This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of five plant extracts at different concentration for managing the late blight disease of tomato in experimental field of University of Rajshahi. The antimicrobial activity of five plant extracts such as Water gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus chamadulonsis), Garlic (Allium sativum), Babla (Acacia nilotica) and Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) was tested for controlling the late blight disease causing pathogens Phytophthora infestans. The number of branching of tomato plant was highest in T15 treatment (Black Cumin 5%) and lowest in T5 (Garlic clove 10%) and T13 (Babla leaves 2.5%). The maximum number of late blight affected leaves were found inT1 (control) and T6 (Garlic clove (5%) treatments, and minimum in T14 (Black Cumin 10%). A highest number of fresh tomato was recorded in T14 (Black Cumin 10%) and T16 (Black Cumin 2.5%) whereas the lowest performance was observed in T7 (Garlic clove 2.5%). The highest number of late blight affected rotten tomato was observed inT12 (Babla leaves 5%) and the lowest in T5 (Garlic clove 10%). The yield of tomato (g) was found maximum in T15 treatment (Black Cumin 5%) and lowest in T6 (Garlic clove 5%) treatment.


Findings from short-term randomized trials indicate that dietary supplements of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PFA) lower blood pressure of hypertensive persons, but effect size in nonhypertensive individuals is small and nonsignificant. Data are lacking on food omega-3 PFA and blood pressure in general populations. The International Study of Macro- and Micro-nutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP) is an international cross-sectional epidemiologic study of 4680 men and women ages 40 to 59 from 17 population-based samples in China, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States. We report associations of food omega-3 PFA intake (total, linolenic acid, long-chain) of individuals with blood pressure. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured 8 times at 4 visits. With several models to control for possible confounders (dietary, other), linear regression analyses showed inverse relationship of total omega-3 PFA from food (percent kilocalories, from four 24-hour dietary recalls) to systolic and diastolic blood pressures. With adjustment for 17 variables, estimated systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure differences with 2 standard deviation higher (0.67% kcal) omega-3 PFA were −0.55/−0.57 mm Hg (Z-score −1.33, −2.00); for 2238 persons without medical or dietary intervention, −1.01/−0.98 mm Hg (Z −1.63, −2.25); for 2038 nonhypertensive persons from this sub-cohort, −0.91/−0.92 mm Hg (Z −1.80, −2.38). For linolenic acid (largely from vegetable foods), blood pressure differences were similar, eg, for the 2238 "nonintervened" individuals, −0.97/−0.87 mm Hg (Z −1.52, −1.95); blood pressure differences were −0.32/−0.45 mm Hg for long-chain omega-3 PFA (largely from fish). In summary, food omega-3 PFA intake related inversely to blood pressure, including in nonhypertensive persons, with small estimated effect size. Food omega-3 PFA may contribute to prevention and control of adverse blood pressure levels.


The characteristic roentgen findings in a child with a fully developed craniostenosis are known to most radiologists. These older children have misshapen heads and various neurological disorders, and the roentgenographic picture is typi cal. For example, closure of all the sutures gives rise to oxycephaly. Such a case is shown in Figure 1. The patient was a female of two and one-half years who was admitted because of a peculiarly shaped skull and a severe exophthalmos. Her vision was already impaired, and she was mentally retarded. The roentgenograms reveal closure of all the sutures. The skull has a turricephalic contour, indicating that the region of the anterior fontanel was probably the last to close. The digital markings are increased; the floor of the middle fossa is depressed and bulges forward. Another fully developed case of premature cranial synostosis is shown in Figure 2. This patient was a three-year-old female who also had a peculiarly shaped skull. At the time of admission her mentality was...


Objective A clinical study was performed to determine the efficacy of temozolomide (TMZ) vs. semustine (CCNU) in patients with malignant gliomas. Methods 55 eligible patients were randomized to divide into two groups during one year. TMZ and CCNU were administered respectively every 28 days according to body surface area. Meantime, clinical experience should be performed every a month, and contrast- enhanced CT scan or GD- MRI was performed to evaluate the image-based progression comparing with the image before chemotherapy; which to evaluate disease progression. Results Image-based respond rates were 44. 74% in TNZ group and 11.77% in CCNU group, P =0.017. 53% of patients experienced a clinical benefit with TMZ treatment, and 12% with CCNU, P=0.017. Conclusions TMZ showed more efficient object respond rate compared with CCNU and better clinical experience improvement with improving effectively quality of life. A longer time and more comprehensive trial are warranted to prove and modify this study.


Hakka pickle was used as raw material to study the optimal formula.The impact of corn oil,sugar,chicken essence and pepper on Hakka pickle taste was investigated.The best formula was determined by orthogonal test and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation as follows: Hakka pickle 100 g,sugar 15 g,chicken essence 0.1 g,corn oil 8 g and pepper 2 g.On this basis,the instant Hakka pickle of sweet,spiced and spicy was developed for different tastes.The instant Hakka pickle after treatments of vacuum packing and sterilization can achieve the hygiene standards for preserved vegetable.


In this paper we propose a framework for ethical decision making in the context of planning, with intended application to robotics. We put forward a compact but highly expressive language for ethical planning that combines linear temporal logic with lexicographic preference modelling. This original combination allows us to assess plans both with respect to an agent's values and their desires, introducing the novel concept of the morality level of an agent and moving towards multigoal, multivalue planning. We initiate the study of computational complexity of planning tasks in our setting, and we discuss potential applications to robotics.


This study was designed to test the efficacy of glucagon in the treatment of hemodynamic abnormalities of acute and healing experimental canine myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction was produced in intact, conscious dogs by gradual inflation of a balloon cuff device implanted around the left anterior descending coronary artery 1 to 2 weeks prior to the study. Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of 50 &mgr;g/kg of glucagon were assessed serially in the control state, 1 hour after myocardial infarction and again 1 week later. In the control state glucagon improved cardiac performance and increased myocardial oxygen consumption. One hour after acute myocardial infarction glucagon improved cardiac performance and reduced the degree of left ventricular failure, without any increase in myocardial oxygen consumption. Similar effects of glucagon were noted in the healing phase of myocardial infarction. It is postulated that in this animal model in the presence of heart failure due to myocardial infarction there are reciprocal changes in the factors that increase myocardial oxygen consumption (glucagon-induced inotropy) and decrease oxygen consumption (fall in ventricular end-diastolic volume and wall stress), resulting in no net change in oxygen requirement.


Objective
To explore the relationship between left ventricular volume parameters and cardiac function in elderly patients with heart failure.

Methods
From January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2014, five hundred and twenty-eight heart failure elderly patients with coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Kailuan General Hospital were collected in this study.The left ventricle diastolic end volume (LVEDV), left ventricle end systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction of the patients were measured.The concentrations of N type brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and related biochemical indexes were detected.

Results
Among the 528 patients with cardiac insufficiency, 367 were males and 161 were females.Among them, there were 199 cases of heart function I, 163 cases of heart function II, 99 cases of heart function III and 67 cases of heart function IV.Correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients of LVEDV, LVESV and age were 0.431(P=0.001), 0.472(P=0.001) and 0.243(P<0.001), respectively.Logistic regression analysis showed that LVEDV (OR=2.654, 95%CI 2.124-3.894, P=0.004), LVESV (OR=2.939, 95%CI 2.539-3.256, P=0.001), LVESV), NT-proBNP (OR=2.921, 95%CI 2.888-3.562, P=0.002) were risk factors for heart failure.

Conclusion
The correlation between LVESV and cardiac function in elderly patients with heart failure is better than that in LVEDV, and the correlation between the two and cardiac function is better than that of age.

Key words:
Echocardiography; Left ventricle diastolic end volume; Left ventricle systole end volume; Heart function


The spin sector of charge-spin separated single mode quantum wires is studied, accounting for realistic microscopic electron-electron interactions. We utilize the ladder approximation (LA) to the interaction vertex and exploit thermodynamic relations to obtain spin velocities. Down to not too small carrier densities our results compare well with existing quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) data. Analyzing second-order diagrams we identify logarithmically divergent contributions as crucial which the LA includes but which are missed, for example, by the self-consistent Hartree-Fock approximation. Contrary to other approximations the LA yields a nontrivial spin conductance. Its considerably smaller computational effort compared to numerically exact methods, such as the QMC method, enables us to study overall dependences on interaction parameters. We identify the short distance part of the interaction to govern spin sector properties.


