Understanding current-induced bond rupture in single-molecule junctions is both of fundamental interest and a prerequisite for the design of molecular junctions, which are stable at higher-bias voltages. In this work, we use a fully quantum mechanical method based on the hierarchical quantum master equation approach to analyze the dissociation mechanisms in molecular junctions. Considering a wide range of transport regimes, from off-resonant to resonant, non-adiabatic to adiabatic transport, and weak to strong vibronic coupling, our systematic study identifies three dissociation mechanisms. In the weak and intermediate vibronic coupling regime, the dominant dissociation mechanism is stepwise vibrational ladder climbing. For strong vibronic coupling, dissociation is induced via multi-quantum vibrational excitations triggered either by a single electronic transition at high bias voltages or by multiple electronic transitions at low biases. Furthermore, the influence of vibrational relaxation on the dissociation dynamics is analyzed and strategies for improving the stability of molecular junctions are discussed.


Obtaining exact depth from binocular disparities is hard if camera calibration is needed. We will show that qualitative depth information can be obtained from stereo disparities with almost no computations and with no prior knowledge (or computation) of camera parameters. We derive two expressions that order all matched points in the images in two distinct depth-consistent ways from image coordinates only. One is a tilt-related order $\lambda$, the other is a depth-related order $\chi$. Using $\lambda$ demonstrates some anomalies and unusual characteristics that have been observed in psychophysical experiments. The same approach is applied to qualitatively estimate changes in the curvature of a contour on the surface of an object, with either $x$- or $y$-coordinate fixed.


Purpose: To investigate the proliferative behavior of the corneal and limbal epithelia after debridement on the central region of the rabbit cornea. Methods: After scraping a circular epithelial area, 5 mm in diameter, in the center of the cornea, 3 H-thymidine (3 H-TdR) was injected intravitreally, and the rabbits killed from 1 to 49 days afterward. The cornea, together with the adjacent conjunctiva, was processed for autoradiography. Results: The regenerating epithelium at the center of the cornea exhibited high frequencies of labeled nuclei when compared to controls. The mitotic indexes for the limbus were comparable in experimental and control eyes. The unique basal stratum of the limbal epithelium exhibited quick proliferation and vertical migration in all eyes. Cells that remained labeled for four weeks or more were observed throughout the corneal epithelium, including its basal stratum, and this did not depend on epithelial damage. Conclusion: Corneal epithelium wounds are healed by sliding and proliferation of cells surrounding the epithelial gap without any evidence for the participation of the limbal epithelium. Daughter cells labeled with 3 H-TdR were visualized in all layers of the corneal epithelium up to 7 weeks after the DNA precursor injection. However, at this long interval, the only labeled cells in the limbus were in the suprabasal layers.


Reperfusion therapy is the only proven treatment for acute ischemic stroke.1 ,2 For proximal arterial occlusions, intra-arterial treatment (IAT) yields substantially higher rates of early revascularization than FDA-approved treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).3 However, recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) show no added clinical benefit of IAT compared with standard medical management.4–6 Although there are clear limitations to these trials,7 a major lesson is that the signal of benefit favoring IAT is much smaller than expected. In this context, improving patient selection for IAT remains essential, with neuroimaging playing a central role. This article begins with a pathophysiologic argument for the importance of imaging, discusses the available neuroimaging tools and their reliability and reviews the evidence supporting the use of imaging to predict the response to IAT.

Current guidelines recommend a time window of 6 h for intra-arterial thrombolysis.8 Mechanical therapies are cleared for use up to 8 h. Although the time window for IAT efficacy remains unclear,9 treatment efficacy erodes with time,10 placing a clear emphasis on rapid treatment delivery. However, this has come at the expense of potentially valuable neuroimaging as well as a rigorous approach to imaging interpretation. In both the SYNTHESIS Expansion and Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS) III trials (table 1), only a non-contrast CT (NCCT) scan was required prior to enrollment.5 ,6 The primary imaging exclusion criterion for the SYNTHESIS Expansion trial (in addition to hemorrhage) was the presence of well-established infarction (as a marker of potentially longer stroke duration). For IMS III, it was the presence of clear hypodensity involving more than one-third of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. As will be discussed, these findings are of limited value in excluding patients who are unlikely to respond to treatment.

The major limitation of …


Background African trypanosomes are protozoan parasites that cause "sleeping sickness" in humans and a similar disease in livestock. Trypanosomes also infect laboratory mice and three major quantitative trait loci (QTL) that regulate survival time after infection with T. congolense have been identified in two independent crosses between susceptible A/J and BALB/c mice, and the resistant C57BL/6. These were designated Tir1, Tir2 and Tir3 for Trypanosoma infection response, and range in size from 0.9–12 cM. Principal Findings Mapping loci regulating survival time after T. congolense infection in an additional cross revealed that susceptible C3H/HeJ mice have alleles that reduce survival time after infection at Tir1 and Tir3 QTL, but not at Tir2. Next-generation resequencing of a 6.2 Mbp region of mouse chromosome 17, which includes Tir1, identified 1,632 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) including a probably damaging non-synonymous SNP in Pram1 (PML-RAR alpha-regulated adaptor molecule 1), which was the most plausible candidate QTL gene in Tir1. Genome-wide comparative genomic hybridisation identified 12 loci with copy number variants (CNV) that correlate with differential gene expression, including Cd244 (natural killer cell receptor 2B4), which lies close to the peak of Tir3c and has gene expression that correlates with CNV and phenotype, making it a strong candidate QTL gene at this locus. Conclusions By systematically combining next-generation DNA capture and sequencing, array-based comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH), gene expression data and SNP annotation we have developed a strategy that can generate a short list of polymorphisms in candidate QTL genes that can be functionally tested.


Coherent reflection of an acoustic plane wave from rough interfaces in a horizontally-stratified medium, within which the sound-speed distribution subject to a small and random perturbation, is considered in this paper. The general formulation based upon the theory for rough-interface scattering in a stratified medium, in conjunction with that for random medium is derived. The Green's function for a random medium bounded by two surfaces, which serves as generic solution of the problem, is obtained. The formulation is then applied to a simplified seabed environment to study the effects of surface roughness and medium inhomogenieties on the coherent reflection. The numerical results demonstrate that both the rough-surface scattering and medium scattering distract the energy from the coherent field, making the coefficient of the coherent reflection reduced with an amount, depending upon the degree of roughness and randomness measured by the relevant parameters. Furthermore, the characteristics of the distribution for the reflection coefficient with respect to incident angle show distinct feature, potentially allowing identification of dominant scattering mechanism.


This paper presents and extends Latent Growth Modeling LGM as a complementary method for analyzing longitudinal data, modeling the process of change over time, testing time-centric hypotheses, and building longitudinal theories. We first describe the basic tenets of LGM and offer guidelines for applying LGM to Information Systems IS research, specifically how to pose research questions that focus on change over time and how to implement LGM models to test time-centric hypotheses. Second and more important, we theoretically extend LGM by proposing a model validation criterion, namely "d-separation," to evaluate why and when LGM works and test its fundamental properties and assumptions. Our d-separation criterion does not rely on any distributional assumptions of the data; it is grounded in the fundamental assumption of the theory of conditional independence. Third, we conduct extensive simulations to examine a multitude of factors that affect LGM performance. Finally, as a practical application, we apply LGM to model the relationship between word-of-mouth communication online product reviews and book sales over time with longitudinal 26-week data from Amazon. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of LGM for helping IS researchers develop and test longitudinal theories.


Abstract Salient examples of catalytic application of niobium compounds and materials are demonstrated. Niobium oxides, when small amounts are added to known catalysts, markedly enhance catalytic activity and selectivity and prolong catalyst life for various reactions. Moreover, niobium oxides exhibit a pronounced effect as supports of metal or metal oxide catalysts. Hydrated niobium pentoxide (niobic acid, Nb2O5·nH2O) and niobium phosphate which are unusual solid acids show high catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability for acid-catalyzed reactions. Layer compounds containing niobium combined with metal show peculiar photocatalytic activity. These characteristic features of niobium compounds as catalysts and catalyst components are discussed, their potential significance being emphasized.


Photometric stereo (PS) is an established technique for high-detail reconstruction of 3D geometry and appearance. To correct for surface integration errors, PS is often combined with multiview stereo (MVS). With dynamic objects, PS reconstruction also faces the problem of computing optical flow (OF) for image alignment under rapid changes in illumination. Current PS methods typically compute optical flow and MVS as independent stages, each one with its own limitations and errors introduced by early regularization. In contrast, scene flow methods estimate geometry and motion, but lack the fine detail from PS. This paper proposes photogeometric scene flow (PGSF) for high-quality dynamic 3D reconstruction. PGSF performs PS, OF, and MVS simultaneously. It is based on two key observations: (i) while image alignment improves PS, PS allows for surfaces to be relit to improve alignment, (ii) PS provides surface gradients that render the smoothness term in MVS unnecessary, leading to truly data-driven, continuous depth estimates. This synergy is demonstrated in the quality of the resulting RGB appearance, 3D geometry, and 3D motion.


