Large-scale stochastic systems have recently received significant attentions due to their broad applications in various safety-critical systems such as traffic networks and self-driving cars. In this poster, we describe the software tool AMYTISS, implemented in C++/OpenCL, for designing correct-by-construction controllers for large-scale discrete-time stochastic systems. This tool is employed to (i) build finite Markov decision processes (MDPs) as finite abstractions of given original systems, and (ii) synthesize controllers for the constructed finite MDPs satisfying bounded-time safety, reachability, and reach-avoid specifications. In AMYTISS, scalable parallel algorithms are designed such that they support the parallel execution within CPUs, GPUs and hardware accelerators (HWAs). Unlike all existing tools for stochastic systems, AMYTISS can utilize high-performance computing (HPC) platforms and cloud-computing services to mitigate the effects of the state-explosion problem, which is always present in analyzing large-scale stochastic systems. We benchmark AMYTISS against the most recent tools in the literature using several physical case studies including robot examples, room temperature and road traffic networks. We also apply our algorithms to a 3-dimensional autonomous vehicle and a 7-dimensional nonlinear model of a BMW 320i car by synthesizing autonomous parking controllers. Related works. There exist a limited number of software tools on the verification and synthesis of stochastic systems with different classes of models. SReachTools [1] performs the stochastic reachability analysis for linear, potentially time-varying, discrete-time stochastic systems. FAUST2 [2] generates formal abstractions for continuous-space discrete-time stochastic processes, and performs the verification and synthesis for safety and reachability specifications. However, FAUST2 is originally implemented in MATLAB and handles finite-horizon specifications. StocHy [3] deals with a class of discrete-time stochastic hybrid systems, constructs finite abstractions, and performs the verification and synthesis for both finite- and infinite-horizon safety and reachability specifications. AMYTISS differs from FAUST2 and StocHy in two main directions. First, AMYTISS implements novel parallel algorithms and data structures targeting HPC platforms to reduce the undesirable effects of the state-explosion problem. Accordingly, it is able to perform the parallel execution in different heterogeneous computing platforms including CPUs, GPUs and hardware accelerators (HWAs). Whereas, FAUST2 and StocHy can only run serially in one CPU, and consequently, they are limited to small systems. Additionally, AMYTISS can handle the abstraction construction and controller synthesis for two and a halfplayer games (e.g., stochastic systems with bounded disturbances), whereas FAUST2 and StocHy only handle one and a halfplayer games (disturbance-free systems). Unlike all existing tools, AMYTISS offers highly scalable, distributed execution of parallel algorithms utilizing all available processing elements (PEs) in any heterogeneous computing platform. To the best of our knowledge, AMYTISS is the only tool of its kind for continuous-space stochastic systems that is able to utilize simultaneously all types of compute units (CUs). A comparison between AMYTISS, FAUST2 and StocHy based on their native features is provide in Table 1. Main Contribution. AMYTISS is an open-source and self-contained tool and requires only a modern C++ compiler. It supports three major operating systems: Windows, Linux and Mac OS. The source of AMYTISS and detailed instructions on its building and running can be found in: https://github.com/mkhaled87/pFaces-AMYTISS The main merits of this work are: (1) We propose a novel data-parallel algorithm for constructing finite MDPs from discrete-time stochastic systems and storing them in efficient distributed data containers. (2) We propose parallel algorithms for synthesizing discrete controllers using the constructed MDPs to satisfy safety, reachability, or reach-avoid specifications. More specifically, we introduce novel parallel algorithms for the iterative computation of Bellman equation in the standard dynamic programming [4]. (3) Unlike the existing tools in the literature, AMYTISS accepts bounded disturbances and natively supports both additive and multiplicative noises with different distributions including normal, uniform, exponential, and beta.


The invention relates to a water-borne plastic compound material. A chemical formula of the water-borne plastic compound material is shown in the descreption, and the R in the chemical formula is an alkyl functional group. The water-borne plastic compound material is safe, achieves environmental friendliness, has various kinds of excellent performance and is generated through aldehyde reaction of polyving akojol (PVA).


Astronomical seeing measurements were carried out at Maidanak observatory during the period from August to November 2018 using DIMM (Differential Image Motion Monitor). The median value of seeing for the entire period was determined as 0.54 arcseconds. This value was compared to the seeing data of the period 1996-2002.


A patient developed chylopericardium after mitral valve replacement. Although there was early relapse withcardiac tamponade iteventually resolved withconservative management consisting of tube drainage initially andamedium chain triglyceride diet fortwomonths. Chylopericardium asacomplication ofcardiac surgery isa rare entity, first described in1971 byThomas andMcGoon.' Theaetiology ofchylopericardium isnotclear, andthere is nogeneral agreement about its management. Wereport for thefirst time chylothorax asacomplication ofmitral valve replacement surgery ina39year oldwoman, anddiscuss the management ofthis condition. Case report


Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is the most widely used plasticizers in daily-life products. In this study we evaluated the influence of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), the active metabolite of DEHP, on the neurodevelopment in vitro. After neuronotypic PC12 cells were exposed to MEHP (0.25, 2.5, 25, and 250 M), the effects of which on cell proliferation and differentiation were investigated. In undifferentiated PC12 cells, MEHP inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. After 24 h of MEHP treatment, there was a dose-dependent G2/M cell cycle arrest as well as a sharp drop of DNA synthesis. During the process of NGF-induced differentiation of the cell line, 4 days of MEHP exposure (2.5–250 M) EHP EHP evelopmental neurotoxicity roliferation ifferentiation C12 cells increased membrane and cytoskeletal protein contents, enhanced NGF-induced neurite outgrowth, upregulated the choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) mRNA and down-regulated tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA levels, which suggested the promoted differentiation towards the acetylcholine (ACh) phenotype at the expense of the dopamine (DA) phenotype. Take together, our results indicate that MEHP has a potential to disturb neurodevelopment by suppressing cell proliferation and promote cell differentiation in neurocytes.


A 54-year-old man was hospitalized because of progressive shortness of breath and a diffuse pulmonary infiltrate in a radiograph of his chest. His pulmonary dysfunction was characterized by a selective loss of vital capacity in comparison with residual volume, a marked right-left shunt, and a rapidly deteriorating pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. the diagnosis of alveolar cell carcinoma was established before death by light and electron microscopic studies of material obtained by lobar lavage with a cuffed bronchographic catheter after sputum and bronchoscopic washings had failed to reveal malignant cells.


SUMMARY There is widespread agreement that the indigenous forests of south-western Australia are an important refuge for wildlife in an otherwise extensively cleared landscape and that sustainable use of these forests is possible. Nevertheless, principles-based theses that have been proposed for assessing sustainability of forest use are of limited value unless they include assessable criteria for application. We argue that it is important to recognise that ecological science, like other disciplines is value-laden and that a statement of values is an important part of the scientific process. Furthermore, we believe that there is presently inadequate evidence to judge whether or not the current forest use is sustainable. Several areas of empirical work are suggested to resolve the outstanding issues. 'The value of criticism and dissenting views is that they force a clearer articulation of the questions and the range of possible answers. This is the process that will hasten the resolution of fundamental iss...


Jurisdictions that receive Federal funding must be responsive to issues of environmental justice. Environmental justice requires that protected classes (e.g., minority and low-income populations) are neither disproportionately denied the benefits of transportation projects nor subjected to the detriments of transportation projects. However, there has been very little research on the financial distribution of transportation resources as a form of environmental justice. The objective of this paper is to describe a financial model for the measurement of environmental justice that can be used by transportation planners at both metropolitan planning organizations as well as state departments of transportation in the development of both short- and long-range transportation plans. The paper begins with a review of environmental justice domains and recent research in those domains. Then the Distance Value Model is described, including its two fundamental constructs: the Ideal Distribution and the Planned Distribution. The Ideal Distribution is the proportional allocation of transportation project values to a protected class in a transportation planning area. The Planned Distribution is the allocation of project values to a class in a planning area adjusted by the distance between the class and the projects. A statistically significant difference between the Ideal and Planned Distributions may indicate environmental injustice. The paper concludes with an application of the model to data from a metropolitan planning organization in the western United States and a discussion of the results.


This article primary concerns the analysis of the conditions which determine situations of growth without development: processes of quantitative increment of the resources without a complete promotion of the human being. This phenomenon, in Africa as well as in other countries, is caused by at least three factors: wealth distribution, availability of institutional models in the use of the surplus, and corruption. The last one, in particular, is examined referring to Polanyi's integration models between economy and society: reciprocity, redistribution and market exchange. As a result, corruption seems being determined by the rapid transition from integration models based on reciprocity and redistribution, towards models of market exchange. Therefore, while the culture is still based on reciprocity and redistribution the economic structure follows market logics that weaken the normative contest, and determine opportunistic behaviours, individualism and therefore corruption.


A process for treating the life garbage includes such steps as delivering the bagged garbage to bag breaker, breaking the bags, classifying to obtain class-A garbage and class-B garbage, wind separating of class-A garbage to obtain heavy garbage A and light garbage A, the magnetic separating, aluminium separating and heavy metal separating of class-B garbage for collecting different metals and garbage B, biochemical fermenting of garbage B1 to obtain fertilizer, separating metals from heavy garbage A, breaking and collecting non-metal garbage, and cracking and degradating the light garbage A to collect gas, liquid and solid.


Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) should be distinguished from its wide variety of histological mimics, including reactive conditions and mature B and T cell neoplasms. Thymus and activation‐related chemokine (TARC) is produced in extremely high quantities by the Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg (HRS) tumour cells and is largely responsible for the attraction of CD4+ T cells into the cHL tumour micro‐environment. In the current study we evaluated the diagnostic potential of TARC immunohistochemistry in daily practice in a tertiary referral centre in the Netherlands.


