(57) Abstract: OBJECTIVE than conventional can improve the dimensional and shape accuracy of the pulp mold, and pulp mold release from processing and installation work and web of molded pulp mold of the netting is easy providing molding apparatus. [Configuration] In a pulp molding apparatus 10, providing a mesh member 26 to deform into a shape along the shaping surface 20 by the suction at the suction of the pulp slip on the molding surface 20 of the pulp molding die 12.


Systemic mycoses (fungal granulomas) were diagnosed in commercial broiler chickens of 4 week age. Clinically, birds showed respiratory distress with 7% mortality over a period of two weeks (2 to 4 week) with stunted growth. The gross lesions included nodules of varied sizes in lung, air sac and peritoneum in most cases, and liver, heart and diffuse enlargement of kidneys in few cases. Histopathological examination of these (lung, liver, kidney, etc.) organs revealed classical granuloma with central caseous necrosis, mononuclear cell infiltration, epithelioid cells, giant cells and fibrosis. Section of lungs, kidneys and liver stained with Periodic Acid Schiff stain revealed pink coloured fungal hyphae. The flock was successfully treated with copper sulphate.


Briquet is a civil modeling solid fuel. It has 16 vertical holes and can be combined horizontally and vertically for getting better combusion. Using combined-briquet in small boilers can decrease the amount of smoke and dust and save energy. This paper describes the combustion characteristic of the comblned-briquet from its structure, combustion process to strength and combination form to match the briquet with boilers better.


This study aims to determine the level of water fertility in the UIR Agro-tourism pond in the District of Siak Hulu, Kampar Regency, Riau Province based on the concentration of chlorophyll-a phytoplankton. The study was carried out for 6 months in the Agro-tourism pond in Riau Islamic University. Analysis of water fertility in situ and ex-situ. The parameters measured were chlorophyll-a phytoplankton concentration and water quality. The method used is a case study (survey). The treatment in this study was 3 replications in one week on the clock and the same pool sequence. The results showed that the pond fertility rate of UIR Agro-tourism was quite productive, namely chlorophyll-a concentration of 1-20 µg / l with an abundance of phytoplankton of 104 cells / l.


In this article, arguments forwarded by sociobiologists to account for key features of human individual and social development are examined, and the logical and empirical bases of the evidence marshal


During recent years our group has employed the technique of electron microprobe analysis to determine the electrolyte concentrations in various epithelial tissues. The specimen preparation is characterized by shock‐freezing of small tissue pieces in liquid propane/isopentane mixtures at 77 K, cryosectioning of 1 μm thick serial sections at 170 K and subsequent freeze‐drying at 190 K and 10−4 Pa. The analysis of the frozen dried cryosections is performed in a scanning electron microscope which is equipped with an energy dispersive X‐ray detector. The measuring conditions selected are 17–20 kV acceleration voltage and 0·1–0·5 nA probe current. For quantification, the cellular X‐ray spectra are compared with those of an internal albumin standard layer. The evaluation of the characteristic X‐ray intensities is performed using a computer program. Some critical points of this technique will be discussed.


The complex investigation of the perinatal pathology at acute and c/1,1-onic psyclioemotliional stress dunng gestation has been perf 01 wed. Jt was sliown (by tlie metliod of the retrospective analyses) the inaease in the relat-ive 1-isf of tlie premature delivery (1,4-8,0), severe and mild gestosis (3,0-10,0), placental pathology (2,2-3,3 ), anomalies of delivery (2,0-7,0 ), obstetlical Blending (2,0- 2,8 ), late delivery (2,0-7,0) dunng the acute stress. The relationship between tlie pelinatal patology and gestation term was shown dunng the acute stress. Dm'ing- i-lie clironic stress tlie frequency and seventy of pennatal patliology is dependent upon the type of psyclioemotional reaction on the st-ress. The seventy of patliofog-y is more prominent at decompensated type of psychological reaction t-lian at subcompensated type. Tlie newbom infants of motlias witli psyclioemotional stress recuired long rehabilitation in 39,2-50,0% cases.


: Concentration is the key to maximal performance because the athlete must focus on every task that needs to be done. The concentration will be good if it is trained continuously through the right training method; one of them is brain jogging. This study aims to determine the effect of brain jogging exercises on the athletes' concentration of team sports and individuals. This research used experimental method with pretest-posttest design. The population was UKM UPI athletes. The sample of this study were athletes who actively practiced and competed on team and individual sports, which were taken with non-probability sampling technique. The samples were divided into two groups: experiment and control, experimental group were treated with brain jogging exercise 11 times twice a week. The control group was given brain jogging treatment. The instrument to measure concentration is Concentration Grid Test (CGT). The data analysis technique used t test. The result revealed that brain jogging exercises have a significant effect on the concentration of team and individual sports athletes, and there are significant differences in the effects of brain jogging and exercise exercises without brain jogging of athletes' and team's individual athletic concentrations. Brain jogging give significant effect on the athletes' concentration.


Abstract: Abilities Of Oil Palm In Reducing Dusk Fall In (Trasnportation) Track Coal. In generally air environment changes because air pollution, activity in coal transportation give an air pollution impact is the dusk along coal transportation track. One of the ways to handling the dusk with planting barrier who can reducing the dusk particles. This research aimed to know palm oil abilities in reducing levels of submerged dusk. Method in this research is analytic observation, with cross sectional survey design. Population and sample of this research is measured dust level measured at 5 research location that is 1 m, 50 m, 100 m, 150 m, and 200 m. Width distance barrier in every location be measured 2 point of sample is without barrier and with barrier which to do in 5 replications. For data analysis, researchers used T-test independent, simple regression test and same subject anova test. The result of this research showed that the difference between levels of submerged dusk without barrier and with barrier. There is an effect distance to levels of the submerged dusk in length 1 m 173,66 ton/km2/month showed that reduction in length 200 m 17,06 ton/km2/month. Palm oil proved that reducing levels of submerged dusk in length 100 m levels of submerged dusk under environment standard.


Wavelets have been applied successfully in signal and image processing. Many attempts have been made in mathematics to use orthogonal wavelet function as numerical computational tool. In this work, an orthogonal wavelet function namely Haar wavelet function is considered. We present a numerical method for inversion of Laplace transform using the method of Haar wavelet operational matrix for integration. We proved the method for the cases of the irrational transfer function using the extension of Riemenn-Liouville fractional integral. The proposed method extends the work of J.L.Wu et al. (2001) to cover the whole of time domain. Moreover, this work gives an alternative way to find the solution for inversion of Laplace transform in a faster way. The use of numerical Haar operational matrix method is much simpler than the conventional contour integration method and it can be easily coded. Additionally, few benefits come from its great features such as faster computation and attractiveness. Numerical results demonstrate good performance of the method in term of accuracy and competitiveness compare to analytical solution. Examples on solving differential equation by Laplace transform method are also given.


Sparse matrix-vector multiplication (shortly SpM×V) is an important building block in algorithms solving sparse systems of linear equations, e.g., FEM. Due to matrix sparsity, the memory access patterns are irregular and utilization of the cache can suffer from low spatial or temporal locality. Approaches to improve the performance of SpM×V are based on matrix reordering and register blocking [1, 2], sometimes combined with software-pipelining [3]. Due to its overhead, register blocking achieves good speedups only for a large number of executions of SpM×V with the same matrix A.We have investigated the impact of two simple SW transformation techniques (software-pipelining and loop unrolling) on the performance of SpM×V, and have compared it with several implementation modifications aimed at reducing computational and memory complexity and improving the spatial locality. We investigate performance gains of these modifications on four CPU platforms.


The invention provides a propeller quick-release mechanism. The propeller quick-release mechanism comprises a motor and a propeller which are mounted at the tail end of an aerofoil, wherein the lower part of the propeller is movably connected with a propeller mounting base; arc-shaped clamping grooves with opposite openings are formed in the propeller mounting base; the rotating end of the motor is movably connected with a cuboid-shaped motor mounting base; a retractably connected pressing shaft is arranged on each of the two sides of the motor mounting base; a pin shaft is fixed in the horizontal direction perpendicular to each pressing shaft; a groove adapting to the pressing shafts is formed in the arc-shaped part of each clamping groove; the arc-shaped parts and the pin shafts are in movable limited connection with each other. Through retraction of the pressing shafts, the propeller can be mounted and dismounted, the limit structure is reasonable, the flight demand is met, quick replacement and collection of vulnerable parts are realized conveniently and quickly, and particularly, when the propeller quick-release mechanism is used for mass production and use, low efficiency caused by the reason that professionals and professional tools are not in place is avoided.


The γγ → π π reactions are discussed. To describe those processes, we include dipion continuum, resonances, high-energy pion-pion rescatterings, ρ meson exchange and pQCD Brodsky-Lepage mechanisms. The cross section for the production of pion pairs in photon-photon collisions in peripheral heavy ion collisions is calculated with the help of Equivalent Photon Approximaption (EPA) in the impact parameter space. We show predictions at √s NN TeV which could be measured e.g. by the ALICE collaboration at the LHC.


AUTHOR Redfield, Doris L.; Craig, James R. TITLE Identifying and Documenting Student Outcomes for Use in the Evaluation of Teachers When Standardized Achievement Tests Do Not Apply. PUB DATE 87 NOTE 43p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association (Mobile, AL, November 10-13, 1987). PUB TYPE Reports Evaluative/Feasibility (142) -Speeches /Conference Papers (150)


The robustness of autonomous inference-only devices deployed in the real world is limited by data distribution changes induced by different users, environments, and task requirements. This challenge calls for the development of edge devices with an always-on adaptation to their target ecosystems. However, the memory requirements of conventional neural-network training algorithms scale with the temporal depth of the data being processed, which is not compatible with the constrained power and area budgets at the edge. For this reason, previous works demonstrating end-to-end on-chip learning without external memory were restricted to the processing of static data such as images [1]–[4], or to instantaneous decisions involving no memory of the past, e.g. obstacle avoidance in mobile robots [5]. The ability to learn short-to-long-term temporal dependencies on-chip is a missing enabler for robust autonomous edge devices in applications such as gesture recognition, speech processing, and cognitive robotics.


