Extremely few reports concerning the effect of ascorbic acid on intraocular pressure have been seen in the ophthalmic literature. The fact that in rabbits the concentration of ascorbic acid is about 10 times higher in the aqueous than in the blood led us to the idea that the it might have some effects on intraocular fluid dynamics and on IOP and made us investigate the problem. In the present communication I report that intravenous injection of ascorbic acid brought about a constant decrease in IOP of rabbits.


Received: Revised: Accepted: 2014–02–09 2014–05–12 2014–05–12 The aim of this study was to evaluate the conspicuous effects on milk quality of farm and field rearing goats. Milk samples were collected from two important goat breed Jamunapari and Jakhrana from different villages. The analysis were performed on 1215 milk samples collected from 377 Jamunapari and 736 Jakhrana goats, at varied environmental conditions of time period April – June, July – September and November – February The sample selection criteria were also decide according to stages of lactation time period 10 – 40 days, 41 – 90 days and 91 to 150 days. Electronic Milk Analyzer provides specific gravity (1.0295±0.00038), Fat % (4.76±0.046), Protein % (3.205±0.031), Lactose % (4.433±0.014), Ash % (0.745±0.009), TS% (13.15±0.034), and SNF % (8.38±0.053) of all the samples. Lactation stages showed significant effect on milk quality. The percentages of fat, protein, lactose, ash, TS, and SNF, were significantly higher (p<0.05) with advancement of lactation in both breeds. The milk of farm rearing goats had significantly (p<0.05) higher content of fat, protein, lactose, ash, TS, and SNF, in comparison to field rearing goats. Variation in milk quality for different months of the year and rearing conditions are directly proportional to variation in eco–environmental condition. All copyrights reserved to Nexus® academic publishers


India is a land of small entrepreneurs. MSMEs in India - comprising over five crore businesses and employing over eleven crore people - sum for nearly half of India's production. There are around 6.33 crore MSMEs in the country and they manufacture more than 8000 products.MSMEs have faced challenges ranging from inadequate access to markets, poorly skilled manpower, poor technology adoption, high cost of capital, challenges in raw material procurement, and inadequate infrastructure. While the Government of India understands it needs to play a greater role in supporting MSMEs - as is evident from schemes like the Atmanirbhar Abhiyan - more needs to be done.As if these challenges were not enough, MSMEs were hit hard by the COVID outbreak and the resultant lockdowns.In this research paper, we explore the challenges faced by Indian MSMEs and the support that the government can offer them to help take on a future that looks skewed in favor of large enterprises.


The observation has been made in Australia, England and the United States of America that where there is a property dispute between an unmarried couple, there is a growing number of legal concepts which potentially can be argued in relation to the same fact situation.! These include at least: express, implied and constructive trusts;2 express and implied contract;B proprietary estoppel;" quasi-contract;5 the tort of deceit;6 implied partnership? and unjust enrichment.s No doubt there are others. No one concept provides a panacea, despite the exhortations of disciples of each discipline.9 The moral is that multiple legal concepts should be presented to a judge in any particular case, as no single legal concept will be satisfactory for all fact situations involving property disputes between de facto spouses. In Hardwick v. Johnson10 Roskill L.I.


With the increasing needs of human beings, energy consumption has also increased tremendously with the exploitation of mineral natural resources, leading to deficiency of energy resources in future. Wind, sun light, water are substitute of these problems. Wind is a sustainable and renewable source of energy with it's high abundance. Huge wind turbine installations are being developed in the world. The purpose of this project involves a fabrication of proto-type innovatively a small scale portable vertical axis wind turbine for charging cellular electronic gadgets. This would be light in weight with around 5 kg, would be operating at an average wind speed of 4.5 m/s and generating electric power of 12-15W. These portable turbines would bring change and evolution in wind turbine industry through bringing the general awareness regarding clean sustainable energy and increasing the overall efficiency, thus achieving the real motto of this technology. Keywords—Rigging Angle, Renweable Energy, Yaw Control System, Omni-Dierction.


A dynamic call admission control and resource reservation scheme suitable for CDMA systems is proposed. Preferential treatment is given to high priority calls by preserving an interference guard margin (IGM), which is dynamically adjusted by referencing traffic conditions in neighboring cells based upon users' quality of service. A comprehensive service model is used including users' service rates, priority levels, mobility and rate adaptivity. Simulations are conducted by OPNET to study the performance in terms of the objective function under different traffic conditions.


This paper introduces a novel method for a Lunar lander's 3-Dimensional (3-D) dynamic motion estimation during a final descending phase using optical navigation. Optical navigation is based on passive video image sequence analysis to estimate the relative motion of a lander with respect to a preselected landing site. The overall system only contains an off-the-shelf camera and a processing unit with data buses. The system under consideration therefore reduces the mass and volume of the overall system compared to the current techniques such as Radio-Link, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Laser Ranger Finder. Together with the low operational complexity, the proposed system reduces mission cost and increases system reliability. The video image sequence analysis method is based on the Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), which is used to estimate the 2-Dimensional (2-D) apparent motion accurately and efficiently. The 3-D relative motion of a lander can then also be estimated accurately and efficiently. A digital video image sequence block, obtained by an onboard navigation camera, is used as an input to the propose estimation method. At each time sample, the video sequence is analyzed using CWT and the 2-D image motion is estimated. A geometry mapping for a perspective projection camera model is then used to map the 2-D image motion onto the 3-D relative motion of the lander. The output is the 3-D dynamic motions of the lander, which is sent to the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) to perform the lander's attitude control task. In this article, we provide the motion modelling of a Lunar lander during a descending phase from an initial altitude of 10 kilometers with a duration of descent of 100 seconds and the correspondence between 3-D lander's motion and 2-D video image motion. The video image analysis method using CWT is also used to estimate the 2-D apparent motion of the incoming video sequence form a navigation camera. Numerical simulation of the estimated Lunar lander's 3-D translation motions are shown to verify the proposed method. The analysis of the results shows that the proposed method allows for the real time estimation of the lander's motion with better than 1% accuracy in real time. The proposed method has achieves highly accurate motion estimation with significant saving of cost, mass and volume. It also has the advantage of being easy to implement in real time.


THE POSIBILITY OF COMPUTATIONAL MODELING USAGE IN THE SPECIFIC DYNAMIC HIP SCREW COMPLICATIONS ANALYSIS. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the specific complications and the dynamic hip screw (DHS) placement in the femoral neck with relation to finite element method analysis. Th eimplant associated specific complications are very diverse. We evaluated 336 dynamic hip screw osteosyntheses for pertrochanteric fractures in 324 patients. The program ABAQUS 6.9 was utilized for the development of the finite element model of the femur. Analyses were performed in 5 modeled situations corresponding to the screw location. Complication rate within the group of patients was 10 % in general, with a reoperation rate of 4 %. The highest risk of for an implant failure was associated with a location of the screw in the upper third of the neck. The finite element model analysis confirms our clinical experiences, when the optimal placement for a dynamic hip screw is in the middle third of the femoral neck. The technical mistake during the operation almost always leads to the implant failure with the need for the reoperation.


Axially chiral amino acid derivatives were synthesized via a selective single-step monoesterification of 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-dicarboxylic acids. In the presence of Ag2CO3, the alkylative monoesterification of a 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-dicarboxylic acid with an alkyl halide proceeded selectively in a single operation. Curtius rearrangement of the monomethyl ester and successive alcoholysis of the corresponding isocyanate afforded the N-protected binaphthyl amino acids.


The case study consists in carrying out an analysis of the different areas that are
We are incorporated in the clinical laboratory of the Institution to define a critical process
and in this way propose improvement actions that can give continuity to the different
service activities, evaluating the implementation of clinical practice guides.


We describe recent improvements to the Optical Real-time Adaptive Spectral Identification System (ORASIS). The NEMO satellite will use ORASIS as a compression algorithm and first pass analysis algorithm. One improvement concerns the quantization aspect of ORASIS. In this step, the hyperspectral data are put through a process that creates a set of spectra (called exemplars) that represent the entire data set within the specified error tolerance. Each exemplar has a high dimensional "sphere" of influence. Any spectra within that sphere are replaced by a reference to that exemplar. However, the spheres tend to overlap. Results are improved by selection of the optimum exemplar. The second improvement is a method that relates sensor noise characteristics to spectral angle. The noise parameters of the sensor can be used to calculate an error tolerance, for each spectrum, dependent upon spectral shape and intensity. This method provides a physical justification for the error tolerance.


Experimental observation of a nonlinear fluid echo is presented which demonstrates the reversible nature of spatial Landau damping, and that non-neutral plasmas behave as nearly ideal 2D fluids. These experiments are performed on UCSD's CamV Penning-Malmberg trap with magnetized electron plasmas. An initial mi=2 diocotron wave is excited, and the received wall signal damps away in about 5 wave periods. The density perturbation filaments are observed to wrap up as the wave is spatially Landau damped. An mt=4 "tickler" wave is then excited, and this wave also Landau damps. The echo consists of a spontaneous appearance of a third me=2 wave after the responses to the first two waves have inviscidly damped away. The appearance time of the echo agrees with theory, and data suggests the echo is destroyed at least partly due to saturation.


Proteomics is a new discipline that originated in the mid-1990s and has grown extremely rapidly in a very short time. This, in turn, has driven improvements in diverse technologies. Most proteome studies fall into one of three types: (1) compositional analysis where one attempts to identify all proteins present in a proteome or sub-proteome; (2) protein profile comparisons where one attempts to quantitatively compare changes in the levels of as many proteins as possible, and (3) analysis of protein-protein interactions. The first two types of studies often utilize the same separation and analysis methods and differ only in the need for quantitation in the protein profiling studies. The oldest and most commonly used methods for separating complex protein mixtures for proteomics utilize two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and related gel methods (Chapter 22). Twodimensional gels remain as the gold standard for protein profiling, to which all alternative methods should be compared. However, there is substantial interest in recently developed and emerging protein profiling and compositional analysis methods that do not rely on 2-D dimensional gels. This chapter describes these non-2-D gel based separation and analysis methods. Many of these methods can be more readily automated than gel methods and may develop into higher-throughput methods.


