In this paper we present a series of side-chain polymers bearing original azo-moieties, namely: poly(methacrylate)s and poly(maleimide-styrene)s; designed for nonlinear optics (NLO). The different classes of azopolymers are discussed comparatively to one another from the point of view of: solubility, molar weights, glass transition temperatures & thermal stability, chromophore contents, and as well as from the point of view of their third-nonlinear response. The third-order nonlinear absorptive and refractive effect of the polymers containing different substituted azobenzene chromophores were investigated by the Z-scan technique. The effect of substituents on the azobenzene group and the composition of the polymer chain were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy.


Global climate change has exacerbated the recession of glaciers throughout the world, resulting in some instances in increased glacial runoff. In the short term this may be seen as a positive consequence for downstream users. Increased flow can lead to an increase in biodiversity including macroinvertebrates, and increased water availability for people, animals, and vegetation. A change in discharge can also impact the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the water. Increased meltwater can result in a higher flow rate, which can increase erosion. Chemical constituents stored in the ice for centuries, or deposited from recent pollution may also be released. On Dinwoody Creek, fifteen macroinvertebrate grab samples and two composite samples were removed from two 100-foot long runs. Analysis identified the presence of several benthic macroinvertebrate genera including: Zapada oregonensis, Cinygumula spp., and Ameletus spp. Eight riffle sites were also sampled to measure chemical parameters. The results across all eight sites varied little, and indicated good to excellent water quality. The average temperature was 5.60C, average electrical conductivity 7.4 μS, nitrate values were no greater than 0.23 mg/L, average dissolved oxygen equaled 7.1 mg/L, and the average pH was 6.5. Over time, with continual reduction of glacial ice, chemical are expected to include values indicative of broader changes in source ice volume. Future research includes additional macroinvertebrate and chemical sampling and assessment, and additional sampling to assess the presence/absence of E. coli. STUDY AREA The Dinwoody Glacier forms the fourth largest glacier in the Wind River Range of WY. The terminus is positioned at approx. 3400 m above sea level and its runoff eventually feeds into the Missouri/Mississippi river system. Macrovinvertebrates were sampled at two sites along Dinwoody Creek. METHODS At each sampling location, ten individual sample sites were selected from a 100 foot section using a random number generator. One composite sample was compiled based on collections from each of the individual sites (versus ten individual samples.) In addition, 16 individual species were collected from the sample sites for later analysis and water quality assessment. Identification was performed in the field, and in the lab. Final confirmation of species was performed by, Rhithron labs, of Missoula, Montana. Water quality data was also collected at each site. Seven total water samples were collected and HACH and LaMotte water quality tests used to determine pH, nitrates, phosphates, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC) and dissolved oxygen (DO). CONCLUSION Present evaluation of the biological and chemical constituents of the Dinwoody Glacier run off suggests that the water quality is very good. This is appropriate for the headwaters of a stream located in a federally designated Wilderness area. Impacts from human travelers, drilling operations to the west, and environmental and climatic changes may lead to changes in water quality. Given the role of the Dinwoody Glacier in providing water for downstream users, and the current trend of glacial recession, continuous monitoring is crucial. Site # Temperature (0C) EC (uS) Nitrates (CHEM) (mg/L) D. Oxygen (CHEM) (mg/L) pH (Lamote) mg/L Diss. Oxygen (Lamote) (mg/L) Phosphates (HACH) (mg/L) Test 4.0 6.5 .13 12 6.5 0-Trace 1 8.2 6.2 .13 4.5 6.5 0-Trace 2 6.9 3.7 .17 9 6.5 8 0-Trace 3 8.7 12.6 .17 7 6.5 8.5 0-Trace 4 4.2 8.8 .23 9 6.3 23/50 5 4.4 8.7 .20 7 6.5 0-Trace 6 3.5 7.3 .17 5.5 6.5 0-Trace 7 6.5 7.1 .17 5.5 6.5 0-Trace Table 3.0 Summary of Water Quality Chemistry Results Table 2.0 Summary of genera of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Vial Identification Life stage 1 Helodon spp larva 2 Diamesa spp larva 3 Lygaeidae spp adult 4 Diamesa spp adult female 5 Prostigmata spp unknown 6 Lygaeidae spp adult


This paper aims to give an insight into the development of shellfi sh processing equipment in China. We review the recent progress in keeping fresh shellfishes alive, pretreatment, primary and deep processing, and manufacturing of equipment for comprehensive utilization and summarize problems in the development and application of shellfi sh processing equipment. Furthermore, the future development trends of shellfi sh processing equipment are also discussed.


INVOLUNTARY ket. But, taken together, advance notification of layoffs, a wellfunctioning unemployment insurance system, adequately funded and appropriately targeted job training, and rapid overall job growth can greatly reduce the economic hardships facing workers who lose their jobs involuntarily. Unfortunately, the U.S. labor market generally gives workers little or no advance notice of layoffs.1 State-run unemployment insurance systems cover only a portion of workers' lost incomes, for a limited period, and leave an important share of the unemployed without any coverage at all.2 Government and private training opportunities also fall far short of needs.3


In the present study, the kinetics of esterification of acetic acid with isobutanol was studied by using Amberlite IR-122 as an acid catalyst. Experiments were carried out in a stirred batch reactor in dioxane at different temperatures (323 to 348 K) under atmospheric pressure. The equilibrium constant was found to be constant as 4 in the temperatures ranging from 323 to 367 K. The possible mechanism of reaction was mathematically treated using the theories of the Eley-Rideal model based on inhibition by water and isobutanol on the resins. The reaction rate constants and the adsorption coefficients for isobutanol and water were determined from the experimental data at the same temperature intervals. Furthermore, the activation energy of the esterification reaction was found to be 50.5 kJ/mol. The heat of adsorption for isobutanol and water was also calculated as − 50.9 kJ/mol and − 18.9 kJ/mol, respectively.


This reviewer has long felt that the books in the ACS Symposium Series have been "mixed bags". This book is no exception. Like many of its companion volumes, it suffers from poor editing and the inclusion of irrelevant contributions. The title of the book is Particlleize Distributions III, yet 30% of the contributions do not even discuss the subject. The contributions span a broad range of quality—from exceptional to rejectable. Noticeably absent are any papers dealing with aerosol particles. Many of the book's contributions contain references to the previous symposium proceedings on the same topic, Particll Size Distributions II, ana other papers published before 1991—at least a full seven years earlier. One would hope that there have been improvements since then. References to unpublished symposium proceedings, abstracts of contributed (read, not refereed) papers at professional meetings, and inaccessible company or private reports are of little use to the reader. The book presents a dichotomy of approaches by which a particle size distribution may be obtained: from measurements made on fractionated samples and from measurements made on unfractionated samples. Obtaining the size distribution from unfractionated samples generally involves the selection of a priori distribution forms or requires some heroic attempt to extract a distribution from various measurements of the unfractionated ensemble. The general failure of such techniques has long been recognized in a quantitative sense (even truly monodisperse polystyrene latex spheres yield a distribution breadth). From a qualitative sense, they also often fail as well, as seen by examining a bi-modal distribution formed by mixing two monodisperse contributions. In contrast, the several articles showing the application of fractionation procedures (CHDF and FFF, for the most part) before sizing confirm the significance and validity of this technique for extracting a meaningful and valid distribution


Abstract: The surface engineering of polycarbonate track-etched (PCTE) membranes was performed to create a permselective membrane for the removal of trace levels of fission products and transuranic metals from acidic streams. Electroless gold deposition was used to place a gold coating on the PCTE substrates. The gold coating was subsequently functionalized through the formation of a self-assembled monolayer of dodecanethiol, which was further functionalized with di-(4-t-butylphenyl)-N, N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide. Transport characteristics of metal ions, 137Cs, 85Sr, 241Am, and 239Pu, were obtained using a two-compartment diffusion apparatus. Transport studies showed that the functionalized membranes enhance the transport rates of 241 Am and 239Pu and inhibit the transport of 137Cs and 85Sr. Diffusion studies over an extended time revealed that the facilitated transport characteristics of 239Pu through the ligand-coated membranes are dependent on nitrate anion concentrations in the feed and sink cells.


In bankruptcy, firms incur expenses for services provided by lawyers, accountants, and other professionals. Such expenses can be quite high, especially for complex resolutions. These direct costs of bankruptcy proceedings reduce a firm?s value below its fundamental level, thus constituting a ?deadweight loss.? Bankruptcy also carries indirect costs, such as the loss in value of assets trapped in bankruptcy?a subject discussed in our previous post. In this post, we provide the first comprehensive estimates of the direct costs of resolving Lehman Brothers? holding company (LBHI) and its affiliates under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and of Lehman?s broker-dealer (LBI) under the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA).


figure of a woman, is lining up a billiard shot, while the figure of a man…stands dreaming in a doorway, " writes artist-printmaker Peter Milton (b. 1930). He is describing the photograph by Gertrude Kasebier in 1908, which inspired his print Mary's Turn. " …it was the drama of the purposeful woman and the pensive man which established the direction Mary's Turn was to take " (1). The pensive man was Edgar Degas; the purposeful woman none other than Mary Cassatt, grand dame of impressionism. Born to an affluent Pennsylvania family, Cassatt enjoyed a privileged childhood and cultural opportunities at home and abroad. Independent and strong willed, she prevailed upon her reluctant parents to let her enroll, at age 16, in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Against convention, she soon resolved to pursue an artistic career and set off to Paris to study the Old Masters. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, she returned briefly to the United States but left again to travel in Italy, Spain, and Belgium and to finally settle in Paris, where she lived the rest of her life. In the late 1800s, Paris was the center of the art world. Its architecture and transportation system set the standards for 20th-century urban living. Émile Zola described the travails of common people, Claude Debussy found new musical expressions, and French politics was undergoing a democratic revolution. Cassatt set up her studio and studied with academic painter Jean-Léon Gérôme. Her early work was influenced by the realism of Gustave Courbet and Eduard Manet (2). She sent her work to the Salon, an annual showcase that judged art on its adherence to agreed upon subjects and strict rules. In 1868, her painting The Mandolin Player was accepted. The rigid rules of the Salon and passion for creative freedom drove artists to independent exhibits. " I only began to live, " Cassatt asserted, " …at the moment Degas persuaded me to… exhibit with his friends in the group of Impressionists. I accepted with joy….I hated conventional art " (3). The only American painter to do so, she exhibited often with the impressionists, and under their influence she revised her approach to composition, color, and light, showing admiration for the group, especially Degas. " It's true. There is someone who feels as I do, " Degas once exclaimed in front of one of Cassatt's paintings (4). …


Of the different procedures used for bariatric surgery, BPD/DS is the most uncommon and has been associated with the longest durable weight loss with significant improvement in obesity‐related comorbidities. Improvement in health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is of paramount importance and an essential metric to evaluate additional outcomes. Previous studies have shown significant improvement following BPD/DS for up to 5 years after surgery.


