This article examines the extent to which international legal obligations aimed at protecting the environment apply to military activities in peacetime and during armed conflict. The discussion draws on international environmental law, human rights law, the law of armed conflict, and the law of State responsibility in evaluating the extent to which States have a duty to prevent or mitigate environmental harm and remediate or compensate for any such damage caused by their military activities. The article also examines international law on liability for the injurious consequences of lawful activities, to assess whether this equitable doctrine supports shifting the clean-up costs of environmental harm to the acting State even when there is no breach of international law. The article concludes that international law requires measures be taken to prevent environmental harm and could support a claim for remediation or compensation where norms of international law have been breached. It also suggests the need to develop specific rules in peace treaties and status of forces or bases agreements, to address the consequences of environmental harm resulting from military activities.


MLLT11 is a 90 aa protein that was first identified because its gene was translocated and fused to the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene in two children with pediatric leukemia. MLLT11 has since been linked to several other cancers and has been shown to promote differentiation of hematopoietic precursors into T cells. Remarkably, the only other cell types that express MLLT11 are neurons of the PNS and CNS. The role of MLLT11 in neurons has been unknown, but StantonTurcotte et al. report that it contributes to migration and neurite outgrowth of cortical neurons. Expression of MLLT11 in the developing cerebral cortex increased as upper-layer pyramidal cells were generated and were beginning to migrate through the intermediate zone and lower layers of the cortical plate. Expression increased in the upper layers as they became populated with neurons, and expression declined starting around postnatal day 21. Knocking out MLLT11 selectively in newborn upper-layer neurons led to cortical thinning, and it slowed migration of upper-layer neurons. In contrast, overexpressing MLLT11 accelerated neuronal migration into the cortical plate. Knocking out MLLT11 also reduced neurite growth: upper-layer pyramidal neurons send projections to the contralateral hemisphere through the corpus callosum, and this structure was significantly smaller in MLLT11-deficient mice than in controls. And the dendritic arbors of MLLT11-deficient upper-layer pyramidal neurons were shorter and had fewer branches than normal. Pull-down assays revealed that MLLT11 was associated with several tubulin and myosin isoforms. Furthermore, MLLT11 colocalized with acetylated (stabilized) tubulin in cultured neurons. Notably, both neuronal migration and process extension depend strongly on microtubule dynamics. Therefore, MLLT11 may promote migration and neurite outgrowth by regulating microtubule stability. Stimulation of migration and process extension may also explain the link between MLLT11 and cancers, as these processes contribute to tissue invasion andmetastasis of tumor cells.


1. An outbreak is described of fatal epidemic enteritis due to B. dysenteriae Sonne which occurred in the autumn, 1928, in the infant wards of a hospital in Glasgow. 2. The clinical histories of two fatal cases are given. 3. The bacteriological and immunological examination of two strains of B. dysenteriae Sonne is described. 4. The results are given of a series of animal inoculations undertaken to study the virulence of B. dysenteriae Sonne and the nature of the lesions which it produces. To these are added the results of certain feeding experiments.


When a transmission line close to points of common coupling (PCCs) experiences a short-circuit (SC) fault, the fast reactive power control of voltage-source converter-HVDC (VSC-HVDC) is likely to affect the protective relay operation of transmission lines. To study the performance of distance relays on an ac grid with an offshore wind HVDC network, this paper presents an apparent impedance calculation method, which utilizes the bus impedance matrix (Zbus) to calculate the impedances viewed by distance relays during a three-phase SC fault. The proposed method is used to identify the potential miscoordinated Zone 2 relays in the proposed combined ac/dc system. The analysis is verified by software simulation results. It is shown that the proposed method results in accurate impedances viewed by distance relays. It also identifies the protective device settings on the ac grid that need to be adjusted due to HVDC control of offshore wind generators.


This deliverable deals with the comparison of robots as a function of local and global indices related to machining operations of metallic and composite parts and friction stir welding. Some typical industrial operations are first presented. Then, some local and global performances indices are to machining operations of metallic and composite parts and friction stir welding are presented. A new method for the stiffness modeling of serial and parallel manipulators is also introduced. As a matter of fact, some performance indices depend on the stiffness of the manipulator under study. Finally, the proposed technique is illustrated by means of the comparison of three degrees of freedom translational manipulators.


Fly ash (FA), a kind of fine-powder solid waste, was utilized to prepare a novel Fe/chitosan/FA composite (Fe/CTS/FA) by the calcination and solution reaction with chitosan (CTS) and ferric iron. In combination with the adsorption for reactive turquoise blue KN-G (RTB KN-G) and direct sky blue 5B (DSB 5B) dyes, the main conditions of preparation and adsorption of Fe/CTS/FA were investigated. The composite was characterized with SEM, EDS, particle-size distribution and N2-gas adsorption-desorption technology. The results show that: (1) Fe/CTS/FA prepared by calcining FA at 500°C and further mixing reaction with CTS and FeCl3⋅6H2O solution according to the mass ratio of m(FA):m(CTS):m(Fe)=10:1:0.34 has excellent adsorption properties. The amount of adsorption is mainly affected by solution pH and reaches the equilibrium in 60 min for high-concentration RTB KN-G and DSB 5B dye wastewater with adsorption capacities of 892.95 mg/g and 615.65 mg/g, which are 16.28 and 32.56 times larger than those of FA, respectively. (2) The characterization results of Fe/CTS/FA indicate that CTS and iron hydroxides have been successfully loaded on FA. The surface morphology of Fe/CTS/FA is significantly changed, and the particle-size distribution is obviously smaller than that of FA.


This thesis is simple in intent. It analyzes some of the major, political ideas of Ignazio Silone and Milovan Djilas, and endeavours to account reasonably for their personal rebellions and commitment to revolution. It traces their subsequent metamorphoses from Marxists to democratic Socialists. The work is divided into two sections, the first, dealing with Silone, the second with Djilas. Chapter One presents the reader with a general introduction to nineteenth and twentieth century Italy. Chapter Two, centers on Silone's personal background, his political work and the problems faced by his Abruzzi cafoni. Chapter Three deals with Silone's descriptions of the many social and psychological difficulties involved in the encounter between an intellectual and the peasantry. Chapter Four describes the peasants' traditional opposition to government and church. Part Two presents the ideas of Milovan Djilas. Chapter Five is an introduction to nineteenth and twentieth century Yugoslavia and its development as a state. A short account of the history of the Yugoslav Communist party (League) concludes the chapter. Chapter Six, presents the reader with some important facts in Djilas' life. Chapter Seven studies Djilas' lucid treatise on the Soviet and Yugoslav Revolutions, and their differences from the 1789 French Revolution. Chapter Eight examines the author's arguments of the contradiction of Marxism in the Soviet and Yugoslav Revolutions. Industrialization led to the party bureaucracy's socio-political stranglehold over the state and its people. The Conclusion seeks to highlight the similarities and differences in the lives and views of these two men.


Melanie Horsnell and Heath Cullen are two regionally-based independent musicians who are behind a national lobby to retain Radio National music programs due to be decommissioned.


In the present study,the microbiology was adjusted to the wastewater which contains high level nitrogen by gradually increasing the inflow and influent concentration in the inner-loop three-phase biological reactor with ceramic particles as the carrier and using fast discharging sludge method to culture aerobic biofilm.The influence of hydraulic retention time,ammonia nitrogen concentration on ammonia nitrogen removal rate was also investigated.The results showed that inner-loop three-phase fluidized bed can be used to treat the wastewater which contains overrich ammonia nitrogen.The elevating capacity of inner-loop three-phase fluidized bed was better than other reactors and could be used to make the wastewater reach the emission standard.


The healthcare industry is dynamic and the industry changes require new tools to manage the risks generated by new core competencies. Silo-centric practice is giving way to integration in the healthcare organization and in the discipline of risk management. Whether insurable or not, risk threatens the bottom line and business success. Enterprise Risk Management provides the tools for imbedding the discussion of Risk into the way an organization does business. Two tools described here are a Showstopper Risks List and a Risk and Response Map. The risk manager who adds value to the organization by aligning risk management strategies in support of business success will not only survive, but thrive in a constantly changing environment.


Virtual product development by applying simulation-based design has dramatically impacted the product development process resulting in design quality improvements and reduction of cost and delivery time. Although it has been widely accepted as a standard product development tool by the engineering community, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) still faces many challenges in improving simulation process efficiency through process integration and automation, and simulation accuracy by analytical model/physical testing correlation. To obtain a meaningful analysis result, analytical models such as finite element (FE) model should accurately represent the real world application. This is normally achieved by experimental correlation. In the current study, a simplified boundary constraint model is proposed. The analytical model update process is automated by applying optimization techniques. Certain critical issues related to selecting targets and methods are discussed and guidelines are recommended. Very good correlation results have been achieved. The method can be applied in many real world applications.


The present invention provides apparatus for dispensing fuel in internal combustion engines comprising: a fuel dispenser (11), the fuel distributor having a flow passage (13) and at least one discharge orifice (14) connected to the flow channel; valve (12) for dispensing the fuel distributor connected to the fuel (11), which is connectable to a valve having a drain port (14) of the connection piece (15); and a connection mechanism, the connection to the fuel distribution means (11) and a valve (12) is sealingly connected to one another in the region of a pressure connection connecting piece (15) and a discharge orifice (14). In order to establish the seal, withstand a high pressure and surely achieve a fuel distributor and a valve (12) in a simple and automated assembly between the distributor (11) and the valve (12), surrounded by the connecting means having a discharge orifice (14) opposing surface (22), constructed on the connection piece (15) having a bearing surface against the head face (22) (231) and a concave side (232) of the connector (23) acting on the concave side the flange member having a threaded bore (26) for at least one fastening bolt (27) is fixed on a fuel distributor (11) on the (232) (24) and fixed to the receiving valve (12) means (25), said flange member (24) in the case of the threaded bore (26) and (27) the position of the fastening bolt is correctly positioned in form-fitting manner in the receiving member.


