: Measurement of displacement and deformation of structures is a very demanding engineering task and is carried out on all existing and newly built bridges and other demanding structures. The results of the measured displacements are thus influenced by several atmospheric parameters, among which the temperature is exposed, since the measurements are usually carried out over the whole day at different seasons and conditions, where the temperature differences are significant. In this paper the influence of temperature on the geodetic measurements of the displacements of the steel structure in the unburdened state is presented. To this end, measurements of the steel bridge during the summer time were performed. The temperature and thermal imaging at various locations every half hour were investigated. To calculate the influence of the temperature on the position of the observed point some statistical methods were used. It is evident from the results that in this kind of geodetic measurements, temperature measurements are indispensable. By taking into account the temperature correction results that are very comparable with the predicted values of displacements which can be obtained. Not observing the temperature can result in misleading values of displacement which can lead to misinterpretation and consideration of the obtained value.


A discussion paper based on the British Accounting and Finance Association Financial Accounting and Reporting Special Interest Group (FARSIG) Colloquium, 13 January 2012.


The flow behavoiur of aliminum EN-AW 6060 is examined using different test methods at temperatures of 480 °C to 580 °C. Here, especially the comparison of the yield stress determined in tensile-, compression-, bulge and hot tube bulge test is of interest. The influence of strain rate, friction and temperature on the yield stress can be quantified. With the simulation of a hot-hydroforming process, the applicability of the hot tube bulge test for the record of material data is shown.


Objective: To study the effect of Fang- feng Tong- sheng Powder on nonalcoholic fatty liver in experimental rat model. Methods: 60 male SD adult rats were randomly divided into two groups after 2 weeksadaptive feeding,in which 12 ones were in normal control group( given to ordinary feed),and 48 ones in model- making group( given to high fat feed). At the second week start of a high- fat diet,48 SD rats were randomly divided into model control group( 12 rats) and treatment groups of low,medium and high dose Fang- feng Tong- sheng Powder. Until the 10th week Fang- feng Tong- sheng Powder in low,medium and high dose were respectively given to treatment groups: 6,12,16 g · kg- 1ig qd,and the administration had been for 2 weeks.Then the venous blood was drew to do biochemical examination,the rats were executed,and fresh liver were prepared into animal specimens. Results: Compared with in normal control group,liver function,blood lipid and liver steatosis degree were increased markedly and aggravatingly in model control group( P 0. 01). Compared with the model group,the difference was statistically significant in treatment groups on liver function,blood lipid and liver steatosis degree( P 0. 01). Conclusion: Fang- feng Tong- sheng Powder can obviously restore liver tissue,reduce the damage of liver cell,protect the liver function,and reduce blood lipid parameters on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.


"This is where the kids will spend all their time," Galen predicts, pausing at a railing on the bridge above the freeform swimming pool that opens up for a diving platform. "And here's where you can find me," says Ruth, moving down the bridge a few yards to her elevated "sunset deck" that projects to the farthest setback, allowing stunning views up and down the bayfront. Third-generation custom home builders in Wisconsin who decided to set down deeper roots in Sarasota after vacationing here for five years, the Manternachs knew exactly what they wanted from their new Florida home: a place where the entire growing brood could gather to create lifetime memories, but with plenty of private spaces to give everyone an occasional respite. They named their new home Casa de Familia.


A course in detail on having some devices that don't receive lest rules in layout design of electronic ignition controlling chip is researched to shrink the original layout.The layout of voltage function module is shrunk in this way for example.Furthermore,it passes design rule checking(DRC) and after the whole redesign is accomplished,it runs layout versus schematic(LVS).The tapeout result displays that it is feasible to shrink the original layout.With the rules of devices shrinking and devices floorplan optimized,the chip area is shrunk greatly,the price of design is reduced and the power dissipation is reduced.


Digitalization is the main characteristic of 21 st century, today is knowns as information society. Distribution of information more rapidly and affecting social life, it also affects education system. Digitalization of Education growth rapidly, and it does affect student as well. This research applied survey research method with design that used cross-sectional studies, the population are student of SMA Negeri 2 Tasikmalaya school year of 2018 th /2019 th , sampling with cluster random sampling. Data collection through questionnaire, unstructured interview and observation, validity checking with method triangulation and data analyzing with descriptive analyzing. The result is, student being addicted with technology proved by the uses of smartphone is in high percentage and the duration of smartphone uses is also high it makes student being familiar with digital world. Meanwhile if it's being correlated with education needed, the student lack of understanding with the beneficial of technology in education as well as learning. In fact, student being skeptic and not welcoming digitalization in learning. To build positive paradigms digital learning in student, teacher must have selected with using learning application and controlling the process of learning to prevent the unwanted things


The passion for teaching and history have been the north of an already experienced professional life.
I heard that Bernardo Valentim Moreira de Sa (1853-1924), a celebrated cultivator of classical music had written about book-keeping.
Surprise of the need to know him the action was. The discovery of the work and the meeting with his grand-daughter, the violloncelist Madalena Sa e Costa.
It appeared the writing "Book-keeping and Bernardo Moreira de Sa".
From a practical versa chapter of the "Guia de correspondencia e escripturacao commercial", with the first edition in 1878.
Aimed at professional accounting practice, his message is the dignity of Man. In a crystalline portuguese, we are led to a large comprehensive travel where the rigor of cross-language is the "business writing and knowledge related" to human life and what she holds most dear: the honour as a result of knowledge, labor and moral and ethical behavior.
Then, after Bernardo Moreira de Sa is the Man who, with his culture, knowledge, value and action opened, winning the prejudice of the hermetic accounting books.


The invention discloses the technical field of food processing and discloses a water membrane-type UV sterilization method. The method comprises 1, adjusting a position of an installation sleeve on a screw so that an upper clamping sleeve and a low clamping sleeve of the installation sleeve clamp and fix water film pipes, 2, opening a valve of a water purification flexible pipe so that raw material water goes through the water purification flexible pipe and enters the water film pipe, 3, turning on a UV lamp so that when the raw material water in the water film pipe goes through an expanded part, UV produced through the UV lamp penetrates a transparent water insulation sleeve and illuminates a water film with thickness of 1-2cm between the expanded part and the water insulation sleeve and thus primary sterilization is realized, 4, carrying out secondary sterilization on the flowing sterilized raw material water going through the expanded part through UV penetrating the adjacent water film pipe, and 5, discharging the raw material water subjected to the step 4 through a water outlet flexible pipe. The water membrane-type UV sterilization method improves a sterilization rate and has a low equipment cost.


With the development of high-power devices, thermal management is extremely important for modern electronics. Due to the tiny sizes of components, heat transfer from hot-spots on miniaturized and integrated devices...


In 1998, Borwein, Bradley, Broadhurst and Lison\v{e}k posed two families of conjectural identities among multiple zeta values, later generalized by Charlton using his alternating block notation. In this paper, we prove a new class of identities among multiple zeta values that simultaneously resolve and generalize these conjectures.


The DNA-directed assembly of proteins offers a promising route to the generation of spatially ordered multienzyme complexes (MECs), which are not accessible by conventional chemical crosslinking or genetic engineering. MECs with several catalytic centers arranged in a spatially defined way are abundant in nature. Mechanistic advantages of MECs are revealed during the multistep catalytic transformation of a substrate since reactions limited by the rate of diffusional transport are accelerated by the immediate proximity of the catalytic centers. Furthermore, the TMsubstrate-channeling∫ of intermediate products avoids side reactions. Artifical multienzymes would allow the development of novel catalytic systems for enzyme process technology that are capable of regenerating cofactors, as well as multistep chemical transformations; they are also useful for exploration of proximity effects in biochemical pathways. Herein we report the initial steps towards the development of artificial multienzyme complexes through the DNA-directed assembly of two enzymes, NAD(P)H:FMN Oxidoreductase (NFOR) and Luciferase (Luc), which catalyze two consecutive reaction steps (Figure 1). NFOR reduces flavin mononucleotide Figure 1. Schematic representation of the bienzymic reaction cascade catalyzed by NAD(P)H:FMN Oxidoreductase (NFOR) and Luciferase (Luc). R CH3(CH2)10 .


ABSTRACT: In this article, we discuss periodic properties of nonlinear fractional nabla difference systems. First, we prove that any given system of fractional nabla difference equations doesn't possess a nonconstant periodic solution. Next, we establish sufficient conditions on existence and uniqueness of S-asymptotically periodic solutions for the same. Finally, we provide few examples to illustrate the applicability of established results.


Dense lawns of tube worms modify their immediate environment. They alter sediment properties, offer refuge from predation and provide a settlement surface for larvae and small organ- isms. The terebellid polychaete Lanice conchilega is among the tube dwellers that, when present at high densities, alter the community structure of other benthic fauna. However, L. conchilega often occurs individually or at low densities over large areas, and it is not known whether single tubes also affect the surrounding fauna. In this study a low density population of L. conchilega (15.7 ± 15.6 m -2 ) was investigated on an exposed beach in South Wales, UK, from May 1998 to April 1999. Effects of single tubes and small groups of 2 to 5 tubes on the benthic community were examined over 1 yr. The relationship between L. conchilega and an associated amphipod (Urothoe poseidonis) was studied more closely in the field and the laboratory. Of a total of 56 species, 27 were found exclusively in sam- ples with L. conchilega tubes. In comparison with tube-free samples, species richness and abundance of individuals was significantly higher in samples containing L. conchilega tubes. The community structure differed significantly between samples containing groups of tubes and tube-free samples in 10 out of 11 cases and in 9 of 11 cases for samples with 1 tube compared to samples with no tubes. Throughout the year, the polychaete Eumida sanguinea and the haustoriid amphipod U. poseidonis benefited from the presence of L. conchilega. E. sanguinea lives among the fringe filaments of the tube top, and U. poseidonis inhabits areas deep in the sediment in close vicinity to the tube. Labora- tory experiments indicated that, unlike other haustoriids, the amphipod is not prone to bentho- pelagic migration but remains in the sediment for long periods of time and may benefit from an improved oxygen supply arising from L. conchilega's activity inside the tube. It is concluded that not only groups of tubes, but also single polychaete tubes bioengineer their environment.