The turn and cut machine includes a feed tray for advancing flat tubular feedstock textile material. Grippers open the leading end of the tubular material to define an opening. Clamp elements are advanced into the opening to clamp opposite side portions of the feedstock and space the side portions laterally outwardly of the margins of the tubular feedstock. Feed trays advance the feedstock through the leading edge opening, reverse-folding the material onto itself. The feed of the material is stopped while the trays continue to advance to peel the clamped portion from the clamp assemblies. The trays are withdrawn and a guillotine blade cuts the reverse-folded textile material.


Comparative static properties of optimal nonlinear income taxes are obtained for a finite population version o f the Mirrlees income-tax model with a weighted utilitarian social we lfare function and quasilinear preferences. The parameters which are varied are the weights in the welfare function, the slope of the prod uction constraint, and a parameter in the utility function. The endog enous variables are the consumers' consumption levels, pretax incomes (labor supplies in efficiency units), utility levels, and marginal t ax rates. Copyright 1987 by The Econometric Society.


A lipid peroxidation enzyme system of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) muscle microsomes was identified and characterized. The enzyme system preferred NADH to NADPH as a cofactor to catalyze lipid oxidation. High levels of ADP and NADH, but not ferric ion, were inhibitory in the system. Ferrous ion had a greater promoting effect on lipid peroxidation than ferric ion in catfish muscle microsomes. ATP was more effective than ADP in activating the enzyme system, but AMP had little effect on activating lipid oxidation. The optimal temperature for activity was 30°C and the optimal pH was around 6.9. MnCl2 , p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (pHMB), KCN, and sodium benzoate had a complete inhibitory effect on the lipid peroxidation enzyme system.


Besides its biological particularities, women's body also means interpretation, culture, religion; it is in fact a socially constructed entity. This essay presents a brief and maybe forced -but needed- comparison of opposing views from Eastern and Western worlds, both of which have put women aside. This comparison seeks to overcome those views that support an allegedly ethical or moral supremacy of one culture over the other. The essay then leads to intellectual works and art representations whose regards witness what remains hidden.


The invention discloses a digital power supply control system used for a charging machine. The digital power supply control system comprises a power adapter, a secondary auxiliary power supply circuit, a CAN bus controller and a digital control unit. The digital control unit is connected with a BMS or a VCU through the CAN bus controller. The CAN bus controller controls the secondary auxiliary power supply circuit to supply power to the digital control unit. The system is characterized in that a control signal line between the digital control unit and the CAN bus controller is connected with a downward-pulling capacitor, one end of the capacitor is connected with a control signal line, and the other end of the capacitor is grounded. By the adoption of the system, the risks of software upgrading failures can be thoroughly eliminated, and meanwhile the normal effect of a dormancy awakening function is guaranteed.


We prove certain Menon-type identities associated with the subsets of the set {1, 2,..., n} and related to the functions f, fk
 , Ф and Ф
 k
 , defined and investigated by Nathanson.


In this paper a theoretical analysis of magnetic three-phase induction machine is presented, including an identification parameter from its equivalent circuit. The approach has become an outstanding model for the mechanical part in the same equivalent circuit, and the machine as a whole. The equations obtained have been raised as state variables. Then, the differential equations can be expressed in function of the first derivative, obtaining a unified method for the simulation and numerical analysis. Through programs developed in C++, a complete sensitivity analysis for the steady state and dynamic models was developed. This allowed to observe and to study the influence and relationship between these parameters.


Dynamic modeling and simulation of percussive impact riveting are presented for robotic automation. This is an impact induced process to deform rivets, which involves an impact rivet gun driven under pneumatic pressure to pound a rivet against a bucking bar. To model this process, first, a new approach is developed to determine the hammer output speed under input pneumatic pressure. Second, impact dynamics is applied to model the impact acting on the rivet under the hammer hits. Finally, elastoplastic analysis is carried out to derive nonlinear equations for the determination of permanent (plastic) deformations of the rivet when hitting the bucking bar. For simulation, numerical integration algorithms are applied to solve the impact dynamic model and determine the riveting time according to riveting specifications. Riveting tests are carried out for model validation. Agreement between the simulation and experimental results shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.


Widely spread methods of diagnostics of early, including latent, heart failure are based mainly on systolic, pump function indices. Limited spread of diastolic myocardial function studies is probably due to the absence of clear criteria for evaluation of existing diastolic process parameters and their comparison with the generally accepted division of heart failure into stages.


Mock trial is a special law practice,consisting of preparation, mock trial and summarization. A good mock court, as well as choosing the right cases, is half done. A mock court skills can help students improve and enhance their ability of the judicial career, through its integrated capabilities.


Planar solid immersion mirrors have been implemented to inject grating-coupled infrared light from 30 mum wide rectangular channel waveguides into ~1.6 mum wide photonic crystal waveguides with high efficiency.


Significance Spatial misalignments between governance and environmental systems, often called spatial scale mismatch, are a key sustainability challenge. Collaboration and coordination networks can help overcome scale mismatch problems and should align with the environmental system. Using an approach based on network science, this paper advances scale mismatch analysis by explicitly considering collaborations among local and regional organizations doing estuary watershed restoration (i.e., multilevel governance) and how these collaborations align with environmental patterns. Collaboration quality is considered to inform network-based theories for natural resource governance. Integrating network analysis results with ecological habitat data further provides a social–environmental restoration planning perspective. This research can help policymakers allocate resources and is a fundamental step toward addressing scale mismatch while considering multilevel governance. Resource management boundaries seldom align with environmental systems, which can lead to social and ecological problems. Mapping and analyzing how resource management organizations in different areas collaborate can provide vital information to help overcome such misalignment. Few quantitative approaches exist, however, to analyze social collaborations alongside environmental patterns, especially among local and regional organizations (i.e., in multilevel governance settings). This paper develops and applies such an approach using social–ecological network analysis (SENA), which considers relationships among and between social and ecological units. The framework and methods are shown using an estuary restoration case from Puget Sound, United States. Collaboration patterns and quality are analyzed among local and regional organizations working in hydrologically connected areas. These patterns are correlated with restoration practitioners' assessments of the productivity of their collaborations to inform network theories for natural resource governance. The SENA is also combined with existing ecological data to jointly consider social and ecological restoration concerns. Results show potentially problematic areas in nearshore environments, where collaboration networks measured by density (percentage of possible network connections) and productivity are weakest. Many areas also have high centralization (a few nodes hold the network together), making network cohesion dependent on key organizations. Although centralization and productivity are inversely related, no clear relationship between density and productivity is observed. This research can help practitioners to identify where governance capacity needs strengthening and jointly consider social and ecological concerns. It advances SENA by developing a multilevel approach to assess social–ecological (or social–environmental) misalignments, also known as scale mismatches.


Background. Poor leadership is highly prevalent and associated with destructive processes in the workplace, including stress related ill health. Yet, the applied methods to improve leadership practices are rarely grounded in scientific research. The aim of this thesis is to test the effects of an art-based, yearlong leadership programme (Shibboleth) in comparison with a conventional programme. The Shibboleth concept was built upon a performance art, a collage of fragments of literary text and music, followed by writing sessions and group reflection. Hypotheses. I Effect on leaders: Demanding art experiences were expected to force self-critical examination and break ingrained patterns of thinking and feeling, providing sharper self-awareness and awareness of moral responsibility, and mobilize courage to take stand and act in highly complex, unaccustomed and painful circumstances; II Effect on employees: The changes in the leaders' responsibility were, in turn, expected to activate positive changes in the co-workers, reflected not only in their psychological health, but also in biological processes/endocrine status. Method and Results. In study I transferred effects of the leaders' participation in the intervention program on their co-workers' psychosocial and biological stress were investigated. The findings demonstrate improved mental health, enhanced self-esteem and courage to openly deal with unfair treatment as well as a higher concentration of the regenerative hormone DHEA-S in the attending leaders' co-workers, as well as in the leaders themselves, compared to the conventional group. In study II effects on the leaders' intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects associated with poor leadership were explored. The findings demonstrate improved pro-social motivation (Agreeableness) and psychological resilience (Sense of Coherence) in the Shibboleth leaders, who were also considered by their co-workers to be more responsible (behaving less laissez-faire) and display higher capacity to cope with stress, compared to the conventional group. In study III we examined whether the changes in leaders' behaviour were confirmed by corresponding changes in the level of self-awareness. Comparisons between leader's self-evaluation and the evaluative feedback of the co-workers demonstrate that the Shibboleth leaders abandoned the self-inflating position in favour of increased self-awareness and humility, which in turn was followed by improved behaviour. The opposite result was noted in the conventional group. In study IV the psychological processes taking place in the individual leader during the Shibboleth intervention were studied based upon written reflections during sessions, "course" evaluations and interviews using a qualitative method. The findings show that the participants experienced Shibboleth as a transformative power. The Shibboleth's content and artistic technique was perceived as especially challenging and affecting in a way they had not experienced before. The leaders described their journey from the desire of affirmation of the self and one's own interest towards a more open position trying to understand a world other than one's own by adopting an aesthemetic approach (a combination of aesthetic, emotional and ethic elements). They experienced a new consciousness they never felt before to assume responsibility for others, for themselves and for their leadership, which also raised their sense of self–esteem and feeling of reverence and gratitude for life. Long after the intervention ended, the etched memory images of Shibboleth worked as moral guidance in different situations. The findings are discussed in relation to the notion of aesthemetic, which is introduced for conceptualisation of the impact core that constitutes the Shibboleth concept. Conclusion. A transformative effect of a new, art-based leadership concept on the leaders and transferred beneficial effect on their co-workers was demonstrated. The findings indicate that the Shibboleth concept, by counteracting the destructivity of poor leadership, may prevent stress related ill health. The findings seem to be sustained and more pronounced at the long-term follow-up. The positive results for psychological, behavioural and biological outcomes are consistent and strengthen the findings. This is the first research to show that changes in behaviours in leaders through aesthetic experiences can have transferred effects on psychological and neurobiological resilience processes in followers leading to health-promoting effects. In addition to the empirical findings, this thesis presents a general theoretical approach through the notion of aesthemetics, which may help to clarify the underlying conditions for successful training programmes in general. LIST OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS I. Romanowska J, Larsson G, Eriksson M, Wikström BM, Westerlund H and Theorell T (2011). Health effects on leaders and co-workers of an art-based leadership development program. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 80(2): 78–87. II. Romanowska J, Larsson G and Theorell T (2013). Effects on leaders of an art-based leadership intervention. Journal of Management Development 32(9): 1004–1022. III. Romanowska J, Larsson G and Theorell T (2014). An Art-Based Leadership Intervention for Enhancement of Self-Awareness, Humility and Leader Performance. Journal of Personnel Psychology 13(2): 97. IV. Romanowska J, Theorell T, Karlsson G. The transformative power of Aesthemetics: Aesthetics, Emotions and Ethics in a New Leadership Concept. Submitted.


