regarded by experience as suffering from IC/PBS failed to meet the criteria [2]. For this reason, it is likely that the prevalence of IC/PBS is much higher than traditionally believed. Meanwhile, the authors reported that 65.9% of the study cohort with IC/PBS experienced spontaneous vaginal burning and 85.1% of the patients had both provoked and generalized vulvodynia [3]. In addition, over one third of the patients had voluntary sexual abstinence due to unbearable pain during sexual intercourse. It is likely that, with exposure of more drugs (such as antidepressants mentioned by the authors), more patients will seek help from the urologist for the sexual consequences of IC/PBS in the future. At this point, we should know whether it is possible to treat the sexual function of these patients by treating IC/PBS. Recently, Nickel et al reported treatment outcomes of 128 patients with IC/PBS who received pentosan polysulfate sodium for 32 wk with a dosage of 300 mg/d [4]. The authors noted statistically significant improvement in sexual functioning scores evaluated with the Medical Outcomes Study Sexual Functioning Scale. Moreover, reduction in symptoms of IC/PBS was moderately correlated with improvement in the sexual functioning score at the end of the study. This study revealed that treatment of IC/PBS should be targeted for treating sexual dysfunction in these patients. However, currently no mode of treatment can relieve all symptoms in all patients with IC/PBS. This is probably due to poor understanding of the pathophysiology of IC/PBS. For this reason, more research should be performed to understand the disease, a vital aspect for treating its consequences including sexual dysfunction.


This paper introduces the traffic controlor(TC) based on the Linux,discusses the related details of TC's queuing discipline,classification and filter modules,lists some samples of achieving network management by way of TC.


Background: Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic agent, is widely used in the treatment of malignant tumors. Nephrotoxicity, especially acute kidney injury (AKI), is the most common and severe adverse reaction of cisplatin. Resveratrol and ginsenoside Rg1, two natural products, have been found to have renal protective effects. However, the effects and the mechanisms in cisplatin-induced AKI need further investigation. Methods: The mouse models of cisplatin-induced AKI and several treatment groups were established. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups: saline control group, cisplatin injury group, resveratrol treatment group, Rg1 treatment group, resveratrol and Rg1 combined treatment group. Serological analysis of serum urea nitrogen was aimed to reflect the function of kidney, and histological analysis of renal tissue sections was aimed to assess the damage of proximal convoluted tubules. The expression levels of autophagy-related proteins Beclin 1 and LC3 were detected by western blotting and qRT-PCR respectively. Results: The renal function was improved and renal damage was alleviated in Rg1 and resveratrol alone or combined treatment groups compared with the cisplatin injury group. For the mechanism, treatment with Rg1 and resveratrol alone or in combination decreased the expressions of Beclin 1 both at protein and mRNA levels, decreased LC3II/I protein levels, indicating that autophagy was inhibited by treatment with Rg1 and resveratrol alone or in combination. Conclusion: Resveratrol and Rg1 alleviated the kidney damage caused by cisplatin, and reduced autophagy was involved in the renoprotective effects of resveratrol and Rg1 against cisplatin-induced AKI. This study may provide new evidence to alleviate cisplatin-induced AKI.


This thesis investigates the development of an innovative fibre reinforced composite. A developed textile, consisting of mineral fibres that is embedded in a special mastic asphalt matrix. The integration of a grid shaped textile structure into the asphalt cause an inner reinforcement of the asphalt layer. This leads to a significant enhancement towards the tensile strength during bending. It also gives resistance to deformation. Rut formation is minimized and the thickness of the asphalt layer can be reduced.


In this paper, a micellar capillary electrophoresis (MECC) method for the identification and determination of triptolide and triptonide in Tripterygium wilfordii hook f has been established. The linear ranges were 0.053 49 ~ 4.33 g/L for triptolide and 0.018 62~3.46 g/L for triptonide,respectively. The detection limits were 0.053 49 g/L for triptolide and 0.018 62 g/L for triptonide,respectively. The method was successfully applied to monitoring the quality of different Tripterygium wilfordii hook f.


We deal with a quantum‐like model of the recognition process. The model was developed in the past years in a series of papers (cf. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]). The present paper which is a continuation of [7] is focussed on a relation between recognition and a certain process of self‐collapses. It is shown that the process of self‐collapses can be described by a classical homogenous discrete‐time Markov chain. Finally we pass over to a continuous‐time Markov chain that seems to give a more appropriate and reasonable characterisation of the process of recognition.


Multiple antennas can be used for increasing the amount of diversity or number of degrees of freedom in wireless communication systems. In this study, the authors consider a wireless half-duplex relay network consisting of one source–destination pair each with a single antenna and one relay with multiple antennas. They assume an approach where cooperation of the relay in the transmission depends on the decoding status at the relay. If the relay participates in transmission, the source and the relay use the distributed space-time code simultaneously. They derive the outage probability and the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff for the proposed protocol at high SNR. They have shown that the use of the centralised antennas with simultaneously decoding compared to the distributed antennas with independently decoding can improve the system performance.


We compare three approaches to learning numerical parameters of Bayesian networks from continuous data streams: (1) the EM algorithm applied to all data, (2) the EM algorithm applied to data increments, and (3) the online EM algorithm. Our results show that learning from all data at each step, whenever feasible, leads to the highest parameter accuracy and model classification accuracy. When facing computational limitations, incremental learning approaches are a reasonable alternative. Of these, online EM is reasonably fast, and similar to the incremental EM algorithm in terms of accuracy. For small data sets, incremental EM seems to lead to better accuracy. When the data size gets large, online EM tends to be more accurate.


In situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) in attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration has been extended to a Co electrode fabricated by potentiostatic deposition of a 50-nm-thick Co overlayer onto a Au underlayer chemically preformed on the reflecting plane of an ATR Si hemi-cylindrical prism. The as-prepared Co-on-Au film was characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The AFM images of the films before and after Co coating revealed island structures facilitating the SEIRA effect with Co nanoparticles much smaller than the underlying Au ones. The XPS spectrum did not contain any characteristic peaks related to Au, suggestive of a virtually pinhole-free nature of the Co overlayer. The voltammetric response of the as-prepared films in phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 6.9) was characteristic of a polycrystalline bulk Co electrode. Normally directed unipolar bands were found for surface probe CO molecules on Co surfaces in the PBS with their major band (COl) intensity being one order of magnitude higher than that obtained with conventional IR reflection–absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). By taking advantage of the higher detection sensitivity, the bands for linearly bonded CO (COl) at 1965–2005 cm−1 and the multi-bonded (COm) band at 1845–1875 cm−1 were clearly detected with their Stark tuning rates being 59 and 63 cm−1•V−1, respectively, which would be otherwise unobtainable with the conventional IRRAS in the neutral solution.


Abstract In this study, the transverse vibrations of highly tensioned pipes with vanishing flexural stiffness and conveying fluid with time-dependent velocity are investigated. Two different cases, the pipes with fixed–fixed end and fixed–sliding end conditions are considered. The time-dependent velocity is assumed to be a harmonic function about a mean velocity. These systems experience a Coriolis acceleration component which renders such systems gyroscopic. The equation of motion is derived using Hamilton's principle and solved analytically by direct application of the method of multiple scales (a perturbation technique). The natural frequencies are found. Increasing the ratio of fluid mass to the total mass per unit length increases the natural frequencies. The principal parametric resonance cases are investigated in detail. Stability boundaries are determined analytically. It is found that instabilities occur when the frequency of velocity fluctuations is close to two times the natural frequency of the constant velocity system. When the velocity fluctuation frequency is close to zero, no instabilities are detected up to the first order of perturbation. Numerical results are presented for the first two modes.


