In carbocationic polymerization and copolymerization, a recent publication concluded that the substituent effect on carbocation reactivity is much larger than its effect on monomer reactivity, and this by a factor 106 in the case of the rate constant k12capp for p-methylstyrene addition (monomer M2) on, respectively, poly(p-methoxystyrene)± or poly(p-methylstyrene)± (M). This conclusion is disputed, as well as the assumption that the rate constants of capping (k12capp) obtained in deactivation reactions of poly(p-methoxystyrene)± are identical with cross propagation rate constants in copolymerization (k12copol). It is shown that the large calculated k12capp are based on propagation constant values for p-methylstyrene (k ≈ 109) obtained by the diffusion-clock method. They are 104 times smaller as found for all styrenes, that is, between 104 and 105 when they are based on the ionic species concentrations. In such a case, the available data are still in agreement with an approximate compensation between the reactivities of a monomer and of the corresponding carbocation. It is also shown that copolymerization data for styrenes are not compatible with k values near to diffusion control, and that variations of log k12capp and log k12copol with the nucleophilicity parameter N of the monomers indicate a much lower selectivity of the monomers in the case of copolymerization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2666–2680, 2010


Under the auspices of GERG, two Transfer Standard Packages were used to check to what extent gas flowrate measurements at high pressures, obtained in seven different European laboratories, are comparable and to reveal possible ways of improving their performance. The majority of the laboratories involved in this intercomparison produced very accurate results. In fact an evaluation of systematic differences, installation effects, short and long term stability showed a general high level or accuracy in their gas flowrate measurements.


China is source of significant news every day for the contemporary World. The rebirth of its cultural influence, therefore, can be the main factor to condition the current insertion of the RPC in the Asia-Pacific area and the stability of this region. Such developments create chances so that Brazil, that already has a past of contacts with the Chinese, searchs new strategies of approach and original proposals of interlocution with the ?Chinese Universe".


Abstract:

We love new-translation news. Here, WLT intern Alex Crayon offers four new translations—from Spanish, Korean, French, and Catalan—all releasing in February 2021.


Asymmetric plunge cutting by using a grooved knife edge plate was proposed for advanced die cutting of a polycarbonate (PC) sheet. By varying the tip angle αU and the tip thickness w U of knife edge in the counter plate, and combining a standard steel cutting rule of 42° center bevel blade, a cutting load response of PC sheet was experimentally investigated, and the deformation was also observed by a CCD camera. Furthermore, an FEM simulation was carried out by varying the lower tip thickness for revealing the effect of interference of lower grooved counter plate. Through this work, the following were found: 1) there were two deformation modes of sheared profile; 2) the lower tip thickness w U was a primary factor, compared to the lower tip angle of αU; 3) the equivalent wedge angle effect was revealed with respect to the upper/lower angles α and αU, while the PC sheet was bent up by the lower knife indentation.


Mary Swann by Carol Shields adopts a multi-perspective narrative,teeming with puzzles.Carol inquired into the innermost passion of every man,while probing the mystery of arts itself.Four characters in the novel,in pursuit of their respective goals,had misinterpreted and made use of the living and works of poetess Swann.In the novel,Carol employed satiric skills to dissect the universal overconfidence in academic circles.


Experts who worry over emerging infectious diseases typically focus on novel pathogens that move from domestic or wild animals into humans. However, the "one world-one health" notion views the pathogen pathway as being a two-way street. Thus, for instance, pet cats and dogs may show up at veterinary clinics with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections that came from their owners. Similarly, elephants with tuberculosis (TB) are becoming infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis from contact with their handlers, according to microbiologists who spoke at the symposium "Anthropozoonosis: What Goes Around Comes Around," that was convened during the 108th ASM General meeting, held last June in Boston, Mass.


There has been some ambiguous and vague problems with the theory and design of research on the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion.For this,the authors suggest that the researchers would do the following four points in the application,review and implementation,acceptance process(1)Distinguish the generalized meridian form narrow channels;(2) Make clear the position and function of the nervous system;(3) Pay attention to the role and influence holographic meridians;(4)Evaluate the body tissues reactive and cellular signal transduction role and value.


Catastrophic failure of diode pumps in laser systems exhibiting back-irradiance is a common occurrence yet poorly understood. Prior paper has established boundaries for time-zero failures, but these results cannot be used to deduce safe back-irradiance levels for long-term reliable operation. In this paper, a framework to describe the impact of back-irradiance on the reliability of diode pumps is established. The root-cause of back-irradiance induced failure is identified as thermal in nature. The approach follows conventional reliability methodologies by treating the parameters of back-irradiance as stressors, which accelerate failures.


Decreased hamstring flexibility is suggested to be one of the predisposing factors for hamstring strains and hamstring stretches are routinely used as part of a pre-exercise routine, usually after an aerobic warm-up. Static self-stretch is proved to be the most effective stretching for increasing hamstring flexibility; but the hamstring muscle, stretch can be done in a variety of positions. Materials and Method: 60 with hamstring tightness, both male and female satisfying the inclusion criteria were included in the study (age 20-26 years). Their AK-ROM was measured prior to the stretching protocol and then once again three weeks post stretching protocol (which included warm up, protocol & cool down). Results: The subjects showed an improvement in ROM after stretching and that supine and sitting position of hamstring stretching showed significant improvement as compared to standing hamstring stretch. Conclusion: The subjects showed an improvement in ROM and hence increase in flexibility of the hamstring muscle. The supine position showed better improvement than the sitting and standing hamstring stretch.


Based on the development history and requirement of underground coal mine assessment in different period,and according to the concept and connotation of "high- production and high- efficiency coal mine"and "safe and high-efficiency coal mine",this paper presents the connotation of safe,high- efficiency and green underground coal mine and its assessment index system,an application example with real data from on underground coal mine is given to validate the feasibility of this assessment index system, to provide basis and the foundation for safe, high- efficiency and green underground coal mine assessment.


To the Editor: I read with great interest the article by Kaneko et al.1 in the September 2004 issue of the Journal. The authors suggest the presence of unique myocardial bundles with slow conduction properties and electrical connections with the specialized conduction system in the left interventricular septum. The authors describe a second potential (LA2) with incremental properties. In the Discussion section, the authors suggest two possibilities for the LA2 potentials: impulse summation in tissue located more apically (Purkinje network) or a different activation pattern. The latter seems less likely because the morphology of the electrograms do not show major changes during extrastimuli. In a previous issue of the Journal,2 we discussed the issue of incremental conduction in a patient with a concealed accessory pathway showing long conduction times and incremental properties. In our case, incremental conduction manifested spontaneously as reverse Wenckebach periodicity during tachycardia and was reproduced during ventricular pacing. We also hypothesized impulse summation as a possibility, but we believe there is an alternative explanation. The conduction velocity of an impulse passing abruptly from a myocardial fiber of a small diameter to another larger fiber transiently slows because the current must depolarize more membrane to threshold if conduction of the impulse is to continue. In the opposite direction, it can be predicted that "conduction velocity will speed transiently as the impulse moves from a larger to a smaller cable because the small sink for axial current results in more rapid depolarization of the membrane threshold." This possibility was first hypothesized by Wit and Janse,3 who discussed geometric factors causing unidirectional block and predicted speeding up of conduction velocity in a myocardial fiber. Our report was the first to describe the finding in a patient.2 A structure with a larger-to-smaller cable-like configuration, such as the papillary muscle (as suggested by Chen in his editorial4) or a false tendon, may have caused incremental conduction.


Recent military and civil actions worldwide have highlighted the potential utility for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Both fixed wing and rotary aircraft have contributed significantly to the success of several military and surveillance/rescue operations. Future combat operations will continue to place unmanned aircraft in challenging conditions such as the urban warfare environment. However, the poor reliability, reduced autonomy and operator workload requirements of current unmanned vehicles present a roadblock to their success. It is anticipated that future operations will require multiple UAVs performing in a cooperative mode, sharing resources and complementing other air or ground assets. Surveillance and reconnaissance tasks that rely on UAVs require sophisticated modeling, planning and control technologies. This paper reviews the current status of UAV technologies with emphasis on recent developments aimed at UAV improved autonomy and reliability and discusses future directions and technological challenges that must be addressed in the immediate future. We view the assembly of multiple and heterogeneous vehicles as a "system of systems" where individual UAVs are functioning as sensors or agents. Thus, networking, computing and communications issues must be considered as the UAVs are tasked to perform surveillance and reconnaissance missions in an urban environment. The same scenario arises in similar civil applications such as forest fire detection, rescue operations, pipeline monitoring, etc. A software (middleware) platform enables real time reconfiguration, plug-and-play and other quality of service functions. Multiple UAVs, flying in a swarm, constitute a network of distributed (in the spatio-temporal sense) sensors that must be coordinated to complete a complex mission. Current R&D activities are discussed that concern issues of modeling, planning and control. Here, optimum terrain coverage, target tracking and adversarial reasoning strategies require new technologies to deal with issues of system complexity, uncertainty management and computational efficiency [Vachtsevanos, et al, 2004]. We will pose the major technical challenges arising in the "system of systems" approach and state the need for new modeling, networking, communications and computing technologies that must be developed and validated if such complex unmanned systems as UAVs are to perform effectively and efficiently, in conjunction with manned systems, in a variety of application domains. We will conclude by proposing possible solutions to these challenges.


