A model of amorphous phase formation in ion-bombarded metallic alloys is proposed and compared to experimental results recorded with various techniques. The elementary mechanism is the formation of small amorphous clusters in the bombarded layer as soon as a favorable short-range order (threshold ion concentration) and a given topological disorder (threshold defect concentration) are locally established. The influence of the bombardment temperature is also discussed. Statistical considerations concerning the final spatial distributions of ions and defects allow us to account for the results obtained at low temperature, where implanted ions and radiation defects are immobile in the bombarded layer. A sigmoidal shape of the amorphization kinetics is obtained in implantation experiments or irradiation experiments with very light ions, while a nearly linear fluence dependence of the amorphous fraction is observed in irradiation experiments with heavy ions. At temperatures where implanted ions and radiation defects become mobile in the bombarded layer, the statistical description fails and ion trapping as well as defect recombinations have to be considered to reproduce experimental data. There is evidence that the amorphization model described in this paper for metallic systems also holds for other crystalline materials such as semiconductors or insulators.


CONFRONTING BULLYING: SEARCHING FOR STRATEGIES IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE Emily Moulton Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education Educational Specialist in School Psychology Literature is a great resource for teaching valuable principles to children, including how to cope with bullying. However, no analyses exist regarding the appropriateness of these books. Children's books were identified as potential stories for bibliotherapy with elementary school children who face bullying. Information presented in selected books was compared to the current research literature on bullying. Each book's content was analyzed according to important variables, including the type of bullying behavior, gender of the perpetrator and target, presence of bystanders, adult involvement, and resolution of the problem. Verbal bullying was most commonly observed, followed closely by physical bullying. The majority of bullies were male, though targets were equally likely to be male or female. Many stories included bystanders and adults, who responded most often by supporting the target. Of the multiple types of resolution, the most commonly observed were for the target to receive support from others or to develop self confidence or other personal coping skills. While much of the information presented was in accordance with the current research literature on bullying, some was not. For example, the books were accurate in portraying the majority of bullies as male, but less accurate with regard to the gender of targets—in reality, the majority of targets are also male. The books were also


Society-based moral education of admonishment and individual-based moral education of monadism played some positive role in a certain historical period.But they have insuperable disadvantages.In the new age of democracy and freedom and human subjectivity,in the new age of harmonious development of individual and society,the universities and colleges need to model the matched moral education—moral education of symbiosis.


This study was designed for isolation of bioactive flavonoid molecule Fisetin from Ethanolic fruit Extract of Fragaria xananassa. Crude extract of strawberry was prepared using ethanol. The ethanolicfruit extract wassubjected for photochemical analysis and theisolated compound was subjected to FT-IR, GC-MS and their free radical scavenging activity was studied.Then the characterization techniques confirmed that the isolated compound was found to be Fisetin. The free radical scavenging activity proposes that the isolated compound fisetin could act as aeffective source of antioxidant.The bioactive flavonoid compound fisetinwas isolated effectively from the Ethanolic fruit Extract of Fragaria xananassa.and their antioxidant activity was studied.


Founder-CEOs invest more in RD the negative relationship between innovation and founder-CEO is weaker when product market competition is more intense and/or when CEO is less "entrenched".


Ozone is increasingly being used as an alternative oxidant to chlorination processes in various industrial applications without any objectionable by products to the environment and requiring less energy for its production. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effects of various parameters on the production of ozone both experimentally and theoretically. A theoretical study focused on numerical simulation was performed to investigate the validity of the dependence of the ozone concentration on various parameters measured experimentally and to better understand the discharge phenomenon employing very short pulsed streamer discharges in the ozonizer at a room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The generation and decay of different particle species subjected to pulsed discharges were simulated as a function of time using both a single pulse and multiple pulses. The rate coefficients of various plasma chemical reactions including electron impact dissociation of the principal gaseous components, namely oxygen and nitrogen in dry air, occurring in the streamer corona discharge depending upon the electric field to particle density ratio (E/N) and the gas temperature were taken into account. The trend showing the dependence of the concentration of ozone in dry air on the parameters studied generally agreed with the experimental results and with the published literature thus confirming the validity of the simulation model.


Cd2+ is a serious environmental pollutant. Previous studies have investigated the effects of Cd2+ on animals, plants and algae. However, the tested concentrations were generally higher than the actual environment level. The present study determined the effects of low concentrations of Cd2+ (0.05 to 0.20 mg/L) on the chlorophyll fluorescent parameters of six local algae species in order to investigate the early toxicity of Cd2+. The results showed that treatments with up to 0.20 mg/L Cd2+ did not significantly affect population growth rate of S. quadricauda, C. pyrenoidosa, S. obliquus, N. palea, S. minutum and S. acutus. Treatments with 0.05-0.20 mg/L Cd2+ significantly increased Fv/Fm in N. palea and S. minutum and decreased Fv/Fm in S. obliquus and S. acutus, but did not significantly affect Fv/Fm in C. pyrenoidosa. When exposed to Cd2+, rETRmax was reduced in S. obliquus, C. pyrenoidosa, S. acutus and S. quadricauda, but was elevated in N. palea and S. minutum. Overall, trace Cd2+ still revealed early toxicity to green algae. N. palea, S. minutum and C. pyrenoidosa were more tolerant to Cd2+ than S. obliquus, S. acutus and S. quadricauda.

http://www.pjoes.com/pdf-110519-48395?filename=Early Toxic Effects of.pdf


Watersheds are tremendously degraded worldwide, largely in developing countries especially in the Blue Nile Basin in Ethiopia. The degradation is due to several factors including pressure from land use and economic development. The degradation might be characterized by poor water quality, irregularity in water quantity, heavy floods that destroy life and property, sediment deposition in streams and irrigation canals; and sediment deposition on dams etc. Studies have suggested different watershed management interventions to end these problems, especially in developing countries. They include reforestation; construction of stone terrace; soil bunds; water harvesting technologies; and crop residue management. However, most landholders are not adopting these recommended technologies mainly due to socio-economic, institutional and policy-related issues. This paper empirically examines existing factors that are perceived to affect landholders' decisions for adopting improved watershed management intervention technologies in the Blue Nile Basin in Ethiopia. A multi-stage probability sampling techniques were used to sample 300 respondents and a binary Logit model was applied to the data. Results indicate that education, age, farm size, farmers' day/field visit, distance to nearest market, tropical livestock unit, farmers' preference/attitude towards watershed management and fertilizer application are found to be significant factors that influence downstream landholders' decision to adopt improved watershed management technologies.


The CELEX of UAM-A has developed three B-learning English courses, since 2012 among other things, to promote students' autonomy and as an alternative way of learning. This research shows the results of some students who were part of the piloting of the three B-learning courses and were successful to complete the basic level required to finish their major studies by means of this modality of learning. The study also aims to find the qualities a student should have to be successful in On-line courses through an objective questionnaire and an interview about learning styles.


Abstract: Background: It is unclear whether autoimmune cholangitis (AIC) is a separate disease entity or primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) without antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) since fluctuation of AMA titres by immunofluorescence (IF) is often observed during the course of PBC. The aim of this study was to determine the serial changes in AMA profiles during the course of initially diagnosed PBC or AIC.


This article summarizes the overseas research development for controlling the damage by means of using the temporary plugging additives in the drilling completion fluids in recent years. Especially, it focuses on the principle of temporary plugging and some new methods, i. e. , micrometer degree alkali cellulose for temporary plugging technique, using it the well wall can be plugged rapidly, and the invasion of solid phase and filtrate of drilling fluid into formation can be prevented; the filtrate model of multi-component solid phase fine particle in which not only the damage degree and depth of reservoir and permeability after reverse discharging can be predicated respectively, but also the distributive state of solid phase in drilling fluid can be designed optimistically; the mechanism of cleaning out mud cake during reverse discharging and using mathematic model to calculate the initial flowing pressure, result shows that the initial flowing pressure increase with the reducing of permeability and the increasing of damage depth, meanwhile, it is in linear increasing with reverse discharging velocity; using pore throats net model to simulate the processes of fine migration, aggradation and plugging and to optimize the size of temporary plugging agent; temporary plugging techniques for high permeable reservoir, due to the main factor of damage in high permeable reservoir is solid phase incursion, it needs to use temporary plugging agent to form low permeable mud cake to prevent the incursion of solids and filtrate fluids, etc. . It is necessary to further develop the technology of formation damage control.


This article refers to 'Effects of haemodynamically atrio-ventricular optimized His bundle pacing on heart failure symptoms and exercise capacity: the His Optimized Pacing Evaluated for Heart Failure (HOPE-HF) randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial' by Z.I. Whinnett et al. , published in this issue on pages 274–283. Heart failure is a clinical syndrome due to structural and/or func-tional abnormalities of the heart that result in elevated intracardiac pressures and/or inadequate cardiac output. In patients with heart failure with reduced ( ≤ 40%) ejection fraction (HFrEF), impaired left ventricular filling due to atrio-ventricular (AV) dyssynchrony resulting from prolonged PR intervals may contribute to pump failure. The mechanisms which have been suggested are transmitral E/A wave fusion leading to shortening of left ventricular filling time, diastolic mitral regurgitation, and in case of very prolonged PR intervals, simultaneous atrial and ventricular contraction. 1 Com-puter simulations have suggested that AV timing plays a crucial role in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by impacting ventricular filling. 2 In the COMPANION trial, a PR ≥ 200ms was observed in 52% of the subjects and was associated with increased mortality and heart failure hospitalization in patients under medical therapy (HR 1 .4 1 , P = 0.44). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) had a greater impact on reducing these endpoints in patients with a prolonged PR (HR 0.54 P < 0.0 1 ) than in those with a normal PR (HR 0.7 1 , P = 0.0 1 9)


The production method of the target / backing plate is provided. The target blank has a first surface and a second surface for forming the sputtering surfaces. A second metal or alloy is arranged around the target blank. The backing plate is disposed adjacent the second metal or alloy disposed along the second target surface. The assembly is then diffusion bonding, a portion of the second metal covers the sputtering surface of the target to be removed to expose the target sputtering surface. W The backing plate assembly of the target or W alloy target / Ti or Ti alloy, the Al layer is interposed in the middle of the W or W alloy target and backing plate is provided. The assembly has a bond strength greater than 50 MPa.


