Street food vendor is a category of small-sized bussiness with extensive impact on Thailand, both with respect to quality of life of its citizen and all sectors of its economy --- especially the tourism sector. Such vendors are often unhygienic and untidy which undermines health and well-being of citizens and tourists alike. This innovative research aimed to develop an operational model of Thai street food enterprises that integrates the network of related parties including both public and private. This study was conducted between 15th of March 2018 and 31st of August 2019 on the existing operations of both places and persons involved with street food vending. As sample locations, 12 venues with good management were selected from across the country by local health centers. The study was conducted through organising local workshops and focus group discussions with personnel and excutives from various groups including department of health, provincial health office, municipality and local administrations, and representative of restaurant and street food vender associations. Data collected were analysed to identify the developmental history, management characteristics, key success factors, and opporunities for further improvement at each location. Then, together with documentary research of laws, academic theories and norms, an operational model was proposed: at the community-level, there were 4 principal components of operations --- infrastructure, human resource, finance, and operationalsystem --- that had to be considered. At the town-level, one should aim to follow the conceptual framework for "healthy city" as recommended by the World Health Organization. This operational model of Thai street food enterprises should be implemented in all provinces to fulfill the 2020 governmental policy of improving people's quality of life and support sustainable tourism.


Rahul Desai Research Scholar, Sinhgad College of Engineering, Asst Professor, Information Tech. Department Army Institute of Technology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India Email: email@example.com Dr. B P Patil Principal, Professor, E&TC Department, Army Institute of Technology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India Email: firstname.lastname@example.com -------------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT--------------------------------------------------------------In this paper, prioritized sweeping confidence based dual reinforcement learning based adaptive routing is studied. Routing is an emerging research area in wireless networks and needs more research due to emerging technologies such as wireless sensor network, ad hoc networks and network on chip. In addition, mobile ad hoc network suffers from various network issues such as dynamicity, mobility, data packets delay, high dropping ratio, large routing overhead, less throughput and so on. Conventional routing protocols based on distance vector or link state routing is not much suitable for mobile ad hoc network. All existing conventional routing protocols are based on shortest path routing, where the route having minimum number of hops is selected. Shortest path routing is non-adaptive routing algorithm that does not take care of traffic present on some popular routes of the network. In high traffic networks, route selection decision must be taken in real time and packets must be diverted on some alternate routes. In Prioritized sweeping method, optimization is carried out over confidence based dual reinforcement routing on mobile ad hoc network and path is selected based on the actual traffic present on the network at real time. Thus they guarantee the least delivery time to reach the packets to the destination. Analysis is done on 50 nodes MANET with random mobility and 50 nodes fixed grid network. Throughput is used to judge the performance of network. Analysis is done by varying the interval between the successive packets.


In this study, effects of numerous physical quantities like dissipation, thermal radiation, and induced magnetic field on magnetohydrodynamic Casson fluid flow through a vertical plate is addressed. The non-dimensional multivariable governing equations are solved numerically by by means of Runge-Kutta method along with shooting technique. The behavior of velocity, temperature and induced magnetic fields for different physical aspects is discussed through graphical illustrations. The influence of physical constants like Casson fluid (β), Magnetic parameter Μ, Soret number Sc, Prandtl number Pr, Magnetic Prandtl number etc., on induced magnetic field, temperature and velocity is analyzed. Interesting observation of this study is that the effect of velocity distribution obeys the physical nature of well-known Newtonian and all other Non-Newtonian fluids.


This paper attempts to measure the relative importance of cognitive and affective factors in the context of hotel service satisfaction. Although the literature talks about the relative influence of cognitive and affective factors on satisfaction, it is generally mute on the "Impact Overlap" that may exist due to the simultaneity of the influence. The confoundedness created by this impact overlap is the research gap, which this paper tries to disentangle. Principal Component Analysis has been used to construct cognitive and affective indices based on the factors identified from the previous literature. The relative importance of the cognitive and affective factors that a consumer considers while deciding to stay in a hotel is assessed using regression analysis. Our findings from the regression analyses suggest that cognitive factors such as infrastructure and location significantly increases customer service satisfaction. Amongst the affective factors, personalization and word of mouth have a significant positive impact on service satisfaction, even after controlling for brand name. Furthermore, results from the regressions testing the interaction effect of cognitive and affective factors reveal that for customers valuing affective factors, the impact of cognitive factors on satisfaction is relatively less. However, the converse is not necessarily true. This finding therefore implies that affective factors play a relatively important role than cognitive factors in deriving service satisfaction.


Recent figures suggest that in excess of 80% of care home residents have dementia or significant memory problems (Alzheimer's Society, 2013), presenting researchers with significant challenges when designing and conducting research in these settings. Whilst not everyone included in this figure will necessary fall under the remit of the Mental Capacity Act, any research planning to take an inclusive approach will have to: (1) justify the inclusion of people who might lack capacity to give their own consent and (2) address the ethical and methodological challenges that this presents.

This paper reflects on our own experiences of conducting research in care homes for older people and reports on the challenges we have faced over the last year, as well as the strategies we have adopted to overcome them. We begin by considering the frequently used term "they lack capacity" and relate this back to the Mental Capacity Act and how it is implemented by Research Ethics Committees. After considering the ethical issues, we move on to discuss the practicalities of complying with the requirements of the Act in a care home environment. We share our own experiences of involving 'consultees' and discuss the burden this places on care home staff and the implications this has for the design of future research.


This report discusses Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), and "Project Impact," a FEMA pilot program. It provides an overview of PDM, legislative history, funding and mitigation studies related to Hurricane Katrina, issues for Congress, and overall observations.


An experiment has been proposed, using a chemical release payload containing Ni(CO){sub 4} and CF{sub 3}Br. The NICARE payload, designed for flight on a NASA Terrier-Black Brant vehicle, consists of aluminium tanks for containing 65 pounds each of the carbonyl and CF{sub 3}Br. Both materials are discharged through explosive valves. This report presents payload schematics, physical constants, chemical reactivity, and toxicity information. Environmental assessment and payload loading procedures are also included.


Christina Hedlich, Elizabeth Barstow, and Laura K. Vogtle The National Eye Institute (2015) reports that by the year 2050, the number of individ uals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) will rise from 2.07 million to 5.44 million. AMD causes central vision loss, which can affect independence in activities such as medication management, meal prep aration, and personal finances (Smallfield, Clem & Myers, 2013). Most of these activi ties require reading, making an inability to read a concern for those with AMD (Hassell, Lamoureaux, & Keeffe, 2006). Font size and style of text may improve reading performance for individuals with low vision. Most recommendations addressing font styles are not evidence based. One font characteristic with conflicting outcomes is the use of serifs, decorative extensions placed on ends of characters. Many persons with low vision report reading serif fonts as easiest, a text style frequently used in reading materials (Strizver, 2015). A sans-serif font is void of any serifs and is commonly used in charts and captions (Strizver, 2015). Studies have investigated attributes of fonts for typical vision readers and low vision read ers, but few have focused on individuals with AMD. Mansfield, Legge, and Bane (1996) compared font styles on reading performance in those with and without low vision. Results indicated that participants with central visual field loss were more sensitive to differences in font style, and the Courier font produced the fastest reading speed. Tarita-Nistor, Lam, Brent, Steinbach, and González (2013) fo cused on the reading performance of those with AMD using four different font styles. Reading performance was best with the Cou rier font, while the Arial font produced the poorest performance. In contrast, a systematic review of 18 studies found no conclusive ev idence to support a relationship between print legibility and serif choice for reading with low vision (Russell-Minda et al., 2007). The studies included in that review focused on the different typeface characteristics, which lim ited the investigators' ability to provide de finitive recommendations. Advocacy groups such as the American Foundation for the Blind (n.d.), the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (n.d.), and the Council of Citizens with Low Vision Interna tional (n.d.) that publish guidelines of text composition for readers with vision loss rec ommend the use of mono-spaced, san-serif font styles. These guidelines are not evidence based but represent the preferences of readers with low vision (Tarita-Nistor et al., 2013). The aim of this mixed-methods study was to determine the preferred font style of indi viduals with AMD, and whether a sans-serif, proportionally-spaced font (Arial) or a serif, mono-spaced font (Courier New) improved reading performance for individuals with AMD. Reading performance was defined as reading acuity, critical print size, and maxi mum reading speed.


The thesis represented the importance that geography has done in cultivating students' viability in the following five aspects:the forming of environmental consciousness and behavior,the cultivation of special ability,the improvement of the abilities of preventing and resisting disaster,acquiring informational qualities and preparing conditions for creative ability and practical ability.At last,it also analyzed the strategies that geography teaching has done in cultivating students' viability.


[1] AGU has endorsed the U.S. Department of the Interior plan, released on 1 February, to ensure scientific and scholarly integrity throughout the agency's research and program operations (see the news item on page 46 of this Eos issue). "DOI's new plan recognizes the importance of scientific and scholarly integrity in building trust in science that informs public policy," AGU president Michael J. McPhaden said. "Integrity of the scientific enterprise is essential for guiding the scientific community, policy makers, and the general public as we work together to meet global challenges related to climate change, natural hazards, and wise use of our natural resources."


Flavoniods are a group of activated substances which have special health care and thereapeutic function.In this paper,some kinds of technological ways of extracting flavoniods were introducted and their structure feature were analyzed.The advantage and disadvantage of each technology was analyzed too.