In two previous studies, student criticism of current teaching strategies and learning environments emerged (see Nikolai, Silva & Walters, 2014; Walters, Hallas, Phelps & Ikeda, in press), which seems to be consistent with the findings of a study by Zakus, Malloy, and Edwards (2007). Zakus et al. (2007) found that tertiary level sport students were critical of programmes that produced administrators rather than managers, providing few opportunities for them to develop critical thinking skills. According to these authors, students seemed to be conditioned to follow a set of prescribed methods to arrive at solutions. The primary benefit of this current study is that it provides opportunities for researchers/educators to develop a greater awareness of student perspectives, which may enhance the learning environment for both teacher and student.


Introduction/Objective An association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and etiologically different polyneuropathies is well established. However, the investigations about the prevalence of RLS in diabetic polyneuropathy (DP) have led to controversy. Our study objective was to determine the frequency of RLS in patients with distal symmetrical polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes and identify possible risk factors for its occurrence in this group of patients. Method We investigated 101 consecutive patients with distal DP. RLS was diagnosed according to the International RLS Study Group diagnostic criteria. The distal symmetrical polyneuropathy was confirmed by the electromyoneurographic study performed in each patient. Results Overall RLS was present in 27 (26.73%) patients. The comparison between patients with and without RLS revealed that the RLS+ group included more women than men (14.85/9.90% vs. 35.64/37.62%, non-significant), patients were significantly younger (60.58 ± 10.54 vs. 65.57 ± 10.94 years, p ≤ 0.05), sensory polyneuropathy was significantly more common (17/27 vs. 34/74, p ≤ 0.05); the average level of the total serum calcium concentration was higher in the RLS + group than in non-RLS (2.43 ± 0.26 vs. 2.28 ± 0.39; p ≤ 0.05). However, multivariate logistic regression analysis did not demonstrate these as significant independent risk factors for RLS in DP. Conclusions RLS is common in DP and occurs in more than a quarter of these patients. Though sensory forms and higher total serum calcium concentration were associated with RLS, neither of these has been identified as a significant single risk factor for the development of RLS in DP.


The invention provides a master clock competition method and a master clock competition system, which are applied to a multi-level clock synchronizing network. While initialization is carried out or master clock equipment has faults, master clock equipment is obtained by competing among all normally-working clock equipment in the network, and the other clock equipment is used as slave clock equipment which carries out clock synchronization with the primary clock equipment; the primary clock equipment is obtained by competing among all normally-working clock equipment, and is not changeless, so that master clock equipment can be obtained by re-competing from clock equipment when the original master clock equipment in the network has faults, and therefore, the normally-working clock equipment in the network is guaranteed to carry out communication data transmission according to a normal order.


Designing and manufacturing of the 18 MeV cyclotron has been started for producing H for applications in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radioisotopes at Amirkabir University Of Technology. Up to this point, there were 2 steps in magnet design: Initial design and optimization processes. The AVF structure with hill and valley was selected for getting strong axial focusing in magnet design and achieving up to 18 MeV energy for the particle. After finishing the initial design, optimization process in magnet design was started for achieving the best coincidence in magnetic field. Checking the beam dynamic of the particle is one of the most important and necessary steps after magnet simulation. The phenomenon which confirms simulated magnet validity is obtaining reasonable particle trajectory. This paper focused on the optimization process in magnet design and simulation of the beam dynamic. Some results which ensure a particle can be accelerated up to 18 MeV energy, are presented. All magnetic field calculation in whole magnet was calculated by OPERA-3D (TOSCA) code. Also beam dynamic analysis by applying magnetic field data from the magnet simulation was done in CYCLONE code. INTRODUCTION The 18 MeV cyclotron magnet was designed with CST code and the STP file was uploaded in TOSCA code [1]. So all magnet calculations were done in TOSC code. The material of the magnet was considered steel-1010. The magnetic field curve versus radius before applying optimization process is shown in Fig. 1. Figure 1: Average magnetic field versus radius before optimization process. As shown in Fig. 1, Bref (red curve) is the ideal magnetic field and the black one is the simulated magnetic field. Before applying the optimization method, there is not acceptable coincidence between two curves. So optimization process was started. OPTIMIZATION METHODS In magnet design, there are some methods which can be used for achieving best results. The methods which were used in optimization process are changing ampere-turn up to 58000, decreasing the gap between poles as a function of radius and shimming of pole edges [2]. Shimming of Pole Edges At first, in initial design, horizontal shimming was used. In this way achievement to best result in magnetic field was difficult. So in the optimization process shimming of pole edges was changed to vertical form. In vertical shape, some of the pole points were selected and their heights were changed. Also triangle magnet shapes were added the end of the poles for increasing magnetic field at the end of the curve. Figure 2 shows all used shimming methods in magnet design. Figure 2: Shimming of pole edges. MODM02 Proceedings of Cyclotrons2016, Zurich, Switzerland ISBN 978-3-95450-167-0 36 C op yr ig ht © 20 16 C C -B Y3. 0 an d by th e re sp ec tiv e au th or s Theory, Models and Simulations AVERAGE MAGNETIC FIELD After the using upper methods several times, the curve of magnetic filed versus radius was achieved same as the Fig. 3. As shown, there is a reasonable coincidence between the ideal magnetic field and simulated value. Also, there is a magnetic filed initial increment at the fist of the curve, because that is necessary for vertical focusing on particle motion [3]. Figure 3: Average magnetic field versus radius after optimization process. CHECKING THE MAGNETIC FIELD IN MIDDLE PLANE After magnet simulation, some results should be checked. One of them is the contribution of magnetic field in middle plane. Maximum magnetic field in middle plane, where particle accelerates on it should not be more than saturation point of the magnet material. Figure 4 shows the magnetic field on middle plane. Figure 4: Magnetic field on middle plane. As shown in Fig. 4, maximum magnetic field on middle plane is 1.77 Tesla is less than the saturation point of the magnet material (1.85 Tesla). BETATRON OSCILLATIONS In cyclotron motion (special in final orbits) some oscillations in vertical and horizontal direction occur. These are Betatron oscillations. Because of particle motion sensitivity in final tracks, all these oscillations should be checked. Betatron oscillations factors in tow direction are achieved by following equations:


Recording the atmosperic-electric potential gradient from an aeroplane it is very useful to get all the three field-components. This is the case especially in investigations in greater altitudes and in thunderclouds. In this paper an apparatus is described working on the principle of the 'Feldmuhle' (field strength meter) and giving simultaneous recording of the atmospheric-electric potential gradient separated in the three rectangular components of the field. Furthermore a method is pointed out to separate the field of the own charge of the aeroplane and to record this one separately. This enables the 'Feldkomponentenmuhle' (field component meter) to be used in motor driven aeroplanes. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1951.tb00806.x


The main aim of this study is to investigate the corrosion of Ti-6Al-4V and SUS 316L plates as application at anode and cathode condition in PEMFC. The criteria for both current density (<1 μA cm) and interfacial contact resistance (<10 mΩ cm) must meet the DOE's 2020 technical targets. In approaching a lightweight and ease of manufacture bipolar plates, both selected materials were chosen based on their good and relatively low cost factor compared to graphite. Corrosion resistance were observed for both plates as preparation for long-term operations in PEMFC. Potentiostatic test measurements were carried out at room temperature in a solution of 0.5 M H2SO4 with a scan rate 10 mV/s for 10 hours. The result shows good performance of SUS 316L corrosion resistance as compared to Ti-6Al-4V, but it still does not achieve the DOE target. To provide high corrosion resistance at cathode as well as increasing electrical conductivity at anode in PEMFC components, Cr was proposed as surface modification on plates.


Tooth bleaching treatment is used for tooth color deficiencies in order to improve its color effect. Using bleaching treatment rationally can help patients obtain a satisfactory therapeutic effect,almost without damage to their teeth. Bleaching is a kind of treatment which is closely related to "color orientation" ,so dentists need to have some relevant knowledge about color science. Color is the visual sensation of human eyes produced by light stimulation. Color science has three basic elements:hue,value and chroma. Color space is the imaginary space to express the color,including the Munsell color space,L*a*b* color space,L*C*h color space which are all commonly used. The most basic color features afterbleaching treatment are as follows:value increase,chroma decrease,and no significant change of hue. There are two evaluation methods of tooth color change after bleaching treatment:with shade guides and another one is using colorimeter. Among these methods,VITA Bleachedguide 3D-Master is the ideal shade guide system. meanwhile,the whole tooth color colorimeter (as Crystaleye) also has significant advantages.


On the basis of expounding the developmental status of processing enterprises of agro-products in Hubei Province,the problem in the processing of researching and developing of enterprises are analyzed from three aspects including market,talent cultivation and innovative manner from the perspective of modern marketing.In order to improve the market competitiveness of processing enterprise of agro-products and promote the long-term development of the enterprises,the countermeasures are put forward.The first one is to establish the modern enterprise culture with innovative features;the second one is to establish the comprehensive information platform of clients and scientifically predict and develop the market;the third one to well make the market position of enterprises and choose the relevant technological innovation strategies;the forth one is to realize special technology and marketing capability.


