Issues addressed: To examine patient attitudes and satisfaction to informed consent with or without the aid of written information leaflets. Methods: A randomised study comparing 25 patients having routine consent and 25 patients having routine consent and a written information leaflet. Results: No difference was seen in length of stay, satisfaction and knowledge in the two groups. The leaflet was stated to be useful, easily understandable and to contain the right amount of information. Only one patient found the information leaflet frightening. Nineteen patients (38%) stated that they read the standard hospital consent form carefully, 22 (44%) stated that they read the form quickly or only parts of the form and 9 (18%) did not read the form at all. The majority attitude to the consent form was that it was to provide information and protect the patient. Some, however, viewed it skeptically, stating it was to protect the doctor or was red tape. All patients were asked from whom or from what sources they obtained the most information about their operation. The surgeon in charge of their care was the major source of information, followed by the ward doctor. Only five of the 25 patients (20%) who received the written information leaflet considered this to be a major source of information. In patients who had standard consent alone, 84% stated that they had been provided with adequate information and 64% considered that written information would not have helped in the provision of information about their operation. Conclusions: The information leaflet added little to the informed consent process and at best is able to act only as an adjunct for this. So what? Information leaflets cannot substitute for careful consultation between the doctor and the patient for the provision of information in the informed consent process. (author abstract)


e18922 Background: Management of IPNs re-distributes lung cancer to earlier stages at diagnosis, but most people with IPNs will not develop lung cancer. We assessed the rate of diagnostic procedures related to suspected lung cancer in people on Medicare who had IPNs. Methods: We analyzed the 5% SEER-Medicare database for IPNs, diagnostic procedures, and lung cancer status. We analyzed two cohorts: persons with chest CT scan procedure codes accompanied by ICD-9 code 793.11 or ICD-10 code R91.1 during 2014-2017 (IPN cohort) and persons with CT scan procedure codes without the IPN codes during that period (control cohort). We computed rates of lung cancer-related diagnostic procedures (per 100 person-years [PY]) during the 2-year follow-up period, including chest CT, PET/PET-CT, bronchoscopy, needle biopsy, and surgical procedures. We used multivariable Poisson regression to estimate procedure rate ratios (RRs) across cohorts, controlling for demographics and COPD status. Using the regression RRs, we estimated excess procedures in the IPN cohort over the 2-year follow-up period by subtracting the control cohort (background) rate. Based on prior data on the reduced proportion (by 36%) of late-stage disease associated with follow-up of IPNs, we computed a metric of excess procedures per late-stage case avoided by IPN follow-up. Results: Of 19,009 (IPN) and 60,985 (control) persons, 3.6% and 0.8%, respectively, had lung cancer diagnosed during 2-year follow-up. Among IPN cohort without lung cancer, rates per 100 PY were 73.1, 9.4, 4.0, 3.2 and 1.0 for chest CT, PET/PET-CT, bronchoscopy, needle biopsy, and surgical procedures, respectively (Table). Poisson regression showed significantly elevated RRs for the IPN versus control cohort for all procedures, with RRs ranging from 1.27 (bronchoscopy) to 2.03 (Chest CT). Excess procedures in the IPN cohort (per 100 persons) ranged from 63 for chest CT to 0.9 for surgical procedures (Table). Excess procedures per late-stage case avoided ranged from 48 for chest CT to 0.7 for surgical procedures. Conclusions: The burden of diagnostic procedures following reported IPNs is modest relative to the yield of early-stage lung cancer. [Table: see text]


The non‐secretory ameloblasts present at the enamel‐free surfaces of maxillary teeth in the frog Rana pipiens were examined by electron microscopy at different stages of tooth development. Their main fine structural features seem to reflect a transport function. During early tooth development, the non‐secretory ameloblasts adjacent to odontoblasts and predentin exhibit extensive lateral surface specializations and numerous cytoplasmic vesicles. During late tooth development, the non‐secretory ameloblasts adjacent to mineralizing dentin show numerous cellular junctions, well‐developed intercellular channels with numerous interdigitating processes and labyrinthine configurations at their distal surfaces. An intact basal lamina is present between the non‐secretory ameloblasts and the dentin surface until the dentin becomes fully mineralized. At this stage the adjacent cells no longer exhibit surface specializations.


I wish to acknowledge the encouragement of the chairman andt members of the Medical and General Committee of the Association of Sea and Air Port Health Authorities following an address. based on a previous article in the Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service. I also had the benefit of the comments of Dr. W. C. Lethem, of the Ministry of Food, Dr. Maurice Williams, medical officer of healh, Southampton, and Dr. Morgan, medical officer to the Port of London Health Authority.


The invention designs a mechanism for controlling the number of conversion times in the content conversion process in a DRM interoperation system. User terminal equipment applies for and downloads a digital content document and a corresponding license; the digital content document and the license are uploaded to a DRM interconnection intercommunication agent, and the agent is used for deciphering and re-encrypting the digital content document, analyzing a license of a source DRM standard to obtain a right certificate and generating a new license of a target DRM standard; in the conversion process, recording parameters of the number of degression times in a re-encryption algorithm of the agent are used for limiting the number of conversion times. By adopting the technical scheme of the mechanism for controlling the number of conversion times in the content conversion process in the DRM interoperation system, a right center and a content provider can safely and controllably hand over the conversion to the interconnection intercommunication agent which provides DRM standard conversion service for a user.


The article explorers the activity of the joint-stock company «Ukrutilzbir», which during 1923 – the 1930s was one of the largest waste collectors in the Ukrainian SSR and during period under study successfully competed with such state agencies as Gostorg, Rusavstorg, Rudmetaltorg, Ukrbumtrest, etc. This topic has not been studied in domestic and foreign historiography. The article is based on the analysis of archival materials, which were at first put into scientific circulation. It has been shown that the emergence of the non-state actor was stimulated by the growing demand of industrial enterprises, which in the 1920s have experienced resource hunger in raw materials as well as the large capacity of the Ukrainian waste market. It was found that the first charitable motives of the company's establishment were soon changed by the commercial interest in waste collection and recycling, but this did not diminish the importance of its activities for the development of waste management policies in the 1920s. The article reveals the main activities of the company (collection and sale of paper, scrap of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, rags, bones, rubber, and glass), its achievements, and problems. It was concluded that «Ukrutilzbir» has managed to build relevant infrastructure as well as an effective network, attracting to cooperation a wide range of both state and non-state actors, consumer cooperation societies, private waste collectors. It has not only taken up a significant share of the waste-collection market, influencing its formation but has also contributed to the development of standards of their utilization and recycling (collection, sorting, storage, and transportation) and preparing the skilled workers. However, with the establishment of the socialist economic system, the organization found itself in a situation of unequal competition with state actors, which had different preferences and access to financial resources. This led to its exclusion from the market and closure.


[1] Residual currents induced by asymmetric tidal mixing (ATM) were examined using a series of idealized numerical experiments for weakly stratified, partially mixed, and highly stratified narrow estuaries that neglected lateral variations of bathymetry and the effects of Earth's rotation. The Eulerian residual currents were decomposed into four components, i.e., river‐induced, density‐driven, nonlinearities‐induced, and ATM‐induced flows such that the longitudinal distribution and strength of each component can be depicted and evaluated. In weakly stratified estuaries, ATM‐induced flow has a two‐layer structure similar to that of density‐driven flow. It reinforces the estuarine exchange flow. In partially mixed and highly stratified estuaries, the ATM‐induced flow tends to have a three‐layer structure with landward flows near the surface and the bottom and seaward flow in the middle of the water column. It appears to act against the estuarine exchange flow in parts of the water column. The relative importance of ATM‐induced flow to estuarine residual currents varies in different types of estuaries. Compared to the density‐driven flow, the relative importance of ATM‐induced flow decreases as stratification increases. In the central regime of the estuary, the strength of the ATM‐induced flow is greater than that of density‐driven flow under weak stratification and tends to be smaller under strong stratification.


we read with interest the paper by salehi et al. [1] in a recent issue of Acta Oncologica. in this study which included 3844 unique cases of hydatidiform mole (hM) from the combined records of two different registration systems, an incidence of 1.2 per 1000 deliveries was found. this conclusion supports our observations of an overall incidence rate of hM of 1.34 per 1000 deliveries [2]. in addition, the authors found that the incidence of hM increased during the period under study. similarly, in our study an increasing trend in the incidence of hM was found in the netherlands. this is in contrast to recent asian studies, which show a declining trend in the incidence of hM [3]. salehi et al. correctly stated that the higher incidence rates observed in some regions of asia compared to rates found in europe might be due to differences in regional reporting routines. the observed decrease in asian incidence rates may be due to improved registration and more studies that use population-based data instead of hospital-based data. with this letter, we want to emphasise the importance of central registration of gestational trophoblastic disease (gtd) patients. in the netherlands, hMs are nationally registered at the dutch Central registry for hydatidiform Mole (dCrhM) residing at the radboud university nijmegen Medical Centre (runMC). this voluntary registry serves as an epidemiologi-


The case has been made by a growing number of authors for the inclusion of food system planning within the responsibilities of municipal planners. However, few specific tools or strategies for planners to use in supporting sustainable food systems have been outlined by these authors. This thesis explores ways in which local government planners can become engaged in food system planning by addressing the establishment, operation and expansion of farmers markets. Farmers markets, it has been established in previous studies, offer significant potential for contributing to sustainable food systems. The thesis is based on a study of experiences and perceptions related to planning for farmers markets in three major cities. The cities, which share a common bio-region, are Vancouver, B . C . , Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. Interviews were conducted with market proponents and municipal staff; relevant local government documents were analyzed. The study finds that planners can address farmers markets in five functional areas: 1) policy making and regulation; 2) land use planning and urban design; 3) site planning; 4) administration, and; 5) facilitation. Within these five areas, planners can make substantive contributions by: 1) defining farmers markets in zoning regulations; 2) streamlining permitting processes; 3) addressing issues with health regulations; 4) integrating infrastructure, amenities and services for farmers markets into the design of public places; 5) assisting with financing and advertising; 6) communicating among stakeholders; 7) conducting community consultation; 8) carrying out research; 9) responding to complaints; 10) educating colleagues, the public, and market organizers about issues relevant to farmers markets; 11) advocating for farmers markets within the City and the community; 12) building relationships with market associations; 13) addressing affordability issues; and 14) connecting planning for farmers markets to a broader food system planning agenda. The study suggests that one major opportunity for planners to support farmers markets lies in their ability to facilitate the interaction between market organizations and local governments. A second major opportunity lies in their ability to promote attention to farmers markets when public places are being designed. A third key opportunity lies in their ability to consider policy and regulatory changes that promote farmers markets as unique and legitimate uses of public space, and provide them with longer term security. T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S A B S T R A C T II T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S I l l LIST OF T A B L E S V LIST OF FIGURES VI P R E F A C E VII A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S VIII C H A P T E R 1. I N T R O D U C T I O N 1 1.1. Problem Statement 1 1.2. Thesis Purpose 8 1.3. Scope 9 1.4. Definitions 10 1.5. Thesis Structure 11 C H A P T E R 2. T H E C A S E F O R F O O D S Y S T E M P L A N N I N G : SUSTAINABDLITY C H A L L E N G E S IN T H E D O M I N A N T F O O D S Y S T E M 13 2.


