Increasing demand for food will continue to increase pressure on production of crops and pastures. A productive agricultural system requires a relatively stable pool of soil carbon which is turning over at a range of rates. When crop residues or animal manure are returned to the system much of the material needs to break down during the growth of the succeeding crop in order to provide nutrient turnover and labile carbon to maintain, or improve, soil aggregate stability. This is at odds with carbon sequestration. When such materials are removed from the system for the production of biofuels, compost or biochar there is a loss of both nutrients and labile-carbon capital. The carbon management index (CMI) was developed to give weight to both non-labile and labile carbon in agricultural systems and has been shown to be a useful means of monitoring rates of change of carbon in agricultural systems. Data from the Glen Innes, NSW long-term experiment over 60 years shows that total carbon had declined to about half that of the nearby uncultivated reference site but most of this loss occurred in the non-labile carbon fraction such that in the maize/spring oats/red clover rotation the CMI was at 96 compared to the uncultivated reference value of 100. When red clover was omitted from the rotation CMI had declined to 38. The difficulty of accumulating carbon in the agricultural systems is shown in data from the Rothamstead Broadbalk longterm experiment where calculation of total carbon accumulation from manure showed that only some 5% of that added over 155 years and only 12% of carbon added in straw over 11 years was present in the ploughed depth of 23 cm. The difficult task of sequestering carbon in soil whilst maintaining active nutrient cycling is discussed.


Inorganic and organic thermoelectric (TE) materials have received an extensive scientific interest during the last decades, due to their ability to directly convert the thermal energy to electricity. This is described by the well-known " Seebeck effect " . TE materials can convert also electricity into cooling through the " Peltier effect " . As such, TE materials and thermoelectric generator (TEG) devices can be utilized for potential applications including (i) thermal energy harvesting, (ii) local cooling and (iii) temperature sensing. The direct conversion of heat into electricity has been one of the most attractive solutions to the severe environmental and energy issues the humanity is coming across. This chapter covers the fundamental working principle of TE materials, the synthetic protocols for inorganic and organic thermoelectric materials, techniques and technologies for the fabrication of thermoelectric generators (otherwise defined as thermoelectric module devices) and a number of applications. Finally, future aspects and outlooks for further advancements at the " material " or " device " level for efficient power generation are remarked.


In the recent literature there has been a revived interest in the role of the kidney in congestive heart failure, particularly with reference to the mechanism of sodium retention and edema formation (112). In view of the contention by Blake and his associates (13) that a rise in renal venous pressure in the dog may prevent excretion of sodium without altering renal blood flow or filtration rate as measured by clearance methods, and its possible implications in man, it was felt that actual measurement of renal venous pressure in subjects with congestive heart failure was indicated. A review of the literature revealed that there were no previous measurements of renal venous pressure in normal human subjects other than the six figures cited by Bradley and Bradley (14) who, for their purposes were more concerned with comparative pressures before and during abdominal compression than with a precise set of normal values. The purpose of this communication is 1) to establish a standard technique and set of normal values for renal venous pressure measurements in man, and 2) to report on renal venous pressure in patients with congestive heart failure, discussing the significance and the hemodynamic mechanisms involved.


Aims
Multi-method study including two parts:

Study One: three sets of observations in two regional areas of Queensland

Study Two: two sets of parent intercept interviews conducted in Toowoomba, Queensland.

The aim of Study Two is to determine parents' views, opinions and knowledge of child restraint practices and the Queensland legislative amendment.


Sex has increasingly been constructed as a problem for men with learning disabilities. Research has focused on their vulnerability to abuse and their capacity to exploit. There are also the additional fears of their sexual activity leading to HIV infection or pregnancy. Notions of sexual rights and sexual pleasure are lost in such a discourse. This paper looks in detail at the actual experience of sex for men with learning disabilities, based on qualitative interviews. It paints a very uncomfortable picture, leading to the title question: is sex a good thing for men with learning disabilities?


FERIANCOVÁ, Ľ., ŠTĚPÁNKOVÁ, R. 2006. Woody plants and stands in the health-resort park Brusno, evaluated for quality and quantity. Folia oecol., 33: 64–72. Health-resort parks are an important landscaping element, and, from the very beginning of the modern balneology, they have been embedded naturally into each watering place. The landscape design of the spa park Brusno is a close-to-nature one with minimum presence of regular planting. The park area is approximately 11.5 ha. We have inventoried in total 892 trees and shrubs, 2/3 domestic and 1/3 introduced. In both groups are dominant broadleaved woody plants. The inventory results show that the proposed sanitary cutting (148 woody plants in the park and 99 in the alder stand) is necessary for its successful development. We propose planting of new woody plants as substitution for the plants that do not fulfil their function any more, have not appropriate landscaping value and their presence in the stand is also a security risk. Because the stands mostly consist of domestic woody plants, and the National Nature Protection also requires preserving this character, we recommend to preserve it and, at the same time, to improve its attractiveness, by supplementary outplanting of exclusively domestic woody plants in appropriate shape, colour and growth forms


OBJECTIVE To review the progress of studies on diversity of endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi from Dendrobium plants.METHODS Based on the original publications and the novel findings in our laboratory in recent years,the species diversity and specificity of endophytic fungi in Dendrobium in the present study were introduced.RESULTS The methods of fungal isolation and identification,species diversity,distribution and specificity of endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi from Dendrobium,analyzed the problems in current studies,and proposed possible solutions were summarized.CONCLUSION Endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi from Dendrobium have promising application prospect for resources conservation and regeneration of orchidaceous plants.


The American program of folic acid fortification is generally thought to have increased the average amount of serum folate in the population and, hence, widely considered as a successful public health intervention. We use several waves of the "National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey†(NHANES) to evaluate the causal impact of the fortification of ready-to-eat cereals on serum folate concentration, using a quasi experimental framework. First, we compute the average treatment effect by using matching methods to solve the problem of selection on observables, finding a strong selection into treatment mainly based on race-ethnicity and education. Second, we assess the distributional impact of the fortification by computing quantile treatment effects, under different assumptions on the dependence between the distributions of potential outcomes, and we find significant variation in the impact of fortification across the population, thus rejecting the common effects model. Fortification appears to have had the least (though still modestly beneficial) impact among those that most needed it and the biggest impact among those that needed it least, thus suggesting the presence of folate over-consumption in the latter group, with potential adverse health effects. Third, by controlling our estimates for the concentration of beta-carotene, we find support for the hypothesis that part of the increase in serum folate concentration can be explained by changes in diet, leaving a smaller attributable effect to the fortification itself.


A method for level adjustment in the filling of a cavity system, in particular a cavity system, which comprises one or more pressure bubbles for the lumbar support, in motor vehicle seats, in which a set by the user level is detected and stored a purpose representative value and the representative for the level value of a is determined for that cavity system characteristic curve (1), characterized in that for detecting the level of the characteristic (1) the slope values determined for each point, or predetermined time interval of the characteristic curve (1) of the characteristic (1) for the duration of filling process are added to a stored before filling, representative of the level value.


DIRECT observation (see Fig. 1) on a strip of veneer cut at an angle other than 0 deg. or 90 deg. to the grain shows that a bending moment parallel to the long axis of the strip is accompanied by a twist, in addition to the usual bending, and further, that the resistance to bending is higher when the accompanying torsion is prevented than when it is permitted. Similar phenomena are observed when the strip is subjected to a pure twist about the long axis; the distortion is again a combination of flexure and torsion, and a higher resistance to torsion is obtained when the accompanying bending is suppressed than when it is permitted.


Aim: To report a rare case of valsalva retinopathy in adult following a cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Case report: A 35-year-old man admitted to intensive care unit for acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma secondary to pneumonia and received cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the admission. Post extubation, he noted bilateral central reduce vision with visual acuity of 6/60 in the right eye and 6/24 in the left eye. Fundus examination showed bilateral pre-macular haemorrhage. Patient was treated conservatively and regain normal vision after six weeks with complete resolution of the pre-retinal haemorrhage. Conclusion: Valsalva retinopathy is a well-described phenomenon which happen due to increase intrathoracic pressure causing rise in intravenous ocular pressusre leading to rupture of retinal capillaries. A pre-retinal haemorrhage in the macula is the usual finding at presentation. Although it involved the central area of macula, prognosis is good as seen in this case complete anatomical improvement is observed within months. *Corresponding author: Nawi NM, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tel: +60127345983; E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Received October 13, 2019; Accepted October 21, 2019; Published October 28, 2019 Citation: Nawi NM, Mohamad NF (2019) A Case of Valsalva Retinopathy Post Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. J Clin Case Rep 9: 1282. Copyright: © 2019 Nawi NM, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


Abstract To account for the extensive inequalities manifest within urban (or metropolitan) areas in the United States, the idea of "opportunity hoarding" has garnered increasing salience. When applied to explain urban inequalities, the focus of opportunity hoarding is on places—especially how residents of affluent, predominantly White residential neighborhoods or political jurisdictions are able to secure a plethora of opportunities for themselves and especially their children, at the expense of those living in less privileged places. I interrogate the account of American urban inequalities embedded within the idea of opportunity hoarding, finding it to be limited in significant ways. In light of these findings, I discuss what a superior account of urban inequalities might look like, and suggest how this account points toward potentially more efficacious strategies to attack these inequalities, perhaps ushering in a more just future for American cities and metros.


An account is given of couple therapy offered as part of a comprehensive treatment programme in a unit run as a therapeutic community. The additional therapeutic force provided by couple or family therapy is important in dealing with adult patients who may not be highly motivated for change or who may not initially present their difficulties as springing from marital or family relationships. A combined approach with these kinds of patients may succeed where either group therapy or couple therapy alone is likely to fail.