A control apparatus and method for performing an electronic level instrument for musical instruments, comprising a selection section for selecting a music teacher mode, the display portion for displaying a musical score and keys, a microcomputer for controlling the entire system, and an output section for outputting audible sound, thereby displaying a musical score corresponding to the note indicator button, so the user can efficiently correct an electronic musical instrument practice.


The paper traces the historical background of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and explores its application status in India and Tanzania. It employs content analysis and library research methodology to this end. The study reveals that whilst Tanzania made a wholesale adoption of IFRS, India opted for a convergence path. For India it implies customization of international reporting frameworks to national social and economic realities. The study further unveils the timing difference for adoption and subsequent application of the global high quality standards, the IFRS, between the two jurisdictions, Tanzania being at the lead. The result further documents the verity that IFRS is gaining global acceptance, and that over 130 jurisdictions currently require or allow its application. The inference of results is that big and powerful countries are hesitant to relinquish their standard setting power and would therefore opt for IFRS implementation mode that supports the use of that power. K e y words : IFRS, IFRS adoption, IFRS convergence, IASB, financial reporting regulation


Neural sequence-to-sequence models have proven very effective for machine translation, but at the expense of model interpretability. To shed more light into the role played by linguistic structure in the process of neural machine translation, we perform a fine-grained analysis of how various source-side morphological features are captured at different levels of the NMT encoder while varying the target language. Differently from previous work, we find no correlation between the accuracy of source morphology encoding and translation quality. We do find that morphological features are only captured in context and only to the extent that they are directly transferable to the target words.


The paper presents the improvement and enhancement to the existing video based traffic detecting system. The works are concentrated on the acquiring and update of background image, a new solution to segmentation of vehicles from the background and adding peripheral interfaces. The simulation and experimental results are effective.


Triterpene cyclases constitute a family of enzymes that catalyze diverse and complex carbocationic cyclization/rearrangement reactions of squalene and (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene (OS) to generate a distinct array of sterols and triterpenes. A major determinant for the triterpenoid diversity is believed to be the precise control of conformation between substrate and enzyme, as well as the position of the carbocation intermediate formation. For example, both oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase (ERG7, EC 184.108.40.206) and oxidosqualene-cycloartenol synthase (CAS, EC 126.96.36.199) bind oxidosqualene in a chair–boat– chair conformation, initiate and propagate cyclization to form a protosteryl cation, and then promote 1,2-shifts of hydride and methyl groups to the lanosteryl C8 cation. The lanosterol formation is accomplished through the final deprotonation, abstracting a proton originally at C9 or after a hydride shift from C9 to C8. Cycloartenol is formed after a hydride shift from C9 to C8, followed by 9b,19-cyclopropane ring closure. Elegant molecular-genetic and bioorganic investigations have recently identified several amino acid residues that are critical in probing putative active sites and determining prod-


Abstract A new early Danian gastropod assemblage contained in the Roca Formation of Rio Negro Province was analyzed. Eleven species are described and illustrated, the new genus Rocalaria is created, and six new species are recognized: Gyroscala daniana, Heteroterma carmeloi, Microfulgur concheyroae, Sulcobuccinum prominentum, Cidarina lenzaniyeuensis, and Rocalaria alani. The present research includes the first mention of Sulcobuccinum d'Orbigny, 1850, Priscoficus Conrad, 1866, Cavoscala Whitfield, 1892, Microfulgur Finlay and Marwick, 1937, and Cidarina Dall, 1909, for the Danian of Southern South America; the new record of Austrophaera Furque and Camacho, 1949, Fusinus Rafinesque, 1815 and Heteroterma Gabb, 1869 in northern Patagonia; and the oldest Paleogene record for the genus Gyroscala de Boury, 1887. The presence of the study assemblage in northern Patagonia indicates a more complex paleobiogeographic pattern for the area than previously thought, as shown by the record of endemic genera, cosmopolit...


ing moulding. The upper surface does not have any corner volutes or end barriers and it is deep enough to support a lyre and a chest. Although this monument recalls funerary stelai in some ways, two points indicate that it is a funerary altar. First, the monument is much broader and squatter than the funerary stelai depicted on white lekythoi"4 and those preserved in the archaeological record. The height of the monument is typical for most altars but not for most grave stelai seen on Attic vases. Second, the height of the monument, i.e. approximately mid-thigh on the mourners, suggests that the top surface is intended for use as a flat surface for offerings and/or sacrifices. When objects and/or vessels were dedicated at a grave stele they rested around its base or on its steps, as seen on the Berlin lekythos, not on top of it. On a number of Attic vases, such as the Berlin lekythos, altars appear that only have a plain fascia or cavetto(?) as the crowning moulding. Altars in this category include one on a pelike by the Pig Painter in Toronto,43 and one on a bell krater in New York by the Nikias Painter.44 Other altars have a more complex series of crowning mouldings that are also decorated. A stamnos(?) from the Athenian Agora recalling the work of the Dinos Painter45 illustrates an altar with an ovolo above a low fascia(?). The ovolo is decorated in the same manner as the moulding on the altar on the Berlin lekythos. An altar on side A of a bell krater in London by the Nikias Painter,46 has a plain cavetto over a decorated ovolo while on a fragment from another bell krater(?) by the Talos Painter in Athens47 there is an altar on which both of these mouldings carry decoration. The inscribed altar of Zeus Phratrios and Athena Phratria from Athens, ca. 350/275 B.C., is not unlike the monument on the Berlin lekythos in proportion and the lack of volutes or end barriers.48 If one accepts the evidence presented in support of our interpretation, the four monuments illustrated on the white lekythoi described above are altars set in a funerary context. However, the use of an altar or of altar-like cubical monuments to mark the graves of those recently dead was infrequent and not widespread before the Hellenistic period. Some tableshaped blocks (trapezai) and blocks with shallow cavities hollowed out on their upper surfaces and dating from the sixth through the fourth centuries have been found in funerary contexts,49 but by the early Hellenistic period they occurred with greater regularity in northern Greece, the Aegean islands, the west coast of Anatolia, and quite frequently on Rhodes and in Alexandria.50 Their form and size are easily recognized as that of a rectangular monolithic block altar with pediment-shaped end barriers5' or a cylindrical monolithic block altar.52 In at least one instance, at Alexandria, the tomb itself was constructed in the form of a huge built altar with corner volutes.53 These monuments were clearly intended to heroize the recently deceased persons buried beneath them or were used explicitly for cults of the dead or hero cults.54 They are sometimes seen in this context in representations of a "Totenmahl" in votive reliefs.55 From this perspective, it is difficult to deduce the intended function of the four altars illustrated on the white lekythoi under consideration. Their employment in a funerary hero-cult for certain recent casualties in mid-fifth century B.C. Athens does not seem probable." That each was an "altar of a funerary shrine of the deceased 'heroes' of a family or phratry,""7 is a more plausible explanation, as is their use in simple funerary and commemorative rituals at the grave for ordinary individuals. No matter what specific religious and/or funerary function they might have had, these monuments should not be viewed as composite or fantastical structures but as altars. DAVID RuPP


The objective of this study was to examine the effects of concentrates containing different levels of a vitamin-trace elements premix on milk yield and composition of dairy cows. The trial, which lasted 14 weeks, was conducted from January to March and used 45 multiparous Brown cows in the early phase of lactation. Cows (n = 15 per treatment) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments: the first group (control, C-0) was fed pelleted concentrate containing background vitamins and trace elements that supplied 1.0 times cows' daily requirements; the second group were fed the same concentrate, but containing 2.5 g/kg of vitamin and trace mineral premix per kg of concentrate (C-2.5); the third group were fed the same concentrate, but containing 5 g/kg of vitamin and trace mineral premix per kg of concentrate (C-5). The daily ration included ad libitum chopped oat hay, and the cows also had 8 h/d grazing on a ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) pasture. During the performance trial, cow milk yield was daily recorded and individual milk samples were analysed for milk composition and to determine milk renneting properties. Cows fed the intermediate premix level (C-2.5) in diet showed the highest fat-corrected milk production (p<0.05) compared to other groups. None of the milk quality parameters studied were influenced by dietary treatment, except for milk rheological parameters (rennet clotting time and curd firmness) that were positively improved in cows fed the C-2.5 diet (p<0.05). The findings from this study show that intermediate level of vitamin-trace elements premix in concentrate can be advantageously used in grazing dairy cows without negative effects on yield and quality of milk


In the security market, return-loss distribution exist the severe phenomenon of excess kurtosis and heavy tail; meanwhile,method of Value at Risk itself cannot correspond with subadditivity, all of which make local optimal not be the whole optimal when selecting the optimal portfolio. For these problems, proceed from the theory of coherent risk measurement, we put forward a new technique of risk measure—Cohesive Value at Risk—to measure credit risk of portfolio, on which we build portfolio optimization model of Cohesive Value at Risk and select the optimal portfolio with linear programming. Lastly, by emperical studies, we find the fact that final result by selecting the optimal portfolio based on optimal model of Cohesive Value at Risk is better than that of on optimal model of Value at Risk.