The virtual supercell thunderstorm, scaled to match those commonly observed, can be viewed in a highly immersive CAVETM-like environment (a projection-based virtual reality environment) or on a desktop PC. The virtual storm represents an instant in time during the mature, roughly steady-state stage of a tornadic supercell, and includes such visually realistic features as a wall cloud, tornado, tail cloud, comma-shaped rain region, anvil cloud, mammatus, rear-flank downdraft clear slot, and shelf cloud. Audio representing the roar of the tornado, thunder, rain of varying intensity, and hail has been included.


The degree project at hand investigates how large areas of older forest (80 plus years) suitable for clear cutting there is on the Swedish island of Gotland. Large areas of older forest on Gotland are situated on land with shallow soil depths which are economically uninteresting and often unsuitable for clear cutting forestry. Other forests hold big nature conservation values and should not, or cannot, be used for forestry purposes.
The survey is made as a GIS analysis based on the old but carefully made "Brief forest inventory" (OSI) made in the 1980s and early 1990s. A sample from the inventory is combined with studies of orthophotos, satellite photos and other GIS layers that display estimated soil depth and nature conservation values.
Partly contrary to common belief, the survey shows that there are still large areas of older forest suitable for clear cutting forestry on the island. However, the numbers presented are significantly lower than those presented by the Swedish National Forest Inventory.


Environmental problems are analyzed here from a rural approach under the social sciences' perspective. Three political and collective action processes are addressed: the construction of a common sense space; the application of various kinds of knowledge in standardizing activities; and the emergence of new environmental territories. The text presents an analysis of rural societies in the past thirty years, highlighting striking challenges and paradoxes in the context of modernity. Key-words: rural aspects, the environment, social sciences, territory, ownership, modernity.


A 43-year-old white man and his 12-year-old daughter both displayed congenital lower lip pits. Since Van der Woude's description of this syndrome more than forty years ago, little attention has been given to this uncommon anomaly, probably due to variable expressivity, incomplete penetrance, and recognition of its clinical stigmata. We describe two family members with Van der Woude's syndrome and review its clinical aspects, differential diagnosis, and treatment.


Magnon linewidth of La1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 near the Brillouin zone boundary is investigated from both theoretical and experimental points of view. Abrupt magnon broadening is ascribed to a strong magnon-phonon coupling. Magnon broadening observed in cubic perovskite manganites is also discussed.


The subcellular localization and mobilization of carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule 8 (CEACAM8) was investigated quantitatively in human neutrophils. In resting neutrophils the majority of CEACAM8 was present in the secondary granules, and a small amount of CEACAM8 was present in a light membrane fraction. Stimulation of the neutrophils with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate caused a dramatic increase in the content of CEACAM8 in the light membrane fraction, suggesting a translocation of CEACAM8 to the plasma membrane from intracellular pools. The cellular content of CEACAM8 in the neutrophils was estimated to be 82·4 ± 8·9 ng/106 cells (mean ± SE, n = 10). Administration of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) to healthy individuals resulted in an increased content of CEACAM8 in neutrophils on day 1, which decreased on day 4. However, the content of CEACAM8 in the light membrane fraction was increased on day 4, possibly due to the stimulation by induced secondary cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). This study establishes the secondary granules as the major intracellular pools of CEACAM8 in human neutrophils, from which it may translocate to the plasma membranes upon stimulation of the cells. The translocation of CEACAM8 seen in vivo after G‐CSF administration is probably indirect and caused by cytokines such as TNF‐α.


In this history of the rise, development, and near-demise of Karl Barth's theology, Gary Dorrien carefully analyzes the making of the Barthian revolution and the reasons behind its simultaneously dominating and marginal character. He discusses Barth's relationship to his predecessors and contemporaries, as well as to modern theologians, and argues that his approach to theology was deeply indebted to his liberal past.


Photopolymer material (PPM) is the organic I i ght-sensi tive medium. Due to light irradiation the polymerization of the initial monomer occurs causing the refractive index change. Therefore these materials al low the phase hologram recording with the high diffraction efficiency (DE). PPM used in holography can be separated by the three types : - Ii quid PPM based on the I i quid monomers which polymer1zatlon takes place between two plate glasses, - solid PPM with polymer matrix photocross- linking, - amorfous PPM containing matrix polymer fi Im and monomer, initiator and sensibilizator. Liquid arid sol i d PPM are elaborated for holography E 1-4], but they are used for a long time in the field of microelect ronics, reprography arid other photoprocesses. Amorfous PPM was created especially for holographic purposes. It attracts users by the real- t i ne record I ng, fac I I I ty of nter I al deve 1opnnt without any wet process. PPM described in E 5, 6) and PPM of' Du Pont De Nemours [7] are the nteria1s of this kind. In the present paper the chemical approach in the elaboration of anrfous PPM for the hologram recording by the HeNe- laser I s descr I bed. The pecul I ar i t i es of the recording process i n the new PPM are also dIscussed.


Context Although outpatient, emergency department, and hospital visits have been used as indicators of sickle cell disease severity, the relationship between health care use and pain episodes has not been well described. Contribution Two hundred thirty-two patients with sickle cell disease completed a daily diary for 6 months, providing 31017 patient-days for analysis. Patients reported pain on 56% of total patient-days, crises on 13%, and health care utilization on 4%. Implication Patients with sickle cell disease frequently have pain but usually manage even severe pain without an outpatient, emergency department, or hospital visit. The Editors Pain may be severe and disabling for patients with sickle cell disease, a genetic erythrocyte disorder affecting persons of African, Mediterranean, or Asian descent (1, 2). Pain typically occurs in long bones, joints, the back, the abdomen, and the chest. Although the pathophysiology of pain and its exacerbations is complex and incompletely understood, a complex cascade of ischemia and vaso-occlusion in the microcirculation is believed to be involved (312). Sickle cell disease vaso-occlusive pain is responsible for most sickle cell disease medical contacts. The often episodic nature of these contacts leads many to conclude that patients do not have pain for most of their days. Caregivers have therefore traditionally used the term crisis to describe these contacts and their underlying episodic, acute pain exacerbations and have reserved the term chronic pain syndrome to describe pain from sickle cell disease complications, such as ankle ulcers or avascular necrosis (13). Higher-utilizing adults are at higher risk for death, so measuring medical contacts has clinical meaning (14). However, the relationship among daily reported sickle cell disease pain, crises, and utilization has not been described in large-scale, longitudinal epidemiologic studies. To better understand the epidemiology of daily pain in sickle cell disease, we examined the relationship among self-reported pain, crises, and health care utilization for pain in a cohort study of patients with sickle cell disease. Methods Study Design PiSCES (Pain in Sickle Cell Epidemiology Study) is a longitudinal study of pain in sickle cell disease, with particular emphasis on potentially mutable, causal, nonbiological variables. It is also a methodological study of the relationship among measures of pain, crises, and utilization in sickle cell disease. The methods of PiSCES are described in detail elsewhere (15, 16). In brief, we enrolled 308 patients from July 2002 through August 2004. We collected baseline information (including demographic characteristics and medical history), laboratory data (blood and urine samples), and up to 180 daily pain diaries. We recruited patients 16 years of age or older from across Virginia; most were from the Richmond and Tidewater areas. Sources included statewide sickle cell chapters, clinics and emergency departments, referrals from other patients and health departments, and direct recruiting through health fairs and radio public service announcements. Both the study and our recruitment methods were approved by the institutional review board of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. We invited potentially eligible patients for an enrollment visit, at which time we obtained informed consent. Patients received routine care for their sickle cell disease from either community-based physicians or sickle cell specialist physicians associated with academic medical centers (2 physicians at Virginia Commonwealth University serving the Richmond area, and 1 physician associated with Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, serving the Tidewater region). Emergent care for the cohort was provided in emergency departments regardless of the patients' usual source of ambulatory care. No day hospitals for sickle cell disease are located in the region. Diary Data Patients filled out daily diaries for up to 6 months. They were encouraged (at the initial baseline visit and with reminder calls by study staff) to complete the diary each day and return it by mail using provided, stamped envelopes. They received payment for each returned diary, with a higher payment in the latter 2 months of the study to encourage study completion. We modeled the diary after that of the Multicenter Study of Hydroxyurea (17). We asked patients to report the following, among other things, about the previous 24 hours in their diary: their worst sickle cell pain intensity, on a scale from 0 (none) to 9 (unbearable), and whether they were in a sickle cell crisis, had taken medication for their pain (and if so, what), or had gone for an unscheduled physician visit or emergency department visit or had been hospitalized because of sickle cell pain. Crises were self-defined by each patient. Statistical Analysis For analysis, we defined unplanned health care utilization as an unscheduled clinic visit, emergency department visit, or overnight hospitalization. We defined opiate use on home care days as use of any opiates on days when the patient was not seen at the hospital for their sickle cell pain (in either the emergency department or overnight hospitalization). We constructed crisis episodes and utilization episodes by counting groups of 1 or more contiguous crisis days as single crisis episodes and contiguous utilization days as single utilization episodes. Missing diary days that were immediately preceded and followed by crisis days or by utilization days were considered part of the same crisis or utilization episode, respectively. We used generalized estimating equation methods with a logit link (logistic regression, controlling for repeated measures within a patient) to determine whether occurrence of pain, crisis, or unplanned health care utilization varied daily across patient characteristics, controlling for clustering of diary days within patients. We estimated the probability of experiencing the outcomes, along with the 95% CIs, by using the generalized estimating equation parameter estimates and empirical SEs. To study the relationship between the proportion of pain days experienced by patients and the mean intensity of pain, we grouped patients into 6 categories according to their increasing proportion of pain days (calculated as the proportion of diary days with reported pain intensity greater than 0): 5% or less, 6% to 25%, 26% to 50%, 51% to 75%, 76% to 95%, and 96% to 100%. We used mixed-model analysis of variance to evaluate the differences in pain intensity across these groups, controlling for clustering of diary days within patients, and we performed separate analyses for pain days, crisis days, and noncrisis pain days. Least-squares means are reported. To understand the relationship among self-reported pain, crises, and utilization, we placed diary days into 1 of 4 mutually exclusive, ordinal categories by severity. From most to least severe, the categories were days with any unplanned health care utilization for sickle cell disease pain, regardless of self-reported crises; days with self-reported crises without unplanned health care utilization; pain days without utilization or crisis; and pain-free days. We calculated the proportion of all days that fell into these 4 categories, estimating and comparing mean pain intensity across the categories by using mixed-model analysis of variance, which controlled for repeated measures (days within patients). To describe the coincidence of crisis and utilization for each patient, we classified days as to whether the patient had a crisis and whether unplanned health care utilization occurred and computed the percentage of diary days for each of the 4 categories. We then calculated the mean and SD of these percentages over all patients. This method adjusted for the varying number of diaries contributed by each patient. We also used mixed-model regression analysis to see whether unplanned utilization was predictive of self-reported crisis, after controlling for pain intensity. To determine whether crisis and utilization episodes overlapped, we compared the dates when each type of episode occurred and counted the overlap. We used crisis episodes as a denominator, determining how often utilization episodes overlapped with them, then did the same by using utilization episodes as denominator. By counting any missing diary days surrounded on both sides by crisis or utilization days as part of a single episode, we maximized the chance of overlap. Analyses were conducted by using SAS, version 9 for Windows (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina). Role of the Funding Source The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provided an unrestricted grant for this project. The funding source had no influence on the planning, conduct, analysis, or publication of this study or its results. Results Three hundred eight patients enrolled in PiSCES and completed baseline surveys. Twenty-three patients (7.5%) sent in no diaries. Of the remaining 285 patients, we excluded 53 (19%) because they completed fewer than 30 diaries. The remaining 232 patients constitute the analysis sample. Patients in the analysis sample were similar to those excluded except for age; the patients who did not complete sufficient diaries tended to be younger (mean age, 28.3 years vs. 32.6 years; P= 0.012). We included a total of 31017 diaries (patient-days) in this analysis. The median number of diaries completed was 158, about 85% of the diaries requested. When patients were grouped by the number of diaries submitted (30 to 59, 60 to 90, and so on), we found no statistically significant differences among groups in terms of pain, crisis, or utilization. Table 1 contains a description of the analysis sample (n= 232), including probabilities of a pain day, crisis day, and utilization day, adjusted for repeated measures within patients. More than half of studied patients were female, 87% graduated f


