This research shows that the starting crop when shifting to an organic rotation can influence the returns. Row crops such as com and soybeans should be avoided until the rotation is established. If such crops have to be grown then fertility and pest management needs must be augmented. Disciplines Agribusiness | Behavioral Economics | Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Economic Theory This report is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/econ_las_staffpapers/193 ' staff Paper 210 Discussion Results From A Statewide Satellite Town Meeting on the 1990 Farm Bill: Commodity Programs, Environmentn Food Safety and Rural Development * Dr. Mark A. Edelman and..David A. Swenson ** Iowa Public Policy Educatipn Project Iowa State University ] . November 20, 19B9 t • ^ u * On November 20 , 19B9, the Iowa Public PolicyEducation Project (PPEP) sponsored a satellite town meeting on'̂ ' the 1990 Farm Bill, PPEP is a broad coalition of diverse interests that support nonpartisan,^issue,-oriented public policy, educationISU Extension manages PPEP with initial funding from a matching grant from the W. K. Kellogg'^Foundation and Iowa State University. .-..•-b .iv • , /. • " y.:.Iowa PPEP programs are approved by a Council of .18 Iowa leaders representing diverse interests and -regions of-, the state. The members are selected by the Iowa Legislative Council., ISU President, representiatives from Iowa State|University Extension and participants of the Iowa Agenda Conference. An estimated =-2800-participants attended the • educational .program at the 95 satellite downlink sites across. Iowa. ' This report includes the preference results tabulated, from those who participated in the discussion process, at the end of the meeting. Audience participants were divided into groups to discuss four sets of discussion questions, one each on commodity programs, environment policy, food safety, and .rural development. • As a result^ there were approximately.-500 responses for each set of questions. Farm and. nonfarmpreferencesare provided, due to the disproportionate representation of farmers in the audience. • »» DrEdelman is an Associate Professor in • the Economics Department and Coordinator of the .Iowa Public PolicyEducation ProjectMr. Swenson is an Adjunct Instructor and a .Policy Research Associate for the project. The authors do hot endorse any positions on the issues. Results are provided as information only^ The responses do riot represent a random sampling of the Iowa population', however the the responses are likely to be more representative of farm and nonfarm leaders and citizens who 'are interested enough .in the issue to attend meetings and participate in the political process during the 1990 Farm Bill debate. BWCATItmntOJICT Schedule ofMeeting Events 1990 Farm Bill Statewide Satellite TownMeeting November 20,1989 Program Schedule 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 7:34 p.m. 7:53 p.m. 8:12 p.m. 8:17 p.m. 8:36 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Vfdshington Speakers Senator Charles E. Grassley Congressman Jim Leach Congressman Dave Nagle Congressman Jim Lightfoot Cooper Evans ' ' Agricultural Adviser to the President Wayne Boutwell, President National Council of Famer Cooperatives Carol Hedges, StaffDirector Committee,on Rural Development, National Governors Association-. Eileen Kugler, Director of Communications Public Voice • . • ' . Maureen Hinkle, Director of Agricultural Policy National Audubon Society Iowa State University Panel Members Dr. Mark Edelman, Pubhc Policy Economist, ISU ' ' Dr. David Hammond, ISU Community Resource Development Leader Dr. Nolan Hartwig, Extension Veterinarian, ISU Dr. Stanley Johnson, Director, CARD, ISU . • Dr. Dennis Keeney, Director of Leopold Center, ISU Dr. Patricia Swan, Vice Provost for Research, ISU This is the first program in a series ofpublic policy education programs as part of the Iowa Public Policy Education Project (PPEP). This program was made possible by a grant from the W. K.KelloggFounda tion and Iowa State University Extension. • Iowa State University and U.S. Department of Agriculturecooperating The IowaCooperative Extension Sen^ice's programs and policiesare consistent with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and handicap. Registration Introduction Commodity Program Policy Issues end Options Food Safety Issues and Options Rural Development Issues and Options 5-minute break Environment Policy Issues and Options ISU panel discussion to answer questions called in. Local discussion begins Adjourn meeting. Senator Tom Harkin Congressman Tom Tauke Congressman Neal Smith Congressman Fred Grandy Satellite Town Meeting Generates Not for Media Release Iowa Suggestions For 1990 Farm Bill . , Until 11 A-M-. Feb» 15 AMES—"The U.S. should attempt to coordinate the reduction of trade subsidies* with.other nations^ but should not remove the income safety net-for U.S.,, farmers," says a new ISU report. The ISUJ report summarizes environment-^ , commodity program, food safety, and rural development preferences from lowans who participated i in the Iowa Public policy Education Project's satellite town meeting on the 1990 Farm Bill last Npvember. The 2800 participants were spread over 95, locations at County Extension Offices across Iowa.Other suggestions given support, by the, participants were: * "lowans favor ,commodity base, reduction and flexibility over reducing target prices or raising commodity.loan ratesj if budget cuts are required in the 1990 Farm Bill." * "Farmers should be


Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effects of preoperative urinary catheterization in nephrolithiasis treatment with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). Methods: Patients admitted to the Department of Pediatric Surgery for renal stones between June 2012 and June 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on JJ stent placements. Group 1 did not receive JJ stents, while group 2 did. The recorded demographic data for each group included age, gender, stone size, location, sessions, and complications. The Elmed Complit ESWL system was used with 11-13 kV, and 1,000-1,200 shots in patients 2-4 years of age, and 11-14 kV, and 1,000-1,500 shots for patients over 4 years. Results: In group 1, 18 sessions of SWL were performed on 8 female and 2 male children with a mean age of 4.5 (range 2-12) years and stone diameter of 9 (range 7-15) mm. The locations of the renal stones were in the upper pole in 1 patient, 7 in the lower pole, and 2 in the pelvis renalis. Postoperatively, 1 patient had hematuria, 2 had dysuria, and one had a stone in the external urethral meatus. Eighty percent of patients were stone free; there were no fragmentations in 2 patients, and 1 patient discontinued treatment. In group 2, 15 SWL sessions were performed on 5 female and 5 male children aged 4 (range 3-5) and the stone diameter was 9 (range 7-16) mm. The locations of the renal stones were in the upper pole in 6 patients, in the lower pole in 3 patients, and in the ureteropelvic junction in one patient. JJ stents were placed in all patients preoperatively. Postoperatively, 3 patients had hematuria and one had dysuria. At the end of the study, all of the patients were stone free. Statistically, there were no differences in age, gender, stone size, location, and the number of sessions. Conclusions: Our results indicate that SWL without preoperative ureteral stenting is an effective and safe procedure that can be carried out in the pediatric population. Preoperative JJ stenting is unnecessary in patients, especially in those with smaller stone diameters.


The invention concerns the field of technical ceramics and relates to transparent spinel ceramics, which can be used, for example, as protective ceramics, and to methods for the production thereof. The problem addressed by the invention is to specify transparent spinel ceramics that contain no visible defects, to the extent possible, and that have an in-line transmittance of more than 82% in wavelength ranges of infrared light, measured between 1000 and 2500 nm, for specimen thicknesses of 3 mm. This problem is solved by means of spinel ceramics that are transparent in wavelength ranges of infrared light, composed of sintered magnesium aluminum spinel having an average microstructure grain size of; 10 microns and having in total at most 0.5 mass percent of homogeneously distributed additives of calcium and/or strontium and/or barium, which are present at a concentration, in each case expressed as an oxide, of 0.005 to; 0.2 mass percent CaO and/or 0.005 to < 0.5 mass percent SrO and/or 0.005 to; 0.5 mass percent BaO.


We have determined the gain of the cardiopulmonary baroreflex (CPBR) by measuring the central venous pressure (CVP) by venous catheter and calculating the total peripheral resistance (TPR) from mean arterial pressure (MAP) by Finometer and cardiac output (QD) by Doppler ultrasound. We tested the hypothesis that the BeatScope software of the Finometer, which calculates cardiac stroke volume (SVF) and cardiac output (QF) from the arterial pulse wave, could provide data with which to estimate CVP and TPR. The estimate of QF was linearly related to QD with a correction factor. Further, we found linear relationships between CVP and SVF that allowed us to establish a prediction of CVP from the SVF as the new input to the CPBR. To test the ability of this method to monitor changes in CPBR we are testing the subjects of the WISE-2005 study before and after 50-days of bed rest. We conclude that the TPR can be assessed with the Finometer and without any invasive method to record the CVP.


Use of CFD Tool Ansys Fluent for Fire Safety Improvement of an Indoor Sports Arena The focus of the article is the design of a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system for the main central space of a real multifunctional indoor sports arena. Numerical simulation of the air flow provided a basis to determine the optimal number of fire ventilators, their capacity and placement, and also to determine the maximum air-flow velocity in openings designed for evacuation in the event of an emergency. The ANSYS Fluent 13.0 software one of the world's most sophisticated CFD (computational fluid dynamics) codes was used for the numerical simulation. In this case, the specific problem of a turbulent flow in a complex geometry was under investigation. This study should serve as a base for future installation of the system in the indoor sports arena.


As focus of exegetical attention, the Acts of the Apostles began very unpromisingly with Chrysostom an exception, although a case can be made that Christian church histories were the true receivers' of Acts. This makes the late medieval and early modern commentaries on Acts even more worthy of attention. Most of the first millennium commentaries considered by Muller-Abels do not put those of the second-millennium in the shade. Lyra is representative of those who were most interested in the content of the Apostolic preaching with sensitivity for the gradual lessening of the Jewish Law in the Church. Justus Jonas is similar. However the Reformation and post-Reformation commentaries show how apostolic authority is considered to be biblical, conciliar and harmonious – and this from Salmeron as much as Bullinger, even if Lorinus promotes Papalism (against Calvin for whom James was just the moderator) and the importance of external sacraments and works, with "God working through history "prominent in the Catholic authors.