Poly(methyl methacrylate)/polypropylene (PMMA/PP) and PMMA/maleic-anhydride grafted PP (MAPP) blends and their blend nanocomposites containing 2 wt% organoclay (Cloisite 15A, denoted C15A), prepared by a melt mixer were studied. Both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed exfoliated polymer blend nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies indicated a droplet dispersion morphology for all the blends while addition of C15A into PMMA/MAPP blend resulted to a co-continuous morphology. In fact, rheological data and thermal properties indicated that the PMMA/MAPP/C15A nanocomposite showed a better homogeneous dispersion of silicate layers than PMMA/PP/C15A nanocomposite. A Cole–Cole plot and relaxation modulus indicated a solid-like character for PMMA/MAPP and PMMA/MAPP/C15A, while a liquid-like behavior was noticed for PMMA/PP and PMMA/PP/C15A. The effect of an organoclay on the dynamic mechanical properties of samples was investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) which showed a significant enhancement on the storage modulus of the PMMA/MAPP/C15A as compared to PMMA/PP/C15A. POLYM. COMPOS., 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers


A new species of Acacia from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico is described. It belongs to the myrmecophilous group in the subgenus Acacia. Habitat and morphology are similar to those Acacia globulifera and A. hindsii . A key for determination of the related species in the Peninsula is given.


A method of operating a Bremseneinziehsystems during regenerative braking event begins monitoring of an amount of regenerative braking achieved. A set point threshold is moved from a first threshold value of ramp-shaped linearly to a maximum regeneration capacity when the amount of regenerative braking reached exceeds a second threshold. The second threshold value is less than the first threshold and the first threshold value is smaller than the maximum regeneration capacity. The maximum regeneration capacity represents a maximum amount of regenerative braking, which can be generated. A friction member is transferred from a first, retracted state to a second, ready state, when the amount exceeds achieved regenerative braking to the set point threshold.


Under the condition of socialist market economy,communists should pursue the moral ideality in the center of collectivism.It is not only the objective requirement of the development of socialist market economy,but also the essential demand of carrying out political ideality and maintaining the advanced quality of communist party.Therefore,in the process of practice,communists should properly deal with the relationship between ideality and utility,dedicative spirit and distribution according to work,fair competition and pleasure of helping others.


A simple closed-form mathematical model is derived for the time-limited spill mechanism in charge equilibration inputs on profiled peristaltic charge-transfer devices (CTD's). Two modes of operation, peak detection and signal sampling, are analyzed representing extremes in the time variation of the input signal relative to the CTD clock. The theoretical models indicate two linear regions of the input-output curve characterized by thermal-diffusion-dominated transport and self-induced drift-dominated transport, respectively. These linear regions are clearly visible in the experimental data. By drawing straight lines through these data, the necessary model parameters are easily derived and these, in turn, give physical quantities such as thermal diffusion coefficient and surface doping. The numbers obtained in this fashion are a good indication of the model's validity when compared to independent measurements. Additional verification is provided by the accurate prediction of the output versus spill time curve at a single input level based on the parameters obtained by matching the model to the experimental input-output curve for one spill time. Theoretical curves are presented to illustrate the dependence on input gate geometries and spill time. Finally, isolines of time-dependent nonlinearity are plotted versus input voltage and spill time to aid in locating the sufficiently linear operating region.


Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of axis I and II psychiatric disorders among patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: Prospective observational study. Forty-five adult patients, who had attended an emergency unit because of TBI, were recruited. At 12 months, 38 patients were interviewed. Measures: Psychiatric disorders were evaluated using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SCID-II). Results: Before TBI, the 12-month rate of axis I psychiatric disorders was relatively high (39.5%) and the rate of alcohol dependence was especially elevated (18.4%). During the 12 months after TBI, axis I disorders were found in 47.4% of subjects. Six patients (15.8%) were found to have a disorder with an onset after TBI. Of these, five patients had depressive disorders (13.2%). Almost one third of the subjects (29.0%) had personality disorders. Antisocial and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders were the most frequent (10.5%). Conclusions: Both axis I and II psychiatric disorders are common among patients with TBI. Alcohol dependence and personality disorders are prevalent in individuals prone to TBI, whereas depressive disorders typically develop after injury. Psychiatric disorders should be addressed in rehabilitation, as otherwise they will hinder the recovery after TBI.


On 22 nd August 2014, Phon Charoen Hospital Epidemiology Team was notified that 4 Reserve Officer Training Cops Students at Secondary school, Porncharoen district were diagnosed Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis (AHC). Investigation, control and prevention were conducted during 22 nd August to 2 nd September 2014, in order to confirm an outbreak, determine etiology of disease and risk factors, prevention and control the transmission. The study design was Case-control study by interviewing all 45 patients with AHC compared with 62 students without AHC. Conjunctival swabs were collected for culture. Environmental survey was conducted and quality of water in bathtub was tested. A total of patients were 45 (Attack rate=5.87%). All patients had a symptom of conjunctival hyperaemia (100%). Most of them were 16 years old (53.33%). Most cases occurred on 26 th August 2014 (8 cases). Building 1 was a lodging that most patients were found (64.44%). The attack rate was highest at room number 122 (20%). The result of 6 conjunctival swabs culture was Coxsackievirus A24 and two-sample water quality test was no residual chlorine. The risk factors were close contact (OR=6.52, 95% CI=2.78-15.28) and sharing bathroom or sink with patients (OR=5.80, 95% CI=2.41-13.94). Team conducted the control measure and disease prevention by absolute isolation of suspected cases from normal group. Health education was regularly performed for 10 days. No new cases were found. Keywords: Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis, Outbreak


This study interviews teachers and many other stakeholders in eight countries about the development and implementation of quality standards for primary school teachers as well as reviewing the literature about competence-based teacher education. The report provides a conceptual framework and an evidence base about the use of competence profiles to enable quality educators and serves to guide the Quality Educators for All project.


It is a Anschweiselement (1) having a welding end (2) and a thereto arranged spaced apart functional area (3) proposed in which between the welding end (2) and the functional area (3) a body (4) is arranged, which is designed as a weld stud (4).


Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy has been used to reinvestigate the conformational pathways for 1,3-di(N-carbazolyl)propane, 1,3-DCP, in toluene as solvent. Excited-state dynamics of 1,3-DCP triggered by rotational diffusion has been probed by analyzing the transient profile of monomer and excimer fluorescence as a function of temperature. In the intermediate temperature regime, numerical reconvolution of excimer raw data yields a significant triple-exponential fluorescence response (biexponential rise + single-exponential decay) which degenerates to a biexponential result at higher temperatures. On the basis of a transient scheme (two monomeric conformations X1, X2 and one excimer X3, the experimental patterns have been analyzed with the help of the exact δ-pulse solutions to the scheme, for two different boundaries. Simulation of plausible parameter sets proves useful for recovering a) the time constants and b) the signs of the amplitudes in the experimental data profile. The kinetic procedure gives insight into the time scales of serial, conformational transitions in a three-state model, it allows a discussion of ground state distribution for X1 and X2, and, finally, it leads to a preliminary understanding of the pseudo-Birks behavior at higher temperatures.


Ivacaftor, a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiator, has been approved by FDA for treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients age 6 years and older who have the G551D mutation in the CFTR gene. This agent offers a novel approach to the treatment of cystic fibrosis, as it is the only marketed drug that targets the underlying cause of this lethal condition, instead of the downstream disease processes that occur as a result of lacking or defective CFTR.


To escape epiphenomenalism, Stephen Yablo (1992) appeals to the principle that causes be proportional to their effects. Consider Sophie, a pigeon trained to peck at red triangles to the exclusion of all other colours. Sophie will peck at a scarlet triangle. But that does not mean that the triangle being scarlet is the cause of Sophie's pecking. She would have pecked at any red triangle. The cause is the most specific property that makes a difference. Red is a determinable of scarlet. Determinables necessitate systematic resemblances between their determinates – as detailed by a sequence of studies inaugurated by W. E. Johnson (1921) and most recently refined by Eric Funkhouser (2006). This organization of determinable properties makes them more plausible causes than disjunctive properties. Sophie's peck was not caused by the triangle being either scarlet or burgundy. That would be double-counting causes. After all, scarlet was doing all the work. Given the Eleatic principle that only causes exist, many go further and deny that there are any disjunctive properties. This parsimony stops the proliferation of disjunctive properties. The determination relation is relative. Red is a determinable of scarlet but it is a determinate of colour. Aside from those who think reality might be vague, such as David Sanford (1970), all experts on the determination relation assume that all chains of determination bottom out with superdeterminate properties. Metaphysicians such as Tim Crane (2008) latch on to these superdeterminate properties as the only causally efficacious properties. From this lemma, Carl Gillett and Bradley Rives (2005) go on to apply the Eleatic principle. They conclude that only superdeterminate properties are real. This consensus that determination relations are always grounded in superdeterminate properties is jeopardized by the analogy between superdeterminates and atoms. Atoms sit at the bottom of the constitution relation. They are parts that lack proper parts. But physicists respect the possibility of gunk (objects with parts that always have proper parts). There is no guarantee that there are super-constituents. Accordingly, Ted Sider (1996) reasons that since there may be no atoms and yet there is something rather than nothing, physical constitution must be possible. If objects can be composed of gunk, then they can be composed of atoms. And once we permit a little composition, why not help ourselves to as much as is suggested by common sense and science?


It is one of vital competitive strategies for an enterprise to carry out a strategic alliance, both in its operation and in its pursuit of growth. This article, begining with the strategic alliance between GM and Fiat, points out characteristics and theoretical foundations of the strategic alliance, and then focuses on the necessity and important measures for our company's strategic alliance.


