Objective To study the modulation of budesonide(BUD) on signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) and its gene expression in the rat model of asthma. Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control group(group A), asthma group(group B) and budesonide group(BUD group), animals in each group were killed 24 h after the last challenge. In the experiment, the rat model of asthma was established by the ovalbumin(OVA) challenge methods. The lung tissue was gained from the left lung, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was gained from the right lung. The total cell numbers, eosinophils(EOS) numbers and differentiated cell numbers in BALF were counted by different count fluids; the concentration of IL-4 and IL-12 in BALF was measured by sandwich ELISA; the protein expressions of STAT6 were detected by immunohistochemistry techniques; the mRNA expressions of STAT6 were determined by hybridization in situ. Results (1) The total cell numbers in BALF, the absolute numbers of EOS, the ratios of eosinophils to the total cell numbers(EOS%) of asthma group were all significantly higher than those of the control group(P0.01); the total cell numbers in BALF, the absolute numbers of EOS, EOS% of budesonide group were all significantly lower than those of asthma group (P0.01). (2) The concentration of IL-4 in BALF of asthma group was significantly higher than that of control group(P0.01), the concentration of IL-4 of budesonide group was significantly lower than that of asthma group; while the concentration of IL-12 in BALF of asthma group was significantly lower than that of control group(P0.01), the concentration of IL-12 of budesonide group was significantly higher than that of asthma group. (3) Immunohistochemistry and hybridization in situ showed that the content of protein and mRNA expressions of STAT6 around the bronchus of asthma group were all significantly higher than those of the control group( P0.01 ), while those of budesonide group were significantly lower than those of the asthma group, the epithelial cells were the chief expression cells. (4) There was a significant positive correlation between the concentration of IL-4 in BALF, the content of STAT6 and STAT6 mRNA respectively in the bronchial epithelial cells; there was a significant correlation between the absolute numbers of EOS in BALF, the content of STAT6 and STAT6 mRNA respectively in the epithelial cells; there was also a significant negative correlation between the concentration of IL-12 in BALF, the content of STAT6 and STAT6 mRNA respectively. Conclusion Budesonide had an inhibitory effect on airway inflammation, it significantly depressed STAT6 and its mRNA expression, thus reduced the synthesis of IL-4 may be key in modulating mechanism of asthma.


This paper is based on 7 evaluation reports that were submitted to the Scottish Executive on the use of the secure transitions fund, a pilot project. The aim of the fund was to reduce readmissions into secure care. Celcis was commissioned by the secure units to evaluate the use of the fund. Evelyn Vrouwenfelder was the Primary researcher and principal writer.


Abstract : This investigation established the techniques to evaluate unitary and cluster weapons and developed a computer program capable of optimizing warhead design parameters and terminal delivery conditions of munitions and cluster fragmentation/blast weapon systems when deployed against surface target complexes. The program incorporates the following: (1) the Method of Steepest Ascent optimization procedure to determine optimal parameter values and a parametric mode for parameter sensitivity investigations; (2) high efficiency which enables the kill probability of a weapon to be optimized with minimum computer time; (3) state of the art technology employed in the unitary and cluster weapon evaluation modes; (4) mathematical definition of warhead and target amenable to use of existing data; and (5) program in modular form permitting modification for development of future weapon optimization computer programs with minimal effort. The lethal area weapon optimization computer program was modified to increase flexibility and user convenience. (Author)


An electrophoretically homogeneous preparation of rat hypophysial mammotrophin (prolactin) with approximately 37 IU/mg of pigeon crop-stimulating activity and no detectable somatotrophin has been shown to be luteotrophic in hypophysectomized rats. Its M.E.D. in deciduoma formation was 50 μg daily, equaling that of homogeneous ovine mammotrophin. (Endocrinology 85: 378,1969)


According to the Adhesion Treaty, the years between 2007 and 2009 accounted the Romanian agriculture for a transition period. The first post-adhesion measures available and applicable to the rural area were the European SAPARD further measures which continued with Romanian SAPARD program. Other post-adhesion programs that explicitly aim to rural development are: Sectoral Operational Programme, Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development, Operational Programme "Regional Development". Main feature of Romanian rural economy is very large percentage of small farms producing mainly for own consumption. The existence of a large number of small farms along with very large farms reveals structural imbalance affecting the competitiveness of Romanian agriculture.


Abstract In March 1998, South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust joined forces with the Children's Law Centre to host this one day conference on children's rights. Nearly 100 delegates drawn from a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community organisations attended the conference, representing around 30 different agencies from across the four Health and Social Services Boards and further afield. The aim of the conference was to raise awareness about and promote children's rights in our society.


The monitoring of quality attributes such as, total soluble solids (TSS), mass, acidity and firmness are essential for a better postharvest conservation of mango. This work proposes a non destructive approach for prediction of those quality attributes using digital images. The proposed approach is composed by three stages: 1) specification of the sampling parameters of mango, 2) identification of digital images pre-processing techniques and 3) utilization of the Random Forest technique as estimator of the quality attributes. In order to validate the proposed approach, a study comparing its performance with models found in literature was carried out. The study used two metrics of performance evaluation: the correlation coefficient (R) and the root mean square error (RMSE). In order to compare the differences of performance between the proposed approach and approaches found in literature, a paired t-student's hypothesis test was carried out. Results show that the proposed approach has a superior performance regarding the existing ones, with confidence level of 95%.


This policy paper wishes to be a timely contribution towards a fruitful debate among stakeholders; it urges International Oil Companies (IOCs) to examine how the critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Greece can be integrated into their core business so that the oil and gas industry can contribute to the country's sustainable growth.


Bargaining and distribution of benefits accruing from social cooperation are central topics in contractarian accounts of morality or distributive justice in general and David Gauthier's Morals by Agreement (MbA) in particular. In this paper, I raise some problems for MbA both with regards to bargaining over the benefits of social cooperation and the distribution of such benefits. The worries I raise piggyback on a couple of Jan Narveson's earlier queries of some of the topics in MbA: those of 'questionable foundation' and redundancy. However, I go beyond the substance of these queries by arguing that they raise fundamental worries about the correctness of the description of the elements of the bargaining situation, and the role and significance of agreement in MbA.


An efficient technique is described for performing one-dimensional (1-D) integrals of oscillatory complex functions, such as might arise in the numerical solution of diffraction problems. The upper integration limit may be infinite, provided that the phase of the integrand varies rapidly beyond some point. The integration is done in segments chosen so that both the phase and amplitude may be approximated as cubic polynomials on each segment, with a small cubic term for phase, and continued to infinity from the last segment. Three methods are given for integrating at each step: 1) an asymptotic-series method; 2) an "almost-quadratic-phase" method; and 3) an "almost-linear-phase" method. Criteria are given for choosing among the methods. An example calculation verifies the method in the special case of wave diffraction over two knife edges.


Objective:A DDVP-degrading bacterium was isolated from the long-term organophosphorous pesticide-polluted soil. Then the bacterium was identified and its degrading capability was studied. Method: Utilizing DDVP as the sole carbon and energy source, a predominated bacterium,designated as strain DDW-1,was isolated by enrichment culture and streak plate method.The strain DDW-1 was identified based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis and its morphological and physiological characteristics and its DDVP degradation capability was measured by gas chromatography. Result: The strain DDW-1 was identified as Methylobacterium sp. The optimum conditions for the growth of the strain DDW-1 were initial pH 7.0 and 28℃. After 3 days, DDVP was degraded by 63.7%under the optimum condition. Conclusion: DDVP could be degraded by strain DDW-1 and some endoenzyme was produced during this process.


ABSTRACT Epidemic strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa often have increased levels of antibiotic resistance, and these resistance phenotypes are difficult to predict. We used quantitative proteomics to compare the responses of laboratory strain PAO1 and two isolates of the Liverpool epidemic strain (LES) to four antibiotics and hydrogen peroxide. The majority of proteome changes were unique to either one isolate or treatment, but smaller groups of proteins were differentially abundant in more than one sample. Proteins in these shared adaptive responses represent promising avenues for further investigation to understand the contribution of these proteins to resistance and their potential as targets for novel treatments. We observed the largest overlap between the proteome profiles of PAO1 challenged with tobramycin and hydrogen peroxide, and our data support previous work suggesting a role for heat shock protein IbpA in response to tobramycin. Our proteome profiling uncovered extensive changes in LESB58 in response to carbenicillin, with more than 1,000 proteins significantly changed in abundance. This included unique changes in the abundance of proteins involved in cell wall synthesis and division. We used phase contrast microscopy to check for corresponding changes in cell morphology and show that LESB58 maintained shorter cell lengths under treatment with β-lactams. We propose that the ability to maintain the processes of cell wall synthesis and division through changes in protein abundances contributes to the high levels of β-lactam resistance in LESB58. IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important pathogen often associated with hospital-acquired infections and chronic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. P. aeruginosa possesses a wide array of intrinsic and adaptive mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, and the regulation of these mechanisms is complex. Label-free quantitative proteomics is a powerful tool to compare susceptible and resistant strains of bacteria and their responses to antibiotic treatments. Here we compare the proteomes of three isolates of P. aeruginosa with different antibiotic resistance profiles in response to five challenge conditions. We uncover unique and shared proteome changes for the widely used laboratory strain PAO1 and two isolates of the Liverpool epidemic strain of P. aeruginosa, LESlike1 and LESB58. Our data set provides insight into antibiotic resistance in clinically relevant Pseudomonas isolates and highlights proteins, including those with uncharacterized functions, which can be further investigated for their role in adaptive responses to antibiotic treatments. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important pathogen often associated with hospital-acquired infections and chronic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. P. aeruginosa possesses a wide array of intrinsic and adaptive mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, and the regulation of these mechanisms is complex. Label-free quantitative proteomics is a powerful tool to compare susceptible and resistant strains of bacteria and their responses to antibiotic treatments. Here we compare the proteomes of three isolates of P. aeruginosa with different antibiotic resistance profiles in response to five challenge conditions. We uncover unique and shared proteome changes for the widely used laboratory strain PAO1 and two isolates of the Liverpool epidemic strain of P. aeruginosa, LESlike1 and LESB58. Our data set provides insight into antibiotic resistance in clinically relevant Pseudomonas isolates and highlights proteins, including those with uncharacterized functions, which can be further investigated for their role in adaptive responses to antibiotic treatments.


