The offshore Hibernia oil field, discovered in 1979, 315 km (195 mi) southeast of St John's, Newfoundland, has estimated recoverable oil of 83 million m³ (525 million bbl) Sediments of the Hibernia oil field occur within the northeast trending Jeanne d'Arc rift basin (JDB), which records two rift phases, each followed by a period of post-rift thermal subsidence. Reservoir sands in the Hibernia oil field were deposited during the second intense episode of rifting between Callovian and Early Aptian times. -- The Hibernia Formation is Berriasian to Valanginian age and accommodates 85% of the recoverable oil in the Hibernia oil field. The formation is encountered within the average depth interval of 3,400 and 4,200 m. Sandstones of the Hibernia Formation were deposited in a fluvially-dominated deltaic complex and are composed of very fine- to coarse-grained, partially argillaceous quartzarenites and sublitharenites. Porosities (Φ) range between 4% and 24.2% and permeabilities (k) between 0.01 mD to 9860 mD. -- This study, of petrographic lithofacies, log character and response, and engineering data, evaluates Core Lab statistical analysis of porosity and permeability to define "hydraulic flow units" and Canadian Hunter's methodology of petrographic analysis to relate to flow units. Development of drainage character is a crucial process for maximizing hydrocarbon production. Permeability is a crucial parameter which defines the rate of fluid flow, and separate flow units in a reservoir. Permeability is highly variable as a complex function of petrophysical and depositional properties which must be identified on the scale of microscopic lithofacies and macroscopic facies associations. "Hydraulic flow units" of the Hibernia Formation reflect highly variable plug permeabilitv data Definition of flow units by means of k-Φ cross plots distinguish broad variations. -- Three general k-Φ clusters can be defined using k-Φ cross plots. A concept of "Enhanced Textural Maturity Index (ETMI)" relating sorting and roundness is developed. The ETMI shows strong correlation with permeability. "Reservoir Quality Zones (RQZ)" are defined based on facies analysis, SEM/EDS, thin section petrography, and k-Φ attributes. Anomalies contributing to a scattered data pattern are addressed. It is shown that facies architecture of the reservoir (i.e., the "mix" of lithofacies) is critical to effective interpretation. Integrated log suites and RQZ permit estimation of average horizontal permeability ranges in uncored sections when the availability of drill cuttings is restricted or non-existent. By using RQZ as a template in the Hibernia Formation a multi-parameter reservoir modelling and cell characterization in the model can be achieved. -- Individual depositional models have inherent k-Φ relationships. The assemblage models in the stratigraphic package and overprinting of diagenetic effects serve notice that neither geological nor engineering data can be left out of the equation if accurate characterization is to be expected.


The author discusses the experience of building, maintaining and using the bibliographical database of science publications by the faculty of the state Dubna University. She analyzes in detail MegaPro ALIS retrieval functionality and describes different types of the system's dictionaries and guides, their advantages and drawbacks in terms of entering data into bibliographic entry. The algorithm of using outer tables for reference when entering repeated subfields in one-click or entering data into several subfields of the bibliographic records. The example is given how hierarchical data of organization structure is used as an outer dictionary.Feasibility of using the directories of faculty authors and journals/other sources of information in publication databases is substantiated; example is given how to use them when entering several subfields of MARC21 fields 100, 700 and 773. The methodological solutions for maintaining directories of faculty authors and journals (and other information sources) are discussed.User and program interface for retrieving publications by author's affliation, academic degree or title, institution, information source specific data are discussed as a result of building database of publications. The author emphasizes that the dictionaries may be used as supplementary information resources to support faculty publication activities and to integrate them into other university systems.


Abstract—Marinobufagenin (MBG), an endogenous ligand of &agr;-1 Na/K-ATPase, becomes elevated and contributes to hypertension in NaCl-loaded Dahl-S rats (DS). Protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylates &agr;-1 Na/K-ATPase and increases its MBG sensitivity. Cicletanine, an antihypertensive compound with PKC-inhibitory activity, reverses MBG-induced Na/K-ATPase inhibition and vasoconstriction. We hypothesized that increased PKC levels in sodium-loaded hypertensive DS would sensitize &agr;-1 Na/K-ATPase to MBG and that PKC inhibition by cicletanine would produce an opposite effect. We studied the effects of cicletanine on systolic blood pressure, left ventricular PKC isoforms, cardiac &agr;-1 Na/K-ATPase levels, and sensitivity to MBG in hypertensive DS. Seven DS received 50 mg · kg−1 · d−1 cicletanine, and 7 DS received vehicle during 4 weeks of an 8% NaCl diet. Vehicle-treated rats exhibited an increase in blood pressure, left ventricular mass, MBG excretion (74±11 vs 9±1 pmol/24 h, P <0.01), myocardial &agr;-1 Na/K-ATPase protein, and PKC &bgr;2 and &dgr;. The sensitivity of Na/K-ATPase to MBG was enhanced at the level of high-affinity binding sites (IC50, 0.8 vs 4.4 nmol/L, P <0.01). Cicletanine-treated rats exhibited a 56-mm Hg reduction in blood pressure (P <0.01) and a 30% reduction in left ventricular weight, whereas cardiac &agr;-1 Na/K-ATPase protein and MBG levels were unchanged. In cicletanine-treated rats, PKC &bgr;2 was not increased, the sensitivity of Na/K-ATPase to MBG was decreased (IC50=20 &mgr;mol/L), and phorbol diacetate–induced &agr;-1 Na/K-ATPase phosphorylation was reduced versus vehicle-treated rats. In vitro cicletanine treatment of sarcolemma from vehicle-treated rats also desensitized Na/K-ATPase to MBG, indicating that this effect was not solely attributable to a reduction in blood pressure. Thus, PKC-induced phosphorylation of cardiac &agr;-1 Na/K-ATPase is a likely target for cicletanine treatment.


This work evaluates the damage to and collapse of a set of buildings in the September 2017 earthquake in Mexico City; these buildings were also subjected to the September 1985 Mexico City earthquake. These buildings were located in the area of the highest rate of damage or collapse in 1985, but buildings exhibiting significant damage or collapse in 2017 did not possess any retrofitting. The spectral demands for these buildings, based on typical records registered in the earthquakes of 1985 and 2017, were not much different, suggesting the need to explain why the buildings that collapsed suffered severe damage in 2017 but not in 1985. This building behavior was analyzed using a seismic damage index Id, previously proposed by the author, which considers the effect of cumulative damage. The results indicated that the observed damage to and collapse of these buildings in the September 2017 earthquake can be explained by the effect of cumulative seismic damage. Recommendations are given for possible improvements to the seismic building codes in Mexico.


Background Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) induces IgG4 antibodies with blocking effect, and long-term reduction of IgE. The problem of finding suitable surrogate paraclinical markers during AIT is currently very relevant. The aim was to evaluate the allergen-specific IgE/IgG4 ratio as an immunological correlate to clinical efficacy during AIT with House Dust Mite (HDM) allergen vaccines in Cuban asthmatic patients. Methods Three separate Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled clinical trials of AIT were performed using standardized registered allergen extracts of 3 HDM species: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and the tropical species D. siboney and Blomia tropicalis. Each clinical trial included 40 asthmatic patients, totalling 120 individuals. Half of them received placebo. Allergen-specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies were measured by ELISA. Antibody titres were normalized and averaged between the 3 trials. Size effect was calculated as the Standard Mean Difference (SMD) between the active and placebo groups, using meta-analysis tools. Results There was a significant increase of IgG4 antibodies (P < 0.05) after 6 months of treatment. At 12 months, the IgG4 increase was even greater and the IgE decrease achieved also significance (P < 0.05). Thus, IgG4 induction appeared to precede IgE changes, in agreement with the possible role of the Treg/IL-10 response induction at the initial AIT phase. Moreover, 83% of patients showed a decrease of the IgE/IgG4 ratio in the active groups, whereas only 32% showed reduction in placebo groups. The IgE/IgG4 ratio was the immunological variable with the greatest size effect value (SMD = 0.81 95% CI, 0.71-0.91), as compared to changes in IgE or IgG4 levels, alone. The size effect value was close to the clinical effect (symptom-medication score SMD = 1.2 95% CI, 0.7-1.7). Per-patient changes in IgG4 levels, as well as, in the IgE/IgG4 ratio, were significantly correlated to the symptom-medication variable (r = 0.23, P = 0.04). Conclusions These results support the use of the IgE/IgG4 ratio as an easily measurable marker for monitoring the allergen-specific immunity during AIT with HDM in asthmatic patients, and possibly, for predicting patient's clinical improvement after 1 year of treatment.


AbstractCast iron pipes were widely used in water distribution networks before the 1960s and the majority of them have become aged and deteriorated with corrosion, which has been identified as one ...


Experimental tick-borne encephalitis models allowed in vivo and in vitro researches into combined medication Zostera asiatica-derived rosmarinic acid created on the basis of plant polyphenol compound of rosmarinic acid and bioflavonoids (luteolin, apigenin, etc.). As shown, when introduced orally (the most efficient mode of administration) this medication increased survival rate of mice infected with highly pathogenic strain of the tick-born encephalitis virus and prolonged their life. It did not cause a pig embryo kidney cell culture destruction and suppressed viral infection activity.


1. A study has been made over two growing seasons of the volatile fatty acid production from ley grass obtained from a single area of one field, under the action of rumen liquor in vitro. 2. The acida estimated were acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric and caproic. On only one occasion did the last named appear in measurable amount. 3. The main acid produced in early stages of the year is acetic acid, but as the season advances propionic acid becomes the acid of major production. 4. In parallel cellulose runs it was found that propionic acid was invariably produced in greater amount than any other acid. 5. An attempt has been made to eliminate, by using cellulose as a standard, the effects of using different rumen liquor samples. 6. The dried samples, corresponding to the fresh material, were invariably found to yield acetic acid in greater proportion than propionic acid. The average percentages of acids obtained from the dried grass were similar to those found by other workers. It is suggested that the variations between the fresh and dried grass results are due to changes in carbohydrate content resultant upon storage of the latter.