The purpose of this paper is to show that finitely many relativistic point interactions may be approximated in the strong resolvent sense by sequences of operators with smooth potentials. We consider the entire family of relativistic point interactions, and determine those for which renormalization of the coupling constant occurs when the corresponding potentials are approximated by finitely many local, short-range perturbations of the free Dirac operator.


ABSTRACT This article analyzes whether and how managerial and Weberian value systems can coexist or collide in different organisational settings. We compare six public organisations in two Latin American countries to study whether public sector reforms imply a clash or a crowding-out between these values systems. The article uses data from 60 semi-structured interviews with public officials of different hierarchical levels, in public central government agencies with different ages, modernisation stages, and organisational structures. Our analysis reveals that even in different settings and types of organisations, Weberian values coexist with managerial ones and with other sets of values related to governance or political patronage. We conclude that managerial values do not necessarily crowd out other value systems as previous studies have found and appear to be adapted to the organisational and national contexts in which they operate.


Abstract : The relationship between night vision goggle (NVG) use in the U.S. Army and head/neck injury risk is unknown. A 10-year retrospective study of traumatic head/neck injuries among U.S. Army aircrew members wearing NVGs in rotary-wing mishaps was conducted by review of U.S. Army Safety Center and U.S. Army Aviation Epidemiology Data Register records. Among 704 cockpit aircrew members, 403 (57.2 percent) suffered some degree of injury during the mishap. Among the 403 injured crewmembers, 250 (62.0 percent) had head and/or neck injuries. A disproportionate number of cockpit aircrew members in nonsurvivable mishaps had head and/or neck injuries (87.0 percent) compared to those in survivable mishaps (19 percent). Crewmembers wearing NVGs had a significantly increased risk for head and/or neck, head only, and neck only injury. When stratified by type of NVG, and based on logistic regression models that included aircraft type (UH-60 versus other) and survivability as covariates, crewmembers wearing the AN/PVS-5 carried the burden of this injury risk (RR=2.01, Ci95-1.58.57). For crewmembers wearing the aviator's night vision imaging system (ANVIS), the risk of head and/or neck, head only, or neck only injury was not statistically greater than crewmembers not wearing NVGs (RR=l.22, c195=O.94,l.58). Aircrew wearing the older AN/PVS-5 were at increased risk for head/neck injury during a rotary-wing mishap, while ANVIS users with the ANVIS break-away feature were not at increased risk for head/neck injury.


In realizing the European Spallation Source—which even in its scaled-down form would be the world's strongest neutron source—the partner nations hope to forge mechanisms for multinational decision making.


Marine organism is likely to be a prolific source of new natural antitumor products. So far, a number of natural antitumor products with unique chemical structures have been isolated from marine sources and many of them have been identified as peptides, macrocyclic lactones, polysaccharides, alkaloids, terpenes, polyethers etc. Some of these marine products are expected to become new anticancer medicines. In this review, the recent research on marine antitumor products classified by chemical structures and physiological activities was summa- rized in china and abroad.


We implement the reinforcement learning agent for a spin-1 atomic system to prepare spin squeezed state from given initial state. Proximal policy gradient (PPO) algorithm is used to deal with continuous external control field and final optimized protocol is given by a stochastic policy. In both mean-field system and two-body quantum system, RL agent finds the optimal policies. In many-body quantum system, it also gives polices that outperform purely greedy policy and optimized adiabatic passage. These polices given by RL agent have good physical interpretability in phase space and may help us to understand quantum dynamics. In fact, RL could be highly versatile in quantum optimal control problems.


This paper presents a stochastic vehicle routing and scheduling model with time window. The model explicitly incorporates the variable travel times on urban roads. It adopts a simulated annealing heuristic approach to approximately identify the optimal assignment and visiting order to customers of vehicles. The application of the model to a test network showed that freight carriers can generate the cost reduction by implementing the stochastic model compared with the forecast model.


..................................................... iv DEDICATION..................................................... V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................. vi CHAPTER I . INTRODUCTION........................................... 1 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.............................12 III. METHODOLOGY Sample............................................. 42 Problems........................................... 44 Interviews......................................... 50 Analysis Procedure................................ 51 IV. THEORETICAL ORIENTATION...............................53 V. MALE SAMPLE; DATA ANALYSIS......................... 90 VI. FEMALE SAMPLE: DATA ANALYSIS...................... 133 VII. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN DATA......................... 159 VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS........................ 201 APPENDIX A: Letters to Male Inmates............ 213 APPENDIX B: Letters to Female Inmates.......... 214 APPENDIX C: Consent Form........................ 216 APPENDIX D: Questions for Interview............ 217 REFERENCES........................................ 225 VITA AUCTORIS.....................................235 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.


minds are concentrated within the narrow fphere of nofological arrangement, the prefent work will appear infipid and ufelefs; it will be received, on the contrary, with gratitude and applaufe by men of refined and cultivated minds, by the fcholar and the philofophical phyfician. The country where good fenfe and freedom of inquiry are indigenous will greet the arrival of this fpecimen of the exertions of a foreigner, who thinks for himfelf, -and thinks with that juftnefs and profound accuracy which delights the mind capable of generalization, unfliackled by the ter-


Climate,geomorphologic landscapes and water conservancy of Guizhou Province were analyzed,major causes of frequent occurrence of drought in Guizhou were summarized as uneven time-space distribution of water resources,difficult water resource development because of the karst landform,poor water conservancy facilities.Among these causes,poor construction and maintenance of water conservancy facilities are subjective and important reasons responsible for the frequent drought in the local area.


Introduction/Background Theoretically, PARP inhibitors can function as a DNA damaging agents in BRCA wild type cancer, even if the clinical activity is limited. Most of epithelial ovarian cancer is characterized by TP53 mutation causing dysfunction in the G1/S checkpoint, which makes tumor cells highly dependent on Chk1-mediated G/M phase cell cycle arrest for DNA repair. Therefore, we hypothesized that combination treatment of PARP inhibitors (Rucaparib) and Chk1 inhibitor (LY2606368) would be active in BRCA wild type epithelial ovarian cancer. Methodology We investigated the anticancer effects of combination treatment with prexasertib (LY2606368) and rucaparib, in BRCA wild type ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR3 and SKOV3) using clinically attainable concentrations. Results We found that combination treatment synergistically decrease cell viability in all cell lines and induces greater DNA damage and apoptosis than the control and/or monotherapies. Moreover, we identified that prexasertib can significantly inhibit homologous recombination (HR) mediated DNA repair and thus showed marked synergistic anticancer effect in combination treatment with PARP inhibitor. The synergy between prexasertib and rucaparib was considered to be caused by impaired G2/M checkpoint due to prexasertib treatment, which forced mitotic catastrophe in the presence of rucaparib. Conclusion According to our data, prexasertib and rucaparib combination showed synergistic anticancer effects against BRCA wild type epithelial ovarian cancer cells through reduced Rad51 foci formation and greater induction of apoptosis. This might be a novel effective therapeutic strategy for BRCA-wild type epithelial ovarian cancer. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.


The conventional design of fuzzy logic controller uses human intuition and experience, which rarely constitutes an optimal design. In this paper, a systematic design procedure is presented to realize the optimal fuzzy logic regulator. The proposed scheme minimizes a suitable criterion function employing the steepest descent method. The recently proposed Block Partial Derivative (BPD) is used to facilitate the gradient computation.


Simple Summary GATA2 deficiency is considered one of the most common cancer predisposition syndromes determining myelodysplastic syndrome in children. Little is known of this recently described syndrome, often resulting in a misdiagnosis and unclear management. In this review, we describe GATA2 deficiency clinical presentation in order to focus on phenotypes that, in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, may be suggestive of GATA2 deficiency. Moreover, due to the lack of clear guidelines, we performed an overview on literature data regarding management of GATA2-related myelodysplastic syndrome, in order to understand the best choice of treatment for these patients. Abstract Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are hematopoietic disorders rare in childhood, often occurring in patients with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes or germinal predisposition syndromes. Among the latter, one of the most frequent involves the gene GATA binding protein 2 (GATA2), coding for a transcriptional regulator of hematopoiesis. The genetic lesion as well as the clinical phenotype are extremely variable; many patients present hematological malignancies, especially MDS with the possibility to evolve into acute myeloid leukemia. Variable immune dysfunction, especially resulting in B- and NK-cell lymphopenia, lead to severe infections, including generalized warts and mycobacterial infection. Defects of alveolar macrophages lead to pulmonary alveolar proteinosis through inadequate clearance of surfactant proteins. Currently, there are no clear guidelines for the monitoring and treatment of patients with GATA2 mutations. In patients with MDS, the only curative treatment is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) that restores normal hematopoiesis preventing the progression to acute myeloid leukemia and clears long-standing infections. However, to date, the donor type, conditioning regimen, and the optimal time to proceed to HSCT, as well as the level of chimerism needed to reverse the phenotype, remain unclear highlighting the need for consensus guidelines.


