The present invention describes an integrated genome-scale metabolic network model construction and analysis method with Pichia stipitis as an example, belonging to the system biology field. Based on the method, a constructed and obtained Pichia stipitis genome-scale metabolic network model is subjected to cell growth simulation of a system level and identification of a minimal gene and reaction set, and an important platform is provided for comprehensive understanding of metabolic characteristics and mechanism of the Pichia stipitis is provided.


Over the last 26 yr, 33 cases and/or families of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and a particular appearance of the eyes have been observed. ADPKD was unremarkable and in most cases had led to the usual slow development of end-stage renal failure. The facial feature con-cerned the upper eyelid, which drooped obliquely over the eyeball with a fold hiding the upper segment of the iris (blepharochalasis). The aspect was so typical that the diagnosis of ADPKD was suggested on first contact with new renal patients. All affected patients were white, of various origins, including French, Polish, Scandinavian, Italian, and Spanish. In retrospect, drooping eyelids had been present in the parents and/or grandparents who had died of renal failure, with or without an established diagnosis of ADPKD. In order to disclose the cosegregation of blepharochalasis with ADPKD, the screening of its prevalence in a well-circumscribed region with a catchment population


Abstract According to section 2 of the Criminal Code, a firearm is a barrelled weapon that can discharge a projectile capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person. Although not defined in the Criminal Code, serious bodily injury has been accepted in Canadian courts as the "penetration or rupture of an eye". Classifying air guns may be difficult as they are usually not categorized as a firearm, but some are capable of meeting the criteria of a firearm. In previous studies, velocity and/or energy density were used to define a parameter V50, and a minimum energy density range where penetration may occur. This research project sought to evaluate the momentum of the projectile as a new parameter to determine if an air gun is capable of causing serious bodily injury. Three air guns, with five projectile types, were fired 10 times each into pig eyes. Results indicated that a minimum momentum value may be applied to each projectile of a different shape, regardless of the projectile's mass. Minimum momentum values ranging from 0.026 kg*m/s (pointed) to 0.039 kg m/s (flat nose) were observed. It is hypothesised that impulse, which considers the cross-sectional area of projectiles, would be a universal parameter and more research should be done to test this.


The need for accurate measurement of water used by customers has led to technological advances in diverse types of water meter designs. However, the question of which meter is the best continues to trouble water utility managers. Until now, there have been no set guidelines for water meter selection. The traditional approach for selecting a water meter has been based on initial meter error performance and price. Although this information is useful, it is inadequate for optimal meter selection because water meter performance is influenced by multiple factors in real‐world operating conditions. This article proposes a methodological framework for residential water meter selection using an analytical hierarchy process and performance/ economic criteria. The application of the proposed procedure is illustrated using the Kampala water utility in Uganda as an example. The best meter for the water utility was the multijet meter type.


Abstract The article presents the preliminary findings of a school-based primary intervention containing both literacy and behavioral components for at-risk elementary school students. Results suggest that all students, regardless of level of risk, improved in reading, but significant changes in risk status were not evident. Limitations of this investigation are discussed and directions for future school-based interventions are provided.


A 1:20,000-scale geomorphologic map of the valley floor system of the Biferno River (Molise Region, Italy) is presented in this paper. Map analysis and aerial photography interpretation, in addition to field surveys, have allowed digital mapping of fluvial landforms and associated coastal, slope and anthropogenic forms which have characterised the valley floor in different periods. Comparative multi-temporal analysis performed in a GIS for the time-period 1869–2010 allowed the reconstruction of spatial-temporal relationships between most of the mapped landforms and acquisition of quantitative data on channel adjustments. The geomorphologic map provides an overall large-scale view of major channel adjustments over the past 150 years as well as the current morphological setting and dynamics of the Biferno valley floor. It provides a basic map for land planning policy with the observed distribution of active geomorphic processes to be used for landslide and erosion susceptibility assessment and the data obtained on channel adjustments essential in investigating land cover change over the same period. As the Biferno valley floor system is characteristic of major river systems in Central-Southern Italy, the reconstructed framework of valley floor transformations turns out to be useful when assessing a representative channel evolution model and potential scenarios concerning near future dynamics of similar river systems.


Since the normal derivative of the telluric potential at the ground surface is zero, the odd terms in the Taylor expansion disappear, resulting in a simple technique of computing the downward continued potentials. The top of the nonconducting basement is a flow surface and can, therefore, be determined by sketching in curves orthogonal to the (continued) equipotential lines in suitably chosen sections. A model tank example is given. The applicability of the method of continuation to the interpretation of self potential data is also illustrated. A discussion of the derivatives, two limiting formulas, and a method for calculating telluric anomalies are included.


The consequences of high sexual risk-taking behavior can be negative and lifelong and evaluating sexual risk-taking in adolescents as the problem (rather than sexual initiation as the problem) is a relatively new research orientation especially in the Nigeria context. Based on this, this study was set out to investigate the influence of self esteem, parental monitoring and parenting styles on adolescents' risky sexual behavior in Ibadan. Cross-sectional research design was used. A total number of 194 adolescents selected from three secondary schools participated in the study. Questionnaires were administered to randomly sampled adolescents that comprised of scale to measure self esteem, parental monitoring and parenting styles. Six hypotheses were tested in the study using independent sample t-test and regression analysis. The result indicated that low self esteem significantly reported higher risky sexual behavior than the those with high self esteem [t(192)=7.01, p .05]. Finally, adolescents from polygamous home significantly reported higher risky sexual behavior than those from monogamous [t(192)=-3.61, p<.001]. Based on the findings, it was concluded that self esteem, parental monitoring and parenting styles were predictors of adolescents' risky sexual behavior. Therefore it was recommended that therapists have both prevention and intervention opportunities to educate young clients about the problems associated with sexual risk-taking behaviors. Also parents could benefit from knowledge of the differences between males and females related to the effectiveness of parenting processes.


This article provides a brief overview of guidelines developed for the purposes of accounting support for management of expenses and calculating the cost of goods (works, services) in agriculture sector of Ukraine and in other economic sectors, particularly in construction, trade, transport and so on. Based on the comparative analysis, the common and differ structural logic elements in processed guidance documents are being defined. Separation of these differences made it possible to identify the main benefits of Methodological recommendations for planning, accounting and calculation of costs of goods (works, services) in agricultural enterprises over the similar developments in other sectors, as well to establish key shortcomings of this document, describing the need for its improvement. The directions for harmonization of the guidelines with practical needs and national accounting regulations are outlined with the aim to develop management accounting in agricultural production.


The collision system U88+ + N2 at a low-relativistic projectile energy of 90 MeV/u has been analyzed experimentally and theoretically with respect to fast electrons emitted with a velocity ve close to the projectile velocity, vp ≈ ve, at an observation angle of ϑe ≈ 0°, i.e., in the direction of the projectile beam. Three distinct processes are identified, where each of the underlying charge-transfer mechanisms leads to a characteristic feature in the asymmetry of the observed electron energy distribution. The experimental results for each of the three processes are compared to the corresponding theoretical models.


The zeolite SSZ-23 (STT) is the first zeolite found to contain channels bounded by seven and nine tetrahedral atom windows. A survey of the synthetic conditions needed to prepare SSZ-23 has been carried out, and the resulting materials characterized by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy to obtain details of the long-range crystalline structure and short-range connectivity defects. The lattice energy minimized structure is in excellent agreement with the experimental results, and a comparison with other zeolites that have been simulated in this way is made.


The concern on quality of soundscape has greater impact to urban environment around the globe. This paper presents a research on the effectiveness of soundscape in creating a pleasant environment which brings the idea of the soundscape, the collection of type and characteristic of sounds that emanate from natural landscapes and manmade features into a research and application focus. Thus, the aim of the paper is to provide attractive and effective soundscape to create a pleasant environment in urban area. This research argues what are the factors that influence pleasant soundscape environment. There are two urban parks around Kuala Lumpur have been selected as place of observation. Data gathered under the under the literature review and the observation during soundwalks. The results have presented that both sites need to promote sound enhancements to provide a better environment for users as well as encourage them to make their activities and attract more users to utilize the area. Therefore, a good quality of soundscape would encourage public user to have their leisure activities as well as living in healthy conditions as well as having pleasant environment.


The interval branch and bound algorithm based on interval Newton (IN) operator has been applied to the problem of finding all direct current operating points of nonlinear circuits. Many techniques and modifications have been proposed to enhance its computational performance. In this work, the method has been modified by replacing the IN operator used for sharpening interval solution box by the contraction operator based on interval linearization with coordinate transformation. A prototype of the proposed method has been implemented in MATLAB environment. Its performance has been evaluated by testing with some test nonlinear circuits containing diode and bipolar transistors. The results indicate that the proposed technique can considerably reduce the number of search boxes and improve the computation time.


