Objective To investigate the community nursing intervention methods and effects of observation for the elderly patients with hypertension.Methods A total of 240 patients with hypertension were randomly divided into two groups:nursing intervention group and control group,and each group was 120 cases.In nursing intervention group health education was designedly carried out besides according to the method of taking medicine of control group,the patients were treated witlh nursing intervention including diet,sports,psychology,eating drug,blood pressure monitoring.Results Patients in nursing intervention group had good control of blood pressure,compared with patients in control group,there was significant difference (P<0.05),with a statistical significance.Conclusions Community nursing intervention can improve the quality of life and health care consciousness of the elderly patients with hypertension.It is a kind of very effective measures and worthy spreading.

Key words:
Elderly hypertension;  Community nursing intervention;  Effect·observation


Modification of nano zirconia surface by chemical method was experimental researched.The optimized process conditions were determined.Using adipic acid as surface modifier,toluene as solvent,at the conditions of reaction temperature of 110 ℃,reaction time of 1 h and ratio of zirconia mass to surface modifier volume of 1 g∶40 mL,the nano zirconia surface was modificated.The nano zirconia powder with good dispersibility and flowability was obtained.


Background: Interferon α (IFNα), currently used for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis, is also known to prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the mechanism of this action being still debatable.


Purpose – The aim of this paper is to study the workings of commercial orientation, with a focus on performance management, in an environment that is characterised by limited competition between the public and the private sectors and a high level of government social responsibility.Design/methodology/approach – An interpretive case study approach is adopted for this study. It draws on primary data from interviews with key personnel in public sector organisations, and on secondary data from government publications such as annual reports and budget papers.Findings – This study shows that the market‐based performance management system has failed to achieve its intended objectives because it was introduced in a socio‐economic context that is hardly supportive of market management practices. The study shows that service delivery to the public has remained driven by social rather than economic imperatives. In the absence of other service providers, the Government's social responsibility towards its citizens has...


Four months prior to presentation to the rheumatology office, the patient was admitted to the hospital with severe, persistent dental pain around the mandibular right third molar for which he had a tooth extraction. The pain continued despite the procedure. Three days later, the patient was readmitted with 20 minutes of vision loss in the left eye and 3 days of constant occipital headache radiating to the posterior neck. He was febrile with a temperature of 101°F, blood pressure reading of 154/80 mm Hg, pulse rate of 90 beats per minute, and oxygen saturation of 94% on room air. There was a concern for meningitis due to the presence of fever and occipital headache. Endocarditis was suspected due to the recent dental surgery. However, CT images of the head and neck, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, and CT images of the maxillofacial area with contrast were unrevealing. Evaluation for infectious disease including blood cultures and a transthoracic echocardiogram did not suggest infection. The lumbar puncture performed prior to antibiotic administration showed a normal cell count and glucose level, but a mildly elevated level of protein at 47.4 mg/dl (reference 15– 45 mg/dl). Nonetheless, while awaiting Gram stain and culture, the patient was broadly treated with vancomycin, ceftriaxone, and ampicillin. Intravenous dexamethasone at a dosage of 10 mg every 6 hours for 2 days was also given as part of the empirical treatment due to suspicion of bacterial meningitis. The patient was discharged from the hospital in stable condition with improvement of headache and neck pain. One month prior, the patient was hospitalized for hypertensive emergency complicated by pulmonary edema and hypoxic respiratory failure. His blood pressure reading at the time was 193/100 mm Hg. His presentation was thought to be due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, he received antihypertensive medication, intravenous diuretic, intravenous albuterol, and ipratropium nebulizer treatments. As part of the treatment for COPD exacerbation, the patient also received 60 milligrams of intravenous solumedrol twice daily. No further imaging was performed as the patient's blood pressure and respiratory symptoms improved on the fifth day of hospitalization. He was discharged in stable condition. Two weeks after discharge, the patient presented to his primary care physician with recurrence of symptoms of occipital headache and mandibular toothache. Despite receiving antihypertensive medications, he remained hypertensive with a blood pressure reading of 180/100 mm Hg. He denied any pulmonary complaints. A renal ultrasound with Doppler was initially ordered to exclude renal artery stenosis as a cause of his uncontrolled hypertension, but the renal arteries were not visualized due to extensive bowel gas. A CT of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast was subsequently performed. Imaging showed concentric wall thickening of the visualized descending thoracic aorta, splenic artery, portions of the abdominal aorta, the common iliac arteries, and renal artery branches to the right kidney along with ischemic changes of the right renal parenchyma (Figures 1 and 2). Based on the extent of the vasculature involved, systemic vasculitis was suspected. After discussion with the rheumatology department, additional laboratory data were ordered (Table 1), and the patient was initiated on a regimen of 60 mg of prednisone daily by his primary care physician. During the rheumatology office visit, the patient reported overall improvement since prednisone initiation 2 weeks ago. When asked about his previous major complaint, he revealed that


ABSTRACT Despite some evidence in greenhouse experiments, the benefits of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma asperellum on nutrients uptake by plants under field conditions are unknown. This work aims to study the effect of these microbial inoculants on durum wheat nutrition and yield under Mediterranean conditions where soils may lead to micronutrients and phosphorus deficiencies and where drought may promote low use efficiencies of applied fertilizers. To this end, three experiments were performed in two growing seasons. B. subtilis increased the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and manganese relative to other treatments in the experiment carried out in the first growing season involving two experimental sites. The increased phosphorus uptake was attributed to the increased activity of alkaline phosphatase. In this first season, T. asperellum increased acid phosphatase activity without effect on P uptake and decreased the P to Zn molar ratio in grains, thus improving grain quality for human consumption. In the second season, the effects of microbial inoculants were less evident possibly due to favourable environmental conditions for crops (higher water availability) or phosphate fertilization. Results evidenced that B. subtilis can be effective improving the development and nutrient uptake of durum wheat under more stressful conditions, such as drought stress.


According to test method stated in GB/T 19233-2008,carbon balance fuel consumption tests were carried out for some vehicles,and their energy efficiency was calculated respectively from the experimental data.Base on the statistical analysis of energy efficiency on different driving cycles for vehicles,a general calculation method for fuel consumption was established.The method was used to predict the fuel consumptions of various vehicles and verified by testing some reference vehicles.With this method,the fuel consumption for many types of vehicles with both different engine displacements and different curb weights can be calculated.


Parties that win elections – particularly if they win them frequently and convincingly – are never short of admirers. The recent successes of New Labour are a prime example of this. The German SPD initially showed considerable interest in New Labour's programmatic transformation but it was only a matter of months before it began to back away from much of the Blair-inspired 'Neue Mitte' agenda. This contribution analyses some of the reasons for this. It emphasises that even where political parties have ostensibly similar aims and goals, there are clear limits to the amount of convergence that we should expect to see in terms of policy outputs. The SPD has subsequently been 'stretched' between divergent institutional and party-political contexts and even though it is prioritising similar problems and challenges to its British equivalent, it is highly unlikely to come up with similar solutions.


Different aspects may impair completion of education in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, including the burdens of direct costs (e.g. medication), indirect costs (e.g. absenteeism, presenteeism) and opportunity costs (e.g. affection on sleep pattern). By starting from childhood and persisting later on, these aspects can have a substantial impact on education and career of patients. As mentioned by Basyham et al., AD flares may result in missing days at school by hospitalization or doctor's appointments. Even at days with school attendance, visits at the school nurse's office may take place due to sudden skin detoriation leading to additional reduction in school participation. Resulting itching and pain from AD lesions can work as distractors, hereby disturbing concentration at school or academic training. In this issue of JEADV, P alsson et al. report on a decreased chance of completing basic compulsory education and further academic education in mild and moderate AD patients in childhood and adolescence from Denmark. Severe AD in childhood and adolescence was associated with a reduced chance to complete further academic education, further vocational education and higher education (master level). In striking contrast to unfavourable starting conditions in childhood and adolescence, a 2019 published Swedish population-based questionnaire study showed an increased relative risk ratio of having high school education and possessing an university degree for adult persons suffering from AD. For explanation, the authors speculate on a socioeconomic advantage during childhood in AD patients. Nevertheless, persons with severe AD were less likely to have a university degree or higher and had a lower income, compared with persons without AD and rather mild-to-moderate AD. Future research in this field has to continue to focus on AD impact on completing basic compulsory education as well as academic education for patients. Furthermore, a close look on the professional careers of unaffected siblings and parents within AD families would be of interest. In countries with limited access to education, other aspects of well-being have to be considered.


The present invention provides a package structure of a light emitting diode, comprising an insulating body, a heat conductive unit, two conductive units and a light emitting diode, wherein the heat conductive unit and the conductive units are all embedded inside the insulating body, and do not protrude from the side surface of the insulating body, the heat generated by a light emitting diode is transmitted through the heat conductive unit, and the conductive units are used for providing electric power to the light emitting diode. To sum up, the package structure of a light emitting diode employs a heat-electricity separated design and can increase the heat dissipation efficient of the light emitting diode.


The article presents the results of studies of structural elements of solar collectors (SC), the formulas for the determination of heat transfer coefficients of transparent insulation (glass), the bottom of the case, the side walls of the case, the efficiency of the absorber. It was found that to improve the efficiency of heat transfer from fluid to tubes by up to 18% is sufficient to perform knurling on the tubes. The analytical dependence of the coefficients of hydraulic resistance, of Re criterion and design characteristics are presented. SC prototype was designed, manufactured and tested with optimal energy performance.


