Storytelling method is an inevitable part of English Language classes. Stories are always an inspiring pedagogical tool to develop different language skills and to inculcate values and culture. In the present technological world, students lack the initiative to read stories and improve their reading skills. They lack interest in reading which has resulted poor reading and writing skills. Thus, a case study was done by integrating a technical tool to motivate students to read and improve their language skills and creativity. The study also aims to give a better understanding of the usage of multimodal approach like Digital storytelling in language learning classrooms. Microsoft photo story 3 was chosen to develop the stories into digital and 24 students of English Foundation level 2 were selected for the study. An evaluation rubric was developed to assess student's digital story together with a survey to get students' perception about the digital storytelling device in English classrooms. The study found the effectiveness of Digital story as a tool in enhancing their involvement in learning process and improving their reading, writing and creative skills. The findings of the study on Digital Story prove that it is a highly recommended tool for English Language students. Students enjoyed it as it demands technical and artistic involvement of the students. Students who participated in the study were engaged and improved their reading and writing skills by the end of the project. Throughout the process of story building, they developed how to organize, cooperate and collaborate to reach their goal. The tool can be implemented for blending learning purposes where the teachers or the students make their own contents and share to others. Article DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.20319/pijtel.2018.21.1427 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.


A method of manufacturing a composite touch fastener in the form of sheet, the method including the steps of providing a longitudinally continuous sheet of material engageable loop hook (110) of finite width, the fibers forming both a body sheet in the form sheet as hook-engageable loops (112) extending from at least one surface of the film body; introducing the loop material about a base roll (316); form a laminate; and cutting the laminate to form said composite touch fasteners (100), each composite touch fastener a portion of said loop material, and a portion of said hook material (120); and forming the laminate includes permanently bonding a longitudinally continuous strip of plastic hook material (120) to a discrete portion of the loop material (110) in a nip (314) between the roller base (316) and a roller molding (318), leaving other portions of the loop material exposed and free of the hook material including hook material base synthetic resin strip form, and fastener elements (126) integrally molded with the base and extending from ; wherein said synthetic resin of the hook base component, at least part of its extent, extends along a face of the discrete portion of the loop component and encapsulates fibers of said loop material.


Background Studies declare the possibility of thyroid abnormalities in the obese patients and return of normal thyroid activities after weight loss. Therefore in this study, the effect of educational intervention on body mass index (BMI) and thyroid function tests in obese children has been evaluated. Materials and Methods: The current randomized clinical trial research included 126 overweight or obese children and adolescents with an age range of 7 to 18 years, form Birjand city (Iran), who were divided into two control and intervention groups for 6 months between 2015 and 2016. The educational intervention consisted of 1 session per month (each session was 60 minutes), which was done by the researcher. BMI, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) in both groups were measured and compared before and after the intervention, and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19.0. Results: In the intervention group, the average of TSH and FT4 after 6 months of intervention showedboth significant decreases and increases, respectively (p=0.003 and p< 0.001). In the control group, both THS and BMI average had a significant increase (p<0.001), and FT3 and FT4 significant decrease (p=0.009 and p=0.001, respectively). After 6 months, BMI and TSH average in the intervention group compare to the control group had significant decrease (p = 0.02 and p<0.001, respectively), and average of FT4 and FT3 was significantly increased (p Conclusion: Educational intervention was effective in reducing BMI and improving thyroid tests; hence, is highly recommended for the modification of BMI and the improvement of thyroid tests in obese children and adolescents.


Clozapine is an effective antipsychotic drug for treatment‐resistant schizophrenia. Sertraline is a widely prescribed antidepressant and often concomitantly applied to address negative symptoms or depression. However, data on interactions between clozapine and sertraline are inconsistent. The aim of our study was to evaluate pharmacokinetic interactions between clozapine and sertraline analysing a therapeutic drug monitoring database of 1644 clozapine‐medicated patients. We compared four groups: non‐smokers (n = 250) and smokers (n = 326) with co‐medication without known effects on cytochrome P450 and without sertraline, and non‐smokers (n = 18) and smokers (n = 17) with sertraline co‐medication. Measured and dose‐corrected concentrations (C/D) of clozapine were compared between the groups using non‐parametrical tests with a significance level of 0.05. Post hoc analyses included pairwise comparisons to account for smoking status. Although we detected significant differences for clozapine levels and C/D values between study groups (P < .001 for Kruskal‐Wallis test in both cases), post hoc analyses revealed no differences for concentrations and C/D values of clozapine (P > .05 for Mann‐Whitney U test in both cases). A negative correlation between the sertraline dose and the clozapine concentration was found in non‐smokers (Spearman's rank correlation, rs = −0.535, P = .048). A potential pharmacokinetic interaction between clozapine and a standard therapeutic sertraline dose seems to be of minor clinical importance.


The scientific production is an indispensable resource to promote the development of science. This article aims to reflect on scientific production of Medical Geography and Health, for it discusses the production of scientific articles. We searched in the database and how the journal Hygeia analysis method bibliometric. The Southeast, Midwest and South are those that produce scientific articles, highlighting the State University of Sao Paulo and the Federal University of Uberlândia. Major diseases and illnesses are identified dengue, respiratory diseases, Chagas disease, leptospirosis, leprosy and malaria. We conclude that bibliometric indicators are efficient when data are thoroughly worked and effective when carefully examined, this set allows a diagnosis of the real, so the themes and emerging diseases in the study of Medical Geography and Health.


A study of the Caglioti reaction (B2H6/Ac2O) on testosterone has led to an improved procedure for the formation of 5α-androst-3-en-17β-yl acetate.


Medical ethics, clinical practices, as well as privacy considerations affected the gender-space relationship in spaces of healing. Researchers to date have been analysed the historical hospitals of Anatolia in terms of their architecture, planning, art history, history of medicine, and even in terms of their functional systems, but not yet regarding their gendered space segregation. There are also limited studies related to the gender, religion, and secularism in historical hospitals outside of Anatolia. Hence, in this paper, historical hospitals of Anatolia have been chosen as case studies and analysed from the point of gendered perspective including how privacy, religion, culture, and gender issues shaped their architecture and planning. In Ottoman Empire, it is known that among the palace elites, there was limited access of women patients to the male doctors, but documented evidence of female attendants being employed in Ottoman hospitals belongs to later periods. In Ottoman dynasty there were also female patrons constructed hospitals for women and for the general public, demonstrating the power and status of women in the Ottoman palace. In addition, based on travellers' accounts, old drawings, gravures, and archival resources, it is understood that there were separate units for women in Anatolian historical hospital. Those units included the patients' rooms, wards, latrines, and even courtyards. The research showed that in Anatolian hospitals as the spaces for physical healing and medical training, gendered-space segregation have been acknowledged, at least to some extent in some certain space arrangements.


The peony "Dafugui" in green bud period were treated with the liquor of SA(0,10,15,20 mg/L)by spraying over the individual plant,sprayed distilled water as control.Content of soluble protein,SOD activity,the production rates of the O■-,the content of MDA and the relative electrical conductivity in petals were measured.The results as follows:SA can improve content of soluble protein and SOD activity,at the same time,SA decreased the rates of Petals' O■-,the content of MDA and the relative electrical conductivity during the florescence.The result showed that 15 mg/L was the best one.


Abstract A methodology for sequential separation of uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) followed by their estimation, using extractive liquid scintillation spectrometry was standardized for matrices like soil, fish and sediment. Various parameters for selective and efficient extraction and separation of Pu and U in the presence of interfering matrix elements with HDEHP bis(2-ethylhexy1) phosphoric acid as an extracting agent were investigated. Quenching effect of the various extracting reagents on resolution of α spectrum of analytes and reduction in these interferences is discussed in the current study. Standardized procedure gave about 91% of extraction of spiked Pu into the organic phase. Performance of the method was tested by separating and estimating U and Pu in International Atomic Agency (IAEA) certified reference materials like soil/sediment/fish.


Kozlov,Piotrkuzbmich,a famous Russian explorer,discovered the Black Water City in Xixia and also excavated a large quantity of precious Xixia literatures and cultural relics during his first investigation to Central Asia in 1908.Later,he excavated a large number of Xixia literatures and cultural relics during his second(in 1909)and third(in 1926)investigations to Central Asia.This paper explains the secrets of Xixia Characters based on the Xixia literature information unearthed in Black Water City,which tells us something about history,culture,religion and art of the mythical Xixia kingdom as important trade road and traffic on the ancient silk road.


The output hypothesis (Swain, 1985, 1995, 1998) is tested with regard to acquisition outcome, as measured by a pretest and two post tests, and also...


....................................................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................... xiv List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... xv List of Boxes ................................................................................................................................................ xvi List of Plates ............................................................................................................................................... xvii List of Appendices ..................................................................................................................................... xviii List of Acronyms .......................................................................................................................................... xix CHAPTER 1: CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE: AN INTRODUCTION ................................................. 1 1.


The Priority Medicines (PRIME) scheme was launched by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2016 to expedite the development and approval of promising products targeting conditions with high unmet medical need. Manufacturers of PRIME drugs receive extensive regulatory advice on their trial designs. Until June 2018, the EMA granted PRIME status to 39 agents, evaluated in 138 studies (102 initiated before and 36 after PRIME eligibility). A third of the studies forming the basis of PRIME designation were randomized controlled trials, and a quarter of the studies were blinded. There was no statistically significant difference between trials initiated before and after PRIME designation in terms of randomized design and use of blinding. However, significantly more efficacy studies included a clinical end point after PRIME designation than before, and significantly fewer included surrogate measures alone. There were no statistically significant differences between the trial designs of PRIME and non‐PRIME‐designated products.


