Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia is an inflammatory disease that involves the distal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and peribronchial alveoli, producing a restrictive pulmonary pattern. We present the case of a 33-year-old man with a background of delayed psychomotor development who presented to the emergency department with a clinical picture suggesting lower respiratory infection. The patient was hospitalized and received antibiotics, without clinical improvement. Tomographic findings and poor response to treatment were taken into consideration for performing bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy, whose report was conclusive for cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. This clinical case shows a patient with a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis and its possible etiological association.


Abstract. A Glyptagnostus reticulatus (Angelin, 1851)–bearing trilobite assemblage has been found from an unnamed Cambrian formation in the Northern Qilian Mountains area, of which geographical placement in the Cambrian is contested. Glyptagnostus reticulatus is a biostratigraphic indicator of the Furongian Series and Paibian Stage, and three agnostoid and six polymerid taxa from the Changgou section, Daliang area are described herein, along with conspecific forms from the nearby Chuancigou section. This well-preserved assemblage shows strong taxonomic affinity with northwestern Queensland, Australia, and western Hunan–eastern Guizhou, China, and likely comes from deep outer-shelf to slope setting associated with the Northern Qilian arc. It is consistent with other arguments that during the Cambrian, the Northern Qilian arc, along with the Hexi Corridor of the Alxa terrane, were more closely allied to South China than to North China.


This course is designed to introduce graduate students to the scholarly literature in English on modern Chinese history, from the Qing through the Republican and Communist periods to the present. The course is intended for students preparing a second or third field on China or East Asia in History, and for students specializing on China or East Asia in other departments. At the end you will have read a good sampling of more important works, and have a grasp of what else is available that you might like to read or consult. On the grounds that history is a book discipline B that the literature of significance to historians is for the most part books and that articles are frequently just precursors for books B we will deal only with scholarly monographs and not with articles, collections of articles, or other kinds of works. The list of works that follows is a selection (believe it or not) of what I think are important works; the ones I like best are marked with an asterisk. It goes without saying that such judgments are inevitably in part subjective. You are to read a book each week, beginning on week 2. To make sure each person reads a different book, so that we can sample and discuss more works, you must inform me first, by email or telephone. The readings are to be chosen from the lists that follow, in accord with your interests. Try to select most of your readings for the semester as early as possible, in consultation with me. Each week you will write a paper of about 2 pages, single-spaced, on your book, its main points, thesis, methodology, and significance. The paper should be addressed to your fellow students telling them clearly what is in this book that is most useful for them to know. You may find it useful to look at published book reviews to get a sense of where it fits into the broader body of historical literature. Bring to class copies for your fellow students and for me. In class you will also give a 10-15 minute oral presentation on your book, and we will have some discussion about each book. The items listed under week 1 are for your reference only. Depending on how much background you have in modern Chinese history, you may find it useful to have a survey or other book at hand to consult.


The neurologic surgeon is forced from time to time to operate without perfect localizing signs and without full appreciation of what the pathologic condition may be. He may even be said to be forced into such action more frequently than his general surgical colleagues through threatened loss of vision or other serious and urgent symptoms. It is thus that every neurologic surgeon of experience has accumulated many cases which he must classify as "tumor suspect" or "pseudotumor" cases. Out of these groups in the last twenty years have emerged certain definite clinical entities and disorders. One of these is a symptom complex produced by blockage in the cerebrospinal pathways after the cerebrospinal fluid has escaped from the internal ventricular system. This condition is generally accepted and classified under the term "chronic arachnoiditis," though it is sometimes called "active external hydrocephalus"1as differentiated from that type of internal ventricular system


The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is used to describe a system that needed to interface with many external systems, at various levels of detail appropriate for a variety of user, developer, and tester audiences. Rational's Rose CASE tool was used to produce a variety of UML-based products for these audiences.


Context: Type one diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disorder that is yet the most common type of diabetes in children and adolescents. Several genetic risk factors have been associated with T1DM, auto immune thyroiditis and other autoimmune disorder. Among autoimmune disorders, autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) is the most frequent disorder associated with T1DM. Its prevalence varies depending on age, sex and ethnic origin of the subjects and is considerably higher than the general population and increases with duration of T1DM. The aim of this study was to review the prevalence of ATD in Iranian children with T1DM compared with other countries. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a review on all papers published on the association between autoimmune thyroiditis and T1DM, which was available on Google Scholar, Scientific Information Database (SID), Magiran and Iran Medex databases up to June 2014. Both Persian and English articles were checked. The searched terms were: diabetes mellitus, autoimmune thyroiditis, prevalence, frequency, Iranian children and adolescents. All papers which were done on patients with age under 20 years old and have used Anti-TPO and Anti-TG to evaluate patients were included. Results: Six papers met all the criteria. A total of 736 participants were included in this review. After review of all the papers, the prevalence of Anti-TPO was reported between 8% and 30% and Anti-TG was reported 6.06% to 23.6% in diabetic children in Iran. Conclusions: Autoimmune thyroid disorders are the most prevalent immunological diseases in patients with type 1 diabetes. All these studies have shown a higher prevalence of the disorder in patients with T1DM compared to the Iranian healthy population. Anti-TPO reported between 8% and 30% and Anti-TG reported 6.06% to 23.6% in diabetic children in Iran that was similar to the studies in other countries.


The quaternionic version of the Ernst formalism is used to propose an alternative generalization of the Zipoy–Voorhees metric that represents spinning spheroids. Rotating discs and their superposition that generalize the static Curzon solution arises as a particular member of the class. Some features are different from the well‐known Kerr and Tomimatsu–Sato solutions.


Aimed at the stability problem of reliability and combining the reliability optimum design theory with reliability sensitivity analysis,a method of reliability-based robust optimization design was presented.By applying this method to a monolayer thick-wall vessel,a model of reliability-based robust optimization design was established on the basis of an additional objective function and sensitivity analysis as well.The necessary parameters were determined by using MATLAB language toolbox and optimization toolbox,and the reliability-based robust design information could be obtained quickly and accurately.The result showed that this method was simple and easy to implement,so that a theoretical basis and application reference were provided for improving and stabilizing the reliability level of processing equipment.


Analyzing the fine structure modulations occurring on the high energy side of the ionization edges in atomic spectra, the EXELFS (EXtended Energy-Loss Fine Structure), can provide important structural and chemical information about the local atomic environment. The analysis procedure is, however, somewhat complicated. In order to determine systematic errors associated with different parameter choices, we have investigated some sensitive steps in interactive EXELFS analysis. We have also attempted to establish some strategies to minimize these errors.


The invention discloses a line layout structure, a circuit board, and an electronic assembly. The line layout structure is applicable to the circuit board and comprises following members. A first differential pair and a second differential pair extend from the interior of a chip region to the exterior of the chip region through a first patterned conducting layer of the circuit board, and extend between the chip region and a port region of the circuit board through a second patterned conducting layer of the circuit board. A third differential pair extends from the chip region to the port region through the first patterned conducting layer. A first grounding plane is constituted from the first patterned conducting layer. The orthographic projections of the first and second differential pairs on the second patterned conducting layer are overlapped on the first grounding plane.


The original publication is available at: www.agronomy-journal.org. Copyright INRA / EDP Sciences [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]


The article reviews the ethnogeny hypothesis of L. N. Gumilev from the standpoint of its verifiability and opportunity to use it in the historical, geographical and ethnological investigations. In contrast to most publications on this theme, the basis for the analysis is the laws of elementary logic and compliance hypothesis of ethnogeny to scientific criteria. The main focus of the analysis is not discrepancy of specific historical perceptions of Gumilev to critics views and not vagueness of the concept of «passionarity», but the foundation of the hypothesis: the idea of passionarity and the relative weight of passionaries in ethnos as the driving force behind the process of ethnos development. This critical approach allows the author to draw a conclusion about incomplete rationale hypothesis and the absence of serious scientific argumentation in favor of causality in its basis. However, giving the significance of Gumilev hypothesis for our geographical and historical science, its universal acceptance, visualization and imagery, which outlines the complex processes taking place in the ethnos development, the author tries to find opportunities for limited use of the hypothesis of L. N. Gumilev in geographic education and scientific research under appropriate adjustment conditions, lying in its theoretical basis.


The objectives of this research are to develop and to analyze the specification and the quality of teaching material of Thermochemistry. The teaching material was developed based on the systemic approach presented in a website application for a learning chemistry. The model of development was adopted from Richey and Klein model type 1. It has three phases, i.e., design & development, evaluation, and validation. The evaluation instrument was an open-ended questionnaire to obtain product recommendation data of expert judgment and a close-ended questionnaire/checklist to obtain quality from 15 reviewers and 68 students. The instrument consisted of 21 indicators. The product of this research can be accessed at www.chemistryeducation.net and it consists of handouts, quizzes, and student worksheets. The quality of instructional materials from 15 reviewers was found to have an ideality percentage of 81.90%. Meanwhile, out of 68 students had an ideality percentage of 82.69%. This indicates that the quality of website teaching materials was good.


ABSTRACT
The general objective of the present investigation is to demonstrate the incidence of socio-economic factors in the location of foreign direct investments in Peru, period 1980-2017. This study is a non - experimental type of longitudinal and correlational investigation, in which the hypothetico - deductive method was used. Using the content analysis technique and as an instrument the content analysis guide. The search and collection for the data series of the variables was done through official sources. It was found that changes in market size and investment in public infrastructure directly, as well as variations in labor cost and economic uncertainty in an inverse manner, have a significant impact on the locations of foreign direct investment in Peru. With respect to the econometric model on the economic-social factors of foreign direct investment in Peru 1980-2017; the evidence indicates that the variables included in the model explain 84.98%. Being its elasticities for: market size of 9.12, investment in public infrastructure of 1.21, labor cost, is -5.39 and the economic uncertainty of -0.92.


