This report describes a method for radiating disturbances generated in the computational field through the radiating boundaries. First a simulation is made without disturbances (such as a storm surge) subsequently a second simulation is made with the radiating boundary conditions activated, and the disturbance is able to pass through the boundary as if no boundary is present. The developed boundary condition permits nearly complete transmittal with reflections of only a few percent. By making a large number of experiment, the effectiveness of the method is illustrated. It appears also possible in principle, to modify the radiation boundary during the second simulation, but this needs further study. It has been concluded that radiating boundary conditions can be implemented in TRIWAQ.


The ground control station (GCS) is a critical element in the control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Important issues in designing a GCS concern the automation, autonomy and authority of operator support functions. The research described in this paper focuses on the design and evaluation of both operator support functions that act in the time-critical domain and the graphical user interface of the GCS. The operator support functions are based on the current airborne collision avoidance system and terrain awareness warning system. Those algorithms have been extended to enable autonomous function execution. The evaluation has been done in two experiments. The objective of the first experiment was to explore the influence of the level of authority (LoA) assigned to the system on operator situational awareness (SA) and performance. The results of Experiment 1 showed no influence of LoA on operator SA and performance. Possibly, no differences between the LoAs were found, because user interventions occurred most often in the tactical time domain, whereas the autonomous functions operate in the time-critical domain. However, although participants had enough level 3 SA (projection of current state into the future) to timely detect conflicts, they often did not come up with a good solution for them. In these cases, the solution to one conflict directly caused a new conflict. It also occurred that participants misjudged a safe situation as an upcoming conflict, intervening when this was not necessary. In order to better support operator SA, the GCS displays were redesigned. A second experiment was conducted, investigating the effect of the modified displays and the influence of LoA on operator SA and performance. The results of this experiment showed no significant influence of LoA. With the modified displays, only one unnecessary intervention occurred, and not one solution to a conflict caused a new conflict. This led to the conclusion that the modified display design provided the participants with better terrain awareness (level 2 SA) and better level 3 SA in the vertical dimension


BackgroundThe present investigation was designed to obtain an absolute measurement of myocardial blood flow and of its transmural distribution in ischemic heart disease and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and to provide a reference standard for cardiac imaging in nuclear cardiology. Methods and ResultsRegional myocardial blood flow and its transmural distribution were estimated by the reference microsphere method in eight patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n=4) or ischemic heart disease (n=4) during heart transplant procedure. Before aortic clamping, 99"Tc-labeled human albumin microspheres were injected into the left atrium while arterial blood was sampled from the aorta at a constant rate. No complications were observed during or after the procedure. From the excised heart, myocardial slices for gamma camera imaging and well counting analysis were obtained. Myocardial blood flow was assessed by a well counter, correlated with the extent of fibrosis expressed as collagen per total tissue proteins obtained from 4-hydroxyproline and glycine as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Microsphere distribution, as seen by gamma camera images in a different slice, was correlated with the extent of fibrosis assessed by histological analysis of the same myocardial specimen. Mean transmural myocardial blood flow was 0.49 ± 0.17 and 0.38 ± 0.15 mL. min.* g−1 in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease, respectively (P<.01). Endocardial-toepicardial flow ratio was lower in ischemic heart disease than in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy patients (0.99 ± 0.33 versus 1.16 ± 0.30, p<.05). Mean myocardial fibrosis was 9 ± 6% in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 25 ± 28% in ischemic heart disease. In both groups, no correlation was found between myocardial blood flow values and the extent of fibrosis. In ischemic heart disease, regional myocardial blood flow was not significantly affected by the severity of coronary stenosis (<70%/1 or >70%o) either in the endocardium (0.44 ± 0.24 versus 0.36 ± 0.16 mL* min'. g−1, P=NS) or in the epicardium (0.50 ± 0.33 versus 0.38 ± 0.33 mL* min'. g−1, P=NS). By gamma camera imaging, transmural microsphere distribution appeared more homogeneous in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy than in ischemic heart disease (mean coefficient variation, 18% and 27%, respectively; P<.02); the severity of perfusion impairment did not correlate with the extent of fibrosis evaluated by histological criteria. ConclusionHeart transplant surgery offers a valuable model to assess absolute myocardial perfusion in human heart failure. Myocardial blood flow is markedly depressed in failing hearts of both ischemic heart disease and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy patients; a different transmural myocardial blood flow distribution is observed in ischemic heart disease than in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, with prevalent endocardial perfusion in the latter but not the former condition. In patients with end-stage heart failure, myocardial blood flow appears to be similarly impaired in fibrotic and viable regions. Mechanisms other than myocardial fibrosis and coronary lesions appear to operate in determining myocardial blood flow impairment in heart failure.


During a hypothetical loss-of-coolaht-accident (LOCA) in a Mark I boiling water reactor (BWR) power plant, air, followed by steam is injected into a toroidal wetwell about half-filled with water. Injection occurs below the water surface in a vertically downward direction thxough 0.6-m-diam open-end pipes called downcomers. A downward load is induced on the toroidal wetwell as the water that is initially in side the downcomers is forced into the water pool below them. The magnitude of this downward load increases for about 1/4 s, until just after gas bubbles'appear in the pool. The water surface inside the toroidal wetwell then moves rapidly upward, particularly in the region adjacent to the outside of the downcnmers, as water is displaced by the gos bubbles. The gas bubbles over-expand, because the flow of gases from the downcomers is not sufficient to counteract the upward displacement of the water. The direztion of net load on the toroidal wetwell now shifts upward and reaches a peak of approximately half the magnitude of the maxi mum downward load in about 1/2 s. The vertical load then decreases in .'.n oscillatory manner to static conditions in about 1 s. We designed a 1/5-scale facility to experimentally verify the predicted loading func tion and to study the ensuing fluid dynamics phenomena. Analytical results were used to modify the design of the experimental apparatus so that the fluid-structure interaction in the toroidal wetwell did not adversely affect measurements. Using dimensional analysis, we developed scaling relationships that show the dlmenaion- less groupings F/pgL 3 and t z g/L are invariant. Here, F is force, p is liquid density, g Is the gravitational constant, L is length, and t is Lime. If water is used as the working fluid in the 1/5-scale experimental apparatus, the anticipated magnitude of forces would be 1/125 of that present in a full-scale BWR pover plant and would occur m 1/V5 the time. For a structural analysis of the 1/5-scale facility, the toroidal wetwell, supports, and base structure were considered to be a spring-mass system excited by an appropriate loading function. The loading function was determined by use of the scaling relationships indicated and by anticipating full-scale BWR power plant forces. Frequency response of the toroidal wetwell was examined with finite-element computer techniques and also closed-form solutions. Required changes in the design of the experimental apparatus were incorporated so that load measurements accurately represented the loading function. Predicted vertical force-time signatures are presented. This work


To the Editors: Dyspnoea, fatigue and poor exercise tolerance remain a major burden for people with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has shown to positively impact these aspects. However, in our earlier randomized controlled trial of PR in ILD, less than half of the participants who undertook PR achieved clinically meaningful improvements in exercise capacity. The traditional PR method of moderate-intensity continuous training may not represent the optimal exercise stimuli for people with ILD. Some people with ILD may not be able to tolerate continuous training, due to excessive dyspnoea or desaturation, resulting in a reduced training stimulus and thus limiting the benefits that can be gained from PR. Interval training, periods of intense exercise alternated with periods of recovery, could be an efficacious alternative to continuous training. Interval training has been shown to be highly effective in producing physiological and healthrelated benefits in those with cardiac disease. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it has produced equivalent improvements to continuous training. The benefit of interval training in ILD is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the physiological effects of interval and continuous exercise during a single bout and to establish the ideal interval training format in people with ILD. This randomized cross-over trial included nine participants with ILD (age 70 10 years; forced vital capacity 66 17% predicted; carbon monoxide transfer factor 51 15% predicted; peak oxygen uptake 75 19% predicted) and consisted of four sessions, each separated by ≥48 h. On the first visit, a symptom-limited incremental cycle test was performed to determine the peak work rate (Wpeak). During the subsequent three visits, participants performed in random order three cycling protocols until symptom-limited exhaustion: high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—30 s intervals alternating between 100% Wpeak and passive rest; moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT)—2-min intervals alternating between 80% Wpeak and 40% Wpeak; and moderate-intensity continuous training—continuous exercise at 60% Wpeak. Premature termination before exhaustion occurred if SpO2 (oxygen saturation) < 80% or if test duration reached 45 min. Breath-by-breath oxygen utilization (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and minute ventilation (VE) measures were averaged every 15 s. Heart rate (HR), SpO2, blood lactate, dyspnoea and leg fatigue were continuously monitored. The trial received ethical approval (Alfred Health and La Trobe University Ethics Committees) and was registered (anzctr.org.au: ACTRN126 19000300178). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare endurance time, total work and nadir SpO2 between protocols. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess the effects of time (2, 6, 10 min and end exercise; values obtained in the last 15 s of exercise bout at each time point), condition (HIIT, MIIT and continuous exercise) and the condition time interaction for cardiorespiratory variables, SpO2, blood lactate, dyspnoea and leg fatigue. Significant condition time effects were explored post hoc using Fisher's LSD test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. There were no significant differences for endurance time (HIIT, mean [SD] of 30.4 [12.7] min; MIIT, 27.2 [13.5] min; continuous exercise, 28.8 [12.9] min) or total work (HIIT, 92 [50] kJ; MIIT, 102 [69] kJ; continuous exercise, 111 [75] kJ). The maximum duration of 45 min was achieved by four participants (all three protocols, n = 1; two protocols, HIIT/MIIT and MIIT/continuous exercise, n = 2; single protocol, HIIT, n = 1). Nadir SpO2 was not significantly different between protocols (HIIT, 83 [3]%; MIIT, 83 [2]%; continuous exercise, 82 [3]%). All nine participants conveyed a preference for interval training with 67% of participants preferring HIIT. There were no major adverse events during any protocol. Cardiorespiratory, metabolic and symptom responses are shown in Table 1. The SpO2 was significantly higher with HIIT at 6 min compared to MIIT and at 10 min compared with both MIIT and continuous exercise (Figure 1). The SpO2 at end exercise was significantly higher with MIIT compared to continuous exercise (Figure 1). VO2, VCO2, HR, VE, blood lactate, leg fatigue and dyspnoea increased over time, with no difference between protocols. MIIT resulted in significantly higher VCO2 and VE compared to HIIT and continuous exercise. Blood lactate levels were lower with continuous exercise compared to MIIT and HIIT. Our findings indicate that interval training may be a useful exercise training approach for people with ILD. We found HIIT partially attenuated the fall in SpO2 typically Received: 9 June 2021 Accepted: 13 September 2021


Abstract Call a non-Moufang Bol loop minimally non-Moufang if every proper subloop is Moufang and minimally nonassociative if every proper subloop is associative. We prove that these concepts are the same for Bol loops which are nilpotent of class two and in which certain associators square to 1. In the process, we derive many commutator and associator identities which hold in such loops.


