In the 15 years since Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Limited (SITL) introduced a Dry Low Emissions combustion system across the small gas turbine product range, in excess of 7.5 million operating hours have been accumulated across a wide variety of duties and locations. Initial applications addressed land-based power generation requirements where lower legislated NOx requirements were identified. Applications for onshore and offshore mechanical drive and power generation duty followed with low emissions driven by legislative means as well as customer focus.


In the Late Qing,the development of Hunan agricultural capitalism experienced 3 stages: The capitalism seed,Chen Baozhen directly started agriculture capitalism and Later Hunan government vigorously developed the agricultural capitalism.Undergo the Late Qing several ten years development,the Hunan agriculture appeared the management way which the company made,established the modern agricultural administrative machinery,the agronomy education and the agricultural science experiment unceasingly were growing,the agricultural structure unceasingly improved,the silkworm and the forest industry obtained the certain degree promotion.


Background: The study was designed to evaluate the anti-ulcer effect of chitosan, misoprostol, and their combination on gastric ulceration induced by indometacin in rats. Methods and experimental design: Chitosan was prepared from shrimp shells waste products. Thirty rats were divided into 5 groups, 6 rats each. Rats in group 1 (control) were given solid sugar and distilled water for 3 days; group 2 were treated by indometacin (25mg/rat) ; group 3,4, and 5 were treated by misoprostol, chitosan, and by the combination chitosan and misoprostol respectively before treatment with indometacin. Blood were collected before sacrificing the animals and used for estimation of MDA, a marker of oxidative stress. The stomachs were prepared for estimating the total gastric area, ulcerated area, tissue MDA, mucin production as well as for histopathological examination. Results: Indometacin produced gastric ulcers, and increased the total gastric area in all animals. These effects were associated with a significant elevation of MDA levels in the blood and in stomach tissues, and a significant reduction in mucin production. Misoprostol, chitosan and their combination protected gastric mucosa since they significantly reduced ulcer index. Moreover, the observed anti-ulcer effect was more with the combination in comparison to monotherapy of misoprostol or chitosan. Treatments by misoprostol, chitosan and their combination before indometacin significantly reduced blood and tissue MDA levels and increased mucin production. Conclusion: Chitosan, misoprostol and their combination have gastroprotective effects against indometacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats. INTRODUCTION ong term use of NSAIDs causes gastric or duodenal ulceration in some patients with serious complications such as hemorrhage or even gastrointestinal perforation. [1] With the development of advanced endoscopy techniques such as capsule endoscopy and balloon enteroscopy, NSAIDs were found to cause damage to the small intestine in about 50% of patients receiving these drugs. [2] The pathophysiology of NSAIDsinduced gastric ulceration can be considered as instability among the injurious factors, direct gastric tissue injury by the drug, gastric acid, pepsin, infection by Helicobactor pylori and the protective factors, bicarbonate secretion, mucus and prostaglandins. The current approach of treatment is directed to the reduction of injurious factors and to strengthen mucosa protection of the stomach and duodenum through cytoprotective agents. [3] Indometacin, one of the NSAIDs groups labeled as powerful prostaglandin inhibitors, [1] is frequently associated with gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding. The aim of this study is to investigate the gastro-protective effect of chitosan, a polymer with gastro-protective effect, [5] misoprostol, a prostaglandin analogue [4] or their combination in indometacin induced gastric ulceration in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Animals handling Thirty males and females albino rats were purchased from the College of Science, L MJBU, Vol 29, No. 1&2, 2011_________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2 University of Basrah. They were three month old, 200g average weight, and were considered healthy by general examination. The animals were divided into 5 groups, six animals each Preparation of drugs Drugs were administered by oral gavage using modified insulin syringes. Since the body weights of animals ranged from (197-205 g), fixed doses of the indometacin were given [6] as follow: indometacin 25mg/rat, by suspending one capsule of indometacin (Indylon 25mg, Medochemie, Cyprus), in 1 ml distilled water, and misoprostol tablet (Cytotec 200 μg, Searle, UK), suspended in 10ml distilled water, and administered in a dose of 20 μg /rat. Chitosan was prepared locally from shrimp shell wastes according to the method of Weska et al. [7] This yielded high molecular weight (HMW) chitosan, then low molecular weight (LMW) chitosan was obtained according to the method of Yong et al. [8] Chitosan was tested by infrared spectrophotometry. Calculation of molecular weight was performed to satisfy standard specifications. LMW chitosan was then suspended in 1ml distilled water and given in a dose of 400 mg/rat. Experimental design The study protocol was described as follow: Group Day 0 –Day 7 Day8 Day 9Day 12 Group 1 Control Normal diet Fasting Distilled water Group2 Indometacin (I) treatment Normal diet Fasting Indometacin daily (25mg / rat) Group 3 Misoprostol (M) treatment Normal diet + (M) (20μg/day) Fasting Indometacin daily (25mg / rat) Group 4 Chitosan (C) treatment Normal diet +( C)(400mg/day) Fasting Indometacin daily (25mg / rat) Group 5 Combination (M+C) Normal diet + (M+C) Fasting Indometacin daily (25mg / rat) All treatments were administered orally. At the end of each study protocol and before sacrificing the animals blood samples were collected directly from the heart, the animals were then sacrificed under light chloroform anesthesia. Preparation of the stomach A longitudinal incision from abdomen toward chest cavity was made. The stomach was dissected from the other viscera and separated by means of two incisions, the first one at the cardiac sphincter and the other at the pyloric sphincter. [9] The stomach was then opened along the greater curvature, total gastric area (T.G.A); gastric lesions as ulcer index (U.I.) were measured by digital caliper. Parts of gastric mucosa were removed for measurement of MDA and free mucin levels. Finally the stomach was immersed in 7y10% formalin solution for histopathological examination. The percentages of inhibition of ulcer index in relation to the indometacin treatment were calculated according to Dengizet al., [10] formula, Inhibition percentage = U.I. treatment/U.I. (indometacin) × 100 The collected blood or stomach tissue samples were analyzed as follow: Measurements of serum MDA level by thiobarbituric acid assay described by Beuge and Aust. [11] Measurements of stomach tissue _________________________________________________________________________________________________MJBU, Vol 29, No. 1&2, 2011 3 MDA according to the method of Cassini et al. [12] Measurements of free mucin in stomach tissue by measuring the amount of Alcian blue dye. [13] Statistical analysis One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out by SPSS computer package version 11. The differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. RESULTS Effect of treatments on total gastric area The mean total gastric area of the control was (875.1±33.5 mm 2 ) which was slightly increased to (1003.3±11.9 mm 2 ) in the group which received indometacin. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The mean total gastric area in the rats which received misoprostol, LMW chitosan and the combination of LMW chitosan and misoprostol were (888.5 ± 113.5 mm 2 , 893.8 ± 44.6 mm 2 and 881.1 ± 53mm 2 ) respectively. These values are not significantly different from the control group value (871.1 ± 33.5 mm 2 ) (table-1). Effects of treatments on ulcer index There were no ulcers found in the rats treated with distilled water (control group). In the rats treated by indometacin (25mg/rat) there were gastric ulcers seen, and the mean calculated ulcer index was (151.8 ± 27.1mm 2 ). Treatment by misoprostol (20 μg/rat) daily for 7 days administered before indometacin (25mg/rat) daily for 3 days significantly reduced the mean ulcer index to (28 ± 6.7mm 2 ) in comparison to the mean ulcer index value of indometacin, (P<0.05). In the LMW chitosan treated rats, four animals had no ulcer and in two small areas of ulceration were seen. The mean ulcer index in LMW chitosan treated rats was (3.6 ± 5.7mm 2 ) which was significantly lower than that of misoprostol (P<0.05) and indometacin (P<0.05). There was no ulcer, necrosis or hyperemia seen in all animals (n=6) which were treated by the combination of LMW chitosan plus misoprostol (LMW chitosan 400 mg/rat + Misoprostol 20 μg / rat daily for 7 days) (table-1). Effects of treatments on blood MDA The mean MDA level of the control was (0.92 ± 0.15 μmol/L). In indometacin treated group the mean MDA level significantly increased to (2.28 ± 0.22 μmol/L) (P<0.05). Misoprostol prior to indometacin treatment has resulted in a mean MDA level of (2.01 ± 0.07 μmol/L) which was slightly but significantly lower than that of indometacin (P<0.05), but, still was higher than the MDA level of the control treated group. When LMW chitosan was administered prior to indometacin, the mean blood MDA became (1.48 ± 0.93 μmol/L) which was significantly lower than that of indometacin (P<0.05). The mean MDA level measured for LMW chitosan plus misoprostol administration prior to indometacin was (0.98 ± 0.18 μmol/L) which was reduced towards the value of the control group (0.92 ± 0.15 μmol/L) (table-1). Effects of treatments on tissue MDA Stomach tissue MDA was measured for the control group and was (2.1±0.91 ηmol /mg). In indometacin treated group the mean value of tissue MDA significantly increased to (15.7 ± 2.58 ηmol/mg) (P<0.05). Misoprostol prior to indometacin treatment has resulted in a tissue MDA level of (2.7 ± 1.42 ηmol/mg) which was significantly lower than that of indometacin, but, was slightly higher than that of the control group. The value of tissue MDA of the two groups, which were treated by LMW chitosan alone and chitosan plus misoprostol prior to indometacin was found to be (0.8 ± 0.98 ηmol/mg) and (0.7 ± 0.05 ηmol/mg) for to the two treatments respectively. These values were significantly lower than the level of the tissue MDA of the control group (P<0.05) (table-1). Effects of treatments on mucin secretion The mean value of mucin in the control group was (0.134 ± 0.002 ml/cm 2 ). There was a great and statistically significant reduction of mucin MJBU, Vol 29, No. 1&2, 2011________________________________________________________________________________


This paper analyzes the use of traditional project evaluation tools (NPV, IRR, MIRR, profitability index, and discounted payback period), modeling uncertainty in the framework of fuzzy mathematics. We present advantages and limitations of this analysis for two cases of cash flows' patterns: investment project with conventional cash flows and investment project with unconventional cash flows. This analysis expands the information available for decision making and highlights the importance of knowing the restrictions of these methods, in order to maintain consistency with the objective of creating value.


