This article aims to present a reflection on the importance of alternative methods of conflict resolution in contemporary society, proposing the adoption of conciliatory techniques to provide a solution to the problem of the judiciary. Concepts will be discussed and when each conciliatory technique is applied with the objective of demonstrating the viability of such alternative methods, in order to minimize the increase of the demands of the judiciary, as well as to comply with the civil procedural principles. The methodology consisted of bibliographic research the data were analyzed using the hypothetical deductive method. It is concluded that the conflict resolution methods are the self-composed techniques that demonstrate an alternative to both the conflicting and the judiciary solver consensual and swiftly litigation in accordance with procedural principles and avoiding overweight cases to magistrates.


A stability certificate is devised for sampled-data implementations of static feedback control that involve asynchronous sensor sampling and zero-order hold actuator updates, given linear time-invariant continuous-time system dynamics with two inputs. The approach involves structured robustness analysis, based on integral quadratic constraints (IQCs), for specified bounds on the uncertain sample and two update intervals involved. A family of new IQCs is developed for an operator that depends on multiple time-varying delays.


The development of morphine tolerance and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal was studied in intact cats and correlated with neocortical acetylcholine (ACh) release in midpontine pretrigeminal transected preparations. Cats were given morphine sulfate s.c. every 8 hours for 15 days. The dosage (calculated as base) was increased gradually from 9 to 30 mg/kg/day. On gross behavioral observation surviving cats showed obvious tolerance to morphine toward the end of the treatment period. Naloxone, 1.0 mg/kg i.v., induced a withdrawal syndrome characterized by predominant central nervous system depression, vomiting and stupor in five intact cats. The remaining animals were subjected to a midpontine pretrigeminal brainstem transection under halothane-air anesthesia. Subsequently, the neocortical release of ACh after i.v. morphine and/or naloxone was determined. Morphine-tolerant animals had a shift to the right in their dose-effect curves on arterial blood pressure and on inhibition of neocortical ACh release. Similarly electroencephalogram activation produced by acute morphine was less prolonged in the 15-day morphine-treated animals. Naloxone, 1.0 mg/kg i.v., produced an initial hypertension and electroencephalogram slow waves in the morphine-dependent cats. An initial inhibition of ACh release and a subsequent return to control ACh release levels with a possible enhanced release was observed. The data indicate a far more complex diphasic effect on neocortical ACh release during naloxone-precipitated withdrawal than was initially predicted.


In this conference, I have talked about two scenarios in which the out-of-equilibrium production of dark matter (DM) particles in the early universe is unavoidable. In the first one \cite{bhattacharyya_freezing-dark_2018}, we extend the standard model (SM) of particle physics by an extra $U(1)$ gauge group under which all the SM particles are neutral. We then consider DM candidates interacting only with the new spin-1 gauge boson, a heavy $Z^\prime$. We assume the presence of heavy beyond the SM fermions charged under both extra $U(1)$ and SM $SU(3)_c$, allowing for a feeble connection between DM and gluons. In the second scenario \cite{bernal_spin-2_2018}, we assume that the interaction between DM and SM particles are only mediated by gravitons and massive spin-2 fields, being therefore suppressed by the Planck and some intermediate scales, respectively. In both models, we show that the SM particles are able to produce the right amount of DM candidates via freeze-in at most in the early stages of the radiation era, for DM mass in the range $10^{-3}-10^{14}$ GeV. We have shown that if heavy mediators were produced on-shell within a period of entropy production in the early universe, as in the post-inflationary reheating, the DM relic density may be enhanced by many orders of magnitude relative to the usual instantaneous reheating approximation.


AbstractGlobal total column water vapor trends have been derived from both the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) and the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) satellite data and from globally distributed radiosonde measurements, archived and quality controlled by the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD).The control of atmospheric water vapor amount by the hydrological cycle plays an important role in determining surface temperature and its response to the increase in man-made greenhouse effect. As a result of its strong infrared absorption, water vapor is the most important naturally occurring greenhouse gas. Without water vapor, the earth surface temperature would be about 20 K lower, making the evolution of life, as we know it, impossible. The monitoring of water vapor and its evolution in time is therefore of utmost importance for our understanding of global climate change. Comparisons of trends derived from independent water vapor measurements from satellite...


Objective: Observat of the effect of Yinzhihuang injection on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.Methods: 108 neonates suffered from hyper-bilirubinemia were randomly selected and divided into two groups: the control group treated with phenobarbital combined with nikethamide and the observing group with Yinzhihuang injection. Results:The therapeutic effect in reducing the levels of percutaneous bilirubin concentration and serum bilirubin concentration in the observing group was better than in the control group (P0.05). Conclusion:The results suggested that the therapy of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with Yinzhihuang injection is an effective and safe treatment with less by-effect.


ABSTRACTHyvarinen A, Tarkka IM, Mervaala E, Paakkonen A, Valtonen H, Nuutinen J: Cutaneous electrical stimulation treatment in unresolved facial nerve paralysis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2008;87:992–997.Objective:The purpose of this study was to assess clinical and neurophysiological changes after 6 mo


Introduction is done to development and application of ring spun technique beginning with hi production carding machine and the associated accessories.Conclusion is made that it is important to employ new clothing and to increase speed of taker in roll and to employ seperating plate and rotating plate and self adjusted motion for high quality products.


There are extensive mangrove forests along the tropical shorelines of the world; they are particularly well developed in, though not exclusively restricted to, areas that are sheltered and muddy. Stratigraphic studies of the sediments underlying both the mangrove forests themselves and associated wetlands indicate that there have been considerable changes in the extent of these wetlands as a result of past sea-level fluctuations. Further changes in the area covered by mangroves are to expected if the sea rises at the rates anticipated as a result of the greenhouse effect. The exact response of a mangrove coastline will depend upon shoreline topography, sources of sediment, rates of sediment supply, and the rate of sealevel rise. The stratigraphy and chronology of Holocene deposits on mangrove shorelines allow reconstruction of the way that mangrove forests have responded


Objective:To observe the efficacy of prostaglandin E 1 incorporated in lipid micropheres for the treatment of retinal vein occlusion.Methods:The improvement in the visual acuity of patients who had been treated for retinal vein occlusion treated with prostaglandin E 1 incorporated in lipid micropheres was compared with that of a control group during the duration of the treatment period.Results:After 1~6 months of follow up, visual acuity for the 16 patients in the treatment group was ≥0.5 with an effective rate of 76.2% while visual acuity for the 6 patients in the control group was ≥0.5 with an effective rate of 34.7% (χ 2=6.45;P=0.05). The percentages of improvement in vision were 81.0% and 41.2% in the treatment and control groups, respectively (χ 2=6.41;P0.05).Conclusion:Prostaglandin E 1 incorporated in lipid micropheres is effective for treating retinal vein occlusion.


Aggregated fibrillary microtubule‐associated protein tau is the major component of neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease. The exact molecular mechanism of tau aggregation is unknown. Microglial cell activation and migration toward amyloid‐β plaques precede the appearance of dysmorphic neurites and formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Here, we analyzed the accumulation of tau at a distance range of expected spontaneous aggregation by fluorescence lifetime‐based Förster resonance energy transfer in cultured primary murine neurons cotransfected with the human tau gene tagged to the green fluorescent protein variants Citrine (tau‐Citrine) and Cerulean (tau‐Cerulean). No spontaneous accumulation of cotransfected tau‐Citrine and tau‐Cerulean was detected in untreated neurons. Coculture of neurons with activated microglia induced aggregation of tau in neurites. Treatment of neurons with tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) stimulated reactive oxygen species generation and resulted in the accumulation of tau‐Citrine and tau‐Cerulean in neurites, which was inhibited by neutralization of TNF and the free radical inhibitor 6‐hydroxy‐2,5,7,8‐tetramethylchromane‐2‐carboxylic acid (Trolox). These data demonstrate that activated microglia and the microglial‐derived proinflammatory cytokine TNF can induce accumulation of the aggregation‐prone tau molecules in neurites via reactive oxygen species.— Gorlovoy, P.,Larionov, S., Pham, T. T. H., Neumann, H. Accumulation of tau induced in neurites by microglial proinflammatory mediators. FASEB J. 23, 2502–2513 (2009)


The utility model provides a laser drive circuit that PWM constant current mode realized, it includes: the controller, is it used for receiving DC the direct current data signal that DC transmitted, drive current sets up the circuit, and its direct current data signal through binary channels digital analog converter and IIC bus reception control unit transmit will through buffer circuit and DA converting circuit direct current data signal converts the required analog voltage signal of laser instrument into, simultaneously will analog voltage signal exports to the controller, constant current circuit, its include with bleeder circuit and overvoltage crowbar that the controller is connected, current pulse shaping circuit, its with the controller with the constant current circuit electricity is connected, and output current voltage detection circuit, it is used for detecting the output current and the output voltage of current pulse shaping circuit. The utility model discloses a to the pulse constant current control of corresponding laser pipe, loss when by a wide margin reducing the constant current control has reduced volume and weight simultaneously.


Heterogeneous electron transfer involves the coupling of a dense manifold of highly delocalized electronic levels of the solid state to a discrete molecular state as well as an abrupt change in phase in the reaction coordinate. These features make this problem unique relative to homogeneous solution phase or gas phase reaction mechanisms which involve coupling between discrete states within a uniform medium. Recent advances in time domain optical methods are discussed in the context of studying interfacial charge transfer processes at single crystal semiconductor surfaces as a means to probe the primary processes governing heterogeneous electron transfer. Two distinct boundary conditions are discussed: charge injection into a semiconductor from an adsorbate and charge emission from a semiconductor to an acceptor. The reaction dynamics are investigated using a combination of nonlinear spectroscopies with an emphasis on mapping the electron transport and transfer and investigating the role of nuclear vs electronic relaxation mechanisms in the barrier crossing dynamics. A fundamental understanding at this level seeks to determine the criteria for fully optimizing charge separation at surfaces. 110 refs., 8 figs.