Abstract We revisit our earlier extension of the CRM and introduce a new version of the dose escalation procedure. Its performance is assessed by simulation, with respect to a template of five operating measures BEARS (Benchmark, Efficiency, Accuracy, Reliability, Safety) that was used in Zhang, Wang and Yang. Our goal is to correctly identify the maximum tolerated dose with a high probability while protecting trial subjects from undue risk of toxicity. Simulation results show that this may be achieved for some considered scenarios, selective models, and considered competing designs. We discuss the pros and cons of the new version of the dose escalation procedure in the face of treatment versus experimentation dilemma.


Malang was a great city that has a diverse industry characteristics and there are spread ly in every district. The goals of industr ial vehicles movement is shipping and distribution. There are some problems related to the road 's level of service , e specially several points of delay and congestion due to the industrial vehicles movement and the limited capacity of the roads. The main purpose of the research is to create the trip attraction model of land use for industrial area as a basis to determine the effect of industri al vehicles movement on the road 's level of service in industrial area . The research used industrial distribution mapping , the road's level of service analysis to determine the traffic condition, correlation analysis to determine the influence variables used and multiple linear regression analysis to identify the trip attraction model of land use. The Results showed that the most affect ed variables of the industrial vehicles movement are the number of employees (X 3 ) and the delivery frequency (X 6 ) . The trip attraction model is Y industry = 5.104 + 0.736 (X 3 ) + 1.832 (X 6 ) with 94.1 per cent of R square. The road's level of service in Sunandar Priyo Sudarmo Road is C.


Substantive family law remains nowadays a field in which states retain competences, being the regulatory power of family matters deeply connected with the very idea of state sovereignty. Nonetheless, globalization creates not only connected markets, but people as well: family schemes also moved across Europe and the world, to settle in places where family institutions were in the past consolidated and uniformly accepted by the local society. Amongst other reasons, with the emergence of a multi-cultural society, an increase in the recourse to judicial intervention in family matters followed: non-state institutions (schools, spiritual and community leaders, families themselves) lost their capacity to contribute in the non-judicial management and solution of familiar conflicts. Mediation in family matters can contribute to ease the work overloaded of tribunals and courts and help individuals in the personal management of their conflict. Nonetheless, the regulation of mediation in family matters, this procedure being able to influence substantive aspects of the families and their legal relationships, has not reached uniform solutions between states, not even between EU Member States. In spite of the lack of common rules on family mediation, it seems possible to infer, from a different range of supra-national instruments, some common principles, even though the very definition of family mediation is challenged. Mediation, in general, can be conceived: i) as an alternative method to settle


The paper presents the life evaluating process of girth butt welds by hot spot stress method and the calculation methods of hot spot stress range.Hot spot stress range can be calculated by nominal stress range and stress concentrate factor(SCF) or by detailed finite element analysis.The detailed classification methods of S-N curve were explained and the detailed categories of girth butt welds S-N curve were displayed.The weld fatigue life can be evaluated according to hot spot stress range,S-N curve and Miner linear cumulative damage rule.Finally the cast steel nodes in the tour tower structure on the platform of Hangzhou Bay Bridge were introduced to illustrate the process of life prediction of girth butt welds under wave fatigue loading.


46 ff.); and combinations of other ideas proffered freely by way of exuberant poetic licence. There is no doubt that the composers of these late Upani?ads tried to emulate the style of the older Upanisads, and equally there is no wonder that passages from the Rgveda and other Samhitas are quoted in some of the Sakta Upanisads; this practice was common for many texts and proves nothing for or against their origin. Therefore Professor Warrier's comment (pp. x-xi) that the Sakta Upanisads ' are only Advaitic texts in disguise ' and that ' differences [from the latter] are purely terminological ' does not hold water. One can generally regret that many of India's fascinating religious and philosophical ideas have been blurred or even lost because of their frequently facile categorization under the fatigued headline of Advaita. It is no use complaining that the Sakta Upanisads, including those published in the Unpublished Upanisads (Adyar Library Series, 1933), are a let-down on the ' principal Upanisads'. The Sakti cult was a highly popular movement, the origins of which reach into the ancient past and the developmental phases of which were open to modifications arising from contemporaneous social and political changes, as all mass movements are. Consequently the Sakta Upanisads, as a manifestation of one mode of the cult, are an important literary expression of that phase of the movement. Had they been translated as such, notwithstanding Upanisad Brahmayogin's commentary, a great service would have been rendered to the explorer of Indian culture. Unfortunately, restrained by the Advaita doctrine, Professor Warrier has followed the path paved first by Saiikara, then followed by many others including Upanisad Brahmayogin, and has presented us with a translation that, though it bears a fair similarity to the Sakta Upanisads, lacks the authenticity required for an adequate appreciation of the Sakti cult reflected in the texts. As a result we are faced with the same dilemma that we have been faced with regard to most of the other Upanisads : one should read the texts to know the Upanisads, and read the commentaries and translations to know the latter as more or less important independent literary and philosophical treatises.


Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects and feasibility of single-stage posterior articular process approach in surgical treatment of thoracic spinal tuberculosis by internal fixation and fusion. Method: This is a retrospective study including 32 patients with thoracic spinal tuberculosis and vertebral destruction in our hospital from November 2012 to August 2015. All patients were treated with the one-stage posterior articular process approach to focus on debridement, bone autograft and posterior pedicle screw fixation and fusion. Then the antitubercular drugs were taken strictly post-operation. We measured the radiographic parameters, including kyphosis (Cobb) angle and sagittal balance, and evaluated the America Spinal Injury Association grade (ASIA), the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores (JOA), the visual analog scale score (VAS), and the long-term complications and symptoms. Meanwhile, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected to evaluate the activity and recurrence of tuberculosis (TB). Result: There were 18 males and 14 females with an average age of 48.9 years (ranging 10 to 76 years). The 32 patients underwent a mean follow-up period of 25.6 months (ranging from 12 to 45 months). According to the preoperative ASIA score, there were 5 cases grade B, 9 grade C, 10 grade D, and 8 grade E. The involved segments included 23 cases in 1 segment, 4 cases in 2 segments, 4 cases in 3 segments, and 1 case in 4 segments. The kyphosis Cobb angle ranged from 13.3° to 50.5° (mean 27.6°). The 30 patients were completely cured with no recurrence, and 2 patients (6.25%) were recurrent. One was cured with a second surgery and the other was cured under conservative therapy. The mean time of the operation was 158±86 min (120-220 min) and intraoperative blood loss was 324±286 mL (200-750 mL). At the last follow-up day, 9 cases (30%) improved by two grades, 13 cases (43.3%) improved by one grade, and 8 cases (26.7%) did not improve according to the ASIA grade. The mean improvement rate of ASIA is 73.3% (including an improved 1 or 2 grades). There was a significant difference between pre-operation day and the final follow-up (P<0.01). The Kyphotic cobb angle decreased to 6.2-18.9° (mean 10.5°) (t=12.267, P<0.01), with an average correction angle of 17.1°, average correction rate of 62%, and loss of correction of only 1.8° at the final follow-up (t=11.687, P<0.01). The JOA score increased from 5.5±3.3 to 8.8±3.3 (t=-7.287, P<0.01) and the mean rate of improvement was 60%. The VAS decreased from 6.8±1.6 to 1.7±2.3 (t=14.739, P<0.01) and the average rate of improvement was 75%. Finally, the ESR and CRP dropped from 35.5±20.0 mm/h and 45.3±46.8 mg/L to 8.6±5.8 mm/h (t=9.876, P<0.01) and 8.8±7.4 mg/L (t=11.324, P<0.01). Conclusion: This treatment is an efficient and feasible method, and it causes low trauma and destruction of the posterior structure of the thoracic vertebrae. However, careful selection of patient is critical to the successful outcome of this technique.


Field data collected in residual uplands corroborated the broad-scale geomorphic unit mapping [26]. The dominant texture of near-surface soils observed at plots usually conformed to the generalized texture of the geomorphic units: sandy soils on alluvial-marine and eolian sand sheet deposits, and silt-rich soils on yedoma (Supplementary Table S1); however, we found disjunct occurrences of some geomorphic units beyond the ranges evident in the regional-scale mapping. More than one upland geomorphic unit was present in two study areas; the westernmost study area (Kugachiak) included both alluvial-marine deposits and yedoma, and the easternmost study area (Kogosukruk) included both sand sheet and yedoma. The overall extent of residual uplands varied among the study areas (range 507–2825 ha; 18–84% of study area) (Table 3). Surface forms observed in residual uplands overwhelmingly reflected high-centered, lowdensity polygons and mixed pits and polygons (Supplementary Table S2). Vegetation in residual uplands was primarily characterized by mesic, late-successional tundra dominated by the tussockforming sedge Eriophorum vaginatum (Supplementary Table S3). This vegetation type was extensive and homogeneous in areas that were unaffected by ice-wedge degradation. Collectively, the biological and physical properties sampled on residual uplands were consistent with old, undisturbed settings where there has been a long, uninterrupted period of ice-wedge development. None of our field plots in residual uplands exhibited signs of recent ecological disturbance, with the exception of vegetation mortality and local ponding (e.g., "drowned" shrubs and tussocks) that are consistent with the initial and advanced phases of ice-wedge degradation [14,18].