.......................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Study Goals ................................................................................................................................. 9 Contributions............................................................................................................................. 12 Social Media in Recruitment and Selection .............................................................................. 12 Physical Attractiveness ............................................................................................................. 15 Symmetry. ............................................................................................................................. 16 Masculinity/Femininity. ........................................................................................................ 18 Indicators of pathogen presence. ........................................................................................... 20 Artificial attractiveness enhancements. ................................................................................ 21 Associations with other variables. ........................................................................................ 23 Status Generalization Theory .................................................................................................... 24 The formation and application of status characteristics. ....................................................... 27 The intersection of multiple status characteristics. ............................................................... 29 Attractiveness as a status characteristic. ............................................................................... 31 Attractiveness and Expectations ............................................................................................... 33 Candidate Gender...................................................................................................................... 35 Implicit and Explicit Attitudes .................................................................................................. 39 Customer Visibility ................................................................................................................... 42 Candidate Qualification ............................................................................................................ 46 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 49 Method .......................................................................................................................................... 50 BEAUTY IS BENEFICIAL 4 Design and Participants............................................................................................................. 50 Procedure .................................................................................................................................. 55 Manipulations ........................................................................................................................... 56 Level 1 .................................................................................................................................. 57 Cues................................................................................................................................... 57 Scenarios. .......................................................................................................................... 57 Attractiveness. ................................................................................................................... 58 Qualification. .................................................................................................................... 66 Level 2 .................................................................................................................................. 69 Job type. ............................................................................................................................ 69 Customer visibility. ........................................................................................................... 75 Measures ................................................................................................................................... 76 Perceived intellectual competence. ....................................................................................... 77 Perceived likability. .............................................................................................................. 77 Perceived social skills. .......................................................................................................... 77 Recommendation for a job interview invitation. .................................................................. 77 Explicit attractiveness attitudes............................................................................................. 78 The implicit association test.................................................................................................. 78 IAT scoring. ...................................................................................................................... 80 Manipulation check items. .................................................................................................... 81 Demographic items. .............................................................................................................. 81 Additional items. ................................................................................................................... 81 Analyses and Results .................................................................................................................... 82 BEAUTY IS BENEFICIAL 5 Data Screening .......................................................................................................................... 82 Hypothesis Testing.................................................................................................................... 94 Hypothesis 1.......................................................................................................................... 99 Hypothesis 2........................................................................................................................ 100 Hypothesis 3........................................................................................................................ 102 Hypothesis 4........................................................................................................................ 103 Hypothesis 5........................................................................................................................ 104 Hypothesis 6........................................................................................................................ 107 Hypothesis 7........................................................................................................................ 108 Hypothesis 8........................................................................................................................ 109 Hypothesis 9........................................................................................................................ 110 Supplemental Analyses ........................................................................................................... 111 Discussion ................................................................................................................................... 122 Status Generalization Theory .................................................................................................. 124 Attractiveness Bias.................................................................................................................. 129 Attractiveness Attitudes .......................................................................................................... 132 Practical Implications.............................................................................................................. 134 Limitations and Future Research Directions ........................................................................... 138 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 142 References ................................................................................................................................... 143 Appendices .................................................................................................................................. 179 BEAUTY IS BENEFICIAL 6


Procollagen C‐endopeptidase (BMP‐1) is a crucial enzyme for conversion of fibrillar procollagens into self‐assembling collagen monomers. BMP‐1 plays an essential role during cardiac development, growth, and disease by controlling the reorganization of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The pleiotrophic cytokines TGF‐β1 and TNF‐α have been implicated in cardiac remodeling in response to various pathophysiological stimuli. For regulation of myocardial ECM, the balance of TNF‐α and TGF‐β signaling in cardiac fibroblasts is critical. In this study, we compared the effects of TNF‐α and TGF‐β1 on expression of BMP‐1 and collagen type I, and the molecular mechanisms involved. Both TNF‐α (1–10 ng/ml) and TGF‐β1 (1–10 ng/ml) stimulated BMP‐1 and collagen type I gene and protein expression in cardiac fibroblasts after 6 and 24 hrs of exposure. However, TNF‐α treatment induced a more rapid increase of BMP‐1 expression than TGF‐β1 (significant at 6 hrs versus 24 hrs for TGF‐β1). These TNF‐α and TGF‐β effects were PI3K/Akt dependent. Blockade of PI3K with wortmannin prevented the up‐regulation of BMP‐1 and collagen type I, and attenuated the activation of Smad3 and Akt. These findings indicate that the Smad3 pathway is involved in BMP‐1 regulation, and may be integrated with PI3K signaling. Further, pretreatment of cardiac fibroblasts with TNF‐α impaired TGF‐β1 mediated up‐regulation of BMP‐1 and PI3K signaling. These findings demonstrate that BMP‐1 expression is regulated by both TGF‐β and TNF‐α, and that TNF‐α negatively impacts TGF‐β1 signaling.


Mitotic arrest deficient protein 1 (MAD1) is a component of the mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint. To understand better MAD1 function, we have created Mad1+/− mice. Mad1−/− mice are embryonic lethal. We find in aging studies that Mad1+/− mice show a significantly higher incidence of constitutive tumors when compared to control wild type (WT) littermates. We will present findings which correlate a proclivity for development of aneuploidy in primary cells with loss of MAD1 function. We will also discuss our thoughts on the mechanistic role played by MAD1 in spindle assembly checkpoint function.


FIELD: transport. SUBSTANCE: crane running gear is transferred to track crossing and running carriage for it to be fixed by running carriage grips. One detachable rail section is fixed on the bracket. Detachable rail section is detached from lengthwise track and from craneway beams of lengthwise track. Jack is used to lift one frame bracket together with running carriage. Running carriage is turned in horizontal plate relative to frame support with the help of detachable rail section through preset angle equal to that of crossing of lengthwise and crosswise tracks. Running carriage if downed onto crosswise track beam for detachable rail section to be introduced into gap between crosswise track rails. Then detachable rail section is jointed to crosswise track rails and track beam. Now above described jobs are made for remaining running carriages of crane support frame. Thereafter, running carriage grips are released to move the crane along crosswise track. Running part comprises support running frame with frame brackets linked up therewith. Every running carriage comprises grips to grip railhead on its sides. Every frame support is furnished with appliance designed to couple jack therewith, mounted between track base and bracket. Appliance designed to couple jack with bracket is located at a distance exceeding radius of turn of the most distant point located on the crane running gear carriage. EFFECT: compact track an track intersection. 2 cl, 9 dwg


Abstract : The document considers the possibilities for firmness in American negotiations with the Soviet Union, sophistication in consulting the European allies, and new thoughts on the interrelationship of grave and complicated issues, such as nuclear arms control, peace in the Middle East, and progress toward healing the division of Europe. (Author)


In recent decades, due to the increasing use of distributed generation resources via power electronic devices which lack sufficient inertia, the entire network inertia decreases and this results in worsening the stability condition. Hence, the concept of virtual synchronous generators has been widely welcomed as a solution to mimic the performance of real synchronous generators providing inertia. Inertial injection can reduce sudden frequency changes and increase network stability. However, conventional virtual synchronous generators perform poorly under unbalanced conditions. In other words, they hold no effective algorithm for imbalance compensation. This paper reviews the strategies for improving the performance of virtual synchronous generators under unbalanced conditions.


Trypanosoma brucei is a single-celled protozoan pathogen that causes human and animal trypanosomiasis and incurs devastating health and economic burdens in Africa. Together with the related parasites T. cruzi and Leishmania spp., which cause Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, respectively, over 8 million people are affected annually worldwide [1]. These parasites alternate between a mammalian host and the insect vector and undergo extensive developmental changes during their life cycle, including changes in surface coat, gene expression, metabolism, and organelle morphology and function. They also have elaborate mechanisms of gene regulation that control the expression of genes involved in host immune evasion during infection. The control of developmental changes and immune evasion mechanisms entails a complex network of signaling and regulatory processes that includes phosphatidylinositol (PI) phosphates (PIP, also called phosphoinositides) and inositol phosphates (IP) [2–8]. PIPs and IPs are ubiquitous in eukaryotes and consist of a subset of molecules containing mono or poly phosphorylated inositol (Fig 1A). Whilst PIPs are a class of phospholipids generally associated with cellular or organellar membranes and produced via phosphorylation of PI, IPs are soluble molecules produced as a result of PIP hydrolysis by phospholipase enzymes. PIPs and IPs interact with proteins or RNA and regulate numerous cellular functions in eukaryotes. As detailed below, these metabolites and related enzymes function as a regulatory system with essential roles in T. brucei metabolism and development [6], trafficking and organelle biogenesis [9–11], Ca2+ signaling [12], and immune evasion mechanisms [5, 7].

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Fig 1

PIP and IP synthesis and regulation in T. brucei.
(A) Structure of PIP2 indicated by the inositol ring (black hexagon), phosphates (red circles), and DAG with fatty acid chain. PLC cleaves PIP2 and produces diacylglycerol and IP3. Black arrows indicate phosphate and inositol. The yellow arrow indicates the site of PLC cleavage, which occurs between DAG and phosphate sn1. The green arrow indicates the directionality of the PLC reaction. (B) The number of genes involved in PIP and IP synthesis, signaling (includes PLC and IP3 receptors), and PIP and IP kinases and phosphatases in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The size of the black circles indicates the number of genes in each category. (C) Synthesis of PIPs and IPs based on T. brucei predicted and characterized enzymes. Enzymes, whose regulatory functions are discussed here, are indicated in blue. PIP-Pase indicates enzymes that dephosphorylate PIPs at positions 3, 4, or 5 of the inositol ring. It includes PIP5Pase, whose catalytic activity is detailed below in D. Metabolite short names are used for simplicity. (D) Regulation of VSG silencing by PIP5Pase. PIP5Pase dephosphorylates the 5-phosphate (green circle) of PIP3 and prevents this metabolite binding to RAP1, which preserves RAP1 function (and likely other proteins) in ES chromatin organization. Catalytic inactivation of PIP5Pase results in PIP3 binding to RAP1, which affects ES chromatin organization and results in transcription of VSG genes. 1, diacylglycerol kinase; 2, cytidine diphosphate-diacylglycerol synthase; 3, phosphatidylinositol synthase; 70 bp, 70 base pair repeats; Ath, Arabidopsis thaliana; DAG, diacylglycerol; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; ES, expression site; ESAG, expression site associated genes; Hsp, Homo sapiens; I, myo-inositol; IMPase, inositol monophosphatase; IP, inositol phosphate; IP1, D-myo-inositol 1-monophosphate; IP2, D-myo-inositol 1,4-diphosphate; IP3, D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate; IP4, D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate; IP5, D-myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5-pentakisphosphate; IP5Pase, inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase; IP6, D-myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate; IP6K, inositol hexakisphosphate kinase; IP7, D-myo-inositol 5-diphospho 1,2,3,4,6-pentakisphosphate; IPMK, inositol polyphosphate multikinase; Mtb, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; PIP, phosphatidylinositol phosphate; PIP1, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate; PIP2, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate; PIP3, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate; PIP5K, phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase; PIP5Pase, phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-phosphatase; PIP-Pase, phosphatidylinositol phosphate phosphatases; PLC, Phospholipase C; PM, plasma membrane; Pol I, RNA polymerase I; PP-IP4, D-myo-inositol 5-diphospho 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate; RAP1, repressor-activator protein 1; Sce, Saccharomyces cerevisiae; sn1, unimolecular nucleophilic substitution; Tbr, T. brucei; Ttm, Thermus thermophilus; VSG, variant surface glycoprotein.