The present invention relates to a method of measuring and calibrating a boresight in a hovering state of the helicopter, the grounding (Hovering) to measure the aiming line of air-to-air / aircraft guided missiles, navigation equipment and radar in the ground state (Hovering) By measuring and calibrating at), the alignment error can be reduced and the measurement time can be shortened. To this end, the boresight measurement and calibration method of the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) irradiating a laser beam from a bore sight measuring device mounted on a helicopter and simultaneously irradiating a laser beam from a laser of an aircraft alignment reference line (ABRL); ; (b) measuring the laser beam irradiated from the helicopter at a laser sensor control station installed on the ground and calculating a correction amount by a data acquisition computer; (c) transferring the calculated correction amount to the data transmission and receiver (DTR) of the helicopter through the laser sensor control station; (d) transmitting correction data to each device through an internal data interface in the DTR and performing correction based on a preset software (S / W); And (e) transferring the result of performing the correction to the laser sensor control station through the DTR to record and record the correction result.


The buffer for a lorry loading-ramp or -bridge comprises a buffer block (9) mounted on a frame (18). The height of the block can be adjusted using a linear drive, e.g. a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (11). The path of the block during adjustment has a vertical and a horizontal component.


This study analyzes similarities and differences in students' motivation to learn based on nationally representative samples of 15-year-olds from 26 countries. Scales of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation proved to be equivalent across countries but there seems to be a shift in meaning at the country level. Focusing on functional relationships within countries, the results show that in most countries, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation vary independently of each other and are by no means antagonistic. On the contrary, both are important in the regulation of actual learning behavior: Whereas interest in reading mostly showed direct effects on students reading performance, instrumentally motivated students seemed to perform better only because of their frequent use of control strategies during learning.


Portions of E. coli tRNAGlu having identity determinants for glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (ERS, EC 220.127.116.11) have been designed to be the first RNA inhibitors of a Class I synthetase. ERS recognizes the 2-thionyl group of 2-thio-5-methylaminomethyluridine (mnm5s2U34) in the first or wobble anticodon position of E. coli tRNAGlu. The interaction, as revealed by structural analysis, though specific, appears tenuous. Thus, it is surprising that RNAs designed from this tRNA's anticodon stem and loop domain with (ASLGlu-s2U34) and without s2U34 are bound by ERS and inhibit aminoacylation of the native tRNA. ASLGlu, ASLGlu-s2U34, and a minihelixGlu composed of identity determinants of the amino acid accepting stem were thermally stable under conditions of aminoacylation (Tms = 75 ± 1.5, 76 ± 0.9 and 83 ± 2.0 °C, respectively). In binding competition, the modified ASLGlu-s2U34 bound ERS with a higher affinity (half maximal inhibiting concentration, IC50, 5.1 ± 0.4 µM) than its unmodified counterpart, ASLGlu (IC50, 10.3 ± 0.6 µM). The minihelixGlu, ASLGlu-s2U34, and ASLGlu bound ERS with Kds of 9.9 ± 3.3, 6.5 ± 1.7 and 20.5 ± 3.8 µM. ERS aminoacylation of tRNAGlu was inhibited by the tRNA fragments. Unmodified ASLGlu, minihelixGlu, and ASLGlu-s2U34 exhibited a Kic of 1.9 ± 0.2 µM, 4.1 ± 0.2 µM, and 6.5 ± 0.1 µM, respectively. The modified ASLGlu-s2U34, though having a higher affinity for ERS, may be released more readily and thus, not be as good an inhibitor as the unmodified ASL. Thus, the RNA constructs are effective tools to study RNA-protein interaction.


Proliferative colitis in the ferret consistently displays, along with marked proliferation of mucosal cells, intracytoplasmic campylobacter-like organisms within the apical portion of the epithelial cells. Fluorescent antibody to "omega" campylobacter antigen present in porcine intestinal adenomatosis and hamster proliferative ileitis was demonstrated at the site of bacterial colonization within hyperplastic epithelial cells of six colons from ferrets affected with proliferative colitis.


The linear combinations of Gaussian type orbitals-fitting function (LCGTO-FF) technique has been used over the past eight years, to study a number of ultra-thin film (UTF) systems. Unlike most first principles work in this field, this ongoing investigation focussed on the ground-state properties of UTFs at their equilibrium geometries, as opposed to simply using the UTFs to model some macroscopic system. A summary of the status of LCGTO-FF UTF work is presented with emphasis on the variation of properties as a function of film thickness. One of the more important findings is that the interplanar separation and binding of Li has not converged for a 5-layer UTF. This result calls into question all surface relaxation calculations in which only the outer one or two layers are allowed to relax. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


The trophodynamics of Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788) from the western Bay of Bengal was studied during 2012 – 2015. Feeding intensity revealed that 34.6 % of the fishes had empty-trace stomachs, 52.77% of the fishes had quarter full-half full stomachs and 12.44% of the fishes had three fourth full-gorged stomachs. Feeding intensity increased with an increase in body size of the fishes with high prey to predator weight ratios and with a third of the fishes above 160 cm fork length possessing three fourth full-gorged stomachs. Cephalopods (47%) dominated the prey constituents, followed by semi digested finfishes and shellfishes (28%), finfishes (16%) and crustaceans (9%). Significant shifts in prey items were observed with an increase in fish size. Though squids were predominant in the diet, however, with the increase in size, feeding shift has clearly been observed towards finfishes. Feeding preferences did not vary between sexes. Annual and seasonal similarities were recorded in their food and feeding habits. Prey-specific abundance indicated a relative specialized feeding pattern with high occurence of species belonging to the orders Teuthidae and Perciformes. Levins Standardized Niche Breadth Index of 0.16 indicated limited niche width in the feeding strategy of Thunnus albacares.


The chemistry of aromatic compounds was originally confined to benzenoid hydrocarbons and their derivatives but has been enriched in the last decade by the discovery of numerous non-benzenoid, cyclically conjugated systems that are more or less like benzene in their properties. This has necessitated a new conception of "aromatic character". Theoretical and experimental studies have been applied to this problem. In this connection, several selected representatives of this class of compound are described, mostly from studies by the author's own group, and relationships between structure and "aromatic character" are indicated.


The quantum analog of Kramers rate theory is derived from a unique many‐body rate approach (Miller formula), being valid at all temperatures. In contrast to the imaginary free energy method (''bounce'' method) for a dissipative system we do not have to invoke a different prescription of the rate formula for temperatures below the crossover temperature T0 to tunneling dominated escape. Miller's many‐body quantum transition state theory is shown to produce the results of the imaginary free energy technique; in particular it also describes correctly the subtle regime near crossover T∼T0.


The objective of this study was to find an alternative to minimize environmental contamination by leather waste using it as ruminant feed. The wet blue leather wastes (WB) without chrome extraction were compared with the leather wastes in which the chrome was extracted (CE). Both materials had 99.7% of dry matter (DM), but the crude protein level was higher (90.4%) in CE than in WB (74.3%). In situ effective ruminal degradability of DM was 59.7% and it was 63.1% for CP in CE. The WB did not suffer degradation in the rumen. In vitro abomasal digestibility of CE was 100%. The percentage of degradation per hour was higher for CE (8.2%) than for WB (0.08%). The mineral content was higher in wet blue leather wastes (10.4%) than in CE (0.4%) reflecting the chrome level and demonstrating that the removal process of this mineral is efficient. The use in animal feed is presented as a viable alternative for the disposal of waste and scrap generated by the leather tanning industry and treated by the extraction method, thus minimizing environmental contamination and providing a source of protein for animal feed.


Concepts of immigrant integration and multiculturalism are defined differently depending on the country and context, and this contributes to the confusion and debates surrounding multiculturalism discourse and policy. I propose the working definition of migrant integration as "processes through which immigrants secure stable living conditions with a sense of identity and belonging as members of a host society and develop meaningful connections and relations with other local residents." On the other hand, multiculturalism can be defined as "ideologies and social policies that enable various ethnic and racial groups, without forcing them to assimilate into a mainstream culture, to acknowledge and respect each other"s diverse cultures." If migrant integration focuses on economic and social adaptation of immigrant groups, multiculturalism emphasizes cultural rights of immigrant groups. I propose we need to pursue "multicultural migrant integration" as an ideal model of migrant integration in a multicultural society. The new index for multicultural migrant integration synthesizes existing migrant integration index and multiculturalism policy index. Most of all, it includes a social psychological dimension. The new index relies on a multi-level data collection method. It includes the examination of laws and government policy (the current method of MIPEX and MPI), a Delphi survey of a group of experts in each country to review the state of multicultural migrant integration, a survey of migrants and natives to examine their perceived evaluation of the state of multicultural migrant integration, especially attitudes, identity, and intergroup relations. Bio:


In studying the theory of how to regulate socialist economy during the preceding period, people failed to pay attention to the law of supply and demand, a law unique to market commodity circulation. In discussing the basis for market regulation, they generally ascribed it to regulation by means of the law of value. We believe this is a major drawback, and in this article we propose to offer some preliminary views on the issue.


Russia is a large country across Europe and Asia,with a special cultural structure which has been formed under the influence of both Eastern and Western cultures.The Russia people have developed a unique national character,which is reflected in their religiousness,extremeness,changeability and their universalism.The formation of such national characters has its rich geographic,social and socio-psychological factors.


Concentration profiles of excess 230Th and 231Pa (230Thxs and 231Paxs) in Arctic Ocean sediment cores exhibit strong temporal variabilities, but the mechanisms responsible for the variabilities remain poorly understood. Here, we present new 230Thxs and 231Paxs profiles from the Mendeleev Ridge to examine downcore 230Thxs and 231Paxs distributions and their connection to environmental conditions in the Arctic. Measurable concentrations of 230Thxs(231Paxs) from the new record display an alternation of "230Thxs(231Paxs)‐rich" and "230Thxs(231Paxs)‐poor" sections as observed in the other cores from the Mendeleev Ridge. Sedimentary characteristics reveal that this alternation does not directly correspond to interglacial‐glacial cycles. The 230Thxs and 231Paxs concentrations show an inverse relationship to their corresponding sedimentation rates, suggesting the distributions of 230Thxs and 231Paxs are affected by variable dilution with terrigenous material. However, changes in lateral transport of these isotopes may also account for the observed oscillations. Sedimentary cumulative inventories of 230Thxs show evidence for a net deficit of 230Th in the sediments during the last glacial period, possibly due to a lack of scavenging material in general.