This study explores the impact of microcredits on the economic, educational, and empowerment levels of women from the Bolivian high plains who had acquired microcredits for over three years. Primary research was carried out with the help of a major NGO dedicated solely to microcredits. One hundred in-depth personal interviews were conducted by the author in La Paz and El Alto from February to May 2007. This region was chosen because of the wide extent to which microcredits have been implemented there since the 1980s. The author also created a control group of women who had never taken out a microcredit loan. The study employs the use of an established poverty scorecard to measure poverty levels over time. Using a comparative approach that allows a comparison between the independent control group and the loan group, the study found that while the ownership of goods increased in the loan group, the benefits of microcredits on family educational attainment levels and empowerment were questionable. It is important to note that the vast majority of microcredit research does not use this type of independent control group.


: The primary step towards preventing communicable diseases comprises of maintaining good hygiene in one's surroundings. Toilet seat/bowl is one example which is expected to be highly contaminated with germs/microbes and improper cleaning of such places may lead to occurrences of infectious agents-associated diseases Human adenoviruses cause an array of illnesses in humans, including upper respiratory symptoms, fever, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and conjunctivitis and are more common in places daycares, schools, children's camps, hospitals, military settings, and other health care centres. Hence, proper disinfection of the surroundings such as toilet/restrooms is a necessity in order to kill these pathogenic organisms. Accordingly, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the Virucidal activity of Disinfectant toilet cleaner, which comprised of 10.5%HCl (Hydrochloric acid), against the test organism Adenovirus. The test item 'Sani Fresh Advanced Disinfectant Toilet Cleaner (10.5% HCL)' manufactured by Dabur India Limited, was found to exhibit a high virucidal activity. This study, therefore, highlights the potency of the test item in reducing the viral load of the toilet bowl.


Odour-baited traps are widely used for sampling tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae), and as effective odour baits become available insecticide impregnated targets and traps are increasingly being used for control. Although there are efficient and welldocumented traps and odours available for some species, such as Glossina pallidipes Austen (see, for example, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 1992), this is not the case for all species. In East Africa comparatively little is known about G.austeni Newstead, G.brevipalpis Newstead and G.swynnertoni Austen, so that monitoring these species is difficult. Of these three species, most attention has focused on G.austeni in Zanzibar, where its presence was only established in 1945. Despite the apparently low density of the populations (certainly lower than on the Kenya Coast) the trypanosomiasis prevalence in cattle in the Mangapwani area before control was 46% (FAO, 1986), and in other areas averaged 30%. The importance of G.austeni along the Kenya Coast has been recognized only in recent years, often because a high prevalence of trypanosomiasis has been recorded in cattle, despite very low densities, or the apparent absence of any tsetse species when traps are used for sampling (Gaturaga et al., 1991; Maloo et al., 1986). Glossina swynnertoni has a similarly important role as a vector of cattle trypanosomes in south-western Kenya and parts of Tanzania. Glossina brevipalpis is probably of less importance but could still pose a significant problem on the Kenya coast and in Mozambique. Given their attraction to cattle, it seems probable that all three species could be controlled by insecticide-treated livestock. However, some problems remain, for example cattle do not penetrate coral rag forest or dense thicket, and tsetse infested areas may only be grazed seasonally. Hence there is insufficient contact between the tsetse and treated cattle. Moreover, in the absence of effective sampling, it is difficult to monitor the effectiveness of control regimes. Efforts have been made to increase trap catches of Gmsteni using known odour attractants for other species in the field. Bursell (1 984) demonstrated a positive response to acetone in the laboratory. Takken (1 984) compared blue biconical traps with


Crystallization of a solution with high enantiomeric excess can generate a mixture of crystals of the desired enantiomer and the racemic compound. Using a mixture of S-/RS-ibuprofen crystals as a model, we demonstrated that magnetic levitation (MagLev) is a useful technique for analysis, separation and enantioenrichment of chiral/racemic products.


Six-channel switched noise generator was designed and created. Noise signal is radiated into environment using microstrip antenna. Generator controlling is realized via radio channel using Bluetooth technology


Cancer immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor-armed T cells (CAR-T cells) have shown excellent outcomes in hematological malignancies. However, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), characterized by excessive activation of CAR-T cells and macrophages remains to be overcome. Steroid administration usually resolves signs and symptoms of CRS but abrogates CAR-T cell expansion and persistence. Tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), attenuates CRS without significant loss of CAR-T cell activities, while perfect rescue of CRS symptoms cannot be achieved by IL-6/IL-6R blockade. There is actual need for novel strategies to prevent or cure CRS. TO-207, an N-benzoyl-L-phenylalanine derivative compound, significantly inhibits inflammatory cytokine production in a human monocyte/macrophage-specific manner. Here we tested TO-207 for its ability to inhibit cytokine production without impaired CAR-T cell function in a CRS-simulating co-culture system consisting of CAR-T cells, target leukemic cells and monocytes.
 To observe a precise pattern of cytokine release from CAR-T cells and monocytes, we first established a co-culture system that mimics CRS using K562/CD19 cells, 19-28z CAR-T cells, and peripheral blood CD14+ cells. IFN-γ was produced exclusively from CAR-T cells, and TNF-α, MIP-1α, M-CSF, and IL-6 were produced from both CAR-T cells and monocytes, but monocytes were the major source of these cytokine production. MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 were released exclusively from monocytes.
 To observe the effect of drugs on cytokine production, prednisolone (PSL), TO-207, tocilizumab, and anakinra (an IL-1R antagonist) were added to the co-culture. PSL exhibited suppressive effects on TNF-α and MCP-1 production. Tocilizumab did not suppress these cytokines. Anakinra up-regulated IL-6 and IL-1β production, probably due to activation of negative feedback loops. Interestingly, TO-207 widely suppressed all of these monocyte-derived cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, IL-8, and GM-CSF.
 Next, we observed whether the cytokine inhibition by TO-207 attenuates killing effect of CAR-T cells. PSL attenuated killing effect of CD4+ CAR-T cells and CD8+ CAR-T cells toward K562/CD19 cells. In contrast, TO-207 did not exhibit any change in cytotoxicity of CD4+ CAR-T cells and CD8+ CAR-T cells. To determine whether the effect of PSL and TO-207 on cytotoxicity changes in the presence of CD14+ monocytes, CD14+ cells were added to the co-culture. In the absence of CAR-T cells, PSL induced a modest attenuation of cytotoxicity, whereas to the CAR-T cells, PSL exhibited a significant attenuation of cytotoxicity. TO-207 exhibited a minimal effect on cytotoxicity in the absence or presence of CAR-T cells. These results suggested that CAR-T cells play a major role in the cytotoxicity toward leukemia cells, and drugs that do not affect CAR-T cell functions, such as TO-207, maintain their cytotoxic effects on leukemia cells.
 In conclusion, our present co-culture model with K562/CD19 cells, 19-28z CAR-T cells, and CD14+ monocytes accurately recapitulate killing effect and cytokine release profiles. IFN-γ was produced exclusively by CAR-T cells, but majority of other cytokines such as TNF-α, MIP-1α, M-CSF, IL-6, MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 were from CD14+ monocytes/macrophages. Because killing effect was largely dependent on CAR-T cells while cytokine production was dependent on monocytes/macrophages, selective inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines from monocytes by TO-207 would be ideal for treatment of CAR-T-related CRS. These results encourage us to consider a clinical application for CRS.
 Figure

 Futami: Torii Pharmaceutical: Research Funding. Suzuki:Torii Pharmaceutical: Employment. Kato:Torii Pharmmaceutical: Research Funding. Tahara:Torii Pharmaceutical: Employment. Imai:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Mimura:Torii Pharmaceutical: Employment. Watanabe:Torii Pharmaceutical: Employment. Tojo:AMED: Research Funding; Torii Pharmaceutical: Research Funding.


We present simulated images of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) produced in charge exchange collisions between solar wind protons and neutral atoms in the exosphere of Venus, and make a comparison with earlier results for Mars. The images are found to be dominated by two local maxima. One produced by charge exchange collisions in the solar wind, upstream of the bow shock, and the other close to the dayside ionopause. The simulated ENA fluxes at Venus are lower than those obtained in similar simulations of ENA images at Mars at solar minimum conditions, and close to the fluxes at Mars at solar maximum. Our numerical study shows that the ENA flux decreases with an increasing ionopause altitude. The influence of the Venus nighttime hydrogen bulge on the ENA emission is small.


Volumetric analysis is a quantitative analytical method. It is a method in which the amount of a substance is determined by measuring the volume that it occupies and the volume of a second substance that combines with the first in known proportions. This is also called titrimetric analysis or titration. The relative simplicity of this type of quantitative method of analysis and the fact that it requires relatively simple and inexpensive equipment make this method a versatile tool of analysis. Despite this simplicity, volumetric analysis required a lot of laboratory skills that far from trivial. Also, it requires a powerful theoretical knowledge of the underlying chemistry, as well as a high degree of manual dexterity. The book covers the selected types estimation. These experiments spread over the syllabi of different Indian and South Asian Universities for the Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Chemical Engineering Courses. Each experiment begins with a theoretical background under the captions of principle. This book will be extremely helpful for all inorganic chemistry estimation. The procedures should be relatively uncomplicated.


