Controlled/"living" surface-initiated radical polymerization offers the possibility to generate brushlike polymeric thin films with controllable thickness, composition, and architecture. Polymer brushes have found widespread applications as model responsive and non-biofouling surfaces, in protein binding and immobilization studies, chromatography supports, in membrane applications, antibacterial coatings, actuation, and low friction surfaces. Among the many controlled polymerizations, atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is most widely used, particularly for surface grafting in aqueous solution. In standard surface-initiated ATRP, a Cu complex is used as the catalyst and high monomer concentrations are required to maximize the polymer growth. However, polymerization solutions often cannot be reused without purification, leading to inefficient use of the monomers. Furthermore, trace amount of oxygen will oxidize Cu to the deactivating Cu species and therefore, brush growth is usually carried out in an inert atmosphere. The conditions can be relaxed by employing advanced variations on ATRP as shown by Matyjaszewski et al. Recently, the same group reported electrochemically mediated ATRP (eATRP) to control the polymerization of methacrylate monomers by a one-electron reduction of an initially added air-stable Cu salt. Electrochemical generation of catalytically active Cu has been exploited in a surface "click" reaction between alkynes and azides. Here, we report the controlled growth of polymer brushes under ambient conditions using surface-confined eATRP and the multiple reuse of the polymerization solution. Scheme 1 shows the mechanism of polymer brush growth using eATRP. The reaction was carried out in an electrochemical cell with a three electrode system. A constant potential was applied to generate the CuCl/bipyridine (bipy) complex through one-electron reduction of CuCl2/bipy in the vicinity of initiator-decorated gold surface to initiate the polymerization. Prior to brush growth, cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of an initiator-modified electrode were carried out to identify the potential window for accurate manipulation of the reduction/oxidation state of the catalyst. As shown in Figure 1a and 1b, no redox process occurred within the potential window from 0.6 to 0.3 V versus the saturated calomel electrode (SCE) when using w-mercaptoundecyl bromoisobutyrate (SH-C15-Br) decorated electrode because of the impedance of the monolayer to charge transfer. The charge transfer resistance (Rct) calculated from the electrical impedance spectrum of the surface is as large as 71 kWcm (theRct of bare gold is only 6Wcm ). When a shorter-chain alkanethiol initiator (2-mercaptoethyl-2bromo-2-methylpropanoate, SH-C6-Br) modified electrode was used, a redox reaction occurred because of the low interfacial Rct (1138Wcm , Figure 1b red curve and Table 1).


The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a high-pressure gas fire extinguishing system, in which stored the gaseous extinguishing agent under high pressure into the high-pressure gas cylinder (1) and the pressure of the extinguishing agent on its way from the high-pressure gas bottle (1) to the extinguishing nozzles is reduced twice. In this case, it is ensured by forced control that always only the area valve (6) and then the quick opening valves (2) of the high-pressure gas bottles (1) open, to prevent a back pressure in the piping system in case of malfunction.


Data Wharehouse workloads are becoming an important field for the support of On Line Analytical Processing. One important aspect of this field is that the amount of data queried has grown significantly in the recent years, and the tendency shows that a 100% growth per year is feasible in the near future. The strategy to cope with large queries on such huge amounts of data calls for the use of large parallel computers. The trend today is to use Clusters of Symmetric Multiprocessors (SMP) computers that show a reasonable balance between cost and performance. In such cases, it is necessary to tune the applications in order to obtain a minimum amount of I/O, and communication, such that the global execution time is reduced as much as possible. In this paper we look into the problem of ad-hoc star join query processing in Clusters of SMPs. We propose a new technique, the Star Hash Join (SHJ), which exploits the use of bit filters in such architectures. SHJ is a generalization of the Pushed Down Bit Filters for Clusters of SMPs. The objectives of the technique are to (i) reduce the amount of data communicated, (ii) reduce the amount of data spilled to disk during the execution of intermediate joins in the query plan, and (iii) reduce the amount of memory used by auxiliary data structures such as bit filters. We analyze and compare our proposal with different strategies like Multi Hierarchical Clustering, Bitmap Join, Semijoin reduction and Pushed Down Bit Filters. Although each of those techniques focusses on the SMP part of the problem, reducing I/O, or the inter-cluster parallelism, reducing communication, it is difficult to find a technique that gives a benefit in all the cases. As a consequence of our analysis, we propose a novel approach that reduces both inter-cluster communication and intracluster I/O in a broader spectrum of cases than the previous techniques.


he asses and wits of my title refer to antithetically positioned dramatic roles and bodily parts. Readers of early seventeenthcentury satiric comedy will be familiar with the clever "wit" who eventually establishes mastery-financial, erotic, social, or intellectual dominance-over the foolish or vicious "ass." Theodore Leinwand finds that the essential characteristic of the "wit" in city comedy is a "self-confidence" accruing from his high social status and ability to employ "exemplary ingenuity" against gulls and citizens. Obviously, the "wit" is named for the intellectual faculty that equips him to master himself and others. Yet what has not been remarked is how frequently the satiric wit that makes asses of men is vectored toward a man's ass-an overdetermined part of the body in which sexual, sadistic, and scatological activities converge. These anal activities become the vehicle for satire in a surprising number of comedies. Dekker's Satiromastix whips a rival playwright by having the appropriately named Asinus call Horace (that is, Jonson) his "ningle."2 Within the anal economy of Dekker's play,


The study of pharmacokinetic and physiological functions in mice often requires that sequential blood samples be obtained to measure the levels of drugs or of tracer compounds. This is usually performed by sacrificing mice at different time points; if serial samples could be reliably obtained, as they can in man and larger animals, blood levels could be followed in individual mice with a consequent saving of animals and expense. Workman (1979) has described the use of serial 5 μ blood samples taken from the tail to investigate the pharmacokinetics of misonidazole. We wished to use a similar method to study the excretion of a radioactive tracer as a measure of renal damage after irradiation (Williams & Denekamp, 1982). However, Blaufox et al (1967) had found tail blood samples to be unreliable and recommended the use of the orbital sinus for single blood samples. We therefore compared blood samples obtained from three sites: the tip of the tail and the orbital sinus of live mice, and the axillary vessels o...


The temperature dependence of the scattering function \(\mathscr{T}\)( q , ω), the Fourier transformed spin correlation function, within the (1\bar10) reciprocal lattice plane of a simple cubic paramagnetic KMnF 3 has been determined by inelastic scattering of slow neutrons. At 3.4 T N the experimental scattering function assumes the well-understood paramagnetic character at high temperatures. With decreasing temperatures, the energy spectra of \(\mathscr{T}\)( q , ω) show much structure. In particular, a triple-peaked line shape appears at 1.14 T N for values of q around the magnetic zone center, and the two outer peaks have been identified to arise from the spin waves by cooling the sample to the antiferromagnetic phase. The experimental data unarguably indicates the presence of quasi-spin-wave modes in the paramagnetic phase of KMnF 3 .


The chemiluminescent bimolecular halogen–halogen reactions, F2+I2, Br2, and ICl, have been studied by the crossed molecular beam technique. Undispersed chemiluminescence was measured as a function of collision energy and, for I2+F2, as a function of the two beam pressures. Although no spectra were obtained to positively identify the emitters as IF*, ClF*, and BrF*, arguments are given to support this identification. The observed reaction thresholds of 4.2 and 5.9 kcal/mole for I2+F2 and ICl+F2, respectively, are the same as the threshold energies for production of the stable trihalogens I2F and ClIF. This coincidence of threshold energies, as well as similar high collision energy behavior, implies that the chemiluminescent reaction proceeds via a stable trihalogen intermediate. This mechanism can explain our results and the results of other workers without resorting to a symmetry forbidden four center reaction mechanism. A threshold of 11.3 kcal/mole was found for Br2+F2; no threshold for Br2F has been pr...


We derive a fully explicit version of the Selberg trace formula for twist‐minimal Maass forms of weight 0 and arbitrary conductor and nebentypus character, and apply it to prove two theorems. First, conditional on Artin's conjecture, we classify the even 2‐dimensional Artin representations of small conductor; in particular, we show that the even icosahedral representation of smallest conductor is the one found by Doud and Moore (J. Number Theory 118 (2006) 62–70) of conductor 1951. Second, we verify the Selberg eigenvalue conjecture for groups of small level, improving on a result of Huxley (Elementary and analytic theory of numbers, Banach Center Publications 17 (PWN, Warsaw, 1985) 217–306) from 1985.


A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different organic sources of nutrientson growth physiology and yield components of scented rice, variety KetekiJoha at Regional Agricultural Research Station, AAU, Titabor during 2017 and 2018. Eight treatments were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that the application of different proportion of organic sources of nutrients significantly improved the growth physiology and yield parameters of scented rice over the control. Among the treatments,the application of green manure (2.5 t ha-1) + Vermicompost (2.5 t ha-1) + Azolla (20 kg ha-1) + biofertilizer consortium (4 kg ha-1 seedling) as root dip + rock phosphate (17 kg ha-1) recorded the highest grain yield (38.05 qha-1) with significant increase in yield components of the crop.Application of green manure + Vermicompost + Azolla + biofertilizer consortium as root dip + rock phosphate significantly produced higher plant height (78.5cm), leaf area index (4.3), flag leaf area (35.3cm-2), total Chlorophyll content (3.5mgg-1fwt), panicles m-2 (304.3), panicle length (28.2 cm), grains panicle-1(108.4),panicle weight (2.7 g), harvest index (35.2 %) and 1000 grain weight(23.6 g). The organic treatments also significantly enhanced the growth physiology viz., crop growth rate, specific leaf weight and net assimilation rate of the plant.