Sharing knowledge among teachers' group is an important way to improve teachers' abilities and to make schools more competitive. The article analyzed the essence and the importance of Sharing knowledge among teachers' group, looked for the factors restricting its development in the conception and management of current university, and finally put forward some advice, including: improving management mechanism and technology support, shaping good environment. Meaning of Group Knowledge-sharing between teachers Knowledge, according to the Webster Dictionary, is defined to be the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association. It's the sum of what is known: the body of truth, information, and principles acquired by humankind. Group knowledge sharing refers to colleges and universities by means of IT and a variety of measures, mutual exchanges between the teachers share with each other to achieve the common purpose of promoting. Knowledge plays an important role in our lives, and with two features, it provides for teachers a better environment to group knowledge-sharing. The two features are: First, knowledge has mobility. Knowledge can be spread between people, while the dissemination of knowledge, knowledge has mobility. Because of the mobility of knowledge, more people have gained the knowledge and social practice, and are able to promote social progress and development. With the application of advanced technology, the speed of knowledge flow faster and faster. However, while promoting the dissemination of knowledge, knowledge is getting obsolescence, so the need to constant new knowledge in the social practice, knowledge, creative. People decorated the knowledge used in social practice, and from social practice, continue to accumulate and create new knowledge so that knowledge flows at the same time, continuous creation and updating, and become creative. It is precisely because there have been new knowledge to social practice, in order to promote social development and changes. Group knowledge-sharing allows people to have mutual exchange of ideas and learn together at the same time, accelerating the flow and dissemination of knowledge, and inspiring more new knowledge and new ideas generated. In a special organization, like school, the quality and quantity of teachers' knowledge have higher requirements. Therefore, teachers' group knowledge-sharing is particularly important for the adapting to the rapid development of society. [2] Significance of Group Knowledge-sharing between teachers Contribution to the development of teachers. The teachers are the disseminators of knowledge, university teachers are responsible for the dissemination of cutting-edge knowledge, and promoting the social development. So they need to keep enriching themselves. Group knowledge sharing mechanisms will contribute to the development of teachers. Firstly, it will help teachers to acquire more knowledge. In order to guarantee that the Professor useful and creative content, teachers must continue to learn about related areas of cutting-edge 2nd International Conference on Science and Social Research (ICSSR 2013) © 2013. The authors Published by Atlantis Press 618 dynamic with the increasing number of interdisciplinary accept other areas of knowledge, broaden their horizons. Through knowledge sharing with each other in a certain platform to make the exchange of knowledge with others, it is a good help teachers to acquire more knowledge in a relatively short period of time, and the exchanges easier to stimulate new ideas, generate new ideas, so groups of knowledge sharing to help teachers to acquire more knowledge. Secondly, it will improve teachers' teaching abilities. The teacher's ability, which includes the professional disciplines and pedagogical capability, indicates the extent of the impact on students. Professional and academic abilities are granted subject to master and extent of the teaching skills of teachers teaching design, the use of teaching methods, understanding of educational philosophy, they will directly affect the students master the knowledge, so to improve the teaching skills are also important for teachers' professional development. Instance between teachers teaching seminars, teaching experience, the lesson preparation with each other will be a long-term teaching experience, teaching feelings to share with others, to quickly improve teaching skills. Contribution to the development of schools. The university is a knowledge transfer and the creation of an important place, and only able to maintain the knowledge continuously updated, colleges and universities will be more dynamic in order to develop long-lasting. Different backgrounds, ideas between teachers in the process of knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, enhanced the academic atmosphere of the school, while promoting the faster development of the various disciplines in the school, the knowledge shared around the core competencies of the University of to create a large number of core assets, enhance its core competitiveness. So that colleges and universities in the knowledge innovation is sustainable development. Contribution to the development of students. Students to apply knowledge learned in the schools of social activities subject, to enable students to adapt to social progress and development, the need to continue to give the students spread the frontiers of knowledge, teachers 'groups, knowledge sharing, not only to improve the professional quality and skills of the teachers' team, more students played a direct role in promoting learning at the same time, the group exchange to communicate with each other by the formation of a good academic atmosphere, and played a good role in promoting student learning, thinking of upgrading. Difficulties of Group knowledge-sharing Lack of consciousness. Firstly, as the main body of the owner and exchange of knowledge, the teachers in the understanding of shared knowledge gaps exist. First of all, the mutual lack of trust led to difficulties in knowledge sharing. Because of individual differences in the worldview, values, understanding, individuals come to different conclusions and the knowledge. In the group, the teacher with each other to share experience view, the need for mutual trust, if you do not trust other people will be suspicious of or even deny the views of others so you do not exchange ideas with others. Teacher during teaching practice and theoretical study of the process, will develop their own unique style, these are all teachers in alone to explore the formation. The sixties and seventies of the twentieth century, some scholars have proposed teacher individualism, teachers tend to adhere to the independent kingdom on their own business and academic, are unwilling to cooperate with other people. Precisely because of the characteristics of the teacher work environment and the knowledge and skills formation, leading to the relative independence of this group in the knowledge of the use of, hinders knowledge sharing groups. Secondly, the knowledge-holders out of dominant position and other considerations, will not take the initiative to disseminate knowledge. Especially in the lost of a variety of management mechanisms, teachers will want to better development by their own achievements in order to protect their own interests; teachers are often not willing to own knowledge and experience to share with others. The school management mechanism is lack of the part for knowledge. Group knowledge can be seen as a valuable property of the school, responsible for group knowledge sharing mechanism should be the school, the school management lack of understanding of the teacher groups, the importance of knowledge sharing, establish and improve the sharing mechanism to improve the


When the previous one of these reports was written by Hales [1971], the use of reflection seismology at sea had just experienced a rapid proliferation, in the form of both continuous seismic profiling (CSP) by oceanographic institutions and 'conventional' multichannel reflection surveys of the continental shelves by petroleum exploration groups. Wide-angle reflection studies were becoming more common, but seismic refraction work had decreased markedly from previous years. In the 4 years just past the use of CSP and wide-angle reflection methods has continued to increase; more research (as distinguished from straight exploration) is being carried out with multichannel reflection systems, and seismic refraction work has been revived primarily because of an influx of new techniques, new instruments, and new ideas. The field has indeed been explosive in its expansion, even if the term 'explosion seismology' is no longer appropriate for a set of techniques that rely more on compressed air and electric sparks than on chemical explosives for sources of elastic waves. Because this is the U.S. report to the IUGG, the coverage has been limited chiefly to work in U.S. institutions and in cooperative programs.


ABSTRACT High pressure processing (HPP) and sous vide may increase the shelf-life of high value seafood products without the use of additives. This study investigated the effects of 150MPa or 350MPa for 10min on microbial, sensory, and physicochemical qualities of raw and subsequently sous vide cooked (65°C) lobster tails during 28 days of refrigerated storage. Raw lobster pressurized at 350MPa or sous vide cooked maintained significantly lower microbial counts, total volatile base nitrogen, and biogenic amine levels. Due to off-odors, 90% and 60% of sensory respondents rejected the control and 150MPa raw samples, respectively, by day 7, while 70% rated the 350MPa samples as still acceptable on day 28. For cooked lobster, only 20% of the respondents rejected any samples by day 28. Moderate HPP conditions were effective in extending refrigerated shelf-life of vacuum-packaged raw lobster tails. However, HPP pretreatment did not contribute to additional shelf-life extension for sous vide cooked products.


Abstract The Indonesia-Australia Joint Authority Offices for the Timor Gap Zone of Cooperation were established in Jakarta and Darwin in March/April 1991. Initially, regional surveys were conducted in the open acreage. Area A was then subdivided into fourteen Production Sharing Areas and competitive bids were invited. Following bid assessments, recommendations, and Ministerial consent, the Joint Authority offered Contracts to nine consortia for eleven of the Production Sharing Contract Areas. Execution of these Contracts was undertaken between December 1991 and February 1992, and all consortia agreed to terms and conditions incorporated in the Treaty, the Petroleum Mining Code and the Production Sharing Contract, including Directions and Regulations issued by the Joint Authority under Article 37 of the Petroleum Mining Code. Exploration activity under the Production Sharing Contract regime commenced with seismic data acquisition on 24 January 1992. A total of 34,000 kilometers of seismic data have been acquired, processed, and interpreted. A further 19,000 kilometers of Aeromagnetic data were acquired. The HYDRA-1 exploration well was the first well drilled in Area A under the Timor Gap Production Sharing Contract regime. This well was spudded on 7 December 1992 by Marathon Petroleum Timor Gap West Limited, using Seadrill Proprietary Limited's "Falcon" semi-submersible drilling unit. The well reached a total depth of 2,685 meters before being plugged and abandoned. Drilling by the "Falcon" continued into 1993 for Marathon with the drilling of the Basilisk-1A and Naga-1 features. Results have been encouraging. Approximately 7,000 kilometers of additional seismic data acquisition has been programmed for 1993 and a further seven exploration wells are planned for the latter part of the year.


Elderberry pomace, by-product of juice pressing procedure, is still rich in biologically active compounds, especially antioxidants and phenolic compounds. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether elderberry pomace could be utilized as a source of natural colourings and preservatives. By a simple solvent extraction a proper food colouring could be produced from elderberry pomace characterized by similar colour values as pressed elderberry juice. A solvent ratio of 1:20 with 50% ethanol proved to be the optimal solvent extraction method to produce an extract rich in antioxidants showing inhibitory effect against Lysteria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis. In elderberry pomace extract three main phenolic compounds: chlorogenic acid, rutin and coumaric acid have been identifed by HPLC analysis. Based on our results, elderberry pomace, a by-product of fruit processing technologies, seems to be suitable for developing natural food additives after appropriate clarifcation processes.


