Abstract The COVID-19 global pandemic raises fundamental questions about the future of global mobility. This paper considers publicly posted blog posts from members of the Irish diaspora during the early months of the global pandemic in 2020. Using real-time self-reporting blogs permitted an unobtrusive snapshot into the living experiences of members of the Irish diaspora during this time. Content analysis was undertaken on a total of fifty-nine individual blogs, and key themes across the blogs are explored. The primary theme of technology as both enabler and inhibiter is unpacked, in relation to global communication, work-life balance and working from home – anywhere in the world. A research agenda pertaining to the future of global mobility is proposed.


The present invention, (1) Incineration (小 角) each forming a full width at half maximum (half-height width) of the maximum peak intensity of the azimuth scanning by the X-ray scattering measurement is 60 degrees or more and; (2) forming a half-value width of the equatorial direction in the small-angle X-ray scattering measurement angle is 2.5 degrees or less; 3 relates to a polyurethane elastic yarn is less than or equal to the maximum shrinkage stress peak temperature of 135 ℃ of the thermal stress measured. The present invention also relates to a straight-knitted fabric that is elastic and knitted replace the polyurethane elastic yarn and thermoplastic synthetic fibers, natural fibers or regenerated fibers of the substrate. Polyurethane elastic yarn, elastic fabric, stretch fabric, small-angle X-ray scattering measurements


The raw material(dicyclopentadiene) is decomposed by vapor-phase thermal cracking method and using azeotrope feeding with water,and then the monomer(cyclopentadiene) is obtained.Whereafter the target product(titanocene dichloride) is synthesized via the reaction of cyclopentadiene and TiCl4 in the presence of diethylamine.The resulting optimum conditions are as follows:the molar ratio of TiCl4 and cyclopentadiene is 1∶4;the molar ratio of diethylamine and TiCl4 is 3∶1;the solvent is dioxane;atmospheric refluxing 4h,multiple dissolving and purifying by DMF.The results show that the yield of titanocene dichloride can reach 75.4% and environmental pollution is reduced.


The politics of economic development in northern, resource-based communities can be exacerbated by a wide number of challenging dynamics. These dynamics go well beyond NIMBY and BANANA responses to development, but also include the pronounced "us vs. them" perspective where development is frequently understood to be driven by exploitative interests external to the communities that are directly impacted. This discussion paper wrestles with questions related to the role of a university in economic development in northern British Columbia, Canada. The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is situated amongst multiple development initiatives related to oil and gas, mining, and hydroelectricity. Disparate and competing interests either in favour of, or in opposition to, development often look to the university for leadership and engagement.  Exploring how a university might best respond to competing interests provides insight into many challenges of economic development in the North. The paper is part of a special collection of brief discussion papers presented at the 2014 Walleye Seminar, held in Northern Saskatchewan, which explored consultation and engagement with northern communities and stakeholders in resource development.


The book examines how we make our thoughts clear to ourselves in the process of putting them into words. As philosophers and cognitive scientists have emphasized, articulating a thought can be astoundingly easy. We generally have no trouble expressing complex ideas that we have never considered before. But not always: a far less noted fact is that articulating a thought can sometimes be extremely hard. Our difficulties in articulating thoughts pervade many aspects of philosophical inquiry as well as many ordinary situations. We may face them in articulating an objection in a seminar, an insight into a movie, or a sudden realization about a friend. An important feature of these thoughts is that we often articulate them in order to find out what they are. In many cases, we would not bother articulating our thoughts if we already had this knowledge. Yet, when we find the right words, we can often immediately tell that they express our thought. So how do we manage to recognize the formulations of our thoughts, in the absence of prior knowledge of what we are thinking? And why is it that producing a public language formulation contributes in any way to the private undertaking of getting clear on our own thoughts?


This paper propose a delay-dependent robust model predictive control scheme for linear parameter-varying systems with unknown bounded delay and input constraints. We present a parameter dependent sufficient condition of cost monotonicity. The proposed method is based on parameter-dependent controllers, which are designed by minimizing the upper bound of the worst-case cost function and by using the sufficient condition. The proposed delay-dependent robust model predictive control law guarantees the stability of the closed-loop systems. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated by a numerical example.


The conducted research consists in the possibility of using the obtained data to build a modern model of state regulation of the fuel and energy complex. The research results can be used in the activities of interested state authorities, mainly at the federal level. The paper discusses the theoretical features of state regulation of the fuel and energy complex. The characteristic of the development of the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation is given. The paper studies the development of state regulation mechanisms in the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation. The problems of development of the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation are highlighted. Recommendations for improving interaction between the fuel and energy complex and the state are given.


The invention provides a preparation method for a vertical single wall carbon nanotube array. The method comprises the following steps: (1) depositing an aluminum film with a thickness of 3 to 20 nanometers on the surface of a substrate; (2) oxidizing the aluminum film at room temperature or at a temperature lower than 200 DEG C as needed; (3) depositing a catalyst layer with a thickness of 0.2 to 1.0 nanometer on the aluminum film or on the oxidized aluminum film; (4) depositing an aluminum film with a thickness of no more than 0.5 nanometer on the catalyst layer; (5) preheating or pretreating a product obtained in step (4) in the presence of 0.1 to 100 millibar low pressure reducing atmosphere; (6) introducing carbon source gas with a concentration of 0.1% to 50% at a growth temperature of 550 to 850 DEG C for growth of the single walled vertical carbon nanotube array. According to the invention, the disadvantages of preparation of single walled carbon nanotubes in the prior art are overcome or at least alleviated; preparation of the single walled vertical carbon nanotube array is realized by using as-simple-as-possible technology and process, and very effective control of the diameter, density and length of the single walled vertical carbon nanotube array can be achieved.


In memory nanodevices based on phase changes induced thermally, the process of information recording is a reversible transition between the structurally ordered (crystalline) and disordered (amorph...


New families of classes containing all linear functions. They are formed by intersections of classes from previously known families, in particular, the classes of preservation of comparisons modulo d and preservation of d-differences, d|k.


Introduction The production of model psychoses has been employed as a technique for testing hypotheses relevant to the causes, correlates, and treatment of schizophrenia since 1921, when De Jong demonstrated experimental catatonia by giving bulbocapnine to animals.5This method of study has received considerable impetus with the discovery of the hallucinogenic properties of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25)22and other psychotomimetic agents. Objections have since been raised to the drawing of premature analogies between the psychotic-like states produced by drugs and the psychopathology of schizophrenia. Ebaugh has pointed out that "the difference between these pseudopsychoses and schizophrenia is so striking that such experimentation seems to have only tenuous relevance to the problem of schizophrenia."7On the other hand, Wikler has asserted that "from the standpoint of the development of dynamic (causal) concepts about human behavior, it matters little whether or not model psychoses resemble schizophrenia. Drugs which modify


This paper describes several kinds of electron beam sources and their gun structures for a semiconductorlithography system. In general, high brightness LaB6 thermal-emission type is very common due to the lowworkfunction advantage. However, for an electron-beam projection lithography system (EPL), the high emittance (low brightness) gun should be required in order to achieve excellent illumination uniformity even in theone large exposure field. Furthermore, the direct-bombardment Ta cathode and a unique illumination opticsare needed. They result in excellent pattern line-width fidelity. For the future node devices, a mask-less lithographysystem is also expected. For this purpose, various kinds of multiple beam sources are described. Insummary, optimized electron sources and gun structures should be required along with the suitable electronbeam lithography for every node device.


A novel ridge structure fabricated by selective-area epitaxial growth is proposed for InGaN MQW laser diodes (LDS). This technique is capable of precisely controlling the active ridge width and height, thus enabling stable single transverse-mode operation. Together with a backside n-contact on a low-dislocation-density GaN substrate, this structure provides high productivity and performance for GaN-based blue-violet LDs. The LDs fabricated by this technique have achieved continuous-wave operation at more than 30 mW up to a temperature of 90 degrees C, with a characteristic temperature T0 of 105 K from 20 to 90 degrees C. The laser design and characteristics are discussed in detail.


It is emphasized that non-Markovian processes, which occur for instance in the case of colored noise, cannot be considered merely as corrections to the class of Markov processes but require special treatment. Many familiar concepts, such as first-passage times, no longer apply and need be reconsidered. Several methods of dealing with non-Markov processes are discussed. As an example a recent application to the transport of ions through a membrane is briefly mentioned.


Research in stakeholder management has theorized extensively the prioritization of stakeholders as a key dynamic of firms' value creation, but has paid less attention to the organizational practices involved in the process of deciding 'who and what really counts.' We examine changes underpinning managers' prioritization of stakeholders and focus on how managers' attention to salient stakeholders is represented and communicated in a firm's accounting and reporting system. We study the emergence and development of Social Return on Investment (SROI): an accounting methodology intended to permit managers both to incorporate stakeholders' voices and to communicate the social value created by the firm for those stakeholders. We find that the ability of SROI to account for specific stakeholders, thus categorizing them as salient for the firm, is shaped by managers' epistemic beliefs and by the organization's material conditions. Our findings contribute to stakeholder theory by showing that the prioritization of stakeholders is not solely a managerial decision, but instead is dependent on the construction of an appropriate accounting and reporting system, as shaped by managers' epistemic beliefs and by the organization's material conditions.


BACKGROUND: Shunt infection is one of the dreaded and serious complications following ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP shunt) insertion, especially in a pediatric population. Numerous risk factors have been identified, particularly in developing countries, indicating that age may play an essential element in the pathogenesis of shunt infection, typically in patients <1-year-old. However, a few research demonstrate the inverse result.