The effects of Niko Niko Room's educational support programs of 2013 on university students were examined in this study. In this program, university students supported school children with their studies, especially arithmetic, based on cognitive counseling (Ichikawa, 1993). The actual study support was taught and supervised by supervisors, and cases were taken under review by the group. Data of 55 students who answered questionnaires before and after the programs were analyzed. Of the 55 students, 23 students did the actual study support and 32 students observed the study support done by other students. Results showed that students' abilities of "teaching skills", "relationship between students and guardians", and "assessment" were formed in both the students who did the actual support and who did the observations through their participation in the programs. Results also showed that students' ability of "lesson induction" was formed through the actual support.


Context. The dwarf planet (1) Ceres – next target of the NASA Dawn mission – is the largest body in the asteroid main belt. Although several observations of this body have been performed so far, the presence of surface water ice is still questioned. Aims. Our goal is to better understand the surface composition of Ceres and to constrain the presence of exposed water ice. Methods. We acquired new visible and near-infrared spectra at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (La Palma, Spain), and reanalyzed literature spectra in the 3- μ m region. Results. We obtained the first rotationally resolved spectroscopic observations of Ceres at visible wavelengths. Visible spectra taken one month apart at almost the same planetocentric coordinates show a significant slope variation (up to 3% / 10 3 Å). A faint absorption centered at 0.67 μ m, possibly due to aqueous alteration, is detected in a subset of our spectra. The various explanations in the literature for the 3.06- μ m feature can be interpreted as due to a variable amount of surface water ice at di ff erent epochs. Conclusions. The remarkable short-term temporal variability of the visible spectral slope and the changing shape of the 3.06- μ m band can be hints of di ff erent amounts of water ice exposed on the surface of Ceres. This would agree with the recent detection by the Herschel Space Observatory of localized and transient sources of water vapor over this dwarf planet.


This letter describes the spectroscopic measurements of fluorescently stained cells. Variable phase-contrast fluorescence spectrometry was used on fluorescently stained cells to achieve high two-dimensional spatial resolution. Phase shift interferometry by autocorrelation interference made it possible to measure fluorescence spectra in the field of view without the separation of wavelengths, as in the case of a conventional dispersive spectrometer. In this letter, the authors describe the experimental characteristics of fluorescence spectra generated from fluorescently stained cells and verify that the fluorescence spectra of the stained area in the cells can be measured by our method.


Contents Foreword Introduction PART 1: Understanding "Culture" The Concept of Culture Main characteristics of culture The elements of culture PART 2: Studying Culture Types of cross-cultural studies: merits and pitfalls Theoretical versus empirical perspectives Cross-cultural comparability Paper-and-pencil studies Data Analysis PART 3: Major Cross-Cultural Studies Cultural dimensions across modern nations PART 4: A Summary of the Observed Cultural Differences Across the Globe Appendix References


We have studied the interaction of ions with solid surfaces in the limit of slow, highly charged ions (Xe44+ 0.1–20 keV/q). Using atomic force microscopy we are able to see individual ion impact sites on mica, approximately one site per incident ion. Such features are typically circular with ∼20 nm diameter. This damage may be caused by local charge depletion and conversion of the 50 keV Coulomb potential energy of the ions. Contact mode microscopy shows the features to be either pits or blisters depending on scanning direction and force between tip and substrate. By using lateral force microscopy we see the features to be regions of increased friction. The observed surface damage is independent of the ion kinetic energy. Repeated scanning over the same region causes erasure of the observed features.


Abstract : Central to being able to construct powerfully intelligent knowledge-based systems is the development of a representational system that is able to handle open-ended domains of knowledge. Critical to this effort is an understanding of the semantics of such notations, and more generally an understanding of the fundamental notions of 'semantics' and 'meaning'. This report addresses fundamental issues of semantics for computational systems. The question at issue is 'What is it that machines can have that would correspond to the knowledge of meanings that people have and that seem to refer to by the ordinary language term 'meaning'?' The proposed answer is that the notion of truth-conditions can be explicated and made precise by identifying them with a particular kind of abstract procedure and that such procedures can serve as the meaning bearing elements of a theory of semantics suitable for computer implementation. This theory, referred to as 'procedural semantics,' has been the basis of several successful computerized systems and is acquiring increasing interest among philosophers of language. (Author)


Background. Being one of the largest current global health problems, obesity is a result of interplay between genetic and environmental factors. In this thesis we studied the genetic underpinning o ...


In a paper in these PROCEEDINGS1 an asymmetrical effect on eye color in the house mouse was ascribed to a new mutant gene, ruby eye (ru). It was noted, however, that almost all mice in which the two eyes differed in color, referred to as heterochromia iridis, showed piebald spotting. This connection between eye color variation and spotting has now been studied further with the result that the eye color modification has been shown to be due to specific defects of the iris, which in turn appear to be effects of a mutant gene, s, for piebald, which has long been known in laboratory mice. A twenty generations and no case of heterochromia has been seen.


Rapid design is a very important measure,by means of which a company can keep ahead under the globalized rigorous competitions.This paper discusses the methods of rapid design based on solidworks for large-scale whole set equipment.These methods would be a reference for craft brothers.


disease: clinical characteristics and history. J Psychiatr Res 2004;38:105-11. 3. Wang PN, Yang CL, Lin KN, Chen WT, Chwang LC, Liu HC. Weight loss, nutritional status and physical activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A controlled study. J Neurol 2004;251:314-20. 4. Volpato S, Romagnoni F, Soattin L, Ble A, Leoci V, Bollini C, et al. Body mass index, body cell mass, and 4year all-cause mortality risk in older nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004;52:886-91. 5. Fabiny AR, Kiel DP. Assessing and treating weight loss in nursing home patients. Clin Geriatr Med 1997;13:73751. 6. White HK, McConnell ES, Bales CW, Kuchibhatla M. A 6-month observational study of the relationship between weight loss and behavioral symptoms in institutionalized Alzheimer's disease subjects. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2004;5:89-97. 7. Raji MA, Brady SR. Mirtazapine for treatment of depression and comorbidities in Alzheimer disease. Ann Pharmacother 2001;35:1024-7. DOI 10.1345/aph.10371


The paper provides an overview of three common virtualization threats that have been observed in log files in the authors' network and suggests solutions to mitigate those security vulnerabilities. The solutions offered have been implemented on a network with over 200 hosts 40 of which are virtualized.


A hydroxyquinol 1,2-dioxygenase gene(pnpC) insertional inactivated mutant(DLL-ΔpnpC1) and a pnpC knock-out mutant(DLL-ΔpnpC) were constructed by homologous recombination from Pseudomonas putida DLL-E4.Insertional inactivated mutant DLL-ΔpnpC1 lost the p-nitrophenol(PNP) and hydroquinone(HQ) degradation ability.However,pnpC knock-out mutant DLL-ΔpnpC recovered the ability of utilizing PNP and HQ at a lower degradation rate compared with DLL-E4.Crude cell extracts of DLL-E4 and DLL-ΔpnpC induced by PNP and catechol were determined with catechol as substrate.The differences between crude enzyme′s activity of DLL-E4 and that of DLL-ΔpnpC on catechol in ammonium sulfate precipitation were compared.The results indicate that another dioxygenase was expressed in DLL-ΔpnpC which replaced pnpC with the same function in the catabolism of PNP.


License: This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Clinical Advantage of Propofol Compared with Barbiturate for the Coma Therapy in the Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury


Objective: To evaluate ankle sprains associated with type of shoes, surface, body mass index and age. Methods: We analyzed 150 women with ankle sprains. Patients completed a questionnaire about the kind of shoes they were wearing at the time of the sprain, type of surface they were on, and their body mass index. Types of shoes worn at the time of the sprain were slippers, high-heels (platform shoes, high and medium heels), tennis shoes, and barefoot. We calculated the body mass index and it was classified into underweight, normal, overweight and obesity. We divided type of floor into irregular (stairs, dirt and grass) and regular (floor, concrete, asphalt, wood and rubber). Sprains were classified based on location (lateral, medial, or mixed) and degree (I, II or III). Results: A total of 68% of patients were young and young adults (20 to 40-year-old), 19.3% were adults (40 to 60-year-old) and 12% were elderlies. Most patients, 71.3%, were under-and normal-weight, and 28.7% of them were overweight and obese. Sprains occurring in regular floor entailed 58% of the sample. Strains due to high heels (platform shoes, high and medium heels) accounted for 36.7%, with a predominance of sprains in women wearing platform type shoes (24%). Sprains due to slippers represented 29.3%, sneakers 28.7%, and barefoot 5.3%. Lateral isolated lesion was seen in 83.3%, medial lesion in 10.7% and mixed lesion in 6% of cases. Of these injuries, 10.7% occurred during exercise. Conclusion: No significance was observed among variables: type of floor, body mass index and age. Sprains were homogeneous in relation to type of shoes and surface in lateral lesions. Medial lesions were statistically significant in patients who were wearing slippers (68.8%, p= 0.001). Level of evidence IV, Case Series.


Abstract The application, construction, and principle of operation of the torque motor having permanent magnets are presented first. Since dynamic behaviour of a servohydraulic system is, to a large extent, determined by dynamic behaviour of the applied torque motor, an analysis of motor's dynamic behaviour is carried out and its dynamic transfer characteristic is determined. Finally, the simulation and experimental results of dynamic behaviour of the torque motor are presented.


