The technology of wood-plastics composites includes concepts of compatibility and processability, with important challenges to optimize grade formulations, processing and stabilization of the composite system. Owing to the low thermal stability in wood flour processing, commodities such as polyolefins, styrene and polyvinylchloride represent the large majority of the thermoplastics employed in cellulosic composites. High impact polystyrene (HIPS) is a versatile thermoplastic as a result of variations in composition and morphology of the rubber dispersed phase in the styrenic matrix. In addition to its relatively low processing temperature, such characteristics make HIPS a suitable polymer for wood-plastic composite applications as an optimum stiffness-toughness balance can be achieved by fine control of HIPS morphological parameters and the composite formulation. In the present study, commercial grades of HIPS with different flow index and particle size distribution were used in the preparation of wood-plastic composites. The mechanical properties and the heat distortion temperatures of the composites are discussed in terms of the HIPS characteristics and the filler content in the composite. By simply applying the rule of mixtures, it was shown that owing to their relatively low specific gravity, the wood waste flour might be cost-effective in replacing mineral fillers or glass fibers in plastic composites with a better performance in terms of specific strength and rigidity. Electron microscopy analysis of fractured surfaces was used to illustrate wood flour dispersion, wettability and matrix-filler interactions.


In this paper, we present a scheme towards recognition of English character in multi-scale and multi-oriented environments. Graphical document such as map consists of text lines which appear in different orientation. Sometimes, characters in a single word may follow a curvilinear way to annotate the graphical curve lines. For recognition of such multi-scale and multi-oriented characters a Support Vector Machine (SVM) based scheme is presented in this paper. The feature used here is invariant to character orientation. Circular ring and convex hull have been used along with angular information of the contour pixels of the character to make the feature rotation invariant. We tested our proposed scheme on two different datasets. Combining circular and convex hull feature we have obtained 96.73% and 99.56% accuracy in these two datasets.


IRAS 12272-6240 is a complex star forming region with a compact massive dense clump and several associated masers, located at a well-determined distance of $d=9.3$ kpc from the Sun. For this study, we obtained sub-arcsec broad- and narrow-band near-IR imaging and low-resolution spectroscopy with the Baade/Magellan telescope and its camera PANIC. Mosaics of size $2 \times 2$ square arcmin in the $JHK_s$ bands and with narrow-band filters centred in the 2.12 $\mu$m H$_2$ and 2.17 $\mu$m Br$\gamma$ lines were analysed in combination with HI-GAL/{\sl Herschel} and archive IRAC/{\sl Spitzer} and {\sl WISE} observations. We found that the compact dense clump houses two Class~I YSOs that probably form a 21 kAU-wide binary system. Its combined 1 to 1200 $\mu$m SED is consistent with an O9V central star with a $10^{-2} M_\odot$ disc and a $1.3 \times 10^4 M_\odot$ dust envelope. Its total luminosity is $8.5 \times 10^4 L_\odot$. A series of shocked H$_2$ emission knots are found in its close vicinity, confirming the presence of outflows. IRAS 12272-6240 is at the centre of an embedded cluster with a mean age of 1 Myr and 2.6 pc in size that contains more than 150 stars. At its nucleus, we found a more compact and considerably younger sub-cluster containing the YSOs. We also identified and classified the O-type central stars of two dusty radio/IR HII regions flanking the protostars. Our results confirm that these elements form a single giant young complex where massive star formation processes started some 1 million years ago and is still active.


OF DISSERTATION COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS FOR IMPROVING ROUTE PLANNING IN AGRICULTURAL FIELD OPERATIONS In a farming operation, machinery represents a major cost; therefore, good fleet management can have a great impact on the producer's profit, especially considering the increasing costs of fuel and production inputs in recent years. One task that could improve fleet management is planning an optimum route that the machine should take to cover the field while working. Researchers around the world have proposed methods that approach specific aspects related to route planning, the majority addressing machine field efficiency per-se, which a function of effective working time relative to total time spent in the field. However, wasted inputs due to off-target application areas in the maneuvering regions, especially in oddly shaped agricultural fields, might be as important as field efficiency when it comes down to the total operation cost. Thus, the main purpose of this research was to develop a routing algorithm that accounts for not only machinery field efficiency, but also the supply inputs. This research was accomplished in a threefold approach where in the first step an algorithm for computing off-target application area was developed, implemented and validated resulting in a computational tool that can be used to evaluate potential savings when using automatic section control on agricultural fields of complex field boundary. This tool was used to investigate the effects of field size and shape as well as machine width on off-target application areas resulting in an empirical method for such estimations based on object shape descriptors. Finally, a routing algorithm was developed and evaluated that took into consideration, costs associated with machine field efficiency as well as off-target application areas.


Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) is an emergent alternative to instantaneous speed limit enforcement to improve road safety, and is used to enforce an average speed limit over a road segment. This paper presents a study on the response of passenger vehicles and minibus taxis to ASE on the R61 in South Africa. A spatio-temporal quantitative study of speed compliance is conducted, where metrics such as speed variability, average speed and 85th percentile speed measured prior to, and during enforcement are analysed for two prominent modes of transport – passenger vehicles and minibus taxis. These measurements are taken on the enforcement route and on control routes adjacent to and further away from the enforcement route. A qualitative study is also conducted to evaluate the relationship between speed compliance and driver understanding of the system. The impact of the system on crash risk and injury severity is also examined before and during enforcement. For passenger vehicles, results show that the introduction of ASE was followed by a reduction in mean speed on the enforcement route and adjacent control route. For minibus taxis, it was found that ASE appears to have little influence on improving speed compliance, which is likely associated with a lack of driver understanding on how the system operates.


Based on structural characteristics of the cablestayed bridge deck over Yellow River in Binzhou city,the mechanical analysis model was established in this paper.By applying the threedimension space finite element method,the main technique control indexes of waterproof and cohesive layer were determined.By analyzing the shear stress in bridge deck structure layers and between layers affected by traffic loads and its thickness,the control indexes are checked and verified according to many indoor tests,such as several materials performance tests and simulating worksite mechanical tests.waterproof and cohesive layer materials with betterperformance meeting with technique index were selected for design and constructoin of the waterproof and cohesive layer in bridge deck.