This essay examines the parallels between the interactions of processes, of animals and of humans in ecological systems; it concentrates on disturbance and exploitation behaviour and contrasts them with the interference behaviour that characterizes the dominant human, industrial culture. Examples of each will be taken from wild ecosystems, forestry, animal cultures, archaic human cultures, and industrial culture. The word "interactions" is used, instead of words like "events" or "catastrophes," to describe the feedback and cyclic nature of actions.


Entrepreneurship, as a recent phenomenon, plays a crucial role in the economic development of countries. The corporate entrepreneurship, among different types of entrepreneurship, takes a significant part in the development and evolution of organizations, as well. Strategy presents the principal objectives, policies and the chain of organizational actions in the framework of a coherent set. The combination of two concepts of entrepreneurship and strategy engenders the new concept of strategic entrepreneurship. In order for the strategies to be formulated based on the strategic entrepreneurship, these two elements should be addressed in a single matrix. For achieving a strategic entrepreneurship model, entrepreneurship should be placed along one column (from low to high) and the prioritization of the internal and external affairs should be inserted on the row of matrix. Combining these rows and column, we came up with various strategic options which were used for the new model of strategy designing presented in the current study. The model was grounded on the combination of three concepts: strategic management, corporate entrepreneurship and the prioritization of the internal and external environments. The main feature of the model was the entrepreneurship-based strategy preparation. This model opposed to the prior models takes the prioritization of internal and external environment and their pertinence to entrepreneurship into consideration and presents nine alternatives for the strategy formulation rather than identification of the internal strengths or weaknesses of organizations and the examination of threats and opportunities for them.


Experiences with the odorant mixture (TBM/THT) Spotleak 1005 for odorisation of the natural gas in Berlin at a very small injection concentration are represented. The guarantee of the warning smell stage 2 demanded after DVGW set of rules G 280 is proven. The K-value for the odorant mixture could be determined by two independent institutions and the correctness of the small injection rate was confirmed. The natural gas keeps a gas-typical smell. The smell type remains the same with varying gas quality. The sulfur concentration in the natural gas amounts to only approx. 2,5 mg/m 3 more than natural gas without odour. The costs of the odorisation can be strongly lowered.


The objective of the present invention is to provide a polyester production method causing polyester to be secreted outside of a microorganism cell.
This problem can be solved by this alcohol-terminated polyester having an alcohol residue of 300 molecular weight or lower at a terminal thereof. In addition, the problem can be solved by a polyester production method characterized by the culture of a microorganism capable of producing this polyester in a culture medium containing alcohol of 300 molecular weight or lower.


The key issue is why the events of 1890 led to political and economic reforms that would ultimately weaken the landed elite's control of the government. Argentina's political organization in the late nineteenth century had grown out of a compromise between the elites of the interior and Buenos Aires. This alliance allowed for political stability and massive amounts of British capital after 1880. These events are chronicled in Richmond's book but not put into perspective to explain the relationship between foreign capital, economic growth dominated by landed elites, and political opposition of the growing middle class.


Let $X$ be a hypersurface in a $n$-dimensional projective space. The Hessian map is a rational map from $X$ to the projective space of symmetric matrices that sends a point $p\in X$ to the Hessian matrix of the defining polynomial of $X$ evaluated at $p$. The Hessian correspondence is the map that sends a hypersurface to its Hessian variety; i.e. the Zariski closure of its image via the Hessian map. In this paper, we study this correspondence for the cases of hypersurfaces of degree $3$ and $4$. We prove that, for degree $3$ and $n=1$, the map is two to one, and that, for degree $3$ and $n\geq 2$, and for degree $4$, the Hessian correspondence is birational. In this study, we introduce the $k$-gradients varieties and analyze their main properties. We provide effective algorithms for recovering a hypersurface from its Hessian variety, for degree $3$ and $n\geq 1$, and for degree $4$ and $n$ even.


Adjacent Channel Power (ACP) is a key spectral measurement, particularly for power amplifiers in modern wireless communication systems. This paper presents a definition of ACP and the current methodology for measuring it. We will propose an alternative way to use modular RF instruments to optimize the measurement performance of ACP, while keeping the measurement time low.


In this paper we use the CAP principles to consider the impact of common clinical problems on action. We focus on three major syndromes: paresis, apraxia and ataxia. We also review mechanisms that could account for spontaneous recovery, using what is known about the best studied clinical dysfunction, paresis, and also ataxia. Together, this and the previous paper lay the groundwork for the third paper in this series, which reviews the relevant rehabilitative interventions.


Results of resonant column tests on 23 specimens of bulk wheat, showing effects of strain amplitude, confining
stress, wheat type (hard and soft red winter wheat), wheat density, and moisture content on wheat damping capacity are
presented, along with models relating damping capacity to shear strain amplitude and to corresponding shear stiffness.
Damping capacity is a primary property of bulk wheat needed to compute the seismic response of metal bins filled with
wheat. Test results are presented to validate the use of staged testing procedures. Staged testing is desirable because it
allows measurement of damping versus strain and damping versus shear modulus relationships for several different stress
levels using a single specimen.


The high temperature stretching process of polymers is a crucial portion in the production of plastic geogrid,and the high temperature tensile parameters have important effects on the operation performances of plastic geogrid.By using high temperature and room temperature two-step tensile method,the polypropylene was firstly stretched at elevated temperature,and then the room temperature mechanical properties of the gained polypropylene samples were tested when they were cooled.The effects of tensile temperature,tensile rate,and tensile ratio at elevated temperature on high temperature and room temperature mechanical properties of polypropylene were studied.The results show that the high temperature stress decreased obviously with the increase of tensile temperature and decrease of tensile rate.However,the influence of tensile ratio was not evident.The percentage elongation after fracture at room temperature increased as the tensile temperature increased,while there was no notable variation with different tensile rates at elevated temperature.There were proper ranges for high temperature tensile temperature(110-130 ℃),tensile rate(100-250mm·min-1)and tensile ratio(8~13)in order to make the polypropylene present excellent performances.


With the accelerating process of urbanization, heavy metal pollution problem is getting worse. In order to find out the state of heavy metal pollution in urban surface soils, we divided the city into different functional areas, and conducted the surface soil sampling, heavy metals analysis, and urban heavy metal pollution of surface soil data gathering. On this basis, evaluate the state of heavy metal pollution using Nemerow index, and analyze the source of heavy metal pollution. Evaluation and analysis process is simple and reasonable, is conducive to engineering applications, and also for environmental management department of the scientific decisions.


The Effects of KNO3,K2SO4 and their mixed salt stress(0,50,100,150,200 mmol/L) on NPK and nitrite content in leaves of pepper Liangjian seedling were investigated.The results showed that KNO3,K2SO4 and mixed salt stress,there is a certain difference in impact on pepper seedling leaves of N content,SO42-prevented N absorption;Salt stress prevented P contents increasing in pepper seedling leaves;K contents showed a increasing trend with the increase of stress concentration;Nitrite content in pepper seedling leaves did not increased under KNO3 and mix salt stress;Low concentration of KNO3 and mixed with salt stress,pepper seedling leaves N content and nitrite content showed a highly significant positive correlation,the correlation coefficient of 0.830 * *,a significant positive correlation with Pn,a significant negative correlation with the total K content;High concentrations of KNO3 and mix salt stress,the total N content in leaves of pepper seedlings,Chl content,soluble sugar content was significantly negative correlation.


extremely low humus-content. The author of this memoir has worked mainly in Palestine, and admits quite frankly that he has not seen any tropical lateritic deposits. There is nothing particularly new in the first, more geological section of the memoir. The second part is mainly taken up by a detailed discussion of the formation of terra rossa in the light of colloid chemistry, a matter which is scarcely geological, though of much interest to soil students. In the bibliography of 146 items we have not observed any mention of the fine book on Bauxite, by Dr. Cyril S. Fox, published in 1927, in which there are many references to the close relation of terra rossa to bauxite and laterite.


The accumulation of amyloid‐β (Aβ) on the brain vasculature, known as Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA), induces vascular dysfunction contributing to neurodegeneration. Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, which are also mediators of vascular dysfunction and may increase the risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, may potentiate CAA‐mediated neurovascular pathology. Mitochondria are key cellular organelles that have a dual role as mediators of cell survival and death and have an important role in disease pathogenesis. However, the role of brain endothelial mitochondria in vascular amyloidosis complicated with CV risk factors is unknown. The carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAi) methazolamide and acetazolamide were able to reduce amyloid‐induced cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our work focuses on understanding the mechanisms of vascular dysfunction induced by Aβ complicated with CV risk factors. We aim to understand the protective role of CAi in preventing the pathological changes associated to neurovascular dysfunction and neurodegeneration.


Objective To explore the correlation between the carotid atherosclerosis unstable plaque lipoprotein(a) [ Lp(a)]levels with acute cerebral infarction patients.Methods 120 patients with acute cerebral infarction were selected as the research group,and at the same period,120 health cases were selected as the control group.The level of Lp(a) of the two groups was tested,and neck vascular color dopplar ultrasound examination was conducted.Results The incidence of atherosclerotic plaque in carotid artery and unstable plaques was 70.8%,51.7%,respectively,and significantly higher than that of the control group(25.8%,6- 7% ) ( x2 =5.12,6.43,all P <0.05 ).The Lp(a) level of the research group[ (273.6 ± 221.7 )ag/L] was significantly higher than that of the control group[ ( 81.6 ± 64.9) mg/L ] ( t =6.53,P < 0.05 ).Conclusion High level of LP(a) is the independent risk factor of cerebral infarction.The instability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques is the important cause of cerebral infarction.