A new technique for characterizing the thermal properties of heat-assisted magnetic recording media (HAMR) using pulsed near-field heating recording with a static tester is reported. It has the advantage over traditional recording techniques of enabling studies of the 1-100 ns transient thermal configurations rather than only thermal steady states. The technique is applied to HAMR media with different heatsink thicknesses. While each media has a different steady-state temperature profile, the heatsinking differences are eliminated or enhanced by tuning the pulse duration for each media. The technique is used to extract thermal properties of the media.


The plankton material collected by the 1923 expedition of the Canadian Fisheries Research Board was examined with regard to appendicularians (Tunicata). Their occurrence supports the thesis that these animals can serve as current indicators, as suggested by previous authors for the same waters. The distribution of the water of the Labrador current around Newfoundland is traced by the occurrence of oikopleurids, and of their separate age classes, in the hauls. The results agree with the hydrographic data of the expedition and with the distribution of other planktonic groups. Partial disintegration of live appendicularians in response to unfavourable environmental conditions was common, especially where waters of different character mix.


ABSTRACT Although some attention has been given in the literature to the notion of variable supervisor style, students are often discussed as if they are interchangeable and homogeneous. Results from this study of education and psychology departments in British universities suggest that there are several different ways to present oneself as a student, some more in continuity than others with the requisites for academic success. Five such 'student styles' are described and illustrated, and themes of diversity and empowerment are explored. Student styles can be seen as individual coping strategies, and the emphasis on individualism becomes part of the reproduction of the academic profession.


Background/Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and hepatic steatosis, as assessed by ultrasound (US) in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods Patients with either ALD or NAFLD who were diagnosed with fatty liver with US and whose CAP scores were measured, were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The degree of hepatic steatosis assessed by US was categorized into mild (S1), moderate (S2), and severe (S3). Results A total of 186 patients were included: 106 with NAFLD and 80 with ALD. Regarding hepatic steatosis, the CAP score was significantly correlated with US (ρ=0.580, p<0.001), and there was no significant difference between the NAFLD and ALD groups (ρ=0.569, p<0.001; ρ=0.519, p<0.001; p=0.635). Using CAP, area under receiver operating characteristic curves for ≥S2 and ≥S3 steatosis were excellent (0.789 and 0.843, respectively). For sensitivity ≥90%, CAP cutoffs for the detection of ≥S2 and ≥S3 steastosis were separated with a gap of approximately 35 dB/m in all patients and in each of the NAFLD and ALD groups. Conclusions The CAP score is well correlated with hepatic steatosis, as assessed by US, in both ALD and NAFLD.


The procedures for long range communications using high frequency (2-30 MHz) propagation as a medium have presented certain problems. They have required skilled radio operators, a knowledge of HF propagation, time and frequency coordination with a called station, and significant training time and cost. The need exists to make the mode more telephone-like in the sense of both its simplicity and versatility. The author describes some recent developments in HF communications that help to solve these problems, namely, adaptive techniques that automatically select the best channel and establish, analyze and terminate the link, and high-speed HF data transmission.


The volume is partitioned into five sub areas, addressing the process of dispute resolution and appeal under the DSU of the WTO; politics and disputes between sovereign nations; power inequities in access to the DSU; specific categories of disputes, such as in agriculture and in intellectual property; and issues pertaining to compliance, enforcement and remedies. In addition to the interdisciplinary focus, this volume showcases the thoughts of both established and emerging scholars, whilst highlighting perspectives from many different countries and regions.


AbstractPostdisaster community scale recovery and resilience assessments have gained interest in the United States and around the world following natural and human-made disasters. Tornadoes are one...


In December 2014, Brazil will host the meeting of Cartagena + 30 in celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees. This will be the Third Regional Meeting of the Latin America process towards the construction of a protection regime to refugees and forced migrants. Cartagena + 30 has the task of maintaining the development in the protection of these people in the region. In order to do so, it is expected that the Declaration and Plan of Action of Brazil - the document that will be the outcome of the meeting - is not only able to cope with the challenges of refugees' protection, but also to meet the needs of stateless persons, IDPs - internally displaced persons - and other forced migrants. This article will examine the main challenges of the protection of refugees and forced migrants, trying to highlight the main itineraries towards advancing protection in Cartagena + 30.


In this work, several key scaling laws of the quasi-static magnetic compression of field reversed configuration (FRC) plasma (Spencer et al 1983 Phys. Fluids 26 1564) are amended from a series of two-dimensional FRC MHD equilibriums numerically obtained using the Grad–Shafranov equation solver NIMEQ. Based on the new scaling for the elongation and the magnetic fields at the separatrix and the wall, the empirically stable limits for the compression ratio, the fusion gain, and the neutron yield are evaluated, which may serve as a more accurate estimate for the upper ceiling of performance from the magnetic compression of FRC plasma as a potential fusion energy as well as neutron source devices.


The article presents the results of theoretical reflection of various psychological mechanisms (automating conformism, deindividualization, depersonalization), the essence of which boils down to the loss of a person's own self as a key reference point in the construction and cognition of the social world. It is shown that the personal I is supplanted by the hypertrophied We as an attributive property of group consciousness, which is based on the idea of being chosen and superior. It is argued that the functioning of the listed mechanisms leads to the gap of connections in personal representations of I – Other interaction as the fundamental basis of sociality, increasing the risks of actualizing the extremist behavior of the individual. It has been established that the breaking of ties is due to the personality's lack of need and desire to distinguish between oneself and the Other, the loss of the ability to feel the Other and empathize with him, which actualizes indifference to the in-group Other, disgust and cruelty towards the outgroup Other, and also leads to a reduction in the ability to know oneself through the Other, to enter into a dialogue with him and to amplify one's own development and self-knowledge. The applied aspect of the problem under study is the possibility of using the results of the analysis for the development of preventive socio-psychological programs and trainings aimed at preventing extremism, terrorism and religious radicalism in the youth environment.


The equilibrium phase solubility and double reciprocal plot method were used to investigate the inclusion complex of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin(HP-β-CD) with lappaconitine(LA) under different temperature and pH.The molar ratio between HP-β-CD and LA,the apparent stability constants and thermodynamic constants of the inclusion complex were also studied simultaneously.The results showed that HP-β-CD can react with LA forming a 1∶1 host-guest complex under the given temperature,pH and concentration.The equilibrium phase solubility diagram were AL type.The apparent stability constants was 46.28 L·mol-1 and the solubilization capacity was 3.61 respectively.The inclusion procedure of HP-β-CD with LA was controlled mainly by endothermic process and driven by entropy.The formation and stability of the inclusion complex could be improved by rising the inclusion temperature appropriately.The solubility of LA is significantly increased by inclusion complex with HP-β-CD.


This quantitative study examines consumers shopping behaviour in relation to the digitalization of retailing. The focus of this study is to examine if the increased availability of online shopping ...


The two-stage linear Fresnel reflector solar concentrator is analyzed via an in-depth study of an installed, nominally 220 KW{sub t} system. The concentrator includes: a primary linear Fresnel reflector comprised of curved mirrors and a secondary nonimaging CPC-type trough with a tubular receiver. The principal practical design options for the secondary concentrator are evaluated. In this paper, via a computer simulation which includes ray-tracing of the primary reflector, the authors evaluate the sensitivity of energy output to: concentrator optical errors, system geometry, tracking mode, and the option of using flat versus curved primary mirrors. The two-stage Fresnel concentrator can be considerably less expensive than the corresponding parabolic trough collector, but is found to deliver about one-fourth less yearly energy. However much of this difference could be eliminated through the use of higher-quality CPC reflectors.


The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of bargaining power on vertical structure under asymmetrical chain to chain competition, and analyze the evolution process of vertical structure under different conditions. We find that bargaining power have important influence on the choice of vertical structure. The paper generalized Iyer's result, and present theoretical proof for channel structure choice under asymmetrical chain to chain competition.


