A theoretical conformational analysis (molecular mechanics study) of nine cyclic tetrapeptides, structurally related to the highly μ‐receptor‐selective dermorphin analogue , was performed. These compounds display considerable diversity in their μ‐receptor affinity and selectivity. A systematic search and subsequent energy minimization in absence of the exocyclic Tyr1 residue and Phe3 side chain revealed the constrained nature of the 11–13 membered ring structures contained in these analogues. No more than four low‐energy conformers (within 2 kcal/mol of the lowest energy conformation) were found in each case. After attachment of the Tyr1 moiety and Phe3 side chain to the "bare" low‐energy ring structures, a systematic search and energy minimization of these exocyclic moieties resulted in a limited number of low‐energy conformational families for all compounds. Five analogues with high μ‐receptor affinity— , (A2 bu: alpha;, γ‐diaminobutyric acid) and —all showed a tilted stacking interaction between the Tyr1 and Phe3 aromatic rings in the lowest or second lowest energy conformation found. The same kind of stacking was not possible in low‐energy conformers of the four analogues with poor affinity for the μ‐receptor , : [Nα‐methylphenylalanine], and It is concluded that a tilted stacking arrangement of the two aromatic rings may represent a structural requirement for high μ‐receptor affinity of the examined cyclic dermorphin analogues.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a technique for analyzing the behavior of an industrial system utilizing vague, imprecise, and uncertain data. The synthesis unit of a urea plant situated in northern part of India has been considered to demonstrate the proposed approach. Sensitivity analysis of system's behaviour has also been done in it.Design/methodology/approach – In the proposed approach, traditional Lambda‐Tau technique is used to analyze the behavior of a complex repairable synthesis unit of a fertilizer industry up to a desired degree of accuracy. This technique has been demonstrated by computing eight well‐known reliability indices which are used for behaviour analysis of the considered system in a more promising way.Findings – The study of analysis of reliability, availability, maintainability etc can help in increasing the production and quality of synthesis. To ensure the system performance throughout its service life, it is necessary to set up proper maintenance, planning and ...


The finite sample distributions of estimators and test statistics in ARMA time series models are generally unknown. For typical sample sizes, the approximations provided by asymptotic distributions are often unsatisfactory. Hence simulation or numerical integration methods are used to investigate the distributions. In practice only a limited part of the parameter space is examined using these methods. Thus any results which allow us to infer properties from one portion of the parameter space to another or to establish symmetry are most welcome. For the ARMA model estimated with no intercept term, we show that the least-squares and maximum likelihood estimators have mirror-image invariant or symmetric distributions. The F, t, likelihood ratio, Wald, and Lagrange multiplier statistics are also shown to have distributions with certain mirror-image invariant or symmetry properties. The analysis is extended to misspecified models as well as to ARMA spectral densities. These properties would have been helpful in either simplifying or extending much earlier work in this area.


It's Russians' misunderstanding of Mann that the traditional socialistic economy system opposes market economy macroscopically and does to the shareholding system microcosmically.The part and parcel of On Capital is its analysis and prophecy of the shareholding system.Decision made in the Third Plenary Session of the Sixteenth Congress of the CCP directly inherited and gave full play Marx's scientific theory of the shareholding system,which symbolizes a breakthrough of the conception of the socialistic public ownership of means of production,namely,making the shareholding system into the main forms to incarnate the public ownership of means of production.


INTRODUCTION
The purpose is to evaluate the prognostic significance of lung parenchymal density during percutaneous coaxial cutting needle lung biopsy (PNLB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 179 consecutive patients (106 males, 73 females; mean age 59.16 ± 16.34 years) undergoing PNLB was included. Mean lobar parenchymal lung density, mean densities anterior to the lesion and posterior to the chest wall in the needle trajectory path were measured in HU. Lesion location and needle trajectory were also measured. Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test were conducted to analyze the categorical variables. ANOVA test was done to examine continuous and normally distributed variables. Statistical significance was considered when p < 0.05.

RESULTS
Mean lobar parenchymal lung density (p < 0.05) and mean parenchymal lung density relative to the needle trajectory path were below -800 HU in patients who sustained a pneumothorax. Increase in the number of pleural passes was significantly associated with the risk of patients having pneumothorax (p < 0.05). The mean distance from the skin to the lesion and needle trajectory angle were not statistically different among patients with and without pneumothorax (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION
Lobar parenchymal density and lung parenchymal density anterior to the lesion and posterior to the chest wall in the needle trajectory path could be used as predicting parameters in patients undergoing PNLB who sustained a pneumothorax. These findings can help interventional radiologist further assess risk of pneumothorax when preforming such procedure.


In order to automate operations often carried out manually by geologists, we have developed under Matlab environment an algorithm taking advantage of a rich already developed libraries. The proposed automatic detection of lineaments approach is based on the method of Hough transform. This algorithm allows the detection of linear features in satellite optical and/or Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images using a set of mathematic calculations. Prior to applying the algorithm on satellite remote sensing data, it was first tested on well-structured objects in an aerial photo of a city. We presented our results of Obtained by the algorithm on a set of satellite images from two satellites, the Landsat 8 and the SAR Sentinel-1A, acquired over our study area, Reg basin, located in the eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco. The results are compared with those of visual interpretation based on a spatial filtering and tectonic in-situ data collected in the field. The results analysis showed that most extracted lineaments using our algorithm are similar to those of spatial filtering and confirmed by the in-situ data. We concluded that the proposed approach can be used to automatically extract geological lineament with an acceptable accuracy.


Umbu is a tropical fruit with high content of bioactive compounds. However, maturation causes significant losses on nutrient density reducing the nutritional value of this highly appreciated fruit. Thus, the objective of the present work was to encapsulate the Umbu fruit bioactive compounds using spray drying and identify the variables affecting the biomolecules preservation. A Box-Behnken experimental design with 3 factors was set varying inlet temperature, atomization flow rate, and maltodextrin concentration for process otimization. Then the powder physicochemical and chemical properties were characterized, and results were modeled using a polynomial equation. Results revealed that the droplet size and maltodextrin concentration had a significant influence on the conservation of the biomolecules. Drying kinetics favoring fast formation of a particle crust increases encapsulation efficiency. Bioactive compounds retention was achieved by increasing maltodextrin even at high temperatures, where a matrix is formed hindering chemical degradation. Process optimization was validated and revealed low inlet temperatures (122oC), high atomization flow rate (5kg/h) and high maltodextrin concentration (20%) to be the most desirable conditions for bioactive compounds retention. Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 2 August 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202008.0052.v1 © 2020 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license. 2


School education is the main position of ideological education in institutions of higher education,leads directly the development orientation of undergraduate thought.The negative factors in social environment affect the undergraduate thought and ideological education in institutions of higher education.At the same time,undergraduate personality characteristics are the important factors to affect ideological education work.Therefore,under the current education pattern,should seek for a new education approach that ideological education entering into dormitory,namely,build dormitory responsibility leading by party member and youth league member;develop various dormitory culture competition;build the soft environment of ideological education;promote undergraduate ideological education with network platform.


© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Antibody Therapeutics. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com Antibody Therapeutics, 2019, Vol. 2, No. 2 54–55 doi:10.1093/abt/tbz005 Advance Access Publication on 13 March 2019 News and Views


Top secret is amongst one of the very popular varieties of rose grown worldwide due to its magnificent beauty and very attractive deep red colour which is in highest demand in Odisha flower market. Cut flowers are highly perishable commodities and vulnerable to large post-harvest losses. There is a prodigious post-harvest losses in value of cut flowers which is seen all along the marketing channels and it can be up to 40-50 % (Bhattacharjee, 1999). The most significant elements of quality are shape, size, colour and freshness of the flower from the market point of view.

https://www.ijcmas.com/9-4-2020/Shradha Das, et al.pdf


This article relates to study on effective protection of pharmaceutical use invention. According to the Korean Patent Law, the categories of invention...


Since the pioneering work of Friedman and Stuetzle in 1981, projection-pursuit algorithms have attracted increasing attention. This is mainly due to their potential for overcoming or reducing difficulties arising in nonparametric regression models associated with the so-called curse of dimensionality, that is, the amount of data required to avoid an unacceptably large variance increasing rapidly with dimensionality. Subsequent work has, however, uncovered a dependence on dimensionality for projection-pursuit regression models. Here we propose a projection-pursuit type estimation scheme, with two additional constraints imposed, for which the rate of convergence of the estimator is shown to be independent of the dimensionality. Let (X, Y) be a random vector such that X = (X1, . . , Xd)T ranges over Rd. The conditional mean of Y given X = x is assumed to be the sum of no more than d general smooth functions of 87[x, where p3i E Sd-1, the unit sphere in Rd centered at the origin. A least-squares polynomial spline and the final prediction error criterion are used to fit the model to a random sample of size n from the distribution of (X, Y). Under appropriate conditions, the rate of convergence of the proposed estimator is independent of d.


The H+- and IAA-induced growth responses of isolated Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek hypocotyl segments were investigated concurrently with IAA-induced H+ excretion. The effects of external pH on these reactions were also studied. Experiments were performed with intact, peeled and abraded segments. Only abraded segments reacted to H+ and to IAA. In short-term experiments, the cuticle prevented proton efflux and influx; however, it allowed gradual ion movements which become measurable after 1 h. Both phases of the IAA growth response reacted to external pH. The interactions between these two phases and their pH dependencies are discussed.