John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences, 20-708 Lublin, Poland 1 Laboratory of Confocal and Electron Microscopy 4 Laboratory of Biocontrol, Production and Application of Entomopathogenic Nematodes University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 20-950 Lublin, Poland 2 Department of Animal Physiology 5 Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Diseases, Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases 3 Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Diseases with Clinic, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland


Previous studies have shown that Pacific herring populations in the Bering Sea and north-east Pacific Ocean can be grouped based on similar recruitment time series. The scale of these groups suggests large-scale influence on recruitment fluctuations from the environment. Recruitment time series from 14 populations were analysed to determine links to various environmental variables and to develop recruitment forecasting models using a Ricker-type environmentally dependent spawner–recruit model. The environmental variables used for this investigation included monthly time series of the following: southern oscillation index, North Pacific pressure index, sea surface temperatures, air temperatures, coastal upwelling indices, Bering Sea wind, Bering Sea ice cover, and Bering Sea bottom temperatures. Exploratory correlation analysis was used for focusing the time period examined for each environmental variable. Candidate models for forecasting herring recruitment were selected by the ordinary and recent cross-validation prediction errors. Results indicated that forecasting models using air and sea surface temperature data lagged to the year of spawning generally produced the best forecasting models. Multiple environmental variables showed marked improvements in prediction over single-environmental-variable models.


KEY POINTS
A 10-year-old previously healthy boy presented to the emergency department with 6 days of persistent fever; 4 days of abdominal pain, emesis and diarrhea; and bilateral nonpurulent conjunctivitis and red cracked lips. Four weeks before presentation, the patient had had 3 days of headache


This study examines the presence of contagion effects associated with the failure of First RepublicBank. Banks are segregated on the basis of whether their stock price reactions are likely due to industry-based information effects or contagion effects. Also considered are announcements during the same period of time associated with third world loans. Results fail to substantiate the presence of contagion effects. Copyright 1991 by MIT Press.


From purpose and scope: The purpose of this report is to present and interpret information on water-quality conditions in the Broward County canal system from 1969-74 for use by agencies involved with water management and other interested concerns or individuals.


The article introduces the optimization of replace method of ladle lifting cylinder on CSP slab continuous casting,the optimization not only save the replace time,but also improve the repair efficiency.


* Mr. Sharaf, president of Sharaf's Inc. (Boston, Mass.) has been affiliated with the food service industry for thirty-two years. He operates a chain of eight restaurants in the Metropolitan Boston Area and is currently the president of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. Dishroom renovation for the employees' cafeteria of the New England Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Boston had been under consideration for


This paper introduces and analyzes an algorithm for adaptation of the reference trajectory of a human or robot arm interacting with a novel environment. The algorithm, based on the minimization of interaction force and performance error by satisfying a desired impedance, yields a mathematically rigorous model of the underlying mechanism of motion planning adaptation in humans. Simulations demonstrate a decrease of the interaction force to a limited amount as well as identification of the unknown interaction surface shape. These properties are attractive for adaptive motion of robots interacting with unknown surfaces, providing a robust behavior with little demand on the sensing.


The invention provides an FIFO storer control method and device. The method comprises the steps that when write enable and write data are effective, a storage stage of an FIFO storer is judged; if no data is stored in the FIFO storer, the write data are written into a storage unit R1 and an outlet of the FIFO storer, and write data at the outlet of the FIFO storer can be directly read. The storage unit R1 is arranged close to the output end. Compared with the prior art and according to the FIFO storer control method and device, a data selecting module is arranged in the FIFO storer, the positions of data writing and data reading can be selected, and the change of the input end of the FIFO storer can be directly reflected to the output end of the FIFO storer in the same time period. Meanwhile, when data are written each time, the write data are written into a memory unit, and follow-up original data taking and analysis are facilitated. The FIFO storer control method and device solves the delay problem in a traditional FIFO storer and improves the application range of the FIFO stoere.


Fetal connective tissue is known to have a very high concentration of hyaluronan (HA) and of water. In rabbit pups the concentration of HA in the lung has its lowest value one day before term gestation (Am J Physiol 260, 1449, 1991). After birth an increase in lung HA is accompanied by an increase in lung water (Ped Res 1992;32: 635& 1994;35:280).AIM: To determine the concentration of HA and water in the lung of infants who died less than 24 hours after birth.RESULTS: The HA concentration in the lungs of infants born after 23-27 gestational weeks (g.w.)ranged between 1030-2832 μg/g dry lung weight(n=8) and in those born after 2 28 g.w. between 374-1875 μg/g(n=21). The relation between HA concentration and gestational age seemed exponential. Lung water content was high in all infants. HA staining in lung structures was more widely spread in very preterm than in more mature infants. A subepithelial lining of HA could be seen in moderately preterm infants.CONCLUSION: The concentration of hyaluronan in the lungs of newborn infants decreased with increasing gestational age at births. The water content of thp lungs of all infants in this study was high.


Summary Attempts have been made to find a means of increasing the amount of isoniazid (INH) which mice will tolerate. In the DBA strain of mice; INH alone was lethal for 45% of the animals when 5 mg/20 g mouse (250 mg/kg) were given orally. With an 8 mg dose of INH, lethal per se, simultaneous administration of as little as 25 mg glycine and 10 mg sodium glucuronate mono-hydrate was sufficient to keep alive all the animals tested. By the use of appropriate amounts of the 2 detoxifying chemicals, all mice survived either a single oral dose of 25 mg INH, or 3 doses of 8 mg daily, or 13 doses of 10 mg each given at 72-hour intervals. Larger amounts were not tolerated. A study of the blood plasma concentrations of INH showed that, whereas 24 hours after a 4-mg dose alone only a negligible amount remained, appreciably higher concentrations, approximately 6-fold, persisted for a longer period following 8 or 10 mg INH in combined treatment. In the proportions tested, sodium glucuronate and glycine had no effect on the bacteriostatic action of INH in vitro on one human strain of tubercle bacilli.


In the present contribution, electrospinning of two chemically distinct thermoplastic elastomers based on block copolymers of styrene and isoprene [i.e., multi-armed poly(styrene-b-isoprene) (PS-PI) and linear poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) (PS-PI-PS)] was reported for the first time. Either 1,2-dichloroethane or chloroform was used as the solvent. The effects of solution concentration, solvent, applied electrical potential, chemical structure of the thermoplastic elastomers, and solution feed rate on morphological appearance and/or size of the as-electrospun products were investigated mainly by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrospinnability of the polymer solutions was found to increase with increasing solution concentration. The size of the as-spun products from PS-PI solutions in 1,2-dichloroethane was consistently smaller than that of the products from the solutions in chloroform. The increase in the applied electrical potential caused the size of the as-spun products from both types of the polymer solutions to decrease monotonously or decrease with initial increase in the applied potential, reach a minimum at an intermediate value, and increase with further increasing applied potential. Despite the difference in the chemical structure of the two elastomers, the viscosity of their solutions in 1,2-dichloroethane was essentially similar, but the size of the as-spun products from PS-PI solutions was consistently larger than that of the products from PS-PI-PS solutions.


A village is the most archaic form of residence.Traditional architecture in villages owns its characteristics developing from its natural environment,culture and economy.In recent years,many traditional villages are beginning to deteriorate due to the impact of economic development and alien culture.However,their remaining and practical value of traditional villages and traditional architecture are worth discussion.Zhu jia yu is one of typical north China traditional villages that remains intact which is of significance to study existing traditional villages and their traditional architecture.


A strategy for selecting active constraints in a design optimization program is proposed. The strategy differs from previous ones in that it suggests a combination of local and global knowledge. This knowledge may be analytical in nature, such as the one provided by monotonicity analysis. But it may also be provided by an expert. The strategy is proposed as a first attempt toward development of knowledge-based iteration procedures for optimization.


Worsened mixing airflow,bad flame temperature distribution and bad combustion effect in CO Waste Heat Boiler of RFCCU Unit in Certain Petrochemical Branch Co.,SINOPEC happen in the operation.To solve these problems,the work and construction features of gas burner are analyzed,and a study on airflow pattern,airflow mixing and fundamentals of the flame stabilizing quality of gas burner is made.The gas distribution system is recalculated,a reconstruction plan is proposed.The combustion process of gas and air in gas burner before and after reconstruction are simulated based on the computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT.The simulation result indicates that flame temperature distribution is well and the combustion is perfect after reconstruction.The reconstruction plan of gas burner is reasonable and feasible.


