There is an ever-increasing demand being placed on desktop resources to get the desktop replacement cycle and imaging of computers complete for the start of classes. Time is constantly being whittled from the larger windows of opportunity that used to exist. So now there is a need to be more efficient with less time consumed and it is becoming unsustainable. There must be a way to reduce the time needed and enable more success at the desktop support level. CCRI is implementing a virtual desktop initiative that will satisfy several requirements of the growing demand being placed on the desktop support staff. Doing away with the annual replacement of "old" technology and finding a means of deploying new software without delay are two main focal points of the virtual desktop. With over 3000 computers and 800 laptops on the four campuses, a staff that is not going to get any larger, will find it simpler to virtualize applications and get it to students, faculty and staff faster without having to worry about downtime or long sessions of testing. Additionally, the virtual desktop allows the software to be delivered to the user anytime, anywhere thus eliminating the need for seat-dependent or classroom-dependent copies of software. Concentration can now be placed on getting the right tools to the right people rather than trying to figure out how to load endless software requested on particular classroom computers. Virtual desktop gets the desktop staff out of the business of replacing hard drives, power supplies and tackling virus or malware from desk to desk.


The authors have proposed a flight control system that is able to accommodate failures occurring with the airframe as well as the control effectors. It is based on the feedback linearization method and on-line parameter identification. This paper presents such a system designed for large transport aircraft. The primary contribution is the use of stabilators or engines for feedforward control inputs to counteract disturbances caused by stuck control surfaces. Those effectors are too slow to be used along with other fast control surfaces. However, they can produce large forces or moments, which implies that taking advantage of them would help the aircraft recover from failures. Performance of the control system is demonstrated through computer simulation using a six-degree-of-freedom nonlinear aircraft model of the Boeing 747 aircraft.


The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the Teacher`s Scale for Gifted Preschool Children(TSGPC). Participation of this study were 357 preschool children and their parents and teachers from Seoul, Ulsan, Daegy, Gwangiu & Daejeon. Data were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis, Pearson`s r, t-test and Cronbach`s . Results are as follows. (1) exploratory factor analysis of TSGPC revealed that a 5-factor solution (academic ability, creativity, task commitment, artistic talent, and leadership) was the best fit. (2) Correlations between TSGPC and parental rating scale for young children`s giftedness were significant. (3) Scores of TSGPC between gifted children and general children were significantly different (4) Cronbach`s ranged from .82 and .91 for subscale of TSGPC and .93 for the total scale. These results show that the Teacher`s Scale for Gifted Preschool Children is quite reliable and valid measure.


We study macroscopically two dimensional N = (2, 2) supersymmetric gauge theories constructed by compactifying the quiver gauge theories with eight supercharges on a product T × R2ǫ of a d-dimensional torus and a two dimensional cigar with Ω-deformation. We compute the universal part of the effective twisted superpotential. In doing so we establish the correspondence between the gauge theories, quantization of the moduli spaces of instantons on R × T and singular monopoles on R × T, for d = 0, 1, 2, and the Yangian Yǫ(gΓ), quantum affine algebra U q (gΓ), or the quantum elliptic algebra U ell q,p(gΓ) associated to Kac-Moody algebra gΓ for quiver Γ.


Traditional alloys is based on a single element called matrix and to improve some mechanical properties (strength, ductility, strength) are added and other metallic elements in the system. High entropy alloys have become a field of increasingly explored in the world of materials. Excellent mechanical properties obtained of the high entropy alloys recommend them to be from year to year as investigated. In the last decade more than 500 high entropy alloys journal and conference papers have been published [1]. High entropy alloys are alloys who have in their composition 5 to 13 metal elements and the concentration of each component is between 5% and 35%. These elements in the composition of high entropy alloys are divided into elements of minority and majority elements. They are called minority elements because their molar fraction is less than 5%. High entropy alloys have mixing entropy higher than traditional alloys, ΔScons≥1.61R (R = 8.314 J / (mol • K)) [1]. High entropy alloy have been obtained in the laboratory of Science and Materials Engineering faculty from Iasi using a medium frequency induction furnace with 8000 Hz. Because they have excellent mechanical properties high entropy alloys can be used in various fields with high wear and corrosion degree or electronic, magnetic applications [1]. In this work we selected pure metallic elements like: Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn and Al. The quantity of alloy developed varied between 0.5 and 1.5 kg. Metal load necessary for the preparation of metal alloys were formed technical grade, industrial accessible prices and satisfying. Friction and wear rezistance were studies by using a reciprocating sliding test machine , in a pin on disk configuration, using aluminum as counter face.In this paper it investigated the wear resistance of high entropy alloys obtained, microstructure and their mechanical properties.


Since the widespread adoption of new direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), the approach to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has changed profoundly as almost all patients can be cured regardless of the stage of their liver disease. On the other hand, there are a few conflicting reports on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurring and recurring in patients given DAA-based therapy. The present review focuses on the latest and most relevant literature providing evidence on the occurrence and recurrence of HCC after HCV antiviral treatment with the new DAAs. Retaining the distinction between HCC occurrence and recurrence, we also discuss its patterns of presentation and speculate on the possible pathogenic mechanisms. We offer our personal viewpoints on this important issue, which has kept clinicians second-guessing in real-world clinical practice, when dealing with HCV eradication in the setting of advanced liver disease in this interferon-free era.


AbstractWill democracy fall victim to corporatism, new social movements or the power of interest groups? This review examines the history and current status of crisis theory and tests various hypotheses against actual events, concluding that a new theory of representation is needed if we are to understand the political changes taking place in the Western democracies.


Background Nitric oxide has been detected by chemiluminescence in the lumen of nasal airway, which is increased in nasal breathing in patients with seasonal rhinitis during a chronic exposure. The purpose of this study was to determinate the effect of a NO‐synthase inhibitor NGL‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) on nasal airway resistance (NAR) in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis after an acute challenge to the allergen.


Spontaneous Raman processes in cold atoms have been widely used in the past decade for generating single photons. Here, we present a method to optimise their efficiencies for given atomic coherences and optical depths. We give a simple and complete recipe that can be used in present-day experiments, attaining near-optimal single photon emission.


The seventeenth National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China put forth the strategy of cultural development-construct "national cultural soft power" in its report; meanwhile, "the strategy of sustainable development" is also national essential strategy; these two strategies can be promoted by the cultural construction of sustainable development. There are a lot of sustainable aspects in our traditional and modern culture, based on which the sustainable development can be constructed; as part of advanced culture, the culture of sustainable development has always been what the party pursues. Under the current circumstance, we should establish the overall value objective of cultural construction of sustainable development, develop traditional thoughts of sustainable development with the guidance of scientific outlook of development, popularize the knowledge of sustainable development, advocate "green" consumption, develop "green" science and technology, set up the monitoring and legal guarantee system for the cultural construction of sustainable development, in order to promote it.


Viscosities of partially alcoholized polyvinyl acetates were measured at 25°C. using water as solvent. The intrinsic viscosity decreases, whereas the Huggins constant, k′, increases with increasing fraction of nonalcoholized acetate groups in the polymer. A plot of the viscosity of a 4.0% solution against the degree of alcoholysis exhibits a minimum approximately at 87% alcoholysis. The following equation was established, which expresses the intrinsic viscosity of partially alcoholized polyvinyl acetate as a function of the fraction of alcoholized acetate groups, α, and of the molecular weight:

It is shown that in partially alcoholized polyvinyl acetate the larger molecules are somewhat more completely alcoholized than the smaller ones. The resulting heterogeneity with respect to the degree of alcoholysis affects the efficiency of fractionation of such a polymer with respect to its chain length.


This report discusses the following topics on research of microwave amplifiers for linear colliders: Context in current microwave technology development; gated field emission for microwave cathodes; cathode fabrication and tests; microwave cathode design using field emitters; and microwave localization.


This pamphlet studies the effects of formaldehyde emission on museum collections, specifically on the storage and exhibit cases made from particleboard and plywood. The chemistry, emission processes, and factors that affect emission levels are then studied, and measurement methods indicated. The consequences of exposure to human health are noted. Metal corrosion by atmospheric formaldehyde is detailed, and this study extends to that of damages to several other materials (shells, fossils, sandstone, glass, paper, textiles). Several experimental procedures are described and the results given for testing wood product emissions, for testing the corrosivity of wood products, testing exhibition cases and testing materials. Possible remedies were investigated by a literature search (cited at length) and consultation with industrial chemists; mitigating solutions were also explored and include increasing ventilation, use of buffering and absorbing agents, ammonia fumigation, use of various scavengers, ultraviolet radiation, and temperature and humidity control. The release of dangerous substances from paints and coatings applied to wood-based construction materials to protect them from damage by formaldehyde is examined in the same manner, i.e., measurement methods, testings and presentation of mitigating approaches. Other harmful materials are briefly discussed and recommendations suggested. (See also AATA 23-1808 and 23-1817 for related articles).


Student lecture and project notes; notes and reports of investigations undertaken at the C.S.I.R.O. and A.R.L.; correspondence relating to Ph.D. candidature, Lehigh University (U.S.A.) 1947-1948.


Traits such as live crown ratio and understory stem density are often used subjectively as a guide to grouping tree species into shade tolerance classes. The accuracy of this approach was tested on nine species in an upland oak forest by comparing a tolerance index based on measurements of live crown ratio and understory stem density with observed survival and growth rates of suppressed trees obtained from 19-year permanent plot records. A high correlation (r = 0.93) was found between predicted and observed tolerance indices. The observed tolerance of several species differs from traditional classifications but was correctly predicted by the tolerance index.


