La presencia de plaguicidas en los alimentos representa una amenaza importante para los consumidores, sin embargo, la detección rápida directamente en las muestras implica una tarea compleja. En este trabajo de investigación se evaluó la aplicación potencial de la técnica Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) para la medición rápida de determinados plaguicidas en hortalizas de hojas verdes, identificándolos a partir del registro de las líneas de emisión que componen los agentes activos. Los resultados obtenidos fueron exitosos, pudiendo encontrar condiciones experimentales óptimas, posibilitando la identificación de los elementos en las muestras pertinentes. A su vez, mediante la aplicación de análisis quimiométricos al conjunto de datos LIBS, se pudo determinar que las muestras tienden a agruparse de acuerdo al plaguicida que las compone, lo que posibilitó su clasificación. Por otro lado, fue posible cuantificar residuos de plaguicidas mediante la medición de Cl, P y S. Se estableció una clara evidencia de la aplicabilidad de esta técnica como una herramienta potencial para el estudio de plaguicidas en matrices alimentarias. Esto se logró a partir de una preparación mínima de muestras, garantizando la rapidez del análisis, bajos costos de aplicación, y sin producción de desechos tóxicos, evidenciando su uso como técnica preliminar de evaluación o en forma complementaria a los métodos analíticos tradicionalmente ya usados.
The use of pesticides in production systems is carried out in order to control pests and weeds. However, due to use and abuse in their application, they cause adverse effects on white and nonwhite organisms, reaching water bodies and air due to their drift. In turn, the presence of pesticide residues in food represents an important threat to consumers, mainly due to the toxicity that they can present in humans, finding evidence that determines the relationship of many diseases and even deaths in the population by ingestion, contact, or mishandling of them. From of the increasing knowledge about the potential dangers associated with the use of pesticides, and the availability of data evidencing their presence in the environment, the need to introduce controls on pesticide residues has become a matter of central concern for society. Against this background, global environmental legislation fixes Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), which are increasingly stringent regulations for pesticide residues in water and food. These limits are consistently exceeded as a result of the unreasonable application of pesticides, though. Noncompliance with MRLs results in the presence of excessive amounts of pesticide residues in crop products, leading to the accumulation of pesticide traces in the environment, the resurgence and outbreak of resistant pests, and adverse health outcomes due to contaminated food consumption. However, the techniques used for the detection and quantification of these residues require a long procedure, use highly hazardous reagents, and offer no possibility of re-measuring the same sample. Knowing the effects produced by the use of pesticides and with the premise that the maximum permissible limits are exceeded in several cases, it is necessary to have rapid detection and quantification methods that allow the analysis and evaluation of their presence, being the first step to determine if the maximum allowed limits are exceeded with the consequent identification of risks and decision making. The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique has made its way as a simple diagnostic technique that allows rapid detection of interest elements in samples, regardless of their state of aggregation. It is an analytical technique that relies on the formation and study of a plasma induced by a focused high-power laser pulse on the surface of a sample to generate a plasma of high temperature and electronic density around 10x1017 cm-3 , hence providing information about the elements that it is composed of at the atomic level. The plasma emission produced, due to electronic recombination, generates a spectrum. That spectrum is collected and its spectroscopic analysis allows carrying out qualitative and/or quantitative analysis. LIBS has become established as an important spectroscopic technique with enormous analytical potential due to its particular characteristics and advantages over other techniques, such as no or minimal sample preparation, iv the capability of multielement analysis, no waste production, rapidity, affordable costs, and remote sensing capability. At present, the LIBS technique coupled with multivariate chemometric methods and data analysis is being used as a new tool in the classification of samples. Chemometric techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) are multivariate statistical methods applied to: reduction of dimensional problems (number of variables), avoiding the loss of essential information; pattern recognition; and characterization of two or more sample groups. At the same time, the creation of calibration protocols using relatively simple experimental setups allows finding detection and quantification limits with high precision. With this, the objective of the present study was to evaluate and analyze the feasibility of using the LIBS technique as a potential tool for the detection and quantification of some pesticides, including herbicides and fungicides, in chard samples. The objectives proposed in this work were: i) to identify the pesticides in contaminated chard samples based on the detection of the elements that make up the active agents, ii) to characterize and classify the pesticides by chemometric methods, and iii) establish routines for quantitative analysis. With the main purpose of contributing a new and/or complementary analytical technique to the identification of pesticides in food or other matrices. The research that has been carried out included systematic studies of laser-induced plasmas in order to obtain advantageous information. An exhaustive study of the elements of difficult determination that make up the active agents of pesticides was carried out, at atmospheric pressure and low pressure with different experimental schemes, to obtain an optimal database that allows the identification and characterization of pesticides starting from the application of chemometric analysis. In turn, calibration protocols were carried out to study the sensitivity and precision of the analytical technique, establishing the optimal plasma parameters. Finally, the plasmas produced were characterized to evaluate their homogeneity and repeatability. The results obtained from the LIBS signal records were successful, being able to find optimal experimental conditions and allowing the identification of P, S, C, and Cl in all standard samples and in the sample used for control purposes. A new signal registration acquisition method was also developed, this guarantees the obtaining of several signal registrations with minimal sample destruction and in a fast and versatile way. By applying multivariate analysis, it was observed that the samples tend to group according to the pesticide that composes them and differ from the control sample, in turn, differences in the classification of groups could be observed with a confidence level of 95 %. From the application of the LIBS technique, it was possible to quantify pesticide residues by measuring Cl, P, and S, from a minimum preparation of the sample, guaranteeing the speed of the analysis, low application costs, and no production of toxic waste. The proposed calibration models were validated and it is concluded that they can be used in a complementary way to the analytical methods traditionally used in the detection of pesticides. Through this work, it has been shown that the LIBS technique can be used as a complementary tool in agricultural applications and can in turn be applied to other matrices in addition to the one presented in this work. Starting from new simple experimental configurations, with short execution times, without the production of toxic waste and low application costs.


The invention discloses a wavelet progressive data compression method, which is used in the wireless sensor network. A cluster head carries out the wavelet transformation and generates the wavelet coefficient while receiving the sensor data; when the wavelet coefficient reaches one data unit, the cluster head carries out the coding compression and transmits the coding compression result, the wavelet coefficient continuously generated by the cluster head forms the next one data unit, the operation is circularly carried out for forming the progressive data compression transmission. The invention solves the problem of the mismatching between the cluster head storage capacity and the sensor data quantity in the wireless sensor network, and the boundary effect brought by the wavelet transformation. The invention is suitable for the sensor network model based on the clustering.


Considering some real applications with the constraints of spatial database queries,we define a new type of query called constrained group nearest group query, and investigate query processing technology according to the "constraint" property.A constraint clustering algorithm is designed to ensure that the query point number of the result satisfies the constraint.MBM and SHR are employed to obtain initial results.Then,a pruning strategy is introduced to improve the iterative updating procedure,which enable the obtaining of optimal results.Experiments were implemented to verify the effectiveness and practicality of the method.


Objective To study the expression of CD44 in pituitary adenoma and investigate its diagnostic and prognostic significance of CD44 in pituitary adenoma.Methods Expression of CD44s and CD44v 5 were detected in human surgically resected samples of pituitary adenoma(20 invasive、18 non-invasive and 6 recurrent pituitary adenoma), using S-P immunohistchemical staining method. Result The positive staining rates of CD44s and CD44v 5 were 75%、35% respectively in 20 invasive pituitary adenomas.The positive staining rates of CD44s and CD44v 5 were 27.8%、22.2% respectively in 18 non-invasive pituitary adenomas.The positive staining rates of CD44s and CD44v 5 100%、66.7% in 6 recurrent pituitary adenoma respectively. The positive staining rate of CD44s are significantly higher in invasive and recurrent pituitary adenoma than in non-invasive pituitary adenoma(P0.01).Low levels of CD44v 5 expression were observed in both invasive and non-invasive pituitary tumor and there was no significant difference. Conclusion The results suggest that higher expressions of CD44s in invasive pituitary adenoma were correlated with pituitary adenoma invasiveness,CD44s may play an important role in invasive pituitary adenoma and can be used for diagnosis of invasive pituitary. Lower expression of CD44v 5 in pituitary adenoma was not related with invasiveness of pituitary adenoma.While the higher expression of CD44s and CD44v 5 show the poor prognosis of recurrent pituitary adenoma.


Marketing is a key element of success in international business, but at the same time, it can be a serious obstacle for a disoriented manager. These two factors determine the importance of the issue in the world today.


more interest, controversy, and discussion than any anti-rheumatic drug since the corticoster¬ oids". The main reason for controversy is the lack of sufficient studies using controls and ob¬ jective measurements.8*4 Since acetylsalicylic acid (A.S.A.) is the most commonly used drug in the treatment of osteo¬ arthritis, we have compared indomethacin with it in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hips and/or knees, by carrying out a double-blind, sequential study, with single cross-over.


