The effect of dopants with different valencies and ionic radii on the densification, structural ordering, and microwave dielectric properties of Ba(Mg1∕3Ta2∕3)O3 (BMT) is investigated. It is found that dopants such as Sb2O5, MnO, ZrO2, WO3, and ZnO improve the microwave dielectric properties of BMT. Addition of trivalent dopants is detrimental to the cation ordering and dielectric properties of BMT. A correlation between the microwave dielectric properties of BMT and ionic radii of the dopant has been established. The variation of the dielectric properties of pure and doped BMT at cryogenic temperatures is also discussed.


K\"ahler's paper "\"Uber die Verzweigung einer algebraischen Funktion zweier Ver\"anderlichen in der Umgebung einer singul\"aren Stelle" offered a more perceptual view of the link of a complex plane curve singularity than that provided shortly before by Brauner. K\"ahler's innovation of using a "square sphere" became standard in the toolkit of later researchers on singularities. We describe his contribution and survey developments since then, including a brief discussion of the topology of isolated hypersurface singularities in higher dimension.


Objective The relations between the clinical and pathology of 648 cases of primarylung malignant tumor were analysed.Methods The site,the sex,the age and the pathology features of 648 cases of lung malignancy tumor proved by pathology were studied retrospectly.Results The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma in male is higher than that in female,while the incidence of adenocarcinoma in female is higher than tht in male.The undifferentiated carcinoma is more common in youth;the alveolus,squamous and adenocarcinoma are more common in the age over 50.The squamous cell carcinomas and the adenosquamous cell carcinomas are mostly located in central of the lungs;and the adenocarcinomas are more periphery;(P0.005). Conclusions the pathology types of lung carcinoma correlates with sex,age of the patimts and the site of the tumor.


The Objective of this paper is to design Series resonant converter with 200W, 250 KHz switching frequency which is used for radar power supply and to verify the results using PSPICE. The properties of the energy feedback control, and particularly the optimal trajectory control law, are analyzed. As a result, the state space is considered to be divided into two sub-spaces that correspond to different states of the switches in the converter. An analog neural network learns to classify these two classes by means of a learning algorithm. A simple electronic implementation of this controller is proposed and applied to a series resonant converter (SRC). Results based on prototype measurements show a good improvement in the SRC response versus classical control methods based on the linearization of the state variable equations around a working point and confirm the validity of the neural approach.


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Master all the powerful features of Oracle9i using the exclusive information inside this indispensable resource. Written by best-selling Oracle Press authors Kevin Loney and George Koch, this volume explains how to implement all the components of Oracle9i. This is a must-have reference for all Oracle professionals.


This research aims to examine, based on theoretical foundation on Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory and Self-Efficacy, the contributions that such constructs can provide to the technical and artistic improvement of choral groups, as well as the mechanisms by which different motivational techniques – in particular, self-efficacy, cognitive, emotional and mental training – have their functioning. It also seeks to verify the importance of the choir conductor as the generator and mediator of these processes. The definition of the central problem is the questioning of the possibility of choir performance to be improved by the application of self-efficacy theory and other mental training constructs, as well as their impact on musical and non-musical outcomes in choral groups. The theme's choice was made considering its relevance to choral activities in general, as well as the state still in development of specific literature on self-efficacy, mental training and choral activity in Portuguese language. After conceptual appropriation and complementation of recent studies in the areas of education, psychology, musical performance and choir conducting, the hypotheses are verified through action research by application of a set of techniques elaborated with an amateur choir. The qualitative and quantitative results obtained indicate a significant increase on self-efficacy indicatives in the participants, suggesting a positive impact on the performance of the choir, standing out also the choir conductor as an indispensable element for the sensitization and consolidation of this paradigm's constructions in all stages. Key-words: music performance, self-efficacy, motivation, choir conducting.


Abstract A nonlinear shallow-water model on the sphere is used to study barotropic aspects of the formation of twin tropical disturbances by Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) convection. In the model, the effect of MJO convection upon the lower-tropospheric tropical circulation was simulated by an eastward moving, meridionally elongated mass sink straddling the equator. The intensity and propagation speed of the mass sink were chosen to simulate observations that MJO convection intensifies while nearly stationary in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean, weakens while moving eastward over the Maritime Continent, again intensifies once it reaches the west Pacific Ocean, and finally becomes stationary and dies off near the date line. This mass sink produced twin cyclones in the two regions where it was stationary, namely, where it was initially turned on and where it was turned off. In addition, the mass sink produced two zonally elongated cyclonic potential vorticity anomalies straddling the equator in the reg...


Preservation and publishing historical documents are important issues which have gained more and more interest over the years. Digital media has been used to storage digital versions of the documents as image files. However, this digital image needs huge storage space as usually the documents are digitized in high resolutions and in true colour for preservation purposes. In order to make easier the access to the images they can be converted into bi-level images. We present in this work a new method composed by two algorithms for binarization of historical document images based on Tsallis entropy. The new method was compared to several other well-known threshold algorithms and it achieved the best qualitative and quantitative results when compared to the gold standard images of the documents, measuring precision, recall, accuracy, specificity, peak signal-to-noise ratio and mean square error.