Summary

The penetration of two model seed oil compounds, [14C]triolein (TRI) and [14C]methyl oleate (MEO) through plant cuticles and their effects on the penetration of [14C]quizalofop-ethyl and [14C]fenoxaprop-ethyl were investigated. Experiments were carried out using isolated cuticles from rubber plant (Ficus elastica Roxb.) leaves and from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill,) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits. Chemicals were deposited in droplets on to cuticle discs maintained on agar blocks under controlled conditions. TRI and MEO were used at 1% (V/V). The transfer of radiolabel through cuticles was negligible for TRI and varied from 6 to 13% after 72 h, according to species, for MEO, The penetration results obtained for quizalofop-ethyl (0.084 mg mL-1) and fenoxaprop-ethyl (0.189 mg mL-1) were very similar and varied according to species. The greatest diffusion intoagar was observed for pepper (12.8% and 10.7% after 72 h, for quizalofop-ethyl and fenoxaprop-ethyl respectively), the lowest for rubber plant cuticles (1.4 and 1.3% respectively). Addition of MEO produced significant increases in the penetration of quizalofop-ethyl and fenoxaprop-ethyl through rubber plant and tomato cuticles. TRI had an enhancing effect on the two herbicides only with rubber plant cuticles. Results are discussed with particular consideration of the variations between plant species and the possible mode of action of seed oil adjuvants.

Resume

Les resultats presentes concernent la penetration de deux modeles d'huiles vegetales, la [14C]trioleine (TRI) et le [14]methyl oleate (MEO) a travers des cuticules vegetales isolees, ainsi que leurs effets sur la penetration du [14C]quizalofop-ethyl et du [14C]fenoxaprop-ethyl. L'experimentation a ete effectuee sur cuticules isolees de feuilles de ficus et de fruits de tomate et de poivron. Les produits testes ont ete deposes sous forme de gouttelettes sur des disques de cuticules places sur des blocs d'agar, en conditions controlees. Le taux de transfert des deux huiles (1% V/V) a travers les cuticules est tres different. II est negligeable pour le TRI et varie de 6 a 13% apres 72 h, selon l'espece, pour le MEO. Les resultats concernant la penetration du quizalofop-elhyl (0, 084 mg mL-1) et du fenoxaprop-ethyl (0, 189 mg mL-1) sont tres comparables et dependent fortement de l'espece vegetale. La diffusion a travers les cuticules est la pfus elevee pour les cuticules de poivron (respectivement 12, 8 et 10, 7% pour te quizalofop-ethyl et le fenoxaprop-ethyl, apres 72 h) et la plus faible pour les cuticules de ficus (respectivement 1, 4 et 1, 3%). Les effets des huiles sur le transfert des deux herbicides dependent du choix de l'huile et de l'espece vegetale. Le MEO augmente significativement la penetration du quizalofop-ethyl et du fenoxaprop-ethyl a travers les cuticules de ficus


Microwave photonic interrogation of a high-speed and high-resolution multipoint refractive index (RI) sensor based on an Au-coated tilted fiber grating (Au-TFBG) array is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR), the optical spectrum of an Au-TFBG has a dip in the spectral envelope. When an Au-TFBG is immersed in a solution and the RI of the solution changes, the location of the dip will shift, reflecting the change of the RI. For multipoint sensing, an Au-TFBG array with the array elements located at different locations is employed. However, due to the overlap of the spectra of the Au-TFBGs in the array, the dips cannot be precisely located by optical spectrum measurement. A solution is to convert the spectra to the time domain based on spectral shaping and wavelength-to-time (SS-WTT) mapping with the mapped temporal waveforms separated by different time delays. By using a digital signal processor (DSP), the sensing information can be extracted at a high speed and high resolution. The proposed approach is evaluated experimentally. Experimental results show that the sensor has high RI accuracies of 3.1×10−5, 2.5×10−5 and 2.6×10−5 refractive index unit (RIU) and a fast sensing speed of 11.75 kHz.


When estimating a parameter of a problem by the Monte Carlo method, one can usually improve the statistical efficiency of the estimation procedure by using prior information about the problem. Techniques for achieving this improvement are called variance reduction methods and they differ considerably in the way they gain their advantages. For example, a user of the importance sampling technique draws data from a sampling distribution designed, on the basis of prior information, to reduce the variance of each observation while preserving its mean. The user of the stratified sampling technique draws observations from partitions of the sample space and then forms a linear combination of the resulting sample means as the estimator. By using prior information to determine the optimal relative number of observations per partition, one achieves a smaller variance for the estimator than the variance that crude Monte Carlo allows. The antithetic variate technique derives its benefit by inducing negative correlation between sample outcomes taken in pairs, when it is known a priori that certain monotone relationships hold.
By contrast, the control variate technique does not gain its advantage by modifying the sampling procedure. Instead, on each trial it collects ancillary sample data on phenomena whose true means are known and then uses a regression method to derive an estimator of the parameter of interest with reduced variance. Since the only additional work in using the technique is the collection of the additional data and, at the end of the sample, to derive the control variate estimator, the incremental cost is usually relatively small.
Originally, Fieller and Hartley (1954) proposed using the control variate technique in a Monte Carlo study designed to estimate the relative frequencies in an unknown population. More recently, Wilson (1984) has summarized the known theoretical results for the method, noting that for the finite sample size case control variate estimators are generally not unbiased and only in the case of normally distributed observations does an exact distribution theory exist for deriving confidence interval for the parameter of interest.
The present paper represents a contribution to the theory of control variates in both the finite sample size and asymptotic cases when estimating a proportion, or more generally a distribution function, and when information on stochastic orderings between the phenomenon of interest and ancillary phenomena with known population parameters is available to the experimenter prior to sampling. In particular, the paper derives an unbiased point estimator (Section 2) and 100(1 - α) percent confidence interval (Section 3), for the parameter, that hold for every sample size K.
Section 2 also uses this prior information to derive upper bounds on the variance and coefficient of variation of the estimator and a lower bound on the achievable variance reduction. This information is especially valuable before sampling begins. It tells the experimenter what the least possible benefit of the control variate technique is and it enables him to achieve, say, a specified variance or coefficient of variation.
The results for a single parameter extend easily to the multiparameter case. In particular, Section 4 describes how they apply to the estimation of a distribution function (d.f.). A variance reduction is achieved for all estimated ordinates of the d.f., a notable improvement over most earlier applications of Monte Carlo variance reducing methods that focused on estimating a single ordinate of the d.f.
The proposed technique offers yet an additional benefit. For a discrete d.f., Section 5 shows how one can use the variance reduced ordinates of the d.f. to derive an unbiased estimator of the population mean. It also gives the variance of this estimator to order 1/K. To illustrate this technique, Section 6 describes the estimation of the complementary distribution function of maximal flow in a flow network of 10 nodes and 25 arcs where the capacities of the arcs are subject to stochastic variation.


There is only one reasonably confident conclusion that can be drawn from the history of the successive waves of reform that have swept over the National Health Service in England in recent decades. This is that both the (few) proponents of Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley's package and the (many) opponents may well be disappointed in their predictions. Neither Lansley's vision of a transformed NHS, nor his critics' nightmare of a service stumbling towards collapse is likely to materialize. For evidence in support of this contention, there is no need to look further than the Journal of Health Services Research and Policy's latest supplement. This brings together the results of the research, commissioned by the Department of Health's Health Reform Evaluation Programme (HREP), that explored the impact of Labour's market reforms in the years from 2002 to 2010. The evidence, as summarized in the introduction to the collection shows that:


Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of fatty liver disease in the community residents of Ouhai District,Wenzhou.Methods A random cluster sampling method was applied to select two communities for the study.1 872 permanent residents aged over 18 years were chosen for a cross-sectional survey,questionnaire,physical examination,ultrasound and laboratory testing.Results The standardized prevalence rate of fatty liver was 11.96%(14.58% in men and 10.26% in women).Fatty liver disease prevalence increased with age.The values of BMI,waist circumference,SBP,DBP,FPG,TG,TC and LDL-C were significant higher in the fatty liver disease group than that in the normal group(P0.05).A logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that fatty liver disease was associated with waist measurement,body mass index,high TC hyperlipidemia,high TG hypertriglyceridemia,low HDL-C disease,diabetes mellitus,overweight,obesity and central obesity.Conclusion The fatty liver disease is prevalent in the community residents of Ouhai District.Obesity,hyperlipidemia and its related metabolic disorders were risk factors of fatty liver disease.


Objective: Discussion on the change of content of aorta NF-κBp65 mRNA, protein expression and activation of NF-κB in diabetic rats after the intervention of TCM compound Yitangkang. Methods: The 50 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (normal group, model group, and TCM compound treatment group). The model was made by intraperitoneally injected STZ, and TCM compound treatment group was administrated with Yitangkang orally for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the mRNA expression of nuclear factor NF-κBp65 in aorta was detected by PCR and Western. The activation of NF-κB in aorta was detected by immunise to chemistry staining. Results: TCM compound group inhibited the expression of NF-κBp65 and activation of NF-κB compared with model group in aorta (P0.05). Conclusion: TCM Yitangkang can intervent the expression of NF-κBp65 and activation of NF-κB compared with model group in aorta on diabetic rats, than to reduce the risk of diabetes merge trunk pathological change.


cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5* Ling Wu, Sandro L. Yong, Chun Fan, Ying Ni, Shin Yoo, Teng Zhang, Xianqin Zhang, Carlos Obejero Paz, Hyun-Jin Rho, Tie Ke, Przemyslaw Szafranski, Stephen Jones, Qiuyun Chen, and Q. Kenneth Wang From the Department of Molecular Cardiology, Lerner Research Institute, Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tausig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH; Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH; Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH; Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (P.S.);Department of Chemistry, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics and Center for Human Genome Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China. Both authors contributed equally to this work. Running head: MOG1 modulates function of Nav1.5 To whom correspondence may be addressed: Q. Kenneth Wang, Ph.D., Center for Cardiovascular Genetics/NE40, The Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA Tel.: +1-216-445-0570; Fax: +1-216-636-1231; E-mail address: email@example.com


High‐index nanostructures are found to exhibit large nonlinearity of spectral responses under photoexcitation, which is applicable to all‐optical modulation. The nonlinearity stems from Mie‐type resonance shift due to photoinduced variation of refractive index. Here, amorphous silicon‐based Huygens' metasurface absorber and ultrafast excitation are used to demonstrate two orders of magnitude enhancement of modulation depth, both theoretically and experimentally, when electric dipole lattice resonance matches the magnetic dipole resonance. Within a few square micrometer spatial confinement and picosecond scale delay, over 100% photothermal modulation depth is experimentally achieved at matched resonance condition. This concept is not limited to photothermal modulation in the amorphous silicon but is applicable to dielectric materials with various mechanisms to achieve modulation of refractive index. This work opens the avenue toward all‐optical information processing via optimized modulation by careful spatiotemporal and spectral control over a metasurface.


