338 Background: We retrospectively assessed long-term outcomes of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for stage II/IIII germ cell tumors (GCTs) at Medical Oncology Department of 12 Octubre University Hospital, Madrid (Spain).

METHODS
Two hundred fourteen (214) consecutive males with advanced GCTs of the testis or extragonadal origin who received standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens between 1982 and 2012 were analyzed.

RESULTS
Demographic features: Median age 26.4 years (range 14- 72 years). Right and left testicular tumor present in 71 (37%) and 78 (41%) patients respectively and cryptorchidism in 11 (5%).

HISTOLOGY
12% of the patients had seminomatous and 88% non-seminomatous histology. Stage distribution (TNM): Stage II 105p (49%), Stage III 109 p (51%). Twenty-five primary (11%) were extragonadal. Risk assessment according to IGCCCG - good 115 p (54%) intermediate 34 p (16%) and poor 62 p (29%). All patients received chemotherapy with cisplatin (BEP-73%, EP-15%, BOPM-EPI 5%, PVB 6%, others 1%). Survival analysis: The median follow-up period was 117 months (0 - 329). Totally, 158 patients (74%) achieved complete remission (CR). CR was achieved in 128 p (60%) after induction therapy (first line chemotherapy). Salvage treatment: surgery +/-chemotherapy was given to 72 (33%) and 85 (39%) patients respectively. High-dose chemotherapy (with carboplatin based- schemes at dosage (AUC20) as salvage therapy was performed in 65 patients (30%). Of them 35 p (53.4%) had complete remission of disease without relapse and the median progression free survival was of 47.2 months. Severe AEs were < to 5%, and classically already described renal impairment, ototoxicity and neurophaty with non chemotherapy-related toxic deaths.

CONCLUSIONS
Improvement of medical management and survival during platinum-based chemotherapy and the development of several regimens for salvage chemotherapy seemed to contribute to improving outcomes of patients with advanced GCTs even for patients with platinum-refractory disease. However, we continue to investigate in the search for genetic and molecular mechanisms that help us change it.


It is well seen basketball games,attack times and scouses are going rising and it is the attack rate that becomes importance of wining the games.The times of influncing attcack rate also becomes focus of team competition,in order to contesting more time and spaces,we must use times and inhancing attack rate.Through casting basketball,attacking and pushing consume time,this atticle finds Chineses youth lacks of attacking senses and maneuverability,no flexibly dividing the work,all factors directly influnce the whole team attack rates.


Conventional theories take the structure of relativistic quantum mechanics as given. The two empirical constants c and tz. are connected to the arbitrary historical standards of mass, length and time by various, hopefully self-consistent, means. A third fundamental constant such as e2,m,,mp, Mplanck has to be taken from experiment before theoretical "predictions" can be attempted. Our theory [H.P.Noyes and D.O.McGoveran, Physics Essays 2, 76 (1989)] is based on the principles of finiteness, discreteness, finite computability, absolute non-uniqueness, and strict construction. We construct (rather than postulate) the limiting velocity and discrete events, and then derive the Lorentz transformations and the non-commutativity of position and velocity.


Summary Twenty Es administered Rorschachs expecting Ss to give high or low total numbers of responses, high or low animal in relation to human percentages, and one or another extreme of select personality characteristics. Additionally, each tested a control S expecting "nothing remarkable." Results indicated tester-bias and suggested that within each comparison group, one expectancy condition contributed disproportionately more to the bias effect than did the other. Video tapes of 20 sessions were analyzed to see whether a Bandura modeling paradigm could account for the mediation of bias; i.e., whether Es modeled their expectancies for the benefit of their Ss and whether Ss consequently imitated their models. This was not supported.


The Pacific Ocean comprises an area of 181 300 000 km2, about one-third of the earth's surface. Within that unimaginable area are thousands of islands and many countries, some independent and some even now part of other countries. Many of the nations in that vast area encompass one, a few, or many islands, sometimes comprising archipelagos, chains of islands covering enormous areas. Some of these islands or countries are very small and little is known about them. I intend here to describe in some detail a small number of the lesser known islands, in the hope that one will strike your fancy as a vacation destination.


The paper discusses some reflections of original context in the translated context from the angle of text translation.Based on the discussions it comes to the conclusions: readers of the translated text should try their best to recognize and acquire the necessary context information as those of the original readers;translators should compensate those possible context loop holes or defaults which they might become obstacles in the readers'mind in their constructing the translated text.


The invention discloses an aerosolization suction product with caffeine and the like and the insomnia treatment function. Tea extract with the caffeine, flavone, flavonoid, polyphenols, anthocyanidin and the like is used for being made into man-made tobacco shreds or electronic tobacco liquid or paste, or the tea extract is absorbed by tobacco-shred-shaped plants, and then the tobacco-shred-shaped plants are made into cigarette-shaped products or are processed to be used in cooperation with electronic cigarettes in the market. The aerosolization suction product has the advantages of helping a user to fall asleep, treating insomnia and helping the user to quit smoking.


In all activities, human will produce a residual in a form of solid called solid waste. Kampus Bina Widya is a one of university in Pekanbaru with all of its activities is not hampered from solid waste productiom and problems coming from it, one of which can be seen on the amounts of solid waste in LPS (Land Disposal meantime) located behind of a Stadion Mini. This study aims to determine the waste generation and composition at Kampus Bina Widya and planned waste management system that includes lug, collection, transportation and the planned dump site (TPST) in Kampus Bina Widya, so the landfill activity on campus no longer exists. This study begins with the generation and waste composition studies conducted in 4 faculty, 3 offices, roads, public housing, hospitals and mosques.The study results showed the composition and in 2014 the daily waste generation of 9.448 l/day with composition is inorganic waste by 50,55% % and organic waste by 49,45%. Waste management planning in Campus Bina Widya include disaggregated lug to lug needs a capacity of 10 l bin for organic waste as much as 325 units and as many as 514 units of inorganic waste, bin capacity of 30 l to 108 units as much organic waste and inorganic waste as much as 171 units, bin capacity 60 l for organic waste as much as 62 units and 88 units of inorganic waste. Collection system in the form of segregated polling stations with a capacity of 4 m3 tub. A transport fleet capacity of 4 m3 pick up 2 units. The area of land needs TPSTs in Bina Widya Campus is an area of 635.33 m². Keywords: generation and waste composition, waste management systems, TPST


Abstract : Groundwave MF-lower HF communication is one candidate for communications between the hardened mobile launchers and/or silos of the new small missile (NSM) and the launcher control centers (LCCS). This report is an analysis of the capabilities of such a communications system in terms of effective communications range for various combinations of data rate, radiated power, error correction coding, and grade of service required. Keywords included: Air correction codes; Groundwave ranges; HF; MF; and Modulation techniques.


This paper presents the experimental studies on an SCR system for a mobile heavy-duty diesel engine to reduce NOx emission below Euro V emission limits. The test results obtained by one engine serving in China show that NOx emission was reduced to 1.81 g/kWh with ESC and 1.66 g/kWh with ETC, the reduction efficiency of NOx was reduced by about 80%, while the average NH3 slip is kept below 6 ppm.


This paper analyzes the interpersonal meaning of proclamation by BARACK OBAMA on Thanksgiving Day from the perspectives of mood,modality,tense,person and lexicon at micro level.The analysis reveals how proclamation deliverers apply suitable language devices for the effective interactivities with the audience.Thus it can help us to read and compose proclamation on social life better.


This paper provides a solution to the problem of robust model predictive control (MPC) for piecewise linear (PWL) systems with constraints and persistent, unknown but bounded disturbances. The robust MPC policy is to minimize a quadratic performance index with terminal cost for the nominal PWL systems and with tightened systems constraints and tightened terminal set constraints for all admissible disturbances. Off-line, pre-determined feedback gains for PWL systems are introduced and are applied to generate a candidate correction policy to show how constraints in the MPC optimization are restricted against persistent bounded disturbances. On-line, at each sampling time, the resultant optimization problem is a mixed integer quadratic programming (MIQP) of similar complexity to that required in MPC of nominal PWL systems. The robust predictive controller obtained in this way guarantees robust feasibility, constraints satisfaction and robust convergence for all admissible disturbances. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


Examining the nature and diversity of urban life during the 16th and 17th centuries, a period of considerable economic, political and social change, this text stresses the extent to which towns remained distinct from their rural hinterlands. Its wide embrace gives it the character of a history of Europe, viewed from the urban perspective. In achieving the integration of different experiences into the broader discussion, it manages to retain an acute sense of the importance and development of regional diversity. In assessing the contribution of urban centres in western Europe to long-term change, the focus is primarily on life inside the town. Each chapter considers the framework of urban life - such as the economy, government, elites, social organization, the environment - and the tensions that arose from demographic growth, prosperity or adversity and the growing presence of external pressures. Responses to poverty and threats to social order are paid particular attention. While this study attempts to convey a sense of the parameters and diversity of life in an urban environment during the period, it also provides an insight into the ways in which existing structures of government and institutional organization attempted and often failed, to come to terms with new problems.