A new background calibration method, based on stage error pattern estimation, is presented. The method corrects both linear and nonlinear errors. The procedure converges in a few ms and requires minimal hardware without the need of high-capacity ROM or RAM. The calibration procedure is tested on a 0.6 mum CMOS pipeline ADC, which suffered from a high degree of nonlinear errors. The calibration gives improvements of 18dB and 28dB for SNR and SFDR, respectively, at the sampling rate of 50MSample/s. The calibrated ADC achieves SNR of 70.9dB and SFDR of 82.0dB at 50MSample/s, which results in a resolution of about 12 bits


A major aspect of anaesthetists' work is that of maintaining adequate levels of unconsciousness during surgery in operating theatres. Assessment of unconsciousness is a complex matter, and involves the use of multiple clinical signs including objective measurements and subjective indicators. The research reported involves the development of an expert system called RESAC (real-time expert system for advice and control) which advises anaesthetists on patient's depth of anaesthesia during an operation. It also gives suggested control actions required to maintain suitable levels of surgical anaesthesia. The merging of the clinical numeric and symbolic data in real-time is performed by RESAC, which runs on the inexpensive Atari ST range of computers. >


A bike rider's distance from the roadway is one of the factors that determine the safety of the crossing. First, it dictates the vantage point from which the rider sees the oncoming traffic. Second, it governs the distance that must be crossed to clear the beam of oncoming traffic. This study investigated how the behavior of a virtual peer in an immersive bicycling simulator influences how far away from the roadway children are when they initiate crossing.


A method for forming a semiconductor substrate inside the at least one cavity comprises: starting from the surface of the semiconductor substrate, at the location of the at least one cavity intended for dry etching a semiconductor substrate, so as to obtain at least a temporary cavity. This method further includes the subsequent wet etching process in view of the surface of the semiconductor substrate and the at least one cavity temporary protective material deposited on the surface of the cavity. Further, this method comprising at least the bottom of the at least one segment of the temporary cavity to remove a portion of protective material, so as to expose the semiconductor substrate. Then, at least a portion of the section of the temporary cavity is exposed on the bottom of the semiconductor substrate is etched electrochemically. The method for the production of micro-mechanical sensor systems have also been disclosed, the formation of cavities in this manner using micro-mechanical sensor systems. In addition, also discloses a corresponding micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).


The article discusses one of the ways to obtain a contrasting boundary between the illuminated and unlit areas of the object (illumination technology Flat Beam) in LED lighting systems using secondary optics in the form of a flat mirror surface. The results of studies of high-power LED light sources with different emitting surface areas and with three proposed options for fixing a flat mirror surface are presented. It is shown experimentally that the optical system for LED light sources in the form of a flat mirror surface allows changing the luminous intensity curve of LED light sources, converting it in a given plane from a cosine to a concentrated one. This is how the Flat Beam lighting technology is realized. Variants of the practical application of this lighting technology obtained by using a flat mirror surface with LEDs are also proposed.


Combined with practical work,preparation work of supervision in steel structure construction,raw materials,steel structure fabrication,embedment of stone bolt,installation of steel structure and pouring construction of column foot quality control by supervision in steel structure construction are elaborated,in order to ensure engineering quality.


Leptographium yunnanense is a blue stain phytopathogenic fungus associated with Tomicus piniperda , which can assist the beetles in overcoming the resistance of their host trees The length of phloem reaction zone induced by inoculation of blue stain fungus is often used as a measure of fungal virulence or level of tree resistance, with longer reaction zone length implying a more virulent fungus or a physiologically weaker host tree This paper reports the influence of temperature on the growth of the fungus and the resistance of its host trees( Pinus yunnanensis ) The growth length of L yunnanense increases with temperature from 5 ℃ to 20 ℃, and the phloem reaction zone length also gradually increases; with temperature from 20 ℃ to 35 ℃, the growth length of the fungus gradually decreases, and the phloem reaction zone length also gradually decreases But these couldn't reflect the variation of the host trees' resistance or the fungus' virulence,they only mean that the variation of temperature has changed the competence abilities between the virulence of the fungus and the resistance of the host trees, and thus results in the variations between fungus growth length and the phloem reaction zone length


The reflector of FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Sphere Telescope) is a net mesh structure and can be considered as a flexible parallel motion mechanism array which can form the varying paraboloid surface by controlling the motion of the net mesh nodes. As a parallel mechanism, the motion of the nodes are coupled together. In order to release the coupling, or to estimate the surface error of the reflector, the motion of FAST 30m Model was simulated combined with ADAMS and SIMULINK. The net mesh mechanism was modeled as springs and spheres with mass in ADAMS software. To control the large amount of actuators, and to analyze the motion of the net mesh motion mechanism, a control model in SIMULINK has been built, which includes astronomical plan, actuator controlling and surface analysis. The model can be used as the test tool of the actuator control strategy and optimization for the net mesh structure. With the combined simulation, the amount of the couple phenomenon is estimated precisely. The paraboloid shape forming and moving in the observing course is simulated, and the variation of the surface error of the reflector and the forces of each cable are given. By the simulation, it can be concluded that the couple effect is small in the FAST 30m Model, and such a method can be applied to the FAST prototype.


[Objective] The study aimed to systematically research the techniques of haploid doubling for melon.[Method] With variety of kashaba melon as material,the effect of 6-BA on natural doubling of regenerated plant in haploid embryo salvage process was studied.With haploid tube seeding and transplanted survival haploid plant as materials,the doubling effect of colchicine on haploid was studied.[Result] 6-BA with low concns.(0.1,0.2 and 0.5 mg/L) had no obvious effect on regeneration rate and natural doubling rate of haploid.6-BA with high concn.(2 mg/L) had no obvious effect on regeneration rate of haploid,but it could greatly improve the natural doubling rate of haploid.6-BA at 1 mg/L could increase the regeneration rate and the natural doubling rate of haploid at the same time.When colchicine was used to double the haploid tube seeding,the survival plant rate was low,and the doubling efficiency was only 16.6%.When the transplanted survival haploid plant was doubled,the survival plant rate reached 100% and the doubling efficiency reached 37.5% when the growth point of plantlet was soaked with 0.5% colchicine+2% DMSO for 2 h.[Conclusion] The doubling effects of 1 mg/L 6-BA and 0.5% colchicine+2% DMSO on melon haploid were better.


The CRS has provided specialized research and policy analysis to the Congress for more than 80 years. As a legislative branch agency, the CRS works exclusively for Members of Congress, Committees, and Congressional staff on a confidential, nonpartisan basis. The CRS analytical staff are internationally‐recognized experts who apply multidisciplinary expertise at all stages of the legislative process to assist Congress in identifying, analyzing, and formulating legislative proposals as well as responding to constituent needs. The 107th Congress is considering whether to reauthorize and amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Major issues in recent years have focused on whether to incorporate further protection for property owners and reduce regulatory impacts, or whether to strengthen species protections through a variety of procedural changes. The authorization of appropriations for the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) expired at the end of FY1999. The issue for the 107th Congress is whether, an...


Abstract : We were met at the airport by Ato Tekie Kifle, the medical officer in charge of the Gojjam Province Health Center. The health center, V. D. Center; the Governor General of the Province, His Excellency Dejazmatch Tsahaye Eniw-Selassie and the Debre Marcos school were visited. The governor general seemed pleased that we had dropped in. He wondered about the possibility of providing transport and telephone communications at the health center. That afternoon the Land Rover arrived. A telephone line to the center would greatly facilitate the coordination of the public health activities by providing the means for immediate contact with the provincial and local authorities and with the Ministry of Health. The Health Center was functioning very well and effectively. Various aspects of the activities of the personnel are considered below.


"This customized USB key contains a digital catalogue of past activities at the Studio along with a Point of View essay entitled XX Fantastic by guest curator and writer Paule Mackrous who explores the Matricules archives with a thematic journey through some of the artwork, discussions and performances at the Studio. She also offers a critical essay on XX's 15 years of exploration, research and presentation of media art" -- publisher's website.


The electroproduction of $\ensuremath{\rho}$, $\ensuremath{\omega}$, and $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ mesons is discussed. The spin-density matrix elements are shown to satisfy a number of conditions if and where the production is dominated by Pomeranchuk exchange. Constraints are also given for the case that a single spin-parity (of type ${0}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$, ${1}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$) dominates the $t$ channel in some kinematic region. The extension to the production of a $2\ensuremath{\pi}$ continuum is straightforward. Vector-meson and $2\ensuremath{\pi}$ production by neutrinos is also treated.


Review(s) of: Footprints to Hoofprints to Newsprint - The story of the Albury Paper Mill by David William Hicks, Specialty Press, Albury, 2008. ISBN 9780646489537


Film grammar is often used to invoke certain emotional experiences from audiences through changing visual, speech, and musical elements of videos. Such film grammar, referred to as domain knowledge, is of great importance for video affective content analysis but has not been thoroughly examined in research. In this paper, we propose an improved method for emotion recognition and regression from videos through exploring domain knowledge. We first investigate the domain knowledge of visual, speech, and musical elements, and infer probabilistic dependencies between elements and emotions from the summarized film grammar. Then, we transfer the summarized dependencies between elements and emotions as constraints, and formulate video affective content analysis, including both emotion recognition and emotion regression from video content, as a constrained optimization problem. Experiments on the LIRIS-ACCEDE database, the FilmStim database, and the DEAP database demonstrate that the proposed video affective content analysis method can successfully leverage well-established film grammar to improve emotion recognition and regression from video content.


#### What you need to know

Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37+0 weeks' gestation, is associated with short and long term problems. While most babies born preterm have good developmental outcomes and quality of life, some experience problems which can affect learning and function, activities, and participation.

