Individuals of social and partially social species typically reduce their vigilance activity when foraging in groups. As a result, per capita risk of predation decreases and individuals allocate more time to foraging and other fitness rewarding activities. Reduction of per capita risk is hypothesized to occur because there are more individuals to detect potential predators. If so, collective (i.e. total) vigilance is expected to increase with foraging group size. Increased surveillance during group foraging may occur if group members scan independently of one another, or sequentially to avoid the overlapping of their vigilance bouts. Intriguingly, such coordinated vigilance assumes that individuals monitor not only the presence, but the vigilance behaviour of group mates. We used seasonal records on time budget and grouping patterns of individually marked degus (Octodon degus), a social rodent, to examine if (a) individual vigilance decreases and/or foraging increases with group size, (b) collective vigilance increases with group size and (c) foraging degus coordinate their vigilance. When foraging, degus decreased their individual vigilance and increased their foraging time when in larger groups. Despite this, degus in larger groups increased their collective vigilance, supporting the hypothesis that socially foraging degus decrease predation risk through an improved ability to detect and escape potential predators. Additionally, patterns of collective vigilance suggested that degus scan independently of each other and so, they do not coordinate their vigilance to prevent its temporal overlapping. This finding does not support that foraging degus monitor the vigilance activity of group mates.


6,7-Dihydroquinolin-8(5H)-one oxime (L3) was found to serve as a superior ligand for the CuI-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl iodides, bromides, and electron-deficient chlorides in water. Moreover, the CuI/L3 catalyst system enabled the coupling reactions to take place smoothly with high yields under a low catalyst loading (0.1–1 mol% CuI and 0.2–2 mol% L3).


Grapes are placed at a distinct position, both in the economy and at nutritional and phytochemical levels. The number of studies performed aimed at identifying the various bioactive compounds of grapes, how their cellular structures are linked, efficient methods of extraction and its effect on human health are rather relevant. The use of grapes for wine production is a worldwide activity, therefore a great quantity of residues are generated. These, in turn, are commonly used in soil fertilization and animal feed. Research in the food, pharmaceutical, medical and agricultural industries have revealed a great potential of using grape residue to recuperate phenolic compounds, flavonoids and especially the resveratrol. These have been found by these researches to offer benefits associated to its consumption, such as improvements in glucose tolerance in diabetic patients, decrease in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, diminishing the symptoms of menopause, protection against osteoporosis, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The present work aimed at gathering information about the characterization of the phytochemical content of grapes and its residues, as well as gathering data about the extraction process of such compounds and their application in the food industry.

 Key words: Vitis vinifera, phenolic components, antioxidant capacity, extraction methods, vinification.


In this paper, we analyze the five digital petitions on external voting for Uruguayans that we found on Change.org. From the perspective of the Critical Genres Analysis (BAZERMAN, 1994; BHATIA, 2004; BONINI, 2011), we aim to describe and interpret the digital petition genre as a tool for current cyber-citizenship (CROVI, 2013). Thus, we argue that digital petitions are similar to the constitutional mechanism of popular legislative initiative, although they do not hold the same performative power. We also observe that they are a hyper-generic discursive practice since, in addition to being related to other discursive genres, they are inscribed within a greater framework of discursiveness where the social representations wielded in other spheres circulate, influence and serve as an explanation and justification of other discursive positions in dispute.


Frost damage is a significant but unpredictable threat to spring wheat grown in Australia. Reducing frost risk by delaying planting reduces yield by up to 10% annually. Conventional approaches to breeding for increased resistance have yet to be successful. This project aims at using a genetic engineering approach to providing frost resistance via the introduction of novel genes to inhibit ice formation and/or ameliorate its effects on the wheat plant during flowering. Initial in vitro tests of transformed plants indicate a potential for improved frost tolerance which will be further evaluated by whole plant testing.


An analysis of serial serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels in 357 pregnant women revealed that the rise in hCG in normal intrauterine pregnancies differed from that in both ectopic gestations and abnormal intrauterine pregnancies. However, measurement of serial hCG levels cannot differentiate an ectopic from an abnormal intrauterine pregnancy. A protocol was developed for the management of patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy before ultrasound can reliably confirm an intrauterine gestation.


Cobalt Rare-Earth (CoR,R=Pr,Sm) thin films on a Cr underlayer have shown promise as future ultra high density magnetic recording media. The activation volume or the magnetic switching volume (V*) is an important consideration for thermal stability and media noise in high density recording media and V* can also provide information about the magnetization reversal behavior in these films. The magnetic switching volume was estimated for the CoPr films with thicknesses from 28 to 639 nm with a Cr underlayer of 80 nm annealed at 500/spl deg/C. The measured switching volume ranges from 1.3 to 1.7/spl times/10/sup -18/ cm/sup 3/. We have also studied the Cr underlayer thickness and temperature effects on the switching volume for the CoSm films.


AIMS
Previous studies have reported right bundle branch block in Brugada syndrome. Subsequent analysis of electrocardiograms (ECGs) found one-third of cases classified as right bundle branch block did not meet criteria of a wide final S wave in the left leads. We aimed to study the role of the vectorcardiogram to characterize Brugada type 1 ECG pattern.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Compare Frank-method vectorcardiogram in 11 patients with Brugada type 1 ECG pattern (BrS group) with vectorcardiogram of 20 healthy individuals with ECGs depicting incomplete right bundle branch block (IRBBB group) and 12 patients with complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB group). Initial 10-20 ms vector of the QRS loop in the horizontal plane (HP): BrS and IRBBB groups: Vector heading anterior and leftward. CRBBB group: Vector directed anterior and rightward. Right end conduction delay of the QRS loop: BrS group: Upper right quadrant of the frontal plane, right posterior quadrant of the HP. IRBBB group: Upper right quadrant of the frontal plane (30%) and right anterior quadrant of the HP (90%). CRBBB group: Upper right quadrant on the frontal plane (30%); all cases in the right anterior quadrant of the HP. 0 point (onset of QRS loop) and J point (end of QRS loop) relationship: BrS group: Not coincidental. IRBBB and CRBBB groups: Coincidental. T loop morphology, size, and appearance: BrS group: Circular, with symmetrical afferent and efferent limbs in 10 cases (90%). IRBBB and CRBBB groups: Elliptical or linear with slow inscription of efferent limb and rapid inscription of afferent limb.

CONCLUSIONS
Vectorcardiograms in patients with Brugada type 1 ECG pattern have distinctive characteristics compared with healthy individuals with incomplete and CRBBB. These differences relate to the spatial location of the end conduction delay (right superior and posterior quadrant in the BrS group) and the morphology, size, and velocity of inscription of afferent and efferent limbs of the T loop (circular, small, of symmetrical limbs) and with a 1:1 length/width ratio.


The purpose of preliminary research is to describe the level of pedagogical competencies of State Islamic Elementary School (MIN) teachers in Palembang City. This type of research is quantitative research with an explorative approach and data analysis through descriptive statistics. Based on the results of the study with a sample of 85 teachers at the MIN City of Palembang, it is found that nine pedagogical dimensions are still in the sufficient category, where the mean score is 281.03. The only dimensions of pedagogic competence in a good category are utilizing information and communication technology for the benefit of learning. Based on these results, it is necessary to increase the dimensions of teacher pedagogical competencies to be better because teachers who have good pedagogical competence are one of the factors in motivating and influencing student learning outcomes. Through this research, it is expected that it can be used as a reference for interested parties and also for further researchers in improving teacher competencies, especially pedagogical competencies.


The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has wrought hardship and disrupted lives across all strata of humanity, giving rise to a variety of social, psychological, and medical challenges to individuals in almost every country in the world. Yet for all the difficulties the pandemic has inflicted, it has forced us to examine previously accepted practices at home, work, and society more broadly and has led to innovative changes in the way we communicate and collaborate. These novel approaches to contemporary challenges were devised primarily to allow continued productivity despite the need for social distancing, but have offered secondary advantages that could provide society with lasting benefits. In the following review, we outline three aspects of working life and public health which could experience lasting improvement on the back of lessons learnt from the current crisis.


Chemically synthesized leu-enkephalin gene was fused to a large Eco RI-Bam HI fragment of pBR322 along with a Eco RI fragment of Ch4A phage DNA carrying the promoter and most of the E.coli beta-galactosidase gene. The resulting recombinant DNA was used to transform E. coli cells. Transformants were screened for Tc-sensitivity, Am-resistance, and beta-galactosidase constitutional synthesis. Restriction endonuclease analysis combined with DNA sequencing of the plasmid DNAs revealed a complete nucleotide leu-enkephalin sequence and Eco RI lac-operon fragment in two possible orientations. Radioimmunoassay for leu-enkephalin activity in BrCN-treated bacterial extracts showed that in vivo leu-enkephalin is synthesized only in strains carrying plasmids with the proper lac-fragment orientation. About 5.10(4) molecules of the former are synthesized per single E. coli cell. One of the clones was used for leu-enkephalin purification. Using 100 g of cells it is possible to obtain about 2 mg of practically pure leu-enkephalin.Images


Objective: The objective of this research is to modify the titanium cranioplasty (Ti-CP) technique to increase the surgical accuracy and preliminarily verify the effectiveness and safety of this improvement. Methods: We developed a novel technique of marking the coronal and squamosoparietal sutures in three-dimensional (3D) titanium mesh as anatomical positioning markers and designed a prospective trial in patients with a unilateral frontotemporoparietal skull defect. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by the presence or absence of the anatomical positioning markers, and the therapeutic effects of these two groups were compared. Results: Forty-four patients were included in this study, including 28 (64%) males and 16 (36%) females. The mean age was 44.8 ± 15.2 years (range, 13–75 years). Overall postoperative complication rate of the intervention group (18%) was significantly (P = 0.03) lower than the control group (50%). Surgical accuracy of the intervention group (97.8%) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the control group (94%). Visual analog scale for cosmesis (VASC) of the intervention group (8.4) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the control group (7). The overall postoperative complication rate was 34%. Multivariate analyses showed that surgical accuracy <95.8% (OR = 19.20, 95% CI = 3.17–116.45, P = 0.001) was significantly associated with overall postoperative complications. Independent predictor of overall postoperative complications was surgical accuracy (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.40–0.82, P = 0.002). Conclusions: This novel technique for repairing frontotemporoparietal skull defects increases surgical accuracy, improves cosmetic prognosis, and reduces postoperative complications. Therefore, it is a safe and effective improvement for Ti-CP.


Three-dimensional biomedical polycaprolactone scaffolds consisting of microsized spiral-like struts were fabricated using an additive manufacturing process. In this study, various processing parameters such as applied pressure, polymer viscosity, printing nozzle-to-stage distance, and nozzle moving speed were optimized to achieve a unique scaffold consisting of spiral-like struts. Various physical and biological analyses, including the morphological structure of spirals, mechanical properties, cell proliferation, and osteogenic activities, were performed to evaluate the effect of the spirals of the scaffold. Osteoblast-like cells (MG63) were used to identify the various in vitro cellular responses on the scaffolds. The spiral-like struts, having unique spiral angles, had a more significant effect on cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation compared to normal struts. The results suggest that the scaffold consisting of spiral struts can be a potential biomedical device for various applications in tissue engineering.


Monocrystalline 6H silicon carbide samples (n-type and p-type) with both carbon face and silicon face have been used to investigate gate oxide quality. The oxides were thermally grown in a dry oxygen ambient at 1523 K with or without the addition of TCA (Trichloroethane), or in wet pyrogenic steam at 1473 K. POCI3 doped polysilicon gates were used for electrical characterisation by capacitance-voltage measurements and breakdown field measurements. Large flatband voltage shifts indicate fixed oxide charges up to 10 13 cm -2 . The incorporation of aluminum in the oxides was monitored using SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry). Surprisingly high signals were interpreted as evidence of an aluminum-Oxygen compound having been formed (ie Al 2 O 3 ).


The ubiquitous nature of spinal ligamentous calcification in the paleontologic record provides additional support for the suggestion that DISH is a protective phenomenon rather than a musculoskeletal disease, and perhaps represents a normal variant. Clinical assessment of contemporary DISH suggests a protective mechanical effect, paradoxically associated with increased risk of hypertension and cerebrovascular accident. DISH should probably not be considered a satisfactory explanation for back pain, but the presence of spinal ligamentous calcification requires that the patient be assessed for hypertension and that aggressive therapy be instituted for any found.


ABSTRACTCoconut dregs is waste from coconut milk production. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of fermented coconut dregs feeding on the growth and efficiency of catfish feed and to know the exact percentage in feed formulation on catfish. This research was conducted from November to December 2017 at Aquaculture Laboratory of Aquaculture Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University. This study used a complete randomized design with 5 treatments and 2 replications. The treatment was used the difference of percentage of the fermented coconut dregs flour in the formulation of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. Data to be collected include growth, survival, feed efficiency, formulated analysis of each treatment consisting of water, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and crude fiber and water quality. The result of this research showed that the absolute growth of lengthy P4 is 0.54 cm, the absolute growth of weight P4 is 1.42 g, the best feed consumption in P0 with total feed consumption is 3.43 g.individu-1, feed efficiency P4 is 47.82% and survival rate P4 is 87.50%. Water quality during research were still optimum for catfish with temperature 26.0-29.0oC, pH 6.5-8.1, DO 4.57-8.86 mg.L-1 and ammonia 0.003-0.02 mg.L-1. Keywords: Catfish, Coconut dregs, Feed efficiency, Fermentation, Growth


An international collaboration has grown around the project of Microcalorimeter Arrays for a Rhenium Experiment (MARE) for a direct and calorimetric measurement of the electron antineutrino mass with sub‐electronvolt sensitivity.MARE is divided into two phases. The first phase (MARE‐1) consists of two independent experiments using the presently available detector technology to reach a sensitivity of mv⩽2eV/c2. The goal of the second phase (MARE‐2) is to achieve a sub‐electronvolt sensitivity on the neutrino mass.The Milan MARE‐1 experiment is based on arrays of silicon implanted microcalorimeters, produced by NASA/GSFC, with dielectric silver perrhenate absorbers, AgReO4. We present here the status of MARE‐1 in Milan which is starting data taking with 2 arrays (72 detectors). In this configuration a sensitivity of about 5 eV can be achieved in two years. We describe in details the experimental setup which is designed to host up to 8 arrays (288 detectors). With 8 arrays, two years of measurement would imp...


Indonesia is vulnerable to earthquake and tsunami disaster because it is located in the fracture zone between the continental and oceanic lithospheres, running from the west of Sumatera, though the south of Java, NTB, Sulawesi to Papua. In the theoretical framework of Indonesian tectonic lithosphere, this zone is known as Sula-spuur. The frequent earthquake and tsunamis in Indonesia justify the theory that the earth will always seeks for dynamic self-balance through oceanic basin as well as continental basement expansions. Based on the tectonic lithosphere analysis, the anatomy of earthquake and tsunami disaster in Java falls into two different paths. The first is northwestward path in Western Java following the Semangko fault trend, from Pangandaran/Cilacap through Kadipaten, Subang to Jakarta. The other is the northeastward path in Central Java and East Java running from Bantul through Prambanan, Klaten to Rembang. The two hats correspond to the seventeen-kilometre-deep-underground fracture involving basement rocks resulted from the area shifting evolution during the limestone age prior to the existence of limestone in Indonesia. Based on the evidences found in Bantul- Klaten earthquake, the question necessary to raise is whether similar earthquake may happen in Jakarta.


This paper presents VisBoS, a visual system for detecting the 3D location of descriptive body landmarks (shoulder, elbow, wrist) out of stereo images using neural networks. The user is standing in front of a projection wall and interacts with a virtual construction scenario. Using whole arm gestures, the user can select and manipulate objects in the scene. Since we need a nearly dark room for displaying on the wall, the camera system had to make use of nonvisible light. This is achieved by combining infrared illumination together with a suitable filter.


We study developments in quantum computing (QC) testing and fault tolerance (FT) techniques and discuss several attempts to formalize quantum logic fault models. We illustrate the inherent need for fault tolerance in QC due to the decoherence problem. Further, we examine several ideas regarding random testing and examine the viability of built-in-system-test (BIST) in future QC circuits.


Retinoblastoma (Rb) is a rare cancer that develops from the layer of cells in the retina. A germline mutation in the RB1 gene is a high risk factor for Rb. We performed prenatal genetic diagnosis on two pregnant women who had had a child with hereditary Rb and continued checking their newborns' conditions after giving birth. Ultrasound-guided amniocentesis, amniotic cell culture, and Sanger sequencing for the specific RB1 region were used. The analysis results demonstrated that one of the amniotic cell samples was found to carry a genetic mutation that causes the disease, inherited from the father. Neonatal screening confirmed that the corresponding newborn of the amniotic cell sample with the causative gene mutation developed binocular retinoblastoma. Prenatal genetic testing on pregnant women in families with a risk of having a child with retinoblastoma should be performed to prepare a clinical diagnosis and treatment plan for the neonate.


Architecture is always faced with the problems of the world (like global warming) and should always refer to the sustainable development. But on its way to search for identity towards sustainable development, conflicts are often occurs in it. This study aimed to explore how panopticism principles can assist in disciplining people for better sustainable development. Michel Foucault's disciplinary power is a mechanism to regulate the behavior of individuals in society. This discipline can be done by adjusting the organization of space (through architecture, urban planning, etc.), time, human activity and human behavior and requires a complex surveillance system. Foucault asserts that the discipline is not power, but discipline is an easy way to apply power and connects this with the discipline of history, the origin of society and space. Furthermore, panoticon expressed by Foucault is not a prison, but it is a model that summarizes the characteristics of the community based on the discipline of power. Foucault wrote principles of supervision and disciplinary powers with utilitarian logic of early capitalism called panopticism. Panopticism space is based on Foucault's ideas about space that emphasizes the power of discipline and the power of human influence. The method used in this study was the method of criticism and logical arguments. The discussion begin from the panopticism discussion in the history of architecture followed by discussion sustainable development, then a critique of society and sustainable development, and ultimately how this panopticism entered as a principle that can be applied in the sustainable development. The result for the society to be more discipline and concerned about sustainable development, it is necessary to have discipline panopticism in sustainable spatial development


The results of direct sequencing of PCR products or sequencing by cloning PCR products of the internal transcribed spacers and the 5.8S coding region of nuclear ribosomal DNA in Athrotaxis were compared and analyzed. The rDNA repeat units of A. selaginoides have been homogenized, so its ITS region sequences were determined by direct sequencing of PCR products, but the rDNA repeat units of A. laxifolia and A. cupressoides have not been homogenized, there are many polymorphic sites and insersion/deletions in the ITS1 regions, so their ITS1 sequences were determined by cloning PCR products and then sequencing. There are polymorphic sites but no insersion/deletions in ITS2 region of A. laxifolia and A. cupressoides , so the direct sequencing of PCR products can also be used to display variable nucletides at one site. The results in our studies show that the different ITS regions of Athrotaxis have been homogenized at different extent, so the methods of direct sequencing of PCR products or sequencing by cloning PCR products can be selected to determine their sequences.


In this paper, an online tracking system has been developed to control the arm and head of a Nao robot using Kinect sensor. The main goal of this work is to achieve that the robot is able to follow the motion of a human user in real time to track. This objective has been achieved using a RGB-D camera (Kinect v2) and a Nao robot, which is a humanoid robot with 5 degree of freedom (DOF) for each arm. The joint motions of the operator's head and arm in the real world captured by a Kinect camera can be transferred into the workspace mathematically via forward and inverse kinematics, realitically through data based UDP connection between the robot and Kinect sensor. The satisfactory performance of the proposed approaches have been achieved, which is shown in experimental results.


Basophils are recognized as immune modulators through their ability to produce IL-4, a key cytokine required for Th2 immunity. It has also recently been reported that basophils are transiently recruited into the draining LN after allergen immunization and that the recruited basophils promote the differentiation of naïve CD4 T cells into Th2 effector cells. Likewise, basophils were recruited into the draining mediastinal and mesenteric LN at 3 and 10 days after infection with intestinal nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, respectively. However, the recruitment was completely abolished in mice deficient in IL-3 or IL-3Rβ, suggesting that the IL-3/IL-3R system is absolutely required. Activated CD4 T cells appeared to be the primary source of IL-3. Experiments using bone marrow chimera strategy further revealed that the cell types expressing IL-3Rβ are of bone marrow origin. Unexpectedly, the lack of IL-3 or of basophil LN recruitment played little role in N. brasiliensis-induced Th2 immune responses as unaltered Th2 immune responses were observed in N. brasiliensis infected IL-3-/- mice. Consistent with these findings, basophil depletion in infected mice did not diminish the development of IL-4-producing CD4 T cells. Therefore, our results reveal a previously unknown role of IL-3 in recruiting basophils to the LN and demonstrate that basophils are not necessarily associated with the development of Th2 immunity during parasite infection.


Herein, we report a strategy for generating conformationally restricted α-helix mimetic small molecules by introducing covalent bridges that limit rotation about the central axis of α-helix mimetics. We demonstrate that the bridged α-helix mimetics have enhanced binding affinity and specificity to the target protein due to the restricted conformation as well as extra interaction of the bridge with the protein surface.


Purpose To determine the pointwise relationships of central visual field (VF) defects with macular ganglion cell loss and macular vessel density (VD) loss during various stages of glaucoma. Methods Eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) were subjected to optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) to evaluate macular ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness and macular VD in the superficial and deep vascular complexes (SVC and DVC). OCT, OCTA, and VF locations were matched after correcting for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) displacement. Pointwise correlations of GCL thickness and VDs of the SVC and DVC with central VF sensitivity (VFS) were evaluated by Pearson's correlation analysis and compared in eyes with early and advanced POAG by Meng's test. Results Of the 100 eyes, 52 and 48 were classified as early and advanced POAG. Macular VD showed overall better correlation with central VFS than GCL thickness in both the early and advanced groups. SVC density showed the strongest correlation with central VFS in all groups (R = 0.327 in early group, R = 0.325 in advanced group, all P < 0.001). Although DVC density showed better correlation with VFS (R = 0.311) than GCL thickness (R = 0.212) in the early group (P < 0.001), the correlation was comparable in the advanced group (R = 0.199 and 0.176, respectively, P = 0.254). Conclusions After adjustment for RGC displacement, macular SVC density was better correlated with central VFS than macular GCL thickness in both early and advanced POAG. Macular DVC density showed better correlation with VFS than GCL thickness in early but not in advanced POAG, indicating that DVC loss may be involved in early central VF loss.


The innate immune system is the first line of host defense against infection and is comprised of humoral and cellular mechanisms that recognize potential pathogens within minutes or hours of entry. The effector components of innate immunity include epithelial barriers, phagocytes, and natural killer cells, as well as cytokines and the complement system. Complement plays an important role in the immediate response against microorganisms, including Streptococcus sp. The lectin pathway is one of three pathways by which the complement system can be activated. This pathway is initiated by the binding of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), collectin 11 (CL-K1), and ficolins (Ficolin-1, Ficolin-2, and Ficolin-3) to microbial surface oligosaccharides and acetylated residues, respectively. Upon binding to target molecules, MBL, CL-K1, and ficolins form complexes with MBL-associated serine proteases 1 and 2 (MASP-1 and MASP-2), which cleave C4 and C2 forming the C3 convertase (C4b2a). Subsequent activation of complement cascade leads to opsonization, phagocytosis, and lysis of target microorganisms through the formation of the membrane-attack complex. In addition, activation of complement may induce several inflammatory effects, such as expression of adhesion molecules, chemotaxis and activation of leukocytes, release of reactive oxygen species, and secretion of cytokines and chemokines. In this chapter, we review the general aspects of the structure, function, and genetic polymorphism of lectin-pathway components and discuss most recent understanding on the role of the lectin pathway in the predisposition and clinical progression of Rheumatic Fever.


Purpose of reviewSublingual immunotherapy has been documented as clinically effective in controlled studies. Some concerns about the magnitude of disease severity reduction in relation to standard subcutaneous immunotherapy have been raised. The comparison with subcutaneous immunotherapy is important for giving recommendations on the use of sublingual immunotherapy in daily clinical practice. Recent findingsOnly three controlled comparative studies of sublingual and subcutaneous immunotherapy have been published. The methodology of the studies indicated that some study design deficiencies limited the interpretation of efficacy. Only one study used an optimal placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy and randomized design. The studies are assessed with respect to a sufficient number of patients to detect statistically possible differences, the inclusion of patients, clearly defined outcome measures, doses of extract administered, and duration of treatment. In all three studies the reduction in disease severity was of the order of 50% with no significant difference between the two treatments. SummaryThe clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy is based on three studies only, and a limited number of patients equal to the efficacy obtained by subcutaneous immunotherapy. Only limited information on long-term efficacy and preventative capacity are available. More data on these aspects are needed, but the restraint in using sublingual immunotherapy in the treatment strategy of allergic diseases does not seem to be evidence based. Future research should also focus on identifying which subsets of patients would most benefit from either of the two routes of immunotherapy administration.


Differences in the competitive performance characteristics of junior and professional tennis players are not well understood. The present study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of junior and professional matchplay. The study utilized multiple large-scale datasets covering match, point, and shot outcomes over multiple years of competition. Regression analysis was used to identify differences between junior and professional matchplay. Top professional men and women were found to play significantly more matches, sets, and games compared to junior players of an equivalent ranking. Professional players had a greater serve advantage, men winning 4 and women winning 2 additional percentage points on serve compared to juniors. Clutch ability in break point conversion was 6 to 8 percentage points greater for junior players. In general, shots were more powerful and more accurate at the professional level with the largest differences observed for male players on serve. Serving to the center of the court was more than two times more common for junior players on first serve. While male professionals performed 50% more total work in a Grand Slam match than juniors, junior girls performed 50% more work than professional women. Understanding how competitiveness, play demands, and the physical characteristics of shots differ between junior and professional tennis players can help set realistic expectations and developmentally appropriate training for transitioning players.


Gold nanoparticles have been discovered to exhibit remarkable catalytic properties in contrast to the chemical inertness of bulk gold. A prerequisite to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the catalytic effect of nanogold is a detailed understanding of the structural and electronic properties of gold clusters as a function of size. In this review, we describe joint experimental studies (mainly photoelectron spectroscopy) and theoretical calculations to probe the structural properties of anionic gold clusters. Electronic properties and structural evolutions of all known Au(n)(-) clusters as experimentally confirmed to date are summarized, covering the size ranges of n = 3-35 and 55-64. Recent experimental efforts in resolving the isomeric issues of small gold clusters using Ar-tagging, O(2)-titration and isoelectronic substitution are also discussed.


"This book speaks directly to one of the most disconcerting phenomena of our time: the elaborate and encompassing attempts to cover social realities with elaborate facades which make society seem more appealing, humane, and participatory than it really is... a book which moves, occasionally shocks, and surpasses in its own authenticity many others on any reader's shelf. " ——from the Foreword by AMITAI ETZIONI


The Permian Basin of west Texas is the largest and most prolific shale oil producing basin in the United States. Oil production from horizontal shale oil wells in the Permian Basin has grown from 5,000 BOPD in February, 2009 to 3.5 Million BOPD as of October, 2020, with 29,000 horizontal shale oil wells in production. The primary target for this horizontal shale oil development is the Wolfcamp shale. Oil production from these wells is characterized by high initial rates and steep declines. A few producers have begun testing EOR processes, specifically natural gas cyclic injection, or "Huff and Puff", with little information provided to date. Our objective is to introduce a novel EOR process that can greatly increase the production and recovery of oil from shale oil reservoirs, while reducing the cost per barrel of recovered oil.
 A superior shale oil EOR method is proposed that utilizes a triplex pump to inject a solvent liquid into the shale oil reservoir, and an efficient method to recover the injectant at the surface, for storage and reinjection. The process is designed and integrated during operation using compositional reservoir simulation in order to optimize oil recovery. Compositional simulation modeling of a Wolfcamp D horizontal producing oil well was conducted to obtain a history match on oil, gas, and water production. The matched model was then utilized to evaluate the shale oil EOR method under a variety of operating conditions. The modeling indicates that for this particular well, incremental oil production of 500% over primary EUR may be achieved in the first five years of EOR operation, and more than 700% over primary EUR after 10 years. The method, which is patented, has numerous advantages over cyclic gas injection, such as much greater oil recovery, much better economics/lower cost per barrel, lower risk of interwell communication, use of far less horsepower and fuel, shorter injection time, longer production time, smaller injection volumes, scalability, faster implementation, precludes the need for artificial lift, elimination of the need to buy and sell injectant during each cycle, ability to optimize each cycle by integration with compositional reservoir simulation modeling, and lower emissions.
 This superior shale oil EOR method has been modeled in the five major US shale oil plays, indicating large incremental oil recovery potential. The method is now being field tested to confirm reservoir simulation modeling projections. If implemented early in the life of a shale oil well, its application can slow the production decline rate, recover far more oil earlier and at lower cost, and extend the life of the well by several years, while precluding the need for artificial lift.


Sand and proppant production pose a safety risk due to erosion, fill of wells and facilities, often resulting in significant deferred production. A number of wells in the Danish offshore sector are currently closed in or beaned back due to proppant production from sand propped fractured wells where proppant is back produced to surface facilities which were not designed with sand handling capability. A new sand consolidation treatment involving enzymatic calcium carbonate scale has been applied to individual zones downhole to remediate failed proppant fractures. The technology is an environmentally friendly alternative to commonly used resins and has the added benefit of being completely reversible. A detailed coiled tubing program was successfully executed in a harsh offshore environment with numerous challenges including identification of sanding zones, chemical contamination, logistics, and selective downhole placement. Laboratory testing was undertaken where unconsolidated proppant was treated with the consolidation chemicals. These results provided important input for defining the placement strategy and indicated that results could be replicated in the field. Successful results have been achieved from this industry first application of enzymatic calcium carbonate scale to consolidate sand propped fractures in a chalk reservoir. The field application supports the laboratory results, where sand free production of over 700 BOPD has been restored in a well previously closed due to proppant production with limited impact on well productivity. A post-job monitoring program has been designed to further evaluate this technology. The development of enzymatic calcium carbonate scale consolidation has led to a method for chemical consolidation of proppant fractures that is more environmentally friendly than alternative methods, is reversible and has limited impact on well productivity.


OBJECTIVE
To observe and compare the effect of 0.005% latanoprost and 0.5% timolol solutions in the treatment of post-iridectomy residual angle-closure glaucoma.

METHODS
Laser peripheral iridectomy was performed and 68 cases (68 eyes) of post-iridectomy residual angle-closure glaucoma were selected and treated with 0.005% latanoprost once at night as the study group and 0.5% timolol twice a day as the control group Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before treatment, on day 3, week 1, week 2, week 4, month 2, month 3 and month 6 in the follow-up, and visual acuity, visual field and C/D ratio were monitored.

RESULTS
Of 68 patients, 56 (82.4%) complete the 6 month follow-up. The basic IOP for all subjects in two groups before treatment was not statistically different (t = 0.236, P = 0.814). After the treatment for three days, the efficiency in IOP reduction was statistically different between 2 groups with repeated measure ANOVA (F = 287.441, P < 0.001). In each group, the IOP after treatment was statistically different from that at baseline, with t = 14.103, P < 0.001 and t = 10.308, P < 0.001 in the latanoprost and timolol groups respectively. For those patients who finished 6 months' follow-up, the IOP difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant with repeated measure ANOVA (F = 74.259, P < 0.001). The IOP was statistically reduced in both the latanoprost and the timolol groups with F = 148.787, P < 0.001 and F = 54.875, P < 0.001 respectively. At each follow-up time, the IOP in latanoprost group was statistically different from that of the timolol group with t values to be -6.127, -5.930, -6.201, -5.931, -7.412, -6.640 and -6.756 (P < 0.001). The IOP was statistically different from that before treatment in each group with a mean difference to be -7.034 approximately -6.897 in the latanoprost group and -4.704 approximately -5.000 in the timolol group (P < 0.001). The IOP was not statistically different within each group in the follow-up with mean difference of 0.034 approximately 0.138 (P = 0.904 approximately 0.629) in the latanoprost group and a mean difference of 0.037 approximately 0.296 (P = 0.910 approximately 0.366) in the timolol group. The best-corrected visual acuity, visual field and C/D ratio were not significantly changed during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS
0.005% latanoprost and 0.5% timolol can be used in the drug therapy of post-iridectomy angle-closure glaucoma and the efficiency of 0.005% latanoprost is better than of 0.5% timolol. Drug therapy of post-iridectomy angle-closure glaucoma is a practical strategy.


Bite-wing x-ray films of 1084 Swiss recruits were examined. Approximately 96% of the recruits showed signs of early bone loss around one or more teeth. Only a very small number had recognizable bone changes in furcation areas. Per recruit, 7.3 carious lesions were found; the majority of these were entirely within enamel. Of 6287 restored approximal posterior surfaces, 71.4% were inadequate. A number of these filled surfaces showed secondary caries.


Investigation on the effect of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) on biomass accumulation and distribution in different parts of rice plant treated with 200 mumol.mol-1 CO2 elevation under field condition showed that the dry matter accumulated from transplanting to 20th day after heading and the total biomass increased significantly, while the dry mater accumulated from 20th day after heading to maturity was significantly depressed under FACE treatment. The enhancement of both leaf area index (LAI) and net assimilation rate (NAR) under FACE treatment resulted in the increase of dry matter accumulated from transplanting to heading, while the dominant reason for the increase of dry matter accumulated during 20 days after heading was the slowed decline of LAI. The decline of dry matter accumulated from 20th day to maturity was mainly caused by the decrease of NAR. The percentage of dry matter distributed in stem and sheath increased under FACE treatment, while that in leaf decreased, and that in panicle showed no significant change. The content (%) and amount of soluble sugar and starch in stem and sheath at heading was significantly elevated under FACE. The grain yield of rice under FACE treatment could be significantly improved by raising biomass.


Metal nanostructured materials have generated considerable interest owing to ultrafast response and large nonlinearity in plasmonics. This research is aimed to clarify the spectral dependence of χ(3), which is strongly influenced by the geometries and materials. Thin films and spherical nanoparticles of Au, Ag and TiN were fabricated. Particularly, Ag nanoparticles were fabricated with sizes ranging from 3 to 16 nm for size quantization. Triangular plates, nanorods and nanobipyramids of Au nanoparticles were synthesized for geometry influence. All the nanoparticles were embedded in PVA (Au, TiN) or SiO2 substrate for further characterization. χ(3) was evaluated by a combined analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry and pump probe spectroscopy.


In the utilization of urban public facilities, it is found that the number of people under 18 years who exercise accounts for 29.5% of the total number of people surveyed, 32.8% between 18 and 65 years, and 37.7% over 65 years. The elderly have become the main population of public facilities, and the aging of cities is becoming more and more obvious. Strengthening the construction and development of urban public facilities has become the main work of current urban construction, and planning public facilities can effectively alleviate the pressure of urban public facilities. Through image recognition to promote urban sports public service, we improve the management efficiency of urban sports public service, facilitate residents' sports, and improve residents' satisfaction and happiness index. Through image recognition to manage portraits and objects, the safety of residents' sports and sports facilities is guaranteed, and the management efficiency is improved. The experimental results show that R-CNN, FAST R-CNN, and Faster R-CNN in urban public facilities can be intelligently recognized by image recognition technology for comparison. Faster R-CNN has good accuracy and low average time. Finally, the study analyzes the service cost of public facilities, compared with traditional public services, with the application of public services under image recognition, so as to guide different groups of people to make full use of public service facilities to improve their quality of life and realize the good behavior of the national movement.


Abstract Canada's cattle/beef sector has already weathered a shock after a 2003 case of BSE resulted in closed borders and industry restructuring. Now, the sector has to adjust to similar shocks due to COVID‐19. This paper examines the supply chain from the consumer up to the cow–calf producer by considering consumer reactions, labor market constraints, and supply response. A quarterly market model of North American cattle and beef markets is used to examine price and revenue impacts associated with the market disruptions. Depending on the scenario, there is considerable price and revenue suppression at all levels of the market.


The purpose of this work is the study and the valorization of sand dune which is found in abundance in the region of Djelfa (Algeria); for use in pavement foundations. For this investigation a method of formulation has been proposed, which based on the stabilization of this local material using a mixture of two hydraulic binders. Various mixtures were subjected to classification tests, tests grain size distributions, tests of compaction with modified Proctor, shear strength, tests of bearing pressure (CBR unsoaked and soaked), compressive strength and tensile strength. The results obtained have shown that some mixtures are of high mechanical characteristics and could be then used in road foundations.


We present the first framework for comparing subspace clusterings. We propose several distance measures for subspace clusterings, including generalizations of well-known distance measures for ordinary clusterings. We describe a set of important properties for any measure for comparing subspace clusterings and give a systematic comparison of our proposed measures in terms of these properties. We validate the usefulness of our subspace clustering distance measures by comparing clusterings produced by the algorithms FastDOC, HARP, PROCLUS, ORCLUS, and SSPC. We show that our distance measures can be also used to compare partial clusterings, overlapping clusterings, hierarchical clusterings, and patterns in binary data matrices.


This paper reports the findings of a survey of 250 British managers, exploring their experience and perceptions of organization politics. Political behaviour appeared to be common. Most managers viewed political behaviour as ethical and necessary, and aspects of organizational effectiveness, change, resourcing and reputation were attributed to political tactics, although 80% had no training in this area. Tactics experienced frequently included networking, using 'key players' to support initiatives, making friends with power brokers, bending the rules, and self-promotion. Tactics experienced as rare, but not unknown, included misinformation, spreading rumours, and keeping 'dirt files' for blackmail. A consistent pattern of responses concerning willingness to engage in politics, the need to act ruthlessly and the appropriateness of reciprocity when faced with political behaviour implies an attitude of 'you stab my back, I'll stab yours'. Findings are discussed using an 'antecedents–behaviours–consequences' framework of perceived organization politics to guide research.


This paper describes the results of research projects developed at the University of L'Aquila by the research group of the authors in the field of biomedical engineering, which have seen an important use of additive manufacturing technologies in the prototyping step and, in some cases, also for the realization of preindustrialization prototypes. For these projects, commercial 3D printers and technologies such as fused deposition modelling (FDM) were used; the most commonly used polymers in these technologies are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). The research projects concern the development of innovative actuators, such as pneumatic muscles and soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs), the development of active orthoses, such as a lower limb orthosis and, finally, the development of a variable-stiffness grasper to be used in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The main aspects of these research projects are described in the paper, highlighting the technologies used such as the finite element analysis and additive manufacturing.


Endocytosis is key to fibrinogen (Fg) uptake, trafficking of integrins (αIIbβ3, αvβ3), and purinergic receptors (P2Y1, P2Y12), and thus normal platelet function. However, the molecular machinery required and possible trafficking routes are still ill-defined. To further identify elements of the platelet endocytic machinery, we examined the role of a vesicle-residing, soluble N-ethylmaleimide factor attachment protein receptor (v-SNARE) called cellubrevin/vesicle-associated membrane protein-3 (VAMP-3) in platelet function. Although not required for normal platelet exocytosis or hemostasis, VAMP-3-/- mice had less platelet-associated Fg, indicating a defect in Fg uptake/storage. Other granule markers were unaffected. Direct experiments, both in vitro and in vivo, showed that loss of VAMP-3 led to a robust defect in uptake/storage of Fg in platelets and cultured megakaryocytes. Uptake of the fluid-phase marker, dextran, was only modestly affected. Time-dependent uptake and endocytic trafficking of Fg and dextran were followed using 3-dimensional-structured illumination microscopy. Dextran uptake was rapid compared with Fg, but both cargoes progressed through Rab4+, Rab11+, and von Willebrand factor (VWF)+ compartments in wild-type platelets in a time-dependent manner. In VAMP-3-/- platelets, the 2 cargoes showed limited colocalization with Rab4, Rab11, or VWF. Loss of VAMP-3 also affected some acute platelet functions, causing enhanced spreading on Fg and fibronectin and faster clot retraction compared with wild-type. In addition, the rate of Janus kinase 2 phosphorylation, initiated through the thrombopoietin receptor (TPOR/Mpl) activation, was affected in VAMP-3-/- platelets. Collectively, our studies show that platelets are capable of a range of endocytosis steps, with VAMP-3 being pivotal in these processes.


When a large oil or gas field is produced, several reservoirs often share the same processing facility. This facility is typically capable of processing only a limited amount of oil, gas and water per unit of time. In the present paper only single phase production, e.g., oil production, is considered. In order to satisfy the processing limitations, the production needs to be choked. That is, for each reservoir the production is scaled down by suitable choke factors between zero and one, chosen so that the total production does not exceed the processing capacity. Huseby & Haavardsson (2008) introduced the concept of a production strategy, a vector valued function defined for all points of time t ≥ 0 representing the choke factors applied to the reservoirs at time t. As long as the total potential production rate is greater than the processing capacity, the choke factors should be chosen so that the processing capacity is fully utilized. When the production reaches a state where this is not possible, the production should be left unchoked. A production strategy satisfying these constraints is said to be admissible. Huseby & Haavardsson (2008) developed a general framework for optimizing production strategies with respect to various types of objective functions. In the present paper we present a parametric class of admissible production strategies. Using the framework of Huseby & Haavardsson (2008) it can be shown that under mild restrictions on the objective function an optimal strategy can be found within this class. The number of parameters needed to span the class is bounded by the number of reservoirs. Thus, an optimal strategy within this class can be found using a standard numerical optimization algorithm. This makes it possible to handle complex, high-dimensional cases. Furthermore, uncertainty may be included, enabling robustness and sensitivity analysis.


Enacted in 1897, New York state's prevailing wage law requires that contractors pay their workers no less than the "prevailing" wage and benefit levels within the local construction market. In addition to its ethical underpinnings, the law also has an economic justification: it protects New York construction workers from being undercut by low-wage, often out-of-state contractors that may covet a large government construction contract and whose presence would take away jobs and erode working conditions for local residents.


CN03-03 African-American smokers experience numerous health disparities associated with cigarette smoking including lower quit rates and lack of access to participation in clinical trials compared with Caucasians. In our first study, we piloted a community-based smoking cessation program (group counseling and nicotine patch) in n=50 African Americans residing in South side Chicago neighborhoods. The results showed that the program was acceptable and feasible and biochemically-confirmed quit rates were similar to those often observed in predominantly Caucasian smoker samples (i.e., 34% quit at one month, 18% at six month follow-up). Factors related to better outcomes included lower depressive symptoms, better adherence to nicotine patch, and greater usage of program self-monitoring techniques. The second study was a smoking cessation clinical trial conducted in a diverse sample of n=110 male and female smokers with an ethnic/racial breakdown of 65% Caucasian, 28% African American, and 7% Other. The study examined the efficacy of the opioid antagonist naltrexone in smoking cessation. Participants received weekly behavioral counseling and open-label nicotine patch, with double-blinded random assignment to naltrexone or placebo. Medication began three days prior to the quit date and continued for eight weeks. Quit rates were directionally higher in the naltrexone compared with placebo group at end of treatment (48% quit on naltrexone vs. 41% on placebo). Women responded more favorably to naltrexone than men, with a 20% increase in quit rates for women but a 5% decrease in men. In terms of race/ethnicity, although non-significant, Caucasian smokers tended to have better treatment outcomes with naltrexone than African Americans, however results should not be over interpreted due to the small sample size. Potential mechanisms underlying naltrexone response may include reduction in weight gain, withdrawal symptoms, and cigarette craving, and these factors will be compared in the racial/ethnic groups. In conclusion, results from both studies suggest that the health disparities experienced by African American smokers can be addressed by providing state-of-the-art community-based interventions and by increasing participation in clinical trials to determine if there are racial group by treatment strategy interactions in smoking cessation outcome. These preliminary studies underscore the need for additional research in smoking cessation for ethnic/racial minorities.


ABSTRACT Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a potent mitogen, motogen, and morphogen for epithelial cells expressing its tyrosine kinase receptor, the c-met proto-oncogene product, and is required for normal development in the mouse. Inappropriate stimulation of Met signal transduction induces aberrant morphogenesis and oncogenesis in mice and has been implicated in human cancer. NK1 is a naturally occurring HGF/SF splice variant composed of only the amino terminus and first kringle domain. While the biological activities of NK1 have been controversial, in vitro data suggest that it may have therapeutic value as an HGF/SF antagonist. Here, we directly test this hypothesis in vivo by expressing mouse NK1 in transgenic mice and comparing the consequent effects with those observed for mice carrying an HGF/SF transgene. Despite robust expression, NK1 did not behave as an HGF/SF antagonist in vivo. Instead, NK1-transgenic mice displayed most of the phenotypic characteristics associated with HGF/SF-transgenic mice, including enlarged livers, ectopic skeletal-muscle formation, progressive renal disease, aberrant pigment cell localization, precocious mammary lobuloalveolar development, and the appearance of mammary, hepatocellular, and melanocytic tumors. And like HGF/SF-transgenic livers, NK1 livers had higher levels of tyrosine-phosphorylated complexes associated with Met, suggesting that the mechanistic basis for the effects of NK1 overexpression in vivo was autocrine activation of Met. We conclude that NK1 acts in vivo as a partial agonist. As such, the efficacy of NK1 as a therapeutic HGF/SF antagonist must be seriously questioned.


Abstract Pincer type ligand 2,6-pyridinedimethanol was used as a useful tool in the preparation of the Co(II) pseudoctahedral complex together with 3,5-dinitrobenzoate counteranion. New complex of the composition [Co(pydm)2](3,5-dnbz)2(pydm = 2,6-pyridinedimethanol, and 3,5-dnbz = 3,5-dinitrobenzoate anion) has been prepared and characterized. Its XRD structure revealed pseudooctahedral {CoN2O4} chromophore around the cobalt atom with Co-N distances significantly shorter (Co-Nav = 2.038 Ǻ) in comparison to the Co-O ones (Co-Oav = 2.142 Ǻ), which was probably the reason of its relatively high zero-field splitting parameter (D/hc = 43.6 cm-1). Positive value of the D parameter causes slow relaxation process typical for Co(II) SMM behavior. The 3,5-dinitrobenzoate counteranions are strongly bonded to the [Co(pydm)2] cation via rather strong hydrogen bonds (O∙∙∙Oav = 2.568 Ǻ) forming "quasi molecular" units. Solid state structure allowed different π-π stacking interactions of neighboring "molecular" unit aromatic rings probally leading to observation of the additional relaxation mode.


Segmentation of handwritten text is the pre-process of recognition of handwritten text. Because of skewed lines, touching characters and different writing styles, segmentation of handwritten text is difficult than printed text. Correct segmentation is necessary to recognize the characters properly. That's why a good segmentation is needed. Segmentation of Bangla handwritten text is a great challenge because of its complex characteristics. Till now there are very few works on Bangla handwritten text segmentation and still there are some problems that can't be solved. After analyzing some methods and techniques that have already been done, here we propose a recursive algorithm for line, word and character segmentation. The algorithm works well if there is no overlapping situation between lines and characters as well.


The economic crisis of the 1980s has revived interest in the economic long wave or Kondratiev cycle. Since 1975 the System Dynamics National Model has been the vehicle for the development of a dynamic, endogenous, integrated theory of the economic long wave. This paper describes the integrated theory that has now emerged from extensive analysis of the full National Model and from simple models. Simulations of the model are presented to show the wide range of empirical evidence accounted for by the model, including many of the symptoms of the present economic crisis. In particular, the theory suggests the long wave arises from the interaction of two fundamental facets of modern industrial economies. First, the existence of physical lags in the economy, information limitations, and bounded rationality in economic decisionmaking creates the potential for oscillatory behavior. For example, the physical lags in capital acquisition coupled with locally rational decision rules governing production and investment create the potential for highly damped fluctuations in capital investment with a period of roughly twenty years. In isolation, these oscillatory structures are stable and do not produce a long wave. However, a wide range of self-reinforcing processes exist which amplify the inherent oscillatory tendencies of the economy, leading to the long wave. A large number of these self-reinforcing processes have been identified. These processes involve many sectors of the economy including capital investment, labor markets and workforce participation, real interest rates, inflation, debt, savings and consumption, and international trade. The paper discusses the relative strengths of these mechanisms and the amplification of the long wave through their interactions. The linkages of the long wave theory to innovation, technological progress, social innovation, and political value change are discussed.


Summary Background: The aim was to evaluate the association of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP or Gc-globin) gene polymorphism with oxidant-antioxidant profiles in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and their role as biomarker risk factors in susceptibility and severity of COPD. Methods: Eighty patients diagnosed with COPD (mild, moderate and severe according to lung function tests; FEV 1%) and 80 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxide (LP), plasma reduced glutathione (RGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activity, 25-OHD and VDBP polymorphism were analyzed in all subjects. Results: COPD patients had significantly decreased serum NO, plasma SOD, RGSH, GSH-Px, CAT and 25-OHD versus controls, but had significantly increased serum LP. In COPD patients, 25-OHD levels were significantly lower (41.49± 13.65 ng/mL) versus controls, but more lower in severe COPD patients (30.54±9.09 ng/mL; sensitivity 79.2%; spe - cificity 73.2%, p<0.001) versus mild and moderate COPD. VDBP genotypes frequencies were Gc1S-1S=23.8%, Gc1F-1S=28.8%, Gc1F-1F=15%, Gc1S-2=20%, Gc1F-2=11.3% and Gc2-2=1.3%. Also, VDBP variants frequencies were Gc1S=48.1%, Gc1F=35% and Gc2=16.6%. How ever, Gc1F-1S genotypes and Gc1F variants were significantly higher than in controls (10%, 12.5%; p=0.009, p=0.001, respectively). Moreover, in severe COPD patients, Gc1F-1S genotype was significantly higher than in mild COPD (41.7% vs 31.3%, p=0.04). Conclusion: COPD patients had significantly lower plasma 25-OHD and were associated with significantly higher VDBP Gc1F-1S genotypes and Gc1F variants frequencies than controls. Low vitamin D levels and VDBP polymorphism may be important as diagnostic risk factors in the susceptibility to and severity of COPD.


The stability of plasma-polymerized allylamine films with autoclaving sterilization cycles was investigated. Polymerized films were deposited under pulsed plasma conditions using two different duty cycles to provide surfaces having different initial amino group concentrations. The film properties were analyzed by XPS and water contact angle measurements before and after autoclaving. The reactions of these surfaces with trifluoroacetic anhydride provided quantitation of the amino surface concentrations before and after autoclaving. In general, the plasma-polymerized films exhibit good stability vis à vis the autoclaving process, with relatively high retention of the surface amino groups. The results of this work are of specific value with respect to tissue culture studies in which surface modifications involving the introduction of amino groups have been shown to have high efficacy in promoting cell growth. The results obtained suggest that the simple one-step plasma treatment process is a viable alternative to the more cumbersome surface modification procedures currently employed to introduce amino groups in these tissue culture studies.


As a component of university international education programming, international volunteerism and global community engagement by university students and faculty are on the rise. While the benefits to student learning related to this kind of programming have been well researched, community impact is rarely assessed. This article considers the community impact of these practices. The evaluation process piloted here grew from a civil society articulation of Fair Trade Learning (FTL), which aspires to ensure community concerns are at the center of community-engaged international education efforts. We begin by clarifying the development of this FTL ideal while documenting the need for it within the international education and international volunteerism sectors. We then situate FTL within the relevant service-learning, international volunteerism, tourism, and international development literature before demonstrating how research on domestic university-community partnerships (Stoecker & Tryon, 2009) led us to develop a mixed methods evaluation of those partnerships in four different locations around the world. We close by discussing the results and sharing implications for FTL, volunteerism, and global university-community engagement.


Tungsten carbide-based coatings have been used in a wide variety of industrial applications such as high speed cutting tools, extrusion dies, drills, aerospace industries, and more. A few reports on ternary and quaternary coatings of WC with other elements indicate good prospects for these material systems. The present study focuses on the formation of quaternary WCeCreN and WCeAleN coatings during the simultaneous reactive RF-magnetron sputtering of tungsten carbide and Al or Cr targets in an argon/ nitrogen gas mixture. The resulting coatings, with thicknesses of 3.5 mme8.2 mm, were characterized by using several analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction, SEM/EDS, AFM, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. WCeCreN and WCeAleN coatings with high levels of tungsten (i.e. more than 50 at.% of the total metal content) demonstrated dense microstructure. Coatings with lower tungsten content formed columnar grain microstructure, with different surface morphologies depending on the process parameters. It was proposed that crystalline tungsten carbide (with partial N-substitution of C atoms) and chromium (or aluminum) nitride phases coexist in the coatings when the amount of tungsten was greater than 50 at.% of the total metal content; while at lower tungsten content, the dominating crystalline phase is either W-doped CrN1 y or AlN1 y solid solution, with WC1 x and small amounts of free sp2-bonded carbon present as X-ray amorphous phases.


According to clinical and pre-clinical studies, oxidative stress and its consequences may be the cause or, at least, a contributing factor, to a large number of neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases include common and debilitating disorders, characterized by progressive and irreversible loss of neurons in specific regions of the brain. The most common neurodegenerative diseases are Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been extensively studied since its discovery in 1957. It is a component of the electron transportation chain and participates in aerobic cellular respiration, generating energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The property of CoQ10 to act as an antioxidant or a pro-oxidant, suggests that it also plays an important role in the modulation of redox cellular status under physiological and pathological conditions, also performing a role in the ageing process. In several animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, CoQ10 has shown beneficial effects in reducing disease progression. However, further studies are needed to assess the outcome and effectiveness of CoQ10 before exposing patients to unnecessary health risks at significant costs.


Modified citrus pectin (MCP) is a pH modified form of the dietary soluble citrus peel fiber known as pectin. The current study aims at testing its effect on liver fibrosis progression. Rats were injected with CCl4 (1 mL/kg, 40% v/v, i.p., twice a week for 8 weeks). Concurrently, MCP (400 or 1200 mg/kg) was administered daily in drinking water from the first week in groups I and II (prophylactic model) and in the beginning of week 5 in groups III and IV (therapeutic model). Liver function biomarkers (ATL, AST, and ALP), fibrosis markers (laminin and hyaluronic acid), and antioxidant biomarkers (reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were measured. Stained liver sections were scored for fibrosis and necroinflammation. Additionally, expression of galectin-3 (Gal-3), α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, collagen (Col)1A1, caspase (Cas)-3, and apoptosis related factor (FAS) were assigned. Modified pectin late administration significantly (p < 0.05) decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), TIMP-1, Col1A1, α-SMA, and Gal-3 levels and increased levels of FAS, Cas-3, GSH, and SOD. It also decreased percentage of fibrosis and necroinflammation significantly (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that MCP can attenuate liver fibrosis through an antioxidant effect, inhibition of Gal-3 mediated hepatic stellate cells activation, and induction of apoptosis.


The success of mandating memoranda of understanding (MOU) in promoting collaboration between Medicaid managed care (MCMC) plans and local health departments (LHDs) was examined in this research project. The mandate resulted in MOUs that contributed to increases in collaborative activities, increased perceived quality of health care, and successful management of reimbursement to LHDs. Factors associated with success included a local initiative type of health plan, longer length of time that the MOUs were in place, and higher interorganizational collaborativeness. Concerns related to the MOU approval process and lack of contribution of the MOUs to quality of public health services were identified. MOUs promote collaborative relationships between MCMC plans and LHDs on health care issues important to both sectors.


Abstract Sixty research reports dealing with the estimation of lactation yields from samples taken at various intervals were reviewed. In general, these reports showed that the average error in lactation yields is primarily a function of the length of the interval between tests. The variation in errors in milk yield (s ≅ 2.7%) from monthly sampling for a 24-hr period appeared lower than those for fat per cent (s ≅ 3.5%) or milk fat yield (s ≅ 5.0%) from the same testing scheme. Actual distributions of errors showed that at least 90% of milk yields estimated from a single day's yield once a month are within ±5% of true production. Errors in milk yields computed from bimonthly samples are about 30% greater than those based on monthly tests. Yet, evidence clearly shows that accurate cow ranking and progeny testing can be based on samples taken as much as two months apart. Research on other proposed sampling plans was also reviewed and discussed.


Invasive species are often regarded as a threat to native flora. Many of them curtail the normal physiological functioning abilities of the native plants by growing over them, or by producing certain metabolites which control their growth potentials and seed germination abilities. The present study aims to find out the different bioactive compounds like alkaloids and terpenoids responsible for the vast spread of Eupatorium odoratum, Vernonia cinerea, Mikania micrantha, Tridax procumbens, Pilea microphylla and Cuscuta reflexa which are some of the major invasive plants of Kerala. Apart from these negative roles attributed to invasive plants, whether they possessed any beneficial roles was the prime concern of this study. Our study brings to light the allelopathic effects of invasive plants upon legume seeds. Different phytochemicals which are known to produce such effect were present in all these plants. Greatest allelopathic effects were exhibited by C. reflexa and E. odoratum. Against Escherichia coli bacteria, E. odoratum and M. micrantha showed highest zone of inhibition (20 mm, 15 mm) while against Proteus vulgaris bacteria, C. reflexa, M. micrantha and T. procumbens produced inhibition zones of 21 mm, 15 mm and 12 mm. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, C. reflexa, M. micrantha and E. odoratum produced inhibition zones of 16 mm, 13 mm and 12 mm. Alcoholic extract of V. cinerea showed comparatively high inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (10 mm). V. cinerea showed inhibitiory effects against E. coli, S. aureus and P. vulgaris (11 mm, 10 mm and 9 mm). Similarly, P. microphylla showed inhibition only against P. vulgaris and P. aeruginosa (10 mm and 8 mm).


Prickly acacia (Vachellia nilotica ssp. indica), a multipurpose tree native to the Indian subcontinent, is a Weed of National Significance and is widespread throughout the grazing areas of northern Australia. Biological control of V. nilotica ssp. indica has been in progress since the early 1980s, but with limited success to date. Based on genetic and climate matching studies, native surveys for potential biological control agents were conducted in India during 2008-2011. A total of 72 sites were surveyed in southern India and 60 sites in north-western India. Surveys yielded 33 species of phytophagous insects and two rust fungi. Based on host records, 20 insect species that are crop pests or polyphagous, and all plant pathogens other than the two rust fungi, were excluded from the list of potential biological control agents. Using field host range, geographic range, seasonal incidence, damage potential, and preliminary host-specificity test results in India, as filters, the following agents were prioritised for detailed host specificity tests: a scale insect (Anomalococcus indicus), two leaf-webbers (Phycita sp. A and Phycita sp. B), a leaf weevil (Dereodus denticollis), a leaf beetle (Pachnephorus sp.), one gall-inducing rust (Ravenelia acacia-arabicae) and a leaf rust (Ravenelia evansii). The two rusts were sent to CABI-UK for preliminary host-specificity testing. Import permits for the brown leaf-webber (Phycita sp. A), the green leaf-webber (Phycita sp. B), the scale insect (A. indicus), the leaf-weevil (D. denticollis) and the leaf-beetle (Pachnephorus sp.) have been obtained from relevant regulatory authorities in Australia. So far, 11 importations, containing several thousands of insects in total have been exported from India into a quarantine facility in Brisbane, Australia. Based on these importations, host specificity tests for the brown leaf-webber (Phycita sp. A) have been completed, and the tests for the scale insect (A. indicus) and the green leaf-webber (Phycita sp., B) are in progress. Additional importations of the leaf-weevil (D. denticollis) and the leaf-beetle (Pachnephorus sp.) are planned for later in the year, when conditions are more conducive for field collections.


Educational inequality is a persistent feature on the landscape of Irish educational history, and it remains a significant issue in the early part of the 21st century. There have been significant efforts at school reform in recent decades to intervene in a system that continues to provide significantly different outcomes based on socioeconomic position and background. These differentiated outcomes continue to be exacerbated by structural inequalities in the lives of people as well as by an increasing focus on neoliberal market principles in education. Interschool competition, particularly at the postprimary level, has fueled an ever-increasing marketplace where schools vie for desirable middle-class students through media-published school league tables. Indeed, this competitive landscape is partly constructed by an intense and high stakes race for third level places in Ireland.
 Nevertheless, significant policy measures have also been aimed at leveling the playing field and providing opportunities for people in communities that are more marginalized in terms of economic status and educational outcomes. Some of these policy interventions have had some impact in terms of retention in postprimary school, including the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools program; curricular interventions into education such as the Junior Certificate Schools Programme; the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme; and the allocation of additional teaching resources to schools experiencing marginalization. Schemes such as the Higher Education Access Route and the Disability Access Route to Education have also done important work in terms of ameliorating opportunities for students from marginalized economic groups and students with disabilities, respectively. However, there are overarching sociopolitical ideologies that work to maintain educational inequality in Ireland, such as the significant impact of neoliberal choice policies on schools in communities experiencing poverty and educational marginalization. These neoliberal ideas are characterized by increasing focus on outcomes, testing and assessment, school and teacher accountabilities, within-school and between-school competition in terms of admissions policies, and "syphoningoff" high-achieving students (academically, musically, sports, etc.), and they often manifest in blunt instruments such as school league tables. These policies often benefit citizens with wealth and cultural capital who use their position to distance themselves educationally from the complexity and diversity of everyday society in favor of academic and cultural silos that work to reproduce advantage for the elite sectors of society.


Authoritative and up to date, this third edition of the Pocket Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary covers over 90,000 words and phrases, and 120,000 translations of contemporary French and English. The grammar supplement provides full information on all the key points of French and English grammar, including verb tables for quick reference, and a correspondence section gives example letters, emails, CVs, and new help with text messaging. Language is now studied in the context of its culture, so the existing culture section has been revised and expanded to offer lively and useful information on life in the French-speaking world - everything from political institutions to how weddings are celebrated. The Pocket Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary is the perfect reference for student and adult learners needing an affordable, portable dictionary.


Processes of the Liquid Composite Molding (LCM) are widely used in composites produced by impregnation of a dry preform with liquid resin. The resin flow through the preform is usually described by Darcy's law and the permeability tensor must be obtained for filling process analysis and characterizing the ability of a porous material to be impregnated by a resin fluid. In generally, resin flow in the thickness direction can be neglected for thin parts, but the resin flow in the transverse direction is important for thicker parts. In this study, the transverse permeability measurement device using ultrasound method was developed, the transverse flowfront could be calculated, and global effective permeability and transverse were studied.


3 Abstract: Food waste draws globally attention as one-third of food produced is wasted yearly. The economic value from limited natural resources such as water, nutrients, land and energy are lost inevitably. Disposal of unconsumed food contributes 22% to the global warming. The waste foods which can be turned into animal feed are often mixed by other non-food waste, making them hard to be reused. In this country, daily food waste reached 7650 tons since 2002 and is forecasted to twofold in 2020, highly due to the lack of food waste recovery system. Throughout this study, we made a novel attempt to assess on recovering foods from the solid waste, composed of the food and non-food materials prepared in multi-sizing. An electrostatic separator was designed and employed. Recovery efficiency of food reaches 75.9% and 79.8%, from the mixture of glass and plastic, respectively. When being used for the multiple mixture separation, separator recovers 79.3% of food waste, showing its feasibility in recycling the food waste environmentally friendly. The study also highlights critical aspects that worth to be considered for reliability and efficiency improvement of the separation process, especially for mixture recovery in real environment.


Almost all hitherto proposed empirical models used for characterization of shear viscosity of non-Newtonian liquids describe only its monotonous course. However, the onset of new materials is accompanied by more complicated characteristics of their behaviour including nonmonotonous course of shear viscosity. This feature is reflected not only in an existence of one extreme point (maximum or minimum), but also it can appear in both extreme points; that is, this shear viscosity initially exhibits shear thinning; after attaining a local minimum, it converts to shear thickening, and again after reaching a local maximum, it has a shear-thinning character. It is clear that, for an empirical description of this complex behaviour, a hitherto, used number of parameters (four, five) in classical monotonous models (such as Cross or Carreau-Yasuda) are no longer tenable. If more parameters are applied, there should be given an emphasis on a relatively simple algebraic form of the proposed models, unambiguity of the involved parameters, and their sound interpretation in the whole modelling. This contribution provides an overview of the existing empirical nonmonotonous models and proposes a new 10-parameter model including a demonstration of its flexibility using various experimental data.


Gates and valves for navigation locks are classified according to function as culvert valves, lock gates, or emergency closure gates. Model studies for McNary, Ice Harbor, Walter F. George, New Poe, and Hold locks have helped develop details of tainter valve design that show promise of satisfactory performance. Operational experience at several new locks reveals weaknesses of seal and trunnion anchorage design, and emphasizes the need for valve synchronization at moderate to high head locks. Miter lock gates have given good service over the years, but several new high lift locks are using vertical lift gates. The need for emergency closure gates must be determined for each lock individually and is best satisfied by vertical lift or submerged tainter gates.


Objective: To compare the "HEART (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors, Troponin), GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events), and TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction)" scores in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients reporting with undifferentiated cardiac chest pain to the Emergency Department (ED).
Study Design: Cross-sectional validation study
Duration and place of Study: Emergency Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2021.
Methodology: Two hundred and thirty-seven adult patients with atraumatic cardiac-like chest pain and non-diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) reporting to the ED were included in the study. HEART, GRACE and TIMI scores were calculated from the data. The number of patients with low risk was identified by each score and compared at a fixed safety level of minimum 95% sensitivity. The potential occurrence of MACE was confirmed using a telephonic follow-up six weeks after the presentation.
Results: At an absolute safety level of minimum 95% sensitivity, the HEART score determined 101 patients as "low-risk" with 1.98% MACE missed. The GRACE score identified 49 "low-risk" patients with 4.08% MACE missed, and the TIMI score identified 66 "low-risk" patients with 3.03% MACE missed.
Conclusion: Among the three scores under comparison, the HEART score performed better than the GRACE and TIMI scores at the same safety level and surpassed them in differentiating between those with MACE and without MACE.


In this paper, we study the resource allocation algorithm design for distributed antenna multiuser networks with full-duplex (FD) radio base stations (BSs), which enable simultaneous uplink and downlink communications. The considered resource allocation algorithm design is formulated as an optimization problem taking into account the antenna circuit power consumption of the BSs and the quality of service (QoS) requirements of both uplink and downlink users. We minimize the total network power consumption by jointly optimizing the downlink beamformer, the uplink transmit power, and the antenna selection. To overcome the intractability of the resulting problem, we reformulate it as an optimization problem with decoupled binary selection variables and nonconvex constraints. The reformulated problem facilitates the design of an iterative resource allocation algorithm, which obtains an optimal solution based on the generalized Bender's decomposition (GBD). For this algorithm, we also propose a simple technique to improve the speed of convergence. Furthermore, to strike a balance between computational complexity and system performance, a suboptimal resource allocation algorithm with polynomial time complexity is proposed. Simulation results illustrate that the proposed GBD-based iterative algorithm converges to the globally optimal solution and the suboptimal algorithm achieves a close-to-optimal performance. Our results also demonstrate the tradeoff between power efficiency and the number of active transmit antennas when the circuit power consumption is taken into account. In particular, activating an exceedingly large number of antennas may not be an efficient approach for reducing the total system power consumption. In addition, our results reveal that FD systems facilitate significant power savings compared to traditional half-duplex systems, despite the nonnegligible self-interference.


The orgins of the idea of macro- and microcosm date back to the Ancient Greek thought. And however often that idea recurred in historically different epochs always carrying the sign of time it invariably assumed there was a correspondence between the universe (macrocosm) and man (microcosm). This type of correlation of both worlds was viewed as a reflection of cosmic harmony and common material (6/5th century BC) or the unity of what is created with the emphasis put on the uniqueness of man (Middle Ages). The philosophical consequence of such approach was the belief that the knowledge of one reality allows one to explain another. Most often such reasoning led from understanding the macrocosm (allowing for stars) to reflections on man. Advocates of such an approach to the perception of man and nature were two great scientific doctors Hippocrates (5th century BC) and Paracelsus (16th century). They both claimed that man retained communication with the whole universe. Paracelsus perceived the world and man in a unity that permitted to recognize an equivalent of anatomy in astronomy. This exceptional link between both cosms was a guarantee for health. Illness occurred as a result of the disturbance of harmony between both worlds. In this context, the task of medical science was to consist in such understanding of the forces present in macro- and microcosm that could restore the line between the nature and man inflicted with illness.


Aims To assess the bone dimensional changes after extraction and alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) using primary coverage (closed flap technique, CFT) or healing by secondary intention (open flap technique, OFT). Materials and Methods Ten patients (split mouth design) were planned for extraction and ARP. All sites received ARP with freeze-dried bone allograft (FDBA) and nonresorbable membrane after extraction. Clinical standardized measurements were used to assess the dimensional alterations of the alveolar ridge. Results All patients completed the study, and a total of 20 sites were randomized to CFT or OFT group. Center height (mean difference of 8.1 mm, SD =1.9 CFT, and 7.5 mm, SD= 1.8 OFT) and buccal height (mean difference of 0.8 mm, SD =1.0 CFT, and 0.3 mm, SD= 1.1 OFT) were significantly different within the same group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between groups. In the OFT group, the keratinized tissue width was higher and the pain VAS scores at 24 hours were lower compared with the CFT (p = 0.004 and p = 0.006, respectively). Conclusions Leaving the flap open did not have any effects on the dimensional changes of bone height or width. However, there was a wider band of keratinized tissue and less pain with the CFT compared with the OFT. The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT03136913.


Different dielectrics were used for post-processing surface passivation of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs) and the resulting electrical characteristics examined. An increase in the maximum drain current of approximately 25% was observed after Si3N4 and SiO2 deposition and ~15% for annealed SiO on AlGaN/GaN HFETs. In all cases, the passivation was found to increase the gate leakage current with an observed reduction in the leakage activation energy. However, the rise in gate leakage current was least for SiO. The plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition method was found not to contribute to the passivation mechanism, whilst the presence of Si appears to be an important factor.


Production of the important 99mTc medical isotope parent, molybdenum-99 (99Mo), via the fissioning of high- and low-enriched uranium (HEU/LEU) targets followed by target dissolution in acid and solution-phase purification of 99Mo is time-consuming, generates quantities of corrosive radioactive waste, and can result in the release of an array of radionuclides to the atmosphere. An alternative 99Mo purification method has been devised that has the potential to alleviate many of these issues. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of a rapid Mo/Tc gas-phase separation from UO2. The results indicate that volatile [99Mo]Mo can be captured downstream of the reacted solid mixture on a column bed (trap) of alumina; the majority of the captured [99Mo]Mo can be subsequently eluted from the alumina trap with a few milliliters of water. >1.0 × 105 single pass decontamination of U and the collected [99Mo]Mo product is demonstrated. This simple thermo-fluorination technique has the potential to provide a rapid methodology for routine 99Mo production.


Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of gelatinized starch created during the pelleting process. Effects of gelatinization were first broadly tested to find if either increased or decreased gelatinization levels would increase broiler weight gain and feed efficiency during the starter period, 0 to 21 days of age. Results of the first experiment indicated a decrease (P<0.05) in broiler performance with increased levels of gelatinization, and a significant effect when the inclusion of gelatinized starch in the diet increased from 0 to 35%. A second experiment was conducted using a smaller range, 0 to 21% versus 0 to 35% inclusion of gelatinized starch in the diet and a smaller increment of increase, 3 versus 5%. Results of this experiment confirmed the results of the first experiment, and regression analysis was performed on the data. A linear decrease in body weight gain and quadratic increase in feed:gain (P<0.05) was observed as gelatinized starch was increased from 0 to 21% of the diet. A survey of the literature was conducted showing that most of the simulated levels of gelatinization were larger than those achieved with typical pelleted broiler diets. A third experiment was designed to investigate the levels of gelatinization observed in a pelleted diet and combined with three corn particle sizes, small (466 μm), medium (878 μm), and large (1240 μm), to find if any interactions existed. Chicks fed with the highest gelatinization level of 20%, (7.86% inclusion of pregelatinized starch) had lower body weight gains (P<0.05), and higher feed:gain (P<0.05) compared to chicks fed with 0% gelatinization. Small particle size had the lowest live body weight gain and lowest pen feed intake (P<0.05). There were no interactions found between gelatinization level and particle size (P>0.10). The results demonstrated a negative effect on chick body weight gain and feed efficiency by gelatinization of starch.


The main reason for studying relativistic heavy-ion collisions is to discover the phase transition from nuclear matter to the Quark-Gluon Plasma. Such a transition is predicted to occur under conditions of high temperature and density. The predicted state features deconfined quarks and gluons as the relevant degrees of freedom instead of colour-singlet hadrons. These new degrees of freedom should lead to an enhanced production of strange quarks which has directly observable consequences on the composition of the final state hadrons detected in such a collision. The NA49 experiment is able to measure hadronic production in central Pb+Pb collisions. It uses a Pb beam, of energy 158 GeV per nucleon, from the CERN SPS with a fixed Pb target. The experiment features four large tracking detectors which can measure the trajectories of charged particles. In this thesis the method of reconstructing neutral strange particles, Lambda, Lambda-bar and K-short from their charged decay products is described. The procedure for correcting the raw yields for losses due to the limited experimental acceptance and efficiency in reconstruction is explained. An estimate of some systematic errors is made. The resulting rapidity distributions, which span either side of mid-rapidity are peaked (with the possible exception of Lambda) and the transverse momentum spectra fit the Hagedorn distribution. The inverse slope parameters, T_Lambda = 274 ± 5 MeV, T_Lambda-bar = 279 ± 10 MeV and T_K = 238 ± 5 MeV are consistent with the picture of transverse flow observed in these collisions. These results are compared with other measurements.


On the North American continent, in Europe and elsewhere, the dramatic growth in private security in the past several decades has reshaped the structure and function of modern policing. The development of private security has been facilitated by fundamental shifts in the nature of property relations. These changes have encouraged the development of a preventative mode of policing consistent with the principles and hopes of nineteenth-century police reformers, but they also suggest that we are moving in the direction of a new disciplinary society and raise fundamental questions with respect to sovereignty, justice, and individual liberty now almost entirely unrecognized. In particular, the legal institutions regarding private property operate to enhance the potential threat to individual liberty posed by the development of modern private security.


This paper presents and analyzes the text reception El umbral roto. Escritos en antropologia poetica of Juan Carlos Olivares. It is postulated that the reception of the


A practical procedure (FUERZA) to obtain internal force constants from Cartesian second derivatives (Hessians) is presented and discussed. It allows a systematic analysis of pair atomic interactions in a molecular system, and it is fully invariant to the choice of internal coordinates of the molecule. Force constants for bonds or for any pair of atoms in general are defined by means of the eigenanalysis of their pair interaction matrix. Force constants for the angles are obtained from their corresponding two-pair interaction matrices of the two bonds or distances forming the angle, and the dihedral force constants are similarly obtained using their corresponding three-pair interaction matrices. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


Predictive geometric models deliver excellent results for many Machine Learning use cases. Despite their undoubted performance, neural predictive algorithms can show unexpected degrees of instability and variance, particularly when applied to large datasets. We present an approach to measure changes in geometric models with respect to both output consistency and topological stability. Considering the example of a recommender system using word2vec, we analyze the influence of single data points, approximation methods and parameter settings. Our findings can help to stabilize models where needed and to detect differences in informational value of data points on a large scale.