During the last decade, Heterogeneous systems are emerging for high performance computing [1]. In order to achieve high performance computing (HPC), existing technologies and programming models aims to see rapid growth toward intra-node parallelism [2]. The current high computational system and applications demand for a massive level of computation power. In last few years, Graphical processing unit (GPU) has been introduced an alternative of conventional CPU for highly parallel computing applications both for general purpose and graphic processing. Rather than using the traditional way of coding algorithms in serial by single CPU, many multithreading programming models has been introduced such as CUDA, OpenMP, and MPI to make parallel processing by using multicores. These parallel programming models are supportive to data driven multithreading (DDM) principle [3]. In this paper, we have presented performance based preliminary evaluation of these programming models and compared with the conventional single CPU serial processing system. We have implemented a massive computational operation for performance evaluation such as complex matrix multiplication operation. We used data driven multithreaded HPC system for performance evaluation and presented the results with a comprehensive analysis of these parallel programming models for HPC parallelism.


The purpose of this study is to analyze the perspective of Indonesian criminal law about legal protection of witnesses and victims in the perspective of criminal cases. The research method used is to use normative juridical legal research methods. the use of normative juridical legal research methods is carried out with a statute approach and a case approach to obtain results so that they are expected to obtain the results they want to achieve. The results of this study are that legal protection for witnesses and / or victims of trafficking in persons has not been implemented properly. The rights of victims have not been accommodated in the process of investigation, investigation and justice. The legal protection provided does not view witnesses and / or victims as victims, but rather as witnesses to complete evidence and disclose criminal acts to the extent that they provide information before the trial. In the PSK Law which guarantees and protects the rights of witnesses and / or victims of trafficking in human trafficking to provide freedom and security and comfort to witnesses and / or victims in investigations, investigations, prosecutions and trials. In law enforcement, it turns out that witnesses and / or victims still do not get their rights before the law as witnesses and / or victims


Abstract
 Engineering bridges the gap between, on the one hand, that mix of philosophy and politics that we call policy and, on the other, the physical implementation of the means to put policy into practice. Starting with a brief outline of the nature of accessibility, why it is important and how in some cases a person might be disabled by a lack of accessibility, this article – based on the author's Inaugural Lecture given at University College London in February 2005 – turns to consider how a person's needs challenge their capabilities (i.e. what they can do) and considers a radical approach to understanding people's capabilities in the implementation process. Next, the formation of policy intentions in order to permit, encourage and implement the engineering of appropriate solutions is discussed and conclusions drawn about how this affects work in the transport domain. Perhaps we need to look at the world in a different way before we can make it a better place.


The 2009 report confirmed earlier findings 2 that for every £1 (≈ $1.50) spent on orthotic services the NHS saves £4 (≈ $6). With current expenditure on orthotic-service provisioning estimated at £100 million (≈ $150 million), the NHS would save an estimated £400 million (≈ $600 million). Nevertheless, the report found that, because of inadequate funding, pilot sites that had enhanced service levels could not sustain them. A hospital could implement recommendations only with specific funding from its Primary Care Trust. Moreover, increased awareness, not modeling, revealed the latent service demand, suggesting that current procurement practice is " too dependent on a commodity product procurement model. " 1 Clearly, the report viewed the current operating environment of orthotic service providers as a threat to their ability to fulfill their mission. To improve patient care and provide real value to the NHS, the report recommended establishing a locally commissioned service based on clinical outcome. Such a solution is consistent with the 2008 Darzi report, which recommended transforming the NHS to a locally led, patient-centered, and clinically driven organization. 3 Realizing this vision is not without challenges. Chief among them is the need to identify threats to the system, understand user demand patterns, and reach beyond classical engineering to adopt more appropriate modeling techniques for these more complex environments. A ccording to a 2009 report 1 on orthotic services in the UK, more than 1.2 million patients with conditions from diabetes to neuromuscular disorders rely on such services to enable them to work and live independently. In 2005, the report noted, it cost roughly £85 million (≈ US$128 million) to provide orthotic services, and service demand had since been increasing commensurately with the aging population and the complexity of clinical conditions. Yet despite this increase, there appeared to be no consensus on how to relate the funding changes to the changing demand. Given that early orthotic intervention improves lives and saves money, an orthotic-service provisioning system is certainly critical from the perspective of its patients. To manage its evolution, providers must understand the system's place within the larger system of National Health Services (NHS), and how it should respond to its patients' needs. Classical engineering fails to model all the ways in which a critical sociotechnical system fits into a larger system. A study of orthotics clinics used projective analysis to better understand the clinics' role in a healthcare system and to …


Aim To investigate the effect of baicalin on cell proliferation and cell migration in human skin SCC A431 cell line. Methods The A431 cells were incubated with 50 mg·L- 1baicalin. The protein level of cofilin-1 was assayed by Western blot. Cofilin-1 specific siRNA fragment was designed,synthesized and trans-fected into A431 cells. The proliferative activity and migration ability of cells were assessed by CCK8 assay and scratch wound healing assay separately. Results Western blot results showed that baicalin treatment inhibited the cofilin-1 protein expression to 49. 3% compared with the control group. Single baicalin treatment and cofilin-1 silencing could drease the A431 cell growth and migration. And cofilin-1 silencing signifi-cantly enhanced the efficacy of baicalin. Conclusions Baicalin could significantly inhibit the tumor cell's growth and migration in the A431 cell line. And cofilin-1 might become the potential target gene to enhance the effect of anticancer drugs.


Objective To study the significance of oxidative injury in screening of coal worker's pneumoconiosis(CWP).Methods With the chemical methods,the contents of NO、MDA and other various peroxidation indices in plasma were detected in 112 patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis and 114 healthy coal workers.Results The results shown that there were statistical significances between two groups(P0.05)in the contents or activities of MDA,CuZu-SOD,GSH-Px,T-AOC,UA,NO and iNOS except CP.Conclusions There are some abnormal oxygen free radical generation and unbalanced oxidation/antioxidation state in the patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis,and the indices of peroxidation such as T-AOC,MDA,iNOS and NO might be the early screening indices of CWP.


With great interest I have been reading the article 'Are standard antero-posterior and 20 caudal radiographs a true assessment of mid-shaft clavicular fracture displacement' by Wright et al. 1 Clavicular displacement seems to be an important variable in treatment decision of clavicular fracture and several different techniques have been described to evaluate displacement as good as possible. As stated by the authors, a 2D X-ray image will underestimate the true displacement of the fracture and this is the most important message of the article. However, in our opinion, there seems to be several limitations to the methodology. Currently it is not clear if the xray and CT scan are taken in the same position. As stated by other authors, protraction (due to gravity more common when a patient is in a prone position) or retraction (due to gravity more common when a patient is in a supine position) of the scapula can have an important influence on the displacement of the fracture. 2,3 If in this study the standard radiographic images where taken in a different position then the CT, in our opinion, this needs to be mentioned in the limitations. In this study, shortening was measured as absolute figures of millimeters. However studies evaluating the length of the clavicle showed an important difference between the length measured on a Xray and the length on a CT. 4 In my opinion shortening should be measured relative to the complete length of the clavicle on the Xray and the CT separately and afterwards the measurement can be correlated to obtain a more correct evaluation. When evaluating the displacement, this relative number has been used however technique of measurement seems not to be uniform. Fig. 4 shows a 3D measurement and Fig. 5 shows a 2D measurement. Also axial CT images are described as method to


Compared to the texts,paratexts are secondary and are often used in the study of literary works.By the introduction to the concept of "Paratext" and the analysis of different types of paratexts in translation,the paper proposes that the study of paratexts should also be an essential part to translation studies.And then it elaborates its research methods and its significance to the study of the texts,translators,target readers,translation history and translation criticism.


Spinal hydatidosis is a rare disease, affecting only 1% of all hydatid disease cases. The authors report a case of a 34-year-old Turkish woman who presented with recurring primary hydatid disease. The patient first presented with numbness and paraparesis. Surgery involved T5-6 laminectomy with cyst removal. Lab results suggested a hydatid cyst or Cysticercus. However, she returned four years later with back pain and numbness. Another operation revealed a hydatid cyst that was consistent with Echinococcus. Although rare, the authors conclude that spinal hydatidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with infectious lesions of the spine who are from or have traveled in endemic areas. The authors discuss epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, neuroimaging, treatment, and prognosis characteristics of spinal hydatidosis.


We present intensive optical, infrared, and radio monitoring observations of the BL Lac object OJ 287, taken between the years 1993-1998. Two large optical outbursts were detected at the predicted times in November 1994 and December 1995. The detection of these outbursts supports the binary black hole model for OJ 287. Optical and radio polarisation observations show large variability in the degree of polarisation and position angle, very similar to those observed during the 1983/84 outburst in OJ 287. The polarisation position angles show very similar behaviour during these observations, indicating that, at least, the magnetic field orientations in radio and optical bands are related in OJ 287. Optical and infrared light curves show continuous variability in time scales ranging from tens of minutes to years. In the radio bands we have observed some of the lowest ever measured flux levels. During the first optical outburst in November 1994 the observed radio flux was very low, but during the second optical outburst radio bands also showed high flux levels. This is a puzzling observation, which can hopefully be used for discriminating between different outburst models. On top of the large outbursts OJ 287 has displayed flaring activity in time scales from days to weeks and shorter time scale flickering.