Concurrent weekly-average measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2) have been performed over a fifteen week period in five homes in the city of Mt Isa, adjacent to large copper and lead smelting operations that release substantial quantities of sulfur dioxide to the atmosphere. The measurements revealed a relatively low and constant indoor/outdoor SO2 ratio, or ERF (exposure reduction factor), having a median value across all homes of 0.08 (mean value of 0.09). Analysis of this result in terms of two limiting cases, one with air-conditioners in use and a high ventilation rate, the other with air-conditioners off and a restricted ventilation rate, suggested that a low ERF invariant with outdoor SO2 is consistent with either case. The low ERF in the first case can be attributed to the efficient scrubbing of SO2 in the evaporative air-conditioning system. The low ERF in the second case can be attributed to the fact that outdoor elevation in SO2 levels in Mt Isa takes the form of high concentration, but very short-duration peaks in SO2 caused by convective knock-down of smelter plumes. The short duration of these events makes infiltration indoors inefficient in the case where ventilation rate is low. We conclude that personal exposure to SO2 in Mt Isa can be significantly reduced in homes in comparison with ambient air.


Abstract: This paper is concerned with the problem of predicting the future generalized order statistics ( s s go  ) based on a mixture of two components from a class of continuous distributions. Generalized Type-II hybrid censoring scheme (HCS) of the observed data has been used here. The prior belief of the experimenter is measured by a general class of distributions, suggested by AL-Hussaini (1999b). We consider the two sample prediction technique to compute Bayesian predictive intervals for a future s s go  . A mixture of two Weibull components model is considered as a special case of the class. Our results are specialized to upper order statistics and upper record values. Also, we give an example based on real data. Finally, Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm is used to find the Bayesian predictive intervals. [Ahmad, A. A. and Mohammed, S. A. Two-Sample Prediction Of GOS's From Finite Mixture Distributions Based On Generalized Type-II HCS. J Am Sci 2013;9(12):889-899]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 113


Landfill is still the main proposal method in China and it is the premise of pollution treatment and renewable using to inspect methane in landfill gas and volatile fatty acids(VFA) in leachate.The research shows it is simple and reliable with GC method to analyze landfill gas and VFA in leachate.


Objective To investigate the result of treatment lumbar fractures with minimally invasive percutaneous fixation.Methods Clinical data of 38 patients with lumbar fractures treated by minimally invasive percutaneous fixation,record the operative time, blood loss volume, the average hospital stay and radiographic parameters.Results An average operative time was about 100 min, an average blood loss volume was 100 ml, an average postoperative stay was 8d. All patients were followed up,follow up time was 6 to 24 months,postoperative vertebral height restoration in varying degrees and the varying degrees vertebral kyphosis correction.Conclusion Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation is a good minimally-invasive surgical therapeutic choice for patients with lumbar fracture,this method is simple safe with less complication and blood loss and can provide quick recovery and short stay in hospital.


ABSTRACT Modeling risk factors to soils is constrained by the lack of key data and understanding that explicitly and quantitatively link specific threats to risk. Peat erosion results from the complex interaction of climatic, topographic, and anthropogenic influences acting over a long period of time. With numerous contemporary factors operating to perpetuate the erosion processes, it is often difficult to identify with certainty what actually are the initial and subsequent drivers of erosion. In this situation, expert opinion forms a vital source of information. Here we demonstrate how Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN) can be used to combine quantitative data from the National Soils Inventory of Scotland (NSIS) with qualitative expert knowledge to estimate risk of peat erosion in Scotland. This model was used to identify the main factors associated with peat erosion. It was shown that climatic variables (increased temperature, decreased precipitation) are the most important risk factors for perpetuating peatland erosion. However, the BBN approach also indicated that maintaining good vegetation cover is a significant mitigating factor. It would follow that land management practices that impact negatively on vegetation cover would also exacerbate peatland erosion given a hot dry climate.


Investigation and Analysis of Korean Culture Dictionary compilation needs for Married immigrants. Teaching Korean as a Foreign Language, 37, 65~96. The purpose of this study was to establish basic data of Korean Culture Dictionary compilation for married immigrants. It is very important to compilers if it contained view of possible users, and it could be very useful to them. Needs investigation showed that married immigrants were to support necessity of Korean Culture Dictionary. As results of this analysis, found eight factors that Korean Culture Dictionary compilation could be applied. In dictionary contents, subjects of investigation mentioned that visual aids are very useful and to help users` understanding, dictionary entries should be explained in simple and various. Also, it showed that language and contemporary culture are the most important in cultural categories and there is gap between men and women with respect to cultural categories for married immigrants. Besides contents, they preferred middle sized dictionary with reasonable price. In its final analysis, researcher suggested that compilation of a Korean Culture Dictionary should be published as an encyclopedic language dictionary for married immigrants.


The purpose of this research is to describe a clinical study of a male patient who experienced late-blindness due to traumatic optic neuropathy after getting into a bicycle accident. It is stressed the importance of performing pupillary/reflexes examination and computed tomography scan in order to diagnose "transorbitário" foreign body. It is also cover its surgical removal as well as an interdisciplinary approach and clinical evolution.


Operations and Maintenance costs have always posed a heavy burden in wind turbines and the main aspects in spending are on unplanned unscheduled breakdowns, repairs and down time costs. Technology enhancements with connectivity between wind farms and operations control center would reduce risk and improve efficiency during maintenance by continuously analysing the data acquired.  Digital solutions of industrial internet of things and machine learning have made inroads and are the real game changers with the potential to supervise, predict and prevent catastrophic failures.  Generating the insights from the data to understand the wear pattern and to formulate replacement strategies for reducing frequent maintenance costs and to increase the production. This paper shall discuss and review about the prognostics and diagnostics of the wind turbines, machine learning algorithms, identifying their inter-dependency within the subsystems and the available digital solutions for effective handling of data in predictive maintenance schedules.


Satisfaction is the level of feeling in which someone expresses the results of comparisons of the performance of products or services received and expected by that person. One unit in charge of serving all Polsri students is the Polsri Library Unit. Thus students' satisfaction need to be continually pursued with the aim that they continue to utilize the library. This means that students' satisfaction will be created if the library services received by students are at least comparable to the services provided by the library. Finding out the service quality can be done by comparing the students' perceptions toward the service that they actually have received with the service they actually expect toward the library service attributes. To create student satisfaction, the library must be able to meet the students' expectations, the problem to be solved is knowing how the Public Services Quality in the Polsri Library Unit are. The data taken in this qualitative study is about how the Public Services Quality in the Polsri Library Unit are, where data collection were be carried out to determine the extent of the public services quality that have been provided by the Polsri Library unit. Describing the description of the library service quality measured through aspects of service quality dimensions by Zeitahml, Pasuraman, and Berry was given as the result of this qualitative study. In conducting this research, the data were conducted by using the literature study and observation stages. Deeper, the implementation of this method in addition to conducting observations, interviews were also conducted directly with the head of Polsri Library Unit along with its staff and students as visitors. Researchers came directly and ask for input on the Public Services Quality in the Polsri Library Unit.


The Minntac Mine drills and blasts approximately 75 million long tons of taconite per year. This requires drilling one million feet of 16-inch diameter holes. We are in the process of replacing our old generation rotary blasthole drills (Gardner-Denver 120's and Bucyrus-Erie 61R's) with new generation rotary blasthole drills (Bucyrus-Erie 59R's and P&H 120A's). This paper compares the primary functions of the two generations of drills, including: main air and it's affect of particle size, penetration rate, and bit life; the differences in performance of the old generation drill chain/hydraulic pulldown systems compared to the new rack and pinion/electric pulldown systems; and manual controls of the older generation drills compared to Programmable Logic Control (PLC) and Automation. Stratalogger Systems have also been installed on the new generation drills, providing pulldown force, rate of penetration, rotary torque, vibration, and compressor data. Examples of actual blast pattern design and bit performance evaluations using this data will be explained. The potential for improved fleet management, on-the-fly pattern design, and real-time drill parameter changes will also be discussed.


Previous research has demonstrated that broiler breeders fed cottonseed meal had signicant reductions in Campylobacter when compared to soybean controls. In the present experiment, three studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary cottonseed meal or gossypol on the incidence of Campylobacter and Salmonella colonization in broilers. In the rst study, an in vitro fermentation using cecal contents from six-week-old broilers were combined with gossypol (4 μg/mL) and challenged with either Campylobacter jejuni (104 cfu/mL) or Salmonella Typhimurium (ST; 104 cfu/mL) and evaluated for the presence of these bacteria at 1, 3, 5, or 18 hours after challenge. Campylobacter was signicantly reduced from the gossypol treated contents one h after exposure as compared to the controls. Salmonella was not signicantly reduced compared to the control. In the second study, day-of-hatch broiler chicks were fed a diet containing 0, 300, or 600 mg/kg of gossypol for 10 days and challenged with ST at d 3. The incidences in cecal Salmonella concentrations were not signicantly different in broilers fed gossypol when compared to the controls. In a third study, market-age-broilers were fed a diet containing either a corn-soybean control, 20% cottonseed meal, 5% cottonseed hulls, or 5% whole cottonseeds for 12 weeks to evaluate the effects on Campylobacter cecal colonization. Broilers fed each diet became Campylobacter positive after one week and remained positive until termination of the experiment. The results of the present study suggest that broilers fed cottonseed or cottonseed products were not protected from Campylobacter or Salmonella colonization.


Alzheimer's disease is a well-known neurodegenerative disorder. One of its main risk factors is age. Due to a worldwide increase of human longevity Alzheimer's disease became the most common form of dementia. The disease has been studied in different countries for many decades but still its etiology remains unclear. By now there is no cure for Alzheimer's, moreover there are no that can at least slow down the disease progression. In this review we made an attempt to summarize all current studies of the most advanced drugs for Alzheimer's.