In her groundbreaking study of late seventeenthand early eighteenth-century literary production, Social Authorship and the Advent of Print (1999), Margaret Ezell observes that the period still lack[s] a clear description of the nature of manuscript literary activity, After Print: Eighteenth-Century Manuscript Cultures he descriptions that these 12 essays posit do more than simply respond to a lacuna in scholarship identified some two decades ago; they also demonstrate, in the words of the editor, Rachael Scarborough King, that this period, , challenges that literary history of the last 30 years has privileged. The collection reveals insights into several recent directions in transatlantic, Anglophone eighteenth-century studies: the history of science, queer theory, and archival remediation in digital environments. Throughout, the essayists disrupt the dominant narratives about both the telos and the predominance of print, offering myriad examples of scribblers choosing manuscript over print circulation and of texts that moved from print to manuscript.


The consumers' preferences and their reasons for vegetable consumption were examined with the aim to provide useful information to increase the consumption of these food items. Consumers' general viewpoints about vegetable consumption were examined using an online questionnaire. The study was conducted on a sample of 711 respondents chosen randomly and obtained data were analyzed by the correspondence analysis. Results suggest that consumers consider vegetables as tasty, easy to use and healthy for consumption. The main drawbacks for vegetable consumption are safety issues, short shelf-life and high price. In order to increase the consumption of these foodstuffs, each type of fresh and processed vegetable should have a specifically designed campaign, emphasizing its specific attribute. Obtained results might provide an insight into the current state of consumers' behavior in Serbia and might be useful for creating specific promotional programs and more appropriate communication strategies aiming to increase consumers' knowledge about the importance of regular vegetable consumption. They should raise consumers' awareness by emphasizing the importance of adequate daily vegetable consumption. This, in turn, should improve public health and reduce the health and economic costs of massive chronic diseases caused by inadequate diet.


Rare-metal free ferromagnetic material $L{1}_{0}$ FeNi with large uniaxial magnetic anisotropy has attracted much attention for broad use of magnetic materials in various applications. While single-crystal films of $L{1}_{0}$ FeNi can be made by layer-by-layer epitaxial growth, magnitude of the uniaxial anisotropy has been lower than expected because of the imperfection of the crystal atomic structure. Here, a nitrogen (N) -surfactant epitaxial growth below 150 K is employed for overcoming interlayer mixing of the atoms at the interface. Ordered $L{1}_{0}$ FeNi films are successfully prepared on the Cu(001) substrate precovered by a ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{N}$ monolayer. The role of the N surfactant and the absence of the intermixing among Fe and Ni during the deposition and annealing processes were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Element-specific magnetic properties were in situ studied by soft-x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The observed Fe hysteresis curve and XMCD of the nitrogen-covered Ni/Fe/Ni trilayer indicate an out-of-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy large enough for dominating the film shape anisotropy. The N-surfactant epitaxy provides a useful method for fabricating well-ordered magnetic materials without rare metals.


The present invention provides a unique manner of identifying the Frame boundaries in multiple identical/ non identical Synchronization Channels (SCHs) in different sub-frames via a new sub frame position difference method. The method implements the differences between the different sub frames carried by the SCH. The sub frame identity, and hence the frame boundary, can be identified by calculating the difference between the positions, based on time or number of slots/ sub-frames or any data packets, of the two subsequent slots/ sub-frames or any identical data packets.


This is a translation into English of an article written by Professor Pieper in the 14th volume of Theologische Quartalschrift. This short article encourages the reader to become well acquainted with the writings and life principles of Martin Luther.


In the past,the study about disaster in history put emphasis on three aspects, the disaster itself,the relation between society and disaster,and how to deal with disaster.It has two ways,one is disaster-historical way,the other is disaster-sociological way,both neglect humanism in the disaster.Thus how to span the scope of each subject,and study the humanism in the disaster,becomes an important issue.


This thesis examines the interaction of xyloglucan, the major hemicellulosic component of type I primary plant cell walls, with cellulose. Initial attempts to form xyloglucan-cellulose complexes by in vitro association methods are described, which gave low levels of interaction, with features not similar to those found in primary wall networks. The majority of the work focusses on the use of the bacterium Acetobacter aceti ssp. xylinum (ATCC 53524), which synthesise highly pure, crystalline cellulose as an extracellular polysaccharide. Addition of xyloglucan to a cellulose-synthesising bacterial culture results in the formation of cellulose-xyloglucan networks with ultrastructural and molecular features similar to those of the networks of higher plants. Applicatioon of the bacterial fermentation system is extended to incorporate the polysaccharides glucomannan, galactomannan, xylan, mixed-linkage glucan, pectin and carboxymethylcellulose, all of which impart unique architectural and molecular effects on the composistes formed. Preliminary data on the mechanical properties of composite structures under large and small deformation conditions are also described.


We have developed a high-performance time digitizer system using a superconductor technology for high-energy and nuclear physics detector instrumentation, CMOS chip diagnostics, and military applications. The system consists of an 8-channel, RSFQ multi-hit Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) integrated into a single system with a semiconductor VXI interface and control modules. The Digitizer operation and output digital data analysis are performed and fully controlled using custom PC-based LabVIEW/sup TM/ software. This all-digital TDC contains eight 9-hit, 14-bit, 20-GHz TDC channels on a 1 cm /spl times/1 cm chip. The TDC chip is capable of operation in Common Start and Common Stop modes. The VXI digitizer part comprises a 200 MS/s, 8-channel data receiver module, a TDC control module, and a commercial VXI-PCI link. The data receiver module converts data into ECL format. The TDC control module based on Xilinx CPLD technology sorts this data and also controls the superconductive RSFQ chip operation by producing all necessary control and readout signals. We present results of operation and experimental performance evaluation of this system.


In this paper, for the purpose of monitoring people moving on the ground from a low-altitude aerial vehicle, we propose a method for stable image stabilization using planar information of the ground. In existing methods the homography-based method has been popularly used for image stabilization. However, in case that captured images consist of non-planar areas, the performance of the homography-based method decreases. The essential-based method works well in this scene, but the accuracy gets worse in case that images mainly include planar areas. Thus in the proposed method, we utilize the Geometric Robust Information Criterion (GRIC) model to choose a method from the homography-based method or the essential-based method. After the selection of the method, we extract a planar area in the scene by fitting a plane using RANSAC, followed by detection of people on the ground with high accuracy. Experimental results confirm that the effectiveness of the proposed method.


In this paper, the interactions between a large informed trader (IT, for short) and a high-frequency trader (HFT, for short) who can anticipate the former's incoming order are studied in an extended Kyle's (1985) model. Equilibria under various specific situations are discussed. Relying on the speed advantage, HFT always trades in the same direction as the large order in advance. However, whether or not she provides liquidity depends on her inventory aversion, the prediction accuracy, and the market activeness. She may supply liquidity back (act as a front-runner) or continue to take it away (in this case we call her a small IT). Small IT always harms the large trader while front-runner may benefit her. Besides, we find surprisingly that (1) increasing the noise in HFT's signal may in fact decrease IT's profit; (2) although providing liquidity, a front-runner may harm IT more than a small IT.


One of the effects of exposure to ionizing radiation of either the egg or sperm of the sea urchin is a delay in the time of first division of the fertilized egg. The remarkably synchronous first cleavage of the Arbacia punctulata zygote makes it exceptional material for quantitative studies. In an excellent series of early experiments Henshaw (1, 2) showed that the magnitude of the radiation-induced cleavage delay decreased as the time between irradiation and fertilization was extended. No such "recovery" was exhibited by irradiated sperm. Recently, however, a postfertilization recovery process has been demonstrated for both irradiated eggs and sperm (3). This process involves a prolongation of the first division cycle by anoxia during which time the radiation effect is reduced. Observations on this process have now been extended and are described below.


The research team is based in the Faculty of Health Sciences, at the University of Sydney and is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The team includes experienced researchers and early career researchers who bring a depth of knowledge of research methods as well as research higher degree students, honours students and enthusiastic research assistants. The project was conceived in collaboration with management and frontline staff from NSW Ageing Disability and Home Care, Western Region. Their contribution to the project design and ongoing support has been invaluable to the project's success.


The pedestrian comfort and safety level in mass transit stations is now attracting more and more attention in the past few years for the reason that the congested pattern in stations resulted from complex pedestrian activities including using the ticket add value machine, buying a ticket, shopping, waiting for services etc. Thus multi-directional pedestrian flows interact with each other and finally formed a relatively complex pedestrian distribution. To evaluate the crowdedness of the station for the convenient of crowd control, the crowded pedestrians are simulated with a heterogeneous network model in combined with a collision avoidance model. Based on the network model, a spatial configuration related station network is constructed, on which pedestrian flow can be formulized. At last, a station flow scenario is simulated and discussed with the formulized model to evaluate the complex activities induced crowdedness in metro station.


The present invention relates to the field of anti-counterfeiting technology, discloses a method for producing a color codon. The method comprising: according to actual needs, the one or more patterns to determine the order of coloring matter; added sequentially laminated film pattern according to the order of arrangement; forming a thin film and then dried; good film forming the milled into fine particles; codon presenting the color pattern; codon pattern presenting at least 100-fold magnifying glass. Method for producing color codons present invention provides a simple, reliable, low cost, with strong promotion and application value.