This master thesis presents a new software system for developing control systems on the REMUS 100 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Software written to control autonomous vehicles generally involve many components, and issues such as communication, synchronization, and modularity will arise. Many software frameworks have been written to address these issues. To ease the development, we have implemented an interface between the REMUS vehicle and the open source DUNE framework, leveraging its field-tested software for AUVs. To be able to simulate software written in DUNE, we have implemented an interface to an AUV simulator, AUVSim. We have used DUNE to control the heading and the altitude of the vehicle. Two altitude controllers have been presented that use range measurements from a Doppler velocity log (DVL) as control input. The auto altitude controller uses the ranges to estimate the altitude of the vehicle. The highpass altitude controller uses an additional estimate of the seabed slope, resulting in a reduced altitude error on large bathymetric variations. Both altitude controllers have been implemented in DUNE and simulated in AUVSim with good results. A field test was carried out in Hopavågen April 20-23, 2015 to test the two altitude controllers and the heading control via DUNE. The field test showed good result for the auto altitude controller. However, the highpass controller proved to be sensitive to noise in the range measurements from the DVL and did therefore give a noisy control output. Control of heading was not conducted due to an error in the REMUS API. This error was fixed after the field test was complete. The field tests proved that DUNE was a good fit for controlling the REMUS 100 AUV. The NTNU REMUS 100 can now use DUNE as a development platform, allowing reuse of code from related research activities.


This paper illustrates the design and implementation of a robotic software system based on robot-human interactions, which increases the applications of low-cost, inaccurate robots such as Baxter. The first four parts of the paper discuss the motivation, market & industry, IP strategy and system workflow. Then the paper explains a specific technical contribution of the project in detail – estimating Baxter's positioning accuracy. Based on forward kinematics and Jacobian matrix respectively, two models are built to convert the error tolerance of the joints to the error tolerance of the end effector in the Cartesian space. The second model based on Jacobian matrix is chosen as the final approach since it has linear complexity and it is more computationally efficient. The result gives a reasonable estimation of Baxter's accuracy, which allows valid comparison with the task's accuracy requirements. Thus we are able to determine how the human can interact with the robot and improve its performance.


Parameter estimation is the statement concerning an unknown population parameter based on the population of sample in this case it is random sample taken from the population concerned so that with this prediction, the state parameter of the population is knowable. The best expectation are expected to be used to predict the value of Y properly.
Parameter estimation is divided into two these are point estimate and interval estimate. In practice, the point estimate is comprised of one single value doesn't give you anidea of how the distance or the difference between the value of the expectation to the true value.The most commonly used methods in parameter estimation is a method of OLS (Ordinary Least Square).To use this method, the error of the regression model disturber must fulfill the assumptions of classical linear regression model (Classical Linear Regression Model). By using OLS method obtained linear expectation, unbiased and best (the minimum variance).However, in practice, often going on diversion model assumptions of classical linear regression, one of which is heteroskedastisitas, where the variance assumption is no longer constant.When such distortion occurs, then the OLS method is no longer appropriate to use in parameter estimation. There is a method which is the development of methods of OLS method, that is GLS (Generalized Least Square). The GLS method can be used in the data homoskedastisitas and is also used to address heteroskedastisitas.
After the regression model parameters obtained expectation of nonlinear power, then the confidence interval can also be known. The confidence Interval is used as something of parameter estimates, because almost never found exactly the same statistical value with its parameters. By using the method of OLS and GLS method with confidence interval obtained GLS is shorter than OLS method, it means that the confidence interval method with GLS more ideal than the OLS method.


The study tracked the experiences of girl-adolescents presenting with intimate partner violence issues at a Counseling Center in the City of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. Narratives provided the theoretical framework for conducting qualitative research within a social constructivist paradigm. Adolescents were allowed to narrate their relationship problems. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. Anonymity and confidentiality were maintained, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were used for data collection with thematic analysis used for data treatment. The sample size was determined by data saturation at ten participants. The findings were that physical abuse may result in permanent injuries and in severe cases death might also occur. Psychological abuse leads to dehumanized individuals, lowering of self-esteem, and creating the sense of hopelessness. Sexual abuse exposes adolescents to a plethora of diseases such as STIs, HIV, vaginal infections, chronic pelvic pains and many more others. Adolescents engage into intimate relationships at an early age. The government and communities are encouraged to be involved in the establishment of counseling centers specifically for adolescents where they can feel free to consult on issues of dating, sexualities and marriage.


Our aim was to investigate the cellular uptake, in vitro cytotoxicity and bioavailability of ginsenoside-modified nanostructured lipid carrier loaded with curcumin (G-NLC). The formulation was prepared by melt emulsification technique, in which water was added to the melted lipids and homogenized to give a uniform suspension of NLC (without ginsenoside) and G-NLC. Cellular uptake of curcumin in two colon cancer cell lines (HCT116 and HT29) was increased when administered using both NLC and G-NLC compared to control (curcumin dissolved into DMSO) as measured by fluorescence microscopy. Ginsenoside modification resulted in 2.0-fold and 1.4-fold increases in fluorescence intensity in HCT116 and HT29 cell lines, respectively, compared to plain NLC. In vitro cytotoxicity (assessed by MTT assay) had a dose-dependent relationship with curcumin concentration for both NLC and G-NLC. Although G-NLC was taken up more readily in HCT116 cells, ginsenoside modification did not produce a significant increase in cytotoxic effect; a significant increase was observed in HT29 cells. Oral administration of G-NLC in ten colon cancer patients produced an appreciable plasma level of unbound curcumin (2.9 ng/mL). In conclusion, introduction of ginsenoside into NLC enhanced the cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of curcumin as well as its oral bioavailability, and this strategy can be used to improve clinical outcomes in the treatment of colon cancer with similar genotype to HT29.


The GW self-energy, especially G0W0 based on the particle-hole random phase approximation (phRPA), is widely used to study quasiparticle (QP) energies. Motivated by the desirable features of the particle-particle (pp) RPA compared to the conventional phRPA, we explore the pp counterpart of GW, that is, the T-matrix self-energy, formulated with the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the ppRPA matrix. We demonstrate the accuracy of the T-matrix method for molecular QP energies, highlighting the importance of the pp channel for calculating QP spectra.


Texture is the most valuable feature in cephalopods. Factors that mainly affect the texture of octopus are: freezing, scalding and cooking. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of freezing, scalding and length of cooking time on the texture and electrophoretic pattern of proteins of octopus arms. Octopuses were trapped near Margarita Island and carried with ice to the laboratory where they were packed and subjected to: a) freezing at -27 degrees C or at -20 degrees C b) scalding c) cooking for 25 min, 35 min or 45 min. Shear force was determined by Kramer cell on strips of octopus arms. SDS-PAGE was done according to the Laemmli method with 12% polyacrilamide gels. A sensory evaluation of the preference of texture was carried out using a hedonic scale of 7-points and a non-trained panel. Octopus texture was not affected by freezing temperature or scalding. Frozen octopus was softer after cooking than fresh. The longer the cooking time was, the softer the octopus was. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) was not significantly affected by scalding or cooking; however large aggregates heavier than MHC, new bands and loss of resolution of the bands appeared. Myosin and paramyosin bands were more affected by freezing prior to cooking.


In this dissertation, we have sought to develop an analysis of the representation of masculinities through fifty works of made in Spain video art during the first decade of the 21st Century. In order to do this, we have selected those works of video art whose main subject is the questioning of hegemonic masculinity or the disclosure of subversive masculinities through the representation of the body. We have chosen pieces widely and currently accessible, which have been previously shown in the Spanish art scene. The heterogenic selection aims at representing the wide range of masculinities and works of video art. The applied methodology has been the critical analysis of audiovisual texts and the hermeneutic of images. We have sought to build up a multidisciplinary theoretical approach, following the recent principles developed by Visual Studies, Audiovisual Communication Studies and Film Theory, and based on the epistemology contrived by Queer Theory and Men's Studies. Through the images shown in these works, we will be able to discover what are the mechanisms used in the construction of the male identity, in addition to the elements and attributes characteristic of the hegemonic masculinity model, a model which conditions the rest of the masculinities that exist within the social spectrum. We will be able to visualize the extensive range of masculinities constituting the current masculine identity through the different formats, styles and narratives that shape the contemporary Spanish video art. Such identity does not only include a single gender and a single sexuality, this new masculinity is made from different bodies with different status, races, genders and sexualities. Our dissertation shows the possibilities of video art as a critical tool against the patriarchal system and as a display for all these non-heteronormal masculinities.


Quick lime has been widely applied for improving strength and water stability of loess due to its lower costs and better effect on subgrade construction. Taking collapsible loess of Dingxi section of Luoding Freeway in Gansu province as investigation object, CBR were done in cases of different quick lime contents, water contents and compaction times as well as immersion times. The results indicated that compaction degree of lime soil would be lower than that of loess as subjected to the same compaction times. The strength and water stability of loess mixed with quick lime would obviously improve. The optimal quick lime contents were equal to 3%. A dual linear regression equation of CBR was put forward and applied in six test sections of Luoding and Baotian freeways.