A stochastic-geometric landsurface reflectance model is formulated and tested for the parameterization of spatially variable vegetation and soil at subpixel scales using satellite multispectral images without ground truth. Landscapes are conceptualized as 3-D Lambertian reflecting surfaces consisting of plant canopies, represented by solid geometric figures, superposed on a flat soil background. A computer simulation program is developed to investigate image characteristics at various spatial aggregations representative of satellite observational scales, or pixels. The evolution of the shape and structure of the red-infrared space, or scattergram, of typical semivegetated scenes is investigated by sequentially introducing model variables into the simulation. The analytical moments of the total pixel reflectance, including the mean, variance, spatial covariance, and cross-spectral covariance, are derived in terms of the moments of the individual fractional cover and reflectance components. The moments are applied to the solution of the inverse problem: The estimation of subpixel landscape properties on a pixel-by-pixel basis, given only one multispectral image and limited assumptions on the structure of the landscape. The landsurface reflectance model and inversion technique are tested using actual aerial radiometric data collected over regularly spaced pecan trees, and using both aerial and LANDSAT Thematic Mapper data obtained over discontinuous, randomly spaced conifer canopies in a natural forested watershed. Different amounts of solar backscattered diffuse radiation are assumed and the sensitivity of the estimated landsurface parameters to those amounts is examined.


Significance A widely voiced concern regarding cannabis legalization in the United States is that cannabis is harmful to minors, affecting the developing brain to increase emotional and cognitive problems while impairing functioning. However, these associations may be due to confounding by common vulnerability factors that make some individuals more prone to both cannabis use and negative outcomes. We evaluate this possibility by conducting a series of cotwin control analyses in a sample that combines data from three longitudinal studies. Our findings provide little support for a strong, causal relationship between adolescent cannabis use and adult mental health or cognitive ability but do suggest that cannabis use may impair academic functioning during the secondary school years, with downstream effects on socioeconomic status. Observational studies have linked cannabis use to an array of negative outcomes, including psychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment, and educational and occupational underachievement. These associations are particularly strong when cannabis use occurs in adolescence. Nevertheless, causality remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was thus to examine associations between prospectively assessed adolescent cannabis use and young-adult outcomes (psychiatric, cognitive, and socioeconomic) in three longitudinal studies of twins (n = 3,762). Twins reporting greater cumulative cannabis use in adolescence reported higher levels of psychopathology as well as poorer socioeconomic outcomes in young adulthood. However, cannabis use remained associated only with socioeconomic outcomes (i.e., educational attainment, occupational status, and income) in monozygotic-cotwin control analyses, which account fully for shared genetic and environmental confounding. Follow-up analyses examining associations between twin differences in adolescent cannabis use and longitudinal change in academic functioning during the middle- and high-school years provided a possible mechanism for these associations, indicating that greater cannabis use during this period was associated with decreases in grade point average and academic motivation as well as increases in academic problem behavior and school disciplinary problems. Our findings thus suggest that cannabis use in adolescence has potentially causal, deleterious effects on adolescent academic functioning and young-adult socioeconomic outcomes despite little evidence suggesting a strong, causal influence on adult mental health or cognitive ability.


Inevitably multimedia systems are involved with temporal and spatial coordination, which are not so easy to describe exactly due to their abstract semantic meanings. Coordination of spatial or temporal relations between objects has been investigated recently; however, none have focused on the correlation of both dimensions, especially in describing moving objects. A formal model with graphical scripting tool is proposed in this paper. The model describes the spatial and temporal correlative semantic for moving and stationary objects. Multimedia system designers and analyst can describe multimedia presentations with the model.


FIELD: information technology. SUBSTANCE: terminal can perform registration using a location server if the terminal determines that it can not be normally accessible for the location server. In order to perform registration, the terminal can identify itself for the location server, trigger mutual authentication of the terminal and location server and provide an internet protocol (IP) address of the terminal for the location server. The terminal can perform registration using the location server every time the IP address changes and/or periodically every time the timer runs out. The terminal can set the timer to a value received from the location server. The location server can use the IP address to send the terminal messages for network-initiated location services. EFFECT: improved location procedure. 43 cl, 9 dwg


To the Editor: Orbital bones are thin and thus very vulnerable to fractures; the orbital floor is the most fragile bone of this pyramidal structure. Orbital floor fractures can cause several complications; the most common are dystopia, diplopia, and enophthalmia. Physical aggression, automobile and sports accidents are the main etiologies of orbital floor fractures. The treatment targets to recover the bone continuity for support and leveling of the orbital globe. This article aims to present a treatment of an orbital floor fracture using autogenous calvarial bone graft. The 22-year-old female patient was victim of a motorcycle accident. She was referred to the ''Hospital das Clı́nicas de Teresópolis'' complaining pain in the left orbital region. Clinically, she has presented diplopia, dystopia, and enophthalmia in the left orbital globe (Fig. 1A). The computed tomography showed the left large orbital floor defect with approximately 3 cm and infraorbital border discontinuity (Fig. 1B). Therefore, the proposed treatment was the reconstruction of the orbital floor through an autogenous calvarial bone graft under general anesthesia. It was performed an approach to the bone graft donor area in the parietal bone and a subciliary approach to the orbital floor and infraorbital border. It was removed a 2 6 cm bone graft with the aid of a chisel and hammer (Fig. 1C). The osteoplasty of the bone graft was performed with a drill and continuous saline 0.9% irrigation for better adaptation in the orbital floor. Later the fixation of the bone graft was performed in the infraorbital border using a 2.0 mm titanium plate (Fig. 1D). Computed tomography confirmed the adequate reconstruction of the orbital floor at the first postoperative day (Fig. 1E). After 2 days, it already was observed an improvement of the dystopia, diplopia, and enophthalmia. After 1 year, it was visualized the dystopia and diplopia correction and satisfactory positioning of the bone graft (Fig. 1F). Large orbital floor defects require reconstruction, also defects above 1 mm do not present adequate bone regeneration. Autogenous calvarial bone graft presents a lower infection and rejection rate due to the absence of an adverse immune response. Moreover, studies also suggest orbital floor reconstruction with autogenous iliac crest bone graft; however, it has a higher resorption rate. In conclusion, the reconstruction orbital floor defects with autologenous calvarial bone graft showed to be very adequate to recover the function and aesthetics of the young patient. In addition, autogenous calvarial bone graft shows the lowest infection and reabsorption rate, decreasing postoperative complications to the patients.


This article analyzes whether neighborhood context or environment in Seattle influences dimensions of social ties among neighbors, independent of the individual attributes of residents such as home ownership and socio‐economic status. Three dimensions of neighbor ties are examined: interaction, organizing collectively, and knowing about neighbors. A number of environmental attributes are considered, including the age of the housing, residential stability, levels of affluence, the presence of blacks and foreign born, the concentration of commercial areas (heterogeneous land use), and the degree of upkeep in the area. While many are correlated with neighbor ties, few have a strong relationship with neighbor ties when individual attributes are controlled statistically. We find, in addition, that the importance of context varies with the type of neighbor tie. We discuss the implications of these findings for formulating a contextual theory of neighborhood life.


Vegetal halophytes plants analysis in Chott El- Gharbi (Oranie-Algeria). The floristic region south of Oran (Chott El Gharbi) is marked by more bareness compared to the north. This arid ecosystem is characterized by the presence of highly localized xerophytic steppe plant populations and halophytes often exposed to irreversible damage. To understand the dynamics and evolution of these taxa, we initiated a study based on the following variables: soil, climate and vegetation. Soils in this region are poor in organic matter (0.45%), sandy loam texture with a high salinity (2.42 mS / cm). The study of vegetation based on the method of Braun-Blanquet (1951), where 40 floristic surveys were taken into account. The use of AFC (factorial correspondence analysis) performed by (minitab15) software, allowed us to highlight the different ecological gradients that govern the floristic composition and distribution of these formations dominated by biological type therophyte.


Abstract : This report describes a three-year research program whose objectives were to (1) Develop a loading function for close proximity explosions, (2) Determine dynamic strength properties for selected types of concrete, (3) Incorporate the strength properties so determined into a localized failure criterion for reinforced concrete, (4) Use a structural analysis elastic/plastic finite element computer program to determine localized response for a concrete/steel finite element mesh, and (5) Combine all of these into a simple structural analysis program to determine the response of underground structures to localized impulsive loads. A computational method was developed for calculating the stress transmitted to a buried wall by the pressure wave from a buried conventional explosive of cylindrical shape. Studies were performed on the response of a reinforced concrete structure to such a pressure-wave loading, using several different computer codes and incorporating some of the preliminary dynamic concrete material property data. The codes have not proved to be effective in predicting the type of response observed in experiments. A new Kolsky apparatus (split Hopkinson's pressure bar system) capable of testing concrete specimens up to 75 mm in diameter was built. The system and procedures are described. References are given to published results, including tests on four kinds of high-strength concrete and on mortar, showing dynamic unconfined compressive strengths up to twice the static values. Additional results on high strength plain concrete and on SIFCON (slurry infiltrated fiber concrete) are reported.


ABSTRACT This research investigates gender and sexuality identity management among gay men. Thirty self-identified gay men participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews and provided their accounts of how they manage performances of gender and sexuality in the workplace. This research contributes to the scholarship of gender and sexuality by highlighting how sexuality, as an organizing principle, contributes to the further marginalization of an already marginalized population of gay men, via a concept I call hegemonic sexuality. The men's narratives help us understand how certain performances of sexuality permit some men to be recognized as "acceptable," while others are labeled "too gay" in different work environments. I investigate the motivations and consequences of men's concerted workplace identity management strategies. I conclude by suggesting that hegemonic sexuality be used as a tool to understand how some gay men are deemed more acceptable than others in additional social spaces.