Brief description of the primary objectives and scope of the project: Assess the impact of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on the Jovian magnetosphere (specifically the Io torus ion emissions).


The starting materials used in this study were single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) synthesized by an arc discharge method and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) prepared by a CVD method (NanoLab, Inc.). A spark plasma sintering (SPS) method was utilized to solidify SWCNTs and MWCNTs. To facilitate the solidification, phenol resin (50 mass%) was added to the purified SWCNTs and MWCNTs. The compaction pressures used in the SPS method were 40 MPa for SWCNTs and 80 MPa for MWCNTs, and the temperature was 1000°C. The mechanical properties of the solidified SWCNTs and MWCNTs were examined using a small punch (SP) testing method. The SWCNT solids showed significant non-linear deformation response, producing quasi-ductile fracture behavior, and Young's modulus and work of fracture were 1.6 GPa and 15.8 N · mm, respectively. In contrast, the MWCNT solids showed brittle fracture behavior, and Young's modulus and work of fracture were 1.5 GPa and 4.4 N · mm, respectively. TEM observations revealed that the fracture of the SWCNT solids was characterized by pull out of SWCNT bundles, and that of the MWCNT solids was characterized by "bamboo-like" failure of MWCNTs.


The solution-aging is the heat treatment method for near beta titanium alloys.After solution the beta to omega transformation occurs due to the vibration of the lattice and the collapse of the(111) plane in the parent phase.During aging the precipitation of alpha phase which acts as an enforce phase in near beta titanium alloys strongly depends on volume fraction and morphology of the omega phase,which is diffusion controlled transformation.The mechanism of beta to omega transformation is interpreted,and the electron diffraction pattern of some typical water quenched near beta titanium alloy is summarized.


A photon analyzer made extremely selective in energy using the Mossbauer effect is used in the analysis of recoilless Rayleigh scattering of x rays by platinum, aluminum, graphite, and paraffin solids. The source is Sn/sup 119/ which, upon being excited. emlts 23.8-kev photons; the photons are scattered by the solids at 50 + 5 deg and absorbed by a Sn/sup 119/ foil. The change in counting rates between the temperatures of 80 and 300 deg K was measured. Agreement between the theoretical and observed reductions in x-ray intensity at 80 deg K is good. (D.L.C.)


The invention discloses a networked outside processing progress real-time control method based on a mobile terminal, and belongs to the technical field of informatization of the manufacturing industry. The networked outside processing progress real-time control method based on the mobile terminal is characterized in that the networked outside processing progress real-time control method is based on a networked outside processing progress information interaction terminal, a networked outside processing progress information control service platform and the like of the mobile terminal. Outsourced product progress information such as completed tasks, on-going tasks and tasks which are not started is collected through the networked outside processing progress information interaction terminal by an outsourced enterprise and is uploaded on the networked outside processing progress information control service platform in real time, and eventually a dominant enterprise achieves real-time control functions such as monitoring, querying and pre-warning of the progress of outsourced products through the networked outside processing progress information control service platform. The networked outside processing progress real-time control method based on the mobile terminal can be widely applied to networked cooperative processing enterprises to enable real-time control over the progress information of the outsourced products to be achieved.


Climate change has created unexpected tipping points in the contemporary history of the Arctic. Diminishing summer sea ice has encouraged energy companies to plan for an expansion of Arctic offshor...


Families of children with ASD face significant financial challenges due to their child's complex service needs and frequent out-of-pocket expenditures for community services and health care. This report describes financial hardship among families of children with ASD (ages 3-17 years) and their participation in safety net programs.


Fluorescence light sheet microscopy (LSM) of tissue cleared samples enables holistic 3D imaging of the human brain and the full murine body. While this novel imaging method creates high resolution scans and has led to an abundance of high-profile publications in the last 5 years, analysing them is not trivial and comes with complex obstacles. In this paper we present a review and discussion of our groups previous works to present best practices on both animal and human scans and guidelines to overcome these obstacles.


Pain is a common symptom experienced by patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA). Emerging data indicate IA pain treatment focuses on prescribing analgesics despite an absence of evidence for long-term efficacy. Delivering optimal, equitable IA pain care in England requires understanding current practice. To address this, we evaluated analgesic prescribing in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) contributing data to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, a primary care electronic health record database covering 20% of England.

 Cross-sectional analyses (2004-2020) evaluated the annual prevalence of analgesic prescriptions in patients with RA/PsA/axial SpA. These were reported stratified by age, gender, ethnicity, deprivation, and geographical region. Analgesic prescriptions were classified using Bedson et al's hierarchical system with an additional gabapentinoid group. Joinpoint regression models evaluated time-points when a significant change in the trends of prescription annual prevalence occurred.

 Although declining over time, the annual prevalence of analgesic prescriptions remained high (84.2% [95% CI 83.9, 84.5] in 2004; 64.5% [95% CI 64.2, 64.8] in 2020). In 2004, oral NSAIDs were the commonest analgesic (prevalence 56.1% [95% CI 55.8, 56.5]). By 2020, this fell to 22.3% (95% CI 22.1, 22.6) with opioids being the commonest analgesic (prevalence 39.0% [95% CI 38.7, 39.2]). Most opioid prescriptions were "strong/very strong" and long-term. Annual prevalence of non-NSAID analgesic prescriptions was highest in RA and of NSAIDs was highest in axial SpA. The annual prevalence of all analgesic types except NSAIDs differed by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity, and region. Annual prevalence of non-NSAID analgesic prescriptions increased with age and deprivation, were higher in females than males, and higher in Northern than Southern England. The opposite pattern was seen with age for oral NSAIDs. NSAIDs were more commonly prescribed in males than females. Very little difference was seen in NSAID prescribing by deprivation, ethnicity, and region. There was a significant change in the trend of opioid prescription annual prevalence in 2015 (year of Public Health England's "Opioid Aware" release) when the rate of decline increased, and at 2013 and 2018 for gabapentinoids when the annual prevalence increase slowed then declined (years of NHS England's release of information on gabapentinoid risks, and their reclassification as controlled substances).

 Whilst overall national analgesic prescribing in IA has fallen over 17 years - with interventions to deliver safer opioid/gabapentinoid prescribing potentially contributing - it remains common. This is at variance with evidence of analgesic efficacy and risks. The differences in prescribing of some analgesic types by patient sociodemographic factors and regions suggest unwarranted variation. Interventions are needed to improve the delivery of effective, equitable IA pain treatment.
 Disclosure
 I.C. Scott: None. R. Whittle: None. J. Bailey: None. H. Twohig: None. S.L. Hider: None. C.D. Mallen: None. S. Muller: None. K.P. Jordan: None.


Neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) are disorders characterized by the progressive loss of neurons affecting motor, sensory, and/or cognitive functions. The incidence of these diseases is increasing and has a great impact due to their high morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, current therapeutic strategies only temporarily improve the patients' quality of life but are insufficient for completely alleviating the symptoms. An interaction between the immune system and the central nervous system (CNS) is widely associated with neuronal damage in NDD. Usually, immune cell infiltration has been identified with inflammation and is considered harmful to the injured CNS. However, the immune system has a crucial role in the protection and regeneration of the injured CNS. Nowadays, there is a consensus that deregulation of immune homeostasis may represent one of the key initial steps in NDD. Dr. Michal Schwartz originally conceived the concept of "protective autoimmunity" (PA) as a well‐controlled peripheral inflammatory reaction after injury, essential for neuroprotection and regeneration. Several studies suggested that immunizing with a weaker version of the neural self‐antigen would generate PA without degenerative autoimmunity. The development of CNS‐related peptides with immunomodulatory neuroprotective effect led to important research to evaluate their use in chronic and acute NDD. In this review, we refer to the role of PA and the potential applications of active immunization as a therapeutic option for NDD treatment. In particular, we focus on the experimental and clinical promissory findings for CNS‐related peptides with beneficial immunomodulatory effects.


Background: Appropriate feeding practices are of fundamental importance for the survival, growth and development of any child.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess feeding practices of mothers in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Methodology: A total of 210 nursing mothers and caregivers for children aged 6 to 36 months were studied. Data collection was with a structured questionnaire and data was analyzed using SPSS version 14.0.
Results: Thirty eight (18%) of the mothers interviewed practiced exclusive breast feeding. Ninety (42.8%) of the respondents introduced complementary diets between 4-6 months while 24 (11.4%) introduced it before 4 months. Reasons for the introduction included "inadequacy of breast milk alone" 102(48.6%), "lack of sufficient breast milk" 24(11.4%) and "advice from health workers" 37(17.4%). Rice was the first complementary food introduced in 72(34.3%). The use of feeding bottles was reported in 67(31.9%).

Conclusion: The rate of EBF practice was low, there was early introduction of inadequately nutritious complementary feeds and use of feeding bottles was also found to be common. We recommend the need for continuous education on appropriate feeding practices for children by health workers to mothers and caregiver.

 Key words: complementary feeding ; practices; caregiver


Catalytic conversion of starch-based industrial waste into sugars was investigated using a simultaneous microwave/ultrasound-assisted procedure. The results were compared with single microwave and ultrasound irradiations to determine the eventual synergetic effects generated by the combined technologies. In heterogeneous systems, microwave irradiation enforces heat transfer, while ultrasound irradiation imposes the intensive mass transfer at the interfaces. Two hours of combined irradiation of potato starch (employed as a reference) at 60 °C in sulfuric acid revealed the existence of a glucose selectivity. In a result that was hitherto never achieved, 46% of this industrial waste was converted into reducing sugars in identical conditions.