Bleeding sap of xinjiang Grape Tree were used as the materials.The antioxidant activity of Bleeding sap of Xinjiang Grape Tree was evaluated using OH free radical.and the nitrite scavenging rate of samples was determined by spectrophotometric method.Using gallic acid as the standard,the optimized conditions for determining content of Polyphenol Bleeding sap of xinjiang Grape Treeby Folin-Ciocalteu Colorimetry.The results showed that the bleeding sap have strong antioxidant activity and have some scavenging ability for NO2-..Besides Beijake Kaxker Kixmix of Turpan,other six varieties of Bleeding Sap of Grape tree's Hydroxyl radical scavenging rate were more than 90 %.The range of Bleeding sap of Grape tree's NO2-.scavenging rate was 4.91 %-25.30 %.The method was simple,rapid,accurate and has good reproducibility,which can be used to determine the content of total Polyphenol.


An attempt to detect metastable helium atoms from a plasma gun by means of detecting Auger electrons from a tungsten surface has been performed to investigate the mechanism in the interaction between a helium plasma and a helium gas target. A bunch of metastable helium atoms with a duration of about 100μsec was observed about150μsec after the firing of the plasma gun. This fact would support the previous result of spectroscopic measurements.


To generate continuous growth curves for axial length (AL) in German children. We hypothesise that percentile curves of AL can be used as a predictive measure of myopia.


Dislocations consisting of two super-Shockley partials bounding superlattice intrinsic stacking faults (SISFs) in Ni 74.5 Pd 2 Al 23.5 produced by compressive deformation at room temperature were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the majority of the faults are truncated loops, i.e., the partials bounding the SISFs have the same Burgers vector, and the SISFs are generated from APB-coupled dislocations, according to a mechanism proposed by Suzuki et al. and recently modified by Chiba and Hanada. The addition of Pd has no similar effect on SISFs in Ni 3 Al as boron doping. No connection between SISF density and ductility can be found in this alloy.


Numerical simulations of heat and mass transfer in supercritical carbon dioxide are carried out for natural convection conditions in a differentially heated square enclosure. The two vertical walls are maintained at different temperatures while the two horizontal walls are insulated. For the mass transfer studies, a heated vertical naphthalene wall is considered. Properties of supercritical carbon dioxide are evaluated from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Database 12. A correlation for the mean Nusselt number along the heated wall is obtained as a function of the heat transfer Rayleigh number (for a given Prandtl number). A correlation for the temporal Sherwood number along the naphthalene surface is obtained as a function of the mass transfer Rayleigh number, and Fourier number (for a given Schmidt number). The results are compared with result available in the literature.Copyright © 2008 by ASME


Insulating film self-supporting is provided a flexible comprising a base support layer and the base applied to the supporting layer portion cured poly (amide) imide layer. The composite insulating film may be used as a slot liner in order to provide insulation to the components of the motor. Partially cured poly (amide) imide layer of the composite insulating film may be further cured by heat generated by operation of the motor.


Dolly Lenz and Jenny Lenz of Dolly Lenz Real Estate are seeing a huge boom in interest from homebuyers as coronavirus settles.


This paper describes an integrated hybrid simulation environment in which physical electronic devices interact in real-time with a discrete-event simulator and a 3D visualisation engine, where the communication between the real devices and the virtual world is mediated by CoAP. The resulting simulation framework is a powerful tool for designers of Internet of Things (IoT) applications to assess design decisions ahead of deployment, based on realistic data from sensors and typical movement of people within built spaces. A motivating example is used to illustrate the capabilities of hybrid simulations based on a multi-residence housing facility intended for elderly people, each wearing an on-body speck with one or more sensors, to monitor their condition such as breathing, heart-rate, and activity, and which transmits this information via a mesh network of base-stations to a central hub. The results demonstrate that design decisions can be made on the choice of routing protocols based on real-time transmission of data from people, which captures their typical movement in a built environment and based on actual data transmitted by on-body devices.


The article describes a research which is focused on the design and construction of a portable boiler. This is to enhance energy system in Africa and the world at large. Water at atmospheric pressure of 1.613252bar, 25°c was supplied to the pressure to an absolute pressure of 4.5bar, a burner and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were used to supply heat to the boiler that raised the water at the copper piping to a saturation temperature or 147.9°c there by producing steam. During testing 0.5kg of gas was burnt for 25min and the wet steam generated at the exist pipe was at a gauge pressure of 3.2bar. The steam generated find application in textile industries for sizing and bleaching, sugar mills, chemical industries and production of hot water for hot water supply. In conclusion, the developed modular boiler is efficient and effective at optimal working condition.


The earth synthetic material has been applied to the project of Jinan City Queshan Storage Reservoir diverting from the Yellow River for water supply.This paper introduces its performance in the dam foundation against seepage and the reinforcement of the week dam foundation,and analyses the effection against seepage of the earth synthetic material.


Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin (TNJER) is an old tropical rainforest of the world, where the rocks had been dated to be at least 248 million years old. It is located in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia, in the state of Johor. Studies on diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) of TNJER had been reported since 1987 with the latest report being published in 2005. A pioneering scientific expedition to TNJER was conducted in 1985-1986 and a total of 179 butterfly species recorded and reported in 1987. The second expedition in 2002-2003 reported 206 species of butterfly, published in 2005. Thereafter, collections of butterfly were carried out opportunistically employing two methods: manual collection using aerial net and baited traps using over- ripe banana. A grant from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia enabled researchers to make several collection visits in 2013 (February, June and September). By the most recent study in 2013, 38 species had been added to the collection with 11 new records for TNJER. A more intensive collection is planned for 2014 to evaluate the actual butterfly diversity of an old tropical forest, using more quantitative method such as point counting. Perhaps when substantial reference collections had been gathered and checklist up-dated, the data of butterfly diversity could be compared between an old tropical forest (TNJER) and newer tropical forest of Borneo, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak to note differences if any occurred. Keywords: Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin, old tropical rainforest, butterfly biodiversity, reference collections


The Controller area network completely addressed the requirements of the automotive networking until the last decade. However with advancement in the automotive electronics puts requirement of a deterministic and fault tolerant communication systems. Flexray was introduced to address this issue. But Flexray is costly compared to the CAN. Flexray is not seen as the complete replacement for CAN. The current automotives use a mix of communication protocols. There is an occasional need for data exchange between these two protocols for which gateways are required. But gateways are costly. Communication controllers are the core of the data link layer and required for a connection to these networks. In gateway implementations, usually a host that is connected to the two networks does the data conversion in application . Here, a model is proposed at system level for integrating these controllers for achieving host independent interprotocol communication, without the use of gateways and no intervention from the application. An open core IP for CAN CC is used as reference, and for Flexray CC, a simple model, mostly serving as a black box is built taking NXP's MFR4310


