Ablation lesions represent a complex interaction between the ablation catheter configuration and tissue anatomy. An understanding of each variable can assist in determination of the optimal lesion set. One such variable is the catheter orientation. With an irrigated radiofrequency ablation catheter with 6 pores (6P) near the distal tip, lesion surface area and volumes are smaller in the horizontal catheter orientation compared to the vertical catheter orientation. This finding is explained by the 6P irrigation catheter design, where irrigation fluid is discharged from six ports around the circumference of the electrode. Introduced in 2015, the ThermoCool SmartTouch® SF catheter has a 56-pore (56P) distribution to provide high density low volume irrigation settings. Irrigation catheters create smaller lesions in horizontal orientation compared to vertical orientation, however this has not been studied for the 56P irrigated catheter.

 Evaluate the impact of catheter orientation with sequential application of 56P catheter.

 Ablation lesions were created on additive-free chicken model in a saline bath heated to 37°C using the 56P catheter under standard flow rate (8cc/min) conditions. Ablation energy of 20W and 30W was delivered twice for 30 seconds with 3 minutes interval between applications. Contact force (CF) of 5, 10, 15, and 20g was applied with the following conditions: horizontal catheter orientation followed by horizontal (HH), vertical by vertical (VV), horizontal by vertical (HV), and vertical by horizontal catheter orientation (VH). Measurements were obtained by lesion dissection through the midpoint by 3 independent operators. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison of lesion depth, surface area and volume.

 Ninety-six lesions were analyzed. No coagulum or steam pops were included in the analysis. The minimum and maximum lesion depth, surface area and volume were 1.5 & 6.0 mm, 14.1 & 117.7mm2, 47.1 & 471.0 mm3 respectively. There was no significant difference in the lesion depth, surface area or volume in HH, VV, HV or VH orientation at different CF with 20W and 30W. (Fig 1)
 Figure 1

 Unlike other irrigated catheters, catheter orientation with sequential application with different CF and power did not impact lesion depth, surface area and volume with 56P catheter. This finding could be considered useful in situations where the catheter orientation could be challenging owing to tissue anatomy to achieve adequate lesion size.

 UVA Health System


Internet of Things (IoT) has been ever-growing over the last few years. The IoT devices generate a massive amount of data that should be transmitted to the cloud for computing. Cloud consolidation and centralization lead to many network hops between the IoT devices and its associated cloud which makes two critical problems: (i) high latencies (ii) high bandwidth consumption in the IoT domain. Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Software Defined Network (SDN) and fog computing have been emerged to address these problems. In the Fog-to-Cloud (F2C) architecture, Fog and cloud work together to provide computing, storage, and application services in the IoT domain. To build complex services a specific set of virtual network functions can be chained together in a specific order which is known as Service Function Chaining (SFC). The joint VNF placement and traffic routing are called SFC mapping. In this paper, we propose an Integer Linear Program (ILP) model to solve SFC mapping in the fog-to-cloud Computing System in order to minimize the overall end-to-end (e2e) latency of IoT devices. We observe that our approach reduces the overall e2e latency of IoT devices significantly. Moreover, our approach helps us to analyze the effect of a number of instances in the end-to-end latency of IoT devices.


We perform a systematic study of several models that have been proposed for the purpose of understanding the motion of driven interfaces in disordered media. We identify two distinct universality classes. (i) One of these, referred to as directed percolation depinning (DPD), can be described by a Langevin equation similar to the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation, but with quenched disorder. (ii) The other, referred to as quenched Edwards-Wilkinson (QEW), can be described by a Langevin equation similar to the Edwards-Wilkinson equation but with quenched disorder. We find that for the DPD universality class, the coefficient \ensuremath{\lambda} of the nonlinear term diverges at the depinning transition, while for the QEW universality class, either \ensuremath{\lambda}=0 or \ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0 as the depinning transition is approached. The identification of the two universality classes allows us to better understand many of the results previously obtained experimentally and numerically. However, we find that some results cannot be understood in terms of the exponents obtained for the two universality classes at the depinning transition. In order to understand these remaining disagreements, we investigate the scaling properties of models in each of the two universality classes above the depinning transition. For the DPD universality class, we find for the roughness exponent ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{P}}$=0.63\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 for the pinned phase and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{M}}$=0.75\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 for the moving phase.


Objective: To observe the efficacy of small needle knife combined with hot compress powder in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Method: A total of 78 patients with lumbar disc herniation in the Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to November 2020 were selected and randomly divided into treatment group and control group, with 39 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with small needle knife combined with hot compress powder, while the control group was treated with physiotherapy combined with hot compress powder. After 4 courses of treatment (1 course was 7 days), the clinical efficacy, VAS score, and the changes of flexion and retrograde Angle were compared between 2 groups. Results: After treatment, the clinical efficacy, flexion Angle and retrograde Angle of the treatment group were significantly better than those of the control group, and the VAS score of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group. Conclusion: Small needle knife combined with hot compress powder has obvious curative effect in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, worthy of clinical promotion.


We discuss the integration of visualization and supercomputing in a low cost environment. Computational requirements continue to increase dramatically as computational capabilities do. Yet most architectures still separate both processes. The computation is done on one system and the visualization on another. We describe an innovative architecture developed by the Supercomputer Research Center of the Institute for Defense Analysis within which the integration of visualization and supercomputation is realized. Immediate gains are obvious: program visualization, real-time computational steering, and rapid porting of current applications. We describe the issues in porting our experimental visualization software and issues we encountered. We describe limitations and advantages of the hardware/software coupling. We also discuss a proposed extension of that architecture.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.


Advancements in computer science and technology make quantum computation increasingly possible, which would result in unprecedented computational efficiency and allow quantum physicists and chemists to completely model complex quantum mechanical systems. Quantum algorithms have already shown significant advantages over classical algorithms in terms of both runtime and power. Quantum computation opens up new research opportunities in areas such as machine learning, mathematics, and cryptography. However, quantum computation could also pose a danger to online data security.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare light fastness assessments by exposure of fabric dyes with various dyes in daylight and an artificial xenon arc lamp.

Design/methodology/approach
Cotton fabric dyed with 66 reactive, vat, azoic and direct dyes dyed in different depths were exposed to daylight and Xenon arc lamp for assessment of light fastness by standard methods. The light fastness rating and fading hours by the two methods were analysed and compared statistically.

Findings
The correlation between the corresponding light fastness rating (LFR) measured in Xenotest and daylight is quite high (0.93). The logarithmic correlation coefficients between fading hour (FH) and LFR in Xenotest and daylight are 0.95 and 0.88, respectively. For Xenotest, the assessed LFRs are same as those predicted from geometric progression up to LFR of 5.5, and thereafter, the former is higher. On the other hand, in the case of daylight, the assessed LFR is lower. Assessments for three successive seasons showed high repeatability in case of Xenotest and moderate repeatability in case of daylight. Assessments for three successive seasons showed high repeatability in case of Xenotest and moderate repeatability in case of daylight.

Research limitations/implications
The exposure conditions in daylight cannot be controlled or standardised, whereas the exposure in Xenon arc lamp in the accelerated fading instrument can be strictly controlled. These differences in exposure control may affect the repeatability of experimental findings.

Practical implications
Inconsistent ratings may be because of little deterioration of samples during storage, as well as seasonal variation of daylight.

Social implications
There are no direct social implications.

Originality/value
The researches on the comparison of the two light fastness assessment methods have not been reported in any recent publication to the best our knowledge.


The art of Chinese painting is an embodiment of Chinese civilization, which is the reflection between the human and nature, human and society. Owing to the society, economy and information's advance is at high speed, the art of Chinese painting is provided with unique civilization meaning and form. The article illustrates the relations between drawing and nation just from this perspective, The purpose of the research not only wants to improve the Chinese painting in trouble, but also to inherite the national cuture and hope, My wrok will provide some historical experiences and lessons for the developrnent of Chinese painting. I think developing national culture and preserving cultural legacy are not only the unshirkable duty of ourselves,but also the whole humankind.


movements.17 In considering the possible aetiologies of this patient's chorea, there is no evidence to support any of the typically considered causes of chorea in an adult, such as Huntington's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, polycythaemia, cerebral infarcts or haematomas, Wilson's disease, recent neuroleptic ingestion or other iatrogenic, metabolic, or toxic causes. Hemiballismus, with its typically abrupt onset and unilateral features, is unlikely, especially in view of the absence of focal findings on the MRI scan. There was also no history of a previous choreiform disorder or of rheumatic heart disease. The temporal association of the transient choreiform disorder and the recent Group A beta haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis reported in this patient suggests that this may be the first reported case of Sydenham's chorea beginning in late adulthood.


Vegetative parts (stem, leaf, and nodal explants) of Tinospora cordifolia were excised from an in vivo grown mature plant and thereafter cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-D and bark extracts of Azadirachta indica and Acacia nilotica prepared in hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol. The best callus growth was observed on MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-D (1 mg.L−1) and A. indica bark methanolic extract (1 mg.L−1). The methanol extracts of the dried callus showed the presence of alkaloids and sterols. HPLC, HPTLC, and GC-MS analysis of callus [MS+2, 4-D (1 mg.L−1)] and callus [MS+2, 4-D (1 mg.L−1) + A. indica methanolic extract (1 mg.L−1)] were carried out for comparative study. The new-found peaks revealed the presence of methyl hexadecanoic acid with molecular weight of 270.


