Field cancerization denotes the occurrence of molecular alterations in histologically normal tissues adjacent to tumors. In prostate cancer, identification of field cancerization has several potential clinical applications. However, prostate field cancerization remains ill defined. Our previous work has shown up‐regulated mRNA of the transcription factor early growth response 1 (EGR‐1) and the lipogenic enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS) in tissues adjacent to prostate cancer.


We have monitored the BL Lacertae object S5 0716+714 simultaneously in the B, R and I bands on three nights in November 2014. The average time resolution is quite high (73s, 34s, 58s for the filters B, R and I), which can help us trace the profile of the variation and search for the short inter-band time delay. Intra-day variability was about 0.1 mag on the first two nights and more than 0.3 mag on the third. A bluer-when-brighter color behavior was found. An clear loop path can be seen on the color-magnitude diagram of the third night, revealing possible time delays between variations at high and low energies. It is the first time that the intra-day spectral hysteresis loop has been found so obviously in the optical band. We used the interpolated cross-correlation function method to further confirm the time delay and calculated the values of lag between light curves at different wavelengths on each night. On the third night, variations in the R and B bands is approximately 1.5 minutes lagging behind the I band. Such optical time delay is probably due to the interplay of different processes of electrons in the jet of the blazar.


The investigation of ancient magic is currently one of the liveliest areas in the study of the ancient Mediterranean.2 Although most studies have focused on magic 'from the inside', so to speak, there is a growing body of work on the way that Greeks and Romans conceptualized and dealt with the category 'magic'.3 In particular, there has been a recent spate of works on the Roman law against magic that are starting to make obsolete the older standard discussions of this topic.4 Yet they generally give short shrift to the laws of the XII Tables; for detailed studies of this material, we are still largely dependent on work done in the first quarter of the twentieth century.5 The recent appearance of new editions of the XII Tables suggests that the time is right for an in-depth reconsideration.6 Classical Quarterly 52.1 270–290 (2002) Printed in Great Britain 270


Claims — Foreign claims — Compensation for assets nationalized — Agreement between Canada and Czechoslovakia for assets nationalized by Czechoslovakia — Canadian citizens to claim from Foreign Claims Commission — Dual nationals — Regulations — Interpretation — Absence of ambiguity in words used — Whether reference to extraneous materials permissible — Foreign Claims (Czechoslovakia) Settlement Regulations Nationality — Individuals — Dual nationality — Claims — Whether dual national excluded from claiming from compensation fund in respect of expropriated property — Concept of dominant nationality — Whether applicable Treaties — Implementation — Agreement between Canada and Czechoslovakia for assets nationalized by Czechoslovakia — Foreign Claims (Czechoslovakia) Settlement Regulations implementing provisions of the Agreement — Compensation claims by Canadian citizens — Interpretation — Whether reference to report of negotiators of the Agreement necessary — The law of Canada


The genus Sohmaea H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi (2018: 159) is characterized by predominantly linear loments with narrowly oblong-elliptic articles and comprises eight species, distributed in India through SE Asia to China and Taiwan (Ohashi & Ohashi 2018, Ohashi et al. 2018). The name Uraria barbata Lace (1915: 397) was described based on several gatherings from Myanmar. The proposed name U. barbata Lace was preoccupied for U. barbata (Linnaeus 1759: 1170) Desvaux (1826: 309) and thus, U. barbata Lace is a later homonym of the U. barbata (Linnaeus) Desvaux. Therefore, Iokawa et al. (2004: 226) proposed a replacement name U. barbaticaulis for U. barbata Lace. Later, Ohashi et al. (2018: 305) transferred the name U. barbaticaulis to Sohmaea barbaticaulis (Iokawa, T.Nemoto, J.Murata & H.Ohashi) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi based on the phylogenetic study. The species is characterized by stems barbate, leaves dimorphic with 1-foliolate leaves in the upper portion and pinnately 3-foliolate leaves in the lower portion or 1-foliolate leaves throughout, leaflets large ovate, inflorescences axillary or terminal, pseudoracemes, fasciculate, (1 or) 2–4 per axil, flowers in clusters of 3–12 per node, loments plicate, hooked hairy (Iokawa et al. 2004, Ohashi et al. 2018, Tokaew et al. 2020). The species was earlier thought to be endemic to Myanmar until its new record from Thailand in 2020 (Lace 1915, De Haas et al. 1980, Kumar & Sane 2003, Iokawa et al. 2004, Tokaew et al. 2020), but being a rare species it is worthy of in situ monitoring for its conservation (Maxted et al. 2001, Marod & Kutintara 2012, Kawada et al. 2020, Murray et al. 2020, Perrino & Perrino 2020).


The Cry2A proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis are promising candidates for management of resistance development in insects due to their differences from the currently used CrylA proteins, in structure and insecticidal mechanism. The Cry2Aa and Cry2Ab proteins isolated from recombinant Escherichia coli strains harbouring indigenous cry2Aa and cry2Ab genes under the control of T7 promoter were tested for toxicity against Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). In artificial diet bioassay, inclusions containing Cry2Aa and urea-solubilized Cry2Aa protein showed 100% mortality of H. armigera at a concentration of 650 and 100 ng ml - 1 after 48 and 72 h respectively. On the other hand, the Cry2Ab protein inclusions as well as urea-solubilized Cry2Ab protein were not toxic to H. armigera, probably due to lack of solubility in alkaline condition and improper folding after urea solubilization.


Social work practitioners and social work educators took a strong stance against xenophobia by submitting the following statement to the Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya. We are a group of social work educators and social work practitioners representing the following groups: The Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA); African Federation of Social Workers; the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI); the National Association of Social Workers, South Africa (NASW, SA) and the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). We wish to express our outrage at the senseless killing of people in a country where we profess to uphold the dignity of all human beings. We understand that the dynamics and the socio-economic, cultural and political conditions that serve as precursors to such de-humanising conduct are complex. While we understand this, the message that needs to go out to communities is that nothing at all can condone any attack on fellow human beings. We urge all those working in the human services sector and the Government of South Africa to send out a message of zero tolerance for violence. We must actively send out calls for peace and work toward peaceful resolution of conflict and of differences.


This study demonstrates the prevalence of the maladaptive daydreaming (MD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among Saudi medical students. It also illustrates the association of MD with both GAD and the students' grade point average (GPA). MD was assessed by using the 14-item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS), and GAD was assessed by using both the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Our data estimate the prevalence of MD among the students to be 70%, GAD prevalence to be 80%, and 55% when using both GAD-7 and PSWQ, respectively. A statistically significant decline in the GPA was apparent among maladaptive daydreamers (MDers). A statistically significant rise in the scores of GAD-7 and PSWQ among MDers compared to non-MDers was found. To sum up, our findings demonstrate a high number of MDers and GAD sufferers among our subjects, and it appears that MD is associated with both GAD and GPA.


The dredging device includes a pipe set having a discharge unit which discharges soil, eroded by the water discharged by a nozzle, through the pipe set. The nozzle is provided at the lowermost portion of the pipe of the pipe set. An independent claim is also included for a method for removing soil material, such as sand, from an earth stratum situated underneath an upper layer.


In this article, the author examines the objectivity of the passport since the 1920s. After the First World War finished, pandemiaof Spanish Flu on the international arena appeared there a necessity to rethink and revitalize the passport. By the mid-1920s, manycountries' governments began to demand compulsory medical examinations for all those who would like to visit their countries. Theidea was that every traveler needs to undergo a thorough medical exam before embarking on a cross-border trip. However, the idea ofinstalling a medical certificate page in the passport was quickly destroyed (at least hampered) by the technological limitations of thetime.Times changed after Second World War changed, and the UNO was founded. In 1959, the WHO created the International Certificateof Vaccination (so-called Carte Jaune) as a vaccination certificate, not a real immunity passport.The idea to introduce 'vaccine passports' in Europe and globally is gaining more attraction among governments and industrieslooking for the best way out of shutdowns, quarantine restrictions, curfews, and travel bans. It seems to be a potential ticket to freedomof movement; however, some people fear such documentation could exclude or discriminate against those made most vulnerable by thepandemic misfortune.It was highlighted that passport is a standardized written visualized anthropometric personalized proof of bearer citizenship.However, currently, it is not enough to possess a passport to have safe travel and/or exercise freedom of movement (in and out of theEuropean Union). On the EU level as well as globally, everybody is discussing the familiar theses from the last century on the introductionof an immunity passport or certificate of vaccination to ensure freedom of movement, protect travelers from quarantine mea -sures and increase national security, on the one hand, and the revival of communications, tourism, and international trade, on the other.In 2020 EU member states and other countries globally launched research and production on the vaccine on COVID-19. Simu -ltaneously, some of those countries began to elaborate a real and vital document to travel and move freely (immunity passport or certificateof vaccination) and a mechanism of their introduction and implementation in legislation. This document aims not only to showthe identity of its bearer but also to secure citizens from the infection. "This virus (COVID-19) does not have a passport", declaredFrench President Emmanuel Macron on 12 March 2020 in a primary television address to the French people.The EU declares to introduce 'A Digital Green Certificate' (a mixed version of both immunity passport or certificate of vaccination)in June 2021. It would be digital proof that a person has either been vaccinated against COVID-19 (by the vaccine authorized inthe EU) or received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. It would be free of charge, in digital and/or paper format withQR code. It would be issued by national authorities both in the national language and English, valid in all EU member states. So, everyEU citizen or third-country national legally staying or residing in the EU, who holds a Digital Green Certificate, should be exemptedfrom free movement restrictions in the same way as citizens from the visited EU member state.