This article reviews the peculiarities of development of creative potential of secondary school pupils. It describes the signs, structure and technologies of development together with main components of creative potential among secondary school pupil. Thus in general the creative potential can be defined as the complex of personal and individual characteristics, allowing the person to act productively in new situations, uncertain situations, the situations with incomplete information and the absence of exact algorithm for problem solution. This article also presents the fragments of the most efficient methods of secondary school pupils creative potential development.


Formation mass density is directly related to porosity, fluid type, fluid saturation, and matrix mineral composition. The change of the reservoir parameters can cause the change of density and then the seismic velocity, impedance and amplitude. We discussed the characteristics of the changes by theoretical calculation and presented a method for estimating density and porosity based on full acoustic waveform inversion. Because of avoiding the signal distortion caused by more processing, the method can improve the inversion accuracy of density and porosity. It also can eliminate noise by integrating the derivative of wave field along time and summing multi-shot data. The method has been tested successfully by a synthetic example and gas-field data from western China. The density and porosity provided by the method agree with the logging result. It also supplies reliable data for prediction of effective reservoir and calculation of reserves.


Correspondence (İletişim): Funda Yavanoğlu Atay, M.D. Umraniye Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, Neonatoloji Anabilim Dali, Istanbul, Turkey Phone (Telefon): +90 505 440 91 67 E-mail (E-posta): email@example.com Submitted Date (Başvuru Tarihi): 24.07.2018 Accepted Date (Kabul Tarihi): 26.07.2018 Copyright 2019 Haydarpaşa Numune Medical Journal OPEN ACCESS This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). 371 Yavanoğlu Atay et al., Role of Markers in Elucidating the Etiology of Respiratory in the Newborn / doi: 10.14744/hnhj.2018.04880 it is difficult to make a differential diagnosis. Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule synthesized by the endothelium and has important functions from vasodilation to the release of inflammatory cytokines. ADMA is an endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor [3,4]. Lungs have also been reported to be the main source of ADMA [5]. NO synthesized from the lungs in the newborn is important for normal lung development and maturation. As the blood level of ADMA increases, NO synthesis decreases. In the light of these findings, it can be said that there is a relationship between ADMA levels and pulmonary functions of newborns. Enzymatic cleavage of the peptide named Pro-BNP results in the formation of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino thermal proBNP (NT-ProBNP). BNP is released from myocytes in response to the ventricular strain. The vasodilator BNP has a natriuretic effect and suppresses the renin-angiotensin and aldesterone system [6,7]. BNP level increases in cases of heart failure and hypervolemia. It is used to differentiate cardiac and lung related respiratory distress in the newborn. NT-proBNP has a longer half-life and is more practical to measure than BNP. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a role in the production of acute phase reactants, such as CRP and fibrinogen in the liver. Therefore, IL-6 rises before CRP and may be useful in the diagnosis of infections, such as pneumonia in the newborn [8]. This study aims to investigate the role of cardiovascular markers, such as NT-proBNP, ADMA and IL-6 levels in elucidating the etiology of respiratory distress, and the relationship between the severity of the disease and early-stage morbidities. Materials and Methods This study was conducted prospectively between January 2014 and June 2014 in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of our hospital. Infants who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to respiratory distress, with Downes score >5 and born at ≥32 gestational weeks were consecutively included in the study group. Newborn babies without respiratory distress and known heart disease born during the same gestational week interval whose parents gave their permissions to participate in this study were included in the control group. Necessary permission was obtained from the ethics committee of our hospital. Newborns with congenital heart disease, meconium aspiration syndrome, diaphragmatic hernia, perinatal asphyxia, gastrointestinal malformation and syndromic findings were excluded from this study. The diagnosis of respiratory distress was established if one or more of the following criteria exist: 1. Tachypnea: respiratory rate ≥60/min 2. Participation of auxiliary respiratory muscles in the respiration: retractions of subcostal, intercostal, sternal, and suprasternal muscles 3. Whining, stridor or wheezing during respiration 4. Presence of cyanosis Downes scoring [9] (Table 1) was used to determine the degree of respiratory distress. After the patients were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, all newborns underwent standard care and treatment. The babies were monitored in the incubator with their body temperatures maintained between 36.5 and 37.5 °C with humidification performed with a skin probe suitable for their gestational week at birth. The diagnosis and treatment of the patients were made by the attending service physician. As respiratory support noninvasive, or conventional mechanical ventilation in SLE 5000 ventilator was delivered to infants. Downes scoring was performed by the physician conducting this study on the first admission of the patient and within 48-72 hours. In addition to the examinations requested by the patient's attending physician, peripheral venous blood samples were taken from the patients twice within the first 12-24 and 48-72 hours for the measurement of pro-BNP, IL-6 and ADMA levels. IL-6 and proBNP levels were determined by immuno-chemiluminescent method. The blood samples drawn for the measurement of the ADMA level were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for five minutes, and their serum portions were stored at -80 °C. Serum ADMA level (ELISA) was studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Sunredbio, China). Table 1. Downes Scoring Scores Respiratory rate Cyanosis Air entry Whining Retraction 0 < 60/min None Normal None None 1 60-80/min At room air Decreased Heard during auscultation with stethoscope Moderate 2 >80/min/apneic >40% FiO2 Hardly heard Heard during auscultation with stethoscope Marked 372 Yavanoğlu Atay et al., Role of Markers in Elucidating the Etiology of Respiratory in the Newborn / doi: 10.14744/hnhj.2018.04880 RDS was diagnosed with typical radiological findings and requirement of oxygen supply of >40% to maintain saturation in the range of 90-95%. The diagnosis of neonatal pneumonia was made in the presence of consolidation on the chest X-ray, increased acute phase markers and maternal facilitating causes. All patients underwent echocardiography by an independent pediatric cardiologist to show that there was no hemodynamically significant PDA and congenital heart disease. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS for Windows 11.0; Chicago, USA) program. Parametric variables were evaluated with Student's t-test and non-parametric variables with the Mann-Whitney test. One way ANOVA analysis was used to compare the independent means of more than two groups. Pvalue <0.05 was considered statistically significant.


A wide range of Radio Frequency (RF) assemblies require testing during their development and production. These include amplifiers, mixers, filters, up converters, down converters, antennas, phase shifters, power dividers, power combiners, Integrated Master Assemblies (IMAs), Weapons Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs), Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and radio subassemblies. Though there are many differences between the RF assemblies, they all require a test system that is accurate, reliable and traceable while simultaneously minimizing test times. Other important attributes of a test platform for RF assemblies are that it must be calibrated, fully-characterized and incorporate self-test functionality. The test platform must also include a digital control solution for triggering, communicating with Units Under Test (UUT) and interfacing with handlers, fixtures, etc. Finally, the software for the test equipment must also be considered. Typical software functionality would include sequencing, reporting, testing, calibration, and self-test. While it is certainly possible to develop a test system specific to each type of RF assembly; there are many benefits to developing a common RF test platform that includes the functionality listed above.


This paper introduces a free gyro drift error model Recognition System.Based on Data Acquisition,this system achieved Drift error parameters recognition by using Extended Kalman Filter(EKF).We used Improved Gram – Schmidt algorithm(MGS) co-variance for covariance matrix,and used Carlson algorithm(CLS) for Amendment State and covariance.System had been tested,the re-sults show that the system has sufficient recognition accuracy,fully meet the requirements of free gyro drift error model identification.


A 64-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department of our tertiary center with lower abdominal tenderness. The patient described the sudden onset of infra-umbilical discomfort 6 h prior to admission, with progression of the pain and two episodes of self-resolving syncopes. History was negative for fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hematochezia, melaena, dysuria or substance abuse. Medical history revealed prostate cancer treated by radical prostatectomy by laparotomy 10 years prior, without radiation therapy. The patient was normotensive but tachycardiac at 107 bpm. Laboratory tests showed hemoglobin at 124 g/L, WBC 12.2 G/L, INR 1.1, electrolytes and liver function tests in normal range. Contrast enhanced multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed intra-abdominal free fluid with a radiological density of 35 Hounsfield units, compatible with hemoperitoneum (Fig. 1). The most likely origin of the abdominal bleed was identified by contrast extravasation in the vicinity of the left branch of the superior rectal artery (Fig. 2). The patient was monitored overnight at the intermediate care unit of the Emergency Department and received crystalloid resuscitation. Hemoglobin plummeted to 84 g/L through the next 14 hours. At this point, a control MDCT showed slight augmentation of the hemoperitoneum, without visualization of an active bleeding source. The patient has undergone transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). During the procedure, no significant vascular anomaly was visualized and the rectal arterial vasculature appeared normal. The anterior branch of the left superior rectal artery showed signs of spasm and was embolized by gelatin sponge (Gelfoam Slurry® Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA) through a 2.7F microcatheter on the basis of the first MDCT findings (Fig. 3). The procedure lasted 45 minutes, was well tolerated, the postinterventional hemoglobin levels were stable around 95 g/L and the patient was discharged 3 days later. At a telephonic t t t n


This research looks at information networks and information systems, as well as the challenges faced by information networks. Many things have been achieved in Indonesia through the use of information networks, one of which is a digital library; there are many facilities that can be used to serve and fulfill the wishes and needs of readers. The obstacle in building information networks in libraries is the lack of user knowledge in accessing libraries that currently use digital technology. There are still many human resources who do not want to work as IT in the library, as seen from the growth of the library's information network which is still limited.
Keywords: Libraries, Information Networks, Information Systems, Obstacles, Auxiliary Facilities.


