Those familiar with the field do not need to be reminded that acoustic cavitation is the cornerstone of sonoluminescence and sonochemistry. However, an equally important and often overlooked statement is that nucleation is the cornerstone of acoustic cavitation. So critical is the nature of the nucleus to the cavitation process that the acoustic cavitation threshold in water can be varied from a few atmospheres to a few hundred atmospheres just by altering the distribution and properties of the nuclei. (The acoustic cavitation threshold is the maximum acoustic pressure amplitude to which a liquid can be exposed before cavitation inception.) The fundamentals of acoustic cavitation nucleation will be presented in this paper, which is intended to be tutorial in nature. Topics include homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation, stabilization mechanisms, models of heterogeneous cavitation nuclei, and the dependence of the cavitation threshold on the properties of the nucleus. [Work supported by ONR and the NPS R...


Congenital absence of the pericardium should not be considered rare. Of the 87 cases reviewed, congenital absence of the left pericardium (partial and total types) accounted for the vast majority of cases. Congenital absence of the right pericardium (partial and total types) is relatively unusual and absence of the entire pericardium (left and right sides) as well as defects at the base of the pericardium are rare.The appearance of complete absence of the left pericardium as seen with conventional plain film roentgenography is characteristic. The presence of right axis deviation on the electrocardiogram, a systolic precordial murmur, as well as displacement of the point of maximal cardiac impulse may be present in various combinations.The appearance of partial left on partial right pericardial defects as seen with conventional plain film roentgenography is not characteristic and requires a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. Angiocardiography is the method of choice for diagnosis.Cinefluoroscopic demon...


Abstract Approaching the concept of economic crisis in contemporary reality draws attention to the complexity of this phenomenon, as analysing the elements that define the economic cycles proves to be insufficient, since the world's economies converge more and more towards a global economy. In this regard, the interconnection and the strong mutual dependence of the markets determine a particularly high sensitivity on establishing and maintaining a global balance. If the economic crisis of 2008 had a strong negative impact on the world's economies, leading to unprecedented economic and social action, the question arises as to whether the economic policy makers of the states have managed to properly manage this situation and whether they have managed to appropriate a set of "good practices" to anticipate, prevent and effectively combat a new economic crisis. The current economic reality puts world economies to a new test which seems to be more than a predictable cyclical evolution of production cycles. It cannot be said that we are in a period of well-defined economic boom, and it is clear that in the current context the economic crisis that is emerging will be much more complex and diverse than what we experienced in 2008. The present paper aims to offer a pragmatic approach to the possible causes and effects that tend to characterize the new economic crisis that is emerging in front of us.


Vehicles are developing in the direction of energy-saving and electrification. suspension has been widely developed in the field of vehicles as a key component. Traditional hydraulic energy-supply suspensions dissipate vibration energy as waste heat to suppress vibration. This part of the energy is mainly generated by the vehicle engine. In order to effectively utilize the energy of this part, the energy-regenerative suspension with energy recovery converts the vibrational energy into electrical energy as the vehicle's energy supply equipment. This article reviews the hydraulically powered suspension of vehicles with energy recovery. The importance of such suspension in vehicle energy recovery is analyzed. The main categories of energy-regenerative suspension are illustrated from different energy recovery methods, and the research status of hydraulic energy-regenerative suspension is comprehensively analyzed. Important factors that affect the shock-absorbing and regenerative characteristics of the suspension system are studied. In addition, some unresolved challenges are also proposed, which provides a reference value for the development of energy-regenerative suspension systems for hybrid new energy vehicles


Objective To study the clinical effects and surgical technique of treatment for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures.Methods From November 2007 to October 2009,45 intraarticular calcaneal fractures in 40 patients were treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).Extended lateral approach of calcaneal was used,there were 11 type Ⅱ,31 type Ⅲ and 3 type Ⅳ fractures found according to Sanders classification system.AO plastic titanic anatomic plates were used for fixation with bone grafting if necessary.Intra-operative radiographic evaluation was made to determine Bohlers angle and Gissanes angle on lateral view,calcaneal width on axial view,and joint surface reduction on Broden view.Results All patients were followed up for an average of 15 (ranged from 8 to 26) months.Clinical functional outcomes were graded using the Maryland foot score system.21 cases showed excellent results,while good in 14,fair in 4 and poor in 1,with an good rate of 87.5%.Conclusions In treating intraarticular calcaneal fractures,timing and surgical technique,restoring Bohlers angle and smooth subtalar articular surface,as well as stable fixation are the keys for satisfactory treatment efficacy.

Key words:
Calcaneal fracture;  Internal fixation;  Open reduction;  Surgical technique


ABSTRACT: Data are presented about the pattern diversity of springtails found in moss on bark along an elevational gradient (2,750–3,440 m) on the NW slope of Iztaccíhuatl Volcano, State of Mexico, Mexico. The study includes sampling carried out at seven elevations. Calculated indices were: species richness (S), Shannon's diversity index (H′), Pielou's evenness index (J′) and Simpson dominance (&lgr;). A linear regression analysis was made to evaluate the effect of elevation on the total springtail density. The total number of species was 30, with 18 species from the lowest elevation and 9 species from the highest. The greatest density was obtained at the highest elevation. Pseudisotoma sensibilis, Willowsia mexicana and Americabrya arida were the dominant species, and there is a positive significant relationship between the elevation and their density. The greatest similarity between communities in agreement with dendrogram is near 80% between elevations of 3,115 and 3,250m.


Although the gastroprotective potential of folic acid has been reported, little is known about the role of inflammation and apoptosis in the said activity. This study, therefore, assessed lipid peroxidation (LPO), Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP) as markers of inflammation and, p53 and BCl-2 as markers of apoptosis in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer pretreated with Folic acid (FA) for twenty-one (21) days. Adult male Wistar rats were arranged into experimental groups (n = 5) viz: 1) Control; 2) Ulcer control; 3) 2FA (2 mg/kg folic acid + Ulcer); 4) 3FA (3 mg/kg folic acid + Ulcer); 5) OMEP (20 mg/kg omeprazole + Ulcer); 6) 2FA + OMEP + Ulcer; and 7) 3FA + OMEP + Ulcer. Ulcer score, LPO, NLR, serum CRP were all determined one hour post ulcer induction. Paraffin gastric sections were stained first with H & E, then immunostained for p53 and BCl-2. Ethanol caused gastric lesion with an index of 3.0 ± 0.2. Ulcer severity and LPO was significantly decreased in the 2FA, 3FA, OMEP, 2FA + OMEP and 3FA + OMEP groups. NLR reduced significantly in the 2FA, 3FA, OMEP and OMEP + 3FA group. Qualitatively, there was absence of C-reactive protein in the 2FA group while quantitatively, presence of CRP appeared sustained in the 3FA and OMEP treated groups. Unlike p53, the expression and labeling index of BCl-2 were significantly enhanced more in the FA and OMEP combination than OMEP alone. Folic acid ameliorates the development of gastric ulcer in rats via its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.