We define cofinite graphs and cofinite groupoids in a unified way that extends the notion of cofinite groups introduced by Hartley. The common underlying structure of all these objects is that they are directed graphs endowed with a certain type of uniform structure, that we call a cofinite uniformity. We begin by exploring the fundamental theory of cofinite directed graphs in full generality. The general theory turns out to be almost completely analogous to that of cofinite groups. For instance, every cofinite directed graph has a unique completion which is a com- pact cofinite direct graph. Moreover, compact cofinite directed graphs are precisely the profinite directed graphs, i.e., projective limits of finite discrete topological directed graphs. We then apply the general theory to directed graphs with additional structure such as graphs (in the sense of Serre) and groupoids, thus leading to the notions of cofinite graphs and cofinite groupoids. Cofinite groupoids with only ?finitely many identities behave much the same as cofinite groups, which are the same thing as cofinite groupoids with a single identity. However the situation for cofinite groupoids with infinitely many identities is more complicated.


Many authors have written about sustainability and how companies endeavor to manage for sustainability goals. Less research exists about the individual motivation of employees to get engaged and st...


_ _ Acid deposition has aroused concern about aquatic organisms in soft water lakes and streams, as the loss of indigenous species is commonly observed when pH decreases. This literature review was initiated to intensively examine the distribution of invertebrates with respect to pH, in order to define the tolerance limits of various species in acidified waters and predict how acidification would alter distributions. We hypothesized that two patterns would emerge from t he dat:a base constructed: 1 ) taxonomic groups with external ('akium requirements, such as molluscs, would be poorly repn-!~Pnted in acidic waters; and 2) taxonomic groups with a great diwrsity of species occupying many microhabitats W(lUld di!!play broad response to pH. Over 2,000 minimum pH values for 9 major ta~onomic group!; of aquatic organisms were compiled from the literature (on both field and laboratory studies). The range of minimum pf-1 values within each group was quite broad , especially for the algae, aquatic insects, rotifers, and crustaceans. The organisms with the fewest observations in low pH environments Wt.'re the molluscs and leeches; they rarely occurred below pH 5.7. ln contrast, the median of the minimum pfl values for fish was 5.6. Sevt>ral general patlerns emerged from this review: 1) the grcatesL rt'ducLi()n in number of species for all groups occurred betwPen the pH interval 6.1 and 5.2; 2) with the exception of cyprinids and darters, fish are not remarkably sensitive to acidic waters. which means other taxonomic groups would be more desirable as early indicators of stress eau::wd by acidification; and 3) because of the large intraspecic!:i variation in response to hydrogen ion concentration, it is difl'icplt to predict biological response to acidification in one region l>a~ed on the response observed in another region. Caution must be exercised in i11terpreti ng minimum pH values dPrived from this wClrk. Problems in interpretation include· unct"rlaint.y about t.he accuracy of t.he pH measurements. correlation of other chemical parameters with pH , confounding biological factors, and biased information sourc·us j such as ~urvuys of hard water sites). KEY WOROS: Acidic Environments, Aquatic Invert<'brat<'s. Aquatic Organisms, Literature Review, pH, pH Tolerance. Aquatic Organisms in Acidic Environments: A Literature Review by Joseph M. Eilers Gregory J. Lien Richard G. Berg Technical Bulletin No. 150 Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 7921 Madison, Wisconsin 53707


This article tests and analyses the preliminary drawing value and the process schedule of aging and the change regularity of remaining stress quenching of 7075 aluminium alloy plates.in pace with increase of reliminary drawing,the remaining stress of rolling direction and transverse direction change from the compressive stress into that of drawing stress when the preliminary drawing value is 2%,the rest remaining stress is reduced to zero;with the rise aging temperature and the increase of aging time,the remaining stress of rolling direction and transverse direction show the sign of decline.The reasonable preliminary drawing.


This paper focuses on the modelling of compressor data for use in real-time engine models where speed of execution is critical. The objective of this investigation was to develop a new technique for interpolation and extrapolation of manufacturer data to create extended, denser maps.


This talk will give an overview over three related research prototypes for ambient interactive systems. We start by introducing NEMO, the Network Environment for Multimedia Objects. NEMO is a smart media environment for semantically rich, personalised, and device-specific access to and interaction with multimedia objects. Next, a shared electronic whiteboard called ShareBoard is decribed. The goal of ShareBoard is to deliver a natural user interface to working with electronic whiteboards. Integrated within ShareBoard are input devices to recognise the movement of users in the surrounding space and for sensing 3D-gesture. ShareBoard can make use of media objects in NEMO. Last, we introduce the Modular Awareness Construction Kit. MACK is a framework for developing context aware, ambient intelligent systems that blend seamlessly with the users' everyday route, enabling unobtrusive in-situ interaction and facilitating enhanced cooperation and communication. In the future, MACK is to deliver contextual information to both NEMO and ShareBoard. 62 Jörg Cassens, Florian Scharf, Felix Schmitt, Michael Herczeg


LATP ceramic electrolytes have been prepared by sintering combinations of LATP powder and CeO2 nano-powder. The phase formation of LiTi2(PO4)3 (LTP) and the secondary phase formation of the fine CePO4 particles scattered in LATP ceramics were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. The morphology of ceramic sample was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The elemental distribution was investigated using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The CeO2 addition improves the electrical conductivity. CeO2 nano-powder added LATP ceramics with 3 wt% CeO2 sintered at 800°C for 1h have a high ionic conductivity of 0.56 mS.cm-1 at room temperature with an activation energy of 0.15 eV.


Invisibility cloaks, an advanced stealth technology that completely eliminates the scattering of an object in parts of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is proposed by scientists in theory with some verification experiments. The complex medium parameters for cloaks with arbitrary geometries can be analytically obtained, which highly improve the flexibility for cloak design. The concept of the invisibility cloaks may lead to new and unexpected developments in stealth technology.


Many studies in the field of innovation focus on novelty and technology, but recent literature and contemporary design practices have proposed an alternative view. Innovation has instead been sugge ...


12:50 pm – Introduction Update from the NRRR Committee 1:00 pm – Session 1 Zhongying Zhao Studies of gene functions at high spatio/temporal resolution Martin Jones High Resolution Analysis of C. elegans Deficiencies 2:00 pm – Starbucks Coffee Break 2:30 pm – Session 2 Pavitra Narasimha A nuclear role for HAM-1 in asymmetric neuroblast divisions Conny Lin Developing a model for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in C. elegans 3:30 pm – Fermantas Coffee Break Coffee and snacks (courtesy of Fermentas) 4:00 pm – Session 3 Max Boeck Not so Redundant, the Distinct Roles of end-1 and end-3 in Endoderm Formation Don Moerman Comparative Genome Hybridization: A versatile tool for exploring the C. elegans genome 5:30 pm – Poster Session with Pizza 6:30 pm – Pub Night Seattle-Vancouver Worm Meeting Friday, March 28th, 2008 1:00 pm Michael Smith Building Lecture Theatre


This doctoral study reports on an investigation into the 'virtual rhetorics of Nature' in the multiuser virtual environment, Second Life. Second Life represents a relatively new medium for examining the reproduction of cultural ideologies regarding 'natural(ized) worlds' and our roles in that. Beginning from a critical standpoint that interrogates the role of cultural industries in reproducing consumer capitalism (and thus its corresponding patterns of environmental degradation), the study investigates questions of environmental communication, commodification and resistance, employing theoretical frameworks from Henry Jenkins on aspects of new media and 'the prosumer'. Because the islands, cities, and forests of Second Life are largely user-created, the medium affords a unique space for researching the significance of multiple voices on the 'rhetorics of Nature'. It is also a largely democratized public sphere where technology is foregrounded (due to its novelty and complexity) and obscured (due to its immersive realism), prompting learning and reflection by even the most casual users. Drawing on Remediation Theory, the study also includes an historical overview of 'virtual nature' and an exploration of the rhetorical power of images, monuments, and museums. Data and analysis are organized into three parts: (1) close readings of a small sample of naturalistic constructions in Second Life, modeled on prior rhetorical analysis of actual spaces; (2) interviews with the original designers of Second Life's world-building systems as well as the users who create and virtually inhabit these phenomenally real spaces; and (3) a study of the circulation of messages and learnings about virtual nature beyond Second Life in blogs, websites, and other traditional media. Implications for further investigation of Nature in the various emerging forms of pseudo-reality (virtual, hybrid, augmented, and so forth) are discussed, including the need for formalized analytical structures, how to respond to ever-more-convincingly real and evolving virtual worlds, extensions of ethnographic research approaches to virtual residents, and the impact of these technologies on the natural systems that support life on this planet.


The Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) onboard Cassini has recorded spectra in the far and mid-infrared since 2004 with a spectral resolution of up to 0.5 cm -1 . Mismatch between observed spectra and model spectra obtained from the available line lists has led us to study the spectroscopic parameters of HC3N, C4H2 and C2N2, the longest gas phase carbon chains observed so far on Titan. Band intensities, hot band intensities, and line lists were systematically verified by comparison with new laboratory spectra. Erroneous band intensities as well as an absence or shortage of hot band transitions in the line lists leading to model-data mismatches and inaccurate quantifications have been found. Improvement in the spectroscopic parameters has led to the detection of 13 C isotopologues of HC3N [1] and C4H2 [2]. The study on C2N2 opens the way to the detection of 15 N isotopologues whose abundances could give some clues to understand the origin and the evolution of Titan's atmosphere [3]. Also, the higher accuracy of spectroscopic data used to model CIRS spectra will facilitate the search for longer carbon chains on Titan such as HC5N, C6H2 and C4N2. Our recent measurements obtained at the SOLEIL synchrotron far infrared beam line of band intensities of C4H2 in the far and mid infrared domain have shown strong discrepancies with previous results [4]. Band intensities of C4N2 have also been studied in the far infrared. Errors in previous publications have been found and the intensity of the 9 has been determined for the first time.