Mammalian MDC1 interacts with CHK2 in the regulation of DNA damage-induced S-phase checkpoint and apoptosis, which is directed by the association of MDC1-FHA and CHK2-pThr68. However, different ligand specificities of MDC1-FHA have been reported, and no structure is available. Here we report the crystal structures of MDC1-FHA and its complex with a CHK2 peptide containing pThr68. Unlike other FHA domains, MDC1-FHA exists as an intrinsic dimer in solution and in crystals. Structural and binding analyses support pThr+3 ligand specificity and provide structural insight into MDC1−CHK2 interaction. T conserved FHA domain of MDC1 was reported to interact with ATM, which presumably controls ATMdependent intra-S-phase checkpoint, G2/M checkpoint, and radiation-induced apoptosis. The binding specificity of MDC1FHA was reported to be pT-Q-X-I/L in vitro, which matches the sequence flanking the ATM-phosphorylated Thr68 of CHK2. Indeed, MDC1-FHA regulates CHK2-mediated DDR, leading to S-phase checkpoint and apoptosis. Although MDC1-FHA binds both ATM and CHK2, the latter does not colocalize with MDC1 at IRIF and remains in diffusive patterns in the nucleus, implying a relatively transient interaction in vivo between MDC1 and CHK2. Because most cases of FHA−pThr binding are relatively stable [e.g., NBS1−MDC1-pSDpTD and RNF8-FHA−MDC1TQXF], the proposed transient binding nature makes the interaction between MDC1-FHA and CHK2-pThr68 an interesting FHA binding mode. The goal of this work is to characterize the potentially novel binding specificity of MDC1-FHA. We first tried to crystallize human MDC1-FHA (hMDC1-FHA amino acids 16−142, 27− 155, and 27−142) and their complexes with a pThr68 peptide derived from human CHK2 (hCHK2-pThr68, LETVSpTQELYSI), but without success. Because mouse MDC1 (mMDC1) has been functionally characterized and the level of sequence identity between human and mouse homologues is at least 80% (Figure 1A), we tried to use mMDC1-FHA as the model to deduce the interaction. Analysis by PONDR (http://www. pondr.com) suggested that the ordered region of mMDC1FHA spans amino acids 29−139 [SI (Supporting Information) Figure 1]. We then synthesized the coding sequence, bacterially expressed the protein, and successfully obtained crystals in the presence and absence of the hCHK2-pT68 peptide (sequence identical to that of mouse CHK2 except +4 Cys). The complex crystallized in space group P212121, with two copies of mMDC1-FHA and one hCHK2-pThr68 peptide in an asymmetric unit (Figure 1B). The structure of the complex was determined by the SAD phasing method using diffraction data from crystals soaked with mercury. The apo form also crystallized in space group P212121, and its structure was determined by the molecular replacement method using the Received: November 14, 2011 Revised: December 30, 2011 Published: January 2, 2012 Figure 1. Sequence and structure of mMDC1-FHA. (A) Secondary structure elements according to mMDC1-FHA structures. The identical residues of the mouse and human sequences are highlighted in yellow and the conserved residues of the FHA domain in blue. The UniProt accession numbers of both sequences are Q5PSV9 (mouse MDC1) and Q14676 (human MDC1). (B) Ribbon diagram of the complex structure of the mMDC1-FHA dimer and CHK2-pThr68 peptide. The left and right panels show the structures of chain A (green) and chain B (cyan) of mMDC1-FHA, respectively. The CHK2-pThr68 peptide in the complex structure is shown as orange sticks. Rapid Report pubs.acs.org/biochemistry © 2012 American Chemical Society 575 dx.doi.org/10.1021/bi201709w | Biochemistry 2012, 51, 575−577 complex structure as a template. The final Rfactor and Rfree values are 0.159 and 0.205, respectively, for the complex and 0.210 and 0.261, respectively, for the apo form (SI Table). The overall structure of the mMDC1-FHA monomer exhibits the typical feature of the FHA domain, which folds into an 11stranded β-sandwich that consists of two twisted β-sheets and several flexible loops (Figure 1B). In the complex structure, the hCHK2 peptide leans against a cleft formed by loops of mMDC1-FHA (L4, L6, and L10), and two protruding side chains (pThr68 and +3 Leu) of the hCHK2 peptide extend into two pockets provided by mMDC1-FHA. Similar to other FHA domains, the conserved Gly57 and His75 of mMDC1 interact with each other and possibly stabilize the architecture of the pThr-binding site. The binding between the mMDC1-FHA domain and the pThr68 peptide therefore buries ∼987 Å of solvent-accessible surface area. The most unique feature of mMDC1-FHA (both the apo form and the complex) is that it forms a previously unreported dimeric structure. The only dimer reported previously is the segment-swapped crystal structure of CHFR-FHA, which however exists as a monomer in solution. mMDC1-FHA remains as a stable dimer in solution [so does hMDC1-FHA (data not shown)] even under 4-fold protein dilution (from 2 to 0.5 mg/mL) or at a high salt concentration (450 mM NaCl) as evidenced by FPLC analysis (SI Figure 2). In the crystal structure, two mMDC1-FHA molecules approach each other in a head-to-tail but side-by-side orientation and wrap around each other with an interface of ∼1484 Å. The biological implication regarding this unique dimerization is discussed separately in the SI Discussion. Close-up visualization of structures suggests that hydrogen bonds form between residues Asp125, Gln99, Lys102, Ser38, Gln129, and Arg35 of chain A and residues Lys102, Val101, Asp125, Arg35, and Ser38 of chain B (Figure 2A), while the van der Waals forces are maintained between residues Pro104, Val101, Leu122, Leu120, Pro127, and Phe37 of chain A and residues Pro104, Lys102, Val101, Leu120, Pro127, and Phe37 of chain B (Figure 2B). We then analyzed the structure of the complex and found that the binding is supported by several hydrogen bonds between mMDC1-FHA and the pThr peptide, which shares a common feature with other FHA domains. Similar to Lys141 of CHK2-FHA, Lys73 of mMDC1-FHA interacts with the phosphate group of pThr68 using a hydrogen bond, but a notable difference is that Lys73 donates its main chain for interaction while Lys141 uses its side chain. Simultaneously, five hydrogen bonds are formed as shown in Figure 2D. Furthermore, two recessive pockets (one composed of Arg58, Pro69, Ser70, Ile71, Ser72, Leu95, and Asn96 and the other composed of Ser70, Asn96, Ala124, and Asp125, in which Ser70 and Asn96 are well conserved among FHA domains) accommodate two protruding side chains from pThr68 and +3 Leu, respectively (Figure 2C). This conformational fitness via two pockets presumably makes position +3 an important factor for the phosphopeptide sequence preference of mMDC1FHA. Overall, binding of pThr68 induced relatively small conformational changes, except for small differences in loops L1, L3, L5, and L7, and several residues around the pThr binding pocket. In the SI Discussion, we have described detailed changes induced by the pThr peptide and also provided a detailed comparison among the FHA domains of MDC1, CHK2, and RNF8 (also in SI Figure 8). A recent report showed that a phosphopeptide (SGSGSLAFEEGpSQSTTISS) derived from ATM autophosphorylation site Ser1981 is able to retrieve recombinant hMDC1-FHA, suggesting that an alternative phosphoserine binding capacity exists for MDC1-FHA, a property never reported for any FHA domains. To examine the feasibility of pSer interaction, we replaced pThr68 with pSer in the complex structure and rebuilt the binding interface for comparison. In the pThr68 binding pocket mentioned above, a shallow groove formed by Ser70, Ser72, and Leu95 appears to accept the pThr γ-methyl group that forms a van der Waals interaction with the Leu95 side chain (Figure 3A). Although it seems that pSer can also fit into the pocket (Figure 3B), it is unable to make the key van der Waals force to stabilize the binding. Consistently, our ITC analysis showed that mMDC1-FHA binds the hCHK2-pThr68 peptide with a Kd of 40 μM, while its binding with the ATM pSer1981 peptide was too weak to be detected (SI Figure 4). As controls, mMDC1-FHA was not able to bind to the nonphospho hCHK2-Thr68 peptide, nor can the R58A mutant of mMDC1-FHA bind to the pThr68 peptide (SI Figure 5). Although the possibility that the binding of pSer is just too Figure 2. Interacting forces in the dimerization interface (A and B) and pThr binding interface (C and D). (A) Hydrogen bonds between the two chains illustrated as dashed lines. (B) van der Waals interactions between the two chains illustrated as two-headed dashed lines. (C) Binding pockets of mMDC1-FHA for accommodating the hCHK2-pThr68 peptide shown as a surface diagram. (D) Hydrogen bonds in the pThr binding interface illustrated as dashed lines (the electron density map showing key regions of interactions is shown in SI Figure 3). Chain A of mMDC1-FHA is colored green, chain B cyan, and hCHK2-pThr68 orange. Figure 3. γ-Methyl group that stabilizes pThr binding. (A) Surface diagram showing that mMDC1-FHA forms a groove to accept the γmethyl group of pThr68. The van der Waals force formed between Leu95 of FHA and the γ-methyl group of pThr68 is illustrated as a dashed line. (B) The same diagram except that pThr is replaced with pSer using Coot. Biochemistry Rapid Report dx.doi.org/10.1021/bi201709w | Biochemistry 2012, 51, 575−577 576 weak to be detected under the condition used may not be excluded, our result is in agreement with the general preference of pThr for FHA domains. The structural basis for the pThr preference has also been addressed recently. A puzzling feature of the structure is that only one hCHK2pThr68 peptide binds to each dimer. We cross-compared Cα atom groups in each of the two FHA chains using least-squares superposition and observed only marginal conformational differences among the four chains (rmsd of 0.32−0.37 Å), suggesting that the uneven binding is unlikely to be due to different binding sp


Objective
To evaluate the accuracy of rotation correction for maxillary central incisor, maxillary lateral incisor, maxillary canine and maxillary premolar with removable clear appliance, and the influence of attachment design and interproximal reduction on correction efficiency.

Methods
The study included 142 maxillary teeth (27 central incisors , 23 lateral incisors, 45 canines and 47 premolars ) which were designed to treat rotation with clear aligners. According to whether IPR or whether using attachments, maxillary central incisor and maxillary lateral incisor were divided into 2 groups: teeth with IPR only(IO) and teeth with no attachments no IPR(N). Maxillary canine and maxillary premolar were divided into 3 groups: teeth with attachments only(AO), IPR only(IO), with attachments and IPR(B) and no attachments no IPR(N). Pre-treatment and staged plaster cast models at time only rotation were designed were laser-scanned, and the real tooth movements were obtained by digital model superimposition. Intragroup comparisons were made using Independent-Sample T test, analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls test.

Results
The mean accuracy of maxillary central incisor rotation was 62.61%. The rotation accuracy of IO group[(69.5±3.81)%] is higher than N group[(55.72±4.05)%](P 0.05). The mean accuracy of maxillary premolar rotation was 46.96%. The rotation accuracy of B group[(51.33±1.66)%]is higher than AO group[(45.47±2.07)%]and IO group[(49.02±1.48)%](P<0.05), The rotation accuracy of IO group and AO group were both higher than N group [(42.03±2.40)%](P<0.05).

Conclusions
IPR can improve the accuracy of rotation correction for maxillary central incisor, maxillary lateral incisor, maxillary canine and maxillary premolar with removable clear appliance. Attachments can not significantly improve the accuracy of canine rotation, and although it can increase the accuracy of maxillary premolar rotation, the degree of improvement is relatively low.

Key words:
Removable clear appliance; Teeth rotation; Interproximal reduction; Attachment


Abstract : This report deals with the design and performance evaluation of a distributed detection system for a dispersing biological warfare (BW) cloud embedded in the natural aerosol component of the background air. The distributed system employs a number of physically separated BW agent point detectors (sentries) located within some target region and a data fusion center that provides the final decision as to the presence or absence of the bio-target by combining the individual localized decisions from the various point detectors using a prespecified combining strategy. In this system, each detector implements a generalized likelihood ratio test on its own localized observations to test for the presence or absence of a bio-target. These localized detection decisions are then transmitted to a data fusion center where they are logically combined to yield a global detection decision for the distributed system. The optimization of the global detection performance of the distributed system is derived by application of the Lagrange multipliers method, whereby the global probability of detection for the system is maximized subject to the constraint that the global probability of false alarm is maintained at a prespecified level (viz., at a constant and tolerable false alarm rate). A number of combining strategies are investigated in order to determine some overall system optimality for detection. It is found that the optimal detection strategy for each individual BW agent detector in the distributed system depends on the strategy of all the other detectors, as well as on the structure of the data fusion center. Explicit numerical results, in the form of the probability of detection versus signal-to noise ratio for several preassigned false-alarm probabilities and sample sizes WHICH DETERMINE THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE MEAN TIME TO DETECTION, are presented for the case of a distrib


"I'm so pleased I'm almost irresponsible", said an otherwise highly responsible European particle physicist following last month's approval by CERN's council of the SwF 2bn (about £1bn) Large Hadron Collider project. "I should no doubt be worrying about the financial implications for our domestic budgets, but frankly. I'm sure we'll manage. The important thing is that the decision has been made".


The probabilities for vibrational transitions in the presence of open reactive channels are calculated with an optical model. A linear collision of an atom and a diatomic molecule is considered. The distorted wave Born series is derived and an analytic expression is given for the first order result for an exponential repulsive potential. A semiclassical analysis is also presented. The results are applied to an electronically excited I2 molecule colliding with an inert atom. The vibrational transition probabilities are found to be appreciably affected only in the few cases where the predissociation probability is very high, that is larger than about 0.3.


Communication has always been a dimension in literary activities and creation, as exemplified by media coverage of literature, the recognition of media-driven literature, inter-media production and today's transmedia storytelling. Digital literature offers new ways of experiencing reading and writing that are bringing new dimensions to the relationship between technology and literature, and to the interactions between literature and communication. The new patterns of literature in the media raise questions on both of these aspects. Four key points emerge: redocumentarization, literary communities, literary controversies and the digital ethos.