Objectives: Esbiothrin, a synthetic piretroid pesticide contaminating aquatic ecosystems as a result of agriculturalfacilities and human health issues can be reached. through rain and drain water, was investigated in the presentstudy.
Material and Methods: Guppy (Poecilia reticulata), standart species for bioassays according to OECD, was selected as a test animal for determination of the acute toxicity of esbiothrin. Experiments were conducted in two stages as range finding test and main test. In each experiment, six different esbiothrin concentrations and two control groups
have been used. The experiment has been carried out with static bioassay method on three series during 96 h. Datas were evaluated using the U.S.E.P.A. LC50 computer program based on Finney's Probit Analysis Method. During the main tests, the behavioral changes of guppy in each concentration were observed. In addition, macroscopic signs were also evaluated after exposure to esbiothrin.
Results: According to bioassay results 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC50 (95% confidence limits) values for guppy exposed to esbiothrin [(RS)-3-allyl-2-methyl-4-oxocyclopent-2-enyl (1R, 3R)-2,2 dimethyl -3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate] were 173.57 (137.10-229.86) μg/L, 129.83 (98.33-162.27) μg/L, 106.71 (79.59-132.76) μg/L, 91.55 (67.19-115.78) μg/L, respectively. It has been observed that, contrary to control group, guppy exposed to different concentrations of esbiothrin were swimmed upside down, crowded at the water surface of the aquarium, some of them moved rapidly or slowly before death, and showed abnormal swimming. After death, some fish had swollen abdomen and hemorrhage at the base of the fins.
Conclusion: Before pesticide manufacturing is allowed, its effects on the ecosystem and on non-target organisms need to be studied in detail.
Keywords: Bioassay, esbiothrin, synthetic pyrethroid, guppy, Poecilia reticulata, acute toxicity


Abstract Using a bioinspired approach, we prepare poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) (PEDOP) films with parahydrophobic properties, characterized by high apparent water contact angle and strong water adhesion. The films are made by electropolymerization and the influence of substitution by an alkyl chain of various length (from C4H9 to C14H29) on the 3,4-ethylenedioxy-bridge is reported. More precisely, the best properties are obtained from a length of C12H25 due to the formation of spherical nanoparticles.


....................................................................................................................................... iii Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Presenting the Topic .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1.Presenting the Problem ........................................................................................................ 2 1.1.2. Presenting the Research Questions ..................................................................................... 3 1.2. Previous research on the matter ..................................................................................... ......4 1.2.1. My take on the issue, Objective, Scope of my Project and its limitation ........................... 7 1.3. Outline of the Thesis .............................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 2: Methodology ............................................................................................................. 11 2.1. Selection of the Study Area ................................................................................................ 11 2.2. Gaining Access to and the size as well as selection of the informants: ............................... 12 2.3. Data Collection: ................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.1. The interviews: how they were sampled and why ............................................................ 14 2.3.2. Document Review: ........................................................................................................... 16 2.4. The field: From Challenges to Ethical Issues ..................................................................... 16 2.4.1. Challenges, limitations and access ................................................................................... 16 2.4.2. Ethical Considerations ...................................................................................................... 18 2.5. Chapter Summary ................................................................................................................ 20 Chapter 3: Theoretical Concepts ................................................................................................ 21 3.


Laser communication links between satellite and ground remains a bottleneck problem that has not been solved in free space communication network now. Atmospheric disturbances have badly influenced the wave-front of signal light and destroyed the integrality of optical phase, so the bit error rate (BER) is increased at the receiving terminal in the space-to-ground laser communication. With conventional coherent reception, the contrast of coherent light increased dramatically, and transmission efficiency of Space to ground laser communication decreased. Receiving technology based on differential phase shift keying (DPSK) is proposed here to overcome the effects of atmosphere here. Differential phase shift keying without the integrality and compensation of the optical phases, is suited for high rate space to ground communication links due to its immunity of the wavefront of a beam passing atmosphere. A Mach-Zehnder delay interferometer is used for differential delay which is equal to the one bit period. The differential data information can be obtained from the optical phase changes. Differential phase modulation technique can be a promising optical receiving technology.


Cyber-Physical-Social Systems (CPSS) integrates the cyber, physical and social spaces together. There are a large number of mobile users in CPSS that need low latency services. Fortunately, mobile edge computing (MEC) is a novel technology which can provide such services. The edge server plays a key role in MEC, but how to manage the edge server is an important challenge. For one thing, the number of cloudlets and the resource are limited. For another, the number of mobile devices (MDs) is very large and randomly distributed. And thus, how to determine the suitable number of cloudlets while serving the maximum number of MDs is significant. To this end, a new cloudlet placement method based on improved Affinity Propagation (AP) algorithm is proposed to solve the above problems. More specially, the improved AP algorithm can obtain the least number of cloudlets while covering the largest number of MDs. In addition, the load balancing strategy is used to ensure that the load of each cloudlet maintains a balanced state. Last but not the least, our proposed method can be used in scenarios where users move.


electrochemical measurement system consisting of a measuring device (50) having an electronic circuit (60), a connecting device (64), a positioning and advancing (56, 57) and a device for removing (59, 53), said apparatus being adapted to receive a sensor device (40) of small dimension to active measuring multizone (34) sequentially disposable. glucose assay Application in the blood.


[1] Peatland drainage and peat extraction changes natural peatlands from a net carbon sink to that of a large net source due to increased respiration and the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) fixing vegetation. Restoration of these altered peatland ecosystems is being applied to reduce these carbon emissions. As peatland restoration is a new and emerging land-use management practice, the purpose of this research was to examine the impact of restoration on the methane (CH4) component of the carbon cycle at the Bois-des-Bel peatland located near Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec from early May to mid October for several years. The seasonal CH4 fluxes prior to restoration at an extracted (cutover) and a restored peatland were not significantly different from each other or zero. However, three years postrestoration the seasonal CH4 emissions at the restored site were 4.2 g m−2 CH4 season−1, 4.6 times greater than the cutover site. Ponds and ditches at the restored site were seasonal CH4 emission hot spots (0.3 and 2.9 g m−2 CH4 season−1, respectively); however, emissions from herbaceous vegetation (1.0 g m−2 CH4 season−1) were the dominant source of CH4 from the restored peatland due to its large areal extent. CH4 fluxes from the Bois-des-Bel peatland represented 14% of the total CO2-equivalent losses from the site. This study demonstrates the importance of vegetation succession on peatland-atmosphere flux of CH4.


After the initial request the retransmission of the corrupted packet NAK has already been sent, the method and system for use in a communication system (200) for selectively delaying the transmission of the second negative acknowledgment (NAK) is disclosed. The receiving entity 210 starts the NAK prohibit timer 641 associated with the particular NAK (631) for preventing including a status report is retransmitted a particular NAK to the transmitting entity (220) until the timer expires. Use of NAK prohibit timer 641 will reduce the possibility of the transmission of the retransmission decision entity (220) of claim 2 which is caused by the NAK from the receiving entity 210, when the retransmission processing is already started. Link controlling method, the transmitting entity, negative acknowledgment, NAK timer prohibits


This paper links growth of trade to structural transformation in the major economies over the last several decades which have seen steadily declining manufacturing employment. The theoretical finding is that, under increasing returns, falling employment in manufacturing amplifies comparative advantage forces relative to trade barriers, specialization deepens to offset losses in scale in the marginal industries, and trade increases. I establish this result in a model based on Dornbusch, Fischer, and Samuelson (1977) to which I add exogenously nontraded services and fixed costs in manufacturing. Structural change tightens specialization pattern, inducing reallocation of resources towards industries with stronger comparative advantage. This suggests a new channel behind significant extensive margin movements in the data which the previous studies could not fully attribute to tariff reductions. As a consequence of structural transformation, trade becomes a larger fraction of manufacturing output and consumption for the same level of trade costs. This pattern contributes to explaining the observed puzzling growth in the tradeto-GDP ratio. ∗Department of Economics, Princeton University. E-mail: email@example.com. I thank Oleg Itskhoki, Steve Redding, and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg for helpful comments and suggestions. All errors are mine.


The new strains"98-1"of lawn Tall Fescue was bred by using collected wild Tall Fescuce(Festuca arundinacea schreb.) and adopting the inproved mix selection method.The results of variety comparing experiment showed that the lawn characteristic multipurpose score was the best and the resistance was very outstanding.But some individual lawn characters were inferior comparing with the improved Tall Fescue introduced from abroad.This new strains was widely used in production and was quite welcomed by clients.


Objective To investigate the effects of low dose propofol on the depth of anesthesia during coronary artery bypass grafting with mild hypothermia. Methods Forty patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly divided into two groups: group I (mild hypothermia, n=20) and group Ⅱ (moderate hypothermia, n=20). ECG, invasive blood pressure, temperature of nasal cavity and Narcotrend were continuously monitored during the anesthesia. All the patients received fentanyl (interval infusion 30-50 μg/kg) before sawing sternum, and propofol maintenance infusion, 0.2 mg/(kg·h) during circulation pulmonary bypass(CPB). The lowest nasopharyneal temperature were 33-35 ℃ (mild hypothermia) in group I and 29-31 ℃(moderate hypothermia) in group Ⅱ during circulation pulmonary bypass. In the same time, mean artery pressure was kept 40-60 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa),and Hct was 30%-35%. Narcotrend NI, nasopharyneal temperature,mean artery pressure and Hct were recorded at the following five time points: 5 min before CPB(T0), 5 min into CPB(T1), 30 min into CPB(T2), immediately stopping CPB and 15 min after CPB. Results No significant difference was found in NT, T, Hct and MAP in group I. NT was increased at T0 and T4 as compared with the baseline values at T1,T2 and T3 in group Ⅱ. NT at T2 was lower than at T0,T1,T3 and T4 in group Ⅱ. No significant difference was found in T, Hct and MAP in group Ⅱ. Conclusions Compared with that in moderate hypothermia, the depth of anesthesia did not significantly change in mild hypothermia during coronary artery bypass grafting.