Purposes of research are the following: investigation of aspects affected application of different brickwork bonding types, and description of using traditional bonds in Russia and offering more effective analogues for them. They are many different brickwork bonding types now and have different characteristics: constructive, technological and architectural. But they are using just a few of them in Russia, despite the fact that some types are more technologic than others. Principal cause of this problem is researching lack of this theme. It is necessary to analyse technologic features of different brickwork bonding types and determinate their characteristics including the technical-economic indexes. The research results are set below. The constructions built with using English bond have lower longitudinal stiffness than the same ones raised with using Flemish bond. The main reason is the Flemish bond has square of bonded section larger than English one. Professor Onishik's bond is more technologic. It is connected with the fact that Scottish bond needs a half bats as opposed to Onishik's one. It excludes brick splitting that makes bricklaying process less labour-consuming. Using a Rat-trap bond for building a self-supporting constructions more effective and economically, than using English or Scottish ones. It is depends on a smaller quantity of bricks end technologically necessity, and needs less time to get finished constructions. Major conclusions are the following: the information lack on different types of brickwork bonding makes process of choosing optimal decision. Possibility of using non-typical brickwork bonding types allows to correct technical-and-economic indexes (labour hours and materials intensity) with saving all functions and quality of construction. Continuation of the researching of brickwork bonding types is necessary because of using unexplored bonds can make building processes more effective.


The sources,compositions,separation process and utilization of C4 hydroacarbon in SINOPEC Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited were analyzed.For the compositions in C4 hydrocarbon which were by-products of refining and chemical plants and were not utilized rationally,proposal was raised to integrate the surplus C4 resources and build a light hydrocarbon aromatization plant to produce aromatics.And for the problem of comprehensive utilization of C4 hydrocarbon in capacity expansion project of 1# ethylene plant,proposals were raised on adopting combining process of synthesizing MTBE through etherification of isobutylene-producing high purified isobutylene through MTBE cracking,and process of producing methyl-ethyl-ketone from butylene by hydration and hydrogenaion.Meanwhile,proposals were raised on developing down-stream products of butadiene and building a synthetic rubber production plant.


A new class of metal-containing diblock copolymers, PFS-b-P2VP (PFS = poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane), P2VP = poly(2-vinylpyridine)), with a hydrophobic organometallic block and a highly polar hydrophilic organic block were synthesized via 1,1-dimethylsilacyclobutane (DMSB)-mediated sequential anionic polymerization. In the bulk state, PFS-b-P2VP copolymers with a volume fraction of PFS close to 0.20 give a morphology with cylindrical domains of PFS. A remarkable difference in the morphology of PFS-b-P2VP micelles was observed depending on the nature of selective solvent. Simply by using different alcoholic solvents either spherical or cylindrical micelles can be selectively formed from the same copolymer. WAXS experiments indicate that the crystallinity of the core-forming PFS block may be responsible for this difference.


This paper presents a heuristic method that efficiently approximates the optimum number of spares predicted by yield models through figures of merit. This method, which is based on simple approximate functions, offers a very good trade-off between CPU time and accuracy. Indeed, the CPU time required is negligible compared to what is needed for a direct prediction of the optimum number of spares using yield models and figures of merit. Also, the approximations provided by the proposed heuristic method are very close to the exact values predicted by yield models over a wide range of parameters. A hybrid prediction method, that makes it possible to accelerate the prediction of the optimum amount of redundancy without precision losses, is also presented. This hybrid method, which uses results from the heuristic method as starting points around which yield models and figures of merit are applied, is almost optimum in terms of CPU time over the parameter range considered.


To study the effect of irradiation on fat oxidation in storing of dehydrated pet food,fresh beef was used to make dried pet food by adding antioxidants,and acid values were tested at different storing time to show the degree of fat oxidation,the sample without antioxidant was tested as the control.Antioxidants used were tertiary butyl hydroquinone(TBHQ),propyl gallate(PG),tea polyphenols(TP),tocopheryl and sodium ascorbate.The results showed that,for samples had been stored for 100 days,the inhibition ratio of multi-antioxidant smc on acid value was 51.0%,and this ratio was the best one,the ratio of irradiation and multi-antioxidant smc on acid value was the second of 48.7%;acid values of irradiated samples increase slower than that of corresponding unirradiated samples in storing.Above all,irradiation treatment can make acid values increase slower,the treatment by irradiation and multi-antioxidant smc was better for dried pet food to control the acid value in long-term storing.


this edition of Agenda. I am both honoured and extremely excited to be involved in the first-ever journal publication on the African continent which focuses specifically on homosexuality in Africa.The excitement also masked a particular tension about my legitimacy to hold the space that I do in this edition. It is the same tension I had when completing my doctorate. I do not self-identify currently as lesbian but I am comfortable to be constructed as bisexual. I agree with Msimang (2002:54) who states that 'an interrogation of where feminists sit in relation to their research is long overdue'. Reflecting on my space is thus to put the latter belief into practise.The writing of this piece also brought to the fore memories of my days as a political activist. This led me to identify with the foreword to a book written by Albie Sachs (2003) that influenced the title of this piece. I return to the latter in the following sections.


The utility model discloses a low-voltage aluminum-core fireproof power cable. The power cable comprises a cable core and a sheath, wherein a wrapping belt, a thermal insulation layer, a fire-blocking layer, a cooling layer and an armor layer are sequentially arranged outside the cable core, a non-woven fabric wrapping belt is wrapped outside the cable core, an inorganic fiber wrapping belt thermal insulation layer is wrapped outside the wrapping belt, the ceramic high-polymer composite fireproof silicon rubber fire-blocking layer is wrapped outside the thermal-insulation layer, the inorganic metal hydrate cooling layer mainly formed by Al(OH)3 and Mg(OH)2 is wrapped outside the fire-blocking layer in squeezing mode, the armor layer is arranged outside the cooling layer, and the halogen-free low-smoke inflaming retarding polyolefin sheath is wrapped outside the armor layer in squeezing mode. Inorganic fiber fillers are filled in gaps of the cable core, and an insulating wire core is formed by wrapping a crosslinked polyethylene insulating layer on an aluminum conductor in squeezing mode. The low-voltage aluminum-core fireproof power cable is good in fire resistance, flexible, high in inflaming retardant and environment friendly.


Abstract : The primary objective of C-REM is to determine average sizes of Cohesion, Operational Readiness, and Training (COHORT) replacement packages for first-term soldiers assigned to companies/batteries in either the FORSCOM or European theaters. The user has the option to control the length of the time intervals between COHORT package replacements. The model is capable of playing 3, 4, or 5 companies per battalion. To allow for computation of battalion COHORT replacement packages, either 3-, 4-, or 6- month time intervals must be used. The model will play any other interval; however, the battalion package output is forfeited. The user also has the capability of determining NCO replacements over various replacement intervals. The user can have the model create the initial force or supply the model with a current company personnel profile. C-REM is a BASIC program designed to run on an IBM PC-AT or compatible machine. The model consists of four main modules: C-REM, BUILD, FORSCOM, and EUROPE. Keywords: Manuals; Computer programs.


Most growth models implicitly assume that test scores have been vertically scaled. What may not be widely appreciated are the different choices that must be made when creating a vertical score scale. In this paper empirical patterns of growth in student achievement are compared as a function of different approaches to creating a vertical scale. Longitudinal item-level data from a standardized reading test are analyzed for two cohorts of students between Grades 3 and 6 and Grades 4 and 7 for the entire state of Colorado from 2003 to 2006. Eight different vertical scales were established on the basis of choices made for three key variables: Item Response Theory modeling approach, linking approach, and ability estimation approach. It is shown that interpretations of empirical growth patterns appear to depend upon the extent to which a vertical scale has been effectively "stretched" or "compressed" by the psychometric decisions made to establish it. While all of the vertical scales considered show patterns of decelerating growth across grade levels, there is little evidence of scale shrinkage.


Arterial hypertension (AH) is highlighted as a complication of bronchopulmonary dys-plasia (BPD) in children. The review provides information on the incidence, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of AH in children with BPD. After analyzing the studies, were identified risk factors for hypertension in children with BPD, the role of endothelial dysfunction in raising systemic blood pressure, analyzed therapy and consequences of AH in children with BPD.


This paper explores which of several formats in threaded discussions seem to work best for student learning. Student surveys were conducted over a period of three years asking which of four types of threaded discussions were most valuable to them in the online learning environment. The first study was conducted in 2013-2014, followed by a second study conducted in 2015-2016. Each study was composed of multiple student surveys administered in the fall, spring, and summer terms. Graduate and undergraduate students in Business and Education classes were surveyed. Courses were taught both in the partially online and fully online formats. The setting was a mid-size private university in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Results differed. In each of the surveys, students were asked to choose which of the four formats for threaded discussions they preferred. More than a quarter of the participants in the first study responded that they liked all of the formats "about the same." In the second study, almost a third of the students said they preferred discussion formats that allowed them to express an opinion on a scenario or an example provided by the instructor. This paper examines the possible basis for the differences.


Abstract [1] Experience (i.e. conscious experience) is a real concrete phenomenon. The existence of experience entails the existence of a subject of experience. Therefore subjects of experience are concretely real (or at least one is). [2] The existence of a subject of experience in the lived present or living moment of experience, e.g. the period of time in which the grasping of a thought occurs, provably involves the existence of singleness or unity of an unsurpassably strong kind. The singleness or unity in question is a metaphysically real, concrete entity. So if thoughts, or any experiences at all, really do occur or exist – and they do – then there exist entities that are genuine, concrete, metaphysical unities of an unsurpassable sort. [3] There is a metaphysically irreproachable sense in which we may – must – take these unsurpassable metaphysical unities to be themselves (a) subjects of experience, although we may also take them to be (b) thoughts or experiences. If so, there is a sound argument (using Kantian materials) to the conclusion of the 2nd Paralogism. [4] Perhaps (a) and (b) are not in the final analysis distinct. Perhaps Kant is right, in his 1772 letter to Herz, that 'the thinking or the existence of the thought and the existence of my own self are one and the same'.