The multinational corporation (MNC) is faced by a multitude of environmental contexts, which pose different demands upon the corporation. Exposed to dissimilar or even contradictory pressures, the ...


The invention discloses an accelerometer signal processing circuit zero offset test method. According to the method, an NI-USB-6281 interface board is connected with a to-be-test accelerometer signal processing circuit on a test stand through an SPI interface, the NI-USB-6281 interface board and the SPI interface are controlled through LABVIEW test software on a PC, parameters of the to-be-test accelerometer signal processing circuit are set, removal, reading or write-in operation on an EEPROM of the to-be-test accelerometer signal processing circuit is carried out to make an output end of the to-be-test accelerometer signal processing circuit change, and a zero offset stability value is acquired through utilizing an acquired output voltage of the to-be-test accelerometer signal processing circuit and MATLAB software on the PC on the basis of an Allen variance method. The method is advantaged in that the test time is effectively reduced, and test efficiency is improved.


INFLUENCE OF HALF-HEIGHT SIEVES AND OF INCOMPLETE SIEVE NESTS ON WET SIEVE AGGREGATE ANALYSES THE Regional NC-17 Committee in January 1955 adopted as a standard wet-sieving procedure, a slight modification of the procedure given in U.S.D.A. Handbook No. 60. Since the wet-sieving procedure is quite arbitrary, a standardized procedure is desirable. The standard procedure calls for nests of 2-, 1-, 0.5-, 0.25-, and 0.1-mm. fullheight sieves and a wet sieving apparatus with a 1.5-inch stroke at 30 cycles per minute. The most common departures from the standard procedure include the omission of the 0.1-mm. sieve, use of single sieves rather than a nest of screens, and use of half-height sieves. The 0.1-mm. sieve is omitted for convenience since the weight of aggregates


A kind of bis-benzimidazole-semidiethylenetriamine Schiff base compound has been derived from o-phenylene diamine, lactic acid and diethylene triamine.Three novel rare earth complexes is synthesized by the reaction of the compound and rare earth element(Ce~(3+), Nd~(3+) and Sm~(3+)) in anhydrous alcohol. These complexes are characterized by element analysis, IR and TG-DTA, and their biological activity is studied. The results show that complex of Nd with benzimidazole-semidiethylenetriamine Schiff base has preferable bactericidal activities to escherichia coli and mildew and Sm complex only has some bactericidal activities to escherichia coli,Ce complex has not anti-bacterium activity to bacterium which we have studied.


This paper is an expanded version of a talk given at the 2007 Integers Conference, giving an overview of the Maier matrix method and surveying the author's work in extending it beyond the integers.


A self-energizing water treating assembly capable of being either removably disposed in a container through which a stream of water flows or in a tank containing a stationary body of water to render the water slightly alkaline, remove free dissolved oxygen from the water, forms gelatinous thixotropic suspensions that envelops foreign particled material in the water and render the same substantially tasteless and odorless, and minimizes the tendency of minerals in the water being deposited as hard scale on the tubes or containers in which the water is heated or transformed to steam.


From a total of over 95,000 infested squares, about 37,000 boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis, were obtained, which represents an emergence of 39.2 per cent. These weevils were used in the toxicity work of the Chemical Warfare Service along with 60,000 additional field weevils.

The best results were obtained by infesting field cotton at the rate of one weevil to five squares, and picking the infested squares a week or ten days after they had been punctured. If the percentage weevils to squares ran higher than one weevil to five squares, the weevils were hand picked down to this ratio. This prevents feeding and egg punctures on the same squares.

The infested squares were then placed in an incubator, one layer thick, on shallow 1Published by permission of the Chief of the Chemical Warfare Service, U.S.A. trays containing about an inch of moist sand. They were kept from becoming too brittle by spraying lightly with water as necessary. It normally required about two weeks in the incubator for completion of each batch. Weevils were supplied at the rate of more than 2,000 per week until sufficient field weevils were available for the work.


In this paper, the hazard factors on voltage rising effect between the rail and the earth were reviewed in subway system of AC traction line according to moving condition and location of the train. Site measuring of voltage rising between conductor part of train and station floor was performed to ascertain the risk level on the passenger. Plans for preventing hazard of rail-voltage rising and electrical shock on the passengers at platform were proposed.


Bone as an important organ in human body is an extraordinary material which exhibits highly optimized properties, strong yet light weight, stiff yet flexible. Its distinct mechanical properties which fascinates not only scientists but also engineers are the results of the highly hierarchized and organized structure and the compositional properties spanning over several lengths from the nanoscale to the macroscale. Hence, a deep understanding of the parameters affecting bone mechanical behavior is necessary to better predict and treat bone diseases, improve orthopedic implants design, and engineer bio-inspired materials. In this work, a special focus is placed on human cortical bone elastic properties both at the millimeter and micrometer scales. Based on a multimodal approach (resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography, Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy and biochemistry experiments) involving an exhaustive amount of microstructural and compositional properties, our results provide strong evidence that intra-cortical porosity and degree of mineralization are the most important determinants of bone stiffness at millimeter scale in an elderly population. Further, the other microstructure characteristics independent of porosity have non measurable effects on bone stiffness at this level. At the micrometer scale, a novel inverse homogenization approach is introduced in this work which can evaluate bone matrix anisotropic elastic properties with a good accuracy for all the stiffness constants. Based on the determined bone matrix elasticity data, we investigated the possible range of the magnitude of microstrain experienced by bone matrix. This work opens a way to better evaluate and understand bone mechanical behaviour at the micrometer level, such as the microstrain that can be sensed by osteocytes and builds the bridge to comprehensively investigate the connections between bone anisotropic properties at the millimeter and micrometer scale, and between the anisotropic microelastic properties and the characteristics at the nanometer scale.


A 41-year-old man who was undergoing chronic hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease presented with new-onset hemoptysis. His chest radiograph showed an opacified middle lobe (Fig. 1), a change from earlier radiographs. Two weeks later, the middle lobe contained a large cavity with a nonmobile, intracavitary, rounded mass (Fig. 2). Core biopsy of the cavitary lesion disclosed necrotic tissue with intravascular fungal elements (Fig. 3); culture grew Aspergillus fumigatus.

Fig. 1 Chest radiograph shows cardiomegaly with bilateral alveolar infiltrates and opacification of the middle lobe.

Fig. 2 Chest radiograph shows a large cavity in the middle lobe with an intracavitary fungus ball (arrows).

Fig. 3 Photomicrograph shows necrotic tissue with fungal elements (arrows) in the wall and lumen of a blood vessel (H & E, orig. ×200).


This paper investigates the notion of persistent causality in multivariate first difference stationary autoregressive systems. The causality concept is based on impulse responses as suggested by Sims [1980]. Non-persistent causality is characterized as non-correlation between the canonical innovation of the causal variable and the trend part of the caused variable, as defined from a standard Beveridge-Nelson decomposition. Non-persistent causality simply corresponds to the nullity of a well identified long run multiplier. We show that persistent causality properties may lead to a causal interpretation of a cointegration relation, because non-causality excludes any prediction improvement at an infinite horizon. Testing non-persistent causality requires an auxiliary parametrization of the dynamics, which is provided by a suitable cointegrated VAR model, according to a two-steps procedure. This methodology is applied to analyse the efficiency of the monetary policies in the G5 countries.


Researchers in music education are exploring the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to support piano instruction. Beginner piano students tend to receive short, infrequent lessons, which they practice on their own. This lack of instructor feedback creates opportunities for students to develop improper technique. Current strategies for using AR and VR to guide solo practice use moving shapes to help students to identify what notes to play. Improvements in commercial AR/VR technology will be needed to provide more detailed real-time feedback.


Abstract : The corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steels in artificial seawater containing 0.2 to 0.4 mg/L dissolved ozone was investigated. According to cyclic polarization data, UNS S30400 and S31600 stainless steels are resistant to pit initiation after 8 weeks exposure to ozonated artificial seawater. However, if crevices exist, crevice corrosion is more severe in ozonated vs. aerated artificial seawater. Maximum crevice corrosion penetration rates of 8 and 5 mm/y were recorded for UNS S30400 and S31600, respectively, in ozonated artificial seawater compared to only 0.4 to 0.5 mm/y under aerated conditions. Mixed potential analysis of anodic and cathodic polarization predicts crevice corrosion rates for UNS S31600 that are in excellent agreement with the immersion sample data. Highly alloyed Ni, Cr, Mo, and N-bearing austenitic stainless steels are resistant to crevice corrosion in aerated and ozonated artificial seawater. However, differential oxidation corrosion was observed between surfaces of high and low ozone concentration, leading to local transpassive dissolution manifested as surface etching and superficial intergranular corrosion. After 47 weeks exposure to ozonated artificial seawater, microscopic pitting was observed in crevices of high alloyed stainless steels. Although intergranular corrosion and microscopic pitting of highly alloyed stainless steels are not considered severe, these modes of corrosion warrant further investigation in the interest of corrosion resistance in long term (> 1 year) service under oxidizing conditions in seawater.


The Norwegian National Environment and Health
Action PlanPublished by Ministry of Environment and Ministry
of Health and Social Affairs1. Introduction2.
National Action Plan for Environment and Health2.1 Background for the action plan
2.2 Contents...