Key words:
Temperature;  Depth of anesthesia;  Coronary artery bypass grafting


Glucan (from Alcaligenes faecalis) is a polymer composed of β-1,3-linked glucose residues and it has been addressed in different medical fields namely in nanotechnology as a vaccine or a drug delivery system. However, nanomaterials due to their small size may present new risks and uncertainties. Thus, this work aims to describe the production of glucan nanoparticles (NPs) with two different sizes, and to evaluate the influence of the NPs size on immunotoxicity. Results showed that immediately after production, glucan NPs presented an average size of 129.7 ± 2.5 nm and 355.4 ± 41.0 nm. Glucan NPs with 130 nm presented greater ability to decrease PBMCs and macrophage viability and induce ROS production than glucan NPs with 355 nm. Both NP sizes caused hemolysis and induced a higher metabolic activity in lymphocytes, although the concentration required to observe such effect was lower for the 130 nm glucan NPs. Regarding pro-inflammatory cytokines, only the larger glucan NPs (355 nm) were able to induce the secretion of the IL-6 and TNF-α, probably due to their recognition by dectin-1. This higher immunomodulatory effect of the larger NPs was also observed by its ability to stimulate the production of NO and IL-1β. On the contrary, small amount of Glu 130 NPs inhibited the NO production. In conclusion, on the safe-by-design of glucan NPs, the size of the particles should be an important critical quality attribute to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of the nanomedicine.


: We consider the irrelevant (cid:13)ow of classical Liouville (cid:12)eld theory driven by the T (cid:22) T operator. After discussing properties of its exact action and equation of motion we construct an in(cid:12)nite set of conserved currents. We also (cid:12)nd its vacuum solutions


This study presents a method to evaluate the suitability of existing and future ski areas in China based on a combination of natural and socioeconomic conditions. Blending geographic information system spatial analysis, remotely-sensed observations, online and field data, the authors were able to define an integrated index to identify the best suited locations for ski-resorts in the country. This index was evaluated using the locations of already existing resorts and more detailed information from a field survey of a panel of 35 resorts. Results show that 92% of the existing ski-resorts are currently located in areas with medium-to-high suitability indexes. As for future ski-resorts, this analysis framework could help driving new investments in the ski market at the national scale, by defining objective indicators to identify regions potentially interesting for developing ski-related activities. To this aim, the authors also suggest some broad strategies to guide the next steps of ski tourism industry in China. Response: We are grateful to Dr. Carlo Maria Carmagnola for his positive and constructive comments, which provided tremendous help for improving our manuscript. We have carefully addressed all the issues raised by him and modified our manuscript accordingly. Detailed responses (marked in blue font) are summarized in the following sections with the original comments (marked in black font). The revised manuscript is attached with changes marked in red font.


(b) The.higher altitude areas of Kigezi and Kasese-Rwenzori, the western Nile plateau and Mt. Elgon. There is a further extension from the slopes and foothills of Mt. Elgon to the fertile Sebei plain to the north and north-west, from the western slopes of the Rwenzori range and to Bwamba and from the Kigezi highlands northwards as far as the volcanic soils bordering the Western Rift valley (Mc Master 1962). The areas described here include the following districts and regions:-


The genesis of Mg-diorite or sanukitoids has significances to understand the crustal growth and tectonic style in Archean. The chemical compositions of minerals and rocks, whole-rock Sm–Nd isotope, zircon SIMS U–Pb ages and Hf–O isotopes of Zhulagou (ZLG) Mg-diorite and their mafic enclaves (Yinshan Block, North China Craton) were studied to place constraints on their sources and genesis, and therefore provide information about dynamic processes. The ∼2520 Ma ZLG diorites have intermediate SiO2 (59.4–65.5 wt.%), high Mg# (49–52), Cr (90.4–438 ppm), Ni (15.0–95.9 ppm), Sr (436–882 ppm) and Ba (237–1206 ppm) contents with fractionated rare earth elements (REE, LaN/YbN = 9.1–40.5) and depleted high field-strength element (HFSE, e.g. Nb, Ta and Ti). These geochemical signatures are similar to those Archean high-Mg diorites and sanukitoids. However, they are sodic with low K2O/Na2O (0.14–0.49) ratios, exhibiting an affinity with Archean trondhjemite–tonalite– granodiorite (TTG). Abundant coeval amphibole-bearing mafic enclaves (∼2525 Ma) are enclosed within the ZLG diorites. They display low SiO2 (46.5–50.3 wt.%) contents but high concentrations of MgO (9.0–14.5 wt.%), Cr (647–1946 ppm) and Ni (197–280 ppm). They are enriched in K2O (0.64–3.43 wt.%) and large ion lithophile element (LILE), depleted in Nb, Ta and Ti. Combined with their concave REE patterns and prominent negative Eu anomaly, we suggest that they are cumulates of the melt which probably derived from subduction-related Archean metasomatized mantle source. Mineral trace element modelling results, similar εNd(t) (+0.6 to +2.3) and δ18O(Zrc) values (∼8.6–9.0 h of the diorites and mafic enclaves, strongly reflect that they had experienced intense interaction and hybridization. Evolved whole-rock Nd isotopes (TDM = 2.80–2.70 Ga), variable zircon εHf (t) (–1.6 to +6.0) and high δ18O (∼9.0 h values of the diorites indicate that they most likely originated from melting of an older continental crust (≥ 2.65 Ga). The identified Archean highest δ18O(Zrc) (∼9.0 h magmatism further demonstrates that supra-crustal sediments or fluids have been transferred into the lower continental crust. All our observations provide first evidence that Archean high-Mg rocks (sanukitoids) can also form by partial melting of lower crust that hybridized with enriched mafic rocks. The associated mantle-crust interaction, large-scale crustal anatexis and high-grade metamorphism were probably induced by rollback of oceanic slab in a subduction zone in the Yinshan Block of the NCC during 2.52–2.50 Ga.


This article agrees with Donovans editorial regarding effective contraceptive advice for teenagers requiring a change of medical culture. However it disagrees with the researchers suggestion that the IUD may well be the ideal method of contraception for teenagers at risk of pregnancy because of their difficulty in using the combined pill consistently. Studies have found a risk of pelvic infection particularly 20 days after insertion of an IUD caused by preexisting sexually transmitted diseases. Although the progestogen-bearing IUD has a theoretical benefit in increasing the viscosity of cervical mucus and thereby possibly preventing ascending pelvic infection this is not yet proved. Discussions of contraception with young people should consider the issue of noncompliance in this population. One possible option to solve the compliance issue for many young people is the use of hormonal contraception.


Do participatory institutions facilitate gender empowerment? As these institutions spread around the world, we still know very little about the gendered nature of participatory democratic spaces. T...


School and art are communicating vessels. The moral unbridledness, spiritual dullness, rabid nihilism, and indifference that have arisen on the ruins of the former ideology create a background of everyday impressions against which discourses on inspiration, beauty, and moral ideals may seem out of place.


Lignocellulose comprises mainly cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin is the Earth's most abundant renewable source. It is a promising feedstock to produce biofuels, chemicals, sugars, and materials. Lignocellulose is a complex biopolymer therefore a cost effective consolidating bioprocessing microbes that directly convert lignocellulose into valuable end products are exploited. Microbes degrade lignocellulose by producing a battery of enzymes that work synergically. In the near future, processes that could lead to new, environmentally friendly technologies. Diverse mechanisms are used by organisms particularly glycoside hydrolases to deconstruct lignocellulose. Lignin depolymerisation is achieved by white-rot fungi and certain bacteria, using peroxidases and laccases. This study reviews an overview of enzymatic degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In addition, production of lignocellulolytic enzymes by different microorganisms are also outlined.


The use of iodinated contrast material in radiography is contraindicated in patients with known iodine sensitivity and such patients may present a management dilemma. The successful use of gadolinium in contrast sialography is described.


The standing of the public choice approach to politics is ambiguous. Most people now accept that there is something in it, even if the 'something' is restricted to Arrow's Social Choice and Individual Values, Downs's An Economic Theory of Democracy, Olson's The Logic of Collective Action, and (perhaps) Riker's The Theory of Political Coalitions. The Logic, for instance, is a cult abbreviation propagated by Olson himself but accepted by others. Three new adjectives (Downsian, Arrovian and Olsonian) are now established, although I have not yet found 'Rikerian'. By analogy (Keynesian, The General Theory), the language seems to denote acceptance. But the seminal works (they are always seminal, as dawn in the Odyssey is always rosy-fingered) came out between 1951 and 1965; so where are their successors? Why have they had relatively little impact on student texts and informed public opinion? In short, what has been going on? A very great deal, in fact. The first generation proposed bold hypotheses; their successors have put enormous efforts into refining them and proposing new ones, and (unfortunately) rather limited efforts into testing them. There have been four main lines of development. It would be impossible to review all four critically in a single article; therefore I make only fairly brief comments on the first three and devote most of this article to the fourth, which I think is one of the most promising and of the greatest interest to political scientists.


Spiral-wound woven wire meshes packed bed rotating cylinder electrode was used for the simultaneous removal of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) from a binary solution. The effects of weight percent of each metal on the removal and current efficiencies were studied at an operating current of 345A, while the effect of current on the removal efficiency of both metals was investigated at three levels of current (240, 345.and 400 mA). The experiments were carried out at constant rotation speed 800 rpm, pH = 3, and a total concentration of metals (500 ppm). The results showed that the removal efficiency of copper increased from 89% to 99.4% as its weight percent increased from 20% to100%. In a similar fashion, the removal efficiency of cadmium increased from 81% to 97% as its weight percent increased from 20% to100%. The results confirmed that the removal efficiency of any metals declined in the presence of the other. Increasing of current resulted in increasing the removal efficiency of both metals at different weight percents. The results confirmed that current efficiencies for removing of copper and cadmium simultaneously decline with increasing of electrolysis time and weight percent of cadmium or with decreasing the weight percent of copper. Current efficiency was higher at the initial stage of electrolysis for all weight percents of metals. The results showed that the decay of copper concentration was exponential at all weight percents of copper, confirming that the electrodeposition of copper is under mass transfer control in the presence of cadmium. While the decay of cadmium concentration was linear at lower weight percent of cadmium then changed to an exponential behavior at high weight percent of cadmium in the presence of copper.