The immunomodulatory drug lenalidomide (LEN) is the treatment of choice for del(5q) MDS patients. LEN has been shown to trigger the specific degradation of CSNK1A1 and IKZF1 proteins after binding the E3-ligase substrate adaptor CRBN. When brought below a certain expression threshold, CSNK1A1 deficiency activates a p53-dependent apoptotic response. Thus, the unique sensitivity of del(5q) cells to LEN is explained by CSNK1A1 haploinsufficiency in del(5q) MDS patients. Despite its efficacy, 50% of LEN-treated patients eventually relapse within an interval of 2-3 years after treatment. Treatment failure is associated to low platelet counts and occurrence of additional mutations, such as TP53. To identify novel genetic determinants of LEN resistance, we have compared whole genome sequencing data of paired samples from six del(5q) patients who have been treated with LEN and eventually became resistant to the treatment. We identified 2 patients with mutations in TP53. The remaining four presented RUNX1 alterations: two patients had protein coding mutations in RUNX1 and two had a significant reduction in RUNX1, but not TP53, transcript levels.
 As a model of sensitivity, we studied the response to LEN in two human del(5q) cell lines, MDS-L and KG-1a. RUNX1 protein levels are postranscriptionally upregulated upon exposure to LEN, accompanied by increased levels of RUNX1 activity. Deletion of CRBN expression cancelled these effects. RUNX1 overexpression inhibited clonogenic growth and induced apoptosis. We then generated RUNX1 knock-out (KO) clones derived from MDS-L cells using CRISPR/Cas9 system. RUNX1 KO cells presented increased proliferation, increased colony growth and reduced apoptosis in the presence of LEN compared to wild-type (WT) control clones. These results were validated with different shRNAs against RUNX1. Genetic rescue experiments showed that RUNX1 mutants were unable to restore sensitivity to the drug compared to RUNX1 WT. Finally, modeling RUNX1 loss-of-function (LOF) in CSNK1A-depleted human CD34+ cells abrogated the effects of LEN on colony forming cell assays. Thus, RUNX1 function is required for the elimination of del(5q) cells by LEN.
 To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the resistant phenotype, we performed RNA-seq on MDS-L cells treated with LEN for 24h. We observed a significant upregulation of Platelet specific genes (ITGB3, ITGA2B, VWF, THBD, SELP, TREML1, GATA1) coupled to downregulation of Cell Cycle genes (E2F2, E2F1, MCM5, CDKN1A), suggesting that LEN induces differentiation in to the Megakaryocytic (Meg) lineage. We found a significant upregulation of CD41+/CD61+ double positive cells after LEN exposure in vitro and in vivo, associated to the appearance of multinucleated cells. Importantly, the apoptotic response was associated to the emergence of the differentiating population. At the molecular level, CRBN is required for LEN-induced differentiation. Further downstream we identified IKZF1 degradation as key trigger, as IKZF1 overexpression restrained Meg differentiation and a IKZF1 dominant negative isoform enhanced it. In contrast, CSNK1A overexpression did not alter differentiation after LEN, but did reduce apoptotic induction. Moreover, we identified GATA2 targets enriched in LEN-regulated genes and showed that GATA2 overexpression or downregulation using shRNAs significantly increased or reduced LEN induced differentiation respectively.
 Finally, gene expression analysis after LEN exposure showed that Meg signatures were not enriched in resistant RUNX1 KO cells compared to WT control. Accordingly, RUNX1 KO cells did not undergo differentiation upon LEN exposure. RUNX1 LOF in CSNK1A-depleted primary human CD34+ cells blocked CFU-Mk growth in LEN treated cells. GATA2 overexpression was unable to restore LEN effects in RUNX1 deficient cells, suggesting a cooperative mechanism between both transcription factors. Luciferase assays using the human CD41 promoter showed that RUNX1 mutants reduced promoter transactivation compared to RUNX1 WT. Remarkably, we observed a similar phenotype for LEN-resistant TP53 KO cells.
 As a conclusion, our results suggest that GATA2, RUNX1 and TP53 cooperate to drive Meg differentiation after LEN-mediated degradation of IKZF1 protein. Loss of function mutations affecting RUNX1 or TP53 alter the activity of GATA2 transcriptional complex, rendering del(5q) cells unresponsive to LEN.

 Platzbecker: Celgene: Research Funding.


television show which was cancelled in 1969 after three seasons but which continues to be shown in syndicated reruns. The real life of "Star Trek," however, is in the activities of its fans. Although "Star Trek" conventions are mentioned occasionally in newspapers and news magazines, meetings are only the most public and easily seen activity. In addition, fans are producing large numbers of usually short-lived magazines. These magazines tend to publish either fiction written by fans-as in Warped Space-or news of interest to and letters from fansas in The Halkan Council. The fiction is, for the most part, about characters and places that appeared in "Star Trek." However, even the magazines devoted to fan-produced fiction usually include letters to the editor. This study reports in-group vocabulary, especially as used in the letters to the editor and in the editorials of these fan-produced magazines. Thus, the vocabulary of the fiction is not considered, although terms from it like beam up and Kraith are worth study. Some information gathered from conversations is included. The special vocabulary of "Star Trek" fans centers on three topics: conventions, publications, and the fans themselves. There is a close, if not always amiable, relationship between "Star Trek" and other science fiction fans, who like to think of themselves as purists and of "Star Trek" fans as television-star-smitten pre-teens. Trekkers, naturally, resent that attitude. Because of the connection between the two groups, however, some of the words reported here are current in general science-fiction fan magazines too. Indeed science fiction and "Star Trek" fans are not the only users of the form zine, which the Gale Research Company is using to advertise a new hardbound annual called Pages. New York Magazine (15 November 1976, p. 89) quotes a company spokesman as saying that "Pages will be a lavishly produced book-a-zine, a book with a magazine format." Even though some of the following words are used by other groups, a command of the whole constellation of terms is seen by fans as an indication of status within the "Star Trek" world. The new fan


Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are used in human medicine as well as for the manage‐ ment of rodent populations. In both cases, we have to deal with inter-individual resistances. Many mechanisms of resistances are common in humans and rodents. Moreover, with the large use of vitamin K antagonist rodenticides, the resistant phenotype is overrepresented in some rodent populations. Consequently, some resistance mechanisms with a low prevalence in the human population have a higher prevalence in rodent population; thus, they can be more studied in rodents. The aim of this chapter is to cross knowledge coming from human medicine and rodent research in order to better understand each resistance mechanism. After an overview of the essential knowledge for the understanding of the VKA action, this chapter presents the different methods of VKA resistance studying and then it assesses the current knowledge on VKA resistance in humans and rodents.


BACKGROUND
In addition to poor infrastructure, and human resource constraints, forensic medicine specialists in developing countries face many external challenges.

OBJECTIVES
We aimed to investigate the prevalence, type, and source of external challenges confronting them including sex, age, religion, deceased's place of residence and the number of accompanying relatives.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted between August 2020 and July 2022 at the Mortuary of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar with the approval of the ethical committee.

RESULTS
Of note, forensic medicine specialists faced external challenges in about one in five cases (20.5%). Most demands were to either minimise the autopsy procedure (n = 65) or to conduct the autopsy at inappropriate times (n = 58). The demands to minimise the autopsy procedure were significantly associated with the deceased's age (p = 0.046), religion (p = 0.010), socioeconomic class (p = 0.020) and manner of death (p = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS
Our study found that forensic medicine specialists in India face significant external challenges. Avoiding unnecessary complete autopsies, implementing night autopsies, and embracing minimally invasive autopsies are recommended to mitigate these challenges.


Aims:  Increased oxidative stress may contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy. Conversely, it has been proposed that enhanced glomerular production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may be the cause of glomerular hyperfiltration in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats. As the role of superoxide anion (O2–) production in early diabetic nephropathy is not fully understood, we investigated the effect of vitamin C and desferrioxamine treatment on glomerular O2– and PGE2 production in diabetic rats.


We study information design for network routing games in the presence of vagaries. We prove strong competitive bounds for various information provision policies, in the spirit of Roughgarden's Price of Anarchy (PoA). In contrast with the classical framework, we show that the PoA may cease to be bounded in the presence of vagaries, unless information is provided to the decision-makers. We also investigate randomized public signaling policies and personalized recommendation, beyond no-and full-information revelation.


Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming a
major public health problem worldwide. The persistent progression
of CKD is postulated to result from a self-perpetuating vicious
cycle of events activated after initial injury. Being a major
excretory and homeostatic organ of the body, kidney is continuously
exposed to toxic wastes, excess of water and ions. In an attempt to
understand the molecular mechanisms, which lead a normal
functioning kidney towards disease state, proteomic screening of
renal cells under various physiological conditions such as osmotic
stress, oxidative stress and cytokines were performed. The data
highlighted the expression regulation of an endoplasmic reticulum
resident Ca2+ binding protein, calreticulin. Within endoplasmic
reticulum (ER), calreticulin plays important function as a chaperon
directing proper conformation of proteins, as well as a major ER
Ca2+ binding protein, which controls cytosolic and ER Ca2+ levels.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of
calreticulin and mechanisms connecting this protein in regulating
the renal cells function and progression of renal injury. In vitro
investigations described in Chapter 2 using two-dimensional
fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis combined with mass
spectrometry analysis revealed an expression alteration of
calreticulin in renal cells under osmotic stress conditions. It was
also found that downregulation of calreticulin is combined with
continuous change in the level of free intracellular Ca2+. On the
other hand, inhibition of the Ca2+ release, through IP3R
antagonist, prevented calreticulin expression alteration under
hyperosmotic stress, whereas the cell viability was significantly
impaired. An increase in ER Ca2+ storage with decreased cell
viability was observed in cells overexpressing wild type
calreticulin compared to no significant change in Ca2+ level and
viability in cells overexpressing mutant calreticulin, lacking the
Ca2+ binding domain. Furthermore, free Ca2+ level and cell survival
were significantly improved under osmotic stress conditions by
silencing calreticulin with siRNA. Taken together, our data clearly
highlight the crucial role of calreticulin in renal cells
functioning and survival through modulating Ca2+ homeostasis under
osmotic stress conditions. The work presented in Chapter 3 was
performed with adult heterozygote Calr+/- mice having chronic low
level of calreticulin to further investigate the in vivo impact of
downregulation of calreticulin on kidney structure and function. A
progression of renal injury evidenced by development of
glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage was observed in
histological analysis of Calr+/- mice kidneys from different age
groups. The significant overexpression of cytosolic Ca2+ binding
proteins with an insignificant alteration of ER stress proteins,
suggested the role of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis disturbance in
renal impairments in Calr+/- mice. It was also found that
endoplasmic reticulum stress protein markers are not significantly
induced. Proteomic analysis further highlighted the role of
oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in renal injury in
Calr+/- mice kidneys. Especially, the reactive oxidative species
scavenging enzyme, Sod1 expression was not only significantly
downregulated but also showed irregular aggregates with
immunohistochemical staining. Ultrastructural analysis further
indicated significantly impaired mitochondrial morphology
characterized by enlarged, swollen mitochondria with disturbed
membranous structures in Calr+/- mice. These morphological changes
were accompanied by biochemical abnormalities with specific
decreases in the activity of cytochrome c oxidase of the
mitochondrial electron transfer chain. Consequently, the oxidative
stress together with mitochondrial damage and energy imbalance
resulted in kidney injury in Calr+/- mice. In conclusion, the work
presented in this thesis, revealed for the first time, the role of
calreticulin in renal cells function and in the progression of
chronic kidney injury. The study also points out that low level of
calreticulin mediated Ca2+ homeostasis disturbances impacts the
mitochondrial morphology, function and expression of Sod1. It will
be interesting to investigate the exact mechanism by which
calreticulin modulates Sod1 downregulation, at the molecular level.
This should provide more concentrated foci for future
experimentation. However, our findings highlighted a new potential
mechanism of the progression of CKD and encourage new directions in
CKD research, which in turn should have impact on treatment
approach, diagnosis and prevention of CKD.


