Objective
To observe the effects of pulsed radiofrequency with different treatment times on the beta-endorphin in hypothalamus in a rat model of chronic neuropathic pain.

Methods
Seventy-two male SD rats weighing 200-220 g were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=18 in each group): sham PRF group(A0), PRF 120 s group (A1), PRF 480 s group (A2), PRF 720 s group (A3). Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constrictive injury (CCI). PRF intervention was performed on the proximal part of the sciatic nerve ligation in group PRF at 7 d after CCI, with pulse duration 20 ms, pulse frequency 2 Hz, voltage 55 V, and the duration of treatment was 120 s, 480 s, 720 s respectively. The radiofrequency electrodes were placed at the same position of the sciatic nerve without electricity applied in sham PRF group. The expression of beta-endorphin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was respectively measured in the hypothalamus in each group (n=6) at 7, 14, 21 d after PRF treatment and the histological changes of the sciatic nerve in rats were observed under light microscope.

Results
The expression of beta-endorphin in the hypothalamus of the rats was significantly higher in the PRF group than that in sham PRF group (P<0.01) at 7, 14 d after PRF treatment. The expression of beta-endorphin was significantly higher in PRF 720 s group and PRF 480 s group than that in PRF 120 s group at 14 d after PRF treatment (P<0.05), which was higher in PRF 720 s group than that in PRF 480 s group, higher in PRF 480 s group than that in PRF 120 s group at 21 d after PRF treatment (P<0.05). The sciatic nerve structure changed slightly after PRF treatment, and showed a trend of recovery over time under light microscope.

Conclusion
The content of beta-endorphin in hypothalamus of CCI rats is significantly increased after PRF treatment with 120 s, 480 s and 720 s. Appropriately increasing the time of pulsed radiofrequency will maintain high concentration of beta-endorphin in hypothalamus of CCI rats for a long time, and may prolong the time of PRF analgesia.

Key words:
Pulsed radiofrequency; Rat; Neuropathic pain; Beat-endorphin; Optical micro- scope


A discussion covers the types of anchors and fishing boards in common use today; how risk of pipeline damage from these intems can be assessed; and the various modes of protection to reduce the risk of damage to ana cceptable level without excessive cost.


Increasing evidence suggests that alpha‐synuclein (αSyn) accumulation in cholinergic and adrenergic fibers in the skin is a useful biomarker to diagnose idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). It has been widely reported that phosphorylated αSyn (p‐αSyn) deposits in autonomic fibers in IPD are a biomarker in the skin, but other tissue localizations have not been fully investigated.


Abstract The Persian craft of textile making is one of the ancient arts and crafts with traditions originating more than two millennia ago. The golden age for textiles begins with the Safavid Era. In this paper, investigation and study of a Persian sacrament sample was carried out with due regard to the importance of its religious meaning. One aim of selecting this object for practical and theoretical research was based on a consideration of the ancient minority religion people of Iran. This four-piece object of velvet needlework (48.5 × 45 cm) comes from the eighteenth century ad with a kind of special sewing termed 'Djulffaic sewing' with a silver stripe braiding tinsel and 'sermee' (a type of tinsel with a cylindrical form), tapestry, sequin ornamentation and 'zaghareeh dozy' (ornamentation with braiding and sequins). It is made with very fine needlework using silver and gold thread. This ornamented textile with a symbolic design was made to hang in sacred ceremonies over the bishop's staff. It is made of four separate panels joined together. In order to choose the best course of restoration, the investigation was carried out taking account of the importance of technique and method of manufacture, diagnosis of deterioration and its causes. After study and analysis in the laboratory, conservation and restoration was performed. Operations included cleaning, bleed tests in order to select the best way to wash the textile, supporting and mending the object with different techniques such as sticky thread, couching and so on.


e21523 Background: Prognostic factors of high-grade soft tissue sarcoma have been reported as the response to preoperative chemotherapy, tumor size, age, location or surgical margin. In this study,...


The objective was to compare the Mehlich-1 (M1), Mehlich-3 (M3) and Bray-1 (B1) in assessing the availability of P to soybean in soils of Parana. In this study, we used 12 representative soils of the state, which were cultivated with soybeans for a period of 42 days. The correlation coefficients between the levels of P extracted by the solutions showed high correlation. The levels of P extracted by M3 and B1 solutions were, respectively, on average, 32 and 57% higher than those extracted by the solution M1. The correlation coefficients obtained between the quantities of P absorbed by soybean plants and extracted by solutions of M1, the M3 and B1 were respectively 0.76, 0.81 and 0.65. All methods showed good performance in estimating the availability of P for soybeans, except for the B1 method when used in sandy soils, which overestimated the quantity extracted. KeyWord: Available phosphorus, Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, Bray-1 and correlation.


Proteins actively transported into the nucleus via the classical nuclear import pathway contain nuclear localization signals (NLSs), which are recognized by the family of importin α molecules. Importin α contains 10 armadillo (arm) repeats, of which the N-terminal arm repeats 2–4 have been considered as the "major" NLS binding site. Interferon-activated, dimerized signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT1 and STAT2) directly bind to importin α5 via a dimeric nonclassical NLS. Here we show by site-directed mutagenesis that the very C-terminal arm repeats 8 and 9 of importin α5 form a unique binding site for STAT1 homodimers and STAT1-STAT2 heterodimers. Influenza A virus nucleoprotein also contains a nonclassical NLS that is recognized by the C-terminal NLS binding site of importin α5, comprising arm repeats 7–9. Binding of influenza A virus nucleoprotein to importin α3 also occurs via the C-terminal arm repeats. Simian virus 40 large T antigen instead binds to the major N-terminal arm repeats of importin α3, indicating that one importin α molecule is able to use either its N- or C-terminal arm repeats for binding various NLS containing proteins.


It has important significance on improving cultivated peanut varieties and expending its genetic basis with wild species through knowing about the origin and classification of genus Arachis and the progenitor of wild species for cultivated peanut.Peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop for edible oil and protein.At present,80 species of the genus Arachis have been identified and are divided into nine sections.The Arachis section includes the cultivated peanut(A.hypogaea L.) and other 30 wild species,and cultivated peanut can be only crossed and compatible with all wild species in the Arachis section.The phylogenetic relationships of interspecies in the genus Arachis has been studied deeply through interspecies cross,cytology and modern biotechnologies such as molecular markers,and the consistent result is that A.duranensis and A.ipaёnsis are the most probable progenitors of the cultivated peanut.It proposed that one of the important studies is to improve the cultivated peanut and get new germplasm through utilizing the Arachis wild species by various ways.


The theoretical analysis and preliminary measurements shows the possibility of isotropic measurement both of the electric field and of the magnetic field by using a single probe. The solution proposed is a simple one, and makes possible the achievement of an isotropic sensor for determining the electromagnetic interference in the audio frequency band.


Digitally archived core images cannot take the place of a slabbed core, but a digital archive of core accessed from the internet or the corporate intranet enhances the ability to view, manipulate, and analyze the core, while remaining immune from the effects of desiccation. Depending upon the quality of the imagery and the illumination used, they can be processed for a wide variety of information ranging from net pay to bed thickness spectra and grain size logs.


: Socio-economic, cultural and political upheavals which shake Americans of all ages at given times always leave indelible marks as consequences on social constructs. When wars emasculate veterans, they consequently fail in their duties about house hold management. Women were thendoomed to play both roles of mothers and fathers with means within capacities in those well-known post-emancipation conditions, not favorable for expected prosperity for blacks and their families. Mothers achieve the main with fits and starts basing strongly on love demonstrations with particular facets towards their children. Banking on psychoanalitical criticism as a critical literary theory, this research-paper sets out to interpret characters' actions and reactions within the framework of mothers' unconditional love and related effects on children.


Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) is a hepatic vascular disease presenting with abdominal distension, pain in the hepatic region, ascites, jaundice, and hepatomegaly. In China, this disease is often associated with the oral intake of plants that contain pyrrolidine alkaloids. The existing guidelines are limited to HSOS associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Western countries. The Hepatobiliary Diseases Committee of the Chinese Society of Gastroenterology convened an expert consensus conference on the diagnosis and treatment of PA–HSOS to evaluate current research in China and abroad. The "Nanjing criteria" developed by the committee to diagnose PA–HSOS include a confirmed history of PA‐containing plant use and (i) abdominal distention and/or pain in the hepatic region, hepatomegaly, and ascites; (ii) elevation of serum total bilirubin or abnormal laboratory liver tests; (iii) evidence on enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging; or (iv) pathological evidence that rules out other known causes of liver injury. Supportive symptomatic treatment, anticoagulant therapy, and placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for patients who do not respond to medical treatment are effective for the treatment of PA–HSOS. The benefits of glucocorticoids and prostaglandin E1 in PA–HSOS are not clear.


The Hospitalized Acquired Infection is defined as the case where the hidden infection or not found at the time of hospitalization occurs during the hospitalized period or, within 30 days to those who performed the surgery operation and then left the hospital. About 2/3 of the Hospitalized Acquired I...


Retrieval of operational optical products from the future Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) Sentinel-3 mission aims to provide continuity of existing missions delivering ocean/land colour, surface temperature and sea surface topography data. This paper describes the current status of the Sentinel-3 Level 2 Optical Prototype Processor (O-L2PP) whose development includes not only a list of products, but also associated uncertainty estimates—a key requirement for the processor. Examples of the approaches adopted within the Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) processing module demonstrate how uncertainties can be estimated.