An efficient and convenient method was developed for the preparation of 3-sulfenylindoles via a K2CO3 promoted direct sulfenylation of indoles with disulfides. The method is applicable to a wide range of indoles containing different functional groups furnishing good to excellent yields. This synthetic strategy features environmental friendliness, easy operation, and mild reaction conditions.


One of the prediction method of the long-term settlement of soft clay is to predict it by defining the linear slope of the latter half of the s-log t curve, as the rate of secondary consolidation. This method has some disadvantages, because the slope of the straight line is depending on how to set the origin of elapsed logarithmic time, and how to determine the initial thickness of soil layer, and so on. The author carried out a series of laboratory experiments using oedometer apparatus against some kinds of highly organic soil and one silty clay which were sampled in Japan. From the experimental results, the author proposed a prediction method for long-term settlement of highly organic soil based on the isotache theory using natural strain which can be used conveniently by eliminating previous problems. To confirm the applicability of the proposed prediction method, some field measurement data were used, constructed in Japan. They were good correlations, and the applicability of proposed method was proved in this study.


The invention discloses a DSA (digital subtraction angiography) cerebrovascular image auto-segmenting method based on adjacent image feature point sets. The method includes: 1, importing a plurality of pairs of continuous DSA cerebrovascular images as source image data; 2, partitioning each pair of DSA cerebrovascular images; 3, setting an image threshold for each partitioned DSA cerebrovascular image; 4, extracting feature points on the basis of a sift algorithm; 5, acquiring feature point difference images of corresponding live images from mask images and live images in each pair of DSA cerebrovascular images subjected to feature point extraction, by means of the digital subtraction angiography; 6, extracting image feature point sets of all feature point difference images, and precisely extracting the image feature points by means of adjacent image relation; 7, subjecting the extracted image feature points to region growing to obtain corresponding cerebrovascular images. The method has the advantages that pixel information of adjacent domains is integrated through adjacent images by the image segmenting technique, feature point information extraction is more accurate, and noise is effectively decreased.


A blind bandwidth extension (BBWE) expands the bandwidth of telephone speech which often is limited to 0.2 to 3.4 kHz. The advantage is an increased perceived quality as well as an increased intelligibility. This work presents a BBWE similar to state-of-the-art bandwidth extensions like Intelligent Gap Filling with the difference that all processing is done in the decoder without the need of transmitting extra bits. Parameters like spectral envelope are estimated by a regressive Convolutional Deep Neuronal Network (CNN) with long short-term memory (LSTM). The system operates on frames of 20 ms without additional algorithmic delay and can be applied in state-of-the-art speech and audio codecs.


Design of Progressively Censored Experiments Marco Burkschat, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg In a progressively Type-II censored life-testing experiment, after every failure of a unit a fixed number of active units can be withdrawn from the test. Such progressive censoring may be applied for the purpose of planning a life test in the sense of experimental design. The flexibility gained by considering different censoring schemes may be exploited in order to improve the outcome of the experiment with respect to a given optimality criterion. In the talk, some recent results for several criteria are given. Significance tests in parameter designs Ying Chen, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics In parameter designs, experimental factors that affect the variance as well as those that affect the mean are studied by statistical experimental designs. The original analysis methods proposed by Taguchi are powerless in discovering the significance of the effects in parameter designs. In fact, we need meaningful ways of detecting signals in noise such as significance tests to catalyze the creativity of engineers and scientists. In this paper, we will apply some test methods to the significance tests in parameter designs. Some examples will be given for the illustration. Optimal designs for the prediction of individual effects in random coefficient regression models Maryna Prus, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg Random coefficient regression models attract an increasing popularity in many fields of application, especially in biosciences. Besides the estimation of population parameters describing the mean behavior across all individuals a prediction of the individual responses or the individual deviations from the population means may be of interest, the latter for example in selection studies in animal breeding. The problem of optimal designs for the estimation of the mean population parameters in these models has been extensively considered and many analytical and practical results are available in the literature. For the prediction of the individual responses the theory developed by Gladitz and Pilz (1982) is commonly used, requires however the prior knowledge of the population parameters. Here we develop the theory and solutions for prediction of individual responses and individual deviations for the practical relevant situation of unknown population parameters. The optimal designs for the individual responses differ from the Bayesian designs proposed in the literature, but the Bayesian designs remain optimal if only the individual deviations are of interest (see Prus and Schwabe, 2011). If the dispersion matrix of the random effects is singular, the optimal designs in the reduced model, where the fixed individual effects are absent, are found to be optimal for the prediction of the individual deviations. However, it has to be emphasized that the latter statement does not hold for the prediction of the individual responses themselves. We illustrate the theoretical results obtained by a simple example.


The utility model discloses a novel slipping buckle biological absorbable support, wherein the support is in a thin plate shape before planting, the outer shape comprises a support body portion of a net hole structure, a support head portion playing the role of slipping buckle and a support buckle. The novel slippery buckle biological absorbable support is divided into three shapes which are an inserting buckle type, an edge slipping buckle type and a middle slipping buckle type according to different positions. Several small buckles are arranged in a head frame of the inserting buckle type support, and a support body is in a net hole shape. The inner portion of a head portion of the edge slipping buckle type support is not provided with buckles, and the two sides of a net hole-shaped support body are provided with a plurality of small buckles toward the same direction. The inner portion of the head portion of the middle slipping buckle type support is provided with a small buckle, and a support body portion corresponding to the buckle is provided with a plurality of small buckles toward the same direction. The novel slipping buckle biological absorbable support covers to support blood vessels at once along with sliding expand of a sacculus support after removing sacculus.


The global engineering plastics market has been growing as it replaces materials such as glass and metal. It can be used in a wide variety of products and technologies in other sectors of the economy such as energy generation, automotive, maritime, construction, electronics, packaging, and others. However, this increase in global use presented problems with respect to the increase in plastic waste generation. The existence and destination of plastic waste in the soil and hydric resources has been recognised as an emerging issue in preserving the environment. In this research, Micronized Polyethylene Terephthalate (micronized PET) was used as an additive for asphalt mixtures. The polymer was mixed in amounts of 4%, 5%, and 6% by weight with an asphalt binder base and mechanical tests were performed. Two SUPERPAVE mix design methods were performed. The first one was made with pure binder and the optimum binder content was determined and the specimens were analysed according to the following parameters: Resilient Modulus (RM), Lottman, and Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS). A second mix design procedure was performed with the optimum PET content according to the best results obtained in the first one, and analysed according RM, ITS, Lottman, Fatigue, and Flow Number tests. The results show significant improvements on mechanical properties of the asphalt mixtures with micronized PET compared with asphalt mixtures without additive.


