Tithes should be brought into the storehouse of God (the church), but there are some members of the Seventh-day Adventists do not follow the standards of faith, but they use, manage, put on with the reason for the ministry of evangelism. By using the Bible verse Deuteronomy 14: 23,26: In front of the Lord your God will place that He chose to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the firstborn of an ox herds and flocks, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God. And thou shalt bestow that money for everything in love heart for oxen or sheep, for wine or strong drink, or whatever you desire, and thou shalt eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice you and your household. In the sphere of Christian life and charity the problem of stewardship plays a large and important role. Every believer has a special interest in this matter. Our willingness and our willingness to acknowledge God as King and Owner of all possessions, and the willingness of God to grant His blessings to us, including our understanding of the principles, the closer we are to the understanding of the way God's love and gifts God works within us. A committee set up by the church in 1998 to investigate this group "was observed in a conversation with Hope International and colleagues that they affirmed the agreement on many key elements of the Seventh Day of the Adventist faith, but the method they used to express their concerns has resulted in what Considered by many to be the spirit of constant criticism aimed at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The tithe offerings are applied to His people not because God is deprived so that God expects the tithing offerings of each of His people. The congregation must realize that everything belongs to God, it is said in (Ps. 24: 1) that God is the owner of the earth and all its contents. And the world and the dwelling in it. Seventh-day Adventist Church has a number of supporters, church, independent, self-contained and other organizations as an additional work or in connection with the official church. One of the authors estimated their number at more than 800 and most of the support of the church, though different ministries may be critical of the actions of the church. A committee set up by the church in 1998 to investigate the group "was observed in conversations with Hope International and associates that they affirmed agreement on many key elements of the Seventh-day Adventist faith. However, the methods they use to express their concerns have resulted in what considered by many to be the spirit of constant criticism directed against the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The purpose of writing and research that will be done this is the first, to give an understanding of giving tithes into the storehouse. Second, analyze the understanding of the Church members Pakusarakan about bringing tithes according Malachi 3:10. Third, to examine the kinds of tithe in the Bible. Fourth, to provide insight to members of the Church Pakusarakan that the tithe belongs to God. Fifth, to teach members of the Church Pakusarakan, who has the right to manage, use the tithe? And sixth, to increase the loyalty of members of the Church Pakusarakan in giving tithes. The book of Malachi is one of the books The Old Testament is included in the book of the little prophets. This book is the last book in the Old Testament. The book of Malachi is also the last book of the small prophets. This causes Malachi to be regarded as the last voice in the Old Testament. Traditionally, the Book is believed to have been written by a man named Malachi. The scriptures teach that God, as The provision of our needs, has a part in it all. Then its part must be our first thought; And a special blessing will accompany all those who honor this guidance. God has given instructions on how to use the tithe, He does not want His work to be crippled because of lack of cost, so there is no job congestion and mistakes. He has established our duty in this very clearly. The part that God exposes to Himself must not be diverted for any purpose other than that which He has determined The tithe offerings belong to God should not be used alone even to the things they see fit, Ellen White says: No one should feel free to withhold their tithe, to use their will and judgment. They may not use it for themselves in an emergency, nor should they be used to the things they regard as appropriate, even in what they consider to be the work of the Lord. The method used in this thesis is a quantitative research. The explanatory-confirmatory approach is, that this type of survey. Quantitative research is research conducted through the measuring instrument using an objective and standard instruments, which meet the standards of validity and reliability of the high and continued with statistical analysis, so the results can give meaning. The study was conducted in a manner so that the confirmatory study the implications of the meaning of the storehouse according to the book of Malachi 3:10, in the church life in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the church Pakusarakan. The results were then used to prove the hypothesis of the study to confirm statistically. This data analysis technique uses statistics for the collection, processing, interpretation, and making conclusions in the form of numbers. The study consisted of endogenous and exogenous variables. Endogenous variables are variables that are not influenced by causes in the research system and cannot be established casual relationships. This variable is also defined as a beginner variable that gives effect to other variables. The sum in this variable is not taken into account the remaining amount despite having a residual / error. Endogenous variables are variables whose diversity is explained by exogenous variables. The variables in this study are as follows: variable Y: Understanding Members of the Church about House Treasury According to Malachi 3:10. The survey research was developed based on exploratory-confirmatory studies. This research is called explanatory because this research only examines in depth the dependent variable (Y), that is indicator from analysis of understanding of the member of GMAHK about returning the tithe to the treasury house in Pakusarakan congregation according to Malachi 3:10, which is explained on variable or indicator through hypothesis. Explanatory research is also used for exploratory understanding of the treasury house. Statistical analysis using ANOVA. Analysis is required to determine whether the analysis of data for testing can be continued or not. Several data analysis techniques demanding test requirements analysis. Analysis of variance requires that the data came from a normal distributed population and groups than homogeneous. Therefore, analysis of variance requires the validity, reliability, normality, linearity, hypotheses and descriptive statistics. The number of respondents who have already filled out a questionnaire from No. 1-27 items as many as 58 people. The conclusion of this research is the first of them, there is still the Church Pakusarakan that not all believe that tithing was only for evangelism that needs to be improved understanding of the notion Pakusarakan church members tithe. Second, the church Pakusarakan already understand that they believe other than that referred to the church as the storehouse, then the office Conferences / mission also referred to as the storehouse, so that the understanding of members of the Church On Home Treasury has been good. Third, there are still some of the Church Pakusarakan agree that managing personal tithe for evangelism because no longer trust the organization Seventh-day Adventists, this leads to a need to increase the understanding of the Church Members About the Use of tithing. Fourth, Seventh-day Adventists Member understanding about returning the tithe to the Church House Pakusarakan Treasury in Bandung, According to Malachi 3:10 of 88.9%.


The 2001 collapse of the dot-com and telecommunications bubbles was devastating to the companies laying fiber-optic communications cables. It also had a less-visible impact on that basic optoelectronic physics research that drives improvements in the speed and range of fiber-optic networks. It takes years for physics innovations to work their way out of the lab and into the market, but the pipeline filled by research in the 1990s dried up by the mid-2000s, and we're now seeing that the growth in the speed of fiber optic interfaces at Internet exchange points (IXPs) has slowed considerably. IXPs form the core of the Internet, where the bandwidth sold by ISPs is produced. This sluggish growth is constraining supply at a time when the global demand for Internet bandwidth is booming.


Endometrial histology and vaginal cytology during oral contraception with sequential estrogen and progestin were studied. 355 endometrial biopsies and 168 Papanicolaou smears were obtained during the course of 2876 cycles of oral contraception over a period of 27 months in 317 women. Sequential therapy (20 days of mestranol at 80 mcg per day with 2 mg chlormadinone acetate per day added during the last 5 days) was used. This method differs in several fundamental aspects from the current types or oral contraceptives based on 20 day administration of an estrogen-progestin combination. In contrast to the latter form of therapy which produces a regressive or atrophic type of endometrium sequential therapy yields a vaginal cytology and endometrial pattern closely resembling that of the normal menstrual cycle corresponding to the picture of Cycle Day 19 at the completion of a course of treatment. The only difference from normal endometrial histology was the greater frequency and intensity of stromal edema in some treated endometria. There was no change in the endometrial or cytological picture after several years of treatment and at no time was evidence of hyperestrogenic alteration found. Vaginal cytology responded more rapidly and more intensely to the hormonal stimuli than did the endometrium.


In a modern metropolis, the location of energy facilities near residential areas is the main reason for exceeding sanitary standards. One of the sources of noise in thermal power plants is gas pipelines after gas distribution points. The urgency of the problem lies in the fact that the excess noise level can reach several tens of decibels at the outlet of the gas pipeline from the gas distribution building, as well as along the entire length of the gas pipeline. To reduce noise from the gas pipeline, it is possible to use sound insulation of gas pipelines, as well as acoustic barriers. It is shown that only the integrated use of sound insulation of gas pipelines and acoustic barriers can provide the necessary noise reduction. The article proposes a new method of feasibility study that allows you to develop measures to reduce noise from gas pipelines after gas distribution points to sanitary standards at the lowest cost while using acoustic screens and sound insulation of gas pipelines.


Traffic accidents with wild boar have increased rapidly over the last years in Sweden. This paper calculates and predicts costs of current and future accidents, totally and for different Swedish counties, based on estimates of wild boar populations. A logistic population model is assumed, and econometric methods are used for calculating populations with panel data on traffic accidents, traffic load, hunting pressure, and landscape characteristics for each county. The results show an annual average growth rate of 0.48, which varies between 0.39 and 0.52 for different counties. This, together with predictions on changes in traffic load, forms the basis for calculations of costs of traffic accidents for a 10 year period. In total, the predicted costs can increase from 60 million SEK in 2011 to 135 or 340 million SEK in 2021 in present value depending on assumed hunting pressure. The variation is, however, large among counties; costs can increase by ten times in Stockholm and Sodermanland where the wild boar populations are relatively small and by 50% in counties with mature populations.


High-phosphorus manganese ores provide an important source of manganese, which is regarded as an irreplaceable material in the steel industry. The ammonia-ammonium carbonate leaching method was proposed for the removal of phosphorus and extracting manganese from high-phosphorus manganese ore, both effectively and environmentally. To explore the dissolution behavior of phosphorus and manganese in the ammonia-ammonium carbonate solution, the effect of the ammonia-to-ammonium carbonate concentration ratio, the leaching temperature, and the liquid-to-solid ratio on manganese extraction and dephosphorization rate were investigated. In addition, the composition of precipitated manganiferous sample, which was obtained from high-phosphorus manganese ores by ammonia-ammonium carbonate leaching process, was also studied. The results indicated that more than 99.2% phosphorus was removed and more than 83.5% of manganese was extracted by ammonia-ammonium carbonate leaching under the following conditions: ammonia to ammonium carbonate concentrations: 14:2 mol/L; liquid/solid ratio: 5:1 mL/g; leaching temperature: 25 °C; The precipitated manganiferous sample has little impurities, Mn% is 44.12%, P% is 0.02%, P/Mn = 0.00045.


