This paper presents a new algorithm for online, real-time calculation of the wheel angles and speeds of gantry tractor modules. In 'working' mode the modules are latched together to form a rigid truss, whereas in 'transport' mode, the modules are unlatched so that they are only connected at their hitch points allowing the module to maneuver along curved paths.


An apparatus to manage an account is provided. The account managing apparatus includes an account management unit which manages a user account of at least one user who uses an image forming apparatus, a storage unit which stores guest information related to the user account, a guest account generating unit which generates a guest account dependent on the user account based on stored guest information and the user account when a request to generate an account to use the image forming apparatus is received from a guest, and a control unit which controls the image forming apparatus according to a generated account policy.


Disclosed are a conference backup method, a management node and a conference system. The conference backup method comprises: a first management node sending first state information to a second conference service module after detecting that a first conference service module is in an abnormal state, wherein the first state information comprises a conference state and conference information which are recorded by the first conference service module, and the first conference service module is a conference service module for executing conference control and forwarding management functions of a conference media in a current remote conference; and the first management node migrating all the functions executed by the first conference service module to the second conference service module for execution. The solutions disclosed therein solve the problem of a conference interruption resulting from re-initiating a conference using a standby MCU under the condition that an active MCU has a fault in the process of conference backup switching in the prior art.


Public transportation in the U.S. often relies on multi-modal components that represent a system of systems as exemplified by transit rail. Currently, transit rail safety is measured for individual railroads as the number of events/fatalities/injuries by productivity level (typically, revenue miles). Barriers for measuring the safety of the transit transportation system of systems include the aggregation of transit properties for a passenger's trip and the varieties of safety management systems used by transit agencies.
An alternative perspective asks how safe passengers are, instead of how safe railroads are. It posits a fundamental shift to a human-centric perspective on transportation system safety which is the foundation for determining the level of transportation safety equity outcomes. The major barrier to ensuring safety equity outcomes is a lack of safety data for subgroups of the population, based on biodemographic, socioeconomic and disability data. These data are essential for determining if safety levels are equal across subgroups of the population, or if transportation safety inequities exist. If safety outcomes differ across subgroups of the popula-tion, then root causes for the disparity need to be determined and mitigated. The public service duty is to ensure that risk interventions and safety outcomes apply equitably to all.


12-15 ❖ 2009 Getting In Touch With Literacy Conference. Costa Mesa, CA. Contact: Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, conference cochair, Division of Special Education and Counseling, Charter College of Education, California State University–Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032; e-mail: cherylkamei@ hotmail.com ; or Nancy Niebrugge, conference cochair, Braille Institute, 741 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029 ; e -ma i l : NNNieb rugge@ brailleinstitute.org ; web site: www. gettingintouchwithliteracy.com .


Inflammation‐based prognostic scores are useful prognostic indicators for several types of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the scores predict survival impact in unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.


It discloses a method and apparatus for adjusting an electronic display such as a computer monitor or television display characteristics. Display color is corrected at the factory, for example, to measure the time when the display white point correction heating, gamma correction, and gradation and tracking gain correction. And, for each single display manufacturing, perform white point correction and gamma correction on a cell by cell basis. Correction parameter stored in the memory are obtained or firmware associated with the display. Accordingly, when the display is in use, when the display is heated, whenever it is powered on or when its thermal operating conditions are changed, it is for white spots, gradation and tracking gain correction to perform the compensation.


Starting and shifting states of clutch in automatic transmission are identified on the basis of the motion states of driven plates of the clutch.Unified dynamic model is set up for the starting control of clutches in both automatic mechanical transmission(AMT) and dual clutch transmission(DCT).The linear quadratic optimal control method is used to achieve the optimum starting control of the clutches,in which the jerk is converted to one of the restrain conditions,and the minimization of sliding friction work of the clutches is set as optimal target in control.Universal optimal starting control of AMT and DCT clutches is realized through selection of state variables,setting of parameters and modifying of restrain conditions in the unified model for clutch starting of AMT,single and dual clutch starting of DCT.Simulation is carried out and then verified by experiment.The research results lay the foundation for the construction of universal development platform of the AMT and DCT automatic transmissions.


A study was carried out on layers (n=216) to evaluate the utilization of palm kernel meal (PKM) in diets at 0, 3.5, 7.5, 11.25 and 15.0% to replace de-oiled rice bran (DORB) by 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%, either alone or in combination with enzymes in nine dietary treatments for 10 laying periods of 28 days each in cages. The performance of layers in terms of hen-day egg production and feed efficiency were influenced significantly (P<0.01) whereas feed intake, body weights and mortality were not affected by the inclusion of PKM in the diets upto 15% with or without enzymes supplementation. Furthermore, the egg weight, shell thickness, albumen index, yolk index, Haugh unit, total serum protein, serum alkaline phosphatase and antibody titres for Newcastle disease were not affected. The income over feed cost per dozen eggs was higher in layers fed ration containing PKM at 7.5% along with enzymes than all other treatments. Based on the overall performance of layers, the PKM can be used at 11.25% and 15% without and with enzymes respectively by replacing de-oiled rice bran in layer diets.


Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Radix Scutellariae on repeated nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression utilizing Fos-like immuno-histochemistry method in the nucleus accumbens, and the striatum, one of the major projection areas of the control DA system. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into untreated(normal), nicotine-treated (control), Radix Scutellariae-treated(sample) groups, RS group received Radix Scutellariae(100mg/kg, i.p.) 30minutes before injection of nicotine(0.4mg/kg, s.c.) for 7days. Rat were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1day. Results : Systemic challenge with nicotine produced a much larger locomotor activity and expression of c-Fos in the nucleus accumbens and the striatum. Pretreatment with Radix Scutellariae decreased in nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression in the core, shell, straitum area. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by Radix Scutellariae may be mediated by reduction of dopamine release and of postsynaptic neuronal activity in striatum, the nucleus accumbens. Out results show neurochemical evidence for the biological effects of Radix Scutellariae that ultimately may help us to understand how Radix Scutellariae can be used to treat nicotine addiction.


Assessment of possible changes in crops water stress due to climate alteration is essential for agricultural planning, particularly in arid regions where water supply is the major challenge for agricultural development. This study aims to project climatic water availability (CWA) and crop water demand (CWD) to outline the possible future agricultural water stress of Iraq for different radiative concentration pathways (RCPs). The ensemble means of downscaled precipitation and temperature projections of the selected global climate models (GCMs) were used in a simple water balance model for this purpose. The modified Mann–Kendall (mMK) trend test was employed to estimate the tendency in CWA and the Wilcoxon rank test to evaluate CWD alteration in three future time horizons compared to the base period (1971–2000). The results revealed a decrease in CWA at a rate of up to −34/year during 2010–2099 for RCP8.5. The largest declination would be in summer (−29/year) and an insignificant decrease in winter (−1.3/year). The study also showed an increase in CWD of all major crops for all scenarios. The highest increase in CWD would be for summer crops, approximately 320 mm, and the lowest for winter crops, nearly 32 mm for RCP8.5 in the far future (2070–2099). The decrease in CWA and increase in CWD would cause a sharp rise in crop water stress in Iraq. This study indicates that the increase in temperature is the main reason for a large increase in CWD and increased agricultural water stress in Iraq.


The original empirical conjecture of auricular acupuncture (AA) consists of a claim that the entire human body is represented in a certain way on the auricle (eg, in the form of an inverted fetus, see figure 1A), and that the pathology of human organs leads to specific changes at these respective areas on the auricle. It is claimed that these changes can be identified as the areas with skin discolourations, which are tender on palpation. Moreover, the stimulation of these auricular areas, which are supposed to somehow be connected to the organ with 'pathology', is believed to improve the functioning of the impaired organ or relieve the related pain.1 The representation of the human body on the auricle is often called 'somatotopic', analogous to motor and sensory somatotops of precentral and postcentral gyri of the cortex, as described by Penfield and Rasmussen on the basis of experimental research.2 Interestingly, randomised clinical trials on the efficacy of AA have demonstrated that stimulation of the areas of auricle according to the AA empirical conjecture was effective as complementary treatment for a variety of pain syndromes and preoperative anxiety.3,–,5 However, no neuroanatomical pathways are known to connect the 'diseased' organs with the external auricle so that the observed phenomena cannot be explained by the underlying anatomy.

Figure 1
(A) The empirical conjecture of auricular acupuncture claims that the entire human body is represented on the auricle in the form of an inverted fetus. (B) Innervation pattern of external auricle. Concha and triangular fossa of the pinna are innervated by the branches of trigeminal and vagal nerves, whereas the peripheral regions of the auricle—helix and scapha—receive their nerve supply …


We have fabricated perovskite superlattices consisting of two ferromagnetic metallic oxides: La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 ~LCMO! and SrRuO3 ~SRO!. We have investigated the magnetotransport and magnetic properties of a series of samples, in which the layer thickness of LCMO is fixed and that of SRO varied from 0 to 20 unit cells. The magnetoresistance ratio in a superlattice can be increased by a factor of 3 at low temperatures over the MR ratio in pure LCMO film. This substantial enhancement is most likely caused by the interface spin-dependent scattering. The superlattice structure also increases Tc of LCMO by introducing a biaxial tension, and induces two consecutive switchings of magnetic easy axis direction with increasing SRO thickness. @S0163-1829~96!50430-3# Doped perovskite La12xAxMnO3 ~A5Ca, Ba, and Sr! systems exhibit extremely large magnetoresistance ~MR! and


The grating is divided to a cascade of unit cells. For each of the unit cells a transmission matrix is derived. For analyzing the step junctions in a unit cell physical optics approximation is used. Transmission matrix of the entire grating is generated by multiplying the transmission matrix for each unit cell.