A further sign of the vitality of our Society and our field is the conference's demographics. Of the people in attendance in Savannah, more than half came from that group of individuals who provide so much of the energy and the new ideas of any scientific discipline: graduate students and postdocs. SPSP is committed to doing all it can, via registration discounts, travel awards, and diversity fund travel grants, to continue to make the conference attractive to


In a study among 92 Dutch adolescents we tested the Lofland and Stark model of religious conversion. Our results show that the model offers a fairly adequate set of conditions of conversion, but is inadequate as a model for the process of conversion. Young people are attracted to religious groups for two reasons : First, the group offers them a new perspective on life and so liberates them from entrapment in their own problems. Second, the group provides them with a satisfying personal network


Solimoes Basin is an intracratonic Paleozoic basin located in the northern Brazil. Although only 251 wells were drilled in such a large basin, of which ~155 are exploratory, it ranks among the top oil producing basins in Brazil. It holds large amounts of light oil (42 to 52o API) and gas and Jandiatuba-Juruá (!) is the main petroleum system, responsible for the commercial accumulations in the basin.


This paper applies an average modeling technique to different types of switched-capacitor DC-DC converters, taking into account the circuit non-ideal parameters. An extensive set of experiments were carried out to test the validity of each model. The results show acceptable accuracy and simulation speed gain of several thousand times. This speed gain is achieved due to relaxation of the simulation timestep as opposed to traditional modeling and simulation techniques, where the simulator timestep is bound by the switching frequency. This modeling approach is most suitable for system level simulations where accuracy can be traded-off for speed


To obtain the truth of Buddha, Tiantai Zhiyi _??__??__??__??_ teaches that it's fine to meditate on one's own mind which is easy to be meditated on. But it tends to understand this teaching too easily from old times. In this essay, the most successful one in Tiantai study of Japan-DAIHOU Syudatsu (1804-1884)'s discussion over this problem is taken up, and the traditional comments and their limits are examined. Syudatsu centered on Zhanran _??__??_ and Zhili _??__??_, settled the traditional comments of Zhiyi's teaching in two meanings-"Jinyao _??__??_" and "Mingmiao _??__??_". "Jinyao" means "Jinyuan _??__??_" and "Nengzao _??__??_" of one's own mind. "Mingmiao" means that one's own mind really does exist but without a form. These two meanings are taken to be complementary to each other, and because both are the dharma of mind, they also contain each other.


Background: Architecture is defined as an art and science of designing buildings and structures. And the professional who exemplifies it is known as an Architect. An architect requires commendable intellectual in the fields of engineering, logistics, geometry, building techniques, functional designs and ergonomics. [1] Architecture students are involved in tasks like drawing and drafting and also planning and making models for their educational purposes and practice. Most of their working task are subjective and requires repetitive movements and static postures in them leading to musculoskeletal disorders. There are evidences in literatures which state that the musculoskeletal disorders among architecture students are high and that the most commonly affected areas are the neck, low back and shoulder in the decreasing order of the prevalence.There are literatures which states that the architectural educational standards in terms of design theory, technical system, design documentation and professional practice varies highly across the world. And also there is dearth of literature regarding ergonomic posture related risk of musculoskeletal disorders among architecture students. Methodology: In this study, 51 subjects both male and female were included. Of the 51 subjects, 21 subjects were Female and 30 subjects were Male. The Mean Age, Weight, Height and working hours were 19.57 years, 52.06 kg, 185.28cms and 8.63 hours respectively. Postures using REBA score sheet were evaluated based on the most difficult work tasks (based on observation and interview), the posture that was sustained for a longer period of time. Results: Body posture was evaluated using REBA sheet and it can be concluded that the major areas susceptible to uncomfortable and painful working postures were trunk and upper extremity having the most frequent risk reported. Followed by the neck and wrist having moderate risk and the least frequent area involved were legs and lower arm position. Conclusion: The study concludes that almost all of the architecture student's fall under moderate risk of musculoskeletal disorders and require intervention and awareness about postural correction exercises to prevent further musculoskeletal injuries.


Childhood obesity is a growing problem worldwide, and its causes are complex and poorly understood. Researchers have previously shown how exposure to individual pollutants such as per- and polyfluo...


This article has as objective to analyze the conquest of the feminine vote in the Maranhao, as well as the participation of the maranhenses, as voters and candidates, in the elections of 1933 and 1934. It is distinguished the process of fight for the feminine suffrage in Rio de Janeiro, capital of the country and center of the brazilian sufragista movement, emphasizing the participation of the organizations feminists. In the Maranhao we will analyze the participation of the society in the conquest of the feminine suffrage and the form as the maranhenses had folloied the fight process that occurred with more intensity in other regions of the country. Through research in maranhenses periodicals we will debate the participation of the maranhenses that had not been omissive in the victorious fight for the feminine suffrage in 1932.


The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed in March 2010, and the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the individual mandate in June 2012. The individual mandate and employer responsibility provisions, insurance subsidies, and state health insurance exchanges will take effect when full implementation occurs in January 2014. The Affordable Care Act represents the greatest single expansion in coverage since the 1965 enactment of Medicare and Medicaid. If fully implemented, the Act has the potential to reduce the number of uninsured Americans by more than half and result in coverage for up to 94% of Americans. Although the changes are sweeping, many of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act have taken effect or states and employers have already begun preparing for the changes. Provisions of the Affordable Care Act already in effect include coverage of young adults up to 26 years of age under their parents' plans and a ban on preexisting-condition exclusions for those under 19 years of age. In addition to these provisions, coverage of preventive services benefits without cost-sharing; a ban against lifetime coverage limits and restrictions on annual limits; annual premium rate-increase controls; and patient protections such as direct access to obstetric and gynecologic care, pediatric care, and fairer and stronger appeals rights have been implemented. By September 2012, the Act's preventive service expansions had improved coverage for an estimated 47 million women. Sixteen states from diverse regions of the nation are in the process of establishing health insurance exchanges that will offer affordable coverage to millions of low-income and moderateincome individuals and families as well as small employers. Pre-existing-condition plans have been established in all states to offer affordable, subsidized coverage in advance of the full health insurance and Medicaid reforms that begin in 2014. These reforms consist of a ban on the use of pre-existing-condition exclusions, prohibition against discriminatory pricing on the basis of health, and guaranteed issuance of health insurance and guaranteed renewal of coverage. In addition, the Act also invests in public health and prevention, primary health care access, and initiatives to strengthen the primary health care workforce. The central purpose of the Affordable Care Act was to extend coverage to nearly all Americans under age 65. Although the Act establishes the broad contours of this coverage arrangement (employer plans for those with workplace benefits, Medicaid for the poorest Americans, and subsidized private insurance for low-income and moderate-income individuals and families through state exchange marketplaces), states have flexibility to design their insurance marketplaces and may choose to have the federal government set up and operate exchanges on behalf of state residents. Exchanges will certify qualified health plans for sale, determine whether individuals and families have incomes greater than 138% and up to 400% of the federal poverty level (up to $92,200 for a family of four in 2012) and thus qualify for premium tax credits and cost-sharing assistance, facilitate enrollment and renewal of coverage, coordinate with state Medicaid programs and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and oversee the quality of coverage offered by participating plans. As of September 2012, states are in the process of deciding whether to administer their own exchanges, work in partnership with the federal government, or rely on federal administration. The deadline for states to show operational readiness to administer their own exchanges without federal support is January 2013. Exchanges may be state agencies, public corporations, or private nonprofit entities. From the Louisiana State University Departments of Health Policy and Management and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana; and the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC.


This study aims to determine the effect of the Current Ratio and Total Asset Turnover on Gross Profit Margin during the COVID-19 pandemic. The variables used in this research are Current Ratio, Total Asset Turnover and Gross Profit Margin. This research was conducted on hotels, restaurants and tourism sub-sector companies listed on the IDX during April 2020-September 2021. The method used is quantitative, with an associative approach, the measurement scale is the ratio scale. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling and the data collection technique was the secondary data source. The results of the Current Ratio test have a significant effect on Gross Profit Margin with a significance of 0.001 < 0.05 and tcount > ttable (3.373 > 1.991). Total Asset Turnover has a significant effect on Gross Profit Margin with a significance of 0.042 <0.05 and tcount > ttable (2,071 > 1,991). And Current Ratio and Total Asset Turnover have a significant effect on Gross Profit Margin with a significance of 0.003 < 0.05 and Fcount > Ftable (6.456> 3.115). The contribution of the variable current ratio and total asset turnover to the gross profit margin is 14.4%


FIELD: machine building. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a plain thrust bearing, specifically to plain bearing from synthetic resin used as plain thrust bearing in post-type suspensions (McPherson suspension) for four-wheeled vehicle. Thrust bearing (1) from synthetic resin has upper housing (2) from synthetic resin, lower housing (3) from synthetic resin applied on upper housing (2) with the possibility of rotation around the axis relative to upper housing (2), unit (5) of the bearing from synthetic resin placed between upper housing (2) and lower housing (3), sealing element (8) from synthetic resin, as an integral part having flexible internal edge circular sealing section to seal the gap between radial internal edge sides of housings (2, 3), a flexible outer edge annular sealing section to seal the gap between radial external edge sides of housings (2, 3), connection sections located in a deepened slot of lower housing (3) for interconnection of the inner edge annular sealing section and the outer edge annular sealing section. EFFECT: technical result is creation of a plain bearing from synthetic resin able to reliably prevent the ingress of dust etcetera on the sliding surfaces without deterioration of sliding characteristics due to dust ingress and the like, reduced time for assembling and prevention of separation due to vibration, which increases durability and degree of compaction and ensures smoothness of steering for a long time. 4 cl, 37 dwg


Hygge, the lifestyling trend that offers a path to 'authentic' Danish contentment, is one of the more curious instances of cultural translation in recent years, both semantically and in terms of how an everyday Danish concept has been transformed by London publishing houses into a marketable commodity. Despite the widespread international popular success of the phenomenon, hygge has received little academic attention. What is particularly lacking is an analysis of the cultural transferral of the concept, of the rather different set of meanings constructed by the remodelling of hygge by English-speaking commentators. This article proposes that design history can offer a helpful framework for this kind of understanding. By approaching the case of hygge as a 'mythology' in the Barthian sense, we will argue that the concept builds upon the legacy of the mythologies imprinted on Anglophone societies by the branding of Scandinavian Design since the 1950s. Highlighting the links between such myths and the manufactured British version of hygge, we will posit that the meaning of hygge—the way it operates as a sign in British culture today—is dependent upon longstanding structures of understanding.