Mr. Robert Burdet, on the Fourth of October, 1678. was bit by a Serpent on the Left Wrist, near the Pulse towards his Hand; it seem'd at first like two Pricks of a Pin, he immediately vomited, and his Wrist and Hand begun to Swell presently


Human-machine interaction refers to the communication and interaction between human and machine through a user interface. Surface electromyography-based gesture recognition, as a non-invasive human-machine interaction method, has been widely used in medical, entertainment and industrial fields. This paper proposes a framework to recognize EMG signal gesture through deep learning visual method for human-machine interaction. We introduce two tricks into EMG signal gesture recognition: I) fully convolutional network, II) shortcut connection. An abundant experiment was conducted with a total 49 of gestures on Ninaweb DB2 and an average accuracy of 64.02% was achieved. This result indicates that the proposed method provides an effective approach to gesture recognition for human-machine interaction and system health management.


The construction of wind break walls in the gobi along railway reduced the harm for train,but the air current formed a vortex behind the wind break wall,which made a serious aeolian sands.Based on the method of fluid numerical analysis,the flow field and the aeolian sand were simulated.The factors that affect the length of the vortex and the aeolian sand were analysed,and the result obtained is that the length of the vortex increases with the growing of the highness of wind break wall and wind speed,decrease with the growing of the aspect ratio of the wind break wall and the roughness constant of the earth's surface.The mian aeolian sand distribute at the behind of the wind break wall and the end of the vortex.What the study above will provide reference for the safe operation of railway and the design of wind and sand prevention.


Results of the dielectric loss studies of sodium chloride crystals doped with Co2+ are reported in the temperature range 90-200 °C and frequency range 30 c/s to 100 kc/s. Two peaks are observed in the tan δ-frequency isothermals. The plots of ln fm (fm being the peak frequency) against 1/T are found to be straight lines for both the peaks and yield 0.67 and 0.72 ev as the values for activation energies for the low (A peak) and the high (B peak) frequency peaks respectively The A and B peaks are attributed to the pairs of the substitutional impurity with the second-neighbour vacancy and with the first-neighbour (nearest cation neighbour) vacancy, respectively, as suggested by Dreyfus for the divalent impurity cations smaller in size than the cation of the host crystal. The height of the B peak changes from 0.24 × 10-2 when quenched from 100 °C to 0.70 × 10-2 when quenched from 400 °C or higher temperatures. The effect of the heat treatment on the height of the A peak is smaller. It is shown that, although the results strongly support the model of Dreyfus, the possibility of cobalt being in the interstitial positions cannot be ruled out on the basis of the present results. Experiments performed on crystals of different thicknesses, on the low-frequency variation of the capacitance of these crystals and on the effect of different heat treatments show that the observed loss peaks are not due to Maxwell-Wagner losses or interfacial polarization. The activation energies calculated from the dielectric loss data are found to be of the same order of magnitude as those obtained from the conductivity data, and are much smaller than those obtained from the diffusion data


We study the problem of valuing a vulnerable derivative with bilateral cash flows between two counterparties in the presence of funding, credit and wrong-way risks, and derive a closed-form valuation formula for an at-the-money (ATM) forward contract as well as a second order approximation for the general case. We posit a model with heterogeneous interest rates and default occurrence and infer a Cauchy problem for the pre-default valuation function of the contract, which includes ab initio any counterparty risk - as opposed to calculating valuation adjustments collectively known as XVA. Under a specific funding policy which linearises the Cauchy problem, we obtain a generic probabilistic representation for the pre-default valuation (Theorem 1). We apply this general framework to the valuation of an equity forward and establish the contract can be expressed as a continuous portfolio of European options with suitably chosen strikes and expiries under a particular probability measure (Theorem 2). Our valuation formula admits a closed-form expression when the forward contract is ATM (Corollary 2) and we derive a second order approximation in moneyness when the contract is close to ATM (Theorem 3). Numerical results of our model show that the forward is more sensitive to funding factors than credit ones, while higher stock funding costs increase sensitivity to credit spreads and wrong-way risk.


Methods of quantitative estimation of a small amount of lead in nickel metal are investigated by use of polarographic method and by colorimetric method with dithizone. The minimum limit of estimation of lead in the presence of nickel by the direct polarographic method in 1M ammonium acetate is 0.005%, and the estimation below this limit is made by polarography after concentration with hydrogen sulfide method. In dithizone method, the conditions of extraction and the effects of the presence of other elements are investigated and a rapid method of analysis which could be applied for a direct extraction of 1g sample in the presence of nickel is established. The minimum limit of quantitative estimation by colorimetric method is 0.0002%, and it required for 1 hour for metal sample or 20 minutes in case of solution. The accuracy for estimation of 3050 γ of lead can be retained within ± 3.3% error and the method is found to be suitable for industrial analysis.Methods of quantitative estimation of a small amount of copper in nickel metal are investigated by use of polarographic method and by colorirnetric method with dithizone. The direct polarographic estimation of copper up to 0.005% in nickel can be made within 3 hours, while the estimation by use of concentration method with hydrogen sulfide required 67 hours to estimate the copper up to 0.001%. In the colorimetric method by use of dithizone, the effects of the presence of other elements in nickel in the extraction method and the conditions of extraction are investigated and a method for industrial analysis to estimate copper up to 0.0002% in metal sample within 100 minutes or within 30 minutes in case of solution is established.


Ultrafine pearlite microstructure of a high carbon steel was obtained by warm equal channel angular pressing(ECAP),in which development of pearlite morphorogy was investigated by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and atomic force microscopy(AFM) and properties of ferrite was characterized by nanoindentation method.The results show that the submicron duplex microstructure(ferrite(α)+cementite(θ)) is obtained in the high carbon steel,and the cementite morphology changes from lamellar shape to equiaxed grains after severe warm deformation.The nanoindentation hardness and Young's modulus of equiaxed submicron ferrite of the steel after ECAP are 4.4 GPa and 200 GPa,respectively,which are higher than those of the original pearlite.While the nanoindentation depth is over 100 nm,nanoindentation hardness exhibits obvious substrate-effect,but the Young's modulus is not sensitive to the substrate-effect.


A solution of Schrodinger's equation for a particle in a magnetic field B can be obtained from the wavefunction when B=0 by Dirac's prescription of multiplication by a phase factor. But this solution is often multiple-valued and hence unsatisfactory. It is shown that in the case of the Aharonov-Bohm effect the Dirac prescription can nevertheless be made to yield the single-valued exact wavefunction, provided it is applied not to the total wave with B=0 but to its separate components in a 'whirling-wave' representation. The mth whirling wave at a point r is a contribution that has arrived at r after travelling m times around the region containing B.


Through a logical progression of twelve double binary tables of symmetrically four-dimensional associations (all of these being supported by interrelated physical-mathematical concepts and data), the author of this Research Essay, Dr. Prof. Tambara Federico, aims at developing new, more deepened scientific-philosophical outlooks and assumptions (including, among other things, the Millennium Problem of Prime Numbers) that will very probably prove themselves exploitable by both Theoretical and Applied Sciences, as pointed out in the final Part of this "revolutionary" Research Study by Dr. Prof. Tambara Federico (which also contains five remarkable conclusive theoretical considerations, each of them being supported by further scientific evidence based on physical-mathematical data and formulas).


Patterns in species density and richness per altitudinal interval have been found when sampling across plant-community boundaries, including in the largest contiguous alpine area in Australia. To see if similar patterns occur within a single community, vascular-plant composition was systematically sampled with replicate nested quadrats of increasing size (0.01, 0.06, 0.25, 1.00, 4.00, 25.00, 49.00 and 100-m2 size) sampled from ~1850-m to 2100-m altitude in tall alpine herbfield, Australia. The only significant relationships with altitude were quadratic relationships for the density of herb and graminoid species, with peak density at middle altitudes and a linear decline in total species richness with altitude for 0.06-m2 quadrats. The composition of 100-m2 quadrats was unrelated to altitude when tested with analysis of similarity for total composition, whereas the relationship was significant for growth-forms and the origin (local endemics, Australia endemics and weeds) of species. Location data from this, and 11 other studies were used to compare the species richness of more of the flora (183 species) in 50-m altitudinal bands. There were significant quadratic relationships for total species richness and the number of herb and shrub species, with a peak in richness at ~2000 m. Therefore, altitude does affect species richness overall in this alpine region, although it has only a weak effect on species density within the most common plant community.


Correction for 'Comparative pharmacokinetics of four active components on normal and diabetic rats after oral administration of Gandi capsules' by Renjie Xu et al., RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 6620–6628.