Cyclic O-acyloximes were prepared as novel photolatent bases with good photoreactivity and thermal stability. They were transformed into cyclic imines on irradiation at 254 nm and showed higher cro...


Deep inference is a proof theoretical methodology that generalizes the traditional notion of inference in the sequent calculus. In contrast to the sequent calculus, the deductive systems with deep inference do not rely on the notion of main connective, and permit the application of the inference rules at any depth inside logical expressions, in a way which resembles the application of term rewriting rules. Deep inference provides a richer combinatoric analysis of proofs for dieren t logics. In particular, construction of exponentially shorter proofs becomes possible. In this paper, aiming at the development of computation as proof search tools, we propose the Maude language as a means for designing and implementing dieren t deep inference deductive systems and proof strategies that work on these systems. We demonstrate these ideas on classical logic and argue that these ideas can be analogously carried to other deductive systems for other logics.


Laura Campbell from Orchard Therapeutics, London, UK, opened the session by explaining the objectives of the symposium and providing some background information on metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). MLD is a rare and life-threatening inherited disease of the body's metabolic system. MLD is caused by a mutation in the ARSA gene, which results in the accumulation of fats called sulfatides in the brain and other areas of the body, including the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and spleen. Over time, the nervous system is damaged and children with MLD experience progressive neurological symptoms, including motor, behavioural and cognitive regression, severe spasticity, and seizures. Patients with MLD gradually lose the ability to move, talk, swallow, eat, and see. MLD is estimated to occur in approximately one in every 100,000 live births.1,2 The prognosis for MLD is extremely poor. Most children within the late infantile (LI) form die by the age of 5 years; the juvenile (JU) form progresses to death within 10–20 years; and those affected by the adult form typically die 25 years following the onset of symptoms.1 Approval of Libmeldy (atidarsagene autotemcel, [arsa-cel]; Orchard Therapeutics, London, UK), a gene therapy containing an autologous CD34+ cell enriched population, which contains haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells transduced ex vivo using a lentiviral vector encoding the human ARSA gene, for the treatment of early-onset MLD,3 opens up tremendous new possibilities for eligible children with MLD faced with this devastating disease, where previously no approved treatment options existed. Libmeldy is the first product approval for Orchard Therapeutics, a global gene therapy leader dedicated to rare diseases through the development of gene therapies.4 Francesca Fumagalli from the Paediatric Immunohematology Unit and Department of Neurology, Ospedale San Raffaele – Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (OSR-TIGET), Milan, Italy, shared the evidence on the efficacy and safety of Libmeldy in patients with MLD. The clinical trial investigating Libmeldy started more than 10 years ago at OSR-TIGET. Campbell closed the symposium by providing several educational resources to support clinicians managing children with MLD.


This paper revisits a well-studied anti-plane shear deformation problem in finite elasticity. Based on the minimal potential principle for general 3-D homogeneous hyper-elastic materials, a well-determined nonlinear system is obtained which admits non-trivial states of finite anti-plane shear. Both global and local extremal solutions to the nonconvex variational problem are identified by a triality theory. While the Legendre-Hadamard condition provides only a necessary condition for local minimizers, which can't be considered as an ellipticity condition for nonconvex variational problems. Knowles' overdetermined system is simply due to a pseudo-Lagrange multiplier and two extra equilibrium conditions in the plane. Therefore, the constitutive conditions in his theorem are not necessary for the problem considered.


Office Advice is here to answer your management queries and problems. This month: People know they do a good job...don't they?


As a high populated country, one of Indonesia major problem is unemployment. The Indonesian government has been working on several programs to reduce the unemployment level. In the province level, Disnakertrans Jatim has several initiatives, including: developing Employment Service Center as well as Online Job Service Center. The number of Internet users is increasing significantly in the last several years, including in Indonesia. The use of Information Technology is expected to assist the job seekers to find jobs, and allows companies to find workers effectively. This paper discusses about the development of the Online Job Service Center


Federal programs and program-target method in general are an important means of implementing the structural policy of the state, an active impact on the social and economic processes in the country. In modern conditions of Russia should strengthen investment and innovation for budgetary expenditures in the context of the transition to an innovative model of economic growth, including through increased spending on federal programs. The article describes the features of formation of federal programs in modern conditions, revealed deficiencies in the management of their implementation, the recommendations on Sovereign shenstvovaniyu mechanism of federal programs as an effective instrument of state control of its economy.


The present work is the synthesis of some results obtained in a research accomplished with the purpose to detect possible flaws in the learning-studies of the Geometry in 8 schools of Divinopolis city, MG, involving students from to 5th grade of the primary school to the 3rd year of the high school. It approaches the students' opinions that answered to a questionnaire where was requested them that talked about your contact to the Geometry, and yours and teachers' attitudes with relationship to the discipline. Specifically on geometric concepts, it evaluates your referring knowledge to you represent plane and space, in the one that they have of more elementary. The results show that a mistaken approach of the Geometry exists at the schools, and that many of the students ignore the basic concepts of the Geometry. It was concluded about the necessity of reflection, discussion the news questions and actions for the best quality in the educational process.


Extending our fictional psychological model we might suppose that such an act of imagination involves setting up a "pretend" belief-box containing the data-structures AP, AQ, AR and a "pretend" desire-box containing the data-structures Ax, Ay, Az. (Recall that a tokening of AP in S's belief-box would amount to his believing P, and so on.) In addition, S must copy into these pretend beliefand desire-boxes the data-structures corresponding to those of his background beliefs and desires which he assumes to be shared by T. Having cloned a suitable set of pretend beliefs and desires, he then lets those datastructures interact with each other and with his standard inferential machinery to yield new data-structures (corresponding to new "pretend" beliefs and desires) which he can then observe using his usual introspective powers as detailed above. Again, the crucial point here is that the suggested encoding scheme fares well when it comes to such simulations. For suppose S encodes the above propositions about Ts beliefs and desires using the tagged data-structures Ag, Aft, Ag (Ts beliefs) and TA£, A$, A§ (Ts desires), as suggested. Then, for S, the task of constructing a model of T*s beliefs and desires is merely one of inserting, into his auxiliary beliefand desireboxes, the untagged versions of those data-structures: namely AP, Ap, AB and Ax, Ay, Az. And, as we have said, systematically untagging data-structures is, by hypothesis, a simple operation. Similar remarks of course apply to encoding, as conclusions about Ts likely thoughts, the results of the simulation: that, for S, is just a matter of tagging interesting data-structures produced in the simulacrum with labels indicating that they are the likely future beliefs of T, and of inserting the tagged datastructures into his own belief box. To be sure, this account of how the concepts of belief and desire might function in S's thought can at best be a poor caricature of the real thing. But I hope to have made at least believable the possibility that such concepts may be so encoded that judgements about one's own current mental states do not involve the sort of matching process that Goldman assumes as part of his general framework. Thus, I agree with Goldman that ordinary self-ascription of current mental states cannot be understood as involving a process of matching against representations encoding a battery of definitive causal-functional properties; but that, I claim, is because ordinary self-ascription of current mental states should not be understood as involving a process of matching at all.


HERZOG, H. A., JR. 1975. An observation of nest opening by an American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. Herpetologica 31:446-448. HUNT, R. H. 1977. Aggressive behavior by adult Morelet's crocodiles, Crocodylus moreleti toward young. Herpetologica 33:195-201. . 1980. Propagation of Morelet's crocodile. Reproductive biology and diseases of captive Reptiles. Soc. Stud. Amphib. and Rept. 277 pp. JOANEN, T. 1969. Nesting ecology of alligators in Louisiana. Proc. S.E. Assoc. Game and Fish Comm. 23:141-151.


The performance of the superstructure in the transportation structures (railway, highway etc.) is directly affected by the characteristics of subgrade. However, it is not always possible to find the desired quality subgrade soil in the areas where both highway and railway routes. In such cases, it is an option to improve the problematic soils in place by using additives (lime, cement etc.). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of lime on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of a low plasticity clayey soil under different curing time (0, 1, 7 and 28 days) and different curing conditions (in a desiccator and soaked). Firstly, geotechnical tests (classification and compaction) were conducted to determine properties of soil. UCS test samples at five different lime contents (2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% by weight) were prepared and cured in desiccator. Then UCS test was conducted immediately at the end of the curing time. On the other hand, the optimum lime content by weight was determined as 4 % by using the pH method. After curing time in the desiccator, the samples prepared with optimum lime content were soaked in water for 4 days and then UCS test was carried out. As a result, with the addition of lime, maximum dry density values decreased, optimum water content values increased. UCS significantly increased with both lime content and curing time. For 28 days, soaked UCS of the samples prepared with 4% optimum lime content decreased by approximately 50% according to unsoaked condition


Lately, Live streaming is one of the entertainment activities that can enhance consumers' shopping experience. As many as 29% of internet users often watch the live streaming from influencers on social media, and 80% of them tend to buy the products offered. Ranked first globally, 88.1% of internet users in Indonesia use e-commerce services, with e-commerce transaction volume reaching IDR 266 trillion in 2020. However, not much research has been done on live streaming shopping, especially on Indonesian e-commerce. Based on the stimulus-organism-reaction framework, this study examines the effect of relational bonds on consumer engagement via affective commitment in live stream shopping e-commerce Indonesia. Using 266 valid online survey responses, researchers used AMOS software to evaluate measurement & structural models. The study results found that social bonds indirectly affect consumer engagement through an affective commitment to broadcasters. Meanwhile, financial & structural bonds only affect affective commitment to the platform but do not affect consumer engagement. This study provides insight for e-commerce operators in Indonesia to increase consumer engagement by developing social bonds in live streaming shopping.