Most developed countries are increasingly dependent on the car. The European Union (EU) has had an increase of more than 34% in the numbers of vehicles owned, and by 2020, that number is expected to increase by a further 50%. With the population density four times that in the United States, space is at a premium in the EU. This paper describes a recently completed POSSUM project that has developed a new approach to scenario building. A scenario, for this project, is a tool that describes pictures in the future world within a specific framework and under specified assumptions. The project has set up clear targets for Europe to cover the environmental, economic efficiency, and regional development objectives of the Common Transport Policy. A framework within which to construct three images of the future has been formed with these targets; the images of the future will in term depend on contextual elements that are taken as given - whether Europe will move toward greater cooperation with a strong center and new members of the EU - as well as strategic elements that are subject to policy interventions.


A significant innovation effort in ground vehicles' technology is represented by the replacement of the traditional mechanical-hydraulic systems with all-electric systems, termed by-wire systems, for the transmission and execution of the driving commands. According to the experience in the aerospace environment, such replacement is expected to give appreciable benefits, even though it poses several problems. This paper provides an overview of the key components of by-wire systems, i.e. the electric actuators and the communication networks, especially for steering and braking operations.


In this work we show that for a stationary and ergodic source $X$, stationary and ergodic test channels achieve the rate-distortion function for the lossy source coding problem with feed-forward. As a by-product, we prove that the upper bound for the feed-forward rate-distortion function derived by Venkataramanan and Pradhan (2007) is tight. In addition, we derive an upper bound on the rate-distortion function by proving a Shannon-McMillan-Breiman theorem for the causally conditional entropy rate for the class of asymptotic mean stationary and ergodic processes.


In this paper we analyze the recent propositions to reorganize the French industry of reactors in view to increase its efficiency on the export markets. Based on a critic of the choices of reactor technologies offered to export market, the Roussely report published on June 2010 recommends to crown the French electricity utility as the leader of a so-called "French team" and to let him free to negotiate the sale of reactor of any technology that it would prefer as a Gen-2 reactor for example, and to place the French nuclear reactor constructor in a position of sub-contractor. The government has not followed this recommendation rightly. Based on an analysis of the changing world market of reactors, we defuse the criticism addressed to Areva on his choice, as well as the recommendation to open the present catalog of reactors to other models. The analysis leads to underline the importance of Areva's technological and industrial resources and the limited advantages of the EDF's skills in matter of architect-engineering and nuclear operation for winning export contracts. At the end of the day the mercantile approach which motivates the promoters of this tentative reform for competing with entrants prosing low cost nuclear reactors has been disapproved by the government, and that before the Fukushima accidents. We conclude by observing that only a flexible coordination between French industrial players would be useful for improving export performances of the French nuclear industry.


In the Patio de Escuelas opposite the university stands a statue, cast at Rome in 1869, of a figure eminent in the history not just of Salamanca but of Spanish literature, Luis de Le6n. In 1572 the inquisition removed him from his post for almost five years, and on resuming his duties he opened his first lecture with the words «Dicebamus hesterna die» (1). The words suit this 12'h Colloquium Tullianum, which follows the 11'h at a longer interval than usual. Actually they suit it better than I should have wished. For this paper I had the idea of discussing medieval interest in Cicero as a historical figure and connecting it somehow with manuscripts written or preserved in Spain, but it turned out that precisely that topic, though without particular reference to Spain, had engaged P. L. Schmidt at the last Colloquium. All too true, then, that dicebamus hesterna die, or rather that dicebat hesterna die Petrus Lebrecht Schmidt(2). Instead, what follows will be a miscellany, first of observations prompted by manuscripts of Cicero currently in Spain, then of footnotes on Schrnidt's topic. Before proceeding, however, I should like to recall a letter that reached Cicero at Arpinum in July 45 after the death of his beloved daughter: A Caesare litteras accepi consolatorias datas prid. Kal. Mai. Hispali (Ep. ad Att. 13, 20, 1) sent on April 30'h from Seville. Caesar was quite busy at the time. Medieval inventories of Spanish libraries are not common, and in only one earlier than the 15th century is Cicero named(3). This is how it came about:


Our aim is to find roots of the non-unique behavior of gases which can be observed in certain axisymmetric nozzle geometries under special flow regimes. For this purpose, we use several versions of the compressible Euler equations. We show that the main reason for the non-uniqueness is hidden in the energy decomposition into its internal and kinetic parts, and their complementary behavior. It turns out that, at least for inviscid compressible flows, a bifurcation can occur only at flow regimes with the Mach number equal to one (sonic states). Analytical quasi-one-dimensional results are supplemented by quasione-dimensional and axisymmetric three-dimensional finite volume computations. Good agreement between quasi-one-dimensional and axisymmetric results, including the presence of multiple stationary solutions, is presented for axisymmetric nozzles with reasonably small slopes of the radius.


The transient stability of a single machine infinite bus power system problem was examined through the direct method of Liapunov. It was observed, through the direct method, that the system can be operated at a larger exciter gain if an additional feedback signal proportional to shaft speed deviation is used.


Abstract The necessity of accounting for the correlation of experimental uncertainties when determining calculational uncertainty in criticality predictions is demonstrated in this paper. An example of constructing the correlation matrix for the experimental uncertainties of the experiments with highly enriched uranium solutions performed and evaluated at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, Russian Federation, is presented. A conclusion is drawn with regard to the significant influence of the correlations on the average calculation-experiment deviation and the deviation uncertainty.


Eagle showed that a medium containing the 13 amino acids and the seven vitamins found to be essential for the growth of L and HeLa cells, each at the optimum concentration and appropriately supplemented with glucose, does not permit growth unless a small amount of serum was added (Eagle, 1973). Therefore it has been suggested that serum contains macromolecular factors required for multiplication of animal cells. Recent years have witnessed rapid progress in growth-stimulating serum protein factors for vani ous mammalian cell cultures (Paul et al., 1971 ; Salmon et al., 1971; Antoniades et al., 1975). However, little attention has been given to low molecular weight serum ingredients. Recently we found that heavy metals in serum such as zinc and cupric ions are essential for growth and maintenance of mammalian cells. It has long been known that zinc compounds stimulate wound healing in humans (Pories et al., 1967). The mechanism of action of zinc compounds has not been clarified. Recently, however, Loeb and his coworkers (Springgate et al., 1973) showed that zinc ion is an intrinsic metal for E. coli DNA polymerase. Furthermore several investigators have shown that inhibition of DNA synthesis by ethylene diamine tetraacetate (EDTA) in various mammalian cell cultures is prevented or reversed by addition of zinc ions to the culture media (Lieberman and Ove, 1962; Alford, 1970; Rubin, 1972). These observations may also suggest that zinc ions are essential element for mammalian DNA polymerase. Springgate et al. determined that one zinc atom per enzyme molecule of E. coli DNA polymerase is sufficient for catalytic activity of the enzyme (Springgate et al., 1978). Moreover, zinc ions play a similar role in reverse transcriptase (Auld et al., 1974) and DNA dependent RNA polymerase (Scrutton et al., 1971). Since these key enzymes are essential for growth, viability and various biological functions of cells, zinc ions must be indispensable for growth and viability


When it comes to industrial relations, UTAS has a style of its own. In an ongoing case, a member made a request to their manager to have the NTEU represent them at a meeting regarding change management in the Faculty of Arts. The request was denied on the specious grounds that it was not appropriate to have the NTEU present. The Union asserted the (quite unexceptional) right to provide representation and attended the meeting.


This survey is aimed at analyzing some among the most relevant ontological modeling approaches. The semantic role of ontologies is emphasized. Classification of ontological models and languages focusing on their basic features is presented. Examples of applications of ontologies in different areas are also provided.


We present a comparative theory of "Non-Integrated", "Integrated", and "Decentralized" firms, and study the optimal scope of a firm and the assignment of different types of managers to different types of firms, in an IO setting with R&D and production activities. "Nonintegrated firms" fail to take into account the externalities that managers' decisions have on other firms. While an "integrated firm" internalizes these externalities, it does not take into consideration the "private benefits" of managers. The "decentralized firm" works as a hybrid of these two structures. We also interpret our model from the viewpoint of the allocation of formal authority, and uncover some interesting economic implications.


Management of watershed encompasses various activities from watershed delineation to monitoring. The suitability of land for development is not only based on a set of physical parameters (geography/terrain, soils, slopes, forest, geology etc.) of the land but also very much on the economic factors. The cumulative effect of these factors determine the degree of suitability and also helps in further categorization of land into different priority orders for development. Sanjai river watershed is located in the central west part of the Subernarekha basin under Kolhan Division of Jharkhand. The study area is totally rainfed and availability of water for drinking and domestic use is a big problem. The natural recharge process in the area is very poor due to hard compact granite terrain. The response of a watershed to different hydrological processes and its behaviour depends upon various physiographic, hydrogeological and geomorphological parameters. The characterization of a watershed provides an idea about its behaviour. The various parameter characteristics of a watershed behave in more or less perceptible manner.