Burkett speaks candidly on the state of the economy, how inflation affects individuals, and what can be done, personally and politically, to correct the current Printing money will be a good defensive manner available on how much if you. After any kind occur everybody has come in time I know. To leave to rain gear plastic, forks knives spoons parachute. There are saying this thing when, the armed mob is still low. Some sort of weapons available for their mortgages and asian economies which are investing heavily leveraged. Our near depression in the boards investigation told reuters this? Joel skousen swift and human history it has prepared but he thanked me.


BACKGROUND: The availability and development of the methods testing the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) bring a broader view into the lateral semi-circular canal (L-SCC) function. At the same time, a higher number of evaluated parameters increases demands on the specialist's diagnose-making process. OBJECTIVE: To provide medical specialists a new diagnostic-graphic tool, Estimated Vestibulogram- EVEST, enabling a quick and easy-to-read visualization of the enhanced VOR test results within the L-SCC. METHODS: The research data for the development of the EVEST involved 148 participants including 49 healthy volunteers (28 female and 21 male) and 99 (58 female and 41 male) patients with a diverse degree of peripheral vestibular deficit. The correspoding L-SCC VOR test results, from patients meeting the diagnostic criteria, were used to create the EVEST. RESULTS: Based on the test results from the sample of 148 participants we demonstrate on cumulative and single EVEST graphs that the EVEST is a functional and reliable tool for quick graphic diagnosis of diverse types and levels of the peripheral vestibular loss. CONCLUSIONS: Unique patterns of the EVEST can help to easily distinguish various types and levels of the peripheral vestibular loss.


A multidimensional statistic method: principal component analysis (PCA) was applied in the study to give significance to the motion – seed size. One factor which at the same time generates all three geometrical dimensions of a seed (length, width and thickness) was separated. Functional relation between moistness and obtained principal component was described with a regression equation.


Mucosal Immunology
Gut microbiota have several important functions, including aiding host metabolism and limiting pathogen invasion by competing for essential nutrients. To establish and sustain this symbiotic relationship, it is vital that the host develops tolerance to gut microbial antigens early in life. Knoop et al. found that mouse gut tolerance to symbionts develops between 10 and 20 days after birth and is perfectly synchronized with the formation of goblet cell-associated antigen passages (GAPs) in the colon. These GAPs facilitate transport of bacterial antigens from the gut lumen to the lamina propria. Thus, gut microbial tolerance is restricted to microbes that colonize the colon early in life.

Sci. Immunol. 2 , eaao1314 (2017).


Of all man's fellow-creatures, the horse, with its inherent gracefulness, intelligence, speed, resilience and courage, has inspired the strongest feelings of empathy - an affinity reflected in more than 30,000 years of artistic representation in both East and West. This stunningly illustrated history of the horse in art documents the creative journey from prehistoric cave painting to the war horses of Uccello, the thoroughbred portraits of Stubbs, the enigmatic prints of Elisabeth Frink and beyond. It explores the role of the horse in Eastern imagery and as the subject of myth and legend; as a symbol of power and an ally in war; as the subject of anatomical scrutiny and the Romantic embodiment of human feeling; and as the emblem of sporting pleasures and prowess. The book sheds particular light on man's relationship with the horse, and on the story of equine evolution from the stocky primitive to today's thoroughbred. The book includes detailed information on the breeds depicted in each work of art and is a compelling read for horse lovers and anyone interested in equestrian art.


The Residence-Time Distribution (RTD) technique is a tool widely used in the mineral industry for assessing the mixture quality found in flotation cells. It involves introducing a tracer pulse at the feed of the cell and controlling the tracer concentration at its discharge. This technique provides the RTD function and the mean residence time (t m ) and variance (σ 2 ). This work presents and discusses the application of the RTD technique on mechanical flotation cells of the Rio Paracatu Mineracao, Paracatu-MG. The results provided technical guidance towards which cells operate in better or worse mixing conditions.


1Outpatient Comprehensive Treatment, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China; 2Department of Thyroid and Breast I, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China; 3Department of General Surgery, Botou Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China; 4Department of General Surgery, Qingxian People's Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China Introduction: Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that seriously threatens women's life and health. Methods: In this study, we proposed to use graphene nanoparticles loaded with siRNA that can silence Rictor molecules essential for the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 2 (mTORC2) complex to enhance gene delivery to tumor cells through modification of cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) for the treatment of breast cancer. Results: Remarkably, we successfully synthesized graphene oxide (GO)/polyethyleneimine (PEI)/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/CPP/small interfering RNA (siRNA) system, and the results were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra. The optimum mass ratio of siRNA to GO-PEI-PEG-CPP was 1:0.5. We screened out Rictor siRNA-2 from 9 candidates, which presented the highest inhibition rate, and this siRNA was selected for the subsequent experiments. We validated that Rictor siRNA-2 significantly reduced the Rictor expression in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Confocal fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry analysis showed that GO-PEI-PEG-CPP/siRNA was able to be effectively uptake by TNBC cells. GO-PEI-PEGCPP/siRNA improved the effect of siRNA on the inhibition of TNBC cell viability and the induction of TNBC cell apoptosis. The expression of Rictor and the phosphorylation of Akt and p70s6k were inhibited by GO-PEI-PEG-CPP/siRNA. Tumorigenicity analysis in nude mice showed that GO-PEI-PEG-CPP/siRNA significantly repressed the tumor growth of TNBC cells in vivo. The levels of ki-67 were repressed by GO-PEI-PEG-CPP/siRNA, and the apoptosis was induced by GO-PEI-PEG-CPP/siRNA in the system. Discussion: Therefore, we concluded that CPP-modified GO nanoparticles loaded with Rictor siRNA significantly repressed TNBC progression by the inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. Our finding provides a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of TNBC.


Background Rice fortification with vitamins and minerals has the potential to increase the nutrition in rice-consuming countries where micronutrient deficiencies exist. Globally, 490 million metric tonnes of rice are consumed annually. It is the domi


Sufficient conditions for the convergence to zero of the oscillatory solutions of a Second order nonlinear funcitonal differential equation are given.


The content of copper in silver copper alloys was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES). Accurately measured 0. 1000 g copper and silver alloy samples in erlenmeyer flask,added 5 m L nitric acid(P = 1. 42 g·m L-1),after waiting for the completion of the reaction,added a little water,and a certain concentration of hydrochloric acid solution,silver precipitation precipitated,after filter and volume,selected wavelength Cu327. 396 nm,the copper content was determinate according to rated working conditions on the machine.The detection limit was 0. 01 mg / L,the precision(RSD) control was less than 1. 0%,recovery rate was 97% ~ 103%,five homemade samples were measured(n = 10) and the results conformed to the requirements.


A three-dimensional numerical model has been established for open channel flow in successive bends based on Reynolds Equations and Finite Volume Method.The model has been validated with Shukry's laboratory experiments.Verification shows that the numerical model can well simulate the flow movement characteristics in successive bends.Then the validated model was used to simulate the flow movement in successive bends with various curvatures.Results show that the velocities along the convex bank are larger than that along the concave bank,the velocity distributions at the apex of the bend and at the next one are transversal symmetry.Because the velocities along the convex bank are larger than that along the concave bank,the convex bank may be collapsed and the shoal will occur.With the increase of the curvature,the flow dynamic axis moves close to the convex bank.When the curvature of the river is large enough,the flood may cut off the bank and a new channel may appear.


This paper analyses the platformisation of the mobile industry and derives a number of insights that may inform platform theory. It merges concepts and approaches from strategic management and from information and communication studies, and emphasises the dialectic between business configurations and technical architectures, the specific nature of information and communication commodities, and the key importance of control over assets and customers. It finds that platform leadership strategies permeate the mobile service provision domain, and that platforms are constituted around a set of crucial gatekeeper roles . Secondly, it proposes a typology of platforms according to different patterns of control.


Normalized cyclic undrained triaxial stress-strain relationships of undisturbed sandy specimens are discussed in this paper. Cyclic undrained triaxial strengths defined by axial strain amplitudes and developments of excess pore water pressure are analyzed. A simplified equation for evaluating cyclic undrained triaxial strength of sands is derived. Based on the empirical normalized strength equation, a relationship between strength for a uniform cyclic loading and that for a random cyclic loading is obtained. A simplified method for evaluating an equivalent uniform loading strength for a random loading is proposed using a strength curve through uniform cyclic loading tests.


This essay brings into play the analysis tools of quantitative linguistics. The corpus includes a collection of seventieth century French dramatic works, and particularly versified comedies by Corneille, Moliere and Racine. Our purpose is the characterization of rhymes with respect to lexical and phonological data. The lexical analysis relates to the stock of types and tokens concerned in the plays and to the calculus of the inter-textual distance between the various comedies. Tests of signifiance with phonological data, that is frequency counts of syllabes, are used to measure differences and similarities between works or groups of works.