Trapped ions represent excellent quantum systems for the experimental realization of quantum information processing and communication (QIPC). In this thesis versatile operations with multi-species ion crystals are presented. Coherence effects in a Λ system of a 40Ca+ ion are investigated. Zeeman sublevels are utilized to evoke electromagnetically induced transparencies. The characteristic dark resonance and line shape alterations are analyzed for varying light field intensities. In order to show the importance of coherent light fields, spectra created with phase-coherent and phase-incoherent EIT light fields are compared. Furthermore, EIT spectroscopy is applied as a sensitive motion sensor for the ion. New features arise by avoiding all coherences in a Λ system. This is achieved by exposing the ion to only one single laser light field, going the spectroscopy. Pulsed light sequences ensure stable cooling and spectroscopy. A quantum mechanical description of the process is given, revealing the dark-resonance-free shape of the spectrum. This enables the determination of the Rabi frequency of the applied laser light field as well as the photon collection efficiency of the imaging system. In many cases in QIPC, it is important to precisely determine the position of the ions, for this information obtained from the ions' fluorescence is utilized. The capability of the segmented Paul trap to create custom electric potentials is utilized to form timedependent potentials with multiple trapping wells. The application of feedback control allows purposeful movement of a predefined number of ions and position regulation by altering the trapping voltages. Ion transport over 1 mm with more than 99.8% success probability is accomplished without any knowledge of the potentials. By means of the feedback control this allows automated dividing of a linear ion crystal into two distinct potentials as well as the opposite process of merging. In order to perform these experiments, several novel techniques for the operation of an ion trap have been developed. A technique for automatic compensation is introduced to minimize the RF driven micromotion of the ion crystal. Additionally, a precise method for simultaneous measuring the oscillation frequencies for individual ions in an ion crystal is presented. Hereby, the oscillation modes of multi-species ion crystals can be analyzed for the determination of dopant isotopes.


Several systems and methods for facilitating data transmission is disclosed in a wireless communication environment. According to various embodiments, such a node of the access point and the access terminal determines the number of the transmitting communication signals on the channel channel. Node then selects a channel based on whether the channel is enabled or disabled. Here, the available channel is selected preferentially than unusable channels. Node then transmits at least signals on one channel of the selected channel. .The


SMAPE 0.00848 0.00828 0.00808 DSSIM 0.00536 0.00561 0.00498 Figure 1: Visual results from the single-frame compositional denoiser [ZMV∗21], the multi-frame temporal kernel-predicting denoiser (KPAL [VRM∗18]) and our multi-frame compositional denoiser, showcasing the improved detail reconstruction from the temporal compositional denoiser over both counterparts. The first image was created by the Walt Disney Animation Studios (© Disney), and the second by Pixar Animation Studios (© Disney / Pixar).


The proceedings of the APS/URSI Plenary Session held in Boston on June 27, 1984 are described. Invited papers covering early developments in antennas and propagation were presented by five pioneering experts who participated in the developments. Speakers were encouraged to give anecdotal presentations that made specific reference to their own contributions. The speakers were Joseph B. Keller, William E. Gordon, John D. Kraus, George Sinclair, and Harold A. Wheeler. Chairman of the special session was Edward C. Jordan. Manuscripts were compiled by Y. T. Lo and E. C. Jordan.


SIROWET was introduced in Australia in 1975 and was based on the pressure box method of testing for structural and weather resistance performance. The last edition of the SIROWET test specification for the performance evaluation of prototype building facades was introduced in 1992. Further progress has been made in Australia and New Zealand in new techniques to evaluate specific performance characteristics from testing full-scale representative samples of the proposed building facade. The SIROWET method to evaluate building facades by pressure chamber has been based on the working stress approach, and both the Australian and New Zealand loading and material standards have changed to limit states. This paper reviews the current methods of testing sample building facades in mainly laboratory conditions, and details the background to limit states principles in the evaluation of building facades presented either as a prototype or on the building structure. Based on the author's experience, new test methods are suggested and were included in the new standard testing building facades and applicable for buildings in Australia, New Zealand and East Asia.


The effect of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on high density limit and low-q limit discharges is studied in J-TEXT tokamak. It is found that a moderate amplitude of applied RMPs increases the density limit and delays the disruption, and the disruption precursor is suppressed with a slight reduction in toroidal plasma rotation. A too large amplitude of RMPs, however, leads to a lower density limit and an earlier disruption. For the optimal RMPs amplitude, the disruption is delayed by about 150 ms. For low-q discharges, the applied static RMP can either lower the limit of the edge safety factor qa from 2.15 to nearly 2.0 or sustain stable plasma discharge with qa  =  2.1, and the disruptive precursor is also suppressed.


This research work aims to develop a cost model for hotel projects to determine the preliminary cost of a proposed hotel to facilitate investors and owners during the early decision-making process regarding investment in Hotel projects. The complexity and large variation in the hotel industry limits the scope of this research to develop a cost model only for the mid-scale range of hotel projects which comprises of 3 star and 4 star rated hotels. The research includes the understanding of the hotel industry, its classification, the feasibility of hotel projects, and various other parameters associated with the establishment of hotel projects. This cost model largely helps in project cost and areas optimization where every input value can be compared with a set of range of values from minimum to maximum and accordingly the rates and areas can be adjusted. It can be used for those proposed hotel projects which are in the stage of hotel feasibility analysis and this cost model can be a part of the financial analysis. It would also help in optimising the cost of the project and no of keys that can be obtained in a project by optimising and alternating the values required in the cost model and by also analysing it in terms of revenue generating parameters such as no of keys, food & beverage, banquet & meeting facilities, etc. The cost model has been developed using the case study data analysis of a similar range of hotels, and by incorporating requirements using building bye-laws and guidelines based on hotel projects. The outcome of this research will have the cost model and area programming framework for the mid-scale segment of hotel projects. Index Terms Hotel projects, Cost model, Preliminary Estimate, Construction cost, Area programming


The Internet of Things (IoT) devices access and process large amounts of data. Some of them are sensitive and can become a target for security attacks. As a consequence, it is crucial being able to trace data and to identify their paths. We start from the specification language IOT-LYSA, and propose a Control Flow Analysis for statically predicting possible trajectories of data communicated in an IoT system and, consequently, for checking whether sensitive data can pass through possibly dangerous nodes. Paths are also interesting from an architectural point of view for deciding which are the points where data are collected, processed, communicated and stored and which are the suitable security mechanisms for guaranteeing a reliable transport from the raw data collected by the sensors to the aggregation nodes and to servers that decide actuations.


Advanced three dimensional assembly technology for a high density CCD micro-camera system module has been developed by applying the module sidewall interconnection method. A copper wiring layer at the edge of the stacked substrates is exposed so that the footprint achieves sidewall interconnection. Devices of different sizes, each of which consists of CCD imaging data transmission circuits, are assembled by flip-chip technology on the stacked unit substrates. The high precision of distribution for the sidewall was achieved in order to make possible simultaneous stacking of plural substrates and application of Cu column solder bump for flip-chip interconnection. The fabricated three-dimensional module incorporates devices of different sizes and realizes the assembly density three times higher than that of a conventional module.


The article focuses on sources of Brazilian sports journalism and demonstrates the role of organized soccer fan groups in Rio de Janeiro between the 1940s and 1980s, this is achieved through reports provided by the Brazilian newspaper Jornal dos Sports. From the beginning, there are biographical notes made about the most well-known fan leaders in Rio, such as Jaime de Carvalho, who founded the Charanga (1942). The emergence of dissent among the fans, in the late 1960s, is then covered, which establishes itself within the organized fans in Rio with these individuals beginning to question the authority of the old fan group leaders. This is against the principle of giving unconditional support to the club and it is postulated that the fans have the right to criticize and protest against the club's management, even if this means using forceful tactics. Along with the journalistic narrative, there is a break-off by the ―Young Fans‖ and a process of emancipation begins which occurs over the 1970s, this happens by means of the use of fan coaches and the invention of a lifestyle that is associated with soccer. Finally, the 1980s is marked by the constructive and destructive potential that is linked to fan groups. On the one hand, creating an Association of fans—Astorj—is pointed to in order to reach a mutual understanding, but it should be noted, on the other, that there are feuds, in a scenario of spiraling violence, in which fights, beatings, and even murders begin to be commonplace.


Objective To optimize the dynamics parameters of rolling manipulation in Chinese massage. Methods The orthogonal test was done in 3 factors and 3 levels with pressure(2,4,6 kg), frequency (60,120,180 times/min), and continuous time(5,10, 15 min) according to L27(313). Healthy men received rolling manipulation on left gastrocnemius muscle in prone position. Average volume flow(VF)in popliteal artery was measured by Doppler before and after rolling manipulation. Result The result revealed that there was significant mutual action among pressure, frequency and continuous time. The dynamics model with 4 kg in pressure,120 times/min in frequency, and 10 min in continuous time was the best one in improving the increase rate of average volume flow (VF). Conclusion The better dynamics model of rolling manipulation was constructed;the result also indicated the view was wrong that the more pressure and continuous time of manipulation produces better curative affects.


We report on the time-domain integration of terahertz pulses obtained via the tight confinement of the radiation in a tapered two-wire waveguide. Both simulation and experimental results prove the time integration capability of this structure.