20 (an of and the principles and values that informed their interest in community-based arts in health and their current lines of enquiry. I then made a subjective assessment of the key and recurring points they made. This was not intended to produce a credo or manifesto, but simply to identify what might constitute common ground for collaborations. The recurring points were:


The nuclear enterprise has long featured controversy and difficulties in gaining the broad social acceptance needed for project success. The base of scholarship available to help in this regard is smaller than needed, and not much used within the nuclear enterprise. Rather reliance upon public education efforts continues to be the main, and largely unsuccessful, tactic for such projects. We shall try to improve upon this situation. We shall develop a model for the social acceptability of nuclear projects, for use in assessment and refinement of their probabilities of success among essential stakeholders. To do this we shall build upon the existing literature to identify important factors of such success, and we shall utilize stakeholder interviews in relevant project environments in order to formulate the structure and causal strengths of such factors in determining acceptability. We shall utilize the system dynamics technique as the means of integrating the combined effects of these factors, and to reflect their simultaneous feedbacks. We shall refine the model by using it to reproduce the acceptance histories of selected nuclear project examples. We shall design an example nuclear waste storage facility to use in testing the ability of the model to improve understanding and to refine project designs. We shall disseminate the model and improved understandings of the dynamics acceptance to interested users via publications, conferences and workshops. Our success can be very valuable for the nuclear enterprise, and more broadly through strengthening our ability to understand how to design and implement large projects more efficiently.


Sincerity is the basic principle and the essence of athletics sports spirits,which is also the moral foundation of Chinese athletics sports development.But in the development of Chinese athletics sports,various interactive reasons have caused the serious shortage of sincerity.Necessary measures should be taken that including the sports rules arrangement、the honesty mechanisms、the social supporting systems and the virtues of sportsmen to strengthen the dynamics of sincerity education and the sincerity degree of Chinese athletics sports.The sincerity education must be taken so that the sports career will develop well.


This paper mainly deals with the dynamic mode characterization of the super-gain BJT developed in the GREMAN laboratory and a low-loss 600V AC switch which it gives birth to. Firstly, the conception and validation of the super-gain BJT as well as the AC switch are presented followed by the static mode characterization of these innovative bipolar components in order to highlight their promising performance on DC current gain and conduction power dissipation. Their interesting DC characteristics conduct us to carry on the dynamic characterization. The 'Double-pulse' configuration with inductive load is used as testing circuit for both components and a specific driver is developed in order to optimize their switching performance, it will be introduced along with the test bench in the second part of this paper. The third part of this paper is dedicated to present the switching curve of the super-gain BJT and a comparison of switching time between our super-gain BJT and a conventional BJT is also carried on. The dynamic characterization results of the 600V AC switch will be presented in the fourth part of this paper. The good dynamic performance of the super-gain BJT and the AC switch is revealed by the characterization results and along with its full controllability, good compatibility with actual fabrication process and the low conduction power dissipation, the advantages of the super-gain BJT and this innovative 600V AC switch structure have been confirmed.


Experimental and numerical studies were carried out on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a plate-fin heat exchanger.The temperature and pressure fields in each section of the heat exchanger were obtained by means of numerical simulation.Some performance parameters of the plate-fin heat exchanger,such as Nusselt number Nu,surface heat transfer factor j,friction factor f and power factorα~*,under various working conditions were obtained both numerically and experimentally.The variation curves of these parameters with Re are plotted.The results indicated that Nu andα~* increase with increasing Re,while j and f decrease with increasing Re.The correlations of Nu,α~* and f with Re were obtained for the design of plate-fin heat exchanger.


The invention discloses a comb-shaped self-emulsifying nonionic type water-borne epoxy resin, a water-borne epoxy resin emulsion and a water-borne epoxy resin preparation method. According to the water-borne epoxy resin preparation method, bisphenol-A or bisphenol-F type epoxy resin low in molecular weight is subjected to chain extension, and comb-shaped hydrophilic nonionic chain segments are introduced into the structure of the bisphenol-A or bisphenol-F type epoxy resin through chemical modification to obtain the comb-shaped self-emulsifying nonionic type water-borne epoxy resin. Self-emulsifying capability of the water-borne epoxy resin is enhanced greatly through the comb-shaped structure, and the emulsion comprising the water-borne epoxy resin can be stored for more than six months and can be used as a basic material of water-borne epoxy resin paint.


Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the treatment with eprosartan on cardiac hypertrophy in hypertensive patients using the echocardiogram to measure the hypertrophy of left ventricle. We studied 60 untreated patients diagnosed of mild to moderate hypertension which received after the diagnosis 600 mg/day of eprosartan, a novel direct angiotensin inhibitor recently introduced to treat hypertension. All patients were submitted to a standard echocardiographic study before the treatment and after 6 months of it We evaluated by echocardiogram the following parameters: left ventricular septum and posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass, E/A index of mitral flow considering abnormal when this index was less than 1, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Results: at the beginning we found a systolic/diastolic pressures of 165±9/ 96±4 mmHg compared with the end of study of 124±2/79±3 mmHg (p<0.05). Septum and posterior wall thickness were respectively at baseline 13...


Aim: In western countries, the most prevalent type of illicit substance-use dependence is cannabis dependence. This study aimed at estimating the prevalence of cannabis dependence among music festival visitors. Methods: Based on a survey of 380 music festival guests, we estimated the prevalence of cannabis dependence, as defined by a score of 3 or more on the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), as well as characteristics of cannabis dependent visitors. Results: 143 (38%) reported having used cannabis within the past year (past year cannabis users), and of these respondents, 21 (15%) screened positive for cannabis dependence. Compared to other cannabis users, the dependent respondents were more likely to be daily smokers, and they scored higher on self-reported sensation seeking. Compared with past-year non-users, both dependent users and non-dependent users were more likely to be men, weekly heavy drinkers, daily smokers and to score high on sensation seeking. Conclusions: Out of the past-year cannabis users recruited at a music festival, one in seven of those respondents showed indication of cannabis dependence. This suggests a need for both available treatment options and primary prevention of dependence.


Magnetic domain structure and magnetic anisotropy were studied in monocrystalline epilayers of Mg 0.9 Mn 0.3 Fe 1.8 O 4 ferrite. The layers, several micrometers thick, were obtained by a CVD method on monocrystalline MgO substrates. Domain observations were performed by the Bitter's method. Magnetic anisotropy measurements were performed by torque and FMR methods. In the demagnetized state, a typical stripe structure of 2.0 to 2.8 μm period was observed. From the domains behavior in the in-plane magnetic fields it was found that in these epilayers the rotatable anisotropy was present. The existence of this anisotropy was confirmed by torque measurements in small in-plane fields. The magnetic parameters characterizing these layers are: 4ΠM = 3500 Gs, K 1 = - 2.2 × 104ergs/cc, K N = 2.3 × 105ergs/cc.


The research presents a critical analysis of the prosecutor's practice of communicative interaction in the space of professional culture. The sociocultural nature of prosecutorial communications is explained. The "anthropological errors" are comprehended (J. Milbank) as a result of an unformed educational system that does not ensure the effectiveness of communicative culture in reality, characterized by a "performative failure of subjectivity" (Y. Ananka, H. Kirschbaum). The meaningful connection of the key concepts is revealed: culture, communicative culture, education, etc. It is established that the educated communicative culture is a conceptual tool for developing behavioral strategies that ensure constellation in the "empire of law and order". The purpose of the article is to consider the anthropological aspect of the problem of educating the communicative culture of a prosecutor's employee. The axiological analysis of the traditional communicative culture of the prosecutor's employee was carried out; the following methods were used: the method of scientific observation, the analysis of communicative behavior in the light of the theory of axiological communication; an interview determining the degree of compliance of the interaction of prosecutor's employees with the norms of institutional communication. It is established that the communicative processes accompanying the prosecutor's activity are the axiogenic and anthropological basis for the formation and development of the educational system.