For what basins can this occur? In particular, is this possible for any familiar basins such as hemispheres, cones, or paraboloids? Are there any basins such that a doubling of the area of the top surface always results in a tripling of the volume? And conversely, are there any basins where tripling the volume always results in a doubling of the area of the surface? Given a lake, can we always extend the basin above the existing water level in such a way that if the volume is tripled, the surface area doubles?


The complexity of the digital filters usually depends on the number of adders which are used to implement a multiplier. In this project we want to use Multiple constant multiplication (MCM) technique to reduce the number of operations for implementing the multipliers. This MCM technique is implemented using Wallace multiplier and carry save adder. Implementation of FIR filters using Multiple constant multiplications (MCM) a is an efficient way of implementing several constant multiplications with the same input data. The coefficients of multiplier are expressed using shifts, adders, and subtractions. Introducing the Wallace tree multiplier will reduce both the number of adders and subtractions as well as the number of shifts. Multiple constant multiplication/accumulation in a direct FIR structure is implemented by means of an enhanced version of Wallace multipliers. In order to reduce the hardware which ultimately reduces an area and power, Energy Efficient full adders plays an important role in Wallace tree multiplier. The proposed Wallace multiplier will have fewer adders than Standard Wallace multiplier. In both multipliers, at the last stage Carry Save Adder (CSA) is used. Index Terms FIR filter, multiple constant multiplication, Wallace multiplier, carry save adder.


The design and development of thrust augmenting short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) ejectors has typically been an iterative process. In this investigation, static performance tests of a full-scale vertical lift ejector were performed at primary flow temperatures up to 1560 R (1100 F). Flow visualization (smoke generators, yarn tufts and paint dots) was used to assess inlet flowfield characteristics, especially around the primary nozzle and end plates. Performance calculations are presented for ambient temperatures close to 480 R (20 F) and 535 R (75 F) which simulate 'seasonal' aircraft operating conditions. Resulting thrust augmentation ratios are presented as functions of nozzle pressure ratio and temperature. Full-scale experimental tests such as this are expensive, and difficult to implement at engine exhaust temperatures. For this reason the utility of using similarity principles -- in particular, the Munk and Prim similarity principle for isentropic flow -- was explored. At different primary temperatures, exit pressure contours are compared for similarity. A nondimensional flow parameter is then shown to eliminate primary nozzle temperature dependence and verify similarity between the hot and cold flow experiments. Under the assumption that an appropriate similarity principle can be established, then properly chosen performance parameters should be similar for both hot flow and cold flow model tests.


The purpose of prudential supervision of banks in South Africa is to ensure the safety and soundness of the South African banking system and to contribute to the stability of the financial sector. The Bank Supervision Department (BSD) of the South African Reserve Bank is the body responsible for prudential supervision of banks. The Banks Act, 1990 (Act no 94 of 1990 – "the Act") provides these powers to the BSD. Section 4(4) of the Act states that the Registrar shall implement a supervisory review process. With the advent of the Basel II Framework, the BSD updated its supervisory review process, now formally known as the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP). The SREP serves as the conduit for streamlining prudential supervision of banks in South Africa and the cycle consists of six stages. Risk-based supervisory practices are embedded in each stage of the SREP. We believe that the SREP will ensure appropriate corrective actions, given that it considers individual bank and systemic conditions, resulting in a safe and sound banking system.


Economic theory suggests that government popularity may be related to the rate of change of economic quantities and the level of financial variables (like inflation or interest rates). Political theory suggests that this relationship may not be stable over time. The authors find that, although the data are inconsistent with the rational expectations hypothesis, there is a well-defined relationship between U.K. government popularity and a small set of economic variables (namely, unemployment, inflation, and real interest rates). Unusual political events are also important. Voters appear to discount past history at a high rate. The estimated equation passes a battery of stability tests. Copyright 1994 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd and The Victoria University of Manchester


The state of the physical environment in the urban centers is a major source of global concern. This is more evident in third world countries like Nigeria. The population growth in the cities has led to physical expansion of the cities beyond its limits. This growth is faced with challenges such as deficiencies in housing, infrastructure and outlook. Control of development is therefore paramount to physical planning. This research aimed at assessing the factors affecting urban planning in south-western, Nigeria between 2003 and 2013. It explored the perception of residents to physical planning and factors that affects physical planning and urban development. The Methodology adopted for this study collects data from both primary and secondary sources. 207 questionnaires were administered to respondents from selected states. The agency responsible physical planning, administration in the state was also considered. Random sampling was used in administering the questionnaires. Result from the study indicated that factors such as awareness, funding, corruption, low level enforcement of physical development policies and cumbersome nature of plan approval has been an impediment to physical Planning. It is therefore recommended that advocacy planning and community participation will help to stem down the challenge often associated with physical planning in urban centers. this will provide opportunity to have effective and sustainable planned physical environment that is good for both present and future generation.


The rapid development of technology and fierce business competition, organization need technology that is able to support operational activities quickly and precisely so that business processes can run smoothly. SMEs is an organization that buys, sells and supplies spice products. At this time, SMEs is still doing paper-based records which hinder the running of business processes. In this study, analysis and design of sales, purchasing and inventory information systems will be carried out which aims to support operational activities. The methodology used in this analysis and design is the SDLC methodology. The information system will be designed on a desktop basis using Visual Studio and SQL Server. The design will be modeled with UML which consists of Use Case Diagrams, Activity Diagrams, Sequence Diagrams, Class Diagrams and DFD. The system will be tested with Black Box Testing and evaluated whether the system has met its objectives. The result of this research is an information system that can manage the entire inventory management process, which comes from inputted purchase and sales data. The system also generates reports that can meet the needs of SMEs.


The concept of Geographical Indication (GI) is a local development tool. In 2010, on ten thousand GIs identified in the world, Africa had none. However Africa has food products that have reputations or specific characteristics links to their origin. This is the case of two peanut food sub products (Agonlinmi and kwlikwli) in Benin, that undergoing counterfeits. This study aims to assess consumer's willingness to pay for these two products. This assessment is carried out on a sample of 400 Agonlin oil consumers and 150 kwlikwli consumers selected randomly in the city of Cotonou and surroundings and also in the Agonlin area. The assessment was made using hedonic price method. Quality attributes and implicit price of both products were calculated. The results showed that the quality attribute variable "geographical origin" of the two products is not significant. Prices of quality attributes "color" for Agonlin oil and "crispness" for Kwlikwli are significant. The potential for GI protection for the two products is not evident on the basis of this analysis of willingness to pay. It will take more research by other analysis or investigative tools.


The invention discloses a medicine for treating hypogalactia type liver qi stagnation disease and a preparation method thereof. The meidicne is mainly prepared from the raw medicines according to the certain weight proportion: angelica sinensis, astragalus membranaceus, Ligusticum wallichii, radix angelicae, dried tangerine, platycodon grandiflorum, pangolin, the seed of cowherb, ricepaper pith, root of hairy asiabell, polygala tenuifolia, loranthus parasiticus, uniflower swisscentaury root and the like. The medicine disclosed by the invention has the functions of clearing heat and promoting diuresis, prompting ventilation and promoting lactation, is applied to treating the hypogalactia type liver qi stagnation disease, and has quick curative effect and high cure rate.


Innate (natural/nonspecific) processes of defense are accomplished with participation of some barriers and cellular and molecular effectors which have extremely diversified functions. Among the effectors, molecules have an important place because of their direct actions and participation in almost all cellular and barrier-dependent mechanisms of innate immunity. The pathways involved and their material components (i.e. cells, molecules) are common for defense response against all or almost all pathogens, thereby being nonspecific. Also, unlike specific mechanisms, the nonspecific ones are deprived of immunological memory. Innate immunity is common to all animals, vertebrates and nonvertebrates, and adaptive immunity is a characteristic only for vertebrates, starting with fishes. Innate defense molecules are synthesized by numerous populations and types of cells, according to many criteria appertain to multiple categories (groups), and have diversified structures. In this review study are presented the most important acute-phase proteins and their role in various species defense natural mechanisms.


Interest in the motor function of the pharynx has recently been stimulated by the increasing incidence of bulbar-pharyngeal poliomyelitis. The accumulation of patients having residual difficulties of deglutition and speech, sequelae of this form of poliomyelitis," impels us to study further the motor mechanisms of the pharynx and to seek new methods of correction of these particular handicaps.


The objective of the study is to develop the appropriate materials having low density with high strength and modulus. MMC has been emerged as a promising material for structural and engineering applications for aerospace, automobile, engines and biomaterial devices. Carbon nanotubes (CNT)being a reinforcement material continue to surprise researchers with potential new applications and contributed towards a interesting discoveries of novel phenomena and properties of MMC. The development of MWCNT's reinforced Alumimium metal matrix composite specimens was done by stir casting method by tailoring the weight percentages of MWCNT's((0.5%,1%,1.5%,2%)) with Nickel deposition over surface by Electro less technique. The prepared specimens was subjected to wear tests using Pin-on-disc method. This study aimed to summarize the wear properties by accessing the effect of CNT reinforcements on wear rates of each specimens. From the tests results & SEM graphs, It was evident that with increase in CNT content the wear rate decreases till 1% of CNT, then it starts increasing again. The addition of CNT and coating of Nickel to Al 6061 matrix enhances the effective bonding between reinforcements and matrix by allowing the larger interfacial area of contact, and thereby increasing the wear resistance of the composite.