Key words:
Carotid atherosclerosis;  Unnstable plaque;  Lipoprotein ( a ) ;  Cerebral infarction


This paper presents a structured unifying framework for software metrics (numerical software measurements), based on the three "primary metrics" of function points (FP), person-months (PM), and lines of code (LOC). The framework is based on a layered model, with the three primary metrics constituting the lowest layer. An important property of the primary metrics, referred to as the "convertibility property" is that a primary metric can easily be converted to another primary metric. Time is also included in this layer as a fundamental (not necessarily software) primary metric. The second layer consists of general-purpose metrics such as productivity measures, which are computed from the primary metrics, and the third layer consists of specialpurpose metrics such as reliability and quality measures. This third layer is inherently extensible. The framework readily lends itself for use in both instructional and practitioner environments.


We consider a stochastic one-predator-two-prey harvesting model with time delays and Lévy jumps in this paper. Using the comparison theorem of stochastic differential equations and asymptotic approaches, sufficient conditions for persistence in mean and extinction of three species are derived. By analyzing the asymptotic invariant distribution, we study the variation of the persistent level of a population. Then we obtain the conditions of global attractivity and stability in distribution. Furthermore, making use of Hessian matrix method and optimal harvesting theory of differential equations, the explicit forms of optimal harvesting effort and maximum expectation of sustainable yield are obtained. Some numerical simulations are given to illustrate the theoretical results.


Current efforts in bionanotechnology research often utilize the biomolecular function of a protein for technical applications. Maintaining the function of the incorporated biological component in its new environment remains one of the challenges in the construction of hybrid bionanodevices. Using a biological transport system consisting of kinesin motor proteins and microtubules as a prominent example, we discuss different design strategies for such hybrid bionanodevices. The focus lies on the complex interactions between proteins and synthetic surfaces and on different approaches to predict, control, and manipulate protein binding at a surface while maintaining the function of the protein.


At the high water-cut stage, the remaining oil distribution in thick oil reservoirs is abnormal and complex. In consideration of characteristics of severe heterogeneity in inverted reservoirs in the Es~ 8~2 _2 of Fault Block Liang 11 in Shinan Oilfield, inter-layer depositional microfacies is divided and homogeneous sections are classified. An inter-layer 3D static model is established for thick reservoirs. A multi-layer numerical simulation is performed on single sandbody for clarifying inter-layer structures and residual oil distribution, measures of sidetracking horizontal wells, sidetracking wells, reperforation perfecting injection-production well patterns and intermittent injection are used for tapping the potential of remaining oil, improving oil recovery factor for the purpose of water control and stable oil production in the block.


There was a significant variation in uptake of N. K. Mg, Fe and Mn while P,Ca,Zn and Cu showed no significant variation. The nutrient uptake was not found related to growth habit but it was as per the inherent nutrient absorption characteristics of a particular rootstock. Sua chu sha rootstock showed better performance in vegetative growth with balance amount of nutrient absorption. Trifoliate. Rangpur lime and Cleopatra mandarin rootstocks absorbed less amount of Mn and may be suited for acidic soils having Mn toxicity. Large variation in different nutrient uptake was observed in Trifoliate, Cleopatra mandarin and C. macrophylla and hence nutrient has to be supplied to these rootstocks carefully.


Acute pulmonary edema due to upper respiratory obstruction (in this case an endotracheal tube obstructed by dry mucus plugs), may be underdiagnosed.


Pulmonary artery (PA) aneurysm is sometimes found in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and PA dissection is a rare but life-threatening complication. The pathological background of PA aneurysms and dissection remains poorly understood. A 29-year-old man was diagnosed with PAH associated with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA; Movie I in the Data Supplement) and was in World Health Organization functional class II. Chest radiography showed an enlargement of the PA (Figure 1A). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated large PA aneurysm with a diameter of 72 mm (Figure 1B). His PA pressure was 58/33 (44) mm Hg, and PA wedge pressure was 6 mm Hg. We closed the PDA with a coil. Seven years after the diagnosis, he was transported to our hospital with sudden chest pain and deteriorating consciousness. Systemic blood pressure was 92/63 mm Hg, heart rate was 83/min, and oxygen saturation was 98% with 3 L/min of oxygen administered. A chest radiography showed marked enlargement of the PA (Figure 1C). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated the expansion of a PA aneurysm with a diameter of 105 mm and a dissection in the main PA (Figure 1D). The patient underwent emergency surgery for reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract and to perform bilateral PA plication (Figure 1E and 1F). Because PH remained after surgery, we administered tadalafil and ambrisentan. His PA pressure was 41/16 (24) mm Hg at 8 months after surgery. We investigated elastic fiber formation and prostaglandin E receptor type 4 (EP4) expression in the resected PA. In histological analysis, moderate-to-severe elastic fiber degradation was observed in the area of the PA aneurysm and dissection (Figure 2A and 2B). The elastic fibers were hypoplastic in PDA (Figure 2C). The right PA was formed by normal elastic fibers (Figure 2D). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that EP4 expression was enhanced in the area of the PA aneurysm, dissection (Figure 2E and 2F), and PDA (Figure 2G). EP4 was not expressed in the right PA (Figure 2H). PA aneurysm is a rare disease with an estimated prevalence of 8 in 109 571 consecutive postmortem examination. It is seen in patients with PAH, congenital heart diseases with left-to-right shunting, connective tissue diseases, systematic vasculitis, infections, chronic pulmonary embolism, and trauma. Although the mechanism of PA aneurysm remains poorly understood, elevation of PA pressure caused by PAH or high flow because of left-to-right shunting, resultant mucoid degeneration of the media, and fragmentation of elastic fibers are probably causes of a PA aneurysm. Particularly, congenital heart disease with left-to-right shunting has been recognized as the major reason for PA aneurysm. High flow because of left-to-right shunting increases shear stress of the PA and promotes aneurysm formation. However, high PA pressure or high flow do not always lead to a PA aneurysm. Other unknown factors are, therefore, involved in the mechanism of the PA aneurysm formation. Our immunohistochemistry analysis gave a hint regarding the mechanism of a PA aneurysm formation. Histological analysis of this case showed degradation of elastic fibers and enhanced EP4 expression in the area of the PA aneurysm and dissection. A previous study showed that EP4 expression was increased in a human abdominal aortic aneurysm. Stimulation of EP4 enhances matrix metalloproteinases-2 activation and interleukin-6 production, and regional inflammation weakens the arterial wall to promote the formation of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Interestingly, EP4 expression was also enhanced in PDA in this case. A previous study showed that EP4 expression was increased in a human PDA. Furthermore, PDA is known to be the most frequent congenital heart defects associated with a PA aneurysm. EP4 overexpression in PA and PDA might contribute to the formation of a PA aneurysm and dissection in patients with PAH.


The purpose of our systematic review was to inspect the recently published research on Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) and harmonize the assimilations it articulates on remote big data management tools, sensing and computing technologies, and visual perception and environment mapping algorithms. The research problems were whether robotic manufacturing processes and industrial wireless sensor networks shape IoRT and lead to improved product quality by use of remote big data management tools, whether IoRT devices communicate autonomously regarding event modeling and forecasting by leveraging machine learning and clustering algorithms, sensing and computing technologies, and image processing tools, and whether smart connected objects, situational awareness algorithms, and edge computing technologies configure IoRT systems and cloud robotics in relation to distributed task coordination through visual perception and environment mapping algorithms. A Shiny app was harnessed for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to configure the flow diagram integrating evidence-based gathered and processed data (the search outcomes and screening procedures). A quantitative literature review of ProQuest, Scopus, and the Web of Science databases was carried out throughout June and October 2022, with search terms including "Internet of Robotic Things" + "remote big data management tools", "sensing and computing technologies", and "visual perception and environment mapping algorithms". Artificial intelligence and intelligent workflows by use of AMSTAR (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews), Dedoose, DistillerSR, and SRDR (Systematic Review Data Repository) have been deployed as data extraction tools for literature collection, screening, and evaluation, for document flow monitoring, for inspecting qualitative and mixed methods research, and for establishing robust outcomes and correlations. For bibliometric mapping by use of data visualization, Dimensions AI was leveraged and with regards to layout algorithms, VOSviewer was harnessed.


ABSTRACT A study examined the differences in what boys and girls choose, or are free to choose, to do on the playground during recess. Given the apparent problem that boys dominate the playground area, leaving girls on the perimeter, it was hypothesized that girls engage in passive, non-competitive, small group activities, whereas boys engage in aggressive, competitive, larger group activities thus making their activities traditionally gender stereotyped. Subjects were 170 thirdand 232 fifth-grade children, approximately half boys and half girls in each group from two different schools in Danbury (Ohio) and Perkins (Ohio) respectively. Children completed a questionnaire that asked several questions, but only one of which was evaluated: "What is your favorite thing to do at recess?" Results indicated that the top rated activities for third-grade girls were swinging, playing ball, and teeter totter. Third-grade boys chose soccer, basketball, kickball, and swinging. Fifth-grade girls most often chose swinging, walking and talking with friends, and 4-square. Fifth-grade boys chose soccer, football, and swinging. These activities were then rated according to energy expended, competition, and group size. Analyses supported the hypothesis that girls choose passive, n...)n-competitive, small-group activities, whereas boys choose aggressive, competitive, larger group activities. Results suggest that girls' choices were limited; boys tended to choose activities covering a wider range of choices. (HTH)


Objective: The aim of this study is to contribute to an understanding of the clinical presentation and pathological features of neurofibrillary tangle predominant dementia (NFTPD) that will assist with the eventual development of methods for its ante-mortem identification. Method: We contrast eight NFTPD cases identified in the Banner Sun Health Research Institute Brain and Body Donation Program (SHRI-BBDP) database to 114 Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects, in terms of their demographics, clinical features, and pathological features. Results: When NFTPD subjects were compared to AD subjects, they were found to have a later onset of symptoms, an older age at death, less impairment prior to death, and less frequent appearance of the Apolipoprotein E e4 variant. None of the eight NFTPD subjects met the clinical criteria for probable AD. They possessed a diverse range of diagnoses including possible AD, mixed vascular dementia (VAD), dementia NOS, and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). AD-related pathology, for both amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, was less severe in NFTPD subjects than in AD subjects. All eight NFTPD subjects were classified as neurofibrillary tangle Braak stage IV and therefore had fewer tangles in the neocortex when compared to AD subjects with mean Braak stage V (range II–VI). Conclusion: NFTPD subjects have dementia despite a lower pathological burden when compared to AD subjects. In this small sample, the ante-mortem presentation is such that NFTPD subjects are not diagnosed with probable AD. The cognitive and non-cognitive clinical features (delusions, depression, parkinsonism, and hallucinations) of NFTPD and AD are very similar and do not serve as indicators for a diagnosis, but older age (>80), lack of an ApoE e4 allele and less severe cognitive impairment should further inform the differential diagnosis of NFTPD from AD.