Few accounts of deviant sub-culture properly examine their historical context and relationship to the dominant culture. This paper attempts to achieve both goals. It is an account of the social or ganization and practice of members of the hunting/poaching sub-cul ture in North America. An historical ethnographic description of poachers includes a description of the sub-culture and the strategies adopted by members both to deal with the increasing technological sophistication of regulators and to achieve social control within their own small-scale group. Resume: II y a peu de recits concernant la sous-culture deviante qui examinent de fagon approfondie son context historique et sa relation avec la culture dominante. Cette etude entreprend d'achever ces deux memes buts en examinant l'organisation sociale et la pratique des membres d'une sous-culture de braconneurs en Amerique du Nord. Une etude historique et ethnographique de braconneurs decrit la sous culture et les strategies adoptees par les membres pour mieux combat tre les developpements technologiques utilises par les autorites et pour etablir un controle social parmi leur propre groupe a petite echelle. Sociology has made heavy use of the concept "sub-culture" in explaining and analyzing deviance. Generally, it is used to account for socially organ ized and patterned deviance as it exists in communities. The notion of sub culture helps to understand the apparent paradox of the immorality of devi ance and its continued existence. In spite of the importance of this concept, it remains a "sensitizing" concept that is barely analyzed and is, indeed, ig nored (McCarthy-Smith 1990). Some analysis of the emergence of deviant sub-cultures has appeared in the work of Cohen (1955), Kitsuse and Anthropologica XXXIII (1991) 177-194


for the normalization of" Bophuthatswana's claim of independence (262). In a magazine advertising the resort, British Airways extolled the lack of racial segregation at Sun City where all guests "have an equal right to lose their money on the slot machines and at the roulette tables. The races mix on the dance floor, in the restaurants and at the shows" (273). However, by 1985 the global advocacy of the anti-apartheid movement successfully cast Bophuthatswana as a satellite to apartheid rather than independent, making it lose popularity as an international destination. It is noteworthy that Brownell takes a multidisciplinary approach, utilizing the archival methods of a historian and the thematic organization of a social scientist. His interventions on "sub-nationalisms" are imbedded in qualitative political science literature, particularly that of Jackson. A worthwhile study would be found in placing Brownell's work in dialogue with scholarship in global international relations, particularly on South African contributions to the international legal-order that in the end denied recognition to the counterrevolutionary nationalisms chronicled in Brownell's book. By considering the nationalist aspirations of Katanga, Rhodesia, Transkei, and Bophuthatswana seriously and navigating between the poles of imperial nostalgia and anticolonial negation, Brownell has opened up avenues of future research. This reader came away from Struggles for Self-Determination looking forward to finding scholarship on the political thinking, writing, and positioning of counterrevolutionary nationalist leaders.


Objective:Comparing the difference of the parameters,its are to use anintelligence examination instrument and a normal examination method to diagraph to the identically linear accelerator.Analyzing the accuracy of two kinds of methods,and wish the intelligence examination instrument can replace the normal examination method to examination the linear accelerator,guarantee the machine accuracy and geometry accuracy of the linear accelerator to conform to medicine electronics accelerator check on delivery and period examines regulations(GB/T 19046-2003)(Call regulations as follows).Methods: Make use of a linear accelerator be in use lately in my hospital,According to different of the optics examine principle,Use a normal examination method of the Regulations and use the method of the intelligence examination instrument to diagraph to the technique parameter for Gantry、light field、MLC、treatment bed and laser light of the identically linear accelerator,and compare these different parameters of the same kind.Results: Comparing the machine accuracy and geometry accuracy of all items to detect,we discover that results of the two kinds of examine methods is close,the difference between two terms is inside of ±1% of the theory value,and the accuracy of the result of the intelligence examination instrument is higher.Conclusions: According to the result,the intelligence examination instrument can replace the normal examination method to detect to linear accelerator and other sets in radiation oncology department(For emample:The X ray simulator),do a good work that is quality assure and quality control for the linear accelerator and other sets,and can get higher accuracy,time saves more!


in She on on systems and maintenance of electro-mechanical Her research is focuses on engineering pathways, career and technical education, digital cyber physical systems, mechatronics, digital manufacturing, broadening participation, and engineering She is a Director of and a of Mechatronics She worked as a for in Disputanta, on projects focusing on digital thread and cyber security of manufacturing systems. She has research in broadening participation efforts of underrepresented students in STEM funded by U.S. Department of focusing on computer science and cybersecurity pathways, and from Office of Naval Research, focusing on mechatronic pathways. She is part of the ONR projects related to the additive manufacturing training of active mili-tary. She is also part of the research team that has multiple projects funded from NSF focusing on veteran pathways and their success in engineering. She leads the team that delivers the summer program to nine graders that focus on broadening participation of underrepresented students into STEM (ODU BLAST), funded by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium. load This will discuss the of introducing a new course on smart grids in an electrical engineering technology program, including detailed examples of project selection.


Background: Regardless of the recent rise in the number of articles published on transradial access (TRA) for diagnostic coronary intervention and complications of the upper extremity may be underestimated. The aim of this study to investigate the prevalence of upper extremity disorder by comparing the transradial and transfemoral artery percutaneous coronary intervention (TR-PCI). Study Design: This was cross-sectional study and conducted in the Ayub teaching hospital Abbotabad, for six months July 2022 to December 2022. Materials and Methods: The total participants were 250 which included 200 TRA and 50 TFA participants and involving any type of cerdiointervention, thrombectomies for acute ischemic stroke, and carotid artery stents. The participants were selected by sampling technique were interviewed in the Khyber teaching hospital Peshawar. We analyzed dependent and independent variables. Data analysis statistically by SPSS 22 version. The upper extremity scores were analyzed using Chi-squared test. Results: There were total 250 participants which include 80%TRA and 20% TFA in this research. The majority of the participants in TRA were in the age group (59.2±6.7) years and in TFA group (55.5±7.1) years. The baseline characteristics of the total participants was no significant difference between transradial artery (TRA) and transradial femoral artery (TFA). During follow-up, Cochran's Q-test revealed a significant increase in UED in the intervention extremity of the TRA group p=0.003 and in the TFA group's right upper extremity (p=0.001). During follow-up, 1% TRA participants had RAO, which recanalized over time. Three weeks after the procedure, 10% of participants in the TRA group were referred to a hand specialist then TFA participants. Conclusion: Transradial arterial access (TRA) for percutaneous coronary artery intervention has been linked to lower access site complication rates and higher patient satisfaction when compared to transfemoral access (TFA) after 3 weeks follow up. Keywords: Transradial artery (TRA), Transfemoral artery (TFA), Rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO).


Biological systems such as butterflies and beetles have developed highly elaborate photonic crystals to create their striking coloration. Especially, examples of the weevil and longhorn families (Curculionidae and Cerambycidae, respectively) possess a range of interesting three-dimensional photonic crystal structures operating at visible wavelengths, including non-close-packed lattices of cuticular spheres and diamond-based architectures. A low-temperature sol-gel bio-templating method was developed, to transform bio-polymeric photonic crystals into heat and photo-stable silica and titania inorganic structures. The fabricated oxide-based structures display good structural and optical properties.


The 112 MHz quarter wave superconducting electron gun was designed and built as an injector for the coherent electron cooling experiment. Besides that, the gun is suitable for testing various types of photocathodes thanks to its specially designed cathode holder. In recent RF tests of the gun at 4 K, the accelerating voltage reached 0.9 MV CW and more than 1 MV in pulsed mode. During this testing, we observed several multipacting barriers at low electromagnetic field levels. Since the final setup of the gun will be different from the cool down test configuration, we want to understand the exact location of the multipacting sites. We used Track3P to simulate multipacting. The results show several resonant trajectories that might be responsible for the observed barriers, but fortunately no strong multipacting barriers have been found in the cavity.


Sequential decision plans based on the binomial distribution were developed for categorizing soybean defoliation caused by the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant. Plants were classified as economically damaged if defoliation was ≥20%. Four plans were tested and compared by simulation on field data consisting of a fixed sample size. The plans showed an overall time saving of 31 to 68% and agreed with the fixed sample outcome in 82 to 91% of the simulations. Procedures that demonstrate the use of sequential decision sampling for soybean defoliation are given, and their application to field situations different from those in the study is discussed.

The spatial distribution of within-plant defoliation was characterized and related to soybean growth and the population dynamics of the Mexican bean beetle. The vertical and horizontal distribution of both defoliation and leaf area changed significantly as the soybean plant matured and the overall level of damage increased. The possibility of biased estimates of defoliation, when subsampling plants, is discussed. Variance components at the field, plant, node, trifoliolate, and leaflet levels of sampling also were characterized. Half of the total variance in defoliation per leaflet was attributed to the trifoliolate position on a branch, whereas only 6.4% was due to variation among main stem nodes.


Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most widely recognized reason for death in patients of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS continue to be on an increase in Pakistan. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of HIV among patients with Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis as its progression to AIDS significantly influences mortality in these patients. The main objective of the study was to determine the frequency of HIV among patients with CNS tuberculosis.

Methods: This Cross-Sectional study was conducted at Medicine Wards of Civil Hospital, Karachi from 7th October 2016 to 7th April 2017. A total of 140 newly diagnosed Central Nervous System tuberculosis patients were included. Blood sample collected for HIV test (ELISA) was interpreted as either: Reactive for HIV or Non-reactive for HIV. HIV infection was considered as HIV positive by using 3 Rapid Diagnostic testing kits according to guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO). All the patient data were collected through a pre-designed proforma. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.23.0. Chi-square test was applied post stratification with p- value≤0.05 taken as statistically significant.

Results: Sixteen patients (11.43%) of CNS tuberculosis were found to have HIV positive results. Out of total 140 patients, 50(35.71%) were female and 90(64.29%) were male. The average age of the patients was 39.37±12.8 years.

Conclusion: CNS tuberculosis can be the primary clinical manifestation of HIV positive patients. Early recognizable proof of HIV in patients with CNS tuberculosis may warrant early inception of anti-HIV treatment.