Recently, scientists have been researching medicinal plants and preparations made from them. Herbal extracts containing phytocomponents have significant antiulcer effects in in vivo experiments on animal models compared to reference drugs. Plants with antioxidant properties are used to treat ulcer diseases.
The article summarize literature data on the use of herbal remedies to improve liver and gallbladder function.
The analysis of scientific publications in the international electronic scientific and metric databases Scopus, PubMed by keywords was carried out. The search depth is 15 years (2007 2021). The positive effect of herbal medicines on human health has been proven.
Special attention is drawn to such components as: the root of prickly capers, wild chicory, black nightshade, the bark of terminalia arjuna, the root of western cassia, common yarrow, leaves of the Gallic tamarisk. The influence of these plant components on the treatment of common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system was analyzed. Indications and contraindications for use, advantages and disadvantages of these plant components are described. The characteristics of the new herbal remedy are given, which contains the right combination of the quantitative content of plant components, such as the root of prickly capers, wild chicory, nightshade black, arjuna terminalia bark, western cassia root, common yarrow, leaves of the Galian tamarisk.
Herbal remedy can be recommended as a source of biologically active substances of herbal origin, which have hepatoprotective properties and contribute to the normalization of the liver and gall bladder, as well as prevent the negative impact of toxic substances on the body.


Nowadays in China, the state shares and state-owned legal person shares are in dominant position in share companies, which hinders the improvement of company capital operation efficiency, and affects the share-holders re-investment into share companies. While share re-purchase is one of the important method to elevate the ratio of fluid shares and social public shares, optimize share struc ture, improve the legal person management structure of share companies. The significance and role of share re-purchase operation. Difficulties in share re-purchase operation in current China.


Based in the used of pruning in the coffee tree, this study aimed to evaluate the root system from these practices. The root growth analysis in three soil depth showed that before pruning, the root system length, independent of fruit presence, did not show difference among them. Three months after pruning showed an increase in root system growth in relation to previous period and this augment was higher in pruned plants than in control. At six months after pruning, the root length of pruned plants also were higher than non pruning plants, although in low proportion. Finally, at twelve months after pruning, the length was essentially the same between pruned and non pruned plants. In addition to these observations, there were also observed that fruit removal before pruning, did not influence the root behavior, and in all evaluations, except the last, it was noted a higher root accumulation in the 20cm of soil. In relation to horizontal distribution the plant root volum, in all treatments evaluated were observed a reduction in radical volum in the range from 20 to 40 cm, except in plants pruned in March/2008. The pruning reduced the plant root volum while the presence or absence of fruit before harvest did not affect the horizontal distribution of root system.


Electron microscopic examination of splenic tissue obtained from patients with a variety of hematologic disorders has shown ultrastructural evidence for platelet breakdown within splenic histiocytes in seven out of eight patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (I. T. P.). The morphologic characteristics of this intracellular digestion have been described.


EVOKED POTENTIALS as recorded from the cerebellar hemispheres after stimulation of the cerebral cortex have been described by Curtis,* D o w , ~ ~ ~ Hampson,' Jansen,s and Fadiga, Pupilli, and von Berger.6.6 A great variety of wave forms and polarity of such potentials exist in the reported results. The present paper attempts to explain that such variations are related to the exact cerebellar point from which the recording was made. Consistent potentials can be recorded if the pickup point remains the same, providing other experimental conditions are unchanged.


Abstract This research examines parental involvement and academic achievement of children in the Sri Lankan Muslims ethnic minority living in the UK compared with the Sri Lankan Muslims living in Sri Lanka. Academic achievement of children was measured by selecting children who completed two-year end examination in 2020. Data were collected from 20 parents of children in each population and analysed with SPSS software. The perception of the community in the UK that the "academic achievement of their children is poor" has been proved wrong with a statistically highly significant performance record. The local Sri Lankans in Sri Lanka have been addressed, and there are no significant differences in the academic achievement between both populations.


Based on analyzing the selection mechanism of appointed member and the structure of independent audit committee.We use the related data from the listed company of Shanghai stock exchange,such as the change of chairman,the alternation of control right and the structure of audit committee members.Then we research the character of independent audit committee.We find out that the change of biggest shareholder is more likely to trigger the change of independent director,and while they change synchronously,the possibility of earnings may increase.Then we have new findings that if the committee involves the key positions such as the chairman,secretary of the board,the CFO,the level of the earnings management will be higher than if not.The results indicate that the Audit committee selection mechanism and the member's independent performance in their duties may reflect the governance of company.


The following templates are provided to assist districts and campuses in developing the Target Improvement Plan. Target Improvement Plan - PC Target Improvement Plan - MAC The 2014-2015 campuses listed below are identified as priority schools and are eligible to receive supplemental funds through


The Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve (RESEX), is located on Arraial do Cabo Municipality, Cabo Frio region. It is a conservation unit with social and ecological interest, that intends to protect the livelihood of traditional fishermen, local flora and fauna. The climate is tropical dry and the vegetation classified as sandy-coastal-plain vegetation. This study goal was to survey useful species on the land part of RESEX, and associate this knowledge to local traditions. The ethnobotanical data was obtained by observer participation and structured interviews with traditional fishermen. From the 444 use citations, there were 68 species, 61 genera and 42 families. Use categories were as follows: food (45,6%), medicinal (39,7%), technology (29,4%), firewood (10,2%), construction (8,8%) and ornamental (2,9%). The Shannon Index was used to analyse the diversity of useful species, with the result of 1,78 (base 10) and 4,10 (base e), showing that the local fishermen have knowledge about the biodiversity, compared to other studies of Brazilian coast. Data from this research will make possible the development of strategies for the sustainable use of natural resources, considering the environment perception of the population, based on cognitive systems developed over time between man and nature.


The analysis technology of the human body movement is an important research areas in the field of computer vision research,its main research contents include the movement of human detection,tracking,understanding and description.Detection means the body area extracting from the complex background in the video sequence.This paper uses a detection algorithm which is based on a continuous parallax figure of differential method,First of all,estimates the two of the global motion model parameters adjacent to the reference image frame disparity map global motion compensation.Adjacent pair of two parallax images are treated by the difference method,and the difference image of the binarizied procession,morphological filtering and connected components are treated to extract and remove the smaller communicating area,thereby obtains an accurate movement of body area.Verified by experiments,the method can obtain accurate test results of human movement and strikes a balance between the detection accuracy and detection speed.


Nowadays, it is increasing high for power in instantaneous reactive power theory in Voltage Quality Improvement .In this paper, a deadbeat control method based on SVPWM is presented which is a new method of Reactive power compensation of SVG subsystem. This method could detect the reaction current in real-time by instantaneous reactive power theory .To improve system response speed. This paper takes the theory of voltage space vector to against to the lack of direct current control high switching frequency. Also gives the analysis about the application of the principle of voltage space vector theory. Using deadbeat control technology is to eliminate the delay caused by calculation and sampling. Combined deadbeat control and voltage space vector in Matlab simulation system of the Control scheme. Simulation results demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of this method.


ing use of the species as an experimental ,0. model, g _ Our estimates of the critical oxygen i~ 8_ tension of C. elegans were based on polarographic measurements of oxygen consumption. T h e strain of C. elegans and method of culture on petri dishes were those of Brenner (2). Worms were rinsed from the agar surface and separated from bacteria in 15-ml centrifuge tubes with three washes of N-buffer (50 mM sodium chloride plus 25 mM potassium phosphate buffer p H 6.0). Washed worms, approximately 15 mg dry weight, were introduced into the reaction chamber. T h e suspension media was 2.7 ml of N-buffer maintained at 20 C and stirred continuously. T h e oxygen tension within the chamber was monitored with a Clark type electrode, Radiometer model E5046-0, which had a zero current of less than l0 -~° amps. Measurements of oxygen consumption were made over a wide range of oxygen tensions which included the critical oxygen tension. A plot of oxygen uptake versus oxygen tension was made for each of 12 experiments and the critical oxygen tension was estimated (Fig. 1). For this experiment, the critical oxygen tension was 27 mm Hg; on the basis of 12 experiments, the average critical oxygen tension was 27.4 _--+4.9 mm Hg. The re was no evidence of conformity at higher oxygen tensions. A possible explanation for the discrepancy between these results and those of Bait (1) lies in the different methods of measuring oxygen consumption. Bair's technique could result in establishment of a large oxygen gradient within the closed respiration chamber. T h e average oxygen tension in the chamber need not be close to the oxygen tension in the on> S o eXt o


Over the last decades various economic approaches have been used to identify the sources of economic growth across individual countries. In our paper we use Growth Accounting approach developed by Solow to analyse the significant determinants of economic growth in ten Central and Eastern European countries over the time period from 2004 to 2012. The data source is Total Economy Database provided by The Conference Board. Total Economy Database is a comprehensive database with annual data covering GDP, population, employment, hours, labour quality, capital services, labour productivity, and total factor productivity for about 123 countries in the world. Total Economy Database was developed by the Groningen Growth and Development Centre (University of Groningen, The Netherlands) in the early 1990s and the database was extended with a module on sources of growth in January 2010. The contribution of labour quantity and quality, Information and Communication Technology capital services, non-Information and Communication Technology capital services and Total Factor Productivity to the growth of Gross Domestic Product is identified. Capital and Total Factor Productivity are found as a main source of economic growth. Moreover, the impact of Foreign Direct Investment inflow, investment on Research and Development, openness of the economy and life expectancy on Gross Domestic Product is identified.