Investigation of natural processes of deformation and fracture of ice covers, and processes of its interaction with icebreaker or ice-resistant structures requires as a rule considerations over a range of scales. In this paper we shall demonstrate some typical problems where the mutual influence of the scales is important.


Experimental studies and CFD investigations were carried out under laminar and turbulent flow regimes in isothermal steady state and non-isothermal unsteady state conditions in helical coils for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. Water and glycerol-water mixture (10 and 20 % glycerol) as Newtonian fluids and dilute aqueous polymer solutions of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC), sodium alginate (SA) as non-Newtonian fluids were used in this study. The experiments were performed for three helical coils of coil curvature ratios as 0.0757, 0.064 and 0.055 in laminar and turbulent flow regimes. For the first time, two innovative correlations to calculate Nusselt number (Nu) in terms of new dimensionless 'M' number, Prandtl number and coil curvature ratio under different conditions for Newtonian fluids are proposed in this paper. Third correlation of Nu vs. Graetz number (Gz) including the effects of coil curvature on heat transfer coefficient which was not considered by earlier investigators is developed based on tests conducted in laminar flow for Newtonian fluids. All these three innovative correlations developed based on experimental data which were not found in the literature. These correlations were compared with the work of earlier investigators and were found to be in good agreement. The CFD analysis for laminar and turbulent flow was carried out using the CFD package FLUENT 12.0.16. The CFD calculation results (Nui, U) for laminar and turbulent flows were compared with the experimental results, and also the work of earlier investigators was found to be in excellent agreement. Further, the effect of helix diameter on heat transfer for Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluids are also presented in this paper and it was observed that as helix diameter increases, overall heat transfer coefficient decreases.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


Abstract Impaired decision making capacity is common in medical and community settings, often coexistent with functional impairment and dementia. Though the legal system determines competence, deciding if guardianship is appropriate often relies on a medical assessment of decision making capacity. Physicians conduct cognitive evaluations but are often unaware of a person's functional impairments and are unfamiliar with their role in pursuing guardianship. Despite the individual roles of the legal system, medical system, and community agencies (e.g. Adult Protective Services (APS)) in such cases, no agency claims responsibility for ensuring this process's fidelity. As numbers of older citizens in the US increase along with associated increasing numbers of cases involving impaired decision making capacity, ensuring this processes' fidelity is essential. We sought to identify the barriers (recognized by each of these parties) in determining decision making capacity of persons for whom guardianship is being considered. Surveys were conducted with professionals in the legal, medical, and APS arenas, to identify barriers to obtaining capacity determinations. Common themes identified amongst these entities included needing to include functional status in this evaluation, and the need for clear communication between the legal system, medical system, and APS. Unique concerns identified in the survey included APS caseworkers challenges in finding physicians willing to complete capacity evaluations, judges' concerns about evaluations' failure to address safety issues and need for immediate action , and physician's concerns about liability and compromising the physician-patient relationship. Continued collaboration between these systems could overcome these barriers.


With the conversation and questionnaire, the paper studied the mental effect of life events on the students in universities for nationalities. The results just list as below: a) life event as conveying a university had important effect on the students in universities for nationalities; b) the difference is obvious between practical anxieties and light anxiety neurosis, c) the level of psychological adjustability is higher than that of medium, and d) the correlation is negative between anxiety and psychological adjustability.


Although interest in endogenous (integrated, participative, bottom-up) rural development by policy makers, practitioners and academics continues to grow, the term suffers from an incomplete conceptualization. This prescriptive essay proposes a meta-framework in which to conceptualize the nature of endogenous development in the contemporary, contexts of globalization and Europeanization. The framework is built around three main components. Territorial repertoires and development paths encapsulate the nature of ownership and choice in the exploitation of resources. This derives from a more sophisticated understanding of territorial agency. A repertoire functions dynamically as a mediator between the local territory and the extralocal level and so the component rights focuses attention onto this flexible interface, through the support potentially available from extralocal regulation anti through a raising of consciousness within the local territory. Rights, by energizing a cultural and political dynamics, allow for a discourse on alternative paths of development to be pursued, which is itself operationalized through any or all of the three modes of democracy


Objective To explore the clinical value of echocardiography in the diagnosis and treatment of asphyxia infants and preterm infants with pulmonary hypertension.Methods The study selected 175cases of asphyxia and preterm infants with pulmonary hypertension by echocardiography,60patients with mild pulmonary hypertension, 97patients with less severe pulmonary hypertension,and 18patients with severe pulmonary hypertension,eliminating congenital heart disease diagnosis,and reviewing the ultrasound after treatment,and then comparative analysis of the pressure of pulmonary hypertension and system parameters of right heart before and after treatment were evaluated. Results The pulmonary arterial pressure in different groups were all lower than before treatment(P 0.01),The pulmonary arterial pressure of the severe pulmonary hypertension group decreased significantly,and they were respectively(72.89±2.61)mmHg vs(35.2±2.98)mmHg before and after treatment.The systolic pressure of pulmonary artery decreased to the normal range(less than 40mmHg),the antihypertensive effect was significant, MPA diameter and right ventricular diameter all reduced(P 0.01).The inner diameter of the moderate pulmonary hypertension group decreased significantly and they were(8.57±0.52)mm vs(6.86±0.60)mm before and after treatment.The right ventricular anteroposterior diameter before and after treatment were respectively(9.38±0.57) mm vs(7.40±0.50)mm,the clinical effect was satisfactory,there were significant differences among different groups. Conclusion Echocardiography can provide objective evaluation on pulmonary artery pressure before and after treatment to the asphyxia infants and preterm infants with pulmonary hypertension,and offer clinical guidance for early treatment and prevention of pulmonary hypertension.


The decomposition of ferrous hydroxide in aqueous suspension at 300° and in PTFE containers has been studied. The reaction rate is slow but is catalysed by nickel and platinum. This explains the results of earlier workers who have found the decomposition of ferrous hydroxide supported in metallic containers to be rapid.


This manuscript describes the design of a wideband Cascode Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) using Verilog-A models and several passive components. In this paper, look up table (LUT) based Verilog-A models for GAA-JLFET (Gate All Around Junctionless FET) and GAA-NC-JLFET (Gate All Around Negative capacitance Junctionless FET) are developed with reference to their TCAD device simulation results. The models are then integrated into the Cadence EDA tool so that the proposed devices may be utilized in circuit simulation. The noise performances of the GAA-NC-JLFET based LNA have been investigated and compared with GAA-JLFET based LNA.


K urt Gödel (1906–1978), with his work on the constructible universe L, established the relative consistency of the Axiom of Choice and the Continuum Hypothesis. More broadly, he secured the cumulative hierarchy view of the universe of sets and ensured the ascendancy of first-order logic as the framework for set theory. Gödel thereby transformed set theory and launched it with structured subject matter and specific methods of proof as a distinctive field of mathematics. What follows is a survey of prior developments in set theory and logic intended to set the stage, an account of how Gödel marshaled the ideas and constructions to formulate L and establish his results, and a description of subsequent developments in set theory that resonated with his speculations. The survey trots out in quick succession the groundbreaking work at the beginning of a young subject.


In this article, the author discusses the switch-over provision for shareholders of low-taxed entities in third countries in the proposal for an Anti-tax Avoidance Directive. She discusses some policy aspects and subsequently assesses whether the measure is in accordance with the EU Treaty Freedoms.


This paper reviewed the achievement of international society for food safety, and analysed the impacts of food safety barriers on international food trade, as well as discussed the WTO/SPS principle on food safety measures and having a conclusion that risk analysis (assessment) is an important precondition and basis of developing food safety standards.


Daptomycin has been associated with clinical myopathy in 2% to 14% of patients. Similarly, statins are associated with myopathy in 5% to 10% of


We describe and numerically simulate a method for optical readout of microcantilever tip deflection utilizing a 2D photonic crystal-based channel waveguide with a 90 band. The structure is photolithographically built into the basis of the microcantilever structure in the zone of the maximum stress. The cantilever deflection causes a shift of the photonic bandgap edge and photoelastic refractive index change. If the operating wavelength is near the band edge, leakage of signal at the waveguide bend is increased, thus resulting in amplitude modulation of output signal proportional to deflection. The described approach can be applied for readout of deflection and stress in other microsystems as well. PHOTONIC CRYSTAL CHANNEL WAVEGUIDES FOR MICROCANTILEVER DEFLECTION MEASUREMENT, Zoran Jakšić, Katarina Radulović, Milija Sarajlić, Zoran Djurić


The amount and variability of living and dead wood in a forest stand are important indicators of forest biodiversity, as it relates to structural heterogeneity and habitat availability. In this study, we investigate whether light detection and ranging (lidar) can be used to estimate the distribution of standing dead tree classes within forests. Twenty-two field plots were established in which each stem (DBH >10 cm) was assigned to a wildlife tree (WT) class. For each plot, a suite of lidar-derived predictor variables were extracted. Ordinal regression using a negative log–log link function was then employed to predict the cumulative proportions of stems within the WT classes. Results indicated that the coefficient of variation of the lidar height data was the best predictor variable (χ2 = 106.11, p < 0.00; Wald = 4.83, p = 0.028). The derived relationships allowed for the prediction of the cumulative proportion of stems within WT classes (r = 0.90, RMSE = 6.0%) and the proportion of dead stems within fore...