In article analyzes the modern model of the court of arbitration with assessors as a variant of the court with the people's representatives. It is concluded that this form of the court most closely matches the model of court sheffens


Anthropologists, as well as other members of the behavioral sciences, have for some time bewailed the fact that "The Government" has neither called upon them regularly to contribute their talent and resources nor utilized the information and insights they are capable of transmitting. The implied blame, that "The Government" was at fault, has been taken for granted. Actually, this is only partially accurate on several counts. First, few people in the academic world have asked the government what it needed in terms of information from the behavioral-science community. Second, the efforts of many anthropologists, sociologists, and social-psychologists in government, or those invited to develop materials for government, have often been unfortunate. Essentially this has been for two reasons. In the first instance, as behavioral scientists, they have failed to learn about, adjust to, or effectively operate within bureaucracy. Secondly they have often been unable to communicate what they know, or they have misas...


Anonymity is rich, its rewards many and its dangers, too. Anonymity troubles writers and readers, teachers and students, and philosophers, historians, and sociologists, too. Anonymity troubles individuals.1 Offering fairness, it can also mask bias.2 Offering protection, it can also cover those who would deceive, whether published novelists, plagiarizing sophomores, or internet avatars. Martin Heidegger thinks that anonymity must be overcome to establish authentic individuality (Natanson 1979).3 Other people, less loftily, do not care whether their individuality is authentic; they aim to make marks on others and on society, to achieve fame or even celebrity. Such persons today are not, it is true, panicked, hysterical, or fearful about "sinking lower and lower into a whirl of indistinguishable atoms," of being "lost in a mass civilization," as Henry Seidel Canby described his fellows in 1926 (qtd. in Natanson 80). Today, we do not "sink" into anonymity surely we are born into it, into a mass civilization that dwarfs the one Canby saw but we may nevertheless strive mightily to emerge from it. That is, if anonymity is a fact of modern life, a fact we are used to, it is not one we celebrate; it is not a state or condition most people strive to achieve; it has a bad reputation. But is that bad rap justified? Philosopher Maurice Natanson thinks not, precisely because anonymity is a fact of modern life: asking people to transcend "anonymity is tantamount to seeking a remedy for being normal" (539). Anonymity is "a constitutive feature of the social," an "invariant" and "standard


Tropical Andes Film Project Principle Investigators: Megan and Greg Epler Wood The tropical Andes is a highly threatened region which is recognized for its unusua lly high number of endemic species and extraordinary biological di vers ity. An educational film , in Spanish , on tropical Andean natural resources , is currently in production for use by environmental professionals throughout the regio n . The majority of the footage (10 hours) was shot at the Reserva Natural La Planada, in arino Province, Colombia. Many endemic species were filmed , including nesting brown Inca hummingbirds, p late-billed mountain toucans and club-winged mannikins performing their unique mechanical di sp l ay. In-depth , life history footage of nesting toucan barbets was also obtained. Filmmakers Megan and Greg Epler Wood are working closely with local Colombian advisors to accurately target the film 's message for local audiences. The American Federation of Aviculture joins the World Wildlife Fund, ew York Zoological Society, and the Institute of International Education (F ulbright) in financia lly supporting the film.


In a generalized beam-target model, the "Gyrating Particle Model" (GPM), the strong suprathermal fusion production of both dynamic phases of the plasma focus POSEIDON (W0 = 280 kJ, U0 = 60 kV, Mather type) is considered to be due to the fast accelerated deuterons gyrating in pinch structures. The results of this new model are compared with spectrally and spatially resolved measurements of fusion protons and accelerated deuterons, to give evidence of the validity of this generalized beam-target model for both phases. Statements are obtained on the number and distribution function of accelerated deuterons, necessary to explain the observed fusion yield.


BY ALFRED C. STOKES, M.D. A BITTER November wind out of a gray sky. A river as gray and cold, a little foam on its surface where the rocks fretted it. A group of bare trees ankle deep in their own leaves on a low bank whence bubbled a rill that seemed the only happy thing in the dreary landscape, while a shivering pedestrian shed involuntary tears as he filled his bottle with wet leaves and with water from the brook. A gloomy prospect and a gloomy day, but for compensation that bottle held a potentiality of infusorial wealth beyond the dreams of avarice. Not a tithe of the wonderful forms developed from the germs in that natural infusion could be noticed without making a paper of wearisome extent. To enumerate the individuals would be impossible. I can only present a half dozen taken at random. As the infusion stood through the winter in a covered vessel, to which not a single drop of water was added except by the condensation of its own vapor on the cover, a source of endless interest to the writer has been to observe the sudden disappearance of the creatures which, for a week or two, had swarmed among the leaves by the thousand, and the equally sudden coming, from unsuspected and unknown spores, of as great a crowd of entirely different, more complex and more highly organized animalcules. Those higher in the scale devoured the lower, it is true, and did it without ceremony; but many died and melted away as their favorite food became exhausted or, for some other problematic reason, their surroundings became inauspicious. For weeks microscopic fungi flourished until the surface of the water bore a jelly-like layer a quarter of an inch deep, and Hypotrichous Infusoria, so huge that they were distinctly visible to the unaided vision, sported there in leaderless regiments and cohorts. But even that collection of fungi and bacteria disappeared, and the


Urban stormwater runoff is recognised as a major source of a wide variety of pollutants to water bodies. The need to treat, has resulted in the need to divert flows offline. In sub critical flow this is achievable with weirs for instance. However in super critical flow this is more difficult. The use of a raised bed in conjunction with a channel widening is investigated using 1D & 2D modelling as well as physical modelling. What was found is that physical models still play a very important role in providing a very cost effective method of identifying and resolving complex flow behaviour.


The objective of this work was to investigate the use of catalyst to enhance H 2 /CO ratio and syngas production during homogeneous and heterogeneous tar cracking of rice husk biomass. The experiments were performed at atmospheric pressure in indirectly heated two-stage gasification system. The pyrolysis chamber temperature was set at 500°C and that of gasification chamber was varied between 800°C and 900°C for different experimental runs. Homogeneous and heterogeneous gasification was performed at different operating conditions. Results obtained shows that catalyst helped in increasing H 2 /CO ratio and heterogeneous gasification showed better results than homogeneous gasification.


Histone acetylation and methylation play a critical role in transcription and gene regulation. Identification of sites of lysine acetylation and methylation in histones or other proteins by mass spectrometry (MS) is of increasing interest. In this paper, we report the use of MS to differentiate between peptides containing acetylated or tri‐methylated lysines. High accuracy matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight MS gives better than five parts per million measurement accuracy, which is sufficient to verify acetylation and/or methylation. Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to assign modification sites and to differentiate acetylation from methylation. Typically, an immonium ion at m/z 98 corresponds to a mono‐methylated lysine and an immonium ion at m/z 126 corresponds to an acetylated lysine. The neutral loss ion (MH+‐59) is unique for a tri‐methylated lysine. For a peptide with two or more modification sites of acetylation or tri‐methylation or one site containing partial acetylation and tri‐methylation, the a2‐, b2‐type ion is the characteristic index for an acetylated lysine whereas the b2‐59 ion is indicative of a tri‐methylated lysine in the N‐terminus. The y‐type ions and y‐59 ions are charateristic of an acetylated lysine and a tri‐methylated lysine at the C‐terminus, respectively. We demonstrated that a lysine in a peptide modified by methylation or acetylation can be differentiated by MS using our method. Even if more then one lysine is present in a peptide and different modifications of this amino acid occur, they can be distinguished. This method was successful for the determination of the acetylation and methylation status of lysine 9 of histone H3 in chicken erythrocytes and human HeLa cell lines.


In this paper, the authors compare the results of previous experimental and numerical modeling of tidal networks, particularly in terms of drainage density, here measured through the exceedance probability distribution of unchanneled length. The topic is of interest, particularly from a 'metrics' definition point of view. I also appreciate the coupled experimental-numerical approach to understand the morphology of a system such as tidal networks. The definition of common testing metrics among the two is a valid contribution in itself. I think the paper is sound and although quite narrowly focused on drainage density (it could be expanded to other metrics) represents a good contribution. There are several aspects where I believe the manuscript could be improved. I point at some of these aspects below: First of all, there needs to be more clarity on the definition of 'equilibrium' and 'stability'. Are we talking about 'frozen' networks or a statistical equilibrium? I think this is important also later when different morphologies C434


Short-range order (SRO) strengthening is one of the major strengthening mechanisms in alloys. Generally it is attributed to the the increased resistance to dislocation slip caused by breaking favorable bonds. This contribution may be strong for the first dislocation slipping in a slip plane, but it is certainly less strong for the following next dislocations. Present work discusses SRO strengthening with a different optic: with the focus on the dissipated energy due to the formation of a diffuse antiphase boundary (APB). In this sense, SRO strengthening becomes important to define the friction stress on gliding dislocations. Cluster Variation Method calculations of APB energies are used to estimate the strengthening effect in BCC alloys. The results are illustrated using VNbTaMoW and VNbTaWAl high-entropy alloys, with ab-initio derived parameters. The results show that the strengthening is intense in the range of concentrated solid solutions, and also, that this effect is strongly composition-dependent.


The kinematics of parallel mechanisms are defined by means of a kinematic constraint map (KCM) that captures the constraints imposed on its links by the joints. The KCM incorporates both pose parameters describing the configuration of every link and the design parameters inherent in the mechanism architecture. This provides a coherent approach to determining C-space singularities and generalised Grashof conditions on the design parameters under which these can occur.Copyright © 2017 by ASME


The integrals which occur in Pariser—Parr ASMO—CI theory for carbon atoms at short internuclear distances (≤2.40 A) can be derived from the spectrum of benzene [R. Pariser, J. Chem. Phys. 24, 250 (1956)]. Previously, various workers have uniformly neglected the highest singly excited configuration in the configuration interaction on the grounds of its high energy and because its inclusion destroys the simple linear formulas for the state energies of benzene. The effect of inclusion of this configuration on the spectral matching method of determining nearest‐neighbor βpq, γpq, and γpp, employing the 1B2u, 1B1u, 1E1u, and 3B1u states of benzene has been investigated. The major effect was lowering of [11 | 11] to a value near that expected theoretically when correlation effects are considered. The influence of the new parameters on spectral calculations was explored for benzene, cis‐ and trans‐butadiene, naphthalene, and azulene, and the major effect observed was in the energies of excited triplets. It is su...