The name Cnemidophorus uariolosus Cope, 1892, is revived as a sullspecific name for populations of the species Cnemidophorus tigris inhabiting extreme southern Coahuila and adjacent Durango. This southern form is distinguished from the adjacent (northern) subspecies, C. t . rnarmoratus, by a heavy accumulation of melanic pigment on the venter and also by differences in dorsal pattern. The known geographic distribution of uariolosus is described, and that of rnarmoratus is revised. In the region of the Chihuahuan Desert, the species Cnemidophorus tigris has been considered to be represented by a single subspecies, C. t. marmoratus, found in New Mexico, western Texas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and eastern Durango. Over much of this broad region the lizards are relatively constant in pigmentation, but at the southern edge of the area, over a latitudinal distance of at least 150 miles, a variant color pattern population occurs that is worthy of taxonomic recognition. I am grateful to Dr. Robert Inger, Chicago Natural History Museum (abbreviated CNHM in this paper), Dr. Charles Walker and William Duellman, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ), and Dr. Robert C. Stebbins, University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ) ,who sent specimens to me on loan or facilitated my study at their respective institutions. Mr. Charles M. Bogert kindly read and criticized the manuscript. CNEMIDOPHORUS Cope TIGRIS VARIOLOSUS Cnemidophorus uariolosus Cope, 1892: 39, type locality Parras, Coahuila; type specimen U.S.N.M. 3066. Cnemidophorus tessellatus variolosus, Cope, 1900: 587. Cnemidophorus melanostethus, Gadow, 1906: 372. Cnemidophorus tessellatus tessellatus, Burt, 193 1 : 159. Cnimidophorus [sic] tigris marmoratus, Smith and Taylor, 1950: 190. DIAGNOSIS: A subspecies of Cnemidophorus tigris characterized by a dorsal pattern predominately of dark and light reticulations with little or no evidence of longitudinal light lines; black chest and throat; and purplish-gray to black gular region. Most closely related to C. t. marmoratus which has a similar dorsal pattern but has the gular region light (white, pinkish or orange in life), usually with dark spots, and the throat and chest with some dark markings but rarely or never predominately black. Cnemidophorus tigris aethiops of southern Arizona and Sonora has ventral surfaces similar in color to uariolosus but the dorsal pattern is striped and spotted, not reticulate. DISCUSSION: In dealing with with Cope's uariolosus, Gadow (1906: 372) synonymized it with C. melanostethus, which name he used also for lizards in southern Arizona now referred, part at least, to the black-chinned form C. t aethiops. Populations of southern Arizona (except the extreme western part) and Sonora are similar to those of southern Coahuila in possessing black or very dark chin, throat and chest, but differ markedly in dorsal pattern-light stripes on a variously spotted or otherwise broken dark background in aethiops, reticulations with little or no trace of linearity in uariolosus. An airline distance of well over 300 miles separates the known ranges of the two forms, and much of the intervening territory is of a sort (for example the Sierra Madre Occidental) where tigris would not be found. In his extremely conservative monograph of Cnemidophorus, Burt (1931: 159-160) treated uariolosus as a synonym of C. tessellatus tessellatus. At the present time, two species, one with seven subspecies, are recognized among the populations that Burt reserved to the single subspecies. The similarity of dorsal pattern in mclrmoratus and uariolosus argues for a close relationship, and the most recent workers to treat the forms considered uariolosus as a synonym of C. tigris marmoratus (Smith and Taylor, 1950: 190). With regard to the characters that distinguish it from uariolosus, C. tigris marmoratus is quite constant over its range. Scales of the chest often have a black anterior edge, but the chest is rarely or never predominantly black. Black spots are often but not invariably present on the pale background of the throat and chin. I have noted in larger individuals of marmoratus a pinkish to orange suffusion of the chin, sometimes spreading to the chest, in specimens collected by me at such widely separated localities as Samalayuca, Chihuahua; Boquillas, Coahuila; and Cuatro Cienegas, Coahuila. I presume that the color is characteristic of the subspecies. In adult uariolosus, the dorsal pattern is a fine reticulum that usually includes both dorsal and lateral surfaces of the body. Rarely there is some vertical barring at the sides. The side of the body in marmoratus regularly shows vertical bars, and in extreme examples continuous light and dark bars cross the dorsum. Usually, however, the mid-dorsal region is reticulate, sometimes with traces of thin dorso-lateral lines showing through the reticulum. I have collected C. t , uariolosus at both the western and eastern limits of the range as it is presently known. as well as from intermediate localities. Throughout this region, the chest is invariably largely black. The individual scales of the chest region usually have an ill-defined light posterior border, but the all-over effect is dark. The throat is similar to the chest in pigmentation. The gular region is dark gray to black in life. and rarely shows a very slight tendency to darker mottling. The discrete, black spots seen in many examples of marmoratus are not present. Dark ventral coloration is present in both sexes. With regard to black coloration, the most extreme individuals examined by me are two collected at 41 miles (by road) north-northwest of Saltillo, Coahuila. A male 89 mm. snout-vent length has the entire chin, throat. and chest jet black. Only at the very posterior end of the abdomen are there a few scales with more light than dark pigment. The top and sides of the head and the distal two-thirds of the tail are black. A female 87 mm. snout-vent length is only slightly less dark, with dark gray rather than black chin, and brown head. I have seen no hatchlings of uariolosus, so cannot say whether the black coloration is developed in them. The smallest individual I have examined measures 59 mm. snout-vent length and has the black of the chest well-developed with, however, slightly wider light posterior borders to the scales than is usual in larger specimens. Scutellation: Thirty-one specimens of uariolosus, including specimens from all parts of the known range. have an average of 98.5 t 1.0 scales around mid-body (excluding enlarged ventrals), range 86-1 09. The same count was made for two samples of marmoratus; Twenty-six lizards from central Coahuila in the vicinity of Cuatro Cienegas. Hermanas. and Monclova average 100.2 1 .I (87-1 10);Fifteen specimens from Alamogordo, Otero County, New Mexico average 102.5 + 1.8 (91-1 16). There are no significant differences among the populations in the number of scales around mid-body. Numbers of femoral pores often vary from population to population in Cnemidophorus, but uariolosus and marmoratus do not appear to differ noticeably in this respect. Thirty-one uariolosus average 45.1 t 0.7 (40-50); twenty-five marmoratus from central Coahuila average 43.6 i0.5 (38-48); and fifteen from Alamogordo average 45.3 t 0.6 (40-48). The locality records for variolosus cluster about a line running almost due east from the vicinity of Lerdo, Durango and Torrdn, Coahuila to a few miles north and west of Saltillo, Coahuila (fig. 1 ) . This distribution pattern is in part a consequence of the presence of the highway that connects Torre6n with Saltillo, but it appears that to the north of the line at least, variolosus is abruptly replaced by marmoratus. The evidence for this exists in the distribution of the two forms in the western part of the area in question. Typical marmoratus is found at Las Delicias and immediately south of that place (AMNH 67370-74 + 8 untagged specimens; CNHM 46102-05). Approximately 30 miles south-southwest of Las Delicias lies San Pedro de las Colonias. Specimens of C, t . uariolosus have been taken 12 miles north of San Pedro (CNHM 44298) and 30 miles NE (presumably by road) of San Pedro (CNMH 46100-01). It is evident that the two forms approach each other very closely here, yet the diagnostic characteris tic of ventral coloration remains true for each population. Intergradation between the two forms must take place abruptly, if it indeed occurs. The general close similarity of uariolosus and marmoratus, together with the knowledge of similarly abrupt transitions between other presumed subspecies of Cnemidophorus, leads me to assume that the relationship is subspecific. Cnemidophorus tigris uariolosus occurs in a variety of desert habitats. In the vicinity of Matamoros, variolosus darts among the creosote bushes (Larrea) and mesquites (Prosopis) on the sand dunes inhabited by Uma exsul. Near Paila, the habitat is very rocky desert with a growth of Yucca, Agaue, Larrea, and Fouquieria predominating. Locality records (Museum numbers are cited for specimens examined): Durango: 5 km. 74'. Torrebn, Coahuila (CNHM 10778, 10783-92); 5 mi. SW Torre6n Coahuila (AMNH 77275-76). Coahuila: 10 mi. E, 6 mi. S Torre6n (AMNH 77279); vicinity of Matamoros (AMNH 77258) ;7 mi. E. Matamoros (AMNH 77259-63) ;3.3 mi. W Zapata (UMMZ 112667-68) ; 12 mi. N San Pedro (CNHM: 44298) ;30 mi. NE San Pedro (CNHM 46100-01) ; 19 mi. W Paila (AMNH 77285) ;3.1 mi. W Paila (UMMZ 112666) ;16 mi. N, 31 mi. W Parras (AMNH 77252); 12 mi. N7 10 mi. E Parras (Chrapliwy and Fugler, 1955: 126, recorded as marmoratus, assigned to uariolosus on a geographic basis) ; Parras (Type Locality, Cope, 1892: 39) ; l/z mi. S San Antonio de Jaral (near Hip6lito) (MVZ 24385-86) ;41 mi. (by road) NNW Saltillo (AMNH 77288-89). r -


The relation between the geometrical orifice area (GOA) and the effective orifice area (EOA) of mitral bioprosthesis has been previously studied in both in vitro and clinical studies. Although GOA ...


Potatoes were planted on 18 Mar at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Experiment Station, Painter, VA. Each plot consisted of a 25 ft row bordered on each side by an untreated guard row, replicated 4 times in a randomized, complete block design. Plant spacing was 12 inches with 36 inches between rows. Sprays were applied with a propane compressed gas backpack sprayer using 3 hollow cone nozzles/row and delivering 60 gal/acre water at 40 psi. Applications were made on 14, 21, and 27 May and 8, 15, and 23 Jun. Trigard 75 W was applied every 14 days beginning 14 May. The second applications for the ATI-720 2 X weekly treatment were on 18, 21, 26, and 29 May and 11, 19, and 24 Jun. Evaluation criteria consisted of weekly counts of all CPB life stages present on 10 randomly chosen plants/plot, percent defoliation ratings on 15 and 22 Jun, and yield data on 2 Jul.


The issues of health care quality and safety have received much attention in the literature since the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published 2 seminal reports, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21 Century and To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System. How to effectively teach the tenets of quality and safety has also begun to receive more attention. Although medical students go through years of schooling, training, and clinical work in various settings, there is a trend toward less "hands-on" practice before actually performing procedures and interacting with patients. How can this trend be reconciled with increasing performance in the realm of quality and safety? Simulation training answers this call. The definition of simulation is "the technique of imitating the behavior of some situation or process . . . by means of a suitably analogous situation or apparatus, especially for the purpose of study or personnel training." Mistakes that occur in a simulation center do not have penalties. This leads to learning opportunities that do not put patients at risk. Thus, there are potential applications for medical simulation at all levels of professional development and in all disciplines of health care, making simulation beneficial for anyone involved in patient encounters—from medical students and house officers to nurses and technicians to chiefs of surgery. Simulation training is a relatively new phenomenon in health care, unlike other industries such as aviation, nuclear power, the military, and space programs. In those industries, simulation in its many forms has been successfully used to test performance, skill, and possible adverse outcomes. In health care, most of the simulation centers and experts are currently found at medical colleges and universities. Simulations in health care can focus on a spectrum of activities from training to learn procedures, to training to facilitate making clinical diagnoses, to training to facilitate learning clinical processes and teamwork. For example, types of procedural simulators in medical education range from the simple to the complex. "Part-task" trainers are relatively simple simulators that use a limb, body part, or other structure to represent a part of a whole. This type of simulation focuses on isolated tasks to enhance procedural or surgical techniques. Integrated simulators, which are more complex, combine a manikin with computer controls, so that it may be manipulated to provide outputs such as pulse rate or respiratory movement. Although simulated patients and environments have been used in medical training and education in less sophisticated forms for decades, they are still vitally important. The modern forms of simulation give users the ability to hone their communication skills in a clinical setting and experience different scenarios to receive feedback. The ability to give feedback while the simulation is taking place is invaluable in medical education. Team training can have a positive impact on increasing safety and quality, as well as performance. Teamwork has been known to improve performance, as seen in crew resource management in aviation. Medical simulation not only offers individual learning and training but also trains groups of health care professionals who work together as a team. Teamwork is crucial to providing the best possible care for patients. In recent years, team-based simulation has become quite popular as clinical settings include more teamwork in their clinical approach. In some simulations, videotaping is used as feedback for the trainees as well as the trainers. Observation of the procedure and skills used during the simulation allow the trainee to adopt the best behaviors and routines. The use of videotaping in simulation does not raise HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) concerns because real patients are not involved.