Starting from various definitions of civil society, this paper focuses on civil society as the sphere of voluntary associations and as an ideal for the whole of society. The basic civil society hypothesis is that the


One of the most serious problems in the field of combating crime is the fight against transnational corruption crime. This type of crime already (de facto and de jure) exists as international crime and has a specific subject composition, geography of commission and complex objective reasons. The core of transnational corruption crime is bribery widely used by transnational corporations for achieving their corporate purposes. Combatting such crimes by means of criminal law is carried out at various levels: international, interregional, regional, subregional, bilateral, and domestic. The purpose of this article is to characterize transnational corruption, which is one of the forms of self-determination of crime. The article provides a comprehensive classification of corruption crimes based on various criminal law and criminological criteria. The author pays special attention to the fact that all transnational corruption crimes can be divided into main and auxiliary. At the same time, these two types of offences are often inseparable. The author proposes the main directions of criminal law impact on transnational corruption crime, which could be used in both the General part and Special part of criminal law. The methodology of the article is based on the laws of materialist dialectics. The article rests on a wide range of Russian and foreign sources of scientific, legal, statistical, sociological, and other nature. The author applied the following research methods: analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, systemic-structural method, logicallegal, and comparativelegal.


Persistent left superior vena cava represents a congenital venous anomaly that poses a particular obstacle to the implantation of cardiac rhythm management devices. In the present report we briefly describe the rightsided implantation of a biventricular defibrillator in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava. We also briefly discuss the technically challenging procedures applied in such cases.


Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) encompasses clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders that typically manifest as limb-onset, diurnally fluctuating dystonia and exhibit a robust and sustained response levodopa treatment. GCH1 gene mutations are the most frequent cause of DRD. Mutations in the TH or SPR gene less often cause this condition. The index case is a 12-year-old young girl presented to the pediatric neurology clinic at the age of 8 years with tiptoes walking and deterioration of her gait. She is the product of first-degree consanguineous marriage with insignificant history. The index case has two sisters, one of whom suffers from learning difficulties, epilepsy, and bilateral nephrocalcinosis. Her two uncles had severe axonal polyneuropathy and died in their forties of unknown cause. Her magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated agenesis of the corpus callosum. Renal ultrasound studies showed bilateral nephrocalcinosis. Genetic DNA evaluation (whole-exome sequencing) identified the heterozygous variant c.207C>G,p. (Asp69Glu) in the SPR gene (OMIM: 182125), which leads to an amino acid exchange. Nine out of ten bioinformatic in silica programs predict a pathogenic effect for this variant. Treatment with levodopa\ benserazide 4:1 (Madopar) has not made any changes to the girl's condition.


This paper gives a short description of selected technical problems and their solutions in development of a marker locator. The principle of underground engineering network equipment marking by markers and principle of marker location is explained. Next, mathematical analy-sis of signal intensity received from an excited marker and its dependence on distance is described. Moreover, influence of over current induced by lightning into a marker is analyzed and practically measured. These facts were used to increase reliability and lifetime of markers.


A quasi-three-dimensional analysis has been developed for unsteady rotor-stator interaction in turbomachinery. The analysis solves the unsteady Euler or thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations in a body-fitted coordinate system. It accounts for the effects of rotation, radius change, and stress-surface thickness. The Baldwin-Lomax eddy-viscosity model is used for turbulent flows. The equations are integrated in time using an explicit four-stage Runge-Kutta scheme with a constant time step. Implicit residual smoothing is used to increase the stability limit of the time-accurate computations. The scheme is described, and stability and accuracy analyses are given.


Which Criteria for Access to Intensive Care and Limitation of the Therapeutic Effort in Times of Health Emergency? Abstract: The paper deals with the question of identifying criteria useful to take clinical decisions concerning withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatments with specific attention paid to emergency situations where resources available are scarce, as was the case in the rapid spread of Covid-19 pandemic. While recognizing the increased responsibility of health care workers in relation to equal resources allocation in such dramatic circumstances, the author critically evaluates, on the one hand, the use of criteria for any aprioristic selection of patients in relation to access to treatments based on age, which is unacceptable from an ethical-legal viewpoint. On the other hand, the author maintains that life expectancy could be a useful parameter of distributive justice only if it is framed within the multifactorial assessment of appropriateness of intensive care treatments based on a case by case evaluation; and this outside of any automatic mechanism that can lead to dangerous discriminatory outcomes.


Authentication is an important Security primitive in any class of network both at the entity level as well as at the message level. All the network entities comprising of WSN including nodes, cluster heads and base station need to be authenticated before sending or receiving any kind of communication within them. Public Key Cryptography offers broad based solutions to address all the security concerns. However such solutions are far too expensive to be applied directly to WSN owing to its resource constraints. ECC and its variant TinyECC offers the scope and the potential to build light weight solutions for WSN based networks. In this paper, light weight authentication protocols for Base to Node, Node to Base and Node to Node have been presented. These protocols are based on Elliptical Curve Cryptography and Hidden Generator Concepts. Hash Chains which are computationally light have been also used. The protocols have been developed in TinyOS, the defacto operating system for WSN and simulated in Tossim .The protocols have been ported to WSN hardware targeting MicaZ mote. The paper also brings out performance parameters of the developed protocols.


BACKGROUND: Gabapentin and Pregabalin both have been used in treatment of neuropathic pain as well as postoperative pain with good results but comparative studies between both are very less. OBJECTIVE: Present study was conducted to compare the efficacy of Gabapentin and pregabalin with respect to increase induration of analgesia, reduction in total post-operative requirements of analgesics and side effects. METHODS: The study was a hospital based randomized controlled double blinded study where 60 patients planned for total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly divided into two groups of 30 patients each. In Group-G 900 mg of Gabapentin (3 capsules of gabapentin 300 mg) and in the group P, 300 mg of Pregabalin (3 capsules of pregabalin 100mg) was administered orally prior to administration of spinal anesthesia. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups for patient demographic, intraoperative, hemodynamic parameters, and side effects. Mean total analgesic required over 24 hour post-operative period and mean no. of doses were significantly lower in pregabalin group compare to Gabapentin group while time to require rescue analgesia was significantly more in pregabalin compare to gabapentin. CONCLUSION: Pregabalin is found to be more effective than Gabapentin, in prolongation of post-spinal analgesia with decreased rescue analgesic requirements and minimal side effects.


The paper reflects research findings of the path dependence of infrastructural economic sectors in the KhantyMansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra – by performing an autocorrelation analysis. The authors analyze the path dependence of infrastructure economic sectors of the northern resource-extraction region resulted in detecting the dependence on last years' indicators, as well as a 3-year negative internal cycle in the transport industry, and a 4-year cycle in the financial industry, while no obvious internal development cycles have been observed in the "Information and Communication Technologies" and "Trade and Small Business" industries. It has been revealed that the path dependence of economic sectors in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra – causes problems for economic reforming and diversification. Keywords— Evolution of economic industries, resourceextraction region, infrastructure economic sectors, autocorrelation analysis, path dependence.


ABSTRACTIn this paper, the potential for applying deliberative disobedience as a legitimation framework for environmental disobedience is unpacked. At present, disobedience on behalf of non-humans is not justified within the liberal theory of disobedience put forward by Rawls. Instead of framing harms to environment as indirect harms to humans, Smith's framework of deliberative disobedience may be invoked on the premises that disobedients publicize not fundamental rights violations, but systematically distorted communication in the process that enacted the environmental policy or decision. To this end, the paper engages in a critical discussion about the dangers of legitimating environmental disobedience through deliberative disobedience. Indeed, its justification hinges on possessing deliberative or "dialogic" credentials as an alternative mode of address to distorted official channels. But its consequence, that of characterizing environmental disobedience as dialogic, means embracing the increasingly vi...


ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the ratio of water with fruits appropriate and to determine the appropriate concentration of stabilizer and to investigate the interaction between the ratio of the fruit with water and the concentration of the stabilizer on the characteristics of the juice of snakefruits Bongkok.
The preliminary study is to determine the appropriate addition of sucrose concentration and stabilizer right with organoleptic response. Primary research carried out by using a randomized block design (RBD) consisting of two factors: factor A (comparison fruit with water), which consists of 5 levels ie a1 (1: 1), a2 (1: 2), a3 (1: 3) , a4 (1: 4), a5 (1: 5) and factor B (concentration of stabilizer), which consists of three levels ie b1 (0.5%), b2 (0.75%), b3 (1%). The responses are used in the main study chemical response that consists of antioxidant activity, moisture content and TSS (Total Soluble Solid), physical responses that the viscosity and organoleptic responses that include taste, aroma and appearance.
Based on preliminary research results, obtained the best sucrose concentrations of 10% and the best type of stabilizer that is dextrin (a3b2 treatment with sample code 896). Based on the results of primary research, it is known that the interaction comparisons fruit with water and concentration of stabilizer significant effect on antioxidant activity, moisture content, TSS and viscosity.
The best treatment is fruit juice and water with a ratio of 1: 1 with a stabilizer concentration of 0.5% (a1b1 treatment with sample code 392) which has a value of IC50 91.9555 mg / mL, the water content of 69.725%, amounting to 26.185% TSS and viscosity of 2.8885 kg / m.s.


In his 2012 New Year's address to the nation, Solomon Islands' GovernorGeneral Sir Frank Kabui warned that land tenure had become the issue most likely to spark conflict within the scattered archipelagic nation. He went on to outline a number of issues he perceived to be a problem, including: the 'communal' ownership of land by kin groups and the need to register land in order to make it 'marketable'; the inequitable distribution of natural resource rents; and the 'illegal occupation' of land in the vicinity of the national capital, Honiara, by migrants from other islands. He exhorted Solomon Islanders to 'adjust our mindset' or remain 'caught between our cultural way of life and the cash economy' (Damosuaia 2012).


