Background— Inflammatory processes have been identified as key mediators of the deleterious effects of ischemia/reperfusion in ST‐segment‐elevation myocardial infarction. Colchicine is a substance with potent anti‐inflammatory properties, suitable for safe use in patients with cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a short course of colchicine treatment could lead to reduced infarct size. Methods and Results— Patients presenting with ST‐segment‐elevation myocardial infarction ≤12 hours from pain onset (treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention) were randomly assigned to colchicine or placebo for 5 days. The primary outcome parameter was the area under the curve of creatine kinase‐myocardial brain fraction concentration. A subset of patients underwent cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement 6 to 9 days after the index ST‐segment‐elevation myocardial infarction. One hundred fifty‐one patients were included (60 in the MRI substudy). The area under the creatine kinase‐myocardial brain fraction curve was 3144 (interquartile range [IQR], 1754‐6940) ng·h‐1·mL‐1 in the colchicine group in comparison with 6184 (IQR, 4456‐6980) ng·h‐1·mL‐1 in controls (P<0.001). Indexed MRI‐late gadolinium enhancement‐defined infarct size was 18.3 (IQR, 7.6‐29.9) mL/1.73 m2 in the colchicine group versus 23.2 (18.5‐33.4) mL/1.73 m2 in controls (P=0.019). The relative infarct size (as a proportion to left ventricular myocardial volume) was 13.0 (IQR, 8.0‐25.3) % and 19.8 (IQR, 13.7‐29.8) %, respectively (P=0.034). Conclusions— These results suggest a potential benefit of colchicine in ST‐segment‐elevation myocardial infarction, but further clinical trials are necessary to draw secure conclusions, especially considering the fact that the present study was not powered to assess clinical end points. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01936285.


As a consequence of the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation process, in the present paper the study of structural changes which could be followed by measuring structure sensitive magnetic properties as the stress induced anisotropy, the coercive force, the demagnetizing factor, and the Barkhausen noise parameters of the as-cast and hydrogenated Fe80V5B15 amorphous alloys is performed. PACS numbers: 61.43.Dq, 75.50.Kj, 75.60.Ej


In order to improve the effectiveness of damage detection of long-span bridge cable structure, a damage detection method of long-span bridge cable structure based on wavelet packet analysis is proposed. After clarifying the causes and types of cable structure damage, the damage location of cable structure is determined by wavelet packet analysis method. The main content is to construct the extended two-scale equation of wavelet packet based on scale vector and wavelet vector, so as to obtain the damage location detection function of cable structure. After the damage location detection, the damage degree detection of cable structure is completed by using the classification principle of support vector machine. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional detection methods, this method can detect the damage position and degree of cable structure more accurately.


This paper proposes a loop-tube type thermoacoustic heating system without any moving parts based on the thermoacoustic effect. In a thermoacoustic heating system, the supplied sound is converted to heat and the heating point is heated. A thermoacoustic heating system differs from a thermoacoustic cooling system: The location of the reference temperature section at the heat pump is upside down. The authors construct a prototype of thermoacoustic heating system. The experimental results show that the heating point reaches 100 °C. It must be emphasized that, using this simple and inexpensive thermoacoustic heating system, noise, waste heat and unused heat are useful as a renewable energy source.


We discuss the amplitude of the B → lllν decays and the differential decay rate dΓ/dqdq, q the momentum of the ll pair emitted from the electromagnetic vertex and q the momentum of the lν pair emitted from the weak vertex. For the relevant form factors, we construct dispersion representations in q which consistently take into account the Ward identity constraints at q = 0 and the contributions of light vector resonances. This allows a reliable description of the form factors in the range 0 < q ≤ 1 GeV that saturates around 99% of the decay rate. The differential decay rate behaves at small q as dΓ(B → lllν)/dq ∝ 1/q in the limit ml = 0, but contains also more singlular contribution of order m l /q , which we take into account. For the case ml ≤ ml, the latter may be neglected and one obtains a mild logarithmic dependence of Γ(B → lllν) on ml. For the case ml ≪ ml, however, the m l /q terms dominate the decay rate leading to Γ(B → lllν) ∼ m l /ml . Consequently, one finds the following features of the four-lepton Bdecays: (i) The decay rates Γ ( B → μμ(μνμ, eνe) )


This is a retrospective study to determine the distribution site, associated fracture and causes of mandibular fractures at HUSM, over a 5 year period, from 1 st January 2002 - 31 st December 2006. Records of patients who had mandibular fracture were reviewed. Data of age, sex, site of fracture, causes and associated fracture were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. There were 113 (84.3%) males and 21 (15.7%) females. The mean age for male was 84.3% and female was 15.7%. The fracture occurs mostly at the age of 11-20 years (45.5%), followed by 21-30 years (30.6%). Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) were the commonest causes of mandibular fracture (92.5%), followed by fight and assault (3.7%), industrial accidents (3.0%), fall (0.7%). There were no cases recorded due to sport injury. The commonest site of mandibular fracture occurs at angle and para-symphysis (23%), followed by body (20.1%), symphysis (16.7%), condyle (15.5%) and ramus (1.7%). The most common associated fractures were head injury (23.5%), followed by clavicle fracture (17.2%) and fracture of radius (10.7%). Mandibular fracture was common in males with the mean age 24.63 years and mostly due to MVA. Angle and para-symphysis is the commonest site of mandibular fracture with most of the patient suffered from concomitant head injury.


In various work contexts, such as meeting scheduling, collaborating, and project planning, collective decision-making is essential but often challenging due to diverse individual preferences, varying work focuses, and power dynamics among members. To address this, we propose a system leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) to facilitate group decision-making by managing conversations and balancing preferences among individuals. Our system extracts individual preferences and suggests options that satisfy a significant portion of the members. We apply this system to corporate meeting scheduling. We create synthetic employee profiles and simulate conversations at scale, leveraging LLMs to evaluate the system. Our results indicate efficient coordination with reduced interactions between members and the LLM-based system. The system also effectively refines proposed options over time, ensuring their quality and equity. Finally, we conduct a survey study involving human participants to assess our system's ability to aggregate preferences and reasoning. Our findings show that the system exhibits strong performance in both dimensions.


on the basis of clinical protocols, phase Il-studies have been started to evaluate photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) for early visualization of cancer in bladder and lung. As tumor marker the fluorescent and photosensitizing polyporphyrin Photofrin II is used in a dose, which has been proven to avoid photosensitization of the patients skin. The drug is administered systemically in a concentration of mostly 0,4 mg/kg bodyweight. Fluorescence of Photofrin II in tissue is detected by an image intensifying CCD-camera coupled to endoscopes usually used in both medical disciplines. Video presentation of the marker fluorescence occurs with high contrast due to realtime image processing following two wavelength excitation of the tissue with laser light. Keypoint of the new diagnostic method is the correlation of the fluorescence contrast and the histological examination of biopsies removed from these areas. As example 87 biopsies has been taken from 1 7 patients suffering from bladder cancer. While all tumorous samples (n = 1 6) show strong fluorescence, about 30% of the biopsies are judged as false positive. A variety of premalignant diseases has been found in these sections. No false negative results are obtained up to now.


A healthy liver leads to healthy life. In India, as well as in other parts of the world, liver disease is one of the principle areas of concern in medicine. For this study, diagnosis of liver disease is performed by deploying classification methods include linear discriminant analysis LDA, quadratic discriminant analysis QDA, feed-forward neural network FFNN and support vector machine SVM based approaches. Experimental results concluded that SVM based approaches outperformed all other classification methods in terms of diagnostic accuracy rates. Furthermore, least squares support vector machine LSSVM with gaussian radial basis kernel function based machine learning approach had emerged as the as the best predictive model by reducing inefficiencies caused by false diagnosis. LSSVM also performed better than linear SVM, polynomial SVM, quadratic SVM and multilayer perceptron SVM despite the uneven variance in attribute values in the health examination data.


THERE is no novelty to the consideration of environmental factors in epidemiology. One may cite Hippocrates, Arnauld of Villanova, Sydenham, Ramazzini, Potts, and Snow, and many others as noting the importance of air, water, and occupation, for acute and chronic disease. Today an increasing proportion of the population is exposed to changes in their environments and in the nature of the demands which these changes make on adaptive, somatic, and genetic mechanisms. Because we have learned but recently to measure various operations of such mechanisms, the potential for study of environmental epidemiology is far greater than in previous periods, and it is rapidly increasing. The variety of agents has changed as well, and continues to grow at a disturbing rate. Also there are recent increases in the potential for detection and analysis of pollutants and in the capacity for complex numerical analysis, although the systematic exploitation of this potential has been slow. In the report of the Environmental Pollution Panel of the President's Science Advisory Committee, epidemiological studies seem to have been given at least as great or even greater urgency than laboratory toxicity studies[1]. Contrasted to laboratory research the number of such epidemiological studies successfully carried out may be fewer, the cost per study greater, and the care needed in planning much greater. Strategies Based on Environmental Epidemiology


Abstract: This note comments on Hindriks and Guala's 'unified theory of institutions'. One of the components that Hindriks and Guala seek to unify, and which they claim is unsatisfactory on its own, is the analysis of conventions that derives from the work of Lewis. I argue that the Lewisian approach provides simple and powerful explanations of many regularities in the social behaviour of humans and other animals. Those explanations can be seen as good social science even if, as Hindriks and Guala argue, they do not fit with common-sense ontology.


The present invention provides a fluid fuel recombinant ceramic catalyst comprising a composite oxide of a transition metal ceramic core element (2), covering the core (2) based on alumina silicate ceramic intermediate layer (3) and a ceramic outer layer comprising noble metal ( 4), the core is formed by igniting the composite transition metal oxide ceramics, is prepared based on alumina silicate ceramic intermediate layer, and a ceramic coating layer on the outer intermediate layer with high metal core outer coating, can be improved octane liquid fuel, which enhance the combustion efficiency and reducing toxic substances in the exhaust gas.