Ground water discharge to the Great Lakes around the Lower Peninsula of Michigan is primarily from recharge in riparian basins and proximal upland areas that are especially important to the northern half of the Lake Michigan shoreline. A steady‐state finite‐difference model was developed to simulate ground water flow in four regional aquifers in Michigan's Lower Peninsula: the Glaciofluvial, Saginaw, Parma‐Bayport, and Marshall aquifers interlayered with the Till/"red beds," Saginaw, and Michigan confining units, respectively. The model domain was laterally bound by a continuous specified‐head boundary, formed from lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, and Erie, with the St. Clair and Detroit River connecting channels.


Biochemical, histochemical and electron microscopic studies were carried out on lipidoses in Fabry's, Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff's diseases. In a family of Fabry's disease, a biochemical study was carried out in eighteen (six hemizygotes, five heterozygotes and seven normal), a histochemical one in three hemizygotes, and on electron microscopic one in four (one heterozygote and three hemizygotes). In a family of Tay-Sachs disease, one patient, two carriers and one normal were studied biochemically, and a patient and a carrier were observed histochemically and electron microscopically. In a family of Sandhoff's disease, the enzymatic activity of leucocyte was measured in one patient and two carriers, and the biochemical, histochemical and electron microscopic study of fibroblasts was done in a patient. In Fabry's disease, the activity of alphagalactosidase paralleled the severity of clinical manifestation. Extremely low alpha-galactosidase activity was associated with typical features such as burning pain in the extremities, diminished sweating, angiokeratoma, corneal opacities, albuminuria and ECG abnormalities. The cases with a moderately low activity demonstrated some of the clinical symptoms. All cases with angiokeratoma and corneal opcities, which are the most characteristic features of Fabry's disease, exhibited a decreased leucocyte alpha-galactosidase activity. No enzymatic activities were demonstrated in the cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from those with Fabry's and Sandhoff's diseases. Histochemical characteristics of the cultured skin fibroblasts from the hemizygotes with Fabry'F disease were the presence of the granular substances accumulated in perinuclear cytoplasm of the fibroblasts, positively stained with Sudan black B, weakly stained with Nile blue or PAS but stained neither with Sudan I11 nor with toluidine blue. Their staining property was not affected by the treatmeht with cold acetone and cold alcohol, but they disappeared after treatment with warm acetone and cold pyridine, indicating that the accumulated substances were likely to be glycolipid. The granular substances were not detected by the staining with Sudan black B in the cultured skin fibroblasts from those with Tay-Sachs disease and Sandhoff's disease. Electron microscopic studies on the cultured skin fibroblasts from the heterozygote and the hemizygotes with Fabry's disease showed abnormal substances in fibroblasts from the former and extremely large abnormal substances in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts from the latter.


In the last decades, an increasing interest about chest/lung ultrasound (LUS) made exponentially grow the scientific literature about it. In particular, the need of interpreting mixed pictures of anatomical and artifactual images has determined the proposal, from many authors, of simplified signs and artifacts nomenclature with the aim of making easier learning and implementation of the technique. Manuscript accepted for publication January 22, 2022. Address correspondence to Alessandro Zanforlin, MD, PhD, Servizio Pneumologico Aziendale, Piazza Loew-Cadonna 12, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.


One kind of marine oil back to the self-sealing filter and method for maintaining this filter comprises a housing body (1), a cap (2), the filter element group (3) and drain plug (4), outer housing (1) and the cap (2) is fixedly connected to the outer casing (1) opposite sides are respectively provided with an intake port (5) and the oil outlet (6), the outer casing (1) provided with an inner housing (7), the inner housing (7) corresponding to the oil inlet (5) and the oil outlet (6) defines a respective inlet hole (8) and the hole (9), passing between the inner housing (7) and the cover (2) cylindrical pins (10) connected to the positioning and the outer housing (1) and the inner casing (7) with a gap there between than the filter element group (3) disposed on the inner housing (7) inside; the present method maintains the inner shell (7) is rotated 90 °, the inner housing (7) and the outer housing (1) original oil passage communicating staggered, cut out of oil, to achieve self-styled cleaning and maintenance, ease of operation.


The COVID-19 Pandemic has grown to define our time. Not only is it the pressing issue we face now, it is also the root of the mental health problems that are expected, after the pandemic is over (Loades et al., 2020). Unlike the physical disease, the mental health consequences are often overlooked (Haider et al., 2020). In March of 2020, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) officially characterized it as a pandemic saying, 'Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death'. COVID-19, however, is peculiar as this 'pandemic' discriminates between the age groups with a better prognosis in the young. COVID-19 manifests mildly in children and adolescents (Ludvigsson, 2020). However, the mental health problems related to isolation have increased in this age group. The isolation and lack of interaction seem to be an important cause of this increase (Ludvigsson, 2020).


The design, microfabrication and testing of hybrid micro-diffractive-refractive lens with continuous relief, which is used on laser diode for monomode fiber coupling, is discussed. The hybrid microlens with diameter as small as 65 µm and numerical aperture (N.A.) of 0.25 is fabricated directly onto a spherical surface using focused ion beam milling (FIBM) technology. Focused Ga+ ion beam is used to mill the continuous relief microstructure at an acceleration voltage of 50 kV. Measurement result shows that the one-step micromachining method is valid for practical use.


The use of learning games implies they can provide the teachers with an answer to the lack of awareness often reported for such systems. The monitoring of the activity is indeed a central task for teachers that can be carried out only if key elements related to an ongoing pedagogical activity are reported. In this paper, we propose a solution based on the users' traces that are transformed and displayed for the teacher through indicators. We also discuss how the monitoring actions are in a sense connected with these indicators. The approach is illustrated through three use cases, paying particular attention to the teachers' needs and to collaborative aspects.


Micromechanical analysis of the macroscopic damping properties of a polymer blend composite with sea-island morphology are performed by using the equivalent inclusion method combined with the Mori-Tanaka theorem. In modeling, the shape of the island particle is assumed to be a spheroid whose rotational axis is aligned along the direction of the applied stress. The macroscopic complex modulus and hence the macroscopic loss factor of the composite are expressed as the function of the damping properties of constituents and the aspect ratio of spheroidal particle under the steady-state vibration of normal component in applied stress. The values of the macroscopic loss factor obtained are compared with those caliculated by using the conventional modal strain energy method (MSE). Consequently, the present values of the macroscopic loss factor become close to those by the MSE asymptotically as the aspect ratio of the particle increases and both values differ from each other in the range of relative low aspect ratio of the particle.


Introduction/Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness and adverse effects of tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: 66 Patients who were followed up in rheumatology outpatient clinic of Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Medicine- Ankara City Hospital, were older than 18 years, used tofacitinib for at least three months were included. Blood count, lipid profile, transaminase levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined before and at the third and sixth months of the tofacitinib treatment. Before and after tofacitinib treatment; duration of morning stiffness, DAS 28-ESR, VAS score were determined.

Results:
The mean age of the patients included in our study was 54.7±12.0 years, and 84.8% were women. The mean duration of tofacitinib use was 19.0±13.5 months. The duration of morning stiffness and DAS 28-ESR and VAS scores of the patients were significantly decreased after tofacitinib treatment (p


L ast February 26th, the Federal Communications Commission officially mandated that the Internet would henceforth be regulated under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. With this action, the FCC totally reversed over 30 years of aggressive " unregulation " of the Inter-net (and all information services), imposing the most restrictive regulatory framework available under the act, originally adopted in 1934 to regulate the then-monopoly Bell system. (see " Groundhog Day at the FCC, " p. 56.) In view of the stunning success of the Internet, what could possibly justify this radical action? It was done in the name of " network neutrality, " a term originated by Columbia Law school professor Tim Wu in 2003. under net neutrality, Internet service Providers (IsPs) and other Internet carriers cannot discriminate among traffic from all sources on the Internet, providing lower-quality service for some traffic. The concern expressed was that IsPs, whose local markets are typically monopoly or duopoly, would have incentive to discriminate among traffic to their own advantage and to the disadvantage of their customers. This concern was based on a perceived lack of competitive discipline in the IsP market. In 2005, in response to those concerns , the FCC adopted a policy statement " incorporat[ing net neutrality] provisions into its ongoing policymaking. " Despite predictions of rampant IsP violations of net neutrality, hard evidence of wrongdoing has been in short supply. Among the few instances that have come to light, a telephone company in North Carolina was found to be blocking the Internet phone service Vonage in 2005. And in 2007 Comcast was discovered to be blocking or throttling BitTorrent, a file-sharing service often used to transfer extremely large video files. As Title II " net neutrality " moves toward implementation, some proponents are having second thoughts. What is to be done? In both cases the FCC suitably chastised the firms involved, including levying fines and strong-arming commitments by the firms to change their practices. However, Comcast sued the FCC on grounds that the agency had no authority to punish it because the FCC's 2005 principles were not an actual regulation. In 2010, the D.C. Circuit Court found for Comcast, noting that FCC claims to broad, if vague, authority over broadband was insufficient (although pointedly not ruling on whether net neutrality is a good idea). The FCC TrieS aGain meanwhile, net neutrality activists raised the heat on the issue. The …


Recent rise of price in China has given birth to buzzwords like "Douniwan"(豆你玩) and "Suannihen"(蒜你狠),whose English translation has shown the untranslatability of buzzwords.An analysis of them testifies to the existence of untranslatability in translation.However,translators can make the untranslatable translatable through some flexible means.


