This paper analyzed how employee attitudes towards safety risk management, perceived competence of ground staff in dealing with unruly passenger behavior, and perceived waiting time for airport security screening service can influence aviation safety performance and passenger experience at the airports operated by the Manila International Airport Authority. Descriptive survey, descriptive correlation, and thematic analysis methods were used to analyze the data. The results of the analysis showed that there is a weak, positive relationship between employees attitudes towards safety risk management and perceived competence of ground staff in dealing with unruly passenger behavior, however this correlation is not statistically significant. Additionally, there is a weak, positive relationship between perceived airport passenger experience and employee's attitudes towards safety risk management, but this is not statistically significant. Furthermore, there is a moderate, negative correlation between perceived airport passenger experience and perceived waiting time for security screening service, which is statistically significant. The findings of the study suggest that employee attitudes towards safety risk management have no significant impact on the overall experience of airport passengers. In order to improve the airport passenger experience, the Manila International Airport Authority should implement a comprehensive safety training program for all airport staff, develop a safety risk management system and procedure manual, provide regular training and refresher courses for ground staff, and implement comprehensive customer feedback and satisfaction surveys.
KEYWORDS: safety risk management, perceived competence of ground staff in dealing with unruly passenger behavior, perceived waiting time, airport passenger experience


It looks like the Data Portability Project site got hacked. At least Google thinks so (https://i.imgur.com/ZN03g7S.png). Either way, the wiki that should hold all the


Pleurotus sajor-caju which is commercially grown was selected for development of nutraceutical. The present study was a multivariate experimental research design in which four nutraceuticals were developed out of mycelium and fruiting powder of oyster mushroom and in order to feed about 30 male albino rats which were randomly divided into five groups for a period of 30 days. Blood serum samples of rats were analyzed for lipid profile to know the effect. The effect of doses on serum lipid levels i.e . total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol of albino rats were observed. Findings showed that the total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-ch levels were found significantly (P < 0.01) low in rats kept on doses of matured mycelium and immature two gram mycelium dose was found the most effective. The present study has identified the lipid lowering property of mushroom nutraceuticals. The study concludes that large doses of mycelium showed better lipid lowering effect than small doses.


The cochineal scale, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell, 1896) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), is reported from Jordan for the first time from several localities in the north of the country. This scale insect attacks the Indian-fig prickly pear, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller (Cactaceae), and plants are killed by heavy infestations. The distribution and the relative degree of infestations in Jordan are shown in a map. Voucher specimens of the collected samples were preserved in the University of Jordan Insect Museum. Slides of adult females were prepared, and digital images were taken to illustrate important diagnostic characters. World distribution, morphology, control methods, natural enemies and the probable means of the introduction of this serious pest are discussed.


Mitochondria are principal mediators of cell death that occurs during cerebral ischemia. Recent reports indicate participation of protein kinase C (PKC), family of serine/threonine kinases, in regulation of mitochondrial metabolism what can determine the fate of the cell following ischemic stress. We have previously demonstrated that ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) results in translocation of PKCβ from cytoplasm to mitochondria, but only in ischemia-resistant regions of hippocampus (CA2-4, DG). We hypothesize that this translocation is a factor responsible for endogenous neuroprotection. Therefore we aim: to prove the possible relationship of PKCβII translocation with endogenous neuroprotection and to understand the mechanism of this process. We have observed that I/R induces a significant elevation of PKCβII protein level and activity in CA2-4, DG in mitochondrial fraction. Moreover, the administration of isozyme-selective PKCβII inhibitor showed: inhibition of postischemic translocation of PKCβII to mitochondrial fraction and an increase of neuronal death after I/R in an in vitro and in vivo models. Proteomics tools (LS-MS/MS and phosphoproteomics) identified two mitochondrial proteins suspected to be involved in PKCβII-mediated neuroprotection (ATP synthase subunit alpha and pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component subunit alpha). However, the exact mechanisms by which PKCβII-mediated substrate phosphorylation leads to neuroprotection still needs to be elucidated.


The article is devoted to elaborate the meanings of Deleuzean concepts "body without organs" and "desire-machines", and discuss their interplay. The article sees how these concepts are applied to the analysis of social reality. According to G. Deleuze there are three – nomadic, barbarian despotic or imperial, and capitalistic – social stages. The article deals with the primitive and despotic social stages. The main aim of the article is to justify the thesis that the primitive social organization presupposes and initiates a peculiar bodily mnemonics. And despotic social stage, on the contrary, transforms primitive social organization, denies bodily mnemonics and presupposes new memory of transcendental consciousness.


Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of the leaf extract of Canna indica L. in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model. The present investigation indicated that the leaf of C. indica L. possessed significant antihyperglycemic potential which may prove the claimed use of the plant in amelioration of diabetes. Methods: Male Swiss albino mice fasted for 12–14 h and weights were recorded prior to the induction of diabetes. Experimental diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg of STZ, freshly dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH=4.5). Then, the solution was immediately administered intraperitoneally to each mouse. Thirty minutes after the injection, the mice were allowed free access to food and water. After 6 h STZ injection, mice were given a 5% dextrose solution for the next 24 h. The development of diabetes was confirmed after 3 days of the STZ injection and mice with fasting blood glucose level (BGL) >200 mg/dl were considered as diabetic and were selected for the experiments. After successfully developing the diabetes animals were divided into six groups and each group contains six mice. Group I: Normal control mice administered vehicle only; Group II: Diabetic control mice administered vehicle only; Group III: Tested mice administered glibenclamide 5 mg/kg; and Group IV–VI: Tested mice administered C. indica L. at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. All groups received treatments once daily for 14 days. The fasting BGL and body weight were determined at 0, 7th, and 14th days. Results: The effect of C. indica L. on BGL having significant (p<0.05 and p<0.001) reduction in BGL starting 1 h when compared to the negative control. Administration of glucose (2 g/kg) to the mice produced significant (p<0.001) increase in BGL 30 min following 1 h after glucose loading, confirming the induction of hyperglycemia. The extract with three doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) showed a significant reduction in BGL. The phytochemical screening of the leaves extract was done for the presence of alkaloid, saponin, terpene, carbohydrate, steroid, protein, cholesterol, flavonoids. Amino acid was absent in C. indica L. leaves. Conclusion: It is concluded from this study that the alcohol extracts of C. indica L. leaves possess significant antihyperglycemic effects.


Due to the more serious challenge of coastal wetlands and avian habitats loss at Yangtze estuary,a demonstration project was established for restoration of avian habitats at Nanhui Dongtan,mainly based on the techniques of topographical construction and water level manipulation.In this paper,the parameters of vegetation,water quality and soil were measured from Aug.2009 to Jun.2010 to analyze and evaluate the restoration work.The results showed that the growth of the native plant Phragmites australis was improved significantly;water quality was improved to some extent and soil heavy metal contamination remained in low state.Moreover,the demonstration project may have a positive effect on the enhancement of bird biodiversity.These results showed that the ecological restoration project had got a preliminary and promising effect on the wetland habitats.However,in order to improve the quality of the avian habitats further,an integrated technique of cutting plus water-logging should be taken to eliminate the invasive plant Spartina alterniflora and the scale of eco-aquaculture could be controlled.


Abstract Producing accurate spatial data with stereo photogrammetric techniques is a challenging task, and the central projection of the space needs to be defined as closely as possible to its real form in each image taken for the relevant production. Interior camera parameters that define the exact imaging geometry of the camera and the exterior orientation parameters that locate and rotate the imaging directions in a coordinate system have to be known accurately for this correct definition. All distortions sourcing from lens and sensor planes and their recording geometry are significant as they are not suitable for detection with manual measurements. It is of vital importance to clearly understand the camera self-calibration concept with respect to the lens and the sensor plane geometry and include every possible distortion source as an unknown parameter in the calibration adjustments as they are all modellable systematic errors. In this study, possible distortion sources and self-calibration adjustments are explained in detail with a recently developed visualization software. The distortion sources investigated in the study are radial, tangential, differential scale, and axial skewing distortion. Thanks to the developed software, image center point, distorted grids, undistorted grids, and principal points were visualized. As a result, the most important element of obtaining accurate and precise photogrammetric productions is the correct definition of the central projection of the space for each image, and therefore, the study explains an accurate and robust procedure with the correct definition and use of correct camera internal parameters.


Background: With the introduction of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) in microbiology and molecular epidemiology, the development of an information system for the collection of genomic and epidemiological data and subsequent transparent and reproducible data analysis became indispensable. Further requirements for the system included accessibility and ease of use by bioinformatics as well as command line profane scientists. Findings: The ARIES (Advanced Research Infrastructure for Experimentation in genomicS, https://aries.iss.it) platform has been implemented in 2015 as an instance of the Galaxy framework specific for use of WGS in molecular epidemiology. Here, the experience with ARIES is reported. Conclusions: During its five years existence, ARIES has grown into a well-established reality not only as a web service but as well as a workflow engine for the Integrated Rapid Infectious Disease Analysis (IRIDA) platform. In fact, an environment has been created with the implementation of complex bioinformatic tools in an easy-to-use context allowing scientists to concentrate on what to do instead of how to do it.