Artemisinin derivatives are essential for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria throughout the world. Given orally, artesunate and artemether—the 2 main compounds—are rapidly absorbed and metabolized to dihydroartemisinin (DHA), the metabolite responsible for the majority of the parasitocidal activity. The precise mechanism of action is still debated, but the main properties of this class of drugs are clear: they are the most active of known antimalarials, providing the highest killing rates and the broadest spectrum of stage activity (from young rings to gametocytes), and they are rapidly eliminated (within hours). The rapid killing of parasites (especially the young rings) is particularly beneficial, because it translates into rapid recovery for patients with uncomplicated infections, reduces gametocytogenesis, and prevents further sequestration in patients with high biomass and more severe infection. It was observed in early Chinese studies that, despite their potency, short courses (<5 days) of these drugs resulted in a high rate of parasitemia recurrence after the usually rapid initial clearance [1]. These episodes of recurrent parasitemia are not caused by the emergence of resistance to the artemisinins but might be explained by parasites that have escaped short drug exposure. However, longer courses of artemisinin treatment also could not achieve 100% cure rates, which demanded other explanations.

In 1996, Kyle et al [2] described the dormancy theory, in which some of the parasites exposed at ring stage in vitro become metabolically inactive and resume growth after removal of the drug. They called them "sleeping beauties." Others have since confirmed this phenomenon [3], which was previously described for other organisms. In this issue of the Journal, Teuscher et al [4] present further evidence for the theory and, using an elegant experimental design, provide new information on the frequency and the timing of recovery of "dormant" parasites and the drug dose-effect relationship. First, the authors report that all 5 laboratory stains of P. falciparum tested exhibited the dormancy property—essentially a growth arrest of some parasites at ring stage—although the investigators note that strains with different genetic backgrounds varied in their capacity to recover. This suggested a conserved phenotypic trait in P. falciparum, as opposed to a rare event affecting particular parasite strains. Second, the recovery of dormant parasites occurred relatively soon after exposure: 50% of dormant parasites resumed growth during the first 9 days. This may be relevant clinically, because it could explain some of the recurrences observed in patients during the weeks after treatment. Third, the cumulative proportion of parasites recovering over a period of 20 days was relatively high under these experimental conditions—between 0.044% and 1.313% of the initial parasite load. Even if the daily recovery rate is very low, in patients who routinely harbor 1 × 108−1 × 1012 parasites at presentation this would translate into tens of thousands of parasites that are able to resume growth after days or weeks of dormancy, triggering a new parasitemic episode. Finally and perhaps most importantly, the proportion of parasites recovering from the dormancy stage is dose dependent: higher exposures to DHA and coexposure to mefloquine resulted in lower proportions of parasites capable of surviving the drug exposures through growth arrest. This underscores the importance of correct dosage of antimalarials when used clinically.

Although the work of Teuscher and colleagues provides important insights into the dormancy theory, many questions remain. The molecular mechanism that allows some malarial parasites to enter this stage of low or no metabolic activity is unknown. More importantly, however, this observation is still limited to laboratory-adapted strains, and we now need to know whether this phenomenon is observed in nature and how it may contribute to recurrences of malaria in patients treated with these drugs. Also of importance are questions of whether different derivatives of artemisinin or other (synthetic) peroxides have different effects on dormancy and whether different partner drugs have different effects on the proportion of parasites recovering from dormant stages. However, the most pressing question is whether this observation can be related to resistance to the artemisinins.

Until recent years, it was reasonable to assume that, with a correct prescription (dosage and administration), the artemisinin derivatives were universally effective against P. falciparum. Recurrent cases (some of which may have been explained by dormant parasites) were limited in number by the use of artemisinin combination therapy with a slowly eliminated partner drug and, in some patients, by natural host immunity. The recent description in western Cambodia of P. falciparum infections with slow parasite clearance during treatment with artesunate that was not explained by pharmacological or obvious host factors is generating considerable worry. Could this new phenotype be explained by the dormancy theory? Probably not, because the decline in parasitemia levels observed after treatment in Cambodia, although slower than that seen in the past, still roughly follows a first-order decline and does not suggest the recovery of a minority of transiently dormant parasites. Are the 2 observations (the dormancy phenomenon and the slow-clearance phenotype) totally unrelated? We can only speculate at this stage, but we observe that parasites must be exposed to DHA at ring stage to enter dormancy in vitro. Is this a random effect, or are some parasites genetically primed to become dormant? Are parasites that recover from dormancy more "tolerant" to DHA? Have they adapted? Could these effects on the ring stage explain the delayed clearance? All these important questions will not be answered easily. The molecular basis of the slow-clearance phenotype and of dormancy will need to be elucidated first. The prime suspects (Pfmdr1, Pf-ATPase-6, 6-kb mitochondrial genome, and ubp-1) do not appear to be involved in the slow-clearance phenotype [5], so the search must be intensified.


Spectrometry of the neutron emission has been used to probe the nonthermal features of the fuel ion velocity distributions in tokamak plasmas, especially, those arising from auxiliary heating. The first time resolved measurements are reported from the use of the new magnetic proton recoil (MPR) spectrometer in observations of deuterium–tritium plasmas at JET with strong ion cyclotron resonance heating. Results from preliminary analysis data are presented and compared with simulated neutron emission spectra based on the assumptions of a thermal plasma (a single Maxwellian ion distribution) or anisotropic Maxwellians with parallel and perpendicular temperatures, beside their relative amplitudes. The diagnostic results attained are also used to assess the diagnostic capabilities and the potential for use of MPR based diagnostics on burning plasma tokamaks.


Abstract Purpose To evaluate and develop an image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) protocol for the effective treatment of prostate and pelvic lymph nodes. Methods and materials This study comprised of nine patients receiving radiotherapy for node negative prostate cancer, who had a pair of planar kV images taken for 37 treatment fractions. The positioning accuracy for both implanted fiducial markers and pelvic bony anatomy (surrogate for pelvic node position) was calculated using random and systematic errors. Appropriate margins were also determined. All patients followed a strict bladder and bowel protocol before computed tomography planning and treatment. Results In total, 292 sets of images were used for fiducial marker and pelvic bone registration. A discrepancy of >5 mm between the fiducial markers and the anatomical pelvic bone was seen in 4% of treatment sessions. The maximum displacement observed between the fiducial match and the bone match was 7, 10 and 4 mm in the A/P (anterior/posterior), S/I (superior/inferior) and R/L (right/left) directions, respectively. Conclusion The margins used in combination with an online IGRT strategy ensure both the fiducial match and the bone match correlate within 5 mm thus allows good coverage of both prostate and nodal target volumes. It is essential that this is combined with a strict bladder and rectal preparation protocol to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.


The infestation rate of olives by the olive fruit fly Dacus oleae was investigated in western Algeria. Five sites in the Tlemcen region were chosen differing by their bioclimatic stage (altitude and distance far from the Mediterranean Sea).


: The Internet of vehicles technology is derived from the Internet of things, which is based on the in-vehicle network, the inter-vehicle network and the vehicle-mounted mobile Internet, wireless communication and information exchange are conducted in the car and X (X: car, road, pedestrian and internet, etc.), according to the agreed communication protocol and data interaction standards. Internet of vehicles technology can realize intelligent traffic management, intelligent dynamic information service and intelligent vehicle control, which is a typical application of Internet of things technology in the field of transportation system. With the development and promotion of communication technology and Internet of vehicles, the future development of driverless technology is very worth looking forward to. V2X technology, which is indispensable for driverless driving and smart transportation, has gradually become the research key point of Internet of vehicles technology, as a specific application of the Internet of things, V2X technology can play a great role in driverless vehicles. With the continuous development of technology, V2X technology has also been developed rapidly in China. This paper introduces the key technologies and technical standards of V2X, summarizes and forecasts the application of V2X technology in driverless technology.


The supply chain is an important lens through which to understand the business, operational and financial behavior of firms. This paper examines in detail its important impact on supply chain information disclosure through the lens of the presence or absence of political affiliation as an important characteristic of a firm. Based on a panel data of Chinese A-share listed companies, the empirical analysis finds that corporate political affiliation significantly increases the level of corporate supply chain disclosure, and this effect persists after a series of robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect is more pronounced in the eastern and central regions than in the western region, and the effect is greater for firms in the central region, which are mainly present in capital-intensive industries compared to labor-intensive firms. Based on an upstream and downstream perspective, the impact is more pronounced upstream. Further mechanistic analysis reveals that the productivity-enabling effect of political linkages and the weakening of management power are important mechanistic pathways. This paper enriches the research on the influencing factors of corporate supply chain information disclosure and gives corresponding suggestions for enhancing corporate supply chain transparency.


The article analyzes the current regulatory legal sources that regulate the process of accreditation of specialists in 2022. The issues of preparing documents for accreditation are covered, recommendations are given for the formation of a portfolio and a report on professional activities.