The globalization of trade, the accelerated pace of innovation and the increasing segmentation and market transformation represent so many aspirations threats than opportunities for businesses. Indeed, it is vital to integrate more and more information in order to reduce the uncertainty generated by this new environment. The business intelligence reports although this fact by allowing these companies to make anticipatory listening weak signals of their socio-economic environment in order to discover the creative opportunities and reduce uncertainty in order to make the right decisions.


This study aims to investigate the teenagers' life of Bajo society in Bokori of Soropia, Konawe related to their life skill education. The results reveal that (1) the Bokori community in Soropia Konawe is generally very enthusiastic about the life skill the teenagers in this village. According to them, life education is very important because with these skills, they will be able to support the future and to solve and overcome the problems they face in life. (2) the implementation of life skills education for teenagers in Bokori is good enough. It is seen from the efforts made by parents who accustom their children to work from the early age, teach their children working theory and practice, and motivate them. In the implementation of the life skill education, there are several supportive factors, namely the existence of a network and cooperation with people and institutions that exist in Soropia, and their teachers are professionals. In addition, in the implementation of life skill education, there are also some obstacles, namely financial factors or funding which is the most important factor, lack of facilities and infrastructure, lazy teenagers, and limited time allocation. The efforts undertaken to overcome these obstacle are establishing the relationship and cooperation with the people and institutions that schools and offices, developing tolerance and guidance to teenagers, and maximizing existing activities. Unfortunately, most of teenagers prefer to work as sailorman because of the higher income that a handyman salary


Reutilization of waste rubber as aggregate in cement concrete is a green way to dispose the waste tires. And many results have been reported on the properties of rubberized concrete in recent years.This paper summarizes,compares the findings of recent studies, in terms of the improvement of performance of rubberized concrete,reduction of its mechanical properties and the interfacial modification methods to highlight the key characteristics of the material. Moreover,recommendations for future work and directions for this field of research have been detailed.


In the study of the phosphate nutrition of plants it is of importance to know what relation exists between the soil solution and the absorption of phosphate by the growing plant, concerning the power to do which, there is a difference of opinion. Some emphasize the effect of carbon dioxide arising from the respiration of the roots ; others suggest an internal factor related to the metabolism of the plant. The question of the rate of supply as well as the effect of concentration is of great importance in the interpretation of results of soil and solution culture experimentation. This has been overlooked by certain of the earlier plant physiologists and has led to an emphasis of the importance of the action of the roots on the soil particles. There is, however, ample experimental evidence to show the ability of plants to absorb phosphate from solutions comparable in phosphate concentration with the soil solution. Thus Birner and Lucanus (4) and Beyer (3) as early as 1870 had shown the ability of oat plants to make normal growth in well water containing 2 ppm. P04 and Schloesing fils (13) and Kossowitch (9) arrived at similar conclusions some thirty years later. Schloesing fils found 1 ppm. P04 adequate for certain plants and concluded that the soil solution supplied at least the major part of the phosphate absorbed from the soil. Kossowitch recognized a difference between flax and mustard and suggested that this was due to effect of the carbon dioxide formed by the roots. Hoagland and Martin (7), using solution cultures, obtained good growth of barley at 0.7 ppm. PO4. Somewhat better growth occurred in similar solutions containing 2.4 ppm. and 9.0 ppm. PO4. The role of calcium carbonate in limiting absorption from rock phosphates has been indicated by Prianischnikow (12), Breazeale (5) and others. Apparently the carbonic acid arising from root respiration is neutralized by the calcium carbonate with the formation of calcium bicarbonate which depresses the solubility of calcium phosphate. It seems that carbonic acid may be an important agent in the solution of soil phosphates, but


In [9] Thilliez proved a Borel-Ritt type theorem for Beurling ultraholomorphic classes defined via weight sequences. Under the same assumptions as in Thilliez's result, we show in the present article the existence of a continuous linear extension map (i.e. a continuous linear right inverse for the asymptotic Borel map) in these classes. This improves a previous result by Schmets and Valdivia [8].


The Hinode area of Itako City in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, suffered some of the most severe liquefaction damage of any areas in the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake in 2011. This liquefaction damage has been investigated by Itako City, as well as by universities and research institutes in Japan. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has carried out numerous investigations along the Tone River, and in particular, intensive surveys were done in the Hinode area. We have conducted a risk analysis based on the thickness and depth of the liquefaction layer measured using cone penetration testing (CPT) data and electric resistivity data obtained in the Hinode area. The distribution of the risk estimated from CPT at 143 points, and that obtained from analysis of the resistivity survey data, agreed with the distribution of actual damage. We also carried out conventional risk analyses method using the liquefaction resistance factor (FL) and liquefaction potential index (PL) methods with CPT data. The results show high PL values over the entire area, but their distribution did not agree well with actual damage in some parts of the study area. Because the analysis of the thickness and depth of the liquefaction layer, using geophysical prospecting methods, can cover a widespread area, this method will be very useful in investigating liquefaction risk, especially for gas and water pipelines. The Hinode area of Itako City in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, suffered severe liquefaction damage in the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake in 2011. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has carried out numerous investigations in the area. We have conducted risk analysis using cone penetration testing and electric resistivity data. The distribution of the risk estimated from both data sets is in agreement with the distribution of actual damage.


Remote sensing data is an important data source that can provide valuable information about urban expansion and urban land cover and land use changes at various scales. Due to the increasing spatiotemporal dimensions of the remote sensing data, traditional classification algorithms may not be able to classify such data. In this regards, two key issues should be taken into account: firstly, the challenges of the images fusion of the optical multi-source remote sensing data (MRSD) to seek the possibility of improvement in classification accuracy for urban change mapping. Secondly, monitoring and detecting the change and the interrelationship between land cover and land use within urban areas are spectrally and spatially complex. Therefore, this paper aims to test and compare three classification algorithms (maximum likelihood (ML), decision trees (DT), and support vector machines (SVM)) for their ability to infer and extract urban land cover/land use across five different years using Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and ASTER images. Image pre-processing and postprocessing were conducted on each scene along five different dates to obtain classification maps of Newcastle city, UK. Thereafter, the three aforementioned classifiers were used and applied on the combined data, which contained thirty-three bands in order to evaluate their effectiveness at separating urban land cover/land use types. The classification approaches were implemented using ERDAS IMAGINE 2013 and coding by MATLAB. The results indicate that the overall accuracy of three classification maps using ML, DT, and SVM classifiers was 71.09%, 73.05% and 83.20%, respectively. The classification maps present significant enhancement in the spectral and spatial resolution using optical MRSD compared to the one source of remote sensing data.