A photoelectrochemical cell utilizing porous carbon derived from Binchotan charcoal as the anode is demonstrated. Visible pulse laser irradiation of the Binchotan charcoal anode induces the ablation of carbon cations into NaNO3 aqueous solution. Electrons remaining in the anode reduce the potential of the anode with respect to a platinum cathode. As the electrodes are short-circuited, photogenerated electrons are transported from the anode to the cathode as a diffusion current. The photoinduced charge density at the anode exhibits superlinear and linear excitation laser power density dependences at low and high laser power densities, respectively. This difference in excitation power dependence is caused by the valences of the carbon cations generated by absorbing two-photon energy. The revealed reaction mechanism for electron generation at the Binchotan charcoal anode in the photoelectrochemical cell suggests that the sacrificial reagent for the anode can be not only Binchotan charcoal but also any materi...


In this manuscript, a reduced (3+1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equation is studied. We first construct the bilinear formalism of the equation by using the binary Bell polynomials theory, then explore a lump solution to the special case for z = x. Furthermore, a more general form of lump solution of the equation is found which possesses seven arbitrary parameters and four constraint conditions. By cutting the lump by the induced soliton(s), lumpoff and instanton/rogue wave solutions are also constructed by the more general form of lump solution.


Aerodynamic drag contributes to resistance experienced by a cyclist when riding bicycle. The lower aerodynamic drag was required for helmet to obtained the high performance. The helmet surface was designed without air hole and fin shape which could not reduce attached airflow. Then, that helmet can"t help to maintain airflow behaviour and improved performance. SolidWorks simulation was used to analyse the air flow behaviour via existing helmet by using method of Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD. The best result of CFD was achieved and can reduce about 7.93% compare the drag force of existing design was 1.210 N. The result drag force of improved design bicycle helmet was 1.114 N. In conclusion, all analyse get the characteristic of aerodynamic and the effect of air hole and fin shape towards bicycle helmet are positive for airflow behaviour via bicycle helmet by addition of air holes and fin shape.


Karen Hart suggests guessing and memory games that will support children to explore new vocabulary linked to seasonal celebrations and make choices which they can confidently communicate to their group.


Method for providing a live 3D image of a body lumen, to provide a system and a program. The 3D shape of the flexible surgical tool in a body lumen is determined using an optical shape detection. To shoot the X-ray image of the body lumen. Here, at least one of which is radiopaque body lumen and surgical tools. 3D shape of the determined surgical tool is registered with respect to the X-ray image.


The world has been transfixed by the latest installment in the Greek financial crisis. This summer, deadlines came and went, offers of debt relief were made and rejected, and a tentative agreement was finally reached between Greece and its creditors. However, the lengthy delay to an agreement came


The behavioral nature and objectives of a terrorist act can be defined simply as the intentional shooting, bombing, smashing, stabbing, burning, etc. of unsuspecting enemies in order to kill, maim and intimidate them, as well as to destroy their property. Enemies are any perceived member of an enemy population including military and government personnel and civilians.2 The causes of such acts, however, are much more complex. To unravel this complexity a working taxonomy is proposed here to identify four major causal factors – genetic factors that predispose the individual to respond aggressively to certain life circumstances and the physical, cultural and economic factors that facilitate the development of innate predispositions of the individual to engage in such acts and later sustain the results of the facilitation. The fourth factor consists of those situational conditions that help trigger the acts themselves. All four of these factors are viewed in terms of two historical frameworks – evolutionary and developmental, both functionally tied to human-specific environmental conditions involving resource scarcity. The emphasis here upon terrorist acts per se rather than terrorism is that the latter refers to a wide range of phenomena – the organizations and financial networks behind such acts, their planners, trainers, document forgers, support groups, etc., all of which encompass a much bigger and complex body of knowledge than the present author is capable of dealing with. Furthermore, focusing on a terrorist act per se as a single dependent variable provides an unambiguous starting point from which to begin a retrospective analysis of the individual who commits the act.


The present invention relates to a stainless hot-rolled steel sheet with high hardness and low temperature impact toughness which forms ferrite through martensite as a matrix structure. According to the present invention, the stainless hot-rolled steel sheet, which is made through refining, continuous casting, and hot rolling, includes C, N, Si, Mn, Cr, Ni, Ti, Nb, Mo, and the remaining amount consisting of Fe and other inevitable impurities, wherein 0.01 to 0.03 wt% of C, 11 to 14 wt% of Cr, 0.1 to 0.2 wt% of Ti, and 0.1 to 0.2 wt% of Nb are contained, ferrite stability (FS) as indicated by [expression 1] is 5 to 50, and ferrite is formed through martensite as a matrix structure. [Expression 1] 4FS = -215-619C-16.6Mn+23.7Cr-36.8Ni+42.2Mo+96.2Ti+67Nb-237N+17.2Si (wherein, each component indicated by [Expression 1] means the contents (wt%) thereof).


Technology and design tradeoffs are important for crossbar memory array optimization. A comprehensive model is presented in this paper to assess array functionality with different nonlinear and asymmetric selector parameters, bias schemes, and array designs. Array Vdd should be maximized within power and efficiency constraints. Partial bias schemes can be chosen based on selector types and design targets. Different dependence of array selectivity and power efficiency on selector parameters presents technology tradeoffs. Impact of line resistance, contact resistance, and memory variability is analyzed. Parallel access and self-selecting design may improve array performance.


Objective To investigate the willingenss to participate(WTP) in a clinical trial of circumcision for prevention of HIV infection and related factors of WTP among men who have sex with men(MSM).Methods Between February and March 2008,MSM were investigated to collect their perception on HIV and male circumcision.Results Of 200 participants,13 reported taking circumcision,3 did not know whether they had circumcision or not.Of 184 MSM uncircumcised,36.4% reported the willing to participate in the clinical trial of circumcision to prevent HIV.The related factors of the attitude toward circumcision included with foreskin (odds ratio[OR]=2.82,95% confidence interval[CI]=1.45-5.49) and the belief that circumcision could increase pleasure of sexual activity (OR=4.50,95%CI=1.77-11.49).Conclusion Methods should be taken to intensify the dissemination of AIDS and circumcision related knowledge to decrease worries and discrimination among MSM and general population.


In 1999, the Chinese government launched the Great Leap West – an ambitious economic undertaking to develop China ' s western frontier. The strategy was to use increasing wealth to abate historical ethnic tensions. And while provinces like Xinjiang have experienced impressive growth, relations between the Han-dominated Beijing and the Uyghurs in Xinjiang have remained unchanged, if not worsened. The former claims the economic bene fi ts have been enjoyed by all – regardless of ethnicity – and have aided regional development. In contrast, the latter alleges the growing riches have primarily bene fi ted the Hans. This article examines these two arguments. Using original data, we fi nd evidence to support both claims – with some quali fi cations. While the Han migrants have bene fi ted immensely from the Great Leap West, it seems the Uyghurs have also enjoyed growing wages. The implications suggest that while Beijing is not necessarily wrong to invest heavily in Xinjiang, the government needs to exercise more consideration of local cultures.


BACKGROUND
Evaluating asymmetries in muscle function could provide important insights for fall risk assessments. We sought to determine the associations of 1) handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetry, and 2) leg extension power (LEP) asymmetry on risk of incident recurrent falls and fractures in older men.

METHODS
There were 5,730 men with HGS asymmetry data and 5,347 men with LEP asymmetry data from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study. A handgrip dynamometer measured HGS and a Nottingham Power Rig ascertained LEP. Percent difference in maximal HGS between hands was calculated, and asymmetric HGS was defined as men in the highest quartile of dissimilarity for HGS between hands. The same approach was used to determine asymmetric LEP. Participants self-reported falls every four-months after the baseline exam, and persons with ≥2 falls in the first year were considered recurrent fallers. Fractures and their dates of occurrence were self-reported and confirmed with radiographic reports.

RESULTS
Older men in the highest HGS asymmetry quartile had a 1.20 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.43) relative risk for incident recurrent falls. Likewise, men in the highest HGS asymmetry quartile had a higher risk for incident fractures: 1.41 (CI: 1.02-1.96) for hip, 1.28 (CI: 1.04-1.58) for major osteoporotic, and 1.24 (CI: 1.06-1.45) for non-spine. There were no significant associations between LEP asymmetry and recurrent falls or fractures.

CONCLUSIONS
Asymmetric HGS could be a novel risk factor for falls and fractures that is more feasible to measure than LEP. Fall risk assessments should consider evaluating muscle function, including HGS asymmetry.


Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by the reduced ability of insulin responses, leading to difficulty in processing blood sugar. It is caused by a combination of two main factors: damaged insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells and the inability of insulin-sensitive tissues to respond to insulin. Blood sugar monitoring in T2DM is done by measuring glycated hemoglobin or Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Insulin Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is the primary mediator of growth hormone known to play a pivotal biological role in growth and metabolism. This study aims to analyze the relationship between HbA1c levels and serum IGF-1 levels in T2DM patients. The method used was observational analytic with a cross-sectional design. There were 60 T2DM patients involved as research subjects consisting of 26 males and 34 females. HbA1c examination was carried out using the Boronete Affinity Assay, while IGF-1 examination was performed using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) sandwich method. The statistical analysis results showed that the average value and standard deviation of serum IGF-1 levels in controlled T2DM was higher (5740.23±4320.60 pg/mL) than that of uncontrolled T2DM (4843.18±3375.63 pg/mL), showed no significant difference (p=0.462) and no correlation between HbA1c and serum IGF-1 levels in T2DM subjects (r=-0.005 p=0.972). It was concluded that there was no significant relationship between HbA1c levels and serum IGF-1 levels in patients with T2DM.