Bus Stop Life and Fashion Before Bus Stop How Bus Stop Started Kensington Store Teamwork Colour and Jersey Fabric Colour and Experimentation Ethnic Clothes Fair Isle Knits Beachwear The Vintage Look The World of Tartan Tea Dresses 'Op Art' Real Fur is Dead Glam Rock The Military Look Black and White Checks Jumpsuits Bus Stop and Joan Collins Bus Stop Accessories and Jewellery Bus Stop's Expansion Going International Bus Stop 1969-2009


Spectrometric methods are a large group of analytical methods that are based on atomic and molecular spectroscopy. Colorimetric assays generally consists of adding a reagent to the assay preparation or to the substance being tested, to produce a colour that is compared with that of a standard preparation that has been prepared simultaneously and contains approximate quantity of the reference standard. In general, in analysis the first step is to determine the nature of the sample that is complete qualitative information and then further proceed for quantitative information by accuracy, LOD, LOQ etc. Method validation is the process to confirm that the analytical procedure employed for a specific test is suitable for its intended use. Rapid, sensitive, specific and validated colorimetric methods have been developed for the quantitative estimation of Ambroxol HCl and N-Acetylcysteine in bulk and dosage form.The proposed method was validated as per ICH guidelines and applying the same for it's estimation in marketed formulations.


A scanning tunneling microscopy image of thin film sputtered by a GeSb2Te4 target was obtained in oil conditions. The phase change of the films was confirmed from STM images when the films were heated at 250°C for 2 and 4 minutes. The arrangement of the atoms constituting the surface of the films was inferred through the consideration of the topographic image height with each different work function of the atoms.


This study describes the circumstances of 60 jogger-motor vehicle collisions. These incidents happened most often after dark. Young males were involved in a majority of cases. And more often than not, joggers were struck while running on roads in the same direction as vehicles. In a substantial minority of collisions, two or more persons were jogging together. (Author)


Claude Cahun (1894-1954) and Marcel Moore (1892-1972) were the pseudonyms used by Lucy Schwob and her life-long partner and step-sister Suzanne Malherbe. These women's lives were extraordinary and ground-breaking. Cahun, one of the few women whose work was taken seriously by the Surrealists, created theatrical and playful images which have attained cult status in recent years. Seen primarily as self-portraits, the collaborative nature of these works and Moore's contribution to them requires more in-depth examination. A large photomontage Aveux non Avenus in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) is the artwork used as the basis for the reproduction for the frontispiece in the book of the same title. Published in a limited edition of 500 in 1930, the book contains Cahun's philosophical texts and literary aphorisms, interspersed with photogravures signed by Moore. The photomontage is complex in structure, being composed of a number of collaged photographic and printed pieces laid onto Bristol board; on top of this, Moore has then painted and drawn. The work is the only original artwork known to still exist, and as such it is one of the women's most significant pieces, with complex symbolic readings; Cahun represented as the writer, by the lips and Moore, the artist, by the eye. The women lived on the island of Jersey from 1937 and when Moore died in the early seventies her possessions and those of Cahun, piled into tea chests, were sold as one lot at auction. The provenance of the photomontage is not known but its fragile and damaged condition would suggest that it is likely to have been included in this batch. The work is frequently requested for loan and exhibition and it was most recently seen in a large retrospective which travelled to Paris, Barcelona and Chicago. It underwent conservation treatment in preparation for this loan, in order to stabilise the various components; and while it was necessary to improve its appearance, treatment decisions were agreed jointly by conservation and curatorial staff, in order to respect the unique nature and history of the work.


This article details the planning/implementation, and assessment of a worldwide electronics packaging take-back system by a key supply chain partner. The take-back system was a financial and environmental tradeoff between reducing cardboard packaging against increased use of ground and water transportation. Through Internetenabled life cycle analysis, the new system was shown to significantly reduce waste as well as energy and environmental impacts. If such methods were introduced more formally in the electronics industry, $150 million as well as billions of pounds of waste could be saved per year.


Nuclear fusion, process by which nuclear reactions between light elements form heavier elements (up to iron). In cases where the interacting nuclei belong to elements with low atomic numbers (e.g., hydrogen [atomic number 1] or its isotopes deuterium and tritium), substantial amounts of energy are released. The vast energy potential of nuclear fusion was first exploited in thermonuclear weapons, or hydrogen bombs, which were developed in the decade immediately following World War II. For a detailed history of this development, see nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, the potential peaceful applications of nuclear fusion, especially in view of the essentially limitless supply of fusion fuel on Earth, have encouraged an immense effort to harness this process for the production of power. For more detailed information on this effort, see fusion reactor.


Nowadays the advancement and presence of computing and communication technologies have promoted the new learning paradigms, from traditional learning, to mobile learning and now ubiquitous learning. Following this last paradigm, we need a learner model because it is an essential component in all adaptive learning systems, furthermore, the consideration of learning styles and learner context has been demonstrated to have various advantages for learners in ubiquitous settings. In this paper, we propose an approach to provide adaptation and personalisation in ubiquitous settings, considering a combination of students' learning styles, existing learning standards and learner context.


The bound-states of the H2O-para-H2 complex are computed using an adiabatic approximation which includes a diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction (DBOC). Calculations are performed using the high-accuracy potential energy surface of Valiron et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 129, 134306 (2008). A good agreement is found between the DBOC calculations and 5D 'exact' calculations, with a significant improvement of the standard adiabatic-hindered-rotor (AHR) approximation.


The present paper provides a statistical model to the size effect on grained materials tensile strength and fracture energy. It has been already demonstrated by using extreme value theory (Carpinteri et al. [1]) that the scaling law obtained for the tensile strength introducing a doubly truncated distribution of flaws, under the hypothesis of Weibull's weakest link, resembles the Multi-Fractal Scaling Law (MFSL), already proposed by the first Author through fractal concepts. A recent improvement of the model has been proposed (Carpinteri et al. [2]) observing that the weakest link in grained materials is usually represented by the interface between the matrix and the grains. Thus, the flaw distribution can be represented by the grain size distribution, expressed as a probability density function (PDF) of the grain diameters, rather than by an arbitrary flaw distribution. In this work, introducing the size-independent fractal cohesive model and considering micromechanical models for the critical displacement wc, we draw a link also between the fracture energy and the largest aggregate grain inside the specimen and compute the fracture energy as a function of the specimen size. The obtained scaling law is again in substantial agreement with the MFSL for the fracture energy proposed by the first Author. A further result provided by the proposed approach is the description of the
scatter increase of both tensile strength and fracture energy values when testing small specimens. This trend is confirmed by experimental data available in the literature.


The EC has on several occasions insinuated that some of the fair uses allowed under United States copyright law, and in particular parodic uses of protected works, would not survive a direct challenge under TRIPs Article 13. This Article argues that while there is certainly some variance between the exceptions to copyright protection recognized in the United States and those recognized by the international community, the EC's saber-rattling is unwarranted. At least as it has been enunciated by the United States Supreme Court, the fair use doctrine regarding parodic uses does not conflict with the legitimate interests enshrined in TRIPs. By distinguishing between potentially remediable displacement and unremediable disparagement, fair use prohibits copyright owners from using their property rights to remove from the public discourse speech that adversely affects the value of their property merely because it is critical of that property. Such a prohibition is necessary to ensure that the "marketplace of ideas" remains open and competitive, that copyright law continues to balance the financial incentives of authors to create and the rights of others to comment, and that copyright does not revert to its nefarious origins as a form of censorship.


1982). Bessis (1973) observed that leukaemic myeloblasts underwent a nuclear shape change from round to quadrifoLate in a wet coverslipped preparation. Miale (1982) stated that non-leukaemic cells undergo the same change after prolonged standing in the wet state so that the Rieder cell formation would probably be due to the rapidity with which the changes occur rather than a primary nuclear abnormality. The blood smears from the above two cases were made from blood drawn into a EDTA tube and kept in the tube for less than 2 h until the smears were made. However, this length of storage may account for the nuclear abnormality. Nonetheless, I have not observed the same nuclear abnormality in the blood from children with other viral infections such as varicella. mycoplasma or CMW even though the blood has been processed in the same way. Unfortunately we did not make blood smears from fesh specimens in the above two cases so that the question whether the nuclear abnormality was an in vitro change or not can not be answered.


The human stratum corneum (SC) contains an abundant amount of carotenoid antioxidants, quenching free radicals and thereby protecting the skin. For the precise measurements of the depth‐dependent carotenoid concentration, confocal Raman microscopy is a suitable method. The quantitative concentration can be determined by the carotenoid‐related peak intensity of a Gaussian function approached at ≈1524 cm−1 using non‐linear regression. Results show that the carotenoid concentration is higher at the superficial layers of the SC then decreases to a minimum at 20% SC depth and increases again towards the bottom of the SC. In the present work, two carotenoid penetration pathways into the SC are postulated. The first pathway is from the stratum granulosum to the bottom of the SC, while in the second pathway, the carotenoids are delivered to the skin surface by sweat and/or sebum secretion and penetrate from outside. The carotenoids are aggregated at the superficial layers, which are shown by high correlation between the aggregation states of carotenoids and the lateral organization of lipids. At the 30%‐40% SC depths, the ordered and dense lipid molecules intensify the lipid‐carotenoid interactions and weaken the carotenoid‐carotenoid interaction and thus exhibit the disaggregation of carotenoids. At 90%‐100% SC depths, the carotenoid‐lipid interaction is weakened and the carotenoids have a tendency to be aggregated. Thus, the molecular structural correlation of carotenoid and SC lipid might be reserved in the intercellular space of the SC and also serves as the skeleton of the intercellular lipids.


By acetone precipitation,SP-Trisacryl cation-exchange chromatography,Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography and C8 reversed-phase chromatography,a single component ribonuclease is purified from oocytes of Chinese Northeast frog(Rana dybowskii).SDS-PAGE electrophoresis shows a single band with relative molecular weight of 13kDa.Its optimum temperature is 65℃,and optimum pH is 5.5~6.0.Its Michaelis constant is 4.11μmol/L,and maximum reaction rate is 2.82pmol/s.In vitro cytotoxicity experiments the IC50 value for HeLa,K562 and MCF-7 tumor cells is 0.6μmol/L,0.8μmol/L and 4μmol/L separatedly,while for the normal human fibroblasts cells,even up to 8μmol/L,no cytotoxic effects were observed.This low molecular weight ribonuclease with selective cytotoxicity for tumor cells isolated from oocytes of the Chinese northeast frog(Rana Dybowskii)will join the candidate proteins of drug molecular for the treatment of cancer.