ABSTRACTPalliative care uses a team approach to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illness, addressing physical, psychosocial and spiritual suffering (Sepulveda, Marlin, Yoshida, & Ullrich, 2002). Music therapy with hospice patients receiving end of life care frequently takes place when visiting family members are present. The audit detailed in this paper focused on caring behaviours that occurred during such music therapy sessions. Observation of 52 hospice in-patients, identified as near the end of life, was conducted during the normal course of music therapy. An investigator-designed tool was used to record before and during session observations. Data collection was carried out by the investigator, who was also the music therapist. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings describe changes in visiting family members' caring behaviours towards patients during music therapy, the most frequently observed being greater focus on the patient, softened facial expression, expressing emotion in tears and moving to sit closer to the patient. These findings suggest that music therapy may be conducive to family expressions of care.KEYWORDS:Music therapy, palliative care, hospice, caring behaviours, familyIntroductionHospice philosophy accepts that patients and their families are the focus of care during a life-limiting illness (Mary Potter Hospice, 201 2). As patients near the end of life, communication of thoughts and feelings by their loved ones often becomes increasingly important but can also be more difficult (Krout, 2003). Working as a music therapist, the first author saw that music therapy frequently facilitated observable caring behaviours by family members towards their dying loved ones. Similarly, Krout (2003) observed increased family communication during music therapy with imminently dying patients and their loved ones. This coming together often facilitated the necessary letting go by both patient and family as death approached (Krout, 2003). The National Cancer Institute (201 3) suggests that the relationship between a dying patient and loved ones will affect their ability to cope with their bereavement.The audit described in this paper sought to consider family members' expressions of care to their dying loved ones in an inpatient hospice during music therapy. Specific questions asked of the enquiry included: Do family caring behaviours increase during music therapy? During music therapy what observable caring behaviours do families show to their dying loved one? What are the most frequent caring behaviours? Are there any associations between type of caring behaviour and demographic characteristics of the patient?Music therapy at the end of lifeThe care given in hospice by an interdisciplinary team aims to meet the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of clients (Aldridge, 1996). As the patient shifts from living to dying they may be confused and anxious, become less alert or unresponsive (West, 1994). This sacred and highly privileged work requires respect, skill and sensitivity (Becker & Camlin, 2004). Anstey (1 991) suggested that listening to a patient and responding with care and compassion may have greater therapeutic value than a clinical procedure. Music therapy adds an individualised, creative dimension to symptom management and facilitates life-affirming experiences at the end of life (Daveson, 2011), as professional music therapists use music in a therapeutic relationship to give physical, psychosocial or spiritual support (O'Callaghan, 2004). Hogan (1997) investigated how terminally ill patients experienced music therapy. This phenomenological study was conducted with nine patients who had been diagnosed with cancer and were receiving hospice care. Their responses to music therapy included crying, smiling, becoming angry, reminiscing, sharing in the singing, looking thoughtful and talking about their life and people in it. …


The skin lining the cartilaginous portion of the external auditory meatus contains two types of glands, sebaceous glands and modified apocrine sweat glands called ceruminous glands. Both types contribute to the formation of cerumen (wax). The quantity of wax produced varies greatly from one individual to another. In the majority of people the wax dries and separates as small flakes which fall out of the meatus. However, wax may accumulate and cause deafness by blocking the meatus (Hammond, 1971). Mawson (1963) has mentioned that excessive wax accumulation is due to its increased production by the ceruminous glands. The aim of this work is to try to find out whether the accumulation of wax is due to lack of separation and fall out of the meatus, or due to hyperactivity of the glands.


Environmental context Perfluoroalkyl substances were recognised as global environmental pollutants 10 years ago. Although considerable advancements have been made in our understanding of the environmental distribution, fate and toxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances, several important issues remain to be resolved. This article identifies existing knowledge gaps that deserve further investigations to enable meaningful regulatory decisions. Abstract It has been over a decade since perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were discovered as global environmental contaminants. Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the environmental fate and toxic effects of PFASs since then. Government regulations and voluntary emission reduction initiatives by industry have been effective in reducing environmental and human exposure to a major PFAS, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), in the United States and several other western countries. Although significant advances have been made in our understanding of the environmental chemistry of PFASs, considerable knowledge gaps still exist in several areas of environmental fate and risk assessments. Owing to their complex chemistry, involving existence of multiple precursors with significant numbers of structural isomers and mixtures of homologues, multiple degradation pathways and unique physicochemical properties, challenges remain in elucidating sources and environmental fate. In this overview, some of the knowledge gaps in PFASs' research have been identified and suggestions for future research have been made.


Abstract : Previous experiments and research have indicated rectification of modulated electromagnetic interference can cause upset effects in digital electronics. Although RF rectification has been observed in discrete components, only speculation of the most sensitive mechanisms causing RF rectification has been proposed. Through theoretical analysis, experiments, and simulations, the p-n junctions in ESD protection circuits were determined to be very susceptible to rectifying pulse modulated RF signals. Threshold experiments on several logic families of CMOS inverters provided indications to susceptibilities of electronics based on their input ESD protection topology. High frequency port measurements were performed identifying resonances between 500 MHz and 1.5 GHz due to inductances from bonding wires and the voltage dependent junction capacitances of the ESD protection circuits. Parasitic elements have also been determined to help promote additional effects including bias shifts, state changes, RF gain, and undesirable circuit resonances. DC and high frequency parameter extraction techniques were used to build diode and generic inverter models including package parasitics in PSPICE. Models were designed which gave good agreement to measured rectification drive curves, input impedance resonances, output voltage bias shifts, and induced spurious oscillations.


The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of Days Inventory, Days Receivable, Days Payable, Leverage . Debt to Equity Ratio, Current Ratio on Manufacturing Firms profitability in Indonesian Sharia Stock Index by 2011 until 2015. The problems in this research gap from former Research and the business gap phenomenon from the Manufacturing Firms over period 2011-2015. Therefore a deeper research to observe the problems which influence Return on Assets with reasonable theory Research variables consisted of six independent variables and 1 dependent variable is profitability (ROA). Data analysis technique to answer research problem and examine research hypothesis using Panel Data Regression Analysis. Data obtained from Indonesian Stock Exchange published via Website realtime, obtained 30 data samples. Based on the research, known that the effect of Days Payable on Manufacturing Firmsprofitability partially significant. Meanwhile, other independent variables partially not significant. Otherhand the effect ofall six independent variable simultaneous significant effect on Manufacturing Firms profitability


TRANSPORT AND FIRST-PRINCIPLES STUDY OF NOVEL THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS by Hang Chi Chair: Ctirad Uher Thermoelectric materials can recover waste industrial heat and convert it to electricity as well as provide efficient local cooling of electronic devices. The efficiency of such environmentally responsible and exceptionally reliable solid state energy conversion is determined by the dimensionless figure-of-merit ZT = ασT/κ, where α is the Seebeck coefficient, σ is the electrical conductivity, κ is the thermal conductivity, and T is the absolute temperature. The goal of the thesis is to (i) illustrate the physics to achieve high ZT of advanced thermoelectric materials and (ii) explore fundamental structure and transport properties in novel condensed matter systems, via an approach combining comprehensive experimental techniques and state-of-the-art first-principles simulation methods. Thermo-galvanomagnetic transport coefficients are derived from Onsager's reciprocal relations and evaluated via solving Boltzmann transport equation using FermiDirac statistics, under the relaxation time approximation. Such understanding provides


A method based on interpolating sampling technology is proposed in this paper to achieve high precision time difference measurement in TDOA location system.Compared with traditional methods,this method converts the clock quantization error's measurement to the phase measurement of reference signals,thus completely eliminating the traditional methods' principle error.Theoretical analysis and MATLAB simulation are discoursed fully in the paper.Results show that a time difference measure precision within 70 ps can be achieved under the current device performance.This technology can also be used for the clock synchronization of base stations in TDOA location system.The clock synchronization error will be effectively reduced.So the positioning accuracy shall be further improved as well.


Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator involved in functional adaptation in all tissues to exercise, as shown in recent studies. The aim of this shortterm study was to evaluate the hypothesis that the important factor of higher performance of trained females during exhaustive exercise can be the interaction between physiological effect of nitric oxide and oxidant/antioxidant response. Methods: Males and females of trained mice were divided into three groups: basal, fasting and prolonged exercise. Parameters of oxidant/antioxidant state, including nitric oxide and glutathione were measured in blood, muscle, liver, heart, kidney, brain, small intestine, adipose tissue and thoracic aorta. Females in this animal model had better performance than males during exhaustive exercise. Results: Females showed greater basal levels of nitric oxide, total antioxidant status and glutathione peroxidase in most tissues evaluated. Compared to fasting levels, the net effects of prolonged exercise included lipoperoxidation in liver, brain and kidney, and nitrosative stress in liver, muscle and heart only in males. The decrement of glutathione without significant changes in its grade of oxidation was observed in liver, intestine and adipose tissue only in females, confirmed possible redistribution of reduced glutathione during prolonged exercise. Conclusion: It is possible that the gender difference that existed in the performance of the animals during exhaustive exercise was determined by NO modulation of the oxidant/antioxidant response in tissues, and particularly of the redistribution of glutathione from the liver to other tissues. NOinduced vasodilatation can be beneficial for ischemic tissues during prolonged or exhaustive exercise. iD D ow nl oa de d fr om p pj .p hy ph a. ir at 1 0: 20 + 03 30 o n M on da y N ov em be r 4t h 20 19 225 | Physiol Pharmacol 23 (2019) 224-234 Kormanovski et al. exercise in particular (Nakao et al., 2000; Ravi Kiran et al., 2004; Liu et al., 2000; Yamamoto et al., 2002). There is a gender difference in the oxidant/antioxidant response during the stress provoked by exhaustive or prolonged swimming in animal model (Lew et al., 1985; Pepe, 2001) but this information is controversial and dispersed in various publications with different types of animals, tissues, measured parameters, training and exercise protocols (Qian et al., 2001; Ay et al., 2007; Powers et al., 2014; Xiao et al., 2003). Nitric oxide (NO) is a relatively weak radical compared to peroxynitrite, the product of the reaction of NO with the superoxide radical (contribution to oxidative stress), and there is a second messenger involved in adaptation process in different tissues to exercise, as shown in various studies (Simoncini et al., 2000; Xiao et al., 2003; Lo Faro et al., 2014). The data about effects of exercise and NO production in cardiopulmonary system was analyzed in a recent review (Nosarev et al., 2015). Authors suggest that training improves functioning of the cardiovascular system through an increase in NO bioavailability, potentiation of antioxidant defense and decrease in oxidative stress. Principal physiological effects of NO in short-term study are vasodilatation that can be beneficial for tissue during prolonged or exhaustive exercise. The information about interaction between response of NO and antioxidant defense to stress in trained rodents is limited and focused principally on the heart (Santos et al., 2011; Farah et al., 2013; Roof et al., 2015; Zhang, 2017). Changes in vascular reactivity of coronary artery and thoracic aorta was in wild-type and null mutant mice were investigated in a recent study (Castillo-Hernandez et al., 2017). There is controversial data on the effects of NO on glutathione (GSH) synthesis, from increase in cellculture studies (Kuo et al., 1996) to decrease in vivo studies (Minamiyama et al., 1996; Payabvash et al., 2006). GSH is an abundant endogenous antioxidant synthesized in great quantities in the liver. It can be mobilized through the blood flow to tissues in the event of an imbalance between the production of ROS and the antioxidant defense. The aim of the present short-term study was to explore, in different tissues and blood of trained mice, the gender differences in the basal levels of NO and oxidant/antioxidant status (including GSH) and the net response during the physical stress provoked by prolonged exercise. Materials and methods Animals and training protocol All procedures and handling of the animals were in accordance with Mexican Federal Regulations for Animal Experimentation and Care (NOM-062-ZOO1999, Ministry of Agriculture, Mexico City, Mexico). This study was approved by the Institutional Laboratory Use and Care Committee (CICUAL) of the Escuela Superior de Medicina of Instituto Politecnico Nacional, N° 02/28-08-2015. This national regulation is in accordance with the international ethics standards of the scientific journal. The professional training in swimming of humans also begins in age 78 years that was reflected in the age of mice in this animal model. Two-month-old males (n=21) and females (n=21) Balb/C mice were maintained in transparent plastic cages at 20-25°C on a 12h light/dark cycle with food and water available ad libitum. All animals were trained for 14 weeks for unforced swimming program (flotation). The training started with a 2-week adaption program with swimming sessions 3 times per week. The time of exercising was gradually increased from 10 to 60min per session. Afterwards, the mice continued to be trained 3 times a week (60min per session) for another 12 weeks. Compared to other rodent studies involving swimming training, we consider that the present protocol represents moderate exercise training. Water temperature was 32±2°C. Swimming sessions were carried out in transparent tanks divided into cells (25×25cm), one animal per cell. After each exercise session, mice were dried and returned to their cages. All sessions were conducted between 11am and 1pm to avoid variations due to the circadian cycle. The pilot study demonstrated that females in this animal model had better performance than males during exhaustive swimming (297±12min vs 252±16min, P<0.01). Study design Trained animals of the same sex were divided into three groups (n=7): basal, fasting and prolonged swimming exercise. The fasting and prolonged swimming both lasted 4 hours. This time was chosen for prolonged exercise because the time of exhaustive swimming was between 4.5 and 5 hours D ow nl oa de d fr om p pj .p hy ph a. ir at 1 0: 20 + 03 30 o n M on da y N ov em be r 4t h 20 19 Stress response: nitric oxide and antioxidant defense Physiol Pharmacol 23 (2019) 224-234 | 226 in this animal model. The fasting subgroup was included because of the following two reasons: during 4 hours the animals were obviously fasting and can be gender difference in response to fasting, thus permitting us to eliminate the effects by comparing post-exercise with post-fasting levels (net effect of exercise). The basal measurement was made by sacrificing the mice at 11am. Tissues and blood processing Animals were sacrificed immediately after the respective procedure by diethyl ether anesthesia, which affects oxidant/antioxidant parameters to a lesser extent compared to other procedures. Liver, skeletal muscle from the hind leg (vastus lateralis), heart, brain, small intestine (lamina propria and mucosa), kidney and visceral adipose tissue were extracted and stored at -80°C to await analysis. Samples were obtained by placing a tissue in 30mmol cold phosphate buffer solution (pH: 7.2) and adding 0.1% of Triton 100 (1mg of tissue per 10μl of buffer). Tissues were homogenized and centrifuged at 10000rpm for 15min (4°C) and the supernatants were stored at -80°C for no more than two weeks before being analyzed. Whole blood samples with heparin (for enzymes measurements) and plasma were stored at -80°C. The Cayman chemical assay kit was employed for measurement of total proteins (TP, No.704002), nitric oxide (NO, nitrates/nitrites, No.780001), total reduced glutathione (GSH, No.703002), oxidized GSH (GSSG, No. 703002) and the activity of catalase (CAT, No. 707002) in homogenates of tissues. In the tissues with high presence of blood (liver, heart and kidney) homogenates was treated by Amicon Ultra0.5 centrifugal filter devices (30K) before the determination of NO. The Randox chemical kits were adapted in order to measure total antioxidant status (TAS, No. NX2332) (Miller et al., 1993) as well as the activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD, No.SD125) and total glutathione peroxidase (GPx, No. RS504) in homogenates of the tissues. Products of lipoperoxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) were also measured (Hicks et al., 1995). The values of TBARS, NO, TAS, GSH and GSSG were expressed as nmol/mg of TP and enzymes in U/mg of TP for SOD, CAT and GPx. The degree of GSH oxidation was calculated: GSSG/2GSH×100%. The corticosterone (CST, Enzo Life Sciences, No. ADI-901-097) level in both genders and estradiol (EST, Assay Designs, No. 0460818) level in females was determined in plasma by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TAS, NO (nmol/ml), lactate (mmol/l, Randox, LC2389) were also measured in plasma. Enzymes activity and hemoglobin (HB) were also measured in whole blood and were expressed as U/g HB. Statistical analyses After collection of data, statistical analysis was performed on SPSS. Data are presented as the mean±SD. Statistical evaluation was performed using analysis of variances (ANOVA) followed by Tukey post hoc test. A P value <0.05 was considered significant. We analyzed the Pearson bivariate correlation between the different basal parameters measured in the all tissues in both genders and P value <0.05 was considered significant.


We study the properties of exciton excitations in the Hubbard model with alternating potential and dimerized hopping terms at half-filling. With increasing Coulomb repulsion, we find that a spin triplet exciton band develops below the band gap. At a certain critical interaction, the excitation gap of this exciton band vanishes and a new phase with a dimerized ground state emerges. The value of this critical Coulomb interaction is determined perturbatively.


Introduction: The Hospital to Home Outcomes study began with the end goal of evaluating the effectiveness of a single, nurse-led transitional home visit (home visit) program, for acutely ill, pediatric patients, which had been piloted at our institution. As part of the overall study design, building on prior randomized control trials that utilized a run-in period prior to the trial, our study team designed an optimization period to test the home visit and study procedures under real-world conditions. Methods: For this optimization project, there were 3 process improvement goals: to improve the referral process to the home visit, to optimize the home visit content, and to define and operationalize measures of patient- and family-centered outcomes to be used in the subsequent randomized control trial. During the optimization period, a multidisciplinary study team met weekly to review family and stakeholder feedback about the iterative modifications made to the home visit process, content, and outcome measures. Results: Optimization home visits were completed with 301 families across a variety of discharge diagnoses. The outcomes planned for the clinical trial were tested and refined. Feedback from families and stakeholders indicated that the content changes made to the home visits resulted in increased family knowledge of warning signs to monitor postdischarge. Thirty-one percent of families reported that they altered the care of their child after the home visit. Conclusion: Through iterative testing, informed by multistakeholder feedback, we leveraged patient and family engagement to maximize the effectiveness and generalizability of the home visit intervention.


Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a clinically relevant symptom with high prevalence in teenagers and young adults worldwide. NSSI is associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders, is known to cause serious harm and acts as predictive factor for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Social and biological risk factors play an important role in the onset and maintenance of NSSI. Various terms are used in the world-literature for the study of self-injurious behaviour (SIB). These inconsistencies have to be taken into account in the assessment of recent and current international data. Along with further clarifying the different terms of SIBs, there is yet an urgent need to further examine contributing neurobiological factors, develop innovative international valid methods of risk-assessments, and to develop new evidence-based treatment approaches, as well as prevention strategies that consider neurobiological findings.


Myotatic, Kinesthetic and Vestibular Mechanisms Ciba Foundation Symposium edited byAV S de Reuck and Julie Knight pp xi+331 illustrated 65s London: J& A Churchill 1967 Previous symposia in this series have dealt with vision, and with touch, pain, and temperature. This volume brings together the views of twentysix international authorities in the proprioceptive field. The symposium was divided into four sections covering myotatic and kinesthetic mechanisms; the vestibular end organs; the vestibular pathways; and clinical aspects of the vestibular apparatus. Each of these gives a wideranging view of the 'state of the art' in its particular area, and is a witness to the considerable detail available. Unlike, say, colour vision, proprioception is a complex under which a considerable number of sensory receptor systems are grouped. Although most of these are presumably closely interrelated as, for example, in the control of posture, a point which emerges from this symposium is the present lack of any satisfactory integrating theory which can describe the whole system. This is not, of course, a criticism of the Symposium itself, which is of the high standard we have become accustomed to expect from the Ciba Foundation. Indeed, one of the functions of such symposia should be to reveal and delimit just where the next salients of research effort should properly be made. Information on where these areas lie often emerges more readily in free discussion than from formal papers, and it is satisfactory to see that a high proportion of the symposium (some 40% of the printed text) takes this form. I C WHITFIELD


a a o n c v r g c s Abstract—Anaphylaxis to animal bites and stings poses significant medical risk of vascular or respiratory reacions that vary according to the patient's response and ature of the insult. Emergency Physicians frequently see atients who complain of an allergic reaction to an animal ite or sting. Although Hymenoptera stings, specifically hose of wasps, bees, and hornets, account for the majority f these cases, other invertebrates and vertebrates are caable of causing allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. Many f the causative animals are quite unusual, and their bites nd stings are not commonly appreciated as potential auses of anaphylaxis. We conducted a literature review to dentify documented reports of anaphylaxis and anaphylacoid reactions to animal bites and stings. This summary is eant to heighten awareness of the diversity of animals that ay cause anaphylaxis, hopefully leading to more rapid iagnosis and treatment of this dangerous condition. A iverse group of animals was found whose bites and stings ause anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions. Some case ummaries are presented. A potentially life-saving plan is to irect patients to proper follow-up care to prevent a future ife-threatening reaction, including: prescribing epinephine and antihistamines with proper instructions for their se; referral to an allergist to determine if skin testing, adioallergosorbent test, and immunotherapy are indicated; nd reporting the case to state or local Poison Control Centers. In ome cases it may be helpful to consult an entomologist or a pest ontrol service for help in identification and elimination of certain ffenders. © 2007 Elsevier Inc.