In this paper, we analyse the socio–economic determinants of wildfire crime in Italy through panel data at the regional level. Using fixed-effect Poisson models and fixed-effect quantile panel regression analysis, it is found that social vulnerability factors such as poverty, organised crime and inequality in income play an important role in driving wildfire crime. The quantile regression analysis highlights a significant heterogeneity of the effects of driving factors across the Italian peninsula. Finally, we also extend our analysis to investigate the effect of economic downturns on wildfire crime and we find a positive correlation between a deterioration of per capita income and wildfire crime.<br>


A computer model has been used to investigate frequency doubling of 1-psec duration high-power pulses in potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) for type-II phase matching. It has been found that group-velocity dispersion can be used to advantage by predelaying the ordinary and extraordinary polarizations appropriately in a thin KDP crystal with its axes aligned at 90{degree} to the main conversion crystal. In that situation power conversion {gt}100% from the fundamental to the second harmonic can be obtained with simultaneous compression'' of the output pulse duration by up to a factor of 5.


SUMMARY Social comparison is an automatic and daily process through which individuals acquire information about themselves. Since Festinger (1954) postulated his assumptions on social comparison, extensive research has focused on understanding and explaining the social comparison process. In particular, the motives for social comparison direction have been widely investigated by researchers. When a motive for self-improvement is activated, individuals tend to prefer to engage in comparisons with others who are doing better, assumedly because they may learn from such others. Nevertheless, when individuals are threatened on a particular dimension, they may prefer to compare themselves with others who are thought to be worse than themselves on that dimension, presumably to feel better about themselves. In addition, in line with the identification-contrast model, we assume that upward as well as downward comparisons may be interpreted in a positive or negative way, depending on whether an individual contrasts or identifies oneself with the comparison target. The purpose of this dissertation was twofold: 1) to deepen our understanding of the relationship between social comparison from an identification-contrast perspective and specific psychological processes in the academic and work areas; and 2) to contribute to the literature exploring cultural differences in the identification and contrast processes, and expanding not only cultural, but also context and gender differences in basic aspects of social comparison including direction, dimensions and target choice of comparison. In Chapter 2, in a study among university students, we examined how goal orientation, social comparison responses, self-efficacy and academic performance were related. In this chapter, the data were analyzed by employing structural equation modeling. The results showed that individuals with a promotion goal orientation had positive self-efficacy perceptions, whereas individuals with a prevention goal orientation had negative self-efficacy perceptions. In addition, individuals who contrasted themselves with better-off others had negative self-efficacy perceptions. Finally, the results revealed that upward contrast was a mediator between prevention goal orientation and self-efficacy, and next, that self-efficacy was positively related to academic performance. These findings support the idea that goal prevention orientation may directly influence self-efficacy perceptions, and also indirectly through an upward contrast process, and next this may undermine academic performance. In Chapter 3, we examined the independent role of social comparison responses and coping styles with respect to burnout over time. We conducted a longitudinal study among 558 teachers in primary and secondary schools. The results showed that identifying oneself with worse-off others and contrasting oneself with better-off others was positively related to burnout. Identification with worse-off was also associated with an increase in burnout over time. In addition, individuals with a more direct coping style experienced less burnout, whereas individuals with a palliative coping style experienced more burnout. Moreover, the results showed that a direct coping style was associated with more downward identification, more upward contrast, and less upward identification. These findings suggest that there is an independent relationship between social comparison responses and coping styles with respect to burnout. In Chapter 4, we investigated among Dutch and Spanish workers the relationship between social comparison responses and organizational commitment and identification. Data were collected in private and public organizations with 404 respondents from The Netherlands and Spain. The results showed cultural differences in the social comparison responses. In particular, compared to the Dutch, the Spanish engaged more in upward and downward identification, whereas the Dutch engaged more in downward contrast. In addition, there was a relationship between social comparison responses and organization commitment and identification. However, culture moderated this relationship. That is, upward identification was related to organizational commitment and identification among the Spanish, but not among the Dutch. In addition, upward contrast was negatively related to organizational commitment among the Dutch, and positively related to organizational commitment and identification among the Spanish. In Chapter 5, we focused on studying not only cultural, but also organizational context and gender differences in basic aspects of social comparison such as direction, dimension and target choice. The results showed that the Spanish compared themselves more often upward than the Dutch, that workers in private organizations compared themselves more often downward and upward than workers from public organizations, that Spanish women compared themselves upward more often than men, and that Dutch men compared themselves upward more often than women. Men in private organizations engaged more frequently in upward comparison, whereas women in public organizations engaged more often in upward comparison. Regarding the social comparison dimensions, we found that workers in private organizations were the most focused on both inputs (e.g., performance) and outcomes (e.g., salary) dimensions of comparison, and that compared to the Dutch, the Spanish compared more often their outcomes than their inputs. Particularly, Spanish women in the private organization were the most focused on outcomes dimension of comparison. Finally, the results evidenced that women in private organizations compared themselves more often with men than women in public organizations, and that Spanish women compared themselves more often with men than Dutch women. Thus, these results support the idea that individuals may present differences in social comparison depending on which culture individuals live in, which context they work in and if they are men or women. In the last chapter, we highlighted that identification and contrast responses in social comparison are relevant in the academic and work areas. After discussing the major weaknesses and strengths of the present dissertation, we conclude that we have shown how the positive and negative responses derived from identification and contrast are related to functional processes as self-efficacy, coping, organizational commitment and identification; and to dysfunctional processes as burnout. Further, we suggest that the present dissertation contributes to the literature on social comparison by showing evidence for cultural, context and gender differences in the direction of social comparison, the dimensions of social comparison, and the choice of comparison targets. Finally, we conclude on the basis of the identification-contrast model, that social comparison is a relevant factor to explain individuals' interaction with the social world.


Recently created pulsed gas lasers with high pulse repetition rate produce radiation in the IR [

 V. Yu.
 Baranov

 , in
Molecular Gas Lasers. Physics Applications,
VelikhovE. P., Ed. (
Mir,
Moscow,
1981), pp.
252–
255] and the UV (

 V. Yu.
 Baranov

 , in
Proceedings, International Conference on Lasers, 14–18 Dec. 1981, pp.
968–
974) regions of the spectrum. These lasers are widely used in research on the selective excitation of matter. This field of study includes laser isotope separation {

 G. I.
 Abdushelashvili

 ,
Kvantovaya Elektron. (Moscow)9,
743 (
1982) [
Sov. J. Quantum Electron.12,
459 (
1982)]} and laser-induced chemical reactions [

 V. Yu.
 Baranov

 ,
Preprint IAE 3693/13 (
Moscow,
1982)]. But there are few publications dealing with uses of high-repetition-rate lasers for materials processing, although this problem undoubtedly is of considerable scientific interest.


Abstract : This analysis consists of two parts. A technique is presented for measuring heat transfer rates on a model and for fixing the temperature distribution at a given value. The technique is applied to the particular case of turbulent heat transfer on a blunt body at a Mach number of 3.98.


Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) refers to the repeated acquisition of image data to monitor changes in tissue structure over time. In this paper we present a method for the efficient acquisition of dynamic MRI sequences based on two complimentary strategies: an adaptive framework for the estimation of the MRI images themselves and a method to dynamically adapt the MRI system excitations. Thus, we denote this method as doubly adaptive. Analysis shows that the previously proposed Fourier Keyhole and SVD methods are specific cases of the general adaptive framework presented here. We also show that complete knowledge of the next image in the sequence is required to determine the optimal system inputs. Since this knowledge is not realizable, we introduce a linear predictor to aid in determining appropriate system inputs. A simulated example using real MRI data is given showing that the doubly adaptive strategy can provide significant improvement over current minimal MRI data acquisition and image estimation techniques.


In this letter, we experimentally investigated the transmission of microwaves through a single subwavelength slit surrounded by periodic grooves in metallic aluminum plates. Significant transmission enhancement (16.2-fold) and angular confinement (±18°) were observed at X-band microwave frequencies (8–12GHz). We demonstrated that the coupled surface plasmons were involved in the interesting transmission process. The little angular divergence was attributed to the periodic structures of the exit surface. The experimental results show good agreement with theory and are of relevance not only for further understanding the underlying science but also for enlarging applications based on this phenomenon.


This paper evaluates several artificial intelligence and classical algorithms on their ability of forecasting the monthly yield of the US 10-year Treasury bonds from a set of four economic indicators. Due to the complexity of the prediction problem, the task represents a challenging test for the algorithms under evaluation. At the same time, the study is of particular significance for the important and paradigmatic role played by the US market in the world economy. Four data-driven artificial intelligence approaches are considered, namely, a manually built fuzzy logic model, a machine learned fuzzy logic model, a self-organising map model and a multi-layer perceptron model. Their performance is compared with the performance of two classical approaches, namely, a statistical ARIMA model and an econometric error correction model. The algorithms are evaluated on a complete series of end-month US 10-year Treasury bonds yields and economic indicators from 1986:1 to 2004:12. In terms of prediction accuracy and reliability of the modelling procedure, the best results are obtained by the three parametric regression algorithms, namely the econometric, the statistical and the multi-layer perceptron model. Due to the sparseness of the learning data samples, the manual and the automatic fuzzy logic approaches fail to follow with adequate precision the range of variations of the US 10-year Treasury bonds. For similar reasons, the self-organising map model gives an unsatisfactory performance. Analysis of the results indicates that the econometric model has a slight edge over the statistical and the multi-layer perceptron models. This suggests that pure data-driven induction may not fully capture the complicated mechanisms ruling the changes in interest rates. Overall, the prediction accuracy of the best models is only marginally better than the prediction accuracy of a basic one-step lag predictor. This result highlights the difficulty of the modelling task and, in general, the difficulty of building reliable predictors for financial markets.