In the world we live in today we can safely say that the internet revolution, digital representation and transportation of data had offered efficient solution for information delivery. But these phenomenal developments brought their own concern and problems in area of searching, security, monitoring and use of information by qualified end users. In early days the information was generally obtained and processed in the form of text but nowadays people are aware of the truth that information can be obtained in the form of graphics, which are a more precise and a more inclusive illustration of information. In this paper a new technique is introduced for fast Content based Image Retrieval with the help of colors and global features. Image retrieval on the base of color histogram is a very useful and common technique but in some cases this technique is not reliable. In proposed technique some new things are added with the color histogram to make it more efficient and reliable for Content based image retrieval. Keywads: image acquisition, image features, binary representation of image, image quantization,


. This article is the summery of the 31st Family Psychological Association independent symposium. We examined the future direction of Japanese-style brief therapy, which does not adhere to a change too much, based on Bateson's ideology. The contents of each topic provider are as follows. Kousuke Ishii presented the approach of the de-addiction to focus on the part which has already been changed. Masafumi Nakamura showed possibility of 'do different' based on Bateson's multiplex description. Hiroki Nagaishi showed the significance of not changing in strong restriction of the palliative care unit. Hiroaki Matsumoto showed the directionality of the resource to entrust a pattern based on Bateson's redundancy. Finally Kohei Sato who was a designated debater showed significance and a problem of the de-control-like approach as the common point of each topic provider.


Lactic acid fermented vegetables are important sources of vitamins and minerals. In recent years consumers demand for non-dairy based functional products has increased. Cabbage pickle has high enough concentrations of fiber and also it may show health effect with the containing high numbers of lactic acid bacteria. The aim of this study is to optimize mathematically cabbage-carrot pickle fermentation for the viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei cultures and the sensory scores in brine with 5% and 7% (w/v) salt concentrations. Viability optimization of lactic acid bacteria is done via the notion of "fuzzy soft set" method. Lb. casei, Lb. acidophilus, total lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae sp., yeast-mould counts and pH values have been reported during the 30 days of storage. The results are compared with the control traditional fermented cabbage-carrot pickle. Organoleptic properties are evaluated. We conclude that the fermented pickle samples contain a significant number of beneficial lactic acid bacteria and high sensory marks at the end of the storage.


Quantum key distribution over probabilistic quantum repeaters is addressed. We compare, under practical assumptions, two such schemes in terms of their secure key generation rate per memory, R QKD . The two schemes under investigation are the one proposed by Duan et al. in [Nat. 414, 413 (2001)] and that of Sangouard et al. proposed in [Phys. Rev. A 76, 050301 (2007)]. We consider various sources of imperfections in the latter protocol, such as a nonzero double-photon probability for the source, dark count per pulse, channel loss and inefficiencies in photodetectors and memories, to find the rate for different nesting levels. We determine the maximum value of the double-photon probability beyond which it is not possible to share a secret key anymore. We find the crossover distance for up to three nesting levels. We finally compare the two protocols.


In the past two to five years, many hospitals have begun to address the problem of widespread variation in physician practice styles by local development of "Clinical Paths," also known as "Critical Paths" and other synonyms. The intent of such pathways is generally to produce much greater reliability in favorable patient (and institutional) outcomes in terms of length of stay (LOS). Clearly, the impetus of these efforts is to affect the financial bottom line of hospitals and to guarantee quality in terms of related morbidity and mortality. This book is the product of a diverse group of physician and nurse quality management specialists, clinical nurse specialists, and medical department chairpersons in community hospitals and university medical centers. Its contributors even include a pharmacist and an attorney. Part 1 discusses how paths have evolved and factors that lead to relative success or failure in implementation. An introduction to the evolving fields


The cathode material for lithium batteries Li1.15-x:Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2+δ has been synthesized by sol-gel technique. The effects of synthesizing temperature on the structure, micro-morphology and electrochemical properties of these materials were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and charge-discharge cycling tests. The material synthesized at 600 ℃ has a hexagonal layered structure. The intensity of the diffraction peaks and the particle size of the material synthesized at 920-980 ℃ increased with synthesizing temperature. The ratio values of I003/I104 and unit cell volume of the material synthesized at 950 ℃ are larger than those of the material synthesized at 920 and 980 ℃. The maximum charge/discharge capacity and the minimum electrode polarization were obtained for the material synthesized at 950 ℃, which has the initial discharge capacity of 180 mA·h/g in the range of 2.5-4.5 V at a specific current of 28 mA/g.


Combined with the features of ecology,aiming at the existing problems in field-practice teaching of ecology,several reform methods and measures were put forward,so as to provide guidance and reference for improving field-practice teaching quality of ecology.


This article describes the present development situation of the Produce Agricultural product business enterprise in Anhui Province,it analyzes thoroughly for the main limiting factor existing in the market distribution of the business enterprise in Anhui province.Then it made a targeted analysis on improving technological input,drive technological innovation,raise funds,ensure material acquisition,take a reasonable price and use the strategy freely,to innovate sales promotion and improve sales effect,pay attention on the distribution channel of the sales.All the strategies and suggestions are brought up in order to promote the sales effect in the market of the business enterprise that Produce agricultural product in Anhui.Providing my study to the interrelate enterprise to consult.


Abstract Summary The ability to unveil binding patterns in peptide sets has important applications in several biomedical areas, including the development of vaccines. We present an open-source tool, CNN-PepPred, that uses convolutional neural networks to discover such patterns, along with its application to peptide–HLA class II binding prediction. The tool can be used locally on different operating systems, with CPUs or GPUs, to train, evaluate, apply and visualize models. Availability and implementation CNN-PepPred is freely available as a Python tool with a detailed User's Guide at https://github.com/ComputBiol-IBB/CNN-PepPred. The site includes the peptide sets used in this study, extracted from IEDB (www.iedb.org). Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.


The efficiency of a PPG flat-plate solar collector was evaluated utilizing an outdoor solar collector test facility at the NASA-Lewis Research Center, as part of the National Bureau of Standards 'round robin' collector test program. The correlation equation for collector thermal efficiency Eta curve fit of the data was: Eta = 0.666 - 1.003(Btu/hr-sq ft-F) Theta, where the parameter Theta is the difference between the average fluid temperature and the ambient temperature, all divided by the total flux impinging on the collector.


In this article, which concentrates on the primary function of criminal pretrial procedure from points of view of law culture transplantation which must be set out from the localized thought based on our country's reality, I consider how to grant the People's procuratorates with part of the function of judicial review. It will bring to light the distinguishability of the relationship between procurator and police in the pretrial procedure, and put into effect the People's procuratorates judicial supervision of the pretrial procedure in order to maintain judicial equity and justice.


Texture fraction dependences of high-power characteristics for textured SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) ceramics were studied. The resonant frequency change with increasing vibration velocity decreased with increasing texture fraction. Furthermore, the linearity of vibration velocity increased with increasing texture fraction. In the case of 95%-textured SBN specimen, the resonant frequency was almost constant and the vibration velocity changed linearly with the applied electric field up to a vibration velocity of 2.6 m/s. Highly textured SBN ceramics are good candidates for high-power piezoelectric applications.


There are great amount of concrete and reinforced concrete structures under the action of shear forces. They are important and widely used elements of buildings and constructions, and differ from each other by the construction determination, dimensions, forms and the character of stress-strain state in the shear plane. The strength design method is expounded for concrete and reinforced concrete elements by means of variation method in the concrete plasticity theory that was developed in Poltava National Technical University. There is also experimental investigation of the following elements: Gvozdev and Mersh specimens, wall-beams and truncated concrete wedges that simulate work of concrete compressed zone above dangerous inclined crack as the most wellknown from offered for the strain condition and failure load determination for considered types of elements. In addition wedges and Gvozdev specimens from higher strength concrete have been tested for applicability determination of given method to these elements. The results of the experimental research have confirmed the applicability of plasticity zones assumed in the theoretical solutions. The theoretical strength is well coordinated with the experimental one.


Intending to be more and more data-driven, companies are leveraging data science upon big data initiatives. However, to reach a better cost-benefit, it is important for companies to understand all aspects involved in such initiatives. The main goal of this paper is to provide a framework that allows professionals from the mining industry to accurately describe data science upon big data. The following research question was addressed: "Which essential components characterize an interdisciplinary framework for data science upon big data in mining industry?". To answer this question, we will extend OntoDIVE ontology to create a framework capable of explaining aspects involved in such initiatives for the mining industry. As a result, this paper will present InfoMINDS A Framework for Data Science upon Big Data Relating People, Processes and Technologies on Mining Industry. This paper will contribute to leveraging data science initiatives upon big data allowing application of OntoDIVE on real-case scenarios in mining industry.