In any situation where there are shifting goals, there is a need for real-time adaptation. In critical situations in military or emergency operations, time is of the essence. It is crucial for success to get on top of the problem as quickly as possible and start acting faster than the situation develops, to seize and keep the initiative. By reaching such a state, proactive rather than reactive measures must be taken. Shifting goals require a radically different approach than stable goals when it comes to the rationale for action. There is a known gap between work as done and work as imagined. Managers often have a too simplified model of how work is performed and thus many simulator training programs are not living up to their potential. In this theoretical paper, the Cynefin Framework is being used to argue for different approaches to simulation design depending on the character of the situation depicted. Four situations are considered: simple, complicated, complex and chaotic. Simulation is a powerful training tool if used with thought. A thorough understanding of the area and system character of application is of crucial essence to be able to successfully develop simulator training. Complex system implies the need for adaption. Linear systems imply rule-based operations. If the solutions fit for linear systems are imposed on complex systems the ability to adapt is lost and in some cases to great risk to the operators on the field. To be able to tailor training to the task and to use simulation close to its full potential, it is of essence to understand the character of the real-life situation the simulation is aimed to prepare the trainee for. Complex (uncertain) situations require adaptation which simulation can afford but too often is lost and forgotten in bureaucratic fulfilment of training curriculums.


introduction: the education of students related to patient safety is a predictor of the development of a safety culture and thereby increases patient safety in healthcare institutions. A growing emphasis is placed on the development of courses and topics that would enable comprehensive and structured patient safety-related education. in 2011, WHo published the Multi-professional Patient Safety Curriculum Guide, consisting of 11 main topics.


This paper discusses the problem of simulation system constructing for the specific domain. Authors suggest using the ontological approach. The simulation system TriadNS is considered. This simulation system is dedicated for computer networks design and analysis. Authors represent base ontology and some other ontologies describing the concepts of a specific domain.


The performance of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system can be significantly increased by using adaptive modulation and transmit diversity. An accurate estimate of the channel, however, is required at the transmitter to realize this benefit. Due to the time-varying nature of the channel, this estimate may be outdated by the time it is used for detection. This results in a mismatch between the actual channel and its estimate as seen by the transmitter. In this paper, we investigate adaptive OFDM with transmit and receive diversities, and evaluate the detrimental effects of this channel mismatch. We also describe a robust scheme based on using past estimates of the channel. We show that the effects of the mismatch can be significantly reduced with a combination of diversity and multiple channel estimates. In addition, to reduce the amount of feedback, the subband approach is introduced where a common channel estimate for a number of subcarriers is fedback to the transmitter, and the effect of this method on the achievable rate is analyzed.


Significance Whole-exome sequencing data from patients with monogenic inborn errors identify thousands of genetic variants in each patient, only a few of which are pathogenic. Identifying pathogenic mutations therefore requires the rigorous filtration of variants that are too common in public databases to cause a disease of the observed incidence. We report that a large proportion of the variants common in patient cohorts are paradoxically absent from public databases. We define these nonpathogenic, cohort-specific common variants that cannot be removed from the analysis as a "blacklist." We describe these blacklisted variants, demonstrate their usefulness for removing nonpathogenic variants, explain their origin experimentally, and provide a web server and software enabling researchers to automate the creation of their own blacklists. Computational analyses of human patient exomes aim to filter out as many nonpathogenic genetic variants (NPVs) as possible, without removing the true disease-causing mutations. This involves comparing the patient's exome with public databases to remove reported variants inconsistent with disease prevalence, mode of inheritance, or clinical penetrance. However, variants frequent in a given exome cohort, but absent or rare in public databases, have also been reported and treated as NPVs, without rigorous exploration. We report the generation of a blacklist of variants frequent within an in-house cohort of 3,104 exomes. This blacklist did not remove known pathogenic mutations from the exomes of 129 patients and decreased the number of NPVs remaining in the 3,104 individual exomes by a median of 62%. We validated this approach by testing three other independent cohorts of 400, 902, and 3,869 exomes. The blacklist generated from any given cohort removed a substantial proportion of NPVs (11–65%). We analyzed the blacklisted variants computationally and experimentally. Most of the blacklisted variants corresponded to false signals generated by incomplete reference genome assembly, location in low-complexity regions, bioinformatic misprocessing, or limitations inherent to cohort-specific private alleles (e.g., due to sequencing kits, and genetic ancestries). Finally, we provide our precalculated blacklists, together with ReFiNE, a program for generating customized blacklists from any medium-sized or large in-house cohort of exome (or other next-generation sequencing) data via a user-friendly public web server. This work demonstrates the power of extracting variant blacklists from private databases as a specific in-house but broadly applicable tool for optimizing exome analysis.


A method for receiving a cellular-Internet of things (IoT) (CIoT) downlink reference signal in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is performed by a CIoT terminal configured to operate in an anchor resource block (RB) and an additional RB, and comprises the steps of: receiving a parameter associated with the CIoT downlink reference signal; and receiving the CIoT downlink reference signal using the received parameter, wherein the CIoT downlink reference signal can be mapped to a resource element, using an index for the additional RB determined on the basis of the anchor RB.


We have considered solution in the continuity of the extensor apparatus of the knee at four levels, and we have observed that at each level the injury has its own peculiar anatomical and pathological features. All four lesions present the same problem of treatment, and in all cases, injudicious treatment is followed inexorably by the same disability. Extensor power must be restored, but not at the expense of flexion movement. The orthopedic surgeon of this decade is making rapid inroads into the field of traumatic surgery, and he will continue to do so, so long as he applies the principles and practice of orthopwedie reconstruction, and so long as his mind is focussed not on the repair of an injury but on the restoration of a limb.


8059 Background: CD19 is expressed from early B cell development to the differentiation into plasma cells and is an attractive target for B cell malignancies either lacking CD20 expression or refra...


In our Service Notes we have referred to the noticeable feature in a recent gazette, viz., the promotion of ten Majors to Lieutenant-Colonel on completion of 19i years' service. This is, of course, due to these officers having originally obtained 6 months' acceleration to major's rank. This is the first occasion in which the accelerated promotion system has operated in promotions to Lieutenant-Colonel; from now on it will continue to do so. Another feature, unique up to the present, in one respect, is presented by the batch of Captains of 27th June 1901 who have been accelerated. This batch of 10 officers supersedes the five remaining officers whose commissions


This paper tries to analyse some important and present aspects of the European Union situation in the innovation activity, relatively to its main competitors on the global market: USA, Japan and China. The study shows that, although EU has been for many years behind USA and Japan and before China, from the point of view of innovation performances, the reflection of this situation in the international trade with high-tech products - one of the most significant indicators for a country or group of countries competitiveness on the international market – the report is reversed, China holding the first place and EU the second one (a good position if we consider the recent years crisis of some Union Member States). This article's author wants to clarify most concisely the cause of this evolution, as well as the conclusions detached from the interaction of the two economic fields: innovation (and of course research and development) and high-tech products trade (especially export).


The invention discloses a vision and touch file format conversion device and method. The device and method involve a vision file format conversion device and method which convert a visual image file into a jet touch file and a jet touch file format conversion device and method which convert the jet touch file into the visual image file, wherein RGB representation is adopted for visual image pixel points, PTF representation is adopted for pixel points of a jet touch image, conversion between RGB and PTF is achieved according to the total mapping relation between visual space RGB and jet touch space PTF, and free conversion between the touch image format and the visual image format of image information is achieved; in addition, jet touch data obtained from various sources are stored in the jet touch file format, a touch file is then formed, and offline storage and cross-platform application of the touch data are achieved.


Abstract : A main importance in geomorphology over the past quite a few decades has been on the development of quantitative physiographic methods to illustrate the development and activities of surface drainage networks. The quantitative analysis of morphometric parameters is found to be of enormous convenience in river basin evaluation. The influence of drainage morphometry is extremely noteworthy in understanding the landform processes, soil physical properties and erosional characteristics. Drainage characteristics of several river basins and sub-basins in different parts of the globe have been deliberate using conventional methods. Modern statistical analysis and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques are now-a-day used for assessing different landscape and morphometric parameters of the drainage basins as they endow with a elastic surroundings and a influential device for the manipulation and analysis of spatial information. In the present study, stream number, order, frequency, density and bifurcation ratio are derivative and calculated on the basis of areal and linear properties of drainage channels using GIS based on drainage lines of Daluaghat Drainage Basin of Giridih, Jharkhand as represented over the topographical map no 72 L/8 (R.F. 1:50,000). Area-altitudinal correlation also is assessed in this work to recognize the erosional surfaces as well as stage of development. in addition, in this study try to investigate different morphometric attributes and set up correlation between the dependent and independent variables through Principal component analysis to recognize the major morphometric parameters which has a remarkable function in the erosional landforms of this drainage basin.


Søren Kierkegaard has been quoted as saying, "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Or to put it more popularly, as the saying goes, "Hindsight is 20-20." While the meaning of an event may initially escape one at the time of its occurrence, in retrospect, its meaning is often grasped.1 What is true on the individual level, in one's attempt to understand their life, is also true for the work of the historian. Historiographical writing is an attempt to understand the meaning of history by the telling of the past in a certain way. As James Axtell has observed, the writing of the past to this end requires historians to distinguish "larger patterns, structures and meanings behind particular events and facts."2 Some have argued that patterning, or we could say some type of typology, is present in any narrative, historical or otherwise.3 The search for analogies, connections, patterns, or types is not unusual or limited to theological approaches. As von Rad has asserted:


Four cases of irradiation injury to large arteries are presented and the literature is reviewed. Three patterns of injury have emerged.