Finite control set model predictive control techniques are mainly distinguished by a variable switching frequency which causes noise, large voltage and current ripples at low sampling frequency. This paper presents a comparative study of two enhanced predictive current control techniques with fixed switching frequency applied to an asymmetrical six-phase induction motor drive. Simulation results are developed to demonstrate the efficiency of the two current control algorithms using the mean squared error and total harmonic distortion as quality performance indices, thus concluding the advantages and disadvantages of each technique at steady and transient states.


The fundamental aim of every academic library is to provide an effective and efficient information services to its user community; hitherto, this could be greatly achieved if university libraries are automated. This study investigated the influence of automated cataloguing and circulation systems operation on library services in three selected academic libraries in South Western Nigeria. The study shows the capabilities and functionality of the library automation, role of automation in revolutionizing the library, level of automation in the university libraries, extent of automated circulation system operation, relationshipbetween automated cataloguing and circulation systemoperationand challenges of automation in the provision of information needs of users. The study finally makes some recommendations in combating the challenges affecting university libraries in Nigeria.


Objective Document a case of bilateral otosclerosis with coexisting bilateral superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome and the treatment of hearing loss in this setting. Patient A 33-year-old woman presented with bilateral mixed hearing loss; worse in the left ear. This was gradual in onset, and she denied dizziness. Computerized tomographic scan revealed fenestral otosclerosis and a large dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal bilaterally. She declined amplification. Intervention Sequential laser-assisted stapedotomy with insertion of a Kurz titanium CliP Piston prosthesis. Main Outcome Measure Comparison of audiovestibular symptoms, hearing thresholds, and neurodiagnostic testing results preoperatively and postoperatively. Results Hearing improved bilaterally with closure of the air-bone gaps at most frequencies, and she has not had permanent vestibular symptoms. Postoperative follow-up time is 37 months for the left ear and 13 months for the right ear. Conclusion When otosclerosis and superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome coexist and hearing loss is the dominant symptom, stapes surgery can be effective for improving hearing without permanent vestibular symptoms.


This text deals with Moshe Idel's perspective on the connections between Maimonide's philosophy and Abulafia's esoteric thought. Idel analyses their thinking under the aspect of their appearance, inter-relation, and inner dynamics. Idel's analysis reveals that Maimonide's attempt to issue an esoteric book, one that would give back to Judaism a lost esoteric science, gave a particular impulse to the development of Jewish mysticism, and especially to the ecstatic Kabbalah. Maimonide attempted to transform philosophy into a mystic instrument of understanding the secrets of the Torah. This fact determined Abulafia to re-signify the Maimonidean thought and to integrate it into a limit experience of "unio mystica". In this context, several aspects concerning the arcanization and the super-arcanization of philosophical and mystical texts are discussed.


We experimentally demonstrate slow-light in semiconductor quantum well structures. A group velocity as small as 9600 m/s is inferred from the measured dispersive characteristics via Mach-Zehnder interferometry.


Objective To explore the clinical value of color Doppler ultrasound(CDU) in diagnosis for rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy.Methods 9 cases with rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy diagnosed by CDU were retrospectively analyzed according to the characteristics of CDU and postoperative pathological results.Results According to results of postoperative pathological results,11 patients of rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy were accurately diagnosed and the accuracy rate was 84.6%(11/13).2 cases were misdiagnosed.1 case was uterine horn pregnancy and the other case was interstitial tubal pregnancy.Conclusion CDU is a feasible way with important clinical value for diagnosis of rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy.


Nanocomposite Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications Kerrilee Ayel Stewart A possible green energy solution to the current fossil fuel energy crisis and overuse is the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; but before it can be utilized extensively, new polymer electrolyte membranes must be developed. In this thesis nanocomposite polymer electrolyte membranes were developed. TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized for utilization as the nanocomposite. The effect of reaction time and starting particle size on the nanotubes was investigated. The optimum reaction time was three days. The greater the starting particle size, the larger the nanotube produced. The TiO2 nanotubes were acid functionalized in order to increase proton conductivity using 1,3-propane sultone and 1,4-butane sultone as precursors. Acid functionalized nanotubes synthesized with 1,3-propane sultone showed the better proton conducting properties. These nanotubes were then incorporated in various polymer electrolyte membranes. Well-studied PH-TA-Im membranes were used to investigate the effect of TiO2 particles versus TiO2 nanotubes on the membranes. Binary and ternary membranes based on Poly(1-vinyimidazole) and Polyvinylidene fluoride grafted with 1-vinylimidazole were synthesized using in-lab synthesized polymers. Unfunctionalized and functionalized nanotubes were incorporated into these membranes and the morphological, electrical, thermal and physical properties were studied. Proton conductivity of the order of 10 -2 S/cm and thermal stability in excess of 200 °C was obtained. ii Acid functionalized nanotubes were incorporated into a high temperature application polymer electrolyte membranes based on poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI) and the effect of incorporation of a proton conductor versus traditional acid doping was studied. The morphological, physical, mechanical and thermal properties were studied and the membranes containing acid functionalized nanotubes were found to perform on par with acid doped membranes without suffering from thermal instability.


CO2 Emission from two old mine drillings (Mt. Amiata, Central Italy) as a possible example of storage and leakage of deep-seated CO2


Time is important for specialists from many different backgrounds. In this paper I wish to summarize my work on temporology and to focus on selected topics which are of special interest to Prenatal Psychology, i.e. the Effect of Celestial Twins (ECT), the Phoenix Clock model and a four-element emotional theory. Although at first glance they might seem as loosely related topics, these themes are forming a cohesive unity. Once we gain better understanding of the different times and the related Birth Potentials and Elements, there may be better chances to improve our parenting and harmonious child-raising. These temporal theories will also be illustrated by a unique case of one of the giants of 20 th century music, Sergei Prokofiev, born during the Phoenix Hour of 1885-1900.


In this article, we present GeNCA: our Generic Negotiation of Contracts API and three different negotiation applications achieved with it. The first one is an auction application that runs on a multi-agent platform. The second one is an application for choosing a restaurant for a dinner between friends. This application uses e-mail communications. The third application is a negotiation game inspired of the Civilization game of Avalon Hill Game Company. This game is played between centralised agents that speak each after another in a round-robin way. We show in this article that GeNCA is well suited for building these negotiation applications. As a matter of fact, different communication ways are provided with GeNCA, and the negotiation management and protocol are adapted to these different negotiation applications. Only strategies have to be conceived by the users, as they are specific to the application.


An effective removal of suspended solid (SS) by using settled sludge and porous carriers as a filter has been experimentally investigated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). In this process, filtration was started in a down-flow mode after the formation of the filter bed, comprising a stratified layer of activated sludge and porous carriers, in a short settling time.The SS concentration decreased below 10 mg·l-1 after a short recirculating filtration, indicating that this new solid/liquid separation method is more efficient compared to the conventional gravity settling. The SS removal occurred mainly through the sludge bed. Despite the thickness of the sludge bed change with MLSS concentration, the SS removal rate was nearly the same for the MLSS concentration ranging from 1200 to 4500 mg·l-1. The experimental results also showed that there is likely a proper filtration rate range which lead to an efficient SS removal, meanwhile no collapse was observed on the sludge bed.


The New Zealand dairy industry has increased significantly in size in over the last two decades. One of the drivers that has made this intensification possible is the use of maize silage as a feed supplement. Growing maize on farm imposes production and opportunity costs on the farm business. Opportunity cost was calculated using data from DairyNZ as the profit foregone due to not milking from the maize-growing hectares. Opportunity cost was added to Pioneer's calculated cost of maize silage production to represent the cost that is incurred for each hectare of maize silage that is planted on farm. The true cost of maize silage grown on farm at differing milksolid (MS) payout levels and farm systems was estimated. The findings indicate the economic appropriateness of growing maize silage on farm depends upon the farm system, the value of MS and the cost to purchase maize silage in a given year.


Background and purpose The use of braces is widespread in patients with thoracolumbar fractures. The effectiveness of bracing, however, is controversial. We sought evidence for the effect of bracing in patients with traumatic thoracolumbar fractures based on outcome and length of hospital stay (LOS). Furthermore, we evaluated the incidence of complications of bracing. Methods An electronic search strategy with extensive MeSH headings was used in various databases to identify studies that compared bracing and non-bracing therapies. Two reviewers independently selected systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials, and observational studies, and both assessed the methodological quality and extracted the data. Results No systematic reviews or RCTs were found. 7 retrospective studies were included. None of these studies showed an effect of bracing. Because of poor methodological quality, no best-evidence synthesis could be performed. One observational study was selected in which a complication of bracing was reported. Interpretation In the present literature, there is no evidence for the effectiveness of bracing in patients with traumatic thoracolumbar fractures. The lack of high-quality studies prevents relevant conclusions from being drawn.


Reports that N03 contamination of groundwater and surface water bodies may result from fertilizer leaching and runoff have increased concerns about the N use efficiency (NUB) by turfgrasses since N03 is the predominant form of inorganic nitrogen in the turf-soil environment. The rate of N03 absorption by turf roots and the partitioning of N03 assimilation and biomass between roots and shoots have been demonstrated to influence turfgrass NUB. The frrst objective of this study was to assess if genetic variation exists in these processes among cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.). The second objective was to establish the relationship between the partitioning of N03 assimilation to roots and total root biomass and to establish if these factors contribute to NUB in these same species. Cultivars were selected for this study on the basis of their performance scores in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program. Seeds were germinated on washed silica sand and seedlings transplanted into aerated nutrient solution containing 1.0 roM N03 and maintained in an environmental control chamber. Nitrate uptake rate (NUR) was determined by a solution depletion method. Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was assayed by an in vivo assay modified for turfgrasses and partitioning of N03 assimilation was calculated by multiplying tissue specific NRA by the fresh weight of that tissue. Tissue N content was analyzed using a rnicroKjeldahl procedure and NUE was calculated based on biomass produced per unit N.