The present invention relates to the field of information technology monitoring, there is provided a method of monitoring the operation of the wearable men and system, the method comprising: respectively in the human head, neck, pelvis, legs and pelvis horses mounted sensor node; with the sensor node, collect motion data of interacting troops, and sends the collected athletic data to the monitoring server; with the monitoring server, the motion data acquired data processing; the first processing result, monitoring center of the second processing results, third and fourth processing result of the processing results stored in the site or sent to a remote monitoring center. The present invention provides objective and quantitative evaluation index equestrian therapeutic effect, provide support for the evaluation data equestrian therapeutic effect, it is possible to avoid bias due to subjective factors.


Abstract Across the Eurasian continent, from England to Korea, silver suddenly became abundant in the late thirteenth century, only to become scarce again in the 1360s. The annual silver output from the London mint and the yearly silver rupee issued in Bengal moved virtually in tandem, arguably as a result of the Mongol empire lifting silver out of the lower tiers of the market and maintaining its flow along the highways of long-distance trade. In this first silver century, monetary usages formed multiple strata, and the circulation of silver remained in a high-level circuit in the hierarchy of monies. Units of account, denominated in terms of silver by weight, worked to give value to silver coinage in the western parts of the commercial highways and kept a link with paper monies in the eastern parts under the Mongol Yuan dynasty. Throughout the silver century, the Mongol empire lowered commercial barriers, to allow the ready flow of silver along trade routes, and consequently created a horizontal unity that, on the surface, was continent-wide. This contrasted with the second silver century, beginning in the 1570s, which ushered in a system of competition between territorial states, some of which vertically cemented the tiers of their domestic markets with credit, and created a space for compatible monies.


Abstract Objective  Prior studies have demonstrated the potential benefit of nonmedically indicated induction of labor for nulliparous women at 39 weeks of gestation, yet few have studied the impact of this management strategy in different maternal age groups on obstetric outcomes. We sought to assess whether obstetric outcomes among women undergoing nonmedically indicated induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation as compared with expectant management vary based on maternal age. Study Design  This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton, nonanomalous, deliveries between 2007 and 2012 in California. We defined nonmedically indicated induction of labor as induction of labor without a specific medical indication, and women with planned cesarean sections were excluded. We compared induction of labor with expectant management beyond the gestational age of induction and examined this comparison in different maternal age groups. Numerous maternal and neonatal outcomes were examined. Chi-squared and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used for statistical comparisons and a p -value of less than 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance. Results  A total of 630,485 women–infant dyads met our inclusion criteria and were included in this study. At 39 weeks' gestation, 6% of women underwent nonmedically indicated induction of labor and 94% underwent expectant management. Women 20 to 34 and ≥35 years old had lower odds of cesarean delivery if they underwent induction of labor. Women of all ages undergoing nonmedically indicated induction of labor had higher odds of operative vaginal delivery. Neonatal outcomes were better with nonmedically indicated induction of labor, including lower odds of neonatal intensive care unit admission and neonatal respiratory distress. Conclusion  Our study demonstrated that obstetric outcomes vary among women undergoing nonmedically indicated induction of labor compared with expectant management when stratified by maternal age. These findings illustrate the importance of understanding age-related differences in outcomes associated with nonmedically indicated induction of labor. Key Points Outcomes are different by age with nonmedically indicated induction of labor (IOL). The odds of cesarean delivery with IOL decreases with increasing maternal age compared with expectant management. Neonatal outcomes were improved with IOL compared with expectant management.


The outline of recent study on heat resisting high manganese stainless steel is reviewed. High manganese stainless steel is now focused on a reduced radioactivation material used for first wall of fusion reactor. The substitution of manganese for nickel and that of tungsten for molybdenum are very effective to achieve a reduced level of longterm radioactivity. The concept of reduced activation materials is closely related to the waste management and reactor safety. The beneficial effects of alloying elements, carbon and nitrogen, on γ-phase stability and prevension of σ-phase formation in Fe-Cr-Mn alloy system are shown. High temperature tensile strength and creep properties of Fe-Cr-Mn alloy are also improved by alloying with carbon and nitrogen, and combined addition of tungsten and vanadium to the alloy is shown to be very helpful in increasing creep strength. Characteristic feature of void swelling by neutron irradiation is also discussed in these alloys.


The objective of this research is to investigate the causes of 4 emotions: happiness, anger, fear and sadness at the employees' workplace. The sample included 249 employees in a textile company in Thailand. The instrument used in this research was questionnaires. Results showed that the causes with the highest frequency related to the 4 emotions included happiness when there was good relationship with their colleagues, anger when there was no cooperation from their colleagues, fear when making a mistake whilst working, and sadness when being blamed by their colleagues.


Monoclonal antibodies remain one of the rapid growing classes of biopharmaceuticals. 1 High-throughput small-scale analytical platforms are increasingly sought after within general research and to aid in the development of biopharmaceuticals when using miniaturized bioreactors. 1 In this regard, affinity purification is one of the most widely employed purification strategies prior to analysis because high purity antibody samples are often required for further analysis. 2 As an easy-to-use separation medium, magnetic beads streamline the purification process without the need to use complex instrumentation. 2 Currently, in the field of magnetic separation, many existing automated protocols still require several manual intervention steps. 3 A fully automated antibody purification protocol will increase throughput, save time, and increase the efficiency of analytical workflow in biotherapeutics. Here, we present a rapid and fully automated antibody purification protocol that can isolate target antibody from cell culture media using Andrew+ pipetting robot. The protocol can be easily adjusted to accommodate samples with either high or low titer to yield purified antibodies at the desired concentration. In addition, samples of low titer can be concentrated to produce purified antibody at a higher concentration. The rapid protocol is fully automated, reproducible, robust, and is highly adaptable for further analysis.


The in vitro antioxidant activity of ten different parts of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) was evaluated and compared. Among the ten lotus extracts, the receptacle did not only possessed the highest phenolic, flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents, but its 2-picrylhydrazyl free (DPPH) and 2, 2'Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, reducing power as well as total antioxidant activity were also comparable to, if not better than those of the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) control (p < 0.05). Compared with the BHT, all ten lotus extracts even exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher metal chelating activity. Nevertheless, the hydroxyl radical scavenging ability of all ten lotus extracts was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of the ascorbic acid control. In contrast to the metal chelating ability, phenolic compounds in the ten lotus extracts would likely be responsible for their DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities.


The mass production technique of gravure contact printing is used to fabricate state‐of‐the art polymer field‐effect transistors (FETs). Using plastic substrates with prepatterned indium tin oxide source and drain contacts as required for display applications, four different layers are sequentially gravure‐printed: the semiconductor poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT), two insulator layers, and an Ag gate. A crosslinkable insulator and an Ag ink are developed which are both printable and highly robust. Printing in ambient and using this bottom‐contact/top‐gate geometry, an on/off ratio of >104 and a mobility of 0.04 cm2 V−1 s−1 are achieved. This rivals the best top‐gate polymer FETs fabricated with these materials. Printing using low concentration, low viscosity ink formulations, and different P3HT molecular weights is demonstrated. The printing speed of 40 m min−1 on a flexible polymer substrate demonstrates that very high‐volume, reel‐to‐reel production of organic electronic devices is possible.