This article discusses the distribution patterns of high-radon groundwater at the southwestern shore of LakeBaikal. This region is a flank of the South Baikalrift basin, characterized by high geodynamic activity and complex fault patterns, without any special geochemical conditions with regard to the content of uranium in the rocks. Based on our observations and measurements, we consolidated the first massive database on radon volume activity (Q) in a variety of local water sources. In the Kultuk–Vydrino area, the Q values vary from zero to 81.1 Bq/l, according to the analysis of the water samples from 93 springs, lakes, small streams, wells, and drilled holes. The highest concentrations of radon are discovered in the groundwater samples. Such values are unevenly scattered across the study area. The chain of the maximum Q values trends northwestwards along the LakeBaikalshore. This distribution pattern of radon, as well as the locations of individual water sources with Q>15 Bq/l are predetermined by the structural factor. The paragenetic analysis of faults and joints in the Kultuk–Vydrino area shows that this factor includes both the structure and stages in the development of the regional largest Main Sayan fault zone (the southwestern flank of the South Baikalbasin is a segment of this zone). The water sources with increased concentrations of radon are located in zones with a high density of the 2 nd order faults, especially on sites wherein the NW-striking faults cross the transverse faults that have experienced repeated activation. Temperature T is an additional factor influencing the degree of radioactivity in water. A relationship between T and Q is reverse. Water sources with Q>15 Bq/l associated with the 2 nd order fault zones may occur also due to a locally lower temperature of groundwater. Our study gives evidence that the southwestern coast ofLake Baikal is promising for finding high-radon water sources. Using such water in balneology can become a valuable contribution to the tourism and recreational potential of the region. This prospect is especially important for the town ofBaikalsk that is now developing without its township-forming enterprise: the notorious pulp-and-paper mill has been completely shut down.


The paper presents the evolution of the resilient modulus, permanent deformation and strength under monotonic loading of a dense hot mixture due to long term exposure to the environment in the city of Bogota D.C. (Colombia). The mixtures were made using two asphalt cements (AC) and modified asphalt cement (MAC) with ethil-vinil-acetate: AC 80-100, AC 60-70 and MAC 20-40 respectively. The mechanical properties have been evaluated every three months over a period of 20 months for the AC 80-100 and AC 60-70, and 10 months for MAC 20-40. The results show differences depending on the type of cement. All mixtures increase the modulus with time due to aging of the asphalt cement.


Schooling fish, swarms of starlings, plodding wildebeest, and musicians all display impressive synchronization. To what extent do they use acoustic cues to achieve these feats? Could the acoustic c ...


The petroleum gas pipeline industry equipment reliability data collection method, comprising the steps of: (1) a list of reliability data acquisition apparatus to be collected within the duct work station oil industry area; (2) The plumbing industry standards and engineering experience boundary dividing device; (3) failure mode code encoding process depending on design hierarchy ECDD method and device code design; (4) the reliability of data acquisition devices developed form (5) described the development of rules and data acquisition; (6) the high-qualified quality data entry device reliability database; (7) Construction of a database operation reliability framework to achieve local and remote shared data. The invention will be all the data collected oil and gas pipeline industry equipment reliability through unified management database, and equipment testing, maintenance, renovation, replacement, retirement and other data up to date, various departments to share, and gradually establish a reliable oil and gas pipeline industry database.


In view of the deficiencies of the traditional un-interruptible power supply charging,in this study the PWM rectifier was substituted forthe three circuit modules of rectification,charging and PFC in the traditional UPS,and by controlling the PWM rectifier,the three-stage charging mode was achieved.Meanwhile,in order to realize smooth switching in each charging stage,the current closed-loop sliding-mode control strategy was adopted,which was based on the synchronous rotating coordinate.Simulation results showed that this control strategy has a better DC charging voltage tracking capability with smooth response and strong robustness.


Objective: This study was initiated to clarify the possible association between antiphospholipid antibodies, mediators of microthrombus formation, and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) of unknown origin in a large cohort of patients.


Dr. Janet Beagle is the Director of Graduate Programs for Purdue University's College of Engineering. Formerly the Director of Graduate Admissions over five campuses and more than 100 graduate programs, she has worked with graduate recruitment and admissions for more than 10 years. One of her key roles is to support students as they learn about and apply for graduate study. She has traveled internationally and presented to students on three continents on preparing for graduate school.


A computer model‐based inversion procedure is used to simultaneously determine the elastic constants and wall thickness of a typical steel pipe from the experimentally determined cut‐off frequencies of three guided wave modes as well as the pipe's mass density and outer diameter. Nominal values for the unknown parameters agree well with those found from conventional tension and torsion tests performed on a short piece of the pipe cut from one end.


Objective To explore the values of peak systolic velocity(PSV)(PSV left,PSV right,PSV max,PSV min,and PSV mean)of the superior thyroid artery in differential diagnosis of Graves′ disease(GD) and Hashimoto thyroiditis(HT).Methods 19 patients with GD,18 patients with HT and 20 normal people were subjected to 2D and color Doppler ultrasound examination to obtain PSV of bilateral superior thyroid arteries and conclude the mean PSV of the two sides.Sensitivities and specificities of different types PSV in differential diagnosis of GD and HT were analyzed using ROC curves.Results There were statistic differences between any two groups in the value of PSVleft,PSVright,PSVmax,PSVmin and PSVmean,but only the area under the curve of PSVmean and PSVmax was more than 0.9.Their cut-off points were 71 cm/s and 85 cm/s,and sensitivities and specificities were as follows: PSVmean:94.7%,83.3%;PSVmax:89.5%,88.9%.Conclusions PSVmax and PSVmean have high diagnostic accuracies.We can only measure one side PSV value when the first side is over 85 cm/s and must measure both when the first side is below 85 cm/s.


Shortest path routing algorithms dominate the Internet, but have their limitations that degrade the network performance as the traffic load is increasing. Shortest path routing may cause congestion on certain links while other links remain underutilized. Two-phase routing algorithms can reduce congestion due to adverse traffic patterns by means of load balancing. In this paper, we present the performance of two-phase routing algorithms in real wide area network topologies, and regular topologies typical for data centers. Also, we will analyze the influence of load balancing on goodput of TCP transport protocols in datacenter networks.


By the end of the sixth century CE, both the royal courts and the educated elite in China were collecting works of art, particularly scrolls of calligraphy and paintings done by known artists. By the time of Emperor Huizong (1082-1135) of the Song dynasty (9601279), both scholars and the imperial court were cataloguing their collections and also collecting ancient bronzes and rubbings of ancient inscriptions. The catalogues of Huizong's painting, calligraphy, and antiquities collections list over 9,000 items, and the tiny fraction of the listed items that survive today are all among the masterpieces of early Chinese art.


The years following the conclusion of the Civil War and extending to the initial rumblings of what would come to be known as the Harlem Renaissance, roughly 1865–1910, can perhaps be characterized by the Dickensian binary opposition "The best of times, the worst of times." The euphoria and celebratory mood associated with the end of the Civil War was soon interrupted by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, but was recaptured, though not without continued vigilance and hard work, by the subsequent ratification of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution in 1865, 1868, and 1870 respectively. In addition, the Freedmen's Bureau, organized immediately following the conclusion of the war, was charged with attending to the immediate needs of the newly freed slaves, many of whom did not have the wherewithal to supply themselves with the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. The Bureau met with some success, but the organization under the leadership of former Union Army General O. O. Howard had its share of detractors who prevented it from completing its mission. Indeed, freedom and its exercise by millions of African Americans who had been previously enslaved took on many different forms, from presiding over confiscated lands of former slaveholders, and free movement to other geographical locations, to freely participating in constitutional conventions and the electoral process that enabled a number of African Americans to hold public offices.


Abstract : This study attempts to appraise the strategic effects at regional and global levels in the event of Islamization of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The analysis addresses the weight of religion in Middle-Eastern politics, the forms of expression of religious solidarity and the strategic value of the Islamic world. Analysis reveals a religious perception of the Arab-Israeli conflict is likely among Muslims in the mid-term because of the growing spread of Islamic revival and the threat to Islamic values and holy places in Palestine. Hence, in case of Islamization of this conflict, the regional strategic bearing is likely to be affected by: An upset of the regional balance of power. An impediment to great powers' direct involvement. A change in great powers' ranking of their interests in the Middle East.


Turbulence related sound is generated by the dynamics of fluctuating vorticity. For example, trailing edge noise is caused by vorticity traveling past the trailing edge. To excite fluctuating vorticity by forcing the linearized Euler equations (LEE) with right-hand side source terms, one peculiar problem is observable: while the rise of vorticity levels by external sources poses no problem, to properly lower them, the right-hand side terms must act as a sink, being exactly in anti-phase to the vorticity levels as present in the LEE solution. However, the accurate prediction of vorticity in terms of phase cannot be guaranteed, especially for approximately modeled sources e.g. using stochastic methods. Thus in general there will be a mismatch between actual induced and intended levels of vorticity. In this paper a new class of relaxation source terms is introduced that enables the proper excitation of vorticity levels in linear and non-linear perturbation equations and as such enables an accurate control over the vorticity magnitudes. The source can be formulated to act selectively in wave-number space, i.e. without directly affecting the dynamics of resolved low wave-number vorticity components whereas the resolved high wave-number part is piloted by the fluctuating vorticity imposed as a reference solution. The reformulation of the Navier-Stokes equations in primitive variables and non-linear perturbation form is presented. Direct noise computation of sound radiated from a vortex shedding cylinder in laminar cross flow verify their implementation. The relaxation source term without forcing is applied to the unstable jet problem of the 4th CAA Workshop on Benchmark Problems. The forcing of frozen and decaying stochastic turbulence in conjunction with the relaxation source term is studied. First results for high-lift noise prediction with forced eddy simulation are presented.


With the accelerative development of industrialization and urbanization,Chinese cities are facing many challenges: energy consumption;heat island effect;climate change and so on.In response to these challenges,we should build low-carbon cities.the author analysed the restrictive factors to Chinese low-carbon urban construction and brought forward the analysis model of"MOCIC".By the end,the countermeasures and suggestions were put forward from the three aspects such as government,enterprise and resident.