In order to optimize use of fertilizer on nitrate content and Quality characteristics in green beans (Phaseolous Vulgaris) genotype Sunray, experimental form of split plot design based on randomized complete block in the 2010 Crop Agricultural Research Station Varamin three was carried out. In this experiment, main plots, including urea nitrogen level 1250 Kg ha. 2300 Kg ha 3350 Kg ha. Three fertilizer treatments include potassium and zinc: 1-120 Kg ha potassium. 2 Foliar of 6 per thousand Zn. 3-120 Kg hapotassium and foliar of 6 per thousand Zn (based on soil test) has sub plot. Results of interactions showed that the highest levels of nitrate in pods consumed 350 Kg ha of nitrogen (sulfur-coated urea) application of 120 kg (K) was185.4 mg kg, The least amount of nitrate in the pod was 250 Kg ha (N) combined potassium and foliar Zn with 76.4 mg/kg. Highest level of fresh pod yield was achieved treatment used 250 Kg haN and combined K and foliar Zn on 4306.2 Kg ha. The lowest this characteristic was achieved the treatments used 350 Kg haof nitrogen (sulfur coated urea) and potassium applications with 2298.6 Kg ha. The highest Number of cutting in pod, Number of pod in plant, Number of pod in m were achieved treatment used 250 Kg ha and combined K and foliar Zn 17.1number, 210.6 number and 1680 number, respectively. The most of Pod length, Number of seed in pod that were achieved application used 250 (N) Kg ha and K 18 Cm and 5.6 number respectively. The highest levels of 100 seed weight was achieved treatment used 300 Kg ha and combined K and foliar Zn. The lowest characteristic was achieved the treatments used 3250 Kg ha of nitrogen and Zn foliar with 36.1 gr. The highest pod yield (4306.2 Kg ha) was provided by application of 250 kg Urea.ha-1 with K and Zn fertilizers, however the lowest pod yields (2298 Kg ha) was observed at 350 Kg ha Urea with K.


The Silurian reservoir is advantageous for hydrocarbon accumulation and shows its richness in crude oil and gases in Tahe oilfield.The Silurian reservoir properties in general have medium-low porosity and permeability,and the overlaying shale form 3 sets of reservoir-cap assembles.The oil-gas reservoir types include anticline,stratigraphic,lithological and compound oil and gas reservoirs.The research indicates that the Silurian hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics are multistage charging and multistage hydrocarbon accumulation.The main periods of hydrocarbon accumulation are Late Caledonian,Hercynian and Late Himalayan.The formation and distribution of oil and gas pools are controlled by many factors,which include structure,development degree of fault,and high-quality reservoirs.The south part of Tahe oilfield is favorable area for tectono-stratigraphic reservoir exploration.The Tuoputai area of Tahe oilfield is favorable region for primary pool.


The integration of pragmatic competence and politeness is an essential focus in the development of English learning materials like textbooks. Using appropriate textbooks can help students develop communicative competence as the primary goal of English language teaching as a foreign language. This study discusses the positive politeness strategy in the textbook "English for Nusantara". The present study used a qualitative approach with a documentary analysis design. The data were collected by analyzing the dialogues contained in the textbook. The theory of positive politeness strategy, developed by Brown and Levinson (1987), was used to examine the data. The findings revealed that there are eight positive politeness strategies used in the dialogues of the English for Nusantara textbook, namely (1) exaggerating one's interest in, approval of, and sympathy of the listener, (2) employing in-group markers of identity, (3) requesting agreement, (4) requesting & promising, (5) involving the speaker and the listener in action and (6) offering or asking for an explanation, (7) using inclusive "we" form, and (8) giving (or asking for) reasons. The most dominant positive politeness strategy was 'exaggerating interest in, approval of or sympathy with the hearers.' EFL learners' pragmatic competence will be increased when pragmatic contents, like politeness, are integrated into the textbook as English learning materials used by teachers in the classroom.


In earlier studies 1 employing mice, a shorter survival period and a greater proportion of deaths were observed in those animals which received mixtures of Streptococcus hemolyticus, Group C, and influenza-A virus, than in those receiving only one agent alone. The present report records particularly the hematological reactions in monkeys in which one infection was superimposed upon the other via the intranasal route. Methods. The preparation of inocula, the dosages employed, and the method of administration were carried out as previously described. 2 , 3 When the two agents were given simultaneously the concentrations were so adjusted that 3 cc of the mixture contained the full dosage of each agent. Results. Clinical Characteristics. All monkeys receiving both agents, in whatever order, survived the infections and manifested only minimal clinical evidences of disease, except monkey No. 3 (Fig. 1-D), which became acutely ill and died with an overwhelming streptococcal septicemia. Experiment 1. Simultaneous Inoculation with Virus and Streptococci. The 2 monkeys receiving a mixture of virus and streptococci, each manifested within 24 hours a marked polymorphonuclear leucocytosis. The total white blood cells increased from 12,000 to 56,000 (granulocytes 4900 to 44,300) in No. 7 (Fig. 1-A), and from 13,000 to 39,000 (granulocytes 8800 to 33,000) in No. 8. Both animals, between the 11th and 15th days after inoculation, developed a definite granulocytopenic leucopenia with, in one instance, a relative, and in the other an absolute lymphocytosis, suggesting a masked and delayed reaction to virus. Specific neutralizing antibodies were demonstrated. Experiment 2. Inoculation with Streptococcus Followed by Virus. Four monkeys (Nos. 9, 10, 12, 13) receiving a primary inoculation of hemolytic streptococci, developed the usual leucocytosis within 24 to 48 hours (Fig. 1-B) but, when inoculated 4 days later with the virus, only one of the animals showed the typical inhibition of granulocytes which has characterized all initial, uncomplicated viral infections.


Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most economically important cereal in developing countries and the phosphorus is the most deficient nutrient in the majority of Brazilian soils because their low natural level and high adsorption capacity, therefore it is a crop limiting factor. Rice cultivars have differentiated nutritional requests and tolerances about stress of essential nutrients. This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency about use and response to phosphorus application in upland rice cultivars (BRS-Primavera, BRS-Caiapo, BRSMG-Curinga, BRSMG-Conai, BRS-Sertaneja, BRS-Bonanca and Epagri-109) in Cerrado soil. To simulate environments with low and high phosphorus levels were utilized levels of 20 and 120 kg ha-1 of P2O5 respectively. The experimental data were submitted to individual and joint analysis of variance applying the F test. Phosphorus influenced each cultivar differently and were not identified efficient cultivars about use and responsive to its application. The cultivars Epagri-109, BRS-Sertaneja and BRSMG-Conai are indicated to farming systems with high level of phosphorus. The cultivars BRS-Bonanca, BRSMG-Curinga, BRS-Primavera and BRS-Caiapo are indicated to farming systems with low level of phosphorus.


Digital Libraries are omnipresent nowadays. Almost every single institution is hosting its own. Sometimes they even use their own servers and customized software to provide information to users. However, a single isolated Digital Library is valueless. It must be connected "to the world": to users as well as to content and services provided by other Digital Library systems. Since it is not possible for an information provider to host every single information of a specific topic locally at its server, a portal might be the right solution. In this article we will give an overview of some necessary features of Digital Libraries. Linking to electronic and traditional resources are essential and must be available to users of the systems. Interactive features such as adding annotations to existing material must also be available. A sketch of aspects about personalization will close the discussion.


Thomas Chandler Haliburton's most famous character, nineteenth-century New Englander and hero of The Clockmaker series Sam Slick, suffers from an poor critical reception that would seem to be the result of personal infamy. In fact, while there is much to legitimately find distasteful in Slick -- his sexism and advocacy of slavery, for instance -- his great international success with contemporary readers suggests that Haliburton's creation has remained, for the most part, a critically misconstrued character. A careful scrutiny of both The Clockmaker series and the critical attention paid it reveals a Sam Slick to whom the critics have been oddly oblivious. While Slick's character is inextricable from his satiric function in Haliburton's series, a closer reading helps in the recognition of Slick's more admirable traits, such as an impressive self-knowledge and a very realistic sense of dialect, which had hitherto lain unobserved amongst his faults.


Immunization with the hepatitis B vaccine is the most effective measure to prevent Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in antibody levels induced by administration of the hepatitis B vaccine in children aged 1‐16 year old in a large sample sized investigation. HBV markers were determined in 93 326 1‐ to 16‐year‐old hospitalized children who completed primary immunization as infants from south‐west China, Chongqing. Analyses were performed on anti‐HBs titre changes with increasing age, and the revaccination effect was evaluated in children aged 7‐14. The percentage of protective antibody was between 45.29% and 63.33% in all age groups, but was higher in the 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐year‐old groups (90.31%, 83.95% and 71.82%, respectively), and the rate of high‐responder was 5.03%‐10.56%, except in the 1‐year‐old group (23.33%). Additionally, 3.33%‐25.79% of subjects had not seroconverted. There was no significant difference in antibody levels between girls and boys (P > .05). The Geometric Mean Titers in children with confirmed revaccination history were significantly higher than those with unknown or no revaccination history (P < .0001). In conclusion, the overall rate of protective anti‐HBs was 67.10% with consecutive age groups from 1 to 16, it decreased from 90.31% to 45.29% for 1‐ to 8‐year‐old individuals, and interestingly, the rate increased from 45.46% to 63.33% for subjects aged 9‐15. Anti‐HBs titres were significantly improved after revaccination. Booster doses are recommended for those without seroconversion, especially children who live in school with other students or have family members with positive HBsAg.