-The Ceylonese tree frog Polypedates cruciger was considered endemic to the island of Sri Lanka. However, recent surveys in the Western Ghats, India has revealed that the species is widespread outside its originally reported range. P. cruciger differs from both the Indian species P. maculatus and P. leucomystax in morphology and ecology. P. cruciger is an addition to the amphibian fauna of India.


A substrate processing apparatus includes a chamber, and providing a reaction zone comprising a first and second sides opposed to each other; module, coupled to the first side; upper electrode positioned in the reaction zone; substrate holder, the face the upper electrode, wherein the substrate is provided in the base substrate, on the substrate and defining a first and a second point, wherein the first point corresponding to the center of the substrate, and the second point remote from the the said first point toward said first side; and a feeder for applying RF power feeder connected to the upper electrode and corresponding to the second point.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits sought by luxury good customers contingent on product category, and to understand the relationship between the benefits sought and brand loyalty. A qualitative approach was used; therefore in-depth interviews were conducted with seven panels of professionals in the luxury industry. The findings are as follows: 1) Handbag customers mainly seek the social benefits in order to express their social status by purchasing well-known, easily-recognizable brands. 2) Shoe customers primarily seek the practical-functional benefits, which are comfort and function. 3) Small Leather Goods customers seek the social benefits for themselves and as gifts for others. 4) Brand loyalty for handbag customers is reported to be low, as their primary goals are the social benefits. Rather than devoting themselves to one specific brand, handbag customers prefer to purchase from various brands. 5) Shoe customers have reportedly higher brand loyalty, as they tend to come back to brands when they are satisfied with the benefits they pursue. The findings of this study provide more information on the practical implications of luxury good customer purchasing habits. Firstly, customers pursue different benefits depending on product category, and secondly, brand loyalty differs by customers' benefits.


The many various definitions of the term 'language' make it improbable to account for the nature of the variations within the languages of the world. It seems that the recent and dominant concept of language has certain shortfalls with regard to the accountability and definitions of variations. By giving a different account of certain parameters and by arguing that the human language should be seen as a system of thought having only syntactic and semantic properties, the cross-linguistic variations are considered as various morpho-phonological systems of the many languages of the world, which ought not to be considered as part of the generative language computation. Such arguments will have significant implications to the understanding and definitions of the concept of language. The findings indicate that, if the goal of the linguistic theory is to seek a perfect system and to minimize variations within and across the languages, the term 'language' should be seen as a single, natural, universal, and invariant system without assuming that its computation is a double-interface. In such an understanding, the 'one' human language should be perceived as a system of thought which has only syntactic and semantic properties; whereas the 'many' languages of the world are considered to be the conventional morpho-phonological systems that should not be part of the generative language computation.


FIELD: physics, communication. SUBSTANCE: invention is related to communication engineering. Method, system and mobile station are represented to inform unit of packet control that mobile station capable of dual-transmission mode, has a continued connection with commutation of channels and is in dedicated mode. After changing to dedicated mode, mobile station informs unit of packet control about entry into dedicated mode, using mobility control procedure, independently on physical motion of mobile station, such as motion from one cell to the other. EFFECT: reduced load at internal alarm of base station controller. 23 cl, 4 dwg


Piezoelectric synthetic jet actuators have shown great potential in practical application as active flow control devices due to the advantages of light weight and high efficiency. During the operation, the synthetic jet flow has the cycle-averaged property of zeronet-mass-flux but nonzero momentum flux. The purpose of this study is to probe the compressible turbulent synthetic jet flow characteristics for a dual diaphragm piezoelectric actuator. In the experimental investigation, a flow visualization system was established to obtain the particle streak images with 10-μm red fluorescent spheres for the piezo-driven synthetic jet flowfield, produced by a dual-diaphragm piezoelectric actuator. In operation, the piezo diaphragms of the actuator were simultaneously driven by a sine waveform. A 5W argonion laser with a cylindrical lens was employed to illuminate the flowfield in the cross-sectional plane. The streakline scattered from the fluorescent particles was photographed using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The centerline velocity of the synthetic jet was measured using a hot-wire anemometry system for the code validation. A computational approach also adopted the transient three-dimensional conservation equations of mass and momentum with the moving boundary specified to represent the piezo diaphragm motion. The k-e two-equation turbulent model was used for turbulence closure. The particle streakline images in the cross-sectional plane at the resonant frequency of 648 Hz obviously visualized a fully developed turbulent jet flow pattern in the farfield area. The close view photograph revealed the timeperiodic formation and advection of discrete vortex pairs. The hot-wire anemometry results showed that the measured centerline velocity of the synthetic jet reached 3.8 m/s at y/d= 50. The numerical simulation indicated that the nearfield flow tended to undergo transition to turbulence. In addition, the orifice fluid was entrained into the actuator cavity due to the outward movement of the piezo diaphragms when the vortex pairs were sufficiently distant away from the orifice.


c‐Met is upregulated in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and can be an attractive therapeutic target. We tested the effects of the small molecule c‐met inhibitor PHA665752 in blocking c‐met–dependent phenotypic effects in PTC cell lines.


Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic autoimmune cholestatic liver disease with unclear etiology,which may refer to genetics,immunology and injury factors.It is very difficult to diagnose and treat.This article introduces the studies of the therapy of PSC to further understand the disease of PSC and provide new evidences for treating PSC.


Alzheimer disease is devastating both to the afflicted person and to that person's family. Capable persons become helpless and must be cared for by the family and by the community. This common problem of aging will expand in the near future because people are living longer. It is estimated that 20–40% of the population now over the age of 85 y may have Alzheimer disease (1). A further daunting statistic is that, once Alzheimer disease is identified as the cause of cognitive decline, the patient may live for many years with a high yearly cost of care. Are there potential and safe measures that would prevent this slide into cognitive failure? Fish and fish oil contain 2 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), that may have promise. The major dietary sources of these 2 fatty acids are fish and shellfish, from both salt water and fresh water. DHA can also be synthesized in the body from the n 3 fatty acid -linolenic acid (18:3), which is present in some vegetable oils and some nuts and seeds. However, this synthetic step is relatively inefficient. DHA is 22 carbons long and has 6 double bonds with the n 3 configuration. It is the most prominent fatty acid in the brain, retina, and spermatozoa (2) and is necessary for vision, cognition, and sperm motility. DHA is especially rich in the neurons and synaptosomes of the cerebral cortex, where it occupies the no. 2 position of membrane phospholipids. In premature infants whose formula contained DHA balanced with n 6 arachidonic acid, vocabulary and motor performance increased and vision improved (3). Monkeys deficient in dietary n 3 fatty acids have reduced vision, abnormal electroretinograms, and greater amounts of stereotypic behavior and polydypsia. Of interest also is the fact that dietary DHA can be incorporated into monkey brain phosophilipids later in life as well as during development (4). However, the brains of Alzheimer disease patients have a lower content of DHA in the gray matter of the frontal lobe and hippocampus than do the brains of persons without Alzheimer disease (5). The brains of persons with Alzheimer disease have an amyloid protein complex and an inflammatory component. With this background, a logical question is: "Would fish consumption retard the decline in cognitive function that might otherwise occur in an elderly population, which is subject to Alzheimer disease? " Fish and fish oil have a high content of DHA and its 20-carbon precursor EPA. Studies to answer this question were begun in the 1990s. In a typical study, the investigators estimated the amount of fish in the diet or measured the composition of the plasma fatty acids at baseline, which provided an index of fish consumption. Cognition was estimated at baseline with a follow-up years later to correlate any change in cognition with the baseline fish consumption, plasma fatty acids, or both. In the past, some studies were positive and some were negative. A recent report from the Framingham Heart Study showed that persons with plasma phosphatidylcholine DHA in the top quartile of values had a significantly (47%) lower risk of developing all-cause dementia than did those in the bottom quartile (6). Significantly (P 0.04) greater protection was obtained from consuming 2.9 fish meals per week than from consuming 1.3 fish meals per week. Two additional positive studies are described in this issue of the Journal (7, 8). In the Zutphen Elderly Study (7), initial data were obtained from 210 men aged 70–89 y. Fish consumption and cognitive function were measured in 1990 and 1995, and fish consumers had less cognitive decline than did fish nonconsumers. A linear relation was found between the estimated intake of DHA and EPA (DHA EPA) and the prevention of cognitive decline. A DHA EPA intake of 380 mg/d seemed to prevent cognitive decline. This amount of DHA EPA would be found in 20 g Chinook salmon or in 100 g cod. Two to three meals of fish per week would supply 380 mg EPA DHA/d. The Minneapolis study of 2251 white men and women began in 1987–89 with analyses of plasma fatty acids in cholesterol esters and phospholipids (8). Three neuropsychological tests were given at baseline and again between 1990 and 1992 and between 1996 and 1998. The risk of decreased global cognition was greater with higher concentrations of palmitic acid and arachidonic acid (20:4n 6) in both cholesterol esters and phospholipids. In contrast, the risk of cognitive decline was lower with a higher concentration of linoleic acid (18:2n 6). Cognitive decline was associated with lower plasma n 3 fatty acids (DHA EPA) in the subgroup of subjects with hypertension and dyslipidemia, but this association was not found for the entire group. In each of these studies, the n 3 fatty acids retarded the decline in cognition over time. One mechanism for the positive


In visual culture of the nineteenth century, enormous changes wrought in aesthetics and popular visual culture were influenced by changing conceptions of death. Death in modernity becomes, on the one hand, secularised, so that the dead body no longer signals a passage to another state, but simply the end of the living. On the other hand, death also becomes sensationalised, assisted by the mass production of visual objects and technologies, a production fuelled, as Jonathan Crary has demonstrated, by the scientific study of vision. 1 The nineteenth century saw an explosion of images in new formats such as the advertising broadsheet and the photograph, as well as the museum display of both ethnographic objects and wax models, formats which can be theorised as relating to or providing a means of viewing death. The impact of mass visual culture on aesthetics is obvious in the work of Gustave Courbet (1819–1877) whose paintings worked explicitly with themes of modernity and whose sources included pornographic photographs and lithography. Two of Courbet's more famous (or infamous) nudes, Woman with Parrot (1866) and Origin of the World (1866), demonstrate Courbet's taste for popular imagery as a source, but they also point to larger issues that begin to take form in the nineteenth century. This paper will analyse these two paintings as a means of elucidating three interrelated trends of modern visual culture: the use of visual technology in mass consumption, the permeation of scientific discourse in popular imagery and ideas, and the feminisation of the viewed object in art and mass culture. All of these, I will argue, involve a reformulation and representation of death in visual form. Death in modernity takes on new and distinct characteristics that are expressed in images and viewing formats such as the museum. Additionally, what I will call 'modern death' offers a new means of visual presentation of the body, and lends the body value as viewing material.