The ultrasonic-assisted drilling of bone is gaining significant attention in orthopedic research and clinical applications due to the advantage of reducing thermal necrosis, cutting force, and microcracks. Mechanical and surface morphological damage due to cutting force and surface roughness rise during bone drilling may result in implant failure during osteosynthesis. It is difficult to predict and measure cutting force and surface irregularities during real-time medical orthopedic surgery. Therefore, the present work uses the application of different machine learning models to predict cutting force and surface roughness induced during bone drilling. The predictive results of machine learning models were compared with statistical analysis. During the study, rotary ultrasonic drilling is performed on the pig femur bone. The surface roughness and cutting forces are monitored using a surface roughness tester and a dynamometer respectively. Predictive models were developed by drilling parameters such as spindle rotational speed, abrasive girt size, and feed rate. Various machine learning algorithms such as ridge regression, lasso regression, support vector regression, multi-linear regression, and artificial neural networks were leveraged and compared at different error metrics to provide a robust predictive model. It was observed that ridge regression has the least error metrics compared to other machine learning algorithms during surface roughness prediction. Moreover, the most accurate model for predicting cutting force was support vector regression. The error metrics for statistical analysis were comparatively higher than the machine learning algorithms. Therefore, machine-learning algorithms are preferable for adequate prediction of surface roughness and cutting force induced during bone drilling compared to statistical analysis.


The bean-shaped accessory glands of male mealworm beetles are morphologically complex. Seven distinct cell types produce a semisolid secretory mass that contains structural proteins of the spermatophore. Cell numbers increase 3.5-fold over the pupal instar, and gland volume increases 30-fold over the pupal and early adult stage. DNA content reaches its maximum at adult ecdysis (11 pg/secretory cell), RNA at 4 days later (55 pg/cell), and protein at 6 days after ecdysis (1,200 pg/cell). Rates of 14C- and 3H-leucine incroporation increase in parallel to the rise in protein content. Over ten putative secretory protein bands were identified by using one-dimensional SDS-slab gel electrophoresis to compare BAG homogenates with homogenates of the secretory mass and the spermatophore. At least five of these secretory proteins accumulate in BAGs after adult ecdysis, and most show high rates of leucine incorporation in the adult. Twodimensional gel electrophoresis (pI and SDS) and fluorography allowed us to identify a score of reference spots, at least seven spots that are characteristic of the pupa, and over 40 spots that appear to be differentiation-specific and are presumably secretory products. The fluorographic indices give an unambiguous means of scoring terminal differentiation in the BAG.


Traditional mixture design methodologies for HMA are mainly focused on using a standardized compaction effort to evaluate volumetrics and simple mechanical properties at a target volumetric proportioning. The more recently introduced Superpave volumetric design procedure deviates slightly from this tradition by evaluating the overall densification characteristics and setting target limits of air voids at more than a single compaction effort. The Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) presents a convenient way to evaluate the densification characteristics of asphalt mixes. The current method of interpretation of the results from the SGC and the design criteria are however biased towards the performance under traffic and do not give proper consideration for constructibility of mixtures. It is believed that the SGC data is underutilized in mixture design. This study is an attempt to take a new look at mixture design requirements using the SGC results to optimize the densification characteristics under construction and densification characteristics under traffic.


The review of literature on efficacy and safety of modern drugs for replacement therapy in periand. postmenopausal women is presented in this article.


The dependence of the hardness of polystyrene-metal composite materials on the homogeneity of the distribution of particles of a component over the volume of a composite material is investigated. Improvements are made to thermoplastic-automata, which make it possible to improve the quality of composites production. The methods of IR-radiometric diagnostics of the component mixing efficiency are improved. The speeds of the mixer blades are experimentally determined depending on the size and number of particles of the metal components. Radiation protective characteristics were obtained for composite materials by numerical methods. Analyzed the attenuation of the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation, depending on the energy of gamma-rays.


The article touches upon one of the urgent topics for the development of investment activities in the region – the problem of financial support and the choice of a source of financing for capital investments. The main methods of financing are considered. On the example of the Republic of Mordovia, the main directions of financing investment activities in the region are considered, the existing problems are highlighted and the possibilities of their solution in the future are proposed.


To overcome the impediment against practical utilization of the technically already available process of solidifying low- and intermediate-level radioactive wastes for disposal in ocean bottom, arising from the regulatory minimum density of 1.2 prescribed for such solidified wastes, a method is proposed of thickening the polyethylene with 36~38w/o sodium sulfate anhydride to raise the density above 1.2. The resulting thickened polyethylene loaded with simulated radioactive waste showed a monoaxial compressive strength far exceeding 150 kg/cm2, and proved to possess good stability in deionized water in immersion tests lasting 400 days. Polyethylene was also found to provide a volume reduction factor far higher than obtained with cement or asphalt solidification.


This paper examines the concept of performance support systems in university teaching. In four different studies a performance support system with education elements was built to support students while they learn and work on their assignments. Performance support systems originally originated from business and industry but seem to be very valuable in university settings (and therefore for HRD courses) as well. The four different studies are evaluated and results are reported.


The access for the rural population to information sources is very limited. Public library presents various information needs to the society through its services to the community. The present study examines the findings of a survey of users of the rural public library in Dakshina Kannada district. An attempt has been made to understand and evaluate the use of the Bantwal branch public library by the users with respect to their demographic characteristics, frequency and purpose of using the library, and their satisfaction with the resources and services provided in the library. The results of the survey indicate that students and job holders in private/public sector were the regular visitors to the library, who visited the library daily or once a week, hence public libraries need to enrich their information resource collection and create better ambience and basic facilities needed to retain the visitors for longer duration. This study also suggests the transformation of existing libraries or establishing a new set up of dynamic information centres with the help of the latest IT to effectively cater to the information needs of the rural people.


=3067552 Pasquale, F., & Bracha, O. (2007). Federal Search Commission? Access, fairness and accountability in the law of search. SSRN. https://papers.ssrn.com/ abstract=1002453 Paul, C., & Courtney, W. (2016). Russian propaganda is pervasive, and America is behind the power curve in countering it. Rand Corporation (blog), September 12. www.rand.org/blog/2016/09/russian-propaganda-is-pervasive-and-americais-behind.html Pennycook, G., Cannon, T. D., & Rand, D. G. (2017). Prior exposure increases perceived accuracy of fake news. SSRN. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=2958246 Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. (2017). Assessing the effect of "disputed" warnings and source salience on perceptions of fake news accuracy. SSRN. https://papers.ssrn .com/abstract=3035384 Amendment of Section 230 283 Published online by Cambridge University Press Prior, M. (2013). Media and political polarization. Annual Review of Political Science,


Through sampleplot investigation method,individual numbers and biomass of ant community in Xishuangbanna are determined,and daily and annual amount of soil and organic matters transported by ants are calculated separately.Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius) nests on 45.5% crowns of rubber trees and the latter is well protected.The total area of Xishuangbanna District is 19.690 km[2],in which Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve occupied 12.7%.The individual number of ants in this area is quite considerable.The total individual number of ants in Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve is 5.2×10[12],the respective biomass is 1.04×10[4] t,which equal to the total biomass of 3467 Asian elephants.And the annual amount of soil and organic matters they transported is 1.5×10[8] t.The total individual number of ants in the whole Xishuangbanna District is 5.2×10[13],and the respective biomass is 1.04×10[5] t,which equal to the total biomass of 34667 Asian elephants.The annual amount of soil and organic matters transported by these ants is 1.5×10[9] t.


A steam line upgrading and submetering program has cut the University of Seattle's energy bills by about 33%, almost double the guaranteed 17% saving and one-year payback. Other major steps to reduce energy consumption included reinsulating steam mains, reinsulating valves and expansion joints, and replacing faulty steam traps. The upgrade was done on the recommendation of Energard Corp., a consulting firm under contract for the university's energy management system.


This paper reports our submission to subtask A of task 4 (Sentiment Analysis in Twitter, SAT) in SemEval 2017, i.e., Message Polarity Classification. We investigated several traditional Natural Language Processing (NLP) features, domain specific features and word embedding features together with supervised machine learning methods to address this task. Officially released results showed that our system ranked above average.


By means of the analysis on the producing background of virtual enterprise and the system of conventional modeling,this paper expounded the idea of object-oriented multi-dimensional flexible integration modeling of virtual enterprise.The environmental factors,being regarded as positive factors,were arranged into the key elements in the modeling of virtual enterprise.The method of man-computer-environment integrated modeling based on CFS(Core Functional Structure)was presented.