The matrix equation AXBT+CYDT=T is considered as the block diagonal constrained problem of EZFT=T with the column blocks E= and F=,where Z=diag(X,Y).By means of QR and CS decompositions,simple representations of block diagonal solutions to matrix equation EZFT=T are obtained from the general solutions to its unconstrained problem.


18. Parsons states, "The painting exists not between the two individual poles of the artist and the viewer but in the midst of an indefinite group of persons who are continually reconstructing it — a community of viewers." Parsons, How We Understand Art, 84-85. 19. Efland, Freedman, and Stuhr, Postmodern Art Education, 115-38. 20. This is an example from a class of Seminar for Integrated Study in the Faculty of Education at Utsunomiya University, Japan, April-July 2001. 21. See "Art Project Kemiga Soushinjo 2000 [Kemigawa Transmitting Station 2000]," available online at: <http://kemipro.e.chiba-u.ac.jp/2000/index.html>


A tendency for the $pi$$sup -$ to peak at small negative rapidity in the center-of-mass system for the reaction K$sup +$ + p $Yields$ $pi$$sup -$ + X at 100 GeV may be related to a difference in the momentum spectra for the strange quark and the nonstrange quark in the K$sup +$ meson, as may anomalies in the average multiplicity of charged particles and in the p/sub T//sup max/ of events as a function of $pi$$sup -$ rapidity. (AIP)


In recent years, zombies have enjoyed a dramatic renaissance in various forms of popular culture. This essay argues that the current obsession with the walking dead, and particularly the looming threat of human-zombie conflicts, is a reflection of the dangers of invasive alterity associated with uncontrolled spaces in a globalised world. This shift is especially prevalent in the United States following 9/11, as zombies have become phantasmal stand-ins for Islamist terrorists, illegal immigrants, carriers of foreign contagions, and other 'dangerous' border crossers. Through three case studies which examine zombie 'outbreaks' on the local, national, and global levels, respectively, I discuss the importance of borders and geopolitical spaces in recent fictional depictions of human-zombie conflicts. As metaphors for illicit globalisation, zombies have emerged as a key pop-culture referent of the porous nature of socio-cultural, political, and physical boundaries in a global age defined by an emotional geopolitics of fear.


Electromechanical impedance (EMI) measurement, using piezoelectric transducers (PZTs) in the high-frequency range is a potential method for assessing the health of lightweight structures. The major objective of this work is to comprehend how different actuators react to damage in additively manufactured (AM) polymer structures. A novel frequency-range selection technique was suggested based on the maxima of the standard deviation of the impedance frequency spectra gathered for the referential and damage cases. A 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plate was used for the investigation, where two PZT and one macro fiber composite (MFC) actuator were glued to the surface. Small magnets were used to simulate damage and were positioned at increasing distances from each transducer as EMI measurements were made using the MFC and 1 PZT. This served both in studying the transducers' sensitivity to damage and selecting the proper frequency range for damage detection utilizing the standard-deviation approach. The EMI-acquired data from the MFC actuator displays damage-sensitive peaks in a low-frequency band (0–58 kHz ), while the PZT shows a good sensitivity in a higher frequency range (94–304 kHz ). In order to evaluate the PZT and MFC actuators' sensitivity to damage in the 3D-printed ABS plate, impact damage is also generated in the plate's center. The impedance-based damage indices obtained from different types of PZTs (2 PZTs and 1 MFC) were projected to the same base level and then fused—for the first time—for impact-damage localization and further added magnetic mass damage localization. The obtained damage index values of impedance are encouraging for the evaluation of AM polymer structures with a 4.48 mm positional error from a real location by fusing data in the different frequency ranges for PZTs and MFC. The damage localization error increases significantly to the new location beyond the damage sensitivity range of the PZT2 and MFC for the added magnetic mass on the 3D printed structure.


In this thesis we have demonstrated how next generation sequencing (NGS) can be used to screen the complete T-cell receptor and B-cell receptor (TCR and BCR) repertoires and identify, quantify and follow individual adaptive immune responses through time and place. As none of these objectives could be accomplished with conventional approaches this does move us beyond the keyhole perspective. We - and others - have shown how this technology has numerous applications in fundamental research and in research aimed at understanding infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and lymphoproliferative cancer. Moreover, diagnostic tests leveraging NGS for TCR- and BCR analysis are being developed to aid patients and doctors in clinical decision-making. Therefore these NGS based protocols have the potential to be true game changers in our quest to understand the behavior of lymphocytes that are key players in keeping us healthy.


The purpose of this research was to analyse the operation efficiency of existing combined cycle power plants in Bangladesh and identify potential areas for efficiency improvement. This study proposed the application of data envelopment analysis (DEA). A non-parametric linear programming method to efficiency measurement. Based on the empirical results, efficient and inefficient power plants were determined and ranked by using three variants of DEA models which are CCR, BCC and Super-efficiency. It was also revealed that there existed considerable waste in the production process of power plant and the main source of inefficiency was attributed to the inadequate operating scale. According to the results the suggestions for improving efficiency were provided in the study. The insights gained from the study will contribute to the planning of energy efficiency policies required for electric power plants.


Dutch Bangla Bank published SSC scholarship 2013 circular. Eligibility Required Documents and how to apply for DBBL SSC Scholarship 2013.


This study evaluates the cost and benefits of credit cards as they relate to the two-tier pricing controversy concerning the use of credit cards. A two tier pricing system is one in which merchandise has two prices -- one for cash and one for credit. Under a two-tier pricing system, a cash customer may be charged lower prices than credit card customers. Without such a system it is sometimes argued that cash customers could be subsidizing the cost of credit card plans. In theory, the point of two-tier pricing systems is to permit a reallocation of costs in which the merchant can offer a price differential to cash customers to reflect the alleged savings realized by not having to pay the card issuer a percentage of the sales price to service the transaction.The two-tier pricing controversy involves several major issues. Of paramount concern is the validity of the underlying premise of two-tier pricing, namely, that cash customers are subsidizing credit card customers and should be charged a lower rate. If so, another issue involves whether a price differential should be offered In the form of a discount for cash customers or a surcharge for credit card customers. Finally, the issue concerning federal preemption of state usury laws is a matter of controversy. At the present time these three issues have been tentatively resolved with the passage by Congress on February 6, 1976 of S.2672 (Public Law 94-222). This legislation provides permission for merchants to grant discounts of up to 5% for the payment of cash but prohibits imposition of surcharges on credit card sales under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Cash discounts above 5% are permitted but the merchant would have to comply with truth-in-lending and state usury laws, which effectively precludes discounts exceeding 5%. This legislation will expire three years from date of enactment.This study contends that considerable research is needed to resolve these issues before final legislation is promulgated. As a preliminary step in this direction, a review, analysis, and synthesis was made of much of the literature concerning credit cards and their relationship to the two-tier pricing controversy. Cost data were also generated to provide a partial empirical basis for the analysis.To begin to develop a sound and equitable solution to the two-tier pricing controversy, including the cost benefit characteristics of credit cards and their alternative means of payment and credit, empirical answers to several questions must be found. At the present time much of what is known is based on advocacy hearsay, opinion, simplified and/or abstract theory, and rules of thumb. Among the questions that need answers before a rational decision can be made concerning two-tier pricing are the following:1.How would the "real world" competitive nature of trading area retail markets affect the so-called economic equivalency of discounts and surcharges?2. Is the impact of discounts on consumer behavior the same as that of surcharges?3. Would two-tier pricing discriminate against segments of the credit card using public?4. Is it equitable to impose two-tier pricing as a means of isolating credit card costs without also legislating separate pricing for each identifiable service offered by merchants?5.What would be the impact of discounts and surcharges on the level of economic activity?6. What are the costs (net) and benefits to the affected parties of alternative payment mechanisms (e.g., cash, checks, charge accounts, credit cards) and how can these factors be isolated, measured, collected, and compared?7. What are the costs (net) and benefits to the affected parties of alternative sources of credit (e.g., check credit and overdraft plans, installment credit, charge accounts, credit cards) and how can these factors be isolated, measured, collected, and compared?The last two questions are directly related to the purpose of this study. The others are outside the scope of this study.Based on the analysis and synthesis of the relevant information to the purpose of this study, the following tentative conclusions were reached:1. No "final" legislation concerned with two-tier pricing should be enacted until this important issue can be resolved on the basis of rational, objective, and empirical research. This research should include the economic, psychological, and equity aspects of two-tier pricing as related to card issuers, banks, merchants, consumers, and the economy.2.Those who favor two-tier pricing are implicitly assuming a partial unbundling of the costs of alternative payment mechanisms and sources of credit without sufficient evidence concerning their relative size and the benefits of these alternatives to the various affected parties.3. From the standpoint of the consumer, merchant and bank, the costs and benefits of credit cards combine to offer both a desirable market proven alternative method of payment and source of credit. These advantages are too important to the affected parties to be risked by legislation not based on valid empirical research.