Aiming at the problem that the existing planters cannot accurately maintain the seeding spacing and row spacing in the field, the high-speed photography technology is used to analyze the seeding trajectory, so as to determine the key factors affecting the seeding position. First, a dynamic compensation system for maize seeding position based on fuzzy PID control was designed. In the dynamic compensation system, the biaxial angle sensor was used to detect the angle of seeding monomer, and the space rotation theory was used to calculate the offset of the seeding position. Then, the dynamic compensation of seeding position was completed by the fuzzy PID control servo electric push rod, and the response time of fuzzy PID control system was 0.035 s. When the seed spacing of maize was 30 cm, the conveyor speed was 1.67 m/s and the seed tray speed was 30 r/min. Finally, the bench test was carried out under the conditions of random disturbance signal, sinusoidal wave disturbance signal and random disturbance signal plus sinusoidal wave disturbance signal. The results showed that compared without dynamic compensation, the variation coefficient of the longitudinal grain spacing and the transverse grain spacing decreased by an average of 6.94 % and 9.16 %, respectively. In this way, this study can provide a reference for improving the stability of seeding row spacing and plant spacing.


Poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole)(PBO) was synthesized by polycondensation reaction of 4,6-diamino-1,3-benzenediol dihydrochloride and terephthalic acid in the presence of polyphosphoric acid.The optimum reaction conditions were obtained:reaction temperature was 100 ℃~ 180 ℃,P2O5 weight percent content was 83% ~ 84%,reduced pressure distillation and nitrogen atmosphere were used.The structure and properties of the product were characterized by FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis.The result showed that the product possessed excellent thermal stability both in N2 and O2.The residual phosphorus in PBO was determined by spectrophotometer in this paper,the best choice of the absorption wavelength and changes of phosphorus content of PBO with varied reflux times were investigated,and the standard absorption curve was drawn.It is found that the phosphorus content of PBO is below 0.12% after the product refluxing for 30 h then in H2SO4 with the determination wavelength at 710 nm.


Background. In renal transplantation, the immunosuppressive efficacy of cyclosporine is counterbalanced by its nephrotoxicity. Although cyclosporine improves short-term graft survival, its long-term effects are unclear. Methods. Recipients of first cadaver renal transplants were randomized into three groups between 1983 and 1986: azathioprine and prednisolone alone (AP, n=158), long term cyclosporine alone (Cy, n=166), and short-term cyclosporine followed by azathioprine and prednisolone (CyAP, n=165). All groups received methylprednisolone induction. Results. There were no significant differences in patient survival at 15 years (48 vs. 56 vs. 51%, P=0.14), and 15-year graft survival (censored for death) in those patients in the CyAP group (47 vs. 44 vs. 59%, P=0.06) was not significantly different statistically. When deaths or graft losses before 12 months were censored, the differences in 15-year graft survival between the groups were significant (58%, 51%, 70%, P=0.01). The CyAP group also had lower mean serum creatinine at all time points beyond 3 months posttransplant out to 10 years (143 vs. 169 vs. 131 μmoles/L, P=0.04). Per protocol analysis, after censoring patients at change in therapy, increased the observed differences in 15-year graft survival between the groups (54 vs. 38 vs. 65%, P=0.01). Conclusion. Survival and function of first cadaveric kidney transplants is improved by use of short-term cyclosporine followed by azathioprine and prednisolone. Long-term cyclosporine use reduces long-term graft survival.


Utilizing the analysis of drilling cores,rock thin section,scanning electron microscope and cathodoluminescence,the deep clastic reservoir petrology,diagenesis and secondary pores' distribution and genesis in Changling fault depression in the south of Songliao basin are researched.The results show that deep clastic reservoir lithology of Changling depression is mainly lithic-feldspar sandstone,feldspathic litharenite.The compositional maturity is lower.Diagenetic stage is mostly in middle stage,the main diagenesis types are compaction,cementation and multi-period dissolution.Compaction and cementation led to further loss of primary pore,but the dissolution forming secondary porosity plays a significant role to improve the porosity and permeability of the reservoir.There are two abnormal high porosity zones in the vertical section,whose formation is mainly owing to dissolution of organic acids and CO2 acidic water.


The ozone depletion is one of the environmental problems. In 2011, ozone depletion which was comparable to the Antarctic ozone hole occurred in the Arctic. The ozone depletion has occurred inside the polar vortex. The airmass from inside the polar vortex is spread to mid-latitude in spring after its breakup. The purpose of this study is to quantify the impact of polar ozone depletion on mid-latitude by comparing the amounts of ozone in mid-latitude airmasses before and after the breakup of the polar vortex. Vertical profiles of ozone and hydrogen fluoride (HF) have been retrieved from infrared spectra observed with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) at Tsukuba using the SFIT2 spectral fitting program developed by Rinsland et al. [1998]. HF can be used as a tracer of the transport, because HF is a remarkably stable species in the stratosphere. Ozone and HF usually show a very high correlation in the lower stratosphere because both species are stable. But the correlation will be changed when ozone is chemically perturbed. Therefore, we examined the correlations of mixing ratios between ozone and HF in the mid-latitude airmasses before and after the breakup. Goto et al. [2010] compared the ozone-HF mixing ratio correlations in the mid-latitude airmasses before and after the breakups of the polar vortex between 2005 and 2008 and indicated that ozone was decreased by 0.2 to 0.4 ppmv at around 19km altitude in 2007 and 2008. Preliminary analysis in 2009 shows no impact of the ozone depletion at Tsukuba. We report the impacts of the Arctic ozone depletion on Japan between 2009 and 2011.


Background Adiponectin is an adipokine circulating in blood in three forms, whereof the high molecular weight (HMW) is supposed to mediate the metabolic effects of adiponectin. Subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have elevated levels of adiponectin in serum and synovial fluid but it is unclear if circulating adiponectin associates with disease activity markers in subjects with RA. Here we aimed to determine whether total and/or HMW adiponectin levels associate with markers of disease activity and plasma chemokines in a cohort of subjects with untreated newly diagnosed RA.Methods Inflammation and disease activity were assessed in a cohort of 70 subjects with untreated newly diagnosed RA using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), number of tender or swollen joints, as well as disease activity scores (DAS28 and CDAI) Plasma levels of 15 chemokines were measured using flow cytometry bead-based immunoassay or ELISA. Total and HMW adiponectin plasma levels were determined with ELISA.Results Both total and HMW adiponectin were positively associated with CRP (both P = 0.001) and ESR (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively). Furthermore, a positive association was found between total adiponectin and CXCL10 (P = 0.021), CCL2 (P = 0.012) and CXCL9 (P = 0.044), whereas HMW adiponectin associated with CXCL9 only (P = 0.033).Conclusion Total and HMW adiponectin are associated with markers of inflammation as well as pro-inflammatory chemokines in a cohort of 70 subjects with untreated newly diagnosed RA. Our results support the hypothesis that adiponectin might be a pro-inflammatory factor involved in the pathogenesis of RA.


[PBOBLEMS] To provide a polymerization initiator having excellent ability to initiate a cationic polymerization, which does not contain arsenic or antimony. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] An onium salt or a transition metal complex salt of a specific fluorinated alkylfluorophosphoric acid. ® KIPO & WIPO 2007


Location-based mobile multiplayer games can offer a unique and intensive game experience. Three spheres of experience merge: social interaction, virtual game world, and the real location. While the potential is huge the main obstacle to a seamless and enjoyable experience is the user interaction with the mobile system. The problem is not the sheer lack of interaction techniques, but the assignment of appropriate modality in different game situations. The main statement of this paper is: multimodality alone is not enough to cope with mobile gaming. Context-awareness that lead to situation-specific interaction modes may come to the rescue. This paper discusses the requirements of modality selection against the background of location-based multiplayer games and illustrates the correlation to context-awareness and situation detection.


In the need to expand our understanding of the problems related to the language classroom, we must avoid several research pitfalls: novelty for the sake of novelty; innovation for its own sake; the Hawthorne effect; overenthusiasm and too favorable publicity; trivia. Small-scale research projects, which can be completed in one year, are proposed in the areas of language testing, pedagogy, reading, and others. In such research, it is important to develop good designs that effectively control extraneous variables and to include evaluation techniques that will produce results that inspire confidence.


Structured electron beams carrying orbital angular momentum are currently of considerable interest, both from a fundamental point of view and for application in electron microscopy and spectroscopy. Until recently, most studies have focused on the azimuthal structure of electron vortex beams with well-defined orbital angular momentum. To unambiguously define real electron-beam states and realise them in the laboratory, the radial structure must also be specified. Here we use a specific set of orthonormal modes of electron (vortex) beams to describe both the radial and azimuthal structures of arbitrary electron wavefronts. The specific beam states are based on truncated Bessel beams localised within the lens aperture plane of an electron microscope. We show that their Fourier transform set of beams can be realised at the focal planes of the probe-forming lens using a binary computer generated electron hologram. Using astigmatic transformation optics, we demonstrate that the azimuthal indices of the diffracted beams scale with the order of the diffraction through phase amplification. However, their radial indices remain the same as those of the encoding beams for all the odd diffraction orders or are reduced to the zeroth order for the even-order diffracted beams. This simple even-odd rule can also be explained in terms of the phase amplification of the radial profiles. We envisage that the orthonormal cylindrical basis set of states could lead to new possibilities in phase contrast electron microscopy and spectroscopy using structured electron beams.