Texts in the genre of travel writing provide description and analysis of the author's journeys and destinations. A variety of foci exists among texts in the genre, including accounts of explorations, personal narratives, or military memoirs. This article discusses Rev. George Smith's A Narrative of an Exploratory Visit to Each of the Consular Cities of China, and to the Islands of Hong Kong and Chusan, Church Missionary Society, In the Years 1844, 1845, 1846 as an example of a missionary narrative, a sub-genre of travel writing, embodying features of British imperial ideology. Smith's Narrative contributed to the discursive formation of China in the minds of people at the imperial center of London and probably other centers. His account and commentary of his travels to China in the early years of Hong Kong's colonial history helped to foster the imperial meaning-making process. Written in a time of stable classifications of knowledge gleaned from the British imperial project, Smith's travel writing affirms, consolidates, and incrementally expands features of the British imperialist ideology. Building on existing structures and employing the rhetorical and discursive strategy of binary oppositions, Smith's Narrative depicted China as an inferior culture and Britain as superior to others and with a divine mission. Whereas China was dark and pagan, British civilization was enlightened and Christian. A hierarchy emerges where Britain is positioned above all others in terms of culture, religion, medicine, military technology, and law.


This research focuses on determination of the optimum size of the impact attenuator of the Student Formula race car. The Alminium based honeycomb impact attenuator has been selected due to its desirable weight to energy absorption capacity. The attenuator is located in the front of the vehicle internal frame in which the driver is seated as its main purpose is to protect the driver from a front impact collision. All parameters used in this study are relevant to KMUTT Student Formula race car, ie. vehicle frame, attenuator energy absorption characteristics, weights and heights of drivers, seat belt positions, and the maximum speed recorded during a lap. The analysis consists of two parts, (1) computation of final vehicle velocity after the attenuator deformation and (2) the driver's Head Injury Criteria (HIC) obtained from simulations in the ADAMS multibody dynamics software. The honeycomb material is available in sheets of 50mm thickness. Hence the optimization of attenuator volume is performed by determining the appropriate surface area and the number of layers. It is found that the attenuator consisting of 4 layers of 150 x 200 mm honeycomb, which satisfies the minimum TSAE regulations, provides safety for the driver in a 25 km/hr crash but not in a 60km/hr crash – the actual maximum speed experienced during the competition. An attenuator with 7 layers of 335 x 350 mm surface area would be sufficient in such a case.


Handling the variability and uncertainty associated with integrating large capacities of renewable energy sources (RES) into the power grid is a challenge that is increasingly influencing the power systems operation. At the same time, the growing need for desalinated water in arid areas increases the importance of suitable energy sources for sustainable operation of water desalination plants. However, as power and water system operators have traditionally operated their systems in isolation, there is a lack of understanding of the interdependence and interactions between these two systems. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a risk-based two-stage stochastic co-optimization framework that coordinates the operation of a renewable-rich power system with the operation of grid-connected reverse-osmosis water desalination plants (RO-WDP) to minimize their combined operational costs while increasing the utilization of RES. From the power system operation standpoint, the RO-WDPs are considered as controllable demand, and the proposed model integrates the energy flexibility of RO-WDPs in the day-ahead power system operation. The proposed model considers the operational constraints of both power and water desalination systems, thus co-optimizing their operation without compromising the reliable supply of power and water to end-users, while taking into account the uncertainty of the demands and RES. Simulation results demonstrate the benefits of the proposed coordination on enhancing the power system efficiency, facilitating RES integration, and minimizing the combined operational costs of both systems while minimizing their operating risk using conditional value at risk.


This thesis proposes a domain-specific framework to deal with some of the problems of cognitive development raised by Post-Piagetian research, in particular early competence and heterogeneity in across-domains performance. The theoretical framework is explored in relation to the development of the domain of cardinal number: from counting to precocious number conservation to standard conservation. The results of three empirical studies support the interpretation that a same structure specialized in processing numerical information becomes operational on contents of increasing complexity: 1. on individual sets (as in set reproduction tasks); 2. on two or more sets (as in set comparison and modified conservation tasks); 3. on sets of sets (as in the Piagetian number conservation task). The process by which the child discovers the import of the number-structure on new contents is modeled as a semantic process that transforms cardinal representations, entertained as irrelevant, into relevant representations. This transformation proceeds in a stage-like way which, at each stage, reveals new facts about number and brings about a restructuring and extension of the cardinal number concept.


Abstract : This paper discusses the details and results of a preliminary investigation conducted at Stanford. It includes various aspects of speech sounds such as waveforms of vowels and constants; determination of a fundamental of the wave; Fourier (Spectral) analysis of the sound waves formant determination, simple vowel recognition algorithm and synthesis of sounds. All were obtained by the use of a digital computer. (Modified author abstract)


ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the correlation between global sagittal alignment variables and pain improvement after surgery for High-Grade Spondylolisthesis (HGS). Methods A sample with 20 patients with L5-S1 HGS, submitted to arthrodesis with instrumentation from 01/2004 to 12/2016. Patients' demographic data, types of surgeries, complications, sagittal alignment parameters, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score (ranging from 0 to 4) were recorded before surgery and at the last follow-up. The data were processed in SPSS 22.0. The confidence level was 0.05. Results The majority of the sample were women, 17 (85%); age at surgery: 52.60 ± 17.15 years; mean follow-up: 3.58 ± 1.62 years; isthmic etiology, 16 (80%) and dysplastic, 4 (20%); Meyerding Grading 3: 12 (60%), Grading 4: 3 (15%) and Grading 5: 5 (25%); SDSG type 4: 6 (30%), type 5a: 3 (15%), 5b: 3 (15%), type 6: 7 (35%) and not classified 1 (5%); surgery: in situ fusion 3 (15%) and reduction 17 (85%); fusion levels: L3-S1: 1 (5%), L3-Iliac: 1 (5%), L4-S1: 1 (5%), L4-Iliac: 6 (30%) and L5-S1: 11 (55%). Comparing the pre- and postoperative parameters, a significant improvement (p <0.05) was seen in the VAS, T1 slope, T1 pelvic angle (TPA), slip angle, Dubousset's lumbosacral angle and slip %. Evaluating the correlation between the variation in sagittal parameters and the improvement in VAS scale, it was found that the TPA showed a strong correlation (r = 0.709, p = 0.032). Conclusions the present study found a strong correlation between the improvement/reduction in TPA values and the reduction in pain intensity in the VAS. Level of evidence IV; Case Series.


Abstract Stereoselective synthesis of the P-chiral thioxaphosphoranesulfenyl (dicyclohexyl)amide (l-menthyl-O)PhP(S)SN(C6H11)2 and its conversion into the P-chiral thioxaphosphoranesulfenyl chloride (l-menthyl-O)PhP(S)SCl is described. First synthesis of P-chiral thioxaphosphoranesulfenyl bromides (l-menthyl-O)PhP(S)SBr via the bromolysis of the bis-thiophosphoryl disulfide [(l-menthyl-O)PhP(S)S-)]2 is presented. Transformations of P-chiral thioxaphosphoranesulfenyl chlorides and bromides into the corresponding sulfenamides proceed with the preservation of stereochemical integrity at the chiral P-center.


Fruit and vegetable consumption is below recommended levels in the population, paricularly in low-income groups. This study assessed factors associated with self-reported intake and 2 biomarkers (potassium excretion and plasma vitamin C) in 271 adults living in a low-income neighborhood. Attitudinal barriers to change were negatively related to reported intake and to potassium excretion. Poor knowledge of recommended consumption was associated with low reported intake, low potassium excetion, and low plasma vitamin C concentration. Self-efficacy was related to reported intake but not to biomarkers. The authors conclude that several of the psychological factors associated with self-reported intake were also related to biomarkers in this population and that these may therfore be particularly appropriate targets for intervention.


Provided is a novel two step chromatographic purification process (load and elute) for the isolation of genomic DNA. In this method the sample is loaded on the column and the genomic DNA product is eluted directly without any intermediate wash steps. This is accomplished by utilizing a restricted access resin (i.e., lid beads), which is easy to prepare and comprised of two layers with different properties with non-functional surfaces on the outer layer. The inner layer is modified with functional groups that act as ion-exchangers. Small molecules such as RNA and proteins can enter the inner part of the resin and larger genomic DNA molecules will pass through the resin. RNA and proteins are captured in the inner layer of the restricted access resin while genomic DNA is readily eluted in the flow-through.


The main idea of the effective susceptibility concept consists in calculation of the linear response of the nanosystem as a single whole to the external field. The effective susceptibility is derived from a self-consistent integral equation for the local field. The electrodynamic interactions between embedded particles as well as interactions between the particles and matrix are taken into account. The optical response of the nanocomposite thin film with inhomogeneous distribution of inclusions across the film thickness is obtained. The sensitivity of the bandwidth, intensity and frequency of plasmon resonance to the change in shell thickness of modified gold nanoparticles caused by biospecific interactions at the surface of nanoinclusions are analyzed. The absorption profiles depending on the characteristics of the shell of nanoinclusions allow proposing the optical control method for the biospecific reactions at the surface of modified nanoinclusions.