Objective:To explore the relation between the expression of blood plasma, cervical secretion FFN and spontaneous parturition, and to provide objective, practical and early operational test methods for the clinical prediction of spontaneous time in labor. Methods:50 cases of outpatients in 34~36 +6 weeks gestational period and 50 cases of predelivery inpatients were randomly sampled. The inpatients were marked by the cervix Bishop scale.Results:The concentration of blood plasma FFN and the FFN positive rate of cervical secretion were increasing along with gestational period. The gestation period in labor and them was closely related. As an index to forecast cervix mature, FFN is more objective than cervix Bishop scde.Conclusions:FFN is an objective mark to forecast spontaneous time in labor. The test of cervical secretion FFN is better than blood plasma FFN because of its simple operation and cheaper price, and is more helpful on clinical application and dissemination.


The aim of this paper is to use of the Monte Carlo Method to try to reproduce an electrical discharge in the oxygen gas; by following the random histories of free electrons and using the sampling laws, we can determine some electrical discharge parameters. Additionally we use the simulation results to verify the electrical breakdown criteria under an homogenous field and for small distances; and the obtained results are compared with those of the literature.


As electrical grids evolve through the introduction of additional 'smart' sensors and actuators, cyber security becomes an even more significant factor. Information Assurance controls must be implemented throughout the grid, from large scale power generating facilities, through transmission and distribution systems, to Building Management Systems (BMS) & Home Area Networks (HAN). A precursor to determining the appropriate controls for any particular device is to determine the trust model within which these devices exist. This paper sets out to define a multi-level framework for a trust model to be used throughout the electrical grid. The model is based on two core principles: categorize cyber security requirements based on a subsystem's potential impact on the overall grid; and implement controls based on an assumed compromise of adjacent subsystems.
 From a Smart Grid Cyber Security perspective, rather than attempting to create an all encompassing enclave of trust, this model suggests that systems should be designed in ways which expect compromise of adjacent systems. An expansive sphere of implied trust will inevitably lead an expansive sphere of vulnerability. Having an expectation of compromise, of a lack of trust, would be preferable as it will require subsystems to implement independent, rather than dependent, cyber security controls.


Optimized deployment of wireless sensor networks( WSNs) can improve lifetime of network,and enhance reliability of system. Aiming at problem of coverage of sensor nodes,propose a new type of virtual force leapfrog strategy,using factors of attraction and repulsion of virtual force algorithm,to optimize the optimal solution of groups and memes group in leapfrog algorithm,and make leapfrog algorithm quickly jump out of local minima, and then search globally. Analysis and simulation results both demonstrate that this strategy can optimize deployment of sensor network rapidly,has good convergence and coverage rate,which is more close to the theoretical value.


This paper uses a dynamic model of heterogeneous beliefs (where investors agree to disagree) to study the positive price-volume correlation during a housing downturn. It shows: (i) beliefs may diverge, which prevents some pessimists from buying; (ii) in the case that beliefs cross (i.e., buyers become more optimistic than the sellers), home sales occur but are delayed due to the buyers' option to sell cash higher (using house as numeraire) if the downturn worsens. Such option to wait also has implications for the velocity of money during deflation, troubled assets in the crisis since 2007, IPO waves, and fire sales.


Classical conditioning of respiration has been used to study many aspects of hearing in the goldfish, including absolute and masked thresholds, frequency, intensity, and time discrimination thresholds. A restrained fish is presented with a 7‐s auditory signal that ends with a brief electric shock across the body. Shock causes an unconditioned suppression of respiration lasting several seconds. Several pairings of the auditory signal with the shock results in respiratory suppression during the signal. Initial conditioning is rapid (conditioned responses appear within the first 10 to 20 trials), several thresholds can be obtained in one day, and thresholds can be obtained for individual animals for several years. Critical factors for success with this method include the measurement of respiration (using a thermistor), method of animal restraint, levels of electric shock, intertrial intervals, false alarm estimation, overall respiratory rate, subject selection, and water conditioning. Details of the methods and procedures that have been found useful in conditioning and threshold definition will be given along with illustrative data on threshold values and stability in masking and intensity discrimination experiments.


A method of designing an optimal controller for a two-link robot is developed. Robot motion is constrained and is given in terms of nonlinear dynamical equations. Each robot link is subjected to motion from an initial angular displacement and velocity to a set of final angular displacement and velocity, during which a preselected quadratic performance index of the robot is optimized. The proposed dynamic modeling method and closed-loop control algorithm for decentralized control are applied to an example two-link robot.<<ETX>>


The small scale manufacturing industry faces many challenges in market such as price, quality of a product, manpower planning, and funding problem. The excellence operation and effective utilization of manpower and machine are the key factor to over-come the problem. The accurate forecasting of the manpower and effective utilization of manpower to overcome this problem. This research recommended to small-scale industry improves their utilization of manpower in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency day to day. Improve their daily activity in order to achieve their targets. The planning of manpower ensure that adequate supply, right quantity of manpower at right time, at right place. This paper develop an ISM model for a man power planning in a small scale industry.Interpretive structural modeling is one of the wellestablished methodologies for identifying relationships among specific items and which defines the problems of an issue. This approach has been used by various researchers to represent the interrelationships among various elements related to the issue.


In 2010, Congress codified the economic substance doctrine and created a strict liability penalty for understatements attributable to transactions that did not have economic substance. Recent court decisions have refused to invalidate transactions based on economic substance and have focused instead on other doctrines such as sham transaction and substance over form. This may have implications for the strict liability penalty incorporated into the economic substance doctrine.


In this paper, we first introduce several new classes of weighted amalgam spaces. Then we discuss both strong type and weak type estimates for certain multilinear $\theta$-type Calder\'on--Zygmund operators $T_\theta$ recently introduced in the literature on products of these spaces with multiple weights. Furthermore, the strong type and weak end-point estimates for both multilinear commutators and iterated commutators of $T_\theta$ and pointwise multiplication with BMO functions are established as well.


SUMMARY There is an increasing trend in the chemical process industry to operate flexible batch plants because of their capability to manufacture multiple products simultaneously by sharing the same process resources. In this paper, the scheduling of multi-purpose batch chemical plants with junction (header) constraints is considered. A mixed-integer non-linear model for the scheduling of multi-purpose batch chemical plants is formulated that considers the connection between equipment sets, transfer times, variable batch sizes, alternative process plans, and batch merging. Because of the computational time complexity of the batch scheduling problem, a heuristic scheduling algorithm that minimizes the total tardiness is developed lo solve the model.


The Prototype Segmented Mirror Telescope (PSMT) is a 1.3m segmented mirror telescope that aims to develop and demonstrate the segmented mirror technology indigenously. The telescope design includes a spherical primary with seven hexagonal segments of size 500mm each and an ellipsoidal secondary. Since the telescope has a spherical primary, hence it suffers from spherical aberrations as well as large off-axis aberrations, thus limiting its field of view. In order to improve the image quality over relatively larger field, an aberration corrector is required. The Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera (FOSC) is a widely used back-end instrument for any telescope and PSMT is also supposed to be equipped with such an instrument. Therefore, we have designed the optics of the FOSC in such way that it meets dual requirements i.e. it works as a science instrument as well as an aberration corrector. The FOSC instrument consists of multi-element collimator and camera lenses and a grism is used as a dispersive element. The FOSC optics design is optimized for the visual wavelength range of 4500-8500A° and up to 10 arc-min field of view. Here, we present the optical design of the FOSC and outcome of the analysis carried out using the ZEMAX optical design software.


Crepidotus herbaceus and C. ulmicola, found on herbaceous plants and bark, respectively, are described as new species. A remarkably minute, white, tomentose pileus and broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid, almost smooth or finely ornamented basidiospores distinguish the two species from other members of Crepidotus. The habitats of the two species (on bark of Ulmus trees and on leaves and stems of living herbaceous plants) are unusual in this nearly saprophytic fungal genus. Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) analyses based on ITS rDNA confirmed the distinctiveness of these two new species. Full descriptions, scanning electron micrographs of basidiospores, and morphological illustrations are provided.


Key Points Question What is the natural history of insomnia in the 12 months after traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Findings In this analysis of 2022 adults from the large cohort study Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury, insomnia was common during the 12 months after TBI. Five trajectory classes of insomnia were identified, and baseline factors including sex, race and ethnicity, history of TBI, psychiatric history, and computed tomography status were identified as significantly associated with insomnia trajectory class membership. Meaning These findings suggest that insomnia is common after TBI and should be assessed early in recovery.


Crisis management, it seems, is unable to abate escalating crises in increasingly risk-dominated economies. Is the endeavor of reconciling economics, politics, and public duty itself in crisis or still in a strategic learning mode? This paper outlines four research-oriented problematics that suggest the latter state of play, assuming that crises represent "wicked" problems for oligarchs. It draws on examples of what may have been learnt recently and points to that which needs more, much more, attention. Crises as a dilemma, opportunity, or both is still an unresolved and relatively undebated issue.