In quantitative contexts, data mining is widely applied to the prediction of stock prices from financial time-series. However, few studies have examined the potential of data mining for shedding light on the qualitative problem-solving knowledge of experts who make stock price predictions. This paper presents a GA-based data mining approach to characterizing the qualitative knowledge of such experts, based on their observed predictions. This study is the first of its kind in the GA literature. The results indicate that this approach generates rules with higher accuracy and greater coverage than inductive learning methods or neural networks. They also indicate considerable agreement between the GA method and expert problem-solving approaches. Therefore, the proposed method offers a suitable tool for eliciting and representing expert decision rules, and thus constitutes an effective means of predicting the stock price index.


Considerable research has been devoted to understanding how intrinsic motivation can augment the learning of motor skills. Many manipulations targeting intrinsic motivation have led to improved learning, but the mechanisms underlying this effect are not known. Replicating a previous study, we manipulated intrinsic motivation by giving one group self-control over the difficulty of practice, while a control group was yoked to that schedule. We collected measures of intrinsic motivation, engagement, and physiological measures related to dopamine (spontaneous eye-blink rate; sEBR) and approach motivation (frontal alpha asymmetry; FAS) to understand mechanisms underlying learning effects. Although the effect of self-control was not significant in the current experiment, the overall result was statistically significant when combined with the results of our previous study. Overall, there is evidence for a benefit of self-control during practice, but the true effect-size is smaller than initially estimated. Furth...


The invention provides an elastic suede fabric containing super-strong milk fibers. The elastic suede fabric comprises a warp yarn and two weft yarns; the super-strong milk fibers, elastic fibers and polyester superfine fibers are taken as raw materials, and are woven according to an appropriate float woven fabric structure, and finally, the elastic suede fabric containing the super-strong milk fibers can be obtained after after-finishing such as buffing. The elastic suede fabric prepared by use of the method is woven by use of two functional fibers and one superfine fiber; the fine hand feeling of the suede is remained; besides, due to the super-strong milk fibers and the elastic fibers, the elastic suede fabric also has good elasticity, extra-high mechanical strength and excellent affinity to skin.


Blood group O has been reported to be a potentially protective factor for Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility in Caucasian and Korean populations, but a similar conclusion was not found in a Chinese study. The present study investigated the potential association in the Chinese Han population.


Abstract Listeria monocytogenes infections are rare. Neonates and geriatric population, pregnant women, and diabetic and immunocompromised patients are at higher risk for invasive listeriosis. Early recognition of Listeria brain abscess remains a major challenge. Here, we describe a case of intratumoral abscess with L. monocytogenes in a patient with intracerebellar metastasis from poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma lung. Right cerebellar tumor with a thick-walled purulent cavity was resected. Histopathologic examination revealed acute inflammation consistent with abscess and showed metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Cultures of the abscess fluid grew L. monocytogenes. She responded well to ampicillin-gentamycin therapy and the surveillance imaging done on the seventh postoperative day showed clearance of the abscess. The patient is further being planned for radiotherapy in regard to metastasis. Listeria abscess within a metastatic tumor is very rare and only one case is reported as of our knowledge. Listeria abscess being reported within an intracerebellar metastatic space-occupying lesion is for the first time.


There exists a close link between fractional systems and infinite dimensional systems described by diffusion equations. This link can be demonstrated analytically and is reminded in this article. This fractional behaviour results in fact in the system infinite dimension along with constant geometric characteristics. This article demonstrates that several other classes of differential equations also exhibit, on a frequency band, a fractional behaviour. The fractional behaviour is obtained with these equations on a space of finite dimension but with particular geometric characteristics.


The aim of the article is to analyze promising areas of socially responsible business development in Kazakhstan. The term «socially responsible business» the author understands a wide range of actions of private capital in the development of specific areas (regions, communities, conglomerates), where the company is located, care for the environment at its place of operation, contribution to the economy as a whole and social capital employee, in particular. The article considers socially responsible business as one of the key markers of sustainable development of regions and the state. Based on a sociological analysis of key aspects of modern development of socially responsible business, the author concludes that strengthening the social responsibility of business, encouraging social activity of entrepreneurs are necessary conditions for sustainable development of society. In addition to the positive trends on the way to the formation of corporate social responsibility, there are many unresolved issues current issues and problems that need to be solved and studied by scientists.


This paper synthesises the viewpoints based on theoretical contributions towards foresight evolution and highlights the rationale behind national foresight mechanism through the distinct roles of national knowledge network organisation. Rationale underlines foresight and suggests that targeting on a national goal, foresight as a knowledge network system is similar to the coordinating mechanism as any decision supporting system. This paper argues that the way of knowledge organised and the relevant policy formulated be more closely related to the structure of decision support network of a nation. The transaction-cost explanation helps reshape the organisation of foresight institutions in their role and rights structure.


Abstract : Microyield, as revealed by etch pit techniques, shows slip activity well below strains of .000001. The grain size dependencies of microyield as defined by microextensometer measurements and by etch pit studies are essentially the same for the two methods as applied to Ni, Fe, and Fe-3% Si. The microyield of Fe is independent of grain size; it is shown that this is probably due to generation of active dislocations at inclusions which were very populous in this material. The microyield of Fe-3% Si and Ni are very much dependent on grain size, following the d to the (-1/2) power function as at higher strain levels. Slip in Fe does not reveal itself as well defined slip lines, but in an apparently uncoordinated multiplication of dislocations. Slip in Fe-3% Si and in Ni appears as welldefined slip lines and bands. Evidence is presented to show that dislocation sources in Fe-3% Si are primarily at grain surfaces. (Author)


Variation in use of edge habitat among populations and species of snakes should reflect underlying causes (e.g., thermal ecology, prey availability) and consequences (e.g., predation on birds' nests) of habitat selection. We compared the habitat use of ratsnakes, Elaphe obsoleta (Say in James, 1823), in Illinois and Ontario and compared habitat use by ratsnakes and racers, Coluber constrictor (L., 1758), in Illinois. Ratsnakes in Illinois used upland forest more and forest edges less than ratsnakes in Ontario. Female ratsnakes in Illinois used edges less than males, regardless of their reproductive status. Relative to ratsnakes, racers preferred forest edges and avoided forest interior. Female racers used edges more than males, especially while gravid. These results, and most of the seasonal patterns in habitat use, were broadly consistent with variation expected from differences in thermoregulatory needs, although other factors potentially influencing habitat use cannot be ruled out. Although it has been...


Correlation functions from the Raman scattering associated with the C=N stretching mode of the mesogen 4‐octyloxy, 4′‐cyanobiphenyl (80 CB) in aligned smectic, aligned nematic, and isotropic phases have been calculated. These functions, calculated from IVH spectra, show that the band contour is dominated by vibrational relaxation processes. Correlation functions calculated from spectra of the C=N band of the mesogen dissolved in benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and methyl thiocyanate suggest that ''vibrational dephasing'' is primarily responsible for the bandwidth and shape in liquid crystal phases, in the isotropic phase, and in solutions. The solution studies indicate the presence of a wide distribution of local environments in the mesomorphic and isotropic phases of the mesogen as well as in CHCl3 and CH3SCN. These environments average out to a more narrow distribution, i.e., there is ''motional narrowing,'' in C6H6 and CCl4. The results lead to an understanding of why motional narrowing occu...


Owing to the frequent fluctuation of river water level and the stability control of bedding rock slope under high loading force of slope crest, the traditional slope stability control technology can hardly achieve the desired effect given its limitations. This study proposed a novel "anti-slide pile + supporting column" composite retaining structure to improve the stability of slope under this condition. The mechanical response characteristics of the composite retaining structure under the sliding force of the slope were studied through structural mechanics and finite element analyses. The difference in the internal force calculation results obtained through various methods was compared and analyzed, and the reliability of the calculation results was verified. Results show that the supporting column bears a significant axial pressure under the sliding force of the slope. Relative error is up to 85% between the internal force of the retaining structure obtained through displacement method without considering the axial deformation and the results obtained through other solving methods. The axial force of the supporting column is uniformly distributed along the column, and the bending moment and shear force of the column are relatively minimal. The axial force at the intersecting position between the anti-slide pile and the supporting column is the largest, and the maximum bending moment occurs at the part of the column near the embedded section. The shear forces at the contact position between the anti-slide pile and the supporting column and the part of the anti-slide pile near the embedded segment are relatively large. This study provides references for slope treatment engineering under similar conditions.


There exists a vital need to increase our understanding of the fast-growing informal settlements (IS) within the burgeoning mega cities of the less developed countries. Previous attempts have used descriptive speculation about underlying social, political and cultural forces, but they have not generated sufficient understanding to underpin useful and effective management policies. The result has been the piecemeal application of planning procedures and IS policies that were developed elsewhere, in developed nations. This thesis explains why such methods tend not to work within developing countries. Nevertheless, recent progress in studies of complex urban systems conducted in developed countries, combined with the power of modern computer simulations, facilitates new insight into the dynamics of developing nations' IS. Accordingly, this research utilises a cellular automata model, which is formally joined to a Geographic Information System (GIS), to better simulate the spread of informal settlements in


ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the estradiol, conjugated estrogen and raloxifene on the food intake behavior, locomotor activity and sucrose choice in the ovariectomized rats. MethodsFood pellet delivery was administered under the fixed ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement, and sucrose water preference was used the 2 % sucrose solution. Results The body weight was increased and locomotor activity was decreased, but the responding for food intake was unchanged in the ovariectomized rats on 1 month after surgery. Responding for food on the active nose poke during the 1 hour test was 44±36 or 131±42 after either estradiol or raloxifene treatment for 1 month respectively, which was lower than that of saline treatment in the ovariectomized rats (P0.05). In contrast, the conjugated estrogen treatment did not change the responding for food intake.Both preference and increasing intake of sucrose solution were observed in the estradiol- and the conjugated estrogen-treated rats.Conclusion The results provide the evidence that estradiol, conjugated estrogen or raloxifene has the different pathway to regulate the primary reinforcement of food taking.