The biologic activity of retinoids is mediated through nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RAR), which are ligand-activated transcription factors. RAR directly bind and are activated by two naturally occurring isomers of retinoic acid (RA), all- trans retinoic acid ( t -RA) and 9- cis retinoic acid (9 c- RA). Human skin predominantly expresses RAR-γ (≈87%) and RAR-α makes up the remainder. Recombinant RAR-γ preferentially binds t- RA over 9 c- RA in cell-free assays containing mixtures of the two retinoic acid isomers. We have investigated the ligand-binding properties of RAR in human epidermis. [ 3 H]All- trans retinol ( t -ROL) added to suspensions of intact epidermal cells was metabolically converted to [ 3 H] t- RA, which bound to RAR. No binding of [ 3 H]9 c- RA to RAR was detected. Binding of [ 3 H] t -RA, formed from [ 3 H] t -ROL, was abolished by adding unlabeled t -RA, but was unaffected by adding unlabeled 9 c- RA. Intact epidermal cells were incubated with mixtures of [ 3 H]9 c- RA and [ 3 H] t- RA in varying ratios, and the amount of each labeled retinoid bound to RAR was measured. At ratios of 9 c -RA to t -RA of 3:1 or lower, only [ 3 H] t- RA was bound by RAR. Incubation of cells with [ 3 H]9 c- RA alone resulted in substantial (38%) binding of [ 3 H] t -RA to RAR, in addition to binding of [ 3 H]9 c- RA, due to isomerization of [ 3 H]9 c -RA to [ 3 H] t -RA. RAR in nuclear extracts from epidermal cells also displayed strong preferential binding of t -RA over 9 c- RA. Competition studies revealed that 9 c- RA was 6-fold less effective than t -RA at displacing [ 3 H] t -RA bound to RAR in nuclear extracts. At ratios of 9 c- RA to t -RA of 4:1 or lower, RAR in nuclear extracts bound t -RA exclusively. At higher ratios, [ 3 H]9 c- RA binding increased steeply. RAR-α in nuclear extracts bound both 9 c- RA and t -RA without preference, whereas RAR-γ displayed strong preferential binding of t -RA over 9 c- RA. The level of endogenous t -RA exceeds that of 9 c- RA in human skin in vivo , and significant isomerization of topically applied 9 c- RA and 13 c- RA to t -RA occurs. The relative abundance of t -RA in human skin, and preferential binding of t -RA by RAR-γ, indicate that t -RA is the primary ligand mediating RAR-dependent responses in human skin under physiologic conditions, and under pharmacologic conditions when t -RA, 9 c- RA, or 13 c- RA are applied to skin.


Scientists at DuPont say they have demonstrated the first chemical processing application for high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. DuPont says the work, which uses a HTS magnet to separate mineral contaminants from kaolin, points to the feasibility of a range of HTS applications in industrial processing, including those involving polymerization. DuPont`s success comes after 10 years of work to commercialize high-temperature superconductors. And while superconductors have lost much of their luster since the late 1980s, the company says it is still bullish on their prospects. {open_quotes}At the moment, there`s no real market for superconductors,{close_quotes} says Alan Lauder, general manager/superconductivity. But, he says, several potentially lucrative applications could be commercialized within the next several years.


Listening to the Voice of the Customer is the only how-to manual which takes you step-by-step through the design, implementation and analysis of a customer satisfaction measurement program.Listening to the Voice of the Customer will show you how to develop your own customer satisfaction measurement program. You'll get actionable information which will help your organization become truly customer-focused.Throughout the book you will find very specific tips and advice based on the author's experience developing and implementing customer satisfaction measurement programs.Whether you're new to customer satisfaction measurement or have a program in place, you'll find Listening to the Voice of the Customer an invaluable resource.


In this paper, it is not proposed t o give a rksumk of all the diverse phenomena that now have been investigated on single muscle fibers. Instead, some of the simple mechanical properties of uninjured single muscle fibers, in both the resting state and the state of maintained activity (tetanus), will be discussed from the point of view of the influence of the results on current concepts of the muscle machine and its energetic cycle. A more complete and exact discussion was published e1sewhere.l To a large extent, therefore, discussion of the events between the application of a stimulus and the initiation of contraction will be omitted. It is generally acknowledged that myosin forms the structural basis of the muscle machine, and that it is closely linked to a chemical reaction that involves a lsrge energy turnover (the breakdown of adenosinetriphosphate) .* The precise manner of shortening of this protein, whether it is accomplished a t the expense of an increase of its entropy or a decrease in its internal energy, and the cycle of the energetic changes, are all matters of dispute for which the mechanics and dynamics observed in single muscle fibers have something to offer. One simple mechanical fact that necessarily is involved in discussions of latency relaxation, birefringence, the kind of machine (entropy or internal energy), release of resting energy, and so forth, is that of the resting tension exhibited on stretch of a single muscle fiber. IS the equilibrium resting tension due to the muscle substance or to the sarcolemma? Three independent studies germane to this question are those of S i ~ h e l , ~ Asmus~en,~ and Ramsey and Buchthal's? unsound reasoning on this question will not be discussed. All four investigators would probably agree that, for small stretches, an intact fiber obeys Hooke's Law (as Sichel originally claimed), but that for greater stretches this is no longer true. Sichel maintains that much or most of this resting tension is due to tension exerted by the muscle substance, whereas Ramsey and Street believe they have demonstrated that most of the resting tension is due to the sarcolemma (Asmussen did not measure the tension of the sarcolemma alone). Though these results appear irreconcilable, they may not be, if the experimental conditions of each investigator are considered. Ramsey and Street inves-


The theme of this paper is an attempt at an historical social survey of the little community of the Resettlement as it developed from the readmission in 1655/6 till the year 1684,1 a period when the records are scanty and often inaccurate and unreliable. Let us begin with a general survey. In 1657 it numbered some 1602 men, women, and children, having increased substantially in 1654 and 1655, when relations between England and Spain were moving towards war.3 Of this number only some 10% were Ashkenazim. We may compare this figure with the 1,800 strong community (mainly Sephardi) of Amsterdam, the 450 souls (also mainly Sephar dim) in Hamburg, and the 4,500 mixed Jews of Venice.4 There was only one Sephardi congregation in London, that of Greechurch Lane, but it admitted some Ashkenazim and buried them, and there were from time to time one or even two small Ashkenazi stiebels in London. In 1660 there was one in St. Helen's, where the hazan and religious leader was one David Myer,5 and the Creechurch Lane Congregation embraced a half-dozen Ashkena zim, including officials of the synagogue.


The effects of oxygen in helium-argon base shielded GTAW on weld shape of weld penetration are systematically investigated by bead-on-pale welding on UNS S31803 duplex stainless steel. The results show that amount of oxygen addition to He-Ar mixed shielding can significantly change the weld shape from a wide narrow type to narrow deep one and the weld depth/width ratio can be doubled due to the change in Marangoni convection condition from an outward to an inward direction.


The invention discloses a hybrid power drive device and a vehicle, relates to the technical field of automobiles and aims to simplify the structural layout of a shift mechanism and reduce the control difficulty of the shift mechanism. The drive device comprises an internal combustion engine, a first motor/generator, a second motor/generator, an input shaft, an output shaft, a double-row planet gear set, a first brake and a second brake. The double-row planet gear set is formed by a first planet gear train and a second planet gear strain through connection, wherein the first planet gear strain comprises a first component, a second component and a third component; the second planet gear strain comprises a fourth component, a fifth component and a sixth component; the first component is connected with the output shaft of the first motor/generator, the second component is connected with the output shaft and the fourth component, and the third component is connected with the sixth component; and the first brake is connected with the fifth component, and the second brake is connected with the third component or the sixth component. The hybrid power drive device is mainly applied to hybrid power vehicles.


While reviewing old accounts, we discovered numerous payment errors involving patients with primary and secondary coverage. Often, when the primary insurer issued a payment, our staff made an adjustment based on the allowed amount indicated on the EOB. Then the secondary insurer paid a portion of the write-off. The question now: Who should get the refund--the insurer or the patient?


Purpose

This paper argues that the current framework permitting humanitarian transactions into sanctioned and conflict environments needs re-thinking and updating.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on in-depth interviews conducted with banks, humanitarian actors, regulators and government officials. It incorporates a review of relevant literature and has involved extensive field-based observations including with jurisdictions experiencing conflict or subject to sanctions.

Findings

This paper finds that a recalibration of the sanctions architecture is required and that a new equilibrium needs to be created to ensure the ability of international banks to support permissible humanitarian and development payments. It further sets out that the foreign policy intention of economic sanctions, when combined with licensing complexity and other risk factors, such as terrorist financing, are not achieving their intended goals.

Originality/value

Assessment on the strategic importance of ensuring access to financial services for jurisdictions subject to sanctions and in conflict.


AMX compounds with the ZrBeSi structure type tolerate a vacancy concentration of up to 50% on the M-site in their planar honeycomb MX-layers. Here, we investigate the impact of vacancies on the thermal and electronic properties across the full EuCu1-xZn0.5xSb solid solution. The transition from a fully-occupied honeycomb (EuCuSb) to one with a quarter of the atoms missing (EuZn0.5Sb) has wide-ranging structural consequences; we observe a significant non-linear expansion of the average bond lengths in the honeycomb, consistent with anion-anion repulsion, and increasing atomic displacement parameters on the M and Sb-sites. Increasing the vacancy concentration causes lattice softening and a corresponding decrease in sound velocity, as well as a rapid increase in point defect scattering, leading to a drop in room temperature lattice thermal conductivity from 3 W/mK to 0.5 W/mK. The effect of increasing Zn and vacancy concentration on the electronic properties is more nuanced, leading to a small increase in effective mass, large increase in band gap, and decrease in carrier concentration. Ultimately, the maximum zT increases from 0.09 to 0.7 as the composition varies from EuCuSb to EuZn0.5Sb.


We demonstrate that the presence of excited states in sputtered surface atoms after ion bombardment affects the measured ion yield of a subsequent post multiphoton-ionization processes. This effect was investigated using an advanced time-of-flight mass-spectroscopic technique. This work reports a comparison of two-photon ionization spectra of metallic atoms obtained from solid samples via sputtering and thermal evaporation that reveals the role of excited states. Furthermore we experimentally determine the cross sections for the two photon ionization processes of evaporated Mg, Zn, and In through quantitative ion yield measurement. Numerical configuration interaction calculations for Mg and Zn are presented and the resulting theoretical two-photon ionization cross sections are compared with the measured ones.