If an optical pulse has a self-waveform-stabilization effect, it would be very useful for high-speed communication and signal processing. An optical soliton governed by the nonlinear Schrodinger equation is such a pulse, as it balances the group velocity dispersion with the fiber nonlinearity self-phase modulation. We describe progress on ultrahigh-speed optical communication in the time (TDM) and frequency domains (WDM) using soliton effects. Especially, we describe 1-Tb/s WDM soliton transmission and 1.28-Tb/s optical TDM (OTDM) linear transmission, in which the soliton effects play important roles in making the experiment successful. These techniques help pave the path for optical technology of the next century.


Currently, flying robotic systems are in development for package delivery, aerial exploration in catastrophe areas, or maintenance tasks. While many flying robots are used in connection with powerful, stationary computing systems, the challenge in autonomous devices—especially in indoor-rescue or rural missions—lies in the need to do all processing internally on low power hardware. Furthermore, the device cannot rely on a well ordered or marked surrounding. These requirements make computer vision an important and challenging task for such systems. To cope with the cumulative problems of low frame rates in combination with high movement rates of the aerial device, a hyperbolic mirror is mounted on top of a quadrocopter, recording omnidirectional images, which can capture features during fast pose changes. The viability of this approach will be demonstrated by analysing several scenes. Here, we present a novel autonomous robot, which performs all computations online on low power embedded hardware and is therefore a truly autonomous robot. Furthermore, we introduce several novel algorithms, which have a low computational complexity and therefore enable us to refrain from external resources.


DENG Xiao-ping sums up the pros and cons in socialist practice, on the basis of the features of the times, scientifically points out common prosperity is the goal of socialism and makes the nature of socialism clear.


1) When the anterior hypothalamus is damaged bilaterally , TRF completely disappears from the body, and cannot easily be recovered thereafter . In a hypophysectomized dog, however, the secretion of TRF from the hypothalamus is conversely enhanced . It is subsequently considered that TRF would be produced in the anterior hypothalamus , and pooled in the posterior lobe of the hypophysis. 2) According to various functional states of the pituitary-thyroid axis , there occurs an remarkable change in the distribution of TRF in the body . In the hyperfunctional states of the axis, the secretion of TRF is increased, resulting in as a consequence the rise of its concentration in blood , spinal fluid, and urine. In the case of the hypofunction , secretion of TRF is decreased. 3) TRF enters the lung via the pulmonary circulation , and then is conveyed throughout the whole body via the systemic circulation. It preponderantly concentrates in the anterior lobe of the hypo physis, and is excreted from the kidney, salivary gland and intestine after several hours. 4) Urinary excretion of TRF is well correlated with the serum level of TRF , but there is no significant relationship between urinary excretion of TRF and urine volume . 5) The dynamic equilibrium and the physiologic function of TRF are shown from the above mentioned,


Incident hypertension varies across races/ethnicities. Mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis are endothelial dysfunction with reduction of nitric oxide and alterations of the Renin-Angiotensin-...


This paper systematacially states that gas drainage due to gas concentration exceeding limit during top-coal caving mining process,and the unfavorable factors had been brought to prevent the spontaneous combustion in goaf because of continuous drainage at caving mining face.Correctly treat the relationship between fire prevention and drainages is the premise of preventing spontaneous combustion,which is also the primary question need to be solved in "One Through and Three Prevention" work during top-coal caving production process,and expounds by taking 274 face,No.2 Area,South 11th Seam,-440 of Xinlu Coal Mine for an example.


Membrane extraction is a viable alternative to a variety of conventional procedures such as LLE, SPE and purge and trap. The capability of direct interfacing with instruments for the development of automated, real-time monitoring systems, and the simple miniaturisation of membrane modules have thrown the doors wide open for an exciting new era in sample preparation.


The practical application of SIEMENS PRDFIBUS-DP fieldbus in casting static pressure line is introduced.The function of network communication is realized by communication example between SIEMENS S7-400 PLC and MITSUBISHI A7NP.


Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to try to identify the motivation of firms that announce share repurchase but do not follow it up with the actual purchase. The authors conjecture that the long-term earnings quality of such firms is low, which makes them poor candidates for actual stock repurchase. Their intention is to mimic actual repurchasers and their motivation appears to be just to get a bounce in their stock price normally associated with such announcements. Design/methodology/approach - – The authors use probit analysis to ascertain whether earnings quality can predict the subsequent repurchase behavior of firms that announce share repurchase. As Gong Findings - – The results show that non-carry-through firms have lower earnings quality than carry-through firms in the pre-announcement period in all of the metrics the authors use to measure earnings quality. In the post-announcement period, the earnings quality of the non-carry-through firms declines still further and the difference in the quality becomes more pronounced. The results of probit regression show that lower earnings quality increases the likelihood of becoming a non-carry-through company. Research limitations/implications - – The finding has interesting implications for investment management as investors can differentiate non-carry-through firms from carry-through repurchasers by examining the firm's earnings quality. Originality/value - – The analysis shows that poor long-term earnings quality increases the chance of not carrying through on the repurchase announcement. The authors also find that the poor earnings quality of non-carry-through firms limits their ability to manage earnings downward prior to the repurchase announcement.


This paper deals with the powers of the European Commission and the competition authorities of the EU Member States to enforce Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, and with the procedural rights and guarantees that circumscribe or limit these powers. It focuses in particular on the interplay between the different sources of law governing these matters: EU and national legislation, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the case-law of the EU Courts and the European Court of Human Rights.


There are some cases that half life of digoxin is prolonged in elderly patients (elder than 60 years old), although serum creatinine (Scr) and serum urea nitrogen (SUN) levels are within normal range [Scr (<1.2) and SUN (<20)].The half life of digoxin in patients over 60 years old (71.6±23.2hr, n=8) was significantly longer than those in other patients (47.4±18.9hr, n=16) (p<0.05) in comparing among patients within normal Scr range.Among the elder age group, the half life in normal Scr group was 71.6±23.2hr (n=8), whereas that in abnormal Scr group tended to be prolonged to 84.4±41.8hr (n=27).In four cases where Scr is 0.3, 0.9, 1.1 and 1.4 mg/dl, the half life of digoxin calculated based on creatinine clearance that was estimated by urinary creatinine, urine volume and body surface area (2.88±0.42 day) was significantly shorter than that obtained from the serum digoxin concentrations measured at two points or more (3.65±0.37 day) (p<0.01).These findings suggest that it is desirable to control the serum digoxin by measuring its level routinely for a better digoxin therapy in the elderly patients, since the index of elimination rate constant or the half life calculated by Scr and/or SUN might be less reliable and utilization of CLcr might be also less suitable in some cases.


Nanomagnetite can be synthesized in lab by decomposition method using FeOOH and oleic acid in 1-ODEbut the cost of production is very high. Here we are trying to synthesize cost effective nanomagnetites by using common materials present in our daily life which are freely available in market .Magnetite nanocrystals are highly useful in arsenic remediation as arsenic contamination in groundwater is a severe global problem. In India, millions suffer from acute and chronic arsenic poisoning. It is possible to create functional and high-quality nanocrystals using this greener and cost effective method .Our research revealed that the costs of the starting materials can be reduced by using this greener synthetic route


The transition mechanism of a hypersonic boundary layer in the conditions of high Mach number and high Reynolds number is investigated, and the evolution of instable structures is analyzed.The numerical method is large eddy simulation (LES).The spatial transition coherent structure of a hypersonic blunt-wedge boundary layer at a free-stream Mach number of Ma∞=6.0 based on free-stream velocity and a Reynolds number of Re=2.0×106/inch is studied with a hybrid method of a fifth-order upwind compact difference and a eighth-order symmetric compact difference for the three-dimensional compressible Favre-filtered Navier-Stokes equations.The compact storage third-order explicit Runge-Kutta method is applied for time-integration.The sub-grid scales are formulated according to the modified Smagorinsky eddy-viscosity model.Based on the linear stability theory, a particular perturbation of blowing and suction is introduced close to wall as unstable disturbances on the inflow boundary.The obtained flow process is divided into three stages: the linear and weakly nonlinear growth of disturbance, transition,and full turbulence.The result presents that LES can simulate hypersonic blunt-wedge transition well.