Hyperacute and acute vascular rejection of xenografts are well defined barriers to clinical pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Enormous progress has been made in recent years to overcome these immunological barriers. For example, transgenic expression of human complement regulatory molecules (e.g. CD46, CD55) in pigs has been shown to be an effective strategy to prevent hyperacute rejection in pre-clinical models of xenotransplantation. Alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase knock-out pigs are available and provide a second possibility to avoid hyperacute rejection mediated by pre-existing antibodies. Furthermore, transfer of protective genes (e.g. A20, HO-1) to endothelial cells is expected to reduce their susceptibility to effector mechanisms leading to acute vascular rejection. In addition, the efficiency of strategies to avoid coagulation/thrombosis after pig-to-human xenotransplantation (e.g. transgenic expression of human thrombomodulin, CD39) is currently tested. Thus, for further development of clinical xenotransplantation immunological concepts are now required facilitating the control of human anti-pig cellular immune responses. Our group focuses on the inhibition of human anti-pig T cell responses by targeting "negative" costimulatory pathways. We tested the hypothesis that overexpression of the human negative costimulatory ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 on pig antigen presenting cells will result in reduced human anti-pig T cell responses. The data so far show that (i) human CD4+ T cells respond with reduced proliferation and cytokine synthesis to PD-L1/PD-L2 expressing pig cells, (ii) PD-L1/PD-L2 pig transfectants induce human regulatory T cells (Treg) which suppress the activation of conventional T cells, and (iii) PD-L1/PD-L2 expressing pig cells are protected from lysis mediated by CD8+ human cells. Together these observations support the assumption that transgenic expression of human PD-L1 and/or PD-L2 in pig cells and tissues could be an approach to prevent T cell reactivity after pig-to-human xenotransplantation.

Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Transregio Forschergruppe "Xenotransplantation", FOR 535).


Chiral vicinal amino alcohols were generated with excellent stereoselectivity and high conversion from bulky α-amino β-keto esters by an engineered ketoreductase called M30.


The paper presents the issue of anxiety disorders among children and adolescents with particular focus on generalised anxiety disorder and the use of cognitive behavioural psychotherapy in the affected patients. Data on epidemiology, aetiology and diagnosis of anxiety disorders, as well as the specificity and limitations of cognitive behavioural therapy among younger patients are presented. Statistical data show that the group of affected children and adolescents is growing. The diagnosis of generalised anxiety in children and adolescents may take time. It requires careful collection of history and observation of behaviours in different functioning domains. It may happen that symptoms indicative of generalised anxiety disorders are underestimated or missed by adults from the child's immediate environment. Early and accurate diagnosis is important also because the disorder may give rise to depressive disorders or contribute to suicide attempts. Research shows that cognitive behavioural psychotherapy, often aided by pharmacotherapy, is one of the most effective and popular forms of therapy in children and adolescents with generalised anxiety disorders. The paper describes the theoretical models of the disorder, as well as its implications for psychotherapy and current research trends. Cognitive behavioural therapeutic programs intended for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders are also presented. The literature review shows that studies and protocols devoted exclusively to the treatment of generalised anxiety in children and adolescents are still missing. Therefore, treatment protocols for adults, which are appropriately adjusted to age and cognitive development of the child, are often used, especially for older children.


Abstract This paper presents the results of a survey of academic staff at New Zealand universities to determine their attitudes towards the current British system of academic titles compared with the US system. A questionnaire was developed and sent to a stratified random sample of 1340 academic staff selected from the 7 universities in New Zealand. A total of 671 valid responses was received. The responses were analysed statistically by university, faculty, designation, qualifications, gender, age and overseas experience. The comments were also analysed qualitatively. Generally the results indicate that there is not a majority support for either the British or the US systems of academic titles and there is a considerable level of dissatisfaction with the current system. Consequently it is concluded that a sustained effort is required to develop policy and form some agreement on an appropriate mix of academic titles and rewards for academic staff at New Zealand universities.


A curve tracer is proposed for measuring static characteristics of power devices at high voltage and large current range. Using a SiC-MOSFET as a switch for pulse-based measurement, high voltage tolerance and fast switching are simultaneously achieved. The proposed curve tracer facilitates current-voltage measurements for full I-V regions found in practical device operations. The measurement results provided by the proposed method contribute to build device models that can be used to design efficient power converters.


Background: Resurfacing is becoming increasingly popular as an option for primary hip arthroplasty. However, there is minimal documentation of objective post-operative outcomes which support the perceived benefits of resurfacing over traditional stemmed THR. Most comparative studies have reported differences in X-ray findings, such as component alignment and femoral offset, which only allow speculation of their relative effects on patient function. Studies have also reported general clinical outcomes following resurfacing, and although resurfacing shows promising medium term results, these studies have been largely subjective and have lacked a direct same study comparison with standard THR. Potential benefits of resurfacing include improved abductor muscle function, resulting from preservation of the femoral neck offset, and greater range of hip motion, resulting from the larger diameter bearings. Mont et al (2007) compared biomechanical outcomes during gait for individuals with unilateral resurfacing and standard arthroplasty and concluded that hip resurfacing yielded superior function, as defined by faster walking speeds. However, comprehensive data of 3-dimensional moments and hip kinematics was not presented and functional assessment was limited to gait analysis only. Methods: Kinematic and kinetic outcomes were evaluated for 28 individuals (age 40–60) with unilateral resurfacing (Durom, Zimmer) or standard stemmed THR (ceramic-on-ceramic Trident, Stryker) at 3 and 12 months following surgery. Data was collected using an 8 camera Vicon 612 motion analysis system and two Kistler force plates while subjects completed level walking and stair ascent and descent activities using a 4-step stair case, instrumented with a force plate on the second step. A lower limb marker set was used with pointer trial calibration of anatomical landmarks. 3-dimensional hip moments, angles and temporospatial parameters were compared and preferred motion patterns analysed. Results: Peak hip moments showed no statistically significant group difference during the ambulatory activities although slightly greater peak hip angles were achieved by those with standard THR. Stair negotiation highlighted greater differences in biomechanical outcomes between the groups than level gait analysis. Those with hip resurfacing exhibited less protective motion patterns and performed walking and stair negotiation at a faster pace. Conclusions: The greater diameter bearings of the resurfacing prosthesis do not appear to yield a greater functional range of motion post-operatively. Preserving the femoral offset with a hip resurfacing does not appear to benefit abductor muscle function. Statistically, both arthroplasty types demonstrate equivalent functional outcomes.


Up until recent years, Corded Ware has remained poorly studied in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, located in north-eastern Europe. Traditionally, this region has been considered marginal in terms of Corded Ware, but new research has started to change this view. This paper presents the Corded Ware material known up to the current date (2016) from the eastern area of the Gulf of Finland, i.e. the Karelian Isthmus and Ingria (western Leningrad oblast, Russia); currently ca. 30 sites and ca. 60 stray finds are known in the research area. Based on this and previously published data from the adjoining regions, features related to the material culture, the contact networks, and the chronology of Corded Ware are discussed. Even though focusing the research may skew the picture, there are good grounds to propose, that there was a distinctive Corded Ware sphere of interaction in the eastern area of the Gulf of Finland, also including areas in north-eastern Estonia and south-eastern Finland. Due to its particular cultural background, local preferences, and consequently, development trajectories, the area had a clear regional character. Further, populations inhabiting it also maintained active contacts with other Corded Ware groups in the sphere of Baltic Sea and further to the east, as well as with non-Corded Ware settlers of north-eastern Europe.