The paper examines the equality principle as a general principle of Bulgarian labour and social security law. The focus of the research is on the existing legal frameworks related to its contemporary normative manifestation. In conclusion the authors outline tendencies in the evolution of the equality principle in terms of national regulation and synchronization with international norms


With the further development of higher educational reform,college education itself also presents the new developing tendency.What the most urgent duties of current educational reform are,is to build an educational system that conforms to the needs of social development and higher educational development,especially the students' individual development,and to reflect the key position and important role of college education in the whole higher education.


This paper examines the issues arising in the planning and operation of an urban highway network and concludes that those responsible for urban areas in the UK should, having devised a balanced comprehensive transport policy for their area, prepare a programme of schemes capable of claiming a commitment to major expenditure in the urban areas. A major element of such a programme will undoubtedly include schemes for major improvement/refurbishment of the highway network often as part of development/redevelopment initiatives and including extensive but maintenance free environmental features such as landscaping. See also the paper having the same title by Gent, DJ on pp30-31, immediately preceding this paper (TRIS 387606). Both papers were presented at the National Conference of the Institution of Highways and Transportation on "Transportation on Conurbations" held in London on 1st and 2nd December 1983. (TRRL)


The authors examine the moderating effects of conscientiousness on the relationships between agency controls and effort and agency controls and task performance. Results show that less conscientious individuals appear to increase effort through incentive alignment and monitoring, whereas conscientious individuals do not shirk with or without agency controls. Furthermore, results show that less conscientious individuals increase task performance through incentive alignment, but not through monitoring. The study confirms that motivation to act opportunistically differs between individuals unlike what is assumed by agency theory. Also, incentive alignment may be more effective than monitoring when attempting to align principal and agent interests.


Among the least studied issues in the history of the Sultanate of the Mamluks, there are the principles and dynamics of the Mamluks' interaction with the administrative system represented by the local elite. The article considers issues connected with the transformation of the Mamluk administrative system which took place during the Burji period (1382–1517). As early as the thirteenth — fourteenth centuries, a gradual displacement of representatives of the civilian population from various administrative positions and their replacement with Mamluk emirs began. This process acquired particular importance in connection with the position of the vizier, since the last Mamluk sultans occupied this position before assuming the throne. In the twentieth century, D. Ayalon (1914–1998) raised some questions related to the evolution of the military-administrative system in Egypt between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, but a comprehensive and systematic study of the problems outlined by this pioneer and one of the founders of modern Mamluk studies has not yet been carried out. Based on several Arabic chronicles and biographical dictionaries of the fifteenth century, the author traces changes in the position and functions of the vizier in the Mamluk administrative system, highlighting the reasons for these changes, their significance for the evolution of political and social relations in the Mamluk Sultanate in the final period of its history. Referring to the vizierate, the author considers a significant transformation of the Egyptian state-administrative system under the Burji sultans, which is most closely associated with the destruction of the social boundaries and stereotypes that prevailed in the previous period, the acquisition of new forms and functions by political groups, and the reconfiguration of the central government.


Contingency analysis is the protection of power system operation under the loss of one or more of the major power system components. It is widely used to predict the effect of outages of transmission lines and generators. To calculate the number of violation, contingency analysis is the most preferable choice. Power systems use contingency analysis to foretell the result of any component failure. Contingency analysis is an application that uses a simulated model of power system to judge the result and calculate any overload. The proposed method approaches the flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) device to reduce the power flow in heavily loaded line and also increase the system performance. In this work, FACTS devices were implemented in IEEE 6-bus and IEEE 14-bus system and it is simulated by using Power World Simulator Software. Citation:  MONISHA, B., and Balamurugan, K. (2018). Establishing Contingency Analysis with FACTS Devices Using Power World Simulator. Trends in Renewable Energy, 4, 114-131. DOI: 10.17737/tre.2018.4.3.0053


In the research of tobacco germplasm and construction of foundation platform,the characteristics pictures of plants,leaves and inflorescences are needed to establish and perfect the germplasm files.Through several years of photographing practice in field,a set of photographing experiment,including filed design of target plant,movable photographed background and key techniques for picture taking,was summarized and can improve the quality and efficiency of photographing.


OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the determination of the content of Glycyrrhizic acid in Wen Liu San.METHOD:Ultrasonic extraction,HPLC was used to determine Glycyrrhizic acid in Wen Liu San on C 18 Column with methanol 0.2 mol/LNH 4C 2H 3O 2 include 3% CH 3COOH(62∶38) mixture as mobile phase.The detection was at 250 nm.RESULTS:The linearity of this method was well.The average recovery was 99.5%, and RSD was 1.8%.CONCLUSION:This method has good peak resolution and can be used for quality control of Wen Liu San.


A fast method for calculating the BIFORE phase spectrum for different circular shifts of the input data is developed. A simple relationship between the BIFORE phase spectrum and the modified Hadamard transform (MHT) coefficients is established. It is also pointed out that given the BIFORE power spectrum and the phase spectrum for circular shifts of 0 to (N/2 - 1), the input data can be reconstructed.


Formation of multifilaments in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) excimer lamp has been simulated using two dimensional fluid model. The simulation had started from a small cluster of electron-ion pair in the middle of discharge gap. After the first streamer arrived at the cathode, the discharge expanded on the surface of the dielectric toward the lateral direction until the polarity of the discharge voltage change. The edges of this surface discharge become the start point of next second and third filaments. Within one and half cycles of the discharge voltage waveform, five filaments are formed in stably in 3-cm discharge space.


The paper refers to a new method for augmenting aerodynamic lift trough the use of fluidic jets acting as fluid barriers against the mainstream rather than the conventional boundary layer control jets in the current state of the art. Numerical simulations have been used to compare the proposed infracirculation fluidic device with some of the most popular flaps configurations. In the matter of the lift to drag ratio and maximum lift coefficient, the proposed variation shows good comparative results especially at low angles of attack. Further development of the concept may yield efficient high lift devices for light aircraft and also for stealthier UAVs.


OBJECTIVE
To compare, for the calculation of the Flesch legibility index, the original manual method and the computer programmes Word Perfect 7 and Microsoft Word 2000; and to correlate these with other computer measurements of legibility.

DESIGN
Descriptive, observation study.

SETTING
A Madrid Health Centre, within a study of the legibility of health education (HE) leaflets.

MATERIAL
A sample of text from 100 HE leaflets and 11 general control texts. Main measurements. The 11 texts were analysed through Flesch' s original manual method and the computer programmes mentioned, with which the number of words and sentences, the Flesch scores, the index of sentence complexity and the LEGIN index were calculated. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated for all the variables.

RESULTS
There was very good correlation between the manual measurement of the Flesch index, the number of words and sentences, and their determination by means of computers (r>0.75); and excellent correlation between the two programmes (r>0.9). The results support the cut-off scores in other studies for legibility measured by computer.

CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of legibility through the computer programmes used can reliably replace manual measurement of the Flesch index.


Speed and lateral position are recognized as influential factors in the occurrence of road crashes at curves on two-lane rural roads. Studying the driver behavior at those road sections can help in preventing accidents by choosing the adequate countermeasures. However, driver behavior can be substantially non-uniform on very low-volume rural roads since the free-flow condition occurs. On the other hand, some literature studies affirm that road familiarity can be influential on driving behavior, by reporting changes due to the acquired familiarity with the road environment. An on-road test was planned on a very low-volume two lane rural road in the District of Bari in Puglia Region (Italy) over six days of testing, in order to acquire repeated measurements of speed and lateral position at curves. The main objective of this study was to find relationships between speed choice, lateral position and route familiarity at curves. In particular, lateral position data in terms of trajectories were analyzed by considering the influence of road geometry and different test driving conditions. General findings about curve driving behavior are presented here, showing curve-cutting tendencies and higher radii of curvature of the trajectories selected than the radius of the curve itself. Furthermore, lateral position, in terms of lateral displacement from the lane centerline, seems to be affected by route familiarity: the radius of curvature of the selected trajectories increases with the repetition of travel on the same route. Moreover, some relationships between speed and lateral displacement at the considered curves were found.


The section of railway which runs along the coastline of south Devon in United Kingdom, from Exeter to Newton Abbot, is one of the most photographed sections of railway in the world. It was opened in 1846 with embankments and seawalls protecting and supporting the railway, providing the route of an atmospheric railway. Despite regular maintenance however, there has been a history of storm damage, one of the most severe occurring in February 2014. This resulted in the collapse of the line, interruption of all rail traffic into and out of the far South-West of the United Kingdom (affecting parts of Devon and the whole of Cornwall) and significant damage to the region's economy.
In order to improve the resilience of the line, several options have been considered to evaluate and reduce climate change impacts to the railway. This paper describes the methodological approach developed to evaluate the risks of flooding for a range of scenarios in the estuary and open coast reaches of the line. Components to derive the present day and future climate change coastal conditions including some possible adaptation measures are also presented together with the results of the hindcasting analysis to assess the performance of the modelling system. An overview of the modelling results obtained to support the development of a long-term Resilience Strategy for asset management is also discussed.


