The ultraviolet absorption spectra of the mono-salicylideneimines of ethylamine, ethanolamine, and n-butylamine and of the bis-salicylideneimines of ethylenediamine, trimethylenediamine, and 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol have been separately examined in various solvents: water, absolute ethanol, dioxan, and cyclohexane. A comparison of these spectra with those of the N-methylimines of m- and p-hydroxy-benzaldehydes in similar solvents indicates that the o- and p-hydroxybenzylideneimines exist mainly as the dipolar keto amines in very polar, hydrogen-bonding solvents whereas the m-isomers exist mainly as the enol imine tautomeric form in all solvents.


The utility model discloses a simple support-continuous box girder structure, which comprises a plurality of pre-stressed concrete box girders and a pier upright column, wherein each pre-stressed concrete box girder includes a top plate, a bottom plate and a web plate, and the pier upright column is provided with a permanent supporting base. The box girders are respectively transversely erected on two sides of the pier upright column, exposed top plate connecting reinforcing bars, bottom plate connecting reinforcing bars and web plate connecting reinforcing bars are correspondingly reserved in the top plates, the bottom plates and the web plate of beam ends approaching two ends of each box girder, the connecting reinforcing bars are correspondingly fixedly connected, an integral transverse beam is poured right above the supporting base of the pier upright column so as connecting and communicating the box girders on two sides of the pier upright column, and the transverse beam is supported on the supporting base of the pier upright column. The simple support-continuous box girder structure is simple in structure and cheap in manufacturing price, and can lead stress conditions of roads and bridges to be fine.


The invention provides an alternator for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising an end cap (18) of plastic material for covering Annexes members mounted on a flange (10) of the alternator, comprising housings (24 ) receiving terminals (20) of the alternator to the electric circuit of the vehicle, characterized in that at least one housing (24) is provided with a removable protective cap formed integrally by molding with the cover end (18).


The world of nanotechnology will soon gain another outlet for its research papers. In January 2001, the American Chemical Society will begin publishing a journal whose working title is Nano Letters. The society has formed a search committee to recruit an editor. Nano Letters will concentrate on rapid communication of short papers that present preliminary research results. The journal will initially be published monthly and later will shift to a biweekly schedule. Topics will include physical, chemical, and biological phenomena, processes, and applications for materials and devices within the nanoscale size range. Nanotechnology intersects a variety of scientific spheres, with applications ranging from electronics and optics to biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The volume of literature is growing accordingly, doubling in less than two years, according to Elisabeth M. C. Lutanie, manager of new product development for ACS's Publications Division. This expansion has attracted other publishers, including Klu...


In the following we reply to Bates' comments in the order of their presentation. 1. Our calculations show that on 28 June 1963 the average solar zenith angle (X) over the NPG·College path varies from 90° to 94° during the measurement period (0600 to 0800 UT), and for the NBA-College path varies from 90° to 94° during the measurement is from 94° to 96°. On the basis of these calculations we have called the path totally dark when the average zenith angle is greater than 90°. However, we agree with Bates that portions of the two College paths were weakly illuminated, but the paths can be considered to be more nearly representative of nighttime conditions than of daytime conditions. Nevertheless, the inclusion of the College data in the computations of the nighttime phase velocities might seem questionable. Let us assume for the moment that the College, Alaska, data are marginal. Eliminating these data from the analysis does not change the result, i.e., the calculated average value of the phase velocity remains the same. 2. Whether or not the nighttime second mode propagation effects can be ignored depends on the relative attenuation (a) of the second·order mode compared to the first-order mode, and the magnitude of the excitation factor (A) for the second·order mode compared to the first·order mode. For frequencies greater than 20 kc/s both theory [Wait and Spies, 1964] and experiment [Watt and Croghan, 1964] indicate that there may very well be an appreciable second-order mode effect. However, for frequencies less than 20 kc/s both theory [Wait and Spies, 1964] and experiment [Wait, 1961; Watt and Croghan, 1964] indicate that the effect of the second-order mode is small if not negligible at distances greater than 3000 km. In point of fact, our measurements were made at 18 kc/s, and all but two of the eight propagation paths had distances greater than 4000 km. The results obtained using the two shorter paths do not appear to be inconsistent with those obtained from the rest of the data. In regard to Bates' interpretation of Crombie's [1964] explanation of the sunrise fading effects, this theory does not necessarily require a "strong nighttime second mode propagating to distances well over 7500 km," but the observed results could possibly be due to additive effects of mode conversion. in a distributed sunrise region [Crombie, 1965 prIvate communications]. In addition, it should be remembered that Crombie's published results refer to paths where propagation was to the east, whereas the paths in the paper under discussion were mainly for propagation to the west, in which case ~ttenuation of the second·order mode is considerably I Increased relative to that of the first·order mode. 3. The Mi are the integral number of wavelengths in the respective propagation paths. In the equation (3), used to calculate the relative phase velocity, they are additively summed: [(M,-M 2)-(M3 -M4 )]. We did not attempt to evaluate an absolute Mi for each path, because (a) the Mi are not initially known or measured but are obtained as a first approximation by calculation assuming the velocity of light as the phase ~ velocity, and (b) there is a cycle ambiguity, inherent in each measuring equipment (see fig. 2), which could amount to a wavelength. It was therefore necessary to vary the estimated Mi , and thus the sum, by integral numbers of wavelengths. However, we agree with Bates that the Mi are important parameters in VLF propagation and, if one assumes our values of phase velocity at 18 kc/s, they can be calculated for each path by evaluating the expression [Wait, 1961] that relates the phase velocity to the total phase path be· tween the transmitter and receiver in the earth-ionosphere waveguide. References


We have completed an investigation of cooling at room temperature by thermionic emission. The use of a small nm-sized gap lowered the vacuum barrier between the electrodes, enabling emission from surfaces with work functions of ∼1 eV at room temperature. We utilized a microfabricated cantilever with a cesiated metal coating on the tip, and an integrated thermometer to initiate and control an emission current of 1–10 nA, and to detect the resulting temperature changes. Using a lock-in technique, temperature changes of 0.1–1.0 mK were observed, corresponding to cooling power of 1–10 nW. The amplitude of this signal and its dependence on emission current and bias voltage are in good agreement with our model. Possible applications for cooling and energy conversion are discussed.


THEOREM 2. (a) HPn immerses in R8 n-Ea(n)-3J. (b) For n even, CPn immerses in R4ln-a(n)-1]. (c) For n odd, CPn immerses in R4n-a(n). Here a(n) is the number of ones in the dyadic expansion of n, and k(n) is a non-negative function depending only on the mod (8) residue class of n with k(1) = 0, k(3) = k(5) = 1 and k(7) = 4. As a consequence, for every j>O there is some n so that RPn immerses in R2f-. From the techniques used to prove these theorems, we also obtain some results on the existence of non-singular bilinear maps.


In this paper we propose several test procedures, such as the likelihood ratio test, uniformly most powerful unbiased test and the Wald test, for testing the response probability in a multiple logistic regression set up when the observations are independent binomial variables. An application of the tests is provided.


Aims: To assessing and comparing the prevalence of fractured permanent incisors between pupils of age (6–15 years) for the right and left banks of Mosul Province Materials and Methods: A cross– sectional survey carried out through clinical examination of upper and lower permanent incisors for ten thousand and 915 children and teenagers between the age 6–15 years of old, who enrolled in the public primary schools of both right and left banks of Mosul city. All the pupils examined at their schools. The diagnosis and recording of the permanent teeth crown fracture registered according to Ellis classification. Results: The most frequent traumatized teeth occurred among pupils aged 8–9 years old in both banks (49.4%). Boys demonstrated more crown fractures than girls (6.4%, 4.2% respectively), at P ≤0.001. Statistically; Pupils with class II division 1 malocclusion, inadequate upper lip coverage were significantly more affected with crown fractures (70.5% for boys, and 58.6% for girls) . The most common type of the fracture was the fracture that involve the enamel–dentin with out pulpal involvement (46.7%). The aggressive and the hyperactive behaviours of the pupils significantly showed more crown fractures, and were more common in pupils of the right bank as compared with the pupils of the left bank (P ≤0.001). While no significant difference found between pupils of both banks concerning season of the crown trauma occurrence Conclusions: The prevalence of the crown fracture was 5.4% for the total sample, while the prevalence of the crown fractures for pupils of the right bank was statistically highly significant (6.7%) than the prevalence for pupils of the left bank (4.3%).


The empirical evidence on voting behavior suggests that the individuals' choice of the vote is explained, among other things, by policy issues and the voters' partisan preferences over the party that rules the government. The evidence also indicates that the voters' partisan preferences are the best predictor of the choice of the vote (Republican and Democratic voters tend to vote, respectively, for the Republican and Democratic party), and that Democratic voters are the dominant coalition of voters in the American electorate. In this paper we show that these stylized facts can explain some features of the US tax policy: first, the divergence of the tax policies adopted by the Democratic and Republican parties. Second, Democratic administrations tend to adopt more pro low income redistributive tax policies than Republican administrations.


