Background Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular events, probable through mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-dependent endothelial cell dysfunction, in comparison to essential hypertension (EH). This study aims to investigate the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in PA and the relationship with arterial stiffness and disease progression. Methods Patients with clinical suspicion of primary aldosteronism (PA) were consecutively referred to Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation (TAIPAI) group clinic for evaluation, and the change of EPC number was prospective estimated, correlating with outcome of PA patients after treatment. Changes in arterial stiffness and the curability of hypertension were also documented. Results A total of 113 PA patients (87 patients aldosterone-producing adenoma, 26 idiopathic hyperaldosteronism) and 55 patients with EH were enrolled. PA patients had higher arterial stiffness than EH patients (p = 0.006), with a lower numbers of circulating EPC and endothelial colony forming units (CFU) (p < 0.05). The differences were ameliorated at six months after unilateral adrenalectomy or treatment with spironolactone. Expression of MR was identified in the EPC. The number of circulating EPC was inversely correlated with the plasma aldosterone concentration (p = 0.021), arterial stiffness (p = 0.029) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.03). High dose aldosterone (10−5 and 10−6M) attenuated EPC proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro. Among the 45 patients who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy, 32 (71%) were cured of hypertension. The preoperative number of EPC (Log[EPC number%] > -3.6) predicted the curability of hypertension after adrenalectomy (p = 0.003). Conclusions The relative deficiency of EPC in PA patients may contribute to the aldosterone vasculopathy, which can reversed by adrenalectomy and spironolactone. High aldosterone level attenuated EPC proliferation and angiogenesis. Circulating EPC number may be a valuable biomarker to identify PA patients with a high incidence of arterial stiffness and to predict postoperative residual hypertension of APA.


The primary objective of this project is to collect together experiences of e-Learning
teachers of teaching and assessment and extract from this knowledge sets of methodological
invariants that will form a set of on-line e-Learning teacher best practice guidelines.
Provision of such guidelines will enable teachers new on- line teaching, especially in MCCS
situations be become effective e-Learning teachers quickly. The guidelines will embrace the
content preparation, delivery and assessment stages from a methodological point of view.


We present Spitzer 70μm and 160μm observations of the Spitzer extragalactic First Look Survey (xFLS). The data reduction techniques and the methods for producing co-added mosaics and source catalogs are discussed. Currently, 26% of the 70μm sample and 49% of the 160μm-selected sources have redshifts. The majority of sources with redshifts are star-forming galaxies at z < 0.5, while about 5% have infrared colors consistent with AGN. The observed infrared colors agree with the spectral energy distribution (SEDs) of local galaxies previously determined from IRAS and ISO data. The average 160μm/70μm color temperature for the dust is Td ≃ 30 ± 5K, and the average 70μm/24μm spectral index is α ≃ 2.4 ± 0.4. The observed infrared to radio correlation varies with redshift as expected out to z ∼ 1 based on the SEDs of local galaxies. The xFLS number counts at 70μm and 160μm are consistent within uncertainties with the models of galaxy evolution, but there are indications that the current models may require slight modifications. Deeper 70μm observations are needed to constrain the models, and redshifts for the faint sources are required to measure the evolution of the infrared luminosity function. Subject headings: galaxies: evolution — galaxies: starburst — infrared: galaxies


This paper proposes that service recovery compensation should mach customers' psychological heterogeneity by differentiating their self-regulatory orientations.Customers are differentiated as promotion vs.prevention focused based on their psychological self-regulatory systems.Airline service scenario is applied and a scenario-based survey is conducted to test the theory.The results show that promotion-focused customers will be more satisfied after compensation efforts perceived as "gaining benefits" than prevention-focused customers;while prevention-focuse customers evaluate "avoiding losses" compensation such as "refund" better than promotion-focused customers.These effects are independent with influences of distributive justice.


G‐Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) are one of the most important target in disease treatment with over 50% of all drugs on the market targeting these receptors. Regulator of G‐Protein Signaling (RGS) proteins are known to regulate the complex signaling pathways activated by GPCRs. Recent studies have implicated RGS‐proteins in the development and progression of pathologies, including some cancers. RGS17, the most‐recently identified family member of the RZ family of RGS proteins has been implicated in the growth, proliferation, metastasis and migration of prostate cancer cells as well as small‐cell and non‐small cell lung cancers. RGS17 is up‐regulated in lung and prostate tumors as much as 13 fold. RGS17 knockdown inhibits colony formation and decreases tumorigenesis in nude mice. Our studies implemented a high‐throughput screen campaign to determine the first Gαo: RGS17 protein: protein interaction (ppi) inhibitors. Immediate goals include determining the effectiveness of these compounds on inhibiting the GTPase acceleration activity of RGS17 in a steady‐state GTPase assay. The goal of this study is to establish lead compounds and develop a pharmacophore model for future avenues in cancer treatment. Research is supported by American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE), University of Iowa′s Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing and The National Institutes of Health (R01CA160470).


By DR. DowNEs. OF the eighteen members of the Poor Law Commission fourteen signed the Majority Report and four the Minority Report, while five of those who signed the Majority Report have thought it necessary to issue memorandums in which they express special views. One of the most important of these is the memorandum signed by Dr. Downes, Senior Medical Inspector for Poor Law purposes to the Local Government Board for England. He commences by


A total of 15 medicinal plants are identified for the treatment of different diseases from Arambha village locality of Samudrapur Tahsil (Dist. Wardha). The traditional healer of the locality knows a large number of medicinal plants used for various diseases. He provides information about a few plants used against some diseases. These diseases are diabetes, toothache, impotency, jaundice, poisoning, wound healing, dry cough, fever, dysentry, faint, piles and cancer. The medicinal plants, Azadirachta indica , Aegle marmelos , Ocimum sanctum , Hyptis sauolance , Bombax ceiba , Cayratia trifolia , Achyranthus aspera , Euphorbia humifusa , Clerodendron infortunatum , Tridax procumbens , Cassia tora , Kirgelia reticulata and Balliospermum montanum are used against above-mentioned diseases. The plant parts like leaves, roots and whole plants are commonly used. The leaves are abundantly used to treat different diseases.


Debates in Music Teaching encourages student and practising teachers to engage with contemporary issues and developments in music education. It aims to introduce a critical approach to the central concepts and practices that have influenced major interventions and initiatives in music teaching, and supports the development of new ways of looking at ideas around teaching and learning in music.


Shell length frequency distribution (SLFD) and sex ratio of a subpopulation of the mangrove cockles Anadara tuberculosa and Anadara similis were analyzed from natural beds in the Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Mangrove Reserve, Ecuador. The SLFD was different between sexes for both species; females were larger than males. Subpopulations of A. tuberculosa and A. similis were dominated by females throughout the year. The overall sex ratio was 2.6:1 (female: male), although with variations in the monthly samples, from 1.2:1 to 5.9:1 in A. tuberculosa and 1.9:1 to 5.3:1 in A. similis. Possibly, these results may be due to differential growth rate between sexes and environmental factors along the year.


Novinda, Kushardiyanti. 2011. The Effectiveness of Using "British Council
Animation" as Media to Improve Students' Writing Skill in Narrative Text.
(A Case of Eighth Grade Students of SMPN 2 Kendal in the Academic
Year of 2010/ 2011). Final Project. English Department. Faculty of
Languages and Arts. Semarang State University. First Advisor:
Widhiyanto, S.Pd., M.Pd., Second Advisor: Drs. Hartoyo, M.A., Ph.D.
Key words: British Council Animation, Writing, Narrative Text,
The students of junior high school are supposed to some short functional
text, such as narrative text. Meanwhile, English teachers use teaching technique
and use only simple media which is not appropriate with school-based curriculum
(KTSP). The main objectives of this study were to determine the significant
difference in improvement of students' skill in writing narrative text between the
class who was taught by using British Council Animation as a media and the class
without using the media.
The design used true experimental design (pre test-post test control group
design). The subject of this research was eighth grade students of SMPN 2 Kendal
in the academic year 2010/ 2011. It consisted of two cluster random sample
group, they were experiment and control group. The experiment group was class
VIII C, and the control group was class VIII B. The sampling technique was
cluster random sampling.
Before conducting the research, a try-out test was held to class VIII A to
get the validity, reliability, item of difficulty and item discrimination of the test
instrument. Then, the research was begun by giving a pre test, treatment, and a
post test to both groups above. The result of the test was analyzed by using t-test
formula to know the difference in the students' writing result of narrative text
between the group that was taught by British Council Animation and that was not.
The normality and homogeneity of both pre-test and post-test were also used to
support the result.
The result showed the pre test mean of the control group was 63.84 while
the post test mean of the control group was 72.92. Whereas, the pre test mean of
the experiment group was 61.81 while the post test mean of the experiment group
was 82.74. Thus, it was obtained from the computation that the result of the t-test
of the difference pre test post test between experimental and control group was
7.24
Since the t-test (7.24) is higher than t-table (1.68), it means that there is a
significant difference in terms writing achievement between the students who
were taught by using British Council Animation as a media in teaching and those
who were taught without this media. Furthermore, the writer suggests that English
teachers are expected to be communicative and creative when give the material
and use some media that can help students to improve their skill.


In imaginary time quantum metric fluctuations of the empty space form a self-consistent de Sitter state which is invariant with respect to Wick rotation. This suggests that de Sitter state is formed also in the empty (with no matter fields) space of real time. At the start and by the end of its cosmological evolution the Universe is empty, so that the de Sitter expansion of the empty space can be the cause of inflation and dark energy. This scenario is consistent with the existing observational data. The de Sitter accelerated expansion of the empty space under backreaction of quantum metric fluctuations requires a mandatory transition to the Euclidean space of imaginary time and then return to the Lorentzian space of real time. On the other hand, the de Sitter accelerated expansion of the empty space at the beginning and end of the evolution of the Universe is confirmed by observational data (dark energy and inflation). We assume that the very existence of these two effects is observable evidence to the fact that time by its nature could be a complex value in the empty spacetime of the Universe.