Last August, four chefs sat around a table in a Madison, WI, restaurant, each with small samples of 10 tomato varieties. With nary a word spoken, the chefs tasted each morsel, then rated the flavor along dimensions represented by axes drawn on paper. Tomatoes high in sweetness and acidity fell on the right. Those high in umami, a savory flavor, were grouped in the bottom left.

Fig. 1.
Chefs with expert palates are helping plant breeders revolutionize the flavor of produce. The owners of the Oregon-based, organic seed company, Adaptive Seeds—Andrew Still ( Second from Right ) and Sarah Kleeger ( Left )—walk their fields with Oregon State University agricultural researcher Lane Selman ( Right ) and local chef Timothy Wastell as the team develops new varieties of kale. Image courtesy of Shawn Linehan (photographer).

Tomato flights aren't the latest food trend, and Julie Dawson, the woman overseeing this event, was not administering a culinary exam. Dawson, a plant breeder at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is one of a small but growing number of breeders who are harnessing the power of the chef's palate to produce more flavorful vegetables.

Most of the tomatoes the chefs tasted that day were varieties in the making. The chefs' input helped determine which varieties hit the seed catalogues, which were bred with others to improve flavor, and which were dropped from production altogether. "Chefs can articulate what tastes good and what needs to be fixed in ways that others can't," says Dawson.

Breeder–chef partnerships vary in approach from quantitative analyses to informal conversation, but all are centered on the basic idea that when breeders and chefs unite they can revolutionize the quality of produce.

People have crossed plants and selected the most productive, disease-resistant, attractive, and flavorful offspring for millennia. But as we came to rely on food grown at a distance, …


Analysing Priest's paintings, drawings, and sculptures, three authors discuss the artist's "obsession with architectural space and modernism" and refer to her use of source photography. Norden presents Priest's work as a "reclamation of the grid for women." Biographical notes. Bibl. 2 p.


This study in its capacity explore the significance of technology adoption among unregistered small or micro businesses in the informal economy. To achieve this objective, initial observations were carried out by researchers over a time period on unregistered business owners operating in an informal economy. The study adopts an interview data collection method. The findings reveal that initially, these business owners had no intention of adopting technology into their business model. However, they did. Given this, the adopted technology (simple mobile phones) gave them some unprecedented opportunities over others in terms of work flexibility and expanded customer networks via referral. Unintentionally, the interview findings also reveal that with the simple technology adopted by this informal and unregistered businesses, customers were able to make business transactions from their comfort zone and enhance their individual security consciousness.


Abstract The original description of Natrix leonardi (currently Rhabdophis leonardi) by Frank Wall in 1923, based on a specimen from the "Upper Burma Hills," lacked important morphological details that have complicated the assignment of recently collected material. Furthermore, although the holotype was never lost, its location has been misreported in one important taxonomic reference, leading to further confusion. We report the correct repository of the holotype (Natural History Museum, London), together with its current catalog number. We also describe key features of that specimen that were omitted from the original description, and provide new details on the morphology of the species, including sexual dichromatism unusual for the genus, based upon specimens from southern Sichuan, China. Rhabdophis leonardi is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: 15 or 17 DSR at midbody and 6 supralabials; distinct annulus around the neck, broad and red in males, and narrow and orange with a black border in females; dorsal ground color light green or olive; some lateral and dorsal scales possessing black edges, the frequency of black edges gradually increasing from anterior to posterior, forming irregular and ill‐defined transverse black bands; eye with prominent green iris; black ventral spots with a red edge, most numerous at midbody but extending halfway down the length of the tail. In southwestern China, this species is frequently found at 1730–2230 m elevation. It has been documented to prey upon anuran amphibians, including toads. A recently published phylogenetic analysis showed this species to be deeply nested with the genus Rhabdophis, as a member of the R. nuchalis Group. That analysis also revealed the existence of two closely related but geographically distinct subclades in the molecular analysis, one of which may represent an unnamed taxon.


Considering the coupled dynamics among suspension,steering and braking sub-systems in vehicle chassis,the high-order and nonlinear dynamic model is built.The sub-optimal controllers of nonlinear H∞ control,direct yaw moment PID control and sliding mode control are separately designed for the suspension,steering and braking subsystems.In order to further improve the vehicle chassis whole-region optimal control performance,the subsystems' control functions are distributed based on the function distribution principle,and the subsystem's control function indices are utilized for competing by game theory.The upper-layer coordinated controller is designed to obtain the expected control output values,and the fuzzy rules are utilized to adaptively adjust the subsystems' control output in order to follow the whole-region control object.The considerable simulations are carried out for full-vehicle coordinated control system,and the function distribution based chassis control system test platform is established by utilizing ARM in order to carry out the vehicle road test.The results demonstrate that the full-vehicle coordinated control system based on game theory can obtain the best control performances than the uncoordinated control system and uncontrolled system.


The Endorsement test is one of the tests used by the Court to determine whether Establishment Clause guarantees have been violated. While a variety of authors have noted that the test is difficult to apply and may result in relevantly similar cases being decided differently, commentators have paid too little attention to some of the ways that the test itself has evolved over the years. Currently, the test is often used not to protect minority religious viewpoints but, instead, to undermine the reasonableness of those individuals who are offended when their religious views are ignored or undermined. While once appearing to offer an approach whereby religious pluralism might be promoted, the Endorsement test now seems more likely to be used to oppress than to further tolerance and respect for diverging religious and secular views. This article suggests that the test as used currently seems to be doing little if any independent work and, instead, is all too often simply used to rationalize results reached in other ways and to impugn the judgment or knowledge of those who disagree.


Background: Protecting Health Care Workers (HCWs) from infection with SARS-CoV2 is a crucial element and that depends on rational use of PPE and adherence to IPC practices. Early targeted training will reduce the infection rate in HCWS. Objectives: To determine adherence/compliance of HCWs to IPC practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and methods: Prospective observational study, conducted at atertiary care centre, from July to December 2020. HCWs in theCOVID ward were constantly observed for adherence to IPC practices separately in donning area, doffing area and inside the ward and ICU by trained infection control nurses. Results: There were a total of 792 HCWs involved in COVID duty, including doctors (44%), nurses (29%), cleaning staff (17%) and supporting staff (10%).In donning area adherence to standard precautions for hand hygiene was 89.4%, following steps of donning was 90.7%, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was 98.2% and to environmental disinfection was 94.6%. In the COVID ward, rational use of PPE was done 100% by doctors and nurses, 93.8% by cleaning staff, 92.7% by supporting staff and overall 98.2%. In doffing area overall adherence to standard precaution for hand hygiene was 95.1%, following steps of doffing was 93.4%, biomedical waste (BMW) segregation was 92.4% and to environmental disinfection was 90.7%. can be brought in by regular training sessions as evidenced by the present study.


WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS? A 30-year-old Iranian man was admitted to our hospital due to productive cough, chest pain, sweating and 14 Kg weight loss since three months ago. He developed fever and progressive dyspnea seven days ago. The patient was a painter, 16 pack/year smoker, oral opium addict, with a history of incarceration. But he denied intravenous drug abuse. He was single and had not any sexual contact. He had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis seven years ago with complete cure after treatment for nine months. In physical examination, he was cachectic with severe respiratory distress, unable to walk. The vital signs were: oral temperature: 39 0C; pulse rate: 108 / min; respiratory rate: 28/min and blood pressure: 120/80 mmHg. Oxygen saturation rate was 73% with ambient air. Heart sounds were normal. Fine crackles were heard in both lungs .Peripheral cyanosis was present and a tattoo was seen on his right hand. There was no further abnormal clinical finding. The results of the laboratory tests were: total leukocyte count: 6900 cell /μl with 82% neutrophils, 6% band cells and 12% lymphocytes, hemoglobin: 13.1 gr/dl, platelet: 280000 cell /μl; normal liver function tests, biochemistry and electrolytes. Chest Xray (Figure 1) and high resolution lung CT Scan (HRCT) were obtained (Figure 2).Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy were performed. (Tanaffos 2007; 6(2):92-95)


In these paired years (2020–2021), the whole world has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has resulted in the emergence of different presumptions, alternative facts, and fake news. Among those, the most dominant news was about bats as the culprits of expansion of the virus and, indirectly, the Chinese diet as the root cause. However, there is no proof that the links in the triangle of bat-virus-human are valid; and the source of infection has not been identified. In addition to bats, these viruses can be found in other animals, such as camels, pangolins, and humans. Therefore, individual scientists are reversing the situation by presenting the possibility of transmitting the virus from humans to animals. Nevertheless, it has become ultimately 'acceptable' to demonise the bat. In this respect, various authors remind us of certain historical contexts of notions and perceptions of the bats, as well as the similarities and differences of those perceptions during the pandemic, referring to it mainly in the context of Croatia and the world. In the end, the article's conclusion is that the story about the bats is, actually, a great indicator of the representations of Otherness and the strengthening of a binary and hierarchical division of 'us' and 'them'.