ABSTRACT Intellectual abilities alone are not sufficient to successfully progress through doctoral studies. Research indicates that modes of training and the context and conditions in which doctoral studies take place also have a significant impact on the process. However, few studies examine how taken-for-granted and self-evident practices in academia likely impede students' progress. To address this gap, a qualitative inquiry was conducted according to an instrumental case study design. Six human and social sciences faculties at a Canadian university were selected to define the case. In addition to analysing institutional documents pertaining to doctoral studies in this specific context, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 PhD students, 14 thesis supervisors and five academic administrators. Based on Giddens' theory of structuration, the analysis revealed an enduring perception of doctoral studies as an 'initiatory trial' that affects both the formal and tacit organisation of the process, and consequently its underlying challenges.


Dialogic management in adult education promotes an outstanding organizational practice for adult learning centers. The involvement of learners in decision making teams is essential to the success of shared governance and other participative structures and, is one of the aspects that explain the higher levels of participation in the school. Purpose This paper reports the findings of a case study investigating how a school for adults is collective-centered and how adult learners' perceive their participation in the school management. I studied how adult education and specifically the dialogic management of the educational center work and how those successful experiences help or hinder the overcoming of social exclusion. Dialogic management in adult education appears to promote an outstanding organizational practice for adult learning centers. Regularly, low literate and working-class people have been excluded of management and decision making positions of the adult learning organizations they attend. This research focused on adult learners' participation in decisionmaking and shared management of their school. Furthermore the study is centered on the strategies used within the community organization for the implementation of democratic adult educational practices. Adult education is going today through a process of democratization, following the same tendency of society. In Spain and other European countries learners are organizing themselves and demanding to share with teachers and administrators the decision making about their education. In this movement – called the Democratic Adult Education (DAE) Movement – they are reinventing popular education. The DAE movement follows the dialogic tendency of current society. However, it did not appear by chance, but as a result of many years of work within the field of adult education towards the democratization of education and culture. Theoretical framework Nowadays the societies are more and more diverse and changing. Our societies have to confront the challenges of the globalization, as well as the opening of the market, culture and education. Adult education and education in general can be fundamental to creating transformational possibilities. Educational practice alone is not the source of progressive social change. But if we want to be relevant, we must understand and become involved with learning communities dealing with societal change (Kilgore, 1999). In our society there are still a lot of inequalities that have to be overcome. The idea of education underlying the aspiration to achieve important social purposes is not new (Welter, 1962). But in the context of the information-based global society education increasingly enables social mobility, thus explaining its centrality to movements pursuing social justice. It has been internationally acknowledged the need to have a more inclusive and participatory civil society and cooperation between all stakeholders in education (UNESCO, 2004). Some recommendations for practitioners are, among others, to make citizenship and democracy central to the design of adult education programs. In studying management participation, researchers have long been interested in who participates and the rationale for their participation. Studies of shared decision-making in school organizations and shared governance have been conducted mostly in children schools, from the teachers' perspective, the Principal's perspective (Jones, 1998) or with the parents' participation (Serico, 1998). The conceptualization of dialogic management comes from an interdisciplinary theoretical framework, including Freire's (1997) dialogic pedagogy, Habermas' (1984) theory of communicative action, Flecha's (2000) dialogic learning, Welton's (1993) and Holford's (1996) learning in social movements and, Conway's (1984) participation in decision-making. All of them, among others, recognize the significance of learners' participation and the possibility of change in society. Methodology There is a body of literature documenting shared governance in children schools, learning in social movements and participation in decision-making from principals and teachers' perspective, but little on the learners' perspective on decision-making in adult centers. Therefore, I was particularly interested in addressing the following research questions: 1. What occurs in the dialogic management of the learning center? 1.1 How do adult learners interact with others and educators? 1.2 What do adult learners perceive the dialogic management promotes? 2. How do adult learners perceive their participation in the dialogic management? The study of dialogic management started from the need to document the practices and processes developed by adult learners who manage the learning center. The study utilized qualitative methods to determine the form of the implementation of shared governances in an urban adult school in Spain. This qualitative case study analyzed adult learner's involvement in the management of the learning center. By using qualitative methods, I acknowledged possible ethical dilemmas and included the research participants in the process. The overall research approach that I employed was the critical communicative approach (CREA, 2000). Critical communicative approach as used in this study refers to the research which promotes and takes into account the centrality of dialogue and participation in the construction of knowledge, and does not prioritize the accumulation of information, but its use and results. For instance, the dialog between the researcher and researched provided respectively their experiences and reach agreements on how management works in a dialogical way. This approach explains that it is possible to validate the facts, situations or interactions of society, paying special attention to its production whether if it is social exclusion or social transformation. The critical communicative approach opens new perspectives for educational research, since it overcomes the eternal dichotomy between researcher-subject and researched-object.


A rugged, self-calibrating, time-domain reflectometer (TDR) device for monitoring groundwater elevations in piezometers was developed and demonstrated. The primary advantage of the TDS device over conventional downhole transducer technology is that the electronics are fixed at the surface where they are accessible and easy to maintain. The TDR instrumentation is also simple to install and does not require field calibration


In the present work, effect of nanoparticles (TiO2, MgO, ZnO or Al2O3) on solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) comprising polyvinylideneflouride-co-hexaflouropropylene (PVDF-HFP) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) has been explored. These films have been synthesized using the universal solution cast technique. Impedance Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)Spectroscopy and Differential scanning calorimetry Thermogravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA) have been carried out to characterize transport, structural and thermal properties of these NCPE films. The highest conductivity value is 1.24x10-4 S/cm at 110  ̊C with activation energy ~0.26eV for OCC of NCPE. The dielectric study was also done for OCC of NCPE in wide range of frequency and temperature. Electrochemical cell has been fabricated using cell configuration Mg|NCPE|C-cell and various cell parameters have been calculated from discharge characteristics.


Abstract The performance of reciprocating friction pairs in low-speed marine diesel engines has an important impact on the economy, stability, and safety of the ship operation, which deserves special attention. However, the available research is very limited. In this article, a new tribodynamics modeling method and an online measurement method for friction force are proposed. The friction force is simulated and verified by experiments. Based on the principle of multibody dynamics and mixed lubrication theory, a tribodynamic model coupling the reciprocating friction pairs (piston assembly–cylinder liner, piston rod–stuffing box, and crosshead slipper–guide) is first established. The friction force and dynamics are theoretically analyzed. Then a friction measurement method, which can measure the friction force of reciprocating friction pairs under engine firing conditions, is developed and used to verify the simulation. By comparison, it is found that the simulated friction is in good agreement with the experimental one. The results show that the crosshead slipper and piston assembly have obvious secondary motion, which will affect the vibration and noise of the engine. The friction force of the piston assembly is much higher than that of other reciprocating friction pairs. Improving the lubrication state near the top dead center of the piston assembly is of great significance to reduce the friction loss of the low-speed marine engines.


The energy demand is increasing every day. This increase in demand has led us to find alternate sources of energy. The non-renewable sources have limited supply, and constant use gives rise to various types of pollution. Gradually, people started relying on renewable sources of energy due to their abundance in nature. Alternately, Solar Energy (SE) is one of the best sources of energy in India. This paper aims to predict the output production of Solar Power Plants in KWh. Also, this research paper attempts to find the relation of weather attributes with the output power generated. The Decision Tree Regressor model will be used to forecast the power generation of a Solar Power Plant. This model's predictions will help us determine how a solar power plant can be efficiently used to generate a high amount of power. The motivation behind the study was to develop a system that can effectively predict the output of these photovoltaic cells so that orders for supply and demand gaps are placed timely, ensuring the quality of service and cost savings.


Objective To investigate the prevention effect of pulse delivery of Sparfloxacin in patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) during acute exacerbation.Methods 458 patients with COPD were randomly divided into two groups: observation group(247 cases) and control group(211 cases).The control group was only treated with conventional therapy,while the observation group was continuously treated with sparfloxacin for 7 days(0.3g per day) with an interval of 2 months,in addition to the conventional therapy.The occurrence of the first acute onset time,acute exacerbation frequency,symptoms and the levels of serum inflammatory markers were observed after treatment.Result The first acute onset time,acute exacerbation frequency,symptoms and the levels of serum inflammatory markers of the both groups were significant difference(P0.05),comparing after treatment with before.Conclusion It is very effective to treat COPD patients with pulse delivery of Sparfloxacin,which could decrease the frequency of acute exacerbation and had significant improvement in symptoms.


This article examines how and why Ayn Rand uses fairy tales as intertexts in her novels. It argues that she evokes and revises fairy tales to exemplify the metaphysical values that her novels resist. For Rand, fairy tales like "Cinderella" are problematic because they typically endorse conventionality over the truly heroic. She therefore associates them with secondhanders and villains. She rejects their message that mindless conformity leads to happily-ever-after, and she exposes how fairy tales can be formidable vehicles for promoting the senseless. She reinforces her point by contrasting them with her revisions of myths, which she associates with heroes.