The issue of delayed parenthood is explored together with the trend of 'older' people raising relatively young children. The social, personal and medical factors influencing delayed parenthood are considered together with the benefits and risks, to both the parents and the offspring, of having children in later life.


To my beloved husband Ke, my precious daughter Emma, and my dearest mom and dad. Life is so great with you around. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Foremost, my deepest gratitude is to my advisor, Prof. Tibor Besedeš. I have been so fortunate to have an advisor who gave me inexhaustible trust and encouragement during my research process. He provided me with every bit of guidance, assistance, and expertise that I needed. I am extremely grateful to Prof. Besedeš for holding me to a high research standard and enforcing strict validations for each research result, and thus teaching me how to do research. His patience and support during my doctoral journey helped me find my passion for academic research and will be guiding me through the right path for a long time. I hope that one day I would become as good an advisor to my students as he has been to me. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the rest of my dissertation committee:diar Maasoumi for their constant guidance, support and invaluable feedback during the development of my dissertation. Shatakshee Dhongde for their insightful comments and guidance when I was on the job market. Additionally, I would like to thank Ms. Jyldyz Hughes and Mr. Tony Gallego for providing me great help and support during my graduate study in SOE. Finally, I must acknowledge the financial support and other supports from SOE and iv Ivan Allen College of Arts. My heartfelt gratitude is to my family: my husband Ke Wu who has been my source of inspiration and hard work, my daughter Emma Wu who has been the light of my life, and my sweet parents who have aided and encouraged me throughout this endeavor. 2 Summary Statistics of Trade and MEA Agreements by type(1965-2005) 21 3 Panel Gravity equations with bilateral fixed and Country-and-time effects 24 4 First-differenced panel gravity equations with country-and-time effects 25 5 Panel Gravity eqs. with bilateral fixed and Country-time effects by type 28 6 Panel Gravity eqs. with bilateral fixed and Country-time effects by type 31 7 Panel Gravity eqs. with bilateral fixed and Country-and-time effects:


Two derivatives of kidamycin, an antitumor antibiotic isolated from the metabolite of a Streptomyces species, have been studied by X-ray diffraction. Triacetylmethoxykidamycin bis(trimethylammonium) iodide (I), 2+ 21-.4CH40. H20, a methanolysis prodC48H64N2OI3 •


Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on Mn 55 in α-Mn metal and Mn-Cr alloys which have an α-Mn phase in the temperature range around the Neel transition point, have been made by a pulse method. Nuclear spin-spin relaxation time T 2 has shown discontinuity at the Neel temperature, T N . The T 2 values are well proportional to ( T N - T ) 1/3 in antiferromagnetic state and to ( T - T N ) 2/8 in paramagnetic state. The measured values of T N in α-Mn metal, Mn- 1 at.% Cr, and Mn- 2 at.% Cr alloys determined by nuclear magnetic resonance method are 95.0±1.0°K, 81.6±1.0°K, and 72.3±0.5°K, respectively. Mn- 5 at.% Cr alloy did not show an antiferromagnetic behaviour even at 4.2°K. T N decreases with Cr content, but increases with Fe content. These results suggest that the rigid-band model is a good approximation for these metal alloy systems.


The first pitch‐shift effect describes the relationship between pitch and center frequency of complex stimuli with equally spaced components and fixed frequency spacing: f0. It is described mathematically by a saw‐tooth function in a model introduced by de Boer [Doctoral dissertation, University of Amsterdam (1956)]. Researchers usually favor a more ambiguous frequency‐shift/pitch‐shift relationship that better justifies the generally accepted explanation (perceptual detection of a wave signal's time‐fine‐structure). Pilot experiments, however, indicate that: (a) the patterned pitch ambiguities reported by previous studies may be artifacts of experimental design, not challenging de Boer's model, and (b) no model accounts for the present study's reported pitch for frequency shifts: f0/2. The explanation introduced presently argues that (a) modulations resulting from wave superposition are waves themselves, with velocity (:VGroup) that is independent from the velocity of their constituent components (:VPhas...


In this article, a surface mounted device (SMD) common-mode choke (CMC) required for unshielded-twisted-pair automotive communication systems (like 100Base-T1) is characterized in detail regarding its high-frequency filtering characteristics. Firstly, the S-parameters and mixed-mode S-parameters of the mentioned choke were measured using a 4-port vector network analyzer in a frequency range of 1 MHz to 1 GHz. In addition, the same parameters of the choke were measured with common-mode termination in the same way as before. Furthermore the common-mode (CM) and differential-mode (DM) impedance of the choke was measured using an impedance analyzer which covers a frequency range up to 120 MHz. Next, a SPICE equivalent circuit model was extracted from impedance measurements of the common-mode choke, both in CM and DM. Thus, the proposed model incorporates all parasitic effects including packaging, mounting and soldering related effects respectively. In order to characterize the CMC, a set of wideband PCB boards with 3-port and 4-port configurations were designed and fabricated to function as a test fixture for the CMC measurements. In order to remove test fixture effects de-embedding method was applied.


Abstract
Gnoth and Mateucci (2014) develop a phenomenological point of view and explain how tourists' consciousness of their own activity determines how they experience a destination. This model is applied here to see how golf tourists might experience their destination and turn it into a meaningful place. This chapter exemplifies how destinations may develop their own uniqueness as a competitive advantage by understanding how tourists create meanings of a destination (here a golf resort). They argue that it is the tourist's individual propensity to react to a destination that shapes not only motivations, but also perception and evaluation of the experience.


The invention relates to a gummed flocking type high-elastic antibacterial warmth keeping flaky material and a manufacturing method thereof, belonging to the field of textile technology. An antibacterial agent is sprayed inside the upper-layer fiber web and lower-layer fiber web of the high-elastic antibacterial warmth keeping flaky material, the opposite surfaces of the upper-layer fiber web and lower-layer fiber web are coated with upper binding agent film and lower binding agent film, fluff is clamped between the upper-layer fiber web and the lower-layer fiber web, and two ends of the fluff are inserted into the upper binding agent film and the lower binding agent film respectively, and are solidified on the surfaces of the upper-layer fiber web and the lower-layer fiber web. The manufacturing method thereof comprises the following steps: (1) fiber web preparation, (2) antibacterial agent spraying, (3) drying, (4) gumming, (5) electrostatic flocking, (6) drying, (7) fluff absorption, (8) fiber web recombination, (9) drying, and (10) winding. Compared with the prior art, the warmth keeping flaky material manufactured by the invention has an antibacterial function, good elasticity and good warmth keeping performance.


The frame of the financial accounting conception, which is the product of the theoretical research of the accounting circle, is the requirement of formulating the accounting principle and the result of the comprehensive action of the social environment. Along with the development of the economic globalization, the accounting environment has been changed greatly. Our country should probe into and set up the financial accounting conceptional system with Chinese characteristics actively. This paper introduces the developing history of the western financial accounting conceptional system, analyzes on the importance of establishing this system in China, and puts forward some problems needing attention in the course of its construction.


In this paper we present a novel approach in extremal set theory which may be viewed as an asymmetric version of Katona's permutation method. We use it to find more Turan numbers of hypergraphs in the Erdős--Ko--Rado range.
An $(a,b)$-path $P$ of length $2k-1$ consists of $2k-1$ sets of size $r=a+b$ as follows. Take $k$ pairwise disjoint $a$-element sets $A_0, A_2, \dots, A_{2k-2}$ and other $k$ pairwise disjoint $b$-element sets $B_1, B_3, \dots, B_{2k-1}$ and order them linearly as $A_0, B_1, A_2, B_3, A_4\dots$. Define the (hyper)edges of $P_{2k-1}(a,b)$ as the sets of the form $A_i\cup B_{i+1}$ and $B_j\cup A_{j+1}$. The members of $P$ can be represented as $r$-element intervals of the $ak+bk$ element underlying set.
Our main result is about hypergraphs that are blowups of trees, and implies that for fixed $k,a,b$, as $n\to \infty$ \[ {\rm ex}_r(n,P_{2k-1}(a,b)) = (k - 1){n \choose r - 1} + o(n^{r - 1}).\]
This generalizes the Erdős--Gallai theorem for graphs which is the case of $a=b=1$. We also determine the asymptotics when $a+b$ is even; the remaining cases are still open.


The sequences of continental Tertiary rifted basin in East China show that there are two basic types of slope-break: syndepositional fault slope-break and bend slope-break.When the horizontal level falls down the slope-break,it makes a full horizontal level fluctuating cycle,forming lowstand system tract,lake expansion and lake shrinking tracts(trisection tracts).When the horizontal level does not fall down the slope-break,it makes an incomplete horizontal fluctuating cycle,forming lake expansion and lake shrinking tracts(dimidiate tracts).The two sequences stacked regularly in the vertical make the sequence filling of the basin.In the sequence of dimidiate tracts, mudstone and oil shale in the lake expansion system tract are good source rocks and seals,providing favorable conditions for forming giant oil/gas fields.In the sequence of trisection tracts,lowstand sandbody with favorable oil-accumulation conditions and identifiable seismic profiles is preferred for subtle traps.


Subdued investment explained for much of the weak global aggregate demand in the past decade; beyond the near-term impact, it has also contributed to a productivity slowdown and a decline in potential output. While the Asia-Pacific region's investment performance has been relatively robust, there is considerable heterogeneity within the region. Excluding China, investment performance in the region has been rather weak across a wide range of countries. Attention is needed to long-term drivers of investment. Based on a panel regression of 29 Asia-Pacific economies over the period 1990-2016, macroeconomic stability, financial development and trade openness (but not financial openness) contribute significantly to investment.