This paper makes an inquiry into the social knowledge as rules and policies, that are made out of the society in our time. How is the social knowledge possible? And what is the nature of its sociality? These problems are relation to the contemporary society itself. In view of the past ideas of the social knowledge, this paper takes some notice of the understanding of the reciprocation of others and its formation in the social and economic institutions, that have been argued by G.Gimmel, A.Schutz, L.Wittgenstein, F.A.Hayek, M.Oakeshott and so on. The following is the contents: 1. How Is Social Knowledge Possible? 2. What Is Social Knowledge? 3. Diffusion and Specialization of Social Knowledge


And tab portions coplanar defining a battery lead extending from one end of the flat metal mesh layer and the mesh layer having a body portion, and an electrode film laminated on both sides of the body portion of the metal mesh layer, tab at least it provided on one surface consisting of a protective layer of lithium-ion batteries and / or lithium ion polymer battery cell portion. The protective layer has a portion of the tab adjacent to the electrode film, and the outer polymeric layer, and an inner adhesive layer for bonding the outer polymeric layer on a part of the tab.


Escape rooms are a novel form of a practical teaching and simulation demonstrated to be effective in medical education. We compared the effectiveness of the traditional didactic teaching compared to a novel escape room style teaching of basic surgical skills

 A crossover study was delivered to two groups of third year medical students. Each group received either the classroom based teaching or the escape room teaching first, were assessed, then received the remaining style. Each student was asked to complete a questionnaire before the session, then after each teaching session. Teaching covered interrupted suturing, simple wound management and administration of local anaesthesia. Assessment was undertaken with confidence scoring with Likert scales, a 10 questions quiz and 5 minute suturing assessment after each teaching session.

 24 third year medical students attended. 100% either agreed or strongly agreed the classroom teaching was useful, compared to 75% for the escape room. 79% either agree or strongly agree that escape room style teaching is a useful adjunct to the traditional teaching. 21% either strongly agree or agree they felt confident about suturing before the session compared to 88%. The average number of correctly answered questions were 8 post teaching sessions, compared to 5 post escape rooms. The mean number of correctly applied sutures were 3 post teaching sessions compared to 2 post escape rooms.

 Traditional practical teaching is still the preferred method of teaching and effective form of teaching. Although escape room teaching is a useful adjunct to the traditional classroom based surgical teaching.


With the widespread of wireless network, the original TCP/IP has shown some drawbacks in supporting the mobility of network due to the semantic overloading of IP address. Therefore, the identifier/locator split method is put forward to improve the mobility support of network radically by decoupling IP into locator and identifier. In this paper, we propose an optimized mobility management architecture based on identifier/locator split, which introduces transitive routers into the network to avoid the participation of border router during the handover process. Besides, we implement the functions of caching and forwarding on the access router so as to eliminate the packet loss caused by handover. Finally, we evaluate our method and compare it with some typical mobility management models. Result shows that the handover latency is remarkably improved theoretically.


Objective. To compare the urate-lowering efficacy and the safety of febuxostat, allopurinol and placebo in Korean patients with gout for 4 weeks. Methods. Subjects (n=182) with gout were randomized to febuxostat (40, 80, 120 mg), allopurinol 300 mg, or placebo group. The primary end point was the proportion of subjects whose serum urate concentration fell to less than 6.0 mg/dL after the 4-week treatment. Results. The primary end point was reached at 25.7%, 80.0% and 83.3% of patients receiving 40, 80 and 120 mg of febuxostat, respectively, 58.3% of those receiving 300 mg of allopurinol and none of the placebo (p<0.001: each febuxostat dose or allopurinol group versus placebo group, p=0.0484 and p=0.0196: febuxostat 80 and 120 mg compared with allopurinol, respectively). The number and proportion of subjects who developed adverse events (AEs) were 13 subjects (37%), 14 (39%) and 18 (50%) in the febuxostat of 40, 80 and 120 mg group, respectively, 21 (57%) in the allopurinol 300 mg group and 17 (46%) in the placebo group. No statistically significant differences in the incidence rates of adverse events were observed between the groups. There was no significant difference in gout flare-up incidence. Conclusion. Febuxostat, 80 mg or 120 mg, was more effective than allopurinol (300 mg) or placebo, when lowering the serum urate. The safety of febuxostat and allopurinol was comparable.


1
Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus–the Type Species Pneumovirus

2
Avian pneumovirus (APV)–the Type Species Metapneumovirus

3
Classification

4
Pneumovirus Proteins

5
Metapneumovirus Proteins

6
Polymorphisms among Pneumovirus and Metapneumovirus

7
Virus Replication

8
Virus Assembly

9
Infection and Experimental Animal Models

10
Disease Pathogenesis

11
Diagnosis

12
Management and Treatment

13
Vaccine Development

14
Immunology and Host Factors

15
Immunopathology and the Response to RSV Proteins

16
Epidemiology

17
Perspective

Keywords:

pneumovirus and metapneumovirus-respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus;
avian pneumovirus (APV);
electron microscopy (EM);
metapneumovirus proteins;
virus replication;
virus assembly;
vaccine development;
viral bronchiolitis-causes of infant and young children's hospitalization


Introduction Marine mussels are known to secrete unique adhesive proteins that form strong bonds with various substrates in the presence of water.1 These mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) are secreted as fluids and can undergo rapid curing to form adhesive plaques in a wet environment. The presence of the unusual amino acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) in MAPs is believed to impart strong adhesive characteristics and cross-link formation.2 Although the mechanisms of these processes are not fully understood, it is believed that the unoxidized catechol form of DOPA is responsible for adhesion while the oxidized o-DOPA quinone is responsible for the cross-linking of the adhesive proteins.2 We are investigating the preparation of conjugates between poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and DOPA for potential use as bioadhesives. PEG was chosen because of its nontoxic, non-immunogenic, and nonantigenic properties.3 When immobilized chemically or physically on polymer surfaces, it renders the surfaces highly resistant to biological fouling due to protein and cell adhesion. Conjugation of PEG to biomolecules is known to increase the solubility and molecular weight while having little effect on the chemical and biological properties of the conjugated biomolecules.3 In a previous report,4 we investigated the synthesis and metal ion complexation properties of simple PEG-DOPA constructs. In this study, PEG-DOPA molecules of varying molecular weight and architecture were synthesized using standard peptide coupling chemistry and investigated for their ability to form cross-inked hydrogels under oxidative conditions. Chemical and enzymatic oxidizing reagents such as sodium periodate (NaIO4), horseradish peroxidase/hydrogen peroxide (HRP/H2O2), and mushroom tyrosinase/oxygen (MT/O2) were added to aqueous solutions of PEG-DOPA to induce gelation. Reaction conditions were studied in an effort to understand the cross-linking mechanisms and to develop rapidly hardening adhesive hydrogels. The process of cross-linking was monitored using UV/vis spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography in concert with multi-angle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS).


Iodine's main role in animal (including human) biology is as a constituent of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). T4 acts largely as a precursor to T3, which is (with minor exceptions) the biologically active hormone. Thyroid hormones play a basic role in physiology, acting on gene transcription to regulate the basal metabolic rate in all cells. The thyroid gland actively absorbs iodide ions from the blood to make and release these hormones into the blood.


The Fourth Crusade, a war called to recapture Jerusalem, ended in disaster for the Christian city of Constantinople and the city of Jerusalem remained untouched by the crusading host. The fact that a war called to protect Christians in the Middle East and to recapture the city of Jerusalem for God resulted in the sacking of one of the largest Christian cities has led to much scholarly investigation into what exactly caused this to transpire. For the better part of a millennium scholars have sought answers to significant questions and have produced a variety of explanations for why the crusade ultimately failed. These theories range from conspiracy to random chance but debate still rages on between scholars about possible answers to these long deliberated questions. This study will relies mainly upon the primary sources of some of the crusaders who were a part of the crusade and some of their contemporaries for evidence to support this claim. Geoffrey de Villehardouin along with some of his contemporaries, such as Robert of Clari, recorded their knowledge and experience of the Fourth Crusade and are the main primary sources used for this study. This study also makes extensive use of secondary literature, such as the work of Thomas Madden and Donald Queller, regarding both the Fourth Crusade itself and the theories that have been conceived to explain both its diversion and ultimate failure. The purpose of this study is to try to provide conceivable answers to these long discussed questions by looking at the crusade using a different technique that combines certain aspects of noted scholars' analyses with a style of looking at the crusade by dividing it into separate periods of time. By analyzing the Fourth crusade with this method the study aims to provide possible explanations for certain major events by analyzing specific internal dynamics and leadership transitions that this study claims to be responsible, to some degree, for both the diversion and ultimate failure of the Fourth Crusade. The goal of this study is to prove that internal dynamics that include: the changing goals of the leadership, desertions, polarization of the crusading party, and justifying actions as a means to an end, along with leadership transitions are at least partially responsible for both the diversion and ultimate failure of the Fourth Crusade.