Abstract : The Distribution Database Integrity (DDBI) project is a research effort funded by Rome Laboratory and conducted at the Computer Science Laboratory of SRI International. The main goal of this effort was to improve data integrity and consistency management techniques for C3 database application environments. The objective of this effort was to examine data integrity, consistency and concurrency control techniques for distributed object-oriented (0-0) database management systems. Specific areas that were investigated include: (1) rule-based concurrency control techniques for dynamic C3 processing, (2) adaptive concurrency techniques for dealing with consistency versus availability of data, (3) temporal database mechanisms for retaining multiple versions of database objects, (4) rules, constraints, and application- specific knowledge-bases for integrity maintenance, (5) active triggers for automatically enforcing integrity rules based upon local or remote updates, and (6) the effect of incrementally mutable objects (IMO's) on distributed database integrity. The contribution is flexible, robust, data integrity techniques for distributed object-oriented database management systems.


Ensuring the survivability and recoverability of computer networks under fault conditions requires the selection and testing of the appropriate protocols that handle failure events. While testing using the actual networking equipment is the most accurate, it is not always feasible due to cost and time constraints. Instead, simulation can be used. However, results may not always represent actual network behaviors. This study first looks at selected layer-2 Ethernet protocols available for increasing the survivability of a network, i.e., spanning tree protocol and rapid spanning tree protocol. These protocols are tested on two small live networks and then via simulation. After the simulations are validated by these tests, the protocol's performance is then characterized for larger topologies.


It was 3 am and the six of us had been playing Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game. We were nerds, one and all. She passed the joint. I inhaled and passed it on. We laughed and munched on packets of crisps.

I smoked cannabis about a dozen times at university. I am not the home secretary but I am a responsible professional. Is it inappropriate for a doctor to admit to having smoked cannabis or can this be seen as tacit acceptance and normalising of drug use? My rationale, however, is honesty, without which there is only hypocrisy and the stifling of any meaningful debate. Drug use by the young is, perhaps, the widest schism between the generations.

Age comes at a cost but it has a great gift—experience. My young life was a conveyor belt of predictable and cliched mistakes—I was 18, so of course I knew best. But many of these wrong choices were my most important ones. Scalded and scarred by our mistakes we limp into middle age, weary but a lot wiser. Seeking to spare our young some pain we proffer them some unsolicited advice but omit the story behind the lecturing. Every single generation of the young happily jump onto the old conveyor belt full of bold and contemptuous certainty, smiling and waving at a despairing family, heading for the check out marked "Ten stupid things you must do before you grow up and admit that your parents were right and then apologise." So what should be done about the young and cannabis?

Despite my use of cannabis as a young man I question the logic of liberalising the law. Health worries to one side, the real issue is that looser laws would surely lead to increased consumption and availability. Our communities are already saturated with mind altering drugs, be they illegal, prescribed, or cheap vodka. Our society is greatly undermined by drug use; we simply do not need any more.

I have never denied my cannabis use to my patients, and rather than undermining my position I feel that honesty has made my advice more credible. Perhaps it is time that we are a little more honest as a profession and come out of that bulging and over crowded closet marked "medical drug use." Who knows, some of the young might even jump from the conveyor belt and be spared some pain.


The present authors reply to comments by Meng et al. (IEEE Trans Antennas Propag., vol.55, pt.II, p.1016-17 March 2007) on the original paper by Hrabar et al. (IEEE Trans. antennas Propag., vol.53, p.110-19, Jan. 2005)


Studies of physiological diversity and its effect on the expression of traits in plants are used in breeding programs as a selective tool with the aim of selecting special attributes for creating a new product. In this study, the correlation coefficients among 17 horticultural traits of 34 genotypes from 11 different places of Semnan province were examined. A significant positive correlation was observed between fruit weight and kernel weight, susceptibility to blight and leaf abscission, leafing date and female flower emergence and between kernel percentage, kernel weight and kernel plumpness. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation existed between harvest time and tree vigor, fruit shape and fruit weight and kernel percentage with shell thickness. The most important characteristics that had a direct impact on kernel percentage were shell thickness and kernel plumpness. The attributes that were effective on fruit ripening were tree form, catkin emergence time and shell thickness. However, the residual effects suggested that there might be other important determinant traits for harvest date, which were not considered in this study.


This book 'essay' brings together a series of thoughts and propositions in relation to the practice of contemporary painting, sections include:
What does it mean to make paintings today?
The Facticity of Painting (or about the stuff)
Expanding Painting
Interdisciplinarity/Indisciplinarity - propostions
Acceptance as a Form of Regret
Interference
The Mediation of the World through the Work


CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 3-year-old girl with a long history of asthma, recurrent pneumonia, dysphagia, and bronchomalacia. She presented to the emergency department with an acute asthma exacerbation on top of her chronic barking cough. The patient had had multiple hospital admissions for asthma exacerbations, croup, and pneumonia, during which she underwent multiple imaging studies, including chest and neck x-rays, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the face as well as a barium swallow. Furthermore, tests for sweat chloride, CH50, immunoglobulin levels, and lymphocyte mitogen response were obtained and all were within the normal limits. During this admission, a chest radiograph (Figure 1) was ordered to rule out pneumonia.


Propagation and amplification of density waves in p -InSb were investigated at 77 K. The electron-hole plasma was produced by double injection and the plasma density wave perturbed in the frequency range from 2-25 MHz at the injecting contact. The density perturbation propagates through the sample as a density wave with an ambipolar density velocity. The amplitude of the wave was observed to be spacially amplified when the electric field and the injection level were sufficiently high. The amplification constant was studied as a function of the frequency and the injection level. The experimental results are compared with the theories for the instability and it is concluded that the most probable mechanisms for the observed amplification are the effect of hot electrons on the ambipolar diffusion constant and the nonuniformity of the plasma density distribution.


The task of single image super-resolution (SISR) is a highly inverse problem because it is very challenging to reconstruct rich details from blurry images. Most previous super-resolution (SR) methods based on Convolution Neural Network (CNN) tend to design a more complex network structure to directly learn the mapping between low-resolution images and high-resolution images. Nevertheless, it is not the best choice for blindly increasing the depth of the network since the performance improvement may not increase but the computing cost. In order to tackle this problem, we propose an effective method, which integrates the image prior to the model to enhance image reconstruction. In fact, the role of categorical prior as an important image feature has been widespreadly used in several high challenge computer vision tasks. In this work, we propose a region attention network (RAN) to recovery clear SR images with the assistance of categorical prior. The proposed RAN can be divided into two branches: the rough image reconstruction branch and the subtle image reconstruction branch. Meanwhile, we also propose a coupling group to make full use of the feature of two branches. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our RAN obtains satisfactory performance with the help of image categorical prior.