Subject. Analysis of the implemented measures aimed at the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the Novovoronezh City District. Topic. Research achievement of target values of strategic indicators of development of the city district of Novovoronezh in the framework of the implementation of the strategy of socio-economic development 2035. Purpose. Assessment of the achievement of the target values of the strategy 2035 indicators by the end of 2020 and the impact on them of internal and external conditions that determined the results of the deviation of the planned values. Methodology. Methods of logical and comparative analysis of the target values of indicators by year and statistical analysis of the achievement of the planned values of indicators. Results. The assessment of the activities carried out within the framework of the implementation of the strategy of socio-economic development by the end of 2020 allowed us to identify indicators whose planned values have not been achieved. It was revealed that 77 % of the indicators were achieved in full or exceed the planned level. The failure to achieve the target values of 12 indicators out of 52 is primarily due to the special management regime of the past year, caused by the consequences of the pandemic and the restrictions imposed in 2020 due to COVID-19. Application area. Scope of application. Planning and regulation of the activities of municipalities. Conclusions. The implementation of the socio-economic development strategy provided for several scenarios, depending on the current market conditions. The results of the implementation of measures under the strategy 2035 of the Novovoronezh City District can be considered successful and do not require adjustments at the current stage in further implementation. Keywords: strategy, strategic goals, target indicators, socio-economic development, management of the municipality.


In this paper the compensation of reactive and unbalanced currents in three-phase power systems is discussed. The main result proved is that in sinusoidal steady state any current which corresponds to zero total active power can be compensated by means of a reactive element; the compensation of the reactive currents and the compensation of the unbalanced currents in three-phase power systems are special cases of this result. The explicit expression of the compensating reactances is derived and the multiplicity of the solutions is discussed. The result is illustrated on some examples


Set of protocols, to support a common script object model for document interaction across the document type and runtime environment. Cross frame browser-based protocol, and sends a script object model requests the document host, to manage the response to developer code in a browser that conforms to the standard safety, scalable, and provides asynchronous mechanism can do. Host possible run-time application programming interface (API), while minimizing the impact on the performance of the document host, for you to return to the developer code to send the script object model requests to document host across process boundaries safe, scalable, and it can provide an asynchronous protocol.


In an influential report in the field of conservation biology, Rabinowitz et al. (1) described seven ways in which species may show rarity, based on different combinations of range size, ecological amplitude, and local abundance; this paper has guided many avenues of thought in the field of conservation biology. To a conservation biologist in the 17th century, however, the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) would not have qualified as "rare" under any of the seven categories; quite simply, the species had a broad range (eastern North America), was not particularly limited to any one set of conditions, and was massively locally abundant. Still, this species disappeared entirely by the early 20th century for reasons that have never been entirely clear. A report in PNAS by Hung et al. (2) sheds an initial glimmer of insight into this question.


The mid-point potentials of the Fe protein components (Ac2 and Ac2* respectively) of the Mo nitrogenase and V nitrogenase from Azotobacter chroococcum were determined in the presence of MgADP to be -450 mV (NHE) [Ac2(MgADP)2-Ac2*ox.(MgADP)2 couple] and -463 mV (NHE) [Ac2* (MgADP)2-Ac2*ox.(ADP)2 couple] at 23 degrees C at pH 7.2. These values are consistent with a flavodoxin characterized by Deistung & Thorneley [(1986) Biochem. J. 239, 69-75] with Em = -522 mV (NHE) being an effective electron donor to both the Mo nitrogenase and the V nitrogenase in vivo. Ac2*ox.(MgADP)2 and Ac2*ox.(MgADP)2 were reduced by SO2.- (formed by the predissociation of dithionite ion, S2O4(2-)) at similar rates, k = 4.7 X 10(6) +/- 0.5 X 10(6) M-1.s-1 and 3.2 X 10(6) +/- 0.2 X 10(6) M-1.s-1 respectively, indicating structural homology at the electron-transfer site associated with the [4Fe-4S] centre in these proteins.


Background: New SARS-CoV-2 variants with increased transmissibility, like B.1.1.7 from England or B1.351 from South Africa, have caused considerable concern worldwide. In order to contain the spread of these lineages, it is of utmost importance to have rapid, sensitive and high-throughput detection methods at hand. Methods: Analytical sensitivity was assessed for both wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and B.1.1.7 lineage by serial dilution. A total of 141 clinical samples were subjected to the test and results compared to a commercial manual typing-PCR assay and NGS. Results: The multiplex assay is highly sensitive for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinical samples, with an LoD of 25.82 cp/ml (CI: 11.61 - 57.48). LoDs are slightly higher for the HV68/70 deletion (111.36 cp/ml; CI: 78.16 - 158.67) and the N501Y SNP (2548.04 cp/ml, CI: 1592.58 - 4076.73). A total of 141 clinical samples were tested with the assay, including 16 samples containing SARS-CoV-2 of the B.1.1.7 lineage. Three non-B.1.1.7 samples contained a HV69/70 deletion. All were correctly identified by the multiplex assay. Conclusion: We describe here a highly sensitive, fully automated multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of del-HV69/70 and N501Y that can distinguish between lineages B.1.1.7 and B1.351. The assay allows for high-throughput screening for relevant variants in clinical samples prior to sequencing.


【Objective and Metnod】This paper comparatively analyzes the characteristics of the spatial variability of soil profile average water and salt content in the bare land and vegetational area using the typical salinizational area of oasis-desert ecotone in Qitai as the study area.【Result】The results showed that the soil water and salt content of bare land and vegetational area obey normal distribution;soil salinity belongs to moderate variability with a stronger spatial autocorrelation.Soil moisture variability in the bare land belongs to weak variability with moderate intensity of the spatial autocorrelation;vegetational area belongs to medium(weaker) variability with strong spatial autocorrelation.Bare land correlation distance is about 1/10 of vegetational area.With soil depth increasing,the activity changes of soil salinity in bare land and vegetational area are as follows: active layer,sub-active layer and stabler layer.Soil moisture change and its relationship with salt content are inconsistent,the surface of bare land affected largely by random factors is the most active and its correlation with salinity is also poorer,while the vegetation area in the middle and lower layer(60-80 cm) is the most active,which shows highly positive correlation with the salt.【Conclusion】Affected by random factors and structural factors(such as vegetation,micro-topography,etc.),the spatial variability of soil water-salt in the two vegetational coverages shows obvious difference and reflects significant active force and reactive force that the vegetation affects the water and salt distribution and the random factors of water and salt distribution.


The central position held by wholesalers in the Japanese marketing system has been viewed, varyingly, as a form of market control and system restraint. Compared to their Western counterparts, Japanese wholesalers play a decidedly more dominant and multifunctional role in relation to retailers and manufacturers. This article explains, through an interpretive historical account of events in Edo, Japan, how their special position came about and why it endured through the upheavals of Meiji modernization. The analysis helps new participants in the Japanese market appreciate the roles played by indigenous wholesalers and, it is hoped, profit from their multiple services.


Resumen en: In this work, we present the gas–sensing properties of chemically sprayed undoped (ZnO), copper–doped (Cu–ZnO), and chromium–doped ZnO thin films (Cr–ZnO...


Abstract : Specimens of electrolytically pure nickel were annealed for 30 min at 500C to remove the surface work hardness resulting from their preparation, some of the specimens were polished mechanically, and all were subjected to thermal treatment which consisted in heating to 900C, holding for 5 min, and cooling in water (25C). The specimens were then analyzed by x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The results indicate that the mechanisms of failure of thin and massive nickel specimens are substantially different: In the case of failure of thin specimens, a predominant role is played by a vacancy mechanism, whereas in massive specimens at considerable heating and cooling rates the thermal stresses produced are large enough to activate the dislocatory process of failure.


Synopsis: The relationship between superconducting properties and microstructures of the bronze-processed Nb3Sn composite wires is reviewed in connection with the stress effect, the martensitic transformation, the pinning mechanism and the nature of the Nb3Sn layer (i.e. grain size, and grain boundary segre gation and structure etc.). The Nb3Sn layer in the composite wire is compressively prestrained at cryogenic temperatures because of the difference of the thermal contraction between the Nb3Sn layer and the bronze matrix. This resultant compressive prestrain affects superconducting properties and the martensitic transformation of the bronze-processed Nb3Sn compounds. Martensitic transformation is inevitable for the pure Nb3Sn compound at and near the stoichiome tric composition, and this transformation brings about a derease in Hc2 of Nb3Sn. The addition of Ti and Ta to Nb3Sn not only prevents the martensitic transformation but increases its electrical resistivity and Hc2. Therefore, the high field performance of the multi-filamentary Nb3Sn composites is improved by the addition of Ti and Ta. The possibility of an electron scattering flux pinning mechanism has been recently proposed for Nb3Sn compounds. Although Jc of the bronze-processed Nb3Sn wires depends much on the nature of Nb3Sn layers, there are few studies about it. More detailed studies are desired for understanding and improving superconducting properties of the bronze-processed Nb3Sn wires.


This article discusses various approaches that have been used to explain coaching as a male-dominated occupation. Individual approaches look at the interests, qualifications, and choices of women to explain their absence in male-dominated jobs. Structural approaches assume that gender-differentiated work behavior is more a function of location in organizational hierarchy than of gender. In the third approach, social relations, gender is seen as a verb in that women and men collectively struggle over the power to give meaning to social facts, including the meaning of coaching. This approach shows how structures, jobs, activities in those jobs, workers, and places of work are gendered through the meanings we assign to them. The ways those meanings may be altered if and when the number of women in coaching begins to increase are described.