Application services based on cloud computing infrastructure are proliferating over the Internet. In this paper, we investigate the problem of how to minimize cloud resource rental cost associated with hosting such cloud-based application services, while meeting the projected service demand. This problem arises when applications generate high volume of data that incurs significant cost on storage and transfer. As a result, an application service provider (ASP) needs to carefully evaluate various resource rental options before finalizing the application deployment. We choose Amazon EC2 marketplace as a case of study, and analyze the economical trade-off for on-demand resource rental strategies. Given fixed resource pricing, we first develop a deterministic model, using a mixed integer linear program, to facilitate resource rental decision making. Evaluation results show that our planning optimization model reduces resource rental cost by as much as 50 percent compared with a baseline strategy. Next, we further investigate planning solutions to resource market featuring time-varying pricing (Amazon Spot Instance Market). We perform time-series analysis over the spot price trace and examine its predictability using auto-regressive integrated moving-average (ARIMA). We also develop a stochastic planning model based on multistage recourse. By comparing these two approaches, we discover that spot price forecasting does not provide our planning model with a crystal ball due to the weak correlation of past and future price, and the stochastic planning model better hedges against resource pricing uncertainty than resource rental planning using forecast prices.


This supplementary material is organized as follows. Sec. B describes the detailed architecture of our encoder. Sec. C verifies how the regularization loss, Lreg, helps improve the editing performance. Sec. D further validates the property of the proposed padding space with interpolation results, as the supplement to Sec. 4.3 of the submission. Sec. E provides more visual results on inversion, face blending, and customized manipulation.


Abstract Design is a highly nonlinear chaotic dynamic process with many possible solutions, which requires enormous knowledge for designers. This paper investigates how environment-based design (EBD) methodology can help designers use only necessary knowledge for their creativity based on three methods: information search, knowledge acquisition and knowledge application. The methods are applied in an aircraft pylon design, which is evaluated by two aerospace design specialists. The paper discussed the different roles of EBD for novice and expert designers in regard to overcoming emotion and knowledge barriers to achieving designer creativity.


Information technology and globalization has led to an increasing competition and service production has been more and more independent of locations. This has made a market of outsourced telephone ...


A field experiment was conducted at dry land farm, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati during kharif, 2019-20 to evaluate the efficacy of nine insecticides i.e ., Thiacloprid 21.7 SC @ 0.25 ml l -1 , Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.2 g l -1 , Spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml l -1 , Spiromesifen 240 SC @ 1.0 ml l -1 , Diafenthiuron 50 WP @ 1.25 g l -1 , Dinotefuran 20 SG @ 0.4 g l -1 , Flonicamid 50 WG @ 0.3 g l -1 , Pymetrozine 50 WG @ 0.6 g l -1 , Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2.0 ml l -1 against sesame leafhoppers. The pooled results of two sprays revealed that pymetrozine was most effective in reducing the leafhopper population, followed by dimethoate and thiamethoxam which were statistically at par with each other, while, spinosad and spiromesifen showed least efficacy in reducing leafhopper population.


SO2-4/ZrO2-Al2O3 Solid superacid catalyst was prepared by coprecipitation in ammonia with ZrOCl2·8H2O and Al(NO3)3·9H2O.Preparing conditions of the catalyst were molar ratio of ZrOCl2·8H2O and Al(NO3)3·9H2O 3 ∶1,-15 ℃ ageing time 24 h,drying at 120 ℃ for 12 h,concentration of sulfuric acid 0.5 mol/L,impregnation time 4 h,drying at 120 ℃ for 1 h,calcination at 650 ℃ for 4 h.As concerning synthesis of 2-ethylhexyl chloroacetate,effects of catalyst dosage,molar ratio of 2-ethylhexanol to chloroacetic acid,reaction time,dosage of water entrainer on esterification rate were studied.Under the optimal conditions of mole ratio of 2-ethylhexanol to chloroacetic acid 1.1 ∶1,cyclohexane of 46% 2-ethylhexanol volume as water entrainer and mass of catalyst for 1.7% of chloroacetic acid,esterification rate is 94.3% at reaction time 1.5 h.


Electrolysis expansion of carbon cathodes due to alkali metal penetration in [K3AlF6/Na3AlF6]-AlF3-Al2O3 melts was tested. Effect of ampere density and superheating temperature on the electrolysis expansion was studied. A mathematical model was got to numerically describe electrolysis expansion performance of carbon cathode. The results indicated that K and Na penetrate into carbon cathode from outside to inside. Ampere density and superheating temperature had a great effect on the electrolysis expansion of carbon cathode. With the superheating temperature increasing from 10 to 50, electrolysis expansion increased from 1.41% to 2.10% gradually. With the ampere density increasing, the increase trend of electrolysis expansion was not linear. When ampere density was lower than 0.4A / cm2 and greater than 0.7A / cm2, cathode electrolysis expansion obviously increased with the increase of ampere density. Meanwhile, cathode electrolysis expansion tended to be constant as the ampere density changed at the range of 0.4A / cm2 to 0.7A / cm2.The results of the mathematical model in this study had a good agreement with the test results. This model would be helpful to accurately describe the anti-penetration performance of K and Na on the carbon cathode.


The aim of the investigation was to reveal the most reliable radiodiagnostic technique to detect an early dystrophic process and develop an algorithm to diagnose cervical lateral stenosis using radiology. Materials and Methods. 80 case histories were studied by lateral stenosis imaging. We compared the radiographs and anatomical observations of the cervical spine (n=37). All patients underwent survey radiography (radiography of spine) in two orthogonal views (AP and lateral), as well as in the oblique view, multispiral computed tomography (MSCT) on a helix CT machine LightSpeed VCT with 64 sections available per roentgen tube rotation, as well as magnetic resonance tomography (MRT). Results. There have been defined the capabilities of radiodiagnosis and suggested the sequence of radiological methods used when examining patients with early cervical stenosis. MSCT with multiplanar and 3D reconstructions will be maximally informative in cervical lateral stenosis. The technique can be characterized as an informative one that can completely substitute radiological methods. Radiology in oblique views can be performed in patients with lateral stenosis in case MSCT is infeasible due to some reasons. MRT is required in case of marked neurological symptoms and differential diagnosis with acute hernias. An imaging algorithm of dystrophic impairments in early cervical lateral stenosis is the following: MSCT–radiography–MRT.


This thesis takes the discharge queuing system of harbors as the research object. Exemplified by actual statistical surveys, it divides the port operation time into three periods according to the varied average time intervals of vessel arrivals. Finally, based on Flexsim, it performs modeling and simulation of the queuing system in terms of the three periods for the purpose of optimizing the quantity of the unloading berths as well as enhancing the working efficiency of ports.


The 'Appeal to All Christian People' that was issued by the Lambeth Conference a hundred years ago reflected a deep sense of the ecumenical vocation of Anglicanism. Three interlinking elements were critical for this: ecclesiology of visible unity, experience as a communion of Churches, and repentance for disunity. While substantial challenges have become apparent over the past century, their combination remains a significant offering that Anglicanism can make to the global Church today.


The present invention, maytansinoids comprising a maytansinoid and chemically bonded effectively antibody treatment which comprises an amount of the complex, to provide a liquid composition and the freeze dried composition. The present invention further provides a method of killing a cell in a human, comprising administering any of the compositions described above to a human, resulting bound to the antibody the surface of cells, maytansinoid cytotoxicity It is activated, thereby providing a method of killing a cell. .BACKGROUND


[Objective]To investigate the job satisfaction of workers in Chinese medical hall of community health service( CHS),explore the related influencing factors of job satisfaction. [Methods]By the convenience sampling,workers from 23 Chinese medical halls in CHS institutions of Shijiazhuang and 11 of Tianjin were recruited,and the job satisfaction questionnaire was adopted in this study. [Results]The average score of the general satisfaction was 3. 50. The scores of 6 factors related to job satisfaction were3. 36 for leadership and management,3. 15 for training and promotion,4. 05 for interpersonal relationship,3. 18 for working condition,3. 12 for pay and welfare,and 3. 20 for job,respectively. The satisfaction of workers who did not have a plan of dimission was significantly higher than those who had a departure plan( P 0. 05). [Conclusion]The job satisfaction of workers in Chinese medical hall of CHS is influenced by intricate factors,and the job satisfaction needs to be further improved.


Y wouldn't expect a pastor of an International Church in Melbourne, Australia with a name like "Cioccolanti" (Italian for "chocolate") to claim an inside track to the mind and worldview of Buddhists. However, his claim to an insider's view of Buddhism is substantiated by his Thai upbringing and exposure to a very religiously diverse extended family. Besides his Thai Buddhist roots, Steve has added to that a broad education in America and Europe which allows him to address Buddhist issues from both an oriental and occidental viewpoint.


The names "active galaxies" and "active galactic nuclei" (AGNs) are related to the main feature that distinguishes these objects from inactive (normal or regular) galaxies: the presence of supermassive accreting black holes (BHs) in their centers. As of 2011, there were approximately a million known sources of this type selected by their color and several hundred thousand by basic spectroscopy and accurate redshifts. It is estimated that in the local universe, at z ≤ 0.1, about 1 out of 50 galaxies contains a fast-accreting supermassive BH, and about 1 in 3 contains a slowly accreting supermassive BH. Detailed studies of large samples of AGNs, and the understanding of their connection with inactive galaxies and their redshift evolution, started in the late 1970s, long after the discovery of the first quasi-stellar objects (hereinafter quasars or QSOs) in the early 1960s. Although all objects containing active supermassive BHs are now referred to as AGNs, various other names, relics from the 1960s, 1970s, and even later, are still being used. Some of the names that appear occasionally in the literature, such as "Seyfert 1 galaxies" and "Seyfert 2 galaxies," in honor of Carl Seyfert, who observed the first few galaxies of this type in the late 1940s (see Chapter 6 for a detailed discussion of the various groups), are the result of an early confusion between different sources that are now known to have similar properties.