Different carbonized concrete specimens were obtained by rapid carbonization test and their chloride diffusion coefficients were tested and calculated by rapid permeability test.The results show that there's no obvious difference between chloride diffusion coefficient of totally carbonized concrete and that of partly carbonized concrete while that of non-carbonized concrete is higher than the former two.It can be concluded that there exits substantial benefits of reducing the chloride diffusion coefficient by concrete's carbonizing;concrete's carbonizing increases concrete's density to some extent by reducing the porosity.The chloride diffusion coefficient of totally carbonized specimen is about 1/2 that of non-carbonized specimen.This paper also introduces a method by using pH device to measure the pH of different carbonization degree concretes and offeres the changes of the pH.


According to the learning-type organization theory, this paper establishes a learning process model of learning-type library, analyzes the main disabilities of learning process of library from five aspects, and advances some corresponding suggestions on constructing the learning-type library according to these disabilities.


【Objective】Testosterone secretion level of cage-fed male Crab-eating Macaque in Guangxi at different stages was studied to provide fundamental scientific research materials for addressing cage-fed male Crab-eating Macaque breeding. 【Method】Blood samples of healthy Crab-eating Macaque at juvenile(2 years and 11 months old), adolescent(4 years and 2 months old) and middle-aged(6 years and 10 months old) stage were collected in fall and winter(from October 22nd, 2008 to March 6th, 2009) to measure testosterone variation using radioimmunoassay. 【Result】Testosterone secretion level of cage-fed male Crab-eating Macaque in Guangxi at different stages was significantly different(P0.05). The specific testosterone secretion order was middle-aged Crab-eating Macaque(84.94±52.29 ng/mL) adolescent(72.44± 20.13 ng/mL) juvenile(56.84±15.32 ng/mL). The correlation coefficient between testosterone secretion level and environmental temperature of juvenile, adolescent and middle-aged stage was 0.77,0.92 and 0.75, respectively. Adolescent group had extremely significant correlation(P0.01) while juvenile and middle-aged group had no significant correlation(P0.05). 【Conclusion】The studies suggested that the testosterone secretion level was age-dependant and changed significantly during the period of sexually maturation. Further, seasonal variation in testosterone appeared to be influenced by environmental temperature.


Chemical ionization (CI) mass spectrometry has been used in studying the reaction behavior of gas phase ions. In the ion source, sample molecules are usually ionized by reagent ions through proton transfer or charge exchange reactions in gas phase. The quasi-molecular ions thus obtained have been frequently used in molecular weight determination. Weinkam and Desiderio et al. studied the solvolysis of gas phase ions. Recently, it has been reported that some classical reactions in solution chemistry can take place in gas phase. Using pure methanol as reagent gas, we obtained the MeOHCI mass spectra of 24 carboxylic acids different in type and observed gas phase esterification.


We theoretically investigate the influence of off-resonant circularly polarized light field and perpendicular electric field on the quantum transport in a monolayer silicene-based normal/superconducting/normal junction. Owing to the tunable band structure of silicene, a pure crossed Andreev reflection process can be realized under the optical and electrical coaction. Moreover, a switch effect among the exclusive crossed Andreev reflection, the exclusive elastic cotunneling and the exclusive Andreev reflection, where the former two are the nonlocal transports and the third one is the local transport, can be obtained in our system by the modulation of the electric and light fields. In addition, the influence of the relevant parameters on the nonlocal and local transports is calculated and analyzed as well.


In Xi Han Dynasty,a set of closely organized and flexibly operated system of controlling crimes was established from the central government to the localities under the direction of the ideas that prevention is the main task,both the fundamental solution and a temporary expedient shall be adopted,the whole arrangement be made,and comprehensive measures be taken.Means of variety were comprehensively used to closely combine conciliation and confusion,and violent suppression,prevention before crime and punishment after crime to make the basic model of controlling crimes in ancient China.This theoretical policy is not only consistent with the traditional ideas and concepts such as virtue being prior to punishment,education assisting punishment.It also applicable to the social structure of China with particular patriarchal ethics,and to the political system with centralized powers.It not only played an important active role in making the Xi Han Dynasty stable and secure,but also had great influence on the subsequent generations.


Coherent extreme ultraviolet radiation can be produced by high-order harmonic generation of energetic femtosecond laser pulses in noble gases. Using 800 nm driving pulses and argon gas, the energy conversion efficiency is about 10 -5 and the absorption limit reaches at the photon energy of ~ 45 eV. The high-harmonic generation in semiinfinitive gas cell has been considered to obtain high efficiency, highly spatial coherence and a good beam profile. The phase-matching, propagating of the fundamental and harmonic radiation, the selection of quantum path has been discussed in terms of intensity and truncation of driving pulse. The phase-matched harmonic radiation with a high intensity and a small bandwidth in the wavelength rang of ~ 30 nm can be generated by using ~ 80 Torr argon gas. We demonstrate that this source can be used for a multipleharmonic-order coherent diffractive imaging with spatial resolution below 100 nm.


Abstract This research aimed to examine the differential effects of simile and metaphor on creativity. In the main study, 123 participants were recruited from a university in Taiwan. A within-subjects experimental design was used to investigate how variables related to simile and metaphor influenced these participants' fluency and originality scores. As revealed by the findings, typical placements had an advantage over atypical placements in both fluency and originality scores whether the stimulus word pairs were conventional or novel. Similes, compared with metaphors, did not register significantly higher fluency or originality scores when conventional word pairs were provided. However, similes posted significantly higher fluency and originality scores than did metaphors when novel word pairs were provided. It can be also inferred that simile combined with the typical placement, especially in the context of novel word pairs, led to better performance on creativity than all the other combinations.


Summary
A retail package system was used to study the atmosphere modification which developed within packages of shredded Iceberg lettuce, sealed in trays with a range of polymer films of different gas permeabilities (oxygen permeability of 3000 to 10,000 ml/m2/day/atm. at 25°C). Modified atmospheres were produced both naturally by respiration, and by application of gas flushing techniques.

The effects of these modified atmosphere conditions on visual and sensory quality of shredded lettuce was observed by monitoring colour change and development of off-odours. An equilibrated modified atmosphere containing 1–3% O2 and 5–6% CO2was established with 35 um low density polyethylene film after flushing with 5% O2, 5% CO2 in N2. This resulted in a shelf-life of approximately 14 days at 5°C, almost double that of the controls.


This note contains a survey of the financial literature on derivatives, starting from Bachelier's contribution to option pricing theory. After a brief analysis of forward, futures, options and repos (swaps have not been considered), we concentrated on options whose underlying assets are stocks or bonds. After distinguishing between standard and exotic options, we described the hypotheses made and the solutions obtained in pricing these financial instruments. The more complex topic of bond derivatives was then considered. We made a distinction between bond price and interest rate models, between continuous and discrete time models, between equilibrium and arbitrage models, between one-factor and multi-factor models.


We show here that C1q suppresses IL‐12p40 production in LPS‐stimulated murine bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (BMDC). Serum IL‐12p40 concentration of C1q‐deficient mice was higher than that of wild‐type mice after intraperitoneal LPS‐injection. Because neither globular head of C1q (gC1q) nor collagen‐like region of C1q (cC1q) failed to suppress LPS‐induced IL‐12p40 production, both gC1q and cC1q, and/or some specialized conformation of native C1q may be required for the inhibition. While C1q did not affect mRNA expression of Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4), MD‐2, and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), BMDC treated with C1q showed the reduced activity of NF‐κB and the delayed phosphorylation of p38, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase after LPS‐stimulation. CpG oligodeoxynucleotide‐induced IL‐12p40 and TNF‐α production, another MyD88‐dependent TLR‐mediated signal, was also suppressed by C1q treatment. Therefore, C1q is likely to suppress MyD88‐dependent pathway in TLR‐mediated signals. In contrast, C1q failed to suppress colony formation of B cells responding to LPS or LPS‐induced CD40 and CD86 expression on BMDC in MyD88‐deficient mice, indicating that inhibitory effects of C1q on MyD88‐independent pathways may be limited. Taken together, C1q may regulate innate and adaptive immune systems via modification of signalsmediated by interactions between invading pathogens and TLR.


Competitiveness is an interesting subject nowadays, and today has permeated from local to global business of all sorts. With the current globalization of the markets, basically there is no sector where the competition has not grown significantly including the higher education sector; which has become a classic study of the transition from a benign, stable and non-competitive environment to a highly dynamic, unpredictable one. The domestic HEIs in Kenya is no exception; in most cases, both private and public higher educational institutions tend to duplicate programmes and courses; and under the Module II programme public universities source their private sponsored students from the same pool as the private one, with as much as over 60% coming from the private sponsors thereby making them the "biggest private universities" in the country – thus increasing the severity of competition among these institutions in the local marketplace – complicating the competitiveness in this sector. To cope with these challenges, HEIs that are better equipped to respond to market requirements, and are prepared to make constant improvements in the efficiency, performance, and hence, their academic and administrative affairs, are expected to gain and sustain competitive advantage and in the long-run organizational effectiveness and thus survival. In this study, the researcher used multiple strategic theories: the Porter's theories of competitiveness, the theory resources and capabilities (RBV), the stakeholders' engagement theory to test the competitiveness of Kabarak University and its ability to gain competitive advantage and hence organizational effectiveness in the marketplace. A research survey of senior administrative and academic staff of Kabarak University was undertaken. A total of 45 questionnaires were distributed, from which 33 usable questionnaires were obtained, giving ns effective response rate of 73%. Within the nature and scope of this study, many questions were raised; some were adequately answered, with many pending thus opening many more areas for future research study. For the organizational resources perspective: students educational satisfaction, student academic & personal development, capacity to maintain or expand resource base, professional development and quality of faculty, resource for quality programs, faculty and students, and finally ability to acquire, save and use resource effectively clearly came out as the most critical requirements for the University to gain competitiveness. From Porter's generic competitive strategies it seems that the University is kind of "stuck-in--the middle, which in effect is due to the failure to develop competitive strategic directions by the managers: in market share, internal generated capital resources, and overhead controls to be a market leader. From organizational resources undertaking: under stakeholders engagement two critical factors clearly came out strongly: collaboration with private business/industry enterprise and partnership with other higher education institutions that are needed to strengthen its competiveness was found to be inadequate. For organizational effectiveness: staff performance in teaching and academic, institutional reputation and distinctiveness came out as most important factors that would allow the University to gain competitive advantage over its competitors. As a result a series of action can be taken by the University, including: students enrolment and retention strategy, acquiring and retention of competent faculties, advocating for strategic alliance and partnership with high schools and middle-level colleges, advocating for industry-academia collaboration, ensuring curriculum design in line with today's industry requirements, and finally innovation among others. Finally, the study has the potential to contribute to improvement in the strategic management and policy making in both public and private HEIs in Kenya.