The article discusses the structure and components of professional readaptation from the point of view of its meaningful content, its components in their interrelations and influence on a modern person. The essence and content of the concepts belonging to the synonymic-antonymic series: "adaptation" – "re-adaptation", "general adaptive syndrome" – "general re-adaptive syndrome", which are related to stereotypical changes appearing at the psychophysiological level, are clarified. The common and different characteristics of the stages of a modern person's professional adaptation and re-adaptation are determined. With the help of the appropriate theoretical tools, the features and main peculiarities of non-specific re-adaptation and specific re-adaptation are distinguished.
The general methodological and organizational aspects of a modern person's professional re-adaptation as a process are specified within the context of specific psychogenic factors. The stages of professional re-adaptation are distinguished: incomplete adaptation; relatively stable adaptation; complete adaptation. Particular attention is paid to the reasons and consequences associated with a person's acute rejection to enter into any stage of professional re-adaptation. The professional readaptation is considered within the following optimal intervals (1-3 months); (3-6 months); (6-12 months). The consequences of going beyond the optimal intervals (the re-adaptive period is longer than 12 months) are specified.
The qualitative criteria for professional re-adaptation are revealed with the markers of "healthy" professional re-adaptation and "painful" professional re-adaptation. From the point of view of the subjective evaluation, a modern person's professional re-adaptation is described as: acquired "imaginary (deceptive, false) adaptation"; acquired "real adaptation that was lost earlier". The article is focused on the notion of "half-decay" of knowledge and the impact of this phenomenon on the ultimate quality of professional readaptation in the 21st century. The experience of foreign countries as for the time frames of the "half-decay" of knowledge (3-5 years), depending on professions and fields of knowledge, is presented.
The prospects for further research include the study of psychophysiological aspects of nonspecific and specific readaptation, depending on the requirements of the labor market, in particular unusual and rare professions.


BIOMEDICINE
People who suffer heart attacks often go on to develop congestive heart failure. This occurs because heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, have a limited capacity to divide; cells that die during an acute coronary event typically are replaced by scar tissue rather than by new healthy


The swordsmen before the Tang Dynasty are only Chivalrous,but are not good at Kung Fu.So to behave chivalrously is at the cost of losing life.While in the novels of the Tang Dynasty,swordsmen performs high Kung Fu,combining Chivalrous thoughts and great Kung Fu,by which they could behave flexibly.The reason for this character is the Tang Dynasty's social atmosphere which respects swordsmen and the spreading of Wushu,religion,as well as the novelists' conscience of fiction.


K. Wimmer, R. Bauer, S. Selberherr Institute for Microelectronics Technical University Vienna Vienna, Austria For the development of VLSI devices the simulation of nonplanar fabrication steps is an absolute necessity. A transformation from physical space to computational space has been implemented in our 2D Process-Simulator PROMIS to deal with nonplanar structures. This transformation is accomplished by specifying a generalized boundary fitted coordinate system, which maps the nonplanar physical domain ( x, y) to a rectangular computational domain ( u, v ). Grid generation techniques have been investigated systematically on their applicability to process simulation problems. The implemented methods can be classified in: (1) algebraic, (2) elliptic, and (3) variational methods, and will be discussed in subsequent sections.


FIELD: medicine, pharmaceutics. SUBSTANCE: invention relates for composition for treatment or prevention of disorders, associated with reduced level of defensins. Composition contains from 0.005 to 1000 mg of Lactobacillus johnsonii Lal (NCC533, No CNCM 1-1225) per a daily dose, with at least 90% of L. johnsonii Lal (NCC533, No CNCM 1-1225) being transferred into state in which they become non-replicating at temperature110-140°C for 5-30 s. EFFECT: invention provides enhancement of expression of defensin hBD1 mRNA. 5 cl, 2 dwg


Various writers have stated that the antacid effect of sodium bicarbonate depends not only on the direct neutralization of hydrochloric acid, but also on a reduction of the amount of acid secreted in the stomach. For massive doses of the salt, this depression of gastric secretion was confirmed in some previously published experiments of mine. 1 The minimum amount of bicarbonate which could be depended on to produce this effect, however, was found to be about 1 Gm. per kilogram of body weight, whether given as a single dose after a meal, or as the total daily dose for dogs on prolonged feeding with alkali. With smaller doses of bicarbonate, within the limits of ordinary antacid medication, the secretory response to a meal was on the average slightly greater than that found in the control experiments. If the human stomach is as little affected by alkalis as is that of the


This article consists of the content, shape, style and structure of Kadi Abdisetdar's Cenknâme, which tells wars between Turkmen tribes as Teke, Yomut, Goklen that live in Turkmenistan in the nineteenth century and Kizilbash Kacar Turks who live in Khorassan region. This narrative expanding the boundaries of "cenknâme" genre in Turkish culture is very important as it vividly displays how the historical events reflect on the epicworks. Kadi Abdisetdar describes Sunni Turkmen's "gaza", especially Teke Turkmens, against Kizilbash Kacar Turks in an epic manner. One to one battle, heroism of the heroes and battle scenes in this narrative signifying the unity of Turkmen tribes which fight against enemy called Kizilbash show that this "Cenknâme" is in close relationship with epic tradition. Key words: Cenknâme, Kadi Abdisetdar, Turkmen, Kacar.


Optogenetic stimulation of the mouse cortex can be used to generate motor maps that are similar to maps derived from electrode-based stimulation. Here we present a refined set of procedures for repeated light-based motor mapping in ChR2-expressing mice implanted with a bilateral thinned-skull chronic window and a chronically implanted electroencephalogram (EEG) electrode. Light stimulation is delivered sequentially to over 400 points across the cortex, and evoked movements are quantified on-line with a three-axis accelerometer attached to each forelimb. Bilateral maps of forelimb movement amplitude and movement direction were generated at weekly intervals after recovery from cranial window implantation. We found that light pulses of ~2 mW produced well-defined maps that were centered approximately 0.7 mm anterior and 1.6 mm lateral from bregma. Map borders were defined by sites where light stimulation evoked EEG deflections, but not movements. Motor maps were similar in size and location between mice, and maps were stable over weeks in terms of the number of responsive sites, and the direction of evoked movements. We suggest that our method may be used to chronically assess evoked motor output in mice, and may be combined with other imaging tools to assess cortical reorganization or sensory-motor integration.


The present article presents a new type of inaccurate linear contraction and interprets the downgrading direction produced by each iteration under the new linear contraction.At last a global astringency of conjugate gradient algorithm is proved.


This chapter looks at sociological investigations of sex between men. First I discuss ethnographic studies that focus on particular settings: beats or cruising grounds, then sex clubs and saunas. What is the picture they give us of what goes on in such settings? Then I look at studies in which men who have casual sex with other men were interviewed about their sexual activities. Finally I consider the implications of the different methodologies: what kinds of answers do we get from the different approaches?


Our objective was to develop and calibrate numerical measures to represent the timing and magnitude of landscape change between 1878, and 1919 using information in a stock and station agency's ledgers. Relative expenditures on fencing materials peaked in the 1880s, were lowest in the early 1900s, and rose to one-fifth of annual expenditures from 1914 onwards. In contrast, relative expenditures on soil preparation, cropping and harvesting grew steadily after 1879, peaked in 1900, and declined from then until 1919. This research found that periods of intensive landscape investment between 1878 and 1919 were separated by longer intervals of landscape maintenance.


The heat effect and the formation of paramagnetic centers (PMCs) in the oxidation at 20C of the products of thermolysis of brown coal containing calcium cations in its acid groups have been studied. New information has been obtained on the formation of ketenes in the thermal decomposition of such coals. It has been shown that the oxidation of the ketenes takes place with a high evolution of heat and with the formation of PMCs.


In biology phenotypic switching is a common bet-hedging strategy in the face of uncertain environmental conditions. Existing mathematical models often focus on periodically changing environments to determine the optimal phenotypic response. We focus on the case in which the environment switches randomly between discrete states. Starting from an individual-based model we derive stochastic differential equations to describe the dynamics, and obtain analytical expressions for the mean instantaneous growth rates based on the theory of piecewise-deterministic Markov processes. We show that optimal phenotypic responses are non-trivial for slow and intermediate environmental processes, and systematically compare the cases of periodic and random environments. The best response to random switching is more likely to be heterogeneity than in the case of deterministic periodic environments, net growth rates tend to be higher under stochastic environmental dynamics. The combined system of environment and population of cells can be interpreted as host-pathogen interaction, in which the host tries to choose environmental switching so as to minimise growth of the pathogen, and in which the pathogen employs a phenotypic switching optimised to increase its growth rate. We discuss the existence of Nash-like mutual best-response scenarios for such host-pathogen games.


Abstract From December 2014 to June 2015, U.S. poultry was affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza that led to destruction of 48 million birds and losses in international trade. During the event, 45 countries placed trade restrictions on U.S. poultry exports, varying from regionalized to national poultry restrictions. Using a gravity model of trade, the effects on quantity traded is estimated for poultry exports at the aggregated and disaggregated commodity level to understand product flows during an event. Results indicate U.S. poultry exports benefit from countries willing to apply limited trade restrictions, and the trade impact varies across disaggregated commodities.


Was Vichy fascist ?, Alain-Gerard Slama. ; In order to understand the Vichy regime, one must focus on what differentiates it from all the other authoritarian experiments and makes it an element of the political originating in the Revolution and the Empire. This makes it possible to determine to what extent the components of the Petain myth are elements traditional in French culture : the soldier, the peasant and the school teacher. And how the weight of cultural references favored the pluralism of political debate within the regime and led its political discourse toward continuity. Culture more than conjuncture thus probably saved Petain's France from the fascist epidemic.