This composition bargains with the Tomato leaf infection discovery and classification utilizing different strategies like Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Regions with CNN (R-CNN), Fast R-CNN and Faster R-CNN. The main issue in the agricultural sector is leaf diseases, which have an impact on crop yield and financial gain. Early detection of leaf diseases in plants is essential to prevent losses to the agricultural sector. There are several tomato leaf diseases that affect the crop's leaves, including the Mosaic virus, Early Blight, Healthy, Septoria leaf, and Bacterial spot. Using deep learning algorithms and image processing methods, we can identify the diseases in tomato leaves using developing deep learning approaches. The implementation procedures in our proposed work involves data collection, pre-processing, training, feature extraction, testing, and classification utilising the Visual Geometry Group (VGG 16) to identify damaged or healthy leaves. VGG 16 is incorporated to categorise the leaves as healthy or diseased based on the data and Regression's boundary box method is adopted. Therefore, using Faster RCNN, a model is created to identify and categorise diseases from every image of a tomato leaf that is used as an input, providing a forecast with a considerably greater degree of accuracy. We obtain an accuracy of approximately 98% after fitting the collected features into the neural network over 20 iterations.


The invention relates to a brass gold color dyeing solution comprising the following components in weight percentage of 20-50% of hydrogen peroxide, 1-20% of hydrogen peroxide stabilizing agent, 0.1-6% of acidic salt, 0.1-12% of citric acid and the balance being water. The preparation method of the brass gold color dyeing solution comprises the following steps of: adding water which is 20-80% of a formula amount; then sequentially adding the citric acid, the acidic salt, the hydrogen peroxide stabilizing agent and the hydrogen peroxide by agitating; and finally adding water which is the balance of the formula amount and agitating for at least 5 minutes, and packaging to obtain a product. The invention further relates to a method for dyeing a gold color on a brass by using the brass gold color dyeing solution, which sequentially comprises the following steps of: pre-treating and dying the gold color by utilizing the brass gold color dyeing solution; and drying and closing. The method disclosed by the invention can be used for machining hardware accessories. The method for dyeing the gold color is toxin-free and pollution-free, reduces the loss of resources and the pollution to an environment, and can achieve the effects of 18K and 24K gold colors.


The article seeks answers to some recent challenges that were launched by the European Commission regarding the absolute necessary investments for a Social Europe. The Social European Agenda emphasizes the investments in people or in the human capital regarded as resources for a new economical growth among the state members. Our analysis outlines the opportunities and the critical issues of these challenges, coming as a support for the social inclusion practitioners, by explaining and relating in detail the model of empowerment. We accompany this model also with frameworks for understanding the concept of vulnerability and of social interdependence in order to support the practitioners from the field of social inclusion, including those who work in entities associated to social economy, for responding to the initiative of making social investments.


Microscopy techniques are essential for understanding the structure of materials of interest in agriculture, food, and the environment. These techniques can be classified according to their operating principles, such as fluorescence, electron, and probe scanning. Their complementary techniques provide specific advantages in the characterization of materials in the above mentioned fields. These approaches facilitate the characterization of the structure and morphology at nanometric and atomic scales of different materials through high-resolution images, as well as the analysis of important characteristics related to the composition and distribution of specific components. In this work, detailed descriptions are given of the operation principles of light microscopy (LM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), superresolution microscopy (SRM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A compilation of operating principles is presented along with examples obtained with advanced microscopy techniques applied to the afore mentioned areas. In addition, the preparation of the samples to obtain the final images is described in order to explain the interaction of the sample with the modes of operation for each technique. This review provides an overview of microscopy techniques used in various fields of nanotechnology, including agriculture, food, and the environment.


The analysis of main classifications of the overmoistened landscape system of Lviv Region is given in the article. The author also proposes her own classification. The author gives six approaches to the classification of the overmoistened landscape system of Lviv Region: geographic, landscape, genetical, ecological, dynamic and functional. The most important in studying ecological state are dynamic and functional. On the bases of the last such overmoistened landscape system of Lviv Region are distinguished: swamp, marsh territories peat and flood territories and savenatured territories. According to dynamic approach to the classification of the overmoistened landscape system we distinguish tree stages: origination, maturity and transformation. Creation of the classification is one of the most important scientific tasks. Key words: overmoistened landscape system, classification.


Evidence for early Archaean relicts in the northern part of the West African Craton are provided from ion-microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb zircon and Sm-Nd whole-rock ages in the West Reguibat Rise of Mauritania. The U-Pb ages range between 3515 ± 15 Ma and 3422 ± 10 Ma for concordant zircons from an orthogneiss which has also been affected by a 2.7 Ga old metamorphic event. Nd model ages calculated for adjacent metasediments range between 3.9 and 3.5 Ga, suggesting that these supracrustal rocks may be derived from the erosion of a similar early Archaean crust. Zircon ages and Nd depleted-mantle model ages provide the first evidence for an early Archaean crustal growth, at least 3.5–3.6 Ga old, in the West African Craton.


Abstract The main aspects of improving the quality of welding materials produced by Russian manufacturers in comparison with the best world samples are discussed in detail. According to the results of the analysis of the situation the author believes that the competitiveness of domestic welding materials is directly dependent on government policy, strategy and organizational functions of the state.


The learning carried out in schools has been dominated by the development of logic-mathematics intelligence. In fact, every student has various kinds of intelligence called multiple intelligences. This study aims to develop thematic instructional kit oriented to multiple intelligences. This research is a development research (R&D) which adapts the ADDIE model (Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation). The instructional kit products developed in this study are in the form of a Lesson Plan (RPP) and Student Worksheets (LKPD). In this study, the product development validity test was only limited to the expert validation test stage. Data were collected using expert validation sheets. The results of research and development show that based on the results of the expert validity test that has been carried out, the average score of expert judgment is 4.88 for RPP products with very good categories, and 4.80 for LKPD products with very good categories. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the instructional kit products developed have good validity and quality to be applied in elementary schools.


© 2019 Indian Journal of Medical Research, published by Wolters Kluwer Medknow for Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research This most often quoted phrase by Gandhi depicts his concern for nature and environment. All the international conferences such as the Stockholm Conference of 1972 or the Rio Earth Summit of 1992 were convened much later than the concerns raised by Gandhi about the environment and its effects. Even in India the major movements to protect environment such as the Chipko movement led by Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Sunder Lal Bahuguna and the Narmada Bachao Andolan by Baba Amte and Medha Patkar derived inspiration from Gandhi. The concern of Gandhi about the environment, urbanization and mechanization was evident in his speeches, writings and his messages to the workers. It is apt to note that he was the "World's early environmentalist in vision and practice."


The invention discloses a forest-region suspended balloon measurement method for an overhead line. The forest-region suspended balloon measurement method comprises the steps of assembling equipment, fixing a 360-DEG reflecting prism below a GNSS receiver and fixing the GNSS receiver below a balloon; making equipment levitate, filling helium gas in the balloon, and making the GNSS receiver levitate by means of the balloon; performing primary point measurement, wherein the GNSS receiver can receive a satellite signal after rising to a position above a forest, recording the coordinate of the receiver at a point A, arranging two electronic total stations at a point P1 and a point P2, measuring the point A at the point P1 and the point P2 according to a side intersection method, and obtaining distances (b1, b2); performing secondary point measurement, changing the position of the balloon, recording the coordinate of the receiver at a point B from ground, measuring the point B in a manner that the position of the point P1 and the point P2 are unchanged, and obtaining distances (a1,a2); and calculating numbers, namely calculating c, alpha1 and alpha2 according to the point A and the point B with known coordinates by means of a formula. The forest-region suspended balloon measurement method has advantages of high reliability, high practicability, high efficiency, effective labor-saving effect, high stability and high convenience.


S50BLEMS related to the mechanism of cardiac edema have appealed to the clinician and physiologist alike because of the abundance of material available for study. The edema fluid is readily obtained by pricking the skin, and the -techniques for studying the venous pressure and other aspects of the circulation have been highly developed. Our original approach to the problem was the analysis of the protein content of the edema fluid.' Fluid obtained frm-the skin and subcutaneous tissues of patients with congestive failure contains little protein. This fact alone indicates that the primary mechanism of cardiac edema can be neither lymphatic obstruction nor increased capillary permeability. The finding is compatible, however, with hypoproteinemia, or increased venous pressure, or retention of fluid by the kidney. Since the plasma protein concentration is normal in many patients, hypoproteinemia can be eliminated as the primary factor in cardiac edema. A moderate increase in venous pressure produces edema which contains relatively little protein. The same type of low-protein edema results from the administration of physiologic saline solution at a rate greater than the capacity of the kidneys to excrete fluid. Examination of the fluid alone did not distinguish between these mechanisms. This finding led to additional observations on the relationship between plasma volume and edema' fluid. In chronic congestive failure, the plasma volume is elevated and the protein content of the edema fluid is low. In normal subjects the venous pressure in a large part of the body may be increased by motionless standing. This uniformly produces a fall in plasma volume, as fluid is forced through the capillaries by the high hydrostatic pressure. The decrease in volume may be corrected in part by drinking several liters of physiologic saline solution, but even with persistent drinking the plasma volume falls. As urine flow practically ceases, body weight increases. These observations suggested that


Some of the difficulty in formulating urban transportation development policy is that multiple objectives exist and often times these objectives are not complementary. For example, objectives of urban transportation investment include provision of property access, reduction of urban congestion, or promotion of urban efficiency. Transportation policy makers have recognized that the multiplicity of objectives will require different levels of analysis in order to consider the potential effects of changes in transportation system capacity. There is a need to understand the secondary impact of this expansion of capacity and its effect on the objectives. One urban analyst suggested that recent developments in the planning of urban transportation has intensified the need to understand the process of urban arrangement, which are specified by transportation networks that define the spatial distribution of urban activities. Even though economists or planners can help evaluate alternatives, they need substantial guidance on the selection of weighting of objectives to formulate investment criteria. The lack of investment criteria is related to problems germane to the specification of objectives. Formulation of investment strategy in the United States will require consideration of the impacts of investments on urban and regional development, and analysis of the consequences of the investment on related nation objectives such as energy conservation or balanced growth. This article reviews one method for estimating the potential magnitude of required investments. The proposed technique will be shown to have the capability of monitoring the secondary effects of the investment and can be used to adjust future program levels. This article presents a technique to collect and monitor changes in required investment and to predict future urban transportation investment needs.