Subsequent treatment of branched poly(ethylene imine) with N,N,N-trimethyl-3-({[(2-oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methoxy]carbonyl}amino)propan-1-ammonium iodide and either (2-oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)carbamate or 4-[(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)methyl]-1,3-dioxolan-2-one yielded 'quat-primer polymers' bearing quarternary ammonium and cyclic carbonate groups covalently linked to the macromolecule. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy with model reaction mixtures and the macromolecular products revealed that the quaternary ammonium groups were selectively attached to the primary amino groups of the polymeric educt. The new functional macromolecules were characterized further by means of DSC and TGA. Upon spin coating the cyclic carbonate groups containing cationic polymers on oxygen/argon plasma-pretreated highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), scanning force microscopy revealed the presence of a 3 nm thick film covering the substrate. This ultrathin coating was persistent against extraction with methanol, ...


Crape myrtle aphid (Sarucallis kahawaluokalani) and tulip-tree aphid (Illinoia liriodendri) are new insect species in Croatia. Crape myrtle aphid originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It feeds on ornamental plants from Lagerstroemia and Lawsonia genera. It causes damage on ornamentals via excretion of honeydew accompanied by sooty mould that decreases ornamental value of the plants. The aphid is recognizable by black markings on the body and wings of an adult aphid and black tubercles on the back. Crape myrtle aphid was first recorded in Croatia in July 2014 on Lagerstroemia indica (L.) on the island of Krk. Later investigation showed that it has spread throughout the entire Croatian coast and has since been found in Porec, Rovinj, Sibenik and Dubrovnik. Tulip-tree aphid is a Nearctic species that originates from North America. It is monoecious holocyclic species that feeds on Liriodendron tulipifera (L.). It has been spreading across Europe and Asia with its ornamental host plants and has so far been introduced in the UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Greece. The aphid excretes considerable quantities of honeydew accompanied by sooty mould but heavy infestation can cause premature leaves' discoloration and defoliation. Tulip-tree aphid was first recorded in Croatia in August 2014 in Porec. No further investigation of this aphid was carried out so its real distribution in Croatia is still unknown. Since both species are alien to Europe, further investigations are needed in order to establish their current distribution, possibilities of spread and possibilities of their domestication in Croatian climate.


We introduce Big Data Analytics Modeling Languages (BiDaML), a novel integrated suite of visual languages aimed at supporting end users during the process of designing big data analytics solutions. BiDaML comprises five diagrammatic notations: a data analytics brainstorming diagram; a process diagram; technique diagrams; data diagrams; and output diagrams. Tool support in the form of an integrated design environment for creating BiDaML diagrams has also been developed. To demonstrate the utility of BiDaML, we illustrate our approach with a real-world example of property price prediction and evaluate BiDaML using the physics of notations and cognitive walkthroughs with target end users - data scientists and software engineers.


We explore the statistical properties of non-linear cosmic structures in a flat A cold dark matter (ACDM) cosmology in which the index n s of the primordial power spectrum for scalar perturbations is allowed to depend on the scale. Within the inflationary paradigm, the running of the scalar spectral index can be related to the properties of the inflation potential, and it is hence of critical importance to test it with all kinds of observations, which cover the linear and non-linear regime of gravitational instability. We focus on the amount of running α S , 0 (≡ dn S /d ln(k/k p )) allowed by an updated combination of cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data and the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey. Our analysis constrains α S,0 = -0.051 +0.047 -0.053 (-0.034 +0.039 -0.040 ) at 95 per cent Confidence Level when (not) taking into account primordial gravitational waves in a ratio as predicted by canonical single field inflation, in agreement with other works. For the cosmological models best fitting the data both with and without running we studied the abundance of galaxy clusters and of rare objects, the halo bias, the concentration of dark matter haloes, the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation, the power spectrum of cosmic shear and the Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. We find that counting galaxy clusters in future X-ray and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich surveys could discriminate between the two models, more so if broad redshift information about the cluster samples will be available. Likewise, measurements of the power spectrum of cosmological weak lensing as performed by planned all-sky optical surveys such as EUCLID could detect a running of the primordial spectral index, provided the uncertainties about the source redshift distribution and the underlying matter power spectrum are well under control.


This paper is concerned with the analysis of the inf-sup condition arising in the stationary Stokes problem in exterior domains. We deduce values of the constant in the stability lemma, which yields fully computable estimates of the distance to the set of divergence free fields defined in exterior domains. Using these estimates we obtain computable majorants of the difference between the exact solution of the Stokes problem in exterior domains and any approximation from the admissible (energy) class of functions satisfying the Dirichlet boundary condition exactly.


The present invention relates to novel organically modified aerogels, a method for their production, in which a) a hydrogel is provided; b) the surface of the hydrogel obtained in step (a) is modified, and c) the modified surface of the gel obtained in step (b) is dried, and the use thereof. The present invention also relates to novel organically modified wet gels, a method for the production and the use thereof.


Building strong capacities in public accountability is key to controlling malfeasance in public expenditure. Even though most public entities in most countries are legally obligated to report on public expenditure and to detect incidences of malfeasance, differing governance arrangements regarding political democracy, the rule of law and civil liberties indicate differences in the priority given to, and in the results obtained through, public accountability initiatives, including those of the supreme audit institutions (SAIs). This article demonstrates how variations in governance enablers in different regions of the world produce differing results. It argues that on their own and without necessary investments in democracy and the rule of law, investments in accountability measures, including those of the SAIs, will not produce desired outcomes and thus will have little or no impact on the control of corruption. It also cites selected successful cases of civil society participation in the auditing of government programmes.


Abstract Developments in health care technology and rising patient expectations coupled with significant organizationalchanges have led to a dramatic increase in home enteral tube feeding. There are a variety of ways in which such a service can be provided within the existing national funding framework. However, it is not always possible to realize this potential at local level. This paper describes current funding arrangements and some of the constraints thereby generated in service delivery. The drivers for change are identified together with criteria for a patient-focused home enteral tube feeding service. An innovative approach to these challenges has been adopted by one health authority in response to patient needs, staff concerns and clinical governance requirements. The 'Avon Scheme' is the result of viring funding from primary to secondary care and concurrently, abandoning the National Health Service prescription route. This has led to economies generated by larger scale purchasing. The savings thus realized have been reinvested in a comprehensive scheme resulting in an equitable approach to service provision, improved patient satisfaction and enhanced clinical care.


By improved dimensional stability and having superior inhibitory properties of the surface of the oligomer and the polyester film of polyester and polyimide and reduce the coarse protrusions can be provided capable of exhibiting excellent electromagnetic conversion characteristics, particularly a polyester film as the recording medium used may be a high density. This is an absorbing film comprising a thermoplastic resin other than the polyester and a polyester, at least one side thereof a number of coarse projections H1 (height of 0.28μm or more in number of the projections) on the surface 0-100 (number / 100cm


OBJECTIVE:To observe therapeutic efficacy and safety of Wenxin granule combined with metoprolol in the treatment of coronary heart disease and arrhythmia. METHODS:291 cases of coronary heart disease and arrhythmia were randomly divided into A,B,C groups with 97 cases in each group. Group A was treated with Wenxin granules orally,9 g/time,3 times/d;group B metoprolol orally,12.5 mg/time,2 times/d;group C metoprolol 6.25 mg/time,2 times/d + Wenxin granule orally,9 g/time,3 times/d. Treatment course of 3 groups lasted for 4 weeks. Clinical efficacy,PR interval,QTc interval,QRS wave duration and ADR were observed in each group. RESULTS:The total effective rate of group C were significantly higher than that of group A and B;there was no statistical significance between group A and group B;the improvement of PR interval,QRS wave duration and QTc interval in group C were better than in group A and B;there was no statistical significance between group A and group B.The incidence of ADR in group C was significantly lower than in group A and B;there was no significant difference between group A and B. CONCLUSIONS:Wenxin granule combined with metoprolol is effective and safe for coronary heart disease arrhythmia,and it has the broad prospects of clinical application.