In this experiment, preparation of samples were based on original ratio of bauxite matrix Al2O3-SiC-C castable for iron runner, and partial bauxites of size 8-5 mm, 5-3 mm, 3-0 mm and <0.074 mm were replaced by the same size granular recycling Al2O3-MgO-C materials from spent ladle bricks, respectively. Si3N4 and B4C were introduced as appropriate additives. Effects of their amount on the performance of Al2O3-SiC-C castable for iron runner were investigated by testing on physical properties and erosion resistance of the samples after sintering. The results showed that the introduction of Si3N4 and B4C led to high temperature flexural strength of the recycled castable samples decline, while the right amount could improve the room temperature flexural and pressure strength along with the erosion resistance to blast furnace slag. When introduced 3% of Si3N4and 0.3% of B4C respectively, the comprehensive performance of the samples were the best.


The constant exploitation of computer systems attached to the net and the threat of devastating attacks against our critical infrastructures warrants a strategic approach to Cyber Security. Among the ideas being considered is the possible declaration of a national policy of "Cyber Deterrence." The best way to improve the situation, this theory goes, is to stop the attackers from attacking in the first place. This is easier said than done.


DNA transposons make up 3% of the human genome, approximately the same percentage as genes. However, because of their inactivity, they are often ignored in favor of the more abundant, active, retroelements. Despite this relative ignominy, there are a number of interesting questions to be asked of these transposon families. One particular question relates to the timing of proliferation and inactivation of elements in a family. Does an ongoing process of turnover occur, or is the process more akin to a life cycle for the family, with elements proliferating rapidly before deactivation at a later date? We answer this question by tracing back to the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of each modern transposon family, using two different methods. The first method identifies the MRCA of the species in which a family of transposon fossils can still be found, which we assume will have existed soon after the true origin date of the transposon family. The second method uses molecular dating techniques to predict the age of the MRCA element from which all elements found in a modern genome are descended. Independent data from five pairs of species are used in the molecular dating analysis: human–chimpanzee, human–orangutan, dog–panda, dog–cat, and cow–pig. Orthologous pairs of elements from host species pairs are included, and the divergence dates of these species are used to constrain the analysis. We discover that, in general, the times to element common ancestry for a given family are the same for the different species pairs, suggesting that there has been no order-specific process of turnover. Furthermore, for most families, the ages of the common ancestor of the host species and of that of the elements are similar, suggesting a life cycle model for the proliferation of transposons. Where these two ages differ, in families found only in Primates and Rodentia, for example, we find that the host species date is later than that of the common ancestor of the elements, implying that there may be large deletions of elements from host species, examples of which were found in their ancestors.


Excessive discharge of hazardous azo dyes into aquatic ecosystem is a global environmental concern. Here, we develop a green approach to remediate dye pollutions in water by fabricating an easy separable bio-nanocomposite, based on whey protein concentrate, its nanofibrils and montmorillonite nano-clay. Nanofibrils lead to a uniform dispersion of montmorillonite in the whey protein matrix and also reinforce the nanocomposite. The adsorption efficacy was monitored in a batch system, using cationic dyes (Chrysoidine-G, Bismarck brown-R), reactive dyes (reactive black-5, reactive orange-16), acid dyes (acid red-88, acid red-114), and direct dyes (direct violet-51, Congo red). This nanocomposite adsorbed different dye classes, cationic dyes quicker (>82%, after 4 h) and reactive dyes slower. Then, the effect of dye concentration, contact time and adsorbent dose on Chrysoidine-G adsorption was explored. The adsorbent showed a high removal (>93%) for a wide concentration range of Chrysoidine-G. Equilibrium adsorption parameters were reasonably fitted with a linear (Nernst) isotherm model, while kinetic data were fitted with pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models. To characterize the nanocomposite, we used SEM, FT-IR, XRD and BET techniques. We conclude that this nanocomposite is a green adsorbent with potential use for wastewater treatment and related purposes. Highlights We produced a novel bio-nanocomposite using whey nanofibrils and MMT Nanofibrils help disperse MMT particles uniformly in the WP matrix The adsorbent's performance was compared to the adsorbents in absence of MMT and nanofibrils This composite adsorbs cationic, anionic, direct and reactive azo dyes with different kinetics Adsorption isotherms and kinetics are studied in detail


Introduction: Gallstones Disease (GSD) is one of the common medical problems leading to surgical intervention. The gold standard treatment for cholelithiasis is cholecystectomy. Co-existence of concurrent Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) problems in GSD patients have attributed to the Post-cholecystectomy Syndrome (PCS). PCS consists of a group of abdominal symptoms, that recur and/or persist after cholecystectomy. The associated upper Gastrointestinal (GI) pathologies are identified by UGI endoscopy. Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection has been implicated in many GI and extra-GI diseases. This aspect of identifying associated pathologies in symptomatic gallstone disease and identifying H.pylori infection using gene-sequencing method has not been studied in Indian population. Aim: To study the associated UGI pathology detected by preoperative UGI endoscopy in symptomatic GSD and to compare the outcome based on the trend of PCS overtime. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study conducted in the Department of Surgery at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Insititute, Puducherry, India. The duration of the study was 18 months, from January 2019 to July 2020. The individuals over 18 years of age, who were symptomatic and ultrasonographically proven to have cholelithiasis formed the study group. The sample size was calculated to be N=50 (reduced to N=30 due to Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID19) pandemic). Patients underwent UGI endoscopy prior to surgery, to assess for associated pathology including H.pylori. They were followed at regular intervals postoperatively and assessed based on questionnaire for the occurrence of PCS. The quantitative and qualitative variables were summarised as frequency, percentage and Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher's-exact test, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of H.pylori positivity by Histopathological Evaluation (HPE) in biopsy samples was compared to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) as the gold standard. The significance level was set at p-value<0.05. The trend of the symptoms was also studied overtime. Results: The mean age of the study population was 39.4±11.93 years. UGI abnormalities were present in 89.7% of the study group. H.pylori was identified in eight patients by histopathology examination while PCR detected 16 patients to have H.pylori. Sixteen out of 30 patients (53.3%) had PCS. It was also noted that, early PCS numbers tend to reduce over time, but the overall and late PCS numbers tend to increase over time. Although, a statistical analysis could not be performed, a graph was drawn to study the symptoms over the study period allowing observation of vital relation to gallstone disease. UGI pathology and H.pylori infection had a significant association with overall PCS with p-value=0.022 and 0.026, respectively. Conclusion: The present study recommends the use of preoperative UGI endoscopy in symptomatic GSD. The identification of H.pylori by PCR using population-based genesequences has a role in treatment of gallstone disease. The trend shows difference in behaviour of PCS overtime.


Severe leakages of the elbow occur in the regeneration tower return pipeline of the LPG desulfurization unit, leading to the unplanned shutdown of the unit frequently over the period of four months. It is forced to apply additional steel plates to prevent the leakage. Elusively, it is found that the first wall contact with the fluid is fully eroded away in the vicinity of the bend, however, the walls of additional steel plates are intact. The clarification of this problem is required to ensure safe production. This strange phenomenon can be investigated by failure analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. The failure analysis showed that the gas–liquid two-phase erosion–corrosion was the main cause of elbow leakage. The simulation shows that droplet erosion plays a dominant role in the erosion–corrosion process, and the elbow will leak in 4.3 months, which matches the actual situation very well. Furthermore, multiphase erosion–corrosion behavior was thoroughly investigated to expose the feature of the mentioned strange phenomenon. It was shown that when the corrosion holes are formed, the gas forms a fluid vortex in the holes. The vortex acts as flexible substrates, which plays a buffer layer to the droplet erosion, thus protecting the additional steel plate. The formation of the holes provides an effective way for elbow failure prevention.


The paper describes the interrelation between the quality of dried liquid dispersed product and the c olor of its surface. It presents the algorithm for assessing the quality of the dried liquid disperse product, which changes the colors of the s urface in the process of drying. The scale of assessing the quali ty of the dried product is illustrated by the dried after alcohol s tillage.


Induction of optimal HIV‐1‐specific T‐cell responses, which can contribute to controlling viral infection in vivo, depends on antigen processing and presentation processes occurring in DCs. Opsonization can influence the routing of antigen processing and pathways used for presentation. We studied antigen proteolysis and the role of endocytic receptors in MHC class I (MHCI) and II (MHCII) presentation of antigens derived from HIV‐1 in human monocyte‐derived immature DCs (IDCs) and mature DCs, comparing free and complement opsonized HIV‐1 particles. Opsonization of virions promoted MHCI presentation by DCs, indicating that complement opsonization routes more virions toward the MHCI presentation pathway. Blockade of macrophage mannose receptor (MMR) and β7‐integrin enhanced MHCI and MHCII presentation by IDCs and mature DCs, whereas the block of complement receptor 3 decreased MHCI and MHCII presentation. In addition, we found that IDC and MDC proteolytic activities were modulated by HIV‐1 exposure; complement‐opsonized HIV‐1 induced an increased proteasome activity in IDCs. Taken together, these findings indicate that endocytic receptors such as MMR, complement receptor 3, and β7‐integrin can promote or disfavor antigen presentation probably by routing HIV‐1 into different endosomal compartments with distinct efficiencies for degradation of viral antigens and MHCI and MHCII presentation, and that HIV‐1 affects the antigen‐processing machinery.


Leukemias almost occur in young patients. They threaten the patients both physical and mental healths, including oral health, directly by itself and indirectly adverse effects of treatment, especially chemotherapy, which may be life-threatening. It is important that the dental professionals must recognize these problems, in order to prevent and manage them well. This paper present a report of case leukemia patient given effective treatment safely.