The invention discloses a novel method of resistance spot welding of aluminum base composite material. A stainless steel sheet is added between an electrode and aluminum base composite material when resistance spot welding connection is carried out on the aluminum base composite material. When the resistance spot welding connection is performed by adding the stainless steel sheet between the electrode and the aluminum base composite material, the squeeze time is 0.4 to 1 S, the hold time is 0.4 to 1.2 S, the electrode force is 2000 to 3500 N, the welding time is 0.1 to 0.3 S, and the welding current is 1.2 to 1.8 kA. The method has the advantages that when resistance spot welding connection is carried out on the aluminum base composite material, a stainless steel sheet with certain thickness is added between the electrode and the aluminum base composite material, the welding process is simple, reinforced phase particles or crystal whiskers in a joint region are evenly distributed, the tension and shearing force of a resistance spot welding connector is obviously improved, the applicable scope of the welding machine is expanded, and the damage to the resistance spot welding machine equipment is reduced, therefore, the invention is an effective novel technology for resistance spot welding of aluminum base composite material, which has important application value.


In order to overcome the difficulty brought by the circling charged tracks with transverse momentum less than 120 MeV in the BESⅢ Main Drift Chamber (MDC), a specialized method called TCurlFinder was developed. This tracking method focuses on the charged track reconstruction under 120 MeV and posses...


The invention provides a makeup handling method and device. The method comprises the steps of reading page information of a page resource file to subjected to makeup; acquiring page property parameters according to the page information; generating a makeup die plate adapted to the page according to the makeup rule and the page property parameters, wherein the makeup rule is the makeup handling manner for the page resource file to be subjected to makeup; performing makeup handling for the page resource file according to the makeup die plate to obtain the handled makeup. With the adoption of the method, the problem of the makeup handling manner in the prior art that the die plate is needed to be manufactured again during performing the same makeup scheme for publication with different page size can be solved, and thus the flexibility and printing efficiency of the makeup handling can be increased.


BACKGROUND
Pressure ulcers are a common complication among elderly patients confined to bed for long periods. The Braden scale is a commonly used risk assessment tool.

AIM
To evaluate the use of Braden scale.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Seventy women aged 61 to 96 years, admitted to the Internal Medicine Service of Barros Luco-Trudeau Hospital, were studied. Their risk was evaluated using the Braden scale. The presence of pressure ulcer was diagnosed according to the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel on admission, two weeks later and at discharge.

RESULTS
On admission, mean Braden scale score was 16.6+/-2.8 and 34 women had a score of 16 or less, that is considered of risk. Twenty five women (20 with a score of 16 or less) developed pressure ulcers, mostly superficial. The odds ratio of a score of 16 or less for the development of ulcers was 4.2 (95% CI 1.8-11.7, p <0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of such score were 80 and 69% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
The Braden scale predicts the risk of developing pressure ulcers with a good sensitivity and specificity in female elderly patients.


The trust is a unique institution of the Anglo-American legal system. Its adaptable character facilitates its popularity in the European juridical arena. It is generally believed that the trust arose from legal institution use, which was created in the British law of the 13–14th centuries as a mode of transferring assets. However, the issue of the origin of the use/trust is still very debatable. The article deals with the question of the Roman origin of the use. The research is oriented to the juridical and linguistic peculiarities.


A simplified CFD wake model based on the actuator-disk concept is used to simulate the wind turbine, represented by an actuator disk upon which a distribution of forces, defined as axial momentum sources, are applied on the incoming flow. The rotor is supposed to be uniformly loaded, with the exerted forces as a function of the incident
wind speed, the thrust coefficient and the rotor diameter. The model is validated through experimental measurements downwind of a wind turbine in terms of wind speed deficit. Validation on turbulence intensity will also be made in the near future.


Regularization is often needed in breast ultrasound waveform tomography to improve tomographic reconstructions. A global regularization parameter may lead to either over-regularization or under-regularization in different regions in the imaging domain. We develop a new ultrasound waveform tomography method with spatially-variant regularization. Our new method employs different regularization parameters in different regions of the breast so that each regularization parameter is optimal for the local region. Our numerical examples demonstrate the improvement of ultrasound waveform tomography using the spatially-variant modified total-variation regularization for sound-speed reconstructions of large and small breast tumors, particularly when their sizes are significantly different from one another.


A class of (N,N′-diaryl-α-diimine)Pd complexes bearing amide substituents on the N-aryl rings is described. Hydrogen bonding interactions involving the amide groups influence the structures, isomer distributions, and ligand coordination behavior of these compounds. The amide-functionalized α-diimine ligands (2,6-iPr2-Ph)N═CMeCMe═N(2-C(═O)NMe2-6-iPr-Ph) (4a), (2,6-iPr2-Ph)N═CMeCMe═N(2,6-(C(═O)NMe2)2-Ph) (4b), and (2-C(═O)NMe2-6-iPr-Ph)N═CMeCMe═N(2-C(═O)NMe2-6-iPr-Ph) (4c) were prepared by condensation reactions of 2,3-butanedione and the appropriate anilines. The attempted preparation of (2,6-iPr2-Ph)N═CMeCMe═N(2-C(═O)NHMe-6-iPr-Ph) (4d) yielded the corresponding 1,2-dihydroquinazolinone derivative 4d′ formed by nucleophilic attack of the amide nitrogen at the proximal imine carbon. 4a and 4b react with (cod)PdMeCl to yield square planar (α-diimine)PdMeCl complexes 5a,a′ and 5b,b′, respectively, which exist as two isomers that differ in the orientation (trans/cis) of the Pd–Me ligand and the amide-substitu...


Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging (SWEI) is commonly used to characterize tissue elasticity, but conventional, multiple-track-location SWEI (MTL-SWEI) techniques are resolution-limited by speckle. MTL-SWEI techniques use plane wave ultrasound to monitor an induced shear wave as it propagates across a set of tracking beams within a region of interest. The scattering process creates a random, yet stationary, spatial sensitivity pattern for each beamformed location, called speckle bias, which causes errors in MTL-SWEI shear wave speed estimates that cannot be improved through averaging. Single Track Location SWEI (STL-SWEI) overcomes speckle bias by using a single track beam, subsequently exciting and tracking different push locations, and comparing the timing of the recorded shear wave signals from different push locations to estimate shear wave speed. Two and three-dimensional STL-SWEI imaging techniques are presented and compared to MTL-SWEI and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging in phantoms and in vivo experiments. Tradeoffs and techniques for sequencing, beamforming, shear wave speed estimation, and image formation are discussed. For applications where tissue heating and motion are not limiting factors, STL-SWEI provides superior imaging in terms of lateral resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio compared to MTL-SWEI and ARFI. [This work was supported by NIHR37HL096023 and NIHR01EB01248.]Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging (SWEI) is commonly used to characterize tissue elasticity, but conventional, multiple-track-location SWEI (MTL-SWEI) techniques are resolution-limited by speckle. MTL-SWEI techniques use plane wave ultrasound to monitor an induced shear wave as it propagates across a set of tracking beams within a region of interest. The scattering process creates a random, yet stationary, spatial sensitivity pattern for each beamformed location, called speckle bias, which causes errors in MTL-SWEI shear wave speed estimates that cannot be improved through averaging. Single Track Location SWEI (STL-SWEI) overcomes speckle bias by using a single track beam, subsequently exciting and tracking different push locations, and comparing the timing of the recorded shear wave signals from different push locations to estimate shear wave speed. Two and three-dimensional STL-SWEI imaging techniques are presented and compared to MTL-SWEI and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging in phantoms and ...


Lighting based on sources of light composed of colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offers versatile control of color and a possibility of trade-off between efficiency and color rendering. However, psychophysical issues related to such polychromatic solid-state sources have to be addressed. In this work, studies of the perception of standard colors under illumination with a quadrichromatic red-amber-green-blue (RAGB) solid-state source were carried out. An RAGB lamp containing primary LEDs with the emission peaks at 638 nm, 594 nm, 523 nm, and 441 nm and optimized for the highest value of the general color rendering index (86 points) was investigated and compared to a tungsten lamp. 40 standard Munsell samples of value 6, chroma /6, and hue incremented by 2.5 were used in the investigation. Changes in the saturation and hue of the Munsell samples illuminated by the RAGB lamp versus tungsten lamp (both with the correlated temperature of 2600 K) were obtained by colorimetric calculation comparisons and by psychophysical experiments on subjective matching of the samples. Subjective differences in hue and subjective color discrimination differences under the tungsten and RAGB lamps were found in the wavelength range of 440-500 nm and 560-580 nm. We attribute these differences to non-optimal peak wavelengths of the primary LEDs and to the narrow-band components of the RAGB spectrum.


The Sim[PLY] framing system leverages CNC prefabrication and unique connection design in service of rapid and safe on-site assembly without power tools or heavy equipment. Sim[PLY] components are cut from standard sheets of structural plywood and interlock using tab and slot connections in lieu of nails. Steel cable ties are used to secure the connections. In addition to fast and accurate assembly, CNC processing also allows for various forms of intelligent customization, including mechanical and electrical systems integration, component labeling, and diminished thermal bridging. Preliminary structural testing examined the performance of individual connections as well as the performance of full-scale assemblies, including rafters and shear walls. Test results confirmed the adequacy of the Sim[PLY] system for natural hazard loading scenarios, including seismic and hurricane events. This paper describes the development and details of the Sim[PLY] system as well as preliminary testing and case studies from various applications. The reader will, in turn, recognize an accessible and economical framing system that simultaneously offers high quality control, minimal waste, structural resiliency, and rapid and intuitive assembly and disassembly.


Discordance with respect to the Coldenhar syndrome is reported in twin sisters presumed to be monozygotic on the basis of placentation and blood group studies.