In current experimental design, by exchanging the optical switch configured in front of arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) router, the wavelength hopping configuration was implemented over wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network. In addition, in order to enhance the variable wavelength hopping pattern of proposed scheme, the transceiver oscillators were used to trigger the optical switch by a series of random and un-predictable electrical signal. The experiment results proved possible solution of secure WDM network that the wavelength hopping effect was monitored by optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) in optical domain. By using the oscilloscope for monitoring, the results showed the transmitted analogy signal of 10MHzwas extracted correctly by photo-detector while the wavelength hopping is happened


Purpose Trocar site hernia (TSH) is an uncommon sequela of laparoscopic procedures. In this retrospective study, we determined the incidence of TSH and investigated the associated risk factors in patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy (LC).Subjects Three hundred and ten patients who underwent LC for colorectal disease between December 1993 and February 2008 in our hospital.Results In this series, the incidence of TSH was 1.6% (5patients). There were no differences in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), tumor site or diabetes mellitus between the TSH and non–TSH groups. Comparison between patients with and without TSH revealed no differences in trocar size, type or site. However, there were significant differences in drain placement and fascial closure at the trocar insertion site after trocar removal. All TSH occurred in the left lower abdominal region, where an abdominal trocar had been placed for sigmoid or rectosigmoid colon cancer surgery and a drain had been placed after the trocar removement. The trocar diameter was 10–mm in 3 and 5–mm in 2 patients. Surgical treatment was provided to two patients with early–onset TSH and incarceration of the small intestine, and to one with late–onset TSH patient and abdominal pain. In the other two patients, who had omental hernias after drain removal, the fascias at the trocar sites were closed under local anesthesia.Conclusion The range of intraoperative port movement and drain placement through a port site, which involve dilatation of the trocar orifice or disturbance of the fascial closure, are risk factors for the occurrence of TSH.


The invention discloses a preparation method for a leucine aminopeptidase quality control product. The preparation method comprises the following steps: freeze thawing a healthy person serum for 10-15 times, filtering and adjusting the pH value of filtrate to be 7.0-7.5; adding maleate and uniformly mixing; adding canavalin A and uniformly mixing, wherein in a final mixture, the concentration of maleate is 5-20 mmol/L and the concentration of canavalin A is 0.1-0.4 g/L; adding amino acid, polyethylene glycol, bovine serum albumin and a preservative in the mixed solution and uniformly mixing, wherein in a final mixture, the concentration of amino acid is 10-100 mmol/L, the concentration of polyethylene glycol is 1-10 g/L, the concentration of bovine serum albumin is 1-10 g/L and the concentration of the preservative is 0.2-0.5 g/L; sub-packaging and freeze-drying. The advantage of ensuring LAP (leucine aminopeptidase) determination stability is realized.


Activities are discussed concerning the development of microporous inorganic membranes at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). These membranes have effective pore diameters of less than 2 nm. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry designation for membranes of this pore size is microporous, although descriptively, they are nanoporous. Results of recent developments (i.e., from about January 2002 to the present) are discussed. Current development is directed toward the fabrication of tubular metal-supported ceramic membranes. The thin membranes are applied to the inner surface of the tubular supports, in part to prevent damage to the membranes during handling and installation into a separation system. Metal-supported membranes also have advantages over ceramic-supported membranes with respect to integration into gas-separation units because they can be welded to metal support structures such as tube sheets. Characterization, flow, and separation performance data are discussed. Separation factors for hydrogen, which are indicative of the selectivity of the membranes for hydrogen in a binary gas mixture, are very high and are coupled with very high permeances, (the volumetric flow per unit of surface area per unit of transmembrane pressure difference). Reported performance data include permeance, ideal separation factors, and separation factors for actual gas mixtures. Physical properties of these membranes are also reported. This paper will also address the status of classification and nonproliferation reviews, which are required prior to release and use because of legacy classified technology issues.


The invention relates to a method of displaying an input gate of a password on a user terminal, said gate comprising a plurality of displayable images, a display image comprising at least one sign, the displayable image being to be selected by the user as part of the password, the method comprises the following steps: - generation (EO) of the input gate, the displayable images being randomly positioned in the grid, - to a sign component image, generation (E1) of a clean hazard to the sign of the image, - display (E2) of the sign to a position for the image obtained from the input gate, when the own hazard the sign is smaller than a display likelihood, the steps of generating the random number and sign display being repeated at regular intervals.


The effects on the vegetable faba were studied in this paper.The results were as follows :the high bulk density increased the mortality rate,fresh pod yield.Decreasing bulk density though soil management was the measure for increasing vegetable faba bean yeild.


I have the feeling that I was invited to this conference as a dissenting voice. I will not disappoint you, but I must begin by acknowledging that I am in agreement with the conclusion of Richard Cooper's paper that the strong dollar and the large trade deficit are a direct consequence of monetary policy. I also believe that Professor Cooper, although he has left the price effects out of his analysis, has done a good job of showing the problems with many of the commonly proposed "solutions" to the U.S. trade deficit. There are some issues where I disagree with Professor Cooper. I believe it will be helpful to this conference if I fold my disagreements into a broader policy context that, I believe, will strengthen Professor Cooper's paper. Economists generally have misinterpreted Reagan administration policy as a mix of loose fiscal policy and tight monetary policy. I do not know what accounts for this misinterpretation of administration policy other than habitual Keynesian ways of thinking that precluded anyone looking at the admin-istration's own statements of its policy and at the actual facts. The administration quested and planned on the basis of a different monetary policy than the one that the Fed delivered. The administration was looking for a 50 percent reduction in the rate of M1 growth spread over a six year period. It did not expect 75 percent of this reduction to show up the first year, nor did it expect the volatility that has characterized monetary policy. To quote from the February 18, 1981, report that announced the administra-tion's economic policy: "The economic scenario assumes that the growth rates of money and credit are steadily reduced from the 1980 levels to one-half those levels by 1986." The administration certainly had no intention of attempting to cure inflation overnight with a recessionary monetary policy. Indeed given the constraints of conventional thinking at the time, such a policy would have had no credibility. Forecasting models such as DRI had a "'core rate of infla-tion" of 10 percent, which established a 10 percent inflation floor even with restrictive monetary and fiscal policies. Moreover, administration policy


Scientists from the USSRand the UK are to pool information and collaborate in research projects on the control of plant diseases, the provision of plant nutrients and the improvement of soil structure through biotechnology. The Institute of Microbiology, Moscow, and Moscow State University have signed an agreement with the Institute of Horticultural Research at Littlehampton and London University's Kings College. Jim Lynch, head of Microbiology at Littlehampton, has been utilizing the fundamental research carried out at Kings College. He said 'Similar developments have been taking place in the Soviet Union, but with the signing of this agreement, the opportunity now exists to pool our knowledge and apply it over a much wider range of soil types and geographical boundaries'. 'We are thrilled to be part of the process of scientific glasnost which holds so much promise for the future' . Details of the increasing level of cooperation and trade between the USSRand the rest of the world in the field of biotechnology are given in the lastest issue of The Genetic Engineer andBiotechnologist. For example, Sanofi of France have been collaborating with the Ukrainian Oil Seed Institute, to develop genetically improved sunflowers. Monsanto (USA) and MNTK Biogen are involved in a $1 million joint venture to create a biotechnology laboratory. Work will focus on plant genetics, protein engineering, neuromolecular biology and methods of increasing productivity in agricultural animals. Several deals centre on the exploitation of peat.There is also considerable collaboration within Comecon countries. Problems over US embargos on transfer of new technology to the Eastern Bloc seemed to have lessened. The current issue of Baltic nationalism may pose a threat to the USSR's biotechnology programme, according to ~r Antony Rimmington of the Centre for Russian and East European Studies at Birmingham University. A facility capable of producing 1 million units of alpha interferon is reported to have been built in Vil'nyus, the capital of Lithuania. The alpha interferon would be used to treat cattle suffering from foot and mouth disease. Production of interleukin-2 at a plant in Riga, capital of Latvia, has also been scheduled. Riga is also the site of the Biolar Science Production Association, which produces chemical reagents for genetic engineering.


Influences of codeine on the fine structure of zona fasciculata of rat adrenal cortex electron microscopically were studied. The results obtained are as follows. Administering codeine at a dosage of 40mg/kg to normal rats, the honeycombed structures of inner membranes of mitochondria in adrenocortical cells gradually disappeared and the matrix of mitochondria became to less dense. While the deformed structures above-mentioned gradually diminished during the chronic administration of the drug. However, the deformation of inner membranes in mitochondria were produced again in tolerant rats after withdrawal of codeine or treatment of levallorphan, but after the reinjection of codeine, the changes disappeared to the normal state.


Conceptual understanding and reasoning play crucial role in academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This paper addresses the design of conceptual understanding and reasoning in pedagogical activities used for supporting self-regulated learning in STEM education. The idea and approach have been proposed and the preliminary investigation of the students' satisfaction to apply conceptualization in learning has been discussed. The proposed approach has potential for improving pedagogical activities across STEM disciplines.


Objective: The purpose of this study was to test which stressors worsen the symptoms perceived by patients with lupus, thus broadening and corroborating results obtained in a previous study published in Psychosomatic Medicine. Methods: In order to examine this question, we selected 43 patients with lupus whose symp-toms worsened due to the effects of daily stress. These patients were divided into two groups: patients whose increase in clinical lupus symp-tomatology was predicted by an increase in daily stressors on the same day (G1) and pa-tients whose increase in clinical lupus symp-tomatology was predicted by an increase in daily stressors the day before and the same day (G2). Later, three factorial analyses were con-ducted with the items related to stressors and the items related to lupic symptoms. Results: The results showed that in G1 there were three factors that made up a total of 35.08% of the explained variance. The stressors associated with certain symptoms of the illness in this group are feeling ill or being worried about their physical appearance, with the main stressor being the illness itself. However, in G2, two factors were found that made up a total of 40.37% of the explained variance for lag=0 and 38.67% for lag=1. The stressors associated with the majority of the lupus symptoms are of an interpersonal and work-related nature. This as-sociation was maintained when we carried out the factorial analyses with the items of the symptoms from the following day. Conclusions: The interpersonal and work-related stressors are related to a worsening in the majority of the lupic symptoms in the patients whose sympto-matology worsens as a result of daily stress experienced the day before.