The paper contains a general study on the strength of polycrystalline ice. A theory on the fracture of ice is proposed that starts from the observation of the mechanism of failure of monocrystalline ice and is based on the computation of the elastic stability of a grain of polycrystalline ice. It is verified with experimental data obtained from tests carried out at the Ice Mechanics Laboratory of Laval University. For brittle fracture it shows that when a crack is formed in one grain, it propagates immediately to the whole sample in a tensile test and is followed quickly by failure in a crushing test. An equation is derived that shows that the fracture strength depends on the crystal size and on the cohesive strength of the ice, which is only temperature dependent.The maximum strength of polycrystalline ice does not occur in the brittle range, but in the ductile range. Glen's law of creep of polycrystalline ice has been used to obtain, from the data, best fit curves between the yield strength and the stra...


THERE IS MORE than one Foucault. A prominent figure in contemporary philosophy, his interests extended to many other fields of Western culture (for a review, see Dreyfus and Rabinow 1982). If there is a common theme to his work, it is the critical examination of the historical development of the basic concepts by which we structure our understanding of the world and our place in it. First, there is Foucault the epistemologist. This is the Foucault of his early books. These explore the historical roots and cultural relativity of our shared, everyday scientific beliefs (Foucault 1970 and 1973). Through an examination of a number of different fields, Foucault shows that truth itself, even scientific truth, is a culturally relative phenomenon. We assume that science establishes a truth that is objective and independent of the social context in which it proceeds. Foucault showed that science is, rather, a product of power relations (Foucault 1979 and 1984, 51-75). Then, in his later work, we find Foucault the practical philosopher. In studies of our modern lifestyle and self-concepts, he proposes a set of values for the conduct of life. In this, of course, he risks contradicting his earlier relativistic critique (Foucault 1984, 333-72; Foucault 1989, 203-331). Finally, there is Foucault the highly politicized reformer, fighting injustice in the prisons and elsewhere. Even here he maintained that his values represented not objective truth, but a truth created through practice. All these Foucaults are important for psychiatry. The epistemologist reminds us that in the field of mental health, our concepts (in psychopathology, in classification, and in therapeutics) are shaped by history; and that here, too, political and other values often are allowed to masquerade as "objective standards" (Radden, 1994). The political philosopher speaks more to our personal and professional lifestyles, prompting us to recognize in what way and to what extent we influence our patients' decisions. And the political activist shows us that psychiatry is a political arena, in which we have to be ready to fight injustice. All these Foucaults, too, and for similar reasons, are important for anti-psychiatry. Indeed, as Matthews points out, Foucault has been connected more with anti-psychiatry then with psychiatry. Focusing on an early work, Madness and Civilisation (Foucault 1967 [1965]), he examines the truth claims of Foucault's epistemology. Here, as Matthews rightly indicates, is one of the strongest philosophical justifications of the antipsychiatry movement. Hence an assessment of the validity of Foucault's argument is an assessment of the validity of anti-psychiatry. And, as Matthews shows, while there is value in judging psychiatry in the light of its historical develop-


Objective To understand toxic effects directly on the secretion of adrenocortical cells induced by lead and cadmium and its possible mediated pathway. Methods The adrenocortical cells from male guinea pigs were dispersed and primarily isolated and cultured, and then the cells were incubated with cadmium chloride and lead acetate in doses of 0, 6 25, 12 50, 25 00, 50 00, 100 00 μmol/L and 0 00, 12 50, 25 00,50 00和100 00 μmol/L, respectively, for varied periods (30, 60, 120 and 240 min) Cortisol level in the culture medium and cellular cAMP concentration were measured, respectively, with RIA to study their correlation Results Cadmium chloride at 6 25 100 00 μmol/L for 30 240 min could cause reduction of cellular secretion of cortisol, in a dose dependent manner and interacted with incubation period Lead acetate could slightly inhibit secretion of cortosol at low dose (12 50 and 25 00 μmol/L) and reverse to normal secretion at high dose (100 00 μmol/L), showing a tendency of dual phase response The incubation period prolonged more, the more effects appeared Level of cAMP declined with the increase of dose of cadmium chloride, in a dose dependent manner and with correlation to its inhibition of cortisol secretion Lead acetate could inhibit cAMP at low dose and increase it at high dose, parallel with the changes in cortisol secretion. Conclusions With existence of ACTH, cadmium chloride could directly inhibit the synthesis and secretion of cortisol Lead acetate could slightly inhibit cortisol secretion at low dose and reverse its secretion at high dose, even inducing dual response cAMP, as an important second messenger, plays a role in synthesis and secretion of cortisol. CdCl 2 and PbAc could mediate their toxic effect on steroid hormone secretion, possibly via cAMP PKA pathway


The low-cement castables were prepared with high quality bauxite clinker as the basic batch compositions, added the black SiC powders with different propositions. By analysing physical properties of the castables, the abrasion resistences of the castables were affected by the calinum aluminate cement and the water deminator.The results reveal that the abrasion resistence of the samples after firing at 1 100 ℃fluctuate according to the adding amounts of SiC.The abrasion resistence and thermal shock resistence of the samples after firingat 1 500℃are clearly improved.


Cellular production of serine provides precursors for numerous anabolic reactions, particularly for proteins and nucleic acid synthesis and for one carbon metabolism, and this pathway has been demonstrated to be elevated in many different cancer types. In addition, metabolites within serine synthesis can stimulate other processes required for neoplastic growth, including glucose metabolism, specifically through the activation of the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). However, the complete mechanism by which serine biosynthesis facilitates metabolic or cellular changes necessary for tumor growth are unclear and is further confounded by the observation that suppression of serine biosynthetic enzymes disrupts tumorigenesis even in the presence of exogenous serine. Phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1), the second enzyme in serine synthesis, catalyzes the conversion of 3‐phosphohydroxypyruvate to phosphoserine and increased expression correlates with poorer overall survival in lung cancer patients. In order to determine whether PSAT1 may contribute to lung cancer progression, PSAT1 expression was stably silenced in A549 and H358 lung cancer cells. Although a modest change in cell proliferation was observed upon PSAT1 knock‐down compared to control, there was a robust decrease in soft‐agar colony formation in both cell types. PSAT1 suppression was accompanied by distinct morphological changes and an increase in E‐cadherin expression, suggesting a potential switch in the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), which underlies the metastatic potential of cancer cells. Accordingly, PSAT1 suppression resulted in a decrease in cellular motility as demonstrated through wound healing assays. To ascertain whether specific PSAT1 mediated protein:protein interactions may contribute to the pro‐tumorigenic potential of serine metabolism, we performed GST‐PSAT1 pull‐down assays that revealed a potential direct association with PKM2, which was confirmed by co‐immunoprecipitation. In vitro recombinant enzyme assays found that PSAT1 activates PKM2, but not PKM1 and, addition of serine or fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate further activated PKM2, suggesting that PSAT1‐dependent stimulation is distinct from other allosteric modulators. Lastly, based on in silico modeling, site‐directed mutagenesis of PKM2 identified amino acid residues required for this protein interaction. Taken together, elucidating the functional role of PSAT1‐PKM2 in lung cancer cells may yield valuable information about the relationship between serine‐glucose metabolism and EMT transition in cancer cells and provide an additional therapeutic target for cancer treatment.


With the designation of the new logo shown above, a new column is instituted which will hopefully become a permanent and central part of the Interfaces journal and mission. The objective of the column is a modest one of revolutionizing the study and practice of management science. I believe we can attain this objective only through the combined efforts of both practitioners and theoreticans, not exactly a novel idea. I hope, however, to use the column as a vehicle for uniting the practitioner and the scholar in a novel endeavor aimed at exploring and refining those steps deemed necessary for successful implementation of management science efforts, and then logically combining those steps into something called management science process. In this paper I will attempt to explain the concept of this proposed endeavor, give some examples of results that can be expected from the effort and, hopefully, convince the reader to contribute ideas, suggestions and articles for the column.


Abstract. At the 120-acre Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (ONA) located in southeast Florida, 30 Cladonia perforata thalli were translocated in 2009. Thalli were transplanted from an area with a large C. perforata population, where sand pine fuels had accumulated and were at risk of a fire, to an area that had either been recently burned, or where no fuel treatments were planned in the near future. There was no C. perforata at or near the four transplant recipient locations, which were selected for habitat suitability and their protected locations within the ONA. The four C. perforata recipient sites have been monitored annually since 2009. Across the four transplant locations, C. perforata thalli have increased, numbering 173 in 2015 and 443 in 2020. Based on our findings, translocation of C. perforata was highly successful at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse ONA, with an over 14-fold increase in number of individuals in an 11-year period, assisting the colonization of new sites and buffering the lichen's vulnerable population at this location. Larger thallus size, transplant recipient site protection, and site characteristics that facilitated thalli stabilization probably contributed to this success. While habitat conservation of in situ populations is the preferred management practice for species conservation, it is encouraging to know that, with proper methodology and timing, translocation can be a tool for certain species.


It is easy to notice lately, the significant growth that the energy market, which opens the doors to a race for new energy sources and new methods for obtaining the benefit of energy. It is in the same vein as some industrial and research laboratories with an interest environment increasingly growing development of absorption chillers that have many advantages. The absorption refrigeration systems using ammonia-water couple now become a promising solution for cooling due to their many advantages. These systems use greener refrigerants to the environment. They also have the advantage of using a free source of heat and clean by coupling with a solar heat source. The objective of this work is to study a refrigeration loop absorption using the ammonia-water pair purpose of determining its performance and suggest improvements. This improvement in the coefficient of performance "COP" is based on changes to the system to absorption itself. Our approach is to increase the number of boilers and absorbers (three boilers, condenser, evaporator and two absorbers). The modifications brought us the following advantages: the possibility of operating with temperatures vary around 70 °C panels that require less costly simple plans and elimination of the distillation column which is explained by the reduction in the overall cost of the facility with improved COP.


Experiment to study the effect of plant leaves, nematicides and fertilizers singly and in all possible combination was laid out in earthern pots in screenhouse. It indicated that neem leaves, aldicarb and potassium significantly reduced the number of galls per plant individually whereas, datura leaves and carbofuran increased the various growth parameters. Combined effect of various treatments were significant in reducing the number of galls. However, maximum reduction occured in treatment where neem leaves were added with potassium and aldicarb.