Fatherhood in the context of maternal postpartum depression: a literature review. The literature review examines the findings of recent studies regarding fatherhood in the context of maternal postpartum depression. The studies on this theme demonstrate strong negative association between maternal postpartum depression and the quality of marital relationship, emotional support offered by the father and his involvement in taking care of the baby and in domestic work. They have also shown that the father can reduce the impact of maternal depression on children if he is involved and mentally healthy, although there are few studies describing how fathers participate in these families. The literature also shows that husbands of depressive women are in a risk situation for the development of psychopathology, suggesting that the clinical interventions in this context should also focus on family relationships.


Abstract Asian Americans (AAs) are frequently diagnosed with dementia in advanced disease stages and have difficulty accessing services. The NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health, set out to culturally adapt The Kickstart-Assess-Evaluate-Refer (KAER) framework to support earlier detection of dementia in AA communities. Working with Bangladeshi, Chinese, and Korean senior centers, we used a participatory action approach to assess cultural relevancy, usability and acceptability of KAER to improve timely diagnosis and access to care. We found that community-based organizations (CBOs), not physicians, were often "first responders" in identifying and managing dementia. However, CBO staff felt unprepared to "Kickstart" discussions, found certain KAER questions were not culturally appropriate, and encountered barriers in communicating their concerns to physicians. Adaptations to KAER can maximize its impact and reach in AA communities. Suggestions include group education, as opposed to individualized screening, and stronger linkages between physicians and CBOs to ensure care continuity.


In the sequencial analysis of oligopeptide by GLCi' (and also GLC/MS2') method it is desirable that after its partial hydrolysis all the possible and reasonab}e fragments are observed in such a harmonious amount ratio in the chromatogram as can be clearly deeected and identified. In this paper we selected two tetrapeptides, Z-Val-Ileu-Phe-Pro-OMe (1), which had once3) been reported to be the part of the bitter peptide obtained frorn the partial hydrolysates'of casein, aRd Z-Phe-Pro-:Val-Ileu-OMe (3), which was the rearranged one of 1 iR view of comparing the both, as model substaRces aRd investigated the separation patterns of their partial hydrolysates in GLC.


This research offers a new method to message routing in a Computer Network using a Neuro-Fuzzy System (NFS) model. A NFS employed in this research combines the learning ability of artificial neural network with the intelligence of fuzzy logic to route messages from source to destination. The model displays the stored knowledge in terms of fuzzy linguistic rules, which allows the model decision – making process to be examined and understood in detail. According to previous research, routing in a network is difficult because the network topology may change constantly and available state information for routing is inherently indefinite. Therefore NFS will work with vague information and selects the most qualified route/path with sufficient resources to satisfy a certain delay and bandwidth requirement in a dynamic environment. The NFS is tested on hypothetical computer network and the advantages are discussed using the case study. The result revealed that the NFS developed was better in performance than the traditional Random and Shortest path method.


Introduction: The prevalence of heart failure (HF) has continued to increase around the globe in the past 30 years. Despite advanced technology and rigorous management protocols, patients diagnosed with HF continue to suffer heart failure symptoms. These debilitating symptoms frequently lead to anxiety, depression, decreased quality of life, and frequent hospitalizations. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of an outpatient phone intervention on 30-day hospital readmissions, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in heart failure patients.Methods: This study used a prospective, longitudinal design to evaluate the effectiveness of a phone intervention for patients discharged with a diagnosis of heart failure. All patients were enrolled at the time of hospital discharge to an outpatient phone monitoring intervention. They received weekly phone calls to assess HF symptoms, and medical compliance. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHF-Q) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were completed at baseline and again after the four week intervention. Data was analyzed using a paired t test. Thirty-day heart failure readmission rates were compared to hospital readmission rates for heart failure patients prior to the intervention.Results:Atotalof33participantswereenrolledintheintervention. Thesample(N=33) included females (66.7%) who were predominantly white (96.9%) with a mean age of 75.65 + 12.36 years. Heart failure type was mainly systolic (51.5%) with 39.3% documented as diastolic heart failure. A total of 31 (94%) individuals completed the four week phone intervention. The baseline mean MLHF-Q score was 49. The post intervention mean MLHF-Q score was 14.65 (95% CI 27.965-40.744,p<0.000). The baseline mean HADS score was 4.26. The post intervention HADS score was 3.00 (95% CI .274-2.242, p=0.014). Preprogram facility readmissionratefortheprimarydiagnosisofheartfailurewas22.3%. Theadmissionrateforthe intervention group was 12%.Discussion/Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of a nurse-led telephone program on quality of life, anxiety, and 30 day readmissions. Further research is needed to establish the efficacy of a telephone intervention on depression, long-term effectiveness, and to identify the usefulness of this type of program for each heart failure functional class.


The CCTV solar street light using a wireless communication network is disclosed. To identify a wireless identification tag detect criminals wireless identification tag and the antenna indicating the criminal detection; If when the operation detected using the lens 360 and the video surveillance camera motion is detected that the slip; When sound enters the microphone to save the checked time and check the time and sound files; WiFi to send the image by using a wireless communication network CCTV; LED light-emitting driving, and solar street for dimming control in accordance with the ambient brightness and the remaining battery level; A solar panel solar power generation unit; Batteries that store the power; And it receives the external power source constitutes a power supply for supplying a battery. Therefore, by identifying the wireless identification tag criminal cold to the wireless identification antenna detect criminals or absence, and can inform the criminal sense, by increasing the complexity of the embedded furnace system of solar street solve becomes installation is difficult and to facilitate the device management has the advantage that, the battery power is lowered solar power from the external power source in this case be interrupted by developing the electric power is always operable and maintaining the status of the power, wire cables instead is easy to install using a WiFi CCTV, and a convenient administration CCTV It can provide a managed environment.


Abstract : The report presents an annotated translation of a chapter from a Soviet textbook on tactics published in 1966. The chapter covers the doctrine of Soviet troop movements under their own power, by rail or water, and by air. (Author)


Old people issues have become global in the sharp period of social turning.Their ethics is also becomes one of the important ethical questions.Build elderly ethical not only has important theoretical meaning but great value of practice.Therefore,we must base on traditional culture essence of filial piety and positive thoughts of western relevant beneficial nutrients to discuss and research the main content and the basic principle of elderly ethics.


Commodity-based sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) have been at a crossroads following the recent fall in commodity prices. This paper provides a framework for commodity-based SWF management, focusing on stabilization and savings funds, by (i) examining macrofiscal linkages for SWFs; (ii) presenting an integrated sovereign asset and liability management (SALM) approach to SWF management; and (iii) applying this framework to a scenario where assets are being accumulated and to a scenario where the SWF is drawn on to cover a financing gap due to lower commodity prices.


fie stability testing of developed dosage forms is Often a number are developed and subjected p a stability testing program with the view of marketing ody the most stable. If this operation can be simplified, economies might be made in the developflent of new drug products. Differential thermal analysis at the preformulation stage offers a possible help in solution of the problem. By comparing the thermal reaction of the drug and each of a number of excipients ~ t h mixtures of drug and excipient, it is possible to the most promising excipients for use in the development program. Differential thermal analysis will where a n excipient is compatible with a drug. Where an unexpected thermogram results, an excipient may show incompatibility with the drug on storage of fie dosage form. While this is not conclusive, because of the elevated temperatures used, the analysis can distinguish between those excipients unlikely to cause a problem and those that may cause instability. Any chemical reaction either evolving or absorbing heat will be monitored by the analysis. Change of crystalline structure and physical instability caused by eutectic formation will also be observed. Differential thermal analysis has been correlated with stability of oxacillin and dicloxacillin in formulations with stearic acid (Jacobson & Reier, 1969). A modified reheating technique was used by Hentze & Voege (1971) for studying the incompatibility of ampicillin and glucose. The ease and rapidity of eliminating possible incompatible excipients makes differential thermal analysis a useful tool in preformulation work and the relatively small quantities of materials necessary are also an advantage. In the current study, oxytetracycline was examined for possible incompatibility with a variety of excipients in tablet formulations. The solid-solid instability of various oxytetracline mixtures had previously been studied by Lach & Bornstein (1965, 1966) using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, which served as a useful basis for this investigation. Additionally, the work of Chalmers & Elworthy (1976), evaluated the effect of various binders and excipients on the mechanical Properties of the granules and tablets as well as on the granulation method. Since a formulation might be chosen as a result of this work, it appeared to be worthwhile to evaluate the excipients used, for their possible effect on the stability of the formulation. A Mettler TA 2000 differential thermal analyser was Used with a constant heating rate of 6" min-l. The samples were heated in an atmosphere of nitrogen


Perfect arrays are defined by having zero out-of-phase autocorrelation sidelobes. Such arrays find many applications, e.g. in two-dimensional synchronization techniques. With a known construction method, it is shown that perfect phase arrays can be obtained for every size. However, the phase alphabets of these constructed phase arrays increase by the size of the arrays. With further construction schemes the phase alphabet of perfect phase arrays can be reduced for particular sizes. Classes of perfect phase arrays are obtained whose phase alphabet does not increase with the size of the arrays.<<ETX>>


With reference to 'Always on the case' (features July 3), if I came across someone who had collapsed or been involved in an accident I would assist without question in any way I could. But where does one draw the line?


As the core of "village meatness",improving rural human settlements has become an important part of new socialist countryside construction.The concept and connotation of rural human settlements were outlined,and the content of 'rural human settlements' optimization was expounded in this paper.Aimed at the status of rural human settelements in China,some idears,principles and measures of improvement were proposed,so as to provide theoretial reference for study on rural human settlements' optimization in China's new socialist contryside construction.