Spin‐state transitions are an important research topic in complex oxides with the diverse magnetic states involved. In particular, the low‐spin to high‐spin transition in LaCoO3 thin films has drawn a wide range of attention due to the emergent ferromagnetic state. Although various mechanisms (e.g., structural distortion, oxygen‐vacancy formation, spin‐state ordering) have been proposed, an understanding of what really underlies the emergent ferromagnetism remains elusive. Here, the ferromagnetism in LaCoO3 thin films is systematically modulated by varying the oxygen pressure during thin‐film growth. Although the samples show dramatic different magnetization, their cobalt valence state and perovskite crystalline structure remain almost unchanged, ruling out the scenarios of both oxygen‐vacancy and spin‐ordering. This work provides compelling evidence that the tetragonal distortion due to the tensile strain significantly modifies the orbital occupancy, leading to a low‐spin to high‐spin transition with emergent ferromagnetism, while samples grown at reduced pressure demonstrate a pronounced lattice expansion due to cation‐off‐stoichiometry, which suppresses the tetragonal distortion and the consequent magnetization. This result not only provides important insight for the understanding of exotic ferromagnetism in LaCoO3 thin films, but also identifies a promising strategy to design electronic states in complex oxides through cation‐stoichiometry engineering.


The Oldroyd-B constitutive equation is used for the numerical simulation of unsteady incompressible viscoelastic flows. A novelty treatment is presented for the incompressibility constraint of the incompressible viscoelastic flow by using the modified continuity equation which allows using equal-order interpolation polynomials for all variables. The proposed technique circumvents the so-called LBB compatibility condition without pressure checkerboard and the solution instabilities with less computational costs compared with the traditional techniques. The discrete elastic-viscous stress-splitting method (DEVSS) is used to treat the instabilities resulting from the numerical simulation of viscoelastic flows. Two benchmark problems are simulated, namely, the flow through a channel with a bump and the flow inside a square cavity. Solutions are obtained for different Weissenberg number values and the results are compared with the published works.


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Grass-roots organizations of the Party is the basis of all the work and fighting shoulder in the the national institutions.In the historical process of the reform of universities,the grass-roots organizations of the Party in the National institutions has made great achievements in many aspects.However,there are still many problems which need to be solved.First of all,So the new ideas and initiatives which can strengthen grass-roots organizations of the Party in the national institutions will be explored and proposed.


There is a close relationship between classics reading and the healthy development of university students. This paper expounds the significance of classics reading and some favorable conditions of university library in developing classics reading guidance,and puts forward some measures for university library to promote healthy psychological development of university students through carrying out classics reading.


For a seventeen-year panel covering 308 U.S. manufacturers, the authors analyze companies' R&D spending reactions to changes in high-technology imports. On average, R&D/sales ratios were reduced in the short run as imports rose. Reactions tended to be more aggressive the more concentrated the markets were in which the firms operated, when company R&D operations were multinational, and with greater company size and diversification. Reactions were less aggressive when special trade barriers had been erected. Reactions became more aggressive over the longer run. Copyright 1992 by MIT Press.


Ofelia, through the body of Isabella. Indicate the anatomy of a suicidal girl, analyze a case of death by submersion, contrast the literary and pictorial evidence against the autopsy of the corpse.


We present Very Large Array 21 cm observations of the massive edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 5746. This galaxy has recently been reported to have a luminous X-ray halo, which has been taken as evidence of residual hot gas, as predicted in galaxy formation scenarios. Such models also predict that some of this gas should undergo thermal instabilities, leading to a population of warm clouds falling onto the disk. If so, then one might expect to find a vertically extended neutral layer. We detect a substantial high-latitude component, but conclude that almost all of its mass of 1.2-1.6 × 109 M☉ most likely resides in a warp. Four features far from the plane containing about 108 M☉ are found at velocities distinct from this warp. These clouds may be associated with the expected infall, although an origin in a disk-halo flow cannot be ruled out, except for one feature which is counterrotating. The warp itself may be a result of infall according to recent models. But clearly this galaxy lacks a massive, lagging neutral halo as found in NGC 891. The disk H I is concentrated into two rings of radii 1.5′ and 3′. Radial inflow is found in the disk, probably due to the bar in this galaxy. A nearby member of this galaxy group, NGC 5740, is also detected. It shows a prominent one-sided extension which may be the result of ram pressure stripping.


Poetry is an art at whose center I have spent much of my life, so the purpose of this project, as well as the purpose of the two degrees I will have earned in its name, is to both hone my creative ability to its sharpest and broaden it so that I am not stymied when I attempt to write outside my comfort zone. This creative project has also been a personal exploration into issues of emotion, heritage. ethnicity, culture, and tradition. Poetry is the genre of writing to which I flee automatically when anything, good or bad, significant occurs in my life. This project is a testament to that tendency, and it serves also as a cross-section to show what I have learned under the tutelage of all my professors throughout my entire education because no human interaction and no piece of information is ever separated from the brain that writes the poems found herein.


Summary 4D seismic signatures due to oil-water contact movement are investigated in the turbidite reservoirs of the Nelson field, North Sea. The study uses full-wave seismic modeling based on wireline logs and core measurements to help calibrate and interpret time-lapse effects observed in the 3D seismic enhanced by singular value decomposition. Particular emphasis is placed on the inter-channel regions of the field where poor net-to-gross sands are known to compromise 4D seismic resolution. The work contributes towards a better definition of drainage patterns in complex channel sand systems.


This article shares our experiences of planning and facilitating a transition-based psychoeducational group for people moving from a supported housing project to a less supportive model of semiindependent housing, and attempts to offer some reflections to inform those running similar groups.


present occasion, when it has undergone the ordeal ol the Council of the College of Surgeons, and been declared worthy of the prize, our task as reviewers merges into that of students, and we must be content to drink at the fountain, without venturing to give our opinion upon the taste or qualities of the waters. We trust our brethren will pardon us for descending from the altitude of universal knowledge, which ex officio belongs to us, nor consider us as traitors to


centres or institutions but which would concentrate on the potential for learning through job situations. What emerges from both these reports is a clear message about the nature of the training needs of practising community workers. This is a major step forward. What remains in doubt is where these training needs can or should be met and how and when and with what resources. JOHN WARD The National Council of Social Service


By considering a varying mutual orbit between the two bodies in a binary minor planet system, modified models for the spin–orbit, spin–spin, and spin–orbit–spin resonances are given. For the spin–orbit resonances, our study shows that the resonance center changes with the mass ratio and the mutual distance between the two bodies, and the size of the body in the resonance. The 1:1, 3:2, and 1:2 resonances are taken as examples to show the results. For the spin–spin and spin–orbit–spin resonances, our studies show that the resonance center changes with the rotation states of the two minor planets. The 1:1 spin–spin resonance and the 1:2:1 spin–orbit–spin resonance are discussed in detail. Simple analytical criteria are given to identify the resonance centers, and numerical simulations were ran in order to verify the analytical results.


Adult stem cells, such as MSCs, spontaneously differentiate in vitro. This makes it difficult both to study this important cell type and to grow large numbers of MSCs for clinical use. While conventional cell cultivation methods cannot cope with this problem, nanostructured materials science offers hope. The effect of small-sized spherical nanoparticles based on orthovanadates of rare-earth elements activated by europium (GdYVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles, diameter 1–2 nm) on cell-cell adhesion of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBM-MSCs) in vitro was studied using electrophoretic separation of proteins, immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Our study revealed that rBM-MSCs treated with small-sized GdYVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles had a significant impairment of intercellular adhesion in vitro. The pre-incubation of mesenchymal stem cells of rat bone marrow with GdYVO4:Eu3+ nanocrystals at a non-toxic concentration of 0.5 µg/mL during 1 hour of cultivation did not lead to significant changes in cell monolayer, the number of cells and the area of cell bodies did not change. However, the density of the monolayer and the area of the cell field decreased after the incubation. The incubation of cells with nanoparticles led to an increase in the area of the intercellular gate – a location of disruption of cell adhesion, compared to cells without nanoparticles in culture medium. The pre-incubation of rBM-MSCs with nanocrystals caused no changes in the content of total cadherins in the plasma membrane; a decrease in the content of cytoplasmic calreticulin and an increase in the content of surface calreticulin; a decrease in the content of free calcium in the cytoplasm, and an increase in protein-bound intercellular calcium and calcium in the extracellular space. The colocalization analysis revealed that the colocalization of calreticulins with cadherins on the outer surface of the plasma membrane of cells significantly increased after the incubation with GdYVO4:Eu3+ nanocrystals. The paper proposes a possible mechanism of reducing the degree of adhesion by nanocrystals. This study emphasizes the possibility of modulating MSCs adhesion using GdYVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles. The development of new technologies capable of mitigating adhesion is crucial for the development of regenerative strategies using stem cells.


The powder and mixture for oral intestinal lavage solution (called Polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution: PEG-ELS) used for pre-treatment of endoscopy of the large intestine were prepared. The pH, buffer capacity, and viscosity were almost constant for maximum 21 days under three conditions (5°, 20°, and 30°).Any ingredients of powders and mixtures were almost stable for 21 days. Bacteria (S. aureus) proved to be hard to propagate in the mixture. The patients and physicians used the PEG-ELS evaluated the convenience, efficacy and easily of the mixture.


Purpose: Risk stratification in TAVI remains challenging. The use of biomarkers in this setting represents represent a promising tool.

We studied the predictive value of tumor marker carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) before and after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) for all-cause death and a composite endpoint of death, admission for heart failure, myocardial infarction and stroke (MACE).

Methods: CA125 was measured in 228 patients before and after TAVI. The association with outcomes was assessed using parametric Cox regression and joint modeling for baseline and longitudinal analyses, respectively. CA125 was evaluated as logarithm transformation and dichotomized by its median value (M1:≤15.7 vs. M2:>15.7 U/ml).

