A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2017 to April 2018 to determine the prevalence and identify major species of ixodid ticks of cattle and tick burden of different sex, age, breed, and body condition of cattle. Standard physical and direct stereomicroscopy techniques were employed for identification of tick species. During the study period, a total of 353 cattle were examined for presence of ticks and around 447 ticks were collected. The study showed that 34.3% cattle were infested with one or more tick species. The study reported different species of ticks in the order of their prevalence: A. variegatum (46.3%), Rh. decoloratus (20.1%), A. cohaerens (15.7%), A. gemma (11.9%), and Rh. pulchellus (6.04%), respectively. The prevalence of tick infestation between different risk factors such as sex, age, and body condition of cattle was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The overall male-to-female ratio of ticks was 2.29 : 1. Also, it was reported that, in A. variegatum, A. cohaerens, and A. gemma, the number of male exceeded that of female, but female number exceeded male number in case of Rh. decoloratus. The result also reported difference in attachment site preference, for example, Amblyomma genus was attached mostly to the scrotum/udder and axial and Rh. pulchellus was specified on the ear and perianal area, while Rh. decoloratus was non site selective. In conclusion, findings of this study suggest that ticks were the most important problems of cattle of the study areas. Therefore, the increasing threat of ticks warrants urgent strategic control including application of acaricides and creation of awareness among livestock owners about the veterinary importance of ticks for the integrated tick control.


This paper proposes a method for building a transliteration dictionary, which is based on pronouncing information extracted from two kinds of existing dictionaries. Also, it proposes a method for transforming the pronouncing information into Korean translitered words. To express the pronouncing information, we define Phoman code system. In order to avoid phonetic estimation process of English words which is the most important problem, the proposed method uses the pronouncing information extracted from the existing dictionaries. Therefore, unlike previous approaches, the proposed method does not need any incomplete phonetic estimation process so that it can produce accurate transliteration results. The proposed method has been fully implemented.


In the setting of a Gaussian channel without power constraints, proposed by Poltyrev, the codewords are points in an n-dimensional Euclidean space (an infinite constellation) and their optimal density is considered. Poltyrev's "capacity" is the highest achievable normalized log density (NLD) with vanishing error probability. This capacity as well as error exponents for this setting are known. In this work we consider the optimal NLD for a fixed, nonzero error probability, as a function of the codeword length (dimension) n. We show that as n grows, the gap to capacity is inversely proportional (up to the first order) to the square-root of n where the proportion constant is given by the inverse Q-function of the allowed error probability, times the square root of 1 over 2. In an analogy to similar result in channel coding, the dispersion of infinite constellations is 1 over 2 nat2 per channel use. We show that this optimal convergence rate can be achieved using lattices, therefore the result holds for the maximal error probability as well. Connections to the error exponent of the power constrained Gaussian channel and to the volume-to-noise ratio as a figure of merit are discussed.


In this study, we aimed to find the influence of different levels of doneness (rare, medium, over-cooked) on the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) in Turkish fermented beef sausages (sucuk) cooked by pan-frying method. Six types of HCAs were determined at three different temperatures. Determination of HCA was made using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). IQ, MeIQx and 4,8-DiMeIQx were detected and quantified with DAD detector and PhIP, norharman and harman were determined with fluorescence detector. External standard and recovery methods were both used for the calculation amount of HCAs to obtain results that are more accurate. HCA and soluble protein analyses were performed in rare, medium and over-cooked sucuk samples. Moisture, ash, protein, lipid contents and pH analyses were performed in raw sucuk samples. Total HCA content of sucuk samples was found between 0.65 and 17.90 ng/g. Total HCA content of over-cooked sucuk samples were higher than rare-cooked sucuk samples (P


