Under the assumption that the characteristic A-ring in the tetracyclines was responsible for the remarkable antibacterial activity of these antibiotics, syntheses of the A-ring and related compounds were undertaken to examine relationship between chemical structure and antibacterial activity. Following the syntheses of 4-benzamido-, 4-dimethylamino-, and 2-carbamoyl-cyclohexane-1, 3-dione and their derivatives, the A-ring itself of the tetracyclines, 2-carbamoyl-4-dimethylaminocyclohexane-1, 3-dione, and its derivatives were prepared.


The ground state properties of three compounds, Cr7C3, Fe3C and Fe2B, are investigated using ab initio calculations based on density functional theory. Formation enthalpy values indicate that Cr7C3 is the most stable crystal among the three compounds. Fe3C is metastable which has a positive heat of formation value. The calculated bulk modulus, shear modulus and Young's modulus value of Cr7C3 are 311 GPa, 143.8 GPa and 374 GPa, respectively. The bulk modulus values of Fe2B and Fe3C are 194 GPa and 258 GPa. We also find that both the hardness and the stiffness of the Cr7C3 type carbides can be improved by doping with B, W, Mo, etc. The bulk modulus of transition metal doped Fe2B is considerably higher than pure Fe2B. The electronic structures of Fe2B and Fe3C are ferromagnetic and the evaluated average magnetic moment of Fe is 2.09μB/atom for Fe3C and 2.02μB/atom for Fe2B, respectively. Micro-indentation test results indicate that Cr7C3 is the hardest phase among the three phases and shows excellent wear resistance performance under three-body abrasive experiments. The experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical prediction that Cr7C3 is the best both in stability and mechanical performance.


Background: Quercetin is a flavonoid compound that has anti-inflammation activity. However, poor stability presents significant problems for the formulation into dosage forms. Microspheres are one of the potential lung delivery systems because of their ability to encapsulate various types of drugs, protect drugs from environmental effects and can release drugs in a sustained release. Objective: In the present study, the microsphere inhalation system of the anti-inflammation drug, quercetin was developed and evaluated to achieving the targeted delivery of these drugs to the lung. Method: The drug-loaded ca-alginate microspheres were prepared by aerosolization ionic gelation technique followed by freeze-drying. Result: The result of this study showed that particle size was less than 2 µm, the yield ranged from 41.33-76.14%, drug loading was less than 6%, entrapment efficiency ranged from 74.153% - 93.805% and flow properties showed that all formula had an excellent flow. Spherical microspheres were demonstrated by formulations containing 1 and 1.5% sodium alginate. A drug release study showed that the highest drug release of 30.649% was from the formulation with 2.5% sodium alginate, and the lowest drug release of 26.625% was from the formulation with 2% sodium alginate. , A stability study at temperatures of 25ᵒC and 40ᵒC for 28 days showed a decrease in drug loading and entrapment efficiency but an increase in particle size. The formulation containing 1.5% sodium alginate showed the optimal formula. Conclusion: These findings indicated that quercetin ca-alginate microspheres are the potential for inhalation to be delivered to the lung.


The characteristics and genesis of storm current in Xiyang channel of the radial sand ridges area were analyzed according to the hydrology data(1980 and 2001) and new measured(2008) hydrology-sediment data.Results indicate that the fairly large value and minor variation of direction in the storm current velocity,and the sediment concentration at each observation level responds well to the velocity.For one hand,tidal pore generally resulted from the special bell-mouth topography in Xiyang channel,while no abnormal change in tidal level occurred with storm currents.On the other hand,there exists a surge of velocity and sediment concentration in storm current at each level instantaneously with maximum velocity of 3.71 m / s and maximum sediment concentration of 14.94 kg / m3 at the bottom.However,wind stress cannot generate such large velocity maintaining huge energy to raise the massive sediments from the bottom current with a depth of 10 m.Besides,no storm current was observed at the neighboring stations at the same time.Therefore,both the seiche and wind stress are not the essential factors for the genesis of storm current.A further study on the formation mechanism should be conducted based on the convergence of tidal current and special topography henceforth.


This work aimed to evaluate nutritional condition of Italia grapevine in the region centered in Sao Miguel Arcanjo, SP, Brazil. It was used the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS). Twenty bearing vineyards in that region using similar cultural practices were nutritionally surveyed. Leaf blade and petiole samples were taken at three developing phases of grapevine plants: at bloom, in fruits between pea and have-berry and at the beginning of fruit maturation. Leaf blade and petiole samples were analyzed for macronutrients. The reference population used in the calculation of DRIS norms was that of vineyards with average yield between 20.7 to 36.3t/ha. NBI (Nutritional Balance Index) and the sequence of nutrient limitation were individually calculated for each vineyard at three sample phases and for leaf blade and petiole. In this evaluation permitted to conclude that DRIS was a good method for evaluation of nutritional condition of grapevine cv. Italia. Eleven vineyards were considered nutritionally balanced, with average yield between 20.7 to 36.3t/ha. Correlations between NBI and yield indicated that leaf blade sampled at bloom was the better choice. The DRIS allowed the determination of vineyards that usually presented a deficiency of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.


Health care utilization databases such as claims data are frequently used in a variety of settings to analyze the outcome of drug treatments. Because of their large scale these data allow to study real-world effectiveness and utilization patterns at relatively low costs. The Swiss healthcare system is notable for its high degree of innovative capacity, which also involves new developments and improvements in the pharmaceutical industry. In collaboration with Helsana, we have recently used claims data for descriptive analyses of health resource utilization in Switzerland. The aim of this thesis was to contribute to the understanding of the Helsana claims data provided by the Helsana Group and to show the opportunities and challenges of these data with the following three projects.
Using claims data from the Helsana Group, Project I examined the association between statin use and the risk of cholecystectomy in a case-control analysis between 2013 and 2014. We applied conditional logistic regression analyses to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and adjusted the analyses for history of cardiovascular diseases and for use of estrogens, fibrates and other lipid-lowering agents. The study supports the previously raised hypothesis that long-term statin use was associated with a reduced OR (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65-0.92). However, neither short-term current use nor past statin use affected the risk of cholecystectomy.
In a second case-control study, Project II examined the association between previous benzodiazepine use and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and identified 1,438 incident AD cases between 2013 and 2014. Because initiation of benzodiazepine use shortly before the AD diagnosis date may occur due to symptomatic treatment of prodromal symptoms of early major neurocognitive disorder, we introduced an induction period of two years before the AD diagnosis date. We applied conditional logistic regression analyses to calculate ORs with 95% CIs and adjusted for antidepressant use. After accounting for benzodiazepine use initiated during the prodromal phase, long-term benzodiazepine use was not associated with an increased risk of developing AD (aOR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.53-1.14).
In Project III, a retrospective descriptive study, we quantified use of oral and parenteral iron supplementation in Swiss data and compared it to data from the UK between 2012 and 2014. We further assessed the frequency of serum ferritin and hemoglobin tests prior to newly started iron therapy to see whether use was based on documented low iron levels or blood parameters, especially in the case of parenteral iron supplementation. The three-year prevalence of iron supplementation was 9.4% in Switzerland compared to 4.4% in the UK. Iron use increased slightly between 2012 and 2014 in both countries (CH +0.3%/UK +0.2%) and recorded parenteral iron administration was roughly a thousand times higher in Switzerland (1.9%) than in the UK in 2014. Hemoglobin values prior to a new parenteral iron therapy were relatively infrequent in Switzerland despite the required documentation of hemoglobin prior to therapy.
The Helsana claims data can be used for descriptive studies as well as to study pharmacoepidemiological hypotheses. Its strengths are the large size, the accurate documentation of the data and the low costs. On the other hand, data on important potential confounder's variables such as Body mass index (BMI), smoking status or alcohol consumption but also on clinical diagnoses is largely missing and leading to bias and confounding.


Objective To evaluate the effect of health education on awareness degree and treatment compliance in stable chronic pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Methods 117 stable COPD patients were randomly devided into 4 groups,32 patients in Ⅰgroup,26 patients in Ⅱ group ,20 patients in Ⅲ group ,39 patients in Ⅳ group. Ⅰgroup patients did not accepted health education,and Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ group patients accepted two,four and six weeks health education in file.The awareness,respiration rehabilitation training and inerratic treatment rate compared were before and 6 months after health education by questionnaire and follow-up survey. Results Health education remarkably increased awareness degree in stable COPD patients,there were distinct difference result among 4 groups(P0.01).At the same time, health education remarkably increased inerratic treatment and respiration rehabilitation training rate,the effect was connected with the health education number of times, but there was no difference between Ⅲ and Ⅳ group(P0.05).Conclusion Health education can remarkably increase awareness,inerratic treatment and respiration rehabilitation training rate,and have positive effect to stay lung function decline and to promote quality of live in stable COPD patients.