To the Editor Go and Blower1 claim 3 necessary conditions for concurrency to drive heterosexual HIV epidemics: (1) "there should be many concurrent partnerships in the population;" (2) "the number of concurrent partners should be fairly high for the average individual;" (3) "the duration over which the partnerships overlap should be fairly long." Also, because "no heterosexual community in which these conditions are met has been identified," they conclude that concurrency is irrelevant to African HIV epidemiology. They provide no citations for their conditions, with good reason: the first 2 are untrue. Condition 1 depends on the definition of "many," but modeling shows that only a relatively small fraction of the population need concurrent partners to generate sizeable heterosexual epidemics. Condition 2 is entirely incorrect.


This air intake structure adapted to be mounted upstream of a central structure nacelle for an aircraft engine, includes: - an outer wall (7) including a lip (9) adapted to be mounted with respect to said central structure between a rear position and a forward position, - a partition (11) defining a defrosting compartment (13) in said lip (9), - at least a defrosting manifold (15) extending in said compartment (13), and- at least one hot air supply duct (17) of said manifold (15) adapted to be fixedly connected to said partition mediane.Ladite structure (11) is sealingly secured to within said lip (9), and said feed conduit (17) is connected to said manifold (15) by disconnectable sealing means (27, 29, 31, 35).


With the advent of knowledge economy, Human Capital has become an important factor to promote the continuous economic development and to promote the organization to obtain sustainable competitive advantage workers, including their knowledge, skills and health status. Among them, as an indispensable form of human capital, the importance of health is beyond doubt. However, many organizations fall into the professionalism of human resource management. They simply understand human resource management as recruiting high-quality talents and reducing labor costs, ignoring the follow-up investment after employees enter the job. Therefore, from the perspective of health human capital, this paper studies the relationship between it and the improvement of physical quality of employees. This paper expounds the health and its influencing factors. And introduces the fancy of the health human capital investment and physiological quality.


Abstract Juneol1 1 and Acolamone2 2 are the two interesting eudesmane type sesquiterpenes whose synthetical investigations have recently received attention of organic chemists. Schwartz and associates realized a biogenetic-type synthesis3 of (±)-Juneol. The chemical transformation of the of the acetoxy ketone 3, obtained from α-santonine, to (+)-Juneol and (+)-Acolamone has been achieved.4 We wish to report an alternative approach for the synthesis of (±)-Juneol and (±)-Acolamone.5


WDM-PON is considered for next-generation broadband backhaul and radio access networking. Among different implementation choices, we propose to utilize low-cost tunable lasers at the remote sites, together with a centralized wavelength locker. Practical implementations require a transparently added downstream signaling channel and upstream per-channel pilot tones for channel tagging and remote wavelength control. Together with some unavoidable crosstalk effects during tuning, all of these system-related items lead to impairments. To keep penalties below 1 dB, the modulation index of the signaling channel must be kept below 15%. Similar values result for the upstream pilot tones. In order to limit crosstalk, such systems require reduced launch power during wavelength tuning and can cover up to 40 km differential reach. These results confirm that WDM-PON based on low-cost lasers is a technically viable approach.


The following report summaries the work carried out on Project 1.2.8 - Investigate Thermal Influences on Weights and on Mass Comparators. 62 organisations were surveyed to ascertain the types of problems they had experienced on thermal instability and its effects on weighing. Following the conclusions from the survey the proposed content for a Good Practice Guidance Note were drawn up, and laboratory measurements on manual and automatic comparators were investigated.


The purpose of this study is to find the enhancement of students' vocabulary achievement using Online Games and Pictures Instruction. This study used quantitative research method and comparative design. This study was designed to seek the answer to the following question: Is there any significant difference on the students' vocabulary enhancement between those who are taught using Online Games and Pictures Instruction? In order to answer that question, there were two classes in grade eight of SMP Perguruan Advent XV Ciracas, Jakarta Timur. They were divided into two groups, grade 8-a was Pictures Instruction group and grade 8-b was Online Games group. The vocabulary test (pre-test) was given at the first meeting. After 16 hours of treatment, the post-test was administered to both groups to see the significant of both methods. The data was analyzed using SPSS 17. The normalized gain of the students who are taught using Online Games 0.2802. It can be concluded that the gain level of Online Games is low. While the normilezed gain of the students who are taught using Pictures Instruction is 0.4631. It can be concluded that the gain level of it can be concluded that the gain level of Picture Instruction is average. The obtained result through the normalized gain indicated there was a significant difference between the group which was taught through Online Games and Pictures Instruction.  Based on the result of the data the null hypothesis was rejected and some recommendations are given at the end. Key Word: vocabulary, teaching, Online Games, Picture Instruction


The stem cell leukemia ( SCL ) gene encodes a bHLH transcription factor essential to the primitive and definitive hematopoietic systems in vertebrates. In the zebrafish, studies of hematopoiesis have shown significant functional conservation with mammals. In order to assess the functions of scl in zebrafish primitive hematopoiesis, zebrafish embryos were analyzed after ablation of Scl protein by morpholino-modified antisense RNA injection. Embryos injected with morpholinos targeting the scl translation initiation site or two independent splice donor sites lacked circulating blood and exhibited cardiac edema by 28 hours post fertilization. RNA in situ hybridization analysis with a panel of hematopoietic-specific genes showed that myeloid lineage development in the anterior lateral mesoderm was absent upstream of draculin and pu.1 expression. In contrast, erythroid development in the posterior lateral mesoderm occurred with little or no functional Scl, as shown by expression of draculin , pu.1 , and gata1 in this PLM region. Primitive erythroid cells failed to mature, as evidenced by the absence of circulating cells after 24 hpf. Only upon titration of scl morpholinos to near toxic levels was gata1 reduced or absent in embryos at 21 somites. These findings show that scl plays a vital role in development of all hematopoietic lineages in zebrafish. However, these data reveal differential effects of reduction or loss of Scl on hematopoietic development in the anterior lateral mesoderm versus the posterior lateral mesoderm. The results reveal that reduction or loss of Scl affects erythroid development in the posterior lateral mesoderm or ICM at a progenitor stage of erythroid development, after initiation of gata1 and embryonic globin expression. These data suggest that early erythroid development in the zebrafish requires little or no Scl, while maturation of erythroid progenitors cannot occur in the absence of Scl. Myeloid development in the anterior lateral mesoderm is dependent upon Scl. This embryonic analysis in the zebrafish is the first to demonstrate a transient, in vivo population of erythroid precursors in embryos with severely reduced or absent expression of Scl.


a. thiemann, n. grandke, s. gröne, m. salmina-Petersen, J. Jänichen* Wetting Agents – Their Concentration-Dependent Effects on the Energy Demand in the Formation of Stable Emulsions Wetting agents are amphiphilic surface active materials which, like emulsifiers, reduce the interfacial tension between an immiscible water and oil phase. However, unlike larger emulsifier molecules, they do not have the capacity to form stable emulsions. On the contrary, wetting agents tend to disrupt organized structures formed by emulsifiers at the interface between the polar aqueous and the non-polar lipid phase, thereby lowering the viscosity and finally the stability of the emulsion. Consequently, the properties of wetting agents do not seem to make them attractive raw materials for emulsions on the formulator's ingredient list. In the present study, however, we take a closer look at possible positive effects of wetting agents in such


Back in October, I took issue with the way people were talking about the likely geographic impact of the recession. In short, it seemed to me that reports of the economic death of the "south" were greatly exaggerated. Past experience suggests that the gap between north and south might narrow, but is highly unlikely to be reversed. But I noted that even the first "prediction" - that the south was particularly hard hit in the last recession- is still the subject of some dispute.


The dyeing behavior of a disperse dye C. I. Disperse Red 143 on Conex®m-aramid fiber (Poly-m-phenylene isophthalamide) has been studied, and following results were obtained.(1) The diffusion coefficient are considerably lower than that of polyester fiber. The recommended method for dyeing Conex requires a temperature of 140°C, and high concentration of dye carrier, typically acetophenone.(2) The temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient for a disperse dye obeys the Williams-Landel-Ferry equation.(3) The affinities (-Δμ°) of C. I. Disperse Red 143 at 140°C on the m-aramid and polyester fibers are 4. 2 and 4. 3 kcal/mol, respectively.


A field experiment was conducted at the botanical garden of the University of Ilorin to determine the effects of weed density and distance on the growth and yield of two varieties of okra (NHAe-40 days and Kirikoi). The experiment was a complete randomized block design with eleven treatments and three replicates. The treatment details include T0 = No weed, T1 = One weed per plant T2= Two weeds per plant, T3 = Three weeds per plant, T4 = Four weeds per plant, T5 = Five weeds per plant, T6 = Six weeds per plant, T7 = Seven weeds per plant, T8 = Eight weeds per plant, T9 = Nine weeds per plant and T10 = Ten weeds per plant.  Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, shoot Fresh and dry weight as well as yield parameters was carried out at the end of the experiment. The result depicts a significant decrease in the vegetative growth and yield parameters with increasing weed density in both varieties. Irrespective of the weed distance, all yield parameters decreased significantly with increasing number of co-habiting weeds except for plant co-habited with one weed at 20 cm and 30 cm weed distance which was significantly the same with the control in both varieties. The result is an indication that absence of weed or early control of weed should be done at the early weeks of growth before the onset of flowering if maximum production is expected.


Highly efficient parametric amplification and wavelength conversion have been demonstrated in the 1040–1090nm band by use of a microstructured optical fiber and picosecond pump and signal pulses.