Developing countries are a more prevalent beneficiary of smartphone technologies. In fact, smartphones can become part of educational process. Students use excessive of smartphone for a variety of activities rising a concern to make the smartphones as a tool in mobile learning activities. Though, the risk is that smartphone can actually be obstacles in the learning process, instead of aid. This paper attempts to explain the features and opportunities of smartphones usage for students, particularly in relation to a smartphone as experiential learning activities. Students use a smartphone as experiential learning where the process of experiencing mobile learning to acquire knowledge anywhere and anytime. This study uses a quantitative method for 206 respondents that own a smartphone. The findings indicate that the smartphone activities of students keen on using it for social networking, instant messaging, and game online, and entertaining activities. Smartphones are beneficial but they can also be a distraction and can be a problem to our well-being if not used responsibly. Therefore, it is important to introduce a model of fun based learning activities through experiential mobile learning to lessen the negative impacts of the smartphone's additions.


Recently, a significant body of research has been dedicated to the analysis and verification of workflows without taking into account the temporal dimension of activities involved. Workflow also has a strong temporal aspect: activity sequencing, deadlines, routing conditions, and scheduling all involve the element of time. Once the temporal aspects of the activities in a process description are taken into account, various types of synchronization anomalies and other undesirable behavior may be detected. In this article, we address both the quantitative temporal aspect and the qualitative temporal aspect of workflow systems. On one hand, based on time Petri net (TPN), we introduce a set of linear inference algorithms to solve some quantitative inference problems of temporal constraints of workflows. On the other hand, based on extended interval temporal logic (EITL), we propose temporal logic workflow models to qualitatively infer temporal relations among tasks of workflow systems. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


The triple-decker cation salts [(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )M(μ-η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )M(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] (M = Sn, Pb) have been prepared by treatment of [(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )M][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] with the corresponding metallocenes, [M(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 ) 2 ] (M = Sn, Pb). Investigation of the structures of these triple-decker systems by X-ray crystallography revealed an overall cis-type cationic geometry. In solution, NMR studies indicate that the triple-decker cations undergo rapid, reversible dissociation. The reaction of [In(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )] with an equimolar quantity of H 2 O.B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 and B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ] afforded [(η 6 -toluene)In(μ-η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )In(η 6 -toluene)][(C 6 F 5 ) 3 B(OH)B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ]. Density functional theory calculations on a model system indicate that the capping toluene molecules in this di-indium cation are weakly bonded. Use of the smaller counter-ion [B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] - results in isolation of the inverse sandwich cation [In(μ-η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )In] + .


Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of chitosan, Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS, Ankaferd Health Products Ltd, Turkey), and ferric sulfate (FS) on the shear-bond strength of the self-etch adhesive to primary tooth dentin. Materials and methods: The occlusal surfaces of 80 extracted human primary teeth (stored in a 0.5% chloramine-T solution at 4oC) were ground flat, exposing the dentin. The teeth were divided into 4 groups: chitosan, ABS, FS, and control. Hemostatic agents were applied to the teeth, and then they were rinsed with distilled water and air dried. In the control group, the teeth were only rinsed with distilled water and slightly air dried. A self-etch adhesive was applied, and the composite cylinder was created on all the samples. Shear-bond strength was tested with a universal testing machine. Failure mode analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy. Results: The study revealed no statistically significant difference between the hemostatic agent and control groups in terms of bond strength (P >.05). The highest bond strength was observed in the chitosan group. In this group, a statistically significant difference between chitosan and ABS was observed (P <.05). The adhesive failure was the predominant failure mode in all the groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that chitosan, ABS, and FS have no adverse effects on the bonding of the self-etch adhesive to primary teeth dentin.


Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is a genetic neurodegenerative disease caused by mutation in FXN gene encoding for the mitochondrial protein frataxin (FXN). Patients with FA display an increased risk of developing diabetes that may aggravate disease prognosis. Recent studies have indicated that in addition to increased visceral adiposity, FA patients undergo a low-grade inflammatory state. The expansion of white adipose tissue (WAT) plays a fundamental role in the development of type 2 diabetes as it becomes insulin-resistant and a source of inflammatory molecules (adipokines). In this work, we have characterized visceral WAT (vWAT) at metabolic and immunological level in a murine FA model (KIKO) to test whether dysfunction of vWAT could be involved in FA metabolic complications. Through RNAseq analyses we found an alteration of inflammatory, angiogenesis and fibrosis genes in vWAT of KIKO mice. We also found other diabetes-related hallmarks such as increased lipid droplet size, immune cell infiltration and increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, by targeted metabolomics we disclosed a raise in lactate production, an event usually associated with obesity and diabetes and that triggers activation of vWAT resident macrophages. To reproduce an in vitro model of FA, we downregulated FXN protein in cultured white adipocytes and recapitulated the diabetes-like features observed in vWAT. Real time monitoring of adipocyte metabolism evidenced metabolic rewiring towards glycolysis according to increased lactate production. Analysis of fecal samples revealed a reduction of some butyrate-producing bacteria in KIKO mice. As this microbiota derived short-chain fatty was demonstrated to exert anti-diabetic function, we fed KIKO mice with a butyrate-enriched diet for 16 weeks. This dietary approach limited vWAT alterations and mitigated other diabetes-like signatures both in in vitro and in vivo models. In conclusion, this study identified vWAT as an important player in the onset of metabolic complications typical of FA and suggests butyrate as safe and promising adjuvant tool to treat metabolic complications in FA.


To the Editor: Inulin is a fructan and storage carbohydrate found in more than 36,000 kinds of plants, including chicory, artichokes, and salsify. Inulin has been used as a food ingredient for many years, but it is only recently that the use of inulin and oligofructose, a hydrolysate of inulin, has increased considerably owing to their many postulated health benefits and their documented properties, such as a dietary-fiber effect and their ability to increase the levels of certain enteric bacteria, including bifidobacteria.1 These fructans are now being added to an increasing number of industrially processed foods, such as candies, beverages, . . .


Profile of the NACA0015 airfoil was used as the basic section of a novel spiral vertical axis wind rotor blade. Three-dimensional unsteady simulation was carried out for the flow field around the presented wind rotor using the commercial CFD software Fluent. Chord length, rotating speed and other aerodynamic performance parameters of the wind rotor were focused. The results indicate that the intensity and the magnitude of the vorticity increase with the angle of attack. And the streamlines ultimately separate from the surface. Both the moment coefficient of the rotor and the pressure difference increase with the chord length, which helps to promote the wind rotor's rotating. The magnitude of the pressure at the studied sections increases with rotating speed. Around the wind rotor, the flow is remarkably three-dimensional and very complicated. The strength and range of the vorticity distributions at different sections are different with streamlines apparent deviation from the blade surface.


Objective To investigate the Ring Artifact Location Algorithm based on edge detection to eliminate the ring artifact.Methods The Sobel operator was used to extract the ring edge,and then an algorithm,which combined scan line searching with line fitting,was applied to determining the ring center and its size.Finally the linear interpolation algorithm was used to get rid of the ring artifact.Results This method was very effective to eliminate the ring artifact of both phantom and clinical images.Conclusion This algorithm is faster and more effective than the usual one and its speed and accuracy are improved.


On the standard view, logic is concerned with reasoning, more in particular with fixing criteria for the soundness and validity of arguments . If we apply standard logic in natural language semantics, we inherit this basic trait, and can only expect our logical semantics to have descriptive and explanatory value for the kind of linguistic phenomena that are related closely enough to what the logic is about. Reasoning is just one particular language game. And if we think of our daily conversations, it does not have the same central position it has in logic. Co operative information exchange seems a more prevailing linguistic activity. It is reasonable to assume that such a predominant function has a distinctive influence on the structure of natural language, which forms the subject matter of linguistics . For example, it is a widespread (and age-old) idea, that the organization of dis course is largely determined by a mostly implicit process of raising and resolving issues, and that even sentential structure, including the intonational contour of ut terances, can only be properly understood, if we take that to heart. If there is some truth in this, then linguistic semanticists should be worried by the fact that by and large they base themselves on a logical paradigm that is biased to such an extent towards reasoning rather than exchange of information . As a response to this fear, one might point out that Gricean pragmatics is as much part of an overall theory of meaning, as logical semantics is . And the Cooperation Principle, which is at the heart of it, precisely is a principle of ration ality which governs information exchange. Grice proposed to use it in the expla nation of linguistic phenomena that lie beyond the reach of logical semantics as such. Among other things, he employed the principle in a defense of standard logic -in particular the truth functional analysis of the logical connectives against the allegation that it leaves important aspects of meaning unaccounted for. He argued that standard logic together with the general assumption that we follow the Cooperation Principle does provide us with the means to account for such ad ditional features of meaning. Hence, we are in no need to replace the standard logical analysis by some other type of interpretation, we only have to combine logical semantics with general pragmatic strategies to cover the relevant facts . One way to look at the logical investigations carried out in the present pa per, is to view them as an attempt to tum the Cooperation Principle as such into the key notion of logical semantics. Instead of centering the logic around the ex-


The Department of Ophthalmology, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA; The Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Proctor Foundation, UCSF School of MedicineThe Francis I., San Francisco, California, USA; Division of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Ophthalmology, University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany


Objective Through the survey gives brucellosis,and livestock between the losses caused by the departments concerned to the development of brucellosis control measures to provide a scientific basis.Methods The national brucellosis pilot intervention(Taonan City in Jilin Province,Heilongjiang Province,Longjiang County),brucellosis in a direct economic loss of the cost of the investigation.Results 2 intervention pilot cloth disease caused by the annual economic loss of about 16,386,500 yuan.Conclusions Brucellosis not only bring the spirit of physical pain,but also brought great economic losses.


Development of direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) has made antihepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment highly safe and effective. However, the emergence of resistant‐associated variants (RAVs) after failure of DAA therapy affects retreatment outcomes. In particular, genotype 1 HCV with P32 deletion has been reported to be highly resistant to all approved non‐structural protein (NS)5A inhibitors. However, analysis of RAVs in genotype 2 HCV has been limited. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the roles of genotype 2 HCV variants in antiviral drug efficacy.