Abstract : The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, (ASVAB), composed of the common elements of operational classification batteries used by the different services, has been given to high school students since 1968. Results are used by the schools for counseling and by the Armed Services for selecting and classifying potential recruits. The present report documents the development and validation of ASVAB Forms 2 and 3, parallel improved forms which were operational from January 1973 to January 1976. Steps in the development and validation were: (1) preparation of 200 new items for each of the eight cognitive tests of ASVAB-1; (2) field administration to approximately 4000 Selective Service registrants, stratified to represent the population of young men of military age in order to obtain basic data on the items; and (3) preparation of eight 25 item tests based on item analysis of the field data, and generation of two new forms of the noncognitive Coding Speed test; and (4) a second field administration to approximately 3500 registrants to derive norms and other statistical characteristics of the two new forms.


In this paper we present some observations of programmers citing and attributing copied code via comments in their source code. We see this as an example of a broader collaborative fabric which is woven into software development today, which is perhaps changing the notion of collaborative software development, broadening it from the narrow scope of collaboration within teams or within and between organizations, to a model more akin to scholarly and academic publication. Conceptualizing collaboration in this way draws in many more concepts from Library and Information Science, which we argue pose novel and exciting avenues for future research.


This study was conducted on the land snail Monacha cartusiana to determine the influence of four different degrees of temperature (18, 20, 22 and 24 0C) treated with four levels of soil moisture (25,50,75 and 100% field capacity) on egg hatching and developmental period and to define the activity of snails during aestivation and food consumption under the effect of seven temperature degree ranges (5,10,15, 20,  25,30 and 350C) under laboratory conditions. The present data revealed that the optimum temperature (220C) for the highest percent of egg hatching was (78 and 76%) treated with 75 and 100% of soil field capacity and the shortest incubation and hatching period were 4.6 and 0.8 days at 240C with 75% soil moisture and at 200C with 50% soil moisture, respectively.  Food intake by M. cartusiana on cabbage leaves was directly related to temperature and the land snail sizes. Feeding was maximal at 20 and 35 0C for juveniles (8-9, 10-11mm) and at 5 and 35 0C for all sizes of adults. All juveniles sizes showed higher food intake rate (general mean,31.14mg) than the adult sizes (general mean,30.20mg), as it increased by increasing only the shell size of all juveniles indicated by the general mean which could be arranged in an ascending order as follows,29.03, 31.04 and 33.37 mg for the size of (8-9), (9-10) and (10-11 mm), respectively, during three days. When the aestivated snails were exposed to serial levels of temperature degrees (starting from 10 to 400C,15 to 400C, 20 to 400C, 25 to 40 0C and 30 to 400C), were more active (19.2, 50, 17.2, and 3.6%) at temperature 25 0C and became less active with increasing temperature (0.4, 6.4, 7.6, 5.6 and 4%) at 40 0C. By the end of the experiment, all the aestivated snails become epiphragmed and only died when exposed suddenly to a lower temperature, while it still alive when exposed to higher temperature.


The Edlin toolkit provides a machine learning framework for linear models, designed to be easy to read and understand. The main goal is to provide easy to edit working examples of implementations for popular learning algorithms. The toolkit consists of 27 Java classes with a total of about 1400 lines of code, of which about 25% are I/O and driver classes for examples. A version of Edlin has been integrated as a processing resource for the GATE architecture, and has been used for gene tagging, gene name normalization, named entity recognition in Bulgarian and biomedical relation extraction.


This article reports on the project "Design and development of water and gas P.L. measurement devices in the housing: an approach to sustainable consumption in Mexico", prepared at the Metropolitan Autonomous University in the Department of the Environment, whose objective was to develop a device to measure water consumption in the housing, which allows users to know their spending and can make decisions in favor of efficiency through the reduction of water use in household activities. The meter is made up of open source, programmable or reconfigurable software, which receives the signal from a water flow sensor and a casing designed to contain the hardware and facilitate the user's installation. Both the hardware and the casing can be purchased, downloaded, manufactured and assembled at home (Do It Yourself). As specific results were obtained: hardware programming and housing design and as a final result: the assembly of the functional prototype with which measurements of water consumption were made in a housing in Mexico. With this work we conclude that through the development of new accessible and common measurement technologies for the users of a house, it will be possible to promote efficiency in the use of natural resources in cities, increasing availability and promoting a more sustainable urban development.


A simple, rapid, precise, accurate and selective micellar liquid chromatographic (MLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of sildenafil citrate in pharmaceutical formulations. Separation was achieved isocratically on an ACE 5 C18 AR column (5 μm, 4.6 mm × 150 mm) utilizing a mobile phase of 8.2 mM SDS in acetate buffer (pH 4.0) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL min-1 with UV detection at 298 nm. All analyses were conducted at ambient temperature. Linear calibration curve was obtained over the concentration range of 125-500 μg mL-1 , with a correlation coefficient (r2) greater than 0.999. The limits of detection and quantitation were found to be 35 μg mL-1 and 106 μg mL-1 respectively. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of sildenafil citrate in oral suspensions and tablets. Common excipients in formulations did not interfere. This method is suitable for routine analysis.


This document is targeted to program managers and surveillance staff in state health agencies who are involved in the implementation of the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS). The target audience includes epidemiologists and other professional staff with varying degrees of computer knowledge and skills. The goals of the document are: A ~ To present the basic principles of the NEDSS architecture and how they affect state-based surveillance systems; B ~ To assist state surveillance programs in deciding how to implement the NEDSS architecture; C ~ To discuss some current issues related to the NEDSS implementation. The document is divided into three sections. Section I describes NEDSS and the NEDSS architecture. Included in that section is a discussion of what an integrated system is and how the integration of multiple systems can be achieved in different ways. The multiple layers of modern information systems (i.e., user interface, middle layer with business rules, and database) are also discussed. Finally, the NEDSS architecture and its elements are summarized. Section II deals more in detail with NEDSS implementation options for state programs. Fully integrated systems are compared with data warehouses. The option of using CDC-developed NEDSS software is discussed against the alternative of adopting state-developed applications. Some guidance is provided on how to choose the best solution for each state and how many systems should be included in NEDSS. Section III includes a brief description of the resources needed at the state level for the implementation of NEDSS. In addition, connectivity, security, and other important issues (such as confidentiality and legal authority to collect and access surveillance information) are discussed. A section with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a glossary complete the document. NEDSS is an important initiative, originated in part as a result of requests and proposals formulated by state epi-demiologists and their professional organization, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). It has the potential to change dramatically the way public health surveillance is conducted in this country. We hope that this document, while not exhaustive or comprehensive, can be helpful in assisting those of us who struggle every day to remain an active part of this process.


For the past decade, Turkish television series have enjoyed a remarkable interest on Moroccan television. Transformed into a priviliged television consumption for Moroccan audiences, these Turkish series dubbed in Moroccan dialect continue to grow. In this context, recent research has highlighted the sociocultural impact of this production . The focus of our research will be to study the creation of this desire and it's influence on the lifestyle of Moroccan women. Within this framework, we will first approach the topic conceptually, afterward, we will present the research architecture we have chosen and the methodological protocol we used to carry out our invetisgation. Finally, we will analyze and interpret the results


This paper presents a task planning system for a steward robot, which has been developed as an interactive intermediate agent between an end-user and a complex smart home environment called the ISH (Intelligent Sweet Home) at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). The ISH is a large-scale robotic environment with various assistive robots and home appliances for independent living of the elderly and the people with disabilities. In particular, as an approach for achieving human-friendly human-robot interaction, we aim at 'simplification of task commands' by the user. In this sense, a task planning system has been proposed to generate a sequence of actions effectively for coordinating subtasks of the target subsystems from the given high-level task command. Basically, the task planning is performed under the framework of STRIPS (Stanford Research Institute Problem Solver) representation and the split planning method. In addition, we applied a state-partitioning technique to the backward split planning method to reduce computational time. By analyzing the obtained graph, the planning system decomposes an original planning problem into several independent sub-problems, and then, the planning system generates a proper sequence of actions. To show the effectiveness of the proposed system, we deal with a scenario of a planning problem in the ISH.


Abstract The enhanced power graph of a group G is a graph with vertex set G and two vertices are adjacent if they belong to the same cyclic subgroup. In this paper, we consider the minimum degree, independence number, and matching number of enhanced power graphs of finite groups. We first study these graph invariants for when G is any finite group and then determine them when G is a finite abelian p-group, the dihedral group or the semidihedral group If G is any of these groups, we prove that is perfect and then obtain its strong metric dimension. Additionally, we give an expression for the independence number of for any finite abelian group G. These results along with certain known equalities yield the edge connectivity, vertex covering number, and edge covering number of enhanced power graphs of the respective groups as well.


Absract-A simplified version of the continuum equations of fluid mechanics is proposed for analyzing the hypersonic rarefied flow in a narrow viscous shock layer in the vicinity of a nonslender body. The asymptotic equations are valid as M -2 ∞ (γ-1) -1 →0, e → 0, and Re → 0, where Re is the Reynolds number, M∞ is the Mach number, and e = (γ-1)(2γ) -1 (yis the ratio of specific heats). A class of variables suitable for a mathematical analysis of the problem is described. An asymptotic formulation of the problem is given. Similarity variables are determined for the problem. An analytical solution to the problem formulated in terms of the similarity variables is obtained. An analytical solution to the problem formulated in terms of physical variables is obtained both for viscosity expressed by a power law and for linear viscosity in the case of a zero-temperature surface.