Although investigations have consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of sport psychology interventions, these methods have been underutilized by athletes. In this study, 124 athletes completed the athletes' Attitudes Toward Seeking Sport Psychology Consultation Questionnaire (ATSSPCQ) and were subsequently randomly assigned to receive one of the two semistructured interview formats. One interview focused on discussing the athlete's experiences in sports, and the other focused on delineating sport psychology and its potential benefits to the athlete. Upon being interviewed, athletes were readministered the ATSSPCQ. Discussing sport psychology and its personal benefits was more effective in enhancing athletes' perception of need for sport psychology than discussing sport experiences. However, neither interview format enhanced athletes'perceptions of openness to discuss personal issues with a sport psychology consultant and tolerance of stigma associated with sport psychology consultation. Indeed, participants who received the discussion of sports intervention reported a significant decrease in personal openness to discuss personal issues relevant to sports psychology from pre- to postintervention. Intervention effects were similar for male and female athletes. Study implications and future directions are discussed in light of these results.


The morphological, physical, chemical and micropedological studies were carried out to investigate the genesis of calcic layer in Typic Natrustalf of Seonsar block in Saraswati range of Kurukshetra forest division, Haryana. The information, thus generated revealed that platy epipedon, dominance of ultramicro-and micro-voids, plugging of meso-and macro-voids at the surface horizon restrict the infiltration of water as evident by the presence of slaking crust. The arrangement, size, shape and frequency of particles and the characteristics of the thin sections of the peds revealed sepic plasmic fabric. The calcic horizon that had soft and disseminated lime developed into hard concretions, nodules through the course of formation of calcite crystals may subsequently lead to formation of calcite layer by displacing the surrounding material.


Parameterisation of hydrological models using remote sensing is currently being studied in a European Union funded ARSGISIP project. Input to hydrological models consists of meteorological data, discharge data and spatial data (slope, soils, land-use and vegetation cover) for model parameterization. Satellite imagery has been found to be a valid data source for the purpose of hydrological modeling. However, as this data is generically in raster format its use in vector based hydrological models can be difficult. Our solution to the problem is the creation of a threedimensional raster based hydrological model, H3mod. The model has built-in GIS functionality and includes a graphical user interface for running the model on Microsoft Windows platfroms. All relevant hydrological parameters can be set individually for each grid cell. H3mod performs quite well under northern Scandinavian conditions such as cold winters, spring flood due to snowmelt, low relief and water logged conditions in marshes and mires. Presently the model is being applied in three basins in the boreal forest of northern Finland, varying in size from 20 to 2500 km2, and so far the results are promising. Future model enhancements will include water quality (sediment, phosphorus andnitrogen) modeling capabilities.


To determine the biological effects of low‐dose‐rate radiation (Cs, 2.95 mGy/h) on EL4 lymphoma cells during 24 h, we investigated the expression of genes related to apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, iron transport, and ribonucleotide reductase. EL4 cells were continuously exposed to low‐dose‐rate radiation (total dose: 70.8 mGy) for 24 h. We analyzed cell proliferation and apoptosis by trypan blue exclusion and flow cytometry, gene expression by real‐time PCR, and protein levels with the apoptosis ELISA kit. Apoptosis increased in the low‐dose‐rate irradiated cells, but cell number did not differ between non‐ (Non‐IR) and low‐dose‐rate irradiated (LDR‐IR) cells. In concordance with apoptotic rate, the transcriptional activity of ATM, p53, p21, and Parp was upregulated in the LDR‐IR cells. Similarly, Phospho‐p53 (Ser15), cleaved caspase 3 (Asp175), and cleaved Parp (Asp214) expression was upregulated in the LDR‐IR cells. No difference was observed in the mRNA expression of DNA repair‐related genes (Msh2, Msh3, Wrn, Lig4, Neil3, ERCC8, and ERCC6) between Non‐IR and LDR‐IR cells. Interestingly, the mRNA of Trfc was upregulated in the LDR‐IR cells. Therefore, we suggest that short‐term low‐dose‐rate radiation activates apoptosis in EL4 lymphoma cells.


Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is an experimental technique widely used for the transient analysis of PEFCs. Experimental results are usually analyzed using equivalent circuit models, which have to be fitted to each operation point and do not offer direct access to the internal physical parameters of the electrodes.


A mathematical model of lung capillary dynamics in burn patients is presented. The alterations due to inhalation injury and the effects of thermal skin burn on lungs are analyzed by digital simulation. The dynamic behavior of some fundamental variables as measured in the patients and as obtained by simulation are compared. The results of simulations are presented where different resuscitation therapies are employed, and the effects on lung capillary dynamics are analyzed. It is concluded that an early diagnosis and continuous positive airway pressure, or positive end expiratory pressure, are the most effective treatments in the acute phase after inhalation injury.<<ETX>>


This paper presents a means for dividing the agricultural climate districts and harvest risk districts of potato based on GIS technique and climate resource information.The indicators of climate and risk which includes the fail and lost risks for potato growing in the county WulanCabu in the middle of Inner-Mongolia Autonomous Area are given according to the spatial statistic results of multi-natural resources in the county.Meanwhile a prediction method of natural resources distribution on small grids is applied to all cases chosen here.Using CITYSTAR 3.0,the agricultural climate districts and the harvest risk districts are drawn and shown in geographical maps.The district maps can be provided to the Department of agricultural planting and planning and the Department of agricultural insurance for helping them in district choosing.


Asymmetric magnetization reversal in dipolarly coupled spin valve structures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy M. Gottwaldf M. Hehn, D. Lacour, T. Hauet, F. Montaigne, and S. Mangin lnstitut Jean Lamour, UMR CNRS 7198, Nancy»Universite, BP 239, F-54506 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France P. Fischer and M.-Y. Im Center for X-ray Optics, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA A. Berger CIC norzoGUNE Consolider, E-20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain (Received 23 November 201 1; revised manuscript received 13 January 2012; published 3 February 2012) Magnetization reversal has been studied in a CO74Tbg5/CU/COggTb]2 system, which is a perpendicularly magnetized ferrimagnetic bilayer separated by a nonmagnetic layer. The Co33Tb.2 (soft) layer (SL) exhibits a switching field much lower than the Co74Tb26 (hard) layer (HL), which enabled us to study the magnetization reversal of the SL for different magnetic states of the HL. We found an asymmetric hysteresis loop for the SL, when the HL is not fully saturated. Using careful analysis of magnetic force microscopy measurements we conclude that the asymmetry originates from magnetic domains formed in the HL that affect the SL reversal. A simple model based on magnetic dipolar interaction between the two layers is found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. I. INTRODUCTION The magnetization reversal process in ferromagnetic (FM) materials generally follows time—reversal symmetry with respect to the magnetic field sign. However, there are various examples for which the magnetization reversal process during ascendant field branch differs from the descendent field branch. The most famous example is the antiferromagnetic (AF)/FM system, which exhibit an "exchange—bias" effect that leads to a field axis shift of the FM hysteresis loopq: Moreover additional asymmetries in the FM hysteresis loop have been observed indicating different FM reversal processes for both branches." However other systems exhibit this type of asymmetry as wel1.5'7 Common to all cases is that the origin of the asymmetry can be traced back to coupling phenomena, i.e., either an exchange coupling or a dipolar coupling.°q'3 Dipolar couplings have attracted strong interest both for fundamental reasons and potential applications. Examples for the former are dipolar stray field coupling between nanomagnets sometimes leading to fascinating properties like geometrical frustration,7 the occurrence of multidomain formation? and domain wall (DW) pinning," which allow investigating the competition between short-range and long- range interaction models. On the other hand, dipolar fields play a major role in bit-patterned media recording," multilevel magnetic recording," and the reliability of magnetoelectric devices.'5q6 For magnetization control either by field or po- larized current, multilayers composed of two perpendicularly magnetized FM separated by a nonmagnetic decoupling layer are among the most studied systems.°'""3""'3' When soft (SL) and hard layers (HL) have similar intrinsic domain sizes, the stray fields induced by a non-uniformly magnetized HL lead to mirrored domains in the SL during field cycles." However, an even more complex behavior can occur when the SL and the HL are designed differently." For example, in Refs. 9 and I7, asymmetric minor loops have been reported in perpendicular magnetized multilayers. In this paper we study the physical origin of minor loop asymmetries in spin valve structures with perpendicular magnetization. Characterization is done using magnetome- try measurements and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) analysis of the microscopic magnetic structure within the films. A general model of asymmetric dipolar coupling for perpendicularly magnetized multilayer is developed, which explains well our experimental data. II. SAMPLES Si/Ta(5 nm)/Co74Tb26(2O nm)/Cu(3.5 I'll1'l)/COggTb12(20 nm)/Cu(2 nm)/Pt(2 nm) multilayers were grown by DC magnetron sputtering with base pressure less than 5 X 10"' mbar. The Co,_,,Tb,, alloy has been chosen due to its high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy over large values of x and the possibility to easily tune the coercive field by changing x . Pure Co andTb targets were used for a co-sputtering process, and the relative atomic concentration of the two elements Co and Tb was controlled by the relative sputtering power. Samples were deposited on Si (100) substrates covered first with a 5—nm—thick Ta seed layer. The multilayer is protected by aCu/Pt bilayer. The choice of x = 12% for the SL andx = 26% for the HL ensures a large difference in the coercive fields of the layers with a well—defined antiparallel magnetization plateau in the field loop [Fig. 1(a)]. When the HL is fully saturated, the SL minor loop is symmetric with respect to zero field, indicating the absence of interlayer coupling such as exchange coupling or RKKY-like and orange—peel coupling through the Cu interlayer [Fig. l(b)]. However, when the HL is not fully saturated, i.e., magnetic domains are present, asymmetric SL minor loops are observed [Fig. l(_c)]. We will show in the fol- lowing that localized non-uniforrn stray fields are the cause of


A decade has passed since the passage of the Employment Act of 1946. While there have been fluctuations in the level of income and employment, it is clear that there have been no major recessions. Indeed, with a substantial margin of safety, one may assert that the state of economic knowledge is such that we need not fear either a major recession or runaway inflation. At the same time, economists have come to recognize—in a more formal manner—the inherent dif ficulty in setting an optimal level of Federal Government goods and services when viewed as satisfying public wants in contrast to pro viding stability. Current budget struggles provide the real-life count erpart to the formal problem. At the regional level a curious twist occurs. Here a body of knowl edge with respect to the forces determining regional income is just beginning to emerge. The policy tools with which to promote regional stability and growth are practically nonexistent. At the level of pro viding the correct amount of goods and services the impasse found at the Federal level becomes less of a problem. W ith the volume of State and local expenditures amounting to almost half that of the Federal Government, one might expect half the noise and debate which has occurred at the Federal level. This does not seem to be the case. A t the State and local level, the voter as a consumer may have a better mechanism to register his preferences. Without considering the technical details, these, then, are the points I should like to cover in this paper: (1) The state of economic knowl edge with respect to the forces determining regional income as a back ground for the role of government expenditures; and (2) the optimal level of State and local services when viewed as satisfying the public demand for goods. I t is worth while, however, to note first why regional economics is of vital interest to all concerned—aside from its academic interest.