We have experimentally studied the passive Q-switching performance of a Nd:YAG ceramic laser with GaAs saturable absorbers. It was found that, depending on the laser intensity in the wafer, the Q-switched pulses obtained could have very different pulse width and pulse energy. The shortest pulse obtained has 4.7 ns pulse width, 6.25 µJ pulse energy and 1.33 kW peak power. Furthermore we show that, by adding a slit in the cavity, the Q-switched pulse stability could be significantly improved.


A sample [named Zn(BH4)2(+NaCl)] was synthesized by milling ZnCl2 and NaBH4 at 400 rpm under argon gas for 2 h. And Zn(BH4)₂(+NaCl)+MgH₂ sample was prepared by milling MgH₂ in a planetary ball mill and mixing with the Zn(BH₄)₂(+NaCl) synthesized by milling for 4 h in a mortar with a pestle. Then the gas-release characteristics of the two samples were investrigated. Analyses of XRD patterns and FT-IR spectra, as well as TGA, DTA, and SEM observations, were also performed. After heating the samples to 400 ℃, the weight losses of Zn(BH4)2(+NaCl) and Zn(BH4)2(+NaCl)+MgH2 were 11.2 and 8.2 wt%, respectively, with respect to the sample weight. The DTA results for the two samples showed a decomposition peak for Zn(BH4)2 at about 61 ℃. The DTA result of Zn(BH4)2(+NaCl) + MgH2 showed a decomposition peak for MgH2 at about 374 ℃. A sample of Zn(BH4)2(+NaCl)+MgH2 to which Ni, and Ti were added, with a composition of 90 wt% MgH2-5 wt% Zn(BH4)2(+NaCl)-2.5 wt% Ni-2.5 wt% Ti, in which a large amount of MgH2 is contained in order to make a large quantity of hydrogen be absorbed and released reversibly, was also prepared. The experimental results showed that addition of Zn(BH4)2(+NaCl), Ni, or Ti increased the dehydriding rate of MgH2, while decreased its initial hydriding rate.


Success in 94‐GHz electro‐optic phase modulation using the nonlinear organic MNA (2‐methyl‐4‐nitroaniline) crystal is reported. We believe this to be the highest electro‐optic modulation frequency ever achieved in a controlled manner. Dielectric constant, loss tangent, and electro‐optic constant of the MNA crystal were also measured at 94 GHz, er'=2.2, tan δ=0.09, and r11=30±10 pm/V.


According to the population genetics theories,3 populations of Lilium nepalense D.Don were studied to explain the genetic system and genetic diversity of this plant.The result suggested that this species distributed widely in Yunnan province.There were high genetic variations within 3 populations.Because of the advantages of individual heterozygosis,the plant could grow well in the habitat.The abundant genetic diversity pledged the process of evolution to succeed.On the other hand,it provided information for wild lily flowers cultivation.


Large datasets usually contain redundant information and summarizing these datasets is important for better data interpretation. Higher-order data reduction is usually achieved through low-rank tensor approximation which assumes that the data lies near a linear subspace across each mode. However, non-linearities in the data cannot be captured well by linear methods. In this paper, we propose a multiscale tensor decomposition to better approximate local nonlinearities in tensors. The proposed multiscale approach constructs hierarchical low-rank structure by dividing the tensor into subtensors sequentially and fitting a low-rank model to each subtensor.


Bianchi type-I universe is analyzed in this article in the context of f (R,T ) gravity. We have solved the Einstein's field equations for two classes of f (R,T ) gravity in presence of cosmological constant Λ and quadratic equation of state (EoS) p = αρ 2 − ρ , where α (cid:2)= 0 is a constant. To obtained the solutions we have used the scale factor of the form R (t) = (t β e t ) 1 n and such type of scale factor produce time dependent deceleration parameter. Also we have studied some physical and kinematical properties of the models.


Day by day use of composite materials increases due to their superior strength to weight ratio and stiffness to weight ratio at high service temperatures. Aeronautic, aerospace, automotive and marine industry are the dominant consumers of the composites, but their properties like brittleness, anisotropy and non-homogeneity make it a difficult to machine by conventional machining methods. This leads to study the machinability characteristics of composites. Laser machining offers an attractive machinability as an alternative for machining the composites. The present investigation deals with the laser machining of the Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) Composite. Experiments were performed based on Taguchi L27 orthogonal array in order to investigate the effect of laser cutting parameters: Laser Power, Cutting Speed and Gas Pressure on cut quality parameter Kerfwidth. Based on the experimental results, Second Order Regression, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Fuzzy Logic (FL) based predictive models have been developed. Then an attempt is made to compare the results of statistical technique with computational technique. After comparing the experimental results and the predicted results it is found that the data for each response are well fitted in the developed models and these models can be used for predicting the kerfwidth within the specific range of inputs for a given machine tool with more than 95 % accuracy.


Recent success of turbo-like coding schemes on memoryless channels has sparked interest in using them on intersymbol interference (ISI) channels. Decoders for turbo and low density parity check (LDPC) codes perform much better with soft input information which has to be supplied by the channel detector as its soft output. We consider a class of ISI channels commonly used to model magnetic recording channels in a wide range of linear recording densities, and show that simple soft output detectors are possible, since the channel transfer functions belong to a family of special polynomials.


Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent infection acquired in intensive care unit (ICU). It is associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. Oropharyngeal colonization plays a central role in the pathogenesis of VAP, once virulent microorganisms can reach the alveolar space via microaspiration of secretions from that region. Each antibiotic prescription has an environmental and ecological consequence. Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing threat in hospitalized patients, and inappropriated empirical antimicrobial therapy is known to adversely affect outcomes in VAP.


Function and intracellular mechanism of cardiomyocytes in experimental cardiac insufficiency were studied in CAD patients and in rheumatic valvular disease. Functioning of Са2+-transporting systems of sarcoplasmatic reticulum of cardiomyocytes, phospholipid level of cellular membranes and oxydation phosphorilation of mytochondria were studied. Change of phospholipid level and separation of oxidation phosphorilation is suggested to be associated with accumulation of fat acids and their peroxide oxidation products.


Purpose – A number of studies and writings have presented ideas about new working practices that might be embraced in the twenty‐first century. Moreover, that, employers would seek to gain their commitment by adopting the high working practices of high performance working (HPW) for organisations to become successful through their strategic approach to the human resource (HR). It is against Watson's model that this paper seeks, in order to gain insights, to explore the perceptions of current HR professionals of their organisations post‐2000.Design/methodology/approach – A survey design is used for the study to collect data over a four‐week period in February 2006 from 100 HR professionals. Using a seven‐point Likert scale questionnaire, adapted from Watson's model, the study is conducted in two phases. The first initial pilot study that surveys 30 HR professionals and after modification, this is extended to a further 70 HR professionals as Phase 2. The respondents are primarily drawn from organisations in ...