Analysis of Binding Affinity in Drug Design Based on an Ab-initio Approach. (May 2009) Pablo Felix Salazar Zarzosa, B.S., University of Piura, Peru Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Jorge Seminario Computational methods are a convenient resource to solve drawbacks of drug research such as high cost, time-consumption, and high risk of failure. In order to get an optimum search of new drugs we need to design a rational approach to analyze the molecular forces that govern the interactions between the drugs and their target molecules. The objective of this project is to get an understanding of the interactions between drugs and proteins at the molecular level. The interaction energy, when protein and drugs react, has two components: non-covalent and covalent. The former accounts for the ionic interactions, the later accounts for electron transfer between the reactants. We study each energy component using the most popular analysis tools in computational chemistry such as docking scoring, molecular dynamics fluctuations, electron density change, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), density of states projections, and the transmission function. We propose the probability of transfer of electrons (transmission function) between reactants in protein-drug complexes as an alternative tool for molecular recognition and as a direct correlator to the binding affinity. The quadratic correlation that exists between the electron transfer rate and the electronic coupling strength of the


: Adolescents in conflict with the law are part of a stigmatized population that finds itself, in general, in social vulnerability. Difficulties to present social skills are related to ineffective processes of shaping and lack of support from the environment. Assertive behavior increases gains and reduces losses in social interactions, moreover, it can be developed through Programming of Conditions for the Development of Behaviors (PCDC). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to develop assertive behavior in adolescents in compliance of socio-educational actions. For this, an intervention was developed with an emphasis on objective behaviors (Group CO), and another, with a control function, with an emphasis on activities (Group At). For the first group, assertive behavior was characterized, 26 intermediate behaviors of the class "assertive behavior" were identified and a teaching program was elaborated and applied to six participants. For the second group, discussions on different topics were held with eight adolescents. The intervention in Group OB was especially effective for the behavior "Express anger and solicit behavior change". The interventions in Group TA, although not very systematized, also favored the alteration of a few behaviors, despite not aiming at such goal. We conclude that the specification of relevant behaviors and the elaboration of teaching conditions constitute pertinent interventions to be developed within the context of socio-education.


It is a well known fact that the sex can be determined from the pulp tissue in living as well as dead, but up to what postmortem interval it can be determined accurately is still a matter of controversy amongst different authors. An attempt has been made in this regard, keeping in view the effect of environment i.e. Role of temperature and humidity on pulp tissue after the extraction of teeth.


It is often very difficult to distinguish, between acute, subacute and chronic eczema, as its different stages merge into e£ch other, yet it is safe to say that a lesion lasting for several months con tinuously can be considered chronic and treated accordingly. Chronic vesicular cases of eczema with or without formation of crusts are not seen very of ten,, yet where they exist they are of a tantalizing nature. Oftener we find seborrhoic eczemas with formation of seabs upon a reddened and weeping surface. Here it is our first task to allay the inflammation of the skin by means of a mild, bland application as, for instance, zinc ointment, Lapar's paste or a 2 per cent boric acid ointment. After reducing the inflammation an antiseborrhoic remedy should be applied. The best in this line we have is sulphur.. This can be prescribed as a paste in the following way:


The degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS) represents the ratio of sorbed phosphorus (P) to the P sorption capacity (PSC) of soils. In some countries, DPS is used to evaluate the risk of P loss and surface water eutrophication. This study investigated DPS measurement and prediction in neutral loamy soils from Wallonia, Belgium. A total of 57 agricultural topsoil samples subject to diverse P management were evaluated. No satisfactory relationship could be found between PSC determined by a one‐point short‐term isotherm in the laboratory and the sum of aluminium and iron extracted by oxalate (Alox + Feox). The equation PSC = a Alox + b pHw appeared to be more appropriate for estimating PSC in the soils studied. These soils had a near‐neutral pH, and P fixation processes linked to the presence of calcium ions or carbonates were important. Comparisons of DPS with soil‐test P and water‐extracted P suggested that DPS could be a useful agronomic and/or environmental indicator. Our results also showed that DPS values between 20 and 30% corresponded to the agronomic optimum of soil P content. Consequently, DPS may be used as an indicator of P status in neutral soils, provided that the PSC assessment is adapted to the local soil characteristics.


Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses which can impact any individual. Although they can negatively affect anyone, they disproportionately affect young women. The same is true for individuals with disordered eating. Disordered eating is more common than clinical eating disorders. The term disordered eating refers to subclinical eating disturbances. Past research has demonstrated a relation between disordered eating, stress, and anxiety. The current study expands upon this by examining these variables in first-year college-enrolled women. Participants were n=99 first-year college women who filled out the DASS-21, the EDE-Q, and a demographics questionnaire. Based on previous results, it was hypothesized that there would be a significant positive correlation between disordered eating and stress. It was also hypothesized that there would be a significant positive correlation between disordered eating and anxiety. Hypothesis one was supported, with a positive, significant correlation between disordered eating and stress, but hypothesis two was not supported. Additional analyses found that the DASS-21 stress subscale was significantly correlated with four out of the five subscales from the EDE-Q, whereas the DASS-21 anxiety subscale was only significantly correlated with one of five. Results from the current study indicate that interventions should be implemented on college campuses, including mindfulness and nutrition education programs, to target women with symptoms of stress and disordered eating. Running head: RELATION BETWEEN DISORDERED EATING, STRESS, AND ANXIETY 1 The Relation Between Disordered Eating, Stress, and Anxiety in First-Year College Women Eating disorders are serious psychological disorders that can impact anyone no matter their race, gender, age, ethnicity, sex, or socioeconomic status. Although this is true, eating disorders do disproportionately impact some groups of individuals more than others, such as young white women (King, 2013; Ball & Lee, 2000). According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website, eating disorders are categorized by extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food (NEDA, 2018). Furthermore, these disorders cause clinically significant impairment and distress to a person's life. Therefore, concerns about weight and body image can become a serious, debilitating disorder (King, 2013). The term disordered eating refers to eating patterns and behaviors that may still be significant and distressing; however, individuals with disordered eating do not meet full criteria for a clinical eating disorder diagnosis. There are three primary eating disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). The three eating disorders discussed herein include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating Disorder. While these eating disorders require a clinical diagnosis by a healthcare professional, many more individuals suffer from subthreshold levels of disordered eating behaviors. Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder most commonly characterized by extreme weight loss and distorted body image. People with this type of eating disorder typically severely restrict caloric intake. Specifically, the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) criteria include the following: A. Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements, leading to a significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health. Significantly low weight is defined as a weight that is less than minimally RELATION BETWEEN DISORDERED EATING, STRESS, AND ANXIETY 2 normal or, for children and adolescents, less than minimally expected. B. Intense fear of gaining weight or of becoming fat, or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain, even though at a significantly low weight. C. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight. Specify whether: Restricting type: During the last three months, the individual has not engaged in recurrent episodes of binge eating or purging behavior (i.e. self-induced vomiting, or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas). This subtype describes presentations in which weight loss is accomplished primarily through dieting, fasting and/or excessive exercise. Binge-eating/purging type: During the last three months the individual has engaged in recurrent episodes of binge eating or purging behavior (i.e. self-induced vomiting, or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas). Specify current severity: Mild: BMI more than 17 Moderate: BMI 1616.99 Severe: BMI 15-15.99 Extreme: BMI less than 15 (p. 338-339) Thus, anorexia nervosa, commonly referred to simply as anorexia, is a disorder that involves a relentless pursuit of obtaining a desired level of thinness through starvation (King, 2013; Mash & Wolfe, 2016). Individuals with this type of eating disorder also frequently show a major RELATION BETWEEN DISORDERED EATING, STRESS, AND ANXIETY 3 distortion in how they perceive their body shape and weight (Mash & Wolfe, 2016). According to the NEDA website, and other researchers, this eating disorder commonly has an onset during adolescence (King, 2013; Mash & Wolfe, 2016; NEDA, 2018). The overall prevalence rate of anorexia is thought to be 0.3%, and is much more common among girls and women than boys or men, with a female-to-male ratio of 10:1 (King, 2013; APA, 2013). The disorder commonly occurs following a period of dieting and some form of life stress, but also likely has genetic underpinnings (King, 2013). Additionally, it is very possible that anorexia can lead to physical changes in an individual's body. The growth of hair all over the body, thinning of bones and hair, severe constipation, low blood pressure, and the loss of menstruation are a few examples (King, 2013). Furthermore, anorexia is said to have the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder (King, 2013). An important consideration is that you cannot tell if a person is struggling with anorexia by simply looking at them. Even if a person is not underweight, a serious eating disorder could still be present. Along that line, there are individuals who present with disordered eating, but do not meet all of the above criteria, and thus are considered sub-clinical. Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder which is characterized by bingeing and compensatory behaviors that are meant to compensate for the aforementioned bingeing. Most individuals with bulimia have a preoccupation with food and have an intense fear of becoming overweight; however, these individuals do not experience excessive weight loss as is the case with anorexia (King, 2013; Mash & Wolfe, 2016). Instead, most individuals with bulimia are within 10 percent of their normal weight (Mash & Wolfe, 2016). DSM-5 (APA, 2013) criteria include: A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both: RELATION BETWEEN DISORDERED EATING, STRESS, AND ANXIETY 4 1. Eating in a discrete period of time (e.g. within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances; 2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episodes (e.g. a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating. B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise. C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least once a week for 3 months. D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa. Specify current severity: Mild: An average of 1-3 episodes of inappropriate compensatory behaviors per week. Moderate: An average of 4-7 episodes of inappropriate compensatory behaviors per week. Severe: An average of 8-13 episodes of inappropriate compensatory behaviors per week. Extreme: An average of 14 or more episodes of inappropriate compensatory behaviors per week. (p. 345) Bulimia can be difficult to detect because individuals with this type of eating disorder are typically within a normal weight range (King, 2013). Additionally, individuals with bulimia often go unnoticed for extended periods of time because they attempt to conceal their binges RELATION BETWEEN DISORDERED EATING, STRESS, AND ANXIETY 5 (Mash & Wolfe, 2016). For these reasons, individuals with bulimia often hide their disorder for a long time and suffer from prolonged feelings of shame or self-disgust (King, 2013). Bulimia nervosa also has physical side effects that are a direct result of the compensatory behaviors used following bingeing, such as self-induced vomiting and laxative abuse. These side effects range from a chronic sore throat to dehydration and gastrointestinal issues (King, 2013). The disorder also impacts dental health, as the acid in vomit can erode the enamel from an individual's teeth (King, 2013). Bulimia typically has a later onset than does anorexia, but has a higher prevalence rate (Mash & Wolfe, 2016). It usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, and, again, occurs more frequently among women, with a female-to-male ratio of 10:1 (King, 2013; Mash & Wolfe, 2016; APA, 2013). This eating disorder affects between 1 and 4 percent of young women (King, 2013). In contrast to those with anorexia, individuals suffering from bulimia tend to have low self-efficacy levels (King, 2013). This means that they tend to have very high standards for themselves, but they also have very low confidence in their ability to achieve their goals