One of the roots of anti-science is an implausible account of experiments which opens up a seemingly unbridgeable gap between what it would be rational to believe on the basis of an empirical research programme and what scientists do believe. Post-modernists and others of a similar persuasion, for example Goodman, Rorty, Latour and Gergen, have marched into this alleged gap, insisting that experiments do not probe an independent reality, but create worlds to which they are perfectly tailored. In response I argue that if experiments are understood as working models of parts of Nature, Nature domesticated, then there is no epistemic gap to fill. There are complexities with this thesis that can be resolved by developing a Bohrian account of the experiment as involving an indissoluble union of apparatus and Nature, giving us access, not to occurrent properties of the world but to affordances.


In the recent years, social networks emerged rapidly and it's has become more complex.  Complex networks, including social networks are a powerful tool for understanding the mechanisms of various systems and plays an important role in the dissemination of information and the spread of influence. These networks are complex graphs with high local density and low overall density. We are interested to study the problematic of community detection and more specifically the detection of leaders' nodes in complex network. Those nodes have high connectivity with the others nodes, and represent an optimization of the network while maintaining the same characteristics of the network. Several research studies are interested to the detection of the structure of complex networks, otherwise, to the community detection and leader detection. The major drawback of most of the proposed algorithms is that they require knowledge of number of communities to detect. Our approach proposes an algorithm for the community detection in social networks, using the leader nodes that are the influential members of networks and are responsible for the spread of influence without a priori knowledge of the number of communities or leaders to detect.


Combined Inhibition of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Epidermal Growth Factor Signaling Pathways in Non–small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy Juan NAN, Qian LIU, Yan DING, Zhanque ZHANG, Allen C. Gao, Qinghua ZHOU Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenviroment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical Univercity General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China; Ruicheng People's Hospital, Shanxi 044600, China; Department of Urology and Cancer Center, University of California School of Medicine at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA Corresponding author: Qinghua ZHOU, E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com This study was supported by grants from the National High Technology Joint Research Program of China (to Qinghua ZHOU)(No.2006DAI02A02) and Tianjin Scientific supporting project, China-Sweden cooperative foundation (to Qinghua ZHOU)(No.09ZCZDSF04100).


Despite the outstanding role of mesoscopic structures on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in the regular (n–i–p) architecture, mesoscopic PSCs in inverted (p–i–n) architecture have rarely been reported. Herein, an efficient and stable mesoscopic NiOx (mp‐NiOx) scaffold formed via a simple and low‐cost triblock copolymer template‐assisted strategy is employed, and this mp‐NiOx film is utilized as a hole transport layer (HTL) in PSCs, for the first time. Promisingly, this approach allows the fabrication of homogenous, crack‐free, and robust 150 nm thick mp‐NiOx HTLs through a facile chemical approach. Such a high‐quality templated mp‐NiOx structure promotes the growth of the perovskite film yielding better surface coverage and enlarged grains. These desired structural and morphological features effectively translate into improved charge extraction, accelerated charge transportation, and suppressed trap‐assisted recombination. Ultimately, a considerable efficiency of 20.2% is achieved with negligible hysteresis which is among the highest efficiencies for mp‐NiOx based inverted PSCs so far. Moreover, mesoscopic devices indicate higher long‐term stability under ambient conditions compared to planar devices. Overall, these results may set new benchmarks in terms of performance for mesoscopic inverted PSCs employing templated mp‐NiOx films as highly efficient, stable, and easy fabricated HTLs.


The applicability of phosphorescence spectroscopy is investigated for cure characterization of epoxy resin cured by an aromatic diamine. By using a time-resolved method to separate fluorescence from phosphorescence, the room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) behavior of a commonly used curing agent, bis(p-aminophenyl) sulfone (DDS), is studied. RTP emission spectra with a maximum around 500 nm are obtained. Both RTP emission and excitation intensity increase very sharply with cure time due to the increase in the rigidity of the cured epoxy. They can be correlated to the extent of cure of epoxy, when properly calibrated. The triplet lifetime (τ T ) obtained by monitoring RTP emission decay at 500 nm increases from zero to about 40 ms following cure at 160 °C for 180 min. Correlation curves of τ T with the extent of cure and the glass transition temperature are also obtained. Thus, τ T provides a way to estimate the cure extent without the need to calibrate the RTP emission intensity. While these RTP characteristics cannot be used for in-situ cure monitoring, they can be used as a sensitive cure estimate technique in lightly cured prepregs for composites or after a cure cycle.


Azoospermia occurs in approximately 10% of men with infertility and can occur due to obstruction of the reproductive tract (obstructive azoospermia) or lack of sperm production. Assessing the hormonal status of men can provide prognostic information on the effectiveness of surgical sperm removal for their further use in assisted reproductive technology programs. Before performing a testicular biopsy to establish a histological diagnosis and search for sperm in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia, it is advisable to assess the chances of obtaining sperm. The purpose of the study was to assess hormonal levels and sperm parameters during microsurgery in men with non-obstructive azoospermia. Material and methods. We analyzed the medical records of 45 men with non-obstructive azoospermia who underwent micro-TESE in the period from 2016 to 2019. We noted the data on the age of patients, their hormonal profile (level of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone) were analyzed and morphofunctional characteristics of the obtained spermatozoa. Results and discussion. In our study, testosterone levels were significantly higher in patients in group 1, which may be due to the fact that men in this group were significantly younger. Sperm were removed from 10 (22%) patients with non-obstructive azoospermia. The probability of sperm removal decreased with increasing age of patients. The average concentration of sperm in the samples was (2.3±0.8) million, of which active (18.0±0.3)%. Morphological analysis of sperm revealed that the frequency of abnormalities of the head was 19.9±2.45, neck – 13.69±1.49, tail – (5.96±1.52)%. Mixed pathology, which involved defects of the head, neck and middle part were at the level of (34.6±4.21)%. The frequency of sperm neck abnormalities was (13.7±1.5)%. The most numerous were abnormalities associated with the presence of cytoplasmic residues on the surface of the sperm. The number of sperm with tail pathology was at the level of (5.9±1.5)%. In general, the mixed pathology, in which defects of the head, neck and middle part were involved, was at the level of (34.6±4.2)%. Conclusion. In this study, the frequency of positive micro-TESE, i.e. surgical procedures after which sperm were removed, was 22.2%. Morphological analysis of the drugs revealed that among the identified pathologies, most of them were sperm with the presence of one large or several small vacuoles. The number of vacuoles, their size and shape reflect defects at the level of compaction of the sperm nucleus. It has been shown that embryos formed after fertilization of oocytes with such sperm do not undergo reproductive selection and can stop in the early stages of development


The author puts forward an urgent problem, i.e. a new view of social and humanities knowledge, in particular, culturological and sociological.


A select plastic within our project is because they are particularly abundant and visible parts in the composition of the waste generated at our headquarters UCA Campus Rosario. Reasoning that there are several areas that produce them on a daily or so transient (as it is the case of events), which can add to an environmentally responsible actions. This imposes on us the responsibility to propose a way to re use in the design of certain element that integrates them as raw material input, input or auxiliary material, with a wide field of possibilities as it is in the construction industry, from a look from environmental engineering. The methodology of work we do involves inspecting the raw material with which it is going to work, for the purposes know truthfully, as well as to internalize the possible combination of different types of plastics according to their composition and their response in integration with other materials of traditional use, according to recognized experiences. A linear perspective single education does not reach, as neither technology nor partial measures are sufficient to offset this tremendous imbalance that we have inherited, therefore the need to understand the complexity, Act from there discovering the invisible connection between the human being and the environment, and human beings among themselves. As a result we understand that to restore the environment in principle should start by restoring the links and cycles that contain them, it implies re-ciclar.


Recently graduate education in China has been undergoing a rapid development. Nevertheless the fact that graduates outnumber tutors has let to the poor quality in graduate training. This article means to introduce "Fleet instruction method" in an attempt to solve the inharmonious ratio between graduate and tutor. This method means to offer the necessary conditions for graduate training mode and to guarantee the graduate education quality for the purpose of accelerating graduate education development to accord with globe competition of graduate education after WTO entry.


The present paper examines certain salient features of the his tory-memory-identity relation. The common feature underpinning most contemporary manifestations of the memory craze seems to be an insecurity about identity, an insecurity that generates an excessive pre occupation with 'memory'. In the face of memory's valorization, what should be the attitude of the historian? At the present moment there is a pathetic and sometimes tragic conflict between what 'memory' expresses and confirms, namely, the demands made by subjectivities, and the demand, essential to any scientific discipline, for proof. The paper explores this conflict and argues that neither term can be reduced to the other. It suggests that one needs to conceptualize the field of history as involving inevitable limits to historical knowledge, such that both history and memory are seen as inadequate. In this way one avoids both the arrogance of a would-be definitive history and the 'arrogance of authenticity' that all too often accompanies claims for memory.


An approach to developing spreadsheet and analytical accounting skills basic spreadsheet skills and template organization cost-volume-profit application standard cost application master budget application process cost application learning curve application.


A simple procedure for large scale isolation of Solanum tuberosum tuber lectin from potato starch industry waste water has been developed. The procedure employed magnetic chitosan microparticles as an affinity adsorbent. Magnetic separation was performed in a flow‐through magnetic separation system. The adsorbed lectin was eluted with glycine/HCl buffer, pH 2.2. The specific activity of separated lectin increased approximately 27 times during the isolation process.