Around 7.5% of babies are born preterm in England and Wales, and approximately 0.4% are born extremely preterm (<28+0 weeks' gestation). In 2015, this amounted to 53 209 babies born preterm and 3014 born extremely preterm.1

This article summarises the recent NICE guidance on the developmental follow-up of children and young people born preterm2 and was commissioned to improve the early identification of developmental problems and disorders in children born preterm and to alert health professionals to risk factors that may increase the likelihood of problems.

Much of the developmental support …


We report the formation of an intermediate lamellar Cu–thiolate complex, and tuning its relative stability using alkylphosphonic acids are crucial to enabling controlled heteronucleation to form Bi(Cu2-xS)n heterostructures with a tunable number of Cu2-xS stems on a Bi core. The denticity of the phosphonic acid group, concentration, and chain length of alkylphosphonic acids are critical factors determining the stability of the Cu–thiolate complex. Increasing the stability of the Cu–thiolate results in single Cu2-xS stem formation, and decreased stability of the Cu–thiolate complex increases the degree of heteronucleation to form multiple Cu2-xS stems on the Bi core. Spatially separated multiple Cu2-xS stems transform into a support network to hold a fragmented Bi core when used as an anode in a K-ion battery, leading to a more stable cycling performance showing a specific capacity of ∼170 mAh·g–1 after 200 cycles compared to ∼111 mAh·g–1 for Bi–Cu2-xS single-stem heterostructures.


The chemical synthesis of 3′-deoxyadenyly-(2′-5′)-3′-deoxyadenylyl-(2′-5′)-3′-deoxyadenosine (30; trimeric cordycepin) is described by three different routes using various protecting groups and applying the phosphotriester approach. The intermediates have been isolated and characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic means. High yields of 30 have been obtained on deprotection making this biologically very active compound available in preparative scale.


Under a most pretentious title and with sophisticated machinery of argument, this is a singularly naive book. With serious intent, it begs the question which it is obligated to argue, and so arrives at a content almost completely spurious. To think to solve the question of power by falling back on "natural law" is a dead giveaway to begin with, a surrender to dogma. The reason why "natural law" ceased long ago to be law was that men ceased to agree on what the term covers. To seek agreement by assuming that men agree on what they disagree about is not helpful; it is highly presumptuous and sinister in its "divine simplicity." To give absolute content to "natural law," without which it is as relative as any liberalism which this author depreciates, requires an absolute institution. If that institution be the state, we have all that the author complains of; and if it be the church, we have something which many think quite as bad. But to insist upon absolute authority to give fixity to an otherwise empty concept, deprecating the state and yet not proclaiming the church, is to get nowhere at all. What American will soon want natural law implemented into dependability by a hierarchy presuming infallibility when it speaks with the uncircumspect tones of Cardinal Spellman? Would-be scholars who beg the question of agreement to import a preferred content into a bankrupt concept, like "natural law," are not reinforcing rational agreement, without which every relevant question is begged as touching law. "Certitude," which is easy, is never the test of "certainty," which is hard but precious.


SYNOPSIS Mechanical properties of polycarbonates ( PCs ) and elastomer-modified polycarbonates with various molecular weights (MW) are investigated. Higher MW PCs show slightly lower density, yield stress, and modulus. The ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) of the notched impact strength decreases with the increase of PC MW and with the increase of elastomer content. The elastomer-modified PC has higher impact strength than does the unmodified counterpart if the failure is in the brittle mode, but has lower impact strength if the failure is in the ductile mode. The critical strain energy release rate (G,) measured at -30°C decreases with the decrease of PC MW. The extrapolated zero fracture energy was found at M, = 6800 or MFR = 135. The G, of the elastomer-modified PC (MFR = 15, 5% elastomer) is about twice that of the unmodified one. The presence of elastomer in the PC matrix promotes the plane-strain localized shear yielding to greater extents and thus increases the impact strength and G, in a typically brittle fracture. Two separate modes, localized and mass shear yielding, work simultaneously in the elastomer-toughening mechanism. The plane-strain localized shear yielding dominates the toughening mechanism at lower temperatures and brittle failure, while the plane-stress mass shear yielding dominates at higher temperatures and ductile failure. For the elastomer-modified PC ( 10% elastomer), the estimated extension ratio of the yielding zone of the fractured surface is 2 for the ductile failure and 5 for the brittle crack. A criterion for shifting from brittle to ductile failure based on precrack critical plastic-zone volume is proposed.


Recently,the impact between popularize of network and society problems makes frequency of network group events.To be participants of network group events,netizens play an important role.To prevent and control the emergence and development of network group events,keeping the harmony and stability of society,the key is commanding netizens' mentality.By analysing last five years' Statistics Report of Network Development State in China,the paper selects three main attributes of netizens-age,education background and profession,then studies psychology festure and leading methods respectively,finally makes the preventing and controlling work of network group events can be done with a purpose,finding out both temporary and permanent solutions.


In his Scottish novels, Walter Scott foregrounded the multilingual and multidialectal situation of Scotland. He not only made a deliberate effort to reflect the different linguistic varieties in the dialogues, but also, through his narrators, drew his readers' attention to the variety being used or the pronunciation employed. Since Scott is writing about post- Union Scotland, he implies that the United Kingdom is a multilingual and multicultural society, and that the British have to be aware of this in order to make their union stronger in its diversity, by preserving national cultural identities and values. Evidence is given from three of Scott's most relevant Scottish novels.


A novel method for determination of the compatibility of dyes in mixtures based on the application of principal component analysis is presented. The well known dip-test method is used to dye samples in different binary combinations of cationic dyestuffs. The spectral reflectance of different samples of each mixture that dyed with a given set of dyestuffs by dip-test method has been measured and the corresponding K/S values are calculated. The actual dimensional properties of each mixture are evaluated by using principal component analysis technique and determination of cumulative percentage variance of the eigenvalues of proposed datasets. Ideally, the K/S spectral data of fully compatible pairs scatter around one dimension, while proportional to the degree of incompatibility of dyes in the mixture, other dimensions should be taken into account and cannot be ignored. Strong correlations are found between the calculated percentage variance and the traditional compatibility values of dyes shown by K value for cationic dyestuffs. The validity of suggested technique is also reconfirmed by normalization of spectral K/S data obtained from different dye sets. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2010


Physicians are facing a new set of administrative challenges for ACA exchange patients, ranging from verifying coverage to coping with narrow networks.


The aim of the 2006 conference on the interaction of atoms, molecules, and plasmas with intense ultrashort laser pulses was to bring closer together researchers dealing with the generation and application of ultrashort light pulses up to the attosecond range, and those dealing with ultrahigh intensities. Although both can be obtained by using ultrashort laser pulses, traditionally different communities deal with the generation and application of attosecond pulses in molecules, atoms, and plasma physics. The COST P14 (ULTRA) action and the XTRA Marie-Curie research training network, the initiators and supporters of the conference are committed to the synthesis of these activities. Thus the topics of IAMPI included fundamental science and applications in the fields of femtosecond and attosecond metrology, controlling atomic and molecular dynamics, laser acceleration of particles, and laser-plasma interactions. Special sessions were devoted to new laser sources (from FEL to XRL) and to the generation of harmonics and thus attosecond pulses in molecules and in plasmas. It is hoped that IAMPI2006 was the first conference in a series which is worth being continued. This and the previous issue of Laser and Particle Beams carry a selection of eight papers originating from the International Conference on the Interaction of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas with Intense Ultrashort Laser Pulses held on 1–5 October 2006 in Szeged, Hungary (Baeva et al., 2007; Giulietti et al., 2007; Ozaki et al., 2007; Poletto & Villoresi, 2007; Stancalie et al., 2007; Varró, 2007; Ziaja et al., 2007; Zvorykin et al., 2007). Besides the European networks, the conference was organized by the institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the University of Szeged. The chairs of the International Scientific Committee were Charles Joachain (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles), Ferenc Krausz (Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching), and Marc Vrakking (FOM Institute, AMOLF, Amsterdam). This collection contains mainly articles which are fitted to the traditional profile of the journal; therefore they do not cover the whole scope of the conference. They include however several key areas of physics with intense laser-fields as generation and diagnostics of attosecond pulses, and developments and applications of new sources of coherent radiation in the ultraviolet and XUV. I should like to use this opportunity to thank all 116 participants of IAMPI2006, especially the contributors of this issue for their high-quality scientific results presented at the conference and in the journal. Besides the above-mentioned chair persons, the success of the conference was based on the active participation of the program committee which included S. Atzeni, D. Batani, D. Charalambidis, Gy. Farkas, N. Kroó, A. Maquet, J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, P. Monot, P. Salieres, S. Szatmári, G. Szabó, K. Taylor, J. Ullrich, C-G. Wahlström, and K. Yamanouchi. The Albert Apponyi grant of the Hungarian National Office and Technology allowed the easier participation of several Hungarian students in the conference, thus giving them a possibility to get acquainted with leading researchers of the field, and on the other hand providing the lively atmosphere of the conference. Additional support to the conference was provided by FEMTOLASERS, Kurt J. Lesker Company, KON-TRADE Ltd. (Leybold Vacuum) and RK Tech Ltd. (Newport and Spectra Physics). Finally as the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, the guest editor, wants to acknowledge the help of the editorial team of Laser and Particle Beams and especially for Dieter Hoffmann that they gave the possibility to introduce some of the IAMPI contributions to the community of the readers of this journal.