A study about the history and the function of the two altar-stones on the Areopagus, according to the literary sources.


Reviews the current state of research on the relationship between capital gains realization and the capital gains tax rate and offers a theoretical framework to guide future empirical research. Concludes that realizations are probably quite responsive to the tax rate in the short run, but that little is known about the long-run response.


The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recently released its report on the distributional effects of trade and trade policy on U.S. workers and "underrepresented and underserved communities." The report catalogs a host of information gathered from a literature review and several roundtables on the adverse effects of U.S. manufacturing imports. But the report's laser focus on manufacturing imports leaves a huge gap for readers interested in the distributional effects of trade.

Manufacturing imports are an important part of trade, but they aren't all of trade. Trade is imports and exports, goods and services, inputs and final goods. Trade is manufacturing, but it's also agriculture and services. And you need to look at the full picture to understand the distributional impacts of trade and trade policy.

While trade can mean wage or job loss for a worker with skills specific to an import-competing industry, it can mean other things, too. Trade can be the average American household's budget going further at Christmastime. Trade can be importing the widgets that used to be made here and exporting new high-tech manufacturing goods that use those imported widgets. Trade is what has helped one mom from Lithonia, Georgia, start her own online accessory and consignment store. Trade is the lifeline for much of U.S. agriculture. But the ITC report focused narrowly on the workers competing with manufacturing imports.


The high costs of developing new insecticide molecules combined with stringent regulatory laws for pesticide registration have encouraged more research with insecticidal compounds of plant origin. Moreover, insecticidal plant compounds may be less harmful to humans and to non-target organisms, and present new modes of action to control insect pests. Thereby, bioguided chromatographic fractionations of the ethanolic extract from flowers of Brugmansia suaveolens (Willd.) (Solanaceae) were performed in order to identify insecticidal chemical compounds able to protect stored beans against Bruchinae beetles. The chromatographic fractionations using silica column chromatography was based on results from toxicological bioassays (residual contact) using Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman) as a model insect. During the bioguided chromatographic fractionations, the bioactive fractions expressed their effects mainly by inhibiting the F1 progeny of Z. subfasciatus. Consequently, damages on bean grains were completely inhibited. Moreover, some fractions also killed adults of Z. subfasciatus, which demonstrated signs of hyperexcitation. The fraction BSHidAcF1-1 (150 mg Kg) killed 56% of adults of Z. subfasciatus, promoted egg deterrence, and drastically reduced egg-


The application of the class instruction about the cutter offset is emphasis and indeterminable.The students don't easily comprehend or very clear,and are fallibleness in actual application.The paper actively go behind the application of the cutter radius compensation and length compensation instruction in combination with teaching fact of the numerical control to process programming and operation.The cause to cutter offset、the style of offset instruction、the application of instruction application and the offset essence are expounded.The offset exampleswere given.The class G instruction concerning the cutter offset was gone into details in this paper.


BACKGROUND Persistent severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with increased mortality and is a class I indication for implantation of a cardioverter-de fi brillator. OBJECTIVES This study developed models and assessed independent predictors of LV recovery to > 35% and $ 50% after 90-day follow-up in patients presenting with acute MI and severe LV dysfunction. METHODS Our multicenter prospective observational study enrolled participants with ejection fraction (EF) of # 35% at the time of MI (n ¼ 231). Predictors for EF recovery to > 35% and $ 50% were identi fi ed after multivariate modeling and validated in a separate cohort (n ¼ 236). RESULTS In the PREDICTS (PREDiction of ICd Treatment Study) study, 43% of patients had persistent EF # 35%, 31% had an EF of 36% to 49%, and 26% had an EF $ 50%. The model that best predicted recovery of EF to > 35% included EF at presentation, length of stay, prior MI, lateral wall motion abnormality at presentation, and peak troponin. The model that best predicted recovery of EF to $ 50% included EF at presentation, peak troponin, prior MI, and presentation with ventricular fi brillation or cardiac arrest. After predictors were transformed into point scores, the lowest point scores predicted a 9% and 4% probability of EF recovery to > 35% and $ 50%, respectively, whereas pro fi les with the highest point scores predicted an 87% and 49% probability of EF recovery to > 35% and $ 50%, respectively.


This paper examines frontal, side, rear, pole and offset car-to-car data sets using familiar damage analysis models: constant stiffness, bilinear stiffness, and force saturation. In addition to these, a non-linear power-law formulation is introduced and compared to the others. The power-law provides a nonlinear stiffness coefficient that transitions between a constant force model and constant stiffness model as the power goes from 0 to 1. It also provides a continuous, single valued function that is easily integrated and used in the analysis. Power-law non-linearity can be used to smoothly fit low through high crush data. Geometric integral parameters are developed which represent irregular crush profiles. These permit graphical comparison of tests with non-uniform crush data (such as offset, side, and narrow object) with uniform crush test data. They also provide a means for comparison of accident damage with the test data set. Force-deflection data supplements energy-residual crush data to define non- linear crush stiffness coefficients for accident reconstruction damage analysis. Improved modeling results for both low crush levels and for extrapolation to damage profiles well beyond the test data level. Load cell barrier data is provided in some NCAP frontal barrier tests in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database.


Doctors from across the country gathered in San Diego last month for the American Academy of Family Physicians' 2008 Scientific Assembly.


The results of the experimental investigations on the performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) with serpentine flow field is reported in the present work. The serpentine flow channel considered in the present work has an active area of 50 cm2 and has a landing to channel ratio of 1:1. The power densities at various operating temperatures are determined experimentally. The testing is done on the PEMFC for three different temperatures: 50, 60 and 70°C. The output power at a particular cell voltage has been found to increase as the temperature increases. The maximum power obtained is 23.01 W at 0.48 V when the cell operating temperature is 70°C. In order to characterize the nafion membrane, a scanning electron microscope analysis is also performed and the results are reported in the present paper.


This work, enshrined on the History of Women and the history of everyday life, is part of an investigation about the role of women during the post-war period of the last civil war and the Franco regime in a municipality in the province of Malaga: Almogia. It spans from 1940s to 1975, period in which are documented episodies of the life of anonymous women, forgotten, marginalized, not found in the press or in other written sources either on the radio or on the NODO, or in the history books. However, its protagonists are active subjects of historical task, without them, without their work, life is paralyzed. Moreover, knowledge of its history is essential to understanding not only previously unknown aspects of Franco's dictatorship, but some of the ins and outs of the present time.


Shukra Dhatu is one of the seven Dhatus in the body and Shukra is white, pure, excellent Dhatu, which is considered as best among all seven Dhatus. According to many Acharyas of Ayurveda, Garbhotpadana (reproduction) is chief function of Shukra Dhatu and important fact is Shukra Dhatu also shows its effect all over body in the form of Shukradhatu Sarata because Shukradhatu is located in entire body. Shukra Sara person is known to possess unctuous (Snigdha), compact (Samhat) and white (Shweta) bones (Asthi), teeth (Danta), nails (Nakha), and children (Bahula Kamapraja). Shukra Dhatu is one of Pranayatanas of Sharira, from this information we can understand the importance of Shukradhatu. Therefore, this study was taken into consideration which has main objectives to review the concept of presence of Shukra Dhatu in the body without any sexual discrimination and its functions all over body.


Article history: Received 7 March 2008 Received in revised form 19 April 2010 Accepted 19 April 2010 Recent studies have found that China is "special" in exporting highly sophisticated goods not comparable with its income level. In this paper we identify two measurement biases that account for this "China is special" observation. First, product quality has not been fully considered in the measurement of sophistication, which has caused an overestimation of the sophistication of China's exports. Second, the average income of China has been used to measure the export capability of China, which has caused an underestimation of China's capability of exporting sophisticated goods. After correcting the two measurement biases, China appears much less as an outlier in the cross-country comparison of the sophistication of exports. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. JEL classification: O1 F1


clearly marked, he takes the Tibetan as the basis of his investigations, and in the first place the forms of the causative verb. He concludes that all the Tibetan prefixes which he has thus discussed show a tendency, in consequence of the strong accent laid on the root, to lose their vowels, and to become amalgamated with the root syllable in the form only of an additional letter, and of a modification of the tone of the root. Having dealt in detail with this thesis up to page 103, he proceeds in the remainder of the essay to apply the results thus obtained to the elucidation of similar forms in Assamese (pp. 104-112), Burmese (pp. 113-128), Siamese (pp. 130-148), and Chinese (pp. 149-201). In all these languages he finds evidence—(1) of the same method of formation of causative and denominative verbs, which when transitive have a high tone, and when intransitive have not; (2) of a similar shifting of tone owing to the influence of the added prefixes; and (3) of a similar resulting tone system. The objection to all this that will naturally occur is that the study of the historical development of each of these languages has not yet reached the stage at which such a question can be definitely settled. Perhaps not. But the putting forward of so clear a thesis, and that not only in a general way, but worked out in detail, cannot fail to stimulate inquiry, and to contribute very greatly to the building up of that historical knowledge of these languages which is so much to be desired.


In this paper, genetic algorithm and ant colony optimization algorithm are used for route moving robot in dynamic environments with various complexities. Both algorithms work with global routing and need a general map from environment. Since environments are dynamic and different paths have variable length, chromosome structure with variable length is employed. In this study the performance of both algorithms in the execution speed and the number of occurrences for obtaining the optimal path in various dynamic environments has been evaluated using MATLAB simulation methods. Obtained results from comparing the performance of these two algorithms by considering performance and adjusting the parameters and their advantages beside limitations, developed optimization algorithms for route moving robots.