Annotation. Th e paper explores the options for developing artifi cial intelligence technologies and tools aimed at enhancing the functionality of the system designed for monitoring and analyzing political Internet memes in the Russian-speaking segment of the Internet. Achieving this goal on the basis of deep machine learning methods and neural network technologies involves dealing with a number of correlated systemic interdisciplinary tasks (problems), which we discuss in the article. We introduce the architecture and functionality of the Memometrix soft ware package, which can provide a partial solution to the problem of automatic image acquisition, tagging, fi ltering, grouping and exporting. Th e rationale for distinguishing diff erent levels of macroand micromodels, models of information interaction between intelligent agents, and control models, has been provided. Simulation modeling is helpful in adjusting the sets of algorithms to be then equipped by a search intelligent agent designed for monitoring and collecting Internet memes, and their analysis, as part of a multi-agent system for controlling the fl ow of Internet memes. Creating an intelligent system for monitoring Internet memes, its tuning and verifi cation to real processes require the use of tagged databases. Building Internet meme databases involves accumulating and classifying Internet meme images, identifying their duplicates. It is required to use fi ltering, grouping and exporting the data relevant to Internet memes. Searching for memes involves making search queries and an option to perform a reverse image search, in that allowing to use the already existing databases for classifying meme images. We provide a detailed description of the package's relevant modules, as well as an example of an interface for fi ltering Internet memes based on using the templates agreed upon with sociologists. Th e soft ware product was developed with the use of modular architecture and comprises several applications: a Web application (user interface), a server application (provides the operation of the package), and an application for automatically collecting Internet memes. Th e modularity of the package allows for making adjustments in the application (analysis of collected results, visualization of collected information, prediction of the further spread of Internet memes).


The use of intravenous iron has expanded over the past few years as accepted indications for its use have increased. It is now recognized that intravenous iron will raise iron stores faster and more reliably in conditions in which oral iron is unlikely to work or poorly tolerated such as chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, heavy uterine bleeding, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler–Weber–Rendu), pregnancy, and those having undergone bariatric surgery. However, the acceptance of this effective therapy by physicians has been hindered by concerns about safety of iron infusions. The use of early formulations, such as ferric hydroxide, was associated with high levels of labile free iron release and an unacceptably high incidence of serious hemodynamically significant infusion reactions. By the early 1950s, products with carbohydrate cores which bound the elemental iron more tightly, such as high-molecular weight iron dextran—ImFeron, (Fisons, Homes Chapel, England) and later DexFerrum, (American Regent, Shirley, New York)—which are no longer available, and iron sucrose, were much better tolerated but still associated with rare anaphylactic reactions. Newer formulations which release labile free iron much more slowly, such as low-molecular weight iron dextran (INFeD, Pfizer, New York, NY), ferumoxytol (Feraheme, AMAG, Waltham, MA), ferric carboxymaltose (InjectoFer, American Regent, Shirley, NY), and iron isomaltoside (Monofer, Europe only, Pharmacosmos, Haelbeck, Denmark) are much better tolerated and provide the added convenience of being able to be administered safely in complete replacement doses over 15–60 min. While there are many factors to consider in the choice of iron products—expense, numbers of infusions, effectiveness—safety is also a key factor. One iron product did stand out in risk—high-molecular weight iron dextran (DexFerrum) which has been shown in several studies to have reaction rates higher than other iron products [1–3]. This formulation was removed from market in 2009. The accumulated data show that lowmolecular weight iron dextran does not share this higher risk. Studies ranging from dialysis database reviews to a European Medical Agency review have shown no difference in risk with low-molecular weight iron dextran versus other iron products [3–5]. Recently, this notion of equivalent risk was challenged by a study from the FDA which purported to show a significantly higher rate of "anaphylaxis" with iron dextran compared to other iron products [6]. This study examined 688,183 non-dialysis new users of intravenous iron over 10 years in the outpatient Medicare claims database. The anaphylaxis rate for iron dextran was compared to iron gluconate, iron sucrose, and ferumoxytol. The key finding was that the rate of anaphylaxis for iron dextran had an odds ratio 2.6 times higher reaction rate than all nondextran irons—68 vs. 23 per 100,000 persons. However, there are several issues with this study that cast doubt on the conclusion that low-molecular weight iron dextran is truly the more dangerous iron product. The most striking, as stated in the manuscript, was the inability to distinguish between highand low-molecular weight iron dextran, both of which were available during the conduct of the study. Another is that cases of anaphylaxis were derived from an algorithm based on ICD-9 codes. Two of the criteria were having the "other anaphylactic shock" code documented, but the third criteria were a combination of codes for allergies, symptoms, and treatments such as the administration of diphenhydramine and steroids. The algorithm was unable to distinguish between the administrations of diphenhydramine for an infusion reaction or the now proscribed premedication with diphenhydramine as prophylaxis. The article does note the potential for false-positive coding for anaphylaxis for mild allergic reactions, respiratory symptoms, or hives—all common infusion reactions. For this study, there was no chart review of a subset of patients to insure the algorithm was correctly identifying patients with anaphylaxis. In fact, one of the studies the authors cite to support their methods noted in their conclusion: "While the overall PPV [positive predictive value] of 63% was higher than previous publications, it remains low for its use in surveillance" [7]. The concerns about over coding are heightened by calculation of death rates, not reported in the article, but able to be derived from data in the supplement (Table I). The iron dextran death rate was numerically the lowest supporting the idea that many of the "anaphylaxis" reactions were actually infusion symptoms and not anaphylaxis. Another concerning issue is the population studied is not representative of the totality of the patients receiving iron. The average age of the study patients was in the 70s and receiving iron for either chronic renal disease or gastrointestinal/genitourinary bleeding. Thus, younger patients and those receiving iron for pregnancy, heavy uterine bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, iron deficiency associated with bariatric surgery were underrepresented in this results. Finally, this study did not provide a perspective for reaction rates with other commonly used agents. The reaction rates for intravenous iron is in the same range or lower for commonly used drugs such as penicillin, contrast agents, antiseizure medications, and acetaminophen (0.01–0.1%


AbstractIn this study, a titanium electrode coated with multiwall carbon nanotubes was prepared by the electrophoretic deposition method. The electrode was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical oxidation (EO) performance of prepared electrode was investigated using Acid Red 33 (AR33) as a model pollutant. The effect of initial pH of dye solution, current density, and type of supporting electrolyte on color removal efficiency were studied. High color removal efficiency (90%) was achieved for AR33 dye using a current density of 5.5 mA/cm2 for 60 min. In addition, a comparison of EO, ozonation (O), and electrolysis combined ozonation (ECO) processes for decolorization of AR33 solution was performed. Results indicated that color removal efficiency follows the decreasing order: ECO > EC > O.


Let G = (V;E) be a simple graph of order n and size m. An r-matching of G is a set of r edges of G which no two of them have common vertex. The Hosoya index Z(G) of a graph G is dened


The purpose of this research is to test and analyze the impact of transformational leadership and the religiosity values to the knowledge sharing and the performance of human resources. This is an explanatory research that emphasized on the relation between research variable by testing the hypothesis. To get the complete data and accurate also accountable the scientific truth used the questionnaire and interview. Instrument used in this research are questioners in Likert scale 1 to 5. Total of the respondents in this research are 141 SCAs in Salatiga Government. Researcher collects online quest data using Google form which send directly to the respondents, until the exact amount fulfilled. Data analysis in this research use Partial Least Square (PLS). Result of this research shows that Transformational Leadership has significant positive effect to the Knowledge Sharing. The Transformational Leadership has positive effect to the performance of human resources. Religiosity values have positive effect to the Knowledge Sharing but found that Religiosity Values do not have any significant effects to the performance of human resources. Knowledge Sharing doesn't have significant effect to the improvement performance of human resources. So that the performance of human resources can be improved by implementation of Transformational Leadership. Knowledge Sharing in the organization can be improving by Transformational Leadership and Religiosity values implementation.


Quality of Service providing in Internet-like computer networks has been tested for low-speed links and VoIP service in the operational CARNet network. QoS techniques, traffic selection and prioritization were deployed and tested for three voice codecs G.711, G.728, and G.723.1, and for four low-speed links of 56, 64 and 128 kbps and 2 Mbps. VoIP QoS in presence of TCP and UDP traffic was acceptable at 2 Mbps only. With VoIP traffic only, low speed codecs performed well on 56-128 kbps links. G.723.1 at 5.3 kbps has shown very good results. Main reason for lower VoIP QoS was IP packet delay variation. Results of Mean Opinion Score and subjective quality estimated through E-model from packet QoS parameters were comparable. This approach can be used as a model for any service quality testing.


Political legitimacy is a common problem.Ideology is one of the important bases and sources of political legitimacy.China's rulers in the history all Attached great importance to the ideology to support the political legitimacy.However,the inherent defects of the ideology they created could not really guarantee the legitimacy of their rule or prevent their regimes change.In contemporary China some misunderstanding or mistakes once appeared in political legitimacy ideology building and publicizing.Marxism is the core of the ideology basis of the political legitimacy and Marxism ideological education is to make people identify the ideology of contemporary Chinese political legitimacy.