This paper outlines the mutually beneficial opportunities for cooperation on energy policy that are likely to emerge between Iran and Turkey. A number of recent developments, in both countries' domestic political situation and beyond, have prompted renewed cooperation in spite of a difficult past. Keeping in mind Iran's important role as an energy producer, and Turkey's ideal geopolitical position as a key conduit to Western markets, convergence on energy policy follows as a logical matter of course for both actors. A qualitative analysis of the perceptions of various key decision-makers will be presented here, using information obtained from interviews, to provide some understanding of the constantly changing relationship between the two countries. These insightful qualitative analyses will be supported by empirical data showing the real economic and political impacts of these various periods of diplomatic warming and cooling. With Western markets seeking a viable alternative to Russian gas exports, and Iranian sanctions likely to be eased gently over the foreseeable period, the possibility of both states achieving their individual energy policy goals may be within reach, and could provide an economic boost to the region as a whole.


Let me start by briefly recapitulating Sigmund Freud's short but seminal essay from 1915 on 'transience' (Freud 1957b). In this essay, Freud relates a conversation with two friends as they are strolling in a beautiful countryside setting. Freud describes how one of his companions – a poet – admires the beauty of the scenery, but how he cannot feel any real joy in the beauty of the landscape, because he knows that the beauty will vanish some day and be doomed by the transience of all things material. For the poet, the transience – or Vergänglichkeit – of whatever is beautiful means that it loses its worth. In the essay, Freud advocates an entirely opposite attitude. He argues that the temporal limitations of an object do not devalue the object, and that transience may indeed increase the importance of the object. Seeing things perish may of course be difficult – as in all cases of true mourning – but if we are not capable of letting go, Freud argues, then we end up in the pathological state of melancholia (Freud 1957a). Freud's position on mourning and melancholia has been challenged by more recent research on bereavement and grief (Klass et al. 1996, Howarth 2007, see also Bjerregaard et al. in prep.), yet I believe that it is worthwhile – if not necessary – to return to Freud's praise of transience in light of the widespread paranoia of losing material culture characterising much contemporary heritage management and heritage politics. In the present issue of Danish Journal of Archaeology, Jes Wienberg offers a very stimulating and for some readers probably also provocative perspective on the dismantling of heritage objects. Wienberg makes the interesting suggestion that certain heritage sites – in his case architecture – can be 'creatively dismantled'; a managerial practice located somewhere between 'preservation' and 'destruction'. I believe that Wienberg's discussion of four churches and a lighthouse on the coast of north-western Denmark needs to be set in a greater conceptual discussion, relieving the architecture of the limited geographical and thematic confines within which Wienberg has chosen to delimit the scope of his article. I would argue that two aspects of Wienberg's argument in particular hold the potential for further elaboration and critique: first the notion of 'creative dismantling' and second the notion of threat. In the following, I explore these issues through a critique and an example.


Spent Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a by-product of bioethanol fermentation. The spent yeast is abundant in valuable components which can be used for many applications. One of the ways to prepare yeast extract is through enzymatic hydrolysis which is by rupturing the yeast cell walls using exogenous enzymes under certain conditions that promote the leakage of intracellular compounds. To date, enzymatic hydrolysis of spent S. cerevisiae derived from the production of sago bioethanol is yet to be thoroughly explored. In the present study, we examine the feasibility of enzymatic hydrolysis of spent S. cerevisiae generated from sago bioethanol fermentation. The effect of two enzymes namely alcalase and cellulase and their concentrations (0.1-0.5% (v/v) on the release of protein and carbohydrate in the hydrolysate was also investigated. Additionally, the surface morphology of the hydrolysed yeast cells was observed using a Scanning electron microscope (SEM). Our results showed that the optimal concentration of alcalase and cellulase for enzymatic hydrolysis of spent S. cerevisiae was 0.4% (v/v) and 0.5% (v/v) respectively. In addition, cellulase was found to be more superior than alcalase with respect to the protein content in the hydrolysate. The enzymatic hydrolysis of spent yeast by alcalase and cellulase yielded improvements of 1.1 to 1.8-fold and 3.5 to 5.6-fold of protein and total carbohydrate concentration respectively in comparison to that achieved via autolysis. It was evident from the SEM analysis that there was a notable change in the surface morphology of the lysed yeast cells indicating the lysis of the yeast cells throughout the enzymatic hydrolysis. In summary, the current work provides useful insights into the strategies of valorising spent S. cerevisiae generated from sago bioethanol production. This will further help the development of value-added products from the waste, hence promoting a sustainable economy besides reducing the environmental impacts associated with the disposal of spent S. cerevisiae.


One of the most important concerns of mass communication research pertains to the relationship between the way in which the media portray reality and the worldviews held by audience members.
A common worldview widely documented in the social psychology literature is the belief that an existing political, social or economic system functions exactly as it should. More specifically, System Justification Theory (Jost & Banaji, 1994) describes the tendency in people to justify the way things are so that existing social arrangements are seen as legitimate, fair, and even favorable. Most interestingly, people from both low- and high-status groups appear to rationalize the status quo to the same extent (see Jost, Banaji & Nosek, 2004). Despite the wide body of research documenting this common tendency, little research has investigated how it develops, beyond suggesting that it is a function of system-justifying ideologies and beliefs, which help alleviate the anxiety, uncertainty and threat stemming from having to conform to a system that is perceived as illegitimate, fair or unfavorable (Jost & Hunyady, 2002).
The purpose of this work in progress is to explore the role that the media, and in particular television, plays in cultivating these system-justifying beliefs in contemporary society. Despite the fact that rationalizing the status quo has been deemed to be a natural, adaptive function in response to anxiety and threat (Jost & Hunyady, 2002; Kay et al., 2009), it is argued here that these responses are learned from repeated exposure to television in general, and television programming that espouses a meritocracy ideology (e.g., financial advice shows, competition-based reality TV), in particular. More specifically, we suggest that as posited by Cultivation Theory (Gerbner, 1969), the mainstreaming function of television viewing, or the cultivation of convergent perspectives among otherwise divergent audiences (Gerbner, Gross, Morgan & Signorelli, 1980; also see Morgan, Shanahan & Signorelli, 2009), plays an important role in cultivating such beliefs among heavy viewers, while overriding differences in perspectives that may stem from different socio-economic status levels, among others.
To address this concern, a web survey is currently underway. The predictor measures in this study are overall TV viewing and genre-specific TV viewing (programming which commonly espouses a meritocracy ideology). The criterion variables are system justification and economic system justification, both aimed at assessing the tendency to rationalize the status quo. Demographics (age, gender, income, conservatism), as well as individual difference measures (e.g. social dominance orientation) are also being collected. Social dominance orientation pertains to one's degree of preference for inequality among social group (Pratto, Sidanius, Stallworth & Malle, 2004).
Theoretically, the contribution of the present paper lies in examining the mainstreaming function of television viewing as it relates to system justifying beliefs, a previously undocumented cultivation indicator. Practically, if we consider that at the root of all social movements, successful or not, must lie a sufficient degree of dissatisfaction with the status quo, the findings uncovered in this study may be quite consequential. Indeed, it would be hard to imagine any movement for social change stemming from complete agreement with the workings of a given social, political and/or economic system.

References

Gerbner, G. (1969). Toward "cultural indicators": The analysis of mass mediated message systems. AV Communication Review, 17, 137-148.

Gerbner, G., Gross, L., Morgan, M., & Signorielli, N. (1980). The mainstreaming of America: Violence profile no. 11. Journal of Communication, 10-25.

Jost, J. T., & Banaji, M. R. (1994). The role of stereotyping in system justification and the production of false consciousness. British Journal of Social Psychology, 33, 1–27.

Jost, J. T., Banaji, M. R., & Nosek, B. A. (2004). A decade of system justification theory: Accumulated evidence of conscious and unconscious bolstering of the status quo. Political Psychology, 25, 881-920.

Jost, J. T., & Hunyady, O. (2002). The psychology of system justification and the palliative function of ideology. European Journal of Social Psychology, 13, 111-153.

Jost, J. T., & Thompson, E. P. (2000). Group-based dominance and opposition to equality as independent predictors of self-esteem, ethnocentrism, and social policy attitudes among African Americans and European Americans. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 36, 209-232.

Kay, A. C., & Jost, J. T. (2003). Complementary justice: Effects of "poor but happy" and "poor but honest" stereotype exemplars on system justification and implicit activation of the justice motive. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(5), 823-837.

Kay, A. C., Gaucher, D., Peach, J. M., Laurin, K., Friesen, J., Zanna, M. P., & Spencer, S. T. (2009). Inequality, discrimination, and the power of the status quo: Direct evidence for a motivation to see the way things are as the way they should be. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97(3), 421-434.

Morgan, M., Shanahan, J., & Signorelli, N. (2009). Growing up with television: Cultivation processes. In J. Bryant & M. B. Oliver (Eds.), Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research (pp. 34-49). New York: Routledge.

Pratto, F., Sidanius, J., Stallworth, L. M., & Malle, B. F. (1994). Social dominance orientation: A personality variable predicting social and political attitudes Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(4), 741-763.


A the Croatian East, throughout its long history, has never been an integral part of Serbia, and Serbs have never constituted the largest ethnic group in total population, this part of Croatia became the scene of aggression of Great Serbia, causing great suffering and tremendous devastation. Tens thousand of people were forced into exile; mostly Croats, but also Hungarians, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Slovaks, and even a small number of Serbs. During the offensives, and particularly in the course of a five-year occupation, Serbian aggressor by ethnic cleansing carried out regional and demographic occupation. According to the records of July 1,1996, in Croatia were 210,341 displaced persons. The displaced from the Croatian East accounted for 39.6% (83,322 persons), and by its total number made up the majority of the Croatian displaced population. Great-Serbian aggressor has occupied 79% of the settlements in the Croatian East and expelled from them almost half of the total pre-war population (43.1 %), mostly Croats (75,556 persons), Hungarians (3,788), Serbs (1,437), Ruthenians and Ukrainians (931), and other nationalities (1,610). These data reveaJ that the Croatian East has been completelyethnically cleansed of the Croats and for the most part of other non-Serbian population previously inhabiting the area. Other socio-demographic characteristics of the displaced population from the Croatian East mostly do not differ from those established by the 1991 census, which means that renewal and development of the area cannot be guaranteed or accomplished without systematic measures of the state in order to encourage social and economic revitalisation of the region.