Assessment of intragastric urease activity by the 13C‐urea breath test was performed before and after one day of dosing with either De‐Noltabs (tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate, one tablet 1 q.d.s.), Pepto‐Bismol liquid (bismuth salicylate 30 ml q.d.s.), or Roter tablets (bismuth subnitrate, one tablet q.d.s.) in twelve Helicobacter pylori‐positive patient volunteers. There was a significant decrease in the excess of 13CO2 after one day of dosing with each of the three bismuth compounds, but analysis of variance could detect no difference between the effects of the three compounds.


A method and apparatus for 3D coding to support fast bi-prediction having identical motion in the advanced residual prediction (ARP) are disclosed. One or more aligned operations including data clipping and reference picture selection associated with motion vector derivation are used during residual predictor generation. When ARP mode is enabled, the residual prediction process for uni-prediction and bi-prediction perform same data clipping process and same reference picture selection process effectively. A single clipping operation or two clipping operations can be performed for both uni-prediction and bi-prediction.


Background Autoimmunity is a common cause of pulmonary fibrosis and can present either as a manifestation of an established connective tissue disease or as the recently described entity of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features. The rate of progression and responsiveness to immunosuppression in these illnesses are difficult to predict. Circulating fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived progenitor cells that home to injured tissues and contribute to lung fibrogenesis. We sought to test the hypothesis that the blood fibrocyte concentration predicts outcome and treatment responsiveness in autoimmune interstitial lung diseases. Methods We compared the concentration of circulating fibrocytes in 50 subjects with autoimmune interstitial lung disease and 26 matched healthy controls and assessed the relationship between serial peripheral blood fibrocyte concentrations and clinical outcomes over a median of 6.25 years. Results As compared to controls, subjects with autoimmune interstitial lung disease had higher circulating concentrations of total fibrocytes, the subset of activated fibrocytes, and fibrocytes with activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor and interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13 receptor signalling pathways. Over the follow-up period, there were episodes of marked elevation in the concentration of circulating fibrocytes in subjects with autoimmune interstitial lung disease but not controls. Initiation of immunosuppressive therapy was associated with a decline in the concentration of circulating fibrocytes. For each 100 000 cells·mL−1 increase in peak concentration of circulating fibrocytes, we found a 5% increase in odds of death or lung function decline. Conclusion In patients with autoimmune interstitial lung disease, circulating fibrocytes may represent a biomarker of outcome and treatment response. Autoimmune diseases are common causes of pulmonary fibrosis. The blood concentration of fibrocytes, cells involved in formation of scar tissue, predicts outcomes and response to immunosuppression in these patients. https://bit.ly/35bel62


In this study, we describe an optimized protocol of whole mount in situ hybridization (WMISH) which is a preferred method for transcript distributions detection in whole embryos, tissues and organs, for the detection of c-fos mRNA in fresh frozen brain tissue. Therefore, critical steps of WMISH were optimized including proteinase K digestion time, composition of hybridization buffer as well as durations of incubation and washing steps. The expression of c-fos mRNA and protein was detected in mouse brains with the modified WMISH protocol. As a result, the expression patterns of c-fos mRNA and protein in mouse brains were successfully detected with great specificity and low background signal.


Although many basaltic shergottites have been recently found in north African deserts, QUE94201 basaltic shergottite (QUE) is still important because of its particular mineralogical and petrological features. This meteorite is thought to represent its parent melt composition [1 -3] and to crystallize under most reduced condition in this group [1,4]. We performed experimental study by using the synthetic glass that has the same composition as the bulk of QUE. After homogenization for 48 hours at 1300 C, isothermal and cooling experiments were done under various conditions (e.g. temperature, cooling rates, and redox states). Our goals are (1) to verify that QUE really represents its parent melt composition, (2) to estimate a cooling rate of this meteorite, (3) to clarify the crystallization sequences of present minerals, and (4) to verity that this meteorite really crystallized under reduced condition.


Abstract During September 2004 and June 2005, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Trawl Survey collected specimens of three warmwater fish species uncommon to Chesapeake Bay. Captures of Trachinocephalus myops (Snakefish), Citharichthys macrops (Spotted Whiff), and Mullus auratus (Red Goatfish) are the first substantiated records for these species from Chesapeake Bay. These captures also represent extensions in the documented geographic ranges of Snakefish and Spotted Whiff. Occurrences of multiple species heretofore rarely encountered in Chesapeake Bay warrant further attention in view of concerns regarding climate change and its effect on local marine faunas.


The target and output of this activity are to implement the Tridharma of Higher Education, community service for lecturers in the Palembang Aviation Polytechnic environment, South Sumatra. The activity method used is 1) religious lectures, namely spiritual guidance to the Aviation Polytechnic extended family and local residents; 2) The lecture in which the resource person explained to the Aviation Polytechnic extended family and local residents about the wisdom of sacrificing and following the shari'ah of Prophet Ibrahim AS, fostering awareness and participation of the Aviation Polytechnic family and local residents in fostering a love for others in the manifestation of gratitude and piety Allah SWT; and 3) evidence-based learning, in which the "sacrifices" and the implementation team were invited to work together on how to collect, slaughter, and distribute sacrificial animals. The results obtained from this activity can make the implementation team, the Aviation Polytechnic extended family, and residents 1) follow the shari'ah of Prophet Ibrahim AS; 2) Growing awareness and participation of Muslims (lecturers) in fostering a love for others in the manifestation of taqwa to Allah SWT; 3) Serve the community in strengthening ties of friendship to establish ukuwah Islamiah among residents.


A mathematical model is proposed here in order to investigate the effects of parathyroid hormone and vitamin D on bone formation and resorption processes. Singular perturbation technique is then applied to analyze the model. The conditions on the system parameters for which a limit cycle exists are then derived. Numerical investigation is also carried out to support our theoretical prediction. The result shows that the model can exhibits a periodic solution corresponding to the pulsatile secretion of parathyroid hormone observed in the clinical evidence.


Abstract In this paper a method of analysis of exoskeleton multistep locomotion was presented by using a computer with the preinstalled DChC program. The paper also presents a way to analytically calculate the ",motion indicator", as well as the algorithm calculating its two derivatives. The algorithm developed by the author processes data collected from the investigation and then a program presents the obtained final results. Research into steady and non-steady multistep locomotion can be used to design two-legged robots of DAR type and exoskeleton control system


Eucalyptus benthamii has shown to be the most proeminent specie for regions with frost incidence. The objective of this work was to classify selected Eucalyptus benthamii trees for breeding by importance ordening dendrometric and energetic characteristics, useful for this work 91 disks of DBH were collected, from three plantations at Guarapuava municipality, Parana state, with geographical coordinates 25o 23' 26'' S e 51o 27' 15" E and 1,120 m high. Wood basic density, volume, mass, superior calorific power, energertic density and energetic potential were evaluated. Charcoal yield, condensed and non-condensable gases, fixed carbon, volatiles, ashes, superior calorific power and energetic potential were also evaluated. From the measured characteristics, at the field and laboratory for each individual, multivariable analysis were performed using the main compounds and factorial analysis with the aim of identifying those variables which presented larger contribution for total variance. At E. Benthamii tree selection for energy production, most of the attention should be driven to the variables mass, volume, wood energetic potential and charcoal energetic potential. doi: 10.4336/2010.pfb.31.65.09


In this paper we present a method which allows the statistical analysis of nanoelectronic Boolean networks with respect to timing uncertainty and noise. All signals are considered to be instationary random processes which is the most general signal representation. As one cannot deal with random processes per se, we focus on certain statistical properties which are propagated through networks of Boolean gates yielding the instationary probability density function (pdf) of each signal in the network. Finally, several values of interest as the error probability, the average path delay or the average signal trace over time can be extracted from these pdf


India has one of the highest percentages of corruption. In spite of our governments various steps in its fight against this great menace, corruption continues to exist in various organisations - private as well as public. In this paper the various aspects of the concept of corruption with a reference of corporate corruption has been discussed.


Conventional methods for describing complex diagrams to blind people are either ineffective or inefficient. We describe our preliminary work on how one can describe a diagram to a blind person with minimal supervision. We explain our text localization method which beats commercially available off-the-shelf state-of-the-art systems. We also provide a prototype user interface which can effectively describe diagrams based on our user study.


Time dependent propagation code simulations are described for phase compensation of atmospheric turbulence and thermal blooming. Test results, using convected phase screens to represent the optical turbulence, are compared with steady-state simulation results and, also, for fixed and variable direction wind conditions. Realistic wind effects on propagation are investigated by performing 4D code simulations to compare the effects of actual wind observations with monthly mean wind profile models for the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). Critical power levels are compared for the mean and observed wind conditions at WSMR within the same month. Estimates of the critical power are also compared with the simulation results using the wind shear damping model for blooming instabilities, developed by Morris, et al. (1990).


A recent perspective proposes that counterfactual thinking mutates controllable events that could have prevented a specific outcome, and so provides knowledge that can be used to prevent similar outcomes in the future. This implies that counterfactual thinking does not necessarily influence causal reasoning, although they may be associated in some circumstances. Results of 2 studies reported here show that, for serious outcomes where actions of the self are antecedents and different self-actions might have prevented the outcome, there was an associated increase in self-blame. Findings from these studies also suggest that whether self-mutations are reflected in public expressions of blame will depend on whether the context favors self-serving self-presentation strategies, or mitigating strategies incorporating the face concerns of others.