The possible photoreactions leading to the formation of "laser snow" in cell experiment by laser irradiation of Cesium atoms to the (7p) level will be analyzed through crossed beam experiment. A single collision process would be excluded if an activation barrier was present in the inverse ground state reaction CsH+H Cs+H2; accurate ab initio calculations exclude the existence of such a barrier. The ionic state Cs + HI is suggested to make possible the electronic into vibrational energy transfer in the perpendicular collision.


To the Editor:— With reference to your request to E. J. Rivers, president of Supreme Engineering Corp., for information regarding the employment of paraplegic veterans, I am enclosing some literature that tells a more complete story than the Langford column. Additional facts: the type of work is assemblying and manufacturing aircraft parts, electronic equipment etc.; 26 paraplegics are now employed, with 4 new men being hired every week; only 4 new workers are hired at one time, in order that training does not slow down production—we don't have the capital to carry on a larger training program. This plant will only handle about 45 paraplegics; however, we are planning to open another plant in the San Fernando Valley, in Van Nuys, as soon as this plant is operating at full capacity. Most of our eligible workers are among the 148 paraplegics (including myself) who tried so hard to keep the


In response to the expansion of mass incarceration and its uneven distribution across the population, a growing body of literature documents the economic consequences of incarceration for individuals and families. We know that men's incarceration often exacerbates economic in stability and material hardship for already vulnerable families. However, we know little about whether and how women heading these families use employment to address the financial strain. This paper uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine how men's incarceration is associated with two types of nonstandard work – working multiple jobs and working nonstandard schedules – among their female partners. Results show that the incarceration of women's partners is associated with working multiple jobs but not with working nonstandard schedules. There is further evidence that the association between partner incarceration and multiple job holding is concentrated among black and Hispanic women and women living with (but not married to) their partners prior to incarceration. Given the implications of multiple job holding for stress and work - family conflict, these findings suggest that the economic consequences of incarceration may increase inequalities among women and their families.


Hydration indexes are practical variables for quantifying plant water stress and can be useful for agronomic purposes. Three adapted hydration indexes based on relative water content, volumetric hydration, and leaf turgor pressure were evaluated in kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) leaf segments. Relative water content and volumetric hydration were measured in leaf segments after a water infiltration procedure with the aim of filling its large intercellular volumes (@18%v/v). The infiltration was done using a hydrostatic weighing procedure and with the aid of vacuum to fully hydrate the leaf segments. These two relative indexes were proportional to the transpiration-induced leaf water loss. The third index, turgor pressure, was measured with a Wiltmeter® instrument. Similarly, the turgor pressure was proportional to the leaf water loss, and it decreased from @310kPa in recently harvested leaves to zero in dehydrated leaves, after a total water loss of @23%. Turgor pressure was correlated with the other two hydration indexes using approximations of leaf volumetric elastic modules. Similar estimates were obtained because the decline between turgor pressure and the natural logarithm of these relative leaf hydration indexes was numerically similar (@900kPa). However, the volumetric hydration index seemed to be more suitable as a model, not only for being more concise but also because it showed a clearer biomechanical representation of the leaf water deficit effects.


evant pleocytosis is a major supportive criteria. Oligoclonal bands (OBs) have been reported in 22.7% of patients. Similar to MS, OBs may appear during the course of the disease but at variance with MS, they may also disappear [6] . Most authors believe that these features support the concept that DNO is a separate syndrome [7–10] . Compared with MS, DNO affects more frequently females, subjects of an older age, and leads to more severe neurological impairment [1, 3] . Demyelination and cavitation of optic nerves and spinal cord, necrosis of both gray and white matter, lack of infl ammatory infi ltrate, vascular hyalinization and fi brosis are the most relevant pathological fi ndings [11] . DNO can be associated with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythamatosus, Sjogren syndrome and autoimmune thyroiditis [8–10, 12, 13] . Detection of autoantibodies (antithyroid, antiDNA, anticardiolipin) is frequent [8–10] . However, there is only one case report about DNO associated with a mitochondrial DNA mutation [14] . We herein report the second case with r-DNO and concomitant mutation of mitochondrial DNA.


Background: About 90% renal malignancies are RCCs (renal cell carcinomas) and the main subtype in histology is ccRCC (clear cell RCC). In recent years, pyroptosis was considered as a kind of in�ammation-related programmed cell death, which played a part in the invasion, metastasis and proliferation of tumor cells, thereby in�uencing tumor prognosis. Nonetheless, the expression level of pyroptosis-associated genes in RCCs and its relationship with prognosis are still not clear. Results: In our research, 44 regulators for pyroptosis were identi�ed which were expressed differentially between normal kidney and ccRCC tissues. ccRCC cases were categorized into 2 subgroups with a signi�cant difference between them in OS (overall survival) according to the DEGs (differentially expressed genes). The prognostic value of pyroptosis-associated genes was assessed as a signature based on the cohort of TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). Following Cox regression with DEGs and LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator), a 6-gene signature had been set up and all the ccRCC cases in the cohort of TCGA were categorized into LR (low-risk) group or HR (high-risk) group (P < 0.001). In combination with clinical features, risk scores were considered as a predicting factor of OS in ccRCC cases. KEGG (Kyoto Encylopedia of Genes and Genomes) and GO (Gene ontology) analyses implied increased immunity and enrichment of genes related to immunity in the HR group. Conclusions: Our �ndings indicated that the genes related to pyroptosis had an important role in tumor immunity, which were potentially used to predict the prognosis of ccRCCs. Conceptualization, Z.-Y.L. and Z.-N.X.; methodology, Z.-Y.L. and Y.-P.Y.; software, Z.-Y.L. and B.-W.W.; validation, L.-C.C., W.-G.J. and T.-D.W.; formal analysis, Z.-Y.L. and Z.-N.X.; investigation, Y.-P.Y. and W.-X.; resources, Z.-Y.L. and Z.-N.X.; data curation, Z.-Y.L.; writing—original draft preparation, Z.-Y.L and X.-Y.W.; writing—review and editing, Z.-Y.L., C.-Y.W. and C.-Z.; visualization, Z.-Y.L., P.-Z. and W.-H.Y.; supervision, Z.-Y.L., C.-Y.W. and C.-Z.; project administration, C.-Y.W. and C.-Z.; funding acquisition, C.-Y.W. and C.-Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.


A three-level neutral-point-clamped inverter needs a controller for the neutral-point voltage. Typically, the controller design is based on a dynamic model. The dynamic model of the neutral-point voltage depends on the pulse width modulation technique used for the inverter. A pulse width modulation strategy which allows modeling the neutral-point voltage as a first-order continuous function is proposed in this paper. The new model shows that the neutral-point current is proportional to the reactive power drawn from the inverter. Since the model is a first-order model, a simple proportional controller is used in this paper to control the neutral-point voltage. Experimental results verifying the proposed modulation strategy and the controller are also presented in this paper.


In total knee replacement surgery, also known as total knee arthroplasty, prosthetics are implanted in the knee joint as treatment for progressive diseases such as arthritis or trauma. In this paper, we aim to recover the 3-D shape of bones and prosthetic devices in patients who have undergone total knee replacement. Such an objective is addressed using a collection of 2-D X-rays acquired from multiple viewpoints. Then, both bone and prosthetic shape recovery are formulated as a multi-view reconstruction process through the minimization of an objective function. The objective function is designed to recover 3-D surfaces, which once projected to 2-D images, minimize edge-based and region-based criteria. The calculus of variations and gradient descent are used to obtain a surface with minimum cost through a 3-D level set implementation. Promising results are given for real X-ray data.


Message broker is used more and more widely in EAI,and message dictionary is one of important modules for message
broker intelligent routing or dealing with message.A way that implemented message dictionary based on XML and how to use
message dictionary were introduced.Through this way,the message dictionary is easy to be implemented and used because of
XML's characteristic.


- The objective of this paper is to develop the mathematical model of the non-linear power system that can be utilized for implementing the different class of controller. The controller designed here fulfills the stability requirement of the system as well as makes the system transiently stable. The linearization of the power system is done using direct feedback linearization technique andthe model thus obtained has parameters which can be used as controller input. The linear LQ optimal control theory is applied to the model to design an optimal feedback control law, (cid:1874) (cid:3033) (cid:4666)(cid:1872)(cid:4667) .


This study aims to determine efforts to improve chemistry learning outcomes through the peer tutoring method for students in class XII IPA SMAN 1 Sukamulia for the 2021/2022 academic year. This research is a class action research. The subjects of this study were 23 students of class XII IPA. The object of this study is the peer tutoring method. The research step uses cycles for each activity consisting of planning, observing, implementing, and reflecting. The instruments used were tests and observations while data analysis used descriptive qualitative analysis. The results of the study can be concluded that the use of the peer tutoring method can improve student learning outcomes, as evidenced by the average score obtained in cycle I of 72.8 with classical completeness of 65%. In cycle II the average score was 76.7 with a classical completeness of 86.9%.