Abstract. In the last 2 decades, Morocco has known rapid growth of urban transformation followed by significant Population growth, which causes serious environmental problems related to water pollution and scarcity, and social with the deficiencies of infrastructures. And this has been witnessed in the city of Biougra which requires taking serious steps and adopting new projects to solve these issues as soon as possible. And as a reflection of that, this paper takes advantage of Geographic information system (GIS) coupled tools in the first place to locate future sites for building new schools using weighted overlay analysis approach, to improve the education system. And in the second place to choose potential sites for implementing new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) by adopting multicriteria analysis (MCA). Finally, as a part of saving cultural heritage, and improving the social and economic situation for local citizens, we aim to value cooperative of this region as a replacement of poor touristic quality in the city, by making a track of the existing cooperative and profit from 3d modeling as a part of providing the traveler the best possible guide to reach these points of interest and also develop a desktop application for editing and manipulating different types of file related to cooperatives. This study showed successful results by localizing a new site to build a school in the northeastern of the city, and a match between the found site for WWTP and the existing station but with giving a possibility for expansion.


Objective:To provide experimental basis for exploring pathogenic mechanism of Chlamydophila pneumoniae,and to investigate the changes of pulmonary inflammation and inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-6 levels in mouse model.Methods:The gene fragment of Chlamydial protease-like activity factor(CPAF)from C.pneumoniae(CPAFm) was cloned,which encoded 181~400aa of the protein.The gene fragment was inserted into plasmid(name) and expressed in Escherichia coli.The purified recombinant GST-CPAFm protein was instilled into anterior nose or injected into the caudal vein of BALB/c mice 3 times on the day 1,3 and 6.On the day 7,the mice were killed.Pathological alteration was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The total white blood cells of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was counted with blood cell counting plate,and the concentration of TNF-α and IL-6 in both plasma and BALF was detected by Enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay technique.Results:(1) Histological examination showed a marked inflammatory immune responses in the mouse lung tissues after intranasal application or intravenous injection of 100 μg GST-CPAFm and there were obvious leukocyte infiltration,such as neutrophils,lymphocytes and macrophages in bronchiole and perivascular.There were no obvious pathological changes in the control and normal group BALB/c mice.(2) The percentage of peripheral blood neutrophils in GST-CPAFm intravenously group was significantly higher than that of the GST group(P0.05),PBS group(P0.05) and normal group(P0.01).(3) The level of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 of the peripheral blood in GST-CPAFm intranasally group was significantly higher than that of the GST group(P0.01),PBS group(P0.01) and normal group(P0.01),and the level of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α were significantly higher than in the GST group(P0.05),PBS group(P0.01) and normal group(P0.01);and the level of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 in GST-CPAFm intravenously group was significantly higher than that of the GST group (P0.01),PBS group(P0.01) and normal group P0.01).(4) The level of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α of BALF in GST-CPAFm intranasally group were significantly higher than that of the GST,PBS and normal group(P0.01);and the level of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α of BALF in GST-CPAFm intravenously group were significantly higher than the GST,PBS and normal group(P0.01).Conclusion:Therecombinant GST-CPAFm protein has pathogenicity and could induce obvious pulmonary inflammatory reaction and lung injury,which are relevant to the increase of inflammatory cells and the expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-6 in BALF.


In the past few years there is a change in the view of high performance applications and parallel computing. Initially such applications were targeted towards dedicated parallel machines. Recently trend is changing towards building meta-applications composed of several modules that exploit heterogeneous platforms and employ hybrid forms of parallelism. The aim of this paper is to propose a model of virtual parallel computing. Virtual parallel computing system provides a flexible object oriented software framework that makes it easy for programmers to write various parallel applications. Keywords—Applet, Efficiency, Java, LAN


Abstract Blending of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (RPET) and polycarbonate (PC) was performed by melt compounding. The blends were subsequently fabricated to dumbbell specimens by vented injection molding. The mechanical properties, thermal characteristic and morphology of RPET/PC blends were investigated as a function of PC contents. Vented injection molding presented an advantage for superior mechanical properties of RPET/PC blends. The addition of PC enhanced impact strength and fracture toughness with remaining tensile properties. The glass transition temperatures of PET and PC shifted toward each other, which indicated their partial miscibility of RPET and PC in the blends. The toughness mechanism of RPET and PC was related to core-shell structure and good interfacial adhesion at higher contents of PC.


The utility model relates to a medical preserved-skin knife rack, comprising a pressing plate, a bottom plate and a handle which is arranged vertically at the lower part of the bottom plate. The utility model is characterized in that the bottom plate is of the same width with the pressing plate, the width of the bottom plate and the pressing plate are both smaller than the width of a knife blade, and both sides at the upper part of the handle are provided with arc-shaped grooves. The utility model can not generate the phenomena of squeezing and expanding, and is especially suitable for the preserved skin of a position which has longer hairs.


Universal Display Corporation and its University partners at Princeton and the University of Southern California, are developing high-efficiency phosphorescent OLEDs for both active and passive matrix displays. Recent results show excellent device efficiencies and lifetimes.


It is difficult to make decision when the information is diverse and the weight of attribute is unknown.A weight calculating method based on uncertain entropy was proposed in this paper to solve this problem.In this new method,both the complete and incomplete assessments of every attribute were transformed under unified belief framework,and the objective weight of every attribute could be calculated based on its entropy.With the Evidential Reasoning(ER) approach,the new weight calculating method could realize Multiple Attribute Decision Making(MADM) based on uncertain entropy while the weight of attribute is unknown.A case was provided to illustrate the validity and feasibility of this method.


One of six deaths globally is due to cancer. In 2018, prostate cancer (PCa) represented 1.28 million cases worldwide, the second most frequent cancer diagnosis and fifth leading cause of death in men. Currently, the mortality rate of PCa has experienced a steady increase due to the progression of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). As an androgen driven disease, androgen deprivation therapies (ADTs) have been employed for treatment. However, despite ADTs, mCRPC develops by maintaining AR signaling, which can eventually lead to progression of AR-independent neuroendocrine PCa (NEPC). NEPC is observable in 1 in 5 men with mCRPC and associated with poor outcome. Therefore, further understanding the mechanisms of progression to mCRPC and NEPC is required. The 8q24 human chromosomal region associated with Increased PCa incidence and aggressiveness contains the PVT1 (Plasmocytoma Variant Translocation 1) locus. The PVT1 locus encodes six microRNAs, including microRNA-1205 (miR-1205) in PCa. Our laboratory previously confirmed that miR-1205 is underexpressed in PCa tissue in comparison to normal prostatic tissue and in CRPC cells in comparison to non-CRPC cells. To understand the molecular mechanism of miR-1205, we performed RNA pull down and RNA sequencing analysis to identify miR-1205 molecular targets in non-tumorigenic RWPE-1 prostate epithelial cells and PCa cells (MDA PCa 2b (metastatic PCa), PC-3 (NEPC), and C4-2B (CRPC)). We identified one cut homeobox 2 (ONECUT2 or OC2) as a direct molecular target of miR-1205. ONECUT2 is a master regulator of transcriptional factors that drives NEPC by through regulating hypoxia signaling or inducing neuroendocrine markers. ONECUT2 enrichment was approximately 3-fold higher in RWPE-1 (P=0.26), 2-fold in PC-3 (P=0.06), 1-fold in C4-2B (P=0.05) and MDA PCa 2b (P=0.02) cells. The significant binding of miR-1205 to ONECUT-2 in the PC-3 NEPC cell line suggests that miR-1205 regulation of ONECUT2 may be an important molecular mechanism in NEPC. Consequently, further study of miR-1205 and ONECUT2 in NEPC is required. Citation Format: Bachelard Dieujuste, Michelle Naidoo, Olorunseun Ogunwobi. MicroRNA-1205 directly targets ONECUT2 in neuroendocrine prostate cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2364.


Performance costumes are an important element in the stages which set the tones and embody characters in the performances. This study focuses on Gisaeng's costumes in folk dance performances when Korea experienced modernization from Joseon Dynasty, and aims to examine the features of the costumes as well as how the costumes both influenced, and got influenced by, the rapidly changing society. Gisaeng had been legal entertainment performers of the government in the Joseon Dynasty and, despite careful training and talents, had inferior social status in Joseon's social hierarchy system. In the modern society, a new system of Gisaeng emerged and the first public theater opened. The advent of theaters changed performance stages and the ways performances are conducted. This study investigated Gisaeng's performance costumes by the type of folk dances, such as monk dance, palace dance, Salfuri dance, Jangu dance, and Ip dance. The study brings light to three conclusions. First, as folk dances which had been performed by civil dancers were spread to Gisaeng, Gisaeng's costumes absorbed the costumes of civil dancers. Also, royal costumes appeared in folk dance performances. This can be viewed as mixture of royal and folk dance costumes, resulted from interactions between Gisaeng and civil art performers associated with the modernizing society and the weakening of the old hierarchical class system. Second, as performing arts on stages were modernizing, performance costumes changed accordingly. Thirdly, Giseang's costumes in folk dances also adapted the introduction of the western culture, which largely influenced the fashion trends of people in the early modern society in Korea.


