The late 1970s formed an opportune time to measure the effect of recent advances in the treatment of peptic ulcer (PU). Beginning in August 1977, the Food and Drug Administration had approved cimetidine to treat duodenal ulcers (DU). Combined with cimetidine's wide distribution and use, this step made it feasible to assess the effect of this innovation on the frequency of PU disease in populations; for some time before, this incidence had been diminishing in the United States and other developed countries. In that same era in the United States, hospital inpatient care had come to be viewed as costly, even extravagant for many conditions. Staff of prepayment programs and other health personnel often implied that charges for drugs were excessive. Related to antiulcer drugs, utilization data came promptly from the National Disease and Therapeutic Index. These data showed that DU patients attending the offices of private physicians were weaned swiftly from antacids to cimetidine as their main therapy. It thus seemed timely to produce information that would facilitate cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness assessments of cimetidine's impact on DU.


EnglishThis article explores the ambiguities of identity construction, between protecting the environment and defending indigenous populations, through the example of maize seeds and the Nahua and Totonac peoples in the Sierra Norte de Puebla, Mexico. The objective of these indigenous peoples is not the preservation of agro-biodiversity, but their methods of socio-environmental reproduction result in it all the same. A comparison of this de facto conservation by rural communities with theoretical preservation by researchers, politicians and citizens shows that the paradigm for preserving biocultural diversity is based on a more or less productive misunderstanding. Although this misunderstanding allows for forms of politicisation against hegemony, it can seem counterproductive when maize seeds are reduced to their symbolic aspects (naturalness, "Indianness", Mexicanness, etc.), thus masking divergences in terms of stakeholders' interests and epistemologies. francaisCet article interroge les ambiguites des constructions identitaires, entre defense de l'environnement et defense des populations autochtones a travers l'exemple des semences de mais chez les Nahua et les Totonaque (Sierra norte de Puebla, Mexique). Le maintien de l'agro-biodiversite n'est pas l'objectif poursuivi par ces populations autochtones mais il resulte de leur forme de reproduction socio-environnementale. La comparaison de cette conservation de « facto » des communautes rurales avec celle de « dicho » des scientifiques, des politiques ou des citoyens montre que le paradigme de la conservation de la diversite bio-culturelle repose sur un malentendu plus ou moins productif. Ce malentendu permet certes des formes de politisation contre hegemonique mais il peut sembler contre-productif quand les semences de mais sont reduites a leur dimension symbolique (de la naturalite, de l'indianite, de la mexicanite…) qui masque les divergences du point de vue des epistemologies et des interets des acteurs.


Clients who "survive cancer do not return to a state of normal health similar to that of their healthy peers" (1, p. 139). It is well documented that one never "gets over" cancer (2). For survivors, the work of "normalizing," or learning to live with and beyond cancer, is a lifelong career. The lasting repercussions from cancer can take their toll on quality of life (QOL) and health for survivors of cancer. With scientific progress and advances in health care, the diagnosis of cancer does not necessarily mean death. The esti-


This study was sought to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and self-esteem among prospective teachers during a pre-service teacher education program. It was hypothesized that EI is a strong predictor to self-esteem of prospective teachers. The sample consisted of 253 participants enrolled in the teacher education program at one public university. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg (1989) and the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (Reuven Bar-On (2002), were used to assess emotional intelligence and self-esteem with alpha reliability of .82 and .81 respectively. A significant positive relationship was found between emotional intelligence and self-esteem of prospective teachers. The results of linear regression analysis revealed that interpersonal and general mode were found significant leading predictors of self-esteem. It is concluded that teacher education program should revive its curricula by designing such intervention strategies to enhance prospective teachers' EI and self-esteem. Future research study implications and directions for policy makers are discussed.


The language used to describe dialectics and dialectical logic thinking should have clear meaning and reference. The dialectical analysis and synthesis embody the characteristics of dialectical thinking. Its main purpose is to analyze and synthesize contradiction of things from factual point of view. Contradictions exist within things themselves. The so called dialectical analysis for the contradictions of subjective structures bring about a set of programmed expressions that do not have any real meaning. The main purpose of transforming from the abstract to the concrete and the combination of logic and history is the dialectical deduction of concept. It embodies the development regularity,the process of the things themselves and people's cognition. The process of analysis and synthesis of various contradictions and the association of them through dialectical deduction is the process of upgrading the concept from the abstract to the concrete.


The adsorption behavior for Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) in decontamination liquid waste on activated carbon fibers(ACFs) and the effect of picolinic acid on this adsorption have been studied. The adsorption capacity didn't have certain relation with surface acidity, but that had proportional relations with surface area. At Pic/M=1.0 dominative species are M(Pic)20 with neutral charge or M(Pic)3- with negative charge, thus large adsorption capacity can be obtained from reducing repulsive force. At A-20 sample large adsorption capacity can be obtained from serving more active sites than the others.


Planetary or Orbital tool actuation is one of the process improvement techniques used in Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) process which has multi facetted advantages. In present work, an attempt has been made to study the effect of various process parameters during planetary EDM of Ti-6Al-4V; a material which is difficult and expensive to machine by conventional methods. Parameters viz. Pulse ON time, Polarity of the tool electrode, Duty factor, Gap voltage and Pulse OFF time have been considered to study the process in terms of tool wear rate, wear ratio and surface roughness. Results suggest that Pulse ON time and Polarity of the tool electrode have significant effect on the responses. Comparative study between Planetary and Die sinking strategies suggest that planetary tool actuation in EDM have the potential to machine Titanium alloys more efficiently than conventional die sinking EDM.


Single field analysis of Humphrey visual field (HVF) 24-2, Swedish interactive threshold algorithmstandard, printout of the right eye (RE) of a one eyed patient with a medium size disc, 0.7: 1 cup disc ratio and inferio-temporal notch and corresponding retinal nerve fiber layer defect in the left eye [Fig. 1], shows reliable HVF, superior arcuate scotoma, single depressed point in the inferior hemifield and the blind spot plotted on the left or temporal field of vision in the raw data and gray scale plot [Fig. 2a, arrow], instead of the right side. Total deviation plot (TDP) and pattern deviation plot (PDP) shows blind spot to be located on the right or nasal side of field of vision [Fig. 2b]. At first glance, if the HVF is seen in isolation without considering the clinical findings, it may appear to be situs inverses of the disc as the blind spot for the "right" eye is mapped on the left side of the visual field. However, there was no situs inverses of the optic disc clinically as the eye tested was left eye [Fig. 1] and it was found that though the technician had tested the patient's left eye (LE), but the eye to be tested was incorrectly entered as RE (which is seen in the printout). A give away to this was that, the threshold values of raw data and its conversion to gray scale map (derived from the patient's actual threshold information obtained), the blind spot is correctly depicted on the left side of field of vision in the HVF printout.[1] However, as the numerical TDP is derived after comparing patient's raw data with the statistical package (STATPAC) of HVF software, it shows 2 blank points in the presumed location of blind spot on the nasal side of field of vision and as PDP is derived from TDP, it also shows blank points in same location. HVF software calculated the values in numerical TDP and PDP in the patient's actual blind spot location on temporal side in post processing and considered the threshold values in the nasal side as blind spot location and in the printout, it was seen as blank points.


This study presents the adsorption performance indicator for the evaluation of thermal power plant CO2 capture on mesoporous graphene oxide/TiO2 nanocomposite. To begin, this adsorbent was synthesized and characterized using N2 adsorption-desorption measurements (BET and BJH methods), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and FT-IR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the pure single-component adsorption isotherms measured at 298 K and the Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) solved with direct search minimisation were applied to estimate the selectivity of the synthesized mesoporous graphene oxide/TiO2 nanocomposite for CO2 over N2 and predict CO2 adsorption capacity in the CO2:N2 binary gas mixtures, including the molar ratio of 5:95, 10:90 and 15:85. Finally, the results validated by the breakthrough experiments at a fixed-bed column were applied to estimate the Adsorption Performance Indicator (API) for the evaluation of CO2 separation from N2 in the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process with respect to different types of thermal power plants.


Abstract As the recently re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was putting the finishing touches to a new cabinet for his second term in office, we asked two experts on democracy to set out their views on the desirability and likely consequences of his finding a place in this new coalition for all or most of the parties that had gained seats in the parliament. In the event, the new cabinet was announced shortly before this issue went to press. As had been widely expected, the president did indeed opt for a wide coalition, appointing to the ministry individuals from most – but not all-parties represented in parliament. The following discussion of the merits and likely consequences of this approach is therefore very timely and useful for understanding how the incoming administration is likely to function. The first of our experts, Larry Diamond, is senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, and directs Stanford's Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. (Ed.)


We obtain sufficient conditions for the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium of a class of neural networks with interneuronal transmission delays.<<ETX>>


Contextual Therapies are proving to be an effective alternative in the treatment of mental health problems, especially those involving high level chronicity. In this research thirty-six participants with significant social dysfunction were randomly assigned to three interventions, one based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), one based on Mindfulness training (MIND) and a control group on the waiting list who continued their usual treatment (TAU). Self-report measures and measures completed by anyone and blind to the study personnel were used. The results of both ACT, MIND scored were in the expected direction from TAU at the post-test. In follow-ups, however the ACT group obtained significant results in most of the main measures of the study while in the group of MIND, the initial results were diluting the over time. This different evolution between groups requires further analysis.


The dynamics of reducing sugar, tea polyphenols, catechins and some organic acids in the cultural solution contained green tea extract were investigated. The tea polyphenols and catechins in the fermentation solution decreased sharply, the catechins increased in yeast cells during the first 12th 24th hours, which indicated that they were partly absorbed or utilized by the yeast. The contents of some organic acid increased in certain degree, and the concentration of sugar and pH value decreased during the fermentation. Reducing sugar had been increasing in 0-48th hours.


【This study was performed in order to identify changes of the plasma membrane proteins in rat submandibular gland tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene [DMBA] and X-irradiation. Two kinds of tumor associated membrane proteins (protein A and B) were isolated with 3 M KCl extraction from rat submandibular gland tumors induced by DMBA and X-irradiation. To identify their antigenicities, immunoelectrophoresis and double immunodiffusion was carried out with various proteins extracted from liver, heart, skin and pancreas of adult rats and from embryonic liver, heart and skin. The rabbit antisera against the protein A did not cross-react with any of the proteins extracted from the above mentioned tissues, suggesting that protein A might be tumor specific antigen. However, the rabbit antisera against protein B was precipitated with proteins extracted from the liver of adult and embryonic rats. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of these two proteins (A and B) showed that protein A was a dimer with molecular weights of 69,000 and 35,000 dalton, whereas protein B was a monomer with molecular weight of 50,000 dalton.】


J Babol Univ Med Sci; 21; 2019; PP: 383-89 Received: Dec 17 2018, Revised: Feb 16 2019, Accepted: June 15 2019. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite many advances have been made in the assisted reproduction techniques (ART), implantation rate after embryo transfer has not increased significantly. Therefore, this study aims to determine the factors involved in recurrent implantation failure (RIF) following ART. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 80 infertile patients with a history of at least 3 recurrent implantation failure (RIF) following assisted reproductive technology (ART) were referred to Fatemezahra Infertility Center in Babol from March 2006 to March 2013 were selected. The control group also included 80 women who became pregnant following the first IVF. Associated factors of infertility, endocrine disorder and endometriosis were recorded and their effect on RIF was assessed in both groups. FINDINGS: The mean BMI was 26.39±3.63 in the case group and 26.77±4.49 in the control group. Body mass index (BMI) >30 increased the risk of RIF significantly (p=0.001). After adjusting for the effects of other possible confounding factors, the odds ratio of obesity on RIF was 1.09(0.91-1.19) 95% CI which was not significant (p=0.06). There were no significant differences among type and cause of infertility, endocrine abnormalities, uterine malformations, endometriosis and polycystic ovary with RIF. CONCLUSION: According to our findings, BMI, type and cause of infertility, endocrine disorders, uterine abnormalities, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary were not effective on recurrent implantation failure.


There are several different types of floatables in the ocean. Some of these floating particles or drifters are of high value to people and are worth using resources to track and recover, such as people, boats, or equipment. To recover a drifting particle, the rescue party would need to have some information on where the particle may be located and where it may be headed. Lots of effort in the oceanography world in recent years has gone into providing the kind of data that is invaluable for such a task. There are many ocean and atmospheric models well suited to specific regions, as well as oceanography equipment reporting data that are translated and recorded in a format people can use. Several of these data are now freely available online, and easy to access. We test HF Radar and the regional ocean model Doppio to track a surface drifter and a glider in distress using the particle tracking framework OpenDrift. We found that HFR and Doppio do have some differences in trajectories but mostly agree in the 48-hour simulations. The tools used in this analysis are open source, and a collection of scripts is being made available for interested parties.


Based on the poroelasticity theory and seepage mechanics,the wellbore stability model coupled mechanics-chemical effect for shale formation was put forth.Rules about activity of drilling fluids and membrane efficiency affecting on wellbore collapse pressure were obtained by the model,which could offer the theoretical basis for research on wellbore stability.


The impact of a proposed pier on tidal current alteration was evaluated. The proposed pier location was in Salad Bay on Koa Kood Island, Trat province, Thailand, and was designed to accommodate passenger ships with a draft of less than 2 m. The study began with collecting necessary data, including bathymetric, water elevation and tidal current characteristics. The impact was assessed using a software package (MIKE21). Although the results showed that the pier would affect the existing current pattern, the change was determined to be insignificant, as the design of the piles for the pier provided sufficient spacing to let the current flow as freely as possible. Consequences of the altered current, such as seabed erosion, water stagnation, sediment deposition and navigational risk were assessed. Environmental mitigation measures might be necessary if the impacts were considered unacceptable. Keywords—Environmental impact assessment, pier, tidal current change, coastal engineering and management


Impurity radiative loss can be a direct energy-loss mechanism for plasma ions, equally important as the corresponding mechanism for electrons. Under certain conditions the energy loss due to the excitation of impurities can also amount to a substantial fraction of the energy loss of fast heavy particles in a plasma.


This is a collection of 120 geometric problems mechanically solved by a program based on the methods introduced by us. Researchers can use this collection to experiment with their methods/programs similar to ours. It consists of two parts: the exact specification of the input to our program and a collection of 120 examples. A typical example consists of an informal description of the geometric problem, the input to the program which is the exact specification of the problem, the result of the problem, and a diagram.


It is a transportable cable / hose reel (1) is disclosed which is provided with at least one drum member (10) for winding a cable / hose (8). A drive (5) serves to rotate a drive element, which is engageable with a drum member (10) operatively associated to rotate a selected drum member (10) around its drum member axis (11) and up the cable / hose (8) or handle.


How to reform the American health care system, now dominated by a decreasing number of multi-billion dollar managed care corporations, has occupied the public debate for many years. Recent news reports hefty increases in managed care premiums, benefit reductions, and an ever-growing number of managed care organizations refusing to treat Medicare patients. Numerous "patients' bills" have been submitted in Congress, attempting to rein in some of the managed care cost containment practices. None have been adopted so far. At best, such bills would superficially treat some of the symptoms of an ill-functioning health care delivery system, poorly serving the population, insured and uninsured, and creating a plethora of ethical conflicts for providers battling to preserve an acceptable standard of care. Since the Clinton health care reform efforts failed in 1994, no one has proposed a fundamental revision of the system, and the United States remains the only industrialized nation without a universal health care system. The literature mainly reports on those – English-language – countries whose cost containment measures have resulted in overburdening the public health care system. There are, however, numerous European governments which succeed in stabilizing health care expenditures by mandating some sacrifices by all participants in the health care system while preserving universal access, comprehensive coverage, and the standard of care.


The paper reviews the issues of evaluation of cover degree of corrosion in steel parts of the jacket in production area being incomplete over twenty years and designed for using in construction of deepwater offshore platform No 7 in Guneshli field, as well as the resistance of structural steel to the deterioration in the stages of occurrence and increase of cracks in welding joints. Despite the appearance of numerous cracks in welding joints of structural steel of the jacket being on shore in the active corrosion medium over the years and the necessity of structural changes, corresponding calculations using traditional methods and state-of-the-art calculation models have been carried out, the jacket made serviceable for operation and its usage as a major facility in construction of No 7 deepwater offshore platform in Guneshli field recommended as well.


At the terminal station, the path headway bias of a trip is linearly correlated to the travel time of the path when it is beyond a critical range, which marks the tendency between successive trips. A tendency-based model for trajectory prediction was proposed in which the path headway bias was assumed to be proportionally amplified at downstream stops with an increase in path travel time, when buses fall into the amplifying tendency, or remain the same, when buses fall into the maintaining tendency. The boundary of the tendency was calibrated by the relative performance between the proportion-based model and the history-based model. The calibrated tendency-based model succeeds in avoiding the amplification of nondirectional path headway bias in the proportion-based model by keeping buses in the maintaining tendency and promoting the amplification of directional path headway bias by allowing buses to fall into the amplifying tendency.


Despite the creativity in designing materials based on bio‐inspired organic compounds and their potential structural diversity, the incorporation of such materials into cathodes has attracted scarce attention, principally due to intrinsically weak redox activities. Herein, a large number of DNA/RNA‐inspired derivatives are systematically designed, and their electrochemical redox properties are explored with the aim of understanding structure–potential–performance relationship. Four striking conclusions can be drawn from this study. First, charging energy describing the 1st reduction step is a decisive parameter for the open‐circuited adiabatic redox potentials of the compounds in the fully charged states, indicating that reorganization energy in the 2nd reduction step has a negligible impact. Second, both the charging and reorganization energies contribute cooperatively to the discharging potentials. Third, the compounds become cathodically inactive at the end of the discharging process owing to a sudden increase in solvation energy; thus, the compounds exhibit "three‐stage discharging behavior". Fourth, the charge/energy‐storage capability shows a critical dependence on Li binding mechanism, which is in turn correlated with the afore‐mentioned core factors, leading to exceptional performance for a guanine derivative (1190 and 1586 mWh g−1). These findings will aid in advancing the development of bio‐inspired cathode materials for high‐performance Li‐ion batteries.


If English is your mother tongue, then you are fortunate in having acquired a valuable research tool without ever having thought about it. In fact, you were probably using English at the age of 2 or 3 with no problem. So next time you find it hard writing up your research, console yourself with the thought of your less fortunate colleagues in the same situation who had to learn English as a foreign language. The Duchess may have told Alice in Lewis Carol's Alice in Wonderland to "take care of the sense, and the sounds will take care of themselves", but she obviously wasn't thinking about non-native English speakers.


A bendable load stiffened wing, developed at the University of Florida, has the ability to load stiffen in the positive flight load direction while remaining compliant in the opposite direction, enabling UAV storage inside smaller packing volumes. The wing employs an under-cambered airfoil with a swept planform providing dissimilar stiffness in the flight load and the folding direction. A comparative experimental study is performed using two wing geometries; straight camber and swept camber. The load stiffening ability is tested by performing three point bend tests while monitoring the wing root airfoil shape change using a visual image correlation technique. For the wing utilizing a swept camber design, increase in the root airfoil camber with increased loading resulted in a load stiffening structure. Swept camber wing showed a higher load carrying capacity (7 g's load factor) over a straight camber wing design (2 g's load factor), still maintaining the compliant nature in the folding direction. Long term storage induced creep deformations are small in both of the wing geometries. By increasing the wing stiffness, sweepback helps in reducing spanwise residual creep strain. Wind tunnel tests at Re = 7×104 of both the straight camber and the swept camber wing show similar L/D ratios. The sweepback helps in improving the static stability of the wing. Thus the bendable load stiffened wing has a clear advantage of offering stiffness improvement and reducing storage induced creep residual strains while maintaining the aerodynamic efficiency and improving the static stability of the wing.


Physical and mechanical properties in green and air dry conditions of Enterolobium contortisiliquum from FRL Campus, Bangalore have been reported. On compar son with "standard teak" ( Tectona grandis ) it is found that strength values are considerably lower than the corresponding, values. The timber is classified as light, very weak, not tough, very steady and very soft. It is considered worth trying for turnery articles like toys. Models, bangles etc. Besides drawing boards, picture frames and cigar boxes.


The treatment of toxic reactions has undergone a very great change since BAL (British anti-Lewisite) has been added to the therapeutic armamentarium. Its official name is 2,3-dimercapto propanol and it is a detoxicant of certain metals, reports from American, English and Australian sources pointing to its rapid efficacy. Exfoliative dermatitis, severe thrombocytopenic purpura and granulocytopenia have responded rapidly to BAL. However, one case of dermatitis unresponsive to the drug has been reported. Penicillin is. of value in agranulocytosis resulting from chrysotherapy. The usual therapy of transfusions et cetera is valuable in complications affecting the hrematopoietic system.


With the development of economy of Guangzhou,the population increased,and the pollution of industry became more and more seriously,then large quantities of untreated industrial waste water and urban sewage ran into the river,therefore,the water quality in Guangzhou section of the Pearl River has descended.In this paper,remote sensing technology and GIS technology are used to analyze water pollution in Guangzhou section of the Pearl River.DN values of TM bands has been testified to reflect water pollution before,so DN values got from TM bands are use for making up the quantitative model of water quality monitoring.Then pollution index can compute by the model.After that,with the use of differential analytical method,pollution sources and their location can be easily found,so can the leak of contamination control.All of these would be used to supervise water pollution.


Investment in shipyard capacity and technology is paying off, with the Gulf region undertaking increasingly sophisticated work in both the marine and services sectors.


Attention is directed to some questions regarding family planning in China. The party Central Committee and the State Council has identified the specific task of gradually reducing the rate of natural population growth from 12/1000 at the present time to 5/1000 in 1985. The objective is to control China's population at under 1.2 billion. In order to ensure the fulfillment of this strategic task and to obtain a clear picture on the current condition of population growth in China, the immediate task is to shift the focus of family planning to the effort of encouraging 1 child/family. Aside from encouraging married couples to have fewer children, late marriage and giving birth at a mature age should also be promoted among the people. Under the guidance and concern of the party Central Committee and the State Council, the party committees at various levels have strenghtened their leadership in the area of family planning. By late 1979, over 5 million couples who already had 1 child volunteered not to have any more children. It is not a simple task to eliminate all the old traditional ideas completely, and it will take a considerable period of time and painstaking effort. During the spring festival celebrations, the benefits of family planning, late marriage, and giving birth at a mature age must be publicized and the 1 child family must be encouraged.


ao = freestream speed of sound cp = specific heat at constant pressure gc = Newton's constant hPR = fuel lower heating value Mo = Mach number at freestream conditions M o = freestream Mach number for minimum S S = thrust-specific fuel consumption T = temperature Tmax = material temperature limit To = freestream temperature Tto = freestream total temperature = ratio of specific heats b = = r r = inlet temperature ratio, Tto=To 1 1 M o=2 = material temperature limit to freestream temperature ratio, Tmax=To


Summary Family rituals consisting of ceremonial acts, traditions and patterned interactions serve as a basis of communication, collective identity, and stabilizing relationships. Therefore, the measurement of rituals in a schizophrenic family is an objectification of the family's symbolic communication and integration. Based upon this, the relationship between family rituals practice in 138 families both with a schizophrenic member (71) and without (67) was examined by the use of an originally developed instrument, the "Family Rituals Scale" (FRS). The psychometric properties of this instrument were tested and proved to be reliable. Families with a schizophrenic member were less ritualizing than the "normal" families. The correlation between FRS scores and Global Assessment Scale scores in schizophrenic patients was negative (the higher the psychosocial functioning level, the lower FRS scores), which means a higher performance of family rituals. The effect of other factors on FRS scores and the therapeutic implications are discussed.


Fixed income analysts are accustomed to monitoring a few benchmark yields on a continuous basis and providing point estimates for these yields, or for a combination of them. Yet, the optimization of fixed income portfolios requires an accurate forecast of not only a few benchmark yields, but of complete yield curves. This chapter derives a forecast of one or more yield curves that is consistent with analysts' views. The model is based on a novel application of principal component analysis (PCA). It can be extended to other markets and has no restrictions on the number of forecast variables, or the number of views. We consider examples of forecasting the government bond yield curves of the US, the Eurozone and the UK, simultaneously or not.


FLIR Systems has developed and fielded a passive IR imager capable of standoff leak detection of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in quantities beneficial to both industry and regulatory agencies. The imager, GasFindIRTM, has undergone extensive laboratory testing and results are reported. Tests include: minimum resolvable volumetric leak flow rates of multiple VOCs, optical field of view impacts on detection, and imaging methodologies to enhance probability of leak detection. General and specific direct applications of the imager are discussed and guidance is given for its effective use in industrial settings. Potential future paths are discussed.


The present invention discloses a manufacturing method of IGBT silicon epitaxial wafer, the selecting P type of the heavily Boron-doped & 1t; 100 g the polished piece, the electrical resistivity <= 0.02 Omega cm, the partial flatness <= 1.5 mm, the backing layer of oxide at side edge without the width <= 1mm; appropriate increasing polished time and improving the technique temperature, selecting appropriate HC1 flow quantity 8-10L at 1180 EDG C, polishing time 10 min, sweeping more than 10min by using high flow rate H2 after polishing; synthetic considering factors such as self-doping, crystal lattice quality, electric resistivity control and production efficiency, etc, selecting appropriate epitaxial process condition with double-layer, silicon source using ultra-pure trichlorosilane, first step developing temperature 1080-1100 EDG C, developing rate-controlling 0.8-1.0 Mu m, second step developing temperature 1120-1150 EDG C, developing rate-controlling 1.2-1.6 Mu m, the double-layer epitaxial growth controlled by different adulterate source accurately.


Abstract Takayasu arteritis is a chronic, progressive, idiopathic, large-vessel vasculitis that affects the aorta, its main branches and the pulmonary arteries. It typically occurs in young Asian women but can be found in any ethnic group and in men. The disease is named after Mikito Takayasu, a Japanese ophthalmologist, who first described the arteriovenous anomalies in the retina of a patient with the disease in 1908. The etiopathogenesis is not known, but studies are being conducted regarding the immunological, infection and genetic aspects of the disease. Early during the course of the disease, inflammation of the involved arteries progresses, resulting in segmental stenosis, occlusion, dilatation and/or aneurysm. The clinical presentation of Takayasu arteritis varies depending on the blood vessels involved. Early symptoms are nonspecific, making the diagnosis difficult. Subsequently, arterial occlusions occur, producing more specific ischemic symptoms. Paucity of specific symptoms and laboratory biomarkers, as well as difficulties in assessing the disease activity and progression, make it often unrecognized at onset, and its activity is frequently underestimated. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by a combination of clinical manifestations, laboratory markers, diagnostic criteria and imaging methods. The purpose of this review is to address the current knowledge on pathogenesis, investigations, classification and management, and to emphasize the need for timely diagnosis, effective therapeutic intervention, and close monitoring of this disease.


Genetic change-overs in Drosophila populations similar to those frequently observed in microbial ones maintained in chemostats are described. In two cases, the change-overs were revealed by an abrupt and sustained increase in the probability that two independently sampled lethal chromosomes proved to be allelic. These favored lethals (or closely linked non-lethal elements) were estimated to have fitnesses 1.30–1.35 in combination with "ordinary" lethals or 1.05–1.10 in combination with non-lethal chromosomes (fitness 1.00 is assigned to carriers of non-lethal chromosomes only). A decrease in the frequency of lethal chromosomes in a third population was adequately explained by postulating the origin of a non-lethal "favored" element whose relative fitness was 1.25, a value similar to those estimated above. Genetic change-over in populations is discussed in relation to biochemical and morphological conservatism.


Abstract The dynamical core of the Mesoscale Compressible Community (MC2) model is described. Ensemble forecast techniques for high-resolution mesoscale simulations are applied to assess the impact of floating point optimization, mathematics libraries, and processor configuration on forecast accuracy. It is shown that the iterative solver in the dynamical core is most sensitive to processor configuration, but it also shows weak sensitivity to the usage of fast mathematics libraries and floating point instruction reordering. Semi-implicit pressure solver errors are amplified in the physical parameterization package, which is sensitive to small pressure differences and feeds back to the dynamical solution. In this case, local rms spreads are around 1°C in temperature by the end of a 42-h forecast. It is concluded that careful validation is required when changing computing platforms or introducing fast mathematics libraries.


Spatiotemporal evolution of intense circularly polarized Gaussian laser pulse propagating in plasma is investigated. Self‐focusing and self‐compression properties of the laser pulse are studied, taking into account the ponderomotive nonlinearity, magnetic field, and state of wave polarization effects. The coupled differential equations governing the beam width (in space) and pulse length (in time) parameters are obtained via paraxial ray and Wentze−Kramers−Brillouin approximations and solved numerically. Numerical simulation showed that the pulse is compressed (in time and space) to a significant extent at a different normalized distance due to the effect of the nonlinearity of the medium. It is shown that for the right‐hand circularly polarized laser, the strength of both self‐focusing and self‐compression of the laser pulse along the propagation direction is increased by increasing the value of the magnetic field, and consequently, the normalized intensity of the pulse is enhanced as it propagates through the plasma. In the case of a left‐hand circularly polarized laser, an increase in the magnetic field causes a decrease in the strength of both self‐focusing and self‐compression of the laser pulse, especially in the higher values. To analyse the evolution of the laser spot size, a three‐dimensional view of the normalized laser intensity at different points of the distance of propagation has also been plotted. Moreover, the results indicate a specific laser intensity range with a "saturation point" where the compression process reaches its maximum value, and outside of this range, it vanishes.


............................................................................................................3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .....................................................................................5 COMMON ABBREVIATIONS ..............................................................................7 TABLE OF CONTENTS .........................................................................................9 LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................12 LIST OF FIGURES ...............................................................................................14 LIST OF APPENDICES ........................................................................................16 INCORPORATION OF PUBLISHED ARTICLES ..............................................17 DECLARATION OF THE CANDIDATE'S ROLE .............................................20 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................21 1.1. Emotions .........................................................................................................23 1.1.1. Basic emotions ...........................................................................................23 1.1.2. Basic emotions theory ................................................................................25 1.1.3. Other theoretical frameworks ....................................................................38 1.1.4. Relevance of emotion recognition and expression ....................................44 1.2. Eating disorders .........................................................................................47 1.2.1. Diagnosis and epidemiology ......................................................................47 1.2.2. Comorbidity ...............................................................................................52 1.2.3. Emotions and eating disorders ...................................................................52 1.3. The current thesis ............................................................................................92 1.3.1. Aims .............................................................................................................94 CHAPTER 2: GENERAL METHODS .................................................................96 2.1. Design .............................................................................................................98 2.2. Participants ......................................................................................................98


This article examines violence against racialized women in North America and how this violence is obscured through liberal conceptualizations of violence. I focus on cases of interracial stranger attacks of Asian women and girls by men. I contend that these cases – that range from homicide, sexual assault, prowl by night, to tampering with a food product – are connected and are local manifestations of national and global power relations. I end by foregrounding how some of the non-Asian men targeting Asian women are men of colour. I argue that this violence is an assertion of the right to place and space in both national and global hierarchies informed by the neoliberal uplift of elite Asian men and capital, and western constructions of the Asia Pacific century. In highlighting the specificities of Asian gendered difference, the intent is less to include Asian women in theorizing on violence, and more to examine how an intersectional, relational, historically specific and structural analysis of gendered violence brings into clearer view the systems of domination that violence secures.


Metasurface has the ability to manipulate electromagnetic wave in the subwavelength range, and has great application potential in stealth, detection, nuclear magnetism, high magnetic field, solar energy and microwave energy utilization, so it has been paid great attention. The physical properties of vanadium dioxide can change from semiconductor phase to metal state under certain temperature conditions, and the change is reversible. By using vanadium dioxide to design and fabricate metamaterials, temperature controlled multifunctional metamaterials can be made. This metamaterial has a much wider range of applications. Metamaterials based on vanadium dioxide have developed rapidly in recent years. Researchers have used vanadium dioxide to switch terahertz waves from spectral to spatial characteristics, tuning and dynamic control. One promising application of metamaterials is the realization of high-quality holograms. Metamaterials designed with vanadium dioxide can be used to make temperature-dependent dynamic holography. Vanadium dioxide can also be used in the optical band to regulate the absorption and reflection of photoelectric devices. In this paper, the research status in these related fields is reviewed.


Alternative economic indicators are becoming policy in Vanuatu, particularly focusing on what national policy calls traditional economy. Although this acknowledges livelihoods and customary land in rural areas, urban places receive less attention. This article advances an argument that cities are also home to traditional economies. We draw on concepts of diverse economies and translocality to examine how economic practices typically associated with community activities on customary land are also found in cities where households lack direct access to customary resources. Empirical data come from the authors' fieldwork and participation in community-based organisations in Port Vila, Vanuatu, from 2017 to 2020. The case study presents surveys of agrobiodiversity in 27 urban backyards and livelihood practices of 24 households;and accounts of co-authors' participation in community-based disaster to distribute disaster relief supplies from urban to rural, create urban markets for rural crops and build urban resilience following Ambae Island's Manaro volcano eruptions and COVID-19-related unemployment. This study demonstrates how traditional economies are part of everyday urban life.


Abstract
 Fracking fluids were released into Acorn Fork, KY, a designated Outstanding State Resource Water, and habitat for the threatened Chrosomus cumberlandensis (Blackside Dace). As a result, stream pH dropped to 5.6 and stream conductivity increased to 35,000 µS/cm, and aquatic invertebrates and fish were killed or distressed. The objective of this study was to describe post-fracking water quality in Acorn Fork and evaluate if the changes in water quality could have extirpated Blackside Dace populations. Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub) and Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish) were collected from Acorn Fork a month after fracking in lieu of unavailable Blackside Dace. Tissues were histologically analyzed for indicators of stress and percent of fish with lesions. Fish exposed to affected Acorn Fork waters showed general signs of stress and had a higher incidence of gill lesions than unexposed reference fish. Gill lesions observed were consistent with exposure to low pH and toxic concentrations of heavy metals. Gill uptake of aluminum and iron was demonstrated at sites with correspondingly high concentrations of these metals. The abrupt and persistent changes in post-fracking water quality resulted in toxic conditions that could have been deleterious to Blackside Dace health and survival.


OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application for cell phones in the adherence of pregnant women to prenatal consultations.

METHOD
a randomized controlled clinical trial, simple-blind with two parallel groups, conducted from January to December 2018. Data collection was carried out through a structured interview at the end of the third trimester of pregnancy. For analysis, Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney tests were used. The sample consisted of 88 pregnant women from 2 Family Health Strategies in Northeast Brazil. Participants were randomized into two groups: intervention (IG), who used the application, and control (CG), who attended prenatal consultations.

RESULTS
pregnant women who used the application (IG) attended a greater number of consultations when compared to participants in the CG, identifying a statistical difference between the groups (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION
the application showed to be an effective health technology to improve adherence to prenatal care. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-74SNST.


Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today shows marked inefficiency, which in economic terms is seen as an example of extremely unfavourable macroeconomic indicators. It is the most visible in the domain of the unemployment rate according to which this is the first country in Europe. This economic reality is particularly reflected in the elements of the spatial structure (population and settlements) and which flows into the overall social relations that are recognized as non-perspective countries / regions. This is one of the reasons why BiH is the first country in the world by the percentage of inhabitants who do not live in the country where they were born. The complexity of relations in BiH reflects the complexity of regional identities, which are recognized as the formula 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 (one state + two entities + three nations + four different religions). In addition to religious diversity, regional identities are characterized by physiognomic, cultural, economic and legal specificities of the existing two entities, which can be better reconciled and harmonized through a more efficient regional policy.


Objective: This study aims to explore the clinical risk factors and prognosis for postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with lung cancer. Methods: A total of 1 001 lung cancer patients having confirmed pathological diagnosis and complete clinical and follow-up records were retrospectively analyzed. VTE was identified in a combination of spiral computed tomography (CT), pulmonary angiography and color Doppler ultrasound. The life table method was used to create a frequency curve of thrombosis. The COX multivariate regression model was used to analyze the high risk factors for postoperative VTE. The thrombosis curves for risk factors and the survival curves were plotted by using Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Results: The cumulative frequencies of postoperative VTE among 1 001 patients undergoing lung resection for lung cancer were 2.0%, 3.0%, 4.0%, 5.0% and 5.3% over one month, three months, five months, eleven months and thirty months, respectively. The COX multivariate regression analysis showed that the hazard ratios (HRs) of postoperative VTE in patients receiving incomplete resection, chemotherapy combined with recombinant human endostatin, and epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TKI) treatment were 9.867 [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.275-18.459; P=0.000], 3.472 (95% CI: 1.761-6.845; P=0.000), and 2.808 (95% CI: 1.439-5.479; P=0.002), respectively. The HR of postoperative VTE for patients with increased level of plasma D-dimer relative to normal level of of plasma D-dimer was 7.520 (95% CI: 3.968-14.250;P=0.000). The overall survival of lung cancer patients with postoperative VTE was remarkably shorter than that of the patients without postoperative VTE (P=0.000). Conclusion: High-risk factors for postoperative VTE in patients with lung cancer include incomplete surgical resection, postoperative chemotherapy combined with recombinant human endostatin, EGFR-TKI treatment and an increase in preoperative plasma D-dimer level. The overall survival of patients with postoperative VTE is significantly shorter than that of patients without postoperative VTE. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2012.05.009


The development of the self-consciousness motivated by himself causes the intense relationship between man and nature and among men themselves, therefore man is involved in great dilemma. In order to solve this dilemma,man must reflect himself as a master,man is not only the master of the world but also his own master. The primary condition to realize the harmonious development between man and nature,man and man,man and society is that man should master himself with reasoning and become his own master naturally.


This paper reexamines the role of transition metal salts (mainly CuCl 2 and FeCl 3 ) in the photooxidative degradation of polymers. Metal salts belong to external impurities originated in polymers from synthesis, processing, storage, contacts with metal corrosion, etching reactions, etc. Transition metal salts in the presence of water become very reactive species. In such metal chlorides as CuCl 2 and FeCl 3 UV and/or visible light irradiation causes an electron transfer from Cl - to metal cation. The produced chlorine radical can abstract hydrogen atom from a polymer molecule giving polymer alkyl radical. which is easily oxidized in air. This process is accompanied with α chain scission reaction which is responsible for the degradation of a polymer. Mechanisms of these reactions are discussed in detail.


Between 1862 and 1889, the Brazilian government under Emperor D. Pedro II (1831-1889) perceived international exhibitions as an excellent opportunity for promoting and projecting an idealized image of the "modern nation". Although most exhibitions, such as the Vienna Universal Exhibition of 1873, focused on Brazil's economic development and its vast natural resources, representations of its population and culture also played an important role in the elites' project to disseminate the image of a "new Brazil" abroad. However, these events were not as harmonious as it would seem at first glance, a fact that illustrates the growing divisions within the Empire during this period.


Juan Carlos Martelli's novel Los muros azules (1986) plays between the limits of fantasy and espionage to modulate the story of an anti-colonial and anti-capitalist revolution in the Antilles. Our interpretation takes up the theoretical proposal of Fredric Jameson, who articulates a method based on the rewriting of the social production mode as the master code present in the texts. In this article, we address the ideologeme of the conspiracy, a mediating tool that operates in the field of social antagonisms through the configuration of multiple enunciative identities and the breakdown of dominant rationalities. The superposition of discursive matrices in Martellian fiction guides a reflection, systematized around the conspiracy and the device provided by the Jamesonian hermeneutics, which returns time and again to the writing activity and the conflict within modes of production.


The pKa and logK values of some substituted sulfonic acid in 70% (v/v) dioxane-water mixture have been determined using pH metric measurements. The stability constant of complexes of Gd (III), Tb (III) and Ho (III) with p-aminobenzenesulfonic (L1) and p-sulfophthalic acid (L2), 2-amino-5-chloro benzenesulfonic acid (L3) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (L4) have been determined at 0.1M ionic strength at 28±0.1 0C pH metrically. It is observed that both the metal ions formed 1:1 & 1:2 complexes with all the ligands.


Gender violence is a contemporary issue often discussed by the community in social interactions. In this case, the form of gender violence more easily found in the news media text with a variety of cases, such as: marriage, divorce, rape, molestation or sexual abuse, assault, robbery, sexual gratification or prostitution, and even murder motivated revenge romance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the representation of gender violence through transitivity system, modalities, and its relevance to discourse study in the university as well. The theory used in this study is the theory of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) presented by Halliday in which it focuses on the text, in this case the text of gender violence in the media. Data collections are performed by the method of literature analysis and note-taking. Sources of data obtained only on the text of gender violence in the media Lombok Post news. The collected data were analyzed by using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The intended of those methods are to describe the research systematically, well organized, and patterned. The results of data analysis showed are domination of man's action toward women in cases of domestic violence and non-domestic violence in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) area which had previously been analyzed through the system of transitivity and modality system. Women are more often represented as victims, whereas men are often positioned as the doer in the act of gender violence; therefore, the women are the aggrieved object in the cases of domestic violence and non-domestic violence.


This specification describes a system and method for online payment transactions, wherein establishing a communication network between a user (such as the debtor) and the server. The design included in the server receives information about the transaction; from the server and the user other than at least one source for available information related to the transaction; based decision engine, processing the data from the available information, the engine includes representatives located in entering into the transaction rule on the server; and based on at least one decision made by the rule-based engine, will show a set of proposals for settlement of the transaction to the user. While online, the user / debtor may accept a proposal proposal centralized, or can be further added to other proposals agreed in negotiations.


ABSTRACT Changes in ocean temperature can have direct and indirect effects on the population dynamics of marine invertebrates. We examined the impacts of warm water, starvation, and disease on reproduction in red abalone (Haliotis rufescens). We found that sperm production was highly sensitive to warm water and starvation, suggesting there may be a dramatic temperature threshold above which sperm production fails. Wild males from northern (72%) and southern (81%) California had sperm. In contrast, only 30% of the males exposed to warm water (18°C) for 6 mo or starvation for 13 mo had sperm, with spermatogenesis dropping dramatically from 300,000 presperm cells/mm3 (wild) to 46,000 presperm cells/mm3 (warm water) and 84,000 presperm cells/mm3 (starvation). In a longer warm-water experiment (12 mo), males had total reproductive failure in temperatures greater than 16°C, irrespective of food treatment. Egg production was less sensitive to warm water, but was impacted more by starvation, especially food quantity relative to quality. Wild females from northern (97%) and southern (100%) California had mature oocytes averaging 3 million eggs and 21 million eggs, respectively. Females exposed to 18°C water for 6 mo had diminished fecundity, averaging only 400,000 mature eggs whereas females in the starvation experiment did not produce any mature eggs. Normal sperm and egg production was found in abalone testing positive for Rickettsiales-like-prokaryote (RLP), the agent of Withering Syndrome in cool water. However, abalone with RLP also exposed to warm water developed the disease withering syndrome and did not produce any mature gametes. The temperature-mediated lethal and sublethal effects on red abalone reproduction described here, combined with temperature's known impacts on abalone growth, kelp abundance, and disease status, clearly demonstrate population-level consequences. We suggest that temperature needs to be explicitly incorporated into red abalone recovery and management planning, because California's ocean has warmed and is predicted to warm in the future.


PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify challenges and motivators to social media adoption for marketing purposes in public libraries and to investigate how these libraries perceive the importance of social media marketing.Design/methodology/approachA nation-wide online survey on public libraries in the USA was conducted to carry out this study, and a total number of 470 responses were used for data analysis.FindingsThis study determined a range of challenges and motivators to implementing social media for marketing in public libraries. The results also showed that public libraries perceive social media as an important tool for their library marketing and intend to increase their use.Practical implicationsThe findings from this study can serve as a guideline for public libraries when employing social media for marketing purposes in their libraries.Originality/valueThis study assessed the current state of social media use for marketing in the public library context, a context that has been under-researched in the literature, from three perspectives: challenges, motivators, and perceptions.


This case study examines the development of a general analytical inductive approach to qualitative research. It critically assesses the research design and analytical processes that have facilitated the development of a framework for understanding the development of collaborative partnerships between Business Schools and Industry. I have adopted an interpretivist approach which according to Gill and Johnson is about understanding (verstehen) how people make sense of their world. The research design follows Thomas, and the outcomes of this case study demonstrate how an analytical inductive analysis, one that refers to detailed readings and interpretations of raw data, can be rigorously used in order to drive the identification of concepts, themes, and models. In developing the analytical approach, I gathered data from both University Business School and firms; I transcribed and analyzed 24 interviews, which led me to produce a provisional list of common features. I established the similarities between categories and accommodated deviant features either by linking them with other common features or by generating a new category with unique features. Eventually, I did cross case analysis within the groups and between groups at the
Business School and firms. A number of themes emerged which form the basis of a proposed model for initiating collaboration, one linked with Vangen and Huxham's 'trust building loop'. Through a practical application of the research design, data collection and analytical approach, this case study demonstrates the credibility of a general analytical inductive research strategy based on a qualitative research methodology; a strategy that promotes the linking of theory and practice. The benefits from the research are seen as facilitating the development of effective business relationships between local universities and domestic firms.


Introduction. Using results of [l ] and [4], we give counterexamples to the so-called monotone mapping problem for r5:4. That is, if/ is a monotone map of Er onto Er (f~l(y) is a compact connected set), then is / a compact map (inverse image of compact sets compact) [7] ? Whyburn [6] has shown that for r = 2 any monotone mapping of E2 onto E2 is necessarily a compact mapping. E. H. Connell [2] has shown that if / is a monotone mapping of Er onto Er such that for pEEr, Hk[f~1(p)]=0 ior k = l, 2, ■ ■ ■ , then / is compact. If G is a domain in Er and/: G—>Er is (r — 2)-acyclic (counter-images of points are compact and have trivial cohomology groups in dimensions ^r — 2), then it is shown in [5] that a number of given conditions are equivalent and that each of the conditions implies that/ is compact. In particular, if/is a (r — 2)-acyclic map of Er onto itself, then/ is compact. In [3], before they had discovered the reference [S], the authors obtained another proof of this latter result. Here, the proof is quite direct and is obtained by showing that if/ is a monotone map of ET onto ET such that for some flat (r — l)-sphere SEEr, the inverse image of a neighborhood of 5 is compact and/*: Hr-x(f~1(S))^>Hr-x(S) is nontrivial (e.g. if / is a homeomorphism on some open set), then/ is compact. Besides being quite direct, the proofs given in [3] are noteworthy in that they are of general interest and easy to follow, particularly for someone unfamiliar with the theory in this area.


This paper examines use of dynamic probabilistic networks (DPN) for human action recognition. The actions of lifting objects and walking in the room, sitting in the room and neutral standing pose were used for testing the classification. The research used the dynamic interrelation between various different regions of interest (ROI) on the human body (face, body, arms, legs) and the time series based events related to the these ROIs. This dynamic links are then used to recognize the human behavioral aspects in the scene. First a model is developed to identify the human activities in an indoor scene and this model is dependent on the key features and interlinks between the various dynamic events using DPNs. The sub ROI are classified with DPN to associate the combined interlink with a specific human activity. The recognition accuracy performance between indoor (controlled lighting conditions) is compared with the outdoor lighting conditions. The accuracy in outdoor scenes was lower than the controlled environment.


The performance of the Viterbi decoding algorithm in a binary symmetric channel is usually estimated by a lower or an upper bounds of a bit error probability. Nowadays, there are expressions for the exact bit error probability estimation for several trivial convolutional codes. However, traffic in modern systems is packetized. Thus, packet error probability is also an important performance metric. Besides, the existed methods could not be used for the task of packet error probability estimation. Therefore this paper presents an algorithm for the calculation of the exact packet error probability for the Viterbi decoding. The algorithm is based on a recurrent search of the cases, which lead to an error free-decoding and then cumulative probabilities of these cases are calculated.


Abstract: Starting with a particular case of familial care for the aging, the discussion points to the difficulties in deriving practical judgments from ideal theory in cases where there seems to be injustice, but where there are multiple competing dimensions of value and cost. The essay argues that the problems discussed are deeply embedded in modern western cultures, where life expectancy has risen dramatically and has been coupled with a range of other social and demographic changes that make familial care for the aged difficult and burdensome, and where our thinking about justice and rights are integral to the conflicted ways in which people construct and experience these situations, rather than standing independently as a solution to them. The essay argues for a set of partial, limited, and "realist" responses that reduce some elements of burden, without pretending to provide a solution that is in any sense ideal or wholly just. The argument from a case is integral to the essay's case for realism in moral and political philosophy.


The invention provides a hydrofining method for much production of middle distillate obtained from low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch full-range oil. The method comprises the following steps: (1) the low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch full-range oil for much production of the middle distillate is divided into light distillate, heavy distillate and the middle distillate; (2), the light distillate, the heavy distillate and the middle distillate are measured by a metering pump and added to a hydrogenation reactor respectively, the hydrogenation reactor is fully filled with a refining catalyst and provided with a first feeding port, a second feeding port and a third feeding port sequentially from the upper part to the middle part, the light components are fed from the first feeding port, the heavy components are fed from the second feeding port, and the middle components are fed from the third feeding port; meanwhile, recycled hydrogen is mixed with the light distillate, the heavy distillate and the middle distillate through a hydrogen inlet and enters the hydrogenation reactor through the first feeding port, the second feeding port and the third feeding port for reaction; and (3), a reaction product in the step (2) enters a gas-liquid separator and a fractionating tower sequentially for separation. According to the hydrofining method, temperature control of a refining reaction bed layer is stable, the feeding temperature of the heavy components is reduced, the consumption is reduced, the retention time of the middle components is shortened, and secondary cracking is reduced.


A cycloconverter-fed gearless mill drive is a drive system that has hardware and software protection functions to protect the equipment in case of abnormal operating conditions, malfunctions or failures. For demanding applications in the mining industry, protections systems need to be reviewed considering special or abnormal operating conditions as well as the need of high system availability. Some protection functions have tripped in the gearless mill drives operating at Minera Escondida and have been reviewed subsequently. This paper describes improvements in the protection system implemented in the gearless mill drives currently operating at the Laguna Seca concentrator of Minera Escondida Ltda. The background of the new protection functions, related analysis and solutions are explained and experimental results are presented showing their operation.


For implementation of massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) cellular systems in frequency division duplex (FDD) mode, accurate estimation of downlink channel state information (CSI) is necessary, but full radio channel reciprocity between the uplink and downlink does not exist in that mode. Existing work on estimating downlink CSI in FDD massive MIMO systems has considered such approaches as angle-of-arrival reciprocity, compressive sensing, using second-order channel statistics (particularly the channel covariance matrix (CCM)), and machine learning using deep neural networks (DNNs). Typical DNN-based approaches are unsuitable for this problem because DNNs require large datasets, thousands of training epochs, and are susceptible to environmental variations. To overcome these shortcomings, we develop a conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) approach to uplink-to-downlink mapping of both CCMs and CSI. To apply this method, we convert the uplink and downlink CCMs/CSI to images and employ CGAN techniques previously applied to image translation. The normalized mean square error performance of the proposed CGAN is evaluated for several array sizes for both CCM and CSI mapping. For uplink-to-downlink CSI mapping, we also examine the spectral efficiency performance of our CGAN-based method, as well as the impact of pilot reuse; both simulated and measured CSI data are considered. Our results demonstrate performance improvement over existing algorithms.


The authors report a case of autologous blood transfusion in an 11-year old boy with Spinal Amiotrophy undergoing surgical correction of a kyfo-scoliosis by vertebral arthrodesis with Harrington-Luque. They analyze age related problems as far as the organization of an autologous blood transfusion program is concerned, with intraoperative washed blood salvage and preoperative deposit. A several year experience along with the application of specially designed protocols for children in this field may make it possible to achieve the so-called "zero blood transfusion risk".


The controlling mechanisms governing the amount of unburned carbon in fly ash from practical pulverized coal combustion systems have been studied by incorporating elements of the carbon burnout kinetic model (CBK) proposed by Hurt et al. in a computational fluid dynamics based combustion, cfd, simulator. An experimental data set from The International Flame Research Foundation are compared to evaluate mechanistic variations in the carbon burnout processes. Simulation results comparing total exit LOI (defined as the residual weight of carbon in the ash) and centerline carbon burnout indicates that use of a char oxidation submodel, including the effects of a statistical reactivity distribution, thermal annealing of active oxidation sites and a developing ash film resistance layer, is necessary to predict experimentally measured exit LOI and centerline burnout profiles.


Gas-solid reactions of SiO vapor with various types of carbon have been studied to obtain high surface area silicon carbide materials as a catalyst support. For enhancing reaction kinetics of SiC synthesis, activated carbon powder or fibers have been often employed. This work reports the effects of precursor carbon fibers and reaction temperature on the properties of SiC fibers obtained by gas-solid reaction. Activated carbon fibers and catalytically grown carbon nanofibers have been reacted with SiO vapor at temperature ranging 120


We have proposed a metamaterial lens that enables sub-wavelength focusing, which is shorter than an operating wavelength. Our lens is a two dimensional array of a unit cell consisting of a metallic dual-plate printed on a dielectric substrate. The unique dual-plate structure provides negativeness both in permittivity and permeability, with no help from conventional additional structures, which are normally printed on the opposite of metallic patterns. Therefore, we can focus a source (or an image) in a tiny distance shorter than the free space wavelength (λ) at the frequencies of interest. Furthermore, since the proposed geometry does not need separate supplementary structures to acquire negative permittivity or permeability, our lens is much simpler than conventional metamaterial lenses, which is a strong point in practical applications. We have validated sub-wavelength focusing ability in a 6 GHz frequency band through an experiment of near field scanning, which provided the width of about 0.19 λ at a half maximum of a peak value of an measured image. The width of the focused image through the lens is more than 4 times shorter than that without the lens, which confirms the validity of our design approach.


Using X-ray scattering complemented by microscopic methods, we studied the alignment of a semicrystalline polymerisotactic polystyreneby crystallization in a high magnetic field (7 and 11 T). As reported previously, strong orientation of crystalline chain segments perpendicular to the magnetic field can be achieved. We present a method to determine the degree of orientation from the wide-angle X-ray scattering pattern in a quantitative way. The degree of orientation strongly depends on the crystallization temperature, allowing for nearly perfect orientation only at low supercooling. Furthermore, it is strongly influenced by the number of nuclei initiating spherulitic crystalline growth. Only for high nucleation density, such as that achieved by self-seeding, is strong macroscopic orientation obtained. Microscopic inspection of samples with a low number of nuclei shows that the magnetic field orients only the central part of large spherulites and the orientation is lost in the outer part of the spherulites...


Presently, digital continuous media (CM) are well established as an integral part of many applications. In recent years, a considerable amount of research has focused on the efficient retrieval of such media. Scant attention has been paid to servers that can record such streams in real time. However, more and more devices produce direct digital output streams. Hence, the need arises to capture and store these streams with a unified data stream recording architecture that can handle both recording and playback of many streams simultaneously and provide a central repository for all data.
This dissertation describes a taxonomy of techniques to effectively utilize the memory and disk bandwidth resources in a large scale data stream recording architecture, HYDRA. The first technique we proposed is a novel statistical admission control algorithm called TRAC based on a comprehensive three random variable (3RV) model to support both reading and writing of multiple variable bit rate media streams on current generation disk drives. Our results demonstrate that TRAC accurately predicts the I/O bandwidth utilization of actual disk device. Second, Packet-to-Block aggregation is another important component in HYDRA. We propose two different approaches, sequential aggregation (BLR) and random aggregation (PLR). Our results shows that both PLR and BLR can provide very good long term load balancing in terms of the average disk I/O workload for each disk. However, for short term load balancing, PLR outperforms BLR in terms of the global standard deviation of the disk I/O workloads for all the disks by utilizing more memory. Finally, in order to effectively utilize the available memory resources, we propose a resource management framework that has two parts: (1) a dynamic memory allocation strategy and (2) a deadline setting policy. Furthermore, to find the optimal memory configuration, we constructed a probability model based on the classic M/G/1 queuing model and the recently developed Real Time Queuing Theory (RTQT). The model is applicable to admission control and capacity planning in a recording system.


The paper deals with the influence of shear stresses on bending and buckling of beams and plates of composite materials employing the hypothesis of 'straight line'. It is assumed that a set of points lying on a line perpendicular to the neutral surface (the mid-plane) before deformation remains on the line and this line is non-perpendicular to the neutral surface after a load's application. This non-orthogonality is caused by the presence of shear stresses. Thus, this approach does not require the section to be normal to the neutral surface as in the classic Kirchhoff hypothesis. It is shown that the latter is inconsistent with the existence of shear stresses. The corresponding differential equations are derived from the non-linear differential equations of the theory of elasticity in Cartesian coordinates. This allows well-founded simplification of the equations for different partial cases and also correct determination of the sections' rotation angles in the equations for buckling. Several solutions for bending and buckling of beams and plates are given while considering the effect of shear stresses. Formulae are derived for the Euler force of compressed beams and simply supported orthotropic plates, which allows calculation of the error resulting from the application of the Kirchhoff hypothesis. For example, it is shown that for h/b < 0.1 (h = plate thickness, b = dimension of smallest side) the error is smaller than 5% and it does not depend on the plate's aspect ratio. Also, a solution is found for bending strength of beams and orthotropic plates subjected to the arbitrarily distributed lateral pressure considering the effect of shear stresses. Formulae for the deflection in the plate's centre are derived as well as for calculating the error when the classic Kirchhoff hypothesis is applied.


Several authors have reported periodicities between 1 and 2 years in various heliospheric parameters and cosmic rays. We have recently shown (Mursula and Zieger, 1999) that a 1.3-1.4-year quasiperiodicity exists in solar wind speed and geomagnetic activity during the last three even solar cycles (SC 18, 20, 22) and that, during odd cycles, somewhat longer periodicities were detected with the period varying from 1.5 years in SC 19 to 1.7 years in SC 21. Valdez-Galicia et al. (1996) showed that a 1.7-year periodicity exists even in cosmic rays in SC 21. Here we study these midterm periodicities in cosmic rays and compare them with those detected in solar wind and geomagnetic activity. We find that all these heliospheric parameters depict the same mid-term periodicities at the above mentioned times. E.g., the 1.3-1.4-year periodicity exists in cosmic rays at least during the last two even cycles, and the slightly longer periodicities of 1.5-1.7 years are found during the last two odd cycles. The cross spectrum between cosmic rays and the solar wind speed shows that they are in anticorrelation. Moreover, the same periodicities are found in the tilt angle of the heliospheric current sheet in anti-phase with cosmic rays.


Recent data on the impact of covid-19 on people with diabetes has produced a range of responses.1 The data suggest that diabetes is an independent risk factor for mortality related to covid-19, with type 1 diabetes carrying a higher risk than type 2. The scientific community has tried to decipher the signals, and reactions in the diabetes community have ranged from relief to anxiety.

Overall, the data don't present huge surprises, but some nuggets require further investigation. The fact that diabetes is a risk factor for a poor outcome with any infection is not a surprise per se. Splitting risks on the basis of type, although eyebrow raising to some, is again not fundamentally new. As any physiology or medical textbook will tell you, the basic tenets of types 1 and 2 diabetes …


An expert system for Selection of Water-saving Irrigation Project Type was developed based on frame-network. Introduction of some concepts, such as succession and re-load, insidious-matching, acquiescent-matching, making the knowledge expression and inference process to be more suitable to selection of water-saving irrigation project type. The standard knowledge bank of the new system covers nearly all common water-saving irrigation project types, which improve the practicability of the new expert system.


The use of customer-side flexible and controllable load resources to respond to the consumption of clean energy dispatch can significantly reduce the amount of wind abandoning. In this paper, based on Load Segmentation technology, intelligent energy gateway technology, intelligent matching technology, and customer-side flexible load management platform technology, effective practices have been implemented in the aspects of the interaction mechanism, electricity market transaction mechanism and intelligent dispatch response mechanism. It has a good effect on the consumption of clean energy in Jilin Province.


Changes in demography and cohort attitudes in the older adult population have meant that substance use amongst older adults is emerging as an immense challenge to mental health services. Although the prevalence of alcohol-related problems decreases with age they remain significant in older adults, whilst the use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs increases in this age group. The interplay between substance use and social, psychological and physiological difficulties associated with ageing further underscores the needs for a greater understanding of this problem. The recent insurgence of clinical and research interest in this field has revealed a discrepancy in the identification of substance use in younger and older age groups, this problem remaining frequently hidden and neglected in older adults. The present article reviews assessment and screening tools developed especially for this age group and indicates the need for systematic multidisciplinary screening in older adult services. Differences in psychological approaches to the treatment and clinical management of substance use in older adults are also reviewed. A number of treatment programmes have been adapted for this age group, although greater systematic evaluation of these interventions is required to establish their efficacy. The diverse bio-psycho-social impact of substance use in older adults also indicates the need for comprehensive clinical management. The needs of older adults with substance use problems have required greater health education and integration and liaison between older adult and substance use services.


To apply data warehouse, decision support system and other technologies to the financial decision-making process of enterprises, and to deal with the uncertain factors brought by economic globalization to enterprises, this paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation method of financial budget performance based on data mining. Firstly, we establish a comprehensive evaluation system of financial budget performance, and complete the content design of budget performance evaluation based on data mining by hierarchical ranking of preprocessing judgment matrix. Then, the hierarchical model of data mining comprehensive evaluation is constructed, and the consistency test evaluation index weight is calculated to realize the comprehensive evaluation management of financial budget performance. Finally, the experimental results show that this method has better performance and less relative error than the traditional method, and it can be used for reference to the comprehensive evaluation of financial budget performance.


The Comment 'Put people at the centre of global risk management' (J. W. Erisman et al. Nature 519, 151–153; 2015 ) gave an incorrect affiliation for co-author Philippe Ciais. He is a senior researcher at the Laboratory for Climate Sciences and the Environment, University of Versailles, France.


Droplet evaporation experimental system was established. The characteristics of single-droplet and double-droplets evaporation was studied by suspending droplets using droplet evaporation experimental equipment. The results indicated that the evaporation of doubledroplets is similar to that of single-droplet. The droplet interaction causes the coupling of steam concentration field around droplets and this raise the steam concentration around droplets, lower the mass transfer rate and the droplet evaporation rate. The droplets interaction influence on evaporation is strong in pure radiative condition and is weak in radiative-convective coupling condition.


The time-varying magnetic field of a magnetic storm induces an electric field in the earth, which generates geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) when it acts on the power grid and has many hazards to the power system. In this paper, we model and calculate the ground-induced electric field and geomagnetically induced currents for 20 magnetic storms from 2008 to 2018, and investigate the effects of two factors, magnetic storm strength, and earth conductivity, on the geomagnetically induced currents, which are important for the prevention and control of GIC in large-scale power grids in low- and mid-latitude regions.


based Italian multicenter retrospective study on 114 patients. Am J Hematol. 2010;85(12):960-963. 15. Clark RE, Polydoros F, Apperley JF, et al. De-escalation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor dose in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia with stable major molecular response (DESTINY): an interim analysis of a non-randomised, phase 2 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2017;4(7):e310-e316. 16. Naqvi K, Jabbour E, Skinner J, et al. Early results of lower dose dasatinib (50 mg daily) as frontline therapy for newly diagnosed chronicphase chronic myeloid leukemia. Cancer. 2018;124(13):2740-2747. 17. Schiffer CA. The evolution of dasatinib dosage over the years and its relevance to other anticancer medications. Cancer. 2018;124(13): 2687-2689. 18. Fassoni AC, Baldow C, Roeder I, Glauche I. Reduced tyrosine kinase inhibitor dose is predicted to be as effective as standard dose in chronic myeloid leukemia: a simulation study based on phase III trial data. Haematologica. 2018;103(11):1825-1834. Editorials


We show in this report a new regulatory role for IL-15 and IL-15R in the development of B-1 cells and their differentiation into IgA-producing cells. Mucosal IgA levels were found to be inhibited by anti-IL-15 mAb treatment in vivo, but enhanced by administration of rIL-15, while serum IgA levels remained unaffected. Mucosal B-1 cells preferentially proliferated in response to IL-15 in vitro. When mucosal B-1 and B-2 cells were separated into surface (s)IgM+sIgA− and sIgM−sIgA+ fractions, IL-15R-specific mRNA was found to be predominant in both sIgM+sIgA− and sIgM−sIgA+ B-1 cells at a much higher level than B-2 cells. Further, incubation of these different subsets of B-1 and B-2 cells with IL-15 resulted in greater enhancement of the corresponding receptor expression by B-1 subset when compared with B-2 fraction. Interestingly, de novo isolated sIgM+sIgA− B-1, but not sIgM+sIgA− B-2, cells were already class-switched cells because the germline Cα transcript was detected and was then further enhanced by IL-15. IL-15 also supported differentiation of both sIgM+sIgA− and sIgM−sIgA+ B-1 cells into IgA-producing cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that IL-15 is a critically important cytokine for the differentiation of both sIgM+,IgA− and sIgM−sIgA+ B-1 cells expressing IL-15R into IgA-producing cells in mucosal tissues.


no abstract found in this volume THE TOXICITY CF SOKE OOHERCIAL LEAD ARSEHATES WITH A COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR DETERMINATION


A portable device for demonstrating thermoacoustic cooling is developed using off‐the‐shelf components: the Morel MW‐142 5‐in. woofer and the Selenium HL14‐25 horn. Acoustic peak pressure amplitudes of 19 kPa (19% of mean pressure) have been measured (without stack) using atmospheric air as the working fluid. Measurements of spectra, quality factors, stack temperature differences, and heat pumping capacity are compared to DeltaE models. Use of off‐the‐shelf components leads to design considerations not encountered in full‐scale devices. For example, the high mechanical resistance of the driver, which was intended for audio reproduction, dictates against making the driver coresonant with the resonator, as is common when the driver is designed for operation at a specific frequency. [Work supported by NSF and ONR.]


The Sihu Lake Drainage Basin is situated in the center of Jianghan Plain and comprises an area from the north of the middle reaches of Yangtze River to the south of the Han River and the Dongjing River. Due to a long period exploitation of water and soil resources, the water system in Sihu Lake drainage basin has changed dramatically, which is indicated by lake shrinking, water quality and environmental deteriorating. This study reports a monitoring result of water quality of Shihu drainage basin from 1996 to 2008 using the Basic Analytical Methods of Environmental Quality Standards for surface water (GB3838-2002). The purpose of the study is to evaluate and characterize water quality of the lakes and rivers in the region and the water environmental temporal-spatial evolution trends. An analysis method of main pollutants average integrated index is used. The results show that water in the Sihu Lake basin in general are Grade III to Grade IV. The key factors causing the water deterioration are N, P and other organic pollutants. However, diverse evolutionary trends are recognized among the rivers and lakes. It is also illustrated that these environmental evolution trends are closely related to human economic activities, including agricultural non-point source pollution, industrial point source pollution and domestic sewage pollution.


The respiratory care bears prime importance in case of sick child on ventilator or even in cases of some kind of respiratory assistance. A smart and well trained nurse can alert treating physician about the respiratory status if the child is doing better or is deteriorating. So keeping this in mind a pre experimental study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of a learning package on respiratory care of children on mechanical ventilator among nurses of NICU and PICU in selected hospital of Guwahati Assam.  Methods :  In this study Pre- experimental one group pre test-post test research design was adopted. The structured knowledge questionnaire and observational checklist was developed to collect the data. The sample was selected by using non- probability purposive sampling technique and data collection was carried out among 35 nurses of NICU and PICU in selected hospital, Guwahati. Later pre-test & post-test was conducted before and after distributing learning package. The data collected was analyzed. Results : The results showed that there was a marked increase in post-test knowledge and practice score. In knowledge, post-test mean was 27.88 and the pre-test was 17.45 and in practice, post test mean was 18.45 and pre-test mean was 13.48 which represents the effectiveness of learning package. The t-paired value was found to be 9.19 and 9.20 respectively which were highly significant at p<0.05 levels.  Conclusion: On the basis of the findings, the researcher concluded that the learning package was effective in improving the knowledge and practice regarding respiratory care of children on mechanical ventilator among NICU and PICU nurses.


Plumes are bright structures in coronal holes extending from the solar surface into the corona and are considered as a possible source of the solar wind. Plumes are thought to be rooted in strong unipolar photospheric flux patches (network/plage region). The magnetic activities at the base of plumes may play a crucial role in producing outflows and propagating disturbances (PDs). However, the role of photospheric/chromospheric activities (e.g., jets/spicules) at the base of plumes and their connection to PDs is poorly understood. Using high-resolution observations of a plume taken on 2020 July 23 with the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope (GST), Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we analyzed chromospheric/transition region activities at the base of the plume and their connection to outflows/PDs in the plume. The GST Visible Imaging Spectrometer images reveal repetitive spicules with blueshifted emission (pseudo-Doppler maps) at the plume's footpoint. In addition, the photospheric magnetograms provide evidence of mixed polarities at the base of the plume. The IRIS Mg ii k Dopplergrams show strong blueshifted emission (∼50 km s−1) and a high brightness temperature (Mg ii k2 line) at the footpoint of the plume. The long-period PDs (P ≈ 20–25 minutes) along the plume (AIA 171 Å) match the periodicity of spicules in the chromospheric images, suggesting a close connection between the spicules and the PDs. We suggest that the interchange reconnection between the closed and open flux of the coronal bright point at the plume's footpoint is the most likely candidate to produce upflows and associated PDs along the plume.


The independent breeding maize variety He No. 344 seeds were used to study the physiological response of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) on maize under abiotic stresses, including salinity treatment (200 mM NaCl), alkali treatment (150 mM NaHCO 3 ), dehydration treatment (20%-PEG) and low temperature (4°C). The results showed that the abiotic stress can significantly reduced the plant height, root length and dry weight of maize and the combined injury of saline alkali treatment was higher than that of drought and low temperature treatments; The abiotic stress also increased GPDH activity of maize leaf, and the activity of GPDH under saline alkali treatment was significantly higher than that of drought and low temperature treatments; The abiotic stress resulted in increased level of TBARS and H 2 O 2 contents and increased NADH/ NAD+ of maize leaf; Moreover, the abiotic stress also increased SOD, APX, GR and GPX activities and ASA/DHA, GSH/GSSG; In addition, the GPDH activity induced by abiotic stress was significantly correlated with NADH/NAD+, APX, GPX, GR, ASA/DHA, GSH/GSSG, TBARS and H 2 O 2 level, and these results indicate that the increased resistance of maize in the process of abiotic stresses was closely related with the metabolic level of GPDH.


Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and patients with the luminal subtype have a range of outcomes unable to be predicted by current clinical methods. My hypothesis was that microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling might provide a method of discriminating tumours of this subtype into good and poor prognosis groups, and reveal miRNAs involved in recurrence. Expression profiling revealed nine miRNAs significantly differentially expressed in luminal tumours from patients with recurrence compared to patients without recurrence. Four, miR-135a5p, miR-140-5p, miR-218-5p, and miR-200a-3p, selected for technical validation were confirmed as differentially expressed. Functional analysis in an in vitro breast cancer model revealed a reduction in cellular migration when miR-218-5p was ectopically overexpressed in two different assays, suggesting a possible association of miR-218-5p with metastasis, an important factor in recurrence. The expression of these miRNAs may allow improved prognostication in luminal tumours, and provide avenues of further research in breast cancer


Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a highly aggressive form of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been evaluated as prognostic markers in various carcinomas. However, the prognostic value of the lncRNA index in DLBCL has not been fully understood. Hence, this study aimed to identify the prognostic value of lncRNA olfactory receptor family 2 subfamily A member 1‐antisense RNA 1 (OR2A1‐AS1) in DLBCL.


Based on the study and analysis of the differences between homonymy and polysemy, this article summerizes several comprehensive identification methods of the two through the exploration of the vocabulary, morphology, semantic analysis, collocation, and etymology. We hope that the results hereto can contribute to effective learning and teaching of Russian.


It was proved that for k=3 and 4 the necessary conditions for the existence of simple two-fold group divisible designs(k,2)-NGDD(t~u)are also sufficient.


Literature and native therapies have cited bitter melon, dandelion, blueberry, and roselle, as hypoglycemic agents, however, the exact mechanisms of action are unknown. It was hypothesized that, these agents could induce hypoglycemia, through the mechanism of α-glucosidase inhibition. The aim of the present study was, to examine inhibition of alpha-glucosidase as one of the possible mechanisms of action, of bitter melon (Mormodicacharantia), dandelion (Taraxacumofficinale), blueberry (Vacciniumcorybosum), and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa). Each of these agents has been used in the treatment of diabetes in, different parts of the world. The study was done in vitro, using α-glucosidase, obtained from Bacillus. The inhibitory effect of different concentrations of alcoholic extracts of the plants, on α-glucosidase was studied. The extracts of the plant showed inhibitory activities, against α-glucosidase, with IC50 values in a dose dependent manner. The result demonstrated that, bitter melon, roselle, dandelion, and blueberry share similar mechanism of action with Acarbose, which is being used as an antidiabetic agent.


The authors have developed a simultaneous measurement technique of multimetallic atom densities in process plasmas using absorption spectroscopy employing a multimicrohollow cathode plasma as a light source. The optical emissions of four metallic atoms of Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mo were simultaneously produced from the multimicrohollow cathode plasma of millimeter size. The absolute densities of Cu and Mo in the magnetron sputtering plasma were simultaneously measured using this technique. The simultaneous monitoring of multimetallic atoms is very useful for controlling the plasma processes precisely.