Eggs are inexpensive nutrition source and consist of fat soluble vitamins. Vitamin E, selenium and zinc are found in a small amount in eggs. Alfalfa is an inexpensive natural source of vitamin E, selenium and zinc. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dried alfalfa in a ratio of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% in diet additive on the increase ratio of vitamin E, selenium and zinc in eggs. In this experiment, a total of 180 birds (aged 27 weeks) were ranged in 6 treatments over three replicates including 10 birds of ISA-BROWN layer in each treatment. During the 17 weeks' experiment period (two weeks of preliminary period), the experimental results showed a significant increase in vitamin E, selenium and zinc contents. A proportional increase in the ration of vitamin E, selenium and zinc were recorded with the increase of the ration of the dried alfalfa additive in the diet. The highest ratio of the dried alfalfa (10%) showed the highest increase in the vitamin E, selenium and zinc. Moreover, no significant differences were recorded between the treatments in term of egg production performance.


Extreme climate events and related risk exposures in Huang‐Huai‐Hai (HHH) river basin were projected under global warming of 1.5–2°C using the high‐resolution combined dynamical and statistical downscaling dataset. Firstly, evaluation indicated that the dataset can well reproduce the spatial distribution of all temperature extremes and most of the precipitation extremes, providing a reliable ability for future projections. Then, projections showed that the hot events were projected to increase, while the cold events were projected to decrease substantially in the whole HHH river basin for 1.5°C and 2°C global warming. The additional 0.5°C of warming roughly accelerated the increase of extreme temperatures by 0.6°C, and increased the number of heat days by 2.7 days. In addition, the rainfall events and the precipitation intensity were projected to increase while the drought events were projected to decrease, with the slight changes due to the additional 0.5°C warming. The gross domestic product (GDP) exposures to heat events and heavy rainfall increased more than nine fold for 1.5°C and 2°C global warming, while the growing population (POP) exposures to that increased by more than 100% and 20%, respectively. For the increased exposures to heat events, the changes in GDP (POP) were as important as changes in interaction effect between climate and GDP (POP), while the exposures to heavy rainfall events was mainly dominated by GDP (POP). In addition, the enhanced interaction effect was the most important factor to the increase of exposures due to additional 0.5°C of warming. Notably, the largest increases of heat events and heavy rainfall events were projected in Huaihe river basin due to the additional 0.5°C warming, accompanied by greatest increase of exposures, implying larger risk in the future.


The melting characteristics and thermal expanson behavior of quartzite particles during heated-up were studied by using a thermal microscope (LEIAZ-Ⅱ)made in Germany.The results showed that the linear expansion rate of high purity quartzite had three different regions at different temperatures, namely, slow-expansion region(room temperature—870℃), halted expansion region (1000—1350℃)in which the linear expansion rate tended to be zero, and fast-expansion region (1400—1550℃) with a sharp wave crest, respectively.These regions were corresponding to the isomer conversion of SiO2.The comparison between two samples with different purities showed that the purity of quartzite particle had a remarkably influence on its melting characteristics.A particle with higher purity tended to have a higher characteristic temperature of melting characteristics.Furthermore, the surface microstructure of the high purity quartzite particles heated at different terminal temperatures was also observed by using a scanning electron microscope (HITACHI) S2150.Numerous micro-cracks (about ten microns) would be formed on the surface of the sample when the terminal temperature reached the fast expansion region, and the structure inner the sample was very loosen with numerous of minor-cracks(about one micron in width).These minor-cracks lead to the lose of elasticity and worsened mechanical properties of samples.


Laminated woven glass reinforced polymer matrix composites (PMC) are commonly used in the electronics industry as a robust and effective substrate for circuit boards. In such applications, reliability is extremely important. The laminated composites must undergo several processing steps to introduce circuitry, during which interlaminar damage is sometimes introduced, leading to blisters and delaminations. Therefore, it becomes important to understand the factors that control the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the laminate. In this study, the ILSS of a laminated PMC was examined as functions of matrix phase additions, the matrix mixing procedure, the glass fiber finish chemistry and concentration, and the matrix rheology. Matrix phase additions, mixing, and glass finish were found to significantly effect the ILSS, while the matrix rheology had less of an impact. Introduction Multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs), like other laminated polymer matrix composites (PMCs), are subject to ply delaminations. Delamination can be due to several factors; the most common of which are poor construction and poor processing [1-5]. Once a delamination occurs, the PCB must be scrapped. The associated increase in scrap material associated with manufacturing will generally increase the final cost of the material to account for the losses in both material and processing time. Therefore, it becomes imperative to find the causes of ply delamination and work to reduce and eliminate them. Typical ply delaminations in PCBs occur at or near edges and surfaces of the laminate [1, 2, 4]. This is due, in large part, to two factors. The first is that laminated composites are typically characterized as being infinite planes, modeled in plane stress. In reality, there is a transition from the typical plane stress behavior to plane strain at the laminate edges. This allows for a stress in the z-direction [1, 2]. Since the bond in the z-direction is somewhat weaker than in the x and y laminate directions, owing to a lack of reinforcement, the z-axis stress induces ply delamination, starting at the free surfaces and edges. The weaknesses along z-axis are exacerbated by differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE's) between components in the laminated composite, where the CTE of the polymer matrix is significantly greater than that of the relatively low CTE of the woven e-glass fabric. To overcome the CTE differences, filler materials are added to provide some reinforcement off of the principle x-y axis. The second common cause of ply delamination is much more straightforward. During processing, corners and edges may become damaged. The damage can propagate along ply interfaces, leading to failure of the laminate. Based on these observations, it becomes apparent that three ways to reduce the number of ply failures in the z-direction are to increase the resin-to-resin bond strength, to increase the strength of resinto-glass interface, and to minimize differences in the thermal properties of the laminate components. In this study, the delamination behavior of a laminated e-glass reinforced polymer matrix composite was examined versus changes in the processing of the polymer matrix; and versus changes in the resin matrix rheology and in the eglass finish chemistry and concentration. Experimental Procedure The material under study is a 0-90 woven e-glass reinforced resin matrix composite. The PMC was processed at Isola Laminate Systems' Chandler facility following the procedures outlined by Isola (Isola Group, Chandler, AZ). For the experiment, processing factors under study included the resin mixing procedure, resin filler additions, and the base resin viscosity. Experiments examining changes in the resin matrix were performed over the course of two DOE trials. The first being a two factorial experiment examining high and low matrix particle filler content and the method of dispersion by a) Ross mixer type and b) Cowles mixer type Table 1. The second as a larger three factorial experiment examining resin viscosity via changes in the molecular weight of the resin and changes in the e-glass sizing, Table 2. The results obtained from the first DOE trial were used to select the samples used for the second DOE trial. The effects of changes in ply construction are well established by others [1-4] and will not be covered here. For the two DOE trials, the glass fiber diameter and the bulk matrix resin contents were kept constant. All efforts were made to produce symmetric, unidirectional laminates. The factors under study were chosen in an attempt to produce quantifiable differences in the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the PMC. The ILSS was measured using an electric drive load frame, following the procedure outlined in ASTM #D2344 [6]. Since the test method can yield fracture behavior inconsistent with the ILSS, care was taken to ensure that the fracture mode was indeed shear and not tensile, compressive, or inelastic deformation, Figure 1. For the first DOE, samples were examined with higher amounts of particle filler in the matrix phase, greater than 20%, and with lower amounts of filler, less than 7%. Changes in dispersion were examined for the high and low particle filler content levels using a high dispersion Ross mixer (Model: ME100LX, Charles Ross & Son Company, Hauppauge, NY) and using a low dispersion Cowles mixer (Model: CM-100, MorehouseCowles Inc., Fullerton, CA). Examination of the glass fiber sizing properties was carried out as part of the three factorial DOE, with changes in the resin viscosity, and the woven e-glass reinforcement. The resin viscosity was examined with high and low flow, based on changes in the molecular weight of the base resin. Examination of the glass reinforcement involved alterations of the silane sizing applied to the e-glass, where the silane chemistry and the silane concentration were studied. For the two DOE trials, the glass fiber diameter and the bulk matrix phase fractions were kept constant. Results and Discussion Effect of Filler Content and Mixing The effect of various mixing processes in particle reinforced composites cannot be understated. Typically, as a particlereinforced system becomes more homogeneous, the detrimental effects of phenomena such as particle clustering are reduced. This leads directly to increases in the mechanical strength of the material due to a decrease in the number of stress concentrators present in the microstructure [7,8]. It follows that changes in the particle filler content and the dispersion method may cause variations in the ILSS. Table 1, 2 Factorial Design of Experiment Study. Table 2, 2 Factorial Design of Experiment Study. Figure 1. Modes of Short-Beam Failure The two factorial DOE examined relative high and low particle filler contents with changes in the dispersion method in an attempt to optimize the ILSS. Beginning with the changes in the filler content, it was found that a reduction from the higher content to the lower filler content led to approximately a 12% increase in the ILSS in the highly dispersed Ross-mixed system, but no significant increases in the conventionally mixed Cowles system, Table 3. The increase in ILSS that was observed for the Ross mixed system suggests that the dispersion method is more a factor than the actual filler content. Indeed, comparison of like systems with changes in the dispersion method indicates that the higher the degree particle exfoliation, the greater the ILSS. Regardless of the filler content, samples that were homogenized with the high dispersion Ross mixer exhibited a higher ILSS value than those processed with a Cowles mixer, Table 3. An increase of approximately 5% was observed for the higher filler content samples, while an increase of approximately 18% was observed for the lower filler content samples. Removal of the particle filler acted to further increase the ILSS, suggesting that while the addition of particle fillers in the e-glass reinforced system are beneficial to the thermal properties of the composite, they are detrimental to the interlaminar bond. In general, filler materials are added to PMC's to offset the differences in CTE between the composite components. Laminated PMC's are highly reinforced along the xand y-axes, owing to the woven glass phase. This is partly due to the low CTE of the glass, and partly due its higher modulus. As a result, damage tends to occur in directions off of these reinforced axes, typically along the unreinforced zaxis. When particle fillers are added to the laminate, there is some reinforcement of the z-axis owing mostly to a decrease in the zaxis CTE. The drawbacks of using particle filler materials are many. If too much filler material is added to the system, there tends to be particle clustering, creating areas of high stress intensity [7-9]. Likewise, if the bonding between the particle filler and the matrix phase is not optimized for chemical and mechanical compatibility, the filler may have a weakening effect on the composite [1]. What the study in question answers is the degree to which particle fillers weaken the ILSS of the laminate, and to what effect particle exfoliation has on the shear strength. The increases the shear strength noted from the introduction of a high dispersion mixing procedure and from the reduction in the filler content help to solidify the notion that homogenization of the composite microstructure is beneficial to the mechanical properties of the laminate. Comparison of the microstructure for the four systems provides some insight into this phenomena, where the highly filled and Cowles mixed system shows evidence of large filler clusters agglomerating at weave crossover points in the e-glass fabric used as the reinforcement phase, Figure 2a. The "particle drifts" observed at the weave crossovers likely act as sites of poor interlaminar bonding, creating regions prone to delamination. In contrast, the Ross mixed system