This study analyzes how scholars recognized Korean conventional housing from the turn of the century. For this study, three resources were closely examined: newspapers and academic journals published in Korea (between the year 1883 when newspapers were first introduced to public and the year 1910 when publishing was prohibited during the Period of Japanese Rule), and the academic journals published by Korean students in Japan during the same period. As a result of this study, it discovered that those scholars from the turn of the century perceived Korean conventional housing to be outdated and uncivilized, while they considered the housing in western societies or the one in Japan influenced by western housing to be civilized. The scholars pointed out that since Korean conventional housing were generally built on the ground lower than the surrounding area it caused inadequate ventilation and insufficient sunlight into a house. In addition, they indicated that Korean conventional housing was overall small in size and had low ceilings and small windows in order to preserve heat. The scholars considered that inadequate ventilation and insufficient sunlight be spoke dangerous hygienic conditions of the housing. Having regarded unsanitary conditions of housing to be uncivilized, the scholars provided suggestions and established a corporation to improve the sanitary condition of housing. The scholars used the basic scientific knowledge in the fields of physics, chemistry, and physiology to examine the condition of conventional housing. Such scientific knowledge was the latest at that time and was efficiently applied to determine and to criticize unsanitary conditions of conventional housing and further to request improvements in the sanitary conditions. The years from 1883 to 1910 are significant in that they represent the period of time when scholars came to recognize unsanitary conditions of Korean conventional housing and their finding was possible through a comparison in the sanitary conditions between Korean conventional housing and the ones in Japan or western societies.


Despite the increased understanding of the motivation behind acts of attempted suicide (e.g. Stengel and Cook, 1958) and their personal, social and ecological correlates (McCulloch, 1965; Kessel, 1965; Philip and McCulloch, 1966) the incidence of such acts as reflected in admission to hospital continues to rise. A comparison of admissions for the City of Edinburgh in 1962-3 and 1967 (Aitken, et al., 1969) showed a striking increase for men from 108.5 per 100,000 in the earlier year to 181.5 in 1967. The corresponding figures for women were 166.3 to 210.0. The Regional Poisoning Treatment Centre at the Royal Infirmary treats about 90 per cent of all cases of attempted suicide admitted to hospitals in the area (Kessel, et al., 1964), and the increase is unlikely to be accounted for by redirection of patients from other hospitals. An increase has also been demonstrated in other parts of Britain, including the Oxford Region (Evans, 1967) and Cardiff (Graham and Hitchens, 1967).


Antisecretory drugs such as H2-receptor antagonists or H+K+-ATPase inhibitors heal acid-related lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract, largely through their ability to reduce gastric acid secretion, and the clinical outcome with different compounds parallels the degree and duration of inhibition. The practice of administering H2-receptor antagonists at bedtime is empirical, and it has been suggested that a change in time of drug intake or increase in dose would optimize pharmacodynamic and clinical results. Whilst pharmacodynamic studies with the more potent drugs given after the evening meal yield superior intragastric pH control, this was less consistently reflected in the healing rates in duodenal ulcer trials. These results indicate that early evening dosing provides an effective alternative to the standard treatment regimens and further improvements may be obtainable by the use of increased doses of the available potent H2-receptor antagonists.


Voltage sags and swells in the medium and low voltage distribution grid are considered to be the most frequent type of power quality problems based on recent power quality studies. Their impact on sensitive loads is severe. In this paper, the performance of voltage-source converter-based series compensators used for load voltage control in electrical power distribution network has been analyzed and compared, when a nonlinear load is connected across the load bus. Possible control schemes and their effects on the oscillation attenuation are also studied. Such studied control schemes include the commonly used single voltage loop control, voltage feedback plus reference feed forward control, and double-loop control with an outer voltage loop and an inner current loop. This research paper described DVR principles and voltage restoration methods for balanced and/or unbalanced voltage sags and swells in a distribution system. Simulation results were presented to illustrate and understand the performances of DVR under voltage sags/swells conditions. The MATLAB simulation verification of the results derived has been obtained using a model of the three-phase DVR.


We present structural properties of Lie algebras admitting symmetric, invariant and nondegenerate bilinear forms. We show that these properties are not satisfied by nilradicals of parabolic subalgebras of real split forms of complex simple Lie algebras, neither by 2-step nilpotent Lie algebras associated with graphs, with only few exceptions. These rare cases are, essentially, abelian Lie algebras, the free 3-step nilpotent Lie algebra on 2-generators and the free 2-step nilpotent Lie algebra on 3-generators.


Objectives The aims of this study were to evaluate concentrations of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in hyperthyroid cats before and after radioiodine treatment, and to compare results with other variables used to assess kidney function in cats (creatinine, urine specific gravity [USG] and glomerular filtration rate [GFR] measured by renal scintigraphy). Methods Thirteen cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism based on clinical signs and increased serum total thyroxine (TT4) were included in this prospective study. Study design included physical examination, complete blood count, serum chemistry, TT4, urinalysis and SDMA before treatment (T0) and at 1 month (T1) and 3 months post-treatment (T3). GFR was quantified by renal scintigraphy at T0 and T3. Results Median GFR decreased significantly from baseline (3.18 ml/kg/min; range 1.35–4.87) at T3 (2.22 ml/kg/min; range 1.81–3.42 [P = 0.005]). While median creatinine and serum urea nitrogen increased post-treatment (creatinine: T0 = 0.8 mg/dl [range 0.4–1.1], T1 = 1.3 mg/dl [range 0.9–2]; T3 = 1.65 mg/dl [range 0.8–2.8]; P <0.001; serum urea nitrogen: T0 = 23 mg/dl [range 15–26]; T1 = 27 mg/dl [range 20–40]; T3 = 27.5 mg/dl [range 20–36]; P <0.001), SDMA and USG did not change significantly (SDMA: T0 = 11 µg/dl [range 7–15]; T1 = 12 µg/dl [range 6–16]; T3 = 10.5 µg/dl [range 8–21]; P = 0.789; USG: T0 = 1.030 [range 1.011–1.059]; T1 = 1.035 [range 1.012–1.044]; T3 = 1.030 [range 1.007–1.055]; P = 0.792). Conclusions and relevance Our data suggest that factors other than GFR may affect serum SDMA in hyperthyroid cats and that SDMA does not offer an advantage over other biomarkers traditionally used to predict changes in renal function following radioiodine therapy.


Prolonged obstructed labour is the main cause of obstetric vesico-vaginal fistula, however there is growing perception that a proportion of cases may be arising from surgical complications and errors. This study intends to evaluate this observation. A retrospective study of 378 eligible cases of obstetric VVF repaired over a five-year period. Requisite information was retrieved from hospital case records. Dataentry and analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Means and SD, Chi square test and the level of significance set at p<0.05 were calculated. The mean age was 33.9±10.1 years, mostly multipara, majority following caesarean sections in 62.3% followed by prolonged obstructed labour in 28.6% of patients. The most common type of VVF was Intra-cervical fistula in 55.8% of patients. At the time of hospital discharge following repair, 76.5% were closed and dry, 18.5% had post-repair incontinence and 5.0% had a failed repair within the studied period. Half of our patients (50.3%) were referred from private hospitals, 40.3% had no referral letter and the remaining were referred from government hospitals. The outcomes of surgeries were not influenced by the type of VVF repaired. Chi square test was 0.38 at 95% CI (p>0.05). There is a worrisome proportion of obstetric VVF from caesarean sections. Our success rates in obstetric VVF repair appears satisfactory; more effort be made in strengthening the referral system and impacting correct surgical skills especially in areas of caesarean section.


The education system in the province of Ontario provides multiple avenues through which students can learn French. All Ontario students are required to at least take Core French, which entails studying the language as a subject from Grade 4 until Grade 9. The purpose of this study is to learn from teachers' perspectives how stakeholders, namely parents and society, teachers, school boards, and the government, can improve students' attitudes towards Core French. This research paper includes a rigorous literature review of notable researchers in the field such as Sharon Lapkin and Scott Kissau. In addition, four experienced teachers were interviewed in order to collect data and report new findings. Some recommendations made as a result of the findings include: Parents' active participation and collaboration with teachers; teachers speaking the target language in the classroom, focusing on the but communicatif (communicative goal), using cross-curricular methods, avoiding strictly grammar lessons, creating a safe classroom environment and fostering a personal and emotional connection with the language; school boards adjusting certain recruitment, funding, and scheduling policies; the government mandating that Core French begin earlier (currently, Grade 4) and continue until Grade 12. Lastly, opportunities for further study are identified based on the limitations and questions raised in this paper.


Reproducible starter-cracks for subsequent linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis have been grown in PVC by fatigue cycling at 80 Hz. The crack growth rate has been related to the fracture surface markings and to the opening mode stress intensity factor (KI) of the fatigue cycle. Termination of the fatigue crack growth when crack growth rate is constant ensures a smooth mirror fracture surface and a sharp crack tip.


Frequent itemsets (or frequent pattern) mining, which is the basic step during data stream mining, has been paid more and more attention by researchers. Because of the uncertainties and continuities of data stream, the time-efficiency and space-efficiency of many mining algorithms are unaccepted. In this paper, hashed table is introduced to represent the synoptic data structure. By this way, the memory footprints in Lossy Counting algorithms can be reduced. In addition, the algorithm of frequent itemsets mining based on D-Hashed Table (MFS-HT for short) is proposed to obtain the items whose frequency count exceeded a user-specified threshold in data streams. Comparing with Lossy Counting and a similar algorithm called Mining Frequent Item sets over data Streams by Matrix (MISM for short), the experiment result shows that MFS-HT is more effective both in time and space efficiency.


ISSN 2071-0194. Ukr. J. Phys. 2009. V. 54, N 5 501 Effects of the random orientation of easy magnetization axes and the particle size polydispersity on the thermodynamic properties of a system of noninteracting magnetic nanoparticles have been studied in a three-dimensional model. The results are compared with those obtained in the framework of the classical Stoner– Wohlfarth model. The peak that is observed in the temperature dependence of the system magnetization has been shown to smear, if the orientation randomness and/or the dispersion of the particle size distribution increase.