With the fast development of English major in China,many universities of medicine have set English major according to their advantages and characteristics. But owing to its short history,the discussion about its major setting and development has still been at the beginning. With the analysis about the present training mode in these universities from the construction of teaching team,teaching materials and reform of teaching methods,this paper intends to seek some reasonable solutions to their particular problems in the course of construction and development to arouse further attention and discussion.


We use a 30-nm x-ray beam to study the spatially resolved properties of a SmNiO$_3$-based nanodevice that is doped with protons. The x-ray absorption spectra supported by density-functional theory (DFT) simulations show partial reduction of nickel valence in the region with high proton concentration, which leads to the insulating behavior. Concurrently, x-ray diffraction reveals only a small lattice distortion in the doped regions. Together, our results directly show that the knob which proton doping modifies is the electronic valency, and not the crystal lattice. The studies are relevant to on-going efforts to disentangle structural and electronic effects across metal-insulator phase transitions in correlated oxides.


The purpose of this work is to show how to affect the most important factor of traffic safety - an individual, by using some technical solutions of satellite tracking of vehicles. By using units of the Land Forces as an example, a brief analysis of traffic safety for vehicles less than 5 years old has been performed. It is noticed that the number of traffic accidents with these vehicles involved has increased, so we tried to use one software package commercially available in order to show all advantages and disadvantages which could be noticed during this kind of vehicle tracking. The conclusion is that preventive vehicle tracking can improve traffic safety, but that a techno-economic analysis has to be done as well, in order to create all the necessary conditions for the introduction of this system in the units of the Serbian Armed Forces.


Shared appreciation mortgages (SAMs) realign traditional incentives in the lender–borrower relationship by substituting future capital gains for interest income. This makes them a potentially innovative solution to affordability and other homeownership crises. Taxation and regulatory barriers have impeded SAM development limiting empirical studies of their impact on households. This has not been the case in South Australia where State government implementation of SAMs has made available a unique and detailed dataset of low-income SAM-financed households. Examining this population, it is found that SAM borrowers benefit from increased budgetary expenditure on discretionary items following take-up, while simultaneously saving on some non-discretionary items relative to a control sample. Furthermore, SAM homeownership also seems associated with increased borrower levels of neighbourhood satisfaction and community involvement. Overall, these results indicate that SAM-financed homeownership leads to changes in borrower behaviour and deserves further consideration by the housing industry and research community.


It is essential to evaluate safety of marine traffic for the improvement of efficiency and safety of marine traffic. Spread of AIS makes observation of actual marine traffic more easily and faster than before. Besides, description of collision avoidance behaviours of ships are indispensable to simulate a realistic marine traffic. It is important to develop and implement an algorithm of collision avoidance corresponding to a target traffic or target area into the marine traffic simulation because actual actions for collision avoidance depend on circumstances where ships are sailing. The authors developed an automated marine traffic simulation system with AIS data. And in this paper, the authors proposed a series of systematic procedures for marine traffic simulation including analysing for collision avoidance behaviours using AIS data.


The deficiency of pollinators is indicated as the main factor limiting fruit set in orchids. Nectariferous species are more successful in setting fruits than nectarless species. In the present study, we tested whether pollinator limitation lowers reproductive success in populations of Cypripedium calceolus on environmental islands in the Biebrza National Park, NE Poland. Moreover, we analyzed how population size and structure affect pollination success. Our observations and results of experiments document the low level of fruiting in populations of nectarless C. calceolus (9.2% on average) and strong pollen limitation. Generally, we noted a positive relationship between pollination success and all parameters of population size (measured by both occupied area and number of clumps or shoots) and parameters measuring floral display (number of flowers in population, number of flowers in clumps, spatial structure of flowering shoots). We suggest that information about factors influencing the reproductive success of this endangered species may be useful for planning appropriate conservation actions.


In this study, various fin geometries are referred for steady-state natural convection heat transfer. The effects of fin spacing, fin length, fin height, % of perforations, shape of perforations etc. are studied. For high powered street LED lights heat sinks with horizontal fin arrays are utilized. Large amount of heat generated in these street LED"s must have to be dissipated effectively, so that the life span of the same can be enhanced. For the heat sinks currently utilized in the high powered street LED"s a stagnation zone is formed at the symmetry centre of the fins this causes the problem in air circulation ultimately affects the heat dissipation capacity of the heat sink. Therefore there should be the proper provision for air to be drawn.


The reader looking for a detailed analysis of films about or containing American Indians will be disappointed. The essays introducing each major period are brief and sometimes too general to be satisfactory. Discussions of cinematographic techniques used to characterize Native Americans are inter esting and helpful, but again more suggestive than complete. Another frustra tion is the mystifying set of criteria followed in listing actors. Hilger indicates that he has focused principally on Indian roles, whether played by Indians or non-Indians, bu t no great consistency in following that principle is evident— sometimes films are listed with major white actors; sometimes not. W hat is very useful within each period is the apparently complete listing of films in which Indians had any part whatever, along with many contemporary reviews so that the work is a truly valuable resource for anyone doing research on the topic. Valuable also is Hilger's conclusion: " . . . the fiction of these films reveals little about real American Indians but a lot about the evolution of white American values."


Recent findings have demonstrated that use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in persons with multiple sclerosis was affected by health insurance. Many patients relied on free or discounted drug programs for DMT use and when they obtained DMTs through their health insurance, it was not uncommon for them to experience insurance challenges for DMT use. However, it is not known how these findings were associated with gender. Here we investigate the association between gender and (1) DMT use, (2) use of free or discounted drug programs, and (3) insurance challenges for DMT use using participants from North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry.


The paper elaborates awarding thought in Han Feizi and believes that awarding and punishment are two tools to run a country,and awarding thought is as rich as punishment thought and a perfect combination of law,power and skill has become true.


A neural network inverse procedure has been proposed to solve the Moving Vector Hysteron Model identification. Using the analytic modified Preisach model, a multilayer perceptron neural network is firstly trained to associate the direct relationship among the model parameters and the hysteretic behavior of the material to be modeled both in case of scalar and rotational magnetization. The neural model is then inverted using as input the magnetization identifying the corresponding model parameters values. Model validations with experimental tests and simulations will be performed.


This chapter aims to provide information about Thai English, an English in the Expanding Circle, as a possible emerging variety of world Englishes. Firstly, an overview of English which is a foreign language in Thailand is provided in terms of its use, users, and its influential status. Secondly, distinctive features of Thai English are presented. Finally, a conclusion on how Thai English can be viewed as a new variety of world Englishes is drawn.


The majority of lung cancer patients are refractory to PD-L1/PD-1 blockade monotherapy. This therapy may even accelerate progression and death in a group of patients called hyperprogressors. Here we demonstrate that the efficacy of PD-L1/PD-1 blockade therapy relies on baseline circulating highly-differentiated CD28− CD27− CD4 T cells (THD cells), which segregate patients in two non-overlapping groups. THD cells in cancer patients mostly comprised of central memory subsets that potently co-upregulated PD-1 and LAG3 upon antigen recognition. Low baseline THD numbers unequivocally identified intrinsic non-responders and hyperprogressors, whom aberrantly responded to therapy with a potent systemic proliferative THD cell burst. Responder patients showed significant reductions in systemic CD4 THD cells throughout therapy linked to expansion of the CD28+ CD27+ CD4 T cell compartment. Quantification of THD cells from peripheral blood samples prior to therapy allows identification of non-responders, hyperprogressors and responders, a critical issue in clinical oncology. These results place CD4 T cell responses at the center of anti-tumor immunity.


This study investigates the influence of viscous dissipation on aligned Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of Jeffry fluid containing Carbon Nanoparticles (CNTs) over an exponential stretching sheet with boundary condition of Newtonian Heating (NH). The model proposed by Tiwari and Das is adopted. The numerical computation using Runge-Kutta Fehlberg (RKF45) method is used to generate the results. The numerical solutions of the several parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles are analysed and presented graphically. It is revealed that an increase in aligned angle, magnetic field, and ratio of relaxation to retardation times leads to the decreasing in velocity and increasing in temperature profiles. Meanwhile, both velocity and temperature profiles increase with a rise in volume fraction parameter.