The thesis is generally based on the features, forms and functions of points,lines and surfaces as well as their unplacable roles in a perspective of modeling designing.It also indicates that the training of plane figure-designing methods and basic modeling factors makes it possible to acquire the modern basic modeling and combine completely eathestic values and applicative functions as a whole.


The eccentric compression behaviors of L-shaped columns made of recycled aggregate concrete-filled square steel tubes (L-RACFST) with various replacement ratios of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) are introduced in this paper. The experimental study demonstrates that the overall instability failure is the final failure mode of the L-RACFST columns and that the replacement ratio of RCA has little influence on the final failure mode of the specimens. When the RCA replacement ratio exceeds 40%, the specimens frequently move right into the failure stage. Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) inside steel tubes can increase the load-carrying capacity and stiffness, preventing them from buckling inward compared to hollow steel tubes. The load-carrying capacity of the specimens gradually decreases as the replacement ratio of the RCA rises, and the ductility and stiffness deteriorate progressively. The bearing capacity declines more quickly, and the ductility coefficient and stiffness coefficient fall more slowly when the replacement ratio of RCA is higher than 40%. The bearing capacity of the specimens decreased by 29%, the ductility coefficient by 54%, and the stiffness coefficient by 60% as the replacement ratio of RCA increased from 0% to 100%. The specimen's ultimate strength decreases as the eccentricity rises. The numerical analysis results demonstrate that in the engineering design, the specimens' ultimate strength can be increased by strengthening the steel and raising the steel ratio; however, it is not advised to increase the connection plate's width to enhance the load-carrying capacity. The connection plate's primary function is to increase the stiffness of the steel surface and prevent local buckling, which has little bearing on improving the specimens' bearing capacity. It is advised that the replacement ratio of RCA in the L-RACFST columns should be less than 40% when considered with the research findings of reference [28].


Recent historians, most notably Maxine Berg and Larry Stewart, have highlighted the importance but also ambiguity over the reception of the machine in late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century England. This essay is concerned with a mode of reason developed in studies of machines and human power, and its application within specific spheres during this period. In particular, it focuses on certain sites of manufacture at the vanguard of industry, the machine's role in forging a distinctive view of
intelligence, and, lastly, the impact ofthe machine upon developments within the state's system of prison punishment. For some commentators the machine was a symbol of progress and potential human emancipation, but for numerous others the mechanical heart that lay at the core of enlightenment libertarianism had degenerated into an enslaving project.


Generally,combustion of methane in micro chamber has some problems such as low efficiency and non-steady.In it has been proposed that the steady combustion in micro-scale could be achieved with catalyst method.The influence of molar ratio of CH4/air and catalytic temperature for combustion in annular micro-chamber have been studied when Pt was used as catalyst.The results suggest that these factors have important influences on the combustion of CH4/air mixture in annular micro-chamber,and the steady of combustion can be improved via catalysis approach.The ideal molar ratio of methane/air for combustion is obtained as 0.8~1.0.Catalytic temperature playsa key role on the combustion of methane in micro chamber.The higher temperature can accelerate catalytic combustion of CH4/air mixture as the molar ratio of CH4 is small.When flow rate of methane is 6.5 g/h,the maximal conversion efficiency of methane is 77%.


Racial earnings inequalities in the United States diminished significantly over the three decades following World War II, but since then have not changed very much. Meanwhile, black—white disparities in employment have become increasingly pronounced. What accounts for this historical pattern? Sociologists often understand the evolution of racial wage and employment inequality as the consequence of economic restructuring, resulting in narratives about black economic fortunes that emphasize changing skill demands related to the rise and fall of the industrial economy. Reviewing a large body of work by economic historians and other researchers, this article contends that the historical evidence is not consistent with manufacturing- and skills-centered explanations of changes in relative black earnings and employment. Instead, data from the 1940s onward suggest that racial earnings inequalities have been significantly influenced by political and institutional factors—social movements, government policies, unionization efforts, and public-employment patterns—and that racial employment disparities have increased over the course of the postwar and post-1970s periods for reasons that are not reducible to skills. Taking a broader historical view suggests that black economic fortunes have long been powerfully shaped by nonmarket factors and recenters research on racial discrimination as well as the political and institutional forces that influence labor markets.


Service robots are often required to determine the liquid level inside a container. However, traditional approaches using camera-based or ultrasonic wave sensors are unreliable and can introduce challenges in movement trajectory planning. In this study, we developed a novel gripper system that is equipped with a capacitive proximity sensor, enabling the robot to sense the liquid through the container. In addition, we developed a control module that ensures easy integration with a robot operating system (ROS)-based control systems commonly used in service robots. Our gripper represents a significant improvement over traditional camera-based or ultrasonic wave sensor solutions. Laboratory experiments revealed that our gripper can perform data-lossless detection in just 0.085 s (11.8 Hz) and dynamic liquid-level measurement in 0.31 s. Furthermore, the liquid-level measurement resolution of the gripper is sufficient for functional applications of service robots in a domestic environment. The present work demonstrates that a gripper with capacitive proximity sensors is a practical and cost-effective solution for service robots to manipulate opaque cups filled with liquid, which are frequently encountered in domestic environments.


Aim-To examine the haemodynamic effects of intravenous magnesium sulphate on an animal model of neonatal pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia. Methods-The cardiac index (Q), pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), systemic arterial pressure (SAP), and pulmonary (PVRI) and systemic (SVRI) vascular resistance indices were measured in nine newborn piglets (including three controls). Pulmonary hypertension was induced by lowering the FiO2 to 0412-0-144 after which there was a significant increase in PAP and PVRI (37% and 142%, respectively; p<OOl) and a significant fall in SAP and Q (30% and 33%, respectively; p<O*Ol). Results-Magnesium sulphate was infused intravenously as four doses of 25 mg/kg, 15 minutes apart, which resulted in a significant mean (SD) increase in serum magnesium (0-83 (0.07) mmol/l to 1-82 (0-19) mmol/l; p<O-Ol). After the initial dose SAP, SVRI, PAP and PVRI decreased, but not significantly. Each subsequent dose of (50, 75, 100 mg/kg) was accompanied by further significant reductions in these variables from control baseline (p<0 05). The PVRI:SVRI ratio remained unchanged throughout. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) 40 ppm was administered after the last dose ofmagnesium sulphate. The PVRI:SVRI significantly decreased (p<0.05), indicating that reversible pulmonary hypertension remained after a maximum dose ofmagnesium sulphate. Conclusions-Unlike NO, magnesium sulphate is not a selective pulmonary vasodilator and may lead to deleterious effects on systemic pressures in critically ill newborns. (Arch Dis Child 1994; 71: F151-F155) Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newbom is characterised by high levels of pulmonary vascular resistance, resulting in right to left shunting across the ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale.1-3 The magnitude of this shunt depends on the ratio of the systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance. Vasodilators, such as nitrates, tolazoline, calcium channel blockers and others, have little potential for directly decreasing shunt across these fetal channels because of non-differential effects on both systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance.46 Magnesium, which has been called nature's calcium blocker,7 antagonises calcium ion entry into smooth muscle cells, thereby promoting vasodilation.8 While it has also been proposed as a possible selective pulmonary vasodilator,9 magnesium sulphate infusion (200 mg/kg) produced a significant fall (34-6%) in mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), but also a 37/4% decrease in systemic arterial pressure (SAP) in an adult sheep model of pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia. 10 Haemodynamic responses can vary considerably in a young animal compared with a mature animal. The aim of this study, therefore, was to examine the haemodynamic effects of magnesium sulphate at various doses in a newborn pig model of pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia and to compare these responses with those seen with the inhalation of nitric oxide (NO), a known selective pulmonary dilator. l l-16 Department of Newborn Medicine, Royal Alexandra Hospitals N N Finer Department of Pediatrics and the Perinatal Research Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada C A Ryan K J Barmngton Correspondence to: Dr Neil N Finer, Royal Alexandra Hospital, 10240 Kingsway, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5H 3V9. Accepted 1O June 1994 F151 group.bmj.com on June 17, 2017 Published by http://fn.bmj.com/ Downloaded from


On June 13, 2004 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a new procedure at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) that authorizes arrival-departure operations on intersecting runways 14R/27L with modified separation requirements at the runway intersection. The procedure is expected to recoup reductions in arrival and departure capacities associated with operations on these runways that resulted from discontinuing land-and-hold-short operations (LAHSO) in 2000 and reduce arrival and departure delays at ORD when the airport is operated in plan B configuration. This configuration is used about 10 percent of the time. This paper describes the background analysis of relevant operational metrics conducted to compare and evaluate candidate procedures for their relative benefits and to help select the most promising ones. It describes the model developed to quantify and visualize the airport's operations, the methodology used to validate model performance with ARTS data, and the Monte Carlo approach taken for comparing and evaluating capacity benefits of four candidate arrival-departure procedures.