The process of hydrogen chemical adsorption on platinum cluster/single wall carbon nanotube (CNT) join surfaces is modelled at various temperatures and pressures. For that, the adsorption energy of hydrogen atoms on surfaces of both platinum (111) plate and CNT (5,5) or (8,8) types is calculated by density functional theory with the PBE approximation. At various temperatures the hydrogen atom hopping rate on both platinum and CNT surfaces is calculated by the transition state theory. Furthermore the hydrogen hopping rate from the platinum surface to the attached nanotube is obtained by calculation of the total energy profile. It is proved that hydrogen atoms can migrate easily at the platinum surface at all temperatures, but at the CNT surface they can migrate beginning at 400–500 K. By calculation of chemical potentials of hydrogen in gas or on CNT or platinum cluster surfaces the equilibrium density of adsorbed hydrogen was calculated at different temperatures and pressures. It is established that for all temperatures in the range 300–900 K and for all pressures less than 500 bar, the hydrogen is dissociated and chemically adsorbed on the platinum surface very effectively, but surface site occupation by hydrogen on attached CNT surface is rather small. But if CNT vacancies are present in the tube structure and the temperature is lower then 450 K, hydrogen atoms can be adsorbed effectively enough on these vacancies. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


Abstract Background Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a well-known consequence of severe lung disease and is associated with permanent changes as well as irreversible pulmonary dysfunction. The development of PF in patients infected with COVID-19 has been documented in multiple studies and case reports. However, prevalence and outcomes associated with PF have not been well established. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the prevalence and clinical outcomes of PF among patients infected with COVID-19. Methods This is an observational cohort study from January 2020 – January 2022. We collected data from adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who had at least two separate computerized tomography (CT) scans. Patients were grouped based on whether evidence of developing PF, defined by clinical radiological parameters, were seen on CT. The initial CT must be negative for PF to be included. We collected the following information: baseline characteristics, secondary infection, mortality, and treatments. The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of PF among COVID-19 patients. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the differences in 30-day all-cause mortality; intensive care unit (ICU) mortality; and prevalence of secondary infections. Results A total 161 patients were COVID-19 positive with multiple CT scans; 27 (16.8%) had signs of PF while 134 (83.2%) did not. Of the patients with signs of PF, 13 (48.1%) were male (mean age of 57 years) and 13 (48.1%) were admitted to the ICU. There was no difference in secondary bacterial infection between fibrotic and non-fibrotic patients (55.6% vs 38.5%, p=0.20). The most common bacterial infection among PF patients was caused by S. aureus (26.7%). The most common infection type among PF patients was nosocomial pneumonia (46.7%). Mortality at 30-day was higher in the fibrotic patients, 70% vs 24.2% (p< 0.01). The ICU mortality trended higher in the fibrotic group (69.2% vs 36.6%, p=0.124), although it was not statistically significant. Conclusion Pulmonary fibrosis can be fatal as a complication of COVID-19. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate the outcomes of PF in patients with COVID-19. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.


To evaluate the effects of intact parathormone (iPTH) on left ventricular function using transthoracic echocardiography on chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. In HD patients, mortality is high and is frequently due to cardiac complications. Secondary hyperparathyroidism, high levels of phosphate (PO4), and high calcium phosphate product (Ca × PO4) are related to cardiac complications. Materials and methods: We examined 20 patients with normal iPTH levels (Group 1) and 20 patients with high iPTH levels (Group 2). Intact parathormone levels were measured in serum with a Coat-A-Count kit (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA, USA) using an immunoradiometric assay. The normal level of iPTH was 0.8-5.2 pmol/L. In patients with end-stage renal disease, iPTH levels should be 1.5 to 3 times higher than the normal range in order to maintain the bone mass; thus, patients with iPTH levels 4 or more times higher than the normal range (PTH >- 20.8 pmol/L) were defined as Group 2 while patients who had normal iPTH levels were defined as Group 1. Results: In both groups, Doppler parameters indicated diastolic dysfunction. However, mitral annular E velocity was lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 (6.1 ± 1.1 cm/s and 7.5 ± 1.6 cm/s, respectively; P = 0.034). It is well known that left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) increases mortality rates. Left ventricle mass index and relative wall thickness are parameters reflecting LVH, and both were higher in Group 2 (294.4 ± 103.0 g/m² and 53.5 ± 11.7%) when compared with Group 1 (179.2 ± 104.2 g/m² and 41.8 ± 8.9%). These differences were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that high levels of iPTH contribute to diastolic dysfunction and LVH in hemodialysis patients.


Young spruce trees [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] artificially inoculated with Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii B. and Lophodermium piceae (F.) v. H. were exposed to fumigations with O3 and SO2 and drought. These treatments showed no influence on the infection-rates of the fungi. R. kalkhoffii proved to be a saprophyte living for a long period as an epiphyte on the needle surfaces.


The present invention discloses a torque limiter test devices, systems and methods. The test apparatus comprising: a receiver (11), a sensor for collecting each of the analog voltage value after the interference condition; and a controller (12), for the same voltage value conditions will interfere with the prestored interference voltage value before the comparison, and determines the operation state of the torque limiter according to the comparison result. The test method comprising: using a receiver (11) collecting a sensor voltage value after each of the analog interference conditions; the same voltage prior to interference condition after disturbance voltage value previously stored by the controller (12) value, and determines the operation state of the torque limiter according to the comparison result. Using the torque limiter of the present invention provides a test apparatus, system and method can accurately know the real situation of the interference by the torque limiter, provides an important reference for subsequent analysis and troubleshooting data.


The usufruct in land in China's cities development has merits and demerits.The relevant provisions in the existing laws and the Draft for the Real Rights Act of the P.R.C.are defective in solving the problems related to the ways to establish a usufruct,the legal consequences entailed at the end of a usufruct,or entailed because of a usufructuary's delay in developing a land or changing the land use,and the determination of the right above a land of a usufructuary.We should cure all the defects from the angle of the socialist ownership by the whole people and under the guidance of the Party's "Three Represents," the people-centered political idea and Marx's principle of land rent in accordance with the different characters of cities and districts.


Considering the $ \alpha$-stable input signals and noises, several robust fractional-order adaptive filtering algorithms have been proposed in recent years. However, the mean-square performance analysis of the FoAF algorithm has not been well studied in the literature. Toward that end, this letter provide a theoretical mean-square performance analysis of the FoAF algorithm, involving transient and steady-state behavior. Furthermore, an improved fractional-order adaptive filtering algorithm is derived by utilizing the M-estimate technique. Simulation experiments verify the results of the theoretical analysis and demonstrate the advantages of the proposed algorithm in heavy-tailed non-Gaussian environments.


Although the incidence of completed suicide in the United Kingdom has fallen in the last 10 years (Barraclough, 1972; Malleson, 1973), the incidence of 'self-injury' (i.e. 'attempted suicide', 'parasuicide') has risen steeply (Kessel, 1966; Smith and Davison, 1971; Patel et al., 1972; Smith, 1972; Lawson and Mitchell, 1972) creating a major medical problem in social and economic terms. It has been recommended authoritatively that all such patients should receive psychiatric assessment and treatment, preferably before discharge from the ward (Kessel, 1965; Matthew et al., 1969), and there is some evidence that this may be effective in reducing subsequent suicidal behaviour (Greer and Bagley, 1971; Kennedy, 1972) if given in the acute episode. Most of the published work is, as expected, from specialised centres (Regional Poisoning Treatment Centres) with integral psychiatric care. In this paper, the term 'suicidal behaviour' is used to include both 'self-injury' and 'completed suicide'. The Chelmsford Hospital Group functions as a District General Hospital, but is without a psychiatric unit. Psychiatric advice and hospital beds are available from another hospital group 18 miles away. Nevertheless, admissions from acute poisoning form a large proportion of medical admissions and are admitted to the


This working paper is based on the results of two case studies completed by Nordregio researchers for the EU FP7 project: Sustainable Urban Metabolism for Europe (SUME). The working paper presents ...


The implementation of the audit in the process of Selection and Training Area Talent of Assembly and Holiday Metalmecanicas MAM, S.A.S.


Objective To study the rapid propagation and prevention of browning of Cyclocarya paliurus(Batal.)Ijinskaja.Methods Tender buds,nodular stem segments,and tender leaves were taken as explants in different seasons.The explants were treated in four different ways,and then cultured on different mediums.Results Spring was the best season for collecting and the most suitable medium for nodular stem segments to induce buds was B5+BA3.0 mg/L +NAA0.1 mg/L +IBA0.1 mg/L;as for tender leaves,B5+BA5.0 mg/L +NAA0.1 mg/L +IBA0.1 mg/L was optimum to induce callus,and B5+BA1.0 mg/L +NAA0.01 mg/L +IBA0.1 mg/L was the best for tender buds to form callus.Putting the explants under the condition of 4℃ for 5 days and cutting the explants quickly with a aglow scalpel before inoculating could decrease the browning effectively.Conclusion The tissue culture of Cyclocarya paliurus(Batal.) Ijinskajacan can induce buds and callus.


The recognition of dyspnoea or breathlessness and the assessment of its severity is clinically based on the intensity of functional activity, such as walking or stair-climbing, that is required to produce discomfort in the act of breathing. This approach is similar to the measurement of sensory intensity by determination of the smallest change in stimulus magnitude that an individual can reliably perceive, and then subsequently use in the summation of just noticeable differences (JND) in stimulus magnitude from the threshold of detection, to indicate magnitude. The criterion state in the assessment of breathlessness is obvious discomfort, where as with the Fechnerian approach the criterion state is a JND, which may be precisely defined. Both techniques are indirect, in that the sensory magnitude is inferred from the stimulus magnitude. The fundamental process involved in making any measurement is the "matching" of one continuum (number continuum being one specific example) to another, while conforming to preset rules. The rules and the independent continuum define a "scale". The types of scaling may be grouped into; nominal, to distinguish one object or event from another; ordinal, to rank objects or events in order of magnitude; interval, to determine equality and magnitude of differences in objects or events whilst preserving rank order; and ratio, to determine rdtio relationships. STEVENS [23-27] made the initially controversial observation that there is no fundamental reason why sensory intensity cannot be matched with preset rules and showed that sensory intensity can be directly scaled by "open magnitude scaling". He went on to show that sensations varying in intensity (sound, light, lifted weights etc.) can be matched by a variety of continuums (cross modality matching). whilst observing the preset rule of ratio relationships. The perceptual magnitude (Y) of specific sensations increases in a unique way relative to the physical magnitude of a stimulus (ST) as expressed by the equation:


This paper reviews financial stability challenges in the EU candidate countries: Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey. It follows a macro-prudential approach, emphasising systemic risks and the stability of financial systems as a whole. The paper recalls that the economies of all three countries experienced a recession in 2008-09 and shows how this slowed the rapid process of financial deepening that had been taking place since the beginning of the last decade. The deteriorating economic and financial conditions manifested themselves, first and foremost, through a marked deterioration in asset quality. These direct credit risks were compounded by the transformation of exchange and interest rate risks through a widespread use of foreign exchange-denominated or indexed loans and variable or adjustable interest rate loans. Moreover, funding and liquidity risks also materialised to some extent, although fully fledged bank runs were avoided, and none of the countries experienced a sharp reversal in external financing. Overall, the deterioration in asset quality has so far been managed well by the banking systems of the candidate countries, facilitated by large capital buffers, pro-active macro-prudential policies pursued by the authorities both before and during the crisis and the relative stability of exchange rates. Looking ahead, although uncertainties remain high regarding credit quality, the shock-absorbing capacities of the banking systems are fairly robust, as also evidenced by their relative resilience so far. Nevertheless, as the economic recovery sets in, the central banks should return to and possibly reinforce the implementation of measures to avoid a pro-cyclical build-up of credit asset) boom-bust cycles. Furthermore, given the relevance of foreign-owned banks in two of the three countries, a continued strengthening of home-host cooperation in the supervisory area will be crucial to avoid any kind of regulatory arbitrage. JEL Classification: E3, E52, E58


type="main"> The authors report the findings of their study of over 400 stocks of public companies that announced at least 20 consecutive increases in their dividends during the period 1999 and 2009. With the assumption that the stock market learns to anticipate future dividend increases from current patterns, the study was designed to answer the question: How many increases does it take for the market to anticipate, and "price in," the pattern of dividend increases? The authors report finding that abnormal returns around the first and second announcements of dividend increases are significant and positive, but are much less significant for the third and further increases. They also find that the size of the dividend increases tends to fall with more increases, and that the largest percentage dividend changes occur early in the sequence.


SUMMARY When all L-amino acid (aa) random peptide libraries synthesized on solid-phase particles were screened (Selectide Technology), we identified several peptide ligands (YG_F_) that interacted specifically with an anti-e symbols '_' indicate variable aa). Here, we report on the screening of three different D-aa-containing pentapeptide libraries (XxXxX, xXxXx and xxxxx, wherein X = L-aa, and x = o-aa) with the same antibody, in which several D-aa-containing ligands were identified. The binding affinities of many of these Daa-containing ligands were as least two orders of magnitude lower than that of YGGFL, for which the Ki is 17.5 nM.


This study aimed to predict cases of acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion requiring bowel resection using occlusion site and time from symptom onset to diagnosis at five Japanese institutions. Advances in imaging, endovascular treatment, and perioperative management have improved the clinical outcomes of patients with acute SMA occlusion; however, in clinical practice it remains difficult to effectively determine patients requiring bowel resection.


The mechanics of load transfer in the curved sliding compression-only surface of a spherical bearing, containing a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), under external applied horizontal load, and the implications for design of such a bearing are the topic of this paper. Relevant literature indicates that the critical parameters are the ratio of horizontal to vertical load, and the ratio of the radius of curvature to the plan diameter of the interfacing spherical surfaces. An experimental program to measure the stress-displacement relationship of confined PTFE discs, under uniaxial and eccentric compressive loading, is described and a bilinear stress-displacement is proposed.


ABSTRACT Bioethanol dehydration was carried out using five modified natural zeolites (ZAM). This study aimed to get the best conditions of bioethanol dehydration and to determine the increasing of bioethanol grades for each modified zeolite. Bioethanol dehydration process was carried out using a batch adsorption. The content of ethanol in bioethanol increased after adsorption process for each zeolite.  The increased percentages of bioethanol grades in the immersion method using ZAM1 and ZAM4 with bioethanol of 90% (v/v) were 1.22% and 1.38%, while with bioethanol of 95% the percentage were 1.27% and 1.08%, respectively. Meanwhile the resulted grades of bioethanol using purely natural zeolites with bioethanol of 90% and 95% were 0.62% and 0.72% respectively. In general, the grade of ethanol increased after the adsorption process that uses all modified zeolites samples. Keywords: bioethanol, modified zeolites, bioethanol dehydration


Background and purpose: Pain and fatigue are among the complications after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Non- pharmacological methods are more favorable than pharmacological agents. This study assessed the effects of foot reflexology massage on pain and fatigue in patients after CABG. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 80 patients hospitalized in Mazandaran Heart Center, 2011. The samples were allocated based on their accessibility. They were age and gender matched and then divided randomly into two groups of case and control. The case group received reflexology massage on left foot for 20 minutes from the second day after surgery for four consecutive days. In control group, the left foot of the patients was moisturized for one minute without applying any pressure. The intensity of pain and fatigue were recorded before and after the intervention using visual analogue scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Results showed significant differences in pain and fatigue levels after the intervention among both groups (P= 0.0001). Conclusion: According to this study, foot reflexology massage, is a useful nursing intervention to relieve fatigue and pain in CABG patients. Since this low-cost method is easy to apply we recommend it to ease the pain and fatigue in patients after CABG.


How to write an essay thesis statement, essay simple order, little line: a little tale, a guide for pre-writing skills, a workbook for children 3 & up. University of Western Australia mbe questions with answers for law students: the mbe contributes 35 percent of your final examination score. this makes it an important area of law ... from the mind-set of the bar examiners., math workout for the sat, 2nd edition (princeton review series) managing information for research: practical help in researching, writing and designing dissertations, quality assurance in higher education: trends in regulation, translation and transformation (higher education dynamics) cardiovascular nursing practice: a comprehensive resource manual and study guide for clinical nurses MiraCosta College. Complete book of law schools, 2002 edition (princeton review: best law schools), professional ghostwriting services, solve my writing homework, praxis ii physics: content knowledge (0265) exam secrets study guide arco 30 days to the new ged, the rocketreview revolution: the ultimate guide to the new sat (first edition) book report on harry potter, ftce family and consumer science 6-12 practice questions: ftce practice tests & exam review for the florida teacher certification examinations. Abcte professional teaching knowledge exam secrets study guide: abcte test review for the american board for certification of teacher excellence exam connecticut real estate sales exam (connecticut real estate sales exam: the complete preparation guide), term paper writer from here to freshman year: college admissions strategies for all four years of high school (from here to freshman year. Afoqt study guide: test prep and practice test questions for the afoqt, Ecole Polytechnique National Taiwan Normal University, we will write an essay for you, Monash University. The basic practice of statistics student study guide, cardiovascular nursing practice: a comprehensive resource manual and study guide for clinical nurses cardiovascular nursing practice: a comprehensive resource manual and study guide for clinical nurses, making the most of life; the health series of physiology and hygiene. Personal statement for scholarship application, daniele ryman's aromatherapy bible: an encyclopedia of plants and oils and how they help you the complete cosmetology practice test book the tell-tale heart: shmoop literature guide. Cardiovascular nursing practice: a comprehensive resource manual and study guide for clinical nurses, cardiovascular nursing practice: a comprehensive resource manual and study guide for clinical nurses, Orme School, The architecture research proposal. Kabir academy mcat general chemistry the nursing student's guide to clinical success Brown University, unofficial guide to accelerated, combined, ba/md, and bs/md programs: complete edition property examples & explanations, 3rd edition cardiovascular nursing practice: a comprehensive resource manual and study guide for clinical nurses develop your presentation skills (creating success), student mobility and the internationalization of higher education: national policies and strategies from six world regions.


The forming of interveining farming and pastoral in the northern part of China is the result of the combination of the elements of the nature,economy and the system.The constant north-ward moving of the boundary resulted in the serial changes of Mongolian economical cultural type.With the rapid development of farming economy,pastoral shrinked.The change of type of economic culture led to a series of changes in economic society.Respecting the the regulation of nature as well as adapting the requirement of the development is the eventual requirement for the economic development in the region with farming and pastoral in northern part of China.


Another host factor for SARS-CoV-2 Virus-host interactions determine cellular entry and spreading in tissues. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the earlier SARS-CoV use angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor; however, their tissue tropism differs, raising the possibility that additional host factors are involved. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 contains a cleavage site for the protease furin that is absent from SARS-CoV (see the Perspective by Kielian). Cantuti-Castelvetri et al. now show that neuropilin-1 (NRP1), which is known to bind furin-cleaved substrates, potentiates SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. NRP1 is abundantly expressed in the respiratory and olfactory epithelium, with highest expression in endothelial and epithelial cells. Daly et al. found that the furin-cleaved S1 fragment of the spike protein binds directly to cell surface NRP1 and blocking this interaction with a small-molecule inhibitor or monoclonal antibodies reduced viral infection in cell culture. Understanding the role of NRP1 in SARS-CoV-2 infection may suggest potential targets for future antiviral therapeutics. Science, this issue p. 856, p. 861; see also p. 765 NRP1 serves as a host factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and may potentially provide a therapeutic target for COVID-19. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), uses the viral spike (S) protein for host cell attachment and entry. The host protease furin cleaves the full-length precursor S glycoprotein into two associated polypeptides: S1 and S2. Cleavage of S generates a polybasic Arg-Arg-Ala-Arg carboxyl-terminal sequence on S1, which conforms to a C-end rule (CendR) motif that binds to cell surface neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and NRP2 receptors. We used x-ray crystallography and biochemical approaches to show that the S1 CendR motif directly bound NRP1. Blocking this interaction by RNA interference or selective inhibitors reduced SARS-CoV-2 entry and infectivity in cell culture. NRP1 thus serves as a host factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and may potentially provide a therapeutic target for COVID-19.