The presence of parasites in marine fish is a serious problem for the fishing industry in many countries. Some species of parasites can present a risk to consumers. Human health can be compromised by allergic reactions to parasitic antigens (hypersensitivity). The aim of the present study was to report the occurrence of parasite larvae in samples of frozen Alaskan fish fillets. A total of 108 samples of frozen Alaska pollock fish fillet were purchased from commercial establishments in the state of São Paulo Brazil, from July 2017 to November 2019. The parasite search was carried out using the method dissection under transmitted light (candling table) according to AOAC (2005), method 985.12. Only 18 samples (17%), from four different brands, did not present any parasitic form, the others (90 samples) had at least one parasitic form, with the presence of cestodes of the order Trypanorhyncha (found in 73 samples) and nematodes of the Anisakidae family prevailing (found in 57 samples). It was also observed that more than half of the studied samples (76 samples) presented up to 5 parasitic forms in the kilogram rate. The results demonstrate the need for more data regarding the incidence of parasites in fish and their impact on human health, in order to alert the population and health authorities about its dangers, so that preventive and corrective measures are taken in the inspection process of these products, aiming to reduce any possibility of the occurrence of illnesses.


With the further development of industrial automation,its application in agriculture was more extensive.AT89C51 single-chip and temperature sensor chip DS18B20 were used to develop a multi-point temperature measurement and control system in this paper.The wireless module KYL-1020U was adopted to realize the function of remote temperature regulation and control.


The report focuses on the issue of sample preparation of biological material autopsy's tissue for instrumental methods of analysis. The new high-sensitivity instrumental methods give the possibility to reduce the dimension of the sample. The sample preparation of 5 g autopsy tissues (liver, kidney) samples was evaluated for acid, neutral and basic drugs.


CPS expresses event-driven, parallel simulation programs. Rather than being a programming language, CPS is a structure imposed on an existing language, C++. CPS programs contain sufficient information to be implemented as Bryant-Chandy-Misra, time-warp, or sequential simulations. CPS is independent of any problem domain. We describe the main concepts of CPS, illustrating them using the problem of logic circuit simulation. We identify what information a parallel simulation must contain that is not required for sequential simulation.


The homologues of yeast INO80 are identified across phyla from Caenorhabditis elegans to human. In Drosophila it has been shown that dINO80 forms a complex with Pleiohomeotic but does not interact with Hox PRE (polycomb responsive element). As some proteins of the INO80 complex are implicated in homeotic gene regulation, we examined if dINO80 is involved in regulation of homeotic genes. We find that dINO80 null mutants generated by imprecise excision of P‐element are late embryonic lethals and show homeotic transformation. We detect misexpression of homeotic genes like Sex‐comb reduced, Antennapedia, Ultrabithorax and Abdominal‐B in dIno80 mutant embryos by immunostaining which is further substantiated by quantitative PCR. Polycomb phenotype in dIno80‐Pc is enhanced in double mutants. Concurrently, the localization of dINO80 to sequences upstream of misexpressed genes in vivo shows that dINO80 is involved in homeotic gene regulation and probably through its interactions with PcG‐trxG complexes.


This article reveals the reason why Islam Nusantara needs to promote. It deals with the effort of Indonesian Muslims in responding global and local challenges, continuing the agenda to defend local traditions and developing intellectual framework.


In 1983, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, began developing a pavement management system (PMS) tor use on state‐maintained highways. A major offshoot from the project was the Connecticut photolog laser videodisc (PLV) retrieval system, which is changing the means and methods for storing, retrieving, and using highway photolog images. The PLV retrieval system formed the backbone for a network‐level pavement‐condition rating system, which allows ConnDOT engineers or technicians to rate pavement distress inside the office under ideal, controlled working conditions. Under these conditions, and with the aid of computers, ConnDOT personnel can perform more objective evaluations of pavement conditions than with previous windshield surveys. This pavement rating system has been successfully used for two years. Although research is under way to determine how the sun's position affects rating results, ConnDOT engineers are convinced that v...


It is considered of sufficient interest to report this single case of Ewing's sarcoma in a young Nigerian because it is a rare tumour, and indeed in the available literature no case has been described in an African. Ewing's sarcoma is characterised by medullary destruction with cortical sclerosis and soft tissue swelling. In some cases, however, the earliest radiographic features may be cortical sclerosis, but Cohen, Brown and Grice (1953) note that this is seldom seen by the radiologist excepting in flat bones or small bones, where it may persist and suggest an aseptic necrosis. The clinical findings and radiological appearances in a young African are described here.


A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Zn,Pb and glyphosate compound pollution on microbial biomass C content and enzyme activities in the soil.The results showed that microbial biomass C content and the activities of catalase and urease increased widely while converting enzyme activity was reduced after the culture period.Effects of Zn-Pb-glyphosate compound pollution were different from those of single-factor pollution by Zn,Pb or glyphosate.Under Zn-Pb-glyphosate compound pollution,Zn showed a negative effect on microbial biomass C content and catalase and converting enzyme activity but a positive effect on urease activity.Pb performed positive effects on microbial biomass C content and catalase and urease activity,especially on catalase activity,and negative effects on conversion enzyme activity.Glyphosate had the greatest effect on the four attributive variables and,particularly,exhibited a significant inhibitive effect on catalase activity.The effects of Zn,Pb and glyphosate on microbial biomass C content and enzyme activities appeared in the order of glyphosate PbZn.


Several studies have found that there have been declines in nominal exchange rate pass-through rates in recent years. In this paper we theoretically analyze the macroeconomic implications of such changes. A special feature of the analysis in the paper is that it builds a dynamic general equilibrium model that consists of two countries for this purpose. In the model there are two types of producers of tradable goods: those that set prices in their own currency and those that set prices in foreign currencies. The pass-through rate in this model is determined by the relative proportions of these two types. By conducting a simulation analysis using this model, we show how macroeconomic performance differs depending on the pass-through rate. Specifically, we derive the responses of prices of domestic import and export goods, inflation rates, GDP, and other indices in response to shocks such as fluctuations in exchange rates and changes in monetary policies in foreign countries, both in a high pass-through rate environment and in a low pass-through rate environment. This exercise reveals that reactions of an economy to external shocks depend in crucial ways on the degree of pass-through.


This paper proposes an autonomous operant conditioning (AOC) automaton that, designs a bionic autonomous learning control method, and constructs an operant conditioning learning system. AOC provides a recursive operation programme. AOC simulates biological operant conditioning mechanism, which has a bionic self-organising feature, including self-learning and adaptive capabilities, and can be used for description, simulation, and design of a variety of self-organising systems. The bionic autonomous learning control method can be used to describe and simulate a bionic autonomous learning process. The learning system can learn on line by interaction with environment, and achieve the best consequences. Based on the above, we apply the model to simulate Skinner-rat experiment to prove that AOC can simulate the learning mechanism of operant conditioning, and apply it to achieving the balancing control of two-wheeled self-balancing robots which shows that AOC can be used to design a variety of intelligent behaviour for robotic systems.


Background: Self-efficacy is the most influential among factors affecting nurses' performance. Yet, understanding of the constituent elements of the caring self-efficacy concept was not considered. This study was to introduce altruism as one of the main aspects of caring self-efficacy in pediatric nurses. Materials and Methods: This is part of a larger study on the concept of caring self-efficacy conducted with qualitative content analysis approach in Iran. Participants included 27 clinical pediatric nurses and instructors, selected purposively. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using conventional content analysis method. Results: Theme "altruism" as one of the main themes extracted from the analysis of the interviews in this study. This theme includes two main categories of "humanistic care" and "caring attitude." Conclusions: This paper introduces altruism as one of the values aspects of caring self-efficacy in pediatric nurses. Efficient nurse with features Humanistic care, through the provision of maternal care and family-centered care and caring attitudes resulting from religious beliefs and loving children to care for the children.


The method to form stable proton conductor materials constituted of silicotungstic acid and silica was investigated and here reported. These materials, after preparation, were characterized in order to evidence their intrinsic structure and conductivity. One of them, that at higher proton conductivity consisting of 45 wt. % of SiWA on SiO 2, was used, in combination with polybenzimidazole, for the preparation of proton conductor membranes. The membranes were thermally stable and the conductivity measured on a sample of membrane with 50 % of inorganic proton conductive component gave a value of 1.2 . 10 3 S/cm at 160 C and 100 % r.h.. The introduction on the polymer of phosphonic acid groups increased the conductivity of the membranes. Thus, the above reported membrane, after functionalization of the constituent polymer with the acid groups, presented a conductivity value of 2.23 . 10 3 S/cm at the same operative conditions.


This research documented the know-how of five elementary-school teachers regarding formative assessment, working from their point of view on the question. Group interviews gave them the opportunity to negotiate their "ways of doing things," by revisiting and elaborating upon assessment episodes that had been previously identified on classroom videotapes. An interactionist analysis served to describe the territory of formative assessment according to the range of their formal and informal "ways of doing things."


The present invention provides an improved method for the production of 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene. By using the second reactive distillation column for the first reactive distillation column, and HCC-240db dehydrochlorination / HCC-1230xf isomerization for dehydrochlorination of HCC-250fb, 1, 1, very simplified 2,3 tetrachloropropene manufacturing process, use of the device, to reduce the use of energy, can increase the productivity. .FIELD 1


The incidence of diabetes type 2 among modern society tends to relate to growth and increasingly younger people. In recent years, it's increasing attention about the relationship between the interaction of diabetes with sleep disorders, especially the night-eating syndrome (NES), which can be characterized as a daily food intake delay of circadian rhythm while normal sleep. NES prevalence of diabetes is approximately 9.7%.Increase of food consumption at night in patients with type 2 diabetes can be associated with the eating disorders syndrome and have negative influence to the therapeutic process of this group of patients. Abnormal eating behavior associated with the observance of dietary with a low content of easily digestible carbohydrates, low physical activity, lack of systematic monitoring of blood glucose levels in the blood can lead to the disturbance of blood sugar levels, increase complications and therapeutic difficulties. It is important therefore NES diagnosis in this patient group and the corresponding modification of drug and nutritional therapy. (Diabet. Klin. 2012; 1, 1: 17–24)


Reliable glycemia monitoring in critically ill patients is essential to safe care. Biases in measurements may result in imprecise values, causing healthcare teams to interpret results mistakenly and change therapeutic conducts toward improper directions. The aim of the present study was to search for the scientific production about factors related to accuracy and reliability of glycemia monitoring in patients admitted to intensive care units by consulting the CINAHL ,  PubMed ,  Web of Science ,  Scopus  and Virtual Health Library databases. Evidence from 18 papers that addressed accuracy and reliability in glycemia monitoring revealed aspects such as measurement method, sample type, characteristics of critically patients and equipment handling. Healthcare teams should consider the advantages and drawbacks of each method, taking into account their care realities and patient safety.