The new cobalt (II) complex, [Co12 (cpip)12(H2O)12].18.56H2O where H2cpip = 2-(carboxy-phenyl) amino-propanoic acid, was isolated as pink-like prism crystals from the reaction of Co(NO3)2.6H2O and H2cpip in an ethanolic solution. The complex was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The symmetric unit of the title complex contains twelve cobalt atoms arranged in a cube-octahedron. Each divalent cation of cobalt is iso-octahedrally coordinated to four oxygen atoms of two cpip2- ligands in the equatorial plane. The axial plane is occupied by an amino nitrogen atom of one of the cpip2- ligands and an oxygen atom of a water molecule. The lattice water molecule in the metallocycle cavity involved OHO hydrogen bonding with the coordinated water molecules.


some regularity conditions on \Omega are assumed (see [2]). The bounded ness of T with the rough condition \Omega\in L^{q}(S^{n-1}\cross S^{m-1}) instead of regularity is obtained in [1]. In this paper, we shall use the method of block decomposition for functionsu to improve the result of boundedness above. It should be pointed out that the method of block decomposition for functions is originated by M. H. Taibleson and G. Weiss in the study of the convergence of the Fourier series (see [6]). Latter on, many applications of the block decomposition to Harmonic analysis were discovered (see [5]). For example, a sort of method related to block decompositions is applied to study the boundedness of singular integral operators with rough kernel in [3]-[4] . Thus, this paper can also be regarded as generalization of the one-parameter results in [3]-[4] . Let us begin with the definition of q -block on S^{n-1}\cross S^{m-1} .


The concept of using hemilabile ligand-containing complexes as the basis for multianalyte sensors is introduced: the preparation of two such ruthenium complexes (1 and 2) and their reactivity towards a series of donor molecules is reported; differential photoluminescence and absorption responses are observed.


Abstract : A Fortran program is presented which computes a normalized equivalent source strength for the Class 2 Flextensional Underwater Acoustic Transducer Shell and in addition establishes the shells effective coefficient for the fundamental mode of vibration. The input data and the output data formats are described.


The competitive choice of emission taxes by two governments is analysed in a model of monopolistic competition with capital mobility where pollution externalities are regional. Assuming that governments have no other policy instrument apart from emission taxes at their disposal, I show that governments choose inefficiently low (high) taxes if the importance of emissions in production is small (large) relative to transport costs and the mark-up. In contrast to the previous literature, the marginal disutility of pollution is not among the parameters which separate the non-cooperative choice of emission taxes from the social planner's choice. Copyright 2001 by The editors of the Scandinavian Journal of Economics.


Formation of the modern system of public administration in independent Kazakhstan since the early 1990s has been accompanied by the development and implementation of new institutions. One such institution is an institution of annual evaluation of state bodies performance as a mechanism to increase manageability and effectiveness of their activities. The article is produced on the basis of results of a section within the research work under the topic: "Institutionalization of the assessment system for government agencies' performance in the Republic of Kazakhstan: current status and development prospects" implemented within the framework of the grant project under the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article is devoted to the formation of the assessing system for government agencies' performance, the specifics of its implementation in Kazakhstan.


Yehoshua Pfeffer is a rabbi and former dayan, specializing in monetary law. He currently heads the chareidi division at the Tikvah Fund in Israel, teaches at Yeshivas Chedvas HaTorah, and is editor-in-chief of the new Tzarich Iyun online journal. Pfeffer has written numerous books and articles on different subjects of Jewish law and thought; lectures extensively for various forums in Israel and abroad; and has served as chief halachic assistant to the former Chief Rabbi of Israel and as a researcher for the Israel Law Ministry. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in law from Hebrew University, and clerked at the Supreme Court of Israel. He lectures at Hebrew University and at Ono Academic College. Toward a Conservative Chareidi-ism1


In her offering, Dorothy Watts reflects on her time as an external student, part-time tutor, and then as staff member of the Department of Classics and Ancient History at The University of Queensland. There have been many changes, but the students remain the same.


Although Philippine FDI outflows still lag behind some of its ASEAN neighbours, there are an increasing number of Philippine transnational corporations successfully investing abroad. This study focusing on four large indigenous firms provides insights on their international knowledge flows and the factors contributing to their technology strategies and innovation activities. This paper finds that market expansion activities increase learning in firms that extend knowledge and technical assistance from the home office to affiliates in host countries. Firms augment their capabilities and experience through long-term relationships with partners in production networks, in particular with suppliers who provide support for in-house innovation.


Net primary productivity(NPP) is one of the important indicators to evaluate the condition of surface vegetation,and has great influence on analyzing and evaluating the global or regional ecological environment changes and carbon circle.During the research on global or regional ecological environment changes and carbon circle,many NPP models have been built,and CASA(Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach) model is one of the most effective model.Fangshan District is one of the suburb districts of Beijing City.Its vegetation cover is very important for Beijing's ecology.In order to find the vegetation cover changes in Fangshan District,the authors built a regional NPP estimation model based on CASA model mechanism and region solar radiation estimation model.During the NPP estimating,local meteorology data and Land-SAT TM remote sensing imagines on September 7,1992,August 31,2001 and September 8,2004 after radiometric correction and geometry correction were used.The estimation results were as the followings: the NPP was 152.01 g/(m~2·month) in August of 1992,142.83 g/(m~2·month) in August of 2001,and 96.32 g/(m~2·month) in August of 2004.The whole research area was plotted into five sub-regions,which were NPP higher sub-region,NPP high sub-region,NPP middle sub-region,NPP low sub-region and NPP lower sub-region.The average of the whole regional NPP and the total NPP on the whole regional decreased with time passing.Being affected by all other factors,the NPP structure was different.NPP in 1992 and 2001 gradually increased with the NPP sub-regions' changing from NPP lower sub-region to NPP higher sub-region.Their NPP maxima were all in NPP higher sub-region,following them were high NPP sub-region and NPP middle sub-region, while NPP maximum in 2004 was in NPP middle sub-region followed by NPP high sub-region and NPP low sub-region,and NPP in NPP higher sub-region was the lowest.The changes of the five sub-regions area rates in the whole vegetation cover area were as same as the changes of NPP.The respective biggest area rate in the three years was as the followings: 42.26% in 1992,which was presented in NPP higher sub-region,37.54% in 2001,which was presented in NPP higher sub-region,while 42.39% in 2004,which was presented in NPP middle sub-region.The analysis by step regression shows that the effects from average wind speed,rainfall and actual sunshine hours are more remarkable than those from the other factors on the regional NPP changes,especially the effect from rainfall.


ABSTRACT Jan Yün-hua is an internationally renowned scholar who has conducted exquisite research in the fields of Buddhist studies, Chan Studies, Dunhuang Studies, and Daoist Studies, among which Chinese Buddhism in particular is renowned. This paper discusses the life of Jan Yün-hua, his academic achievements, and his exploration of 'transformation of Buddhism from India to China' in three aspects. This paper argues that during his decades of academic career, Jan has focused on the ambitious academic goal of 'the transformation of Buddhism from India to China and its process,' which is the original purpose of his Buddhist studies and the theme of his lifelong exploration. According to Jan, the core idea of Chinese Buddhism, the idea of 'one mind', was formed in the eighth century. This idea was first established by Chengguan and finally completed by Zongmi and Yanshou. The concept of 'one mind' was first propagated by Tiantai, then supplemented and enriched by Huayan Buddhism, and after the incubation of the unification of meditation and doctrines, and the addition of Chan Buddhism, it became the mainstream development of Chinese Buddhism, and finally became the core thought of Chinese Buddhism.


Versatility is an essential asset of any research flight simulator but at the same time a high level of realism is needed to create the right experimental environment. How can a research flight simulator combine both efficiently and become the ultimate research platform? The answer to this question lies in the design of the architecture of the research flight simulator and the software techniques used to enhance its versatility. Each research project poses its specific requirements on the research flight simulator. Different projects require different aircraft types to address specific operational issues. To cope with these ever changing requirements a research flight simulator must be modular not only in software but also in hardware. Flight training simulators need a high level of realism because it's essential for the quality of flight training to create a cockpit environment that closely matches the real live cockpit. For a research flight simulator the focus of attention is aimed at the research objective and the changes it brings to the flight deck. In order to produce a high level of realism for a number of aircraft types, as in the case of a research flight simulator, the simulator must be reconfigurable to represent these aircraft types. A cost-efficient solution is one cockpit which can be reconfigured to represent different aircraft types by exchanging hardware components. To combine both versatility and a high level of realism in a research flight simulator a special versatile modular architecture is needed that facilitates both. The National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) has developed such an architecture and has implemented this architecture with the construction of its new research flight simulator called Generic Research Aircraft Cockpit Environment (GRACE). Both the hardware and the software used for GRACE are constructed to fit in this versatile modular structure. To make it easy to exchange components of the simulator the interfaces between the components must be designed to be generic. Generic in this sense means that the interfaces can support the superset of signals that any module may use. Special attention is needed to control the configuration of the simulator. Flexible configuration of the communication interfaces is the key to easy introduction of new and research specific modules to the architecture. Another technique applied to increase versatility is the use of adaptive software modules. The described versatile modular architecture and all the applied techniques to enhance this architecture are successfully demonstrated for the first time ever in the GRACE research flight simulator. In the most recent research projects GRACE was operated in four different aircraft configurations consisting of Fokker F100, Boeing B747400, Airbus A320 and A330. A lot of research specific software and hardware was integrated into GRACE with low effort and in a short time span. Its unique architecture has made GRACE the most versatile research flight simulator in the world today.


Methods.-Papillary muscles were obtained from the right ventricles of cats (1.0-1.5 kg) anaes- thetized with intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbital (25 mg/kg). Details of this preparation have been described elsewhere.3 Papillary muscles measured 5 to 11 mm unstretched with a cross- sectional area (calculated on the basis of weight, assuming the muscle to be a cylinder) of 0.9 to 1.3 mm.2 The muscle was placed in Krebs solution bubbled with a mixture of 95% 02 and 5% CO2. The base of the muscle was firmly fixed while its upper free end was tied by wire to a tension transducer (Statham G1-1000). The tension transducer could be moved with a microm- eter stage allowing the length of the muscle to be changed at will. The muscle was stimulated with a Grass Pulse Generator (Model S4). Resting (or passive) and active isometric tension were continuously recorded on a Sanborn multichannel oscillograph. initial (Lo) of the in order to avoid compression artifacts.6 Sections were examined in a well-alibrated RCA EMU 3F electron microscope with care being taken to normalize all lenses to insure reproducibility in electron optical magnification. Preservation of cytological structure was noted to be excellent.