Aortic aneurysm and dissection is a common phenotype, accounting for 1% to 2% of all deaths in industrialized countries and ≈50 000 deaths annually in the United States.1 In contrast to abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm, particularly in the ascending segment, commonly occurs in young individuals in the absence of identifiable environmental risk factors. Marfan syndrome (MFS) is the most common syndromic presentation of ascending aortic aneurysm, but other syndromes such as vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) also have ascending aortic aneurysms and the associated cardiovascular risk of aortic dissection and rupture. Familial segregation of the risk for ascending aortic aneurysm can also occur in the absence of associated systemic findings of a connective tissue abnormality in patients with familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (FTAAD) or bicuspid aortic valve with ascending aortic aneurysm (BAV/AscAA). The knowledge gained through basic and clinical research focused on MFS has improved and will continue to improve the care of patients with these related conditions.

Recent paradigm-shifting discoveries about the molecular pathogenesis of MFS have highlighted the need for a focused research agenda to solidify the gains of the past 30 years and set the stage for future advances in MFS and related conditions. In April 2007, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Marfan Foundation convened a working group on research in MFS and related disorders to foster a multidisciplinary discussion. The working group, which included experts in cardiovascular disease, developmental biology, genetics and genomics, and proteomics, was charged with identifying opportunities and barriers to advancing the research agenda and developing recommendations to the NHLBI in the context of the Institute's strategic plan (http://apps.nhlbi.nih.gov/strategicplan/).

MFS is a systemic disorder of connective tissue caused by heterozygous mutations in the gene ( FBN1 ) that encodes the extracellular matrix …


The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of human adenoviruses in diluted stool samples was investigated. Two sets of nested primers, including primers specific for the hexon‐coding region and for the E1 B region of enteric adenoviruses (EAd), were assessed by two‐step amplification. The primers constitute two different PCR systems designed for the detection of adenoviruses belonging to all six subgenera (A‐F), and the two EAds Ad40 and Ad41, respectively. In a two‐step PCR mediated amplification a single virus particle was detected when the two sets of general hexon primers or Ead specific primers were used. Earlier results from PCR detection of adenoviruses in stool from children suffering from diarrhea gave indications that adenovirus particles are commonly shed in stools without being identified as the cause of il I ness [Allard et a I.: Journal of Clinical Microbiology 28:2659‐2667, 1990]). Therefore, the general and the EAd specific PCR assays were assessed on 150 stool specimens from three groups including 50 healthy children, 50 healthy adults, and 50 adults suffering from diarrhea. When the two sets of general hexon primers were used, 25 of the 50 specimens from the healthy children (mean age 21 months) were found positive by two‐step PCR amplification. Nine of the 50 specimens from the healthy adults (mean age 32 years) were found positive whereas 12 of the 50 specimens from sick adults (mean age 31 years) gave amplification products, using the two sets of general hexon primers in a nested fashion. None of the 150 specimens were found to be positive by two‐step PCR amplification using the two sets of EAd‐specific primers. The sensitivity of the PCR, together with its simplicity and reduced time scale compared to other detection methods, support the potential of this technique as an additional method for routine detection of human adenovirus infections. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


To the Editor:— A 21/2-year-old boy experienced sudden onset of urinary frequency, urgency, and marked terminal dysuria. There was no history of trauma and no evidence of infection. Physical examination was unremarkable except for minimal erythema at the urethral meatus. Urinalysis revealed three to four white blood cells per high power field, but no bacteria. Three days after use of bubble bath preparation was discontinued, dysuria completely disappeared. A dose of the substance added to the bath water one week later caused recurrence of symptoms within 12 hours. Because of its structure, the female urethra lends itself well to such problems (a series of 116 similar cases was reported in 1955,1all involving little girls), but the literature has been devoid of such findings in little boys. Advertising media have only of late intimated that males, too, can enjoy a bubble bath. In the last month two additional


. . . Background: Breast feeding is the most natural way of feeding the infants and help to reduce child mortality and morbidity and millions of deaths could be prevented each year if mothers were aware of benefits of exclusive breast feeding for 4 -6 months and early initiation of breast feeding. Objective:To evaluate the awareness regarding breast feeding and complementary feeding in mothers of severely malnourished children. Study Design: This is a descriptive /cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: This study was conducted at the department of preventive pediatrics Children hospital and institute of child health, Multan from March 2013 to September 2013. Materials and Methods:This study included a total of 100 females that were the mothers of malnourished children visiting the follow up room of department of preventive pediatrics Children hospital and institute of child health, Multan. A questionnaire was designed and others were interviewed in detail after taking proper consent. Results:In this study, the mean age of the sample was25years +/_3 years. 70 % females (70/100) were from urban areas while 30 %(30/100) were from rural areas. Of the 100 respondents 54%( 54/100) of mothers were illiterate and this study showed that 99% (99/100) considered breast milk safe and effective than other feeds but practically only 23%(23/100) babies were breast fed while 77%(77/100) were bottle fed. Pre-lacteal feed was given by 82% (82/100). According to 58% (58/100) mothers there should be a early initiation of breast feeding, while 57% (57/100) were un aware of the facts that clostrum should be given while 43 %(43/100)of then considered it unhealthy and non effective,82%(82/100) considered 4 months a period of exclusive breast feeding,61% (61/100) were counseled by doctors regarding the benefits of breast feeding,50%(50/100) were aware of the use of exclusive breast feeding as a contraceptive tool and 34 % (34/100) were aware of its importance for the prevention of breast cancer. Conclusion:The findings of the study indicated the various important policy implications for the intervention of breastfeedig. Strategies to encourage mothers to follow breastfeeding recommendations should concentrate on improving their knowledge.


ABSTRACT Elin Johansson, Hanna Johansson, Camilla Nilsson Say something interesting! A qualitative study of marketing communication on Facebook Pages: 36 With the emergence of social media, new ways has been created for companies to reach out to its audience. From being dependent on journalists to provide information, companies today have the ability to self-publish information in the open media channels. The use of social media should not replace traditional marketing communication though, but works best as a complement. It is a new environment that requires the company to adapt its working methods. Although the work is different, it is important that companies see social media as part of the overall marketing communication and not as a separate project. The purpose of this paper is to study recipient's experience of company's communications in social media. We have chosen to relate this to the instructions on methods of marketing communication and social media marketing as found in literature on the subject. This is to examine whether firms achieve the desired effect of the methods that are considered most appropriate. Does the message reach out? The focus of this study is marketing communication in the social media Facebook. The study consists of qualitative interviews to illuminate the recipients' views and experiences, as well as a literature study from the theoretical perspective of the sender of marketing communication in social media. The results showed that business as well as audience must interact in a functional relationship in social media. Companies should be more like the customer they are trying to reach. If companies choose to expose themselves in social media, time must be given to this, which is what the audience expects. Key words: Marketing communication, social media, social media marketing, Facebook, recipients, sender


This paper discusses the implementation of a distributed rendering environment (DRE) utilizing the TeraGrid. Using the new system, researchers and students across the TeraGrid have access to available resources for distributed rendering. Previously, researchers at universities and national labs, using high end rendering software such as Renderman Compliant Pixie were often limited by the amount of time that it takes to calculate (render) their final images. The amount of time required to render introduces several potential complications in a research setting. In contrast, a typical animation studio has a render farm, consisting of a cluster of computers (nodes) used to render 3D images, known as a distributed rendering environment. By spreading the rendering across hundreds of machines, the overall render time is reduced significantly. Unfortunately, most researchers do not have access to a distributed rendering environment. Our university has been developing a DRE for local use. However, because we are a TeraGrid site, we recently modified our DRE implementation to make use of open source rendering tools and grid tools such as Condor, in order to make the DRE available to other TeraGrid users


A systematic study of the trends in low-speed natural-laminar-eow airfoils for general aviation applications is presented. The airfoils have been designed using a multipoint inverse airfoil design method, which allows for specie cation of velocity and boundary-layer properties over different portions of the airfoil. A panel method with a coupled boundary-layer scheme is used to analyze the characteristics of the resulting airfoils. By systematically adjusting the speciecations, families of airfoils have been designed with different lift, drag, and pitching-moment characteristics. Parametric studies are presented to study the tradeoffs involved in designing laminar-e ow airfoils for general aviation. Although the results of the study are speciec to the class of airplanes considered, the design philosophies and the design approach used inthestudy areapplicable toa widerangeof airplanes. In addition, the examples presented in the paper form an excellent case study to demonstrate the power of modern inverse design techniques in controlling the performance of an airfoil to a ene degree and in generating a custom database of airfoils suitable for airplane multidisciplinary optimization and trade studies.


This paper analyzes the information needs and information seeking behavior of Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) working under the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence situated at Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire distributed among 134 DRDE Scientists. In the present study 130 responded to the questionnaire and collected data were analyzed using the latest version of ∑- PLOT for appropriate statistical methods (frequencies, per cent, means, and standard deviations). It was observed that various strategies and procedures have been used by the DRDE Scientists in meeting their information needs. The obtained data were also analyzed for the user information needs and their information seeking strategies. Investigations to study the types of information sources used by the DRDE Scientists in order to examine their information behavior and factors that affect these behaviors. The outcomes of the present study are in frame with the previous published articles and included the preferred information formats, importance of using certain information sources and the use of various formal, informal sources. Our results revealed that DRDE Scientists have great dependence in meeting their information requirement on their respective institutional library/information centre. Our results also indicate that seventy eight per cent of the population uses library information centers as their most preferred source suggesting the implications of library services for accessing information by DRDE scientists and the need to further strengthen these centers for effectively complementing the users.