In this paper, we address the problem of the estimation of polynomial phase signals (PPS) in "∈-contaminated" impulsive noise using Kalman filtering technique. We consider an original estimation method based on the exact non linear state space representation of the signal by using the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) instead of the classical approach which consists in the linearization of the system of equations and then applying the extended kalman filter (EKF). The observation noise's probability density function is assumed to be a sum of two-component Gaussians weighted by the probability of appearance of the impulsive and gaussian noises in the observations. We propose to use two unscented Kalman filters operating in parallel (PUKF) as an alternative to the classical methods which generally handle the impulsive noise by using either clipping or freezing procedures. Simulation results show that the PUKF is less sensitive to impulsive noise and gives better estimation of signal parameters compared to the recently proposed algorithms.


This study analyzes the effect of corporate bond rating changes over stock prices. We explore the effects over excess of returns and systematic risk. Rating changes by Moody's, Standard and Poor's or FitchIBCA are analyzed. On an efficient market, these changes will only have some effect if they contain some new information or if they are associated to a redistribution of wealth between shareholders and bondholders. We use an extension of the event study dummy approach. Our results indicate that rating downgrades do not cause abnormal returns around the date of the announcement while upgrades cause significantly negative effect. This behavior reflect a redistribution of wealh behavior. Changes of both directions cause a rebalancing effect in the total risk of the firm, with significant reductions on their systematic componet.


Hot compression tests on pure Ni and Ni–30Cu at 950–1150 °C and strain rates of 0.001–1 s^−1 were performed to identify the physical interpretation of the apparent activation energy ( Q _d). For pure Ni, Q _d was constant and identical to that of the self-diffusion. However, for Ni–30Cu, it decreased steadily with strain. The value of Q _d was separated into thermal and mechanical parts. The thermal part was necessary to propel diffusion. For pure Ni, the mechanical part was zero at low and medium strain rates of 0.001–0.1 s^−1 and the self-diffusion was the controlling mechanism. However, at 1 s^−1, both the thermal and mechanical parts were needed to provide Q _d. For Ni–30Cu, Q _d was greater than that for the interdiffusion of Ni and Cu. The value of mechanical part decreased with increasing temperature and strain rate. Although the thermal parts for pure Ni and Ni–30Cu were nearly identical, the mechanical part for the latter was considerably higher. The difference was attributed to the strengthening effect of Cu atoms and the sluggish dynamic softening with respect to pure Ni.


The study investigated the impact of tax gaps on economic development in Nigeria on the hypothetical premises that there is an insignificant effect of tax gaps on per capita income, human capital index, foreign direct investment and gross domestic product. Secondary time series data that span 2004 to 2017 were obtained from different sources that include the federal Inland Revenue service, central bank of Nigeria, and the World Bank. The data were analysed through a collection of four simple linear regression models to show that there is a positive effect of tax gaps on per capita income, human capital index and gross domestic product, while a negative effect is observed between tax gaps and foreign direct investment. The study thus concludes that tax gaps deter external investors and the tax targets may could be below the real tax potential. It is consequently recommended that the tax base should be expanded, international investors should be educated on the intricacies of local tax policy and laws, and the management of tax gaps should be geared toward attainment of specific developmental goals.


Economic system reform is the key point of the deepening the reform in an all-round way, and the governmental price management target is an indispensable important link in the reform. We must play an effective role of government and market, deepen the reform in an all-round way, take effort in improving market mechanism, build a fair competition price environment, insist on reform and innovation, strengthen market price supervision, take a combination of measure to enhance the governmental price management function, and all the above will achieve the governmental price management target in advance.


Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) is a nucleic acid analogue with unprecedented binding affinity and excellent specificity toward complementary RNA and DNA oligonucleotides. The remarkable properties of LNA have led to applications within various gene silencing strategies both in vitro and in vivo. In the present review, we highlight the uses of LNA for regulation of gene expression with emphasis on RNA targeting.


We show that the bulk transport magnetic current is generated by the moving magnetic kink crystal (chiral soliton lattice) formed in the chiral helimagnet under the static magnetic field applied perpendicular to the helical axis. The current is caused by the non-equilibrium transport momentum with the kink mass being determined by the spin fluctuations around the kink crystal state. An emergence of the transport magnetic currents is then a consequence of the dynamical off-diagonal long range order along the helical axis. We derive an explicit formula for the inertial mass of the kink crystal and the current in the weak field limit. PACS numbers: Valid PACS appear here How to create, transport, and manipulate spin currents is a central problem in the multidisciplinary field of spintronics. 1 The key theoretical concepts there include the current-driven spin-transfer torque 2 and resultant force acting on a domain wall (DW) 3 in metallic ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic multilayers, the dissipationless spin currents in paramagnetic spin-orbit coupled systems, 4 and magnon transport in textured magnetic structures. 5 A fundamental query behind the issue is how to describe transport magnetic currents. 6 Conventionally, the charge current is defined by the product of the carrier density and the drift velocity related via the continuity equation. In the case of spin current, the deviation of the spin projection from its equilibrium value plays a role of a charge. Then, an emergence of the transport magnetic currents may be expected in non-equilibrium state as a manifestation of the dynamical off-diagonal long range


The E coil highly expressing rhIL-6 constructed by our department was fermented and rhIL-6 products were extracted and purified. The specific activity of the purified rhIL-6 products reached 4. 83 X 108 IU/mg. The rhIL-6 products were used to treat BALB/c mice injuried by 60Co irradiation for six days (2 ug/big/ each). The results showed that the bleeding time,coagulation time and prothrombin time of the rhIL-6 treatment group were significantly shorter than those of the control group(P0. 01),the platelet count and WBC increased by 130% and 165% in the treatment group as compared with the control,the numbers of CFU-Mix cultured in vitro and CFU-s in spleen were significantly higher than those in the control group(P0. 01). These results suggest that rhIL-6 exerts beneficial effects on the recovery of mice from radiation-induced injuries of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, and thus helps recovery from radiation injury of bone marrow and hematopoietic function.


1.a. Full Title: A comparison of the inflammatory proteome in cancer survivors and individuals with no cancer history. b. Abbreviated Title (Length 26 characters): Inflammation and Cancer history 2. Writing Group: Chinenye Ugoji (first and corresponding author); Elizabeth Platz, Josef Coresh, Keenan Walker, Adrienne Tin, Corinne Joshu, Anna Prizment, Lorraine Dean, Alden Gross, Ravi Varadhan, Elizabeth Selvin, Christie Ballantyne, Ron Hoogeveen, Eric Boerwinkle.


In this paper, the principal problems of distribution system identification and accurate measurements of distribution system impedance frequency contour are discussed. Some new results of field identification are presented. The focus of this paper is on the effective method of signal processing adapted to real signals which appear in the power systems. The principal problem of accurate identification is in the system nonstationariness. Its influence on accuracy is discussed and illustrated with experimental results. The proposed method of impedance identification based on short 40-ms system observations is relatively insensitive to power system nonstationariness. The presented discussion confirms that, with the proper signal processing, 1-s-long system observations are quite sufficient to describe the system with an accuracy to satisfy practical demands.


Engineering biology in a direct, systematic manner is limited today. The ability to build biological systems from components that act independent of one another has the potential to make the forward engineering of biology practical. Previously, we have shown that independence among synthetic genetic devices is possible in Escherichia coli under steady-state conditions. Here, we show that independence is also possible under transient conditions, suggesting that the ability of biological systems to exhibit linear behavior is not contextually-dependent. Furthermore, the green fluorescent protein part was once again observed to be the most nonlinear in the model system. This suggests it may not be well suited for characterization purposes irrespective of the context.


Aim: To compare the effects of losartan and captopril on essential hypertension. Methods: Fifty nine patients were treated with losartan, 50 mg~100 mg/d; fifty six patients were treated with captopril 25 mg~75 mg/d for six weeks for comparison. Blood pressure were monitored , blood lipid, urea nitrogen, creatinine, urine acid, blood α 1 MG, and urine α 1 MG,and urine Alb, plasma renin activity (PRA) were examined before and after treatment. Results:There are no difference in the antihypertensive effect between the two drugs.than captopril group. Losartan had no effect on TG and TC, it decrease the level of urine acid; the incidence of cough is lower than that of captoril. Losartan could decrease blood α 1 MG and urine α 1 MG and urine Alb (P 0.001), while plasma renin activity (PRA) was increased( P 0.001). Conclusion:Losartan is effective and safe in treatment of hypertension, and it can decrease the level of urine acid of blood. The incidence of cough is lower than that of captoril.


This report presents a profile of adolescents in South Asian (SAARC) nations including socioeconomic conditions; reproductive health behavior; health risks of early marriage and childbearing; reproductive health care; and knowledge of sexual contraceptive and reproductive health. Data were obtained from a variety of sources including Demographic and Health Surveys censuses and other country-specific surveys for 1995. Findings reveal that those aged 10-19 years represent about 20% of the total population in SAARC countries (260 million adolescents of over 1.2 billion total population). Most adolescents are literate even though many do not complete primary school. More boys than girls attend primary and secondary schools. The mean age of marriage is rising but by age 20 years girls have an average of 2 children. Adolescents are malnourished and short in height. Children born to adolescent mothers have a higher risk of dying. Prenatal care is very low among adolescents. Few births are delivered by trained birth attendants. Many adolescent pregnancies are unplanned and with short birth intervals. Current use of contraception among married women aged 15-19 years ranges in 7 SAARC countries from 1.4% to 32.9%; rates increase with age. 4 of 10 adolescent girls have reproductive tract infections. In Nepal 16% of HIV/AIDS cases are adolescent girls. Premarital sex behavior is high among adolescents. Many adolescent pregnancies are aborted in Nepal and India especially in the second trimester when the health consequences can be more critical. Labor force participation rates among adolescents vary widely between countries.


A new method for reliability evaluation is proposed,in which Space Mapping technique is combined with Response Surface Methodology.In the new approach,the limit state function is only fitted once in the first iteration;in other iterations,Space Mapping technique is applied to map the original limit state function to the new ones.The new approach does not require experimental design,model evaluation and response surface fitting of the limit state function repetitively,which amounts to a great reduction of computational effort involved.


The present study explored the variables that contribute to the effectiveness of teachers training program in Pakistan for the education sector on the use of information and computer technology trainings. A sample of 111 lecturers from federal government colleges in Islamabad was taken and with the help of a research questionnaire their response was recorded. On its basis the study determined that computer knowledge and skills have been imparted in the trainees but their effectiveness could have been increased if rigorous training need analysis had been done. The study also finds that factors such as support from the head of departments, interest and cooperation from colleagues and availability of physical facilities in the colleges influenced the effectiveness of trainings. The study suggests that foreign training programs are more effective due to presence of experienced trainers and better training facilities. The study also determined that factors like duration of training programs has no effect on effectiveness of training, rather, it requires appropriate time for subject matter to be studied. The study also finds that ICT training programs do not contribute towards career growth and salary increase of teachers and lecturers; rather it affects their level of satisfaction from job. The study suggests that an increase in training budget can make these training programs more effective.


In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the study of hadith is considered a foreign study among the Malays because the field is often associated with the movement of the Kaum Muda. Shaykh Abdullah Fahim's return from Mecca to Malaya in 1916 was expected to bring light in the study when he introduced science of hadith in madrasas where he taught. He received a degree in hadith from his teacher, Sayyid Muhammad Amin bin Sayyid Ahmad Al-Madani, a great scholar who taught in Medina. There are three objectives to be achieved in this study, namely to review the influence that underlies the thinking of Shaykh Abdullah Fahim in the field of hadith, to know the approach used by Shaykh Abdullah Fahim in studying the science of hadith and the contribution of Shaykh Abdullah Fahim in the field of hadith. This study uses qualitative methods and library approach to collect information. The results of the study found that Shaykh Abdullah Fahim did a great job in introducing the Nizami curriculum in madrasah studies and succeeded in producing a generation of competent successors to connect the knowledge of teaching hadith to the community.


The title ternary complex, [Ni(CH5N3S)2](C4H4O4)·C4H6O4, consists of a thiosemicarbazide-coordinated nickel cation, a succinate anion, and a neutral succinic acid molecule, all of which are centrosymmetric. The Ni atom is four-coordinated in a planar geometry by N and S atoms from two symmetry-related thiosemicarbazide ligands. In the crystal structure, the three components are effectively linked together by mutual electrostatic interactions and hydrogen-bonding interactions of the N—H⋯O, C—H⋯O and O—H⋯O types.


The clusters already reported as [{Pt(diphos)(RNC)}2Pt](PF6)2, (diphos = cis-Ph2PCHCHPPh2, Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2, or tBu2P(CH2)2PtBu2; R = 2,6-xylyl or 2,4,6-mesityl) have been recharacterized to be the P...


Generally, information retrieval (IR) performs keyword search based on the user query to find a set of relevant documents. In the domain of agricultural expertise retrieval, the goal is to find a group of experts who has knowledge in agriculture (by using publications as the evidence) specified by the input query. Typical publication IR systems could sometimes return the search result sets, which consist of a huge amount of publications. Some of the returned publications are not relevant to the individual user's information need. In this paper, an ontology based agricultural expertise retrieval framework called AGRIX is proposed with the focus on the ontology creation to cover three following aspects: (1) expert profiles and publications, (2) type of plants and (3) problem solving. To build the ontology model, we used a set of publications (1,249 records) which was collected from the Thai national AGRIS center, Bureau of Library Kasetsart University. In addition, a set of inference rules is created to support the expertise retrieval task. By using AGRIX to implement an agricultural expertise retrieval, users can search for experts in two perspectives, plant (e.g., rice, sugar canes) and problem solving (e.g., plant diseases, fertilizers).


Voclosporin is a novel calcineurin inhibitor that functions by binding cyclophilin, consequently inhibiting calcineurin activity and preventing the transcription of many genes involved in lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine release. Voclosporin has been shown to be effective in a variety of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and renal transplant rejection. Noninfectious uveitis is also an immune-mediated disease which, if left untreated, can cause severe loss of vision. Presently, corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy in noninfectious uveitis. However, there are several metabolic and ophthalmic adverse effects associated with the long-term use of corticosteroids. Voclosporin has recently been shown in the LX-211 Uveitis Multicenter Investigation of a New Approach to Treatment (LUMINATE) clinical trial program to be effective in the treatment of noninfectious uveitis. With an acceptable side-effects profile, voclosporin is an exciting addition to the therapeutic options available in the management of noninfectious uveitis.


Objective: The target prediction and molecular mechanism of compound Honggencao in
the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection were investigated based on network pharmacology. Methods: In the database of Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database
and Analysis Platform, chemical composition and potential targets of compound
Honggencao were mined, and the target gene of upper respiratory tract infection
of compound Honggencao was extracted from GeneCards databases. The protein-protein interaction of
target genes was constructed. Then, the essential genes of enrichment of KEGG
pathway analysis and functional analysis were analysed. Results: Compound Honggencao had 69 kinds of active ingredients. The upper respiratory
tract infection of the target gene was 186 that built compound Honggencao on the relationship between upper
respiratory tract infections of protein interaction networks, which had a total
of 186 nodes, 3515 sides. Fifty-six essential genes were including IL-17, EGFR
and CDND1, and so on. Gene ontology analysis had 2567 items, and pathway
analysis was 166 items. The main signaling pathways involved with IL-17 signaling
pathways, tumour necrosis factor signal pathway and human cytomegalovirus
infection, and so on. Conclusion: The pharmacological action of compound
Honggencao on upper respiratory tract infection was characterized by the
synergistic effect of multiple components and multiple targets, which provided
an absolute theoretical basis for the research on the pharmacological direction
of molecular signaling pathway and a specific theoretical basis for clinical
use.


In this paper problem of collision avoidance in group of UAVs is addressed. Algorithms for two types of collision avoidance: Group-wise and Individual are successfully developed in the three-dimensional plane using various basic swarming behaviors. Limit on both horizontal and vertical acceleration is applied to cater the hardware constraints of UAV. Effect of these basic laws has also been studied on the group behavior of swarms. It is shown that when cohesion rule is applied an equilibrium condition is reached in which all the UAVs settles down at same height on a circle of constant radius. It is also shown analytically that this equilibrium condition is stable for all values of velocity V and acceleration constant k. Finally, noise of zero mean and standard deviation sigma is added to the position of UAVs to study the effect of position uncertainty on group behavior and on both types of collision avoidance.


The samples of grey spot disease collected from Yunnan,Chongqing and Guizhou were identified by isolation,purification,morphology and molecular systematics analysis,and then the fungicides to control pathogen of Fatsia japonica grey spot disease were screened in a laboratory to probe pathogenic species of Fatsia japonica grey spot disease and its effective control by fungicides. The results showed that the pathogen to cause atsia japonica grey spot disease is Phyllosticta capitalensis. 10 % Difenoconazle WDG,50 % Carbendazim WP and 10% Polyoxins have the strong inhibition effect against pathogen to cause Fatsia japonica grey spot disease and EC50 of 10 % Difenoconazle WDG,50 % Carbendazim WP and 10 % Polyoxins is 1. 9298,2. 1805 and 6. 0194 mg / L,respectively. EC50 of 80 % Mancozeb WP and6 % Chunleimeisu WP is 103. 2997 and 161. 1234 mg / L separately,which indicates 80 % Mancozeb WP and 6 % Chunleimeisu WP have weak inhibition effect against pathogen of Fatsia japonica grey spot disease.


Objective To investigate the effect of sodium ferulate to the organization pathology of rat kidney which was experienced ischemia reperfusion injury.Methods 40 rats were distributed to four groups at random.The first is normal control group.The second is sham operation group,The third is renal ischemia-reperfusion model group and the forth is renal ischemia-reperfusion model rat used sodium ferulate group.Then the renal samples were dyed HE and PAS.Results The organization pathology of renal ischemia-reperfusion model rat used sodium ferulate made better distinctly.Conclusion The sodium ferulate had the protective action to the renal ischemia-reperfusion model rat.


The photoinduced birefringence behaviors of host–guest systems based on heterocyclic thiazole–azo dyes with different substituents, dispersed into PMMA matrix, were investigated under three excitation wavelengths, i.e., 405 nm, 445 nm or 532 nm. The wavelengths fell on the blue side, near the maximum or on the red side of the absorption bands of trans-azo dyes, respectively. We found that photoinduced birefringence was generated at a similar extent in all studied systems, except the system containing a 2-methyl-5-benzothiazolyl as thiazole–azo dye substituent. For this material, the achieved birefringence value was the highest among the whole series, regardless of the excitation wavelength. Moreover, we identified the optimal irradiation wavelength for efficient birefringence generation and showed that large absorption of excitation light by trans isomer does not account for achieving a significant degree of molecular alignment. The obtained results indicate that thiazole–azo dye with a 2-methyl-5-benzothiazolyl substituent shows promising photoinduced birefringence, and can be considered a dye potentially suitable for optical applications.


To the Editor: Bladin ( I ) provided a useful historical review of epileptic vertigo, but he ignored the nature of the link between vertigo and epilepsy, implying that this was of no real significance. In Stage I, both disorders were attributed to different degrees of brain involvement. Stage I1 started in 1861 with Meniere's inner ear localisation of vertigo, followed soon by emphatic recantations from Charcot, Jackson, and Gowers, who now realised that vertigo was essentially otic, and that they had overlooked ear disease. Nowadays, few make the obvious inference that if vertigo and epilepsy are intimately connected, and vertigo is of inner ear origin, then epilepsy may also be otogenic. Considerable evidence linking epilepsy, vertigo, and the ear needs an explanation (2).


The utility model relates to a disposable water bag for induction of labor in mid-pregnancy, which belongs to the technical field of medical appliances for mid-trimester pregnancy induced labor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology. The utility model is composed of a check valve, (a check valve casing, a one-way valve body and one-way valve core), a catheter and a water bag. The utility model is sterilized and disinfected by 60 cobalt in a sealed package, which solves the trouble of handmade induction of labor with water bag previously. The utility model has the advantages of simple structure, easy operation, safety and favorable effect.


One maneuvering target tracking method in which RBF neural network is applied to correct Kalman filter result in standard Interacting Multi Model(IMM) is proposed in this paper.Network input includes forecasting error,Kalman gain and the difference between measurement and estimation,output result of network reflects filter error caused by target maneuverability.Adding network output to Kalman filter result,filtering precision can be improved.Adjustment item relating to filtering error is appended in the weight correcting formula in RBF learning algorithm,larger filtering error,greater weight modification.Simulation results show that corrected IMM algorithm has better tracking precision than standard IMM algorithm,especially the former has smaller tracking error than the latter at maneuvering turn.


The retarded Green function for linear field perturbations in Schwarzschild black hole space-time possesses a branch cut in the complex-frequency plane. This branch cut has remained largely unexplored: only asymptotic analyses either for small-frequency (yielding the known tail decay at late times of an initial perturbation of the black hole) or for large-frequency (quasinormal modes close to the branch cut in this regime have been linked to quantum properties of black holes) have been carried out in the literature. The regime along the cut inaccessible to these asymptotic analyses has so far remained essentially unreachable. We present a new method for the analytic calculation of the branch cut directly on the cut for general-spin fields in Schwarzschild space-time. This method is valid for any values of the frequency on the cut and so it provides analytic access to the whole branch cut for the first time. We calculate the modes along the cut and investigate their properties and connection with quasinormal modes. We also investigate the contribution from these branch cut modes to the self-force acting on a point particle on a Schwarzschild background space-time.


This note provides an overview of the rationale and the challenges associated with building new businesses within established companies. It provides a framework for understanding why corporations pursue entrepreneurial ventures and the various levers that they employ. The note offers a comparison of the various approaches, with examples, and their pros and cons.


In 2013, Austria's economy grew by just 0.4 percent, the slowest growth rate since the recession of 2008-09 when overall production had shrunk by 3.8 percent. Both the investment volume and private household consumption declined in real terms. Unemployment rose sharply to a new height of 7.6 percent. Inflation weakened but was still relatively high compared to other European countries.


This article aims to address the practical question of whether there is educational value to embedding second-language (L2) learning experiences in intergenerational contexts. In particular, a case study was conducted of a novel, university-based ESL program in Hong Kong in which a group of older adult volunteers with a high level of English language proficiency skills engaged a group of college students with beginner to mid-level English language skills for an intensive three-month period of English language instruction, language practice, and intergenerational relationship building activities. The intergenerational context was reflected in the curricular activities designed to stimulate intergenerational (teacher-learner) sharing of real-life interests, stories, experiences, and perspectives. According to data from open-ended questions and IELTS-based English proficiency tests, the college students exhibited improved ESL skills and enhanced motivation to practice and extend their learning, while the older adult volunteers earned a valued teaching credential, improved their teaching abilities, and gained confidence and motivation for expanding their social linkages in the community. Implications for framing intergenerational encounters in ways that enhance meaningful ESL learning in real world contexts are considered.


Objective To explore the episodes and classification of apnea and hypopnea in PICU and NICU, and the effect of oxygen provision via nasal canula on TcSO 2 and desaturation events. Method The respiratory flow, effect and TcSO 2 in 73 patients, of whom 23 in PICU and 50 in NICU, and 48 males and 25 females, were monitored with polysomnography system The diagnosis was divided into 5 groups: premature, hyperbilirubinemia, intracranial injury, postoperation and other diseases. Results The median apnea hypopnea index (AHI) of the 73 cases was 16 6 episodes per hour (minimum 0 8 and maximum 81 8) The indices of respiratory disorders were presented by lg(10+x) The hypopnea index (HI) was 14 1±0 24 spells per hour,and the apnea index (AI) was 1 07±0 11,which showed significant difference( P 0 01). According to the classification, the mixed HI was 1 38±0 24 spells per hour, and the central HI was 1 04±0 08,they also showed significant difference ( P 0 01) Concerning the classification of apnea events, the obstructive AI was (1 05±0 10) spells per hour, and the central AI was 1 02±0 06,there was no statistical difference ( P 0 05). However, in the postoperation group, or other diseases group, the obstructive AI was more common than the central or the mixed AI(both P 0 01) AHI, HI and AI in the five groups or between NICU and PICU, showed no significant difference (all P 0 05) In NICU, the apnea was more common in the premature group than in the hyperbilirubinemia group(χ 2 = 4 18, P 0 01) The average TcSO 2 was over 85% both in the patients without oxygen provision and in the patients with oxygen provision via nasal canula In the patients withoxygen provision, the risk of minimum TcSO 2 below 85% was decreased(χ 2 = 18 43, P 0 01), the desaturation events were less ( u =15 4, P 0 01), and the mean event duration shortened ( u =12 2, P 0 01). Conclusions Apnea and hypopnea were common events in PICU and NICU. Hypopnea was more common than apnea. The major type of hypopnea was mixed, and of apnea was obstructive. In NICU, the premature was the population with higher risk of apnea. Oxygen provision via nasal canula was effective to increase the minimal TcSO 2, and to decrease the severity degree of desaturation events.


Counter current flow limitation (CCFL) is one of the most important phenomenon in the safety analysis of a pressurized water reactor (PWR). The CCFL phenomenon can occurs in the hot-leg and intermediated leg of a PWR during a small break of loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA). In the counter-current two-phase flow in vertical tube, gas flows upwards through the center of the tube and liquid film flows downward. A shear stress is set up at the interface which retards the liquid film to flow downward. In a given liquid flow rate, there is a certain gas flow rate at which very large waves appears on the interface, the flow becomes chaotic, the gas pressure drop increases significantly and the upward flow of gas limits the downward flow of liquid at the top of the tube which is called CCFL or flooding [1]. The most widely used correlations for CCFL are Wallis type [1] and Kutateladze form [2]. The Wallis type correlation can be expressed as equation (1) while the Kutateladzee form can be expressed as equation (2). Jg + mJl=c ......... (1) Kug + mKul=c ......... (2) Where, Jg=Jgρg/[gD(ρl-ρg)]; Jl=Jlρl/[gD(ρlρg)]; Kug= Jgρg/[gσ(ρl-ρg)]; and Kul= Jlρl/[gσ(ρl-ρg)]. The parameter J*, Ku* J, ρ, g, σ, D, m, and c, are the dimensionless flux of Wallis type, dimensionless flux of Kutateladze type, superficial velocity of fluid, density, gravitational acceleration, surface tension, diameter, slope, and gas intercept, respectively. The subscript l and g are liquid and gas phase, respectively. It is reported in different literature that Wallis correlation is suitable for small diameter pipe and Kutataledge form is appropriate for large diameter pipe. Besides, it is seen from equation (1) and (2) that Wallis form has no surface tension effect while Kutataledge form has no diameter effect. Furthermore, neither correlations includes the viscosity effect and length effect on CCFL. So, it is necessary to develop a generalized CCFL correlation which includes density, viscosity, surface tension, gravitational acceleration, diameter, and length effect. The main objectives of this study are to develop a new dimensionless parameter using dimensionless analysis, to validate the dimensionless number using experimental results from literature, and to propose a new CCFL correlation.


In this paper, we investigate if and how a firm's managerial, governance and market oversight attributes relate with a propensity to financial misreporting. Our sample comprises both firms for which there was a regulatory allegation of financial misreporting accompanied by fines as well as firms matched on industry and size with no evidence of misreporting. Our findings suggest that proxies for managerial hubris (active mergers and acquisitions strategy, complex corporate structure, top-rated managers) fed by fawning media and financial analysts, may be a potential driver of financial misreporting. At an individual level, hubris is characterized by exaggerated selfconfidence, arrogance and oblivion to reality. In contrast, governance and market oversight processes do not seem to have been effective in detecting or preventing financial misreporting, with independent boards of directors proving especially ineffectual. Our findings suggest that formal processes may get coopted by a managerial (C-) suite culture that houses hubristic tendencies.


Abstract. The high-resolution inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging of the maneuvering target with small-angle measurements is expected, which can be achieved by using the radar operating at a higher central frequency. However, because the defocus induced by the spatially variant phase error becomes significant with the resolution improvement and the central frequency increasing, the global phase correction is invalid. Moreover, due to the scattering characteristics of aspect-dependent scatterers and small-angle measurements, we can rarely obtain the rough outline of the maneuvering target. To deal with these difficulties, we propose an ISAR imaging method for the maneuvering target with distributed high resolution radars. To mitigate the spatially variant phase error, we correct phase errors in patches based on the weighted least-squares algorithm, which makes the image well-focused. Then, the ISAR imaging method with distributed radars is presented to obtain the fusion image, with the object to capture enough scatterers to represent the maneuvering target. The fusion image could provide more details. Real data have verified the effectiveness of the proposed method.


In this paper, a new method for the numerical solution of two-dimensional electromagnetic problems by wavelets on the interval and equivalence theorem is proposed. By adopting the equivalence theorem, the computational domain is restricted to the conductive regions while expanding the space variables by wavelets on the interval we obtain a storage of the unknowns in a matrix form instead of the usual vector form, yielding savings of memory storage and CPU times.


Explants for long term monolayer liver cell cultures were taken from individuals having PiM or PiZ phenotypes. Radioactive labelling, using I125 and an original method, permitted the quantitative measurement of AAT in vitro and more important, allowed Pi phenotype determination.


Scholars have paid considerable attention to studying the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance. Yet, little empirical research demonstrates what actually shapes or drives CSR. This paper builds a case that formal strategic planning is one such driver in that it creates awareness of and formulates responses to stakeholder demands for CSR. However, exploring single variable relationships is problematic, as other important endogenous factors need to be considered in explaining CSR. Specifically, firm culture is identified as influencing a firm's orientation towards the responsible treatment of stakeholders. One such cultural factor, humanistic culture, is argued to have a positive effect on CSR. By studying a sample of heterogeneous firms in Australia, results demonstrate that a formal strategic planning effort is positively linked to CSR. Further, a humanistic culture positively impacts CSR, after accounting for a firm's formal planning efforts.


The new tin(IV) species (CH3)2SnCl(OTeF5) was prepared via either the solvolysis of (CH3)3SnCl in HOTeF5 or the reaction of (CH3)3SnCl with ClOTeF5. It was characterized by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. (CH3)2SnCl(OTeF5) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n (a = 5.8204(8) A, b =10.782(1) A, c =15.493(2) A, β = 91.958(2)°, V = 971.7(2) A3, Z = 4). NMR spectroscopy of (CH3)3SnX, prepared from excess Sn(CH3)4 and HX (X = OTeF5 or N(SO2CF3)2), revealed a tetracoordinate tin environment using (CH3)3SnX as a neat liquid or in dichloromethane-d2 (CD2Cl2) solutions. In acetone-d6 and acetonitrile-d3 (CD3CN) solutions, the tin atom in (CH3)3SnOTeF5 was found to extend its coordination number to five by adding one solvent molecule. In the strong donor solvent DMSO, the SnOTeF5 bond is broken and the (CH3)3Sn(OS(CH3)2)2+ cation and the OTeF5- anion are formed. (CH3)3SnOTeF5 and (CH3)3SnN(SO2CF3)2 react differently with water. While the TeF bond...


Abstract Background: Despite the negative impacts of several cancer treatments on fertility, many patients do not recall having fertility-related discussions with their physicians. This study was conducted to identify those factors related to physicians' discussing the treatment impacts on fertility with cancer patients of reproductive age. Material and methods: In this nationwide survey of cancer care physicians (n = 329, response rate 55%), oncologists and hematologists (mainly) completed a questionnaire on practice behavior, barriers, attitudes and confidence in knowledge regarding treatment-related fertility risks. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with not routinely discussing fertility issues with patients. Results: Most of the physicians agreed that they were responsible for discussing fertility issues with patients of reproductive age (91%), but approximately 30% did not do so regularly. Those factors decreasing the likelihood of discussion were: patient already had children (female/male OR 3.0/6.9), high workload (OR 3.3/4.8), seeing <5 female/male patients of reproductive age weekly (OR 3.2/3.4) and access to a reproduction clinic (OR 5.2/4.2). Conclusions: Most Swedish oncologists and hematologists regularly discuss impact of treatment on fertility with their patients. Those factors having a negative impact on fertility discussions may guide targeted organizational and educational efforts to further improve fertility-related communication in cancer care.


Understanding how and why we make choices is important for everybody. If you are a scientist or aspire to be one in the future, understanding why we accept more readily some experimental results than others, why we are more comfortable with some hypotheses than others, is of fundamentalimportance, both to guard against bias, and to be able to present our new ideas in a way that will make them more acceptable.


For a sample of 462 elementary and junior high school Southern California teachers, the responses scored separately for frequency and intensity to 22 items of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were intercorrelated and subjected to a principal factors solution followed by varimax rotation. In each of the two rotated factor matrices empirical support was obtained for the presence of three a priori (hypothesized) dimensions of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment—constructs around which three MBI subscales had been designed. It was concluded that the two scoring systems could be expected to yield comparable factor structures and hence equivalent constructs. A conclusion also was reached that two of the three factors in the MBI were invariant with two found for a group of Massachusetts teachers who participated in a parallel investigation.


A critical drawback of existing materials, which restricts the photocatalytic efficiency, is the fast recombination of charge carriers. To address this challenge, loading reduction and oxidation co-catalysts on two opposite surfaces of a hollow semiconductor is a critical approach to improve the photocatalytic performance. These co-catalysts mainly act as oxidation and reduction active sites, while suppressing the charge recombination. Moreover, the development of a novel and efficient co-catalyst that boosts charge separation is a very important feature for the photocatalytic performance. Herein, we report the first synthesis of hollow Pt/TiO2/CxNy-triazine nanocomposite using carbon colloidal spheres as a hard template, in which Pt and CxNy-triazine are located on the two opposite hollow surfaces. CxNy-based triazine species formed from cyanamide during calcination do not only stabilize the hollow structure and significantly enhance the surface area of Pt/TiO2/CxNy-triazine, but also act as an efficient oxidation co-catalysts. This new type of nanocomposite exhibits one of the best TiO2-based photocatalysts working under solar light irradiation to date. It is 125 and 62 times higher than that of Pt/TiO2–P25 for hydrogen generation and methanol decomposition, respectively.


Background: Early and late menopauses result in various physical and mental complications. On the other hand, family health primarily depends on mothers' health. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the social factors related to age of natural menopause in Zahedan. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 300 menopausal women in Zahedan during 2008. Subjects were randomly selected from 38 health centers. The sampling was started from a random point near each health center continued until 13 appropriate individuals were selected from every center. The data were collected by interviews with women. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS using independent t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and principal component analysis. Findings : This study showed mean ± SD and median age of menopause as 47.3 ± 6.3 and 48 years, respectively. The socioeconomic and menstrual-reproductive factors that were significantly related to early mean age of menopause were celibacy (44.6 years, P = 0.04), low income level (45.3 years, P = 0.043), low social class (45.2 years, P = 0.048), and smoking (45.8 years, P = 0.039). Conclusion : In addition to genetic and menstrual-reproductive factors, social factors especially socioeconomic factors can also affect the age of natural menopause. Since of menopause is related with some diseases, complications and mortality among women, this phenomenon should be noticed as an epidemiological issue in societies and early menopause should be prevented. Key words : Socioeconomical Factors; Menopausal Age; Zahedan


Beta-blockade is widely reported to reduce the incidence of syncope in 75-80% of patients with congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS). However, despite full-dose β-blockade, 20-25% of patients continue to have syncopal episodes and remain at high risk for sudden cardiac death. In some patients refractory to β-blockade, the recurrence of arrhythmias is successfully prevented by left stellate ganglionectomy, and also by labetalol, a nonselective β-blockade with α1-blocking action. These observations suggest that not only β-adrenoceptors, but also α1-adrenoceptors, play an important pathogenic role, especially under sympathetic stimulation, in LQTS. The clinical effects of α1-blockade in congenital LQTS were investigated in 8 patients with familial or sporadic LQTS. Two measurements of the QT interval were taken, from the QRS onset to the T wave offset (QT) and from the QRS onset to the peak of the T wave (QTp). Using the Bruce protocol, an exercise test was performed after administration of β-blockade alone and again after administration of α 1-blockade. The following were compared: (1) Bazzet-corrected QT (QTc) and QTp (QTpc) intervals in the supine and standing position before exercise and in the early recovery phase after exercise; and (2) the slopes (reflecting the dynamic change in the QT interval during exercise) of the QT interval to heart rate were obtained from the linear regression during the exercise test. In the supine position before exercise, there was no change in the QTc before or after the addition of α1-blockade (498±23 vs 486±23 ms [NS]). However, in the upright position before exercise and in the early recovery phase after exercise, QTc was significantly shortened from 523±21 to 483±22 ms (p<0.01), and from 521±30 to 490±39 ms (p<0.01), respectively, by α1-blockade. The QTpc was unchanged in any situation. Consequently, QTc - QTpc was significantly shortened by α1-blockade in the upright position before exercise and in the early recovery phase after exercise (131 ±36 to 105±37 ms (p<0.05), and 132±29 to 102±31 ms (p<0.01), respectively). The slopes of the QT interval - heart rate relation by linear regression became significantly steeper from -2.23±0.38 to -2.93±0.76 (p<0.01) with the addition of α1-blockade. The findings suggest that the addition of α1-blockade attenuated the exercise-induced prolongation of the QT interval and that the rate adaptation of the QT interval to heart rate during exercise was improved. This indicates that additional treatment with α1-blockade may be beneficial to prevent cardiac events in LQTS patients in whom ventricular arrhythmia is resistant to β-blockade. (Jpn Circ J 2001; 65: 654 - 658)


The embodiment of the invention discloses a data transmission method, comprising the steps of acquiring information for determining a congestion control algorithm; according to the information for determining the congestion control algorithm, determining the congestion control algorithm used when performing data transmission with a user terminal; and using the congestion control algorithm to perform data transmission with the user terminal. The embodiment of the invention also provides a network server, a user terminal and a system. According to the method provided by the invention, the corresponding congestion control algorithm can be selected according to the access type and access network mode of the user terminal, and the TCP transmission efficiency can be improved.


The invention relates to a wearable real-time electrical signal acquisition device. The wearable real-time electrical signal acquisition device is characterized by comprising a wearable vest, and a plurality of bandages are horizontally arranged on the inner side of the vest at intervals; an embedded controller is fixed on any one of the bandages, a micro-motor used for adjusting tightness of the bandages is arranged at the joint of the bandages, more than one electrocardiograph collection electrode is movably arranged on the bandages, buzzers are fixedly arranged on the bandages, pressure sensors are arranged on the electrocardiograph collection electrodes, and the micro-motor, the pressure sensors and the buzzers are connected with the embedded controller through leads; contact pressure between the electrocardiograph collection electrodes and skin of a subject is detected through the pressure sensors transmitting detected pressure signals to the embedded controller, and the embedded controller controls the micro-motor to adjust tightness of the bandages; when contact problems arise between the electrocardiograph collection electrodes and the skin of the subject, the buzzers alarm to prompt the subject to have the corresponding electrocardiograph collection electrodes examined. The wearable real-time electrical signal acquisition device can be widely applied to acquisition of human electrocardiograph signals.