This paper depicts the plan of a 3.3 GHz 3 phase Ring Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO). So as to accomplish broad  range at GHz frequencies 3 phase ring oscillator based VCO is planned utilizing disparity defer unit. The linearity is accomplished over a broad modification array beginning 1.4 GHz to 3.7 GHz while keep up the stage clamor - 116 dBc/Hz at 3.3GHz.The structured VCO is  utilizing Cadence 180nm CMOS procedure and VCO expends 8.58 mA present and 15.4mW force from a 1.8V force gracefully. The structured VCO is producing recurrence of 3.3 GHz more than a heat extends beginning 0o C to 65o C. The VCO have been establish to effort for every one Process V and T conditions.


From chemical functionalization of an inorganic substrate to protection/passivation of a nanocluster/nanoparticle surface, the organic–inorganic interface is key to chemistry of many materials. Herein computational insights into the structure, bonding, and energetics of several representative covalent organic–inorganic interfaces are reviewed mainly from the authors' work and based on density functional theory. We start with the zero-curvature substrates including graphene, metal surfaces, and MoS2 and discuss their covalent functionalization by the attachment of the aryl group via the diazonium chemistry. We then move on to large-curvature, ligand-protected gold nanoclusters where we focus on the ligand–gold interface. The theoretical studies have produced both general trends that help understand the experimental results and specific predictions that have been confirmed or are yet to be verified. Opportunities abound in coupling theory and experiment to understand the roles of the covalent organic–inorga...


Over the last couple of years the banking industry has seen a remarkable trend towards concentration. The aim of this study is to examine this tendency and its consequences for the German market. We analyze commercial lending in Germany from 1970 to 2003 for all banks active on the German market, aggregated into 6 bank groups, and 8 broadly defined industries, covering most of the loan volume to domestic corporations. Our paper extends previous studies on competition and concentration in banking in several respects. Firstly, we deviate from the commonly assumed homogenous product market assumption and treat loans made to different industries separately. Secondly, we introduce a new methodology, i.e. distance measures, to assess the loan market structure. Overall, we find that concentration has increased and therefore competition decreased. Concentration of the bank groups' loan portfolios has also gone up except for the branches of foreign banks. The use of distance measures reveals that at the same time the bank groups' loan portfolios have become much more similar to the industry composition of the whole loan market. Concentration of the financing mixes of single industries has changed in different ways, while becoming closer to the market average.


The accurate analysis of complex planar resonators using the finite element method often requires the evaluation of the elements of a large matrix. This is computationally expensive. In this contribution it is shown that by using the fast Fourier transform together with asymptotic forms of the Green's function the computation time can be greatly reduced allowing the solution of relatively complex problems on a small computer.


A modification of the traditional power-law (PL) model of viscosity has been proposed for the single-relaxation-time (SRT) or Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) and multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann methods (LBM). The model used in this investigation is a modification of the two-parameter power-law, that agrees well with Boger's data, and correctly represents the lower and upper regions of Newtonian behavior characteristic of pseudoplastic polymer melts and solutions.  In modified power-law (MPL) viscosity model two distinct new shear-rate parameters governing the flow have been identified for SRT and MRT LBM. For the traditional PL the definition of the Reynolds number ( Re PL ) is not independent of the power-law index but Re MPL is independent of power-law index for the MPL. The proposed MPL model is validated for the lid-driven cavity  and channel flows  respectively and then applied for pseudoplastic or shear-thinning fluid flows through a backward facing step and compared the results obtained from SRT and MRT LBM that shows excellent agreement.


In a study of 80 juvenile diabetic patients, chronic pyelonephritis was found histologically in seven (9%) of open renal biopsies. Twelve patients (15%) had positive urine cultures. No patient had a positive renal-biopsysite culture. Three patients (4%) had positive renal-tissue cultures. There was essentially no correlation found between the presence of positive urine cultures, positive tissue cultures, and the histological diagnosis of chronic pyelonephritis. It is suggested that factors other than the continued presence of bacteria in the kidney may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic pyelonephritis.


ABSTRACT In this paper we consider the experience of implementing the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) in three regions in Finland, Norway and Denmark. We highlight the challenges each of these 'strong innovator' regions has faced in implementing S3. We elucidate the fact that each region faced different challenges when implementing S3. We extend a discussion around place-based policy, which is designed in a regionally bespoke and bottom-up manner, suggesting that this will inherently throw up unique and variable place-based challenges, questioning how to balance this uniqueness of problems with a universally applicable approach and support infrastructure.


Ethanol extract of clove exhibited antidepressant activity by inhibited monoamine oxidase and reuptake monoamine neurotransmitter receptors as well as aceton extract of banana peels could supply tryptophan into the brain. This study tested the extract combination of clove and banana peels which aimed to increased antidepressant-like activity. In this study uses five treatment groups which each group were given orally with 0.5% CMC-Na, Sertraline 6,5 mg/ kgBB, ethanol extract of clove 200 mg/kgbb, acetone extract of banana peels 200 mg/kgbb, and extract combination of clove and banana peels (1:1) 400 mg/kg during 7 days. Methods for made mice depression used chronic mild stress for 4 weeks and the method used antidepressants test were Tail Suspension Test, Forced Swimming Test and Open Field Test. The result statistically analysis used MANOVA test and continued with LSD (p<0.05). The results showed significant reduced (p<0.05) the immobility time (IT) and climbing , but did not influence of duration of grooming, rearing and central square. The combination extract of clove and banana peels were able to showed antidepressant activity based on a decreased in immobility time (30%) and climbing (50%) compared with control.


Permanent deformation of asphaltic mixtures in the Metropolitan Area of Valle de Aburra – Antioquia, which are built under IVIAS' specifications (Instituto Nacional de Vias) and Valle de Aburra, were studied by employing a constitutive model proposed previously. This model had proved to be effective in predicting deformations of asphaltic mixtures in the United Kingdom under different kinds of loads; under uniaxial and triaxial conditions and temperatures at intervals between 0 oC and 40 oC. For the specific case of Valle de Aburra, temperatures ranged between 20 oC and 50 oC and the model was implemented in order to predict susceptibility to permanent deformation. By means of an experimental study on mixtures, it was found that their behavior under steady state condition followed the model modified by Cross2, thus mixtures showed a visco-linear and non-linear behavior at low and high stress levels, respectively. It was observed that under loading and unloading conditions, there is a temperature dependence on the material behavior, which was properly predicted by Arrhenius3 under the studied temperatures interval. When modeling mixtures behavior, it was found that that their strain susceptibility varied widely depending on the constituent materials, especially on the aggregate, in spite of the fact that the mixtures are similar.


This paper endeavors to track the trajectories of individual horocycles on \modsurf. It is far more common to study \emph{sets} of such trajectories, seeking some asymptotic behavior using an averaging process (see section \ref{previous}). Our work is only marginally related to these efforts.
We begin by examining horocycles defined using the pencil of circles whose common point (in the words of the Nielsen-Fenchel manuscript \cite{wF}) is $\infty$. The orbits involved in this case are closed and long --- judged by arc length between two points compared to the hyperbolic distance between them. Using Ford circles of Farey sequences we find their lifts to the Standard Fundamental Region (SFR) and find points of these lifts making given angles with a horizontal. Next, we offer two algorithms, both involving continued fractions, of locating points whose angle with the horizontal is near any target angle and whose lifts are near any given point in the SFR.
Next, we study the homotopy classes of horizontal horocycles as we descend to the real axis. We find these are stable during descent between encounters of the horizontal horocycle with elliptic fixed points. Such encounters change --- complicate --- the homotopy classes. We give these explicitly down to height $1/(2\sqrt{3})$.
Finally we do an initial study of the open (infinite length) horocycle path with unit euclidean radius anchored at $\phi -1$, where $\phi$ is the Golden Mean. Enough information is adduced to suggest that this single doubly infinite path is transitive.


Most of the work done previously on the value of fertilizer residues has been on acid, neutral or slightly calcareous soils so experiments were started in 1955 on the calcareous soils of the Sherborne series (derived from Jurassic Limestone). These soils are also very heterogeneous and they therefore present problems in soil analysis. In the design used, phosphorus and potassium were applied annually at three levels to main-plots for a 'buildup' period. Whole-plots were then divided into sub-plots for 'testing' with three levels of phosphorus or potassium. Field testing will not be completed until 1964 but the summarised results of the test crop in 1961 at one centre are given.

Some results of a small experiment on the Lulsgate soil series (derived from Carboniferous limestone) are also included. In this experiment nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were applied annually for several years and then the plots were split for an o vs. NPK test.

Soil samples were taken from all the plots after the build-up period and soluble P was determined by various methods.

For a method of analysis to be useful in advisory work certain criteria must be satisfied. The acetic acid-sodium acetate and sodium bicarbonate methods came nearest to meeting these requirements and on these calcareous soils unbuffered acid extractants are much less useful.


The present research attempts to recover network failure in complicated network topology by focusing on tie-sets. A tie-set implies a set of links constituting a cycle. Tie-sets enable entire networks to be divided into smaller local units of tie-sets which encompass all network vertices and links. These units realize network management for quick and flexible failure recovery. This paper first introduces the concept of tie-sets, and then proposes a recovery method for single link failure. The latter half of the paper deals with the efficacy of failure recovery in different spanning trees. In order to realize quick failure recovery, the paper also proposes a method of determining an optimal spanning tree.


The high-strength concrete could be achieved by using the clinker with the incorporation of cementitious material such as GGBS. However, the use of GGBS as a partial replacement for OPC could retard the strength performances at an early age due to the slow reactivity of slag. In the precast industry, the minimal initial strength of concrete is the most important factor for the demolding of concrete elements. Thus, the improvement on the early strength could be made by using the thermal treatment (steam curing) and a combination of GGBS with highly reactive material such as RHA. In the present study, the performance of pozzolanic and cementitious products was evaluated through the compressive strength and water absorption rate. The results show that the mixture which consists of 40 wt.% cement used with blended GGBS and RHA at ratios of 50, and 10 wt.%, respectively, performed better under the steam curing regimes. The inclusion of RHA-GGBS as a partial replacement for cement could provide a synergic effect by improving the compressive strength value and giving a low water absorption rate of the high-strength concrete.