Only two species of the widely distributed genus Apotropina, formerly Lasiopleura, have previously been known from tropical Africa. This paper recognises and provides keys to nine species, of which one is left unnamed and six are descriptionbed as new: A. brunneivittata (Natal, South Africa), A. lachaisei (CA´te d'Ivoire, ZaA¯re), A. nigricornis (Malagasy Republic), A. sigalopleura (Mozambique, Nigeria), A. stuckenbergi (Malagasy Republic), and A. tsitsikama (Cape Province, South Africa). New records and notes are given for A. gregalis (Lamb) and A. vittata (Sabrosky).


"LARGE-SCALE" DIFFERENCES IN POINTS OF VIEW AND INTERPRETATIONS

Summary
The paper presents a critical review of a hypothesis according to which large-scale strike-slip movements took place along the Teisseyre-Tornquist tectonic zone in Poland in the Ordovician and Silurian. It is emphasized that sharp differences in facies, thickness and folding of coeval series from opposite sides of the "strike-slip fault" were not proven to be not due to tectonic shortening in the transversal section geosynclinal area-epicontinental area, on the basis of paleotectonic reconstructions. Pre-Dalslandian and pre-Baikalian rocks of the Rachow and Bukowina massifs are shown to be situated closer to the Gothian sockle of the Old Platform than Dalslandian and Baikalian rocks of Dobrogea, which contradicts the above hypothesis. Attention is drawn to the fact that lack of data on crystalline basement in central and north-western Poland cannot be treated as a support for the hypothesis. At the same time it is emphasized that magnetic image should not be interpreted tectonically, as crystalline rocks occurring west of the Teisseyre-Tornquist zone have passed the Curie point and they were repeatedly subjected to rotations and repeated changes of Earth magnetic poles. The Y-shape of the Caledonian orogen in Europe is also interpreted in a different way. This phenomenon is here treated as normal and explainable in all the orogenic belts in terms of influence of central massifs, microcontinents and old plates. Seven geological cross-sections given in the discussed paper cannot be treated as an argument confirming the hypothesis since they merely give graphic representation of the views of individual authors on the contact of fold zone and the Old Platform. The cross- sections represent artistic visions and helplessness in interpretation. There is also discussed coexistence of phenomena excluding one another, in Figs. 3 and 4, e.g. the existence of broken-up and translocated midoceanic ridge and Protoatlantic rift outside the shelf of the Prototethys and, at the same time, the youngest Caledonides which have to mark closure of the ocean. Therefore, the growth of the Protoatlantic in the Variscan epoch is negated (Appalachians!) as that had to be the time of final closure of southern sector of the Protoatlantic and not the time of its growth.
The view that close contact of differently developed coeval series speaks in favour of strike-slip movement is seriously denied; common fold-nappe approach leads to the same contacts. As examples, are given such contacts from Caledonian, Variscan and Alpine belts, especially direct contact of schistes lustres and the Brianconnais zone.


The observable outcomes of post-Soviet economic reforms have generated large interest and controversy in the transition debate. Privatization and market competition are the two primary forces to induce changes in the firm behavior. The author investigates how firm performance responds to these forces by modeling firm performance in Ukraine. Drawing from panel data on Ukrainian firms for 1996–2000, the study estimates a production function using random-effects and instrumental variable estimators. The analysis finds evidence that firm performance improves significantly with privatization. This effect is particularly strong when several private owners concentrate ownership. There is indication that privatized companies with dominant outside shareholders are most efficient. Another finding is that market competition has little role in determining firm performance in Ukraine.


In many security situations, it is necessary to utilize unattended optical surveillance systems. Sandia National Laboratories has developed three optical surveillance systems which operate in the unattended surveillance mode. The first of these systems is known as the Modular Integrated Video System (MIVS). The MIVS is a microprocessor controlled video system which records scenes at selectable intervals. Each scene consists of six to ten frames recorded on a 8mm videotape. A MIVS video recorder has the capacity to record approximately 26,000 scenes. Scenes can be recorded at intervals ranging from 1 to 99 minutes between recordings. The unit has been designed for permanent installation with facility power. The camera can be located up to 30 m from the recording module with the authentication technology protecting the cable connecting the camera to the recording unit. The Portable Surveillance unit (PSU) is a second system which has been designed for unattended operation. The PSU is designed for situations where quick set up of an optical surveillance device is required. The PSU operates in a manner similar to the MIVS and can be operated off of facility power for long time periods, or from an internal battery pack for short term surveillance applications.more » The Video Surveillance Unit (VSU) provides similar capabilities for permanent rack mounted installations. This paper describes the MIVS, the PSU, and the VSU, and discusses potential applications for the system. Equipment for reviewing the videotapes produced by the systems is also described. 7 refs., 4 figs.« less


We propose a tunable band-stop plasmonic filter based on monolayer graphene with different thickness of structure, and the corresponding transmission characteristic is numerically investigated by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The results show that the proposed filter can achieve a broad stopband that can be tuned by various physical parameters such as the chemical potential of graphene, the thickness of packing layers and so on. Our studies may be important for designing tunable optical filter, the fabrication of nano-integrated plasmonic circuits and the refractive index sensitive sensors.


ABSTRACT Networks have remained a challenge for information visualization designers because of the complex issues of node and link layout coupled with the rich set of tasks that users present. This paper offers a five-layer hierarchy of network visualization situations with associated tasks: from simple node and link situations to more elaborate situations involving node labels, directed links, node attributes, and link attributes. Then, it offers a strategy based on tying node placement to node attributes within non-overlapping regions. These user-defined meaningful substrates enable users to easily see which links remain within a region or cross to other regions. Link visibility is controlled by check boxes so that selected subsets of links can be displayed. To further limit display clutter, users can set sliders to control which nodes within a region have their edges visible. We illustrate our meaningful substrate approach in a modest example with legal precedents for 49 cases with 368 precedents, and show these in our implementation of NVMS 1.0.


Objective
Hepatic artery thrombosis(HAT) is one of serious complications after liver transplantation. This study was intended to explore the effect of HAT on survival rate of patients/grafts and biliary complications early after liver transplantation with controlled donation after circulatory death (CDCD) donors in children.

Methods
The clinical data of 236 children with CDCD donor liver transplantation (donor age <14 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 37 patients developed HAT early postoperatively. The survival rate of patients/grafts and the occurrence of biliary complications were compared between two groups.

Results
The median follow-up period was 23 months. For HAT (n=37) and non-HAT (n=199) group, the median follow-up period was 27 and 22 months respectively. The 1-year and 3-year survival rates of grafts were 88.2%, 88.2% and 93.2%, 92.4% respectively. And no inter-group statistical difference existed (P=0.373). The 1-year and 3-year graft survival rates were 73.9%, 73.9% and 91.8%, 90.5% respectively. And inter-group statistical difference existed (P<0.01). The incidence of biliary leakage and biliary stricture were 13.5% and 2% and 29.7% and 5.5% respectively. Inter-group statistical differences existed. In HAT group, there were liver failure (n=7, 18.9%) and death (n=3, 8.1%) after transplantation.

Conclusions
HAT is one of the serious complications after liver transplantation. An early onset of HAT increases the incidence of biliary complications and graft loss in children after CDCD donor liver transplantation. For patients with graft failure, liver re-transplantation may be performed at the right time.

Key words:
Children; Donor; Liver transplantation; Hepatic artery thrombosis; Biliary complication; Survival rate


This article proposes a model to simultaneously plan truck arrivals, truck departures and internal pallet handling in a crossdocking platform. The objective is to minimize both the total number of pallets put in storage on the planning horizon, and the dissatisfaction of the transportation providers, by creating a truck schedule as close as possible to the wished schedule they communicate in advance. The problem is modeled with an integer program, which is tested on generated instances to assess its performances, especially regarding the computation time. Since the execution takes too long to be used by platform managers on a daily basis, two heuristics are also proposed and tested. We show in which conditions each heuristic performs best, which can help in choosing a solution method when confronted to a real-life problem.


To the end-user of a video database, content consists of objects and events occurring in the video. A video database system must be designed to extract, represent and organize this information in a fashion that supports querying, manipulation and data visualization by a user. As a data modeling exercise, objects and events are defined in terms of semantic attributes such that an end-user's queries are expressible through the modeling language. On the other hand, as a feature extraction exercise, objects are defined as solutions to equations, often in terms of low-level visual primitives like voxels or contours. These two formalisms constitute entirely different languages. However, integration of these two approaches can provide a powerful mechanism for description and manipulation of complex visual data. This paper explores issues involved with this integration. We introduce the notion of a visual data modeling language (VDML), which supports data definition and data manipulation operations over complex visual data characteristic of video database systems. We discuss this data- modeling effort in the context of our multiple perspective interactive video system which generates three-dimensional data sets using input from multiple video cameras.


If there is doubt by so many experts and commentators about the staying power of shale oil in the US, then the uncertainty is even greater for the rest of the world's prospects. This chapter attempts to answer the question of whether or not the shale and conventional oil revolutions will extend around the globe, with a heavy emphasis on shale. In short, the likely answer is yes, they will. The shale resource base is widely spread and there is potential for diffusion of technology to the ROW, even though we know little about the quality of the resources compared with those in the US – though it is hard to believe that the US would be exceptional in this respect. The crucial matter is when the shale revolution will occur in different country categories. Our attempt to deal with this issue begins by illuminating the reasons for the US lead in shale and how long the ROW will take to get going. We then broaden the vista to consider what may occur and where, as the ROW overcomes its inhibitions and constraints and jumps on the shale oil bandwagon. We also speculate about what can be reasonably expected in the coming decades for the global conventional oil revolution. A US PHENOMENON, FOR NOW A brief list of circumstances, frequently reported in shale oil studies, suffices to explain what caused the US to take and to maintain a vanguard position in this field. First, of course, is a favorable resource wealth, though many countries share this characteristic with the US. A long history of large-scale oil exploitation guaranteed a technological prominence and a physical infrastructure for conventional oil exploitation. Both could be easily converted to the needs of shale oil. The general institutional infrastructure, needed to promote innovative entrepreneurial activities, was prominent and could be readily applied for the development of shale oil. Sparse population reduced environmental sensitivities. Another facilitating circumstance is that US legislation grants the landholder ownership rights to what is underground, a rule not applied by many other countries. Thus, land rights problems are avoided in the US, since the landholder is in control and benefits from royalty payments. The country's long tradition of small, adventurous exploration and production enterprises helped to speed up the revolutionary process.