Results: At a median follow-up of 183 days [63-365] and 144 days [56-365], 50 patients (22%) died and 75 patients (33%) experienced MACE. A 3-fold increase in the rates for death (figure 1) and MACE was observed in patients above the median (M2 vs. M1) of CA125 (5.2 vs. 1.6 and 8.3 vs. 3.3 per 10 person-years, respectively; p for both <0.001). In a multivariable analysis adjusted for logistic EuroScore, NYHA class III/IV and device success, baseline values of CA125 (M2 vs. M1) independently predicted death (hazard ratio (HR)=2.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.11-4.26]; p=0.023) and MACE (HR=1.77; 95% CI [1.05-2.98]; p=0.031). In the longitudinal analysis, lnCA125 as a time-varying exposure, was highly associated with both endpoints: HR=1.47; 95% CI (1.01-2.14); p=0.043 and HR=2.26; 95% CI (1.28-3.98); p=0.005, for death and MACE respectively.

![Figure][1]

Figure 1

Conclusions: Serum levels of CA125 before and after TAVI independently predict death and MACE.

 [1]: pending:yes


We report a new picosecond optical technique for observation of nonequilibrium carrier transport. An ''overshoot'' electron velocity of 4.4×107 cm/sec is observed at short times in GaAs under appropriate electric field conditions.


The Adelaide Mosque (1888-1889), the first urban mosque built in Australia, was
founded by Afghan cameleers whose contribution to the exploration of Australia's
vast desert interior is largely untold. The cultural significance of the mosque is
recognised locally and it is identified as "one of the few relics of Afghan immigration
to South Australia and embodies in built form Afghan and Mohammedan culture
which is otherwise not significantly represented" (City of Adelaide Heritage Study
Item No. 159, Adelaide Mosque file, Heritage South Australia). However, despite
this recognition, this unadorned bluestone structure has failed to draw the attention
of architectural historians in surveys of 'Islamic' architecture. The scope of recent
surveys in this field is increasingly inclusive. However, very few studies focus on the
architecture of Muslim communities in regions where Islam is not the predominant
faith, especially in the southern hemisphere. The Adelaide Mosque, and many
others, is excluded from the historical record despite the instrumental role it played
in the life of Muslim settlers. This absence raises questions about gaps, or histories
untold, as well as myths received, in histories of 'Islamic' architecture that raise
questions about the truth-value of the past. There is a need to examine hybridised
forms and shared architectural narratives to counter the myopic but persistent
representation—or fabulation—of supposedly authentic, largely Arab-centric, forms
of 'Islamic' architecture. This paper argues, then, that new theoretical frameworks
are required to interpret this architectural hybrid that is, we argue, typical rather
than exceptional. Through a case study of the Adelaide Mosque, this paper critically
re-examines the reductive but pervasive conceptions of 'Islamic' Architecture that
obscure the historical processes of hybridization and its diverse morphological
outcomes to comprehend the process of resilience and assimilation through which
architecture is shaped in a particular context.


Synchronized dual-wavelength narrow-linewidth lasers and a wideband frequency-tunable optoelectronic oscillator are simultaneously realized using mutual-injection-locked distributed feedback (DFB) lasers. The two laser modes serve as the seeding light and a microwave photonic filter for the optoelectronic oscillation. Mutual-injection locking between the two DFB lasers through a delay fiber loop results in synchronized narrow-linewidth operation. Microwave tuning from 19 to 41 GHz has been obtained through thermal-tuning of the DFB lasers, with the single-sideband phase noises below −100 dBc/Hz at a 10-kHz frequency offset from the carrier. Laser linewidth has been reduced from several-MHz to kHz with a linewidth reduction factor over 104.


In this work we present a low noise high speed readout electronics for large area Silicon Photomultipiers (SiPMs) to be used in a cryogenic environment. The board is able to manage the signals coming from a 25 cm2 SiPM tile, showing ¡10% SPE resolution and wide dynamic. The sub-nanosecond timing properties make them suitable to work with the typical mixtures of Liquid Scintillators currently being used in particle and astroparticle physics experiments. The boards have been tested with several types of SiPMs from room temperature down to -70 C showing excellent single photo-electron resolution in all the enviroments. The board's PCBs have been developed with ultra low background material in order to be used in rare event searches.


Minority‐carrier lifetimes in silicon crystals measured by surface photovoltage and photoconductive decay methods have been compared. The results from both measurements are in reasonable agreement provided that the thickness of the sample for surface photovoltage measurements is at least twice the diffusion length.


In a remarkably short time, the use of massively parallel technologies has greatly reduced the cost of DNA sequencing.1 Already, these technologies have permitted the whole-genome sequencing of several persons2–4 and one tumor5 for a small fraction of the cost of the sequencing of the first human genome. However, the cost of whole-genome sequencing is still many tens of thousands of dollars — too expensive for routine application to even modest numbers of samples in either a research or a clinical setting. In this issue of the Journal, Shah et al.6 describe the identification of a likely "driver" mutation . . .


This study was designed to improve pharmacological properties of recently discovered small-molecule compound KUD259 influencing the pathogenesis of gastric lesions. To achieve the goal, the novel agent sodium (2-(2-hydroxyphenoxy)acetyl)-L-prolinate (KUD869) was synthesized, characterized by physicochemical methods, and evaluated in vivo at indomethacin-induced ulcer conditions. 3-day therapeutic administration of 1mg/kg of KUD869 decreases stomach ulceration in rats by approximately 4 times. The study reveals the possible mechanisms involved in KUD869 gastroprotective effects. Found that KUD869 possesses the antioxidant properties and protects gastric mucosa from lipid peroxidation. Also it was established the attenuation of inflammation induced by indomethacin under KUD869 action. KUD869 elevated the level of gastroprotective prostaglandin E2 in rats serum treated with indomethacin and preserved the integrity of gastric mucosa that was proved by the reducing in products of depolymerization of collagen and non-collagen


Two reviewers comment on the forward-backward conversion procedure and our design hypothesis that the z space 5 should be condition-free (or identity-neutral in the case of voice conversion). We believe the suggestions made in this 6 regard are very interesting, and thank the reviewers for that. We have acted in two ways to improve our work. On 7 the one hand, we have rephrased the "Forward-backward conversion" section (Sec. 4.3), removing some terms that 8 complicated the understanding of the procedure and improving the wording of the remaining ones. On the other hand, 9 following the reviewers' suggestion, we have performed an additional experiment to bring evidence that the z space 10 is identity-neutral (the details of this experiment are already included in our current version of the manuscript). Our 11 reasoning for the experiment that, if z vectors carried information about the speaker, then a powerful-enough classifier 12 on top of z vectors should be able to perform speaker identification much better than random chance, which is 1.1% for 13 the considered data set and split. In the extreme case, if z vectors carried as much information about speaker identity as 14 the original x vectors, the classifier should approach the accuracy of the classical-feature linear classifier we use for the 15 Spoofing metric, which is 99.3% for the considered data set and split. Hence, on top of z vectors, we trained both a 16 random forest classifier with 50 estimators and a multilayer perceptron with 3 layers, and obtained accuracies of 1.8 17 and 1.4%, respectively; both marginally above random chance. This gives us an indication that that the z space has 18 limited speaker identity information or that, in the best of cases, such information is not apparent or complex to extract. 19


An image can be captured with a high resolution to improve an observing accuracy without excessively reducing a numeric aperture despite a smaller magnification. A microscope observing device comprising a light source for applying an exciting light or a lighting light to a specimen placed on a stage, an object lens disposed oppositely on the stage to magnify a fluorescent light or a reflection light from the specimen, an imaging lens for forming an image on the specimen magnified by the object lens, and an imaging means for picking up the image on the specimen formed by the imaging lens, wherein a mechanism for switching object lenses is provided along with a plurality of object lenses with different magnifications, and a mechanism for switching imaging lenses (5a, 5b) is provided along with a plurality of imaging lenses with different magnifications.


The acoustic-wave equation with sponge boundary conditions is used to illustrate the mapping and optimization of an explicit finite-difference algorithm onto a massively parallel machine. The program has achieved a sustained performance of 5.6 Gigaflops (including I/O) on a 65536-processor CM2 supercomputer. The algorithm was implemented in a CM FORTRAN program enhanced by a fourth-order, two-dimensional Laplacian stencil operator. The algorithm is noted to have used almost 70 percent of the available memory bandwidth of the CM2, while maintaining considerable data communication between processors.


Objective:To explore the effects of human beta-2 defensin(hBD-2) through studying the expressions and locations of hBD-2 in oral submucous fibrosis(OSF),oral lichen planus(OLP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).Methods:The expression of hBD-2 protein was examined by immuno-histochemistry method in 30 cases of OSF,including 10 cases of early,middle and late stage respectively,10 normal oral mucous(NOM),15 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC,grade 1),15 cases of oral lichen planus(OLP).The different positive cell rates of hBD-2 in the five groups and immunohistochemical stains average gray values were compared by statistics analysis.Results:There were positive expressions of hBD-2 in NOM,OSF,OLP and OSCC.Brown staining was mainly located in epithelial cells,interstitial cells and membrane of the basal cells.The sort of positive cell rates and expression intensity of hBD-2 among OSF,OLP,OSCC and normal oral mucous were OSCCOSF(early stage)OLPNOM.The positive cell rate of OSCC was significantly higher than the others and there was statistically significant(P0.05).There was no significant difference among OSF(early stage),OLP and OSCC,but the expressions of hBD-2 in the middle stage of OSF was distinct higher.The sort of the average gray values of hBD-2 by large to small order was OSCCOSF(middle stage)OSF(late stage)OLPOSF(early stage)NOM.There was significant difference between OSCC and NOM,OSF(early,middle and late stage),OLP(P0.05).There was no significant difference between NOM and OSF(early stage),OLP.Conclusions:There were differences in the expressions and locations of hBD-2 among NOM,OSF,OLP and OSCC.The differences in the expressions of hBD-2 in three stages of OSF may imply there was relationship between hBD-2 and the course of fibrosis.