A historic centre has an important meaning for the local community. Its preservation cannot be isolated from its physical and social context nor ignore the city's urban development. Therefore, collaborative actions and the participation of all social stakeholders involved are crucial. This complex situation requires suitable management approaches. In regard to the Historic Centre of Callao (Peru), where the built heritage is in a precarious situation, abandoned or demolished, there are issues concerning its preservation. This paper examines the relationship between its state of preservation in 2015, and management processes and tools that help identify heritage values. The analysis shows there is a lack of cultural heritage identification and protection processes that complement existing legal provisions. It also demonstrates the poor coordination and communication between the public dependencies in charge of built heritage.


SUMMARY In Mexico, as in many dryland regions in the world, it is a common practice among small farmers to apply P fertilizer after the plant has emerged. Post-planting fertilizer application is done because weather conditions are not always favorable for seed germination and farmers are afraid to lose their investments in seed and fertilizer. Optimum distance of fertilizer placement from the seed has been studied in only a small number of crops. Available information on the effect of P fertilizer placement on growth and early nutrition of crops with relatively high and low root density such as maize ( Zea mays L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), respectively, is sparse, particularly in Andisols. Potato (cv. FL795) and maize (cv. Batan-92) were grown under greenhouse conditions in a sandy loam Andisol (7.8 mg Olsen-P kg -1 of soil) in custom-designed pots. Phosphate fertilizer treatments were (a) lateral placement at 2, 5, and 8 cm from the seed (L-2, L-5, and L-8); (b) vertical placement at a depth of 2, 5, and 8 cm below the seed (D-2, D-5, and D-8); (c) incorporation mixed with the top 10 cm of the soil (I); and (d) control without P fertilizer. Phosphorus fertilization rates were 81 and 54 mg kg -1 of soil for potato and maize, respectively. Phosphorus was applied in different soil volumes therefore soil P concentration varied from 35 to 792 mg kg -1 (Olsen-P). Harvest was conducted at 17 and 30 days after germination of maize, and 34 days after germination of potato. Both crops responded to P fertilizer and, in general, localized P (L and D treatments) was better than the I treatment.


On the evening of Friday, December 18th 2009 – after witnessing the failure to reach agreement on a follow-on accord to the Kyoto Protocol by the close of the last regularly scheduled day of negotiations at the Conference of the Parties fifteen and the Meeting of the Parties five to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – I stated, in an interview for Climate Spark TV at the NASA Club in Copenhagen, Denmark, that "only when it becomes economically beneficial to mitigate climate change, will it become politically expedient [to do so]." In making this statement, I assumed that the political push for a binding climate change mitigation agreement would occur only after renewable energy and other high-technologies advanced to a point where mitigation efforts would confer substantial financial gains. Nearly three years later, no one technology nor any grouping of multiple technologies, has offered significant financial incentives thus dispelling the notion that economic gain would spur mitigation efforts. Yasuni National Park. Most biodiverse place on Earth could open for oil exploration. Source: http://earthfirstnews.wordpress.com/tag/yasuni-national-park/ TABLE OF CONTENTS


V G Veselago's results (Usp. Fiz. Nauk 179 689 (2009) [Phys. Usp. 52 649 (2009)]) on the electromagnetic (EM) energy–momentum tensor in a medium are analyzed. It is shown that Veselago's statements on the Abraham tensor are wrong (this is not actually a tensor, and the Abraham force was introduced into the theory as an artificial auxiliary device). In discussing the EM energy–momentum tensor in a dispersive medium, it seems to have escaped the author's attention that the problem was resolved a long time ago: the electromagnetic energy–momentum tensor for a dispersive isotropic medium at rest is a symmetric 4-tensor which includes the Brillouin energy density, the energy flux density (Umov–Poynting vector), the momentum density (the Umov–Poynting vector divided by ), and the Pitaevskii tension tensor. For a mechanically and thermally equilibrium medium, it is shown that the spatial components of the Polevoi–Rytov tensor which is discussed in the analyzed paper cannot be interpreted as the field-dependent part of the Pitaevskii total tension tensor, unless for quasimonochromatic plane wave propagation. It is also shown that for arbitrary (not necessarily zero) reflection, the force an EM wave in an isotropic medium exerts on a solid can be expressed in terms of an appropriate component of the Polevoi–Rytov tension tensor.


Using the database of a tomographic experiment, carried out on February 10-11, 1999 in the Kola peninsula, there were obtained and investigated some specific features of the meridional behavior of aurora luminosity and those of electron flux parameters (mean energy, energy flux and particle flux) inside auroral arcs. It is shown, that across the arc the variation of the volume emission rate maximum 427.8 nm has a 'bell' shape. The study of the electron flux parameters' meridional behavior showed, that when one arc appeared , the mean energy, energy flux and particle flux had the shape of an inverted «V» over the aurora arc. When several arcs appeared, the structure of an inverted «V» is only observed in the mean energy of electrons, while the energy flux and particle flux display a continuous decrease for the northward formation.


EDITOR,—I am concerned at R Watura and colleagues' recommendation that general practitioners should have direct access to magnetic resonance imaging for knees with suspected internal derangement.1 The basis of this suggestion was the observation that the findings on scanning for patients referred by general practitioners did not differ significantly from those for patients referred by orthopaedic teams. The claimed justification …


A healthy 52-year-old phototype II woman, farmer, with a 6 months history of asymptomatic slow growing papules and nodules, first at the upper lip, then extended to the forearms, shoulders, legs and back.


Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are highly affected by magnetization, which determines the magnetization level in the permanent magnet (PM). There are three main magnetization methods: single-unit, stator coil, and post-assembly magnetization. Post-assembly magnetization is widely used in PMSM mass production due to its ability to achieve high magnetization performance using a separate magnetizing yoke. However, spoke-type PMSMs with ferrite PMs face challenges when using the post-assembly method. The structural configuration of two magnets located radially hampers effective magnetized field transmission to the rotor's interior due to the narrow space between the magnets. Maximizing the magnetization rate becomes crucial, but the limited space in the spoke-type structure complicates this. This paper addresses the issue and analyzes factors influencing post-assembly magnetization characteristics. A novel yoke structure is proposed, reducing the distance between the coil and magnet, leading to more efficient magnetization. The parametric and performance comparative analysis shows an impressive 17.1%p increase in magnetization rate with the proposed yoke structure compared to the existing yoke. This outcome contributed to a solution for enhancing the magnetization performance of spoke-type ferrite PMSMs.


Differentiation between competing brands lies primarily in the eyes and minds of consumers. Three aspects of branding strategy are the maintenance of consistency across products within a brand, differentiation between products of different brands and the delivery of products that have the so-called 'wow' factor. This paper reports experiments using shape grammars and affective design techniques in the generation of product shapes that both capture key characteristics of a brand's identity and elicit pre-defined emotional responses.


: Objective: To study the effects of He-Ne laser on scar tissues.Methods:The one side of buttocks of 20 rabbits were artificially incised forming the scar tissues.They were randomly divided into two groups(each 10rabbits):Laser group and Blank-control group.On the third day,The Buttocks of rabbits in laser group were treated by low-energy He-Ne laser,which was once a day for 10 times,each time 15 minate.On the twentieth,these rabbits all killed.Then,the experimental part of buttock of each rabbit was performing the soft tissue biopsy for pathologic test.Results:The inflammatory disappearance and healing of incision in laser group was averagely 4.2 days and 5.9days.The control group was 12.9days in inflammatory disappearance,14.8days in healing of incision.While there were epidermic thicking scar formation and degeneration of striated muscles under microscope.The alteration were most apparent in control group,the sligtest in laser group.Laser group compared with control group showed very significant changes(P<0.01).Conclusions:These data show that laser may inhibit the scar formation and sofen the scar tissues.