The invention relates to techniques for producing environmentally-friendly composite fuels, and specifically to liquid fuel compositions containing byproducts and foundations of petroleum origin, wherein a composition additionally contains treatment facility sludges, and the foundation of petroleum origin is hydrocarbon-based; the treatment facility sludges include active sludge, excess sludge, raw sludge, dry sludge or a mixture thereof, and the hydrocarbon foundation of petroleum origin is in the form of crude oil and/or products of primary and/or secondary oil refining. The invention achieves the aim of broadening the field of application of a method for recycling large amounts of byproducts.


Cooling in Buildings * Passive Cooling of Buildings * The Mediterranean Climate * Microclimate * Urban Design * Thermal Comfort * Cooling Load of Buildings * Heat Attenuation * Natural Ventilation * Solar Control * Ground Cooling * Evaporative Cooling * Radiative Cooling * Simplified Methods for Passive Cooling Applications


We report on the development and process control of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) for magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices. It is demonstrated that MTJs with high magnetoresistance ∼40% at 300 mV, resistance–area product (RA) ∼1–3 kΩ μm2, low intrinsic interlayer coupling (Hin) ∼2–3 Oe, and excellent bit switching characteristics can be developed and fully integrated with complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor circuitry into MRAM devices. MTJ uniformity and repeatability level suitable for mass production has been demonstrated with the advanced processing and monitoring techniques.


The confined space effect, which was found by the authors, in nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP) in a microemulsion system (microemulsion NMP) of n-butyl acrylate (BA) was investigated, where the diameter of micelles (monomer droplets) was 5–10 nm and that of poly(BA) (PBA) particles at the completion of the polymerization was ∼60 nm. To clarify the importance of diameter of monomer droplets (dm) in the initial stage of the microemulsion NMP, NMP in a miniemulsion system (miniemulsion NMP) (dm: ∼60 nm) was carried out as a comparative experiment. The miniemulsion NMP proceeded without molecular weight distribution (MWD) control; on the other hand, in the microemulsion NMP the MWD shifted to higher molecular weight with increasing conversion. The livingnesses of PBAs obtained in the initial stages of the miniemulsion and microemulsion NMPs, which were determined by chain extension test, were 0.01% and 64%, respectively. From these results, it is concluded that the confined space effect in the ...


An Experiment has been conducted performance and emission and combustion characteristics of a single-cylinder by using country borage methyl ester (CBM) and diesel blend in a direct injection at a constant speed diesel engine. In the past few years, the investigation on the biofuels has been considerable interest by virtue of their unique physical and chemical properties. This experiment works involves the usage of country borage methyl ester and diesel blend, to study its effect on performance, combustion and emission characteristics. Diesel and country borage methyl ester fuel blends are 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%, and varying load of 25% increment from no load to full load. The experiment was carried out for engine performance parameter such as brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of CBM 20 blend was slightly higher 3% than that of diesel. And the engine emission parameters such as hydrogen emissions is reduced 22% for CBM 20 and 32.5% for CBM 40 blend. And NOx emission was slightly increased by 5% for CBM 20 and 8% for CBM 40.


The nanocomposite with polypyrrole (PPy) confined in ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 channels was synthesized by in situ electropolymerization. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption, and FT-IR studies indicated that the nanocomposite has the well-ordered hexagonal structures and PPy was in situ polymerized into the channels instead of the outer surface of SBA-15. Furthermore, the PPy/SBA-15 nanocomposite was used as an electrode modifier. We found that the nanocomposite-modified electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic activities for hydroquinone oxidation where PPy chains could facilitate the electron transfer between molecular sieves and electrode surface. Three dihydroxybenzene isomers (hydroquinone, catechol and resorcinol) have been successfully detected at PPy/SBA-15 modified electrode by preconcentration of the analyte.


The sensitizing potential of three periodontal dressing materials was evaluated by the guinea pig maximization test. The results indicated a difference in the sensitization rate of the three materials.


Simulations of relativistic heavy-ion collisions within the three-fluid model employing a purely hadronic equation of state (EoS) and two versions of the EoS involving deconfinement transition are presented. The latter are an EoS with the first-order phase transition and that with a smooth crossover transition. The model setup is described in detail. The analysis is performed in a wide range of incident energies 2.7 GeV $< \sqrt{s_{NN}} <$ 39 GeV in terms of the center-of-mass energy. Results on proton and net-proton rapidity distributions are reported. Comparison with available data indicate certain preference of the crossover EoS. It is found that predictions within deconfinement-transition scenarios exhibit a "peak-dip-peak-dip" irregularity in the incident energy dependence of the form of the net-proton rapidity distributions in central collisions. This irregularity is a signal of deconfinement onset occurring in the hot and dense stage of the nuclear collision.


Computer-based measures to evaluate cognition have been used with growing frequency in recent years. These batteries are shown to be useful for identifying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. There are few requirements to administer these tests. All that is typically needed is a computer, a response pad for patients to input their answers, and an examiner. In many cases, the examiner does not need to be a trained neuropsychologist. These computer-based assessments should yield a score report detailing the patient's cognitive profile. An important advantage of computerized assessments over standard paper-and-pencil testing is that they can provide precise measurement at the millisecond level. This can be a more sensitive measure of cognitive impairment, especially in high-functioning older adults and in patients with milder levels of cognitive deficit. Computer tests also have a shorter assessment time. Many batteries take <1 hour to administer, whereas many standard neuropsychological batteries require >4 hours to complete. The presentation of items in some batteries can be adapted to patients' performance levels to avoid floor effects (the test restricts how low a patients' scores can be) and ceiling effects (the test restricts how high scores can be). Computer tests have increased standardization; they are administered the same way every time. Scoring is automatic, meaning the results are available immediately and human scoring error is reduced. Examiner effects are reduced, which is an important advantage because clinicians may differ in how they administer standard tests, which may impact patients' responses. In addition, the batteries are easily transported, and multiple tasks can be made available on a single computer.


A guide to library resources in Italian language, literature, history, and culture intended for students studying the language. alla ricerca dei libri in italiano


Commission Regulation (EU) No 267/2010 of 24 March 2010 on the application of Article 101(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to certain categories of agreements, decisions…


NA14{prime} is a charm photoproduction experiment, using a 100 GeV photon beam produced by the CERN SPS. Its set-up combines a high precision Silicium microvertex detector with a large acceptance spectrometer for both charged and neutral tracks.


Formulas for calculating the effect of centerbody scattering on the sound radiated from an advanced open rotor are presented. The effects of blade sweep and distributed blade loading are considered.Mach number effects are also implicitly included in the model. The work extends a previously published method and applies it to a practical situation in which scattering by the centerbody has a significant effect on the radiated sound field.


Creative Arts Educ Ther (2020) 6(1):19–22 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2020/6/8

Music – Universal Love
Abstract
Kong Xiang-dong, the Chinese pianist and music educator, shared his understanding about music and how music and art can help human beings go through the coronavirus epidemic and other challenges.
Keywords: music, art, coronavirus, healing


The Implications of the CVQ Assessment Procedures for the Woodwork and Electrical Courses in a Secondary School With Respect to TVET


The invention provides a smoke cartridge and an electric cigarette using the same.The smoke cartridge comprises a liquid storage component and an atomization component, wherein the atomization component is arranged in the liquid storage component, the liquid storage component comprises a top cover provided with a smoke outlet and a shell, the atomization component comprises a heating device, an atomization base and a ventilation pipe, the heating device is arranged above the atomization base, the atomization base is arranged at one end of the shell in a sealing mode, the top cover is arranged at the other end, opposite to the atomization base, of the shell, the ventilation pipe is communicated with the heating device and the smoke outlet, and the space defined by the ventilation pipe, the shell, the atomization base and the top cover is a liquid storage cavity.The liquid storage component and the atomization component of the smoke cartridge are separately assembled and then combined to form the complete smoke cartridge, and in this way, production procedures are simplified and production efficiency is improved.


In this article, we discuss the 1-harmonious coloring and investigate the 1-harmonious chromatic number of triangular snakes and alternate triangular snakes. We also find some relations between the 1-harmonious chromatic number of triangular snakes and alternate triangular snakes.


We demonstrate 60-GHz band bidirectional radio-on-fiber (RoF) links based on InP-InGaAs heterojunction phototransistor (HPT) optoelectronic mixers. They employ remote up/down conversion scheme with optical local oscillator signals distributed from the central office and intermediate frequency (IF) fiber transmission for both up- and down-links. Since frequency up/down conversions and photodetection are carried out by a single HPT optoelectronic mixer, base station architecture is greatly simplified. In order to validate its feasibility, both up- and down-link RoF transmissions of 16 quadrature amplitude modulator data are successfully demonstrated at 60-GHz band using 1.25-GHz IF for down-link and 2.0-GHz IF for up-link.


Just as the other informatics-related domains (e.g., Bioinformatics) have discovered in recent years, the ever-growing domain of Energy Informatics (EI) can benefit from the use of ontologies, formalized, domain-specific taxonomies or vocabularies that are shared by a community of users. In this paper, an overview of the Ontology for Energy Investigations (OEI), an ontology that extends a subset of the well-conceived and heavily-researched Ontology for Biomedical Investigations (OBI), is provided as well as a motivating example demonstrating how the use of a formal ontology for the EI domain can facilitate correct and consistent knowledge sharing and the multi-level analysis of its data and scientific investigations.