Ab s t r Ac t Background: Aging is a consequence of accumulated effects of living conditions, acquired mutations, and an inefficient regenerative mechanism of the progenitor cells. Chronologic aging is linearly linked to an increase in health-complexities of noncommunicable types. In contrast, medical advancements is enhancing the life-expectancy—certainly at a higher cost; however, the trend could outnumber the young workforce subsequently. Hence, understanding of disease-prevalence is essential with a view to making necessary arrangements for offering appropriate care to the geriatric population. Materials and methods: Records of over 47,000 outpatient medical consultancies were retrieved from the hospital management system and considered for investigating the disease-prevalence in the older population. Results: Older population was largely affected with diseases related to the cardiovascular system followed by general medical complications. In general, men were more affected with geriatric diseases, which could largely be due to a lack of financial and other preparedness of the retirees. Conclusion: A significant osteoarthritis problem in females is undoubtedly associated with aging of ovaries. An intense look at geriatric diseases may guide for building age-friendly and dedicated accommodation at home and healthcare centers. The knowledge may be helpful for handling geriatric disease-burden of lowand middle-income countries.


RESULTS. A total of 115 refractile drusen were detected at baseline in 20 eyes (20.4%). Refractile drusen typically showed hyperreflectivity by infrared (80.9%) and blue (93.9%) reflectance imaging, appearing more distinct when compared to CFP. Laminar intense hyperreflectivity of Bruch's membrane was detected in 31 lesions by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and was strongly related to atrophy development (23 out of 31 lesions). Presence of refractile drusen at baseline was overall associated with later development of geographic atrophy (GA) (9/20 eyes versus 6/78 eyes, P < 0.001). Spontaneous regression without evident atrophy occurred in seven lesions.


This paper focuses on the difficulty of DSP operation speed in face of the modern PD radar to detect the super- speed and small targets signal with real time processing,bring forward that it can increase the real time calculating speed of DSP by adopting the FFSP-FFT (Frequency Field Subsection Parallel -Fast Fourier Transform) handling meth- od.The argumentation is that,in theory,the problem of the doppler frequency with real time detection of the limited super-speed targets can be resolved by applying current DSP technique and FFSP-FFT handling method.


The problem of super-resolution is concerned with the reconstruction of temporally/spatially localized events (or spikes) from samples of their convolution with a low-pass filter. Distinct from prior works which exploit sparsity in appropriate domains in order to solve the resulting ill-posed problem, this paper explores the role of binary priors in super-resolution, where the spike (or source) amplitudes are assumed to be binary-valued. Our study is inspired by the problem of neural spike deconvolution, but also applies to other applications such as symbol detection in hybrid millimeter wave communication systems. This paper makes several theoretical and algorithmic contributions to enable binary super-resolution with very few measurements. Our results show that binary constraints offer much stronger identifiability guarantees than sparsity, allowing us to operate in "extreme compression" regimes, where the number of measurements can be significantly smaller than the sparsity level of the spikes. To ensure exact recovery in this "extreme compression" regime, it becomes necessary to design algorithms that exactly enforce binary constraints without relaxation. In order to overcome the ensuing computational challenges, we consider a first order auto-regressive filter (which appears in neural spike deconvolution), and exploit its special structure. This results in a novel formulation of the super-resolution binary spike recovery in terms of binary search in one dimension. We perform numerical experiments that validate our theory and also show the benefits of binary constraints in neural spike deconvolution from real calcium imaging datasets.


In this paper, high images quality switchable two-dimensional (2-D)/3-D display is achieved by carefully matching the high-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD) pixel structure and liquid crystal graded index (GRIN) lens. A parallelogram LCD pixel structure is proposed, in which the edges of each sub-pixels are slanted. At the top of the LCD pixels, the liquid crystal GRIN lens is also tilted to reduce the moiré effect and the tilt angle is carefully aligned with the edges of subpixels of LCD. This accurate alignment is useful to eliminate the crosstalk and improves the imaging quality of 3-D display. The 2-D/3-D switchable display is realized by tuning the liquid crystal in the GRIN lens. Based on this, a 3-D display based on 32-inch 8K4K resolution LCD display and Liquid crystal GRIN lens was designed.


Few want to do business with a partner who has a bad reputation. Consequently once a bad reputation is established it can be di cult to get rid of. This leads on the one hand to the intuitive idea that a good reputation is easy to lose and hard to gain. On the other hand it can lead to a strong form of history dependence in which a single bene cial or adverse event can cast a shadow over a very long period of time. It gives rise to a reputational trap where an agent rationally chooses not to invest in a good reputation because the chances others will nd out is too low. Never-the-less the same agent with a good reputation will make every e ort to maintain it. Here a simple reputational model is constructed that has a unique equilibrium and the conditions for a reputation trap are characterized. I am indebted to Drew Fudenberg, Juan Block, Rohan Dutta, Andrea Mattozzi, and Salvatore Modica. Financial support from the EUI Research Council is gratefully acknowledged. Department of Economics and RSCAS at the EUI, WUSTL; email: email@example.com Preprint submitted to Levine March 4, 2019


The time and location of occurrence, among other characteristics of incidents, are needed to distribute traveler information and dispatch emergency service for traffic congestion and safety mitigation purposes. However, the corresponding clearance/recovery time is an important, yet under-studied, subject of research. Existing studies on incident duration modeling mainly utilize duration data gathered and provided by authorities through the efforts of individual agents. This type of manual data gathering may suffer coverage and consistency issues. In addition, the explanatory variables considered in these studies are static, that is, observed at the incident formation stage and assumed to be consistent over the incident periods. This setup, however, overlooks traffic flow dynamics; time-varying traffic variables during the incident episodes affect incidents clearance and disruption characteristics. In line with the above limitations, the objective of this study is to utilize hazard-based modeling to explain incident durations mined from traffic detector data while factoring in traffic flow dynamics. The 2014–2016 Virginia statewide traffic detector data were utilized to extract incident durations by implementing a machine-learning-based incident detection algorithm followed by a semi-parametric proportional hazard function. Such a function accounts for the time-varying traffic-descriptive covariates for incident duration modeling. The resulting monotonically decreasing baseline hazard reveals the snowball effect and the inertia effect of disruptions induced by incidents, which leads to the advice that incidents should be detected and mitigated within a 30 min duration. The normalized flow, density, and speed measures, and their temporal differences are all shown to be significant covariates scaling up or down the hazard.


The installation of some specific devices between the front wheels of the small size omni-directional soccer robot,such as dribbling mechanism,kick and chip kick,can make the body layout asymmetric and this will consequently influence the kinematic performance of the whole body.In this paper,three wheels and four wheels model are established.Using the pseudo inverse matrix and the simulation of MATLAB,the influence of the wheel angle on the max speed and acceleration is analyzed and the law of this is described.This paper may give some instructive effects on the excellent mechanical design of the body.


With the advent of internet, a new epoch of network economic is coming to us. Agile supply chain system is a new management mode that economic orientated. This paper proposes a multi agent based agile supply chain system and organization mode, points out some relative problems needed to be noticed in practice and the agile strategy for supply chain.


The objective of this article is to establish whether the hydrodynamics of gas-liquid-solid fluidized beds can be characterized through Hurst's analysis of signals obtained from a variety of probes. Two problems of industrial importance for fluidized beds are focused on: the detection of gas maldistribution and the identification of fluidization regimes.