This article proposes a composite right-/left-handed (CRLH) dual-beam leaky-wave microstrip antenna with a tunable operating region for $V$ -band radiation coverage. Due to wideband excitation for second higher order modes, the symmetrically formed side-by-side dual beam initially scans in one quadrant from 52.5 to 65 GHz. Further, by appropriate placement of metallic via holes, a pair of back-to-back half-modes realizes generating two symmetrical side beams in E-plane with an enhanced gain over 40–52 GHz. Mode switching is performed electronically by incorporating p-i-n diodes and proper biasing network. Finally, incorporating half-sinusoidal interdigital slot variations and periodically placed switching diodes enables CRLH media having frequency beam steering from backward–broadside–forward quadrant. Leaky bands in microstrip higher order modes were analyzed by dispersion characteristics, and the proposed antenna achieved −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 29.2%, scanning range in H-plane from −65° to +69.7°, and peak gain of 18.7 dBi for the unbiased state and 28%, −78° to +69.6°, and 18 dBi, respectively, for the biased state. The average sidelobe level and minimum cross polar level are obtained as 13.5 and 23 dB, respectively. The fabricated prototype responses closely matched theoretical predictions, verifying the proposed concept.


Which month of the year is richest for holidays and celebrations? It's January, of course, you will easily answer, and you will be absolutely right. The New Year holidays usually last more than a week, we spend a lot of time with family and friends, and the most active people do not imagine themselves caged up at home and enjoy communion with nature. But January is not rich in professional medical holidays, probably because cheerful vacationing people prefer not to get sick these days. It was all the more interesting to learn that on January 10, it is customary in the world to celebrate an unusual date - Houseplant Appreciation Day. This holiday was approved at the initiative of the Gardener's Network, which gave an official opportunity to remind people of the benefits of indoor plants around us. As it turns out, small representatives of the flora not only please the eye with their beauty, but also help in the treatment of various diseases.


The main purpose of this work is to improvement the estimation method for producing Bayesian Neural Network (BNN) with improvement objective functions. The objective functions modeled by weight functions that have been optimized by Genetic Algorithm (GA). Given power flow estimation in network security, power system operation and Forecasts. Furthermore, reduce the power flow forecasting error is always desired. Now this method is the smart to estimate, because the nonlinear functions can be higher than other methods. In this paper, the Bayesian and Perceptron Neural Networks (B&PNNs) based on GA is used to assess the improvement in power flow estimates. Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to select the appropriate parameters and more input these neural networks at the same time. This method has been tested in IEEE 30, 118 and 300 bus test systems. The mean absolute error of the estimated 0.57 percent and a response time less than 0.01 seconds of its features in each IEEE bus test system. By comparing the results, we can conclude that Bayesian Neural Network (BNN) approach compromise is calculated between accuracy and speed of response. Simulations are performed on IEEE 30, 118 and 300-bus test systems using Matlab software environment.


Purpose: Kienbck's disease can be treated with a vascularized bone graft to provide relief of wrist joint symptoms and prevent collapse of the lunate. We evaluated the functional outcome and subjective satisfaction in patients with Kienbck's disease treated with the 4+5 extensor compartmental vascularized bone graft. Materials and Methods: We included 6 patients in the study. 3 males and 3 females with an average age of 37.5 years (range 21-49). Kienbck's disease was staged by Lichtman classification based on plain radiography. Three patients were in stage II and three in stage IIIA. Cooney's wrist function score was used to evaluate changes in severity of pain, functional status, range of motion, and grip strength. We also assessed subjective patient satisfaction, carpal height ratio and bone union on the radiographs, and the occurence of complications. The mean follow-up period was 30 months. Results: Four patients had excellent and two had good outcomes of wrist function. Three patients showed excellent subjective satisfaction, and three were good. All patients showed radiographic bone union and no further progression of lunate necrosis. The presurgical carpal height ratio was similar to the value at last follow-up, and there was no radiographic carpal bone collapse. For two cases of Lichtman stage IIIA, the slight degenerative arthritis at the lunocapitate joint observed preoperatively did not change. Skin necrosis and pin track infection were not observed. Conclusion: The 4+5 extensor compartmental vascularized bone graft is a reliable procedure for Lichtman stage II and IIIA patients with Kienbck's disease, as it achieved not only pain relief and improvement of range of motion but also maintenance of the intercarpal bone relationship on radiographs, with relatively few complications.


NexPRO™, a corn fermented protein (CFP) derived from the dry-mill bioethanol production process, has demonstrated potential as a high-quality protein ingredient in weaned pig diets. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of increasing dietary inclusion of CFP to replace soy protein concentrate (SPC) in the diet on weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and gut integrity of weaned pigs in a large-scale system. A total of 1144 pigs were distributed evenly into 44 pens (13 barrows and 13 gilts/pen; initial BW 6.0±0.1 kg) with 286 pigs assigned per treatment and 11 replications. The four treatments were designed as a titration of CFP inclusion at 0%, 4%, 8% and 12% in Phase 1 (3.6 kg/hd budget) and 0%, 2%, 4% and 6% in Phase 2 (5.5 kg/hd budget) replacing SPC. Pigs were fed a common diet through Phase 3. To determine gut integrity, a differential sugar absorption test (DSAT) administered a 5% lactulose and 5% mannitol solution on the tenth day to representative pigs consuming the 0% and 12% CFP diets. Urine was collected to measure differences in sugar ratios to access gut permeability. Average daily gain responded similarly for the 0%, 4% and 8% CFP diets during Phase 1, however greater than 12% (P< 0.01; 0.15 vs. 0.11 kg/d). Pigs fed diets with 4% and 8% CFP in Phase 1 had a greater ADFI than pigs fed 12% CFP (0.19 vs. 0.17 kg/d; P˂0.01); 0% diets were intermediate. At the end of Phase 2, pigs fed 0%, 2%, and 4% CFP diets had greater (P˂0.01) ADFI than pigs fed diets with 6% CFP (0.60 vs. 0.44 kg/d), but lower (P< 0.01) G:F (0.62 vs. 0.78). No observed differences were measured between treatments for gut permeability. Due to similar responses in performance, CFP can replace soy protein concentrate in nursery diets.


This book is one of the Lecture Notes series, which cover a wide variety of specialty subjects. Lecture Notes: General Surgery encompasses the wide breadth of General Surgery and includes chapters on Transplantation Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Neurosurgery and Urology. Since its first edition in 1965, this book has been regularly revised, to keep up to date with surgical practice. It actually represents the authors' own final year teaching material. This is a very readable book. There are 47 short chapters covering surgical aspects of various different organ systems of the body. Multiple headings and bullets are used that help illustrate important points. There are simple illustrations interspersed amongst the text. Highlighted boxes, which list important facts, have been used judiciously. A new chapter on preoperative assessment has been included, which, albeit brief, is an important part of surgical teaching. In their Introduction, the authors explain that this book is 'in no way a substitute for the standard textbooks'. Consequently, there are no references included. There are, however, footnotes on personalities whose names have been used eponymously, which provide interest to the subject matter. This book would complement the standard surgical textbook very well. I believe that this is an excellent book for medical students and junior doctors to own. It is reasonably priced and would easily fit into a satchel or backpack, which makes it very portable.


Changes of myocardial micro vascular permeability in chronic renovascular arterial hypertension were studied. Hypertension was induced in dogs utilizing a one-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt model. Systemic arterial pressure, coronary sinus pressure, systemic venous pressure, myocardial lymph flow rate, myocardial interstitial fluid pressure, and the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio for total plasma proteins and for p-lipoprotein (CL/CP) were determined in control animals and 4-6 weeks following the Goldblatt procedure in hypertensive animals. Control values for the normotensive animals were 123 ± 17 mm Hg, 7.3 ±1.3 mm Hg, 2.5 ±2.1 mm Hg, 3.1 ± 2.1 ml/hr, 14.9 ± 3.1 mm Hg, 0.82, and 0.33, respectively, while control values for the chronically hypertensive dogs were 160 ±20 mm Hg, 7.8 ±1.9 mm Hg, 2.9 ±2.5 mm Hg, 10.5 ±2.5 ml/hr, 24.8 ±3.7 mm Hg, 0.87, and 0.31, respectively. Under control conditions, myocardial lymph flow rate was significantly higher in the hypertensive group while no difference could be demonstrated in (CL/CP) between the two groups. This is indicative of either a change in myocardial microvascular permeability or an increase in microvascular exchange surface area. Coronary sinus pressure was elevated in both groups in order to increase transmicrovascular fluid flux and determine the nitration-independent reflection coefficient (s`) for each group, a is a surface area-independent indicator of microvascular permeability when determined for specific protein molecules at high transmicrovascular fluid fluxes. Although filtration independence for total plasma protein could not be reached in either group, s` for β-lipoprotein decreased from 0.96 in the normotensive group to 0.80 in the hypertensive group, indicating an increase in microvascular permeability. Our results indicate a significant increase in myocardial microvascular permeability to macromolecules resulting from the one-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt model of chronic arterial hypertension.


Abstract When alkali metals are the solvents, the spin-flip scattering cross-section σ and the change Δ X in the magnetic susceptibility are functions of the valence z1 of the impurity and are such that σ is smaller and Δ X is much larger for z = 5, 6 than the corresponding values for smaller z'. The latter effect is due to a decrease in the density-of-states at the Fermi energy and the former is due to a decrease at the Fermi energy in the p-electron density around the impurity. We show that these two effects are connected by the derivative (η) kF of the p-wave phase-shift, and that (η) kF must be negative to explain the experimental results. This can only be explained by the occurrence of an 'incomplete' resonance in n 1 (k) for some value of k < kF ; the hypothesis that the p-valence electrons are bound to the impurity is shown to be inconsistent with the occurrence of giant diamagnetism. When there is a virtual bound state, the impurity looks like a virtual atom, with most of the p-electron screening ...