The main purpose of this project was to synthesise, characterise and evaluate metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-derived carbons for different applications. Carbon is widely used in the structure of electrodes of electrochemical energy conversion/storage devices. In order to control the pore size distribution of such carbons, the pyrolysis of MFOs under inert atmosphere was considered. MOFs are highly porous crystalline materials constructed from metal ions linked together by different organic ligands. When MOFs are pyrolysed, the resulting carbon material inherits the pore structure of the precursor MOF. By combining different metal ions and organic linkers, it is possible to create MOFs with different pore sizes. In this research, we aimed to take advantage of this property and derive carbons from MOFs to produce porous carbons with controlled pore size distributions and evaluate their behaviour in electrochemical energy conversion/storage devices to improve the performance of the latter. Three different MOFs were selected in terms of their pore sizes (ZIF-8, MOF-5 and MIL-100(Fe)) and were hydrothermally synthesised and characterised with Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) and powder X-ray diffraction. These MOFs were then carbonised under an argon atmosphere and characterised with BET and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis. The electrocatalyst was made by loading platinum on the carbonised ZIF-8 and characterised with EDS to measure the amount of platinum loaded and assess the homogeneity of the platinisation process for fuel cell application. The Pt/CZIF-8 was electrochemically characterised by cyclic voltammetry, oxygen reduction reaction and durability tests to evaluate its electrochemical behaviour. For the supercapacitor applications, all MOF-derived carbons were characterised by cyclic voltammetry and the cyclic charge–discharge curve. The separation ability of the MOFs was also assessed by immersion calorimetry, and when any unexpected behaviour was observed, the assessment was applied to the replica MOF (carbonised MOFs), and their behaviour was observed. After evaluating the results, the best MOF/carbonised MOF for each application was introduced. Four different MOFs, ZIF-8, HKUST, UiO-66 and UiO-67, were synthesised and characterised with BET and X-ray diffraction, and their separation ability was investigated using immersion calorimetry in xylene isomers. Since HKUST and UiO-66 had unexpected adsorption behaviour, the replicas of these MOFs were also produced under argon, and their separation ability was evaluated in m-xylene.


Summary A strain difference in the response to hypoxia of the CAF1 and CF1 mice is described. The CF1 strain developed significant erythropoietin production in response to hypoxia, and after 3 weeks marked polycythemia. In the CAF1 mouse both erythropoietin production and polycythemia were minimal. Both strains produced comparable amounts of erythropoietin in response to post-hemorrhagic or hemolytic anemia. The implications of these differences are discussed.


This study analyzes the leverage policies of the family and non-family firms of eight East Asian Economies (Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan) by using combined data of 690 family and non-family firms with 3,224 firm–years over the period 2006–2010. This study has used an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression for analyzing the data for the first question, while for the second question, logit regression has been used as the dependent variable (a binary variable). Prior research on family and non-family firms has revealed that family firms issue less (high) debt than non-family firms. Our analysis on a sample of East Asian Economies discloses that family firms have significantly different leverage levels than non-family firms, but their signs are not consistent. On the contrary, when the owner works as CEO/Chairman or member of the Board of Directors, then the family firms issue less debt than the non-family firms. Besides that, this study adds a new question that has not been addressed in the prior studies. The new question has focused on the speed of leverage adjustment. It is found that family firms and non-family firms regarding their debt maturity structure (short-term debt and long-term debt), the speed of leverage adjustments, and their decision to issue securities (i.e., debt vs. equity) are not significantly different. This study concluded that though family firms have a strong influence on each economy, but in South-East Asian countries, leverage policies of the family firms are not much different than that of non-family firms.


This article focuses on the "Discovery" and "Conquest" of America as a process of transformation. Going beyond the commonplace accounts that prevail in its historiography and that connect the colonization of America with looting and destruction, what we suggest is an experience of global force that ends up transforming the world and thus questioning the very notion of what is "Colonial". Here, the experience of the trip to America, together with the movement of people, ideas and products between the two Atlantic shores will be the central characters that define the gradual transformation of an old world into something completely new.


This paper outlines the discussion and presents the main outcomes of two workshops held in Padova and Venice in August–September 2017 on Open Science and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) initiative. The paper describes the three layers on which EOSC is grounded: governance, service and data layer, and discusses the new emerging roles for researchers and research support services. Suggestions about the EOSC implementation at local level are given.


The present study aimed to determine the frequency of herpesviruses in gingival fluid samples in patients with periodontitis HIV compared to HIV-negative subjects. Gingival crevicular fluid samples were obtained from 28 patients with HIV-positive periodontitis and from 14 patients with HIV seronegative periodontitis. Herpesviruses have been identified by PCR amplification methods. In HIV-positive patients, the most prevalent herpes virus was HCMV, followed by HHV-6 and HHV-7. In non-HIV-related periodontitis, HCMV was identified in 11 samples and EBV-1 in 8 samples, followed by HSV (7 samples). HIV seropositive samples showed an average of 4.0 herpesviruses and HIV-seronegative individuals averaging 1.4 herpesviruses. EBV-2 and HHV-8 were detected exclusively in subgingival samples from HIV-positive patients. HIV-induced activation of herpes viruses may be a stimulating factor for rapid periodontal destruction. Patients with severe immunosuppression may experience herpesvirus-mediated gingival necrosis. The hypothesis that HIV periodontitis is the result of a combined infection of herpesviruses and bacterial pathogens should be studied further.

https://revistadechimie.ro/count_redirect.asp?RevChimieID=5951&pdfArticle=pdf/42 POPA CRISTINA 11 17.pdf


This article examines the genesis of the informal network of Vincent de Gournay, the trade manager, whose editorial, academic and salon action brought political economy to the forefront in France during the 1750s. The "science of trade" network, made up of former merchants, enlightened adminis-trators and men of letters, was an unusual episode in the history of economics and liberalism, transforming the face of the modern state administrator.


The object of the study is the drama script of The Importance of Being Ernest play written by Oscar Wilde. The study is to reveal how social stratification is reflected in The Importance of Being Ernest written by Oscar Wilde in 1895. The objective study is to analyze the structural elements in the play and to analyze the social stratification of the play based on Marxist Approach.
 The resacher employs the descriptive qualitative research as a type of the research. The data sources are divided into two, namely primary data source and secondary data source. The primary data source is the dialouges, statements, and actions of The Importance of Being Ernest drama script and the secondary data sources is biography of character. The method of collecting data is note taking. The technique of analyzing data is descriptive.
The result of the study is as follows. Firstly, based on the structural analysis, it is apparent that in this drama, Oscar Wilde conveys a moral message that social stratification and class status is not everything in life.Secondly, based on Marxist analysis, it is the evident that in this drama, Oscar Wilde reflects the social condition of Victorian people who tended to emphasize the social stratification.


ABSTRACT Many theorists identify intellectual capital as an organization's intangible asset that ensures organizational survival in the 21st century. This study establishes an enquiry for intellectual capital's role in the 21st century by reviewing the evolution of organizational and human resources' theory that establishes a framework for organizational intellectual capital valuation in today's business environment. The two questions addressed with this study are whether organizational executives define their intellectual capital and whether these executives value their intellectual capital as demonstrated in their actual practice. This study provides empirical data from fifteen organizations through a methodology utilizing an interview process. The interviewer utilizes a questionnaire tool that differentiates executives' espoused behaviors and their actual practice. The empirical data from this interview process illustrates a gap between the executives' definition of organizational intellectual capital and the valuation executives demonstrate in their practice. The results of this study reveal that 40% of the CEOs and HR executives and 30% of the CFOs can express a conceptual understanding of the terminology of intellectual capital. Additionally, as a group the executives all struggled with defining their intellectual capital. Organizational documents reflect 90% of the interviewees recognize the value of their organizations' intellectual capital while organizational executives demonstrate through financial support and practice a 2% to 46% valuation score. Background "What we value defines our times. " Willy A. Sussland Organizations continually struggle for survival in a changing and uncertain environment. They seek best practices to sustain competitive positions in their markets. Theorists, both historical and current, postulate ideas for operational improvements to enhance organizational performance. These theoretical improvements are intended to ensure organizational survival. Intellectual capital is one theory that has surfaced in the past decade. Intellectual capital is a management tool that improves organizational performance and survival (Guthrie and Petty, 1999; Mouritsen, 2001; Klaila and Hall, 2000; Roos et al., 1998). In the evolution of organization behavior and theory, concepts for improved organizational performance have been introduced and discussed linger and then fade, often becoming no more than management fads as these concepts attempt to transition from theory to practical application (Grieves, 2000; Carson, Lanier, Carson, and Guidry, 2000; Daft, 2004; Moyer, 2004; Abrahamson, 1996). Clarke (1997) stated that management fads, like drugs, should come with prescriptions for use. These management fads pass, leaving only a footprint of learning and change in the world of business. Whether intellectual capital will endure the test of time or fade as an unproven theory remains as yet undetermined. Statement of the Problem The 21 "-century organizational needs and demands for competitive advantage continue to evolve at an accelerated rate with nanosecond information and technology adaptations (Johanson et al., 2000; Guthrie et al., 2001). The corporations of this century face increasing competition, complexity, chaos, and globalization (Chase, 1997; Appelbaum et al., 1998; Daft and Lengel, 1998; Germeraad, 1999; Kriger and Hanson, 1999; Larson, 2001; Petty and Guthrie, 2000; Chang and Ha, 2001; Marti, 2001; Mellahi, 2001; Mir et al., 2002). As the 21st century unfolds, theorists and organizational executives alike continue to search avidly for new and improved managerial methods that will strengthen market positions, sustain growth, and secure organizational futures (Pearce, 2004). These turbulent times decree that organizations adopt concepts that minimize operational obstacles and enhance their efficiencies, facilitate communication and information networks, and strengthen stakeholder relationships (Naisbitt, 1982; Drucker, 1974; Thompson and Strickland, 2003; Boone and Kurtz, 2003; Daft, 2004). …