An isolated phreatic loop in a natural cave was used to test the reliability of artificial-tracer tests for estimating the volume of a flooded karst conduit. The volume of a phreatic tube was measured by filling a drained phreatic loop with a constant inflow over a known time period. The volume of the phreatic loop is 190 6 20 m 3 , and it was compared to independent calculations of conduit volumes based on values based on tracer breakthrough curves. The best results were for mean transit time, where tracer-test calculations yielded volumes very similar to the volume obtained by direct filling of the loop. On the other hand, using the first-arrival time or peak time in the volume calculation resulted in considerable underestimation of the phreatic tube's volume, and these methods should be avoided except when breakthrough curves are affected by molecular diffusion. This demonstrates that volume estimation by tracer tests may be quite precise for common natural conduits, but results are strongly affected by the breakthrough-curve parameter chosen by the experimenter.


: Aim: Contained lumbar plate herniation habitually cause back-and leg torment. Clinical results with careful treatment might be influenced by the size and area of the plate herniation. The careful straightforwardly pictured transformational endoscopic decompression has picked up acknowledgment and fame, while the rearranged percutaneous laser plate decompression has become undesirable regardless of its underlying accomplishment as a negligibly obtrusive intercession. While trying to all the more likely comprehend the solidness of the two strategies, the creators played out a near investigation of clinical results in patients with contained lumbar circle herniation. Methods: The study population consisted of 267 patients, including 169 endoscopy patients (group 1) and 88 laser patients (group 2). Key outcome measures were Manabí standards. Hernias were classified as either huge or small. Our current research was conducted at Mayo Hospital, Lahore from May 2019 to April 2020. The additional limits of degeneration of the lumbar movement section, including the back plate and the <5 mm parallel rupture heel plate, were recorded. IBM SPSS 28.0 was used for the Kaplan-Meier endurance test and cross-organization of these factors with measurable tests for huge affiliations. Results: The average length of the subsequent period was 44.7 months. The sequential time recorded for the Kaplan-Meier examination ranged from 1.6 to 88 months. The mean age was 54.38 years (SD = 14.65 years). Most patients achieved excellent and good Macnab results (213/249; 87.6%) with little attention to treatment. Reasonable and poor results were obtained in an additional 36 patients (15.6%). Excellent Macnab results were higher in the endoscopic group (96/164; 59.1%) than in the laser group (38/86; 45.3%) at a huge measurable level (P<0.0002). There was an essentially measurably higher level of Excellent and Good Macnab results with endoscopic decompression of a small paracentral hernia (98.2%; P<0.0002). Percutaneous laser percutaneous decompression of a huge focal circle hernia was measurably no better than careful endoscopic decompression (P=0.126). Endoscopic decompression of hard and delicate tissue was also better than laser to mitigate side effects in patients with decreased back plate and parallel fracture size, with 97.8% of patients with a circle size decreased by <3 mm and 94% of patients with a parallel fracture size decreased by <4 mm (P=0.002). The Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival time demonstrated a longer mean endurance of treatment benefit for patients who underwent imaginary conservative endoscopic decompression (68.2 months), in contrast to the median K-M endurance time for percutaneous laser decompression of 18 months (P<0.0002). Conclusion: Transformational endoscopic decompression for the indicative hernia circle is a powerful and robust treatment that reduces sciatic and dorsal manifestations in most patients, with high long-term endurance and up to six years of discomfort relief. Interventional percutaneous laser non-imaging percutaneous decompression for a similar condition can provide positive results in the present moment with delicate projections. Nevertheless, the impact of the treatment weakens much faster with an average endurance of 17 months. Please cite this article in press Mahrukh Urwa et al, Results With Transformational Endoscopy Compared To Percutaneous Endoscopy Laser Decompression For Confined Lumbar Disc Herniation., Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2020; 07(12).


Streptococcus pneumoniae is an invasive organism that causes a wide range of common diseases, including sinusitis, acute otitis media, and pneumonia. Splenic abscesses and purpura fulminans (PF) are rare complications of pneumococcal disease. Splenic abscesses caused by S pneumoniae have only been reported in the adult literature. PF has been described in the pediatric population as a rare complication in patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) with and without underlying immunological disorders such as asplenia. Here, we report a patient with IPD complicated by splenic abscesses and PF. Our patient initially presented with bacteremia, septic shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. She subsequently developed PF and splenic abscesses. She survived her illness after receiving a total of 8 weeks of antibiotic therapy. This case highlights 2 rare complications of IPD and demonstrates the need to keep pneumococcal disease in the differential diagnosis even in children whose vaccination status is up to date.


: We report three cases of Turner syndrome 45,X/46,XX with spontaneous menstruations. Two patients had together four pregnancies with a normal girl, a malformed boy and two miscarriages. The outcome of the pregnancy in such a women is discussed with a review of the literature.


Will the United States have enough energy to sustain and prosper its economy beyond 1985? This time frame becomes particularly significant as domestic supplies of oil and natural gas decline while the demand for energy continues to rise. The promise of more abundant energy supplies through controlled thermonuclear reaction processes and breeder reactors may not yet have materialized and indeed might never materialize. The nation will be looking toward a mix of coal, solar, nuclear, and geothermal energy sources to fulfill its needs, which may well have become acute. How well these expectations will be realized depends on preparations made and decisions taken now, 10 years earlier, since the latent period for development for many energy sources is at least that long.


A three-dimensional hollow tubular porous carbon (SCPC) was prepared from straw cellulose waste through a self-templating method combined with NaOH activation. Straw cellulose acts both as carbon source and structural template. The obtained SCPC exhibits a 3D hierarchical porous network structure. SCPC has a high specific surface area, a high mesoporosity ratio, and a low resistivity, which make it display excellent electrochemical performance for supercapacitors. SCPC showed a high specific capacitance of 312.57 F g-1 in 6 m KOH at 0.5 A g-1 , an excellent rate performance of 281.32 F g-1 even at 15 A g-1 , and an outstanding cyclic stability of 92.93 % capacitance retention after 20 000 cycles at 1 A g-1 . SCPC-based supercapacitors can deliver an energy density of 8.67 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 3.50 kW kg-1 in 6 m KOH and an energy density of 28.56 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 14.09 kW kg-1 in 1 m Et4 NBF4 /PC, which demonstrates the possibility of applying SCPC in supercapacitors. This research not only offers a facile and sustainable method for the preparation of hierarchical porous carbon for electrochemical energy storage devices but also provides a highly efficient method for the utilization of biomass waste.


The transition to reproductive senescence involves changes in neuroendocrine and ovarian functions, and is accelerated by activation of the aryl hydrocarbon pathway by environmental toxicants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In this article, studies which provide evidence as to the possible mechanisms by which the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) acts in this capacity (i.e. disruption of ovarian, hypothalamic or suprachiasmatic nucleus function, or any combination of these) are reviewed, along with the normal physiological changes that occur during the transition to reproductive senescence in female humans and rodents. Based on findings that the AhR is evolutionarily conserved and necessary for normal fertility, we suggest that the AhR has not only a pathological but also a physiological role in the process of aging. Studies of realistic lifelong AhR activation by dioxins on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and its impact on the transition to reproductive senescence in the aging female are a previously neglected area of research that warrants further consideration.


BACKGROUND
Age-Related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of irreversible central vision loss. The main reason for lost vision due to AMD is choroidal neovascularization (CNV). In the clinic, current treatments for CNV include photodynamic therapy, laser photocoagulation, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.

PURPOSE
This study evaluates a novel treatment technique combining synchronized nanosecond laser pulses and ultrasound bursts, namely photo-mediated ultrasound therapy (PUT) as a potential treatment method for CNV, for its efficacy and safety in treatment of CNV via the experiments in a clinically-relevant rabbit model in vivo.

METHODS
CNV was created by subretinal injection of Matrigel and vascular endothelial growth factor (M&V) in 10 New Zealand white rabbits. Six rabbits were used in the PUT group. In the control groups, two rabbits were treated by laser-only, and two rabbits were treated by ultrasound-only. The treatment efficacy was evaluated through fundus photography and fluorescein angiography (FA) longitudinally for up to 4 weeks. Rabbits were sacrificed for histopathology at 3 months after treatment to examine the safety of PUT.

RESULTS
The fluorescein leakage on FA was quantified to longitudinally evaluate treatment outcome. Compared with baseline, the relative intensity index was reduced by 26.57% ± 8.66% at 3 days after treatment, 27.24% ± 6.21% at 1 week after treatment, 27.79% ± 2.61% at 2 weeks after treatment, and 32.12% ± 3.23% at 4 weeks after treatment, all with a statistically significant difference of P < 0.01. The comparison between the relative intensity indexes from the two control groups (laser-only treatment and ultrasound-only treatment) did not show any statistically significant difference at all time points. Safety evaluation at 3 months with histopathology demonstrated that the PUT did not result in morphologic changes to the neurosensory retina.