In the process of transformation from ordinary undergraduate universities to application-oriented universities, the training of application-oriented talents is the key priority. We first analyze the problems existing in the current talent training mode of application-oriented universities, and then propose the "research-teaching cooperation" training mode for application oriented talents. The ecological system of application oriented talents training is constructed through the implementation paths of university-enterprise two dimensional integration, multi-factor development of teaching, practice, innovation and entrepreneurship, and multistage progressive of integrating knowledge, skill and disposition as competency. The system can improve the quality of talent training and boost the development of local industries.


Despite recent advances in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unsatisfactory in terms of prognosis. Andrographolide (AD), a principal active component of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, exerts anti-cancer therapeutic properties. AD has been used for centuries in China for clinical treatment of viral infections. However, the pharmacological biology of AD in NSCLC remains unknown. In this study, AD regulated autophagy and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that AD bound directly to signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) with high affinity. Proteomics analysis indicated that AD reduced the expression of tumour PD-L1 in NSCLC by suppressing JAK2/STAT3 signalling. AD modulated the P62-dependent selective autophagic degradation of PD-L1 by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation. In vivo study revealed that AD suppressed tumour growth in H1975 xenograft mice and Lewis lung carcinoma cell models, and better efficacy was obtained at higher concentrations. AD prolonged the survival time of the mice and enhanced the treatment efficacy of anti-PD-1 mAb immunotherapy by stimulating CD8+ T cell infiltration and function. This work elucidated the specific mechanism by which AD inhibited NSCLC. Treatment with the combination of AD and anti-PD-1 mAb immunotherapy could be a potential strategy for patients with NSCLC.


This article analyzes the effects on the marriage and household composition decisions of characteristics of the householder and of the place of residence. High housing costs reduced the probability of living alone. For female householders, increases in income decreased the probability of living alone rather than with unrelated individuals; the reverse was true for male householders. An increase in income decreased the probability of marriage for female householders over twenty-three years of age and increased the probability of marriage for male householders. Non-white householders over forty were less likely to be married than white householders over forty. Copyright American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.


Monitoring and controlling of haze defect is becoming important more than ever before [1]. Regular and frequent mask inspection is expected to reduce the risk of defect print on wafer [2]. However, such frequent inspection requires longer inspection time and additional cost, which should lead to worsening of productivity. It is known that haze defect grows from non-killer defect at its infant stage to killer defect as time advances. And such haze growth process is dependent on the haze size in its infant stage, location of haze generation and such. If the haze inspection procedure were customized in a most suited way to optimally monitor the growth characteristics of haze, the inspection throughput would become higher without sacrificing the performance and reliability of mask inspection itself. For such a purpose, we have studied an effective haze monitoring method that ensures both sensitivity and throughput high enough. We will show that a variable scan method using a DUV mask inspection tool is quite effective in cutting down inspection time and cost.


Sreekumaran, Harikrishnan PhD, Purdue University, December 2015. Decentralized Algorithms for Nash Equilibrium Problems – Applications to Multi-Agent Network Interdiction Games and Beyond. Major Professor: Andrew L. Liu. Nash equilibrium problems (NEPs) have gained popularity in recent years in the engineering community due to their ready applicability to a wide variety of practical problems ranging from communication network design to power market analysis. There are strong links between the tools used to analyze NEPs and the classical techniques of nonlinear and combinatorial optimization. However, there remain significant challenges in both the theoretical and algorithmic analysis of NEPs. This dissertation studies certain special classes of NEPs, with the overall purpose of analyzing theoretical properties such as existence and uniqueness, while at the same time proposing decentralized algorithms that provably converge to solutions. The subclasses are motivated by relevant application examples. One of the driving factors in our research is the need to design provably convergent decentralized methods to solve NEPs. While theoretical results about the convergence of such schemes for general games are unavailable, the methods are vastly popular amongst practitioners. Aside from the advantage of being relatively intuitive and easy to implement, decentralized methods also provide the means to analyze the process by which real agents interact strategically. From a computational perspective, these methods are also eminently suited towards distributed computing as well as parallel high performance architectures. Both these properties make them eminently suitable for solving large scale problems on modern computing platforms. We start our exposition by introducing decentralized network interdiction games, which model the interactions among multiple interdictors with differing objectives op-


The empirical literature studying the effects of fiscal policy shocks using VAR models differs among two important dimensions: the identification scheme and the VAR specification. Not surprisingly the results obtained are often diverse. The aim of this paper is to test whether differences in the results can be explained by different VAR specifications and/or alternative identification strategies. To this end, we estimate a common reduced-form VAR model to which we apply the different identification approaches proposed in the literature. We find that, after controlling for specification issues, the recursive approach and the Blanchard-Perotti approach yield very similar results, while the fiscal dummy variable approach yields significantly different results.


List of plates List of figures List of tables List of contributors Preface List of abbreviations I. Introduction and historical overview 1. From mayhem to meaning: an introduction to the cultural meaning of the 2001 outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in the UK - Martin Doring and Brigitte Nerlich 2. The historical roots of FMD control in Britain, 1839-2001 - Abigail Woods II. Experiences expressed 3. Farmers/writers: 'They may be experts but they know nowt' - Pamela Sandiford 4. Farmers: FMD and the abuse of democratic process - Susan Atkinson 5. Media: FMD in the West Country and the role of the Western Morning News - Barrie Williams 6. Artists and photographers: trembling representations - picturing FMD - Michael Madden (artwork) and Ian Geering (photography) III. Experiences analysed 7. Farmers and valuers: divisions and divisiveness and the social cost of FMD - a sociological analysis of FMD in one locality - Sam Hillyard 8. Churches: the response of local churches to FMD - Lewis Burton 9. Children: 'Mary had a little lamb...' - trauma, stress and coping during the 2001 FMD crisis, as seen through the medium of children's poems - Martin Doring IV. Experiences, contexts, analysis 10. Biosecurity: biosecurity and idyllic England in millennial Britain - Samantha Twigg Johnson 11. Life changes: altered lifescapes - Ian Convery, Cathy Bailey, Maggie Mort and Josephine Baxter 12. Technology: FMD 2001 - lessons emerging from county council websites - Briony Oates 13. Technology: the information and social needs of Cumbrian farmers during the UK 2001 FMD outbreak and the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) - Chris Hagar 14. Media: conceptualising Foot and Mouth Disease - the socio-cultural role of metaphors, frames and narratives - Brigitte Nerlich 15. Rumour: viral cows and viral culture? Towards an explanation of rumour in the 2001 UK outbreak of FMD - Nick Wright and Brigitte Nerlich 16. Disaster: a further species of trouble? Disaster and narrative - John Law and Vicky Singleton V. Epilogue 17. Speaking truth to power: Foot and Mouth and the future of agriculture and its communities - Jules Pretty Index


Compared to the replication of double-stranded RNA and DNA viruses, the replication of single-stranded viruses requires the production of a number of intermediate strands that serve as templates for the synthesis of genomic-sense strands. Two theoretical extreme mechanisms for replication for such single-stranded viruses have been proposed; one extreme being represented by the so-called linear stamping machine and the opposite extreme by the exponential growth. Of course, real systems are more complex and examples have been described in which a combination of such extreme mechanisms can also occur: a fraction of the produced progeny resulting from a stamping-machine type of replication that uses the parental genome as template, whereas other fraction of the progeny results from the replication of other progeny genomes. Martínez et al. 1 , Sardanyés et al. 2 and Fornés et al. 3 suggested and analyzed a deterministic model of single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus intracellular replication that incorporated variability in the replication mechanisms. To explore how stochasticity can affect this mixed-model principal properties, in this paper, we consider the stability of a stochastically perturbed model of ssRNA virus replication within a cell. Using the direct Lyapunov method, we found sufficient conditions for the stability in probability of equilibrium states for this model. This result confirms that this heterogeneous model of single-stranded RNA virus replication is stable with respect to stochastic perturbations of the environment.


The geology and mining system (JMS) is a computer aided valuation system capable of generation of survey, stratigraphy, assay databases, drill hole and bench compositing, 2D and 3D log sectioning, contouring, 3D surface generation, cross-sectioning, 3D ore body modeling, designing of open pit, volume and reserve estimation and economical valuation. In this research, JMS is applied in evaluation of a magnesite ore body in Kutahya, Turkey. Thirty-seven drill holes are used to build a collar, geology and assay databases. Basic statistical analyses are followed by drill hole and bench composite calculations. Besides, variogram models of thickness and grade are generated. Topographical elevation, ore thickness and grade contours are drawn as well as 3D surfaces. Ore body is also modeled in 3D and reserve amount is estimated. Regarding ore extensions, an open pit is designed in which pit volume and included ore are also calculated.


Self-consistent, mean-field description of charge injection into a dielectric medium is modified to account for discreteness of charge carriers. The improved scheme includes both the Schottky barrier lowering due to the individual image charge and the barrier change due to the field penetration into the injecting electrode that ensures validity of the model at both high and low injection rates including the barrier-dominated and the space-charge-dominated regimes. Comparison of the theory to experiment on a unipolar indium tin oxide-poly(phenylene vinylene)-Au device is presented.


The measurements of various neutrino oscillation parameters have entered a precision era. The global fit to current data give the following best-fit values and 2 sigma limits: sin223 = 0.5(0.38 − 0.64) sin213 = 0 (< 0.028) sin212 = 0.30 (0.25 − 0.34) The best-fit values are very close to the predictions of the Tri-Bimaximal Mixing Matrix. In terms of the oscillation parameters, the TBM Matrix predicts the mixing angles and the flavor compositions of the neutrino mass eigenstates. The TBM Matrix can arise from a family symmetry based on the tetrahedral group A4, in the lepton sector. However, A4 does not give rise to CKM mixing when generalized to the quark sector. Alternatively, we consider the double tetrahedral group, (d)T, as the family symmetry.