We investigated microvascular changes associated with neurogenic inflammation (NI), asking whether factors released in NI stimulate remote microvascular preconditioning (RMP, AJP HC in presS 8/26/2005). Sensory neuropeptide, calcitonin gene related peptide (10–6M CGRP), or inflammatory mediator, bradykinin (10‐5M BK), was applied via micropipette to terminal arterioles in the cheek pouch tissue of anesthetized hamsters (pentobarbital, PB, 70 mg/kg, n=6). BK induced dilation locally (22±2% of baseline) and remotely (24±6%), 1000μm upstream. CGRP did not cause a diameter change locally (0.1±1%) nor remotely (5±2%). RMP was assessed next by testing for a change in local response to (micropipette) L‐arg (10–4M) from constrict to dilate, and to adenosine (Ado, 10–3M) from dilate to no response; each is a positive sign for RMP (op cit). Following remote exposure to CGRP or BK the upstream arterioles dilated to L‐arg (13±4%, 22±2%) but not to Ado (3±3%, 2±3%). We next asked whether induction of NI (using the rat gracilis muscle model in situ) likewise changed vasoactive responses to L‐arg or adenosine. NI was initiated in the anesthetized rat (PB, 50 mg/kg, n=5) gracilis muscle by electrical stimulation via a bipolar electrode placed under the gracilis nerve. Stimulation protocol: 10 V, 1 msec, at 2 Hz for 5 min; the protocol did not cause muscle twitch. Prior to electrical stimulation, 2–3 arterioles were randomly selected and exposed to micropipette L‐arg (–23±6%) or Ado (84±15%). Following electrical stimulation, the responses were dilation with L‐arg (46±9%) and unresponsive to Ado (2±2%). RMP appears to be a base component of vascular damage with NI. (NIH HL55492)


A novel polymer with quasi-one-dimensional structure of 4,4'-diamino-diphenyl ether bridged polymeric silicon phthalocyanine (I) is synthesized by the condensation polymerization of 4,4'-diamino-diphenyl ether (DDE) monomer and dichloride silicon phthalocyanine (Cl 2 SiPc) monomer. The structure of the polymer (I) is identified by IR subtraction and UV/VIS spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The photoconductivity of the polymer I with quasi-one-dimensional structure is better than that of not only the parent Cl 2 SiPc reactant, but also other polymeric phthalocyanines without one-dimensional structures, and showing one-dimensional effect of molecular structure.


. We study the so-called sign involutions on twisted forms of abelian varieties, and show that such a sign involution exists if and only if the class in the Weil–Chˆatelet group is annihilated by two. If these equivalent conditions hold, we prove that the Picard scheme of the quotient is ´etale and contains no points of finite order. In dimension one, such quotients are Brauer–Severi curves, and we analyze the ensuing embeddings of the genus-one curve into twisted forms of Hirzebruch surfaces and weighted projective spaces.


In this paper we investigate whether exposure to the self-interest model commonly used in economics alters the extent to which people behave in self-interested ways. First, we report the results of several empirical studies—some our own, some by others—that suggest economists behave in more self-interested ways. By itself, this evidence does not demonstrate that exposure to the self-interest model causes more self-interested behavior, since it may be that economists were simply more self-interested to begin with, and this difference was one reason they chose to study economics. Second, we present preliminary evidence that exposure to the self-interest model does in fact encourage self-interested behavior.


The Stork Network ensures quality, humanized care for pregnant women and newborns. Besides, it promotes the integration of actions and the connection between health services based on completeness, access, welcoming, resolution, and the production of networked care; Goals: to analyse the perception of Primary Health Care professionals and pregnant women about the actions of the Stork Network. Methods: interviews and focus groups with thematic data analysis. Results: In the perception of pregnant women, care is centered on the doctor. Professionals have difficulties in understanding networked care. Conclusions: for the implementation of a care networking to occur, managers must build strategies based on the needs of each municipality


A growing number of public institutions all over the world have recently started to make government statistical data available in open formats, thus enhancing transparency and accountability, stimulating innovation, and promoting civic awareness and engagement. Integration issues related to fragmentation and heterogeneity of these datasets can be partially addressed by referring to the Linked Data approach, which also enables easier access and consumption by users. However, the lack of an explicit representation of how statistical indicators are calculated still hinders their interpretation, and hence the development of applications and services especially useful for citizens, who do not have full knowledge and control over the underlying data and analysis models. In the present work, we discuss an approach to ease the interaction of communities of citizens with statistical Linked Open Data. We define a model and a set of services allowing people to recognize the mathematical structure of statistical indicators, improving in this way user awareness of the meaning of indicators and their mutual relations. Through such services, it is possible to enable interactive browsing of indicator formulas and novel typologies of data exploration, including dynamic computation of indicators not explicitly stored and comparison of different Linked Data resources.


Cervical carcinoma occurs frequently in young women who would like to preserve their childbearing potential. For those with early stage invasive lesions, the authors designed and performed radical trachelectomy, a surgical procedure that preserves the functions of the uterus.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the stage of concern and use level of early childhood teachers' STEAM, and to find out whether there is a difference in the stage of concern according to individual teachers' variables. The subjects were 242 teachers in charge of 3-5 years old kindergarten and daycare center in G city. The research tool was the stages of concern questionnaire (SoCQ). The collected data were converted to relative intensity by applying percentile conversion chart in the guidelines, and this was expressed as a concern profile graph, and t-test and ANOVA were performed to find out the difference in concern according to teacher's background variables. The research results are as follows. First, the stage of concern in early childhood teachers' STEAM was identified as a critical non-user profile. Second, the stage of concern in the teacher's STEAM was judged as a person who did not use, or was implemented for less than 2 years, and was a non-user or a novice. In addition, it was found that most of the teachers did not receive formal education for STEAM. third. There were differences in the educational background, career, current execution status of teachers, whether or not to take related courses in pre-service teacher education, and whether to plan for future implementation. And there were no differences in the majors and institution types of teachers. Based on these results, a support plan for changing the stage of concern of teachers about STEAM and improving the level of use was suggested.


Seed markets are vital to scaling up ecosystem restoration in the Brazilian Cerrado, home of the world's most species-rich grasslands and savannas. We compiled lists of species traded by four major Cerrado seed supply systems to investigate the representativeness of the species currently available for seed-based restoration. We also identified whether dominant ground-layer species are being sourced for seed production. Seeds from 263 Cerrado species can be purchased for restoration, of which 68% are trees, particularly legumes (24%). 63% of the traded species were found in only one seed supply system. The five most dominant graminoids of the Cerrado ground layer were available for sale, but two additional species uncommon in old-growth areas represented 44% of the sales of a key seed trader in Central Brazil. The expansion of Cerrado seed supply systems should be supported to further increase the number of species on the market. Sourcing seeds from a diversity of herbaceous species is central to facilitating the restoration of species-rich grasslands and savannas in the Cerrado. Recovering the diversity and functioning of old-growth open ecosystems through seeds will depend on increasing the supply and demand for species typical of Cerrado's ground layer.


A fully nonlinear numerical model based on a time-domain higher-order boundary element method (HOBEM) is founded to simulate the kinematics of extreme waves. In the model, the fully nonlinear free surface boundary conditions are satisfied and a semi-mixed Euler-Lagrange method is used to track free surface; a fourth-order Runga-Kutta technique is adopted to refresh the wave elevation and velocity potential on the free surface at each time step; an image Green function is used in the numerical wave tank so that the integrations on the lateral surfaces and bottom are excluded. The extreme waves are generated by the method of wave focusing. The physical experiments are carried out in a wave flume. On the horizontal velocity of the measured point, numerical solutions agree well with experimental results. The characteristics of the nonlinear extreme-wave kinematics and the velocity distribution are studied here.


The invention provides a light receiver, light reception method and transmission system. According to one embodiment, the light receiver includes a light reception module, a multi-exposure area selector, a multi-exposure controller, and a readout module. The light reception module includes N lines, each of the N lines having a plurality of light receiving elements. The multi-exposure area selector is configured to select one or a plurality of single-exposure lines and one or a plurality of multi-exposure lines. The multi-exposure controller is configured to, per the unit time, perform an exposure on the single-exposure lines one time for a first exposure time; and a first exposure and a second exposure on the multi-exposure lines. The readout module is configured to read exposure amounts of the lines line by line. The multi-exposure controller is configured to start the second exposure on the multi-exposure lines before reading of the exposure amounts of all the single-exposure lines is completed.


Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of water contamination on ageing of lubricants.

Design/methodology/approach
The viscosity, total acid number and Fourier transform infrared spectrum of a series of lubricants after ageing with water were studied. The tribological performance (friction and wear) of the aged lubricants was also analyzed, followed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis on the selected post test samples to study the tribochemical features of the tribofilm.

Findings
The results were also compared with Part I of this study, and it was found that ageing has a different impact on lubricants and tribological performances based on the physical and chemical properties when water is present in the lubricants.

Originality/value
This paper is a continuation of Part I of this study and gives an understanding on the impact of water on the lubricants and related tribological and tribochemical performance.


Introduction Chronic endometritis is a common disease in women of childbearing age and can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. The cGAS-STING pathway plays an important role in many inflammatory diseases. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the cGAS-STING pathway and endometritis. Methods We collected endometrium samples from patients with endometritis to detect changes in the cGAS-STING pathway. In vitro, human endometrial stromal cells (HESC) were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and a mouse STING gene-knockout model was established by CRISPR/cas9 for STING to further explore the mechanism underlying its effects in endometritis. We used Western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemical staining to detect the variations in protein levels and real-time PCR to study the variations in gene expression. Results We observed the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway and an increase in the expression of cytokine-encoding genes, including IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-β1, in endometrial tissues of patients with endometritis. Stimulation of HESCs using LPS demonstrated increase in the expression of proteins involved the cGAS-STING pathway and the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines. STING-knockdown experiments demonstrated a decrease in the gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, we also identified the translocation of IRF3 and STING after LPS stimulation. Regarding mitochondrial function, LPS led to an increase in reactive oxygen species levels and a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential. However, we observed that the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leaked into the cytoplasm, upregulating the levels of proteins involved in the cGAS-STING pathway upon LPS stimulation. Furthermore, our results showed that LPS induced hyperemia, inflammatory factor production, and expression of Pho-TBK1 in wild-type mice compared with the levels in control mice, and STING gene-knockdown alleviated these effects. Conclusion LPS induces mitochondrial dysfunction in endometrial stromal cells, resulting in mtDNA leakage and promoting endometritis by stimulating the cGAS-STING pathway.