The oilfield industry is rapidly changing towards reduced CO2 emissions and sustainability. Although hydrocarbons are expected to remain the leading source for global energy, costs to produce them may become prohibitive unless new breakthrough in technology is established. Fortunately, the digital revolution in the IT industry continues at an accelerating pace. A digital stimulation approach for tight formations is presented, using the achievements of one industry to solve the challenges of another.
 The fracture hydrodynamics and in-situ kinetics model is incorporated in the advanced simulator together with the detailed multiphysics models based on acid systems digitization, including rheology and fluid- carbonate interactions data obtained from the laboratory experiments. Digitization of fluid-rock interaction and fluid leakoff was performed using a coreflooding setup that allowed pumping concentrated acids in core samples at high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) conditions. Varying the testing parameters across a broad range allowed refining the model coefficients in the simulator to obtain high accuracy in the predicted results.
 The digital slot concept was used to validate physical models in an iterative experimental approach. The software proved efficient at providing validation of multiphysics models used together with advanced slurry transport in the simulator. The fine computational grid allowed accurate predictions of the fracture geometry, etched width, and channel conductivity, resulting in realistic well productivity anticipations. Since multiple fluid systems of the acid stimulation portfolio were digitized and incorporated into the simulator, it was possible to optimize complex acid fracturing designs in the real field operations that included retarded single-phase and multiphase acid systems, self-diverting viscoelastic acids, and fiber- based diverting systems. Several case studies from multiple areas and reservoirs from Caspian and Middle East areas have demonstrated extremely positive oil and gas production results with reduced acid volumes with the digital stimulation workflow compared to conventionally stimulated offset wells.
 The digital stimulation workflow brings a new approach to acid fracturing optimization based on an integrated cycle in which high-resolution data from several sources are processed by powerful computing capacities. Starting from digitizing acid reactions with the core samples, through digitized rheology and particle transport in multiphysics models, an advanced numerical simulator tailors an optimum design from a number of acid system options, pumping rates, additive concentrations, and stage volumes to achieve best geometry of etched channels inside a fracture.


Comparative study of yeast growth and morphology of cells in nitrogen containing medium and under nitrogen starvation conditions has not been done before. The aim of this study was to investigate the ultrastructural changes in yeasts C. guilliermondii NP-4 cultivated with and without nitrogen. The yeast biomass cultivated under nitrogen starvation conditions has been twice lower, than in case of growth in nitrogen containing medium. Ultrastructural analysis of cells, carried out with scanning electron microscope, showed morphological changes in cells. A negative correlation of biomass and cell size was observed.


Purpose Describe and correlate acoustic and auditory-perceptual vocal measures, vocal complaints and professional characteristics of a group of teachers. Methods Ninety-nine female primary school teachers, aged 20 to 66 years, underwent auditory-perceptual (CAPE-V) and acoustic (Multi-Dimensional Voice Program Advanced) vocal assessments, and answered a questionnaire with questions about personal identification, overall health, occupational activities and vocal complaints. The ANOVA and Pearson's correlation statistical tests have been applied. Results The teachers worked 6.98 hours a day, on average, and had been working as teachers for 12.91 years, approximately. Most of them reported vocal complaints and were employed in private schools. Auditory perceptual parameters were normal. All measures of jitter, shimmer, voiceless or unvoiced and subharmonic segments were above the normal range, as well as the standard deviation for fundamental frequency and soft phonation index. Perturbation frequency and age, roughness, breathiness and overall degree of voice were positively correlated with age and length of professional practice. There was also a negative correlation between amplitude perturbation and daily use of voice. Conclusion The teachers' voices were considered as normal by the auditory-perceptual assessment, but noise and instability were detected in the acoustic analysis; there were, particularly, vocal complaints, and alteration of vocal acoustic and auditory-perceptual measures with increasing age and length of professional practice.


This chapter describes deaf education in Ghana, including the practices and challenges in public special schools for the deaf, early identification, hearing screening, audiological and educational assessment, and the impact of cultural beliefs and practices on school enrollment. For the past sixty years, Ghana has been striving to promote the development of formal education for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals through improvement in school participation rates and lifelong learning for independent living and sustainable development. The authors provide information on basic education (kindergarten to junior high school), secondary education placement options, medium of instruction, and the curriculum. Tertiary education, support services, legislation, and advocacy for deaf persons are also discussed. The chapter ends with conclusions and suggestions for future research in the promotion of best practices in the education of deaf individuals.


To improve results of surgical treatment of ventral and ventrolateral tumor of the spinal cord we were analyzed MRI and CT methods for precise diagnostic anatomical localization ventral and ventrolateral tumors of the spinal cord, analyzed surgical approaches and microanatomy, define the variations of different tumors the indications for surgical approaches and new surgical techniques of radical tumor resection without spinal cord displacement was developed. The studies were cover time-period from 1993 to 2003. 140 patients were studied. The new technique of radical removing ventral spinal cord tumors without spinal cord displacement clear-up superior for its results to traditional teclmique. The results operative treatment comprise the following: recovery 70 patients (50%), improvement 53 patients (38%), absence improvement 10 patients (7%) and deterioration 7 patients (5%).


Wireless communication is now moving to automotive systems. In the near future, vehicles and road side units (RSUs) will be equipped with various sensors such as radars, LIDARs, cameras, and GPSs to generate enormous sensor information. To enhance the safety and efficiency, they will share this raw sensor information each other through Gbps data rates using millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications. To realize this vision, two unfavorable attributes of mmWave communications should be addressed: 1) Overcoming blockage and 2) fast link configuration. One viable approach to addressing these issues is to exploit RSU equipped with many sensors. At a higher position such as at the top of the RSU, LoS links between vehicles and the RSU are more likely to be guaranteed as well as it facilitates the extraction of useful information for the fast link configuration such as the distances or the angles between vehicles and the RSU using the sensors. In this paper, we assume that from the sensors (aside from the relevant technology) the angular support information for the LoS link of each vehicle is known to the RSU in prior and we propose a fast link configuration method using the angular support information.


We clarified the construction and location characteristics of day care facilities and visiting care offices in the metropolitan suburbs. From the viewpoint of construction characteristics, over 70% of the facilities and the offices are constructed converting the existing buildings, especially used a store or an office. And from the view point of location characteristics, over 70% of them are located in the particular zoning areas, and over 75% of them are located within 0.5km from railway stations. These locations mostly correspond with the location of the potential user population. But some areas such as the area low-rise residential area spreading, and the area many facilities and offices are concentrated, have a problem for efficient service provision.


This study aims to analyze the tafseer al-Mishbāh by M. Quraish Shihab on the verses relating to the process of the human creation that has relevance to the concept of prenatal education. The approach used in this research is tafsir maudhū'i, ie tracing the verses relating to the problem under study and then described the interpretation of the verses. The data that have been collected then analyzed by the method of content analysis which analyze the interpreter's thoughts with theoretical categories so that found the main message and the context. The results of the study show that, God created the first human Adam and Eve then cultivate it into human offspring, by creating the womb. The stages of human development in the womb are ranging from nuthfah, 'alaqah, mudghah and ansya'a khalqan ākhar. The stage of ansya'a khalqan ākhar is the stage of the blowing of the spirit, the covenant of God with man, and God gives nature to man. Since that phase, children can get education. The effort to be done by parents in educating children in the prenatal period are running worship, reading and memorizing Al-Qur`a, dzikir, dialogue, follow the study of Islam (majlis ta`lim), behave well, and be consistent.


Proton batteries have been considered as an innovative energy storage technology owing to their high safety and cost‐effectiveness. However, the development of fast‐charging proton batteries with high energy/power density is greatly limited by feasible material selection. Here, the pre‐protonated vanadium hexacyanoferrate (H‐VHCF) is developed as a proton cathode material to alleviate the capacity loss of proton‐free electrode materials during electrochemical tests. The pre‐protonation process realizes fast and long‐distance transport of protons by shortening diffusion path and reducing migration barriers. Benefitting from the enhanced hydrogen bonding network combined with dual redox reactions of V and Fe in protonated H‐VHCF cathode, a high energy density of 74 Wh kg−1 at 1.1 kW kg−1, and a maximum power density of 54 kW kg−1 at 65 Wh kg−1 is achieved for the asymmetric proton batteries coupling with MoO3/MXene anode. Proton transport and double oxidation‐reduction center are verified by theoretical calculations and ex situ experimental measurements. Considering the anti‐freezing availability of proton batteries, 82.5% of its initial capacity is maintained after 10000 cycles under −40 °C at 0.5 A g−1. As a proof‐of‐concept, flexible device fabricated by optimized electrodes and hydrogel electrolytes can power up a light‐emitting diode even under a bent state.


— The aim of our work is to identify new genes and proteins involved in the control of the proliferation of thyroid cells as putative protooncogenes and antioncogenes. Several strategies are discussed. A first study has allowed to identify three new genes. Further search will use the differential display and gene arrays methodology. The role of the identified proteins coded by the genes is studied in vitro by the search of partner proteins by the double hydrid method and in vivo by mice gene knockout protooncogenes antioncogenes / proliferation


PURPOSE: A biosensor having improved sample introduction ability and containing a multiporous thin film with a function of chromatography is provided, thereby giving convenience in its use, and correctly measuring the amount of the sample injected. CONSTITUTION: The multiporous thin film containing biosensor contains an additional sample introducing means, to improve sample introduction ability. The biosensor comprises (a) a lower board(10); (b) a J character-formed operating electrode-connecting wire(11'), a supplementary electrode-connecting wire(12'), an operating electrode(11) containing sensing materials on a standard electrode-connecting wire(13'), and a standard electrode(13); (c) the multiporous thin film(16) having electron transfer vehicles and enzymes or fixing electrode materials and an adhesive agent(17); (d) an upper board(10') having a hole(18) and a supplementary electrode on a Y character-formed electrode-connecting wire(20); and (e) a cover fixing an additional upper board(10") containing the sample introducing means(14) with open both ends with the adhesive agent(17).