Capsaicin as a Tool for Studying Sensory Neuron Functions.- Chemical Coding of Neurons in the Gastrointestinal Tract.- Occurrence and Distribution of Substance P- and CGRP-Containing Nerve Fibers in Gastric Mucosa: Species Differences.- Tachykinin and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Immunoreactivities and mRNAs in the Mammalian Enteric Nervous System and Sensory Ganglia.- Peptides and Their Receptors on Afferent Neurons to the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract.- Activation of Sensory Nerves by Kinins: Pharmacologic Tools for Studying Kinin Receptors.- Evolutionary Aspects in the Peripheral Peptidergic Signals: CRF-Like Peptides and Modulation of G.I. Functions.- Gastric and Jejunal Ultrastructure in Capsaicin-Treated Rats with and without Experimental Ulcer.- Afferent Nerve-Mediated Control of Gastric Mucosal Blood Flow and Protection.- Vagal Afferent Innervation and Regulation of Gastric Function.- Decrease of Duodenal Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide- and Substance P-Like Immunoreactivity in Rat Duodenal Ulcers.- Opioid-Sensitive Peripheral Neuronal Activity in the Modulation of Gastric Mucosal Injury.- Relationship between Sensory Neuropeptides and Other Vasoactive Mediators in Modulating Gastric Mucosal Integrity.- Effect of Substance P and Related Neurokinins on Gastric Acid Secretion.- Effect of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) on Aspirin- and Ethanol-Induced Injury in the Rat Stomach.- Visceral Pain: Pathophysiology and Clinical Aspects.- Central and Peripheral Actions of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide on Gastric Secretory and Motor Function.- Sensory Nerves of the Intestines: Role in Control of Pyloric Region of Dogs.- Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) and the Specific Motor Response to Capsaicin of the Human Isolated Ileum.- Studies on Secretomotor Effects of Galanin on Various "In Vivo" or "In Vitro" Preparation.- Aspects on the Role of Tachykinins and Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide in Control of Secretion, Motility and Blood Flow in the Gut.- Efferent Function of Capsaicin-Sensitive Nerves and Neurogenic Vasodilation in Rat Mesenteric Circulation.- Tachykinin Receptors in the Longitudinal and Circular Muscle of the Human Ileum.- Alterations in Receptors for Sensory Neuropeptides in Human Inflammatory Bowel Disease.- Sensory Denervation with Capsaicin Reduces the Liver Collagen Deposition Induced by Common Bile Duct Obstruction in Rats.- Autonomic Neuropathy in Liver Cirrhosis: Prevalence and Association with Clinical and Laboratory Features.- 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG)-Induced Increase in Gastric Acid Secretion Is Impaired in Capsaicin-Pretreated Rats.


The main objectives of this study were to determine the percentage of teachers applying the Sport Education (SE) model in a central region of Spain and to identify the features these teachers perceived they were using when applying it. As a secondary objective, an attempt was made to respond to the differences in the application of the model depending on the educational stage and gender, and to determine any differences between the curriculum features of teachers applying SE and those who follow other methodologies. One hundred and ninety-nine physical education (PE) teachers participated in this study and a survey research design was used. The results reinforce the notion that PE teachers apply SE in a contextualised and pragmatic way. A significant percentage of teachers (64.8%) reported using SE in their curriculums, which demonstrates the success in expanding this instructional model in this region. Teachers also perceived that they applied a high percentage of the SE elements, although there was low fidelity to most of those elements that were considered to be central to the model such as extended units and permanent teams. Results are discussed based on literature about which goals are achieved and which ones are not based on the degree of fidelity to the central elements of the model. Implications for teacher training and future research are provided.


Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer belonging to the group of polyolefins including polyethylenes and polybutenes, with a wide range of properties. These features have allowed the continued growth in world consumption of this material.
Polypropylene has high chemical resistance and low specific weight. It is recommended in the manufacture of structural parts (pipelines, tanks) used in the process industries. Another remarkable property of polypropylene is it non-toxicity, which makes it ideal for food and pharmaceutical industries.
This study aims to determine the influence of strain rate in the tensile properties of polypropylene. Strain rate varies from 8.3x10-6 s-1 to 8.3x10-2 s-1.
We verified that strain rate influences, significantly, the mechanical behavior of the Polypropylene.


We perform a detailed classification of the Lie point symmetries and of the resulting similarity transformations for the Generalized Boiti-Leon-Pempinelli equations. The latter equations for a system of two nonlinear 1+2 partial differential equations of second- and third-order. The nonlinear equations depend of two parameters, namely $n$ and $m$, from where we find that for various values of these two parameters the resulting systems admit different number of Lie point symmetries. For every case, we present the complete analysis for the admitted Lie group as also we determine all the possible similarity solutions which follow from the one-dimensional optimal system. Finally, we summarize the results by presenting them in a tabular way.


In this study, the effect of kakuti or wild thyme (Ziziphora clinopodioids) essence and Xanthan gum on survivability of Bifidobacterium lactis in Iranian yogurt drink (doogh) was evaluated. The kakuti essence was added at concentrations of 50 and 75 μl. The levels of added Xanthan gum were 0, 0.075 and 0.15%. Samples were analyzed after 1, 15, 30 and 45 days of storage. The results of statistical analysis showed that by increasing the amounts of Xanthan gum to 0.075%, B. lactis count increased 1.2 log CFU/ml significantly (P<0.05), but further increasing of the gum, had no significant effect on B. lactis count (p>0.05). Moisture content was decreased as the amounts of Xanthan gum increased. Stability, viscosity and texture score were increased significantly (P<0.05). Samples containing 0.15% of xanthan gum were completely stable during storage period. The acidity increased in all samples during storage and the highest acidity was observed for samples containing xanthan gum. The results of sensory evaluation showed that the flavor scores were decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the amount of essence was increased from 50 to 70 μl. According to the obtained results, at least 0.15% of xanthan gum is necessary to produce a completely stable doogh, although increasing the gum concentration to more than 0.075% did not have any significant effect on the viability of B. lactis. The favorable amount of kakuti essence was observed to be 50 μl. Thus, these additives could be used at the said amounts successfully without having detrimental effects on bio-doogh.


The key role of the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) in shaping the structure of music education in Australia is discussed. Details of the various personnel involved in decisions of music education, the structuring and principles of the syllabus are presented.


UPDATE: Stericycle/Ecowaste merger: Competition Appeal Tribunal rejects appeal against remedies* An earlier post considered the Competition Commission's ("CC") prohibition of Stericycle's completed…


The Extreme Physics Explorer (EPE) is a concept timing/spectroscopy mission that would use micro-channel plate optics (MCPO) to provide 4m2 effective area focused to ~1 arc-min onto an X-ray calorimeter. We describe science drivers for such a mission, possible designs for the large area MCPO needed for EPE, and the challenges of the large area MCPO design.


African farmers operate traditional methods of integrated pest control when storing maize. They dry the maize well, store it on the cob in suitable structures and avoid protracted storage whenever possible. Such traditional methods are reasonably effective and studies have shown that under normal conditions they can keep losses down to less than 5% per year (Adams, 1977; Golob, 1981 a and 1981 b). Recent changes in farming systems have, however, interfered with traditional storage practices, resulting in the more frequent occurrence of serious losses. In particular, where high-yielding varieties of maize have been introduced, a dramatic increase in losses has often resulted. Other changes in farming systems have affected cropping patterns, causing farmers to store maize that is too wet, increasing its susceptibility to attack by insects and fungi.
The recent accidental introduction of the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus) into Africa has added a new dimension to these problems, through its remarkable ability to damage well-dried maize, even when stored on the cob. This beetle is currently a more serious pest in parts of sub-Saharan Africa than in its native Central America, indicating that in Africa there are ecological, agricultural or socio-economic factors associated with maize storage which favour its success. Certainly, where P. truncatus has become established in Africa, it has commonly increased the loss levels sustained in traditional maize stores to a point at which intensified pest control by the farmer is an economic necessity (McFarlane, 1988).
There is thus a need to revise recommended methods for the control of insect pests of maize in farm storage, taking into account the changes which have reduced the effectiveness of traditional practices. This bulletin attempts to summarize available data from studies of pest infestation in traditional maize stores, relevant to current and future research in this field. The emphasis on P. truncatus in parts of the text reflects the importance currently attached to the development of integrated pest management strategies for this pest, in order to limit its spread in maize-producing regions of Africa.


With the impending issues regarding global warming, urban design is considered a key driver to improve the microclimate in cities. For public spaces, studies suggest that outdoor thermal comfort may be seen as a proxy for space usage in turn attractiveness to people. Although the topic has gained interest in recent years, the discussion so far has focused on computing the metrics rather than deriving interventions from them. Here, we use the tool Eddy3D to model and analyze the outdoor thermal comfort of a designated area around a university campus. Further, we demonstrate how to estimate space usage from those results. Finally, we conduct a spatial sensitivity analysis of the underlying results as a step towards decision aiding. Our work demonstrates how decision-makers may derive areas where interventions will likely have the largest impact on outdoor thermal comfort performance.


An investigation to determine the relationship between the depth of contamination within the concrete lining of a nuclear pond and the ratio of x-ray to gamma-ray photopeak intensity obtained from sodium iodide detector is described. The environment was simulated using established radiation transport codes. Caesium-137 is assumed to be the sole source of contamination. A detector was simulated across the energy spectrum of a source, and rastered across its location from ±10cm at intervals of 0.5cm. A combination of point and distributed sources were simulated within a concrete structure, as well as in free air to create a comprehensive set of data. The results were then validated against experimental data and demonstrate a high level of agreement. This investigation indicates that the x-ray / gamma-ray ratio has the potential to localise contamination on the surface of the concrete lining; further investigation is required to locate the contamination in three dimensions.


Tremendous amounts of effort have gone into research on switch designs and architectures. This survey attempts to sketch the evolution of the modern switch architectures. The survey covers the literature over the period 1987-2008 on switch architectures. Starting with the simple crossbar switch, we explore various architectures such as Output queueing, Input queueing, Combined Input/Output queueing, buffered crosspoint etc., that have evolved during this period. We discuss the pros and cons of these designs, so as to shed light on the path of evolution of switch architecture.