This study investigated the relationship between reliability of music performance, adjudication, judge performance ability, and judge nonperformance music achievement. Thirty-three recent music education graduates rated a series of trumpet performances. Individual judge reliability was calculated and applied music, music history, and music theory academic grades were collected for each of the subjects. In addition, a composite variable labeled "nonperformance music grade" was obtained by averaging each subject's music theory and music history grades. Results of statistical analyses showed: (1) no relationship between judge performing ability and judge reliability, (2) no relationship between judge performing ability and judge nonperformance music achievement, and (3) a statistically significant inverse relationship between judge reliability and judge nonperformance music achievement.


Irrigating fresh produce with contaminated water may increase the bacterial load and subsequently introduce hazards of food poisoning. Bacterial risk assessment through possible pathogenic cross-contamination of soil and river water used for the irrigation of fresh produce was investigated. Various sites on Berdawny and Ghzayel Rivers in Beka'a Valley were selected to determine the quality of their water (based on microbial contamination) for irrigation and then bacterial load and type. Berdawny river sites were heavily contaminated with faecal coliforms and E. coli ( average of 4.7 and 2.5 Log 10 cfu/g respectively). Ghzayel sites (Chamsine and Darzanun) were found to be clear of any contamination indicators. Rawda and Hawsh El Harimeh sites, however, were contaminated with bacteria of faecal origin. The microbial analysis of soil samples taken from nearby farms which were irrigated with water from these rivers indicated that the growing fields were contaminated with the same microbial organisms found in the irrigation water. The contamination level of soil obtained from Rawda and El Hawsh sites (average 4 Log 10 cfu/g) were lower than that of Berdawny sites (average 8 Log 10 cfu/g). The overall findings suggest that the growing crops in these areas are likely to be contaminated and thereby evaluating the health risk of these crops is needed.


The article focuses on the history and evolution of the jihadist terrorist organization "Jab-hat al-Nusra" ("The Support Front for the People of the Levant"). It also reveals the ideological principals of the organization, its main goals and objectives and the methods used to achieve them. "Jabhat al-Nusra" was created as a branch of "Al Qaeda" in Syria. Subsequently, the organization changed its name twice. From July 2016 known as the "Jabhat Fateh al-Sham" ("The Liberation Front of the Levant") and from January 2017 - as the "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" ("Organization for the Liberation of the Levant". The replacement of the signboard was determined primarily by the fact that "Al-Nusra" had been designated as a terrorist organization in many countries around the world, including Russia. The main goals of "Jabhat al-Nusra" are follows: first - to overthrow the legitimate government of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad; second - to create a Muslim Sunni state governed by the laws of Sharia on the territory of Syria. The article shows that now the front "Al-Nusra" is the most powerful military and political force among all political organizations and military groups of the Syrian opposition. "Al-Nusra" is actively trying to become a more respectable movement and persistently seeks to get rid of the image of a terrorist organization. The article reflects the official position of the Russian Federation toward "Jabhat al-Nusra".


The integration of technology in agriculture has led to the adoption of smart farming systems, which are becoming increasingly popular for optimizing resources, reducing labor costs, and improving efficiency. This article presents a design of a smart cattle monitoring farm system, which focuses on monitoring individual animal behavior and health, improving resource management, and optimizing overall farm efficiency. The proposed system integrates various internet of things (IoT) sensors, communication technologies, and cloud computing to provide a real-time monitoring solution for cattle farms. The system uses machine learning (ML) algorithms to analyze data on cattle behavior, health, and performance, which can be accessed through web and mobile applications by farmers to proactively monitor their herd. The adoption of the system promises good results for intelligently transforming traditional cattle farming by reducing manual monitoring time and achieving a good accuracy in early detection of diseases, automated tracking of estrus cycles, and location mapping of cattle across the farm fields.


Evidence Based Medicine is a methodological approach that allows us to discriminate worldwide available information with the intention to clarify clinical qu...


Although the head-up tilt (HUT) test and Valsalva maneuver (VM) have been widely used to identify sympathetic adrenergic impairment, the detailed relationship between the degree of orthostatic hypotension (OH) during the HUT test and the pattern of blood pressure (BP) change during the VM remains unknown. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between the degree of OH during the HUT test and the pattern of BP change during the VM. During a 4-year period, a total of 132 consecutive patients with neurogenic OH and 60 healthy controls were enrolled. The degree of OH was defined as mild (associated with a fall in systolic BP [SBP] 20 < 30 on tilting, n1⁄4 49), moderate (associated with a fall in SBP 30 < 40 on tilting, n1⁄4 43), and severe (associated with a fall in SBP 40 on tilting, n1⁄4 40). A standardized battery of autonomic tests, including the HUT test and VM using Finometer devices for recording beat-to-beat BP and heart rate response, and a quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test, was performed. Sympathetic indexes (SIs 1–6) were calculated from the VM. A composite autonomic severity score (CASS) was also obtained to evaluate the severity and distribution of autonomic dysfunction. The degree of OH was compared with the BP decline and recovery during the VM. All indexes exhibited overall significant differences among tested groups (P< 0.001). Only SI 3 differentiated all subject groups. Compared with other SIs, SI 3 was best correlated with the amount of decrease in the mean SBP (R1⁄4 0.473, P< 0.001) on tilting. The decrease in mean SBP on tilting was best correlated with CASS adrenergic subscore. SI 3 can g-Ho Hong, MD, and Hyung Lee, MD (Medicine 95(19):e3608) Abbreviations: ANOVA = 1-way analysis of variance, BP = blood pressure, BRSa = baroreflex sensitivity adrenergic, CASS = composite autonomic severity score, DBP = diastolic blood pressure, HR = heart rate, HUT = head-up tilt, MBP = mean blood pressure, OH = orthostatic hypotension, PRT = pressure recovery time, QSART = quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test, SAF = sympathetic adrenergic failure, SBP = systolic blood pressure, SI = sympathetic index, VM = Valsalva maneuver. INTRODUCTION S ympathetic adrenergic failure (SAF) is typically presented with symptoms suggestive of orthostatic intolerance, such as orthostatic dizziness, and is typically diagnosed by the presence of orthostatic hypotension (OH), which is commonly accepted as a proxy for SAF. SAF is typically ascribed to an impairment of sympathetic nervous system innervation of the blood vessels and heart, which control the blood pressure (BP) response during orthostatic challenge. Neurogenic cause of OH, a proxy for SAF is a less common and chronic condition than non-neurogenic cause of OH, which is due to a variety of medical conditions, such as dehydration, volume depletion, severe anemia, use of medication such as antihypertensive therapies, cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure, systemic infection, prolonged immobilization, and physical deconditioning. Non-neurogenic cause of OH usually resolves after the underlying cause is treated. Plasma norepinephrine levels (in neurogenic OH they will not go up, while in nonneurogenic OH they will go up significantly) or the Valsalva maneuver (VM) (the phase IV overshoot is blunted and the recovery time is prolonged in neurogenic OH, while it is preserved in non-neurogenic OH) are required to differentiate neurogenic OH from non-neurogenic OH. VM-induced BP changes indeed reflects sympathetic functions providing that there are no non-neurogenic causes of OH. Although the head-up tilt (HUT) test has been widely used to identify SAF, it can only detect the presence of severe generalized adrenergic failure due to its limited sensitivity. In contrast, the VM offers the advantage of detecting milder forms of SAF. Therefore, both techniques should be used in combination to conduct a detailed evaluation of sympathetic adrenergic function. In most laboratories that perform autonomic function tests, the HUT test and VM have been widely used to identify the presence and evaluate the degree of severity etailed relationship between the degree test and the pattern of BP changes during wn. www.md-journal.com | 1 In the present study, we only included patients with neurogenic OH during the tilt and compared the various types of sympathetic indexes (SIs) during the VM to the degree of Kim et al OH in patients with graded SAF. The primary purpose was to identify which SI is optimal to differentiate groups with graded SAF according to the different degrees of OH. PATIENTS AND METHODS Case Definition and Data Collection From January 2011 to January 2014, we retrospectively identified 795 consecutive patients with OH from the autonomic laboratory at the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center who had OH during the HUT test. All patients referred to our autonomic laboratory and main reason for referral was symptoms of orthostatic intolerance such as orthostatic dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, and syncope. The inclusion criteria for this study were as follows: patient had classic OH that was defined as a decrease in systolic BP (SBP) 20 mm Hg or a decrease in diastolic BP 10 mm Hg within 3 min of tilting, OH continuously appeared during the entire time of tilting, patient had a definite neurological disorder responsible for OH, such as a neurodegenerative disease or diabetic neuropathy (i.e., neurogenic OH), and all hemodynamic BP responses shown as SIs (i.e., SIs 1–6) were successfully obtained from the VM. The specific disease(s) responsible for neurogenic cause of OH such as multiple system atrophy, Parkinson disease, and diabetic neuropathy was diagnosed using internationally accepted criteria for diagnosis of each disease, respectively.


In the present paper we discuss the properties of Voronoi polygons in several monatomic glassforming systems and compare them with those of the Kob-Andersen mixture. We show that two mechanisms of glass formation are possible: smearing of Voronoi polygons or formation of polygons of two different shapes. Both mechanisms lead to disturbance of the crystalline order in the system and glass transition.