Strontium (3 mol%) modified barium titanate (Ba(Sr)TiO3)(BST) crystalline powder was firstly prepared by solid-state mixed oxide route. Ball-milling was also performed to get average particle sized powder. Three-step mesh (100 mesh, 250 mesh, 400 mesh) was used to obtain uniform grain size of Ba(Sr)TiO3 powder. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) technique was used to know structural properties of BST powder. The decomposition and crystalline behavior of BST were examined by Thermogravimetric and Simutaneous Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA). Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescent (EDXRF) technique was employed to examine the quantitative analysis of BST specimen. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) investigation was performed to examine grain size and microstructural properties of BST powder after sieving with mesh and compared to that of BST powder before sieving.


The authors estimated the potential water supply in Taiwan based on hydrologic and water resource data sets pertaining to 233 rainfall stations, 145 stage stations and 109 reservoirs. The comparison between potential water supply estimates and predicted water demand indicated a slight water shortage, even though Taiwan normally receives a large amount of rainfall. This predicted water shortage likely occurred due to the uneven distribution of rainfall in Taiwan. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate the importance of conservation of forests and paddy fields for the maintenance of base flow and effective management of reservoirs in Taiwan.


The present invention relates to a loader structure for adjusting the angle of a bucket which prevents a reinforcing member from being deformed by adjusting the position of a boom along with a reinforcing member by rotating a rotary plate when the position of the boom is adjusted. More specifically, the reinforcing member is inserted and connected into the boom to be able to rotate in a lower part of the rotary plate coupled, to be able to rotate, in a link connection part in which a device bracket, a boom, and an arm are connected. A second operator is connected, to be able to rotate, to a connection bracket connected to an upper part of the rotary plate, the operator, and the arm to be able to rotate. If the position of the boom is adjusted by operating the first operator, the rotary plate rotates to prevent the reinforcing member from being deformed. When the position of the boom is adjusted, the position of the reinforcing member is adjusted along with the boom while rotating the rotary plate. Therefore, the reinforcing member is prevented from being deformed by preventing excessive stress from being applied to the reinforcing member.


The energy properties and physicochemical structure of torrefied Quercus variabilis cork were investigated with torrefaction between 150°C and 300°C in a tubular furnace. The mass yield, energy yield, and physicochemical properties of torrefied cork were characterized via proximate analysis, elemental analysis, colour analysis, and scanning electron microscope. The results showed that volatiles, moisture content, and the ratios of oxygen to carbon and hydrogen to carbon decreased with increasing torrefaction temperature. Ash content and fixed carbon content increased with increasing temperature, and the enhanced fixed carbon content resulted in the increase of high heating value (HHV) of cork. The HHV compared to untreated cork increased by around 16% after torrefaction at 300°C for 1h. With increasing torrefaction temperature, the cell cavity increased in size, the corrugation was less deformed, and less sediment appeared on cell walls. In conclusion, torrefaction improved both the energy and physicochemical properties of cork. In addition, FTIR and CP/MAS 13C NMR spectra analysis showed that polysaccharide degraded at 200°C, and lignin degraded between 250 and 300°C. Although suberin had better thermal resistance, its NMR signal intensity decreased after torrefaction at 300°C.


Periorbital hyperchromia (POH) is a multifactorial condition, precipitated or aggravated by sleep disorders, which negatively affects quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of POH on QoL, sleep quality, and dissatisfaction of affected patients.


This essay was carried out in order to present the background of the crypto, focused on its main representative, bitcoin, the countries that use this currency in the same amount as other countries that do not accept as no payment. Perform transactions in the national and international market. Similarly, it presents It has disadvantages and advantages choosing this currency.However, the main approach is related to several operations of this currency in Ecuador, the same thing for the provisions of the C.B., is he does not accept them the entity, represents a great risk for people who want to invest in this new type of electronic currency


The 110 m QiTai radio Telescope (QTT) will be equipped with multiple Ultra-WideBand (UWB) receivers in the primary and Gregory focus to achieve continuous frequency coverage from 270 MHz to 115 GHz, which poses great challenges to signal acquisition, transmission, and real-time processing. Aiming at 10 GHz and above full-bandwidth acquisition and multi-scientific processing for the QTT UWB signals, an experimental system with high-speed signal acquisition, 100 Gb network multi-path distribution, and fast recording is designed by using advanced direct RF-sampling technology and heterogeneous architecture. The system employs a ZCU111 board to digitize dual-polarization signals with a sampling rate of 4.096 GigaSamples-Per-Second and 12-bit quantization. The collected wideband signals are channelized into 2048 chunks, which are then assembled into 16 sets of digital narrow basebands with 128 MHz bandwidth and transmitted to the processing servers through two 100 Gb ports. A HASPIPE pipeline, UWB_HASHPIPE is designed to receive and store multiple subbands in parallel. Data distribution links can be flexibly configured based on IP addresses and port numbers. The system is verified by pulsar observation experiments on the Nanshan 26 m telescope. 512 MHz bandwidth is selected from the collected L-band receiver signals and recorded in VDIF file format with 8 parallel instances. The test results show that the data integrity is excellent, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the band-merged pulsar profile is stronger than single subband data. This paper provides a high-performance and flexible solution for the design of versatile UWB backends. Meanwhile, the developed platform can be integrated into QTT backends for baseband data collection and Very Long Baseline Interferometry observation.


Using first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory, we investigated the structural properties of superlattices of the perovskites LaNiO3 and SrTiO3. Inspection of the tilt angles of the NiO6 octahedra in the biaxially stressed LaNiO3 layers reveals the important role of octahedral connectivity at the interface. For tensile biaxial stress, we find that the LaNiO3 layers exhibit a negative Poisson's ratio, in contrast to the positive Poisson's ratio observed in bulk material. These results can be explained in terms of simple models, and are discussed in light of recent experiments.


The idea of treating an accident initiator in a probabilistic manner is developed. Instead of using a bounding value, the rod reactivity insertion in an unprotected transient overpower accident is described realistically as a distribution of insertion magnitudes. The initiator analysis uses EBR-II Operating Instructions and data files of rod worths and position histories. The average insertion magnitude is found to be 16[cents], which is only about hall of the feedback reactivity from zero to full power. The probability of inserting 130[cents] or more, the Technical Specification limit, is less than 10[sup [minus]6]. The initiator characteristics are then propagated through a probabilistic analysis of the reactivity feedback response to the initiator. This analysis shows that reactivity feedbacks reduce by four orders of magnitude the probability of a rod run-in event resulting in substantial core damage, in addition to the more than five order of magnitude margin afforded by the scram system.


Measurements of two-particle azimuthal correlations, c_n{2}, where n = 1–4 denotes the harmonics, are presented for neutral current deep inelastic ep scattering events, collected with the photon virtuality, Q^2 , above 5 GeV^2 with the ZEUS detector at HERA at a centre-of-mass energy, s, of s = 318 GeV. The c_n{2} were determined for charged particles with laboratory pseudo-rapidities, η, in the range −1.5 < η < 2 and transverse momenta, p_T , in the range 0.1 < p_T < 5.0 GeV/c. Distributions are presented as functions of the event multiplicity, N_ch, the separations in pseudorapidity, ∆η, and the separation in p_T, ∆p_T . The data do not provide evidence for any collective effects.


As the popularity of Digital Medias is growing faster the intellectual property needs copyright protection. For the prevention of illegal verification and copying of content integrity. Therefore new data hiding techniques has to be developed that satisfy the requirements of Robustness ,Imperceptibility, Capacity or data hiding rate and the security of the hidden data. Watermarking has been utilized widely by researchers to provide security to the digital documents. In this project I have proposed a method which is an efficient technique for protecting the copyrights of digital images with the aid of "Watermarking". I have implemented watermarking algorithm in the frequency domain which is based on the Bi-orthogonal Wavelet Transform. Watermark is embedded by modifying the coefficients of the middle frequency sub band within region of non interest by which the visibility of the image and diagnosis capability will not be affected. Therefore the attacks on the image will not be able to remove the watermark.I have selected the blue channel of the cover image for embedding the watermark because it is more resistant to changes when compared to red and green channels Blue channel is decomposed into n-level by using bi-orthogonal wavelet transform because bi-orthogonal wavelet transform is an invertible transform and it has the property of exact reconstruction and smoothness. The horizontal and vertical sub bands are selected for the embedding watermark. This proposed method is shown to be robust against many geometric attacks and signal processing operations. INDEXTERMS: Digital Image Watermarking, Biorthogonal Wavelets Transform, Robust Watermarking, Copyright Protection, Attacks.