To combat the explosive growth of mobile data traffic, massive-multi-input multi-output (MIMO)-enabled wireless backhaul small-cell (SC) network (WBSN) has been investigated in recent years. One of the key challenges for the WBSN is to reduce the backhaul processing delay. However, a large portion of current research has mostly been focused on the decode-and-forward (DF) protocol that inherently contains a large transmission latency due to complicated decoding process at each SC base station (SBS). In this paper, we investigate the amplify-and-forward (AF)-based WBSN. Unlike the DF schemes, the AF-WBSN is more attractive due to the cost effectiveness and lower computational complexity. In frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, however, such advantages come at the expense of high channel estimation complexity, because the macro-cell base station (MBS) in the AF-WBSN is required to know the global channel state information, which causes a significant feedback delay as well as overhead. The channel estimation becomes even more challenging when it comes to the massive MIMO systems where the MBS is equipped with a large excess of antennas. To tackle the problem, we propose a novel transceiver design for the FDD massive-MIMO enabled AF-WBSN whose channel estimation and feedback complexity reduce to the level of its DF counterpart with a low latency by leveraging the antenna correlation at the MBS and the mean squared error decomposition properties at the SBSs. Finally, numerical results verify the efficiency of our proposed designs.


The lack of motivation to learn English is a common problem in rural schools. Students do not perceive this language as a necessary tool for the future. This study aims at describing and interpreting to what extent the implementation of the Project-Based Method helps to increase English skills as well as the development of certain human values in students. This study also aims at discussing whether increasing language skills can be compared to learning and the improvement of relationships between students and teachers. Two mini-projects were developed with eighth grade students at a public institution of Boyaca, but for this paper we took into account only one of them. The results reveal three conclusions: first, students remain motivated to learn English when addressing issues related to their context, second, they hold in their mind the vocabulary when they associate it with pedagogical activities in which they are actively involved, and finally, the strategy of mini-projects strengthens the relationship between student and teacher even more.


In this paper, we reported increasing high resistance state (HRS) phenomenon of Al/VOx/Cu resistive random access memory (RRAM). The current of HRS became lower in current-voltage (I-V) curves and resistance of HRS gradually increased from a lower pristine sate to a higher HRS during cycling operation. Schottky emission theory was employed to investigate the HRS conduction. We found that the slope of HRS I-V curves on ln(J) and sqrt(V) plot decreased after cycling operation. According to Schottky emission theory, we concluded that generation of AlOx layer between Al electrode and VOx film was the cause of increasing HRS resistance. We finally verify the conclusion by data retention under constant voltage stress.


To address why the relationship between affective organizational commitment and job performance varies, we draw on the theorization of Meyer, Becker, and Vandenberghe to propose moderation of affective occupational commitment and transformational leadership, separately and interactively. Data collected from 398 employees and their supervisors supported our hypotheses. Specifically, affective organizational commitment was more strongly associated with job performance for employees with high occupational commitment, or when a supervisor's transformational leadership was high. Importantly, in a moderated mediation relationship, we found the effect of transformational leadership on the relationship between affective organizational commitment and job performance for employees with high occupational commitment was contrary to its effect on employees with low occupational commitment. Given the significant roles of both commitments as discussed in the present study, we offer suggestions on how to consider these factors during the assessment and selection of personnel and role assignment.


In this full paper, research to practice, we present a classroom experience, in which we apply a teaching personalization model in an introductory computer science class. Students in this discipline are freshmen at the university and have different backgrounds related to solving programming problems. The traditional approach is standardized, tending to not serve each student in the best way and that is why we have adopted this group as a case study. We use the ELO-based model to recommend specific learning objects for each student, in order to match the student's ability with the difficulty of the problem. The learning objects correspond to programming problems in an online platform for automatic submission and evaluation. The experiment was divided into three stages. In the first, the student was able to freely choose problems from the platform repository. In the second stage, problems were randomly recommended (as a control). In the third stage, the recommendation was made using the model adopted. Students were encouraged to give feedback on their experience described in a free text and in the labeling of hashtags about the learning object. In addition, the rates of success, error, withdrawal and the frequency of access to the online platform were also collected. We observed that the students had a higher engagement (in terms of a higher frequency of use, a higher hit rate, and the production of positive feedbacks) at the stage when the recommendation matched the proposed model.


Fig. 1A. Complete ptosis of the right eye at presentation. Dear Editor, Cysticercosis cellulosae, the larval form of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, causes cysticercosis, in which humans serve as the intermediate hosts in the parasite life cycle. Cysticercosis is endemic in developing regions such as South America, India and China.1,2 However, a rise in a cysticercosis has been observed in industrialised regions, owing to changing migration and travel patterns in recent years.3 Ophthalmic cysticercosis involving the vitreous, subretinal, subconjunctival and orbit have been reported previously. In this report, we describe a patient with myocysticercosis of the levator palpebrae superioris (LPS), a rare clinical entity with only 5 other cases in the literature.4,5 Case Report A 23-year-old Indian man presented with 2 weeks of right eye ptosis noticed incidentally on awakening. There was mild upper eyelid discomfort but no diplopia or decreased vision. His ophthalmic and medical histories were unremarkable. The patient was a construction worker and had previously lived in India. His visual acuity was 20/30 and 20/20 in the right and left eyes respectively. Both pupils were symmetric and reactive to light with no relative afferent pupillary defect; colour vision was normal. There was complete ptosis of the right eye with maximum levator function of 3 mm; maximum levator function in the left eye was 13 mm (Fig. 1A). No lid erythema or edema was present. Extraocular movements were full in


The efficiency of a System — On — Chip (SoC) depends upon the arrangement of different components on the chip. In order to get full operational capability, the communication between these components must incur less cost: latency and delay. Traditionally these components are connected via shared bus, which becomes a bottleneck. To overcome this bottleneck a new era has begun called the Network — on — chip era, which advocates of placing a well formed network within a chip so that, scalability, latency etc. incurred in communication may be minimized and an optimal performance may be guaranteed. This paper examines a new MIN based FAT TREE topology which has limited scalability and the routing is based on fully grouped strategy.


Abstract This paper presents the details of adaptation and development of the scanning reference electrode technique (SRET) for the investigation of preferential corrosion susceptibility of weldmen...


Nehemiah Wallington, an ordinary Londoner who experienced these events from outside the confines of parliament, many of these diarists wrote for posterity. Many undoubtedly shared the eccentric London turner's providential understanding of the events overtaking England in the months leading up to civil war, and many like D'Ewes were concerned with how their own place in these events would enter into memory. The multi-vocal nature of the parliamentary record in seventeenth-century England is not an impediment to improving our understanding of early Stuart political life. The recovery of the voices of individual historical actors, and their perceptions of the cataclysmic events unfolding around them, is instead the key to enhancing our historical understanding.


This paper presents a sea radiance polarization model and experimental measurements of near- horizon sea glint polarization in the 3 - 5 micrometers and 8 - 12 micrometers spectral bands. The experimental measurements include the effects of polarization on the glint statistics, the degree of linear polarization and the polarization signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement factor for both spectral bands in the presence of sea glint. The results indicate that the polarization in the 3 - 5 micrometers spectral band is dominated by the reflected solar and sky radiance and is polarized in the s plane. The polarization of intense sea glint in the 8 - 12 micrometers region is low and s polarized due to the weak solar spectrum in this band. In little or no glint, the radiation is weakly p polarized. Experimental data indicate that a polarizing filter can produce a significantly larger SNR improvement for the 3 - 5 micrometers spectral band than for the 8 - 12 micrometers band. Theoretical calculations using the polarization model show good agreement with the experimental data.


The paper deals with the rotor vibration in journal bearings to prepare a model for verifying the rotor vibration active control. The rotor is maintained in equilibrium position by forces generated in oil film. Bearing forces can be modelled as a spring and damper system. The main goal of the simulation study is to verify the model principle and to estimate parameters by comparing simulation results with experimental data, namely the instability of motion. Test stand with rotor supported in two journal bearings was designed for these purposes. The stand will be equipped with four piezoactuators enabling excitation of bearings by practically arbitrary dynamic force. Theoretical analysis of the influence of external excitation on rotor behaviour was carried out. Up to now the study shows, that simple kinematic excitation is effective for reducing rotor excursion while passing critical speeds. To suppress self-exciting vibration of the rotor it is necessary to look for more sophisticated solution.


MARK HOVELL, F.R.C.S.Ed.: "Is the Mere Enlargement of a Tonsil good and sufficient reason for its Enucleation?" Published in Joutrnal of Larynjgjology and Otology, October, 1921, p. 437. WALTER HOWARTH, F.R.C.S.: "Operations on the Frontal Sinus." Published in Journal of Laryngology and Otology, September, 1921, p. 417. Sir STCLAIR THOMSON, M.D.: "The Usual Site of Origin of Intrinsic Cancer of the Larynx, as demonstrated at Fifty Laryngo-fissures." Published in British MIedical Journal, June 25, 1921, p. 921 ; abstract in Journal of Laryngology and Otology, October, 1921, p. 462. A. LOGAN TURNER, M.D.: "Paralysis of the Vocal Cords in Cases of Malignant Tumours of the Mamma." Published in Journal of Laryngology and Otology, August, 1921, p. 373. Sir WILLIAM MILLIGAN, M.D.: "Diathermy in Inoperable Pharyngeal and Epilaryngeal Malignancy; its Objectives and Limitations, with a Review of Cases." Published in Journal of Laryngology and Otology, August, 1921, p. 369. IRWIN MOORE, M.Ch.: "Eversion of the Sacculus Laryngis, the so-called Prolapse of the Ventricle." To be published in Journal of Laryngology and Otology, February, 1922. F. HOBDAY, F.R.C.V.S.: "Observations on the Results of over 2,000 Cases of Vocal Cord Paralysis in Horses treated by the Stripping of Morgagni's Ventricle." Published in Journal of Larlyngology and Otology, September, 1921, p. 422 (under title, "A Plastic Laryngeal Operation for Vocal Cord Paresis in the Horse"). WV. S. SYME, M.D.: "Bronchoscopy in the Treatment of Asthma." Published in Joutrnal of Laryngology and Otology, September, 1921, p. 427.