The world of micro & nano technologies and systems has significantly evolved in the last few years. A paradigm shift has emerged which ranges from single silicon devices to a multitude of materials and integrated systems. The research approach has evolved accordingly: from mono-disciplines to multi-disciplinary research involving physics, mathematics, chemistry, medicine, biotechnology, mechanics, and micro-nano electronics. The development and integration of heterogeneous technologies at the interface of nanotechnology, biotechnology and information & communication technologies towards miniaturised, multifunctional and cost-effective systems is being attracting great interest and effort, world wide. In particular, under the research and technology development framework programme (FP) 6 of the European Union [2002-2006], the Information Society Technologies program (1ST), micro-nano systems sector2, invested more than 100 meuro through academic and industrial cooperative projects, striving a balance between technological innovation (discovery) and integration into functional systems that can be plugged into real-life environment (applied R&D). The group of EC-funded projects on Micro-Nano-Bio Convergence Systems, "so-called" MNBS, is made by projects developing systems that use a vast array of technologies to integrate across traditional boundaries between the micro-nano- bio, and info worlds, enabling a wide range of applications from health care to food quality monitoring. The group could be divided, at its current stage, in two main categories: - Biosensors, DNA & protein arrays, biochips, lab on chip, and other miniaturised systems enabling point of care, in vitro molecular diagnosis, and biological analysis. Such projects develop and integrate components and modules e.g. microfluidics, biosamples preparation, sensing, detection, signal processing and data reading/handling. Applications in biomedicine and healthcare include e.g. early cancer diagnostics, prognosis and disease recurrence (e.g. breast, prostate, lung and colorectal), malaria detection, diabetes monitoring and deep vein thrombosis early detection. Another promising research line is on wearable biochemical sensing though sweat analysis, targeting applications such as sports and human performance, obesity and wound healing. - Body sensors, implantable systems, endoscopic probes, active electrodes and other miniaturised systems interacting with the human body to enable several applications e.g. drug delivery, repairing of vital functions and diagnosis. These projects develop and integrate components and systems e.g. sensors, actuators, micro/nano electrodes, power supply, signal & data processing, and wireless telecommunication modules to fulfil predefined applications requirements. Such examples are smart implant sensors and systems e.g. glaucoma & retina sensor, intra-cranial pressure sensor, cochlear implant, functional electrical stimulation for limp motion, activity monitor, sphincter sensor and biosensor for blood glucose monitoring. Other examples include endoscopic probes (for gastrointestinal tumor recognition and therapy), active neural electrode system for stimulation and recording of brain activity and disorders; drug delivery through intraoral microsystem; non invasive Sensors and systems for attention, stress, vigilance and sleep on the go. The cluster aims at, promoting excellence and relevance within the community, building critical mass of activities with clear visibility and societal impact, as well as identifying possible synergies and common interest topics for further collaboration e.g. packaging, manufacturing, common infrastructure, standardization, ethics, testing-validation, market analysis & roadmapping, as well as dissemination, awareness and education. The paper will present the R&D strategy, the on-going activities and future challenges addressed by MNBS cluster.


We compute the divergent part of the three-point vertex function of the non-Abelian Yang-Mills gauge field theory within the stochastic quantization approach to the one-loop order. This calculation allows us to find four renormalization constants which, together with the four previously obtained, verify, to the calculated order, some Ward identities.


1ABSTRACTObjective Endothelial dysfunction is associated witharterial stiffness in large arteries. The purpose of thisstudy was to investigate the association betweencoronary endothelial dysfunction, coronary arterycompliance and wall shear stress in patients with earlyatherosclerosis.Methods Coronary endothelial function was assessedaccording to responses to intracoronary acetylcholine in120 patients without significant coronary stenosis.Acceleration of peak velocity (ACC), which is inverselyrelated to coronary artery compliance, was derived fromcoronary flow velocity spectra, and wall shear rate(WSR) was calculated. Measurements were performedat baseline and after intracoronary nitroglycerin in orderto eliminate the contribution of vascular smooth muscletone to coronary artery compliance.Results In all patients, heart rate significantly increased(7261to7761 bpm, p<0.01) and mean arterialpressure decreased (9762to9361 mm Hg, p<0.01)after nitroglycerin. Coronary blood flow (CBF) andresistance were not significantly changed, but thediastolic to systolic velocity ratio increased significantly(2.1560.08 to 5.3660.61, p<0.01). Patients withabnormal endothelial function (n¼70) had a higher WSRat baseline (559641 vs 440626 s


As a widow, Margaret of Burgundy (1374-1441), former Countess of Hainault, Holland, and Zeeland, owned an extensive dower, which provided her with a substantial income. She supported her daughter, ...


This report describes the kinematics, dynamics, control and mechatronics implementation of a mobile robot with dual wheel transmission. The robot comprises four wheels, two of which are coupled to two motors via a transmission which can pivot about the steering axis. The prototype structure is made of LEGO parts and custom stainless steel axles. The kinematics of the robot is described in terms of the twist of the 12 moving assemblies of the robot. Inertial and mass parameters of the moving assemblies are evaluated using a 3D CAD model in SolidWorks. The equations of motion of the system are derived in terms of the acceleration of the two actuated wheels and a configuration parameter of the robot in Maple. The state-space form of the system is used along with pole placement to define a controller for the configurationdependent robot model. Simulation runs under Simulink are performed to validate the controller. The mechatronics implementation is done using the Arduino platform. Finally, recommendations for future work are proposed.


Undoing business relationships that have developed over decades is not easy. The author of the breach exposes himself to the risk of his extra-contractual liability on the basis of the former…


Background: The aim of the present study was to validate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visual procedure to target the subthalamic nucleus (STN) based on surrounding anatomical landmarks. Methods: 31 consecutive bilaterally implanted parkinsonian patients were included in this study. After identification of the anterior commissure (AC), posterior commissure (PC) and midcommissural point on a three-dimensional T1-weighted sequence, inversion recovery (IR) T2-weighted coronal slices were performed orthogonal to the AC-PC line. On the slice showing the anterior pole of the red nucleus (RN), the target was placed in the inferolateral portion of the subthalamic zone, limited superiorly by the thalamus, laterally by the internal capsule, inferiorly by the substantia nigra and medially by the midline. The distribution of the targets was analyzed in the AC-PC referential. Results: The mean target coordinates were as follows: anteroposterior (AP) = –2.54 mm (±1.37 mm), lateral (LAT) = 12.03 mm (±0.91 mm) and vertical (VERT) = –6.10 mm (±1.52 mm) for the right side, and AP = –2.65 mm (±1.36 mm), LAT = –11.97 mm (±1.30 mm) and VERT = –5.89 mm (±1.52 mm) for the left side. They projected in the inferior portion of the STN on the Schaltenbrand and Wahren atlas [Stuttgart, Thieme, 1977]. Conclusion: Identification of the anterior pole of the RN and the subthalamic zone on coronal IR T2-weighted MRI performed orthogonal to the AC-PC line provides a precise visual procedure to target the STN.


The avowed purpose of most programming courses is to teach problem solving as well as to teach programming. How this purpose can be achieved is the topic of the first part of this paper. Drawing on recent research examining the cognitive demands of programming and the behavior of programmers, a chain of cognitive accomplishments culminating in increased problem solving skill is described. Whether and how this purpose is being achieved is the topic of the second part of this paper. Results of an integrated set of studies of middle school programming classes show how students start on this chain and how far they progress in introductory courses. These studies illustrate how "exemplary" instruction moves students much further along the chain than does "typical" instruction. Examination of the background characteristics of students in these courses reveals that general ability and out-of-school computer access are more associated with progress along the chain in typical classes than in exemplary classes.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of family ownership on dividend payout from the perspective of agency costs in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – Annual financial, board and family ownership data of 160 firms listed on the Bursa Malaysia are collected for the period 2005-2010. Analyses are carried out using descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, Tobit regression and three-stage least square regression analysis. Findings – The empirical results suggest that family share ownership at the dispersed level from between 0 to 5 percent is negatively associated with dividend payout and positively associated from the 5 to 33 percent level with dividend payout. Consistent with the extant literature, the observed relationship between family share ownership and dividend payout is stronger in firms with smaller total assets (size), low debt and low-growth opportunities. Further examination of investment decisions lends support to arguments which attribute higher agency costs as a resu...


The goal of the present study was to develop a virtual reality classroom, to improve student's Learning performance and outcomes. A serious virtual reality learning environment was developed, integrating virtual reality technology, virtual reality device, as well as 3D interactive virtual reality digital information content. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed design, students' performance in terms of their learning achievement and learning motivation was examined. 105 high-school students from Taiwan were divided into three individual groups of 35 students each, with one control group and experimental groups. The results of this virtual reality classroom showed significantly better learning motivation, learning outcomes and positive impacts on learning students' achievement scores.


The paper proposes an idea that moral philosophy and ethical theory are congruent with each other in their subject, but differ in their methods: the first one grasps a human act from the inside in its primary moral genesis, while the second one studies morality in its outward objectified forms. The author bases this view on his own interpretation of Mikhail Bakhtin's moral philosophy, presented in his early works «Toward a Philosophy of the Act and Author» and «Author and Hero in Aesthetic Activity». The opposite sides of an act, which is rooted in a living individual with one side and in culture with another one, acquire the inner character and entirety through personal moral responsibility


Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major problem associated with open abdominal surgery and is related to increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. A subcutaneous negative pressure drain reduces dead space in subcutaneous tissue by preventing accumulation of fluid. The aim of present study was to establish the efficacy of a subcutaneous negative pressure for preventing SSI following exploratory laparotomy.Methods: A total of eligible 76 patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgical procedure, between October 2016 to March 2018, were randomized into subcutaneous drainage (DG) and no drainage group (NDG). Antibiotic prophylaxis was applied to each patient. The diagnosis of superficial SSI was made and was graded according to Southampton Grading System.Results: 5 patients in drain group (40) and 25 patients in no drain group (36) had incisional SSI with statistical difference (p<0.05). No statistical difference between groups was observed for age, sex, hospital stay (p>0.05).Conclusions: Subcutaneous negative pressure prevents post-operative surgical site infection significantly. Subcutaneous negative pressure drainage reduces hospital stay in a patient undergone emergency laparotomy, compared to patients in whom negative pressure drain was not placed.