Objective: To enhanced the physical stability of adenovirus vectors(Adv) and ablated humoral immune responses by PEGylation of adenovirus with polyethylene glycols.Methods: PEGylated Adv(PEG-Adv) was constructed by PEGylated adenoviral capsid proteins with activated methoxypolyethylene glycols,and gene expression was evaluated using A549 cells.Furthermore,the plasma half life and the antibody evasion ability were also evaluated.Results: PEG-adv could be protected from antibody neutralization in the high antibody titers to adenovirus,suggesting that PEGylation improve of the ability to administer Adv on a repeated basis.Conclusion: PEGylated Adv can maintain strong protective activity against antibodies.The approach described here could form the basis for further development of adenoviral gene therapy vectors with improved pharmacokinetics and increased efficiency of therapeutic gene transfer in disease.


Learning Objectives: Low tidal volumes standardized to predicted body weight are recommended for mechanically ventilated adult patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Unlike their adult counterparts, pediatric patients are ventilated using measured weight. We examined the difference in forced vital capacity (a reproducible lung volume measurement) per kilogram (FVC/kg) using the patient's measured body weight compared to their predicted weight calculated from height. Methods: Single center, retrospective analysis of outpatient pulmonary function tests (PFTs) performed from January 2004 through September 2014 on patients between 5and 20-years-old, inclusive. Patients were analyzed as a whole and by gender and then subdivided into three groups based on their PFTs: normal, obstructive, and restrictive using standard definitions. FVC/ kg values were plotted against the patient's body mass index (BMI) for height z-score based on the Center for Disease Control growth curves to show changes in FVC vs. BMI between predicted and measured weights. Results: 19,029 patient PFTs were included in the study: 12,096 were normal, 4,755 were found to have obstructive physiology, and 2,178 were restrictive. The regression line of FVC/kg predicted weight vs. BMI z-score was 3.51x+ 47.81, whereas that of the measured weight counterpart was -2.38x + 56.03 (p<0.05). Regardless of their pulmonary physiology, similar findings were noted in all subgroups. Conclusions: Measured FVC differs significantly from predicted FVC in lungs with normal, obstructive, and restrictive pathophysiology. As BMI increases above normal, measured lung volumes do not increase at the same rate as predicted. As BMI falls below normal, measured lung volumes are much larger than predicted. Briefly, thin children have larger lungs than predicted and obese children have smaller. Our study showed that patient lung size does not directly correlate to their weight, suggesting inappropriate target tidal volumes in our current lung protective strategies for management of pediatric mechanical ventilation.


Investigated the concurrent validity of the WISC-R 11 subtests and three IQs as related to the WRAT standard scores. Correlations were computed for a sample of 28 children (20 boys, 8 girls), aged 7-9 to 16-5 (means of 11-8), who were diagnosed learning disabled by LEA placement terms according to state and federal guidelines. Regression analysis used all three Wide Range Achievement subtests as criteria, and the 11 subtests and three IQ scale scores of the WISC-R as predictors. The results did not support the concurrent validity of the WISC-R for this sample of disabled children and youth.


The application of computer technology to higher education is a revolution in the educational model of the 21st century. Using computer virtual simulation technology to build a virtual platform, Through the application in general biology experimental teaching, the integration of information technology and biology is realized, which improves students' experimental interest, hands-on ability, independent problem analysis and problem-solving ability, and promotes students' all-round development. Deepen the reform of experimental teaching and significantly improve the efficiency and quality of experimental teaching.


Because the numbers of PGPR echo signal is very large and the current method that choose the parameters of sector filter manually is inefficient,the paper presents a method to choose the parameters of sector filter automatically based on region growing.By processing a set of echo signal show that the region growing to choosing the parameters of sector filter is effective.


This paper deals with the control design for systems subject to constraints and affected by variable time-delay. The starting point is the construction of a predictive contr l law which guarantees the existence of a nonempty robust positive invariant (RPI) set with respect to the clos ed loop dynamics. In a second stage, an iterative algorithm is proposed in order to obtain an approximation of the maximal robust positive invariant set. The problem can be treated in the framework of piecewise affine sy stems due to the explicit formulations of the control law obtained via multiparametric programming.


Abstract Pomaria, traditionally placed in Hoffmannseggia or Caesalpinia, is shown to be a well-supported group of 15 species related to the Erythrostemon group of Caesalpinia sensu lato. Monophyly is well supported by analyses of both nuclear and chloroplast DNA data and by the presence of several unique morphological characters. Nine species of the genus are distributed in the arid and montane regions of the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, three species occur in temperate eastern South America, and three species are native to southern Africa. The genus thus exhibits both a New World amphitropical and a New World-African amphi-Atlantic distribution pattern. A biogeographical analysis suggests two dispersals within the genus account for the present distribution: one from North America to Africa and second from North America to South America.


NEMIRA GASIUNAS Columbia University Many philosophers assume that all perception involves awareness on the part of the perceiving subject. There have been various experimental findings, however, which purport to demonstrate the occurrence of perception in cases where the subject is not aware that they are perceiving. In this paper, I review two kinds of cases which have been claimed as evidence for the existence of perception without awareness, and point out the weaknesses in each of them. By way of remedying these deficiencies, I draw attention to a relatively new kind of case. Experiments performed with grapheme-color synesthetes, I argue, provide the most convincing case yet in favor of perception without awareness.


Crystal area segmentation is one of the critical procedures for decoding the detector module coupled with scintillation crystal. However, the blurring effect makes the decoding procedure challenging. For precise decoding, we propose a crystal area segmentation method based on convolutional neural network (CNN). The method is divided into training stage and evaluation stage. In the training stage, data set was extracted from five flood maps in blocks. These blocks went over preprocessing with bandpass filter (BPF) and thresholding. Then the processed blocks were used to train and test the CNN. In evaluation stage, flood map from 2 positron emission tomography (PET) scanners were tested. The method showed 99.5% and 99.4% of peak detection accuracy for each test samples while existing method achieved 91.1% and 95.4%. The proposed algorithm detected center peaks almost perfectly and improved detectability of boundary peaks. Also, the whole decoding process was done in short amount of time. However, the algorithm proposed in this paper only considered the spatial information of the peaks in flood map. In further studies we will develop improved algorithm with using both spatial and energy information to develop more precise and practical decoding algorithm.


Putting forward the scientific development concept, causes the practice rationality which Contemporary China develops to jump to a new height.The practice of contemporary China's social development activities instructed by the scientific development concept,will certainly create a greater value.It has played important positive effect in reducing the negative practice and enablng the smooth development.


The rural-urban (peri-urban) interface zones are important places that generate demands for ecosystem goods and services (EG & S). Urban regions face transitions in land use that affect ecosystem services (EG & S) and thus human wellbeing. Especially in urban areas with high population densities (as in most of China) and high demand for EG & S, the future availability of such services must be considered in order to promote effective and sustainable decision making and prevent further ecosystem degradation. The challenge for local government planners and land managers is to find tools that allow relevant data to be collected and analyzed. Ideally, such tools should be able to give a rapid assessment, and not involve large teams of highly trained personnel or incur high costs. The paper reports on the development and trial of such a tool. The paper has three main parts. First, we present a brief overview of the current and developing situation in China, in relation to urbanization, population shifts and the creation of peri-urban areas (PUAs). Next, we build on insights from the literature and from discussions with village heads and county- and prefecture-level officials to develop an understanding of their needs for tools to help planning and land management within the constraints of the national policy. Lastly, a "template" was derived from our multi-method approach that provided a new technical tool for the rapid assessment of the value of EG & S in each of five land use categories. The tool embodies a way to address trade-offs between environmental, social and economic values in the transition zone between rural and urban areas. The tool was trialed in QinBei District in Guangxi Autonomous Region in south China and judged to be useful and adaptable to other rural–urban regions.