This comment from L&V contains no substantiated arguments which invalidate anything in our comment article or in our first reply. It is a lengthy collection of unsubstantiated and erroneous claims which obscures the real issue, which is: Have L&V presented valid tests which prove that the temperature response in the climate models is inconsistent with a linear response model? L&V are in denial about the most obvious facts. One of these is that adding a noise to a intermittent signal will reduce the intermittency. The claim of theirs that is most relevant to the linearity issue is that the statistical uncertainties are so large that they overshadow the intermittency-reducing effect of curved structure-function plots and internal variability. This assertion is unsubstantiated, false, and bizarre. If statistical errors were this important they would invalidate all L&V's results from their original paper, and we would have used it against them. Moreover, in our previous reply, a code was made available for L&V to check this for themselves, so they have no reason for making such a claim. In the discussion of how to define multifractality in stochastic processes L&V confuse the concept of a Lévy process with that of a Lévy flight, and disregard the definition coined by Mandelbrot, Calvet and Fisher (MCV) in 1997. MCV define a multifractal time series as one with power-law structure functions, which implies temporal dependence in the data. L&V associate multifractality with fractal properties of the image set {X(t)|t= 1,2, . . .} of the time series, with the result that temporal dependence (clustering in time) will not be necessary property of a multifractal. For instance, with the L&V definition, random shuffling of a time series will not change the multifractal properties. The trace moments used by L&V to estimate multifractal intermittency do change with shuffling, hence trace moments measure something else than multifractality. All these paradoxes are resolved by defining a multifractal time series as one with power-law structure functions. With this definition one has to accept that Lévy processes (non-Gaussian white noise) are not multifractals, and that moment-based estimators yield curved scaling functions whose curvature depends on a subjectively chosen scale range for fitting a straight line to curved trace moments (spurious multifractality). L&V claim that we "misunderstand" multifractality and trace moment analysis. We respond by elaborating on our understanding of multifractality in an appendix. In the context of linearity testing, however, our understanding of the more arcane aspects is largely irrelevant. We know how the trace moment routine works and we can test the effect various properties in the data have on the intermittency estimates. Since trace moments is the only intermittency estimator applied by L&V our conclusions are valid even if we treat it as a "black box." Below, we respond to L&V's reply in a chronological manner, to make sure that everything is addressed. 2 K. Rypdal and M. Rypdal: Comment on Lovejoy and Varotsos 1 Reply to "Summary" L&V: ". . . we quantified something we thought quite straightforward, the fact that the response of the atmosphere to volcanic forcing is nonlinear." 5 R&R: In our attached Figure 1a we show the Gao volcanic forcing and the global temperature responses in the NorESM model. It is not at all clear that strong volcanic forcing spikes give weaker responses than weak forcing spikes as claimed by L&V. The instantaneous responses seem quite 10 proportional to the strength of the forcing. L&V: "The basic fact that a linear transfer function (Green's function can only make a linear modification to the structure function exponent ξ(q) has been known for some time and is 15 even not contested by R&R." R&R: Wrong! We do contest that assertion, because it is only valid under conditions I-III in our comment. L&V fail to state the conditions of validity. We proved in Sect. 2.4 in our com20 ment that it is true only under these conditions which have been spelled out very clearly in our original comment and in our first reply, but L&V continue to ignore them. We repeat: the statement holds only if (I): The Green's function is a power-law G(t)∼∆tβ/2−1 on 25 all interesting scales. (II) The exponent ξ(q) exist, i.e., if the structure functions actually are power laws on all interesting scales. (III) The "response signal" does not contain a component from internal noise which will influence the intermittency es30 timates. Condition II and III are the most important here. In our attached Figure 2 and 3 we demonstrate that deviations from power-law scaling in the structure function (condition II) makes the intermittency estimates depend on the particular 35 scale range used for fitting a straight line to a curved graph. These figures are taken from a recent paper in ESD which was revived by Shaun Lovejoy. The breakdown of condition III is clearly illustrated in attached Figure 1. Figure 1b is a signal composed of two components. One is the volcanic 40 forcing signal (red in Figure 1a) normalised such that the magnitude of the large volcanic spikes roughly match those of the volcanic response signal in NorESM (grey in Figure 1a). This signal can be thought of as the instantaneous response to the stochastic forcing. The other component is the 45 internal variability represented by a control run. This composite signal represents a trivial linear transformation (multiplication by a normalization factor) plus a signal representative for the internal variability. Figure 1c,d shows the structure functions (SFs) and the scaling function for the Gao vol50 canic forcing computed from straight lines fitted to the SFs in the range displayed in Figure 1c. According to the assertion of L&V (who believe condition III is irrelevant), the intermittency shown by the curvature of the scaling function in Figure 1d should be preserved in the scaling function for 55 the composite signal shown in Figure 1g, but it is not. The latter signal is almost non-intermittent due to the "contamination" from the internal noise. This contamination explains the reduced intermittency observed in the the response to the volcano forcing shown in Figure 1e,d. This proves that: 60 nonlinearity in the response is not required to explain the difference in intermittency between forcing and response. L&V: The key limitation of the analysis was the existence of a single time series for each, and these were over finite 65 ranges of time scales. . . These are the true limitations of our analysis and conclusions. R&R's hypotheses I-III are thus irrelevant as indicated in our response. R&R: In Figure 1 we showed that condition III alone is suf70 ficient to explain the entire difference in intermittency between forcing and observed response. The same was shown in our linear oscillator example in our comment article. In their efforts to escape from this conclusion, the authors now claim that the errors due to finite sample size are so large that 75 they overshadow this intermittency-reducing effect of internal variability, and render this effect irrelevant. But if these errors were this large they necessarily would make the observed difference in intermittency statistically insignificant. A code has been made available for L&V to check that the 80 statistical uncertainty is small. Hence, the finite-sample error argument L&V is false and, if it were true, would invalidate their own conclusions. 2 Response to "The untrained eye works well" 85 We stressed in our previous reply that the "trained eye" of course isn't a substitute for data analysis. But it is a fundamental principle in data analysis to perform a careful inspection of the data. For instance, the inspection of the signals of volcanic forcing and response put together in attached Figure 90 1a provides important information about the linearity in the instantaneous response to volcanic spikes that is not so easily quantified by analysis. In the second paragraph on page 2, L&V suggest that we interpret "clustering" as synonymous with "fractal" (non95 integer fractal dimension). This is a misunderstanding. We never expressed that idea. The discussion on pages 3 and 4, and Figs. 2-5, is based on two fundamental misconceptions: 1. L&V do not distinguish between a Lévy process and a Lévy flight. They write: "Recall that Levy processes 100 have long power law tails on their probability distributions." This is incorrect. Lévy processes is a broad class of processes with independent increments. The K. Rypdal and M. Rypdal: Comment on Lovejoy and Varotsos 3 ��������� q=0 q=1 q=2 q=3


New research suggests that the full-time pharmacist work force in hospitals has grown more stable and its members now spend about one fourth of the workweek providing patient care services.

According to a report released March 1 by Pharmacy Manpower Project Inc., 12.9% of full-time hospital


This chapter analyzes the formulation of an immanent theory of signs by focusing upon one specific aspect of prescholastics' engagement with semiotics, their discourse about and their manipulation of images. It deals with that prescholastic theories of image, in shunning the concept of image as mirror in favor of a consideration of image as imprint, articulated an awareness of the relationship between modes of iconic representation, the constitution of the subject, ego, and the construction of subjectivity. The chapter argues that the prescholastic re-interpretation of image as imprint marks a critical moment in the medieval history of representation since it was as an imprint, the seal, that the image first emerged within the field of social praxis. Seals as signs-in-action re-aligned resemblance away from the model toward the imprints that might be issued from a particular mold. Keywords:images of identity; prescholastic theories of image; semiotics


Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the body due to an imbalance in the normal apoptotic pathways. The abnormality in the cancer cells makes them malignant. Various types of treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy (IMT), are used for cancer. Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) belongs to the tyrosine kinase receptor family and is overexpressed in various types of cancers. c-Met is a proto-oncogene and facilitates a wide range of biological functions, including cell proliferation, growth, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, through interaction with its sole ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Currently, various c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-MET) inhibitors and antibodies are in human trials for their anti-cancer activity.

The c-MET is a kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). It is well-recognized for its tumorigenic potential. HGF binding with c-Met leads to c-Met dimerization and c-Met phosphorylation, which in turn activates many intracellular signalling pathways, including ERK1/2, MAPK, STAT3, Rac1, and PI3K/AKT. These pathways regulate the proliferation, invasion, and migration of cancer cells. Upon binding of HGF to c-MET, a series of phosphorylation reactions get started, which leads to transcription and translation of various proteins, followed by abnormal growth of cancerous tissues due to dysregulation of the cell cycle. The HGF/c-MET signalling pathways have shown their potential in the development of many cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). Several clinical trials have evaluated the therapeutic benefits of MET-targeted therapies involving various agents, such as anti-MET antibodies, anti-HGF antibodies, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Various c-MET inhibitors are in clinical trials. The current review is focussed on the critical role of the HGF/c-MET pathways in the progression of various cancers, including GC. In addition, this review will also focus on the combination potential of c-MET inhibitors with immuno-oncology drugs, such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor (OX-40) agonists, etc.

The method adopted for the study was primarily based on the secondary search through a systematic review of the literature.

A study of recent literature and various preclinical and human trials suggests the effectiveness of c-MET inhibitors (alone or in combination) in different cancer types, including GC. In this paper, the results have been elaborated as to how many papers/manuscripts/publications on the topic are present, how many drugs are in Phase I/II/ III/RCT, etc., and that how many papers report on the clinical outcomes of which agent/drug (mentioned in percentage).

The use of c-MET inhibitors and antibodies has emerged as a latent therapeutic approach for the treatment of various types of cancer. The c-MET inhibitors can also be used in combination with various immunotherapeutic drugs, like PD-1 inhibitors, OX-40 agonists, etc.