The pincer CCC-bis(NHC)-supported Pt(II) complex 2, (1,3-bis(N-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)imidazol-2-ylidene)-2-phenylene)chloroplatinum(II), was prepared and was reacted with excess or stoichiometric silver(I) trifluoroacetate. The reaction with excess yielded the Pt2Ag2 cluster 3, which to our knowledge contains the first unsymmetrically substituted example of a PtAg2 metallacyclopropane, as revealed by X-ray crystallography. A distorted-octahedral configuration was also found in the coordination sphere of one of the silver atoms. Multiple weak hydrogen bonds (WHB) including C–H···O, C–H···F, and C–F···π interactions were identified in the lattice of cluster 3. The unique structure of cluster 3 was simulated using density functional theory (DFT), which revealed that it was thermodynamically favored over the more expected configurations. The stoichiometric reaction with Ag(OCCF3) afforded the simple ligand exchange product (1,3-bis(N-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)imidazol-2-ylidene)-2-phenylene)(trifluoroacetato)...


Objective To study the status of eyesight and ametropia of preschoolers in urban area of Zhaoqing and to provide bases for protecting eyesight anopsia and ametropia for children,Methods The subjective vision checks were conducted with the standard logarithmic visual acuity chart to the 4249 children whose age varied from 3 to 6 from 13 kindergartens of the urban area of Zhaoqing selected through cluster random sampling,while the examination of refraction being conducted with handheld automatic optometry unit of American Welch Allyn,Results Among the 4249 preschoolers,the rate of abnormal vision acuity was 19.51% and the incidence of amblyopia was 2.49% while with the increase of age,they decreased gradually,The ametropia of normal eyesight and abnormal vision acuity children were mostly farsighted with the incidences 89.82% and 83.83% respectively,while the incidence of shortsightedness were 1.20% and 9.29% respectively,With the increase of age,the incidence of farsightedness decreased gradually while the incidence of shortsightedness decreased,and the incidence of emmetropia and mixed astigmatismis was low with no differences between ages,Conclusion The ametropia of preschoolers was mostly farsighted,but with the increase of age,the incidence of shortsightedness increased gradually,We must carry out periodic vision check for preschoolers and make corresponding preventive measures according to the characteristics of changes in vision of preschoolers.


Abstract 1655 Introduction: Vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE) in sickle cell anemia, homozygous form of hemoglobin S (HB S), involve interactions between sickle red blood cells (RBC), endothelial cells, leukocytes, platelets, coagulation factors and plasma proteins. The purpose of the present study was explore the inflammatory potential of monocytes, activation state, response against challenge and its association with hemolytic, inflammatory, lipid metabolism and medical history of SCA patients. Patients and Methods: We studied 27 SCA patients in steady-state (11 men, 16 women, mean age: 22.26 ± 16.03 years) from Northeast Brazil diagnosed with SCA in attendance of the outpatients clinic of the Foundation of Hematology and Hemotherapy of Bahia (HEMOBA). The control group was compound by 20 healthy Brazilian, with AA hemoglobin pattern matched by age, years and ethnic origin. The study was approved by the FIOCRUZ ethical committee and informed consents were signed by patients or official responsible. The lipid and hemolytic profile were measured by biochemical colorimetric methods, hematological analysis and hemoglobin profile were performed using an electronic cell counter and HPLC, respectively, cytokines and surface molecules expressions on monocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry (labeled with monoclonal anti-CD11b, anti-CD18, ant-CD32, anti-CD62L and anti-HumanTNF), the monocyte activation was stimulated by LPS and the complete medical history was obtained by patients9 record. Results: Our results show higher CD11b monocyte expression in SCA patients than control group (p=0.000) and lower CD18 and CD32 on monocyte expression in SCA patients than control group (p=0.001; p=0.018). After LPS stimulation, we observed increased expression of CD11b, CD18 and CD32 expression on monocyte in SCA (p=0.000) so as in the control group (p=0.000). Moreover, monocyte expression of CD32 was negatively associated with aspartate aminotransferase (r=-0.468; p=0.014) and hemoglobin S (r=-0.389; p=0.045), but presented positive correlation with TNF-alpha (r=0.414; p=0.044). In another hand, the monocyte expression of CD62L was associated with an increase of hemoglobin concentration (r=0.496; p=0.009) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r=0.505; p=0.007). Sickle cell anemia individuals that developed splenic sequestration exhibited increased expression of CD11b on monocyte surface. Conclusion: The study of monocyte surface molecule and its association with markers of hemolysis, inflammation and lipid metabolism may indicate a differentiated mechanism of these molecules in sickle cell anemia pathogenesis, with a complex involvement of cellular, endothelial and proinflammatory interactions. Additional studies should be carried out in order to explore the contribution of monocyte expression surface molecule on vascular occlusion in the sickle cell anemia. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Since Eduard Norden's (1913) statement concerning the awkward length and construction of Ephesians 1:3-14, a flood of studies have been devoted to the analysis of this Greek sentence. In this paper I have firstly given an overview of those studies representative of the structure of the eulogy of Ephesians 1:3-14, and secondly presented a new reconstruction of this passage based on principles of form and content.


A q u a n t i t y φ character iz ing the observed devia t ions f rom Vegard ' s law is derived. The devia t ion is shown to be a superposi t ion of a geometrical dilatation componen t (due to the difference in size of t he subs t i tu tes in the same kind of s t ruc tu re positions) a n d a chemical contraction componen t (due to their special chemical interact ions) . (In non-cubic crysta ls the chemical cont rac t ion m a y cause an addi t ional secondary chemical d i la ta t ion in special cases. By nonstat is t ical d is t r ibut ions of t he subs t i tu t e s the geometrical d i la ta t ion will be lowered a n d the chemical cont rac t ion , moreover , will be s t rengthened. ) ^41-typc solid-solution crystals , especially, (da ta t a k e n f rom l i tera ture) are used as evidence to subs t an t i a t e the concept of the said two componen t s of deviat ion. An app rox ima te measure of t he chemical cont rac t ion component is deriv ed f rom thei r lat t ice cons tan t s a n d composi t ions on ly ; it is shown to be closely connected wi th the differences in e lec t ronegat iv i ty of the respect ive pure members .


This paper focuses on the design phase of I-BIM tunnelling projects using Sequential Excavation Method (SEM), in Europe, commonly referred to as the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), and addresses the problem of coupling geotechnical conditions and tunnelling Building Information Model (BIM) for the preparation of the computational model suitable for the finite element analysis method (FEM). The review of the literature led to the conclusion that an automatic merging of the tunnel model and ground model for use in the FEM software is currently not reliable due to the number of differences between various types of models as they serve contrasting needs. Consequently, modelling becomes a manual task, which is very time-consuming and error prone. In this paper, we present the development of a framework for the semiautomatic transformation of the various tunnelling models and respective ground models into the model suitable for further analysis. We conclude that the import and translation of the geometry into the FEM software are most successful and accurate when the initial I- BIM (tunnel) model is prepared at a level of detail appropriate for a computational model. The result is the I-BIM model, fit for use in the FEM software which speeds up the modelling process and reduces errors. We have shown that it is possible to prepare the geometry of a tunnel in the BIM software, transfer it, and use it in the software for geotechnical analysis. This makes the preparation of the tunnel geometry for FEM analysis much easier and faster. Due to the fast preparation of the geometry of the new model, the approach presented in this research is useful in practice. The applicability of the framework and the framework workflow are both presented through a practical case study.


To test the hypothesis that fish in schools forage more successfully than individual fish, an analysis was made of the stomach contents of barracouta (Thyrsites atun), a facultatively schooling species of fish, in a wild fish population. Schooling (n = 29) and non-schooling (n = 86) barracouta were captured during a side-scan sonar survey of pelagic fish off the coast of Otago, New Zealand. The proportion of fish with empty stomachs was lower and the mean wet mass of gut contents was higher in barracouta from schools. The increased feeding success of fish in schools was due to increased consumption of krill, Nyctiphanes australis. In regions where the density of krill in net tows was high (>1000 individuals km-1 tow length) or moderate (100–1000 individuals km-1), the mean wet mass of krill in the stomachs of schooling barracouta was 2–4 times higher than in the stomachs of non-schooling barracouta. Few schools of barracouta were observed in areas with low densities of krill (<100 individuals km-1). Schooling by barracouta seems to be a feeding strategy to exploit surface swarms of krill.


---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract Composites are combination of materials that provide characteristics which cannot be achieved by single material system. This is achieved by cohesion of the materials made by actually combining two or more compatible materials, different in characteristics, composition and sometimes its form can also be different. The field of composite is to make material which can fulfill all criteria for manufacturing and use by making it low cost, easy availability, ecofriendly and also that it can fulfill all the criteria of its ease of manufacturing and usage. Glass Fiber has already been utilized in many useful applications such as light weight pultruded bars, an insulating material, panel boards, switchgears, etc. It has characterization of high strength to weight ratio. Against this back ground the present project work is carried out with an objective to use glass fiber, as a reinforcement material in epoxy based polymer. This fiber sheets can be layered in the epoxy matrix. Usual hand lay-up technique can be adopted for manufacturing the composite bolt.


In this paper, we present an online application service system which includes a SaaS platform server. We applied code generation and metadata model technology in order to serve multiple tenants with a single instance of web based online application.


