Following their defeat in May's Presidential election and the loss of their parliamentary majority in June's legislative elections, this week saw France's UMP party hold a leadership contest. The result, which was officially decided by less than a hundred votes, has been heavily disputed by the losing candidate, Francois Fillon. Francoise Boucek writes that the controversy threatens to factionalise the UMP, which in turn may reduce its ability to check the dominance of the French Socialist Party.


A comparison was made of the growth responses of explants excised from vegetative buds of 15- to 18-year-old Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (white spruce) when cultured upon seven nutrient media. One nutrient medium, GMD, was found to be superior in the induction of shoot primordia (average 8.1 per explant) and in its primary multiplication value (average 3.24 shoot primordia per original bud). Five of the other nutrient formulae also gave rise to shoot primordia, though at significantly lower values. Only explants grown on Schenk and Hilde- brandt medium failed to give rise to shoot primordia. Medium GMD was devised after a comparison of elemental concentrations within a range of media that have been published for use with various tree tissue cultures.


This study determined the effect of Taxes on Net Investment of Listed Communication Firms in Nigeria for a period of ten years spanning from 2010 and 2019. Eight Communications firms were purposively sampled from a population of eleven listed Communication firms in Nigeria. The proxies for Taxes include Information Communication Tax, Education Tax and Company Income Tax, while Net Investment served as the dependent variable. Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Panel Least Square (PLS) Regression analysis via E-Views 10.0 statistical software were used to test the hypotheses of the study. The result of this study showed that Information Communication Tax, Education Tax and Company Income Tax have a significant negative effect on Net Investment at 5% level of significance respectively. This study therefore recommends inter alia that Federal Government of Nigeria should reduce the amount of tax liability at the end of the year thus making funds available for further investment.


The CLi6000 series of field-programmable gate arrays is especially well suited to the special needs of data-path applications-applications ranging from low-level 'bit twiddling' to computationally intensive algorithms. The architecture of the CLi6000 is described, emphasizing the features most important in data-path applications: the CLi6000's high register count, NAND/XOR cell states, multiplexer states, fine-grained architecture, array symmetry, and high cell connectivity.<<ETX>>


Our study focuses on the potential helpful of surface geophysical data to constrain the water context within an alluvial aquifer. On a given area where 2 wells have been drilled, we have performed several geophysical acquisitions, including ground penetrating radar, resistivity, seismic refraction and magnetic resonance soundings. From these data, we estimate several parameters which are the water height in the deposits, the effective porosity, the water content, the permeability and the transmissivity of the alluvial deposits. Theses physical parameters allow us to characterize the alluvial deposits in order to constrain the estimation of the potential water flow. The lithology and the water flow rate being known from the wells, geophysical results obtained in a high water flow rate zone are compared to those obtained in a low water flow rate zone. Correlation appears from the water flow rate observed in both wells and the geophysical data obtained in the vicinity of these wells.


A Study prepared for the International Labour Office, within the framework of the World Employment Programme, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.


Currently, the main form of public intervention in the Mezzogiorno are the financial subsidies and the so-called negotiated planning instruments. In this paper, we argue that both these kind of policies show a number of relevant drawbacks. Financial subsidies fail to stimulate additional investments, lead to investment oversizing, encourage clientelism, raises transaction costs and rent-seeking activities. Negotiated planning complicates the institutional context, reinforces local bureaucracies, reduces policy's accountability, creates opportunities for political trade-offs, and makes rent-seeking profitable. By contrast, we believe that in order for the abundant resources still untapped in the Mezzogiorno to be directed towards activities favourable for development, it is necessary to debureaucratize its economy, removing opportunities for rich pickings from political groups, bureaucracies and local potentates. To this end, we argue that a different and 'more extreme' combination of measures, involving automatic incentives and a new active role of the public sector in the production of goods and services, could yield better results.


The Rocky Flats Site (Site) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facility near Golden, Colorado that produced nuclear weapons components during the Cold War. Like many federal properties that have been off-limits to public access for decades, it has become a refugia for biodiversity as surrounding landscapes have been lost to agriculture and urbanization. A floristic study of the area was conducted on approximately 2,505 ha (6,189 ac) and includes the parcels currently managed and operated by DOE and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge). A flora of 630 species of vascular plants in 84 families and 340 genera was documented, including 12 species endemic to the southern Rocky Mountains and seven species considered rare or imperiled by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. The flora of the Site is characterized by a predominantly Western North American floristic element, however, an Adventive floristic element contributes the greatest number of species. The vegetation is dominated by xeric tallgrass prairie and mixed grass prairie, with areas of wetland, shrubland, and riparian woodland.


The contact area between the platinum paste electrode and the zirconia electrolyte was estimated on the basis of a linear relationship between the peak area of linear sweep voltammetry and the actual contact area. The latter area was measured by microscopic observation of the contact area from one side of a transparent zirconia single-crystal disk on the other side of which the platinum paste had been sintered. Applying the peak area vs. contact area relationshi obtained to the same platinum electrode sintered on polycrystalline zirconia disks, the contact area was estimated from the voltammogram peak. The electrode performance increased monotonically with increasin contact area, but there was a small deviation from the proportional relationship


Data from mHealth apps can provide valuable information on rhinitis control and treatment patterns. However, in MASK‐air®, these data have only been analyzed cross‐sectionally, without considering the changes of symptoms over time. We analyzed data from MASK‐air® longitudinally, clustering weeks according to reported rhinitis symptoms.


Using a covariant spectator quark model we estimate valence quark contributions to the F_1*(Q2) and F2*(Q2) transition form factors for the gamma N -> P11(1440) reaction. The Roper resonance, P11(1440), is assumed to be the first radial excitation of the nucleon. The present model requires no extra parameters except for those already fixed by the previous studies for the nucleon. Our results are consistent with the experimental data in the high Q2 region, and those from lattice QCD. We also estimate the meson cloud contributions, focusing on the low Q2 region, where they are expected to be dominant.


Areca (Areca catechu L.) is one of the most important cash crops in China and is considered the fourth most widely used addictive substance. In addition, areca is widely used in traditional and herbal medicines. The major characteristics of the fruit are affected by its genetic background and growth environment. The growing environment in different regions will impact the quality of agricultural products and the processing quality. The quality of areca is not only the basis of its commercialization development and processing quality, but also is an important basis for the scientific planting of areca. Therefore, determining the quality of areca will provide evidence for scientific planting and more optimal applications. We evaluated the quality of areca by comparing the differences in physicochemical characteristics using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis. A total of 165 arecas, in the same growth period, were collected from 11 main producing regions in Hainan Province. Our results illustrate that the physicochemical characteristics of areca in different regions were significantly different. The PCA was conducted using 10 quality indexes, and three principal components were extracted to reflect 80% of the original variables. The first principal component mainly reflected the fruit shape quality, the second principal component mainly reflected the hardness quality, and the third principal component mainly reflected the functional component quality. The relationship between each producing region and the principal component could be obtained intuitively from the principal component score plots. The arecas in Wanning and Wenchang were larger and their cellulose content was greater than in other areas, indicating that they were more suitable for processing. In contrast, the arecas in Baoting, Wuzhishan, Danzhou, Tunchang, and Dongfang had a greater arecoline content than the other areas, making them more suitable for use as medicinal materials. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the 11 producing regions into five categories based on the measured parameters, which was consistent with the results of the PCA score plots. These results could provide information to improve the use of areca in China.


The combined action of the plant‐derived volatile, S‐carvone, and mild heat treatment on the food‐borne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, was evaluated. The viability of exponential phase cultures grown at 8 °C could be reduced by 1·3 log units after exposure to S‐carvone (5 mmol l−1) for 30 min at 45 °C, while individual treatment with S‐carvone or exposure to 45 °C for 30 min did not result in a loss in viability. Other plant‐derived volatiles, namely carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, thymol and decanal, were also found to reduce the viability of L. monocytogenes in combination with the same mild heat treatment at concentrations of 1·75 mmol l−1, 2·5 mmol l−1, 1·5 mmol l−1 and 2 mmol l−1, respectively. These findings show that essential oil compounds can play an important role in minimally processed foods, and can be used in the concept of Hurdle Technology to reduce the intensity of heat treatment or other individual hurdles.


In Indonesia, half of COVID-19 deaths occur in older people who are vulnerable to disease exposure due to age-related decrease in immune capacity. Older people with macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies may have poor nutritional status and low immune responses, making them prone to COVID-19 infection

To assess the effect of orange almond potato cookie supplementation on weight, haemoglobin, and albumin levels in undernourished older people during COVID-19 pandemic.

Quasi experimental study design was applied to 31 older people. Subjects consumed 50 grams of cookies per day for 4 weeks. Examinations were performed to assess the Hb and albumin levels at pre-post study. Education on balanced nutrition and anemia was given throughout the study using leaflets, flipcharts, and videos. Subjects were weighed weekly to assess compliance, while cookies were distributed and a daily food consumption record was collected during home visits 3 times a week.

There was an increase in weight, Hb, and albumin levels of 0.4 kg, 0.1 point, and 1 point, respectively. The difference was significant for weight, albeit insignificant for Hb and albumin levels. Knowledge on balanced nutrition and anemia was significantly different at the end of the study, which was also true for energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc intakes. The weight gain was proven to be influenced by the total consumption of the cookies (p<0.035).

Orange almond, potato, cookies increased the undernourished older people's weight when consumed for 4 weeks.


Africa Development Africa Insight Africa Media Review Africa Political and Economic Monthly Africa Today Africa Watch African Archaeological Review African Journal of Ecology African Recorder African Studies Program Events African Trade African Urban Quarterly Africanus Agenda Anthropological Linguistics Architect & Builder Architecture SA Cameroon Monitor Dissertation Abstracts International Ecology of Food and Nutrition Ford Foundation Report Human Ecology Interface International Journal of Health Services Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Occasional Paper Series Journal of African History Journal of Black Psychology, The Journal of Modern African Affairs, The Journal of Modern African Studies, The


CONSTANCE HOLDEN'S ARTICLE "VERSATILE cells against intractable diseases" (News Focus, 26 July, p. 500) is fascinating, but also somewhat misleading. I believe that it is important to point out that most stem cells transplanted into humans to treat neurological disorders do not develop into differentiated cells with neuronal profiles. About 90 to 98% of the initial grafts disappear over time, and those that do remain seem to migrate from the initial zone of implantation and assume glial rather than neuronal morphology. Nonetheless, it is interesting to note that in many cases, functional recovery can still be obtained and sustained over long periods of time in the absence of new neuronal circuits being formed between the host and transplanted tissue. Holden also seems to suggest that the only way to obtain functional repair is through inherent neurogenesis or by the transplantation and development of "precursor" cells into neurons. The "plasticity" of the nervous system is not "newfound" at all. Even the great neuroanatomist, Santiago Ramon y Cajal, writing at the beginning of the 20th century, was aware of the inherent capacity of the nervous system to show limited repair by axonal and dendritic collateral sprouting (1). Whether damaged nerve cells can actually develop new branches as a form of regeneration has been more controversial; nonetheless, there has been an existing literature for more than 30 years on this topic. Because there is so much financial interest in developing stem cell therapies, one has to be very careful about overinterpreting claims about their safety and efficacy. Another recent Science article ("Stem cells not so stealthy after all," G. Vogel, News of the Week, 12 July, p. 175) points out that, as they differentiate, stem cells may be rejected by patients. Under such circumstances, it seems unwise to promote stem cell therapies too vigorously. Much more needs to be known about what the cells are and what they actually do in the damaged or diseased brain. DONALD G. STEIN Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1648 Pierce Drive, Room 261, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Reference 1. S. Ramon y Cajal, Trab. Lab. Invest. Biol. VIII, 2 (1910) [as translated by F. Reinoso-Suarez, in Neuroplasticity: A New Therapeutic Tool in the CNS Pathology, R. L. Masland, A. Portera-Sanchez, G. Toffano, Eds. (Liviana Press, Padua, Italy, 1987), pp. 31–37].


The increasing need for telecommunications, optical telecommunications networks in developed as well developing the functionality of radio waves with light waves in a Radio over Fiber network. On the network needed an antenna to support the process of receivers pick up radio waves then modulated with light waves. Antennas on Radio over Fiber can work at a frequency of 10 GHz WPAN communications. Wireless frequencies captured by the antenna can then be directly modulated and distributed through an optical fiber in accordance with needs. Antenna characteristic which must be met including small size, have a good level of matching, only consume little electric current, and has a unidirectional radiation pattern. In this paper, using an electromagnetic simulator, designed and simulated arrayinset fed rectangular microstrip antenna with U-slot for Radio over Fiber applications in WPAN communications that can be used optimally at a frequency of 10 GHz. The simulation results with optimum performance further implemented and observed at a frequency of 10 GHz performance. Results from the design and realization are patch arrayrectangular microstrip antenna with U-slot working at a frequency of 10 GHz with unidirectional radiation pattern; ≥ 3dBi gain; input impedance = 50Ω; and VSWR ≤ 1.5.


In this paper a comparative study is shown between gate underlap and gate overlap of Junction less Double Gate MOSFET with high k-spacer (HfO2). The impact of gate underlap and overlap on the DC and RF performance of JLDG MOSFET is analyzed with the help of a numerical TCAD device simulator. We engage Transconductance (gm), Cut-Off Frequency (fT), Total capacitance (Cgg), Miller capacitance as the key figure of merits for the analysis. The results conclude that the device with gate underlap has the efficacy for the usage in analog/mixed signal System On Chip (SOC) application, whereas the higher frequency operating devices are better operated with overlap. Underlap is undesirable due to current degradation in ungated region where as in case of gate overlap we got a very good ION current. Keywords—Junctionless Transitors, Overlap, Underlap, TCAD, Haufnium dioxide (HfO2)


Metal thio(seleno) phosphates MPX3 attract considerable attention with potential application in spintronics and other types of devices. Here, ferromagnetism in an Ising type diluted magnetic semiconductor Fe1‐xZnxPS3 is reported. Bulk single crystals of Fe1‐xZnxPS3 have been synthesized via chemical vapor transport method and characterized by X‐ray diffraction. The weak ferromagnetism associated with spin/cluster spin glass emerges at 30% Zn doping. A nearly static ferromagnetic order is observed in the highly diluted magnets Fe0.1Zn0.9PS3. X‐ray photoemission measurements indicate introduction of holes and associated Fe3+ in samples with ferromagnetic order. Density functional theory calculations confirm the Ising‐type ferromagnetic state in highly diluted compounds with hole doping. The interplay between bound magnetic polarons induces impurity‐band‐exchange and superexchange interactions can explain the evolution of magnetism with Zn doping. The findings suggest that the magnetic diluted FePS3 system is a candidate for potential applications in magnetic devices, and its quantum mechanism should be explored by using microscopic techniques in the near future.


We report the complete coding sequences of a Yunnan orbivirus isolated from a dead white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Florida in 2019. The prevalence of Yunnan orbivirus and its role in disease among farmed white-tailed deer remains to be determined. ABSTRACT We report the complete coding sequences of a Yunnan orbivirus isolated from a dead white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Florida in 2019. The prevalence of Yunnan orbivirus and its role in disease among farmed white-tailed deer remain to be determined.


Purpose: This study explored the applicability of inclusive education in the learning community class. The purpose of this study is to suggest the learning community class as practical inclusive education by general teachers in the actual education field. Method: The author reviewed the learning community philosophy on the whole by referring to the literatures related to the learning community and studied the connection between the learning community and inclusive education and the applicability of inclusive education in the learning community class. Results: First, the learning community class corresponds with the goal of inclusive education in terms of ensuring learning for various students at different levels. Second, the learning community class as the activity system of active learning, cooperative learning, and reflective learning plays an important role in curricular inclusion for the students with disabilities. Third, the viewpoint of classroom observation in the learning community class is not an observation about the teaching method of a teacher, but it is an observation about the students. This change in the viewpoint helps develop clinical approaches in the class and voluntary cooperation system. Conclusion: If the learning community class is anchored in a suitable education philosophy in Korea, the 21C inclusive education that aims at non-exclusion of any single student will be achieved through the learning community class.


: PURPOSE: To understand pattern of poisoning in different age group in tertiary child care center and quantify burden of poisoning in pediatric admissions and mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective observation study. SETTING: Tertiary care center for children. METHODS: All the children admitted with diagnosis of acute poisoning between January 2013 and June 2015 was studied. RESULTS: There were 332 admissions due to poisoning during the study period (5.4% of total admissions). Mortality due to poisoning was 7, i.e., 1.97% of all-cause mortality. 2.1% of poisonings died during the study period where as overall mortality from all causes was 5.71%. House hold Products topped the list with 112 cases, followed by agricultural products (88 cases), animal bites and stings (69 cases), drugs (48 cases) and industrial compounds (7 cases). Majority of admissions were in summer seasons 31% of all poisoning followed by rainy season. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of acute poisoning in childhood has not changed significantly over time. Organophosphorus compounds, phosphides and drugs poisoning peak during adolescence and is particularly alarming. Conditions such as free availability of these compounds, co morbid conditions of adolescents, adolescent stressors have to be addressed.


The solidification structure of the continuous casting billet of 0.45% carbon steel is studied. The causes of corner sink and internal cracks in continuous casting billet are analyzed. Measures are proposed to control process and improve the quality of the continuous casting billet.


ABSTRACT  The purpose of this research is to know the profitability of the leaf crops Gedi in north of Minahasa regency. This research carried out during three months start from May until July 2019. The sample of this research used simple random sampling method. The data collected in this research is primary data and secondary data. Primary data obtained from direct interview to ten farmers of the leaf crops Gedi, secondary data obtained from the agency that related with the research and through google searching to got scientific journal article and skripsi from another university that related with topic of research. The result of this research showed that crop farming of Tanaman (plant) Gedi generate profit about 66,43%. It means that if the the bussiness is able to sell production result, so the level of the profitability obtained from the sale is 66,43%. Key Words : Profitability, Gedi, North of Minahasa regency.


The plant heritage of the Mediterranean basin, with its wide biodiversity, offers the best conditions to pursue the objectives of the EU Green Deal, and among it, we pointed our attention to the Brassica oleracea crops, thanks to the high number of landraces and of its wild relative species widespread both in agro and ecosystems. In the framework of the European project BRESOV H2020 "Breeding for Resilient, Efficient and Sustainable Organic Vegetable Production", we evaluated different organic growing conditions and plant characteristics to pursue a good yield and high quality of organic seed under different nutrition protocols. We took in attention the two landraces of sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenk) Sparaceddu and Cavolo Riccio di Messina, which well express the traditional trait of broccoli Sicilian biodiversity that is often unfortunately underestimated. The results showed that the new tools for organic plant nutrition implement the plant characteristics and the related seed yield also by using a lower level of inputs, achieving economically sustainable production by the use of the nutrition protocols evaluated. There is, therefore, a strong need to affirm the concept of "minimum dose" in order to obtain a satisfactory result in terms of production and quality. The research also focused on the characteristics of brassicas crops, highlighting the main factors that render the use of biodiversity possible and profitable.


ABSTRACT Largely to avoid common distortions in individual-based performance evaluation systems, this paper develops a general quantitative model that can be used to measure the effectiveness of any program as a whole. The model is designed to gauge the improvements in the performance of an organization in terms of relevant criteria. An index is prepared to provide a target of unity, which indicates the maximum possible achievement level. The model is applied, for illustrative purposes, to a business consulting operation in which several firms are treated as a group, and a measure of performance for the total program is determined. INTRODUCTION Two conceptual approaches can be used for the evaluation of performance in an organized activity. One is micro in nature and involves pursuing a traditional appraisal of the performance of individuals who contribute to the totality of the effort. The other is macro-oriented; it focuses upon the extent to which a program as a whole is able to achieve its goals. Individual-based techniques tend to be subjective, largely because it is difficult, if not impossible, to separate the performer from his or her performance. Thus, distortions, such as inflation, deflation, and central tendency, tend to plague many performance ratings.3,4 Such personal biases are not likely to be associated with a macro model, which measures the effectiveness of program performance in terms of relevant standards. The desire to achieve this degree of objectivity was an overriding motive in the preparation of this paper. Consistent with this quest, the present study develops a general quantitative model that can be used to measure the achievements of any program designed to improve the performance of an organization. An index that computes the accomplishments of a program after its implementation is constructed. The proximity of the observed value of the index to its maximum possible value is a measure of program effectiveness. The magnitude of needed improvement in performance is indicated by the extent to which the former deviates from the latter. For illustrative purposes, the paper analyzes and appraises a business consulting program. The primary data examined are empirical in nature and were drawn from activities of a cross-section of business firms occurring over a seven-year period. A response rate of 42 percent adds strength to the reliability of the findings. Application of the proposed model to various aspects of business operations facilitates the undertaking of a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of the program. METHODOLOGY The methodology involves the formulation and application of a performance index that is consistent with the objectives valued by the organization whose performance is to be assessed. Toward this end, two sets of data are utilized. First, as an investigatory aid, the perceived goals and priorities of the organization are identified. It rates the significance of the variables, which are used as performance criteria. A weighted average of these ratings serves as a theoretical performance index, equal to unity, which constitutes an overall achievement target. Thus, program effectiveness is measured at any point in time by the proximity of the actual observed value of the index to unity. Second, changes in the performance criteria that occur as a consequence of program implementation are examined. The direction and magnitude of change in a variable contribute, either positively or negatively, to the performance of the organization. Relative weights, moderated to minimize bias, are assigned to the observed changes in the performance criteria. An organization is composed of various parts, each of which is responsible for a different function. Logically, performance of these components may be measured in terms of common criteria, a functional index is computed for each category. Mahoney and Frost, for instance, appraise the effectiveness of a group of firms by dividing the operations of each on the basis of technologies used. …


An analysis on lard by using dielectric sensing is a method using interdigitated electrode (IDE) to measure the impedance value of lard. In the current market, there are issue of food adulteration which are non-permissible to Muslim. In this project, each of the sample will be distribute into four which is 0, 2, 4 and 6 reheating hour. Besides, the measurement is taken by using LCR meter EDC-1630 which capable supply frequency in between range of 100Hz to 100 kHz. The scope of this project is using Taguchi method to optimize IDE sensor design and using COMSOL Multiphysic to design the IDE. This project conducted an analysis of rapid first stage screening of lard. The graph of result is generated by using Microsoft excel to show the relationship of impedance, frequency supplied and number of reheating hour. The data analysis is achieved by using statistical method linear regression to prove the relationship of impedance and number of reheating hours.


Land surface utilization in the Indian subcontinent has undergone dramatic transformations over the years, altering the region's surface energy flux partitioning. The resulting changes in moisture availability and atmospheric stability can be critical in determining the season's monsoon rainfall. This study uses fully coupled global climate model simulations with idealized land cover to elucidate the consequences of land surface alterations. We find that an increase in forest cover, in general, increases precipitation in India. However, precipitation is not a linear function of forest-covered-area due to the spatially heterogeneous nature of the impact. A fully forest-covered India receives less precipitation than when the forest covers only the eastern side of India, occupying just about half the area. This signifies the importance of the east-west gradient in vegetation cover observed over India. Using an energy balance model, we diagnose that the diverse nature of this precipitation response results from three different pathways: evaporation from the surface, the net energy input into the atmosphere, and moist stability. Evaporation exhibits a linear relationship with forest-covered-area and reveals minimal spatial heterogeneity. On the contrary, the influence through the other two pathways is found to be region specific. Rainfall modulation via changes in net energy input is dominant in the head Bay of Bengal region, which is susceptible to convective systems. Whereas impact through stability changes is particularly significant south of 20∘ N. In addition, we find that moisture advection modulates the significance of these pathways over northwest India. Thus, the impact of land cover changes act via three effective mechanisms and are region dependent. The findings in this study have broader ramifications since the dominant region-specific mechanisms identified are expected to be valid for other forcings and are not just limited to the scenarios considered here.


This commentary invites readers into a thought experiment to help decolonize thinking and gain insight into Indigenous research paradigms. It uses Anishinaabeg language and concepts such as the "honorable harvest," and the "grammar of animacy," to re-frame the way people can approach and think about knowledge production and data collecting. Through examples of relationship building and engaging in cultural protocols, this commentary offers ways to be a good relative in research.


Background : Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was common in general practice and incidence increased due to increasing old age population. Objective : Primary objective was to identify causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and secondary objective was to identify risk factors. Materials and Methods : Retrospective study in patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy in Kratumbaen hospital during July 2009 to June 2010 Results : Patient 115 cases were enrolled in study. Most common causes were gastritis, duodenal ulcer, esophageal varices and gastric ulcer in 33%, 24.3% and 23.5% respectively. And most common risk factors were alcohol and NSAID in 23.5% and 12.2% respectively. Conclusion : Most common causes of UGIB in Kratumbaen hospital were gastritis, duodenal ulcer and esophageal varices. And common risk factors were alcohol and NSAID Keywords : upper gastrointestinal bleeding, gastritis


Sources of ionizing radiation are now widely used in various fields of science and technology, medicine and agriculture, which make the problem of chronic radiation exposure on human body very important. Effects of chronic low-level radiation exposure on the human body are not well understood. Our work is devoted to assessing the indices of adhesive ability and functional reserve of peripheral blood neutrophils among the residents of the Techa riverside villages in the period of long-term effects of radiation exposure.


The current enthusiam to measure fluctuations in the CMB power spectrum at angular scales between 0.1 and 1 degree is largely motivated by the expectation that CMB determinations of cosmological parameters will be of unprecedented precision. In such circumstances it is important to estimate what we can already say about the cosmological parameters. In two recent papers (Lineweaver etal 1997a & 1997b) we have compiled the most recent CMB measurements, used a fast Boltzmann code to calculate model power spectra (Seljak & Zaldarriaga 1996) and, with a chi-squared analysis, we have compared the data to the power spectra from several large regions of parameter space. In the context of the flat models tested we obtain the following constraints on cosmological parameters: $Ho = 30^{+13}_{-9}$, $n=0.93^{+0.17}_{-0.16}$ and $Q=17.5^{+3.5}_{-2.5}$ uK. The n and Q values are consistent with previous estimates while the Ho result is surprisingly low.


THE paper began with a brief historical survey of the cold extrusion process since its first practical use over sixty years ago. The extrusion of special materials such as molybdenum, beryllium and zirconium was described. The problems relating to the production of suitable tooling for the extrusion process and the preparation, heat treatment and lubrication of extrusion billets and slugs were discussed. Following discussion on temperature and speed effects, prestrain of work material, presses for extrusion and component design, the paper concluded with an outline of the applications and advantages of the cold extrusion process.


The construction practices used by American and international companies rarely consider local indigenous input or local traditional building methods and cultural norms. This applies not only to community development projects in Arctic villages, but also to projects in war-torn countries requiring capacity or nation building. In this case, where sustainability framework is missing and not incorporated, the infrastructure development is likely to fall apart. Sustainability refers to a framework that deals with the environmental and societal aspects, as well as the economics aspects of sustainable development. The ideal would be to value the three equally in the analysis and the design, decision, and execution processes. Collaborative research and learning strategies for infrastructure sustainability in remote areas are keys to construction success in local communities. Learning and teaching processes adapted to the Arctic are necessary to promote local leadership and ownership of Arctic infrastructure. The academic community, practitioners, and decision-makers will have the continuing role of incorporating the concept of sustainable infrastructure development globally, including in the Arctic. This paper highlights the importance, the challenges, and the opportunities for researchers, engineering practitioners, and academic members to apply sustainability practices. A holistic sustainability framework is discussed for integrating capacity building with emphasis on partnership, awareness, and knowledge building for engineering and infrastructure development in the Arctic.


This paper reviews a circuit which is analog multiplier/divider using single Dual-Output Current Controlled Current Differencing Transconductance Amplifiers (DO-CCCDTA). The proposed circuit can function as four-quadrant multiplier and two-quadrant divider without changing a circuit topology. A constant value of multiplication and division can be controlled via an input bias current. Without any external passive element requirements and using only single DO-CCCDTA, the proposed circuit is suitable to fabricate in IC. The circuit performances are depicted trough PSPICE simulations, they show good agreement to theoretical analysis.


Objective:To study the ferulic acid/α-cyclodextrin association complex. Methods:The stability experiment was carried under the storage condition of high temperature,high humidity and high light. The contents of FA was measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The radical scavenging activity and antioxidative function of ferulic acid/α-cyclodextrin inclusion complex were studied by evaluating the clearing function on the form of superoxide(O-2·) and hydroxyl radical(·OH),and the peroxide value (POV) and acid value (AV) of oil. Results:The FA/α-CD inclusion complex showed release property on FA,and its stability was obviously higher than that of free FA by paired sample T-test (P0.05). The radical scavenging activity of FA/α-CD inclusion complex decreased(P0.05),but the antioxidative function prolonged comparing with that of free FA (P0.01). Conclusion:The FA/α-CD inclusion complex could obviously increase the stability of FA,the radical scavenging activity decreased and the antioxidative function prolonged comparing with that of FA.


Various examples of ideally defined time scales are given. Realizations of these scales occur with the construction and maintanance of various clocks, and in the broadcast dissemination of the scale information. Atomic and universal time scales disseminated via standard frequency and time-signal broadcasts are compared. There is a discussion of some studies of the associated problems suggested by the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR).


Observational and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) analysis data are used to diagnose the characteristics of synoptic circulations, sources of water vapor, and mesoscale convective systems (MCS) related to the formation of heavy rainfall on July 21, 2012. Results indicate that the locations and intensities of upper-to lower-level synoptic circulations and mid-to low-latitude systems are favorable for the heavy rainfall formation over North China that occurred under typical weather patterns with high pressure to the east and low pressure to the west. Synoptic systems such as vortices, shear lines, troughs, cold fronts, and low-level jets affect the formation and intensity of heavy rainfall. Tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the western Pacific Ocean provide favorable conditions for the transportation of water vapor from the ocean to the mainland. The sources of water vapor to North China are the Bay of Bengal, the Bohai Sea, and the Yellow Sea. Water vapor in the lowertroposphere is mainly transported from the latter two sources, and water vapor in the middle troposphere is mainly transported from the former. The entire heavy rainfall process involves two stages. During the first stage, the trigger-ing of MCS is associated with cold air invasion, terrain, and easterly wind in the prefrontal area. During the second stage, the organization and intensification of MCS are forced by the cold front. Under favorable synoptic circulations, the frequent development of stable and persistent MCS is important for the formation of the heavy rainfall event ex- amined in this study.


Introduction:
 In both high and low income countries, life span in sickle cell disease (SCD) is increasing and quality of life is improving. Recent research activities have focused on decreasing SCD-related morbidities. However, limited research has been done on clinical epidemiology of priapism, sexual dysfunction and libido in men with SCD. As part of our ongoing Priapism in Nigeria (PIN) cohort to assess knowledge gap in clinical epidemiology of priapism and sexual dysfunction in men with SCD, we tested the hypothesis that sexual dysfunction is high in men with SCD compared to age/race matched men without SCD.
 Methods:
 We utilized a mixed method study design (cross-sectional survey and focus group discussions) in men, aged 18-40 years, with confirmed SCD and men without SCD as comparators for the survey. Participants were recruited from the adult sickle cell clinic and general outpatients department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital (MMSH) in Kano, Nigeria from February to July 2019. Priapism is defined as a purposeless painful erection, unrelated to sexual desire; and mostly occurs in the stuttering or recurrent ischemic form, which lasts less than 4 hours. We used the validated International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire to assess erectile dysfunction in this population. Additionally, we conducted 6 focus group discussions in Nigeria (3 sessions) and United States (3 sessions), respectively; in which we asked open ended questions about symptoms, experiences, beliefs and life impacts of priapism.
 Data were presented as means ± standard deviation or proportions with 95% Confidence Intervals. The t-test and Chi square test were used to compare demographic data. Similarly, domain-specific scores, which included: 1) erectile function, 2) sexual desire, 3) orgasmic function, 4) overall satisfaction with sex life, and 5) intercourse satisfaction- were compared between the two groups using t-test; where higher scores indicate better sexual function. Erectile domain was further sub-classified into normal (26-30), mild ED (22-25), mild-moderate ED (17-21), moderate ED (11-16) and severe ED (0-10). We considered alpha level of significance to be <0.05. The focus group data was analyzed using an iterative inductive/deductive approach.
 Results:
 A total of 353 men with SCD and 250 men without SCD were evaluated; for the demographic features the only significant difference was in monthly income (p 0.007) with SCD being higher, table 1. The prevalence of any priapism episode (major or stuttering) in men with and without SCD was 31.72% (112 of 353) and 2% (5 of 250). Among men with SCD, 25.9% (29 of 112) and 74.1% (83 of 112) had major and stuttering priapism episodes, respectively. Based on the IIEF, the men with SCD when compared to men without SCD had significantly lower total mean scores (24.9 vs 29.6, p 0.0002), erectile function (9.9 vs 11.5, p 0.005), sexual desire (5.8 vs 7.1, p<0.0001), and overall satisfaction with sex life (2.3 vs 3.5, p<0.0001). No significant difference in orgasmic function (p=0.29) and intercourse satisfaction (p=0.12) was observed. Among the married men with and without SCD, 55% (21 of 38) and 84% (22 of 26) had normal erectile function, and 26.3% (10 of 38) and 11.5% (3 of 26) had severe erectile dysfunction, respectively.
 Based on the data from our focus groups with a total of 28 and 7 participants (n=35), in Nigeria and United States respectively, we were guided by biopsychosocial and socio-ecological models to develop a conceptual framework (not shown). We identified themes on cultural context, priapism (triggers, schema, episodes and coping strategies), emotional and sexual function impacts, with respective quotes (results not shown).
 Conclusions:
 In the largest cross-sectional and qualitative study of priapism in men with SCD to date, we demonstrated that priapism and sexual dysfunction are significant cause of morbidity when compared to men without SCD. Married participants with SCD have 2-fold greater proportion of severe erectile dysfunction than those without SCD. Our qualitative results revealed tremendous impact of priapism and sexual dysfunction in men with SCD. Participants with priapism experience shame, anxiety and depression, and declined sexual function. There was diversity in causal attribution and coping strategies of priapism.

 Idris: Fogarty International Center: Research Funding.


This paper describes a new experimental process of ethanol production from straw paper pulp hydrolyzed with acid and enzyme.The influences of reaction time,temperature,substrate concentration,catalyst content on the diluted acid hydrolysis and the cellulose enzyme hydrolysis were researched.The change of sugar content in the hydrolysate was analyzed.The results showed that the optimized conditions of dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis are temperature 180 ℃,the rate of solid to liquid 20∶1,mass of sulfuric acid 0.024 g H2SO4 /g solvent,and reaction time 2 h,the yield of reducing sugar was 28.9%.Optimized conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis are temperature 55 ℃,enzyme concentration 80 U/g material,substrate concentration 0.01 g/mL,and hydrolysis time 30 h,the yield of reducing sugar was 67.1%;The yield of total reducing sugar was 62.6% with acid-enzyme hydrolysis method;After the hydrolysate was fermented,the ethanol concentration was 26.6 g/L,ethanol yielding rate was 49%,theoretical conversion rate of ethanol was 95.0% and reached 0.28 g/g ethanol/straw paper pulp.


Arrays of vertically aligned, [010] oriented α-MoO3 nanorods were grown on planar silicon substrates by pulsed electron beam deposition. The morphology and structure of the nanorods as well as their growth mechanism were investigated. These [010] oriented nanorods exhibited a good field emission performance with a turn-on field of 3.6 V/μm. As the space between layers of the [010] oriented nanorods is large, their formation may be also meaningful for exploring the gas sensing and energy storage properties of layered oxides like α-MoO3.


It is common way that candidate's score is made by judges,although we overkook the question of identifing the role of each committee member.So,we cannot evaluate precisely whether he is very qualified.In order to improve this,the author brings forward in this paper a feedback control way to appraise judges' role based on the candidates' overall scoring outcome. The author also constructs a quadratic programming model to evaluate judges'performance.Whether scored by the method of simple mean calculation or scored by the method of mean calculation after eliminating the highest and lowest score,the model will bring an exclusive result in the ordinary cases.The author also gives a distinctive and concise least square equation which is suitable for the particular data structure of the model so that the results can be easily calculated.The paper also gives two specific empirical analyses by using the model mentioned above.


This paper uses Poisson geometry to define a power control mechanism for large mobile ad hoc networks. It considers a homogeneous Poisson bipole network on the Euclidean plane. Bipoles, which represent transmitter-receiver pairs, adapt their power in a local and distributed way. The common aim of the bipoles is to maximize network wide proportional fairness. The mechanism is based on a heuristic which consists of simplifying the interference field seen by each receiver to its dominant term. This max-interference approximation decomposes the global (and infinite dimensional) optimization problem into a collection of finite problems involving the so called descending chains of the Poisson nearest neighbor graph. In addition, in the Rayleigh fading and interference limited case, the problem further factorizes into a collection of pairwise optimization problems with closed form solution. The properties of this power control mechanism are studied both analytically and by discrete event simulation. Significant performance gains are seen despite these approximations, for the motivating metric and other metrics.


To collect further evidence that epinephrine (EPI) facilitates norepinephrine (NE) release in humans, the effect of a low-dose intravenous (i.v.) infusion of EPI (20 ng kg−1min) on arterial levels of NE and on local production of NE in the forearm was studied both before and during isometric exercise, cold provocation, head-up tilting, and mental stress in 10 subjects with borderline to mild hypertension. Studies were performed during placebo, during β1-selective β-adrenoceptor blockade with atenolol, 50 mg once daily, and during nonselective β-blockade with bopindolol, 1 mg once daily. Atenolol and bopindolol were administered for 1 week, 2 weeks apart, in a randomized double-blind cross-over design. During infusion of EPI, which increased plasma EPI levels to within the high physiologic range, resting levels of NE increased from 214 ± 20 to 263 ± 26 pg/ml (p < 0.01) and resting NE forearm production increased from 296 ± 48 to 529 ± 98 pg 100 ml/min−1 (p < 0.01). The enhancement of these two indices of sympathetic activity by EPI, observed during placebo, was abolished by bopindolol as well as by atenolol. The response of arterial NE, but not the response of forearm NE production, to three of the four stress tests was also enhanced (p < 0.05) by EPI. This enhancement was also abolished by both β-adrenoceptor antagonists. Our findings support the hypothesis that physiologic levels of EPI are capable of enhancing sympathetic activity in humans. This effect is mediated by β-adrenoceptors and can be blocked not only by a nonselective but also by a β,-selectivev β-adrenoceptor antagonist.


This research describes efforts to develop and validate a multidimensional measure of the learning organization. An instrument was developed based on a critical review of both the conceptualization and practice of this construct. Supporting validity evidence for the instrument was obtained from several sources, including best model-data fit among alternative measurement models, nomological network among dimensions of the learning organization, and organizational performance outcomes. Acceptable reliability estimates were obtained for the seven proposed dimensions. Consequently, the instrument, Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire, was recommended for use in organizational studies.


Results of a recent investigation of travel behavior and transportation energy use by minority and poor households are presented and interpreted in terms of the known effects of household demographic characteristics on vehicle ownership and travel demand. When income and residential location are controlled, black (and to a lesser extent, Hispanic and poor) households were found to have fewer vehicles regularly available than did comparable white or nonpoor households, and their vehicles tended to be older and larger, and therefore having significantly lower fuel economy. Blacks were also found to rely more heavily than other groups on public transportation and carpools for their work travel and, partly as a result, to have significantly longer average travel times. Because of depressed vehicle-ownership rates and less fuel-efficient vehicles, the average black, Hispanic, and poor household travels significantly fewer miles per year but consumes somewhat more fuel than does the average white or nonpoor household. The major finding in this study of significant racial differences in vehicle availability and use by low-income central city households challenges the conventional wisdom that racial variations arise solely in response to differences in income and housing locations. It was concluded that because cross-sectional data sets cannot capture the dynamics of income, they cannot identify the persistently poor who tend to be concentrated in certain demographic subgroups (primarily black and female-headed households). Because capital goods and the resources needed to keep them in efficient working order are usually acquired in relatively prosperous years, households for which prosperity is rare or nonexistent may be expected to have depressed rates of vehicle ownership and use, and their vehicles may be expected to have relatively lower fuel economy than seemingly comparable but only temporarily poor households.


This article considers how voluntary redundancy influences individual perceptions of retrenchment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who had taken voluntary redundancy from a range of Australian public and private sector organisations. The article argues that, although some employees may feel pressured into accepting voluntary redundancy, for most people it provides a better alternative to involuntary retrenchment, enabling them to maintain self-esteem and reducing the negative psychological, physical and financial impacts normally associated with retrenchment. However, it also suggests that redundancy programmes need to be managed strategically to avoid creating a 'package culture' mentality in which turnover becomes contingent on receiving a redundancy package.


In this study, condensation of pure refrigerant R134a vapor inside a vertical 18° helical microfin tube was experimentally investigated. Tests were performed at saturation pressure of 5.7–5.9 bar with mass fluxes of 20–100 kg/m2s and heat fluxes of 1.7–5.3 kW/m2. The effects of mass flux and the temperature difference between the refrigerant and tube wall (ΔT) on the heat transfer performance were analyzed throughout experimental data. For experiments in which ΔT is more than 2.5°C, the average condensation Nusselt number showed a tendency to be independent from ΔT. Heat transfer enhancement ratio was found to be 1.59–1.71, which is always higher than the heat transfer area enhancement factor (1.55). Fins always act as a turbulence promoter in the given experimental data range. Finally, the most widely used heat transfer coefficient correlations for condensation inside microfin tubes were analyzed through the experimental data. Best fit was obtained with Yu and Koyama's correlation with an absolute mean deviation of 17% and Kedzierski and Goncalves's correlation with an absolute mean deviation of 19%.


IN many cases of "suxamethonium apnoea" described in the literature, it is probable that other factors were more directly concerned in the production of the apnoea than simply a prolonged action of suxamethonium (Wolfers, 1952; Grant, 1952). The causes of prolonged apnoea have been well reviewed recently by Churchill-Davidson (1959) who advocated a rational approach to the diagnosis and treatment. In order to implicate a muscle relaxant as the causative factor in a case of prolonged apnoea, it is necessary to demonstrate that a neuromuscular block actually exists. The technique for this has been described by Churchill-Davidson and Wise (1960), and involves faradic stimulation of motor nerves and observation of the responses of the muscles concerned. In contradistinction to the non-depolarizing group of muscle relaxants, a reliable antidote is not available for reversing the effects of the depolarizing group and is usually not required as the normal duration of action of suxamethonium is so brief. Nevertheless there are rare and usually unexpected occasions when the action of suxamethonium is extended beyond that which might reasonably be expected. These prolonged effects may arise in three ways: (a) Following repeated doses of suxamethonium, when the total amount administered is of the order of 1 to 1.5 g the dual block effect may develop. (b) Following a single dose of suxamethonium, the duration of action may be extended from the normal 3 to 4 minutes to 10 to 20 minutes. This may be termed an extended response. (c) Following a single dose of suxamethonium, the duration of the apnoea may be prolonged up to 1 to 3 hours. This may be termed a prolonged response. Many workers have reported that a dual block effect may be produced by repeated doses of suxamethonium (Brennan, 1956; Hodges and Foldes, 1956) and these changes have now been demonstrated electromyographically (Churchill-Davidson and Christie, 1959). The various mechanisms that may account for this will be discussed later. When the response to a single dose of suxamethonium is extended to 10 to 20 minutes, it was shown by Evans and his colleagues (1952) that the duration of the neuromuscular block could be correlated closely with the pseudocholinesterase level. In two cases described by them the pseudocholinesterase levels were normal and the possible explanation for this will be discussed later. It was shown that if the level was artificially raised by an infusion of concentrated pseudocholinesterase, the duration of the apnoea produced by a single dose of suxamethonium could be reduced (Evans et al., 1953), There have since been many reports in which an extended response to a single injection could be related to a reduction in the serum pseudocholinesterase. Apart from liver disease, malnutrition, and insecticide poisoning, a low pseudocholinesterase level may be found in healthy persons as part of a familial disposition (Kaufmann, Lehmann and Silk, 1960). Whilst it is reasonable to suppose that an extended response may be caused by a reduction in the speed of breakdown of suxamethonium, providing there is some esterase activity, it is difficult to understand how the action can be prolonged for hours, rather than minutes (Paton, 1958).


Bronchitis: Exacerbations found to be associated with presence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in sputum in a pilot study. No link could be shown with atmospheric pollution or cold weather (p. 187). Accidents on Farms: Study of 132 patients injured in agricultural accidents showed only 9% fully immunized against tetanus. Despite legislation, safety precautions are not always followed (p. 193). Influenza Viruses: Live influenza A viruses retained infectivity and antigenicity after attenuation by multiple passages at low temperatures. Further development may yield satisfactory live influenza vaccines (p. 198). Viraemia proved in a case of Asian influenza (p. 208). Posture in Labour: Significant increases in Po., and decreases in Pco2 found in pregnant women who sat up, compared with the levels found in lying position. Implications for posture in labour discussed (p. 201). Prostatic Cancer: Liver function tests done on patients with prostatic cancer treated with oestrogens showed abnormalities in about half: these changes returned to normal if treatment continued (p. 204). Appendicectomy: Ampicillin powder used in wound closure reduces rate of postoperative wound infection (p. 206).


Based on their ethno medical usage, the three medicinal Based on their ethno medical usage, the three medicinal plants studied were obtained from the southern part of Ondo State, Nigeria. Their background information was gathered through interviews with native and local herbalists. The leaves were air dried, reduced into coarse powder and extracted with ethanol. The result revealed that the phytochemicals in the plant extracts contained binding properties that are active against snake bites. These secondary metabolites effectively neutralized and prevent tissue damage induced by venom toxins. Severe pain which has been recorgnised as one of the age long symptoms of Echis ocellatus envenomation was attenuated by the three plants investigated. They possessed phytochemical components which alleviated the writhing movements developed from severe pains. The blockage of blood flow to body organs was also effectively arrested by the plant extracts. At 200 mg/kg b.wt, 30 minutes after venom administration, Anogeisus leiocapus extract recorded the highest percentage of survived rats. At 600 mg/kg b.wt, both Anogeisus leicapus and Euphobia hirta exerted 100% protection, while that of Ageratum conyzoide extract stood at 88-89% survival of rats. The percentage of survived rats increased dose dependently. Severe pain which is one of the age long symptoms of Echis ocellatus envenomation was attenuated by the plant extracts investigated. They possessed phytochemicals which alleviated writting movements developed from severe pains.


Non-penalty measures have important values as the tool and function in victim-offender mediation.The value of tool in victim-offender mediation is shown by means of the criminal burden of the offender,function of victim-offender mediation and the achievement of victim-offender mediation.Recovery of the victim's damage,the offender's social return and community relation repairing are the value of function in victim-offender mediation.Non-penalty measures in the present criminal law is not so appropriate for victim-offender mediation practice,we should strive to construct new non-penalty measure system in victim-offender mediation.


Full open-shelf reading of university library has the incomparable advantages, but the disordered rate of book has significantly increased. Adding to the intensity of library staff and increasing the refusal rate of books to a certain extent reduces the overall image of the library. The library can solve this troublesome problem from students and the librarians.


How to Optimize Social Security Benefits, this paper examines a plan to take early benefits, continue working and saving funds in a defined benefit plan.


. . . but I gladly would . . . have left the Monastery of those foure Friars, with whom I was lodged ... in regard of their great cheere and deepe draughts of Malmsey I received hourely, and sometimes against my will: Every night after supper, the Friars forced me to dance with them, either one gagliard or another: Their musiki in the end was sound drunkennesse, and their syncopa turned to spew up all, and their bed converted to a boord, or else the hard floore, for these beastly swine were nightly so full that they had never power to goe to their owne chambers, but where they fell, there they lay till the morne. For the space of twenty dayes of my being there, I never saw any one of them truely sober. (Lithgow 1632)


In order to analyze stability of stimulation evoked neuronal activity, it is necessary to analyze long-term changes of evoked response pattern induced by electrical stimulation. For this purpose, we use Self-Organization-Map (SOM), which continuously performs non-teacher learning. Neural network was alternately stimulated by two different electrodes. SOM maps to response pattern induced by each electrical stimulation in 30 × 30-2D space. Only at the first stage of the learning, SOM is forced to select a specific winner nodes previously assigned in order to associate a specific node to the input vector. We call the process "seeding". After seeding procedure, the winner units correspond to the response patterns induced by two different inputs are separately mapped. We confirmed that response patterns of electrical stimulation were stimulation specific and they were almost stable. In addition, Not small part of spontaneous activities share the activity patterns with evoked responses, suggesting that inputs were not tightly coupled to their response patterns.


Part 1 of this article made a case for "pleonastic" translation, i.e., adding pleonasms (synonymous adjectives) to metaphorical nouns to bridge the cultural distance between the ancient Israelite text and the present-day reader. Part 2 exemplifies this approach with a translation of some of the body-description verses from the Song of Songs (esp. 7.2-6 [English 7.1-5]). Introductory considerations concerning this biblical book are offered, addressing, e.g., life-setting, register, and hermeneutical key. Rooted in translation theory and metaphor theory, this article draws attention to the various aspects of the Song of Songs and proposes a "dynamic equivalent" way (following Nida and Taber's call for clarity) to provide present-day readers with a comprehensible translation of its ancient metaphors. This results in a respectful translation with additional pleonasms and other types of elucidations.


We present p53-MDM2-Glucose model to study spatio-temporal properties of the system induced by glucose. The variation in glucose concentration level triggers the system at different states, namely, oscillation death (stabilized), sustain and damped oscillations which correspond to various cellular states. The transition of these states induced by glucose is phase transition like behaviour. We also found that the intrinsic noise in stochastic system helps the system to stabilize more effectively. Further, the amplitude of $p53$ dynamics with the variation of glucose concentration level follows power law behaviour, $A_s(k)\sim k^\gamma$, where, $\gamma$ is a constant.


Studies on Bantu have encountered problems in applying the traditional notions of direct and indirect objects to Bantu structures. This is because a typical Bantu sentence has a potential sequence of up to three nouns in post-verbal position and in the absence of morphological case or clearly definable prepositions, these structures suggest double or triple accusative. Further, recent linguistic research has shown that grammatical relations do not exist in every language as given by a general theory, but that in order to say that a given grammatical relation exists in a given language, the claim must be justified both language internally and cross-linguistically (Comrie, 1981:66). Using data drawn from Kikamba (a Bantu language spoken in Kenya), this paper discusses the properties of the primary object in Bantu and examines the operation of the parameters which determine the choice of the primary object in structures with more than one possible object.


Confucius devoted all his life to document arrangement and education.During the process of materials arranging,he instinctively questioned the previous historiography.This helped him form some understandings on historiography.In his Spring and Autumn,Confucius recorded events to show righteousness and preach his doctrine to moralize.All these efforts reflected his political ideals and his pursuit of righteousness.The principles of historiography in Spring and Autumn have produced tremendous influence upon the Chinese traditions in historiography.


In these notes we give a review of topological string theory. We discuss twodimensional topological field theories, which represent its classical backgrounds. We describe their symmetries and the properties of the physical amplitudes. In the particular context of d < 1 we explain how topological string theory can be exactly solved, by deriving Schwinger-Dyson equations in the form of recursion relations between world-sheet correlation functions at different genera. ∗Based on lectures presented at the Spring School on Strings and Quantum Gravity, Trieste, April 24 – May 2, 1990 and the Cargése Workshop on Random Surfaces, Quantum Gravity and Strings, May 28 – June 1, 1990.


One of the major weaknesses of libraries in developing countries is their scarcity of foreign and international legal collections. In desperate need for reliable and up-to-date foreign jurisdiction resources, these libraries try to fill the gap with ad-hoc solutions. New York University's experiences in offering assistance to some of them clearly show that obtaining out-of-date books from "generous donations", importing short-term visiting "brains" or buying computers (which are used as furniture covered with elegant red velvet) doesn't solve the problem. On the contrary, these stop-gaps feed frustration.


We investigated mechanisms regulating expression of α‐fetoprotein (AFP) in 3 human hepatoma cell lines, HuH‐7, HepG2, and huH‐1, producing high, medium, and low levels of AFP, respectively. The silencer, a negative cis‐acting element of the AFP gene, was highly activated in huH‐1 and HepG2 to repress AFP enhancer activity by 91%, whereas only 26% repression was observed in HuH‐7. To account for the difference in AFP production between HepG2 and huH‐1, we investigated the roles of two isoforms of the AT motif‐binding factor 1 (ATBF1) transcription factor, ATBF1‐A and ‐B. Cotransfection assays showed that the ATBF1 isoforms regulated the AFP gene differently in HepG2 and huH‐1. In huH‐1 and HuH‐7, both ATBF1 isoforms suppressed strongly enhancer activity and slightly promoter activity. In HepG2, on the other hand, ATBF1‐A suppressed the enhancer and promoter activities, but surprisingly, ATBF1‐B was found to stimulate enhancer activity while showing no effect on the promoter. Levels of ATBF1‐A mRNA were similar in all 3 cell lines, whereas the expression ATBF1‐B mRNA varied greatly, with the highest level seen in HepG2 followed by huH‐1 and HuH‐7. These results suggest that, in HepG2, ATBF1‐B may have a dominant negative effect to relieve the transcriptional repression caused by its isoform. In support of this view, we found that the N‐terminal region specific to the ATBF1‐A molecule possessed transcriptional repressor activity. Thus, the use of the ATBF1 variants as well as the silencer may provide a unique mechanism that contributes to the determination of AFP levels in human hepatoma cell lines.


The invention discloses an integrated device capable of guiding air and sprinkling for a direct air-cooling unit and belongs to the technical field of power resource. The integrated device is V-shaped and symmetrically arranged in triangular space between finned tubes mounted on the left and right sides of the air-cooling unit. Three to five layers of guide plates are vertically arranged above an air-cooling fan and aim at reorganizing and optimizing a flow field of the air-cooling fan outlet so as to enable the cooling air flow field on the windward side of the air-cooling finned tubes to be distributed evenly, the amount of heat exchange in every part of the finned tubes to achieve uniformity and heat exchange areas of the finned tubes to be in full use. Simultaneously, sprinkling devices are integrated with the guide plates along the direction of an air outlet. When the outlet temperature of the fan reaches a certain degree, the sprinkling devices are opened. Accordingly, air temperature can be reduced significantly, heat-exchange capability of finned tubes in condensers is improved, unit operating back-pressure is reduced and safe and economical effects of the air-cooling system can be enhanced.


and Jonson as well as Queen Anne, Mary Wroth, and John Donne. Her most convincing applications of a woman writer's manipulation of the ideologeme and of her genres are to Wroth's masque, Love's Victory, and her pastoral romance, Urania. Schleiner's larger concepts provide valuable contexts for discussing at least two of the "major" women authors of this era, Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, and Elizabeth Cary, Lady Falkland. In Sidney's case the countess presided over a "reading circle" which included men interested in musical and metrical verse. Further, Sidney engaged herself in religious causes, moving from the literal translation of a treatise by Philippe du Mornay, through other "looser" translations, and finally to the independent lyrics of her Psalms. In the case of Elizabeth Cary, Schleiner considers the author's return to writing, first in defending Cardinal du Perron and later in combining narrative and drama in Edward II. Schleiner's work makes a welcome contribution to Renaissance studies in bringing women writers into larger movements and structures recognizable to more general readers. Her work complements other helpful recent studies by Barbara Lewalski, Tina Krontiris, and Constance Jordan. Her concepts, whether familiar or new to some readers, are clearly defined. She is generous in acknowledging her debts, especially to translators: Connie McQuillen for the Latin poetry and Lynn E. Roller for the Greek. To my knowledge, the selections from classical language material by the Cooke sisters — and especially the considerable original Latin writings of the Catholic exile, Elizabeth Jane Weston — appear in accessible English poetic form for the first time. These additions, along with information about doctrinal treatises to which other women wrote prefaces, add to a comprehensive picture of the whole period, both in England and on the continent. MARGARET ARNOLD University of Kansas


"Culture [...] is both transnational and translational." (Bhabha 1994, 247) Homi Bhabha's phrase remains striking and emphasizes the necessity of a dynamic view of culture. At the same time, it points to the increasing importance of developing transnational cultural studies explicitly from the perspective of translation and displacement. If we understand cultures as the unfolding of a multi-layered superposition and a blurring of boundaries, then intercultural differences form an integral part of the concept of culture. Within this transculturally open concept, the analysis of cultural forms and practices cannot be restricted to any single research tradition in the spectrum of studies of culture, which is bound to nation-specific traditions of knowledge and research. What is needed is a transnational enhancement of cultural studies. To avoid misunderstandings: Transnationalization does not mean the international distribution of European/Western forms and standards of the study of culture. The danger of intellectual imperialism would be too great. What it does mean is a critical internationalism – for example along the lines of a critical regionalism as presented by Gayatri Spivak in her book Other Asias. (2008, 1 ff., 131) Recently, perspectives put forward even by dominant British and American cultural studies conform to the idea of a critical internationalism, which takes into account the (power) differences of knowledge transfer worldwide. As Robert Stam and Ella Shohat state in their article in the comprehensive anthology Internationalizing Cultural Studies: "This unequal distribution of knowledge and prestige points to the necessity of de-Eurocentrizing and transnationalizing the field." (Stam/Shohat 2005, 481) This includes the need both to pluralize the Western-based research of cultures towards an anti-Eurocentric project, and to regionalize it in order to question hegemonic premises, claims of universality, and centristic perspectives within Western cultural studies. Not surprisingly, this was only a reaction to growing pressure from the postcolonial predicament of cultural studies itself. (Cf. Abbas/Erni 2005, 2)


E-commerce has been producing great changes in the world. The basic characteristics are a series of basic qualities of Chinese Internet-users and their relationships with the Internet, including the composition, the Internet-behavior and Internet-mentality of the netizens. Internet-users play an important role in the development of E-commerce's development and internet-users' composition.


Background: Lumbar spine Clinical Adjacent Segment Pathology (CASP) has an annual incidence of 2.5%, and a 10-year 22% prevalence of repeat surgery (ReopASP). The pathophysiology remains controversial, whether due to increased mechanical stress on an adjacent motion segment after iatrogenic fusion or spondylotic disease progression. We compare CASP in traumatic and spondylotic patient cohorts. Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing lumbar spine fusion for traumatic instability between 2002-2008 was compared to those undergoing lumbar spine fusions for degenerative disease, allowing for at least a five-year follow-up period. Prevalence of Reoperation for Adjacent Segment Pathology (ReopASP) and evidence of Radiological Adjacent Segment Pathology (RASP) was compared between groups. Results: There were significant baseline clinical and technical differences found between groups with respect to mean age (trauma, 38.6 years versus spondylotic, 50.0 years, p<0.01), gender (trauma, 78% males versus spondylotic, 50% males, p<0.01), number of levels fused (trauma, 3 versus spondylotic, 1, p<0.01), and level fused (trauma, 80% thoracolumbar versus spondylotic, 0% thoracolumbar, p<0.01). A significant difference was found in the proportion of patients developing ReopASP between groups (trauma, 0/40 versus spondylotic, 15/100, p<0.01). Stratified analysis controlling for age and gender still revealed a significant difference (p<0.05). The level of lumbar fusion could not be adjusted for as no patients in the spondylotic group underwent thoracolumbar junction fusion. Conclusion: A higher rate of ReopASP in patients with spondylosis was found. Our findings support patient factors predisposing to progressive spondylosis as an etiology for CASP and ReopASP, rather than mechanical factors.


The article analyses principles of formation of neuronet models of complex economic systems. It justifies prospectiveness of use of artificial intellect methods when modelling complex economic systems. It shows a possibility of use of evolution methods when forming neuronet models of complex economic systems for ensuring invariance of their generalising properties. It offers an algorithm with a genome from operons of fixed length. It considers all operons from the point of view of functional positions. It notes a specific feature of the algorithm, which allows excluding anthropogenic factors when selecting the neuronet models architecture. It proves adequacy of the formed neuronet models of complex economic systems.


RGB image has been widely used for human action recognition. However, it could be redundant to include all information for human action depiction. We thus ask the following question: What elements are essential for human action recognition? To this end, we investigate several different human representations. These representations emphasize dissimilarly on elements (e.g. background context, actor appearance, and human shape). Systematic analysis enables us to find out essential elements as well as unnecessary contents for human action description. More specifically, our experimental results demonstrate the following: Firstly, both context-related elements and actor appearance are not vital for action recognition in most cases. But an accurate and consistent human representation is important. Secondly, essential human representation ensures better performance and cross-dataset transferability. Thirdly, fine-tuning works only when networks acquire essential elements from human representations. Fourthly, 3D reconstruction-related representation is beneficial for human action recognition tasks. Our study shows researchers need to reflect on more essential elements to depict human actions, and it is also instructive for practical human action recognition in real-world scenarios.


In new phased array instruments, a fundamental question is whether the geometrically redundant baselines in a regularly arranged phased array are really redundant. Based on real and simulated data, we demonstrate that for a phased array station, a regular arrangement of station elements is necessary but not sufficient to satisfy redundancy calibration requirements. This is due to the electromagnetic interaction between closely spaced antenna elements which leads to non-identical beams and possibly correlated noise. Each of these deterministic effects introduces a bias on the estimated calibration results. Understanding the nature of these effects has helped us to determine the limits of applicability of redundancy calibration for a given phased array, which are demonstrated in this paper.


Relates for lithium ion batteries sulfide-based solid electrolyte compound having a cubic Argyrodite type crystal structure, it is possible to suppress the generation amount of hydrogen sulfide in when left to stand in the atmosphere, high conductivity even when left to stand in dry air it is possible to maintain the rate, to St. propose a new compound. Containing a crystal phase of cubic system Argyrodite type crystal structure, composition formula (1): a in


Abstract: This study explored further the function of the metabotropic excitatory amino acid receptor in the rat brain. The trans and cis isomers of (±)‐1‐amino‐1,3‐cyclopentane‐dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) were characterized for relative affinities at ionotropic and metabotropic excitatory amino acid receptors in vitro, as well as ability to produce in vivo excitatory or excitotoxic effects in rats. trans‐ACPD was about 12 times more potent in vitro as an agonist for metabotropic excitatory amino acid receptors when compared to its ability to displace N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) ([3H]CGS‐19755) receptor binding. cis‐ACPD was about 30 times more potent as a displacer of [3H]CGS‐19755 binding than as a stimulant of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. When administered intra‐peritoneally to neonatal rats, both cis‐ and trans‐ACPD produced convulsions that were prevented by the competitive NMDA receptor antagonists, LY233053 and LY274614. cis‐ACPD was six times more potent as a convulsant when compared to trans‐ACPD. Both compounds were examined for excitotoxic effects in vivo following stereotaxic injection into the mature or neonatal rat striatum. Doses of trans‐ACPD of up to 5,000 or 1,200 nmol produced few signs of striatal neuronal degeneration in the mature or neonatal brain, respectively. However, cis‐ACPD produced extensive dose‐related neuronal degeneration at doses of 100–1,000 nmol in the mature brain and 50–200 nmol in the neonatal brain. These studies suggest that, unlike the ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptors, activation of the metabotropic excitatory amino acid receptor does not result directly in excitatory effects, such as excitotoxicity.


Background- The indian Himalayan Region is spread across 12 indian States (namely Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, two districts of Assam namely dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong and darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal) stretching across a length of 2500 km and width of 250 to 300 km. Nearly 50 million people reside in the indian Himalayan Region (iHR) alone. The iHR is characterized by diverse demographic, economic, environmental, social and political systems. The 2011 census demonstrated that the majority of these states' populations live in rural areas. The major problems in most mountainous regions are the lack of education, medication, and employment facilities. Lack of these amenities/services is the major causes of migration from iHR mountain regions to the urban areas, as people pursue access to better jobs and education. People work in urban areas and persist through tough living and working conditions to send money back to their families (Schoff et al. , 2020).


Ways in which physical objects interact are explored, and in particular the concept of freedom is analysed. Intuitively, the fit between two shapes in a given spatial configuration is a statement about how much one shape needs to mutilated in order to be made identical to the other. The freedom of one object with respect to another specifies what motions the First object can go through without the second one moving. The formulations, termed naive kinematics, are compared to work that was done in the kinematics of machinery in the 10th century and that has since been somewhat neglected.


A high‐charge‐state plasma neutralizer for a beam of energetic H− ions offers the potential of high optimum neutralization efficiency (∼85%) relative to a gas target (50–60%), and considerably reduced target thickness. We have calculated cross sections for charge‐changing interactions of fast H− and H0 in collision with highly charged ions using a semiclassical model for H−, and the Classical‐Trajectory Monte Carlo method plus Born calculations, to obtain correct asymptotic cross sections in the high‐energy limit. Charge‐state fractions as a function of plasma line density, and f max0, the maximum H0 fraction, are calculated using these cross sections; we find that f max0≂85% for ion charge states in the range 1+ to 10+, and that target ion line density for f max0 decreases approximately as the square of the plasma ion charge state. The maximum neutral fraction is also high for a partially ionized plasma. We have built a small multicusp plasma generator to use as a plasma neutralizer; preliminary results show that the plasma contains argon ions with an average charge state between 2+ and 3+ for a steady‐state discharge.A high‐charge‐state plasma neutralizer for a beam of energetic H− ions offers the potential of high optimum neutralization efficiency (∼85%) relative to a gas target (50–60%), and considerably reduced target thickness. We have calculated cross sections for charge‐changing interactions of fast H− and H0 in collision with highly charged ions using a semiclassical model for H−, and the Classical‐Trajectory Monte Carlo method plus Born calculations, to obtain correct asymptotic cross sections in the high‐energy limit. Charge‐state fractions as a function of plasma line density, and f max0, the maximum H0 fraction, are calculated using these cross sections; we find that f max0≂85% for ion charge states in the range 1+ to 10+, and that target ion line density for f max0 decreases approximately as the square of the plasma ion charge state. The maximum neutral fraction is also high for a partially ionized plasma. We have built a small multicusp plasma generator to use as a plasma neutralizer; preliminary results ...


Mechanisms are described for providing information to a user regarding a wireless charging operation via the user's mobile terminal. Information may be received from a device engaged in a wireless charging operation, such as the user device being charged and/or the wireless charging plate via which the user device is charged, in response to a trigger. Information such as a charge time remaining, an a mount of charge completed, or a charging queue status may be presented by the user's mobile terminal, such as via a display of the mobile terminal and/or through an audible indication provided by a speaker of the mobile terminal. The trigger may be any of a number of user interactions with the device engaged in the wireless charging operation.


Background - Among the pharmacotherapy recommendations for Tourette syndrome (TS), Aripiprazole is a potential treatment option for TS and a relatively safe alternative in the pediatric population. Case presentation - We report the case of a pediatric patient with TS who was admitted to the hospital after demonstrating severe involuntary movements. The symptoms emerged early in childhood and remained subclinical. It became more noticeable at 3 months before admission when the frequency and the severity started to increase progressively reaching its peak at one month before hospitalization. From further assessment, we found speech delay and a notably high score of Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) . At admission of hospitalization, the symptom relieved following of Aripiprazole 1 x 2 mg. It significantly diminished to infrequent minor facial tics. There was no adverse effect reported upon hospital discharge. We also performed family psychoeducation and speech therapy as adjuvant therapy. Conclusions - We selected Aripiprazole because of its unique mechanism of action resulted in a dopamine stabilizer feature with less side effect. The most common ones are nausea, sedation, and increased appetite where, generally, are lessen within 2 weeks. Moreover, in contrast with other antipsychotics, Aripiprazole would not provoke hyperprolactinemia. The more severe side effect such as extrapyramidal symptoms and weight gain are usually dose-dependent at around 10 mg/day. Aripiprazole is also favourable, especially for refractory cases


Introduction: The aim of the present study was to clinically evaluate the perception of pain of mini-screws in the maxillary arch for anchorage control for retraction of maxillary anterior segment in conjunction with orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of fifty adult patients with a mean age of 24.5 years, with Class II malocclusion, and the patients were divided into two groups. In Group A, 0.022" McLaughlin, Bennett, and Trevisi Bracket System (MBT) was used in 25 patients as fixed orthodontic treatment and 0.016" nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) wire was placed for initial alignment, whereas in Group B, a total of fifty mini-screws were placed in 25 patients, one mini-screw on each side in the maxilla between the 2nd premolar and the 1st molar. The patients answered a questionnaire to assess their opinions on treatment. Results: The data of description of pain experienced in 24 h, 2nd day, and 7th day in Group A and Group B are enumerated. In Group A, the pain experienced in 24 h, 2nd day, and 7th day was 49.72 (36.22), 37.17 (35.32), and 17.34 (14.45) and in Group B, it was 24.72 (15.65), 13.32 (14.34), and 12.45 (11.60), respectively. The questionnaire set was completed for functional aspect evaluation. The descriptive data of visual analog scale were presented. During this study, patient had difficulty in eating, food sticking around implant, and interference during tooth brushing was moderate, but there was no any anaesthetic appearance and disturbance in chewing ability was noted. Statistical Analysis: The nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were performed to evaluate the differences between the groups for pain. The Chi-square test was used to determine differences between the procedures. Differences at P < 0.01 were considered statistically significant. Statistical software, namely, SAS 9.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA), the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and Systat 11.0 (Systat Software Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), were used for the analysis of data. Conclusion: The present study stated that the pain experience after mini-screw insertion is significantly low. The peak of the pain and discomfort level was recorded 4 h to 24 h following the insertion. Thus, mini-screws were found to be an acceptable option in providing orthodontic treatment


In this work, we present a networked epidemic model comprising non-identical agents and consider the problem of learning an allocation strategy to contain an outbreak. Even though spreading processes are generally described by nonlinear dynamics, most methods for control are typically based on linear approximations of the nonlinear process and assume full knowledge of the propagation model and dynamics. We propose an alternative approach based on deep reinforcement learning. We define an environment to represent a heterogeneous nonlinear model and show that this environment can be used in conjunction with a Deep Q-Network to stabilize the spreading process. We illustrate our approach using real data from an air traffic network.


In this paper, we report a new method to predict the pin-assisted-melt impregnation of a fiber bundle to a high-viscosity resin. An analytical model is established based on pulling a single fiber over a pin located in a melt pool. The impregnation depth is studied as a function of diameter of the pin, the line speed of the fiber, the viscosity of the resin, the pre-tension on the fiber, and the width of the fiber bundle. The results show that the level of impregnation is highly dependent on the fiber width, but insensitive to the line speed of the fiber, the pre-tension and the pin diameter, in accord with the previous reported experimental result.


The article presents a study of the chemical composition of sorption substances. The chemical composition is established, the main prevailing elements and impurities are revealed. The crystal-chemical structure of sorption substances is proposed. A comparative analysis of the chemical composition and the classification of sorption substances, depending on the origin. A basic type of chemical sorption capacity is proposed. Elemental analysis showed the predominance of cations in montmorillonite clay, which indicates its higher potential for selective and ion-exchange sorption. Montmorillonite clay requires further study as a promising domestic substance for obtaining drug delivery and release systems.


This thesis focuses on Mitch's who is described as an artful person. Then, Mitch's artfulness considered to have an important role in his efforts to solve the problems in his life. This thesis aims to know the characteristics of Mitch and how the characters help him to solve the problems in his life. To answer the statements of the problems, researchers use new criticism theory that focuses on character and characterization. This thesis is using qualitative approach. In the end of the research, the thesis writer found if Mitch is an intelligence person, skillful, critical, crafty and persuasive person, those all which are contained in Mitch's artfulness. By the artfulness he has, Mitch was able to identify the problems, and then by his artfulness, Mitch also was able to strategize the effort to solve the problems.


A musical study of time stretching. The final four bars of J.S. Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" are subjected to a process of time stretching. In filmmaking, a common technique used to slow down a section of film is to duplicate each frame several times. Joy uses a similar approach, but with overlapping "frames" of three quavers: the first three quavers are repeated, followed by repetitions of quavers two to four, and so on, moving through the material a quaver at a time. The result is a seamless expansion of the time frame of the original source.


algebraic logic, Leibniz hierarchy, Protoalgebraic logics, Equivalential logics Kumpula Science Library In this master's thesis we study a lower part of the so called Leibniz hierarchy in abstract algebraic logic. Abstract algebraic logic concerns itself with taxonomic study of logics. The main classification of logics is the one into the Leibniz hierarchy according to the properties that the Leibniz operator has on the lattice of theories of a given logic. The Leibniz operator is a function that maps a theory of a logic to an indiscernability relation modulo the theory. We study here two of the main classes in the Leibniz hierarchy – protoalgebraic and equivalential logics – and some of their subclasses. We state and prove the most important characterizations for these classes. We also provide new characterizations for the class of finitely protoalgebraic logics – a class that has previously enjoyed only limited attention. We recall first some basic facts from universal algebra and lattice theory that are used in the remainder of the thesis. Then we present the abstract definition of logic we work with and give abstract semantics for any logic via logical matrices. We define logics determined by a class of matrices and show how to uniformly associate with a given logic a class of matrices so that the original logic and the logic determined by the class coincide – thus providing an abstract completeness theorem for any logic. Remainder of the thesis is dedicated to the study of protoalgebraic and equivalential logics. We provide three main families of characterizations for the various classes of logics. The first characterizations are completely syntactic via the existence of sets of formuli satisfying certain properties. The second family of characterizations is via the properties that the Leibniz operator has on the lattice of theories of a given logic. The third and final family of characterizations is via the closure properties of a canonical class of matrices – the class of reduced models – that we associate to any logic. Tiedekunta/Osasto — Fakultet/Sektion — Faculty Laitos — Institution — Department Tekijä — Författare — Author Työn nimi — Arbetets titel — Title Oppiaine — Läroämne — Subject Työn laji — Arbetets art — Level Aika — Datum — Month and year Sivumäärä — Sidoantal — Number of pages Tiivistelmä — Referat — Abstract Avainsanat — Nyckelord —


William of Melitona was regent master in theology at the University of Paris, taking over in that capacity in 1248 from Odo Rigaldus who had been named Archbishop of Rouen in March of the same year, before being replaced himself by Bonaventure in 1255.1 Little is known of William's life. Most notable is the fact that he was part, along with ten other masters of theology, of the commission that condemned the Talmud in 1248, 2 and also that he was put in charge by pope Alexander IV in 1256 of supervising, though he actually also took part in, the completion of the Summa theologica of Alexander of Hales along with other friars from the Franciscan Province of France.3 On a more anecdotal note, it also appears, according to the Vitae fratrum ordinis praedicatorum , that William considered the Dominican Guerric of Saint-Quentin a very dear friend of his.4 This information is interesting in view of the persistent belief of both Mendicant orders as developing in isolation from one another. Also, if true, it would show that William's friendship for Guerric did not prevent him from disagreeing with some of his theological views, which, as we will later see, was indeed the case. Of William's theological works, only his questions on the Sacraments have been edited.5 But, as V. Doucet has established in his magisterial Prolegomena to Alexander of Hales' Summa , William is also the author of 24 disputed questions, heavily influenced by Alexander's own quaestiones , as well as by Odo Rigaldus,6 and from which he will himself borrow heavily in


Those that declined were resident birds (such as the tufted titmouse, blue jay and northern cardinal) that are stable or increasing in the U.S. Those that increased were migratory species (such as the hooded warbler and ovenbird) that are more at-risk based on factors including range-wide abundance and population trends. While it is clear that managing deer can benefit at-risk bird species in eastern forests, McShea and Rappole recommend basing that management on the density of understory vegetation rather than on the density of the deer themselves. This is because deer at a given density can result in different vegetation densities, depending on factors including soil wetness and richness. Specifically, the researchers suggest monitoring orchids and lilies, which are common throughout the eastern U.S. and are sensitive to changes in deer densities.