In China,there is widely misusage of Japan's index of self-sufficient rate of food,and also Japanese attitude to self-sufficient rate of food is widely misunderstood.In this paper,aiming at correcting the misusage and misunderstand,Japan's index of self-sufficient rate of food and its situation of food self-sufficiency is introduced.And further more,insecurities of Japan's state its people under low self-sufficient rate of food status,and also its efforts of counter measures to improve self-sufficient rate is illustrated.It is pointed out that Japan's thoughts and efforts about food self-sufficient rate are worth learning,but some measures concerning and having impact on China need China's state,enterprises,and its people take relief measures urgently.


Most previous studies that developed Mortgage-backed Securities (MBS) models focused on investors, but the model that is presented here is specifically for MBS issuers. I developed a risk management tool for issuers and guarantors to monitor their MBS portfolios. The model projects the cash inflow of mortgages and the cash outflow to MBS; alters the traditional model by introducing decision trees; combines the prepayment, delinquency, default, and recovery of delinquency into a single model; and uses a simulation program with multiple path generation to develop a model for issuers to manage their MBS portfolios. According to the results of the model, issuers can manage the risk level of their portfolios by determining the Collection Account Balance, the Overcollateralization Ratio, the Net Residual Value, and the Liquidity Advance. The final part of this paper provides suggestions on risk management for MBS issuers.


Certain questions connected with the process of preparation of nuclear emulsions, which are sensitive to ionization produced by protons, are discussed. The regulation of the concentration of the bromine ions during the time of preparation of the emulsion made it possible to obtain silverbromine grains that were homogeneous in size. To increase the sensitivity, the optimal conditions of preparation were chosen, and the sensitizer, triethanolamine, was introduced directly before pouring. The regression of the latent image was slowed by adding gold salts to the emulsion. To improve the transparency of the emulsion, purified gelatin was used. At the present time it is possible to obtain nuclear emulsions with uniform properties, sensitive to ionization produced by protons. In their characteristics, these emulsions are similar to "Ilford C-2" used in nuclear research.


Low doses of aspirin (20 mg/day) were previously reported to be uneffective in preventing platelet aggregation (PA) induced by pairs of aggregating agents such as PAF and adrenalin.This was in part attributed to the inability of such treatment to inhibit lipo oxygenase-dependent PA.The latter can be observed in vitro in"aspl rinated"platelets stimulated with high quantities of aggregating -agents.The aim of this study was to evaluate if the lipooxygenase-dependent PA was influenced by aspirin in a dose-dependent fashion. PA was studied in platelet rich plasma (PRP)(Born's method) by using threshold doses of aggregating agents (TDA) such as PAF(4-75 nM),epinephrine(0.6-2 μM) and collagen(2-4 μg/ml).PA performed in PRP pretrated with 100μM aspirin was fully prevented;in the same samples thromboxane (Tx) A2 evaluated by its metabolite Tx B2 was almost absent.Increasing amount of PAF(20 fold TDA),epinephrine(20 fold TDA) and collagen (36 fold TDA) do aggregate"aspirinated"pla telets;similarly"aspirinated"platelets aggregate when stimulated-with a pair of aggregating agents (TDA of PAF+epinephrine).This phenomenon was not detected if platelets were incubated with higher amounts of aspirin (250-500 μM).The study suggests that aspirin could influence lipooxygenase-dependent PA.This hypothesis is sup ported by a research showing the aspirin inhibits dose-dependently platelet HETE formation.A further study is now in progress to eva luate the influence of high doses of aspirin on cyclooxygenase-i"n dependent PA in vivo.


It is commonly observed that dual chamber pacemakers can behave erratically during an episode of atrial fibrillation. We studied the amplitude, frequency spectrum and rate of the atrial electrogram during experimental atrial fibrillation in dogs. We then compared these properties of the signal to known parameters of the pacemaker. Our results elucidate the reason for erratic pacemaker performance during atrial fibrillation and suggest certain design modifications to the device.


The red blood cell (RBC) pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) is the most common recessive congenital defect of glycolytic enzymes associated with non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia. It is a rare hereditary disorder caused by >300 variants in the PKLR gene. This is a retrospective study of 19 patients from different centers from Argentina with confirmed molecular diagnosis of PKD. Clinical follow-up was carried out from birth in most cases. Five consanguineous patients from "gypsy" community, were homozygous for the "PK-Gypsy deletion" (PK-Gd). During the neonatal period they developed anemia with icterus. Transfusion exchange was required in 60%, light therapy in 80%, and RBC transfusion in 80%. During the follow-up iron overload was detected in the 100%, cholecystectomy was indicated in 40%, and splenectomy in 60%. Thirteen cases had 2 missense variants (MS), being the Mediterranean variant (p.Arg486Trp) the more frequent detected (26%).Only 1 patient had a missense-splicing mutation combination. During the neonatal period, 86% had anemia and icterus. Light therapy was required in 78%, transfusion exchange in 21% and RBC transfusion in 64%. During the follow-up iron overload was detected in 57% and splenectomy was indicated in 43%. Transfusions (pre-splenectomy and post-splenectomy) were more required in PK-Gd cases as compared with patients with point mutations (100%/60% vs 71%/29% respectively). Our data indicates a high clinical-therapeutic-molecular heterogeneity in PKD patients with the PK-Gd group presenting the most severe cases.


Abstract Aims Transition from pediatric to adult care is difficult for patients with chronic diseases. In this study, factors associated with metabolic control in childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) after transfer to adult care were analyzed. Methods Overall, 224 persons with T1D were contacted yearly from 1998 to 2019. They voluntarily answered a questionnaire about their current hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, diabetes-associated complications, kind of care, living conditions, and family situation. Then, mixed longitudinal-cross-sectional analyses were carried out. Results Overall, 190 patients answered at least once (mean age: 26.6 years). Diabetes complications were mentioned by 10 patients (5 microalbuminuria, 5 retinopathy). Most patients (92.6%) were in diabetes-specific care during the first year after transfer, with a trend to leave diabetes-specific care during the observation period. Patients in diabetes-specific care displayed lower HbA1c levels (%/mmol/mol) (7.1/54 vs. 7.5/58). An important predictor for HbA1c after transfer was HbA1c during the year before transfer (r=0.67, p <0.001). Patients living alone showed no difference in HbA1c levels from those living with their parents. Married patients had lower HbA1c levels (7.0/53 vs. 7.3/56, p<0.05) than unmarried ones. Patients with children (15.8%) presented lower HbA1c levels (6.9/52 vs. 7.3/56, p <0.01) than those without. Conclusions Good metabolic results are favored in patients followed-up in specialized care, are married, and are parents. We recommend transfer to a diabetologist with experience in T1D at an individual age.


This research aims to analyze the heavy rain which accompanied by severe winds, caused floods and landslides in several of sub-districts in Cilacap, Central Java on 16-17 September 2016 that coincides with the phase 4 of Madden Jullian Oscillation (MJO) event. In the same time, also found a Mesoscale Convective Complex (MCC) in the around Central Java. MCCs were identified by infrared satellite imagery from Himawari 8 using an algorithm that combines criteria of cloud coverage, eccentricity, and cloud lifetime. The data used is a combination of observation data, satellite data and reanalysis data. This study results that there is an increase in vertical velocity accompanied by strong negative vorticity since the development of MCC until it reached its mature phase, then the vertical velocity decreases as the cloud systems disseminated. These results indicate there is the evolution of MCC convective cells from growth until dissipation. Throughout its lifetime the MCC system moves south-east into the Indian Ocean and is decapitated there. Based on GSMaP rainfall data it was observed that in Central Java area especially Cilacap area has extreme rainfall which caused by MCC activity. The influence of MCC on significant rainfall is also supported by the existence of MJO phase 4. The significant increase in rainfall when phase 4 active MJO is followed by the MCC. The value of rainfall intensity when MJO followed by the presence of MCC is greater than in the absence of MCC.


When presented with the term "organizational politics," most people immediately think of a negative connotation. However, some scholars believe that organizational politics can have a positive impact in the workplace. Positive organizational politics is a relatively underdeveloped field when compared to research on the negative aspects of workplace politics. Using Grounded Theory methodology, we present a model of positive workplace politics that illuminates the features of political behaviors that can be seen as positive. The primary construct that influenced perception was the number of beneficiaries. If a group benefited, the action is most likely perceived in a positive light whereas if an individual benefited, the action is most likely perceived negatively. Anomalies noted during our research led to the discovery that transparency and emotional intelligence moderate positive perception. The relationship between number of beneficiaries and perceptions of positivity is weakened when the process is hidden as opposed to transparent. Actors use various skill sets including emotional intelligence and political skill to achieve positive outcomes for an organization. We also found that higher quality results can be achieved more quickly when the actor has high political skill and social capital.