Ten years after. Ukrainian political life in Lviv in 1928. During tne mid-vvar period Lviv was a leading centre of Ukrainian cultural and political life in Polish state. Despite the untavourable polih'cal situation Ukrainian elites tried to create mythologized image of the city as a "heart and brain" of West Ukraine. In 1928 the opportunities for such actions were, among others, parliamentary elections in March, and - in November - 1oth anniversary of the outbreak of the Ukrainian-Polish war.


Molecular wires and switches are forecast to be the elemental building blocks for future electronic applications. Synthesizing 1D molecules and comprehensively understanding their electric characteristics has become one of the major focus areas of materials science. The growth of this research field has been encouraged by the discovery of a strong dependence of electron transport on the length, conjugation, conformation, and substituents of tailored molecules. While remarkable progress has been achieved during the past decade, most of the knowledge learned has been from conjugated organic molecules whose counterpart, organometallic molecular wires, has been rarely explored. Herein we present quantitative measurements of singlemolecule conductance of 1D multinuclear metal strings ([MnL4(NCS)2], Mn=Cr3, Co3, Ni3, Cr5, Co5, Ni5, and Cr7; L= oligo-a-pyridylamine; Scheme 1). The conductance


Based on the stability theory,construction of Lyapunov function and application of nonlinear controller to the response system,synchronization and mismatch synchronization are realized between two chaotic systems in modified Chua's circuit.In addition,the paper proves the error variable goes gradually to zero with time.Numeric simulation verifies its feasibility and effectiveness.The controller is operable and easy to spread.


There are chemicals (neurotransmitters and otherwise) central to the physiological process of pain, and I envision an imaging modality that could depict where in the body these chemicals are active.


This study conducted to investigate incidence rate and association of serum lipid profiles with incidence of ischemic heart disease. Study subjects consisted of 417,642 adults aged 30 years and over, who underwent physical examination and responded to questionnaire from health examination center of 19 university general hospitals. Hazard ratio of risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD) were calculated by Cox's proportional hazard regression model adjusted for ages, BMI and lifestyle (drinking, smoking and exercising). For TC/HDL ratio, hazard ratio of IHD in male increased from 1.21 times to 1.84 times increase with TC/HDL ratio, and that in female also increased from 1.26 times to 1.86 times. For TG/HDL ratio, hazard ratio of IHD in male increased from 1.17 times to 1.49 times increase with TG/HDL ratio, and that in female also increased from 1.42 times to 1.97 times. For LDL/HDL ratio, hazard ratio of IHD in male increased from 1.26 times to 1.82 times increase with LDL/HDL ratio, and that in female also increased from 1.26 times to 1.68 times. In conclusion serum lipid indexes are the significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The higher the concentration of TC, LDL and TG is, the lower the concentration of HDL is, hazard ratio for IHD increased. Ratio of TC/HDL, TG/HDL and LDL/HDL were also verified to be significant risk factors for IHD.


With respect to Mo-Zn-Fe Complex polymetallic ores containing talc and serpentine easy for flotation,a reverse flotation with selective collectors is developed to remove gangue which influence the flotation of Mo,and Mo is collected,then Zn-S are collected by bulk flotation,finally the tail is low-intensity magnetic separated to gain Fe.By this process flowsheet, the test achieves Mo concentrate with grade at 45.54%,recovery 82.29%;Zn concentrate with grade at 48.07%,recovery 84.14%,and Fe concentrate with grade at 65.20%,recovery 53.46% and total Fe recovery at 81.30% relative to magnetite, meanwhile,S concentrate with grade at 38.75%,recovery 60.42%.


Objective To study the conditions of pathogenic bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance in newborns with infectious pneumonia.Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted for the results of sputum culture positive samples of newborn inpatients in Danxing hospital of the capital university of medical science from 200 to 2008.Results Totally 187 strains were isolated from 300 sputum culture samples,of which there were 152 strains of Gram-negative bacilli (81.3%),including E Coli,Klebsiella pneumonia,Pseudomonasaeruginosa and Enteric cloacae;and 35 strains of Gram-positive cocci (18.7%),including Staphylococcus aureus,coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.The component ratios of the pathogenic bacteria in different years showed no statistic difference (P0.05).The antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed there was no significant difference in drug resistance rate of common Gram-negative bacilli to the commonly used antibiotics during the four years (P0.05),only the rate to Imipenem increased,and with a statistic difference as compared the rate in 2005 with that in 2008 (P0.05).The rates of strains of gram-negative bacilli to Imipenem and cebfoperazone-sulbactam were 0~10.5% and 4.0~10.5% respectively.All gram-positive cocci were susceptible to vancomycin.ConclusionGram-negative bacilli are the leading pathogens to newborn infectious pneumonia.The change of component ratios in different years is not obvious.Antibiotic resistance rates of main pathogenic bacteria to most antimicrobials have no evident change.Rational use of antibiotics is important for the containment of bacterial resistance.


Children's imagination and creativity are widely recognised as important to learning in the early years (Bruner, 1986; Egan, 2005; Vygotsky 1967/2004). What is not clear is how Australian teachers nurture this aspect of thinking and learning when children enter formal schooling. The aim of this study was to investigate the pedagogies employed by teachers reputed to be exemplary practitioners to foster 5-8 year old children's imagination and creativity. This study used descriptive case study to explore the thinking, actions and insights of three teachers in different settings. Data were collected using non-participant observation and video recording of classroom interactions; and a video-stimulated review interview process. Analysis revealed four common pedagogies that fostered imagination and creativity across the curriculum. They were: supporting children to direct their own learning through play; listening to children; provoking children's thinking and emotions; and tolerance of ambiguity and mistakes. The findings demonstrated that teachers in the early years of school can successfully use pedagogies that engage children's imagination and creativity, within the perceived constraints of curriculum, timetabling and space. Future research into this topic could investigate children's responses to these pedagogies.


Chalcopyrite was synthesized with various reaction precursors and solvents, and plate-, rod-, and sphere-like chalcopyrite can be obtained. Our results show that rod-like chalcopyrite has higher discharge capacity, better rate capacity and cycle performance than others.


In the preface to her book, Susan Foote tells us that "the importance of medical device innovations, the interrelationship of the industry to government policy is neither well studied norwell understood" (xi). She is correct, and so far as she sheds light on this relatively obscure area where technology and policyinteract, she makes a valuable scholarly contribution. Foote sets a very high standard for judging her analysiswhen she states, in her preface, that she hopes to "do for medical devices what Paul Starr accomplished for the medical profession, Charles Rosenberg and Rosemary Stevens have done for hospitals, and Henry Grabowski has contributed to our understanding of the pharmaceutical industry" (p. xii). In my opinion, she does not quite meet that standard, for reasons that I expand on below. Still, I think that the work is good in many respects, and it should certainly be read by anyone interested in the relationship between technological innovation and public policy, There are several things that I like about this book. First, it is written for a wide variety of audiences. Foote's explanations of the workings of various medical devices are clear and should be accessible and interesting to policymakers, medical practitioners, laypeople, and undergraduate students alike. She deserves considerable credit for this, given the complexity of technologies involved, not to mention the intricacies of the bureaucratic interactions that she examines. Second, I like Foote's attention to history. She shows how institutional changes, many brought about during the New Deal and the Second World War, set the stage for significant public intervention into various private institutions and the market forces within which they operate. Foote makes good use of examples here, discussing the growth of companies like Beckman Instruments and Baxter Travenol. Still, while I appreciate Foote's attention to history, I think that it is somewhat cursory and does not approach the depth or richness of Paul Starr and company.


Abstract A caudal epidural block involves placing a needle through the sacral hiatus and delivering medication into the epidural space. The procedure is safe and simple, but failure rates can be as high as 25%. The purpose of this study was to investigate the success rate of caudal epidural block by analyzing needle placement and dye flow pattern. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent caudal epidural block under spinal stenosis. A case was defined as a failure if it met at least one of the following four criteria: the epidural needle was not placed correctly inside the caudal canal; blood regurgitation or aspiration in the needle was observed; the contrast dye was injected into a blood vessel; or a large amount of the dye leaked into the sacral foramen or did not reach the L5-S1 level. At least 1 failure criterion was observed in 14 cases (17.7%), while none of the failure criteria were satisfied in 65 successful cases (82.3%). No matter how experienced the anesthesiologist may be, delivery of adequate therapeutic agent is not achieved in approximately 20% of cases. Therefore, we recommend fluoroscopy-guided needle placement and confirmation by radio-contrast epidurograpy as the best choice.


Two separate series of the title systems have been prepared by cyclisation of tetrazolium salts having acylmethyl functions attached to both the ring carbon and the adjacent nitrogen atom (3, 4): (i) working in an acetate buffer led to 7-acyl derivatives (5, 6; Scheme 3), and (ii) treatment with anhydride–base gave 5,7-diacyl compounds by a deviating ring closure mechanism (11, 12; Scheme 4). These materials could be defunctionalised to afford pyrrolotetrazoles (7, 8) which were earlier approached in vain from the respective 5-methyltetrazolium salts (Tschitschibabin reaction). Regarding characterisation data, attention is drawn to the conspicuous spectroscopic differences between the 1H- and the 2H-system. 2H-Pyrrolotetrazoles (6, 8, 12) represent a novel class of Ramsden's 'type C' heteropentalene mesoions.