The Spanish humanist Antonio de Nebrija (1444-1522) is the author of an impressive body of scientific work which comprises a broad spectrum of humanistic knowledge. While the languages dealt with by Nebrija include not only Latin and Spanish, but the most prominent Romance languages, his grammatical work focuses on Latin, Castillian, Greek and even Hebrew. Moreover, his (bilingual) lexicographical studies combine Spanish, Latin, French, Catalan and Italian. In addition, there are medical dictionaries, dictionnaries of law, works on the Holy Bible, geographical research, treatises on rhethoric and history as well as on many other areas of contemporary knowledge. Most of these works have been published for allmost five centuries, thus inspiring European and missionary linguistics as well as Western philological traditions. They have served as models and sources for a great number and range of studies conducted and published not only in Spain, but nearly all over the world. Apart from the original version of Nebrija's works, numerous copies, also continuously produced during the past centuries, are accessible in international libraries. Many of these copies possess a great bibliographical value. The Bibliografia Nebrisense is a catalogue, listing the different editions of Nebrija's highly diversified œuvre. It provides information on the technical caracteristics of the individual editions and their respective locations. A complete bio-bibliographical study is added together with an exhaustive listing of secondary sources.El humanista espanol Antonio de Nebrija (1444-1522) fue autor de una ingente obra que abarco los mas variados campos de los saberes humanisticos y en la que, ademas, estaban implicadas no solo latin y espanol, sino las principales lenguas romanicas. Sus obras de tema gramatical, donde se encuentran latin, castellano, griego o hebreo; sus repertorios lexicograficos bilingues, donde se combinan espanol, latin, frances, catalan e italiano; sus diccionarios especializados de medicina, derecho, Sagrada Escritura o geografia, junto con sus trabajos sobre retorica, historia o tantos otros aspectos particulares que llamaron la atencion del humanista han sobrevivido hasta nuestros dias y durante mas de cinco siglos han ejercido una influencia enorme en toda la linguistica y la tradicion filologica occidental: sirvieron de modelo o de fuente para multitud de trabajos posteriores, no solo en Espana. Las obras de Nebrija, en fin, fueron ininterrumpidamente editadas y ejemplares de todas ellas, a veces de valor incalculable desde el punto de vista bibliografico, andan repartidos por bibliotecas de todo el mundo. La Bibliografia Nebrisense es un catalogo que reune y describe estas ediciones, informando de sus caracteristicas y paradero. Se anade, ademas, un completo estudio bio-bibliografico y una relacion exhaustiva de fuentes secundarias.


SOMEWHERE BEFORE the end of this two‐part article I shall mention one library and at least one book. That should justify reminiscences of a brief holiday in the Soviet Union appearing in a library journal. The July and August issues have been chosen in order to achieve a gripping contrast between British high summer and deep Russian winter and hence, to gain maximum sympathy for the conditions we endured.


In this paper, in order to accurately calibrate binocular infrared camera, a method was proposed. It contains a calibration checkerboard based on thermal infrared radiation and the Zhang method. After the calibration experiment, we accurately obtained its internal parameters and stereo parameters. The results show that: the mean reprojection error (MRE) is less than 0.15pixels, and the calibration precision of baseline length reached 0.35%. It proves the effectiveness of the calibration checkerboard and the feasibility of our proposed method.


Objective: To assess the number of mature endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in a cohort of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).


COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered fear, has affected the tourism industry globally, and Philippine tourism was not an exception. Gen Z travelers, an underexplored generation, are seen to play a key factor in tourism innovations. Further, destination image in the context of COVID-19 pandemic has not yet been widely explored. This study aims to investigate the effect of Filipino Gen Z's COVID-19 fear on their perception of cognitive, affective, and conative image. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) revealed that Gen Z's COVID-19 fear did not have a significant effect on destination image. Significant positive relationships among the destination image components were proven.  Affective image mediated the relationship between cognitive and conative images. The study contributes to the limited studies on Gen Z's and their destination image perception during the pandemic. It encourages organizations and marketers to focus on Gen Z travelers to form positive destination image during the pandemic.


An optoelectronic component comprising an optoelectronic semiconductor chip having a first surface on which a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are disposed. The first surface is adjacent to a molded article. A first pin and a second pin are embedded in the molded body and is electrically conductively connected to the first contact and the second contact connected. A protection diode is embedded in the molded body and is electrically conductively connected to the first contact and the second contact.


The main objective of the Environment, Science, Technology and Society approach (ESTS) in science education is to develop scientific literacy in students, preparing them for the exercise of active and conscious citizenship. This view of education must be considered in curriculum guidelines and other documents governing the educational activity. An analytical tool to determine if the ESTS perspective is integrated into the curriculum documents has been developed. Its construction has been done in five stages on the basis of data and considerations of recent research in science education, as well as various tools already used in the ESTS perspective. This instrument has been publicly presented, debated and reformulated according to the suggestions received, and has been validated by experts. It is concluded that the proposal represents an effective tool to achieve the established objectives.


The True Pure Land priest Shimaji Mokurai (1838–1911) was at the forefront of the Buddhist struggle for survival when the Meiji government employed an invented Shinto as a means of unifying the Japanese people to help transform Japan into a modern state. Mokurai is credited for having introduced the 'modern' notions of 'religious freedom' and 'separation of church and state' to Japan after undertaking a journey to Europe in the early 1870s. Despite making such an important contribution to Japan's intellectual history, Mokurai remains an understudied historical figure.
By focusing on Mokurai's personal background up until the Meiji Restoration, this study traces the origins of certain aspects of his thought back to late Tokugawa Chōshū, where he spent the first thirty years of his life. A discussion of the role played by Shin Buddhism in bakumatsu Chōshū and in the Meiji Restoration will highlight the agency of Buddhism and call into question the traditional view that Buddhism was a weakened institution by the end of the Tokugawa period. An analysis of Mokurai's travel diaries will reveal encounters and experiences in Europe that further formed his understanding of 'religion' and its relationship to the state. The dissertation will next discuss how, back in Japan, Mokurai's Chōshū connections helped facilitate the adoption of his views into governmental religious policies. It will also demonstrate how, through essays on 'religion' and other themes related to Japan's civilising effort, published in Japan's first dedicated Buddhist journal Hōshi sōdan and elsewhere, Mokurai's ideas reached the wider public. Through the lens of Mokurai's legacy, this dissertation revisits the broader questions of the (dis)continuity from bakumatsu into Meiji and of the role of (Shin) Buddhism in Japan's modernising effort based on the Meiji government's 'civilisation and enlightenment' and 'rich country, strong army' ideals of the 1870s.


A design method of finite dimensional nonlinear disturbance observer based control (NLDOBC) is proposed for a class of nonlinear dissipative partial differential equation (PDE) systems, where the disturbance is modeled by an exosystem of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Motivated by the fact that the dominant structure of the dissipative PDE is usually characterized by a finite number of degrees of freedom, the modal decomposition technique is initially applied to the PDE system to give a slow subsystem of low dimensional nonlinear ODEs. By using the nonlinear slow subsystem and exosystem, a nonlinear disturbance observer (NLDO) is constructed to estimate the disturbance. Then, on the basis of NLDO, an NLDOBC method is proposed in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI) to ensure the exponential stability of the closed-loop PDE system in the presence of the modeled disturbance. Finally, the simulation results on control of one dimensional Fisher diffusion-reaction system show the effectiveness of the proposed method.


CONTINUITY OF CARE (or simply, 'continuity'), which Haggerty et al define as the degree to which a patient experiences their care as 'coherent[, ...] connected and consistent with [their] medical needs and personal context', has been recognised as a feature of high-quality medical care, especially primary care, for more than half a century.1 Recent studies have reinforced this consensus, with data associating continuity with increased patient2 and provider3 satisfaction, decreased cost of care4 and even decreased mortality.5 However, measuring, tracking and improving continuity remains a significant challenge, in part because of the subjectivity and complexity of the patient-provider relationship. First (1), self-reported measures should be adapted to become inclusive of technology-enabled care. [...]3), utilisation indices should also be updated to incorporate the continuity effects of technology-enabled care. Authors James C Bohnhoff MD, Clinician-Research Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Dheepa Sekar MD, Clinical Instructor, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Aimee Pickering MD, Clinical Instructor, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Tiffany Yang MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Maryam Zamanian MD Clinical Instructor, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Galen E Switzer PhD, Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Competing interests:


A non-linear theory proposed different models of perception of ambiguous patterns, describing different aspects of multistable behaviour of the brain. This paper aims to review the phenomenon of ambiguity in art and to show that the mathematical models of the perception of ambiguous patterns should be regarded as one of the basic models of artistic perception. The following type of ambiguity in art will be considered. Visual ambiguity in painting, semantic (meaning) ambiguity in literature (for instance, ambiguity which V. Shklovsky called 'the man who is out of his proper place'), ambiguity in puns, jokes and anecdotes, and mixed (visual and semantic) ambiguity in acting and sculpture. The complexity theory of the brain revealed that the human brain as a complex system operates close to the point of instability and ambiguity in art must be regarded as an important tool for supporting the brain near this critical point that gives human beings possibilities for better adaptation.


In clause are carried out scientific researches therefore influence of a constitution on an albuminous exchange and quality of milk of cows Simmental breeds is revealed. The presence of heavy metals in the ground silts. The comparative analysis of the element composition in the fish muscular tissue showed the abnormal distribution of chemical elements and accumulation of ecological toxicants at the representatives of different fish families.


ABSTRACT One purpose of this study is to examine the complex government infrastructure that implements and enforces laws that were created to protect farm workers from environmental hazards. The second purpose is to present a case study on farm workers in South Florida to determine whether the federal and state laws are protecting this occupational group from environmental hazards related to pesticide exposure. A survey based on questions that pertain to various laws was used to gather data on farm workers in two South Florida counties. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with farm workers at several migrant farm worker day care centers in Palm Beach and Indian River County, Florida. The findings of the study reveal that federal and state laws which are currently in place to protect the workers from pesticide exposure do not adequately protect the workers from exposure to harmful pesticides and farm workers are uninformed of the laws which exist to protect them from possible pesticide exposure. The study concludes with policy recommendations that will improve the implementation and enforcement of the current laws designed to protect farm workers from pesticide exposure.