Background: Continuous effort has been paid to deeply understanding the pathophysiology of Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).It has been postulated that multiple factors such as genetic susceptibility, immunological and environmental factors are involved and generate a dysregulated response of the mucosal immune system toward intraluminal antigens. Accumulating evidence indicates that discrepancy between the number of T regulatory cells (Treg) in peripheral blood and in inflamed colonic mucosa has a central role and Interleukin (IL)-1 is a key mediator in the pathogenesis of IBD. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the role of Interleukin1 alpha (IL-1α) and T regulatory (Treg) cells in the pathogenesis of IBD. Study Design: This study was conducted in internal medicine Department of ElHussein university hospital, AL-Azhar University. In this study, 50 subjects were selected and divided into two groups; Group A (n=30) were patients with IBD and Group B (n=20) were healthy control group. The two groups were subjected to the following; full history taking, clinical evaluation, Abdominal ultrasonography, CBC with differential count, Liver function tests, renal function tests, C-reactive protein , ESR and serum level of both Treg cells and IL-1α . IL-1α was detected in serum by ELISA and (Treg) (FoxP3) cells by flow cytometry techniques. Colonoscopy with multiple biopsies and histopathological assessment was performed to group A only. Results: Our results showed that the serum level of Treg cells was significantly decreased in Group A (3.16±2.26) in comparison to control group B (9.14±0.639) (P<0.001). moreover ,the serum level of Treg cells was significantly decreased in moderate to severe disease activity (1.755± 0.556) as compared with patients with mild disease activity (5.980±1.616) (P<0.001) . The present study also revealed that, the serum level of IL-1α was significantly increased in patients Group A (11.74±3.24) in comparison to control Group B (2.84±0.877) (P<0.001). Additionally, the level IL-1α was significantly higher in moderate to sever disease activity (13.750 ± 1.602) than patients with mild disease activity (7.720±1.289) (P<0.001). Conclusion: The level of Treg cells and Interleukin1 alpha have an important role in the pathogenesis and propagation of the inflammatory response in IBD and had a dynamic changes in both remission and active disease stages. These results suggested that Treg cells and Interleukin1 alpha can be used as a diagnostic markers and a potential therapeutic targets for IBD.


The DARPA Resource Management task is used as the domain to investigate the performance of speaker-independent, speaker-dependent, and speaker-adaptive speech recognition. The authors already have a state-of-the-art speaker-independent speech recognition system, SPHINX. The error rate for RM2 test set is 4.3%. They extended SPHINX to speaker-dependent speech recognition. The error rate is reduced to 1.4-2.6% with 600-2400 training sentences for each speaker, which demonstrated a substantial difference between speaker-dependent and -independent systems. Based on speaker-independent models, a study was made of speaker-adaptive speech recognition. With 40 adaptation sentences for each speaker, the error rate can be reduced from 4.3% to 3.1%.<<ETX>>


The objective of this paper is to address the challenges related to well control and highlight the successful implementation of deep transient tests (DTT) operations in an offshore well located in Southeast Asia that was carried out by PETRONAS with the help of a dynamic well control simulation platform. The paper aims to provide insights into the pre-job simulation process, which ensured a safer operation from a well control perspective. Additionally, a comparison between simulated and actual sensor measurements during the DTT operation will be presented.
 The latest DTT technology enables a higher volume of gas or hydrocarbon to be pumped into wellbore compared to formation tester (FT) operation. During the DTT operation, the pumped formation fluids are mixed with mud that is pumped from surface through a circulation sub into the annulus, and the mixture of fluids is then circulated out from annulus simultaneously to the surface during the drawdown period. To ensure well control safety, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the processes involved. Therefore, a dynamic multiphase flow simulator that takes into account the interactions between downhole pumped hydrocarbon and drilling fluids is important to better simulate the pressure downhole throughout the DTT operation.
 In this case study, simulations were conducted prior to the job execution, considering several sensitivities, to ensure that the operation stayed within a safe operating mud weight window while meeting the surface gas handling limits. During DTT execution, real time downhole measurements were sent to a cloud-based platform, where they were plotted on a graph alongside the simulation data for monitoring purposes. Any changes in observed formation fluid, downhole flow rates and mud circulation rates during the DTT operation were quickly reflected in the simulation, this enabled effective communication between the PETRONAS project and execution teams ensuring a safe well control condition throughout the operation.
 As a result, the DTT operation was conducted successfully and safely, with the measured data aligning well with the simulations. The accurate wellbore dynamics simulator allowed for quantification of changes in drilling fluid design, circulating rates, hydrocarbon composition, downhole pump rates, and pump duration for various formation testing design sequences. It also facilitated predictions of downhole well pressure, free-gas distribution along the well geometry, and gas rate on the surface. This valuable insight provides PETRONAS with more flexibility in understanding and planning advanced FT operations, while enabling larger volumes of hydrocarbons to be pumped downhole. Furthermore, adopting an advanced pressure transient testing method like DTT is in line with both industry and PETRONAS's efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.


Ultrasonic sound has a number of applications. In particular, it is widely used to measure the distance between two points and in range sensors, which can measure the three-dimensional positions and shapes of various objects [1–4]. Ultrasonic sensors have the advantage of being simple to construct, of being able to perform measurements in optically invisible conditions, and of being relatively nonintrusive when used to monitor daily activities. Since ultrasonic waves traveling through air are spread and absorbed, the range for measurements is limited to a few meters. Some investigations using spark discharge to make high-power ultrasonic transmitter in order to improve the measurable range [3]. However, the frequency is not controllable. We have constructed a high-power ultrasonic transmitter that consists of an array of transmitting elements [4] in order to improve the measurable range. We have constructed a high-power ultrasonic transmitter that consists of an array of transmitting elements and obtained the pressure 144 times higher than that of a single element [4]. The sound frequency is exactly 40 kHz. However, all elements of the array generate ultrasonic sounds that are in phase with each other, and the directivity is narrow. The measurement is thus limited to a small area. Therefore, we proposed an ultrasonic array transmitter in which the phase of the sound is controlled for each element [5], and which has isotropic directivity. As a result of these changes, we showed that the divergence of the directivity is successfully controlled by the phase control, and the directional measurement field covers a wide range. However, the sound pressure decreased significantly with the increase in the divergence. In many cases of measurement in air, a wide area is required in the horizontal direction but not in the vertical direction. Therefore, we consider an ultrasonic array transmitter with wide horizontal but narrow vertical divergence in order to retain a high level of sound pressure. In the present paper, we discuss the theory of this system and investigate its behavior.


Senegal is facing severe depletion of demersal fish stocks due to industrial fisheries and a fast and spontaneous development of artisanal fisheries. Fisheries overexploitation is caused by little awareness among artisanal fishermen about the importance of fisheries management and conflicting and competing interests of local and migrant fishermen. The general trend promotes local participation of fishermen, however, approaches to achieve responsible fisheries sharply differ. The Government of Senegal, with the help of Western donors, supports the implementation of "global standards" not only for its economic and political systems but also for fisheries management. This involves the creation of Western style democratic institutions and the strengthening of civil society at the national and local levels through capacity-building programs of fishermen's organizations. In contrast, Japan and several NGOs favor "local initiatives" and promote community-based fisheries management (CBFM). The main strategies employed by CBFM include: (i) generation of data on spawning seasons of fish as basis for closed seasons, (ii) technical advices to local fishermen to control fishing and marketing, and (iii) examination of government support for fishermen-led management to establish a model for co-management. Some fishing villages in Senegal have successfully adopted the CBFM approach.


Molluscum contagiosum is a very common infection caused by Pox virus that at least initially can simulate trichoepithelioma. Trichoepithelioma is a rare benign skin tumor with hair follicle differentiation; usually unique, it can present itself with multiple elements and in this case it is transmitted by an autosomal dominant trait.