Alpha-gamma angular correlation measurements were made with solid sources of Am/sup 243/ and with liquid sources containing either Am/sup 243/ or an even-even alpha emitter in dilute perchloric acid solutions. Even-even alpha emitters studied were U/sup 232/, Th/sup 230/, and Ra/sup 226/. Thicknesses of the solid sources were controlled so that the neptunium recoils from one source were stopped in Am/sub 2/O/sub 3/ while recoils from the other sources were stopped in the aluminum, gold, or mica backing on which the sources were vaporized. The light sources were films consisting of 3 microliters of solution placed between a rubber hydrochloride membrane and a microscope cover glass 1 cm/ sup 2/ in circular cross section. The perchloric acid concentration of the liquid sources ranged from 0.5 to 3.0 molar. All of the angular correlations obtained with solid Am/sup 243 sources were attenuated, the average attenuation coefficients being 0.29 plus or minus 0.01 for sources in which recoils were stopped in Am/sub 2/O/sub 3/, 0.20 plus or minus 0.01 for sources in which recoils were stopped in mica, 0.52 plus or minus 0.02 for sources in which recoils were stopped in gold, and 0.67 plus or minus 0.01 for sources in whichmore » recoils were stopped in aluminum. Unattenuated angular correlations were obtained with liquid sources containing Am/sup 243/ in 0.5M and 1.0M HClO/sub 4/. For liquid sources containing Am/sup 243/ in 3.0M HClO/sub 4/, the correlation was attenuated with an average attenuation coefficient of 0.86 plus or minus 0.01. Attenuated angular correlations were also found with liquid sources containing an even-even nuclide in dilute aqueous solutions. The average attenuation coefficients for the even-even nuclide liquid sources were G/sub 2/ = 0.75 plus or minus 0.05 and G/sub 4/=0.86 plus or minus 0.03 for U/sup 232/, G/ sub 2/=0.64 plus or minus 0.06 and plus or minus 0.11 and G/sub 4/= 0.90 plus or minus 0.07 for Ra/sup 226/. The postulate that the measured angular correlation function for Am/sup 243/ was attenuated by the same amount as the correlation functions for the eveneven nuclides was found to be untenable since it required unreasonable alpha mixing ratios or unreasonable admixtures of M2 to El gamma radiation in the Am/sup 243/ decay process. The attenuation observed with even-even nuclide sources was believed to be consistent with the postulate of a time-dependent electric interaction.« less


There are many defects on the knowing right of small shareholder of limited company in our country.We should perfect it from the following aspects: firstly,strengthen the mechanism of prevention and protection;secondly,define the subject of knowing right;thirdly,improve the scope of knowing right.


Summary

Wheat ears were inoculated with conidia of Fusarium spp. at different growth stages between ear emergence and harvest and moist conditions were maintained for up to 7 days subsequently by mist irrigation. Of the fungi tested (Fusarium culmorum, F. avenaceum, F. tricinctum, F. sporotrichioides and Microdochium nivale), only F. culmorum produced ear blight symptoms and grain samples were found subsequently to contain deoxynivalenol. Most ear infection and deoxynivalenol formation occurred following inoculation at about mid-anthesis. Small amounts of deoxynivalenol were formed and some F. culmorum was isolated even in the absence of ear blight symptoms. An overnight wet period was sufficient to initiate infection and deoxynivalenol formation but both were increased by extending the wet period up to at least 3 days. Recovery of Fusarium spp. from harvested grain was usually possible whether or not symptoms developed. F. culmorum usually persisted and often increased to moderately high levels after storage for 7 wk in a range of moisture conditions.


Objects :To study the protection of TGP on chronic alcoholic liver injury in rats and to discuss the mechanism.Methods:30 SD rats were divided randomly into three groups,the 10 rats of model group were given alcohol intragastrically for four weeks to prepare rat model of chronic alcoholic liver injury.The TGP treatment group rats were given alcohol and TGP intragastrically.The group treated with Saline rats were given normal Saline intragastrically for four weeks.At the end of 4th week all rats were killed and the plasma ALT 、AST、γ-GT、SOD、MDA level were measured.HE staining and immunohistochemimal staining were employed to evaluate the pathological changes and the expression of NF-κB.Results:The serum ALT、AST、MDA、γ-GT level in the model group was significantly higher than that in the group treated with TGP and the group treated with Saline.And the SOD level in the model group was significantly lower than that in the group treated with TGP and the group treated with Saline.The pathological changes of hepatocyte swelling and fatty degeneration in the model was more serious than that of the group treated with TGP and the group treated with Saline.The expression of NF-κB in liver of the group treated with TGP was lower than that in the model group and the group treated with Saline.Conclusion:TGP can protect the SGOT and prevent the liver injury induced with alcohol by inhibiting hepatic lipid peroxidation and activity of NF-κB.


Consider a cohort of nearly 20,000 residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who have undergone biennial clinical examinations for the past 20 years under the auspices of the Radiation Effects Research Foundation. Suppose that one would like to use a series of blood pressure measurements on an individual to assess the risk of a subsequent cardiovascular disease event. This type of assessment is complicated by a number of features: the "risk factors" of interest are evolving over time, risk factor data may be missing, there may be many other "confound ing" factors, and endpoint events may be censored due to competing risks or dropout. During the past 15 years a vast biostatistical literature has developed on the regression analysis of "failure" time data. This literature is relevant to a range of problems in medicine and public health as well as in other areas. For example "failure time" may refer to time-to-relapse in a clinical trial, or to the age of disease diagnosis in an epidemiologic cohort study or in a disease prevention trial. Often interest will center on the dependence of failure rate on individual characteristics, exposures, or treatment assignments, which are collectively referred to here as "covariates." In the above example the covariates may include the sequence of preceding blood pressure readings, along with such control factors as age at cohort selection and sex. Relative risk regression models express the ratio of instantaneous failure rates (i.e. hazard rates) as a function of covariates. A chief accomplishment of the literature alluded to above is the demonstration that such relative risks, or more generally relative


The present manuscript reports the synthesis of multistimulus-responsive smart supramolecular hydrogels derived by in situ coating of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on colloidal cytidine-5′-monophosphate-capped β-FeOOH nanohybrids (β-FeOOH@5′-CMP) under physiological conditions forming a polycrystalline building block (Ag-coated β-FeOOH@5′-CMP). The presence of Ag in the binary nanohybrids induces the puckering of ribose sugar, bringing a change in its conformation from C2′-endo to C3′-endo, which enhanced the supramolecular interactions among different moieties of other building blocks to construct a porous network of hydrogels in the self-assembly via the formation of a micellar structure. Such a supramolecular network in hydrogel is also evidenced by the reversible sol⇌gel transformation under multistimulus-responsiveness in a narrow range of pH, temperature, and sonication, as well as by the manifestation of rapid self-healing and injectability features. As-synthesized hydrogels exhibiting shear-thinning behavior under higher strain and converting back into the sol under low strain, suggests their potential for localized drug delivery. The presence of Ag NPs in the hydrogel enhanced its viscoelastic properties, % swelling (580) and loading capabilities (590 mg g–1) for methylene blue (MB), and its controlled release over days (∼2–30) as a function of pH. It displayed excellent surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy activity allowing to detect MB-like drug molecules at ≤10–12 M. Thus, the as-synthesized hydrogels represent a unique superparamagnetic nanosystem consisting of all greener components (5′-CMP/β-FeOOH/Ag) with superior viscoelastic, sensing, and antimicrobial properties, displaying multistimulus-responsiveness (pH/temperature/sonication), thereby suggesting their vast potential for biomedical and environmental applications.


The invention relates to the technical field of lubricants and particularly relates to a medical lubricant and a preparation method thereof. The medical lubricant per litter is prepared from the following raw materials by weight: 5-20g of glycerinum, 2-10g of xanthan gum, 10-100mg of simethicone, 0.1-1.3g of mint, 5-15g of anesthetic, 1-15g of a preservative, 1-6g of a flavoring agent and the balance of purified water. The product obtained by the invention is stable in property, and can reduce the frictional force between an instrument and an orifice to a great extent so as to effectively avoid mechanical damage. The medical lubricant provided by the invention can eliminate mucosa foam and expand the definition of peritoneoscope detection and is beneficial for accurately diagnosing lesions. The medical lubricant provided by the invention is suitable for intubation and microscopic examination of orifices such as the respiratory tract, the digestive tract, the urethral canal, the rectum, the vagina, the genital tract and the anus, alleviates damage caused by friction, relieves pains and cutaneous sensibility, lubricates, disinfects, defoams and expands the definition of peritoneoscope detection.


We investigate a natural approximation by subcritical Sobolev embeddings of the Sobolev quotient for the fractional Sobolev spaces $H^s$ for any $0<s<N/2$, using $\Gamma$-convergence techniques. We show that, for such approximations, optimal functions always exist and exhibit a concentration effect of the $H^s$ energy at one point.


PurposeBased on the JD-R model and process-focused HRM perspective, this research paper aims to investigate the processes underlying the relationship between AI-enabled HR analytics and employee well-being outcomes (resilience) that received less attention in the AI-driven HRM literature. Specifically, this study aims to examine the indirect effect between AI-enabled HR analytics and employee resilience via job crafting, moderated by HRM system strength to highlight the contextual stimulus of AI-enabled HR analytics.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopted a time-lagged research design (one-month interval) to test the proposed hypotheses. The authors used two-wave surveys to collect data from 175 full-time hotel employees in China.FindingsThe findings indicated that employees' perceptions of AI-enabled HR analytics enhance their resilience. This study also found the mediation role of job crafting in the mentioned relationship. Moreover, the positive effects of AI-enabled HR analytics on employee resilience amplify in the presence of a strong HRM system.Practical implicationsOrganizations that aim to utilize AI-enabled HR analytics to achieve organizational missions should also dedicate attention to its associated employee well-being outcomes.Originality/valueThis study enriched the literature with regard to AI-driven HRM in that it identifies the mediating role of job crafting and the moderating role of HRM system strength in the relationship between AI-enabled HR analytics and employee resilience.