AIM: The purpose of this was to determine the relationship between age and shunt infection so that it can be taken into consideration when performing VP shunt insertion.

METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2019, 98 pediatric patients with hydrocephalus who underwent VP shunt insertion were retrospectively reviewed to determine the relationship between age and shunt infection. We evaluated the microbiology results and management of shunt infection in patients with shunt infection.

RESULTS: Fifteen (15.15%) of 98 patients developed shunt infection. Patients aged >3–6 months had a significantly increased risk of shunt infection (p = 0.04; RR = 4.15; CI 95% = 1.19–14.45). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently encountered pathogen in pediatric patients with shunt infection (53.3%), and the most common management for shunt infection was complete removal of the shunt and systemic antibiotics followed by re-insertion of the shunt after the cerebrospinal fluid was sterile (46.6%).

CONCLUSION: We conclude that age, especially those aged >3–6 months, has a significantly higher risk of shunt infection in pediatric patients.


Grace, Nancy M. 2007. Jack Kerouac and the Literary Imagination. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. $74.95 he. ix + 261 pp.Trigilio, Tony. 2007. Allen Ginsberg's Buddhist Poetics. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. $45.00 he. xx + 256 pp.The field of Beat studies has at times struggled for academic legitimacy. In the preface to The Beat Generation: Critical Essays, Kostas Myrsiades notes "the academy's hostility towards the Beats" (2002, ix), while in her introduction to Reconstructing the Beats, Jennie Skerl observes that "[a]lthough influential in many artistic circles and bohemian enclaves and celebrated in the burgeoning youth culture, these writers and many other less famous Beats were condemned and ridiculed by mass media journalists, the thenreigning public intellectuals, and by academic critics." As a result, "very little serious criticism appeared in the 1960s and 70s, and the Beats were largely excluded from academic discourse" (Skerl 2004, 1). William Lawlor echoes both Myrsiades and Skerl:That the Beats should be a subject of study in the established halls of learning is a peculiar, multi-faceted irony. The Beats scorned stuffy academics, insisting that the literary establishment was boring. Various scholars and professors, distrustful of young, outspoken nonconformists, belittled the Beats. Neither group envisioned the Beat Generation as part of the curriculum in schools and universities. (Lawlor 2000, 232).Clearly, the Beats have not been the most popular denizens of the ivory tower - although as Lawlor indicates, not that they would have wanted to be.Having said that, Beat studies experienced a revival during and after the commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, and as Skerl notes, the field has been further establishing its academic credibility ever since (2004, 1). Recent trends in Beat studies include a broad impulse to expand the canon of Beat literature; a feminization of Beat culture through the inclusion of women and by documenting the ancillary but integral roles that women played in Beat culture; and a theoretical "reconstructfion]" and reinterpretation of the Beats through a process of "re-historicizing," "recovering," and "re-visioning" (2004).Two recent works continue this move toward rethinking Beat culture and Beat literature, Nancy M. Grace's Jack Kerouac and the Literary Imagination (2007) and Peter Trigilio's Allen Ginsberg's Buddhist Poetics (2007). Each takes a different approach, but taken together both studies examine how personal struggles with religion and sexuality led the respective authors on quests for meaning and truth, quests that led them eventually toward Buddhism as a philosophy for their own lives, and by extension their literary works. Each book considers how its subject used the teachings of Buddhism in their own way in an attempt to reconcile and resolve competing ideologies that were at the heart of their own inner struggles. By "melding" (Trigifio 2007, 20, 192; Grace 2007, 14) competing ideologies and seeking their "convergence" (Trigifio 2007, 4), Kerouac and Ginsberg engaged in a conscious syncretism of opposing forces. Using this syncretism as a focal point and theoretical filter, both studies argue that the Buddhist influences present in the works of Kerouac and Ginsberg respectively were not simply an "easy Easternness" (33), in which Buddhist teachings and themes are adopted whenever it was convenient, but instead were the result of a serious and disciplined applications of Buddhist teachings in an effort to find meaning and spirituality in their own lives. The careful application of those teachings in their writing resulted in a form of carefully constructed "wisdom literature" in the case of Kerouac (Grace 2007, 22), and a "Buddhist poetics" for Ginsberg (Trigilio 2007, ix).Grace's study reaches beyond a focus on Buddhism - or the BuddhistCatholic tension - in Kerouac's life, and also attempts to detail Kerouac's overall "literary imagination," and his efforts at negotiating and incorporating an American master narrative (12), the figure of the American folk hero (13), American literary romance (14), and the mindset of an unstated but present American gnosticism (17) that ran contrary to Buddhism's emphasis on a wider consciousness. …


Disinformation as a practice has been linked to the Cold War, period when both the United States and the Soviet Union created agencies to use information as a weapon of war. However, this term has transcended this historical context. Its use has continued since the end of the conflict between Americans and Soviets into the present day, with multiple meanings that have blurred its conceptual boundaries. In this article we try to critically review the manipulative basis of the concept of disinformation to define the precise meaning of this practice, which is still standing today both in political communication and international relations.


Agribusiness involves the efficient transformation of agricultural raw materials into final products with proper adoption of technologies providing form utility to the products. Eventually with time agribusiness has become more industrialized, competitive and technological in nature. The main purpose of this paper is to study the adoption of technology for sustaining agro-based industries and identifying the constructs for the development of a conceptual framework. Through extensive literature search the authors first identified diverse constructs like market demand, awareness, cost, social media and others in relation to technology adoption for sustainability of agro-based industry. These constructs were further discussed in details to formulate the conceptual framework for technology adoption. Although limited to technology adoption in agribusiness sector but the originality of this study underpins the proper identification of upcoming or new technologies for adoption in agribusiness thereby making it more sustainable.


Previously Sprecher and Pertl have shown that large losses resulting from a major catastrophe have a significant and immediate impact on the returns of common stock, ili is study extends their previous findings by examining a sample of losses to determine the relationship between the size of the loss and the effect on the price of the stock. It is shown that even relatively small losses have an impact on stock returns. Additionally, it is shown that the decline in stock returns is not the result of a change in the risk perception of the firm by individuals in the securities markets.


ROWELL: When I met you in your office at UNESCO in Paris in March, 1988, we did not talk about you or your work there. We spoke of African literature and Francophone Caribbean writers. I'd like to begin this interview with the kind of cultural work-and it is international in the broadest sense of the word-you do for UNESCO. You promote literature in various languages; you make world literature available to world readers. You get it translated into various languages, and then you promote texts of various literatures.


During recent years, the theory of fluids flowing through porous media has received great attention because of its important applications in the flow of oil through porous rocks, the flow of liquids through ion exchange beds, the extraction of energy in geothermal regions and so on.


FOR OVER 40 years the Canadian Medical Association has been studying ways and means of providing prepaid medical care for Canadians. The first recorded statement on prepaid health insurance in Canada appeared in the Canadian Medical Association Journal of December 1914, and was written by Dr. A. R. Munroe of Edmonton, Alberta.1 Two of his comments are significant: "(1) We are living in a commercial age and I believe the solution to this problem [of health insurance] will be arrived at by studying commercial methods . . . (2) Any insurance scheme which has for its object the securing of medical attention for the masses depends for its successful working on the judgment of medical men and, therefore, should remain under medical control." In 1930 a Standing Committee on Economics was appointed by the Canadian Medical Association to study this problem. In 1934 the committee presented a comprehensive report outlining proposals upon which health insurance should be based.2 In 1943 the Association officially approved the adoption of the health insurance principle in a precedent-shattering statement:3 "(1) The Canadian Medical Association approves the adoption of the principle of health insurance." "(2) The Canadian Medical Association favours a plan of health insurance which will secure the development and provision of the highest standard of health services, preventive and curative, if such a plan be fair both to the insured and to all those rendering the services." A warning was also given-"It is obvious, too, that any plan of health insurance which is not supplemented by a program to ensure better nutrition, better housing and the reduction of worry and anxiety, particularly for those of low or uncertain income, will fail in its objective." Health insurance has been of interest to the Federal and Provincial Governments since 1919.4 In that year the legislature in British Columbia appointed a committee to investigate the subject. In 1928 the Federal Government asked that it be thoroughly reviewed. A serious effort was made in 1934 to devise a method whereby the Federal Government might handle health insurance but the Unemployment Insurance Act passed at that time was later declared ultra vires by the Parliament of


The 5‐year overall survival rate for patients with sinonasal cancers has remained around 50% for the last 3 decades. Prior studies on head and neck cancers have suggested that 1 reason for poor survival is the frequent development of second primary malignancies (SPMs). The purpose of this study is to assess overall and site‐specific risks of SPM following treatment of sinonasal malignancy.


Crop and livestock cannot be separated for small holder agriculture in India as crop + livestock is the pre-dominant farming system existing in the country and livelihood of 117 million marginal and small farm holdings revolves around this system. Small categories of farms are often subjected to weather vagaries like flood, drought and other natural calamities and farming remains risky. Vertical expansion in small farms is possible by integrating appropriate farming system components requiring less space and time and ensuring periodic income to the farmers. Integrated Farming System (IFS) is considered to be powerful tool and holds the key for ensuring income, employment, livelihood and nutritional security in a sustainable mode for small and marginal farmers who constitute 84.97% of total operational holdings and operated 44.31% of area. Integrated system meets the above goals through multiple uses of natural resources such as land, water, nutrients and energy in a complimentary way thus giving scope for round the year sustainable income from various enterprises.