Childhood is the period of growth and the process of human growth, during this time there is a very unique and sustainable change. Physical changes due to the growth that occurs will affect health status and nutrition. Imbalances between the intake of needs or adequacy will cause nutritional problems, whether it be more nutritional problems and less nutrition. This study aims to determine the correlation of nutritional status with the eruption of the first permanent molar on grade 1 students SDN Cisitu 02 Garut regency. The method in this research is cross sectional, that is by checking nutrient status and intra oral examination of an eruption of the first molar still at one time. The subject of this research is 1st-grade students of SDN Cisitu 02 Garut regency which is 24 people between 6-9 Year while the research sample is total sampling. Measuring tool used in the form of nutritional status form and permanent molar first eruption form remains. The result of this research is there is no correlation between the nutritional status with the eruption of first molars still the first grade students of SDN Cisitu 02 Garut Regency Year 2016 seen from p value 0,665 (> 0,05), hence can be concluded no relation status Nutrition with the eruption of first molars remains a grade 1 student of SDN Cisitu 02 Garut Regency Year 2016.


This paper presents a technique for home energy management system (HEMS) to determine the demand response scheduling of thermostatically controlled household appliances under time-of-use pricing and real-time pricing based demand response strategies. The problem is formulation using thermostatically controllable appliances (water heaters and air conditioners) and inflexible household load. For the scheduling of appliances a comparison between the results of energy scheduling of appliances based on day ahead real-time pricing tariff and time-of-use tariff is done. Finally, mixed integer linear programming is used to formulate the problem and commercial solver CPLEX is used to solve it. The effectiveness of the model has been verified by simulations.


In building and developing socialist cause in China the great majority of peasants must receive socialist education so as to enhance their socialist consciousness and develop Marxist state ideology.Mao Zedong paid much attention to socialist education for peasants and carried it out unremittingly in different historical periods after the founding of PRC.But owing to his over-emphasizing class struggle concept and education mode in the socialist education for peasants such a work concerning the over-all development of socialism suffered a lot of setbacks.


Multicast is an important interprocessor communication pattern existing in various parallel application algorithms. This paper proposes a new multicast algorithm for hypercube computers that not only minimizes the number of hops required for delivery of the message and keeps a least possible amount of traffic, but also takes into consideration of balancing traffic among the active processors to maximize the parallelism in communication. Our algorithm has a time complexity of O(nN) for fault-tolerant multicasting in a hypercube of N=2/sup n/ processors containing an arbitrary number of faulty processors.


Contexts play an important role in salient object detection (SOD). High-level contexts describe the relations between different parts/objects and thus are helpful for discovering the specific locations of salient objects while low-level contexts could provide the fine detail information for delineating the boundary of the salient objects. However, the way of perceiving/leveraging rich contexts has not been fully investigated by existing SOD works. The common context extraction strategies (e.g., leveraging convolutions with large kernels or atrous convolutions with large dilation rates) do not consider the effectiveness and efficiency simultaneously and may cause sub-optimal solutions. In this paper, we devote to exploring an effective and efficient way to learn rich contexts for accurate SOD. Specifically, we first build a dense context exploration (DCE) module to capture dense multi-scale contexts and further leverage the learned contexts to enhance the features discriminability. Then, we embed multiple DCE modules in an encoder-decoder architecture to harvest dense contexts of different levels. Furthermore, we propose an attentive skip-connection to transmit useful features from the encoder part to the decoder part for better dense context exploration. Finally, extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed method achieves more superior detection results on the six benchmark datasets than 18 state-of-the-art SOD methods.


The diffusion of self-atoms and n-type dopants such as phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony in germanium was studied by means of isotopically controlled multilayer structures doped with carbon. The diffusion profiles reveal an aggregation of the dopants within the carbon-doped layers and a retarded penetration depth compared to dopant diffusion in high-purity natural Ge. Dopant aggregation and diffusion retardation are strongest for Sb and similar for P and As. In addition, the shape of the dopant profiles changes for dopant concentrations in the range of 10 20 cm 3 mainly due to the formation of dopant-vacancy complexes, which is more significant at high concentrations. Accurate modeling of the simultaneous self-diffusion and dopant diffusion is achieved on the basis of the vacancy mechanism and additional reactions that take into account the formation of neutral carbon-vacancy-dopant and neutral dopant-vacancy complexes. The stability of these complexes is compared to theoretical calculations published recently and to additional calculations presented in Part II. The overall consistency between the experimental and theoretical results supports the stabilization of donor-vacancy complexes in Ge by the presence of carbon and the dopant deactivation via the formation of dopant-vacancy and carbon-vacancy-dopant complexes.


In the title compound, [CoCl(C2H8N2)2(C7H9N)]Cl2·H2O, the CoIII ion has a distorted octahedral coordination environment and is surrounded by four N atoms in an equatorial plane, with the other N and Cl atoms occupying the axial positions. The crystal packing is stabilized by N—H⋯O, N—H⋯Cl and O—H⋯Cl interactions.


Diane Feeney Mahoney, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN is the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Profession's School of Nursing's inaugural Jacques Mohr Research Professor in Geriatric Nursing and Director of Gerontechnology.


This paper proposes an alternative high-speed packet I/O that enables user-space applications to receive and transmit packets at high speeds using the read() and write() system call families. Recent high-speed packet I/O frameworks have opened up new application designs optimized for network performance. However, they have two obstacles to implementing applications: restraints on programming models and limitations on NICs. These frameworks provide applications with APIs to access packets in kernel space without memory copies instead of well-generalized APIs, such as the socket API. Thus, the applications would be tightly coupled with the framework-specific APIs, and would be forced to adopt the APIs' programming models. Moreover, typical frameworks require specific NICs, which the frameworks support for their optimization. In contrast, the proposed packet I/O, called hpio, adapts native system calls for the packet I/O API and works with native device drivers. These advantages offer developers an easy way to implement various high-speed applications. Our measurement results demonstrate that hpio achieved over 40 Mpps with 60-byte packets, although it involves memory copies on system calls and no optimization of packet buffers.


The article deals with the impact of the processes of globalization and shocks, the sources of which were economic and non-economic phenomena, which affect the ability of countries with a modernized economy to resist negative trends in their development. The assessment of the processes of globalization through the prism of the theory of the global ecumene by U. Hannerz and globalization by R. Robertson is given. The dynamics and the most significant risks, as well as forecasts of economic recovery after the global shock of the pandemic, are established.


Melanin pigmentation has an essential role in protecting human skin against the damaging effects of ultra violet radiation, infection, environmental factor, etc. However abnormal melanin pigmentation can directly cause a number of congenital and acquired pigmentary skin disease. This study conducted to evaluate the effects of various partition extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata on the melanogenesis in the B 16 melanoma cells. The cells were treated for 3 days with various partition extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata. While treatment with the BuOH partition extract of Codonopsis lanceolata increased significantly the tyrosinase activity and melanin content, the n-Hexane or ethyl acetate partition extract dose-dependently suppressed them compared with untreated control. But ethyl acetate partition significantly decreased the cell viability. The H2O partiton extract at various concentrations did not exhibit any significant change on the melanogenesis. These results indicate that treatment with the n-Hexane partition extract inhibits the melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells, and raise the possibility that this extract may be effective in the abnormal melanin pigmentation as well as the whitening agent for the skin.