Objective To probe the gene polymorphisms of TLR4(Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) and TLR2(Arg677Trp and Arg753Gln) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)among Han population in Shanghai,investigate the correlation with IBD,and compare the gene polymorphism distribution among different populations of various countries. Methods Polymorphisms of TLR4(Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) and TLR2(Arg677Trp and Arg753Gln) were genotyped respectively in 84 patients with IBD and 135 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP). Results The mutant genotypes of TLR4 gene(Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) as well as TLR2 gene(Arg677Trp and Arg753Gln) were not found in both IBD group and controls.Conclusion TLR4 gene(Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) and TLR2 gene(Arg677Trp and Arg753Gln) polymorphisms may not be correlated with IBD susceptibility among Han population in Shanghai.The polymorphism distribution among different populations in other countries may be engendered by genetic heterogeneity.


Water deficit is a major problem in rice grown under rainfed conditions. It affects plant growth and development and ultimately leads to a considerable yield reduction or crop failure. Although the rice crop is susceptible to water deficit, there is a marked genotypic variation in response to water deficit. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of water deficit on days to maturity and yield development of three recently developed rainfed rice varieties that is, New Rice for Africa ( NERICA coded as N2, N4 and N11) with a view of establishing the most drought tolerant rice variety that can be grown under rainfed conditions in Kenya. This study was carried out in the University Botanic Garden, Maseno during 2005- 2006. Plants were subjected to water deficit treatments in the green house a factorial set up. The seeds of the three NERICA cultivars of rice were planted in 20 Litre PVC pots arranged in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with four treatments and four replications. The treatments included watering a litre of water once a day (control), Watering every 2, 4 and 6 days. The parameters measured included tiller number, days to 50% heading and flowering, days to harvesting, panicle length and yield. The water stressed plants took the longest to mature and N2 took the least number of days to maturity (109) while N11 took 114 days and N4 took 118 days. The yield component declined with the increase in water deficit, N2 had the highest yield at higher soil moisture deficit (1500 kg/ha) followed by N4 (818 kg/ha) and then N11 (736 kg/ha). Results indicate that under moisture deficit conditions N2 is least affected and had the least reduction in panicle length, tiller number and yield component hence can be recommended for growing under rainfed conditions in Kenya. This will ultimately help in poverty alleviation through increased income and increase in food security.


Established knowledge on specialized literature has shown that harmonic distortion present on voltage and current waveforms adversely affects the behaviour of electric devices including protection systems, resulting in their miss-operation or wrong operation. However, literature related to these topics normally presents studies conducted on electro-mechanical relays and less frequently on static relays; there is not much information available on the digital protection systems behavior under distorted waveforms conditions. This contribution details the results of harmonic tests conducted to three different relay generations and shows that harmonic distortion does not adversely affect the behaviour of modern digital relays in contrast with stablished knowledge found on specialized literature.


This study was carried out to investigate the capacity of chitosan and wheat bran to protect against high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (average body weight of 120-150 g) were randomly assigned to six groups (n=6 rats/group) and fed on one of the following experimental diets: (i) basal diet, negative control; (ii) basal diet containing 5% chitosan, chitosan group; (iii) basal diet containing 5% wheat bran, wheat bran group; (iv) high fat diet (1% cholesterol + 7.5% corn oil + 15% beef tallow), positive control; (v) high fat diet containing 5% chitosan, high fat + chitosan; (vi) high fat diet containing 5% wheat bran, high fat + wheat bran. The trial lasted 6 weeks. RESULTS: High fat diet reduced food intake and increased body weight gain and liver weights. Also, High fat diet increased Hepatic fat deposition and elevated serum levels of triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and decreased serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). This effect was associated with increased levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α), leptin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and decreased serum levels of total proteins, albumin and globulin. Moreover, high fat diet elevated hepatic malondialdhyde and reduced the levels of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH), erythrocytes copper, zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD) and plasma catalase. Dietary chitosan but not wheat bran supplementation significantly reduced high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and fat accumulation in liver. Furthermore, increased TNF-alpha and hyperleptinemia in high fat fed rats were significantly ameliorated by treatment with chitosan or wheat bran. Also, chitosan and wheat bran treatments ameliorated hepatic lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity. These effects were associated with improvement in liver function biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Chitosan has an advantage over wheat bran in exerting a significant hepatoprotective effect against non-alcoholic fatty liver. The hepatoprotective effect of chitosan might be ascribable to its antilipidemic, anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant property.


For a long time, work on non-enzymatic browning of food products
centred around Maillard type reactions. In recent years, however, the
importance of other systems is being increasingly felt. Using ion exchange
resins and studying browning in different fractions of apricot concentrate,
Haas and Stadtman ( 2 ) showed that the over-all browning is the result
of at least four distinct types of reactions: (a) nitrogenous constituents
and sugars, (b) nitrogenous constituents and organic acids, ( c) sugars
and organic acids, and ( d) organic acids alone. Model system studies
dealing with (a) have been reviewed by Danehy and Pigman (1) and
Hodge ( 3 ). Work on systems dealing with (c) and (d) has been reported
by Lewis et al. (4, 5) and more recently by Kapur et al. ( 6). The present
paper deals with investigations on browning in organic acid-amino acid
model systems. Though low energy systems ( 3), they are likely to play an
important part in the browning of products prepared from highly acidic
fruits.


Pelvic osteolysis induced by particulate debris derived from bearing surfaces is a well-known complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Atraumatic fractures of the greater trochanter (GT) associated with osteolytic lesions have been occasionally described. We present a case of a 71-year-old male patient who sustained an undisplaced fracture of the GT nine years following cementless metal-on-polyethylene THA. The fracture occurred through a 2.5-cm large osteolytic area, and no hip trauma was recorded. Conventional radiographs revealed peculiar signs of massive wear of the polyethylene acetabular liner (marked eccentricity of the prosthetic head and extensive osteolysis around the iliac screws), allowing to immediately conclude about the benign nature of the pathological fracture. To our knowledge, a two-stage management, planning conservative healing of the fracture and subsequent surgical replacement of the worn acetabular liner, has never been previously detailed. (www.actabiomedica.it)


Background/Aims: To compare body surface area (BSA) with lean body mass (LBM) for scaling extracellular fluid volume (ECV) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Methods:Phase 1: Total body water (TBW), bromide space and LBM were measured with 3H-water, 77Br and dual X-ray absorptiometry, respectively, in 6 healthy adults. Phase 2: ECV and GFR were measured with 51Cr-EDTA in 95 healthy adults and 56 children (0.5–13 years). ECV was calculated as GFR divided by GFR/ECV, both corrected for the one-compartment assumption. LBM was estimated (eLBM) in adults from height and weight and in children using a height/weight formula for estimating ECV and a constant derived from a separate adult population relating ECV to eLBM. Results:Phase 1: LBM and BSA correlated closely with TBW and bromide space. With LBM, the regressions passed through the origin, but with BSA, the intercepts were significantly below zero. Phase 2: GFR/BSA and ECV/BSA were higher in men than women but no difference was recorded in GFR/eLBM, GFR/ECV or ECV/eLBM. ECV showed a linear relation with eLBM and a non-linear relation with BSA. GFR/BSA and ECV/BSA correlated significantly with BSA but neither GFR/eLBM nor ECV/eLBM correlated with eLBM. Conclusion: eLBM is preferable to BSA for scaling GFR and ECV.


Abstract : ASI (the mother's breast-feeding) is a food which is important for brain growth, health staffs must provide information and education of exclusive breast-feeding to the mothers since pregnancy tests until the period of exclusive breast-feeding is complete. According to SDKI (demographics survey and Indonesian health) the exclusive breast-feeding below 6 months by 41% because many babies who have consumed the formula for infants at the age of below than 6 months. The purpose of the study was to compare pregnant women's knowledge level about breast-feeding before and after health education at Pagesangan health center 2016. The research was a Quasi Experiment with research design, time series design . The population in this study was the third trimester pregnant women. The research technique was purposive sampling with a sample of 45 people and using Marginal Homogenity Test (Wilcoxon). Based on the result of the research, the highest expectant mother's knowledge before health education was in terms of low category as many as 38 people (84.4%) and after the health education, the highest maternal knowledge on medium category was 21 people (46.7%). The statistical analysis was obtained probability value (p value) = 0.00 where the value was smaller than the significance level of 0.05 (0.00) hence it can be concluded that there was a significant comparison between knowledge before and after health education. It is expected to Pagesangan health center can improve the service quality in providing health education to set a schedule of counseling routinely and equip the facilities to provide lefleat on how to squeeze and store ASI.


Study in uitro on the anticestodal activity of Coleus blu111ei leaves extracts against Hy111e11olepis 111icrosfolll11 was conducted. Leaves of C. blwuci were collected and extracted ·with hexane, chloroform, ethanol and water. Anthelmintic activity was evaluated with an assay using H. 111icrosfolllll in a serial microplate dilution method by determination of mortality time. The parasites were treated with varying concentrations, 10, 5, 2.5, 1, and 0.5 % of the plant extract. Scanning electron microscope analysis was performed to determine effect of painted nettle extract on the tegument and other superficial body ch iuo efficacy.