The bioremoval of metribuzin (C8H14N4OS) which is one of the selective herbicide in tomato farming in Turkey was investigated with Bacillus subtilis bacteria under agitated culture conditions and artifical agricultural field. The bacterium was isolated in collected soil samples from one of the agricultural area in Elazig province of Turkey. The area is unexposed to metribuzin before. Five apparatuses were set up and 100 mL of metribuzin in 1750 ppm concentration (advised concentration of tomato farmers) was added to each Erlenmayer flasks. 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mL of enriched Bacillus subtilis solutions (in sabouraud dextrose broth) added to these flasks. Each mL of the enriched solutions contains ×10 Colony forming unit (CFU). These flasks were shaken at 160 rpm at 28 C in sterile conditions for 17 days. In 24 hours intervals, each sample was collected to flasks and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was determined with DR/890 colorimeter by the line of closed reflux method while Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) experiments were performed via standard methods 5210D with oxitops. As a result of the study, best removal performance observed in 100 mL Bacillus subtilis as 98% at 17 days in COD. In a soil study, 100 mL mixture of Bacillus subtilis consortia used for bioremediation studies. According to the results of artifical agricultural field study, the bioremediation seen at COD and BOD5 parameters are 99.4% and 96% respectively at the end of 2. week. This experiments have focused that, Bacillus subtilis should be a selective type for bioremediation of metribuzin on receiving


Anthony Birley, retired from a chair in Germany and currently honorary professor in the department of classics and ancient history, University of Durham, England, is one of the foremost authorities on Roman Britain and on the biographies of the Roman emperors. The purpose of the present book is to assemble and analyze all the available evidence for identifiable individuals who held senior appointments in the Roman administration in Britain over the centuries of Roman rule. In 1981 Birley published The Fasti of Roman Britain, the forerunner of the present book, which immediately became an essential reference work for anyone interested in the structure of Roman Britain. There was no rival, and has not been until now. However, the intricate scholarship required by the nature of the sources—inscriptions from all over the empire, often fragmentary, plus fleeting references in Greek and Latin texts themselves subject to the uncertainties of manuscript transmission—produced a book impossible to read through. The new book brings the source material up-to-date by incorporating recent discoveries and research and displaying admirably restrained judgement at points of uncertainty, but it does much more than that. Birley has transformed it by a number of structural changes. First, the classical texts are now translated (those in Latin are also given in the original language). Second, the arrangement of materials has been altered and supplemented. Consequently, it is now possible to read the entries through in a logical sequence as a fresh and illuminating way of appreciating the narrative of Roman Britain through the history of individuals. Moreover, for the reader with interest in the Romans in general, the enduring administrative practice of posting men for relatively short tours of duty in different parts of the empire combines with the fact that many of these people were close to the emperor of the day to invest these biographies with considerable significance for understanding the workings of the empire at large and how it changed over the centuries. This book is a product of the Oxford tradition of ancient history—total immersion in the written sources—which will make it immediately attractive to specialist ancient historians. Many general readers (including archaeologists relatively unfamiliar with these techniques) may still find it at first sight daunting. However, even if Birley sometimes overestimates the degree of background knowledge to be assumed, he writes well and there is an excellent glossary. Nonspecialists with reasonable familiarity with the Roman world can be encouraged to take the plunge.


The IR spectrum, crystal structure, electronic structure, thermodynamic properties, heat of formation and detonation properties of a new polynitro heterocyclic energetic material 3,7-bis(dinitromethylene)-2,4,6,8-tetranitro-2,4,6,8-tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane were investigated theoretically. The calculated results show that this compound has a centrosymmetric structure and the molecular packing prediction indicates that the crystalline packing of the title compound is P212121 and the corresponding cell parameters are as follows: Z=4, a= 22.03 A, b=8.73 A, c=8.42 A, Ꮁ=90°, β=90° and γ=90°. Based on the high positive heat of formation (HOF, 740.4 kJ mol-1), excellent detonation properties (detonation velocity D, 9.77 km s−1; detonation pressure P, 45.9 GPa), energy gap (ΔELUMO-HOMO) 4.19 eV and the molecular electrostatic potentials (MEP), it is predicted that 3,7-bis(dinitromethylene)-2,4,6,8-tetranitro-2,4,6,8-tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0] octane could be may be a superior high-energy density compound (HEDC) to RDX and HMX.


We study the interaction properties of two-channel wavelength-division multiplexed strongly dispersion managed communication systems. By means of a variational approach to the Generalized Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation we obtain an ordinary differential equations model for the main parameters of the pulses including third-order dispersion, Raman scattering and self-steepening. We study the residual frequency shift for each channel after the collision between sets of two pulses as a function of the ratio of dissimilar peak powers in a broad range of dispersion difference values, concluding that the transmission characteristics improve by using specific values of unequal energies and considering higher-order correction terms.


Objective: To explore the clinical curative effect of large-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone( ACTH) on EV71 infection combined with adrenal dysfunction in critically ill children with hand-foot-mouth disease. Methods: One hundred critically ill children with hand-foot-mouth disease,EV71 infection combined with adrenal dysfunction who were treated in the hospital from October 2010to October 2011 were selected as study objects,and then they were randomly divided into control group and observation group,50 children in each group. The children in control group were treated with routine therapy,such as antiviral therapy,reducing intracranial pressure,diminishing inflammation with hormone,abatement of fever,and supporting treatment; while the children in observation group were treated with intravenous injection of large-dose ACTH( 250 μg /1. 7 m2) based on the routine therapy used in control group. The curative effects in the two groups were evaluated,and the indexes of renal function in the two groups were compared. Results: The total effective rates in observation group and control group were 98. 0% and 72. 0%,respectively,there was statistically significant difference between the two groups( χ2= 13. 254,P = 0. 031); the increasing value of cortisol( △max) in control group and observation group were( 3. 8 ± 2. 1) μg / dL and( 7. 1 ±1. 8) μg/dL,respectively,there was statistically significant difference between the two groups( t =10. 184,P =0. 008). Conclusion: Large-dose ACTH can significantly improve the curative effect of critically ill children with hand-foot-mouth disease,EV71 infection combined with adrenal dysfunction,improve adrenal function,increase blood cortisol concentration,and relieve renal tissue damage or dysfunction,which has important value in clinical application.


In daily life, mobile phones accompany the user permanently and are worn often in the front pocket of the trousers. The sensors included in today's mobile phones can hence be used for ubiquitous assistance. For instance, the acceleration sensor could be used for analysis of the person's bodily activity, or the microphone can be used to analyze the environmental noise levels. A possible sensor fusion provides additional and assured environmental and context information.
 This work presents new methods of activity recognition by acceleration and sound sensors by means of sensors included in commercially available smart phones during everyday life. We could identify that sounds provide valuable additional information on a user's situation that allow to better asses a person's current context.


Echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound) is a spectacular imaging test. This paper presents results of a two year study of 40 patients referred for the test to 'reassure' them that their hearts are normal. Analysis is based on recordings of consultations in private and public practice and interviews with patients and cardiologists. The test is shown to have little technical impact on the diagnosis. The cardiologists diagnose most patients as certainly or most probably normal on clinical examination. This clinical evidence may over-rule the test result. The major purpose of the test is to mediate social relations with colleagues (to satisfy referring physicians and to justify reversal of their diagnoses) and to reinforce social control over patients. While most patients feel relieved by the test result, many are left worse off as a result of the test. Thus, even when a test is used to diagnose a murmur as 'innocent', the process of diagnosis may be harmful to patients.


The invention relates to a lithium ion secondary battery negative pole piece and a preparation method thereof. A functional group is grafted to the surface of adhesive butadiene styrene rubber molecules, the particle size of the butadiene styrene rubber molecules is reduced to 75nm to 85nm, and thus the butadiene styrene rubber adhesive is good in adhesion property, dispersion property and stability. By adopting a special negative pole formula, the negative pole piece comprises the following ingredients by weight percent: 95.9 to 96.9 percent of graphite mixture, 0.8 to 1.2 percent of carbon black, 1.5 to 1.8 percent of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium and 0.8 to 1.1 percent of butadiene styrene rubber. The prepared lithium ion secondary battery negative pole piece improves the battery capacity and reduces battery resistance.


The invention relates to a production process of a mulberry ice grape wine nutrition and health care beverage and belongs to the field of fruit product wine. The health preserving principle is adopted, nutrition sources of various elements including mulberry, medlar, red dates and ice grape are subjected to treatment through traditional processes of vacuum concentration, squeezing, sugar adding fermentation and the technologies of separation, low-temperature storage, high-temperature sterilization and the like to be refined into fruit wine nutrition health care beverages. Nutrition ingredients are stored and are not damaged, the mouth feeling requirements of people can be met, the nutrition and health care multiple effects are realized, the manufacture process is simple, and raw materials can be easily obtained. The beverage is nature transparent purple red liquid, does not contain any pigment, has the wine flavor of mulberry fruit flavor and grape fruit fragrance, and 18 kinds of human body required amino acids are contained. The beverage has the functions of improving the immunity, preventing the cholesterol rise and resisting the cold on the human bodies and has the capability of activating the toxin decomposing capability of the cells. A better prevention effect is realized on hyperlipidemia and influenza, and in addition, the effects of heat clearing, detoxication, sleep improvement and body strengthening are realized.


To simulate synergisms in thermal and radiation environments, and to exhibit the effect of antioxidants, we propose a new degradation model with the critical antioxidant concentration concept for safety cables in nuclear power plants. A chemical reaction scheme is used to represent the oxidation reaction via the decomposition of peroxide radicals. The effects of antioxidants are included in this scheme to exhibit the critical concentration phenomena. Diffusion equations are added to their reaction rate equations to allow reproduction of diffusion limited oxidation. Such a degradation model with antioxidant effect is discussed for various degradation behaviors in polymers used for safety cables, and its effectiveness is verified.


The sharp rise of North Korea's threat to Japan's security in recent years has prompted Japan to play a more active role in the uncertain peace-building effort on the Korean peninsula. Indeed, Tokyo has adopted a multifaceted security policy toward the management of problems associated with a divided Korea. On the one hand, it has committed itself as a major underwriter of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) and is a supporter of the Four-Party Peace Talks and other multilateral confidence and security building efforts in the region. On the other hand, Tokyo has also strengthened its long-standing bilateral military ties with Washington, sought ways to cooperate with Seoul on security matters, and unilaterally instituted measures to beef up its defense capabilities. In fact, Japan's trilateral cooperation with the United States and South Korea on diplomatic as well as military measures has limited North Korea's ability to exploit the inevitable differences in national priorities among the three democratic countries. The continuation and deepening of this cooperation should help in convincing Pyongyang that it needs to moderate its confrontational behavior. This should in turn increase the prospect of establishing a stable peace regime on the Korean peninsula. Japan has vital security interests at stake in Korea, and it would be to Japan's advantage to see the establishment of a stable peace regime on the Korean peninsula. In fact, Japan in recent years has played an active role in the uncertain peace-building effort between North Korea on the one side and South Korea and the United States on the other. Japan has committed itself as a key financial sponsor of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) and is a supporter of the Four-Party Peace Talks and other multilateral confidence and security building efforts in the region. However, Japan has hedged these more optimistic bets by strengthening its long-standing bilateral military alliance with the United States, seeking ways to cooperate with South Korea on security matters, and unilaterally beefing up its own defense capabilities in case that things go very wrong on the Korean peninsula. On the whole, this multifaceted Japanese security policy has had a positive impact on the maintenance of regional stability in Northeast Asia and the ongoing effort to build a permanent peace on the Korean peninsula. In particular, Japan's trilateral cooperation with the United States and South Korea on diplomatic as well as military measures has limited North Korea's ability to exploit the inevitable differences in national priorities among the three democratic countries. The continuation and deepening of this cooperation should prompt North Korea to make a realistic appraisal of its strategic options and moderate its bellicose behavior. This in turn should increase the prospect of creating a stable peace regime on the Korean peninsula.