The invention relates to a cigarette with strong fragrance but low harm and a production method thereof, in particular to a cigarette with strong fragrance but low harm and with the effect of a product generated from frangipani and loquat leaves through chemical treatment. The invention adds the extract of frangipani and loquat leaves to the tobacco of cigarettes; the extracting method of frangipani and loquat leaves is: after pretreatment, frangipani and loquat leaves are dried at the temperature of 30 DEG C to 60 DEG C and then smashed into 10 meshes to 100meshes respectively and then mixed at the proportion of 8 to 2; at the temperature of 50 DEG C to 90 DEG C, the powder of frangipani and loquat leaves is extracted by ethanol solution with the concentration of 40 percent for three times with the extraction time being 1h to 8h; ethanol solution is added to filtered concentrative powder solution, mixed evenly and then kept still for over 8h and the mixed solution is centrifugated, filtered and concentrated; the dry powder paste adopts macro-reticular resin as a sorbent and first eluted with distilled water and then with ethanol solution with the concentration of 50 percent; the part eluted with the distilled water is discarded and the part eluted with the ethanol solution with the concentration of 50 percent is collected and concentrated into a certain concentration. The patent of the invention provides a new healthcare function for smokers.


The max-cut problem is a classical graph theory problem which is NP-complete. The best polynomial time approximation scheme relies on semidefinite programming (SDP). We study the conditions under which graphs of certain classes have rank 1 solutions to the max-cut SDP. We apply these findings to look at how solutions to the max-cut SDP behave under simple combinatorial constructions. Our results determine when solutions to the max-cut SDP for cycle graphs are rank 1. We find the solutions to the max-cut SDP of the vertex sum of two graphs. We then characterize the SDP solutions upon joining two triangle graphs by an edge sum.


The combination of commercial feed and fermented bran is an alternative to reduce production costs from aquaculture activities. The purpose of this study was to analyze the growth and survival of tilapia by reducing the frequency of feeding commercially replaced with fermented bran. This research was conducted from January 2022 to February 2022 at the Ujung Batee Brackish Water Cultivation Center, Mesjid Raya, Aceh Besar. This research method used a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and three repetitions, namely treatment A (5% commercial feed without fermented bran), treatment B (4% commercial feed and 1% fermented bran), treatment C (3% commercial feed and 2% fermented bran), treatment D (2% commercial feed and 3% fermented bran), treatment E (1% commercial feed and 4% fermented bran). Based on the results of research that has been analyzed by ANOVA test shows that the combination of commercial feed and fermented bran to fish has an effect on growth, but does not affect the survival rate of fish.


The local society experienced a process from turmoil to stability in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties in the east of Guangdong.Based on the case study of Baihou Village in Dapu County,this paper investigates the emergence of country gentry's stratum and their influence on and function in local social changes from turmoil to stability.It is of great importance to understand the details and inner mechanisms of the social transformation in the east of Guangdong and the traditional social formation of Hakka.


Energy is one of the basic human needs, both in the form of electricity and energy in the form of heat / gas. The increase in Indonesia's population has increased by 1.3% every year, this is comparable to the increase in energy needs. Current conditions illustrate that the fulfillment of energy needs is sourced more from fossil materials that cannot be renewed, therefore a solution is needed to overcome these problems by finding and finding potential alternative energy sources that can meet human needs. One of the energy that can be utilized is biogas. Biogas is a process of fermentation of organic matter that produces methane gas. Organic materials available in nature are abundant, one of which is organic matter derived from water hyacinth. For this reason, a research study is needed by identifying the potential of biogas energy from water hyacinth. This research is an experimental research, the data collection technique is done by quantitative methods. The tools needed are a manometer, thermometer and biogas reactor. This research was conducted by measuring the temperature and pressure produced by biogas made from organic water hyacinth. The results obtained showed that the biogas produced from water hyacinth produced a gas odor that was relatively not too stinging and the gas formation process was faster. Gas pressure measurements are carried out using a monometer by calculating the difference in the height of water pressure in the U pipe. Measurements of pressure changes are carried out for 20 days by conditioning external factors such as temperature and humidity. The study was conducted to examine the effect of adding water hyacinth to biogas organic matter. The results obtained that t count> t table is the value of t arithmetic (8.183)> t table (2.093) and the significance level of 0.000 <0.05. This means that there are differences in biogas production between before adding water hyacinth and after adding water hyacinth.


Innovation strategies are developed as much by adapting products to the laws of competition as by new value architectures that transform business models. Boldness in external collaboration and the combining of distinct knowledge-sets form the basis of these new strategies.


The essay analyses the changes and influences of the new version Ambient Air Quality Standard(GB3095-2012) and the trial version Air Quality Index Technical Regulations(HJ633-2012).Meanwhile,it introduces the requirements on the planning of carrying out the new standards.


The text talk about nesessity for the university file job's modernization and its cardinal contents.Talked its fore ground at the same time.


The ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) shares similar pathophysiological pathways with SARS-CoV-2 infection such as neutrophil extracellular traps, complement cascades, and IL-6. Patients with AAV have a higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In turn, the viral infection could trigger the relapse of AAV. We are presenting a case of a SARS-CoV-2 infection who developed relapsing AAV and discussion about management. A 25-year-old Hispanic male who was recently diagnosed with X-ANCA vasculitis with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), AKI treated with pulse steroids, plasmapheresis (PLEX), two doses of rituximab (375mg/kg) was admitted with fever, hemoptysis, hypoxemia, and positive COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab. Due to DAH and worsening oxygen requirements by day 3, IV pulse methylprednisolone 1000mg x3, rituximab 1g x2 and PLEX x 5 given, and on day 6 convalescent plasma was given. He developed non-oliguric AKI on CKD due to acute tubular injury superimposed on biopsy proven pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis needing hemodialysis from day 8 to 18. On day 9, patient developed ARDS requiring BiPAP and increased inflammatory markers, secondary to cytokine storm and got two dose of tocilizumab (8mg/kg). After this patient improved clinically and was discharged on room air with improving serum creatinine from peak 5.98mg/dL to 3.94mg/dL with oral prednisone of 60mg daily. The treatment for the AAV in the setting of COVID-19 has been controversial. Though the risk of infection increases with Rituximab use, current literature supports cautious use of the B-cell depleting agents for AAV indications during the pandemic with favorable riskbenefit ratio. Tocilizumab may also have dual beneficial effects in treating the AAV flare and managing the cytokine storm of COVID infection. Our case study showed this presumed dual benefit. Large scale studies are required to both prove the safety of Rituximab use in the setting of risk of COVID infection and Tocilizumab use for AAV flare with COVID infection. Clinicians should not shy away from using the Rituximab in AAV treatment due to the ongoing pandemic as the risk of not using may be much worse where it is clinically indicated. Tocilizumab may have dual beneficial effects of treating the Cytokine storm and AAV flare as we saw in our case.


Longgang Sports New Town in Shenzhen is the place where main venues of the 26th Universiade,Universiade Village,Universiade Center and Universiade Natural Park are located.These sites are connected to the local infrastructure by green corridors to improve the green open space system in Longgang.With the mountains,waterscape,native plants and local culture inheritance,the sports venues are well harmonized with the surroundings to achieve a balance between hardscape and softscape.This comprehensive program is facilitated by the city event and has brought positive ecological,social and economic impacts to the local people.