Abstract This essay conducts an ideological analysis of George F. Will's editorials published between July 1, 2002 and July 8, 2004. Will is a prestigious, high-profile, and decorated commentator within the US media landscape. Across the 196 editorials examined here, his discourse moves squarely within a right-wing meta-ideology that strongly conditions his judgments (about, e.g., Usonians and Europeans, Republicans and Democrats, the invasion of Iraq). Following in the tradition of Teun A. van Dijk's scholarship, the paper demonstrates that Will's editorializing relies heavily on "Populism", "Us/Them" dichotomies, and "National Self-Glorification" in channeling the right-wing meta-ideology. In his editorial construction of reality, and of the players within it, Will conveys his version of the meta-ideology with its particular accents (e.g., an Otherizing "Them" posture toward Europe). In doing so, Will re-circulates and re-affirms the right-wing meta-ideology and endows it with prestige and the patina of "common sense"—even as it moves athwart of facts on the ground.


This article is an ethnography of thinking and practice about death, the process of dying and personhood among the Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) of Western Amazonia (Brazil and Eastern Peru). It relates gender symbolism, arising from the practice of daily life, to the form that social relations between the moribund person and terrestrial, aquatic and celestial spirits take during each stage of dying. This ethnography is provided as a critical counterpoint to the model of such relations and the processes that surround them known in Americanist studies as "the symbolic economy of predation", in which "exchange" functions as the key process and metaphor. The paper suggests that any analysis of death among the Cashinahua must place emphasis on the whole cycle of consumptive production, not just on the symbolism of predation and exchange.


he dominant feature in the magnetic declination record at all European sites for which adequate data are available is a minimum between 1750 and 1860. The time of minimum at different sites correlates well with longitude and implies a westward drift rate of 0.61 ± 0.08° yr-1. This is greatly in excess of the widely adopted value of 0.18° yr-1 for global westward drift.


The utility model relates to a multifunctional quartz clock gear driving mechanism comprising a hour wheel, a day wheel, a week wheel, a month wheel, and a moon phase wheel of a movement. the movement hour wheel is sleeved with a 24-tooth hour wheel sleeving wheel sheet, the hour wheel sleeving wheel sheet is engaged with an 48-tooth day wheel driving wheel, the upper surface of the day wheel driving wheel is provided with a long-strip poking handle, the day wheel driving wheel is engaged with a gap bridge wheel a, the gap bridge wheel a is engaged with an 48-tooth week wheel driving wheel, the hour wheel sleeving wheel sheet is engaged with an 48-tooth moon phase driving wheel, a gap bridge wheel driving wheel is coaxially and fixedly connected above the day wheel, and the gap bridge wheel driving wheel, a gap bridge wheel b, a gap bridge wheel c, and the month wheel driving wheel are successively engaged to form transmission connection. By means of the special gear tooth transmission design and the arrangement of gap bridge wheels in the transmission, the display of hours, minutes, and seconds is realized, the display of a calendar, a monthly calendar, a weekly calendar, a monthly calendar, moon phases, and a 24-hour time system can be realized, and the function is complete; and each of the calendar, the monthly calendar, and the weekly calendar is provided with a hand-operated adjusting device, so that the display values can be independently adjusted.


Adsorption is a retention mechanism of fluid molecules on solid surfaces and presents a wide range of applications, such as refrigeration, separation processes and fuel storage. This work describes the modelling of gas adsorption on porous media and presents an optimisation approach for the design of adsorption systems based on topology optimisation. A comprehensive formulation for the adsorption and desorption phenomena is presented, detailing the derivation of their weak forms and assembling the matrices for the implementation of the Finite Element Method (FEM). The sensitivities of objective functions to topology optimisation design variables are obtained by the adjoint method, which is presented in detail. The numerical implementation is aided by FEniCS and Dolfin Adjoint packages, resulting in a generic software for the optimisation of adsorption systems. The method is applied for the design of Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) tanks for on-demand consumption. Optimised tank layouts are proposed and compared with standard tanks, presenting improvement of the design objectives.


A conflict is an infringement of minimum separation between at least two aircraft. The model is based on these assumptions: aircraft fly on level straight line routes, only an infringement of the lateral separation is considered, deviations are excluded, aircraft at the same flight level fly the same average speed, and aircraft fly towards an intersection and may change direction after intersection. Hence, conflicts mainly occur owing to a loss of minimum separation between aircraft flying at the same flight level. Calculation of average number of potential conflicts is designated for long time interval; hence, aircraft velocity deviations are negligible. The mathematical model in this paper is intended to compare different alternatives of intersection configuration of air traffic services routes. The comparison is based on the results: an average number of potential conflicts per hour on intersection of routes, index of conflicts intensity, and intersection capacity.


Visual Question Answering (VQA) is a fast developing field involving multiple disciplines, and it is constantly challenging more complex tasks. The classic combination of CNN+LSTM can effectively extract images and language representation to complete the VQA task, but there are still many problems, such as excessively long sequence processing, etc. In recent years, BERT model has expanded rapidly from the field of natural language processing to a broader multi-modal field with its strong learning ability. In this paper, we propose a novel way to apply BERT model in the VQA field. We use the descriptive paragraph generation technology to transform the picture into a text paragraph description, and integrate question information and image information on BERT model. Our model achieves an excellent performance on the VQA2.0 dataset with an overall accuracy 5% higher than previous models.


FPGA provides a convenient and flexible solution to speed up loop-intensive algorithms.However,these loop nests in a large scale application have to be mapped onto the target FPGA orderly because of the limited resources on-chip.FPGA reconfiguration which needs a long time is inevitable when switching between the loop nests.This paper presents a pipelined template and instruction schedule method corresponding to execute all the loop nests in sequence without FPGA reconfiguration.Experiments show that the pipelined template can achieve a comparative execution cycles for a loop comparing with the special hardware and without the need of FPGA reconfiguration.


This study analyses the foreign and security policies of the Republic of Armenia and, in an empirically based manner, explains how this post-Soviet transformation state behaves in the systemic competition between East (the Eurasian Union and the CSTO) and West (the EU and NATO).
 This volume fills several research gaps by providing a coherent overview of Armenia's sparsely studied system and by also reflecting on current events, such as the Velvet Revolution and the Nagorno-Karabakh War of 2020.
 Stefan Hansen is Managing Director at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK).


Drought resistances of 4 different flue-cured tobacco cultivars were studied under drought stress conditions in pot experiments.Some indexes,including the main agronomic botanical characters,accumulation of the plant,leaf relative water content,water-holding capacity,MDA content and proline content,were screened out,and the drought resistance of each type was comprehensively analyzed by membership function to clear the differences of drought resistance of flue-cured tobacco varieties. The results showed that under drought stress,their main agronomic botanical characters,both plant fresh and dry mass and leaf relative water content were decreased obviously,but the decreasing range of'Yunyan 87'was the most less,'Bina 1'was relatively less,and'Qianxi 1'was the largest. Leaf water holding strength was in order of'Yunyan 87' 'Bina 1' 'Qianxi 1' 'Jiucaiping 2'. The content of MDA and proline in flue-cured tobacco roots increased significantly,the MDA content of'Yunyan 87'and'Bina 1'had smaller increase,their proline content increased greatly,while'Jiucaiping 2'and'Qianxi 1'was on the contrary. The results of membership function analysis indicated that the drought resistance strength order was'Yunyan87' 'Bina 1' 'Jiucaiping 2' 'Qianxi 1'.


In the laser scribing of a glass sheet, a crack propagates across the glass surface as the surface is locally cooled down immediately following CO2 laser beam irradiation. In this process, the crack depth and scribable conditions are influenced by various parameters such as the laser power, the scribing velocity, and the distance between the heating area and the cooling area. Therefore it is important to examine the laser scribing phenomenon by analyses of these parameters. We analyzed the crack propagation phenomenon by a finite element method, using a two-dimensional model with a pre-crack. The crack depth was obtained by calculating the stress intensity factor. The obtained conclusions are as follows: The maximum velocity of the scribing for each laser power can be estimated by applying a static threshold of the stress intensity factor, Sth K in the two-dimensional crack propagation analysis. The depth of the crack caused by the laser scribing can be estimated by applying a dynamic threshold of the stress intensity factor, . As a result, the suitable scribing conditions for the practical use can be found. Dth K


...........................................................................................................................................4 Key-words ........................................................................................................................................4 Resumo............................................................................................................................................5 Palavras-chave ................................................................................................................................5 Background ......................................................................................................................................6 Colorectal cancer – Impact and carcinogenesis .........................................................................6 Overview of the gut microbiome ..................................................................................................8 Methods .........................................................................................................................................10 Microbiota and Colorectal Cancer .................................................................................................11 Tumorigenesis and dysbiosis – Is there an association? .........................................................11 Microbiome role in tumorigenesis promotion ............................................................................15 Bacterial Driver-Passenger Model and Alpha-bug Hypothesis .......................................................... 15 Mechanisms of interaction with the host ...................................................................................18 Role of individual intestinal bacteria ..........................................................................................20 Fusobacterium nucleatum ................................................................................................................. 20 Escherichia coli.................................................................................................................................. 22 Enteroxigenic Bacteroides fragilis...................................................................................................... 24 Biofilms .......................................................................................................................................25 Beneficial roles of bacteria.........................................................................................................26 Clinical Relevance .........................................................................................................................27 Conclusion and future directions ...................................................................................................29 Appendices ....................................................................................................................................31 Table 1 .......................................................................................................................................31 Table 2 .......................................................................................................................................32 References ....................................................................................................................................34 Beyond Microbiota and Colorectal Cancer: A Critical Review 3 Abbreviations List APC – adenomatous polyposis coli BFT – Bacterioides fragilis toxin BMI – body mass index CEC – colon epithelial cells CRC – colorectal cancer FOBT – fecal occult blood test IBD inflammatory bowel disease MIN – multiple intestinal neoplasia WHO – world health organization