According to Blackslaw dictionary, the definition of Mining law is the act of appropriating a mining claim (parcel of land containing precious metal in its soil or rock) according to certain established rule. Basically, State is entitled full authority to explore and exploit their natural resources. In practice, State is represented by company to explore and exploit its natural resources. Therefore, State creates mining law to provide basic principles and to regulate activities on mining industry. This article provides a full picture of the Indonesian mining law industry from many aspects, start from the colonial period until the present tie.


Disclosed is a method for preparing glyceric acid directly from glycerin through dioxygen catalytic oxidation(2). The method takes glycerin as material and oxygen or air as oxidant to prepare glyceric acid intermittently in one step through reaction for1-24 hours under 25-90 DEG C with the existence of carbon nanotube supported metal catalyst. The conversion ratio of the glycerin reaches 62-1005 and the yield of glyceric acid comes to 31-71wt%. Compared with the glyceric acid preparation methods in existence, the method of the invention has the advantages of high yield, low cost, little pollution to the environment and simple separation process.


The invention discloses a short message forwarding device and method. Information of an original short message writer can be selected for a forwarded short message, and the operation steps of a person who carries out forwarding are reduced. The short message forwarding device comprises an interaction monitoring module, a data integration module, a short message database, a contact database, an input end, an output end and a user interface. Compared with the prior art, the short message which needs forwarding and the information of the person who writes the original short message are combined through the data integration module, the information content, which needs to be displayed, of the person who writes the original short message is selected so that the forwarded short message can display the information of the person who writes the original short message, the emotional color of the short message is improved, and the forwarding operation steps are reduced.


The subject of the article is periodization of the stages of Roman law assimilation into European jurisprudence. The purpose of the article is to o allocate independent stages of reception of the Roman law by legal science of the European countries. The methodological basis of research is analysis and interpretation of legal literature devoted to genesis of European jurisprudence. Taking into account that methodology as a specific branch of scientific activity appeared relatively recently, this work is mainly devoted to historical and legal issues of acceptance and subsequent reception of Roman law by European legal science, which in turn means focusing on more easily protected private law, which has a much longer history of formation and development compared to other legal systems. Results, scope of application. The paper attempts to systematize the main stages of penetration of the foundations of Roman law in the main legal concepts of the European States, occurring from the moment of their origin at the end of the XII century up to the beginning of their unification in the national codified acts in the XVIII century. There was a predominance of teaching of Roman law and, in particular, the Code of civil law (Corpus iuris civilis), – Digests of Justinian, – which became the main text for legal research. The Roman law, however, did not have a complete monopoly, and therefore the paper examines the fundamental conceptual approaches of Canon law and moral theology. Their own systems of legal norms were also developed in Canon law on a completely different basis in compare with Roman law. Those sytems in a critical dialogue with the approaches inherent in Roman law, actually paved the way to natural law, which served as the basis for the creation of modern normative legal acts, including codified ones. The work takes into account the considerable scale of Europe, which influenced the historical development of jurisprudence in its various parts, in connection with which the European legal science existed for centuries until the emergence of national codified legal acts objectively predetermined the need to focus mainly on their own national legal systems. Special attention is paid to the period of time between the emergence of the first universities in continental Europe and the development of national codified legal acts in the XVIII century. Conclusions. It is obvious that the glossators may have applied Roman law, although it has very little evidence in the historical material. In turn the commentators definitely used Justinian's Digests. The criticism of legal humanists and natural lawyers meant that Roman law was ultimately applied only when its reasonable content continued to be satisfactory. The transition to national codifications, accompanied by the abolition of Roman law as a source of law, actually became a real paradigm shift in European jurisprudence. However, this does not mean that the common heritage of Roman law has become forgotten.


As increasing climate variability continues to strain agricultural production, priorities must be aligned with methods to maintain or improve current production processes, including advanced, technology-based methods of measuring individual feed and water intakes and increasing water use efficiency in cattle. A total of 745 animals were evaluated in eight test groups from 11/25/19 to 9/2/21 in a dry lot equipped with In-Pen Weighing Positions and Feed and Water-Intake Nodes. Relationships among average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), residual feed intake (RFI), water intake (WI), residual water intake (RWI), animal performance variables, and environmental variables at the individual animal level were investigated on a first test group of Angus bulls (n = 125) and crossbred steers (n = 53). Root mean square error (RMSE) was used as a measure of error between model-predicted and observed DMI. Random Forest (RF) analysis predicted the daily DMI, with RMSE 0.92 kg for bulls and 0.85 kg for steers. When performance measures were averaged across the entire test period, the RMSE using RF were 0.39 and 0.34 kg DMI for bulls and steers, respectively. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance (RM ANOVA) was used with the same set of predictive variables as in RF. DMI was strongly related to body weight, WI, short wave radiation (MJ), and relative humidity (%; all p< 0.0001). RM ANOVA predicted the daily DMI with (RMSE) 1.5 kg for bulls and 1.41 kg for steers and 0.75 and 0.61 kg DMI for bulls and steers across the entire testing period. Study results identify relationships between DMI, WI and other growth metrics in a dry lot, which must be explored in pasture to identify biomarkers of feed and water efficiency in cattle to improve sustainability of beef production in grazing systems.


Problem statement: This study addressed the essential questions of non linear financial
flows forecasting and prevention regarding the means of periodicity. Approach: We implemented
some new computational tools to weigh up the presence of periodicity in 10 years financial price time
series. The data consists of NYSE-Euronext listed corporations' closing prices and East-Asian, North-American and European markets indexes closing prices. Results: Empirical evidence put forward that the tools allow considering the periodicity plus a forecasting side effect for the next months. The lengths of the cycles are determined for indexes and assets with strong disparity between the two categories. Conclusion: Extensively, the results open the road to determine structural changes in time series by allowing the calculation of the fundamental frequencies. It introduces some concepts from physics and discusses their potential usefulness in financial economics. This shows the way to detect financial and economic extreme events (burst of bubbles, companies' failures, markets or sectors' recessions) as to prevent them.


1\e efliciency of mycon·hizal inoculation (Glomus mncmcO?Iim) on effectiveness of BCMV and R. solanl infection •...-as studied in be.an pl11nts (Phrueolus vulgari.' L.). Results showed that R. snlani when introduced alone in sterilized soil caused the highest percentage of post-emergence damping-off and root-rot diseases. and the tre11t1nents using mycorrhizal or BCMV inoculation decreued the percentage of nutgal diseases while, the lowest percentage of fungal infection resulted from the combullltion of V AM fungus and vim I inoculation. 'I11e highest percentage of viral infection occl.l.l'l'ed with V AM ftmgus inoculation while, R. so/an/ decreased the percentage of viral infection. Moreover, the lo•.vest percentage of viral mfected plants occurred with the c-Ombination of R. so/ani and V AM fungua in sterilivx!. soil. Slight reduction in colonization intensity and spore produ('Aion ofV AM fungus were occurred with viral infection regardlesR the type of ooil. While, the highest reduction was approved with fungal inoculation. Total bacteria I cowtts in the rhizosphere soil were higher in Oil lie of inoc;;uh!.ti.on with V AM And BCMV combination at all growth periods V AM funwJS when inoculated alone are oombined with BCMV increased the oounts of Actinomycete& at all growth periods of bean plants. On the oontn.ry, viral and mycorrhizal inoculation decreased the counts of fungi in soil specially in the combination of V AM fungus and BCMV treatment which led to sharp decrease in population of fungi.


An analysis of recent experimental results on image-potential-induced surface states is presented. Plasmon dispersion and single-particle effects in the medium response are included as well as the bound-state nature of the electron creating its own image potential. The formalism is accurate enough to explain well the existing experimental binding energy data. The author predicts a peak width narrower than the experimental one. This should be confirmed with increasing experimental resolution.


Objective: To evaluate the analgesic effect, the life quality and toxic action of rectal administration of morphine sulfate controlled-release tablets (MST) in patients with oral administration. Methods:41 patients with cancer pain and with nausea, vomiting, obstruction and dysphagia were treated with rectal administration of MST, 12h a cycle. For comparision, 32 patients were treated with oral administration of MST, 12h a cycle. Results:The total effective rate of the group of rectal administration was 97. 56%. Incidence of the toxic action was 19. 52%. Karnofsky was advanced from(45. 24 ± 8. 21) to (66. 22 ±11.6) ;The total effective rate of the oral morphine group was 96. 87% . Incidence of the toxic action was 56. 24% . Karnofsky was advanced from (47. 81 ± 12. 11 ) to (66. 72 ± 10. 36). Analgesic effect and the life quality showed statistical significant difference between the two groups (P 0. 05). Toxicity showed statistical difference between the two groups (P 0. 01). Conclusion: Rectal administration of MST for treatment of cancer pain was as effective as oral administration of MST. But the side effects was mild. The rectal administration of MST is fit especially for the patients, that oral administration is not available.


Summary

The main polycondensation reaction of poly(m-xylene adipamide) (PA-MXD6) is a reversible reaction strongly coupled with mass transfer in melt polycondensation process. In this work, a realistic model for melt polycondensation of PA-MXD6 has been proposed taking in to account the kinetics data, equilibrium data and diffusion process for major by-product water in the melts. The characteristics of reaction and the effects of mass-transfer of polycondensation process have been studied by using stagnant film experiments. It is observed that the apparent rate of the polycondensation process increases with higher temperature, lower degree of vacuum and thinner film thickness with reduced specific interfacial area. Based on the experimental data, the model parameters including the kinetics data, equilibrium data and mass transfer coefficient of volatile have been estimated by the nonlinear least squares method. The model predictions are in a quite satisfactory agreement with the experimental data that all of the relative deviations are almost less than 2%.