(1) High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307, USA, (2) Department of Astronomy, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA02215, (3) Science Applications International Corporation, San Diego, CA 92121, USA, (4) University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, (5) Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA, (6) University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA, (7) Laboratory for Space Weather, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.


Emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activation problems were investigated by testing a sampling of ELT units in actual airplane crashes and in a special test apparatus which simulated longitudinal crash pulses with superimposed local structural resonances. Probable causes of excessive false alarms and nonactivations of ELT's during crash situations were determined and solutions to the current operational and technical problems were obtained. The results, which considered placement, mounting, and activation of ELT's under simulated crash impacts, and an evaluation of the sensitivity of ELT impact switches to orientation and to local structural vibrations are discussed.


This thesis utilizes the investigation method of the questionnaire to study the application result of MOPIA, and analysis the question existing in teaching, put forward the corresponding countermeasure, have offered the basis for the inquiry-teaching that perfected tool software courses of education technology.


This article discusses automatic generation of train timetables, with focus on the Sujic program and how it can be a valuable decision support tool in automated scheduling. The basic premise of Sujic is that the evaluation of planned timetables must be approached primarily from a passenger's perspective, with travel time and overcrowding being the two most important criteria that are being optimized. The article includes a detailed discussion on the Sujic concept, timetable evaluation, automatic generation, scheduling and rescheduling, four track railways,and boosting capacity.


Mechanical properties of the near alpha titanium alloy Ti600 with composition 6Al, 2.8Sn, 4Zr, 0.5Mo, 0.4Si, 0.1Y, bal.Ti, in wt%,were studied in different heat treatment conditions. The microstructures of the alloy were studied by LM, TEM. The resulting microstructure consists of small regions of aligned alpha platelets (colonies) and some grain boundary beta. After thermal exposure in air at temperature 600℃ for 100h., the precipitate α 2 phase (Ti 3Al) and silicides(Ti 5Si 3) decrease the ductility of the alloy.


The reaction of N-tosylatirdine with 1,2-diaminopropane in dry benzene solution yields an intermediate H2L, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-(p-tolylsulfonyl)aminoethyl) propane-1,2-diamine. The mononuclear copper(Ⅱ) complex, [CuLH2O]·H2O, was synthesized by the reaction between the intermediate and copper(Ⅱ) in absolute methanol. The complex has been characterized by IR, UV-vis and X-ray diffraction technology, and its crystal crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca with a = 15.589(1), b = 21.897(2), c = 27.645(2) , V = 9436.4(1) 3, Dc = 1.352 g/cm3, Z = 8, Mr = 960.68, F(000) = 4040, μ(MoKa) = 0.698 mm-1, S = 0.98, R = 0.0537 and wR = 0.1180 for 5804 observed reflections (I 2σ(I)). In the crystal structure, a one-dimensional chain is formed by abundant hydrogen bond interactions. The interaction of the complex with DNA was monitored using agarose gel electrophoresis. The result shows that the complex can transform the supercoiled to nicked and liner forms, and has a concentration-dependent cleavage activity.


As the outcome of industrial society, the bureaucratic system put forward by Weber has its special character, and includes abundant rational spirit. But with the development of preindustry society ,the bureaucratic system is not perfect, whether on theory or practice, it is criticised by people continuously. Since the 20 century 70' s, the reforming of the western countries administration also pushed the critics of the bureaucrat system to the peak. However, take a view of the western countries administration reform, the bureaucrat system of rational spirit is not discarded, it can be acquired under the new history ,and its lessons can be drawn by the Chinese administration reform.


During the 1850s ministers of Francis Joseph I attempted to impose a centralizedadministration on the Empire of Austria. The system of neoabsolutism amounted toa military and bureaucratic government dominated by German-speaking Austrians.
But this political system actually floundered because of a series of major setbacks inHabsburg foreign policy. The Austrian defeat in 1859 at the hands of France andPiedmont and subsequent loss of territory in Italy confirmed the necessity for newstructures of domestic government. In 1860 Francis Joseph I issued the OctoberDiploma, which created a federation among the states and provinces of the empire.
There were to local diets dominated by the landed classes and a single parliament.
Most German politicians in the Empire of Austria and the Magyar of Hungaryrejected the plan. Consequently, in 1861 the emperor promulgated the FebruaryPatent. Technically it interpreted the Diploma, but pointed to the fact it constitutedan entirely different form of government. The Czech politicians refused to cooperatein a system designed to permit German speaking Austrian domination of the empire.
In this period Czech politicians believed that the racial problem in the empire would trigger to topple the centralized monarchy system. In 1865 Palacký published 'Ideastatu Rakouskeho'. In this book, Palacký was cited to clarify the point of view ofCzech politicians. According to his view, Czech politicians tried to make implementof their idea that the introduction of the Federalismus into Austria was necessary tomaintain the Danube Monarchy. Since the publication of Palacky's book mostGerman politicians in the empire had tended to be critical to Czech politicians'viewpoint. They prevented Czech politicians from implementing their idea in theempire. Nevertheless, Czech politicians did not give up their intention, and theyproved that their plan was very useful to solve the conflicts between the Germansand the Slavs.


Flare stack is a fire tower installation to burn off-specification gas that is not processed perfectly in the oil and gas processing or or in the petrochemical process. The purpose of this study is to provide a technical description of the condition of the flare stack installation in the refinery industry after being used for 40 years. The research method used is a technical inspection method with limited testing and inspection with a case study approach to problems in the flare stack installation. The results show that the building under the flare stack installation has experienced material degradation in the form of carbonation of the concrete structure to a depth of 5.5 millimeters and causes the concrete to become brittle. The results of the study recommend that it is necessary to immediately relocate and replace the existing flare installation because its estimated life span is 2 years. The results also recommend that the location that is considered suitable and suitable for flare stack installation is in the Balikpapan Bay area in the form of an offshore flare platform.


Between 2010 and 2012 the Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) conducted a major long-term resource and transmission study of the Eastern Interconnection (EI). With guidance from a Stakeholder Steering Committee (SSC) that included representatives from the Eastern Interconnection States Planning Council (EISPC) among others, the project was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved a long-term capacity expansion analysis that involved creation of eight major futures plus 72 sensitivities. Three scenarios were selected for more extensive transmission- focused evaluation in Phase 2. Five power flow analyses, nine production cost model runs (including six sensitivities), and three capital cost estimations were developed during this second phase. The results from Phase 1 and 2 provided a wealth of data that could be examined further to address energy-related questions. A list of 14 topics was developed for further analysis. This paper brings together the earlier interim reports of the first 13 topics plus one additional topic into a single final report.


: Rural off-grid electrification systems have gained increasing attention, particularly in developing countries with vast rural areas. It is known that many established microgrids (MG) in rural areas are being challenged with a complex cost situation and numerous rural interferences, leading to various microgrid performance deteriorations, which are barely unchecked and lead to MG early failure. To address this issue, this study aims to develop a management framework to provide elaborate information and systematic analysis of the potential deterioration of rural off-grid microgrids. This study summarizes, identifies, categorizes


The designer of foundations for vibrating machines, such as compressors, must consider several related fields. The behavior of soil under static and vibrational loads and the magnitude and effects of soil distortions must be evaluated. Means of limiting vibration and the possibilities of deterioration or distortion of the actual foundation must be considered. This paper summarizes the relationship of present thinking and recent studies in the various fields to compressor foundations.


Water security represents a main challenge in the quest for sustainable development and stability worldwide. Often, such security is closely linked with the demand of water for agricultural irrigat ...


Penicillium expansum (Link) Thom. is one of the most important postharvest
 pathogens of apple fruit worldwide. It causes blue mold, a decay that can
 lead to significant economic losses during storage, which can also impact
 fruit destined for processing due to the production of carcinogenic mycotoxin
 patulin. Apple fruit cvs. Idared, Golden Delicious and Braeburn with blue
 mold symptoms were collected from five storage facilities in Serbia and nine
 fungal isolates were obtained. Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested and
 proven by artificial inoculation of healthy apples cv. Idared. In order to
 identify the causal agents of decay, morphological and molecular methods were
 used. Colony morphology and microscopic features were observed on
 differential media, and isolates were tested for the production of
 cyclopiazonic acid. Molecular analysis included PCR amplification with
 species specific primers for P. expansum based on polygalacturonase gene
 (Pepg1), universal primers for internal transcribed spacer rDNA region and
 primers based on β-tubulin gene. All isolates formed compact blue green
 colonies with characteristic earthy odor. Conidiophores were terverticillate
 with smooth septate stipes and conidia were smooth, globose to subglobose,
 born in colums. The average size of conidia was 3.38 ± 0.49 (SD) x 3 ± 0.36
 (SD) μm. Using species specific primers PEF/PER the texpected amplicons of
 ~404 bp were obtained in all nine tested isolates and PCR conducted with the
 Bt-LEVUp4/ Bt-LEV-Lo1 and universal ITS1/ITS4 primer pairs generated
 amplicons of the expected sizes of ~800 bp and ~600 bp, respectively.
 MegaBlast analyses of the 2X consensus of nucleotide sequences of the isolate
 JP1 partial β-tubulin gene and ITS region showed 99-100% and 100% similarity
 with several P. expansum sequences of corresponding regions of this species
 deposited in GenBank. Based on morphological and molecular features, the
 isolates obtained from decayed apple fruit collected in several storage
 facilities in Serbia were identified as P. expansum. [Projekat Ministarstva
 nauke Republike Srbije, br. III46008]