BACKGROUND: Photochemical treatment (PCT) with amotosalen HCl (S‐59) was developed to inactivate pathogens and white blood cells in plasma (PCT‐FFP) used for transfusion support.


The inhibition performance of an imidazoline derivative inhibitor for carbon steel in CO2/H2S saturated 5% NaCl solution at 60 ℃ was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and weight loss measurements,and the surface analysis of carbon steel was performed by SEM and EDS.Results showed that the inhibitor CI-03,acting as an anodic-type inhibitor,could inhibit the corrosion of carbon steel in simulation solution significantly.Its adsorption on the metal surface obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm.The inhibitor could form a product film on the metal surface by adsorption,which brought on high protection performance for carbon steel.


Objective Experimental study of the mechanism in esophageal restenosis after balloon dilation of benign stricture.Methods Esophageal stenosis model of the rats was created by 5ml of 50% NaOH solution burn with double balloon method, and esophageal restenosis (RS) model was developed by esophageal stenosis with dilation of PTCA balloon catheter. Quantitative and quanlitative analysis of esophageal stenosis and RS formation in the rats were observed and recorded by analytic measurements imaging and immunohistologic chemistry respectively. Results Esophageal benign stricture and RS model of 49 rats were developed. Cross section area and perimeter of esophageal mucosa layer, muscule layer and the whole layer had increased in experimental group. Comparing to control group, it had remarkable significance in statistics ( P 0.05). PCNA was expressed in 5th day after dilation, and persisted to 1st month. FN was expressed in the 1st day after dilation, still positive on 2lst days, partly strong on 30th day. Conclusions The continued over secretion at all stage of PCNA and FN plays an important role in the RS after balloon dilation of esophageal benign stenosis.


The present invention, gonad toxicity diagnosis, and relates to the field of toxicological evaluation for the risk stratification of chemical compounds. In particular, to a method for diagnosing gonadal toxicity. The present invention compounds also relates to a method for identifying a method and gonads toxicity treat for drug to determine whether it is possible to induce such a gonadal toxicity in a subject. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a kit for diagnosing gonadal toxicity. .BACKGROUND


A multichannel temperature and flow menitoring system is designed based on the LabVIEW combined with STM32F100C6T6,where the thermistor and the flow meter are used as detecting components.The real-time data acquisition,display,storage and replay for the water temperature and flow rate are realized.The results show that the system effectively reflects temperature and flow rate,and has a certain practical significance.


This study aims to explore the complex interactions between an internal solitary wave and an external force using the Benjamin-Ono equation as the theoretical framework. The investigation encompasses both asymptotic and numerical approaches. By assuming a small amplitude for the external force, we derive a dynamical system that describes the behavior of the solitary wave amplitude and the position of its crest. Our findings reveal three distinct scenarios: (i) resonance between the solitary wave and the external force, (ii) oscillatory motion with closed orbits, and (iii) displacement from the initial position while maintaining the wave direction. However, through numerical simulations, we observe a different relationship between the amplitude of the solitary wave and its crest position. Specifically, for external forces of small amplitude, the simulations indicate the presence of an unstable spiral pattern. Conversely, when subjected to external forces of larger amplitudes, the solitary wave exhibits a stable spiral trajectory which resembles the classical damped mass-spring system.


One of the most important problems for studying neural network models is the adjustment of parametas. Here we show how to formulate the problem as the minimization of the dilferslee betwen two limit cycles. The backprop%ation method for leaming algorithms is described .ss the application of grsdient descent to an eror fundion that computes this difference. A mathematical formulation is given that is applicable to any type of network model, and is applied to several models. For example, when learning in a network in which dl cells have a common, adjustable, bias current, the value of the bias ie adjustcd at a rate proportional to the difference between the sum of the target outputs and the sum of the actual outputs. When learning in a network of n cells where a target output is given for every cell. the learning algorithm splits into R indepndent leaming algorithms, one per cell. For networks containing gap junctions, a gap junction is modelled D conductance times the potential difference between the two adjacent cells. The requirement that a conductme g munt be positive is enionzed by replacing g by a functbn pos(g*) whose value is always positive, for example cxp(O.lg*), and deriving an algorithm that adjusts the parameta g* in place of g. When target output is specified for every cell in a network with gap junctions. the learning algorithm splits into fewer independent componeds, one for each gap-mnneaed subset of the network. The lemming algorithm for II gspmnneeted set of cells cannot be paralklized further. As a find example, a leaming algwithm is derived for a mutually inhibitory twc- cell network in which each cell has a membrane current. This generalized approach to backpropagation allows one to derive a learning algorithm for alntoat any model neural network given in tem of differmtid equations. It will be an essential tool for adjusting parmetem in small but complex network models.


A number of authors (Wilson 1975, 1977; Charnov and Krebs 1975, Matessi and Jayakar 1976; Cohen and Eshel 1976) have recently suggested models for the evolution of altruistic behavior in the absence of either kin selection or differential extinction of groups. This possibility arises when the breeding population is divided into units, called trait groups by Wilson, within which behavioral interactions take place. Given sufficient genetic differentiation among trait groups, it can be shown that altruistic genotypes may sometimes increase in frequency in the population as a whole, even if they are at a disadvantage within each trait group, and even if there is random mating among trait groups. In particular, Wilson (1975, 1977) proposed a model where an altruistic individual confers a fitness benefit on other members of its group, but itself suffers a selective disadvantage in consequence. He showed that if variation in gene frequencies between trait groups arises simply because of binomial sampling of individuals from the overall population into trait groups, a gene for altruism of this sort is eliminated. He suggested that differential responses of altruistic and selfish genotypes to environmental heterogeneity might create a sufficiently arge excess in variance over binomial expectation that altruism could be favored. The purpose of this note is to show that this source of excess variance is extremely unlikely to allow a rare gene for altruism to spread, and that restrictions on interbreeding between trait groups are also incapable of promoting the evolution of altruism with this model. Following Wilson, consider a sexually reproducing haploid organism with discrete generations. The population is divided into an infinite number of trait groups of constant size n formed by sampling from the new individuals produced by the breeding population. There are two alleles, A (altruists) and a (selfish). The fitness of A and a within a trait-group containing i altruists are, respectively,


pathways of ion fragments. We call this method nonlinear Fourier-transfor m spectroscopy (NFTS). We have demonstrated the NFTS of O2, resulting in the decomposition of the measured velocity map image into three images in accordance with each pathway [3]. Nevertheless, we could not observe the whole feature of the ionization because the scanning range of the lAC measurement was limited to a few cycle periods of the fundamental laser field. In this paper, we present results of NFTS of O2 by extending the delay range ofIAC without losing sampling resolution of scanning by virtue of high-repetition rate (100 Hz) and short pulse duration (sub 15fs) of the driving fundamental laser pulse[4]. We compare the spectral shape obtained from the NFTS to that measured directly with a spectrometer because the delay range is much broader than the pulse duration of the fundamental pulse. In the measurement, high-harmonic radiation was generated by focusing of the driving laser into a 10cm gas cell, which was filled with Xe gas. The high-harmonic radiation was spatially divided into two replicas by a pair of silicon plates, and the two replicas were led to an ion-imaging spectrometer and focused onto O2 using a concave mirror of SiC. To measure the lAC response of the 0+ yield, we scanned the delay of the two replicas of high-harmonic radiation by moving one of the silicon plates every 50 nm, and the velocity map images of 0+ was acquired at each delay point. The acquired velocity map images of 0+ exhibits two components: a region around the peak at 0.4 eV and a region around the peak at 1.4 eV, as shown in Fig.l (a). The kinetic energy spectrum of 0+ is obtained by integrating the momentum distribution of 0+ over the angular distribution. 8y arranging the kinetic energy spectra in order of increasing the delay of two replicas, two-dimensional matrix map shown in Fig.l (b) was constructed, which represents interferometric autocorrelation response of 0+. We have resolved the reason why the interference fringes of these optical fields appear on the lAC trace in these regions [3]. We observe that the fringe period in region (A) in Fig 1 (b) coincides with the optical period of the fundamental laser pulse and that in region (8) is the same as the optical period of the third harmonic radiation. We derived the spectral response of the two kinetic energy regions, (A) and (8), by carrying out a Fourier transform (FT) of the interferometric


According to Venus Ginés, President and Founder of Dia de la Mujer Latina® (DML), "I found out I had Lupus around the same time that I was told I had breast cancer. Although college educated, I had no idea what Lupus was and suffered from health literacy on the topic of breast cancer. I was told by the breast surgeon that I need to undergo a double mastectomy and the rheumatologist raised concern on how this aggressive surgery might impact my immune system. I was ready to just give up and die."


Mobile spectrometric system based on two channels LaBr3(Ce) spectrometer, intended for the monitoring of polluted territories, developed using the updated and reinforced electric car. Software provides calculation of the specific activity, surface activity, minimal detection activity, ambient dose rate equivalent, compliance factor which demonstrate the level of the possible free release of the monitoring territory. The GPS equipment and the related software and methodology provide mapping of measurement results with the accuracy of up to 0.5 m.


Objective: To investigate the clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),and to provide references for developing effective treatment,as well as improving prognosis and life quality.Methods: Ninety patients with SLE were recruited,and their serum levels of C-reactive protein(CRP) were detected from June of 2009 to June of 2011.The patients were divided into infection group and non-infection group,and CRP levels were compared between two groups.Results: The CRP levels in infection group(9.8±3.5 mg/L) were significantly higher than in non-infection group(6.0±4.6 mg/L).But in non-infection group,there were no significant differences in CRP levels between the active and inactive lupus.Conclusion: CRP can be used as a sensitive and useful indicator for infection in patients with SLE.If the level of CRP is more than 8 mg/L,co-infection should be considered.