Safety and stability of the Transmitter operating state plays an important role in the television programs broadcast. Real-time monitoring system can help us to master the state of the transmitter. In order to make the transmitting stations monitor the transmitter more automatically and intelligently, this paper designed a transmitting station commanding and dispatching system. The main function of the system is to support the video conference between stations. Based on study of the working principle of RTMFP protocol and combine with ActionScript and Flash Media Server and other technologies, this paper propose a video conferencing solution. Finally, we introduced application method and implementation of the video conference program.


In this work, sulphur distribution in the surface, bulk of the copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin films and CIGS/Mo interface after sulfurization was investigated. The morphology of surfaces and cross sections of thin films were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were used to study the phases, structures and chemical components of the thin films. After sulfurizaion, the grain size became larger and a sulphur-contained phase could be found in the XRD pattern. Interestingly, Raman and XPS indicated that the sulphur was not only rich in the surface but also in the CIGS/Mo interface. In addition, the chemical state of indium in the surface had also been modified by the annealing treatment. Those results help us to understand the complicated interface behaviour of CIGS solar cell and be benefit for the improvement of the devices.


In this thesis, based on measurements of the water flow at the water measurement station Nadvode, 7245 on the Zrmanja river in Croatia, conducted over the course of several years, the energy hydropotential of the potential Žegar hydropower plant was calculated. The Zrmanja river is not yet utilised for harvesting energy and as such offers possibilities for harvesting energy. Current energy trends emphasise to so-called renewable sources of energy. People have become aware of the fact that the utilisation of fossil fuels is limited and that at the same time their consumption causes great harm to the environment. On the other hand, hydropower plants, as a source of energy, emit almost no emissions in the course of their operation and do not consume other energy products. Therefore, they are classified as renewable sources of energy. For this purpose, the Croatian Rules on the Support for Energy Produced by Renewable Sources of Energy have been analysed. Based on geodetic data, a model was made of the terrain in the surrounding area of the Žegar hydropower plant as well as certain main technical characteristics of the power plant, which may in any way affect the calculation of the hydro-energetic potential of the Žegar hydropower plant. Data about the medium daily flows during the period of measurements was processed, evaluated and later considered in the calculation of the hydro-energetic potential. The hydro-energetic potential of the location was calculated for two types of hydropower plants, namely for the derivational hydropower plant and the accumulative hydropower plant. Both potentials have been compared with each other. Later, both types of hydropower plants were cost-assessed as well. Finally, based on the previously calculated hydro-energetic potential, an economic analysis of the feasibility of possible investments in both types of hydropower plant was conducted, this was achieved based on annual revenues, expenditures and the ability to pay back a possible loan for the construction of the hydropower plant.


The invention discloses a method for splicing images and equipment thereof. The method comprises the following steps: a receiving end acquires splicing configuration related to a plurality of code streams received; and the receiving end splices images in the received code streams according to the splicing configuration related to the received code streams. In the invention, a plurality of code streams are collected by a plurality of image collecting devices having special position relationships at a sending end and the splicing configuration of a plurality of code streams is conducted at the receiving end to ensure that the receiving end is capable of splicing the images in the received code streams, thus realizing the increase of vertical or horizontal viewing angle at a video meeting asrequired.


Injection of phytohemagglutinin induces dose‐dependent acute delayed‐type hypersensitivity‐like reactions in young pig skin which attract large numbers of labeled peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphoblasts but not red cells. Similar reactions are induced in the gut wall, joints, and draining lymph nodes, and also in the skin of sheep and cattle, and by concanavalin A. Labeled peripheral blood lymphocyte entry starts within 2 h, is maximal at 6—18 h and is effectively over by 48 h and, both earlyand late, is markedly inhibited in a selective way by trypsinization, like high endothelium venule‐mediated entry to lymphoid tissues. Electron microscopy showed development of high endothelium venule‐like blood vessels with intramural lymphoid cells inmononuclear infiltrates. Inductive processes in this model short‐term peripheral defense mechanism are being investigated.


Low-cost, flexible electronics that can be applied to virtually anything are the real key to unlocking the Internet of Things. Andrew Wade reports on one such innovation.


In order to solve the disadvantage of fixed type bomb point time measure instrument,the new type high precision bomb point time measure device is designed and the principles and calculating bases of bombing case are handled.The main technical characters of this measure instrument are given.The constitution and working principle of this device is introduced and the schema design of optics system and electronics system of this instrument is given.The characters of this system simply are analysed and the experiment/testing data is provided.The result of above shows that the design is available and proper.It fits in with the technical characters and the require of this instrument rightly working.In a degree,the design has a creation.


Study of structural geology in the north Jizhong Depression, Bohai Bay has achieved great breakthroughs in recent years. However, the studies of structure and dynamics remain much controversy. Based on the 3D and partial 2D seismic data, combined with regional geology and well data, the characteristics of structures in the north Jizhong Depression are analyzed, the dynamics is discussed. Our analyses show that the Cenozoic structures in the north Jizhong Depression can be subdivided into extensional system and strike-slip system. Extensional system concludes series of normal faults and transfer faults. Normal faults are mainly trend NNE and NE. They control the Paleogene sediments in sub-depressions of hanging-wall, and bottom out into a sub-horizontal detachment zone in deep level shaped like listric. Transfer faults mainly adjust displacement of normal faults, yet some like Tongbozhen and Niutuozhen are transfer faults in Paleocene and Eocene but change to normal faults in Oligocene. Strike-slip system is predominantly consisted by sub-vertical right-lateral strike-slip faults such as Xin`anzhen and Maxi. From seismic profiles, Xin`anzhen and Maxi cut into basement but only influence the sediments of Ed of Paleogene and Lower Neogene. Based on the relation of sedimentary sequence and faults, the extensional system mainly develops from Paleocene to Late Oligocene, but strike-slip system predominantly develops from Late Oligocene to Miocene. From the superposed section of crustal structure and basin structure in Jizhong Depression, the Cenozoic sub-basin is just located on the thinner zones of crustal, corresponding with the location of mantle uplift. It indicates that the Paleogene development of Jizhong Depression is related to the horizontal tension caused by uplift of magma in mantle. The results illustrate that extensional deformation in Jizhong depression is caused by the uplift of magma. The right-lateral strike-slip deformation, same with Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone, is induced by the movement of plates. This study makes further steps to the research of basin evolution in Jizhong depression, especially the relationship between extensional system and strike-slip system, and provides references to the basin research of Bohai Bay, even the destruction of North China Craton. AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90255 © 2016 AAPG/SEG International Conference & Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain, April 3-6, 2016


Objective: The cancer is one of the deadliest illnesses in the world which may last for a long period of time and require special medical attentions. The family of cancer patients as primary caregivers play a key role in taking care of the patient by spending long hours at home or hospital. They may suffer various challenges during their role as a caregiver which includes various challenges. Methodology: A systematic review conducted on databases encompasses PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar from establish of database to by following the collective strategy of Cochrane Collaborative Group. Results: A review on different challenges that are faced by family caregivers of cancer patients it was revealed that financial hardship, depression, isolation, emotional and physical burdens, time management, privacy insufficiency, and sleep deprivation. Whilst all challenges and associated difficulties have been reviewed and acknowledged in the literature, it has been revealed that less consideration has been paid on emotional burden as one of the key challenges for family caregivers. Conclusion: The literature review revealed that there are no sufficient interventions conducted to ease difficulties occurred for the family caregivers during various cancer stages and/or after the patient death. Furthermore, it was also revealed that there is almost no support for caregivers to recover and adapt to the current condition. They may suffer from major depression many years and affect other member of family. Also, official supports from relevant authorities are recommended to form groups to follow up with families and to ease some of those challenges.


This paper presents the use of a multiplying delay locked loop (MDLL) for delay line-based time interval measurement. The structure is introduced together with the theory behind the performance. Measurement results obtained with a MDLL-based time digitizer designed with 0.35 μm CMOS verify the operation and calculated performance of the device. This MDLL technique with modern CMOS technology makes longrange, high-resolution, linear time interval measurement possible with a small, simple one-level interpolation architecture.


CERAD neuropsychology examination is an instrument that can be used to detect cognitive impairment, especially determining the type of dementia. To date, normative value of that examination has not been known


1) An estimate of body size in Uta populations on nine deep-water islands in the Gulf of California is found to be inversely proportional to the square root of the number of sympatric species of iguanid lizards. It is tentatively concluded that (a) small size of Uta on the continent and on large islands is largely affected by interspecific interactions with other iguanid lizards; (b) the intensity of this inhibition to evolutionary increase in size is dependent (but not linearly) on the number of iguanid species interacting with Uta. Other supporting evidence for the existence of interspecific phenomena affecting the ecology and distribution of lizards is presented. 2) The relative size of scales on the dorsal surface of the body is found to be significantly correlated with the area of the island. This and other data on the geographic variation of scales of North American reptiles support the hypothesis that scales are thermoregulatory structures important in heat exchange with the environment, and that scale size and form is partly determined by the selective effects of climate. 3) The extremely high densities of some insular populations of Uta is interpreted as an evolutionary response to new food sources, assuming, of course, an hereditary component in the behavioral mechanisms that determine territory size. In continental areas, gene flow impedes adaptation to such local peculiarities in the availability of food. 4) The existence of the above patterns in the geographic variation of body size, scale size, and population density testifies to the importance of environmental selective trends in the evolutionary control of these insular lizard populations.