This study aimed to reveal the level of blended learning receptiveness among Malaysian academicians strictly during the Covid-19 pandemic, and applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in examining the factors determining blended learning receptiveness among Malaysian academicians. Malaysian higher learning institutions practised blended learning following learning method efficiencies and the significance of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2025. Five independent variables (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control, organisational assistance, and literacy) were investigated in the study context. Specifically, 250 questionnaires were distributed to respondents during the working hours of chosen private universities. Smart Partial least squares (PLS) analysis tool is employed to examine the model fits and hypothesis testing. Findings show that all variables have a positive and significant relationship with the receptiveness of blended learning among academicians. Thus, this study shows that blended learning receptiveness is high, especially during pandemic and lockdown situations. This study proved essential for Malaysian academicians, specifically regarding blended learning utilisation and implementation. As blended learning was predictably time-consuming and deterred the implementation process, this study strived to promote blended learning among Malaysian educators. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the complete utilisation of blended learning using digital platforms. Most academicians could not conduct face-to-face classes due to the restrictions on physical contact. Hence, this study proved essential for educators in wholly implementing blended learning amid the outbreak.


Despite recent intensive research on topological aspects of open quantum systems, effects of strong interactions have not been sufficiently explored. In this paper, we demonstrate that interactions induce the Liouvillian skin effect by analyzing a one-dimensional correlated model with two-body loss. We show that, in the presence of interactions, eigenmodes and eigenvalues of the Liouvillian strongly depend on boundary conditions. Specifically, we find that interactions induce localization of eigenmodes of the Liouvillian around the right edge under open boundary conditions. To characterize the Liouvllian skin effect, we define the topological invariant by using the Liouvillian superoperator. Then, we numerically confirm that the topological invariant captures the Liouvillian skin effect. Furthermore, the presence of the localization of eigenmodes results in the unique dynamics observed only under open boundary conditions: particle accumulation at the right edge in transient dynamics. Our result paves the way to realize topological phenomena in open quantum systems induced by strong interactions.


(A) striking a columnar file, to which the pillar of the installation, and building a retaining wall comprising a H file along the perimeter of the building to be constructed location step; Step (b) such that a portion of the retaining wall and the pillar file exposure proceeds group teopa to a predetermined depth; (C) coupling a plurality of the first connecting member to the front end retaining wall the exposed; (D) integral with an upper flange, a lower flange and H-beams and, the H of a plurality of welded installed to surround the shaped steel hoop reinforcement and, the H-beam of the web at least to bury the portion and the lower flange consisting of a web connecting them including the concrete member, and at least one tension / compression reinforcement is fixed in the longitudinal direction in the hoop reinforcement and support information once the concrete composite beams in the plurality of second front end coupling member coupled to the H-beam, formed by the the second shear connector member is embedded in the outer wall of the basement can be so positioned and at the same time that the other end is fixed on the post file that stage; (E) fixing the deck plate over the upper surface of the concrete member of the concrete composite beams in the adjacent beams; (F) the step of installing the formwork and reinforcement for cast-in-place slab and ground outer wall of the first basement; Of underground structures including a; and (g) the step of pouring the concrete in the mold at the same time casting and curing the slab and ground outer wall of the first basement so that one second is embedded front end coupling member is formed on the concrete compound Beam this construction method is disclosed. Concrete Composite Beams, pillars, retaining walls, slabs and underground structures


Even if a speaker uses a speaker-dependent speech recognition system, speech recognition performance varies. However, the relationships between intra-speaker's speech variability and speech recognition performance are not clear. To investigate these relationships, we have been collecting speech data since November 2002. In this paper, we analyze the relationships between intra-speaker's speech variability and the phoneme accuracy by a correlation analysis. Analyzed results showed the strong negative correlation between the phoneme accuracy and the speaking rate. The correlation coefficient indicated -0.77. Moreover, we can see that the phoneme accuracy is correlated with the temperature in the recording room and the humidity difference.


The electrospinning of epoxy resin was investigated,especially the effects of the voltage,solution concentration and blending solvents on the diameters and distribution of fibers were surveyed.The results showed that the diameters of epoxy resin fibers decreased and the frequency distribution of fibers narrowed with increasing the voltage.The diameters of epoxy resin fibers increased with the increase of the solution concentration.On the high concentration of the epoxy resin,the fibers would have two kinds of frequency distribution due to dissociation.Different solvent system had effects on the epoxy resin fibers.In the 1-methoxy-2-propanol(MP)/butanone(BT)system,with increasing the butanone ratio the solution viscosity increased,the conductivity decreased and the fibers diameters increased.


Target of this research to test influence of control of locus to performance of aparatur in government of town of Lhokseumawe. Population in this research is counted 32 SKPD exist in government of town of Lhokseumawe, and this research sampel is all public servant of civil in government of town of Lhokseumawe with amount of propagated kuesioner 100 responder. Analysis the used is analysis of regresi simple. As for intake of sampel in this research is to use method of profosional sampling. In data processing used by software of computer that is Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) Version 16.0. Variable in this research is free variable of control of locus ( X), and performance of aparatur governmental (Y) represent variable tied, before examination of hypothesis done/conducted by examination of instrument covering validity test and test reliabilitas. Result of research indicate that control of locus have an effect on positive to performance of aparatur at government of town of Lhokseumawe.


Preface Pt. 1: Issues in Program Development 1: Getting to Know Project GED 2: Contested Organizational Cultures: Helping and Authority Pt. 2: Social Service Providers and Teen Mothers 3: Social Service Providers' Problems of Social Identity 4: Social Distance as a Strategy of Compliance 5: Classroom Failure without Redress 6: Sex and Boyfriends: Your Dirty Laundry or Dramatic Dreams 7: Motherhood: Authenticity and the Context of Suspicion 8: Changing Welfare from Stigma to Scholarship: The Arbiters versus the Mediators Pt. 3: Is Welfare Reform Possible? 9: Backstage Links to Public Empowerment 10: The Embodied Reason of Welfare Reform References Index


Background: There is a rise in the prevalence of mental illness among adolescents and the impact of violence on this rising trend requires to be evaluated. Aim: The aim of the study is to better understand the impact of violence on adolescent's mental health. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional school-based study. Adolescents in the selected schools were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Information on previous experience of violence, the action is taken, and the effect on them was collected. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS. The level of significance was at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 716 adolescents were studied over a one month period. The prevalence of violence was 87%. About 57.2% of the violence occurred at home, 44.2% was carried out by relatives and 49.2% happened within the past six months. Sexual abuse was 10.2%. Among the adolescents that experienced violence, 58.7% suffered some form of mental illness. There was a significant difference between the action the adolescents took after the violent incident and the action that was considered appropriate for it (P = 0.00001). Female gender (P = 0.042), not living with parents (P = 0.015) and poverty (P = 0.00001) significantly correlate with adolescent violence. Conclusion: Violence is high among adolescents and associated with a high prevalence of mental illness. Interventional measures targeted at reducing violence by improving poverty alleviation programs that empower families to carter for their children should be implemented.


This study investigated the possibility to increase electric vehicle's energy efficiency with a two-speed gearbox. The evaluation was based on simulations on a midsize electric vehicle model. Simulations were carried out in different driving cycles and optimal gearbox parameters were determined for each driving cycle. In Case 1) efficiency maps were used for the motor and inverter. In Case 2) the inverter efficiency was assumed constant and efficiency map was used only for the electric motor. The energy saving potential in different cycles was determined. The simulation results showed that a two-speed gearbox could improve energy efficiency. The improvement depends on the driving cycle and electric drive characteristics.


Interpersonal blog is a new platform for information exchange and it is also an entirely new information exchange model.Its exchange features of "openness" and "co-sharing" are playing an important role in information exchange nowadays,but it brings about some negative effects as well,which need improving in practice.


This paper develops a model of crisis and collapse, which is used to analyze the relative survivability of communities with alternative political institutions. The analysis suggests that communities with relatively democratic, decentralized, and flexible crisis managemen systems tend to do better than those with rigid, centralized crisis management systems because they are less likely to deplete the social reserves necessary for survival in the long run. Existential problems examined include both natural shocks and policy mistakes.


Ideological Ethics and Legal Fundamentals is a course that plays an important role in the ideological and political education. The paper analyzes the current situation of the course instruction and the importance of the course reform, and presents a series of concrete measures.


Abstract Relatively little has been written about the non-pragmatic aspects of medieval Irish landscapes. The dominance of political and ethnic conflict in the traditional view of medieval Irish history has tempted archaeologists away from any interpretation of medieval landscape that stresses pleasure and intellect. This article attempts to redress that imbalance, principally by a critique of the current literature but also by the brief presentation of two designed landscapes of c. 1300.


Seventy-one divorced single custodial parents and their 130 5- to 19- year-old children were administered open-ended questionnaires dealing with various aspects of how the children reacted and adjusted to the divorce. Positive reactions and adjustments were found to be related to children's (a) defining divorce in terms of psychological separation between the parents, (b) sharing divorce-related concerns with friends, (c) holding positive evaluations of both parents, and (d) having acquired strengths and responsibilities as a result of the divorce experience.


Based on analysis of the current situation of the military hospital in remote hard regions,the strategies and modus operandi to carry out specialization construction in the military hospital were proposed in order to provide references for the development of military hospital.