A nanomaterial-based method for enhanced degradation of pollutants was developed,using iron oxide nanoparticles as the catalyst to catalytically degrade surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SDBS) with hydrogen peroxide.The effects of iron oxide nanoparticle concentration,hydrogen peroxide concentration,pH value and temperature on degradation reaction were investigated.The optimized experimental conditions for SDBS removal were obtained.Under the optimal experimental conditions of 480 mg/L of nanoFe3O4,0.05mol/L of hydrogen peroxide,pH at 3.0and 3hof reaction time,the removal efficiency of SDBS in the simulated wastewater was 84%.


This paper introduces how to use speedy terminal unit of XP that uses WIN2000 terminal technology to update the low-grade microcomputer such as 386, 486 and so on. The method is effective to utilize available low-grade computer resources to run the newest software.


Little is known about the integration of social-emotional learning (SEL) with science instruction. We used a sequential mixed-methods design to examine (1) how fourth graders use argumentation practices and social gestures in science class and (2) how argumentation practices and social gestures differ between intervention and comparison classrooms. Intervention classrooms implemented Connect Science. Fourteen student conversations in seven classrooms were coded for argumentation practices (i.e., claims, evidence, and questions) and social gestures (i.e., agreement, disagreement, assertive speech, and prosocial speech). Across all classrooms, science conversations were most productive when students used social gestures to support use of argumentation practices. Without social gestures, conversations were disconnected or highly assertive. Proportionally, Connect Science students discussed science content more and discussed logistics less than comparison students. Findings include recommendations for conditions (i.e., SEL instruction, science reference materials, and time) to enhance scientific discourse and argumentation in elementary school classrooms.


Abstract A microwave assisted convenient method for the preparation of 7-cyanocamptothecin and 7-cyano-9-methoxycamptothecin as well as 7-cyanomappicine ketone and 7-cyano-9-methoxy-mappicine ketone has been developed.


Garbage is a problem faced by almost all countries in the world. Increasing the volume of waste requires good and effective management. In Makassar City, waste management is regulated by the Regional Regulation Number 4 Year 2011 concerning Waste Management, which can be said to be a responsive regional regulation because it has accommodated the involvement of various parties, especially the community and the business world in waste management in Makassar City. The local government of Makassar City determines two types of solid waste or cleaning service policies, namely the Communal Service Policy (Indirect Service Policy) and Individual Service Policy (Direct Service Policy). Effective waste management in Makassar City is measured by the form of services provided by the government and the fulfillment of solid waste facilities and infrastructure in Makassar City. In terms of services, these services are provided every day by the local government of Makassar City through their apparatus. Then regarding the facilities and infrastructure, the Makassar City Government has made efforts to fulfill all facilities and infrastructure, especially related to waste transportation.


The process of screening prospective foster parents is a requirement before a child in need of care and protection is placed in foster care. This is to ensure that the prospective foster parents fit the criteria for fostering children. The aim of this scoping review was to review current literature on guidelines for the screening of prospective foster parents. The six steps of Arksey and O'Malley's framework was used. A total of 13 databases were searched, resulting in the retrieval of 75 studies, 11 of which met the inclusion criteria: English, full text, peer reviewed, open access studies conducted between 2017 and 2021 on guidelines for screening prospective foster parents. The data were analysed thematically. This study revealed six key components that are included in the screening of prospective foster parents, namely, personal factors relating to values and beliefs, social networks, interpersonal communication, personality characteristics, prospective foster parent–foster child relationship and the child's background information. We deduce that the screening process is complex and time-consuming and that there is a need to develop a standardised screening process for screening prospective foster parents in South Africa. This study is confined to the screening of prospective foster parents by the government and child protection organisations in South Africa. None of the studies reviewed included the views of foster children. In this study, we recommend further scoping review research to include children's views on the screening of prospective foster parents.


Sexual relations between members of the same sex article 292 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) regulates that adults who commit immoral acts of same-sex homosexuals who are not yet adults are threatened with imprisonment for a maximum of five years. Islam regulates both the Qur'an and Al-Hadith in qath'i (firm) and muhkamat (clearly legal provisions) strongly opposed this behavior. Allah calls homosexual acts fashyyah (vicious bandages) accursed. This study applied the concept of the role of the clerics of the Health Service Coordinating Board in the prevention of homosexual HIV / AIDS in the city of Padang, a method for overcoming a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches resulting in policy recommendations. To describe the analysis of this research used descriptive method of prescriptive synthesis analysis. The government has not yet implemented the Draft Law article 292 The proposal applies a criminal law of five or a maximum of ten years, both adults and children or is punished equally with adultery both whipping law for single whips for married people. The regional economy will rise if the Islamic economy is upheld, investors can advance if they intend to improve the welfare of living together.


An accelerometer, mounted to a structure near an explosion to measure elasto-plastic deformation, can be excited at its resonant frequency by impulsive stresses transmitted within the structure. This results in spurious high peak acceleration levels that can be much higher than acceleration levels from the explosion itself. The spurious signals also have higher frequencies than the underlying signal from the explosion and can be removed by a low pass filter. This report assesses the performance of four accelerometer and filter assemblies. The assessment involves measurements of the response of a mild steel cylinder to an underwater explosion, in which each assembly is mounted onto the interior surface of the cylinder. Three assemblies utilise a piezoresistive accelerometer in which isolation is provided mechanically. In the fourth assembly, a piezoelectric accelerometer, with a built-in filter, incorporates both mechanical and electronic filtering. This assembly is found to be more suitable because of its secure mounting arrangement, ease of use, robustness and noise free results.


A novel molecular electron donor−acceptor (DA) dyad, composed of a phytochlorin donor and a [60]fullerene acceptor, was used for the preparation of solid molecular films capable of performing vectorial photoinduced electron transfer (VPET). Being mixed with octadecylamine at concentrations of 50 mol % and lower, the DA compounds form a stable monolayer, which can be transferred onto a solid substrate. Thus prepared Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) monolayer films are characterized by uniform orientation of the DA molecules and, consequently, can undergo VPET. This was confirmed by time-resolved Maxwell displacement charge (TRMDC) measurements. The rate constant for the electron transfer was ca. 109 s-1 as estimated from the fluorescence lifetime measurements. The majority of the charge transfer states of the DA molecules (>60%) recombined with a time constant of ca. 30 ns, being almost independent of the DA concentration in the concentration range from 2 to 50 mol %, as revealed from TRMDC experiments. Therefore, V...


This chapter focuses on abuse of position statutes, under which it is a crime for a person in a position of authority (such as a police officer, prison guard, health care professional, educator, or clergy person) to have sex with a competent adult under his care or control (a suspect or witness, inmate, patient, adult student, or congregant, as the case may be). It considers two distinct rationales for such statutes: to prevent coercive or exploitative sex and to protect institutional roles. Once again, there is a potential for overcriminalization. The challenge is to determine which kinds of hierarchical relationships in which kinds of industries are most likely to justify a presumption of nonconsent, a challenge that is all the more important in the wake of the #MeToo movement.


Universiti Pertanian Malaysia has been rename Universiti Putra Malaysia from today to reflect the change in the emphasis from agriculture to science programmes.


SAS-6 is essential for the formation of the centriole/basal body. In this issue, de Leon and colleagues (p. 1009 –1019) describe a new family of SAS-6-like (SAS6L) proteins that share a conserved head domain with SAS-6. SAS6L genes are widely distributed across eukaryotes but are absent from animals. The authors show that SAS6L in Trypanosoma brucei is found in the flagellum in the region where the axoneme "central pair" microtubules are nucleated. In contrast, Toxoplasma gondii SAS6L is located at the apex of the conoid, a tubulin-based organelle present in some apicomplexans with a role in host cell invasion. This finding adds weight to a hypothesis that aspects of the apical cytoskeleton evolved from flagellar components.