The importance of the nonprofit sector in enhancing sustainable development especially in developing countries where states and markets often fail is generally recognized in the literature on organizational behavior and development. The rapid growth observed in this sector has been accompanied by increasing volatility of charity and philanthropy, perverse global shocks and institutional arrangements. These factors threaten the financial sustainability of the nonprofit sector as well as its constant contribution to sustainable development especially in developing countries. This paper proposes an extension of the concept of nonprofit commercialization to developing countries, which until now has claimed significant importance only in the developed countries nonprofit literature. The key hypothesis developed in this paper is that commercialization of nonprofit organizations in developing countries can significantly reduce the risk of financial insolvency, enhance organizational sustainability and long term contribution to sustainable development. The importance of nonprofit organizations and rationale for commercialization of third sector organizations in developing countries is presented. The pros and cons for nonprofit commercialization are intensively discussed before proceeding to some of the key motivating factors for nonprofit commercialization. An empirical example is briefly presented to support this theoretical position. The paper concludes with implications of concept application for research, development and sustainability of the nonprofit sector in developing countries.


We present the results of Chiari pelvic osteotomy in the treatment of adolescent hip incongruence, with special interest in identifying possibilities, limitations and complications. In a series of 86 patients treated by Chiari pelvic osteotomy (13 operated bilateraly) at the Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery "Banjica" with a follow-up period more than 48 months, we analyzed the relation of Chiari-specific parameters collected from postoperative radiograms (osteotomy angle and heigth, and displacement index) to various preoperative and postoperative parameters (Sharp acetabular angle, Wiberg CE angle, Heyman and Herndon femoral head extrusion index (FHEI), Acetabular depth ratio (ADR), Shenton-Menard arch integrity, limb length discrepancy, gait quality) and functional result according to HHS and McKay scoring systems. We found highly significant improvements of Sharp angle (from 47.2±6.1° preoperatively to 38.6±7.8° finally, p Chiari pelvic osteotomy is useful surgical procedure in the selected cases of adolescent hip incongruence with disturbance of hip centering and coverage.


Sauropodomorph dinosaurs underwent drastic changes in their anatomy and ecology throughout their evolution. The Late Triassic Thecodontosaurus antiquus occupies a basal position within Sauropodomorpha, being a key taxon for documenting how those morphofunctional transitions occurred. Here, we redescribe the braincase osteology and reconstruct the neuroanatomy of Thecodontosaurus, based on computed tomography data. The braincase of Thecodontosaurus shares the presence of medial basioccipital components of the basal tubera and a U-shaped basioccipital–parabasisphenoid suture with other basal sauropodomorphs and shows a distinct combination of characters: a straight outline of the braincase floor, an undivided metotic foramen, an unossified gap, large floccular fossae, basipterygoid processes perpendicular to the cultriform process in lateral view and a rhomboid foramen magnum. We reinterpret these braincase features in the light of new discoveries in dinosaur anatomy. Our endocranial reconstruction reveals important aspects of the palaeobiology of Thecodontosaurus, supporting a bipedal stance and cursorial habits, with adaptations to retain a steady head and gaze while moving. We also estimate its hearing frequency and range based on endosseous labyrinth morphology. Our study provides new information on the pattern of braincase and endocranial evolution in Sauropodomorpha.


The Urban Cooperative Banks catering to the needs of the people of the weaker sections in the urban areas are a powerful means of financial empowerment and financial inclusion. Urban Cooperative Banking is based on the twin model of Banking & Cooperation. In spite of immense heterogeneity in assets, operation area, nature of operation; UCBs have immense potential to tackle externalities that inhibit smooth credit flow at a local level.I have undertaken a Case Study on UCBs in Karnataka. It is based on first-hand qualitative and quantitative data from the UCBs, secondary data from RBI Offsite Surveillance System, Bank's Balance Sheets & RBI Inspection reports. A survey of the selected UCBs in June 2009 yielded meaningful insights.


In this paper,a novel grooved flat plate heat pipe(FPHP)was designed.The grooved structure of the FPHP can improve its axial and radial heat transfer and also can form the capillary loop between condensation and evaporation surfaces.From experiment,we also obtained the best filling amount of this grooved FPHP.By comparing the thermal resistance of a solid copper plate with that of the FPHP,it is suggested that the critical heat flux condition should be maintained to use FPHP as efficient thermal spreaders for electronics cooling.


This paper quantifies the repeatability of largescale signal variations in an urban propagation environment. We propose a model and use field measurements taken in downtown San Francisco to quantify how similar the received signals appear when a mobile receiver revisits the same general area. The results establish bounds for repeated measurements within a given street that are taken on different days as well as in different lanes.


This column discusses the special issue on reconfigurable computing, Micro's current calls for papers, topics from the recent business meeting, and recent computer architecture award winners.


Recently, Li et al. proposed a secure biometric-based remote user authentication scheme using smart cards to withstand the security flaws of Li-Hwang's efficient biometric-based remote user authentication scheme using smart cards. Li et al.'s scheme is based on biometrics verification, smart card and one-way hash function, and it also uses the random nonce rather than a synchronized clock, and thus it is efficient in computational cost and more secure than Li-Hwang's scheme. Unfortunately, in this paper we show that Li et al.'s scheme still has some security weaknesses in their design. In order to withstand those weaknesses in their scheme, we further propose an improvement of their scheme so that the improved scheme always provides proper authentication and as a result, it establishes a session key between the user and the server at the end of successful user authentication.


ABSTRACT Objectives: There is growing emphasis on empirical validation of the efficacy of community-based services for older people and their families, but research on services such as respite care faces methodological challenges that have limited the growth of outcome studies. We identify problems associated with the usual research approaches for studying respite care, with the goal of stimulating use of novel and more appropriate research designs that can lead to improved studies of community-based services. Method: Using the concept of research validity, we evaluate the methodological approaches in the current literature on respite services, including adult day services, in-home respite and overnight respite. Results: Although randomized control trials (RCTs) are possible in community settings, validity is compromised by practical limitations of randomization and other problems. Quasi-experimental and interrupted time series designs offer comparable validity to RCTs and can be implemented effectively in community settings. Conclusion: An emphasis on RCTs by funders and researchers is not supported by scientific evidence. Alternative designs can lead to development of a valid body of research on community services such as respite.


Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide an empirical analysis of the impact of external debt on total factor productivity (TFP) and growth along with the TFP channel through which external debt affects the growth of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs).

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses panel data econometrics; basically, the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) and alternative non-linear (panel threshold) models. For robustness check, it also uses panel-corrected standard errors, feasible generalized least squares and SUR (using alternative variables).

Findings
External debt significantly reduces both TFP and growth. Besides, it confirms that the relationship between external debt and TFP and gross domestic product growth is non-linear. Further external debt can affect the growth of HIPCs through the TFP channel. However, the threshold model result reveals weak evidence of threshold values although there are some threshold values of 67 and 54 for TFP and growth models, respectively.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study on most concerned countries (HIPCs) that shows a detailed and complete analysis of the TFP channel and the impact of external debt on growth. Thus, it provides appropriate and sound policies that consider the unique characteristics of the countries. Unlike most previous findings, this study does not support an inverted U-shape relationship between external debt and growth. Further, it provides insights into the relationships among TFP, external debt and growth. Moreover, it considers basic panel econometric tests like cross-sectional dependence, uses a non-linear simultaneous equations model along with the alternative non-linear model and is supported by different robustness checks.


An understanding of the vertical distribution of nutritive value in cool-season grasses could support decisions regarding the management of residual mass and plant height to meet nutri - tional value targets. The objective of this study was to characterize the vertical distribution of nutritive value within a grass sward and to relate it to the morphological components of the herb - age (lamina, stem + sheath, and dead matter). The research was conducted from April to o cto- ber 2009 and 2010 in a mixed cool-season grass sward consisting primarily of tall fescue ( Sche- donorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons., formerly Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Growing periods were initiated in April, May, June, July, and August, during which forage was allowed to accumulate for the remainder of the growing season, with weekly sampling for nutri - tive value and morphological composition. Neu - tral detergent fiber (NDF) was significantly greater in the 5- to 15-cm strata than in the 15- to 25-cm in 32% of all initiation datedays after cutting combinations across years. The NDF concentra - tion increased as the season progressed, which was associated with increasing dead matter and declining lamina content in the canopy. Differ - ences in NDF digestibility among strata were less consistent than for NDF. For the May through August initiation dates, few nutritive value dif - ferences were found among strata, which were attributed to lower nutritive value in the 10-cm strata immediately above the stubble height. Consequently, we anticipate a small decrease in nutritive value of the diet of a grazing animal as it consumes tall fescue-dominant pasture. Dep. of Horticulture and Crop Science and Dep. of Animal Science, The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH 43210. Salary and research sup -


This study was conducted from October 2011 till September 2012 to detect the prevalence of anaemia and relationship with parasitic (protozoan and helminthes) infection. A total of 389 samples (feceses and blood) were examined form patients attended to primary health center in Al-Doullab Village (Babylon Province\ Iraq).Their ages range from 1-55 years . The overall percentage of anaemia was (20.9%) and the highest percentage incidences were in females 59.2% comparison with males (40.8 %). The overall percentage of parasitic infection was 60.15% distributed as 58.7 % for females and 60.9 % for males. The highest percentages were those of Entamoeba histolytica followed by Enterobius vermicularis then Giardia lamblia , then Ancylostoma deudenale, then Ascaris lumbricoides and the lowest Trichuris trichura .The percentage of anaemia is higher in infected persons compared with non infected with parasites, as infection with E.histolytica, then G.lamblia, T.trichura , A.lumbricoides ,while infection with E.vermicularis the percentage of infection is higher in non anemic individuals. Otherwise the highest percentage of infection by E.histolytica appeared in the ages group 31-40 while the lowest was in ages group 41-50 and more. As regard to infection of G.lamblia the highest infection was in age 1-10 while the lowest was in age 31-40 . E.vermicularis was dominant in age 41-50 and less in the age 1-10. The highest infection with A.duedenale was in the age 31-40 while the lowest was in age 11-20. The highest infection rate A.lumbricoides was in the age 1-10 while the lowest was in age 11-20 . The infection the highest infection rate with T.trichura was in the age 1-10 while the lowest was in age 11-20 . As regards to hemoglobin concentration and the type of parasite, the highest concentration was observed in case of infection by G.lamblia then E. histolytica, A.lumbricoides , E. vermicularis, T.trichura then the lowest was in A. duedenale. Cocerning the concentration of hemoglobin in different age group, the highest concentration was arranged in the age groups 41-50, 31-40, 1-10, 11-20, 21-30.