To the Editor: It is with more than a little trepidation that I beg to differ with David Kahn, but I think the evidence regarding Herbert Yardley's possible sale of American cryptographic secrets to the Japanese in 1930 remains more equivocal than he suggests in his letter to the editor [5] commenting on John F. Dooley's recent article on the subject [2]. Dooley has done a thorough job of tracing the propagation of this allegation against Yardley through the historical literature. As he ably documents, most authors who repeat the charge uncritically echo the sweeping accusations that appeared in Ladislas Farago's 1967 book, The Broken Seal [3]. Dooley has, I think, also established convincingly that much of Farago's case was built on extrapolation, speculation, and, in some aspects, outright imagination. As Dooley emphasizes, no contemporaneous documents in Japanese Foreign Ministry files have ever been found that mention Japanese contact with Yardley at the time he was alleged to have concluded his sale of cryptographic secrets in June 1930. Other scraps of supposed evidence that Farago used to bolster the case against Yardley either do not say what Farago claimed they said or implicate Yardley only through a chain of tenuous hypotheses. Dooley leaves no doubt that Farago was a careless researcher and scholar. But—Farago or no Farago—the crucial piece of evidence that remains, and that still demands to be closely weighed, is the document that Dooley refers to as the ''Sakuma Memorandum.'' This was a memorandum written on June 10, 1931, by the chief of the Telegraph Section of the Japanese Foreign Ministry following the publication The American Black Chamber, Yardley's sensational popular book which revealed that the United States was decrypting Japanese diplomatic cables during the 1921 Washington Naval Conference. There is, I believe, no question as to the authenticity of this memorandum: there is no suggestion, that is, of its being anything but what it purports to be, an actual internal Foreign Ministry document written by this actual Japanese official on the date it carries. As Dooley notes, an English translation of this memorandum is in the files of the Yardley collection in Record Group 457 in the National Archives [6]. Dooley does not quote the text of this crucial memorandum in his article. The directly relevant passage is this one, which follows a discussion of the impact of The American Black Chamber and the need for the Foreign Ministry to adopt more secure code systems:


The invention discloses an isavuconazole monohydrate crystal form and further discloses a preparation method thereof. The method comprises the following steps: by taking (2S,3R)-3-(2,5-difluoro)-3-hydroxyl-2-methyl-4-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl) butyronitrile, diethylphosphorodithioate and 2-bromo-4 cyan-acetophenone as raw materials, carrying out steps of an addition reaction and penta-heterocycle closing and a unique post-treatment and crystallization process to prepare isavuconazole monohydrate which is white crystalized solid powder. The solid powder has the crystal form when being detected by XRPD (X-ray Powder Diffraction). Compared with previous isavuconazole amorphous powder, isavuconazole monohydrate crystal powder prepared by the process has the advantages of simple crystallization process, high operability, good stability and the like, and industrialized production is easier to realize.


The economy of Abkhazia is experiencing a systemic crisis caused by political, economic, social, demographic difficulties of the last quarter of the century and is characterized by low living standards, regional development imbalance, subsidized budgets of different areas, and a significant share of the shadow economy. The analysis of the main indicators of the socio-economic situation shows that the economy of Abkhazia is developing by inertia, having exhausted the potential of the previous stage of development.
The relevance of the work lies in finding new economic tools and social technologies, which will allow to take the post-war Abkhazia out of the recession. New approaches are required for sustainable development.
The purpose of this article is to study and search for mechanisms that will help in modernizing the socio-economic situation of Abkhazia in terms of informational economy. The author suggests implementing cluster associations in the Republic of Abkhazia as an effective form of economic interaction between economic entities.
The article describes economic actors of a cluster organization, the role of entities and the conditions of forming economic and institutional clusters, as well as the competitive advantages of the national economy of Abkhazia.
The author of the article proposes tools for implementing cluster policy, describes its advantages and expected results. The proposed approach will make it possible to minimize the risks of imbalances, create conditions for economic growth and improve the quality of life of the population of Abkhazia.


Small arms source data are required for calculation of far‐field noise levels. Advantages and disadvantages of various methods of obtaining source data for small arms noise are discussed, and specific examples are presented. Important issues include nonlinear effects, directivity of muzzle blast and projectile shock noise fields, isobar shapes, wavefront shapes, and blast wave temporal characteristics, particularly shape and duration. A methodology is presented for obtaining source data that is free of inaccuracies due to ground reflections and ground impedance effects. Source data have been measured for a number of small weapons, both rifles and pistols. Example data are presented as waveforms, peak levels, overall sound exposure levels, and spectral distribution of 1/3‐octave‐band sound exposure levels. Data are presented separately for muzzle blast and projectile shock, and special attention is paid to the effect of interactions of the blast noise sound wave with the ground. [Work supported by U.S. Army.]


An active bidirectionally controlled terahertz interference fringe shift in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) film structure was investigated. An interference phenomenon that occurred as a result of wavefront segmentation in a THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system was observed. This THz interference fringe spectrum can be modulated bidirectionally through application of a bias voltage and laser irradiation in terms of its both THz amplitude and interference fringe peaks. The refractive index of the film has an effect on the frequency domain and causes both optical path enhancement and a change in the interference period. THz interference fringes with an electrically induced blueshift and with a photo-induced redshift were acquired.


In the first intervention study, 26 students learnt fencing, while 46 students participated in an aerobic endurance training (O 87.8±3.5 days). Results indicate no sport-specific influence. The second intervention study (O 87.5±3.6 & 86.5±3.4 days) indicated a sport-specific effect of le Parkour on creative thinking skills (ASK). Verbal creativity increased significantly more through le Parkour than aerobic endurance training (p=.001, eta²=.215 & p=.001, eta²=.266).


Removing the oyster meat from the shell requires severing the adductor muscle attachments to each shell valve and severing the oyster hinge. A system, consisting of a computer vision control unit and an air and oil driven oyster hinge severing unit, was developed to sense, locate, and sever the oyster hinge. The oyster hinge severing system consisted of an oyster hinge end trimming unit and a hinge severing unit.


DC power source of a certain importance is required by electronic circuitry to work successfully. This proposed research work views the design as well as assessment regarding transformer-based and transformer less-based changing controlled DC power supply. It will also represent any marketplace analysis investigation involving them and their particular own aspects of uses. The product quality, expense, dimension, excess weight, efficiency as well as effective manufacturing regarding DC power supply, all these pose lots of matter and focus in the DC power manufacturing. The structure methodology found in this work will involve application layout with regard to aspect selection, increased equipment layout, computer simulation. This proposed research work will also presents an assessment regarding transformation, rectification, filtration and regulation stages for both equally transformer-based & transformer-less adjustable DC power supply along with graphic outputs. The final results obtained following the layout specification had been extremely adequate. The particular transformer-based has an effective output current as well as very well out of the way through the supply voltage, making it far better for higher current applications. The transformer less DC supply provides scaled-down dimension, excess weight as well as cheaper. It also generates less noise, warmth; inter harmonic distortion ranges and larger transient response. However lack of proper solitude as opposed to its counterpart hence cause decrease Mean Time to Failure (MTTF). Transformer less changing DC power supply should be considered any viable choice with regard to decrease power. Expense, dimension as well as excess weight limitations lessen the usage of traditional transformer-based DC power supply.


In order to disscussion on the relations between ecological vulnerability assessment and Remote sensing as well as GIS,the authors analyse the theoretical and practical aspects on the basis of ecological vulnerability assessment.The results show that Remote sensing ans GIS can provide powerful technical support for ecological vulnerability assessment in model establishment,techical support,data resource providing,display of platform constructions.


Electric cars are seen alternative in transport from the viewpoint of environment and energy efficiency. Short range is one of the challenges facing prevent widespreading of these vehicles. Researches on storage systems and vehicle technology are carried in order to increase the range of electric vehicles. Some researches aim more distance to go with the same battery capacity by decreasing energy losses. Some researchers showed that energy conservation systems applicable to automobile could recover kinetic energy. One of the energy recovery systems is regenerative braking. In this study, a simulation was conducted to investigate recovered energy in an electric vehicle with kinetic energy recovery system. As a result, a 25% of energy saving for model electric vehicle was gathered by using kinetic energy recovery system under driving circumstances in a sample city cycle.


Purpose: Radiotherapy using charged and/or high-linear energy transfer (LET) particles has a long history, starting with proton beams up to now carbon-ions. Radiation quality of particle beams is different from conventional photons, and therefore the biological effects of high-LET irradiation have attracted scientific interests of many scientists in basic and clinical fields. A brief history of particle radiotherapy in the past half-century is followed by the reviewed biological effectiveness of high-LET charged particles. Results: The latter includes 54 papers presenting 506 RBE (relative biological effectiveness) values for carbon ions and a total of 290 RBE values for other ions identified from 48 papers. By setting a selection window of LET up to 100 keV/μm, we fitted a linear regression line to an LET-RBE relation. The resulting slope of the regression line had a dimension of μm/keV, and showed different steepness for different cells/tissues and endpoints as well. The steepest regression was found for chromosome aberration of human malignant melanoma while the shallowest was for apoptosis of rodent cells/tissue. Both tumour and normal tissue showed relatively shallower slopes than colony formation. Conclusions: In general, there is a large variation of slope values, but the majority (25 out of 29 values) of data was smaller than 0.05 μm/keV.


This article gives an overview of the research development of the chemical composition and pharmacological activities in Actinidia Lindl.Both the domestic and foreign literature is reviewed.The results show that Actinidia Lindl contains chemical components of triterpene,flavonoid,steroidal,alkaloids etc,which have many pharmacological properties,such as anti-tumor,antimutagenic,anti-distortion.Further research and development of the plants of Actinidia Lindl.promise well.