For many years , experimental determination of t h e dynamic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of s t ruct u r e s has been based on s teady-state d i s c r e t e frequency methods, i n which t h e n a t u r a l f requencies and damping r a t i o s a r e derived from vector diagrams /I/. This method, l i k e a l l s teady-state methods, is tedious and time-consuming and cannot be r e a d i l y appl ied ou ts ide t h e labora tory ; a l s o , considerable expense may be incurred i f a lengthy t e s t programme is required i n order t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of a bui l t -up s t r u c t u r e . The quasi-s teady-state t e s t method may reduce some t e s t t ime; here , t h e e x c i t a t i o n frequency is continuously varied through t h e frequency range of i n t e r e s t . However, except with very slow sweep r a t e s , t h e measured values of n a t u r a l f requencies and damping r a t i o s derived from such a t e s t a r e inaccurate because t h e assumption t h a t t h e system response a t t a i n s t r u e s teady-s ta te l e v e l s is not usua l ly v a l i d .


Incorporating constructive models into a 3D game is an effective, realistic and nonlinear way to prepare warfighters for operational environment complexities. In its third development spiral, The Hybrid Irregular Warfare Networkdefeat Toolkit federation, or HINT, sponsored by TRADOC G2 Intelligence Support Activity, combines an immersive 3D game-based simulation – The First Person Cultural Trainer (FPCT) – with the One Semi-Automated Force (OneSAF) and the Joint Non-kinetic Effects (JNEM) models in a hybrid model framework federation. This paper drills down on this methodology, focusing on benefits, challenges and lessons learned from integrating the OneSAF and JNEM models with the FPCT 3D game. In FPCT, the player discovers IED and insurgent networks through populace relationship building. The player wins by positively affecting the mood and cooperation level of the virtual population, thereby facilitating the collection of "golden nuggets" of information. To create this gameplay, FPCT exchanges and incorporates OneSAF data, which simulates force-on-force activity, and JNEM data, which provides well-defined civilian influences such, as mood and cooperation of a heterogeneous population in an area of operation. The player then can positively affect the JNEM-driven mood and cooperation state through culturally correct populace interaction. If populace interaction is effective, critical information golden nuggets are collected during gameplay and published back to OneSAF and JNEM to model second-and third-order effects of ongoing military stability operations. Multiple data exchanges from OneSAF, JNEM and FPCT simulate dynamically changing operational conditions. The HINT methodology for combining constructive models with a 3D game provides a platform for lessons learned and also suggests other potential ways to develop simulations in this way. FPCT won the IITSEC Serious Games Competition government category in 2011, the Innovations in Department of Defense Gaming competition at the 2011 GameTech Conference, and the NTSA Cross-Function award in 2010.


Development of automotive industry leads, on the one hand, to comfort and economy of vehicles, but on the other hand, causes bigger danger for human being life environment and forces on designers and material specialists necessity to improve vehicles and to reconcile requirements if users and ecologists, assumptions of whom are contradictory. Cars must be lighter and lighter and they should consume less and less fuel (economy and ecology) and at the same time they should have systems and devices providing comfort and safety to passengers, but unfortunately such equipment increases vehicle weight. This tendency in vehicle construction caused, that quite new materials, which are light and meet design requirements, became to appear in cars. In this publication it has been presented limitations, which result from material and design of contemporary composite materials of aluminium alloy matrix for pistons and other engine components. It has been also presented values enabling to state that application of the new materials for pistons will make possible to introduce deep design amendments leading to improvement of engine operation features and the entire vehicle at final stage.


We present results based on the analysis of lithium abundances in a sample of ~ 50 pre-main sequence stars covering a wide range of masses (from 2 to 0.3 M ⊙ ) and luminosities (corresponding to ages of 1-100 Myr). Stars with masses estimated to be ≳ 1 M ⊙ show lithium abundances close to cosmic with little scatter (± 0.3 dex). Stars with masses less than Solar present a wide range of lithium abundances, with a clear trend to lower abundances for lower luminosities (greater age). The observed Li abundances constrain theoretical predictions of lithium depletion in rotating pre-main sequence stars.


Government Buildings enable occupation to thousands of inhabitants, including customers and the management. In these places, everybody uses free energy since nobody feels the need for conservation as there is no impact to their pocket at the end of the month. According to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) of Sri Lanka sources, the electricity cost of these places exceeds 7.5Billion Rs. It is approximately equivalent to 3% of the annual turnover of CEB. Because of this free energy, nobody is interested in conserving it even though there is a severe energy shortage. Therefore, there is an empirical novelty in investigating this abandoned resource towards conserving energy with artificial intelligence (AI) devices. The study identified five major factors that disturb the use of devices with artificial intelligence. The same instrument develops as the policy directive on the conservation of energy in government buildings.


In 1989 Stowe reported that semantic information eliminates garden paths in sentences with the direct-object vs. subject ambiguity, such as Even before the police stopped the driver was very frightened. Three experiments are presented which addressed some methodological problems in Stowe's study. Experiment 1, using a word-by-word, self-paced reading task with grammaticality judgements, manipulated animacy of the first subject noun while controlling for the plausibility of the transitive action. The results suggest that initial sentence analysis is not guided by animacy. Experiment 2 and 3, using the self-paced task with grammaticality judgements and eye-tracking, varied the plausibility of the direct-object nouns to test revision effects. Plausibility was found to facilitate revision without fully eliminating garden paths, in line with various revision models. The findings support the view of a sentence processing system relying heavily on syntactic information, with semantic information playing a weaker role both in initial analysis and during revision, thus supporting serial, syntax-first models and ranked-parallel models relying on structural criteria.


Purpose – To improve the quality of care of patients who are given parenteral medication for an episode of disturbed or violent behaviour in the context of a psychotic illness.Design/methodology/approach – Current guidelines are described, and adherence to the standards is audited, with particular emphasis on the performance of physical observations following an episode of behavioural disturbance. Comparisons are made with the findings of previous audits performed at Addenbrooke's and Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge.Findings – The results revealed an improvement in following the guidelines whilst highlighting concerns regarding the unwarranted and potentially dangerous use of intravenous medication in these situations. The results also demonstrated a significant improvement in routine physical observations performed, following treatment of acute behavioural disturbance.Practical implications – Careful risk management is needed when considering the safety of both patients and staff when dealing with behaviour...


Water electrolysis is considered to be a promising way to store and convert excess renewable energies into hydrogen, which is of high value for many chemical transformation processes such as the Ha...


Meeting the challenges of the degradation of the environment, the shortage of resources and the difficulties to dispose the huge amount of wastes, many researches have been done on design for disassembly and recycling. Disassembly and recycling are important stages in the product life cycle, accordingly much attention should be paid to the product's disassemblability and recyclability during design process. Based on the analysis of the factors that affect the disassemblability and recyclability of the product, this paper presents some guidelines to design for disassembly and recycling.


Abstract The communication of risk assessment uncertainty to the public and to policy makers is a matter of increasing concern and debate. Although both past research and psychological theory predict that presenting information about the uncertainty associated with a risk estimate will increase perceived risk, recent work (Johnson & Slovic, 1995) suggests that it may in fact have a negligible impact on the average response to hazard risks. The present study argues that, when hazards are evaluated in the context of risk-benefits tradeoffs, uncertainty information interacts with individual value differences in its effects on perceived risk. One hundred and seventy-seven subjects evaluated five hypothetical environmental risk scenarios, with probabilistic risk information presented in one of four ways: (1) a single best estimate, (2) a best estimate with a verbal qualification of its associated uncertainty, (3) a numerical range centered on that estimate, and (4) a numerical range with the values explained as the conclusions of two different sources with opposing biases. Average level of perceived risk did not differ across these experimental groups, but type of uncertainty information and the individual's level of environmental concern had an interactive effect.


The phase 3 POLO study demonstrated a significant progression‐free survival (PFS) benefit and preserved health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) for active maintenance treatment with olaparib vs placebo in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and a germline BRCA mutation. Here, we present a post hoc analysis of the patient‐centered outcomes: time without significant symptoms of disease progression or toxicity (TWiST) and quality‐adjusted TWiST (Q‐TWiST).


The author puts forward and analyses a new concept of advertising media in this paper.In contains body、specialists and famous stars advertising medias.From his point of view,the new advertising media is the best one.But besides,it also has its own limits.


In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time 100 Gbit/s real-time THz-wireless data transmission at a carrier frequency of 300 GHz using a single broadband real-time modem originally designed for 2×2 Polarization-MIMO digital-coherent fiber-optical transmission. As a reference, the performance of the 50-cm long, LoS, spatially multiplexed (x2) wireless link is also evaluated using offline DSP algorithms optimized for the THz setup. During the real-time operation of the system, we have recorded the pre-FEC BER over 100 hours of continuous operation to demonstrate the stability of the system.