A boy of 14 sought consultation because of breast development. Earlier an operation had bcen undertaken for reconstruction of a penile hypospadias and the bladder drainage had resulted in a minute perineal sinus. The general configuration and mental attitude were entirely male, but in addition to the hypospadias the left testis was absent and the right testis was small. The diagnosis of Klincfeltcr's syndrome was strengthened by finding chromatin positive nuclei in a buccal smear. A testicular biopsy showed varying degrees of atrophy and no spermatogenesis, but analysis of the sex chromosomes showed no extra chromosome, the patient having the normal complcnient of 46. Surgical removal of the breasts was undertaken, and a laparotomy at which a single utenne horn was removed and a gonad on the left side. Histological examination of the utcrus showed it to be lined with degenerative endometrium. The tube was normal whilst the ovary contained two follicular cysts, numerous primary follicles REPORTS OF SOCIETIES


In a recent paper [Phys. Rev. B 50, 11 531 (1994)] we have tentatively attributed two new infrared bands at 914 cm $^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and 1000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, in neutron-irradiated Czochralski-grown silicon, to a [VO+${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{i}}$] structure that was considered to develop as an intermediate stage in the process of conversion of a VO center to a ${\mathrm{VO}}_{2}$ complex upon heat treatment. As a continuation of this work, we further investigate [VO+${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{i}}$] structure and the formation of intermediate defects. In addition, we present semiempirical calculations of the localized vibrational mode frequencies of the [VO+${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{i}}$] defect. The results are consistent with the experimental observations. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.


To improve the quality of dehydrated onion, antibrowning agents were screened. Effects of antibrowning agents on the degree of browning and the quality characteristics in dried onions were investigated. Sliced onions were dehydrated in an air drier at within 3 percent moisture. Among various antibrowning agents, cyclodextrin and corn starch treatments were selected. Dipping in 4%(w/v) corn starch suspension proved more effective in preventing browning than other treatments. The change of color and the degree of browning showed a correlation. Dried onions treated with antibrowning agents prevented browning at around compared to control. The contents of reducing sugar and vitamin C in treated onions had minimally changes.


Abstract n-and isoamylmercury thiocyanates have been reacted with thio and selenocyan ates of Co (II), Ni (II) and Zn(II). Cobalt and nickel thio and selenocyanates form complexes of the general formula (XCN)2M (NCSHgR)2 X= S, or Se; M= Co (II), Ni(II). Similar complexes of zinc thiocyanate are also formed but the corresponding seleocy anate complex is unstable. These camplexes have also been reacted with pyridine and 2, 2′-bipyridyl. yridine forms non-conducting adducts whereas the bipyridyl forms Cationic-anionic camplexes. Electronic spectral studies indicate that complexes of the selenocyanate series have higher Dq values than the corresponding thiocyanate complexes.


Shallow earthquakes occurring in the southern part of the Tyrrhenian basin excite a long‐duration low‐frequency coda that propagates efficiently along paths crossing the Tyrrhenian Sea. Seismograms recorded at regional distances in the Italian peninsula are analysed in the frequency‐time domain and compared with synthetics computed in simple vertically varying media. Based on results of our modeling, we interpret the coda as short‐period (5–10 s) suboceanic Rayleigh waves. Their large amplitude and long duration, that we emphasize here, are explained as due to the influence of the Tyrrhenian water layer over a fast seafloor with little S‐wave attenuation (QS > 300). A satisfactory fit of amplitude and duration of the observed waveforms is obtained assuming a young oceanic model with an average water column of 1 to 2 km and relatively high S‐wave velocity (2.5 km/s) in the shallow crust.


Machine learning (ML) and the internet of things (IoT) are among the most booming research directions. Smart cities, smart campuses (SCs), smart homes, smart cars, early warning systems (EWSs), etc.; or it could be called "Smart x" systems are implemented using ML and IoT. Those systems will alter how various world entities communicate with one another. This paper spots light on the significant roles of the IoT in SS. Also, it focuses on the importance of ML in IoT-based SS. Besides, an overview of smartness and IoT is presented. Then, this paper offers ML benchmarking along with a taxonomy that categorizes the ML models into linear and non-linear ones depending on the problem type (classification or regression). Afterward, the commonly utilized evaluation metrics are provided. In addition, this paper considers the trust techniques used for mitigating different security aspects in IoT networks, which play a crucial part in regulating the new era of communication. Moreover, two case studies devoting ML for IoT-based SS, namely IoT-based SC and IoT-based EWS, are considered for data collection and manipulation with guided research directions. Finally, the paper presents effective recommendations of ML's significant roles in SC and earthquake EWS for interested scholars.


ABSTRACT The paper presents results of the research related to the analysis of the thermodynamic and flow processes occurring in a prototype VC 20.96 two-stage liquid-cooled reciprocating compressor. The compressor has been developed and manufactured by H. Cegielski Poznan metal works in collaboration with the Poznan University of Technology. The research related to the VC compressor was realized within the KBN 3127/C.T07-6/2002 project titled "Development of design of type-series of reciprocating compressors and their implementation in production". The basic task of the project was to develop two type-series of liquid- and air- cooled reciprocating compressors of the V- and W- arrangement, designed to serve as marine engine starters. The result of the design work was the manufacturing of two compressors: the VC 20.96 liquid-cooled compressor and the WP 18.80 air-cooled one. The main aim of the research described in this paper was to evaluate the efficiency of the cooling system which uses inter-coolers integrated with the compressing stages and the cooperation of the compressing stages in terms of pressure ratio distribution. Owing to the cooling method, the applied design assumptions enabled to develop a compact compressor fulfilling the assumed operating parameters.


This article presents the case of one 16-year-old male who failed a career exploration class and then participated in a group intervention designed to increase his motivation to explore. Using a case study method, the authors triangulated video, questionnaire, observational, interview, and artefact data to identify the main themes that emerged for the participant over the course of the intervention. Themes were integrated into a narrative of the participant's process of developing self-determination for career exploration. Overall, the results suggest that interpersonal connection, structured activities, experiential learning, and participant resilience were all central mechanisms that contributed to change.


In this paper, we introduce a web-enabled geovisual analytics approach to leveraging Twitter in support of crisis management. The approach is implemented in a map-based, interactive web application that enables information foraging and sensemaking using "tweet" indexing and display based on place, time, and concept characteristics. In this paper, we outline the motivation for the research, review selected background briefly, describe the web application we have designed and implemented, and discuss our planned next steps.


The present invention discloses a catalyst composite was prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of silicon tetrachloride to trichlorosilane, the active component of the catalyst of at least one element of main group metal Ⅱ or metal compound and at least one transition metal element or its compounds, the catalyst may be used supported on a carrier. The catalyst of the present invention, a silicon tetrachloride at 700-1000 catalytic deg.] C, the catalytic hydrogenation in a hydrogen atmosphere pressure of 1-30 bar dehalogenation reaction, has a high catalytic activity and good selectivity, low cost, prepared simple, stable performance.


The notation and evaluation of tree ring dates derived here, and compared to other sites, supplemented by dating with ceramic complexes, is a most welcome addition to the history of this section. There is a tendency to stress the finding of a few early pottery types, and the use of the term "Affinis Wiyo" is a makeshift and somewhat confusing arrangement, but these are minor criticisms. In general, the sites are late prehistoric and early historic, with a P.IV and P.V culture. The paper as a whole is not organized in a rigid, or definite pattern, and there is a tendency to theorize in explanation of detailed features, and to ramble, but in general it is profitable reading. Diagrams, plans, sections, maps, charts, and restorations are exceptionally well done and well presented. The best of the lot are the graphic pottery charts showing number distribution of types, foreign pottery types, house types, time, culture stage, and occupation periods with maximum occupation time pointed out. All of this information is cleverly correlated on each chart. There is a good summary at the end of each chapter dealing with sites, and a general summary at the end of the paper. The report is a definite contribution to the archaeology of this section, and Southwestern Monuments should feel encouraged to continue the good work begun here.


The paper analyses the cause of high temperature corrosion of water wall in the 22# boiler in Chongqing Power Plant.The furnace and the proposed improvement measures are researched,the solutions to the problem of high temperature corrosion is put forward,and proves to be a success.


Evidence-based medicine(EBM) is an approach to clinical decision making for patients based on sufficient evidence in clinical practices.EBM gradually impacts breast cancer clinical practice.Evidence from clinical randomized controlled trials may not only change the existing clinical practice,but also provide more choices for clinical practice.However,it may be only evidence and can't change the clinical practice.


The article is devoted to the theory and techniques of the young people civic education. It also deals with the problems of students' civic consciousness and civic qualities formation. The purpose of the research was to study and diagnose civic consciousness of Technical University Students, to ground theoretically and test experimentally pedagogical conditions of students' civic consciousness formation in foreign language classes. The results of the definition and specification of the notion of "civic education" are also introduced in the article. Forms and methods of efficient work in classroom and extra-curricular work with students while studying a foreign language are revealed and experimentally checked. The efficiency of testing, dialogue around, role-playing games, press conferences, debates in civic consciousness formation is approved.


A new class of decision-based neural networks (DBNNs) is introduced. These networks combine the perceptron-like learning rule with a hierarchical nonlinear network structure and are called HiPer nets. Two HiPer net structures are proposed: hidden-node and subcluster structures. The authors explore several variants of HiPer nets based on the different hierarchical structures and basis functions and then examine the relationships between HiPer nets and other DBNNs, e.g., perceptron and LVQ. Based on the simulation performance comparison, the HiPer nets appear to be very effective for many signal/image classification applications, including texture classification, OCR (optical character recognition), and ECG (electrocardiography).<<ETX>>


Lateral femoral cutaneous (LFC) neuropathy was diagnosed in a woman who developed pain and paresthesias in the right thigh 6 days after abdominal hysterectomy by a suprapubic approach. After surgery, the patient slept in the fetal position to control the postoperative suprapubic pain. The LFC neuropathy improved with therapy including avoidance of hip flexion during sleep. Prolonged postoperative hip flexion to relieve the abdominal incisional pain provides an explanation for LFC neuropathy after abdominal surgery when the onset of symptoms is delayed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 22: 1129–1131, 1999


Thomas J.McCormick is a historian famous for innovative capability,who early assessed the state of the American diplomatic history,charging its weaknesses and advancing the agenda for the profession.McCormick's delineation of corporatism and world-system approach are special contributions to the methodological innovation.He drawn some new views from his exercising world-system approach to America's foreign policy during the Cold War,meanwhile incisively expounded and forecasted the rise and fall of American hegemony.