The Histamine H4 receptor (H4R) is a classic G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and is expressed on a range of cell types in the body. To determine the roles of the H4R in the peripheral and central nervous system, four hypotheses have been addressed. (1) The H4R are expressed on sensory neurons in the peripheral and central nervous system; (2) The H4R is differentially expressed during acute inflammatory and neuropathic pain states; (3) Antagonism of the H4R with the antagonist JNJ 7777120 ameliorates central inflammation observed during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE); (4) Antagonism of the central H4R with JNJ 777120 has anxiolytic effects and improves memory performance in mice.
Based on immunofluorescence approaches we have demonstrated for the first time the presence of the H4R on both putative A-delta (Aδ) and C-fibre sensory neurons in the skin and dorsal root ganglia. Using the novel agonist selective H4R agonist, VUF 8430 revealed functional expression of H4R on primary rodent dorsal root ganglia neurons. Using quantitative immunoblotting, we provide preliminary evidence for the rodent H4 receptor bilateral and unilateral upregulation in the skin, but not the spinal cord in the acute phase of Complete Freund's adjuvant induced inflammatory pain and nerve constriction acute neuropathic pain, respectively.
The H4R is an attractive target for the treatment of many inflammatory disorders. However, in contrast to the beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of H4R antagonism observed in literature, blockade of the receptor using JNJ 7777120 in acute EAE (autoimmune disease) appeared to exacerbate the pathology, and increased spinal cord inflammation, demyelination, microglia activation and functional deficits. Antagonism of the central H4R with JNJ 7777120 at 10 and 20 mg/kg (i.p.) appears to affect the behaviour of Balb/c mice but there is no indication of altering anxiety or non-spatial memory performance. However, the study did provide preliminary evidence for central behavioural effects with regard to time spent in the central part of the platform. Overall, this thesis provides new evidence for multiple roles of the H4R in the mammalian central and sensory neurons.


A transition-metal-free synthetic method of various ynones via decarboxylative alkynylation of α-keto acids is described. The reaction is carried out under mild conditions and exhibits remarkable tolerance of functional groups. The mechanism of a radical process is proposed in the reaction.


To the Editor:

In their recent retrospective study, Singh et al1 could demonstrate on the basis of the impressively huge data set of the Framingham Heart Study that, first, short-term heart rate variability (HRV) is reduced in men and women with systemic hypertension and, second, among normotensive men, lower HRV was associated with a greater risk for developing hypertension. The authors concluded that autonomic dysregulation is present in the early stage of hypertension. Their findings are important but were not very surprising because the reported HRV reduction was generally in accordance with findings of earlier studies.2 However, what they inevitably left out of consideration was the analysis of the diurnal variation of blood pressure, heart rate, and their respective variabilities. Particularly, the asleep/awake ratios of blood pressure are probably more specific and sensitive than temporary daytime parameters.3 From the methodical point of view, the study was characterized by the strong and uncompromising use of statistics, but unfortunately without showing any raw data, eg, by using scatter or box plots of the blood pressure and HRV data. Moreover, one important question remained unanswered: How did the HRV parameters and the covariates change during 4 years of follow-up?

Independently and without knowledge of the results from the above study, we also studied the differences of linear and nonlinear HRV parameters in (only) 25 essential nontreated hypertensive subjects with respect to their status of hypertension. The study was carried out from Spring …


Class III skeletal malocclusions are considered to be ones of the most challenging deformities for orthodontists, they may present several forms, among which maxillary deficiency is the most frequent. This type of malocclusion is usually treated with combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery in order to obtain an adequate occlusion and facial esthetics. This report presents the treatment of a young female patient aged 16 years and 4 months with Class III skeletal malocclusion, and a severe anterior crowding with palatal displacement of the maxillary lateral incisors and ectopic canines, as well as an Angle Class I molar relationship occlusion on both sides associated with significant dento-alveolar compensation : The upper incisors were proclined while the lower incisors were vertical, and a maxillary midline shift .Clinical examination has also revealed a retrusive maxilla, underdeveloped cheekbones, and a flat facial profile. The treatment was performed in three phases: first, presurgical orthodontic preparation including extraction of the maxillary first premolars and mandibular second premolars in order to perform the orthodontic decompensation, secondly, orthognathic surgery which consists of maxillary advancement to improve soft-tissue projection of the midface, and finally, orthodontic finishing for the conclusion of the case. At the end of the treatment, the main objectives were successfully achieved, providing the patient with adequate masticatory function, pleasant facial esthetics and especially better self-esteem.


Steel catenary risers have been implemented on the Auger TLP and are proposed for other developments in the Gulf of Mexico and the Marlim field, offshore Brazil. This riser concept offers a number of benefits for deep water floating production systems which cannot be realised with alternative riser systems. The applicability of steel catenary risers to the harsher West of Shetland environment and use with other vessels is evaluated. Differences in riser arrangements are described and changes to installation procedures and costs are assessed.


The convergence of virtualization with Cloud computing has brought many benefits to organizations including ease of deployment, reduced costs and high availability of resources over internet. Extensive research has been carried out to increase the security of Cloud virtualization environment. However, addressing the security concerns of disk images used by virtual machines is still an open challenge. Compromising the disk images can result in loss of data integrity and confidentiality. This paper proposes a novel security scheme "Encrypted Virtual Disk Images in Cloud (EVDIC)" for the protection of stored disk images in Cloud by encryption. EVDIC also includes the security of key management and key exchange process. We integrate EVDIC with OpenStack, which is an open source Cloud platform largely used around the world.


The simple and efficient synthesis of calix[4]furan and calix[4]pyrrole has been known for more than 125 years. The connectivity of the heterocyclic calix[4]arenes is identical with the skeleton of the «pigments of life». The chemical properties, especially the ability to form complexes with transition metals, are totally different when comparing the artificial systems with the natural products. A direct way to confer metal binding capabilities to compounds derived from heterocyclic calix[4]arenes is the hydrogenation. We review the known hydrogenation reactions of calix[4]furan and calix[4]pyrrole and present our own work in this field. A short description of the metal binding process of our new calix[4]pyrrolidines (= the fully saturated calix[4]pyrrole) with copper will be discussed as a typical example of the metal binding capacities. The new calix[4]pyrrolidines can be structurally classified as new stiffened macrocyclic crown ethers or as saturated analogues of the porphyrin derived «pigments of life».


Private higher education institutions are those institutions that are fully autonomous, do not receive any grant from the government, have their own campuses and have power to award diplomas and degrees. There are regional variations in the proliferation of private higher education around the globe in general and in the Commonwealth in particular. The reasons for the spread of private education also vary considerably, but include the following:


In this paper, an autoregressive (AR) channel model for simulating frequency selective channels in synchronized orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems is proposed. By frequency domain AR filtering, the number of Rayleigh processes for generating the channel frequency response (CFR) is reduced. Thus, this model is able to achieve a low complexity.


Some years ago it was proposed that an array of electronic oscillators coupled to nearest neighbors can be made to mutually injection lock and oscillate as an ensemble thus implementing spatial power combining.


In this paper, I suggest and thereby attempt prove a postulation that Daoist theoretical framework had in some ways exerted a crucial influence in establishing the familiar theoretical framework of Neo-Confucianism during Song-Ming(宋明) dynasty. The direct reason for such attempt is motivated from realizing that the theoretical framework of Neo-Confucianism is remarkably similar to that of one movement in Tang dynasty called "The Study of Twofold-negation."  The Study of Twofoldnegation(重玄學, STN hereafter) is a way of thought which began to flourish at the beginning of Tang dynasty. As an important scholarship established within the Daoist discipline, it incorporated Buddhist thought and worldview, and contributed in building the Daoist theoretical framework. This paper focuses on proving a postulation that STN had influenced Cheng-Zhu (程朱)'s Neo-Confucianism. Examining upon the texts by Cheng brothers and Zhu-xi, however, it is found that there is in fact no direct textual evidence revealing their philosophical system being related to STN. Accordingly, the method of proving the lineage from STN to Neo-Confucianism cannot but be indirect. The "indirect" methodology is as follows: first, the theoretical framework of Cheng, Xuan-ying (成玄英), who is justifiably referred as the pinnacle of STN, has striking similarity to that of Cheng-Zhu. Cheng brothers and Zhu-xi, moreover, had enjoyed a conceptual relationship not only with Daoism, but also with Buddhism; especially, they were profoundly connected to thoughts in Hua-yan and Chan Buddhism. It must be noted, however, that among many branches of study, STN only succeeds Hua-yan and Chan Buddhism. Thus seen, the postulation that there existed a special relationship between STN and Neo-Confucianism is never a far-fetched claim. To derive the above conclusion, this paper is divided into three parts. The first will clarify the nature of STN; the next will discuss the part of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism where the Daoist influence is relatively evident; the final part will account the relationship between Neo- Confucianism, Buddhism (Hua-yan and Chan Buddhism) and STN.


The Greek Ministry of Environment (Department of Air Quality) launched in 1996 a number of projects aiming at the upgrading of its environmental services and authorities. One of these projects was about a LIDAR mobile station. The main scope of this project was the feasibility study concerning the application of a DIAL system in Athens geographical area suitable for monitoring the air pollution at places where corresponding environmental conventional instrumentation cannot be installed. The present paper highlights the major achievements of the above-mentioned LIDAR project. During the project period the available commercial LIDARs were evaluated and investigated about their capability to measure the required air pollutants by the Ministry. The project also dealt with the accuracy in the pollutant concentration and spatial resolution. The locations within Athens basin where the LIDAR can operate were spotted and a specific techno- economical study was carried out about the data transmission from the mobile station to the base. The project gave its recommendations (guidelines) about the suitable type of LIDAR to be used in Athens. It was also shown the possible scenarios of the financial management of the system, the purchase and annual maintenance costs of the system was estimated.


Any businessperson is interested in knowing the position of his/her company in the market in what concerns ethics. For this purpose, it is imperative to identify the ethical level of Brazilian organizations. Based on the ethical climate of an organization, an indicator was created to evaluate a firm's degree of eticity, in a pioneer research project in Brazil. The objective of this study is to encourage the executive to pay attention to the ethical quality of his/her organization, providing information and offering a service that has been developed by the CENE (Center of Studies for Ethics in the Organizations)/EAESP/FGV in partnership with the Ethics Resource Center, in Washington, DC, USA, since 1998. The methodology for creating the indicators, as well as its application to the manufacturing industry, is presented in the article.