In many light or moderately viscous oil reservoirs in Saskatchewan and Alberta, a high inactive water saturation zone of varying thickness and extent (bottomwater zone) occurs in communication with the oil zone above. As a result, the primary production period is short, and water breakthrough occurs very early in the life of the reservoir. Later, during the secondary recovery stage, such a zone can have an adverse effect on the waterflood efficiency. This paper addresses the problem of waterflooding such reservoirs. This study was directed towards reducing water mobility in the bottomwater zone for more efficient oil displacement. A commercial simulator (CMG's IMEX) was used to conduct this small scaled study. Polymer in various concentrations was used as a plugging agent in the bottomwater zone and as a mobility control agent in the oil zone. Different strategies were investigated to reduce water mobility in the bottomwater zone and improve the vertical sweep efficiency. The variables examined were: permeability ratio, oil viscosity, relative water-to-oil layer thickness, polymer concentration, injection rate and injection point, as well as the effect of vertical and horizontal injection and production well combinations. The results showed that minimizing crossflow between layers by plugging the bottomwater zone could increase oil recovery. It was also found that for an unfavourable mobility ratio, as the injection rate increases, the ultimate oil recovery increases. The injection of a polymer solution had a favourable impact on waterflood performance. Moreover, the worse the conventional waterflood performance was, the more effective the polymer was as a mobility and plugging control agent. The use of horizontal wells showed slightly better oil recovery over vertical wells in a conventional waterflood of reservoirs under bottomwater conditions. In addition, some certain well combinations (horizontal production and vertical injection) gave better oil recovery due to the increase in the swept area.


Abstract. The holarctic ant tribe Formicini is revised, the new genus Bajcaridris described, and possible phylogenetic relationships are discussed. The subgenus Iberoformica is synonymized with Formica. A synopsis, diagnosis and keys to the genera are provided.


Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a recurrent, chronic, and non-infectious inflammatory dermatoses characterized by persistent itching of the skin. It has multifactorial causes characterized by a tetrad of a (i) genetic predisposition, (ii) disturbed epidermal barrier, (iii) immune dysregulation, and (iv) deranged skin microbiome. At present, treatment is aimed at maintaining the epidermal barrier function by the use of emollients, sedative, and non-sedative antihistamines targeting the itch pathway, immunosuppressants in the form of steroids as well as steroid sparing agents to control the chronic persistent inflammatory response. However, newer emerging therapy in the form of biologics gives a promising approach to control the chronic, persistent inflammatory response by targeting the specific cytokines involved in pathogenesis of AD.


Trauma affects us deeply, and according to the study by Yehuda et al. (1), in this issue of the Journal, it touches us down to our genes. This research brings new meaning to the concept of gene-by-environment interactions, showing that it is not one or the other that shapes us but both, or as Shakespeare'sHamletput it: "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will." Environment shapes at least the expression of our genes. Epigenetics is teaching us that Lamarck, who preached the inheritance of acquired characteristics, was not entirely wrong. While our genetic code itself may not change, its relative expression does, and this tendency for our genes to be differentially productive can be heritable. Our germline of some 26,000 genes is implicit information that has its effect on our structure and function only to the extent that these genes are transcribed into RNA and translated into protein. The potential to do that is the domain of epigenetics and involves control processes such as DNA methylation at a specific promoter region, which tends to inactivate gene expression. We have learned that early life experience can shape gene expression (2, 3). Meaney et al. (3) showed that maternal licking and grooming of rat pups alters the epigenome of genes involved in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity. Then, in cross-fostering studies, it was demonstrated that these effects can be transmitted through the germline to the next generation (4). Now, Yehuda et al. (1) have taken the next step. In a more complex clinical study of human offspring of Holocaust survivors, they have demonstrated paternal transmission of epigenetic changes associated with Holocaust survivorship. Here, the relative effects of maternal and paternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on DNA methylation of the exon 1F promoter of the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 and its relationship to glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity were examined in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 80 offspring of Holocaust survivors and 15 demographicallymatched control subjects.Methylation inhibits gene expression, and that higher methylation of the promoter reduces transcription of the glucocorticoid receptor gene, leading to fewer receptors and glucocorticoid resistance. The authors found this pattern of higher DNA methylation among offspring with a father, but not a mother, who had PTSD. In cases in which both parents had PTSD, methylation levels were lower rather than higher. This lower methylation was associatedwith greater sensitivity to cortisol suppression in response to administration of low-dose (0.5 mg) dexamethasone, which was previously shown to be associated with PTSD (5). In a related study involving the same sample examined in the present study, Yehuda et al. found that maternal, but not paternal, PTSDwas associated with increased glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity (6). Among combat veterans, they showed that a diagnosis of PTSDwas also associated with lower NR3C1-1F promoter methylation and, in


Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a significant species and a common dweller in the guts of humans and animals causing urinary tract infections, wound infection, otitis media, bloodstream infections, and other complications in humans. Worldwide resistance to antimicrobials is a serious public health problem. β-lactamases production by E. coli is responsible for resistance to frequently used beta-lactam antibiotics. 1) To determine antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Escherichia coli isolated from pus and urine samples 2) To determine ESBL producing Escherichia coli and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Retrospective study of E. coli isolates from urine and pus samples was performed by collecting data from bacteriology registers. Gender, age details of patients, number of E. coli isolates, and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were collected from the records. Out of 747 samples 102 E. coli were isolated and among them 60 (59%) were ESBL producers. Male preponderance was seen i.e. 59 (57.84%) and majority 68 (66.66%) were isolated from the age group of <18 years. E. coli showed maximum sensitivity to imipenem 88 (86.27%), followed by piperacillin-tazobactam 84 (82.35%), aminoglycoside group 76 (74.5%) and maximum resistance was seen to penicillin groups 92 (90.19%), followed by cephalosporins 71 (69.6%). Urinary isolates showed maximum sensitivity to nitrofurantoin (93.67%). ESBL producers showed resistance to ciprofloxacin 47 (78%). This study helps in the periodic formulation of regional antimicrobial policies and also giving continuous information to the clinicians with respect to the sensitivity pattern along with ESBL production which can help to avert further drug resistance.


Worldviews affect everything people do, see, create and think. As a result, much more attention will have to be focused on worldviews if human survival and well‐being are to be assured in the future. Making the transition from an economic worldview to a cultural worldview could prove timely as humanity prepares to confront one of the most difficult and demanding challenges in its history. Making this transition is necessary in order to shift the focus of attention from economics, economies, commodities, competition, specialization and the marketplace to culture, cultures, people, cooperation, holism, caring and sharing. Placing more emphasis on a cultural interpretation of history, cultural values, creation of a global federation of "world cultures," collective sharing of the cultural heritage of humankind and cultivation of culture's capacity for links and synthesis is the key to this.


Introduction Arginine auxotrophy, secondary to a lack of argininosuccinate synthetase-1 (ASS-1) expression, is a hallmark of several tumour types allowing for their selective targeting using arginine deprivation. HuArgI (Co)-PEG5000, a recombinant PEGylated human arginase I in which the two active site Mn++ ions have been replaced by Co++ ions, degrades extracellular arginine leading to arginine deprivation and selective cytotoxicity to GBM cells. In this study, we investigate the mechanisms of arginine deprivation-induced cell death, particularly the contribution of autophagy, in glioblastoma (GBM) cells. Material and methods Four GBM cell lines were used to determine extent and dynamics of autophagy activation using Cyto-ID staining on fluorescent microscopy and LC3-I to II conversion using western blot. The contribution of autophagy to arginine deprivation-induced cell death in GBM cells was investigated through inhibition of autophagy, at different time points, using Chloroquine (CQ). Results and discussions [HuArgI (Co)-PEG5000]-induced arginine deprivation led to a clear and time-dependent increase in the autophagic flux, as indicated by the increase in the number of autophagosomes on Cyto-ID and in the processing of LC3-I to LC3-II, in all cell lines, starting at 12 hours and increasing with time to peak at 96 and 120 hours post treatment. Blocking the autophagic flux using CQ, a downstream inhibitor of autophagy, led to a further accumulation of autophagosomes at all time points. Inhibiting autophagy, using CQ, had a binary, time-dependent effect on the cytotoxicity of [HuArgI (Co)-PEG5000]-induced arginine deprivation in GBM cells. At early time points (12, 24 and 48 hour), inhibition of autophagy increased cell sensitivity to arginine deprivation underlying the protective role of autophagy while at late time points (72, 96 and 120 hour), inhibition of autophagy significantly decreased or completely prevented cell death indicating that autophagy plays a deleterious role in GBM cells exposed to arginine deprivation for a prolonged period of time. Conclusion This study demonstrates that arginine deprivation leads to significant and sustained activation of the autophagic flux in GBM cells. Our data also indicates that the observed over-activation of autophagy is protective to GBM cells at early time points but becomes deleterious at later time points leading to autophagy-induced cell death (death by autophagy), following prolonged arginine deprivation.


Persida BEC 1PhD. Student, Doctoral School of Philosophy, Faculty of History and Philosophy, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, 1 Mihail Kogălniceanu Street, 400084, Romania. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. Abstract: Beyond the topics of genre and species, the problem of vulnerability arises in terms of posthumanism, which alternates on an empirical basis and also criticizes a rethinking of the human. Whether human, plant or animal, or robot or any hybrid being, every one of them becomes entities for posthumanism with equal dignity, endowed with the ability to enter into symbiosis and be part of a much more complex vulnerability. Thus, appears the reconsideration of the nature-culture duality in a position of equidistance and of equal value given alike to the human or animal kingdom. It is said that in the beginning there was only the classical ideal of "Man", which first appeared under the formulation given by Protagoras as "the measure of all things", which was later reformulated in the Italian Renaissance in the form of a universal model, represented by Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. The ideals of Classical Antiquity and the Italian Renaissance came to be reconsidered in posthumanism, and what was considered to be part of human supremacy has reached a level equal to that which is part of the animal kingdom. The intensity created by these two parts is based on the division of this planet in ways that are no longer so hierarchical to the position of superiority that the human being assumes. Therefore, the importance of reformulating subjectivity in terms of the current vulnerability in posthumanism is needed, but also the need to invent new forms of ethical relationships or values encountered in the complexity of modern times


We investigate the possibility of generating a spontaneous anti‐ferroelectric polarization in an array of elongated quantum dots, which we call ''quantum dashes.'' We suggest ways in which this phenomenon might be observed and point out possible technological applications resulting from this phenomenon.