Previous studies have described the concept of peptide strings in qualitative terms and illustrated it by applying its corrolaries in order to elucidate basic questions in oncology and rheumatology. The present investigation is the first to quantify these potential sub- and transcellular phenomena. Accordingly, the propagation of peptide strings is proposed here to occur by way of waves that in turn are subject to the energy equation established by Planck. As a result of these insights, widespread future applications can now be envisaged for peptide strings both in molecular medicine and quantum optics.


Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro action of ProTaper retreatment files and ProTaper Universal in the retreatment of mandibular premolars. Material and methods The amount of debris extruded apically was measured and the time to reach the working length and to complete the removal of gutta-percha was observed. Thirty teeth had their canals prepared using ProTaper Universal files and were obturated by the single cone technique. The teeth were then stored at 37ºC in a humid environment for 7 days. During the use of the rotary instruments for root canal filling removal, the apical portions of the teeth were attached to the open end of a resin tube to collect the apically extruded debris. Results ProTaper Universal files were significantly faster (p=0.0011) than the ProTaper retreatment files to perform gutta-percha removal, but no significant difference was found between the files regarding the time to reach the working length or the amount of apical extrusion. Conclusions ProTaper Universal rotary had better results for endodontic retreatment, and both techniques promote similar apical extrusion of debris.


Deposition of asphaltenes, resins and paraffins in underground well equipment has always been one of the major challenges in the production of highly paraffinic oil at the Uzen field. This problem still remains extremely urgent, and measures to combat these complications are quite costly.
Paraffin deposition processes in wells and field equipment complicate oil production and lead to oil losses, as well as accidents and equipment downtime. For these reasons, it becomes necessary to conduct a laboratory research on the selection of effective solvents against paraffin deposition and methods for their removal.


The internal flow of a cross-flow fan was simulated with computation fluid dynamic(CFD), and the influence of the structure parameters of volute tongue on the performance of the cross-flow fan was analyzed. The relationship between the structure parameters of volute tongue and the flow filed of the cross-flow fan was presented and the shape line of the volute tongue was optimized. A new shape line of volute tongue was found. The airflow volume flow rate using the volute tongue with new shape line was 10.9% higher than that using the original volute tongue. The calculated results were compared with the experimental results, and they had good agreement.


This paper mainly discussed the design of open architecture robot controller in windows system.We realize the realtime control in Windows operation system by using the device driver.Modular software is introduced.


Spelling errors that happen to result in a real word in the lexicon cannot be detected by a conventional spelling checker. We present a method for detecting and correcting many such errors by identifying tokens that are semantically unrelated to their context and are spelling variations of words that would be related to the context. Relatedness to context is determined by a measure of semantic distance initially proposed by Jiang and Conrath (1997). We tested the method on an artificial corpus of errors; it achieved recall of 23–50% and precision of 18–25%.


Abstract Background As part of a project to implement and evaluate antimicrobial dashboards at selected VA facilities nationwide, we assessed provider attitudes and knowledge related to antibiotic prescribing among physicians working in inpatient settings at 16 VA facilities. Methods The online survey explored attitudes toward antimicrobial use and assessed respondents' management of four clinical scenarios: cellulitis, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), non-catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria (NC-ASB), and catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria (C-ASB). Responses were scored by assigning +1 for an answer most consistent with guidelines, 0 for a less-guideline-concordant but acceptable answer and -1 for an incorrect answer. Scores were normalized to 100% correct to 100% incorrect across all questions within a scenario, and mean scores were calculated across respondents by specialty; differences in mean score per scenario were tested using ANOVA. Results One-hundred-thirty-nine physicians completed the survey (n=19 ID physicians, 62 hospitalists, 58 generalists). Attitudes were similar across the three specialties. There was a significant difference in cellulitis scenario scores (correct responses: ID=67.4%, hospitalists=51.2%, generalists=41.8% correct, p=0.0087). Scores were not significantly different across specialties for CAP (correct responses: ID 76.2%, hospitalists 63%, generalists 56.5%, p=0.0914) and NC-ASB (correct responses; ID 63%, hospitalists 55%, generalists 36.2%, p=0.322), though ID trended higher. Lowest scores were observed for C-ASB (ID 39.5% correct, hospitalists 4% incorrect, generalists 8.5% incorrect, p=0.12). Conclusion Significant differences in performance on management of cellulitis and low overall scores on C-ASB management point to these conditions as being potentially high-yield targets for antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Disclosures Matthew B. Goetz, MD, Nothing to disclose Peter A. Glassman, MBBS, US Pharmacopeia (formerly), PAG; Kaiser Permanente (current employee, spouse) (Advisor or Review Panel member, The above refers to USP (ended in 2020).)


It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 2011 ACM Workshop on Scientific Cloud Computing -- ScienceCloud2011. This year's workshop continues its tradition of being the premier forum for presentation of new research, development, and deployment efforts in running scientific computing workloads on Cloud Computing infrastructures. The ScienceCloud workshop focuses on the use of cloud-based technologies to meet new compute intensive and data intensive scientific challenges that are not well served by the current supercomputers, grids or commercial clouds.

What architectural changes to the current cloud frameworks (hardware, operating systems, networking and/or programming models) are needed to support science? Dynamic information derived from remote instruments and coupled simulation and sensor ensembles are both important new science pathways and tremendous challenges for current HPC/HTC/MTC technologies. How can cloud technologies enable these new scientific approaches? How are scientists using clouds? Are there scientific HPC/HTC/MTC workloads that are suitable candidates to take advantage of emerging cloud computing resources with high efficiency? What benefits exist by adopting the cloud model, over clusters, grids, or supercomputers? What factors are limiting clouds use or would make them more usable/efficient?

This workshop encourages interaction and cross-pollination between those developing applications, algorithms, software, hardware and networking, emphasizing scientific computing for such cloud platforms. It is an excellent place to help the community define the current state, determine future goals, and define architectures and services for future science clouds.

The call for papers attracted 17 submissions. The program committee accepted 7 papers (41% acceptance rate) that cover a variety of topics, including resource management, applications and storage, and high-performance computing. In addition, the program includes an invited keynote presentation, an invited paper and presentation, and a panel on a topic related to the ScienceCloud workshop venue. We hope that these proceedings will serve as a valuable reference for researchers and developers trying to run scientific applications in the cloud.


In this paper we de ne interval valued fuzzy h-quasi-ideals and interval valued fuzzy h-bi-ideals. We characterize h-hemiregular and h-intra-hemiregular hemirings by the properties of their interval valued fuzzy h-ideals, interval valued fuzzy h-quasiideals, and interval valued fuzzy h-bi-ideals.


The literature is considering completely formed fullerenes as usually. Without attentions have been left uncompleted ones, and their properties are practically unknown. Such structures may be received at arc discharge synthesis in the limited space with short time of synthesis. Here synthesis was made at arc discharge chamber with little radius and less gas flow. The time-of-flight mass spectrum synthesized product on m/z size showed containing of hydrated uncompleted-composite fullerene. They were like with structures: C54H4, C56H4, C56H8, C68H4 and other. A presence at mass spectrum of abnormal structures was manifested in form of doublet many-peaks lines. They also confirmed termperature-formating of new bonds with successive griping valence bonds with poliin structures at arc discharge. From mass spectrum, on base of Mendileive's chemical plate was supposed the way forming conjectural structure. The MS-picture was confirmed with estimation for forming many-peaks abnormal poliin like structures.


Due to their strong light-matter interaction, monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have proven to be promising candidates for nonlinear optics and optoelectronics. Here, we characterize the nonlinear absorption of chemical vapour deposition (CVD)-grown monolayer MoSe2 in the 720–810 nm wavelength range. Surprisingly, despite the presence of strong exciton resonances, monolayer MoSe2 exhibits a uniform modulation depth of ∼80 ± 3% and a saturation intensity of ∼2.5 ± 0.4 MW/cm2. In addition, pump-probe spectroscopy is performed to confirm the saturable absorption and reveal the photocarrier relaxation dynamics over hundreds of picoseconds. Our results unravel the unique broadband nonlinear absorptive behavior of monolayer MoSe2 under ultrafast excitation and highlight the potential of using monolayer TMDs as broadband ultrafast optical switches with customizable saturable absorption characteristics.


gene from FA 1090 as well from strain FA19 showedthe presence of a T-8 tract (data not presented and Fig. 3A), whichwould result in production of a full-length LptA enzyme (Fig. 3B).Moreover, analysis of the online (http://www.broadinstitute.org/annotation/genome/neisseria_gonorrhoeae/GenomesIndex.html) whole-genome sequences of 13 other gonococcal strainsindicated that their


This study analyzes the effect of word of mouth, perceived quality, and use of technology on application-based transportation decisions. The method used in this research is a case study of the Muslim community in Purwokerto. Questionnaires were given to 100 respondents consisting of several members of the Muslim community in Purwokerto. The data analysis technique used is PLS (Partial Least Square) analysis using Smart PLS 3.0. The results showed that word of mouth had a significant positive effect on decisions to use application-based transportation, perceived quality had a significant positive effect on decisions to use application-based transportation, and use of technology had a negative effect on decisions to use application-based transportation.


In most practical applications, measured mode shapes have less degrees of freedom than the corresponding eigenvectors of an analytical model. When using the experimental eigenvectors in order to perform a parameter update, they first have to be expanded, for example by means of the Physical Expansion, This algorithm uses the analytical system matrices in order to compute the slave degrees of freedom of the measured modes, resulting in a dependence of the expanded eigenvectors on the initial parameters. Using these vectors in the subsequent update often leads to poor results; in the worst case, the updated parameters are equal to the initial values. This paper presents an iterative method for improving the update. The iteration consists of the repetitive execution of combined expansion and update. In each step, the updated parameters are used to perform a new expansion, decreasing the influence of the initial parameters on the measured eigenvectors. The efficiency of the algorithm is illustrated by an example using real modal test data.