Numerical calculation of infrasound propagation paths is necessary to support accurate infrasound source location and phase identification. Predicting the details of infrasound propagation relies both on propagation models that capture the fundamental physical processes and on characterization of the propagation medium, namely the global atmosphere from the ground to altitudes above 100 km. The accuracy of propagation modeling depends in part on the fidelity of the atmospheric characterization. The analysis tool kit InfraMAP (Infrasound Modeling of Atmospheric Propagation) integrates infrasound propagation models and environmental representations, including synoptic updates of the atmospheric specification, such as the output from numerical weather prediction models that supplement the baseline climatological characterization of temperature, wind and air composition. These capabilities allow infrasound researchers to investigate critical propagation phenomena, conduct sensitivity studies, and compare results of numerical modeling with observed signals. Recent efforts investigate combining accurate, high-resolution regional atmospheric specifications with infrasound propagation modeling codes. Mesoscale models, which focus on the meteorology of a specific region, can account for and resolve important meteorological phenomena relevant to regional and local infrasound propagation. By investigating realistic spatial and temporal atmospheric models at a range of resolutions, we seek insight into the appropriate spatial and temporal scales that are necessary for achieving improved infrasound predictions at the relevant frequencies. Approaches are being developed to assess performance of candidate techniques for incorporating mesoscale atmospheric models and terrain specifications with propagation models and to evaluate the benefits for infrasound monitoring. 28th Seismic Research Review: Ground-Based Nuclear Explosion Monitoring Technologies


g answered without higher-order thinking. This perennial problem in derive Indeed many students are now not choosing to undertake mathematics courses 'in which higher-level mathematics skills are taught' (Barrington 2006 p.iv). They give the impression of becoming more and more dis This paper considers three constructs that address different, yet complementary perspectives on student mathematical performance. The three constructs are the relationship between procedural and conceptual forms of knowledge by Hiebert and Lefevre (1986), the psychology of mathematical abilities in schoolchildren as researched by Krutetskii (1976), and the developmental construct of the SOLO model as devised by Biggs and Collis (1982, 1991). It will be appreciated how these constructs derive three different viewpoints of 'structures of knowing' in mathematics resulting in the possibility of transitional pathways to higher-order thinking. In simplest terms, higher-order thinking measures intellectual that


Time-frequency representation (TFR) and complexity measures based on the correlation dimension are applied to the characterization of the Heart Rate Variability, (HRV). For this study 117 subjects are analyzed from the IDEAL database, 53 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC); 64 normal subjects (NRM). IDC patients are classified by means of their ejection fraction. The RR series are analyzed during the night period. The Choi-Williams distribution is used for the TFR analysis and three spectral bands are selected: low frequency band (0-0.07 Hz) mid frequency band (0.07-0.15), and high frequency band (0.15-0.45 Hz). The Correlation Dimension CD index is calculated determining its optimal parameters, time delay and embedding dimension. A new Dck index is introduced. A statistical analysis of the results using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is applied.


The Clinic UMM Medical Center is one of part of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang which operates in the public health service affairs consisting in two parts, namely general poly and Dental Poly. This research was aimed to increase the quality of service to the patient and help the performance of the clinic staff to be more optimal. The system built consists of three parts, namely application of administration, application of general poly and application of dental poly. The application built was using a web programming language with a codeigniter framework and LAN ( Local Area Network) which can be accessed at the Clinic UMM Medical Center. Testing of this system was done by using the blackbox testing method and the UAT (User Acceptance Test) method which refers to the scenario of usecase that had been built before. The result of this testing had been done by a system which can function properly.


Abstract. Flying male woodworm, Anobium punctatum, are able to locate a source of female pheromone offered as a point source but land more quickly if the same odour source is presented on a model 'tree' (cylinder). We tested the response to a two‐dimensional black 'tree' marked as a silhouette on the upwind screen of the wind tunnel, with or without a hidden upwind barrier to the wind. The beetles responded equally to pheromone presented on a visual silhouette with wind barrier and to the hidden upwind wind‐barrier alone, suggesting that the wind‐barrier itself has a significant effect on insect orientation and landing: visual stimuli do not add to the landing response if the barrier is present. However, without the barrier upwind, landing was faster when the visual stimulus was present than without. This is the third forest‐living species to be shown to respond in this way, which suggests this phenomenon may be more widespread. The possibility that this phenomenon is present in other, non‐forest, phytophagous insects, their predators and parasitoids is discussed.


Isocyanate-functionalized polystyrene (P(St-co-TMI)) was successfully synthesized by solution free radical polymerization, which was then used to react with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) to prepare a precursor of polystyrene/inorganic composites (PS/SiO2). To obtain PS/SiO2 composites with chemical bond, the precursor was mixed with triethoxysilane (TEOS) under the sol–gel reaction condition. The chemical bond between the PS and SiO2 particles made the crosslink network more stable and avoided aggregation compared with the physical connection and barely mechanical mixing. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results indicate that the isocyanate group (NCO) was completely reacted with APTES. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy results show that the morphology of composites and the distribution of the particles, which exhibit good compatibility between organic and inorganic phases, and the inorganic particles show good spatial uniformity. The differential scanning calorimetry shows that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the PS/SiO2 composites was shifted to high temperature when the amount of APTES increased. The thermal degradation temperature of the PS/SiO2 composites increases with the increasing of APTES content. Master curves at 200°C are constructed for the storage and loss modulus as well as complex viscosity. POLYM. COMPOS. 36:482–488, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers


One characteristic of service is in its lower barrier to entry. Fierce competition is almost a norm among many service businesses. The key to successful customer relationship management embeds in the ability to acquire the customer, to retain the customer and make frequent customers. This research suggests a probabilistic analytic framework to firstly create the transition matrices for acquiring customer, for retaining customer, and for migrating customer; it is ensued by incorporating Markov decision process to find a set of policies that can optimize the revenues and/or profits and assist in better decision-making. A case study of a drug store chain which is currently trying to start and retain the relationship with the patients who have chronic disease prescriptions is carried out; Empirical results and analysis based on the framework will be used to test the effectiveness of the proposed framework.


This paper investigates empty categories in Japanese that show behavior that is apparently similar to parasitic gaps in that they allow bound readings only with movement of the wh-phrase. This obligatory movement, however, is mysterious considering the island-insensitivity of Japanese. The primary aim of this paper is to get a better understanding of the nature of this empty category in Japanese by referring to more general discussions on parasitic gaps in other languages and also exploiting the experimental data. Given the contrasting behavior of parasitic gaps in Japanese and the results of two experiments, I propose that parasitic gaps in Japanese be analyzed as pro. On top of that, I will derive obligatory movement from the semantics of questions which allows us to interpret wh-phrases in situ and also show how differences between English and Japanese emerge from different nature of parasitic gaps in each language.


Many school districts are developing career ladders to train their own paraeducators as future teachers. Paraeducators are considered excellent candidates for this role. This article describes the inception and development of one of the largest career ladders in the nation, the Los Angeles Unified School District Paraeducator Career Ladder. This program is unique for its comprehensive approach to training paraeducators and for the collaboration of the district, union, and institutions of higher learning. Elements of the ladder are described along with outcomes for the first three years of operation. Paraeducators as Future Teachers: A Career Ladder There are currently about 500,000 paraeducators in the nation's schools (Haselkorn & Fideler, 1996). Increasingly, they are seen as a viable source of future teachers. Reasons for this include their extensive classroom experience, cultural and linguistic identification with the students they assist, a commitment to working with children, and strong aspirations to become teachers (Genzuk, Lavadenz & Krashen, 1994). As a result, many school districts are creating paraeducator career ladder programs as a way to bring these talented and motivated individuals into their classrooms. Over 30 states now report such programs (Haselkorn & Fideler, 1996). The purpose of this article is to describe the development and implementation of one of the newest and largest paraeducator career ladder programs in the nation, the Los Angeles Unified School District Paraeducator Career Ladder. This program is unique for its comprehensive approach to training paraeducators and for the collaborative efforts of the district, labor unions, and institutions of higher learning in its inception and administration. Currently, there are over 4,000 participants in the program. The Career Ladder provides financial, academic, and social support for paraeducators pursuing careers as teachers. The Ladder has quickly become a significant source of new teachers in Los Angeles, and serves as a model for the recruitment and training of paraeducators as future teachers. The Los Angeles Unified-Local 99 Paraeducator Career Ladder Inception and Funding The Career Ladder was established in September of 1994 as a joint project of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO (Local 99), to provide support to district paraeducators pursuing teaching careers and to guide them towards shortage fields in elementary special and bilingual education and secondary math and science. Plans for the Career Ladder began in the summer of 1993, when Local 99 expressed interest in developing a career ladder for all paraeducators. A career ladder for bilingual paraeducators had already been implemented in the District, but the Local 99 was interested in developing a larger, more comprehensive one in which all of the District's paraeducators could participate. Informal discussions with paraeducators revealed that many of them were interested in becoming teachers and were attending college. It was quickly recognized that paraeducators were a rich source of future teachers for the district and that they should be given the support. In fall, a working group was formed with representation of the union and of various branches and units of the district. As a first step, an extensive survey of the district's 15,000 paraeducators was conducted by mail to access their interests and needs. About 20% of the paraeducators responded. A majority of them (70%) indicated they would like to become teachers, but face the obstacles of time, money, family responsibilities, and passing teacher certification tests. Over the next few months, the working group developed a draft of the program which was then presented to a series of focus groups composed of teachers, administrators, paraeducators, parents, and community members. Input from those meetings was incorporated into the program design. …


The nonlocality property of the elastic channel optical potential is studied using a schematic coupled-channel system. It is explicitly shown that, consistent with the usual adiabatic approximation, the nonlocality is reduced as the scattering energy approaches the elastic threshold. The residual nonlocality found in the data may be partly due to the artificial truncation of the channels, and strong indications are found that a more complete treatment which includes a large number of channels would lead to better locality of the optical potential at low energy. For optical potentials corresponding to the inelastic channels, we find that the adiabaticity and the consequent locality is not well satisfied.