SUMMARY  Inclusion of new active drugs, such as IMiDs, proteasome inhibitors and soon the monoclonal antibodies, in first-line therapy has and will significantly enhance the response rate and depth of response, with the consequence of prolongation of the progression free and overall survivals. One of the greatest challenges faced in myeloma in recent years was to demonstrate the impact of prolonged therapy in the form of consolidation and/or maintenance. To date, this concept has almost always improved duration of response and progression free survival, but infrequently overall survival. Furthermore, this concept is associated to a certain cost, with not always predictable mid- and long-term adverse events along with the economic cost accompanying these events. As patients with myeloma live significantly longer, physicians need to discuss the risk/benefit of this approach at the individual level, and remain aware of the potential consequences as more knowledge becomes available.


The time interval from heel strike to subsequent heel strike (i.e., stride time) has been shown to be statistically persistent, i.e., long or short stride times are likely to be followed by subsequent stride times of similar magnitude. This persistence is thought to represent complex, adaptive locomotor behavior. Rhythmic auditory cueing (RAC) entails instructing participants to synchronize their foot strike timing to an auditory metronome. While RAC reduces stride time variability, it also eliminates stride time persistence, which may indicate reduced adaptability. Alternatively, matching foot strike timing to a musical tempo instead of a metronome may yield less precise temporal synchronization, thereby preserving the correlation structure of the time series. PURPOSE: To determine if music-based RAC reduces the persistence of stride time variability. METHODS: Nine young, healthy adults (mean±SD age 22.9±2.0 years, height 171.0±11.7 cm, mass 75.4±14.9 kg) walked along an oval course (40 m) for six 5-minute trials. Three of the trials consisted of walking at self-selected slow, normal, and fast walking speeds. The remaining three trials entailed participants walking while matching their foot strike timing to the tempo of a song. Using a commercially available app, the tempo of a single song was altered to 80, 100, and 125 beats per minute. Participants performed separate, randomly ordered trials while matching each song tempo. Stride times were obtained via an ActiGraph accelerometer at the right heel. Detrended fluctuation analysis was used to quantify the extent of statistical persistence of stride times. A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to test for effects of RAC on stride time persistence. RESULTS: There was a main effect of RAC on stride time persistence (F 1,8 = 5.26, p = 0.05), as persistence decreased when participants entrained to music, compared to self-selected walking. However, this effect was not consistent across all participants, as 3 of the 9 individuals exhibited greater persistence during RAC trials. CONCLUSION: Similar to reports of metronome entrainment, synchronizing step timing to music resulted in an overall modified correlation structure closer to random, which is associated with less adaptive behavior. Future studies may consider testing RAC to more complex songs with various beats.


Abstract Simultaneous determination of calcium and magnesium content in human blood serum has been reported as a routine clinical laboratory method, which is rapid, simple, and requires 50 δ of serum for complete analysis with triplicate runs. This is accomplished using a Model 1250 Varian Techtron Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer with the stoichiometric nitrous oxide-acetylene flame of 0.2 cm red-cone height. Calcium and magnesium standards and also the serum specimens are prepared in aqueous medium containing 2000 ppm potassium chloride. Serum specimens are ultimately diluted to 1:100 fold. About 40–50 samples can be analyzed per hour of instrument operation, if standard solutions and diluted serum specimens are readily available.


The detection of explosives carried by a passenger or included in checked baggage is a priority objective of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Security Research and Development Program. Significant accomplishments have been made in the detection of explosives in checked baggage. A technology, thermal neutron analysis, has been developed and tested extensively in airports with actual passenger baggage. The screening of people for explosives is also progressing with laboratory testing underway of an integrated passenger screening portal. The portal is designed to extract and detect not only the more volatile explosives but also the low-vapor-pressure military explosives. In addition to these two mature technologies, the FAA is also funding research in new technologies for bulk and vapor detection of explosives to identify and refine approaches which will be more efficient and effective. The ultimate objective is to field systems to protect the traveling public from terrorist-placed explosives without interrupting the free flow of people and materials we have grown to expect.


Abstract Dense tin oxide based ceramics are very promising for technological applications such as varistors and crucibles for melting verycorrosive glasses. Several additives have been used in small concentrations as densifying aids for this oxide. In the present study thesintering kinetics of tin oxide was studied considering the effect of sintering atmosphere and of the MnO 2 concentration. SnO 2 -MnO 2 systems were prepared from the polymeric precursors method and the obtained powders were characterized by surface area by the BETmethod. SnO 2 powders with varied MnO 2 concentrations were pressed in cylindrical shape, and sintered in a dilatometer furnace withconstant heating rate and controlled atmospheres. Sintered samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The infl uence ofatmosphere (argon, air or CO 2 ) as well as of the MnO 2 concentrations on the sintering kinetics was determined. The kinetics data of linearshrinkage were analyzed in terms of kinetic models for the initial stage of sintering (Woolfrey and Bannister) as well as for the globalsintering (Su e Johnson) allowing the determination of the apparent activation energy. Following the determination of the maste r sinteringcurve the apparent activation energy of all sintering process were determined as well as its dependence with the atmosphere and manganeseconcentrations. Based on these values and on the n exponent, determined by the classical grain growth equation, it was concluded that themost probable sintering mechanism is grain boundary diffusion with surface redistribution controlling the kinetics.


Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of multifactorial etiology. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of periodontal and prosthodontic therapy on glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Materials and Methods: 80 type II diabetics patients of both genders were divided into Group I (periodontal and prosthodontic therapy) and Group II (Healthy). In control group, only oral hygiene instruction and mouth wash were prescribed. Results: Group I had 22 males and 18 females and Group II had 17 males and 23 females. The mean glycated hemoglobin level in Group I was 7.8% before and 6.7% after treatment and in Group II was 6.4% before and 6.2% after treatment. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There was improvement in glycemic status in diabetic patients undergoing periodontal and prosthodontic therapy as compared to those not undergoing treatment.


The concentrations and isotopic composition of He, Ne, and Ar have been measured in a number of individual lithic fragments and glassy objects of the Apollo 11 fine 10084, and in 17 KREEP (1) fragments separated f rom the Apollo 12 fine samples 12033 and 12001. The size of the investigated single fragments was between 0.5 and 1 millimeter. In some cases also the isotopic abundances of Kr and Xe were determined. F r o m these data, concentrations of trapped solar wind particles and their variability a r e de rived, and cosmic ray exposure ages a r e calculated for the individual grains.


statement (p. 139) directed against a philosopher (Strawson) that in a disagreement on theories of truth the "burden of proof is on the man who deviates from common sense." In philosophy we require anyone, regardless of his position relative to common sense, to argue for that position; the "burden of proof," in philosophy, falls on all positions. Anyway, the principle in question is a general principle; since one's own position on a particular issue is not secured by the principle, one cannot throw the whole "burden of proof" on one who dissents from common sense. Principles 2a) and 2b) together provide "a perfectly good justification for our habit of believing what others say" (p. 92) which in itself is quite useful and is often usefully employed by Austin. Yet it can, and does, lead to disaster. For example, Furberg informs us (p. 186) that Austin, in dealing with the problem of our knowledge of other minds, poses the problem as "Have I any reason to believe that other people ever give true introspective reports about their states of mind?" Austin's answer, that "believing in other persons . . . is . . . an irreducible part of our experience" for which, however, no justification can be given is, as Furberg says, "a surprisingly bad answer." In his endeavour to provide a better answer (and it is a much better answer), Furberg demonstrates his ability to fly solo. The third principle supposedly comes from a "tacit convention" among language speakers and "is a principle without which a speaker would not be listened to and hence without which talk would lose its point." (p. 94) Unfortunately, if there is such a tacit convention, it is too often broken. Where it is broken, perhaps "talk does lose its point" although one suspects that in these cases "the point" is something other than Furberg suspects, for example, gratification of the talker. So if true, the principle is an extremely elastic one admitting of many exceptions. Indeed, perhaps one of these exceptions will be this present review.