This paper presents the analysis, design, and simulation results for a ZVS bidirectional isolated three-phase DC-DC converter with dual phase-shift and variable duty cycle. The topology uses three single H-bridges in the primary side and a three-phase inverter in the secondary side. The isolation is ensured by using three single-phase transformers connected in open delta-wye configuration. Variation of both phase shift angles between single H-bridge legs and/or primary and secondary side allows the power delivery control. This additional flexibility allows the system to maintain a low reactive power flow. The variable duty cycle is used to ensure a constant voltage bus and ZVS soft switching operation. A detailed analysis is presented considering a model based on fundamental components. Simulations for converter are performed to validate the model used.


A fast al/lorithm for solving large scale MV (mean-variance) portfolio optimization problems is proposed. It is shown that by using T independent dat.a representing the rate of return of the assets, the MV model consisting of n assets can be put into a quadratic program with n + T variables, T linear const.raints and T quadratic terms in the objective function. As a result, the computation t.ime required to solve this problem would increase very mildly as a function of n. This implies that a very large scale MY model can now be solved in a practical amount of time.


A Proposal of Realizing High Degree Security in Cloud Computing Environment Concealing Data and Programs in Cloud Computing Environments Yohtaro Miyanishi (ISEM, Sendai Software Center) ISEM, Inc.,Nakazawa Building 4F, 3-19 Kandanishiki-cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 101-0054 Japan Sendai Software Center Co., Ltd. 5-12-55 Tsutsujigaoka Miyagino-ku Sendai City, 983-0852 Japan E-mail: email@example.com Abstract: We suppose a case that an enterprise uses public cloud. In that case, the user wants to keep the secret of data and how to process the data. Even if the data and programs are encrypted, when data processing, the data and programs will be decrypted. So the cloud provider could look into the data and programs. Usually, between the user and the cloud provider shall contract to keep the secret. The contract is called SLA (Service Level Agreement). The cloud provider will honestly obey the contract. However, the user could not keep the mind in peace if he is in a sever competition. The user's need is like "I will ask data processing but I would not like to be known what data exist and how the data are processed". Is it possible? We propose a proposal to solve this need. The verification for this proposal is our future work. Keyword: Cloud Computing, Security, Opinions Gathering, Concealment of Data and Programs


Microplastics (MPs) are present in every environmental compartment, including in the remotest places on earth, and have gained recent interest as a major environmental pollutant. In 2015, the European Union (EU) produced 25 million tons of plastic waste, with 60% still originating from packaging, representing an average of 31 kg per person per year. Worth noting is the fact that the majority of the MPs released in the ocean originate from synthetic textiles, tire dust or city dust.


The Study of beam dynamics in the C235 cyclotron dedicated for proton therapy is presented. Results of computer simulations of the particle motion in the measured magnetic field are given. This of the median plane effects in the extraction region was carried out. The tolerance on the radial component of the magnetic field was defined using these simulations.


OBJECTIVE:To develop linear sweep voltammetry(LSV) and cyclic voltammetry(CV) for the content determination of Cefradine capsules.METHODS:Multi-wall carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode(MWCNT/GCE) was used as working electrode,Ag/AgCl(saturated KCl solution) electrode was used as reference electrode and supporting electrode was platinum electrode.RESULTS:Under the optimized experimental conditions,the reduction peak current varying linearly with the concentration of cefradine ranged from 5.0×10-6 to 1.0×10-4 mol·L-1(r=0.997 3) with a detection limit of 1.7×10-6 mol·L-1.The average recovery was 99.8%(RSD=1.02%,n=9).CONCLUSION:The method is simple,rapid and sensitive and can be used for the content determination of cefradine in various dosage forms.


In last two decades lot of work is introduced on ECG classification. Authors took different database, features of ECG, class of data, learning and training algorithms to classify ECG signal. Normally class of data mentioned in source of database. Mainly three classification techniques which are discussed in this paper, these are support vectored machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN) and linear discriminate (LD). In this paper all the ECG classification based papers are analyzed and try to find out loophole and future challenges. This paper also discusses the different database of ECG signal


Cyclooctyne underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with pyridinium bis(methoxy-carbonyl)methylides to afford the corresponding indolizines (8-methoxycarbonyl-7-azatricyclo[7.6.0.02-7]pentadeca-1,3,5,8-tetraenes) in good to moderate yields. Some molecular orbital considerations are also described on this reaction compared with the results on the reaction of pyridinium dicyanomethylides with cyclooctyne.


ORIGINALEnsuring the health and well-being of children and preventing them from coming to harm is a priority shared by most governments and many charities around the world and is enshrined in legislation and guidance (Children Act 1989,Unicef 1989,Children Act 2004,DfE 2015). In the UK, local author


Bolboschoenus maritimus is one of the major weed constraints for irrigated rice-cropping systems in the Camargue, France. This perennial plant propagates mainly through the production of numerous tubers. Observations in both controlled conditions and on-field studies were used to enhance the level of knowledge of the biology, functioning and infestation dynamics of B. maritimus, with a view to rationalize weed control practices. It was found that B. maritimus displayed a great potential to produce a large number of shoots, rhizomes and tubers. Its propagation in the field plots depended on the initial weed density and its spatial colonization did not show any preferred direction (isotropic). Further observations that were made in the paddy fields showed an interaction between the different cultural practices that were tested and the infestation dynamics of B. maritimus. Efficient control of B. maritimus infestation in the field should make use of the data reported here, based on three levels: (i) prevention of weed stem proliferation during the cropping season with specific herbicides; (ii) elimination of the tubers after the rice crop; and (iii) reduction of the tuber-germinating ability. (Resume d'auteur)


An overview of the CONQUEST linear scaling density functional theory (DFT) code is given, focusing particularly on the scaling behaviour on modern high-performance computing platforms. We demonstrate that essentially perfect linear scaling and weak parallel scaling (with fixed number of atoms per processor core) can be achieved, and that DFT calculations on millions of atoms are now possible.


Even though brand placement, also referred as product place- ment, as a marketing tool of communication has been used since 1890 (Newell, Salmon and Chang; 2006), many agrees that its popular- ity as a marketing tool surface with the success of Reese's Pieces in Spiel- berg's globally box office movie E.T. (Extra Terrestrial) in 1982, or some will even say since the usage of the Coca Cola bottle in the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy in 1981. Regard- less of when is exactly the starting point of the realization of the power of brand placement, it is currently ac- knowledged that its usage has only in- creased (Bressoud, Lehu and Russell, 2008; Gupta and Gould 2007; and Do- naton, 2004). The Transformers movie series, the James Bond movie series, and other box office movies in the last decade always use some kind of brand placement in their movies. Brand placement can also be found in almost every movie genre.In addition to brand placement in mov- ies, this marketing tool usage has been expanded to many other entertain- ment forms, such as television movie series (Sex in the City, House), real- ity shows (American Idol, The Voice) and video games (FIFA International Soccer, Second Life). It seems that the collaboration between entertainers and marketers are increasing, but on the other hand it can be seen as a normal extension of marketing activities in line with the increase importance of entertainment in our society. Espe- cially for video games, the improve technology development, has made video games the latest frontier for us- ing brand placement; both in term of online video games and offline video games.However, in the mid of this increase of brand placement popularity among marketers and movie producers/direc- tors, critics toward the practice as be- ing unethical because of its deceptive characteristics arise (Balasubramani- an, 1994, DeLorme & Reid, 1999, Ti- wsakul, Hackley and Szmigin, 2005; Russell and Belch, 2005). They build their argument on the rationale that the blur between entertainment and promotion makes the viewer unable to differentiate the commercial message in the brand placement, resulting in a deceptive character of this marketing tool. The counter argument over this from the marketer's side is usually that consumers are knowledgeable, able to separate the entertainment and the pro- motion, and able to make rational de- cision regarding their purchases.At the practical level, according to Asvhalom and Levi-Faur (2010) these critics are effective in two sensitive areas, namely brand placement in movies/television shows watched by children and brand placement of con- tentious products (tobacco, alcoholic beverages, etc.)Hackley, Tiwsakul and Preus (2008) evaluate further the prac- tice of brand placement, discussing its pros and cons from the traditional marketing ethics framework (Utilitari- anism, Deontology and Virtue ethics). Even though they conclude the need of for a more pragmatic approach in achieving a win-win condition for ana- lyzing the ethics of brand placement; the ethical debate cannot be fully con- cluded.Interestingly, we found a very different phenomenon in Indonesia regarding brand placement that from the ethical perspective can be categorized as mis- leading, namely the placement of cer- tain brands in movies settings where the brand actually did not exist at the time. We identified at least two movies that show this phenomenon after go- ing through a list of national movies produced in 2010- mid of 2013 period. First was the movie Dibawah Lindun- gan Ka'bah that was produced from a popular novel in the 1940s but that has its story setting during the Dutch colonial era of 1920 to 1930s, here two brand placements were found for brands that have not existed yet. Sec- ond was the movie Habibie dan Ainun that also comes from an autobiography book of an important figure in the In- donesian history. This film that goes through the life time of this prominent figure shows a number of brands that were placed in the movie's setting; however again here see it can be found the two brands were placed in periods where the brands have not actually ex- isted yet. …


Rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr, is one of the major diseases of the crop. Host specificity as well as genetic instability of rice blast fungus is the major cause for the breakdown of resistance in many varieties over a period of time. Here we report the introgression of broad-spectrum blast resistance gene(s) from Oryza rufipogon into a cultivated rice variety. An accession (Coll-4) of O. rufipogon, highly resistant to blast, was crossed with a susceptible line B 32-Sel-4 and the F 1 was top-crossed with another susceptible line B 29-6. The F 2 population of the three-way cross was screened for blast and salinity tolerance. Twenty selected plants, each with blast resistance and salinity tolerance, were intermated. The process of intermating was repeated in the F 2 progenies derived from the first intermated populations. After two cycles of intermating, pedigree selections in the resulting segregating generations were followed under saline conditions. The 42 introgression lines (F 5 generation) were screened for blast reaction under artificial inoculation. Eight lines were observed to be immune, 20 resistant and six lines moderately resistant to an isolate of blast isolated in Andamans. The remaining eight lines, the two indica rice parents and check C039 were susceptible. Two promising lines with higher yield potential were evaluated in multilocation trials (AICRIP) during 1999, 2000 and 2001 at 17 hotspot locations for blast infection. The culture B 90-15 (IET 15420) showed resistance reaction against 14 isolates and moderate resistance against another two isolates of blast indicating the introgression of a broad spectrum of resistance to blast from O. rufipogon.