An important part of reforming education in Russia is to implement innovations and to develop information and communication technologies within the framework of the inclusive education conception. These involve the creation of a new educational environment based on the idea of equal opportunities. Improving the system of general and professional education of disabled individuals should be considered as the prerequisite of empowering their social integration.The paper concerns the main priorities of the public policy in this sphere. The analysis of current regulatory and legal framework is carried out. Also the author identifies the main challenges in implementing the inclusive approach in the educational process.A sufficient legal basis for implementing the concept of inclusive education has already been formed. However in practice the organization of inclusive education faces a number of challenges. The most important among these include inadequate measures to restructure schools under the educational reform, the lack of financial support to create conditions for full inclusion, the illpreparedness of educational institutions to apply existing legislation in practice and to adapt current educational process to the needs of disabled students.


A simple, rapid, and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for simultaneous estimation of two antidiabetic drugs, metformin hydrochloride and sitagliptin phosphate, in tablet dosage form has been developed and validated. Chromatography was performed on silica gel 60 F254 plates with butanol : water : glacial acetic acid (6 : 2 : 2, v/v/v) as mobile phase. is system gave a good resolution for metformin hydrochloride (RRff value of 0.35 ± 0.01) and sitagliptin phosphate (RRff value of 0.75 ± 0.01). Detection and quanti�cation were carried out at 227 nm. e linear regression data for the calibration plot showed a good relationship with rr r rrrrr5 and 0.9991 for metformin hydrochloride and sitagliptin phosphate, respectively. e method was validated for precision and recovery. e limits of detection and quanti�cation were 13.05 and 39.56 ng/μμL for metformin hydrochloride and 2.65 and 8.03 ng/μμL for sitagliptin phosphate, respectively.e amounts of the drugs in themarketed formulation were 99.86% and 98.91% for metformin hydrochloride and sitagliptin phosphate, respectively.


Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) is one of the new and effective techniques for managing inventories in supply chains. VMI is an approach that guarantees tangible benefits, such as the increase in buyer profit and vendor profit, and intangible benefits such as reduced inventory, replenishments, stock outs costs, and the Bullwhip Effect. In the literature, VMI models have been proven to reduce the cost of inventory compared with traditional one. In this paper, we continue studying these models and we focus on the periodic inventory policies applied within the framework of VMI approach. We consider a supply chain for a single item with two partners (producer and retailer), where the demand is assumed to be deterministic and static. The aim is to determine the inventory policies parameters in two cases: with and without implementing the VMI approach.


Based on core and well-logging data, combined with regional geological setting, the local succession of Silurian Central Tarim Basin is divided into three type 1 third-order depositional sequences, namely, sequence 1, sequence 2 and sequence 3. Because of the lack of lowstand systems tract, these sequences consist solely of transgressive systems tract and highstand systems tract. The transgressive deposit of sequence 1 can be subdivided, from base to top, into two main facies : (1) thin-bedded sandstone alternating with thin-bedded mudstone; (2) planar stratified sandstone. Facies 1, which is dominated by tidal bedding thin sandstone alternating with thin-bedded mudstone, reflects mixed fiat sedimentary environment. Because of mediate hydrodynamics and favorable eco-environment, trace fossils, including fodinichnia and domichnia, develops in mass. From base to top, the abundance and diversity of these trace fossils decrease gradually as with the bioturbation index. Facies 2, which is represented by planar-stratified or parallel-stratified sandstone, reflect sand flat sedimentary environment with hydrodynamic condition. Due to high hydrodynamics and unsuitable condition for organism, the abundance and diversity are relatively low, leading to existence of scatted dwelling burrows. The highstand systems tract of sequence 1, which is mainly products of mud flat, exhibits a succession of fining-and shallowing upwards parasequences. The mud flat, which is characterized chiefly by domichnia and fodinichnia, has different ichnogenus, abundance and diversity compared to facies 2. In the highstand deposit, the abundance, diversity and bioturbation index also show a gradual decrease from base to top. In conclusion, not only the composition, abundance and diversity of trace fossils differ among systems tract of the same sequence, but also the characters of trace fossils show some regularity within the same systems tract.


Abstract Background Diabetes is associated with systemic complications. Prevalence of diabetic nephropathy, and retinopathy, in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is declining, but it is not known if this is true also for diabetic neuropathy. Aim: To investigate the relationship between large fibre diabetic neuropathy and other diabetic complications. Materials and methods Neuropathy, defined here as large fibre neuropathy, was assessed by measuring vibration perception thresholds at four different frequencies on the sole of the foot, using a standard VibroSense Meter and/or neuropathic symptoms, in 599 individuals with T1DM. Retinopathy status was graded using the International Clinical Disease Severity Scale. Grade of albuminuria and previous history of any macrovascular complications were registered. Results Diabetic individuals without retinopathy had similar vibration thresholds as age- and gender-matched control participants without diabetes, whereas those without microalbuminuria had higher thresholds than controls. Two individuals out of 599 (0.3%) had microalbuminuria, but not retinopathy or neuropathy, and 12/134 (9%) without retinopathy had signs of neuropathy. Totally 119/536 (22%) of the patients without microalbuminuria had neuropathy. Vibration thresholds increased with the rising severity of retinopathy and grade of albuminuria. In a multinomial logistic regression analysis, neuropathy was associated with retinopathy (OR 2.96 [1.35–6.49], p=0.007), nephropathy (OR 6.25 [3.21–12.15]; p=6.7×10–8) and macrovascular disease (OR 2.72 [1.50–4.93], p=0.001). Conclusions Despite recent changes in the incidence of diabetic complications, the onset of large fibre neuropathy follows that of retinopathy but precedes the onset of nephropathy in T1DM.


In previous publications from this laboratory it has been shown that wellpreserved fossil teeth and bones of Pleistocene age contain filaments which after shadowing exhibit the 640-A repetitions chara(cteristic of collagei.1-5 It has further been found that this material, insoluble in the 1 N HC1 used to dissolve apatite, hydrolyzes to yield the same amino acids in approximately the same proportions as fresh collagen.1' 6 Though other investigators have reported the presence of collagen in fossils,'-' we have not succeeded in isolating it in a correspondingly unaltered condition from the much older specimens thus far examined. However, we have observed in some of them the orderly spaced crystals of apatite that typically overlie collagen as well as nonstriated fibers which may well be partially degraded collageni.'0 Evidently morphological as well as chemical investigation is required for an adequate understanding of the fate of this protein during fossilization. It is well known that staining with heavy atoms renders visible under the electron microscope many details of collagen that are not apparent in shadowed preparations. W'e have accordingly examined fossil collagen stained with urailyl acetate and phosphotungstic acid to see if it has retained the selective reactivity that develops these details in fresh collagen. Methods and Results. MAlst specimens thus far studied in this way have been fossil bones from the tar pits of Rancho La Brea"' already analyzed by us for their .... .f-. ".:...-~ .--. ...:.I


The aim of this paper was to carry out numerical simulations of structural health monitoring applications for plate structures using the boundary element method (BEM). The fundamental symmetric Lamb mode (S0) is chosen for the SHM applications. The propagation, reflection and diffraction of the S0 mode Lamb wave are modelled using a boundary element formulation based on the plane stress theory. Piezoelectric (PZT) actuators are mounted on plate surfaces to excite the S0 mode wave. A semi-analytical method is adopted to couple the PZT actuators and the host plate. Numerical results show that BEM is a very efficient simulation method for the structural health monitoring of plates.


Improving the quality of education in Indonesia is done continuously and continuously. A quality learning process that is a process of communicative interaction between learners with teachers/lecturers. To make good learning interaction hence there is some component that is learning competence, learning method, learning material, classroom management, source/instructional media, assessment of learning and development of learning process. Therefore, for the learning process can be done properly there needs to be an innovation in the implementation of learning. By leveraging various learning resources and with the current technological sophistication of learning innovation is beginning to lead to Blended Learning-Based Learning (PBBL). Blended Learning-Based Learning combines the advantages of learning through three main learning sources, namely learning: (1) face-to-face; (2) offline; and (3) online. This research was conducted on the students of the participants of the Microeconomics course at the Faculty of Economics, State University of Malang. The type of research used in this research is Classroom Action Research (CAR). From the result of research indicate that the average of pre-test value (Cycle I) that is equal to 75,17 and 87,75 for cycle II. From the data, it can be seen that percentage of classical completeness in cycle I is still not reached 85%. However, the increase has been better 72.41% in cycle II and showed that the class activity in microeconomic subject students using Blended Learning has created active learning conditions in the classroom. Keyword s:  blended learning, learning result, microeconomics course


Background: Today blood transfusion is most frequently used of a life-saving therapeutic procedure in treatment arena. But in some times its becomes revers like life threatening rather than lifesaving. Specially for the blood receivers may have the threat of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) because of transmitting virus, bacteria or parasitic, microorganisms through blood transfusion procedures. Specially hepatitis B and C virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis (Treponema pallidum) bear the risk of transmission by blood transfusion. For this reason, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), anti- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis antibody TPHA (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination) and MP (Malarial Parasite) are routinely controlled in all donated blood samples. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to analyze the status of HBsAg, HCV, HIV, TPHA & MP test results among general blood donors. Methods: This was a comparative observational study which was conducted in the Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine, National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital(NICRH), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from January 2018 to December 2020. In total 14,625 general blood donors were enrolled as the study population. This study was approved by the ethical committee of the mentioned hospital. Proper written consents were taken from all the participants before starting data collection. A pre-designed questionnaire was used in patent data collection. All data were processed, analyzed and disseminated by MS Office and SPSS version 20 as per need. Result: In this study 70.5% blood donors were male and 29.5% were female. So male was dominating in number and the male vs female ratio was 2.39:1. The highest number of donors were from 18-30 years' age group which was 67.3%. Then 28.6% and 4.1% donors were from 31-34 years 41-50 years' age groups respectively Finally, in analyzing the positive .........