This presentation takes Adam Smith's Theory of moral sentiments, as the starting point to discuss the
material expression of emotions, or even vicarious emotions, in the field of the new Humanities. Though
the connection between emotions and expressions is not univocal or immediate, that does not mean that
history, or political science for that matter, can do without taking into consideration the forms that
subjective experiences have acquired in the sciences, in the literature or in the arts. In this case, I will
propose a reading of one of the most famous paintings of Theodore Gericault, Le radeau de la Meduse, as
an exemplification of political and moral resentment. Unlike similar works of art, intended to enhance the
viewer's approval towards the figure of the "benefactor", Gericault's work, which sympathizes with the
hatred of the victims towards the perpetrators of their misfortune, aims at public resentment rather than
compassion; it conveys an implicit accusation and a craving for justice.
The historian Lynn Hunt is right to connect the invention of human rights with the cultural processes of
empathic identification that proliferated during the second half of the eighteenth century. Many of these
processes are framed in a "politics of compassion"; the result of kindness towards the wretched of the
world, understood en masse, with no distinction among them and with no reference to the reason that
initially converted them into victims. She is wrong, however, to consider that the impartiality of the
observer depends only on identification or mimesis. In the works of Burke or Smith, sympathy is not given
under the form of empathy or emotional contagion, but through an imagination that is at the same time
performative and reflexive. The observer not only dreams, but also judges; she does not only look, but also
determines the propriety or impropriety of the conduct of others. More important still, she does not only
reflexively identify with what she sees, but also with what might have happened, or with that which,
against all evidence, cannot happen nor will ever happen. It is only through this fantasy that mimesis is
transformed into a potentially universal and virtually just emotion; only in this counterfactual way of
experiencing the pain of others can the observer reach sufficient distance to construct a universal position
- one that is just in its evaluation and general in its sphere of application.
Unlike a politics of pity, based on immediate identification with the person who suffers, the "politics of
justice" cannot do without the enunciation of tragedy. Here observation is linked to verbal or visual
expression because the observer is not there only to look, but also to report. The observer's expository
capacity transcends her (subjective) emotion and explains her (objective) desire to provide a historical
record. In his detailed study of distant suffering, the sociologist Luc Boltanski identifies three expository
forms that, with all their historical variations, serve to account for the spectacle of violence. The first two,
he tells us, may take the form of accusation or philanthropy. The first, accusation, stems from the idea, as
old as Humanity itself, that it is easier to construct a moral system when an agreement is reached as to
who is directly responsible for the evil being denounced. In this case, the observer not only looks on but
also condemns. In the second, on the other hand, where sympathy toward benefactors is greater than
hatred toward executioners, the action is directed toward philanthropy rather than toward revenge. In the third, enunciative form, which I will attribute to Gericault, the observer cannot be drawn toward
denouncement nor does she succumb to sentimentality. On the contrary, he keeps his gaze steady in the
face of horror and does not blink in the face of truth. In the world in which we live, nothing seems stranger
than this connection between what we call today the sphere of aesthetics and the world of politics.


Monoazo disperse dyes containing a fluorosulphonyl group, based on 4-amino-4'-fluorosulphonyl-azobenzene derivatives, were dyed on poly(ethylene terephthalate)/cotton blends and their dyeing and fastness properties investigated. A one-bath dyeing method was used, as these dyes can be alkali cleared in the same bath. In particular, the cross-staining of cotton was studied in order to assess their suitability for the one-bath dyeing of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/cotton blends.


As I write, members of the Society for Music Teacher Education and the Society for Research in Music Education are making their last-minute preparations to attend the Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference in Atlanta. In the process of planning the conference, it has been exciting to witness emerging research in thematic areas such as racial, cultural, and gender identities; mentoring; inclusion; and arts and education policy. Proposal evaluation for the conference caused me to consider the processes by which our profession changes. At the same time I was planning the conference, I was reading the best seller Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (2014). You may recognize Stevenson as a civil rights activist and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. More likely, you know him as the attorney who successfully argued before the Supreme Court that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for children aged 17 or younger were unconstitutional. On his book tour, Stevenson has spoken to faith communities, academic communities, and civic communities with a four-part message about changing the criminal justice system in the United States. I do not claim here that our criminal justice system and our education system have the same degree of brokenness, although surely each system reflects the other. Instead, I argue that Stevenson's four-part message has a great deal of relevance for contemporary education, especially for those who hope to reclaim a just, democratic vision for music education and music teacher education. First, Stevenson recommends that we should move ourselves closer to the problem: "When we get close, we hear things that can't be heard from afar. We see things that can't be seen. And sometimes that makes the difference between acting justly and injustly" (Stevenson, 2014, as cited in Campbell, 2014). Do we encourage our preservice teachers to move closer to music classrooms? To all music classrooms? Emmanuel (2005) has written,


Rationale: Cardiac depolarization is reflected by the QT interval duration. If prolonged, shortened or otherwise unregularly it may predispose individuals to ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Whole-genome association studies (WGAS) linked genetic variations in the gene for neuronal nitric oxide synthase adapter protein NOS1AP to alterations in QTc intervals and SCD. Hypothesis: We hypothesize NOS1AP mutations result in reformed neuronal nitric oxide synthase NOS1 interactions resulting in modified L-type-Ca2+ channel modulation which downstream tempers with QTc intervals and increases susceptibility to rhythm disorders and SCD. Methods and results: We generated conditional double transgenic mice overexpressing 6xHN-NOS1AP under control of the cardiac-specific amyh7 promotor and under control of doxycycline (Tet-Off system). These animals were then investigated with the main focus upon electrophysiology. Heart rates were similar in induced vs. non-induced animals. NOS1AP overexpressio...


The Potato Testing Station at Ormskirk, a branch of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, has during the past season, been found to include considerable areas of land heavily infested with the eelworm Heterodera schachtii. This discovery was made subsequent to the failure of some of the potato crops, which, in the course of the normal rotation practised at the station, happened last season to be grown on the affected areas.


Hospital boards are expected to play a crucial role on the healthcare delivery system and the effectiveness of the hospital board may depend on its structure. Therefore, an appreciation of the structure of hospital boards is an area worth investigating. This study examined the determinants of hospital board structure in Ghana. The study adopted a multiple regression method. The findings of the study indicate that hospital size, hospital age, ownership structure and location of the hospitals are important in explaining the board structure of hospitals in Ghana. The findings of this study are generally relevant for policy on how to structure an effective hospital board.


Abstract : Can Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) support distributed Test and Evaluation (T&E)? When will SOAs be suitable to support distributed testing data management requirements? What are the benefits of modernizing instrumentation to use an SOA for testing? Can SOAs improve reliability and composability of distributed T&E capabilities? These are just some of the questions that are being addressed in an ongoing Office of the Secretary of Defense distributed test infrastructure assessment that includes a study called "Applicability of Service- Oriented Architecture (SOA) to Distributed Testing Infrastructure." This article will give an overview of this quantitative/qualitative study and the Community of Interest being formed to support the study. In addition, the article will describe how the Netcentric Systems Test (NST) reference architecture developed under the T&E/Science & Technology NST focus area sponsored by the Test Resource Management Center is being used as a collaboration point to determine which T&E mission processes to consider in developing a use case for the study.


Purpose: Laparoscopic gastrectomy has been common treatment modality for gastric cancer. But, most surgeons tend to perform laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy using epigastric incision. Delta-shaped anastomosis is known as intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy, but it is technically difficult and needed many staplers. So we tried to find simple and economical method, here we report on the results of liner-shaped gastroduodenostomy in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 25 patients who underwent totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy using liner-shaped anastomosis at School of Medicine, Ajou University between January to October 2009. The indication was early gastric cancer as diagnosed by preoperative workup, the anastomoses were performed by using laparoscopic linear stapler. Results: There were 12 female and 13 male patients with a mean age of . The following procedures were performed 14 laparoscopic gastrectomies, 11 robotic gastrectomies. The mean operation time was minutes, the mean anastomotic time was minutes. The mean number of stapler cartridges was . Postoperative complication occurred in one patient, anastomotic stenosis, and the patient required reoperation to gastrojejunostomy. The mean length of postoperative hospital stay was days except the complication case, and there was no case of conversion to open procedure and postoperative mortality. Conclusions: Linear-shaped gastroduodenostomy in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is technically simple and feasible method.


Study Design. Analysis of the estrogen receptor gene of girls with idiopathic scoliosis. Objectives. To determine whether estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms correlate with curve severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Summary of Background Data. Studies suggest that idiopathic scoliosis is a familial condition and that curve progression is related to genetically determined factors, such as skeletal and sexual growth. Methods. A total of 304 girls with idiopathic scoliosis were followed until growth maturation. Height, arm span, menarcheal age, and age at growth maturation were recorded, and curve severity was measured using Cobb's method. The estrogen receptor gene, which contains polymorphic PvuII and XbaI sites, was amplified from lymphocyte deoxyribonucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction. Results. The mean maximum Cobb measurements for patients with genotypes XX and Xx were greater than for those with genotype xx (P = 0.002). The risk of curve progression, defined as progression of >5° from initial evaluation, was higher with genotype Xx than with xx (P = 0.03). Patients with genotypes XX and Xx had a significantly higher risk for operative treatment than those with genotype xx (21.4%, 24.7%vs. 7.6%, P < 0.001). Growth examination around the time of the growth spurt revealed that the XbaI site polymorphism was also related to the age of growth maturation. The frequency of patients with growth maturation at ≥16 years was higher for genotypes XX and Xx than for genotype xx (33.3%, 29.9%vs. 16.8%, P = 0.013). Conclusion. Our results suggest that the XbaI site polymorphism is associated with curve severity. DNA analysis may predict curve progression.