The purpose of the article is to consider the features of restorative therapeutic treatment of patients who have suffered a coronavirus infection. This disease can cause respiratory, physical and psychological dysfunction in patients. Therefore, restorative therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation are critical for both hospitalized and discharged patients with COVID-19. The author believes that many patients who have a history of a previous coronavirus infection note that they experience various unpleasant symptoms even six months after receiving negative tests. So, such patients may experience weakness, shortness of breath, tachycardia, instability of mental states, and so on. At the same time, against the background of an active fight against the spread of COVID-19, measures related to the rehabilitation of convalescents are receding into the background, which is fundamentally wrong. The paper analyzes the literature devoted to the problem of rehabilitation treatment after a coronavirus infection, and also applies comparative and comparative research methods. The author concludes that complications after COVID-19 can significantly worsen the quality of life of patients. For this reason, specialists need to identify the degree and level of complications and patients who have suffered a coronavirus infection as early as possible in order to prescribe appropriate medication or physiotherapy.


A single specimen of Pomacanthus imperator (312 mm in total length and 1020 g in weight) was caught by a spear at a depth of 10 m on 28 April 2019 from Iskenderun Bay (Konacik, Arsuz coast), Turkey. All measurements, counts, morphological description and colors of P. imperator specimen caught agree with the previous descriptions for this species. In this paper, the occurence of P. imperator is reported for the first time from Iskenderun Bay in Turkish Marine waters. This species is probably a Red Sea immigrant entered into the Mediterranean Sea through Suez Canal.


Three hydrogen-bonded organic–inorganic frameworks (HOIFs) are synthesized. Along with full characterization and a comparison with similarly synthesized deuterated counterparts, we reveal that hydrogen-bond interactions of the HOIFs dominate the thermostability, porosity and selectivity in dye filtration on alumina membranes.


Effendy Saud Batik is one of IKM batik Batik Kampoeng Laweyan, Surakarta. Types produced batik is batik and batik with most types of batik is batik produced. IKM Batik Effendy Saud's production strategy make to order and there are no guidelines for production time. Besides the workload at each work station lacks balance, which of the existing value stream mapping, the tasting station in the settlement of 1 lot production yield as much as 120 meters the longest time compared to other work stations, which is 434 minutes with 3 workers. The purpose of this study was to determine the standard time and the optimal number of workers at each stage of the process. From the research results and the calculation of standard time for each of the production process, ie cutting mori (17.46 minutes), taste (582.15 minutes), coloring (84.06 min), drying and washing (207.98 minutes) , penglorodan of 99.87 minutes, drying 1123.2 minutes, and packing of 75.24 minutes. Proposed labor provided SMEs can save expenses by 12%.


An object of the present invention is to accurately improve the ignitability and combustibility of combustion coal, thereby reducing unburned components contained in combustion ash (fly ash) and improving combustion efficiency. A combustion aid for mixed combustion is mixed with combustion coal and used to assist combustion of the combustion coal. The combustion aid for co-firing is formed by extruding a mixture of paper sludge crushed and dehydrated and then crushed and coal powder into a rod shape of a predetermined length, and then cutting and drying the molded product. It is a stick-shaped dry molded product obtained in this way. [Selection] Figure 1


A large number of bridges in the federal inventory are reaching the end of their design life due to aging and environmental degradation. The situation is aggravated by increased traffic needs that require existing structures to carry heavier loads at increasingly higher speeds.


We report the low temperature dielectric and conducting properties of potassium titanyl phosphate KTiOPO4 (KTP). The dielectric and conductive properties are related to the changes in the sample seen mainly over the low-frequency region. Small-magnitude conductivity data (difficult to measure accurately, due to the sensitivity limitations of the measuring system) shows three main regimes viz., (i) conductivity decrease below 250K sufficiently to allow KTP to be ferroelectrically switched, (ii) a superionic phase transition around 170K, and (iii) a phase transition at 140K, associated with the increase of thermal absorption and spontaneous polarization. The dispersion kinetics is seen as Arrhenian, supported by the universal scaled master plot, with barrier energy 0.77eV.


Preface to the Great Minds in Finance Series Introduction A World before Fisher PART I: IRVING FISHER The Early Years The Times The Theory Applications Life and Legacy PART II: JOHN MAYNARD KEYNES The Early Years The Times The Theory Applications Life and Legacy PART III: FRANCO MODIGLIANI The Early Years The Times The Theory Applications The Nobel Prize, Life, and Legacy PART IV: MILTON FRIEDMAN The Early Years The Times The Theory Applications The Nobel Prize, Life, and Legacy PART V: WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED Combined Contributions Conclusions


The serine/threonine protein phosphatase type 5 (PP5) is expressed in the human heart. PP5 activity is inhibited in an auto inhibitory fashion under basal conditions but can be greatly enhanced by addition of 200 μM arachidonic acid. To better understand the cardiac function of PP5, we generated mice that overexpressed PP5 in the heart. PP5 mRNA and protein expression were increased in the heart about 5 and 3 fold, respectively. In contrast to animals that overexpress the catalytic subunit of PP1 or PP2A, PP5 transgenic hearts exhibited no cardiac hypertrophy. In parallel we expressed PP5 in a bacterial system and partially purified the enzyme. The activity of the recombinant enzyme was highly stimulated by arachidonic acid, using phosphorylated casein as substrate. Recombinant PP5 was able to dephosphorylate, in solution recombinant phospholamban, phosphorylated in vitro by PKA on serine 16. Moreover, arrays of peptides taken from putative phosphorylation sites were synthesized on a cellulose membrane support via SPOT technique. These immobilized peptides were phosphorylated in vitro by PKA in presence of radioactive ATP. Autoradiography confirmed phosphorylation. Dephosphorylation of these membrane‐bound peptides in the presence of PP5 alone or after addition of arachidonic acid was studied. While most phosphorylation sites were not affected, the phosphorylation of peptides from the alpha 1 subunit of the L‐type Ca channel and phospholamban were reduced by about 40 %. The in vivo relevance of these findings remains to be elucidated. Nevertheless it is tempting to speculate that in vivo PP5 can dephosphorylate and hence control important cardiac regulatory proteins.


We study the short range interactions between an electron and the neighbor water molecules, with a modified version of the CNDO/2 method. The basis set used includes excited atomic orbitals which are fundamental in the study of the system (H2O)n−. Our calculations indicate that the electron is not associated to a vacancy or other type of defect but to a group of water molecules in the normal microscopic structure of ice and liquid water. In ice it can also be considered as an extra electron in an otherwise perfect crystal lattice (an electronic polaron). Our results are consistent with the hydration energy, spectra, and photobleaching experiments.


Polishing is the process of creating a smooth and shiny surface by rubbing it or using a chemical action, leaving a surface with a significant spectacular reflection. When an unpolished surface is magnified thousands of times, it usually looks like mountains and valleys. By repeated abrasion, those "mountains" are worn down until they are flat or just small "hills." The process of polishing with abrasives starts with coarse ones and graduates to fine ones. The surface of a metallographic specimen is prepared by various methods of grinding, polishing, and etching. After preparation, it is often analyzed using optical or electron microscopy. The process of polishing is divided into rough polishing and fine polishing. The wet grinding machine is used for rough polishing in which we use different grade emery papers. In an industry, making the surface of the material fine and polished is done using highly sophisticated and automatic surface polishing machines which uses abrasive belts rolling over the metallic rollers and the job is being done on it. In our project we have to fabricate a wet grinding (surface polishing) Machine and test its effectiveness also. KeywordsWet grinding, polishing, metal removal rate


Purpose: 1. To analyze the satisfaction and cognition of postpartum care and to aid the spread of oriental medicine in postpartum care.2. Get a basic guideline of O.M.D's postpartum care. Methods: We studied the satisfaction and cognition of postpartum care with questionnaire from January 2009 to Au...


Iridabicycles [Ir{κ 3 -N,C,O-(pyC(H)=C(C(O)Me) 2 }(Cl)(L-L)](L-L = cod (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene), 1a ; bipy (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), 1b ) have been obtained by oxidative coordination of 3-(pyridine-2-yl-methylene)pentane-2,4-dione L1 , to the complexes [Ir(μ-Cl)(cod)] 2 and [Ir(μ-Cl)(coe) 2 ] 2 , the latter in the presence of bipy. Remarkably, cleavage of the C 3 -C(O)Me bond of L1 has instead been achieved in the reaction with [Ir(Cl)(dmb) 2 ] (dmb = 2,3-dimethylbutadiene), yielding a compound formulated as [Ir{κ 2 -N,C-(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me))}(CO)(μ-Cl)(Me)] 2 , 2 . Treatment of dimer 2 with dmso or PMe 3 produced the complexes [Ir{κ 2 -N,C-(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me)}(CO)Cl(Me)L] (where L = dmso, 3a ; PMe 3 , 3b ). Plausible mechanisms for the reactions leading to complexes 1 and 2 are proposed by means of DFT calculations.


There are many medications for treating dry eye. Among these are artificial tears for all levels of dry eye relief including-but not limited to-overnight relief with ointments as well as preservative-free formulas.


A weighted graph is a graph that has a numeric label associated with each edge, called the weight of edge. In many applications, the edge weights are usually represented by nonnegative integers or square matrices. The weighted signless Laplacian matrix of a weighted graph is defined as the sum of adjacency matrix and degree matrix of same weighted graph. In this paper, a brief overview of the notation and concepts of weighted graphs that will be used throughout this study is given. In Section 2, the weighted signless Laplacian matrix of simple connected weighted graphs is considered, some upper bounds for the spectral radius of the weighted signless Laplacian matrix are obtained and some results on weighted and unweighted graphs are found.