Rational manipulation of the gut microbiome by diet or other interventions is a promising approach to improving the efficacy and safety of cancer immunotherapy. However, linking lifestyle variables to specific microbial populations and the host immune response to cancer therapies is challenging due to their complexity. We established an experimental system to examine such complexity by linking a human dietary intervention and fecal biospecimens to mouse models to test the response to immunotherapy. Longitudinal human microbiome samples collected before and after a specific dietary or other intervention allow us to test the hypothesis that an intervention alters the response to immunotherapy via impact on the host microbiome. One set of samples was taken from the BEWELL study, which examined the impact of 2 × 80 mL black raspberry (BRB) drink boxes per day for 4 weeks in people at high risk for lung cancer. Participant samples were chosen based on enrichment of specific taxa. Pre- and post-BRB intervention samples were gavaged into mice. Mouse mc38 cells were injected subcutaneously and treated with anti-PD1 Ab or isotype control. Tumor size was monitored, and at the end of the study, tumor immune cell composition data were collected. Tumor growth over time was modeled using a linear mixed-effects model with tumor volume as the outcome variable and the predictor variables of time and treatment (PD1 vs. IgG) interacting with gavage and quadratic time to accommodate non-linear tumor growth and including random effects by mouse. For sample 68, enriched for Roseburia CAG 309, the interaction between time, gavage post-BRB, and Anti-PD1 treatment significantly affected tumor volume (p < 0.05) relative control. The same significant effect (p < 0.05) was also seen for sample 79, enriched for Lachnospira pectinoschiza, and samples 84 and 85, enriched for Blautia obeum. To determine the mechanism by which this might occur, we analyzed the tumor's immune cell composition. Post-BRB mice treated with Anti-PD1 showed a significant increase in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ immune cells relative control, as compared to mice gavaged with pre-BRB stool. Modeling results showed samples whose response was improved slightly after the BRB dietary intervention. These samples were associated with the enrichment of the taxon Roseburia CAG 309. A black-raspberry dietary intervention in humans modified the microbiomes of several participants in a way that is hypothesized to improve response to PD1 treatment. Future directions include supplementing individual microbes into pre-intervention gavages to confirm which taxa improve response. These results suggest that this modeling platform is an effective system for testing microbiome modification on tumor growth and assessing mechanisms by which this might occur and is extendable to other lifestyle-based interventions where pre- and post-intervention specimens are collected.
 Citation Format: Aaditya Pallerla, Bailey Conrad, Amna Bibi, Nyelia Williams, Caroline Wheeler, Rebecca Hoyd, Shankar Suman, Joseph Amann, Yangyang Liu, Marisa Bittoni, Shiqi Zhang, Madison Grogan, Alvin Anand, Najma Afrah, Carolyn Presley, Fred K. Tabung, Lang Li, Yael Vodovotz, Jiangjiang Zhu, David P. Carbone, Steven K. Clinton, Daniel Spakowicz. A causal modeling platform for testing lifestyle interventions on the microbiome and response to immunotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4435.


In order to solve the test sequencing problem in fault diagnosis, an optimal test point selection and test sequencing optimization algorithm are proposed. Based on the improved multi-signal model and using the information entropy algorithm as the heuristic function, a test sequencing optimization algorithm with one step backtracking is proposed and validated on the multi-signal model of the hydraulic AGC system. The example shows that the algorithm can isolate the fault states with less test cost.


Endothelial cells (EC) are able to discriminate the distinct characteristics of shear stress, unidirectional vs. reversal flow, and subsequently, expressing gene promoting or attenuating cardiovascular diseases. Using micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors, comparable to an elongated EC, we report the first evidence linking real-time shear stress with EC inflammatory responses via monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) expression and monocyte/EC binding kinetics.


Using verbal protocol and conjoint analyses, this study examines how stakeholders assess an organization in deciding whether to provide their support to it. The authors find that stakeholders' support depends on their perceptions of an organization's age and other dimensions of newness related to addressing management challenges of adaptation—the entrepreneurial problem, the engineering problem, and the administrative problem. Stakeholder support is more likely for those organizations that are old, cognitively legitimate, affectively congruent, reliable, accountable, and strategically flexible. The authors conclude with theoretical implications for scholars and practical implications for resource acquisition in various contexts of entrepreneurship.


Motivated by the demand for a fast flow simulation tool that takes the interaction between rotor and helicopter fuselage into account this thesis is about the extension of an actuator disc boundary condition in the unstructured DLR TAU code. Different modelling approaches are presented where the source term approach, which has already been implemented in the structured DLR FLOWer code, is most suited for rotors in forward flight. Numerics of the source term approach as well as topics touched by the implementation such as time step determination, smoothing, dissipation and low Mach number preconditioning are discussed. The concept of the FLOWer implementation is carried over into the unstructured TAU framework where modifications in preprocessor and solver are outlined. Comparing propeller mode results from TAU to 1D momentum theory shows excellent agreement. This is also observed for rotor in forward flight results between FLOWer and TAU. Finally, the EC145 helicopter demonstration case with two actuator discs shows the robustness of the implementation.


In considering advancements in distributed control systems (DCS), this research is directed to design and develop an application level software tool for distributed automation. The study defines specification, methodology, and prototype design of an application tool that is capable of providing services to the proposed management layer (ML). The ML integrates simulation platform, a top-level ware, by using which distributed control network (DCN) design can be achieved. The developed platform utilises the benefit of object oriented and client-server approach, respectively.


Sagittarius A* (SgrA*) lying in the Galactic Centre 8 kpc from Earth, hosts the closest supermassive black hole known to us. It is now inactive, but there is evidence indicating that about six million years ago it underwent a powerful outburst where the luminosity could have approached the Eddington limit. Motivated by the fact that in extragalaxies the supermassive black holes with similar masses and near-Eddington luminosities are usually strong X-ray emitters, we calculate here the X-ray luminosity of SgrA*. For that, we assume that the outburst was due to accretion of gas or the tidal disruption of a star. We show that these cases could precipitate on Earth a hard X-ray (i.e. hν>2 keV) flux comparable to that from the current quiescent sun. The flux in harder energy band 20 keV<hν<100 keV, however, surpasses that from an X-class solar flare, and the irradiation timescale is also much longer, ranging from weeks to 105 years depending on the outburst scenario. In the solar system gas giants will suffer the biggest impact in their atmospheres. Lower-mass planets such as Earth receive a level of radiation that might have played a role in the evolution of their primitive atmospheres, so that a detailed study of the consequences deserves further investigation. Planetary systems closer to SgrA* receive higher irradiance levels, making them more likely uninhabitable.


Linking reflection on contemporary issues with a careful study of the Fourth Gospel, this work argues that Christians can simultaneously exercise critical judgment and accept John's testimony that Christ is the truth.


(60.6–68.6) and c-globulins with 21% (12.1–17.7). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was increased with 4.2 mU/l (0.1–4.0); FT4 and FT3 were normal, but hTg (110 U/ml) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) (4355 U/ml) antibodies were positive. IgG and C3c circulating immune complexes were increased, with normal IgA and IgM immune complexes. Normal or negative were complete blood count (CBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), C3, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), hepatitis serology and glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase (G-6-PDH). The anti-streptolysin titre was elevated; the patient, however, showed no clinical signs of infection. Urine analysis revealed a microhaematuria and proteinuria, but 24 h urine protein was normal. Chest X-ray and abdominal echography were without pathological findings. We performed an autologous serum skin test (ASST; Greaves test) (2), which was positive; saline showed no reaction (Fig. 1B). A biopsy of a wheal showed features of leucocytoclastic vasculitis (Fig. 1C). The ASST remained over 0.8 cm in size over 2 days. Biopsy revealed a leucocytoclastic vasculitis (Fig. 1D). Based on the clinical and the laboratory findings, the diagnosis of UV associated with PA and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) was made. We started a therapy with levocetirizine 5 mg/day, rofecoxib 25 mg/day, montelucast 10 mg/ day, levothyroxine 50 lg/day and selenium 50 lg b.i.d. Over a period of 4 weeks our patient responded partially to this treatment. We replaced rofecoxib and montelucast by chloroquine 250 mg/day and after 2 weeks of treatment our patient was completely free of symptoms. After 2 months, chloroquine was given as monotherapy and after a follow-up examination after 6 months, the patient was still asymptomatic. The treatment was well tolerated. Although frequently associated with autoimmune diseases, this is the first reported case of UV associated with PA and HT. A case of chronic angioedema of the tongue associated with PA and HT was previously published (3). Histamine-releasing anti-FcepsilonRIalpha autoantibodies, which are associated with positive skin test responses to autologous sera in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (4), have been reported in one patient with UV (5). The ASST has a sensitivity of approximately 70% and a specificity of 80% for detection of patients with autoimmune urticaria (2). Although in vitro tests seem less sensitive than ASST in the detection of patients with histamine-releasing factors in the blood (6), to our knowledge there are no published cases of positive ASST in UV. The findings of a positive ASST with clinical and histological findings of vasculitis have previously not been described. Its occurrence along with circulating immune complexes of IgG and C3c make a pathogenetical role of circulating immune complexes in this patient highly possible. The ASST might be a useful adjunctive test in detecting the underlying pathophysiology in UV; further investigations in this interesting field are required.


Following the decline in rainfall in most countries, especially in arid zones, the urge for desalination to compensate water crises has increased. Water has always been vital to our lives. Given the fact that the amount of sanitary water available is low, we have to discover methods for water desali - nation on Earth. One of these methods is the use of solar stills for desalinating the brackish water. However, low production of available desalination plants necessitates finding ways to increase their output. Recently, this area has attracted a great deal of scientific attention. There are several meth ods to augment the water production in solar stills, one of which is the betterment of solar stills via airflow. The present study aimed to introduce different solar stills employing airflow in their struc -tures. This research demonstrated that solar stills would have a better performance if they benefited from airflow.