Abstract Background Acneiform rash as an adverse event often affects the treatment by EGFR-TKIs. Since minocycline has been suggested to reduce the rash, we assessed the efficacy and safety of prophylactic administration of minocycline simultaneously during erlotinib treatment. Methods Patients of ECOG performance status 0-2 with advanced NSCLC, who had not been treated with EGFR-TKIs and would receive erlotinib treatment were randomized 1:1 into either group A, with minocycline or group B, without minocycline. The patients assigned to group A were started on minocycline 100mg/day orally for 8 weeks with erlotinib. Primary end point was the frequency of grade ≥2 rash acneiform by independent assessment in first 8 weeks. We expected the prophylactic minocycline decreased the incidence of grade ≥2 skin rash from 50% to 30%. The planned sample size was 280 patients with a = 0.025 (one-sided) and b = 0.10. Results Patients accrual was started in March 2015 and ended in June 2018 because of slow accrual. Ninety-four patients were finally enrolled and 93 were full-analysis set. The median age of the patients was 71 years old (range 45 to 89),58 patients were female. EGFR mutation status positive/negative/unknown=78/13/2 patients. The frequency of grade ≥2 rash acneiformby independent assessment was 33.3% [95%C.I. 20.0-49.0%] in group A vs. 44.2% [95%C.I. 29.1-60.1%] in group B (p = 0.296). The frequency by physicians' evaluation was 31.3% [95%C.I. 18.7-48.8%] and 45.5% [95%C.I. 30.4-61.2%] (p = 0.161). However, the frequency of grade ≥2 rash acneiform on day 15 by physicians' evaluation was significantly decreased (4.4% [95%C.I. 5.3-14.8%] in group A vs. 25.0% [95%C.I. 13.2-40.3%] in group B (p = 0.005)). As for toxicity, the incidence of any grade skin-related toxicity as pruritus (39.6% vs. 63.6%) and pain of skin (14.6% vs. 25.0%) was less common in group A. Hence, anorexia (41.7% vs 20.5%), nausea (25.0% vs 4.5%), and dysgeusia (22.9% vs 15.9%) occurred more frequently. Conclusions Although the frequency of acneiform rash tended to decrease, prophylactic administration of minocycline is not recommended because of increasing gastrointestinal toxicity. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure T. Kozuki: Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (self): AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (self): Chugai Pharmaceutical Co.; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (self): Eli-Lilly Japan; Honoraria (self): Taiho Pharmaceutical Co.; Honoraria (self): Ono Pharmaceutical Co.; Honoraria (self): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (self): MSD; Honoraria (self): Boehringer Ingelheim; Honoraria (self): Kyowa-Hakko Kirin; Honoraria (self): Pfizer; Honoraria (self): Nippon-kayaku; Research grant / Funding (self): Merck Biopharma. M. Takenoyama: Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (self): Chugai Pharmaceutical. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1(1), 6(1) and (5) and 35(2) of the Public Bodies Act 2011(1) ("the Act"). The Secretary of State considers that this Order— (a) serves the purpose of improving the exercise of public functions, having had regard to the factors set out in section 8(1) of the Act; and (b) does not remove any necessary protection or prevent any person from continuing to exercise any right or freedom which that person might reasonably expect to continue to exercise. The consent of the Scottish Parliament and the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly have, so far as required, been obtained in accordance with section 9(1) and (3) of the Act. The Secretary of State has consulted in accordance with section 10 of the Act. The Secretary of State has consulted the Welsh Ministers in accordance with section 63(1) of the Government of Wales Act 2006(2). A draft of this Order and an explanatory document containing the information required in section 11(2) of the Act have been laid before Parliament in accordance with section 11(1) after the end of the period of twelve weeks mentioned in section 11(3). In accordance with section 11(4) of the Act, the draft of this Order has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament after the expiry of the 40-day period referred to in that provision.


All of these books emphasize the embeddedness of individuals in their families and communities, and the consequent impossibility of separating identity from family and community in this period. As many of the writers here argue, early modern people often experienced their own interests and agency in collective terms. As Anne Laurence puts it in an essay about Ireland in Women, Identities and Communities in Early Modern Europe, edited by Tarbin and Broomhall, "it was concerns of family survival that dictated the strategies people embarked on in their marriages, their religious conversions and their education" (26). The families discussed here are broadly defined to include servants and sometimes slaves, clerical visitors, distant relatives, suspicious guests, or one's "sisters" in a convent. These families overlap and intersect to form communities. As Casey explains of Granada in Family and Community in Early Modern Spain, "The concept of the 'home' as such can hardly be said to exist. What we have is a fine network of personal ties reaching out across the physical space of the community as a whole, an archipelago of family units, scattered along streets and neighbourhoods, embracing houses, convents and schools" (162). These communities, in turn, sometimes support, and sometimes compete with or oppose the families of which they are constituted. For many of these writers, embeddedness is what marks the subject and the family as early modern: the "separation out


 Abstract — In recent years, petroleum-based polymers began to be limited due to effects on human and environmental point of view in many countries. Thus, organic-based biodegradable materials have attracted much interest in the composite industry because of environmental concerns. As a result of this, it has been asked that inorganic and petroleum-based materials should be reduced and altered with biodegradable materials. In this point, in this study, it is aimed to investigate the potential of use of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl)-mediated oxidation nano-fibrillated cellulose instead of EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) rubber, which is a petroleum-based material. Thus, the exchange of petroleum-based EPDM rubber with organic based cellulose nanofibers, which are environmentally friendly (green) and biodegradable, will be realized. The effect of tempo-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TCNF) instead of EPDM rubber was analyzed by rheological, mechanical, chemical, thermal and aging analyses. The aged surfaces were visually scrutinized and surface morphological changes were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained showed that TEMPO oxidation nano-fibrillated cellulose can be used at an amount of 1.0 and 2.2 phr resulting the values stay within tolerance according to customer standard and without any chemical degradation, crack, colour change or staining.


Conclusion : The centric relation registered by the physiologic method is quite satisfactory for the majority of cases.  But this method can only give the position of the mandible in the habitual manner in which the patients have for their lifetime, and if done properly, satisfactory set of dentures can be constructed.


The Emission of a lot of pollutants from chemistry experiment teaching may harm the health of teachers and students. As to the greening of chemistry experiments,the paper suggests students conducting wastewater treatment experiments in inorganic chemical experiments,carrying out miniature experimenting teaching and other methods. Green chemistry teaching in university chemistry experiment is not only necessary,but also feasible. The teacher should be guided by the concept of green chemistry teaching chemistry experiments,to cultivate chemistry talents with the awareness of green chemistry,realize the greening of chemistry teaching.


Word Sense Disambiguation is a challenge in Machine Translation. The PanMail project takes the approach that people writing emails to be translated will be willing to help in the disambiguation process because they have an interest in accurate translation of their emails. This not only improves upon regular translation, it also collects valuable data for training better translation techniques. When asking a user to help disambiguate, PanMail needs a way to present the different senses for the user to choose among. PanMail aims to be able to translate between any two languages in the world. However, only 14 languages have sense-disambiguated dictionaries. Over 500 languages in the world do not have sense-disambiguated dictionaries, and for those languages the system has to use methods like synonyms of the different senses, or language-independent methods like images that represent the different senses. This study evaluates the use of definitions, synonyms, and images for user disambiguation. We report on lessons learned for how to choose images that reflect different senses, as well as users' impressions of the methods. We find that even though images are not as effective as definitions, they are significantly more effective than the baseline of just choosing the most common word sense. Thus, for the sparse languages where definitions and synonyms are unavailable, images are a good option.


This double blind parallel group study assessed the acute antiemetic efficacy of four oral doses of dolasetron mesylate in cancer patients receiving their first course of intravenous chemotherapy with doxorubicin and/or cyclophosphamide.


Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of ziprasidone hydrochioride in the treatment of schizophrenia.Method:Sixty inpatients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into ziprasidone hydrochioride group(n=30) and resperidone group(n=30) for 8 weeks.Both groups were assessed with the positive and negative symptoms scale(PANSS),treatment emergent symptoms scale(TESS)and rating scale for extrayramidal side effects(RSESE) to evaluate their efficacy and side reactions.Results:Two drugs had similar efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia.The occurrence rate of EPS in ziprasidone hydrochioride group was 26.3%,which was significantly lower than that of resperidone group 53.3%(χ2=4.44,P0.05).Conclusion:Ziprasidone hydrochioride is an effective and safe antipsychotic drug.


Tidal energy is the most reliable and predictable form of renewable energy capable of ensuring energy security in coastal regions of the world. Many developing countries are prone to energy self-sufficiency due to a lack of tidal data, expensive commercial tidal modeling tools, and program codes. In the present study, an open-source finite element code along with available open-source data was used to predict the tidal resource potential of sites in both temperate and coastal waters. This paper also investigates the suitability of open-source code towards accurate tidal resource prediction and provides a comparative study on tidal resource prediction of sites in both temperate and coastal waters. Based on knowledge gained from tidal experts all around the globe, the straits of the Alderney race were selected as a temperate water site because of their high tidal flow conditions and high tidal energy resource potential. Singapore was selected as a tropical water site because of its low tidal flow conditions and lack of open-source tidal resource data in the tropical belt. From the results, temperate waters such as Alderney Race experience high tidal velocity in the range of 3.5–4.5 m/s with an average power density of about 15 kW/m2 in comparison with tropical waters such as Singapore that experiences tidal velocity in the range of 1–1.5 m/s with an average power density of about 1.5 kW/m2. The thrusting force behind the coastal dynamics is mainly due to tides, their interactions, and changes in seabed topography. The seabed roughness profile creates a drag force on the flow on the velocity field. Lack of understanding of the effects of seabed friction on tidal modeling might reduce the accuracy of the model prediction. Thus, the present study also focuses on the effects of seabed roughness on tidal prediction of Alderney race straits using the open-source finite element-based 2-dimensional depth average ocean model. It can be found that an increase in seabed friction reduces the flow velocity and thus the average power density of the location due to its major energy dissipating phenomenon for the energetic ocean flow.