Conspicuous facial pores are one of the more serious aesthetic defects of concern to most women. However, the mechanism that causes the conspicuousness of facial pores remains unclear. We observed the epidermal structure around the conspicuous pores on cheeks in vivo using a confocal microscope in detail, and found that there were peculiar epidermal structures around the conspicuous facial pores. These epidermal structures were characterized by a thick epidermis, which reached the deep dermis, and elongated dermal papillae. As the shape and the size of these epidermal structures at more than one hundred micrometers below the surface were similar to those of the surface hollow area around the conspicuous pores, we thought that this epidermal structure was one cause for facial pore conspicuousness on cheeks. To improve these epidermal structures through contraction of keratinocytes, we developed l-isostearylglycerol-3-phosphate, which promoted the gel contractile ability of keratinocytes and suppressed the keratinocytes' growth in vitro. The treatment of lotion containing l-isostearylglycerol-3-phosphate could alter the epidermal structures and decrease the hollow area around the conspicuous facial pores.

Key words:  pores, conspicuousness, hollow, epidermis, structure, dermal papillae, keratinocytes, contraction, follicle, cheek.


The standard method of nutrient sampling in California is to collect non-fruiting spur leaves in mid-summer. But shoot leaves are used in all pear-producing areas of the world, and spring analyses can be used to make in-season adjustments for the current anticipated crop load. Three Bartlett pear blocks were used in this study, each with distinct characteristics. Leaves and fruit were sampled and analyzed for nutrient content in late April and July. Significant differences were found among the blocks in leaf and fruit nutrient content, but there was little correlation between April and July sampling timings. N and P were significantly higher in shoot leaves, and K and Ca were higher in spur leaves. In a newly developed model, spring leaf sampling combined with yield estimations have been shown to accurately predict July leaf N levels in almonds and pistachios to allow for in-season fertilizer adjustments. We applied early-season pear leaf analyses to that model and contrasted the predicted July leaf values with actual measured values. The use of the prediction model resulted in a good fit.


The ability to use ascorbic acid as a co-reactant to induce anodic electrochemiluminescence of CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots was investigated and observed in aqueous medium for the first time. Benefiting from its glorious anodic electrochemiluminescence emission, an ascorbic-acid-responsive electrochemiluminescence system was developed to detect alkaline phosphatase.


In the world, special attention is paid to the modernization of chemical education, the introduction of innovative technologies, and the improvement of the methodological basis of teaching in line with modern trends. Effective research is being conducted to improve the quality of teaching chemistry internationally, to integrate innovative and information technologies into the educational process, to use the opportunities of mixed education (blended learning), to create modern methodological support for the development of students' mental abilities and creative abilities. Wide-ranging reforms are being implemented in the educational system of the country to introduce advanced learning technologies and information and communication technologies into the learning process, increase the intensity and effectiveness of training, and adapt to the world standards. At the same time, there is a need to develop advanced mechanisms of teaching methods based on innovative technologies in the teaching of chemistry as a holistic system it was found that they did not know how to effectively use virtual labs and animation in their labs and workshops, to identify the gaps in their students' knowledge and to improve them using a quantitative approach to address them. For this purpose we have set ourselves goals and objectives and are achieving good results.


We consider the problem of designing interval observers for partially unknown nonlinear systems with bounded noise signals that simultaneously estimate the system states and learn a model of the unknown dynamics. Leveraging affine abstraction methods and nonlinear decomposition functions, as well as a data-driven function over-approximation/abstraction approach to over-estimate the unknown dynamic model, our proposed observer recursively computes the maximal and minimal elements of the interval estimates that are proven to frame the true augmented states. Then, using observed output/measurement signals, the observer iteratively shrinks the intervals by eliminating estimates that are not compatible with the measurements. Moreover, given new interval estimates, the observer updates the over-approximation model of the unknown dynamics. Finally, we provide sufficient conditions for uniform boundedness of the sequence of interval estimate widths, i.e., for the stability of the designed observer.


Geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis is one of an analysis to resolve the problem with data contains effect of spatial heterogenity. One of the problems which considers spatial heterogeneity is human development index (HDI). HDI is an indicator that used to measure success in building quality of human life. One of the provinces with the lowest HDI in Indonesia is Papua. The purpose of this research  is to know the contribution of each HDI factors in Papua using GWR method. The weighting function used is adaptive gaussian kernel. The results of this research showed HDI's dominant factors in Papua, expected years of schooling and mean years of schooling.


Hardness of human tooth, both in enamel and dentin, has been measured at different sites using a Vicker's diamond. In this work we show that these values are almost constant all along the enamel and dentin thicknesses. Indentations were done from outer enamel surface to inner dentin layer, going through the enamel-dentin junction, both in transverse and longitudinal samples. Geometrical well-shape indentation uniformity was checked both with light and with scanning electron microscopes, and the chemical composition of the tooth was analyzed with characteristic X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. Hardness measurements were in the range from 270 to 360 VHN for enamel and 50 to 60 VHN for dentin. Cervical zone in longitudinal section showed the lowest value while in transverse sections the highest. All the hardness values were statically significative. Tour results indicate that the difference between enamel and dentin hardness has nothing to do with the content of Na, Cl and Mg, but the percentage of organic and inorganic materials in enamel and dentin.


Aims: To clarify the risk factors for frailty to help doctors prevent diseases that cause weakness, through early interventions. Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases to identify all relevant studies using the items "frailty," "weak," "risk factors," and "predictive factors" and compared their results. The aging population (≥65 years old) was divided into 2 groups, a "frailty group" and a "robust control group," and then the characteristics, lifestyles, and comorbidities were compared. Results: We compared the influence of baseline and concomitant diseases on frailty in the elderly respectively, and the analysis of the influence of baseline on frailty found that increasing age, lower weight, female sex, living alone, low levels of exercise, polypharmacy, higher education level, smoking, drinking, malnutrition, and lower vitamin D levels were associated with aging individuals being more likely to experience frailty. The data about concomitant diseases had shown that diabetes, hearing dysfunction, cognitive impairment, poor sleep, a history of falls, pain, and depression can increase the risk of frailty among the elderly population. Conclusion: Characteristics, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors can impact the occurrence of frailty, and relevant influencing factors should be considered.


Deverra tortuosa (Desf.) DC. is a widespread medicinal, grazing and salt-tolerant desert plant able to grow in different habitats. The present study aims to detect anatomical adaptation in different organs of D.tortuosa plant to stress factors (salinity, and drought). The plant was collected from 17 localities, representing seven different habitats in Egypt (sand dunes, sand flats, salt marshes, wadi bed & slope, roadsides and cultivated lands).The effect of soil factors (soil texture, pH, EC, and organic matter) on the anatomical features of the different plant organs (root, stem and leaf) were studied. Variations among the plant anatomical features in accordance with the significant differences among the soil parameters (EC,organic carbon and ionic content) among different desert habitats were detected. From CCA analysis, thickness of periderm is correlated with the change in concentration of ions (Ca+2, K+ and Na+), while cortex width found to be correlated with the change in pH and organic matter content in roots. Meanwhile, sclerification in the stem, and the widest chlorenchyma cells is correlated with the degree of salinity in the habitats. In leave development, thick epidermis and wide xylem area are essential for salt excretion and water conservation is correlated with change in moisture content. Reducing plant water loss in the studied desert habitats, might explain the successful growth and survival of D. tortuosa under such severe conditions.


The effects of a magnetic field on core turbulence, mean-velocity boundary-layer profiles, turbulence-intensity boundary-layer profiles and turbulent spectral-energy distributions have been experimentally determined for combustion-driven magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) flows. The turbulence suppression of the core was found to be similar to that of liquid-metal MHD flows, even though the turbulent structure was entirely different. The mean-velocity and turbulence-intensity boundary-layer profiles were affected much less than those of liquid-metal flows, primarily because the low-temperature thermal boundary layer reduced the electrical conductivity near the wall. No spectral dependence of turbulence suppression was observed in the core.


GdV04 is a tetragonal paramagnet in which the Gd3' ions, 4f7, 'S7n, experience an appreciable exchange field, whose magnitude has been deduced by Bleaney er a1 (paper I) from measurements on the NMR spectrum of "v (I = 3). In this paper the exchange field is shown to agree well with the Weiss constant in the paramagnetic susceptibility, and contributions are discussed to the anisotropy field in the antiferromagnetic phase which sets in below 2.4955(5) K. Measurements of the NMR spectrum of "V in applied fields up to 1 T, both parallel and perpendicular to the direction of sublattice magnetisation (the c axis), are described and analysed. DyV04 is also a tetragonal paramagnet, but at 14 K it undergoes a cooperative Jahn- Teller distortion, and at 3.066(2) K it becomes antiferromagnetic with two sublattices mag- netised along an a axis. NMR of ''V has been observed in fields of 0.15-1.1 T along the c axis. For both GdV04 and DyV04 it is shown that the magnitude and orientation of the net field BV at the "V nucleus can be deduced from the Zeeman energy and the quadrupole splitting of the spectrum respectively. The results agree with a simple analysis of the properties of the antiferromagnetic state.


The Seminar on Information for Investment and Development Counselling was organised at the SIET Institute from 19 -21 April 1976, with two major purposes in mind. One was the recognition of the need to bring together, in a common forum, senior persons engaged in the activities of investment and development counselling and the information scientists who are working to feed the counsellors with necessary information.


An inhomogenous quantum-cascade structure based on two bound-to-continuum designs was used as gain element in a grating-coupled external cavity laser. This laser was tunable from 8.2 to 10.4 mum in pulsed mode on a thermoelectric cooler.