The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating hypertension. The pharmaceutical composition is characterized by comprising (1) angiotensin II receptor blocker, (2) diuretic metolazone, (3) calcium channel blocker and (4) pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant materials, wherein the weight ratio among the angiotensin receptor blocker, the metolazone and the calcium channel blocker is 2-200:0.5-5:2-50. The pharmaceutical composition for treating hypertension has the advantages that the pharmaceutical composition combines the angiotensin receptor blocker, the metolazone and the calcium channel blocker, and accordingly, synergetic antihypertensive effect is enhanced, adverse reaction is reduced and compliance of patients is improved; the pharmaceutical composition is wide in application range and can be also used for patients suffering from severe renal damage; the pharmaceutical composition is applicable to mild and moderate essential hypertension, particularly secondary hypertension caused by renal damage.


As FPGA-based systems evolve towards using networks of heterogeneous processing systems, it is important to develop suitable memory systems. This paper presents a cache coherent system that uses a directory protocol. The Directory component of our system has a pipeline design, where a message, which represents a memory request, is serviced every three cycles. Such a design works well for an FPGA, which is an ideal platform for parallel and streaming-type designs. Our system performs 25% more barriers per second than a previous system by Mirian et al. [1], which uses a snoopy protocol, by making minor changes to the Interconnect and the cache coherence protocol.


We present a study of spectral dynamics measurement using the lately invented apparatus named free-space angular-chirp enhanced delay (FACED) cavity. The shot-to-shot spectra are observed and the corresponding spectral correlation maps are analyzed.


Effective teaching behavior in physical education has an important impact on the quality of classroom teaching. To overcome the shortcomings in the existing university teaching quality assessment procedure, this paper designs an evaluation model for physical education departments based on long short-term memory networks (LSTM) with the improved particle swarm optimization (PSO). The model is constructed by analyzing the connotation and index system of teacher education teaching quality and constructing a fan-leaf structure model of teacher education teaching quality. Then, an improved PSO-LSTM model is proposed to train the teaching samples. The evaluation model applies the improved LSTM model and optimizes the network structure by dynamically adjusting the learning rate. The model is then optimized for the number of neurons and iterations of the network using the improved PSO. The results of the experiment indicate that the proposed model is effective in evaluating the quality of physical education. Moreover, the model analysis' accuracy has greatly improved. This helps teachers have a comprehensive understanding of classroom dynamics and improve their professional competence and classroom teaching quality.


The discovery of migrating protein complexes armed with β‐amyloid (Aβ) and acting as the driving force of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mechanism led us to suggest that besides the pathogenic peptide some other proteins may cooperate with the latter and enhance its cytotoxicity and intercellular propagation. One of such proteins was suggested to be glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphatedehydrogenase (GAPDH), enzyme that in normal conditions maintains cellular glycolysis and under action of oxidative stress is converted to monomers and dimers and forms tight, insoluble complexes with aggregation‐prone polypeptides.


A Lamb wave device for frequency modulation is described which consists of two pairs of interdigital transducers and one electrode on a piezoelectric thin plate. Each of the transducers has the counter plate electrode on the opposite plate surface from the other. The oscillation frequency of the device varies linearly with the amplitude of an electrical signal applied to the central electrode. The operation principle for a frequency modulator is presented with confirming experimental results, including the voltage-frequency relation and the frequency characteristic.


This paper proposes a method to build user portrait of electric vehicle (EV) considering market response potential. Firstly, the user portrait index system of EV is constructed from three dimensions of electricity response potential, temporal response potential and spatial response potential. Secondly, the residual capacity and time of use (TOU) price are selected as the characteristic parameters to identify the TOU price sensitive users, and the EVs that can respond to the market in time are obtained based on support vector machine (SVM). Then, the distance, time and electricity charge are selected as the characteristic parameters to identify the charging service fee sensitive users, and the EVs that can respond to the market in space are obtained based on the neural network. Finally, eight kinds of EV user portraits with different market response potentials are obtained by identifying the charging data, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method.


The ensuing discussion pertains to the history of the region known as the Shephelah during the socalled "Biblical Period." This period will be defined here as the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age, i.e., the Late Canaanite and the Israelite periods. Reference to later times, particularly to sources for the historical geography of the region under discussion, will also be mandatory. The approach taken is that of Albrecht Alt (1925b: 2; 1953: I, 90; 1966: 136), viz., territorial Geschichte, the study of a region as a geographical unit as it appears in the ancient sources.


This participatory action research utilized a 4 step empowerment processes conducted in three stages. Study participants, were 109 volunteers, comprising of 70 (64.2%) family caregivers and 39 (35.8%) HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) patients. The first stage study results suggested that family caregivers considered themselves to lack power in the areas of physical, psychological, spiritual, economic and social health. In the second stage, they were empowered through knowledge acquisition and cultivation of economic self- sufficiency in their daily lives. In addition, a campaign was conducted in this stage to establish community empathy for PLWHA. Third stage data suggests that family caregivers experienced an enhanced sense of empowerment with regard to knowledge, understanding, spiritual matters, support and unity. The outcomes associated with social  associated with social support of family caregivers, representing the quality of life of PLWHA, were partitioned into objective and subjective indicators. Objective indicators included health and appropriate levels of self-care, while subjective indicators included higher self-esteem and an enhanced sense of acceptance from family and community. Associated with the adoption of the concept of economic self-sufficiency in their daily lives, PLWHA reported that they enjoyed enhanced satisfaction and were better able to accept the reality of their condition.


This article performs a synthesis of two disruptive theories that seek to describe the ultimate nature of the universe. The first deals with the physical continuity of the expansion of the four-dimensional cosmic woof. The second describes the expansion energy of the continuum with the aid of a Lagrangian approach to the intrinsic thermodynamics assumed. The proposal intends to fill the gap between the continuous and discontinuousimages of the universe, discussing topics as follows:1. Continuity in physics; 2. Space-time; 3. Entropy; 4. Thermal expansion of the universe.The explanatory content is organized like this:1 Introduction — familiarization of the reader with the philosophy of the proposed theories and presentation ofthe general purposes;
2 How the expansion of the space-time continuum works — the theory of ever-expanding space-time (the continuous physic expansion of the cosmos), i. e., expanding regardless of the space-time scale considered, including in sub-Planckian domains;3 Understanding entropy — entropy and its role in paralel with time; introduction of the Lagrangian formalismcoupling time and energy;4 The synthesis itself — the connection of the two theories and its structuring meaning.


Objective To observe the effect of matrine in combination with 6 chemotherapeutic agents vincristine,adriamycin,bleomycin,cyclophospharmide,5-Fu,cisplatin on the expression of P-glycoprotein(P-gp) of KBV200 cell line.Methods Flowcytometer(FCM) assay was used to investigate the expression of P-gp and the effect on expression of KBV200 cell.Results Matrine in combination with vincristine(VCR) and adriamycin can reverse the multidrug resistance(MDR) by decreasing the expression of P-gp.Conclusion Matrine in combination with vincristine and adriamycin can cut down the expression of P-gp of the KBV200 cell line.


To determine (in various senses) the zeros of the Laplace transform of a signed mass distribution is of great importance for many problems in classical analysis and number theory. For example, if the mass consists of finitely many atoms, the transform is an exponential polynomial. This survey studies what is known when the distribution is a probability density function of small variance, and examines in what sense the zeros must have large moduli. In particular, classical results on Bessel function zeros, of Szego on zeros of partial sums of the exponential, of I. J. Schoenberg on k-times positive functions, and a result stemming from Graeffe's method, are all presented from a unified probabilistic point of view.


Integrated reports combine financial and non-financial data into a comprehensive report outlining the company's value creation process. Our objective is to find the completeness of disclosures, which is a crucial aspect of an integrated report's quality. This study contributes to the integrated reporting examination by identifying quantitative and qualitative gaps when applying Integrated Reporting standards, focusing on the energy sector. We conducted the study on 57 published integrated reports of listed companies in Poland. The content of each report was examined for 49 features divided into eight areas. We identify the strengths and weaknesses of current reporting performance and the impact of the company's sector on reports' quality. We noted that there are significant differences among the areas. The major problems concern implementing IIRC's framework on the connections between the business model and the organization's strategy, risks, opportunities, and performance. Our research also noted that the level of specific disclosures might be related to a company's ownership structure. We investigated the significance of differences among companies from the energy and non-energy sectors using statistical methods. As a result of the study, we obtained that disclosures' completeness depends on the operation sector. The companies in the energy sector publish higher-quality integrated reports than companies in the other sectors.


This paper discusses the relative perform ance of various fingerstock types when mated to a variety of different materials commonly used in shielded computer cabinets. The use of the transfer impedance of the entire seam (fingerstock and mating material combined) before and after environmental aging, is used as the measure of goodness. A description of the special transfer impedance test fixture built to allow the insertion and removal of mated fingerstock and mating material pairs is included.


Grain-surface reactions play an essential role in interstellar chemistry, since dust grain catalyses reactions at its surface allowing for the formation of molecules. We used a chemical model in which both gas-phase and grain-surface reactions occur and studied particularly the diffusion mechanisms on the surface of the grains. Surface reactions can occur via thermal hopping when species cross over a potential barrier or via quantum tunneling when species cross through this barrier. We show that the thermal diffusion (hopping) can be much more efficient after a cosmic ray particle collides with a dust grain, heating it to a peak temperature of 70K. We present here the results of numerical simulations after including the quantum tunneling mechanism for species H, H2 and O and considering the effect of cosmic ray particle collision on the surface reactions. As a consequence, the gas-phase and grain-surface abundances are affected and we show that more complex molecules can be formed in molecular clouds.