.................................................................................................................. iv Chapter 1 ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem ....................................................................................... 4 1.2 Purpose of the study............................................................................................... 4 1.4 Research Question Overview ................................................................................. 6 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS .................................................................................... 7 1.6 HYPOTHESIS....................................................................................................... 8 1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS ................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2 ....................................................................................................................... 11 2.1 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................... 13 2.2 Review of Relevant Studies ................................................................................. 14 2.2.1 Increased use of Adjunct/Part/time faculty .................................................... 14 2.2.2 Benefits of adjunct faculty ............................................................................ 15 2.2.3 Advantage of Less Cost................................................................................. 15 2.2.4 Advantage of Flexibility................................................................................ 16 2.2.5 Specialized Course Advantage ...................................................................... 17 2.2.6 Real World Experience ................................................................................. 17 2.2.7 Ability to Adjust Faculty Numbers to Enrollment.......................................... 17 2.2.8 Disadvantages to employing adjunct/part-time faculty................................... 18 2.2.9 Morale Disadvantage .................................................................................... 18 2.2.10 Teaching Pedagogy Disadvantage ............................................................... 19 2.2.11 Omission/Overlapping of Curriculum Objectives Disadvantage .................. 19 2.2.12 Less Time for Students Disadvantage .......................................................... 19 2.2.13 Disadvantage of little knowledge of student"s abilities ................................ 20 2.2.14 Accrediting Commissions Negative View of Adjunct/Part-time Faculty Disadvantage ......................................................................................................... 20 2.2.15 Fewer Full Time Faculty Members for Departmental, University, Curriculum, Governance, and Student Development Disadvantage ............................................ 21 2.2.16 Less Shared Vision of the Department"s Academic Mission Disadvantage .. 21 2.2.17 Grade inflation Disadvantage ...................................................................... 22 2.2.18 Reduced Student Learning Outcomes Disadvantage .................................... 22 2.2.19 Lower Graduation Rates Disadvantage ........................................................ 23


The nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Heilongjiang province was analyzed and the subtype of ESBLs was identified. Double disc test was used to screen the strains of K.pneumoniae producting ESBLs. The genes encoding ESBLs were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The target amplification fragment was digested with two restriction endonucleases and then cloned into pUC19 vector. The recombinant vector was sequenced by Sanger's dideoxy chain termination composition method. The sequencing result indicated that the obtained ESBLs gene fragment has 1 047 bp belonging to subtype SHV, which is the same as subtype SHV-12 ESBLs encoding gene. The results of this study revealed the existence of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains containing SHV-12 ESBLs encoding gene.;


Concept of ethical climate is highly effective in an organizational sense. A questionnaire to measure ethical climate based on survey is very much need of the hour. In this regard, surveys were conducted with the developed questionnaire of 49 items and 12 dimensions. This was further refined in the final study to 36 items and 9 dimensions based on the 236 survey samples. Reliability of questionnaire has been established by computing Cronbach's alpha at higher educational institutions. A comprehensive questionnaire has been developed for the ethical climate in higher educational institutes in south western parts of India taking in to account the responses from latest survey.


Staphylococcus aureus SufT is composed solely of the domain of unknown function 59 (DUF59) and has a role in the maturation of iron‐sulphur (Fe‐S) proteins. We report that SufT is essential for S. aureus when growth is heavily reliant upon lipoamide‐utilizing enzymes, but dispensable when this reliance is decreased. LipA requires Fe‐S clusters for lipoic acid (LA) synthesis and a ΔsufT strain had phenotypes suggestive of decreased LA production and decreased activities of lipoamide‐requiring enzymes. Fermentative growth, a null clpC allele, or decreased flux through the TCA cycle diminished the demand for LA and rendered SufT non‐essential. Abundance of the Fe‐S cluster carrier Nfu was increased in a ΔclpC strain and a null clpC allele was unable to suppress the LA requirement of a ΔsufT Δnfu strain. Over‐expression of nfu suppressed the LA requirement of the ΔsufT strain. We propose a model wherein SufT, and by extension the DUF59, is essential for the maturation of holo‐LipA in S. aureus cells experiencing a high demand for lipoamide‐dependent enzymes. The findings presented suggest that the demand for products of Fe‐S enzymes is a factor governing the usage of one Fe‐S cluster assembly factor over another in the maturation of apo‐proteins.


We study node representation learning on heterogeneous text-rich networks, where nodes and edges are multi-typed and some types of nodes are associated with text information. Although recent studies on graph neural networks (GNNs) and pretrained language models (PLMs) have demonstrated their power in encoding network and text signals, respectively, less focus has been given to delicately coupling these two types of models on heterogeneous text-rich networks. Specifically, existing GNNs rarely model text in each node in a contextualized way; existing PLMs can hardly be applied to characterize graph structures due to their sequence architecture. In this paper, we propose Heterformer, a Heter ogeneous GNN-nested trans former that blends GNNs and PLMs into a unified model. Different from previous "cascaded architectures" that directly add GNN layers upon a PLM, our Heterformer alternately stacks two modules – a graph-attention-based neighbor aggregation module and a transformer-based text and neighbor joint encoding module – to facilitate thorough mutual enhancement between network and text signals. Meanwhile, Heterformer is capable of characterizing network heterogeneity and nodes without text information. Comprehensive experiments on three large-scale datasets from different domains demonstrate the superiority of Heterformer over state-of-the-art baselines in link prediction, transductive/inductive node classification, node clustering, and semantics-based retrieval.


Preface to the English Edition. Preface to the French Edition. Introduction. I. Energy, Processes, Environment. II. Fuels, Engines, Burners, Industrial Reactors. III. Macroscopic Description of a Reacting Gas Mixture. IV> Thermodynamic Laws. V. Estimation of Thermodynamic Data. VI. Elementary Reactions. VII. Estimation of Kinetic Parameters. VIII. Kinetic Morphology. IX. Generation of Reaction Mechanisms. X. Molecular Transport Laws. XI. Estimation of Molecular Transport Data. XII. Laboratory Reactors. XIII. Analysis and Reduction of Reaction Mechanisms. XIV. Tables of Thermodynamic and Kinetic Data and of Molecular Parameters. Computer Programs and Databases. URLs. Notations. Index.


The present invention discloses a method for preparing a pickled seal bream, prepared from the following raw materials by weight: bream 740-760, 240-260 lean pork, pepper 4-5, 5-6 white sesame seeds, salt 25-30 , sorghum 25-30, 5-6 bay leaves, mint leaves 7-8, 30-35 wheat germ flour, chestnut flour 10-13, 1-2 leaf mountain black beads, March 1-2, woody 3- 4, 7-9 cream, porcine bone marrow 12-15, 18-20 candied apple, adjuvants 4-5, the amount of water; salted bream seal of the present invention, a unique process used to make salted bream long bream to maintain its nutritional value and unique mellow, it has a unique flavor, succulent taste and good health and safety. Add the mint leaves with a wind-dispersing heat, clear head, throat, rash, Jieyu effect. It has the effect of woody qi, pain, spleen, digestion.


Effective operation of pasteurization process involves optimum control of pasteurized product temperature. However, the presence of disturbance directly change the pasteurized product temperature and consequently, the product may not be pasteurized properly and contains unwanted microorganisms. In this study, several proportional-integral-derivative (PID) tuned by different tuning methods were applied on the obtained disturbance model (inlet product temperature) and simulated using SIMULINK in order to determine the best control system. The empirical model of process used in simulation work was also developed. The model obtained can be represented by the first-order plus time delay (FOPTD) form with R 2 more than 0.918. Simulation results revealed that the minimization of integral absolute error (IAE) tuning method is satisfactorily adaptable for disturbance rejection with faster settling time and good robustness, whereas, ideal PID outperforms the other PID structures with lower settling time (less than 2 min). Thus, this controller tuned by minimization of IAE tuning method was good control scheme in controlling pasteurization process. In conclusion, the results obtained are recommended as a suitable control strategy for the pasteurization process of pink guava puree in the industry.


Historically Japan's fiscal investment has experienced two rounds of transformation, with their cause, content and effect differing from each other. Japan's experience of its early success of fiscal investment and the lesson of its later failure may offer useful enlightenment to China concerning how to improve the efficiency of China's fiscal investment, guard against the risk of fiscal investment and seek the way to transformation of financial policies which are based on fiscal investment.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the optimal dentoalveolar measure to assess unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patient plaster models.

DESIGN
The models of 34 patients with UCLP taken at 5, 10, and 15-20 years of age were scored by two examiners on two separate occasions using five indices: the 5 Year Olds' (5YO), GOSLON, Modified Huddart/Bodenham (MHB), EUROCRAN, and Overjet. Reliability, validity, and ease of use were recorded for each index/examiner.

SETTING
All models were scored in either Bristol Dental Hospital or Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, United Kingdom by senior orthodontic clinicians.

RESULTS
Highest overall reliability was seen with MHB (Kappa = 0.56-0.97). Predictive validity was similar for MHB, GOSLON, and 5YO with a 50-65 per cent prediction of final outcome from 5 and 10 years. EUROCRAN palatal index showed no clear predictive validity (Spearman's correlation = 0.20-0.21). Agreement to the gold standard 5YO score at the 5-year age group was high for MHB (Kappa = 0.83) and moderate for GOSLON (Kappa = 0.59). Agreement to the gold standard GOSLON score at 10 years was highest for 5YO (Kappa = 0.69), followed by Overjet (Kappa = 0.59) and MHB (Kappa = 0.46). Time to score 34 models per index (minutes): GOSLON (13.4) < Overjet (13.6) < 5YO (19.4) < EUROCRAN (24.8) < MHB (27.4).