In this research, we seek to expand understanding of the nature of reciprocity within the context of social exchange. We develop and test a multi-level model in which we propose that organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) facilitates the emergence of team learning, which, in turn, has implications for firm performance. Using multi-sourced lagged field data, archival firm performance, and multilevel structural equation modeling we find support for the indirect influence of team citizenship behavior on performance, through team learning. Employees' perceptions of supervisor support and team psychological safety are significant predictors of team citizenship behavior in our model. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these results for citizenship behavior, team learning, and firm performance.


Abstract Recently hatched paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), obtained by artificial spawning of wild brood stock in Missouri, were raised in an indoor water recirculation system at 16°C on one natural diet (brine shrimp Artemia spp. and krill) and four artificial commercial diets. Dietary regime did not affect survival to 1 month after hatching, but it significantly affected final body size and growth rate. Best results were obtained with an artificial diet with high fat content. Paddlefish fry readily accept artificial diets at the onset of exogenous feeding and do not exhibit the imprinting reported for some sturgeon species when reared on natural diets.


In AutoLisp Developing Environment,commands based on parametric method were developed for general parts,with the entrance of parts' parameters,the drawing will be drafted automaticly.


(57) Abstract: The present invention is a drug having anti-progestational properties, over a long period of time, a device for releasing in a controlled manner, the instrument includes a core comprising said drug, optionally and a film for accommodating the core, the core and / or film, siloxane is formed from an elastomeric composition as a base agent, the composition comprising at least one elastomer, and optionally a non-crosslinked polymer of what form the containing. The instrument elastomer composition comprises poly (alkylene oxide) groups, present in the poly (alkylene oxide) groups elastomer or polymer, of polysiloxane units, as a graft-terminated groups alkoxy, or as blocks and, wherein the graft or block silicon - is bound to the polysiloxane units by carbon bond, or, characterized in that it exists as a mixture of said forms.


Traditional classifier based on statistical theory can't be used to comprehensively deal with spectral indexes with different knowledge backgrounds and at different scales of measurement, and can't meet the needs of quantitatively analyzing Imaging Spectrometer data. This paper introduces the knowledge-based evidential reasoning analysis of Imaging Spectrometer data based on Dempster -Shafer Theory of Evidence. Testing results show that knowledge-based evidential reasoning analysis of Imaging Spectrometer data is a more effective approach of comprehensive ly and quantitatively analyzing spectral indexes with different knowledge backgrounds and at different scales of measurement. The accuracy of identifying ground objects with Imaging Spectrometer data can be effectively improved.


The article below is conceived as a return to the theoretical debates around the novelistic genre, debates that will allow us to see: which were the main themes that animated the main critical figures of the interwar period, what arguments these critics used in their theoretical constructions and especially how was the novel instrumented in their polemics. We organised our discussion around main themes such as: the crisis of the novel, the limits of the novel, the theory of complexes, themes that illustrate what Romanian literary critics Aurel Sasu and Mariana Vartic called the "battle for the novel". Presenting them will help us understand which were the real purposes of these debates in which the novel became – not once – either an instrument in articulating some cultural modern(ist) projects, in legitimizing some literary groups or in fulfilling important cultural objectives that expressed the ambitions (and anxieties) of Romanian literature as a phenomenon, a literature that, in the interwar period, reached its maturity.


The most striking effect of the invasion of blue-stain fungi is the blue or black discolouration of wood. Looking at the fungi in the microscope their hyphae show a brown colour in transmission. Except for some soft-rotters the blue-stain fungi do not belong to the wood destroying fungi. They live predominantly on the protein content of the parenchyma cells, and the loss of cell wall components is restricted to a few percents after a long time invasion of wood (Seifert 1964; Tabirih, Seehann 1984).


The article deals with the specifics of video materials using in the context of audiovisual method. The aim of the article is to highlight and analyse the features of video  materials using in the context of audio-visual method, as one of the effective  methods of mastering oral foreign language competence. The goals of the article are  to analyse the theoretical grounds and principles of the audio-visual method of  teaching English at the current stage; to characterize the specific features of the  materials for the method; to reveal methodological features and benefits of using  this method. As a result of the research, we have come to the conclusion that the use  of video helps to solve a number of tasks: it gives a motivation to learn a foreign  language, allows students to deepen their knowledge of unknown authentic  material, broadens their outlook, activates all kinds of communication activities,  makes the process of listening more efficient, increases the activity of students.  Using the audio-visual method in its most up-to-date version, one can significantly  facilitate the problem solving of spontaneous foreign language proficiency.


The 112th Congress begins its term amid renewed optimism about prospects for U.S. trade liberalization. Big labor's stranglehold over the congressional trade agenda was broken with the election in November. The U.S. government finally appears willing to end its disgraceful ban on Mexican trucks. And in his State of the Union address, President Obama implored Congress to pass the trade agreement with South Korea as soon as possible, and articulated his commitment to bringing the other two pending bilateral agreements, as well as the Transpacific Partnership negotiations and the Doha Round, to successful conclusions.After four years of stasis on the trade front, the new environment is a welcome change. Removing barriers to trade — in both directions — is essential to sustained economic recovery and long-term growth.But how long will this window of opportunity remain ajar? Despite trade's benefits, American sentiment toward it is lukewarm in the best of times, and always vulnerable to manipulation by politicians and media charlatans looking to blame foreigners for domestic shortcomings. Before the end of this year, the 2012 presidential election campaigns will be in high gear — and trade has been a particularly dirty word in stump speeches and political debates in the past. Indeed, one of the reasons for the energetic trade policy push in 2011 is that the political environment next year is expected to be less hospitable to trade initiatives.The fact that public opinion about trade is so malleable and arguments for restricting it so resonant at times speaks to a failure of free trade's proponents to make their compelling message stick. It is sad but true that so many Americans need to be reminded of the benefits of being free to choose how and with whom to conduct commerce. But in an atmosphere where demagogues peddle myths to mislead the public into believing that it is preferable for government to limit their choices and direct their resources to chosen ends, it is crucial that the case for free trade be made more clearly, comprehensively, and consistently than it has been in the past.Thus, in addition to securing the immediate goal of concluding and passing trade liberalizing agreements in 2011, advocates of trade in Congress, the administration, the business community, think tanks, academia, and among the general public should update their arguments and invest in the process of winning the trade debate once and for all. Some of the most compelling arguments for free trade have been only modestly summoned or absent from the discussion for too long.


The reaction of 1,2,3-benzothiadiazole with aryl radicals affords diarylsulphides, dibenzothiophens, and thianthrene; a reaction mechanism for the formation of these products is proposed.


In October 1987, I. Sarkany published the article 'The skin– liver connection' in the journal Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. The scientist pointed out: 'everything has been thought of before, but the difficulty is to think of it once more'. That said, it seems that much of the recent scientific discovery in the area of the liver–skin axis, in the broadest sense, has been thought of before. The difference, of course, is the degree of scientific sophistication nowadays with which we can see an indisputable link between these two major organ systems. Moreover, there are plenty of good reasons for studying the interplay between the skin and the liver, in addition to the ascertained appreciation of morphological changes. So starting with liver diseases, regardless of whether they affect the synthetic, excretory, conjugation or regulatory mechanisms, they may induce jaundice, itching and pigmentary disorders, as well as nail and hair abnormalities. In this issue of the BJD, Prussick and Miele have explored the link between psoriasis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Briefly, for both NAFLD and psoriasis, the pathogenesis is not completely clear; however, genetic, immunological and environmental factors are thought to be involved. It would particularly seem that the two diseases share the following common factors: (i) a contribution of genetic factors to the pathogenesis; (ii) a deregulated cytokine network leading to the release of multiple pro-inflammatory mediators; and (iii) a number of environmental factors that have also been identified as possible triggers. Moreover, these mechanisms are multifactorial and they often overlap with metabolic abnormalities, which frequently coexist in patients with psoriasis. When reading the review by Prussick and Miele, we can imagine the liver–skin axis as a bidirectional pathway. In fact, as reported by Mantovani et al., it is easy to speculate that several pro-inflammatory cytokines [e.g. interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, tumour necrosis factor] are overproduced by lymphocytes and keratinocytes into the skin of patients with psoriasis, to take part, at least partly, in the pathogenesis of systemic insulin resistance and that it is patients with psoriasis with a greater insulin resistance are those who sustain NAFLD. On the other hand, it sounds conceivable that the release of pro-inflammatory, pro-oxidant and pro-atherogenic mediators from the steatotic and inflamed liver, the so-called NASH liver (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), may adversely influence the severity of psoriasis by both an increased keratinocyte proliferation and an increased inflammation. This, in turn, leads to a magnification of the phenomenon. In fact, recent studies have shown that NAFLD is highly prevalent in patients with psoriasis and that psoriasis is considered to be an independent risk factor for NAFLD. In view of what is written above, there is reason to believe that dermatologists need to recognize the link between psoriasis and NAFLD. In doing so, this should allow for a proper evaluation of psoriasis, together with an informed decisionmaking process, about which pharmacological treatments to prescribe and whether a consultation with a hepatologist is justified, as some conventional drugs for psoriasis could potentially be hepatotoxic. Additional studies assessing the biological mechanisms linking NAFLD with psoriasis are also needed. However, given the current feeling that NAFLD is highly prevalent in patients with psoriasis, an increasing clinical awareness for underlying NAFLD in this population may be warranted.