To improve the precision of the predicted temperature for GTO satellite,a thermal model is built.The average simulation methods,in the light of GTO specific case,are used to simulate the heat dissipation of the instruments versus the solar array's power supply.In the thermal analysis,the PSCHG function is used to simulate the propellant phase-change heat exchange and the pipes temperature prediction method are applied.The transient temperature of GTO satellite is predicted precisely.Reasult shows that the difference between the predicted results and the telemetered data is within range of 5℃ in more than 79% case.


Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the current grand global public health challenge. To assess the body's immune response from natural COVID-19 disease or from the effects of vaccines, it is necessary to have a method that meets the rapid quantitative detection of antibodies.
We integrated a newly designed spectrochip to our COVID-19 test strip procedures to provide sensitive, quantitative capacity to a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). Optical interpretation of results by quantitative α index was taken, rather than visual qualification. This detection method can quickly produce results in 6 minutes. We compared the developed product with several other serological IgM/IgG antibody reagents on the market by recruiting 111 participants of suspected COVID-19 infection from March to May 2020 in a single hospital.
Taking RT-PCR positive individuals as the gold standard, the analytical platform (Spectrochip +ACE Biolab) can correctly detect all 12 COVID-19 patients (100% sensitivity, 12/12). In contrast, the sensitivity for ACE Biolab alone is 91.67% (11/12), for Biomedomics is 58.33% (7/12). Methods that use Nucleocapsid (N) + Spike (S) solid-phase antigen (i.e., ACE Biolab, TBG, and Spectrochip +ACE Biolab) perform better, compared with those that use Nucleocapsid (Biomedomics) or Spike (ASK) alone. This new platform's extraordinary detection ability demonstrated clinical potential.


Objective: Analyze the errors of prescription in a hospital located in the south of Brazil. Method: This is a transversal study, in which the sample is compose of all hospital prescription in a period of 6 months. To analyze these instructions, an checking instrument was used, which was elaborated based on the current law. The data was double typed in order to analyze inconsistency and for that, Microsoft Office Excel 2007 was used as a tool. Was calculated the frequency and kind of prescription errors. Results: 2687 prescriptions were analyzed being detected the following errors: absence of dosage (92.7%), absence of pharmaceutical form (83.1%), presence of abbreviations (70.3%), absence of age (63.7%), absence of inpatient unit (57.1%), absence of concentration (38.2%), absence of stamp professional (17.6%), absence of bed (16.3%), presence of code, initials or number (15.8%), illegibility (13.2%), absence of registration number of Council professional (12.6%), presence of erasures (12.2%), incomplete patient name (7.9%), absence of data (2.0%), absence of route of administration (1.3%) and professional subscription absence (0.9%). Conclusion: Prescriptions errors are frequent and could bring several harms to patients. For these facts, a hospital pharmacist is important to analyze the prescription before of the medicine distribution. In this way, the pharmacist can contribute to increase the rational used of medicines decreasing errors and adverse events. Moreover, he provides a better quality of aid, lowering costs.


This 16‐month‐long multicentre retrospective study of 225 allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) recipients with COVID‐19 examines risk factors for severity and mortality, describing the successive waves of infections (from March to June 2020 and from August 2020 to June 2021). We confirm the negative role of low respiratory tract disease and immunosuppressive treatment. We highlight significantly lower percentages of severe forms and COVID‐19‐related mortality during the second wave. Monthly comparative evolution of cases in alloHSCT recipients and in the French population shows a higher number of cases in alloHSCT recipients during the first wave and a decrease from February 2021.


UML, as an expressive and powerful standard object—oriented modeling language,has an abroad application in system modeling. The iterative development method based on UML has more incomparable advantages than that of tradition. This paper explores the modeling method of MIC,which based on UML, by the example of the vehicle purchase taxation and management information system with UML modeling.


Two experiments with dry beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) were conducted for two years in the southern section of the Sao Paulo Plateau to study the responses to the indicated treatments. The application of dolomitic lime and principally that of phosphorus were the factors that controlled the yields. Both materials were more effective when applied in the presence of one another. The immediate and residual effects of phosphorus were similar, but liming acted better in the second year.


This is an investigation of the psychological characteristics of males who normally obtain over nine or under six hours of sleep per 24 hours, and who function well with these unusual amounts of sleep. The study includes results from detailed sleep histories, sleep logs, psychiatric interviews, and a number of psychological tests. Short sleepers were found generally to be smooth, efficient persons with a tendency towards handling stress by keeping busy and by denial. Long sleepers were "worriers" and were chronically somewhat depressed or anxious; they scored higher than the short sleepers on most tests of pathology. This group also included some creative persons. It is suggested that the differences in sleep need may be aresponseto the above differences in life-style and personality and that sleep, and especially D-sleep, may have a function in restoring the brain and psyche after stress or psychic pain.


Suinan, in the south of Hainan Island is suitable for sugarcane breeding. The place however, also has less rainy days resulting to lack of rainfall and low humidity which prevents many hard flowering varieties from flowering. Chungshen is another locality in the south of Hainan Island. Unlike Suinan, it has higher rainfall, more rainy days and higher humidity. For comparison, two hundred sugarcane varieties were planted in both places. Throughout more than ten years of experimentation and observations, flower initiation was found to be better in Chungshen than in Suinan. Fertility of pollens and settings of seeds were however, not different in both places. Even then, Chungshen is still a more ideal breeding place. INTRODUCTION Flowering is a process of interest to sugarcane breeders. The viability of the fuzz produced after fertilization i s determined by many factors directly or indirectly influencing the process. Coleman2 found that in Hawaii a higher minimum temperature, less hours of sunlight and higher rainfall are important factors for floral initiation. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES World germplasms of Saccharurn and i t s "relatives" were collected at the start of the study. Among the two hundred clones collected, twenty of varieties Black Cheribon, Badila and POJ 3016 did not flower in Suinan. Many of varieties such as CO 290, CO 419 and F108 (Tw.C. 108) flowered, butproduced littleor \ no viable pollens. Some (such as of varieties NCO 310) produced pollens of high sterility. Those producing high percentage of viable pollens, were mostly used as male parents, but their flowering were unstable. Therefore a need on one hand, W. KAI YEU 1302 to study flowering habits of the sugarcane varieties so as to control them as when we want them toflower, and on the other hand to locate new breeding place to compensate the defect of Suinan,are established. Two hundred varieties of sugarcane were planted in Suinan and Chungshen. The different factors affecting the flowering of the crops were studied in both


The Loess Plateau is one of the regions with the most serious soil erosion and the most vulnerable ecological environment in the world. It is the fundamental measure for controlling soil erosion and improving the ecological environment to implement the withdrawing from farming to afforesting, plant trees and grasses, and restore the vegetation. However, some problems demanding prompt solution exist in the current vegetation and ecological construction due to the peculiar natural resources and the ecological environment conditions. The shortage of water resources and the poor soil moisture ecological conditions are the main restricting factors for the vegetation construction and the ecological environment construction in the Loess Plateau. Based on the analysis on the soil moisture ecological factors of the Loess Plateau, this paper discusses the seasonal change of the soil moisture, change of the soil moisture along the soil sections, and the differentiation patterns of the regional soil moisture. The relationship between the soil moisture and the vegetation productivity is analyzed, and some measures are put forward for improving the soil moisture and the ecological environment and for increasing the vegetation productivity in the Loess Plateau.


Abstract : This report discusses the conclusions reached in the first phase of a program to develop thermal evaluation techniques for airborne electronic equipment. The need for organized thermal data acquisition and presentation is established. Recommended techniques are developed for thermal testing, data reduction and analysis. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of equipment cooling parameters to aircraft performance penalties. A preliminary draft of a military specification for the thermal design performance evaluation of airborne electronic equipment is submitted as an enclosure to this report. (Author)


The endowment insurance system is the most important of social security systems,and it works remarkably in the process of building harmonious society of socialism.Due to the history of China's economy development,there exist many limitations in present endowment insurance system.Based on studying China's history of endowment insurance system,the author analyzes the main problems and the causes,and brings forward corresponding countermeasures.


Treatment of terminal alkenes with silacyclobutanes under nickel catalysis resulted in silylation of the alkenes and yielded the corresponding vinylsilanes in a highly regio- and stereoselective fashion. The reaction provides a facile access to vinylsilanes starting from trivial terminal alkenes as well as styrenes, 1,3-dienes, and acrylate esters.


Multinuclear n.m.r. studies (1H, 1H-{103Rh}, l3C, 13C-{103Rh}, and 103Rh) show that protonation of [Rh6(CO)15]2– and [Rh6(CO)15C]2– at low temperatures gives [Rh6H(CO)15]– and [Rh6H(CO)15C]– which contain terminal and triangular face-bridging hydrides respectively;warming these solutions to room temperature results in loss of hydrogen and formation of [Rh12(CO)30]2– and [Rh12(CO)24(C)2]2– respectively.