The results of this paper fall into two areas. First, it is shown that the conventional wisdom of dollar averaging is related to hedging against, large regrets rather than unfavorable outcomes. Suppose that a given sum of dollars is to be irreversibly converted into stock within a given number of periods. Suppose that the share price of dollars follows an arithmetic random walk. It is shown that dollar averaging is a nonsequential minimax strategy, if the largest possible price increase in each period is equal to the largest possible decrease. On the other hand, it is shown that dollar averaging cannot be a nonsequential expected utility maximizing strategy for any strictly concave utility function and any arithmetic random walk. Second, sequential minimax strategies are examined. Here the analysis may be viewed as an extension of the literature on the optimal time to sell an asset or the optimal stopping problem. The minimax sequential strategy is shown to be of the following form. At any time there exists a critical value which depends only on n, the difference between the maximum price since conversions began and the current price. Funds held in excess of this value are converted into stock, otherwise no funds are converted. The critical values are shown to be decreasing functions of n. When the share price of dollars rises i.e., stock prices fall few funds are converted while decreases produce large conversions. These results seem to correspond to the second thoughts of those, embarking on nonsequential policies of the dollar averaging type. Buying and selling minimax policies are shown to be symmetric. Sequential minimaxing will tend to have a reinforcing effect on price movements.


Objective To understand the status of eye injuries and to evaluate types and causes of eye injuries. Methods A retrospective study presented with hospitalized cases with eye injuries was carried out. Results Among 553 cases of hospitalized eye injuries, men had fourfold higher risk of injury than women. Most of people(61.3%) with eye injuries were 18~44 years old. The eye injuries mainly occurred in workers, students and hobo. The most frequent type of injury was blunt injury (51.72%), followed by penetrable injury (26.03%), chemical injury (10.13%), thermal injury (4.52%), explosive injury (3.80%), cracked injury (3.44%) and socket injury (0.36%). The metal tools or machinery (22.3%) were the most frequent causes of eye injuries, followed by boxing (11.6%), traffic accident (10.9%) and chemical substance( 10.1% ). Conclusions The corresponding prevention method should be taken to reduce the occurrence of eye injuries in the light of their types and causes.


10545Background: Ezrin is a membrane-cytoskeleton linker protein that has been associated with metastasis and poor outcomes in a variety of human cancers including osteosarcoma and high-grade soft ...


In this paper, the detailed description of neural network (NN)-based modeling method for terminal charges in gallium nitride high electron mobility transistor (GaN HEMT) is presented. This method helps to overcome originally high modeling difficulty of terminal charges while their modeling accuracy can be guaranteed. A two-hidden layer ANN is constructed to model the source-end terminal charge (qis) and drain-end terminal charge ($q$id) in the MIT Virtual Source (MVS) theory, respectively. The MVS theory is used to connect the ANN-based terminal charges and drain current. This method is benchmarked with accurate drain current performance.


Our universe is (cid:12)lled with matter, but antimatter is evanescent, rarely found and only in the debris of high-energy processes and cosmic rays. Yet the standard model of particle physics and cosmic evolution postulates that the universe started out completely symmetric between matter and antimatter, and that only about 1 proton or neutron in 10 20 should have escaped annihilation into photons. The measured ratio, however, of baryonsprotons and neutronsto the photons left over is about 6 x 10 (cid:0) 10 , about ten orders of magnitude greater. At some very early moment, something broke the initial symmetry of the universe, eventually yielding the stars, galaxies, and the universe we inhabit and explore today. How did this happen? I will discuss how one attractive theory-that neutrinos have very massive unstable partners that distinguish between matter and antimatter, did their work and then disappeared, and how we might learn something about this scenario by searching for an almost unimaginably rare nuclear decaywithout the emission of todays light neutrinosand how biochemistry might help us succeed. Strangely enough, if we do observe the decay, we also learn that the neutrino and the anti-neutrino are identical, a unique possibility among spin 1/2 particles.


An increasing number of large pig farms are being built in multi-floor pig buildings (MFPBs) in China. Currently, the ventilation system of MFPB varies greatly and lacks common standards. This work aims to compare the ventilation performance of three popular MFPB types with different placement of fans using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. After being validated with field-measured data, the CFD models were extended to simulate the air velocity, air temperature, humidity, and effective temperature of the three MFPBs. The simulation results showed that the ventilation rate of the building with outflowing openings in the endwall and fans installed on the top of the shaft was approximately 25% less than the two buildings with fans installed on each floor. The ventilation rate of each floor increased from the first to the top floor for both buildings with a shaft, while no significant difference was observed in the building without a shaft. Increasing the shaft's width could mitigate the variation in the ventilation rate of each floor. The effective temperature distribution at the animal level was consistent with the air velocity distribution. Therefore, in terms of the indoor environmental condition, the fans were recommended to be installed separately on each floor.


In this paper, we consider a class of optimal control problem with discrete-time delayed arguments and bounded control regions. A conditional gradient algorithm has been obtained by Wong and Teo for solving this class of optimal control problem. It is also shown that any Lx accumulation points of the control sequences generated by the algorithm satisfy a necessary condition for optimality. Since such accumulation points need not exist, it is shown that control sequences generated by the algorithm always have accumulation points in the sense of a control measure, and that these accumulation points satisfy a necessary condition for optimality for the corresponding relaxed problem.


The ultraviolet photolysis of the Ar–HBr cluster is studied by means of quasiclassical trajectory simulations. The goal is to investigate the effect of the initial distribution of intracluster orientations on the photolysis process. Cluster photolysis is simulated starting from two different initial states of Ar–HBr(v=1), namely the ground and the first excited van der Waals states corresponding to the Ar–H–Br and Ar–Br–H isomers, respectively. These two states represent different initial situations for hydrogen dissociation, which in the first case is hindered to a large extent, and in the second case is not. The probability for the fragmentation pathway into H and Ar–Br radical fragments is found to be substantially higher (and therefore the efficiency of the total fragmentation pathway, into H+Ar+Br, is lower) for the cluster initial state where H dissociation is less hindered. The effect of the angular distributions shape of the initial state is also clearly manifested in the state distributions of th...


Dystonia syndromes have many different causes (inherited, acquired, or idiopathic) and variable phenomenology, as dystonia can be isolated, combined with another movement disorder or with additional neurological features. Symptomatic treatment is based on oral medications, focal injections of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT), or deep brain stimulation (DBS). In this issue of Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 2 patients with inherited combined syndromes are independently described to benefit from DBS targeted to the globus pallidus internus (GPi). One patient had mutations in the SERAC1 gene causing an autosomal recessive nuclear mitochodriopathy; the other carried a pathogenic mutation in the ADCY5 gene causing a dystonic/dyskinetic storm. Follow-up assessments confirmed that both patients had a substantial improvement of dystonia and a less evident response of chorea. These 2 cases add to a growing list of evidence on the efficacy of GPi DBS in dystonia. The possibility of using GPi DBS was first shown in patients with early-onset generalized inherited dystonia, specifically TOR1A (DYT1) gene mutation carriers, who are now known to have long-lasting benefit. GPi DBS is currently accepted as a first-line symptomatic indication for DYT1 dystonia. Observations of patients with other isolated or combined inherited dystonia syndromes have shown variable evidence of efficacy. A recent meta-analysis indicated that only DYT1 mutation carriers benefit in both functional and motor improvements following GPi DBS. THAP1 (DYT6) and PANK2 (PKAN) gene mutation carriers instead have significant motor but little functional improvement. Patients with inherited combined dystonia caused by SGCE (DYT10) gene mutations were also reported to significantly improve following GPi DBS not only in dystonia but also in myoclonus and overall functioning. Data on patient functioning after DBS implant are not available in all cases. Moderate improvements have been observed instead in patients with TAF1 (DYT3) or ANO3 (DYT24) gene mutations. Finally, it has also become evident that patients with mutations in the ATP1A3 gene (DYT12) do not improve at all, either after GPi DBS or pallidotomy. It has become clear that outcomes vary across inherited dystonia syndromes and that ATP1A3 mutation carriers remain a so far unique example of nonresponse to GPi DBS. In patients carrying mutations in this gene there is indication not to perform pallidal surgery for dystonia. Acquired dystonia syndromes can also improve with GPi DBS. The most impressive outcomes have been reported in patients with tardive dystonia, where motor features and disability have been reported to reach an 85% improvement. In patients with dystonic cerebral palsy, instead, there is a significant variability of outcomes, with a maximum improvement abutting 49%. Figure 1 provides a summary view of the average reported improvements in inherited and acquired dystonia syndromes following GPi DBS. Dyskinetic storm (or status dystonicus) is a rare, potentially life-threatening movement disorder characterized by the development of increasingly frequent or continuous severe episodes of generalized dystonic spasms that require emergency in-hospital management. The term dyskinetic indicates that these patients may have a combination of dystonia, chorea, and other involuntary movements. Few years after the introduction of GPi DBS for DYT1 dystonia, the same approach has been used in patients with severe generalized inherited dystonia syndromes who had developed dystonic/dyskinetic storms. GPi DBS has proven efficacious and has become a first-line approach in patients with dyskinetic/dystonic storms of different etiologies, such as ceroid lypofuscinosis, GCH1 or PANK2 mutations, methylmalonic acidemia, cerebral palsy, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis, and so on. In these cases, assessment of outcome is not based on dystonia rating scales but, rather, on the number and duration of dyskinetic spells at baseline and after implant. These data are therefore difficult to compare with those collected in patients with other dystonia syndromes. Furthermore, most reports on dyskinetic/dystonic storms are single cases or small series that are difficult to arrange into a coherent set to compare different indications. Overall, GPi DBS is convincingly efficacious and considered to provide a treatment solution to this medical emergency. Continuing observations are needed, however, as it has been


ABSTRACT This paper examines two recent developments in immigration law in Western liberal democracies: security exclusions and forced marriage provisions. It aims to consider how both of these settings are influenced by a pernicious Islamophobia and by gender. And, of course, by the intersection that creates a gendered version of Islamophobia. The overarching aim of the work is to consider whether and how human rights arguments are likely to be effective in immigration law. The work proceeds by developing the ideas of 'unknowability' and 'unintelligibility' as two ways to describe how Western law responds to Islam, and in so doing, contributes to Islamophobia.