An analysis of smoke haze over Europe in July 2016 caused by the wildfires in Siberia has been carried out. Surface air pollution by aerosols in Moscow region during the smoke event was also investigated. It was found that optical and microphysical characteristics of the smoke aerosol in Europe were typical for the boreal forest fires. The aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) variations at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and the bottom of the atmosphere (BOA) during the smoke haze period were analyzed. The regional mean direct radiative forcing of aerosols at the TOA and BOA on 26 July 2016 were estimated to be -25 and -45 W/m2 respectively. Probability distribution function of ARF values at the TOA was presented.


In the present study, different nanoparticles were used to improve the Cementation Brick properties, such as Nano Alumina (NA), Nano Ferrite (NF) and Nano Copper (NC). The weight of cement was partially replaced by those nanoparticles. All types of nanoparticles were added in four ratios (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 wt%). Three types of those nanoparticles were utilized as mixtures, first mix of NA, second mix of NF and mix of NC brick. Experimental studies were conducted to identify the optimum ratio of the mixture. The results show that 2 wt% of Nano Copper is the most relevant ratio that can improve the targeted properties. In addition, the best ratios of Nano Alumina and Nano Ferrite were observed to be 1.5 wt%. Overall, the bricks with added nanoparticles showed a better reinforcement than the bricks without adding nanoparticles. The concrete testing equipment was used to determine the bearing strength of the bricks in three different curing ages 7, 28 and 90 days. It was revealed that the bricks that contain NA particles show a better performance of strength against the compression of the tester than NC and NF particles in all ages. The ratio of 2 wt% resulted as the best ratio to decrease the water absorption of the bricks. Also, the bulk density was higher when 2 wt% ratio was used. Thus, the physical properties were significantly improved when using the nanoparticles.


Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase(XTH) plays an important role in fruit softening through degrading xyloglucan which is the predominant hemicellulose of cell wall.To reveal the relationship between fruit softening and XTH gene during sandy pear(Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai cv.Cui Guan) fruit ripening,a full length cDNA(1 300 bp) of PpXTH1 was isolated from mature sandy pear fruit using RT-PCR and RACE(rapid amplification of cDNA ends) methods.Sequence analysis showed that the isolated cDNA contained a 125 bp 5′ untranslated region,a 293 bp 3′ untranslated region and an 882 bp open reading frame which encoded a polypeptide including 294 amino acids.The protein induced by PpXTH1 had XTHs catalytic domain DEIDFEFL motif.The results also exhibited that PpXTH1 was 98.0%,85.0% and 67.6% identical with the XTH protein sequence,separated from Malus demostic,Actinidia deliciosa and Lycopersicon esculentum,respectively.Molecular phylogenetic tree analysis showed that PpXTH1 with MdXTH1,PcXTH1,AdXTH5 and PtrXTH16A were divided into a group and they were all closely related to fruit ripening and cell wall secondary structure metabolism.Under high temperature shelf life condition(28~32 ℃),expression level of PpXTH1 in sandy pear pulp rose constantly,reached the highest at 8 d,and then declined slowly.After treatment with 1-MCP,the expression level an ethylene receptor inhibitor was decreased.All these results suggest that PpXTH1 is the member of sandy pear XTH gene family and is involved in pulp softening,moreover,its expression level is regulated by ethylene during fruits softening.


In this study, the effect of orientation on the indentation hardness and energy absorption of an ori- ented transparent Trogamid polyamide was investigated with a spherical indentation methodology. It was found that the orientation significantly improved the indentation hardness and energy absorbed by plastic deformation. From the indentation hardness measurement, the elastic modulus, yield stress, and strain hardening exponent were derived from both the elastic and plastic regions of the in- dentation load-displacement curves. The elastic modulus was found to remain the same with orientation; the yield stress and the strain hardening exponent increased with orientation. The increase in the strain hardening exponent was the primary reason for the improved indentation hardness and energy absorption in the oriented samples. The mechanical properties from indentation measurements were compared to values obtained from tension true stress/true strain measurements. Good agreement was observed between the results from the indentation and tension tests. The effect of temperature on the mechanical properties was also studied. It was found that the modu- lus and yield stress were higher at a lower temperature; however, the strain hardening exponent remained unaf- fected. V C 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 163-172, 2009


Password is the most universally used authentication technique to authenticate the users on the web. Password based authentication protocols are vulnerable to dictionary attacks by means of automated programs because most of the user chosen passwords are limited to the user's personal domain. In this paper, we propose a secure password based authentication protocol in which the computation efforts required from the attacker during login on to the web server increases with each login failure. The web server stores the cookie on the client's computer if the legitimate client authenticates itself to the web server. There after, the legitimate client can easily authenticate itself to the web server from a computer that contains cookie. However, the legitimate client or the attacker has to put up some additional computational efforts during login from a computer that does not contain cookie. The client generated dynamic authentication information is different for the same user in different sessions of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol. The concept used in this paper is to combine traditional password authentication with a challenge that is easy to answer by the legitimate client and the computational cost of authentication increases for an attacker with each login failure. Therefore, even the automated programs can not launch online dictionary attacks on the proposed protocol. This protocol provides better protection against different types of attacks launched by the attacker. The proposed protocol is easy to implement and it removes the some of the deficiencies of previously suggested password based authentication protocols.


Abstract Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are both novel and second-line therapies in type 2 diabetes mellitus, yet no well-rounded comparison of these two drugs has been published. Upon searching randomized controlled trials in databases from inception to July 2018, we collected studies on the efficacy or safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors compared with those of DPP-4 inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 12 randomized controlled studies including 4342 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors achieved greater reductions in HbA1c (SMD –0.22; 95% CI: –0.30, –0.14; p=0.000) and fasting plasma glucose (SMD –0.48; 95% CI: –0.56, –0.41; p=0.000). In addition, these reductions increased with a prolonged treatment duration from 12 to 78 weeks. Geographically, significant reductions of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HbA1c and FPG were found in North America and Europe, but not in Asia. Furthermore, SGLT-2 inhibitors showed greater reductions in body weight (SMD −0.72; 95% CI: –0.81, –0.63; p=0.000) from baseline, with an increased incidence of genital infections (OR 4.49; 95% CI: 2.96, 6.83; p=0.000) and pollakiuria (OR 2.24; 95% CI: 1.05, 4.79; p=0.037) and a decreased incidence of hypertension and hyperglycemia. Overall, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that compared to DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors have beneficial effects on HbA1c, FPG, body weight, SBP, DBP, and HDL-cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, SGLT-2 inhibitors are associated with increased total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and a higher incidence of genital infections and pollakiuria.


Suriname is often represented as a stratified mosaic of cultures and languages. The layers correspond to cultures and languages that entered Suriname via multiple migratory movements in different time depths. With languages from two major indigenous Amerindian families, several Afro-Caribbean English Lexifier Creoles and further dialectal varieties of Indo-European languages belonging to the Germanic cluster (English, Dutch) and the Italic cluster (French, Portuguese), Suriname already boasted an extraordinary linguistic diversity by the end of the eighteenth century. The Dutch labour trade of the last decades of the nineteenth and the first decades of the twentieth century added additional layers of complexity to the picture. After the abolishment of slavery in 1863, indentured labourers from North-Eastern India, Java, and Southern China brought their languages with them, adding representatives of major linguistic families of the world, namely Indic (Sarnami), Austronesian (Javanese) and Sino-Tibetan (Hakka or Keija). In the decades since the independence of Suriname in 1975, patterns of (circular) migration between the main city and plantations and villages along the coast and in the interior of Suriname, as well as between Suriname and the Netherlands have emerged. More recently, a new wave of Chinese immigrants has resulted in a sizable Cantonese and Mandarin speaking community. Furthermore, communities of Brazilians and Haitians are being formed, supported by the gold sector and through domestic/agricultural work, respectively. This mosaic of cultures and languages is often commemorated as an example of respect and tolerance; different ethnic and religious groups, each with their own unique cultural and linguistic characteristics, co-exist peacefully in a multicultural and multilingual society. In this chapter, we challenge this somewhat static view of Suriname's cultural and linguistic diversity. The linguistic data that we present will show that languages in Suriname do not merely co-exist and that Suriname should not be characterised as a form of stable bilingualism and diglossia, where so-


Objectives : The aim of our study was to determine the role of fenugreek seed powder on serum lipid profile in patients of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Methods : Of all the patients attending the medicine OPD of Muzaffarnagar Medical College & Hospital from June 2012 August 2014, 100 patients of Type II Diabetes Mellitus were selected randomly, including both male and female of age group 40-75 years. They were then divided into 2 groups, study group and control group. One group consisting of fifty patients was given only Anti-Diabetic treatment (control group) and another group consisting of fifty patients was given 50gm of powdered fenugreek seeds in two divided doses in their diet along with their Anti-Diabetic treatment (study group). All the hundred patients included in the study were on lifestyle modification also. Their serum fasting lipid profile levels were repeated every two months for a study period of six months and then the data from study and control group was evaluated and compared. Results : There was significant reduction in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, and triglyceride and significant rise in the high density lipoprotein levels. Conclusion : The result support the hypothesis and the research question that fenugreek supplement with usual medical care for Type II Diabetes Mellitus is more effective than the usual medical care alone. Therefore, it is recommended that fenugreek supplementation is safe and may be considered in Diabetic patients as a potential means to lower the serum lipid profile level.