The acute toxicities of five s-triazines (atrazine, prometryn, simetryn, ametryn, terbutryn) were measured using two algae (one freshwater species, Selenastrum capricornutum, and one marine species, Dunaliella tertiolecta), Microtoxr bacteria, and the brine shrimp, Artemia salma. The algae were one to three orders of magnitude more susceptible to tested compounds than were bacteria or brine shrimp. The transformation of effective concentrations of the chemicals, obtained from toxicity measurements, into percent of the saturation level in water is proposed as a first evaluation of potential hazard to aquatic systems. Simetryn was found to be the most hazardous s-triazine for all species tested.


Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristic of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken on records of women who were diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy at Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju Christian Hospital between January 1994 and December 2004. We made criteria for its diagnosis, namely: (1) developement of heart failure in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months after delivery, (2) absence of a determinable etiology for the cardiac failure, and (3) absence of demonstrable heart disease prior to the last month of pregnancy. (4) ejection fraction less than 45%. Results: During the research period, 8 pregnant women were documented as peripartum cardiomyopathy. All of the women undertook echocardiography. Three women were complicated with pregnancy induced hypertension. One woman was in cardiogenic shock. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of the peripartum cardiomyopathy is extremely important. The echocardiography can provide helpful information on disease progression.


A method for combining subjective measures of workload and task characteristics is described. Data describing the human operator performance in compensatory tracking tasks at three levels of task complexities are used to develop a distribution function of fuzzy workload. The Cooper-Harper (CH) subjective judgment of task difficulty is administered to the subjects after each task completion. The final results show the relationships between fuzzy workload distribution as a function of task complexity.


Objective: Radical prostatectomy has recently been shown to prolong cancer‐specific survival compared to watchful waiting in patients with localized prostate cancer. Most patients who seek medical advice for this disease are treated in hospitals in which the operation is performed relatively infrequently. The aim of this study is to report the oncological outcome at intermediate‐ to long‐term follow‐up after radical prostatectomy performed in a community hospital. Material and Methods: A total of 148 patients underwent radical prostatectomy at Ryhov County Hospital between 1985 and 1997. Patients without T3 tumours, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) >10 ng/ml or poorly differentiated tumours were judged to be in a low‐risk group, those with one risk factor to be in an intermediate group and those with two or more factors to be in a high‐risk group. The projected biochemical disease free‐ and cancer‐specific survival rates were compared between these risk groups. Results: Median follow‐up was 96 months for surviving patients. Patients in the low‐ and intermediate risk groups had equal 10‐year PSA‐free survival rates of 68.8%, while that in the high‐risk group was only 19.3% (9‐year data). Corresponding cancer‐specific survival rates were 93% and 84%, respectively. Conclusions: The oncological outcome seems comparable to that reported in the literature, even when the operation is performed in a low‐volume community‐based setting.


Introduction Each month , GTE adminis ters a sizable number of telephone surveys of subscribers to its local telephone service, in order to gauge the extent of customer satisfaction with the service, to assess the impact of various service improvemen t programs, and to diagnose perceived problems which may lie outs ide the scope of the Corporation's internal measurements. From its billing records, each individual telephone company selects simple random samples of its residential and its business customers each month, from which a specified quota of individuals complete a fairly lengthy telephone-administered interview. Given the desire that the completed interviews accurately r ep resen t the pe rcep t ions of the genera l populations of GTE telephone subscribers, concerns have been raised over high levels of nonresponse, currently running at roughly 40-45% for residential customers and 25-60% for various segments of business customers. Despite these high rates of nonresponse, there is hope that the nonresponse problem can be controlled through a combination of increasing i n t e r v i e w a t t e m p t s , l o o s e n i n g i n t e r v i e w qualifications, and post-hoc data adjustments. The latter remedy is often applied by locating or defining some variable which "explains", or is p laus ib ly associa ted with , an ind iv idua l ' s nonresponse and whose data are available for the entire sample or the entire population from which the completed interviews are gathered. In the surveys we consider, candidate variables for this sort of use are available at the individual level through the telephone repair and service billing i n f o rma t ion GTE records as par t of its administrative information. These surveys are a major part of GTE's performance monitoring program, both in their extent and in the seriousness with which the results are interpreted. Consequent cost and schedul ing concerns effectively eliminate the possibility of any casual deviation from the threecall rule by which the current survey interviews are adminis tered. Thus, one must evaluate the consequences of uni t nonresponse w i th ou t recourse to any form of complete data. The interim strategy we have adopted during this study is to attempt several types of nonresponse adjustment with existing data and compare the adjusted estimates to gain an informal notion of the sensi t ivi ty of our survey est imates to the adjustment techniques. We attempt three major types of nonresponse adjus tment . For the first, we search for administrative data which are available for each unit in the sample, to be used to form weighting classes, as described by Oh and Scheuren (1983), for example. We note that, in this survey one might reasonably hope for variables which are associated with both the response mechanism and with survey responses, since telephone company data are likely to be related to telephone usage and hence to telephone survey availability, while that same data may well be also related to the telephone service evaluation that is the survey's subject. The second major type of adjustment, the administrative data are used to construct an explicit dichotomous variable model to predict response, which is then used as part of a selection bias model. The third adjustment strategy exploits the fact that these surveys are conducted by telephone with specific callback policies. Numbers of responses at each call are used to estimate response probabilities within (fairly flexibly defined) categories, from which adjustments are made. In support of the comparison of the estimates based on these strategies, we devote the next section to a description of some of the characteristics of calling dispositions for our sample. In subsequent sections, the adjustment strategies are applied and compared. Calling Histories Seven hundred thirty nine households were selected as the target sample for the TEL-CEL General Services survey of February 1988. Each household was called by telephone up to three times, generally using a day-night-weekend calling sequence. Each call was classified according to its survey response result based on nine different categories. To condense the possible call patterns over the three-or-fewer calls, each household was uniquely categorized as one of the following:


Oscillatoria rubescens, clear water phase. Secchi depths recorded in Lake Zurich are determined mainly by concentration s of autochtonous material such as plankton and other material related to biomass production. The surface contrast transmittance factor has a negligible effect on a Secchi depth of up to 7 m and is of minor importance up to 13 m. Alterations in transparency values after 1970 as a result of the reduced nutrient input were most pronounced in the autumn-winter period (October 28 to February 19) as well as in the clear water phase (April 29 to July 29). After 1970, almost all buildings in the Lake Zurich drainage area were connected to a sewage treatment plant with a three stage purification. In the autumn-winter period, the Secchi depth is related to the development of Oscillatoria rubescens filaments and is not correlated with changes in trophic state. The restoration measures led to a statistically significant increase in the Secchi depth during the clear water phase, and additionally to a prolongation of the period with the highest tranparency values (May 20 to July 4). The Secchi technique is simple but seems to be valuable for recognizing long-term changes in the optical properties of a water body.