Objective: To overcome such shortcomings as being complex for operation and pricy for the hospital commonly used invigilators,and meet a simple clinical application,we have developed a compact monitor.Methods: In this paper,we present the details of its design and implementation.The proposed design omitted some physiological parameters measurement modules,such as electrocardiogram,which are not commonly used in the regular monitor.It achieves heart rate,blood pressure and respiratory rate measurements,and these three parameters can be recorded to the memory card in real time.The system can give health care workers alarm when any parameter goes beyond the normal range.Results: The testing results show that this device is capable of measuring the desired physiological parameters more conveniently,and the error is below the level of unpredictable.Real-time monitoring data records facilitate the review,and alarm of parameters abnormal makes health care workers grasp the situation.Conclusions: The device simplifies the conventional monitor and reduces health care costs.The measurement results are accurate.At the same time,it's compact,easy to operate,more humane.In short,it is applicable in clinical practices.


In this paper, we investigate channel estimation for the massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, by deploying superimposed pilots. The pilots are the a priori known spreading sequences, repeated cyclically and superimposed to the signal layer. They reserve a marginal fraction of the total transmit energy. Thus, the initial channel estimates can be initially obtained by separating the users with respect to the corresponding code-division orthogonality with robustness against asynchronicity. Further, during a second stage, iterative channel estimation is considered, by integrating a trellis-based channel estimator, which can significantly enhance the channel estimation during the iterations, by reusing the superimposed pilots. Notice that the so-called turbo-effect can be clearly observed, in which both data detection and channel estimation are jointly improved between consecutive iterations.


649 women 330 using the DANA 1-2 IUD and 319 using the DANA Super l-4 IUD were studied over a 5-year period. A higher frequency of extra ction was noted for the DANA Super a higher rate of expulsion but the same index of effectiveness as the DANA 1-2. Over long periods of time (up to 5 years) it was noted that the frequency of pregnancy extraction and expulsion did not increase after the 1st year during which the maximum number of these failures occur. The DANA Super exerted less pressure on the uterine wall than the DANA 1-2.


The article discusses the results of the implementation of the State program of import substitution in the aviation industry, implemented at the enterprises of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), since 2014. Significant successes of Russian aircraft manufacturers are noted, which, in difficult conditions of sanctions pressure, managed to master their own production of domestic components. This made it possible to bring new modern competitive aircraft to the world market, the production of which now does not depend on the unpredictable policies of foreign countries. The necessity of wide application of the policy of import independence in the production of own aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure the national security of the Russian Federation is advocated. The conclusion is made about the high efficiency of the State Program for the Development of the Aviation Industry, which sets high production rates, providing them with the necessary funding and state support of domestic manufacturers of modern high-tech equipment.


Objective To discuss the therapeutic strategy of old patients with aspiration pneumonia. Methods Clinical pharmacists implemented pharmaceutical care of an old patient with aspiration pneumonia. Knowledge of pharmacokinetic,pharmacology and adverse drug reactions were adopted to optimize the dosage regime and realize individualized therapy.Results The participation of pharmacists in the therapeutic course of aspiration pneumonia for this old patient showed positive role in many aspects,such as choice of varieties of the drugs,adjustment of different administration,the reducing of adverse drug reactions. The patient was successfully recovered. Conclusion The participation of pharmacists in clinical drug treatment maximizes the drug effect,and reduces the adverse drug reactions. The safe,effective,economic and reasonable medication were ensured.


In the analysis of binding data, arbitrary transformations such as the Scatchard plot, may give misleading estimates of the binding parameters. The statistically correct approach is to determine values of K and n by non‐linear regression of the actual dependent variable against the actual independent variable. In the case of the spectrophotometric titration method the dependent variable is the absorbance and the independent variable is the composition of the drug/macromolecule mixture. The method relies on an accurate estimate of the extinction coefficient of the bound drug and this is best treated as a parameter to be estimated in the regression analysis. In testing models by data fits alone it is emphasized that whilst a model may be rejected if it does not fit the data, a good fit does not ensure uniqueness and confirmatory, independent evidence must be sought.


Research has shown that drinking expectancies are associated with alcohol use among college students; however, the bulk of these studies have focused exclusively on researcher-labeled "positive" or "negative" expectancies rather than on the student's valuation (i.e., rating of desirability) of these expectancies. The present study examined the utility of expectancies and valuations in predicting hazardous alcohol use in a sample of 330 female college students (mean age = 20.0; 18–25). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that negative expectancies and favorable valuations of negative and positive expectancies were predictive of elevated hazardous use (controlling for age, athletic membership, and peer use). Expectancy valuations accounted for additional variance in the model beyond that of expectancies. The present findings shed light on the utility of expectancies and valuations of expectancies in predicting hazardous alcohol use among female college students. Future research directions and potential implications for prevention efforts are discussed.


Following the first Asia Pacific Luminescence and Electron Spin Resonance Dating (APLED) Conference held in 2006 in Hongkong, the second meeting was held in 2009 at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India. These meetings aimed to provide opportunities for exchange of the ideas on application of the luminescence and electron spin resonance dating methods to workers from the Asia Pacific region and to encourage the participation of young students. The third Asia Pacific Conference on Luminescence and Electron Spin Resonance Dating (APLED-3) including nondating applications was held at Okayama University of Science, Okayama, Japan, on Nov. 18-21, 2012. A total of 76 researchers attended this conference from Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Turkey, and Japan. We had 33 oral and 36 poster presentations, and one key note lecture by Dr. Yusuke Yokoyama entitled "Quaternary Geochronology reveals close relations between climate and sea level". Among them, four invited oral presentations were given by young eminent workers on Post-IR IR protocols, OSL dating of surface, ESR dating of tooth enamel pieces, and OSL dating of Chinese loess. The contributed presentations covered fundamental works of luminescence, improvement of the protocols, applications of OSL dating techniques, quartz ESR dating of river sediments and tephra, and also new non-dating applications, such as applications to sediment provenance. Cathodoluminescence, which is new to this series of conferences, was also shown to be potentially useful to dating applications. As a whole, the presentations in the meeting were in a good combination of various aspects of methodology, physics and applications. All submitted abstracts have been published in the 29 volume of Advances in ESR applications in 2012. The present volume comprises a selection of papers submitted, which have successfully gone through the standard peer review process of Geochronometria. The next meeting will be held in Australia organized by Prof. R. Grün during 2015. We, Scientific Advisory Committee and Local Organizing Committee, thank Ms. T. Fukatami for working as a secretary and Okayama University of Science for providing facilities of the venue and accommodation and also for financial support. The Okayama Visitors and Convention Association helped in many aspects and provided a financial support. The Yakumo Foundation for Environmental Science and Research Center for Historical Sciences and Earth and Planetary Environments, Okayama University of Science gave essential financial supports. We also thank The Geochemical Society of Japan, The Geological Society of Japan, and Japan Association for Quaternary Research for the news to the members.


The article studies the case of the Yololo Cultural Center, a place that specializes in the recovery and interaction of indigenous ancestral and traditional knowledge from spirituality. In this sense, the dynamic analysis of the analog and digital communication of the place stands out, as well as the use of atavistic symbols that contribute to the contents, how and in what way they are understood, taking into account the spaces of interaction and intercultural dialogue. From an interdisciplinary perspective and through the results of an ethnomethodology corresponding to an exploratory investigation, the meanings that grant social validity to spirituality and health practices for the creation, re-invention and negotiation of social identities are studied.


The first order hydrodynamic evolution equations for the shear stress tensor, the bulk viscous pressure and the charge current have been studied for a system of quarks and gluons, with a non-vanishing quark chemical potential and finite quark mass. The first order transport coefficients have been obtained by solving an effective Boltzmann equation for the grand-canonical ensemble of quasiquarks and quasigluons. We adopted temperature dependent effective fugacity for the quasiparticles to encode the hot QCD medium effects. The non-trivial energy dispersion of the quasiparticles induces mean field contributions to the transport coefficients whose origin could be directly related to the realization of conservation laws from the effective kinetic theory. Both the QCD equation of state and chemical potential are seen to have a significant impact on the quark-gluon plasma evolution. The shear and bulk viscous corrections to the entropy-four current have been investigated in the framework of the effective kinetic theory. The effect of viscous corrections to the entropy density have been quantified in the case of one dimensional boost-invariant expansion of the system. Further, the first order viscous corrections to the time evolution of temperature along with the description of pressure anisotropy and Reynolds number of the system have been explored for the longitudinal boost-invariant expansion.volution of temperature along with the description of pressure anisotropy of the system have also been explored.


This paper presents reflections upon working with individuals diagnosed with young-onset dementia in the context of older people's services. Paul Gilbert's compassion-focused therapy is proposed as a useful approach towards improving service provision for these individuals and their unique needs.