To obtain a bid to outsource a pharmaceutical product, the pharmaceutical specialist must prepare an extensive document summarizing the manufacturing process and volumes of product required, quality control requirements, validation and stability requirements, etc. Such a document can be referred to as a request for quotation.This article provides a step-by-step outline enabling the specialist to prepare a request for quotation suitable for bidding by contract manufacturing organizations.


Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) is a legume mainly grown by subsistence and small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. This underutilised crop has nutritious and protein-rich seeds, can grow in poor soils and is more tolerant to drought compared to similar major crop species. Like Bambara groundnut, there are many minor and underutilised crops which have not undergone extensive research yet and for which few genomic resources currently exist. We aim to investigate ways to use resources that have already been developed in major species for crop improvement programs in minor and underutilised species. Affymetrix microarrays are powerful and popular tools for genomic and transcriptomic studies, but they require extensive species-specific sequence information to design. Thus, to save time and reduce cost, one option is to use an XSpecies microarray. Here we have used the XSpecies approach to detect genomic differences between two parents of a Bambara groundnut controlled cross between VSSP11 (low stem number per plant) and DipC (high stem number per plant), in order to attempt to develop molecular markers that are linked to the gene(s) controlling stem number as a test case. Bambara groundnut DNA derived from two F2 bulks that are constructed for high and low stem number, respectively, were hybridised separately to the Arabidopsis ATH1 and the Medicago truncatula Affymetrix GeneChips. PCR primers were designed from array probe sequences based on hybridisation signals visualised in the PIGEONS.v1 software. Differences detected between the two parents and the F2 bulks in silico are being tested in the lab to determine whether this is a useful way to generate markers to traits controlled by limited numbers of genes in underutilised and minor crop species. Results to date are presented. INTRODUCTION Bambara groundnut is an indigenous African legume widely grown in subSaharan Africa by subsistence and small-scale farmers. It represents an important source of additional protein to a large proportion of the population in these poor countries. Bambara groundnut is valued for its protein-rich seeds, drought tolerance, adaptability to poor soils and resistance to pests and diseases. It consists of two botanical forms: var. spontanea comprising the wild forms, restricted to Cameroon, and var. subterranea comprising domesticated forms, which can be found in most of the tropical areas, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. As there are no established cultivars, most of the marginal and subsistence farmers in Africa grow locally adapted landraces which can result in poor and/or unpredictable yields. A cross was made between wild (VSSP1; 'spreading') and domesticated (DipC; 'bunched') Bambara groundnut landraces. The F1 hybrid was self-pollinated and the resultant F2 population was used to study a range of agronomic and domestication traits, including days to emergence, days to flowering, Proc. 2 Int. Symp. on Underutilized Plants Species "Crops for the Future – Beyond Food Security" Eds.: F. Massawe et al. Acta Hort. 979, ISHS 2013 774 internode length at harvest and number of stems per plant number as reported in Basu et al. (2007). The authors suggested that a possible 1:2:1 segregation pattern is observed in the F2 population, consistent with a χ test (P=0.03<5.99; 2 df) for the stem number trait, indicating that phenotypic variation in the cross for this trait is controlled by a single locus. Together with the trait 'stem length', these two traits account for the majority of the morphological differences between the wild and domesticated parents. Thus it is a good candidate for testing when molecular approaches can be applied to further investigate the genetic basis of such simple traits and to develop potential markers for selection. Molecular approaches have been widely used for the genetic improvement of crop plants. Nearly 100 SSR markers have been developed for fingerprinting, diversity analysis and mapping in Bambara groundnut. DArT microarray technology, Affymetrix XSpecies microarrays, QTL analysis of 'wide' and 'narrow' crosses and the development of Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing have been investigated for the genetic improvement of Bambara groundnut. This paper reports results to date from the XSpecies approach. Sixteen Affymetrix microarrays are now available for plant species (Affymetrix, 2011) and more are coming in the near future. Microarrays have become a powerful and popular tool for genomic and transcriptomic studies. However, they requires extensive sequence and genome information to design. XSpecies microarrays have emerged, as they allow the identification of oligonucleotide targets of one species by hybridising nucleic acids onto the Affymetrix microarray derived from another species which is currently available, such as Arabidopsis, soybean or Medicago. The XSpecies approach is a combination of physical and bioinformatics methods, with an appropriate analysis after the hybridisation required in order to generate a valid result. A program, known as 'Photographically InteGrated En-suite for the OligoNucleotides Screen' (PIGEONS), was developed and used to investigate the individual oligonucleotides underlying genomic cross-species studies (Lai, 2009). There are many minor and underutilised crops like Bambara groundnut that have not undergone the extensive research yet needed to generate dedicated microarrays. XSpecies microarray hence provides an alternative option for crop improvement programmes in minor and underutilised crops through the use of genomic resources that have already been developed in major crops. In this paper, we aim to use the XSpecies approach to detect genomic differences between two Bambara groundnut accessions (VSSP11 and DipC) in order to try to develop molecular markers that are linked to the gene(s) controlling stem number. The genomic resources from model plant, Arabidopsis, and model legume species, Medicago, will be adopted for research and breeding work in Bambara groundnut. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant Materials Two parents of a Bambara groundnut controlled cross between VSSP11 (V. subterranea var. spontanea) from Cameroon and DipC (V. subterranea var. subterranea) from western Botswana as well as an F2 population, which was subsequently constructed into DNA bulks for high and low stem number, were used in this study. Genomic DNA Extraction Genomic DNA was extracted from Bambara groundnut leaf tissues using the GenElute Plant Genomic DNA Miniprep Kit (Sigma, UK). The concentration of DNA (ng/μl) was estimated using the Nanodrop 1000 (Thermo Scientific, USA) associated with ND-1000 V 3.7.0 software. XSpecies Analysis DNA extracted from Bambara groundnut was sent to the NASC Affymetrix chip service, Plant and Crop Sciences, Sutton Bonington, for cross hybridisation with Affymetrix Arabidopsis ATH1 and Medicago truncatula GeneChips.


An experimental investigation was conducted to study the effect of composite carbon fabric shear reinforcement on the ultimate strength and behaviour of reinforced concrete beam. Shear deficient sp...


This bachelor thesis deals the light scattering and using this phenomenon to characterize particles of hyaluronan. The attention was paid to both the measured substance ? hyaluronic acid (HA) ? and surface-active agents (PAL). The experimental part was focused on methods of measuring particle size by dynamic light scattering (DLS). A substantial part of the experimental part investigates the influence of quaternary ammonium salts (QAS), namely hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), on the behavior of hyaluronan polymer coils of various molecular weights in the solutions of physiological pH values. Measurement results and discussion of possible errors were included in the conclusion of this thesis.


One hundred and fifty fetuses between 16 and 38 weeks of gestation were studied by fetal echocardiography using colour‐coded two‐dimensional Doppler echocardiography. Two‐dimensional, M‐mode, and Doppler spectral analyses were also performed. In 14 fetuses, structural and/or functional abnormalities were detected. Abnormalities were correctly ruled out in all the other fetuses. The advantages of two‐dimensional Doppler echocardiography are (1) rapid screening for flow abnormalities in the fetal heart, and thus shortening of the Doppler examination time; (2) rapid diagnosis of valvular regurgitation, valvular stenosis, and abnormal shunting of blood across the interatrial and interventricular septa; and (3) facilitation of the diagnosis of complex congenital heart defects which in certain cases is possible only by using two‐dimensional Doppler echocardiography.


Objective:To observe efficacy of Xingding injection on cerebral ischemic stroke and its influence on plasma superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA) and lipid peroxidation(LPO).Methods:87 cases were divided randomly into the test group( n =58) and the control group ( n = 29) to receive Xingding injection and Fufang danshen injection respectively.One period of treatment was 15 days.The nerve function deficit score and the degree of physical disability were evaluated,plasma SOD?MDA and LPO were detected before and after treatment.Results:The efficacy and the decrease of nerve function deficit score in the test group were significantly better than that in the control group,plasma SOD level went up,MDA and LPO level went down in the test group.Conclusion:Xingding injection is effective and safe in treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke with the possible mechanism of scavenging the free radicals.\;


Abstract : Over the past decade, the U.S. government struggled consistently to establish a solid foothold in the global marketplace of ideas. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks and through two persistent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan the U.S. expends significant national resource toward promoting, explaining, and defending its actions to audiences of particular strategic importance to U.S. national security like the Afghan people. The Obama administration made a redoubled commitment in late 2009 to successfully conclude the war in Afghanistan. With Afghanistan as a focus of the new administration's foreign policy, it also becomes a key front line for U.S. strategic communications efforts. The author focuses on strategic communications in Afghanistan with an eye toward understanding and improvement. Once an understanding of the U.S. strategic communications system is established, an analysis of the unique STRATCOM challenges in Afghanistan will be presented. Finally, once the two strategic communication environments are established, an analysis of current STRATCOM operations will be presented along with recommendations for improvement.