In this paper, a graphic analysis technique is applied to evaluate the fetal heart rate variability (HRV) extracted from fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) signals recorded directly from the abdominal wall of pregnant women during their labor phase. First, the FECG is extracted from the abdominal composite recordings by using a combination of two techniques: Periodic Component Analysis (PiCA) and Recursive Least Squares (RLS) adaptive filtering. Then, the fetal HRV is assessed with the nonlinear Poincaré plot analysis. The experimental results show that the Poincaré plot analysis can be successfully used on the extracted FECG signal to directly evaluate the fetal HRV without the need of using any external reference signal.


This thesis intends to explore the expressions of character's narcissism personality,the forbidden love under the narcissism personality and their tragic destiny in Edgar Allan Poe's"The Fall of the House of Usher"by using Kohut's theories in Self-Psychology.


A sea ice effect representation scheme which consider the nonlinear dependence of sea-air flux exchange on underlying surface characteristics better is used here to deal with the sub-grid scale sea ice inhomogenities in a coupled model. The coupled model has been integrated for 50 years and the simulated results of sea ice in high northern latitudes have been analyzed and validated. The results show that the sea ice effect representation scheme is rational and that the coupled model can reproduce the main geographical distribution features of sea ice in high northern latitudes well.


Arylidenes have been utilized as a scaffold for synthesis of different heterocyclic compounds such as thiazolo(3,2-a)pyridine, pyridinium salt of pyrano(2,3-d)pyrimidine and 2-thioxotetrahydropyrimidine derivatives. The effect of acidic medium, different nucleophiles and/ or electrophiles has been studied on thioxotetrahydropyrimidine derivative. The synthesized compounds have been screened for their in vitro antioxidant activity.


A series of experiments have been performed designed to confirm recently published calculations of the Fresnel corrected interfrequency correlation function of the time varying rough surface scatter channel. The experiments were performed in a physical model facility using a wind driven water surface. Preemphasized pulse probing was used to extract instantaneous transfer functions over a domain of 200 kHz-1.3 MHz. The results indicate good agreement with theory especially for large surface roughness and frequency domains higher than the cutoff of the coherent transfer function of the channel.


Summary. Uterine blood flow and myometrial activity were measured simul-taneously in anaesthetized sheep 15 days after a sterile (non-pregnant group) or fertile (pregnant) mating. During the peri-implantation period uterine blood flow was similar in both groups of animals, but spontaneous myometrial activity was greatly reduced in pregnant ewes. This 'block' of myometrial activity was associated with circulating levels of progesterone which were significantly higher (2\m=.\8 \m=+-\ 0\m=.\8 ng/ml, mean \m=+-\ s.e.m.) than those in non-pregnant animals (0\m=.\4 \m=+-\ 0\m=.\3 ng/ml). Adenosine injected into the uterine artery produced uterine vasodilatation in both groups, but the log dose\p=n-\response was significantly less in pregnant than in non-pregnant animals (P < 0\m=.\001).Myometrial activity was stimulated by adenosine, particularly in the pregnant group (P < 0\m=.\001). Vascular and myometrial effects were potentiated by a previous infusion of dipyridamole. Occlusion of the uterine artery produced reactive hyperaemia, and oestradiol infused close-arterially induced vasodilatation after a lag phase of about 30 min. Our results are consistent with a hypothesis that vascular and myometrial cells in the uterus may contain two types of adenosine receptor, one mediating excitatory and the other inhibitory responses, and that both responses are modified by the presence of a conceptus. The results also support the idea that oestrogens produce uterine vasodilatation by increasing the local concentration of vasoactive substances.


Isolated nuclei incorporate few methyl groups into RNA when they are incubated with S-adenosyl[methyl-3H3]methionine and four ribotriphosphates. When the nuclei were supplemented with a soluble total cell protein extract, the incorporation of methyl groups into RNA was stimulated 3-6-fold. All classes of RNA were methylated. Methylation of the 2'-OH of ribose and the bases of ribosomal RNA occurred predominantly on endogenous ribosomal RNA precursors, with a minority (20%) occurring on the newly synthesized rRNA precursor. Methylation of the tRNA precursor occurred on both endogenous (40%) and newly synthesized (60%) molecules. The methylation of adenosine in hnRNA occurred predominantly on molecules transcribed in vitro and was sensitive to 1 microgram/mL alpha-amanitin. A final site of methylation was the 7 position of guanosine of the cap structure. About 10% of the RNA polymerase II transcripts were capped in vitro. Capping was blocked 90% by 1 microgram/mL alpha-amanitin and was independent of the presence of the cell protein extract.


The article deals with the leading theories of education content structuring and determines the present day tendencies in education curriculum development. The historic nature of the content of education is asserted. The philosophical and pedagogical approaches providing for the development of theories of education content structuring are considered. Some specific features of education content development in teaching foreign languages on the basis of different theories of education content structuring are singled out.


At present, there are three available options for surgical thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair: conventional open surgery, total endovascular repair, and a hybrid approach, involving conventional surgical and endovascular techniques. Each modality has a different risk/benefit profile, requiring careful patient selection. Spinal cord injury (SCI) due to compromised blood supply following extensive segmental artery (SA) sacrifice is a daunting complication observed with all three approaches.

A thorough understanding of the response of the spinal cord vasculature to SA sacrifice is essential to minimize the incidence of SCI after open or endovascular repair of TAAA. For over a decade, perioperative spinal cord protection during TAAA repair has been investigated in Dr. Griepp's laboratory at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Clinical and experimental work have provided insight into the anatomy of the extensive vascular network surrounding the spinal cord, and its dynamic response to SA sacrifice. This new understanding of spinal cord perfusion has been termed the Collateral Network Concept (CNC) (1).


Aerial Discovery Manual. C. H. Strandberg. John Wiley, London, 1967. 249 pp. Illustrations. 140s. To be reviewed. Aeroplane Directory of British Aviation incorporating Who's Who in British Aviation. 1968-69 edition. The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. Middlesex. 1968. 512 pp. 50s. Aripi Romanesti. Ion Gudgu et al. Editura Militara, Bucuresti, 1966. 280 pp. Illustrated. 23 lei. A history of Rumanian Aviation. The Fighting Triplanes. Evan Hadingham. Hamish Hamilton, London, 1968. 240 pp. Illustrations. 63s. To be reviewed. The Great Air Race. Arthur Swinson. Cassell, London. 1968. 236 pp. Illustrations. 36s. To be reviewed. Handbook for Agricultural Pilots. International Agriculture Aviation Centre—The Hague, 1968. 130 pp. Diagrams. US $3.50. A second edition, which now includes the use of helicopters in aerial work, as well as new developments since the first edition was published in 1963; this was reviewed very favourably in the JOURNAL for March 1964 (p. 210) as an essential part of the equipment of any budding, or even experienced, agricultural pilot. Hovercraft Design and Construction. G. H. Elsley and A. J. Devereux. David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1968. 262 pp. Illustrations. 84s. To be reviewed.


X-ray CT measurements are affected by a multitude of influence facto rs, among which the correct estimation of the CT system geometry is of major importance. The presence of geometrical misalignme nt and/or the wrong estimation of system geometry, indeed, leads to artifacts and distortions in the measured volume, and to measurement errors when performing metrological tasks. That is why it is important to quantify the effects of geometrical misalignmen ts or misestimation on CT measurement accuracy. In this work, the effects of detector misalignment are experimentally inv estigated on a metrology CT system. Physical misalignments were purposefully induced on a flat-panel detector for in vest gating the influence of a detector out of plane rotation on measurement results. The experimental results show the effects o f the induced detector misalignment on centerto-center measurements, diameter and form measurements on a calibrated ball bar . The effects of the amplitude o f the angular misalignment induced are also shown.


For the application of excitation parameters in transformer protection,the inductance identification method of three-phase three-limb transformer was proposed.Based on the characteristic of magnetic circuit,a mathematic model which links the voltages induced by the main fluxes and the currents of the windings was established.For transformers with Y/Y connection,using main flux induced voltage,the excitation inductances can be calculated accurately and steadily under conditions of normal operation,inrush current and external faults,and the characteristics are distinct from internal faults.The delta side circulating current is no part of excitation currents of three-phase three-limb transformers,so with main flux induced voltage replaced with winding voltage,the proposed method can be applied to transformers with Y/? connection directly.In this case,the excitation inductances can be calculated under inrush condition,and can be taken as identification criterion for inrush current in differential protection of the transformer.The proposed method is validated by unified magnetic equivalent circuit(UMEC) transformer model.


Probability-based sampling designs for aerial surveys have been proven useful for use on estimating wintering waterfowl abundances in large sample areas (e.g. Mississippi Alluvial Valley). The effectiveness of these approaches for estimating abundance of migrating waterfowl or in smaller-scale areas has yet to be assessed. I implemented and evaluated a novel grid-based, stratified random sampling design to estimate weekly waterfowl abundance within the Lower Wabash River floodplain in southeastern Illinois, and southwestern Indiana, USA during spring 2012 and 2013. My results suggest high waterfowl use in this region during spring, with a peak estimate of > 700,000 ducks in early February. Satisfactory estimates of precision and repeatability suggest the method was an effective approach for applying probability-based sampling designs to small regions and improves upon widely used aerial inventory designs. With appropriate modifications, this method may be useful in other regions or with other taxa to provide robust population estimates of priority species.