Elongated implant structure, introduced to the axial region of the target airway in the respiratory tract system, long term, bending force lateral direction with respect to lung tissue from within the airway and (or) often impart compressive forces. Structures or features of the implant can be prevented recoil of the tissue portions of the device may allow for vertical walls of the final airway. The apparatus can increase the bearing area to the side direction in the tissues of the inner wall of the airway surrounding. The embodiments, when the device is deployed, may have features that increase the frictional force of the device of the airway to permit gripping the airway device surrounds. It may be introduced a suitable adhesive around the device in the lung. The hydrophilic material can prevent the formation of biofilm, or the feature to attract some of the tissue ingrowth (stimulation of growth of tissue), to improve the supporting state of a device implanted can.


Common prosperity is that all the people finally reach the standard of rich life through the hard work and helping each other.Common prosperity is based on principle of identity justice.Its basic meaning is that the same people should get the same treatment.However,because of the differences between the people of the objective existence,Common prosperity shoud have a justicial limit,and the justicial limit is restricted by difference justice.


This career understanding actually aims to provide direction to students to live the next life. Here students still do not have the readiness to enter the world of work because of the limited knowledge and knowledge they have so far. However, students will attend lectures first to practice their abilities so that later they can carry out a job that has been chosen properly. This study aims to describe the career understanding of students of class XII IPA 1 SMA Negeri 1 Canduang.This study used a descriptive qualitative approach with 3 students as key informants and 1 BK teacher as supporting informants. In collecting data, researchers used the interview method. The data analysis technique used is data reduction, data display and data verification.Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that this career understanding has been carried out well even though students still do not have the readiness to enter a world of work. In addition to understanding this career, students must also be able to understand: (1) Understanding themselves/self-understanding (2) understanding work (3) and also planning for the future. In understanding these 3 things students are able to understand themselves, for future planning students are able to plan future plans that will be lived later


. The precipitation processes from G.P. zones to γ ' in a Cu − 0 . 9wt%Be alloy single crystal containing only the G.P. zones parallel to the matrix (001) α plane are investigated by high-resolution electron microscopy. The precipitate phases follow a G.P. zone → γ " → γ I + γ ' sequence. The G.P. zone to γ I phase transformation occurs successively via γ " during aging, while the γ ' phase heterogeneously precipitates on the γ I phase. From length-change measurements during aging, the misfit strains of γ ' precipitates in directions perpendicular and parallel to [001] α are estimated as ε 11 = ε 22 = − 0.03 and ε 33 = − 0.09, respectively. The observation that the estimated absolute value of ε 33 is much smaller than that of ε 33 = − 0.25 calculated using lattice parameters of the γ ' phase and Cu matrix is understood in terms of the relaxation of ε 33 by interfacial misfit dislocations. calculated from lattice parameters of the γ ' phase and the Cu matrix. This result is understood through the relaxation by interfacial misfit dislocations.


The four key values that currently define the Hotel School's research and teaching are rigor, relevance, relationships, and reach. The 2003 Human Resources (HR) Roundtable, which brought together some of the most forward-thinking HR executives and consultants in the industry, provided a remarkable opportunity to reinforce each of these values. The primary objective of this industry-focused roundtable was to create a forum for sharing information about important HR topics to generate ideas for improving HR practice, education, and research. Our discussions and debates examined some of the most vexing HR problems in the hospitality industry and generated several important insights concerning the future of HR—two of which are addressed in the articles that appear in this special section. This forum also provided an excellent means for forging connections between industry and academe. Practitioners were exposed to some of the recent research advances in the HR discipline, and the academics learned how some of the top hospitality firms were coping with critical HR decisions and problems. The format and content of this roundtable were developed from ideas and suggestions that were submitted by the participants during the planning stages of this event. Similar to the legal roundtable examined in the May 2004 Cornell Quarterly, we dispensed with the typical PowerPoint presentation format and pursued an engaging, discussion-based approach. Regarding content, we decided to delve into three primary topics: the evolving role of HR in the industry; the strategies for winning the talent war; and the ways to identify, develop, and deploy the next generation of leaders. In addition, we set aside time at the end of the program to address several additional concerns that did not require intensive attention—affectionately referred to as "hot topics." Examples included using information systems to enhance decision making, curtailing increases in benefits costs, and managing involuntary turnover. In the end, everyone walked away


Since the number of HIV/AIDS patients in India is increasing day-by-day at the rate of one patient for every ten seconds it is necessary to study the course of disease. The disease has social economical cultural psychological ethical & legal aspects and implications too. But researcher has made efforts to study the socio-economic implications of HIV/AIDS patients who have registered in C.P.R. Hospital of Kolhapur. The major objectives of the study were 1. To analyse the personal background of the HIV/AIDS patients. 2. To examine the Socio-economic implications of HIV/AIDS. 3. To give appropriate suggestions to improve the socio-economic status of HIV/AIDS patients. The universe of present study covers all HIV/AIDS patients registering in the S.T.D. department of C.P.R. Hospital in the year of Oct. 2004. (excerpt)


Field effect transistors (FETs) based on individual GaN nanowires (NWs) have been fabricated. Gate-dependent electrical transport measurements show that the GaN NWs are n-type and that the conductance of NW−FETs can be modulated by more than 3 orders of magnitude. Electron mobilities determined for the GaN NW FETs, which were estimated from the transconductance, were as high as 650 cm2/V·s. These mobilities are comparable to or larger than thin film materials with similar carrier concentration and thus demonstrate the high quality of these NW building blocks and their potential for nanoscale electronics. In addition, p−n junctions have been assembled in high yield from p-type Si, and these n-type GaN NWs and their potential applications are discussed.


SCOPE
Aspalathin, the main polyphenolic phytochemical of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), has been attributed with health promoting properties, including a glucose lowering effect that could prove interesting for application as nutraceutical or therapeutic in (pre-) diabetics. Preservation of β cell mass in the pancreas is considered a key issue for diabetes prevention or treatment, therefore we aimed to investigate whether aspalathin also has β cell cytoprotective potential.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Rat pancreatic islets and the β cell line INS1E were studied in vitro after exposure to various cytotoxic agents, namely streptozotocin, hydrogen peroxide or chronic high glucose. The effect of aspalathin on cell survival and apoptosis was studied. Expression of relevant cytoprotective genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR and proteins by Western blot. Aspalathin was found to protect β cells against cytotoxicity and apoptosis. This was associated with increased translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and expression of its antioxidant target genes heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (Nqo-1) and superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1).

CONCLUSION
It is proposed that aspalathin protects β cells against glucotoxicity and oxidative stress by increasing the expression of NRF2-regulated antioxidant enzymes. This indicates that aspalathin is an interesting β cell cytoprotectant. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


In order to know the effects of basketball consciousness to basketball players, this article anahyses the basketball consciousness of basketball players by means of documents and exploring and discovers that improving players' basketball consciousness is beneficial to improve skills and tactics. Therefore, the basketball players should strenghthen the training of consciousness.


Abstract. Examination of brain functions in small animal models may help improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions. Transcranial imaging of small rodents' brains poses a major challenge for optical microscopy. Another challenge is to reduce the measurement time. We describe methods and algorithms for three-dimensional assessment of blood flow in the brains of small animals, through the intact skull, using spectral and time domain optical coherence tomography. By introducing a resonant scanner to the optical setup of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, we have developed and applied a high-speed spectral OCT technique that allows us to vary the imaging range of flow and to shorten measurement time. Multi-parameter signal analysis enables us to obtain both qualitative and quantitative information about flow velocity from the same set of data.


Abstract In the latest article of JGLMH's Oral History Series, Emeritus Editor Dr. Jack Drescher interviews Dr. Billy E. Jones, a psychiatrist, now retired, who, among his many accomplishments, served as President and CEO of New York City's Health and Hospitals Corporation and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Mental Health. He is considered an expert on the subject of African American mental health concerns and their intersection with LGBTQ concerns, and is a past president of Black Psychiatrists of America. Dr. Drescher interviews Dr. Jones about his experiences of being openly gay as a psychiatrist, discrimination that he faced, and the changes that he has seen over his career.


Objectives: Evaluation of the relationship between craniofacial parameters and somatotype provides important contributions to specialist physicians and anatomists in determining diseases and obtaining objective results of anthropometric measurements. The study was designed in line with this hypothesis and the aim was to find out how this relationship changed in healthy individuals.
Methods: The study was conducted by examining 191 healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 30. The individuals' faces were photographed from a distance of 1 meter and craniofacial parameters were measured in Image J program. Somatotype analysis was conducted by using Heath-Carter somatotype method.
Results: As a result of our study, the individuals were found to be grouped in four classes according to Heath-Carter somatotype method: (1) mesomorph endomorph, (2) endomorph ectomorph, (3) endomorph mesomorph and (4) central. Significant correlation was found between the second and first somatotype groups in terms of total nasal length, while significant correlation was found between second and first/second and third/fourth and third/first and third somatotype groups in terms of body mass index (BMI) parameter (p < 0.05). Craniofacial parameters were also evaluated and a very high correlation was found between total facial height and mandibular height, while there was a high correlation between total facial height and the other 16 parameters.
Conclusions: As a result of our study, a relationship was found between somatotype groups and craniofacial parameters, within craniofacial parameters, and between somatotype and BMI. We believe that this relationship will guide morphological studies in basic medical sciences and surgical interventions in clinical sciences.


THIS paper describes an evaluation of an on-going health education programme regarding cigarette smoking undertaken in certain middle schools in Leeds. Attention was given to the three aspects of knowledge, attitude and behaviour. These were ex amined by means of a pre and post questionnaire technique. The results indicated a marked improvement in knowledge, a slight improve ment in attitude and equivocal changes in behaviour.