Reaction of 4-iodo-1-tritylimidazole with n-butyllithium at –79°, followed by rapid quenching of the reaction mixture with DMF, gives good yields of 1-tritylimidazole-4(5)-carboxaldehyde, the isolation of which demonstrates the intermediacy of 4-lithio-1-tritylimidazole. This species should be destabilized by repulsive interaction of the negative charge on C-4 with the adjacent lone pair electrons on N-3 (the ALP effect). The isolation of 1-tritylimidazole-4(5)-carboxaldehyde in good yield and the versatility of the aldehyde functionality make 4-lithio-1-tritylimidazole a useful synthetic intermediate.


Phenomenon of plate roughness is analysed in Xingang medinm plate plant and new test method is put forward.The result shows that it is fast and accurate.


On examination she was restless and thirsty, but apyrexic. There was no foetor or rash. She had grunting respiration with tachypnoea, but the lungs were clear on auscultation. Her abdomen was soft with mild generalised tenderness and no localised guarding or rebound in any quadrant. Urine dipstick analysis showed three pluses of ketones and three pluses ofglucose. Blood glucose was 16 mmol/L on ward testing.


Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) in the setting of exogenous testosterone use. Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients with a history of exogenous testosterone use and a diagnosis of CSCR at a large retina practice. Patient charts were reviewed for vision, clinical examination, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) results at each visit. Results: Four hundred eighty patients with a diagnosis of CSCR were identified, of which 7 patients had a history of exogenous testosterone use (1.46%). Of all, 0 of 7 patients reported any other steroid use. Ages ranged from 36 to 55 (mean, 46.57), and all were male. Only the right eye was involved in all 7 patients. Testosterone was discontinued in only 1 of the 7 patients. Six of the 7 patients had a visual acuity of 20/40 or better at last follow-up (range, 20/20-4/200). Three (43%) of the 7 had resolution of subretinal fluid at their last visit. The most common formulation of testosterone was for intramuscular injection. Conclusions: Exogenous testosterone use was reported in 1.46% of patients with CSCR compared to 0.8% in the general male population. The majority of patients in this study recovered 20/40 or better vision and 43% had resolution of subretinal fluid on OCT, suggesting a generally favorable prognosis for CSCR in the setting of testosterone supplementation.


Good quality single crystals of organic imidazolium L-Tartrate (IMLT) are grown up from aqueous solution by slow solvent evaporation technique. Various structural parameters and monoclinic crystal structure have been confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction method. The presence of various functional groups has been identified by ATR-FTIR. UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy has shown more than 60% of optical transparency with the lower UV cutoff at 245nm. The optical band gap value of the material is evaluated to be 4.8 eV. Other optical parameters such as refractive index, optical and electrical conductivity, Urbach energy, extinction coefficient, and optical and electrical susceptibility have been evaluated from transmission spectrum data. The above essential parameters manifest appropriate usage of IMLT as an NLO material. The thermogravimetric analysis indicates high thermal stability of material up to 214°C. Apart from that, the dielectric study at various temperatures confirms decrement of dielectric constant and dielectric loss at higher frequencies. The efficiency of Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) is found to be 3.5 times that of the KDP crystals. A range of analysis suggests suitability and potentiality of IMLT crystal for various optoelectronic applications.


Welker, W. I., and J. I. Johnson, Jr. Correlation between nuclear morphology and somatotopic organization in ventrobasal complex of the raccoon's thalamus. (Manuscript in preparation.) Welker, W. I., and S. Seidenstein. 1959. Somatic sensory representation in the cerebral cortex of the raccoon (Procyon lotor). J. Comp. Neur. Ill: 469-501. Whitney, L. F., and A. B. Underwood. 1952. The Raccoon. Practical Science Publishing Co., Orange, Conn. Woolsey, C. N. 1958. Organization of somatic sensory and motor areas of the cerebral cortex, p. 63-81. In H. F. Harlow and C. N. Woolsey, (eds.), Biological and biochemical bases of behavior. Univ. of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wis. Woodbury, J. W. 1962. Potentials in a volume conductor, p. 83-91. In T. C. Ruch, H. D. Patton, J. W. Woodbury, and A. L. Towe, (eds.), Neurophysiology. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia. Zollman, P. E., and R. K. Winkelmann. 1962. The sensory innervation of the common North American raccoon (Procyon lotor). J. Comp. Neur. 119: 149-157.


175 will be presented as scheduled, but will not be published due to lack of license agreement between authors and publisher. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.05.197 Program/Abstract # 176 The role of PAX6 in the development of the retinal pigment epithelium Kapil Bharti, Melanie Gasper, Martha Brucato, Heinz Arnheiter Mammalian Development Section, NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA Genetic tests indicate that the paired/homeodomain protein PAX6 promotes the development of the highly proliferating retina while the bHLH-Zip protein MITF promotes the development of the less proliferating retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In mice, however, PAX6 is also expressed in the future RPE, prompting us to explore its role genetically.WhilemildMitfmutations show increases in PAX6 and its pro-retinogenic targets in the RPE, there are little if any changes in cell proliferation. In combination with heterozygosity for Pax6, however, cell proliferation is increased even though some retinal genes are decreased. Conversely, an increase in Pax6 gene dose (as provided by a YAC transgene) corrects cell proliferation in the RPE, but, surprisingly, reduces retinal gene expression to wild type levels. We explain these observations in the following way: The increase in cell proliferation following decrease of Pax6 is associated with a decreased expression of alpha B crystallin which is known to regulate Cyclin D1 protein levels through the regulation of the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex. The decrease in retinal gene expression following an increase in Pax6 correlateswith an increase in the expression of anMitf relative, Tfec. Hence, in mild Mitf mutations, despite increased retinal gene expression, the RPE does not develop as a retina because Pax6 inhibits cell proliferation, and in Pax6 over-expressors, the RPE does not develop as a retina because Tfec is induced. We conclude that Pax6 has dose-dependent roles in RPE development that involve complex transcriptional and cell biological feed-back mechanisms. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.05.198 Program/Abstract # 177 Prep1 regulates lens induction via direct regulation of the Pax6 ectodermal enhancer Sheldon Rowan, Trevor Siggers, Salil Lachke, Martha L. Bulyk, Richard L. Maas Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Abstracts / Developmental Biology 331 (2009) 431–441 440


Localization using the time-of-arrival (ToA) of a wideband signal has the potential to achieve high accuracy, thereby making it a promising choice for a variety of applications. However, a major challenge impacting localization accuracy is multipath propagation, i.e., the existence of indirect paths from a target to an anchor (transceiver) via one or more obstacles present in the environment. In this paper, we provide an overview of the techniques proposed in the literature to analyze and address the effects of multipath on localization accuracy. For this purpose, we first cast the localization of one or more targets as a maximum a priori estimation problem, where the distribution of the amplitudes and ToAs of the indirect paths serves as a prior. Under this framework, we show that multipath can either be a blessing or a curse depending on the extent of prior knowledge available about the multipath statistics. Specifically, in the absence of any indirect path information, only the direct paths that go straight from a target to an anchor contain useful position information; in other words, multipath negatively impacts localization performance. Thus, in this case, it is important to detect the anchors having line-of-sight to the target(s), and we review the techniques reported in the literature to solve this problem. On the other hand, if complete indirect path information is available (i.e., the propagation paths of all the multipath components are known), then each indirect path is equivalent to a direct path from a virtual anchor, and hence, the spatial diversity offered by multipath can be exploited for improving localization accuracy.


The blending of human and mechanical capabilities has become a reality in the realm of Industry 4.0. Enterprises are encouraged to design frameworks capable of harnessing the power of human and technological resources to enhance the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Over the past decade, AI technologies have transformed the competitive landscape, particularly during the pandemic. Consequently, the job market, at an international level, is transforming towards the integration of suitably skilled people in cutting edge technologies, emphasizing the need to focus on the upcoming super-smart society known as Society 5.0. The concept of a Humachine builds on the notion that humans and machines have a common future that capitalizes on the strengths of both humans and machines. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify the capabilities and distinguishing characteristics of both humans and machines, laying the groundwork for improving human–machine interaction (HMI).


In an office or laboratory, the informal communication that suddenly occurs in a face-to-face meeting sometimes takes the form of a heated discussion or important information sharing. Visual information, such as pictures and graphs, facilitates the fast and accurate communication of an intention between people. Therefore, visual information should be shown quickly in this situation so that the conversation is not interrupted. This paper presents Hyper Info, a system that allows various types of content to be presented simultaneously. Hyper Info consists of a high-resolution large display, touch interaction device, and smartphone as a controller, and its operation is intuitive. The purpose of Hyper Info is to facilitate communication that utilizes visual information. Moreover, in Hyper Info an HTML rendering engine is applied that allows various types of content to be shown. We show that the advantages of a large high-resolution display are that some contents can be temporarily moved into a corner so that they do not overlap other contents and that contents can be expanded if necessary.