The paper considers the logic calculus of positively constructed formulas (PCF calculus) and based on it automated theorem proving (ATP) method. The PCF calculus was developed and described as a first-order logic formalism in works of S.N. Vassilyev and A.K. Zherlov as a result of formalizing and solving problems of control theory. There are examples of describing and solving some control theory problems, effectively (from the point of view of the language expressiveness and the theorem proving means efficiency) solved using PCF calculus, for example, controlling a group of lifts; directing a telescope at the planet center, which is in an incomplete phase, and mobile robot control. Comparing to the capabilities of other logical means for subject domain formalization and logic conclusion search, the PCF calculus have the advantage of the expressiveness combined with the compactness of knowledge representation, the natural parallelism of their processing, large block size and lower combinatorial complexity of conclusions, high compatibility with heuristics, and great capabilities for interactive proof. The selected class of formulas makes it possible to build constructive proofs. This class of formulas is much wider than the class of Horn clauses used in the Prolog. There are no restrictions in the logical formalization of the axiomatic base of the subject domain, and the target statement is a conjunction of queries (in terms of the Prolog). To test the ATP software system (prover) based on the PCF calculus the authors used the TPTP (Thousands of Problems for Theorem Provers) library. The TPTP format has become a standard in the community that studies automated reasoning. There is a natural need for the developed prover to accept problems in this format as input. Thus, the problem of translating the first-order predicate logic formulas presented in the TPTP format to the POF format arises. This problem is nontrivial due to the special structure of the PCF calculus formulas. The paper proposes a more efficient translation method (compared to the previously developed algorithm in the first implementation of the prover based on the PCF calculus) for the first-order predicate calculus language preserving the original heuristic knowledge structure, and its simplified version for the problems presented in language of clauses. The efficiency is a number of steps and the length of the obtained formulas. The proposed method was implemented as a software system – a language translator of first-order TPTP logic formulas to the PCF calculus language. The paper presents test results of the developed method, which imply that there is a certain class of first-order formulas that are not taken into account as special by existing ATP systems, while the PCF calculus has special strategies that increase the efficiency of the inference search for such class of formulas.


Coal tar has been used as a binder in road construction in Holland for a long time, but when the carcinogenic properties of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in tar became apparent, the use of tar in roads was abandoned. It became a government policy to end the reuse of tar contaminated asphalt mixes because of environmental protection and workers' health. This paper discusses how the government policy for removal of PAHs with the introduction of a new technology proved to be successful.


The radiation risks in space are well known, but work still needs to be done in order to fully understand the radiation effects on humans and how to minimize the risks especially now when the activity in space is increasing with plans for missions to the Moon and Mars.
One goal is to develop transport codes that can estimate the radiation environment and its effects. These would be useful tools for reducing the radiation effects when designing and planning space missions.
 The Particle and Heavy-Ion Transport code System, PHITS, is a three dimensional Monte Carlo code with great possibilities to perform radiation transport calculations and estimating radiation exposure such as absorbed dose, equivalent dose and dose equivalent. Therefore a benchmarking with experiments performed at the ISS was done and also an estimation of different material's influences on the shielding was made.
 The simulated results already agree reasonable with the measurements, but can most likely be significantly improved when more realistic shielding geometries will be used. This indicats that PHITS is a useful tool for estimating radiation risks for humans in space and when designing shielding of spacecrafts.


Gas tracers have been used frequently to predict conversion in chemical reactors. But in heterogeneous systems such as fluid-bed reactors, tracer residence time data usually overpredict actual contact time and conversion. In this work, the general two-phase countercurrent flow model is extended to include tracer adsorption, which is important in predicting contact time. The tracer used was SF6, whose adsorption on the solids could be varied over a wide range. The apparent reactor efficiency, calculated directly from tracer response, is shown to approach that estimated from the two-phase model when the fluid bed approached homogeneity. This is the case for many large-scale reactors that are operated in the turbulent fluidization regime. The use of horizontal baffles in methanol-to-gasoline cold flow models is shown to improve bed efficiency by staging the bed.


We study the enhancement of radiative rate and quantum efficiency of a single emitter coupled to a nanoantenna. We show that by proper choice of the parameters quenching can be to a large extent avoided.


In the 1970s, efforts to reform accounting education revolved around the movement toward schools of accountancy (or independent departments). These efforts were largely unsuccessful. However, in the 1980s, the movement to expand accounting education beyond a four‐year undergraduate degree resulted in American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) members passing a rule mandating 150 hours of education for AICPA membership. The reaction to this rule was varied. Many state boards of accountancy and state legislatures adopted rules requiring 150 hours; however, the requirements for taking the CPA exam and licensure varied across states. After the rule's passage academicians responded by creating the Accounting Education Change Commission, whose purpose was to improve accounting education regardless of the number of credit hours students earned. Also, the AICPA shifted its attention to the possibility of expanding certification to practitioners who were not accountants. Both of these efforts were ...


Objective To investigate the characteristics of histological remodeling in the wall of varicose vein with thrombus.Methods We collected 27 specimens of simple varicose veins,23 specimens of varicose veins with thrombus and 13 specimens of normal venous tissue used as control to compare.These specimens were made into slices by HE staining and Masson staining,then they were observed by light microscope.Results In thrombus group,intima was obviously thickened,Masson′s tumor-like proliferation was observed,collagen fibers extended into the thrombus from the cracked position of intima and induced it to be organizated,elastic fibers were asymphytous and cracked.In tunica media,the boundary was obscure,while hyperplastic collagen fibers irregularly interspersed into smooth muscle bundles,we could also observe hyalinization and mucoid degeneration.In adventitia,elastic fibers were thinned due to the interspersion of hyperplastic collagen fibers,the number amount of vasa vasorums significantly increased,and the lumen of them largened,the full-thickness of venous wall and thrombus were infiltrated by massive inflammatory cells.In varicose group,endothelial cells of intima were intact,and theca interna was apparently thickened;in tunica media,collagen fibers proliferated,and smooth muscle disorganized;in adventitia,the number of vasa vasorums was amount medium dose,the infiltration of inflammatory cells were occasionally observed.Conclusions Vein thrombosis may be one of the important factors which aggravate or initiate the histological structure remodeling of varicose vein wall.


Amalgam was one of the most commonly used dental fill materials, and its usage is restricted in many countries, while amalgam is still under discussion by researchers. The alloy is criticized due to its mercury content and also its risks and limited resistance to corrosion in the body environment. In this study, amalgam/nano-hydroxyapatite composite was prepared with different weight percentages of hydroxyapatite and was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composites were also evaluated mechanically by compression test (n = 3). Corrosion resistance of composites was studied by potentiodynamic polarization test. The results showed that by increasing the weight percentage of hydroxyapatite, the corrosion resistance of the composite increases, and the Mercury ion release decreased significantly, while the compressive strength of the composite increases 18% (p < 0.05), by increasing hydroxyapatite up to 1%, and then decreases due to the agglomeration of the hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. It seems that the developed amalgam/nano-hydroxyapatite composite is an appropriate option for the purpose of filling the anterior teeth with less harmful effects.


The invention provides a pressure measuring device and method of fiber difference interference. The device comprises a fiber laser unit, a fiber coupling unit, a reflection difference unit, a fiber beam expanding and collimating unit, a photoelectric detection unit, a storage unit and a signal processing unit; and the reflection difference unit includes a reflection phase grating of a special structural design, and used to cut reflected light waves. The reflection phase grating includes two non-light-transmission parts and two reflection light parts in one period; the two reflection light parts include a direct reflection part (without phase delay) and a pai-phase delayed reflectin part; and the duty ratio of the reflection phase grating is 1/2, namely, the proportion of the size of the non-light-transmission parts to that of the reflection light parts is 1/2. The device of the invention can be used to realize pressure measurement of high temperature and high corrosion, and has advantages including being resistant to electromagnetic interference and radiation. In addition, a differential pressure type flowmeter is combined to realize high-temperature medium flow measurement.


The use of steroids as an adjunct to antimicrobial therapy has been controversial for many decades. Recent reports of the use of steroids in supraphysiological rather than in "industrial" doses in patients with sustained circulatory instability has re-ignited the debate. Anecdotal reports of adrenal insufficiency in septic patients have suggested a relative cortisol deficiency in these patients with poor survival if not given supplementary steroids. The possibility that the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of this entity has not previously been highlighted. This review looks at the relationship of sustained cytokine release and the possibility of altering the stress response with progressive loss of adrenocorticotrophic hormone release and subsequent diminution in adequate cortisol levels. The reliance on, and misinterpretation of, the short synacthen test in diagnosing the possibility of this condition is emphasized.


High-aspect-ratio (HAR) micropillar arrays offer a wide range of applications in micro-contact printing, switchable transparent optical windows, superhydrophobic surfaces, mechanical sensors, and actuators, due to their properties such as large surface area and excellent mechanical compliance. However, owing to their high aspect ratio, these microstructures are prone to lateral deflection by elastocapillary forces in liquid environments, which is known as top-gathering, limiting their manufacturing processes and applications. Here, the impact of symmetry on evaporation triggered top-gathering of micropillars was studied numerically. The initiation of the micropillar deflection due to capillary forces under varying force distributions was simulated using a COMSOL Multiphysics simulation package. The simulation was carried out for the configurations of two, four, and an array of micropillars. For the four micropillar configuration, a new equation was suggested for calculating the micropillar deflection due to elastocapillary forces, using force distributions around the micropillars. The suggested equation was verified by comparison with the experimental observations. The effect of droplet evaporation on deflection/top-gathering of micropillars was also investigated. It was found that initiation of deflection is due to asymmetry at the rim of the droplet, generating domino-like deflection of the other micropillars. This study provides a new equation/criterion for estimating deflection of the micropillars, suggesting array designs that are resistant to such deflections when interacting with liquids.