The village of Qïzïl Qujašis situated in the district of Okťabŕ, about three miles from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. I collected material on the dialect of this village from the Uzbeks Xamidov εnver (51 years old) and Eaxmatov Qulmet (49 years old), during their stay in Vienna in August, 1944. Neither of them had ever left their native village, where they had worked as agricultural labourers. Their parents also lived in the same village. These two Uzbeks had never gone to school and were illiterate.


Relativistic many-body perturbation theory is applied to determine energies of [2[ital p][sup 5]3[ital s]] excited states of neonlike ions with nuclear charges in the range [ital Z]=10--92. These calculations start with a [ital V][sup ([ital N][minus]1)] Hartree-Fock potential and include correlation corrections. Core-hole corrections are treated to all orders in perturbation theory while the core-core, valence-core, and valence-hole corrections are treated to second order only. The Breit interaction is also included to second order, but the dominant correlation corrections to the Breit interaction are identified and iterated to all orders. Frequency-dependent corrections to the Breit interaction and mass-polarization corrections are treated to first order only. Lowest-order radiative corrections are included by evaluatng the electron self-energy and vacuum polarization in a local potential that approximates the Hartree-Fock potential. Detailed comparisons are made with measurements and with other calculations.


Abstract The capabilities of tyrosinase and peroxidase to activate tyrosine residues of wool fibres and to catalyze crosslink formation between peptides derived from a wool protein hydrolyzate were investigated. Peroxidases were able to catalyse oxidation of wool fibres corresponding to 35–40% of the tyrosine residues located on the wool surface or 2% of the tyrosine residues in the wool fibre. Similar fibre surface modification was detected with tyrosinase and a fungal peroxidase using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Tyrosinase did not show detectable activation of fibres measured as oxygen consumption. Tyrosinase was, however, able to crosslink peptides of 3–10 kDa derived from enzymatically hydrolysed wool fibres. Surprisingly, no crosslinking was detected with peroxidase.


This paper describes the demands, supports-constraints framework originally articulated by Payne (1979) for predicting psychological distress, and reports the results of an empirical study involving 2452 white-collar, public sector employees in Australia. The study uses hierarchical regression to test for the interaction effects of the demands and constraints variables, having applied suitable controls for instance by including trait anxiety and removing curvilinear effects. The results reveal little evidence of an interactive effect but moderately strong main effects and modest support for the value of controlling for curvilinear effects. Trait anxiety is shown to have a strong effect on psychological distress and considerably reduces the size of the relationship between demands, supports-constraints and psychological distress when statistically controlled for. However, it still accounts for 18.7% of the variance when entered last in the regression and it is recommended that its effects be explored in all studies of stress that rely on self-report data.


The need for ongoing adult mental health services for young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the UK was determined by a follow-up study of 102 young people with ADHD who were on medication and treated at a pediatric neurodisability clinic in Sheffield.


Routine antibody assays for HIV-1 (Enzyme Immunoassays) are usually nonreactive during the first four to five weeks after infection. Dallas County Health and Human Services Laboratory (DCHHS) integrated HIV-1 RNA Qualitative Assay (Aptima GenProbe Inc.), an HIV-1 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), in July 2009 making possible detection of HIV-1 within two weeks of infection. Dallas County Laboratory defines acute HIV-1 infection (AHI) as an antibody negative and RNA positive specimen. This testing methodology is critical in HIV prevention as individuals are the most infectious during the acute stage. A total of 118 HIV-1 RNA reactive specimens were detected out of 113,843 specimens analyzed. In 2009, 18,957 specimens were tested, with 12 HIV-1 RNA reactive specimens detected. In 2010, 36,760 specimens were tested, with 44 HIV-1 RNA reactive specimens detected. In 2011, 58,126 specimens were tested, with 62 HIV-1 RNA reactive specimens detected. Additionally, 22% of the HIV-1 RNA reactive specimens were found to have a dual diagnosis of syphilis, and 12% were found to have a chlamydia and/or gonorrhea infection. The antibody assay (EIA) did not detect any antibodies for HIV on 52% (61/118) of the HIV-1 RNA reactive specimens. The remaining 49% (57/118) HIV-1 RNA reactive specimens were reactive on the antibody assay with a nonreactive or indeterminate on the Western Blot. Improving the detection of an AHI is crucial for HIV prevention, because without the advancement in technology 118 patients could have received a negative or indeterminate test result prior to the HIV-1 RNA qualitative assay. We feel the increase in detection of an AHI warrants implementing the new technology for HIV-1 detection.


Some confusion on the number, reliability, and characteristics of asteroid families is the result of using the single word 'family' for naming asteroid groupings identified in very different ways. Here we propose a new terminology which in our opinion would alleviate this problem.


FQA was commercialized by OpTest Equipment Inc. /CANADA as a measuring instrument of fiber shape and length, and is useful now for study of fibers at laboratory and for quality control of fibers in the production field.The greatest feature of FQA is the originally developed flow-cell at the measurement part that makes two-dimensional measurement of fibers and indexes properties of fiber shape and length which influences pulp and paper properties.This is the introduction for the construction of FQA and a part of the study presented by using the data gained by FQA.


: This paper presents the findings of a pilot study of news lit - eracy programs in the United States in which respondents were surveyed about the concepts, pedagogy, and assessments used. It presents an on - going lack of consensus in the field about not only what constitutes news literacy but also how news literacy is implemented in secondary and high - er education classrooms. The research is framed within the context of contemporary scholarship on best educational practices and ongoing ef - forts to assess both news and media literacy education. The pilot survey, funded by the McCormick Foundation and the Poynter Institute, was ad - ministered to a small sample of news literacy educators across multiple grade levels. Respondents reflected on the structure and intent of their news literacy programming and were asked to consider the role of their programming as it relates to greater departmental or institutional goals. The study finds that while educators are using a mix of best practices in assessment, such as student portfolios, a lack of consensus still exists regarding other critical elements of news literacy education and imple - mentation, including learning objectives, main concepts, and pedagogy. The researchers suggest scholars in the field must do more to articulate the role of news literacy education in the 21 st century and provide clear direction on how to implement news literacy education in the classroom .


The focus of this issue of Behavioral Disorders is upon competency-based teacher educat ion (CBTE) for teachers of behavioral ly disordered chi ldren. The purpose of th is paper is to discuss CBTE concepts and issues as they relate to the work being done by the Center at Oregon for Research in the Behavior Educat ion of the Handicapped (CORBEH) in developing comprehensive behavior management programs for use with behavioral ly disordered chi ldren enrol led in regular c lassroom sett ings. CORBEH is one of four research and development centers funded by the Bureau of the Handicapped, U.S. Off ice of Educat ion, to fur ther develop understanding of , and pract ical programs for, the educat ion of the handicapped. The focus of the Oregon Center is upon behavioral ly handicapped chi ldren in the pr imary grades. The Center 's purpose is to increase the behavioral ly handicapped chi ld 's chances of academic and social survival in the educat ional set t ing. At present, the Center conducts exper imental and appl ied research in two major areas. These are: (1) development of t reatment packages for speci f ic subgroupings of deviant or def ic ient c lassroom behavior, and (2) invest igat ion of methods and techniques through which the t reatment packages can be implemented and ef fect ively ut i l ized by f ie ld personnel . Treatment packages are being developed for the behavioral subgroupings o'f acting-out behavior, low academic survival skil ls, social withdrawal , and negative peer interaction.