The purchase of an expensive, debt-financed aircraft tracking system by one of Tanzania's newly created executive agencies suggests that recent bureaucratic restructuring and liberalization in Tanzania could possibly undermine the good use of international debt management schemes for poverty alleviation. Moreover, it raises a question about the uses (and misuses), in countries where governance capacities are weak, of new public management models of organization. This article explores Tanzania's donor-funded executive agency programme, as one part of its wider civil service reforms. Drawing on empirical research, it examines the power structures and interdependencies between Ministers, departments and NPM style semi-autonomous agencies and the potential for rent-seeking behaviour and perverse outcomes. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The purpose of this study is to suggest ways to promote student engagement by analyzing how a teacher's student engagement strategies and questioning str ategies affect class participation and problem solving in a peer mentoring teachi ng method. As for the purpose, after recording 7th grader's classroom using a p eer mentoring and transcribing classroom discourse, we analyzed student engage ment strategies for class participation and questioning strategies for helping mat hematical concepts and problem solving, and compared mathematics achievement s in mid-term and final exams. As results, in learning environments based on c omfortable atmosphere, diverse student engagement strategies and appropriate q uestioning strategies with effectiveness of peer mentoring encouraged students t o participate in class by motivating them, helped them to develop mathematical concepts and deepen understanding of problem solving through effective social i nteractions, and improved student achievement in mathematics. The results can practically help to develop class design considering both student engagement str ategy and questioning strategy by specifically presenting a teaching method for promoting student engagement and teacher's contributions to it.


In India, there is a long history of employing medicinal plants to treat a wide range of illnesses. Many of these plants are also high in antioxidants. Curcumin, a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, is found in foods like turmeric. Another frequently employed medicinal plant that is abundant in antioxidants and vitamin C is amla, usually referred to as Indian gooseberry. The immune system is strengthened, and oxidative stress is protected from.A medical plant known as ashwagandha has been proven to have antioxidant characteristics as well as the capacity to lessen stress and anxiety, enhance brain function, and improve physical performance.In India, green tea is also a well-liked source of antioxidants because of the catechins in it. Catechins have a number of health advantages, including enhancing heart health and lowering the risk of developing some types of cancer.These medicinal plants have been utilized for generations in India, and current research on them has focused heavily on their antioxidant effects. Numerous health advantages, including defense against chronic diseases brought on by oxidative stress, may result from including these plants in one's diet or from ingesting them as supplements. Overall, these medicinal herbs are valuable in both conventional Indian medicine and contemporary healthcare due to their antioxidant characteristics.


In this study, large eddy simulation (LES) coupled with the homogeneous cavitation model is used to simulate the turbulent cavitating flow in the venturi with special emphasis on LES errors and pressure fluctuation analysis. The numerical results accurately predict the quasi-periodic behavior and frequency characteristics of the cavitation by comparing them with the experimental observations. The modified one-dimensional model is utilized here to figure out the relationship between cavitation and pressure fluctuation. A good coincidence between the predicted and monitored pressure is obtained to validate the consideration of the geometric and flow factors in the modified model. Further analysis indicated that the cavity volume acceleration is the main source of cavitation excited pressure fluctuation. Moreover, LES Verification and Validation (V&V) are involved to quantify the errors and uncertainties of the numerical results. It is found that the large magnitude of the errors often emerges in the region where the re-entrant jet and shedding cavity occurs, which demonstrates the influence of cavitation on the simulation accuracy. The modeling error has a larger magnitude than the numerical error and both often show opposite signs. To better understand the influence of cavitation on LES V&V, the interaction between cavitation and vortex is also discussed further.


A unified screening procedure for a wide range of prohibited substances (anabolic agents, beta-2 agonists, hormone antagonists and modulators, diuretics and masking agents, stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids, glucocorticosteroids, beta-blockers) including sulfoconjugated stimulants has been developed. The sample preparation protocol consists of hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with ethyl acetate at pH=9.5, moderate salting out, evaporation to dryness, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS), gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GCHRMS) analysis of per-TMS derivatives as well as liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LCQTOFMS) analysis of reconstituted in mobile phase aliquots. Analytical method validation was performed in accordance with the International Standard for Laboratories for specificity, identification capability, robustness, carryover, matrix interferences, matrix effect, extraction recovery, limit of detection (LOD) and mass accuracy. Regarding endogenous steroids quantitation, additional validation parameters were linearity, within day precision, between days precision and limit of quantitation (LOQ). The developed method was applied successfully for the quantitation of endogenous steroids by GCMS in ten urine samples distributed in two different World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) external quality assessment scheme (EQAS) rounds. The current method permits the identification of more than 210 small molecules from the WADA prohibited list at or below the WADA Minimum Required Performance Level (MRPL). The advantage of using ethylacetate, as extraction solvent with salting out, is the detection of some sulfoconjugated stimulants in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry electrospray ionization (LCMS ESI) positive mode. Introduction Several approaches have been published towards the application of universal screening methods for doping control analysis [1-3]. A combined screening method for the analysis of representative prohibited substances using LCTOFMS and GCTOFMS has been developed [2]. A generic LCTOFMS screening method of 241 small molecules from various categories of prohibited substances was also reported [1]. The main objective of the current work was the development of a screening procedure with a generic sample preparation protocol and a simultaneous detection of a wide range of prohibited substances based on a single LLE with ethyl acetate and combined analysis using GCMS, GCHRMS and LCQTOFMS. Experimental Chemicals and reagents A detailed list of chemicals and reagents used for the herewith study is presented elsewhere [1,3,4]. Ethyl acetate was of analytical grade and obtained from Labscan. Stock standard solutions of analytes were prepared in methanol. Urine samples free of prohibited substances were used.


We consider distributed estimation of a class of large population multi-agent systems where the agents have linear stochastic dynamics and are coupled via their partial observations. The measurements interference model is assumed to depend only on the empirical mean of agents states. In addition, a structural assumption is made on the agents' controls which are constrained to be linear constant feedbacks on a locally based state estimate. In previous work [19], we solved precisely the decentralized optimal estimation problem for a finite population of agents. In particular, we developed a non-sequential bulk estimation algorithm whereby at every time step, all past and present available measurements are considered. In this paper, a Kalman-type recursive approximate filtering approach using exchangeability arguments is presented and tested numerically.


A moderate amount of information is available on coccidian parasites (Apicomplexa) of snakes of Oklahoma (McAllister et al. 1995, 2011, 2013), and, although another reptile from the state, the ground skink (Scincella lateralis) has been thoroughly surveyed (McAllister et al. 1994, 2014), nothing, to our knowledge, has been published on coccidia of any lizard in Oklahoma. Yet, Oklahoma supports 19 species and subspecies of lizards in its diverse habitats (Sievert and Sievert 2011). Here we report, for the first time, a species of coccidian from the five-lined skink, Plestiodon fasciatus (L.) from Oklahoma and add information on this coccidian from additional isolates obtained from P. fasciatus from Arkansas.


In this paper, a new blind equalizer algorithm is proposed which operates on dual mode and combines the benefits of both the Sign-Godard algorithm and the radius-directed algorithm The proposed algorithm has both the properties of good initial convergence of the Sign-Godard algorithm and low residual errors after convergence of the radius-directed algorith High order statistics are used for blind phase recovery and gor avoiding local minima. Simulation results show that the new algorithm has not only faster convergence rated but also lower residual errors than those of the conventional algorithms.


Counterfeiting is a generalized term which includes both the act of RFID tags, cloning and fraud. RFID tag counterfeiting attacks lead to financial losses, loss of trust and confidence in the adoption and acceptance of RFID technology. The challenge of implementing a cost-based counterfeit detection system in RFID supply chains is non-trivial because counterfeit tags exist across billions of RFID tags. In this paper, a cost-sensitive learning approach is presented. The motivation of this work is to effectively reduce the overall cost of counterfeiting attack for RFID tagged products. Experiments are conducted to present the efficiency, effectiveness, misclassification cost and test cost evaluations. Findings from this paper conclude that MetaCost learners provide the best result. However, when compared to AdaCost, MetaCost is more expensive in classifying counterfeit tags.


This paper presents an adaptive fuzzy iterative learning control method for the output tracking problem of robotic systems with unknown time delay output and input dead-zone. A state observer is designed to estimate unmeasurable velocity variables. By introducing boundary layer function, the identical initial condition for most iterative learning control schemes is relaxed. By combining appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and fuzzy logic systems approximation technique, the proposed control scheme can guarantee that the output tracking converges to the desired reference trajectory within an error tolerance and all the closed-loop signals remain bounded.


The exact relationship between sleep apnea and hypertension remains to be determined in Japanese patients. We examined blood pressure and history of antihypertensive medications in 303 Japanese patients referred for evaluation of sleep apnea. The prevalences of hypertension were 20, 40, 49, and 58% in patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of <5, 5–15, 15–30, >30, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, body mass index (BMI) and AHI were independent risk factors for hypertension. In patients not receiving antihypertension treatment, linear regression analysis showed significant relationships between parameters of sleep apnea (AHI, desaturation index, desaturation time) and diastolic blood pressure after adjustment for age, sex and BMI. We concluded that sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for hypertension in our sleep clinic.


The monophyly and phylogenetic relationships among the members of Clade A characids (sensu Malabarba & Weitzman), later redefined and named as the Stevardiinae (sensu Mirande), have been primarily supported by traditional morphological and molecular data. Herein were examined, described and compared spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of 12 species of the genera Boehlkea, Bryconacidnus, Bryconamericus, Creagrutus, Cyanocharax, Hemibrycon, Knodus, Odontostoechus, Piabina, and Rhinobrycon in order to evaluate possible phylogenetic signals and their potential use in recovering relationships of the Stevardiinae. All examined species demonstrated a nuclear rotation equal or less than 95o resulting in a lateral position of the double nuclear fossa and flagellum. In all species, sperm nuclei are slightly elongate toward the flagellum, the proximal centriole is partially inside the nuclear fossa and lies anterior and oblique to the distal centriole, and the midpiece is short and strongly asymmetric. All species analyzed herein and other species previously examined for these systems in the Stevardiinae share homologous sperm characteristics as evidenced by spermiogenesis, further supporting the monophyly of this clade. Spermatozoa of the Stevardiinae further show three morphotypes (M1, M2, M3) of arrangement of centrioles, flagellum, nucleus and midpiece, hypothesized as successively derived in a series of transformation from the most basal morphotype (M1).