The present investigation has studied the impact of Nb surface segregation on charge carrier separation in polycrystalline Nb-doped (0.65 at % Nb) TiO2. By use of secondary ion mass spectrometry, the effect of applied processing conditions (temperature and oxygen activity) on the segregation of Nb has been obtained and correlated against surface photovoltage data obtained using surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS). It has been observed that within the range of the applied processing conditions, the segregation of Nb toward or away from the surface can be achieved. The corresponding SPS results demonstrate that, when Nb is removed from the surface and near-surface regions of Nb-TiO2, charge separation increases, as reflected by an increase in the surface photovoltage. After consideration of the impact of oxygen activity on the defect disorder of Nb-TiO2, it is concluded that the application of very low oxygen activities (p(O2) in the vicinity of 10–15 Pa) at temperatures of 1473 K and above leads to the...


The development of auxiliary system of city railway traffic vehicle with the development of power (electronic) devices is surveyed.The main composition of (auxiliary) electricity power system is described.The distinction between three-level and two-level inverters is pointed out.The simulated waveform of the auxiliary electricity power based on three-level inverter is given.Some suggestions are proposed for the auxiliary system.


S c h o l a r s , w h e n e v e r t h e y r e f e r t o t h e t e x t of one of the romances of Chrétien de Troyes, usually borrow the quoted passages from one of the Classiques Français du Moyen Age edi tions.1 This procedure suffers from a serious flaw: the editors' almost slavish adherence to their basic manuscript, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 794 (known also as the Guiot MS). Although B.N. fr. 794 is one of the oldest and best of all extant Chrétien manuscripts, it is far from perfect. Guiot, the scribe who copied it, could not have done so before 1213, the earliest possible date for the composition of Les Empereurs de Rome, and since Chrétien probably did not outlive Count Philip of Flanders, to whom he dedicated his unfinished Perceval and who died in 1191, we must conclude that more than twenty years elapsed between the time Chrétien wrote the last of his five romances and Guiot's transcription of them. This means, a priori, that the Chrétien texts we read in B.N. fr. 794 are open to suspicion: between Chrétien's originals and the Guiot MS we may assume the loss of one or several intermediaries, each one of these MSS less faithful to Chrétien than its model. Another a priori reason for doubting the accuracy of the Guiot transcription is the formidable task he faced: not only did he set out to copy in extenso Chrétien's five romances, but also A this et Profilias, Troie, Brut, Les Empereurs de Rome by Calendre, and the first Perceval Continuation2—a huge undertaking, which no single person can reasonably be expected to have handled otherwise than some what mechanically. A posteriori, when one collates the C.F.M.A. editions of Erec, Cligés, Lancelot, and Yvain with those procured by Wendelin Foerster,3 weaknesses and defects of G uiot's transcriptions became readily apparent. His deficiencies are many: he omits words and even lines; he transposes lines within a couplet or rewrites them; he seems insensitive to the finer points of Chrétien's prosody.4 Foerster's editions stand at the opposite pole from those we owe to Mario Roques, Alexandre Micha, and Félix Lecoy. Whereas the latter three offer texts of rather more linguistic than purely literary interest, the German scholar's aim was to produce a critical text, i.e., one that


Background The WTC collapse exposed FDNY-workers to caustic airborne particulates that likely resulted in upper and lower airway injury resulting in sinus disease. Aims To identify risk factors for sinus disease in order to focus interventions on WTC-exposed persons at greatest risk. Methods Using information from the FDNY WTC medical monitoring and treatment program database we assessed the impact of initial WTC-arrival time, duration of WTC-rescue/recovery work and blood eosinophil concentration on incident chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in 9394 FDNY rescue/recovery workers using Cox proportional hazard models. Results Multiple-predictor Cox regression models adjusted for age, race, and smoking history predicting CRS showed an increased hazard of CRS with higher eosinophil concentration(HR 1.13 (1.04-1.22),P=0.004), as well as high intensity exposures defined by arrival on the morning of 9/11 (HR 1.26 (1.15-1.38),P Conclusions A circumscribed but intense irritant exposure can produce non-resolving inflammation of the upper airway yielding increased rates of CRS years later. FDNY-workers who arrived the morning of 9/11 and had a high blood eosinophil concentration are at higher risk to develop CRS.


Abstract Based on 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline (HNCP) and 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate (TDC2−) ligands, three new lanthanide-containing (Sm, Nd, and Pr) compounds, [Sm(NCP)(TDC)]n (1), [Nd(NCP)(TDC)]n·2n(H2O)0.5 (2), and [Pr(NCP)(TDC)]n·n(H2O)0.5 (3), have been synthesized using the hydrothermal method and structurally characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analyses have revealed that compounds 1–3 are 3D isostructural metal-organic frameworks in which the [Ln2(COO)4] dimers can be regarded as 6-connecting nodes, and the TDC2− and NCP− ligands are simplified as connectors to achieve the double interspersed 3D networks with the point symbol {412·63}. Thermogravimetric analysis has illustrated that the rigid architecture contributes to superior thermal stability with a thermal decomposition temperature of more than 400°C for the resulting metal-organic frameworks.


In business firms innovation is increasingly seen as the key to competitive success. For the better part of a decade leading American companies have been changing their cultures, and gearing themselves for adaptability, invention, and constant learning.' Many observers of government wonder whether public agencies should pursue innovation with equal vigor and, if so, whether lessons from the private sector apply. But what do public managers think? Do they believe that innovation is as important to the success of their agencies as do managers of private firms? By what means, if any, do they think innovation should be pursued? And what limits would they put on the exercise of creative initiative by public employees? This article reports what nine senior managers in state and local government had to say. It finds them in substantial agreement about what innovation means, the role it plays in public agencies, the role they think it should play, and how it best should be managed. Further, it suggests that these managers' views are grounded in an unquestioning acceptance of the traditional distinction between policy and administration first put forward by Woodrow Wilson (1887), and an equally strong rejection of the notion, embodied in the public administration model that flowed from this distinction, that administrative discretion should be suppressed. Put differently, they challenge the claim, embedded in the rules governing their agencies, that administrative work is best performed in a steeply hierarchical, highly segmented, rule-driven bureaucracy.2


Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is the most recently identified source of stem cells. The UCB stem cells are capable of giving rise to hematopoietic, epithelial, endothelial, and neural tissues both in vitro and in vivo. They are being increasingly used as an alternative hematopoietic stem cell source for treating many diseases. To date, over 6000 UCB transplant procedures in children and adults have been performed worldwide using UCB donors. It has advantages of easy procurement, no risk to donors, low risk of transmitting infections, immediate availability and immune tolerance allowing successful transplantation despite HLA disparity. This review will focus on the collection techniques, banking systems and various therapeutic potentials of UCB.


Lanost-8-enyl acetate has been converted via 3β-acetoxy-5α-lanostane-7,11-dione to 3β-acetoxy-7α-hydroxy-5α-lanostan-11-one which by the Barton reaction on the nitrite ester, followed by dehydration gave 3β-acetoxy-11-oxo-5α-lanost-8-en-14α-nitrile, which resisted hydrolysis to the corresponding acid. Lead tetra-acetate and iodine converted the 7α-hydroxy-11-ketone to the 7α-acetoxy-14α→ 7α-lactone and the 7α-acetoxy-7α,14α-ether. This ether was cleaved with pyridinium hydrochloride, which gave 3β-acetoxy-4,4-dimethyl-5α-cholest-8-en-11-one by rearrangement, together with the 3β,32-diacetoxy-11-oxo-5α-lanost-7-ene which was hydrolysed and oxidised to give the 4,4-dimethyl-5α-cholest-8-en-3,11-dione as the major product.


TMSun Micro Systems and Network File System (NFS) are trademarks of Sun Micro Systems. technical Staff at USU/EsT 3 hen invoking an operation on aremote machine, the paradigm with which programmers are most comfortable is the Remote Procedure Call (RPC). In this operation, the local process invokes a stub procedure, which marshalls the parameters to be passed to the remote operation into a machine-independent format, then sends the parameters and a request identifying the operation to be invoked to the remote machine. The operation is performed, and the results are returned to the local stub procedure, which passes the results to the invoking program. If the link to the remote machine is not totally reliable, then in order to create the once-only semantics that most calls require , mechanisms that guarantee the correct delivery of the data must be invoked. Where these mechanisms are placed is amatter of debate; the Sun Micro Systems Network File SystemTM is best known for using its own reliability mechanisms over the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) [l]. However, building reliable delivery mechanisms that can cope with arbitrary message sizes as well as the problems of duplicates, missing messages and out-ofo rde r delivery is not a trivial task, and if it is constructed wrongly, performance suffers-not only that of the operation invoking the messages, but that of the other denizens of the network as well. An alternative approach is to use the reliable delivery mechanisms that already exist in most systems, such as the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) Class 4 Transport Protocol (TP4) [2], or the Department of Defense (DoD) Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) [ 11. These protocols ensure not only reliable delivery of data, but also responsible use of the network resource. There are concerns that RPC is not the correct mechanism to use in a distributed system that runs over high bandwidth-delay-product networks, as the block-on-response semantics of the call are an inefficient use of resources. However, it is an easy mechanism for programmers raised on single-processor systems to use in building distributed systems, and it will be sufficiently pervasive to make optimizing its performance worthwhile. As part of an investigation into the performance of the Sun Micro Systems RPC mechanism [3] over TCP, we found unexpected glitches in the performance of R P C calls as their size increased. This aroused curiosity about where these glitches were arising from. Eventually, investigations led to a mismatched interface between layers of a protocol stack, and an inappropriate buffering strategy between the socket code and the TCP code. A diagram of the protocol stack can be seen in Table 1. Although correcting these deficiencies is an important result in its own right, we feel that the problems we have uncovered illustrate the deficiencies in the models used to implement communications systems. The concentration on a layered architecture in which the functions of each layer are independen t of each o t h e r resul ts in a common processing path for incoming and outgoing data, which passes along a path with crevasses and cliffs between layers. Instead, we recommend the use of a separate model for designing and implement ing a real system, in which the focus of design is on supporting the requirements of the applications' data unit. The first part of this article shows the detection and diagnosis of the problem, and the second part provides some pointers to a design approach that could avoid the problems of mismatched communications layers.