This study deals with the understanding of role of Self Help Group (SHG) in socio-economic development of rural women of Durg district of Chhattisgarh. Social development and economic development was evaluated on the basis of community and individual indicators. Hence, the study considered four independent variables, viz; Community Social Indicators, Individual Social Indicators, Community Economic Indicators and Individual Economic Indicators to analyze socio-economic development of rural women. An instrument of 46 items was generated by using social and economic indicators of socio-economic development (Singh, 2014). Questionnaire was designed and translated in local language for data collection using likert scale. Three blocks of Durg district of Chhattisgarh 250 SHG members were selected as a sample size. Factor analysis and regression is used with the help of SPSS 21 for data analysis. The study reveals that both social and economic indicators have significant positive impact on Socio-Economic Development of rural women of Durg district. The antecedents' social respect and communication of Individual Social Indicators have significant impact on Social Development of women of Durg district of Chhattisgarh. Income and asset resources of Individual Economic Indicators are having greater impact on Economic development of women of Durg district of Chhattisgarh. The study suggested that government should take initiative to promote income generating activities so that women can get economically developed. (Dr. K. Kanniammal, 2011)


In this study, the implementation of shunt-connected series resonators in microstrip technology by means of stepped impedance shunt stubs (SISS) is analysed. The main aim of the work was to determine the achievable values of resonator's inductance and capacitance, under the restriction that the agreement between the frequency response of the SISS and that of the ideal shunt-connected LC resonator must be good in a wide band (far beyond the resonance frequency). The study is completed by considering different substrate types (with different thickness and dielectric constant) and determining the limitations of the achievable element values, by providing the allowable regions in the LC plane. Finally, the analysis is validated through the design and characterisation of different SISS structures.


And a network configuration including a relay node (RN) initiated, RN is configured to allocate a plurality of resource blocks (RB) allocated by the ENB with respect to the at least one UE. Network is disclosed that includes ENB, ENB is configured to assign a plurality of RB with respect to the RN, RB is allocated to the at least one UE. Further, the communication method, in a network that includes selecting a time division (TD) mode, and communications, using the resource scheduling based on the selected TD communication mode is also disclosed.


The article reflects on the academic production regarding the history of television in Colombia, presenting a balance in which the need to broaden the analyses is highlighted, thematically and geographically off-centering the studies so that in a connected manner the mapping of the historical development of television is able to be accomplished. A theoretical proposal is presented with which advancements can be made in the study of media history.


Estate planners need to be mindful of the potential for double taxation when shares of a C corporation are transferred, and of the various strategies available to ameliorate the tax impact. The Supreme Court in 1935 in the General Utilities case laid the foundation for the 1939 and 1954 code provisions that did not tax to a distributing corporation in kind distributions to shareholders. This allowed for the disposition of a business operated in corporate form at the cost of only a single level of tax. The 1986 Tax Reform Act changed the landscape by providing that in kind liquidating distributions were taxable to the distributing corporation. Hence, the double tax. The strategies discussed include treating the corporation as a nominee of the taxpayer rather than as the taxpayer, as described in Bollinger; structuring the sale of the business so that a substantial portion of the goodwill being acquired is considered the property of a shareholder who is an individual rather than of the corporation, as explained in Martin Ice Cream; using a charitable remainder trust to facilitate succession planning for a family business, as suggested in certain IRS rulings; employing the National Starch transaction and section 351 to preserve the step up in basis of the shares of an elderly stockholder, and engaging in a leveraged ESOP transaction to defer if not eliminate the business owner's gain on the sale of the corporation's shares and allowing the corporation to facilitate the purchase of such shares by deducting 100% of the purchase price.


A sufficient condition of integrality for the Riccati equation y′ = P(x)y2 + Q(x)y + R(x) is given and its corresponding general integral will be testified easily.


This original research is framed in phenomenological methodology, based on interviews conducted and interpreted using qualitative research methods. The findings suggest that, because of both direct and indirect factors (such as the nebulous nature of the work, general isolation in work conditions, and physical concerns), massage therapists perform their work with multiple sources of ambiguity that are potentially anxiety-causing. Licensing offers potential relief for this anxiety, but also generates a new set of frustrations and work concerns. The new concerns include the potential that practice will change to adapt to non-relevant standards and the difficulty of defining a body of work that frequently defies a "one size fits all" categorization. This pilot study suggests several areas for further exploration and also demonstrates the generativity of phenomenological methodology for research related to massage therapy.


The invention discloses a fair competition-based RTS collision solution method which is applicable to a wireless local area network. The method comprises the following steps: in distributed channel access, a site A transmits an RTS frame first when the site A transmits data by using an RTS/CTS handshaking mechanism; a peripheral site of the site A sets an NAV according to the received RTS frame; if a site in the range of a base station AP receives a CTS frame, then the corresponding site sets or updates the NAV according to a time length field carried by the CTS frame; the site A transmits MPUD data; if the site in the range of the base station AP does not receive the CTS frame, then the site A transmits a CF-End frame; the peripheral site which has received the RTS frame transmitted by the site A sets the NAV thereof to be 0 after receiving the CF-End frame; competition windows A are doubled, and the site A completes for a channel by using a two-step back competition access mechanism. According to the method, the equal channel access opportunities of all sites are guaranteed; the fairness of the system is greatly improved.


Water fraction of binahong (Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steen)  leaf has been proven to heal ulcus diabetic. In order to make the use easier and more practical, in this study the water fraction of binahong leaves is formulated in gel preparation form. This study was conducted to obtain a comparison of the amount of sodium alginate and carboxymethyl chitosan as gelling agent to produce gel that meets the good physical requirements. The method used to determine the amount of comparison of sodium alginate and carboxymethyl chitosan is to use Simplex Lattice Design (SLD). Eight variations of gel formula are designed with the ratio of sodium alginate:  carboxymethyl chitosan as follows: F1 (0:3% w/w), F2 (0:3% w/w), F3 (0.75:2.25% w/w), F4 (1.5:1.5 % w/w), F5 (1.5:1.5% w/w), F6 (2.25:0.75% w/w), F7 (3:0% w/w), F8 (3:0% w/w). Physical parameters observed included pH, viscosity, dispersion, and adherence. Data obtained compared with the actual conducted by researchers using one sample test t-test with 95% confidence level. Based on the results of the study, increased sodium alginate concentration can increase viscosity and adhesiveness and decrease the pH and spreadability of the gel. One sample t-test analysis shows that there is no significant difference between predicted parameter value and actual result so SLD equation can be used to construct gel formula of water fraction of binahong leaf. The conclusion is a combination of sodium alginate 1.546% w/w and carboxymethyl chitosan 1.454% w/w yield gel optimum. Physical parameter response of optimum formula is pH 5.86; viscosity 2000 cps; spreadability of 21,96 cm2; and adhesiveness of 19,81 seconds.


A high-speed all-optical switch using a fiber optic coupler and a light-sensitive variable-index material is described. The mechanism of index variation with light is discussed, as well as the results of switching with polydialkylsilane and polythiophene for index modulation.


A field study conducted for two years (2002–04) at New Delhi showed that the seed yield (1.80 t ha −1 ) of rocket salad ( Eruca sativa Mill.) obtained by applying 5 t ha −1 pressmud compost based on distillery effluent + half the recommended dose of NPKS (recommended dose: 60 kg N, 13 kg P, 25 kg K and 20 kg S ha −1 ) was on par with the seed yield (1.69 t ha −1 ) recorded with the recommended dose of NPKS. However, the seed yield recorded with the former treatment significantly exceeded that obtained with 5 t ha −1 of a 1:1 mixture of fly ash and distillery effluent + half the recommended dose of NPKS (by 30.4%) or 5 t ha −1 of dry Jatropha curcas leaves + ½ NPKS (by 24.1%). On average, distillery effluent-based pressmud compost + ½ NPKS induced a perceptible increase in the soil-available NPK, recorded after the harvest of rocket salad, compared to the initial fertility status. The uptake of NPKS in the seed and stover of rocket salad was the highest after the application of pressmud compost, closely fo...