Abstract When a system of N masses, linked together by springs, is disturbed from its static equilibrium position, then it will vibrate in a manner characterized by the N natural frequencies of the system. Should the whole system be in rotation with constant rotation speed then these natural frequencies are all decreased by an amount depending upon the rotation rate. However, if the rotation speed is increased beyond a certain level then the motion will become "unstable", i.e., no longer vibrational. Only rotational speeds below this level are considered here. In this work, the system is mounted upon a turntable in such a manner that the masses may move only radially and the turntable is set rotating and the masses released. As the total angular momentum is conserved then the motions of the masses are coupled with the rotation of the turntable; that is, the rotation speed is no longer constant but is intimately linked to the motions taking place upon it. The effect on the natural frequencies of this coupling, and also of the initial positions and velocities when coupling is present are investigated. Two cases are pursued, one in which the displacements from the equilibrium position are "small" and the other where the coupling is "weak". In both cases, all the natural frequencies increase from their values at constant rotation; that is, the coupling is a stabilizing influence. Initially, a single mass system is considered in order to gain insight before the more general N -mass system is tackled. Damping is ignored throughout.


In 1965, S. Tanno [6] introduced the concept of partially conformal transformations with respect to (n-1)-dimensional distributions of n-dimensional Riemannian manifolds and the many interesting results was gotten by the author. Such transformations have been appeared in the theory of almost contact metric structure. In this note, we shall study the transformation above stated in paraSasakian manifolds. The main result is the following Theorem 3.5. The group H(M) of PD-homotheties is a Lie group and the subgroup SH(M) of H(M) is the identity component of H(M). As for the definitions of H(M), SH(M) and PD-homothety, see g2.


Side-channel cryptanalysis pose a serious threat to many modern cryptographic systems. Typical scenario of a side-channel attack consists of an active phase, where data are acquired, and of an analytical phase, where the data get examined and evaluated. This work presents a software toolkit which includes support for both phases of the side-channel attack. The toolkit consists of noninteractive text-based utilities with modular plug-in architecture. The measurement utility supports different oscilloscopes, target interfaces and measurement scenarios. The evaluation utilities include support for the test vector leakage assessment and the CPA attack. Different approaches to the algorithmical evaluation of the attack are implemented in order to extract the cipher key. The visualisation utility allows for the visual examination of the attack results by the user. The toolkit aims to be multiplatform and it is written using C/C++ with performance in mind. Time-demanding operations (such as the statistical analysis) are accelerated using OpenMP and OpenCL for an efficient computation on both CPU and GPU devices.


The utility model discloses a wall-attached type double-rod lifting rod. The wall-attached type double-rod lifting rod comprises two thin rods, a sliding base, a locking assembly and an operation component, wherein the sliding base is connected outside the two thin rods in a sleeved mode and located between the two thin rods; the locking assembly is movably connected in the sliding base and moves between the locking position and the separation position; when located at the locking position, the locking assembly is fixedly connected with the thin rods; when located at the separation position, the locking assembly is separated from the thin rods; the operation component is movably connected on the sliding base and is in transmission connection with the locking assembly. The wall-attached type double-rod lifting rod has the advantages that the two thin rods replace a traditional thick rod, and the sliding base is located between the two thin rods, so that the overall structure is small and exquisite; space is saved as the thin rods are more attached to a wall; the space between the two thin rods is fully utilized, the sliding base is designed to be smallest, the overall structure is simple, the style is prominent, and artistic design and practicability are achieved; the operation component drives the locking assembly to move to adjust the position, on the thin rods, of the sliding base so as to adjust the height of a shower head, and adjustment is convenient.


With the advent of the new generation of heavy ion storage‐cooler rings brilliant monochromatic beams of highly‐charged ions are now available, allowing for new kinds of precision experiments in atomic physics. The basic principles of electron‐ and laser‐cooler which make these rings powerful tools are outlined. Selected experiments conducted at cooler rings with a significant atomic physics program are briefly discussed. This overview covers a wealth of recent experiments, reaching from radiative and dielectronic recombination up to laser‐stimulated electron capture, X‐ray spectroscopy, test of relativity, and atomic astrophysics.


Heavy corrosion sections of oil wells in Jingqiu oilfield mainly located in the depth between 1000 m and 1600 m.The average pump inspection cycle was 190.4 days.Based on the local corrosion and scaling conditions,through orthagonal test the corrosion and scale inhibitors were found.Field practice showed that the decline rate of ferric ion reached 99.8% and the corrosion rate decreased 87.0%,Ca2+ increased 89.3% than that before adding drugs.


ImportanceHeadache can be a functional indication for ptosis repair and blepharoplasty. ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes in headache-related quality of life in patients who underwent upper eyelid p...


We present methods for extracting corneal images and estimating pupil centers continuously and reliably using head worn glasses that consists of two eye cameras. An existing CNN was modified for detecting pupils in IR and RGB images, and stereo vision together with 2D and 3D models are used. We confirm the feasibility of the proposed methods through user study results, which show that the methods can be used in future real gaze estimation systems.


Spatial data infrastructure (SDI) is the infrastructure that facilitates the discovery, access, management, distribution, reuse, and preservation of digital geospatial resources. The aim of this paper is to present the nature and concept of spatial data infrastructures, which have helped to build understanding about the importance of the relationships within different levels of SDIs to support the interactions and partnerships of the spatial data communities.


Priority-based flow-control is essential for dead-line based real-time applications. First-in-first-out queues introduce priority inversion, which can cause unbounded delays. Yet very few priority queue implementations exist. This paper presents a novel 1.2 /spl mu/m CMOS priority packet queue that manipulates its contents in terms of packet segments, rather than individual words. Similar to paged memory, this architecture stores variable-sized packets, while avoiding storage area fragmentation. It significantly increases throughput by distributing the computationally intensive priority comparison operation over the access time for an entire segment. When full, the queue can either perform priority inheritance or overwrite lower priority packets. Its robust handling of a synchronous and disparate read and write clocks makes it suitable for use as a general network interface buffer. Our prototype achieves double the throughput of a conventional design, and larger capacity implementations promise even greater improvements.<<ETX>>


Genetic detection, particularly at the single molecule level, has emerged as a leading field in molecular diagnostics since the vast accumulation of genetic information due to DNA sequencing. Genetic detection is particularly important in cancer diagnostics and prognosis, since cancer cells exhibit unique genetic signatures. Padlock probes are particularly suitable for this purpose due to their intrinsic specificity mediated by precise base pairing of 3' and 5' ends for ligation to occur. Moreover, isothermal amplification of ligated padlock probes provides a rapid and sensitive assay for genetic detection. We have investigated two isothermal amplification assays, namely rolling circle amplification (RCA)-loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and ramification amplification (RAM) in single molecule detection. RCA-LAMP was discovered to successfully detect 10 molecules of ligated padlock probe, and proved a more rapid and sensitive assay than RAM. In addition, a breakpoint in the 20 kb deletion in the 9p21 chromosome of Detroit 562 pharyngeal cancer cells was detected by RCA- LAMP. Herein, we also discuss the limitations and shortcomings of each assay and the application of isothermal amplification of ligated padlock probes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)


In view of some problems in exploitation of ore-body with multiple mined-out areas,such as hard recycling,weak security in mining,and high rock mixing,Xishimen iron mine is adopted as engineering basis to study the exploitation of ore-body with multiple mined-out areas.Based on analysis of inadaptability of original mining methods and flat bottom structure,and considering the stability of roof surrounding rocks and the features of skarns at footwall,a new scheme that combines inclined drift with flat bottom trench structure and treats skarns as low grade ore is proposed.Several different bottom structures layout,such as double trenchs,and single trench,etc,are formed for different dip angle and thickness,which are suitable for recovery of different orebodies.In the end,the characteristics of the flat bottom trench structure is analysed,and an appropriate supporting measure is proposed for ensuring the scheme going on smoothly.


We have fabricated GaP/InAs islands/GaP structures using various growth sequences for the GaP cap layer, by low-pressure organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (LP-OMVPE). The effects of the growth sequences on the buried InAs islands and the GaP cap layers have been investigated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The two-step growth sequence is effective for the growth of GaP cap layers, whereby the first GaP layer is grown at the same temperature as InAs islands and the second GaP layer is successively grown at the optimized growth temperature of GaP. The growth sequence yields good-quality GaP/InAs islands/GaP structures with small InAs islands (15 nm in width and 5 nm in height) and a high-quality GaP cap layer. Droplet heteroepitaxy of GaP cap layers is feasible for the control of the size of buried InAs islands.


Background : Heat sensitive medical devices are decontaminated between patients in 2% alkaline gluteraldehyde (GTA) baths. Baths are often reused for 14 days. Many busy endoscopy or surgery units also disinfect such instruments with contact times less than the recommended by the manufacturer. Aim of the work : is to evaluate the virucidal activity of alkaline glutaraldehyde (GTA) against both RNA and DNA virus models at different contact periods regarding reusing durations as well as to assess its concentration, protein contents and the solution pH. Methodology : We collected daily samples of disinfectant from a manual bath at a local hospital over the 14-days of the reuse cycle. Control samples were also collected from a similar bath of glutaraldehyde but did not receive any instruments. The virucidal activity of alkaline gluteraldehyde was evaluated after 5, 15 and 20 minutes contact time, using Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFv), Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV- I), Adenovirus- 40 (Adv- 40 ), and Poilovirus type 3 (Poliov-3). The criterion of efficacy was a minimum of a 3-log 10 -unit reduction in the infectivity titers of the virus tested. Solution concentration, protein contents and pH were estimated for each sample. Results : Shorter exposure time of 5 and 15 minutes were critical and not efficient when pH and concentration decrease and protein load increase. An exposure time of 20 minutes improve the efficiency of GTA regarding (HSV-1) and (RVFv), however showed failure to eradicate polioviruses on day 10 (2.55 log reduction) and adenovirus on day 12 (2.74 log reduction) of the reuse cycle. An inverse relation between protein accumulation and gluteraldehyde concentration were observed. These finding emphasize the importance to monitor the disinfectant especially with increasing the threat of AIDS, hepatitis viruses and the resurgence of tuberculosis.


Portulaca oleracea Linn. of family Portulacaceae is a medicinally important herb. Quantitative phytochemical analysis of Portulaca oleracea was carried for four main parameters, i.e., alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin and saponin. In addition to this total protein estimation was also carried. The plant samples were collected from garden area which was unpolluted site, and roadside area facing air pollution generated from traffic exhaust. Plant samples from polluted site also faced nutrient stress, water stress and stress of extreme temperature. Phytochemical analysis was carried separately for leaf and stem samples. Notably the percent values of phytochemicals, namely total alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponin, and nutrient component protein were found to be relatively high in leaf samples as compared to the stem samples. Their percent values were found to be relatively high in samples collected from polluted site than the samples collected from unpolluted site. It shows that Portulaca oleracea has potential to grow in wasteland under nutrient and water stress conditions on one hand and at the same time the phytoconstituents values remain relatively high under stress.


The UV Raman excitation profiles of l-cystine have been measured between 220 and 514.5 nm. No enhancement is observed from the lowest energy electronic transition (λmax = 245 nm). The excitation profiles for the SS, CS and CO stretching vibrations are each satisfactorily modeled by standard Albrecht A-term pre-resonance expressions which indicate that the Raman intensities derive from a state(s) at ca 170 nm which is probably σ σ* in character. Selective enhancement of disulfide stretching vibrations in proteins will require excitation in the vacuum UV spectral region.


INTRODUCTION: Force plate measurement systems unavoidably introduce noise into the output signals (Hunt, 1998). The noise in the COP signal is the propagation error that arises from the combination of the components used to compute it (i.e. strain gauges and/or transductor) with function f. Generally, the noise is modeled as a wide-band additive, stationary, zero-mean, and uncorrelated noise that contaminates the low-pass COP signal with noise variance σ. However, even if the noise of the recorded GRF signals can be modelled as an additive zero-mean "white noise", the nonlinear transformation in COP computation induces noise in the COP signal that becomes nonstationary (i.e., unequal noise variance), except for the case where the Fz (vertical force component) is constant. In many fields of biomechanical studies, there are instants where Fz vector of GRF changes its magnitude drastically during its evolution in time, so, the noise presented in the raw COP coordinates should be modeled as additive, zero-mean, and nonstationary–i.e., unequal noise variance across COP coordinates and variations in time of the noise power. Weak correlated noise is also assumed. This renders time-invariant Fourier transform based filtering techniques or Generalized cross-validated splines (GCVSPL) as suboptimal. In dynamics tasks, many ways exist to process force plate measured signals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the noise in the COP signal under different experimental conditions to construct a weighted variance matrix for the COP noise in conformance with the GUM approach (BIPM, IFCC, IUPAC, & ISO, 2008).


A prompt change over an area can be observed in Land Use and Land Cover maps (LULC) brought by several factors, thus classifying LULC can give vital information such as the scale of commercialized and residential lands, and the availability of forest and barren land. In this study, CNN using pre-trained models such as ResNet-50, VGG16, and EfficientNetB0 was applied to LULC dataset to classify the satellite images into seven classes. The pre-trained model that exhibits a highest performance is the ResNet50 with an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 0.67499


Through analysis of Chinese bus industry's actuality and competition environment, this paper sums up the industry's problem and deficiency, as well as the superiority and opportunity of bus enterprises. Thus,this paper puts forward the guiding principle of development strategy, and points out the approaches to realize overall cost leadership strategy and differentiation strategy.


The simultaneous accumulation of iodopyracet labeled with 13J I and of J25 I by ciliary bodyiris preparations from albino and pigmented rabbits was studied in vitro. The ciliary processes ivere separated from the iris and the uptake of iodopyracet and iodide was shown to be mainly localized to the processes. Pilocarpine in low concentrations (10- 7 to 10~ 5 M) tended to increase the iodopyracet accumulation in albino rabbits. In pigmented rabbits the increase was statistically significant. The accumulation of iodide was not affected by low concentrations of pilocarpine. High pilocarpine concentrations (10~ 3 to 10- 2 M) inhibited the accumulation of both iodopyracet and iodide. The inhibition of iodopyracet accumulation was reversible and was not caused by an increased leakage from the preparation.


In the present paper results of the tests for fatigue strength and resistance to severe
environ-mental conditions performed on several prototypical under sleeper pads (USP) are
presented. The work includes results of the static and dynamic tests carried out on samples of
three materials, which were used to produce the USP. The fatigue tests were performed up to
500 thousand load cycles and they aimed at determining which of the analysed USP have favourable
properties, taking into account their potential application as the elements used for
reduction of stresses in the ballast – especially in the ballast layer directly under the sleeper –
and reduction of the material and acoustic vibration emitted to the railway track's surrounding
(vibration and noise). In the climatic tests that were aimed at determining the influence of
severe environmental conditions on the properties of USP, the samples were attached to concrete
blocks and immersed in water for 24 h and then placed in a climatic chamber, where
they were subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. The results show that both the fatigue and climatic
tests have influence on the damping-related parameters of the USP, what affects the
effectiveness of the vibration isolation.


The stunning silica structures formed by diatoms are among the most remarkable examples of biological nanofabrication. In recent years, insight into the molecules and mechanism that allow diatoms to perform silica morphogenesis under ambient conditions has been gained.


The following article is focused on a method of reducing the high risks of business activities. The insurance is regarded here in details as a method of risks transfer. It is obvious that the customer (the authorized body) often faces the risk of being left both without the support of the application for running a competition or an auction and without the support of the state or municipal contract itself. Provided by the 94-FL law possibility of supporting the application for a competition or an auction and supporting the state or municipal contract by means of a monetary funds pledge is not supported by civil legislation and even contradicts to it. The author states that today the suitability for the state customers to use theapplication support during the bidding can often cause serious doubts.


Due to necessity to predict accurately the performance of fluidized-bed catalytic cracking (FCC) industrial units, after feedstock or catalyst is changed, us...


The phenomenon of rapid mass-transfer in solid state observed in metals after pulsed action is characterized by transfer of atoms within the short periods of action time to the depths significantly exceeding the diffusion depth under the conditions of stationary annealing. The features of other transport phenomena (mass-transfer, heat-transfer, etc.) arising in metal at pulsed energy action on a crystal are also discussed. The best instrument to study transformations in the matter under pulsed action is an easily controlled laser pulse. In a given work, the nature and correlations between transport phenomena in metals excited by the energy pulse are studied.


Hydrothermality, as it is applicable at relatively low temperatures, is regarded as efficient for the selective decomposition of industrial wastewater disposal containing organic pollutants. Electrical discharge produced by high-voltage pulsed power has gained attention as a recently developed method used to generate hydrothermality required to degrade organic pollutants in waste water as this method not only generates a hydroxyl radical, it also generates atomic oxygen with a high oxidation potential. Here, we utilize these conditions to study the removal characteristics for aniline and its products. The experiments were conducted at 353 K and 5 MPa using a batch type reactor. Intermediate compounds from the conversion of aniline in the aqueous products were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Aniline can be considered representative of the aromatic ring structures present in waste water. The maximum aniline conversion was 30.21 % with a 10000 times pulsed discharge plasma. The conversion of aniline increased with the existence of the electric filed which produced by pulsed discharge plasma. The results suggest the use of pulsed plasma is effective at the decomposition of aniline in hydrothermal conditions.


This paper presents complex permittivity of each layer of fully ripe palm fruit var. Tenera at frequency from 1 to 30 MHz. The complex permittivity data of palm fruit which can be described in terms of dielectric constant and loss factor is very crucial to design a radio frequency (RF) system for heating palm fruit. From our measurement, the characteristics of the capacitance, dielectric constant and loss factor of all palm fruit layers decrease significantly with frequency. The loss tangent of the kernel and mesocarp layers is higher than the shell layer; meaning that both kernel and mesocarp layers can absorb radio energy and convert to heat more efficient than the shell layer. Applying the radio wave either at 13.56 or 27.12 MHz, the penetration depths of mesocarp and kernel layers are computed and found to be several times thicker than the their thickness values. This confirms that an efficient RF heating mechanism in mesocarp and kernel layers can be obtained.


Abstract A route to the oxabicyclic cores of the HIV cytoprotective quinolone alkaloids, waltheriones C and D, is described. The approach relies on a stereospecific transannular bromoetherification followed by reductive debromination. The route can also be rendered enantioselective via enzymatic reduction of a key intermediate (>99:1 er).


Brassinosteroids(BRs) are a new group of plant hormones with significant growth-promoting activity.This review focused on main physiology and molecular mechanisms underlying BR-promoted growth in shoots,roots,flowers and fruits of horticultural crops,and the role of BRs in micropropagation.


Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major etiological agent of non‐A, non‐B post‐transfusion hepatitis. Its genome, a (+)‐stranded RNA molecule of approximately 9.4 kb, encodes a large polyprotein that is processed by viral and cellular proteases into at least nine different viral polypeptides. As with other (+)‐strand RNA viruses, the replication of HCV is thought to proceed via the initial synthesis of a complementary (‐) RNA strand, which serves, in turn, as a template for the production of progeny (+)‐strand RNA molecules. An RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase has been postulated to be involved in both of these steps. Using the heterologous expression of viral proteins in insect cells, we present experimental evidence that an RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase is encoded by HCV and that this enzymatic activity is the function of the 65 kDa non‐structural protein 5B (NS5B). The characterization of the HCV RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase product revealed that dimer‐sized hairpin‐like RNA molecules are generated in vitro, indicating that NS5B‐mediated RNA polymerization proceeds by priming on the template via a 'copy‐back' mechanism. In addition, the purified HCV NS5B protein was shown to perform RNA‐ or DNA oligonucleotide primer‐dependent RNA synthesis on templates with a blocked 3′ end or on homopolymeric templates. These results represent a first important step towards a better understanding of the life cycle of the HCV.


The technology of fabricating of chains of tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) elements based on CoFe/Al2O3/NiFe nanostructures with pinning on the antiferromagnetic IrMn layer has been developed. The dependence of the magnetoresistance curves on the geometrical parameters of the laterally bounded TMR contacts, as well as on the mutual orientation of the external magnetic field and the axis of the unidirectional anisotropy of the fixed CoFe layer has been investigated. The resistance of the chains has been varied from several tens of kΩ to hundreds of MΩ, depending on the thickness of the tunnel dielectric layer. The magnitude of the magnetoresistive effect has been about 10–15%. The suggested technology can be used to make tunnel magnetic field sensors


Background. Infestations with the poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, can result in anaemia, stress-related behaviours linked to reduced laying hen welfare, and impaired productivity. A study was conducted to investigate the potential welfare benefits of PRM elimination following fluralaner treatment.MethodsA single poultry house was selected on each of two layer farms, one free-range, one aviary, containing 5,400 Lohmann LSL hens and 42,400 Lohmann Brown hens, respectively. Fluralaner (Exzolt®; 0.5 mg/kg body weight) was administered twice, seven days apart (Weeks 0 and 1). Mite populations were regularly monitored by traps left in place for one to two days. Infra-red cameras monitored night-time hen behaviours weekly, beginning five weeks pre-treatment, continuing for five and six weeks post-treatment on the free-range and aviary farms, respectively. Weekly daytime behaviours were recorded on the free-range farm. On the aviary farm, blood samples were collected from 50 randomly selected hens during Weeks -3, -1 and 5. On the free-range farm, eggs were randomly collected for corticosterone analysis during Weeks -6, 0 and 6, and on the aviary farm during Weeks -3, -1 and 5. Production parameters were assessed using farm records.ResultsFluralaner efficacy on the free-range farm was >99% following the first administration, and on the aviary farm was 100% at Week 1 and at all subsequent mite counts. On both farms, treatment was followed by significant reductions in night-time preening, head scratching, head shaking, and activity, and on the aviary farm in vertical wing shaking and gentle feather pecking. On the free-range farm there were significant daytime reductions in head scratching, head shaking and preening. Post-treatment increases in egg and plasma corticosterone were suggestive of stress factors extra to mite infestation. Red blood cell counts and haematocrit increased following treatment. On the free range farm, relative to standard production parameters for LSL hens, the decline in laying rate with increasing bird age was less than expected, and the increase in egg weight greater than expected. ConclusionFluralaner treatment eliminated mite challenge, leading to improved hen welfare and health, based on reductions in stress-related behaviours, and restoration of the anaemia-inducing effects of mite blood feeding.


This paper registers reports about dipterans made by three Portuguese who lived in Brazil during the 18th century. Luiz Gomes Ferreira, in his book "Erario mineral" ["Mineral revenue"], wrote curious passages related with myiasis-causing flies of the genus Cochliomyia. Jose Rodrigues de Mello registered, in Latin verses, the folklore for curing myiases caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax in cattle. Luiz dos Santos Vilhena, in the last of his twenty letters dealing with several aspects of life in Brazil, made reference to horseflies, human bot flies and mosquitos.


The paper, step by step, demonstrates first that while it brings unprecedented comfort and convenience to man, the modern advanced industrial civilization, a sword with two blades, is hurting man itself, making the human personality seriously alienated. In addition to this, there are many other bothers such as death, loneliness, decline of health, disease, desire and so on. So human spirit has lost its dependence and cozy home. It is put forward and emphasized in the article that aesthetic education is the necessary way to diminish the human personality alienation, to call the human personality to return to its cozy spirit and realize the perfect personality.


In order to determine the optimum fabrication condition of inorganic electroluminescence device by co-firing of multilayers consisted of phosphor ((Ca0.6Sr0.4)0.997Pr0.002)TiO3, dielectric materials BaTiO3, transparent electrode ITO and back electrode AgPd, sintering behavior of the layers and changes of chemical composition and electro-properties were investigated during calcination and co-firing. It was developed that the calcination temperature above 900°C was appropriate for the phosphor to suppress the crack and delamination caused by gas evolution and expansion during co-firing. Addition of phosphor material to BaTiO3 layer was an effective method to obtain the desired sintering behavior and electro-characteristics. The sintering behavior of BaTiO3 layer could be matched with that of phosphor layer, and dielectric constant was improved rather than BaTiO3 alone when BaTiO3 was mixed with phosphor with the volume ratio of 80 : 20. By co-firing at the temperatures of 800°C and 1100°C, the inorganic electro-luminescence device with the radiation of red light could be prepared.


The wavefunction of the Fraunhofer diffraction from sector stars (i.e. radial gratings, spoke targets, Jewell's tests, Siemens' stars) is derived. Particular features of the diffraction patterns are explained by means of both the derived mathematical formulae and the general properties of Fraunhofer diffraction patterns. The graphs and patterns of the sector stars with the symmetry n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 72 are given.


The recovery and purification of platinum and rhodium from spent castable refractory of glass fiber industry are discussed.The platinum and rhodium were well extracted by a series of treatments including aqua regia dissolution,ion exchange,solvent extraction and levextrel resin separation.The results show that the recovery rates of platinum and rhodium can be over 90%,and the purities of the prepared sponge platinum and rhodium powder can be greater than 99.95%.


The hydraulic model test of curved spillway is carried out to evaluate the effect of setting guide wall in curved section of spillway chute on ski-jump energy dissipation.Optimization effects of ski-jump energy dissipation with guide wall are evaluated by comparing the flow pattern of jet trajectory,the scour pit pattern after brushing and energy dissipation ratio with conditions of setting guide wall in curved section of spillway chute or not.The results show that setting guide wall in curved section of spillway chute can make flow pattern uniform and scour pit symmetric distribution,reduce the area and depth of scour pit and raise energy dissipation ratio.


Objective
To investigate the anti-proteinuria and anti-inflammatory effect of the different dosages of tripterygium wilfordii polyglucosides (TWP) in rats with diabetic nephropathy.

Methods
A total of 68 male SD rats aged 5-6 weeks and weighed (190±15)g were divided into the normal control group (NC, n=8) and the high glucose fatty diet group (HGFD, n=60) by the randomized table method. After feeding with high glucose fatty diet for 4 weeks, rats in the HGFD group were induced into the diabetics by Streptozotocin (STZ) and further divided into the diabetic model group (DM group), TWP low-dose group (TL group, 6 mg/kg), TWP middle-dose group (TM group, 12 mg/kg) and TWP high-dose group (TH group, 24 mg/kg), with 15 rats in each. At week 5, after the induction of DN in the HGFD group, the intervention was given by gavage and all rats were sacrificed at the end of the week 8. The following parameters were tested in all rats: blood glucose and blood lipid after HGFD, UMA at week 0, 4 and 8, liver and kidney function and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-4 in the renal tissue at the the end of week 8. Difference was compared by the single factor analysis and the independent-samples t test of variance. The multivariate analysis of covariance was applied to control the baseline difference between the groups and the effect of weight, triglycerides and total cholesterol on the expression of TNF-α and IL-4.

Results
(1)The levels of blood glucose (t=4.404, 3.393, 2.699, 2.940, all P 0.05). (3) Significant difference was showed in the mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α and IL-4 among the 5 groups(F=87.415, 15.623, 152.196, 11.377, respectively, P 0.05). Compared with the DM group, the mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α were dramatically decreased in the three TWP groups (t=5.233, 8.397, 4.021, 4.765, 5.977, 2.727, all P<0.05), while those of IL-4 were significantly increased (t=31.509, 36.532, 6.540, 7.761, 9.621, 5.387, all P<0.05), with the highest effect observed in the TM group and followed by the TL group and the TH group.

Conclusion
TWP can enhance the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, and inhibit that of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α. Thus, TWP could alleviate the local inflammation in kidney, which may be the key mechanism of its anti-proteinuria effect.

Key words:
Type 2, diabetes mellitus; Diabetic nephropathy; Tripterygium wilfordii polyglucosides; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Interleukin-4


Complexes of the types [MX2L2] and [MX2L][where M = ZnII, CdII, or HgII; X = Cl, Br, or I; L = thiomorpholin-3-one (tm) or thiazolidine-2-thione (ttz)] have been obtained as nonelectrolyte, white, diamagnetic compounds. The measurements seem to suggest for 1 : 2 derivatives a monomeric tetrahedral stereochemistry and for the 1 : 1 derivative a polymeric halide-bridged structure. The i.r. spectra suggest that the tm-derivatives are O-bonded in the case of zinc and cadmium complexes and S-bonded in the mercury ones while all ttz-derivatives are N-bonded.


The output maneuvering problem is defined as solving the geometric and dynamic tasks. Based on the backstepping approach with vector form, a new output feedback adaptive control scheme is presented to solve an output maneuvering problem for multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear systems with parametric uncertainty. The geometric and the dynamic tasks are solved meanwhile the global stability of the closed loop systems is guaranteed through the control scheme. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.


In this article, the stability of the positive balance of the Grilpin-Ayala competition model of two species with reative proliferative terms is discussed with the method of forming average Liapuno functions, and its determinative conditions are also given.


The two-nucleon-transfer spectroscopic factor for quadrupole one-phonon states is studied. The average-particle-number conservation condition in the collective state is formulated in the framework of the adiabatic theory with a moving basis. The change of the energy gap in the collective state is included, as well as the change of the average particle number in the states of the parent and daughter nuclei. Numerical calculations of the spectroscopic factors are performed for the (p,t) and (t,p) reactions for nuclei of the actinide region.


Background. Improvement of the methodology for the computational analysis of residual stresses in the structural elements of the reactor is an integral part of the work when extending the service life of NPP power units.
Objective. Determine the value of residual technological stress arising in the baffle of a VVER-1000 reactor during welding and postweld heat treatment according to the austenitizing mode. To evaluate the effect of considering the dependence of the heat transfer coefficient on the temperature of the baffle surface at cooling in air during heat treatment.
Methods. Numerical modeling of the stress-strain state of the baffle during welding and postweld heat treatment was carried out using the finite element method.
Results. It was determined that in the process of heat treatment according to the austenitizing mode, the residual welding stress in the baffle are almost completely relaxed. Due to the high temperature gradient during rapid cooling in air after heating in the process of austenitization, new rather high residual stresses are formed in the zones of the baffle with the greatest metal thickness.
Conclusions. Based on the results of the investigation, a high level of residual technological stress was determined, which should be considered when calculating the justification for extending the service life of the VVER-1000 reactor baffle.


The disclosed IDT/h-BN/c-BN/ diamond multilayer membrane structure SAW device comprises: from bottom to top, a nano-diamond membrane base prepared on mirror silicon, a nano c-BN membrane intermediate layer, a high-C-axis preferred orientated nano h-BN membrane, and an IDT. This invention can be used on condition of 2. 5GHz, high electromechanical coupling factor, smaller loss at 8w propagation, and low frequency temperature coefficient.


The database for a study of the effects of climate change on the sediment flux of 20 of the larger streams entering the sea from the coasts of central and southern California is presented here. The database includes selected rain fall records, streamflow, hydrographs, sediment flux, and a 92-year record of Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) which serves as an indication of climate change. Procedures for determining sediment flux from stream flow and for delineating climate trends in the data are also presented.


Introduction Cross-country skiers and swimmers present characteristics of airway inflammation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix similar to what is observed in mild asthma. We aimed to compare serum and sputum MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels, to assess the balance between airway fibrogenesis and inflammation process in both categories of athletes, and to observe its seasonal variations in winter sports athletes. Methods Competitive winter sports athletes (n=41), swimmers (n=25) and healthy nonathletes (n=10) had blood sampling, lung function measurement, skin prick tests, eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea challenge, methacholine inhalation test (MIT), and induced sputum analysis. Twelve winter sport athletes performed the test during both summer and winter. Serum and sputum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured by ELISA. Results No significant difference in serum or sputum MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was observed between groups, nor relationship with airway function or responsiveness. Serum MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was significantly higher during the summer in winter sport athletes compared with winter season (median [Interquartile range]: 3.65 [2.47-4.03] ng.ml-1 and 1.27 [0.97-1.62] ng.ml-1, respectively, p=0.005). Sputum MMP-9 correlated with Methacholine PC20 and serum CC16/SP-D ratio. Conclusion MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in sputum or serum may fluctuate with training or environment but does not correlate with airway lung function or responsiveness in competitive athletes.


The measurement of global tax progressivity has been extensively debated over the last decade. We find that the debate stems from a failure to fully recognize the role of the average tax burden. We demonstrate that, once the effect of the average tax burden is controlled for, the two major approaches to global progressivity measurement, which have been long thought to be fundamentally different, must rank tax systems the same way. We show that valid welfare inferences can be drawn from global progressivity comparisons only under these same conditions.


Context. Over the past decade there have been a series of results supporting the hypothesis of the existence of a long thin bar in the Milky Way with a half-length of 4.5 kpc and a position angle of around 45°. This is apparently a very different structure from the triaxial bulge of the Galaxy, which is thicker and shorter and dominates the star counts at $|l| Aims. In this paper, we analyse the stellar distribution in the inner Galaxy to see if there is clear evidence for two triaxial or bar-like structures in the Milky Way. Methods. By using the red-clump population as a tracer of Galactic structure, we determine the apparent morphology of the inner Galaxy. Deeper and higher spatial-resolution near infrared photometry from the UKIDSS Galactic plane survey allows us to use in-plane data even at the innermost Galactic longitudes, a region where the source confusion is a dominant effect that makes it impossible to use other databases, such as 2MASS or TCS-CAIN. Results. We show that results previously obtained with the red-clump giants are confirmed with the in-plane data from UKIDSS GPS. There are two different structures coexisting in the inner Galactic plane: one with a position angle of $23\fdg 60 \pm 2\fdg 19$ that can be traced from the Galactic centre up to ~10° (the Galactic bulge), and other with a larger position angle of $42 \fdg 44 \pm 2\fdg 14$, that ends around $l=28^\circ$ (the long Galactic bar).


Abstract Microtubules and microfilaments are elements of the cytoskeleton that are involved in cell motility. Dynamic and proper organization of the cytoskeleton is crucial for completion of oocyte maturation and fertilization. When performing mammalian developmental and reproductive techniques, information concerning the dynamism of the cytoskeleton is necessary and indispensable. Although rodents are widely used for developmental and reproductive technology, there are numerous differences between the cytoskeletal organization of rodent gametogenesis/fertilization and that of primates, including humans. Herein, a review of cytoskeletal organization during oocyte maturation and fertilization involving the differences between rodents, primates and other mammalian species is presented. Furthermore, we also review the function of the centrosome as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC). Proper information on the kinetics of the cytoskeleton is crucial for further expansion of developmental biology.


A qualitative exploratory-descriptive research, whose objective was to understand the experience of women during the inhibition of preterm labor at the obstetric center. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six postpartum mothers at a maternity room in Florianopolis, SC, from August to October 2008. They were reviewed in accordance with the proposal of Collective Subject's Discourse. The Central Ideas and Discourses include the following aspects: side effects of drug uterus-inhibitors, orientation received from professionals, experienced feelings, emotional support, care received and distress reported. The side effects of drugs uterus-inhibitor influenced on feelings of ambivalence between the need to continue inhibiting and the desire of childbirth. However, after the discontinuation of clinical decision of inhibition, feelings of relief emerged. Assistance to women during the inhibition of preterm labor might value the emotional aspects as well as the distress resulting from the treatment.


The existence of space charge may be addressed as one of the reasons that could cause shielding failure of transmission lines.In order to study the effect of space charge on discharge propagation path,a new experimental system,including mainly DC high voltage generator, impulse voltage generator as well as rod-plane electrode,has been established.The space charge was generated around the rod by means of pre-applying DC high voltage,and the air gap discharge experiments were conducted with and without pre-applying DC high voltage,respectively. Meanwhile,high speed cameras worked simultaneously from the front and lateral side to record the discharge propagation path so as to obtain the curvature.After statistical analysis,it is shown that the curvature increases in the middle and lower portions of the propagation path when the effect of space charge is taken into account.


At the very beginning, the book Lao Tzu did not have its title, and it was the writer' s family name. In West Han dynasty, "Six Classics" were drafted, and called Lao Tzu Ching. During the late East Han dynasty, there appeared a large amount of classical books, Lao Tzu was called Too Te Ching.


This paper analyzed the datum characteristics of clinical data and diseases database if the traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis. A mining algorithm of association rules have been advanced,which mines the diagnosis rules. The algorithm presented a more efficiency method of quantitative description about strength of association relationship.Meanwhile the paper improved FP-growth mining algorithm. Research have been made in every field of accuracy of quantitative description and high efficiency of algorithm.The application result make clear that the algorithm can be accurate more and fitter.


Selecting and evaluating the suppliers represent a very complex task, because a wide range of attributions must be taken into consideration and many of them are difficult to be made objectively quantified. The aim of this research is to provide a new model based on fuzzy signatures for selecting and evaluating the critical parts for the production.


Mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) are two of the volatile trace metals in coal, which are often not captured by conventional gas clean up devices of coal-fired boilers. An alternative is to use sorbents to capture the volatile components of trace metals after coal combustion. In this project sorbent screening tests were performed in which ten sorbents were selected to remove metallic mercury in N{sub 2}. These sorbents included activated carbon, char prepared from Ohio No. 5 coal, molecular sieves, silica gel, aluminum oxide, hydrated lime, Wyoming bentonite, kaolin, and Amberite IR-120 (an ion-exchanger). The sorbents were selected based on published information and B&W`s experience on mercury removal. The promising sorbent was then selected and modified for detailed studies of removal of mercury and selenium compounds. The sorbents were tested in a bench-scale adsorption facility. A known amount of each sorbent was loaded in the column as a packed bed. A carrier gas was bubbled through the mercury and selenium compounds. The vaporized species were carried by the gas and went through the sorbent beds. The amount of mercury and selenium compounds captured by the sorbents was determined by atomic absorption. Results are discussed.


Objective
To investigate the changes of platelet glycoprotein Ⅱb/Ⅲa (PAC-1) and P-selectin (CD62P) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the influence of antiplatelet therapy.

Methods
Forty ACS patients were divided into UAP group (n=26) or AMI group (n=14) and 30 normal subjects as control group. Platelet membrane PAC-1 and CD62P were measured by flow cytometry in ACS patients before and after antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel, and then compared with normal control group.

Results
The expression levels of PAC-1 and CD62P in patients with ACS were significantly higher than those in controls (62.47±3.91 vs. 32.46±8.93; 67.91±10.42 vs. 32.46±8.93; 16.73±3.74 vs. 7.67±2.21; 18.53±5.62 vs. 7.67±2.21; all P<0.05). PAC-1 and CD62P expression levels were significantly decreased after 5 days of antiplatelet therapy (43.62±9.67 vs. 62.47±3.91; 46.55±4.86 vs. 67.91±10.42; 12.38±3.29 vs. 16.73±3.74; 13.39±3.41 vs. 18.53±5.62, all P<0.05), but still higher than controls (all P<0.05).

Conclusions
Aspirin and clopidogrel dual antiplatelet therapy can effectively inhibit platelet activation in patients with ACS.

Key words:
Acute coronary syndrome; Flow cytometry; P-Selectin; Platelet membrane glycoproteins


Objective: We sought to evaluate our clinical experience and short-term results of percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Methods: We studied 20 patients (17 female, mean age 24±8 years) undergoing percutaneous closure of PDA between March 2010-March 2013 in our clinic. Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO) I was used in 13 patients and ADO II was used in 7 patients for PDA closure. Clinical characteristics of patients, properties of percutaneous closure intervention, complications and short-term results are evaluated. Results: The mean ductus waist diameter measured by angiographic examination was 5±2 mm (2-9 mm). Procedure was successfully performed in all patients. Occluder device embolization was occurred in one patient in whom device was retrieved by snare catheter and PDA was successfully closed with same device. The early total occlusion rate was 85%. Occlusion rate as determined by echocardiographic control performed the day after was 95% whereas 100% at first month. In the follow-up of 19±9 months, no complications were observed.


Due to globalization corporations have been forced, regardless line of business and geographical position, to differentiate themselves from their competitors and act upon new conditions. These cond ...


We present our recent developments in tissue conductivity imaging of the human lower extremity using MREIT. In performing in vivo human knee and calf imaging experiments, we addressed two technical issues of the chemical shift artifact and measurement noise. Adopting a recently developed chemical shift artifact correction method for MREIT, we could improve the quality of conductivity images of the knee and calf. We found that the correction method is advantageous in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared with a fat suppression method. Since the knee is more sensitive to injection currents, we limited the current amplitude in knee experiments to 3 mA to avoid painful sensation. Reduction of the current amplitude requests a similar reduction of the noise level in measured magnetic flux density signals since the signal is proportional to the current amplitude. We incorporated a lately developed multi-echo based MREIT pulse sequence to enhance MR signals and prolong the total current injection time, thereby reducing the noise level in measured magnetic flux density signals.


A thorough discussion of chemical methods for measurement of urinary tryptophan metabolites led in the end to a gratifying agreement among workers from different laboratories. The three chief methods were resin columns, paper chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography. It was concluded that in good hands quantitative results were comparable whichever method was chosen. The discussion then turned to biological factors influencing urinary tryptophan metabolites. Dr. D. NOEL RAINE (Birmingham), Dr. M. P. WALSH (London), and Professor J. M. PRICE (Madison, U.S.A.) described comparisons of the effects of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and many other participants added their observations. Administration of B6 could nearly always reduce high excretion of tryptophan metabolites to ordinary levels. An important question was raised, however. Was this through correction of a subclinical deficiency of B6 or wasthe effect of B6 pharmacological rather than physiological ? Other important biological factors discussed were adrenal cortical hormones, A.C.T.HI, oestrogens, and progestogens. They might affect the enzymes of the formylkynurenin path for tryptophan metabolism. Sex differences of metabolite excretion recently reported from the U.S.A. showed rather puzzling differences from the results of earlier studies using the same techniques. Dr. D. P. ROSE (Sheffield) contributed a possible solution to the puzzle. He found wide variations in the excretion of xanthurenic acid (a metabolite of tryptophan) by women, depending on whether they took or did not take oral contraceptives. This source of exogenous hormones was likely b affect almost any current group of young married women in the U.S.A. used for measurements of " normal " values. Biochemical contributions were notable. High excretion of tryptophan metabolites was reported in the collagen diseases, some anaemias, Hodgkin's disease, carcinoma of the ovary, and large tumours of the limbs, but not as a rule in tumours of the lung, pancreas, and stomach. Professor Price described a fall of metabolite excretion after removal of a limb tumour, and had seen a subsequent rise and fall associated with


which is relatively common in East Asia including Japan, China, and Korea. According to some reports, AMAN is more prevalent than typical GBS known as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP). On the other hand, acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) is a rare disease compared with AMAN, but the pathophysiology and clinical course of AMSAN are reported to be similar to those of AMAN except sensory nerve involvement. Reversible conduction block (RCB) which was known to be associated with a sodium-channel dysfunction in node of Ranvier has been reported in some AMAN patients. AMAN with RCB is known to show relative rapid recovery and good prognosis. However, RCB was rarely reported in patients with AMSAN and the clinical course and outcome in patients with AMSAN with RCB were not well-known. Recently, we experienced a case of AMSAN with RCB in serial electrophysiologic studies. Received: August 22, 2017 Revised: December 22, 2017 Accepted: December 28, 2017 ANNALS OF CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY CASE REPORT Ann Clin Neurophysiol 2018;20(1):49-52 https://doi.org/10.14253/acn.2018.20.1.49


In this paper,the basic theories of CraigBampton′s fixedinterferface method,Guyan′s static transformation method and Kuhar′s dyamic transformation method are introduced,their advantages and disadvantages as well as their suitability are discussed by using an example calculated with programming in MATLAB5.2.


The Transportation Research Board (TRB), one of the nine major units of the National Research Council, conducts policy studies for U.S. legislative and executive agencies. In the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, Congress requested studies on three controversial safety issues: the 55-mph speed limit; twin trailer trucks; and practices for upgrading design when highways are resurfaced, restored, or rehabilitated. To conduct these studies and others, TRB policy study committees bring together the nation's best scientists, engineers, and practitioners; their task is to examine existing problems and recommend appropriate solutions. The work of these committees is supported by TRB's policy studies staff. Two inserts with this article provide summaries of completed TRB policy studies and those which are ongoing. Completed studies include, in addition to those mentioned above, a study examining appropriate blood alcohol limits for drivers of commercial vehicles, improving the mobility and safety of older persons, and pipelines and public safety. Ongoing studies include improving the safety of school bus transportation, relationships between vehicle configuration and highway design, truck access, truck weight, and truck safety data needs.


The interaction of undoped sillenite crystals and the crystals doped by manganese, copper, chromium, nickel, or vanadium with supercritical i-PrOH was studied. The following metals change their oxidation number upon interaction: manganese (Mn 5 + → Mn 2 + ), copper (Cu 2 + → Cu + ), and chromium (Cr 5 + → Cr 4 + ). Nickel and vanadium do not change their charge. Evolution of the spectroscopic properties of the crystals upon exposure to supercritical i-PrOH is analogous to that observed upon vacuum annealing. This proves that, in both cases, the oxygen nonstoichiometry of the sample is responsible for evolution of the spectroscopic properties of sillenite crystals.


Background: Sickle cell disease is characterized by vaso-occlusion which leads to impaired blood supply to several organs. The cochlear in particular has been known to be highly sensitive to anoxia which is, in turn, a proven cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Early detection of hearing loss is paramount in these patients, as the cochlear ischemic damage is repetitive and progressive. Once the damage is sufficiently enough to cause noticeable hearing loss, the loss is mostly substantial and irreversible. Otoacoustic emission is useful in detecting early cochlear damage. Materials and Methods: Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) (HbSS) aged between 1 and 12 years diagnosed by hemoglobin electrophoresis and equal number of controls matched (HbAA) matched for age and sex were recruited for the study. All participants underwent a detailed ear, nose, and throat examination and tympanometry. Those with normal middle ear function were further subjected to transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) testing. Results: There were 60 patients with SCA (cases) and 60 controls. The age of the participants ranged between 1–12 years with a mean of 6.5 ± 3.74 among the cases and 7.02 ± 3.54 among the controls. The male–female ratio was 0.9:1. Among participants with normal middle ear function, TEOAE was abnormal in 43 (48.8%) ears of the cases and 70 (73.7%) ears of the controls. There was a statistically significant difference in abnormal TEOAEs outcome between cases and the control group (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Children with SCA had a high rate of abnormal cochlear function. Therefore, there is a need for periodic monitoring of cochlear function in these patients so as to detect and treat SNHL early.