This letter discusses an article by K.K. Mathur ("Action plan for revamping the family welfare programme in India"). 90 districts have crude birth rates (CBRs) of 39 per 1000 according to a 1981 census. 14 of these districts (15.6%) have a medical college and teaching hospital with departments of pediatrics obstetrics and gynecology and of preventive and social medicine. In 9 of these 14 districts (Rewa Gwalior Udaipur Ajmer Jaipur Aligarh Gorakhpur Agra and Allahabad) the infant mortality rate (IMR) ranges from 108 to 173 per 1000. The national average in 1981 was 104. The districts with high IMRs also have adverse sex ratios for females. 20 districts have sex ratios of less than 850 females per 1000 males. High female infant mortality rates due to neglect and infanticide may account for this. The sex-related IMR for these districts using 1991 census data should be calculated to confirm this. Medical colleges and teaching hospitals could be better utilized to reduce the IMR in these districts particularly for females.


As per the WHO guideline, Haemoglobin level in health male below13g/dL is abnormal and for female below 12g/dL is abnormal. This type of condition refers to Anaemia. It develops mainly because of lack of proper food habits. Wheatgrass is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant. It is a natural source of iron. Chlorophyll and haemoglobin both are structurally very similar. Chlorophyll in wheat grass is more useful in various clinical conditions involving haemoglobin deficiency and other chronic disorders ultimately considered as green blood. This study aims to estimate the effect on supplementation of Oriens® Wheatgrass Capsules in the haemoglobin profile. 15 subjects were selected for analysing the effect. For one month, the subjects took the Oriens® Wheatgrass and then the results were analyzed. Oriens® Wheatgrass shows better significant effect on the haemoglobin level. Keyword: Haemoglobin, Oriens® Wheatgrass, Chlorophyll, Anaemia


The importance of pavement roughness as the major input to the serviceability of pavements has been previously demonstrated. This research study is related to the Serviceability-Performance (S-P) concept that was developed at the AASHO Road Test by Carey and Irick. The study was conducted in two phases, the screening experiments and the main rating sessions. Two types of variables were identified for study, one associated with the rating process and the other related to pavement characteristics. Experiments were designed for both the screening and the main rating session. Rating panels were appropriately constituted to evaluate the riding quality of selected sections of pavement. For the main rating sessions, the rated sections were profiled using the new Model 690D Surface Dynamics Profilometer (SDP). From the profile data, a family of profile summary statistics called Root-Mean-Square Vertical Accelerations (RMSVAs) were computed. A calibrated Maysmeter and Walker accelerometer device (SIometer) was also operated on these sections. Rigorous statistical techniques were used to analyze the data. Analyses of variance revealed the significant effects of the rater variables and the pavement variables studied. A multiple linear regression procedure was used to develop reliable serviceability equations (with good predictive capabilities) by regressing the mean panel ratings on the set of RMSVA indices. Correlation analysis of the Maysmeter and SIometer measurements with the panel ratings showed that the calibrated Maysmeter predicts panel ratings better than the SIometer. The best prediction of the panel ratings, however, is achieved by the 690D profilometer. (Author)


Two sorts of diamond-MgCO3 compacts with grain sizes of 6∼12μm (mean grain size: 7. 5μm) and 20∼40μm (mean grain size: 23μm) were prepared and examined. The effects of diamond grain size on the amount of MgCO3 and Knoop hardness were not remarkable. The coarser grained diamond compact with MgCO3 sintering agent exhibited little better wear resistance than the finer grained one and showed tiny flaking on a rake face and small recession of a cutting edge in a cutting test of granite. When compared with a conventional diamond-Co system, the effects of a sort of a sintering agent on the properties of compacts were much more remarkable than those of diamond grain size. Namely, the diamond-MgCO3 compacts showed much smaller amount of a sintering agent, higher hardness and better cutting performance for granite, irrespective of grain size.


Since its inception, the area of racial identity has undergone multiple revisions in both the understanding of the theoretical construct and in the development of the assessment techniques. James Bayton and Charles Thomas laid the foundation for much of what has been investigated regarding racial identity to date. This paper focuses on the diverse instruments utilized in the assessment of racial identity among African American adults. The purpose of the review is to suggest and provide a framework for conceptualizing racial identity. Thus, the authors categorize the instruments into one of four broad approaches: (1) developmental approaches, (2) Africentric approaches, (3) group-based approaches, and (4) measures of racial stereotyping. Given the varied theoretical underpinnings of the measures and widely divergent results obtained when using different instruments, researchers are encouraged to select the measure of racial identity that most accurately reflects the nature of the research question proposed.


Objective:To construct a three-dimensional(3D)finite element model of the maxillary first molar and provide a digital model for analysing the biomechanical properties of the molar.Method:Micro-CT scanning technology was used in combination with medical images reconstruction software and RE(reverse engineering)software,and Ansys Dependability of the model was testified.Result:An ideal three-dimensional finite element model of the maxillary first molar after RCT in vitro was constructed,which provided a basis for the future research of its biomechanical characteristics.Conclusion:The constructed 3-D FE the maxillary first molar after RCT in vitro model was feasible and effective and it could be applied in the stress analysis of denture and teeth.


This conclusion provides a brief synopsis of the research articles presented in this special edition of The Journal of Contemporary Justice. The research findings clearly demonstrate that when the objective of diversion is sought by diversion-based programs where the criminal justice and health care systems intersect, processes and services frequently break down. As this collection of articles highlights, our collective understanding of diversion is siloed by academic discipline; thus, the broader picture of diversion remains muddled. It remains muddled because the reporting of diversion is scattered across disciplinary journals where a more robust understanding of diversion becomes unwieldy if not impossible for researchers and practitioners alike without sifting through multiple books, journals, manuscripts, and websites. Therefore, diversion will continue to elude efficacy without the coordination and cooperation of numerous disciplines spanning both the criminal justice and health care systems diversion. As this collection of articles strongly suggests, there is a need to create a transdisciplinary understanding of diversion as well as publication outlets so best practices can be developed and shared in one place.


A device and a method for compressing signal information by removing (thinning out) the signal component of a signal in a specific frequency band. Firstly, an input time-series signal (e.g., a PCM signal) is converted by an analyzer ( 11 ) into a spectrum signal. Next, of the bands obtained by dividing the spectrum equally into bands, the band having a predetermined or higher correlation in the spectrum distribution with the lower frequency band is specified as a harmonic band by a frequency band masking unit ( 12 ). Then, a removal band from which the spectrum is to be removed is determined from the harmonic band, and the spectrum signal of this removal band, from which the spectrum component has been removed (namely the frequency component has been thinned out), is fed to a synthesizer ( 13 ).


Oxido-iron(IV) porphyrin π-radical cation species are involved in a variety of heme-containing enzymes, which has been attracting considerable attentions due to its biological importance and characteristic oxidation states consisting of the high-valent iron center and the π-conjugated macrocyclic ligand. However, the short lifetime of the complex due to its high reactivity has hampered detailed reactivity study. We herein report remarkable lifetime elongation (80 s at 10 °C) of FeIV(TMP+•)(O)(Cl) (TMP: 5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrin dianion) (2) produced by the oxidation of FeIII(TMP)(Cl) (1) by ozone in α,α,α-trifluorotoluene (TFT), which is 720 times longer lifetime as compared to that of the currently most stable one reported by Groves et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 9640-9641). The drastic elongation of the lifetime improves reaction efficiency of 2 toward inert alkane substrates, and allows us to observe the reaction of 2 with a primary C-H bond (BDEC-H = ca. 100 kcal mol-1) directly. We also succeeded to obtain activation parameters for cyclohexane hydroxylation.


The invention discloses an anti-fog solar cell panel back film and a preparation method thereof, and relates to the technical field of solar cell panel back films. The back film is a five-layer structure composite film, and orderly comprises a weather-proof layer, an adhesive layer, a middle layer, an adhesive layer and an easy bonding layer from top to bottom, wherein the weather-proof layer is composed of the following components in parts by mass: 35-55 parts of acrylic monomer, 10-22 parts of acrylic and ether copolymer, 1-3 parts of butyl oleate, 1-3 parts of alkyl calcium salicylate, 1-2 parts of polyoxyethylene ether, 5-9 parts of titanium dioxide, 6-12 parts of polyester fiber, 3-8 parts of a coupling agent and 15-26 parts of solvent. The anti-fog solar cell panel back film disclosed by the invention is good in anti-fog performance, and capable of preventing water drops from forming, thereby reducing the influence of light ray refraction on the solar cell module; and meanwhile, the back film is excellent in weather-proof resistance and barrier property so as to effectively reduce the influence of water on the film layer and the module.


BACKGROUND
There is paucity of literatures on audit of mortality in the surgical units of tertiary hospitals in the country. This has made the spectrum of mortality not to been known in some of the centers and therefore, there is a great disparity and dearth in apportioning health care services appropriately.

AIM
The determination of the pattern of mortality in a surgical unit helps in planning, provision of quality surgical care and prioritizing of limited resources in developing countries.

METHODS
This is a retrospective study of all patients who died during admission into surgical wards of our hospital between 2007 and 2012. Data on demography and events leading to death were collected and analyzed from all surgical wards, the emergency unit, surgical outpatients, and theater records.

RESULTS
A total of 527 deaths occurred among the 8230 patients admitted during the 6-year period giving a mortality rate of 6.4%. Three hundred and forty-five (65.5%) were male, while 282 (34.5%) were females. The mortality rates in units were as follows: Burn and plastic (23.1%), general surgery (5.5%), neurosurgery (7.9%), urology (6.0%), orthopedics (3.8%), pediatric surgery (3.4%), and cardiothoracic surgery (11.9%). The yearly mortality rate were as follows, respectively: 2007 (7.1%), 2008 (6.0%), 2009 (4.5%), 2010 (6.5%), 2011 (7.2%), and 2012 (7.5%). About 84.6% of the patients died within 1 month on admission. The leading causes of mortality were trauma (41.8%) and cancer (32.4%). Most of the deaths (64.9%) occurred between 20- and 70-year-old.