CONCLUSION
As an outcome measure of UCLP models, only MHB and 5YO indices can be recommended for use at 5 years of age and GOSLON at 10 years of age.


The authors report the observation of an enhanced optical diffraction in cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) due to the presence of silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of one of the indium tin oxide electrodes of the CLC cell. With the application of a proper voltage, the liquid crystals assume its cholesteric phase with the helical axis perpendicular to the applied electric field. The CLC grating was probed by a beam of polarized light in the spectral range from 450to750nm. The direction of propagation of the beam is perpendicular to the helical axis of the liquid crystals. The authors report a significant enhancement in the first-order diffraction efficiency at around 543nm. The results of the experimental observation are presented and discussed.


Supervising Section Editor: Sean O. Henderson, MD Submission history: Submitted June 7, 2012; Revision received: July 5, 2012; Accepted August 3, 2012 Full text available through open access at http://escholarship.org/uc/uciem_westjem DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2012.8.12919 [West J Emerg Med 2013;14(2):152.] University of Calfornia San Francisco, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Critical Care, San Francisco, California University of California San Francisco, Department of Internal Medicine, San Francisco, California University of California San Francisco, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco California University of California Los Angeles, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Service Research, Los Angeles, California


This thesis consists of a study of several qualification techniques for SI LEC GaAs and the application of these techniques to various ingots. For use on the starting material before any doping procedures, the technique of studying the semi-insulating properties by monitoring the activation energy of dark resistivity with temperature was investigated. Experiments were performed on both ring dot as well as cloverleaf samples. Different activation energies for the dark resistivity were observed for temperatures above and below 290 K. Also, ingots with different background impurity concentrations were tested. Another technique applicable to the undoped starting material is Optical Transient Current Spectroscopy (OTCS). The occurrence of 'negative' peaks was simulated using a depletion layer model. The results showed that under certain conditions a recombination centre can produce a positive peak, a negative peak, or both a positive and a negative peak. Further analysis of the negative peaks led to the formulation of a field enhanced injection model to explain their occurrence. More than one negative peak was observed experimentally. In addition, the effect of different electrode structures on OTCS experiments was investigated. The effect of polarity on negative peaks was studied using ring dot structures and was found to agree with the proposed model. Some peculiar anomalies which were observed in investigating OTCS led to the discovery of a photocurrent memory effect with decay time constants of the order of minutes at a temperature of 266 K. This memory effect was found to be associated with surface modifications. The effects of surface passivation with Na2S were investigated. The method of normalizing the OTCS peak height with photocurrent was investigated.


In these lectures we present our minimality theorem by which in cohomology of a topological space appear multioperations which turn it ot Stasheff $A(\infty)$ algebra. This rich structure carries more information than just the structure of cohomology algebra, particularly it allows to define cohomologies of the loop space. We present also the notion of $C(\infty)$ algebra and the commutatitive version of the minimality theorem by which in rational cohomology algebra appear multioperations which form a $C(\infty)$ algebra structure which completely determines the rational homotopy type.


ABSTRACT The objectives of this research was to study the effect of particle size, shape and concentration of PCC on mechanical properties of natural rubber composites, i.e. tensile strength (Ts) and elongation at break (Eb) at original and aging conditions. Two kinds of PCC were used, PCCL (local, size 12 μm, uncoated) and PCCD (commercial, size 0.03-0.06 μm, stearate coated). PCCL was pre-treated by applying stearic acid. PCCLA was characterized with FTIR, TG/DTA thermal analysis, and morphological test using SEM. The loading of PCC were 2.5; 5.0; 7.5; 10.0 and 12.5 phr respectively. Natural rubber composites were compounded using laboratory scale two roll mill. The incorporation of PCCLA or PCCD into rubber matrix increased Ts and Eb. Both Ts and Eb initially increased continued up to the maximum point then decreased. The maximum point of Ts and Eb of PCCLA were given on 10 phr, while of PCCD were on 10 phr and 5 phr resepectively. PCCLA with its cubical particle shape gave higher Ts and Eb than those PCCD with its needle-like shape, eventhough the particle size was larger. Aging increased tensile and elongation, because of excessive crosslinking. The characeristic of the interfacial adhesion between rubber matrix and PCC particle was estimated by Ts value, and proved that the Ts of PCCLA higher than those of PCCD. Keywords: PCC, mechanical properties, natural rubber composites, particle size and shape ABSTRAK Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mempelajari pengaruh ukuran partikel, bentuk dan konsentrasi PCC terhadap sifat mekanik komposit karet alam yang meliputi tegangan putus (Ts) dan perpanjangan putus (Eb) pada kondisi awal dan pengusangan. PCC yang digunakan yaitu PCCL, (produk lokal, ukuran partikel 12 μm, tanpa pelapis) dan PCCD, (komersial, ukuran partikel 0,03-0,06 μm, dilapisi stearat). PCCL diaktivasi menggunakan asam stearat. Karakterisasi PCCLA dilakukan dengan FTIR, analisa termal TG/DTA dan uji morfologi dengan SEM. Konsentrasi PCC yang digunakan berturut-turut 2,5; 5,0; 7,5; 10,0 dan 12,5 phr. Komposit karet alam dibuat menggunakan two roll mill skala laboratorium. Penambahan PCCLA maupun PCCD meningkatkan tegangan putus dan perpajangan putus komposit. Kenaikan konsentrasi PCCLA maupun PCCD dalam matriks karet alam menaikkan tegangan putus hingga maksimum dan kemudian turun. Nilai maksimum tegangan putus dan perpanjangan putus PCCLA berturut-turut diberikan pada konsentrasi 10 phr sedangkan PCCD pada 10 phr dan 5 phr. Partikel PCCLA berbentuk kubus memberikan tegangan putus dan perpanjangan putus lebih tinggi daripada PCCD dengan bentuk partikel jarum, meskipun ukuran partikelnya lebih besar. Pengusangan komposit karet alam telah meningkatkan nilai tegangan putus dan perpanjangan putus yang disebabkan oleh proses pembentukan ikatan silang lanjutan pada komposit. Karakteristik adhesi lapisan antar muka matriks karet dan partikel PCC, diestimasi dengan nilai tegangan putusnya, dan terbukti bahwa tegangan putus PCCLA lebih tinggi daripada PCCD. Kata kunci: PCC, sifat mekanik, komposit karet alam, bentuk dan ukuran partikel


Both the total stiffness of a restraint system relative to that of the thorax and the distribution of load are important factors in preventing chest injuries on a passenger car occupant. However, high local forces are often dominant in producing injuries such as multiple rib fractures and serious injuries to internal organs. The paper argues that the compression of a dummy ribcage as a tool for evaluating restraint systems should reflect both the stiffness of the restraint system and the distribution of the load. This study suggests that the thorax of the Hybrid III dummy must be improved.


In the Spring of 2016 sci_Zone in partnership the Boeing will be flight testing and certifying the QuickSAT/Vehicle Management System (VMS), the prototype of the FRNCS-P flight computer platform and the LinkStar global communications radio on the Boeing RADSat Satellite. The RADSat Satellite is a 2U CubeSAT that will be deployed from the International Space Station via the NanoRacks Program. A key piece of this mission will be to test and demonstrate full duplex communications between the satellite and ground via the Globalstar satellite network utilizing the LinkStar radio architecture. Globalstar is a constellation of 32 satellites in LEO providing global data and voice services for a range of uses including oil rigs, shipping containers, gas pipelines and supporting remote communications. Our research focused on adapting the Globalstar GSP1720 modem and creating the LinkStar radio architecture for use in space. Work included marrying the modem with modified BeagleBone Black ARM based computer which utilizes an embedded Linux based operating system to control the satellite and manage the radio architecture. Work also included the development of an open source flight management system QuickSAT/Vehicle Management System (VMS) along with the Communicator set of APIs. QuickSAT/VMS is a flexible open source flight management system tailored for cubesats and other types of small satellites. The architecture provides for basic satellite command and control, data management, scheduling, event handling and complete software based radio tool set. The framework allows for users to define custom classes of components (such as radios, magnetometers and other sensors) without modifying the core architecture. The architecture provides a robust data management architecture, not only managing the vehicle configuration and schedule, but also logging system messages, errors and events, and storing data as needed into separate recording sessions. Communicator is a set of APIs, allowing for the integration of several radios on one satellite including the LinkStar duplex radio and LinkStar-STX3 simplex radio. Communicator allows the user to add custom modules to the core architecture, and allows the user to set parameters to define how the radios will work together. Models show LinkStar will provide up to 50% continuous coverage – both data download AND upload through a secure internet link. For the LinkStar-STX3 simplex radio, over 95% downlink coverage can be provided. In both radio systems the data itself is further encrypted to insure the information transmitted to and from a satellite is secure. In this briefing we will discuss and demonstrate QuickSAT/VMS and Communicator, FRNCS-P and how they work with the LinkStar radio, and the operation and integration of the LinkStar radio. We will also cover the RADSat mission including mission operations.


The Former Center Geology Investigation Institute(1916-1950 abbreviation Geology Investigation Institute)played an important role in the development of geological history because it charged of conducting and working out nationwide geology works before liberation.Geology Investigation Institute has done a lot of fieldwork and achieved rich fruits,especially in cultivating person with ability of geology,and brought up many excellent geologists.This paper introduced the general situation of district geological investigation,geological theory and the contributions of cultivating persons through the located environment of Geology Investigation Institute


A study was conducted to understand the relative abundance and growth of male and female Nemipterus furcosus population in the Pahang coastal water, Malaysia. The sampling was done monthly for a period of one year. A total of 1446 fish specimens were studied in this research. The results showed that male N. furcosus population was significantly more than female (p 0.05). The condition factor (K) ranged from 1.2559 to 1.3917 for male while 1.2503 to 1.3926 for female N. furcosus. Overall, higher mean condition factor was observed in smaller fish of both sexes. This study is useful for policy makers and fishery biologists for sustainable fishery management in the Pahang coastal water, Malaysia.