Noise Cancellation Technologies (NCTI) has announced a license agreement with Lernout & Hauspie, a global leader in advanced speech and language technologies, products and services. L&H has licensed NCTI's noise and echo cancellation algorithms for use within L&H's speech applications. L&H's decision to license NCTI's noise cancellation algorithm was based on the results of its extensive testing which showed a significant reduction in voice recognition error rates. "We are impressed with the performance of NCTI's technology and believe it will deliver benefits to our applications, such as voice command and control in a car and on a cell phone as well as in our mobile dictation solutions," said Georges Zanelleto, vice president of engineering and chief technology officer of L&H's speech and language technologies and solutions division. Advanced speech technology is one of the fastest growing segments of the technology industry. Analysts estimate the market for speech and language technology will be $3.5 billion worldwide by the year 2001, driven by advances in speech-enabling technologies, increases in processing power, the proliferation of electronic devices and the explosive use of the Internet. NCTI is a leading technology developer with an extensive portfolio of proprietary algorithms and a wide variety of product offerings for consumer, commercial and industrial applications. The Company specialises in the utilisation of sound and signal waves to reduce noise, improve signalto-noise ratio and enhance sound quality. For more information: NCT Europe, Unit 3 Munro House, Trafalgar Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge. Tel: +44(0)1954 205502, Fax: +44(0)1954 205503


Dynamic RWA algorithm which supports differentiating business service quality levels becomes a hot research in optical networks. This paper proposes a better ant colony algorithm for routing and wavelength assignment in ASON with supporting differentiating SLA of services and 10P bps network capacity. Firstly, the algorithm adds the concept of business interval period M to dynamically adjust the wavelength grouped in different periods So as to better meet the sercice requests of different levels; Secondly the algorithm adds a link selection control factor in the transition probability function ACA in order to achieve a better link load balancing. Simulation results show that after joining the cyclical and link selection control factor, blocking rate becomes lower and the load of network becomes more evenly.


The invention discloses a device for testing the pre-tightening force of matched bearings, relates to a device for testing the pre-tightening force of a bearing, and aims to solve the problems that the existing measurement apparatus needs an air source and has relatively high requirements on environment and the test accuracy on the pre-tightening force of the bearing is low. A linear bearing is sleeved on each guide rail; the two ends of a force sensor bracket are connected with the guide rail through a linear bearing in a sliding manner respectively; a force sensor is fixedly mounted on the lower end surface of the force sensor bracket; a displacement sensor is mounted on the upper end surface of a base through a displacement sensor bracket; the two ends of a support frame are fixedly connected with the upper ends of two guide rails respectively; a motor is fixedly mounted on the upper end surface of the support frame through a motor bracket; an output shaft of the motor is fixedly connected with the upper end of a screw through a shaft coupling; a spring seat is fixedly mounted on the upper end surface of the force sensor bracket; a shell is fixedly mounted at the upper end of the spring seat; the screw is located in the shell; a compression nut is in threaded connection with the screw; and a spring is sleeved on the screw and located between the compression nut and the spring seat. The device disclosed by the invention is used for testing the pre-tightening force of the matched bearings.


An automated ordinary Kriging model based on Matlab platform( MatOK) was specially developed for rainfall spatial interpolation over macro regions. The proposed model has three main traits compared with other ordinary Kriging( OK) models. Firstly,in the part of rainfall spatial variogram computation,the parameters of theoretical variogram are optimized using the Shuffled Complex Evolution method-University of Arizona( SCE-UA). Secondly,in the part of OK equation estimation,daily and other short time step rainfall interpolation is improved by adding a process of precipitation occurrence probability( POP) calculation. Thirdly,the model's numerical stability is raised through OK equation's standardization. Then,based on 325 rain gauges observations during 2003—2009 in the Ganjiang River Basin with a drainage area of83374km2,a case application of yearly,monthly and daily rainfall spatial interpolation using MatOK was conducted. Results preliminarily show that MatOK is feasible for rainfall spatial interpolation over macro regions.


We determine the scattered near-field and directly emitted power of a heated spherical nanoparticle above a sample within the framework of fluctuational electrodynamics using the dipole approximation. Our results deviate from previously obtained results. Additionally, we show that in a configuration where the nanoparticle is heated with respect to its environment, the scattered power of the near field of the sample is strictly zero. Only when the sample is heated or the temperature of the surroundings of the sample is lowered is there a contribution from the scattered power. Our results indicate that for the interpretation of near-field imaging setups as the thermal infrared near-field spectroscope not only the scattering of the near field but also the direct emission of the tip plays a role.


This article shows the exploration shares and philosophical research developed by the Luso- Brazilian naturalist Joaquim Jose da Silva in Angola, Africa. It is also intended as objective, bring your travels with regard not only the development of natural sciences in Portuguese overseas territories, but see how that professional was seized in Africa in order to expand and consolidate the geographical knowledge of the interiors of that colony.


The development current situation of plant tissue culture technology in breeding,industrial propagation,germplasm conservation,production of secondary metabolites,photoautotrophic tissue culture techniques and the application of high technology in tissue culture production etc were summarized in this paper.


Morphometric determination of extracellular space in control and post‐ischaemic reperfused rabbit myocardium was evaluated using two fixatives differing in their composition and total osmolality. Measurement of control extracellular space in an isotonic fixative (294 mOsm/kg water) was 20.8% and in a hypertonic fixative (1816 mOsm/kg water) was 22.2%. These values were not statistically different. Ischaemic durations of 15, 30, 60 and 90 min, followed by an equivalent period of reperfusion, created significant increases in extracellular space. The size of the extracellular space determined by both fixatives was found to be the same. Total fixative osmolality does not appear to influence morphometric evaluation of the extracellular space in control tissue or in tissue damaged by ischaemia and reperfusion.


The Labiatae family is universally considered as an important source of natural antioxidant. Methanolic extracts of 8 species of Labiatae were purified and their antioxidant activities were determined by (i) Active Oxygen Method (AOM), (ii) Rancimat and (iii) Schaal oven methods in soybean oil and by AOM in hydrogenated vegetable oil. The effects of extracts concentration and also the combination of extracts and citric acid or α-T on soybean oil stability were studied. Rosemary extract was found to be very effective in stabilizing soybean and hydrogenated vegetable oils by all three methods of evaluation. However, results from extracts with intermediate antioxidant activity i.e. thyme. balm, serpollet, marjoram and T. pubescens differed from one method to the other and also type of substrate or oil. Spearmint and N. bracteata did not show any antioxidant activity in the tested oils at high temperatures. All plant extracts had negative synergism with α-T, but some showed positive effect with citric acid. The stability of soybean oil increased with increase in extracts concentration.


Thirteen states currently either mandate no-fault auto insurance or allow drivers to choose between no-fault and tort insurance. No-fault auto insurance requires individuals to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance that compensates them for economic losses sustained in automobile accidents, regardless of whoever is at fault, and prohibits individuals from suing for non-economic damages (for example, for pain and suffering) unless their injuries exceed some established threshold. Under a traditional tort-based auto insurance system, all drivers must carry liability insurance that compensates third parties for injuries caused by the insured driver. Firstparty insurance under tort is typically voluntary. Proponents of no-fault auto insurance claim the system delivers speedier and more equitable compensation at lower cost than traditional tort insurance; however, its opponents frequently counter that no-fault may ultimately lead to higher auto insurance costs by reducing drivers' incentives to drive carefully and thereby increasing the accident rate. The intuition behind this criticism of no-fault is simple: No-fault auto insurance lowers the cost of driving negligently by limiting first-party liability for the injuries suffered by third parties in auto accidents. This study evaluates this criticism of no-fault by examining trends in fatal and nonfatal automobile accident rates and rates of driver negligence in the United States between 1967 and 1989.


Address Address of the first data item indicates that the data item stored in association with indicia in a first cache, a coherency indicator in the first cache is set to indicate that the first data item is valid in the first state response, the associated indicator is modified to indicate that the address tag is valid while the first data item is invalid in the second state. Thereafter, according to the operation mode of the first cache, it is determined whether to modify the first cache. In response to the modification of the first cache of the determination, and storing the second data item to modify the coherency indicator indicating that the second data item is valid in the third state.


One of the key features of our economies consists of the coexistence of different technologies supplying similar products and services. Also, we often observe that an 'old' technology is improved when a new one appears. Behind this process of improvement of the old technology almost always lies an intentional research activity carried out by the users of the old technology, whose aim is to delay as much as possible the loss of their market share. We focus our attention on this competition process and we supply a formal model capable of d escribing the delay of the overtaking of the new technology over the old one.


The article outlines a sociological construction of the object of clothing. Contrary to usual analyses, clothing is not understood in terms of material culture or ostentatious consumption, but rather as communication, i.e. as vestimentary operation. Its symbolical autonomy creates a zone of indifference towards the body and, in particular cases, towards the person. This approach is able to show that vestimentary practices vary with the form of societal differentiation. While dress codes are redundant and functional in respect to the social structure in stratified societies, an autonomous universe of clothing as medium of communication forms itself in the fully developed culture of exterior appearance. It contains a special code, programs, symbiotic mechanisms and a memory of its own. Triggers for such tendencies towards autonomy are a public sphere, forming itself as a correlate of urbanization, a money economy under market conditions and fashion as a theme of reflection for societal self-description.