The status of Santolina ageratifolia Bamades ex Asso as a distinct species belonging to S. rosmarinifolia L. aggr. is vindicated. An historical approach, a revision of the diagnostic characters and a detailed chorology of the species in Spain is presented. Likewise, some doubtful questions conceming taxonomy and chorology in Spain of the whole aggregate (including S. rosmarinifolia L. s. str., S. canescens Lag., S. pectinata Lag. and S. semidentata Hoffmanns. & Link) are clarified. A new nomenclatural combination is proposed: S. semidentata subsp. melidensis (Rodriguez-Oubina & Ortiz) Lopez Udias, Fabregat & Mateo.


A set of thrust measurement system for multi-pulse laser thrusters was established based on PVDF after the PVDF was calibrated.The experiment was conducted while the single pulse energy was 40 J and the frequency is 10 Hz.Comparison results between the PVDF method and the stain gauge method indicate that the system has preferable effects of response speed,precision and noise-restrain.At the same time,we observed the decrease of impulse coupling coefficient at double laser pulses acting,which needs to further study.


Hurricane center advisories specifying the radius of gale force winds (GFW) in tropical cyclones are severely limited by inadequate data. Their accuracy is especially vulnerable in the data void tropical ocean regions. The SEASAT-A satellite scatterometer (SASS) sensed surface winds associated with numerous tropical cyclones. Although instrument design ruled out retrieval of winds within the inner core of the storm, surface truth studies indicate SASS can detect the threshold of gale force winds (17–18−1) with an accuracy comparable to the original SEASAT specifications (±2 ms−1 or 10% and ±20°). Accurate and abundant SASS observations were thus used as verification for advisories specifying the radius of gale force winds for tropical cyclones in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean basins. Advisories were found to consistently overestimate the radius of GFW, often by a factor of two in the Central Pacific. Large asymmetries in the GFW distribution measured by SASS were often in considerable disagreement with symmetric circular and semicircular advisory values. However, advisories that had access to low-level aircraft data closely matched SASS measured GFW values.


A carrier foil and the ultrathin copper foil, a ultrathin copper foil with a carrier which release layer is formed between the carrier foil and the ultra-thin copper foil, precipitation rate of the release layer metal B metal A is intended is forming in becomes higher plating conditions than deposition rate, a first release layer which is formed on the carrier foil side and a second release layer which is formed on the ultra-thin copper foil side, the first the release layer is made of a metal B for facilitating plating of the metal a and the ultra-thin copper foil to hold the release property, element ratio y1 and 70 (%) of the element ratio x1 and metal B of the metal a <{y1 / (x1 + y1)} × 100 ≦ 79 (%) , And the and the second separation layer is made of a metal B for facilitating plating of the metal A and the ultra-thin copper foil to hold the release property, and the element ratio y2 of the element ratio x2 and metal B of the metal A 80 (%) <{y2 / (x2 + y2)} × 100 ≦ 88 (%) And characterized in that.


The invention relates to a control circuit of a plasma display panel. According to the invention, to reduce current loops during the interview panel cells, we propose a new control circuit architecture. The switches I1 and I4 the sustainer and the switches I2 and I3, are arranged next to each other on the circuit board. In addition, access to the connectors Ys and Yas electrodes of the panel are placed at the periphery of the card, on the same edge.


Many pregnant women are concerned about the potential reproductive and developmental risks of radiation exposures. With the advent of the Internet, consulting has become more rapid and efficient. In 2008, the pregnancy website of the Health Physics Society (HPS), ATE (Ask the Expert), received approximately 2,400,000 hits. Over 700,000 prepared answers to questions were downloaded. Over 1,600 contacts were still anxious after reading the Website answers and requested a personal consultation. From this experience we have learned that many physicians and other counselors are not prepared to counsel patients concerning reproductive and developmental radiation risks. Approximately 8% of the contacts have provided inaccurate information that could have resulted in an unnecessary interruption of a wanted pregnancy.


A new multilevel converter configuration is introduced in this paper to feed the large-scale solar power in a three-phase grid. It is connected to the grid of 11 kV for a 1 MW medium power application. It utilizes twelve switches with symmetric progression to have nine levels in phase voltage and seventeen levels in line voltage. It has two units i.e. main power unit (MPU) and extension power units (EPU), which handle the solar power in a modular manner. Various states and operating modes are detailed to showcase the perfect operation of each level. This configuration is extendable to feed more power in a modular manner. Firstly, the converter operation is discussed, and later the converter is connected to the grid with a threephase closed-loop controller. The modeling and simulation are presented to test the system in an intermittent solar environment. A switching strategy with selective harmonics elimination (SHE) is employed to feed the power at fundamental frequency switching. This new solar converter feeds power in steady-state and dynamic conditions. The large-scale power is extendable with the extension of power units or a cascaded converter arrangement. Finally, a new solar converter is tested in Simulink to showcase the superiority of converter dynamics and control at the megawatt level for efficient grid-tied operation.


Yersinia pestis grown with physiologic glucose increased cell autoaggregation and deposition of extracellular material, including membrane vesicles. Membranes were characterized, and glucose had significant effects on protein, lipid, and carbohydrate profiles. These effects were independent of temperature and the biofilm-related locus pgm and were not observed in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.


Counterinsurgency (COIN) operations have been an integral part of warfare since 72 AD when the Romans defeated a Jewish insurgency at Masada.[i] Throughout the ages, resistance to kingdoms, armies, and ideals have arisen from forces with differing ideological beliefs and motivations contrary to those in power. As a result of the timeless nature of insurgencies, operations directed at countering them have adapted to meet the technological advances and shifting tides of political and economic changes. Oddly, while the United States military has been very good at adapting in reactionary fashion on the battlefield, it has not done as good a job in adapting the terminology used to develop the policies and doctrine with which they wage war. The United States Military has not defined insurgency well. The limiting definition fails to frame the problem and can contribute to an inadequate response. The issues of defining insurgency will be investigated and highlighted against the backdrop of historical examples from the Spanish insurgents battling the French on the Iberian Peninsula in the Peninsular War of 1808-1814; the Colombian insurgency waged by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia against the government of Colombia (GOC) from 1969-present; and the narco-terror war being waged in Mexico, where 40,000 have been killed since 2006.[ii]


Gig jobs have become a structural aspect of contemporary economic landscape, creating unique social and technological challenges. How can policies and design solutions better protect gig workers and mitigate the risks participants face?


1Faculty of Health Sciences, University Sultan Zain Al Abidin, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu 21300, Malaysia; 2Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan Introduction: Malaysian stingless bee honey (Trigona) has been aroused as a potential antimicrobial compound with antibiofilm activity. The capability of the gram-negative bacillus P. aeruginosa to sustain a fatal infection is encoded in the bacterium genome. Methods: In the current study, a transcriptome investigation was performed to explore the mechanism underlying the biofilm dispersal of P. aeruginosa after the exposure to Trigona honey. Results: Microarray analysis of the Pseudomonas biofilm treated by 20% Trigona honey has revealed a down-regulation of 3478 genes among the 6085 screened genes. Specifically, around 13.5% of the down-regulated genes were biofilm-associated genes. The mapping of the biofilm-associated pathways has shown an ultimate decrease in the expression levels of the D-GMP signaling pathway and diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) genes responsible for c-diGMP formation. Conclusion: We predominantly report the lowering of c-di-GMP through the downregulation of DGC genes as the main mechanism of biofilm inhibition by Trigona honey.


The theory of stimulation of cardiac tissue based on virtual electrode (VE) polarization was presented by Wikswo and his group (Wikswo, Biophys. J., 1995). Four basic regimes, were distinguished: anodal make, anodal break, cathodal make, and cathodal break. We sought to determine applicability of this theory for near-threshold stimulus intensities. For the experiments we, used fluorescence optical imaging to map virtual electrode polarization at the epicardium of Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts stained with voltage-sensitive dyes. Unipolar cathodal pacing was applied during diastole via a platinum-iridium electrodes. During near-threshold cathodal make stimulation we found deviations from Wikswo's theory. We observed that after quick virtual electrode polarization activation starts at hyperpolarized regions and then causes a subsequent activation of the depolarized regions. Such an activation pattern appears similar to break activation. The effect of the depolarization diffusion from depolarized to hyperpolarized regions of the VE obtained by us experimentally was confirmed theoretically by 2D active bidomain simulations. In conclusion, for weak near-threshold stimuli the activation pattern does not fit completely into the established model of Roth and Wikswo thus revealing its limitations.


Teasing apart the mosquito immune system Hemocytes are key immune cells of insects, playing a major role in how vector species transmit disease. Raddi et al. collected and sequenced the RNA of more than 8000 individual hemocytes from the disease-carrying mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti. These data were then analyzed to determine hemocyte differentiation lineages and population changes in response to noninfected and Plasmodium-infected blood meals. From these data, the researchers identified a new hemocyte type, the megacyte, defined by the transcription of specific marker genes. Gene-silencing experiments implied that the megacyte functions in hemocyte differentiation during immune priming and thus may be involved in the immune response in mosquitoes. Science, this issue p. 1128 Single-cell sequencing expands our understanding of the mosquito immune system. Hemocytes limit the capacity of mosquitoes to transmit human pathogens. Here we profile the transcriptomes of 8506 hemocytes of Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti mosquito vectors. Our data reveal the functional diversity of hemocytes, with different subtypes of granulocytes expressing distinct and evolutionarily conserved subsets of effector genes. A previously unidentified cell type in An. gambiae, which we term "megacyte," is defined by a specific transmembrane protein marker (TM7318) and high expression of lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor–α transcription factor 3 (LL3). Knockdown experiments indicate that LL3 mediates hemocyte differentiation during immune priming. We identify and validate two main hemocyte lineages and find evidence of proliferating granulocyte populations. This atlas of medically relevant invertebrate immune cells at single-cell resolution identifies cellular events that underpin mosquito immunity to malaria infection.