Four years ago, when I was nominated as the 4th president of the Japan Stroke Society (JSS), I put forward a list of 20 important points that I wanted to address during my presidency (Table 1). So far, eleven of them have been completely or almost completely resolved, and progress has been made on several others.One of the most important issues was the establishment of an age-limit system, which has been a long-standing problem for the JSS. Within the next 5 years, an age-limit of 65 years will be introduced for members of the board of directors and councillors in JSS. Another milestone was the 2nd examination for JSS-verified stroke specialists : as a result, 81 new specialists were accepted, making a total of 2,540 stroke specialists in Japan. Our journals in Japanese (Nousotchuu) and in English (J Stroke CVD) are progressing very well, and J Stroke CVD will be included in the National Library of Medicine from next year. In addition, t-PA seminars were held 166 times throughout Japan, with 9,093 participants in total.Several issues remain, including: 1) the question of publicity for stroke specialists; 2) the updating of the Guidelines for the Management of Stroke, in which the JSS is playing a key role; 3) establishment of the "brainattack" campaign committee; 4) improvement of international cooperation, particularly with Asian countries; 5) better stroke education for the general population, ambulance people, general physicians, young residents and students; 6) cooperation with other medical professionals, including scientific meetings and so on.I hope that, with the further cooperation of the JSS members, we will soon see considerable progress in these areas too.


The pension system brings challenges in many developed countries. While the systems were set up at a time of economic growth, policymakers are facing both economic slowdown and an aging population. Moreover, there is an incentive mis-match between short to medium term popularity and re-election versus taking necessary decisions to affect longterm sustainability of the system. In a small open economy, the situation is further accentuated by high volatility driven by migrations and cross-border workers. This paper aims to address the policymakers' challenges in these economies by providing both a highly innovative modelling that considers not only population aging but also the cohort of cross border workers and their entitlement to a partial pension in the future. It also provides an approach to analyse issues at stake and remove decision biases faced by politicians through policy options and their impact under various economic scenarios. We illustrate this approach through the case of Luxembourg and its pension challenge at horizon 2060 under three highly plausible scenarios: the "Successful economic reorientation", the "Progressive convergence to normal", and the "Perfect storm".


Smurf2, a HECT family E3 ubiquitin ligase has been shown to ubiquitinate and target for degradation of several proteins that promote tumorigenesis, including TGF-β receptors, Smad2/3, β-catenin, and Mad2. Furthermore, we have previously found that Smurf2 can induce senescence in early passage cells in culture. As senescence has been postulated to act as a tumor suppression mechanism, we hypothesize that Smurf2 functions as a tumor suppressor. To test this hypothesis, we generated a Smurf2-deficienct mouse strain using a gene trapping strategy, in which transcription of Smurf2 is compromised. The homozygous Smurf2-deficient mice were obtained with the expected Mendelian ratio after intercrossing of heterozygous mice, and they exhibited no obvious developmental defects. Analysis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts from these Smurf2-deficient mice revealed that they exhibited delayed senescence entry and consequently had an increased tendency to become immortalized in culture. Cohorts of Smurf2-deficient and wild-type mice were generated and monitored for spontaneous tumor development. In this ongoing study, 37% (13 out of 35) of the Smurf2-deficient mice, but none of the wild-type mice showed signs of morbidity after 14-month of age. The moribund Smurf2-deficient mice were found to have enlarged spleen, pale kidneys and liver, and/or enlarged lymph nodes. Histopathology analysis indicated that most of the tumors are lymphomas. In addition, adenocarcinoma of the small intestine was found in one Smurf2-deficient mouse. Collectively, our data suggest that Smurf2 is a tumor suppressor. Preliminary studies of the underlying molecular mechanism of tumorigenesis in Smurf2-deficient mice will be presented. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2914.