Purpose – A key driver in the medical tourism phenomenon is the platform provided by the internet for gaining access to healthcare information and advertising. Given the pivotal role of web‐based resources, there are important questions about their role and function including: the availability and types of information provided; information provenance and reliability; and privacy protection. This paper aims to address these questions.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides the first systematic review of medical tourism sites, interrogating them for the range and quality of advice on seeking care.Findings – A typology of sites (industry, media, professional, and consumer sites) was identified and quantitative and qualitative assessment tools were used to explore the content of information and materials.Originality/value – In light of this review, the paper comments on the nature of medical tourism information available and the extent to which information asymmetry – rife in the market for healthcar...


Cournède, I. Garrick-Bethell, R. Coe, V. Perera, B. P. Weiss, R. Nelson, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA (firstname.lastname@example.com)., 2School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ , Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts intitute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.


In this paper we explore and demonstrate possible contribution of handheld computing in the field of computer supported cooperative work (CSCW). Based on a survey of the CSCWconference series we discovered that most research is concentrated on support of distributed collaboration. Based on a definition for handheld computing and an extensive description of new options provided by handheld devices we suggest new application domains in CSCW. In the second part we discuss two of these domains, namely the support for co-located cooperating humans and for environment-mediated collaborative work, in more depth. In the first context we present a heterogeneous infrared communication application for meeting support. In the second we present a framework and experiments that concentrate on the question how location can be exploited for CSCW.


The present research, though a stand-alone from many points of view, is the second part of our enterprise dealing with the reflection of individual and collective tragedy in Roman epigraphy. While the first part1 took into consideration individual tragedies, with death occurred by the hand of latrones, bandits or pirates, the current investigation is focused on what we have defined as traces of collective tragedies. By collective tragedies we understand those events which touched a larger sector of the population, resulted especially following attacks of enemies, or wars. Responsible for these acts of violence is especially the 'other', which falls in to the category of 'barbarian', or enemy. The Dacian wars, the Marcommanic wars, the Parthian expeditions, were some of the military events which lead to large scale acts of violence, and which left epigraphic traces of collective tragedies.


Dioxin (DXN) emission concentration is a key environmental index in the process of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). Realizing an intelligent optimization operation depends on building a soft sensor model of DXN emission. However, data on the MSWI process have missing and abnormal values, which lead to incomplete data used for modeling. In addition, soft sensor modeling of difficult-to-measure parameters with large lag characteristics has multiscale problems. Therefore, DXN emission soft sensor modeling has to tackle problems, such as missing data, data scale mismatch, and small samples. This study proposes a multiscale missing data modeling using improved generative adversarial network (IGAN) and deep forest regression (DFR) to address the abovementioned problems. First, the short time-scale samples and features are divided according to the missing data. Second, the missing data are filled by GAN, in which the mean square error (MSE) constraint term ensures the filling effect and the overfitting problem is alleviated by using the model complexity penalty term. Third, a certain range of the short time-scale input data is averaged to match the long time-scale output data. Finally, each layer of the improved DFR (IDFR) model using matching data fully connects the parallel and cascade forest algorithms to improve diversity and accuracy. The effectiveness and rationality of the proposed method are verified on the real DXN dataset. The root MSE (RMSE) of the proposed method is 17.4%, 14.0%, and 13.1% higher than those of the no filling, linear filling, and variational autoencoder (VAE) filling methods, respectively.


The positions of the singularities of the partial wave amplitude in the complex l plane are investigated for that case of a relativistic, two‐particle elastic scattering amplitude satisfying the Mandelstam representation. For a finite number of intermediate states it is shown that the convex hull of singularities in the l plane is related to a growth indicator function. For an infinite number of intermediate states it is demonstrated that the imaginary parts of the singularities in the l plane are unbounded from either above or below.


This study represents an attempt to (1) analyze those factors in tone production which the flute affords and those which the player controls, and to (2) quantify their effect upon the intensity and pitch of the flute tone. The control of tone production was accomplished by the alternate use of two blowing mechanisms, one constructed in the Iowa Laboratory and the other loaned by Dr. Robert Young of the Conn Ltd. Laboratory. The factors found to effect tone in either or both of the respects studied were distance of lip opening to edge of blow hole, air pressure, size of lip opening, and angle of the air stream with edge of blow hole. Measurements of the effects will be presented. These results indicated that the most basic acoustical factor involved in flute tone production was the velocity of the air stream at the blow hole edge (and also probably the percentage of the stream entering the tube), the above mentioned factors simply being means of varying this velocity. The control of the air particle veloci...


Adult Diaptomus sics as predation pressure on the populations increases, the timing of pigmentation maxima contracts to the period of reproduction.


Abstarct Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease characterized by fluid-filled blisters over body and mucosal surfaces. Localized pemphigus is a rare presentation of the disease. There are few reports of localized pemphigus in literature presenting as esophageal involvement, recurrent paronychia, conjunctival mass, foot ulcers, discoloration of toes with hyperkeratotic skin lesions, verrucous lesions, and dyshidrosiform pemphigus vulgaris. We present a case of dyshidrosiform pemphigus involving a foot following trauma. Histopathology and direct immunofluorescence confirmed our diagnosis. In our patient, the disease started as localized dyshidrosiform pemphigus and later became generalized. This unusual presentation led to a delay in diagnosis and proper treatment in this patient. Physicians should be aware of such rare presentations to aid in the timely diagnosis and management of such patients.


This study uses socioeconomic and demographic data to demonstrate the value of a novel multidimensional approach to healthcare accessibility. The optimum location for healthcare facilities in relation to demand areas was determined using location-allocation models and local multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) to explore spatially non-stationary relationships. The result shows that the potential accessibility of a community to primary healthcare depends on the geographic and socioeconomic characteristics of various places. The results of this study may be used to inform policy planning and decision-making for increasing accessibility to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and municipal leaders in Marmora and Carlow/Mayo today announced funding to improve wastewater and bridge infrastructure.


Introduction 1. Military Industry in the Developing World 2. India: The Regional Hegemon 3. Israel: Regional Over-Achiever 4. Iraq: Regional Contender 5. Regional Powers, Security, and Arms Production: Conclusions


The article describes a model of integrating language techniques with leading-edge technology to develop a web-based on-line tool for heritage language preservation and e-learning. Bulgarian language resources - parallel corpora and bilingual dictionary are presented in an interactive way using a common web-interface which is accessible for students, faculty, and affiliated Heritage language communities.


transfection on cell activity and migration in unrestricted space and through pores are larger than nucleus� The presence of various lamin A isoforms in NL is likely to lead to a reduction of migration ability due to the increase of the nuclear rigidity� The absence of effect of lamin A knockdown on migration may be explained that HT1080 cell line is supposed to have initially high migration ability and, possibly, more elastic NL and, consequently, it has originally reduced lamin A level� Therefore our next target is to estimate the level of lamin A isoforms by RT-PCR and WB and to conduct similar experiments by using other cell lines�


Three new monosubstituted sucrose fatty acid esters, 13, were isolated from Equisetum hiemale L., together with nine known compounds, 412. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 5, 6, and 1012 were isolated from the title plant for the first time. All these compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity. However, none of them was cytotoxic.


In the late fifties and early sixties there was little or no concern about road safety matters in Nigeria. Little attention was given to road traffic crashes prevention strategies and remedies. The reason was not far fetched as economic activities were quite low, and since transportation is interwoven with the economy, the incidents of road traffic crashes were invariably low in relation to low vehicle volume plying the equally scanty routes in the country. Besides, haulage was undertaken mostly by railways or waterways. The dawn of civilization brought about urbanization, education, and increase in infrastructural development. These developments in economic activities gave rise to numerical increase in vehicular statistics to meet up with the sharp demand of a developing economy. The introductory part of this paper presents the road crash situation in Nigeria in bold relief, with figures that depict the tragedy road transportation has become in our nation. The data in table 1 shows a grand total of 969,850 reported cases of road crashes from 1960 to 2004, as well as 275,178 person killed with 843,691 people injured during the same period. A closer look at the same table shows that a dramatic improvement (reduction) has taken place in the rate of road crash from 1988. Analysts have ascribed this improvement to the activities of the Federal Road Safety Commission in Nigeria since 18th February, 1988. The mandate of the Federal Road Safety. Commission is to reduce the rate of traffic crashes to the minimum since as at this moment, zero vision has not been contemplated in Nigeria. Enforcement and raising awareness are the main strategies adopted by the Commission as the means of promoting road safety in Nigeria.