Abstract: IL‐4 and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) are crucial modulators of the immune system and are reported as active antitumor agents and potent inhibitors of angiogenesis. We investigated the effects of these two cytokines on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a mediator of major importance in the angiogenesis associated with inflammation, wound healing and tumor invasion and expressed by activated keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Human keratinocytes (HK) and fibroblasts (HF) derived from foreskins, were further cultured during 24 h in defined medium, supplemented or not with the selected growth factors, EGF and TGF‐β1, respectively, before receiving the addition of either IL‐4 or IFN‐γ during 24 and 48 h. In basal conditions, fibroblasts produced smaller amounts of VEGF than keratinocytes; the addition of growth factors to the skin cells induced a drastic increase of VEGF secretion. In HF, the basal level of VEGF secretion was reduced by IFN‐γ and slightly increased by IL‐4 whereas in HK, IFN‐γ enhanced the secretion of VEGF after 48 h and IL‐4 either tended to reduce VEGF secretion or did not exert any effect. Similar but more significant results were observed in skin cells activated by growth‐stimulating factors. The association of IL‐4 and IFN‐γ mimicked the effects of IFN‐γ alone both in HF and HK. Taken together, these results indicate opposite effects of IFN‐γ and IL‐4 on VEGF expression from normal and activated HF and HK. IL‐4 may be considered as a poor modulator of VEGF secretion by dermal and epidermal cells. Conversely, IFN‐γ appears as a prominent and versatile mediator in the desregulated angiogenesis associated with inflammatory skin reactions characterized by a T‐helper type 1 cell‐mediated response.


In Flash using of,you must notice how to use sound file,it's very important just like animation.You must notice if the animation synchronize with the sound,and the problem with the volume of the file.


The digital resources preservation is a hot spot in library science and information science.This article discusses the strategy of management and technique about the digital resources long-term preservation,compares and analyses the merits and demerits of data migration and data emulation emphatically.Finally,this paper puts forward the strategy of digital resources long-term preservation.


Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM is a strain present in several probiotic products. Despite its wide use, there is little information on its translocation to the host's organs. This work was devised to verify the Lactobacillus spp. translocation in rats feeding cholesterol rich diet because this product has been indicated as dietary adjunct for individuals hipercholesterolemic. One hundred and thirty weaned Wistar rats, divided in 4 groups and caged individually were used. The experimental groups were: Standard; Control; LDR and P. The Standard group received the AIN-93G diet during the whole experimental period (42 days). The other groups received the AIN-93G diet added of 1% of cholesterol and 0,1% of cholic acid. During 14 days, the LDR group received the supplement of 0,1mL/day/animal of reconstituted skimmed milk at 10% of non fat solids and, the group P received 0,1mL/day/animal of a probiotic in the form of a concentrate of cells contends 1010 UFC/mL of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. Translocation was observed in spleen, heart, liver and kidneys of group P, but not in the others. The average translocation were UFC/orgao: spleen (8,6 x 102); liver (4,8 x 102); heart (4,7 x 102) and kidney (1,3 x 102). The translocated cell numbers, beside being low, were constantly eliminated during the evaluation period. Since the implication of microbial translocation in the host is not known, the translocation capacity and the rats of clearing are suggested to be important parameters for the selection of strains to be used as probiotics.


Materials and methods The study was conducted under the ethical recommendations for the accomodation and animal handling and the owners were orally informed regarding the procedures. All dogs were presented to our teaching hospital for medical reasons. Twenty-seven cliend-owned dogs have been retrospectively included in the study, distributed in two groups according to diagnostic. The CVD group, comprise eighteen dogs, with age between 4 and 15 years with a median of 12 years (IQR 9.5 to 13.25), 8 males and 10 females, with body weight between 3.6 and 50 kg with a median of 9 (IQR 6 to 13.95), from different breeds: 5 Caniche, 3 mix breed, 3 Cavalier King Charles, 2 Dachshund, 2 Bichon maltese and one of each breed Cocker Spaniel, German shepherd and Boxer. The DCM group comprise nine dogs, with age beetween 4 and 14 years with a median of 8 (IQR 5.5 to 11), 8 males and one female, with body weight between 13 and 60 kg with a median of 36 (IQR 19.5 to 40), from different breeds: two mix breed and one from each breed Caucasian shepherd, Mioritic shepherd, Cocker spaniel, Pointer, Giant schnauzer, German shepherd and Doberman pinscher. Dogs have been submitted to physical examination, electrocardiography and Abstract Introduction: Two of the most common acquired cardiac diseases in dogs are chronic valvular disease and dilated cardiomyopathy. Morphological and structural changes in the myocardium during disease progression may induce alterations of the nodal system resulting in arrhythmias. Electrocardiography is the golden method for detecting arrhythmias. The aim of this study is to discuss the most frequent electrocardiographic changes in chronic valvular disease and dilated cardiomyopathy and to underline the electrocardiographic diferences between the two pthologies. Materials and method: Twenty-seven client-owned dogs distributed in two groups according to diagnostic were included in the study. Eighteen dogs were diagnosed with chronic valvular disease and nine dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. Dogs have been submitted to a physical examination, electrocardiography and cardiac ultrasonography. Results: Within chronic valvular disease group, 9 dogs had signs of left cardiomegaly, 3 dogs had sinus tachycardia, 2 dogs had signs of myocardial hypoxia, one dog had sinus arrest, one had ventricular tachycardia and ventricular premature complexes and 2 dogs had normal ECG trace, while in the dilated cardiomyopathy group 4 dogs had atrial fibrillation, 3 dogs had generalised cardiomegaly signs with sinusal rhythm, 1 dog had atrial fibrillation with ventricular premature complexes and 1 dog had sinus rhythm with presence of ventricular premature complexes. A significant difference (p<0.05) was found between the duration of the QRS complex in the two groups (mean±SD of 68.16±10.72 in CVD group and 85.88±15.33 in DCM group). Conclusion: Supraventricular rhythm was the most common rhythm disturbance in dilated cardiomyopathy group, while in chronic valvular disease the sinus rhythm is predominant. The duration of QRS complex was significanly higher in dilated cardiomyopathy group.


The invention discloses a test box with an independent heating channel and refrigeration channel. According to the test box disclosed by the invention, a closed space is formed by a test box body, a heat insulation layer and a door; the heating channel is arranged on one side in the sealed space while the refrigeration channel is arranged on the other side in the sealed space; a test region is formed between each channel baffle and the box body.


Background: Syncope is a sudden and brief loss of consciousness associated with a loss of postural tone, from which recovery is spontaneous. The most frequently identified causes of syncope are neurocardiogenic, cardiac, cerebrovascular and side effects of drugs. However, in many cases, it is not easy to make a diagnosis of syncope. 'The prevalence rate of syncope also is variable according to the nature of the study. We investigated the prevalence rate, characteristics and triggering factors of syncope in young medical students. Methods: We contacted 400 medical students of Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea, and a questionnaire on the prevalence, triggering factors, and recurrence rate of syncope was handed out. The data from 379 medical student (male 168, female 211, mean age 22.3 years) were included for further analysis. Results : Fifty-eight students (15.3%) experienced syncope and female students reported higher prevalence rate than male students (20.4 versus 8.9%, p=0.002). Among 58 students with syncopal history, 22 students (male 2, female 20) experienced recurrent syncope. The students who experienced recurrent syncope were younger at first syncope than those without recurrent syncope (15.0 versus 17.3 years, p=0.039). The triggering factors of syncope were prolonged standing, warm environment, immediate standing, tiredness, emotional upset, menstruation, and so on. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of syncope was 15% in medical student with mean age of 22.3 years. As the syncope in female and early onset syncope showed higher rate of recurrence, more attention may prevent recurrent syncope in these cases.


The Prototype Verification System (PVS) is a specification language integrated with support tools and a theorem prover. One mechanism for extending and improving PVS is through the development of libraries, i.e., collections of mechanized theories in the language of PVS. This paper presents the pvslm tool: (i) a description language for annotating PVS libraries, with a small footprint but expressive enough for describing complex dependencies among library theories; and (ii) an implementation for managing PVS libraries annotated with this language, offering support for several library sources. The usefulness of the tool is illustrated in this paper with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to manage the current version of the NASA PVS Library with both pvslm's annotation language and implementation.


Marker wire for soft tissue tumors, in particular lung tumors, wherein a marker wire for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, there is provided, as well as in to be marked tumor is in the form of a corkscrew-like shape, a marking tip, characterized in that the marker wire (1) at the distal end a flexible tip in the form of by a diminishing 5 degrees helical coil toward the proximal end outside a loading cannula (4), wherein the marker wire (1) within a loading tube (4) is present in a stretched state.


Glucocorticoid is a kind of steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex,and the change of plasma glucocorticoid level has certain effect on the physiology and immunity of teleost fishes under stress.However,the changeable degree of plasma glucocorticoid level and whether glucocorticoid level can be used as a sensitive indicator of environmental stress are subjected to extensive debate.This review summarizes the research progress in the factors associated with plasma glucocorticoid level and pharmacological mechanisms of glucocorticoid in fishes under stress.


Abstract : The SEASAT 1 satellite, which was launched in 1978, carried a radar altimeter which was optimized for operation over the open ocean. However, the instrument did make a significant number of measurements while over land. It is conclusively demonstrated that the radar altimeter serendipitously made measurements over relatively flat terrain which can provide accurate ground elevations. In addition, it is possible that the instrument had some capability to distinguish ground features such as canals, elevated roads, and power lines.


Neural networks are currently one of the most modern creative and interesting areas of knowledge. The use of neural networks allows solving many problems when the use of other approaches is almost impossible due to their complexity. Todaty, there are a large number of neural network architectures available, including simple ones like perceptron and neural networks with trillions of parameters. Such a variety of neural network architectures is determined by the tasks they face. In addition, the scope of neural networks is also growing due to the emergence of the possibility of their application in connection with increasing data volumes and computing power. The article provides an overview of the main of neural networks architectures, which serve as the basis for development of the modern neural networks, that can be used in many aspects of everyday life.