In this work, a novel photothermal experiment is designed and conducted to characterize the thermal transport in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) along the axial direction exclusively. For the first time, we characterize the thermal contact resistance between CNTs and the substrate. The measured value demonstrates a sound thermal contact between the CNTs and the substrate. Our experimental result reveals a low thermal conductivity of the CNTs along their axial direction. The unique structure of the CNTs characterized in our work indicates that the thermal transport in the axial direction is across the carbon atomic layers. This explains why the measured thermal conductivity is much lower than theoretical predictions, in which the thermal conductivity is along the atomic layer direction. In addition, our TEM observation of the CNTs reveals poor structural qualities, which can strongly enhance phonon scattering and reduce the thermal conductivity.


In standard linear-quadratic (LQ) control, the first step in investigating infinite-horizon optimal control is to derive the stabilisation condition with the optimal LQ controller. This paper focuses on the stabilisation of an Itô stochastic system with indefinite control and state-weighting matrices in the cost functional. A generalised algebraic Riccati equation (GARE) is obtained via the convergence of the generalised differential Riccati equation (GDRE) in the finite-horizon case. More importantly, the necessary and sufficient stabilisation conditions for indefinite stochastic control are obtained. One of the key techniques is that the solution of the GARE is decomposed into a positive semi-definite matrix that satisfies the singular algebraic Riccati equation (SARE) and a constant matrix that is an element of the set satisfying certain linear matrix inequality conditions. Using the equivalence between the GARE and SARE, we reduce the stabilisation of the general indefinite case to that of the definite case, in which the stabilisation is studied using a Lyapunov functional defined by the optimal cost functional subject to the SARE.


A meatless diet in young female athletes should be a red flag to physicians because it may indicate inadequate intake of protein, iron and zinc, as well as amenorrhea and serious eating disorders. Physically active adolescents may believe red meat is fattening and, therefore, eliminate it from their diet so they can reach or maintain a low body weight. The authors point out that girls may try to legitimize their eating behavior by calling themselves vegetarians. Young athletes may not be aware they are putting themselves at risk for adverse effects on health, training and performance.


The design parameters,characteristics and operation situations of an UF process for treatment of rinsing injection water in the low permeability oilfield are introduced.The practice indicates that the process operation is safe and stable,and the effluent SS,total iron,microbial indexes(SRB,FB and TGB) and pH meet the A1 level criteria specified in the Recommended Indexes on Injection Water Quality for Detrital Rock Oil Reservoirs and Analytical Methods(SY/T 5329-1994).However,the subsequent measures are needed to remove DO.The causes of the problems existing during the commissioning are analyzed and the solutions are presented.The total investment is 0.748 4 millions yuan and the operation cost is 0.62 yuan/m3.


An experiment was run to determine the optimum frequency of the rotary knife on a roller gin stand. Six
treatment levels of rotary knife frequency, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750, and 900 rpm, were chosen. (The manufacturer's
specification for rotary knife frequency on the gin stand tested is 389 rpm.) The factors considered in determining the
optimum rate included fiber and cottonseed quality, lint turnout, bale value, and ginning rate. There were no significant
differences due to treatment with respect to fiber properties. Overall, fiber strength and elongation by the Stelometer
averaged 27.8 g/tex and 6.98%, respectively; fiber span length and uniformity by the Fibrograph averaged 3.52 cm
(1.38 in.) and 47.5, respectively; and fiber grade, staple, and micronaire by the USDA-AMS Classing office averaged
2.17, 46.8 32nd-in., and 38.1, respectively. These fiber properties are on samples taken from the bale and included two
mill-type/air-jet lint cleaners. With the exception of linters content, there were no significant differences due to treatment
on the cottonseed properties. Overall, foreign matter content of the cottonseed averaged 2.16%, and cottonseed grade
averaged 114. Linters content ranged from 1.67 to 2.88% on the 300 and 900 rpm treatment, respectively. Lint turnout
and bale value were not significantly different due to treatment, averaging 35.3% and $438.71 overall. Ginning rate was
significantly different due to treatment; the highest rate occurred on the 300 rpm treatment and was 350 kg/m/h
(1.90 bales/h). Using regression analysis, the optimum rotary knife frequency occurs at 269 rpm. At rotary knife
frequencies less than 269 rpm, some of the ginning area on the roller is wasted, and roller damage is possible due to tags
that cannot be cleared. At rotary knife frequencies greater than 269 rpm, compromises are made between ginning rate,
seed cotton carryover, and choke-ups.


Refined oil is the base of national industrial, as a class of strategic commodities, it occupies an important position in national economy. In this paper, the elastic coefficient method, trend extrapolation and gray theory prediction model was adopted to forecast sales volume of refined oil based on an example, and each prediction model error was analyzed. Finally based on the three models, a combination forecasting model was established, which each models weight is determined by the relative weights of the error. The combination forecasting method makes error decrease and more accurate. Forecasting methods used in this paper can enhance oil sales volume forecast and improve the overall efficiency of sales system foundation.


Title: Deconstructing Gender How to Teach Gender and Feminist Pedagogy using Stephenie Meyer's Life and Death in the EFL classroom Author: Sarah Ahlung Term and Year: Spring 2017 Institution: Department of Languages and Literatures Supervisor: Chloé Avril Examiner: Ronald Paul


meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Lancet Oncol 2010;11:627e36. Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) are a widely used drug class approved for treatment of hypertension, heart failure, diabetic nephropathy and, recently, for cardiovascular risk reduction. Animal experimental studies implicate the renineangiotensin system in hepatic myofibroblasts as a powerful stimulator of fibrosis. Hence, randomised clinical trials are underway to investigate the efficacy of ARBs in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and portal hypertension. However, angiotensin II type 1 and type 2 receptors, in particular, are also involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, angiogenesis and tumour progression. Sipahi et al assessed whether ARBs affect cancer occurrence with a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of these drugs. Randomised controlled trials with a follow-up of at least 1 year, which enrolled at least 100 patients were included. Authors found that the patients assigned to receive ARBs had a significantly increased risk of new cancer occurrence compared with the control groups (7.2% vs 6.0%, RR1⁄41.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.15; p1⁄40.016). When analysis was limited to trials where cancer was a pre-specified end point, the RR was 1.11 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.18, p1⁄40.001). Among specific solid organ cancers examined, only new lung-cancer occurrence was significantly higher in patients randomly assigned to receive ARBs than in those assigned to receive control (0.9% vs 0.7%, RR1⁄41.25, 1.05 to 1.49; p1⁄40.01) (figure 1). No statistically significant difference in cancer deaths was seen (1.8% vs 1.6%, RR1⁄41.07, 0.97 to 1.18; p1⁄40.183). The conclusion of this meta-analysis raises concerns as well as questions that are relevant to clinical hepatology. Although cancer risk from ARBs is modest, and it is unclear whether it is related to one particular drug (telmisartan) or the class, even modest effects would be significant if ARBs were used in a highly prevalent conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It also raises broader questions about relevant end points for clinical trials in NASH considering that more people with this condition die owing to cardiovascular causes and extrahepatic malignancies rather than liver-related causes.


Foreign direct investment into transition economies is reviewed in detail, both from aggregate data and from a survey of senior managers in 117 western manufacturing companies. It is found that host country transition progress, political stability and perceived risk influence FDI inflows as well as the predominant type of investment.


Subtitle: Prices keep climbing as ultra low sulfur diesel comes on line. We explore the ramifications of government regulations, market-driven cost increases, the future of biodiesel and liquid natural gas, as well as anti-idling solutions.


Background: Acute myeloid leukemia(AML) is a heterogeneous hematological disease characterized by proliferation and accumulation of myeloid precursors in the bone marrow, decrease of apoptosis level and differentiation arrest of these cells. The French, American and British group of leukemia experts (FAB) divided acute myeloid leukemias into eight subtypes based on the characteristics and behavior of leukocytes and the in cell differentiation blockage. Although several studies in the area, events related to the beginning of disease as well as its progression is still unknown. It is believed that malignant transformation in normal Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) can give rise a Leukemic Stem Cell (LSC) and this transformation could be related to changes in Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) signaling. In this context, the aim of this work is to analyze the role of MSCs in the leukemic transformation of hematopoietic stem cell. To address this hypothesis we used ChipArray approaches to evaluate the gene expression profile of MSC from AML patients compared to MSC from Healthy donors (HD). Methods: For this purpose, bone marrow(BM) samples from HD and patients diagnosed with AML previously classified into subtypes were placed in culture. We used 7 samples from different subtypes of AML (four from subtype M2, two from M3 and one from M4/M5) and compared with two pools of HD. After 3rd passage, total RNA from MSCs cultures were obtained using RNeasy Mini Kit according to the manufacturer's instructions (QIAGEN). After that, RNA was processed according to GeneChip whole transcription (WT) sense target-labeling assay (Affymetrix) and hybridized to GeneChip human gene 1.0 ST array (Affymetrix) washed and stained according to the manufacturer's protocols. Data were analyzed using Partek® software and differentially expressed genes with ³ 2 fold-change was used as criteria to define overexpression or downregulation.To confirm the array assay we performed real-time PCR with a large number of patients with different subtypes. Pathway analysis and related processes was obtained using the Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) and MetaCoreTM softwares. Results: The results obtained in ChipArray assay showed that there is a common molecular signature to all MSCs AML patients compared to donors. Fifty five genes differentially expressed were found. To confirm the results obtained in ChipArray real-time PCR with some genes was performed with more patients (CCL2, SPON2, MUC12 - overexpressed and MMP16, BMP4, CLDN1, SDC2 and OPN downregulate). The results confirmed the commom molecular signature in all AML patients instead of subtypes.These genes are involved in processes of cellular adhesion, differentiation of osteoclast and Wnt pathway. We further carried out another ChipArray assay with another samples. At this time, an unsupervised analysis with the 55 differentially expressed genes was done to verify if the samples agrouping in clusters that separate AML patients from HD. The results confirmed that this molecular signature is capable to distinguish patients from HD. Changes in MSC signaling could be related to malignant transformation of HSC and some of these genes found in ChipArray are secreted proteins that could affect HSC. To verify if these secreted proteins are reallly differentially expressed in AML patiens we performed Western blot assay with plasma samples from AML patients and HD. The secreted proteins seleted were CCL2 and BMP4 (overexpressed and downregulated in AML patients, respectively). The results confirmed the increase of CCL2 protein and decrease of BMP4 protein in AML patients plasma. In Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), CCL2 was able to increase the adhesion of ALL cells to MSC and to promote survival and proliferation of MSC.BMP4 has been described as an important component produced by the hematopoietic microenvironment that regulates both HSC number and function. Moreover, BMP4 has also implicated BMP4 in homing and engraftment of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Conclusions: With these results, we could start to elucidate the participation of AML-MSCs in the leukaemogenic process. Altogether, both CCL2 and BMP4 produced and secreted by MSC from BM microenvironment seems to be important for the biology of AML cells. Financial support: CNPq, FAPERJ, INCT. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