This paper investigates the Visible Light Communication (VLC) using hybrid OTDM/WDM system. Advantages of WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) and OTDMA (Optical Time Division Multiplexing) techniques have been combined using two degrees of freedom in order to increase the capacity of the system. Performances are shown in simulation results of the bit error rate (BER) in terms of data rate and number of users. First, the simulated results show the feasibility of the system. Then, the obtained results indicate that we can have the required performances for a VLC system with higher data rate transmission. With such system, the number of users has been significantly increased.


The cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 is a key regulator of cell‐cycle progression and its expression is tightly regulated at the level of transcription and by proteasome‐dependent proteolysis. The turnover of p21WAF1/CIP1 by proteasomes does not always require the ubiquitylation of p21WAF1/CIP1 suggesting that there could be an alternative pathway into the proteasome. Here we show that the C8 α‐subunit of the 20S proteasome interacts with the C‐terminus of p21WAF1/CIP1 and mediates the degradation of p21WAF1/CIP1. A small deletion in this region that disrupts binding to C8 increased the half‐life of p21WAF1/CIP1 expressed in vivo. In contrast a deletion that increased the affinity between C8 and p21WAF1/CIP1 significantly reduced the stability of the latter. These data suggest that interaction with a 20S proteasome α‐subunit is a critical determinant of p21WAF1/CIP1 turn‐over and show how non‐ubiquitylated molecules might bypass the 19S regulator of the proteasome and become targeted directly to the 20S, core protease. Consistent with this, p21WAF1/CIP1 was degraded rapidly by purified 20S proteasomes in a manner that was dependent on the C8‐interaction domain.


The characteristics of radiation and drying properties of TiO2 bulb in the fixed bed with infrared radiation have been studied in this paper,and the experiments on drying dynamics has been analysed also.The optimization of heat and mass transfer data has been determined,which could provide the scientific basis engineering design.


Drawing upon a sample of 806 migrant children in Beijing, China, this study investigated how community social capital, family social support, family human capital and family financial capital influenced the mental health of Chinese migrant children. Using structural equation modelling with latent variables, the study results suggested that higher levels of family social support were associated with better mental health of migrant children. Family social support also mediated the effect of community social capital on children's mental health. Family human capital and family financial capital both contributed to children's mental health through their significant effects on community social capital. However, family financial capital was negatively associated with family social support, resulting in an unexpected, indirect negative effect on children's mental health. Implications of these findings for social policy and social services were discussed.


BACKGROUND
Shigella spp is a frequent cause of diarrhea in children. Antimicrobials decrease the duration of diarrhea and pathogen excretion. However, the increasing resistance limits their therapeutic value.

AIM
To study Shigella serotype distribution in the Metropolitan Region in Chile, and its relationship with severity of disease, antimicrobial resistance pattern and clonality.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
During summer 2004-2005, stool samples from children with diarrhea were collected in Cary Blair transpon medium and cultured. Shigella isolates were serotyped using monoclonal and polyclonal commercial antibodies. In vitro activity of ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazol, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and azythromycin was determined by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Clonality was studied by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using Xbal as restriction enzyme.

RESULTS
One hundred thirty nine Shigella strains were isolated (77 S sonnei and 62 S flexneri). S sonnei and S flexneri 2a serotypes were responsible for 95% of episodes. Children aged 2-4 years, showed a greater incidence of Shigella infections and 77% of episodes were treated on an ambulatory basis. High resistance levels were observed for ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and chloramphenicol (67%, 60%, 56% and 45%, respectively). We found 11 resistance patterns and 61,2% of strains were multiresistant. There were multiple clones without a strict relationship with resistance patterns.

CONCLUSIONS
Shigella infections in Metropolitan Region in Chile are associated to a restricted number of serotypes, representing a clonal expansion associated to different antimicrobial resistant patterns.


Zaleplon (ZAL) is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic agent which in 10 mg doses is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Unlike benzodiazepines, ZAL has a low potential for abuse and it does not cause rebound insomnia or other discontinuation effects. After oral administration the drug is extensively metabolised into pharmacologically inactive metabolites, resulting in an absolute oral bioavailability of only 30%. Furthermore, the ZAL absorption might be significantly impaired when compound is administrated with a high fat meal. In order to overcome such limitations, we have used a cyclodextrin technology. The aim of the work was to investigate the potential synergistic effect of water-soluble polymers (hypromellose, HPMC and polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP) on zaleplon complexation with different cyclodextrin derivatives (β-cyclodextrin, βCD and randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin, RAMEB) in solution and in solid state. A further aim was to validate the applicability of prepared complexes in development of an immediate-release oral formulation of ZAL. Addition of HPMC to the complexation medium improved ZAL complexation and solubilization with RAMEB (KZAL/RAMEB=156±5 M-1 and KZAL/RAMEB/HPMC=189±8 M-1), while such effect was not observed for βCD (KZAL/βCD=112±2 M-1 and KZAL/βCD/HPMC=119±8 M-1). Although PVP increased the ZAL aqueous solubility for 18.5%, it did not show any synergistic effects on ZAL solubilization with cyclodextrins tested. Binary and ternary complexes of ZAL with βCD, RAMEB and HPMC were prepared by spray-drying. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy, supported by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirmed inclusion complex formation in all binary and ternary samples. In vitro dissolution rate followed the rank ZAL/RAMEB/HPMC > ZAL/RAMEB = ZAL/βCD/HPMC > ZAL/βCD >>ZAL, clearly demonstrating the superior performance of RAMEB on ZAL complexation in the solid state and its synergistic effect with HPMC on the drug solubility. Surprisingly, when loaded into tablets made with insoluble microcrystalline cellulose, the positive effect of RAMEB complexes on drug dissolution was absent, because HPMC and RAMEB acted as a binders inside tablets, prolonging their disintegration. Contrariwise, the formulation with mannitol, a soluble excipient, containing ternary RAMEB complex released the complete drug-dose in only 5 min, clearly demonstrating its suitability in development of immediate-release oral formulation of ZAL.


In this paper, we study the connectivity of an ad hoc network with a dynamic user population. We assume that the nodes arrive at the service area according to a Poisson process and, then travel according to a user mobility model. The nodes, which have not departed the service area, are able to participate in communications. The location of the nodes and the size of the user population within the service area are constantly changing. We study connectivity of this user population at the steady-state. We derive the distribution of the size of user population within the service area, node's location distribution and the distribution of the distance between the two nodes. Then, we determine the mean cluster size, fraction of nodes within the cluster, probability that nodes will form a single cluster and average of the minimum number of hops that it takes for two nodes to communicate. This work shows significance of mobility on the connectivity of ad hoc networks


Fathur Rochman Mursalim , 2013, The Business Development Strategy
Convection-Based Community (Case Studies Association Convection Self In
Condongcatur, Depok, Sleman) purpose of this study was to determine and
describe strategies.
The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative. In this study,
the study subjects were (1) Convection Self Association board, and (2) members
who are involved in business development activities of community-based
convection. And informants were selected as research subjects are treated at the
same time as the sample. While the object of the research is a strategy Convection
Self Society in developing community-based businesses that exist in the Village
Condongcatur, Depok, Sleman.
Results of this study was the association convection business development
strategy by using the community as independent power base through the
development of savings and loans that proved quite effective in improving the
economy of the community in the area skew chess. In this study also found
weaknesses community business development strategy that is self-limited
convection technology, difficulties in marketing their products, difficulties in
finding raw materials, and human resources are poorly trained. Therefore, the
authors provide recommendations that need the assistance from both government
and private sector better, especially in addressing difficulties in obtaining raw
materials that are less so when it is receiving a lot of orders are not hampered
because of the difficulty of raw materials.
Keywords: strategy, community


Purpose: the study aimed to observe and analyze the variations of livercancer GTV between 4D‐CT and 3D‐CT associated with active breathing control device (ABC).Methods: 13 cases with primary livercancer were selected and underwent CT simulation and localization. Each case underwent 4D‐CT scanning first, with ABC device working on to monitor and analyze the breath wave. Afterwards, 3D‐CT scanning were underwent, respectively when patient breathing freely, at the end of inspiration and expiration. GTVs were contoured, according the same criterion by one radiologist and one radiation oncologist jointly, respectively on 6 CT series: CT0 series (4D‐CT end‐exhale), CT50 series (4D‐CT end‐inhale), 4D‐CT MIP series, 3D‐CT free breathing CT series, 3D‐CT end‐exhale series, and 3D‐CT end‐inhale series, which were named GTV4D‐0, GTV4D‐50, GTVMIP, GTVFB, GTVEE, GTVEI. Afterwards, GTV4D‐M were obtained by merging GTV4D‐0 and GTV4D‐50, meanwhile GTV3D‐M were obtained by merging GTVEE and GTVEI. The volume of all GTVs were measured and analyzed using SPSS software. Paired Wilcoxson test was applied.Results: there was no significant difference between GTVEI and GTVEE (P=0.325), as well as GTVEI and GTV4D‐0 (P=0.125), GTVEE and GTV4D‐50 (P=0.325), GTV4D‐0 and GTV4D‐50 (P=0.125), GTV4D‐M and GTV3D‐M (P=0.125), GTVMIP and GTV3D‐M (P=0.325). GTVFB was smaller than GTV3D‐M and GTV4D‐M significantly (P=0.015 and P=0.016), and than GTVMIP without significant differenc (P=0.125). Notably, GTV4D‐M differed from GTVMIP (P=0.016) Conclusions: the margins from GTV to PTV should be noticed, when undergo CT simulation with patients breathing freely, due to the differences between GTVFB and GTV4D‐M and GTV3D‐M. To merge GTVEE and GTVEI could be an alternative to using 4D‐CT for simulation.