Phase-change materials have a wide range of optical and electrical applications due to a unique combination of structural, electronic and optical properties. The phase transition between the crystalline and amorphous phases is a central physical process in devices based on phase-change materials. In order to design and to develop future applications with novel functionalities we need to understand on the nanometre length scale and the (sub)nanosecond timescale the electrical, thermal and phase-transition behaviour of phasechange materials. At the nanoscale the phase-transformation in phase-change materials is governed by the chemical composition, atomic structure, and the input energy due to temperature (Joule heat), electric field and/or electronic excitations. Therefore, a successful phase-change model should capture all these elements and predict the phase information as an output. We discuss the theoretical models that have been used to study and predict the crystallization of phase-change materials that span the materials modelling spectrum from electronic/atomistic simulations (atomic behaviour) to microscopic and continuum models (bulk behaviour). Real applications and device design require the use of microscopic and continuum models due to large computational times of atomistic simulations. On the other hand the predictions provided by microscopic and continuum models depend on the chosen parameter set used to describe the phase transition. We stress the importance of 'building bridges' between atomistic and continuummodelling to design future phase-change devices with novel and enhanced functionalities.


Objectives: This study aims to explore the major health problems of persons with disabilities, to see the difference between the health problems of persons with mild to moderate and severe to profound disabilities, and highlight the problems. Study Design: Quantitative Study. Setting: University of the Punjab, Lahore. Period: 15 March 2018 to 14 Dec 2020. Material & Methods: The study included a quantitative survey conducted with interviews of 100 persons with different disabilities (50 mild to moderate disabilities, 50 severe to profound disabilities) selected by applying convenient sampling method. A questionnaire was used for the data collection. The questionnainaire comprised of three parts: first part was about demographics,the second part consisted of items related to the health problems and third part consisted of items related to the access to health care services. Non-parametric statistical analysis was used for the data analysis. Comparison between persons with mild to moderate and severe to profound disabilities was made. Results: Results showed that persons with severe to profound disabilities generally experienced more health problems and problems in accessing   health care services as compared to persons with mild to moderate disabilities. Conclusion: The study concluded that persons with disabilities experience physical, attitudinal and communication problems while accessing health services.


Engine-mounted aircraft generators must fit within an envelope 6 1/2 inches in diameter by 14 inches long. Electric-power requirements on military airplanes are increasing so rapidly that the most urgent assignment confronting designers of aircraft generators is that of achieving the ultimate output possible from this envelope. In 1939 the maximum rating was 1,500 watts; in 1940 the maximum rating jumped to 3,000 watts; in 1942 to 6,000 watts. A rating of 9,000 is coming into use, and a rating of 12,000 watts is likely to be possible in 1944. A rating of 15,000 watts has been mentioned. New materials, new military demands, new design ingenuity, new manufacturing techniques, and new operating experiences have all had a part in introducing more advances in this field during the past four years than were made during the approximate 20 years of generator history prior to 1938. Methods by which these advances have been accomplished are described, and possibilities for future progress are indicated.


The rotation structure in exotic neutron-rich nucleus 22F is investigated based on the configuration πd5/2⊗νd5/2−1 with the newly developed tilted axis cranking relativistic mean field theory in a fully microscopic and self-consistent way. The possible existence of magnetic rotation is suggested for 22F via investigating the spectra, the relation between the rotational frequency and the angular momentum, the electromagnetic transition probabilities B(M1) and B(E2) together with the shears mechanism characteristic of magnetic rotation. The effect of the nuclear current is also discussed by comparing the calculation results with and without currents.


Batik Fendy is one of batik companies located in Gopaten, Kalikotes,
Klaten. Production process done by company based on order received from buyer,
so that company in determining cost of goods manufactured apply job order
costing method which must be determined at the time the company receive their
order.
The purpose of this research is to evaluate calculation of cost of goods
manufactured based on order received. Writer in evaluating cost of goods
manufactured take example of order of material 2 M natural color, ethnic short
shirt and adult batik T-shirt. Evaluation done by the way of comparing calculation
of cost of goods manufactured according to company with theoretical calculation
of cost accounting.
Result of analysis and solution which has been done finds where way of
calculation of raw material cost and direct labor cost done by company have been
correctly as according to the cost accounting theory. But calculation of factory
overhead cost was by appropriate. This is caused by existence of difference
calculation with the cost accounting theory. The company only enter element of
factory overhead cost in the form of cash expenses which actually happened. So
that the company unable to reach maximum gain.
Based on for of research, the writer submits some suggestions for
company in doing the next calculation cost of goods manufactured. Be better if
company burdens all element of factory overhead cost either cash expenses or
non-cash expenses. Be better if company in calculating factory overhead cost
applies rate determined before the company receive an order.

Keyword: Cost of good manufacturing, job order costing method, material
cost, direct labor cost and factory overhead cost.


Obstructive ileus is a life-threatening gastrointestinal condition that requires emergency operation. Patients with obstructive ileus sometimes develop coagulopathy. In such cases, central neuraxial blockade should be avoided. Rectus sheath blockade (RSB) is one of the popular methods for abdominal wall surgery. Ultrasound imaging of the rectus sheath may facilitate successful RSB by indicating the presence and location of rectus abdominis. Two patients presented with ileus secondary to rectal or sigmoid cancer and underwent emergency ileostomy. The patients had mild coagulopathy [platelet count, 77,000 microl(-1) in case 1, and platelet count, 98,000 microl(-1) in case 2]. Each patient underwent general anesthesia using propofol and remifentanil. They were given 0.5% ropivacaine 20ml for RSB under ultrasound-guidance. Their hemodynamics was stable and they did not need another muscle relaxant during operation, except succinylcholine during induction. RSB is useful for abdominal operations. In addition, ultrasonogrhaphy facilitates the prediction of depth of the posterior rectus sheath and improves the accuracy of local anesthetic placement. We conclude that RSB is effective for improving postoperative pain and intraoperative muscle relaxation of the abdominal wall. Ultrasound-guided RSB is an alternative method to central neuraxial blockade.


Sensors on (or attached to) mobile phones can enable attractive sensing applications in different domains such as environmental monitoring, social networking, healthcare, etc. In this paper we propose a cloud computing system dedicated on smart home applications. We design the proposed wireless vision sensor network (WVSN) with its algorithm and hardware implementation. In WVSN, The partial-vision camera strategy is applied to allocate the computation task between the sensor node and the central server. Then we propose a high performance segmentation algorithm. Meanwhile, an efficient binary data compression method is proposed to cope with the result on labeling information. The proposed algorithm can provide high precision rate for the smart home applications such as the gesture recognition and humanoid tracking. To realize the physical system, we implement it on the embedded platform and the central server with their transmission work.


A method is presented for the rapid determination of the fluorescein content, protein content, and fluorescein-to-protein ratio for immune globulin conjugates with fluorescein isothiocyanate as the fluor. This method is based on the absorbance of the fluorescent antibody at those wavelengths primarily associated with the fluorescein and gamma-globulin fractions, and permits these materials to be determined by a single nondestructive analytical procedure. A small sample of the fluorescent antibody, in many cases 0.1 ml or less, is adequate for the above determinations. A nomograph is presented which allows simultaneous determination of the materials from the observed absorbance at the two wavelengths. The method is sufficiently accurate for most applications of the fluorescent-antibody techniques. Although this procedure has been developed primarily for fluorescent-antibody conjugates prepared from rabbit gamma-globulin, it can be used directly for antibodies prepared from other animals provided the gamma-globulin is relatively free from albumin.


The Seminar "Dark Matter in Galaxies" was delivered, within the Dark Matter Awareness Week (1-8 December 2010) at 140 institutes in 46 countries and it was followed by 4200 people. A documentation of this worldwide initiative is at this http URL A reference presentation, prepared by a coordinated pool of leading scientists in the field, was available to speakers. In response to feedbacks and suggestions, we upgraded it to a "Presentation Review" of which we provide here the Explanatory Notes, the link to the .pptx file, and some image of the slides. This Presentation Review is an innovative scientific product to meet the request of information about the phenomenology of the DM mystery at galactic scale. This Review concerns the mass discrepancy phenomenon detected in galaxies, usually accounted by postulating the presence of a non luminous non baryonic component. In the theoretical framework of Newtonian Gravity we recall the properties of Dark Matter halos as emerging from the state-of-the-art of numerical simulations performed in the current $\Lambda CDM$ scenario. Then, the simple but much-telling phenomenology of the distribution of dark and luminous matter in Spirals, Ellipticals, and dwarf Spheroidals is reported. We show that a coherent observational framework emerges from reliable data of different large samples of objects and it is obtained by different methods of investigation. We then highlight the impressive evidence that the distribution of dark and luminous matter are closely correlated and that have universal features. Hints on the cosmological role of this phenomenological scenario are then given. Finally, we discuss the constraints on the elusive nature of the dark particle that the actual distribution of DM around galaxies pose on its direct and indirect searches.


This collection of essays aims to link the critical socialist theory of Walter and Beaumont's Probation Work (1981) with actual probation practice A deceptively modest book, I found every essay containing useful hmts for good practice, plus clear statements, or restatements of social work values Walter and Beaumont set the book in the context of the Probation Service being required to alter its values and methods to fit m with


ABSTRACT
 There is rising interest in linking research on subjective well-being and the intergenerational transmission of personality traits, attitudes, norms, values, subjective evaluations, and satisfaction. Beyond the mere study of the intergenerational transmission of well-being, there has been a growing focus on the influence of parenting practices and parenting performance on adolescents' well-being. This analysis explores the effects of parenting on this transmission with special attention to gender differences. Our investigation is based on representative survey data involving 852 Hungarian nuclear families with 12–16-year-old children from 2017. In bivariate terms, our paper compares parental and adolescent subjective well-being by investigating the association between their satisfaction. In multivariate terms, a regression model is developed whereby adolescents' well-being is predicted by parental well-being and quality of parenting, controlled for individual and family characteristics, as well as the time parents and children, spend together. Results show that the intergenerational transmission of subjective well-being is very significant and is associated with gender-based variation in subjective quality of parenting. Based on the analysis, we highlight gender differences in relation to both parents and adolescents.


Importance
Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and midlines are frequently used for short-term venous access; whether one is safer than the other in this setting has not been adequately reported.

Objective
To compare outcomes between patients who had a PICC vs midline placed for the indication of difficult vascular access or antibiotic therapy for 30 or fewer days.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This cohort study analyzed data from a multihospital registry including patients admitted to a participating site from December 2017 through January 2020 who had a PICC or midline placement for the indications of difficult venous access or intravenous antibiotic therapy prescribed for 30 or fewer days. Data were analyzed from October 2020 to March 2021.

Exposures
PICC and midline placement.

Main Outcomes and Measures
Major complications, including a composite of symptomatic catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis (DVT), catheter-related bloodstream infection, and catheter occlusion. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models (taking into account catheter dwell) were used to estimate risk for major complications, adjusting for patient and device characteristics and the clustered nature of the data. Sensitivity analyses limiting analyses to 10 days of device dwell were performed.

Results
Data on 10 863 patients, 5758 with PICCs and 5105 with midlines (median [IQR] age of device recipients, 64.8 [53.4-75.4] years; 5741 [52.8%] were female), were included. After adjusting for patient characteristics, comorbidities, catheter lumens, and dwell time in logit models, patients who received PICCs had a greater risk of developing a major complication compared with those who received midlines (odds ratio, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.61-2.47). Reduction in complications stemmed from lower rates of occlusion (2.1% vs 7.0%; P < .001) and bloodstream infection (0.4% vs 1.6%; P < .001) in midlines vs PICCs; no significant difference in the risk of DVT between PICCs and midlines was observed. In time-to-event models, similar outcomes for bloodstream infection and catheter occlusion were noted; however, the risk of DVT events was lower in patients who received PICCs vs midlines (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.38-0.74). Results were robust to sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions and Relevance
In this cohort study among patients with placement of midline catheters vs PICCs for short-term indications, midlines were associated with a lower risk of bloodstream infection and occlusion compared with PICCs. Whether DVT risk is similar or greater with midlines compared with PICCs for short-term use is unclear. Randomized clinical trials comparing these devices for this indication are needed.