OBJECTIVE:To detect the expression of S100A4 gene in colon cancer and discuss the relationship between the expression of S100A4 gene and colon cancer.METHODS:The expression of S100A4 gene in colon cancer cells was detected by RT-PCR.The expression of S100A4 gene in samples of cancerous tissues and corresponding non-cancerous tissues from 61 colon cancer patients was detected by using in situ hybridization.RESULTS:There was no expression of S100A4 gene in non-cancerous tissues.The positive rate of S100A4 gene in colon cancer(34.4%) was significantly higher than that in non-cancerous mucosa(P0.05) and 55.2%(16/29) cancerous tissues had positive expression of S100A4 gene with metastasis of lymph node,while only 15.6%(5/32) without metastasis.The positive rate of S100A4 gene was 0 in stage A cases,12%(3/25) in stage B cases,46.7%(7/15) in stage C cases and 64.7%(11/17) in stage D cases.What's more,the expression of S100A4 gene was higher in samples with higher diameter(3 cm),protrude type and poor differentiation,but the difference was not significant,P0.05.The expression of S100A4 was higher in colon cancer,and the expression of S100A4 had positive correlation with the clinical stage and lymph node metastasis.The expression of S100A4 gene was significantly higher in samples with the later clinical stage or lymph node metastasis.CONCLUSION:The expression of S100A4 gene is significantly associated with invasive and metastasis of colon cancer,which is a valuable marker predicting biological behavior and prognosis of colon cancer.


In this paper, we focus on efficient column generation (CG)-based method for routing and spectrum allocation (RSA) of anycast traffic in survivable elastic optical networks (EONs). The studied anycast traffic is modelled as a two-directional transmission (from the client node to a data center and from a data center to the client) while the network is protected against a single link failure by a dedicated path protection (DPP). The paper main focus is put on proposal and comparison of different policies regarding column adding process for anycast demands. Overall, four CG versions are proposed. The simulation results show that the versions significantly differ in the performance especially in terms of the processing time. What is more, the results prove high efficiency of the proposed CG approach that outperforms reference methods and achieves solutions very close to optimal ones (average gap to optimal result was at most 2%).


In order to address the problems of TCP end-to-end congestion control, the IETF advocates to deploy active queue management mechanisms in the network. Blue is a popular AQM algorithm. It uses packet loss and link idle events to manage congestion. Compared with RED, Blue has many advantages. But because of lacking incipient congestion detecting mechanism, it suffers from queue size oscillations. Moreover many active TCP connections in the router or the variety of the number of active TCP connections will lead to queue overflow and underflow. A new AQM algorithm named "SBlue" (stabilized Blue) is proposed. Simulation results indicate that SBlue can effectively stabilize the queue occupation at a level independent of the number of active TCP connections and mitigate the queue overflow and underflow.


As loneliness among elderly is increasing and the shortage of medical personnel is not decreasing, a method which keeps track of mental health could be used to reduce the workload and improve the healthcare received by elderly. Such a method is being developed in the Welzijn.AI programme in the form of an application. Part of this application involves predicting sentiment in short, colloquial, written Dutch medical texts by elderly. This thesis explored versions of both the word-based Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) model and the embedding-based Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) model to predict sentiment on these short texts. This was done in both a multiclass and binary setting. A dataset was acquired through a survey resulting in a collection of texts labelled as positive, negative or neutral. The objective was to see which of the models, or an ensemble of the two, would perform best and to evaluate the usability of the model in a real life application. To allow for a neutral class on the binary fine-tuned BERT model, a threshold analysis was done to determine the optimal thresholds for the neutral class. The experiments showed that using an ensemble of BERT and LIWC outperforms the separate models in both a binary ( F1: 0.98, kappa: 0.69 ) and multiclass setting ( F1: 0.59, Kappa: 0.29 ). It is concluded that future research is necessary to improve the multiclass model as it currently does not perform well enough to be used as a reliable model. When the question leaves no room for a neutral class the binary class can be used which performs well enough to use reliably.


The system impact of edge buffering required in optical networks is often overlooked. We quantify the timing, area and power characteristics of a speculative optical network adapter designed for high performance shared memory servers.


Here, we describe the case of a 67-year-old man who had been under surveillance for solitary pulmonary nodule for two years and was diagnosed with malignancy via electro-navigational bronchoscopy (...


This paper updates and supplements the author's previous paper "deflection methods and pavement design - a basis for rational pavement design" presented in Session J of New Zealand Roading Symposium 1967, and is given in support of the author's opinion that deflection methods afford a viable basis for pavement design. /AUTHOR/


Summary. Transportation is an inseparable part of the supply chain, with a key role in product distribution. This role is...


Inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–encoded protease, combined with nucleoside analogues with antiretroviral activity, cause profound and sustained suppression of viral replication, reduce morbidity, and prolong life in patients with HIV infection.1–3 Recent guidelines recommend that initial treatment of all HIV-infected patients include the administration of an HIV-protease inhibitor.4 The HIV-Encoded Protease The HIV protease, encoded in the 5' end of the pol gene, is expressed as part of the gag–pol polyprotein (Figure 1A, Figure 1B, and Figure 1C). This gene encodes a 99-amino-acid protein. Homodimers of this protein have the aspartyl protease activity that is typical of retroviral proteases; monomers . . .


In this introduction to a special section of the Journal of Sociology, on Meaningful Work in Late Modernity, we will explore the implications of late modern reflexivity for how work is experienced and conducted. The transformation in intellectual debates about the progress of human history, which has been described as the emergence of 'late modernity', is a reflection of the cultural and material circumstances of scholarship. Scholarship is not beyond either society or capital in its commodification as labour. In the humanities and social sciences, those ideas that can be valorised, transmitted to enrich and entice each node along the academic supply chain, become reified as 'classics' and something like 'normal science' (Kuhn, 1962). In theorising the whole of society, scholarship attempts to become a self-gazing eye. But it was not until the debates and concepts which are here described as 'late modern' (and elsewhere described as postmodern) that the observer was put on equal footing with the observed. From within the contemporary pantheon of 'classics', Pierre Bourdieu famously described sociology as a 'martial art' – not as a neutral observer of social life, but as a tactical discipline that becomes meaningful to the extent that it is political. This characterisation of sociology is reflected in Zygmunt Bauman's characterisation of modernity generally: 'the life of modern men and women is a task, not a given, and a task as yet uncompleted and relentlessly calling for more care and new effort' (2000: 134). Progress, for modern persons as for sociologists, will not come about as a consequence of living, but through living a life dedicated to seeking out the meaning of progress. As scholars, working from within the realm of experiences that we are describing, we are not neutral conveyors of history's produce, but are engaging in acts of cultivation. Rather than arguing that there are distinctly late modern forms of work and thus committing the fallacy of periodising late modernity, we will describe how work situations are formed through social norms recognised by contemporary scholarship as late modern


Cystic fibrosis is characterized by progressive pulmonary deterioration associated with chronic infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the past year, researchers have attempted to elucidate the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis lung disease and to develop new therapeutic strategies. Early identification of infection by use of cultures, flagellar antigens, or blood spot antibody titers to P. aeruginosa may alter the course of progression. The bacteria and their effects on the lungs appear to be unique in cystic fibrosis. Inflammation associated with chronic infection and immune complex-mediated reactions exacerbate the lung damage. Treatment with anti-inflammatory agents and new antipseudomonal antibiotics appears promising.


Current approaches in Belgium aiming at a sustainable development of the building sector focus on different aspects separately (e.g. building materials, energy use, transport), while abstracting the complex interrelations. This allows for a detailed analysis but misses a global objective by losing the overall picture. Since the design of a building (amongst others typology, lay-out, dimensions, orientation and location) determines the overall environmental impact, a building cannot be equated to the sum of its constituting components. However, a life cycle assessment of a building to date is most often carried out at the level of materials or components. Moreover, financial decisions are to date most often exclusively based on investment costs not considering the life cycle consequences. An evaluation tool based on representative environmental and financial data for the Belgian context which enables such a comprehensive life cycle assessment is therefore required.


ing tooth loss depends on a multitude of important factors.As the initial focus was placed on complete osseous reconstruction of the bone defectwith a view to ensuring sufficient bone quality and volume, essential secondary factors such as a harmonious soft tissue profile with a thick morphotype, vital blood supply and a low-scar and tension-free wound closure in the aesthetic zone have often been underestimated,and in fact still are. Onlay plasties using bone blocks have become a proven method nowadays that has established itself as an important standard technique for reconstructing bone defects. Nonetheless, this indication should be used with considerable discrimination: – The use of bone grafts always demands a second surgical site, with all the potential adverse consequences such as pain, morbidity, risk of infection and scar formation. The Minimally Invasive Shell Technique for Bone Augmentation


The exponentially weighted moving average t chart using auxiliary information (AIB-EWMA-t chart) is an effective approach for monitoring small process mean shifts when the process standard deviation is unstable or poorly estimated. To further enhance the sensitivity of the AIB-EWMA-t chart, in this study, we propose an AIB generally weighted moving average (GWMA) t chart (AIB-GWMA-t chart) to monitor the process mean. The existing EWMA-t, GWMA-t, and AIB-EWMA-t charts are special cases of the AIB-GWMA-t chart. Numerical simulation studies indicate that the AIB-GWMA-t chart performs uniformly and substantially better than the EWMA-t and GWMA-t charts in terms of average run length. Moreover, the AIB-GWMA-t chart with large design and adjustment parameters also outperforms the AIB-EWMA-t chart when the correlation coefficients are within a certain range. An illustrative example is provided to highlight the efficiency of the proposed AIB-GWMA-t chart in detecting small process mean shifts.