Purpose: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon that affects an increasing number of patients. High comorbidity is observed between UC and other diseases in which inflammation may be involved, including brain diseases such as cognitive impairment, mental disorders, anxiety, and depression. To investigate the increased occurrence of these brain diseases in patients with UC, non-invasive methods for monitoring peripheral and central inflammation could be applied. Therefore, the goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of monitoring gut and brain inflammation in a rat model of chemically induced colitis by positron emission tomography (PET) with [ 11 C]PBR28, a tracer targeting the translocator protein (TSPO), which is upregulated when microglia and macrophages are activated. Procedures: Colitis was induced in rats by intra-rectal injection of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). Rats with colitis and healthy control animals were subjected to [ 11 C]PBR28 PET of the abdomen followed by ex vivo biodistribution in order to assess whether inflammation in the gut could be detected. Another group of rats with colitis underwent repetitive [ 11 C]PBR28 PET imaging of the brain to investigate the development of neuroinflammation. Results: Eleven days after TNBS injection, ex vivo biodistribution studies demonstrated increased [ 11 C]PBR28 uptake in the inflamed cecum and colon of rats with colitis as compared to healthy controls, whereas PET imaging did not show any difference between groups at any time. Similarly, repetitive PET imaging of the brain did not reveal any neuroinflammation induced by the TNBS administration in the colon. In contrast, significantly increased [ 11 C]PBR28 uptake in cerebellum could be detected in ex vivo biodistribution studies on day 11. Conclusion: Inflammation in both the gut and the brain of rats with chemically induced colitis was observed by ex vivo biodistribution. However, these effects could not be detected by [ 11 C]PBR28 PET imaging in our colitis model, which is likely due to spill-over effects and insufficient resolution of the PET camera.


The stability of homogeneous, isotropic, compressible, hyperelastic, thick spherical shells subjected to external dead-load traction are investigated within the context of the finite elasticity theory. The stability of the finitely deformed state and small, free, radial vibrations about this state are investigated using the theory of small deformations superposed on large elastic deformations. The frequencies of small free vibrations about the pre-stressed state are obtained numerically. The loss of stability occurs when the motions cease to be periodic. The critical values of stress and deformation are given for a foam rubber, slightly compressible rubber and a nearly incompressible rubber.


We report on noble metal tipping of heterostructured nanocrystals (NCs) of CdSe@CdS tetrapods (TPs) as a chemical reaction to manifest energetic differences between type I and quasi-type II heterojunctions. The energetics between zincblende (ZB) CdSe seed and wurtzite CdS TP arms has previously been probed primarily using ultrafast spectroscopic methods. However, to interrogate the energetics of CdSe@CdS TPs from both larger and very small ZB CdSe seeds (i.e., effective diameters (Deff) 6.2 to 1.8 nm) we utilize the photodeposition of gold nanoparticles as a facile and selective chemical reaction to correlate reaction rates with tetrapod energetics. We observe a 20-fold enhancement in the rate of selective photodeposition of a single AuNP tip onto this series of TPs, which were attributed to straddling of type I vs. quasi-type II energetics as a direct consequence of varying ZB CdSe seed size. Synthetic access to type I and quasi-type II TPs enabled the synthesis of singly tipped AuNP-CdSe@CdS TPs in gram quantities, which is the largest scale synthesis of metal–semiconductor Janus nanoparticles to date.


The study sought to investigate the impact of Social media revolution on Journalism and News organizations. The objectives of the study were to explore the impact of social media on journalism and news organization; investigate how media personalities and news organizations are using social media in carrying out their roles and the integration of social media on traditional media and how it has transformed and continues to do so as they embrace social media. The study reviewed relevant literature from various international news organizations like Reuters, BBC and other online news blog sites are using social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Y ouTube everyday to gather and disseminate news stories. The study sampled 4 media organizations: Nation media group, Standard Media group, Royal Media group and Radio Africa as its sample population. The researcher was able to observe and participate in the social media pages of all these news organizations on Twitter, Y ouTube and Facebook. Observing how often they posted as well as how the media personalities and journalists in these media houses used social media and interact with their audiences. A focus group discussion and interviews were carried out on journalists within the target population and the researcher identified the impact social media has so far had on journalism Qualitative data analysis was used to analyze the information collected via the Focus group discussion, interviews and observation and to determine the impact social media has had on news organizations and journalism. The key findings of the study indicate that it is now common practice for journalists and news organizations to integrate social media and post links on their social media pages that direct traffic back to the news organizations websites as well as compel audiences to traditional media. The project goes on to show that social media is not a passing phase but here to stay as most of those interviewed guaranteed that social media has not been exhaustively used and new ways of effectively using social media should be sought so as to use this technology that has reshaped not just journalism but all media industry.


Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has been shown to be effective in treatment of anxiety disorders. Yet, there is lack of research on the extent to which interaction between the individual and virtual humans can be successfully implanted to increase levels of anxiety for therapeutic purposes. This proof-of-concept pilot study aimed at examining levels of the sense of presence and anxiety during exposure to virtual environments involving social interaction with virtual humans and using different virtual reality displays. A non-clinical sample of 38 participants was randomly assigned to either a head-mounted display (HMD) with motion tracker and sterescopic view condition or a one-screen projection-based virtual reality display condition. Participants in both conditions engaged in free speech dialogues with virtual humans controlled by research assistants. It was hypothesized that exposure to virtual social interactions will elicit moderate levels of sense of presence and anxiety in both groups. Further it was expected that participants in the HMD condition will report higher scores of sense of presence and anxiety than participants in the one-screen projection-based display condition. Results revealed that in both conditions virtual social interactions were associated with moderate levels of sense of presence and anxiety. Additionally, participants in the HMD condition reported significantly higher levels of presence than those in the one-screen projection-based display condition (p = .001). However, contrary to the expectations neither the average level of anxiety nor the highest level of anxiety during exposure to social virtual environments differed between the groups (p = .97 and p = .75, respectively). The findings suggest that virtual social interactions can be successfully applied in VRET to enhance sense of presence and anxiety. Furthermore, our results indicate that one-screen projection-based displays can successfully activate levels of anxiety in social virtual environments. The outcome can prove helpful in using low-cost projection-based virtual reality environments for treating individuals with social phobia. Subjects Psychiatry and Psychology, Human–Computer Interaction


Conifers are widespread through the northern hemisphere and many of their essential oils and oleoresins have acquired high commercial significance. After a short review of conifer taxonomy and some cytological aspects of oil secretion and accumulation, general characteristics of conifer oils and resins are discussed in more detail.

Since considerable differences can be found in literature concerning the composition of commercially important conifer oils, we have analysed some of them originating from several species of the genera Abies, Larix, Pseudotsuga, Tsuga, Picea and Pinus. The results were compared with those of self-distilled oils from authentic botanical origin and discussed in regard to the systematic grouping of the individual conifer.

In addition to investigations of the chemistry of selected conifer oils, the paper outlines the influence of the raw material, especially the relation of needles to twigs and the effect that this variable has on the composition of an individual oil.


Manufacturing performance improvement must take into account energetic, environmental and economic considerations. Thus, when intermediate manufacturing processes are avoided, that performance is improved from the cited viewpoints. In the aeronautical industry, pre-shaped elements of UNS A92024 alloy based structural elements are machined in T3 temper state previously to be thermally treated to reach an O state in order to facilitate its posterior plastic forming process. In this work, a comparative study on the dry turning of UNS A92024 alloy in both states has been achieved in order to analyze the possibilities of eliminating the thermal treatment process, so improving the three above commented considerations. This study has been carried out on the basis of the analysis of surface finish and cutting tool wear.


The effects of several treatments involving alpha-adrenergic mechanisms upon the early stages of rat liver regeneration were examined. Catecholamine concentrations in rat plasma were measured at various times after hepatectomy and were found to be elevated relative to those in plasma from sham-operated rats. Surgical hepatic denervation or injection of an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist (prazosin) reduced incorporation of [3H]thymidine into liver DNA during the first 24 hr after partial hepatectomy. Chronic guanethidine injections (3 to 6 weeks) reduced liver catecholamine levels, but did not affect its ability to regenerate. The inhibition of regenerative DNA synthesis by prazosin was preceded by an alteration in the binding of epidermal growth factor to regenerating liver, which was apparently the result of an increased number of epidermal growth factor receptors. Thus, alpha 1-adrenergic blockade, which affects both epidermal growth factor receptor binding and subsequent DNA synthesis in hepatocyte primary cultures, can also modulate these processes during liver regeneration in vivo.


Conservation of animal skeletons is necessary for various reasons often to determine the species or as decorative items, but we are interested in terms of their use as teaching materials. Students can achieve artistic projects using bones; they can learn species identification and deducing elements of the animal's life by measuring bones. Applying the techniques of obtaining a skeleton can be an enriching experience in the educational process of any student. The aim of this study was to obtain two complete rabbit skeletons and to asses the efficiency of the whitening and the degreasing substances. The materials used were: two rabbit cadavers, dissection instruments, insect colony, hydrogen peroxide, sodium bicarbonate, acetic acid, acetone, gasoline, wooden bases, support wires and silicone gun. To obtain the skeletons we have used the technique of maceration with the help of insects, with a previous dissection of the carcasses. In both cases, the maceration process took 7 day to complete for the body and, 5 day for the cranium, respectively. The osseous pieces thus obtained were frozen at -18C to eliminates the remaining insects. The skeletons have then undergone a 24 hours whitening process using hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate, respectively, followed by 24 hours of drying at room temperature, and by 24 hours degreasing using acetone and gasoline. The processing was completed by a final drying period and the assembly on the mounts. In conclusion we can mention the fact that the process of skeleton preservation is scrupulous, time-consuming, but it yields satisfying results in terms of anatomic characteristics maintenance and didactic usability.


An evaluation was made of the performance of agricultural marketing cooperatives within the context of rural development strategies in the Philippines and Indonesia. It was also recognized that cooperatives in LDC's could act as an important institutional mechanism for improving the coordination of the food systems in the two accounts. The study identified major shortcomings in operational efficiency, the equitable distribution of benefits to members and in the progressiveness of cooperatives in both countries. The policy conclusions and recommendations emphasize that (1) the role of the government in rural development programs should be redefined to emphasize a public service role while encouraging a "de-officialization" approach in cooperative development; (2) the cooperative marketing systems should be restructured to allow for a more decentralized system of local marketing cooperatives that can compete effectively with other private sector enterprises; and (3) a reconsideration of the basic foundation of the government promoted cooperatives be made to allow for a more participatory approach to rural development. Suggestions for improving the performance of Philippine and Indonesian cooperatives give priority to membership support, capital accumulation, adequate training and education, and organization and management of marketing cooperatives.


THE traditional Western conception of religious art includes paintings, sculpture, and prints of beautiful Madonnas, biblical scenes, and devotional images. In the twenty-first century manifestations of the spiritual in art have significantly changed. Artists' materials no longer consist of just paint and clay but incorporate every available substance including bodily fluids. Artworks encompass everything from religious paintings done in the artist's own blood to installations creating entire sacred spaces, performance art where sacrificial rituals are enacted, body mutilations as an aesthetic form of mortification, and earthworks designed to inspire nature worship. Ironically, many of the contemporary forms of sacred art embody religious prohibitions on image worship found throughout biblical literature. Sometimes these are intentional acts of blasphemy to provoke controversy; more often they are authentic attempts by artists to reclaim the spiritual in their lives. These aesthetic expressions have been assimilated into popular culture in the current popularity of tattooing, piercing, branding, and body modifications. These unconventional forms of the sacred manifested in art and adopted into popular culture have provoked censorship on many levels of society. Essentially, they challenge the fundamental values and religious monotheism of Western culture. Performance Art and Performance Artists A phenomenon in contemporary art is taking place in which highly ritualized and often violent actions by visual artists are classified under the aesthetic genre of performance art. For most of us who are unfamiliar with the avant-garde art world, performance art signifies the theater arts such as ballet, modern dance, musicals, dramas, etc., and are performed by actors and dancers. Although it entails many of the characteristics of theater arts, performance art evolved specifically in the context of visual art and from an entirely different historical position. The origins of contemporary performance art extend back to the Italian Futurist artists of the early 1900s when Filippo Marinetti, a member of this group, performed an evening of special events in Trieste, Italy in 1910. Six years later this was followed by a series of performances by the Dadaists in Zurich. Most of the events were nihilistic in character and reflected the horror of the recent war in Europe. Many of the same concerns and actions reemerged in the late fifties and were referred to as Live-Action, Painters Events, Body Art, and Happenings. Many of the Happenings were multimedia events and incorporated live sound, projected images, and body movement. (1) In the late sixties and early seventies, performance art became accepted as a medium of artistic expression in its own right, incorporating traditional forms of painting and sculpture, theater, photography, music, dance, technology, politics, and popular culture. At the turn of the twenty-first century, there are many distinct varieties of performance art, and although they elude specific categorization, there are environmental, media, technology, body, feminist, and ritual performance artists from every continent. The focus in this essay is on contemporary performance art that encompasses a variety of highly ritualized violent self-mutilations as expressions of the spiritual. Although this may seem like a very specialized genre, there are literally hundreds of artists whose artistic medium consists of the flesh and blood of their own body. Performance artist Chris Burden did not paint or sculpt a crucifixion; in 1974 in a work titled "Trans-Fixed," he had himself crucified to a car. In the 1970s, Burden's art performances also included having himself shot with a gun, punctured, burned, and run over by a car. Burden's body became the ultimate sculptural material, the ultimate object. Artist Gina Pane does art performances that consist of self-inflicted cuts to her body, including her face. …


We describe the preparation and properties of the first example of a synergic nanoantioxidant, obtained by different functionalizations of the external surface and the inner lumen of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). Trolox, a mimic of natural α-tocopherol, was selectively grafted on the HNT external surface; while quercetin, a natural polyphenolic antioxidant, was loaded into the inner lumen to afford a bi-functional nanoantioxidant, HNT-Trolox/Que, which was investigated for its reactivity with transient peroxyl radicals and a persistent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH˙) radical in comparison with the corresponding mono-functional analogues HNT-Trolox and HNT/Que. Both HNT-Trolox and HNT/Que showed good antioxidant performance in the inhibited autoxidation of organic substrates; however HNT-Trolox/Que protection by reaction with peroxyl radicals was 35% higher in acetonitrile and 65% in chlorobenzene, as compared to the expected performance based on the sum of contributions of NHT-Trolox and NHT/Que. Similar enhancement was observed also in the trapping of DPPH˙ radicals. Synergism between the distinct antioxidant functions was based on the rapid reaction of externally exposed Trolox (rate constant with peroxyl radicals was 1.1 × 106 M-1 s-1 and 9 × 104 M-1 s-1 respectively in chlorobenzene and acetonitrile, at 30 °C), followed by its regeneration by quercetin released from the HNT lumen. The advantages of this novel nanoantioxidant are discussed.


The control of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) presents a number of unique and formidable challenges. AUV dynamics is highly nonlinear, coupled, time varying and subject to hydrodynamic uncertainties and external disturbances such as current. In this paper, we presented a new type of controller for AUV motion control based on fuzzy cerebella model articulation controller (FCMAC). A nonlinear six degree-of-freedom equation of AUV motion was derived. The application of the designed FCMAC controller to AUV motion control was discussed and the simulation results shown that this algorithm possessed better dynamic performance and robustness than conventional PID strategy.


Computer self-efficacy is frequently used as an explanatory variable in software training and technology acceptance investigations and it has been frequently used to predict training and learning outcomes. While self-efficacy models identify prior experience with computers as an important determinant of generalized self-efficacy judgments, relatively few studies have systematically examined the types of experience that drive such judgments. Gender and frequency of computer use have also been identified as other predictors of generalized computer self-efficacy. In this investigation, self-reported knowledge/skill attainments levels with each of nineteen computer use/knowledge dimensions are used to measure prior experience/knowledge of computers. These were collected from 340 university students at the same time that they completed a generalized computer self-efficacy scale. This data is used to test two predictions: 1) that greater prior computer knowledge/experience is directly related to higher computer self-efficacy scores and 2) for comparable levels of prior experience/knowledge, males will have higher self-efficacy scores than females. Our results provide support for the first prediction but not the second. Our findings suggest that experience/knowledge of less common computer applications may be more important in shaping self-efficacy judgments than are greater levels of experience/knowledge with common computer applications.


In the recent years, multipath routing techniques are recognized as an effective approach to improve QoS in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). However, in most of the previously proposed protocols either the effects of inter-path interference are ignored, or establishing low-interference paths is very costly. In this paper, we propose a Low-Interference Energy-efficient Multipath ROuting protocol (LIEMRO) for WSNs. This protocol is mainly designed to improve packet delivery ratio, lifetime, and latency, through discovering multiple interference-minimized node-disjoint paths between source node and sink node. In addition, LIEMRO includes a load balancing algorithm to distribute source node's traffic over multiple paths based on the relative quality of each path. Simulation results show that using LIEMRO in high traffic load conditions can increase data reception rate and network lifetime even more than 1.5x compared with single path routing approach, while end-to-end latency reduces significantly. Accordingly, LIEMRO is a multipath solution for event-driven applications in which lifetime, reliability, and latency are of great importance.


Knowledge of right atrial anatomic and pathologic imaging findings and associated clinical symptoms is important to avoid false-positive diagnoses and missed findings. Complete evaluation of the heart often requires a multimodality approach that includes radiography, echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and invasive angiography. In general, CT provides the highest spatial resolution of these modalities at the cost of radiation exposure to the patient. Echocardiography and MR imaging offer complementary and detailed information for functional evaluation without added radiation exposure. The advantages and disadvantages of each modality for the evaluation of right atrial anatomic structure, size, and pathologic findings are discussed. Cardiac MR imaging is the reference standard for evaluation of right atrial size and volume but often is too time consuming and resource intensive to perform in routine clinical practice. Therefore, established reference ranges for two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography are often used. Right atrial pathologic findings can be broadly categorized into (a) congenital anomalies (cor triatriatum dexter, Ebstein anomaly, and aneurysm), (b) disorders of volume (tricuspid regurgitation, pathologic mimics such as a pseudoaneurysm, and atrial septal defect), (c) disorders of pressure (tricuspid stenosis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and constrictive pericarditis), and (d) masses (pseudomasses, thrombus, lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum, lipoma, myxoma, sarcoma, and metastatic disease). Familiarity with each pathologic entity and its treatment options is essential to ensure that appropriate imaging modalities are selected. Online supplemental material is available for this article.


Introduction. Effective functioning of transport infrastructure is a basic condition for modernization of the Ukrainian economy and improvement of the quality of life of the population. Currently, there are no effective tools and techniques for comprehensively assessing the effectiveness and priority of project implementation within public-private partnership (PPP) models.The research hypothesis is to find out how public-private partnerships can act as an effective tool for government regulation of innovative development of transport infrastructure.The aim is to conduct a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the efficiency of the implementation of projects in the field of transport infrastructure using PPP models.The methodology of the study is the apparatus of system, economic and statistical analysis, construction of mathematical models, with their subsequent computer implementation.Results: clarified the concept of public-private partnership in the field of transport infrastructure; systematic analysis and classified models of PPP were carried out with identification of their main features; identified the main factors and parameters (financial and economic characteristics of the projects) that determine the effectiveness of PPP in transport infrastructure and proposed algorithm for evaluating the effectiveness of PPP projects; performed research on the ranking of characteristic risks for transport infrastructure projects, performed ranking of characteristic risks; a mathematical model of risk assessment of PPP projects in transport infrastructure has been developed; practical recommendations are given to improve the mechanism for assessing the efficiency and priority of implementation of transport infrastructure development projects based on PPP.Conclusions: it is proved that ranking and implementation of public-private partnership models on the basis of the developed basic principles (payment, competitiveness, equality of all economic agents in access and in the right of PPP contract negotiation) allows to realize the benefits of a comprehensive PPP mechanism for each of its participants. The practical recommendations of the mechanisms for assessing the risks and priorities of PPP projects in the field of transport infrastructure will improve their implementation by further shaping the overall environment of PPP development, enhancing the support and guarantees of the state and developing a unified concept of PPP mechanism development in Ukraine.


The Arctic Ocean is quite vulnerable and sensitive to climatic changes and has received increasing attention in recent years because of the drastic decrease of sea ice cover and extent. These environmental changes are expected to have severe consequences for the structure of the pelagic system and trophic interactions, and thus for cycling of organic matter and carbon sequestering. The composition of particulate organic matter is measured at the so-called 'HAUSGARTEN' – a deep-sea long-term observatory of the AWI, in order to track respective shifts. The observatory is situated in the eastern Fram Strait at ~ 79°N and 4°E. Since 1998, yearly sampling has been carried out in the water column during cruises in summer, and sedimenting particles are collected by year-round moored sediment traps.
Here we present results obtained from water samples collected near the central station at the HAUSGARTEN during expeditions with RV Polarstern in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The composition of the dominant groups of phytoplankton and protozooplankton in the upper 100m was investigated qualitatively as well as quantitatively by light microscopy. This time-series enables us to trace possible changes in relation to environmental factors such as temperature, salinity and sea ice cover. Diatoms dominated the phytoplankton in the years 1998 and 2003. These years were characterized by longer periods of sea ice cover and relatively cold water temperatures. Coccolithophorids, mainly composed of Emiliania huxleyi, prevailed in the samples from 2004. During the following years until 2010, which had a low presence or complete absence of sea ice, phytoplankton was dominated by the prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis pouchetii. Concomitant to the shift in phytoplankton composition, we also noted an increase in protozooplankton abundance (ciliates and tintinnids) in the samples. The observed changes in the species composition of unicellular protistian plankton is also partly reflected in the composition of sedimenting matter at the central HAUSGARTEN mooring, indicating just as well modifications in element cycling in the changing Arctic Ocean.


Special laws on assisted reproduction techniques appear to expressly prohibit research and experimentation on human beings, particularly cloning. However, in some countries such laws have yet to be prepared, while in others they might be enacted in the future. This situation shows the urgent need for generally agreed legal principles in all legislation to limit the aforementioned practices and for general mechanisms to safeguard human genetic heritage. Against this background, the present article discusses two possible ways of limiting modifications to human genetic heritage, namely, the principle of respect for human dignity and the designation of this dignity as "a legal interest of humankind".


Abstract We used the JUMBO monochromator at SSRL to measure the Al K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of synthetic micas having variable Al content and occupancy, from 0 to 2/4 in the octahedral M positions, and 0 to ⅔ in the tetrahedral T positions. The measured Al K edges differ markedly, but the differences may have a common explanation: (1) Micas containing ⅓ Al in M or ¼ Al in T have K edges that differ in the energy and intensity of the first two features, which are related to interaction of Al with its first-shell nearest neighbors (O and OH or F). They are nearly identical to the K edges of reference minerals such as albite (tetrahedral Al only) or grossular (octahedral Al only). (2) Micas containing Al in both M and T have K edges that can be interpreted as a weighed combination of the simple edges.


Friction stir welding of very thin aluminium sheets represents a potential goal for aircraft and automotive industries due to the advantages of using this new technological process. In the present work, the microstructural evolution and mechanical behaviour of 6082T6-2024T3 thin friction stir welded joints were investigated. Uniaxial tensile testing at room temperature, 170°, 200° and 230°C were performed in order to determine the extent to which these ultra thin joints can be used and deformed. The tensile stress-strain curves showed a decrease of the flow stress with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. At 230°C recovery mechanisms (dislocation reorganization inside the deformed grains) initiated but the temperature was not enough high to produce a homogeneous subgrain structure.


In this paper, we delve into semi-supervised 2D human pose estimation. The previous method ignored two problems: (i) When conducting interactive training between large model and lightweight model, the pseudo label of lightweight model will be used to guide large models. (ii) The negative impact of noise pseudo labels on training. Moreover, the labels used for 2D human pose estimation are relatively complex: keypoint category and keypoint position. To solve the problems mentioned above, we propose a semi-supervised 2D human pose estimation framework driven by a position inconsistency pseudo label correction module (SSPCM). We introduce an additional auxiliary teacher and use the pseudo labels generated by the two teacher model in different periods to calculate the inconsistency score and remove outliers. Then, the two teacher models are updated through interactive training, and the student model is updated using the pseudo labels generated by two teachers. To further improve the performance of the student model, we use the semi-supervised Cut-Occlude based on pseudo keypoint perception to generate more hard and effective samples. In addition, we also proposed a new indoor overhead fisheye human keypoint dataset WEPDTOF-Pose. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms the previous best semi-supervised 2D human pose estimation method. We will release the code and dataset at https://github.com/hlz0606/SSPCM


The growth period of the animal oocyte may in general be divided into two periods, one of previtellogenesis, and a succeeding one of vitellogenesis or yolk synthesis proper. Both periods are characterized by the accumulation of relatively enormous quantities of new material. Thus in previtellogenesis the amphibian oocyte may increase in volume over one thousand times, and during yolk formation another thousand-fold increase in volume may occur (28). During previtellogenesis profound redistributions of cytoplasmic constituents take place. The mitochondria and Golgi apparatus in the early germ cell are usually located in a perinuclear ring or crescent so closely applied to the nuclear membrane as to appear to be attached to it (9, 11, 16-18, 23, 29-31, 33, 34). This crescent or ring subsequently increases in size and undergoes a peripheral migration. The early crescent often appears to be devoid of formed mitochondria or Golgi bodies although the crescent itself stains with mitochondrial and Golgi techniques. The formed Golgi bodies or mitochondria, when not present from the beginning, become apparent during the migration of the crescent. Many female germ cells also contain bodies which arise during previtellogenesis in close association with the nuclear envelope and which bear the general name of "yolk nuclei" although it is certain that a heterogeneous collection of cell constituents is subsumed under this name. Thus, the yolk nuclei of the spiders and some teleosts are highly organized objects possessing


Aim Some people believe that chocolate and other foods or beverages may cause constipation. This study was undertaken to quantify the effect of potentially constipating foods and beverages on apparently healthy and constipated populations of German individuals. Methods A questionnaire asking for the effect of certain foods and beverages on stool form (perceived consistency) was answered by 200 healthy controls, 122 patients with chronic constipation, and 766 patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Results Patients with constipation or IBS-C reported altered stool form after food and beverage consumption more often than controls (controls 42.5% vs constipation 52.0% vs IBS-C 57.0%, P< 0.001). Controls experienced hardening of stools less often and experienced softening more often than either constipation or IBS-C patients. When patients were asked which foods or beverages caused constipation (open ended question), chocolate was most frequently mentioned, followed by white bread and bananas. The results of systematic questioning yielded chocolate (48-64% of respondents), bananas (29-48%), and black tea (14-24%) as constipating, while prunes (41-52%), coffee (14-24%), wine (8-30%), beer (14-24%), and smoking (42-70% in those who smoked) were considered stool softeners. Conclusion Several foodstuffs may exert an effect on stool consistency. Chocolate, bananas and black tea are perceived to cause constipation, while prunes are perceived to soften stools in many people. Coffee, wine and beer were perceived to soften stools in a minority of people. Cigarettes are perceived to soften stools by about half of the smokers.


In competition law, it has been established since long that a parent company and a subsidiary under certain conditions may be regarded as a 'single economic unit' – an 'undertaking' – with the consequence that the parent company can be held liable if the subsidiary has incurred criminal liability for competition law infringements. Although this parental liability has been much criticized, with the Skanska decision, the liability of the parent company for the acts and omissions of the subsidiary ('vicarious liability') has been widened. The question of parental liability for competition law infringements is part of a wider question of the possible liability of companies for acts and omissions of other companies with which they are somehow linked. This article firstly describes the development of the concept of the undertaking in the area of competition law and examines the implications of the Skanska decision for groups of companies with regard to competition law infringements (section 2). Secondly, it asks whether a similar pattern of development can be found in other areas of the law and whether the solutions adopted in competition law can be transferred to these other areas (section 3) and thirdly, whether the concept of an undertaking could be applicable not only to companies linked by ownership but also to companies linked by contract (section 4).


<zdoi;10.1097/ALN.0000000000002409> Anesthesiology, V 129 • No 6 1163 December 2018 A PREVIOUSLY healthy 52-yr-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit for septic shock and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage caused by leptospirosis. He received high-dose norepinephrine (2.2 μg · kg−1 · min−1); the heart rate was 155 beats/ min, and the electrocardiogram revealed regular tachycardia with narrow QRS complexes (image A, white arrows). A P wave (image A, black arrows) was observed in the middle of each RR interval, and it was unclear if the rhythm was sinus tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, or atrial flutter. Transesophageal echocardiography, performed for evaluation of shock, included pulsedwave Doppler ultrasound directed to the left atrial appendage (image B, *). This demonstrated two atrial contractions (image C, yellow arrows) between each QRS complex (image C, white arrows), suggesting atrial tachycardia with a 2:1 atrioventricular block. Because there was no atrial thrombus, electrical cardioversion (150 J) was performed; the rhythm converted to sinus rhythm and the requirement for norepinephrine significantly decreased. The patient ultimately recovered and was discharged home. New-onset supraventricular arrhythmias are common (up to 42%) in patients with septic shock.1 When interpretation of the electrocardiogram is difficult, transesophageal echocardiography Doppler can distinguish among supraventricular arrhythmias.2 The presence of two left atrial appendage contractions between two QRS complexes suggests atrial tachycardia or flutter with a 2:1 atrioventricular block. Electrical cardioversion is a first-line therapy if hemodynamically unstable,3 but it can cause systemic embolization in the presence of a left atrial thrombus.


Bio-energy is now accepted as having the potential to provide the major part of the projected renewable energy provisions of the future. Though there are many conversion processes like pyrolysis, gasification, combustion and liquefaction, pyrolysis has gained special attention as it can convert it directly into liquid, solid and gaseous products by thermal decomposition in absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis is one of the three main thermal paths, along with gasification and combustion, for providing useful and valuable bio-fuel. Jatropha seed are high energy bearing seeds available in nature. Thermal pyrolysis of this was carried out in a semi batch reactor made up of stainless steel at temperature ranging from 350oC to 600oC to produce bio-fuelat an interval of 50oC. The effect of temperature on pyrolysis of the material is studied to know the optimum temperature for maximum liquid yield. The thermal degradation of the Jatropha seed was studied using thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) at a heating rate of 20oC/min in air atmosphere which indicated the range of temperature in which rate of decomposition is maximum. The oil and char obtained at optimum temperature was analyzed according to their elemental analysis, fuel properties, functional groups present, and compounds' presence. The result so obtained is compared with the commercial fuel. Fuel properties like specific gravity, cloud point, kinematic viscosity, flash point, fire point, pour point and were also determined. The chemical compositions of the bio-oils and char were investigated using FTIR, and GC-MS. Surface morphology was studied using SEM analysis.


Chemical intolerance is a surprisingly prevalent condition or affliction characterized by adverse reactions to low levels of chemical, often odorous stimulation. Sufferers often assume that their plight is due to an uncommon sensory acuteness, yet studies repeatedly fail to reveal altered detection thresholds. Here, we investigated whether self-reported chemical intolerance is associated with altered sensory sensitivity or response bias. The sensory acuity (sensitivity; A) and sensory decision rule (criterion; B) to n-butanol was assessed using the method of constant stimuli in 82 participants with different degrees of chemical intolerance (low to high). Higher self-reported chemical intolerance was associated with a lower criterion, but not with sensitivity.


A Norwegian monitoring system for harmful algal blooms, consisting of an Observer Network, the State Food Hygiene Control Agency, the Oceanographic Company of Norway, the Institute of Marine Research and the Directorate for Fisheries, is reviewed. Potentially harmful algae on the Norwegian coast are found primarily in four classes of phytoplankton, dinoflagellates, prymnesiophytes, diatoms and raphidophytes. The system consists of buoys designed for real-time, in situ monitoring and forecasting, and is used principally to provide an early warning to the aquaculture industry. The system allows detection of potentially toxic species, through a combination of physical, chemical, biological and bio-optical data. New datasets using bio-optical techniques on glass-fibre filters are also described, providing information on the composition and health of phytoplankton populations.


The state of the renal prostaglandins (PG) system was assessed in 54 patients with essential hypertension, stage IB-IIA, as compared to that of patients with symptomatic arterial hypertensions. A decrease in renal PGE2 production, noted in all hypertensive patients and determined on the basis of its diurnal excretion, was particularly pronounced in essential hypertension. Diurnal PGE2 excretion decreased as hypertension progressed in patients with essential hypertension, and renal PGF2 alpha production became prevalent. Renal function is dependent on the level of PG production by the kidney. As renal concentration capacity decreases and renographic findings become less satisfactory, PGE2 excretion decreases as well. Salt loads can bring out functional insufficiency of the renal PG system in essential hypertension, as reflected in a much smaller increase in PGE2 excretion, as compared to the control values, at early stages of salt loading and a considerable increase in PGF2 alpha excretion. In essential hypertension, inadequate renal prostaglandin response to salt loading is, to a certain degree, related to changed renal PGE-9-ketoreductase activity.


Female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision is the term given to traditional practices involving the intentional cutting or partial or total removal of the external female genitalia (WHO, 1999). This two part study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The first part of the study aimed to explore the views and experiences of FGM amongst women who had undergone the practice. It also explored their views about what clinical psychologists needed to know and do in order to provide appropriate services. In this part of the study six participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings indicated that participants felt that despite there being many reasons given for FGM none of them justified the continuation of the practice. Further findings suggested that participants felt that clinical psychologists needed to; understand how FGM is accounted for (e.g. reasons and contexts); acknowledge the different views towards the practice; have knowledge of the many consequences of the procedure (e.g. on physical health, psychological health and relationships) and talk about FGM in a sensitive and non-judgemental manner during consultations.
Part two of the study explored the experiences, knowledge and training needs related to FGM amongst qualified clinical psychologists. A survey was completed by 74 clinical psychologists working in a range of specialities. The findings indicated that there was minimal experience of working with FGM related difficulties amongst participants. Knowledge about FGM and the consequences of it were also limited. Furthermore, clinical psychologists had received little training about FGM and many did not feel confident in working with issues related to the practice. Implications for clinical practice and recommendations for further research are suggested including; training opportunities specifically regarding FGM and further research that explores the connections between the physical and psychological consequences of the practice.


Response time is one of the critical performance factors of artificial intelligence (AI) speakers. The internet network delays and the processing time on cloud server infrastructure dominate the response delays of AI speakers. The network delay is proportional to the size of packets that include the recorded queries. Normally this recorded sound data is not compressed since compression processes can be a heavy burden for the wimpy processors embedded in AI speakers. In this work we design an audio compression accelerator which can reduce the packet size of user queries. We implement the proposed accelerator on the FPGA-based SoC development board. Our evaluation reveals that the overall response time of an AI speaker is effectively reduced with the audio compression accelerator.


Determinants of circulating high density lipoproteins (HDL) were sought in 301 men studied during a year of participation in a coronary prevention program. Mean plasma HDL-cholesterol concentration rose by 2.8 mg/dl (6%) in the group receiving multifactor intervention, but the change did not differ significantly from that in the comparison group. Larger changes in both directions were seen in many individuals. Multiple regression analysis of these changes indicates that increased plasma HDL levels occur when plasma triglyceride level is decreased, cigarette smoking is reduced, and habitual alcohol intake is increased. Increases in the concentration of HDL-cholesterol also tended to accompany adherence to the fat-controlled diet, reduction in LDL-cholesterol level, and loss of body weight. Conventional coronary prevention programs are unlikely to have an adverse influence on this new, risk-lowering factor. ( JAMA 238:2269-2271, 1977)


Electronic health record (EHR) data must be mapped to standard information models for interoperability and to support research across organizations. New information models are being developed and validated for data important to nursing, but a significant problem remains for how to correctly map the information models to an organization's specific flowsheet data implementation. This paper describes an approach for automating the mapping process by using stacked machine learning models. A first model uses a topic model keyword filter to identify the most likely flowsheet rows that map to a concept. A second model is a support vector machine (SVM) that is trained to be a more accurate classifier for each concept. The stacked combination results in a classifier that is good at mapping flowsheets to information models with an overall f2 score of 0.74. This approach is generalizable to mapping other data types that have short text descriptions.


A porous Ti-48.0at.%Al (Ti-rich TiAl) crystal, in which lotus-type long cylindrical pores were aligned and (γ/α2) two-phase lamellar structure was simultaneously developed, was fabricated by floating zone method under the pressure of hydrogen and helium mixed gas. Plastic deformation behavior and microstructure of the Ti-rich TiAl crystal with lotus-type aligned pores were investigated by focusing on the elongated pore direction. The as-grown and annealed crystals show a well-developed lamellar structure and no texture accompanied by 52% porosity and a mean pore diameter of 380 μm. Yield stress strongly depends on the loading direction against the elongated pore. When loading directions are parallel and perpendicular to the pore direction, yield stresses obey K=1 and 2.5, respectively, in equation of σ=σ0(1-p)K, where σ is the yield stress with pores, σ0 is the yield stress without pores and p is porosity. This reflects macroscopically homogeneous and locally heterogeneous plastic deformation between pores, respectively.


Abstract Most herbivorous insects are diet specialists in spite of the apparent advantages of being a generalist. This conundrum might be explained by fitness trade‐offs on alternative host plants, yet the evidence of such trade‐offs has been elusive. Another hypothesis is that specialization is nonadaptive, evolving through neutral population‐genetic processes and within the bounds of historical constraints. Here, we report on a striking lack of evidence for the adaptiveness of specificity in tropical canopy communities of armored scale insects. We find evidence of pervasive diet specialization, and find that host use is phylogenetically conservative, but also find that more‐specialized species occur on fewer of their potential hosts than do less‐specialized species, and are no more abundant where they do occur. Of course local communities might not reflect regional diversity patterns. But based on our samples, comprising hundreds of species of hosts and armored scale insects at two widely separated sites, more‐specialized species do not appear to outperform more generalist species.


Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have emerged as a powerful paradigm for real-time monitoring of physical phenomena. Depending on WSN application, indexing of sensed data is an important issue that deals with in-network organizing of the data and subsequently answering queries, with minimum power consumption. Several approaches have been developed to build data indexing systems in sensor networks. However, most of these systems are suitable to specific types of spatial or temporal queries, and entail significant communication overhead, thus creating unbalanced loads and affecting network lifetime. In this paper we present a novel data indexing system that is based on multiple hierarchical channels of data and physical space abstraction, and is capable of answering spatio-temporal queries. The proposed system also allows approximate queries to be answered quickly and efficiently.


An important problem in a multi-user mobile communication scenario is to provide adequate suppression of interfering signals at each receiver. This can be effectively achieved in two steps by using a multi-sensor array at the transmitter and the receiver. First, the array at the transmitter is used to form a main beam along the desired receiver direction under the constraint that the total transmitted power along the undesired receiver directions is minimized. Because of the large number of receivers present in the scene, exact null placement will not be possible. However, each receiver also forms a beam under similar constraints, and the combined effect of these beams are shown to result in adequate interference suppression. The desired weight vectors in each case depend on a set of intermediate parameters that can be determined as the least square solution of an over determined system of equations.


This paper examines creating a value chain in export honey from the Kyrgyz Republic. The annual production is 12,000 tons, 500 tons are exported. The Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR model) at three stages of optimization of honey production has been adapted. The following research methods were used: desk study, survey of producers and consumers, interviews with relevant organizations, personal observations retailers. At the initial stage of optimization, recommended to maintain planning of the number of bee colonies. How to effectively use natural resources for bee colonies - finding useful flora (a flowering mass of plants to collect nectar) and finding areas with the best climate (temperature, humidity, sunshine, air movement) are the objectives of action plan for interim stage. The natural mountain landscape, the sun, air, water give honey special qualities, therefore, at the final stage of market promotion, honey must acquire potential status as a unique product. For honey producers there are two optimal options for export. The first is the packaging of honey in a container of 0.1–0.2 l., and positioning it as an expensive premium product. High marketing costs are offset by high added value in the supply chain. The second is the delivery of honey in large containers of 20–30 l., for further packaging, already in the territory of the buyer. An attractive choice for honey producers with guaranteed product sales and high profitability of sales. Research results increase honey production up to 30% and export volume up to 7%.


Snakebite is a common problem in rural areas of Asia. Russell's Viper toxicities are mainly bleeding disorder and nephrotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity is a rare manifestation of Russell's Viper's bite. A healthy man presenting with a Russell's viper bite developed cardiac arrest from ventricular tachycardia. He was successfully treated by cardiovertion and amiodarone. Subsequently, antivenom for Russell's Viper was administered for correction of a bleeding disorder


Transfection of the E6 and E7 genes of the high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) into primary genital keratinocytes generates colonies of proliferating cells which are resistant to calcium- and serum-induced terminal differentiation. To genetically map the HPV gene(s) responsible for this cellular phenotype, we cloned cDNAs for full-length E6, full-length E7, four truncated E6 splice variants (E6I to E6IV), and a series of E6 C-terminal truncation mutants into a simian virus 40 expression vector. The E6 proteins were tagged with the AU1 epitope at the C terminus to verify their expression in COS cells by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. Transfection of the full-length E6 protein, either wild type or epitope tagged, induced calcium- and serum-resistant keratinocyte colonies, but the truncated E6 variants and full-length E7 protein did not. E6-induced colonies, while altered in response to serum and calcium, could not be established into cell lines without the combined presence of the E7 protein, further exemplifying the independent roles of E6 and E7 in cell differentiation and cell proliferation. The E6 C-terminal deletion mutants defined two distinct functional domains between amino acids 120 and 151. Amino acids 120 to 151 contained an apparent bipartite nuclear localization signal, whereas amino acids 132 to 141 were required for the induction of resistance to calcium- and serum-induced differentiation and for immortalization of human keratinocytes in conjunction with E7.


Abstract Objectives: To assess the proportion of pre-school children meeting reference nutrient intakes (RNIs) and recommendations for daily intakes of iron, zinc, vitamins C and A, and energy from non-milk extrinsic sugars. To assess whether meeting these five dietary requirements was related to a series of socio-economic variables. Design: Secondary analysis of data on daily consumption of foods and drinks from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) of children aged 1.5–4.5 years based on 4-day weighed intakes. Subjects: One thousand six hundred and seventy-five British pre-school children aged 1.5–4.5 years in 1993. Results: Only 1% of children met all five RNIs/recommendations examined; 76% met only two or fewer. Very few children met the recommendations for intakes of zinc (aged over four years) and non-milk extrinsic sugars (all ages). The number of RNIs/recommendations met was related to measures of socio-economic class. Children from families in Scotland and the North of England, who had a manual head of household and whose mothers had fewest qualifications, met the least number of RNIs/recommendations. Conclusions: Very few pre-school children have diets that meet all the RNIs and recommendations for iron, zinc, vitamins C and A, and energy from non-milk extrinsic sugars. Dietary adequacy with respect to these five parameters is related to socio-economic factors. The findings emphasise the need for a range of public health policies that focus upon the social and economic determinants of food choice within families.


While there are examples of successful nanomedicine technologies, challenges remain in engineering systems with controlled and defined characteristics such as size and drug loading. Dendrimers are a class of synthetic macromolecules which offer routes to precise nanoscale objects. Here, highly efficient and orthogonal methods for dendrimer synthesis are combined with the covalent attachment of a tunable number of cucurbit[7]uril macrocycle carriers. This synthetic macrocycle affords uniquely high-affinity binding to certain guests, lending modularity to the prepared dendrimer in terms of its drug cargo. To verify this concept, the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin was conjugated to a high-affinity guest for CB[7]. When combined with CB[7]-modified dendrimers, quantitative drug loading was realized, with one drug bound per CB[7] on the dendrimer. The guest-modified drug was attached via a pH-labile linker to facilitate release at sites of disease or upon cell internalization. This approach offers a new combination of discrete and efficient synthetic methodology coupled with modular and high-affinity supramolecular motifs to engineer platforms with exceptional precision for use in drug delivery.


[1] Riparian groundwater can exhibit considerable patchiness in the concentration and reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which ultimately shapes subsurface biogeochemical transformations. Free and combined amino acids are bioavailable constituents of DOM, and their concentration and composition can provide valuable information about the diagenetic state of DOM. Based on riparian groundwater samples and relevant DOM end-member samples, we adapted the amino-acid-based marine DOM degradation index (DI) to groundwater. The groundwater DI was applied to evaluate the spatial and temporal variability in the bioavailability and diagenetic state of riparian DOM in a restored and a channelized section of the River Thur, Switzerland. Among different indicators for DOM diagenetic state (total hydrolysable amino acid concentrations, C-normalized yields, and the contribution of nonprotein amino acids), the groundwater DI correlated best with the activity of the enzyme leucine-aminopeptidase and bacterial secondary production in riparian groundwater. The "freshest" DOM was consistently found in the channel and during high-flow conditions in the groundwater of the restored riparian section and was spatially constrained to a zone inhabited by a dense willow population. The use of amino acid data and the newly developed DI for DOM in groundwater is a promising approach for characterizing the spatial and temporal dynamics of DOM reactivity and diagenesis within riparian groundwater.


Abstract Between 1966 and 1974, France conducted 41 atmospheric nuclear weapon tests in French Polynesia, exposing local populations to radioactive fallout. Under French law, individuals who were present at the time and later developed certain radiogenic cancers are eligible for compensation from the government—unless it is proven that they could not have received effective doses greater than 1 mSv in any given year. Using new information available from recently declassified documents, as well as atmospheric transport modeling of radioactive fallout, this article shows that upper-bound government estimates of effective doses received by the public have been underestimated by factors of 2 to 10. As a result, approximately 110,000 people, representing 90% of the French Polynesian population at the time, could have received doses greater than 1 mSv per year. Integrating updated dose estimates into the claim adjudication process would enlarge the pool of eligible claimants by a factor of 10.


Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are designed to identify the portion of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genome sequences associated with a complex trait. Strategies based on the gene list enrichment concept are currently applied for the functional analysis of GWAS, according to which a significant overrepresentation of candidate genes associated with a biological pathway is used as a proxy to infer overrepresentation of candidate SNPs in the pathway. Here we show that such inference is not always valid and introduce the program SNP2GO, which implements a new method to properly test for the overrepresentation of candidate SNPs in biological pathways.


The dynamics of food sufficiencies for the most vulnerable households are in the dryland farm households. This study aims to determine the food sufficiency situation at household level include the status and major factors. Using primary and secondary in Wonogiri compiled panel data were analyzed by linear regression models at both the region and household. The results show that, dryland farmer households in Wonogiri have good food suficiency characterized by a surplus of rice (level of consumption per capita/year below the national figure of 97.1 kg). Surplus and the entire income of farmers have not been able to cover the needs of households outside the staple food; described by FTT (Farmers Terms of Trade) value 0.88 or less than 1. Farmers face economic level prices are more expensive to meet their needs than the price of farming production, so have not been able to realize the welfare of farmers. The main factors affecting food sufficiencies Wonogiri regional level are: farmer's age, number of family members, the production of rice, rice consumption, total household income, and the farmer exchange. The main factor dryland farm household level in Wonogiri are: family size, consumption of rice, the total income of farm households, farmers and exchange rates. Maintain food sufficiency of dry land farm household in districts with policies promoting Wonogiri staple and secondary food crops, increased participation of the workforce is employed in agriculture crops and improve farmersterms of trade.


SUMMARY Neuroprotection following status epilepticus should encompass not only the prevention of neuronal death, but also preservation of neuronal and network function. This is critical because these aims are not necessarily equivalent; prevention of neuronal loss, for example, does not inevitably prevent epileptogenesis. There are endogenous neuroprotective mechanisms that can serve dichotomous roles (e.g. ERK1/2 activation can result in either neuroprotection or promote neuronal death). The roles of potential endogenous mechanisms can depend upon the pattern and timing of their activation. The simplest exogenous neuroprotective mechanism is to halt seizure activity. Other approaches consist of early NMDA receptor antagonism or later inhibition of apoptotic pathways. The problem with the latter approach is that calcium accumulation results in the activation of a number of downstream pathways, the importance of which varies from region to region and in a cell-type specific manner. Neuroprotection in epilepsy is not a straightforward concept, and we need to be clear about our eventual objectives (e.g. preventing cognitive decline). There are numerous possible approaches to neuroprotection, and the efficacy of these depends upon their timing, the specific aims and even the method of status


The aim was to study mismatch negativity features and habituation during the interictal phase of migraine. In migraine patients, a strong negative correlation has been found between the initial amplitude of long latency auditory-evoked potentials and their amplitude increase during subsequent averaging. We studied 12 outpatients with a diagnosis of migraine without aura recorded in a headache-free interval and 10 gender- and age-matched healthy volunteers not suffering from any recurrent headache. The experiment consisted of two sequential blocks of 2000 stimulations, during which 1800 (90%) recordings for standard tones and 200 (10%) for target tones were selected for averaging. The latency of the N1 component was significantly increased in migraine patients in respect of controls in both the first and second repetitions; the MMN latency was increased in the second repetition. In the control group the MMN amplitude decreased on average by 3.2 ± 1.4 μV in the second trial, whereas in migraine patients it showed a slight increase of 0.21 ± 0.11 μV in the second repetition. The MMN latency relieved in the second trial was significantly correlated with the duration of illness in the migraine patients (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.69; P < 0.05). The increases in N1 latency and MMN latency and amplitude, the latter correlated with duration of illness, seemed to be due to a reduced anticipatory effect of stimulus repetition in migraine patients. This suggests that such hypo-activity of automatic cortical processes, subtending the discrimination of acoustic stimuli, may be a basic abnormality in migraine, developing in the course of the disease.


Kınkor (Ferulago stellata) is Turkish medicinal plant species and used in folk medicine against some diseases. As far as we know, the data are not available on the biological activities and chemical composition of this medicinal plant. In this study, the phytochemical composition; some metabolic enzyme inhibition; and antidiabetic, anticholinergic, and antioxidant activities of this plant were assessed. In order to evaluate the antioxidant activity of evaporated ethanolic extract (EEFS) and lyophilized water extract (WEFS) of kınkor (Ferulago stellata), some putative antioxidant methods such as DPPH· scavenging activity, ABTS•+ scavenging activity, ferric ions (Fe3+) reduction method, cupric ions (Cu2+) reducing capacity, and ferrous ions (Fe2+)-binding activities were separately performed. Furthermore, ascorbic acid, BHT, and α-tocopherol were used as the standard compounds. Additionally, the main phenolic compounds that are responsible for antioxidant abilities of ethanol and water extracts of kınkor (Ferulago stellata) were determined by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Ethanol and water extracts of kınkor (Ferulago stellata) demonstrated effective antioxidant abilities when compared to standards. Moreover, ethanol extract of kınkor (Ferulago stellata) demonstrated IC50 values of 1.772 μg/mL against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), 33.56 ± 2.96 μg/mL against α-glycosidase, and 0.639 μg/mL against α-amylase enzyme respectively.


This paper presents the analytical modeling and optimal design of the flexure-based lever displacement (FBLD) amplifiers for a piezo-stage, which can be selected to drive at two different points on the stage. In order to overcome the effect of "displacement loss" of the FBLD amplifiers caused by the combination of the lever bending and the flexure stretching, the bearing modeling and analysis for the levers are conducted. Then, a series of optimal designs are carried out accordingly. Afterwards, mechanism modeling based on matrix method is implemented. Furthermore, the performance of the stage with the optimized amplification levers is evaluated by finite-element analysis (FEA). It indicates that the amplification ratio in two axes is about 4, thus the maximum workspace of the stage can reach up to around 341 μm × 341 μm without material failure, which makes the proposed dual-mode stage possess a good performance for the micro/nano manipulations with the requirements in different levels.


The use of a software application, designed to support medical specialists in the selection of the drug to be prescribed, is presented and evaluated. The "Medical Assistant" application evaluates the patient's data and through a decision tree, obtained from the administering of this data mining technique on the information of successful cases in the prescription of medicines, suggests the most appropriate medication according to the patient's data. In this initial version only the information of patients with Allergic Rhinitis was considered; Surveys were conducted to know the opinion of the specialists regarding the use of the application, which results revealed that specialists evaluated the use of the Medical Assistant in a range from regular to good.


The microRNA319 family (miR319) is one of the most conserved and ancient microRNA (miRNA) families in plants. Transgenic creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) overexpressing a rice miR319, Osa-miR319a, exhibited enhanced salt and drought tolerance. A comprehensive hypothetical model about the role of miR319 in creeping bentgrass response to salinity and drought stress was proposed. Salinity and drought stress induces elevated expression of miR319, resulting in downregulation of at least 4 putative target genes of miR319 (AsPCF5, AsPCF6, AsPCF8, and AsTCP14) as well as a homolog of the rice NAC domain gene AsNAC60, and therefore positively contributing to plant abiotic stress response. Hormones might also regulate miR319 and its targets, and the expression level of the miR319 targets might be a balance of miR319-mediated target cleavage and hormone regulation of the targets. Furthermore, HKT gene families involved in salt exclusion mechanisms as well as mechanisms controlling the timing of gene expression network are also hypothesized to play an important role in this pathway.


the international law Neff builds his narrative around three "ex-periments" in free trade that produced successively more liberal commercial law: the nineteenth century, interwar and the He also more detailed of three The narrative Neff connects a


The DNA Damage Response (DDR) pathway represents a signalling mechanism that is activated in eukaryotic cells following DNA damage and comprises of proteins involved in DNA damage detection, DNA repair, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. This pathway consists of an intricate network of signalling interactions driving the cellular ability to recognise DNA damage and recruit specialised proteins to take decisions between DNA repair or apoptosis. ATM and ATR are central components of the DDR pathway. The activities of these kinases are vital in DNA damage induced phosphorylational induction of DDR substrates. Here, firstly we have experimentally determined DDR signalling network surrounding the ATM/ATR pathway induced following double stranded DNA damage by monitoring and quantifying time dependent inductions of their phosphorylated forms and their key substrates. We next involved an automated inference of unsupervised predictive models of time series data to generate in silico (molecular) interaction maps. We characterized the complex signalling network through system analysis and gradual utilisation of small time series measurements of key substrates through a novel network inference algorithm. Furthermore, we demonstrate an application of an assumption-free reverse engineering of the intricate signalling network of the activated ATM/ATR pathway. We next studied the consequences of such drug induced inductions as well as of time dependent ATM kinase inhibition on cell survival through further biological experiments. Intermediate and temporal modelling outcomes revealed the distinct signaling profile associated with ATM kinase activity and inhibition and explained the underlying signalling mechanism for dual ATM functionality in cytotoxic and cytoprotective pathways.


This paper reports on the development of a novel technique to control standing surface waves and turbulence. The technique uses external refractory shapes in the continuous casting mold to modify fluid flow and control the surface waves. The method is both economical and flexible as compared to contemporary technologies to solve the problem. Two distinct methods are described based on the placement of the shapes in the mold. Type A shapes are placed nearer the free surface and predominantly work by modifying the upper recirculation region. Type B shapes are placed deeper in the mold and work by altering the overall fluid flow pattern. Water modeling was carried out on thick slab caster models to understand the behavior of the surface waves. An optimum design of flow control device and its positioning were developed based on the study. Mathematical modeling using commercial fluid flow codes was also used to supplement the experimental results of the process.


Limited studies have been conducted on Chinese women's willingness to donate milk following perinatal loss. In this study, we explore the relationship among childbirth trauma, willingness to donate milk, and resilience in women following perinatal loss, and the mediating effect of resilience between childbirth trauma and willingness to donate milk. A cross-sectional study was carried out throughout 4 months. We used convenience sampling methods and recruited 241 women following a perinatal loss from eight tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province, China. Participants completed four questionnaires during a face-to-face individual interview: the general information questionnaire, the Willingness to Donate Milk Scale (WMDS), the City Birth Trauma Scale, and the Brief Resilience Scale. SPSS 20.0 was used to analyze the collected data. In our study, childbirth trauma was negatively correlated with the total and each dimension score of WMDS (p < 0.001). Resilience was positively correlated with the total and each dimension score of WMDS (p < 0.001). Resilience partially mediated the relationship between childbirth-related symptoms and willingness to donate milk (β = -0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.50 to -0.26), which accounted for 69.03% of the total effect. Resilience partially mediated the relationship between general symptoms and willingness to donate milk (β = -0.31, 95% CI: -0.40 to -0.21), which accounted for 66.89% of the total effect. Resilience partially mediated the relationship between childbirth trauma and willingness to donate milk in women following perinatal loss. Our findings suggest that resilience can play a significant role in mediating the relationship between childbirth trauma and willingness to donate milk in women following perinatal loss. These results could help healthcare professionals design interventions for physical and mental recovery after perinatal loss.