Owing to the specific economic and social background of the taiwan area, motorcycles have been a very important transportation mode in the past decade and will retain their significant position in the entire transportation system in the coming years. There are about four million motorcycles, comprising about 85 per cent of the total motor vehicles registration in taiwan area at the end of 1980. As a result of the large number of motorcycles, their high usage, and the unstable motorcycles manoeuvrability in comparison with other motor vehicles, motorcycle traffic safety has become an acute problem. Based upon the findings of this study, which were derived from original police traffic accident records and the use of computer category analysis, engineering and policy recommendations are formulated. They are (1) traffic regulations, management and control measures, (2) traffic engineering measures, (3) drivers' education and public traffic safety education programs, and (4) helmet- wearing protection propaganda and compulsory insurance (a).


The acoustics of opera houses represents an interesting topic in scientific literature due to their architectural and morphological characteristic traits (shape, materials, coupled volumes). A way to exploit the outstanding value of Italian theatres acoustics is to perform different typologies of music while adding or removing acoustically significant elements on the stage. Numerical simulations may be used as useful tools for designing distinct layouts and for optimising such performances. The present study investigates strengths and weaknesses of two different room acoustics modelling approaches: geometrical acoustics (GA) and wave-based methods. The commercial GA software ODEON and a hybrid ray-tracing and finite-difference timedomain (FDTD) approach are applied in this work. Measurements carried out in a sample of Italian Opera houses provide reference data for 3D virtual models calibration. Preliminary comparisons between room acoustical simulation methods are shown and discussed.


The grid computing paradigm offers promising solutions for distributed systems and applications. Currently, increasing resources are involved in grid environments and various applications are running on computational grids. Unfortunately, grid computing technology is still far away from reach of inexperienced application users, e.g. computational scientists and engineers. Workflow systems, originally coming from business process automation, are introduced into grid computing to alleviate grid users' burden of running jobs, especially for complex applications. Despite the fact that dozen of workflow models, systems and languages are proposed for grid computing, there still remain research issues to be addressed, for example, customization and performance isolation of workflow execution environments. Virtual environments in computational grids, which provide grid users with customized, performance guaranteed resource image, could be a promising solution for the aforementioned problems. This paper discusses our design of workflow systems based on virtual environments in grids. There are various services to support multiple virtual environments in the system, i.e. information service, factory service and repository service for virtual environments. The workflow enactment service can thus execute tasks on various virtual environments created, deployed and managed by these services


INTRODUCTION Photocopiers, like television sets, personal computers, and automobiles, have evolved from unique products into products that have been standardized to a great extent and have become, to a greater or lesser extent, commodities. By this we mean the way that the machines work, the basic technologies employed, and the products generated by them, if not identical are certainly very similar. However, to carry the simile a little further, like these other products, copiers come in different sizes and configurations with various accessories and with differences in their ruggedness. And, just as one would not buy a one-passenger sports car as the only automobile for a large family or one large luxury sedan for a house full of teenagers and other drivers when two or three smaller, less expensive and more economical cars might be a more suitable choice, it is important to determine needs before making a choice. Like acquiring an automobile, there is even a choice of how to pay for it-outright purchase, lease with an option to buy at the end of the lease term, renting, or even, like hiring a taxi, just paying for the copies that are made on a machine that is owned and serviced by someone else. In the 90's, there are literally hundreds of photocopiers from which to choose. Buyers Laboratory, Inc., a company that has been testing photocopiers for more than a quarter-century, currently tests more than fifty machines annually. In addition, the company issues the Copier Specification Guide, a quarterly publication which carries manufacturer specifications on over 500 machines currently being marketed in the U.S. Each year, the Guides typically add about 100 new models and drop a similar number of models which have been discontinued. There are some true commodities, such as sugar, salt, butter, milk, etc., that are so standardized that, except for things like packaging, freshness, or physical condition, can be purchased on the basis of cost or convenience alone. It is not that easy when buying an expensive and complicated piece of equipment that needs periodic service and is subject to breakdowns in service. This is when it becomes important to choose the most appropriate machine from the right company and use the most appropriate form of payment. Libraries are like many other users of photocopy equipment from headquarters of large corporations to sole proprietors of small businesses. The one thing that all have in common is the need for some sort of copying machine. But how does one know which machine, and from whom and how to acquire it? In some ways, the largest libraries may have the easiest job because they are large enough to have many machines and their account will be important enough to the vendor to receive special attention. Also, because the amount of money involved is so large, staff time will be assigned to the job of evaluating competing services. Saying this, however, the larger the number of machines an organization must acquire, the larger the consequences of a poor choice. Nevertheless, a bad choice for a small library, one with only a single copy machine and very limited resources, can be a very vexing problem, indeed. At this point, there are few libraries starting up from scratch and there are very few libraries of any size that do not already have at least one copier on the premises. So at least there is some history of use. Obviously, conditions can change, but at least knowing what has been the library's experience is a good starting point. A systematic evaluation of copying needs, both by function and location, is required. The following list contains some of the specific factors that may affect the choice of copier equipment in a library (the list is not comprehensive, but suggestive): * Formats of the material to be copied, e.g., newspapers, journals and magazines, bound periodicals and rebound books, trade books, individual or multipage documents, one-sided or two-sided. …


To the Editor: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the primary pediatric intraocular tumor initiated by the loss of both alleles of prototypic tumor suppressor gene, RB1. Of all RB patients, around 40% carry germline mutations in the RB1 gene,which typically cause tumorigenesis in their botheyes.1 With recent advances in genomic sequencing technologies, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is now widely used for various malignant tumors including rare pediatric cancers. Of note, only eyes with RB at advanced stages undergo enucleation, and the tumor samples are not always available for CGP.We here present an interesting CGP result of a boy with bilateral RB, which suggestedmultifocal development of RB in a single eye. A 4-month-old Japanese male child presented with leukocoria of the right eye, and examination by an ophthalmologist revealed bilateral retinal tumors.Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large tumor in the right eyeball at an advanced stage (International Classification for Retinoblastoma [ICRB] stage D) and two smaller lesions in the left eye (ICRB stage B) (Figure 1A).2 Because of potential tumor invasion into the optic nerve, the right eyeball was enucleated at onset, and pathological analysis confirmed no sign of tumor outside the right eye. The residual tumors in the left eye regressed during three courses of multidrug chemotherapy (vincristine, etoposide, and carboplatin) (Figure 1B).3 Accordingly, several modalities of local treatments were


A number of models for high‐temperature superconductivity in the layered cuprate perovskites require strong antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions between Cu atoms. The existence of such interactions in La2CuO4−y has previously been demonstrated. In this paper a review is given of recent neutron scattering work performed at Brookhaven studying antiferromagnetism in RBaCu3O6+x with R=Y, Nd. Measurements on ceramic samples with a range of oxygen concentrations have shown that three‐dimensional antiferromagnetic ordering of the Cu spins occurs throughout the nonsuperconducting tetragonal phase, corresponding to 0≤x≲0.4. Near x∼0 the Cu2+ atoms in the CuO2 layers form a simple Neel lattice, and there is no ordering of the nonmagnetic Cu1+ atoms in the ''chain'' sites. With increasing oxygen content some of the Cu1+ atoms are converted to Cu2+, which leads to frustration of the interplanar coupling and eventually to a second type of ordering. Very recently, large single crystals of YBa2Cu3O6+x have been ...


Leisure agriculture has become the main theme of the development of tourism in the 21st century.Western Hunan,with mountain mid-subtropical monsoon humid climate environment,abundant and peculiar in human and natural ecological landscape,colorful ethnic customs,as well as the more superior location traffic conditions,a broad tourist market and the original sound foundation for development,is conducive to the development of leisure agriculture.But it must combine with the construction of the ecological environment;explore authentic local native culture in-depth and choose the development model according to local conditions.


This study aims to develop a model of dashboard information system to improve the quality of scientific journal management. The method used to develop the model of the dashboard is prototyping. The dashboard was also developed using the Pivot Table, Histogram/ Column Chart, Line Plot/ Line Chart, and Area Chart approach. For case study, the information displayed in the dashboard which from data recorded in the MAVIB Journal. The information used includes information about the score of articles that have been received, website visitor in the form of a summary report View Page Statcounter. It can be downloaded in Excel form. The Prototype Dashboard Information System and the addition of Additional Menu in OJS were made using figma, so that it becomes an illustration for designing and updating the appearance of OJS website pages. The information displayed in the dashboard is used to make decisions in order to improve the management of scientific journals. The results show that the dashboard model successfully displays strategic information, tactical information and transactional information. This information can be used by journal managers to make decisions in improving the quality of journal management.


Reframes the story of modern Ethiopia around the contributions of the Oromo people and the culturally fluid union of communities that shaped the nation's politics and society.


INTERNET IN THE 10-12 AGE-GROUP: AN AUTONOMOUS
COMMUNICATION RESOURCE
A computer with Internet access enables anyone, but especially those
seeking their autonomy, during the construction of their identity (here, the
10-12 age-group), to build or nurture relations that largely defy peer group or
parental control. Not all take advantage of this opportunity in the same way.
Apart from age, two variables account for variations in intensity of use:
differences in sociability and differences in levels of parental control. These
variables can also be used to understand the meaning of use in this context.
The authors thus explain use in four ways, based on four user profiles in
which the computer and Internet constitute either an extension of the world
outside the home, an 'open window' onto the outside world, a collective
good that tends to unite the family, or, finally, a parental device that tends to
keep the child in her/his position as their daughter/son.