Abr. sum.: This report reviews government policies concerning consumer food prices in Kenya. In respect of official food pricing, Kenya can be said to pursue a 'cheap food' policy. It was found that most foods falling under price control measures showed less price increases than the average rate of inflation during recent years (1975-1984). Moreover, when compared to international prices, the data reveal that domestic maize prices (maize is Kenya's staple food) were kept well below comparable world market prices for this commodity. Official food pricing policy, however, does not reach the majority of the Kenyans who live in the rural areas. Here, consumer prices are determined by market forces, i.e. by varying local supply conditions, and there are substantial price variations, both seasonal and regional, even between adjacent rural markets. These price variations are further aggravated by the government's stringent regulations on food transports across district boundaries. It is therefore widely recommended that the (maize) food sector be liberalized by lifting movement controls and allowing private traders to participate in maize trading operations, although it remains to be seen whether this will in fact lead to less fluctuating food prices in rural Kenya


What makes a story timeless? What ensures that a tale is told and retold over centuries, or even millennia? What can an ancient story mean for us, in a world of globalised post-modernity?


We propose a large-scale quantum computer architecture based upon the regular arrays of dopant atoms implanted into the semiconductor host matrix. The singly-ionized pairs of donors represent charge qubits on which arbitrary quantum operations can be achieved by application of two strongly detuned laser pulses. The implementation of two-qubit operations as well as the qubit read-out utilize the intermediate circuit containing a probe electron that is able to shuttle along the array of ionized ancilla donors providing the indirect conditional coupling between the qubits. The quantum bus strategy enables us to handle the qubits connected in parallel and enhances the efficiency of the quantum information processing. We demonstrate that non-trivial multi-qubit operations in the quantum register (e.g., an entanglement generation) can be accomplished by the sequence of the optical pulses combined with an appropriate voltage gate pattern.


Annual planning report submitted on October 14, 2017 by the NMRT Networking Director recording the goals, strategies and future directions involving the committees directly under his supervision.


Tenure, promotion, significant salary increases, let alone stature and recognition in one's field, are often dependent on the quantity and quality of research articles faculty members produce. In addition, research grants, text and professional publications may be dependent upon intellectual contributions and often equated with research published in professional journals. These pressures, along with accreditation requirements, often force faculty members to place greater emphasis on research rather than teaching or service responsibilities. Administrators sometimes also coerce senior faculty members to "help out" junior faculty members achieve tenure by including them in their research endeavors. In response to such pressures more and more research articles have an increasing number of authors on the publication byline. This poses ethical concerns regarding author validity and legitimate individual contribution to research that helps to advance the profession.


Despite the volumes of information they contain, few libraries, whose population at any given moment is as unpredictable as the weather, know how to prepare for, endure, and survive a disaster, whether natural or man-made, and even fewer put their know-how to paper. Emergency Preparedness for Libraries provides library management with a comprehensive guide to planning and executing emergency procedures. Based, in part, on an emergency preparedness seminar the author has presented for the American Library Association, Emergency Preparedness for Libraries provides library personnel with detailed instructions for protecting staff, patrons, and the facilities themselves.


Review of a monograph: Livsey, Tim (2017), Nigeria's University Age: Reframing Decolonisation and Development, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-1-137-5650-1, viii+285 pages


About 6,000 to 7,000 different rare disorders with suspected genetic etiologies have been described and in almost 4,500 of them the causative gene(s) have been identified. The advent of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies has revolutionized genomic research and diagnostics, representing a major advance in identification of pathogenic genetic variations. WES facilitates a faster and more cost-effective route for definite diagnosis of rare genetic disorders, minimizing previous "diagnostic odysseys" for the patients. Due to the limitation that WES is not reimbursed in Greece, we aimed to minimize cost per patient/family through applying WES in the proband, followed by targeted family segregation studies when necessary. Furthermore, for variant filtration and interpretation we applied a phenotypic-driven strategy in close collaboration with clinical geneticists or referring clinicians. In this study we report the clinical application of WES in the diagnosis of 162 cases referred to investigate patients with undiagnosed genetic disorders. The overall molecular diagnostic yield reached 52.5%. Our experience as an academic diagnostic laboratory using WES, although limited to the last two years, allowed characterization of 94 pathogenic variants in 85 positive cases, 48 of which were novel, contributing information to the community of disease and variant databases.


In light of the recent financial crisis and global economic recession, leaders of financial institutions are under additional pressure not only to maintain customer satisfaction while sustaining lower costs, but also to maintain market leadership. To lower costs and maintain market leadership, bank leaders in Iran have capitalized on superior service quality and information technology infrastructures. Internet banking is considered as an online revolution of the traditional banking services which offers customers the greatest expediency for performing banking transactions via the Internet. All banks, especially the large banks and mutual banks, have gradually increased their number of Internet banking services available to customers over the past decades. The most popular Internet banking services are viewing balances and transactions, fund transfers and payment of bills. Internet banking is either offered as a value added service of physical bank branches or a virtual bank where customers can only perform banking transactions through the Internet and it is important to mention that operating costs of a virtual bank are much lower compared to traditional banks. With above support, this study tries to appear the effects of electronic banking services on customer satisfaction and loyalty among customers of six independent branches of Melli bank in Tehran. The research was conducted among 358 e-service customers using a comprehensive questionnaire. To examine our conceptual model, we used the structural equations modeling (SEM) approach using LISREL software. According to the SEM approach, the unknown model parameters are chosen to make, in general, the model-reproduced covariance matrix as close as possible to the sample covariance matrix. We found that ease of service use, website design, speed of connectivity and transactions, information security; information content and support service have a significant effect on user's satisfaction. Moreover, this satisfaction has a significant effect on loyalty to bank and willingness to continue relations with e-banking service. Our findings can lead financial institutions managers to understand all basic needs for customer loyalty and satisfaction in an electronic environment. Introduction There is a steady increase in Internet banking acceptance since the year 2000 (Liao & Cheung, 2002). As Internet access exceeded 1.596 billion people globally in the first quarter of 2009 (Internet World Stats, 2009), an increasing number of banks worldwide have increased their business investments in Internet technology driven by the expectation that the Internet technology would provide better opportunities to establish a distinctive strategic position compared to other traditional forms of …


This study aims to look at the vocabulary of children at the age of 4-6 years at Kindergarten Fadhilah Amal 3 Tunggul Hitam Padang by using Animated Films Story Telling. The researcher wants to see the the students language development through the activity of introducing the English Language by Animated Story Telling. This research is a descriptive study using a qualitative approach. The research subjects were children in B3 class 3 at Kindergarten Fadhilah Amal 3. Data collection techniques used in the form of observation, video, and documentation.


At present wavelet transform are widely applied in power systems, but when wavelet transform is truncated in time-domain, so-called Gibbs phenomenon takes place and the result of analysis is affected. Here, taking periodical rectangular wave for example and combining adaptive filtering with binary wavelet transform based on Trous algorithm, the filtration of Gibbs phenomenon is researched. Simulation results show that when reconstitution number of terms, convergence factor, coefficient of weight value and cycling times are properly chosen, the Gibbs phenomenon can be well restrained, therefore a new approach to analyze and restrain the Gibbs phenomenon occurred in wavelet transform is provided.


PART I: JAPAN'S EXPERIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL POLICY: A GENERAL OVERVIEW PART II: LATECOMERS: INFLUENTIAL INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND COMPETITIVENESS PART III: PRIME MOVERS: ANTITRUST POLICY WITH INSIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL POLICY PART IV: FOLLOWER: INSIGNIFICANT ANTITRUST POLICY WITH LITTLE INFLUENCE OF COMPETITIVENESS ON COMPETITIVENESS


In this paper, we present a study of the dynamic mechanicall behavior of a quenched poly(vinyl chloride). A new relaxation between the glass transition and the β transition is reported. We have related this new relaxation to an absence of physical aging.


The plastic shrinkage and thermal shrinkage cracking of cement-based composites can be controlled by using fibre reinforcing, although the possible effects of fibre length or cross-sectional area o...


Based on the questionnaire surveys,we carry on the exploration to the model for the migration of rural labor and the solution from the influence factor in Qijiang county of Chongqing.Through the factors analysis,two influence factors are delineated.Furthermore,with the actual conditions of the interviewees,the model for the migration of rural labor and the mechanism of "Two Guidance" are extracted,which provides reference to the migration of rural labor in Qijiang County.


Business schools have been repeatedly confronted with demands to change their ways of educating future managers. Much of the current criticism focuses on content-related aspects of management educa...


Granites and granite pegmatites composing the ∼ 2550-Ma Qorqut granite complex occur in a SSW-NNE trending linear belt >150 km long extending through the Buksefjorden-Ameralik-Godthabsfjord region of southern West Greenland. The main body of the complex crops out over a distance of 50 km from Ameralik to Kapisigdlit kangerdluat and reaches a maximum outcrop width of 18 km between Storo and Qorqut. Around Qorqut the complex comprises three main groups of granites: early leucocratic granites, various grey biotite granites, and late aplogranite-granite pegmatites. Within the 1500-m vertical section available in this area the complex has a tripartite structure comprising a lower zone dominantly of polyphase granite, an intermediate zone where country rock occurs as rafts in polyphase granite with a complex sheeted structure, and an upper zone dominantly of country rock sheeted by granite. Fifty-two specimens of granite have been analyzed for major, minor, and some trace elements. Geochemical variation within the complex is consistent with either fractional crystallization or partial melting, but in both cases, feldspar + biotite must have been involved either as fractionating phases or as residual phases during melting to account for the trace element chemistry. Two possible models for the generation of the complex are either anatexis of granulite facies rocks in the lower crust following an influx of volatiles and heat from the mantle or melting at intermediate depths of amphibolite facies rocks with volatiles supplied by breakdown of hydrous phases.