Abstract Background and Aims. Previous studies have shown that impaired glucose tolerance is present in patients with pheochromocytoma with a prevalence of 25- 75%. The aim of this study was to examine glucose tolerance in 12 patients with pheochromocytoma, before and after medical and surgical treatment. Material and Methods. We evaluated 12 patients aged between 44 and 60 years with confirmed pheochromocytoma. Plasma insulin, fasting blood glucose and 2h glucose levels during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were measured before and three months after surgical removal of the tumor. Results. Surgical removal of the tumor generated significant changes in plasma and urinary metanephrines (plasma normetanephrine 191.15±13.22 pg/ml after treatment vs. 792.54±86.74 pg/ml at baseline, p<0.0001, plasma metanephrine 86.69±4.48 pg/ml vs. 363.62.±21.69 pg/ml, p<0.0001, urinary normetanephrine 718.54±37.59 μg/day after treatment vs. 1855.77±116.54 μg/day at baseline and urinary metanephrine of 258.31±34.00 μg/day vs. 745.38±65.14 μg/day, p<0.0001) but not in insulin, fasting and 2h glucose levels during OGTT. Conclusion. In our study, the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance in patients with confirmed pheochromocytoma was 8.33% (1 patient with a previous family history of diabetes). After surgical removal of the tumor, normalization of mean glucose levels of OGTT was not achieved.


One evening, we were invited to Shadi and Rita's house for dinner. Shadi is Mimo's half-brother, the son of Mama Hana and her second husband. Mimo treats him as her brother, and so do I, as the other brother I did not even know I had. Rita, Shadi's wife, is a daughter of the Rahbany family. The Rahbany brothers, as they are known, are the biggest producers and composers of popular music in Lebanon and among the best known in the Arab world generally. Their most famous client is the Lebanese singer, Fairuz, also a worldwide celebrity. Shadi is the exclusive sound engineer for Fairuz in all her performances around the world. On Pope Benedict's trip to Lebanon in 2012, Shadi handled the audio, and he and his entire family, including Halim, Mimo, and their children, had front row seats at all the Papal functions.I was completely seduced by the space in which Shadi and Rita lived in Beirut, a much more modern apartment than that of Mimo and Halim. With its clean lines, white walls, and beautiful furnishings, it could have passed for an Upper East Side apartment featured in the Design or Style sections of The New York Times. The dinner was served by a young woman who worked in Rita's home, and the food was exquisite: roast chicken on a bed of rice with pistachios and those golden raisins the French call "raisins de Snvyrne" and which, in this case, really might have come from that Turkish city. In place of arak, Shadi served a selection of the finest wines from the western slope of Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.Mama Hana was there, as were Rita's mother, Shadi, and Rita's two adorable boys. The older one was just learning to speak and called me Febwa (with a B) as he sat in my lap. His parents tried to correct him, but for me, the mispronunciation carried an innocent childlike affection. As he is getting older he says my name correctly, but I will always miss that adorable "Febwa."The evening we spent at their home went by much too quickly. Mimo insisted that they show us a video of their wedding. It was not your normal wedding. It was a special occasion replete with an orchestra and a dance troupe in a performance in which every move had been choreographed. Rita was stunning, as was Shadi. I sat absolutely transfixed by the music, the gallantry, the complex ceremony. This event reminded me more of a royal wedding than a traditional marriage. Shadi explained that the musicians and dancers were Fairuz's professional company. Except that it was in color, the video at times resembled a 1930s Hollywood musical.The evening at Shadi's brought home to me the magnitude of Mama Hana's achievement. Still a girl when she married my father, she was left a few short years later with no money and a young child to support. Hana somehow managed to get a job teaching while she completed her higher education. She supported her family, returned to her village of Ayn Zhalta, and married Mr. Saad, with whom she had a son. Mimo grew up to be a leading music teacher who travels around Lebanon, supervising other music instructors in the Lebanese school system. She married Halim, another high-school teacher, but when the Lebanese Civil War disrupted his career, Halim became a businessman and now runs his own prosperous insurance brokerage firm. Their three children, Hana's grandchildren, are as happy, healthy, and poised a group of young people as I have ever met.The next day, we headed for downtown Beirut. We had Skyped Tino the night before to make sure that 1 had all the necessary information for the gold chain that I promised to purchase for him and on which he could hang his heavy cross. Everyone had a chance to speak to him: Rola, Yara, Imad, Halim, Mimo, Allen, and me. It was a strange sensation-all of us on Mimo's terrace being beamed into Tino's room. Since Allen and I are far less advanced in all things digital than either Costy or my Lebanese family, we had never Skyped anyone before. This, of course, was the two-way television that Najla and the womenfolk of the village had imagined before we left for America. …


" Son George," Sir Henry Colt wrote his progeny in the summer of 1631, " I have taken pains day and night to collect this journal … because if you will prove a seaman and undertake voyages [to the New World] you may learn how to employ your time at sea, and who to thank for your conservation." Appended to the diary were " some rules for diet and health … the way being dangerous because of the change in climates, especially about the tropics." Among other things, Sir Henry cautioned the younger Colt that he would find the " torrid zone or middle region temperate enough," but the most dangerous place would be the " tropics under which you must pass for pestilent fevers … which have killed many in the hot season of year." To reduce the possibility of sickness which was likely to occur as a result of travel into warm climates, Colt prescribed some precautionary measures. Sir Henry Colt lived in an age when such modern terms and concepts as anopheles mosquito, malaria, yellow fever, and immunization zones had little or no meaning. In his day, physicians had not established a connection between anopheles mosquito and malaria, or aedes mosquito and yellow fever. When counseling his son on how to remain healthy in the Americas, Colt had no reason to warn him that anopheles and aedes mosquitoes often served as hosts for parasites which were deadly to human beings, and hence the bites of these insects could be dangerous. Colt and his contemporaries did, however, hold coherent medical views about disease and its origins which informed their behavior in the New World.


In this paper a new species of the genus Macropsis is discribed from Guizhou Provence. The type specimens are deposited in Guizhou Agricultural College, Guiyang.Macropsis salicis sp. nov. (figs. 1-6)This species is similar to Macropsis lusis Kuoh, but distinguished from the latter by the yertex with a black spot at apexand and in the male there are four black spots on face and two black spots on scutellum, besides the male genitalia also quite different.Body length (incl. teg.): ♂3.5mm; ♀4.0mm.Holotype♂, allotype♀, Guiyang (1070m) (26.6°N, 106.7°E), Guizhou, 25-28. Ⅵ. 1986; paratypes 7♂♂, 20♀♀, as holotype.


This chapter explores the role of the General Medical Council. It explains the importance of the register and the licence to practice. It also considers how doctors can be removed from the register or have restrictions on their licence to practice. It discusses how the General Medical Council promotes candour in the profession and investigates concerns about doctors.


This paper presents a broadband terahertz (THz) metamaterial absorber. The unit cell structure of this absorber consists of three layers. The top layer of the structure contains a circular graphene ring. At the center frequency of 2THz, this circular graphene ring has a fractional bandwidth of 67% and absorptivity of more than 90%. The proposed absorber is polarization insensitive because of its fourfold symmetrical structure. The graphene parameter is optimized to get maximum bandwidth. This metamaterial offers TE and TM polarization insensitive up to a 60° incident angle of electro-magnetic wave.


Designing, implementing, and sustaining a successful condition monitoring system is a very challenging task for all organizations especially when there has been a cultural shift required to integrate the ideas of condition monitoring into an already complex maintenance strategy. This paper shares insight into one company's journey, Stork (SBBM), through the implementation of condition based services, with technical assistance from the Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) based at the University of Portsmouth. Beginning with explaining different maintenance strategies, we will discuss about how to implement and manage a condition based maintenance efficiently. Enhanced equipment reliability requires not only the detection of failures but also improved maintenance techniques through appropriate skills training. With enhanced equipment reliability, unscheduled downtime will be reduced, ensuing financial profits.


In last decade there is enormous development in the field of ELearning.Through E-learning computer education can be imparted effectively and efficiently. Information security is an important field in computer education as large number of security attacks are coming into picture. Hence there is need of trained manpower in Information Security to design countermeasures against such type attacks.This paper discusses a web based e-learning environment where participants can learn the anatomy of hack attacks and then learn to design countermeasures against such type of attacks. This web based E-learning in Information Security is being imparted through a scenario based Virtual Training Environment to teach the Information Security concepts to participants by following a practical approach.