ABSTRACT:
 Communities of both transient and resident organisms, interacting in different ways, occur inside tanks (rosettes) of bromeliads. Abundance and composition of the communities differ seasonally. The objectives of this work were to make an initial exploration of the arthropod fauna associated with Tillandsia deppeana in order to obtain a preliminary species list, and to document the abundance of organisms occurring in the rosettes. The arthropods were collected from four plants in a fragmented mountain cloud forest in La Misión municipality, in the north of Hidalgo State, México. A total of 375 arthropod specimens (249 adults and 126 juveniles) belonging to Arachnida, Chilopoda and Hexapoda were obtained and they represent 10 orders, 15 families, and adults and juveniles correspond to 23 and 15 morphospecies respectively. Veliidae (Hemiptera) had the highest number of organisms, while Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) had the highest number of morphospecies. The dryophthorid Metamasius callizona and the staphylinids Hesperus fasciatus and Scaphidium tzinti are reported for the first time from Hidalgo State. In this work we report for the first time the chilopod Scolopendra viridis occurring in an epiphytic bromeliad tank.


Frequency selective surfaces (FSS) have attracted researchers from many subjects for decades for its tempting applications such as for radome radar cross section (RCS) reduction, sub-reflector, et.al. Many studies was focused on different type FSS, such as unit shape, dielectric loading, layers of FSS. And it is of popular consideration that double dielectric loading on both sides of FSS be an ideal configuration. In this paper, the type of single side loading, which is more similar to the practical configuration, was studied with the numerical method. And it is found that both the thickness of thick loading layer and the constant of the thin substrate play key roles to the properties of FSS.


Two new triterpene saponins (1 and 2), named bidenosides A and B, were isolated from the roots of Knautia integrifolia var. bidens. The structures were identified as 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-28- O-[β -D-allopyranosyl-(1→6)-β -D-glucopyranosyl]-pomolic acid, and 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl- 28-O-[β -D-allopyranosyl-(1→6)-β -D-glucopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.


During the later years of Tony Blair's premiership it was suggested that information provided by 'well-placed sources' to journalists concerning a series of alleged Islamist plots was unreliable, with this material leaked to the media in an attempt to maintain or accentuate public awareness of terrorism. This article seeks to assess these claims by identifying the prominence and role of official sources and elucidating the characteristics of source use in news reporting on alleged terrorist plots. Through a content analysis of UK national newspaper coverage, the article presents a complex picture of source use and influence. The findings reveal that anonymous sources and veiled references to public institutions were predominant within coverage. Contrary to ideological theories of political discourse, however, government sources were not influential in presenting details about a specific threat. The analysis shows that journalists' use of sources was pragmatic and that source use was indicative of a broader shift in the media discourse of terrorism during the period of study, with more recent coverage addressing public concerns over the way official or government sources communicated information about the threat from terrorism.


As flash memory emerges as a high-performance and energy-efficient alternative for storage devices, how to accommodate disk-based storage servers with a flash-memory cache might provide a promising solution to resolve the energy-efficiency concerns of storage servers and their data centers. In this work, we propose a cache design method over flash memory without any additional hardware support for storage servers. In particular, a scalable set-associative flash-cache management design is proposed to significantly improve the flash endurance with excellent caching response time and hit rates. The capability of the proposed scheme was evaluated by extensive experiments over Microsoft's server traces, in which significant improvement on endurance was achieved, compared to existing work.


Having been introduced by Gerard Genette, the concept of "paratext" as "those liminal devices and conventions, both within the book...


The article substantiates the need to reform the pension system of the Russian Federation. According to the author, the most effective way to reduce the financial burden on the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation is to reform the institution of early (preferential) pensions, because the scale of providing preferential pensions in Russia is unparalleled in world practice. The article examines the history of concessional pension provision in Russia and the stages of reforming the pension system in sufficient detail. The author examines the measures that were planned in the 1995 Concept of Reform for the introduction of a three-tiered pension system, which would have included as one of its components a non-state (supplementary) pension in the form of professional pension systems of individual organizations, industries, territories, as well as personal pension savings in non-state pension funds or insurance companies. Then the article examines the Programme of pension reform of 1998, draft federal laws "On the Fundamentals of Pension Reform in the Russian Federation", "On compulsory professional pension systems in the Russian Federation", in which quite reasonable measures to change the institution of early pensions were proposed. The author notes with regret that the above draft laws did not receive further consideration and were withdrawn from consideration because the main issue concerning the financing of occupational pensions remained unresolved. The article discusses the main directions of the Strategy for Long-Term Development of the Pension System (until 2030), one of which is also reforming the institute of early pensions. Summarizing the results of the study, the author draws a disappointing conclusion that over the past 30 years the idea of introducing occupational pensions has not yet found real implementation, and the existing institution of concessional pensions now covers an even wider range of persons than it did in the Soviet period. The author fears that the introduction of an occupational pension system may not materialise in the next few years, given the current economic crisis, labour market problems and a difficult demographic situation. Nevertheless, the author hopes that the next phase of pension reform announced by the Russian Government will lead to real progress in introducing the occupational pension system in Russia as well. There is no doubt that the need to resolve this problem is long overdue, and effective measures should be taken as soon as possible. All the more so because the regulations already adopted over the years, which were discussed in this study, provide quite adequate and feasible measures for reforming the Russian pension system. The author declares no conflicts of interests.


A highly flexible learning tool, referred to as a dynamic reaction figure, is described. Application of these figures can (i) yield the correct chemical equation by simply following a set of menu driven directions; (ii) present the underlying "mechanism" in chemical reactions; and (iii) help to solve quantitative problems in a number of different areas. Use of this tool allows for an integration of what are currently considered to be different concept areas into a common framework. The characteristics of the tool and how it is used in various concept areas are presented. The exposition starts with simple, more concrete, examples and builds toward more abstract levels of chemical understanding. Concept areas for which applications are shown include acid�base and redox reactions, including organic and biochemical examples; predicting the results of potential reactions; and balancing equations. Simple dynamic reaction figures used to complete and balance reactions can have a quantitative and mechanistic layer added. Appropriate application of this tool at the general chemistry level puts in place a framework that students can use and build upon in further study in chemistry, especially organic and biochemistry.


A 64-year-old man had a dual-chamber permanent pacemaker (PPM) implanted in the left side of the chest to treat second-degree heart block. Fifteen months later he sustained trauma in this area and developed a cystic swelling over the PPM site. Aspiration of this lesion revealed purulent material but no organisms were detected by microscopy or culture. The condition progressed and the skin overlying the pacemaker broke down. The PPM was repositioned on the right side of the chest; however, soon the overlying skin started ulcerating on this side also. The patient was then referred to the dermatology department. On examination, the areas of ulceration were found to lie within the incision scars on the left and right chest wall, and had a violaceous undermined edge (Fig. 1). Although there was peripheral neutrophilia, repeated courses of antibiotics failed to produce any benefit. The patient was otherwise in good general health. A clinical diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) was suspected and confirmed histologically. Sections of a punch biopsy taken from the edge of the ulcer revealed a slightly acanthotic epidermis infiltrated with neutrophils. A moderate inflammatory infiltrate, neutrophilrich in the dermis with palisading histiocytes and foreign-body giant cells, was seen. There was no evidence of vasculitis. The patient was started on prednisolone with clinical improvement. The prednisolone was tapered and minocycline 100 mg twice daily was added to the regimen. However, the PG flared, leading to erosion of the PPM through the skin on the right side of the chest, and the second pacemaker was explanted. Prednisolone at a dose of 60 mg a day was restarted and ciclosporin A 3 mg ⁄ kg per day added in place of the minocycline. This achieved good control of the PG and complete healing occurred (Fig. 2). The patient subsequently went on to have implantation of a normal titanium-cased PPM with epicardial atrial and ventricular leads, with the generator being placed deep within the rectus abdominis. This has since been functioning well and the PG remains controlled on ciclosporin only. Postoperative PG (PPG) is a recognized entity, first described in 1924 by Cullen, occurring after drainage of CP D