This issue of Spine contains guidelines for spine education in orthopaedic and neurosurgery residencies and spine (surgical) fellowships. They were prepared by the NASS Resident and Fellow Education Committee, chaired by Harry Herkowitz, MD. It should be emphasized that the word guidelines was specifically chosen to avoid the stigmata and controversy associated with accreditation and certification. Though it is unlikely that spine training guidelines will strongly influence the selection of a residency by applicants, they should be useful for fellowship applicants to assess a specific program's educational and clinical opportunities. Residency training is accredited (accreditation is given to an institution) by the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for a specialty under the overview of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). As a program chairman and residency director in orthopaedic surgery, I am aware of the focus of this review process. In general, the RRC (in most specialties) evaluates the overall program in terms of balance in all involved disciplines, fulfilling educational expectations through didactic and interactive sessions in general, basic, and clinical science and across regional anatomic areas. Balance should also be achieved between appropriate nonoperative and operative care experience, coupled with a graduated independence in providing care in the residency years. Directors of most specialty divisions within the general training program are expected to provide achievable educational and clinical goals for residents who rotate through their subspecialty. However, these tend to be broad-based and idealistic. The guidelines in this edition of Spine are designed to help program directors of spinal training. That, in general, we are not doing well in this area is demonstrated in a recent article by Dailey and colleagues who assessed "orthopaedic residents perception of the content and adequacy of their residency training." In general, orthopaedic residents felt their training was good. However, one of the weakest areas was in spine, including "lower back pain management." This should be of concern since these conditions are so prevalent. It is understandable that many training programs may not have specialists in all subspecialty areas, particularly in spine where it is fragmented into degenerative, deformity, traumatic, etc. If, however, an individual faculty member with broad spine interest is not available, programs should provide the educational needs for the trainees (as listed in the guidelines) through the full-time faculty, or rotations with volunteer, non full-time clinical faculty. Also, with decreasing training spots, as well as finances, and increasing constraints on faculty time, it may be difficult in some institutions to provide a full gamut of spine educational opportunities. Nevertheless, residency program training directors should strive to provide educational and clinical experience in the broad, frequently encountered areas of spine, as listed in the enclosed guidelines. The authors of the guidelines understand that surgical care of spine patients is often diagnostically and technically, as well as medico-legally, challenging. The guidelines do not suggest a resident perform every spinal procedure prior to graduation, but they should be exposed to the more common cases. Even if they are not technically proficient in spine surgery, they should be aware of the indications and requirements for surgery to make appropriate recommendations. Spine fellowships are different than residencies. They are more personal, tend to be one-on-one, and strongly reflect the interest of the fellowship director and colleagues, as well as the fellow. However, despite the institutionally specific nature of each spine program, the overall objectives of the fellowship should be to provide additional advanced training and education in spine care, basic/clinical science, anatomy, patient care, and stimulating new ideas. Much of the knowledge base should be, hopefully, established during the residency. However, that is not always the case. Also, if there is a spine surgery fellowship offered in the same institution, the fellowship and residency directors need to work together to assure there is no compromise of the resident's experience. The interaction between residents and fellows, when they coexist, is an important one. Fellows should become part of the educational process in a residency program. The fellowship should help fellows become better teachers. Residents should not be allowed to passively defer reading and become surgical assistants if there is a fellow. The program director, as well as the fellows themselves, should help supervise and avoid this from happening. Spine surgery fellowships are different than many other subspecialty training because of the diverse nature of spinal care. Some institutions and/or fellowship directors emphasize degenerative conditions, some concentrate on the lumbar spine; others include or focus on the cervical spine; some strongly emphasize deformity sur-


The utility model relates to the field of trenchless pipe-laying engineering construction, in particular to a rock reamer with a replaceable wheel body for a trenchless drilling machine in reaming construction in rock stratums. The rock reamer with the replaceable wheel body comprises a body, a connecting column piece (4) and the replaceable wheel body (3), wherein the connecting column piece (4) is installed on the body and is provided with a tapered or non-tapered connecting part, the replaceable wheel body comprises a bearing (7), and a tapered or non-tapered bearing inner hole of the bearing (7) is jointed and connected to the tapered or non-tapered connecting part of the connecting column piece (4). The rock reamer with the replaceable wheel body, provided by the utility model, is not only easy to dismount, mount and replace, but also can be reliably assembled; and in addition, the service life of the rock reamer can be prolonged, the cost can be reduced, and the resources can be saved.


The extraction, fractionation, and purification periods of humic acid are very time-consuming which may vary from 12 hours to 7 days. However, the duration for isolation of humic acid from different sources vary considerably. The objective of this study was to determine the minimal duration essential to isolate humic acid from the secondary forest soil of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Jeli Campus. A 5 g of soil were mixed with 50 ml 0.5 M sodium hydroxide. An extraction period of 24 hours was used in this study. Samples were centrifuged at 10,000 G for 15 minutes after 24 hours. The dark-coloured supernatant liquor containing both humic acid and fulvic acid was decanted and the supernatant was acidified to pH 1 using 6 M hydrochloric acid. Different fractionation periods (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hours) were tested in this study. Samples were centrifuged at 10,000 G for 15 minutes at the end of each fractionation period. The humic acid was purified using 50 ml of distilled water and centrifuged at 10,000 G for 10 min for three times. There was significant effect of different fractionation periods on the yield of humic acid. Fractionation period immediately after acidification (2 hours) did not significantly affect the yield of humic acid but 4 hours is required to precipitate the humic acid. The humic acid can be purified within 1 hour using distilled water. The significance of this study is that humic acid of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Jeli Campus secondary forest soils can be isolated within 24 hours of extraction period, 4 hours of fractionation period, and 1 hour of purification period instead of the existing range, hence this may help to facilitate reduction of time and costs required to isolate humic acid from this soil.


A method for reducing the estimation variance of an integrated trispectrum under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and short data sample conditions is presented. An analysis of the results of a simulation using this method, and a comparison with the power spectrum method and integrated trispectrum method, are presented.


This study proposes a new adaptive microphone system that is characterized by a linear prediction circuit inserted previous to a noise reconstruction filter corresponding to an adaptive delay used in conventional systems. This insertion provides various advantages to the adaptive microphone system. One is that steering a null for a noise source becomes possible irrespective of the incidence of speech signal. Another is that the new microphone system works as an omnidirectional microphone for the speech signal. Consequently, setting the microphones at arbitrary intervals is possible. For example, building one microphone in a handset and another into a telephone baseset becomes possible, which provides higher noise reduction effect. In practical use, microphone systems must function in reflective surroundings. In this study, such performance of the proposed system is verified first using computer simulations and then using an experimental system put in an ordinary room. This study also presents experimental...


Objective To explore a better way to adequately enlarge the inner canthus with inconspicuous scar based on the operation method of transverse incision for correcting the redundant skin in the inner canthus.Methods Designing transverse incision along the new inner canthal point and lower palpebral margin,separating the skin below incision,dissociation or cutting off part of displaced orbicularis,and suturing the original inner canthal point and new inner canthal point,without removing skin,only subcutaneous separation.Results 83 of 85 cases was satisfied with postoperative shape.The correction was sufficient with inconspicuous scar and 1ess recrudescence by the new method.3 cases had evident incision scars when postoperative one month,three months later scars became inconspicuous,only 2 cases were unsatisfactorv for the skin fold.Conclusion This method has the advantages of sufficient enlarged inner canthus.Without removing skin,inconspicuous scar and 1ess recrudescence.It is a simple and effective method for correcting the redundant skin of the inner canthus.


Introduction: Talar neck fractures are injuries which frequently result in adverse outcomes or impairment of functional activity. Four groups were identified according to Hawkins classification and Canale modification. We present a female patient with a fractured neck of the talus associated with talonavicular dislocation, but intact tibiotalar and subtalar joints; an injury pattern not fulfilling the criteria described in the Hawkins classification. Patient concerns: A 46-year-old woman missed a step and fell down stairs with an immediate painful right ankle and inability to bear weight. Diagnosis: Talar neck fracture with an unusual isolated talonavicular dislocation. Interventions: Temporary closed reduction followed by open reduction and internal fixation were performed. Outcomes: The patient had excellent functional and radiological outcomes following surgical management. Conclusion: We discuss the management of this rare case in addition to a review of the current literature to provide the best evidence-based recommendations for this injury pattern.


Extensive evidence indicates that stress hormone effects on the consolidation of emotionally influenced memory involve noradrenergic activation of the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA). The present experiments examined whether corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) modulates memory consolidation via an interaction with the β-adrenoceptor–cAMP system in the BLA. In a first experiment, male Sprague Dawley rats received bilateral infusions of the CRF-binding protein ligand inhibitor CRF6–33 into the BLA either alone or together with the CRF receptor antagonist α-helical CRF9–41 immediately after inhibitory avoidance training. CRF6–33 induced dose-dependent enhancement of 48 h retention latencies, which was blocked by coadministration of α-helical CRF9–41, suggesting that CRF6–33 enhances memory consolidation by displacing CRF from its binding protein, thereby increasing "free" endogenous CRF concentrations. In a second experiment, intra-BLA infusions of atenolol (β-adrenoceptor antagonist) and Rp-cAMPS (cAMP inhibitor), but not prazosin (α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), blocked CRF6–33-induced retention enhancement. In a third experiment, the CRF receptor antagonist α-helical CRF9–41 administered into the BLA immediately after training attenuated the dose–response effects of concurrent intra-BLA infusions of clenbuterol (β-adrenoceptor agonist). In contrast, α-helical CRF9–41 did not alter retention enhancement induced by posttraining intra-BLA infusions of either cirazoline (α1-adrenoceptor agonist) or 8-br-cAMP (cAMP analog). These findings suggest that CRF facilitates the memory-modulatory effects of noradrenergic stimulation in the BLA via an interaction with the β-adrenoceptor–cAMP cascade, at a locus between the membrane-bound β-adrenoceptor and the intracellular cAMP formation site. Moreover, consistent with evidence that glucocorticoids enhance memory consolidation via a similar interaction with the β-adrenoceptor–cAMP cascade, a last experiment found that the CRF and glucocorticoid systems within the BLA interact in influencing β-adrenoceptor–cAMP effects on memory consolidation.


In this paper we describe a multimodal-multisensor annotation tool for physiological computing; for example mobile gesture-based interaction devices or health monitoring devices can be connected. It should be used as an expert authoring tool to annotate multiple video-based sensor streams for domain-specific activities. Resulting datasets can be used as supervised datasets for new machine learning tasks. Our tool provides connectors to commercially available sensor systems (e.g., Intel RealSense F200 3D camera, Leap Motion, and Myo) and a graphical user interface for annotation.