Characteristics of a microstrip line on a yttrium iron garnet (YIG) film substrate are investigated by using the spectral domain method and the effect of the strip width on the coupling between magnetostatic forward volume wave (MSFVW) and quasi-TEM mode are discussed under the estimation of the calculated dispersion relation. To confirm the dispersion curve, delay line characteristics of the stripline proposed have been experimentally examined using 20-/spl mu/m and 100 /spl mu/m-thick YIG films both in the linear and nonlinear regime. The beam forming of antenna pattern has also been experimentally demonstrated as an application of the delay line using the MSFVW mode in the stripline.


According to fine wool property,it uses the patent of technology to make the fine wool wadding and the fine wool/duck blended wadding and the contrast samples.Through the test and analysis of the heat-moisture performance,it can be found the warm performance of fine wool wadding is as good as kapok wadding;when blending the fine wool fibers into the duck wadding in some ratio,it does not affect the warm performance,besides,the convection heat transfer inside can be restrained.The moisture absorption of fine wool wadding is better than kapok wadding,whereas the moisture-penetrability of fine wool wadding is worse than kapok wadding.Adding some fine wool fibers into the duck wadding can enhance its moisture absorption,but would affect its moisture-penetrability to some extent.


Study Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected observational data. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the slippage, sagittal alignment, and range of motion (ROM) after selective laminectomy (SL) in patients who had cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). Summary of Background Data: Clinical outcomes have been reported for both decompression and fusion surgeries for DS of the lumbar spine. However, only a few reports have examined cervical spine spondylolisthesis. Materials and Methods: This study included 178 patients who underwent SL for CSM. Those with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament were excluded. Slippage >2 mm was defined as spondylolisthesis, and spondylolisthesis progression was defined as an additional displacement >2 mm on a neutral radiograph. The slippage, translational motion, C2–C7 angle, local kyphosis, and ROM were examined before and ≥2 years after surgery. Radiologic parameters were evaluated according to the slip direction and the number of laminae removed. Results: DS was observed in 29 patients (16.3%); 24 patients, comprising 9 and 15 in the anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis groups, respectively, were successfully followed up for more than 2 years. Preoperative and postoperative radiologic changes in slippage, translational motion, C2–C7 angle, local kyphosis, and ROM were not remarkable in either group regardless of the number of laminae removed. Revision surgery for the progression of DS and alignment deterioration was not required in any patient of either group. Conclusions: SL does not affect DS, sagittal alignment, or ROM irrespective of the slip direction and the number of laminae removed, even after >2 years after surgery. Given the preservation of the posterior elements, SL may be an effective treatment for CSM with DS. Level of Evidence: Level IV.


This article examines the blurred boundaries between different oral and literary poetics in early modern Finland. Both the first written examples of traditional Finnic oral poetry (in so-called Kalevala-metre with no rhymes or stanza structures) and the first rhymed and stanzaic poems originate from this very same period, often in various hybrid forms. Ambiguity and the hybrid character of poems means the contemporary audiences may have interpreted individual poems as relating to several poetic traditions. The material demonstrates that the elites had knowledge of oral poetics that they both avoided and applied in various ways. In Lutheran hymns, the features of traditional oral poetry were first avoided, but, from the 1580s onwards, alliteration and some other features were incorporated into rhymed, iambic stanzas. At the same time, the clergymen and scholars also created a rhymed, heavily alliterated and trochaic genre of literary poems, which was apparently conceived as a version of the oral Finnish poetic form. Later scholars have often interpreted this learned, literary form as a misunderstanding of traditional oral poetics. In this article, it is understood as an intentional, hybrid form of rhymed couplets and Kalevala-metre. The various hybrid uses indicate that – contrary to the later scholarly views – the early modern writers did not conceive the old oral form as a conclusively pagan metre that should be strictly avoided.


PurposePower use widely exists in buyer–supplier relationships (BSRs). Different directions of power use (i.e. buyer's power use and supplier's power use) intertwining with different types of power (i.e. coercive and noncoercive power) make it insufficient to regard power use as a single construct when examining its effect on a firm's following response. Besides, interdependence structure characterized by joint dependence and dependence asymmetry may influence the effect of a specific power use by shaping the firm's interpretation and cognition toward the relationship. Specifically, this study examines how four types of power use a buyer facing and an interdependence structure with its supplier affect its specific investments to the supplier.Design/methodology/approachThis study tests the proposed relationships using regression analysis, based on data from 240 manufacturing firms in China on their perceived relationships with their major suppliers.FindingsResults show that buyer's coercive power use (BCP) negatively affects buyer's specific investments while noncoercive power use (BNP) does not play a significant role. Both supplier's coercive power use (SCP) and noncoercive power use (SNP) are positively related to buyer's specific investments. Joint dependence positively moderates the effect of BNP and dependence asymmetry negatively moderates the effects of BCP and SNP on buyer's specific investments.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on power use by identifying different types of power use and their different roles in influencing buyer's specific investments. The study also contributes to the literature on interdependence structure by demonstrating the different roles of joint dependence and dependence asymmetry.


Pedestrian navigation systems such as google route map have become popular in recent years. However, visually impaired people is difficult to use the general navigation system due to the low positioning accuracy and the non-user-friendly interfaces for them. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop a navigation system for visually impaired people. Currently, GPS is a prevailing technology as a way of outdoor positioning. Among them, the quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS) "MICHIBIKI" has been attracting attention in Japan because it can get extremely higher accurate position than conventional GPS. Meanwhile, indoor positioning technology using various methods such as Wi-Fi, RFID, and iBeacon has been rapidly developed. In this paper, we apply the QZSS and RFID in the UHF band to the location positioning in the indoor and outdoor for navigating visually impaired people. For this purpose, we measured the radio field intensity of RFID tags in a various situation. As a result, we verified that position estimation based on RFID can be utilized for navigation. Furthermore, we also propose an algorithm for estimating the self-position by combining the position data of MICHIBIKI and RFID.


The electron correlation in heavy metal tellurium clusters is studied at the level of HF and CCSD(T). The results show that the electron correlation is a kind of tangential attraction because it reduces the bond angle to larger than 20°, but dont change bond length essentially. Theoretical analysis verified that this attraction originates from van der Waals force existing between d 10 d 10 closed shells of heavy metal. The quantity and affecting pattern of electron correlation are calculated for the first time by fitting bond angle related potential function.


In Reply. —I agree with and share Dr Amann's concerns over the massive debt burden of resident physicians. However, I disagree with his premise that the results of the grass roots campaign only pacify current residents and medical students, while neglecting those who will follow. Early versions of the reauthorization of the HEA eliminated deferment and limited forbearance to 3 years. Lobbying by the AMA and other groups, coupled with a major grass roots campaign by residents, medical students, senior physicians, and the AMA Auxiliary, led to the reinstitution of forbearance for the duration of residency and deferment for those residents who can prove need. The people who contacted their congressional representatives were working to retain the best possible outcome for all residents, current and future. Through their hard work and dedication to the profession, they influenced a government that wanted to severely limit repayment options for medical residents. The


The maintenance and growth of the United States infrastructure is vital to the economic, social, and cultural success of the country. For this reason significant resources must be allocated to ensure adequate paving mixtures are designed, produced, and constructed. A critical issue that has received considerable attention in recent years is to identify and quantify causes, sources, and levels of variability in volumetric and mechanical properties of the mixture. This requires evaluation of three possible scenarios for production of asphalt mixture specimens: (1) laboratory mixed and laboratory compacted specimens (LL), (2) plant mixed and laboratory compacted specimens (PL), and (3) plant mixed and field compacted specimens (PF). The objective of this project was to quantify sources and causes of variability in the measurements of volumetric and mechanical properties of dense-graded asphalt mixtures for three types of specimens. This was accomplished by collecting and reviewing published and unpublished national information on studies conducted to evaluate the variability of volumetric and mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures, and current practices adopted by the states to incorporate variability in the specifications. The researcher surveyed highway agencies and contractors that may have been able to provide data. Statistical analyses, including a metaanalysis were conducted based on the collected data. This research reports levels of variability for a wide range of volumetric and mechanical properties. Also, the levels of variability were comparable for various state departments of transportations (DOTs) located in different climatic regions. Additionally, nominal maximum aggregate size (NMS) of asphalt mixtures appears to influence the levels of variability observed for the various volumetric and mechanical properties. This report finds additional research is required to determine the cause of the variation between the three sample types with respect to process-based factors.


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for polishing a plate-shaped member can be of a large size polishing plate-like body with good precision. The plate-shaped member while moving in a predetermined direction using a plurality of circular rotation and revolution of the plate-like body having a polishing method for polishing a plate-like body continuous ground, characterized in that the diameter smaller than the width of the plate-like member circular polishing tool to move the center line of the plate-like member arranged in pairs as a reference, and each of the circular polishing tool moves beyond the center line of the plate-like member is polished.


The invention relates to a housing having disposed therein a switch (20) for actuating a power tool, and with a switch cover, comprising two half-shell-like cover (30; 31), between which the switch (20) is shielded receivable and at least partly from its environment wherein the peripheral edge (32) of a cover (30) opposite the circumferential edge (32 ') of the other cover member (31) also has such a marked course, that the edges (32, 32') in an assembled state of both cover members (30; 31) form a passage opening (33) for an operating element for operating the switch (20) and at least one passage opening (34) for performing an electrical cable (40). The invention further relates to a preferred use of this housing as an outer housing part of a hand-held power tool, in particular for a grinding tool.


Aviation's successful use of Decision Support Systems (DSS) has not been replicated in the healthcare subset of DSS referenced as Clinical Decision Support (CDS). Here the domains of healthcare and aviation are compared and contrasted providing an overview of the adaptation of lessons learned in aviation to healthcare. We propose there are differences in characteristics inherent to the contexts of aviation and healthcare that affect the data necessary for efficient, effective CDS systems. Specifically, ten context characteristics are discussed that jointly and separately affect the availability, quantity, quality and temporal relevance of the data. By providing remedies for overcoming deficiencies and supporting accurate representation of the data perhaps then CDS systems will meet their potential for improved adoption, user satisfaction and patient outcomes.