This paper examines banking industry practice in the area of circular economy reporting with the specific emphasis on waste management reporting in this sector. Paper answers the basic question – is financial service sector exempt from the circular economy reporting requirements having low material usage and resource consumption? Manuscript indicates that in Serbia waste management reporting in banks is in the early stage. Most of the waste management indicators in banks are included as integral part of sustainability reports or as part of management report. Paper indicates that less than half of the bank population in Serbia prepares standard report required by the Environmental Protection Agency. Having in mind these results, banks managers and state officials should take into consideration the fact that most of the banks do not report on flow of waste and most of these indicators are not regularly published on website implying that stakeholders and investors are not adequately informed on the inclusion of banks into circular economy environment. Lagging behind waste management requirements could be potentially hazardous having in mind the fact that Serbia strives towards European Union membership where the legislation and practical alignment with the EU regulation is inevitable process.


The fourth chapter explores the literature composed at the court of Antiochus III. First, it discusses literary engagements with the Galatians used to assert authority over Asia Minor against the Attalids. The poetry of Simonides of Magnesia celebrating a Seleucid king fighting the Galatians fits well into the political climate of that time. The second part of the chapter looks at Euphorion of Chalcis, a well-known poet who could be considered an heir of Callimachus. Euphorion never travelled to Alexandria and instead worked for Antiochus III, and his poetry shows a clear interest in Seleucid motives and themes. The chapter ends with a discussion of the work of Hegesianax of Alexandria Troas in the context of Seleucid interactions with Rome. It is shown that his work had a political dimension: Hegesianax' history of the Troad also included an account of the foundation of Rome and its alleged links with Troy.


Understanding the formation mechanism of severe haze is crucial for the development of efficient pollution control strategy. Recently, multiphase reactions in aerosol water has been suggested as an important source of sulfate aerosol during severe haze (Zheng et al., 2015;Cheng et al., 2016). Though several oxidation mechanisms have been recognized, the dominant oxidation pathway is still under debate reflecting a missing consensus. Based on a model survey with Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem), we have investigated the variability of aerosol pH and regimes of sulfate formation through multiphase oxidation during the haze episodes in January of 2013. Our results show a large spatial and temporal variability in the aerosol pH and sulfate formation regimes. Surface aerosol pH shows a clear diurnal variation with low pH during daytime and high pH during night-time for most cases. Aerosol pH tends to decrease with increasing altitude in the lower atmosphere. For the scenario best reproduces the observations in Beijing, NO2, TMI+O2, O3 and H2O2 pathways can all dominate the production of sulfate in specific areas of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. With the increasing height, O3 pathway and gas phase oxidation by OH radicals become more important. Moreover, sensitivity tests also suggest that, emissions of crustal particles, NH3 and soluble iron/manganese have great impacts on aqueous phase chemistry, and should be better constrained in future studies.

References:

Zheng, G. J., Duan, F. K., Su, H., Ma, Y. L., Cheng, Y., Zheng, B., Zhang, Q., Huang, T., Kimoto, T., Chang, D., Poschl, U., Cheng, Y. F., and He, K. B.: Exploring the severe winter haze in Beijing: the impact of synoptic weather, regional transport and heterogeneous reactions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 2969-2983, 10.5194/acp-15-2969-2015, 2015.

Cheng, Y. F., Zheng, G. J., Wei, C., Mu, Q., Zheng, B., Wang, Z. B., Gao, M., Zhang, Q., He, K. B., Carmichael, G., Poschl, U., and Su, H.: Reactive nitrogen chemistry in aerosol water as a source of sulfate during haze events in China, Sci Adv, 2, e1601530, UNSP e1601530,10.1126/sciadv.1601530, 2016.


Threshold voltage (Vth) control using different metal gates (aluminum and gold) was applied to realize dual-Vth low-voltage solution processed organic thin film transistors (OTFTs). In the devices, the low-operation voltage was realized based on a channel engineering approach instead of using large gate dielectric capacitance, therefore, a relatively thick and low-dielectric constant polymer dielectric layer can be used. The devices present a mobility about 1.0 cm2/(V·s), ON/OFF ratio of 105 and small subthreshold swing of 100 mV/decade with the maximum processing temperature not exceeding 100 °C. It was found that, even with a 400-nm thick polymer dielectric layer, since possible charge trapping effects was effectively suppressed by the crosslinking processes, well controlled Vth was achieved. Both unipolar single-Vth and dual-Vth inverters were fabricated, clearly showing the influence of Vth on the circuit operation and improved performance with the dual-Vth OTFT technology.


The method of transmitting information over a wireless link (7) between a transmitter unit (2.5) and a receiving unit (3,6), information to be transmitted with general information and radio signal information, comprises the steps of: - differentiating general information and radio signal information by the transmitting unit from a digital protocol frame; - transmission of general information differentiated in digital form through a digital communication channel (75) between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit; and - transmission of the differentiated radio signal information in the form of radio frequency carrier (71,72,73,74) between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.


The purpose of this paper is to calrify whether the "Sea breeze" at Ichihara, Chiba Pref., is from Tokyo Bay or Pacific Ocean. In the table showing the relation between humidity ranges and wind-direction frequencies, the frequency of SSW is the largest at comparatively high humidities. It shows that the southerly wind is "Sea breeze" in this district.


The methods of dyeing Acrilan are outlined, and the limitations of various classes of dyes stated. Data are presented to show how the concentration of sulphuric acid affects the handle of the fibre and the fastness properties of acid, chrome, and 2: 1 metal-complex dyes. Generally, disperse dyes are the most satisfactory for the dyeing of Acrilan, although for specialised purposes azoic, acid, basic, chrome, metal-complex, and reactive dyes are suggested.


As a fast-growing family of 2D materials, MXenes are rising into the limelight due to their attractive properties that leading to applications in energy storage, catalysis, microwave attenuation, etc. As their precursors, MAX phases are a family of layered, hexagonal-structure ternary carbides and nitrides. The exploration of novel MAX phases would largely expand the candidates for future MXenes with various component elements and microstructures. Meanwhile, apart from their indispensable role in Top-down synthesis of MXenes, MAX phase materials show remarkable combination of characteristics of metals and ceramics, endowing them great interest as both structural and functional materials. Up to now, there are more than 100 MAX compositions synthesized to date; and discoveries of new MAX phases (Ti3AuC2, Ti3IrC2, Ti2ZnC, Nb2CuC et al.) are continuously being reported by experimental scientists. To increase the efficiency in the successful search for novel MAX phases, a general guideline should be set up to direct experiment through an information-prediction system incorporating all MAX phases' databases and high-quality regularities. In this work, we introduce the structure mapping methodology, which has shown its viability of being an effective guideline in design of MAX phases, and also provide simple principles for experimental scientists in the search for novel MAX phases. In fact, above-mentioned new MAX phases are falling into structure-stability regime that predicted by this structure mapping methodology. These new MAX phases, whatever experimentally reported or theoretically predicted, will largely enrich the structure-modification and property-tuning of derived MXenes.


Let K be a complete ultrametric algebraically closed field. This paper is aimed at studying problems of interpolation for entire functions on K. We prove an analogue of M. Lazard's divisors theorem for entire functions and then we show that sequences of interpolation are the injective sequences (ai)i∈N in K such that limi→∞ |ai| = +∞. This result does not assume K to be spherically complete. In order to construct concrete entire interpolation functions, we introduce Lagrange entire functions and define L-sequences. We show that a sequence (ai)i∈N in K defines a Lagrange entire function if and only if (ai)i∈N is an L-sequence.


Japan has been tried to integrate Western planning theories into its parks and green systems in the past. However this effect has been regarded unsuccessful. One of reasons for this is that the green systems have been treated as an urban facility, instead as systems. Another reason has to deal with greenbelt's stationary and reservation characteristics that make difficulty to respond timely to the rapid urbanization. The parks and green systems in Korea was introduced in 1990 and began to be promoted fully with the 'Parte and Green Master Plan' established in 2005. However, due to its short history, incomplete aspects exist in its philosophy and methods for promoting the system. Based on these experiences, the current green zone plans in Japan considers the green structure as an independent institution and amenity plan, not a tool of urban planning, that can be a medium for realization of urban visions. And main characteristics of this approach are 1) classifying the green structure into four categories in order to respond to urban forms and purposes, 2) pursuing confirmity with urban planning, and 3) executing the landscape plan based upon core green areas. From reviews upon experiences of Japan as well as considerations on demands and conditions of green systems in Korea, we proposed the following five new strategies for the construction of the urban parte and green system in Korea. They are 1) to develop urban parks and green systems into a genre of urban development improving the quality and local competitiveness of cities rather than a means of urban planning; 2) to form the integrated structure of urban green zones; 3) to transform the urban parte and green systems into practical systems as the centers of localities; 4) to raise criteria for planning and execution plans for effective implementations of the urban parte and green systems, and 5) to provide specific guidelines for the construction of urban parks and green systems through organizing research groups or specialists.


Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has long been safely applied in the production of fermented foods and beverages. These bacteria are important for their contribution to food quality and also for their undeniable effects on health. In Africa, despite the abundance of isolated food sources and the diversity of identified microorganisms, the market for probiotics and functional foods based on selected local strains is almost non-existent. This paper aims to determine some technological properties of LAB isolates from fermented maize dough used for doklu production for potential application in food and probiotic products. A total of 25 LAB strains isolated from maize dough fermentation processes during doklu production were identified by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Technological studies such as growth and acidification kinetics, diacetyl production, hydrogen peroxide production, and proteolytic activity were carried out. Their survival and growth under unfavorable conditions of temperature, salt concentration and pH were also analyzed. The isolates were identified as Pediococcus acidilactici (56%), Lactobacillus fermentum (24%), Pediococcus pentosaceus (12%) and Lactobacillus plantarum (8%). The technological properties of the LAB strains showed that 10 of them rapidly acidify the medium with pH variation (ΔpH) greater than 1 after 6 hours of fermentation. Good production of diacetyl and hydrogen peroxide, as well as good proteolytic activity, were obtained for several strains. Pediococcus acidilactici S15, S55, S56; Lactobacillus plantarum S32, S121 and Lactobacillus fermentum S44 showed the best technological properties. However, only 5 of them obtained good resistance following the various survival and growth under unfavorable conditions of temperature, salt concentration, and pH. This work has therefore demonstrated that the lactic acid bacteria involved in the natural fermentation of maize dough have interesting properties for various applications whether in the processing of food products as well as in the development of probiotic products.