Objective To observe the effects of rocuroium pretreatment on succinylcholine-induced myalgia,hyperkalemia and tracheal intubation conditions.Methods One hundred patients scheduled for vocal cord surgery through suspension laryngoscopy were divided into control group and research group randomly(n= 50).The age of the patients ranged from 26 to 65 years and the assessment of American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)was gradeⅠ orⅡ.Anesthesia induction was conducted with fentanyl 2μg/kg,propofol 2 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg.Patients in the research group were pretreated with rocuroium 0.06mg/kg.The anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane,propofol and succinylcholine(10-20mg).There was an interval of 1.5 minutes between the injection of rocuroium and succinylcholine.Succinylcholine was administered 1minute before endotracheal intubation.Serum potassium and calcium concentrations were measured before induction and 10minutes after intubation.The condition of intubation and fasciculations were observed.The consumption of succinylcholine was recorded.Myalgia was assessed at 24hours postoperatively.Results The incidence of fasciculation in the research group was significantly lower than that in the control-group(56% vs. 96%,P0.01),so was the severity of fasciculation(P0.01).Tracheal intubation condition in the controlgroup was superior to that in the research group(P0.05).There were no significant differences in the incidence or severity of myalgia between two groups(P0.05).The serum potassium level was increased significantly after induction in the control group(P0.05),but in the research-group there was no significant difference in serum potassium level before or after induction(P0.05).The serum was calcium decreased significantly after induction in all patients(both P0.05).The consumption of succinylcholine was similar in the two groups(P0.05).The fasciculation was not related to postoperative myalgia(P0.05).Conclusion Pretreatment of rocuroiumcan can effectively reduce the incidence and severity of fasciculations and prevent increases of serum potassium.But pretreatment will slightly decrease tracheal intubation condition and incidence and severity of postoperative myalgia.


Abstract Although a majority of the key works on chromatin structure and function have been carried out using animal tissues, studies of plant chromatin and the characterization of the histones and nonhistone chromosomal proteins are now developing well. There are clear functional differences between plant and animal genomes, including the percentage of total DNA transcribed, levels of ploidy, and the pathways of morphogenesis and cell differentiation. It is therefore not surprising that differences are appearing between animal and plant chromatin, for example, the consensus amino acid sequence for the plant H3 globular domain; the extensions to the basic domain regions of some plant histones such as H2A, which have specific interactions with linker DNA; the larger molecular weight of the plant H1 molecule with its extended basic domains correlated with short lengths of linker DNA, and the absence of the five residue binding segment in the globular part of plant H1, which suggests differences in the organ...


We study the topology of SLE curves for κ > 4. More precisely, we show that, a.s., there is no homeomorphism Φ : H→ H, taking the range of one independent SLE curve to another for κ ∈ (4, 8). Furthermore, we extend the result to κ ≥ 8 by showing that there is no homeomorphism taking one SLE curve to another, when viewed as curves modulo parametrization.


This book isof very few studies on the influence of genetic tests on the narrative of groups, a topic which is becoming increasingly important with growth of the number of DNA tests conducted among indigenous populations. A contribution to the wider field of the social, cultural and ethical implications of genetics, an area which has acquired particular topicality in the last decade with the advances in genetics (Human Genome Project, Human Genome
Diversity Project) and the spread of various genetic screening programmes.
First book length work on the Lemba, on Judaizing movements and the phenomenon of "Israelite" identity. Wide international appeal, as it deals with phenomena which are to be found in different parts of the world (Judaizing movements, population-based genetic screening).
Interdisciplinary of interest to scholars of Jewish History, contemporary issues in the study of religions, and social and ethical aspects of genetics.


The numerical analysis of a waterjet propulsion system was performed to provide detail understanding of complicated flow phenomena including interactions of intake duct, rotor, stator, and contracted discharge nozzle. The incompressible RANS equations were solved on moving multiblocked grid system. To handle interface boundary between rotor and stator, the sliding multiblock method was applied. The numerical results were compared with experiments and good agreement was obtained. The complicated viscous flow features of the waterjet, such as secondary flow inside the intake duct, the recovery of axial flow by the role of the stator, and tip and hub vortex, etc. were well analyzed by the present simulation. The performance of thrust and torque was also predicted.


European Space Agency will launched the first salinity satellite SMOS used for remote sensing global salinity and soil moisture at a sun-synchronous orbit in 2009. The payload on the satellite is a synthetic aperture microwave radiometer (MIRAS) which is an innovative instrument designed as a two dimensional interferometer for acquiring brightness temperatures (TB) at L-band (1.4 GHz). The two-dimensional MIRAS interferometer allows measuring TBs at large incidences for fully polarization. As the satellite moves, a given location within the 2D field of view is observed from different view angles.


A transient flow induced by the shock front impinging on the four kinds of Laval nozzles, which were installed in the low pressure side of a shock tube, was observed optically by the schlieren method, and the starting process of nozzle and the value of initial diaphragm pressure ratio required to start the nozzle have been clarified. The nozzle starting time the duration of flow with constant Mach number were determined experimentally, as a function of the nozzle Mach number and the initial diaphragm pressure ratio. Moreover, it was found that the reflection of slip-stream caused by the Mach reflection of a shock wave is classified into two essentially different patterns of regular and irregular types. This phenomenon is similar to the two patterns of regular and Mach reflections occurring in the reflection of shock wave.


Along with rapid development of our civil aviation, the airport load enlarges unceasingly, which brings the tremendous pressure for the airport management, and one of the effective methods is establishing a reasonable analogous system of airport scene traffic simulation. With the characteristics of the airport scene complex road network traffic being considered, on the basis of NS model this paper established the corresponding property of cellular, and translated the airport into Multi-strip one-dimensional cellular automaton model, then carried out a simulation of airport scene through this model. The results showed that the model can be reason-able to performance the aircraft's rules at the airport.


Abstract. Ramli MR, Milow P, Malek S. 2021. Species composition, diversity and traditional uses of plants in homegardens in Kampung Masjid Ijok, Perak, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 22: 1902-1911. The aim of present study was to analyze the status, plant diversity and their utilization in homegardens of Kampung Masjid Ijok, Perak, Malaysia. Forty homegardens were selected for detailed study: 9 were large (>1,500m2), 11 medium (901m2 to 1500m2) and 20 small (<900m2). A total of 207 plant species belonging to 78 families were recorded. Among the usable components, food plants dominated the homegardens with a proportion of 43.3% followed by ornamental (27.8% ) and medicinal (24%) plants. Large homegardens were dominated by food, medicinal and ornamental plant species, medium homegardens food and medicinal plant species, and small homegardens ornamental plant species. Frequency of species occurrences increased with the increasing homegardens size. The highest Shannon-Weiner Index was recorded in the large sized homegardens (3.61) and the lowest one in the small-sized homegardens (1.66). Euphorbiaceae (13 species), Araceae (11 species) and Fabaceae (10 species) were the most represented plant families. Shrubs dominated the plants in all homegardens with a proportion of 42 %, followed by trees (29.5%), herbs (23.7%) and climbers (4.8%). Musa paradisiaca L. was recorded as a very frequent species, followed by Cocos nucifera L., Nephelium lappaceum L., Capsicum frutescens L., Carica papaya L, Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Mangifera indica L, Curcuma domestica Valeton, Garcinia mangostana L and Manihot esculenta Crantz. Alocasia sanderiana and Aquilaria malaccensis categorized as critically endangered (CR) in (IUCN) Red List were also recorded in the large homegardens. This study suggested that large homegardens are more effective than the small and medium ones for diversification and conservation of plant species.


World Music: The Basics gives a concise introduction to popular musical styles found around the world. Organized alphabetically by region and then by country, it provides essential background information on the cultural and musical history of each area. Styles featured include: Celtic Dijeridou Bossa Nova Reggae Bluegrass Covering key artists and recordings and with guides to further listening, this is the perfect introduction for the student, scholar or general listener.


In Colombia, the study of land dispossession has focused on paramilitarism groups, which is why it has left aside other types of perpetrators in the framework of irregular warfare, such as the FARC-EP. To understand land dispossession as a large-scale phenomenon it was analyzed from a legal and a sociological perspective. This allowed contrasting their typologies and motivations, giving an objective vision that recognizes that the guerrillas also used land dispossession as one of their repertoires of violence in various areas of the country. After reviewing large volumes of information from judicial and extrajudicial sources, it was established that the FARC-EP land dispossession was different depending on the spatial and temporal context. Through a mixed approach, it is described which were the main substructures of the extinct guerrilla that perpetrated it.


A method for calculating the wear of car suspension liners is presented. To determine the wear by a computational method, a system of equations for the spherical contact of mates of the friction unit of a car was obtained. An example of calculating wear for a given service life of a ball joint is given. The issue of determining the reliability indicators of a cylindrical hinge by the wear criterion is considered. An experimental study of the effectiveness of various greases for car hinge joints has been carried out


Tuberous Sclerosis is a genetic multisystemic disease that mainly affects the central nervous system (CNS) of patients at any age. This study illustrates the neuroimaging findings that are included in the clinical diagnostic criteria in a group of patients with tuberous sclerosis (TS) of two tertiary university hospitals. The neuroimaging findings, in order of frequency, are cortical tubers, subependymal nodules, white matter abnormalities and subependymal giant cells astrocytomas. All these lesions represent disorganized neurons and glial cells. Cerebellar and hippocampal abnormalities have also been described in TS.  Neuroimaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has a crucial role in the evaluation and diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis, especially in atypical clinical presentations or in cases of inadequate therapeutic response.


Factor analysis of responses to the Bayley scores from 207 disadvantaged children of two age levels yielded 6 to 4 factors. Variance for the younger group (12 to 21 mo.) was mostly accounted for by comprehension of verbal and gestural communication. In both groups (including one 21 to 30 mo.) gross psychomotor ability emerged as an important contributor to variance. Data confirm the increasing differentiation of mental abilities with age (growth and experience).


American federalism in 2022–2023 saw a continued escalation of the culture wars, with persistent battles fought between the heavily polarized political parties, different levels of government (including federal versus state governments and state versus local governments), and between states and private business. Policy conflicts have centered on a variety of issues related to reproductive rights, K-12 education, and gun policy, among others. This overview of American federalism during the last year proceeds by first considering major policy activity in Congress, much of which holds significant implications for federalism. Next, we discuss the 2022 midterm elections and the dynamics that largely prevented what many expected to be a "red wave". We then move to discuss significant policy shifts in the areas of civil rights and liberties, environmental policy, and labor, with an emphasis on state policymaking and court decisions. A central theme has been the intensification of cultural disputes as a policymaking focus, particularly at the state level.