Cancer is the world's second-biggest cause of mortality, accounting for 9.6 million deaths in 2018, and the burden continues to rise. As a result, better newer medications with greater efficacy for the treatment of various tumours are clearly and urgently needed. Anticancer drugs have been grouped as chemotherapy, hormonal remedy and immunotherapy. Chemotherapy protected various categories of drugs, each defined by its chemical structure and mode of action, such as alkylating agents, antibiotics, antimetabolites, mitotic inhibitors, and others. Although this issue has been widely explored, Schiff bases, which are formed from the condensation reaction of aromatic/aliphatic aldehydes and amines and form stable complexes with various transition metal ions, are still of significant interest in inorganic chemistry. Schiff bases and their metal complexes are promising leads for both synthetic and structural research due to their relatively simple synthesis and structural diversity and have been widely investigated, due to their incredible chemical properties and applications in various areas. The chelating ability and biological applications of metal complexes have attracted remarkable attention and they can work as models for biologically important species. Schiff bases and their complexes are flexible compounds synthesized from the condensation of an amino compound with carbonyl compounds and extensively used for industrial purposes and also show a broad range of biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimalarial, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-HIV, anthelmintic and antipyretic properties. The purpose of this research work was to assess the in vitro anticancer activity of the synthesized Schiff base molecule and its transition metal complexes against Human breast carcinoma Cancer cells at various doses (1000, 300, 100, 30, 10, and 3 g/ml). The anticancer activity of the free ligand and its metal complexes showed good to high activity against human breast cancer cells. Schiff base and its transition metal complexes against human breast cancer cell lines fascinate the researchers to develop new anticancer drugs without side effects.


East Asian cultural circle was rooted in Wei and Jin Dynasties,formed and flourished in Sui and Tang dynasties,and declined after 1868.After 1990's,it showed a recovery trend again.It was the crystallization of cultural diversity,including Chinese characters,Confucianism,Chinese Buddhism.As carrying tools of the other three elements,Chinese characters played an irreplaceable role in the formation and development of the cultural sphere.The changes of Chinese characters' status in the cultural circle witnessed the process of the cultural sphere,which was from the formation and development to the recession and weak,then to rehabilitation and reconstruction.The rehabilitation and reconstruction of East Asian cultural circle enhanced to China's cultural "soft power" and provided not only cultural roots for China,Japan,Korea,and other countries' cooperation,but also the cultural platform for regional cooperation of Northeast Asia.


In order to study the family Dolichopodidae, a survey was conducted in forests of northern Iran. Materials were collected during the study period 2010–2011 using Malaise traps. Twenty-five species belonging to eight genera were recorded, nine species of which, namely, Gymnopternus assimilis (Staeger, 1842), G. blankaartensis Pollet, 1991, Hercostomus convergens (Loew, 1857), Medetera flavipes Meigen, 1824, M. micacea Loew, 1857, M. muralis Meigen, 1824, M. seguyi Parent, 1926, M. truncorum Meigen, 1824 and Rhaphium fascipes (Meigen, 1824) were recorded in Iran for the first time. Diagnostic characters and the distribution of the species studied as well as photos of the newly recorded species are presented.


In an attempt to reduce the greenhouse effect found when experiments are carried out in greenhouses, a new type of plant growth chamber was designed. Cylindrical chambers, 240 cm in height and 300 cm in diameter were constructed from Filon, a translucent corrugated acrylic fiberglass plastic sheet. A squirrel cage blower provided air at a rate of about 2.5 changes per minute. Activated charcoal filters were installed in the incoming air stream to remove photochemical oxidants to produce clean air. A 45/sup 0/ baffle was installed to displace the trailing edge mixing layer above the top of the chamber and thus sweep it clear by utilizing the vertical momentum component of the wind which is created locally.


The invention provides a battery module, and a liquid-cooled battery pack system provided with the battery module. The battery module comprises battery units and current collectors; the current collectors are composed of aluminum sheets and copper sheets; compared with other battery packs, when electrode sheet and battery diaphragm materials are the same, battery pack energy density is increased greatly; a battery cell is connected with the current collectors completely via welding, welding spots are few, insufficient solder is seldom caused, and battery unit electrode ear stability and large electric current through capacity are ensured; parallel connection of battery modules is changed to be series connection, so that using of wire is avoided, and battery pack size is minimized; novel design of the liquid-cooled battery pack system is realized, so that heat balance among battery cells is improved, distribution of heat energy in the battery pack is more uniform, and battery pack insulativity is improved greatly; system heat dissipation capacity is controlled by controlling flow amount of a circulating pump, so that unnecessary energy loss is avoided, system heat dissipation capacity can be improved in necessary, and impact resistance of the liquid-cooled battery pack system is excellent.


Outline of an address delivered to the students of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in New York Hall, December 21, 1906.


Objective: China's relevant departments carried out investigation on physique and health conditions of all students in 2010. Result indicated that physical health conditions of China's University students were so bad that should attract people's attention as the students had important social roles. Research methods: in this paper, Anhui Agricultural University students' physique test data in 2016 was used as research evidence; literature consultation, questionnaire survey, logistic analysis, mathematical statistics etc. were applied to analyze the University students' physical health conditions and problems in students of Anhui Agricultural University. Research results: Physical health conditions of Anhui Agricultural University students were generally qualified, however the levels were lower, excellent rates were not high, and the development was imbalanced. We should improve school's physical education courses, increase class hour and set up health care course and physical education theoretic course to improve students' sports and cultural accomplishments; we should make a scientific and reasonable assessment on physical education and focus on students' individual development; we should improve organization and management of school's physical exercises and cultivate student's interest in physical exercises; we should constantly perfect sports sit facility's construction, utilize current sports sites facilities in a scientific and reasonable way and strengthen multi-function development of stadiums' facilities.


This paper tries to demonstrate how the production of literature and historical discourse were restrained by policies of imperial expansion. The first generation of Latin American writers are examples of having to shape a discourse that would allow them to publish and be heard mainly by an European audience. One of the first writers to publish a literary work is El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, son of an indigenous woman and a Spanish conqueror. Writing in an old age, Garcilaso tells the story of Inca Civilization under the theories of neo-platonism, a philosophical approach to universal synthesis and harmony. Garcilaso avoids confrontation to the European establishments by obscuring the hard facts of colonial rule in the Viceroyalty of New Castile, modern Peru. Neo-platonism and providentialism failed to reconcile the socalled encounter of two cultures.


In a large-scale quantitative study that adopted a learning analytics approach, we searched for associations between students' activity in a game-based online mathematics learning environment and their mathematics achievements on a national standardized test. Students were active in the environment throughout the school year, and particularly during an online National Mathematics Olympiad (N = 239 schools). Overall, our findings point to a positive association between online game-based activity during the Olympiad and mathematics test scores. This association remained even after controlling for socioeconomic factors, which are known to contribute to academic achievements. The paper discusses these findings and suggests evidence for causality, in particular cognitive, meta-cognitive, and affective effects of the online activity that may have positively affected test scores.


The geometric model of a generalized Rzeppa joint is presented, in which the input and output axes do not intersect and the distances from the common perpendicular line of both axes to the centers of the meridional inner and outer races on these axes are not equal. The relation between the input and output angles is formulated in the form of a quadratic equation. With the use of this model, the sensitivities of the output angle can be evaluated as the ratio of the difference between the actual and ideal values of the output displacement to the deviation of the kinematic constant. Moreover, the relation between the input and output angles of the actual Rzeppa joint is precisely measured and the cause for the error of the output angle is investigated by means of the simulation of the deviation of the ball from the homokinetic plane on the basis of the sensitivity curves.


The characteristics of B\|spline basis function is first discussed, based on which B\|spline neural network is proved to be a universal approximator. And then a constructive algorithm is presented. It is proved that this algorithm can be used to build a B\|spline neural network with minimum hidden units to approximate any continuous function defined on compact set to a prescribed accuracy.


Member of the Jury for evaluation of the Best Masters Thesis of Europe in the area of maintenance Engineering and Mnagement


The private land in Han dynasty came from two channels. One was th ro ugh economic means, i.e the buying-and-selling of land, and the other was thro ugh political power which was the primary means for squirearchy to obtain land i n Han dynasty. The proprietorship of land was often transferred with the change of political power. Land was allowed to be bought and sold as a commodity but wi thin limits, and the buying and selling were often subjected to super economic f orce.