The spinning electron transport for the spin polarization induced by local Rashba spin-orbit coupling in a three-terminal parallel double-quantum-dot structure is theoretically studied by the nonequilibrium Green function method.It was found that when the electrons come from the source terminal to two drain terminals through quantum dot region,they can select a specific terminal in accordance to the spin state,i.e.,the spin polarization and spin separation can both be simultaneously performed in such a structure.Meanwhile,the intra-dot Coulomb interaction affects greatly the spinning electron transport of the system where the intensity of Coulomb interaction in the quantum dot,which is coupled with the additional terminal,plays an important adjusting role in spinning electron transport.


Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oral dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) treatment for atrichia pubis in female adolescents. Study Design: Two XY female adolescents with 17-hydroxylase deficiency and 2 XX females with panhypopituitarism presenting with atrichia pubis were treated with a daily dosage of DHEAS 10 mg/m2 body surface in addition to their regular substitution therapy. The dosage was increased according to clinical response. Pubic hair stages, growth and serum DHEAS were evaluated and in 1 case also serum IGFs and IGFBPs. Results: A dosage of 10 mg/m2 for 1 year led to serum DHEAS levels at the lower limit of the normal range. 15 mg/m2 was needed to achieve pubic hair stage 4–5 and axillary hair in patients with 17-hydroxylase deficiency. In panhypopituitarism, pubic hair developed at a slower pace and reached stage 4 on a dosage of 25– 30 mg/m2. Baseline serum IGF-I SDS was –0.67 and did not change on the initial dosage of DHEAS, in combination with submaximal estrogen substitution (10 µg ethinyl estradiol). On the combination of 15 mg/m2 DHEAS and full estrogen substitution, IGF-I SDS increased to an average of –0.15. IGFBP-3 SDS increased from 1.4 to a mean of 2.6 in the first year, and went back to 1.4 in the second year. IGFBP-6 SDS was low at baseline (–2.5) and rose to –1.9 and –1.7 IGF-II and IGFBP-1 showed an irregular pattern. Conclusions: Oral administration of DHEAS in a dosage of 15 mg/m2 o.d. is an efficacious treatment for atrichia pubis. For females with a panhypopituitarism a higher dosage appears needed. Given this and other biological actions of DHEAS, substitution therapy with DHEAS or DHEA to females with adrenal androgen deficiency appears rational.


This presentation introduced a novel method for creating immersive scenes for Virtual Reality based on physically-based renderings and discussed the potential and limitation of this method.


After the ratification of the Maastrocht Treaty, the process of the European intergartion accelerated in political and legal sense. In 1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the "Twelve". A further expansion of the Union and deepening the co-operation among the member states is expected. The consequences are serious organisational, political and legal-constitutional problems and conflicts and many question emerge: Will the democratic deficit of the European Union cease, can it be ceased? Will a single electoral system be created? Will the normative .... regulation of the Union come into being and what will it contain? How will the relationship between the national and supranational institutions develop? How will the principle of subsidiarity be asserted? How will the decision-making mechanism be modified? Will the fhe future single European House be organised in the form of a federation or confederation, in parliamentary or presidential system? What will the future system of regional regulation and support look like? The member states are coming to realise that the future Europe will be a Europe of the regions, and we cannot be wrong whwn forecasting the growing importance of the levels below and above the national states. This means that in the implementation and formation of the political and legal decisions fo the community integration, the "intermediate governments" of the regional and functional medium level will have a dominant role.


The effect of electron irradiation on the microyield stress was investigated in ZrH$sub 2$ purified Battelle-AISI iron single crystals at 4.2, 30, and 60$sup 0$K. The irradiation caused a hardening effect which increased with the electron dose. This hardening effect in the microyielding is opposite to the observed softening effect in the macroyielding. These observations can be satisfactorily explained by the interaction of the irradiation-induced interstitials with edge and screw dislocations, respectively. The present observation is also regarded as strong evidence supporting the theory of an intrinsic mechanism for the low temperature strength and the solid solution softening in iron. (auth)


The study area with an area of 55 km 2 is located south east of Kerman province and in the area of Jiroft city. This area is structurally and geological division in the Urmia-Dokhtar zone. The Urmia- Dokhtar volcanic belt part of the Alpine-Himalayan is a volcanic belt. Several intrusive bodies are in the east of Jiroft, which is part of Jebalbarez Batolite andigneous actives of JabalBarez area have occurred in four stages. The third magma activity of the region occurred in Oligomiocene and occurred during three phases. its lithological composition includes synogranite and Monzogranite, granodiorite, diorite, quartz monzonite. Quartz, Plagioclase and Potassium feldspar are the major minerals in granites. Biotite, Amphibole, espen, opac minerals are other manufactores of these rocks. Various types of granular, myrmekitic, Graphic and perthite textures are observed in them. Regarding field studies, petrographic, and geochemical studies, granite rocks of meta-aluminum and granitoid components of Iseries are volcanic arc of the continental margin of orogenic region that originate from melting of shell-shaped igneous rocks. granitoid specimens are normalized to the original mantle, chondrite, upper and lower crust. The samples show enrichment LREE and less enrichment of HREE. The composition of the samples in terms of these incompatible elements is similar to the medium composition of the crust. Samples in tectonic environment diagrams are located wothing the VAG range. igneous rocks are associated with the subduction zone neotethys. The magma subtraction in the magmatic room in the first stage leads to the formation of quartz- diorite to granodiorite composition, and in the second phase, with the continuation of magmatic subtraction, the magma composition is more acidified than before and the rocks with granodiorite to granite composition composed. In the third stage, with the continuation of the subtraction process, the composition of magma is highly acidic consists of granite and alkali granite stones.


Bacterial plant diseases caused heavy yield and growth losses to agricultural crops worldwide. The excessive use of chemical pesticides to control the bacterial plant diseases cause environmental and public health risks and disturb the ecological balance of beneficial organisms, in addition to the high economic cost. Among the most important bacterial plant diseases are soft rot , Erwinia cartovora and crown gall bacteria , Agrobacterium tumefaciens which cause enormous damage to vegetable crops and fruit. The applic alion of chemicals to control both diseases affecting environment and consumers health. Therefore, altern alive methods to control these diseases are urgently need. This study was conducted in the labor alory of plant protection, department of Arid Land Agriculture, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid land Agriculture. The present study aims to use altern alive methods to control soft-rot and crown gall diseases. Firstly, study the effects of applying n alural products of honeybees, such as honey – Royal Jelly and bee gum(Propolis) to control soft-rot and crown gall diseases al the lab level and subsequently in greenhouses. Secondly, study the effects of some extracts of plants grown in Saudi Arabia, such as Shazab – Lantana camara –Pomegran ale (pomegran ale peel) and Arak on these diseases. Several concentr alions from these plant extracts were tested with three replic ales each to control both diseases al lab level. The highly performed plant extracts were tested on infected plants in the field. We prepare a number of discs with diameter of 0.7cm using a mincing machine paper from filter paper type W altman No. 1. Then collected these discs in a glass bottle sealed and sterilized until using. The center of nutrient agar was inocul aled with colonies of the bacteria and distributed uniformly and left the dishes for 15 minutes. After th al disks was putted by sterilized forceps in specific places in the dish were it was put in the dish four sterile discs and marked withfrom outsides. The concentr alion of plant extracts and honey bee products were applied on the discs using sterile Micropipette. Dishes were incub aled al 30C for 48 hours and then results were recorded with measuring average inhibition zone. The results showed th al Lantana camara with the concentr alion of 9000 and 8000 ppm was the highest inhibition zone of the bacteria with average of inhibition zone of (1.303, 1.227 cm , respectively) which is highly significant. While the highest results was showed in case of crown gall for tre alment with Shazab al the concentr alion of 9000ppm with average of inhibition zone of 1.210 cm. Also , the concentr alion of 9000 ppm of pomegran ale peel give 1.197 cm inhibition zone with no significant differences between two plant extracts.
As for honey products, the results showed th al royal jelly with the concentr alion of 9000 ppm with the highest for inhibition of soft rote bacteria with average inhibition zone of 1.403 cm. As for grown gall bacterial , the highest transaction in their effect on inhibition of bacteria is the Propolis concentr alion of 9000 ppm with an average (1.242 cm) followed by a honey concentr alion of 8000 ppm with an average of 1.230 cm.
Field applic alion had confirmed th al all of Propolis and Lantana camara in addition of honey were the highest for inhibition of growth of the plant p alhogenic bacteria with the presence of significant differences between them and other tre alments. The results of the field experiment as follow: 97.72-9.35-854.16 and 87.39-7.50-775.76 (length- diameter and leaf area) for Propolis and Lantana camara , respectively.
These plant extracts and honey bee products will be a promised altern alives to control the bacterial diseases in vegetable crops to avoid the use of chemical pesticides with harmful effects to environment and health.


The taxonomical status of Hyriopsis cumingii and Hyriopsis schlegerii was investigated using sequences of the first internal transcribed spacer region(ITS-1) of ribosomal DNA(rDNA).The affiliation of them was assessed by Neighbor-joining(NJ) and maximum parsimony(MP) analyses.The results show approximately consistent between NJ tree and MP tree.It suggests that Hyriopsis cumingii and Hyriopsis schlegerii be same species.


Distributed generation (DG) is predicted to play an important role in electric power system in the near future. The insertion of DG system into existing distribution network has great impact on real-time system operation and planning. It is widely accepted that micro turbine generation (MTG) systems are currently attracting lot of attention to meet customers need in the distributed power generation market In order to investigate the performance of microturbine generation systems their efficient modeling is required. This paper presents a dynamic model of a MTG system, suitable for grid connection/islanding operation. The presented model allows the bidirectional power flow between grid and MTG system. The components of the system are built from the dynamics of each part with their interconnections. The control strategies for both grid connected and intentional islanding operation mode of a DG system are also given.


This chapter begins with an outline of the original observations that led to the discovery of Mycoplasma arthritidis-derived superantigen (MAM) and discusses the structural basis of its interaction with class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and T-cell receptors (TCRs). It reviews recent work on the interaction of MAM with Toll-like receptors and their importance in control of innate and adaptive immunity and in disease expression. The chapter discusses the potential role of MAM-like superantigens (SAgs) in autoimmune disease and how this might relate to recent findings on Toll-like receptor (TLR) control of adaptive immunity. Antigen-induced activation of T cells leading to cytokine production and proliferation requires signals delivered by antigen-presenting cells (APC), i.e., macrophages or dendritic cells (DCs), through costimulatory molecules such as B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) that are related membrane-bound molecules. In view of the demonstrated allelic specificity of MAM for MHC molecules it is also tempting to project that these polymorphisms may influence the outcome of the MAM/TLR interactions. A recent observation that has relevance to the potential role of MAM-like SAgs in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is that in preliminary studies transgenic mice bearing the HLA-DR and HLA-DQ alleles that predispose to RA develop a type 1 adaptive cytokine profile in response to MAM, whereas cells from MAM-injected mice bearing those alleles that protect against RA develop a type 2 cytokine profile.


Now and in a foreseeable future propulsion systems of subsonic long-range passenger and transport airplanes will be still grounded on turbofan with high but moderate (10-12) bypass ratio (HBR) and classical mature solutions for engine's architecture and its location on a pylon underneath of the wing. It is natural, that at such approach, despite use of newest technologies and materials for engine's parts and systems, for appreciable increase in airplane's overall fuel efficiency it is necessary to eliminate all potential reasons of lowering airplane's aerodynamic characteristics, particularly remove negative airframepropulsion aerodynamic interference. Objectively this problem is linked with absolute and relative increase in sizes of the main propulsion system with growth of turbofan's bypass ratio for modern and perspective airplanes as it can be seen on Fig. 1. Fig. 1. Change of relative sizes of the main propulsion system for airplanes of different generations As can be shown, one of the negative feature of the airframe-propulsion system interference is a very strong dependence of forces acting on powerplant's elements from flight conditions and engine's regime at cruise. To solve this problem the CIAM's developed technique was used, which allow to calculate 3D viscous flow around airplane with simulation of turbofan engine based on its full 1D thermodynamic description. Thus engine's mass flow varied with flow parameters in inlet and in nozzles and, in its turn, pressure distributions on powerplant elements and on adjacent airframe parts varied with engine's mass flow. Description and some examples of application of this technology may be found in works [1-4]. The results of this work show that it is reasonable to design a HBR turbofan's based powerplant for some mean point of typical cruise flight trajectory, having ensured in this point a minimum wave drag with taking into account first of all powerplant-wing interference effects. THE NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF IMPACT OF CHANGES IN FLIGHT CONDITIONS AND IN ENGINE'S REGIME AT CRUISE ON AIRPLANE'S AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS Sergey Andreev*, Vladimir Makarov* and others1 *Central Institute of Aviation Motors, Moscow


Abstract Some properties of the input stage of an amorphous Si (a-Si) thin-film transistor have been studied on an analogous large-area a-Si-a-SiN structure which mimicked the overlap region between source and gate in a real device. Audio-frequency capacitance-voltage techniques were used between 170 and 380 K to deduce internal parameters of the system. When the gate was positively biased, thick a-Si layers were found to lead to an internal barrier whose properties could be reliably quantified using capacitance and equivalent series resistance measurements. Studies of the parallel conductance of the devices showed that, for a forward gate bias, significant losses resulting from charge injected into the nitride gate insulator could be detected whereas, for a reverse bias, loss associated with states at the a-Si-a-SiN interface was observed. Most unusually, this loss had an activated temperature dependence. The most likely mechanism to account for this loss is charging of interface states by tunnelling. A ...


This study aims to determine the implementation of qawā`id fiqhiyyah in Islamic economics. This research is library research with qualitative method. The approach used in this study is a descriptive normative approach. The results of the study show that the role of fiqh rules in legal practice in general and in sharia economic issues in particular is very clear as contemporary problems appear that seem endless. The existence of fiqh rules in sharia economics is actually very helpful in concluding the law of a problem. Almost all of the fiqh rules that have been formulated by the scholars can be implemented in sharia economic problems.


NW Mediterranean surface water was spiked with picoplankton prey (heterotrophic bacteria or cyanobacteria) or predators (bacterivorous microflagellates or ciliates) to investigate differential grazing pressure on picoplankton populations. Adding a particular prey type did not yield different growth patterns for heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria, but gave either similar, positive, effects on both picoplankton types or similar negative effects. Natural populations of both predator types increased with additions of cyanobacteria , but not heterotrophic bacteria. Ciliate additions gave marked decreases in cyanobacteria. While individual groups of grazers may preferentially consume cyanobacteria, selective grazing is probably not responsible for the maintenance of apparently stable populations of different groups of picoplankters during the summer.


Dear Editor Propionibacterium spp. are present in pilosebaceous units but the role of these ubiquitous organisms in the pathogenesis of acne remains unclear. Recently, however, the spreading of antibiotic-resistant Propionibacterium acnes has been accepted as a cause of therapeutic failure in acne vulgaris. Many countries have reported antibiotic-resistant P. acnes from acne patients due to widely prescribing antibiotics for acne therapy. Although forehead skin samples are preferred for cultivation of P. acnes, recent studies have focused on the importance of nasal colonization and/or carriage. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of nasal P. acnes carriage and the search for resistance to certain antibiotics in acne vulgaris patients. In this study, 120 acne vulgaris patients who had not been on an antibiotic therapy in the prior 4 weeks, were included. The detergent scrub technique of Williamson and Kligman was used for cutaneous bacteria sampling from forehead. Sterile cotton-tipped swabs were premoistened with sampling solution (0.075 mol/L phosphate buffer saline containing 0.1% Tween 80). For each patient, 4 cm of the skin surface was rubbed with the amount of pressure similar to that is used to erase with a pencil. The swab was returned to the tube and swirled in the fluid. This procedure was repeated four times. The same procedure was applied to the inner surface of nares. The sample was incubated at 36.5°C for 5 days in thioglycollate medium Brewer's modification. After 5 days, bacteria from visibly growing parts of the thioglycollate tubes were transported with a Pasteur pipette to Trypticase-yeast extract-glucose broth (TYG) agar (20 gL tryptone, 10 gL yeast extract, 5 gL glucose, 15 gL agar) containing 2 μg/ml furazolidone (Sigma Chemical, Poole, Dorset, UK) to inhibit the growth of Staphylococci. This medium was also used for isolation of nasal Propionibacteria. Incubation was carried out for 5 days at 37°C in anaerobic conditions. P. acnes was identified according to the method of Marples and McGinley including Gram stain, aerotolerance, indol production and catalase test. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by agar dilution on Wilkins Chalgren agar (Oxoid) as described by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Erythromycin (EM), clindamycin (CLDM), tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) and doxycycline hydrochloride (DOXY) were used for susceptibility testing. The inocula contained 10 colony-forming units (CFU)/1 μL spot in TYG broth delivered by manual inoculator. MIC were recorded after 3 days of anaerobic incubation at 37°C as the lowest concentration yielding no growth or a barely visible haze as determined by the unaided eye. The MIC breakpoints 1 μg/ml for EM and CLDM, and 4 μg/ml for TC and DOXY were accepted as resistance levels. Statistical analyses were performed with EPI Info 2000 Ver 3.3.2 program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, USA). Fifty-three (44.2%) P. acnes were isolated from both skin and nares (Table 1). In the case of isolation of P. acnes from the skin, the nasal culture positivity was detected as 66.3% (as sensitivity). In the absence of skin P. acnes isolation, the nasal culture was negative in 80.0% (as specificity). Cutaneous and nasal isolates resistance rates were not statistically different between groups for EM (12.5% vs 11.8%), CLDM (10.0% vs 11.8%) and TC (2.5% vs 5.0%) (P > 0.05). DOXY resistance was not found within groups. Table 2 shows antibiotic MIC values of skin and nasal P. acnes isolates. The antibiotic susceptibility levels did not differ in skin and nasal samples (P > 0.05).


This paper introduces two types of abduction associated to two different ways of generating conjectures that arise from using a particular dragging modality in dynamic geometry. We refer to such dragging modality as maintaining dragging (MD). A first use of MD relies on physical dragging-support and it seems to lead the solver "automatically" to the formulation of a conjecture. In this case the abductive reasoning seems to occur at a meta-level and to be concealed within the MDinstrument. On the other hand, some of our data shed light onto a different way of generating conjectures which is rooted in use of MD but is "freed" from the physical dragging-support. In this case abductive reasoning seems to occur at the level of the dynamic exploration.


A new set of empirical formulations has been derived to predict wave run-up at naturally sloping sandy beaches. They are obtained by fitting the results of hundreds of XBeach-NH+ model simulations. The simulations are carried out over a wide range of offshore wave conditions (wave heights ranging from 1 to 12 m and periods from 6 to 16 s), and surf zone (Dean parameters aD ranging from 0.05 to 0.30) and beach geometries (slopes ranging from 1:100 to 1:5). The empirical formulations provide estimates of wave set-up, incident and infragravity wave run-up, and total run-up R2%. Reduction coefficients are included to account for the effects of incident wave angle and directional spreading. The formulations have been validated against the Stockdon dataset and show better skill at predicting R2% run-up than the widely used Stockdon relationships. Unlike most existing run-up predictors, the relations presented here include the effect of the surf zone slope, which is shown to be an important parameter for predicting wave run-up. Additionally, this study shows a clear relationship between infragravity run-up and beach slope, unlike most existing predictors.


The objective of this paper is the improvement of seedling plants production technologies in small and middle nurseries. The technological improvement studies consist of two main aspects, that is, rationalization and modernization. The rationalization studies aim at determining optimum technologic solutions from a technical, economical and ecological point of view. The modernization studies aim at conceiving new and more efficient solutions. The research objective is scientifically motivated, thanks to the necessity of introducing some equipment with the purpose of carrying off the works for preparing the soil in the small and middle nurseries. The complete mechanization of the sylvan works in nurseries is a crucial condition in refining the plant biologic potential, for introducing new technologies, facilitating physical work, considerable increase of work


The settlement of immersed tube tunnel is mainly caused by the compression of basal layer and recompression of the ground foundation layer. Defining the composite foundation as a combination of basal layer ofimmerse tube tunnel and ground foundation layer, a three-parameter model is proposed in this study to simulate the composite foundation in which the basal layer was represented using springs and the ground foundation layer by Kelvin's model. Based on the solution of beam on elastic foundation, analytical solution for settlement of immersed tube tunnel using the proposed three-parameter model was derived by means of Laplace transformation according to the correspondence principle and the constitutional relationship of the three-parameter model. Initial and final settlement as well as variation of settlement in terms of time were calculated and compared with the actual measured data in combination with actual data measured during tunnelling of Shenjiamen immersed tube tunnel in Zhoushan City. Results showed that the proposed three-parameter model is capable of replacing the basal and ground foundation layers. The calculated value matched favourably with the actual measured value and the variation of settlement in terms of time for immerse tube tunnel can be represented.


The appointment of 204 translators and interpreters to serve in the context of the Spanish Civil War carried out by the Military Intelligence Service of the Red Army constitutes an important measure for the institutionalization of translation in this context. The concept of institutionalization of translation refers to a form of legal-administrative, social, and moral legitimation of the professional performance of translators and interpreters, which, on the one hand, favors and, on the other hand, obstructs the action of translation as a cultural and social practice. The article analyzes the mechanisms of institutionalization and their effect on the performance of translators and interpreters during the war.


Risk management in the pharmaceutical industry by the ICH Q9 "Quality Risk Management" through its identification, planning, implementation and evaluation, is a useful tool to ensure drug quality in their manufacture and dose delivery to the patient. A process of escalation (technology transfer) in the manufacturing route for each drug that has obtained the sanitary registration as a new product before the regulatory body INVIMA is performed. It is important to document for further manufacturing and perform batch after batch process within specifications and deliver a finished product with quality by design. Due to this fact is included in the process of escalation D01001 - F1V1 format (see Annex 1), corresponding area COLOMPACK Development SA, responsible for the first production of the drug, in this work the effective application of escalation in the operations performed is shown: screening dispensing, mixing and packaging for the product manufacturing nitazoxanide 100 mg / 5 mL powder for suspension on the premises of COLOMPACK SA.


Niobium has been considered for applications in the aerospace sector, but its use at high temperatures is restricted, due to the great affinity of refractory metals with oxygen, which results in the formation of oxide layers and a decrease in their mechanical resistances. In the present work, Nb samples were submitted to High-Temperature Nitrogen Plasma-Based Ion Implantation (HT-NPBII). The process runs at a working pressure between 3 and 4 mbar and negative high voltage pulses of 7 kV/30 μs/300 Hz were applied to samples heated to 1000°C, at treatment times of 1 h, 4 h, and 8 h, respectively. Microstructural and mechanical characterizations of the treated samples revealed the formation of a layer of Nb2N, with 3.0 μm thickness and increase in the surface hardness from 225 HV for the untreated material up to about 2498 HV, for samples treated during 8 h. Creep tests were performed at 500°C and with loads varying from 25 to 40 MPa. Results indicated a decrease in the secondary creep rate for treated specimens when compared to the untreated ones. This behavior can be attributed to the formation of a nitride layer on the surface of Nb that acts as barrier to avoid the oxygen diffusion into the material under high temperature conditions.


The concept of freedom as non-domination is analyzed in the context of the theory of the "narrow corridor" by D. Acemoglu and J. Robinson. The article presents the argumentation of researchers of republicanism about the correlation of the concepts of freedom as non-interference and freedom as non-domination. On the basis of the metaphor "cage of norms" proposed by Acemoglu and Robinson, the social factors that make the choice dominant are analyzed.


Introduction: Decision-making, one of the most important conscious processes, is a cognitive process which ends up in choosing an action between several alternatives. The present paper studies the theoretical literature with the aim of forming an integrated concept of decision-making. Methods:  In the present review, "Decision, Decision-making, types of decision-making, methods of decision-making, classification of decision-making, decision-making reinforcement, decision-making facilitation, decision-making reduction, decision-making deficiencies, decision-making optimization, decision-making assessment, and decision-making evaluation" were the keywords which were searched in "PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Google Patent, MagIran, Taylor and Francis, SID, Proquest, Ebsco, Springer, IEEE, Kolwer, & IranDoc" search engines. With respect to the relation of the study parts, academic publishes after 2000 and the relevant Jadad system sources were selected. The manuscripts then were finalized by the evaluation of five experts in decision-making studies via the Delphi method. Results: 9 definitions in 3 classes, 4 involved factors, 5 types of decision-making, processes and steps of decision-making, 11 techniques of individual and participatory decision-making, 3 groupings of steps of decision-making, 5 related theories, 7related constructs, MCDM, biopsychological bases, military decision-making, medical decision-making, and Islamic decision-making were found. Conclusion: Teaching correct ways of decision-making, appending decision-making courses to syllabi of university majors, and the development of databases in varied domains, especially in medical services, are among the effective strategies to improve decision-making and reduce the costs of decision-making mistakes. Keywords: Decision, Decision-making, Decision-making methods, Jadad Method, Delphi Method


An accurate understanding of jointed rock mass behavior is important in many applications ranging from deep geological disposal of nuclear waste, to deep mining, and to urban geoengineering projects. The roughness of rock fractures and the matching of the fracture surfaces are the key contributors to the shear strength of rock fractures. In this research, push shear tests with three normal stress levels of 3.6, 6.0, and 8.5 kPa were conducted on two granite samples with artificially induced well-matching tensile fractures with sizes of 500 mm × 250 mm and 1000 mm × 500 mm. The large sample reached on average a −60% weaker peak shear stress than the medium-sized sample, and a strong negative scale effect was observed in the peak shear strength. The roughness of the surfaces was measured using a profilometer and photogrammetry. The scale-corrected profilometer-based method (joint roughness coefficient, JRC) underestimates the peak friction angle for the medium-sized slabs by −27% for the medium sample and −9% for the large sample. The photogrammetry-based (Z′2) method produces an estimate with −7% (medium) and + 12% (large) errors. The photogrammetry-based Z′2 is an objective method that consistently produces usable estimates for the JRC and peak friction angle.


Integration has become something of a byword for those concerned with environmental planning and management in Australia in recent years. Yet efforts to collaborate with non-state actors in policy development and implementation, and to co-ordinate local, state and federal government policies and activities suggest that integration can become an amorphous and often ambiguous goal. This article draws on recent collaborative and co-ordination efforts to address water quality issues in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef region to highlight some of these challenges. A preliminary assessment shows how a Reef-wide collaborative water quality partnership has risen to the challenge of integration. To date, this large-scale collaboration has focussed on co-ordinating a defensible knowledge-base to guide water quality management responses and developing an adaptive management strategy to test this knowledge through management experience and monitoring feedbacks. An initial evaluation of these efforts suggests the value of 'scaling-up' collaboration to facilitate integrated environmental management. There is no 'hard-wired' or structural solution to the problem on integration; instead, this experience shows that the development of collaborative partnerships also holds great promise. Such partnerships need to be carefully fitted to the particular management contexts in which integration is being pursued.


BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to identify optimal target propofol and remifentanil concentrations to avoid a gag reflex in response to insertion of an upper gastrointestinal endoscope. METHODS:Patients presenting for endoscopy received target-controlled infusions (TCI) of both propofol and remifentanil for sedation-analgesia. Patients were randomized to 4 groups of fixed target effect-site concentrations: remifentanil 1 ng•mL−1 (REMI 1) or 2 ng•mL−1 (REMI 2) and propofol 2 &mgr;g•mL−1 (PROP 2) or 3 &mgr;g•mL−1 (PROP 3). For each group, the other drug (propofol for the REMI groups and vice versa) was increased or decreased using the "up-down" method based on the presence or absence of a gag response in the previous patient. A modified isotonic regression method was used to estimate the median effective Ce,50 from the up-down method in each group. A concentration-effect (sigmoid Emax) model was built to estimate the corresponding Ce,90 for each group. These data were used to estimate propofol bolus doses and remifentanil infusion rates that would achieve effect-site concentrations between Ce,50 and Ce,90 when a TCI system is not available for use. RESULTS:One hundred twenty-four patients were analyzed. To achieve between a 50% and 90% probability of no gag response, propofol TCIs were between 2.40 and 4.23 &mgr;g•mL−1 (that could be achieved with a bolus of 1 mg•kg−1) when remifentanil TCI was fixed at 1 ng•mL−1, and target propofol TCIs were between 2.15 and 2.88 &mgr;g•mL−1 (that could be achieved with a bolus of 0.75 mg•kg−1) when remifentanil TCI was fixed at 2 ng•mL−1. Remifentanil ranges were 1.00 to 4.79 ng•mL−1 and 0.72 to 3.19 ng•mL−1 when propofol was fixed at 2 and 3 &mgr;g•mL−1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:We identified a set of propofol and remifentanil TCIs that blocked the gag response to endoscope insertion in patients undergoing endoscopy. Propofol bolus doses and remifentanil infusion rates designed to achieve similar effect-site concentrations can be used to prevent gag response when TCI is not available.


Critical superconducting properties in 100nm MgB2 film are investigated and examined in comparison with our previous results in 10nm and 50nm films. MgB2 films were prepared by sequential evaporation of boron and magnesium on SiC-buffered Si substrate followed by in situ annealing. The amount of supplied boron was controlled so as to result in the required MgB2 film thickness with excess Mg top layer. The superconducting transition temperature Tc is estimated to be 33.1K from the onset of AC diamagnetic susceptibility. The upper critical field Hc2 is also estimated from the AC susceptibility. Their temperature dependences are almost linear with |dHc2/dT|∼5.6kOe/K for the parallel magnetic field and |dHc2/dT]~3.9kOe/K for the perpendicular field. These values are larger than those in our previous 50nm film (Tc of 34.5K) in spite of a little lower transition temperature. The critical current density Jc and irreversibility field Hirr are estimated from DC magnetization hysteresis. Scaling behavior of Hirr ~ [1 – (T/Tc)2]n is examined in comparision to our previous studies in 10nm and 50nm films with different critical exponents n.


Objectives The cell cycle must be involved in cell proliferation of the epithelium of middle ear cholesteatoma. Cyclins and cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) complexes have important regulatory roles during cell cycle progression. Cyclin‐CDK complexes are in turn regulated by the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs), which generally inhibit cell cycle progression. One of the important CDKI members is p27Kip1. The goal of this study is to evaluate the expression of p27Kip1 and Ki‐67, a proliferation marker, in cholesteatoma and in the skin of the external ear canal.


Energy consumption of a computing system is reduced by integrating the two or more processing units and a variety of energy efficiency, and a variety of processing. The scheduler intercepting the interrupt (s) from the I / O space, and determines the interrupt to work, searching for energy and performance attributes of the job, and the job is executed properly when executed on the processing units so as to consume a minimum of energy schedules for the task.


Coprinus comatus mushroom is one of edible fungi and has been cultivated widely in China in recent years.Xylaria pedunculata is a new pathogen during the growth of Coprinus comatus.The biological characteristics of Xylaria pedunculata and the relationship between Xylaria pedunculata and Coprinus comatus were studied for the first time.The results indicated that the optimum C-source and N-source were corn powder and soybean powder,and the conditions were 25℃ and pH7.0 for hypha cultivation.


Factorial validity of stereotype content To assess the factorial validity of our stereotype content measure, we conducted a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) to analyse whether the proposed threefactor model of stereotype content (i.e., including competence, sociability, and warmth) fitted the data better than Fiske et al.'s (2002) two-factor model1 (see Table 1). Results indicated that the three-factor model fitted the data well in all countries (CFIs>.90 and RMSEA<.08) and was a relatively better fit than the two-factor model. A CFA with the total sample confirmed this pattern and revealed an excellent fit for the three-factor model χ2(41)=199.30, p<.001, RMSEA=.056 (90% CI:0.048, 0.063), CFI=.979. All standardized factor loadings were significant (ps<.001) and factors were significantly correlated with each other (.44<rs<.78). A comparison of the two models confirmed that the two-factor solution was a worse fit than the three-factor model, ∆CFI=.097. Missing values We performed a missing value analysis to understand whether there were consistent patterns of missing data and whether imputation or additional methods were necessary. Using Little's MCAR test, it was found that data was missing completely at random, χ2(2494) = 2589.17, p = .090. This suggests that missing values were randomly distributed across all observations. Given that there were fewer than 5% of missing


Background: In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) clonal chromosome aberrations in metaphases not carrying a t(9;22)(q34;q11) have been described during treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), so-called Philadelphia-negative (Ph-) clones. Very rarely transformation to MDS was observed in patients carrying such Ph- clones but mainly restricted to patients harboring -7. Overall, the clinical significance of this phenomenon remains obscure. Aim: 1) Analyze in a large cohort of TKI-treated CML patients who developed Ph- clones the presence and occurrence of molecular mutations over time. 2) Evaluate whether molecular mutations are also present in CML patients who were at least in major molecular remission (MMR) and presented with a normal karyotype. Patients and Methods: First Cohort: 51 CML patients (pts, 23 males, 28 females; median age: 60 yrs, range: 37-84 yrs) with response to TKI (imatinib only: n=32, nilotinib only: n=2, imatinib and dasatinib or nilotinib: n=11, all three TKIs: n=6) who developed Ph- clones. Cytogenetics in these pts were as follows: +8 sole (n=24), -Y (n=8), -7 sole (n=4), +9 (n=2), other trisomies (n=4), 9 had other aberrations including some with combinations of two different clones (n=4). In median these abnormalities were present in 30% (range 8-100%) of analyzed metaphases. BCR-ABL1 levels at the time point of analysis were between 0 and 3.8 (median: 0.023) according to international scale. Second Cohort: 50 CML pts (24 males, 26 females; median age: 56 yrs, range: 21-83 yrs), who were at least in MMR and without development of any cytogenetic aberration after 3 years of imatinib treatment. Median time from start of therapy to analysis was 2.6 years (range 3 months to 14 yrs). All cases were analyzed with a pan-myeloid gene panel of 29 genes: ASXL1, BCOR, BRAF, CBL, DNMT3A, ETV6, EZH2, FLT3 (TKD) , IDH1, IDH2, JAK2, KIT, KRAS, MLL -PTD , NOTCH1, NPM1, NRAS, PRPF40B, PTPN11, SF1, SF3A1, SF3B1, SRSF2, TET2, TP53, U2AF1, U2AF2 and ZRSR2. Either complete coding genes or hotspots were first amplified by a microdroplet-based assay (RainDance, Billerica, MA) and subsequently sequenced with a MiSeq instrument (Illumina, San Diego, CA). In addition, RUNX1 was sequenced on the 454 NGS platform (454 Life Sciences, Branford, CT). Results: In the first cohort 28 mutations were found in 19 patients, as 5 patients had 2 and 2 patients even 3 mutations.Thus,in 19/51 pts (37.3%) ≥1 mutation was detected. Median mutation load was 11.5% (range: 2-56%). In detail, mutations in the following genes were detected: ASXL1 (n=9), DNMT3A (n=7), RUNX1 (n=3), NRAS (n=2), TET2 (n=2) and one each in CBL , EZH2, IHD1, PRPF40B, and TP53 . Subsequently, these mutations were evaluated in samples from earlier or later time points (18 pts with a total of 235 samples, range: 3-20 samples/pt). In 12 cases a sample from diagnosis of CML was available. In 2 cases a CBL and an ASXL1 mutation were already detectable at low levels, 1.4% and 2%, respectively, at the time of diagnosis and later increased with decreasing BCR-ABL1 levels. In all other 10 cases the mutations were not detectable at diagnosis and were for the first time detectable during TKI treatment (in median after 24 months after diagnosis, range 2-73 months). In the remaining 6 cases date of occurrence could not be determined by backtracking as all earlier samples available were positive for the respective mutation. However, the over time mutation levels were inversely related to BCR-ABL1 expression indicating the presence in independent clones. Within the second cohort with cases in MMR that remained cytogenetically normal only in 2 of the 50 pts (4%) mutations were detected. In one patient a DNMT3A mutation was detected that could be monitored for 8 years with constant low mutation load (3-6%). This was not detectable at diagnosis and occurred after 6 months on imatinib. Very similarly, in the second case a TET2 mutation was first detected after 6 months on imatinib with a mutation load of 2% that very slowly increased to 7% within 8 years. Conclusions: 1) In CML patients that develop Ph- clones other mutations occur in 37.3%. 2) In contrast, in randomly selected CML pts with MMR that are cytogenetically normal, molecular mutations can be detected in only 4%. 3) The clinical importance of molecular mutations in CML in MMR remains unclear. 4) However, these results implicate that chromosomal aberrations are an indicator for genomic instability, also at the molecular level. Disclosures Schnittger: MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment, Equity Ownership. Meggendorfer: MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Nadarajah: MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Alpermann: MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment. Kern: MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment, Equity Ownership. Haferlach: MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment, Equity Ownership. Haferlach: MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory: Employment, Equity Ownership.


1. Introduction Conventional image shrinking methods consist of evenly downsampling to achieve the desired size. This method can lead to distortion and also means that every object in the image is scaled down proportionally. Ideally when choosing pixels to remove, those belonging to more interesting objects in the image would be given preference while uninteresting parts of the image are removed. To achieve this desired effect we implement Seam Carving on the Nokia N900, which consist of three parts: Calculation of pixel interest score, determination of minimum interest seam spanning the image, and removal of that seam. We discuss the implementation of those three steps, along with the results of running the algorithm on the cell phone.


Course Structure The course was structured over five days commencing on day one with broad definitions and understanding basic principles of the subject matter. The second day looked at issues from the national perspective with the keynote address from Tony Pearce, Director General Emergency Management Australia. Other lectures of note on day two were mass gatherings and influenza pandemic planning. There followed an evening lecture by Professor "Skip" Burkle on global health emergencies.


A non-discrete Monte Carlo algorithm is used to model the packing of static rods. The results establish that inter-rod contact results solely from rod motion, not from space-filling effects. As the concentration of static rods is increased, clusters of aligned rods form and grow. The effects of rod motion are inferred through thermodynamic analysis. At sufficiently high rod concentrations, rod motion is expected to cause structural coarsening wherein the rods rearrange into larger but fewer clusters. These results should be considered when modeling the structure and mechanical behavior of whisker- and chopped-fiber-reinforced composites.


We consider the parametric weak vector equilibrium problem. By using a weaker assumption of Peng and Chang (2014), the sufficient conditions for continuity of the solution mappings to a parametric weak vector equilibrium problem are established. Examples are provided to illustrate the essentialness of imposed assumptions. As advantages of the results, we derive the continuity of solution mappings for vector optimization problems.


The invention provides a method and a device for processing the image de-blocking effect, which comprises the steps of firstly, dividing a to-be-processed image into a plurality of image blocks during the image decoding process, wherein the division boundaries of the image blocks and the division boundaries of the image blocks during the image coding process are in staggered arrangement; secondly, selecting a reference block out of the image blocks; thirdly, selecting a domain block of the reference block out of image blocks in the neighborhood of the reference block and assembling a domain block set; fourthly, according to the frequency information of the domain block set within the inherent frequency band thereof, dividing the domain block set into mutually orthogonal subsets, determining a sparse subset out of the above subsets and then casting out the sparse subset. In this way, corresponding high-frequency subsets, with the frequencies thereof higher than a preset threshold, are cast out of the domain block set. Therefore, a domain block set assembled by all domain blocks after being subjected to the de-blocking treatment can be obtained. According to the technical scheme of the invention, the de-blocking effect is ensured to be good. Meanwhile, after the de-blocking treatment, images are closer to natural images.


Abstract As individuals with HIV are living longer due to earlier diagnosis and advances in treatment, they are turning their attention to living with HIV/AIDS. Based on a study (n = 82) that explored how HIV may affect the intimacy of long-term couples of mixed HIV status, psychosocial issues are identified. Key findings include the identification of six themes. They are: (1) fear of HIV transmission, (2) HIV and health status, (3) shifts in emotional intimacy, (4) assumption of care-giver and patient roles, (5) reproductive issues, and (6) a perceived sense of power inequity present between the genders and between HIV positive and HIV negative partners. Implications for the practitioner are discussed.


The best heat treatment process of sub critical hardening and tempering of the 40Cr steel has been designed by means of CAD technology. The process has been applied in practice for satisfying result, and can replace quenching and tempering of the steel.


A new topological invariant is constructed which classifies integrable Hamiltonian systems with two degrees of freedom (admitting a Bott integral). A criterion for the equivalence of Bott systems is proved: such systems are topologically equivalent if and only if their topological invariants coincide. The topological invariant is effectively calculated for specific integrable Hamiltonian systems in physics and mechanics.


This research aimed to design interactive workbook via Liveworksheets for reading skill at tenth grade. The subject of this research was a class of 10th grade students in a Senior High School in Tanjungpinang, which consisted of 16 students. This research was research and development with the ADDE model based on Richey and Klein (2014). This research focused on designing interactive workbook for the tenth grade second semester English materials. It consisted of announcement text, recount text, and narrative text. There were four phases in this research which are analysis phase, design phase, development phase, and evaluation phase. The result from the validation stage showed that there was minor revision in the media aspect. After the revision had been approved by the validator, the interactive workbook was decent to be used in the classroom. From the practical result, it can be seen that the interactive workbook got good responses from the students. The interactive workbook also met the students' characteristics which were classified as generation Z.


Abstract : Two modifications are described which have been developed for the single-target ship tracking algorithm of NRL Report 7969 and NRL Memorandum Report 3991. One modification improves the tracking response to strong target maneuvers, and the other allows the use of reports giving target bearing only. (Author)


The U.S. government technical report is a primary means by which the results of federally funded research and development (R&D) are transferred to the U.S. aerospace industry. However, little is known about this information product in terms of its actual use, importance, and value in the transfer of federally funded (U.S.) R&D. To help establish a body of knowledge, the U.S. government technical report is being investigated as part of the NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. In this paper, we summarize the literature on technical reports and provide a model that depicts the transfer of federally funded aerospace R&D via the U.S. government technical report. We present results from two surveys (one of five studies) of our investigation of aerospace knowledge diffusion vis-a-vis the U.S. government technical report and close with a brief overview of on-going research into the use of the U.S. government technical report as a rhetorical device for transferring federally funded aerospace R&D.


This study was conducted to investigate the chemical fractionation and mobility of Cu, Cd and Pb in some soil irrigated with sewage water in Qena governorate, Upper Egypt. Sequential extraction results showed that in the treated soil, a major proportion of Cu, Pb, and Cd was associated with poorly crystalline iron oxide bound (PCFeOX), crystalline iron oxide – occluded (CFeOX)  and a major proportion of Cu, Pb and Cd was associated with residual (RES) fractions. Based on relative percent. the results also show that The non-labile Cu, Cd and Pb in the non-irrigated soil partially transformed to the potentially labile Cu due to the irrigation with sewage water Also, a part of the readily labile and potentially labile Cu, Cd and Pb of the sewage water irrigated soils for short time transformed to the non-labile fraction with irrigation with same water for a long time. Higher mobility of metals in the soils irrigated with sewage water for short time represent a potential hazard for the redistribution and translocation of these metals into the food chain and leach to ground water.


Aim To study the role of the concentration of soluble Fas(sFas), soluble Fas ligand(sFasL), cytokines and anti ssDNA antibody in the pathogeny of RA. Methods The levels of sFas, sFasL ,IL 6, IL 8 and anti ssDNA antibody in sera isolated from 32 patients with RA and 20 healthy individuals, were determined by ELISA. Results The levels (ng/L) of sFas, sFasL, IL 6 and IL 8 in sera isolated from 32 patients with RA were higher than those of healthy individuals. And in the 32 patients the levels of sFasL, IL 6 and IL 8 in active period were significantly higher than those in non active period(P∨0.01). Simultaneous increase of both sFas and sFasL level were found in the serum of 8 RA patients,and simultaneous increase of both sFasL and anti ssDNA antibody level were seen in the serum of 9 RA patients. Conclusion Levels of serum IL 6 and IL 8 were positively related to inflammatory degree of RA patient. High level of sFas, and sFasL may suppress downregulation of Ts to TH lymphocytes. Anti ssDNA antibody may be induced by nuclear antigen released from apoptotic cells mediated by Fas/FasL. Analysis of the concentration of sFas, sFasL, IL 6 and IL 8 in the serum may be useful for diagnosis and bio immunological treatment of the RA patients.


The paper analyzed the formation of the mine landslide by the influence geological factors.The basic issues in engineering geological exploration are: week layer location,occurrence,distribution,mineral composition,and forecasting landslide probability.The results will guide geological hazards prevention and cure.


ract Integrity in Macedonian customs is an essential issue with a high impact on the legitimacy and capacity to successfully perform its role. The main objective of this paper is to analyze integrity and corruption problems in Macedonian customs. Using statistical data on corruption, an analysis of integrity and corruption problems in Macedonian customs will be made. Analyzing data presented in Corruption Assessment Report: Level of corruption 2021 - it is evident that there is an increase in the perception of corruption of customs officials. Statistics show that Macedonian customs remain one of the most vulnerable sectors exposed to high levels of corruption. Introducing and strengthening integrity requires an uncompromising and non-selective fight against corruption as a crime. Implementation of integrity in the Macedonian customs can only be achieved by strengthening the systems of prevention and repression of corruption. Keywords: Integrity, Corruption, Customs, Macedonian customs


ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate effects of maternal genetic potential and parity with pre- and postpartum periods on body weights, body condition score (BCS) and blood metabolites in relation to physiological stress and nutritional metabolism in Hanwoo cows. Also, this study was designed to develop effective husbandry technique for Hanwoo cows concerning of pre- and postpartum periods, and to get basic data for it. Forty five cows were allocated into two groups, 24 cows with high maternal genetic potentials and 21 cows with low maternal genetic potentials. The average parity of experimental cows with high and low maternal genetic potentials were 2.83 ± 1.63 and 3.00± 1.77, respectively. The growth performances such as body weights, average daily gain (ADG) and BCS were not different between two groups regardless of maternal genetic potential. However, pre- and postpartum periods had effects on the growth performances (p 0.05), but effect on body weight of cows (p<0.05). The metabolites of physiological stress such as neutrophil, hematocrit and cortisol, and nutritional metabolites such as albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglyceride, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in blood of cows were affected by pre- and postpartum periods in a large scale, while those were partially affected by maternal genetic potential. However, among the metabolites in blood, only neutrophil and triglylceride concentrations were affected by different parity of cows. Therefore, the present study suggests that nutritional intake and digestion are affected by physiological stress due to the parturition, and it should need to consider different husbandry technique based on the maternal genetic potential, and pre- and postpartum periods of cows.(


The present study was to find out the differences of fathers' involvement in parenting, role satisfaction, and young children's social competence according to fathers' socio-demographic variables, and the relationships among fathers' involvement in parenting, role satisfaction and young children's social competence. The subjects of the study were 175 five-year-old children and their fathers from public kindergartens in Chongju, Jecheon, and Danyang. Questionnaires used in the study were the measures of father's involvement in parenting(Lee, 1999), role satisfaction(Cho, 1998), and young children's social competence(Han, 1997). Data were analyzed with frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation, t-test, F-test, LSD post hoc test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient using SPSS program. Results of the study were as follows: First, there were differences in father's involvement in parenting, role satisfaction, and young children's social competence according to father's level of education, job, and income. Second, there were significant positive correlations among father's involvement in parenting, role satisfaction, and young children's social competence.


This paper examines `Republican Motherhood conceptualized by Linda Kerber. For the last fifteen year s it has been discussed as an important thesis among historians. The reason `Republican Mother-hood` thesis has attracted historians` attention was because it explains for the expansion of female education and emphasis on women`s virtue initiated after the Revolution. According to Kerber, Republican Motherhood was emerged as a social conception. After the Revolution, for the maintenance of the Republic moral citizenship was required both in private and public realms. In private realm, women were imposed to take new roles summed up as Republican Motherhood. Republican Mother was to encourage in her sons civic interest and participation and guide them in the path of morality and virtue, and thereby perform a political role at home. However, Kerber asserts that Republican Motherhood was introduced as a means to alleviate women`s elated political interests, and thus reduce women s role into motherhood and confine them to their home. Contrary to Kerber`s conclusion this paper views that `Republican Motherhood` had positive effects on women. Republican Motherhood promoted the importance of motherhood to raise republican citizens, and provided women with unprecedented educational opportunities. While performing their roles as republican mothers, women had obtained self-confidence, and their activity boundaries had much expanded. Furthermore, the enhanced female education initiated by Republican Motherhood had served as a stepping stone for women to advance into the public realm. The female education executed especially in female academies was a leaping momentum for women`s development.


The inhibition of lactation by prescribing free fluid intake described by Mr. C.K. Vartan (4 January p. 50) is a most satisfactory method of suppression. The disadvantages of the stilboestrol method the secondary engorgement of the breasts and the withdrawal bleeding which sometimes occur are eliminated. It would appear now that the risk of venous thrombosis is greatly reduced. Free fluids have been used for a considerable time as the sole method of suppression of lactation in out maternity unit and we have found it most effective. Stilboestrol does not appear to have any superior advantage. I can recommend the free fluid technique to Dr. D.D. Brown (4 January p. 50) as a thoroughly satisfactory replacement for stilboestrol in the suppression of lactation. (Full text)


The Proton Engineering Frontier Project (PEFP) is constructing a 100 MeV proton linac in order to provide 20 MeV and 100 MeV proton beams. The linac consists of a 50 keV proton injector including an ion source and a low energy beam transport (LEBT), a 3 MeV radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ), a 20 MeV drift tube linac (DTL), a medium energy beam transport (MEBT), and the higher energy part (20 MeV ~ 100 MeV) of the 100 MeV DTL. The MEBT is located after the 20 MeV DTL to extract 20 MeV proton beams. The construction of the 20 MeV part of the linac was completed and is now under beam test. The higher energy part of the PEFP linac was designed to operate with 8% beam duty. This brief report discusses the design of the higher energy part of the PEFP 100MeV linac as well as the MEBT.


High strain rate extensional flow of a semi-dilute polymer solution can cause substantial stretching of the polymer network. Random walk simulations of the polymer network in an electrospinning jet demonstrate substantial longitudinal stretching and radial contraction of the network, a transformation from an equilibrium state to an almost fully stretched state. The simulation also allows visualization of the polymer network and individual chains in various stages of the electrospinning jet. An effective potential, arising from the viscous and elastic forces and from boundary constraints, is applied to calculate the random walk stepping probabilities and to describe chain conformations and statistics. The simulation tool is described, and various flow conditions and polymer conformations are simulated and discussed. The difference between the dynamics of a free chain and a network in a flow field is clarified. The analysis contributes to understanding how electrospinning affects the polymer nanostructure, and how the unique properties of electrospun nanofibers might be improved.


Polyphenylene ether(PPE)was blending modified by polybutene(PB)and high-impact polystyrene(HIPS),made research on the mechanical properties,processing performance and resistance to chemical stress cracking performance of polybutenes on the modification of PPE ether,the result showed with 5% PB,melt flow index and chemical crack resistance of modified polyphenylene ethers nearly doubled,but rigidity and heat resistance were modestly reduced.


Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is an effective treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). While it is undergoing clinical trials for numerous malignancies including multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, lymphoma and solid tumors, it has demonstrated only limited efficacy as a single agent. However, it may hold promise as part of a combination therapy. Thus investigation to elucidate the mechanisms of action underlying these clinical responses may lead to generation of rational combination therapies to increase its therapeutic spectrum. Previous work has described a pathway required for ATO-induced apoptosis in APL cells involving the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the subsequent induction of a specific mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade that includes both stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/ERK kinase 1 (SEK1) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) activation. However, the link between ROS production and activation of SEK1 remains to be elucidated. Apoptosis signaling kinase 1 (ASK1) is a MAP3K upstream of SEK1 that has been implicated in the induction of stress-induced signaling.Using murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from ASK1-/- mice; we provide evidence that ASK1 is a strong mediator for ATO-induced apoptosis and JNK activation. In an APL cell line, we show that ATO activates ASK1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, knockdown of ASK1 in APL cells enhanced susceptibility to ATO, undergoing apoptosis and growth inhibition more than their wild type counterparts. The same impact was observed in the knockdown of SEK1, a direct downstream MAP2K of ASK1, and the knockdown of ASK1 in MCF-7 cells, a human breast cancer cell line. This led us to postulate that ASK1 had a pro-apoptotic function in non-transformed fibroblasts, but was pro-survival in malignant cells. Indeed, transformation of ASK1-/- MEFs restored their sensitivity to ATO-induced apoptosis and growth inhibition. Taken together, these results suggest that ASK1 can have both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic roles depending on the transformation state of the cells.One model of ASK1 regulation suggests that ASK1 is kept in an inactive form by reduced thioredoxin-1 (Trx1). During oxidative stress, Trx1 is oxidized and releases ASK1 for activation. Immunoprecipitation of ASK1 followed by immuoblotting for Trx1 in APL cells shows a strong basal association that is lost with ATO treatment. Furthermore, the activity of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1), an enzyme that converts oxidized Trx1 into reduced Trx1, is significantly decreased following ATO treatment. This suggests that ATO activates ASK1 signaling by ROS-mediated oxidation of Trx1 and by maintaining Trx1 in its oxidized state by decreasing TrxR1 activity. In addition, we show that inhibition of TrxR1 with the TrxR1 inhibitor Auranofin sensitizes APL cells to ATO-induced apoptosis. Overall, our results suggest that targeting Trx1 may enhance ATO-induced apoptosis in a novel combination therapy.%%%%L'arsenic trioxyde (ATO) est un…


In this talk we show that half of non-zero Hecke eigenvalues for a Siegel cusp form of genus two are positive and half are negative. We also prove results concerning the non-vanishing in short intervals and strong cancellation among the eigenvalues evaluated at powers of a fixed prime. All are cordially invited


Background Hemiballism/hemichorea commonly occurs as a result of a lesion in the subthalamic region. Case Report A 38-year-old male with Parkinson's disease developed intractable hemiballism in his left extremities due to a small lesion that was located adjacent to the right deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead, 10 months after bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN)-DBS placement. He underwent a right globus pallidus internus (GPi)-DBS lead implantation. GPi-DBS satisfactorily addressed his hemiballism. Discussion This case offered a unique look at basal ganglia physiology in human hemiballism. GPi-DBS is a reasonable therapeutic option for the treatment of medication refractory hemiballism in the setting of Parkinson's disease.


Report presenting an investigation to determine the effects of plan-form taper on the aerodynamic characteristics of a series of symmetrical, unswept wings with thicknesses of 8-percent chord. The wings were tested with four different bodies of revolution over a range of Mach numbers. Results regarding the lift, drag, pitching-moment, lift-curve slope, lift-drag ratio, and pitching-moment curve are provided.


Sierra Leoneans were shocked when video clips of the Central Correctional Centre gallows began circulating on social media after the Minister of Internal Affairs instructed the prison authorities to get ready to take life. The Minister's pronouncement came hot on the heels of a series of alleged gang-related murders that rocked Freetown in 2016. What are the complex linkages between street violence and youth marginalisation? How might violence among marginal youth relate to unplanned urbanisation, the retreat of the state, the neoliberal paradigm, and the wider political economy – all trappings of an exclusionary globalisation process that continues to exclude those at the periphery? This article describes the appropriation by marginal actors of global cultural influences and their transcription into deadly weapons of the weak in furtherance of a survivalist objective anchored in citizenship. The research is based on fieldwork conducted in five cities in Sierra Leone – group discussions and in-depth interviews with over 300 participants, all identifying themselves as gangsters belonging to one of the three dominant team/ set federations: Crip, Blood, and Black (Black Hood or Black Game). Problematising their quotidian existence in contemporary Africa raises fundamental questions about globalisation and citizenship in the making of subaltern subjectivities.

Ibrahim Abdullah, Department of History and African Studies, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


The invention relates inter alia to a method of a protective coating (40) of a component (10) for removing, in particular a turbine blade. According to the invention it is provided that the protective coating (40) using mechanical shock waves (S1, S2) with a shock wave repetition frequency (fs) lower than 20 kHz is removed.


Potential variation of rust preventing oil film after its degradation was studied by using wire beam electrode.In this paper,potential variation of rust preventing oil film before its degradation was studied using wire beam electrode.It has been found that the distribution of corrosion potential on the surface of oil-coated wire-beam electrode is heterogeneous before the degradation of rust preventing oil film. At the early stage of immersion,the distribution of corrosion potential gradually shifts to a higher potential range with increasing of immersion time.When the distribution of corrosion potential reaches to a highest potential range,it begins to shift negatively to a lower potential range.It is suggested that this situation may be due to metal corrosion taking place at the metal/coating interface.The distribution of corrosion potential on oil-painted wire-beam electrode follows a normal probability distribution before the degradation of oil coating. With increasing of immersion time,the distribution of corrosion potential on oil-painted wire-beam electrode may change from normal probability distribution before the degradation of oil coating to discontinues binomial distribution after the degradation of oil coating.


The preventive medicine prescription simply read: "Stop chasing stray cats." Dr. Paul Dhillon wrote it a few years ago for a 92-year-old patient who lived alone in a small Saskatchewan town. The woman had fallen on some steps, injuring a leg, as she chased stray cats from her yard.

As Dhillon


11009Background: Adjuvant IM reduces risk of recurrence and improves survival in pts with high-risk primary GIST. Joensuu et al 2016 demonstrated higher 5-yr overall survival (OS) rates of 91.9% vs 85.3% in pts treated with adjuvant IM for 3 vs 1 yr, respectively. It is unknown if further extension of treatment duration can improve outcome. Methods: PERSIST-5 is a single-arm, phase II trial that enrolled pts ≥18 yrs of age, who underwent macroscopically complete resection of primary KIT (+) GIST with high risk of recurrence within 12 wks prior to IM treatment. High risk was defined as primary GIST (any site) ≥2 cm with a mitotic count ≥ 5/50 HPF or non-gastric primary GIST ≥5 cm. Pts were treated with IM 400 mg/d for 5 yrs or until progression, relapse, or intolerance. Primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS, defined as time of treatment start to first recurrence or death). Results: IM was administered to 91 pts with a median age of 60 yrs (range 30-90). Median tumor size was 6.5 cm (range 2.3-...


The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to identify an appropriate model in reducing levels of pesticide residual in farmers' blood in Sokhothai province. By purposive random sampling, three group, 100 farmers in each were selected.Either one of three models of health education, exhibition, training or manual, was applied to each group. Blood samples were collected and tested for serum cholineaterase seven days before and after participating in such activities, also in depth interview and focus group discussion were evaluating tools. Normal to safety levels of serum cholinesterase in exhibition-attending group, training group and document receiving group were increasing from 56% to 83%, 59% to 93% and 63% to 70%, respectively. This study can be concluded that training was effective in reducing levels of pesticide residual residual in farmers in Sukhothai province.


Cours e evaluations by students mai nly emplo ys simple su r veys. However, there ar e many criticisms about their actual usefulness: empirical evidence shows that they are a ritual way of complying with administrative regulations; the scientific literature does not demonstrate their impact on the quality of learning. Moreover, their focus is mainly on student satisfaction and they do not consider the complexity of learning processes. A qualitative course evaluation was tested as an alternative approach. 106 master's degree students in education provided rich answers describing both teachers and students as agents; they see their learning processes in a context of academic demands and social interactions. Experience suggests that qualitative course evaluations may give information on learning that cannot be uncovered in a traditional survey; They also support the student learner identity and emancipate his role as a co-producer of knowledge.


The use of air‐hardening steels in the manufacture of automobile body components shortens the corresponding process chain by means of eliminating the immersion or gas quenching operation since hardening occurs in still air. To choose the optimal forming and heat‐treatment parameters, the development of the microstructure needs to be considered as a consequence of the thermomechanical production processes. The object of this work is to investigate the effects of forming and the subsequent heat‐treating on the changes of the microstructural parameters for the air‐hardening steel LH800. For this purpose, specimens were processed under different forming and heat‐treating conditions and subsequently examined by means of SEM and mechanically tested using tensile tests. Based on this, an empirical equation was derived which describes the influence of both the martensite's bundle thickness and the original austenite's grain size on the yield stress. In this way, microstructural parameters can be identified which lead to good mechanical properties. The measured correlation can thus be used for modeling the LH800 steel's forming and heat‐treatment processes.


The problem of finding self-intersections of a curve is easy to appreciate, but permits a wide variety of possible approaches to a solution. Problems that need little definition when displayed graphically often require more careful thought when expressed in purely algebraic terms. If they are to be solved automatically and repeatedly there must be no possibility of division by zero, and arithmetic must be kept to a minimum. The choice of method in practice depends on an appropriate balance of convenience, reliability and cost; elegance may contribute, but cannot be the main factor in making a decision!


In the period of globalization electronic advertising is an incredible transformation. Over the course of the past ten years greatest business associations are running with innovative change. Online shopping or showcasing is the utilization of innovation (i.e., PC) for better advertising execution. Furthermore, retailers are contriving methodologies to fulfill the need of online customers; they are occupied in concentrating on buyer conduct in the field of internet shopping, to see the shopper mentalities towards web-based shopping. Subsequently we have additionally chosen to concentrate on purchaser's mentalities towards web-based shopping and explicitly concentrating on the elements impacting buyers to shop on the web. Watchwords: Online Shopping, Consumer Behavior, Attitude


Sound absorption by microperforated panels (MPPs) has received increasing attention recently as an alternative in applications with special cleanliness and health requirements. Since the hole diameter‐to‐panel thickness ratio must be close to unity, MPPs result limp, and therefore difficult to handle for practical applications. Microperforated insertion units (MIUs) were proposed recently to solve this trouble. They combine a millimetric panel with a micrometric mesh to provide an absorption curve similar to that of an MPP. The disadvantage of an MIU, as compared with an MPP, is that its performance depends on the tuning of seven parameters. Furthermore, when a double‐layer absorber is required to increase the absorption frequency band, the number of constitutive parameters to be tuned becomes the design rather arduous. Therefore, it could be attractive to know the combination of constitutive parameters, within given variation ranges, which provides the maximum mean absorption for a prescribed frequency b...


We examined the relations between Mathematical Creative Problem Solving Ability Test(MCPSAT: Kim etl. 1997) and Torrance Test of Creative Thinking Figural A (TTCT; adapted for Korea by Kim etl. 1999). The subjects in this study were 31 fifth-grade students. In the analysis of data, frequencies, perc...


From its beginnings, child psychoanalysis has relied on observations of children at play in both natural and therapeutic settings as a source of information about the mental life of children. This book explores child's play and its implications throughout life.


Abstract In current building and construction (BC) practice, most design projects are initiated and driven by the client, with or without the help of architects, engineering consultants or advisers. This article discusses an alternative approach that suggests an integrated design and delivery of BC works that is based on assuming a more dominant role for the supplier in the design process, as well as assuming more decision-making responsibility for the client. This bottom-up approach greatly benefits from the system engineering and building information modelling at its core. In this set-up, the supplier has a building system consisting of standardized building elements and components. Responding to a design question, the supplier develops a design as a configuration of his building system objects. Potential benefits of this approach include possibilities for standardization, production automation and advanced simulation and performance forecasting. The living building concept provides the core of a theoretical framework for shaping this approach, taking into account that the life of a construction is dynamic and hence needs to be adaptable. This requires a new construction process with a dynamic coupling between the 'living construction' and the 'living world'.