CONCLUSIONS
This study introduces PUT for the first time for the treatment of CNV. The results demonstrated good efficacy and safety of PUT to treat CNV in a clinically-relevant rabbit model. With a single session of treatment, PUT can safely reduce the leakage of CNV for at least 1 month after treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


To the Editor.— The remote telephone linkage of a personal home computer to a hospital laboratory computer offers substantial benefits to attending physicians and their patients. The evolution of computers has recently resulted in widespread hospital applications. Their use in clinical laboratories has helped disseminate patient information, leading to improved care. Paralleling the development and hospital use of the large computer is the use of the small personal microprocessor. Currently, there is widespread application of these relatively inexpensive devices in various medical areas. The remote telephone linkage of a personal home computer to a hospital laboratory computer provides for the retrieval of patient data. The clinical laboratories at Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center, San Francisco, use a Data General C330 Eclipse central processing unit and Medical Information Technology, Inc (Meditech) software for work load organization and data management. The laboratories provide a full range of virology, microbiology, hematology, chemistry,


The use of quantum dots (QDs) as donors in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) offer several advantages for the development of multiplexed solid-phase QD-FRET nucleic acid hybridization assays. Designs for multiplexing have been demonstrated, but important challenges remain in the optimization of these systems. In this work, we identify several strategies based on the design of interfacial chemistry for improving sensitivity, obtaining lower limits of detection (LOD) and enabling the regeneration and reuse of solid-phase QD-FRET hybridization assays. FRET-sensitized emission from acceptor dyes associated with hybridization events at immobilized QD donors provides the analytical signal in these assays. The minimization of active sensing area reduces background from QD donor PL and allows the resolution of smaller amounts of acceptor emission, thus lowering the LOD. The association of multiple acceptor dyes with each hybridization event can enhance FRET efficiency, thereby improving sensitivity. Many previous studies have used interfacial protein layers to generate selectivity; however, transient destabilization of these layers is shown to prevent efficient regeneration. To this end, we report a protein-free interfacial chemistry and demonstrate the specific detection of as little as 2 pmol of target, as well as an improved capacity for regeneration.


In 2006, the United States Department of Defense developed for the first time official criteria for the use of psychopharmaceuticals "in theater"-in the physical and tactical spaces of military operations including active combat. Based on fieldwork with Army soldiers and veterans, this article explores the transnational and global dimensions of military psychopharmaceutical use in the post-9/11 wars. I consider the spatial, material, and symbolic dimensions of what I call "pharmaceutical creep"-the slow drift of psychopharmaceuticals from the civilian world into theater and into the military corporate body. While pharmaceutical creep is managed by the U.S. military as a problem of gatekeeping and of supply and provisioning, medications can appear as the solution to recruitment and performance problems in theater. Drawing on soldiers' accounts of medication use, I illuminate the possibilities, but also the frictions, that arise when routine psychopharmaceuticals are remade into technologies of global counterinsurgency. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Abstract Drought is a burning issue all over the world that has led to remarkable reductions in the growth and yield of crops. Based upon the current problem, a series of two rain out shelter pot research experiments were performed to evaluate the drought tolerance in canola by foliar application of potassium (K) under water deficiency conditions in the Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. Four varieties of canola (Faisal Canola, Cyclone, Shiarlae, and Dunkled) were tested under two water deficit levels (100% FC and 50% FC) and two treatments of foliar potassium application i.e., 0% K and 2% K. The data was recorded with standard procedures when the plants were grown up to maturity. Results concluded that drought posed a significant decrease in all parameters under study. However, supplemental foliar application of potassium at the rate of 2% at both (vegetative and reproductive) stages of canola enhanced the water potential (0.24% and 0.23%), osmotic potential (0.12% and 0.11%), turgor pressure (0.66% and 0.58%), respectively. Similarly, the chlorophyll contents as chlorophyll a (0.25% and 0.28%), chlorophyll b (1.26% and 1.80%) and leaf carotenoid contents (0.20% and 0.62%) were also increased where K was applied at the rate of 2% during vegetative and reproductive stages of canola. The foliar applied K at the rate 2% enhanced leaf photosynthetic rate (13.11 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1 and 15.96 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1), transpiration rate (5.36 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1 and 5.54 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1) and stomatal conductance (0.22 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1 and 0.26 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1) of the plants at both stages. Yield attributes such as thousand seed weight (1.03% and 1.03%), seed yield (0.58% and 0.58%) and biological yield (0.35% and 0.38%) were increased by foliar K application under water deficit conditions at both stages. The genotype Shiralae showed significant improvement among all others genotypes under normal as well as water deficit conditions


Modern weak-lensing observations are becoming increasingly sensitive to baryonic feedback processes which are still poorly understood. So far, this challenge has been faced either by imposing scale-cuts in the data or by modelling baryonic effects with simple, one-parameter models. In this paper, we rely on a more general, seven-parameter prescription of baryonic feedback effects, which is primarily motivated by observations and has been shown to agree with a plethora of hydrodynamical simulations. By combining weak-lensing data from the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS-1000) with observations of gas around galaxy clusters, we are able to constrain baryonic parameters and learn more about feedback and cosmology. In particular, we use cluster gas fractions from X-ray data and gas profiles from kinematic Sunyaev-Zeldovich (kSZ) observations to provide evidence for baryonic feedback that is stronger than predicted by most hydrodynamical simulations. In terms of the matter power spectrum, we report a beyond-percent effect at wave-modes above k ∼ 0.1–0.45 h Mpc−1 and a maximum suppression of 12–33 per cent at k ∼ 7 h Mpc−1 (68 per cent confidence level). Regarding the combined parameter Σ8 = σ8(Ωm/0.3)0.58, we find the known tension with the Planck satellite data to be reduced from 3.8 to 2.9 σ once baryonic effects are fully included in the analysis pipeline. The tension is further decreased to 2.6 σ when the weak-lensing data is combined with X-ray and kSZ observations. We conclude that, while baryonic feedback effects become more important in modern weak-lensing surveys, they are unlikely to act as the main culprit for the observed Σ8-tension.


This study examines the predictability of GRE reading item difficulty (equated delta) for three major reading item types: main idea, inference and explicit statement items. Each item type is analyzed separately, using 110 GRE reading passages and their associated 244 reading items; selective analyses of 285 SAT reading items are also presented. Stepwise regression analyses indicates that the percentage of GRE delta variance accounted for varied from 20% to 52% depending upon the item type.

Details of item predictability were explored by evaluating several hypotheses. Results indicated that (1) multiple-choice reading items are sensitive to variables similar to those reported in the experimental literature on comprehension, (2) many of these variables provide independent predictive information in regression analyses, and (3) substantial agreement between GRE and SAT reading predictability was found.


Lignan-derived 1,4-benzodioxane natural products have been shown to exhibit a diverse array of biological activities, which has lent them to be the focus of a wealth of synthetic attention. Herein we review the background, bioactivities, biosynthesis and synthetic approaches to the 1,4-benzodioxane lignan scaffold, with an emphasis on 1,4-benzodioxane oxyneolignans.


The potential for break-up of Antarctic ice shelves by hydrofracturing and following ice cliff instability might be important for future ice dynamics. One recent study suggests that the Antarctic ice sheet could lose a lot more mass during the 21st century than previously thought. This increased mass-loss is found to strongly depend on the emission scenario and thereby on global temperature change. We investigate the impact of this new information on high-end global sea level rise projections by developing a probabilistic process-based method. It is shown that uncertainties in the projections increase when including the temperature dependence of Antarctic mass loss and the uncertainty in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) model ensemble. Including these new uncertainties we provide probability density functions for the high-end distribution of total global mean sea level in 2100 conditional on emission scenario. These projections provide a probabilistic context to previous extreme sea level scenarios developed for adaptation purposes.


HEALTH SECRETARY Kenneth Clarke's definitive statement on Project 2000 provoked concern and disappointment from the English National Board last week.


Aims Neither the predictive value of early continuous abstinence in alcohol use disorder (AUD) or the point at which this effect may emerge has been evaluated. This analysis of the Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE) clinical trial evaluated whether abstinence early in treatment was a predictor of longer term abstinence. Methods Participants who stated a goal of total abstinence (N = 954) were dichotomized into Early Abstainer vs. Nonabstainers and were compared on a variety of drinking outcome measures that are frequently used in clinical trial evaluations of alcohol treatment strategies, as a function of duration of early continuous abstinence. Results Significant differences existed for every outcome. Early Abstinence was significantly associated with fewer drinks per drinking day, number of drinking and number of heavy drinking days, and longer time to first drinking and first heavy drinking day. Effects were evident within the first week. The magnitude of all effects increased as the duration of early abstinence (1–4 weeks) increased, though the size of increase varied across the outcomes. Conclusions These data provide evidence that drinking at the beginning of alcohol treatment is significantly and robustly associated with drinking throughout and at the end of a clinical trial treatment for AUD. Early drinking may be a useful early index to identify whether patients are responding positively to a treatment strategy, and provides a useful method for tailoring treatment to patients that is consistent with a personalized medicine approach.


The primary objective of the paper was to analyse how marginalisation affects profit efficiency, a secondary to identify and analyse some other possible inefficiency factors. In order to do this we estimated a translog restricted profit frontier function with an integrated inefficiency module. An unbalanced panel of 2161 observations of active Norwegian forest owners over the years 1991-2004 was used. The more marginal forestry income becomes relative to wage/agricultural income, the less/more profit efficient becomes the forest owner. Efficiency differences are likely to be caused by different information levels. The average forest owner could potentially increase his profit by 7.7% by catching up with the front. We suggest lease contracts as a policy means to ensure efficient timber supply without requiring much attention from the forest owner.


OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) and osteopenia in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to investigate the relationship between symptomatic and structural severity, the indices of bone turnover, and body composition.

METHODS
Eighty patients with AS were enrolled prospectively: 52 men (65%) and 28 women, mean age 36.7 years +/- 11.5 (range 18-67); they were studied clinically, radiologically, and by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Sixty-three underwent biological assessment of bone turnover markers.

RESULTS
OP and osteopenia as defined by the World Health Organization (T score < -2.5 SD and between -1 and -2.5 SD, respectively) were observed in 15 (18.7%) and 25 patients (31.2%) at the lumbar spine and in 11 (13.7%) and 33 patients (41.2%) at the femoral neck, respectively. Patients with OP had a lower body mass index (BMI) and fat mass percentage. There was a trend to a lower disease duration in patients with OP at the spine than in healthy subjects. Bone resorption markers (urinary D-pyridinoline or C-telopeptide concentrations) were increased in 34 patients (53.9%). Bone turnover markers were positively correlated with C-reactive protein concentration and Larsen radiological hip score; they were negatively correlated with Schober index and fat mass percentage.

CONCLUSION
(1) OP is frequent in AS and can be observed in early stages of the disease. (2) Patients with AS are more susceptible to develop OP when they have low BMI, low fat mass percentage, and active and severe disease. OP was observed in parallel with increased bone resorption.


In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any cryminal charge against him, everyone is intitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law. The fairness, equitable and publicity character of the trial would not pe possible without the right to notify the Tribunal because this element is based on the preeminence of law / of the «right to a fair trial» in a democratic society. If a litigant has the possibility stated by law to notify a court in accordance to his demands, the other procedural guarantees statued by article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Court will be fully applicable, of course if the judiciary systems of the States-Parties to the Convention are well organized. The concept of Court used by Convention has an autonomous aspect, different from national definitions, as a consequence of the need of a concept combining the typical characteristics, the specificity of legal systems from internal order of the states that signed the Convention. It results that there is no need for a classical jurisdiction: on the material plan, the court is characterized by its jurisdictional function, namely that to solve any matter within its jurisdiction, based on legal rules and following an organized procedure. In the European sense of the term: the court is a full jurisdiction judicial body, exercising a real legality control, both regarding the matters in right and in fact. In concreto this court has to be not only accessible and adequate, but also capable to decide (respectively not to renounce to the components of judgment function). The Court mentioned that the power to pronounce a mandatory judgment, that cannot be amended by a non-judicial authority to the detriment of a party, is inherent to the notion itself of court.


The opioid peptide dynorphin A elicits non-opioid receptor-mediated, neurotoxic response in vivo, which is blocked by pretreatment with MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist. In the present study, we examined the possible direct interaction of dynorphin A on the NMDAR. A nonopioid dynorphin A analog, (125)I-(des-tyrosyl) dynorphin A(2-17), was used in radioligand binding analysis on rat cortical brain membranes. This radioligand exhibited a saturable, specific binding at high affinity with a K(d) value of 9.4+/-1.6 nM and maximal binding of 2.4+/-0.6 pmol/mg protein. This binding site was associated with the NMDAR complex because it was modulated by a number of NMDAR ligands. Transient expression of the rat NR1a/NR2A complex in human embryonic kidney 293 cells confirmed a coexpression of (125)I-(des-tyrosyl) dynorphin A(2-17), [(3)H]CGP39,653, and [(3)H]MK-801 binding. These data provide direct evidence of the presence of a high-affinity binding site for dynorphin A on the NMDAR. The modulatory effect of the various NMDAR-selective ligands on dynorphin A binding suggests that dynorphin A may bind preferentially to the closed/desensitized state of the NMDAR. The physiological role of dynorphin A binding to the NMDAR remains to be established.


[1] Two methods, based on different assumptions, have been investigated for computing the uncertainty in the trend of 960 mesopause region temperature profiles taken over 20 years. In addition to the trend, the fitting model includes annual and semiannual variations, a solar effect, and an episodic term that can be associated with the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption. In our standard procedure we assume that the unknown uncertainties of each measurement, and thus the weights of the observations, are constant with time and are determined by assuming that we have a good model. In addition we investigate including second derivatives along with first derivatives of the Hessian matrix. In the Monte Carlo bootstrap method one resamples the data with replacement to obtain new data sets which are fit to the model and yield a distribution of fitting parameters. The standard deviation of the distribution for a parameter is taken to be the uncertainty in the parameter. A possible assumption to justify this method is that the data are "independent and identically distributed." Although we have not been able to justify the assumptions of either method, the two methods support each other since they give essentially the same results.


BACKGROUND: The use of conservative surgical techniques to treat ectopic pregnancies has been reported to increase the rate of incomplete trophoblastic tissue removal and subsequent regrowth.CASE: Postcoital acute abdominal pain occurred in a woman treated with a laparoscopic linear salpingotomy without suturing for an ampullary ectopic pregnancy 20 days previously. The patient developed clinical symptoms despite satisfactory declining hCG levels. An emergency laparotomy was performed and a 600 ml hemoperitoneum was present The bleeding site of the prior salpingotomy was identified and closed. A few trophoblastic cells were noted in the intratubal clot during pathologic evaluation.CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that postoperative rupture and bleeding from the fallopian tube with an ectopic gestation can occur in spite of declining and low hCG values. It is conceivable that the hemorrhage at the site of the prior salpingotomy was caused by not only minimal residual trophoblastic tissue, but also mechanical stimulation during sexual intercourse. It is necessary to evaluate the additional benefit of suturing during linear salpingotomy for ectopic gestations.


Homozygous Mnx1 mutation causes permanent neonatal diabetes in humans, but via unknown mechanisms. Our systematic and longitudinal analysis of Mnx1 function during murine pancreas organogenesis and into the adult uncovered novel stage-specific roles for Mnx1 in endocrine lineage allocation and β-cell fate maintenance. Inactivation in the endocrine-progenitor stage shows that Mnx1 promotes β-cell while suppressing δ-cell differentiation programs, and is crucial for postnatal β-cell fate maintenance. Inactivating Mnx1 in embryonic β-cells (Mnx1Δbeta) caused β-to-δ-like cell transdifferentiation, which was delayed until postnatal stages. In the latter context, β-cells escaping Mnx1 inactivation unexpectedly upregulated Mnx1 expression and underwent an age-independent persistent proliferation. Escaper β-cells restored, but then eventually surpassed, the normal pancreatic β-cell mass, leading to islet hyperplasia in aged mice. In vitro analysis of islets isolated from Mnx1Δbeta mice showed higher insulin secretory activity and greater insulin mRNA content than in wild-type islets. Mnx1Δbeta mice also showed a much faster return to euglycemia after β-cell ablation, suggesting that the new β-cells derived from the escaper population are functional. Our findings identify Mnx1 as an important factor in β-cell differentiation and proliferation, with the potential for targeting to increase the number of endogenous β-cells for diabetes therapy. Highlighted article: Mnx1 acts as a lineage specification factor in the mouse pancreas – promoting beta-cell fate and maintenance. It also has a role in compensatory beta-cell proliferation.


Studies on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in 3 Liliaceous ornamental plants, Lilium formosanum, Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis and Muscari armeniacum, were described. Three different strains of A. tumefaciens were used, all of which harbored the binary vector carrying the nptll, hpt and gus-intron genes in the T-DNA region. For L. formosanum, no transgenic tissues nor plants were obtained after co-cultivation of organogenic calli with A. tumefaciens, although transient expression of the gus gene could be detected in the calli during co-cultivation. On the other hand, several hygromycin-resistant (Hyg r ) cell clusters were obtained for both A. praecox ssp. orientalis and M. armeniacum following the transfer of co-cultivated embryogenic calli onto hygromycin (Hyg)-containing media. Hyg r calli developed into complete plants via somatic embryogenesis, and most of them were confirmed to be transgenic plants based on GUS histochemical assay and PCR analysis. Southern blot analysis revealed the integration of 1 to 5 copies of the transgene into the genome of the transgenic plants of both 2 species, but most of them had 1 or 2 copies. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation systems developed for A. praecox ssp. orientalis and M. armeniacum may be useful as a tool for their genetic improvement as well as molecular biology studies.


The number and size of myelinated fibres have been determined in the nerve to medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle of Rats in which the sciatic nerve had been frozen locally 1 to 5 times at monthly intervals. The contralateral nerve was used as a control. When the measurements were made one month after the last freezing, the number of fibres increased progressively until the 3rd freezing, reaching about 220% of the normal value. No higher values were observed after 4 or 5 freezings. The mean diameter of fibres decreased with the number of operations. When the measurements were made 3, 6, 12 or 18 months after the 3rd freezing, the number of fibres decreased by about 30% between the 1st and the 3rd month and then stabilized. The mean diameter of fibres increased progressively. However, at the 18th month, the size of the myelinated fibres had not reached the normal value.


We evaluated regional variation in the Delta Absorbance Meter® index of absorbance difference (IAD) as a measure of harvest maturity and for predicting the occurrence of storage disorders in 'McIntosh' apples [Malus ×sylvestris (L.) var. domestica (Borkh.) Mansf.] in 2016 and 'Honeycrisp' apples in 2016 and 2017. Apples were grown in Maine (ME), Minnesota (MN), and Ontario (ON), and they were harvested from one orchard in each region, and two to three times each year, followed by cold storage at 0.5 °C for 2 months in 2016 and 4 months in 2017. In 2016, 'Honeycrisp' IAD values were similar in ME and ON, but lower than in MN. In 2017, IAD was greater in ME than in the other two regions during the first harvest, and it similar to MN in the latter two harvests and lower in ON than in the other regions. In 'Honeycrisp' apples, IAD was more strongly related to starch pattern index (SPI), internal ethylene concentration, and fruit peel blush than to chlorophyll or soluble solids concentration. Soft scald incidence (SSI) of 'Honeycrisp' fruit was greater in ME than in MN and ON in both years. In ME, SSI was related to IAD at harvest in both years, but with an inverse relationship with the first harvest and a positive relationship in the second harvest. A positive relationship also occurred in ON in 2017. SSI was not related to IAD at harvest in MN in both years and ON in 2016. Regional similarities in patterns of change in 'Honeycrisp' fruit IAD were not consistent from year to year, and this indicates that a single IAD standard should not be used to assess fruit maturity in different regions. In 'McIntosh', IAD values were variable among the three regions and were not related to other maturity indicators. IAD was not useful for measuring maturity in 'McIntosh' apples, but it was weakly related to core browning incidence.


INTRODUCTION To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 2030, the United Nations (UN) endorsed tobacco use reduction, which is essential in decreasing unnecessary deaths caused by tobacco-induced disease. This study investigates the association between tobacco use and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in clinically normal uterine cervix populations from the SDGs perspective. METHODS This study is a 7-year cross-sectional study of a clinically normal uterine cervix population, based on negative Visual Inspection of Acetic Acid (VIA). Subjects were recruited consecutively from the medical records of several public and private health providers in Jakarta. The Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) for Windows version 20.0 were used to analyze the data. RESULTS A total of 1397 negative VIA subjects were collected, consisting of 4.9% (69/1397) tobacco users, and 95.1% (1328/1397) non-users. HPV-DNA positive were 4.3% (3/69) in the tobacco user group and 3.7% (49/1328) in the non-user group. Statistical analysis showed unadjusted OR was 1.19 (95% CI: 0.36–3.91, p=0.778) and adjusted OR was 1.18 (95% CI: 0.36–3.89, p=0.786). High-risk HPV (hrHPV) infections of tobacco and non-tobacco users' groups were found in 2/3 and 27/49 (55.1%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study showed an insignificant statistical association between tobacco use and HPV infection in normal uterine cervix. However, the proportion of hrHPV infection was higher in tobacco users than non-users. From the SDGs perspective, cervical cancer is closely related to tobacco use and poverty. Further study is needed to support this result and evaluate other co-factor role-related cervical cancer history to achieve SDGs in 2030.

https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/pdf-140093-67577?filename=Tobacco use and its.pdf


In this study, we investigated the cumulative effect of low temperature on bud dormancy release and bud break characteristics in 'Campbell Early' grapevine (Vitis labruscana B.) cuttings grown in water culture. Additionally, we observed the development of buds while exposed to low temperatures in an attempt to improve our understanding of dormancy and bud break. The shoots were collected 120 days after full bloom (DAFB; leaf abscission period), and the accumulated chill unit (CU) value was calculated by reducing the temperature to at 125 DAFB. The rate of bud break was 100% in shoots collected at 150 DAFB, The period until the first bud break was two times longer than in the shoots collected 165 DAFB, and bud break speed was significantly reduced. These results indicate that buds are released from endodormancy after 165 DAFB, because at this point the bud break was complete (bud break rate 100%) and it occurred in a very short time period. During this period, when the low-temperature accumulated value was 321h and 442CU according to the CH and Utah models, respectively. Furthermore, the survival rate of main buds decreased rapidly after 165 DAFB, and survival rate of accessory buds was maintained at more than 90% without seasonal differences. The rate of flower bud formation of main buds was much higher than in accessory buds (1:0.23) before the release from endodormancy at 150 DAFB. The final ratio of accessory buds to main buds was high, 1:1.54, at 255 DAFB. Correlation analysis of each investigated factor revealed that bud survival rate and bud formation rate were related only for the main buds, and there was a close relationship between the survival rate of main bud and time. In addition, the survival rate of main buds was positively correlated to the rate of flower bud formation.


Does informal intervention by high officials of international organizations decisively influence the outcomes of multilateral negotiations? In the words of two leading international lawyers, can "faceless international bureaucrats, unelected and without power of purse or sword" really influence the decisions of powerful nation-states? Are we seeing the emergence of a "new statecraft" grounded in international networks managed by supranational political entrepreneurs?


We discuss novel ways in which neutrino oscillation experiments can probe dark matter. In particular, we focus on interactions between neutrinos and ultra-light ("fuzzy") dark matter particles with masses of order $10^{-22}$ eV. It has been shown previously that such dark matter candidates are phenomenologically successful and might help ameliorate the tension between predicted and observed small scale structures in the Universe. We argue that coherent forward scattering of neutrinos on fuzzy dark matter particles can significantly alter neutrino oscillation probabilities. These effects could be observable in current and future experiments. We set new limits on fuzzy dark matter interacting with neutrinos using T2K and solar neutrino data, and we estimate the sensitivity of reactor neutrino experiments and of future long-baseline accelerator experiments. These results are based on detailed simulations in GLoBES. We allow the dark matter particle to be either a scalar or a vector boson. In the latter case, we find potentially interesting connections to models addressing various $B$ physics anomalies.


An important question in biology is why some animals are able to regenerate, whereas others are not. The basal chordate amphioxus is uniquely positioned to address the evolution of regeneration. We report here the high regeneration potential of the European amphioxus Branchiostoma lanceolatum. Adults regenerate both anterior and posterior structures, including neural tube, notochord, fin, and muscle. Development of a classifier based on tail regeneration profiles predicts the assignment of young and old adults to their own class with >94% accuracy. The process involves loss of differentiated characteristics, formation of an msx-expressing blastema, and neurogenesis. Moreover, regeneration is linked to the activation of satellite-like Pax3/7 progenitor cells, the extent of which declines with size and age. Our results provide a framework for understanding the evolution and diversity of regeneration mechanisms in vertebrates.


In this book Franz Wieacker tells how legal thinking, writing and teaching started in Europe and how it developed. He begins in the High Middle Ages and describes how the Glossators laid down the foundations by applying methodical criticism and exegesis to the Digest of Justinian. As Reinhard Zimmermann's foreword shows, Wieacker's way of telling the history of European legal thought from its origins in medieval Bologna down to the present day and of elucidating the intellectual conditions for its development is a stunning achievement. One of the great strengths of the book lies in its demonstration of the constant interaction between the thinking of lawyers and the general philosophical ideas of their time: between Scholasticism and medieval legal science, between the enlightenment and the Law of Reason, between Classicism (and Romanticism) and Savigny's Historical School of Law. It is hardly surprising that so ambitious and erudite a work should have become a classic since 1952, when it was first published in German. Now Tony Weir's brilliant translation makes the seond and final edition accessible to English-speaking scholars the world over.


This paper presents a new method for sound synthesis based upon nonlinear dynamics. The procedure is compact and can be interactively controlled with gesture interfaces. The sounds thus synthesized have dynamic characteristics and rich spectra. It is an economical method, for it uses only a cyclic buffer to control the audio output and a nonlinear map to generate the waveforms.


To identify and understand knowledge and practice among traditional birth attendants (TBAs), a total of 111 TBAs were interviewed at Kassala, Eastern Sudan between March and April 2011. Hand-washing prior to the delivery was a universal practice but only 25.2% of the interviewed TBAs used sterilised equipment. TBAs in this study appeared to have a low level of awareness about when a mother should be referred to hospital, and lacked basic information on family planning and HIV/AIDS. None of these 111 TBAs knew or used equipment for neonatal resuscitation (such as bag, tube and mask) or knew neonatal signs that needed extra attention such as change in skin colour, weak suckling and respiratory distress, and nearly one-third (28.8%) of the respondents believed in a few days delay in milk production. Thus, substantial effort is needed to improve the knowledge and practice among TBAs in Eastern Sudan, including training programmes, and this might be the best hope to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.


This paper considers single-trajectory adap-tive/online learning for linear quadratic regulator (LQR) with an unknown system and constraints on the states and actions. The major challenges are two-fold: 1) how to ensure safety without restarting the system, and 2) how to mitigate the inherent tension among exploration, exploitation, and safety. To tackle these challenges, we propose a single-trajectory learning-based control algorithm that guarantees safety with high probability. Safety is achieved by robust certainty equivalence and a SafeTransit algorithm. Further, we provide a sublinear regret bound compared with the optimal safe linear policy. By this, we solve an open question in Dean et al. (2019b). When developing the regret bound, we also establish a novel estimation error bound for nonlinear policies, which can be interesting on its own. Lastly, we test our algorithm in numerical experiments.


The aim of this study was to determine whether or not canine lymphoma could be associated with a clinically relevant type B hyperlactatemia (> 2.5 mmol/L). The medical database from the University of Montreal Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital was searched for confirmed cases of canine lymphoma with a blood lactate measurement. Information retrieved included stage, clinical observations compatible with causes of type A and B hyperlactatemia other than cancer, hepatic involvement, and drugs administered. Twenty (40%) dogs were hyperlactatemic. Five dogs (10%) were classified as having cancer-related hyperlactatemia. Seventy-five percent of hyperlactatemic dogs had clinical evidence of type A hyperlactatemia. In addition to lymphoma, 70% of hyperlactatemic dogs had evidence of an additional cause of type B hyperlactatemia. A significant association (P = 0.01) was identified between corticosteroid administration and hyperlactatemia. Cytological, echographic, and/or biochemical tests revealed hepatic changes in all hyperlactatemic dogs. Lymphoma alone may not be sufficient to explain clinically relevant hyperlactatemia in dogs.


OBJECTIVES
The prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accompanied by main portal vein tumour thrombus (MPVTT) is poor. The aim of this study was to clarify the factors linked to survival of >5 years after hepatectomy in HCC patients with MPVTT.

METHODS
Twenty-nine HCC patients with MPVTT were divided into two groups comprising, respectively, patients who survived >5 years after hepatectomy (survivors, n= 5) and those who did not (non-survivors, n= 24). The two groups were compared.

RESULTS
Overall survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 62.1%, 24.1% and 17.2%, respectively. Four (80.0%) 5-year survivors had recurrences of HCC in which the number of recurrent nodules was under four. Three (21.4%) of the 14 non-survivors who underwent curative resection experienced recurrences of HCC and all of them demonstrated fewer than four recurrent nodules (P= 0.0114). Local therapy, such as radiofrequency ablation and resection of recurrence, had more often been used in survivors than in non-survivors (P= 0.0364).

CONCLUSIONS
Although surgical outcomes in patients with HCC accompanied by MPVTT are unsatisfactory, some patients do enjoy longterm survival. When the number of recurrent nodules is less than four, local therapy should be selected with the aim of achieving 5-year survival.


This report forms part of the deliverables from a project called "IMPRESA" which has been awarded financial support by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme.
The project aims to evaluate the impact of research on agriculture performed in the EU, collecting data on recent trends in investment in agricultural research, and developing a framework combining case studies, econometric analysis and modelling for assessing its impact. A first task is to prepare country-level analysis of the agricultural research expenditures and an assessment of the availabilities of data regarding public and private investments in agricultural research.
Agricultural research covers all research on the promotion of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and foodstuff production. It includes: research on chemical fertilisers, biocides, biological pest control and the mechanisation of agriculture; research on the impact of agricultural and forestry activities on the environment; research in the field of developing food productivity and technology.


Accumulating evidence indicates that the lncRNAs play a critical role in cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, we found that MALAT1 upregulation was associated with larger tumor size and lymph-node metastasis, and also correlated with shorter overall survival of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Furthermore, MALAT1 promotes EMT and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. In particular, MALAT1 upregulated the expression of miR-204 target gene SLUG through competitively 'spongeing' miR-204. In summary we unveil a branch of the MALAT1/miR-204/SLUG pathway that regulates the progression of lung adenocarcinoma.


The theory of dynamic similarity has been used to construct a generalized current-voltage characteristic (CVC) of a non-transferred, straight polarity, solid electrode arc-plasma torch. The enthalpy number obtained from the energy equation has been found to significantly influence the characteristics of the electric arc. The generalized CVC developed has been found to match with experimental parameters of other torches having the same basic principle of design and used elsewhere. The electrothermal efficiency of the plasma torch has been determined and put in the form of a generalized correlation using dimensionless numbers. The use of the theory of dynamic similarity to obtain a generalized correlation has been therefore found to be more appropriate.


Liposomes are microscopic structures consisting of one or more lipid bilayers enclosing a definite aqueous space. They are widely used as a drug carrier and for the delivery of drugs through membranes. Drugs can be encapsulated into the inner water phase or lipidic wall, depending on their own hydro- or lipophilicity. The characteristics of the vesicles is fusion with cells and natural endocytosis uptake. We applied the properties of liposomes to overcome the poor gastro-intestinal (GI) absorption of griseofulvin and compared results with the traditional dosage form. In this experiment, the maximum plasma concentration obtained from griseofulvin liposomes was about 2.6 times than that from griseofulvin suspension. We used the lipids to prepare liposomes that consisted of phosphatidycholine, cholesterol, and dicetylphosphate in the molar ratio, 1:1.6:0.2, which is similar to the membrane composition of red blood cells. We examined some factors affecting the encapsulation ratin (E.R.%) and physicochemical properties of liposomes. When the lipid-to-griseofulvin weight ratio approached 38:1, the encapsulation ratio reached 94%. The different lipid/aqueous ratio (19/1 48/1 96/1) appeared to have little effect on E.R. value. The stability of griseofulvin liposomes in terms of leakage of griseofulvin was negligible over a period of 18 days at 4 degrees C. The sedimentation of vesicles bearing negative charges exhibited the best flocculation state. The plasma level-time profile of griseofulvin obtained from ingestion of liposomal dosage form showed itself to be significantly higher (P<0.01) Cmax, AUC, Ka, and t1/2 than that from suspension.


The use of lasers to accelerate particles to ultra-high energies is motivated by the very high electric fields associated with focused laser beams. A number of such schemes have been proposed: for example, microstructures driven by lasers operating in the optical-near infrared frequency range, laser-driven space charge plasma waves, inverse free-electron laser accelerator and the two-beam accelerator. Current status of these schemes is reviewed. Lasers may also find an application in improving the power sources and in focusing very high energy particle beams.


Mobile autonomous systems are very important for marine scientific investigation and military applications. Many algorithms have been studied to deal with the computational efficiency problem required for large scale Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and its related accuracy and consistency. Among these methods, submap-based SLAM is a more effective one. By combining the strength of two popular mapping algorithms, the Rao-Blackwellised particle filter (RBPF) and extended information filter (EIF), this paper presents a Combined SLAM—an efficient submap-based solution to the SLAM problem in a large scale environment. RBPF-SLAM is used to produce local maps, which are periodically fused into an EIF-SLAM algorithm. RBPF-SLAM can avoid linearization of the robot model during operating and provide a robust data association, while EIF-SLAM can improve the whole computational speed, and avoid the tendency of RBPF-SLAM to be over-confident. In order to further improve the computational speed in a real time environment, a binary-tree-based decision-making strategy is introduced. Simulation experiments show that the proposed Combined SLAM algorithm significantly outperforms currently existing algorithms in terms of accuracy and consistency, as well as the computing efficiency. Finally, the Combined SLAM algorithm is experimentally validated in a real environment by using the Victoria Park dataset.


DOI: 10.26650/TurkJHist.2019.19030 From the 10th century onwards, the impoverishment of the Abbasids' political authority over the decentralized cities resulted in cities with long-established cultural and scientific backgrounds, such as Mosul and Aleppo, falling into the hands of local chiefs. The Hamdanids, taking advantage of this impoverishment of the Abbasids, captured cities such as Mosul and Aleppo, and continued the cultural and scientific heritage in these cities, thus enabling further process. Together with the Hamdanids, positive and religious sciences gained new momentum in the cities of Mosul and Aleppo, and the Hamdanid chiefs provided gifts, salaries, and incentives for the advancement of these sciences. This study focuses on the importance that the Hamdanids gave to astrology, astronomy and medicine, and covers the incentives provided by them. The study also gives an overview of the major scholars of the period and their works. Cite this article as: Tokus, Omer, "Hamdânilerde Astroloji, Astronomi ve Tip", Turk J Hist sayi 70 (2019), s.1-18.


The author offers an analysis of the logical model of "natural state" in the writings of the three mentioned authors and attempts to define its role in their theories of law. The analysis demonstrates that all three models share the same basic idea: namely, the concep-tion of an independent reasonable individual; this very idea is exactly what these different models are based upon. The concept of an individual itself does not have a substantiation.


The history of Aetna's Usability Laboratory, built in 1986 in response to the realization that usability of computers is an important business issue, is recounted. The laboratory's physical structure and its value to the company are described. A number of conclusions Aetna has reached about how usability engineering is best accomplished in a corporate environment are discussed.<<ETX>>


A survey on mansonellosis was carried out in Bauchi State of Nigeria between January 1990 and March 1992. Of the 5,640 inhabitants examined, 24 (0.4%) were positive for Mansonella streptocerca microfilariae. Microfilaria rate and mf density increased gradually with host age. While infection and sex are independent, mansonellosis was significantly lower in subjects within the first three decades of life than in those above 31 years (P < 0.05). Clinical signs observed include pruritus, rash, inguinal adenopathy and occasional dizziness. Skin biopsies taken from the shoulder gave the highest frequency of positive skin snip.


Computer science as an academic discipline began in the 1960's. Emphasis was on programming languages, compilers, operating systems, and the mathematical theory that supported these areas. Courses in theoretical computer science covered finite automata, regular expressions, context-free languages, and computability. In the 1970's, the study of algorithms was added as an important component of theory. The emphasis was on making computers useful. Today, a fundamental change is taking place and the focus is more on applications. There are many reasons for this change. The merging of computing and communications has played an important role. The enhanced ability to observe, collect, and store data in the natural sciences, in commerce, and in other fields calls for a change in our understanding of data and how to handle it in the modern setting. The emergence of the web and social networks as central aspects of daily life presents both opportunities and challenges for theory.


In The Existence of God (1979), Richard Swinburne gave formal expression to his utilization of the cumulative case argument and his application of the probability calculus to the theistic arguments. It is generally agreed, I believe, that this work is meticulous in detail and rigorously argued; it is also, I believe, generally agreed that the conclusion is disappointingly bland – particularly in light of the high-powered apparatus brought to bear on the question of God's existence. It is my intent to show that, perhaps, those disappointed by Swinburne's conclusion were justified in so feeling and that a stronger conclusion follows directly from Swinburne's own arguments and methodologies. Let me state at the outset, however, that this paper is not intended to be either an endorsement or a rejection of cumulative case arguments in general or of the employment of the probability calculus in such applications as the question of God's existence. Rather, I merely seek to assess Swinburne's conclusions on the grounds he lays out in The Existence of God.


Surface treated titanium implants are increasingly being used in dental and orthopaedic applications. This study examined the biological response of primary human alveolar osteoblast (aHOB) cells to a novel silicon based anodic spark deposition treated titanium surfaces. Three different titanium surfaces were investigated: anodic spark deposition (ASD) with silicon based (ASDSi), BioSpark™ (BS), and chemically etched (BioRough™, BR). Commercially pure titanium (cpTi) was the non-treated control surface. Physiological and biological evaluations were conducted on all test and control surfaces. Surface scanning (SEM, EDS, and AFM) confirmed a nano-topography, which was textured for all surfaces; and similar surface chemical composition (Ca and P), of significant was the Si peak on the ASDSi surface. Cell morphological study (SEM) showed good adhere and spreading over the surface, with metabolically active cells having extended filopodia. Biological response was observed with cell proliferation on all test surfaces for the period studied. Proliferation rate was seen to increase with time. This initial favourable cell response will be of benefit in the long term osseointegration of the implant surfaces.


. This article discusses internships abroad and their types, presents a list of countries that are most popular for teaching practice and focuses on the education system implemented in them. Studying this topic, it was revealed that, in essence, internship abroad is a special type of training during which a young specialist applies his knowledge in practice, while studying national characteristics and approaches to teaching in another country, developing his own horizons. Particular attention is paid to motivation for learning English, which increases due to being in an English-speaking environment, which implies active communication with native speakers.


Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most frequent eye cancer in the adulthood and it represents 4-5% of all melanomas. Although at diagnosis over 95% of patients have disease limited to the eye, about 50% will develop metastases after a median time of three years. From transcriptomic study, we identified PTP4A3/PRL3 level as an efficient predictor of patient9s survival. Overexpression of PTP4A3 in UM OCM-1 increased both cell migration and invasiveness. We then got interested in identifying downstream targets of PTP4A3 and more precisely proteins linked to cytoskeleton. We first highlighted collapsin Response Mediator Protein (CRMP2) by 2-D electrophoresis of phosphorus-enriched UM OCM1 stably-expressing PTP4A3 or an inactive catalytic mutant of PTP4A3 (C104S). CRMP2 was dephosphorylated in presence of PTP4A3. CRMP2 expression in UM is inversely correlated with that of PTP4A3, suggesting an antagonistic role of these proteins in tumor progression. Through the use of shRNA in OCM-1, the downregulation of CRMP2 led to an increase in cell migration of PTP4A3-expressing OCM1. In addition, we focused on ATIP3, a protein encoded by the gene MTUS1, which binds to microtubules. In breast cancer, MTUS1 expression was shown to be downregulated in highly proliferative breast carcinomas of poor clinical outcome. Similarly, our transcriptomic analysis showed that expressions of PTP4A3 and MTUS1 were anti-correlated, suggesting that the reduction of MTUS1 gene and ATIP3 expression in UM would be of bad prognosis. In our OCM1 cells, we demonstrated that ATIP3 overexpression blocks proliferation however effect of ATIP3 overexpression on cell migration still need to be elucidaded.In conclusion, CRMP2 and ATIP3 may play a role in the metastatic process of UM tumors expressing high levels of the phosphatase. Citation Format: Geraldine Liot, Oceane Anezo, Cecile Laurent, Selma Maacha, Nathalie Planque, Simon Saule. Potential targets of PTP4A3 involved in uveal melanoma migration. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4063. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4063


We contribute to the previous literature on the use of derivatives by studying separately the determinants of profit seeking versus those of hedging. In our sample of listed firms from four Nordic countries, about 62% use derivatives. Although the hedging motive clearly dominates, over half of the firms give some weight for additional income as a motive for the use of derivatives. Combining survey data on the use of derivatives with financial variables, data on management and blockholder ownership, and data on firm-level diversification, we find that very different determinants drive the use of derivatives for these two motives. Firm-level diversification is negatively related to hedging, but is positively related to the use of derivatives for additional income. Financial firms use derivatives more for profit than for hedging. We also find weak support for a value-increasing effect of the use of derivatives.


Abstract. The acceleration of erosion, transport, and burial of soil organic carbon
(OC) by water in response to agricultural expansion represents a significant
perturbation of the terrestrial C cycle. Recent model advances now enable
improved representation of the relationships between sedimentary processes
and OC cycling, and this has led to substantially revised assessments of
changes in land OC as a result of land cover and climate change. However,
surprisingly a consensus on both the direction and magnitude of the
erosion-induced land–atmosphere OC exchange is still lacking. Here, we show
that the apparent soil OC erosion paradox, i.e., whether agricultural
erosion results in an OC sink or source, can be reconciled when
comprehensively considering the range of temporal and spatial scales at
which erosional effects on the C cycle operate. We developed a framework
that describes erosion-induced OC sink and source terms across scales. We
conclude that erosion induces a source for atmospheric CO2 when
considering only small temporal and spatial scales, while both sinks and
sources appear when multi-scaled approaches are used. We emphasize the need
for erosion control for the benefits it brings for the delivery of ecosystem services, but cross-scale approaches are essential to accurately represent erosion effects on the global C cycle.


Received: August 2013, Accepted: February 2014 Background: Cement industry has many process units. Basically all of these units can be considered as a source of noise. Since noise pollution is defined based on its offensive hearing effects, the importance of the noise sources depends directly on the number of workers in the unit. Materials and Methods: An experimental study has been done at Tehran cement factory to recognize and analyze the major noise pollution source machineries. In this survey, first, the mean A-weighted sound pressure level and the number of workers in each unit have been measured and the obtained data has been analyzed in Microsoft Excel. Afterwards, based on the mentioned ISO, some experiments have been done to calculate the A-weighted acoustic power level of the crusher which emits the highest level of noise. Results: The noisiest units have been recognized and some applicable suggestions have been offered to reduce the sound exposure level. Also by calculating the sound power levels and considering the design parameters which affect the sound power generated by the crusher, an empirical equation has been presented to calculate the acoustic power level as a function of horsepower, number of hammers and the weight of each hammer. Conclusion: The acoustic measurement results show that the crusher, cement mill and row mill units are the three major noise emission sources. In another experiment, based on ANSI S1.36 and ISO 3746 guidelines, the sound power level of the crusher unit has been measured indirectly. Afterwards, by using a multiple regression algorithm and minimizing the mean square error, an empirical equation has been proposed to correlate the acoustic power level as a function of the horsepower and the mass of all hammers of the crusher.


The binding energies of the ground state and the low-lying excited states of the hydrogenic impurity in a GaAs-Ga1-xAlxAs superlattice in a magnetic field have been calculated by applying the method of one-dimensionalization and the effective-mass approximation. In the calculations, the effects due to the different effective masses of electrons in different materials are included. The results agree better with the experimental results than those of the calculation of a single quantum well.


This study highlights the narratives of five Latino males from three different postsecondary institutions-a community college, a four-year public state college, and a large private research university-and the impact of their participation in college preparation programs. The data is drawn from a study in which the impact of college preparation programs became evident. With a focus on the individual stories of theseyoung men and their involvement in college preparation programs, this study provides recommendations for research, policy, and practice as a means of providing increased access to postsecondary education for Latino males.


Two studies investigated the interaction between utterance and scene processing by monitoring eye movements in agent-action-patient events, while participants listened to related utterances. The aim of Experiment 1 was to determine if and when depicted events are used for thematic role assignment and structural disambiguation of temporarily ambiguous English sentences. Shortly after the verb identified relevant depicted actions, eye movements in the event scenes revealed disambiguation. Experiment 2 investigated the relative importance of linguistic/world knowledge and scene information. When the verb identified either only the stereotypical agent of a (nondepicted) action, or the (nonstereotypical) agent of a depicted action as relevant, verb-based thematic knowledge and depicted action each rapidly influenced comprehension. In contrast, when the verb identified both of these agents as relevant, the gaze pattern suggested a preferred reliance of comprehension on depicted events over stereotypical thematic knowledge for thematic interpretation. We relate our findings to language comprehension and acquisition theories.


The study objectives were to determine the nutritional status of children between the ages of 12–60 months and to establish the association between attending preschool and the prevalence of undernutrition. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in health facilities in Tshwane district in South Africa, consisting of both a questionnaire and anthropometric measures of 1256 mothers and their children. Weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for age (HAZ) and BMI-for-age (BAZ) were calculated and bivariate and multivariable analysis was performed to establish association. The results showed that child-related factors, namely birthweight, age, gender, and attending preschool increased the risk of undernutrition. Children over the age of 24 months were likely to be stunted and underweight. Maternal education reduced the odds of underweight. Children who stayed at home had reduced odds of underweight and stunting. High birthweight reduced the odds of wasting and underweight. The risks for undernutrition are multifaceted, but children who attend preschool have an increased risk of undernutrition. The risk of undernutrition increased with age and coincided with the time of cessation of breast-feeding and attendance at daycare or preschool. The complementary role of quality childcare in preschools and daycare centers is vital in alleviating the problem of undernutrition in underprivileged communities.


Abstract Surface and upper air (700 mb) analyses along with high-quality satellite photographs are presented for a 2-week period during August and September 1967. These show, in particular, the structure and motion over the continent of Africa of four major wave disturbances, three of which later became Atlantic hurricanes. The evolution of cloudiness and convection and the intensification of the disturbance at low levels over West Africa are examined in detail and related to certain climatological features of the area. Some general characteristics of the disturbances are discussed.


A high informality incidence, measured as the share of informal employment out of total employment, is a common characteristic of most developing countries' economies. In Mexico, where informal employment accounts for the majority of labour activity, this is argued to be a consequence of its unique social policy. The introduction of the social protection program for health in 2002, Seguro Popular, has been blamed to draw workers out of formality into informality by providing them with free health care, an alternative to paying for health through social security. By using a difference-indifference method this thesis exploits the gradual phase-in of the program in Mexico's states to see whether Seguro Popular indeed had an effect on informality. It can be observed that overall informality increased over the time period studied but that this was not specifically the case for states which adopted the program. When segregating per sex, the effects seem to be more present for male than female workers, but overall this research finds no proof of a significant relationship between the introduction of Seguro Popular and the degree of informality among Mexico's states.