Isodityrosine (1) is a naturally occurring dimeric amino acid2 that is a key structural unit of a large group of biologically active compounds, e.g., the antifungal agent piperazinomycin,3 K-13, an inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme,4 the aminopeptidase B inhibitors, OF4949-I-IV,5 the cytotoxic hexapeptides bouvardin and deoxybouvardin,6 and the antitumor antibiotics, RA-I-IV.7 All of these compounds have within their structure a unit of L-Dopa [L-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine (2)] usually with the 3-hydroxyl group as an aryl ether. Indeed,


Spatial dose distribution curves based on the measurement of clinical cases, theoretical and experimental analyses were studied around the patients treated with 131I for thyroid carcinoma. When the maximum activity in a patient was 15mCi, external exposure at 50cm from a side of the subject's was 7.64mR/hr for theoretical value, 6.5mR/hr for experimental value, and 3.2mR/hr for clinical case. The total exposure at 1m from the side of the breast in clinical cases 1, 2 and 3 were obtained 0.775, 0.197 and 0.079R, respectively. The result of case 1 suggested that special restriction need be placed on the patient's proximity to other individual.


Summary Since 2014, Nalcor Energy lead with Beicip-Franlab independent resource assessments of the different offshore Newfoundland and Labrador areas ahead of calls for bids. Each project aimed at conducting an integrated resource assessment study, including the use of Forward Stratigraphic Modeling (FSM) tool. FSM allows defining and characterizing reservoir, seal and source rock distribution and their heterogeneity in time and space, by assessing the interaction between accommodation space, sediment supply and transport through simulations of various sedimentary processes. Calibrated to well and seismic data, the model allows testing hypotheses on depositional environment, accommodation history, estimation of eroded sediment volume, sedimentary source dynamics, and sedimentary object styles. These resource assessments showcased the added value of FSM for oil & gas exploration with: - definition of the petroleum plays, based on the 4D distribution of main organic-prone sediments, reservoir and seal with respect to the stratigraphic framework; - generation of 4D Geocube ready for petroleum system modeling to further test hydrocarbon generation/expulsion/migration modeling; - sensitivity analysis approach, which consisted of testing alternative scenarios of basin subsidence, erosion and sedimentation. - regional-scale assessment of the geological risk (Common Risk Segment mapping). - prospect-scale assessment of the geological risk, coupling FSM with Seismic Reservoir Characterization.


In this paper, we will discuss the concept of almost sure convergence for specific groups of fuzzy random variables. For this purpose, we use the type of generalized Chebyshev inequalities. Moreover, we show the concept of almost sure convergence of weighted average pairwise NQD of fuzzy random variables. Received:22 June 2014, Revised:1 August 2014, Accepted:29 September 2014.


One of the purpose of the presence of Islam is essentially to uplift women's status and to put them in an equal position to men. This concept is known as al-musawa, wich can be used as fundamental principle to develop Islamic law regarding gender justice. This
principle states that every human being is equal. The most religious people are those who are foeared of God most, as this is stated in the Qur'anic verses of al-Isra' (70) and al-Hujarat (13). However, textual
approachestoan interpretations of the Qur'an and hadith by Muslim scholars from the classical and medieval periods often expose gender biases. Therefore, contextual understanding of the Islamic scripture is needed to encounter such biases. there are at least two ways in wich Muslim deal with their classical heritage First, Muslims often percieve these classical interpretations as religion itself, and not as religious thought. Second, they percieve classical interpretations criticially as
a product of classical periods. Consequently they may be no longer relevant with contemporary life. this paper argues for the middle position in dealing with the classical interpretation. It des not totally
reject classical interpretations if they can still be used as the grounds for responding contemporary problems.


Sericin films were prepared with polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEG-DE) as cross linking agent. The main physical properties and structural characteristics of sericin films were measured and analyzed. The result showed that polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether cross linked sericin obviously. Sericin films with 30 to 40 percent of PEG-DE against sericin prepared by casting,showed good flexibility and high elongation at break. PEG-DE caused the condensed structure of sericin films to change.


A robotic manipulator using a stereo camera mounted on one of its links requires a precise kinematic transformation calibration between the manipulator and the camera coordinate frames, the so-called hand–eye calibration, to achieve high-accuracy end-effector positioning. This paper introduces a new method that performs simultaneous joint angle and hand–eye calibration, based on a traditional method that uses a sequence of pure rotations of the manipulator links. The new method considers an additional joint angle constraint, which improves the calibration accuracy when the circular arc that can be measured by the stereo camera is very limited. Experimental results using a manipulator developed for humanitarian demining demonstrate that relative errors between the end effector and the external points mapped by the stereo camera are greatly reduced compared to traditional methods. Graphical Abstract


Abstract Risk-neutral distributions of the S&P 500 are informative about the COVID-19 pandemic beyond what one can learn from index values and the market fear gauge of the VIX alone. We learn that, on February 20, 2020, the index did not yet reflect the impending crisis. Only on March 16, 2020, was the full impact visible, with a pronounced bimodality for longer-maturity options revealing a sizeable crash scenario. The corresponding physical distribution is more symmetric and features a high-volatility crash scenario. Firms bought crash protection ahead of the index crash, whereas retail customers bought it as the index was already recovering.


We consider the production of strange particles in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions. We employ a quark-gluon plasma (QGP) formalism, incorporating the production of the (anti)quarks in the plasma during equilibration by the gluon field. We assume generally accepted [ital T]([mu][sub [ital q]]=0) and [mu][sub [ital q]]([ital T]=0) values to construct a phase curve, defining an approximate lower limit of the ideal QGP phase. We express the strange particle ratios as function of [mu][sub [ital q]] and [ital T] along this curve and predict quantitatively their minimum QGP values. We analyze the NA36 and WA85 CERN experiments and obtain the quarkchemical potentials, [mu][sub [ital q]], [mu][sub [ital s]] and the chemical equilibration, [gamma][sub [ital s]]. The gluon sector, providing the [bar q]'s, is necessary for the correct and consistent estimation of these quantities and prediction of all strange particle ratios. We put forward that the values of [ital T], [mu][sub [ital q]], [mu][sub [ital s]], and [gamma][sub [ital s]] are the only significant quantities determining a possible phase transition, not the magnitude of any strange particle ratio, as previously proclaimed. We find that the 200 GeV/nucleon [sup 32]S-induced interactions at midrapidity may have approached the ideal QGP phase to within about 60%.


Christian religion claims itself to be the universal religion, ie. the religion for all mankind. Therefore, evangelization or Christianization is the main part of Christian peoples and inseparable from their institution. But then that Christian universality encountered great challenge since the very beginning of the advent of Islam. The rivalry between both of them has been going on for 14 centuries.Various ways and means has been made by the Christians to subduing Islam and to proselytizing peoples, including in Indonesia that its majority of the peoples are Muslims. Muslims are difficult to be converted indeed, but most of them are unaware about what and how the tricky movements and the latent perils that imposed by the evangelization. Even if not being christianized, Muslims are secularized so they're alienated from Islam and confrontational with their own religion. Yet, the idea about the universal religion is being misunderstood by the Christians. The truth is that the origin and the true "Christian" conceive the universal teachings, but confined to Jesus' race only. Gospel—the holy scripture carried by Jesus—also prophesied the tidings about the coming of the universal religion in the future. But, Christian nowadays lost it real teachings. Besides, there's so many verses, doctrines and teachings originated not from Jesus, one of  them is the command to proselytize peoples outside the Jews.


The enhanced heat transfer in laminar viscoplastic, shear thinning, Herschel-Bulkley fluid flows in sinusoidal corrugated-plate channels is investigated. With uniform-temperature plate walls, periodically developed flows are considered for a wide range of flow rates (10 ≤ Reg ≤ 700) and pseudoplastic flow behavior indices (n = 0.54, 0.8, and 1.0; the latter representing a Bingham plastic). The effects of fluid yield stress are simulated for the case where τy = 1.59 N/m2 , representing a 0.5% xantham gum aqueous solution. Typical velocity and temperature distributions, along with extended results for isothermal friction factor ƒ and Colburn factor j are presented. The effect of the yield stress is found to be most dominant at low Reg regardless of the power law index n, and the recirculation or swirl in the wall trough regions is weaker than in the cases of Newtonian and power-law liquids. At higher Reg , the performance of the Herschel-Bulkley fluid asymptotically approaches that of the non-yield-stress power-law fluid. At low Reg , the yield stress increases ƒ by an order of magnitude and j is enhanced because of the higher wall gradients imposed by the plug-like flow field. The relative heat transfer enhancement, represented by the ratio (j/ƒ), and the role of the fluid yield stress and shear-thinning (or pseudoplastic) behaviors are also discussed.© 2002 ASME


Purpose – Islamic art is characterized by a deep-rooted vitality and distinct form of expression that arises from its intimate position with regard to Islamic civilization. While civilizational turning points and major occurrences have held deep ramifications for its growth and development, the most prominent catalysts of civilizational status are not only found in the realm of the political and economic, but rather within a deeper expanse of ideas, spirituality, and societal consciousness; of which Islamic art acts as a prime indicator. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This paper would seek to survey the depths inherent within Islamic spirituality's relationship with Islamic art, and further isolate the reasons and source of their subsistence and continued prevalence. Findings – The paper further delves into the relationship shared by spirituality and art, and the influences they exert upon one another. Moreover, it attempts to delineate between the mundane and transc...