Coronavirus started from China and became a pandemic that impacted all aspects of life The present study was conducted at teaching hospital Dera Ghazi Khan between April and August 2020 A total of 48 doctors were included in this study All of the subjects reported positive for COVID-19 on PCR Antibodies were non reactive in 33% of subjects, anosmia was present in 47% We found a positive correlation between anosmia and antibody titer © 2020 Lahore Medical And Dental College All rights reserved


1. Probes, Data Acquisition and Data Pre-Processing During Ultrasonic Testing.- 1.1 Requirements for the Data Acquisition During Ultrasonic Testing. Search Techniques and Defect Analysis.- 1.2 Hardware-Equipment for Automatic Ultrasonic Inspection by the Alok-Technique.- 1.3 Numerical Filtering of Ultrasonic Backscattered Signals.- 1.4 Logarithmic Analog-To-Digital Conversion - a New Concept for the Processing of Ultrasonic Data.- 1.5 Principles and Practical Applications of Controlled Signals.- 1.6 Ultrasonic Plate Testing with a Freely Programmable Electronic System.- 1.7 Microprocessor Controlled Ut-Equipment.- 1.8 Emus-Probes for Bulk Waves and Rayleigh Waves. Model for Sound Field and Efficiency Calculations.- 1.9 Transient Radiation Pattern of Ultrasonic Transducers On Elastic Half-Spaces.- 2. Classification and Reconstruction of Defects by Ultrasonic Testing.- 2.1 Classification and Reconstruction of Defects by Combined Acoustical Holography and Line-Saft.- 2.2 Pulse-Synthesis and Pulse-Adaptation in Ultrasonic Imaging for Ndt.- 2.3 Acoustic Imaging.- 2.4 Visualization of Ultrasound by Optical Holography.- 2.5 Inspection of Thick-Walled Components by Ultrasonics and Evaluation of the Data by the Alok-Technique.- 2.6 An Ultrasonic Phased Array System for Defect Classification and Reconstruction.- 2.7 Ultrasonic Characterization of Rough Cracks..- 2.8 Surface Cracks: Size and Failure Prediction Using Long Wavelength Measurements.- 2.9 Characterization of Surface Defects by Rayleigh-Waves.- 2.10 Frequency Dependent Interaction of Ultrasonic Waves with Surface-Breaking Cracks.- 2.11 Measurement of Crack Depth with Ultrasonic Methods. Through Transmission- and Reflection Modes.- 2.12 Sizing of Near-Surface Fatigue Cracks in Cladded Pressure Vessels by the Multiple Beam-Satellite Pulse Technique.- 2.13 a Feature Based Ultrasonic System for Reflector Classification.- 3. Forward Scattering.- 3.1 Resonance Scattering Methods for Ndt, Acoustics, and Radar.- 3.2 Scattering of Ultrasonic Waves in Single Phase Polycrystalline Metals Including Multiple Scattering.- 3.3 Results on Broadband Scattering and Diffraction Suggest Methods To Classify and Reconstruct Defects in Qnde.- 3.4 Nde Technique for Detection and Characterization of Porosity.- 3.5 Effects of Mutual Coupling Between Different Points of a Scatterer on Imaging.- 3.6 Forward and Inverse Ultrasonic Scattering Measurements in Realistic Geometries.- 3.7 Bulk Defect Characterization Using Short Wavelength Measurements.- 4.1 Identification and Parametric Modeling of Transient Waves.- 4.2 Ray Methods for Scattering of Ultrasonic Waves by Cracks.- 4.3 Inverse Scattering Algorithms.- 4.4 Exact Direct and Inverse Scattering in Spatial Frequency/Time Space.- 4.5 Application of High Frequency Inverse Scattering To Nondestructive Testing.- 4.6 Extensions of Radon's Projection Theory in Radar Target Shape Reconstruction.- 4.7 Implementation of Inverse-Scattering Algorithms for Characterizing Voids in Gas Turbine Rotor Discs.- 5. Acoustic Emission.- 5.1 Propagation and Scattering of High-Frequency and Pulsed Signals in the Presence of a Concave Boundary.- 5.2 Transfer-Functions Characterizing the Propagation of Ae-Signals.- 6. Electrical and Magnetical Methods Theory and Applications.- 6.1 Numerical Modeling of Electromagnetic Ndt Phenomena.- 6.2 a Model for the Interpretation of A.C. Magnetic Stray Flux Measurements.- 6.3 Developments and Investigations for the Application of the Pulsed Eddy Current Technique.- 6.4 Analytical Methods in Flaw Response Modeling and Inversion for Ec Testing.- 6.5 Defect Classification by Multi-Multifrequency Eddy Current.- 6.6 Materials Testing by Self-Excited Square-Wave Oscillations with New Lift-Off Compensation.- 7. Nondestructive Stress Measurement.- 7.1 Measurement of Stress.- 7.2 The Use of the Temperature Dependence of Ultrasonic Velocity To Measure Applied and Residual Stresses.- 7.3 Determination of Mechanical Stress by Polarized Shear Waves.- 7.4 Comparison of Different Methods To Determine Residual Stresses Nondestructively.- 7.5 Determination of Residual Stresses Using Micromagnetic Parameters.- 7.6 Measuring of Closure Forces with Ultrasonic Diffracted Waves.- List of Attendees.


As in many other countries the causal effect of class size on pupils' schoolperformance is an important issue in the ongoing educational debate in theNetherlands. In 1997 the Dutch government committed to undertake a majorinvestment to reduce average class size in primary schools. Although opinionleaders and politicians were easily persuaded that this is a good investment,this measure is not backed by convincing empirical evidence pertaining to theDutch situation. In the process of policy preparation one study was publishedsupporting the reduction of class size, but as we will show in this paper theresults of this study should be questioned.Traditionally, the studyof theeffect of classsizeon schoolperformancehasbeen dominated by educational researchers. Only recently economists enteredthisfield.AnotableearlyexceptionistheinfluentialsurveyarticlebyHanushek(1986)who,afterreviewingalargenumberofstudies,concludesthatthereisnopositive effect of schooling expenditures on pupils'school performance.The key methodological problem to assess the causal effect of class size onpupils'school performance, is that assignment of pupils to classes of differentsizes need not be random. Consequently, differences in performance between


The chemical shifts of hydrogen bonded protons in complexes of 11 substituted pyridines with trifluoroacetic acid were examined, in five dry solvents of different activity, with respect to proton transfer and aggregation effects. The results were correlated with ΔpKa, the Kirkwood function and ET parameters. The solvent effect on the intersection point obtained from the plot of the chemical shift of the hydrogen bonded protons against ΔpKa can be used, similar to an isotopic effect, to differentiate strong hydrogen bonds. The aggregation of acid–base complexes can lead to downfield or upfield shifts; the variation of chemical shift with aggregation depends on the position of the proton in the hydrogen bridge.


A summertime convective event that developed on 5 September 2017 over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is investigated in this study. Atmospheric profiles from a ground‐based microwave radiometer along with satellite observations and in situ data from three weather stations in the UAE were used. The event was simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, forced with four input datasets: Global Forecast System (GFS), Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), and the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts ERA‐5 and ERA‐Interim reanalyses. The afternoon and evening convection was triggered by the intrusion of a mid‐level trough from midlatitudes and was favoured by the convergence over land of thermally forced maritime air masses. Near‐surface observations at a weather station revealed a 7 °C drop in air temperature, a doubling of the wind speed to 9 m·s−1 in 30 min, and a shift in wind direction from easterly, to southerly and then westerly in about 45 min, associated with the passage of the cold pool emanating from a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS). At the location where the microwave radiometer was deployed, the pre‐squall low and wake low signatures are also captured, with a 5 m·s−1 increase in the wind speed in just 5 min. The observed features of the studied MCS were found to compare with those reported for MCSs in the Tropics. The four experiments gave a similar performance, although the GFS simulation generally generated higher skill scores. The investigated MCS event was not captured by WRF, which was attributed to a misrepresentation of soil moisture in the model. This study highlights the difficulties regional models like WRF may have in reproducing MCSs over arid/hyperarid regions, which may result in a misrepresentation of their impacts in climate projection studies.


Albania has been going through a constant process of banking system consolidation since the transition into a market economy. In most of the 90s, this process was relatively sluggish as a result of the informal financial markets which had held the country's economic and financial development back. The high interest rates offered by these markets kept the efficiency of monetary policy in steering the interest rate pending. In addition, other issues, such as the high concentration of deposits and loans in three state-owned banks, their operational losses as a result of the increase in non-performing loans' portfolio, the undeveloped and incoherent regulatory framework in supervision had become an impediment to the expansion of reforms in the banking sector.


Background The COVID-19 has caused significant mortality and morbidity across the globe. Patients with cancer are especially vulnerable given their immunocompromised state. We aimed to determine the proportion of COVID-19 patients with cancer, their severity and mortality outcomes through a systematic review and meta-analysis (MA). Methods Systematic review was performed through online databases, PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar, with keywords listed in the Methods section (1 November 2019–31 December 2020). Studies with clinical outcomes of at least 10 COVID-19 patients and at least one with a diagnosis of cancer were included. The studies for MA were assessed with PRISMA guidelines and appraised with Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The data were pooled using a random-effects model using STATA software. The main outcomes were planned before data collection, including proportion of patients with cancer among COVID-19 populations, relative risk (RR) of severe outcomes and death of patients with cancer compared with general COVID-19 patients. Results We identified 57 case series (63 413 patients), with 230 patients with cancer with individual patient data (IPD). We found that the pooled proportion of cancer among COVID-19 patients was 0.04 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.05, I2=97.69%, p<0.001). The pooled RR of death was 1.44 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.76) between patients with cancer and the general population with COVID-19 infection. The pooled RR of severe outcome was 1.49 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.87) between cancer and general COVID-19 patients. The presence of lung cancer and stage IV cancer did not result in significantly increased RR of severe outcome. Among the available IPD, only age and gender were associated with severe outcomes. Conclusion Patients with cancer were at a higher risk of severe and death outcomes from COVID-19 infection as compared with general COVID-19 populations. Limitations of this study include publication bias. A collaborative effort is required for a more complete database.