The article offers readers an example of how one physical education teacher education (PETE) program created a service-learning course to integrate the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) into the PETE curriculum. A PETE professor formed a partnership with a local school to facilitate physical activity opportunities for children during the existing afterschool program. The partnership provided preservice teachers enrolled in the service-learning course with applied experience integrating one component of CSAP.


In this paper, we have applied the pulse-modulation circuit technique to implement phase-locked loop (PLL) neural networks proposed by Hoppensteadt and Izhikevich. The PLL neural network is an oscillatory neural network as a model of associative memory, and it is represented as coupled phase oscillators with periodic phase variables and periodic nonlinear interactions. In our circuit implementation, the phase variables and their summation and subtraction are represented by pulse- width modulation (PWM) signals. The interactions are realized by using nonlinear current waveform sampled with pulse-phase modulation (PPM) signals converted from the PWM signals. We have designed an element circuit and simulated two coupled such circuits with SPICE using the TSMC 0.25 mum device parameters. The results demonstrate that the element circuits synchronized with in- and anti-phase depending on coupling strength at different operation frequencies. The element circuit has an advantage in extracting phase difference between the circuits. This will facilitate implementing of learning by arbitrary spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) rules using the phase difference.


—Virtual Worlds are open 3D environments capable of simulating a variety of educational practices, thus reducing risks and costs with physical laboratories. However, its freedom characteristic can cause dispersion and make it difficult to navigate and focus. Aiming at improving user navigation, this paper analyzes a Heads Up Display (HUD) solution that keeps sensing the locations visited by the user, and presents it in the form of a "heat map". The main contribution has two sides: 1) a reporting system is presented, which allows teachers to easily keep up with students' behavior in the environment; 2) an analysis of experimental data has been performed, focusing on the extent and intensity of content observation, with the purpose of presenting the potential of the HUD to act as a guidance tool in educational Virtual Worlds.


This paper is aimed to summarize the some processes which are done in order to implement the new ENBank simulated humanoid agent, including some detailed speci cations. This is the 4th year that ENBank team members participating in Robotic competitions. Because of new server and o ered environment for Soccer Simulation 3D, this year researches focused on humanoid actions such as biped walking and necessary movement to kick, rotation and orientation, and keeping balance.


The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing a coating film for cosmetic preparations, in which a coating film having enhanced adhesiveness to the skin is formed by electrostatic spraying. The method for producing a coating film for cosmetic preparations according to the present invention comprises: a cosmetic-preparation application step in which a cosmetic preparation containing at least 10 mass% oil that is solid at 20°C is applied to the skin; and an electrostatic spraying step in which a composition is electrostatically sprayed directly on the skin to form the coating film thereon. The composition comprises the following ingredients (a) and (b): (a) at least one volatile substance selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, and ketones; and (b) a polymer having film-forming ability.


The purpose of writing this paper is to assess the importance of citizenship education as a part of curriculum. How we can use citizenship education to make young students good citizens. The study is done in Pakistani context with the comparison of countries having well established system of citizenship education, like Canada and UK. Pakistan is a new country and it has inherited many difficult problems from its former rulers, such as illiteracy poverty, disease and social misery. Citizens should not only take interest in the problems of the country, but also participate in solving them. Citizenship education is the most effective way of making people civil so that they can contribute in the development of their country. Citizenship education is necessary for students to become responsible and active citizens of the country. A right approach is needed to establish a strong citizenship education system in Pakistan. The system must include the understanding of updated economic, social and political happenings of the country especially the democratic system. This can encourage students to effectively participate for the right development of their country. Keywords: Citizenship Education, Curriculum, Democracy


Routing is the foremost issue in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). In a wireless environment characterized by small bandwidth and limited computational resources, position-based routing is attractive because it requires little communication and storage overhead. To guarantee delivery and improve performance, most position-based routing protocols, e.g. GFG, forward a message in greedy mode until the message is forwarded to a node that has no neighbor closer to the destination, which is called a local minimum. They then switch to a less efficient mode. Face routing, where the message is forwarded along the perimeter of the void, is one example. This paper tackles the void problem with two new methods. First, we construct a virtual small world network by adding virtual long links to the network to reduce the chance of a protocol encountering local minima in greedy mode, and thus decrease the chance to invoke inefficient methods. Second, we use the virtual force method to recover from local minima without relying on face routing. We combine these two methods to be our new purely greedy routing protocol SWING. Simulation shows that SWING finds shorter routes than the state of art geometric routing protocol GOAFR, though with a longer route establishment time. More importantly, SWING is purely greedy which works even if position information is inaccurate, also it can be directly applied to the 3D MANET models. A theoretical proof that it guarantees delivery is given.


G e o r g T h i e m e V e r l a g K G , R ü d i g e r s t r a ß e 1 4 , 7 0 4 6 9 S t u t t g a r t , G e r m a n y 947 D . T A K E I , T . Y A T A B E , X . J I N , T . Y A B E , N . M I Z U N O , K . Y A M A G U C H I * ( T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F T O K Y O , J A P A N ) CeO2-Supported Pd(II)-on-Au Nanoparticle Catalyst for Aerobic Selective ,-Desaturation of Carbonyl Compounds Applicable to Cyclohexanones ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 5057–5063.


This study aims to examine and analyze how the influence of financial literacy, religiosity and social media partially and simultaneously on the consumptive behavior of online shopping at IAIN Langsa students. This study uses quantitative methods. The population in this study were all IAIN Langsa students with a total sample of 98 respondents. The sampling technique in this study used a simple random sampling technique. The results of this study indicate that financial literacy partially has no effect on consumptive behavior, with an X1 value of 0.074 and a tcount of 0.520 while a ttable of 1.661 or (0.520 <1.661) with a significance value of 0.604 > 0.05. Partially, religiosity has no effect on consumptive behavior, with X2 value of 0.064 and tcount of 0.416 while ttable of 1.661 or (0.416 <1.661) with a significance value of 0.679 > 0.05. Social media partially has a significant positive effect on consumptive behavior, with an X3 value of 0.751 and a tcount value of 8.189 while a ttable value of 1.661 or (8.189 > 1.661) with a significance value of 0.000 <0.05. Furthermore, the results of this study indicate that there is a simultaneous or joint relationship between financial literacy, religiosity and social media on online shopping consumptive behavior in IAIN Langsa students, with an Fcount 34.090 > Ftable 2.70 with a significance value of 0.000 <0.05. The magnitude of the influence of financial literacy, religiosity and social media on the consumptive behavior of online shopping at IAIN Langsa students is 50.6% and the remaining 49.4% is explained by other factors not mentioned in this study.


Nowadays Al is commonly used as deoxidizer and sometimes alloying element. On the other hand, due to the increase in scrap addition, suppress in the concentration of tramp element in molten steel during refining process becomes more important than ever. Co is one of the tramp elements in steel scrap and its content is increasing due to the increase in the production of Co materials world widely. As fundamentals to understand the thermodynamic behaviors of Co in the molten steel containing high Al, the interaction parameter between Co and Al has been measured in this study through a chemical equilibrium method. From the equilibrium composition of the Fe–Co–Al alloy and Ag, the interaction parameter between Co and Al in molten Fe–Co–Al alloy was determined as follows,


The Heritage Palace is located in Surakarta City of Central Java which formerly was the sugar factory that is currently used as a tourist attraction. However, this place has the problem of lacking its informative and interactive signage, less by the branding of the tourist spots, and less proper in material selection. The data collection used were the literature study, observation, interviews and questionnaires, using comparison matrix as data analysis method. The concept of the design takes the modern and old heritage concept using a font that matches the clear language and adds pictogram. The purpose of this design is to provide informative and interactive information using signage ang interactive media that is useful to help visitors get information when they visit the tourist site


Excerpt It has been known for hundreds of years that pressure applied to the carotid sinus region may result in unconsciousness and convulsions. According to Ask-Upmark,1the Assyrians used this met...


The analytic representation of quantum field theory suggested in a previous paper by Valatin and the author (see abstr. A 22494 of 1969) is further investigated, by working out its details for quantum electrodynamics. The coupled equations for Green's functions are discussed and the lowest order contributions to Compton and Moller scatterings are calculated. Through the Fourier transforms, the expressions show close agreement with the results of the conventional approach. A nonlocal modification of the interaction kernel is studied. This leads to finite self-energy, vacuum polarisation and vertex operator expressions, and in the limit, to a simple regularization of quantum electrodynamics.


On September 9-12, 1992, at a workshop in New Orleans funded by Minerals Management Service (MMS) through the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), a group of social scientists from all over the US, Canada, and Norway met with representatives of MMS and LUMCON, to design a social science research agenda for MMS in the Gulf of Mexico. The report describes the process by which the workshop was organized and conducted, and presents the descriptions of the recommended projects to implement that agenda.