The article discusses issues related to consideration on appeal courts of general jurisdiction of cases arising out of public relations. By making the case in favor of the view that access to the court of second instance on this type of case is different.


BACKGROUND
Within the sulfotransferase (SULT) superfamily of metabolic enzymes, SULT1A1 and 1A3/4 isoforms are of particular interest, due to their abilities to catalyze the sulfation of phenolic endobiotics and xenobiotics. Although the difference in their substrate specificity is well documented, an isoform-specific quantification method is still not available.

OBJECTIVE
To detect and quantify SULT1A1 and 1A3/4 in S9 fractions and cell lines using targeted mass spectrometry-based proteomics.

METHOD
Samples were tryptically digested, and signature peptides were quantified using liquid chromatography- multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM/MS). Stable isotopelabeled (SIL) peptides were used as internal and calibration standards. SULT1A1 and SULT1A3/4 were quantified in various S9 fractions and cell line samples.

RESULTS
Intraday and interday variabilities were low for relative quantification in S9 and cell line matrices (<8%). Expression profiles were validated using Western blot analysis of S9 fractions and lentiviral transduced SULT1A-overexpressing cell lines.

CONCLUSION
A reproducible method for simultaneous quantification of SULT1A1 and SULT1A3/4 in S9 fractions and cell line samples was established and validated.


A human factors experiment was conducted to assess the intelligibility of synthesized speech under a variety of noise conditions for both hearing-impaired and normal-hearing subjects. Modified Rhyme Test stimuli were used to determine intelligibility in four speech-to-noise (S/N) ratios (0, 5, 10, and 15 dB), and three noise types, consisting of fiat-by-octaves (pink) noise, interior noise of a currently produced heavy truck, and truck cab noise with added background speech. A quiet condition was also investigated. During recording of the truck noise for the experiment, in-cab noise measurements were obtained. According to OSHA standards, these data indicated that drivers of the sampled trucks have a minimal risk for noise-induced hearing loss due to in-cab noise exposure when driving at freeway speeds because noise levels were below 80 dBA. In the intelligibility experiment, subjects with hearing loss had significantly lower intelligibility than normal-hearing subjects, both in quiet and in noise, but no interaction with noise type or S/N ratio was found. Intelligibility was significantly lower for the noise with background speech than the other noises, but the truck noise produced intelligibility equal to the pink noise. An analytical prediction of intelligibility using Articulation Index calculations exhibited a high positive correlation with the empirically obtained intelligibility data for both groups of subjects.


Active "hands-on" laboratory experiences in a classroom or research setting are critical to the development and success of professional scientists (National Research Council, 1996, Stefanich, 2007). Unfortunately, these opportunities are often few or nonexistent for persons with disabilities (PwD) interested in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This is even more evident in recent years as laboratory science disciplines experience a thrust for diversification through the inclusion of persons with disabilities. With a pool of around 3 million high school graduates with disabilities to tap, why does research suggest only .01% of this population receive PhDs (Lunsford & Bargerhuff, 2006 and Supalo, Mallouk, Amorosi, Lanouette, Wohlers & McEnnis, 2009). A critical component and priority in fostering this laboratory based discipline and career inclusion must be to develop strategies to break down the physical and attitudinal barriers that PwD face in pursuit of these career goals (Lunsford & Bargerhuff, 2006).


Red cells coated with anti-Rho antibody (IgG) were extensively ingested by human blood monocytes and macrophages and only rarely by neutrophils. The erythrophagocytosis was inhibited by fre


An approach to decomposing and interpreting the inflation process is proposed. It suggests that the low U.S. inflation rate in recent years reflects a structural development, but that the low levels of unemployment may be a mainly cyclical phenomenon.


The purpose of study was a synthesis framework of constructivist via gamification-based learning environments model to enhance self-regulation for undergraduate students. Research designs were document analysis and survey. This study was based on developmental research in phase 1 was model development. The target groups were the 13 experts reviewed document and design framework, the 145 students in Computer Education, Faculty of Education, Nakhon Phanom University. The studies were document analysis and survey method. Data were analyzed by analyzing and summary interpreting. So, the results from this analyzed was the theoretical framework that consist of 5 foundation bases revealed the following; 1) Context base 2) Psychological base 3) Technology and media base and 4) Learning environment with gamification base. The designing framework consisted of 4 crucial bases as the following: 1) The activation of cognitive structure and enhance self-regulation 2) The support for adjusting cognitive conflict and enhance self-regulation 3) The support for extending the cognitive structure and enhance self-regulation and 4) The support and enhance self-regulation.


Harbin turbine company has rebuilt its 300MW HP.turbine with 3 dimension method .The inlet pipe ,the control stage sealing and IP cooling steam structure were improved. After rebuilt, the tested HP efficiency of XIBAIPO unit 1 is 87.15%,which is best level in the 300MW class turbines.


The present invention relates to a method of graphene, comprising the steps of: providing an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution is an electrolyte dissolved in an organic solvent, a lithium salt is formed; providing metallic lithium and graphite, graphite, and the metal lithium into the electrolyte solution, so that the metal lithium with the graphite in contact with each other in the electrolyte solution, whereby the lithium ions in the electrolyte solution with the organic solvent molecules inserted between the graphite layers together, to form a graphite intercalation compound; and the insertion of the graphite from a compound release layer graphene sheets.


Various concentrated works have been done in the area of computational vision regarding the circle and texture detections. Detection of circles in images can be beneficial for PCB components industries for the detection of capacitors in printed circuit boards, also for medicine in the detection of red cells, white blood cells, and leukocytes, and for applications which requires precision and assignments regarding the detection of circles in a digital image. In this work is utilized a benchmarking of images to detection circle boards of different radio values for the comparison with the work [1] of this article. The benchmarking of images is composed of five main images that are tested in the algorithm of detection of circles in MATLAB with different values of radio for each image. The results appoint an enhancement of 300 % concerning the algorithm proposed in work [1] showed in this article. In this work also would be plotted graphs concerning the accuracy of the new proposed algorithm with relation to the algorithm proposed in work [1], indicating better results concerning the GUI interfaces and capacity of detection circles.


Entrepreneurship and innovation form the cornerstone of economic development in many developing countries. Through this, rather ideal combination employment can be enhanced, communities can be uplifted through education, and growth can be increased through discretionary purchasing power. This cycle has positive spinoffs which can alleviate poverty and decrease famine. Recent local research suggests that more than eighty percent of entrepreneurs, start-ups and Business 'Incubatees' don't make it through their first year of establishment after leaving a Business Incubator programme. This paper tries to identify some of the marketing challenges faced by Business Incubators, and indeed BIMs in the Public Sector environment in South Africa. Identification and highlighting the possible drawbacks for 'incubatees' may assist them with success or meeting competitive challenges when they depart from the security of the relevant programmes. This study examines some of the skills, knowledge and attributes required for BIMs in this sector and what is required to meet the business and marketing challenges faced to remain sustainable. The survey was aimed at the largest, focused segment of South African Business Incubators affiliated to the industrial public sector and the hypothesis was to prove that strategic marketing information, acumen and knowledge is a key differentiator towards the growth and sustainability of Business Incubators in that sector. It is notable that these marketing challenges may also compare favourably with several other public sector segments in relevant countries of the southern African region as similar macroeconomic challenges are faced.


Aiming at the asymmetry of online sellers' quality information, using information screening model to establish signal authentication mechanism. The signal authentication charging strategy for screening the sellers' quality information is studied by means of mixed equilibrium, separation equilibrium, quasi-separation equilibrium and numerical simulation. The results show that: (1) The platform's certification fee for sellers who send high quality commodities' information should be appropriately greater than the sellers who send low quality commodities' information, or under the certification fee structure, improve the screening abilities of the platform and consumers, as well as the costs of high quality commodities' signal sent by low quality sellers, can form a separation equilibrium of high quality sellers send high quality commodities' signals, low quality sellers send low quality commodities' signals; (2) The strict nature of the certification fee structure decreases with the improvement of the platform's and consumers' screening abilities, as well as the increased costs of high quality commodities' signals sent by low quality sellers.


In recent years,the shale gas industry has received much attention in many countries,especially the rapid development of shale gas in North America has changed the world's energy supply pattern.The huge potential of shale gas resources in China has accordingly attracted great concern of the government and related enterprises.Shale gas reservoirs are characterized by high natural gamma,low acoustic velocity,low density and high resistivity,serving as the basis for the identification and evaluation of shale gas exploration geophysical technology.The current shale gas exploration and development in our country is in its starting stage,and the main task is the optimization of favorable target areas,resource quantity evaluation and key technology tests.Through analysis of the geophysical technology development situation,it is suggested that the geophysical exploration technology is critical for shale gas reservoir evaluation and production capacity-increasing.We should focus on the establishment of shale gas reservoir logging evaluation methods and standards,as well as strengthening research of shale gas reservoir seismic data anisotropic treating and multi-wave inversion technologies.China should increase investment to shale gas exploration work,combine the basic research with the development of key technologies,combine the successful experiences of foreign countries with our own independent innovative research and development,and then deploy basic investigations and assessment of shale gas resources.We should thus establish an evaluation system of shale gas geophysical exploration suitable for China's geological characteristics.