The following essay is based on an analysis of the withholding tax to individuals services providers in the new system of withholding for employees category. To begin, start on an analysis of the tax classification law from 1607 to December 2012 and its implementing regulations for the practice of the new scheme of withholding from explaining the requirements for determining the classification for natural persons in tax categories; employees and self-employed persons, as defined in Article 329 of the tax statute, then analyze the deductions of individuals classified according to the tax bracket, especially the mandatory deduction for contributions to the general social security system for two perspectives, first as a decrease in the base of withholding the service provider whenever duly paid social security, and second from the point to the origin tax deduction in the income tax of contractors verification of such contributions. On the other hand, presents an example of calculating the withholding tax for natural persons classified in the category employees and last elements of defense in case of requirement of DIAN.


The paper presents a solar-tracking method for control of photovoltaic panel movement in order to improve the conversion efficiency of the system. The designed algorithm is implemented on a solar-tracking experimental platform using a tri-positional control strategy. It makes use of measured values for radiation from appropriate sensors and assures command of the platform's two positioning motors. The solution was developed as a virtual instrument, using the graphical programming environment, LabVIEW. This allows for fast deployment, versatility and scalability. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of DAAAM International Vienna.


The main object of this study was to offer information about incoming waste in landfill and to evaluate biochemical methane and hydrogen sulfide potentials of landfill wastes. We examined brick, soil, mixed waste (C&D waste and MSW) samples for the study. The leaching experiments showed that BOD, COD and sulfate were determined in the range of 0~18,816 mg/kg, 85~21,100 mg/kg and 160~1,205 mg/kg, respectively in 6hr extraction test. An accumulated extraction tests for 140day were determined BOD 226~197,219 mg/kg, COD 436~242,588 mg/kg and Sulfate 1,090~25,140 mg/kg. Also, BMP (biochemical methane potential) tests were carried out to examine methane and hydrogen sulfide yields for the 3 different wastes. As a result, methane yield was determined to 262.68 mL CH₄/g VS of MSW and 0~17.75 mL CH₄/g VS in brick, soil and C&D waste. Higher hydrogen sulfide yield was observed to 0.079mL H₂S/g VS in C&D waste. This result indicate that brick and soil could be sources of sulfate, and higher production of hydrogen sulfide could be odor problem and inhibitor of methane production.


A Iaycrcd modcl for efficient DVD(Digita1 Vidco Disk) authoring is proposed in this paper. A tool that maintains a list of the hierarchical dependencies among objects and actions to be applied to these objects is also proposed.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: A previous randomized trial found that obtaining ultrasound (US) as the first diagnostic imaging study for adults with suspected ureteral stones reduces radiation without increasing return ED visits or missed diagnoses. These results are consistent with EAU guidelines that US should be the first imaging modality for nephrolithiasis. We sought to determine the potential reduction in radiation exposure for an US-first approach using population-based diagnostic imaging patterns in the ED. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of adults who presented to 70 emergency departments in South Carolina between 1996 and 2017 using all payer hospital claims data. All ED encounters within a 6 month "episode" following the initial ED visit were identified, along with ultrasound and CT ordered at the visits. Patterns of US and CT during the first two consecutive ER visits were determined at the patient- and hospital-level. Imaging patterns in which only a CT was performed were classified as an "opportunity for reduction in CT″. RESULTS: From 1996 to 2017, 180,845 patients had 233,242 unique stone episodes involving at least 1 ED visit and 282,845 ED encounters. A CT was obtained in 72.8% of all ED encounters as compared to 3.5% with US. The median number of CTs obtained within a 6 month episode after the initial ED visit was 1 (IQR 0,1; range 1-13). The highest cumulative number of CTs was 80 for a single patient over the 18 year period. CT was obtained without US in 94.8% of all episodes during which an US and/or CT was obtained. Of those episodes that involved at least two consecutive ED visits, 79.1% represented an opportunity for reduction in CT use [Figure 1]. Twenty-eight percent of patients presented to different EDs for the initial and subsequent visits; CT utilization patterns between those who presented to the same ED and different EDs were similar (90% vs. 93.9%). There was an inverse relationship between hospital volume and CT utilization, which was clinically unimportant. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of ED encounters include CT alone. CT utilization was similar for repeat ED visits at the same and different hospitals. A US-first approach offers substantial potential for radiation reduction during ED visits for nephrolithiasis. Figure. No caption available. Source of Funding: None


No issue in the world of federal sentencing has sparked more controversy or engendered more criticism than the punishment scheme for crack and powder cocaine. Congress set forth the basic crack and powder policy more than twenty years ago in a set of mandatory minimum sentencing statutes, producing the now infamous 100-to-1 quantity ratio. The U.S. Supreme Court's recent Booker decision making the Guidelines "effectively advisory" has added a challenging new set of issues for federal judges: what should district judges and circuit judges do when considering suggested Guideline crack sentences that seem excessive, particularly in relation to suggested sentences for comparable powder cocaine offenses? Booker creates a new urgency for debates about the appropriateness of federal cocaine sentencing policy and the judicial discretion to resist that policy in individual sentencing decisions. As highlighted in this Issue, debates over Booker and sentencing fairness are developing into what may become a "perfect storm" paving the way for meaningful reform a generation after Congress produced the 100-to-1 crack/powder ratio that many now consider deeply misguided. In these Observations, we quickly review the current complicated lay of the land and offer our suggestions for a productive path forward.


Abstract.
 Functional response of third-instar larvae of green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), to four densities of single-instar larvae of the five instars of obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), was evaluated at 25 ± 1°C in a laboratory. The aims were to determine the type and other characteristics of functional response including predatory capacity of green lacewing for possible use in augmentative biological control in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh; Rosales: Rosaceae) orchards where obliquebanded leafroller was recently introduced in Mexico. Abundance of the pest increased rapidly, causing significant foliar damage and some fruit blemish. Third-instar green lacewing larvae based on logistic regression analysis showed Type II functional response to four densities of single-instar larvae of obliquebanded leafroller. Among the five instars of prey, the largest average number consumed per green lacewing predator was a relative density of four second-instar larvae at a rate of 1.93 in 24 hours. Also, substantial average consumption was by two third-instar prey larvae per predator whereby an average of 1.5 third-instar obliquebanded leafrollers were consumed per third-instar green lacewing in 24 hours. The third-instar predator captured and consumed third-instar prey larvae in the shortest handling time (h), i.e., only 6.46 minutes, whereas the handling times for the other instars ranged from 23.48 minutes for the fifth instar to 31.56 minutes for the fourth instar. However, attack coefficients (a) of green lacewings were slightly greater for third- and fourth-instar prey larvae, with 0.19 hour (11.4 minutes) and 0.15 hour (9.0 minutes) until the first attack, respectively, compared to 0.09–0.11 hour (5.4–6.6 minutes) until the first attack for the other instars. Results indicated that the green lacewing could be considered a prospective candidate for use as a biological control agent against lepidopteran leafrollers.


Objective To investigate Smad7's expression in different time in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)and search new clinical index and method to forecast acute renal failure.Methods Establishing the model of renal ischemia-reperfusion,When reperfused to the corresponding time point,blood samples were obtained for measurement of serum levels of creatinine(Cr) and blood urea nitrogen(BUN).Renal tissue was used for histological examination and immuohistochemical analysis of Smad7.Results ①Renal function change: Compared with the control group at the time point of 4h,12h,24h after reperfusion,the serum levels of BUN and Cr in the subgroup of the model group were significantly higher(P0.01);②Renal cellular damages in the model group showed more severe than those in the control group;③Expression of Smad7 in kidney of 0h reperfusion were not different statistically in two groups(P0.05).Expression of Smad7 in kidney of the model group were lower significantly in 4h,12h,24h reperfusion than the control group(P0.01).Conclusion With the gradual deterioration of renal function,the expression of Smad7 is decreased.


A travel gear capable of halting even on an inclined road, and its controlling method. When the halting switch SW is ON in step S2, a change value in tire rotation angle since the switch is turned ON is read in step S4, and a posture instruction correction angle Theta adj is calculated. Further, the posture instruction angle is updated in step S5 to set Theta REFpitch = Theta REFpitch0 + Thetaadj. If the halting switch SW is OFF in step S2, the posture instruction correction angle Thetaadj is set to 0 in step S6. Therefore, ThetaREFpitch = TheataREFpitch0 is satisfied. Further, posture control operation takes place in step S7, and a motor torque instruction Tref is output in step S8.


The Final Cut Studio of MAC is supported by the Apple computer's hardware and the ripe software of video edit,for example,Final Cut Pro HD,etc.It can effect operative compatibility with all kinds of video edit format,such as DV,SD and HD.The mobile Video Cut System of MAC Pro and the network Video Cut System can reduce the production cost.