Introduction:
 Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is one of the most common causes of stroke around the world. Among patients with ICAD being treated with Intensive Medical Management (IMM), those who initially present with ischemia in border-zone areas have the highest recurrence rates (37% at one year) due to association with poor collaterals.

 Methods:
 We recently concluded a phase II clinical trial of EDAS revascularization for patients with symptomatic ICAD failing medical management (ERSIAS). EDAS creates new collaterals from the donor branches of the external carotid artery. We performed an analysis of ERSIAS patients who had stroke as qualifying event and ischemia of a border-zone area on their initial MRI. We compared their outcomes to the subgroup of patients with border-zone ischemia from SAMMPRIS.

 Results:
 Of 52 patients included in the ERSIAS trial, 35 patients presented with strokes at baseline and 28 had border-zone pattern, including 15 (54%) with exclusive border-zone ischemia and 13 (46%) with mixed patterns including the border-zone. Of these 28 patients with border zone strokes as qualifying event, three (11%) presented recurrent strokes up to one year after EDAS surgery. When compared with the matched population from the medical arm of SAMMPRIS, EDAS patients had significantly lower than expected rate of recurrence (11% vs. 37% p=0.02, OR:0.21, 95%CI= 0.05-0.84), representing an absolute risk reduction of 26%.

 Conclusion:
 When compared with matched controls on IMM, EDAS reduced the expected rate of recurrent stroke in patients at the highest risk of recurrence. This supports the concept that EDAS might avert strokes due to hypoperfusion by generating new collaterals to ischemic cerebral territories and could supplement IMM in patients with border-zone infarctions due to ICAD.


Purpose To study the CT angiography (CTA) manifestations, display and significance of normal and dilated Riolan's arch. Materials and Methods Seventy-five patients underwent abdomen multi-slice CTA (MSCTA). Volume rendering (VR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP) were reconstructed to measure the normal and dilated Riolan's arch between SMA and IMA. Results CTA demonstrated Riolan's arch in 38 patients (50.7%), including 6 (8.0%) dilated Riolan's arch and 32 (42.7%) normal Riolan's arch. Among 6 cases of dilated Riolan's arch with atherosclerosis, 3 were total occlusion and 3 were stenosis of IMA; 2 were SMA stenosis and 4 were normal SMA. The diameter of Riolan's arch was 2.50-5.27 mm, mean of (3.83±0.60) mm. In 32 cases with normal Riolan's arch, MIP demonstrated the half-opened paracolic arcade run between SMA and IMA with no stenosis or occlusion, the diameter of Riolan's arch was 0.5-1.5 mm. Conclusion MSCTA can clearly visualize the dilated Riolan's arch in multiple abnormalities with significant stenosis or occlusion in mesenteric circulation, and some normal Riolan's arch. Combining VR and MIP can better display normal Riolan's arch.


(57) Abstract: Optically pure (S)-3-hydroxy--γ- butyrolactone to provide a continuous manufacturing method that can economically mass-produced. (A) a amylopectin is reacted with the enzyme under specific conditions α- (1,4) to produce a bound oligosaccharides, (b) the presence of the oligosaccharide basic anion exchange resin in is oxidized by the oxidizing agent (S) -3,4- dihydroxy butyric acid - anion-exchange resin complex is formed and identified by desorption of the above with (S) -3,4- dihydroxy butyric acid from the anion-exchange resin complex under conditions to esterification and cyclization of optically pure (S) -3- hydroxy -γ- butyrolactone method of manufacturing. [Formula 1]


Primary Health Care (PHC) is configured as the main strategic structure for a unified health system. The actions are prioritized to promote, prevent and recover health. The focus on the study was to investigate the view of six psychologists working on PHC, regarding their knowledge, practice and role in the mental health care arena. This is a qualitative, interpretative and exploratory research. The researchers developed an interview partial structured as an instrument to collect data. Content Analysis was used and three categories emerged: (1) Psychosocial Practices, (2) Mental Health (3) Intersectional approach and Care Network. It was noted an increase in scope of practices applied by the Psychologists, either on the clinical practices context, as well as in the diversified mental health and intersectional approach care. The specific academic and professional knowledge impact the establishment of practices related within the work context.


Looking back at his long and active politicallife,Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known in India as ':J.P.," claimed that he discerned in it "a uniform line of development," although an outsider may perceive it "as a zigzag and tortuous chart of unsteadiness and blind groping." There was groping, he concedes, but he asserts that it was certainly not blind. Narayan passed through various political stages in his life before he reached near-Gandhian stature in Indian public life with his personal integrity, renunciation of power and positions, and sincere dedication to the ideals of democracy, freedom, human dignity and equality.


We have learned over time that the development of successful alternative methods in toxicology testing requires the successful integration of three elements: First, there must be a solid foundation of understanding the basic biology and toxicology of the tissues and organs being studied. Second, in vitro platforms must be available that can be modified to make them amenable for toxicity testing. Third, one needs to convince the scientific community, which is skeptical by nature and training (and rightfully so), that the alternative methods fulfill their intended purpose and have been rigorously validated. In vitro mutagenicity screening methods have been used for many years and are a good illustration of these three points. Initially, the basic biology that needed to be understood was that DNA is the molecular basis for heredity and that mutations are, in fact, manifestations of damage to the DNA. Furthermore, several types of mutations (e.g., point mutations, insertions, deletions) require the development of different in vitro models. In vitro platforms, the second element, were adapted from extensive research into the molecular biology of prokaryotes, and later, eukaryotic cells. The third element involved years of assay standardization, replication of results in multiple laboratories, and comparisons with in vivo results. For more complex end points, the development of alternatives has been a daunting task. Even supposedly simple targets for replacement, such as the Draize test for eye irritation, have proved difficult to model in vitro and progress through successful external validation despite major efforts by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternatives (ECVAM), industry trade associations, individual companies, and academia. An extensive list of in vitro models that have been proposed as alternatives to the Draize test has been published E s s a y o n Toxicity Testing in Animals


The "city governing county" system is one of the key issues in reform of administrative region,which is now to be resolved via the basic thinking of "weakening city and dissolving township" in China.Analyzing by theory of "principal-agent",city and county serve as two levels in the principal-agent relationship of government and belong to the categories of urban and rural administrative divisions respectively,with many differences between them in history,setting patterns,administrative modes,etc.It is no wonder that there are many contradictions and conflicts in the urbanization process in the country.And it is unilateral to put them in opposition by means of "prospering county while weakening city" or "prospering city while weakening county".In process of urbanization,the reform of "city governing county" shall neither ignore the radiation effect of central city to totally "weaken" city in a flat structure,nor follow the used administrative mode to treat county as a subjection to city.Setting up the principal-agent relationships between levels of province,city and county rationally and defining function ranges of the levels of city and county scientifically,may be the correct way for the existing problems such as "city blocking county" or "city overrunning county".


We study the general linear model (GLM) with doubly exchangeable distributed error for m observed random variables. The doubly exchangeable linear model (DEGLM) arises when the midimensional error vectors are \doubly exchangeable" (de¯ned later), jointly normally distributed, which is much weaker assumption than the independent and identically distributed error vectors as in the case of GLM or classical GLM (CGLM). We estimate the parameters in the model and also ¯nd their distributions.


A superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) planar gradiometer is an extremely sensitive sensor for magnetic gradient measurements. It has been shown to have potential applications for aeromagnetic detection. The major challenge when operating an aeromagnetic SQUID system in actual environment is the motion noise, including the inherent response resulting from gradiometer imbalance and from magnetic interferences. Three orthogonal reference magnetometers are usually adopted to improve the gradiometer balance. However, magnetic interference coming from the system itself also needs to be compensated. In this article, a mathematical model of the motion noise picked up by the gradiometer is derived from the traditional magnetic total field compensation method. Based on the model, the signals from the triaxial magnetometer can also be used to compensate the eddy current contribution to the magnetic interference. To verify the compensation method, a SQUID planar gradiometer system was set up and used for flight trials. The gradient field noise and imbalance of our homemade gradiometer were measured to be 100 fT/m/rt(Hz) and 2E-4 in the lab. In flight, the motion-induced peak-to-peak output of the gradiometer was reduced from 170 to about 0.1 nT/m, so that a magnetic anomaly signal of about 2 nT/m from a cargo ship was clearly recognized.


Aluminosilicate (AS) glasses incorporating trivalent cations of rare-earth (RE) elements exhibit a significant structural disorder and manifest building blocks incommensurate with conventional glass structure models. We present a comprehensive experimental and computational study of the O speciations in RE2O3–Al2O3–SiO2 glasses with RE = {La3+, Y3+, Lu3+, Sc3+}, where the cations are ordered according to increasing field-strength. The coexisting 17O[p]–Sip–mAlm moieties were quantified by magic-angle-spinning (MAS) 17O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Experimental 17O quadrupolar products (CQη) and isotropic chemical shifts (δiso) agreed well with predictions from density functional theory with the projector augmented wave (PAW) and gauge including PAW approaches, respectively. We highlight an observed strong influence of both {δiso, CQη} NMR parameters on the average number of 17O[p]–RE3+ contacts (q) and establish simple correlations betwee...