\ ABSTRACT: 7wo mdlgenously developed IndIan processmg cultivars Kufri Chipsona-l and Kufri Chipsona-2 along with exotIc culhvars Atlantic and Fnto Lay-1533, and local cv Kufn Jyoh were evaluated over 2 yea;S under NtIgin hills condItions in south IndIa BeSIdes total and processIng grade tuber yield, observations -were recorded on "number of tubers per plant, average tuber weIght, and processing attnbutes, viz., tuber dry matter, reducing sugars, sucrose, free ammo adds and chip colour. Reaction of the culhvars to late blight dIsease which appears m epidemic form in the region was also recorded. Kufn Chipsona-l (U6 q ha I) and Kufri Chlpsona-2 (3556 q ha- 1 ) were top YIelders and produced the maximum processing grade tuber yield Both the culhvan; possessed hIgh tuber dry matter, low reducmg sugars and low total free amino aCIds Kufri ChlPs0na- 2 pIOdu~ed acceptable hght colour chlps, whereas, chip colour of Kufri Chlpsona-l was near acceptability hmit. Exotic cuillvar Atianhc. produced acceptable clup colour but its tuber Yield was poor. Both Kufri ChJpsona-l and Kufri Chipsona-2 recorded high held resistance to late bhght dIsease, whereas, aU other cultivars were found susceptible and _poor Yielders


Structural studies and sequence alignments have identified a conserved 3‐residue flavin‐binding motif present in many members of the ferredoxin:NADP+ reductase family of flavoproteins. In cytochrome b5 reductase (cb5r), V108, V109 and K110 are involved in both direct and solvent‐mediated H‐bonds and hydrophobic interactions with the FAD isoalloxazine ring. To define the interactions of V108, V109 and K110 with the FAD prosthetic group, cb5r mutants comprising V108A, C, G, H, L and P; V109A, G, I, L, P and S and K110A, G, P and R were constructed. All mutations, except V109I and V109S, produced flavoproteins while V108L, K110G and K110P were unstable and obtained in significantly decreased yield. Wild‐type (WT) FAD visible absorption maxima were observed for all proteins except V108P, V109G, V109P and K110G which were blue shifted and K110P which was red shifted. K110P also produced an altered visible CD spectrum. NADH:ferricyanide reductase activities (kcat) decreased in the order WT>V108G>V108A>V109P>v109A>V108L>K110R>V109G>K110A >K110G>V108P>K110P, the latter retaining <1% WT activity. NADH affinities (Km) decreased in the order V108P>K110R>WT>V108A>V109P>V109A>V108L>V108G>V109G >K110P>K110G>K110A, the latter increasing KmNADH 63 fold over WT. These results indicate residues V108‐K110 are important in cb5r for both flavin and NADH binding and substrate turnover


We study the dynamic response of plate structures subjected to blast loading. This load is introduced in dynamically excited form over time. Two assumptions are given to ensure the physical properties of dynamic problems. The plate structures are studied its response under explosion. The governing equation with respect to the motion is solved by using a novel quadrilateral element SQ4T related to the twice interpolation strategy (TIS) and the average acceleration method of Newmark's family. Our solutions are compared with reference solutions to confirm the accuracy of the proposed element.


To assess the performance of a cellular wireless network such as GSM, UMTS and LTE etc., performance counters are logged and maintained by the network management system (NMS). Due to the complexity of a network, the number of these performance counters is typically very large, and the analysis of these data is very difficult. In a typical situation, only a few number of key performance indicators (KPIs) are used to represent the performance status of the network. As a result, the vast amount of data contained in the NMS database is not fully utilized. If the network operator can exploit such data more fully, more insights regarding the network behaviours can be obtained and extracted. These insights are also very helpful in diagnosing network problems. This paper proposes applying what is known as the market basket analysis to analyse the network KPIs. The bridging of these two seemingly unrelated domains is done via the use of association rules mining. An example is presented to illustrate the usefulness of this approach.


Many manifestations of the hyperventilation syndrome are thought to be due to central nervous system impairment. The syndrome should not be attributed to anxiety unless overbreathing produces one or more complaints and posthyperventilation apnea is absent.Hypoventilation results from any process interfering with normal function of the chest bellows by affecting either its control mechanism or its moving parts. Control and restrictive and obstructive defects producing hypoventilation are discussed.


The Koppelman process for irreversible drying and upgrading of low value fuels has been applied to peat from various sources. The paper describes an adaptation of the Koppelman process in which peat is hydraulically mined and pipelined as a slurry to a plant where it is converted to a high quality solid fuel, designated as K-Fuel. In the Koppelman process wet feedstocks are heated under pressure to achieve partial carbonization. Water and carbon dioxide are displaced and the product has a high heating value, typically 4000 to 5000 Btu/lb higher than the heating value of conventionally dried peat due to the removal of oxygen. K-Fuel made from peat has a heating value up to 14,000 Btu/lb, depending on ash content and severity of treatment. This fuel can be burned in a solid fuel-fired burner or can be ground and dispersed readily in fuel oil to burn as a slurry. Thermal pretreatment converts the peat to a form that can be partially dewatered by filtration. The dewatered peat is then conveyed through the reactor where it is heated further to partially carbonize the peat. The product is extruded from the reactor, then cooled and chopped into a convenient form. Water frommore » the reactor can be treated by wet air oxidation to reduce the organic content and to generate the steam required by the process.« less


The invention discloses a method and a device for matching and aligning side-looking images of a polarization maintaining fiber, and belongs to the technical field of information and photoelectron. The method comprises the following steps: 1) central axes of two polarization maintaining fibers to be aligned are aligned in the same line; 2) one side of each of the fibers is illuminated by parallel light and light distribution series of the emergent light on the opposite side of each of the fibers is recorded; 3) the other side of each of the fibers is illuminated by parallel light which has an alpha angle with the parallel light in step 2) and light distribution series of the emergent light on the opposite side of each of the fibers is recorded; 4) according to the recorded light distribution series, cross correlation coefficients R1 and R2 of the two fibers in each illuminating direction are calculated respectively; and 5) one of the polarization maintaining fibers is rotated, step 2) to step 4) are repeated, and the aligning position is determined according to the cross correlation coefficients. The system comprises an imaging system, a data processing unit and a fiber control system. Compared with the prior art, the method can realize correct alignment of various polarization maintaining fibers, and has the advantages of strong commonality and low cost.


Victims of crime are likely to move residence following their victimization. However, the reasons for and the outcomes of victimization-precipitated moves remain unclear. The current study uses life event calendar data on jailed women to test two potential mechanisms: relationship dissolution and perceptions of neighborhood safety. In addition, this study seeks to understand how the safety of women's residential contexts is affected by their past victimizations and residential mobility. Results show that intimate partner victimization is associated with increased odds of moving, and this relationship is partially mediated by relationship dissolution. Furthermore, moving and nonpartner victimization interact in their effects on neighborhood safety, such that moves following higher levels of victimization lead women into more dangerous neighborhoods.


and eco-efficiency of processes and products are fully to address the environmental impacts induced by increasing consumption. in addition to these strategies, the concept of sustainable consumption calls for changing the levels and patterns of consumption, which require complimentary approaches. consumer's don ́t realize the consequences of their own consumer behavior to the environment. the aim of the paper is analyze the selected tools of the sustainable environmental marketing that extends the traditional marketing approach of social responsibility. Globalization and sustainable development contributes to discussions about business in society and their roles. it is clear that the business community can have a positive impact on the achievement of the objectives of both concepts.


When reinforced concrete elements are incapable of safely sustaining the anticipated load, flexural strengthening may be necessary. Two major construction methods have been reported in literature for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) elements in bending. These methods include Externally Bonded Reinforcement (EBR) and Near Surface Mounting (NSM). The aim of this paper is review these methods, including the extensive surface preparation that must be performed on bonded elements. Previous investigations have shown that these techniques are effective in salvaging old and distressed reinforced concrete structures. This paper identifies the problems associated with the utilisation of steel plates as strengthening material for RC elements in EBR and NSM techniques.


Researches attracting to develop natural fibre reinforced composites in world wide due to their low cost, mechanical properties, bio degradability and environmental friendly. Among various natural fabrics, flax fabric from plant protein and silk fabric from animal protein are chosen in this study and developed natural fabric reinforced polymer composites with hand lay-up method upon next load carrying tests such as tensile and compressive were examined as per ASTM standards and average compressive strength in silk and flax fabric reinforcement found to be 101.26 Mpa and 67.16Mpa.Density was found to be 1.20g/cc on both.


Abstract Butt welds of duplex stainless steel plate (grade 2205) have been produced using grade 2209 consumables for a variety of welding processes employed in the shipbuilding industry. The welding processes were used initially with interpass temperatures in the range 250–350°C. When the interpass temperature was controlled to below 150°C, the average ferrite content increased in the weld metal and in the heat affected zone (HAZ). Controlling the interpass temperature did not dramatically affect the properties in the mechanical tests performed. Heat inputs were in some instances higher than those used previously, but this did not adversely affect weld metal and HAZ properties. No evidence of intermetallic phase precipitation was found, by TEM of thin foils, in any of the weld metal in the processes used. There was evidence of fine particle precipitation of M23C6 in the HAZ regions. The level of precipitation observed is acceptable for the final application as all the mechanical test and corrosion test requirements were comfortably met. There was evidence that the HAZ was an area of higher strain: dislocation density was high and deformation bands, twinning, and stacking faults were present.