This investigation aims to find empirical equations that describe the rail–wheel normal (frictionless) contact characteristics. These equations can then be used to determine an equivalent Hertzian load to account for normal contact in the finite element analyses mandated by the Transnet RS/ME/SP/008 specification, without explicitly simulating the contact between two bodies. The standard is similar to UIC 510-5 and does not consider tangential contact. The normal contact problem is solved for the test case using nonlinear finite element methods as well as the boundary element method. Material plasticity was also investigated in finite element analyses with limited effect for contact away from the flange area. The data from boundary element analyses were fitted to a power law equation for each contact parameter. The equivalent Hertzian contact produced with the empirical equations is able to predict the normal contact parameters relatively accurately, producing a maximum error of 9.6% (excluding one area with a geometric anomaly).


The likelihood of major changes in the global climate, caused by continuing emissions of greenhouse gases has led to numerous proposals for reductions in emissions, with the Kyoto Protocol being only a small and incomplete step. As well as the usual problems associated with decision-making under uncertainty, measures for mitigation of global warming involve a cascade of long time-scales associated with energy investments, carbon-cycle response and climate response.


Summary Our research at the Blodgett Forest Ameriflux site in California's Sierra Nevada addresses the issue of aboveground controls on root turnover and soil carbon sequestration in a mid-elevation, young ponderosa pine plantation with an understory of shrubs (Arctostaphylos sp. and Ceanothus sp.). This research includes canopy flux measurements using the eddy covariance method. Soil respiration was measured by both chamber and solid-state gradient measurement sensors. Root dynamics was evaluated using periodic measurements with minirhizotron videoscopy. During the 2003 vegetation period, the leaf area index of ponderosa pine increased from ~3.0 to ~3.5, while the shrubs leaf area index increased from ~0.70 to ~1.2. The photosynthetic capacity of Ceanothus sp. and Arctostaphylos sp. was two times (winter) to five times (summer) higher than ponderosa pine per-unit leaf area. Both above- and sub-canopy daily flux integrals of CO2 showed significant uptake of carbon from the atmosphere. The daily sub-canopy CO2 uptake was 10% of the above canopy in spring and 50% in midsummer. During summer, around 60% of the outgoing energy flux was from the sub-canopy level. Soil respiration was driven by temperature and soil moisture: daily average respiration increased steadily from 1.44 umol μm -2 s -1 in March to 5.20 μmol m -2 s -1 in August. Tree stems started to expand at the beginning of May, and shoots to elongate in mid-May. The photosynthetic capacity of the trees and shrubs started to increase at the end of May. The roots didn't exhibit substantial growth until mid-June, probably because the soil was too cold: the daily minimum temperature stayed below 5oC until mid-May. The new needle elongation followed root growth closely. The root dynamics in this plantation were decoupled from photosynthetic activity in the short term, but probably strongly linked with photosynthesis in the medium term via regulating root demography. Fine root dynamics showed a month-long growth pulse, with negligible prior or subsequent growth, which contradicts existing studies that show relatively uniform fine root growth patterns throughout the growing season. Soil respiration was strongly linked with root development: no significant increases of soil CO2 efflux was detected during the most active period of root growth, despite the constantly rising average temperature, which may indicate the presence of a negative priming effect. Further analysis of our extensive datasets will focus on testing this hypothesis more thoroughly.


BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization treatment (CRT) causes improvement in cardiac function and synchrony in heart failure. The aim of this study was to determine whether echo-guided atrioventricular optimization (AVO) and optimization of V-V timing (VVO) of biventricular (Biv) pacemaker would cause incremental improvement in cardiac output and cardiac synchrony post CRT. METHODS: 23 pts, 65 ± 16 yrs, 78% M, 61% ischemic cardiomyopathy, 26% with LBBB, underwent CRT and then AVO and VVO 21 ± 29 days post CRT. 20 had percutaneous CRT (left ventricular (LV) lead in the posterolateral vein in 15 and in anterolateral vein in 5) and 3 had epicardial CRT. Nominal and 6 VV delays and 50–250 ms AV delays were tested in each pt. Optimal AV and VV delay was determined from the AV and VV interval corresponding to the maximum aortic velocity time interval (VTI) by pulsed wave (PW) Doppler. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in the apical 4, 2 and 3 chamber views was performed pre CRT, post CRT, post AVO and post VVO using GE vivid 7 ultrasound system. Ejection septolateral delay, asynchrony index [standard deviation of time to peak systolic velocity (PSV) during aortic ejection in 12 LV segments], maximum difference in time to PSV in 12 LV segments during entire cardiac cycle, and septoposterior wall delay (SPWD) during ejection & post ejection phase were measured as criteria of mechanical asynchrony. RESULTS: LV ejection fraction improved from 26 ± 8% to 31 ± 7% and NYHA class from 3.4 ± 0.9 to 1.94 ± 0.6 (p CONCLUSIONS: Optimization of atrioventricular and interventricular interval of Biv pacemaker by evaluation of PW aortic VTI causes incremental improvement in cardiac output and LV synchrony in pts post CRT./>


The equipment management system employed by Dabaoshan Mining Co. , Ltd is introduced in the present paper. It is shown that a safe, stable and efiective production system can be guaranteed by formulating and fulfilling management requirements, enforcing personnel training, carrying out a scheme of planned repair, routine maintenance and network overhaul, making use of computer information technology, and exploring equipment potentials.


In order to resolve the problem of order management,an order management system is introduced and orders are unified management.On that basis,the order merging model is in-depth studied,then,an order merging-clustering model is proposed,based on the date of delivery and processing technology,which can ensure punctuality of the date of delivery and unification of the process of production.In the actual production,the merged orders are split up into some sub-orders,each one is made up of similar size,the same name and type,as a result,the number of adjusting processing equipment is reduced and the efficiency of production is improved.Finally,the system is applied to a heavy equipment manufacturer,which makes the management of orders more standardized,more effective and more simplified.


Quick Response Code Abstract: Introduction: The freeze-all strategy was inferior to the conventional strategy in terms of cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate per woman. IVF without transfer of fresh embryos, thus with frozen-thawed embryo transfer only (freeze-all strategy), is increasingly being used in clinical practice because of a presumed benefit. It is still unknown whether this new IVF strategy increases IVF efficacy. Materials and Methods: A single-centre, open label, two arm, parallel group, randomised controlled superiority trial was conducted. The trial was conducted between January 2019 and March 20021 in the India. The intervention was one IVF cycle with frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer(s) versus one IVF cycle with fresh and frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer(s). The primary outcome was cumulative ongoing pregnancy resulting from one IVF cycle within 12 months after randomisation. Couples were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the freeze-all strategy or the conventional strategy with an online randomisation programme just before the start of down-regulation. Participants were subfertile couples with any indication for IVF undergoing their first IVF cycle, with a female age between 18 and 43 years. Differences in cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates were expressed as relative risks (RR) with 95% CI. All outcomes were analysed following the intention-to-treat principle. Results: Two-hundred-and-five couples were randomly assigned to the freeze-all strategy (n 1⁄4 102) or to the conventional strategy (n 1⁄4 102). The cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate per woman was significantly lower in women allocated to the freeze-all strategy (19/102 (19%)) compared to women allocated to the conventional strategy (32/102 (31%); RR 0.59; 95% CI 0.36–0.98). Conclusion: Our results indicate that there might be no benefit of a freeze-all strategy in terms of cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates. The efficacy of the freeze-all strategy in subgroups of patients, different stages of embryo development, and different freezing protocols needs to be further established and balanced against potential benefits and harms for mothers and children.


A6-desaturase is located in a pivotal position in the metabolism of essential fatty acids and a low activity may lead to coronary heart disease (CHD). Experimental evidence suggests that A6-desaturase is low in humans and data from cross-cultural and case-control studies using fatty acid compositional analyses propose that its activity is reduced by risk markers for CHD. In this thesis the role of some factors implicated in CHD such as diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and stress are considered and their effect on A6-desaturase activity and tissue fatty acid composition is assessed in the rat. The assay for the A6-desaturation of linoleic acid was re-examined and optimised. Microsomal protein and albumin concentrations were found to be critical because of their substrate binding effects. It was also found necessary to measure the amount of non-esterified linoleic acid in microsomal preparations as it competes with the radioactive substrate. The role of dietary cholesterol on both linoleic acid A6-desaturation and tissue fatty acid composition was assessed. Cholesterol enrichment increased A6-desaturase activity and this was reflected in the increased product-precursor ratio of y-linolenic to linoleic acid in microsomal phospholipids. However, the total amount of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from linoleic acid, including arachidonic acid, was reduced in cholesterol fed rats, suggesting an impaired A5-desaturase. The increased activity of liver microsomal A6-desaturase was not associated with any significant changes to adipose tissue n-6 fatty acid composition. Further studies were conducted to elucidate possible reasons for the disparity between the present and published studies on the effect of cholesterol. Cholesterol feeding was carried out in grouped and isolated rats and microsomal A6-desaturase reassessed. Although stress caused by isolation reduced A6-desaturase activity, dietary cholesterol increased its activity again. This was observed under both saturating and non-saturating substrate conditions with a good correlation observed between the two. Levels of non-esterified fatty acids in the microsomal preparations were not different