Objective To analyze the changes of renal cortex hemoperfusion in target and non-target area after extracorporeal shock wave ltothotripsy (ESWL) by contrast-entranced ultrasound (CEUS)combined with time-intensity curve (TIC), and to explore the value of CEUS in evaluating renal injury caused by ESWL. Methods Thirty-two patients with renal calculi were treated by ESWL, then examined by CEUS. The renal cortex blood perfusion in target and non-target area was quantitatively measured by ACQ software, and the contrast agent arrival time (AT), time to peak (TTP), peak intensity (PI) and velocity parameters (β) in two groups were analyzed. Results The β and PI in target areas were lower than those in non-target areas, there was significant difference between two groups (P0.05). While there was no significant difference of AT value and TTP value between two groups (P0.05). Conclusion CEUS combined with TIC can quantitatively evaluate the changes of renal cortex hemoperfusion after ESWL, which reflect the minor renal damage. It can be a new method in observing and evaluating the renal damage caused by ESWL.


The traditional capacitive electromagnetic flow transmitter has the problems of serious differential interference and low signal-to-noise ratio, which seriously affect the measurement accuracy of the system. Aiming at this problem, a differential signal differential cancellation scheme for electromagnetic flow signal acquisition is proposed. The basic circuit structure and interference cancellation algorithm of differential interference differential cancellation system are introduced, and the system error performance is analyzed The experiment shows that the system can effectively improve the anti-interference performance and measurement accuracy of electromagnetic flowmeter.


A thermosetting resin, epoxy resin, substrate for computer-use-write-once, phase-change, and magnetooptical memory disks has been developed, and its optical, physical, thermal, and mechanical properties are described compared with other plastic substrates. The epoxy resin substrate has advantages of high heat deflection temperature and very low birefringence due to the casting mold. The resistance of the epoxy resin substrate against chemical reagents exhibits excellent chemical resistance except methylene chloride; it is also suitable as a substrate for organic dye write-once media.


Abstract:As scholarly publishing continues to expand its international dimension in the globalizing era, authors in non-Anglophone contexts today are increasingly confronted with the decision to publish nationally or internationally. Linguistic challenges aside, such a decision is complicated by the tension between local interests and international solidarity with changing conventions of scholarly publishing in the national context. This study investigated one facet of this tension by comparing national and international publishing activities in the humanities and social sciences based on the data collected from the websites of sixty Chinese-medium national journals and sixty English-medium international journals. The findings point to a complex interplay between local and international traditions, norms, and politics of knowledge production. What these changes mean and how they may bear on author choice is discussed with implications for understanding the dynamic landscape of scholarly publishing in non-Anglophone systems of knowledge production.


Two patients with delayed laceration of intestinal wall by long-standing Tenckhoff peritoneal catheter for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) are described. The laceration was due to the formation of a decubitus ulcer by prolonged pressure of the catheter on the intestinal wall. If not treated surgically, this may cause perforation with fecal peritonitis and intestinal obstruction.


This paper will describe the Furon data logging system, giving details of its capabilities and applications. The system uses are split into two main areas, vehicle performance monitoring and driver performance monitoring. The system is intended to be used by companies that operate a fleet of cars, vans or trucks such as delivery companies, utilities, or county councils. The applications are often across a fleet of varying types of vehicles. The system is designed to be easy to use and requires no input from the driver of the vehicle.


This is a study of the performance of jacketed reinforced concrete beams. The details are described of a study of the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete T beams strengthened by jacketing with graded coarse aggregate and cement grout injected under pressure. Attention was focused on the need for adequate composite action between the old and new concrete under applied loads by studying two forms of anchoring the external shear reinforcement in the host beam. The tests performed show that the jacketing can produce beams in flexure that have adequate and predictable strengths. The details of the study are described, and the results are discussed.


According to the experiment with the biology's multi-media combination teaching in Junior Grade Two of The Forth Middle School of Zhanjiang,we studied how to utilize traditional media and modern media to carry out teaching comprehensively in middle school biology teaching, especially disscused multi-media combination teaching design.


During the last decade it has become obvious that the health status of migrant workers is decreasing dramatically despite thorough medical examinations in their home countries. The debate on this problem usually refers to factors such as 'migration strain', 'lack or unwillingness to integrate' or 'cultural distance', which are said to be the causes of the poor health condition. On the contrary, the thesis is presented here that the discriminating working (and living) conditions of migrant workers in the FRG lead to a higher level of illness episodes of this group in comparison to the German workforce. The structure of the migrant workforce is characterized by a certain allocation to unskilled jobs with lower qualification and income levels, higher physical and psychosocial workload and high rates of unemployment, which is considered as an additional health risk. This leads to the conclusion that we will have to deal with increasing health problems and resulting costs unless migrant policies lead to more structural integration. According to this aim, legal rights should be set up for security of residence and equal opportunities on the labour market for migrant workers. These are prerequisite to active participation in work and personal efforts towards integration.


ABSTRACT This study explores how professional stakeholders navigate individual and institutional goals, ethical standards, and perspectives within the courtroom workgroup of a prostitution diversion program. We draw from semi-structured qualitative interviews of current and/or past professional stakeholders (N = 22) and past program participants (N = 3). Though collaboration and consensus building among workgroups is a core tenet of problem-solving courts, findings from this study reflect a more complicated landscape. Respondent interviews illustrate the centrality of collaboration and role blurring; the necessity of reciprocity and balance in the team; challenges of role delineation; diversity in understandings about acceptable professional behaviour; and the protective techniques some stakeholders use to shield current and future participants from harm. Findings emphasise that while prostitution diversion programs are often seen as the least bad of several suboptimal options, stakeholders must balance their personal and professional ethics, expectations, and goals often without guidance in order to provide services and support to participants therein.


Classical vehicle routing problems (VRP) involves supply of goods/services from a central depot to geographically scattered customers. Besides the classical objective of minimizing the total travelled distance, the present work also considers simultaneous optimization of two additional objectives namely minimizing make span and minimizing distance imbalance. A mathematical model for this multi-objective version of VRP (MO-VRPTW) has been developed. A meta-heuristic based on multiple ant colony system for solving this MO-VRPTW has also been proposed. Firefly algorithm (FA) has also been applied to avoid local optima. Two new migration operators named Migration-I and Migration-II and multi-pheromone matrices have been developed to further improve the solution set. The proposed algorithm has been tested on a number of benchmark problems and its superiority over other state of art approaches and NSGA-II one of the commonly used method for multi-objective optimization problems is demonstrated.


We study the mechanisms of damage production during ion irradiation using molecular dynamics simulations of 400 eV 10 keV collision cascades in four different mater ials. The materials Al, Si, Cu and Ge are contrasted to each other with respect to the mass, melting temperature and crystal structure. The results show that the crystal struc ture clearly has the strongest effect on the nature of the damage produced, and elucidate how the open crystal structure affects the nature of defects produced in silicon.


Double-layer capacitor electrolytes employing 1,3-dioxolane as a cosolvent with acetonitrile have been evaluated in coin cells using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and dc charging and discharging tests. Addition of the lower-melting-point 1,3-dioxolane to the standard acetonitrile solvent was found to extend the low-temperature operational range of test cells beyond that of commercially available cells. By adjusting the concentration of the tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate salt used, the equivalent series resistance can be minimized to enable optimal power delivery at a given temperature.


We examined the mechanism of the neutrophil (PMN)-dependent increase in pulmonary vascular permeability to protein after thrombin-induced pulmonary microembolism. Humoral factors that activate PMNs after thrombin-induced pulmonary microemboUsm were characterized in pulmonary lymph obtained from unanesthetized sheep challenged with intravenous infusion of α-thrombin. Tune-dependent increases in PMN migration, aggregation, and superoxide anion (O2-) generation were induced by the puhnonary lymph obtained within 20 minutes after thrombin infusion. The puhnonary lymph neutrophil activating factors present in ether extracts of lymph had retention times of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) by high-performance liquid chromatography. The postthrombin lymph samples containing the LTB4 and HETEs increased PMN O2- generation and endothelial monolayer permeability to 125I-albumin in the presence of PMNs layered on the endothelial monolayers. Control lymph samples replete with LTB4, 5-HETE, and 15-HETE induced increases in PMN O2- generation and endothelial monolayer permeability to I25I-albumin in the presence of PMNs layered on the endothelial monolayers. Maximal increases in PMN O2-production and endothelial permeability occurred when LTB4, 5-HETE, and 15-HETE were coincubated with PMNs, indicating a synergistic action of these mediators in inducing PMN activation. Endothelial monolayer permeability to 125I-albumin did not increase with postthrombin lymph samples obtained after pretreatment with the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, L-651, 392. The results indicate that lipoxygenase products generated in the lungs after thrombin-induced microembolism contribute to increased endothelial permeability secondary to PMN activation.


The advances on microorganism remediation of soil polluted by heavy metals were reviewed in this paper.The utilization of micro-organism to reduce the toxicity of heavy metal,the application of microorganism-surface display technology in the remediation of soil heavy metal,the clean up of heavy metal in the soil by using biosurfactants,and the application of PGPR for the bioremediation of heavy metal in the soils were introduced.The paper could be used as a reference for the related study.