The purpose of this study was to identify and examine the methods that professional dancers use to engage fully into their work as artists. Participants (N=15) were professional dancers from five European nationalities, (7 females; 8 males), currently performing for three major Scotland‐based dance companies, including two professional free‐lance dancers (M age= 25.6 years). Grounded theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) was used to derive a core construct labelled Multiple Engagement of Self. The results are compared to existing research in dance and performance development literature and incorporated into a three‐component ecological model of expertise development, namely Deliberate Practice, Deliberate Experience and Transfer of Skills. A shift from models of assessment to models of development in consideration of talent and expertise is suggested for dancers, educators, and choreographers alike.


Fermented bean curd in China has several thousand years of history,It is a traditional fermented soybean products,higher total number of bacteria that may bring some potential safety problems and affect its exports.In this study,the total number of its colonies,respectively,and the number of heat-resistant bacterial colonies in 27 samples were detected.The results show that: And the use of different standards of different types of fermented bean curd heat-resistant microorganisms in the total number of bacteria accounted for 98%,the lowest is only 0.8%.According to test results indicate that the safety of fermented bean curd need attention in order to promote the healthy development of the industry of fermented bean curd.


In this study, a numerical methodology has been developed to predict acoustic behaviors in liquid propellant rocket combustion chambers and to quantitatively evaluate acoustic stability margins for various designs with passive stabilization devices such as ba†e and acoustic resonators. For this purpose, linear harmonic analysis for convected Helmholtz equation is employed by utilizing the flnite element method on arbitrary three-dimensional grids. As a validation case, computations are made for combustion chambers with/without a hub-and-six-blade ba†e which are developed during the KSR(Korea Sounding Rocket)-III Development Program. Compared to experimental results from ambient acoustic test, the numerical approach reasonably well predicts acoustic pressure responses to acoustic oscillation excitation and yields quantitatively good agreement for acoustic damping efiects of ba†e installation in terms of damping factor ratio and resonant frequency shift. Next, a conceptual design process of ba†e conflguration through the numerical approach has been carried out by varying geometrical parameters. Consequently, as more efiective and economical design tool, the present numerical method proposed in this work is expected to supplement and replace experimental procedures based on acoustic test under ambient condition.


To help a patient who has chronic fatigue, the physician must be prepared to spend some time talking with him. The author discusses his technic for handling such patients and urges young physicians to accept the responsibility of trying to help those patients whose symptoms are invisible and untestable but still real and distressful.


3-Methoxyoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one has been synthesised by removing the aromatic methyl group from 3-methoxy-1-methyloestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one, which was itself obtained by hydrogenating the product from a dienone–phenol rearrangement of androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione. The two-stage procedure for the removal of an aromatic methyl group from a steroid consists of oxidising the methyl group to an aldehyde with cerium(IV) in aqueous acid and then decarbonylating the aldehyde with tris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium chloride. It is not necessary to purify the intermediate aldehyde, and the overall conversion of CH3 to H is approximately 50%. 3-Methoxyoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17β-ol and 3-methoxy-19-norcholesta-1,3,5(10)-triene have also been prepared by this route.


The article studied regional differences in the level of fertilization in Poland. Analyzed the potential factors influencing the differences in fertilization between voivodeships. In order to study regional differentiation in mineral fertilizers used cluster analysis (Ward's method). As a result of grouping objects received five clusters of of voivodeships. A group of of voivodeships differed in terms of the proposed features, while the voivodeships within the group were characterized by similar values of variables. The voivodship with the highest level of mineral fertilization characterized by the largest area of farms, the largest share of sowings in the agricultural area, the largest share of farms specializing in field crops and the largest level of calcium fertilization. It may be assumed that the farmers of these voivodeships have obtained the best results from agricultural activities, which favored investing in agricultural inputs.


In this article I argue the need for a reflexive use of photographic images in research, mainly in the publication and dissemination phase and specifically when the topic investigated relates to issues of visibility, in this case racism and understandings of beauty. This analysis draws on my work on contemporary practices of racism in Mexico, where personal photographs were used as research tools in life-story interviews, creating a sense of shared intimacy. Inspired by Barthes' refusal in Camera Lucida (2000) to reproduce a photograph of his mother, in this article I focus on the dynamics between seeing and looking and suggest that `looking emotionally' at both participants' accounts and their photographic images, is a way to address the complexities of the gaze and discuss the specificity of different `ways of looking'. The notion of `looking emotionally' refers to an engagement, of researchers and audiences of research, with participants' lived emotional experiences that explicitly confronts the historical and social legacies of the visible. Here, photographs are understood not only as illustrative platforms from where experiences are organized, but also as `traps' that both inform and ensnare (Gell, 1999). As such, the argument aims to problematize the intimate relationship between gaze and photographic image in a context where racism is constrained to the visible, both in its reproduction and also in its pressing ongoing critique.


A new approach to real approximation of an ideal sinusoidal frequency conversion process is put forward. This enables the output frequency range of line-commutated direct frequency converters to be expanded up to the value of input frequency. This is achieved by the application of a low frequency value sinusoidal modulating function and the replacement of input voltage and modulating function product with approaching input voltage level intervals. An example of this frequency conversion in terms of the simplest six thyristor circuit is considered for a fan drive.<<ETX>>


Silicone emulsion has been used for modification of high PVC exterior wall paint to solve the contradiction between waterproofing and breathing properties, forming a exterior wall paint that has good breathing as well as waterproofing properties. The testing methods for waterproofing and breathing properties were given.


Beam diagnostic for electron bunch length using spectrum analysis of multimode terahertz (THz) -wave on the order of 0.1 THz was investigated. The multimode THz-wave was generated by coherent Cherenkov radiation (CCR) using hollow dielectric tubes and femtosecond/picosecond electron bunches. The spectra of multimode THz-wave depended on electron bunch length, which was measured by a streak camera, resulting in a possibility of a new beam diagnostic based on CCR and a bunch form factor. 誘電体管コヒーレントチェレンコフ放射によるビーム診断の研究


Dedicated to the memory of Prof. Veltman, one of the founding fathers of our discipline: his legacy lives on. Many times we have to turn back and follow his footprints to find the right path. After reviewing general aspects of high energy physics where he gave a seminal contribution we will introduce recent developments in the standard model effective field theory, showing how the whole movement from renormalization to predictions plays from Veltman to SMEFT.


We set up a mathematical model of problem on the basis of distribution time constraints of vehicles in vehicle routing optimization. In order to solve this problem, a hybrid algorithm was designed based on the integration of genetic algorithm and ant colony optimization algorithm, which improves search efficiency of algorithm. Transition rule of operation part of ant colony optimization was modified in hybrid algorithm based on the characteristics of the problem so that feasibility of algorithm is improved. Simulation result shows that it can apply to the practical application and can achieve good optimization results.


The large scale repairing and welding method of cathode steel rod in electrolytic bath includes: stopping operation of the electrolytic bath, detecting the magnetic field strength and direction incapable of welding the cathode steel rod with magnetic field strength detecting instrument and compass, finding out the cathode bus of the electrolytic bath to affect the magnetic field, cutting off the upright shortening block connected to the bus, inserting insulating plate, fixing the shortening block, the insulating plate and the anode upright to cut off or reduce the current flowing through the bus, and welding the cathode steel rod in conventional welding process. The said method can ensure the welding quality.


The indiscriminate use of synthetic fungicides has led to negative impact to human health and to the environment. Thus, we investigated the effects of postharvest biocontrol treatment with Debaryomyces hansenii, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, and a polysaccharide ulvan on fruit rot disease, storability, and antioxidant enzyme activity in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus). Each fruit was treated with (1) 1 × 106 cells mL−1 of D. hansenii, (2) 1 × 108 CFU mL−1 of S. rhizophila, (3) 5 g L−1 of ulvan, (4) 1 × 106 cells mL−1 of D. hansenii + 1 × 108 CFU mL−1 of S. rhizophila, (5) 1 × 108 CFU mL−1 of S. rhizophila + 5 g L−1 of ulvan, (6) 1 × 106 cells mL−1 of D. hansenii + 1 × 108 CFU mL−1 of S. rhizophila + 5 g L−1 of ulvan, (7) 1000 ppm of benomyl or sterile water (control). The fruits were air-dried for 2 h, and stored at 27 °C ± 1 °C and 85–90% relative humidity. The fruit rot disease was determined by estimating the disease incidence (%) and lesion diameter (mm), and the adhesion capacity of the biocontrol agents was observed via electron microscopy. Phytopathogen inoculation time before and after adding biocontrol agents were also recorded. Furthermore, the storability quality, weight loss (%), firmness (N), total soluble solids (%), and pH were quantified. The antioxidant enzymes including catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and phenylalanine ammonium lyase were determined. In conclusion, the mixed treatment containing D. hansenii, S. rhizophila, and ulvan delayed fruit rot disease, preserved fruit quality, and increased antioxidant activity. The combined treatment is a promising and effective biological control method to promote the shelf life of harvested muskmelon.