A semi empirical study of the reaction of formaldehyde and glycine was conducted by using AM1and PM3 methods and the possible mechanism of the reaction was investigated. It was found that the glycine nitrogen attacks the carbonyl carbon of formaldehyde and forms a methylol intermediate that undergoes a condensation with another glycine to produce a methylenediglycine through a methylene bridge (cross-linking). The activation enthalpies of the reaction were also predicted. The reaction was found to be exothermic and second order.


The present invention provides an apparatus and method for minimizing damage to the battery to control the charge capacity of the battery to enable the battery last longer. By controlling the charge capacity of the battery according to temperatures and more particularly to provide an apparatus and method for reducing the damage to the battery life of the battery.


The detection of novel therapeutic targets is increasingly important in oncology. The Todai OncoPanel (TOP) RNA panel is a custom target RNA-seq using the junction capture method to maximize the sensitivity in detecting of known 456 fusion gene transcripts, which is approved in Japan in 2022 and covered by insurance in later 2023. Above, TOP RNA panel interrogates aberrantly spliced transcripts and analyzes the expression profiles of 1,390 genes. Primary brain tumors require various molecular profiles to be classified based on WHO2021 classification and also necessitates new therapeutic targets. In this study, we aimed to classify gliomas and identify the molecular targets by TOP RNA panel.

 Among 131 frozen samples of malignant gliomas, 124 samples passed quality control and were subjected to TOP RNA panel. Fusion detection and RNA expression analysis were conducted with the original pipeline. Cluster analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were performed to identify gene sets specific for individual subtypes. Copy numbers of tyrosine kinase genes, MDM2 and CDK4 were evaluated by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).

 Among 55 cases of glioblastoma, gene fusions were detected in 11 cases (20.0%) including novel MET fusions, and overexpression of seven tyrosine kinase genes were observed in 15 cases (27.3%). Of the 34 overexpressed genes, gene amplification was observed in 17 genes (50%) by ddPCR. In contrast to IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, IDH-mutant tumors hardly harbored fusion genes or gene overexpression. GSEA identified that the gene sets related to 1p36 and 19q were relatively enriched in astrocytoma, suggesting that regional genomic DNA copy number alterations can be evaluated by gene expression analysis.

 TOP RNA panel detects more fusions than DNA panel and is utilized not only for the detection of molecular targets but also for the molecular classification of glioma, providing treatments optimized for the individual patients.


The aim of this document is to compare the results obtained with package xps to the results obtained with Affymetrix Power Tools (APT version apt-1.10.2). For this purpose the Exon Array Data Set "Tissue Mixture" will be used, which can be downloaded from the Affymetrix web-site for expression arrays "Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0", "Human Gene 1.0 ST" and "Human Exon 1.0 ST", respectively. First, APT and xps will be compared for each array type seperately, then the results obtained with the different arrays will be compared to each other for both APT and xps. To speed up analysis only two human tissues will be used, namely breast and prostate.


Bridge cables under traffic loads are more prone to failure during the service life due to the corrosion–fatigue coupling effect. In this study, a novel lifespan model based on the equivalent initial flaw size (EIFS) theory is established to analyze the various stages of the lifespan of steel wires. Additionally, a comprehensive corrosion-fatigue lifespan calculation method for parallel steel wire cable is established based on the series–parallel model. A case study of the Runyang Suspension Bridge is conducted to evaluate the evolution of corrosion-fatigue damage in bridge cables during the service life. The results indicate that under the action of corrosion-fatigue, steel wires are more prone to crack initiation, and their fracture toughness is further reduced. In cases where the corrosion level is relatively low, the steel wires of the bridge cables experience no corrosion-fatigue fracture. When the steel wires have initial defects and are subject to corrosion-fatigue conditions, their fracture lifespan is dependent on the severity of the corrosive medium. The reduction in the service life of the cables under the corrosion environment is much greater than that under heavy loads. This research may contribute to the understanding of corrosion-fatigue damage in bridge cables, involving assessment, maintenance, and replacement for bridge cables.


The injection of holes from a Ag electrode into poly-dialkoxy-p-phenylene vinylene is investigated by measuring the current–voltage characteristics as a function of temperature. For this model system, the hole injection is hindered by a contact energy barrier of about 1.0 eV. The observed temperature dependence of the injection-limited current does not agree with the predictions of classical injection models. A recent model, in which the spread in the charge transporting site energy due to disorder is taken into account, consistently describes the measured field and temperature dependence of the injection process.


Online purchasing power has increased and beyond limitations once internet drives the mankind way of life. It has become an increasingly demanded platform since the existence of WWW in early 1990s. In conjunction with this trending, a study on insights on online purchasing where the study framework embedded the dimensions of information satisfaction, trust, convenience security and purchasing online. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed randomly to public users at Perpustakaan Awam Raja Tun Uda (PPAS), Shah Alam visitor. The choice of public users is based on the convenience of the research setting where PPAS is the most visited public library by visitors ranging from parents (accompanying their children at kids' section), graduates, primary and secondary school students. All of the posited study variables show a significant relationship with purchasing online. Nevertheless the Net Easy Score (NES was only 19.2%, showing a low index of easiness online purchasing. Early assumptions are that the results obtained could due to the website itself, which might offer a not user-friendly interface or poor network connectivity during the process. While this seems premature to speculate, insights gained from the study could produce some leads to actually increase customer experience through their journey to do online purchase.


Abstract Flow incident on a mountain ridge with a linear vertical windshear is studied for a Boussinesq, adiabatic, inviscid fluid on the f-plane. A scale analysis indicates that the semigeostrophic approximation of a geostrophic mountain-parallel wind holds for sufficiently shallow mountain slopes if the Rossby number squared is small. In such a limit, the equation for the vertical displacement of a fluid parcel is elliptic if there is forward shear (wind increasing with height) or weak backward shear (wind decreasing with height) but hyperbolic if there is strong backward shear such that the incident wind vanishes at some level in the flow. Steady-state results indicate that forward shear weakens the cold-core geostrophic mountain anticyclone predicted by barotropic theory while weak backshear strengthens it. This behavior arises from the warm- (cold-) air advection in the forward (backward) shear case. While the total ageostrophic flux of mass across the mountain peak is greater for the forward shear c...


This paper proposes a kind of method which adopts computer vision technology and pattern recognition to solve indexinstrument measuring means.The gauge board image is gained from CCD and transformed into digital signal,and it(uses) the related image processing method to media filter and image enhance and sharp,then adopt Hough transformation to extract object information,ascertain reading of indexinstrument.The experiment result proves that the operator has higher precision.


Differences in culture between the West and the East are shown in the portrayal of literary characters. This article is to analyze the typical features in the tragic works created both by the Eastern and Western writers.


New therapies are emerging for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular cancer, with approval for immune checkpoint inhibitors in later lines of


Humorist and Thurber Prize finalist Sloane Crosley talks humor writing with OSU student Kevin Bauer, including her most recent book, How Did You Get This Number.


Online communities have become an essential instrument for obtaining valuable information on the web. With today's community jungle, however, users find it increasingly difficult to find and decide on appropriate online communities. Therefore, we propose the concept of a meta-community conceived as being a social gateway to guide users through a vast number of different online communities within a certain domain. We present a proof-of-concept study of our meta-community prototype and discuss implications for the community landscape as well as for the satisfaction of user needs.


This chapter provides an overview of progress made in public health during the first two decades of the twenty-first century and charts the way forward to further improvements. It introduces the World Health Organization's (WHO) current 5-year strategy, explains how this strategy is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and how impact will be measured at the national level. Based on the Sustainable Development Goals, the WHO has set its triple billion targets to achieve by 2023. These are: one billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage; one billion more people better protected from health emergencies; and one billion more people enjoying better health and well-being. Components of each of these goals are described here, and the chapter concludes with the cross-cutting areas of monitoring and evaluation, and data and innovation that are vital to achieving measurable health impact in every country, regardless of income level.