The article shows the contradictions in the legislation on the Judiciary 1930s and its implementation. Consider the following: 1. in the late 20´s and 30´s. in Soviet Union was formed a totalitarian system of government. 2. December 5, 1936 VIII All-Union Congress of Soviets adopted Constitution of the USSR, which "de jure" cemented at the highest legal level, the principle of independence of the prosecution, the courts are independent and subject only to the law, etc. The article shows the real application of the principles declared in the Constitution. The features of the tasks and changing priorities of the Prosecutor of the Republic of Udmurtia 1930s. It is concluded that the prosecutor´s supervision in the 30-ies. in Udmurtia, as in the country as a whole was largely deprived of its law enforcement functions.


This paper explores how bargaining frictions and bargaining procedures interact to determine players' bargaining costs in multiple-issue bargaining settings. When bargaining frictions take the form of discounting and agreements are implemented as they are reached, issue-by-issue negotiation can generate bargaining costs different from those that occur if all issues are bargained simultaneously. These cost differences result in differences in allocations across bargaining procedures such that players disagree on the desired method of bargaining. Similar results hold for certain fixed-cost bargaining friction specifications. This analysis provides a potential explanation of both agenda bargaining and incomplete contracts. Copyright 1997 by The London School of Economics and Political Science


A study of InGaN quantum dots (QDs) grown on two different GaN templates—GaN growth using a conventional two-step approach and growth using our recently developed high temperature (HT) AlN as a buffer—is reported. The HT AlN buffer leads to a significant reduction in the dislocation density, particularly screw dislocations, in subsequently deposited GaN. This reduction is confirmed by a significant decrease in the (0002) x-ray diffraction rocking curve width. The GaN on the HT AlN buffer leads to a high density (1010/cm2) of InGaN QDs, whereas in contrast InGaN QDs on the conventional GaN layer grown using the two-step approach have a much smaller density (∼108/cm2). Furthermore, the carrier lifetimes for the QDs on the GaN/HT AlN have been found to be up to nine times longer than those for the QDs on the conventional GaN.


the influence of samizdat activists may be seen under Gorbachev in the development of informal regime opposition, the establishment of nationalist movements and independent political parties and leaders, and the high level of resonance of nationalist demands among the masses. Ironically, many communist leaders at the regional level adopted the language and programs of the former dissident nationalists in successful strategies to retain power; and, the successful implementation of the dissident nationalists' programs resulted in destruction of the coherence and solidarity of the dissidents, leading to their marginalization in post-communist politics. Zisserman-Brodsky's work constitutes an important step in enhancing our understanding of a critical link in the development of ethno-nationalism in the former Soviet Union. However, this reader also has some suggestions, which would enhance the work's usefulness. The theoretical framework introducing us to the cases is fragmented. Also, it is difficult to link the theory to the cases and the conclusions. The author might have included a discussion of her position in the contending schools of thought regarding the nature of Soviet nationality policy and its impact on national identity (nation building vs. nation destroying). This is an important factor in determining the nature of nationalist demands in the late Soviet period. There is an existing literature on Soviet dissent, some of which focuses on the nationalist samizdat publications. Ludmilla Alexeyeva (Soviet Dissent: Contemporary Movements for National, Religious, and Human Rights) covers similar material over the same time period, utilizing samizdat sources. ZissermanBrodsky notes this literature, but provides no detailed account of its contribution, and the links between her work and the work previously done. Finally, while brief mention is made in the conclusion of attempts to explain the rise of ethno-nationalism under Gorbachev and its role in the collapse of the Soviet Union, some of the key literature is ignored (e.g., Mark Beissinger's Nationalist Mobilization and the Collapse of the Soviet State). Donald Schwartz University of Toronto


Pipeline networks are the most widely used mode for transporting fluids and gases around the world. Leakage in this pipeline causes harmful effects when the flowing fluid/gas is hazardous. Hence the detection of leak becomes essential to avoid/minimize such undesirable effects. This paper presents the leak detection by spectral analysis methods in a laboratory pipeline system. Transient in the pressure signal in the pipeline is created by opening and closing the exit valve. These pressure variations are captured and power spectrum is obtained by using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method and Filter Diagonalization Method (FDM). The leaks at various positions are simulated and located using these methods and the results are compared. In order to determine the quantity of leak a 2 × 1 fuzzy inference system is created using the upstream and downstream pressure as input and the leak size as the output. Thus a complete leak detection, localization and quantification are done by using only the pressure variations in the pipeline.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the creation of a catalogue of museum objects associated with two media art collections. The proposal was formulated under the Voremetur Project "Vocabularios para una Red de Archivos y Colecciones de Media Art y sus efectos: metaliteracy y turismo de conocimiento" (thesauri for networked media art archives and collections and their effects: metaliteracy and knowledge tourism) (HAR2016-75949-C2-1-R). Collection characteristics and typologies are discussed along with the difficulties encountered and the interoperability of the platform chosen with other Web resources that foster visibility.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper describes a case study and a review of the protocols and standards used to catalogue media art collections. Digitised descriptions were processed with Omeka software in conjunction with the expanded Dublin Core metadata schema. This paper also reviews the literature on the conceptualisation of these collections and the challenges involved in their conservation and management.

Findings
The result was the creation of a digital repository for two media art collections: one linked to Espacio P; and the other the outcome of digitising part of the MIDECIANT collection (Archivo Media ART AEMA).

Originality/value
The methodology innovates the description and analysis of museum objects on media art in Spain. The proposed cataloguing method can be replicated and used to describe similar collections and lays the grounds for creating a Spanish network of media art archives and collections.


French society has experienced dramatic social changes over the past decades, which have resulted in a significant reshuffling of its symbolic boundaries, moving the poor and ethno-racial minorities toward the periphery of the community of those worthy of recognition, protection, and assistance.* 1 As we move into the twenty-first century, the redrawing of the lines that divide this national community needs to be better understood, as it echoes profound changes found elsewhere in Europe. While an abundance of literature details some of these changes, this essay provides a bird's-eye view of the recent transformations in the French case in the hope of inspiring more research on the inequalities and divisions at play in contemporary France. When writing about social transformation in France, social scientists often start with a diagnosis of French republicanism and other central cultural traditions, such as Catholicism and socialism. Even though these traditions enable different types of cultural identities and behaviors, scholars agree that all three currents contributed to producing symbolic boundary patterns where internal ethno-racial differences and poverty were downplayed as principles of division. 2 Following a specific interpretation of the central tenets of liberalism, French republicanism has traditionally awarded citizens equal rights as a result of which they entered into a covenant with the state, whose role is to define and promote the common good and insure universalism by downplaying ethno-racial and religious differences between citizens. 3 Until quite recently, the fusion of this liberal republican ideology with the Marxian rhetoric of class warfare also encouraged French workers to downplay divi


The utility model relates to a simple automatic writing instrument which is a control system used for utilizing a stepping motor to realize plane positioning based on a gantry structure. The function of the automatic writing instrument is to enable a pen fixed on a mobile sliding block to write corresponding characters on a writing plane by controlling the precise motion of the stepping motor. The automatic writing instrument is characterized by comprising a writing platform, a transmission mechanism, a pen holding machine, a sensor module and a system controller module. With the help of a gantry mechanical structure of which the X axis and the Y axis can move parallelly and taking the stepping motor as the main power, the writing platform of the automatic writing instrument is used for bearing writing pen moving carriers which can move in the directions of the vertical axis and horizontal axis, such as a transmission structure, a writing area, a motor fixing frame and the like. A few important mechanical parts of the writing instrument are reasonably distributed on a bottom plate of which the specification is 430mm*330mm to make the writing instrument integrated as a whole.


Based on the green property of green householdelectric product,we built assessment indicator system for green grade.And we analyzed the basic attribute of assessment indicator system:source of energy,material,emironment,man-machine engineering and so on.Then we presented the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation mohtod of green grade,in order to enhance the energy of green design and green manufacture.


Leaf blight caused by Alternaria helianthi is one of the major diseases of sunflower worldwide. It is responsible for causing upto10-15 per cent yield losses in sunflower. In this study, antagonistic effects of Pseudomonas and Trichoderma isolated from rhizosphere of sunflower were evaluated against Alternaria helianthi as potential biocontrol agents in vitro . Fungal inhibition tests were performed using dual plate culture technique. Overall the culture of Pseudomonas showed the maximum inhibition of 77 per cent on the growth of A. helianthi followed by Trichoderma. Fungicide Dithane M-45 (Mancozeb) was used at three different concentrations of 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 ppm in inhibiting the radial growth of A. helianthi by poison food technique. All the three concentrations of Mancozeb inhibited the radial growth. Among them, Carbendazim at 0.1ppm was found to be the most effective against the pathogen. The growth parameters (plant height, root length and shoot length) were significantly increased by treating the seeds with bio control agent Pseudomonas compared to the untreated control. Results indicate that PGPR improve growth parameters and can also help in the biocontrol of pathogen.


This paper provides a model of the interaction between risk-management practices and market liquidity. On one hand, tighter risk management reduces the maximum position an institution can take, thus the amount of liquidity it can offer to the market. On the other hand, risk managers can take into account that lower liquidity amplifies the effective risk of a position by lengthening the time it takes to sell it. The main result of the paper is that a feedback effect can arise: tighter risk management reduces liquidity, which in turn leads to tighter risk management, etc. This can help explain sudden drops in liquidity and, since liquidity is priced, in prices in connection with increased volatility or decreased risk-bearing capacity.