This paper aims at showing how aesthetical problems in the literature of a multicultural area are intimately connected with historical and political structures. The lack of an Italian university in Habsburg Trieste forced the young Italians of the city to choose between an education in Arts in Florence and an education in Sciences in Vienna. The tension resulting from this polarisation may explain the lack of "cultural tradition" in Trieste, but also the importance of the choice and the practice of literary language by Triestine writers, a condition of the modernity of this literature.


With the development of the application of the supervision in information system engineering construction, some problems such as "poor visible", "poor maneuverability" has appeared. On the analysis of characteristic about information system engineering and software engineering and combines both the traditional construction engineering supervision theory and existing information system engineering supervision theory, this paper put forwards and describes the idea of information system engineering supervision which based on software engineering theory. "risk management" and "requirement management" are also added as important content to existing supervision theory. This new theory may solve the problems lots of companies are suffering.


Based on the experience onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and Space Shuttle Discovery, the way we are trained on the ground and we live in space will be introduced. In recent space vehicles, human-machine interfaces have been developing. A validity of robots has been already researched and verified in some cases, such as, becoming a conversation partner in spaceship, supporting to take a video, doing extravehicular activity, and robots will eventually play more important roles. To make robots cooperate with humans on an equal basis or to replace humans for robots, considering sharing responsibilities, what we need is not only an improvement, but also an innovation. When trying to make an innovation, it is important to look ahead beyond a few generations. Even the technologies that seem to be absurd dreams may cause breakthroughs. Since I serve as an Executive Committee Member of "World Robot Summit" held in Japan in 2020, I would like to introduce its challenges as well. I would like to emphasize the importance of wide "teamwork" including human beings, robots and computers and their interfaces.


Sometimes, we quit things because we really don't want to do them
anymore.

For instance, I quit piano when I was still in elementary school because
I didn't enjoy it. I knew I could keep getting better if I tried, but I felt
only joy on the day I knew I would never have to play another note,
and I've had no remorse since.

But very often, we quit things because we don't think we can do them
even if we try.

I quit taking math in college, because some part of me doubted my
ability to succeed beyond multivariable calculus. I loved derivatives
and integrals and everything I was learning at that point—and I
especially loved my math professor, Robin Gottlieb. Yet the idea of
progressing to upper-level courses was terrifying.

Quitting is sometimes the right decision, but in the moment, when we
declare, "I'm done! No more for me!" it can be very difficult to know
whether we're quitting for the right reasons.


To overcome the disadvantage of the imperfect and uncertain data and redundancy node, reduce energy efficiency of communications and data processing, an optimization model based on agent distributed computation is proposed. In this model, vague set theory is used to optimize and reduce data. Furthermore, it is applied to intelligent information processing of wireless sensor networks (WSN) as clusters shape. Meanwhile, in the real-time demonstration of coal mine monitoring, the analysis indicate that this method may optimize the node scale and make node automatic gain and transmit effective minimum information, through carrying on the data analysis to each cluster, reducing the knowledge, choosing the decision rule, realize the energy efficiency optimization. At last, a practical project verifies its effectiveness.


Abstract In this study, a facile hydrothermal method was adopted to fabricate SnO2 and CuO–SnO2 nanoparticles. The CuO content was chosen as 5 mol.-% (sample 1), 10 mol.-% (sample 2) and 15 mol.-% (sample 3). Microstructures and surface morphologies for all samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). A systematic comparison study reveals an enhanced gas sensing performance for the CuO–SnO2 gas sensor towards CO gas. The improved gas sensing properties are attributed to the formation of p–n junctions and the absorbed oxygen species as well as to the heterojunctions of the CuO to the SnO2 nanoparticles which provide additional reaction rooms. The results represent an advance of heterojuction nanostructures in further enhancing the functionality of gas sensors, and this simple method could be applicable to many sensing materials.


As soon as you have downloaded an PDF or EPUB of Polymers Opportunities And Risks Ii Sustainability Product Design And Processing free of additional charge, you can even find some other helpful and intriguing ebooks as the own subscription will open all accessible PDF, EPUB ebooks on our library. After you fill registration form, Polymers Opportunities And Risks Ii Sustainability Product Design And Processing Ebooks are offered via our partner websites, details can be found. Polymers Opportunities And Risks Ii Sustainability Product Design And Processing is available for download and read instantly. Look no further as here we have a range of websites to get eBooks for many those ebook. Polymers Opportunities And Risks Ii Sustainability Product Design And Processing ebook have numerous electronic"pages" that people are able to navigate through and are frequently packaged as a PDF or EPUB document.


Three findings from the last years are united into a strong motor theory of language that posits that lexical access in all modalities is performed by executing motor plans on the speech articulators. This theory is used to create a model of novel word learning that distinguishes between words and semiwords to account for the lack of implicit word priming in novel word learning. Semiwords are also used to model L2 words for most learners, as the consequence of having approached L2 learning relying on translation and visual text. This L2 word model is used to illustrate several translation phenomena.


Superfine zinc powder is a new type of material.The production of superfine zinc powder is an effective way to develop the zinc source and to increase the added value of zinc.The pneumatic conveying technique of zinc powder between the procedure of preparation and classifier is introduced in this paper.The results show that this technique plays an important role in the production of superfine zinc powder.


This document reports upon the formulation, results and conclusions of a usability evaluation of the initial COVEN demonstrators. Given the lack of prior work on evaluation of Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE), we derive a framework for evaluation that addresses the particular constraints and needs of the area. From this we established three strands of work which enabled us to both evaluate the applications and the methodologies chosen. These strands are: a usability inspection, observational studies of network trials and auxiliary case-controlled experiments focused on the evaluation of the factors to the 'presence' concept . From the results of the different studies we produce a set of requirements for the development of the COVEN applications, and also propose a refined set of methods for CVE usability evalu ation.


A comparison study of field performances between two potato cultivars namely Emma and Burren propagated In Vitro . Results revealed that significant differences were found in most of traits. In general, at first planting date Burren produced maximum average weight of minitubers reached (21.21 g) as compared to (1.77 g) for Emma cultivar. Moreover, earlier planting date (P1) had higher plant height, Shoots fresh, dry weight and number of leaves. plant -1 which reached 25.99 cm, 6.55 g, 0.50 g and 22.16 respectively. In case of yield traits, no significant differences were found between Burren and Emma in related to the number of minitubers while highest weight and tuber diameter were found in Burren as compared to Emma.


Abstract In this paper we study a financial market in which stock returns depend on an unobservable Gaussian drift process. Investors obtain information on that drift from return observations and discrete-time expert opinions as an external source of information. Estimates of the hidden drift process are based on filtering techniques. Our focus is the case of high-frequency experts periodically providing their views on the drift with variances growing linearly with the arrival frequency. The latter condition guarantees that the delivered information per time is limited. The asymptotic behavior of the filter as the arrival frequency tends to infinity is described by limit theorems. These state that the information obtained from observing the discrete-time expert opinions is asymptotically the same as that from observing a certain diffusion process. We apply these diffusion approximations of the filter for deriving simplified approximate solutions of utility maximization problems with logarithmic and power utility.


A study of the development in the solar corona of active centers born during the CSSAR period leads to the following remarks: the 'enhancement' of coronal emissions seems to take place first within a localized 'core' close to the plage, then to extend to a much larger 'halo'; the core from which all the radiations under study originate does not last much more than the spots, whereas the 'halo' is characterized by the major importance of the emission at 5303 A, and lasts as long as the K 3 plages. These features can be explained by the assumption that the enhancement is inhomogeneous during the first part of its life, then becomes homogeneous after the core has disappeared.


FcμR is present on the cell surface of B cells as well as other antigen presenting cells where they bind the secreted form of IgM (sIgM). Our previous studies have shown that follicular B cells internalize sIgM continuously in vivo and that lack of sIgM or the FcμR on B cells results in diminished IgG responses following influenza virus infection. We aim to determine the mechanisms underlying the need for sIgM in the development of IgG responses. For this we generated HELB-FcmR−/− and HELB-FcmR+/+ mice. In vitro stimulation of purified B cells from these mice with HEL-OVA conjugate in the presence of OVA-specific OTII CD4 T cells showed an antigen-dose-dependent stimulation of both types of B cells. However, FcmR−/− B cells proliferated less at intermediate and low doses of antigen compared to controls, while they proliferated similar as wild type B cells following high-dose antigen stimulation. Intravenous injection of CD45.1-expressing C57BL/6 mice with B cells from either FcmR-deficient or -sufficient CD45.2+ HELB mice together with sheep red blood cells conjugated to HEL showed no significant differences in HEL-specific serum IgM or IgG, or frequencies of HEL-specific B cells between mice receiving either type of B cell, as assessed by ELISA and FACS, respectively. Ongoing studies are aimed at determining whether antigen-dose affects the need for FcmR expression in vivo. For that we have created mixed bone marrow (BM) irradiation chimeras with 2% BM from CD45.2 HELB or HELB-FcmR−/− mice, and 98% CD45.1 wild type BM. To-date our studies suggest that FcmR-IgM interaction enhances B cell proliferation when antigen is limiting. Future studies are aimed at testing this conclusion and explore how sIgM-FcmR interaction enhanced B cell responses.