The standard way to characterize sensor performance is by means of the Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference (MRTD) and Minimum Resolvable Contrast (MRC) methods. These methods are based on Fourier analysis and work reasonably well for linear (analogue) systems. However, nonlinear effects, such as sampling, are not properly accounted for. As an alternative, the Triangle Orientation Discrimination (TOD) method has been proposed, based on 4 oriented triangles, that can handle nonlinear effects. Here, we present a model that predicts the TOD-sensor performance characterization curve from the system parameters. It consists of i) a sensor model and ii) a model of the visual system of the observer. The sensor model generates display images which are fed into the visual system model. The visual system is modeled by a bank of band-pass filters which mimic the pattern of neural activity in the visual cortex (using a common stack model). The neural activity is calculated and internal noise is added. Finally, a decision is made based on a correlation with the expected neural activity of the 4 possible inputs. The model has been validated with two human observer experiments in which the TOD-curve 1) of the naked eye, and 2) of a simulated thermal staring sensor system were measured. An internal noise level could be found for which the TOD of the naked eye of the two observers could be predicted. The model gives reasonable (but somewhat optimistic) predictions of the TOD-sensor performance curve of the simulated staring camera. Although more tests and modifications are required, these preliminary results suggest that the model can be developed into a model which predicts the TOD for all kinds of sensor systems, which may include sampling effects, noise, blur and (local) image enhancement methods.


This new supplement of issue 88 of the Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (AABC) gathers both original and review papers from outstanding Brazilian and international researchers. Several of them show compounds acting as protective agents in different diseases, including selenium and selenium-containing compounds. Selenium is an essential nutrient for human metabolism, especially due its antioxidant properties (Maldonado et al. 2012, Liu et al. 2013, Noguchi 2016). In this context, Ellwanger et al. (2016) revisited some biological functions of selenium and the impact of a dysregulation of its levels in the organism. In the same paper, the authors also discussed the beneficial effects of selenium in animal models of Parkinson's disease, a severe neurodegenerative disease. Moreover, Oliveira et al. (2016) demonstrated that the organoselenium compound HBD is atheroprotective by preventing Cu2+-induced oxidation of lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), the main factor that causes atherosclerosis (Spence 2016).


This manuscript describes the self-consistent simulation of diffusion at the magnetopause driven by Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability. Two-dimensional hybrid (kinetic ions, fluid electrons) simulations of the most KH-unstable configuration where the shear flow is oriented perpendicular to the uniform magnetic field are carried out. The motion of the simulation particles are tracked during the run and their mean-square displacement normal to the magnetopause is calculated from which diffusion coefficients are determined. The diffusion coefficients are found to be time dependent, with D{sub x} {proportional_to} t{sup {alpha}}, where {alpha} > 1. Additionally, the probability distribution functions (PDF) of the 'jump lengths' the particles make over time are found to be non-gaussian. Such time-dependent diffusion coefficients and non-gaussian PDF's have been associated with so-called 'super-diffusion', in which diffusive mixing of particles is enhanced over classical diffusion. The results indicate that while turbulence associated with the break-down of vortices contributes to this enhanced diffusion, it is the growth of large-scale, coherent vortices is the more important process in facilitating it.


»Sudan entered the twenty-first century mired in not one but many civil wars,« rightly noted one scholar, who had held a first-hand research on the state and its society.2 Indeed, what had been seen in the mid-1950s and with increased vigor during the 1960s-1980s as a war between Sudan's two starkly-different human blocs – the Arab Muslim majority living in the north of the country, and the African, Christian and animist minority concentrated in the south – has largely expanded beyond these geopolitical, ethnic and religious bounds throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. In fact, the longer the war has lasted, the greater it expanded both in scope and essence, assuming the pattern of interlocking civil wars while engulfing major areas of the vast Sudanese landscape. Moreover, the more the war extended the deeper it has encroached beyond the country's borders, being transformed from an intrastate dispute to an interstate one and vice versa. This, in turn, has enormously strengthened the pressure and threat upon Sudan's territorial integrity, political and economic stability, human well-being and foreign relations, and, in fact, upon every facet of the state's life, dragging it into a frightful maelstrom of havoc. It was of no surprise, therefore, that the northern society and the southern society, which for methodological convenience alone and notwithstanding the broadly complex potential for inaccuracy, will henceforth be referred to as »north« and »south,« breathed a particularly deep sigh of relief at the signing of the set of interim »peace agreements« in mid-2004. These projected hope for an imminent end to the protracted armed conflict. Yet, and not accidentally, just as the south-north conflict has been paving its tormenting way to resolution, or at least toward a considerable lull in the fighting, another war has been vigorously ravaging the western region of Dafur, dizzying the state and its people in a new cycle of chaos and human tragedy. Concurrently, other grievances, in the Nuba Mountains, the Blue Nile and the Red Sea area, have continued to simmer, fueling the fire of belligerence across the vast Sudanese territory. One of Sudan's political figures had once figuratively compared the war-torn state to »a powerful eagle, yet suffering a broken wing,« pointing out that without he-


Let be a family of meromorphic functions in a domain D,and then each f∈F has zeros of multiplicity at least k+1.Let k,n be two positive integers and n≥k+2.Let a(a≠0),b be two finite complex numbers,for any f,its number of zeros is k+1 at least.Each pair of functions f and g in F,f+a(f(k))n and g+a(g(k))n shares b,ignoring multiplicity,then F is normal in D.


Even though the quantum size effect on the electronic gap of nano-structures is well-understood, its implication on the optical absorption near band gap energies is still a challenging question, especially for metal-oxides. A unique class of highly stable, self-saturated and self-charge-compensated delafossite nanocrystals has been identified in this paper. The structural and electronic properties of these nanocrystalline Cu-based delafossites have been studied using density functional theory (DFT). To better estimate the electronic excitation energies, and consequently the optical gap, a time-dependent DFT has also been employed. The goal here is to study whether a nano-phase can enhance the optical absorption of near band gap energies of delafossite nano-structures compared to their bulk state to enable their application as a photocatalyst.


Our conception of the local bourgeoisie differs from that held by many writers on Egypt by being confined to that social class or socio-economic group which sought the protection and the establishment of industrial and financial enterprises as such, and that independently from, and at the expense of, foreign commercial interests. The latter consisted of agents of foreign commercial firms who were opposed to the development of local industry in Egypt. Only Egyptian merchants, whose interests were strongly tied to local industry, are regarded here as members of this bourgeoisie. The inter-war period is of paramount importance in understanding the emergence of the local bourgeoisie and clarifying some of the misconceptions concerning the role of this bourgeoisie. Contrary to what Abdel-Malek and Girgis claim, the two main groups of the local bourgeoisie, namely, the Bank Misr group and the Association of Industries, were basically at loggerheads with foreign commercial interests such as the British Chamber of Commerce of Egypt, during the 1920s. Both glossed over the important distinction between the role of the Bank Misr group and even that of the local bourgeoisie as a whole, and the foreign commercial interests. Abdel-Malek grouped, unjustifiably, what we have called the local bourgeoisie and the foreign commercial interests into one group or class, namely, the 'upper bourgeoisie'. Girgis used the term 'national bourgeoisie' exclusively with respect to the Wafd.1 Furthermore, the Bank Misr group tried to act as the nucleus of a national and an independent bourgeoisie in spite of its reliance on large landowners. However, both Abdel-Malek and Girgis underestimated Bank Misr's contribution to the economic ideology of the nationalist movement in Egypt and in particular of the Wafd. Thus the aim of this article is to trace the emergence of a local bourgeoisie in Egypt as a fully-fledged class by the end of the 1930s. We called it local and not Egyptian because it was predominantly composed of members of the local foreign minorities, although there was also an important Egyptian section, namely, the Bank Misr group. The latter began as the nucleus of a national bourgeoisie, that is, an Egyptian and independent bourgeoisie, whose ideology was embodied in the doctrine of 'economic independence'. The other section of the local bourgeoisie was the Federation of Industries, which was dominated by local foreigners. We shall examine each section separately during the 1920s and 1930s because they had basically different objectives. Nevertheless, we show the factors which led to their eventual coalescence and the consequent formation of a local bourgeoisie, which continued to exist until the early 1960's. Finally, we shall also examine this local bourgeoisie as it


Editor, Biologic therapies are used to treat multiple inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis. In most regimens, loading doses are used to reduce the time to therapeutic drug levels and, ideally, shorten the time to clinical response. Despite widespread use, there is limited evaluation of whether drug regimens with loading doses yield better clinical outcomes compared with nonloading dose regimens, especially given their increased cost and resulting pressure on physicians from payors to forego them. Published reasons for loading dose use include the need for more drug to achieve than maintain disease control, to neutralize or prevent the formation of anti-drug antibodies and to achieve therapeutic drug levels in protein-losing enteropathies, like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. However, there is no clear pattern of biologic therapy use, as regimens with loading doses are recommended for some biologics but not others, sometimes independent of half-life and drug. This study seeks