In a recent Letter, Sakurai et al. reported results from an atom-probe study of Gibbsian surface segregation in Cu-Ni alloys. They observed strong Cu enrichment on the surface at elevated temperatures for several Ni-rich specimens, in agreement with a large number of previous investigations. However, their results indicated that Ni segregated to the surface when the bulk composition fell below 16 at.% Ni. The authors pointed out that this first observation of a crossover in the segregating species disagrees with all existing theories of Gibbsian adsorption in Cu-Ni alloys, including advanced microscopic approaches, and concluded that no satisfactory explanation exists for the unexpected Ni enrichment. In this Comment, we show that no crossover in the segregating species occurs in Cu-Ni alloys cleaned by intermittent sputtering at elevated temperatures. We employed ion-scattering spectroscopy (ISS) to measure Gibbsian segregation in two alloys, Cu-60 at.% Ni and Cu-10 at.% Ni. Detailed descriptions of experimental procedures can be found elsewhere. Because low-energy ions are quickly neutralized in the bulk, the ISS signals come almost exclusively from the outermost surface layer, where Gibbsian segregation dominates. Ratios of the Cu to Ni ISS intensities measured at several different temperatures in the two alloys are shown in Fig. 1. The bulk ISS ratios were determined to be 0.7 and 10 for the 60and 10-at.%-Ni specimens, respectively. Clearly, Gibbsian adsorption of Cu occurs in both alloys. No crossover is found as the bulk Ni concentration drops from 60 to 10 at.%. Furthermore, the enthalpies and entropies of adsorption extracted from the two sets of measurements are, as expected from modern microscopic theories, identical within experimental accuracy, —0.42 eV and — 2.60/c, respectively. We offer a possible explanation for the crossover observed in the atom-probe work. Our experience shows that intermittent sputtering during long annealing periods at elevated temperatures ( > 600 °C) is needed to purge the specimen of unwanted impurities such as S and O, which can induce surface compositional changes that overwhelm the Gibbsian segregation effect. Both S and O have been reported to enhance the near-surface Ni concentration during annealing of Cu-Ni alloys at elevated temperatures. The low-temperature, field-evaporation cleaning procedure employed in the atom-probe work cannot remove these species from the bulk of the specimen. Contaminants in the bulk can migrate to the surface during the subsequent, elevated-temperature annealing treatment, and dominate the observed segregation behavior. This interpretation for the crossover effect explains the apparent conflict of the atom-probe IOOO T (°C)


Trichomegaly is defined as changes in eyelashes characteristics. In ophthalmology, the condition is commonly seen in glaucomatous patients receiving prostaglandin analogues eyedrops. In this report, we describe a rarely reported condition of a single eyelash changes of a 64 years old female patient on beta-blocker eye drops only with a single slightly less pigmented and extremely long eyelash at her left upper eyelid with no other associated changes in eyelid first noticed two weeks prior to presentation. The condition is medically unreported but once, as many practitioners consider it insignificant though whether it has other associations yet to be known.


that 'there is no reason to suppose that the relationship of the radiological appearances to disability would be grossly different elsewhere unless the X-ray change were related to age in a very different manner'. Later, however, they point out that this assumption is subject to important limitations and that it is not necessarily valid for types of pneumoconiosis other than that in coalworkers, for example pure silicosis, siderosis, etc. Yet, the classification used is suitable for the authors' purposes. Their study is based on 40 normal subjects and 118 miners between the ages of 23 and 60 years. In addition, a number of working miners with no radiographic pneumoconiosis were examined. The authors found that, in general, the relation between the degree of exertional dyspnoea and the radiographic appearance is close if, but only if, age is taken into account. Simple pneumoconiosis has a relatively small effect, but does accentuate the exertional breathlessness which normally comes on with age. Cardiac abnormality occurs in advanced complicated pneumoconiosis and is detected by fluoroscopy and specific electrocardiographic changes. In the reviewer's, opinion, the possibility to determine, with the aid of fluoroscopy, changes in the right outflow tract in cor pulmonale should be judged with great scepticism. The authors state that: 'Particular attention was given to detection of prominence of the right ventricular outflow tract'. The question arises as to what kind of anatomical change would cause such a prominence. Isolated hypertrophy of the outflow tract does not occur, but the right ventricle is instead subject to hypertrophy, and the infundibulum even to a smaller extent than the ventricular sinus. Nor does regional dilatation of the outflow tract occur. It seems probable that it is the dilated proximal part of the pulmonary artery, which the authors interpret as the outflow tract of the right ventricle. In fact, all experiences so far seem to indicate that in the diagnosis of cor pulmonale radiology can offer but little help. Pulmonary emphysema is the object of an exceptionally lucid treatment in this book. The conclusion derived is that agreement between the clinical, radiologic, physiologic and pathologic diagnoses may be reached only in the most advanced stages. The larger part of the book deals with the physiology of the lungs, while the objective of this review has been only to offer some radiologic viewpoints. The authors have achieved an important standard work which may be warmly recommended.


Abstract. This article presents the design and preliminary evaluation of a novel
continuum robot actuated by two extendable balloons. Extendable balloons are
utilized as the actuation mechanism of the robot, and they are attached to
the tip from their slack sections. These balloons can extend very much in
length without having a significant change in diameter. Employing two
balloons in an axially extendable, radially rigid flexible shaft, radial
strain becomes constricted, allowing high elongation. As inflated, the
balloons apply a force on the wall of the tip, pushing it forward. This force
enables the robot to move forward. The air is supplied to the balloons by an
air compressor and its flow rate to each balloon can be independently
controlled. Changing the air volumes differently in each balloon, when they
are radially constricted, orients the robot, allowing navigation. Elongation
and force generation capabilities and pressure data are measured for
different balloons during inflation and deflation. Afterward, the robot is
subjected to open field and maze-like environment navigation tests. The
contribution of this study is the introduction of a novel actuation mechanism
for soft robots to have extreme elongation (2000 %) in order to be
navigated in substantially long and narrow environments.


The hydrocarbon potential of onshore Namibian basins has long been overlooked during the rush to explore offshore concessions. Recent analysis of the Owambo Basin in northern Namibia has identified significant onshore hydrocarbon potential. However, subsurface data limitations due to extremely limited drilling activity (one reservoir test in a basin area the size of New Mexico) have made reliance on potential field geophysics, vintage 2D seismic interpretation, and outcrop studies of the basin periphery critical to predictive models of hydrocarbon occurrence and basin potential.


The Council has now ended, a new Pope lives in the Vatican, and the world is beginning to grasp just how wide John's window really was. Protestants, Jews and Catholics have begun to erase centuries-old flssures of distrust and dissent; a Counciliar Commission studies the possibilities of change in Catholic theology vis Ct vis contraception; clerical celibacy is discussed openly; Pope Paul has become the first traveling pontiff in centuries. But these constitute the drama, the headline-making aspects of the Second Vatican Council. What seems as significant to the professional journalist is that after a dismaying start, correspondents covering the Council not only broke down traditional Vatican ind8erence to newsmen but, in the writer's opinion, did as much as any single group to alert the Catholic Church to the necessity for dealing with modem mass media and their representatives in a modern way. This is not to imply


Cancer advocates plan to broker deals with drug companies to get cheaper, more plentiful supplies of pain relief drugs to patients in developing countries using models pioneered in the field of HIV/AIDS.

The plans form part of the Global Access to Pain Relief Initiative (GAPRI), a strategy launched at the World Cancer Congress, in China on 19 August. Led by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), which represents 350 cancer charities including Cancer Research UK, GAPRI has the backing of organisations including the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society, and the World Economic Forum.

GAPRI will tackle the lack of access to strong opioid based pain relief. Today, a few rich nations, including the UK and US, consume …


ABSTRACT Taking a broad interest in the linguistic, educational, and identity issues relevant to young people, this article examines the experiences and discourses of linguistic minority youth in the French-dominant context of Québec City. Our analysis is based on qualitative interviews conducted with 10 young people who speak a language other than French at home and who chose to study in English at the postsecondary level. Beyond exploring the local impact of language policies, we focus on the identity choices these youth make in positioning themselves and the discourses that they appropriate in describing their sociolinguistic context. Findings suggest that tensions between linguistic groups in Québec are perpetuated through discourses that distance one group from another, including discourses of closed-mindedness and superiority. What the students in our study appear to be doing is rejecting a minority identity by invoking national and international scales through their discourses, scales in which English is dominant.


Introduction. Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) are especially vulnerable to the development of osteopenia. Skeletal deformities caused by immobility (prolonged bed rest, limited exercise, immobilization), antiepileptic drugs, hormonal and genetic factors can lead to significant bone loss. Diagnosis of osteoporosis includes densitometry and the study of biochemical markers to assess the state of bone mineralization at the time of the examination. However, densitometry in patients with cerebral palsy may present certain difficulties. Purpose is to determine changes in the content of bone tissue metabolism markers in CP patients depending on the severity of movement disorders. Materials and methods. We examined 32 CP patients aged 2 to 15 years for 3 months who were in rehabilitation in 2019-2021. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 18 children in the main group with motor dysfunctions of level IV-V and 14 children in the comparisons group - with disorders of I-III levels. All children underwent an analysis of anthropometric parameters using the program "WHO AnthroPlus (2009)", determination of the blood levels of biochemical markers of bone tissue metabolism: calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, bone resorption marker β-CrossLaps. Results. The indices of alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorus in the majority of CP patients (88%) were within the reference values. The average concentrations of these compounds did not differ significantly in CP patients in the main group and the comparison group, including between children who received and did not receive antiepileptic drugs. There were no significant differences in 25(OH)D concentrations in patients of these groups. CP patients from the main group were found to be supplemented with vitamin D less frequently than children from the comparison group. Indicators of bone tissue resorption (β-CrossLaps) in patients with cerebral palsy increased significantly more than in patients of the comparison group, which indicates a pronounced loss of bone mass in severe impairment of motor functions. More than half of CP patients have high values of the bone resorption marker β-CrossLaps, which, together with an increase in the level of osteocalcin, indicates active osteoreparation, which is higher in children with severe motor disorders. At the same time, a close correlation (r = 0.596; p < 0.05) between the levels of osteocalcin and β-CrossLaps in patients may indicate activation of bone tissue repair in response to pronounced resorption. However, it should be noted that the determination of biomarkers of bone tissue metabolism in children with cerebral palsy is not indicative in the detection of osteopenia and osteoporosis due to the characteristics of these patients: reduced motor activity, growth retardation and psychophysical development.