This paper presents and compares online implementations of rejected-reinsertion heuristics for the dynamic multivehicle dial-a-ride problem (DARP), which the authors previously developed for static DARP. In dynamic DARP, transportation requests are received in real time, whereas in static DARP, all information about service requests is known in advance. The main objective for the DARP heuristics is to minimize the number of vehicles used to satisfy all trip requests, subject to service quality constraints. Two online implementation strategies, called "immediate insertion" and "rolling-horizon insertion," coupled with two variations of the insertion heuristic rejected reinsertion without and with periodic improvement procedures, are developed and compared. Computational results show that the rolling-horizon insertion heuristics, which take advantage of the advance information available, achieve vehicle reductions of up to 10% more than their immediate-insertion counterpart. The proposed online rejected-reinsertion heuristics achieve vehicle reductions up to 16% and 10% more, respectively, than the online parallel insertion heuristics that use immediate insertion and rolling-horizon insertion strategies, while keeping the computation time at the same magnitude as the parallel-insertion heuristics. Sensitivity analysis shows that the rolling-horizon insertion heuristics are insensitive to the time horizon and the rolling interval.


In this paper,the interaction between an electron and confined Longitudinal Optical phonons in wurtzite GaN/AlN quantum wells is investigated by using Lee-Low-Pines variational method.The ground state energies and the binding energies of the bound polaron are calculated as the function of well width L.The anisotropy of the long-wave optical phonon mode in wurtzite GaN/AlN is considered.The result indicates that the ground state energy and binding energy reduce with increasing well width L,Both of the two energies rapidly reduce at smaller L,but slowly reduce at larger L,and finally approach to the bulk value of GaN.For the qualitative analysis and comparison,the ground state energy and binding energy of the bound polaron in zinc blende GaN/AlN quantum wells are calculated as functions of well width L.


This chapter has two main goals: (a) to model some of the variety of evolutionary paths of organizational populations empirically observed and (b) elaborate on a model refinement that captures the existence of legitimation and competition spillovers across national populations. In doing so, it contributes to an emerging branch of organizational ecology concerned with evolutionary processes taking place at the international level. A model is proposed that points to cross-country differences in timing of entry and development as key drivers of the country-specific processes of legitimation and competition. It distinguishes pioneer from follower countries, and uses this distinction to advance how observable patterns of population evolution-that is, density growth and decline-may be related to and sustained by spillover effects across countries. The proposed model is largely inspired by that literature in biology, in which the form and the strength of densitydependent evolution are modelled.


Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are designed and fabricated using the most advanced CMOS technology nodes to meet performance and power demands. This makes them susceptible to many manufacturing and reliability challenges. Increasing chip temperature is a major reliability concern since various failure mechanisms are accelerated at high chip temperature, which require thermal-aware testing to detect them. External devices like thermal chambers are usually used to heat up the chip to a desired temperature in order to apply the test. However, there are many limitations for these external devices, which make the thermal-aware testing of the FPGA a challenging process. In this paper, thermal-aware testing of FPGAs using built-in self-heating is presented, in which the internal resources of FPGA are used to build controlled self-heating elements (SHEs). These controlled SHEs are distributed across the FPGA and integrated with the test scheme to generate the required temperature profile for testing, and thus no external devices for heating up the FPGA are needed. We present two different categories of SHEs integration techniques for different testing purposes. The first one is for built-in self-test, and the second one is for application-dependent testing. The techniques are applied on representative test cases. The experimental results show that a wide range of maximum chip temperatures can be achieved (from 50 °C up to 125 °C on Virtex-5 FPGA) with a high accuracy (±1 °C).


We have developed a new surface-source model to account for the bioelectrical potential on the body surface. A two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional bioelectrical sources has been developed using an equivalent surface charge model. The proposed equivalent surface charge mapping technique has been evaluated by computer simulations and applied to body surface Laplacian mapping data.


The LLNL project of the pulsed power system for the National Ignition Facility requires a switch with the following operational parameters: peak current of 400 kA, the transferred charge of 150 C, operating voltage of 25 kV, and reliable operating life of 10,000 shots. A review of high-power switches is given with detailed studies on vacuum switches and semiconductor switches.


In the past twenty years, production has been increasingly unbundled and shared across many countries at different levels of development. The common perception is that Africa, contrary to Latin America, Asia, and China in particular, has not been able so far to intercept the main changes in trade patterns nor enter massively into global production networks. By using the EORA Input-Output Tables and applying for the first time to this data the gross exports decomposition method provided by Wang et al. (2013), we analyze the Global Value Chain participation and position of Sub-Saharan African countries with a focus on global agro-food chains. Results show that, despite the low trade shares at the global level, SSA agricultural sector is deeply involved in GVC participation and the relevance of its international linkages is increasing over time, although still limited to upstream (likely unprocessed) production stages of the chain. Furthermore, we show that the demand pull for SSA agricultural production is not regional but mainly driven by the EU and emerging countries. Our outcomes also suggest that GVC participation could be a key driver for supporting the process of structural transformation and inclusive growth in the region. In fact, it could open access to unprecedented flows of knowledge, skills, capital, and sophisticated inputs which would boost sectorial productivity and favor the gradual shift of labor force out from farming. It would also give a go for the inclusion of small-holder farmers into the global markets while improving standards and contract enforcements. However, it needs pre-conditions such as the availability of efficient ancillary services, including transport and logistics. By providing a deeper analysis of SSA GVC participation and position, this work opens the ground to a refinement of the policy mix able to maximize the hoped for benefits for Africa of the so-called "unbundling revolution" going beyond the simple narrative of "upgrading for compete".


A case study examines the process improvement efforts of a medical center outpatient pharmacy to increase the efficiency of its prescription-filling services. Significant changes were introduced and sustained by utilizing problem identification, root-ca..


Gunadarma University has had a learning site called www.cai.elearning.gunadarma.ac.id. In this e-learning site already has several facilities that support the learning pro- cess through the Internet, such as video streaming and in- teractive multimedia applications. But from the results of research conducted by students of the previous Gunadarma was the site still has some disadvantages, although overall performance is quite good. Based on preliminary ndings of a new electronic learning site was made with reference to existing sites. By using the PHP web programming and MySQL database will be created an e-learning site with sev- eral new functions that are not on the previous site such as, each user is divided into three parts, namely the learner, trainer and administrator. From every user has dierent access pages of course with dierent access rights. Face to face learning methods used transformed into week. Another new function is with the weekly task given by the trainer and must be done by the learner. As well as adding some new material that does not exist on the previous site. The results of recent trials indicate that the new electronic learn- ing site has a signi cant performance improvement com- pared to www.cai.elearning.gunadarma.ac.id. Especially in terms of user interactivity and quality of the site interface.


Truly representative precipitation map generation of mountain regions is a difficult task. Due to poor gauge representativity, complex topography and uneven density factors make the generation of representative precipitation maps a very difficult task. To generate representative precipitation maps, this study focused on analyzing four different mapping techniques: ordinary kriging, spline technique (SP), inverse distance weighting (IDW) and regression kriging (RK). The generated maps are assessed through cross-validation statistics, spatial cross-consistency test and by water balance approach. The largest prediction error is produced by techniques missing information on co-variables. The ME and RMSE values show that IDW and SP are the most biased techniques. The RK technique produced the best model results with 1.38mm and 72.36mm ME and RMSE values respectively. The comparative analysis proves that RK model can produce reasonably accurate values at poorly gauged areas, where geographical information compensated the poor availability of local data.


RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression profile of type Ⅰ hepcidin gene of rice field eel(Monopterus albus) in healthy organisms and infected organisms with LPS or pathogenic bacteria.The results demonstrated that hepcidin transcripts are highly abundant in liver,abundant in kidney,less abundant in heart,skin,brain,blood cells,spleen,intestine and stomach,and undetectable in muscle.When challenged with LPS and pathogenic bacteria,Aeromonas hydrophila,up-inducible hepcidin mRNA levels were detected in all tested organisms.The result suggested that the hepcidin of rice field eel plays an important role in immune response of to pathogenic bacterial infection.


Germanium implant is a key materials modification implant step that is used in semiconductor wafer manufacturing. In this implantation process, germanium tetrafluoride (GeF_4) is commonly used as the primary feed gas. The use of a fluoride-based gas, such as GeF_4, often leads to poor beam and source life performance due to the effect of the halogen cycle. In this paper we present data which highlights a performance improvement when using EnrichedPlus ^72GeF_4 and hydrogen (H_2) mixture as an alternative to enriched ^72GeF_4. The benefits of the mixture gas include both an increase in beam current as well as longer ion source life which allows for greater tool productivity. These results were achieved on Applied Materials' VIISta HCS high current implanters that were running in a high-volume manufacturing environment. Graphical abstract


The United Nations has set the Sustainable Development Goals that guide a wide variety of programs to build a better and more sustainable future for all. The goals are not only universal but also connected with each other and indivisible. Since cities are hosting more than half of the world's population and held responsible for three-quarters of global energy consumption and GHG emissions, the Agenda 2030 includes city-related goals. Many countries have taken steps towards reducing greenhouse gases and increasing energy efficiency in cities. To achieve that, smart technology solutions have been developed and adapted to cities. Making cities smart should start from the home level because they have the biggest share in cities' energy consumption and GHG emissions. This chapter reveals the potential contribution of smart homes to smart city concepts in terms of energy efficiency and GHG emissions with the help of the bottom-up approach. In addition to presenting an extensive literature review to the reader, it also discusses how smart technologies contribute to citizen welfare.