Objective
To relate the results of surface electromyography (sEMG) of the femoris among patients with hemiplegia after a brain lesion with scores on the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), and to decide whether sEMG can be used as a quantitative index for evaluating spasm.

Methods
The affected quadriceps femoris of sixty hemiplegic stroke survivors were assessed by the same therapist using the MAS. sEMGs were also recorded and the root mean square and average sEMG readings from the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) were extracted. The correlation between these sEMG indexes and the MAS grading was analyzed.

Results
The average sEMG signals from the VM, RF and VL were strongly correlated with the MAS grading, and they increased with increasing MAS grade. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated highly significant correlation (P≤0.001) when the quadriceps femoris was moved passively.

Conclusions
Surface EMG signals from the VM, RF and VL correlate well with MAS grades, rising when the affected quadriceps femoris of a stroke survivor is moved passively. sEMG can present the electrical activity during passive movements of the quadriceps femoris and can be useful in spasticity assessment and clinical treatment.

Key words:
Stroke; Spasticity; Surface electromyography; Quadriceps femoris


Orchesia (Orchestera) canaliculata sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Eocene Baltic amber (Kaliningrad Region, Russia). New fossil records on O. turkini Alekseev & Bukejs and O. rasnitzyni Nikitsky are presented. A key to species of Orchesia Latreille, described from fossil resins, is provided.


The advent of legislated consumerism in South Africa occurred, arguably, on April 1 2011 when the Consumer Protection Act (68 of 2008) came into full effect. One of the consequences of the introduction of the CPA is its impact on existing healthcare legislation.


A synthesis procedure is described for multivalued threshold decoders and their application to the implementation of multivalued functions. This method is based on the definition of inversion and extreme functions. Decoders are obtained using only the very simple blocks which synthesize inversion functions. This general design procedure may be used for any integrated circuit technology. As an example, the method is applied to the synthesis of an integrated CMOS quaternary decoder. Both the layout and the timing of the integrated circuit, and their application to the synthesis of multivalued functions and multistable memory elements, are shown.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of online problem-based learning (PBL) model with google classroom on Motorcycle Electrical System Maintenance (MESM) Knowledge of Vocational High School (VHS) students. This research used the Participatory Action Research approach of Kemmis and Mc. Taggart on Google classroom tool involved the use of the descriptive, interpretive mode of observation and data collection. The research design used One Groups PretestPosttest to analyse quantitative data of students' MESM knowledge. We observed students' activities on five aspects of attitude, including problem-solving skills and converted to quantitative scores 1 – 4 of the criteria scales. We decided on the criteria of attitude observed score of 35 students involved at low, enough, good, and very good categories. The result showed that there were dynamic students' activities in positive on online PBL with google classroom at Cycle I enough category, Cycle II enough category, and Cycle III good category. Moreover, the analysis used t-test showed significant differences between pretest and posttest students' MESM knowledge. The implementation of the online PBL model with google classrooms effectively promoted positive learning activities and high-order thinking skills and enhanced MESM knowledge of VHS students. Keywords—e-learning, google classroom, problem based learning model


Paper discussed the impact of Physical Internet implementation on the supply chains of tomorrow. Particular attention was paid to the influence of modular units to efficiency of the logistics in distribution pro-cesses. Author presented the potential benefits of using modular formats.


IN his 1929 preface to A Way Out, Robert Frost closed by declaring, "Here for once I have written a play without (as I should like to believe) having gone very far from where I have spent my life."'1 He was telling a truth in a number of ways. Frost had indeed not strayed far from the psychological probing and dialogue form of many of the North of Boston poems, and he had retained his New England setting and characters. Most intriguingly, however, Frost was also hinting that for inspiration he had not gone very far from a traumatic event of his own youth. That event inspired not only this one-act play but another, full-length one, The Guardeen, which was to follow many years later. A key event of the summer of 1895 echoes in poems and plays whose composition spans a period of twenty-five years. So sustained an effect reveals not just how personally critical the experience itself was but also how much Frost needed to revalue and revise in art the events of his life. A Way Out, "The Lockless Door," and The Guardeen, the first written in 1916 and the last completed in 1941-42, also demonstrate the crucial tension in Frost between solitude and community as well as his shifting perspective on the role of the artist in society. In Robert Frost: The Early Years, Lawrance Thompson offers a detailed account of the summer of 1895. When Elinor White, home from college, decided to accompany her sister Leona to Ossipee Mountain, near Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire, Frost, still at that time the importunate suitor, saw no recourse but to follow, even though he would


The principle and relevant technology of GEMS are introduced. The current development of this technology at home and abroad and the prospect are also involved.


The applications of atmospheric pressure air plasma, such as absorption and reflection of electromagnetic radiation, require an electron density of 1012cm−3 or higher. To achieve the required electron density, the electron temperature needs to reach certain level for a given gas temperature. In this manuscript, to obtain an electron density of 1012cm−3 in one atmospheric pressure air, the required electron temperatures are studied for the given gas temperatures from 500to2000K. It is found that the required electron temperatures decrease dramatically from 15310to11750K when the gas temperature increases from 500to1000K, but further increase the gas temperature to 2000K; the electron temperature of 11315K is still needed to achieve an electron density of 1012cm−3.


The text tells us about the analysis of the most disadvantageous position of the simply supported beam at the function of living loads,giving clearer,judge of synopsis axioms,and take into argument.


FT218 is an investigational, once-nightly, controlled-release formulation of sodium oxybate for the treatment of narcolepsy. The purpose of this post hoc analysis of the REST-ON study was to evaluate the effect of FT218 on measures of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with narcolepsy subtypes 1 (NT1) and 2 (NT2).

 This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study in patients with narcolepsy ≥16 years old. Patients were stratified by narcolepsy subtypes and randomized 1:1 to receive FT218 or matching placebo: 4.5 g/night for 1 week, 6.0 g/night for 2 weeks, 7.5 g/night for 5 weeks, and 9.0 g/night for 5 weeks (maximum treatment duration, 13 weeks). Assessments of EDS included mean sleep latency (minutes) on maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) in sleepiness.

 A total of 190 patients were included in the modified intent-to-treat population (NT1: FT218, n=72; placebo, n=73; NT2: FT218, n=21, placebo, n=24). Patients with NT1 or NT2 receiving FT218 had significant improvement in MWT. LS mean difference in mean sleep latency (minutes) vs placebo for NT1 was 5.97 for 9.0 g (week 13), 7.02 for 7.5 g (week 8), and 4.89 for 6.0 g (week 3; all P<0.001), and for NT2, 6.27 for 9.0 g (P=0.020), 4.01 for 7.5 g (P=0.162), and 5.33 for 6.0 g (P=0.020). A higher proportion of NT1 patients receiving FT218 had significant improvement on CGI-I vs placebo (9.0 g: 75.5% vs 35.9%; 7.5 g: 66.9% vs 27.9%; 6.0 g: 39.9% vs 7.8%; all P<0.001). A higher number of NT2 patients receiving FT218 were consistently rated as much/very much improved vs placebo, based on descriptive statistics. FT218 was generally well tolerated.

 FT218 had similar efficacy on EDS at evaluated doses in NT1 and NT2, with improvement in MWT and CGI-I greater than placebo. FT218 may provide effective treatment for EDS in patients with narcolepsy, with or without cataplexy.

 Avadel Pharmaceuticals.


Photocatalytic TiO2 thin films were prepared with titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) using cyclic plasma chemical vapor deposition (CPCVD) at atmospheric pressure. The CPCVD TiO2 films contain carbon-free impurities up to 100 °C and polycrystalline anatase phases up to 200 °C, due to the radicals and ion-bombardments. The CPCVD TiO2 films have high transparency in the visible wavelength region and absorb wavelengths below 400 nm (>3.2 eV). The photocatalytic effects of the CPCVD TiO2 and commercial sprayed TiO2 films were measured by decomposing methylene blue (MB) solution under UV irradiation. The smooth CPCVD TiO2 films showed a relatively lower photocatalytic efficiency, but superior catalyst-recycling efficiency, due to their high adhesion strength on the substrates. This CPCVD technique may provide the means to produce photocatalytic thin films with low cost and high efficiency, which would be a reasonable candidate for practical photocatalytic applications, because of the reliability and stability of their photocatalytic efficiency in a practical environment.


The OVERSEER nutrient budget model is a farm-scale nutrient reporting and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission accounting tool used extensively throughout New Zealand (NZ) by farmers, farm consultants and fertiliser representatives. The model is increasingly being used as a tool for implementing regional council resource management requirements to limit nitrogen (N) and phosphorus losses to waterways. NZ's main dairy company, Fonterra, also requires dairy farmers to have a nutrient budget as part of the national Clean Streams Accord. This means that a high proportion of NZ farmers can obtain reports of their on-farm GHG emission profile. The GHG emission model is based on models and algorithms used for the NZ GHG national inventory, modified to include a wide range of on-farm management practices. The model estimates methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and presents the results as CO2 equivalents. This paper describes the model and the benefits of combining nutrients budgets and GHG emissions into a single model. It also demonstrates the effects of management practices on a range of outputs, including N leaching and GHG emissions.


In this work, the well-known Melfrequency Cepstrum Coefficient (MFCC) feature has been used for designing a Bengali text dependent speaker identification system. The extracted speech features (MFCC's) of a speaker are quantized to a number of centroids using LBG algorithm. These centroids constitute the codebook of that speaker. MFCC's are calculated in training phase and again in testing phase. Speakers uttered different Bengali words once in a training session and once in a testing session later. The quantization distance between the the MFCC's of each speaker in training phase to the centroids of individual speaker in testing phase is measured and the speaker is identified according to the minimum quantization distance. The code is developed in the MATLAB environment and performs the identification satisfactorily.