Introduction Autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins (ACPA) are specifically associated to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and probably involved in its pathophysiology. ACPA are produced in the inflamed synovial tissue (ST). We demonstrated that peptidylarginine deiminases (PAD) 2 and 4 are present in the tissue and probably responsible for fibrin citrullination, and consequently for genesis of the epitopes targeted by ACPA. PAD2 and 4 are expressed in the intima and the subintimal inflammatory infiltrates, essentially by CD68 +mononuclear cells.1 We suspected macrophages (MΦ) of the ST to be responsible for synthesis and release of PADs in the interstitium, inducing citrullination of the local fibrin deposits. We generated in vitro various subsets of MΦ in the presence of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 or M-CSF, and observed a major influence of the phenotype of polarised MΦ on cytokine response to ACPA-containing immune complexes.2 Objectives The aim of the current study was to evaluate expression of PAD2 and 4 by various subsets of polarised MΦ. Methods CD14-positive monocytes from healthy donors were cultured in presence of M-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-4 or IL-10. The expression of the PADI2 and 4 genes was measured by RT-qPCR and the expression of PAD2 and 4, evaluated by immunoblotting of total cell extracts. Results PADI2 and 4 mRNAs are expressed in monocytes while PAD2 and 4 proteins are also immunodetected in these cells. In the different MΦ subsets, PADI2 mRNAs are less detected than in the related monocytes except for the IFN-γ MΦ subset where it is detected at a higher relative rate. By contrast, PADI4 gene expression is suppressed in all MΦ subsets except the IFN-γ MΦ where PADI4 mRNAs are weakly detected. Consistently with mRNA analysis, PAD2 is detected in all polarised MΦ and more strongly expressed in IFN-γ MΦ whereas PAD4 is no longer detectable except faintly for the IFN-γ MΦ. Conclusions This study shows that PAD2 is expressed at various degrees in the four analysed MΦ phenotypes but PAD4, only in the IFN-γ MΦ, both enzymes being expressed in monocytes. This reinforces the hypothesis of a role for monocytes and MΦ in genesis of ACPA epitopes in the ST. References . Foulquier, et al. Arthritis Rheum2007. . Clavel, et al. Ann Rheum Dis2016. Acknowledgements The technical assistance of Céline Thomann, Géraldine Offer and Imène Belhaouane is gratefully acknowledged. Disclosure of interest None declared


This is an attempt to make a list of some zoonotic diseases transmitted from rodents to man reported in Indonesia. The diseases may cause by all agents of disease i.e viruses, rickettsias, bacterias, protozoas, fungi or helminthes and transmit directly by contact/biting of rodent or indirectly by ectoparasite vectors such as lice, fleas, ticks or mites. The diseases reviewed are Hantavirus infection (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome = HFRS), rickettsiosis (scrub typhus, murine typhus and spotted fever group(SFG) Rickettsiae) plague, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, schistosomiasis, eosinophylic meningitis (angiostrongyliosis) and echinostomiasis. Keywords: small mammals, zoonotic diseases, rodent, Indonesia


The possibility of using a conducting double DNA-like helix as the basis of an electromagnetic wave polarizer, which converts an incident linearly polarized wave into a reflected wave with circular polarization, has been shown. A high-frequency resonance is studied, at which the wavelength of the incident radiation is approximately equal to the length of a helical turn. The simulation of a double DNA-like helix has been carried out. The electric currents arising in the helical strands under waves with circular polarization at high-frequency resonance have been analyzed. Fundamentally different behavior of the double DNA-like helix concerning waves with right-hand or left-hand circular polarization has been established, which can be called the effect of polarization selectivity. This effect is manifested in the fact that a double DNA-like helix at high-frequency resonance can create a reflected wave having only one sign of circular polarization. The electric vector of the reflected wave produces a turn in space with the opposite winding direction compared to the double helix. These studies also highlight the electromagnetic forces of interaction between helical strands. The equilibrium of the double DNA-like helix has been studied, including as an element of metamaterials and as an object with a high potential for use in nanotechnology.


Objective To investigate the ultrasound characteristics of thyroid microcarcinoma. Methods The ultrasound imaging of thirty-four cases of thyroid microcarcinoma confirmed by surgery and pathology between January 2003 and January 2009 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sun University was analyzed retrospectively. Results Thirty-two (94.1%) cases were detected as hypo-echo nodules. Twenty-eight (85.3%) cases were with irregular shape. Twenty-six (76.5% ) cases were with irregular edges calcification. Blood flow was detected in 7 cases with CDFI and lymph node metastasis was found in 4 cases. Conclusion Hypo-echo nodules, regular shape, irregular edges and calcification are the ultrasound characteristic. Comprehending the characteristics may improve the pre-operation diagnosis efficacy.


Inthispapertherearepresented remotesensing methodsforburied objects visualization. Itconsist oftwoparts: firs oneisdetermination soil's electrodynamic (like permittivity anddielectric loss tangent onfrequency) characteristics inorder to find thebestEM monitoring pulse, fordeeppenetration ofitsfrequency contents waves. Second part is dedicated toburied objects image reconstruction byreflected field. Thispaper contains somedeveloped ideas, presented in[1].


The effects of shot-peening (SP) and crack-healing on the rolling contact fatigue (RCF) strengths of Al2O3/SiC composite ceramics were investigated. Non-shot-peened, shot- peened, and shot-peened + crack-healed specimens were prepared. SP was performed using ZrO2 beads. The shot-peened + crack-healed specimen was crack-healed after SP. X-ray diffraction clearly showed that SP induced a compressive residual stress up to 300 MPa at the specimen surfaces. Furthermore, the shot-peened + crack-healed specimen retained a compressive residual stress of 200 MPa. The apparent surface fracture toughness of the shot- peened specimens increased owing to the positive effects of the compressive residual stress. RCF tests were performed using a thrust load-bearing test device. The RCF lives of the shot- peened specimens did not improve compared to that of the non-shot-peened specimen, because the numerous SP-introduced surface cracks could act as crack initiation sites during the RCF tests. However, the RCF life of the shot-peened + crack-healed specimen did improve compared to those of non-shot-peened and shot-peened specimens, implying that combining SP and crack-healing was an effective strategy for improving the RCF lives of Al2O3/SiC composite ceramics.


Social auditing is about accountability. Its stakeholder process complements traditional strategic planning processes. Within the context of a public sector organization, a process of social auditing, previously used in the private sector, was adapted to evaluate a broad range of organizational issues related to human resource policies and managerial practices. The College had a foundation of human resource policies, practices and programs that had achieved some of their purposes over time, and the social audit clearly identified where improvements where required. Key findings included the need to attend to workload and work design issues that were creating stress, the need to refocus performance evaluation, professional development and to enhance programs that recognized the contribution of employees. Training, particularly in the area of technological skills was recognized as critical for ensuring that employees were prepared for workplace changes. In particular, the social audit provided feedback on communication processes and identified improvements necessary to enhance open and transparent decision-making. Health and wellness programs were recognized as key to restoring balance to employees' work lives and reducing stress. A number of recommendations from the social audit were integrated into the College's Strategic Plan 2000 2003, and funds were allocated during the College's 2000 2001 budget process. In June 2000, the Board of Governors allocated additional funding to manage issues related to workload and stress that arose from the strategic plan and the social audit. Through a reflective process, the research enabled a human resource practitioner to develop and implement a process of social auditing, examine and understand the effects of centralized public policy on human resource management and labour relations policy in British Columbia's public sector and make recommendations for improvement to human resource policy in one of British Columbia's community colleges.


Bound‐state solutions of several different Schrodinger equations are calculated rather efficiently using the methods of Lie algebra. In all cases considered, either of the algebras SO(3) or SO(2,1) provides a suitable framework, and there is no advantage to either choice. However, the choice of an appropriate realization of the generators is of greater significance, leading to a particularly simple solution whenever the Hamiltonian can be expressed as a linear function of the generators. In certain cases, the Hamiltonian can be expressed only as a bilinear function of the generators and only part of the bound‐state spectrum can be calculated analytically to yield a finite set of so‐called quasiexact solutions. These may be interrelated by means of suitable ladder operators and it is possible, though by no means necessary, to adopt a particular finite‐dimensional representation of the underlying algebra. The present work emphasizes the role of similarity transformations, and the connection between the Lie ...


We reexamine CP violation in the {delta}S=0 decays {tau}{yields}N{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}} (N=2,3,4). We assume that the new physics (NP) is a charged Higgs boson. We show that there is no NP contribution to {tau}{yields}{pi}{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}}, which means that no CP violation is expected in this decay. On the other hand, NP can contribute to {tau}{yields}N{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}} (N=3,4). These are dominated by the intermediate resonant decays {tau}{yields}{omega}{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}}, {tau}{yields}{rho}{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}}, and {tau}{yields}a{sub 1}{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}}. We show that the only sizeable CP-violating effects which are possible are in {tau}{yields}a{sub 1}{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}}{yields}4{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}} (polarization-dependent rate asymmetry) and {tau}{yields}{omega}{pi}{nu}{sub {tau}} (triple-product asymmetry)


Genomic prediction of single-crosses is a promising tool in maize breeding, increasing genetics gains and reducing selection time. A strategy that can increase accuracy is applying multiple-trait genomic prediction using selection indices, which take into account the performance under optimal and stress conditions. Moreover, factors such as dominance, structural variants, and population structure can influence the accuracy of estimates of genomic breeding values (GEBV). Therefore, the objectives were to apply genomic prediction ( i ) including multi-trait models, ( ii ) incorporating dominance deviation and copy number variation effects, and ( iii ) controlling population structure in maize hybrids. Hence, we used two maize datasets (HELIX and USP), consisting of 452 and 906 maize single-crosses. The traits evaluated were grain yield, plant and ear height, stay green, and four selection indices. From multi-trait GBLUP and GK, using the combination of selection indices in MTGP is a viable alternative, increasing the selective accuracy. Furthermore, our results suggest that the best approach is predicting hybrids including dominance deviation, mainly for complex traits. We also observed including copy number variation effects seems to be suitable, due to the increase of prediction accuracies and reduction of model bias. On the other hand, adding four different sets of population structure as fixed covariates to GBLUP did not improve the prediction accuracy for grain yield and plant height. However, using nonmetric multidimensional scaling dimensions and fineSTRUCTURE group clustering increased reliability of the GEBV for GY and PH, respectively.