You are invited to present your research projects and findings in the Conference by a 15-minute oral presentation in English. Certificates will be awarded to the presenters. Please complete the registration and submit your abstract in 300 words with file name 'Abstract Submission_Your name' via online registration system in the Conference Website (https://anonmach.ied.edu.hk/machform/view.php?id=433) by (Tue) 31 March, 2015. Before registration, participants are required to consult their supervisors for which research theme that they are going to present. Authors are requested to submit original work, not previously published, on any of the strands including Education, Social Sciences, Liberal Arts or Humanities.


Thalassemia is a multisystemic disease in the field of hemolysis and chronic anemia caused by the erythropoietic disorder. The severe effects of iron overload from continuous blood transfusion iron chelators side effects, and involvement of multiple organs in thalassemias such as heart failure, liver, and endocrine dysfunction can all affect kidney function. Although there has been much debate about changes in renal function in thalassemia for many years, the presence of hyperfiltration and ultimately, decreased renal function in almost all studies. It seems for the researchers to look beyond kidney function in a thalassemia perspective, because of secretory biomarkers of proximal tubular renal cells that are sensitive to pathologic agents, which may be a good indicator of the courses of treatment and prognosis of patients. Future studies will be sooner or later.
*Corresponding Author: Malihe Najafpour; Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Please cite this article as: Malaki M, Najafpour M, Talebi M, Azimi A. Change in Attitude in Renal Function in Major Beta Thalassemia. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2020;6:1-5 (e24). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v6.33057


[Objective]To evaluate the influencing factors on pulse pressure(PP)and pulse presure index(PPI)among middle-aged residents in Chengdu,and search the possible methods to relieve PP disorder.[Methods]We divided the 1061 middle-aged people who came from the survey for metabolic syndrome study into 2 groups according to PP(PP≤60mmHg and PP﹥60mmHg)and PPI(PPI(PPI≤0.450 and PPI﹥0.450)).They were normal PP/PPI group and augmented PP/PPI group.The normal PP group mean the PP of the people was less than or equal to 60 mmHg,and normal PPI group was PPI less or equal to 0.450.The augmented PP/PPI group was PP more than 60 mmHg and PPI more than 0.450.We analyzed the distribution of risk factors relate to PP/PPI.[Results]① The indices of age,the proportion of men,systolic blood pressure(SBP),the rate of positive history of hypertension,Body mass index(BMI),waist circumference(WC),hip circumference(HC),fasting blood glucose(FBG),creatinine(CA)and uric acid(UA)in augmented PP/PPI group were higher than normal group,and there was significant difference between the two groups.As to diastolic blood pressure(DBP),the normal PP/PPI group was statistically higher than the augmented PP/PPI group.② There was no statistically difference on total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoprotein(HDL)and low-density lipoprotein(LDL)between the PP groups,and no difference between PPI groups on TG and HDL.But the TC and LDL in augmented PPI group were statistically higher than that in normal PPI group.③ The prevalence of metabolic syndrome,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,obesity,abdominal obesity and Dyslipidemia in augmented PP/PPI groups were all statistically higher than the normal groups.④ PP and PPI were positively related to female,age,SBP,BMI,WC,HC,FBG,creatinine,uric acid,TC and LDL by using Logistic regression analysis,and they were negatively related to male and DBP.[Conclusion]The PP and PPI were closely related to the metabolic indices in Chengdu.It might be a feasible way to reduce the incidence and development of cardiovascular disease that decrease PP and PPI by controlling blood lipid,FBG,WC,BMI and renal function etc.


BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) have been described as the most disreputable and common causes of severe long term pain and physical disability that affect hundreds of millions of people across the world. From the literature review it is observed that MSD is very common among School teachers and they represent an occupational group among which there appears to be a high prevalence [7]. This study explored whether these disorders can be reduced by the provision of ergonomic intervention and exercises. It has been proposed as a conservative, noninvasive and cost effective intervention to treat MSDs as it functions to correct the cause of repetitive micro traumas. Lowering the physical exposure through ergonomic intervention is the traditional strategy to increase the work comfort in teachers. Hence, our goal is to present evidence-based intervention strategies for school teachers that will assist in ultimately reducing these potentially career-threatening injuries. OBJECTIVE: 1) To identify the work related musculoskeletal disorder in shoulder and neck among school teachers 2) To determine the effects of ergonomic intervention among school teachers. METHODOLOGY: 50 subjects with musculoskeletal disorder were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The subjects were divided into two groups (GROUP A –control group) and (GROUP B –intervention group) by consecutive odd or even method and detailed procedures are explained in patient's words and informed consent are obtained from all the participants. Subjects were assessed for presence of musculoskeletal disorders affecting neck and shoulder. The subjects are asked to fill the questionnaire form (SPADI and NDI) about musculoskeletal symptoms and intensity. For the two groups pre-test and post-test values will be noted and taken as outcome values. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi Experimental Study Design. OUTCOME MEASURE: 1. SHOULDER PAIN AND DISABILITY INDEX (SPADI) 2. NECK DISABILITY INDEX (NDI). RESULTS: Statistical Analysis was carried out for the collected data using descriptive and interferential statistics. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for sub-scales of SPADI and NDI Questionnaire in pre-test and post-test and the data were computerized and analyzed. The mean value and standard errors were calculated for different variables and the difference in mean value was tested for statistical significance using un paired t test. P value of <0.0001 was considered as statistically significant. CONCLUSION: It has been concluded that, Ergonomic advice, relaxation exercises with isometrics for neck and shoulder of group-B is more effective than conventional exercise of group-A, in reducing pain and disability in subjects with WSMDs in neck and shoulder.


Privatisation is the final, and perhaps structurally most demanding, leg of the shock therapy sequence introduced to Russia at the beginning of 1992. It has been pursued with dogged determination, although the general approach and specific procedures have changed considerably over time. This article surveys the relevant decrees and legislation and summarises the approach eventually adopted: a mixture of workforce ownership, citizens' 'vouchers' and 'sell to the highest bidder'. Taking workforce ownership and management control as currently the most common outcome of privatisation, the implications for Russian industrial performance are examined, using the Western corporate governance literature as a guide.


INVISIBLE PEOPLE Although she died almost a quarter of a century before Poe published "The Purloined Letter," Jane Austen knew all too well about the phenomenon of things being hidden in plain sight. Throughout her fiction, from the violent slapstick of the juvenilia to the scarcely less displaced and deranged world of the Sanditon fragment, one of the distinctive features of her narratives is their ability, in various ways, to make a virtue of indirectness and obliquity, to make the offstage, the unheard, the unseen--all the features that hover in that hinterland beyond the story in front of our eyes--register their presences in a reader's imagination. When Humberstall, in Rudyard Kipling's masterful short story "The Janeites," has trouble squaring his addiction to Austen's novels with the fact that "there was nothin' to 'em nor in 'em. Nothin' at all, believe me" (741), he is touching on a quality that Austen's readers--both her staunchest admirers (like Kipling's soldiers, finding a meeting place in "Jane" amid the casual slaughter of trench warfare) and her detractors--have frequently noted, and found puzzling. Why, one might ask, do these novels keep readers coming back to them? Why do so many readers, both specialist and non-specialist, experience the sensation of ideas and possibilities crowding around them every time they do reread, when, as Humberstall suggests, what is right in front of us is often so comparatively spare in its content or its rendition? Of course, there's no way I could provide one all-encompassing answer, one Key to All Austenian Mythologies, in the space available to me--even if I wanted to. What I would like to do here, though, is to suggest some possible answers to that question, as I explore the different ways in which "what's there" in the world of Emma, Austen's most stylistically imaginative and suggestive novel, also involves the ghostly presence of what lies beyond its immediate field of vision. Moreover, I'd like to suggest that the novel's particular invitation for readers to imagine its invisible worlds offers a model of how we might understand Austen's attitude to the very medium and form in which she works. To begin with, though, I would like to look at one of the most intriguing marginal presences in the novel, not least because it sheds a light on some of the long-running aesthetic and political arguments that have been made about the social "reach" of Austen's writing. My title comes from a famous passage in the 1714 version of Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock: the virtuoso set-piece at the end of canto 1, where Belinda's morning toilette is transfigured by Pope's mock-heroic style into the arming of a classical warrior: Now awful Beauty puts on all its Arms; The Fair each moment rises in her Charms, Repairs her Smiles, awakens every Grace, And calls forth all the Wonders of her Face; Sees by Degrees a purer Blush arise, And keener Lightnings quicken in her Eyes. The busy Sylphs surround their darling Care; These set the Head, and those divide the Hair, Some fold the Sleeve, whilst others plait the Gown; And Betty's praised for Labours not her own. (1:139-48) This passage, like the whole of The Rape of the Lock itself, is both beautifully absurd and deeply in tune with the subject that its style would seem to be exaggerating. After all, in a poem sending up an eighteenth-century "battle of the sexes" over the lost lock of Belinda's hair, the "arming" of the heroine with cosmetics might not be such a small matter (a famous British advertising campaign for "Boots 17" in the late 1990s ran with the tag-line, "It's not make-up--it's ammunition"). The comedy of manners staged within the lines of Pope's verse also creates its own suggestive collisions of the visible with the invisible. Since this is a burlesque version of a classical epic, there need to be some traces of divine intervention in the human actions: "The Machinery, Madam, is a Term invented by the Criticks, to signify that Part which the Deities, Angels, or Daemons, are made to act in a Poem" (217). …


Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) has gained more awareness and attention in clinical practice in the last decade. Prior studies revealed important insights into the patient characteristics and outcomes of TTS. 2 One of the most notable facts is that the prognosis of TTS is not as benign as initially expected and is comparable to acute coronary syndrome. 2 Therefore, it is no surprise that physicians and researchers investigate a potential treatment option to improve the prognosis of TTS. Although the pathophysiology of TTS remains to be fully elucidated, catecholamines appear to play a critical role, as evidenced by the fact that TTS is frequently triggered by acute emotional or physical stress along with excess plasma catecholamine levels. 3 As a result, β-blockers (BBs) have been empirically considered a reasonable therapy for TTS in the absence of randomised clinical trials. In the current issue of Heart, Silverio et al examined the association between BBs and longterm survival using 825 patients in the Takotsubo Italian Network registry. The authors demonstrated that BB prescription at discharge was significantly associated with lower allcause mortality after TTS (6.8% vs 13.6%; adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=0.563, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.356 to 0.889, p=0.014) during a median followup of 24 months, particularly with lower noncardiac mortality (4.9% vs 10.7%; aHR=0.525, 95% CI=0.309 to 0.893, p=0.018) rather than cardiac mortality (1.8% vs 3.0%; aHR=0.699, 95% CI=0.284 to 1.722, p=0.436). Also, the effect modification was observed in patients with hypertension and those who developed cardiogenic shock during the acute phase (p for interaction <0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant association between BB prescription and TTS recurrence. The authors are to be congratulated on their contribution to current literature on the topic. Nonetheless, several discussions need to be raised about the results and potential limitations of the study. One may expect that BBs theoretically have potential in reducing cardiac mortality after TTS (maybe through the facilitated recovery from cardiac dysfunction or the prevention of fatal ventricular arrhythmia or other cardiac events), but not noncardiac mortality. However, contrary to this expectation, Silverio et al demonstrated that BB prescription at discharge was significantly associated with lower noncardiac mortality, but not cardiac mortality. The statistically insignificant association between BB prescription and cardiac mortality may be at least partly due to the low cardiac mortality rate (2.3%), as Silverio et al discussed. Notably, however, their data revealed that the estimated risk reduction in allcause mortality by BB use was driven largely by the reduction in noncardiac mortality. How could BB use be strongly associated with lower (nearly half) noncardiac mortality after TTS? As Silverio et al speculated, there might be several possible mechanisms for it. Meanwhile, it might also be due to residual biases or/and confounders that could not be handled in the observational study. For example, among the elderly population with TTS, patients could be frail, and BBs might be less likely to be prescribed at discharge in more frail patients because of the uncertain benefit and the concern for adverse events related to BBs. This potentially could bias the results towards a better prognosis in BB users, although it is conjectural. Furthermore, in the study by Silverio et al, the only available data on BB use after TTS was whether BB was prescribed or not at hospital discharge, without any data on postdischarge continuation or discontinuation of BBs, which is a crucial limitation of this study. Therefore, we agree with Silverio et al that the present study should be considered hypothesisgenerating. At this point, BBs should not be prescribed for TTS solely based on the present results unless more data are available to support the findings of the present study. The study design and main results of eight original studies (sample size >200) regarding BB use for TTS 4 6–11 are summarised in table 1. All were nonrandomised studies. Among them, two studies focused on the inhospital outcomes, both demonstrating no significant association between BB use and better outcomes. 7 The remaining six studies examined the effectiveness of BB on longer followup outcomes, demonstrating inconsistent results. 4 8–11 In addition to the observational design, several limitations and considerations need to be acknowledged in these studies (table 2): (1) the effect of BBs for TTS might be different between preadmission users (ie, patients who already took BBs before admission with TTS) and new users (ie, patients who start to take BBs after admission with TTS); (2) the effect of BBs may not be the 'class effect' but rather different across BB subclasses; (3) medication continuation/discontinuation and adherence could modify the impact of BBs on prognosis; (4) given the high age of patients with TTS, the effectiveness of BBs needs to be weighed against their potential adverse effects (eg, bradycardia, hypotension, or thoserelated injuries or hospitalisations); (5) whether TTS is complicated by left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (prevalence 10%–25%) or not could be a key factor, especially in assessing acutephase outcomes because BBs appear effective in reducing the gradients in the outflow tract ; (6) last but not least, patients' general conditions (eg, frailty) could be confounders in outcome assessment in this elderly population and thus should be adjusted for a fair comparison between BB users and nonusers unless it is a randomised comparison. In these contexts, all eight studies in table 2 seem to lack some essential data that could act as effect modifiers or unmeasured confounders, suggesting that they should be considered hypothesisgenerating. As for outcomes, noncardiac deaths accounted for 76% (60/79) of all deaths during the followup in the study by Silverio et al, which is comparable to the RETAKO study (72%, 39/54). This finding suggests that the majority of deaths in patients experiencing TTS are noncardiac. In addition, TTS manifests a rapid recovery from cardiac dysfunction within days to weeks from the onset in most cases. Thus, although TTS is considered an acute heart failure syndrome mimicking acute coronary syndrome, it may be worth exploring a therapeutic strategy to reduce the noncardiac mortality among patients with TTS. If we investigate the effectiveness of cardiovascular drugs such as BBs, it may be reasonable to focus on patients Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan


AIMS
Human γ-glutamyltranspeptidase 1 (hGGT1) is a cell-surface enzyme that is a regulator of redox adaptation and drug resistance due to its glutathionase activity. The human GGT2 gene encodes a protein that is 94% identical to the amino-acid sequence of hGGT1. Transcriptional profiling analyses in a series of recent publications have implicated the hGGT2 enzyme as a modulator of disease processes. However, hGGT2 has never been shown to encode a protein with enzymatic activity. The aim of this study was to express the protein encoded by hGGT2 and each of its known variants and to assess their stability, cellular localization, and enzymatic activity.

RESULTS
We discovered that the proteins encoded by hGGT2 and its variants are inactive propeptides. We show that hGGT2 cDNAs are transcribed with a similar efficiency to hGGT1, and the expressed propeptides are N-glycosylated. However, they do not autocleave into heterodimers, fail to localize to the plasma membrane, and do not metabolize γ-glutamyl substrates. Substituting the coding sequence of hGGT1 to conform to alterations in a CX3C motif encoded by hGGT2 mRNAs disrupted autocleavage of the hGGT1 propeptide into a heterodimer, resulting in loss of plasma membrane localization and catalytic activity.

INNOVATION AND CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to evaluate hGGT2 protein. The data show that hGGT2 does not encode a functional enzyme. Microarray data which have reported induction of hGGT2 mRNA should not be interpreted as induction of a protein that has a role in the metabolism of extracellular glutathione and in maintaining the redox status of the cell.


Abstract In this paper, I consider the so-called Access Problem for Duncan Pritchard's Epistemological Disjunctivism (2012). After reconstructing Pritchard's own response to the Access Problem, I argue that in order to assess whether Pritchard's response is a satisfying one, we first need an account of the notion of 'Reflective Access' that underpins Pritchard's Epistemological Disjunctivism. I provide three interpretations of the notion of Reflective Access: a metaphysical interpretation, a folk interpretation, and an epistemic interpretation. I argue that none of these three interpretations comes without problems. I conclude that, until we have a clear and unproblematic account of Reflective Access, the Access Problem remains a challenge for Pritchard's Epistemological Disjunctivism.


The results of a pot experiment and seeding experimnt and soil analysis show that the bio-availabiliy of soil inorganic phosphorus fractions is obvious difference.The order of bio-availability is Ca 2-PAl-PFe-P、Ca 8-PO-P、Ca 1 0-P,but in different soils'conditions it has a little difference.


The genetic algorithm is used to synthesize the radiation pattern of the directional circular arc array to minimize the bit error rate (BER) performance in an indoor wireless communication system. By using the impulse response of the multipath channel, the performance of the synthesized antenna pattern on a BPSK (binary phase shift keying) system with phase and timing recovery circuits can be calculated. Based on the topography of the antenna and the BER formula, the synthesis problem can be reformulated into an optimization problem and solved by the genetic algorithm. Numerical results show that the synthesized antenna pattern is effective to combat the multipath fading and can increase the transmission rate of the indoor millimeter wave system.


Prolonged inundation of soybean plants leads to their death because of root hypoxia. Therefore, the search for markers of resistance to this factor will provide the opportunity to develop the varieties able to resist this stress. The research was aimed at the study of response of 3 varieties bred by Federal Research Center All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Soybean to prolonged flooding according to the indicator of chlorophyll a and b content in soybean leaves. The study was carried out in 2019-2021 in laboratory experiments when growing plants on hydroponic installations with 24-day soil flooding (control - soil with optimal moisture content). In soybean varieties Evgeniya and Kukhanna, registered as resistant to overwatering soil, the response by content of chlorophyll forms in leaves under 24-day flooding of the soil surface with 1-2 cm layer of water differed. It was found that increase of chlorophyll a in leaves of Evgeniya variety under flooding was connected with providing the ability of this variety plants to resist the stressful flooding factor. The presence of chlorophyll b in the leaves of this variety before the ripeness phase indicates that it can serve as an indicator of plant resistance to root hypoxia to a greater extent, since the plants continued to grow and develop. In the Kukhanna variety, the content of both forms of chlorophyll at optimum soil moisture of the control variety was higher or at the same level as in the variant with flooding, that cannot serve as the criterion of resistance of this variety to root hypoxia. In the Kitrossa variety, the resistance of which to overwatering has not been noted by the breeders yet there were revealed wavy fluctuations in chlorophyll a/b ratio during the first 10 days of flooding. The fluctuations were caused by changes in the content of chlorophyll b, the concentration of which increased first and then decreased. This fluctuation is most clearly seen in the graph of the change in the ratio between chlorophyll a and b, that may serve as a marker for determination of resistance of soybean varieties to prolonged soil flooding.