FIELD: oil and gas industry. SUBSTANCE: invention is related to drilling of wells. Water-based drill fluid contains cationic salt of polyamine carboxylic acids at alkali pH higher than 9.0. EFFECT: increased bit drilling rate in carbonaceous rocks, reduced time of well-drilling, reduced corrosion of drill stem and surface of drilling equipment. 13 cl, 1 tbl, 6 dwg


The article is devoted to the actual problem of the existing differences in the entrepreneurial activity of women and men. The aim of the study is to assess the current levels of participation of women and men in business activities in modern national economies. The study solved the problems of determining the values of indicators that characterize the initial stage of entrepreneurship, stabile entrepreneurship, as well as the exit of entrepreneurs from their businesses. As a starting point, the study used the results of surveys conducted in 59 countries during the implementation of the Global entrepreneurship monitoring project. In the course of the work, the assessment of nine indicators characterizing such stages as start- up and stabile entrepreneurship, as well as the termination of this activity, was considered. The study developed functions that show the distribution of indicators across 59 countries that describe the proportion of women and men in the three main stages of entrepreneurship. In addition, gender differences in these three stages were assessed. The results showed that in most countries there is a gender gap between the indicators of entrepreneurial activity, that is, women participate in it to a lesser extent than men. Comparing the values of indicators for Russia and foreign countries showed that both women and men in our country are less interested in an entrepreneurial career in contrast to other countries. The results obtained are new and original. They have theoretical and practical implications for governments and entrepreneurs. The methodological approach to assessing gender differences in entrepreneurship presented in the article can be used in further research. The new knowledge gained is of interest and can be used in the educational process at universities.


The present invention enables obtainment of a diagnosis device for an electric motor which can precisely estimate a load torque by estimating a winding resistance. The present invention is provided with a voltage detecting circuit (11) that detects voltage of a main circuit (2) connected to an electric motor (7), a current detecting circuit (12) that detects current of the main circuit (2), a logic operation circuit (13) that performs a logic operation process on the basis of information on the detected voltage and current, a sampling speed setting unit (15), and a storage unit (14). The logic operation circuit (13) includes: an input unit (16) which obtains and inputs therein the detected information from the voltage detecting circuit (11) and from the current detecting circuit (12), rating information of the electric motor (7), and the sampling speed from the sampling speed setting unit (15); a calculating unit (17) which utilizes a forgetting coefficient and a scale factor both set beforehand, and which calculates the load torque of the electric motor (7) and the winding resistance thereof on the basis of the input information from the input unit (16); and an output unit (18) that outputs the winding resistance value obtained by the calculating unit (17).


The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Zeolite (ZE, clinoptilolite) inclusion on in vitro rumen fermentation. A modified procedure from Tilley and Terry (1963) was used to determine alfalfa in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in the presence or absence of ZE. Test tubes (n = 96) were placed in a 39 °C bath and were blocked based on hours 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 48. Substrate consisted of dried alfalfa grinded through a 1mm screen using a Wily Mill. Treatments consisted of, Control (no ZE inclusion), and 0.05g ZE, for each 1 gram of alfalfa. After incubation, IVDMD was calculated 24 hours after drying period. Data was analyzed using a randomized block design. The IVDMD was found to be similar across all treatments (P > 0.8464). The IVDMD was significantly different when incubated for the varying lengths of time (P < 0.001). There was an IVDMD of 20.18 ± 2.89 % for the control and 18.07 ± 5.49 % for the ZE at the zero hour. The IVDMD for Control and ZE for 48 hours were 54.30 ± 1.58 % and 53. 48 ± 1.04 % respectively. To predict the IVDMD of the effects of ZE treatment on digestibility over time, the corresponding regression f(x) = 20.60 + 0.421X1 + 0.730X2 with R2 = 0.8464. In conclusion these data demonstrate that inclusion of ZE, does not influence the in vitro digestibility of alfalfa. These findings are important as previous data would indicate that inclusion of ZE may reduce cost of gain and/or influence liver abscess rates, it was uncertain if that would come at the cost of reduced digestibility of feed. These data indicate that there is likely very little to no impact on feed digestibility when ZE is included in the ration.


Floriculture has a traditional farming origin in India, which has lately been realised as having an enormous potential to generate revenue, employment among farmers, and contribute to economic growth. In the last few years, it has arisen as one of the money-making agri-business in India and worldwide, resulting in improved living and increased realisation among agriculturists. Even across the nation, the demand of floriculture products has increased many folds in various sectors. This paper shall highlight the present status of the floriculture industry and the industry's challenges despite its enormous hidden potential.


This paper by means of observations on outcrossing index and pollen-ovule ratio ,emasculation,bagging and artifical pollination,studied the reproduction characteristics of Prunus mongolica . From these experiments,the flowering span of Prunus mongolica last 50d or so,and pollen and stigma are simultaneous. According to Dafni(1992),Prunus mongolica of breeding systems is outcrossing,partially self-compatible,and demands pollinators to help its breeding.


The goal of this study is to evaluate the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of the rDNA to detect a phylogenetic relationshep based on PCR technique between four isolates of Trichoderma viride, Chaetumium elatum and tow isolates (pathogen and non-pathogen strains) of Rhizoctonia solani obtained from tomato plant rhizosphere, rice plant rhizosphere and root rotted tomato plants fields of Al-Najaf province, Iraq.Internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of the ribosomal DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique using a set of common universal primers for ITS1, ITS3 and ITS4 regions. Two of three different random primers examined (primers 3 and 4) reflected a specific amplicons within Rhizoctonia solani(1), Chaetumium  elatum , and Trichoderma viride, while the primer 1 did not  give any PCR end product  with all of tested isolates, while Rhizoctonia solani(2) isolates did not revealed any band detected in PCR technique with all primers, also data showing a diferent degree of genetic similarity depanding on PCR data analysis using UVIBand softwear.Results of this study indicate that ITS set of primers can used to find a genetic relation between fungi.


The present invention relates to a bidirectional disaster-related message transmission system and, more specifically, to a bidirectional disaster-related message transmission system capable of effectively transmitting disaster occurrence and management situations by a message to various receivers such as an institution, an institution staff, a field manager, and people lived in a disaster area in the case of disaster. The present invention transmits and receives the message through an XMPP based disaster-related message transmission server as a bidirectional communication protocol. Therefore, the institution, the institution staff, the field manager, and people in the disaster area effectively transmit and receive the message with each other. Also, the present invention can comprehensively transmit and receive the message regardless of type of terminal of connectors or message transmission protocol through an SMS converting module. [Reference numerals] (AA) City 쨌 province emergency rescue system; (BB) National disaster medical system(NDMS); (CC) Bidirectional disaster-related message transmission system; (DD) Disaster witnesses; (EE) General public in a disaster area; (FF) Agency staff(relevant organizations related to disaster such as defense department/construction and transportation ministry/national weather service/national emergency management agency/public administration and security ministry); (GG) Person in charge at a site


Nowadays,lack of professionalism has become a nonneglectable issue for the building of the tour guide team in China.How to help the tour guides to reconstruct their professionalism? It should rely on the protection system as well as the enhancement of education.


Abstract This paper proposes an adaptive unscented Kalman filter for parameter estimation of non-stationary signals, like amplitude and frequency, in the presence of significant noise and harmonics. This paper proposes an iterative update equation for model and measurement error covariances Q and R to improve tracking of the filter in the presence of high noise. The initial choice of the model and measurement error covariances Q and R, along with the UKF parameters, are crucial in noise rejection. This paper utilizes a modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) algorithm for the initial choice of the error covariances and UKF parameters. Various simulation results for time varying signals reveal significant improvement in noise rejection and accuracy in obtaining the frequency and amplitude of the signal.


Ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive way of assessing the anatomy of the urinary tract in children. Renal tract ultrasound is one of the most commonly performed imaging examinations in paediatric radiology departments around the UK. Performing imaging investigations in children is often challenging and, together with the array of specific pathologies that may be encountered, necessitates a dedicated approach to obtain high quality diagnostic images. The majority of imaging in children therefore will be carried out either within a specialist children's hospital or in a district general hospital by an imaging professional who has a specialist interest and experience in paediatric imaging. This specific approach begins before the patient arrives at hospital. The bladder should ideally be examined distended with urine although patients who are not potty trained will, of course, not be able to fill their bladder. However as the age of this varies, most parents of patients over the age of two years old will receive advice on bladder filling. On arrival at the radiology department it is important that children are kept calm as it is likely to be an unfamiliar and potentially frightening environment. A selection of toys for a variety of ages and if possible a play area make the process of waiting much easier and will mean children will be calmer for the examination. Once the patient arrives in the ultrasound room it is essential that the room is equipped properly. Most children's hospitals will have further toys in the room as well as a selection of distraction devices such as projectors, mobiles, lights and a TV with a DVD player. Most modern ultrasound machines are capable of interrogating the urinary tract in children. However, specific considerations include the need for a wide variety of transducers to image the variety of sizes of children. The kidneys of a 500 gram pre-term neonate are ideally visualised with a high frequency linear array transducer (we use a 14KHz linear probe in premature neonates) whereas some larger teenagers will require a lower frequency, curvilinear probe for initial analysis followed by a higher frequency probe for more focal interrogation. It is essential to be able to use Duplex, power Doppler and pulse wave Doppler to assess renal vascular anatomy as well as to assess the ureteric jets within the bladder. These functions are now almost universal on modern ultrasound machines.


The Nyquist plots of rational functions of type one or higher are often represented with branches that tend to infinity while approaching either the real or imaginary axis. It is shown that this fails to be true in general, a fact that appears to have little, if any, impact on the usual analysis. However, it has pedagogical interest since it explains the discrepancy between the shape of the Nyquist plots obtained analytically, or with the help of computer programs in the classroom, and the plots found in many standard textbooks. The discrepancy is most clear when the system type is at least two, in which case the branches may move infinitely further from both axes.