Modern supply-chain systems are changing the way food is retailed globally, with important knock-on effects for smallholders, and they are also shaping the support provided by ACIAR.


As an important professional course for international trade major in university, international trade documentation is characterized by operation and strong practicability. However, traditional teaching of this course pays more attention to theory than practice, while ignoring developing application ability of students. Which cause the students' actual operation ability cannot be improved, and appears to be at a loss of what to do when facing to the English documents and international customs. According to the practical teaching of this course, based on the students' application ability, some useful teaching reform have been analyzed the in this paper, including teaching contents, teaching methods, teaching means and teaching practice.


The hidden Markov model (HMM) has proven to be the model which has made large-vocabulary automatic speech recognition (ASR) possible. The HMM is robust, versatile and has at its disposal a host of efficient algorithms which deal with training, speaker adaptation and recognition. However, there is nothing uniquely speech orientated about the HMM. In fact, certain assumptions are made of speech which are known to be untrue. For example, speech is modelled as a piecewise stationary process when we know it to be continuous. Also, co-articulation, which should be a rich source of information, simply provides unwanted variation. This variation is generally taken into account by modelling every phone in every context which in turn leads to problems of data sparcity, making elaborate parameter tying schemes necessary. Speech is generally modelled in a parametrised version of the acoustic domain, which is natural given that this is the data we have most ready access to. Any practical speech recogniser must of course take acoustic waveforms as input, however to take these in isolation from the production mechanism which created them ignores a rich source of prior knowledge. We propose that modelling speech in the articulatory domain using linear dynamic models (see section 4) will address some of these issues. The data here consists of trajectories which evolve smoothly over time, namely coordinates of points on the articulators. Effects such as coarticulation and assimilation are most simply described in articulatory terms, as opposed to in acoustic terms where they are confounded with the representation. Models that work in the articulatory domain are therefore able to explicitly model these phenomena. We have access to real articulatory data, collected by Alan Wrench at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh (see [1] for further details). This has been used to train neural networks to recover articulatory traces from the acoustics. In our experiments we have used both real and automatically recovered articulation.


This essay examines the complex negotiation of nationalism and internationalism in Eleanor Dark's novel Waterway (1938). It suggests that Dark's position, which involves both an interest in the broader world and a commitment to regional space, is best understood as a form of 'regional cosmopolitanism'. Dark brings the conflicting impulses of interwar Sydney to bear upon the contested site of Sydney Harbour, registering the allure of international modernity, interrogating aspects of cultural nationalism, and pointing to the discriminatory power relations that constitute colonial modernity. The located position of Dark's writing from within regional space makes her work particularly attuned to the uneven structures of modernity; however, her writing is also shaped by these structures, particularly in the way it contributes to settler-colonial projects. This essay raises questions as to the best framework by which to interpret Dark's negotiation of the local, national and international, and illuminates one of the ways in which an Australian writer negotiated the contradictory impulses of the interwar period.


A simulator motion platform cannot exactly reproduce the longitudinal and rotational motions experienced in a real vehicle since it is constrained by its physical limits. The aim of this research is to provide a Motion Cueing Algorithm that can accurately produce vehicle accelerations and angular velocities in the simulator platform at high fidelity to give the most realistic motion, within the simulator's physical limitations. The higher order optimal washout filter based on Linear Quadratic (LQ) which takes the Vestibular system mathematical model, motion of the platform and capabilities in to account have been proposed to reduce the human perception error between simulator and real driving. Angular velocity and linear acceleration have been used in this design as the inputs for the washout filter. The obtained washout filters are the optimized transfer functions that link the simulator motion input to the vehicle motion input aiming to constrain the human sensation error and the platform motion. Thus, it overcomes the lack of human perception and conservative motion of previous classical washout filters and improves human perception, exploits available workspace more efficiently and respects physical constraints.


This paper analyzes the problems existing in the process of applying the learning and working combination mode in higher vocational college, expounds the benefit points of the enterprise, college and students in the operation process of learning and working combination mode.


Based on the hybrid methods of cavitation transient simulation of multiphase flow and the boundary element numerical acoustic calculation, the noise of contrarotating propellers in states of cavitation and non-cavitation is calculated, the increase quantity of the noise spectrum level in cavitation relative to in non-cavitation condition is analyzed; the calculated noise value and the tested value are compared. The multiphase flow transient simulation includes three simulations: unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes method (URANS), scale adaptive simulation (SAS) and detached eddy simulation (DES). The testing result shows that the open water performance curve of propellers coincides well with the experimental result in the range of large range of feed coefficient. SAS presents a comparable ability with DES in capturing the pulsating pressure of cavitation and can respond well to the unsteady load noise. RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) is appropriate for the low frequency noise. The calculating error of line spectrum cavitation volume pulsation 1 kHz is less than4.23 dB, and the average error of spectrum level 1/3 Octave band is less than1.83dB in the frequency band of 1 kHz-3kHz, and the predicted error of the total sound pressure level is less than 2.74dB, And the attenuation coefficient of sound pressure level with is calculated by simulation, which can provide certain help for the design and the noise prediction of propellers.


In this paper, density and thickness evaluation of a thin film on a silicon crystal by mass and density comparisons is described. Silicon thermal-oxide layers are prepared on a Cz-silicon single crystal by the thermal-oxidation technique, and their densities are evaluated. Thermal-oxide layers annealed at lower temperature become dense, and the density of the thermal-oxide layer annealed at 900 C in dry-O2 atmosphere is estimated to be (2249 3) kg/m33 . A relative standard uncertainty of the density measurement has been estimated to be about 0.1%-0.2% for silicon thermal-oxide layers


In this study we investigate the influence of variations in sea ice cover on the isotopic composition of precipitation in :::: This ::::: study :::::::::: investigates :::: how ::::::::: variations :: in :::::: Arctic :::: sea ::: ice ::: and :::: sea :::::: surface ::::::::: conditions ::::::: influence ::::: δO :: of : present-day Arctic :::::::::: precipitation. This is done using the model isoCAM3, an isotope-equipped version of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Atmosphere Model version 3. Four sensitivity experiments and one control simulation are per5 formed with prescribed SSTs ::: SST : and sea ice. Each of the four experiments simulates the atmospheric and isotopic response to Arctic oceanic conditions for selected years after the beginning of the satellite era in 1979. Results show that the isotopic composition of Arctic precipitation ::::::: Changes :: in :::: sea ::: ice ::: and :::: sea :::::: surface ::::::::::: temperatures :::: have :::::::: different :::::: impact :: in ::::::::: Greenland ::: and ::: the :::: rest :: of ::: the :::::: Arctic. :::: The ::::::::: simulated 10 :::::: changes :: in :::::: central :::::: Arctic ::: sea ::: ice :::: does ::: not ::::::: influence ::::: δO :: of ::::::::: Greenland ::::::::::: precipitation, :::: only ::::::::: anomalies :: of ::::: Baffin :::: Bay ::: sea :::: ice. :::::::: However, :::: this :::: does ::: not ::::::: exclude :::: that ::::::::: simulations :::::: based :: on ::::: other ::: sea ::: ice :::: and ::: sea :::::: surface :::::::::: temperature ::::::::::: distributions ::::: might ::::: yield ::::::: changes :: in ::::::::: Greenland ::::: δO :: of ::::::::::: precipitation. :::: For :: the ::::::: Arctic, :::: δO ::: of :::::::::: precipitation :::: and :::::: vapour : is sensitive to changes in sea ice extent :::: local ::::::: changes :: of ::: sea ::: ice ::: and :::: sea :::::: surface :::::::::: temperature :::: and ::: the ::::::: changes :: in ::::::: vapour ::: are :::::: surface ::::: based. Reduced sea 15 ice extent yields more enriched isotope values : , while increased sea ice extent yields more depleted isotope values. Results also demonstrate that the configuration ::: The :::::::::: distribution of the sea ice cover anomalies are important :: and ::: sea ::::::: surface :::::::: conditions :: is ::::: found :: to ::: be ::::::: essential for the spatial distribution of the isotopic response. The configurations of sea ice change used in these simulations did not show a change in :::::::: simulated ::::::: changes :: in : δOfor central Greenland. However, results indicate that other 20 configurations of sea ice changes could yield different results for Greenland. . :


The most important performance parameter for an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) pump is precision of retention times. Highest precision is required to identify compounds by retention times and subsequently accurately quantify the analyzed sample compounds. Gradient analysis can be done using either premixed mobile phases applying gradients from 0 to 100% B, as described in some USP methods, or using dynamically-mixed mobile phases applying gradients, for example, from 10 to 80% B. This Technical Overview shows that premixing mobile phases for gradient applications provides retention time precisions below specifications, even under demanding chromatographic conditions. It also shows that dynamically-mixed gradients with the Agilent 1290 Infinity Quaternary Pump improve retention time precision significantly. The results of the 1290 Infinity Quaternary Pump are compared to results obtained using a quaternary pump from a non-Agilent manufacturer. Author Angelika Gratzfeld-Huesgen Agilent Technologies, Inc. Waldbronn, Germany min 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.8 7 7.2 7.4 7.6 250 300 mAU 0 50 100 150 200 Dynamically mixed gradient RSD RT = 0.015%