In aquatic environment, microorganisms such as bacteria and microalgae usually secrete a matrix of mucilaginous extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to form a "microbial biofilm" when they are associated with solid surfaces (e.g., sediment particles, plant surfaces). Biofilms and the associated mucilaginous secretions form a cohesive matrix surrounding sediment particles, modifying the sediment properties, changing the sediment stability, and influencing the sediment dynamics. The purpose of this overview is to examine recent information concerning the roles of microbial interactions with sediment dynamics. The microbial biofilm affects a number of changes on the physico-chemical and biological properties of sediment. These range from the macro-scale stabilization of sediment to the micro-scale bioflocculation of sediment particles. Also microbial biofilms are associated with considerable variability in the properties of natural sediments. Sedimentological factors and biological factors interact in a complex manner within the hydrodynamic regime both on a temporal as well as on a spatial scale.


In this paper, a novel approach to texture retrieval using independent component analysis (ICA) in wavelet domain is proposed. It is well recognized that the wavelet coefficients in different subbands are statistically correlated, resulting in the fact that the product of the marginal distributions of wavelet coefficients is not accurate enough to characterize the stochastic properties of texture images. To tackle this problem, we employ (ICA) in feature extraction to decorrelate the analysis coefficients in different subbands, followed by modeling the marginal distributions of the separated sources using generalized Gaussian density (GGD), and perform similarity measure based on the maximum likelihood criterion. It is demonstrated by simulation results on a database consisting of 1776 texture images that the proposed method improve the accuracy of texture image retrieval in terms of average retrieval rate, compared with the traditional method using GGD for feature extraction and Kullback-Leibler divergence for similarity measure.


Display clutter is defined as an unintended effect of displaying visual imagery that may obscure or confuse other information, or that may be redundant or not relevant to the task at hand. There exists a limited amount of research that has explored both data-driven and knowledge-driven parameters as dual contributors to perceptions of clutter. In the present study, six pilots flew simulated approaches under varied workload conditions with synthetic and enhanced vision display configurations that represented "low," "medium," and "high" clutter. Results evinced that high clutter displays produced elevated reports of perceived clutter and workload due to density or redundant presentation of information, while low clutter displays were perceived as less cluttered but challenging to use because of a lack of information typically required for flight. Pilots identified both data-driven (bottom-up) and knowledge-driven (top-down) as contributors to clutter, and these challenges were mirrored in flight technical performance. Conclusions support the notion that design of advanced technologies must consider not only the physical appearance of data within the display, but also the utility of that information to tasks the displays are designed to support.


Georges Florovsky (1893–1979), with his "neo-patristic synthesis", is perhaps the most influential modern Orthodox theologian, having mentored and/or taught such theologians as Lossky and Zizioulas. However, his theology enshrines a troubling paradigm where a Pan-Orthodox Eastern identity ("Christian Hellenism") is asserted over against the heterodoxy of an Other which is often the West. The article traces this paradigm then argues that Florovsky's construction of Eastern Orthodoxy is dependent on German Romanticism and that his polemicism blinded him to this fact. It briefly suggests, on the basis of the Chalcedonian definition, a new "dialectical" theology of ecclesial identity where identity is established in an encounter with the Other, rather than in demonizing it.


Observations of geomagnetic variation fields on South Georgia, in the Scotia Sea, have revealed an unusual polarisation anomaly in the horizontal components, whose characteristics cannot be accounted for by an ocean-edge effect model. In addition, vertical field transfer functions have been calculated in the period range 10-10000 s. Although the data obtained from only one station allows only a limited analysis, it is suggested that the anomalous geomagnetic response on South Georgia can be accounted for by lithospheric conductivity contrasts between the Scotia and South American Plates.


Abstract : The U.S. Marine Corps is developing a new warfighting concept known as Distributed Operations. While this concept is still in development and experimentation it shows great promise in providing flexible and agile response to 21st century battle space challenges. The Distributed Operations concept envisions the deployment of units across a theater battle space to engage enemy forces. These units would be connected via command and control systems to carry out assigned missions employ fire support assets and request logistics support. If required these teams would then coalesce into formally structured infantry units to employ conventional infantry skills. These units could then be employed in conventional combat operations or stability and security operations. This battlefield concept provides a rapid flexible and agile tool to cover a battle space while creating challenges for any potential adversary. To realize the full joint potential of this concept several key areas of friction must be resolved. Specifically the integration of these forces into the theater level fire support system and logistics network needs to be addressed. This research paper will explore how distributed operations can employ joint interdependent theater fires and logistics in pursuit of theater missions. Possible courses of action involving joint interdependence will be proposed and a recommendation made on how these two challenges can be effectively dealt with.


Radioactive sources have various utilization in many fields in Thailand including medical, industrial, research and education. Thailand's regulatory body, Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) has been regulating the imports and exports of radioactive sources under the Atomic Energy for Peace Act, B.E. 2504 (1961) and Nuclear Energy for Peace Act, B.E. 2559 (2016) through the licensing process and customs declaration process. Under these processes, licensees must report their imports and exports by submitting confirmation documents to the OAP within 15 days. To improve these processes, the OAP and Thai Customs have collaborated through a government and government partnership (G2G), in July 2016, to initiate electronic data sharing in a digital format called License Per Invoice (LPI), which includes all the necessary information for verification of import and export, such as radioactivity, port number, and Harmonized System Code (HS Code). This study has shown significant data of time-consuming reducing on paperwork process spent 30.32 days turn into 6.95 minutes by LPI/NSW system. The new process enhances information accuracy, integrity, security, as well as increasing regulation efficiency, reducing the amount of paper work, and facilitate all stakeholders greatly for import and export of radioactive sources in Thailand.


ABSTRACT We have identified erm(Y), a novel gene class that was originally designated ermGM, from a Staphylococcus aureus strain that has a plasmid that also harbors msr(A) and mph(C), genes that encode an efflux mechanism and a putative phosphorylase, respectively. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of erm(Y) were 81 and 76% identical to those of erm(T), respectively.


In this paper, rotor slits on the rotor's outer circumference is adopted to reduce certain harmonic components of radial forces and, hence, acoustic noise and vibration in an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (IPMSM). The 48th order of harmonic component for the radial force is found to be responsible for the noise and vibration problem in the studied motor. For this purpose, the influential natural frequencies, speed range, and order of harmonic components for radial force are analyzed in a systematic way. A set of design procedures is formulated to find the proper locations for the slits circumferentially. Two base designs have been identified in electromagnetic analysis to reduce the radial force component and, hence, vibration. The features for both base models are combined to create a hybridized model. Then, the operating conditions, such as speed, current, and excitation angle are investigated on the hybridized model, in the high-dimensional analysis. At influential speed region, the hybridized model achieved up to 70% drop of 48th order harmonic for radial force in a wide operating range, and the highest drop goes up to 82.5%. Torque drop in the influential speed ranges from 2.5% to 5%.


We propose a robust and clear modification of the known C method for solving the problem of wave scattering by an arbitrarily shaped surface. This approach makes a reliable basis for the solution of the recognition problem, the reconstruction of surface profile and material parameters of media from known data on the scattered field. For the direct problem solution, the C-method in combination with /spl alpha/ regularisation has been chosen. This enables us to reduce the original 2D problem of linearly polarized plane wave diffraction by an arbitrary boundary of dielectric media to an operator equation.


From the Publisher:
Expanding on Kovacs' The Internet Trainer's Guide, this turnkey guide for Internet trainers will enable you to custom-tailor training for any type of end-user, including business, academic, and medical.
Kovacs outlines techniques to help instructors determine what trainees already know and what they want to get out of Internet training, as well as how to help trainees effectively apply their new-found knowledge to daily tasks and functions. Includes:
-- Scripted lesson plans
-- Training disk that can be customized according to the audience
-- WebExtra resources downloadable from VNR's website
-- Questionnaires to assess training needs
-- Exercises for training classes.


EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) (33 μM) and diallate [S-(2,3-dichloroallyl)diisopropylthiocarbamate] (90 μM) inhibited the incorporation of 6 mM acetate-2-14 C (Ac∗) by 80% and 65%, respectively, and the incorporation of 0.5 μM malonate-2-14C (Mal∗) by 32% and 26%, respectively, into the lipids of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. The inhibition of Ac∗ or Mal∗ incorporation into lipids was not observed in the presence of excess Ac∗ or Mal∗, respectively. Incorporation of palmitate-1-14C and oleate-1-14C into chloroplast lipids was inhibited by EPTC and diallate. Mal∗ incorporation into dienoic fatty acids was inhibited by EPTC and diallate. The concentration of EPTC and diallate inhibiting lipid synthesis falls into the physiological range of these herbicides, explains some metabolic effects of these compounds, and fits as the mode of activity of these herbicides.


The choice of activated carbon for use depends on the quality, which is measured by selected indices. The correlation between BET surface area, iodine number, ash content and bulk density, major quality indices for characterisation were investigated in this study. The iodine number and surface area were strongly correlated (R2= 0.9684 and 0.9577). The bulk density and ash content were highly correlated with surface area with coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.9040 and 0.9788 respectively for samples from same raw material under similar treatment. The ash content could also be used as an approximate estimate of iodine number and bulk density with R2 values of 0.5966 and 0.6236 respectively.