All possible types of deterministic choice behavior are classified by their degree of irrationality. This classification is performed in three steps: (1) select a benchmark of rationality, for which this degree is zero; (2) endow the set of choices with a metric to measure deviations from rationality; and (3) compute the distance of any choice behavior from the selected benchmark. The natural candidate for step 1 is the family of all rationalizable behaviors. A possible candidate for step 2 is a suitable variation of the metric described by Klamler (2008), which displays a sharp discerning power among different types of choice behaviors. In step 3 we use this new metric to establish the minimum distance of any choice behavior from the benchmark of rationality. Finally we describe a measure of stochastic irrationality, which employs the random utility model as a benchmark of rationality, and the Block-Marschak polynomials to measure deviations from it.


The weed of 34.5% pyrazosulfuron + quinclorac WP and effects on weed control,crop yield,as well as the variety discipline of the absorption of nitrogen,phosphorus,kalium and moisture in transplanted rice fields were studied.The results showed that 34.5% pyrazosulfuron + quinclorac WP had good control effect against the main weeds in broadcasted rice fields.The overall density control effects and fresh control effects were 90.33%~100.00%,91.72%~100%,significantly higher than that of 10% WP,10% pyrazosulfuron WP and 50% quinclorac WP.The application of 34.5% pyrazosulfuron + quinclorac WP significantly increased the yield of rice,which was higher than that of the control herbicides.


The development of amygdaloid kindling was assessed following preconditioning with Acorus calamus (AC) of the chronically prepared rats. The result demonstrated that chronic treatment with AC (200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly decreased epileptogenesis. The number of kindling trials required to reach the generalized convulsions was significantly decreased by pretreatment with AC in comparison with kindled animals. Preconditioning the kindled animals with AC for 14 days markedly reduced the development of amygdaloid seizure, intensity of fit and duration of after-discharge together with an increase in the norepinephrine, serotonin and decrease in dopamine content in discrete brain regions. Analysis of behavioural studies indicated a significant decrease in seizure stages and duration of amygdaloid afterdischarges. These results reveal that AC possibly modifies the brain functions by modulating the brain monoamines and behavioural as well as electrographic discharges. Results from this study suggest that AC functions by focal sensitization of monoamines mediated inhibitory mechanism and reflecting the inhibitory influence of AC in regulating the development and attenuation of epileptic states.


This work supports the program to develop methods for the removal of gaseous alkali-metal compounds from the combustion gases from pressurizd fluidized-bed coal combustors so as to minimize the corrosiveness of these gases toward the gas turbine. Results are presented on the study of activated bauxite as a granular-bed sorbent for the removal of gaseous NaCl from high-temperature, high-pressure simulated PFBC gases. In the studies reported, SO/sub 2/ (approx. 400 ppM) was added to the test gas mixture to more closely simulate combustion gas. A major fraction (approx. 94%) of the alkali metal captured by the activated bauxite in the presence of SO/sub 2/ was found to be water soluble. A significant amount of sulfate ion was found in the leachate, indicating the conversion of part of the adsorbed NaCl to sodium sulfate. When SO/sub 2/ is not present in the test gas, about 75% of the sorbed sodium is water-soluble. The aluminate ion is the major anion in the leachate, indicating the conversion of part of the adsorbed NaCl to sodium aluminate.


Inflammasomes are innate immune mechanisms that activate caspase‐1 in response to a variety of stimuli, including Salmonella infection. Active caspase‐1 has a potential to induce two different types of cell death, depending on the expression of the pyroptosis mediator gasdermin D (GSDMD); following caspase‐1 activation, GSDMD‐sufficient and GSDMD‐null/low cells undergo pyroptosis and apoptosis, respectively. Although Bid, a caspase‐1 substrate, plays a critical role in caspase‐1 induction of apoptosis in GSDMD‐null/low cells, an additional mechanism that mediates this cell death independently of Bid has also been suggested. This study investigated the Bid‐independent pathway of caspase‐1‐induced apoptosis. Caspase‐1 has been reported to process caspase‐6 and caspase‐7. Silencing of caspase‐7, but not caspase‐6, significantly reduced the activation of caspase‐3 induced by caspase‐1, which was activated by chemical dimerization, in GSDMD/Bid‐deficient cells. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated depletion of caspase‐7 had the same effect on the caspase‐3 activation. Moreover, in the absence of GSDMD and Bid, caspase‐7 depletion reduced apoptosis induced by caspase‐1 activation. Caspase‐7 was activated following caspase‐1 activation independently of caspase‐3, suggesting that caspase‐7 acts downstream of caspase‐1 and upstream of caspase‐3. Salmonella induced the activation of caspase‐3 in GSDMD‐deficient macrophages, which relied partly on Bid and largely on caspase‐1. The caspase‐3 activation and apoptotic morphological changes seen in Salmonella‐infected GSDMD/Bid‐deficient macrophages were attenuated by caspase‐7 knockdown. These results suggest that in addition to Bid, caspase‐7 can also mediate caspase‐1‐induced apoptosis and provide mechanistic insights into inflammasome‐associated cell death that is one major effector mechanism of inflammasomes.


ABSTRACT A dual-phase steel was produced from a hot-rolled HSLA steel ASTM-A58S by quenching from an intercritical temperature which produced a structure consisting of 80 vol.% martensite plus 20vol.%ferrite. The as-received hot-rolled structure consisted primarily of 60 vol.% ferrite plus 40 vol.% pearlite. The machinability experiments involved the determination of tool wear, cutting forces, surface finish and chip disposability. Face milling operations were used together with high speed steel tools. The two materials showed large variation in surface finish. The dual-phase steel exhibited the best surface finish over the whole feed range investigated. In terms of cutting resistance, slightly higher forces were shown by the dual-phase steel. The hot-rolled steel exhibited smaller tool wear under all conditions. The results illustrated the superiority of dual-phase steel in terms of disposability of chips. The high machinability of dual-phase steel is the direct result of the presence of hard martensite ...


Significance Purgatorius has been considered a plausible ancestor for primates since it was discovered, but this fossil mammal has been known only from teeth and jaw fragments. We attribute to Purgatorius the first (to our knowledge) nondental remains (ankle bones) which were discovered in the same ∼65-million-year-old deposits as dentitions of this putative primate. This attribution is based mainly on size and unique anatomical specializations known among living euarchontan mammals (primates, treeshrews, colugos) and fossil plesiadapiforms. Results of phylogenetic analyses that incorporate new data from these fossils support Purgatorius as the geologically oldest known primate. These recently discovered tarsals have specialized features for mobility and provide the oldest fossil evidence that suggests arboreality played a key role in earliest primate evolution. Earliest Paleocene Purgatorius often is regarded as the geologically oldest primate, but it has been known only from fossilized dentitions since it was first described half a century ago. The dentition of Purgatorius is more primitive than those of all known living and fossil primates, leading some researchers to suggest that it lies near the ancestry of all other primates; however, others have questioned its affinities to primates or even to placental mammals. Here we report the first (to our knowledge) nondental remains (tarsal bones) attributed to Purgatorius from the same earliest Paleocene deposits that have yielded numerous fossil dentitions of this poorly known mammal. Three independent phylogenetic analyses that incorporate new data from these fossils support primate affinities of Purgatorius among euarchontan mammals (primates, treeshrews, and colugos). Astragali and calcanei attributed to Purgatorius indicate a mobile ankle typical of arboreal euarchontan mammals generally and of Paleocene and Eocene plesiadapiforms specifically and provide the earliest fossil evidence of arboreality in primates and other euarchontan mammals. Postcranial specializations for arboreality in the earliest primates likely played a key role in the evolutionary success of this mammalian radiation in the Paleocene.


Fast ion-atom collisions with atoms and molecules are known to be very useful technique to learn more about the structure and mechanisms of inelastic processes involved. The study of electron emission from a molecular hydrogen helps to study not only the ionization process itself but also a more fundamental process, namely, the coherence and the interference process which have been studied by measuring the Cohen-Fanotype oscillations are studied in detail. Several aspects of the interference have been explored in collisions of ~MeV/u bare C and F ions with H2 : frequency parameter; angular asymmetry parameter, influence on the Compton profile and the frequency doubling. its angular distribution are measured for the interference process. In addition we have explored the effect on interference process on the forward-backward While the electron emission mechanisms in collisions with atoms and molecules are quite well known, the ionizations of a many-body system like C60-fullerene are governed by more complicated processes, such as, collective Plasmon resonance. Several complementary measurements to detect the x-rays and recoil-ions emitted and now the "plasmon" electron detection has provided wealth of information on the single and double Plasmon excitation. Very recently we have measured the low energy (1-300 eV) e DDCS from C60 in collisions with fast bare F ions at various angles. A direct evidence of the GDPR characteristic peak ("Plasmon electrons") has been obtained for the first time through electron channel.