A set of predictive rules governing the likelihood of generating a particular peptide–major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II complex from an intact antigen has not been fully elucidated. We investigated the influence of positional and structural constraints in the region of the epitope by designing a set of recombinant antigens that each contained the well‐characterized T‐cell epitope moth cytochrome c (MCC) (88–103), which is specifically recognized by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) D4 when complexed with H‐2Ek. Our model antigens contained MCC(88–103) either peripherally, at or towards the C‐terminus, or internally. Their abilities to bind directly to soluble H‐2Ek, and the extent of D4 epitope formation from them by antigen processing‐competent and ‐incompetent cell lines, were determined. Here we report that three of these four antigens yielded MCC(88–103)/H‐2Ek complexes independently of the conventional MHC class II antigen‐processing and presentation pathway, and in each case the epitope was carried peripherally; two bound directly as intact proteins, probably as a result of spatial separation of the epitope from the major globular domain, and one was processed to peptide by a cell‐surface protease. One protein, which carried the epitope inserted into an internal loop, acted as a conventional processing‐dependent MCC(88–103) delivery vehicle. Thus, this epitope has different presentation requirements depending on its context. These antigens constitute a panel whose framework could be modified to further define predictive rules for antigen processing for presentation through the different MHC class II complex‐generating pathways.


The Navier-Stokes equations for steady incompressible flows, in primitive variable form, have been soived using the pseudo-compressibility concept. The present paper deals with applying a third order accurate upwind differenced Total Variational Diminishing ( T V D ) scheme to the convection terms coupled with standard central differences for the viscous diffusion terms. The equations are solved using approximate factorization with an implicit multigrid method for convergence acceleration. This method of solving the Navier-Stokes equations has been implemented in the David Taylor Navier-Stokes ( D T N S ) series of multiple block computer codes which are demonstrated here. Solutions are provided for laminar and turbulent flows along with convergence histories. These results demonstrate that the use of the multigrid scheme can increase convergence rates dran~atically. In addition, it is shown that splitting geometries into mult.iple blocks does not slow down the convergence significantly.


Objective To isolate and elucidate the structures of the chemical constituents from China mangrove plant Sonneratia ovata.Methods The compounds were separated by silica gel,Sephadex LH20 chromatographies.The structures of isolated compounds were identified by analysis of their spectral data and physical chemical properties.Results Seven known compounds:ocotillol(1),ursolic acid(2),betulin(3),lupeol(4),1β-hydroxy-lupeol(5),β-sitosterol(6) and sitosterol-4-en-3-one(7) were isolated.Conclusions All compounds above are isolated from Sonneratia ovata for the first time.Compounds 1,5 and 7 are isolated from the Sonneratia for the first time.


PurposeFollowing the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the main challenge for the agrofood sector is to innovate food production, offering sustainable, smart and safe solutions. The future of food production will be oriented more and more towards sustainable industries with high technological content to guarantee food safety and food security. It implies that a change not only in the way food is conceived, but also in the way it is produced, processed and consumed is needed. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of innovation, sustainability, smartness and health within the agrofood industry.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was conducted using 596 academic documents written in English language and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals as well as in conference proceedings. The relevant articles were analyzed using both a bibliometric and a systematic approach.FindingsThe results confirm the role of innovation and sustainability as key drivers in the food industry. The main findings concern the benefits deriving from the adoption of digital technologies, the ever-increasing involvement of consumers in health and environmental issues and the introduction of the open innovation concept in the agrofood industry.Originality/valueThis study jointly considers the dimensions of innovation, sustainability, smartness and health in the agrofood sector, demonstrating how they are strongly interdependent.


The SWIPE (Space Wireless Sensor Networks for Planetary Exploration) project uses Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) to characterise the surface of the Moon. The envisaged scenario is that hundreds of small wireless sensor nodes dropped onto the Moon surface will collect scientific measurements. An ad-hoc WSN connecting these nodes will propagate the measurement data to sink nodes for uploading to a lunar orbiter and a subsequent transmission to Earth. The data gathered from the sensors will be processed using state-of-the-art data fusion techniques to overcome the restricted energy and bandwidth resources. In this paper, we first provide a short survey of classical data fusion techniques for WSNs. We then introduce data fusion architectures for the SWIPE project. Building on this, we propose data processing algorithms that enable energy conservation and processing efficiency in the proposed SWIPE architectures. The proposed algorithms are evaluated via a series of simulation models. The results show that the proposed algorithms can efficiently reduce the amount of the transmitted scientific data providing a good level of accuracy in the data reconstruction. Furthermore, they are able to correctly evaluate the node health status.


Given article is devoted to development inclusive education as modern direction in pedagogy. The role of the psychological-medical-pedagogical commission in the organization of training of children with the limited opportunities of health is analyzed. Experience of training children of preschool and school age with special educational needs is described.


This paper introduced the structure of swing oscillating tooth decelerator and characteristic of Solid Edge software, realized entity modeling and the virtual assembly of swing oscillating tooth decelerator using Solid Edge, produced the central gear two practical designs method,at the same time the variable design realization causes the product design more vivid and direct-viewing.


Objective: We studied the renal blood flow and the dynamics of renal function (serum creatinine) by significant reduction in blood pressure after endovascular renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) in long-term observations. Design and method: Single-institution study was initiated in essentially hypertensive patients with BP > 160/100 mm Hg despite three or more antihypertensive drugs. All participants of research have given the informed agreement. Primary efficacy endpoints: changes of renal function at 1 (n = 37), 2 (n = 32) and 3 (n = 11) Years after RSD, secondary – changes in renal blood flow (ultrasound dopplerography velocity (V) and resistive index (RI)) during 1st years, at 24 and 36 months after RSD. RSD was done bilaterally using transfemoral access (4–8 ablation points, temperature control mode, target t = 50 C, power limit = 8 watt, duration = 2 min). The patients were instructed to maintain pharmacotherapy unchanged during the study. Results: RSD was performed in patients 52.2 ± 9.1 old years of remaining 12 month of follow-up, Two treated patients refused to continue in the study, 1 patient moved and was lost to follow-up. No immediate damage of renal arteries was detected in all cases by intraoperative rational control angiography. Serum creatinine did not change significant through follow up: start 82.7 ± 19.6, after 1Y 86.2 ± 23.8 p = 0.11 and 2Y 86.7 ± 20.7 = 0.07 and 3Y 79.6 ± 16.0 p = 0.21. No significant changes in renal blood flow were found initially and during 1/ 2/ 3 years of follow-up: Vtrunc 80.0 ± 20.0 and 83.0 ± 20.7/90.3 ± 18.7/89.2 ± 17.6 cm/s p = 0.34/0.18/0.26; Vsegm. 43.5 ± 9.2 and 44.1 ± 9.9/40.2 ± 10.2/48.3 ± 7.9 cm/s p = 0,64/0,09/0.16. But the RI in the segmental arteries was significantly decreased after RSD 0.65 ± 0.09 and 0.59 ± 0.06/0.62 ± 0.06/0.59 ± 0.08 p = 0.008/0.041/0.045. Conclusions: Kidney blood flow and serum creatinine did not change significantly, but a significant and prolonged reduced peripheral vascular resistance after renal sympathetic denervation in patients with resistant hypertension by long-term observations of after the RSD.


The coal mine enterprise as the main energy industry in China, in the process of its production management must constantly strengthen management. In order to increase the output of coal mine production, the enterprise use of machinery and equipment more and more, in the use of these devices of hydraulic equipment is more and more attention, it can improve and enhance the efficiency of coal production and transportation equipment, and to reduce the labor intensity of workers. This paper introduces the present situation of coal mine safety production, fine management of information under the network environment of hydraulic machine are discussed in this paper.


As a key rotating component of machinery and equipment, the bearing's condition monitoring and remaining useful life prediction are critical. If we can simultaneously monitor the multiple failure characteristics using one model, the fault detection efficiency and RUL prediction accuracy can be improved. In this paper, we propose a multi-feature health index that can track the degradation trends of different types of faults simultaneously. For data preprocessing, the fast Fourier transform and hyperbolic tangent function transform are used to convert the vibration signal into spectral features as input for constructing the health indicator. The health index, with the help of the hyperbolic tangent transform, can identify early faults earlier than those without the hyperbolic tangent transform. In constructing the health indicators, the orthogonal property can simultaneously track the three types of defects. The addition of sparse terms makes the weight matrix exhibit significant sparsity, which can help distinguish the frequency bands where different types of faults occur and help improve the generalization performance of the project matrix. The XJTU dataset is used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method for tracking the degradation trend of different bearing fault.


Aimed at the fuel consuming balance research for maintenance control of formation flying satellites,the performance index is established based on the assignment problem model of integer programming,the formation target state is determined by the relative motion equation of formation flying satellites,by use of the relative eccentricity vector and the inclination vector,the characteristic velocity matrix is calculated,and the problem is solved by the Hungary algorithm.The simulation results indicate that the method is flexible and it can balance the fuel consuming of the formation satellites efficiently,it can be used off-line to analyze the formation mission or program the formation flying autonomous control system in real time.


A method is given for the determination of 1/Q and its frequency and range dependence, using the spectral shift of body waves. By means of this method, the effective Q for compressional waves in the upper 125 km of the earth in north central United States is found to be about 475.