We consider the problem of in-network categorization of all traffic associated with a given set of web services. While this problem can be viewed as a generalization of per-session traffic monitoring, a key difficulty is that we have to construct the entire session tree that represents the transitive closure of all traffic downloaded as a result of a user accessing a given web service. Such in-network session tree construction and monitoring is useful for many measurement, monitoring, and new types of billing services such as 'reverse billing' where usage charges are paid for by either the service provider or the ISP itself as an incentive to the user. Automated construction of the session tree based on network traffic observation is challenging and to our knowledge unaddressed. The challenges arise due to the complexities inherent in today's web services and the lack of universal standards that are followed when designing web services. This necessitates the use of heuristics that rely upon prevalent web service design practices. In this paper, we present a system, called COBWEB, that performs this automated innetwork cobbling and monitoring of web services traffic. We evaluate the classification accuracy of COBWEB by extensive experimentation using controlled downloads and by analysis of about 100 popular web sites using large traffic traces (over 700 GB) collected at a major university's gateway. Our experiments suggests that COBWEB can achieve good accuracy with low (< 5%) false positive and negative rates.


The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing set in a workpiece punch rivets, which are tubular, axially symmetrically formed. A self-piercing rivet during the setting of this remaining slug is removed by a tool and then screwed a threaded mandrel under molding a substantially continuous, strong thread in the rivet. The mandrel pulls the rivet from the work piece at its next retraction against the pressure of a workpiece supported on the abutment.


"Happy were he" - Benjamin Britten and the "Gloriana" story, Robert Hewison the creative evolution of "Gloriana", Philip Reed Britten's major set-back? - aspects of the first critical response to "Gloriana", Antonia Malloy the paradox of "Gloriana" - simple and difficult, Donald Mitchell the number principle and dramatic momentum in "Gloriana", Peter Evans.


Aggregates containing trypsin-disaggregated mouse and chick embryonic liver cells were prepared, and in confirmation of Moscona's reports, no substantial sorting out was seen. While this behavior could mean that the morphogenetic properties of these cells are the same, alternative explanations have not been ruled out. Thus, additional comparisons of these cells were needed to decide whether these properties are the same, and two such tests were performed.

It is known that when two pieces of chick embryonic liver are fused together, neither piece envelops the other. If mouse and chick embryonic liver cells had identical properties, no envelopment would be expected in mouse-chick liver fusions. Such fusions were prepared, and contrary to this expectation, chick liver enveloped mouse liver almost invariably.

It is known that chick embryonic liver cells sort out from chick embryonic heart ventricle cells in mixed aggregates. If mouse liver cells had properties identical to those of chick liver cells, it would be expected that they too would sort out from chick ventricle cells. Mouse liver-chick ventricle cell aggregates were prepared, and contrary to this expectation, no substantial sorting out was found.

These two tests demonstrate that the morphogenetic properties of mouse and chick embryonic liver cells are not the same. Clearly, a new explanation must be found for their lack of sorting out, and several possible explanations are discussed.


Solution of Monge equation of arbitrary degree (non linear differential equation n-orden) is connected with solution of functional equation for 4 functions with 4 different arguments. Some number solutions of this equation is represented in explicit form.


American agriculture is once again in a very serious financial crisis. Information pertaining to this crisis is readily available from a variety of sources. The print and electronic media have widely covered it with both human interest stories as well as broader national and regional level figures. Even Hollywood has provided several successful films portraying the tragedy of the loss of independence and dignity that coincide with the failure of a family farm. The USDA has published a stream of data on the sorry state of· U.S. agriculture, though these often conclude with optimistic expectations for 'next year.' The General Accounting Office (G.A.O.), too, has provided analyses of the crisis (1986a, 1986b). Finally, data are also available from analyses done by local states: surveys by state departments of agriculture, by Colleges of Agriculture, or by activist groups. Given the availability of such information, I will not repeat the litany of facts and figures of the crisis here, but will instead point to two apparent failures of this literature. First, though much of the literature provides a good deal of statistical detail, it lacks grounding in theoretical frameworks that might explain the crisis. We might expect and accept this from government agencies, activist groups, and economists. In fact, we might even expect it from sociology, but with respect to the latter we need not accept this poverty of theory. The second, perhaps related.Tailure of this literature is its inability to generate widespread interest in the crisis among either the general population or the broader sociological profession. This paper is addressed to these issues. Let us consider the latter problem first. :-.


Objective:To establish a high-preformance capillary electrophoresis(HPCE)method for determination of chlorogenic acid and quercetin in Houttuynia cordata Thunb.from different districts.Methods:The capillary pil- lar used in this study was capillary without smear layer,the buffer solution was pH 8.5 and 30 mmol·L~(-1)sodium borate solution,the running voltage was 16 kV,the wavelength of detection was 254 nm,and the column temperature was 25℃.Results:The detected concentration of chlorogenic acid and quercetin showed good linear relationships with the peak area in the ranges of 0.05-0.8 mg·mL~(-1)(r=0.9995)and 0.04-0.15 mg·mL~(-1)respectively. The average recoveries were 98.7% and 98.8%,with RSD of 2.2% and 2.5%(n=3).Conclusion:The method is simple,rapid,and good reproducibilities.It can be used to control the quality of Houttuynia cordata Thunb.


Scabies are a significant health issue for institutions and represent a health burden in children. Topical treatments such as permethrin 5% are usually effective but lately, a loss of efficacy has been observed.To describe demographic data, topical treatment schemes (permethrin 5%; benzyl benzoate 25%) and outcomes in children with scabies over the past 2 years.We retrospectively evaluated records of children aged 0 to 14 years with scabies treated in our outpatient clinic from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022.Two hundred and thirty‐one records were evaluated. Permethrin 5% (P5%) was used as first‐line treatment in 103 children with a success rate of 81.5%; benzyl benzoate 25% (BB25%) was successful in 94.3% of 123 patients. Three patients were lost for follow up and two received other therapies. Mean days of application using P5% increased from 4.1 to 6.8 in 2 years, whereas BB25% showed an opposite trend, from 10 days to 4.7. With the same days of application, the success rate with BB25% was higher (repeated cycle of 2 treatment days, 7 days apart [2 + 2]: 93.3% for BB25% vs. 82.9% for P5%; 3 + 3‐day regime: 91.9% for BB25% vs. 83% for P5%). Twenty‐three out of 26 patients who still had active scabies after the first cycle cleared with a second treatment cycle, with the same topical treatment, or with a different agent. Mild to moderate skin irritation was the only side effect observed (18.4%), more frequently associated with BB25% (81%).During the observational period, the use of permethrin decreased while regimen duration increased, probably due to a perceived lack of efficacy. Conversely the use of benzyl benzoate both as first‐line treatment and after permethrin failure increased, despite being more correlated to local inflammation. Both 2 + 2 and 3 + 3 regimes for P5% and BB25% may be considered as suitable first‐line treatment of scabies in children.


The article presents methods for determining the main parameters of a rotating atomizer sprayer. The choice of research methodology is justified based on the general pattern of liquid atomization by rotating atomizers, taking into account the influence of the air flow on them. The main indicators affecting the sprayed drops' dispersal are the air flow rate and the rotational speed of the pneumatic disk atomizer. Therefore, the correct choice of the method for determining the rotational speed ω of a pneumatic disk atomizer makes it possible, at a constant air flow rate, to obtain the required median-mass diameter of the atomized droplets. To obtain a high-quality air-droplet flow, there must be a combination between the initial speed of the main drops discharged from the spray disk's periphery and the fan installation's air flow speed.


Washington Gas agreed to install 4,000 ft. of U-Liner high density polyethylene (PE) pipe inside existing cast iron pipe with the U-Liner process. The process involves collapsing the PE pipe to a ``U`` form, effectively reducing its area by up to 55% so that the pipe can be inserted in the host pipe. Once inside the host pipe, U-shaped pipe is re-formed back to an almost circular shape with steam. Since the OD of the PE pipe approaches the ID size of the cast iron pipe, a tight fit inside the old pipe is attained once the PE pipe is reformed. This project began last summer in an affluent, quiet residential neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. A local contractor performed all excavation, pressure testing, gassing out, and backfilling. A New Jersey-based U-Liner licensee performed all proprietary work of insertion, reformation, and connection of pipe sections. Pipe and fittings also were provided by new, untested suppliers. Washington Gas` crew was the only work force involved in live gas work, i.e., tie-in work to a live gas pipe.


The choice of effective social policy is one of the most important tasks of the authorities. Social protection is a basic attribute of social policy of any civilized nation. From its successful implementation depends not only the living conditions of the population of a particular region, but the overall prospects for economic development of the country. The relevance and practical importance of the topic is determined by the need to create flexible, able to quickly adapt to new economic conditions, social protection programs based on the best world achievements.


Synopsis : In order to evaluate hydrogen attack resistance and to manifest factors contributing to intergranular cracking of 0.5 Mo steels, metallurgical studies were carried out relating to manifestation of the causeof many damage due to hydrogen attack in 0.5 Mo steel heat exchangers, pipes and its fittings which had been used in a hydrogen environment below the operating limit curve shown in the NELSON chart revised in 1983. Effects of stress relief heat treatment, normalizing and tempering conditions on susceptibility to intergranular cracking and critical temperatures in methane generation of materials taken from a heat exchanger head and a reactor shell plate were investigated by conducting hydrogen exposure tests at 300 to 440•Ž under 9.81 MPa (100 kgf/cm2). Identification of carbides in residue extracted from the heat-treated materials was also performed by using X-ray diffraction method. It was confirmed that high resistance to intergranular cracking due to hydrogen attack and higher critical temperatures in methane generation could be obtained by elevating temperatures in heat treatment for stress relief and tempering after normalizing, owing to precipitation of such stable carbides as M23C6 and Mo2C. Normalization at temperatures below 950•Ž and tempering at 625 to 650•Ž were found to be beneficial for ensuring higher resistance to hydrogen attack of 0.5 Mo steels.