This chapter explores complex relationships between population and economy since c.1700. The West in the 1700-1870 period saw mortality declining in most countries, setting off a fertility decline after 1870. The demographic transition is comprised of these two sequential changes. While the chronology is different for non-Western countries, the transition from a situation of high mortality and high fertility to that of low mortality and low fertility is universa l. As Massimo LiviBacci puts it , it was a series of passages from disorder to order and from waste to efficiency (2012, ch. 4) . It is one of the fundamental transformations humans experienced and is believed to have been a change accompanied by another fundamental change, modern economic growth (Thompson 1929; Notestein 1945) . Across the world regions, however, it seems that there is no straightforward correlation between population change and economic growth .


This article presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of sealless pistons featuring a special geometry capable of eliminating friction in pneumatic cylinders and valves. Three different piston geometries were investigated: tapered, stepped, and slot-pocket. Performance was evaluated for each geometry in terms of pressure distribution, leakage flow rate, and the self-centering force on the piston. The piston configuration that provides the best tradeoff between self-centering thrust and leakage flow rate in the air gap was also determined. The theoretical and experimental results obtained with the different piston designs were then compared.


In his book (with Leonard Mlodinow) A Briefer History of Time Stephen Hawking outlines how our views of the nature of time have changed through the years. Up until the start of the 20th century people believed that time was absolute -that each event could be labelled by a number called 'time' in a unique way. All good clocks would agree on the time interval between two events. However, it was measuring the speed of light and then understanding that the speed of light appeared the same to every person observing it, no matter how he or she was moving, that led to the theory of relativity. With this, modern physics abandoned the concept of unique, absolute time. Now the time of events could not be labelled in a unique way.


Jaime Abello Banfi (Barranquilla, Colombia, 1958) is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Fundación Gabriel García Márquez para el Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano—FNPI, established in 1994 in Cartagena, Colombia, by Gabriel García Márquez (www.fnpi.org). More than 10,000 journalists from all Latin American countries have participated in FNPI's workshops and seminars. Abello holds a law degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá, but he has dedicated his professional life to journalism, communications, and culture.


Small Angle X-ray Scattering has been used to characterize nanoparticles generated by electrical arcing between metallic (AgSnO2) electrodes. The particles are found to have diameters between 30 and 40 nm and display smooth surfaces suggesting that they are either in liquid form or have solidified from the liquid state. Particles collected around the electrodes were analyzed by Transmission Electron Microscopy and were seen to be much larger than those seen in the SAXS measurement, to be spherical in form and composed of silver metal with irregular tin oxide particles deposited on their surface. Mixed metal nanoparticles can have important practical applications and the use of mixed sintered electrodes may be a direct method for their production.


Submitted for the APR06 Meeting of The American Physical Society Search for Zonal Flow Associated with ITG Modes in CLM1 AMIYA SEN, VLADIMIR SOKOLOV, XIAO WEI, Columbia University — The basic physics transport experiments in the Columbia Linear Machine (CLM) have indicated inverse gyro-Bohm dependence of the ion thermal conductivity on the isotope mass. This paradox was explained by an unique 3-wave coupling of two ITG modes and an ion acoustic wave [1]. However, the competitive process of transport regulation via zonal flow [2] was not investigated. A series of basic experiments to detect any generation of zonal flow is now reported. Towards this end we have carefully examined the fine structure of the power spectrum and found two side bands with a shifts of about 3 kHz. An interpretation of this in terms of frequency modulation (FM) of ITG mode by a zonal flow appears plausible. Detailed cross correlation studies of two axially separated probes (one capacitive probe, the other ring probe) reveal two distinct modes (both m=0): one with k// 6= 0, ω/2π ∼ 2 to 10 kHz ion acoustic wave, and the other with k// = 0, ω/2π ≤ 5 kHz, possibly a zonal flow. A theory using reductive perturbation method has been developed for self coupling of ITG mode in conjunction with the 3wave coupling of two ITG radial harmonics and an ion acoustic mode. The results agree with the experimental values within a factor of 2. [1] V. Sokolov and A. K. Sen, Phys. Rev. Lett, 92, 165002 (2004). [2] P.H.Dimond, S.Champeaux, M.Malkov et al., Nucl.Fusion 41, 1067 (2001). 1The research was supported by U.S.DOE Grant DE-FG02-98ER-54464. Amiya Sen Columbia University Date submitted: 20 Jan 2006 Electronic form version 1.4


A particle approach using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is used to solve the problem of blast impact with structures. A novel approach to model the solid boundary condition for particle methods is presented. The solver is validated against an analytical solution of the Riemann shocktube problem and against experiments on interaction of a planar shock with a square cavity. Blast impact simulations are performed for two model shapes, a box and an I-shaped beam, assuming that the solid body does not deform. The solver uses domain decomposition technique to run in parallel. The parallel performance of the solver on two Beowulf clusters is also presented.


Two special issues on ''Platform Science and Technology for Advanced Magnesium Alloys'' were published on July 2001 and April 2003 by the Japan Institute of Metals. Then, the desire to further utilize lightweight magnesium alloys in many industrial applications grows, and different aspects of magnesium research have been intensified in order to improve different properties of magnesium alloys and enhance their chances of being selected by the product designers. Some national projects in Japan are now working for facilitating the industrial applications by using magnesium alloys. Papers are solicited on all aspects of magnesium in various topics, include but not limited to structural controlling and mechanical properties; surface modification; eco-materials; new functionality and Its applications; and friction stir welding. Especially the topics on the current frontiers and the challenges ahead of magnesium alloys for industrial applications are much welcome. Now, the Editorial Committee of Journal of Japan Institute of Light Metals has cooperated closely with this special issue on ''Platform Science and Technology for Advanced Magnesium Alloys'' published by Editorial Committee of Materials Transactions. In this special issue, the current status of particular magnesium research fields and the development by the industries in Japan is presented.


The iPad as a learning tool has made its way into many elementary school classrooms worldwide. It holds a promise to be a game changer in elementary school education supporting more constructivist learning practices. This paper offers an insight into what happened when in two elementary school classrooms the students were enabled to generate both content and context for their own learning. One of the cases describes the 6th grade elementary school children's involvement in a participatory design process aiming to design an application for the iPad. The application was to support learning about media production by enabling students to publish a weekly newsletter describing their school week in words, pictures and video. The second case is about how the 5th grade children influenced their teacher and obtained permission to use one of the iPads creativity apps over a two-week period in order to learn about writing. Both of these projects were part of two larger pilot studies following the introduction of the iPad into the elementary school classroom information ecology. The children participating in the studies evaluated the projects as truly successful. The children's criteria of success were how fun and enjoyable it was to use the iPad. The teachers did not find the projects to be successful. The main criterion they used was the learning outcome. Both teachers found the learning outcome to be inferior to what they usually obtain using traditional teaching methods. Both teachers preferred to use the iPad as a plug-on to traditional ways of teaching. Although our study is small, the results point towards issues that may be important for better understanding of the factors related to acceptance of the iPad as a learning tool.


Critical flux plays an important role in the control of membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors.Experiments were conducted to determine the critical flux region of four membrane modules with different membrane fiber lengths,under different aeration intensity.The results show that:① the membrane module with a membrane length of 0.4 m had the highest critical flux region(compared to 0.2 m,0.6 m and 0.7 m)at the same aeration intensity;② critical flux improved as the aeration intensified in the same membrane module.The influence of membrane fiber length on critical flux mainly occurs through two mechanisms:the flux distribution along the membrane fiber and the fiber shaking effect due to aeration.According to the results simulated from a flux distribution function,the non-uniformity of flux along a membrane fiber increases with the membrane fiber length,leading to a lower critical flux.The longer the membrane module(fiber)is,the bigger the air bubbles are that are formed under the same aeration intensity,and also the easier for the membrane fiber to shake and vibrate which reduces the deposition of foulant onto the membrane surface,and therefore a higher critical flux is reached


Endothelial regeneration of the rabbit carotid artery was investigated after endarterectomy, which involved the removal of a 4 mm length including the endothelium, internal elastic laminae and part of the muscle layer of the media. Regeneration was studied at intervals from 1 hour to 8 weeks after surgery. There were two groups, Group A consisting of Japan White rabbits fed a standard diet and Group B consisting of rabbits fed a 1% cholesterol diet for a month prior to surgery and continued until the annimals were sacrificed. The healing process of the endarterectomized arterial wall was observed using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The origin of regenerated cells was examined with immunohistochemical double-labeled staining. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed two kinds of regenerated cells which were observed on the luminal surface of the endarterectomized wall, namely, spindle type and ovoid type cells in both Group A and Group B. Complete endothelial regrowth was confirmed 2 weeks after surgery in both groups. After the endothelial regrowth was completed, the ovoid type cells were localized in the low shear stress area. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed both the spindle type and ovoid type cells consisted of pinocytotic vesicles and demonstrated tight-junction adherence, which confirmed their endothelial origin. Immunohistochemical findings showed both the spindle type and ovoid type cells stained positively for anti-Factor VIII antibody in Group A and stained positively for anti-CD31 antibody in Group B, which confirmed their endothelial origin. In Group B the speed of the endothelial regrowth was not remarkably delayed from that in Group A, but SEM revealed enlarged spindle type cells and irregular-sized ovoid type cells. TEM showed vacuoles existed in both spindle type and ovoid type cells. In addition, foam cells which were stained for antimacrophage cell antibody RAM11 migrated subendothelially, after which intimal thickening was observed. It could be suggested that the reason for the low rate of clinically postoperative restenosis after carotid endarterectomy is that preoperative control leads to the reduction of risk factors of atherosclerosis, and consequently clinical endothelial regeneration of the human carotid artery after endarterectomy is likely to resemble that of the rabbit carotid artery in Group A.