Geothermal development in aquifer settings can benefit considerably from a wealth of subsurface data acquired over the past decades by oil and gas exploration and production. In the Netherlands, this data has been gathered by the Geological Survey and has been made publicly available (www.nlog.nl). Almost a decade ago this data was used to create nationwide maps to identify prospective potential of clastic aquifers. It includes key parameters such as: depth, thickness and permeability, as well as aquifer temperature maps from a 3D temperature model of the subsurface. A techno-economic tool complemented these maps to identify prospective areas for geothermal heat extraction, which could be used for feasibility studies and site selection. In the past years, the information system and associated tools (www.thermogis.nl) have promoted geothermal development in the Netherlands, marked by a spectacular growth from a few to tens of doublets, mostly used for the heating of green houses.


This paper presented a new chaos map with infinite collapses in a finite interval. The theoretical analyses and simulation show that the map has bigger Lyapunov exponent (LE) than the traditional chaotic maps with finite collapses, two-valued autocorrelation, uniform invariant distribution,and the statistical properties of its multi-valued quantified sequences are dependent on the parameters of the chaotic map and the quantifier, and choosing proper parameters can make the quantified sequences approach independent- identical -distribution sequences. So it is a good candidate for constructing chaotic spreading sequences and chaotic cipher.


The proof of concept of a novel in-line real impactor (IRI) for preseparation of large particles in ambient inlets was demonstrated with a 1,250 L/min design. Numerical simulations predicted a cutpoint Stokes number 0.3 for a ratio of jet-to-plate spacing to jet width (S/W) of 2.0 and 0.5 for a ratio of 4.0. This variation in cutpoint Stokes number allows minor adjustments in cutpoint for a given device size. Experimental benchmark tests support the prediction of a shift in cutpoint with S/W. Inlet systems with flow rates of 100 and 400 L/min were designed by Stokes scaling of the 1,250 L/min IRI and integrating the lower flow devices with an existing inlet aspiration section and an insect screen. Experiments with the inlet system were conducted in a wind tunnel with particles from 3 to 20 μm aerodynamic diameter (AD) and wind speeds of 2, 8, and 24 km/h. A nominal cutpoint of approximately 11 μm AD was selected to accommodate bioaerosol sampling needs, and the wind tunnel results showed the average cutpoints of the 100 and 400 L/min inlet systems at the three wind speeds were 11.2 and 11.6 μm AD, respectively. Stand-alone tests with the 100 and 400 L/min IRIs were conducted where dry dusts (Arizona road dust/fine and coarse) were impacted on three types of collection surfaces (dry, grease-coated, and oil-soaked porous surfaces) to characterize solid particle carryover. The oil-soaked porous media allowed the least carryover of large solid particles.


A chelating resin with acetohydroxamate functional groups was synthesized and used as the stationary phase in ion chromatography for the determination of copper. As the reaction mechanism was mainly complexation, the coordination behavior of the synthesized resin toward Cu(II) was studied by means of EPR, IR and electronic spectrometry and potentiometry. The kinetic study shows that the resin is suitable for use in ion chromatography. We employed a resin column 250 mm long by 3 mm I.D. in conjunction with a mixture of hydrochloric acid and acetone as mobile phase for the determination of Cu(II). Detection of the chromatography system was carried out via post-column derivatisation of the column effluent with PAR at 520nm. The detection limit is 0.22ppm, and the relationship was linear in the range 0.25-1.20ppm. We investigated the effect of other metal ions, As(V), Cd(II), Cr(III), Hg(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II), or foreign ligands, EDTA, ascorbic acid, humic acid or sodium chloride on the determination of Cu(II) ion. A concentration column packed with acetohydroxamate resin combined with the above separation system was also used to determine of copper ion; the dynamic range is 2-15 ppb and the detection limit is 0.70ppb. The proposed system was applied to the analysis of Cu(II) in sea water.


Cybersmart Challenge activities are a fantastic way for schools to encourage internet safety and positive online behaviour in the classroom. With Safer Internet Day approaching on the 5th February 2012, schools are encouraged to sign up now for these activities which will be offered online throughout the day.


OBJECTIVE:To review the hepatic lesions cases induced by Polygonum multiflorum and to probe into the approach to the clinical monitoring on which.METHODS:The hepatic lesions cases induced by Polygonum multiflorum and the causes were analyzed.RESULTS:Polygonum multiflorum-induced hepatic lesion was caused by the toxic ingredients contained,the deficiency of liver enzymes,genetic genes or poor recognition on its side effects.CONCLUSION:Monitoring on liver function before and after administration of Polygonum multiflorum attenuates its damage on livers.


Background: Diffuse large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is stratified histologically as GCB and ABC phenotypes based on Hans algorithm. Besides this categorization, there is a paucity of molecular markers useful for predicting response to CHOP/R-CHOP chemotherapy and outcome of DLBCL patients. We performed miRNA profiling to identify potential miRNAs for their ability to predict response to chemotherapy and outcome in DLBCL patients.
 Methods: A total of 41 cases of histologically and immunohistochemically confirmed DLBCL cases who received R-CHOP/CHOP were included in this study after IRB approval. The follow up ranged from 7 to 2273 days with a mean of, 874 days. Cases in sustained complete remission for ≥ 1095 days were identified as "responders" whereas cases with partial response/stable disease or primary progressive disease were identified as"non-responders". In the first part of the study, miRNA transcriptome profiling was performed from lymph node tissue of 10 cases of DLBCL which included 3 responders and 7 non-responders (3 with refractory disease and 4 with relapse) for identification and selection of differentially expressed miRNAs. Total RNA was isolated from the biopsies, libraries constructed with ION TOTAL RNA-SEQ v2 and sequenced on S5 ION Torrent. The filtered reads were aligned to the reference genome hg19 using Bowtie. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by DESeq2. In the second part of the study, validation of the selected miRNAs was performed in a retrospective validation cohort of 41 cases including 17 responders and 24 non-responders by semi-quantitative qRT-PCR. ROC curves were obtained and best cut-off for the delta Ct values was selected for each of the miRNAs to distinguish the two cohorts of patients. In the third part of the study, an additional 38 cases of DLBCL were included prospectively as testing cohort, in whom mi-RNA were isolated from paired pre-treatment biopsy and plasma samples were evaluated for the expression of the selected miRNAs for prediction of response to treatment and outcome.
 Results: miRNA transcriptome profiling revealed a total of 30 differentially expressed miRNAs among DLBCL responders vs non-responders and the data was submitted to GEO database (GSE179760). The top 4 significantly downregulated miRNAs in non-responders selected for validation included miR-193b-5p, miR-671-5p, miR-1307-5p and miR-326 as shown in the volcano plot and heatmap in Fig.1. In-silico prediction for the interacting genes of the selected miRNAs revealed genes involved in lymphoma progression and chemoresistance . Validation by qRT-PCR revealed significant down-regulation of miR-1307-5p, miR-671-5p and miR-193b-5p in the non-responders compared to responders (Fig.2). There was no significant association of miRNA expression with disease stage, nodal or extranodal origin and the presence of B symptoms. However, the downregulation of miR-671-5p was found to be associated with the presence of B-symptoms. Downregulation of miR-193b-5p, miR-671-5p, miR-1307-5p expression showed a significant association with progression free survival as shown in Fig.3 (Spearman's correlation plot and Kaplan-Meier survival curves).
 In the prospective cohort of 38 DLBCL patients, all 3 miRNAs were expressed in cell free plasma and tissue but only miRNA-193b-5p showed correlation between them. Using the cut-off Ct values obtained from ROC curves of tissue miRNA levels in the validation cohort , 16/38 patients were predicted to be non-responders. The preliminary data showed that 8 of these 16 cases were correctly predicted (6 died of disease, 2 showed partial response). The remaining cases are still under follow-up. The treatment response could not be predicted on the corresponding plasma levels.
 Conclusion: Downregulation of miRNA-671-5p, miR-193b-5p and miR-1307-5p in pre-treatment biopsy samples is associated with poor outcome and shorter progression free survival and poor treatment response leading to refractory/relapse DLBCL, which needs confirmation in larger studies.
 Figure 1 Figure 1.

 No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The CHARA Array has been a PI led, low budget, and low manpower operation, and has followed a fairly unconventional path in its development. In this, the third paper of a series of three, we discuss some of the engineering and design decisions made along the way, some right and some wrong, with a focus on the choice between in-house development and the purchase of pre-built, or sub-contracted, subsystems. Along with these issues we will also address a few parts of the system that we might have done differently given our current knowledge, and those that somehow turned out very well.


SIR-The report of Capute et al. (DMCN, 26, 375-383). which sets forth a system of quantifying 'primitive' reflexes, is clearly an important attempt to provide more uniformity and 'harden' the existing soft developmental data. In a field in which normative information is still poorly established and in which multiple variables relate to development, it is a significant step in providing a more solid scienti3c basis for much-needed objective studies.


.S.Shahriar M easuring the am plitude and the absolute phase ofa m onochrom atic m icrowave (cid:12)eld at a speci(cid:12)c pointofspace and tim e has m any potentialappli-cations,including precise qubit rotations and wavelength quantum teleportation. H ere we show how such a m easurem ent can indeed be m ade using resonantatom ic probes,via detection ofincoherent(cid:13)uorescence induced by a laser beam . This m easurem ent is possible due to self-interference e(cid:11)ects between the positive and negative frequency com ponents ofthe (cid:12)eld.In e(cid:11)ect, the sm allclusterofatom shere actasa highly localized pick-up coil,and the (cid:13)uorescence channelacts asa transm ission line.