Low threshold current density 650nm AlGaInP/GaInP laser diodes with compressively strained MQW active layer was successfully fabricated by MOCVD single epitaxy growth.The single mode ridge waveguide threshold current is 6.2 mA,which is the lowest threshold current ever reported for 650nm AlGaInP laser diodes as our known.At 25mA CW operation,the fundamental transverse-mode is still maintained and the output power can reach to 18mW.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objective: To describe the audiological results and complications following active middle ear implant (AMEI) surgery in users with bilateral ear atresia. Study Design: Observational and retrospective longitudinal follow-up. Setting: A tertiary referral hospital for hearing rehabilitation and craniofacial malformations. Patients: Medical records of 27 patients with bilateral congenital aural atresia (34 ears) who underwent surgery for AMEI were reviewed. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The alpha error was assumed to be 5%. Outcome Measures: Medical and technical complications and audiological results were observed during follow-up. Results: The median postoperative follow-up was 37.5 months (27.7–75.5 mo). Medical or technical complications occurred in 35.3% (n = 12) of patients during follow-up, 14.7% (n = 5) required surgical revision. The auditory thresholds in the free field improved from 53.75 dB (46.87–56.25) to 25 dB (21.25–32.5) after 6 months using the AMEI (p < 0.001) and remained stable till the last audiological evaluation (22.5: 21.25 26.25). Compared with the preoperative results, all speech perception tests also showed the benefits of AMEI at 6 months postoperatively and in the last audiological evaluation. Conclusions: Monitoring the use of AMEI in this sample demonstrated the safety of these implants compared with data available in the literature. The rates of medical and technical complications were consistent with data published by other groups. Finally, the audiological results remained stable during follow-up.


In order to observe the efficacy of trichloroisocyanuric acid in killing microorganisms in indoor air, plate sedimentation method was used for examination. The results showed that the total bacterial count in indoor air at different places was 4000 cfu/m 3 in average before disinfection. 45 min after disinfection with spraying the water solution of trichloroisocyanuric acid containing available chlorine 1000 mg/L, the total bacterial count in indoor air decreased obviously and was controlled within 2000 cfu/m 3 in average. The average rate of eliminating bacteria in air was 58.33%, the Actinomyces decreased by 51.59% and the fungi decreased by 33.60%. The results indicated that disinfection with spraying trichloroisocyanuric acid had certain killing effect on bacteria in air.


Disruption of the gut microbiota through use of systemic antimicrobials or activation of the mucosal inflammatory response by pathogens can cause dysregulation of the intestinal mucosa.


In the Report before alluded to, this case is especially noticed as affording evidence of the concessions made by foreign countries to obtain uniformity. The practice abroad has hitherto conformed to the principle recognized universally, as to the propriety of admitting as general average the damage done by voluntary stranding which was attended by the preservation of the ship and cargo. They still retain, however, as a subject of contribution, any damage which may arise from running a ship ashore to avoid capture; but it is clear that the same objection cannot be raised as in the case of a vessel in danger of foundering; for she may be, under the former circumstances, perfectly seaworthy, and therefore there would not be the difficulty of determining the exact amount of damage done to the cargo or the ship.


The article deals with the extraction of insoluble sediments formed in storage tanks during long-term storage of liquid radioactive waste from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. Results of a thermodynamic analysis are presented enabling to assess the structure of the precipitation formed and to select most effective modes for thermal and hydrodynamic effects (cavitation technology) produced by liquid medium on eroded sediments. The paper presents the results of studies on the extraction of poorly soluble pulp components from storage tanks using cavitation technology.


System Integration Projects, especially in public sector, have a tendency of growing in size and duration. Under such environment the effects of IT personnel turnover becomes a serious problem. In addition a high rate of turnover hinders skill accumulation and competitiveness obtainment. In this research we explored the reasons of turnover by way of tracing IT personnel who have involved in large-scale SI projects and moved or quit before the completion of the projects. Based on previous research we identified three dimensions of variables that affected turnover: task-related dimension, human relations dimension, treatment-related dimension. We used these dimensions as a guideline for the interview and questioning exploration. Implications from the research for improving IT personnel management are also elaborated.


The geology and hydrogeology conditions at a deposit of Xinjiang are described. The field test results are presented with acidic in-situ leaching of uranium at the deposit. Some problems, such as chemical blocking, great decline of production/injection flowrate, lower uranium content in lixivium, severe corrosion of equipment and material and so on, are analyzed and discussed. And the new view and suggestions are put forward.


Aim: to reflect on the care to adult family man by the light of relational gender perspective. Method: theoretical and reflective study. Results: the naturalization of the image of the men who does not value the health care, contributes to the reproduction of a culture that brings harmful consequences even for the family. Moreover, estrangement may happen when there is a situation of illness and health care dependency within the family, just because of the idea of invulnerability. As a result, there have been impacts of different orders on the family. Final Thoughts: although this occurs in all situations in which the family faces disease in one of its members, it should be noted that under the gender perspective, there are peculiarities in relation to the care and its reverberations in the family when the sick person is an adult male, which awakens the need to think about such relationships and the consequent impacts


After the first cases of AIDS were described in 1981, the HIV pandemic rapidly expanded to become a major global public health problem with broad health, social, economic and developmental consequences that have not been seen with any other disease. In the 30 years that this disease has been known to mankind it has killed an estimated 25 million people and continues to affect not less than 33 million people many of whom could die if life saving therapies are not made available to them 1. The African continent has borne the largest impact of this disease. Of the 33.3 million people that UNAIDS estimated were living with HIV in 2009, nearly 67% were living in Africa1. Pulmonary disease is a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality suffered by persons infected with HIV. It was the appearance of previously rare Pneumocytis pneumonia often accompanied by Kaposis sarcoma in previously healthy young gay men, intravenous drugs addicts and their sexual contacts that alerted the world to the new syndrome of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by HIV 2,3,4,5,6. Before combination anti retroviral treatment (cART) became available a high proportion of HIV infected individuals would experience respiratory symptoms, and serious life threatening lung disease. Lung disease was often the index diagnosis that would point to the presence of HIV infection7,8. In general the incidence of serious pulmonary disease has declined following the wide availability of cART. For example in the USA rates of opportunistic infections decreased from 89.0 per 1000 person years in 1994-1997 to 25 per 1000 person years in 19982002, and 13 per 1000 person years in 2003-20079. However, the incidence of many infectious diseases remain relatively high even in the cART era 10,11 and worryingly as HIV infected persons live longer, they appear to face an increased risk of non infectious lung diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension12,13. The range of pulmonary diseases that occur in HIV infected individuals is wide and includes infections, neoplasms, vascular lesions, interstitial pneumonias and obstructive airways disease. This chapter will summarize the current knowledge base on HIV associated lung disease including the burden and spectrum of the common diseases, diagnostic evaluation and approaches to treatment and prevention.


Aim: To determine the improvement of hearing after grommet insertion in patients with secretory otitis media. Study Design:A Quasi-Experimental study. Place and Duration: ENT, Head & Neck Surgery department of Lady Reading Hospital MTI, Peshawar and Azra Nahid Medical College, Lahore for duration of two years from February 2019 to February 2021. Methods: The study was performed on 48 ears with secretory otitis media. Before the operation,evaluation of both ears along with tympanmontometry and Pure Tone Audiometry were performed. Documentation ofhearing loss was done pre-operatively. During the operation accomplished under GA, a grommetwas placed in the anterior inferior quadrant of the tympanic membrane. After the surgery, PTA was repeated in the postoperative period before the patient was discharged from the hospital. Results:Our study included 28 patients with secretory otitis media and a total of 48 ears. Of the ears, 27 (56.25%) were male and 21 (43.75%) were female. Both ears were affected in 21 patients. Two patients had unilateral ear involvement. The right ear was affected in 26 cases (51.1%) and the left ear in 22 cases (48.9%). 7-55 years was the age range of the patients and 14.10 ± 9.11 years was the mean age. The degree of preoperative hearing loss was mild (20-40 dB) in 5 (10.41%) ears, moderate (40-60 dB) in 37 (77.1%) ears and severe (60-80 dB) in 6 (12.5%) ears. The degree of postoperative hearing loss was mild (20-40 dB) in 36 ears (75%), moderate (40-60 dB) in 11 ears (22.9%) and severe (60-80 dB) in one ear (2.1%). Hearing improvement was not seen in 8 (16.6%) ears, an improvement of 5-10 dB in 34 (70.8%) ears, and an improvement of 10-20 dB in 6 (12.5%) ears. There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative hearing loss in the ears, the hearing loss was significantly less after grommet insertion; p = 0.017. Conclusion:The insertion of Grommet provides a significant improvement in hearing in patients with secretory otitis media. Keywords:Pure tone audiometry, Tympanometry, Middle ear, Secretory otitis Media and Grommets.


Article history: Received January 04, 2020 Received in revised form June 13, 2020 Accepted September 15, 2020 Available online April 01, 2021 The need for adequate and affordable housing drives the government to implement the rusunawa (low-cost housing) development program in various regions. Futhermore, the government promotes utilization of different replacement materials to optimize the cost and duration of rusunawa development, including reused shipping container. This research discusses the feasibility study of reused shipping containers as substitute material in the design planning of the Rusunawa prototype unit construction. It is a qualitative research that uses case study and statistical data-sets through literature review, precedent study analysis and field surveys. The results provided the standard guideline for designing Rusunawa units made from reused shipping containers and prototype typology units based on the occupant's type.


We describe a modification to distance based transforms used for non–linear registration, such as radial basis function transforms, which is both simple and novel. In the Constrained Distance Transform (CDT), distances are constrained to geodesics within the domain of the object being transformed. We show that the modified method is capable of producing large meaningful deformations for both an extreme synthetic case and for real biological image data. We further show that the method is suitable for interactive use on current workstations.


The ability of existing radio and optical catalogs to realize consistent reference frames in different wavelengths is investigated with the SDSS (optical) and the VLBA Calibrator Survey (radio), in terms of cross-identification and global rotation.


In the present study, the effect of one of the most important lignin-derived inhibitors (lignosulfonate) was assessed. A technique to overcome the lignosulfonate inhibitory action in the acetone–bu...