The present invention relates to a hose coupling device, having a connector plug in an axial direction (10), having at least one detent element (12, 12 '), which detent element is provided for the radial lock only in an associated groove (14, 14 '), and wherein at least one inclined provided for in the circumferential direction for the power steering role in the snap element (12, 12') on radial force steering surface (16).


Abstract: Based on online surveys conducted in the United States and Israel, this study explored grandmothers' involvement in mediation of their grandchildren's digital media use. Study participants were highly involved in restrictive, instructive and supervising mediation—and to a much lesser degree in co-use and technological mediation. Their involvement was significantly associated with their familiarity with digital media popular among children, engagement in other activities with their grandchildren , and past mediation (as mothers). Results highlighted the technical challenges older women face in their efforts to mediate their grandchildren's digital media use. Keywords: children, caregiving, grandmothers, mediation, technology *** Mediation des mamies: prendre soin des jeunes petits-enfants qui utilisent les medias numeriques Resume: Sur la base d'enquetes en ligne menees aux Etats-Unis et en Israel, cette etude a explore l'implication des grands-meres dans la mediation de l'utilisation des medias numeriques par leurs petits-enfants. Les participants a l'etude etaient tres impliques dans la mediation restrictive, instructive et supervisee - et dans une bien moindre mesure dans la co-utilisation et la mediation technologique. Leur implication etait significativement associee a leur familiarite avec les medias numeriques populaires aupres des enfants, a leur engagement dans d'autres activites avec leurs petits-enfants et a la mediation anterieure (en tant que meres). Les resultats ont mis en evidence les defis techniques auxquels les femmes âgees sont confrontees dans leurs efforts de mediation pour l'utilisation des medias numeriques par leurs petits-enfants. Mots-cles: enfants, soins, grands-meres, mediation, technologie


The growth of online communities has resulted in an increased availability of user-generated content (UGC). Given the varied sources of UGC, the quality of information it provides is a growing challenge. While many aspects of UGC have been studied, the role of data structures in gathering UGC and nature of to-be-shared content has yet to receive attention. UGC is created in online platforms with varying degrees of data structure, ranging from unstructured to highly-structured formats. These platforms are often designed without regard to how the structure of the input format impacts the quality of outcome. In this study, we investigate the impact of the degree of data structure on the perceived quality of information from the novel perspective of data creators. We also propose and evaluate a novel moderating effect due to the nature of content online users wish to share. The preliminary findings support our claims of the importance of these factors for information quality. We conclude the paper with directions for future research and expected contributions for theory and practice.


gray matter reduction in the cortical lateral frontal and temporal lobes and attenuated white matter growth of the corpus callosum and pons relative to nondrinking control subjects. In a study by Ruggeri et al. (2), alcohol use disorders were associated with hypermethylation in the 3:-protein-phosphatase-1G (PPM1G )g ene locus; more specifically, PPM1G hypermethylation was associated with the escalation of alcohol use, increased impulsiveness, and increased activity in the right subthalamic nucleus. How are thesetwoobservations—oneonneurocircuitryimagingchanges in adolescents and one on protein phosphatase methylation in adolescents—related? Theadolescentbrainundergoeswidespreadchangesinform and function, both within individual regions and in the connections betweenthem. Studies have shown that a reduction of cortical gray matter begins in preadolescence and continues into the mid-20s, possibly reflecting a normal pruning process(3,4).Equallycompellingaredatashowingthatwhite matter volume increases over the course of adolescence, presumably reflecting connectivity changes, including axonal extension and myelination (4). Mounting evidence suggests that the complex changes underlying neurodevelopment render the adolescent brain particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of alcohol. Heavy alcohol use during adolescence is associated with a range of neurobehavioral sequelae, including impairments in visuospatial processing, attention, and memory (5,6)andanincreased riskfor future alcoholuse disorders.


Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by an abnormal hemoglobin that is prone to polymerization producing abnormal red blood cells resulting in hemolysis, vasoocclusion, and severe anemia. A number of strategies targeting stem cells have been actively investigated. The stressed erythropoiesis that results may produce an increase in CD34+ stem/progenitor cells in the peripheral blood (PB), and could represent a source of stem cells for gene addition or gene correction strategies. In order to explore this possibility, we first sought to determine whether CD34+ cells are elevated in SCD PB and whether the CD34+ cell number correlated with other indicators of stressed erythropoiesis such as reticulocyte number. We thus evaluated the CD34+ cell number in the PB of SCD subjects (n=21) and compared to healthy donors (n=10). There was no difference between CD34 cell counts among SCD subjects and healthy donors: CD34+ cells counts/ µl in PB were 3.41 +/- 4.33 (n=21) in SCD subjects and 2.11 +/- 1.09 (n=10,). Additionally, there was no correlation between CD34+ cells counts and reticulocyte counts in individuals with SCD (n=17).

However, the majority of our SCD subjects are treated with hydroxyurea, which may influence CD34+ cells in the PB. Therefore, we then compared the CD34+ cell number in PB among healthy donors (n=10), SCD subjects taking hydroxyurea (HU+, n=11) and SCD subjects not taking HU (HU-, n=10). CD34+ cell counts/ µl in PB were 2.11 +/- 1.09 in healthy donors, 0.84 +/- 0.56 in HU+ and 6.25 +/- 4.92 in HU-. There was a significant difference between the CD34+ cell number between HU+ and HU- (P<0.01). Colony-forming unit (CFU) assays were also performed and enumerated after 12- 15 days culture comparing HU+ and HU- SCD patients. The number of erythroid colonies and myeloid colonies/ml in PB was 141 and 47 (n=2) in HU+, and 2000 and 636 (n=2) in HU-, respectively. The total colony number in HU+ SCD subjects was reduced to less than 10%. We also compared the CD34+ cell number within bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM) between HU+ (n=12) and HU- (n=4). CD34+ cell counts/ µl in BM was reduced at 19.6 +/- 15.9 (n=12) in HU+ subjects compared to 46.9 +/- 31.3 (n=4) in HU- subjects (P<0.05).

The concept of epigenetic memory which favors differentiation toward the donor tissue makes PB an attractive tissue source for regenerative medicine strategies in SCD, including for derivation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. However, the effects of HU may be deleterious toward this goal. To investigate this, iPS cell generation was also performed using BM stromal cells and PB derived from HU- (n=2) and HU+ (n=3) SCD subjects. Reprogramming was only successful in HU- (2/2), whereas iPS colonies were not observed in HU+ (0/3).

In conclusion, we demonstrate that circulating hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells are elevated in SCD PB at steady state, but are comparable to controls with HU treatment. Our data further suggest that while PB is a rich source of cells for regenerative medicine approaches, HU treatment reduces their frequency and efficiency. Withholding HU temporarily may thus be advisable prior to harvesting PB or BM for regenerative medicine applications. Our results are important for the design of gene targeting strategies for SCD.

Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


This study is to research an aspect of the modern women's culture through the first Japanese women's literary magazine, 『Seito』. To be more specific, it scrutinizes how Japanese women in the modern society accepted the western culture. From this perspective the study pays attention to that translated writings in 『Seito』actually represent what the women pursued and aimed to achieve through literature. Therefore, this study thoroughly reviews why the『Seito』members selected specific writings out of so many foreign literary works. It confirms that many of the writings translated in 『Seito』were selected due to issues of women in them. 『Seito』issued supplements about the modern theater in order for in-depth research on them as the members thought the plays depicted issues of women. 『Seito』discussed the protagonists of the modern plays to study enlightened female characters and embody their own character of the modern woman. When people talk about 『Seit?』, it is often mentioned "Five color drink" and "Yoshiwaradeungru" incidents. This study views that the incidents indicate the effect of western culture on women's sphere and acceptance of the modern idea of equality. Women's magazines suggest the feminine ideal or woman's roles of the era. Therefore, the research over women's magazines like 『Seit?』can be effective in studying how the modern Japanese women's culture changed, emerged, and grew as a new culture.


The mutagenic effects of different concentrations of sodium azide (SA) on somatic embryo germination and survival percentage of somatic embryo derived plantlets of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv SVPR 2) were examined. The root number and root length of SA treated somatic embryos were significantly increased to 5.5 ± 0.4 and 39.5 ± 2.4 cm respectively when compared with the control (1.2 ± 0.15 and 4.2 ± 0.7 respectively). After 30 days of root induction, in SA (10mM) treated cultured, the number of primary, secondary and tertiary roots were 5.5 ± 0.4, 20.2 ± 2.9 and 11.2 ± 0.2 respectively, but in control somatic embryos the number of primary, secondary and tertiary roots were 1.2 ± 0.06, 6.3 ± 0.5 and 4.2 ± 0.8 respectively. The percentage of somatic embryo germination was increased from 44.6 to 50.9 in 10 mM SA treated matured somatic embryos. Our study also proved that the duration of exposure of somatic embryos to SA influences percentage of germination; of all the treatments, SA 10 mM for 180 seconds proved most effective and increased root number and length. At the same time, the percentage of maturation was affected by SA treatment in all the concentrations.