Helicobacter pylori infection is usually acquired during childhood. Therefore, it is important to study H. pylori infection in childhood in regard to the risk factors for its acquisition, the clinical and histopathologic manifestations, the inflammatory and physiologic responses to infection, the genotypic characteristics and pathogenesis of H. pylori strains, the efficacy of different treatment regimens and the accuracy of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic methods. This review summarizes relevant publications from April 2020 to March 2021. Despite the decline in infection in most areas, the prevalence in some others continues to be high. A possible association of infection with otitis media with effusion (OME) was again reported but without definite proof of a causal relationship, as it concerns growth and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). A reverse association of infection with asthma and celiac disease was also found. Resistance rates to antibiotics is extremely high all over the world and it is probably the main cause of eradication failure. Thus, in addition to culture, new invasive and non-invasive techniques are proposed for identification of resistance. Standard triple therapy, ideally prescribed according to the H. pylori susceptibility, is still the most used regimen.


Weed flora of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.) fields under shifting cultivation was studied in the greater Silonijan area of Karbi Anglong district of Assam during 1997 and 1998. Out of altogether 29 species of weeds, Asteraceae and Poaceae were largest families with seven and six species, respectively, mostly of chameophytic, therophytic and hemicryptophytic life forms. The life-form spectrum showed a marked deviation from the normal spectrum because of biotic interference and climatic factors. Most of the species showed contagious distribution. Altogether 16 species had 'A' class frequency and their individual IVI had ranged from 2.29 to 10.70. 'E' class frequency was represented by the Mexican chameophytic weed, Ageratum houstonianum Mill. alone, which had 39.92 absolute density and as much as 66.31 IVI. Grasses had maximum accumulation of biomass in these fields. Majority of weeds were exotic in nature and only nine species had origin in Paleotropics. However, the cultivation of pointed gourd might be a step against shifting cultivation towards permanent agriculture.


The campaign against GMOs was successful despite the lack of sound scientific data demonstrating a threat to society. In fact, I argue that the lack of sufficient public scientific data on GMOs, whether positive or negative, was a controlling factor in the industry's fall from favor. The failure of the industry to produce and share information with public stakeholders left it ill-equipped to respond to GMO detractors. This industry went, in essence, from "wow" to "yuck" to "bankrupt." There is a powerful lesson here for nanotechnology. (1) On Tuesday, June 15, 2004, the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta hosted a multidisciplinary workshop in Edmonton, Alberta, to consider ways to promote collaborative N[E.sup.3]LS research in Canada. (2) The Workshop was one part of a continuing effort, commenced in Spring 2003, led by Timothy Caulfield and Abdallah Daar, to develop a Canadian N[E.sup.3]LS Forum. (3) The Forum is envisioned to be an inclusive, collaborative, multidisciplinary research team with relevant expertise and a desire to develop N[E.sup.3]LS research capacity in Canada. Specifically, the June 15 Workshop was held to review the current status of N[E.sup.3]LS research, identify priorities and explore existing sources of research funding in Canada, the United States and Europe that may be sought to further the development of the nascent N[E.sup.3]LS Forum in Canada. Workshop Participants unanimously agreed that N[E.sup.3]LS issues must not be ignored if Canada is to move forward and become a world leader in the field of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has been given priority in Canada's national innovation agenda. This is evidenced by the Federal and Provincial governments' commitment to the National Institute for Nanotechnology (4), for which a new state of the art facility is currently being built at the University of Alberta. In addition, recent comments in the Speech from the Throne highlight the fact that Canada must strive to be "a world leader in developing and applying the path-breaking technologies of the 21st Century--biotechnology, environmental technology, information and communications technologies, health technologies, and nanotechnology." (5) In becoming a true leader in the area of nanotechnology, Canada would be remiss if it were not to carefully and proactively consider and address the N[E.sup.3]LS issues that have already been raised and that are likely to arise in the future. For these reasons, we believe that N[E.sup.3]LS research must, along with the scientific research, be considered a priority area for research funding at both the federal and provincial levels. As a matter of primary importance, Workshop Participants sought to develop a taxonomy of the major issues likely to face nanotechnology research, development and commercialization. The main issues identified by the Workshop Participants are identified in Table 1. Public trust in academia, industry and in the government's innovation agenda must not be taken lightly if nanotechnology is to reach its potential. Public trust is necessary to ensure that the public will not prematurely and inappropriately impose a moratorium on nanotechnology research and development before the risks and benefits are adequately understood. Rejection or acceptance of nanotechnology by society should be firmly footed in a genuine understanding of the potential risks and benefits that the technology poses to society. Meaningful public engagement is necessary to foster and maintain public trust. In conclusion, the Workshop Participants unanimously agree that there is a clear need for a well-defined and well-funded Canadian N[E.sup.3]LS research agenda. They also agree with the view held by many scholars and researchers that it is both necessary and desirable to allocate a percentage of research funding towards N[E.sup.3]LS research. The approach adopted by the U. …


The effect of different acid hydrolysis conditions (acid concentration, solid:liquid ratio and temperature) on the production of fermentable sugars from cardboard waste was studied. The hydrolysate so obtained was characterized with regard to the sugar concentration and specific monosaccharides composition as well as to the phenolic compounds content. Next its use as carbon source for the growth of the yeasts Rhodotorula glutinis and Cryptococcus curvatus was evaluated. The hydrolysate was previously detoxified with activated charcoal in order to decrease the concentration of growth-inhibitory compounds, such as phenolics produced during the acid hydrolysis process. An hydrolysate with a maximum fermentable sugars concentration of 20.9 g L was obtained under the following conditions: catalyst, sulfuric acid 10 %, temperature, 125 °C, solid:liquid ratio, 60 g L. The main carbohydrate present in the hydrolysate was glucose. Concerning to the hydrolysis byproducts it was found 328.7 mg L of phenolic compounds. About the microbial growth, the results suggest that R. glutinis is able to tolerate the inhibitory compounds present in the hydrolysate producing up to 8.1 g L of biomass, while C. curvatus was unable to growth on this carbon source. It is concluded that the findings of the present study demonstrated that the cardboard waste is a potential source of fermentable sugars to be used in biotechnology processes for obtaining microbial metabolites of commercial interest.


In recent years, the concept of Europe as an idea rather than as a place has enjoyed increasing support throughout the broad framework of academics and practitioners working in the field of European Studies. As such, Martin Holland's The Europa Lectures 2001-2006 is a timely and welcome addition to the current literature on European Studies as it provides a unique collection of diverse perspectives on the past, present and future of the European idea. The publication is based on a series of high profile lectures hosted by New Zealand's National Centre for Research on Europe since the turn of the new century and it would not be impertinent to suggest that read as a whole, the volume presents one of the most succinct and thought-provoking analyses for quite some time of the challenges which the new Europe faces. It is perhaps surprising but indeed heartening to see such an original and important addition to the field of European Studies literature emanating from as far away as New Zealand but this is perhaps a reflection of how others are often more interested in contemporary Europe then Europe itself.


6H silicon carbide (SiC) substrates were implanted with nitrogen and aluminum at different doses and annealed in the temperature range from 1300°C-1700°C. Micro-Raman Spectroscopy (μ-RS) measurements were performed in two sample geometries (conventional plane-view and cross-sectional). Changes of the polytype from 6H- to a cubic (SiC) 1-x AIN) x , and influences in the 6H-SiC wafer up to depths of 2μm were detected. The results obtained by crosssectional μ-RS are discussed in comparison to other results from Reflection High Electron Energy Diffraction (RHEED), Rutherford Backscattering (RBS), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) measurements.


I at University Ruin, a prehistoric Indian village eight miles east of Tucson, will be completed within the next few months, according to a recent announcement. The completed project will provide the University of Arizona an ideal outdoor laboratory for work in Archaeology and will give the city of Tucson an added point of interest for tourists. Under a co-operative arrangement between the University of Arizona and the CCC administration, the area, when completed, will include an improved highway leading to the site, a permanent fence surrounding the area, a well and pumping equipment, landscaping, and a caretaker's residence with laboratory and storage facilities. The University's ownership of the property dates back to 1930 when Mrs. Dorothy A. Knipe, owner of the surrounding ground, decided that the area containing the Indian village was too valuable, from a scientific standpoint, for private ownership. After consultation with Dr. Byron Cummings, head of the Department of Archaeology, Mrs. Knipe deeded a little over six acres to the University of Arizona as a gift. During the summer of 1935 it was discovered that increasing vandalism was injuring the property for scientific study and arrangements were made by the University to improve the property with the help of CCC labor that had been assigned to the work of improving the Saguaro National Monument. At that time it was felt that more land was needed as a service area and that newly discovered sections of the village should be joined to the original tract. The help of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce was solicited and this organization supplied the funds for the purchase of an additional tract of five acres. When this purchase was made Mrs. Knipe donated two acres of land along the south border for a highway. The land for the highway from Sabino Road to the property was donated by Mrs. Knipe and Dr. W. G. Schultz together. During the past winter these highways have been built, the property fenced, the entrance area landscaped, and water developed. This was carried on under the direction of A. A. Nichol, representing the University of Arizona, and Richard D. Sias, regional director, representing the CCC administration. William Burnham, camp superintendent, and Charles B. Maguire, camp architect, of CCC camp S. P. 11 at Tanque Verde have had direct charge of the labor.