Background Physical therapists provide a variety of interventions, such as manual therapy techniques, balance, coordination, and functional retraining techniques, knee taping techniques, electrical stimulation, and foot orthotics to assist in overcoming some of the barriers that make participation in exercise and physical activity difficult. Objectives This study aimed to assess the role of physical therapy in management of knee osteoarthritis on both levels pain and function. Methods Retrospective longitudinal study done on the department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine of the Principal Military Hospital of Tunis between January 2011 and December 2012, about 60 patients with knee OA. These patients were divided into two groups of 30 cases: patients aged 65 years and over (SA) and young adults 30 to 55 years (SJ). The evaluation protocol included clinical algofunctional before and after medical and rehabilitative treatment performed on an outpatient program with three sessions per week for two months. Results There were 35 women and 25 men with a mean age of 58±6.27 years. The average duration of knee OA was 63.74±38.62 months. The main characteristics of elderly subjects compared to young subjects, before rehabilitation, were the bilateral involvement of the knees (p=0.02), severity of pain (p=0.02), disability (p=0.006), stiffness (p=0.02), muscle weakness of the quadriceps (p=0.006), hamstrings (p=0.03), the retraction of the latter (p=0.04) and reducing the walking distance (p=0.04). 38 patients (19 and 19 SA SJ) adhered to the rehabilitation program. After rehabilitation, the main features were the reduction of pain by 60%, improving activities of daily life of 50%. The rehabilitative treatment was more effective in the elderly in terms of pain (p=0.03) and activities of daily living improvement (p=0.01).Table 1 VAS pain WOMAC index LEQUESNE index Initial Final Initial Final Initial Final Population 63.11±14.22 25.13±22.22 52.07±18.44 23.59±18.56 5.04±1.81 2.75±2.07 Elderly 68.12±13.25 26.84±20.29 56,47±20.2 1 25,33±16.74 5,44±1.91 2,86±2.16 Young adults 58.10±15.20 23.42±24.15 47,68±16.68 21,85±20.39 4,65±1.71 2,64±1.98 Patients in both groups improved their scores with no significant differences related to age. Considering respectively the VAS pain (p=0.48), WOMAC index (p=0.39) and LEQUESNE Index (p=0.75). At the end of the rehabilitation program, a reduction in pain intensity was observed in all AS (19 cases), 13 of them have lowered their VAS pain threshold of less than 50 mm. In young subjects, the pain remained stationary in 2 cases and was exacerbated in one case. Conclusions Physical therapy appears to be an important tool for KOA management. Future studies are needed to improve our understanding of factors that can influence the responsiveness of patients with knee osteoarthritis to exercise and physical activity programs. Disclosure of Interest None declared


In this paper, a path planning method for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) reconnoitering in complex environment has been proposed. Firstly, visibility graph (VGRAPH), which can be solve by Dijkstra Algorithm, is utilized to build the model of the mission environment with several obstacles and multiple reconnaissance points. Then, VGRAPH will be improved based on geometric principles, in order to simplified the complexity of the problem. In addition, Genetic Algorithm (GA) will be used to solve the reconnaissance sequence problem. Finally, two schemes utilizing improved VGRAPH and GA are put forward, one of which is using VGRAPH to get the real distance based on global optimization, the other is using VGRAPH as a path correction base on local optimization. The simulation results show that the improved VGRAPH and the second scheme can solve the problem of path planning in complex environment quickly.


Both hot pressing and isostatic pressing consolidation techniques are scaled up to 4 in. wide billets. Results from the balanced design experiment on hot pressed billets reveal the following conclusions: Higher oxygen content in the starting powder decreases roilability at any density. A critical density of 95% is necessary for gcod rollability. Microstructural changes occurring while hot-pressing to densities higher than 98% account for an inversion of rollability rating. Density is largely determined by hotpressing temperature. Sintering kinetics, variation in properties with billet diameter, and homogeneity of elemental and prealloyed compacts are determined for the pressed and sintered billets. Rolling larger compacts verified the premise that the powder billets realize a higher material yield than arc cast billets. The powder sheet is produced with little or no in-process atmospheric protection costs. (N.W.R.)


Modeling dynamics fracture in materials involves usage of hydrodynamic codes which solve basic conservation laws of mass, energy and momentum in space and time. This requires appropriate models to handle elastic-plastic deformation, equation of state, material strength, and fracture. Nucleation and Growth (NAG) damage model is a micro-physical model which computes amount of damage in the material by accounting for phenomena like nucleation, growth and coalescence of voids or cracks. The NAG model involves several material model parameters, such as nucleation threshold, growth threshold, etc. Traditionally these parameters are fitted to experimental void volume distributions. In the present paper we fit these parameters to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of void nucleation and growth and use the fitted parameters in hydrodynamic simulations in a multi-scale computational approach. Cubic metallic single crystals are subjected to isotropic deformation and the nucleation of voids and their growth were post-processed from the simulations. These results are used in an in-house Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) code to obtain NAG parameters for materials of our interest. Using these parameters in a 1D hydrodynamic code developed in-house, fracture parameters such as spall strength and thickness are obtained. The results are validated with published experimental data for Mo, Nb and Cu which have been simulated using the multi-scale model. This paper describes the application of the multi-scale model to obtain the NAG fracture model parameters of Al and its spall data. The results are compared with published experimental results in single crystal Al.


With the development of the 3D technology, the construction of a 3D substation monitoring system becomes feasible. The Unity3D is a professional and comprehensive engine for providing advantages in fast deployment, architectural visualization, and 3D animation. It can support multiple platforms and make the development much easy with an expansive architecture involved. In the normal use, we build 3D model with tools such as the 3DMax, and import the models to Unity3D. By the means, we can finish making scenes and cartoons as well as integrating business data. We can also design multive functions such as the roaming in first person view, camera switching, real-time monitoring data displaying, real-time alarming, and so on. We write custom Shader to achieve some special effects. For example, we can write vertex and fragment shader to receive the data from the scripts and parse the data to get the information of temperature points. The distance between each UV point and the given temperature points is also computed and mapped to the values of temperature and color.


An Artificial Neural Network(ANN) is a well known universal approximator to model smooth and continuous functions. ANNs operate in two stages: learning and generalization. Learning of a neural network is to approximate the behavior of the training data while generalization is the ability to predict well beyond the training data. In order to have a good learning and generalization ability , a good training algorithm is needed. Training a neural network can be treated as a nonlinear mathematical optimization problem and different algorithms can have quite different effects on the training result. As a result, training with different algorithms and repeating with multiple random initial weights can be helpful in getting a better solution to the neural network training problem. In addition to the popular basic back propagation training algorithm, many other algorithms are available. These include conjugate gradient descent, quasi-Newton, and Levenberg-Marquardt etc. This paper presents a novel comparison of different algorithms for the prediction of the patient's postoperative recovery area.


PURPOSE: Data sharing device and method for a mobile terminal are provided to enable users to set a sharing region for sharing data on the mobile terminal into at least one Bluetooth module. CONSTITUTION: A data sharing device comprises the following: a first Bluetooth module(106) setting a first communication area including a mobile terminal; a second Bluetooth module(108) setting a second communication area close to the first communication area; and a share management unit(102) sharing data of the first and second communication areas by the control of the first and second Bluetooth modules.


This research aims to study to effect of addition of sorbitol towards the stability of protease from B . licheniformi . The purified enzyme has optimum pH and temperature of 6.0 and 50 o C, respectively. After being added with sorbitol, the enzyme has has optimum pH and temperature of 6.5 and 50 o C, respectively. The addition of sorbitol was able to increase the thermal stability of protease incubated at 50 o C for 200 minutes. The purified enzyme has residual activity of 17.2% with k i value of 0.0087 min. -1 . The enzymes with addition of sorbitol concentration of 0.5 M, 1 M, and 1.5 M have residual activity of 28.9%; 44.7%; and 45.3%, respectively. The addition of sorbitol has increased the thermal stability of protease up to twice compared to the purified one. The highest stability was obtained by the addition of sorbitol 1 M. Keywords: protease, B . licheniformis , sorbitol


Most of the effort was expended on the second generation thermobalance reactor. Installation and testing of the Voland balance, from which the reactor is suspended, was completed during the quarter. In addition, the principal machining and welding operations on the reactor core itself were successfully completed. The core is now undergoing final machining and minor welding subsequent to application of the aluminium-chromium diffusion coating. Completion of the design of the data acquisition and control system was accomplished. Much of the hardware for the system was also completed; however, software development and installation of the system remain to be done. Gasification experiments on Illinois No. 6 char were continued on the existing, non-thermobalance, reactor. The bulk of the work was directed towards obtaining more accurate control and measurement of the exceedingly small steam flow rates required to reach realistic residence times in our fixed bed reactor. Renovation of the ultra high vacuum system for BET surface area studies and the He density measurements was virtually completed.


Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the Philippines try to adhere to various accrediting standards and qualifications as well as several quality assurance (QA) mechanisms locally and internationally, including the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) Criteria for Performance Excellence, which is modeled after Malcolm Baldrige of the United States of America. The PQA program is a worldwide competitiveness model that encourages and engages public and private sector organizations and other stakeholders to strive for and achieve performance excellence. The study investigated the compliance of selected Philippine HEIs on the PQA process categories, namely, categories 1-leadership, 2-strategy, 3-customer, 4-measurement, analysis, and knowledge management, 5-workforce focus, 6-operations focus (categories 1-6) and 7-results (category 7). It explored the first two categories of the leadership triad of the PQA, i.e., leadership and strategy, that emphasize the importance of 'leadership focus' on strategic planning. By looking at the differences in the level of compliance on PQA requirements when grouped according to HEIs' firmographic profile, it showed that the level of compliance of HEIs under the leadership requirement is consistently very high while strategy requirements are from high to very high. Readiness among the HEIs in terms of Level 1 PQA criteria is present, despite the non-submission for PQA assessment. To ensure full and sustainable quality assurance compliance, a continuous quality improvement plan was recommended to help senior leaders of the organizations improve compliance on basic, overall, and multiple requirements required by both categories of the PQA Criteria for continuous performance excellence.