There are a number of pathologic conditions in which large doses of sodium bicarbonate or other alkalies are indicated. The report of the two cases below, particularly Case 1, may serve to draw attention to an occasional consequence of such large administration of alkalies, which may lead to wrong conclusions if the possibility of its occurrence is not kept in mind. The condition referred to is the occasional appearance of generalized or localized edema in the course of administration of sodium bicarbonate. Case 1. —Woman, aged 51, was seen first, July 30, 1913. The patient had had diabetes mellitus for several years to her knowledge, and doubtless for some time before its discovery. The condition which I was called to see was a large carbuncle on the back between the shoulders. The urine at this time contained 5 per cent, of sugar. Diacetic acid and acetone were present. The carbuncle


Abstract : It is shown that the atomization process generates sufficiently high freezing rates to suppresswithin limits the primary crystallization of intermetallic compounds and the secondary crystallization of eutectic. The resultant structures are probably supersaturated solid solutions. Thus for example alloying aluminum with as much as 5% Mn and 3% Cr, respectively, is practical. It is shown that Al-Mn-Cu and Al-Mn-Cr-Mg-Zn alloys produced from consolidated powder can generate high tensile yield strengths and hardnesses which resist softening at temperatures as high as 350C. Some alloys show good hot yield strengths. Preliminary tests indicate that these alloys are not susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking at stresses of yield strength magnitude. (Author Modified Abstract)


Self-medication is simply a person's attempt to treat symptoms of illness or disease without consulting a doctor first. Self-medication also means treating all complaints about oneself with medicines purchased directly at pharmacies or drug stores on their initiative without a doctor's prescription. OTC (Over The Counter) drugs are medicines that can be purchased without a prescription, namely over-the-counter and limited over-the-counter drugs, including fever-reducing drugs, pain relievers and inflammation relievers, cough medicines, cold medicines, ulcer medicines, diarrhea medicines, and skin medicines. The use of drugs in self-medication is carried out correctly to ensure the accuracy, rationality, and safety of drug use in self-medication. This study aimed to determine the demographic data characteristics of self-medication patients, the rationality of self-medication, and the influence of patient demographic data characteristics on rationality in OTC (Over Counter) drug self-medication patients. This study used a cross-sectional method. As many as 100 respondents aged 18-60 who self-medicated OTC (Over Counter) drugs at the West Pasaman District Pharmacy were involved in this study. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Product And Servicer Solution (SPSS) 23. The results of this study showed that the majority of respondents who self-medicated OTC (Over Counter) drugs were 58% women, 63% of the age group 18-60 years, the last education group was low ( SD, SMP, SMA) by 77% and the non-PNS/non-private employee group is 82%. Respondents who used self-medication rationally were quite large, namely 86%. The factor that influences self-medication is age. While gender, education, and occupation do not affect self-medication


Interstitial Cystitis and Painful Bladder Syndrome are chronic conditions that are associated with urinary frequency, urgency, pain, and nocturia. The etiology of IC/PBS is not clearly understood, therefore diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. IC/PBS greatly affects the quality of life in several ways. In this report, we present the case of a patient with longstanding interstitial cystitis symptoms who was successfully treated with a novel approach after failing treatment established by the current guidelines in the management of IC/PBS. This case illustrates the complex nature of this syndrome and offers a new treatment approach that can potentially change the way IC/PBS are medically managed.


Initial leucocytosis and hyponatraemia occuring after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage – do they predict poor outcome? G. T. Taleska, V. D. Durnev, V. M. Mircevski, M. S. Soljakova, Z. S. Suplinoski, T. T. Trajkovska, Lj. A. Agai, S. A. Ackovska, V. D. Davceva, Lj. M. Momirovska, M. N. Naumovska University Clinical Center, Clinic of Anaesthesiology Reanimation and Intensive Care, Skopje, Macedonia Background and objective: The blood clot size on admission remains the only factor that increases risk of cerebral vasospasm after SAH. Recently, it was reported that initial leucocytosis and hyponatraemia may be risk factors for development of cerebral vasospasm. Methods and materials: We reviewed data of 45 patients admitted for SAH in 2006–2007. There were 14 males and 31 females. The end-point of a poor outcome was overall mortality. Results: Overall mortality was 48.88%. Sex distribution of mortality rate was males/women 8.88%/40.0% (P , 0.05). Symptomatic vasospasm occurred in 51.1%. We found three predictors of vasospasm, namely Hunt and Hess grade 3, Fisher grade 3 and leucocytosis .15 3 109 per L up to the third day of admission. Initial leucocytosis was associated with greater mortality: discharged/deceased 18.2%/50% (P , 0.05). No correlation between admission leucocytosis and fever was observed nor between later leucocytosis (after day 5) and vasospasm. The examination of correlation of initial hyponatraemia (,135 mmol L) on third to fifth day of admission with mortality rate did not show statistical significance: discharged/deceased 20%/24.4%. Severe initial hyponatraemia (,125 mmol L) occurred less frequently: discharged/deceased 11.1%/17.8%. Conclusion: This study reveals that leucocytosis increases the risk of developing vasospasm but does not prove that initial hyponatraemia has a direct contribution to the pathogenesis of ischaemic complications following SAH.


Objective: The objective of this article is to assess the effect of intravesical onabotulinum toxin A (OBTX-A) injections in patients with persistent/refractory symptomatic detrusor overactivity (DO) and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) following previous augmentation enterocystoplasty. Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with previous augmentation enterocystoplasty having intravesical OBTX-A for persistent/refractory DO and UUI. Information on demographics, original diagnosis, date and technique of enterocystoplasty, dose of OBTX-A and symptomatic outcomes was recorded. Results: Fifteen patients (three men) with mean age 42 years were studied. Eight out of 15 (53%) reported complete continence or significant improvement, while the remaining seven (47%) noticed no difference in their symptoms. Urodynamics were repeated in these seven patients and persistent DO was confirmed. Four out of five (80%) NDO patients who received 300 U of OBTX-A reported a favourable outcome, whereas a favourable response was noted in only four out of 10 IDO (40%) when smaller amounts of OBTX-A (100 U or 200 U) were used. Conclusions: Intravesical OBTX-A injections completely resolved or significantly improved persistent/recurrent symptoms of DO in 53% of patients with a previous augmentation enterocystoplasty. The success rate was higher for those receiving the higher dose of 300 U and/or those with NDO.


This paper demonstrates the characteristics of structures of the causal Link Schema,SVC、SVO、SVOC、SVOO、SVOA,analyzes their semantic structures,and discusses their translation principles,which is of importance to the translation theory and practice.


Abinitio theoretical calculations were carried out on the intramolecular addition of 3-ketopent-4-en-1-olate 1 to form 1-oxacyclohex-3-en-4-olate 2 (reaction I; Scheme 1) and the corresponding intermolecular Michael addition of methanolate to butenone forming 4-methoxybut-2-en-2-olate 4 (reaction II; Scheme 1). The calculations were carried out at the RHF level using an augmented 4-31G basis set; single point energies were then taken using the 6-31 + G* basis set. The overall energy change of the reaction in going from reactants to products is very similar for both reactions, with products being about 8.3 kcal/mol more stable than reactants; the major difference energetically between the two reactions is at the level of the transition state: the transition state energy for reaction I (intramolecular) is 6 kcal/mol higher than that for reaction II (intermolecular). The transition state geometry of reaction II conforms quite closely to the stereoelectronic requirements for a Michael addition, but that of re...


Use this coding tutorial to take your pupils on a voyage to outer space. By rolling up their sleeves and experimenting, the subject becomes all the more real and tangible.


This case report describes a novel procedure for opening the lumen of a completely obstructed anastomosis when open surgery is not an option. Two patients underwent ileocecal or colorectal resection and one-stage anastomosis reconstruction without diverging ileostomy. The patients developed post-surgical abdominal distension and nausea. Emergency imaging indicated complete anastomotic obstruction and distal intestinal anastomosis emptiness. Colonoscopy revealed an anastomosis that was completely discontinued by a membranous structure. Considering that open surgery was not a viable treatment option, a minimally invasive endoscopic approach was adopted to repair the obstruction. A needle knife was used to puncture the linear white scar and contrast agent was injected under endoscopy and fluoroscopic guidance. Fluoroscopically, the proximal bowel was identified and a dual knife-mediated membrane puncture was performed. A guidewire was then passed through the incision into the proximal bowel and progressive pneumatic dilatation was performed successively with a controlled radial expansion balloon dilator until a 1.8 cm diameter dilation was achieved. After conventional balloon dilatation, the endoscope easily passed through the anastomosis without any patient discomfort. There were no postoperative signs of immediate or delayed complications. Overall, endoscopic incision and dilatation was a safe and effective treatment for acute anastomotic obstruction after colorectal surgery.


This paper presents an architecture for a dedicated transforms and quantization loop targeting the Intra Prediction of the H.264/AVC video coding standard. The transforms and quantization loop is a bottleneck for the Intra Prediction, since the prediction process cannot start before the transforms and quantization loop finishes the reconstruction of the reference blocks. This work presents a low latency and high throughput architecture of the transforms and quantization loop, intending to reduce the impact of this loop in the Intra Prediction performance. The architecture was described in VHDL and synthesized to Altera Stratix II FPGA and to the TSMC 0.18μm CMOS technology. The architecture reaches an operation frequency of 129.3 MHz when mapped to standardcells, and takes 4 cycles to process an I4MB block, 24 cycles to process an I16MB block, and 22 cycles to process a chroma block. Those are the best results when compared with all related works considering the Intra Prediction constraints.


Correction for 'In situ monitoring of functional activity of extracellular matrix stiffness-dependent multidrug resistance protein 1 using scanning electrochemical microscopy' by Shuake Kuermanbayi et al., Chem. Sci., 2022, https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc02708a.


Spray drying is a method of producing a dry powder from liquid or slurry by rapid drying with a hot air. The spray drying process consists of atomizing the liquid into fine droplet, contacting the hot air with the droplets, drying droplets by the formation of solid particle agglomerates and separating solid products. This research was carried out to analyse the drying process parameter of spray dryer to reach the fluid drying temperature of around 100°C in which the drying process is assumed to be successful. Simulation using computational fluid dynamics method was performed. Air and water were employed as the working two phase fluids injected into the drying chamber at various inlet temperatures and airflow velocities. RNG k-ɛ and k-ω were used to solve drying process phenomenon in the drying chamber. In this work, the inlet air temperatures and the airflow velocities were varied from 175°C to 225°C and 1.5 m/s to 3 m/s, respectively. The results showed that the higher inlet air temperature, the greater the outlet temperature. In addition, the outlet temperature also increased with the increase of airflow velocity. Under the condition investigated, the optimal parameter was found at inlet temperature of 225°C and airflow velocity of 3 m/s. This condition is expected in avoiding the failure of spray drying process.


Purpose: Due to the slow scanning speed of on‐board CBCT imaging, the characteristics of moving lung tumor acquired by such system could be complicated. Recent phantom studies have shown that the maximum intensity projection (MIP) image, which was used for target delineation in treatment planning, might overestimate the target volume determined by CBCT imaging. The purpose of this study is to propose a new strategy to predict the characteristics of moving lung tumor in CBCT imaging. Methods: Six non‐small‐cell‐lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were retrospectively selected in this study. All patients underwent 4D CT scan using GE LightSpeed scanner under audio coaching. The respiratory motion of all patients ranged from 7.5mm to 12.5mm. For each patient, ten sets of phase‐sorted CT images and a MIP image including all respiratory phases were acquired. To simulate the respiratory motion effect in CBCT imaging, 4‐D projection images were generated using ray‐tracing algorithm based on the 3‐D CT images of the corresponding phase at each gantry angle. Filtered‐back‐projection algorithm was used to reconstruct this simulated virtual CBCT (SVCBCT) image. The targets were then contoured at the MIP image, SVCBCT image and the clinic CBCT image acquired at first treatment, respectively. Results: For the three cases volume differences between SVCBCT and MIP image were less than 5%. For the other three cases the target volume determined by SVCBCT image were 30%∼62% less than that of MIP image, and the distance of target center between those two images could be up to 6mm. In comparison, for all patients, the volume differences between SVCBCT and CBCT were all less than 4%. Conclusion: The characteristics of a moving lung tumor determined by CBCT imaging are highly dependent on the specific respiratory motion pattern of each patient, and could be well predicted by SVCBCT image.


In this paper, we propose to use learning vector quantization for the efficient partitioning of a cooccurrence space. A simple codebook is trained to map the multidimensional cooccurrence space into a 1-dimensional cooccurrence histogram. In the classification phase a nonparametric log-likelihood statistic is employed for comparing sample and prototype histograms. The advantages of vector quantization are demostrated with a difficult texture classification problem involving 32 textures. We also point out two problems in the use of cooccurrence matrices that should be taken into account in order to achieve the best possible classification accuracy. Finally, we compare the performance of cooccurrence histograms to that of GMRF features and Gabor filtering, proving that gray level cooccurrences are a powerful approach if


The weakening of cotton netting cords, being immersed in sea water, may be due mainly to bacterial decompositions of cellulose chains. A continuous reduction of average degree of polymerization (??) of the cellulose chains should then be expected to occur with increasing the period of immersion. In this investigation, such reduction of ?? occurring in cotton netting in cotton netting cords immersed in sea water was pursued by measuring intrinsic viscosities of cellulose nitrate om acetone and by comparing them with the tensile strengths of single yarns. It was found that the tensile strengths of single yarns began to decrease after 30 days immersion, reach one half of the initial value after 60 days and dropped to zero after 90 days; on the contrary, the average molecular weights showed slow reduction and reached no more than one half of the initial value for the peirod of 90 days. The linear relationship between the tensile strength and the reciprocal of average degree of polymerization which was often found to fit well for linear high polymers could not be obtained in the present investigation. It is considered that the tensile strength of cotton yarns may be responsible not only for the rupture of primary valence bond and the slippage of the cellulose chains with respect to each other, but also for the more macroscopic structures.


The locomotive disabled people and elderly people cannot control the wheelchair manually. The key objective of this paper is to help the locomotive disabled and old people to easily manoeuvre without any social aid through a brainwave-controlled wheelchair. There are various types of wheelchair available in the market such as Voice controlled wheelchair, Joystick control wheelchair, Smart phone controlled wheelchair, Eye controlled wheelchair, Mechanical wheelchair. These wheelchairs hold certain limitations for e.g. if the user is dumb; user cannot access voice controlled wheelchair, etc. Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a new method used to interface between the human mind and a digital signal processor. An Electroencephalogram (EEG) based BCI is connected with an artificial reality system to control the movement and direction of a wheelchair. This paper proposes brainwave controlled wheelchair, which uses the captured EEG signals from the brain. This EEG signals are then passed to Arduino. It converts into control signals which will in turn help to move the wheelchair in different direction.


Enterprise's all managerial work is starting from the establishment and perfection of the internal control.Enterprise's all activities can't be separated from the internal control system.This paper,starting from the concept of the internal control,probes into the integral frame of enterprise's internal control and the inherent limitation of the internal control.


1Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, RVS Technical Campus –Coimbatore Coimbatore 641402, India 2PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, RVS Technical Campus –Coimbatore Coimbatore 641402, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract A new class of Geo-polymer composites, as materials substitute to traditional binders, was produced and its potentialities as refurbishment material in Cultural Heritage has been discovered. This material has been prepared through a reticulation reaction in mild circumstances of a met kaolin-based Geo-polymer mineral matrix and a commercial epoxy resin and dye sludge. The freshly prepared slurry displays a consistency, work ability and phototropic behavior that make it suitable to be spread on different substrates in restoration, renovation and reinforcement actions, flat on walls and ceilings. Applicability and compatibility tests on tuff and concrete substrates were accepted out and the micro structure of the samples in correspondence of the transition zone was examined by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM) remarks and energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) mapping. Our educations point out the creation of a continuous phase between the Geo-polymer composite and tuff and concrete substrates, highlighting a high compatibility of the Geo-polymer binder with different kinds of materials. These structures specify a large possible for applications of these ingredients in Cultural Heritage.


The usage and diffusion of social computing applications have been growing dramatically in the past few years. According to Alexa's latest ranking (Alexa, 2009), five of the top ten global websites are social computing systems, including Facebook, YouTube, Windows Live, Wikipedia and Blogger.com. The advent and spread of social computing tools greatly change the fundamental way people communicate and share information, and further create opportunities for business world to improve its competitiveness in today's knowledge economy. Nowadays, lots of initiatives have been undertaken in the organizations from diverse industries. For example, in a recent report released ABStrAct


The creation of the European Monetary Union has led to a substantial increase in the discussion of the importance of fiscal discipline and adequate fiscal rules in such a monetary union. The "European" solution has been challenged by many authors and politicians: among the main questions discussed in recent years, we find the use of the same rules for different situations in Member-Countries, particularly in terms of economic dimension and economic level of development. We develop a model of a monetary union between two countries that may differ in economic dimension and in the level of development. By solving transitional dynamics towards the steady state through numerical computation, the model allows us to examine the impact of fiscal shocks that may lead to excessive deficits. Our results suggest that the implications of such deficits depend on whether they occur in the small and less developed country or in the big and more developed one. In this context, we argue that an excessive deficit should be temporarily allowed in the case of the small and less developed country, in order to improve economic convergence and wages within the union.


We consider the problem of optimally scheduling the flexible electricity demand of a fleet of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). More specifically, we analyze the solutions of the following charging optimization problems: the welfare-optimal problem, where the overall system cost is minimized; the fleet-optimal problem, where the charging cost of the fleet as a whole is minimized by a central agent, that is the PEV aggregator; the selfish-optimal problem, where the noncooperative PEVs aim at minimizing their individual charging cost. For a homogenous PEV fleet and a simplified problem setup, we show that the solutions of the three different approaches correspond to different valley-filling results. A main insight is that, as the population of PEVs grows, the selfish-optimal solution converges to the welfare-optimal solution. On the other hand, we show that the centralized fleet-optimal solution of the PEV aggregation can be recovered via decentralized selfish-optimal solutions with respect to an appropriate price signal as the population size grows. Finally, we demonstrate our technical results on a realistic PEV fleet case study.


This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of conducting an entire transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) program by using percutaneous techniques only.


This study investigated access and use of electronic information resources by technical staff at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in Nairobi County to enable KALRO management make informed decisions on current and future investment in electronic information products and services that meet the needs of technical staff. A descriptive research design based on both qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted with a survey as the main research method. Out of a population of 81, Simple random stratified sampling technique was used to sample 70 research scientists, information workers, ICT personnel, and other technical staff. A questionnaire was used as the primary instrument for data collection supplemented by interview. Quantitative data was analyzed by SPSS program to perform descriptive statistics. Findings revealed all respondents were aware of electronic resources at KALRO and on the internet. Majority accessed these resources from office computers on a daily basis through the Internet and KALRO Local Area Network/Intranet. Whereas, they relied on multiple tools to discover and utilize digital information, majority used search engines and KALRO electronic repository. E-resources were used for research and publishing in scholarly journals. Respondents mainly patronised The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library (TEEAL) and Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) databases. Poor internet connectivity was identified as the main challenge in accessing e-resources. Implication: This study has implications on current and future investment in electronic information products and services that meet the needs of technical staff at KALRO and similar research institutions in Africa. It was recommended KALRO formulates and implements a policy framework to guide digital information landscape; improves internet connectivity, enhances ICT infrastructures'; trains users and information workers on information retrieval skills and promotes available resources.


The corrosion resistance of dental alloys was investigated by taking anodic polarization measurements in 1 mass%-lactic acid, artificial saliva, and cell-culture medium solutions. The role of alloying elements in the passive film that formed on the dental alloys hy the anodic polarization was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The quantity of metals released from the denial alloy into the 1% lactic acid solution at each anodic potential was compared. In the anodic polarization curves for the Au and Au-Ag-Pd alloys, the current density tended to decrease with higher Au content. In the Ag alloy, the current density sharply increased in the 1 mass%-lactic acid solution. On the other hand, the passivity zone was slightly seen in the artificial saliva and Eagle's medium solutions. Amalgam had a low open-circuit potential, and a passivation peak was seen. The peaks of the Au4f and Ag3d orbital were high in the surface of the passive film formed on the Au and Au--Ag-Pd alloys by anodic polarization in the artificial saliva solution. SnO 2 and In 2 O 3 peaks were observed in the passive film formed on the Ag alloy. SnO 2 and CuO peaks were seen in the passive film on amalgam surface. In the Au and Au-Ag-Pd alloys, Cu was released most in the low potential region less than 1.0 or 0.5 V vs. SCE, respectively. For the Ag alloys, Zn release was most, and Ag, Sn and In were also released. In amalgam, Sn release increased with higher anodic potentials. Cu release also increased at potentials over 0 V. Ag and Hg release increased from potentials over 0.5 V. Considering that the electrode potential measured in the pseudo-oral environment is a maximum of 0.2 V, it is important to examine the effect of Cu and Ag releases for the Au and the Au-Ag-Pd alloys, Zn release for the Ag alloy, and Sn and Cu releases for amalgam.


The particles removed from spinach thylakoids by washing with ethylenediaminetetraacetate were found to correspond to particles on the outside surface of the thylakoid, and not to the quantasome cores which remain within the membrane.


This paper is a brief presentation of the international commercial arbitration system in Turkey. The text analyzes the legal framework applicable in cases of either national or international commercial arbitration, citing the legal system in Turkey and the International Conventions adopted by the State in its domestic legislation. Further, the text illustrates the types of commercial arbitration agreements who can meet in Turkish legislation, the application of Turkish Code of Civil Procedure on commercial arbitration and the organization of the commercial arbitration in national and international disputes and the arbitral adjudications.


The article presents the results of the industrial field trial with pheromones Shin-Etsu® MD STT, D, conducted in 2019-2022 at JSC «Novomikhailovskoe», Tuapse area, Krasnodar region. Twin tubes were hung at every second tree inside the block in the "rosebud" phenophase before flying of the codling moth's overwintered generation. To track the flying of the phytophage at the experimental site a monitoring pheromone developed for gardens Shin-Etsu® MD STT, D was hung. It was found that in the trial variant more than 14.5 t/ha of harvest in comparison to the control was saved with standard quality of 98.1-98.9%, with costs reduced by 70%.


Global market changes and new business strategies have changed logistic processes. Today, complex supply chains contain numerous manufacturing levels with long–distance transport. Effective planning and control have to follow various objectives like cost reduction, reliability and flexibility, but also ecological targets. This paper introduces Logistic Assistance Systems (LAS) for planning and decision support in supply chains. Designed as lean software systems, LAS focus on logistic planning processes and integrate selected methods for data management, information processing and supply chain planning. First achievements with LAS at Volkswagen Group are now followed by a new promising project.


The article considers a model of preparing students for a demonstration exam by participating in professional competi- tions and championships in the WorldSkills format. The use of methodological materials and WorldSkills assessments significantly improves the quality of pedagogical education and allows you to build the educational process at a higher level of professionalism. Based on the standards and competencies that are regulated by the competition, it is necessary to update or develop educational programs and new directions within the framework of existing study plans.


This contribution summarizes the presentations and discussions concerning the experimental results from CERN SPS at the conference `Strangeness in Quark Matter', Berkeley, CA, 2000.


Objective To observe the characteristics of the insulin (Ins) secretion curve in oral glucose insulin-releasing test (OGIRT)and to explore the applicable methods for clinical evaluation of individual insulin sensitivity and β-cell function. Methods OGIRT and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) were carried out on 12 subjects with normal glucose tolerance(NGT). Frequency distribution of the peak secretion time of plasma insulin in these two tests was observed, and relevant indices of insulin sensitivity and β-cell function were analyzed. Results The peak secretion time of plasma insulin was between 35 and 45 minutes in OGIRT, without obvious second peak. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed no association of the INS to glucose increment ratio at 20, 30 and 35 minutes (△I_(20)/△G_(20), △I_(30)/△G_(30), △I_(35)/△G_(35)) with early time insulin secretion (1PH), glucose to Ins ratio of area-under-curve (SGI),INS sensitivity index (IAI), HOMA-IR, or INS secretion index (MBCI) (all P0.05). But △I_(10)/△G_(10) was significantly associated with SGI, IAI and HOMA-IR (r=-0.527, P=0.005 ; r=0.406, P=0.015; r =0.410,P=0.015 respectively). Conclusions The OGIRT may not reflect 1PH insulin secretion. In OGIRT,△I_(40)/△G_(40) may be a better reflection of β-cell function than △I_(20)/△G_(20) or △I_(30)/△G_(30). The results need further confirmation.


Despite increased controversies over the health effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), little is known about how the public interest issue has been discussed by e-cigarette companies on social media. Using arguments from the theory of planned behavior as a guide, this study examines how e-cigarette companies engage with potential customers on Twitter. Using quantitative content analysis, this study examined 525 tweets from the top five e-cigarette companies that occurred between July 9, 2016, and September 9, 2016, one month before and after the U.S Food and Drug Administration implemented a new regulation limiting sales and distribution of tobacco products to minors. Results indicate that the deeming did not affect e-cigarette companies' message strategies on Twitter. Theoretical and practical applications for public interest communications are discussed.


The invention discloses a method and equipment for testing a control in a page. The method comprises the following content that a test page is scanned to obtain a plurality of image regions of the test page, an image mark identical to an attribute of a control to be tested is found according to the stored corresponding relationship between the attribute of the control and the image mark, each image region obtained through scanning is respectively subjected to similarity comparison with the image region corresponding to the found image mark, and in addition, the attribute of the image region obtained through scanning with the similarity greater than the set threshold is tested, so during the test page scanning, the size and the resolution of a display screen do not need to be considered, the image region corresponding to the found image mark is subjected to similarity comparison with the image region obtained through scanning, the position region of the control to be tested can be fast found, the found position region is tested, the position accuracy of the control to be tested is ensured, and the test efficiency of the control is also improved.


Graphene, an important two-dimensional nanomaterial, is drawing unprecedented, worldwide attention, especially in electronics, energy storage, environmental science and biological engineering. We herein report a convenient protocol for forming a high-quality graphene/graphene oxide (GO) thin membrane on solid-state substrate via the Langmuir-Blodgett self-assembly technique. The process includes layer formation at the liquid-solid-air interface, pulling solid-state substrate vertically from the interface and chemical reduction of the membrane (selective process). Parameters which may alter the properties of membrane have been investigated. The pH was considered the most crucial factor since it affected the smoothness and continuity of the membrane. Pulling cycles had pronounced influence on the thickness of the membrane. Direct formation of the graphene-based membrane on solid-state substrates may eliminate concerns about metal particle residue from the graphene transfer process, incomplete removal of the organic chemicals, and assure the intactness and continuity of the graphene/GO layer. It is therefore believed that the procedure may shed light on the fabrication of high-quality graphene nanodevices.


Semi-automatic segmentation of the prostate boundary is presented for the pre-operational images of the MRIguided ultrasonic thermal therapy of the prostate cancer. The specific deformable surface method is based on firstly fitting an ellipsoid on the given manual landmark points, then modifying the shape of the initialization surface mesh by masking out the regions of the separately segmented bladder and rectum, and finally adapting the surface mesh by searching image for the edge boundaries in the direction of the surface normal. The suggested segmentation method combines information from two types of pre-operational MR-images showing different contrast for the tissue structure. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) between the semi-automatic segmentation and the manual reference was on average 0.89 for a group of N=5 patients having the MRI guided ultrasound thermal treatment. The robustness of the surface fitting method was tested by simulating 30 randomized initialization sets of the landmark points for each patient, and the resulting standard deviation of DSC was 0.01.


The negative correlation in W~+ W~- hadronic decay, which has recently been proposed as a possible signal for the colour reconnection in these proceses, is studied in some detail by using the random cascadingα-model. The effect of colour reconnection is modeled by the particle exchange be- tween two final state systems forming from two W's. The negative correlation given by Pythia event generator is recovered in this way, providing a physical picture for this effect.


With the rapid development of the electromagnetic launch technology, the performance requirements for the charging power supply are increasing. To control the charging rate accurately and get the steady load voltage, a phase-shift control system was designed. This system adopted the control method which regulates the phase angles of the driving pulses by calculating the relationship of the voltage feedback and the preset charging time. According to the topology and application requirements of a high-voltage high-frequency charging power supply (HVHFCPS), a simulation platform based on the physical security information management software was set up. A prototype of HVHFCPS based on voltage feedback and phase-shift control was developed. The experimental results show that the load voltage can be controlled accurately.


The basic principle and advantages of microwave sintering were introduced.The current situation of preparation for polycrystalline diamond compacts(PDC) were simply generalized.Several problems were analyzed and discussed including the microwave sintering behaviors of ceramic materials,WC-Co and diamond sintered compact.The possibility of applying microwave sintering technology in the production of super-hard material tools was preliminarily discussed.


High-resolution oversampling analog-to-digital-to-analog converters are proposed. The converters utilize multistage noise shaping modulation techniques that can be implemented with VLSI MOS technology. The modulators consist of multiconnected single-integration delta-sigma modulation loops. Quantization noise in the first delta-sigma loop is requantized by the next delta-sigma loop and cancelled by adding the requantized noise to the first-stage signal. Quantization noise in the modulated signal is suppressed by double or multiple integration gain. Modulator resolution increases with the number of stages without feedback loop instability problems. A three-stage multistage noise shaping modulator with 1-bit quantization achieves the equivalent of 16-bit resolution for the hi-fi audio band at 2-MHz sampling rate. Simulation results show that analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter circuits constructed of switched capacitors do not require highly accurate components. >


ABSTRACT Home, crisis and migration have defined the experience and concept of being post-colonial Zimbabwe(an) for the past two decades. Much has been written about the post-coloniality of this entangled experience and about how, in particular, literary fiction re-discourses normative perspectives of the Zimbabwean crisis, the home, the unhomely and trans-national out-migration. Rarely considered a serious discursive site from which to (re)know the intricacies inhabiting versions, configurations and symbolisms of the concept of home (especially in the context of crisis and mobility), the Zimbabwean short story has largely remained underexplored. This article recentres the short story of migration (Farai Mpofu's 'The Letter' and NoViolet Mkha's 'Shamisos') in examining how, as socio-cultural and geo-political constructs, diaspora and 'home' homes manifest and orchestrate temporalities, processes, relations, attitudes, places, people, and discourses that shape a certain understanding of Zimbabwe as a contested post-colonial 'home'. On the one hand, the protagonists in the stories live precariously in 'refuge' new homes (Botswana and South Africa respectively), and on the other, they attempt to make sense of their precarity through traumatic re-memories of their haunting 'home' home (Zimbabwe). We interpret this connection between these unstable 'homes' using a conceptual frame that we term 'ambivalent continuum of precarity', a concept we coined from the notions of 'precarity of place' and 'continuum of precarity' advanced by Susan Banki and Julia Ann McWilliams and Sally Wesley Bonet respectively. Our analysis of literary representations of the home(s) therefore focuses on their complex, multiple and shifting layers, signs, symbolisms and ontologies as constructs that reflect on the crisis of post-coloniality manifest in precarious mobilities and ambivalent homes.


This paper expounds the features of 10-1000BFC high-pressure reactor and the problems occurring in the production of N-D-ribity1-3,4-xylene-amine,analyses the causes of equipment's failures,and puts forward some improving measures.


City of Vancouver's water transmission and distribution system is vulnerable to over 1,000 pipe leaks or main breaks from a probable large earthquake (about 7.5 M). Cast iron piping comprises 80 percent of the system. Facts regarding the potential of earthquake damage include tables and figures on lifeline components, causes of ground failure during earthquakes, Vancouver's piping inventory, earthquake pipe fragility curves, a summary estimate of probable earthquake damage to various piping materials, and suggestions for improving earthquake preparedness and water lifeline performance. In its preliminary planning effort, Vancouver's Waterworks Engineering Branch was provided a simple approach to quickly assess water system vulnerability. It recognized the potential of larger earthquake events (8 to 9 M w ). This information helped the city staff gain approval and funding from the city council for more detailed planning, design and new construction projects. Strides toward mitigation of the earthquake hazard and improvements in preparedness and performance of water supply and fire suppression facilities are in progress. To estimate the probable credible earthquake, a basic history of the geology and seismicity of Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest was collected. Appraisal of seismicity and geological features was vital in predicting potential water utility damage from earthquakes and in recommending preparatory steps toward mitigation.


Some of the patients had multiple symptoms, and so the sum of the above figures exceeds the total of cases exhibiting post-operative syndromes. 4. Persistent Dyspepsia Without Post-operative Syndromes and With no Proved Ulcer.-There were five such patients (5.6%). These, together with the four cases of persistent dyspepsia occurring with post-vagotomy and gastroenterostomy syndromes, are here analysed, making a total of nine (10.1%). In one case the symptoms were only those of " heartburn," but in the remainder they were similar to pre-operative symptoms, only in most cases milder. Six were mild, two were moderate, and one was severe. All these patients underwent barium studies apart from two of the mild cases, one being the patient with " heartburn " and the other a patient who has so far failed to attend for his radiological examination. In none of those examined was there any radiological evidence of ulcer recurrence. In view of this and the fact that all were able to work or attend to their household duties, their symptoms have been controlled by medical treatment and they remain under observation. 5. Further Peptic Ulceration.-There were 11 cases (12.4%)-eight have been proved at operation, and three have not undergone operation because one refused operation (gastric and duodenal ulceration), one was unfit for operation for other reasons (gastric and duodenal ulceration), and one was pregnant at the time this report was written and was awaiting operation (gastric ulceration). In all these three patients the diagnosis has been made not only on clinical grounds but on the unequivocal demonstration of an active ulcer crater radiologically.


Abstract : The purpose of the QUAILMAN Quick Reaction Analysis (QRA) was to evaluate the costs and benefits of selected Army quality of life programs. Quality of life (QOL) cost data was provided by the US Army Cost and Economic Analysis Center in thousands of constant fiscal year (FY) 96 dollars per soldier. QOL benefit data was drawn from several selected items of recent administrations of the Army Sample Survey of Military Personnel (SSMP) conducted biannually by the US Army Research Institute. Each selected SSMP item was related to some Army, QOL issue such as government housing quality. Each respondent was asked to express his satisfaction or dissatisfaction with that issue based on his experience. The benefit was measured as the percentage of respondents who were satisfied with the issue. Generally the SSMP data suggest that the overall quality of life in the Army may have declined recently while the quality of life cost per soldier has increased. Specifically there was a 10 percent drop in the percent satisfaction for the total Army population in the area of government housing quality over 2-1/2 years.


The aim of this study is to understand and explore interdisciplinarity in geography and undergraduate geography courses in geography teaching departments in Turkey. There is a growing literature in science underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary approach and its beneficial outcomes. Increasing body of knowledge on social theory, on philosophical and theoretical movements and paradigms have made easier communication among disciplines which give rise to more perceptible interdisciplinarity specifically in social sciences and humanities. At the second part of the present study we focused on relationships between geography courses, interdisciplinary approach and course selection. Because in the study course selection is seen as the most important point to analyze and understand the extent to which whether interdisciplinarity finds a place in geography teaching. Lastly, it is given some conclusions by making suggestions.


Objective : This experimental study was performed to investigate the contents of glucan from mycellium and its activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus(MRSA). Methods : A gel permeation chromatography method was develped for the determination and isolation of glucan in mycellium. Their structures were elucidated using , . Also, The antibacterial activity of the glucan against MRSA was estimathed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC). Results : The contents of glucan in mycellium was mg/g. Glucan exhibited activity against MRSA, with an MIC values of 4 to 9 mg/mL. Conclusions : These findings suggested that glucan might be useful in controlling MRSA infections.


Conducting advance skyline analysis over certain and uncertain databases is still an evolving research area in the field of database, despite several research works that have been conducted in this area. This paper conducts a survey on research issues on computing skyline for uncertain databases, with the view of providing interested researchers with an overview of the most recent research directions in this area. It further suggests possible research direction on skyline processing for uncertain databases. Taxonomy of the existing approaches is also presented.


Steep socio-economic gradients in family size were a major source of disparities for children in the early 20th century and prompted much social research and public commentary. By the 1960s, a scholarly consensus was emerging that SES differentials in women's fertility in western countries were tending to narrow but developments since then have received limited attention and a children's perspective relating to the distinct question of sibling numbers (or 'sibsize') has been lacking. Drawing mainly on data from the United States but with some comparative information for other western countries, this paper finds that a sharp reduction in social disparities in sibsize occurred in the final third of the twentieth century and acted as an important (though in the US case, incomplete) social leveller for children. This development is significant as a counter to other aspects of socio-demographic change in the same period which have been found to widen social inequalities for children. A key implication is that until we pay closer attention to sibsize patterns, our picture of how socio-demographic change has affected social inequalities among children in recent decades may be both incomplete and unduly negative.


M4ODERN CRITICISM has not looked favorably on the old assumption that Fielding started Joseph Andrews in parody and stumbled into a novel. We want our artistry neat, our unity organic, and our final causes final. Consequently, Robert Alan Donovan argues that the whole book is parody, and, on the other hand, Martin Battestin sets parody aside, distinguishing Joseph Andrews as satirically allusive rather than parodically imitative, as Shamela was, thus minimizing, in spite of his helpful distinction, the traces of Richardson in Books I and IV.1 Perhaps this uneasiness about parody explains why nobody has yet remarked that Joseph Andrews indeed acquires its principal structural frame from Richardson by way of ShamelaI mean the pair of bedroom-scenes that holds the Cervantic ramble together at beginning and end. Somehow, we have overlooked the source and the effect of these paired structural girders that underline Fielding's comedy of sex and self, and its cognate theme of Christian virtue.2 Nor have we seen that the structures of Joseph Andrews and Tom Jones, though similar in many ways, are essentially different in kind and opposite in effect. I will argue that the structure of Joseph Andrews derives principally from the repetitive structural impulse of simple narrative fiction I whereas the structure of Tom Jones derives from the formal


In this paper,we discuss the estimator of the regression coefficients in the linear regression models based on grouped data.We want to estimate the parameters by MLE,but there are no closed-form expressions for the MLE.Under certain conditions,we apply the EM algorithm to obtain the approximate solution of the MLE.By means of simulations we show that this method is available.


Abstract : Copolymers of vinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene P(VDF-TrFE) exhibit large piezoelectric effects. Standard isothermal D-E hysteresis loops were found to be inaccurate predictors of the pyroelectric conversion performance of this material. Conduction effects obscured the observation of conversion cycles for the presently available materials. A conversion cycle was measured with electric energy density of 30 mJ/cc, which is 15 times larger than that of any other polymer yet measured. Resistivity and displacement change data are discussed in terms of predicted pyroelectric energy conversion performance. (Author)


The objective of the present study was to characterize the sun dried and dehydrated Moringa oleifera Lam leaves in terms of their gross chemical composition , mineral content, fatty acid composition , phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as the possibility of using these leaves in preparing some food products. The results indicated that significant differences were found between the sun dried and dehydrated leaf powder with regard to their content of crude ether extract and carbohydrate. Generally, leaf powder may be considered as a good source of the microelements such as Ca, K, Na and Mg. The most predominant saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were palmitic, oleic, linolenic and linoleic acids, respectively. The data revealed a high content of phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity being 38.07-42.02 mg/g, 15.10-20.43 mg/100g and 79.9283.4 % for sun dried and dehydrated leaf powder, respectively. Gallic, chlorogenic, ellagic and ferulic acids were identified by HPLC in leaf powder. Furthermore, Moringa oleifera leaf extract has a noticeable antimicrobial effect on growth of Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger. All products containing either sun dried or dehydrated moringa leaf powder were more acceptable with respect to their organoleptic attributes mainly taste and colour.


The molecular mobility of glass and supercooled liquid states of nilutamide has been studied with broadband dielectric spectroscopy for a wide range of temperature and frequency. Besides primary $\alpha$-relaxation an excess wing like secondary relaxation is observed. The temperature dependence of structural $\alpha$-relaxation show non-Arrhenius behaviour, and follows Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) empirical formula. The glass transition temperature, T$_{g}$=302K and fragility index, m=76 are obtained from the VFT parameters. The structural $\alpha$-relaxation process is non-Debye with Kohlraush-Williams-Watts stretched exponential $\beta_{KWW}$=0.76. Secondary relaxation time of nilutamide coincides with the primitive relaxation time calculated from the coupling model. Hence the secondary relaxation process of nilutamide is treated as the Johari-Goldstein (JG) $\beta$-process, which is the precursor of the structural $\alpha$-process. Recent report on nilutamide indicates the increase of nucleation even below T$_{g}$, however we attributed to the JG $\beta$-relaxation. During the dielectric measurements amorphous nilutamide recrystallizes. The crystallization of amorphous nilutamide has been studied by the isotherm dielectric measurements at T=326K over a period of time. The crystallization follows Avrami equation and the parameters are obtained.


In this paper we investigate the properties of positive solutions for three non-local reaction-diffusion problems. The conditions on the existence and non-existence of global positive solutions are given. Moreover, we prove that the blow-up set is the whole region when the non-linearity occurs in the equation.


Representatives of the United Kingdom's 35 000 GPs have expressed their disappointment at some of the proposals in The NHS Plan for England (5 August, p 317).

At its meeting last week the General Practitioners Committee condemned the proposals for victimising singlehanded GPs—the government plans to introduce new contractual quality standards for singlehanded practices—and for resource allocation, which it believes will have a major impact on the distribution of doctors.

The committee has suggested that instead of abolition of the Medical Practices Committee, the …


Serving as the editor-in-chief of IEEE Signal Processing Magazine (SPM) is a privilege and a blessing. Three years ago, when I first assumed the responsibility, I expected a journey similar to prior ones with other publications. Now at the end of this one, I am immensely gratified by what we, the editorial team, have accomplished and what I, together with authors, readers, guest editors, and the entire editorial team, have learned.


The micro-arc oxidation(MAO) films were prepared on 6063 aluminum alloy in the electrolyte with Cr2O3 particles,the effects of Cr2O3 concentration in the electrolyte and the process parameters on the properties of the composite film were studied.The micro-morphology was investigated by the scanning electron microscopy(SEM),Energy dispersion spectrometer was used to analyze composition of the film.The results show that the Cr2O3 concentrations in film and the film thickness are both increased with the increasement of Cr2O3 concentrations in solution,current density and MAO time;The Electrolyte pH influences composite amount;There are a large number of Cr2O3 particles on the oxide film surface,and the Cr2O3 particles are deposited to the oxide film internal.


Formation of specific neuronal connections often involves competition between adjacent axons, leading to stabilization of the active terminal, while retraction of the less active ones. The underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We show that activity-dependent conversion of pro–brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) to mature (m)BDNF mediates synaptic competition. Stimulation of motoneurons triggers proteolytic conversion of proBDNF to mBDNF at nerve terminals. In Xenopus nerve–muscle cocultures, in which two motoneurons innervate one myocyte, proBDNF-p75NTR signaling promotes retraction of the less active terminal, whereas mBDNF–tyrosine-related kinase B (TrkB) p75NTR (p75 neurotrophin receptor) facilitates stabilization of the active one. Thus, proBDNF and mBDNF may serve as potential "punishment" and "reward" signals for inactive and active terminals, respectively, and activity-dependent conversion of proBDNF to mBDNF may regulate synapse elimination.


Ever since the emergence in 1931 of the idea of signing a non-aggression pact with the USSR, the Romanians, bound since 1921 by an alliance with Poland, remained sceptical about their own benefits from such an agreement. The politicians in Bucharest feared that the negotiations would evoke the question of Bessarabia, a region which underwent a controversial unification process with Romania that remained unapproved by the international community and unrecognised by the USSR. They also worried that the pact would result in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, thus opening the Kingdom of Romania to communist influence, which, in the light of the acute social troubles it raises, could strongly destabilise the internal situation in the country. Polish diplomacy attempted to bring both sides closer, yet the uncompromised demands made by the influential Romanian diplomat Nicolae Titulescu, as well as the critical attitude of French Prime Minister Andre Tardieu towards the whole initiative resulted in a total standstill.


This work presents systematic investigation on reactions of zinc(II) salts with a rigid tripodal ligand in the presence of different benzenedicarboxylic acids. Seven new coordination polymers [Zn(tib)(1,3-BDC)]·H2O (1), [Zn2(tib)(1,3-BDC)2(H2O)]·2H2O (2), [Zn2(tib)(1,2-BDC)Cl2] (3), [Zn4(tib)2(1,2-BDC)4]·2H2O (4), [Zn2(tib)2(1,2-BDC)](NO3)2 (5), [Zn2(tib)2(1,2-BDC)]I2 (6), and [Zn3(tib)2(4-BPA)Cl4]·2H2O (7) [tib = 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene, 1,3-BDC2− = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate, 1,2-BDC2− = 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate, 4-BPA2− = 4-bromo-1,2-benzenedicarboxylate] were obtained, and they were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. Complexes 1, 4, and 7 are two-dimensional (2D) networks containing infinite one-dimensional (1D) Zn(II)-tib chains linked together by auxiliary dicarboxylate ligands. Complexes 2 with 2-fold interpenetration and 3 are three-dimensional (3D) frameworks containing infinite 2D networks pillared by 1,2-BDC2− ligands, while 5 ...


of a doctoral essay at the University of Miami. Doctoral essay supervised by Professors Kathryn I. Reid and Brian Russell. No. of pages in text. (58) The purpose of this study was to develop a jazz improvisation rubric for the evaluation of collegiate jazz improvisation. To create this measure, research objectives were devised to investigate the aurallyobserved performer-controlled components of improvisation, which aurally-observed components should be evaluated in an improvisatory performance, and whether a comprehensive measure could be developed to evaluate such a performance. Published methods on general music performance, jazz improvisation performance methods, jazz pedagogy texts, and statements from jazz educators and performers were content analyzed and cross referenced to determine overarching similarities and create criteria for evaluation. After conducting research, it was determined that the five most frequent component measurement terms used were rhythm, technical facility, tone, articulation, and melodic/rhythmic development. Those components were categorized into the following concepts: Technique/Technical Facility, Expression, Tone/Tone Control, Rhythm, Melody/Motives, Interaction, Harmony, and overall improvisation. A rubric was created using these concepts and included the following dimensions: technique, expression, rhythm, melody, harmony, rhythmic interaction, melodic interaction, harmonic interaction, and overall improvisation. The quality of each dimension was devised from lowest quality to highest quality: does not meet expectations, below expectations, meets expectations, and exceeds expectations. Suggestions for implementation of the rubric in the collegiate setting were suggested, along with areas for further research to determine the reliability of the rubric.


According to Paul Farmer, "the experiences of those who are sick and poor remind us that inequalities of access and outcome constitute the chief drama of modern medicine." One particular global health flashpoint in under-resourced communities is newborn mortality. This chapter is a case study of Helping Babies Breathe Sudan, a training for a national program to train village midwives or traditional birth attendants in basic newborn care. The program's successes and challenges offer important lessons about the process of developing partnerships for accompaniment. Focused on local listening and participation, this article examines lessons from this case for thinking about ethical partnerships for health and development. For theological ethics, Farmer's own work and this case provide concrete examples that the option for the poor can be put into practice through prioritizing participation and local listening.


Traffic lights at night are usually framed in the image as bright regions bigger than the real size due to glow effect. Moreover, the colors of lighting region saturate to white. So it is difficult to distinguish between different traffic lights at night. Many related studies have tried to decrease the glow effect in the process of capturing images. Some studies drastically decreased the shutter time of the camera to reduce the adverse effect by the glow. However, this makes the video too dark. This study proposes a new idea which utilizes the glow effect. It examines the outer radial region of traffic light. It presents an algorithm to discriminate the color of traffic light by the analysis of the outer radial region. The advantage of the proposed method is that it can recognize traffic lights in the image captured by an ordinary black box camera. Experimental results using seven short videos show the performance of traffic light recognition reporting the precision of 96.4% and the recall of 98.2%. These results show that the proposed method is valid and effective.