Intravascular UltraSound (IVUS) is a key tool in guiding the treatment and diagnosis of various coronary heart diseases. However, due to its nature IVUS is a very challenging modality to interpret, and suffers from a severely restricted data transfer rate. This forces a trade-off between temporal and spatial resolution. Here, we propose a model-based deep learning solution that aims to reconstruct images from data that has been beamformed by under-sampling the number of channels by a factor of 4. By exploiting the physics based measurement model, we achieve better performance and consistency in our predictions when compared to benchmark models. This lowers the computational load on existing hardware and enables in exploring our ability to run multiple visualisation modalities simultaneously, without a loss of temporal resolution.


Approximate solutions to the one-velocity time dependent neutron transport equation are derived by means of the eigenfunction expansion method of Case for a slab geometry. A finite set of discrete time eigenvalues is determined by a simple formula. This formula, which is derived for the case of large slab thickness, is found to be valid also for fairly thin slabs. Each time eigenvalue generates a pair of spatial modes. The expansion coefficients to these modes are examined by numerical evaluation for various slab thicknesses. Higher spatial modes are found to play an important role in the transient time evolution of neutrons.


Abstract. Marpaung AA, Susandarini R. 2021. Variation on morphology and spore characters of Dicranopteris and Sticherus (Gleicheniaceae) from Rokan Hulu District, Riau. Biodiversitas 22: 4475-4486. Dicranopteris and Sticherus are genera in the family Gleicheniaceae which have unique habits and distinctively specific growth with the presence of a bud on the forking branches. This study aims to reveal the species diversity of Gleicheniaceae members found in the forest area of Bukit Suligi Tandun, Rokan Hulu District, Riau and to document variations in their morphological characters and spores. Eleven collections were obtained from the exploration in the study area. The identification of plant specimens showed that these eleven taxa consisted of Dicranopteris curranii, Dicranopteris speciosa, seven varieties of Dicranopteris linearis, and two varieties of Sticherus truncatus. Seven varieties within D. linearis were D. linearis var. linearis, D. linearis var. alternans, D. linearis var. altissima, D. linearis var. demota, D. linearis var. inaequalis, D. linearis var. subspeciosa, and D. linearis var. tetraphylla. The only one species of Sticherus found was S. truncatus which consisted of two varieties, namely S. truncatus var. truncata and S. truncatus var. involuta. Morphological characters were observed from fertile specimens, while spore characters were observed from spore microscopic slides prepared using acetolysis method. There were 42 morphological characters and spores examined and used as the basis for determining the phenetic relationships using cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results of cluster analysis showed the formation of two clusters that clearly separated the genus Sticherus from Dicranopteris. The three species of Dicranopteris were also clearly separated from each other in different sub-clusters. The result of principal component analysis indicated characters that contribute to the grouping of the eleven taxa and was able to explain the distinguishing characters in each group recognized from the cluster analysis. Overall, the results of this study contributed to documenting in detail the morphological variations in sporophyte and spore characters in eleven taxa of Dicranopetris and Sticherus, as well as proving the role of morphological and spore characters in the classification and defining phenetic relationships using numerical taxonomic approach.


Chili seedlings were infected with tobacco mosaic virus,treated with different concentration of salicylic acid.The determination of chlorophyll(CHL),malondialdehyde(MDA) and other physiological indexes were measured and the physiological and biochemical change were analyzed.Results showed:infection after pepper leaf chlorophyll content,malondialdehyde content obviously increased,activity of proline (PRO),peroxidase (POD) and superoxide (SOD) were decreased,100μmol/L salicylic acid worked obviously and 500μmol/L salicylic acid stressed.It Showed that exogenous salicylic acid (500μmol/L) significantly improved disease resistance of chilli infected with TMV,which was helpful for chilli seedlings adapt to adversity.


Background: Clinical differentiation between different cheilitis variants may be difficult. Application of mucoscopy, in addition to clinical background, could provide additional diagnostic clues facilitating initial patient management. Objectives: To determine mucoscopic clues differentiating actinic cheilitis from the main forms of inflammatory cheilitis, including eczematous cheilitis, discoid lupus erythematosus, and lichen planus of the lips. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter study being a part of an ongoing project "Mucoscopy – an upcoming tool for oral mucosal disorders" under the aegis of the International Dermoscopy Society. Cases included in the current study were collected via an online call published on the IDS website (www.dermoscopy-ids.org) between January 2019 and December 2020. Results: Whitish-red background was found in actinic cheilitis as well as in cheilitis due to discoid lupus erythematous and lichen planus. Polymorphous vessels were more likely to be seen in actinic cheilitis compared to other causes of cheilitis. White scales, ulceration, and blood spots predominated in actinic cheilitis and lichen planus, whereas yellowish scales typified eczematous and discoid lupus erythematous cheilitis. Radiating white lines although most common in lichen planus patients were also seen in actinic cheilitis. Conclusion: Despite differences in the frequency of mucoscopic structures, we have not found pathognomonic features allowing for differentiation between analyzed variants of cheilitis.


Convolutional neural network is a typical deep neural network, which combines the advantages of deep learning and image processing, improving the accuracy of feature recognition and greatly reducing the calculation of neural network. Window function is a signal with finite width in time domain. In signal processing, the use of window function can reduce the leakage of spectrum. Combining the window function and convolution neural network, the effective input in the model can be increased, and the accuracy and speed can be improved. In this paper, the music score of piano music is processed by window function as the input image of convolutional neural network. Through the analysis of the results, it is found that the algorithm has a 25.8% increase in rate compared with the traditional recognition method in rate, and the average value of F value reaches 89.24% in the accuracy test. The test results show that the piano music recognition rate of the algorithm has been greatly improved, and good results have been achieved in accuracy.


The Heisenberg magnetic-exchange Hamiltonian is written in second-quantized form and a 1/V factor is extracted, where V is the volume of the system, Using Umezawa's self-consistent method, a unitarily inequivalent representation is selected in which the Hamiltonian obviously describes a ferromagnetic system; a result not at all obvious since the original Harniltonian is completely symmetric and there is no reason a priori for expecting it to describe an asymmetric ferromagnetic configuration. All higher-order terms are accounted for, and the representation is picked out without using the adiabatic theorem, which is typically used in the self-consistent method. Inequivalence of various representations is discussed and validity is added for using an exchange integral depending only on relative distance between lattice sites and, in particular, on nearest neighbors,


ABSTRACT Impurity elements of Cu, Ni, Sn and Cr have been added to a model low-carbon strip steel to mimic the levels that could arise due to increased scrap recycling during steel production. The microstructure and tensile properties of the base composition and impurity added compositions after thermomechanical processing, consisting of hot rolling and simulated coil cooling, have been investigated. The addition of impurities results in a lower bainite fraction, a smaller effective grain size and the precipitation of Cu-rich particles. Meanwhile, higher strength and lower ductility are found in the steel with impurities.


Soil labile organic carbon (LOC) is a valuable and sensitive parameter of the changes in soil carbon (C) pools and further affects soil structural stability. However, the influences of soil-aggregate stability on LOC fractions under erosion conditions are still unclear, especially under the collapsing gully area of south China. Soils of five positions of collapsing gully erosion, including the upper catchment (UC), collapsing wall (CW), colluvial deposit (CD), scour channel (SC) and alluvial fan (AF) from Acric Ferralsols were investigated and sampled. Soil aggregate stability and LOC fractions were measured and analyzed. Soil water-stable aggregate and passive C (passive-C) contents significantly increased by 67–76% and 8.7–13.0% at the UC, CW, CD and SC positions, respectively, while soil labile C (labile-C) content was lower at these positions as compared to the AF position (p < 0.05). Moreover, the UC position's soil C pool management index (CPMI) significantly increased by 37–40% compared to CW, CD, SC and AF soils, indicating that the soil of the UC position had a more stable C pool due to its stronger structural stability. SOC, silt, and amorphous iron oxide (Fea) contents significantly contributed to aggregate stability. We demonstrated that the depletion of soil aggregate stability could result in the decreases in soil LOC fractions, while soil properties of the OC but not the LOC pool regulated aggregate stability and thus affected soil structure across different collapsing gully erosion positions in the subtropical Acric Ferralsols region of south China. This study contributes to developing strategies to prevent soil erosion and improve global C cycle and soil quality, which could be beneficial to strengthen soil and water conservation, and improve soil fertility (e.g., SOC) and vegetation recovery, such as tea and tobacco.


In this paper, combining stochastic processes with shift-invariant spaces, we introduce shift-invariant stochastic processes. It is a general case of the classical band-limited stochastic processes and a kind of non-band-limited stochastic processes. Two sampling theorems are obtained for the shift-invariant stochastic processes. The results for band-limited stochastic processes and shift-invariant spaces are generalized by our new results.


A method for the determination of 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole in caramel pigment by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(GC-MS/MS) was developed.In this method,the conditions for sample pretreatment and GC-MS/MS were investigated and optimized.The samples were first alkalized,purified by kieselguhr,then eluted with dichloromethane.The detection was carried out by GC-MS/MS in the multiple-reaction monitoring(MRM) mode.Good linear relationships were obtained in the concentrations of 0.01~10 mg/L for the analyte,while the correlation coefficients were 0.9999 and 0.9997,respectively.The limits of detection were 0.005 mg /kg(S/N=3),and the recoveries ranged from 86% to 104%.This method is simple,rapid,low solvent consumption,and the complex matrix disturbance in caramel pigment samples can be avoided when multiple-reaction monitoring(MRM) mode was adopted.The method is proved to be accurate,reliable,sensitive and suitable for the determination of 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole in caramel pigment samples.