CONCLUSION
Trauma and cancer constitute a great deal of health burden in our region. Strong legislation and screenings with timely interventions are required.


We find necessary and sucient conditions for an arbitrary metric space X to have a unique pretangent space at a marked point a 2 X. Applying this general result we show that each logarithmic spiral has a unique pretangent space at the asymptotic point. Unbounded multiplicative subgroups of C ⁄ = Cnf0g having unique pretangent spaces at zero are characterized as lying either on the positive real semiaxis or on logarithmic spirals. Our general uniqueness conditions in the case X µ R make it also possible to characterize the points of the ternary Cantor set having unique pretangent spaces.


Since its establishment, China's stock market has had the characteristics of high IPO price suppression rate and investor investment sentiment, and since the prospect theory was proposed, investor sentiment has been considered to be an important factor affecting IPO price suppression. In this paper, a sample of 782 ChiNext IPO stocks from October 29, 2009 to December 31, 2020 is selected and the multiple regression model is used to empirically study the impact of investor sentiment on IPO price suppression. The empirical results show that market sentiment and individual stock sentiment have a significant positive impact on IPO price suppression. Further research found that in the sub-industry sample, the market sentiment was no longer significant, and the sentiment of individual stocks was still significant, while in the ChiNext non-manufacturing industry, the higher the market sentiment, the smaller the impact of individual stock sentiment on the IPO price suppression rate. Based on the research results, this paper puts forward relevant suggestions on the reform of information disclosure system, issuance mechanism and investor decision-making.


The peculiar topological properties of Weyl semimetals (WSMs) lead to unusual and unique optical properties. We investigate novel features of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in a slot waveguide comprised of two semi-infinite WSMs with different symmetries, one with broken time reversal symmetry (TRS) and the other with broken inversion symmetry. We consider Voigt and Faraday configurations for SPPs at the interface of the WSM with broken TRS. We demonstrate that in the Voigt configuration this structure supports unidirectional SPP modes above the bulk plasmon frequency while it shows a non-reciprocal bidirectional dispersion for surface plasmon polaritons below the bulk plasmon frequency. In particular, we show that the chiral nature of the SPPs can be tuned by the topological properties and chemical potential of the WSMs. Moreover, in the Faraday configuration we find a tunable gap in the SPP dispersion. The studied structures possessing these exotic features may be employed as one of the building blocks of the chiral optoelectronic devices.


This study is a case study conducted over 6 years. In the first round of visits to schools 6 years ago, in the ISSPP context (Hoog et al. J Educ Adm 43(6): 595–606, 2005), we found two very self-confident and successful principals who had created, over the last 3–4 years, very successful schools out of schools in challenging situations. Their students had started to produce good marks over the national average.


A 27-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of progressive weakness and grip myotonia in both hands. There was no family history of any similar condition and no personal history of cataracts. Physical examination revealed weakness of the muscles of the face, neck, shoulder girdle, and hands. Myotonia was elicited with percussion of the tongue (see video), finger extensors, and thenar eminence. Sensation, coordination, and cognition were normal. Electromyography showed myotonic discharges and low-amplitude motor-unit potentials of short duration, indicating myopathy. Serum levels of electrolytes and thyrotropin were normal; the level of serum creatine kinase was mildly elevated at 245 . . .


Recently, the Internet cafes around the country, organs and units, and the campus network, such as local area network, are subject to different levels of ARP attacks, ARP attacks directly affected the normal use of the network.This paper will combine software and hardware approach, to discuss the ARP attacks on the principle and how to effectively prevent the local area network in the ARP attacks.


The term "Sphenopalatine Neuralgia (SN)" first named by Sluder, defines a clinical disorder characterized by pain in one side of the head and face, with ipsilateral eyelid and nasal mucosa congestion, runny nose and tears and other autonomic nervous symptoms [1]. Then, cases were reported one after another, and most of them were reported by otolaryngologists [2-3]. However, due to the characteristic manifestations which has many overlaps with the characteristics of cluster headache (CH), the use of this diagnosis has been in a confused state. Some views, especially those from neurologists, consider SN to be a subtype of CH, or even that the diagnosis is simply a different name for the same symptom used by otolaryngologists and neurologists [1-3].


Abstract : This thesis explores the possibilities of developing fast grid-based parallel algorithms to solve the Weighted Region Least Cost Path problem. Two complementary steps have been undertaken. First, an efficient sequential algorithm to solve the above problem was developed. The algorithm is a modification of a Gauss-Seidellike algorithm for obtaining the minimum costs. The most salient feature of the algorithm is the reduction of the number of nodes and edges in cheaper regions of the grid. The reported experimental results ascertain the superiority of this algorithm with regard to computer running time at a modest reduction in the accuracy of the obtained solution. Parallel implementations of grid-based algorithms were studied. A simple grid- based variant was implemented on a network of Transputers. The overall approach employed could be used to develop a parallel version of the above sequential algorithm on a Transputer network, combining both advantages of efficiency and parallelism.... Numerical Path Planning, Weighted Regions, Grid Based Techniques, Transputers, Distributed Computing, Parallel Processing.


The CO2 dynamics were measured in an organic soil in eastern Finland during the growing season and wintertime, and the annual CO2 balance was calculated for plots where barley or grass was grown. During the summer, the CO2 dynamics were measured by transparent and opaque chambers using a portable infrared gas analyser for the CO2 analyses. During the winter, the CO2 release was measured by opaque chambers analysing the samples in the laboratory with a gas chromatograph. Statistical response functions for CO2 dynamics were constructed to evaluate the annual CO2 exchange from the climatic data. The net CO2 exchange was calculated for every hour in the snow‐free season. The carbon balance varied extensively depending on the weather conditions, and type and phenology of vegetation. During the growing season, the grassland was a net source while the barley field was a net sink for CO2. However, both soils were net sources for CO2 when autumn, winter and spring were included also. The annual CO2 emissions from the grassland and barley soil were 750 g CO2‐C m−2 and 400 g CO2‐C m−2, respectively. The carbon accumulated in root and shoot biomass during the growing season was 330 g m−2 for grass and 520 g m−2 for barley. The C in the aboveground plant biomass ranged from 43 to 47% of the carbon fixed in photosynthesis (PG) and the proportion of C in the root biomass was 10% of the carbon fixed in photosynthesis. The bare soils had 10–60% higher net CO2 emission than the vegetated soils. These results indicate that the carbon balance of organic soils is affected by the characteristics of the prevailing plant cover. The dry summer of 1997 may have limited the growth of grass in the late summer thus reducing photosynthesis, which could be one reason for the high CO2 release from this grass field.


Electron injection and back-electron-transfer dynamics of 7-diethyl amino coumarin 3-carboxylic acid (D-1421) and coumarin 343 (C-343) dyes adsorbed on TiO2 nanoparticles have been studied by picosecond transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Electron injection has been observed by direct detection of electron in the conduction band of nanoparticle and cation radical of the dyes as detected by picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Electron injection efficiency has been found to be much higher for D-1421-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticle compared to C-343-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticle system. Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements show that in high polar solvent, the excited state of D-1421 dye molecule predominantly exits as twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state, whereas excited C-343 exists as intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state. On excitation with a laser pulse, D-1421 dye molecule in a highly polar solvent (water) goes to the ICT state ...


The co-deposition mechanism of TiO2 and Ni was studied. The amount of TiO2 particles in composite coating films increased linearly with the electrodeposition time and amount of Nickel deposited. Therefore, it was surmised that TiO2 particles close to the cathode are entrapped by the reduction of Ni2+ ion to Ni.TiO2 particles that adsorb cationic surfactants have a positive charge. Therefore, this adsorption affects the concentrarion of TiO2 particles close to the cathode and then the amount of co-deposited TiO2.


In this article issues concernig the possibility of nuclear power plant (NPP) operation also as a source of heat, which means combined heat and power production, have been described. CHP work is possible and profitable only in those areas where high thermal power demand occurs, which means near city agglomerations such as Warsaw or the Tri-City. Two levels of thermal power delivered to the heating system have been considered. Preliminary technical and economic studies regarding NPP location by Żarnowiec Lake have confirmed the NPP potential to work as a primary source of heat in the heating network system, which would feed the regions of Wejherowo and Gdynia.


States and illegal practices - an overview, Josiah McC. Heyman and Alan Smart brigandage, piracy, capitalism, and state-formation - transnational crime from a historical world-systems perspective, Thomas W. Gallant state and shadow state in Northern Peru circa 1900 - illegal political networks and the problem of state boundaries, David Nugent predatory rule and illegal economic practices, Alan Smart requiem for a drug lord - state and commodity in the career of Khun Sa, Alfred W. McCoy is transparency possible? - the political-economic and epistemological implications of Cold War conspiracies and subterfuge in Italy, Jane Schneider and Peter Schneider Russian protection rackets and the appropriation of law and order, Caroline Humphrey neoliberalism, environmentalism, and scientific knowledge - redefining use rights in the Gulf of California fisheries, Marcela Vasquez-Leon adolescent violence, state processes, and the local context of moral panic, Mercer L. Sullivan and Barbara Miller state escalation of force - a Vietnam/US-Mexico border analogy, Josiah McC. Heyman.