The basis of treatment of obesity is the reduction of caloric intake by means of a diet of low caloric value, irrespective of the proportion of fat, carbohydrate or protein (Pilkington et al 1960). Under strict hospital supervision and on such a rigid diet most obese patients lose weight. A much larger number of patients, however, are treated by their general practitioners without such close supervision and many require aid to suppress their appetite. Certain drugs of the sympathomimetic amine group are thought to have a specific effect in reducing appetite by a central action. They have no specific metabolic action in themselves but simply reduce appetite, making tolerable a low calorie diet. Two examples are amphetamine and phenmetrazine (' Preludin '), both of which are effective (Hampson et al 1960) but show the side-effects of addiction and excessive mental stimulation. A preparation is needed, therefore, with a similar therapeutic action but without these side-effects. This paper describes a small investigation of a new preparation containing a mixture of phenmetrazine theoclate and phenbutrazate ('Filon'). Although it contains Phenmetrazine, it was hoped that the theoclate derivative would eliminate the sideeffects of Preludin, which is the hydrochloride. A clinical trial in general practice has been reported (The Practitioner 1961). The trial consisted of two parts, a pilot and a double blind trial. Another group was treated with diet alone. All patients were at least 15 per cent overweight as calculated from standard height and age tables and all Were women.


Research in the important parameters for modeling the dynamic behavior of soils has led to rapid development of the small strain stiffness and damping ratio for use in the seismic method. It is because, the experimental determination of the damping ratio is problematic, especially for hard soils sample. Many researchers have proved that the surface wave method is a reliable tool to determine shear wave velocity and damping ratio profiles at a site with very small strains level. Surface wave methods based on Rayleigh waves propagation and the resulting attenuation curve can become erroneous when higher modes contribute to the soil's response. In this study, two approaches has been used to determine the shear strain amplitude and damping ratio of residual soils at small strain level using Spectral Analysis of Surface Wave (SASW) method. One is to derive shear strain amplitude from the frequency-response curve and the other is to derive damping ratio from travel-time data. Then, the results are compared to the conventional method.


This paper examined the impact of macroeconomic variables, namely real GDP growth, house price growth and changes in the repo rate on the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio in Namibia using data from 2004Q1 to 2020Q1. The study used a vector auto-regressive (VAR) model and impulse response analysis to estimate the impact of changes in macroeconomic conditions on NPLs, and further conducted stress testings on NPL ratio over 4 - 6 quarter horizons. Empirical evidence from this study shows that macroeconomic variables such as real GDP growth rate, the house price growth rate and the repo rate have a statistically significant impact, and material impact on the non-performing loans in the banking sector in Namibia. Largely, a positive growth rate shock in a quarter will reduce NPL ratio by more than half percentage point over two quarters. Similarly, a positive shock of about 4.0 percent in a quarter will reduce NPL ratio by more than 1.2 percentage points over four quarter horizons. Macro-stress-testing results revealed that a deterioration of the GDP growth rate by more than one standard deviation will increase the NPL ratio from 2.46 to 2.78 over four quarter horizons. Meanwhile, the combined effects of deteriorating the GDP growth rate and falling house prices further exacerbated the vulnerability of the banking sector. This study contributes to our understanding of the interplay between macroeconomic conditions and financial sector resilience in Namibia. In practical application, it shows that macro-stress testing techniques are useful to study the importance of macro-financial and feedback effects from the financial sector to the real economy. Technically, central banks must develop models that capture important macro-financial and feedback effects, and regulatory attention must be devoted to monitoring spillover effects from worsening financial conditions to the real economy.


Background: HIV infection can lead to thyroid gland endocrinopathy. There is limited data regarding
prevalence, pattern and correlates associated with thyroid dysfunction in India. The study will help to
assess whether universal screening of thyroid function should be enforced in HIV infected patients.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of thyroid dysfunction and also to nd out association between thyroid
dysfunction with other factors like age, gender, and CD4 count in newly diagnosed HIV infected patients attending North
Bengal Medical College.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 95 HIV infected patients attending indoor and outdoor
of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital after fullment of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using
predesigned pre tested schedule after having informed consent and subjected to clinical and laboratory examination.
Collected data were analysed using SPSS statistical software and presented using principles of descriptive statistics.
Results: Overall 34.7% of study subjects had thyroid dysfunction. Mostly found dysfunction was subclinical hypothyroidism
(23.2%). Direct correlation was observed between T3, T4, CD4 Count whereas TSH was inversely correlated with all others
parameters.
Conclusion: Biochemical abnormalities in thyroid function is commoner among patients with HIV. The severity of
hypothyroidism is inversely correlated with CD4 counts. The screening of thyroid function in HIV patients thus indicated to
improve the quality of life.


Objective To analyze the usage of application of benzodiazepines for psychiatry outpatients.Methods Choosed prescription of benzodiazepines from Jan.2011 to Jan.2012 and May.2010 to Sep.2012 to analyze.Results The prescription of benzodiazepines was account for total 17.80%,among these,the single use,combined usage with hypnosis,sedation and anti-anxiety was 37.4%,combined usage with antipsychotics was 11.6%,and combined with antidepressant drug was 49.7%.Conclusion The benzodiazepines is suitable for patients of 29 to 59 years to treat insomnia,depressed,using this drug for a long time attention and needs to strengthen clinical observation.


. It is shown that the variety of transposed Poisson algebras coincides with the variety of Gelfand-Dorfman algebras in which the Novikov multiplication is commutative. The Gröbner-Shirshov basis for the transposed Poisson operad is calculated up to degree 4. Furthermore, we demonstrate that transposed Poisson algebras are F-manifolds. We verify that the special identities of the variety of GD-algebras hold in transposed Poisson algebras. Finally, we propose a conjecture stating that transposed Poisson algebras are special, i.e., can be embedded into a differential Poisson algebra.


Melt migration through high‐strain zones in the crust fundamentally influences their rheological behaviour and is important for the transfer of fluids to upper crustal regions. The inference of former melt‐present deformation, based on field observations, may be hampered if the high‐strain zone experience a low time‐integrated melt flux or high melt volume expulsion during deformation. In these cases, typical macro‐scale field evidence of former melt presence limits interpretations. In this contribution, we investigate igneous field evidence ranging from obvious to cryptic in the Gough Dam shear zone (central Australia), a 2‐ to 4‐km‐wide high‐strain zone shown to have acted as a significant melt pathway during the Alice Springs Orogeny. Within bands of the high‐strain zone, granitic lenses are easily discernible in the field and are inferred to have formed during melt present deformation. Related coarse K‐feldspar is observed in biotite‐rich (>75 vol%) schist (glimmerite) as either isolated grains, forming trails (sub)parallel to the main foliation, or in aggregates with subordinate quartz. Detailed characterization of the granitic lenses shows that pockets of phenocrysts may be entrained in the shear zone. If melt expulsion and melt‐rock interaction is severe, isolated K‐feldspar grains in glimmerite may form. These grains exhibit (i) partially preserved crystal faces; (ii) a lack of internal grain deformation; (iii) reaction textures preferentially formed along the main crystallographic axes showing dissolution of K‐feldspar and precipitation of dominantly biotite; (iv) low‐strain domains between multiple K‐feldspar grains being inferred to enclose crystallized melt pockets, with some apparently isolated grains showing connectivity in three dimensions; and (v) a weak quartz and K‐feldspar crystallographic preferred orientation. These observations suggest an igneous phenocrystic origin for the isolated K‐feldspar grains hosted in glimmerite, which is consistent with the observed REE concentration patterns with positive Eu anomaly. We propose that the K‐feldspar phenocrysts are early‐formed crystals that were entrained into the glimmerite rocks as reactive melt migrated through the actively deformatting high‐strain zone. Previously entrained K‐feldspar phenocrysts were trapped during the collapse of the melt pathway when melt flux‐related fluid pressure waned while confining pressure and tectonic stress were still significant. The active deformation facilitated expulsion or loss of the melt phase but retainment and trapping of phenocrysts. Hence, the presence of isolated or 'trains' of K‐feldspar phenocrysts is a cryptic signature of syndeformational melt transfer. If melt transfer occurs in an open chemical system, phenocrysts will be entrained within the reaction product of melt‐rock interaction. We suggest that these so‐called trapped phenocrysts are a viable indicator of former syntectonic melt passage through rocks.


Two methods of atmospheric column water vapor content retrieval from 940nm NIR and adjacent bands of CE318 sun photometer based on water vapor absorption in this region are introduced.They are respectively modified Langley Plot and ratio method.We use the modified Langley Plot to retrieve the atmospheric column water vapor content of Hefei region on mid October 2003.The comparison of the retrieved water column content using sun photometer with the weather forecast data shows that the error is less than ten percent.The study shows that sun photometer is a kind of instrument for effectively measuring the atmospheric column water vapor.


ORGANOMETALLICCOMPOUNDSOFTIN(II) –SOMEMAINGROUPMETALSTANNYLS.This paper aimsto summarise some chemical information aboutselected main group metalstannyl compounds. The number of these compoundsin the literature are much fewer than those with transition metal cations. Most papersreport details ofstannyls containing Li(I), Na(I) and K(I),such assynthetic routes, spectroscopic results and their molecular structures. This review comprises not only information of stannyls containing these cations, but also some alkaline-earth species containingMg(II),Ca(II),Sr(II),Ba(II), aswell asSn(II).In some compounds,the alkaline or alkaline earth cation is connected to the stannylfragmentthrough aSn –Mbond, evidenced byX-ray crystallographic data or by solutionorsolid-state 119SnNMRexperiments.The introduction part ofthe papersummarizesthe chemical aspects ofthese compounds and their importance in the organometallic chemistry ofSn(II) as a research area.The second part ofthisreviewis dedicated to a broad discussion of the syntheses and structural aspects ofsomeLi(I),Na(I) andK(I) derivatives.The structure ofsome stannyl compounds ofMg(II),Ca(II), Sr(II),Ba(II) are displayed in the third part ofthis paper.Two rare examples of Sn(II)-based stannyl derivatives are shown in the final part ofthe review.Thisreview also highlights how important it isto correlate X-ray crystallographic data with those obtained by solution- or solid-state 119Sn-NMRexperimentsin orderto determine the degree of covalence in the Sn –Mbond.