The present invention provides an electronic cigarette and electronic cigarette device. The electronic cigarette includes a suction unit and a power supply unit, the atomizing chamber is provided in said suction portion, the power source is provided in the power supply unit, the atomizing chamber is a plurality provided in parallel with each other, the electronic tobacco is connected between the power source and the atomization chamber, further comprising a controller for operating and controlling the atomization chamber. Electronic cigarette and electronic cigarette apparatus of the present invention, employs a plurality of the atomizing chamber provided technical means for providing a control unit for operating by controlling the atomization chamber between the atomizing chamber and the power supply (202) in parallel doing, darker large tobacco smoke generated by, while it is possible to taste reaches a good technical effect, stores type different from each other smoke solution to each atomization chamber, thereby, a tobacco smoke plurality of mixing flavors it can be generated, smokers can combine taste freely by demand.


The limestone-gypsum wet desulphurization technology was adopted in the FGD system of a power plant.During the limestone slurry is flowing into the absorption tower,in a short time,the limestone slurry flow into the tower rapidly reduced from 20 m3/h to 4 m3/h.After the pipeline had been washed,the phenomenon appeared once again.The reasons of the repeatedly reducing of the limestone slurry flow into the absorption tower were analyzed;some operation control measures were put forward;and the problem was under control.


Objective To assess carotid artery vessel wall characteristics using three Tesla MRI in visceral obese male subjects with and without the Metabolic Syndrome (MS) compared to patients who recently suff ered from a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Black blood 3T MR vessel wall imaging was used to assess the carotid artery vessel wall characteristics in male subjects with visceral obesity with and without the Metabolic Syndrome (VO+MS and VO respectively). A group of male patients with proven clinical relevant atherosclerosis, having recently (<1 month) suff ered from a STEMI, were chosen as comparator. In addition, a group of young healthy volunteers were assessed. As endpoints, carotid artery vessel wall area was used as a global marker of atherosclerotic disease burden and carotid artery maximum vessel wall thickness (MaxT) was used to address focal atherosclerotic vessel wall changes. Maximum vessel wall thickness (MaxT) of the carotid artery bulb was highest in STEMI patients followed by VO+MS and VO and the healthy volunteers (diff erence between the groups P<0.001). MaxT in the carotid bulb of patients in VO+MS approached the level observed in STEMI patients and signifi cantly diff ered from VO patients (p≤0.01). Total vessel wall area of patients with STEMI, VO+MS and VO were signifi cantly increased compared to young healthy volunteers. subjects, without maximum vessel wall thickness of the carotid bulb approaching the level observed in STEMI. Three Tesla MRI was successfully used in of obese subjects. of the recent onset STEMI three Tesla vascular MRI used to visceral obese subjects erent visceral all visceral obese equal, as focal atherosclerosis less in subjects with visceral obesity alone compared to subjects visceral obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Several factors could contribute to the pathogenesis of the observed diff erences between the groups. Systolic (142.1±17.3mmHg vs. p>0.05) diastolic blood pressure (88.7±8.7mmHg vs. erent the every mmHG counts on endpoints mean diff erence of 9 wall biology. both groups VO for waist circumference MaxT


The bipartite crossing number problem is studied, and a connection between this problem and the linear arrangement problem is established. It is shown that when the arboricity is close to the minimum degree and the graph is not too sparse, then the optimal number of crossings has the same order of magnitude as the optimal arrangement value times the arboricity. The application of the results to a tree provides for a closed formula which expresses exactly, the optimal number of crossings in terms of the optimal value of the linear arrangement and the degree sequence, resulting in an O ( n 1 . 6 ) time algorithm for computing the bipartite crossing number. Two polynomial time approximation algorithms for computing the bipartite crossing number are derived, with approximation factors, O (log 2 n ), and O (log n log log n ), from the optimal, respectively, for approximating the number of crossings, and at the same time, total edge lengths, for a large class of graphs on n vertices. No approximation algorithm which could generate a provably good solution was previously known. The problem of computing a largest weighted biplanar subgraph of an acyclic graph is also studied and a linear time algorithm for it is derived. This problem was known to be NP-hard when the graph is planar and very sparse, and all weights are 1.


Summary The middle Bakken member contains significant amount of clastic sediments. Detrital zircon geochronology and conodont colour alteration index (CAI) and preservational observations of detrital conodonts suggest multiple sources for the middle Bakken clastics. These sources are associated with the Franklinian clastic wedge and the Ellesmerian orogeny along the north Laurentian margin, the Canadian Shield east of the Williston Basin as well as Mazatzal-Yavapai province.


The super large and deep foundation pit,the larger impact on the surrounding environment. Especially the deep foundation pit located in bustling downtown,deformation control during the construction process of the requirements is more stringent. Combined a building foundation pit engineering in Shenzhen,the in-situ monitoring data of construction were analyzed,and the effects of the excavation construction on the surrounding environment research under complex environment. The conclusion can provide reference for the construction and monitoring of similar conditions.


Produced with financial support from the European Union, the publication lists inspiring examples of youth-focused activities – from on-the-ground action to raising awareness to advocacy efforts at the UNFCCC negotiations.


Some scholars have emphasized the importance of food tourism in mature and certain emergent economies for growing consumption‐related products (e.g., wine, beer, rice, and tea) and attempts have been made to study tourism levers and threats in developing economies. However, to the best of our knowledge, little research has been conducted on the potential development of tourism activities centered on coffee producers and their farms in equatorial countries to determine whether a coffee tourism market is developing in these locales and if this could enhance these countries' brand perceptions. Thus, this study explores the antecedents of the perceptions, potentialities, attitudes, and behavior of tourists specifically with regard to coffee tourism and coffee cultivation visits. To achieve our goal, we employ a quantitative method involving a survey of potential tourists. Our findings indicate that while the effects of gender and age on the perceptions of coffee cultivation visits are not significant, the effects of coffee consumption and travel in coffee‐producing countries are positive and significant. These findings help us draw some relevant theoretical and managerial implications.


A former Paia storekeeper recalls her early rural lifestyle, finding work, and the changes in the operation of her store.


Abstract A vertex coloring of a graph $$ G $$ is said to be perfect if the color structure of the neighborhood of each vertex depends only on the color of the vertex. We give a complete characterization of perfect colorings with an arbitrary number of colors for the lexicographic product of an infinite path graph by a matching.


Gait is an emergent biometric aimed essentially to recognize people by the way they walk. Gait's advantages are that it requires no contact like automatic face recognition, and that it is less likely to be obscured than other biometrics. Gait has allied subjects including medical studies, psychology, human body modeling and motion tracking. These lend support to view that gait has clear potential as a biometric. To identify a person using their distinct Gait, the publicly available database is being taken in the video sequence format. By applying PCA analysis the gait points are extracted and trained. To obtain the false positive points LDA and a combined approach of LDA and Radon is used. The performance of the usage of LDA separately and LDARadon are being compared and the results are being produced as the graph..


Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) can coexist with many autoimmune, rheumatic and inflammatory disorders. Chronic urticaria (CU) and FMS are different types of diseases but share many clinical and pathological features. This study aims to evaluate these features and to investigate whether patients with CU are also affected by FMS. Patients and methods: Eighty two patients with CU and 86 healthy controls were enrolled to this study. All patients were assessed for autologous serum skin test (ASST), and urticaria total severity score (TSS). Body mass index was calculated for all the participants. All patients were assessed according to the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for FMS and asked questions regarding the associated clinical features of FMS. Results: A total of 50(60.9%) patients with chronic urticaria were found to have widespread pain. A total of 28 patients met the criteria of FMS with a prevalence rate of 34.1%; of whom, 20(71.4%) were women. FMS associated clinical features were more frequent in patients with CU than in controls. Positive ASST and severe TSS were more frequent in CU patients with FMS than those patients without FMS. Conclusion: FMS and its associated clinical features are more prevalent in patients with CU than in the general population. Women with CU are more frequently affected by FMS than are men. Awareness of this comorbidity is an essential part in the treatment of CU.


Among the new developments in the use of noble metals, the organic-inorganic systems formed by Self Assembled Molecular (SAM) layering on noble metal surfaces represent a main topic. In this chapter we discuss the use of complementary surface science techniques Applied to these sysems. Our aim is to give an overview on our recent case studies of organic molecular layers interacting with noble metal surfaces. Functionalized molecular assembled films are important in many application fields, ranging from sensors and photovoltaic cells to nanostructured devices. In microelectronics adsorbed organic molecules on metal surfaces are a subject of intensive investigation, due to the fundamental interest in interfacial coordination chemistry and its many potential applications. Physical details and morphology, together with the grain size, orientation of the molecules in the film and the concentration of defects, play a crucial role in device performances, since they determine the carrier injection properties.


A water-soluble cationic polymer synthesized by condensation of 1-butyl amine and epichlorohydrin (PBE) was tested for its potential use as a flocculant. Its interactions with colloidal bentonite particles in aqueous medium were studied in terms of adsorption isotherms, zeta (ζ) potential measurement, turbidity removals, and filterability enhancement. Its effect as a filtration aid on the waste sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant was also studied. The adsorption of PBE on the bentonite particles is closely described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. As the amounts of PBE adsorbed on the bentonite particles increase, the ζ potential of the particles changes its sign from negative to positive. This inversion of sign confirms that PBE is cationic in nature. PBE shows effects of flocculation and filterability enhancement to the colloidal suspension of bentonite and the waste sludge.