Significance
 Rising Chinese imports and falling inventories point to demand exceeding supply at present. However, concerns over how quickly, reliably and fully oil consumption will recover cloud the outlook for prices, alongside doubts over the ability of OPEC+ to maintain supply restraint in the face of rising output by non-OPEC producers.

 Impacts
 Higher oil prices will bring some fiscal relief to oil-producing countries, but the financial position of many will remain weak.
 The price increase is unlikely to reverse the recent pivot of European oil majors towards more sustainable technologies.
 OPEC+ cooperation will continue given the common interest in stable prices, but less cohesion will moderate the group's ambition.
 Libyan oil output, which had resumed 2019 levels, is facing more disruption and the prospects for higher Iranian output remain uncertain.


Considerable attention is currently focused on using information technology to obtain and maintain competitive advantage. Numerous mini-cases have been used to illustrate the use of information systems for competitive advantage, and various conceptual frameworks have been proposed to aid in the identification of such applications. Much of this work is grounded in a single concept of strategy formulation, an approach that we refer to as "top-down." A survey of senior information system executives demonstrates the potential problems of relying on a top-down approach. A second, "adaptive" approach, appears to offer potential value for the identification of competitive applications in organizations facing considerable environmental turbulence or in which senior strategists are relatively uninformed about information system resources. Five organizational roles are defined that can help support this adaptive approach. cover of widely read business magazines INTRODUCTION (Fortune. 1985; Business Week, 1985). Continued decline in the unit cost of computer Such attention is welcome legitimization for inhardware and steady improvement in the flexiformation systems managers who have worked bility and power of computer software have led for years to communicate the exciting potential to dramatic growth in the use of information of information technology. But management's technology in American business. Applications new interest in competitive information systems have proliferated rapidly beyond corporate walls presents a difficult challenge for information to encompass suppliers, distributors and consystems managers, who frequently find themsumers, and consequently, some applications of selves charged with responsibility for identifying information technology have acquired the uland implementing strategic applications. Altimate label of respectability: they are called though management attention has been focused "strategic" in business journals (McFarlan, on the potential of competitive information sys1985), and featured within, and even on the tems, there is a dearth of practical, and even


The current issue of Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy is dedicated to novel aspects of emerging infectious threats in transfusion medicine. The articles in this issue focus on Plasmodium [1, 2] and viral threats like West Nile virus (WNV) and SARS-CoV-2 [3, 4], reflecting current national test strategies and requirements. In recent 2 years, issues related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have dominated medical reporting. Since early 2020, all blood establishments worldwide are challenged by the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic. The transfusion medical facilities were able to ensure the supply of blood products during the pandemic, even under very difficult conditions. Beyond this, transfusion medicine facilities also played a role in overcoming the crisis, whether by providing COVID-19 convalescent plasma [5], by SARS-CoV-2 testing [6], by vaccination campaigns [7], or establishing laboratory tests in the context of the complications associated with vaccination [8]. At the onset of the pandemic, the situation of SARS-CoV-2-infected blood donors was unclear with respect to the transfusion-transmission (TT) risk of the virus: Chinese investigators reported the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the plasma of asymptomatic blood donors already during the spring 2020, indicating the possible risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 by transfusion [9]. Meanwhile, considerably more data on possible TT of SARS-CoV-2 are available. In this context, Kieley et al. [4] present an updated and comprehensive review of SARS-CoV-2 and blood safety. By the current available data, the risk of transfusion-transmitted SARSCoV-2 infection can be reassessed and considered as only theoretical. However, focusing on one dramatically emerging pathogen should not underestimate new threats and require alertness for current sometimes undervalued and future infectious diseases in transfusion medicine. In particular, other, sometimes old and already known infectious agents that are endemic in developing countries should be observed. Due to climate change, global migrations caused by touristic travel or migration due to events like war or other political or economic reasons, previously rather rare infectious agents can increasingly come into the focus of the blood transfusion services in nonendemic countries. Especially, populations with little or minimal health screening amplify the infectious risk. Vectors (arthropods) for some agents like Plasmodium are not widespread and cannot be introduced in temperate climates. However, due to changes in the global climate, a further spread of vectors as well as infectious agents can be observed here. A good example of this is relevance of WNV for transfusion safety in Germany, which was considered to be a nonendemic country until 2018. Main factor for the introduction of WNV in Germany was probably global warming: increasing temperatures in Germany enable the transmission of WNV even by an already present vector (Culex sp) [10]. Therefore, in the last years, autochthonous mosquito-borne WNV infections in humans were reported indicating a continuous circulation in the affected areas of central-east Germany. Frank et al. [3] describe the German situation regarding spread of WNV by presenting the current data which are generated according to the Infection Protection Act and the Transfusion Act. They display measures in blood donation to minimize TT infections, give insights into the surveillance of WNV, and summarize blood donor regulation.


Much modern research is quite focused, attempting to understand aspects of systems that are already revealed in broad outline. Researching a problem at its birth is an opportunity that many will never experience, a lonely exercise that many may avoid. In these situations, pre-existing findings from


Real-world data is important in providing evidence of treatment effectiveness in clinical practice. This real-world analysis included 1523 patients of T2D uncontrolled (A1c≥7%) on metformin-SU combination to additionally receive HCQ 400 mg/day for 24 weeks. Mean age of patients was 51.3 years and 53.25% were males. Of the 1523 enrolled patients, 1297 patients who completed 24 weeks of therapy were analyzed for effectiveness. Treatment with HCQ resulted in significant reduction in A1c (change from baseline at Week 12 and 24 was 1.10% and -1.41%, respectively; p Disclosure A. Pareek: Employee; Self; Ipca Laboratories. S. Dharmadhikari: Employee; Self; Ipca Laboratories. R.T. Mehta: Employee; Self; Ipca Laboratories. K.B. Naidu: Employee; Self; Ipca Laboratories. Funding Ipca Laboratories Limited


A variable air‐gap capacitor is formed between an unbalanced rotating member and a stationary plate. The output of an oscillator is modulated in accordance with the variations in air gap, the modulated wave being displayed on the screen of a cathode‐ray oscilloscope for continuous observation. Cyclic displacements at the periphery of the rotor of 0.0005 in. are easily detected. A contactor on the rotor shaft provides the means for locating the point of unbalance.


Objective To investigate quantitative detection of the carotid elasticity of male pilots in different age groups by using echo-tracking (ET) technique. Methods The carotid arteries were detected by ET technique in 72 male pilots who were divided into 3 groups according to age. The elasticity values, including stiffness parameter (β), pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC) and pulse wave velocity calculated from β value (PWVβ) were analyzed by t test.The elasticity values and flying hours were also processed by variance analysis among 3 groups. The influence of age and flying hours to elasticity values was resolved by linear correlation and partial correlation analysis. Results There was no difference on elasticity values of bilateral carotid. The arterial stiffness indices, such as β, Ep and PWVβ in each group, were lower than those by the normal measuring, but AC value was higher. By comparing with control group, the carotid elasticity values had statistical difference in 20-29 yrs and 30-30 yrs groups, but for 40-49 yrs group comparison there was no significant difference (t= 2. 061-6. 712, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Linear correlation analysis showed that age and flying hours appeared significant and positive correlation to β, Ep and PWVβ in 30-39 yrs group. In 20-29 and 30-39 yrs groups, age was significantly and positively correlated to flying hours (r=0. 655, 0. 723, P=0. 001, 0. 000). In 30-39 yrs group β and Ep were positively correlated with age based on partial correlation analysis (r= 0. 516, 0. 452, P= 0. 007, 0. 020), which meant that β and Ep significantly increased with age. Conclusions For male pilot age expresses greater influence than flying hours to carotid artery elasticity. Quantitatively detecting male pilot's carotid artery elasticity by ET technique will contribute to the delermination of pilot's artery functional status.

Key words:
Ultrasonography ;  Carotid arteries ;  Elasticity ;


Background and purpose — To date, there is not a single clinical or mechanical study directly comparing a cemented and a cementless version of the same stem. We investigated the load-to-failure force of a cementless and a cemented version of a double tapered stem. Material and methods — 10 femurs from 5 human cadaveric specimens, mean age 74 years (68–79) were extracted. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. None of the specimens had a compromised quality (average T value 0.0, –1.0 to 1.4). Each specimen from a pair randomly received a cemented or a cementless version of the same stem. A material testing machine was used for lateral load-to-failure test of up to a maximal load of 5.0 kN. Results — Average load-to-failure of the cemented stem was 2.8 kN (2.3–3.2) and 2.2 kN (1.8–2.8) for the cementless stem (p = 0.002). The cemented version of the stem sustained a higher load than its cementless counterpart in all cases. Failure force was not statistically significantly correlated to BMD (p = 0.07). Interpretation — Implanting a cemented version of the stem increases the load-to-failure force by 25%.


Cotton t-shirts are a basic clothing item that everyone possesses. To date, no studies have taken into account the consumers' perspective, even though they can play an important role regarding the actual environmental impact of their clothing items. Therefore, a life cycle assessment study was performed in order to inform the public about the environmental impacts of a typical cotton t-shirt and the relevance of consumer behavior (i.e., washing and drying) on the overall impacts along the entire life cycle of such a t-shirt. The aim was to provide hints, allowing users to reduce the impacts of their t-shirts. While the production phase was based on global data, the use phase focused on Switzerland as the study was established in the context of an exhibition in the Textile Museum in St. Gallen (Switzerland). With this study, it was found that users have various choices in order to make their t-shirt more sustainable. Wearing the t-shirt throughout its entire life expectancy was found to be the most important factor influencing the overall environmental performance of such a clothing item. The relevance of filling the washing machine to maximum capacity, washing at a lower temperature, or using a tumbler was also illustrated. In addition, choosing materials other than cotton or choosing textiles labelled for lower environmental impacts during production could further improve the environmental performance of t-shirts.