When the Sanhe Sluice's overhaul project was conducted,63 half-open gates were operated for the purpose of simultaneously discharging water and replacing hoists.A 2D-3D coupled model was put forward and the local nested grid method was employed to simulate the flow patterns of the Sanhe Sluice.The results show the following:(a) In this overhaul situation,there is a wide range of recirculation zones in both the upstream and downstream reaches,and the discharge per unit width increases locally.(b) The Kuaihuo Ridge upstream has a significant influence on the inflow pattern.(c) The flow deflection is more severe with half-open gates than with fully opened gates,and the maximum average deflection angle is 27.35° for the northern discharging case.Based on the numerical simulation results,we make some recommendations for improving the flow pattern,which can provide references for operation and management of the Sanhe Sluice in the overhaul project.


Martin Enserink's article about the Second European Stroke Prevention Study (ESPS 2) study (News & Comment, [20 Dec., p. 2004][1]) raises two issues that merit serious attention: (i) fraud in scientific research and (ii) the ethics of using placebos in situations where there is already an effective


All-Reflected Fourier Transform Imaging Spectrometer (ARFTIS) is a novel type of instrument based on Fourier transform spectroscopy. ARFTIS will offer high luminous flux and high spectral resolution, well suited to remote sensing with low energy. But there is nearly not any method of convenient spectrum calibration for this kind of instrument. In this paper, we analyze the spectrum calibration principle of ARFTIS and the cause of the calibration error. We reached the result that the calibration error is getting bigger with the increase of spectrum peak wavelength of the calibration light. By these we develop three convenient spectrum calibration methods used in Visible/Near-Infrared waveband, which are the Monochromatic Method, the Average Method and the Weighted Average Method respectively. We apply these methods to ARFTIS calibrate experiment. According to the experiment results, The Monochromatic Method can calibrate by using only one group of data, but with a little lower calibration precision. However the Weighted Average Method can provide a higher calibration precision than the other two methods. So, the Monochromatic method and the Weighted Average Method both have good application value for ARFTIS calibration.


The sections in this article are:

1
Classification and Definition of Blood Vessels

2
Components of the Vascular Wall
2.1
Intima

2.2
Media

2.3
Adventitia


The article discussed the use of calcium carbonate in PVC paste. Experiments indicated that the addition of right amount of properly surface treated calcium carbonate would be advantageous to reduce cost and to improve some physical performances of PVC paste.


Today the organizational culture (OC) is treated as the main driver in making decisions in organizations and as a critical determiner of their effectiveness. Due to the lack of studies in the field of OC assessment in Middle Eastern countries and particularly in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to portray the dominant culture type (Clan, Adhocracy, Hierarchy and Market) in Tabuk University. It also set out to determine the culture type that dominates according to the dimensions of Organizational Culture (Dominant Characteristics, Organizational Leadership, Management Organizational Glue, Strategic Emphases and Criteria for Success) by using an organizational culture assessment instrument (OCAI) based on the Competing Values Framework (CVF). The target population was the Tabuk University workforce (N= 1999). A sample was drawn from the population (N= 322) composed of two categories, academic staff and employees. The study findings indicate that the dominant culture type in Tabuk University is clan culture. However, three other types of culture characteristics are represented in some dimensions (Dominant Characteristics, Organizational Leadership and Management of Employees) besides the clan characteristics. The results indicate that there are statistically significant differences in culture strength according to some respondents' demographic characteristics.


As the world prepares to enter the nanotechnology era and meet the associated challenges, new modes of scientific and technological co-operation will be needed, owing to challenges that are complex and cross-disciplinary. At the same time, there is an increasing lack of talent worldwide. Global strategic partnerships will require strong, recognised "networks of excellence", as well as new collaboration and IPR models to encourage successful strategic partnerships...


[Referee] This manuscript presents the distribution and fluxes of N2O in the Eastern Tropical South Pacific region during Oct. 2015, when a strong El Nino event occurred. Measurements of N2O and other related parameters along with its isotopomers were made in the water samples collected from six stations. These measurements have been used to study the variability and biogeochemistry of N2O in the ocean water as well as the effect of this event on the distribution and fluxes of N2O in this region. The manuscript presents important results during this major El Nino event and it is very well written.


Nowadays, wider applications of stick-slip piezoelectric actuators are limited by their single working mode and complex control. It is quite meaningful to develop stick-slip piezoelectric actuators with multi-mode through simple driving signals. This paper proposes a novel multi-mode piezoelectric actuator based on the principle of parasitism. A parallelogram mechanism which that can generate bidirectional parasitic displacement is introduced to the actuator, during which the static force is enhanced, and the input displacement is amplified. Such three motion modes as general motion mode, cooperative motion mode and scanning motion mode are transformed by two piezoelectric stacks, and driven by three different driving signals. Its structure and working principle are illustrated and analyzed by the finite element method. We investigated the variation law of the magnification ratio of the parallelogram mechanism, and obtained the natural frequency of the key structure, proving its capability in high frequency scenarios. The magnification ratio of the driving mechanism and the cooperative drive mechanism is 2 and 5.5, respectively, which ensures effective magnification of the output displacement of the piezoelectric stack. The maximum stress of the structure during deformation is far less than the yield strength, which is within the safe range.


With so many individuals linked to the Internet and so many possible ways to reach them, the debate for organizational scholars is no longer over whether Internet self-administered surveys are possible but rather over the comparative understanding and the relative advantages and disadvantages of these surveys. Because relevant research has generally been fragmented and narrow in scope, making comparisons difficult, the authors review and assess the research on Internet selfadministered surveying modalities of electronic mail and the World Wide Web. Then, they provide recommendations that address problematic and controversial aspects of these modalities, including ways to increase the representativeness of samples, construct sampling frames, increase response rates, and manage anonymity and confidentiality.


Based on panel data collected for seven years (2003–2009) of 30 provinces, the efficiency of knowledge sharing in regional innovation in China was evaluated by DEA Malmquist indexes model. The result indicated that knowledge sharing efficiency of six regions was improved respectively. As the same time, technical efficiency of knowledge sharing process in West China grew fast because of the advantage of backwardness so that it can acquire and absorb knowledge more quickly. As being lack of satisfactory performance in the technical efficiency, cross-organization excitation mechanism that support cross-sector collaboration and knowledge transfer between institutions and locally industries were more or less unsatisfactory.


There has been a vast development of laser-driven particle acceleration (LDPA) using high power lasers. This has initiated by the radiation oncology community to use the dose distribution and biological advantages of proton/heavy ion therapy in cancer treatment with a much greater accessibility than currently possible with cyclotron/synchrotron acceleration. Up to now, preclinical experiments have only been performed at a few LDPA facilities; technical solutions for clinical LDPA have been theoretically developed but there is still a long way to go for the clinical introduction of LDPA. Therefore, to explore the further potential bio-medical advantages of LDPA has pronounced importance. The main characteristics of LDPA are the ultra-high beam intensity, the flexibility in beam size reduction and the potential particle and energy selection whilst conventional accelerators generate single particle, quasi mono-energetic beams. There is a growing number of studies on the potential advantages and applications of Energy Modulated X-ray Radiotherapy, Modulated Electron Radiotherapy and Very High Energy Electron (VHEE) delivery system. Furthermore, the ultra-high space and/or time resolution of super-intense beams are under intensive investigation at synchrotrons (microbeam radiation and very high dose rate (> 40 Gy/s) electron accelerator flash irradiation) with growing evidence of significant improvement of the therapeutic index. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is an advanced cell targeted binary treatment modality. Because of the high linear energy transfer (LET) of the two particles (7Li and 4He) released by 10BNC reaction, all of the energy is deposited inside the tumour cells, killing them with high probability, while the neighbouring cells are not damaged. The limited availability of appropriate neutron sources, prevent the more extensive exploration of clinical benefit of BNCT. Another boron-based novel binary approach is the 11B-Proton Fusion, which result in the release of three high LET alpha particles. These promising, innovative approaches for cancer therapy present huge challenges for dose calculation, dosimetry and for investigation of the biological effects. The planned LDPA (photons, VHEE, protons, carbon ions) at ELI facilities has the unique property of ultra-high dose rate (> Gy/s−10), short pulses, and at ELI-ALPS high repetition rate, have the potential to develop and establish encouraging novel methods working towards compact hospital-based clinical applications.


The effect of the Entomopathogenic fungus, Paceilomyces farinosus on reproductive potential of female survivors, egg viability and total egg production of poplar leaf beetle Melasoma populi L. was investigated in Plant Protection Department laboratories, School of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Duhok University in Spring 2011. Prepupae, pupae and newly emerged adults were treated with spore suspension of P. farinosus (1 × 108 conidia/mL). Another group of adults were reared on sprayed poplar leaves with a same concentration of conidial suspension. Eggs production and hatching percentage were monitored daily over a 7-wk period. Overall reproductive capacity was significantly lower as compared with control. The total number of eggs per surviving female was 85.50, 149.50, 123.43 and 280.24 eggs for pre-pupa, pupa, adult and leaves treated, respectively as compared with 299.75 in control after fourth week. Pre-oviposition, ovipostion, post-oviposition days and the longevity of females and males were shorter in treated individuals compared with control. The lowest percentage hatching was 75.12% in eggs deposited by adults feed on treated leaves as compared with 98.42% in control.