Migratory farm workers are essential to agricultural production in areas that specialize in crops having a short but high seasonal demand. For the most part, these workers find employment in the southern states during the winter months; move northward in the spring and summer as the harvest season advances, and return to their southern base in the fall. One of the many hardships they experience in this way of living is the condition under which they are transported from one place of work to another and the traffic hazards to which they are exposed. Recognizing this, and disturbed by numerous fatal or serious accidents involving trucks carrying such workers, The President's Committee on Migratory Labor made the transportation of migrant workers problem one of its top priorities.


Many ice-marginal lakes have formed in front of glacier termini in Iceland in recent decades due to climate warming, particularly at the southern margin of Vatnajökull ice cap where several such lakes grow year-by-year at present. At the same time, most glacier-dammed lakes at the lateral ice margins have shrunk or disappeared because of glacier thinning, and jökulhlaups released from them have become smaller. This paper describes changes in glacial lakes in SE-Iceland, from Skeiðarárjökull west of Öræfi to Hoffellsjökull in Hornafjörður. Lakes started to form in front of several glaciers in this area in the 1930s but most did not grow much until the 1990s, except for Jökulsárlón by Breiðamerkurjökull, which has grown steadily since before the middle of the last century. Currently, there are growing terminus lakes by all the main south-flowing outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull, with a combined area of ~60 km2. The subglacial landscape upstream of the termini indicates that the lakes will continue to grow in the coming decades as a consequence of glacier downwasting
if the climate warms as projected. These lakes affect the ice flow and the mass and energy balance of the respective glaciers because of their effect on the force balance of the terminus region, the calving of ice into the lakes, and the absorption of heat spent for melting of calved ice fragments and the terminus ice front. The lakes can cause hazard to settlements and travellers in the adjacent area, as landslides on the glaciers that propagate into the lakes can create tsunami waves with a high run-up and sudden, very dangerous flash floods in the glacier forelands.


The 87.2% of the Iranian pregnant women suffer from sleep disorders. These disorders are the result of physiological, hormonal and physical changes of pregnancy occur from different causes and can affect disorders before, during and after childbirth; be involved in causing of depression during pregnancy. This study evaluated the association of depression and common complaints of pregnancy in pregnant women with sleep disorder. This cross-sectional study conducted on 972 pregnant women referring to four health care centers in Makou affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences during June-Oct., 2012. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Beck Depression Inventory. Sampling was done by convenient sampling and analyzed by SPSS 18. The results indicated there were significant association (p≤0.05) between depression to all common complaints of pregnancy (vomiting (r = 0.084), headache (r = 0.024), fatigue and drowsiness (r = 0.015), heartburn (r = 0.065), foot spasm (r = 0.032), flatulence (r = 0.063), constipation (r = 0.007), reluctance to activity (r = 0.046) and stress (r = 0.069)) except backache and urgency (p>0.05). Given that a large percentage of pregnant women suffer from sleep disorders and along with it from depression. Hope this period takes place usual care, structured psychiatric interview, changing in the social circumstance, diagnostic and troubleshooting cause of the disturbance.


The utility model provides a hollow planting brick and a vertical greening structure. The overall framework of the brick body is a quadrangular prism of which the upper, lower, left and right end faces are rectangular and the front and back end faces are parallelogram-shaped; the right end face of the brick body is a right flange which is not completely sealed with a nick; irrigation pipe holes are formed in the front end face and the rear end face of the brick body; a drain hole is formed in the lower end face of the brick body; an included angle between the lower end face and the left end face serves as a waste storage groove angle. The utility model also provides a vertical greening structure. The hollow planting brick is used for solving the problem that plants cannot be planted on a vertical slope surface or a steep slope surface, and can be widely applied to the fields such as urban wall greening, rock slope greening and retaining wall greening; the hollow planting brick has important practical and far-reaching significance for the ecological environment, green area increase, PM2.5 reduction and the like, and also has obvious economic effect and social benefit.


The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic way of evaluating both jet pulse and reverse air cement kiln baghouse technologies for the volume ranges where the decision making process is difficult because some of the data that should influence this process are not readily available. The authors also provide a way to measure the operational cost impact over a 20 year life cycle. The tables and graphs provided should be interpreted not so much in absolute dollar value as in relative numbers. Since all the units have been sized with the same basic criteria, any cost differential due to particular site conditions are assumed to have the same financial impact in both cases.


The study shows that the development of ICT has greatly promoted the growth of economy. According to given theories and mathematical models, this paper makes quantitative analysis on the promoting effects of ICT on our country's economic growth from two aspects of total amount and industry, and puts forward some channels and measures for improving ICT and promoting economic growth.


The effects of chronic toxic stress on the hypothalamo-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis were investigated in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) captured at a reference site (Lake Memphremagog) and two sites contaminated with heavy metals and organic contaminants (Ile Perrot and Iles de la Paix, Lake St. Louis) in spring, summer, and fall. Cortisol secretion of the fish was stimulated in situ by an acute capture stress or by an i.p. injection of 4 IU/100 g body mass of porcine corticotropin (ACTH1-39). The response to both these challenges was lower in perch from the highly contaminated site than in perch from the reference site in the spring but not in summer. In fall, fish from the highly contaminated site had, as in spring, a lower response to ACTH than fish from the reference site. The reduced ability of perch to respond to capture stress or to ACTH indicates that the interrenal tissue in fish from contaminated sites is functionally impaired. Cortisol-impaired fish also had abnormal carbohydrate metabolism...


Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi. When these fungi are present on agricultural commodities, they can pose a high risk to animal and human health. As the European Commission imposes strict regulations on maximum levels of several mycotoxins, it is a prerequisite for farmers to meet these regulations to avoid complete loss of a contaminated batch. In an agro-ecosystem, farmers try to avoid fungal infection and the occurrence of mycotoxins in their commodities via prevention and intervention approaches, but often fail in completely eliminating the risk. Therefore, detoxification strategies are needed such as the use of binders or microorganisms able to detoxify these mycotoxins. Our project focuses on the microbial detoxification of deoxynivalenol (DON), a worldwide prevalent mycotoxin. Bacteria were screened from natural environments for their DON-detoxification capacity in minimal medium through HPLC-UV and non-targeted LC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the residual toxicity was measured with a bioassay using the aquatic bio-indicator plant Lemna minor. Pursuing this approach, two mixed cultures were obtained, originating from soil and activated sludge, capable of converting DON into the epimer of DON and the epimer of DOM-1, both conveying no residual toxicity for the Lemna minor plant.


A structural design study was made, based on a 1975 level of technology, to assess the relative merits of structural concepts and materials for an advanced supersonic transport cruising at Mach 2.7. Preliminary studies were made to insure compliance of the configuration with general design criteria, to integrate the propulsion system with the airframe, to select structural concepts and materials, and to define an efficient structural arrangement. An advanced computerized structural design system was used, in conjunction with a relatively large, complex finite element model, for detailed analysis and sizing of structural members to satisfy strength and flutter criteria. A baseline aircraft design was developed for assessment of current technology and for use in future studies of aerostructural trades, and application of advanced technology. Criteria, analysis methods, and results are presented.


This paper discusses the technical aspects of modeling the cage retention system for industrial fish farming in a pond using pull chains. The purpose of this work: substantiation of the parameters of the holding ropes, the length of the chains and the required mass of the anchors by calculating the tensile forces in the ropes and the reaction of the anchor supports when solving the dynamic problem in an unsteady setting. Dynamic system was developed that takes into account wind, wave and inertial loads acting on all elements of the system: cage, holding ropes, chains, anchors. The force acting on the surface of the cage from the wind is received. For this, a solid-state cage model was developed with equivalent windage. The tensile forces in the ropes and the reaction of the anchor supports in three planes are obtained. The lengths of the chains are selected, ensuring the absence of tearing forces acting on the anchors. Moreover, the calculations were performed in a non-stationary setting with a gradual increase in load. The simulation duration was 60 s. During this time, one resonance phenomenon was revealed: a significant increase in the breaking strength in the rope at 37 seconds of calculation.


The increasing need for liquid renewable biofuels for transportation has encouraged the development and investment in its production. One route to produce it is the hydrogenation of triglyceride feedstock, which has high operational costs mainly related to raw materials. Thus, the use of alternative feedstocks (e.g. waste-oils) is frame to generate a more competitive process. Consequently, a pre-treatment step is needed to convert low quality feedstocks into cleaner free fatty acids (FFA) oil. This called fat splitting reaction is practiced industrially using high pressure and temperature (achieving conversions ≥ 96%) however enzymatic fat splitting presents considerable advantages. This study focuses on the development of an enzymatic process able to achieve similar results to conventional fat splitting. It was operated as a continuous Counter Current System (CCS) for FFA production from fat splitting of soybean oil using liquid lipases. To determine the operational conditions batch experiments were performed. The influence of enzyme concentration, mixing, water and glycerol content was studied. Batch data also provided information to predict the operational conditions of the continuous reactors and to calibrate the process model. Results indicated that enzymatic fat splitting achieved equilibrium for FFA concentrations around 80%w/w, that it can be reverted by glycerol removal and also showed that mixing and water content have influence in the oilwater interfacial area. In CCS it was observed the formation of a stable emulsion mostly composed by enzyme. Nevertheless, scale up of the enzymatic process should be considered given the observed effectiveness of glycerol removal in the increase of FFA concentration.


The article tackles the linguistic features of identity viewed as a person s sense of authenticity and belonging to a certain social group. A message that one produces about one s own identity is defined as autoreferential discourse, i.e. discourse about oneself, in which the speaker is the main referent and the center of the referential situation. The linguistic features of autoreferential discourse are analyzed on the basis of interviews with Michelle Obama. It has been found out that the American culture seeks in the discourse of the First Lady the prototypical identities of spouse and mother, identities that presuppose her messages corresponding to the given nominations.