Increasing penetration of distributed energy resources in power distribution systems and appearing the flexible behavior of end-users based on demand response programs make the distribution layer of the power systems more active. In this way, energy transaction management through a decentralized manner could be an appropriate solution to improve the efficiency of energy trading in the distribution power networks. This paper proposes a decentralized method to manage energy flexibility by consumers based on a bottom-up approach in distributed power systems. Also, a 33-bus distribution network is considered to assess the performance of our proposed decentralized energy flexibility management model based on impacts of flexible behaviors of end-user and uncertainty of distribution lines to flow energy in the power network.


took place, wlhich was in seven weeks, the patient then being able to raise the limb altogether from the bed without any difficulty. The surroundin-gs, sanitary and otherwise, were exceptionally bad, and during the progress of the case one of the children in the home upset the weight and caused one of the extension tapes to be broken. This produced severe pain at the time, and shortening was noticed in the limb two days after the tape had been brokeii. No mention of this accident to the tapes was made to the surgeon in attendance, and tlle injury done was " repaired " by the man's wife. Nothwithstaniding the foregoing, complete union has resulted with 14 inch of sliortening. The patient's personal history is very satisfactory, and nothing but muscular action can be discovered to account for the fracture. Knottingley, Yorks. BASIL G. EWING, M.B., C.M.


This is the first report on morphologically different strains of cyanobacteria: Arthrospira maxima, Nostoc cf-muscorum and Nodularia sphaerocarpa used for enantioselective bioreduction of selected, structurally different diethyl esters of oxophosphonic acids. The efficiency of the asymmetric hydrogen transfer was strongly dependent on the chemical structure of the substrates. Arthrospira maxima was active only toward diethyl (S)-2-oxopropylphosphonate (20% of yield, 99% of ee), whereas the application of Nostoc cf-muscorum as a biocatalyst allowed diethyl (S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylphosphonate with a high enantiomeric excess (99%) and with 26% conversion degree to be obtained. Employing Nodularia sphaerocarpa led to the most spectacular result – diethyl (S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylphosphonate with a degree of conversion of 99% and an optical purity of 92%. Enantioselective bioconversion of oxophosphonate with an aromatic side group located in the immediate vicinity of the carbonyl functionality was achieved for the first time. Additionally, flow cytometry showed excellent resistance of the cells of Nodularia sphaerocarpa against the examined xenobiotic – 2-oxo-2-phenylethylphosphonate, these cells remain viable at the concentration of 10 mM of the bioconversion substrate compared to the 1 mM described previously for a fungal biocatalyst. The effect of cultivation medium, light source and light cycle (light : dark) on the effectiveness of the biotransformation process was examined.


Mesostructured nickel phosphate (MW-NiPO-2) was rapidly synthesized in the presence of cationic sur- factant by a microwave assisted hydrothermal process. The synthesis parameters, microwave irradiation temperature and time, OH - /P and Ni/P molar ratios of the precursor, were systematically investigated and optimized. The charac- terizations of the materials obtained by the two different procedures, Sol-Gel method and microwave assisted hydro- thermal process, were carried out by ICP, FT-IR, TEM and N2 physisorption. The results show that MW-NiPO-2 can be obtained at relatively low temperature (60℃). When the microwave radiation temperature was 100℃, the mesostruc- tured phase formed in an extremely short period about 0.25 h. Ordered MW-NiPO-2 can be obtained under micro- wave irradiation for 1 h at 100℃, when OH − /P and the Ni/P molar ratios of the precursor are 2.0 and 0.7, respectively. In contrast, it took at least 24 h for completion via Sol-Gel method. MW-NiPO-2 and SG-NiPO-2 possess similar structure and composition while MW-NiPO-2 exhibites a worm-like appearance other than piled nanotubes. In com- parison with the sample synthesized via Sol-Gel method, MW-NiPO-2 possesses a relatively high BET surface area (334.4 m 2 /g) and pore volume (0.318 cm 3 /g).


This article tries to investigate the similarities and differences between Zhang Ailing's and Bai Xianyong's life and literary creation in respect of their family background, life experiences, personality and education, and in turn, to analyse how the above four factors influence their life and literary creation.


A case of osseous choristoma in the buccal mucosa of a 9 -year-old girl is described. In the literature only 11 cases have been reported previously. The lesion measured 8.5×8.5mm and was removed under local anesthesia.Histologically, the lesion consisted of a well circumscribed mass of dense lamellar bone, surrouded by a thin layer of fibrous connective tissue. The excised area of bum' mucosa healed and was free of recurrence after 5 months.


Introduction: Water is used daily in numerous domestic and industrial activities, and when discarded is considered wastewater. The self-medication, antibiotics inappropriate prescription, and the use of antibiotics in animal feed, leads to the environment being a reservoir of bacteria carrying resistance genes, allowing their dissemination among bacterial communities of water and soil. Bacteria can have several associated resistance mechanisms, giving them the ability to be resistant to different classes of antibiotics. The 3rd generation cephalosporins have an extended action spectrum and are hydrolyzed by the extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). The same bacterium can express these enzymes associated with an acetyltransferase encoded by the aac (6')-Ib-cr gene, which confers resistance to aminoglycosides (amikacin and tobramycin) and simultaneously to Fluorquinolones. Objective: Identification of resistant genes in wastewater isolates. Materials and methods: 164 isolates from the residual water, were studied for antibiotic susceptibility and 144 were selected for identification of resistance genes by PCR reaction and sequencing. Results: The antimicrobial study of 144 strains, showed that 78% (112/144) were resistant to ciprofloxacin. The resistance to ciprofloxacin was studied by the detection of aac (6')-Ib-cr gene, found in 26% (37/144). The remained resistant isolates could have different mechanisms, such as qnr genes plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance and/or mutations on chromosomal genes (gyrA and parC). Among the 3rd generation cephalosporin resistance, were found 35% (50/114) were found resistant to cefotaxime and 26% (37/144) to ceftazidime. After sequencing, the following enzymes were predominant: CTX-M-15 (17/55); CTX-M-14 (6/55). The enzymes CTX-M-1, CTX-M-2, CTX-M-98 were found one by each isolate. Conclusion: The existence of bacteria with resistance genes to 3rd generation cephalosporins simultaneously with fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides constitutes a serious public health problem, with the aggravation of having the same susceptibility profile and the same genetic identity of the hospital strains.


The study examined the effect of total productive maintenance initiative on organizational performance of select manufacturing firms in Anambra state. The problem of poor maintenance and neglects of equipment was the motivating factor for the research. The objectives of this study were basically to assess the effect of total productive maintenance initiative on organizational performance of select manufacturing firms. The study was anchored on Kanter (1977). theory of Structural Empowerment. The population of the study comprised of the manufacturing firm in Anambra state. A sample size of 100 employees was drawn from the population using purposive sampling of which 75 copies of questionnaires were duly completed and returned showing 75% response rate. Research hypotheses were tested using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) which was carried out with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. Findings from the study revealed that total productive maintenance initiative has positive significant effect on organizational performance of select manufacturing firms in Anambra state. In view of the findings, the study therefore, recommends that firms should try as much as possible to include performance measurement index as a determinant of maintenance policy. This way the companies would be doing a lot to salvage the Nigerian business enterprises from chronic problems, which has become a mainstay in the life of the economy.


Interactions between cell wall, plasma membrane and cytoplasm are essential for plant cell functions. It has been suggested that molecular actors at the interface of this continuum could be involved in gravity sensing, as described in the gravitational pressure model (Baluska and Volkmann, 2011). A change in the gravity vector would modify plasma membrane-cell wall mechanical relations with a tension between this two cell compartments at the upper side of the cell and a compression at the lower side. At the interface of the continuum, Wall-Associated Kinases (WAKs) appears as good molecular candidates. WAKs are receptor-like kinases that are able to link the pectins of the wall and a cytoplasmic protein kinase domain. To highlight and understand the role of WAKs in woody plant graviresponse, we used in silico approaches and showed the most expanded WAK family never identified to date with 175 members (Tocquard et al., 2014). We analyzed gene expression of the WAK family members in various organs and tissues of poplar tree and showed that WAKs were weakly expressed. Only 28 PtWAKs were expressed in the stem. One WAK is of particular interest showing differential expression after tilting of the poplar stem. The protein was localized in young xylem and bark cells devoid of amyloplasts. These data suggest that a WAK could be involved in the sensing/response to gravistimulation in a manner independent of the displacement of amyloplasts which is behind the starch-statolith hypothesis.


The utility model discloses a self-cleaning pipeline iron remover with high magnetic field strength, which belongs to pipeline iron removing devices. The iron remover is characterized by mainly comprising a box body, magnet devices, a pneumatic device and an electric control device; the box body is oblong; an upper feed pipe, a lower discharge pipe and an iron discharging pipe are correspondingly welded on an upper side panel and a lower side panel of the box body; an inner baffle plate is welded at a right side position of the feed pipe and the discharge pipe in an inner cavity of the box body; axial mounting holes are respectively arranged symmetrically in rows on a left end panel and a right end panel of the box body and the inner baffle plate; the magnet devices consisting of sleeves and magnetic rods respectively penetrate into all the axial mounting holes on centerlines in the same axial direction; material retainer rings are welded on middle sections of all the sleeves; and the left ends and the right ends of all the sleeves are connected with the pneumatic device consisting of an air compressor, a left two-position five-way pneumatic solenoid valve and a right two-position five-way pneumatic solenoid valve. Compressed air is led in all the sleeves to push the magnetic rods to move leftwards and rightwards so that iron is adsorbed and removed; the magnetic field strength is high; the iron removal effect is good; and the service life is long.