Despite the increasing evidence that degeneration of collagen is not involved in the histogenesis of the eosinophilic debris observed with light microscopy in feline eosinophilic dermatoses (FED), flame figures and foci of 'collagen degeneration' are still reported as degenerated collagen mixed with degranulated eosinophils. The purpose of this study was to investigate ultrastructurally eosinophil degranulation pathways and dermal collagen morphology in FED. Four patients with histopathological diagnosis of FED, three clinically diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomas and one with an eosinophilic plaque, and one healthy control were studied. Areas that contained eosinophils, collagen, flame figures and 'collagen degeneration' were ultrasectioned and examined with transmission electron microscope. Eosinophils (48 to 123 per cat) were classified into resting (intact cells), undergoing piecemeal degranulation (PMD) (viable cells with partially empty granules) and cytolytic [disrupted cells with clusters of free eosinphil granules (Cfegs)]. Longitudinal and transverse sections of collagen fibrils were also evaluated. 9.01% of eosinophils examined were resting, whereas 90.98% had released their content, 70.14% by cytolysis and 20.84% by PMD. Collagen fibrils showed no ultrastructural abnormalities and appeared identical to those observed in the control. Flame figures and foci of 'collagen degeneration' appeared constituted by collagen fibrils–fibers interspersed with cytolytic eosinophils. Based on these findings we conclude that eosinophils play an active role in the pathogenesis of FED through their granule content release, by cytolysis and PMD. Moreover, based on the normal collagen ultrastructure, the use of the term 'collagen degeneration' to describe the eosinophilic debris observed with light microscopy in FED should be definitely avoided.

 The study was funded by a grant of the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology.


A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing defining a bearing bore, and a hybrid Achslagersystem disposed in the bore. The hybrid Achslagersystem comprises a first axle box and a second axle bearing. The first journal bearing is a semi-floating bearing, and the second journal bearing is a fully floating bearing. The turbocharger also includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the shaft is supported by the Achslagersystem for rotation about an axis in the bore. The turbocharger also includes a turbine wheel that is mounted adjacent the first end to the shaft and configured to by afterburning gases, which are discharged from the engine to be rotated about the axis. Additionally, the turbocharger comprises a compressor wheel mounted adjacent to the second end of the shaft and adapted to set a flow of air under pressure which is taken for supply to the engine from the environment.


Abstract Nowadays refrigeration plays a vital role in our day to day life for the preservation of food, medicine, and air conditioning. In the current situation conventional refrigeration system most of the time uses freon as a refrigerant. Which is mainly responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer and hence it indirectly affects the health of the human being. To overcome all these difficulties vortex tube can be used as an alternate refrigeration system. The vortex tube is a device that produces two streams of air one is a hot air stream and another is cold air stream from the inlet compressed air. This research is mainly focused on the different parameters on which the cooling effect of the vortex tube is dependent and the changes in the conventional design of the vortex tube to improve the cooling effect. Keywords: vortex tube, hot air and cold air, cooling effect . Cite this Article V.G. Nipunage, S.T. Birhade. Design and Analysis of Vortex Tube. Journal of Thermal Engineering and Applications . 2020; 7(2): 30–36p.


This paper will discuss improvements to Cichelli's method for computing the set of weights used for minimal perfect hashing functions[1]. The major modifications investigated here pertain to adding a "MOD number_of_keys" operation to the hashing function, and to the removal of unnecessary backtracking due to "guaranteed collisions".


This article is a good summary of how the yellow fever epidemiology had changed between 1900-1937, partly due to Soper and
 his team.


Operative fixation of rib fractures is regaining popularity worldwide. The concept was first introduced 60 years ago, but with the development of modern noninvasive ventilation technology, it was gradually abandoned.1 The recent rising interest in the surgical treatment can be attributed to the large amount of ventilation-associated complications (such as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), prolonged intubation, tracheostomies, and lengthy hospitalizations in the ICU) and to the development of new fracture fixation technology, for example, locked plates, and specific rib fixation prostheses.1 Recent data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analysis trials demonstrated excellent results with the new surgical fixation techniques, showing decreased number of ventilation days, pneumonia rates, days in ICU, tracheostomies numbers, and mortality rates.2 The overall evidence supports surgical fixation of flail chest injuries and is consistently showing promising results.2 Despite this, only few reports have been made regarding possible complications of rib fracture fixation.3 We are presenting a unique case of postfixation rib synostosis, which is to the best of our knowledge the first report of such a complication. A 24-year-old man arrived to our ED after an motor vehicle accident. On arrival, his Glasgow Coma Scale was 15. Initial survey revealed multiple rib fractures with paradoxical movements of the left chest wall and an unstable open pelvis fracture on the left side (Fig. 1A). CT scan demonstrated a large flail chest on the left side involving ribs 4–10 (Fig. 1B), a small pneumothorax, and an open fracture of the pelvis. The patient was taken to the operating theater for damage control of the pelvis, and a chest tube was inserted on the left side. Seventytwo hours post arrival, the patient was taken to the OR again. Flail chest was reduced and fixed using the matrix rib system (DePuy Synthes, Comp, West Chester, PA), in two separate surgical approaches. He remained intubated for three days in the ICU and was then transferred to the orthopedic department. Four days later, he was discharged to a rehabilitation center. Sequential follow-up was carried out after four, 12 weeks, six months, and 12 months in our outpatient trauma clinic, with repeated X-rays of the chest and pelvis (Fig. 2A). A few days before the one-year mark checkup, the patient was sent to a chest CT scan by his general practitioner because of chronic back pain, which revealed bony bridges that had formed between all the fixed ribs, on the anterolateral and posterolateral aspects of the rib cage (Fig. 2B). Clinically, the patient was symptom-free, and saturation was 97 per cent. As part of our one-year follow-up protocol, the patient had a pulmonary function test, which demonstrated good results. By that time, the patient regained his prior level of activity and had returned to his job as a truck driver. Complications after rib fracture fixation are rare and could be divided into early and late onset complications. Early postoperative complications include wound infection (0–10%), empyema (5%), hematoma, and persistent effusion.3 Late complications include chest tightness and dyspnea (19–33%), chronic pain (11%), hardware failure (0–3%), hardware infection (0–3%), and periprosthetic fractures, which could be related to the operation or appear as a remnant of the original chest wall trauma.3 Post-traumatic synostosis is a well-documented complication usually happening in the forearms and ankles.4 Large post-trauma hematoma, open fractures, localized soft tissue injury, and craniocerebral injury were hypothesized as possible causes for this phenomenon. Our patient had a polytrauma injury, and the surgical approach to the chest wall was extensile because of the location of the fractures; both reasons might explain this new bone formation. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Zvi H. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Surgery "A", Soroka University Medical Center, P.O. Box 151, Beer-Sheva, Israel 84101. E-mail: email@example.com.