The inclusion of computer mediation and distance education has influenced the training of future mining engineers in Kuzbass universities. This study investigates the issues of students' interaction in multicultural groups within Computer Supported Collaborative Learning. CSCL served as a conceptual framework to guide the presented study. Forty-eight Russian and Indian students participated in the experiment. To assess the peer interaction in multicultural groups four questionnaires were designed. The authors used comparative analysis to analyze the interviews of the participants. To process the data, the Pearson's correlation analysis was performed. In the result of comparative analysis of the participants' interviews some conclusions on students' interaction in multicultural class were done. Foreign students demonstrate positive attitude towards collaborative learning activities while one in two Russian students displays reluctance and frustration in relation to cross-cultural collaborative learning environment. The results suggest that the main challenges for implementation of CSCL in higher education institutions of Kuzbass are insufficient cross-cultural skills of students and even teachers and the lowquality digital infrastructure of universities.


The mass spectra of C-4-alkylated cholest-5-en-3β-hydroxysterols are characterized by an ion (m/e 331) resulting from the unusual intramolecular transfer of the 3β-hydroxy-group to the charge-retaining fragment with concomitant loss of ring A.


Abstract A novel method for lead(II) removal from aqueous acidic solutions is presented. The method involves electrodialysis through bulk liquid membranes accompanied by electrodeposition of metal from the cathodic solution. Solutions of di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid with admixtures of tri-n-octylamine in 1,2-dichloroethane were used as the liquid membranes. The effects of the main electrodialysis parameters as well as of the composition of the liquid membranes and aqueous solutions on the lead(II) transport rate are studied. The optimal conditions are determined. A possibility of effective single-stage transfer of lead(II) through the liquid membrane into dilute solutions of perchloric, nitric and acetic acids is demonstrated. Dense and adherent lead electrodeposits are obtained from perchloric acid solutions. Maximum extraction degree of 93 % and electrodeposition degree of ~60 % are obtained during 5 h of electrodialysis.


Following the 2010/2011 Canterbury, New Zealand earthquakes, a detailed door-to-door survey was conducted in the Christchurch region to establish the earthquake performance of lightweight timber-framed residential dwellings with a masonry veneer external cladding system. The post-earthquake survey involved documenting the condition of dwellings in areas that had experienced different levels of earthquake shaking, allowing comparison between the performance of different veneer systems and different shaking intensities. In total, just fewer than 1,100 residential dwellings were inspected throughout the wider Christchurch area. The survey included parameters such as level of veneer damage, type of veneer damage, observed crack widths, and level of repair required. It is concluded that based on observed earthquake performance at the shaking intensities matching or exceeding ultimate limit state loading, the post-1996 veneer fixing details performed satisfactorily and continued use of the detail is recommended without further modification.


This thesis investigates the socio- and environmental economic effects of a deep repository for spent nuclear fuel in Forsmark in the municipality of Osthammar. I seek to show the general picture but focus on the effects on employment, environment and income. Cost-benefit analysis is used to investigate the differences in utility between a scenario with and a scenario without a deep repository in Forsmark.

Most of the possible effects can not be valued and many can not even be quantified with the data available today. Therefore this thesis has a bit of a "preliminary study character" and seeks to show what we know today and what needs to be further investigated when available data allow it.

The costs that could be valued are noise from the traffic during the period of building and emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the transportation of rock masses during the building period. These costs are valued to approximately 16,7 million Swedish crowns. The income is 7 billion Swedish crowns and consists of direct wages and tax incomes. This points to a profit of 6 983 million Swedish crowns which suggest that a deep repository in Forsmark will be profitable for society. But several effects that could affect the result are not included in this valuation. The calculation of the alternative cost of employing a new worker, spin-off effects and direct and indirect effects on the demand in the area could affect the outcome of the valuation. The feelings surrounding the repository can affect or example demand, employment and incomes. Several environmental costs could not be valued, for example the risks of radioactive emissions, effects on sea- and subsoil water and emissions from other traffic from the repository. The calculations are also complicated by the long period of time which includes an ice age and the fact that external factors such as a nuclear accident abroad could affect the socio-economic consequences.

The conclusion is that, given that current public opinion remains unchanged, the results indicate that a deep repository in Forsmark would be profitable for society.


In this article the urgency organizations cash flow and optimal control based on mathematical models. The problem of optimal control of cash flows of the investment institution. Considers that sees in the cash flows scientists. It is proposed to use linear-quadratic-dimensional model of a bank account. Expressions optimal control trajectories and cash flows. Based on mathematical models created using MATLAB software environment package Simulink block diagrams task management model cash flows. Modeled on the basis of the data set . The effect of weighting coefficients to manage cash flow. The results of the optimal trajectory control economic model and credit institutions for investment term of 4 years and in making quarterly payments. Done generalization developing economic and mathematical optimization model and the results of its simulation .


T U.S. government's Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 stipulated that in contrast to pharmaceuticals that have to prove safety and efficacy before receiving Food and Drug Administration approval, dietary supplements are not required to do so before they enter the marketplace, so long as no false claims are made and no restrictions are placed on their use. Moreover, to remove a product from the market, the Food and Drug Administration has to prove the product to be unsafe (it can remain available until the Food and Drug Administration finishes its testing and proves its allegations in court). There are a myriad of reasons that up to 70 percent of Americans have embraced alternative (complementary) medicine. However, there is an astonishing ability in the behavior of healthconscious proactive consumers using supplements to disregard problematic issues about them. For example, the fallacy that supplements are not really "drugs" (yet they are being used for some purported health benefit); that they are inconsequential and unnecessary to report to their physicians (unlike real drugs); and that appropriate dosages and interactions are actually known (they would be disturbed if their prescribed medicines carried similar uncertainty or were not accompanied by dosing and interaction guidelines). The bottom line is that, for most people, taking a pill is the easiest "thing" they can do to feel like they are "doing something" for their health and well-being. When supplements "work," they are indeed a drug—albeit less studied, less regulated, not prescribed, and less understood than pharmaceuticals. This disassociation in the minds of consumers—that a product can have medical benefit yet not be a drug—underscores the fickleness of human nature. Despite these unknowns, the train carrying nutritional supplements long ago left the station, so as physicians and consumers we have to acknowledge that, learn about them, and hope that they are beneficial and not dangerous. While science is catching up to the effects of marketing and human nature, people will be building mental models. Stephen Lewandawsky reported in Psychological Science that "by the time they receive a retraction, the original misinformation has already become an integral part of that mental model. . .," and "people continue to rely on misinformation even if they demonstrably remember and understand a subsequent retraction." Witness the potentially minimal impact the study reporting that beta carotene was in fact not beneficial and possibly harmful had on consumers already used to taking it had on usage rates. In the article (Wall Street Journal, Sharon Begley, February 2, 2005) reporting about mental models, the author reflected on the Machiavellian possibilities that rewiring of the mental model has: "once the genie is out of the bottle it is difficult to stuff them back in." Indeed, the enduring lesson in the book Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe, another mirror of popular culture, was the implication that retractions never make the headlines, have less of an impact than the initial claims, and consequently rarely undo the original damage. Or, as has been attributed to a Rockefeller, behind every great fortune is a great lie (sic—and long forgotten!). The value of Heller et al.'s report, like others that have appeared in this Journal, is as an educational tool and reference guide that brings awareness to plastic surgeons of these products. Without commenting on the study design or statistical validity of this article, it is not surprising the authors found that:


The EU projects reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, thus reducing CO2 emissions is a priority in the European Climate Law published in 2021. The transport sector is the second contributor to CO2, responsible for around 26% of EU greenhouse gasses emissions. In 2020, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions from transport in the EU have dropped by 12.7% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As society comes back to normality, vehicles use is increasing again. To reach the emission targets, new vehicles can introduce CO2-reducing eco-innovative technologies. So far, these technologies accepted under WLTP are light-emitting diodes and efficient alternators. Nevertheless, many other technologies have potential as eco-innovations. In the past, eco-innovative technologies have contributed to reducing EU CO2 emissions. In 2018, the fleet of newly registered cars with eco-innovations saved around 11000 tonnes of CO2. An increasing tendency is seen in 2019: 21000 tonnes of CO2 were saved at fleet level. During 2020, new car registrations with eco-innovations were higher, having the potential to save around 40000 tonnes of CO2 at fleet level. Despite their positive impact, their CO2-reducing effect can be diminished when two of these technologies interact with each other. The presence of the lighting system and the alternator lowers the CO2 savings if compared to the summation of the savings of each technology separately. The impact of the interactions of approved eco-innovations can imply a decrease of 9% of the sum of the CO2 savings from each technology considered independent from the other. ©


In this paper we present a conceptual approach to the study and analysis of learning processes with emphasis on the knowledge-creating types of learning processes that often occur in workplace learning.


The dramatis personae of A tale of two cities and The Weald have parallel destiny,character and behavior,the two authors'logos thinking about the extreme vengeance is actually an eternal telepathy and dialogue,and it incarnates their grand consciousness of universe and humanity.