The WHO estimates that there are more than 422 million people with diabetes in the world, of whom 90% are diagnosed as type 2. Hyperglycemia plays an important role in renal damage, thus diabetic nephropathy is the most common complication of this pathology. Claudins are components of paracellular transport which are determinants to the ion balance in the kidney. Any alteration in the tight junctions carry a pathophysiological renal consequences that have not yet described in diabetic type 2 model. PPARs are nuclear receptors ligand‐dependent and their alpha isoform is activated by fibrates. Pharmacological therapy with fibrates in diabetes had showed to prevent cardiovascular risk, if they have renal protective effects in diabetes and if they are involved in paracellular ion transport, is not well understood. Those actions, could be useful as a target to identify, prevent and treat diabetic nephropathy may contribute to a better understanding of this disease. Type 2 diabetes model that we used was induced to neonatal rats by the intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin, a chemical that selectively destroys the β cells of the pancreas, diabetics rats showed moderate hyperglycemia since 4th week and at 14‐week, had a decrease in body weight gain, glucose intolerance, lower insulin secretion and an increase in renal mass. We evaluated renal function in this model and we observed that proteinuria was associated with a decrease in claudin‐5 expression in the glomerulus and the increased fractional excretion of Na+ and K+ was related with a decrease of claudin‐2 and occludin in the proximal tubule. In addition, we observed a loss of renal expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha (PPAR‐α) in both segments of the nephron. The present work provides evidence that type 2 diabetes alters the renal expression of tight junctions proteins such as claudin‐5, claudin‐2 and occludin, as well as PPAR‐α. This is related to the loss of renal function, suggesting that the loss of these proteins is a fundamental part of the early stages of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.


The taxonomy of the African Arrhipis species is discussed. A. senegalensis (Laporte de Castelnau) is regarded a valid species. Lectotype is designated for A. vassei Fleutiaux. A key including the eight known African species is given as well as data on their distribution.


In the paper, we give methods of construction of dual bases for the B-spline basis and truncated power basis. Explicit formulas for the dual B-spline basis are obtained using the Legendre-like orthogonal basis of the polynomial spline space presented in (Wei et al., Comput.-Aided Des. 45 (2013), 85-92) and a connection between orthogonal and dual bases of any space given in (Lewanowicz and Woźny, J. Approx. Theory 138 (2006), 129-150). Construction of the dual truncated power basis is performed in two phases. We start with explicit formulas for the dual power basis of the space of polynomials. Then, we expand this basis using an iterative algorithm proposed in (Woźny, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 260 (2014), 301-311). As a result, we obtain the dual truncated power basis. We also present some applications of the proposed dual polynomial spline bases and illustrative examples.


Stress is experienced in organizational roles as problems are encountered in performance of the role. The Nature of Stress can be investigated by number of Attributes. There is always a difference in a way of living, of man and woman. Naturally, this also concludes the level of stress they encounter must be different. There Sample was taken from lower and middle age group belonging to various industries having differentiated work experience of zero to One year. Study focused only the management trainees. This study focuses to ensure if stress is actually affected on the basis of Gender. It also helps better appreciation of differences in problems faced by Man and Woman differently. The results of the study can help in formulating a contingency model to enhance organizational performance and effectiveness.


Objective This article aims to study the prevalence of prematurity in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, taking into account the possible associated factors such as behavioral, sociodemographic and health. Materials and methods The study carried out a crosssectional design based on secondary data from the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), having as study population all live births in Brazil in 2014. Results: In short, we found in In our study, the prevalence of prematurity in the State of Rio Grande do Sul was 11.46% and was associated with maternal age ≥40 (PR = 1.29; CI = 1.20-1.40) for those born by cesarean section (PR = 1.14; CI = 1.10-1.17), the color of yellow, brown and indigenous mother (PR = 1.06; CI = 1.01-1.11) and widowed or separated mothers (PR = 1.06; CI = 0.95-1.19). We found as protection factor the mothers aged 20-29 years (PR = 0.89; CI = 0.85-0.93), those with higher education (PR = 0.80; CI = 0.740.88) and those who attended> 7 antenatal consultations (PR = 0.32; CI = 0.31-0.34). Conclusion: It is possible to infer that prematurity is a delicate and fundamentally important problem. associated with some variables such as low number of prenatal consultations, low education and high age of the mother. However, when related to variables such as gender of the newborn, skin color and marital status of the mother, the number of premature births did not show significant variation. Given the variables directly related to the high number of preterm infants, it is possible to change this situation with some measures that involve mothers' awareness of the importance of prenatal consultation, educational measures designed to prevent the high number of school dropouts and also policies aimed at reducing the number of caesarean deliveries. In this sense, it is important to highlight how important prenatal consultation is to reduce the number of premature newborns, given that the greater the number of consultations performed, the greater the protection factor provided, according to the present study. .


In her inaugural FQ column, Laurie Ouelette examines the recent resurgence of interest in Julia Child, as reflected in the documentary Julia: The Delicious Life of America's First Food Icon (2021, CNN Films), the prestige dramatic series Julia (2022, HBO Max), and the amateur cooking competition The Julia Child Challenge (2022, Food Network and discovery+).
 All three productions revisit Child's public television show The French Chef and its role in the evolution of television and American food culture; together, they provide a treasure trove of archival footage, backstories, and fictionalized interpretations of the making of the iconic TV series. In different ways, each mythologizes Child as an agent of progressive change, obscuring the power dynamics of lifestyle media then and now.


Objective:  This study was designed to investigate the analgesic effects of nimesulide and celecoxib in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In patients with joint effusion, the effects of these non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on synovial fluid concentrations of substance P (SP), interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 also were evaluated.


This paper presents ballistic trajectory and maneuver footprint predictions from flight simulations of a 105mm gun-fired projectile using hingeless tail-spoiler microactuators for directional control. An extensive database of aerodynamic coefficients was created for the 105mm smart projectile, with and without tail-spoilers, from wind tunnel tests at Mach numbers of 0.1, 0.56, 0.61, 0.76, 0.9, 0.95, 1.05, 1.15, 2.4, and 3.0. Based on the wind tunnel data and Missile Datcom predictions, 3-DOF and 6-DOF flight simulations were conducted by the Orbital Research Inc. and U.S. Army team to conduct an overall performance assessment of the hingeless spoiler control system for the guided projectile. Two endgame scenarios were investigated. The results in the form of ballistic trajectories and maneuver footprints show that range enhancement by over 7% using the improved tail-fi nd esign, and conrollable deflection of over 1.5 km over an uncontrolled ballistic flight trajectory of 10 km can be achieved using the tail-spoiler microactuators.


Catechins in green tea have various useful features including antioxidant activity and preventive effects on metabolic syndrome. Various beverages that are enriched with tea catechins are marketed as Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) in Japan. However, recent reports have indicated that excessive consumption of green tea extracts as a dietary supplement are associated with adverse health effects such as liver disorders. Various catechins and caffeine are constituents of FOSHU tea-based beverages. The amount of catechins in FOSHU products is displayed on labels as total catechin content, but the content of individual catechins are not provided. Although health hazards of FOSHU products have rarely been reported, precise information about the content and types of catechins in FOSHU products is needed to ensure safety. We used high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array (HPLC/PDA) to simultaneously identify and quantify catechins and caffeine in green tea-based popular beverages and FOSHU beverages. This technique allowed simultaneous quantitation of five types of catechins and caffeine in green tea without complicated sample preparation. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epigallocatechin EGC were the main catechins in various FOSHU beverages and the concentrations of almost all catechins were higher in FOSHU, than in popular green tea-based beverages. The concentrations of EGCG in green tea-based popular beverages and in FOSHU beverages were 5.4 - 7.3 and 10.2 - 41.9 mg/100mL, respectively, with the highest concentration being in a product named Healthya (approximately 147 mg/bottle). The simultaneous determination of compounds such as catechins and caffeine in FOSHU beverages can help to estimate beneficial and adverse effects to prevent deleterious effects on health and the excessive consumption of FOSHU beverages containing high concentrations of tea catechins should be avoided.


Bolometer-type uncooled infrared QVGAs (Quarter Video Graphics Arrays, namely, 320×240) were modified to improve their sensitivities at 3 THz. High transmission materials were investigated and it is found that high resistivity Silicon with anti-reflection coating of Parylene or Silicon Dioxide is suitable. Using this material, THz lens was fabricated and handy THz camera which operates at TV frame rate was also fabricated. Using the THz camera, NEP (Noise Equivalent Power) of uncooled THz-QVGA sensor was characterized at several wavelengths from 3 to 270 μm. The THz camera showed THz imageries of antigen-antibody reaction without labeling molecules, which indicate that THz detection technology can be promising for detecting proteins.


Networks are used as models of complex systems in a wide variety of subjects, including chemistry, biology, sociology, engineering and computer science. We develop an interactive tool that contains more than a billion networks and related parameters. It is designed to help researchers gain insights into the structure of networks and develop new theorems about them. We also introduce and analyse the problem of finding the most commonly occurring substructure inside a network.


A major design problem concerning medical high frequency broadband imaging systems is caused by the strong attenuation of the tissue, which limits the maximum depth of penetration and the achieveable signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). To address this problem, strongly focused transducers with a high energy density in a narrow focal region are utilized. To achieve images of high quality and resolution over a large depth range despite the short depth of field of those devices, the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT) is employed. For SAFT-processing, the focus area is considered as a virtual source of approximately spherical waves. This hypothesis is supported by a simulation of the point-spread-function of a focused transducer, which is based on the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld-integral in the time domain.