High-efficiency manufacturing has been one of the main goals of companies, requiring the use of adequate techniques and tools with high value and low cost to increase productivity. In this case, industrial companies focus on increasing productivity without losing quality in services and products, using adequate techniques without high investments to avoid compromising the final result. This study applies time and motion study techniques to two workstations of a specific automotive industry. Accordingly, ergonomics data on specific tasks are collected, with satisfactory results. The method proposed simplifications in workstations, reduces times, and, therefore, increases productivity.


A wear testing design for C/Cu compound materials was carried out in this paper according to uniform designing method.It not only reduced greatly the number of test but also let the selected testing points possess"representative character".The regression equation of reliability,loading and speed was established by the use of stepwise regression method,thus provided a scientific and reliable foundation for the study of wear resisting design of C/Cu compound materials.


SUMMARY Small-area variations in the epidemiology of malaria can have important consequences in the evaluation of malaria control or intervention programs. Epidemiological features of malaria were studied in six villages in Madang Province through six-monthly surveys over a two-year period and three-monthly surveys for a single year. Data on parasite prevalence, infection density, splenic enlargement and morbidity were analyzed to determine the existence of variation within a previously defined study area. While average parasite rates did not differ greatly among villages, rates in the 1-4 years age group in the dry season were significantly higher (60.2%) in the villages north of Madang town compared with those located to the south (37.7%) ( = 0.05). There were also differences in the parasite species ratio (i.e., 21.7% of infections in one village were Plasmodium vivax compared with 12.6% in another), in spleen rates and in degree of splenic enlargement. Utilization data from village aides were used to estimate fever attacks over a 12-month period, but interpretation of these rates was complicated by the alternative sources of treatment available to the village populations.


Abstract Objective An excess of deaths from cardiac causes are reported after many natural disasters. Despite the fact that floods are the most common and most destructive natural disaster worldwide, little is known about their effect on human health. We analyzed the influence of the greatest floods in the Czech Republic on cardiac mortality in the affected area. Methods This was a retrospective case-control study. We analyzed persons whose autopsies proved they had died of cardiac causes during the month of the flood, 2 months before the flood, 1 month after the flood, and during the same period in the 3 previous years. Results A total of 207 of 985 autopsy reports met the criteria for inclusion in the study. There were no significant differences in the proportions of men and women (P=0.819) or in age (P=0.577). During the month of the flood, an increase in cardiac mortality was observed; however, the increase was not statistically significant (P=0.088). Conclusions According to our findings, the 1997 Central European flood did not significantly affect cardiac mortality. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;8:492-496)


We present very deep JHK imaging of the Trapezium Cluster obtained with Gemini South/Flamingos and Gemini North/Hōkūpa'a. These images probe the IMF down to ˜ 2 M Jup in a total area of ˜ 8 arcmin 2 . Several very faint new planetary mass candidates are detected and sources previously detected with UKIRT are verified. Photometry of 124 point sources in this field produces a Luminosity Function which drops to zero at K=18.75. Allowing for modest extinction this corresponds to a possible turn-down in the IMF near 5 Mjup. A minority of PMOs exhibit large K band excesses attributed to hot dust, confirming their extreme youth. Some of the faintest sources are associated with short trails of light of uncertain nature. These may provide a clue to the origin of PMOs, perhaps marking evacuated paths cleared by rapidly moving objects.


Black carbon (BC) and CO2 emissions are the two major factors responsible for global climate change and the associated health risks. Quantifying the impact of economic activities in urban agglomerations on BC and CO2 emissions is essential for finding a balance between climate change mitigation and pollution reduction. In this study, we utilized a city-level environmental extended multi-regional input–output model (EE-MRIO), integrated nexus strength (INS), and structural path analysis (SPA) to quantify the BC and CO2 footprints, nexus nodes, and supply chains of 21 cities in the Sichuan urban agglomeration (SUA) from 2012 to 2017. The results revealed that approximately 70% of the BC and CO2 footprints come from inter-city transactions, with Chengdu being the largest importing city, while the supply of other cities was greater than their consumption. The SUA has transitioned from a supply-side city cluster to a consumption-oriented city cluster in its trade with other domestic regions. The SPA analysis highlighted that the construction sector was the largest emitter of downstream BC and CO2, while the electricity supply, metal/nonmetallic manufacture, oil refining and coking, transportation, and extraction industry sectors were the main nexus nodes for BC and CO2 emissions in the SUA. Notably, the reduction in BC emissions was due to decreased indirect emissions from oil refining and coking, while the decrease in CO2 emissions was a result of reduced indirect emissions from electricity supply. This article presents, for the first time, a quantification of the heterogeneous impacts and emission supply chains of BC and CO2 emissions from economic activities in the SUA, providing valuable insights for developing climate mitigation policies tailored to different urban clusters.


The Luoji Mountain is located in the middle of the north-south tectonic system in Sichuan and Yunnan,and the Luoji Mountain-Qionghai geological landscape is situated in the middle axis part of Sichuan-Yunnan Plateau.The high diversity of its ecological type leads to rich plant landscape resources.Its main plant landscape resources are as follows:alpine forest landscape,Rhododendron community landscape,alpine flower community landscape,alpine meadow landscape,subtropical river valley vegetation landscape,etc.This paper evaluates the distribution of plant landscape resources,and proposes the conservation strategy for landscape resources in this locality.


Radar return data from airborne jet aircraft were collected to determine the presence of consistent, dominant radar returns of point scatterers on aircraft simulating landing conditions. Radar return data on additional targets of opportunity, such as propeller aircraft and helicopters, were also collected for dominant radar returns. These measurements were performed by integrating two separate X-band radars into one system with the ability to simultaneously track and image aircraft. Selected processed data from both radar systems were analyzed and compared for all three types of aircraft, and the results are presented.


Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety about interventional therapy for postpartum hemorrhage of placenta accreta.Method: Analysis the treatment,prognosis and adverse reactions for 13 cases,which were diagnosed postpartum hemorrhage of placenta accreta and were used uterine arterial infusion of methotrexate combined with embolization in our hospital from June 2003 to May 2010.Result: In 13 patients,12 cases were successful hemostasis and retained the uterus with the success rate of 92.3%,only 1 patient with postoperative hysterectomy.In patients after surgery the adverse reactions were mild,and the blood HCG,hormones and menstrual cycle in 3 to 8 months became normal.4 patients had pregnancy and were natural labor again.Conclusion: The intervention treatment for placenta accreta postpartum hemorrhage is the prefered therapeutic method,because of significantly curative effect,high success rate,maximatily of the retention of uterus and fertility and little side effects.


Preface Introduction China's Scientific and Technological Development during the Period from 1949 to 1978 An Overview of the General Orientation and Guidelines of China's Science and Technology Policy The Reform of the Management System of Science and Technology The Reform of the Appropriation System The Development of a Technology Market Strengthening Technology Development and the Assimilation Capability of the Enterprises Reform of the Scientific and Technical Personnel Management System China's Opening Up and Technology Acquisition Policy Readjustment of Science and Technology Policy in the 1990s China's Industrial Policy and Technology Acquisition The Development of Agricultural Science and Technology Township Industry and the Development of Appropriate Technology--The Spark Program Policy on the Development of Infrastructure Industry "Mainstay Industry" and Technology Policy Emphasis on Basic Research High-Technology Research The Torch Program and the Progress of High-Tech Industry Non-governmental Science and Technology Enterprises Policy on Sustainable Development Epilogue References


A method for writing data and a display apparatus using the same are provided to enable the display apparatus to directly record data read from the display apparatus by an external apparatus. An external Interface(140) is connected to an external apparatus in order to communicate. A storage unit(150) has a storage space in which data that the external apparatus reads is recorded. A control unit(161) records the data in the storage unit. The data is EDID(Extended Display Identification Data) of the display apparatus. If the display apparatus is powered on, the controller determines whether a reference value is a specific value.


Background—Associations between ambient temperature and cardiovascular morbidity have been well studied worldwide; however, few studies determined the cardiovascular disease burden attributable to temperature. We aimed to assess the risk attributed to temperature based on the exposure–lag–response relationship between temperature and circulatory diseases. Methods and Results—We collected daily time series data of emergency hospital admissions, mean temperature, and air pollution concentrations from January 2005 to December 2012 in Hong Kong. The association with temperature was modeled using a distributed lag nonlinear model integrated in quasi-Poisson regression. The cumulated effects of cold/hot temperature were abstracted. Attributable risk measures because of below optimal temperature (OT) were calculated to summarize the disease burden, and further separated into contributions from moderate and extreme cold temperatures. We observed significant nonlinear and delayed cold effect but no apparent hot ef...


Gel polymer electrolytes containing 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and a small amount of additive (vinylene carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate, and ethylene carbonate) are prepared, and their electrochemical properties are investigated. The cathodic limit of the gel polymer electrolytes can be extended to 0 V vs. Li by the formation of a protective solid electrolyte interphase on the electrode surface. Using these gel polymer electrolytes, lithium metal polymer cells composed of a lithium anode and a LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode are assembled, and their cycling performances are evaluated at room temperature. The cells show good cycling performance, comparable to that of a cell eywords: ycling performance lammability el polymer electrolyte onic liquid ithium polymer cell hermal stability assembled with gel polymer electrolyte containing standard liquid electrolyte (1.0 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/diethylene carbonate). Flammability tests and differential scanning calorimetry studies show that the presence of the ionic liquid in the gel polymer electrolyte considerably improves the safety and thermal stability of the cells. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


: The objective of the proposed project work is Downlink resource allocation for OFDMA-based next generation wireless networks subject to inter-cell interference (ICI). The main aim of the project is balanced performance improvement between cell edge and cell centre users. The resource allocation scheme consists of radio resource and power allocation, which are implemented separately. To achieve radio resource allocation, the low complexity heuristic algorithms are proposed, where graph based frame work and fine physical resource block PRB assignment are performed to mitigate ICI and improve the network performance. The power allocation performs to optimize the performance of cell edge users under the condition of the desirable performance of cell centre users.


This paper innovatively proposed a dynamic threshold based target signal cooperative extraction method for high frequency electromagnetic environment measurement. The proposed method is accomplished by setting dynamic threshold which is changed with the decision conditions of the frequency sets. And the dynamic threshold range is determined by the minimum field strength corresponding to the known reference frequency of the registered stations and the maximum value corresponding to the obtained frequency of the electromagnetic environment background noise in the actual test. By cooperation with established fixed monitoring stations, the target signals can be extracted exactly and fleetly. The actual measured result shows that compared to the traditional target signal extraction method, the proposed one reduces the influence of manual factors and improves the automatic degree and efficiency of high frequency electromagnetic environment measurement.


T he COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the major role of respiratory illnesses as vaccine-preventable sources of morbidity and mortality for patients on dialysis. Influenza-like illnesses contribute to more than 1,000 excess deaths per year among patients with kidney failure, resulting in a seasonal pattern of mortality. 1 Influenza can cause viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonias, and multisystem extrapulmonary complications, including heart failure exacerbation. 2 Optimal formulation and timing of influenza vaccina-tions could decrease the burden of influenza-associated illnesses. Among older adults ( > 65 years) in the general population, randomized trials have compared a high-dose, trivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV3; 60 μ g of hemagglutinin per strain) to a standard-dose, trivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine (SD-IIV3; 15 μ g of hemagglutinin per strain). In a 2014 trial, HD-IIV3 elicited a stronger seroresponse than SD-IIV3, as measured by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers, and prevented approximately 1 in 4 influenza illnesses. 3 Serious adverse events were fewer in the HD-IIV3 recipients compared with the SD-IIV3 recipients. 4 This evidence has been extrapolated to the dialysis population. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recom-mends yearly inactivated or recombinant quadrivalent influenza vaccine (RIV4) for individuals receiving maintenance dialysis. 5 High-dose vaccines are recommended for those receiving maintenance dialysis who are 65 years of age or older. 6 Medicare costs range from w $20 for standard-dose influenza vaccines to w $65 for high-dose and recombinant vaccines. 7 Although randomized clinical trial comparing influenza


Low noise and linearity of charge-coupled devices (CCD's) combined with optical waveguide components in hybrid, integrated chip package. Concept used to measure laser flux in fiber-gyro application using sensing fibers that range from several to several tens of kilometers in length. Potential applications include optical delay measurement and linear detector of light flux emanating from fiber-optic waveguides.


In this paper, a new infinite impulse response (IIR) adaptive digital filter (ADF) which is composed of a cascade block of allpass system and a block of minimum-phase system connected in series is proposed. The allpass section is implemented using a series connection of second order allpass systems, while the minimum phase system has all its poles at the origin. The coefficients are updated using a simplified version of the LMS algorithm. By considering the unknown system to be having the same structure as that of the adaptive digital filter, it is proven that the poles of the ADF converges to the poles of the unknown system when the input is a stationary white signal. Computer simulation confirms our analysis.


The TREAT loss-of-flow test R8 has been analyzed using a modified version of the SAS3D accident analysis code in order to establish experimental verification of SAS3D modeling changes introduced to assess the effects of fission gas release from the upper gas plenum on coolant voiding dynamics and clad motion prior to the onset of fuel motion in whole core accident studies. The specific motivation for the analysis was the necessity of investigating the potential for fuel compaction by the fission gas stored in the gas plena at the upper end of the fuel pins in the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project (CRBRP). These investigations were required to support licensing activities underway just prior to the demise of the project. In test R8, an unirradiated, seven-pin fuel bundle was subjected to a simulated Fast Flux Test Facility flow coastdown. The power was held constant at its nominal value.


Telehealth systems represent an ICT solution for delivering health services to the patients from a distance (Patient to Doctor/Doctor to Patient systems, P2D and D2P) or facilitating the consultation between the health professionals (Doctor to Doctor systems, D2D). Whether P2D/D2P systems aim at defining an interaction between the two involved figures crossing the boundaries of the hospital, D2D systems foster a professional interaction between physicians, typically for a second opinion or for a collaborative approach to the treatment. In this paper we present a collaborative extension of a system for telerehabilitation (patent pending), belonging to the P2D category, in order to include also some D2D features. The proposed extension promotes a collaborative scenario involving several actors with different roles and privileges on the system: the patient, the physiotherapist, the physiatrist, a consulting specialist and the administrator. All the involved figures interact through the telehealth system thanks to an expressly designed software infrastructure. The main P2D information How is ensured by the telerehabilitation kit, able to record and send over the internet the statistics on the main performance parameters extracted during the home rehabilitation sessions. Beyond the administrator, the system enables the interactions between the other figures (D2D) in order to propose, validate and comment possible rehabilitation protocol modifications in response to the performance trend of the patient, taking into account the possible effect of different systemic treatments the patient is subjected to. The design of such a collaborative framework descends from an engineering analysis of the experience gained in the context of the ongoing experimental trials about hand rehabilitation of rheumatic patients with the P2D system.


In the paper the results of experimental researches of parameters of a laser beam passed through a convective column shaped above a zone of shining wood materials have been shown. Estimates of structural characteristics of temperature fluctuations C(Tau )2 and refractive index Cn2 determined from measurements of temperature gradients at the altitude 105 cm have been presented. The root-mean-square deviations of fluctuations of the image of a divergent laser beam measured are compared with ones calculated on Cn2 taking into account profile of temperature in the convective column. The spectra of fluctuations of the image and intensity of a divergent laser beam have been determined also. It is shown that the turbulent parameters in a convective column since some altitude corresponds to conditions of a free convection.


wchh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com 4 I Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry I Vol. 27 Iss. 1 2023 Since the development of the 'amyloid hypothesis1–3 there has been considerable effort in developing treatments that target the build-up of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques in the brain thought to be responsible for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Over the past 15 years, much of this research has focussed on developing monoclonal antibodies as potential disease modifying treatments (DMTs) targeting Aβ.4 However, a number of trials of similar molecules did not meet the primary endpoint or were pulled midway after interim futility analyses,5–7 leading to questions about whether this was the right approach given the complex and multifactorial pathogenesis of AD. An exception to this was the USA's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accelerated approval for aducanumab in June 2021, which we reviewed here previously.8 Accelerated approval was designed to allow for earlier authorisation of drugs that are intended to treat serious conditions where the initial evidence showed the potential to address an unmet clinical need. There is still a requirement for phase 4 confirmatory trials, which in the case of aducanumab are ongoing. The decision to grant accelerated approval for aducanumab was controversial due to doubts regarding clinical efficacy – that it was based on post hoc analysis of data, and also safety concerns. The decision led to several members of the FDA advisory team resigning in protest.9


We used the nationwide Swedish Family-Cancer Database to analyze the risk for central nervous system hemangioblastoma (HB) in offspring (0–61 years) of parents with cancer. Eighty-three offspring were identified, and the age at onset showed a bimodal distribution. The early-onset component peaked at 25–29 years, was associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease and presented with HBs, renal cell carcinomas, pheochromocytomas and insulomas in the proband or other family members. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were 600 for offspring HB by parental HB, and they were even high for the other VHL-related tumors. Second tumors were common in this early-onset group, and the types were as expected in VHL. The late-onset component peaked at 40–44 years, and it was twice as prevalent as the early-onset component. Because there was no evidence of familial risks, this is suggested to be a sporadic form of HB.


Zero kinetic energy (ZKE) spectra of N/sub 2/, CO, C/sub 2/H/sub 4/, and C/sub 6/H/sub 6/ were taken across the N1s (N/sub 2/) and C1s ionization thresholds. Discrete resonances at subthreshold photon energies were observed and were found to become more intense as threshold is approached relative to the same peaks in absorption spectra. For N/sub 2/ the satellite/main line branching ratios at threshold are: 11(1)% for the 419.7(1) eV binding energy satellite, and 2.3(1.0)% for the 426.5(1) eV binding energy satellite. For CO, the branching ratio for the 304.6(1) eV binding energy satellite is 15(2)% at its threshold. Branching ratios at threshold are also determined for the satellites of C/sub 6/H/sub 6/ and C/sub 2/H/sub 4/. Decay characteristics and assignments of the continuum features of C/sub 6/H/sub 6/ and C/sub 2/H/sub 4/ are also discussed.


'... it is hoped that detection of [HIV-infected] individuals with high-quality, rapid, accurate point-of-care oral HIV tests will enable provision of early, timely and highly effective ART or expedite triage to care and prevention.' Nitika Pant Pai McGill University Health Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases & Immunodeficiency Service, Montreal Chest Institute, 3650 St Urbain Street, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 2P4, Canada Tel.: +1 514 889 9604 firstname.lastname@example.com Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn. 7(4), 325–328 (2007)


To investigate the immune inflammatory response mechanism of age-related macular degeneration,IL-33 mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by real-time PCR and ELISA after retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) cells were treated with Aβ_(1-40).Proinflammatory factors expression and signaling pathways were examined by ELISA when RPE cells were stimulated with IL-33.The results showed that IL-33 expression by RPE cells was increased after Ap_(1-10) stimulation and IL-33 regulated IL-6 and IL-8 secretion by activating p38 MAPK and ERKl/2 signaling pathways,respectively.Taken together,IL-33takes part in the development of age-related macular degeneration by regulating RPE cells to produce proinflammatory factor IL-6 and IL-8..