Objective To express fusion rhIL-10-Trx in E. coli and analyze its biological activity. Methods IL-10 gene was inser- ted into plasmid pET32a after the gene and the plasmid were digested with endonucleases Nco Ⅰ and BamH Ⅰ, respectively. The sequence of recombinant plasmid IL-10/pET32a was confirmed, and then transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). The expression of interest protein in en- gineering bacteria IL-10/pET32/BL21 induced by low concentration of IPTG at temperature of 37 ℃ and 25 ℃, respectively. The expressed fusion protein was identified with SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Amount of IL-10 was assayed with ELISA and its bioactivity was analyzed by MC/9 mast-cell-line assay. Results The constructed recombinant plasmid IL-10/pET32a was correct,which was identified by endonucleases digestion and sequence. The proteins expressed by engineering bacteria IL-10/pET32a/BL21 were soluble and partly in inclusion bodies, pro- ving to be IL-10 protein by Western blotting. The soluble fusion IL-10-Trx possessed biological activity. Conclusion IL-10 protein with bioacti- vity is expressed in E. coli successfully, which provides a basis for downstream purification and preparation of genetically engineered drug IL-10.


Si/ZnO nano- and micro-composites were grown on SiO2 glass substrates by co-sputtering technique. The content of Si in the films was controlled by the no. of Si pieces placed on the ZnO target. The crystallinity of the composite films decreased on increasing the Si content in them and increased on post deposition thermal annealing. The dispersed Si in the ZnO matrix remained in the form of nano-particles with an average size value of 3.7 nm and does not depend on the fractional Si content in them. On thermal annealing, the size of the nano-particles did not change noticeably up to 600 °C. For the thermal annealing at and above 700 ° C, the nano-particles aggregated to form micro-clusters with an average size value of 34 nm. The micro-clusters were seen to be crystallized with distinct line structures in the TEM images and spots in the TED patterns. On high energy electron irradiation, the micro-clusters broke to form nano-particles of similar size as they were before the formation of micro-clusters.


2 interesting cases of onychotillomania associated with depressive neurosis and delusion of infestation, respectively, are reported with a brief review of the literature.


Introduction. Contexts. The Human and Geographical Contexts of Politics. The Colonial Context. Political Life and Institutions, 1944 1960. Society and Politics. Political Cultures. Ideology and Political Style: The Uneasy Marriage of Thought and Action. Ethnicity, Religion, and National Politics. Structures, Processes, and Power. Experiments in Power, 1958 2003. Redemocratization. Rulers and Leaders. In the Shadow of the State: The Domain of Nonformal Politics. Connections. Francophone Africa in the Global Arena. Appendix. Basic Political Data on the Fourteen States.


The regenerative electrically assisted turbocharger offers performance benefits, such as reduced turbo-lag, over the conventional turbocharger. However, regenerative electrically assisted turbocharger introduces additional control degrees of freedom as well as new causalities in the air-path dynamics of boosted engines. This is because the electrical power applied to (or removed from) the turbocharger shaft disrupts the natural coupling between the engine exhaust, and the turbocharger operation found in conventionally boosted systems. The ideal performance objective of regenerative electrically assisted turbocharger is to achieve fast boost response with improved fuel economy and minimal impact on engine-out emissions. These performance criteria, as we show in this article, drive performance trade-offs that must be considered for optimal system performance. In this article, we investigate these trade-off relationships based on a high fidelity GT-SUITE engine model for a heavy-duty diesel engine. An optimal control law is used in conjunction with a control-oriented plant model. Results from load step tests and from the federal test cycle (FTP-75) indicate that using a properly designed optimal controller, it is possible to manage these trade-offs, and to simultaneously achieve benefits in boost response, FE as well as engine-out emissions.


Abstract : Two kinds of problems are considered. The first problem involves the existence of certain types of subtrees in a tree. Specifically, O(p) algorithms are given to determine the maximum number of vertex-disjoint subtrees (which are isomorphic to a given star tree or line tree) of a tree. The other problem involves the existence of a tree associated with a given integer sequence. Applications are given.


We have studied several samples from Lotus corniculatus s. l. and L. zhegulensis populations with the use of SSR and sequenced nuclear (ITS) and plastid (atpB-rbcL, ndhC-trnV, rpl32-trnL(UAG), trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF) markers. We analysed 9 local populations from the Volga River valley ranging from Ulyanovsk in the north to Volgograd in the south, as well as two local populations from Moscow and Lipetsk Provinces. Analyses of SSR markers using the STRUCRURE program divided the sample into three genetic clusters. Populations from Moscow and Lipetsk Provinces, and three local populations from the 'locus classicus' location of L. zhegulensis in Samara Province appeared to be the most genetically differentiated while all the other populations were variously genetically admixed. Low pairwise Fst values indicate low genetic differentiation of Lotus populations and the intraspecific nature of the revealed diversity. The nuclear and plastid DNA sequences analyzed yielded little information. Substitutions and indels revealed were mostly autapomorphies characteristic of separate specimens or small groups of specimens but not of populations. Our study enables to firmly conclude that Lotus populations from the right bank of the Volga River in vicinity of Zhiguli upland described as L. zhegulensis are weakly genetically differentiated from other populations of Lotus corniculatus s. l. and, hence, cannot be regarded as a separate species.


Background: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) can be related to the risk of occurrence of neurological symptoms. Well-developed collateral circulation is a good prognostic factor in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Understanding the mechanisms of collateral circulation may be important in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring in this group of patients. The aim of this study covered the assessment of CBF in patients with 70–99% Internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, focusing on the circulation pathways and flow volume in extracranial arteries. Materials and methods: 53 patients with 70–99% ICA stenosis (mean age 73.4 ± 7 years old; 17 female, mean age 73.9 ± 7.5 years old; 36 male, mean age 73.2 ± 6.8 years old) were included in the study. In all patients a Doppler ultrasound (DUS) examination, measuring blood flow volume in the internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA), and vertebral artery (VA), was performed. The cerebral blood flow (CBF) was compared to the previously reported CBF values in the healthy population > 65 years old. Results: Among the study groups three subgroups with flow differences were identified: patients with elevated CBF (significant volumetric flow compensation—26/53, 49%), patients with CBF similar to (mild compensation—17/53, 32%), and patients with CBF lower than (no compensation—10/53, 19%) the healthy, equally aged population. The percentage of patients with significant volumetric flow compensation was the highest in age groups 65–69 years old (62.5%) and >80 years old (60%). In the oldest age group (>80 years old) no patients without flow compensation (0%) were observed. The level of compensation depends on the number of the arteries with compensatory increased flow. In patients with significant volumetric flow compensation, the compensatory increased flow was observed, on average, in 3.31 arteries, in the mild compensation group—in 2.18 arteries, and in the no compensation group only in 1 artery. ICA plays the most important role in the volumetric flow compensation—the increase in the flow volume, in comparison to the reference values, was between 116.7 mL/min and 251.9 mL/min (in the ECA 57.6 mL/min–110.4 mL/min; in the VA 73.9 mL/min–104.9 mL/min). The relative flow increase was highest in the VA: 215–246%, then in the ECA: 163–206%, and finally in the ICA: 148.6–192%. The increased flow was most commonly observed in the VA—57 arteries, in second place in the ECA—42 arteries, and ICA—31 arteries. In patients with unilateral ICA stenosis, the volumetric flow increase was stated more frequently in the ipsilateral ECAs then in the contralateral ones (23 vs. 14). In the VA the opposite tendency was observed (29 contralateral vs. 23 ipsilateral). The ability of volumetric flow compensation decreased significantly with increasing age. Conclusions: Understanding the mechanisms of collateral circulation and their assessment in Doppler ultrasonography may provide a novel and easily accessible tool of identifying and monitoring patients with cerebrovascular disease.


Medical records and radiological examinations of 100 cases were reviewed. Two groups were created, older than 65 years and younger than 65 years. In addition, the following were carefully examined and recorded-gender distribu-tion, cause and types of fractures, associated injuries, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Scale, need for intensive care unit admission, duration of hospitalization, and mortality rate.


The paper gives an up-date on the situation in the Solomon Islands [as in May 2005] and attempts to assess both RAMSI and the future needs of Solomon Islands. The paper argues that there is a disjunction between what RAMSI sees as its tasks and abilities, the capability of the present government, and the needs and expectations of the citizens of the nation.


Treatment of the sulphinamide anhydride 1-methyl-3,2,1-benzoxathiazin-4(1H)-one S-oxide (5), derived from N-methylanthranilic acid (1), with amides (9)–(11) gave glycorine (14), glomerine (15), and homoglomerine (16), respectively. Reaction of the N-unsubstituted sulphinamide anhydride (6) with O-benzyl-lactamide (13), followed by debenzylation of the resulting 2-(1-benzyloxyethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (17) yielded crysogine (18). Condensation of the sulphinamide anhydrides (7) and (8), prepared from the corresponding dimethoxy- and methyl-enedioxy-anthranilic acid derivatives (3) and (4), with 3,4-dihydro-β-carboline (19) furnished euxylophoricines A (20) and C (21). 5,11-Dimethyldibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocine-6,12(5H,11H)-dione (22) was obtained from the N-methylsulphinamide anhydride (5).


This article argues that the secular liberal and positivist foundations of the modern Western legal system render it violent. In particular, the liberal exclusion of faith and subjectivity in favour of abstract and universal reason in conjunction with its privileging of individual autonomy at the expense of the community leads to alienation of the individual from the community. Similarly, the positivist exclusion of faith and theology from law, with its enforced conformity to the posited law, also results in this violence of alienation. In response, this article proposes a new foundation for law, a natural law based in the truth of Trinitarian theology articulated by John Milbank. In the Trinity, the members exist as a perfect unity in diversity, providing a model for the reconciliation of the legal individual and community: the law of love. Through the law of love as the basic norm, individuals love their neighbours as themselves, reconciling the particular and the universal, and providing a community of peace rather than violence.