i ABSTRACT Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) holds potential for significantly impacting the primary caregiver and family, as well as the child with ASD. In particular, sleep problems occur frequently among children with ASD, and their poor sleep may negatively affect that of their caregivers. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and Family Quality of Life (FQoL) are salient indices of caregiver and family well-being. This pilot study explored associations between family caregiver sleep problems and caregiver sense of coherence (SOC) or coping on HRQoL and FQoL. Additionally, this study examined relationships between child sleep and behavior problems on caregiver sleep and well-being. Sixty-two family caregivers of children with ASD (M =7.61, range: 6-11 years old) participated in this survey study. Participants provided demographic information and completed measures of HRQoL, FQoL, caregiver sleep, SOC, parental stress, child sleep, and child behavior. Caregivers with longer sleep duration reported better mental health and better FQol. Caregivers who reported insomnia symptoms, non-restorative sleep, and insufficient sleep were more likely to report poorer mental health than caregivers who did not report these sleep disorder symptoms. A stronger caregiver SOC was associated with lower caregiver stress, better mental health, and better FQoL. Significant relationships were found between shorter caregiver sleep duration or sleep disorder symptoms (i.e., difficulty staying asleep, early morning awakening, insufficient sleep) and greater child sleep problems. Moreover, short sleep duration or insufficient sleep among caregivers ii was significantly associated with greater parenting stress. Notably, biological parents with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) had children with more restless sleep and higher rates of some behavior problems. There are a number of potential connections between sleep problems of children with ASD and sleep problems of their caregivers that are likely rooted in genetic, environmental, socioeconomic , and behavioral factors. Interventions for sleep problems must address the context of the family and consider that sleep problems may be common to the caregiver and the child. The results of this study support findings from many prior studies and point to salient variables for future research and interventions to promote healthy caregiver sleep. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Landscape spatial pattern mainly refers to the distribution of patches, which are different in size and shape in space owing to the interaction of various ecological activities. The study on landscape spatial pattern provides valuable information for rational management of the environmental resources. And it has been one of the key study areas in landscape ecology as a whole. This article presents the dynamic change of wetland spatial pattern in the last two decades in the Sanjiang Plain based on the trial of models of proximity index, distribution centroid, and extended dimension, a parameter to represent the shape of wetland patches.;Sanjiang Plain consists of Heilong River, Songhua River and Wusuli River, located in the region of 43°49′55″~48°27′40″N, 129°11′20″~135°05′26″E, where 23 counties covers a gross area of 108,900 km2. Satellite imageries of different years, Landsat MSS in 1980, Landsat TM in 1996 and 2000 respectively, were used to analyse the dynamic change of wetland spatial pattern in the study area. For the images captured approximately in the same season, the change detection error introduced by mere seasonal difference was minimized. Following an interactive interpretation procedure, the distribution map of wetland in 1980, 1996 and 2000 were obtained, which were geometrically registered to a common map projection. Software Arc/Info 7.1 and Excel 2000 were employed in the analysis.;The study shows that the number of patches in 2000 increased by 46% over 1980, the density of patches tripled, and the area and perimeter of the biggest patch in 1996 decreased by 65.37%, 52.47% over 1980. Furthermore, the gap of patches in 1996 and 2000 was larger than in 1980. Both increased number of patches and gap between patches indicate the increasing fragmentation of wetland patches. The distribution centroid of patches has moved 7.05km towards southwest from 1980 to 1996, and 6.01km towards northwest from 1996 to 2000. The development of wetland was 14.222, 11.101 and 11.262 in 1980, 1996 and 2000 respectively, which means that the shape of wetland was very much irregular, far more different from a rounded shape.;In short, the impact of human activity on the spatial pattern of wetland in the last two decades in the Sanjiang Plain was large, especially from 1980 to 1996. It reduced its strength from 1996 to 2000 because some protective measures had been taken.


A 19-year-old female with cystic fibrosis (DF508/G551D genotype) was started on ivacaftor therapy, which corrects the gating defect of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel associated with the G551D mutation. Before starting therapy, she experienced chronic sinus disease with nasal congestion, facial pressure, and associated headaches requiring functional endoscopic sinus surgery on two separate occasions earlier in adolescence. She was otherwise healthy, with spirometry showing FVC 3.04 L (87% predicted) and FEV1 2.39 L (77% predicted) and computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest showing mild cylindrical bronchiectasis in the upper lobes. With a history of allergic rhinitis, treatment that was started during early adolescence in 2005, including saline nasal wash, fluticasone propionate nasal spray, and montelukast sodium, was continued. After 1.5 years of ivacaftor treatment, her sweat chloride decreased from 124 and 113 mmol/L (at time of diagnosis in 1992) to 38 and 40 mmol/L, while her body mass index increased from 20.5 to 23.2 kg/m. Follow-up spirometry showed improvement in FVC to 3.49 L (100% predicted) and FEV1 to 3.19 L (103% predicted). On ivacaftor therapy, respiratory cultures persisted to isolate mucoidal Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. She experienced no pulmonary exacerbations during this 1.5-year time period, and her sinus symptoms completely resolved, with maxillofacial CT showing significant improvement (Figure 1). Based on our experiences, maxillofacial CT is a useful tool to appraise response of sinus disease to ivacaftor for patients with CF with CFTR-G551D mutation. n


Abstract BMI trajectories are associated with nighttime sleep, but it is less clear how they relate to daytime sleepiness. We examined the association between levels and changes in daytime sleepiness and BMI among men and women using growth curve models among 1047 participants in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study (mean [sd] age = 51.1 [8.0] years at baseline). The outcome variable was BMI (kg/m2). Key predictors were self-reported sleepiness measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the objective Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) scores at each data collection wave. Men, but not women, who were sleepier had higher BMI levels. Age moderated the association between changes in ESS and MSLT sleepiness and BMI trajectories. The association was weaker for older men, but stronger for younger men; such effect was the opposite for women. The MSLT models further suggested that women who were sleepier had steeper increases in BMI over time.


Copyright © 2013 Massachusetts Medical Society Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) represent the most common tumor in women. These lesions disrupt the functions of the uterus and cause excessive uterine bleeding, anemia, defective implantation of an embryo, recurrent pregnancy loss, preterm labor, obstruction of labor, pelvic discomfort, and urinary incontinence and may mimic or mask malignant tumors. By the time they reach 50 years of age, nearly 70% of white women and more than 80% of black women will have had at least one fibroid; severe symptoms develop in 15 to 30% of these women.1,2 Uterine fibroids in black women are significantly larger at diagnosis than those in white women, are diagnosed at an earlier age, and are characterized by more severe symptoms and a longer period of sustained growth.3-5 Approximately 200,000 hysterectomies, 30,000 myomectomies, and thousands of selective uterineartery embolizations and high-intensity focused ultrasound procedures are performed annually in the United States to remove or destroy uterine fibroids. The annual economic burden of these tumors is estimated to be between $5.9 billion and $34.4 billion.6 There may be one predominant uterine fibroid or a cluster of many fibroids (Fig. 1). Very large fibroids can cause the uterus to expand to the size reached at 6 or 7 months of pregnancy. The location and size of the fibroid in the uterus are critical determinants of its clinical manifestations. As compared with other fibroids, submucous fibroids that extend into the uterine cavity are the most disruptive to endometrial integrity, implantation, and the capacity of the myometrium to contract and stop menstrual bleeding from the endometrial blood vessels; thus, even small submucous fibroids are associated with excessive or irregular bleeding, infertility, and recurrent pregnancy loss. In contrast, subserous fibroids that grow out into the peritoneal cavity can exert pressure that is sensed by the patient as pelvic discomfort only if they reach a certain size. Intramural fibroids that reside in the myometrial wall represent an intermediary group. Regardless of their size or location, fibroids may have paracrine molecular effects on the adjacent endometrium that are extensive enough to cause excessive uterine bleeding or defective implantation.7 Uterine fibroids are monoclonal tumors that arise from the uterine smoothmuscle tissue (i.e., the myometrium).8 Histologically, fibroids are benign neoplasms composed of disordered smooth-muscle cells buried in abundant quantities of extracellular matrix (Fig. 1). The cells proliferate in vivo at a modest rate. Formation of the extracellular matrix also accounts for a substantial portion of tumor expansion. Uterine fibroids are almost always benign.9 A striking feature of uterine fibroids is their dependency on the ovarian steroids estrogen and progesterone.10 Ovarian activity is essential for fibroid growth, and most fibroids shrink after menopause. The sharp elevations and declines in the production of estrogen and progesterone that are associated with very early pregnancy and the postpartum period have a dramatic effect on fibroid growth.11-13 Gonadotropin-releasing-hormone (GnRH) analogues, which suppress ovarian activity and reduce circulating levels of estrogen and progesterone, shrink fibroids and reduce associated uterine bleeding.14


In the medical imaging domain, image quality assessment is usually carried out by human observers (HuO) performing a clinical task in reader studies. To overcome time-consuming reader studies numerical model observers (MO) were introduced and are now widely used in the CT research community to predict the performance of HuOs. In the recent years, machine learning based MOs showed promising results for SPECT. Therefore, we built a neural network, a socalled softmax regression model based on machine learning, as MO for x-ray CT. Performance was evaluated by comparing to one of the most prevalent MOs, the channelized Hotelling observer (CHO). CT image data labeled with confidence ratings assessed in a reader study for a detection-task of signals of different sizes, different noise levels and different reconstruction algorithms were used to train and test the MOs. Data was acquired with a clinical CT scanner. For each of four different x-ray radiation exposures, there were 208 repeated scans of a Catphan phantom. The neural network based MO (NN-MO) as well as the CHO showed good agreement with the performance in the reader study.


A coaxial quadrature bridge based on digital synthesis has been developed. The bridge compares two resistance standards (having nominal resistance R), with two capacitance standards (nominal capacitance C), at an angular frequency omega(such that omegaRC ~ 1). All standards are defined as two terminal-pair impedances. All voltages and currents employed in the bridge are generated by a multiphase direct digital synthesizer, constructed around a personal computer DAC board and a set of integrated amplifiers; the number of electromagnetic devices has been kept to a minimum. The bridge is made to be employed in the realization of the farad unit, starting from the representation of ohm given by the quantum Hall effect. Relative bridge accuracy during the calibration of 1000 pF capacitors in terms of 100 kOmega resistors at omega =10 kradmiddots-1 has been verified to be less than 10-6; preliminary uncertainty assignment give a transfer uncertainty of a few parts in 10_ .