This article describes how for more than a century in storm sewer and culvert applications, corrugated steel pipe (CSP) that has been used successfully and has undergone a renaissance of sorts over the last 50 years, which has resulted in better materials with a longer service life in challenging environments. The article provides an overview of ways to choose the appropriate CSP products using an estimated material service life for various environmental ranges. When estimating the average invert service life, engineers and designers should also refer to the National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association's (NCSPA) CSP Selection and Service Life Guide or the Durability chapter of the Corrugated Steel Pipe Design Manual.


In the light of recent UK and European legislation there is a need to identify and quantify the potential hazard of contaminated land.


Organic nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals are among the most efficient (>1%) terahertz (THz) radiation generators. However, one of the limitations of using organic NLO crystals is that the unique THz absorptions in each crystal make it difficult to obtain a strong, smooth, and broad emission spectrum. In this work, we combine THz pulses from two complementary crystals, DAST and PNPA, to effectively fill in spectral gaps, creating a smooth spectrum with frequencies out to 5 THz. The combination of pulses also increases the peak-to-peak field strength from 1 MV/cm to 1.9 MV/cm.


Background: Acquired resistance to cancer therapy, including targeted therapies such as epidermal growth factor receptor (ErbB) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), constitutes a major clinical problem in treating patients with malignant disease. Several drug resistance mechanisms for ErbB1 TKIs involving abnormal activation of growth factor receptors or activation of intracellular signaling pathways have been discovered. ErbB TKIs have recently been shown to inhibit growth in melanoma cells. This study was undertaken to develop a gefitinib-resistant melanoma cell line in order to find any resistance mechanism to gefitinib in melanoma cells lacking activating mutation in BRAF or NRAS.Material and methods: A malignant melanoma cell line (RaH5) was made resistant to the ErbB1 TKI gefitinib by continuous culture with stepwise increasing concentrations of the drug up to 10 μM. The phosphorylation status of 42 different human receptor tyrosine kinases was screened in a protein array in resistant (RaH5ZDR) and wild-type RaH5 cells treated with or without gefitinib. The PI3K, MAPK and Stat3 signaling pathways were studied in an analogous way by Western blot analysis; 2-D gel electrophoresis was performed to determine other potential proteins involved in gefitinib resistance in RaH5 cells. In addition, the effect of the pan-ErbB TKI canertinib on gefitinib-resistant cells was investigated.Results: Protein array experiments showed that only Met and the insulin receptor (IR) exhibited substantially increased activation in RaH5ZDR cells as compared to their nonresistant counterparts. Interestingly, following gefitinib treatment ErbB2 and ErbB3 receptor signaling in resistant cells were equally well suppressed as in non-resistant cells. However, downstream Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation was inhibited to a greater extent in non-resistant RaH5 cells.Conclusion: Resistance to gefitinib in RaH5 cells appears to be related to an increased expression of Met and IR and linked to a more persistent signaling through Akt and Erk1/2. However, additional studies are required to further elucidate the resistance to gefitinib in our experimental system.


Effect of Temperature Variation on the Structural Capacity of a Multi-Span Horizontally Curved Steel I-Girder Bridge Christopher L. Beckett Horizontally curved steel I-girder bridges have become a popular bridge design choice among bridge engineers. The current level of knowledge regarding the design and analysis of curved I-girder bridges under thermal loading is incomplete. The thermal expansion of curved bridges is rather complicated and current standards provide little guidance when designing a bearing plan to prevent the development of thermal stresses and out-of-plane distortional behavior. Thermal stresses, in the form of axial compressive stresses, will develop if thermal expansion is constrained. This study examines the effect of different bearing arrangements on the development of thermal stresses and out-of-plane web distortions in a newly constructed bridge located in West Virginia. Three dimensional finite element modeling and analysis is performed in order to predict bridge response. The research shows that uniform thermal loading significantly increases the magnitude of out-ofplane web distortions. Finite element modeling also shows that very significant levels of thermal stress develop in the curved steel I-girders, consuming a considerable percentage of the bridge's total capacity. The web distortions and thermal stresses will result in major serviceability issues, shortening the life of the structure. However, this behavior is largely eliminated with the implementation of a new bearing arrangement, which removes the constraints from the original bearing plan.


Rock burst risk evaluation is the basis of comprehensive prevention and prediction.Although there are a lot of rock burst risk evaluation method,but in practice it has some difficulty.Based on the comprehensive index method,quantitative theoretical method,fuzzy matter-element method and possibility index method,a coal mine rock burst risk comprehensive evaluation system is developed.After inputing the geological and mining conditions of a coal mine,the rock burst risk can be evaluated automatically by this evaluation system,which provides technical and software support for preventive measures selection.


An experimental model of a high speed data recorder which records compressed HDTV images is developed. This data recorder is capable of recording digital data up to 140 Mbps in a cassette-type half-inch tape for 60 minutes, and is applicable to various transmission rates less than 140 Mbps by changing an interface board. In this data recorder, a double Reed-Solomon code is used as an error correction code. Record equalization is employed to reduce the channel bit error rate. With this method, a channel bit error rate of 10-5-10-4 is obtained. An off track margin of ± 5μm is obtained, to keep the channel bit error rate at less than 10-4. The channel bit error rate degrades in a low humidity condition caused, in our estimation, by an increase of a rubbing noise. When recorded HDTV image data is compressed with HDTV-CODEC, our experimental model gives playback data without degrading the coded picture quality.


This paper presents a reporting mark-up language that enables the encoding of optimization reporting data in XML format. The language eases the process of integrating optimization software into decision support applications by shielding upstream applications from native representation formats. It also serves as an enabling technology for web services based optimization due to the fact that it provides a response encoding mechanism which is compatible with Internet standards, protocols and technologies.


A new subspecies of the Fazila's Lycian Salamander Lyciasalamandra fazilae is described based on material from ten localities in the Köyceğiz, Ortaca and Dalaman area in south-western Turkey. It is distinguished from the nominotypical subspecies by differences in the colouration pattern, morphometry and the mitochondrial molecular marker 16S rRNA. The distribution area of the new subspecies is located mainly in the western part of Dalaman River except for two seemingly intermediate populations (Şerefler and Sarsala-Kapıkargın). New localities for the species are reported.


Pearl millet hybrid HB3 given 60 kg N/ha in 1-4 split applications gave the highest average yields in 1971-2 of 1.8-1.94 t grain and 3.2-3.64 t dry fodder/ha with N applied 25-50% at sowing and 75-50% at early tillering or 50% at sowing, 25% at early tillering and 25% at the flag-leaf stage