The present invention relates to a structure and a method of manufacturing an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device designed to repair the data line open defect, and more particularly, minimizing the arm (暗) lighting of pixels on the array substrate for a liquid crystal display device. The present invention is to design the common line, the first vertical line and a second vertical line and the first and second vertical lines are configured to both sides around the data line, the first horizontal line and a second connecting under horizontal line and is extended in the pixel area neighboring characterized by consisting of a third horizontal line connected to the second vertical line. With this configuration, the data line is open in the process of repairing them, the first and second horizontal lines and the first vertical line only being used to repair the wiring, wherein the first and second horizontal lines above the cut isolated from the second vertical line has been linked to the third horizontal line, and can be applied to the common signal. Therefore, there is an advantage to minimize the image degradation because the common line is the difference between the common signal can be minimized, which is applied between the pixel region and the normal pixel region using the repair line.


This paper introduces the outline of the pavement maintenance engineering of2003year's Ninglian-Ningtong expressway,its problems encountered,solutions and some new techniques.Through theoretical analysis and practical applications it also proposes some suggestions of the maintenance engineering.


In the age of the information society, the possibilities for problems of personal data protection related to the danger and threat of adverse consequences for the individual are extremely high. Violation of the right of the individual in connection with the disclosure of personal data is an encroachment on privacy. This paper examines the nature of the right to the protection of personal data, which is an integral part of the right to privacy. On the basis of the analysis of the right to protection of personal data, its essential features, characteristic for the basic human rights, are derived. On this basis, the role of the right to personal data protection is outlined, finding application in various spheres of modern life.


From the end of September to mid December 2004 (and during the days of sound design), a demonstration of PHASE will be presented in the children's galery at the Pompidou centre, in the form of an interactive installation offering the public a musical game. Different from a video game the aim is not to animate the pixels on the screen but to play with the music and to incite a musical awareness. The pedagogical aspect is therefore important, children are also concerned by the system. The demonstration is not the only objective of PHASE since an important part of the project has been to experiment and research the use of the movement of the visual and sound haptic feedback with the aim of manipulating the music.


Globalization is a package of interrelated measures
including tariff liberalization and encouragement to FDI. The question to be
posed is whether these measures produce similar effects reinforcing each other
or they have contradictory effects. We use a three-sector general equilibrium model
to show that foreign capital inflow produces unfavorable effects on
unemployment and welfare while tariff liberalization produces positive effects
on these variables.


Interactions between T and B cells are dynamic and regulated by interacting receptor: co‐receptors. Interactions between CD40 and its ligand, gp39, and the CD28/CTLA‐4 and B7 family members play a decisive role in regulating the progression of cognate interactions. The interdependence of gp39‐CD40 and CD28/CTLA‐B7 expression and function was studied in vitro during an antigeninduced immune response using T cells from mice expressing a transgenic T cell receptor (TCR). gp39 was induced on pigeon cytochrome c (PCC)‐transgenic T cells in the presence of antigen and antigen‐presenting cells. The antigen‐induced expression of gp39 on transgenic T cells was inhibited by antibodies to class II major histocompatibility complex, CD4 and LFA‐1, but not by CTLA‐4 Ig, anti‐B7‐1 or anti‐B7‐2. These data established that the antigen‐induced expression of gp39 was not dependent on co‐stimulation via CD28/CTLA‐4. The addition of PCC also resulted in the modest expression of B7‐1 and a more robust expression of B7‐2 on the cognate B cells. The addition of anti‐gp39 blocked the up‐regulated expression of B7‐1 and partially blocked the up‐regulated expression of B7‐2. The addition of anti‐gp39 and anti‐interleukin‐4 inhibited antigen‐induced expression of B7‐2 on B cells to near background levels. Studies on the up‐regulation of B7‐1 and B7‐2 on resting B cells showed that soluble gp39 up‐regulated B7‐1 and B7‐2 expression on B cells. In addition, interleukin‐4 and interferon‐γ up‐regulated B7‐2 expression on B cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the antigen‐induced expression of gp39 is dependent on TCR‐derived signals, yet independent of CD28/CTLA‐4 co‐stimulatory signals. Cognate interactions also resulted in the modest enhancement of B7‐1 expression and a more profound expression of B7‐2 which were completely or partially dependent on gp39‐CD40 interactions.


The coastal lowland areas of Minami-Izu and Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, have been inundated by at least two tsunamis with wave heights of 5-6m during the past 400 years. Previous studies have analyzed the stratigraphy and paleoenviromental setting of Holocene terrestrial deposits in these areas based on one outcrop and sediment cores (8-11m long) from 13 sites, searching for evi - dence of tsunami deposits. These analyses yielded no evidence for pre-historical tsunami deposits. In the present study, we examined sediment cores from new three sites in the coastal lowland areas of Minami-Izu and southwest Shimoda. As with the previous studies, we found no evidence for pre-his - torical tsunami deposits in the terrestrial deposits.


The phytochemical constituents and in vitro antioxidant potentials of green, black, un-caffeinated, and herbal teas were evaluated and results compared. Green tea was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) higher in both total flavonoid content (TFC) (215.61±48.83 QE/mg) and total phenol content (124.81±79.05 GAEmg/ml) than others while un-caffeinated (411.55±9.21 GAEmg/ml), green (406.83±22.71 GAEmg/ml) and herbal (402.74±13.2 GAEmg/ml) teas exhibited significantly higher total tannin content (TTC) than black tea (325.14±108 GAEmg/ml). The un-caffeinated (184.32±33.62 QE/mg) and herbal (167.25±31.25 QE/mg) teas showed significantly higher TFC than the black tea (142.32±22.73 QE/mg). A positive correlation (r = 0.448) was observed between the TFC and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay as well as between TFC and 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl DPPH (r = 0.347) radical scavenging activities of the tea samples. Results suggest that tea samples contain phytochemicals of which green tea exhibited least radical scavenging activity while black tea showed the highest antioxidant potentials highlighting their roles in neutralizing the excess free radicals arising from metabolic activities in living systems.


Radioactive elements are elements whose isotopes have unstable nuclei, so they have the possibility to emit radiation through the decay process. Thorium-232 is one of the most stable radioactive elements with isotopes that have abundance in nature 3 times more than Uranium. The purpose of this research is to find the mass of remaining atoms in the Th-232 series which experience very slow decay through the alpha and beta decay process to become a stable core Pb-208. The settlement of radioactive chain decays usually uses very complicated differential concepts. The matrix algebra method is a solution to facilitate the completion of radioactive chain decay which can be implemented computationally through matlab programming. Research that occured on Th-232 with a mass of 7 gram for 1,34 x 1010 years ago showed that the parent nuclide had the most decay residual mass compared to its derived nuclides, because the half-life of the derived nuclide was shorter than the decay time. The number of decay residual mass owned by the parent nuclide is 3,596 grams. The results of this research indicate that the mass of residual radioactive decay is influenced by the half-life of each nuclide and the length of decay.


The development of knowledge and technology, particularly the development of information and communication technology, has created a new tradition and culture in human beings civilization. Electrical technology has a big impact on various kind of life including in educational sector in shaping a new light to high quality of teaching and learning. As the education system is continually changing, educators need to work hard to reform the educational system from the old system to a new one. The basic principle of education is to create a better education with high quality. For the purposes, it needs to develop a system of learning that work well in line with the development of knowledge and technology, particularly information and communication technology (ICT). ICT offers many benefits where a wide range of information available including the facilities to access learning-related information. These good offers to facilitate a better system of spreading knowledge should be enthusiastically received by educators. Educators may use ICT to access learning materials and write important information in special blog that can be read by students. The benefits of ICT are not restricted by place and time. Educators also have the benefits to design and create learning methods and learning model due to its practicality and easiness. On the side, the rapid growth of worldwide educational system and ICT requires good technological supports for people to have access to it from wherever they are.


Samples of SiCN ceramics were synthesized by thermal treatment of commercially available CERASET™ polyureasilazane, used as liquid-polymer precursor, at pyrolysis temperatures of 1000, 1050, 1100, 1150, and 1200°C. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals due to sp2-hybridized carbon-related dangling bonds were recorded over the 4–300K temperature range at X band (9.6GHz), and the spectra showed the presence of an intense EPR line with g=2.0027 at room temperature for all samples; at liquid helium temperature an additional line was seen present as a shoulder to main line. These two signals are due to carbon-related dangling bonds present as (i) defects on the free-carbon phase and (ii) within the bulk of SiCN ceramic network. The value of the antiferromagnetic exchange constant between dangling bonds in the various samples, not hitherto available in the literature, was estimated from the temperature variation of the EPR linewidth to be anywhere from J=−12 to J=−15K in the samples synthesized at 1000,...


ABSTRACTIn this article, we review Krigbaum's comments on our work on liquid crystalline polymers and point out that our results and interpretations still stand.


In human monocyte‐derived macrophages, the MCPIP gene (monocyte chemoattractant protein‐induced protein) is strongly activated by interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). Using bioinformatics, a PIN domain was identified, spanning amino acids 130‐280; such domains are known to possess structural features of RNases. Recently, RNase properties of MCPIP were confirmed on transcripts coding for interleukins IL‐6 and IL‐12p40. Here we present evidence that siRNA‐mediated inhibition of the MCPIP gene expression increases the level of the IL‐1β transcript in cells stimulated with LPS, whereas overexpression of MCPIP exerts opposite effects. Cells with an increased level of wild‐type MCPIP showed lower levels of IL‐1β mRNA. However, this was not observed when mutant forms of MCPIP, either entirely lacking the PIN domain or with point mutations in this domain, were used. The results of experiments with actinomycin D indicate that lower levels of IL‐1β mRNA are due to shortening of the IL‐1β transcript half‐life, and are not related to the presence of AU‐rich elements in the 3′ UTR. The interaction of the MCPIP with transcripts of both IL‐1β and MCPIP observed in an RNA immunoprecipitation assay suggests that this novel RNase may be involved in the regulation of expression of several genes.