The work discusses the Brazilian Defense Policy focusing on the defense industry and related Research and Development activities. Using the Policy Analysis approach, scarcely employed in our milieu to study our public policies, and in the international one to study military affairs, it investigates the defense industry revitalization game. And, from the information explored through Defense Economics, the work analyzes how the actors are adapting their agendas and trying to impose a decision making model coherent with their interests and values. Its conclusion challenges the common sense about the postponement of the defense industry. The field is, then, opened for the assessment of the advanced hypotheses and for a proper orientation of the revitalization process.


The present invention relates to a method for repairing the cross section of a reinforced concrete structure, and in detail, the cross section of a reinforced concrete structure whose performance is degraded due to external environmental factors is repaired and repaired as well as the repair site using a penetration diffusion corrosion control material and a high strength corrosion resistant repair material. The present invention relates to a method for repairing the cross section of reinforced concrete structures that can prevent new corrosion from being promoted in the reinforcing bar.


The exacting selectivity of enzymatic catalysis is the most valuable characteristic of enzymes to the synthetic chemist. Ironically, this strict specificity also limits the generality of enzymatic synthesis, because enzymes that catalyze the reaction of interest with the desired selectivity are not always available. Nonaqueous enzymology, and the discovery that enzymatic selectivity can be changed by the reaction medium, thus greatly enhances the utility of enzyme-catalyzed syntheses. To further exploit this solvent effect, we seek herein to mechanistically explain the dependence of enzymatic selectivity on the solvent. The substrate specificity of the serine protease subtilisin Carlsberg in the transesterification reaction of N-Ac-L-Ser-OEt and N-Ac-L-Phe-OEt with propanol has been examined in 20 anhydrous solvents. The serine substrate is strongly favored in some solvents, while the phenylalanine substrate is greatly preferred in others. An equation has been derived on the basis of the thermodynamics of substrate desolvation, which correctly predicts the substrate specificity as a function of the solvent-to-water partition coefficients of the substrates and the substrate specificity of the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of the esters in water. This model is herein demonstrated to be independent of the enzyme and the substrate, so long as the latter is removed from the solvent in the transition state. Experimentally measured solvent-to-water partition coefficients are nonideal for use in the prediction of the solvent dependence of enzymatic selectivity for several reasons. First, partition coefficients cannot be readily measured for water-miscible solvents. Second, the mutual solubility of aqueous and organic phases influences the measured partition coefficients. Third, the effects of additives to the reaction medium, such as a second substrate, cannot be included. These problems have been overcome by calculating the partition coefficients from the substrate activity coefficients using UNIFAC. For the case of substrate specificity, the differential free energy of desolvation for two substrates is primarily driven by chemical differences in the substrates. In cases of stereoselectivity (e.g. enantioselectivity, prochiral selectivity, and regioselectivity), however , chemically identical substrates lead to the formation of multiple products. For such identical substrates, desolvation energy differences arise from differences in the solvation of the substrates in the transition states which lead to the various products. Our model has been expanded to account for partial transition state desolvation, which is assessed using molecular modeling based on the crystal structure of the enzyme. Using this methodology , we are able to quantitatively predict the solvent dependence of the enantioselectivity of cross-linked chymotrypsin …


The gene encoded for tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), which is the key enzyme in terpenoil indole alkaloids pathway, was targeted to different subcellular compartments and stably expressed in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants at the levels detected by Western blot and tryptamine accumulation analysis. It was shown that the TDC was located in subcellular compartments, the chloroplasts and cytosol. The recombinant TDC targeted to chloroplasts and cytosol in tobacco plants was effectively expressed as soluble protein by Western blot analysis and enzymatic assay. The level of tryptamine accumulation in chloroplast was higher than that in cytosol and very low in vacuole and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to be hardly detected by Western blot analysis. It was indicated that the highest amount of tryptamine was in chloroplasts, lower in endoplasmic reticula and the lowest in vacuoles as compared to those in wild type plants. The TDC targeted to different subcellular compartments of tobacco plants and its expression level were studied by different nucleotide sequences coding signal peptides at 5'-end of tdc gene in order to know the effects of the TDC in compartmentation on its functionality.


In a well-known passage of Plato's Protagoras the sophist of that name is made to suggest that what makes a society or community of human beings possible is their possession of δίκη and αίδώϧ, which are given to them by Zeus. But though all men have these qualities, they are not 'natural' in the way that ugliness or beauty of face is natural. They are acquired; and Protagoras gives a detailed description of how they are inculcated, first by parents, then by schoolmasters, and then by laws. The view that these qualities are peculiar to men was, of course, not a new one. Already in the Works and Days Hesiod writes, And again the age of lawlessness and violence is described as


On the changing of on environment viable organisms answered by apprropriate reaction shows the degree of "openness". Changes of biochemical composition and spatial orientation of the major biopolymers of cells and cultures liquid of greeen algae by method of noninvasive analysis had been shown.


Summary From 26 sites in the central and eastern parts of North Island, New Zealand, 37 specimens of wood have been identified botanically and their stratigraphic position established in relation to tephra layers of known age. Driftwood derived mainly from podocarp trees (Dacrydium, Podocarpus) was sampled from five sites associated with old shorelines and river terraces in the Waipaoa River Catchment, and from two sites in the Whakatane River Catchment. The results indicate times at which the corresponding vegetation was growing in the upper parts of these catchments. Stumps between tephra layers sampled from coastal lowlands were mostly from podocarp trees growing in situ during the interval 2,100 to 1,800 yr B.P. The paper also discusses the relationship of earth movements at Gisborne to other events including the Taupo Pumice eruptions, the significance of layers of preserved manuka (Leptospermum) in swamps, and changes in the coastline near Whakatane.


Contains table of contents for Section 2, an introduction and list of sponsors and principal investigators for six research projects.


variations in more than one gene. Not to be discouraged, gene therapy has seen positive results in reducing advanced malignant melanoma and improving inherited blindness. If gene therapy can silence genes, then there may be new treatments for Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases. Expanding immunization practices to include vaccines that are administered without needles or syringes, can and will maximize immunization coverage as vaccines potentially become safer and reach larger bodies of people, especially populations in Third World countries. Research has led to the development of influenza vaccines which currently are available as a nasal spray. Epidemics could be halted and deaths could be prevented with the use of simple oral or nasal medications. However, the increased development and use of needleless vaccinations is hindered by "(i) insufficient clinical data, (ii) financial ramifications and (iii) global diversity in immunization practices."2 Continuing with aid to Third World countries, the development of a process that can transmit medical images through cellular phones can help provide radiological diagnoses and treatment to the three-quarters of the world's population that have no access to medical imaging technology. This technology, currently being developed Our lives revolve around the health of our bodies, so can the future of our society's health be linked to new medical technologies? New improvements and inventions in medicine will hopefully be beneficial, but undoubtedly obstacles will need to be overcome as ideas are brought to fruition, and efficacy and safety are evaluated. With a little luck and a lot of "blood, sweat, toil, and tears" [Winston Churchill], medical advances in drug production, drug delivery, imaging, and telemedicine could give the people of the world a brighter future. Gene therapy is an "experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease."1 The application of gene therapy might help doctors treat patients by inserting a gene into a patient's cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Gene therapy seems to be a promising alternative to current treatments for various diseases, but like all new technologies, it is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Some problems concerning gene therapy are that when a new gene is introduced to the cell it has not been able to remain functioning for a long period of time. There is also an immune response against the foreign DNA that makes it difficult for the new DNA to stay incorporated in the cells. If that wasn't difficult enough, some of the most common diseases


DNA‐controlled reactions offer interesting opportunities in biological, chemical, and nanosciences. In practical applications, such as in DNA sequence analysis, the sequence fidelity of the chemical‐ligation reaction is of central importance. We present a ligation reaction that is as fast as and much more selective than enzymatic T4 ligase‐mediated oligonucleotide ligations. The selectivity was higher than 3000‐fold in discriminating matched from singly mismatched DNA templates. It is demonstrated that this enormous selectivity is the hallmark of the particular ligation architecture, which is distinct from previous ligation architectures designed as "nick ligations". Interestingly, the fidelity of the native chemical ligation of peptide nucleic acids was increased by more than one order of magnitude when performing the ligation in such a way that an abasic‐site mimic was formed opposite an unpaired template base. It is shown that the high sequence fidelity of the abasic ligation could facilitate the MALDI‐TOF mass‐spectrometric analysis of early cancer onset by allowing the detection of as little as 0.2 % of single‐base mutant DNA in the presence of 99.8 % wild‐type DNA.


Abstract Due to the importance of zinc as an antioxidant and its crucial role in insulin synthesis, its deficiency may affect adversely diabetic state. So, this study aimed to modulate these effects using Curcuma longa as natural antioxidant. Rats were divided into four groups: two groups fed a zinc sufficient diet one non-diabetic and the other diabetic, while the others two groups diabetic rats fed a zinc-deficient diet, one non-treated group and the other treated with curcuma 1% diet. After four weeks of dietary manipulation, fasting animals were scarified. Zinc deficiency decreased body weight, insulin, zinc tissues, alkaline phosphatase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Conversely glucose, lipids profile, transaminases and malondialdehyde were increased. However, the above-mentioned parameters were significantly improved following curcuma supplementation. So it seems that curcuma is a potent factor for reducing the oxidative severity of zinc deficiency in experimental diabetes through its antioxidants actions.