Research on spatial network databases has so far considered that there is a single cost value associated with each road segment of the network. In most real-world situations, however, there may exist multiple cost types involved in transportation decision making. For example, the different costs of a road segment could be its Euclidean length, the driving time, the walking time, possible toll fee, etc. The relative significance of these cost types may vary from user to user. In this paper we consider such multi-cost transportation networks (MCN), where each edge (road segment) is associated with multiple cost values. We formulate skyline and top-k queries in MCNs and design algorithms for their efficient processing. Our solutions have two important properties in preference-based querying; the skyline methods are progressive and the top-k ones are incremental. The performance of our techniques is evaluated with experiments on a real road network.


The classical probability's calculation is made simple and intuitive by selecting appropriate sample space,applying symmetry of probability and combining figures and forms during the course of classical probability's calculation.


You may have noticed that the word ingest has been creeping into professional archival discourse, and you may not like it. Did you ever wonder where the word comes from? This phenomenon can be largely attributed to the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Reference Model.1,2 The OAIS Reference Model is a standard that sets out "a conceptual framework . . . that attempts to address all the major activities of an information preserving archive in order to define a consistent and useful set of terms and concepts."3 It was developed and published by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), a forum in which the world's major space agencies discuss common issues in the development and operation of space data systems and develop related standards. You might well ask what a standard developed by people focused on the extraterrestrial has to do with a profession whose space concerns have to do with running out of shelving. The answer is: everything. The standard defines archive as "an organization that intends to preserve information for access and use by a designated community."4 But not just any information; the standard states that "the information being maintained has been deemed to need Long Term Preservation."5 Long Term is defined as "a period of time long enough for there to be concern about the impacts of changing technologies, including support for new media and data formats, and of a changing user community, on the information being held in a repository. This period extends into the indefinite future."6 While professional archivists would probably express these concepts in somewhat different terms, the OAIS Reference Model has much to offer to the archival profession.


This study investigated the role of natural oil-degrading bacteria in the weathered biodiesel (BD), diesel (D) and light crude oil (L) in oil biodegradation in seawater with and without sophorolipid biosurfactant. Mixtures of artificial seawater and weathered oil with and without sophorolipid dispersant were incubated at 22 ± 1°C and 100 rpm for 28 days. Analysis of the remaining of total petroleum hydrocarbons showed degradation of 43 ± 0.7%, 45 ± 5.7% and 39 ± 4.6% of biodiesel, diesel and light crude oil, respectively, during the natural biodegradation and 44 ± 5%, 47.5 ± 3.9% and 44 ± 1% of biodiesel, diesel and light crude oil, respectively, with sophorolipid by the existing bacteria after 28 days. Characterization of bacteria isolated from the BD, D and L oil by 16S rRNA pyrosequencing showed that the Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in biodiesel (100%) and diesel (53%). The Actinobacteria was dominant in the diesel (47%) and the Proteobacteria (97%) and Actinobacteria (3%) were the two dominant phyla in the light crude oil. The hydrophobicity results showed that the bacteria consumed the hydrocarbons mainly by changing their cell surface structures in the natural biodegradation treatment and increase in the micellar dispersion of hydrocarbons in the biodegradation treatment with the sophorolipid. This study confirmed the significant contribution of natural bacteria in the weathered diesel, biodiesel and light crude oil in the biodegradation and the positive effect of sophorolipid on the biodegradation.


Parsing uncovers if, and how, an input stream conforms to a grammar. Language composition requires combining grammars together, yet all traditional parsing techniques have limitations when parsing composed grammars. We augment an incremental parser with language boxes, which allows us to retain the feel of traditional parsing whilst allowing arbitrary grammar composition.


Diagnostic errors are the most frequent non-operative medical errors. Diagnosis should be more data-driven than trial-anderror. Machine Learning provides techniques for classification and regression purposes which can be used for solving diagnostic problems in different medical domains. Predictive analysis of fatal ailments like cancer using existing data can serve as a diagnosis tool for doctors. The paper aims at a comparative study of Machine Learning algorithms on a predictive breast cancer dataset. The algorithms used for comparison Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN) and Bayesian Network Classifiers – are supervised learning algorithms used widely for classification purposes and are chosen for their diversity. Based on analysis of this data, Artificial Neural Networks are better at classification with 97.4% accuracy than kNN and Bayesian Classifiers.


The present invention is directed to a method of inhibiting the formation of coke during the elevated temperature cracking of hydrocarbons. The method generally comprises adding to the hydrocarbon an effective amount of an ammonium borate, particularly ammonium biborate and ammonium pentaborate. Preferably, the ammonium borates are in a glycollic solvent or water.


With the development of integrated automation systems and distribution automation technology, considering the safety of grid equipment, the voltage security of low-voltage power grid, personal safety and the characteristics of small current grounding system , this paper points out that still follow the old rules that run 0.5-2 hours allowed in dealing with ground fault of small current grounding system is unreasonable, elaborates the new philosophy that the protection function of small current grounding should be distributed to the feeder protection device and implemented tripping. Theoretical analysis shows that the scheme is accurate, reliable, and highly practical.


The construction of smart earth and reading China was proposed by the government of USA in 2009 and China respectively.After this,the idea of constructing the Internet of Things has gradually transferred into the actions of government and enterprises.The government and enterprises are looking for a new way to improve the development of all kinds of the social supply chains and enhance the flexibility and efficiency of connection.The third academy is committed to building a first-class academy of aerospace science and industry.The first-class academy should build a first-class information platform of supply chain based on research and manufacture to connect the logistics system and the process of research and manufacture to improve the flexibility and efficiency for the goal of the first-class academy.


The article presents the results of studying the surface of Si(111)/nano 3C-SiC p- and n-type heterostructures (HS) after their modification in an aqueous solution containing phosphor and sodium salt by scanning electron microscopy in the contrast mode and infrared light reflection spectroscopy. Porous p-type HSs had anomalously high optical properties


All Belgian NPPs are PWRs. These PWRs have different containment designs and different sump designs. The four most recent units (Doel 3 &4 and Tihange 2 &3) took RG 1.82 rev. 0 into account for the recirculation sump design. Several improvements were made in the framework of the first Periodic Safety Review to the oldest units (Doel 1 & 2 and Tihange 1) such as enlargement of the sumps strainer in 1985, taking into account the requirements of RG 1.82 rev. 0. The problem of recirculation sump screen clogging due to the accumulation of insulation debris after an accident was also identified as a safety issue in the first Periodic Safety Review for Doel 3 and Tihange 2 and the second Periodic Safety Review for Doel 1&2 and Tihange 1, that started in the nineties. One of the purposes of the Periodic Safety Review being the justification of the safety level ...


Forty‐one patients with epithelial malignancies of the ovary treated at the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals from 1976 to 1984 had paraffin embedded tissue available for review. Of the 41 patients, 40 had adequate material to provide 50 micron sections that were evaluated with flow cytometry to determine DNA content. Tumor‐ and patient‐related parameters were then correlated with the results of flow cytometry. Overall survival at 5 years in these patients was 43%, and relapse‐free survival was 50%. Forty percent of the tumors were diploid, and 60% were aneuploid. Five‐year survival for diploid patients was 74% with a relapse‐free survival of 71%. Corresponding overall and relapse‐free survivals for aneuploid patients were 22% and 35%, respectively. Distribution of the patients by histology, stage, and grade was equal between the diploid and aneuploid groups. All patients were treated with whole abdominal plus concomitant pelvic boost irradiation; total doses to the whole abdomen ranged from 10 Gy to 46 Gy (1000 to 4600 cGy) with the median dose being 37.5 Gy. Approximately 40% of the patients received chemotherapy, which usually consisted of a single agent (Alkeran, Burroughs Welcome, Research Triangle Park, NC). This retrospective study of patients with ovarian cancer treated with radiation therapy suggests the possibility that determinations of DNA ploidy may be useful in selecting patients whose poor prognosis dictates that a more aggressive therapy be used.


Multi‐modality medical imaging systems have become increasingly important in the biomedical imaging field. Two complementary imaging modalities that have not yet been fully integrated into a multimodality system are Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). To this end, our team has developed an MR compatible SPECT insert for simultaneous preclinical SPECT/MR imaging. The insert's detector is composed of five rings of 19 Cadmium Zinc Telluride pixelated modules. This dissertation discusses two significant contributions made towards the development of our SPECT insert: the design of multi‐pinhole (MPH) collimators and the development of a system calibration method. Additionally, results of experiments conducted to evaluate the performance of the insert are shown. We developed methods to systematically determine design parameters for cylindrical MPH collimators for the SPECT insert. These methods allowed us to study how MPH design parameters varied as the collimator's diameter increased. Ultimately, these methods were used to design two collimators with imaging resolution of 1 mm and 1.5 mm. Simulation results demonstrated that both collimators can be used to obtain SPECT images with the designed resolution and free of reconstruction artifacts. Prototypes collimators were implemented using nonmagnetic materials. Without system calibration, images acquired with our SPECT insert have poor image quality. We developed a novel energy calibration method to identify the energy of detected gamma photons at all 24,320 detector pixels simultaneously. We also developed a two‐stage detector uniformity correction method to identify and correct for detector nonuniformities as well as dead, hypoactive, and hyperactive pixels. Finally, a method was developed to correct for the drift of charged particles in the insert's detector modules due to the Lorentz Force during simultaneous SPECT/MR acquisition. SPECT images were reconstructed from acquired data with and without application of the system calibration methods. When applied, images showed significant improvement in terms of resolution, uniformity, contrast, and artifact reduction. To evaluate our SPECT insert, several imaging experiments were conducted, ranging in complexity from standalone SPECT phantom studies to a dynamic simultaneous SPECT/MR preclinical study. Results show that the SPECT insert can obtain high quality SPECT and MR images simultaneously.


Duncan Hamilton, final year adult nursing student at the University of Surrey, reflects on the questions around technology proficiency for future nurses.