The preparation of a seedbed using either conventional cultivation (3 scarifyings) or deep tillage increased the vegetative and grain yield of a wheat crop (cv. Banks in 1983, and Quarrion in 1984) when compared with the direct drill technique of crop establishment on a hard-setting red duplex soil (Dr 2.62). Neither vegetative nor grain yield was increased by the inclusion of a deep tillage operation on the conventionally cultivated treatment prior to seedbed preparation with a scarifier. The poor seedling vigour of direct drilled plots was eliminated by deep tillage. However, the effect of deep tillage was short-lived. The importance of good soil physical condition during crop establishment was highlighted by the recompaction of the cultivated soil to bulk density and shear strength levels similar to those of the uncultivated plots in the latter part of the growing season. Because of the fragile nature of the soil, there were no residual benefits from the deep tillage operation on the undisturbed plots in the following season. Although cultivation had obvious benefits in enhancing seedling vigour on the hard-setting soil, the destruction of the soil's macroporosity reduced water infiltration down the soil profile. The adoption of conservation farming practices on hard-setting soils should initially involve reduced cultivation techniques to promote early seedling vigour. This cultivation should be timed to minimise the risks of soil erosion and recompaction. Further work is needed to identify the optimal cultivation techniques for these soils.


To the Editor: I read with great interest Dr. Filly's recent editorial.1 I am a pediatrician and father to a son with Down syndrome, and I manage a website devoted to the health aspects of Down syndrome.2 The website was originally meant for parents of children with Down syndrome, but I had so many emails from scared women or their husbands about their prenatal tests and ultrasound results that I wrote an essay on what the tests were for and what they meant. But I'm still continually asked about the significance of certain sonographic markers. Just this week I heard from a young woman that her doctor stated the ultrasonogram showed "one of the 13 markers of Down syndrome," and the parents were pleading to know what all the markers were and what the chance of having a baby with Down syndrome was based on having one marker. I applaud Dr. Filly's call for a convening of a panel of experts to deal with this problem. I agree that the use of the ultrasound examination in this fashion is causing more fears than it should.


This paper analyses the effect of firm- and country-level determinants on debt maturity structure and how this effect varies across countries and across firm size. Results for 39 countries show that firm-level variables such as asset maturity, size, firm quality and leverage affect debt maturity structure. Institutions and banking structure also influence corporate debt maturity. While the efficiency of the legal system, protection of creditors' rights and bank concentration show a positive relationship to debt maturity, the protection of property rights and the weight of banks in the economy have a negative effect on firm debt maturity. However, these firm- and country-level determinants vary according to firm size. The agency costs and signalling hypotheses are more relevant in explaining the debt maturity structure of large firms, while the asset maturity and tax hypotheses are more pertinent in the case of small firms. Most of the country-level determinants of debt maturity are size dependent; in particular, bank concentration has a positive influence on debt maturity only for the subsample of small firms, while the weight of banks in the economy has a negative influence for small firms.


Characterization of distortion transfer and generation through fans with distorted inlet conditions enables progress towards designs with improved distortion tolerance. The abruptness of transition from undistorted to distorted total pressure regions at the inlet impacts the induced swirl profile and therefore the distortion transfer and generation. These impacts are characterized using URANS simulations of PBS Rotor 4 geometry under a variety of inlet distortion profiles. A 90° and a 135° sector, both of 15% total pressure distortion, are considered. Variants of each sector size, with decreasing levels of distortion transition abruptness, are each applied to the fan. Fourier-based distortion descriptors are used to quantify levels of distortion transfer and generation at axial locations through the fan, principally at the stator inlet. It is shown that a gradual transition in distortion at the inlet results in decreased levels of distortion transfer and generation. The flow physics resulting in this reduction are explored.


The invention relates to an integrated testing system for aviation fuel accessories. The integrated testing system comprises an electric control cabinet, a mechanical operating platform, an integrated pump station, a flow proportion testing platform, a pneumatic testing system and a fuel testing system, wherein the mechanical operating platform is connected with a pressurizing oil delivery gas storage tank through the pneumatic testing system; the integrated pump station is connected with the fuel testing system through an oil delivery pipeline; the pneumatic testing system is connected with the fuel testing system through a pneumatic pipeline; the flow proportion testing platform is connected with a pressure refueling joint testing oil tank; and the electric control cabinet is electrically connected with the mechanical operating platform, the integrated pump station, the flow proportion testing platform, the pneumatic testing system, the fuel testing system, the pressurizing oil delivery gas storage tank and the pressure refueling joint testing oil tank. The integrated testing system can perform performance test on all accessories of an aircraft fuel system, is high in integrity,convenient to maintain, compact in structure, small in occupation area and low in cost and expenditure, and is in accordance with specific using environment and support conditions under the field condition of an aviation equipment support army.


In this paper, we prove that every planar 4-connected graph has a CZ-representation---a string representation using paths in a rectangular grid that contain at most one vertical segment. Furthermore, two paths representing vertices $u,v$ intersect precisely once whenever there is an edge between $u$ and $v$. The required size of the grid is $n \times 2n$.


The Phenomenon of gain crosstalk in saturated EDFAs is experimentally shown and justified. The potential effects on WDM optical networks are demonstrated and quantified.


India is one of the promising universal business giant with a second fastest fiscal escalation rate (8.9%) and a fourth largest GDP in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (US$ 3.6 trillion). Every industry faces the threat of failure in business. Construction companies are predominantly susceptible to fiscal risk owing to the nature of the industry, intense rivalry, reasonably low access barrier, soaring uncertainty and risk involved, and fanciful rise and falls in construction volume. We need to encompass a closer perceptive of the correlation involving the two inter-related matters of risk management and funding on construction projects. It is becoming progressively more essential to attain the goals of the patron, the proprietor and the constructor and its supply chain, particularly when the interest in PFI and PPP arrangements are incessantly budding all around globally. Engineers carry on their shoulders the responsibility of endorsing the principles of sustainable growth. Sustainable development deals with meeting existing individual needs from naturally accessible reserves, while preserving and enhancing the surrounding environmental quality. This paper deals with the various issues involved in the process of engineering while taking in view the environmental considerations for future generations, the prospective responsibility industrial engineers can have in putting a stop to pollution caused by industrialized processes and accentuate how both disciplines can be pooled to craft well-organized and competent resolutions.


Rare-earth-free permanent magnets returned to the forefront of scientific and technological concerns about the environmental and economical issues. The emergence of new markets, control of costs and availability of raw materials encourage to look for alternative materials containing much less, or no, rare earth elements selected from the most common and most available. The hexaferrite doped with lanthanum and cobalt present interesting properties to succeed the rare-earth magnets. The structural and magnetic properties of a strontium hexaferrite are presented in this paper, and two models are developed in order to correlate structural and magnetic properties.


CT colonography (CTC) is being extensively studied for its potential value in colon examinations, since it offers many advantages such as lower risk and less patient discomfort. However, CTC, like all other types of full structural colorectal examinations to date, requires complete bowel preparation. The inconvenience and discomfort associated with this preparation is an important obstacle to compliance with currently recommended colorectal screening guidelines. To maximize compliance, CTC would ideally be performed on an unprepared colon. However, in an unprepared colon residual stool and fluid can mimic soft tissue density and thus confound the identification of polyps. An alternative is to tag the stool with an opacifying agent so that it is brighter than soft tissue and thus easily recognized automatically and then reset to air values. However, such electronic stool subtraction in a totally unprepared colon is difficult to perform accurately for several reasons, including poorly labeled areas of stool, the need to accurately quantify partial volume effects, and noise. In this study the performance of a novel stool subtraction algorithm was assessed in unprepared CT colonography exams of 25 consecutive volunteers who had undergone colonoscopy with positive findings. Results showed 81% sensitivity to clinically relevant lesions > 1 cm with 0.52 false positives per patient compared to colonoscopy findings. Although further study and refinement of the stool subtraction process is required, CT colonography of the unprepared colon with electronic stool subtraction is feasible at detection levels comparable to the prepared colon.


: Couples feel delighted once they find out that they are going to welcome a newborn in the family. During pregnancy stress is a common emotion encountered by the women. Stress can cause serious health issues among foetus and pregnant women like elevated blood pressure, premature labour, IUGR and preterm. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the perceived stress among employed and home maker pregnant women. Comparative descriptive design was used. The study was conducted among the employed and home maker pregnant women in Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, India. 110 pregnant (55 home maker + 55 employed women) women were selected by convenience sampling method. Modified pregnancy stress scale was used to collect the data and computed for analysis. The results of the study revealed that majority of the home maker belongs to the age group of 35 years (30.9%) and 41.8% of employed women belongs to 26-30 years. The mean score of stress among home maker pregnant women was 38.07±6.22 and among employed women it was 47.91±8.71. The mean difference was 9.84. The value of independent t- test was 6.814, significant at the level of p < 0.001. There was significant association found in the obstetrical complications, medication usage and their corresponding trimester among home maker pregnant women. Age, past obstetrical history, mode of conception and occupation were associated in employed pregnant women. It is concluded that employed women had more stress level than home makers


All classical poems have certain formulas,whereas the language of contemporary poems is totallyfree of them. The context of the contemporary poetry is not as pure and profound as on ancient times,yetwarmer and more complicated than the latter


This paper reports the performance of popular derivatives of Least Means Square (LMS) algorithm in noise removal tasks. All the variants of LMS algorithm viz. (i) LMS (ii) Normalized LMS (NLMS) and (iii) Sign-Based (Sign-Data, Sign-Error, Sign-Sign) LMS have been used in this study. The study involves calculation of optimum step size (δ) and mean square error (MSE) for all these algorithms. The step size (δ) of an adaptive filter is an important parameter as it determines the amount of correction applied as the filter adapts from one iteration to the next. Choosing the appropriate step size is not always easy, usually requiring experience in adaptive filter design. Also, three different implementations ( Direct-Form FIR, Direct-Form FIR Transposed and Direct-Form Symmetric FIR) for FIR Low Pass Filter which is required for making an adaptive filter has been studied and it is found that the Direct-Form Symmetric FIR is best in terms of hardware complexity and filter performance. Keywords— adaptive filters; lms algorithm; nlms algorithm; sign-lms algorithm; mean square error