This paper studies the limitation on the angular resolving power of linear aerial arrays. It is shown that there are some fundamental differences between the resolving powers of arrays, depending upon whether they are mechanically rotated or undergo electronic beamscanning and this leads to a new approach to superdirectivity for arrays employing continuous mechanical rotation. It is shown that a superdirective array can be used with electronic scanning but this process requires discontinuous changes in the array excitation. The ultimate resolving power of a fixed linear array in the absence of noise is studied in terms of its ability to determine separately the angular location of a number of point sources. It is shown that the maximum number of such sources that can be independently located by an n-element array is given by (n—1). It is further shown that the use of multiplicative signal processing or any other form of non-linear processing on the output of the array can produce no improvement over this limit. The change in the resolving power of arrays from the noise-free case to the noise-limited case is also discussed.


This article names the 2001 Sheldon G. Hayes Award winner, selected after a two-year process, for highway projects using more than 50,000 tons of hot-mix asphalt. The pavements are evaluated for smoothness, durability, density and how well the contractor met the specifications. This year's winner goes to Norris Asphalt Paving Co. for a project on Route P46 in Ringgold County, Iowa. The job required civil engineering skills, including surveying and laying out the road design, drainage and retaining walls. It involved urban and rural sections, with some constraints on when and how the repaving could take place.


This research was intended observe of interannual variation of Ocean Heat Content (OHC) in outer Indonesian Water within the boundary of Indonesia Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) with study case focused West Sumatra waters that related to global ocean warming. The temperature data were obtained from ARGO floats as well as other observations data from 2002-2010. OHC was calculated following the equations adopted from Young et al.(2009) using a two-layer ocean models which are above and below the thermocline, where the heat content is calculated from the surface to depth of 28° C isotherm of upper thermocline.The results show trend of increasing OHC and varies interannual in West Sumatra water. The OHC ranges from 425 MJ/m2 to 4720 MJ/m2 in West Sumatra. The signal of OHC in West Sumatra influenced by Indian Ocean Dipole Mode phenomena. When positive IOD event occurs then decrease of OHC in West Sumatra due to decrease in SST over the areas.


The Drude theory(model) of electrical conduction was proposed in 1900 [1][2] by Paul Drude to explain the transport properties of electrons in materials (especially metals). The model, which is an application of kinetic theory, assumes that the microscopic behavior of electrons in a solid may be treated classically and looks much like a pinball machine, with a sea of constantly jittering electrons bouncing and re-bouncing off heavier, relatively immobile positive ions.


The author assesses modem approaches to a problem of analogies of physical and semantic measurements and counts, that the experience which has been saved up in physical measurements, quite may be used at creation both the conceptual device, and the appropriate procedures in semantic measurements.


1 Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya 2 Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, JOOUST, Bondo, Kenya 3 Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, JOOTRH, Ministry of Health, Kisumu-Kenya 4 UZIMA University, Microbiology Department, Kisumu, Kenya Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish prevalent Nontuberculosis Mycobacteria among presumptive multidrug resistant TB (MDRTB) patients in western Kenya. Sputum samples obtained from laboratory confirmed MDRTB patients were processed using standard culture methods, fluorescence microscopy (FM), MGIT culture, Xpert MTB/RIF. Mycobacteria tuberculosis complex (MTBc) and NTM were identified using line probe assays techniques. Results: Between January 2012 to December 2015, a total of 287 samples from presumptive MDRTB individuals were flagged positive with liquid culture (MGIT), subsequently had line probe assay (LPA) performed for potential nontuberculous mycobacteria species. Of these, 155 (54%) had NTMs and 14 (4.87%) MTBc by LPA technique, respectively. Males constituted 140(49%) of which 64 (22.3%) were HIV infected, while females were a total of 160(55.7%), with 96 (33.4%) HIV infected. 41(14.3%) individuals with unknown HIV status. M. intracellulare 62(21.6%), and M. scrofulaceum 13(4.5%) were most prevalent NTMs species identified.


Abstract Pose, expression and light variations are the major complications in recognition of face images. Hence, a robust technique is introduced in this paper which deals with variations in light in the face images. Hybridization of fractional discrete Cosine transform (FrDCT) and DWT are utilized as the feature extraction technique which helps in normalizing the light variations in the face images. DWT helps in obtaining the global behaviour of the light compensated face image. Also, use of DWT with FrDCT helps in obtaining the redundancy which is difficult to obtain with FrDCT alone. Therefore, it is obtained with DWT and after that, FrDCT is exploited for the local correlation. The proposed method is experimented and investigated on YALE, Yale B and CMU PIE face databases and very good performance outcome has been achieved as compared to the other state of art methods.


Through analyzing the trend of patent number, the patent type and its classification, as well as the distribution of patentee types of SiC ceramics patents granted by China, a conclusion can be drawn that firstly, China's SiC ceramic industry is still under rapid development; secondly, the invention patent and the product patent take a dominant position; lastly, the main patent holders are Ningbo University etc.


Summary: Effect of thyroxine on glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione (GSH) content in the interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) of different aged rats were studied. Male Mill Hill hybrid hooded rats aged 15, 45 and 75 days were treated with L-thyroxine, T4 (40 mg/100 g body mass), s.c., one dose per day, 14 days (finally aged 30, 60 and 90 days, respectively). Effect of T4 on GSH-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities in the IBAT differs with respect to age. T4 treatment gradually decrease activities of all GSH-dependent antioxidant enzymes in 60 and 90 days old rats in comparison to young ones. GSH content in animals of 30 and 60 days old rats are lower in comparison with 90 days old rats, but the effects are oppposite. L-thyroxine treatment significantly increase GSH content in 30 days old rats (p<0.001) in respect with coresponding controls, while decrease in 60 and 90 days old animals were detected (p<0.01). Different response of non-mature rats to thyroxine comparing to older rats could be attributed to the difference in thyroxine metabolism and developmental phase of regulatory physiological systems maturation including antioxidative.


The use of low-cost sensors for air quality measurements is expanding rapidly, with an associated rise in the number of citizens measuring air quality themselves. This has major implications for traditional air quality monitoring as performed by Environmental Protection Agencies. Here we reflect on the experiences of the Dutch Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) with the use of low-cost sensors, particularly NO2 and PM10/PM2.5-sensors, and related citizen science, over the last few years. Specifically, we discuss the Dutch Innovation Program for Environmental Monitoring, which comprises the development of a knowledge portal and sensor data portal, new calibration approaches for sensors, and modelling and assimilation techniques for incorporating these uncertain sensor data into air pollution models. Finally, we highlight some of the challenges that come with the use of low-cost sensors for air quality monitoring, and give some specific use-case examples. Our results show that low-cost sensors can be a valuable addition to traditional air quality monitoring, but so far, their use in official monitoring has been limited. More research is needed to establish robust calibration methods while ongoing work is also aimed at a better understanding of the public's needs for air quality information to optimize the use of low-cost sensors.


Two bioremediation methods of grounds polluted with hydrocarbons at the former military air bases have been presented. The ex situ method consisted in cleaning the ground excavated first and stored in areated windrows. The biodegradation of xenobiotics proceeded under aerobic condition when selected and cultured strains of microorganisms were applied to the ground. In situ method eliminated the pollution directly at the site where it occured, without excavating the ground. Microbiological preparation along with biogens, and air was applied through a system of piezometers inserted into ground. Both methods appeared to be effective and enabled to restore biological equilibrium at the previously contaminated area. The concentrations of pollutants met the obligatory standards set by the Ministry of Environment. The applied technique made it possible to reduce the concentration of hydrocarbons from 5,500 mg/kg to the level ranging from 18 to 163 mg/kg.


Objective To assess the clinical value of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1(MIC-1) as a serum tumor marker for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Methods Serum MIC-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 35 patients with pancreatic cancer,30 patients with benign pancreatic disease and 30 healthy control subjects.Meanwhile,the results of MIC-1 were compared with that of CA19-9.Results The serum MIC-1 level in patients with pancreatic carcer[(1 589.8±838.5) pg/mL]was significantly higher than that in patients with benign pancreatic diseases [(400.6±104.3) pg/mL] or healthy subjects [(386.1±145.5) pg/mL](both P0.01),while MIC-1 levels exhibited no significant difference between the patients with benign pancreatic diseases and the healthy subjects(P0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and area under the curve(AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve of MIC-1 measurement for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer were 85.7%,93.3%,93.8%,84.9% and 0.973,respectively,which were all higher than those of the corresponding values of CA19-9(74.3%,90.0%,89.6%,75.0% and 0.862,respectively).The sensitivity and specificity of combined measurement of MIC-1 and CA19-9 was 91.4% and 83.3%,respectively.The positive rate of MIC-1 was significantly lower than that of CA19-9 in patients with benign pancreatic diseases(3.3% vs.26.7%,P0.05).The positive rate of CA19-9 in patients with benign pancreatic diseases complicated by jaundice was significantly higher than that patients without jaundice(55.6% vs.14.3%,P0.05),while whether complicated by jaundice or not,it had no influence on the positive rate of MIC-1(P0.05).Conclusions The comprehensive diagnostic ability of MIC-1 is better than CA19-9 for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer,and MIC-1 may potentially be a novel serum tumor marker of pancreatic cancer.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa has one of the broadest ranges of infectivity among all pathogenic organisms. Several pathogenic bacteria are capable of producing extra cellular enzymes that can damage the host tissue directly. These wide range of enzymes serve as virulent factor for those. 20 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa obtained from different clinical specimens were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity testing and lipase and lecithinase activity. All isolates were uniformly resistant to all antibiotics used with lecithinase and lipase having 95% and 45% resistance respectively. We concluded that our isolates were found to exhibit both lipase and lecithinase activity and this may play a crucial role in causing infections.


The quality indexes of PVC resin were discussed.According to seven unqualified quality indexes,such as the number of impurity particles,volative matter content,residue VCM content and etc.,a series of measures were proposed.After adopting these measures,the quality of PVC resins was improved.