Advanced generalist practice is the fastest growing area of concentration for Master of Social Work (MSW) programs in the United States, yet a definition remains elusive. This article proposes that three key elements should be included within a conceptual schema of advanced generalist practice. Multidimensional problem‐setting, self‐reflective leadership, and ethical advocacy form the basis of a model for advanced generalist practice. Discussion of the epistemology of advanced practice highlights the connection between advanced generalist practice and the experienced practitioner. Discussion regarding what makes practice advanced is presented and related to curriculum development.


The success of the world's shipping industry ultimately depends on one special group ofpeople: seafarers. These men and women have led humankind in the discovery of the worldand changed the global economy. Today, the role of seafarers on board ships has greaterimportance than ever before and will continue to be key in the coming years. Without motivated,qualified and trained seafarers, the international shipping industry will not thrive. Maritimeeducation and training (MET) is therefore crucial for all parts of the world's maritimecommunity, and particularly for the seafarers of today and tomorrow, as it is the basis of asecure, safe shipping industry. Effective MET for seafarers at various levels provides themwith proof of their competence in the particular skills and duties they need to perform on board.However, the effectiveness of MET varies widely, such that having a certificate does notguarantee a seafarer's competency - as demonstrated by the many maritime accidents thatcontinue to occur as a result of human error. Competency must therefore include knowledgeand skills, and more importantly, their application in the workplace. This study explores theeffectiveness of current MET in developing competency among seafarers. This is achieved byexamining and comparing data gathered from interviews with participants with seagoingexperience on a competency development course at an international maritime training institutein Australia. The findings of this research show that the participants need more practical studiesin their STCW competence development course and different approaches in teaching them.The study concludes by providing a summary of changes to MET on competence developmentssuggested by the participant interviewees. The findings highlight the importance of teachingpractical skills and applying relevant teaching methods to allow seafarers to become competentin the skills they will require in real-life situations. Furthermore, they may serve as an incentivefor MET institutions to improve their course content and delivery, as well as for researchers tocontinue studying this subject further.


The advent of smartphones with a diversity of services using data and inexpensive charge policies has caused an explosion in data usage. The increased data usage introduces new security vulnerabilities in 3G networks, which often experience DoS (Denial of Service) attacks. In this paper, We discuss a type of DoS attack known as a DCH (Dedicated CHannel) starvation attack, which can occur in 3G networks. We then propose a detection scheme using character of the attack.


We summarize und analyze several results concerning the variational character of a set of first order quasi-linear PDEs. A local characterization of the problem is given, and the global obstructions to the problem are obtained.


Mobile Ad hoc network is an infrastructure less communication network built with limited resources and absence of centralized management. It has a critical issue of energy efficiency and security. This paper proposes an improved rebroadcasting method which takes decision on the basis of energy and node density; also packets are secured by encryption to avoid from misuse.


The application of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) based binder is commonly improved by the addition of rheology modifying agents, i.e. superplasticizers. In this work the interaction between polycarboxylate-ether based superplasticizers (PCEs) and the hydration products formed in aqueous solutions, after 30 min on polished OPC clinker surfaces is studied. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy provides the chemical analysis and the localization of the different phases below the superficial hydration products. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry allowed to detect for the first time on which cement phases PCE preferentially adsorbed, and is used to map the distribution of the chemical elements at the surface of the clinker. Force measurements in liquid, performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) with sharp tips, test the surface-tip interactions in presence/absence of PCE. The results show that superplasticizers interact strongly with K+ and SO42− ions, precipitating in K2SO4 salts. When PCE traps the sulfate ions, the concentration of this ions specie in the solution is reduced, inhibiting ettringite formation. AFM force measurements allow the distinction between positively and negatively charged hydration products, revealing that the interaction forces between different phases are homogenized by the presence of PCE, providing stability to the suspended particles.


We review the argumentsfor and against randomized field experiments design to address important questions of social policy. Based on this review, we make a number of recommendations about how the use of randomized field experiments might be fostered.


Linguistic means actualizing deontical, alethical, axiological and epistemical modality in children's literature are researched in the article. It's been proved that linguistic means of modal semantics refer to the effective instruments influencing the evolutionary process of child's cognitive development. This aim is reached by the following means used by the author: lexical and grammatical forms (nonstandard syntactic structures, attitudinal lexemes), phonetic forms (phrase intonation variability due to inversion and graphical means), stylistic figures exploitation (metaphors, epithets, comparisons) that present the functional field of subjective modality semantics. Key words: subjective modality, semantics, children's literature, linguistic means.


Rituximab is a chimeric anti‐CD20 monocolonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen on the B cell surface. Rituximab was originally developed by IDEC Pharmaceuticals from a high affinity murine monoclonal Antibody (mAb). CD20 is expressed on mature B cells, present on 95% of B cell lymphomas and is thought to act as a calcium channel that regulates progression through the cell cycle. Cross‐linking of CD20 by anti‐CD20 mAb results in apoptosis through a caspase dependent pathway and may trigger complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) or antibody directed cell cytotoxicity. Rituximab has revolutionised the treatment of many B‐cell malignancies and is now increasingly being used in non‐malignant conditions such as auto‐immune disorders. Serum Rituximab levels are highly variable in patients receiving similar 'standard' approved doses, and little is known regarding the factors that affect serum Rituximab concentration and that in turn may influence clinical outcome. In order to provide a pharmacokinetic (PK) tool that may ultimately enable patient specific dosing of Rituximab therapy; we have generated a reliable, robust ELISA to quantitate serum Rituximab levels and to provide accurate PK data that will guide the optimisation of rituximab dosing regimes. An extensive validation of the assay was performed in order to use the assay in the clinical setting. The plate coating efficiency (within and between days) proved reliable resulting in a robust starting platform for the assay. The within day precision for the assay determined using spiked serum samples and was shown to be This assay is highly accurate and reproducible in determining the pharmacokinetic levels of Rituximab in patient serum samples. This assay represents a powerful new tool for clinical evaluation of this widely used therapeutic, it meets stringent acceptance criteria, is fit for purpose, and is currently being applied to several clinical trials incorporating Rituximab in the treatment of Lymphoma. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C184.


We present information related on the distribution, morphology and reproductive biology of Vampyriscus nymphaea in Colombia, based in the analysis of voucher specimens housed in Colombia collections. The known distribution of V. nymphaea in Colombia previously restricted to the western lowlands of the Cordillera Occidental in the Pacific region is extended to the Caribbean region and to the north-eastern part of the Cordillera Occidental, lower Cauca River Basin of Colombia. Both external and the skull morphology of the species were homogeneous; the analysis of the secondary sexual dimorphism among specimens from the Pacific area do not show significant differences, although, the length of the tibia and the deep of the skull were proportionally larger in males, and the zygomatic width in females. Concerning to the reproductive biology, we suggest that the populations of V. nymphaea present a poliestric pattern along the year but without defined peaks.


The present situation of straw gasification technique in China was analyzed.The gasification principle and process of counterflow straw gasification stove were emphatically elaborated.The problems of higher temperature and tar content of straw gas from exit were solved by means of improving the gasification technology of the original and domestic and counterflow straw gasification stove.It was pointed out that it was of significant importance to make the best of straw resources and to accelerate the application of straw gasification technique for saving energy,protecting environment and realizing the sustainable development of agriculture.


This paper considers the importance, purpose and scope of environmental education and reviews the research on children's environmental knowledge. The origin and influence of children's attitudes to the environment are also considered. The research points to difficulties of integration of environmental phenomena and suggests that children either fail to integrate phenomena or form relationships where none exist. A systems theory approach which would enable researchers to measure the cognitive capabilities of children, and to structure and deliver the environmental curriculum accordingly, is proposed. As well as highlighting the existing and potential contributions of psychology to research on environmental knowledge and attitudes, this paper discusses the challenges and obligations in global environmental research for psychology and offers suggestions as to how psychology might benefit from closer links with other disciplines.


Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) is a kinase that plays a pivotal role in numerous cellular functions from modulation of microtubule dynamics and cell death. It also affects higher functions such as cognition and mood. Deregulation of GSK3β activity in the adult brain is implicated in several CNS disorders, such as affective disorders, schizophrenia, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD, GSK3β has a major role in microtubule stability by its ability to phosphorylate the microtubule associated protein tau. The present review focuses on recent developments in the understanding of GSK3β with an emphasis on events likely to be critical to the pathophysiology of AD.


While "unobservable" factors such as corporate culture, access to scarce resources, management skill, and luck can be postulated to be principal determinants of business success, their effects are all but ignored in studies of business performance. This study, making use of the PIMS data base, reports empirical evidence indicating that failure to control for unobservable factors influencing profitability both biases and exaggerates the effect of strategic factors. Indeed, the influence of unobservable factors is so pervasive as to invalidate many of the conclusions drawn from studies failing to control for their effects.


The aim to estimate the parallels between serum matrix metalloproteinase 9 concentration and calcinosis of coronary artery indexes on multispiral computing tomography in patients with metabolic syndrome in combination with paroxysmal form of atrial fibrillation. Material and methods. There were investigated 60 men with metabolic syndrome in combination with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. In all patients there were investigated with immunoassay method the serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and the calcinosis of coronary artery indexes was investigated on multispiral computing tomography and also the influence of simvastatine (simvastol) on serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 was studied. Results. In men with metabolic syndrome in combination with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation there were revealed significant increase of matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity (р=0,002) and significant strong correlation between calcinosis index of coronary artery and serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (r=0,829, p=0,001). The addition to usual therapy of simvastatine (simvastol) in patients with metabolic syndrome in combination with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation leads to significant decrease of matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity (р=0,003).