[1] Convection in the Arctic Ocean mixed layer occurs under openings in sea ice where new sea ice is formed. The process of brine rejection during ice formation creates negatively buoyant fluid at the surface of ice leads. When the fluid convects downward the ocean mixed layer below the lead is stirred vertically and, through planetary rotational effects, along-lead flows at the lead edges are induced. These vertical and lateral motions have been previously studied using two-dimensional numerical ocean models and observed in field programs such as LeadEx. In this paper the generation of Arctic Ocean eddies through dynamic instabilities is investigated using a three-dimensional, nonhydrostatic ocean model. Results suggest that salt-enriched vortices can develop at the base of the mixed layer as a consequence of brine rejection, but the vortex formation requires a time period of several days, a time long enough that the progenitor lead would likely have closed. The scale of the eddies is found to depend on the magnitude of the buoyancy forcing, the width of the lead, and the duration of the buoyancy forcing. The number of vortices produced depends on lead width and duration of buoyancy forcing but is less sensitive to the magnitude of the buoyancy forcing. Vortex sizes, scaled appropriately, and vortex numbers are compared with those found in recent laboratory studies of convectively driven flows from line segment sources.


International studies of the extent to which economic status is passed from one generation to the next are important for at least two reasons. First, each study of a particular country characterizes an important feature of that country's income inequality. Second, comparisons of intergenerational mobility across countries may yield valuable clues about how income status is transmitted across generations and why the strength of that intergenerational transmission varies across countries. The first section of this paper explains a benchmark measure of intergenerational mobility commonly used in U.S. studies. The second section summarizes comparable empirical findings that have accumulated so far for countries other than the United States. The third section sketches a theoretical framework for interpreting cross-country differences in intergenerational mobility.


European demographers rarely study religion as a determinant of contemporary demographic behaviour. One reason could be the secularisation observed in European countries, implying that the effect of religiosity has been diminishing. This paper aims to show that religion can have an important impact on ideals, intentions and behaviour related to fertility. First we discuss recent trends in religiosity. We base our ensuing hypotheses on three deliberations why religion may have a bearing on fertility: importance of religious teaching, effect of social capital and function of religion to decrease uncertainty. Using FFS data we examine the influence of several measures of religiosity on the ideal number of children and intentions to have a second and third child, as well as on the expected and actual number of children. We find that all measures of religiosity are in general related to a higher ideal number of children, higher odds to intend another child and higher expected and actual number of children. Participation in religious services turns out to be slightly more salient than affiliation and self-assessed religiosity. We also discover that the effect of religion on ideals is more pronounced than its effect on intentions. Ideals stay further away from behaviour than intentions do and hence the influence of religion is intermediated by other social systems.


We report on preliminary results of a project intended to construct a homogeneous spectroscopic data base of super metal-rich stars (SMR). The data base will...


The institution of civil law functions with notions from which it itself is formed. Among the main notions of civil law that need to be regulated is that of patrimony. Patrimony is a distinct legal institution that represents the totality or universality of patrimonial rights and patrimonial obligations that belong to a person. Heritage is a legal concept that expresses the set of rights and obligations of a person as a universality, as a totality independent of the goods that the heritage includes at a given moment; whether we regard it as an entity closely related to the person of the subject or whether a universality of rights necessarily exists for any subject of law (even when the passive exceeds the active); it can never be alienated but can be transmitted to the death of the subject at the moment when its will, which gives it the character of unity, is extinguished. The patrimony includes tangible and intangible assets, consumable or fungible, movable or immovable, principal and accessory assets, etc. That is, everything that represents the powers, faculties, The patrimony fulfills three functions, essential in their importance: the patrimony constitutes the general pledge of the creditors, realizes the real subrogation with universal title and makes possible the universal and universal transmission of rights and obligations.


Essential medicines (EMs) save lives and improve health. But still, lack of access to EMs remains to be one of the most serious global public health problems. This study evaluates patient price, availability and affordability of essential medicines in Mekelle, and compares the private and public health care facilities with respect to these parameters. A cross-sectional prospective survey was conducted using WHO/HAI standardized methods for surveying medicines' prices, availability, affordability, and price components in low-income countries with the necessary adjustments in line with local situations. The patient price of lowest price generic (LPGs) products in private pharmacies and drug shops were 1.90 and 1.62 times patient price in public Health care facilities (PHCFs), respectively. The overall % availability of the selected EMs in PHCFs, private drug shops (PDSs) and private pharmacies (PPs) were found to be 81.25%, 86.25% and 90%, respectively. There were no innovator brand products in PHCFs and their overall availability were 16.67% in PPs and 11.11% in PDSs. In PHCFs and private drug retail outlets (PDROs), treatment costs of combination of diseases were found to consume more than 1 day's wage of lowest paid unskilled Ethiopian government worker. The patient prices of EMs in PHCFs were more affordable as compared to private ventures. There was a better availability of EMs in private health care facilities. In both private and public health facilities, most of the treatment costs of preselected disease conditions appeared to be unaffordable


Summary The purpose of this study was to investigate the similarities and differences in value systems between Americans and Vietnamese. A national sample of 1427 Americans was given Rokeach's value survey. The scale was then translated into Vietnamese and given to a randomly selected group of 349 Vietnamese living in South Vietnam shortly before the fall of the Saigon government. Three comparisons of value systems were conducted via stepwise discriminant analyses: (a) overall differences between Americans and Vietnamese, (b) differences between males and females in the two countries, and (c) differences between individuals with comparable amounts of education in the two countries. In terms of overall differences, Vietnamese were more concerned about their security and less concerned about their individual freedom than were Americans. This difference was even more pronounced when Vietnamese women were compared with American women. Finally, it was found that the college-educated Vietnamese respondents were...


Aromatic boronic acids are reversible inhibitors of the recently classified class C 16-lactamases. The boronic acids studied include ortho-, meta- and para-methyl-, -hydroxymethyl- and -formyl-phenylboronic acid. The JJ-lactamases were chromo-somally-encoded enzymes, one from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the other specified by the ampC gene of Escherichia coli. The inhibition may be correlated with our finding that these f-lactamases are serine enzymes, i.e. their function entails the hydroxy group of a serine residue acting as a nucleophile.


The main aim of the investigation was to analyze the effect of operational and market risk exposures on the financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to; assess the effect of operating expense risk exposure on the financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Kenya; To establish the effect of operation efficiency risk exposure on the financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Kenya; Effect of interest rate risk exposure on the financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Kenya; Effect of foreign exchange rate risk exposure on the financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Kenya. Effect of operational and market risk exposure on the financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Kenya. The study used panel data between the years 2010-2019 which was 10 years period. The results revealed that at both bivariate and multivariate regression operating expense risk, operating efficiency and foreign exchange risk exposure had a significant effect on the financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Kenya. Only interest rate risk exposure did not have a significant effect on the financial performance of DT-SACCOs in Kenya.


To explore the correlation of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and basal antral follicle counts (bAFC) with in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) outcomes in older adults. A total of 135 patients who underwent IVF/ICSI-ET assisted pregnancy in Hengshui People's Hospital from February 2014 to May 2016 were collected and were divided into the clinical pregnancy group (n=81) and the non-clinical pregnancy group (n=54) according to whether the patients had a clinical pregnancy. The AMH and bAFC were compared between the two groups. The diagnostic value of AMH, bAFC and pregnancy outcomes were detected by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the clinical risk factors of IVF/ICSI-ET in patients with non-clinical pregnancy. Compared with the non-clinical pregnancy group, the AMH and bAFC in the clinical pregnancy group were notably increased. The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of AMH and bAFC was 0.888 and 0.730, respectively. Older age was an independent risk factor for the inability to get pregnant in patients with IVF/ICSI-ET, while higher AMH, bAFC, and number of high-quality embryos were protective factors. AMH and bAFC can well predict the outcome of IVF/ICSI-ET in patients. Older age is an independent risk factor for patients who cannot become pregnant, and higher AMH, bAFC, and number of high-quality embryos are protective factors.


Women entrepreneurship has gained importance in academia and practice with the realisation, especially in the developing world, that women's participation in economic activity has a great bearing on the betterment of livelihoods at the micro and macro level of the economy. Despite this realisation, female-owned enterprises are grossly underfunded and depend on the meagre savings these women may have access to. Using the restricted pecking order theory, this paper presents the results of an empirical study that examines the effect of the savings behaviour of women entrepreneurs in a developing country on their entrepreneurial activity. The study sample was made up of 650 women who were randomly selected from the central region of Uganda. Through correlation and regression analysis, the results show that a statistically significant inverse relationship exists between savings and entrepreneurial activity. The results have implications for government agencies and non-governmental organisations that work with women entrepreneurs.


In face-to-face bargaining, one usuallyfinds a large variety of actions that are not explainable and sometimes not even compatible with the usual rationality assunmptions of the actors. It is widely accepted that bounded rationality approaches are more appropriate for such settings. Most bounds to rationality refer to how the situation and the partners are perceived by the actor Two crucial components of such a perception and judgment are conceptualized as processing aspirations and the socialfield. Ostmann reported on the use of the socialfield concept and on afirst trial to explain bargaining results by aspirations and the socialfield; Another paper explored aspiration processing in a more detailed way. This article deals with questions of how nonstandard measures for the socialfield concept can be used successfully to explain or predict fundamental processes in face-to-face-bargaining.


Objective:To evaluate the effect of octreotide for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods: Twenty HCC patients were treated with octreotide at the dose of 0.2mg q12 h till the disease progresses, while twenty patients were given the best supportive care only. Results: There was significant difference in the response rate between two group (P0.05). Patients treated with octreotide had an advantage in duration of survival time of 6.5 months vs 2.5 months, also an advantage in media aliment development time with 3.5 months vs 1.5 months in the control group and there was significant difference between the two groups (P0.05). Octreotide could improve the quality of life,decrease the upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Conclusion: Octreotide therapy can to improve the quality of life and have a survival benefit in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients.