Power system security and market liquidity in competitive electricity markets are potentially conflicting objectives. A key aspect in successful market operation is the harmonized co-existence of these two different objectives. Ensuring the security of the system is essential for the reliability of the power system. Security also promotes competition in electricity markets by avoiding market disruption. This paper describes in detail the principles of market design to include security assessment in the process of clearing competitive bids and offers, such that the clearing mechanism achieves market objectives of maximizing market merits, without jeopardizing the system security. Several real-life illustrative examples of electricity market designs will be presented; examples that show that successful markets worked in harmony with system security. This paper will also describe the evolution of some of the current electricity markets to better integrate security assessment in the market clearing mechanism


ABSTRACT Data literacy—the ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret data and data visualizations—is inextricably linked to the goals of K–12 social studies education. In a society where data visualizations such as maps, charts, and graphs are used to communicate information about problems, policies, and trends, or persuade people to vote for a candidate or agenda, an informed citizen must also be a data-literate citizen. Unfortunately, little is known about how teachers view data literacy's role in social studies education or how well prepared they are to teach it. This study involved an online self-administered cross-sectional questionnaire of a sample totaling 262 practicing U.S. elementary and secondary teachers of social studies. Using mixed methods analyses, we address questions about teachers' practices, beliefs, and knowledge related to data literacy in social studies. The insight gained from this research establishes a foundation for work in social studies teacher preparation and professional development.


We developed a machine vision system to automatically capture the dynamics of pedestrians under four different traffic scenarios. By considering the overhead view of each pedestrian as a digital object, the system processes the image sequences to track the pedestrians. Considering the perspective effect of the camera lens and the projected area of the hallway at the top-view scene, the distance of each tracked object from its original position to its current position is approximated every video frame. Using the approximated distance and the video frame rate (30 frames per second), the respective velocity and acceleration of each tracked object are later derived. The quantified motion characteristics of the pedestrians are displayed by the system through 2-dimensional graphs of the kinematics of motion. The system also outputs video images of the pedestrians with superimposed markers for tracking. These visual markers were used to visually describe and quantify the behavior of the pedestrians under different traffic scenarios.


An analysis was made of the experimental temperature dependences of the thermoelectric power α, electrical conductivity σ, and thermal conductivity κ allowing for the effective scattering parameter r e in the temperature range 77-300 K. The value of r e was used in determination of the product (m/m 0 ) 3/2 μ 0 , effective mass m/m 0 , mobility μ 0 , electrical conductivity σ 0 allowing for the degeneracy, and lattice thermal conductivity κ p


Collagen IV-related nephropathies are hereditary diseases affecting the glomerular basement membrane. Homozygous aberrations of COL4A3 or COL4A4 gene or X-linked mutations of COL4A5 gene are responsible for Alport syndrome with end-stage renal disease. Heterozygous mutations of COL4A3 cause benign familial hematuria. An additional polymorphism affecting Nphs2 encoding for the slit diaphragm protein podocin, might cause a more severe course of disease. An analysis of the glomerular filtration barrier consisting of the glomerular basement membrane, the slit diaphragm between podocyte foot processes and the fenestrated endothelium is necessary to verify this hypothesis. Nidogen-2 is an essential protein of the glomerular basement membrane. Examination results of the protein in the basement membrane of COL4A3 heterozygous mice with additional podocin polymorphism differed widely from results of Nidogen-2 in simple COL4A3 heterozygous animals. Hence there are indications that a mutation of Nphs2 might modify the progression of disease in collagen IV-related nephropathies.


Preface. 1. Arbitrage, Hedging, and the Law of One Price. 2. Arbitrage in Action. 3. Cost of Carry Pricing. 4. International Arbitrage. 5. Put-Call Parity and Arbitrage. 6. Option Pricing. 7. Arbitrage and the (Ir)Relevance of Capital Structure. References and Further Reading. Index.


Cancer often results from chronic inflammation, and anti-inflammatory medications are therefore potential candidates for drug repurposing for cancer therapy. H2-antihistamines such as cimetidine have long been studied for their promise as cancer medications, but H1-antihistamines have thus far not been studied widely for this purpose. We have previously shown an association with improved breast cancer survival for use of some H1-antihistamines, and other studies have shown similar results for non-localized cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer, while evidence is mounting that some H1-antihistamines normally used to alleviate allergic reactions may also have antitumor effects. In the four studies that form the basis of this dissertation, we show that some of the most commonly used H1-antihistamines in Sweden – desloratadine and loratadine – are associated with substantially improved survival for patients with melanoma (Study I), breast cancer (Study II) as well as several other immunogenic tumor types (Study III) and quantify the potential effect of a desloratadine intervention, showing that numerous lives may be spared should desloratadine be integrated into cancer therapy (Study IV). We suggest a desloratadine effect as the explanation of our findings, one that is likely immunological in nature, and call for randomized clinical trials of desloratadine as treatment of immunogenic cancers, and if effective, further studies to quantify and elucidate the


We identified here mechanism by which hAEC exert their anti-cancer
effects. We showed that vaccination with live hAEC conferred effective
protection against murine colon cancer and melanoma but not against
breast cancer in orthotopic cancer cell inoculation model. hAEC induced
strong cross-reactive antibody response to CT26 cells, but not against
B16F10 and 4T1 cells. Neither heterotopic injection of tumor cells in
AEC-vaccinated mice nor vaccination with hAEC lysate conferred
protection against melanoma or colon cancer. Nanosized AEC-derived
exosomes (ADE) induced apoptosis in CT26 cells and inhibited their
proliferation. Co-administration of ADE with tumor cells substantially
inhibited tumor development and increased CTL responses in vaccinated
mice. Our results clearly showed that it is ADE but not the
cross-reactive immune responses against tumor cells that mediate
inhibitory effects of hAEC on cancer development. Our results
highlighted the potential anti-cancer effects of exosomes derived from
hAEC.


Phenothiazine derivatives are sensitive to light, especially to UV radiation. Chlorpromazine (CPZ) and Promazine (PZ) solutions in ultrapure water were exposed to 266 nm laser radiation in order to modify their structure and to obtain new species active against multidrug resistant bacteria. Modifications of the UV-Vis absorption spectra of the solutions indicate changes of the molecules. During irradiation, CPZ molecules are modified gradually. The energy absorbed during irradiation was measured. The maximum amount of CPZ molecules that could absorb the energy in order to break each type of bond in the CPZ molecule (C–Cl, C–H, C–C, C–N and C–S) was calculated. A general qualitative picture of the effects of laser radiation on CPZ and PZ is made.


This paper studies all-pay auctions for a product in which there is a buy-price option for bidders to guarantee purchases at a seller-specified price. We analyze symmetric pure-strategy equilibria in the first- and second-price all-pay auctions with the buy-price option. Under these equilibria, the buy-price option will affect bidders' bidding behavior: while it has no impact on low-value bidders, it makes middle-value bidders bid more aggressively and high-value bidders less aggressively. Under the optimal buy-price, the first- and second-price all-pay auctions maintain the same expected profit while the buy-price in the second-price is higher than those in the first-price all-pay auction. Compared to the uniform posted-price selling mechanism, all-pay auctions with the buy-price cannot attain more expected profit under the fixed number of consumers. However, if there is an endogenous entry process, they can attract more consumers and then reach more profit in expectation.


This paper reports on the South African procedure for the evaluation of pavements using non-destructive testing. Data from visual and routine mechanical surveys and available records on the structure and behaviour of the pavement are used to divide the pavement into uniform structural sections and to identify for each section the most applicable analytical method for subsequent detailed investigations and rehabilitation design. A prerequisite of the approach is an effective system for the evaluation of the condition of the pavement. Guidelines for this evaluation are given and performance criteria of visually recorded and mechanically measured parameters are suggested for the various types of pavements and categories of roads.(a) for the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 815528.


ABSTRACT This essay examines a shift of significance, movement from faculty to increasing administrative impact. The consequence of this change is not only structural but impacts the very nature of an academic calling and vocation. The university is increasingly a business run by an ever-expanding pool of managers. The lament of Benjamin Ginsberg, in The Fall of the Faculty: The Rise of the All-Administrative University and Why It Matters, provides the background conversation for this essay. Emmanuel Levinas's framing of ethics as first philosophy offers a response to this historical shift in higher education. The task of this essay is modest and perhaps fundamental; there is no attempt to change this historical moment of higher education. This essay explores Levinas and ethics with a hope of sustaining educational commitments in the midst of an educational era of misdirection.


This article proposes a ratio-type estimator for estimating the variance of the stratified sample mean using auxiliary information. The proposed estimator is found to perform better than the usual unbiased variance estimator, stratified ratio and regression estimators, and stratified version of Prasad and Singh (1992) estimator. We use five data sets to compare the performances of all of the estimators considered here.


An modified Foursquare antenna with wide bandwidth and unidirectional operation is presented that employs a composite backing cavity for stable radiation pattern. The antenna is composed of two radiating square patches and two parasitic tear-shaped patches. The antenna is fed by a SMA connector through a balun from microstrip line to parallel stripline. Simulated results show that the antenna achieves an impedance bandwidth of 116.5% for VSWR $\le 2$ from 2.9 to 11 GHz, a broadside gain of 7.2–12.2 dBi and a stable unidirectional radiation pattern.


Phenylium ion, obtained from the spontaneous β decay of 1,4-ditritiobenzene, has been allowed to react with pyrrole, N-methylpyrrole, furan, and thiophene, in both the gaseous and liquid phases. The differences between the reactivity pattern of phenylium ion in the two environments can be essentially reduced to significant ion-neutral electrostatic interaction in the gas phase and to the much greater efficiency of collisional stabilization in the condensed phase, allowing a larger fraction of the excited ionic intermediates, from the highly exothermic attack of phenylium ion on the aromatic substrate, to survive dissociation and isomerization. The mechanism of the phenylation process and of the subsequent isomerization of the relevant ionic intermediates is discussed and the intrinsic substrate and positional selectivity of the phenylium ion evaluated. While the limited substrate discrimination of phenylium ion fully agrees with its well-known exceedingly high reactivity, its pronounced affinity toward th...


Fabio's way of looking at Economics was strongly shaped by the way in which he understood macro-to-micro interactions and the political economy of the world of manufacturing. This paper examines some of these topics which I would have certainly enjoyed discussing with him. Natural resource based growth resulting from expanding exports of industrial commodities has been the subject of heated debate among economists. While some of them consider such strategy a "curse" due to the fact that it makes the economy more exposed to the volatility of world prices for raw materials and therefore more exposed to externally induced turbulence, others point out to the fact that natural resource processing industries provide a valuable road for the introduction of new technologies opening up a "window of opportunity" for skill intensive activities in biotechnologies, machinery and equipment, logistics and more. Macro and microeconomic consequences result from expanding exports of natural resource based commodities. Specialized literature has examined said consequences under such exotic names as the "Dutch Disease" syndrome and the "Tragedy of the Commons". Propelled by the rapid expansion of Chinese demand for the industrial commodities, many countries in Latin America have attained significant growth over the past decade. Argentina, Brazil and Chile constitute three major examples whose comparison is undertaken in this paper. Macro and micro issues related to natural resource-based economic growth Jorge Katz 173


FRA derailment statistics between 1996 and 2009 show an average of 13 derailments each year industry-wide are attributed to extreme winds, roughly 7 of which result in vehicles blowing over and derailing. BNSF Railway has developed a hybrid process to identify critical crosswind speeds for various types of railcars to mitigate future blow-over derailment risk. The method uses computational fluid dynamics to compute the wind effects based on the car envelope. These wind effects are simplified in an empirical spreadsheet tool for various wind and train speeds, and wind heading angles. CFD analysis and reduction into the empirical spreadsheet tool have been completed for alimited set of car types. With the resulting external wind loads, vehicle dynamic simulations are used to evaluate the propensity for wheel unloading. Both VAMPIRE® and NUCARS® dynamics routines were used for various parts of this study. In all cases, the wind onset has been assumed to ramp from a zero to full wind condition which remains steady from there forward. The main paper will cover several steps within this project: aerodynamic investigations and generation of appropriate load sets, preliminary and secondary vehicle dynamic simulations, and simplified train operating guidelines proposed thus far. The paper is summarized with a discussion of how these results may be applied to further mitigate wind blow-over derailments in terms of operating rules and the operating environment. An appendix is provided which outlines the relationships between the CFD wind loads and assumed train simulation speeds.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


Introduction: The role of occlusal forces on dentition affected by periodontal diseases is not well known. Evidence suggests that high occlusal forces alter the extent of destruction and the nature of lesions. The effect of occlusal relationship on the periodontium has not been elucidated despite large number of studies, which have yielded contradictory results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different occlusal relationships on periodontal parameters . Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 healthy individuals were selected with anterior rise, cuspid rise, and group function occlusal relationships (n = 20). They had no premature contacts on the balancing side. Periodontal parameters of pocket depth, attachment level, keratinized gingiva, gingival recession and plaque index were recorded. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test (α = 0.05) . Results: Tukey test showed significant differences only in keratinized gingiva between anterior rise and cuspid rise occlusal relationships; in addition, Tukey test revealed significant differences in the upper jaw keratinized gingiva between anterior rise and cuspid rise occlusal relationships (p value < 0.05) . Conclusion: The results of this study did not determine which occlusal relationship is superior to others, although an increase in the keratinized gingiva was noted in cuspid rise occlusal relationship. In other words, all the three relationships had similar effects on periodontal parameters of pocket depth, attachment level, and gingival recession . Key words : Dental occlusion, periodontal parameters .


This article is free to read on the publishers website

Introduction: Residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Australia have attracted considerable attention in recent times as institutions where prescribing of certain classes of high-risk drugs such as antipsychotics, potent analgesics, and sedatives is excessive and potentially inappropriate. To ensure appropriateness of therapy in RACFs, well-organized approaches are needed. We examined the patterns of prescribing, and subsequent changes made by geriatricians, in the context of comprehensive geriatric assessment consultations provided to residents of RACFs delivered by video-conference.

Methods: Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Three residential aged care facilities in Queensland, Australia.

Participants: 75 residents referred by General Practitioners (GPs) for comprehensive geriatric assessment delivered by video-consultation.

Results: Patients had multiple co-morbidities (mean 6), high levels of dependency and were prescribed a mean of 8.6 regular medications. Polypharmacy (≥5 medications) prevalence was over 90% with 10% (n = 70) of medications identified as potentially inappropriate according to the 2012 Beers criteria. High-risk medications (based on the list of high risk medications in older people) accounted for 26.5% (n= 183). Geriatrician intervention recommended withdrawal of 12% (n = 83) and dose alteration in 7% (n = 48) of all medications prescribed. New medication were initiated in 56% (n= 42) patients. Of those medications identified as potentially inappropriate and high-risk, only 11% (n = 28) were stopped and dose altered in 9% (n = 23).

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of potentially inappropriate and high-risk medications. However, in spite of this awareness, geriatricians made relatively few changes, suggesting either that, on balance, prescription of these medications was appropriate or, because of other factors, there was a reluctance to adjust medications. Further research, including a broader survey, is required to understand these dynamics.


In this article, a general contractive mapping is presented and some fixed point results in complete b-metric-like spaces are studied. The results obtained here extend and improve some related results in the literature. Also, new common fixed point results for a graphic contraction mappings are proved. Some comparative examples are given to support the obtained results. Moreover, an analytical solution of an integral equation has been presented as an application.


When reverse osmosis (RO) is used to desalinate brackish water feed streams, a small but significant amount of the brine is discharged as a "reject" stream from the RO unit. This brine contains concentrated dissolved salts and other materials. Disposing of this brine concentrate for traditional RO processes can represent a significant fraction of the cost of operating the unit to recover fresh water. Coincidently, in the oil and gas industry, high salinity brines are routinely injected into formations for pressure maintenance and secondary recovery by water flooding. If water from desalination operations could be injected into these oil- and gas-containing formations, the estimated cost savings could be as much as 30% of the cost of operating the desalination unit. This represents a significant cost savings for RO technology that would make fresh water available to communities in need of this valuable resource. To provide a comprehensive assessment of the perceived benefits compared to the possible hazards of this practice, we use risk analysis theory to define this process in more detail. The potential for formation damage, reduced injectivity, produced water scaling, and environmental impact is evaluated through comparison with traditional waterflood compatibility studies. We also provide an analysis of how state and federal Underground Injection Control (UIC) rules may be used to regulate injection of RO reject brines. The risk analysis study goes beyond classical decision analysis theory to address the "triple bottom line" economic, environmental, and societal benefits afforded by the process and provides a roadmap to gather quantifiable information for regulators, businesses, and community leaders who might consider this technology.


As it scrambled to compete in the internet world, the once-dominant tech company cut tens of thousands of U.S. workers, hitting its most senior employees hardest and flouting rules against age…


Caching and multipath forwarding are essential ingredients of the Information-Centric Networking (ICN) architecture resulting from ubiquitous content storage and content-based node-by-node forwarding nature of ICN. Much is yet to see how they jointly act towards improving user's quality of experience. To this end, we formulate in this paper a unified problem of caching and multipath forwarding as a network optimization problem to maximize user satisfaction which is expressed by their utility function. The formulation allows us to see caching and multipath forwarding in ICN from a congestion control perspective and to reinforce the advantage of a class of congestion-aware caching where in-network caches are used to absorb network congestion and to enhance user's satisfaction. In that context, multipath forwarding plays the role of directing content delivery to less congested paths where network capacity is abundant or where requested content has been stored by in-network caches. We evaluate such a congestion control-based, coupled caching and multipath forwarding approach in simulations. The result confirms the advantage of our approach compared with existing ones.


Introduction: Hospital readmissions are critical in the natural history of severe COPD patients. However, its prediction is complicated in clinical practice. The electronic nose is a non-invasive technology capable of distinguish volatile organic compounds (VOC) breath-prints in exhaled breath. Objective: We aim to explore if an electronic nose can reliably predict the presence of future hospital readmissions in admitted patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and frequent severe exacerbations. Methods: Eighty-eight hospitalized COPD patients with two ore more severe exacerbations in the previous year were included. On admission, clinical, functional, microbiological and laboratory data were recorded. During the first 24 hours of admission, exhaled breath was collected in Tedlar bags and VOCs breath-prints were detected by the commercially available electronic nose Cyranose 320®. Cross-validation accuracy was assessed using principal component reduction analysis (PCA). Patients were followed during 90 days after discharge. Results: Seventeen patients (19%) were readmitted at 30-days, and 33 patients (37%) were readmitted at 90-days. No clinical differences on admission were observed among patients who were readmitted or not. However, VOC breath-prints were different among both groups. In predicting 30-day readmission, the accuracy was of 87.5%, sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 76.5% (AUROC 0.85, p Conclusions: An electronic nose may identify admitted severe COPD patients at risk of 30-day and 90-day readmission. Suported by SEPAR, FUCAP.


Due to their low gas temperatures, non-thermal, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) finds frequent applications in wound healing and sterilization. Reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in the plasma play a vital role in this process. The concentration of these radicals is dependent on the plasma's operating conditions (e.g. applied voltage and gas flow rates). Radicals' vibrational and rotational temperatures play a vital role in wound healing and are required to find an optimized plasma operating condition for the wound healing process. The current project aims to measure the plasma temperatures (vibrational, rotational, and electronic) for a multi-electrode torch. The emission spectrum for various electrodes of the plasma torch was captured at various operating conditions. For this purpose, an Ocean Optics UV-IR spectrometer in conjunction with SPECAIR was used to estimate the vibrational, rotational, and electronic temperatures of the plasma. For this experiment the multi-electrode plasma torch was operated at various conditions by changing the outer electrodes, gas flow rates (helium 20-40 slpm), and input applied voltages (5kV-10kV and 20-40 kHZ). Experimental results reveal that both plasma vibrational and rotational temperatures $(\sim 500\mathrm{K}700\mathrm{K})$ were dependent on the measuring position from the plasma exit at identical operating conditions. No significant change in electronic temperatures $(\sim 2800\mathrm{K}$ – 3000K) was observed for all conditions. Detailed results are included in this paper.


Evolutionary algorithms have been used successfully in car racing game competitions, such as the ones based on TORCS. This is in contrast to temporal difference learning (TDL), which despite being a powerful learning algorithm, has not been used to any significant extent within these competitions. We believe that this is mainly due to the difficulty of choosing a good function approximator, the potential instability of the learning behavior (and hence the reliability of the results), and the lack of a forward model which restricts the choice of TDL algorithms. This paper reports our initial results on using a new type of function approximator designed to be used with TDL for problems with a large number of continuous-valued inputs, where function approximators such as multi-layer perceptrons can be unstable. The approach combines interpolated tables with n-tuple systems. In order to conduct the research in a flexible and efficient way we developed a new car-racing simulator that runs much more quickly than TORCS and gives us full access to the forward model of the system. We investigate different types of tracks and physics models, and also make comparisons with human drivers and some initial tests with evolutionary learning (EL). The results show that each approach leads to different driving styles, and either TDL or EL can learn best depending on the details of the environment. Significantly, TDL produced best results when learning state-action values (similar to Q-learning; no forward model needed). Regarding driving style, TDL consistently learned behaviours that avoid damage while EL tended to evolve fast but reckless drivers.


Cryoprecipitate antihaemophilic factor concentrate was prepared from fresh and 24-hour-old blood by quick and slow thaw methods. Recovery of factor VIII was greater by the slow thaw method and there was less loss into the supernatant plasma. Cryoprecipitate produced from fresh blood contained more factor VIII than that produced from 24-hour-old blood so that the most potent concentrate was produced from fresh blood by the slow thaw process. An adequate therapeutic preparation was, however, produced by the slow thaw method using 24-hour-old blood and it is suggested that this procedure could be adopted in order to supplement supplies.


The treatment of argument realization is rather straightforward for a language like English, but for a language with relatively free word order, such as Dutch, it is a complex matter. It is not surprising then that the devices which are commonly used to deal with it show a high degree of computational complexity. They typically include movement, as in transformational grammar, or the dissociation of order-in-the-representation from the surface order, as in certain types of monostratal grammar. For the purpose of natural language description these devices are certainly convenient, but for the purpose of natural language processing they are less attractive. For this reason, I propose an alternative treatment of argument realization, which is consistently monostratal and surface-oriented. Its cornerstone is the GENERALIZED ARGUMENT REALIZATION PRINCIPLE. It is a generalization of the Argument Realization Principle which is proposed in (Ginzburg and Sag 2000) to deal with English. 1 The argument realization principle The lexical entries of argument taking words commonly include information about the number and the kinds of arguments which they select. Intransitive verbs, for instance, select one NP and transitive verbs two. This information is useful for syntactic and semantic processing, on condition that it is complemented with information on how the arguments are realized in sentences. For a language with a relatively rigid word order, such as English, the constraints on argument realization are relatively straightforward. In an active English clause, for instance, the first NP argument is realized as the subject and precedes the verb, whereas the other arguments follow the verb in a fixed order. (1) a. They gave her a bike. b. * Gave they her a bike. c. * They her a bike gave. d. * They gave a bike her. To spell this out in formal terms HEAD-DRIVEN PHRASE STRUCTURE GRAMMAR employs two kinds of features. There is the ARG(UMENT)-ST(RUCTURE) feature, which specifies the syntactic and semantic properties of the arguments which a word selects, and there are the valence features SUBJ(ECT), SP(ECIFIE)R and COMP(LEMENT)S, which spell out how these arguments are realized. The link between them is defined by the ARGUMENT REALIZATION PRINCIPLE (Ginzburg and Sag 2000, 23).1 1Throughout the text, the boxed alphabetic characters stand for lists of objects, whereas the boxed integers stand for individual objects, usually of type synsem. ⊕ is a concatenation operation on lists.


Studies focusing on fasting triglyceride (TG) levels and cardiovascular (CV) risk have yielded inconsistent and controversial findings. In this prospective study, investigators stratified 28,000 initially healthy participants in the Women's Health Study into tertiles according to fasting and nonfasting TG levels and evaluated the incidence of CV events (myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or CV …


The medical device amendments of 1976 to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act created three levels regulation for devices: Class 1, General Controls: meaning that only the general provisions of the Act would be needed by the FDA to control the safety and effectiveness of devices in this class. General controls include premarket notification, good manufacturing practices, truth in labeling, and adequate directions for use. Class 11, Performance Standards: which was later redefined as Special Controls, meaning that the FDA would need to apply special rules for particular devices to assure safety and effectiveness of those devices. The general controls also apply. Class III, Premarket Approval: meaning an application (PMA) to market the device would be submitted to the FDA and that the device could not be marketed unless the application was approved. General controls also apply, and special controls might also apply.


This paper examines current and potential AIDS policy, and its orientation, at the workplace in Zimbabwe, and looks at the degree of concern that commercial companies have about AIDS. All 94 companies studied expressed some concern about AIDS, but only one third had developed a specific AIDS policy, and two thirds had begun AIDS education programmes. Major concerns expressed by the Companies included the recruitment of skilled labour; rising insurance, health and pension costs; loss of time and productivity; and lowered morale. Twenty two per cent of them had some form of HIV screening in place, and 41% thought preemployment screening was justified. The papernotes current educational initiatives and makes recommendations for supportive and coordinated policy development.


......................................................................................................................................... iii Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Problem Orientation................................................................................................................................. 1 Functional Typology ........................................................................................................................ 1 Manufacture Processes..................................................................................................................... 2 Methodological Orientation ..................................................................................................................... 3 Microwear Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 3 Experimental Replication................................................................................................................. 4 Theoretical Orientation ............................................................................................................................ 4 Technological Organization ............................................................................................................. 4 Chaîne Opératoire ........................................................................................................................... 5 Bone Tool Analysis Methods Past and Present ....................................................................................... 5 History of Analysis Methods ........................................................................................................... 6 Current Trends in Bone Tool Analysis Methods ............................................................................. 8 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Chapter 2: Environmental Background and Culture History....................................................... 1


Wang Zengqi's novels mainly show the harmonious relationship between man and nature from the perspectives of love and beauty. Wang's novels contain the unique esthetic characteristics and "ecological" meaning. At the same time, he thinks about "nature" from multi-angle view and writing, and describes the folk culture from poetic expression, and watches the "homeland" constantly, so he has built a series of "harmonious ecological" landscape.


An apparatus comprising a plurality of microphones, and a controller. The signal controller is coupled to each of the plurality of microphones receive. The controller is configured to control the plurality of microphones transition from the active mode to the sleep mode. When the plurality of microphones in the active mode, the controller is configured to perform processing in response to signals received from both of said at least plurality of microphones of the signals. When the plurality of microphones in the sleep mode, the controller is configured to select one of the plurality of microphones in a microphone, and performs signal processing corresponding to the selected microphone while suspending corresponds to an signal processing microphone selected.


Cost functions dual to stochastic production technologies are derived and their properties are discussed. These cost functions are shown to be consistent with expected-utility maximization without placing serious structural restrictions on the underlying technology. Copyright 1998, Oxford University Press.


This document provides fundamental eddy current digital proximity sensing principle and brief comparison between digital and analog approaches. Advantages and challenges of digital proximity system are further elaborated. Then the application of digital proximity sensing in vibration monitoring is explained. At the end authors illustrate the trend of digital proximity sensing technologies.


In this paper, thermal analysis is carried out on solar panels used in space applications. Solar panels on spacecraft undergo harsh thermal environment of space where they experience extreme high temperature exceeding 120°C and a very low temperature around −170°C. This study investigates the thermal effect of solar panel heat flux, with temperature range between −60°C to 100 °C subjected to a spacecraft's structure. In addition, thermal analysis simulation for different heat transfer paths between a solar panel and a spacecraft has been investigated. The different heat paths are compared in the study to predict the most effective heat path.


Device (1) for limiting the speed of a vehicle, particularly a land vehicle, comprising means (7) for detecting the current speed of the vehicle and a manually actuable signal generator (2) with two signal conditions with an associated circuitry (3) for the the time of operating the detected value for the speed reference value (w) stores and monitors, thereby until the occurrence of at least one additional signal (z) queries the detected by the detection means speed value (v) and an adjusting device (4) is applied such that exceeding or falling below the stored speed value (w) without the presence of the additional signal (z) is largely prevented, characterized in that the signal generator is a single-key unit (2) for activating and deactivating the function of the device (1), wherein the additional signal (z) an acceleration greater indicating an acceleration limit and a differentiator from the speed signal (v) the detection device (7) or a separate acceleration sensor can be provided or the additional signal (z) is greater indicative of a braking a limit value of the delay and (by means of a differentiator from the speed signal v) the detection device (7) or a separate acceleration sensor can be provided.


The mechanism of decarboxylation of C, acids and carboxyl donation to the Calvin pathway was studied in bundle sheath strands and chloroplasts isolated from leaves of species representing three groups of Cq plants: Digitaria sanguinalis (NADP-malic enzyme type), Panicum miliaceum (NAD-malic enzyme type), andEriochloa borumensis (phosphoenolpyruvate-carboxykinase type). High rates of "CO, fixation' and HCO,dependent O2 evolution were exhibited by bundle sheath strands and chloroplasts of P: miliaceum and E. borumensis, while those of D. sanguinalis (the NADP-malic enzyme type) required the addition of ribose B-phosphate and malate for maximum activity. In all three species, 3-(3-4-dichlorophenyl)-l,l-dimethylurea inhibition of WO, fixation was partially overcome by the addition of malate, suggesting that malate can serve as a source of reductive power for carbon assimilation. Decarboxylation of 4-W-labeled C, acids was followed in the presence of glyceraldehyde, an inhibitor of the Calvin pathway. A large light-dependent stimulation of malate decarboxylation occurred by the addition of 3-phosphoglycerate (6 mM) with bundle sheath cells of all three groups and with bundle sheath chloroplasts of D. sanguinalis and E. borumensis. Although malate is suggested to be decarboxylated through the respective primary decarboxylase of each species, the 3-phosphoglycerate enhancement suggests that pyridine nucieotide reduction from malate oxidation is used during the reductive phase of the Calvin pathway. Bundle sheath strands from all three species decarboxylated aspartate with severalfold stimulation by the addition of either a-ketoglutarate (10 mM) or pyruvate (1 mM), with the lowest rate in D. sanguinalis. Bundle sheath chloroplasts from either of the three species could not decarboxylate aspartate. A light-independent decarboxylation of aspartate is suggested through NAD-malic enzyme in bundle sheath mitochondria in all three types of C, species, the rates being highest in P. miliaceum. A light-dependent portion of aspartate decarboxylation in E. borumensis is suggested to be through phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. C,. acid decarboxylation in all three species was inhibited by HCOs(CO, may be the active species). Consistent with the Cq acid decarboxylation studies, the bundle sheath strands of the three species gave lightdependent 0, evolution with aspartate or malate, the bundle sheath chloroplasts of D. sanguinalis andE. borumensis exhibited light-dependent 0, evolution only with malate, and the bundle sheath chloroplasts of P. miliaceum showed no C4 acid-dependent 0, evolution. In all three C, types, malate decarboxylation, though by different decarboxylases, interacted with the Calvin pathway by providing both CO, and reducing power, while aspartate decarboxylation provided only CO,.


Three kinds of forsterite batches of molar ratios, MgO:SiO2=2.00:0.82 (specimen M), 2.00:1.00 (specimen F), and 2.00:1.05 (specimen S) were calcined at 1300°C, added 5% of Kaolin and fired at various temperatures.Firing shrinkage, apparent specific gravity, water adsorption, dielectric loss, insulation resistance and bending strength of the fired specimens were measured to discuss the relation between the properties and the microstructure.Above physical properties gave the maximum or the minimum values at certain firing temperatures. The specimen M fired at 1550°C, F at 1390°C, and S at 1370°C gave the maximum values of firing shrinkage, apparent specific gravity, Te values of volume resistivity, and bending strength, and the minimum values of water adsorption and dielectric loss.At these maximum or minimum points each specimen showed a similar microstructure being composed of the forsterite crystals of about 10μ. The texture was dense but not yet the perfect mosaic structure which came out by firing at higher temperature through the rapid aggregation of forsterite crystals.In such a specimen cracks were observed in crystal and matrix which leads to the lowering of many properties.Comparing the three specimens the aggregation of forsterite crystals by overfiring and concequently the fall of properties was the most remarkable in the specimen S.The electrical properties of the specimen M were the best, but the proper firing temperature were considerably high.It was suggested that the best composition for forsterite porcelain should lie between M and F.


Syncope can be happened by various causes. Carotid sinus syndrome is a rare but serious manifestation of head and neck malignancy. We experienced 69-year-old man with a history of squamous cell carcinoma of left tonsil was treated with radical surgery. Approximately 4 years later, episodic syncopes were occurred. Every syncopal episode usually accompanied left-sided headache and lasted approximately 60 seconds to a few minutes. A diagnosis was made of carotid sinus syndrome secondary to invasion of the sinus. The syncope is presumed to occur when a tumor mass invades the baroreceptor within the carotid sinus or when it disrupts the afferent nerve fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve that carries baroreceptor information from the carotid sinus to the brain stem. In present case, the patient was received combination chemotherapy because he already received surgery and radiation therapy. After one cycle of chemotherapy, the syncope was resolved.


Objectives Blood pressure measured at home is superior to office-measured blood pressure in predicting the risk of cerebro-cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. A high morning blood pressure surge is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular events. For these reasons, control of blood pressure in the morning is essential. Methods We surveyed self-measured morning home blood pressure levels in essential hypertensive patients who were taking angiotensin II receptor blockers, candesartan, losartan, and valsartan. Results The mean blood pressure in candesartan, losartan, and valsartan groups was 141.7 ± 8.4/74.7 ± 4.6mmHg, 148.2 ± 18.2/78.4 ± 5.1 mmHg, and 147.2 ± 19.0/77.7 ± 9.1 mmHg, respectively. Systolic pressure was significantly lower in the candesartan treatment group than in the losartan treatment group (p = 0.044). Diastolic pressure was reduced by candesartan more effectively than by losartan and valsartan (p = 0.019 and 0.0359). Conclusion We conclude that candesartan is useful to control high morning blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.


Seeds soaked for 12,24,36 and 48 hours were put into refrigerator with 5,0,-5℃ to stay 5,10,15 day-long respectively,to study the semi-blooming date performance of B.chinensis L.var.oleifera Makino et Nemoto SYM-4 under the conditions above.The result showed that,the very treatment of soaking 24 hours and laying aside 15 day-long in the refrigerator with 5℃ resulted mostly obvious influence on the semi-blooming date performance of SYM-4,which may be applied directly in the producing practice.


The orphan G protein coupled receptor GPR35 has emerged as a therapeutic target in a number of disease states including metabolic disorder, cardiovascular disease, inflammation and nociception. Efforts to characterize this receptor, however, have been complicated by marked differences in the pharmacology of GPR35 species orthologs. We have identified novel agonist compounds with which to dissect the pharmacology and function of GPR35. Selected compounds were chosen to illustrate the differences in ligand structure activity relationship between human, mouse and rat orthologs of GPR35. Sequence alignment and receptor homology modeling techniques guided site directed mutagenesis, which highlighted a number of residues involved in GPR35 ligand interaction and revealed differences between rodent and human orthologs. These findings will benefit future drug development programs and efforts to generate therapeutically relevant GPR35‐specific pharmacological compounds. This work was funded by a BBSRC CASE studentship with MRC Technology


INTRODUCTION DNA replication has been studied since the 1950s. It is well established that double-helical DNA needs to be separated for replication by a helicase. Each strand is then copied by a DNA polymerase, continuously on the leading strand and discontinuously (via Okazaki fragments) on the lagging strand, where each DNA synthesis initiates from an RNA primer provided by primase. In contrast to the transcription of DNA to RNA and the translation of messenger RNA to protein by ribosomes, which proceed on one track in one direction, in replication, the helicase and two DNA polymerases translocate along three different tracks, the parental DNA and the two separated antiparallel strands. The three moving components in a replisome are often depicted in textbooks as moving in the same direction parallel to the parental DNA. The absence of evolutionary conservation for DNA polymerases, helicases, primases, and accessory factors from bacteria to eukaryotes adds another layer of complication. Helicases involved in replication have different folds and translocate on the lagging strand in the 5′-to-3′ direction in bacteria and on the leading strand in the 3′-to-5′ direction in eukaryotes. Even the relatively simple bacteriophage T7 helicase can exist as a closed ring-shaped hexamer or heptamer or a coiled filament in the absence of DNA. Crystal structures of many polymerase-DNA complexes have been determined, but in previous attempts to obtain a structure of a polymerase and helicase complex, the DNA substrate is either partially or completely dissociated. Six decades after the discovery of the DNA double helix, visualization in atomic detail of how a functional replisome is formed and performs concerted leading- and lagging-strand synthesis at a replication fork has not been reported. RATIONALE Bacteriophage T7 presents the simplest known DNA replisome, consisting of only three proteins. Helicase and primase reside in one polypeptide chain that forms a hexamer in the presence of DNA and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP). T7 DNA polymerase, aided by Escherichia coli thioredoxin as a processivity factor, carries out both leading- and lagging-strand DNA synthesis. On the basis of published biochemical data, we designed a minimal DNA fork to trap these essential proteins in replication competent states. RESULTS We determined cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the T7 replisome and show how its essential enzymatic functions are coordinated in three dimensions. The hexameric helicase adopts a spiral "lock washer" form that encircles a coil-like DNA strand, with two nucleotides (nt) bound to each protein subunit. With adjacent helicase subunits linked by domain swapping, ATP hydrolysis propels each helicase domain to translocate sequentially along DNA in a hand-over-hand fashion, advancing 2 nt per step in the 5′-to-3′ direction (see the figure, top). Instead of all replisome components moving in the same direction parallel to the downstream parental DNA, a β hairpin from the leading-strand polymerase separates the two parental DNA strands into a T-shaped fork that enables the closely coupled helicase to move perpendicular to the downstream DNA and unspool it tangentially (see the figure, bottom). By protein-protein and DNA-mediated interactions, the leading-strand DNA polymerase and helicase cooperate to determine the rate of replication. For every ATP hydrolyzed and 2 nt advanced on DNA by the helicase, the DNA polymerase incorporates two deoxyribonucelotides. T7 primase, separated from the leading-strand polymerase by the helicase domain, generates the RNA primers needed to initiate lagging-strand DNA synthesis. Transfer of a short RNA primer from the primase to DNA polymerase is facilitated by a zinc-binding domain at the N terminus of the T7 primase-helicase protein. Two lagging-strand polymerases can be attached to the hexameric primases with one actively synthesizing DNA and the other waiting for a primer (see the figure, bottom). Such a relay system may allow the discontinuous lagging-strand synthesis to keep pace with the leading-strand synthesis. CONCLUSION We note the similarity between hexameric DNA helicases and AAA+ protein chaperones and unfoldases, which form spiral-shaped hexamers around protein substrates and move along proteins by a hand-over-hand subunit translocation mechanism. The operating principles of the bacteriophage replisome observed here rationalize many well-known features of bacterial and eukaryotic replication. In each replisome, a helicase is the central organizer and tangentially unspools the downstream DNA, while leading- and lagging-strand polymerases synthesize DNA separately on the front and back sides of the helicase.


Under certain conditions, interaction between positively charged metal ions in an alloy may be considered to be of minor importance as compared to interaction between conduction electrons and metal ions. Then it follows that the activity of a solute metal 2 dissolved in metal 1 will be increased by a third component if metals 2 and 3 change the valence electron/atom ratio in the same direction. Conversely, the activity of a solute metal 2 will be decreased by a third component if metals 2 and 3 change the valence electron/atom ratio in opposite directions. Reference is made to the change in the solubility of hydrogen in copper by zinc, tin, aluminum, platinum, and nickel as alloying elements, to the change in the vapor pressure of zinc dissolved in copper by aluminum and nickel, and to the change in the activity of alkali metals dissolved in mercury by thallium.In addition, an equation is derived with the aid of which one may calculate the change in the activity of metal 2 dissolved in metal 1 due to the ...


The Worldwatch Institute, founded and led by Lester Brown, is the world's preeminent authority on environmental issues. This article, taking off from an in-depth examination of its publications, weighs the institute's achievements and shortcomings. Positive features are the quality of its research, the range of topics it covers, its imaginative technological proposals, and its ability to popularize. The principal (but critical) negative trait is its failure to address the structural obstacles to the transformation it calls for Worldwatch largely ignores the environmental practices of particular transnational corporations. It tends to favor "market environmentalism " but does not examine the actual workings of this approach. Both in Brown's philosophy and in the institute's funding connections, the influence of corporate capital is evident. An alternative direction for ecological educators is suggested by the environmental justice movement.


This work is an investigation into the curvature related potential for flux to flow in the radial direction in the back-iron of laminated axial flux machine cores. Analytical and numerical models are presented. Analysis based on these models has shown that, in practical axial flux machines, the radial component of the flux density can be neglected with respect to the flux density distribution in the core back-iron. It has also been found that if the core permeability, core conductivity and number of poles are sufficiently high then power loss due to curvature related cross-lamination flux is negligible compared to normal eddy current losses. A closed form expression to predict losses due to curvature related radial flux is also presented. This expression allows axial flux machine designers to make quick assessment of the need to consider these losses when designing axial flux machines.


Background: Non-medical therapy is needed to reduce blood lipid levels and prevent atherosclerosis. Foods that contain Isoflavones can improve lipid profiles in the blood. Aim: To determine the effect of soya and genistein supplementation in various doses on total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Triglycerides in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6-8 weeks were divided into 7 groups, control group; low, medium, and high doses of soy milk; and low, moderate, and high doses of genistein. The treatment was given orally for 60 days. The control used was mice with standard feed. On the 61st day, blood and hepatic tissue samples were taken and checked for lipid profiles using the Friedewald formula. Statistical analysis was carried out by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's posthoc test and Dunnet test, then regression analysis. Results: There was a significant increase in total cholesterol levels (p <0.05) and LDL levels in low and moderate doses of soy milk group compared to all groups of genistein. There was no significant differences in HDL levels in soya and genistein groups. There was significant increase in Triglyceride levels in all groups of soy milk and low and moderate doses of Genistein compared to high doses of genistein. Conclusion: Soya and genistein supplementation had increased effect on the Total Cholesterol, LDL and Triglycerides but no effect on HDL in all groups.


This study probed parental engagement in the learning needs of the learners with Down syndrome (DS) in their homes in Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines, during this new normal education. Parents of a child with DS were the primary participants of this study. Merriam's case study approach was utilized as a research design. Multiple data sources were considered, such as interview transcripts and observation notes during the actual interview. The results show that parents exerted more effort to ensure their children's educational success amidst the pandemic. The findings of the study reveal parents' efforts to catch the attention of their children during the delivery of learning at home. Although parents struggled to extend their children's limited attention span, they managed to find suitable strategies to keep their focus, like using different reinforcements and utilizing videos from social media platforms to teach their children. It is recommended that parents or guardians of children with DS consider pieces of training on how to effectively facilitate their children's learning process. Special Education (SPED) teachers must guide the parents on how to facilitate learning at home together with the school principal, who could initiate teaching pedagogy seminars and training for parents. The seminars and training would help parents and guardians facilitate their child's learning process.


Covid-19 crossed all international, national, regional boundaries so declared as Pandemic across the globe. Since one and half year every country is struggling to deal with this disease either by using preventive measures like lockdown, sanitization or with cure measure like treatment, isolation etc. Most important preventive measure adopted by every country now is Vaccination. But due to confusion, uncertainty and lack of awareness people have different opinion and sentiment about the vaccination drive. There is a drastic requirement to understand the People's sentiments on the vaccine, which may vary for different regions. Especially when these sentiments became vocal on social media, it may create adverse impact on the Vaccination Drive. This paper discusses predictive analytics and visualization methods for analyzing and predicting the summarized sentiments using social media channel: twitter. This approach is useful to provide support the vaccination drive by spreading awareness about the vaccine in the region with extreme negative sentiments. Corona Vaccine related tweets are analyzed and classified using various classification techniques as Bernoulli Naïve Bayes, Linear SVC and Random Forest. Visualization techniques are discussed to showcase summarized sentiments region-wise. This approach is effective and useful for support for vaccination drive for Covid-19 spread prevention


Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between medical students' study approaches and sociodemographic characteristics with their academic performance and to determine whether their study approaches differ between clinical and preclinical periods.
Materials and Methods: The study is a descriptive-cross-sectional study. Medical students were asked to fill out the "Revised Two Factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ2F)" questionnaire.
Results: The study included 298 male and 306 female students with a mean age of 21.40±2.58 years. 57.8% (n=349) of the students were preclinical medical students and 42.2% (n=255) were clinical students. No significant difference was found between the place of residence of the students and the reason for choosing the medical faculty (p=0.853, p=0.860, respectively). Deep study approach scores of preclinical students were found to be significantly higher than clinical students (p


Management on inter-enterprise collaborations (business networks) still face grand challenges especially in terms of managing interoperability of nonfunctional properties (NFPs) at various levels (technical, semantic, pragmatic). This paper identifies three categories of nonfunctional properties (collaborative for business level, contractual for communication issues, extrafunctional for computational dependability) and describes how facilities are provided in the Pilarcos architecture for declaring, negotiating and enforcing agreed nonfunctional properties on collaborating business services and their joint activities.


—To produce details and component of tearing and cracking is complicated. The detail and component for every object would also produce certain type of tearing line. Meanwhile using traditional finite element method will need such a complex computation caused by updated value for every crack made. Such model needed to predict magnitude and angle of tearing or cracking depend on the variables value. To generate tearing model that satisfy the requirements and produce tearing line with small computational cost, numerical scheme will be needed. This research will be focused on thin plates especially paper. Modification of finite element method will be proposed. Every step of process will be done adaptively depending on the existing results each step. Experiments generate a model which stiffness matrix convergent for each time function and each variation of elastic variables such as Young modulus and Poisson's ratio. Experiments shows that computation time for tearing model without inclusion component works on average 21.17 seconds faster than with inclusion with average 30.57 seconds. Computation time for tearing model with circular inclusion work faster dan linear inclusion.


P123 Table 1Baseline characteristics and lung function pre- and post- shielding Data presented as mean ± SD, or median (IQR) *At start of shieldingAge, years* 28 (22, 30) Male, n (%) 10 (41 7) CFTR modulator therapy, n (%)* Ivacaftor 1 (4 2) Lumacaftor/ivacaftor 1 (4 2) Tezacaftor/ivacaftor 10 (41 7) Best measurements in last year FEV1 percent predicted,% 70 8 (23 4) Body mass index (kg/m2) 28 0 (3 6) Patients identified as 'high risk'*, n (%) 5 (20 8) Pre- and post- shielding FEV1 percent predicted,% 67 2 (27 3) 66 9 (26 3) Weight, kg (n=21) 66 0 (15 1) 66 9 (12 9) Body mass index, kg/m2 (n=21) 23 3 (3 8) 24 0 (3 5) ConclusionsUnpredicted changes to CF care delivery at our centre was not detrimental to patient outcomes In this cohort, key CF clinical indices remained stable over a short period of shielding, supporting safe remote delivery of care Modulator therapies likely contributed to the stability in lung function seen


A report on the empirical findings of a research project examining the marketing practices, strategies and organisational characteristics of a sample of 23 banks and other companies in the UK retail financial services market. The better performing companies, which were identified by peer admiration, could be distinguished from the less successful companies by wealthier customers and greater skill at controlling the costs of supplying their services. The implications of these findings for banks and other financial companies are discussed.


Thin gas targets of argon were bombarded with C, N, O, and F projectiles of various incident charge states at energies from l to 2 MeV/amu. Argon K x rays were observed with a Si(Li) detector, and x-ray-production cross sections were obtained. For a given-energy projectile. the cross sections decrease approximately exponentially as the number of electrons bound to the incident projectile increases from 0 to 3. For three or more electrons. the measured cross sections change very little. Hartree-Fock calculations of fluorescence yields as a function of target configuration were used to obtain argon K-shell vacancy- production cross sections. Target configurations were chosen by comparing the experimental argon K alpha and K BETA x-ray energies and K BETA /K alpha relative intensities with the values obtained by Hartree-Fock calculations. For projectiles with more than one electron, the vacancy-production cross sections scale as the square of projectile nuclear charge as expected for Coulomb ionization. but the absolute magnitudes of the cross sections do not agree with Coulomb-ionization results. For projectiles with 0 to 1 electron. however, Coulomb ionization alone cannot explain the observed cross sections. Charge exchange from the argon K shell to projectile bound states has been proposed asmore » a significant vacancy-producing mechanism for collisions involving highly charged projectiles. Although calculations of the charge-exchange cross sections are in reasonable relative agreement with the data, additional vacancy-producing mechanisms cannot be ignored. (auth)« less


Prior literature on the green innovation effects of green credit policies is extensive. However, few scholars have focused on the impact of green credit policies on the high-quality development of heavily-polluting enterprises. Based on this, this study employs the difference-in-differences (DID) model to explore the causal relationship between the Green Credit Guidelines (Guidelines) issued in 2012 and the high-quality development of heavily-polluting enterprises. Additionally, we test whether the effect of upgrading human resources in enterprises strengthens this causal relationship. Our findings suggest that the implementation of the Guidelines has significantly promoted the development quality of heavily-polluting enterprises and the promotion effect is more significant in enterprises with higher development quality, state-owned enterprises, large-scale enterprises, and enterprises in the western region of China. Further research reveals that the effect of upgrading human resources in enterprises has reinforced the positive impact of Guidelines on the high-quality development of enterprises. From the perspective of high-quality development of enterprises, in this paper, we expand the research into the effects of green credit policy, providing a decision-making reference for the promotion and improvement of subsequent green credit policy in the future.


Developments in theories of financial markets and institutions, using the tools of the economics of uncertainty and of contracts, as well as results in game theory, have, over the last two decades, constituted an exciting and burgeoning field of research. This collection of readings draws together highlights of the 'second generation' literature in this area, emphasizing the theoretical, institutional, and policy-oriented regulatory implications of some of the key modelling techniques in the field. The collection divides into seven sections covering the monitoring role of banks and other intermediaries; liquidity demand and the role of banks and the government; bank runs and financial crises; bank regulation; inter-bank competition and bank--firm relationships; comparative financial systems; and imperfect credit markets and the macroeconomy. Each section comprises four articles previously published in top-ranking economics and finance journals, plus a discussion by a prominent scholar, who provides a synthesis and critique of the literature, and suggests promising directions for future research and application of results. Contributors to this volume - John Boyd (University of Minnesota) Edward C. Prescott (Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis) Charles W. Calomiris (Northwestern University) Charles M. Kahn (University of Illinois) Rafael Repullo (CEMFI) Javier Suarez (CEPR) Martin Hellwig (University of Mannheim) Douglas W. Diamond (University of Chicago) Bengt Holmstrom (MIT) Jean Tirole (MIT) Sudipto Bhattacharya (LSE) Paolo Fulghieri (INSEAD) Riccardo Rovelli (University of Bologna) V. V. Chari (Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis) Ravi Jagannathan (Northwestern University/University of Minnesota) Stephen Morris (University of Pennsylvania) Hyun Song Shin (Oxford University) Xavier Freixas (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) Bruno Parigi (University of Venice) Jean-Charles Rochet (Universite des Sciences Sociales, Toulouse) Randall S. Kroszner (University of Chicago) Raghuram Rajan (University of Chicago) Philippe Aghion (University College London) Patrick Bolton (Princeton University) Steven Fries (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London) Anthony Santomero Arnoud Boot (University of Amsterdam) Stuart I. Greenbaum (Northwestern University) Anjan V. Thakor (University of Michigan) Raghuram G. Rajan (University of Chicago) Ernst-Ludwig von Thadden (Universite de Lausanne) Andrew Winton (Northwestern University) Gabriella Chiesa (Universita di Brescia, Italy) Matthias Dewatripont (Universite Libre de Bruxelles/CEPR/CORE) Eric Maskin (Harvard University) Franklin Allen (University of Pennsylvania) Douglas Gale (New York University) Nobuhiro Kiyotaki (University of Minnesota/Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis) John Moore (LSE/Heriot-Watt University) Oren Sussman (University of the Negev, Israel)


In Nigeria, one of the major problems confronting agriculture is poor soil fertility replenishment strategy that could allow sustainable production. Two field trials were conducted simultaneously in Sokoto (UDUS, Vegetable Research farm) and Zamfara (Bakalori Irrigation Project) both in SudanSavanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria, with the aim of studying the effect of different rates of cow dung, nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer and their combinations on soil properties and performance of sweet potato. The research was conducted during the 2011/2012 dry season using ten treatments: 3, 2, and 1tons per hectare of cow dung, 400, 300, and 200 kilogram per hectare of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, 2 tons of cow dung + 100 kilogram nitrogen-phosphoruspotassium fertilizer, 1.5 ton of cow dung + 150 kilogram of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, 1 ton of cow dung + 200 kilogram of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer per hectare and no fertilizer application (control). The result obtained was consistent with regard to locations indicating a numerical increased in soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity(CEC), total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable calcium and potassium due to the treatments Original Research Article Haliru et al; AJEA, 6(3): 189-195, 2015; Article no.AJEA.2015.078 190 application as compared to the initial values. However, the effect was not significant (p>0.05) among treatments. While on sweet potato yield the treatments effect was significant (p<0.05) and application of 300 kilogram of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer per hectare gave the highest sweet potato yield at both locations. This research therefore, recommended that treatments used are important materials for soil nutrients replenishment and application of 300 kilogram per hectare of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is recommended for better sweet potato yield in the study areas.


In the development of the new bi-level train KISS nonlinear finite element analyses have been intensively applied to optimize the structure with respect to stiffness and strength as well as to crashworthiness. Models up to 3 million shell elements have been used to prove the strength of the load carrying structure with respect to the standard EN12663-1. By the use ofnumerical optimization codes the structure has been optimized with respect to lightweight engineering and with respect to a reduction of manufacturing time. Additionally, the fatigue strength of the structure, especially of the welds, has been evaluated with FEMFAT, a post-processor code from Magna Powertrain. The fatigue strength has been proven for typical load collectives representing the operational life for 40 years of operation. In simultaneous analyses the crash energy management structures have been optimized. All requirements of EN15227, the European crashworthiness standard, were successfully fulfilled. Comparisons with dynamic test results have shown that the numerical results are very close to the test data.


PRELIMINARY NOTE. In May, 1903, Major Leishman described peculiar chromatin bodies which he found in the spleen of a patient suffering from the so-called dum-dum fever of Calcutta, and at the time he suggested the possibility of these having a trypanosomal origin. This observation was soon confirmed by Donovan and others, and consequently the so-called Leishman-Donovan bodies have come to be recognized as the cause of Kala-azar or tropical splenomegaly. In December of the same year J. H. Wright gave an accurate description of similar bodies found in the lesions of Delhi boil or Oriental sore, and like results were obtained about the same time by Marzinowsky. While, morphologically, the Wright bodies are identical with those of Leishman, there is good reason to believe that they represent distinct though related organisms. A third infection of similar type was recognized by Pianese, in Naples, in 1905. In five out of twelve


The application of an aluminum (Al) capping layer on top of an In–Ga–Zn–O (IGZO) active layer is proposed to enhance the mobility of IGZO thin-film transistors (TFTs). The Al metal layer forms a very thin and dense oxide film on the surface that prevents further internal oxidation, and an additional AlOx interlayer between Al and IGZO is formed using oxygen in the IGZO back-channel region due to its strong oxidation power. The formation of an aluminum oxide interlayer induces an oxygen-deficient region in the active layer, inducing free carriers that enhance the field-effect mobility from 11.3 to 72.6 cm2/Vs. The device reliability under positive and negative bias stress in the dark is relatively unaffected by the presence of the Al capping layer; however, the stability under negative bias illumination stress is accelerated, likely originating from the ionization of oxygen vacant sites.


The reinforced HDPE/PA66 in-situ fiberized composites were prepared by extrusion-drawing-injection method.The influence of PA66 mass content(cm) on the PA66 fiberization,tensile strength(σt) and Young's modulus(E) of the composites,together with their functional mechanisms were studied in contrast to the normal blended materials without drawing.The results showed that as cm rises from 0 to 25%,the number of PA66 fibers in-situ formed increases whereas their cross size and dispercity decrease till cm =15% and then increase.The σt and E of in-situ composites increase 45% and 60%,respectively,relative to neat HDPE at cm=15%.The fiberization of PA66 droplets through coalescence-deformation during melt-drawing plays a key role in the above variation of PA66 phase morphology with cm.The counterbalanced function between the reinforcing effect of dispersed phase on matrix and the interfacial flaw effect of the two phase and the rigidizing effect of fiber on matrix controlled by morphology of dispersed phase,are dominant factors of deciding the above σt ~ cm and E ~ cm relations,respectively.


Particularly during its first four years, AMISOM had a distinctly ambiguous relationship with civilian protection issues. It was not until late May 2013, for example, that AMISOM adopted a more explicit and proactive approach to civilian protection involving the deliberate application of its resources to reduce civilian harm. The chapter therefore begins by illustrating how the AU and AMISOM disseminated mixed messages on civilian protection issues. The second section then highlights the AU's lack of experience in this area. The third section then analyses how AMISOM sometimes became a source of civilian harm in Mogadishu, and later beyond the city, while the fourth section summarizes the remedial policies AMISOM adopted to try and alleviate this problem. The conclusion reflects on the main lessons that emerge from AMISOM's experiences with civilian protection issues.


The purpose of Chen Zilong and his colleagues compiling Huangming Anthology was yearning for realizing the return of Fengya Spirit with the aid of reverting to Seven Scholars' spirit in writing poetry. In the content, he required the poetry be consonant with Fengya, have the mind of gentilesse, honesty, sincerity and social responsibility, and keep away from indignation. Externally, he emphasized the distinguishing form, advocated gentle and clangorous syllables being consonant with certain laws. Compilation of Huangming Anthology was inseparable with Chen Zilong's social activities and his Practice Theory benefiting the society and the people.


Directional ultra-wideband antennas in various planar technologies are described. All designs feature a parabolic-shaped ground plane to accomplish high directivity and gain. Moreover, in comparison with a simple corner-shaped ground plane, the parabolic ground plane enhances bandwidth and improves input return loss. It also contributes to antenna compactness and efficiency in radar tracking applications. The salient features of the UWB antenna designs are demonstrated through two different full-wave simulation packages in the time and frequency domains.


Sigmaxinella cearense sp. nov. is described here on the basis of a single specimen collected in 2004 at Parque Estadual Marinho da Pedra da Risca do Meio, off Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. This is the first record of Sigmaxinella for the Atlantic Ocean. The new species differs from the other eleven Sigmaxinella species by the absence of raphides/microxea, and is the only species with a single category of styles as megascleres (mean length 435µm, mean width 12µm), and sigmas (mean length 21µm). The new species appears to be closer to Australian species of Sigmaxinella, on the basis of overall spicule morphology (mainly dimensions and categories of megascleres). This could be suggestive of a transpacific track for the colonization of the South Atlantic, instead of the shorter Agulhas track.Key words: Sigmaxinella, taxonomy, Parque Estadual da Pedra da Risca do Meio, sponge, new species, sandstone reef, Brazil


Abstract: PT Y is one of the companies in Surabaya engaged in manufacturing cigarattes. PT Y want to identify the waste so that it can be improved continuously. PT Y believed that the process has the potential to improve intra transportation process. Identification of waste to the process intra transportation especially performed on process delivery of PPIC TAC and PMD. The method used to identify the waste is value stream mapping. Value stream mapping that aimed to describe the process as a whole and reduce the lead time of a process. Waste that was found in the process of intra transportation is waiting, transportation and overprocessing. Proposals made reduce the lead time of each process. Lead time delivery of tobacco and clove from PPIC TAC to PMD successfully reduce by 2.56%. Lead time delivery of sliced tobacco from PMD to SKM successfully reduced by 46.73%. Lead time delivery of sliced tobacco from PMD to SKT successfully reduced by 2.59%.


The volatile constituents from peels and seeds of Areca catechu L.were investigated for the first time by head-space solid micro-extraction coupled with GC-MS.Twenty-nine compounds were identified from the yellow peels,and Twenty-one from the green peels,accounting for 89.18% and 71.96% of the total essential constituents,respectively.Twenty compounds were isolated from the seeds of yellow fruits,and fifteen from the seeds of green fruits,accounting for 87.47% and 70.24% of the total essential constituents,respectively.Yellow peels and green peels had 8 components in common,while the seeds of yellow fruits and that of the green fruits had 13 common components.There were five common components in these four samples.The volatile constituents were different between the peels and seeds of A.catechu.


Derivatives of 2-methylidene-1,3-dihydropyrimidin-4-ones 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g were synthesized by interaction of 6-methyl-2-thiouracil and 6-phenyl-2-thiouracil 1a, 1b with some activated halogenides: diethyl bromomalonate, ethyl 2-chloro-3-oxobutanoate, ethyl 2-bromocyanoacetate, 2-bromo-5,5-dimethylcyclohexan-1,3-dione, and bromomalononitrile. The boiling of 1a with ethyl 2-bromocyanoacetate in mixture of ethanol and EtONa results in intramolecular cyclization and formation of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one 3. Interaction of 1a with 3-chloropentane-2,4-dione and 2-bromo-1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dione yielded corresponding S-substituted thiopyrimidines 4a,4b. In general, the products of 1b S-alkylation are less prone to sulfur extrusion. Reaction of 1b with diethyl bromomalonate in the absence of EtONa stops at the S-alkylation step, while in the presence of EtONa in ethanol or PPh3 in dioxane 2-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)thio-6-phenyl-1,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one 6 is formed exclusively. Molecular structure and crystal structure of 2-(1,1-diethoxycarbonylmethyliden)-6-methyl-1,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one 2a are discussed.


20 Rhizobium strains were isolated from soybeans in the scientific research base of Shenyang Agricultural University.ARA and phosphate solubilization circle method(PSCM)were used further to obtain Rhizobium strain #6 with nodule-forming-and-nitrogen-fixing and phosphate dissolving effects.Its nitrogenase activity was at 4.94 μmol C2H4/min/g being equivalent to that of the reference strain USDA110.Its phosphorus dissolving ability was tested with PSCM and was found it could dissolve organic phosphorous;while the reference strain USDA110 could not.Further determination of #6's phosphate dissolving quantity respectively were 25.2 μg/mL at 7th d and 21.05 μg/mL at 14th d.Finally its physiological,biochemical,and growth characteristics were tested to the end that helpful for practical application.


Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition that affects about 18% of the population with intellectual compromising. Annually it affects about 8 thousand Brazilian babies. These babies present a variety of complications that makes them more vulnerable to diseases. The inexistence of specific and national anthropometric parameters for all ages makes it difficult to evaluate weight and stature development, identify risk factors and adequately choosing nutritional therapy to this population. This work aims to define these patients anthropometric profile comparing results of two sets of reference parameters used for classifying the nutritional condition of individuals with DS. This research evaluated 350 children with DS, both female and male, with ages from 0 to 11 years assisted by a pediatric clinic from Sao Paulo City on the basis of data registered in clinical histories. Nutritional diagnosis was determined according growth curves proposed by two sets of reference parameters. Most anthropometric va- riables presented higher values for male subjects in both reference parameters. Considering weight and stature/age, we perceived that the use of the international standard reveals a greater number of euthrophic individuals. Comparing results of the two standards, the classification of weight deficit and low stature correlated to age according to Brazil's standard revealed a double percentage of lower weight and low stature subjects. New studies on weight / stature curves, Body Mass Index, folds and perimeters are necessary for higher precision in nutritional diagnosis. Nutritional evaluation and intervention are vital to guarantee longevity with quality.


ELM and WCW are two of the most significant nativist American poets of the early twentieth century. Not only did they adhere to roughly the same ideology of progressive liberalism, laying emphasis on the radical potential inherent in a more democratic cultural politics, but throughout their writing careers they sought, with varying degrees of success, a return to the autochthonous roots of American culture at the expense of the cosmopolitan and Eurocentric faction of modernism that was to become hegemonic in the 1920s, with the consecration of T.S. Eliot as the leading poet and critic of his generation. In this essay I examine some key texts by both ELM and WCW in which the experience of war and the vocabulary of degradation and filth take center stage. This interest in destruction and decay can be connected to important crises in the two authors' personal lives as well as to larger social and political issues. My conclusion will be that of the two poets only WCW succeeds in going beyond the mere criticism of the genteel and bourgeois cultural traditions in place in his time to envision imaginatively the regeneration of America through a dialectics of destruction and creation, death and rebirth.


Using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers have confirmed the discovery of the nearest rocky planet outside our solar system, larger than Earth and a potential gold mine of science data.


Development of new renewable energy sources has become paramount in the battle againstrising energy consumption and prices, environmental destruction, and global climate change.However, prior research efforts have indicated an aeroelastic instability energy harvester(AIEH) is capable of generating more than 70 mW of power at 4 mph wind (below thecut-in speed of any wind turbine). The AIEH has shown an enhancement in performancein the presence of a bluff body (contrary to turbines) and a non-linear increase in powerproduction with an increase in wind speed. It also allows the consumer to choose the extentof investment cost (less than $50 for parts), with minimal maintenance cost. The intent ofthis thesis work is to gain a better understanding of AIEHs in a number of different ways:characterizing the limit-cycle oscillation (LCO) experienced by an AIEH; validating the beliefthat an active smart material may enhance the power density of an AIEH; validating andcharacterizing the enhanced performance exhibited by AIEHs in the presence of a bluff body.In the short term AIEHs are expected to be of particular utility for powering remote civilinfrastructure sensor systems. In the long term they may have the potential to become aviable, new, renewable energy technology with power generation levels appropriate to societalenergy needs. Also, its relatively low investment and maintenance cost has the potential tomake this technology ideal for third world applications.


The rights come and go donate or by goods are widely known by the public and protected by the Law, but the freedom to dispose of the body, despite the legislation, may have features not yet tutored by current Standards or at least not be everyday use.


System of supervisory control for teaching quality in universities is an important part of the system of the whole teaching management . In order to construct this system we should study the importance, guiding ideology and main content of constructing this system.


By theoretical analysis and test research,this paper introduces the effect of tiny-hole laser machining parameters,such as energy of the laser pulse,width of the laser pulse,and repetition frequency of the laser pulse on the diameter and depth of the tiny hole for synthetic corundum material.Principle for proper combination for these laser machining parameters is proposed.


Changes in biotic interactions in the native and invaded range can enable a non-native species to establish and spread in novel environments. Invasive non-native species can in turn generate impacts in recipient systems partly through the changes they impose on biotic interactions; these interactions can lead to altered ecosystem processes in the recipient systems. This chapter reviews models, theories and hypotheses on how invasion performance and impact of introduced species in recipient ecosystems can be conjectured according to biotic interactions between native and non-native species. It starts by exploring the nature of biotic interactions as ensembles of ecological and evolutionary games between individuals of both the same and different groups. This allows us to categorize biotic interactions as direct and indirect (i.e. those involving more than two species) that emerge from both coevolution and ecological fitting during community assembly and invasion. We then introduce conceptual models that can reveal the ecological and evolutionary dynamics between interacting non-native and resident species in ecological networks and communities. Moving from such theoretical grounding, we review 20 hypotheses that have been proposed in invasion ecology to explain the invasion performance of a single non-native species, and seven hypotheses relating to the creation and function of assemblages of non-native species within recipient ecosystems. We argue that, although biotic interactions are ubiquitous and quintessential to the assessment of invasion performance, they are nonetheless difficult to detect and measure due to strength dependency on sampling scales and population densities, as well as the non-equilibrium transient dynamics of ecological communities and networks. We therefore call for coordinated efforts in invasion science and beyond, to devise and review approaches that can rapidly map out the entire web of dynamic interactions in a recipient ecosystem.


Disturbances of plasma cell homeostasis and auto‐antibody production are hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematosus. The aim of this study was to explore the presence of circulating anti‐ENA and anti‐dsDNA antibody‐secreting cells, to determine their dependence on plasma cell‐niche cytokines and to analyze their clinical value.


A Research Work Group was formed in 2009 to address Federal Agency concerns with some aspects of Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation. One project was completed on dust generation during trimming and was reported at last year's Conference. Two other initiatives are in the planning stage. 1) CPI, working in conjunction with ASTM, is developing an emissions testing protocol that is specific to SPF insulation. Once developed, the protocol should assist SPF Manufacturers in determining appropriate re-occupancy times for other trades and building occupants following the installation of SPF insulation and assess the impact on indoor air quality (IAQ). 2) Another SPF Research Project is evaluating the impact of changes in ventilation rates on the airborne concentrations of chemical vapors and particulates associated with SPF application work. Both studies will evaluate airborne concentrations using three different commonly used SPF formulations. Proposals, timelines, and tasks completed will be presented. EMISSION TESTING PROTOCOL FOR SPRAY POLYURETHANE FOAM INSULATION


Balzano et al. report an attempt to identify the sources of long-chain alkyl diols in samples of marine particulate matter in the tropical North Atlantic. The major component that they observe, in common with most marine samples, is the C30 1,15-diol. However, this is not the main chain-length in microalgae known to produce alkyl diols. For example, in marine eustigmatophytes the major diol is the C32 1,15-diol and this is accompanied by other long-chain components such as n-alkenols and unsaturated alkyl diols. The use of 18S rDNA to identify possible sources of organic matter has been successful in other studies and thus the rationale for combining genetic and biomarker data is soundly based. The fact that a clear source could not be identified is salutary and raises useful questions as to how best to combine these techniques in future stud-


Accurate measurement of crop water use under different water and nitrogen (N) conditions is of great importance for irrigation scheduling and N management. This research investigated the effect of water and N status on stem sap flow of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in an unheated solar greenhouse in northwest China. A water experiment included sufficient water supply (T1) based on in situ water content measurement, two-thirds T1 (T2) and half T1 (T3) under a typical N application rate (N1); i.e., 57.4 gm L2 N. The N experiment included N1, two- thirdsN1(N2),andhalfN1(N3)underT2irrigation. Resultsshowed thatdeficitwater supplyreducedthe stemsapflow by22.1% and 42.8% in T2and T3, respectively,compared withT1.The average daily stemsapflow between N1and N2 was similar, and both were higher than that of N3. Significant differences between N1or N2 and N3 were only observed on four dates (totally 34 days). Nighttime stem sap flow accounted for 6.0% to 6.9% of the daily value for the water treatments and 5.7% to 8.5% of the daily value for the N treatments. No significant differences for nighttime stem sap flow were found among water and N treatments. The daily stem sap flow was significantly and positively correlated withsolarradiation, airtemperature, vaporpressure deficit, and reference evapotranspiration underthe water and N experiments. The slopes of the regression equations between the daily stem sap flow and these parameters were lower when soil water availability was limited, whereas the slopes of the regressions had no significant differences among N treatments. A parabolic relationship between the ratio of the daily stem sap flow of water deficit treatments to that of T1 and soil relative extractable water content was observed. The unheated solar greenhouse industry has been expanding rapidly and becoming increasingly important for local econo- mies in the arid region of northwest China in recent years, because the region has abundant light resources but limited precipitation (rain and snow) in winter. However, shortage of water resources and N stress (too little or too much) often affects the sustainable production of greenhouse crops in the region. Water and N stresses not only affect water uptake and nutrient assimilation of plants, but also influence stomatal response and drought resistance ability (Chapin et al., 1988; Claussen, 2002; Davies and Zhang, 1991). Thus, accurate measurement of crop water use under different water and N conditions can provide information for precision irrigation and N management. Water deficit has an adverse effect on transpiration, which has been confirmed in sap flow studies for many woody tree


Objective
To explore the expression of the A2A adenosine receptor and the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in human degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) cells after they have been treated with a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF).

Methods
Human degenerative NP cells were cultured in vitro and treated using an 0.8mT PEMF with a pulse frequency of 50Hz. The pulse width was 150μs and the exposure time was 30min, repeated 5 times at 12 hour intervals. The expression of the A2A adenosine receptor in NP cells was determined using western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions. The expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The human degenerative NP cells were also treated with an antagonist and agonist of the A2A adenosine receptor, and the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α were also determined using ELISA.

Results
After the PEMF treatment the expression of the A2A adenosine receptor increased significantly, while the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α decreased significantly. However, the A2A adenosine receptor antagonist reversed the inhibitory effect of the PEMF on the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α, while the agonist played an opposite role.

Conclusion
A PEMF can significantly inhibit the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in human degenerative NP cells, which could be related to up-regulation of the expression of the A2A adenosine receptor in those cells.

Key words:
Pulsed electromagnetic fields; Adenosine receptors; Nucleus pulposus cells; Inflammatory cytokines


Introduction Self-efficacy is defined as people's internal beliefs about their ability to have an impact on events that affect their lives. As part of the COVID-19 pandemic, we carried out in situ simulation for anaesthesiologists and operating room (OR) nurses. Simulation was focused on the recommendations on the use of specific personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as on airway management and intubation. We hypothesised that in situ procedural simulation should increase their perceived self-efficacy. Methods Between 16 March and 20 March 2020, 208 healthcare workers took part in in situ procedural simulation. A questionnaire was sent to participants on 21 April 2020. Six self-efficacy items related to PPE and airway manoeuvres were assessed before and after training on a Numeric Rating Scale from 0 to 10. Results Sixty-seven participants (32%) replied to the questionnaire. The before–after comparison of the six items revealed an increase in perceived self-efficacy for each of them. A before training difference was observed between nurses, board-certified anaesthetists and trainees in anaesthesia in perceived self-efficacy for putting on (6 (3–8) vs 4.5 (2.25–6) vs 2 (0–6), p=0.007) and remove PPE (8 (5–8) vs 4.5 (3.25–6) vs 4 (1–6), p=0.009). No difference in perceived self-efficacy after training was observed between nurses, board-certified anaesthetists and trainees in anaesthesia. Conclusions In situ simulation improves the perceived self-efficacy of OR nurses and anaesthesiologists on specific skills related to the care of patients with COVID-19.


A thermodynamic consistency test developed for high pressure binary vapor-liquid mixtures is applied to mix- tures containing a supercritical solvent and an ionic liquid. Several authors have reported vapor-liquid equilibrium data on the binary systems supercritical CO2 + 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate {(bmim)(PF6)}, supercritical CO2 + 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium nitrate {(bmim)(NO3)}, supercritical CO2 + 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetra- fluoroborate {(bmim)(BF4)} and supercritical CHF3 + 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate {(bmim)(PF6)}, but some of these data differ dramatically. The Peng-Robinson equation of state, coupled with the Wong- Sandler mixing rules, has been used for modeling the vapor-liquid equilibrium of these binary mixtures. Then, the pro- posed thermodynamic consistency test has been applied. The results show that the consistency test can be applied with confidence, determining consistency or inconsistency of the experimental data.


Free radical is an important factor which induces exercise fatigue. It has become a hot issue as to how to apply the beneficial effect of Chinese medicine intervention to the free radicals metabolism. Result: A long incremental treadmill exercise causes the disorder of free radicals metabolism in muscular tissues, the loss of body weight;Chinese medicine intervention can increase body weight of exercised rats remarkably; further, it can raise anti-oxygen enzyme activity in skeletal muscle, stabilize the balance of free radicals metabolism, and promote the improvement of athletics ability.