To the Editor: —It should be admitted that one of the best ways for the general practitioner to develop his general knowledge is through the specialties. It is not enough to depend entirely on places doing general work, such as the general medical dispensary, invaluable as such training is; for many of the conditions formerly treated solely in the general medical dispensaries are now handed over to special dispensaries. The result is better diagnosis and treatment for the patient, and better training for the attending physician. It is surely obvious why a dispensary for diseases of the nervous system or for diseases of children offers advantages of instruction to the physician unobtainable in the general medical dispensary, even if it attempts to handle these cases. This generalization applies with special force to pulmonary diseases, which have long waited to receive the limited special consideration which they now enjoy. From the


A method is presented for generating the path that significantly reduces residual vibration of the redundant, flexible robot manipulator in the presence of obstacles. The desired path is optimally designed so that the system completes the required move with minimum residual vibration, avoiding obstacles. The dynamic model and optimal path are effectively formulated and computed by using a special moving coordinate, called VLCS, to represent the link flexibility. The path to be designed is developed by a combined Fourier series and polynomial function to satisfy both the convergence and boundary condition matching problems. The concept of correlation coefficients is used to select the minimum number of design variables. A planar three-link manipulator is used to evaluate this method. Results show that residual vibration can be drastically reduced by selecting an appropriate path, in the presence of obstacles.


This paper proposes a superconducting inductor discharge circuit which is based on the Z-source dc-dc converter. It can provide bidirectional power flow function and suits to current source. The operation principle and control method are analyzed in detail. Simulation results verify the rationality and feasibility of the proposed circuit.


Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) has become a mainstream risk management technique employed by a large proportion of financial institutions. There exists a substantial amount of research dealing with this task, most commonly referred to as VaR backtesting. A new generation of "self‐learning" VaR models (Conditional Autoregressive Value‐at‐Risk or CAViaR) combine backtesting results with ex ante VaR estimates in an ARIMA framework in order to forecast P/L distributions more accurately. In this commentary, the authors present a systematic overview of several classes of applied statistical techniques that can make VaR backtesting more comprehensive and provide valuable insights into the analytical properties of VaR models in various market environments. In addition, they discuss the challenges associated with extending traditional backtesting approaches for VaR horizons longer than one day and propose solutions to this important problem.


SummaryUterine artery embolisation (UAE) is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for symptomatic fibroids We present a series of three patients out of a total of 333 cases who developed bilateral transient buttock pain after UAE. The features of this pain suggest that it IS not due to misembolisation, but to referred pain from the infarcted fibroids and the ensuing inflammatory response.


We report significantly enhanced critical current densities (Jc) and flux pinning forces (Fp) in applied magnetic fields for YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) films with embedded Ba2YNbO6 (BYNO) nanorods. The films were grown by pulsed laser deposition with a target consisting of YBa2Cu3Oy with five molar per cent additions of BaNbOy and Y2O3. With this composition, deposited films were found to contain a high density of BYNO nanorods that frequently traversed the entire thickness of the film (up to 1 µm), depending upon the deposition conditions. Enhanced Jc performance occurs primarily for applied field orientations near the c-axis of the YBCO, which is nominally along the growth direction of the BYNO nanorods. The threading nanorod density of one film of the present work was measured by plan-view transmission electron microscopy to be 710–850 nanorods µm − 2. For approximately 1 µm thick films, typical Jc(75.6 K, sf) and values were ∼ 4.5 MA cm − 2 and 1.3–1.5 MA cm − 2, respectively. For a 0.5 µm thick film, was achieved, and values of Fp in excess of 30 and 120 GN m − 3 were achieved at 75.5 K and 65 K, respectively.


4 Jay Barlow a) 5 NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal 6 and Turtle Division, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, USA 7 8 Emily T. Griffiths b) 9 Ocean Associates, Inc., 4007 North Arlington Street, Arlington, Virginia 22207, USA 10 11 Holger Klinck 12 Bioacoustics research Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 13 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA 14 15 Danielle Harris 16 Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, The Observatory, Buchanan 17 Gardens, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9LZ, United Kingdom. 18 19 Date uploaded: 1 August 2018 20 Running title: 3D dive tracking for beaked whales 21 22 Echolocation pulses from Cuvier's beaked whales are used to track their three-dimensional 23 diving behavior in the Catalina Basin, California. In 2016, five two-element vertical hydrophone 24 arrays were suspended from the surface and drifted at ~100-m depth. Cuvier's beaked whale 25 pulses were identified, and vertical declination angles were estimated from time-differences-of26 arrival of either direct-path signals received on two hydrophones or direct-path and surface27 reflected signals received on the same hydrophone. A Bayesian state-space model is developed 28 to track the diving behavior. The model is fit to these detection angle estimates from at least four 29 of the drifting vertical arrays. Results show that the beaked whales were producing echolocation 30 pulses and are presumed to be foraging at a mean depth of 967 m (s.d. = 112 m), approximately 31 300 m above the bottom in this basin. Some whales spent at least some time at or near the 32 bottom. Average swim speed was 1.2 m s -1 , but swim direction varied during a dive. The average 33 net horizontal speed was 0.6 m s -1 . Results are similar to those obtained from previous tagging 34 studies of this species. These methods may allow expansion of dive studies to other whale 35 species that are difficult to tag. 36


While several studies suggest that traditional gender ideologies are strongly embedded in Latino populations, little is known about the way they operate in adolescent's romantic relationships. This mixedmethods study was carried out with adolescents in Cuenca, Ecuador. In the quantitative component, we assessed adolescents' support for traditional gender ideologies in a sample of 562 adolescents (n = 309 girls). It was identified that the majority of adolescents were "uncritical" towards traditional ideologies involving masculinity (82%) and femininity (79%). In the qualitative component, the narratives of a sample of 20 adolescents reflected existing discourses on traditional gender roles and revealed how these ideologies are translated into specific behaviors. In this context, romantic relationships can become negative and dysfunctional spaces that affect adolescents' development.


The ERCOFTAC junction flow is numerically simulated with both a structured and an unstructured RANS solver for incompressible flows. The structured code adopts a finite volume, cell-centered formulation while the unstructured code uses residual distribution schemes and a vertex centered storage of the unknowns. Two differential eddy viscosity models, based on local quantities, are considered in the computations: the one-equation Spalart–Allmaras model and the two equations model proposed by Lam and Bremhorst. The grid dependence of the numerical solutions is evaluated by means of a convergence analysis based on computation of the GCI and a code-to-code comparison. The numerical results provided by both turbulence models are compared with the experimental measurements of the pressure and velocity fields.


A few months ago a government appointed committee of social scientist (the Effect Committee) submitted a report on the regional effects of state policy in Norway. The report included studies of the regional effect of 19 sector policies. I was engaged by the committee to carry out a study on regional (and district) effects of state cultural policy. On the basis of this study and the report from the Effect Committee the paper discusses the regional effects of state policy in general with an emphasis on cultural policy. The main conclusion is that in state cultural policy there has become considerably less regional and district policy the last 10-15 years. This is also the case for practically all the sector policies examined by the Effect Commission. Regionalisation and a coordinated regionally based policy are the main prescriptions of the Effect Commission to alter the present situation. The paper discusses a possible decentralisation and regionalisation of state cultural policy. Severe doubts are expressed as to whether a planned decentralisation (and regionalisation) of Norwegian cultural policy will lead to any substantial changes within culture and cultural life.


Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) continues to be the major animal health concern facing the North American cattle feeding industry. Despite improvements in technologies and the development of new antimicrobials, morbidity and mortality rates have remained flat or even increased. Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) is a technology that has shown promise as a chute-side diagnostic tool for BRD. Degree of lung consolidation, as determined by TUS, has been negatively correlated to clinical outcome in cattle pulled for signs attributable to BRD and not treated with antimicrobials (negative controls). Thoracic ultrasonography is relatively simple to perform, and many of the available ultrasound machines and probes used for bovine reproductive ultrasonography can also be used to examine the lungs and pleura. While the procedures and techniques for large-scale use in a production setting remain to be validated, practitioners may currently be able to use the technology to add accuracy and value to their recommendations for case management of individual animals.


Foetuses and neonates are known to be high-risk groups for exposure to toxicants, and several epidemiological studies indicate that exposure to environmental pollutants during early human development can have deleterious effects on cognitive development in childhood. We have reported that low-dose exposure of neonatal mice, during the rapid brain growth (BGS), to environmental toxic agents (e.g. PCBs, BFRs, PFCs) and known neurotoxic agents (nicotine, organophosphorous compounds (OP)) can lead to disruption of the adult brain and to increased susceptibility to toxic agents at adult age. Several of these toxicants can also interact and enhance developmental neurotoxic effects. These neurobehavioural changes and changes in the cholinergic system are induced during a defined critical period of the BGS in neonatal mice when also proteins that are important for normal neuronal development can be affected. Present study indicates that agents known to affect the cholinergic system in neonates and adults can cause increased levels of the protein tau, a diagnostic marker for Alzheimer's diseases. Taken together this indicate that differences in adult susceptibility to environmental pollutants are not necessarily an inherited condition, instead be acquired by low dose exposure to toxic agents during early life and which can have implications for the development of neurological disorder and/or diseases.