Abstract Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Background Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogenic yeast. The increasing frequency of C. auris outbreaks is prompting alarm worldwide. This yeast survives and spreads on contaminated medical supplies, resulting in hospital outbreaks. To learn more about the yeast's spreading behaviors and transmission, we studied its persistence and survival on a variety of medical-related surfaces under diverse environmental conditions. Methods A total of 104 CFU/mL solutions of four Candida species, including C. auris, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. glabrata, were inoculated onto different 2 × 2 cm sheets of cotton textile, polystyrene, paper, aluminum, glass, latex, and dried Sabouraud dextrose agar. Inoculated sheets were incubated at various temperatures and subjected to light and darkness at 1, 2, 7, 14, 30, 45, 60, and 120-day intervals. After culture of the sheets on Sabouraud dextrose agar plates, the viable CFUs of yeasts were counted. Results All four species remained alive on all surfaces for at least 1 week under ambient and refrigerator temperatures, darkness, and light exposure. However, only latex and polystyrene surfaces maintained viable C. auris and C.parapsilosis for a maximum of 30 days at ambient temperature and darkness. C. auris survived on dried Sabouraud dextrose agar sheets for ˃4 months. Conclusions Candida auris and other pathogenic yeasts can survive on a variety of medical surfaces for extended periods of time. Latex and polystyrene devices are the best medical matrices for yeast persistence. If C. auris has access to organic and nutritional components, its survival could be greatly increased. To prevent C. auris transmission, appropriate disinfection and decontamination methods should be considered.


Stress has been viewed as an inevitable consequence of work life. A worker will fell stress when his or her does not match their job requirements. Work stress come from a variety of sources and it can affect people in different ways. In the report The Scale of Occupational Stress (Smith et al., 2000 in Jeremy, 2005) it was estimated that there were 5 million workers suffering the high level of stress at work. The study shows the important outcomes that approximately one in five workers reported stress arising from work. There were cause by excessive workloads or lack of managerial support, ill health and back pain, together with certain health related activities such as smoking and alcohol intake.


This paper describes a three-pass segmentation algorithm followed by a foreground/background extraction rule. Being imperfect, the basic objective of the proposed segmentation is to enable the extraction of objects that may be of main interest to the user, and the background. The formed segments are assigned points, according to the location of their center of mass and bounding box coordinates, and spatial dispersion. Each segment is labelled as foreground or background in compliance with the grade point they get


In convective clouds, satellite‐observed deepening or increased amount of clouds with increasing aerosol concentration has been reported and is sometimes interpreted as aerosol‐induced invigoration of the clouds. However, such correlations can be affected by meteorological factors that affect both aerosol and clouds, as well as observational issues. In this study, we examine the behavior in a 660 × 660 km2 region of the South Pacific during June 2007, previously found by Koren et al. (2014) to show strong correlation between cloud fraction, cloud top pressure, and aerosols, using a cloud‐resolving model with meteorological boundary conditions specified from a reanalysis. The model assumes constant aerosol loading, yet reproduces vigorous clouds at times of high real‐world aerosol concentrations. Days with high‐ and low‐aerosol loading exhibit deep‐convective and shallow clouds, respectively, in both observations and the simulation. Synoptic analysis shows that vigorous clouds occur at times of strong surface troughs, which are associated with high winds and advection of boundary layer air from the Southern Ocean where sea‐salt aerosol is abundant, thus accounting for the high correlation. Our model results show that aerosol‐cloud relationships can be explained by coexisting but independent wind‐aerosol and wind‐cloud relationships and that no cloud condensation nuclei effect is required.


Plastic diaphragm valve for use with corrosive or corrosive fluids, comprising: a) a valve housing made of plastic, the (an axis, a first flow passage (12, 144), a second flow channel (13) and a third flow channel (14), and an open interior chamber (34) in the housing in fluid communication with the first flow channel 12, 144) has, and a first valve seat (36) in the housing in the open interior chamber (34) between the first flow channel (12, 144) and the second flow channel (13), a second valve seat (38) in the housing in the open inner chamber (34) between the first flow channel (12, 144) and the third flow channel (14); b) a valve stem assembly (40) of plastic, which is axially movably mounted (in the open interior chamber 34), the valve stem assembly (40) comprising: i) a first valve member (42) having a first membrane (46) which is sealingly connected to the housing, said first valve member (42) is positioned and configured such that it is in and ...


The title ferecrystals (fere: Latin, almost) with 1 ≤ n,m ≤ 6 and n and m varied independently are prepared by physical vapor deposition of the elements followed by annealing at 400 °C for 30 min.


The aim of this study was to determine the relation between perinatal outcomes and umbilical cord coiling as evaluated by a modified umbilical coiling index.


A new surface potential form is proposed to describe the action of the rubbed substrate to the liquid crystal molecules. By means of the molecular field theory, thin liquid crystal films confined by two rubbed substrates which lead to a homogeneous planar alignment of the liquid crystal molecules are studied. Adopting the Lebwohl-Lasher model,the molecular centers of mass are located at the sites of a simple cubic lattice. Numerical calculations are made for a liquid crystal film composed of 20 molecular layers. Three states with the different preferred directions of the molecular orientations exist and the one oriented along the rubbed direction has the lowest free energy. In addition, the symmetry of the biaxiality induced by the surface action is considered. [


The article analyses the problem of institutional changes at the university as an academic system in a pandemic. The academic values of the modern university professional community include the social responsibility of the university. In the new conditions, this value dimension of the role of the university in the life of society determines the main directions of research on transformations of the university as the most important social institution. The factors of institutional sustainability of university education are determined. The author examines the role of the university in overcoming global and local risks.


This research studies the effect of physical activity on a STEM student's sleep quality through a comparison between STEM student athletes and non-athletes. A total population of sixty-three participants was surveyed and randomly sampled from the Grade 12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Strand of a private school for boys in the Philippines. The researchers gathered data using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Buysse et al., 1989) that assesses the sleep quality of an individual through several components that produce a score ranging from 0–21 with a score of five and below indicating good sleep quality. Athletes obtained a mean score of 7.42 while non-athletes showed a mean score of 7.91. Based on the limited data gathered, it was concluded that both STEM student athletes and non-athletes do not receive good sleep quality despite the physical activity engaged by athletes. Furthermore, using the statistical test: Z Test for two sample means, the researchers concluded that there was no significant difference in the sleep quality of student athletes and non-athletes. The study tends to suggest that changes to students' lifestyles need to be considered to obtain a satisfactory performance in school work. The researchers recommend that other factors affecting a person's sleep quality be considered.


This paper considers two alternative procedures for multi-issue bargaining, so-called sectoral approach (issue-by-issue bargaining) and single-undertaking (single package bargaining), and compares the outcomes under the alternative procedures. It is asserted that if early agreement in an issue is particularly important to a bargaining party so that it makes his overall delay costs too high, he may strictly prefer to bargain the issue separately rather than bargain both issues at once.


The known level scheme of {sup 144}Dy has been extended and lifetime measurements have been made with the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method. Reduced transition probabilities and deformations have been determined for four low-lying transitions. These states form part of the first observed band crossing, giving information on the change in nuclear deformation resulting from the rearrangement of h{sub 11/2} protons in the nucleus. Two bands built upon excited 10{sup +} states have been assigned pi(h{sub 11/2}){sup 2} prolate and nu(h{sub 11/2}){sup -2} oblate configurations with tau=12(2)ps and 0.01<tau < or approx. 16ns, respectively. These long lifetimes are reasoned to be a result of shape coexistence at low energy and moderate spin. A known four-quasiparticle dipole band has been extended to higher spin and lifetime measurements suggest a long-lived bandhead state. In this case, the excited states in the band may be consistent with a shears model interpretation of a magnetic dipole rotor. However, the measured B(M1)/B(E2) branching ratios reveal a larger than expected deformed rotational component compared with that in the analogous band in the lower mass isotone {sup 142}Gd.


d Abstract The accuracy of mediastinal staging is of paramount importance in the management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to select only those patients who might benefit from upfront resection or multimodality treatment. Although CT is the imaging technique of first choice, its performance characteristics have led to an increased use of both EUS-FNA and FDG-PET to improve (mediastinal) 18 staging. In view of the relatively few studies employing both techniques simultaneously, we evaluated 20 consecutive patients (median age 70 years, range 48-83 years) with NSCLC in whom CT suggested N2 andyor N3 involvement. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of EUS-FNA and FDG-PET was 86%, 100%, 100%, 90%, and 100%, 89%, 88% and 100%, respectively. EUS-FNA confirmed the absence of malignancy 18


Police services have frequent contact with people living with mental disorders, substance misuse, or homelessness. This paper describes a specialized service within a police service in Ontario, Canada, aimed to support the needs of these vulnerable individuals. Implications for police services considering implementing a similar program are discussed.