Nightmares are common in childhood and typically become less prevalent in adulthood. However, little is known about the natural course of nightmares as children grow into adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal trajectory of nightmares from childhood to adulthood to determine population-based remission, incidence, and persistence rates.

 The Penn State Child Cohort is a random, population-based sample of 700 children (5-12 years at baseline) who returned for follow-up visits during adolescence and young adulthood. For the current study, 258 young adults (25.1±2.7 years old, 53.9% female, 24.8% minority population) completed their follow-up visit (15.9±2.0 years later). Nightmares were defined by parent-report in childhood and self-report in adulthood, based on severity. Rates of persistence, remission, and incidence for nightmares were computed.

 The persistence rate was 28% for mild childhood nightmares and 23% for moderate-to-severe childhood nightmares. About 13% of children with mild nightmares experienced a worsening into moderate-to-severe adult nightmares. The full remission rates was 58% and 32% for mild and moderate-to-severe severe childhood nightmares, respectively. About 45% of children with moderate-to-severe severe nightmares experienced partial remission into mild adult nightmares. Among children without nightmares, 32% and 8% developed mild and moderate-to-severe nightmares, respectively, in adulthood.

 Moderate-to-severe nightmares only fully remit in about a third of children in by young adulthood. In addition, about one out of ten children with mild nightmares will worsen in severity by young adulthood. Furthermore, a significant number of children will newly-develop significant nightmares in young adulthood. Given the association of nightmares with adverse mental health outcomes, nightmares should become a focus of independent research and prevention practices.

 National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01MH118308, UL1TR000127)


Beside the well‐known complications of poorly controlled, long‐standing hypertension, milder abnormalities induced by early‐stage hypertension have also been described. In our study, the authors examined the reversibility of changes induced by early‐stage hypertension. The authors performed laboratory testing, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) measurement, evaluation of stiffness parameters, assessment of various cardiac and cerebral hemodynamic parameters during head‐up tilt table (HUTT) testing, and neuropsychological examinations in 49 recently diagnosed hypertensive patients. Following baseline assessment, antihypertensive therapy was commenced. After one year of therapy, lower IMT values were found. Pulse wave velocity showed a borderline significant decrease. During HUTT, several hemodynamic parameters improved. The patients performed better on neuropsychological testing and reached significantly lower scores on questionnaires evaluating anxiety. The present study shows that early vascular changes and altered cognitive function observed in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients may improve with promptly initiated antihypertensive management.


Geological Heritage is the national treasure,and it is an important component of the ecological environment.The Ma Menxi Dinosaur Fossil in An'yue is unearthed in An'yue.The length of it is 23 meters.So far it is the biggest dinosaur in Asia.The characteristics of the dinosaur fossil are typical and rare.The geological heritage of the dinosaur fossils distributes widely with many varieties,and the intact rate of the fossils is of 75%;this has surpassed Zigong's dinosaur fossils in indices.This article mainly analyses the geological characteristics,and it proposes both the principles of tentative plan and measures of development and utilization.


Objective To analyze the changes of blood rheology and lipid indexes in patients with type Ⅱ diabetes. Methods Blood rheology,cholesterol( CH),triglyceride( TG),high density lipoprotein( HDL- C) and low density lipoprotein( LDL- C)indexs were detected and analysised in 65 patients with type Ⅱ diabetes and in 50 cases of control group. Results The abnormolity of blood rheology and lipid was significant in patients with type II diabetes. Conclusion The abnormality of blood rheology and lipid was the mechanism of type Ⅱ diabetes complications in chronic diseases.


Stress has been found to exacerbate the outcome of bacterial and viral infectious diseases in humans and animal models. The effect of stress on the immune system in human and animal studies is suppressive with changes in the activity of a wide range of immune system components. The data suggests that immune changes induced by stress appear to be great enough to be a health risk. The interaction of the immune system with the brain plays a significant role in the outcome of infectious diseases. The results reported demonstrate that stress paradigms are proposed to increase the fluidity of cell membranes in the central nervous system (CNS), and consequently disrupt the blood-brain-barrier, promoting viral neuroinvasion causing encephalitis and death in mice infected with attenuated West Nile Virus (WNV). Exposure of infected mice to various stress paradigms have been found to induce immunosuppression, increased replication of the virus and caused penetration of non-invasive viruses into the brain.


The behavior of negative thermal-expansion material scandium molybdate Sc2(MoO4)3 is investigated at high pressure (HP) and high temperature (HT) using x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The compound exhibits unusually high compressibility (bulk modulus ~6 GPa) and undergoes amorphization at 12 GPa. On the other hand, in situ laser heating of amorphous samples inside the diamond-anvil cell is found to result in crystalline diffraction pattern and Raman spectrum different from those of the original compound. Upon release of the pressure subsequent to laser heating, the Raman spectrum and the diffraction pattern remain unchanged. Matching of several of the diffraction lines and Raman peaks in the laser-heated samples with those of MoO3 suggests a solid-state decomposition of the parent compound under HP-HT conditions into MoO3 and other compounds. Other diffraction lines are found to correspond to Sc2Mo2O9, Sc2O3, and the parent compound. Quantitative analysis of the characteristic x-ray emission from different regions of the sample during scanning electron microscopic observations is used for obtaining the compositions of the daughter compounds. The stoichiometries of two main phases are found to be close to those of MoO3 and Sc2Mo2O9. These results support the model that the pressure-induced amorphization occurred in this system because a pressure-induced decomposition was kinetically constrained.


Objective:This paper summarized the perioperative nursing experience of 21 patients with deep venous thrombosis of lower extremity by catheter-directed thrombolysis through popliteal vein or the small saphenous vein.Methods:The measures included perioperative psychological care,basic nursing and rigorous postoperative observation.Results:The symptoms of thick and swelling of the limb and pain significantly eased or disappeared after operation and no pulmonary embolism occurred.Bleeding tendency happened to 2 patients and it disappeared 3 days after withdrawal of medication.Conclusion:Full preoperative preparation and close postoperative observation can effectively reduce and prevent related complications and promote patients' recovery.


We studied 31 patients with monoclonal gammopathy (MG), 10 of them secreting monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) of the G class, 13 of them IgM and 8 IgA. We also studied 15 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. On each subject we evaluated whole blood aggregation (WBA) in response to ADP, collagen, epinephrine and arachidonic acid in parallel with PRP aggregation according to the method of Born. We wondered whether WBA could provide us further information on the interference of MoAb on platelet function. Agonists and concentrations which yielded statistically significant results in comparison with controls will be reported. IgM MG: Increased WBA to epinephrine 5 and 10 μM (p < 0.01) and ADP 4 and 6 μM (p < 0.001). Increased PRP aggregation to ADP 1 μM (p < 0.001) and collagen 1 μg/ml (p < 0.001). IgA MG: increased WBA to ADP 1 μM (p < 0.001). No difference in PRP aggregation. IgG MG: no difference in WBA. Reduced PRP aggregation in response to ADP 1 μM (p < 0.01) and arachidonic acid 0.5 mM (p < 0.01). We conclude that high molecular weight Ig (IgM pentamers and IgA dimers) seem to play a role in WBA, causing an increased aggregatory response when measured as impedance variation; on the other hand, low molecular weight Ig (IgG) seem to interfere directly with platelet function, causing a decreased aggregation. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon is still unclear. Supported by Grant n° 13 by Regione Piemonte.


M any valuation models focus on the spread between return on assets and the firm's cost of capital. The market .value of a firm's future investments depends on the forecasted pattern of this economic value-added spread in future years. Typically, analysts and portfolio managers have little basis for (and less confidence in) forecasting this spread through time, even though it dramatically impacts the firm's warranted value. The four primary goals of this article are to:


Aim To investigate the appotosis induced by Cadmium(Ⅱ) complex of pyrazolone derivatives(Ls-17) and its effect on the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 protein in the esophageal cancer cells(Eca109).Methods After the treatment of Eca-109 cells with Ls-17,cell viability was detected by MTT assay;cell apoptosis and cell cycle profile were tested by flow cytometry assay;the activity of caspase-3 and 9 were tested using Caspase Activity Assay Kit,and Bax and Bcl-2 expression levels were detected by Western blot.Results Ls-17 significantly inhibited the proliferation of Eca-109 cells with an IC 50 value 25.12 mg·L-1.It also induced Eca-109 cell apoptosis(P 0.01),and cell cycle arrest in G 2 / M phase.Ls-17 significantly reduced mitochondria membrane potential and enhanced caspase-3 and 9 activities,as well as increased Bax / Bcl-2 ratio.Conclusion Ls-17 can effectively inhibit the proliferation of Eca-109 cells by induction of apoptosis.The molecular mechanism may be related with down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax / Bcl2 ratio.


In a deregulated market, independent system operators meet power balance based on supply and demand bids to maximize social welfare. Since electricity markets are typically oligopolies, players with market power may withhold capacity to maximize profit. Such exercise of market power can lead to various problems, including increased electricity prices, and hence lower social welfare. Here we propose an approach to maximize social welfare and prevent the exercising of market power by means of interruptible loads in a competitive market environment. Our approach enables management of the market power by analyzing the benefit to the companies of capacity withdrawal and scheduling resources with interruptible loads. Our formulation shows that we can prevent power companies and demand-resource owners from exercising market powers. The oligopolistic conditions are described using the Cournot model to reflect the capacity withdrawal in electricity markets. The numerical results confirm the effectiveness of proposed method, via a comparison of perfect competition and oligopoly scenarios. Our approach provides reductions in market-clearing prices, increases in social welfare, and more equal distribution of surpluses between players.