In the present study, the comfort properties of knitted fabrics made from a two-ply yarn comprising a paper yarn and a cotton yarn were investigated. The objective was to elucidate the characteristics of paper yarn in comparison with cotton in terms of the design and development of comfortable and ecofriendly textiles that directly contact the skin. A two-ply yarn comprising a paper yarn made from abacá and a cotton yarn was prepared. Five fabrics with different proportions of paper were prepared by changing the knitting ratio of the two-ply yarn to a 100% cotton yarn. The mechanical properties (tensile, shearing, bending, compression, surface, contact area, and air permeability properties) and various thermal and moisture-transport properties of the fabric samples were determined. Those investigations revealed that the surface roughness increased, the friction coefficient decreased, the contact area decreased (in both the dry and wet state), the air permeability increased, the thermal conductivity increased, and the moisture diffusivity increased as the proportion of paper yarn increased. The fabric consisting of only the two-ply yarn was noticeably stiffer than the fabrics that also contained a pure cotton yarn. The results suggest the possibility of developing clothes that feel comfortable next to the skin, even when wet (e.g. underwear and socks) by knitting the two-ply yarn in a well-balanced ratio with cotton yarns.


This paper presents two more Linear B inscribed stirrup jars discovered in 1991 in Quartier Nu at Malia. After considering the archaeological and chronological contexts of the two vases and suggesting a reading of the inscriptions, some particularities of inscribed stirrup jars are highlighted. In the light of recent work by Haskell et al. and Duhoux, we consider their use as guest-gifts, openly advertising the person who gave the vase and its contents in the first place. The relative scarcity of inscribed vis-a-vis uninscribed vases, the visual stress given to the inscription, the elite find context and the preponderance of personal names are used to suggest that inscribed vases are personal reminders of actual guest friends and travels undertaken.


THE operation of transmission and distribution lines in the high altitudes of the Rocky Mountain region had indicated that lightning strokes were not so severe as at lower altitudes. Also glow discharges or corona currents from the earth have been observed at high altitudes from pointed objects and rocks. This investigation was made to determine the probable lightning current at altitudes from 6,000 feet to 13,500 feet and to measure corona current. It has been found that the probable stroke current decreases with increase of altitude from sea level to approximately 18,000 feet altitude at which point it appears that no current would be present. The highest mean temperatures at 18,000 feet do not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and comparison of temperatures in free air at altitudes up to 13,500 feet check temperatures on the earth's surface and indicate that freezing temperatures may limit the formation of lightning.


The Ancient Indian education system was mainly residential that was Gurukula system of education. Guru used to teach all the skills and knowledge to his student. He used to except the some unspoken obligations and behavior from his students as of his own son's/daughter's behavior. Both the Guru and student used live together and learn together. After the completion of the course students used to pay honorarium Guru Dakshina. Guru used to put his students in many difficult situations and ask him to act and respond. Guru used to share all his experiences and care for his students he used to love his students when ever required he used to punish his students. Guru used to except good behavior, feeling of respect, feeling of importance, attention, love, care and loyal relation with his student throughout the life. On other hand student used to see his hero in his master, he should be skillful, intelligent, knowledgeable, should give love, affection, no partiality and should give blessings or boon to the students Guru was everything to him. The relation was like father and son/daughter and the education was perfect. There was no financial relationship between them. Student used to except Guru should solve their all problems and make them tension free and give the remedial solutions for their problems in life. It was sacred relationship between Guru and student like God and Bhakta. The development of psychological contract is based on emotional communication. If there is a miss-conceptualization of perceptions and communication, It will also affects on the attitude and behavior of Guru and students. When there is a breach of psychological contract it is going to affects the society at large.


An asymptomatic 1-week-old boy infant was seen for "bumps" on his feet. Physical examination revealed soft, skin-colored to pink grouped papules and nodules bilaterally on the soles that had been present since birth but were increasing in size and number (Figure 1). Examination was otherwise unremarkable. The patient was well-appearing without dysmorphic features or rashes. Tone was normal with appropriate alertness for age. Birth history was normal, and there were no fevers or signs of illness. A punch biopsy of a heel lesion was done (Figures 2 and 3).


This piece traces the origins of the sigma, pi, delta bond notation used in molecular orbital theory and its analogy with the s, p, d atomic orbital notation.


The last decades have seen the active embracement of classroom multilingualism in educational settings. The relevance of this study is justified by the increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in Western societies, the high demand for teachers who understand the value of multilingualism, have deep knowledge of multilingual language practices, are able and willing to provide an appropriate learning environment for language learners. The main objective of the study is to investigate the pre-service language teachers' beliefs about crosslinguistic pedagogy, code-switching, and codemixing as the leading examples of this pedagogy in educational settings. An online questionnaire was shared among teacher candidates (n=20) enrolled in teacher education programs at the University of Hamburg. The respondents were asked to answer the questions concerning their background and to mark on a Likert scale whether they agreed with the statements provided to them or would find the implementation of certain methodology useful. The findings suggest positive attitudes towards multilingualism and a high level of awareness regarding the importance of previously acquired languages for subsequent language teaching and learning. However, some discrepancies between knowledge, beliefs, and practice are indicated. The results allow us to conclude that target-language-only use in language classes is still a highly desirable goal for pre-service language teachers. Some possible implications for curriculum development arising from the study are discussed.


Memphis Harp and Jug Blowers: 1929-1939. Document DOCD 6028. (Revised issue, released 2009) Memphis Blues Volume 3:1927-1930. Document DOCD 5685. (Released 2009) Blues, Blues Christmas Volume 2:1926-1958. Document DOCD 32-20-15. 2 CD set. (Released 2009) Banker's Blues: A Study in the Effects of Fiscal Mischief Volume 1. Document 32-2016. (Released 2009) Fire In My Bones: Raw Rare and Otherworldly African-American Gospel (1944-2007). Tompkins Square TSQ 2271. 3 CD set. (Released 2009). Banker's Blues holds true on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. If you think headlines like "How YOU can survive NEW GREAT DEPRESSION: Why you should spend all your money BEFORE the banks collapse" and "Scumbag Millionaires: Shamed Bank Bosses 'Sorry' For Crisis" come from American newspapers, think again. Both headlines come reproduced from British newspapers in the fold-out booklet for Document's "riposte to our Bankers HBOS [Halifax Bank of Scotland] and their profligate ways." Even though the HBOS is now part of Lloyds TSB financial group, British companies and account holders still seethe at the bankers who brought about the 2008/2009 "credit crunch." (1) Seventeen of the 23 selections come from the Document catalog, leading off with Blind Alfred Reed's "Money Craving Folks" (recorded December 1929) and Barbecue Bob's "We Sure Got Hard Times Now" (1930). A few rarities are included, such as Brother Fullbosom's "A Sermon on a Silver Dollar" from a later Paramount session in 1931, and the Edgewater Crows' "No Bonus Blues" (from the ARC labels recording sessions in Hattiesburg, MS in July 1936). Added from Gary Atkinson's personal collection are "Trying to Make a Living" by Bobby Saxton with guitarist Earl Hooker (Bea and Baby label, recorded 1960) and "Broke and Hungry" by Hop Wilson (Goldband label, 1958). Had this CD been the final issue from Document, it would have been a defiant last fight. The idea of a jug band may now seem quaint if not laughable. But during the 1920s and 1930s, some of the best Memphis blues musicians were to be found in jug bands: Gus Cannon, Noah Lewis, Will Shade, Jab Jones, Jed Davenport, and Will Weldon (later Casey Bill Weldon). Oddly, many names of the jug players are forgotten, but Charlie Polk of the Memphis Jug Band is one to remember. Document's latest 5000-series issue and its revision of a 6000-series disc help keep the Memphis jug legacy complete on CD. Memphis Harp and Jug Blowers: 1929-1939 was originally issued in 1992 under the first Document owner Johnny Parth's supervision. It contained eight titles from Little Buddy Doyle, four by Minnie Wallace, eleven by Jed Davenport (two of them with vocals by Joe Williams), and Take 2 of "Memphis Jug Blues" (Victor matrix 37943-2, 1927) by the Memphis Jug Band. For this new edition, Gary Atkinson moved the Memphis Jug Band track to Document DOCD 5685 (reviewed below), and removed the two Davenport sides with Joe Williams (which I hope will be placed in a future Document issue). Then the three sides that Minnie Wallace recorded in 1929 with the Memphis Jug Band ("Dirty Butter" and the two takes of "The Old Folks Started It," with take 1 being issued here for the first time) are brought over from Memphis Jug Band Volume 2 (Document DOCD 5022). The recently discovered "Slick Capers Blues" (issued previously only on Too Late Too Late Blues Volume 1 [Document 5150]) rounds out the Little Buddy Doyle section. The main attraction, however, is Jed Davenport, a harmonica player who had enough virtuosity to record an instrumental version of the 16-measure insult song "The Dirty Dozens" (which he did in 1930 for Vocalion). His Beale Street Jug Band sides for Vocalion are among the chief treasures of Memphis jug band music. The whole CD was digitally remastered; the tracks for which the sources were in excellent shape sound better than ever--especially Davenport's "Beale Street Breakdown"--although those for which the discs were worn fare not so well. …


Accessible online at: www.karger.com/journals/oph Dr. Sakimoto: With regard to extended-wear contact lenses, such lenses have been believed to most frequently cause ophthalmological disorders. It is not good timing for me to talk about such lenses, despite the concept having become known all over Japan. However, the speech given by Dr. Freeman seems to be the best of those given on this topic, particularly the speech focused on extended-wear contact lenses. We have had strong objections to conventional contact lenses for extended wear because the conventional lenses have been regarded as being inappropriate and associated with many problems. Under these circumstances, I cannot readily believe in these new-generation contact lenses. However, let me initially elaborate on my attitude toward extended wear on the basis of the assumption that extended wear will become necessary. Dr. Takashi Sakimoto