High-dose therapy (HT) has been reported to induce a high response rate in multiple myeloma (MM). However, the impact of such strategy on overall survival is difficult to assess. Indeed, prospective studies testing the effect of HT versus conventional chemotherapy (CC) have never been reported. In order to address this issue, from September 1990 to May 1993, 200 patients aged under 65 years with stage II/III DS previously untreated MM were randomized, at diagnosis, to receive CC (VMCP/BVAP) or HT (high dose melphalan and total body irradiation, supported with unpurged autologous bone marrow, collected after two cycles of VMCP/BVAP). Maintenance treatment with a-interferon was used in both arms. The analysis was performed as of June 1994, on an intention-to-treat basis, with a median follow-up of 28 months from diagnosis. Patient characteristics of each group (CC = 100 patients; HT = 100 patients) were similar and no significant differences were found with regard to age (57 years; SD = 6), stage DS (I1 = 5 I; 111 = 149), Ig isotype (IgG = 11 1; IgA = 56; BJ = 28; IgD = 4), Pl-Microglobulin (4.8 mg/l; SD = 4), and bone marrow plasmacytosis (38%; SD = 25). Seventy-three of 100 patients enrolled in the HT arm were actually treated with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) and 23 patients did not receive ABMT for the following reasons: six for bad performance status, six for organ failure, ten for insufficient bone marrow collection and five for early death. Two toxic deaths occurred after ABMT (Streptococcus infection). Response rate was significantly higher in the HT arm than in the CC arm (p < 0.001). Indeed, 23/100 patients achieved complete remission (CR), 15/100 very good partial response (VGPR 2 90%), 41/100 PR, 8/100 minimal response (MR) and 13/100 remained with a progressive disease (PD) in the HT arm, versus 41100 CR, 10/100 VGPR, 42/100 PR, 17/100 MR and 27/100 PD in the CC arm. HT was also found to improve event-free survival (EFS). Indeed, the three-year postdiagnosis probability of EFS was 35% (95% CI = 20-50) in the ABMT arm versus 15% (95% CI = 435) in the CC arm (p < 0.05). The three-year post-diagnosis probability of survival was 64% (95% CI = 49-76) in the ABMT arm versus 15% (95% CI = 2-5 1) in the CC arm 0, < 0.05). In multivariate analysis among various factors tested (age, stage DS, M component, P2-Microglobulin, albumin, LDH, plasmacytosis, treatment arm, response (CR + VGPR/PR/others), two factors were found to significantly affect survival: P,-Microglobulin ( p < 0.05) and response ( p < 0.00 1). Indeed, the three-year postdiagnosis probability of survival was 91% for patients in CR or VGPR (n = 52), 41% for patients in PR (n = 83) and 0% for patients in MR or with PD (n = 65) (p < 0.001). Finally, the Intergroupe Frangais du Myelome (IFM) trial demonstrates that ABMT improves response rate, EFS and survival in MM. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that attainment of a higher CR rate should be the major objective of future prospective trials.


In a recent article, Professor Steven Schwarcz describes the concept of "ring-fencing" as a "potential regulatory solution to problems in banking, finance, public utilities, and insurance." Ring-fencing has gained particular prominence in recent years as a strategy for limiting the systemic risk of large financial conglomerates (also known as "universal banks"). Professor Schwarcz's article describes several ring-fencing plans that have been adopted or proposed in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.This Comment argues that "narrow banking" is a highly promising ring-fencing remedy for the risks created by universal banks. As the Comment explains, narrow banking would strictly separate the deposit-taking function of universal banks from their capital markets activities. If properly implemented, narrow banking could significantly reduce the safety net subsidies currently exploited by large financial conglomerates and thereby diminish their incentives for excessive risk-taking.


Inspired by statistical thermodynamics, we presume that neuron system has equilibrium condition with respect to neural firing. We show that, even with dynamically changeable neural connections, it is inevitable for neural firing to evolve to equilibrium. To study the dynamics between neural firing and neural connections, we propose an extended communication system where noisy channel has the tendency towards fixed point, implying that neural connections are always attracted into fixed points such that equilibrium can be reached. The extended communication system and its mathematics could be useful back in thermodynamics.


An experiment was carried out during the period 1976 to 1979, in Latosolic B 'terra roxa', at Instituto Agronomico Experimental Station, in Piracicaba, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the performance of the following sugarcane varieties: CB41-76, CB36-24, CB40-69, CB47-89, CB47-355, CB53-98, IAC52-179, Co740, IAC60-537, Co1148, CP51-22 and Q76. The results showed that CP51-22 and Co740 had the best performance, followed by the varieties IAC60-537, CB41-76, CB47-89 and CB53-98 in terras of cane and sugar yields (t/ha).


Presented was the conception of three worlds—the real world,the abstract world,and the model world.By evaluation of basic objectives,the real world was transformed to the abstract world.In the abstract world,the river basin was composed of basic objectives,and the basic objectives were composed of basic components.The simulation model for basic objectives,the water volume exchange function,and the nodal water stage equation were developed.The matrix mark method was employed to solve the nodal water stage,and the hydraulic parameters for river basin objectives were obtained by back computation of the water volume exchange function.The model constructed in the abstract world and the use of the matrix mark method to solve equations make it possible to realize flood routing and simulation,and the algorithm is universal.


This paper deals with mobile robot navigation in an unknown environment. The proposed algorithm is inspired from artificial potential field (APF) and rotational force method. In the proposed algorithm, the robot's velocity vector is simply determined by relative position vector of robot with respect to target and obstacles. This algorithm is applicable to both stationary and dynamic environments with one or more obstacles and guarantees that the robot can safely track the moving target even in the conditions of local minima or goal not reachable with obstacle nearby. In order to make the simulation more practical, it is applied to wheeled mobile robot. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


Objective: To evaluate the changes of brachial-ankle pulse wave conduction velocity after treatment with different antihypertensive drugs in essential hypertension patients.Methods: A total of 120 patients of essential hypertension were equally and randomly divided into three groups according to the antihypertensive drugs of telmisartan(ARB group),amlodipine(CCB group),and perindopril(ACEI group) respectively.Heart rate(HR),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),pulse pressure(PP),and brachial-ankle pulse wave conduction velocity(baPWV) were measured after 1 month and 3 months respectively.Results: The SBP,DBP,PP,HR,and baPWV of the three groups had no significant difference before the treatment(P 0.05).After treatment for one month and three months respectively,the SBP,DBP,PP,and baPWV were significantly decreased as compared with pretreatment(all P 0.01).After treatment,the changes of baPWV(△baPWV) were different among the three groups,as ARB group CCB group ACEI group(P 0.05).Conclusion: All the three kinds of drugs of perindopril,amlodipine,and telmisartan can improve arterial elasticity of hypertension patients, and telmisartan has the best effect.


Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences Graduate School of Information Sciences Master Multi-Agent Based Sound Source Localization for Aerial Swarm by Lana Sinapayen Rescue missions could be faster and safer if human rescue teams were assisted by autonomous robots. In this research, we use a swarm of micro-quadrocopters to explore an indoor environment and localize possible victims using sound. Groups of very small quadrocopters are capable of maneuvering indoors while performing sound processing. But they produce a loud ego noise and need noise-robust algorithms that do not require heavy sensors or heavy processing. We propose a multi-agent based design and a combination of three sound processing algorithms allowing robust, distributes Sound Source Localization (SSL) for micro-quadrocopters with few sensors. In this thesis, we describe the concept and design of our proposal and present results of simulated and real-world experiments showing that our proposed architecture and algorithms are effective to localize a sound source using a swarm of micro-quadrocopters.


Nowadays, a small flying robot such as small/micro air vehicle can do very important role for human's reconnaissance mission. Small hovering robot can approach dangerous area where human cannot go. In addition, comparing with fixed wing type, it can watch continuously a certain fixed point by hovering in specific area. The main purpose of this research is to develop the hovering small flying robot with semi autopilot system. It consists of one rotor blade set, electronic speed controller, electronic motor and battery etc. In addition, IMU sensor (AHRS, Attitude and Heading Reference System) and GPS sensor are integrated for semi autopilot system and anti-toque and directional control system. The weight of IMU sensor is 9g. The small lightweight IMU is composed of accelerometers, magnetometers and gyroscope sensors. Hovering robot with about  500~550mm diameter has outer protection frame with carbon/epoxy rods. IMU sensor is installed at the center of gravity of the flying robot. An electric hardware control system is designed for the possible auto-pilot control. The total weight of the designed flying robot is about 1,000g and it can fly about 10 minutes. Stabilizer installed to increase the hovering stability. A PID control system for semi-autopilot was developed and installed. The hovering and simple loitering were successful with semi-autopilot system. By extending this work, we are going to develop a small flying robot with full-autopilot system that can capture and transmit real time video image.


Using a first-principles calculation, correlation between the chemical order and nature property of Cu-centered CunZr13-n(n = 6, 7, 8, 9) icosahedral clusters is investigated. It is found that homogeneous atoms in shell of Cu-Zr icosahedral clusters with low binding energy and high chemical stability prefer to bond each other. In this case, the Cu-Cu interaction is demonstrated to play a key role in the formation of stable Cu-centered Cu-Zr icosahedral clusters. Compared with other metastable Cu-centered Cu-Zr icosahedrons, both of ionic bonding between core and shell Cu atoms and covalent bonding between shell and shell Cu atoms in high stable icosahedrons are strong. An analysis of electronic structures has revealed that this atomic segregation in low energy and high chemical hardness of stable Cu-Zr icosahedral configurations can be attributed to themselves low N(EF) at Femi level EF to some extent. A further analysis of Mulliken's population shows these shell Cu atoms are all donees in the formation of Cu-Zr icosahedral cluster, different from the donation of core Cu atoms and shell Zr atoms, and this charge transfer direction does not change with chemical order parameter δCuZr and chemical composition of Cu-centered Cu-Zr icosahedral clusters.