Shinan-31 Wellblock is a large lithologic oil-gas reservoir discovered in Shinan area in hinterland of Junggar basin in recent years.Its petroliferous strata around the ramp margins of depression-lacustrine basin belong to the K1q11 sand layer of Qingshuihe formation of Cretaceous.But there has been controversial on the sedimentary facies type of the reservoir.The core observation and seismic information analysis suggest that in Shinan-31 Wellblock possesses the necessary conditions for forming gravity flow sediments.It is concluded that in the conditions of valley,terrace and plentiful mass supplementation,gravity flow sediments can develop in the depression-lacustrine basin.


Bargaining games model situations in which the realization of potential benefits is jeopardized by conflicting bargaining powers. Most of the literature on bargaining behavior focuses on bargaining over gains. Exploration of behavior in situations under which agents bargain over losses has received only limited attention from the profession. An important question is whether the negative effect of competing bargaining powers on the efficiency of agreements is more severe in bargaining over gains or over losses. Another understudied research question is how the likelihood that the outcome of a negotiation will actually be implemented affects efficiency of bargaining. We design an experiment that addresses these two questions. We find that in alternating offers games, outcomes of bargaining over gains are more efficient than outcomes of bargaining over losses. We also find that the likelihood that an interaction is implemented has a positive effect on the efficiency of bargaining.


Let = { k} be a sequence of points in the complex plane C and f a non-trivial entire function of finite order and finite type such that f = 0 on . Upper bounds for functions such as the Weierstrass- Hadamard canonical product of order constructed from the sequence are obtained. Similar bounds for meromorphic functions are also derived. These results are used to estimate the radius of completeness of a system of exponentials in C. Bibliography: 26 titles.


This document replaces the Association of Anaesthetists' previous guidance1 on this topic, following the publication of BS ISO 26825:2020. BS ISO 26825:2020 is the second edition of the standard for user-applied labels for syringes containing drugs used in anaesthesia. It technically revises, cancels and replaces the 2008 first edition. It gives requirements for labels attached to syringes so that the contents can be identified during anaesthesia and covers the colour, size, design and general properties of the label and the typographical characteristics of the wording for the drug name. Its purpose is solely for use in anaesthesia and as such covers a range of core drug groups. It is acknowledged that these labels may find a use in other critical care areas. The main technical reason for the revision of BS ISO 26825 was to improve the colour, size and design of the labels. Several labels were revised to take account of comments made regarding their clarity and possibility of confusion in use.


The study presents the use of cluster analysis using the Ward method to illustrate the conditions offered for small and medium enterprises in individual Polish voivodeships. The study used data from the Central Statistical Office. Using the hierarchical agglomeration procedures, the voivodeships were grouped into homogeneous classes due to the variables characterizing the environment that the voivodeship creates for small and medium enterprises. A ranking in terms of attractiveness for business was also created.


We report a very large anisotropy in the dc conductivity of epitaxial VO2 thin films deposited on a single-crystal (100) TiO2 substrate. There was a large tensile strain along the c-axis and a compressive strain along the a-axis of rutile VO2 due to the lattice mismatch between VO2 and TiO2. The in-plane conductivity was measured along <010> and <001> of VO2, and it is found that the conductivity anisotropy ratio σ<001>/σ<010> was 41.5 at 300 K, much larger than that of single-crystal VO2.


Around 10% of the people have dyslexia, a neurological disability that impairs a person's ability to read and write. There is evidence that the presentation of the text has a significant effect on a text's accessibility for people with dyslexia. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no experiments that objectively measure the impact of the typeface (font) on screen reading performance. In this article, we present the first experiment that uses eye-tracking to measure the effect of typeface on reading speed. Using a mixed between-within subject design, 97 subjects (48 with dyslexia) read 12 texts with 12 different fonts. Font types have an impact on readability for people with and without dyslexia. For the tested fonts, sans serif, monospaced, and roman font styles significantly improved the reading performance over serif, proportional, and italic fonts. On the basis of our results, we recommend a set of more accessible fonts for people with and without dyslexia.


Australia is an extraordinary accident of history. Europeans came to live on this continent only the equivalent of four of my own lifetimes ago. From the earliest years of European settlement, Australia has been redefining itself, shifting its image of what it means to be Australian in response to a changing world. Paul Keating [The East Timor operation] has done a lot to cement Australia's place in the region. We have been seen by countries, not only in the region but around the world, as being able to do something that probably no other country could do; because of the special characterisitics we have; because we occupy that special place – we are a European, Western civilization with strong links to North America, but here we are in Asia. John Howard Australia has always been identified according to its geographic location – terra australis (the southern land); the antipodes (the part of the earth diametrically opposite Europe); "down under". But for a nation with such a clear sense of geographic location, Australia has been beset by a series of unresolved debates about where it sits politically, strategically and even ethnically among the alignments and confrontations of the world's states. In many ways, a nation's sense of where it fits among the complex mosaic of roles, positions and commitments assumed by the world's states forms the foundations of its foreign policy.


There is poor correlation between in vivo platelet concentrate (PC) transfusion outcome and in vitro tests, which typically do not test the functional effectiveness of platelets (PLTs), but rather measure PLT characteristics. We hypothesize that the application of thromboelastography (TEG) or rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to evaluate the procoagulant activity of stored PLTs can predict PLT quality and, ultimately, distinguish among hyper‐ and nonresponsive PCs. Additionally, we hypothesize that due to their procoagulant properties, PLT microvesicles (PMVs) contribute to the clot signature in these methods.


Digital image processing technology was introduced to the quantification of wood texture.Some texture algorithms, including Spatial autocorrelation function, Gray level cooccurrence matrix, Run-length matrix, Fast Fourier transform spectrum, Wavelet, Fractal, Autoregressive models, Radon transform and so on, were described and evaluated by their capabilities.


This paper investigates the optimal investment strategies for a defined contribution pension fund with return clauses of premiums with interest under the mean-variance criterion. Using the actuarial symbol, we formalize the problem as a continuous time mean-variance stochastic optimal control. The pension fund manager considers investments in risk and risk-free assets to increase the remaining accumulated funds to meet the retirement needs of the remaining members. Using the variational inequalities methods, we established an optimized problem from the extended Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman Equations and solved the optimized problem to obtain the optimal investment strategies for both risk-free and risky assets and also the efficient frontier of the pension member. Furthermore, we evaluated analytically and numerically the effect of various parameters of the optimal investment strategies on it. We observed that the optimal investment strategy for the risky asset decreases with an increase in the risk-averse level, initial wealth, and the predetermined interest rate.


Background: Urinary tract infections are the second most common type of body infection. E. coli is the most common cause of urinary tract of infection both sex. This study was done with aim of surveying amount of susceptibility and resistance among strain of E. coli that had been isolated from those who refer to the private laboratories in Tabriz city. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2850 E. coli collected from urinary tract infections of the patients. These strains were selected using laboratory standard methods and culture-specific. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: The most of sensibility to imipenem were 90%, Nitrofurantoin 87.05%, Amoxicillin 85.27% the most amount for resistant to Ampicillin were 82.95%, Tetracycline 80.1%, Tobramycin 74.25%. Conclusion: This study showed increased resistance to different antibiotics in E. coli that is a serious warning to the treatment of infections caused by this bacterium in the region. Therefore, in order to prevent increased resistance to other antibiotics, it is essential to withhold prescriptions and unessential use of available antibiotics.


The Bi4.5Sr0.5Ti4Fe0.5-x V x O15 (BSTFV) solid solutions which consist of the mixture of Bi5Ti3FeO15 and SrBi4Ti4O15 Aurivillius phases were synthesized and the ferroelectric properties of the solid solutions were characterized in this study. The formation of solid solutions in the composition range of 0-0.05 was recognized on the basis of the variations in the lattice parameters and the small amounts of V substitution also exerted an influence on the ferroelectric properties and grain growth of BSTFV. As a result, the well-saturated P-E hysteresis loop was obtained at x = 0.03 (P r = 16μC/cm2 and E c = 96 kV/cm).


To date fresh corneas have remained the major source of corneal material available for transplantation. Dependence on fresh corneas has several disadvantages: i) The temporal restriction in the usefulness of fresh corneas imposes an inconvenience on the surgeon, the patient, and the staff of the operating room. 2) The waste of donor material when recipients are not available. 3) The scarcity of donor material, which can occur at times when recipients are available. Cryopreservation overcomes these disadvantages but adds problems of its own, namely, the necessity for highly trained technicians to freeze and later thaw the corneas, and the expense necessary for the equipment and personnel. In addition, cryopreservation causes ultrastructural damage to epithelial and endothelial cells. Organ culture offers a means of storage which is simpler in design and performance than that of cryopreservation. This study attempts to establish that the human cornea remains structurally intact in organ culture, as demonstrated by light and electron microscopy.


Saccharum spontaneum is the major donor of important traits like vigour, hardiness and ratooning potential to modern sugarcane cultivars. Identifying S. spontaneum clones with high early vigour and tillering ability is essential to include them in hybridization program. Forty three Saccharum spontaneum accessions were evaluated for number of tillers per clump, stalk length, stalk diameter, number of leaves on the main stem, leaf length and leaf lamina width at 90 days after planting. Variance components for these traits indicated high heritability coupled with genetic advance for leaf width and stalk length indicating the preponderance of additive gene action for these traits. The comprehensive index C i value, Smith-Hazel's selection index (SHI) and rank sums of all the traits indicated six clones viz ., IND 99-848, IND 99-881, IND 99-849, IND 99-850, IND 99-984 and IND 99-847 were superior clones and can be utilised in pre breeding programmes as potential donors in identification of bioenergy canes. Among the methods studied, DTOPSIS was comparatively effective in selecting the genotypes.