The world social system is composed of all of the people on earth and all of their interrelationships. This has been called the sociosphere2, a concept analogous to the atmosphere or biosphere. A few of the world's people are horticultural scientists and they and their institutes, departments, and associations are components of the sociosphere. Thus horticultural research and horticultural knowledge are social matters and are subject to examination in terms of social values.


The rheological behavior of some Indian coal-water slurry (CWS) was investigated using a HAAKE RV30 viscometer. The objective was to study the effect of solid concentration, ash content, pH, and temperature on the rheology of CWS. It was found that CWS exhibits pseudoplastic behavior. The apparent viscosity varies with the amount of coal in the slurry, pH, and temperature, which is the highest around pH 6 and the lowest near pH 8. The effect of temperature on the viscosity could be described using an Arrhenius type of relation.


The pressure-induced shifts of optical spectral bands 4T2 and 2E for the preferential Cr3+-centered octahedron for Cr3+ at the Sc3+ site of the LiSc (WO 4)2 crystal have been calculated from crystal-field theory. From the calculation, the local linear compressibility d ln R/d p≈−3.3×10−4 kbar−1 for the Cr3+ center in a LiSc (WO 4)2 crystal is obtained. The result is discussed.


Herein, we present an extensive physicochemical characterization of a series of fluorinated and nonfluorinated carbamates and their application as electrolyte solvents comprising lithium trifluoromethanesulfonyl imide (LiTFSI) as conducting salt. In a second step, these electrolyte compositions were characterized with respect to their ionic conductivity, salt dissociation, and electrochemical stability toward oxidation. In a third step, selected fluorinated electrolytes were studied concerning their ability to enable the utilization of LiTFSI as a conducting salt in the presence of an aluminum current collector by forming a protective aluminum fluoride surface layer, thus preventing the continuous anodic aluminum dissolution, i.e., aluminum corrosion. Finally, their electrochemical performance in combination with a state-of-the-art lithium-ion cathode material, Li(Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3)O2 (NMC), was investigated. It is shown that higher fluorinated carbamates reveal a very stable cycling performance of such cat...


As plant nutrition issues are redefined by society, new applications emerge for a basic understanding of nutrient use efficiency in soil-plant processes to avoid excess on rich soils as commonly found in the temperate zone and make the best of it under access-limited conditions common in the tropics. The main challenge of plant nutrition may be to increase the width of the domain between the access and excess frontiers, rather than to define a single' economic optimum' point. Two approaches are discussed to widen this domain: the technical paradigm of precision farming and the ecological analogue approach based on filter functions and complementarity of components in mixed plant systems. Current understanding of plant nutrition, largely focused on monocultural situations, needs to be augmented by the interactions that occur in more complex systems, including agroforestry and intercropping as these may form part of the answer in both the excess and shortage type of situation. Simulations with the WaNuLCAS model to explore the concepts of a 'safety-net' for mobile nutrients by deep rooted plants suggested a limited but real opportunity to intercept nutrients on their way out of the system and thus increase nutrient use-efficiency at the system level. The impacts of rhizosphere modification to mobilize nutrients in mixed-species systems were shown to depend on the degree of synlocation of roots of the various plant components, as well as on the long-term replenishment of the nutrient resources accessed. In conclusion, the concepts and tools to help farmers navigate between the scylla of access and the charibdis of excess problems in plant nutrition certainly exist, but their use requires an appreciation of the site-specific interactions and various levels of internal regulation, rather than areliance alone on genetic modification of plants aimed at transferring specific mechanisms out of context.. Introduction: threats to sustainability adequate nutrient supply to the current crop without unduly mining soil resources. A build-up of soil nutrient stocks, some not directly available to common crops, was seen as an unavoidable side-effect of improved crop nutrition and use efficiencies of 30-40% for fertilizer N characterize the main grain production systems of the world (Doberman and Cassman, 2001). The apparent success of this type of plant nutrition in the intensively used agriculturaIlands of the temperate zone, as well as in specific areas in the tropics, has given rise to increased fluxes into the environment and thus to the angry neighbour, worried customer and …


INTRODUCTION: Cementless implants achieve long-term fixation and consequent clinical stability primarily via biologic means – bony ingrowth into a porous-coated intramedullary implant surface. The adequacy of this biologic fixation depends upon numerous factors, including the initial or short-term fixation of the implant with respect to the adjacent bone (1,5,6). Short-term fixation refers to the post-operative limitation of relative motion between implant surface and the adjacent bone. Micromotion may be limited by utilizing a rough implant coating in concert with a distal stem press-fit. However, the holding power of the press-fit over time is dependent upon the viscoelastic nature of cortical bone (2). The objective of this study was to experimentally evaluate the effect of transverse cortical bone viscoelasticity on initial diaphyseal fixation of an implant for various degrees of press-fit (diametral interference ( )) and surface coating. It was hypothesized that viscoelastic relaxation increases with press-fit amount. It was also hypothesized that if bone was stressed above a certain level during press-fit, implant fixation would be reduced. METHODS: Eleven femoral pairs were utilized in this study (females 63.1 3.9, males 53.6 8.9). The target cortical index range, as calculated from anterior-posterior x-ray films was 40-60%, which was also representative of the hip replacement population (3,4). The right and left femurs were cut into three 4 cm long diaphyseal bone sections that were reamed until "chatter" (resistance to reaming from cortical bone) was felt. After reaming, a cylindrical CoCrMo alloy intramedullary test specimen (DePuy, A Johnson and Johnson Company) was selected that corresponded to line-to-line (same size stem as ream), 0.5 mm press-fit (a stem with a diameter 0.5 mm larger than the reamer) and a 1.0 mm pressfit (a stem with a diameter of 1.0 mm larger than the reamer). The actual press-fit was then calculated form the difference between the reamer diameter and the measured stem diameter. Three stem surface conditions were manufactured including 20 grit, small bead coating (60/80 mesh Porocoat porous coating) and large bead coating (24/35 two layer coating). With the bone held in place on an annular loading platform, the test specimens were inserted into the bone segments using standard operating room tools and procedures. Once inserted, the loading platform was placed between the cross-heads of a servo-mechanical testing machine (Materials Testing System, Minneapolis, MN) and loaded under stroke control at 1 mm/min. Actuator load and deflection were recorded and plotted for determining the push-out load. The push-out load was defined as the maximum load attained prior to slipping of the stem within the canal. The push-out load was determined for specimens at time=0 hours (Pt=0) and after 24 hours (Pt=24) of soaking in a physiological bath. From these two quantities, the viscoelastic Load Radio was found as Load Ratio = P0/P24. The Load Ratio was a measure of the viscoelastic effect on the "holding strength" of the stems. Statistical analysis was performed using JMP (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) and significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Results indicated that there was no significant relationship between push-out loads and press-fit at t=0 and t=24 hours (Figure 1). However, a nonlinear regression analysis of the pooled Load Ratio versus press-fit data indicated a significant (p<0.0002, r = 0.43) quadratic relationship (Figure 2). Therefore, more relaxation occurred between t=0 and t=24 hours resulting in less push-out load as press-fit increased. The analysis also indicated that small bead coated (i.e. Porocoat) stems have significantly greater push-out loads at t=0 hours (p<0.01) and t=24 hours (p<0.04) compared to large bead coated stems. The small bead coated stems also demonstrated greater push-out loads than the 20 grit stems but the difference did not reach statistical significance. DISCUSSION: Results from experiments showed that relaxation significantly increased with press-fit, i.e. there was a greater reduction in push-out loads at higher press-fit as hypothesized. It was found that stability of the stem was not related to press-fit amount, indicating that after achieving press-fit, no additional gains or losses in stability were obtained by increasing press-fit, contradicting our second hypothesis. In finite element analysis conducted in our lab, results suggest an implantbone interference fit threshold ( =0.10mm) above which there would be no advantage in short-term push-out strength. This is indicative of an interference "threshold;" that is, a value of interference above which no significant benefit in terms of holding power is obtained. The results of this study showed that cortical bone viscoelasticity in the transverse plane of the diaphyseal femur has a diminishing effect on the contact pressure between the endosteal bone surface and the press-fit implant. This effect becomes significantly more pronounced as press-fit increases. However, there was no significant relationship between press-fit amount and pushout load. Therefore, for a particular implant size, there is a degree of press-fit beyond which no additional gains or losses in short-term fixation are realized. Additional study into this phenomena is warranted in view of the clinical implications. ACKNOWLEDGMENT: This project was supported by funding from DePuy, A Johnson & Johnson Company. REFERENCES: (1) Bauer TW, Schils J. Skeletal Radiol 28:483-97, 1999. (2) Blaha JD. In The Adult Hip, pp. 1085-1092, 1998. (3) Gruen TA. Acta Orthop Belg 63:20-7, 1997. (4) Gruen TA et al., 23 Annual Meeting of American Society of Biomechanics, 1999. (5) Pilliar RM et al., Clin Orthop 208:108-13, 1986. (6) Rosenberg A. Orthopedics 12:1223-33, 1989. Listing for additional author affiliation **DePuy, A Johnson & Johnson Company, Warsaw, IN ***Zonal Concepts, Wesley Chapel, FL ****University of Rochester, Rochester, NY *****University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI