Abstract Disclosure: S. Decamps: None. K.T. Yeung: None. K. McCowen: None. Background: Chronic exogenous use of glucocorticoids is the most common cause of reversible secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI). There is a significant risk of cortisol deficiency if the medication is abruptly discontinued. Chronic glucocorticoid therapy may cause hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, resulting in low ACTH, atrophy of the adrenal zona fasciculata and decreased cortisol production. Immunotherapy rarely causes reversible central AI, usually permanent. We present a case of an immunotherapy-receiving patient who presented with biochemical evidence of adrenal insufficiency after using an oral solution (swish and spit) of dexamethasone as prophylaxis for mucositis. Patient Summary: A 52-year-old woman with stage IIb triple negative breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant Datopotamab, Dertuxtecan and Durvalumab was evaluated for adrenal insufficiency. Prior to starting therapy, serum cortisol level measured 7.9 mcg/dL at 11 AM (normal 6.0-18.4 mcg/dL at 6-10 A.M). She had received a single dose of dexamethasone 10 mg IV with her first cycle, but not thereafter. As part of the immunotherapy protocol, serial cortisol levels were obtained, and 2 weeks after the baseline, noon serum cortisol was 1.0 ug/dL. Patient was asymptomatic. At no point were glucocorticoids replaced, but 1-week later serum cortisol level was 0.6ug/dL at 11:00 AM along with an ACTH of 5 pg/mL. Immunotherapy-induced AI was strongly suspected. Her only glucocorticoid exposure had been a dexamethasone oral mouth rinse (swish 10mL for 1 minute and spit out, four times daily). Cortisol level at 7AM a week later measured 3.5 mcg/dL with ACTH 18.7 pg/mL and a dexamethasone level 108.2 ng/dL (normal < 50 ng/dL for patients not on dexamethasone). Technique of swish and spit was reviewed with the patient, and she was not ingesting the medication. An observational approach was pursued at this time given hemodynamic stability, treatment was continued and several weeks later repeat labs showed cortisol levels of 3.3 (7AM), with a dexamethasone level of 84.3 ng/dL. Her course of therapy has been completed, so she has been off the dexamethasone solution, continues to be asymptomatic and repeat labs now show a 9AM Cortisol level of 9.5 mcg/dL and, given lack of other sources, it is most likely that these low cortisol levels along with elevated dexamethasone levels are related to the use of dexamethasone swish and spit rather than immunotherapy induced permanent HPA axis suppression. Conclusion: There is no literature on dexamethasone swish and spit being absorbed systemically possibly leading to potentially reversible HPA suppression. Our case will raise awareness of help guide clinicians expand their differential when working up these patients. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023


Following the work of Liu and Goldsmith in 2009, we study a class of Z-interference channels that satisfy the shift-invariant condition but not the maximum entropy condition. We provide a new capacity region outer bound for this class of Z-interference channels. We show the tightness of the proposed outer bound by finding the capacity region of certain Z-interference channels which were not previously known.


Abstract— An edge‐lit backlight with a thin structure and 2‐D dimming function is a highlighted requirement. To achieve a thin backlight unit for 2‐D dimmable displays, a monolithic functional light‐guide plate (LGP) was segmented by using a recessed U‐groove with graded height as semi‐partitions. The height of the U‐groove controls the cross‐talk between the segments. A single segment was characterized with an array of louver‐shaped micro‐prisms that function as unilateral reflectors for light distributing, directing, and extracting. Arrays of rounded micro‐prisms, and lenticular prisms for in‐ and out‐coupling, are designed on the light injection surface and front surface of the LGP for light‐cone shaping on the BLU. The light guide has a length of 73.0 mm, a width of 40.7 mm, and a thickness of 0.7 mm. The LGP was segmented into 16 segments where the width and graded height of the recessed U‐prism between the segments is 0.020 mm and 0.10–0.50 mm, respectively. By using the monolithic light‐guide plate, the cross‐talk is suppressed to 20% and 4% at the center of first and second neighboring segments, respectively.


In the asymmetric unit of the title salt, (C5H12NO)6[PMo12O40]2·5C5H11NO, there are two independent α-Keggin-type [PMo12O40]3− polyoxidoanions, which show characteristic features with respect to bond lengths and angles. One of the [CH3CH2C(=OH)N(CH3)2]+ cations is hydrogen bonded to the neighboring polyoxidoanion through a C=O—H⋯Obridge hydrogen bond. The organic molecules and the remaining organic cations form [(C5H11NO)2H]+ molecule–cation pairs, two of which lie about inversion centers, through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.


The Research Through Design (RTD) conferences represent important steps towards more meaningful academic practices, not only within the field of research through design but potentially for many related academic fields. In order to realize this potential, I would like to take a step back and look at the RTD community in the context of a larger academic landscape.


Introduction to COMSOL Multiphysics COMSOL Multiphysics and the Basics of Numerical Analysis Analyzing Evolution Equations by the Finite Element Method Multiphysics Extended Multiphysics Nonlinear Dynamics and Linear System Analysis Changing Geometry: Continuation and Moving Boundaries Coupling Variables Revisited: Inverse Problems, Line Integrals, Integral Equations, and Integro-Differential Equations Modeling of Multi-Phase Flow Using the Level Set Method Modeling of Free Surface Flow Problems with Phase Change -- Three Phase Flows Newtonian Flow in Grooved Microchannels Electrokinetic Flow Plasma Simulations via the Fokker-Planck Equation Crevice Corrosion of Steel Under a Disbonded Coating Numerical Simulation of a Magnetohydrodynamic DC Microdevice Vector Calculus Fundamentals in COMSOL Multiphysics with MATLAB.


Proton and carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy have been used to obtain the torsional barrier in some protonated ortho and meta substituted benzaldehydes, and the relative populations of the O-cis and O-trans rotamers have been determined. The results are compared with earlier data on free benzaldehydes.


The mutually exclusive difference between mechanicism and finalism becomes an inefficient theoretical abstraction to study organisation of living beings, as each model completes and implicates the other. Kant's Critique of Judgement and Maturana and Varela's proposals may be an adequate conductor thread through this problem of Biology.


The present invention provides an in-vivo observing system and the in vivo observation method. In the present invention, it can be surely captured in-vivo images between the at least a portion of the image portions of successive repetition vivo image group for the purpose. Vivo observing system according to the present invention (1) comprising: a is introduced into the capsule endoscope in the body of a subject (2); with respect to the magnetic field generating section 2 generates the external magnetic field within the subject of the capsule endoscope (3); and a control unit (11) controls the magnetic field generating unit (3). The capsule endoscope (2) comprising: a body of the illumination light illuminating the subject illuminated portion; imaging unit sequentially captures in-vivo images of the subject illuminated portion of the illumination. The control unit (11) at an angular velocity value is smaller than the product of the value of the frame rate of the imaging section and the angle of view of the angular velocity of magnetic field generating portion (3) changing the magnetic field directions of the external magnetic field, to follow the field direction of the magnetic field generating portion (3) in this angular velocity change (2) of the imaging direction of the capsule endoscope.


This article explores the divergences between ex†prisoners' use of entrepreneurship as a tool for rebuilding social ties and the vision of entrepreneurship provided by Mission Forward, a European†funded, Ugandan†run nongovernmental organization that provides ex†prisoners with entrepreneurship training. Forty†six interviews were conducted over two months with Mission Forward staff and with ex†prisoners participating in the entrepreneurship training program in Gulu, northern Uganda. These interviews found that Mission Forward's official position, like that of many providers of criminal justice services, was to view crime as resulting from one primary deficiency in personhood: idleness. To rectify this, their policy was to fashion prototypical neoliberal entrepreneurs: self†motivated and self†reliant individualists whose primary concern is making money and who could achieve this goal no matter what the circumstances. In contrast, ex†prisoners experienced a loss of personhood when they became marked as criminals by their friends and neighbors. To address this, ex†prisoners were concerned with using the contracts, exchanges, and interactions associated with their entrepreneurial ventures to rebuild the social ties that their crimes and subsequent incarceration had damaged and thereby reclaim personhood. This article argues that these divergent uses of entrepreneurship as a rehabilitative and reintegrative tool provide new insights into the nature of entrepreneurship and into the establishment and reestablishment of both personhood and social ties through economic exchange.


Objective To investigate the clinical effect of domperidone in improving neonatal feeding intolerance.Methods168 infants with feeding intolerance were randomly divided into 3 groups,of which observation group 1 included domperidone group(58 cases),observation group 2 included erythromycin group(53 cases),the control group(57 cases).The infants in the control group were treated with conventional therapy such as keeping warm,positional therapy,partial parenteral nutrition and so on.Besides the conventional therapy,the infants in the observation group 1 were given domperidone suspl 0.4ml/ kg by peroral administration or nasal feeding once in every 8 hours a day,30 minutes before feeding.The course of treatment lasted from 3 to 5 days.The infants in the observation group 2 were given intravenous erythromycin 5mg/kg for once a day,which applied the infusion with micro-infusion pump within one or two hours for the time from 3 to 5 days.ResultsThe course of disease and the vomiting time in the observation group 1 and group 2 were shorter than those in the control group(P0.05),whose weight gain and the amount of daily milk were higher than those in the control group(P0.05).There were no significant differences in the course of disease,the vomiting time,weight gain and the amount of daily milk between observation group 1 and observation group 2.ConclusionDomperidone has better clinical effect on improving neonatal feeding intolerance.


108 rape cases were analyzed and ele -meats related to the crime were investigated. It is concluded that the qualities of rapists and victims have relationships with the occurrence of rapes; that forensic medical evidence plays an irreplaceable role in lawsuits; that reporting cases to police a.s.a.p helps investigators collect more evidence; and that studies on criminal motives helps preventing and reduce rape crimes.


On average, atmospheric CO2 increases in the atmosphere at a rate of about 2 parts per million (ppm) per year, due to the accumulation of about half of the anthropogenic CO2 emissions in the atmosphere (mostly from the combustion of fossil fuels), while the other half is being re-absorbed by the ocean and the continental biosphere. today, more than 70% of global fossil-fuel CO2 emissions come from punctual sources such as megacities. paris is the third megacity in europe and it emits about 15% of the total French emissions, while it covers only less than 2% of the national territory. Currently, most of the estimates of urban CO2 emissions are given by bottom-up CO2 emissions inventories, which rely on activity proxies and benchmarked emission factors. the associated uncertainties can be as high as several tenths of percents, especially when it comes to discriminate the CO2 urban emissions by emission sectors. therefore, there is an urgent need for developing new methods to better Monitoring, reporting and Veryfying (MrV) CO2 emissions from megacities, dedicated to provide robust results to policy makers for taking efficient decisions and actions in matter of controling CO2 anthropogenic emissions and mitigating climate change. since 2009, the CO2-Megaparis project aims to quantify CO2 emissions from paris using top-down approaches based on a synergy between atmospheric observations and modeling. For the first time, a mini-network of 3 greenhouse gases (GHG) monitoring stations was developed by lsCe in paris agglomeration within the infrastructure of the regional air quality monitoring agency, airpariF, completing 2 other GHG stations from the iCOs european greenhouse monitoring network. One of our urban station was located on top of the eiffel tower above paris megacity. the analysis of one year of data showed that paris CO2 emissions lead to a mean increase of the atmospheric CO2 concentration in the mid-afternoon of 2 to 3 ppm, and is strongly season, windspeed and wind direction dependent: the CO2 urban plume is characterized by a very large spatio-temporal variability and can reach about 60 ppm at low windspeeds on top of the eiffel tower. in addition, analysis of correlations between CO2, CO and 14C02 were carried out from field measurements and allowed an independent assessment of the inventories emission sectors. Furthermore, direct modeling of CO2 at a very fine resolution (2x2 km2, 1h) was performed and matched well with the observations. last but not least, inverse modeling efforts at the same resolution allowed a significant improvment of the regional inventory from airparif. Finally, a campaign conducted during springtime and based on lidar facilities revealed that due to the effect of the urban heat island, the boundary layer height (that can be seen on the first degree as the man dilution factor of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere), is 10 to 40% time higher in Paris than in surrounding rural areas: this is an important result that supports the implementation of urban canopy models in future fine scale urban CO2 modeling framework. a synthesis of the different results will be presented, as well as an attempt of defining the strengths and weaknesses of the atmospheric approach to quantify urban CO2 emissions. Contributions from sister studies (MultiCO2 - ipsl, le CO2 parisien - Ville de paris 2030, CarboCount-City - KiC Climat...) will also be mentionned.


The process of molecular charge exchange, which imitates the direct charge exchange of hydrogen mesic atoms on helium nuclei, is studied. The energy levels and production rates of the mesic molecules /sup 3/He p..mu.., /sup 4/He p..mu.., /sup 3/He d..mu.., /sup 4/He d..mu.., /sup 3/He t..mu.., and /sup 4/He t..mu.. are calculated. It is shown that the rate of the molecular charge exchange mechanism is lambda/sub ex/approx.10/sup 8/ sec/sup -1/.


This paper examines the elements leading to school violence in order to propose strategies to help achieve a peaceful school climate. It states that there is evidence that the brain of violent individuals seems to reveal abnormalities. Brain pathology and genetic vulnerability are only 'cw, components that may cause individuals to become antisocial and violent. Although males cause most of the violent acts in schools, violent behavior among females is escalating. Risk factors that may lead male and female youth to violent behavior include: coming from a family with a history of criminal violence, being abused, belonging to a gang, and abusing drugs or alcohol. Schools are responding with zero tolerance policies, security measures involving police and security guards, simulations of shooting drills, and conflict resolution/social skills instruction. The preventive measures of early intervention programs and parent training offer hope to help curb the violence. The paper concludes that teachers need the support of counselors and school psychologists to implement violence prevention programs. Reducing class size and personalizing education also would help give students what they need. Working towards a cooperative climate where disagreements can be resolved in a rational way will help establish positive relationships among students and teachers. (Contains 18 references.) (JDM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. cn c> Violence and Schools Violence h Schools: Ca ratio n and Prevention Dr. Rita Coombs-Richardson Professor Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond. Louisiana email: firstname.lastname@example.com Web Page: wvvw.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/rrichardson Paper presented at the NASP 2000 Annual Convention and Exposition, March 28 April 1, 2000 New Orleans, Louisiana U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. 4/ZirOp Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy, CS.1 0 CD 2 "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."


Landslide, which is one of the natural disasters that occurs frequently, often causes very adverse effects. Landslide early warning systems, which are installed at prone areas, measure physical parameters closely related to landslides and give warning signals indicating that landslides would occur. To determine the critical values of the measured physical parameters or test the early warning system itself, a laboratory scale model of a rotational landslide was developed. This rotational landslide model had a size of 250×45×40 cm3 and was equipped with soil moisture sensors, accelerometers, and automated measurement system. The soil moisture sensors were used to determine the water content in soil sample. The accelerometers were employed to detect movements in x-, y-, and z-direction. Therefore, the flow and rotational landslides were expected to be modeled and characterized. The developed landslide model could be used to evaluate the effects of slope, soil type, and water seepage on the incidence of lands...


Hastings has persuaded the reviewer that Joseph Joffre's immobility—his "elephantine stubbornness"—was his greatest virtue (552). Immobility is the right word for the British Expeditionary Force's performance in the Marne, though at Mons, Le Cateau, and especially at Ypres late in the year, the story is of bitter fighting and, at Ypres, of a crucial victory. In Hastings's capable hands, the story of Britain's war in 1914 has absurd as well as tragic aspects. His view of British commanders in 1914 is succinct: "The only band of brothers to which Britain's generals might be likened was that of Cain and Abel" (224). Both H. H. Asquith and Winston Churchill receive similar rebukes, the former for lassitude, the latter for his restlessness and febrile, though ineffective, activity. Churchill, in Hastings's view, was the loosest of loose cannons, treating the Navy as his and his alone and brooding over the loss of Antwerp before hatching the disastrous idea of attacking Constantinople, always a sideshow. The Western Front was where the war would be won and lost. This reviewer hopes that Hastings moves on quickly to narrate 1915; Churchillians, take cover! This book is not only the history of high command. Hastings uses very effectively the memoirs and letters of those who fought at all ranks and of the families anxiously awaiting news of them at home. The illusions of civilians and soldiers alike make for painful reading. Yes, only a handful of men had taken the decision to go to war; they had opened Pandora's box, but they were not the only ones who failed to see what they had unleashed. The armies of 1914 were too big and too unwieldy to enable even the finest of them all, the Imperial German Army, to force a decision. The result was catastrophe after catastrophe, the First World War after the war of 1914. This fine book tells the story of the 1914 prelude to the massacres and suffering to come. It is military history of the highest order.


The dispersions of the fifth- and seventh-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities, chi((5))(113333) and chi((7))(11333333) , respectively, of a polydiacetylene film, poly(4-BCMU), are determined through electroabsorption spectroscopy. To our knowledge this is the first time that a spectrum of seventh-order nonlinear optical susceptibility has been obtained by means of electro-optic measurements.


Pinus bungeana Zucc.seeds with different moisture content(7.12%、5.10%、3.21% and 1.18%) were obtained by controlling ultra-drying time,then those seeds were treated by aging and re-water,some physiology indices,including the electrical conductivity,MDA,SOD,CAT and POD were tested.The results indicated that SOD,CAT and POD activities of the low moisture content seeds were higher than that of control seeds,while MDA were lower than the control group.The electrical conductivity showed statistical difference obviously between low moisture content seeds and the control group.The ability of anti-aging were increased,Pinus bungeana seeds with 3.21% moisture content had the highest ability for anti-aging.


We show that at the prime 2, for any height $h$ and $G \subset \mathbb{G}_h$ a finite subgroup of the Morava stabilizer group, the $RO(G)$-graded homotopy fixed point spectral sequence for $E_h$ has a strong horizontal vanishing line of filtration $N_{h, G}$, a specific number depending on $h$ and $G$. It is a consequence of the nilpotence theorem that such homotopy fixed point spectral sequences all admit strong horizontal vanishing lines at some finite filtration. Here, we establish specific bounds for them. Our bounds are sharp for all the known computations of $E_h^{hG}$ when $G$ is cyclic. Our proof is by investigating the effect of the norm functor on the Hill-Hopkins-Ravenel differentials in the Tate spectral sequence. As a consequence, we will also show that the $RO(G)$-graded slice spectral sequence of $(N_{C_2}^{G}\bar{v}_h)^{-1}BP^{((G))}$ has a horizontal vanishing line at the same filtration $N_{h, G}$. As an immediate application, we establish a bound for the orientation order $\Theta(h, G)$, the smallest number such that the $\Theta(h, G)$-fold direct sum of any real vector bundle is $E_h^{hG}$-orientable.


Efficacy and safety of a renal artery ligation after thrombectomy in comparison with those while using a standard surgical technique were studied. Possibility of performance and safety of thrombectomy without preliminary ligation of renal artery was proved. The results did not depend on level of intravenous tumoral spread and were significantly better, than while application of standard approaches to renal artery because of absence of embolic complications.


Abstract The Sustainable Developmental Goals aim to secure immediate human needs, such as adequate food supply and healthcare and provision of clean, affordable, and accessible energy. These achievements have to be imbedded in a sustainability concept. Bioeconomy is at the core of this concept in which agricultural (plant) biotechnology plays a major role in delivering biomass for food, feed, and industry. Modern plant biotechnology comprises the genetic modification technology and various molecular biological tools which enhances the plant breeding potential. It results in increased food supplies, increased farm income worldwide, and reduced environmental damage. Here we review the innovations in plant biotechnology that are available on the market or at the late developmental stages and their application to agriculture, agroforestry, industrial processes, and pharmaceutical industry. Special emphasis is given to approaches adapted to meet heterogeneous local needs and help support more inclusive growth in low and middle-income countries. Introduction In the 21st century, humanity is faced by a myriad of socioeconomic and resource challenges to supply diverse emerging and recurrent global needs to feed, clothe, and fuel a population growing in size, age, and wealth. Pressure on resource competition and scarcity as well as the identification, evaluation, and quantification of the impact of the human pressure on the planet have catalysed a global concern on the sustainability of the continuous development of human societies. The Holocene – the warm period of the past 10-12 millennia – is the only state of the planet that we know for sure to support contemporary human societies and is now being destabilized. Indeed, since the later part of the 18th century, the effects of humans on the global environment have grown so dramatically that a new geological era, the Anthropocene, has been proposed (Crutzen, 2002). There is an urgent need of a paradigm shift to maintain the Earth System (ES) in a safely operating space for humanity. Sustainable developmental goals have to be implemented to guarantee immediate human needs, such as food supply, healthcare, and energy, alongside measures for a stable ES functioning. Nine critical processes/ features have been proposed to regulate the ES Key innovations in plant biotechnology and their applications in agriculture, industrial processes, and healthcare


The University of Texas (Tyler) College of Nursing encourages student psychiatric nurses to keep journals of their training and early clinical work, to engender a spirit of holism that will allow them to care for their patients as full individuals, not merely a collection of symptoms. Journaling provides a framework for summarizing, correlating, and understanding their work experience and training.


This paper discusses findings from a development policy discourse analysis that was conducted using six key sport for development and peace (SDP) policy documents. The research was guided by a theoretical framework combining postcolonial theory and actor-oriented sociology in order to critically analyse SDP policies. Based on this analysis, three theses are proposed: (1) SDP policies are unclear, circuitous and are underpinned by political rationalities; (2) coordinated and coherent SDP policy approaches between the One-Third World and Two-Thirds World suggest that 'partnership' is possibly akin to 'developmental assimilation'; and (3) SDP policy models are wedded to the increasingly neoliberal character of international development interventions. Proposals for future research on SDP include an increase in the use of: (1) anthropological perspectives to uncover how those on the 'receiving end' of SDP policies are influenced and challenged by taking up the solutions and techniques prescribed for them; and (2) postcolonial perspectives that re-orient questions and concerns towards the Eurocentric standpoints couched in development policies, and asks scholars to uncover how power relations, authority and influence are embedded in the social processes of policy-making. The article concludes by arguing that SDP policies are messy, unpredictable, ambiguous and, at times, contradictory.


Background: The aim of the present study is to compare the success rate and complications of caudal epidural bupivacaine alone or in combination with intravenous (IV) midazolam and ketamine in awake infants undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Materials and Methods: In this double-blind, clinical trial study, 90 infants (aged below 3 months and weight below 5 kg) with American Society of Anaesthesiologists I-II, were divided into three groups of each 30: Group 1 received bupivacaine 0.25%, 1 mL/kg for caudal epidural block; Groups 2 and 3 received caudal block with same dose bupivacaine along with IV pre-treatment with midazolam 0.1 mg/kg or IV midazolam 0.1 mg/kg and ketamine 0.3 mg/kg, respectively. Results: The success rates in Groups 2 and 3 were 93.3% and 93.1%, respectively, compared with a caudal block with bupivacaine alone 80%; P = 0.015). There was no significant difference among the three groups in terms of mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures and mean heart rate at intervals of 0, 20, 40 and 60 min (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the pain scores >3 on the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale at three intervals (30, 60 and 120 min) after surgery among the three groups. The complications such as apnoea or desaturation were not found in any of the studied groups. Conclusions: Adding IV ketamine and/or midazolam to bupivacaine caudal epidural block in the conscious infants can positively affect block success rate.


ObjectiveTo construct, and evaluate a decision analytic model of proposed management strategies for HIV-infected patients presenting with cerebral mass lesions, radiographically compatible with toxoplasmosis, lymphoma, or other etiologies, assuming knowledge of Toxoplasma antibody status in serum. MethodsUsing decision analysis, we evaluated two management strategies, for patients found to be either Toxoplasma-seropositive or -negative, for whom an initial choice was made for early brain biopsy (EB) or for empiric therapy with delayed biopsy (ETDB) of non-responders. The outcome to be optimized was the percentage of patients alive at 12 months. Model variables included predictive value of toxoplasmosis serology, probabilities of treatment response, and death within 14–21 days conditional on correct diagnosis, probability of operative death, probabilities of non-diagnostic brain biopsy conditional both on correct diagnosis, and prior treatment. ResultsOne, and two-way sensitivity analyses, by Toxoplasma serostatus, led to the following conclusions (1) for Toxoplasma-seropositive patients, ETDB gives nearly equivalent outcomes to EB of all patients; (2) for Toxoplasma-seronegative patients, although both strategies have equivalent outcomes under baseline assumptions, EB is preferred if there are even small survival advantages for early versus delayed diagnosis of lymphoma or other conditions, or if risk of death within 14–21 days of ET exceeds 10% when correct diagnosis is not toxoplasmosis. ConclusionUnder plausible assumptions, Toxoplasma-seronegative patients will benefit from an early biopsy strategy.


Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder of unknown origin with a high mortality pattern due to the development of a premature cardiovascular disease. The presence in these patients of a dysfunctional endothelium together with a hypercoagulable milieu may contribute to an increased incidence of thrombotic events. Increased thrombin generation, elevated levels of circulating microparticles and plasmatic levels of PAI-1 may contribute to the prothrombotic phenotype of the disease but data are scarce.

Objectives: 1-To characterize the prothrombotic state in SLE by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and thrombin generation linked to tissue factor bearing microparticles. 2- To evaluate endothelial damage in patients with SLE and its relationship with the prothrombotic state of the disease. 3- To evaluate the influence of PAI-1 in the prothrombotic state of SLE.

Material and methods: 39 patients with SLE and 25 sex and age matched healthy subjects were included. Whole blood was drawn in standard BD sodium citrate tubes (3.2%). ROTEM was performed in naTEM condition. Clotting time (CT, time from start of measurement until initiation of clotting [in seconds], alpha angle, which reflects the rate of fibrin polymerisation (tangent to the curve at 2-mm amplitude [in degrees]), maximum clot firmness, which reflects the maximum tensile strength of the thrombus (MCF, [in mm]), the time that clot takes to increase from 2mm above baseline to 20mm above baseline (CFT) and A5, amplitude at 5 min, were recorded.

To evaluate the presence of tissue factor bearing microparticles, thrombin generation was determined by Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT) in presence of 4 mM phospholipid (MP-Reagent, Diagnostica Stago, Spain). The endogenous thrombin potential (ETP, the total amount of thrombin generated over time); the lag time (the time to the beginning of the explosive burst of thrombin generation); the peak height of the curve (the maximum thrombin concentration produced); and the time to the peak were evaluated.

Antigenic levels of E-selectin and PAI-1 were determined by ELISA (R&D Systems, MN, USA and Affymetrix eBioscience, Vienna, Austria) respectively.

Results: ROTEM parameters showed a hypercoagulable profile in LES patients. CT and CFT were shorter (p<0.001 in both cases), and MCF, alpha angle and A5 were higher (p<0.001, p<0.02 and p<0.001 respectively) when compared to healthy controls. On the other hand, CAT parameters did not show differences between both groups. Nevertheless, in LES patients but not in controls, CAT parameters significantly correlated with ROTEM ones (Table 1).

| | | CT | CFT | MCF | MCF-t | alpha | A5 | A10 |
| ---------- | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ----- |
| ETP(MP) | r | -,301 | -,375* | ,369* | -,368* | ,378* | ,364* | ,393* |
| p | ,084 | 0,028* | 0,031* | 0,032* | 0,027* | 0,034* | 0,021* |
| N | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 |
| Peak(MP) | r | -,353* | -,396* | ,372* | -,345* | ,396* | ,393* | ,402* |
| p | 0,040* | 0,020* | 0,030* | 0,045* | 0,020* | 0,021* | 0,018* |
| N | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 |
| ttPeak(MP) | r | ,240 | ,222 | -,242 | ,217 | -,223 | -,209 | -,210 |
| p | ,171 | ,207 | ,168 | ,217 | ,205 | ,236 | ,232 |
| N | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 |

Table 1.
Correlations in the LES patients group between CAT and ROTEM parameters. Analyses were performed with Spearman test. N: number of determinations; p* denotes significance.

In order to evaluate endothelial damage, plasma E-selectin and PAI-1 were determined. No differences were found in E-selectin level whereas increased PAI-1 levels were seen in LES group (p<0.006). PAI-1 did not correlate to ROTEM parameters.

Conclusions: ROTEM can detect a hypercoagulable state in patients with SLE. The hypercoagulable state may be linked to increased tissue factor bearing microparticles and increased PAI-1 plasma levels.

Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The invention provides a method for preparing a moxifloxacin intermediate and moxifloxacin hydrochloride, which comprises the following steps: carrying out condensation reaction on main ring chelate disclosed as Formula (I) and (S,S)-2,8-diazabicyclo-[4.3.0]nonane in the presence of an acid acceptor in a solvent, acidifying for salification, crystallizing, filtering, washing and drying to obtain the moxifloxacin hydrochloride. The method is characterized in that the solvent in the condensation reaction is alcohol. The condensation reaction is carried out in the alcohol solvent at the controlled temperature of 30-80 DEG C (preferably lower temperature), so the method has the advantage of mild reaction conditions, greatly reduces the generation of impurities, saves the energy; the alcohol solvent can be directly acidified after sufficient reaction, thereby saving the complex step of removing acetonitrile by evaporation and greatly simplifying the steps; and the method is suitable for industrial production.


This method is characterized by the steps of: - measuring the filtered amplitude of the detected activity, - adjusting the detection threshold to a predetermined fraction of the measured amplitude, - counting an absolute refractory period following the detected activity, - counting a noise refractory period following this absolute refractory period, - restart the noise refractory period in the event of detected activity exceeding the threshold detecting during the noise refractory period, and - incrementing the detection threshold in the event of detection in the noise refractory period, so as to increase the detection threshold to above the amplitude of the noise.


The autosomal recessive congenital ichthyoses (ARCI) are a group of chronic conditions where there is unmet therapeutic need. Harlequin ichthyosis (HI) is the most severe form of ARCI, with aberrant differentiation of the epidermis leading to a severe barrier defect. It is caused by mutations in ABCA12, a lipid transporter involved in the transport of glucosylceramides from the lamellar body to the lipid lamellae. Lamellar ichthyosis is caused by mutations in TGM1. Several Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (JAKi) inhibiting the JAK–STAT pathway are now licensed for atopic dermatitis. Previous work from our group in an in vitro HI model showed that tofacitinib had a restorative effect on the lipid barrier. We hypothesized that JAKi A, B and C could restore the epidermal barrier in both HI three-dimensional (3D) organotypic models (OTs) made using ABCA12 CrispR-Cas9 knockout and wild-type keratinocytes and ARCI 3D OTs generated with short hairpin RNA knock down of TGM1. The JAKi were tested at three concentrations in the 3D models (20, 50 and 500 nmol L–1 for JAKiA; 10, 50 and 250 nmol L–1 for JAKiB; 2, 25 and 125 nmol L–1 for JAKiC) and vehicle only was used as the control. The OTs were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, Nile red and differentiation markers such as K10, K14, transglutaminase 1 (TGM1) and involucrin. All three JAKi had a positive effect on the epidermal barrier. The epidermal structure looked more organized and uniform, with an increase in neutral and polar lipids in the upper epidermis. The differentiation markers showed normalization of the expression of involucrin, K10 and TGM1 at the same drug concentrations. These results suggest that JAKi have a generalized positive effect on the skin barrier and will be further investigated in an in vivo mouse model of HI.


Protonation of [(η5-C5H5)Mo(NO)I(N2HxPh)]n with HBF4 afforded [(η5-C5H5)Mo(NO)I(NH2NHPh)][BF4], and an X-ray crystallographic analysis of the salt showed that the compound contained PhNHNH2(H fully refined) bidentate with respect to the Mo atom; the neutral precusor was reformulated with x= 2.


Five strains of Enterobacter species (n = 4) and Pantoea species (n = 1) resistant to third-generation cephalosporins and isolated from clusters of 3-25 premature infants and small children and 5 strains (4 Enterobacter strains and 1 Pantoea strain) with the same resistance pattern that were isolated from 1 premature infant or small child each were inoculated on the fingertips of 10 volunteer study participants to test whether survival on fingertips is correlated with horizontal transmission. Although there was no significant difference in survival between the groups of transmitted and sporadic strains, there were significant differences in bacterial survival between the participants.


Citizens' right to know the truth,especially to know the truth of admuistration,the development of socialist market economy,the legality and standardization of citizens' rights is one of the most important rights.With require objectively that the exercise of public rights guarantee citizens' basic human rights and protect citizen's legitimate rights and interests.Recently," Openness of government affairs"and"Openness of judicature"have become a good beginning in assuring citizents' right to know the truth of administration.However there are lots of faults in doing so,and the law system of developed countries is worth referring.


On basis of actuality of house site waste,Zhuozhou City was chosen as an object,through analyzing the case and data,the status and causes of unreasonable use of house site were clarified from the angle of theory and reality,the countermeasures of solution issues were put forward.


This research dataset is associated with the 2018 IEEE TWC publication titled "Anticipatory Association for Indoor Visible Light Communications: Light, Follow Me !" by Rong Zhang et.al. This RD includes the data set for plotting each of the result-figures of the above-mentioned paper. More explicitly, this RD includes the data for plotting the x-axis and y-axis of a particular curve of the corresponding figure.


The greatest burden of ill-health for adults in most societies relates to disorders of the cardiovascular system and to cancers [1]. These diseases are caused by lifestyle choices in which poor diet and relatively low levels of activity play a major role [1]. There is a large body of literature which shows that environmental exposures, including nutrition, play a significant role in the etiology of the disease, but there is variable susceptibility amongst individuals exposed to seemingly similar risk factors or environments. Cancer is a condition which results from a derangement in the cellular processes which regulate cell division, terminal differentiation and apoptosis, with damage to the genetic material of the cell being central. Exposures which lead to these derangements usually precede the appearance of the clinical disease by a prolonged period of time, often several decades [2]. While gene mutation has a role in the etiology of cancer, there is increasing evidence showing that epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and covalent modification to histones are also involved [3]. Epigenetic changes of this kind represent potential for altered gene activity, and hence cellular dysregulation. However, the underlying propensity may only be manifest when the gene is exposed to an appropriate environmental signal with the direction of the response and nature of the cellular dysregulation a function of the specific epigenetic change [4, 5].

It has been known for many years that exposure of the individual to nutritional and other environmental challenges during critical periods of early development can markedly affect later size, shape, structure, function and behavior. However, Barker et al. [6] were the first to provide clear evidence that there might also be a direct link between early nutritional exposure and risk of chronic disease, building the evidence that is supportive of a causal association [6, 7]. In this they have refined a new conceptual approach to the way in which we consider the evolution of this group of diseases based upon a new developmental model, the so called 'fetal origins hypothesis'. Based initially on ecological observations and later on retrospective cohort studies, there is now a considerable body of epidemiological and experimental data that supports the hypothesis. In the earlier observations, the size and shape of the baby at birth was shown to be related to the risk during adult life of coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers [6]. These relations were shown to be graded across the usual range of birth weights seen in the population and not a special feature of very high or very low birth weight, indicating that they might be a consequence of the usual range of exposure found within a population [4, 7]. The results have been reproduced across a number of populations, and although there may be some debate around the details, the general principal appears to apply widely [4, 6, 7].


Summary. The effect of naturally occurring aphid infestations on yield was studied using sprayed and unsprayed plots in commercial wheat crops at a number of sites in southern New South Wales, Australia. In 1990, wheat was planted in April or early May following early autumn rains. Aphids were first found in the crops 4 weeks after the wheat was sown. Numbers were generally low and only at 1 site was there a significant effect on yield. In 1991, sowing was delayed by prolonged dry weather during autumn. Most crops were planted in late May and aphids started to appear only in mid July. There was no significant effect of aphids on yield but most crops were badly affected by drought. In 1991, labelled plants at some sites were used to study the impact of varying levels of aphid infestation on yield. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of aphids and yield per plant at 1 site. In both years, aphid numbers peaked in August or September. Rhopalosiphum padiwas virtually the only aphid species found. Leaf samples were collected from 3 sites in 1990 and from all sites in 1991 and tested for barley yellow dwarf virus. The incidence of this virus was very high in 1990 but negligible in 1991. The striking difference in the incidence of barley yellow dwarf virus in the 2 years was most likely the result of later sowing times and delayed arrival of aphids in crops in 1991. Aphids may have a considerable impact on yield in early-sown wheat through transmission of barley yellow dwarf virus.


Buffer overflow vulnerabilities are one of the most commonly and widely exploited security vulnerabilities in programs. Most existing solutions for avoiding buffer overflows are either inadequate, inefficient or incompatible with existing code. In this paper, we present a novel approach for transparent and efficient runtime protection against buffer overflows. The approach is implemented by two tools: Type Information Extractor and Depositor (TIED) and LibsafePlus. TIED is first used on a binary executable or shared library file to extract type information from the debugging information inserted in the file by the compiler and reinsert it in the file as a data structure available at runtime. LibsafePlus is a shared library that is preloaded when the program is run. LibsafePlus intercepts unsafe C library calls such as strcpy and uses the type information made available by TIED at runtime to determine whether it would be 'safe' to carry out the operation. With our simple design we are able to protect most applications with a performance overhead of less than 10%. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Purpose – This study aims to explore how citizens socialise and network in relation to using and adopting e-government. The paper suggests that governments need to consider social networks when introducing e-government initiatives. Using qualitative research, this study explores the reasons, fears, motivations and factors with respect to e-government relevant to two social groups of people, those who do and those who do not have regular access to the internet in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan. Design/methodology/approach – The study analyses the results of focus groups representing different social groups of Jordanian citizens across the digital divide. The focus groups followed the nominal group method to explore questions relating to e-government adoption. The nominal group method provided preliminary categorisations of responses; however, further initial and axial coding of data were used to analyse recordings of focus group transcripts. Findings – Contrary to previous research, this study highli...


In the 21st century beginning, the evidence of a new type of programmed cell death, different from apoptosis, began to accumulate. In 2012, the ferroptosis concept was officially introduced. It refers to a kind of cell death that is associated with iron accumulation in the cell, impaired redox potential, and ROS increment with concomitant lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis plays an important role in the pathophysiology of several organ damages such as tumors, neurodegenerative, ischemia-reperfusion, inflammatory diseases, and others. In ferroptosis, the leading mechanism is the glutathione (GSH) depletion and inactivation of Glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4), which strongly shifts the oxidative balance in the cell, leading to the activation of certain signalling pathways to induce oxidative death. The article aims to focus attention on the modulation of the GSH/GPX axis as a key factor in the treatment of these diseases.


had a lobulated lipoma(100×65×20mm)arising in the anterior neck extending to the left supraclavicular fossa. CT and MRI were useful for the diagnosis of lipomas. Lipomas in the deep neck show slow growth in the medial direction with a lobulated appearance separating the connective tissue. Therefore, upon first examination, they are often huge extended lesions with less functional disorders. Most cases are considered based on cosmetic issues rather than medical problems. Since complete resection of these tumors necessitates a complicated surgical procedure, early radiological diagnosis and adequate planning for surgery are essential for the treatment of lipomas in the deep neck.


Does a tendency exist, on the part of the international community in general and the African Union in particular, to seek financial progress at grave sacrifice; such as allowing a utilitarian approach to relegate individual dignity to secondary importance? Is it possible to attain fiscal solvency while remaining deeply rooted in a sound and consistent human rights ethic? Numerous issues influence monetary policy, to wit: HIV/AIDS, population control, starvation, disease, economic dumping, imperialism, mandates accompanying loans, and ethnic conflicts. This paper argues that establishing meaningful and sustainable economic progress necessitates reconfiguring in some respects the fundamental premises for African human rights instruments, and to that end it proposes the natural law, as opposed to legal positivistic and other utilitarian, premises which only exacerbate rather than ameliorate challenges to African economic development.


This study was carried out to identify the longitudinal trends obesity and its associated dietary habit factors in adolescents. The data sources used in this research were from the results of Korea Youth Health Risk Behavior Web-based Survey from 2008 to 2012. The questionnaires used for this study assessed gender, age, perceived health status, social economic status, residence type, perceived body image, breakfast consumption, fruit intake, vegetable intake, milk consumption, fast food consumption, snack consumption. The data analysis was done by using SPSS (version 19.0). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio(OR) of the two groups(obese group vs non obese group). The influencing factors of adolescent obesity in 5years were age, gender, fast food consumption. Healthy perception of body image, obesity education appropriate for each gender group, and healthy eating habits should be included when educating adolescents on obesity.


Objective To investigate the glucolipid metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum stress in adipose tissues in lipoprotein lipase(LPL) gene knockout mice. Methods LPL gene knockout heterozygotic mice(LPL+/-group,n=8) and wild-type(WT) C57 mice(control group,n=8) were selected,and each group was subdivided into 16-week-old group(n=4) and 50-week-old group(n=4).Serum levels of triglyceride(TG) and free fatty acid(FFA) were measured,changes of plasma glucose were monitored by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT),area under the curve of glucose(AUCg) and homeostasis model insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) were calculated to evaluate insulin sensitivity and β-cell function,and the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related markers(Bip,ATF4,ATF6 and CHOP) in subcutaneous adipose tissues and visceral adipose tissues was detected by Real-Time PCR. Results The serum levels of TG and FFA were significantly higher,and the serum level of FFA was significantly higher in 50-week-old LPL+/-group than those in 16-week-old LPL+/-group(P0.05).It was revealed by IPGTT that 30 min and 60 min plasma glucose in IPGTT and AUCg in 50-week-old LPL+/-group were significantly higher than those in 50-week-old control group(P0.05),and 15 min to 120 min plasma glucose in IPGTT and AUCg in 50-week-old LPL+/-group were significantly higher than those in 16-week-old LPL+/-group(P0.05).HOMA-IR in 50-week-old LPL+/-group was significantly higher than that in 16-week-old LPL+/-group(P0.05).The expression of Bip,ATF6,ATF4 and CHOP mRNA in subcutaneous adipose tissues in 50-week-old LPL+/-group was significantly higher than that in 50-week-old control group(P0.05),and was significantly higher than that in 16-week-old LPL+/-group(P0.05). Conclusion There exist significant dyslipidemia,increased plasma glucose and insulin resistance in LPL+/-mice.The activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in subcutaneous adipose tissues may be related to insulin resistance in LPL+/-mice with hyperlipidemia.


The article examines Makavejev's film experiment conducted at Harvard University on the occasion of an International Conference on Bergman in 1978. The now-lost film, comprised of fragments from Bergman's films, was projected simultaneously on three reels to an audience of Bergman specialists. The experiment was an investigation into critical method, nonverbal cinematic expression, and Bergman's imagery and narrative structure. The author argues that Makavejev's experiment was performed in the Surrealist spirit and that it specifically evokes Surrealist critical practices, which combined the critical and the poetic functions. Like his Surrealist predecessors, Makavejev sought to genuinely transform the object of criticism rather than to critically evaluate it; to 'liberate' the poetic fragment from the constraints of narrative logic. The experiment's structure – which is based on the principles of association and repetition – pulls the work in opposing directions, thus creating a fundamentally liminal structure that lies somewhere between two distinct creative visions. The author argues that Makavejev's poetic transformation of Bergman is motivated by a desire to suppress the moralist in favour of the transgressor.


The utility model relates to a mechanical arm with a 2 freedom-degree wrist attitude regulation mechanism, comprising a hand part, a wrist part, a shoulder part, a waist part and a base seat. The wrist part comprises a pitch mechanism and a torsional mechanism. The pitch mechanism comprises an H shaped stereo pitch support rack provided with a connection-transmission pitch electric machine, a pitch reducer and a gear transmission mechanism. The torsional mechanism comprises an inverse U shaped torsional support rack provided with a torsional electric machine, a torsional reducer and a hollow torsional axle is provided by the transmission mechanism and used for mounting an actuator such as a grab. The wrist part is composed of two completely independently non-interference parts and the movement of each part is driven by one independent electric machine to realize the final two-direction attitude regulation of the actuator at the end. The whole mechanism has features of compact structure, light weight, simple structure, reliable work, greatly reduced transmission accumulation error and increased whole precision of the operation machine.


Stereotypes in game culture are still inhibiting the freedom of female players. This survey study aims to gain insight into these practices by looking at gaming stereotypes on two different, yet interrelated, levels. First, we inquire into perceptions of gamers regarding gender-related and general gamer stereotypes and how these relate to playing frequency. Second, genre choice is investigated in light of player's gender and how this is associated with play motivations. Results suggest that high frequency female players disagree the most with gender-related stereotypical beliefs and that these women are more strongly drawn towards specific gaming genres than men.


The autofluorescence (AF) of NAD(P)H and flavins has been at the basis of many in‐situ studies of liver energy metabolism and functionality. Conversely, few data have been so far reported on fluorescing lipids. In this work we investigated the AF of liver lipid extracts from two fatty liver models, Wistar rats fed with MCD diet for 12 days (Wi‐MCD), and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. Among the most abundant fatty acids in the lipid extracts, indicated by mass spectrometry, arachidonic acid (AA) exhibited higher quantum yield than the other fluorescing fatty acids (FLFA), and red shifted AF spectrum. This allowed to estimate the AA contribution to the overall emission of lipid extracts by curve fitting analysis. AA prevailed in obese Zucker livers, accounting for the different AF spectral profiles between the two models. AF and mass spectrometry indicated also a different balance between the fluorescing fraction and the overall amount of AA in the two models. The ability of AF to detect directly AA and FLFA was demonstrated, suggesting its supportive role as tool in wide‐ranging applications, from the control of animal origin food, to experimental investigations on liver fat accumulation, lipotoxicity and disease progression, with potential translation to the clinics.


Accurate 3D shape abstraction from a single 2D image is a long-standing problem in computer vision and graphics. By leveraging a set of primitives to represent the target shape, recent methods have achieved promising results. However, these methods either use a relatively large number of primitives or lack geometric flexibility due to the limited expressibility of the primitives. In this paper, we propose a novel bi-channel Transformer architecture, integrated with parameterized deformable models, termed DeFormer, to simultaneously estimate the global and local deformations of primitives. In this way, DeFormer can abstract complex object shapes while using a small number of primitives which offer a broader geometry coverage and finer details. Then, we introduce a force-driven dynamic fitting and a cycle-consistent re-projection loss to optimize the primitive parameters. Extensive experiments on ShapeNet across various settings show that DeFormer achieves better reconstruction accuracy over the state-of-the-art, and visualizes with consistent semantic correspondences for improved interpretability.


The possibility of determination of evolution of the plasma isotope composition from Alfven oscillation frequency in discharges with pulsed deuterium puffing into hydrogen plasma and hydrogen into deuterium plasma in ohmically heated plasma in TUMAN-3M tokamak is discussed. Isotopic ratio found from the Alfven oscillation spectra by this method is relative concentrations of hydrogen nH/(nH+nD) or deuterium nD/(nH+nD) in the mixed hydrogen-deuterium plasma. These values were found to agree qualitatively with the results of optical spectroscopy measurements and with neutral particle analysis data.


Rivers, streams and lakes are important natural environments that are used in many different ways. They can provide essential drinking water, can be harnessed for electricity or enjoyed by people for recreational activities. Text forms include a recount and a poster.


SETI researchers believe that the basic principles of our science and the science of extraterrestrial beings should be fundamentally the same, and we should be able to communicate with them by referring to those things we share, such as the principles of mathematics, physics, and chemistry (a similar cognitive map of nature). This view assumes that there is only one way to conceptualize the laws of nature. Consequently, mathematics and the language of nature should be universal. In this essay, we discuss the epistemological bases of the last assumptions. We describe all the hypotheses behind the universality of the laws of nature and the restrictions that any technology should have to establish contact with other galactic technological civilization. We introduce some discussions about the limitations of homocentric views. We discuss about the possible use of aesthetic cognitive universals as well as ethical ones in the design of interstellar messages. We discuss the role of symmetry as a universal cognitive map. We give a specific example on how to use the Golden Section principles to design a hypothetical interstellar message based in physical and aesthetical cognitive universals. We build a space of configuration matrix, representing all the variables to be taken into account for designing an electromagnetic interstellar message (e.g. frequency, polarization, bandwidth, transmitting power, modulation, rate of information, galactic coordinates, etc.) against the limitations imposed by physical, technological, aesthetical and ethical constraints. We show how to use it, in order to make hypotheses about the characteristics and properties of hypothetical extraterrestrial artificial signals and their detection by existing SETI projects.


OBJECTIVE:To optimize the extraction technology of Gegen qinlian decoction. METHODS:The extraction technology of Gegen qinlian decoction was optimized by orthogonal experiment taking the contents of puerarin,baicalin,and the yield of solid substance as indexes with the amount of solvent,the extraction time and extraction times as factors. RESULTS:The optimal extraction technology was as follows:50% alcohol at an amount of 8-fold that of solid medicinal substance was added to the medicinal substance to be reflux extracted twice (1.5 hours/time). CONCLUSION:The extraction technology was reasonable,stable and feasible,and it serves as theoretic basis for further development and utilization of Gegen qinlian decoction.


In this chapter we have focused on one particular theoretical framework, but there have been many other approaches described over the years. Probably the most influential model came from Alan Baddeley (1986), who especially focused on working memory, but also argued for a "central executive." In particular, he postulated two specific forms of working memory: 1) a phonological loop for maintaining verbal information and; 2) a visuospatial scratchpad for spatial information. Another highly influential theoretical approach came from Tim Shallice (e.g., 1988,2007) who described a supervisory attentional system (SAS) framework. Finally, there is also the very influential traditional AI approach, which we will discuss briefly below.


The typical involvement of human factors (HF) only at the evaluation stage of system development often results in poor realisation of HF contributions. By emulating the characteristics of SADMs, a structured HF method that covers the system design cycle is developed. Since the method complies with the requirements of a SADM it is expected to inherit the desirable characteristics of SADMs (e.g. the benefits of systematic analysis and design). Also, by recruiting existing national schemes of SADMs, the communication of HF design products to software engineers is also facilitated. In addition, structured integration of software engineering and HF design could be achieved effectively by integrating a particular SADM with the described structure HF method. To this end, the explicit characteristics of both methods would support the identification of design inter-dependencies between the disciplines. The relevance (e.g. scope and timeliness) and applicability (e.g. format and granularity) of HF inputs with respect to the system design cycle are thus ensured. Consequently, an improved uptake of HF may be expected to accrue.


Result: The mean age of women presenting with chronic pelvic pain was 37.1 ± 2.3 years. Ultrasonography detected abnormality in only 21 (38.2%) patients. The most common pathology detected was ovarian cysts in seven patients. Diagnostic laparoscopy was able to detect pathology in 45 (81.8%) patients. Pelvic adhesions was the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain which was present in 16 (29%) of the women, followed by PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) in seven (12.7%), endometriosis in five (9.1%), pelvic congestion in four (7.2%), pelvic tuberculosis in four (7.2%), fibroid uterus in four (7.2%), ovarian cysts in four (7.2%) and parafimbrial cyst in one patient. No abnormality on laparoscopy was detected in 10 (18.2%) patients. When evaluated for associated psychological illness it was detected in 24 (43.6%) patients.


Fast neutron radiography offers a number of advantages in comparison with the usual methods of thermal neutron radiography. It does also present a number of problems. Perhaps the most important of these problems lies in the development of a suitable imaging detector of good efficiency. The plastic fibre based scintillator, provides an efficient detector without the disadvantages of light-scatter and spreading associated with planar plastic scintillators. In this work, Monte Carlo methods have been used to study in detail the physics of image formation and degradation in scintillators, with particular reference to fibre-based scintillators, as a function of fibre length, material composition and diameter as well as neutron energy and imaging geometry. The results are being compared with experimental determinations of the edge function for both fast neutron and gamma-ray radiography.


Member enterprises engaged in a virtual enterprise are prone to shirk both productive efforts and risks because their efforts are unobservable to any other member enterprises, and so the reasonable mechanism of profit allocating is the major factor which influences the effort extent of each member enterprise, the operating results of Virtual Enterprise, as well as the existence of Virtual Enterprise. Firstly this paper analyses the four principles which should be followed in the course of profit allocating within Virtual Enterprise. On the basis of it, the profit allocation model is proposed, and the quantitatively description on its validity is made. Secondly, taking Virtual Enterprises which are engaged in research and developing work as examples, fuzzy comprehensive analysis method is used to calculate the risk coefficient in the profit allocation model. Finally, calculating example is given to explain the use of the model.


: This paper makes an investigation on solving a kind of almost tridiagonal linear equations. By means of exploring more general a system of the Top - Bottom - Bordered Tridiagonal (TBBT) linear equations, the paper obtains an algorithm that costs less than the LU decomposition approach to solve the almost tridiagonal linear equations. Detail mathematical reasoning is presented to derive and analyze the algorithm. Numerical experiments show the algorithm can be applied to engineering application within expectation


Abstract: Experimental analysis of vibrations is commonly used for instance in operational monitoring, vibrodiagnostics of machines, or as a part of inspection tests. For measuring of basic vibration parameters such as displacement, velocity and acceleration are particularly used measurement methods which are easily applicable and also more available. In this paper the way of using DIC method for analysis of automobile cooling fan is described. This optical method enables to perform high-speed contactless measurement of spatial displacements. Opposite to the conventional processes when the probes (e.g. accelerometers) are applied to the stationary places in this instance the amplitudes of vibrations were measured directly on the rotating part. Keywords: digital image correlation, oscilation analysis, rotating object 1. Introduction Mechanical vibration of machines or their parts which perform rotating motion are commonly assessed upon measurements performed on non-rotating parts [1]. In these instances conventional probes for measurement of displacements, velocities and accelerations are used [2], which cannot be applied on rotating object. Digital image correlation is an optical method which enables to perform full-field measurement of spatial displacements of moving object [2-6]. According to this method where high-speed cameras are engaged one can determine coordinates of arbitrary point in arbitrary time. For instance when body performs rotational movement about fixed axis of rotation the circle with radius


Hochstrasser and colleagues' randomised trial, described in the current issue of Medical Education, found that women medical students were initially less likely to demonstrate leadership during a cardiac arrest simulation—particularly when the other student in the scenario was a man—but that a 10-min 'gender-specific' educational session that encouraged them to engage in leadership behaviours (and to consider such behaviours part of their professional responsibility) yielded improvement. Their intervention might be considered as an example of 'Equip the Woman'. This form of intervention is typically based on the assumption that women lack certain career-relevant skills, such as leadership, academic, career planning, or public speaking, possessed by men. In a recent systematic review of interventions to improve gender equity in graduate medicine, 82% of interventions were categorised as 'Equip the Woman'. There is certainly a role for interventions that target improvement in skills that are key to effective clinical performance, patient safety and career success. However, educators also need to ensure that the reasons for gender differences in outcomes, performance or behaviours are identified, with efforts made to ameliorate these. That is, the default response must not only be to see a deficit by gender but also to examine the factors that may have contributed to its occurrence. Consider the example of under-representation of women within senior leadership in medicine. How should this issue be addressed? Is leadership training sufficient? Or, should there also be a focus on other areas such as hostile or exclusionary institutional cultures encountered by women in medicine, gender differences in letters of recommendation or performance evaluations, or a negative long-term impact of leave on career prospects?


Phenomena of violating the law and regulations in local financial activities have been more and more widespread in recent years, the features of them gradually appearing in protracted nature, concealment, universality and complexity. This is due to the unsound market mechanisms, incomplete-set measures for reform, blunted sense of legal system of personnel at the basic level, their lower quality and slapdash check-up, their lack of strictness in executing the law and less powerful punishment, and the soft supervision mechanisms, and so on. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the sources and dircted against the causes to strengthen the supervision and examination over local finance, deepen the reform in finance and perfect financial functions.


The Eternal Journey is a popular book presenting the most comprehensive glimpse of the afterlife revealed in near-death experiences (NDEs) published to date. Written in an engaging, easy-to-read style by Craig Lundahl and Harold Widdison, two well-known sociologists in the NDE field, the book is much more than this, however. Its ambitious intent is to answer the question, "what is the purpose of life and the meaning of death?" (p. 12). To accomplish this goal, the authors offer eyewitness testimony from the dying concerning souls awaiting incarnation, life on earth, and what happens after death. Seldom has so much of the range of human experience appeared in a mass-market book, and it contains a significant amount of new material. Detailed descriptions of the realm of light introduce many aspects of the afterlife never explicated before. The book seeks to "enlighten us about the reality, purposes, and meaning of life and death" (p. 11). However, the authors never state that their version of enlightenment, purpose, and meaning comes largely from a single source: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, or Mormons). Mormon ideology permeates the entire book, but identification with this organization is not apparent to the average reader who is the audience for this mass-market book. As much as I respect these researchers' previous work, their affiliation makes a difference, given the reason for writing The Eternal Journey. Like controversial NDEr Betty Eadie, Lundahl and Widdison's concealment of their ideological bias is in marked contrast to the straightforward stance of other Mormon


This article discusses and reflects on the action research process used during an investigation in which social and participatory media were integrated into the face-to-face classroom. The action research project concerned pedagogical and curricular changes created, negotiated, reflected upon and documented as new media were incorporated into 13 classes, over an 18-month period, in an Australian public high school. The action research process and its continual cycles of improvement were used to redesign projects that incorporated new media within a contemporary pedagogical approach to schooling young people. The article discusses the change in thinking and mindset for the teacher that came about from this new learning milieu and was undertaken with a view to meet the school demands of a one electronic device per student program. This study supports educators and learning designers in developing curriculum and pedagogy that is more in line with the demands and skills of young people using social and participatory media to engage, interpret and understand their social worlds.


Aspects of the technology disclosed herein relates to a method for preparing nucleic acid and analysis. In some embodiments, for sequence analysis (e.g., using a next-generation sequencing) provided herein a method for preparing a nucleic acid.


With the development of power electronic devices, there is an increasing demand for energy-saving, emission reduction, and environmental protection. Thus, higher energy conversion efficiency of power electronic devices is required. While traditional Si-based power electronic devices have the disadvantage of low energy utilization efficiency and high thermal losses, GaN-based HEMT has significant advantages, making it a frontier and hotspot in global semiconductor research. However, the failure mechanisms that affect the reliability of GaN HEMTs are not completely comprehended. Many reliability issues affect devices performance, among which electrical reliability and thermal reliability are widely studied concerns. Electrical reliability issues contain inverse piezoelectric effect, hot electron effect, trapping effect, and mental instability. Thermal reliability issues contain self-heating effects, which are caused by the materials unsatisfying thermal conductivity, and improper structure design. This paper is focused on the current research results of the GaN HEMTs electrical reliability and thermal reliability. The first part of this paper gives a review of GaN HEMT reliability issues at their current status, and the second part outlines the challenges of GaN HEMTs in future development. This review will help researchers to better understand factors that affect GaN HEMTs reliability and help with their device design for further research.


Muslim youth in the United Kingdom have become the focus of significant scrutiny in the highly securitised environment that has surrounded discussions of Islam in Europe in recent years. The question of Muslim transnational identities and linkages has been of particular interest to this debate, although these phenomena are little understood in terms of their sociological formations. This contribution provides an account of the transnational dimensions of Muslim identity—focused on questions of political community, ideology and religious authority—by contextualising them within the broader field of contemporary Muslim transnationalism. Responses by the British state are also considered to be important factors that have inflected the dynamics of conversations within that country's Muslim community around issues of political identity and social cohesion.


In 1953 A. Grothendieck proved a theorem that he called "le théorème fondamental de la théorie metrique des produits tensoriels". This result is known today as "Grothendieck's inequality". Originally, it is recognised as one of the major results of Banach space theory. Grothendieck formulated his deep result in the language of topological tensor products. Only in 1968, thanks to J. Lindenstrauss and A. Pelczyński it was decoded and equivalently rewritten, primarily in the language of linear algebra, which lead to its global breakthrough. However, since the appearance of Grothendieck's paper in 1953 there exists the (still) open problem to determine the smallest possible constant called "the Grothendieck constant" which can be used in Grothendieck's inequality. In addition to its multifaceted representations in functional analysis the Grothendieck inequality admits further equivalent formulations each one of them reflecting deep links with different scientific branches (such as semidefinite programming in convex optimisation, NP-hard combinatorial optimisation, graph theory, communication complexity, private data analysis, geomathematics and even foundations and philosophy of quantum theory (in relation to violations of the Bell inequality)). We will present a further equivalent representation of the Grothendieck inequality (over the reals) which reveals also its deep underlying statistical nature. In the framework of this approach we rediscover the appearance of Krivine's famous upper bound for the Grothendieck constant (determined by J. Krivine in 1977). Only in 2011 it was shown (by M. Braverman, K. Makarychev, Y. Makarychev and A. Naor) that the real Grothendieck constant is strictly smaller than Krivine's upper bound, beating the powerful random hyperplane technique of M. Goemans and D. Williamson (from 1996). Based on matrix analysis and some techniques from multivariate statistics, applied to Gaussian random vectors, we will indicate a few ideas


The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceived causes of stress among dental undergraduates studying at Army Medical College, Rawalpindi. Evaluation of student's perception will be helpful in taking measures to improve the academic performance and psycho-social well-being. Modified Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire was distributed among the dental undergraduates during the middle of academic year 2013-2014. The students were included in the study on voluntary basis, 195 questionnaires were distributed and 164 were returned (84% response rate). The questionnaire was analyzed using SPSS-15. The Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Walis test were applied. The level of significance was set at p<0.05.


In this paper the upper semicontinuity of nullity and deficiency on locally convex spaces is examined. If either is semicontinuous in the topology of uniform convergence on bounded sets on L (X), then X is normable. If the invertible elements in L (X) are open, then X is normable. The results are applied to topological algebras. Let X be a locally convex Hausdorff linear topological space. Let L(X) be the space of all continuous linear maps from X into X with the topology of uniform convergence on bounded sets. If TEL(X), define T:X/ker T-)X by T(x+ker T) = Tx. Let X/ker T have the quotient topology. There is a T-1:R(T)->X/ker T. Tis continuous if ond only if (for a normed space) 'y(T) = inf { J Tx I /d (x, ker T) }, the (reduced) minimum modulus of T, satisfies y(T) >0, if and only if (for a Banach space) R(T) is closed. If X is normable, then several results on the semicontinuity of the nullity oa(T) =dim ker T and the deficiency :(T) =codim cl(R(T)) are known, such as the following result due to Webb. PROPOSITION [6]. Let X be a normed linear space and TECL(X) with T-' continuous. Then there is a neighborhood N of T in L(X) such that, for any A C N, (1) ax(A) ?c<(T), (2) $l(A)< ?(T). COROLLARY. Let X be a normed linear space. There is a neighborhood N of I EL (X) such that, for any A E N, (1) a(A)=0, (2) f (A)-0. We shall show that if these conclusions hold then the space X must be normable. PROPOSITION. Let X be a l.c.s. If there is a neighborhood N of IECL(X) for the topology of uniform convergence on bounded sets such that for A CN either a (A) = 0 or f3(A) = 0, then X is normable. Received by the editors December 13, 1970. AMS 1969 subject classifications. Primary 4601, 4610, 4650.


Seminars in the Neurosciences is a review journal. Each issue is devoted to a single topic or theme of current interest to neuroscientists, and is edited by a guest editor appointed for that issue. The aim of each issue is to provide a co-ordinated, topical review of a selected subject that will be of interest to all levels of reader from the senior undergraduate to the researcher. Forthcoming topics (with guest editor): Dopamine (Trevor W. Robbins); Immune Responses in the Nervous System (Cedric S. Raine); Building the Architecture of the Nervous System (Andrew Lumsden). The Editorial Advisory Board for the journal is: Marianne Bonner-Fraser, J.P. Changeux, Klaus Peter Ho man, John S. Kelly, Peter Kennedy, Motoy Kuno, Dale Purves, and Janis C. Weeks. Six issues are published annually. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Personal: $65, or 39 pounds (UK); Institutional: $130, or 78 pounds (UK). SINGLE ISSUES: $34, or 18 pounds (UK). Canada: add GST at current rate of 7%. SEND ORDERS TO: Academic Press Limited, Foots Cray, Sidcup, Kent DA14 5HP, UK (telephone: 081-300-3222).


The purpose of the study was to find out how infertility was seen as an experience and how infertility and infertility treatments affected on an infertile couple's relationship. The aim of this study was to provide updated information in English about infertility for nursing students, healthcare professionals and other persons interested in this subject. The research method was a literature review. The data for the thesis was collected from the Medic, EBSCO, PubMed and Duodecim databases. The data search was limited to cover the years 2000-2013. As a result, nine articles or study reports were reviewed. Thematical content analysis was used in the analysis of the data. The findings of the literature review revealed that infertility was a difficult experience causing an emotional 'rollercoaster' and a deep crisis to infertile couples. The experience gave rise to the same emotions in both men and women, but their coping styles in this crisis were different. Counselling and peer-support have been seen as good ways to support infertile couples. Infertility is seen as a major threat to both femininity and masculinity. An infertility experience can either separate couples or bring the spouses more closely together. Infertility also has an impact on couples' sexuality. Negative emotions caused by infertility are easily reflected in the couples' bedrooms. Sexual intercourse becomes goal orientated, and sexual feelings are diminished. Infertility is an extremely sensitive issue. When infertility becomes part of a couple's life it is not easy to accept it. Infertility needs to be explored more in order to find more information about it for healthcare professionals, counsellors, infertile couples and other people interested in the subject.


The electrophilic reactivity of 2-(phenylthio)-2-penten-5-olide toward some benzylic Grignard reagents was investigated, and 2-methylene-3-(2,6-dimethylbenzyl)-5-pentanolide (secocrispiolide) was synthesized from one of the Michael adducts.


Organic matter can be decomposed through anaerobic digestion and generate a gas rich in methane: biogas. This process is one of the most suitable for the management and use of organic waste and energy conservation or the improvement of the treated products. It also contributes to the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases (GEI). From the study of the nature, the treatment and the amount of waste generated in Gambia, the potential energy that could be achieved by anaerobic digesting has been estimated. Moreover, in order to justify the need for change and improvement in waste management, it has been calculated the amount of methane released into the atmosphere. Following the methodology proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) it has been calculated that in Gambia about 59 Gg CH4 / year are released into the atmosphere. From the study of this work, it has resulted that the potential energy available from organic waste is 39.309 TEP/ year. Given that not all of this material is susceptible to be treated or transported, the potential energy obtained from more accessible waste has been 19.988 TEP/ year. The regions with the most accessible potential energy are Central River and North Bank, mainly for the generation of biodegradable waste from agriculture. Given that Gambia does not apply the appropriate treatment on sewage or waste dumps, it has been included in the calculation the potential energy based on several hypothesis: 1. Recovery of 50% of the methane released from landfills by a UASB reactor. 2. Recovery of 50% of methane released from wastewater by a UASB reactor. 3. Simple aerobic treatment applied to wastewater. Regarding hypothesis 1 and 2 the accessible potential would increase a 27.55% and emissions to the atmosphere could be reduced 4,29 Gg CH4/year, equivalent to 106.913,9 t CO2eq/year: about 8,63% less methane would be released. Referring to the third hypothesis, methane emissions from wastewater could decrease by 100% if they were treated by a well managed aerobic treatment plant. Finally, a series of actions have been proposed in order to maximize the realization of the potential.


The article analyzes the historiography of monarchy and black-hundredists movement in Russia as a part of a country political history at the beginning of the XX century. The author (article) concludes that the problem has a high importance and has not been enough studied yet.


For economically viable fermentation-based lignocellulosic biofuel production, pretreatment of the biomass is required. Ionic liquids are proving a promising pretreatment medium. However, debate exists as to the extent of biomass dissolution by ionic liquids and the mechanisms by which this solubility occurs. In this study the degree of biomass dissolution as a function of ionic liquid cation was investigated. Four chloride anion based ionic liquids were studied for their ability to dissolve either organsolv, klason, indulin AT, and milled-wood lignins along with eucalyptus and pine biomass. Imidazolium, phosphonium, ammonium and pyridinium anions were screened. Size exclusion chromatography and MALDI-TOF methods were developed to study the degree of dissolution and polydispersity as a function of solvent cation. The comparison between isolated lignins and biomasses deduced not only the degree of dissolution, but mechanistic information on the component of biomass dissolved by ionic liquids. This work was part of the DOE Joint BioEnergy Institute (http://www.jbei.org) supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, through contract DE-AC02-05CH11231 between Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy.


The secure transmission of data over digital media insists the use of steganography. In this paper Pixel value differencing with modulus function (PVDMF) is used for embedding and extraction of data in image. Differential evolution optimization algorithm is used to minimize the mean square error (MSE). Optimization uses MSE as objective function in such a way that the constraints associated with PVDMF method is satisfied. Results show that proposed method is good in embedding capacity as well as visual quality.


Since the onset of the COVID-19, online learning has taken centre stage across the world as authorities have been pushed to close educational institutes to contain and manage the pandemic. The effe...


Objective To study insulin resistance and the effect of somatostatin on the level of serum insulin and glucose in patients with cirrhosis.Methods 34 cirrhotic patients and 29 healthy control subjects were studied. None of the cirrhotic patients had a family history of type 1 or type 2 diabetes or other major organ disease excepted cirrhosis. The effects of a 12h infusion of octreotide in 19 cirrhosis patients were compared controls during fasting and postprandial conditions. Insulin and glucose were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated using the Matthews and Liguangwei method.Results Fasting blood glucose levels were similar in the patients with cirrhosis and the control group. The level of fasting blood insulin and the level of blood glucose and blood insulin at 2h after meal in cirrhosis were higher than those in healthy control subjects. Insulin-sensitivity index in the cirrhosis was lower than those in healthy control subjects. No significant change could be seen in the level of serum insulin and glucose in cirrhosis patients during somatostatin treatment.Conclusion The results clearly document that most cirrhotic patients exhibit increased peripheral plasma insulin levels and severe insulin resistance. The effects of somatostatin on the insulin and glucose in patients with cirrhosis not reach statistical significance.


Cooperative governance in university student communities means universities and students cooperatively govern public business, constantlyadjusting between university education goals and student study goals in the university student apartments. From student governance to cooperative governance, university education develops along the logic track of social ideology development, education theory development and education practice development. Cooperative governance in university student communitiesreflects the adjustment of student administration approaches. It also means anin-depth reform from education ideology to social values, exemplifying a step forward towards a higher-plane of the Chinese social reforms.


Objective To explore the clinical imaging findings and the dynamic changes of pulmonary lesions of severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) in children, and to compare with SARS in adults. Methods The clinical data and X-ray findings were collected from 35 cases of SARS admitted from Feb, 2003 to Apr, 2003, including 19 boys and 17 girls. Their ages were 3 months to 13 years with the average of 8.9 years. All the cases were attacked rapidly and mainly with the symptoms of fever and cough and few signs in the lungs. They were radiographed on chest at least one time at the initial stage, the progressive stage, the fastigium and the absorbing stage. Results ①According to the form, size and distribution of the pulmonary lesions and the changes of lesion markings, the imaging findings of SARS were categorized to three types: A. the type of massive consolidation (25 cases): the patchy and segmental lesions were dominated; B. the type of pulmonary interstitial infiltration (8 cases): the lung markings became coarse, increasing and disarranged with reticular and dotty shadows; C. the mixed pattern (3 cases): the changes of the lung markings were obvious with the shadow of patchy consolidation. ②The dynamic changes were presented as that the lesions were found within the first 1~3 d in most patients, the peak occurred on the 4~7 d, and the lesions were absorbed mainly or completely during the 15~30 d, except one case whose course was over 30 days . Conclusions The pulmonary lesions of SARS appear early and progress promptly. The absorption of the lesions in children is fairly slow, but still faster than that in adults. The lesions manifest as the massive consolidation especially in the unilateral lung. Chest radiography is a useful tool for the diagnosis of SARS in children.


The objective of this research was to evaluate the selectivity of pre and post-emergence herbicides on corn crop under no-tillage system, kept weed-free throughout the crop cycle. The corn hybrid Pioneer 3027 was sown and the experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with 22 treatments and 3 replications. The following herbicide treatments (in g a.i. ha-1) were applied in the respective phenological stages (number of definitive leaves = NF): atrazine + metolachlor (1,400 + 2,100) under pre-emergence conditions of the crop; (atrazine + metolachlor) + nicosulfuron [(1,000 + 1,500) + 20] with the crop presenting NF = 2; atrazine + vegetal oil (2,400 + 1,800), NF = 2, 4 and 8, atrazine + simazine (1,250 + 1,250), NF = 2, 4 and 8; nicosulfuron (40 - NF = 2, 4 and 8; 20 _ NF = 4 and 8 and 52 _ NF = 4 and 8); (atrazine + vegetal oil) + nicosulfuron [(800 + 600) + 20; (800 + 600) + 40 e (800 + 600) + 52), NF = 4 and 8. Visual evaluations of the phytotoxicity symptoms were performed at 7, 14, and 21 days after each herbicide application, adopting the European Weed Research Council grading, besides parameters related to crop yield components and final yield. The results indicated that the herbicides did not affect the duration of the phenological stage of the crop. When sprayed at the phenological stage 2 (NF = 8), some herbicides reduced crop yield due to the decrease in total number of corn grain rows per ear, total number of grains per row, and mass of 1,000 grains; being thus advisable to apply herbicides in the corn crop from seeding through the phenological stage 1 (NF = 4), in order to avoid phytotoxicity to the corn crop.


This paper presents a novel high efficiency RF to DC converter for RFID applications. The proposed rectifier circuit is designed in 90 nm CMOS technology using single RF source. It exploits an internal Vth cancellation technique along with a leakage current reducer. The circuit performs well in the low input power threshold. The Simulation results at frequency of 920MHz show that the Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) has improved compared to the conventional rectifier using diode connected transistor and Vth cancellation techniques. The measured PCE is 36.3% at -14.3dBm and is improved to 54.5% with an impedance matching network between the source and rectifiers' input.


In the automotive field, with the advancement of electronic and signal processing technologies, active control-based chassis systems have been developed to enhance vehicle stability. In this study, a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) simulation environment was developed to effectively improve time and cost during the development process of an independent rear-wheel steering system. The HiL Simulation Environment was developed—a specific test bench capable of simulating driving loads on the prototype. Based on the system identification method, a reaction force modeling technique for the target driving loads was proposed. The full vehicle dynamics simulation model was developed with a lateral maximum error of 4.5% and a correlation coefficient of 0.98, as well as a longitudinal maximum error of 0.1% and a correlation coefficient of 0.99. The reaction force generation system had a maximum error of 2.9%. Using the developed HiL simulation environment, performance verification and analysis of the independent rear-wheel steering system were conducted, showing reductions of 5.1% in lateral acceleration and 5.2% in yaw rate.


Purpose: to evaluate, using transpalpebral rheoophthalmography (TP ROG), the effectiveness of sclera-strengthening and trophic treatment of progressive myopia with a new biologically active chitosan-containing transplant. Patients and methods . 40 children and adolescents with moderate or high progressive myopia, averagely aged 12.6 ± 0.38 years, were examined after receiving low invasive sclera-strengthening surgery on one eye with a biologically active chitosan-containing transplant. The initial refraction of the operated eye was — 6.25 ± 0.23 D, while that of the fellow eye was — 5.85 ± 0.28 D. The yearly gradient of myopia progression averaged 1.10 ± 0.04 D. Hemodynamic parameters were measured using TP ROG) prior to intervention, then 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention. At the same time points, scleral acoustic density (SAD) was determined by analyzing tissue histograms obtained with a multipurpose ultrasound device, VOLUSON 730 Pro «GE». Results . One year after sclera-strengthening treatment, a 4.4-fold reduction of myopia progression rate on the operated eye was noted, supplemented by a 2.2-fold reduction of same on the fellow eye. Stabilization of refraction was accompanied by an increase of SAD: 6 months after the surgery, SAD was averagely 19.7 conventional units higher than the original figure in the posterior pole of the operated eye, and 16.2 conventional units higher in the equatorial area. One year after the surgery, the figures were, respectively, 15.9 (p < 0.05) and 14.0 conventional units (p < 0.01). The rheographic index of TP ROG increased with regard to the initial value by 139 % after one month, by 69.8 % after 6 months, and by 34.6 % after 1 year. On fellow eyes, the index also tended to increase: by 123.3 % after 1 month, by 65.2 after 6 months, and by the end of the follow-up period it exceeded the original value by 28.7 %, which is an evidence of a pronounced trophic effect of sclera-strengthening myopia treatment with chitosan not only on the operated eye but also (to a lesser extent) on the fellow eye. Conclusion . TP ROG is an effective evaluation method of sclera-strengthening treatment of progressive myopia. This method can also be used to study eye hemodynamics in a variety of ophthalmic pathologies, including those managed in pediatric clinical practice.


In less than two decades, the Internet and the use of infocommunication technologies have immeasurably changed human lives. People have turned from objects who only receive information to subjects who are able to make relatively independent decisions. Moreover, the use of info communication technologies has significantly changed not only the conditions of development of individuals, but also the conditions of the development of whole national and world economies. Many established companies and new businesses have made millions using the info communication technologies, and many are hoping to do the same. In this study, we explore the role of info communication technologies in the Dot-com crisis and in the implementation of unconventional monetary policy. The Dot.com crisis is considered as one of the stimulating factors for the use of the unconventional monetary policy. The influence of the Dot.com bubble and unconventional monetary policy on the socio-economic development of countries is also revealed. We are also studying the possibility of a repeat of such a crisis today. It is difficult to argue that the growing popularity of info communication technologies, an increase in the number of companies in this area and a sharp increase in stock market indicators will lead to a repeat of the 2000 crisis, but it is still necessary to study these trends and learn lessons from past crises.