A molecular theory is presented for the thermodynamic properties of reversible gels whose junctions are formed by the clustering of an arbitrary number of associating groups, or segments, on the constituent molecules (or primary chains for polymeric gels). Cross-linking by the microcrystalline segments on the polymer chains or by associating groups attached to the chain ends are examples. We focus our interest specifically on the interference between gelation and two-phase separation. We study how these transitions depend on the molecular weight, functionality, and the aggregation number (multiplicity) of the network junctions


The program, in addition to computing means, standard deviations, Pearson product-moment correlations, regression equations, and F-tests for comparison of R-squares of selected regression equations, permits extensive transformation of input data and/or generation of new variables based upon input data. Printed output of predicted criterion scores against residuals and scatter plots of predictors against residuals are also available as options. Up to 50 variables are accepted by the program, and input from either cards or disk file is permissible. The program is disk-resident, and variable format is utilized so that re-compilation of the routine is not required for each run. Extensive error returns are provided in an effort to expedite identification of errors in the peparation of input. Additional information about the program and its availability may


Provided are a method and an apparatus for online distinguishing the transmission control protocol (TCP) flow by using data flow head characteristics, wherein the method includes: extracting the sizes of multiple packets of the data flow head, the modified packet interval time, and other parameters; constructing a protocol characteristic base based on the joint probability distribution; comparing the packet attribute of a unknown data flow head with the protocol characteristic base to obtain the protocol type of the data flow. The apparatus includes a data flow separating module, an attribute extracting module, a classifying arbitrating module and a protocol characteristic base module. The present invention reduces the influence of round trip delay on the significance of the protocol characteristics, can exactly distinguish various application layer service based on the TCP and support online traffic distinguishing, and the distinguishing process is simple and efficient, suitable for hardware device implementation and applicable for the device and system needing to distinguish traffic online in a high-speed backbone network.


Collaborative filtering (CF) in recommendation systems has made great success in making automatic score predictions by using users' ratings on commonly-rated items. However, due to data sparsity and cold starting, in real systems, common-rated items among users are often not sufficient for accurate recommendations when using CF. Besides, the implicit relationships between users contained in huge amount of non-commonly-rated items are rarely utilized. In this paper, a new CF recommendation taking users' implicit relationships hidden in users' ratings on non-commonly rated items into consideration is proposed. In this method, we provide an algorithm to infer users' preferences for their non-commonly rated items and then based on these preferences. We obtain users' similarities on their non-commonly rated items. With a dynamic adjusting weight adapted to non-commonly rated items' proportion in two users' all rated items, we combine the similarities with traditional similarities based on co-rated items. Experiments are conducted on the MovieLens dataset for comparing the proposed approach with the traditional user-based collaborative filtering algorithm. The results show that our approach improves the recommendation accuracy.


The low temperature plasma physics and technology had experienced a great change, which was from space plasma research in early 1960 turn to material treatment research in the 80s and 90s. Cause of high speed development of microelectronics science, environmental science, energy and material science, etc., there is a new opportunities and challenges for low temperature plasma science. Now the low temperature plasma physics and technology application is an important science and engineering with global influence, and it has a huge impact to the transformation of traditional industries and the development of high-tech economy. Studying low temperature plasma started is easy, but further hard. The article focuses on the generation of different low temperature plasma, including arc discharge, DBD discharge, corona discharge, plasma jet, glow discharge and uniform discharge, and wildly used in industrial applications such as Automotive, textile industry, print and packing, consumer electronics, biomedical, agricultural and environmental engineering.


This is the first volume in a series on minerals of the MO2-type oxides of manganese. These are the most widespread Mn minerals in nature. The work opens with an introductory chapter on all MO2-type Mn oxides. The two following sections provide a description of those minerals with a single-chain structure (pyrolusite) and with a double-chain structure (ramsdellite, nsutite, and akhtenskite).


Objective To learn and evaluate the status of reward for village doctors engaged in tuberculosis control.Methods The sample was randomly chosen with cluster-based sampling method and the subjects were interviewed with a self-made questionnaire.Results Village doctors received averagely supervision awards of 13.50 Yuan and management awards of 27.02 Yuan for management of one tuberculosis patient from 2006.14.9 percent of the village doctors reported dissatisfaction with the incentive policy.19.6% percent of the village doctors considered that the supervision reward was low,and 18.8% considered that the management reward was low.56.7 percent of the village doctors considered that they should be paid according to their workload.Conclusion Village doctors' actual reward is much lower than the expected.Village doctors' reward expected is far from actual reward and the reward by the state.The reward level for village doctors angaged in tuberculosis control is low.


Summary Objectives: To summarize excellent current research and propose a selection of best papers published in 2016 in the field of Bioinformatics and Translational Informatics with applications in the health domain and clinical care. Method: We provide a synopsis of the articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2017, from which we attempt to derive a synthetic overview of current and future activities in the field. As in 2016, a first step of selection was performed by querying MEDLINE with a list of MeSH descriptors completed by a list of terms adapted to the section coverage. Each section editor evaluated separately the set of 951 articles returned and evaluation results were merged for retaining 15 candidate best papers for peer-review. Results: The selection and evaluation process of papers published in the Bioinformatics and Translational Informatics field yielded four excellent articles focusing this year on the secondary use and massive integration of multi-omics data for cancer genomics and non-cancer complex diseases. Papers present methods to study the functional impact of genetic variations, either at the level of the transcription or at the levels of pathway and network. Conclusions: Current research activities in Bioinformatics and Translational Informatics with applications in the health domain continue to explore new algorithms and statistical models to manage, integrate, and interpret large-scale genomic datasets. As addressed by some of the selected papers, future trends would include the question of the international collaborative sharing of clinical and omics data, and the implementation of intelligent systems to enhance routine medical genomics.


The objective was to assess the association between colostrum and plasma insulin concentration around parturition on milk yield in Holstein dairy cows. Our hypothesis was that low plasma insulin concentration (PI) around calving and during early lactation, as well as high insulin concentration in colostrum would be associated with milk production. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, blood samples (BS) from cows (n = 48) were collected at −7, 0, 3 and 7 d relative to the day of parturition. Additionally, colostrum samples were collected immediately after calving. In experiment 2, BS from primiparous and multiparous cows (n = 237) were collected at 0, 3 and 7 d relative to the day of parturition. Insulin was measured using a bovine ELISA kit. Weekly milk yields were recorded for the first 7 weeks after calving. In experiment 1, cows were grouped according to the PI at d 0 based on the median (0.42 ng/mL), into LOW (PI < 0.42 ng/mL, n = 23) and HIGH (PI > 0.41 ng/mL, n = 25) cows. Insulin concentration at −7, 3 and 7 d did not differ between groups. However, LOW cows had significantly lower PI at d 0 (LOW, 0.28 ± 0.07; HIGH, 0.71 ± 0.06) compared with HIGH cows. No differences were found in colostrum insulin concentrations between groups. Relative to HIGH cows, LOW cows produced 5 kg/d more milk (LOW, 42 ± 1.15; HIGH, 37 ± 1.34). In experiment 2, cows were grouped according to the PI levels at d 0 in quartiles (1stQ, PI <0.29 ng/mL, n = 57; 2ndQ, 0.29 ng/mL ≤ PI ≤ 0.34 ng/mL, n = 60; 3rdQ, 0.34 ng/mL < PI ≤0.43 ng/mL, n = 58; 4thQ, PI > 0.43 ng/mL, n = 62). Primiparous cows in the 4thQ had significantly higher PI at d 0, and produced significantly less milk (1stQ, 32.1 ± 2.4; 2ndQ, 33.6 ± 1.6; 3rdQ, 35 ± 1.4; 4thQ, 29.5 ± 1.1) compared with cows in the other quartiles. Multiparous cows in the 4thQ had significantly higher PI at d 0 compared with cows in the other quartiles. Additionally, cows in the 1stQ produced ~5 kg/d more milk (1stQ, 47.6 ± 1.2; 2ndQ, 42.8 ± 1.3; 3rdQ, 42.5 ± 1.4; 4thQ, 41.3 ± 1.7) compared with cows in the other quartiles. PI at 3 and 7 d among the quartiles did not differ between groups. We conclude that low plasma insulin concentration at the day of parturition seems to be critical for milk yield in the long term.


Summary of over 2000 tests of shock pressures exerted by breaking waves; behavior from instant to instant of breaking waves, relationships between wave pressures, and configuration of breaking waves were measured by means of 16 mm high speed movie taken at 3000 frames/sec in synchronism with pressure gages; new formulas for maximum shock pressure and for vertical distribution thereof.


The paper has figured out the invariant least square unbiased estimate of the unknown covariance Matrix Σ and tr(CΣ) on the extension of the Growth Curve Model,by means of the Projectiive Theory and the Pedigree decomposing of matrix,under certain circumstances on the designed matrices X i and W i,it has laid a foundation for the discussion on the excellence of the estimation.


A reversed phase HPLC was applied for determing the contents of 3% kebaiwei grained agent taking methanol and water of 1∶1 as the mobile phase and acetophenone as the internal standard. The precision was 0.068 with RSD being 2.1% and the recovery, 98.2%~99.2%.


Anxiety is a feeling of discomfort, worry about something unclear and accompanied by autonomic symptoms. Holy Quran recitation therapy is one of the anxiety complementary therapies. This study is aimed to analyze the effect of the murottal Quran Surah Al-Mulk and Al-Hasyr on the anxiety of medical students of Universitas Sriwijaya. This research is a quasi-experimental study with a cross-sectional approach and one group pre-post test design that was conducted from July to December 2020 at home via Zoom meeting application. Samples were collected based on simple random sampling rocedure. The data was collected in this study is primary data based on Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire before and after receiving the Quran recitation surah Al-Mulk and Al-Hasyr for 7 consecutive days. The data was analyzed with Shapiro-Wilk normality test and Paired t-test or Wilcoxon test using SPSS device. The Wilcoxon test results showed significant results of murottal Al-Qur'an surah Al-Mulk and Al-Hasyr on anxiety (p = 0.000). There is an effect of holy Quran recitation of surah Al-Mulk and Al-Hasyr on anxiety among medical students of Universitas Sriwijaya.