Analysis of crystals in the urinary sediment as well as calciuria and uricosuria can be usefulness in patients with urinary lithiasis, nevertheless, the degree of association is unknown among the number of calcium oxalate (CaOxC) and uric acid crystals (UAC) with the urinary pH (UpH), calciuria (CaU) and uricosuria (UU). The aim of this study was to establish a possible association between these. Fresh urine samples were analyzed: CaOxC and UAC were counted in a Kova chamber corroborating the composition with 10% NaOH and 10 % HCl; in addition we determined UpH, CaU and UU. There were included 372 samples, 140 of group I (healthy) and 232 of group II (with various clinical situation); 196 (52.7%) were men and 176 (47.3%) women; 30% had CaOxC and 5.3% UAC 2.6% had both types of crystals; there was difference between the averages of calciuria, uricosuria and pH (p < 0.05), nevertheless there was no difference between the number of crystals when comparing both groups. Correlation Spearman test between CaOxC and UAC showed r s = 0.56 (p < 0.001); the relation between CaOxC and UpH it was 1%; there was no association between UAC with UU and UpH. In conclusion, one third of the CaOxC are explained by the UAC and its relation with UpH is low, UAC does not show association with UU and UpH.


A question people ask me every so often is what are the benefits of becoming a SIGCHI/ACM Chapter. The answer to that always is, as most things in HCI, it depends. Local SIGCHI Chapters are very diverse in their consitituency, goals and activities and may value different aspects of being associated with SIGCHI and ACM (for more on Chapters' diversity see [Anderson, R. 98]). However, by becoming a chartered SIGCHI/ACM chapter there are many resources that become available to the chapter and that they can benefit from. At the Local SIGs workshop at CHI 2002 it became clear that many of the chapters are not aware of these resources. The goal of this column is to list and briefly describe these resources.


The necessity of adding new aluminum hot rolling lines in China is expounded through analyzing the stock mix for producing aluminum sheet,strip and foil as well as the market demands to the rolled aluminum flats in our country.The basic principles for select- ing the hot rolling line tvpe and the reasonable technical levels of various line configurations are elaborated in detail.


[Objective] The research aimed to study the feasibility of anaerobic-digested alcohol effluent being used as burden water.[Method] The influences of anaerobic-digested alcohol effluent on yeast growth,liquefaction process,saccharification process and ferment process were observed in the same experimental conditions when tap water and anaerobic-digested alcohol effluent were used as burden water respectively.[Result] It was not found the inhibitory effects of anaerobic-digested alcohol effluent on liquefaction process,saccharification process and ferment process.The growth curve was determined when the yeasts were cultivated on the anaerobic-digested alcohol effluent saccharification liquid and tap water saccharification liquid.On the equilibrium phase,the yeast amount of the former was 1.24×108/ml,which was 22.8% more than the latter which was 1.01×108/ml.Under the same condition,the residual total sugar content and residual reducing sugar content of the anaerobic-digested alcohol effluent sample was 1.97% and 0.32% respectively,and the tap water sample was 3.78% and 2.07%.The residual total sugar content and residual reducing sugar content of the former was 50.8% and 84.5% less than the latter respectively.[Conclusion] The alcohol fermentation process would be promoted when anaerobic-digested alcohol effluent was used as burden water.


Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol is a well-established and widely accepted communication technology for in-vehicle communications. However, the increase in the number of sensors deployed in cars brings complexity and cost to the automobile industry since CAN is a wired network. So, short range wireless communications technologies that operate in unlicensed band are seen as potential alternative to CAN network. Bluetooth is considered as a highly promising candidate for such intra-vehicle wireless networks. This paper uses a CAN to Bluetooth gateway which enables the conversion of CAN message into Bluetooth message. This is necessary to achieve the wireless communication via Bluetooth modules. On the other hand, it is necessary to maintain the reliability of communication that is offered by wired network, CAN. This paper aims to investigate experimentally, the level of reliability that is offered by wireless networks using these gateways. A lab car is used for experimental purpose which introduces closed environment and the Non-Line-of-Site (NLoS) paths between the Bluetooth modules. Finally, this paper proposes a suitable model for in-vehicle wireless networks.


Objective To report the clinical result of repairing defection in leg by using both the vascular tissue flap and external fixations. Methods The vascular tissue flap including bone flap and muscular flap to repair the complex defection (soft tissue,bones) in the leg,the ankle and the foot were applied in 18 cases. At the same time in surgery,injured bones and joints were fixed by A-O and multifunctional external fixations in order to keep the non-injured joint actively and accelerate the cure of bones. Results All 18 cases were applied successfully with the all transplanted tissue survived. Pulling about the external fixation about 6~12 months after surgery showed bone union and the function of leg recovered satisfactory. Conclusions It is a method for repairing the complex tissue defection in the leg by combining Traumatology and microsurgery technique. And it is also characterized by a minor injury in transplanted bones,early exercise for joints,flap circulation observed conveniently,and nursing easily.


Sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.), a medicinal and aromatic plant possesing rich phenolic and terpenoid content, is commonly utilized for culinary and medicinal purposes around the world sinceancient times. Vermicompost (VC) products were categorized as biostimulants along with the humic exracts andare utilized for organic fertilizer as well asconsidered as an organic soil amendment material.Use oforganic fertilizers preserves the essential oil yield and natural aroma of basil. In present study, the effect of increasing doses of vermicompost additions (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) on total phenolic content (TPC) inthe leaves of sweet basil were investigated. The highest TPC was determined at 10% VC applicated group as 90,02 mg/g leaf and the lowest TPC was determined at 30% VC applicated group as 50,72 mg/g leaf in dry weight expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE). Plant biostimulants are de novo products and have proved efficiency in medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation due to their possible inducing activities on the synthesis of secondary metabolites.


The article discusses the International Association of Art Critics congress held in 1960 in Poland and the modest Bulgarian participation through Mara Tsoncheva. The Congress theme The international character of contemporary art exposed complex relationships, various disputes and misunderstandings in connection with the concepts realism, humanism, international character and national tradition between representatives of the art scene east and west of the Iron Curtain, but also between socialist countries. The author reveals the differences in the official culture policy in Poland and Bulgaria manifested at the Congress, as well as the significance of the French-Polish art network with its indirect impact on artistic life in communist Bulgaria. The concluding thesis confirms that, although va guely documented, the Bulgarian reactions to the 1960 AICA congress broaden the context for a deeper understanding of the contemporary Bulgarian dialogue with Western-European art.


The tradeoff between spatial-temporal resolutions and phototoxicity prevents fast 3D super-resolution imaging from living cells, hindering the reveal of the subcellular interactions. Key challenges lie in the quests to optimal excitation and efficient super-resolution. Here, we present a double-ring modulated SPIM design toward an ultrathin uniform light sheet with low side lobes. The combination of IDDR SPIM with our isotropic divide-stages-to-process (ID) networks allows live-cell imaging at isotropic 100 nm resolution with a volume rate up to 17 Hz for thousands of time points.


Abstract The objective of this work is to give sufficient and necessary conditions for integrability of differential equation systems in the plane of the formẋ = −y2p − 1 + X2(x, y),ẏ = x2q − 1 + Y2(x, y), whereX2(x, y) andY2(x, y) are (p − q) quasi-homogeneous polynomials of degree 2pq − q + 1 and 2pq − p + 1, respectively.


Abstract : It was hypothesized that topical nitroglycerin ointment (2% nitropaste) applied to the forearm would increase firearm skin blood flow (SkBF). If so, nitropaste might be used to increase sensible heat flux from the forearm when it is applied under a forearm microclimate cooling system. Four men participated in four experiments each. The initial dose of nitropaste (NTG) was 7.5 mg. In each subsequent experiment (approx. one week from the previous), the dose was increased by an additional 7.5 mg until a final dose of 30 mg was achieved. In each experiment, the men were treated with nitropaste after sitting for a 15-min control period in slightly warm ambient conditions (Ta=30 deg C, Tdp=l2 deg C). Prior to and after nitropaste was applied to the volar surface of the forearm (approx. 36 cm2), SkBF and heat flow were measured at the site by laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Heart rate was measured by ECG every 2.5 min. and every minute following application. Laser-Doppler Imaging (LDI) was used to measure changes in skin blood flux after application of 22.5 mg nitropaste in a single subject and was used in another experiment to measure the difference in SkBF between placebo-treated application sites and nitropaste-treated application sites. There were no differences in cardiovascular responses among doses. The data reported are the mean of all four doses used during the dose response tests. The LDI Pilot Tests showed increased cutaneous vasodilation, but the LDV measurements taken in the dose response tests did not. This revealed the inability of LDV probes to provide consistent data as LDV measures a small area and LDI is capable of scanning the entire area. The area under the LDV would not receive NTG, but the adjacent area would. Topical nitroglycerin paste was shown to affect systemic vascular tone as seen by decreased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP) from baseline to treatment.


This study is to investigate the association between Leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) single nucleotide polymorphisms and susceptibility to tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in Chinese Han population of Northern China, and its association with clinical treatment. Patients with TBM and healthy controls were enrolled. We investigated the gene polymorphism (rs17525495) of LTA4H and tuberculous meningitis by Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, genotyping and PCR. TNF-α content in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the response to corticosteroid treatment in patients with TBM were investigated. The results showed that under recessive inheritance model, the genotype frequencies of TT in TBM group, TBM grade III group were obviously higher, and higher frequency was occurred in patients with unfavorable prognosis. Patients with favorable prognosis, TBM group, TBM group with grade III, genotype with TT showed notably higher level of TNF-α. The improvement rate of patients with genotype of CC and TT showed opposite results according to corticosteroid treatment. In conclusion, polymorphism of LTA4H (rs17525495) are associated with susceptibility to TBM in Northern China. Genotype TT in rs17525495 may be more likely to be involved in TBM and tend to be with severe condition, poor prognosis, higher level of TNF-α and active response to corticosteroid treatment. While patients with genotype CC showed negative responses to corticosteroid treatment.