Anyone who has spent time in a teacher's lounge knows that com bative teacher-parent confere ces occasionally are the subject of conversa tion. Some teachers even suspect that a parent may be a teacher's natural enemy. Fortunately, most teachers have the skills needed to conduct worth-while meetings with receptive parents, but coming face to-face with angry parents is enough to raise the anxiety level of nearly anyone in the teaching profession. At the elementary level, parent confer ences are likely to be regularly scheduled student-progress reports or similar infor mational meetings. In contrast, middle level conferences frequently are in re sponse to a crisis or represent an effort to resolve a conflict. Whatever the reason for meeting with parents, teachers need to approach potentially hostile conferences with special strategies, making the best possible use of available lead-time.


This paper presents a numerical analysis of an optimizing, equilibrium model of the risk premium in the forward foreign exchange market. An overlapping-generations model with incomplete markets is employed. Because the equilibria are analytically intractable, the model must be solved numerically. The authors show how changes in the distribution of the exogenous variables affect the distribution of the risk premium. They find that the properties of the real risk premium have far more intuitive appeal than those of the more commonly employed nominal risk premium. Copyright 1995 by Ohio State University Press.


In this paper, we examine the performance tradeoffs that are raised by caching data in the client workstations of a client-server DBMS. We begin by presenting a range of lock-based cache consistency algorithms that arise by viewing cache consistency as a v~iant of the well-understood problem of replicated data management. We then use a detailed simulation model to study the performance of these algorithm over a wide range of workloads end system resource configurations. The results illustrate the key performance tradeoffs related to clientserver cache consistency, and should be of use to designers of next-generation DBMS prototypes and products.


In this paper, a new 3D video quality metric based on multiscale images and masking effect is proposed. Proposed metric mainly contains three components: 3D-DCT transform, asymmetric multi-scale measurement, and difference of disparity estimation. 3D-DCT transform is processed by grouping similar blocks in both left and right channel. DCT coefficients are analyzed taking into account Human Visual System (HVS) properties, i.e. contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and masking effect. Left channel is processed into several downsampled versions and then measured by PSNR-HVS-M. In addition, depth error between original image and distorted image is also measured using disparity estimation. The proposed metric is validated over 3D video quality database with wider types of compression artifacts. The results show that the metric outperforms current metrics over different 3D video formats and compression methods.


THE BRITISH COLUMBIA SAWMILL INDUSTRY, from its inception in the mid-nineteenth century until its full development in the early twentieth century, relied upon substantial numbers of cheap Asian labourers. From the 1890s, workers from Japan joined Chinese immigrants, formerly indentured to railway construction, in providing not only the labour itself but also the means to control wage rates and working conditions by splitting the workforce along racial lines. This paper examines this process of 'racialization/ focusing on the experience of Japanese-Canadian sawmill workers. Our analysis begins from the premise that 'race' is a social construction, historically variable and geographically specific. 'Races' are made, not given; they are a product of racism, not biology. This is not to deny the existence of a range of subtle physical differences among human beings. The racist fallacy is to assert that human beings can be divided naturally into discrete 'races' according to phenotypical criteria and to assume that these physical distinctions are inexorably associated with particular social distinctions, such as aggression or docility. The task, then, is to describe the process of 'racialization/ a process which is "structurally determined, politically organized and


This animation explores the possibilities of what might happen when dreams affect our conscious lives. When the line between life and death hangs in the balance, dreams can become nightmares. PRODUCTION Modeling: Maya subdivided polygons. Rendering technique used most: Maya software and hardware renderers. Average CPU time for rendering per frame: seven minutes. Total production time: seven months. Production highlight: In my thesis project, I used a script to control the string of a balloon. This script would cause the string to follow the balloon when it was moved, keeping the string straight. Another script that I used was for controlling multiple blend shapes on a single slider.


We study the electronic and structure properties of zincsulphide (ZnS) under high pressure, using large unit cell method. We employ intermediate neglect of differential overlap calculation, with appropriate corrections to the band gap and zero point energy to the cohesive energy. The results are in reasonable agreement with available experimental data. The effect of pressure on zincsulphide causes the following effect; an increase of band gap, valence bandwidth and the cohesive energy, and a decrease of the conduction bandwidth. This model is predicted a decrease of the electronic occupation probability for the s and p orbital of sulfur with an increase of this probability for the s-orbital of zinc with increase of pressure.


This study examines two user-generated web dictionaries dedicated to the Swedish language: Folkmun.se and Luxikon.se. These web sites are well suited for comparison since both were launched by non- ...


A new set of international legal rules has been developed in the recent practice of investment law, intended to balance the promotion of foreign investments with the creation of safeguards for public policies. After a brief introduction, which addresses that trend in the light of the expansion of negotiations on mega-regional agreements as the "new" instrument of investment regulation, the second section of this article discusses the question of the convergence of the protection of private investors and the protection of States' regulatory power in the experience of NAFTA countries and the most recent European investment policy, developed after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. The third section is devoted to an analysis of the substantive provisions of the recently concluded mega-regional agreements concerning three specific elements traditionally linked to investor protection (i.e. the free and equitable treatment standard, "umbrella" clauses, and indirect expropriation) in order to examine how they contribute to setting a new paradigm, or at least a move towards a new paradigm for the protection of investors' rights. Subsequently, investors' obligations – still a major topic under discussion in the practice of investment law – will be examined; and finally the new dispute settlement mechanism which has been proposed by the European Union will be assessed, discussing how it could fit with a reform of the procedural aspects of investor protection to guarantee the State's policy space.


The local extinction or large fluctuation in abundance of a species may seriously affect other species in the community. The effects spread through the community by direct and indirect interactions. The network perspective on ecology can help map the pathways of these effects, for food webs, the pathways of indirect trophic interactions. Indirect interactions typically decay in intensity as they spread. Therefore, there is a conceptual maximum range in topological space beyond which interactions have no effects, even though all species remain connected. Neither the local characteristics of species, nor the global characteristics of entire webs, suitably quantify this range. We therefore apply intermediate scale indices that reflect the limitations imposed by effect damping in networks. We present a complex analysis of the topological positional importance of species in the Chesapeake Bay web. This web is a carbon-flow network that represents trophic interactions. We present several different indices reflecting different properties and discuss which questions the different indices best answer. We look for the best indices for identifying the key players in ecosystem functioning. Our study contributes to the quantification of relative species importance and provides an exact and a priori determination of a class of candidate keystone species that can inform applied and conservation ecology as well as theoretical concerns.


to Spain but do not fit these criteria (20–23). A notable omission is Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, considered both a Cuban and a Spanish Romantic writer, and author of a travel account to the Pyrenees (21–22). Including these voices, or at least commenting on the dialogue between Spanish travelers and these transnational figures (for instance, Gómez de Avellaneda's close connection to Cecilia Böhl de Faber), would have enriched the discussion of women, travel, and the literary vocation. The twentieth century consolidated the shift between travel and tourism (321), and a new traveling persona emerged, as exemplified by Carmen de Burgos Seguí's journalistic coverage of the War of Melilla in Morocco (328) and of pre-World War I Germany (356–59). Pérez de Canova's episodes of escape in the frozen Volga (256–60) set new expectations of realism in the traveling genre. The gallery of individual travelers ends with a single collective account, the travel diary of missionary sisters sent to the island of Fernando Po on the coast of Africa (381–82). As "a shipwreck survival narrative," this little-known account ends at the scene of arrival at destination and the establishment of a Christian mission (385–88). As in the case of the ten individual travelers who went before, Jenkins Wood draws a portrait of these anonymous heroines, bringing the book to a suitable end. However, she fails to mention the historical significance of the site: the island of Fernando Po served as a way-station where boats about to embark on the Middle Passage loaded their human cargo. This historical note is important, as Fernando Po figures in twentiethcentury Caribbean poetry and fiction as a bitter recollection of the transatlantic slave trade. By its attention to individual and collective itineraries, Spanish Women Travelers at Home and Abroad presents an informative view of travel narrative and shows to what extent mobility enlarged Spanish women's horizons, facilitating the transition from ángel del hogar to the modern woman engaged in worldly pursuits.


Context. Collision is a basic necessity in most simulated environments, especially video games, which demand user interaction. Octrees are a way to divide the simulated environments into smaller, m ...


The lips are considered of great importance for the perception of beauty and there is still a lacuna in the attempt to successfully re‐pigment resistant areas of vitiligo especially the lips. No technique evolved so far ensures 100% pigmentation with a good cosmetic appearance. To study the efficacy and cosmetic outcome following primary excision and closure in the management of lip vitiligo and assessing postoperative morbidity using the created surgical site morbidity score (SSMS). Twenty‐five patients with vitiligo involving the inner margin of lower lips were posted for primary excision and closure of the vitiliginous area. Patients were followed up at 7 days and every 6 months. A SSMS including pain (P), healing time (H), and presence of complications (C) as parameters for assessment of postoperative morbidity were recorded at every follow‐up visit. All patients showed healthy lip mucosa within 7 days of the procedure and no recurrence was noted at 24 months of follow up. The postoperative morbidity based on the SSMS was minimal, with a mean score of P2H8C0. Primary excision and closure technique is a safe and inexpensive modality in the management of lip vitiligo with immediate results and excellent cosmetic outcomes.