Herpes zoster results from the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus located in the dorsal root ganglia. The condition is common in elderly and immunocompromised patients. Although herpes zoster is not a reportable disease, an estimated 300 000 to 500 000 cases occur annually in the United States [1]. In immunocompetent persons, the most notable manifestations are acute neuritis and persistent pain, traditionally called postherpetic neuralgia. Recent clinical trials of acyclovir [2-5], valaciclovir [6], and famciclovir [7, 8] showed that antiviral therapy helps heal cutaneous lesions and relieve pain in patients with herpes zoster. When our clinical trial was initiated, several studies had already reported that corticosteroid therapy could potentially decrease the incidence or duration of postherpetic neuralgia [9-14]. Despite their small sample sizes and use of inadequate controls, these clinical trials resulted in the widespread adoption of prednisone as the standard therapy for herpes zoster. It was hoped that this agent would prevent persistent or chronic pain. More recent studies [15-18] did not confirm the validity of this approach. A large study that used acyclovir with or without prednisolone for as long as 21 days showed no beneficial effect of steroids on persistent pain [19]. Nevertheless, many physicians continue to use therapy with both antiviral drugs and corticosteroids to manage herpes zoster. We and other members of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group did a clinical trial to determine the effect of adding corticosteroids to acyclovir for the treatment of herpes zoster. Our key study end points were measurements of pain and quality of life. Methods Patients Eligible participants were immunocompetent adults older than 50 years of age who presented with a localized dermatomal vesicular rash that was clinically consistent with herpes zoster and had been present for less than 72 hours. Patients were referred to participating investigators by community physicians or from university-affiliated clinics. The diagnosis was confirmed by the isolation of varicellazoster virus in tissue culture and by serologic testing. We excluded patients who required immunosuppressive therapy; patients with cancer; women capable of conceiving and bearing a child; patients who had a history of hypertension (diastolic pressure > 100 mm Hg) or were receiving antihypertensive treatment; patients with osteoporosis or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; patients who had received other antiviral drugs or immune globulin products within the 4 weeks before the study began; and patients with a history of glycosuria or hyperglycemia. Other concurrent medications or illnesses did not warrant exclusion. All patients gave informed consent before randomization. The informed consent document was approved by all local institutional review boards in compliance with regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Interventions We used a 2 2 factorial study design to randomly allocate the 208 eligible and consenting patients. Patients received one of the following regimens: 1) acyclovir plus prednisone, 2) acyclovir plus prednisone placebo, 3) prednisone plus acyclovir placebo, or 4) placebos for both prednisone and acyclovir. Acyclovir was administered orally, 800 mg five times daily, for 21 days. Prednisone was administered orally at 60 mg/d for days 1 to 7, 30 mg/d for days 8 to 14, and 15 mg/d for days 15 to 21. All research personnel remained blinded to drug assignments until the study was completed and the database was locked. All matched medications (acyclovir plus prednisone placebo and prednisone plus acyclovir placebo) were identical in taste and appearance. With a 2 2 factorial design, two treatments are evaluated simultaneously in one study. This design allows the assessment of an individual intervention and of the combined effects of multiple interventions (in our study, acyclovir and prednisone). The main or individual effect of acyclovir represents the difference between the effect of acyclovir therapy and the effect of no acyclovir therapy. We compared the patients who received acyclovir (the acyclovir plus prednisone group and the acyclovir plus prednisone placebo group) with the patients who did not receive acyclovir (the prednisone plus acyclovir placebo group and the placebo group). Similarly, the main effect of prednisone represents the difference between the effect of prednisone therapy and the effect of no prednisone therapy. We compared the two groups that received prednisone with the two groups that did not. This study design also allowed us to compare the combined effect of acyclovir and prednisone therapy with the effect of either therapy alone or with the effect of placebo. Outcome Measures and Surveillance Our primary end points were the persistence of pain and assessments of quality of life (return to 100% usual activity, return to uninterrupted sleep, and cessation of use of analgesic agents) during a 6-month period. Secondary end points were cutaneous healing and clinical or laboratory evidence of toxicity. After enrollment, patients were evaluated daily until the skin was completely healed. The number of new vesicles formed, extent of healing (measured by the presence of vesiculation, pustulation, scabbing, and total healing), severity of pain, and analgesic requirements were recorded at each visit. Acute neuritis was assessed during the first month after enrollment. Each patient was asked to rate his or her pain as none, mild, moderate, or severe or incapacitating. The effect of herpes zoster on usual activity (measured as a percentage reduction in activity), continued analgesic requirements, and the ability to sleep without interruption was also recorded at each visit. After lesions had completely healed, patients were followed monthly for the 6 months after therapy began and were assessed for persistence of pain, analgesic requirements, and quality-of-life measures. We used two analyses to measure chronic pain. First, postherpetic neuralgia was defined as pain that was present 30 days after disease onset and that continued until complete resolution or 6 months. Because we sought to maintain the principles of the intention-to-treat analysis and include patients with no pain at 30 days after disease onset, we assigned such patients a value of zero for the time to resolution of postherpetic neuralgia. Second, pain associated with zoster was defined as the continuum of pain extending from study enrollment until final resolution. This second analysis included all patients from the time of enrollment. For all pain analyses, resolution of pain was defined as the last occurrence of any pain attributed to herpes zoster. Time to return to uninterrupted sleep was assessed by the patient as the time when he or she was no longer awakened by pain or altered sensations attributable to herpes zoster. Similarly, times to cessation of the use of analgesic agents and return to 100% usual activity were defined as the first recorded time to that event with no subsequent documented relapse. Blood and urine samples were tested for evidence of treatment toxicity every week for the first 4 weeks. Assessments included a complete blood count with differential and platelet determinations; urinalysis; and quantitation of serum and urine levels of urea, creatinine, bilirubin, glucose, and aspartate glutamyltransferase. Adverse clinical events, regardless of their probability of being associated with drug administration, were reported immediately by telephone or facsimile to the central unit at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Randomization The Biostatistical Unit of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group at the University of Alabama at Birmingham used a computer-generated randomization code to randomly assign patients to one of the four treatment groups. Randomization was done in blocks of four. Estimation of Sample Size The sample size was calculated according to assumptions of the main effect of acyclovir that were based on data available when the trial was designed. The null hypothesis was that patients receiving acyclovir and those not receiving acyclovir would have equal rates of persistent pain at 6 months. On the basis of a one-sided test procedure that had a significance level of 0.025 and of a projected 20% detected difference between treatment groups, we calculated that a sample size of 256 patients was needed to achieve a power of 90%. Because of slow accrual during the latter stages of the trial (which was probably caused by the widespread acceptance and availability of oral acyclovir), the study was terminated with a total enrollment of 208 patients. Two hundred one of the 208 patients were included in the final analysis, yielding a power of 82%. Interim Analysis A Data Safety and Monitoring Board was established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases through the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases to monitor the progress of the trial and any adverse events. However, no interim analyses of efficacy end points were done. Statistical Analysis The clinical response measurements for time-to-event variables were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using the log-rank test. We used a Cox regression model to analyze the main effects of acyclovir and prednisone and their interaction, with adjustments for other covariates. The main effects of acyclovir and prednisone were each represented in the Cox model as a dummy variable coded as 0 or 1. The interaction of these drugs was represented as the product of the two dummy variables. We also used a Cox model to compare each treatment group with the placebo group, with adjustment for all specified covariates (sex, race, age, duration of lesions before enrollment, number of lesions at entry, seve


In 2001, Leonids meteor shower was expected the impressive appearence would be seen. It was very important to monitor and catch the Leonids meteor activity at all times. Radio Meteor Observation is one of the best method for monitorin~ meteor activity. Because it is possible to observe at all times even if in bad weather and at twilight time. In addition, by unifying worldwide data, the radiant elevation problem can be solved. In this research, the Leonids active structure and characters are made clear by using worldwide data. These data were provided by the global project of Radio Meteor Observaiton. This project participants were 91 observing sites in 15 countries. As a result, the high activity kept for 17 hours since 6:OOUT 18th. The half width time of the first peak (America) was three hours and the main peak (Asia and Australia) was 10 hours. In addition, from Japanese data, we found the complicated peak structure. The Asian peak was made up of three types. They were main peak around 18:30UT, sub peak arotind 21:30UT and bright meteors compornent. 1 . INTROD UCTION When the meteor enters the atmosphere, the ionized trail is produced. Generally, it is impossible to receive the direct radio wave from the transmitting station because the distance between transrnitting and receiving station is very long. The ionized trail, however , reflect the radio wave (30MHz-300MH2;) from transmitting station to the receiving station. At the receiving station, the signal reflected from meteor is presented. This method is Radio Meteor Observation (Foward scattering). It became popular in the middle 1980's. Radio Meteor Observation is possible to observe even if it is bad weather, twailight time and daytime. Therefore, for monitoring meteor activity, this method is very effective. Only * University of Tsukuba, D-201, 2-11-4 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0005, Japan. t Misato Observatory, 180 Matsugamine, Misato, Kai:so, Wakayama 640-1366. Japan. S Nagano National College of Technology, 716 Tokuma, Nagano, Nagano, 381-8850. Japan. S University of Tsukuba, 201 Kakehi, 3-12-9 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0005. Japan. ヲ Hiroshima University, 9-308, 2-812-62 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-0046, Japan. ll Asahigaoka High School, 3-4-3 Daimachi, Showa, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-0033, Japan. ** Fukui National College of Technology, Geshi, Sabae, Fukui, 916-8507, Japan. This document is provided by JAXA.


Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent endocrine problem affect women in the reproductive age and commonest causes of hyperandrogenic anovulatory infertility. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of letrozole on ovulation induction and pregnancy rate in comparison to tamoxifen in clomiphene CC-resistant PCOS patient. This prospective randomized study was included 80 patients divided into 2 equal groups, Group (1) involved 30 women who were given letrozole 2.5 mg tab orally once per day from day 5to 9 of the menstrual cycle, for 3 successive cycles. Group (2) included 30 women, had been received TMX with a dose of 20 mg per day starting from day 5 of manse to day 9 of it, for 3 successive cycles, compare the effectiveness of letrozole and tamoxifen in management of clomiphene citrate resistance PCOS patients, during of 15th August 2015 to 15th of December 2016 and was performed infertility clinics of AL-Batool teaching hospital. The results of this study revealed that Letrozole is better than tamoxifen in producing acceptable follicular diameter, endometrial thickness and pregnancy rate in women with the clomiphene-resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome. With pregnancy rate of (12%) in tamoxifen group versus (27%) in letrozole group. Letrozole is effective, an available drug that is superior to tamoxifen as ovulation induction agent in clomiphene-resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Keywords: Clomiphene resistance; Polycystic ovarian syndrome; Ovulation induction; Tamoxifen; Letrozole.


Two essential elements needed in the process of inference and decision-making are prior probabilities and likelihood functions. When both of these components are known accurately and precisely, the Bayesian approach provides a consistent and coherent solution to the problems of inference and decision-making. In many situations, however, either one or both of the above components may not be known, or at least may not be known precisely. This problem of partial knowledge about prior probabilities and likelihood functions is addressed. There are at least two ways to cope with this lack of precise knowledge: robust methods, and interval-valued methods. First, ways of modeling imprecision and indeterminacies in prior probabilities and likelihood functions are examined; then how imprecision in the above components carries over to the posterior probabilities is examined. Finally, the problem of decision making with imprecise posterior probabilities and the consequences of such actions are addressed. Application areas where the above problems may occur are in statistical pattern recognition problems, for example, the problem of classification of high-dimensional multispectral remote sensing image data.


Objective To observe the effect of intrauterine packing with gauze in treating and preventing hemorrhage in Caesarean Section.Methods Treating 42 cases of massive hemorrhage during Caesarean Section with intrauterine gauze packing,with whom conventional methods have proven ineffective.In the case of 26 high-risk pregnancy,we have also applied intrauterine gauze packing to prevent postpartum hemorrhage.Results Among the 42 cases who suffers from massive hemorrhage during Caesarean Section,40 are successfully treated with this method,which brings the success rate to 95.2%.Among the 26 cases high-risk pregnancy,none suffers from postpartum hemorrhage,which brings the success rate to 100%.The total success rate of intrauterine is 97%.Conclusion Intrauterine packing with gauze is an effective method in treating and preventing hemorrhage in Caesarean Section.It staunch hemorrhage quickly and is easy to implement.


0. Introduction. During the last 3 years the present author made a series of works [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 6, 7, 9] dedicated to the study of the unusual spectral properties of low-dimensional continuous and discrete (difference) Schrodinger Operators. Some of these works were done in collaboration with A. Veselov, I. Taimanov and I. Dynnikov. First, let me briefly describe the list of problems discussed in these works. 1. Euler-Darboux-Backlund (EDB)-Transformations as nonstandard spectral symmetries for the 1-dimensional Schrodinger Operators and its discrete analogs on the lattice Z. Problem of cyclic chains, its solutions for the special cases. Exactly solvable spectral problems for some operators. EDB Transformations for the nonstationary Schrodinger Equation and the problem of cyclic chains (see [12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 2, 8, 17]). 2. Laplace Transformations for the 2D stationary Schrodinger operators in the double-periodic magnetic field and potential, acting on the space of eigenfunctions of one energy level. Problems of cyclic, semicyclic and quasicyclic chains. The possibility to have two exactly solvable highly degenerate energy levels as a maximal possible solvability for the spectral theory in the Hilbert space L2{R) (except the Landau case in constant magnetic field and trivial potential)? Discretization of the Laplace transformations: square lattice is compatible with hyperbolic equations; equilateral triangle lattice is compatible with elliptic self adjoint operators. Exactly solvable operators. See [1, 2, 3, 4, 6]. 3. The second order operators on simplicial complexes. Factorizations and Laplace Transformations. The cases of 2-manifolds with 2-colored triangulation and multidimensional equilateral lattices. Zero modes problem. First order equations in the simplicial complexes and nonstandard discretization of connections, combinatorial curvature. See [6, 7]. 4. Schrodinger Operators on simplicial complexes. The combinatorial analog of Wronskians-the Symplectic Wronskians or SWronskians in our terminology; their topological properties. Special case of graphs with finite number of tails. Scattering Theory and Symplectic Geometry. See [5, 9]. This work is a direct continuation of [5, 9] (the idea was quoted in these papers communicated to the present author by I. Gelfand in 1971 as a reaction to the authors works [10, 11], where Symplectic Algebra was used for the needs of Differential Topology). We extend here the definition and topological properties of the Wronskians (Symplectic Wronskians or SWronskians) to the broad class of operators on the simplicial complexes.


Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination in early childhood is the most efficient way to protect against these diseases. Concern that MMR


Abstract. Magnetospheric cusps are high-latitude regions characterized by a highly turbulent plasma, playing a special role in the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction. Here, using POLAR satellite magnetic field vector measurements we investigate the anisotropic scaling features of the magnetic field fluctuations in the northern cusp region. Our results seem to support the hypothesis of a 2D-MHD turbulent scenario which is consequence of a strong background magnetic field. The observed turbulent fluctuations reveal a high degree of complexity, which might be due to the interplay of many competing scales. A discussion of our findings in connection with the complex scenario proposed by Chang et al. (2004) is provided.


In part 1, I argue that in Roman Greece Panthea and Abradates' novella from the Cyropaedia was so extraordinaraly famous that Xenophon of Ephesus must have borrowed and allusively adapted their names so as to give sprechende Namen to his novel's heroes ('Anthea' = 'Flora', 'Abrocomes' = 'Delicate hair'). In part 2 and 3, I explore the intertextual potential of such a reference. Echoes from the Cyropaedia prove an important ingredient of Xenophon's novel, helping define its fictional status in and against the background of its classical model. In part 4 I turn to the names themselves, arguing that Xenophon felt the need to hellenise his character names, which suit very well his implicit 'revision' of  Panthea's novella. Andrea Capra, 6 March 1971, Italy. Institutional Affiliation: University of Milan (Lecturer) Research: Plato, Xenophon Ephesius Publications relevant to ancient narrative: 2003. 'Dialoghi narrati e dialoghi drammatici in Platone' in M. Bonazzi - F. Trabattoni, Platone e la tradizione platonica , Milano: Cisalpino, 3-30. 2008. 'L'efebo divino e l'incarnato della bella: Due note al testo di Senofonte Efesio (1.2.8 e 5.12.3)', ACME 61, 277-282. 2008. 'Plato's Hesiod and the Will of Zeus. Philosophical Rhapsody in the Timaeus and the Critias', in G. Boys-Stones - J. Haubold, Plato and Hesiod , Oxford: Clarendon, forthcoming. 2008. 'Xenophon's 'Round Trip': Geography and Narrative Technique in the Ephesiaka' , paper accepted for ICAN 2008.


Biodegradability of organic compounds in river and sea water was tested according to the simple and rapid method, the cultivation method, which was reported in our previous report. Out of 170 chemicals tested, 103 compounds were judged to be hard-, 43 to be moderate-, and 24 to be easy-of-degradability. In comparison with the MITI method, our method was applicable to wider range of compounds with less expensive equipments and gave more strict marks in 3 d, indicating that our method is a useful screening test method for biodegradability of chemicals in environmental water.


t once sustenance and symbol, food makes life possible but also demonstrates (and sometimes influences) its complexity. No food, no life. Where famine, poverty, indifference, or war still shrink human existence, the relationship between food and life is that direct, that simple: people die without it. Few readers of this journal-and few of the students we serve-have known hunger as anything other than an abstraction, at most a temporary inconvenience with no particular emotional punch. "I'm hungry" only means "When do we eat?' It is not just a deficiency in our perspective or a limitation in our world view that leads us to miss the cultural irony in the contrast between our worry about college women's adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and our passive acceptance of the emaciated faces of children in television advertisements soliciting contributions to charities that seek to provide them with food. There is no way to associate our hunger, such as it ever is, with what starving children must endure; nothing in our history or experience prepares us for any richness of empathy with them. In many ways, we cannot even imagine their starvation. We can, however, imagine eating disorders. We have no trouble envisioning obesity, and we are utterly and completely comfortable with the whole concept of weight loss. There are a great many more commercials for weightreducing diets, foods, exercise equipment, and devices than there are for the solemn philanthropies that confront hunger. In the grand thermodynamics of weight control, we pump our way through the "fat burn" cycles programmed into aerobic exercise machines, from treadmills to stair climbers. Exercise is no longer just directed toward something we used to call "physical fitness"; it has become a cosmetic


This paper describes how, as the costs of traffic congestion continue to increase, public officials and managers are seeking new strategies for managing congestion. Pricing the use of highway facilities is one way to help bring transportation supply and demand into balance. The preferred pricing strategy in the US at this time appears to be the implementation of high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes. High-occupancy vehicles are allowed to use these lanes for free, while low-occupancy vehicles must pay a toll to use the HOT lanes. In effect, spare capacity on high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes is sold off so that drivers with high values of time can choose to pay to bypass congestion. This paper describes the analysis of several HOT lane strategies on a freeway in Sacramento, California. Strategies analyzed varied on vehicle occupancy requirements for free use of the HOT lane. Because of resource limitations for planning, a sketch planning approach was adopted that made use of existing assignments from the regional travel model. Optimal tolls were determined based on projected road volumes and estimated travel times. This paper describes the analysis methods used, the insights provided by these methods, how the assumptions affected the results, and the shortcomings of the methods that need to be taken into account when assessing the results.