Current models of Solar system formation suggest that the four giant planets accreted as a significantly more compact system than we observe today. In this work, we investigate the dynamical stability of pre-formed Neptune Trojans under the gravitational influence of the four giant planets in compact planetary architectures, over 10 Myr. In our modelling, the initial orbital locations of Uranus and Neptune (aN) were varied to produce systems in which those planets moved on non-resonant orbits or in which they lay in their mutual 1:2, 2:3 and 3:4 mean-motion resonances (MMRs). In total, 420 simulations were carried out, examining 42 different architectures, with a total of 840000 particles across all runs. In the non-resonant cases, the Trojans suffered only moderate levels of dynamical erosion, with the most compact systems (those with aN <= 18 au) losing around 50 per cent of their Trojans by the end of the integrations. In the 2:3 and 3:4 MMR scenarios, however, dynamical erosion was much higher with depletion rates typically greater than 66 per cent and total depletion in the most compact systems. The 1:2 resonant scenarios featured disruption on levels intermediate between the non-resonant cases and other resonant scenarios, with depletion rates of the order of tens of per cent. Overall, the great majority of plausible pre-migration planetary architectures resulted in severe levels of depletion of the Neptunian Trojan clouds. In particular, if Uranus and Neptune formed near their mutual 2:3 or 3:4 MMR and at heliocentric distances within 18au (as favoured by recent studies), we found that the great majority of pre-formed Trojans would have been lost prior to Neptune's migration. This strengthens the case for the great bulk of the current Neptunian Trojan population having been captured during that migration.


: Healthy sexual practices should be inte-grated into gender-affirming health care. People with reproductive potential should be offered counseling on contraception, emergency contraception, abortion, fertility, fertility preservation, and antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care. Use of gender-affirming hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, estrogen blockers, progestins, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, cannot be relied upon for contraception. Patients should be informed that an absence of bleeding does not equate to an absence of ovulation. Many contraceptive options, including combined hormonal contraception (pill, patch, ring) and progestin-only methods (pill, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate), can be provided without the need for an internal examination. Patients should be sup-ported in deciding if intrauterine device placement is conducted in the office or operating room (with procedural sedation, general anesthesia).


Significance It is widely accepted that prosurvival B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family members not only inhibit apoptosis but also negatively regulate autophagy by binding to Beclin 1. Herein, we challenge this view and provide genetic and biochemical evidence that the effects of prosurvival Bcl-2 family members on autophagy are instead an indirect consequence of their inhibition of apoptosis mediators Bcl-2–associated X (Bax) and Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer (Bak). We show that in the absence of Bax and Bak, antagonizing or altering the levels of prosurvival Bcl-2 family members has no detectable impact on autophagy. Because several inhibitors of both autophagy and Bcl-2 are in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, it is important to understand the cross-talk between these pathways. Antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family members such as Bcl-2, myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1), and B-cell lymphoma-X large (Bcl-xL) are proposed to inhibit autophagy by directly binding to the BH3 domain of Beclin 1/Atg6. However, these Bcl-2 family proteins also block the proapoptotic activity of Bcl-2–associated X (Bax) and Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer (Bak), and many inducers of autophagy also cause cell death. Therefore, when the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway is functional, interpretation of such experiments is complicated. To directly test the impact of the endogenous antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members on autophagy in the absence of apoptosis, we inhibited their activity in cells lacking the essential cell death mediators Bax and Bak. We also used inducible lentiviral vectors to overexpress Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, or Mcl-1 in cells and subjected them to treatments that promote autophagy. In the absence of Bax and Bak, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1 had no detectable effect on autophagy or cell death in myeloid or fibroblast cell lines. On the other hand, when Bax and Bak were present, inhibiting the prosurvival Bcl-2 family members stimulated autophagy, but this correlated with increased cell death. In addition, inhibition of autophagy induced by amino acid starvation, etoposide, or interleukin-3 withdrawal did not affect cell death in the absence of Bax and Bak. These results demonstrate that the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members do not directly inhibit components of the autophagic pathway but instead affect autophagy indirectly, owing to their inhibition of Bax and Bak.


Background: Menopause is a natural event in the ageing process and signifies the end of reproductive years with cessation of cyclic ovarian function as manifested by cyclic menstruation. Lipid profile is altered in menopause because of various reasons. Objectives: The study was aimed to compare the lipid profile in women with normal body mass index (BMI) = 18.9-24.9 and women with BMI = 25-29.9 in both pre- and post-menopausal group. Materials and Methods: Estimation of total cholesterol (TC) by CHOD-PAP Cholesterol Oxidase - Peroxidase + Aminophenazone + Phenol method, triglyceride (TG) by enzymatic calorimetric method, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) phosphotungstic acid method, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) by using Friedewald formula and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) was done by using the formula -VLDL = TG/5 in 30 women selected in each group. Results: Our study revealed that serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly higher in post-menopausal women in comparison to their pre-menopausal counterparts, irrespective of BMI ( P P Conclusions: We found that serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly higher in post-menopausal women in comparison to their pre-menopausal counterparts, irrespective of BMI. Similarly, HDL-C levels were significantly lower in post-menopausal women as compared to pre-menopausal women of similar BMI. Since we found similar changes in women of different BMIs, the difference in hormonal status is the probable cause of altered lipid profile. Hence, all post-menopausal women irrespective of body weight and BMI should be strongly counseled to have proper physical exercise and dietary habits to avoid the possible cardiovascular complications.


Chaos theory is the field of study the dynamical systems, which sensitively depends on initial conditions. Since chaos researches have become a very active and interesting area, many methods of chaos analysis are performed such as equilibrium points analysis, bifurcation analysis, chaos control and synchronization, etc. In this thesis, new results on control and synchronization of some chaotic and hyperchaotic systems are presented. We have studied the control of some chaotic and hyperchaotic systems using linear feedback method and adaptive control method to stabilize the unstable equilibrium points under certain conditions. Numerical results have been obtained using Maple to validate the control results.


Abstract A method for calculating the elastic-stress distribution in two axi-symmetrical conical bodies caused by frictionless contact between them is described. Finite-difference methods were used to solve the governing differential equations. Equilibrium and compatibility over the contacting surfaces was achieved by using the finite-difference solutions to derive a matrix of influence coefficients. By means of an iterative technique, using this matrix, the portion of each surface in the contact zone and the stresses on it were found. With equilibrium and compatibility achieved, the stresses throughout the body of each component were calculated. A selection of results for one case is given.


In the study, a comparative analysis of the critical periods in the development of the excretory and circulatory systems broiler cross "Smena-7." In the selection of age groups and critical periods of broiler cross "Smena -7" takes into account biological periods and critical phase of life that characterize the morphological, functional and metabolic changes in the body in a critical periodization Professor LP Teltsov. Based on experimentally determined data in broilers cross "Smena -7", identified biological periods in the morphogenesis of the kidneys and the heart, on the basis of completion of the adaptive response that reveals equal participation in the implementation of weight and size of the parameters. In the development of the kidneys and the heart of broiler cross "Smena -7" highlighted the productive phase, the steps related slowing of morphogenesis and the relative stability of the morphogenesis of these organs. Highlighted the critical periods in the development of the kidneys which occur in 1 day, 10 day, 20 day, and in the development of the heart in 10 to 15 days and from 20 to 25 days.


Trials of 16-26 years old progenies from Yingde Loblolly Pine Seed Orchard were investigated by sample plot investigation.The trial fields were located at Yingde Loblolly Pine Seed Orchard,Yingde Forest Research Institute,Jiuqushui Forest Farm of Wengyuan County,Shaoguan Forest Farm and Renhua Forest Research Institute respectively.The growth process and performance level were studied by stem analysis based on average trees.Compared with that of local Masson pine(Pinus massoniana),the seedlots of loblolly pine(Pinus taeda) from Hubei and the seedlot of slash pine(P.elliottii) from Taishan Slash Pine Seed Orchard,the growth potential of progenies from Yingde Loblolly Pine Seed Orchard in North Guangdong was comprehensively evaluated.The results are as follows: The fast-growing period of height for the progenies from Yingde Loblolly Pine Seed Orchard began at the age of 3 and lasted for five to nine years.For diameter at breast-height(DBH) it began at the age of 5 and lasted for five to eight years.The fast-growing period for volume in Yingde Loblolly Pine Seed Orchard began at the age of 10 and lasted to 25 years old,while it began at the age of 10 both in Yingde Forest Research Institute and Jiuqushui Forest Farm,and at the age of 12 both in Shaoguan Forest Farm and Renhua Forest Research Institute.The progenies from Yingde Loblolly Pine Seed Orchard performed well generally in North Guangdong.Shaoguan and Renhua were suitable for the cultivation of large-dimension timber with the rotation longer than 25 years.In order to cultivate largedimension timber,suitable fertilizer shall be used when the DBH growth reaches the fast-growing period,and thinning operation shall be conducted when the mean annual increment for DBH reaches the maximum.


Objective To discuss the action of lateral ventricular drainage and lumbar puncture on primary cerebroventricular hemorrhage(PCH).Methods There were 27 cases of such patient underwent this treatment.Results The hemorrhage was disappeared completely within 4~8 days(6.3 in average).There were 21 cases healed and 4 cases had remained one side limbs hemiparalysis.There were 2 cases dead with rate of 16.7%.There were 25 cases had follow-up more than 1 year without complication.Conclusion This method might decrease mortality of PCH and improve the life quality.


This article will show how online media sources can be used only to gather information but to analyse it as well. For example in advertizing research, when used correctly, online content analysis has the validity to speak for all America, yet includes the intimacy and candor of a focus group