We consider the theory of very weak solutions of the stationary Stokes system with nonhomogeneous boundary data and divergence in domains of half space type, such as R n +, bent half spaces whose boundary can be written as the graph of a Lipschitz function, perturbed half spaces as local but possibly large perturbations of R+, and in aperture domains. The proofs are based on duality arguments and corresponding results for strong solutions in these domains, which have to be constructed in homogeneous Sobolev spaces. In addition to very weak solutions we also construct corresponding pressure functions in negative homogeneous Sobolev spaces.


This study examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic changes Japanese firms' approach to management discussion and analysis (MD&A) disclosure. Based on readability (text genericity) and tone, I investigate whether management obfuscate text during the pandemic or attempt to provide information. Additionally, I examine whether bad news is inherently difficult to read based on the difficulty of the text. During the pandemic, the tone value of MD&A disclosure is negative in fraudulent firms and more negative in nonfraudulent firms. Both types of firms attempt to communicate their company's situation with honesty, thus satisfying the legitimacy criterion of communicative action theory. This result is not consistent with the results for Europe and the United States, where readability is lower. As a disaster-prone country, Japanese managers may find it easier to share deteriorating firm performance with investors. Nonfraudulent firms also increase textual difficulty during the pandemic, which supports ontology theory.
 Data Availability: Data are available from sources identified in the paper.
 JEL Classifications: M41; M42.


This paper presents a fully integrated single-chip Ku-band radiometer system for snow and ice sensing in 65nm CMOS. The single chip contains the Ku receiver chain, synthesizer, analog-to-digital converter (ADC), digital signal processing (DSP), digital calibration, and a USB interface to form a complete sensing system requiring only a single external MMIC LNA preamplifier. The entire radiometer system consumes 485mW including the external MMIC and achieves a measured NEΔT of 1.64K with an Allan deviation time of 1.5 seconds.


The study is to find out the effects of holding Foreign Exchange reserves on Exchange Rates in Nigeria. It is also to find out the effect of such reserves on inflation in Nigeria. Two hypotheses are proposed for the study. Hypothesis I has Null (H0) Hypothesis that foreign exchange reserves do not have significant effect on foreign exchange rate. There is the Hypothesis II where Null (H0) hypothesis is that foreign exchange reserves do not have significant effects on inflation in Nigeria. Secondary time series data are collated from CBN Statistical Bulletin. Simple linear regression was run for two models with Minitab 14 for windows. The regression equation shows that there is a negative relationship between Foreign Exchange rate leading to the rejection of first null hypothesis and accepting H1. The Second regression equation shows that inflation has positive relationship with foreign reserves. This means also rejecting second null hypothesis and accepting the second alternative hypothesis. Government is advised to ensure optimal management of the nations external reserves. Other causes such as Money Supply (M2) are suspected to be responsible for causing inflation in Nigeria. Key words: Foreign reserves; Foreign exchange; Balance of payments; Volatility; Guidotti–Greenspan rule; External shocks


A novel joint source channel distortion model is proposed, which can essentially estimate the average distortion. To improve the precision of the model, the redundancy generated by a forbidden symbol in the arithmetic codes is used to distinguish between the quantization distortion and the channel distortion, all the coefficients from the first error one to the end of the sequence are set to be a value within the variance range of the coefficients instead of zero, then the error propagation coming from the entropy coding can be essentially estimated. Experiment results show that the precision of the model in terms of average peak-signal-to-noise has been improved about 0.5dB compared to classical works. An efficient progressive image transmission system based on the model is developed, and can be used in the wireless communication systems.


The railroad traffic control center is the facilities set up for the purpose of safe and efficient railway transportation by integrating and controlling the individual elements which compose railway, and The railroad traffic controller conducts traffic control job directly related railway safety at the Center. The Railway Safety Law classifies the controller as core worker among various workers related to railway safety, but the studies regarding the controller's job has been remained at insignificant level compared to other workers. This study has been progressed to devise comprehension and to present the direction of improvement about the controller's job processes, and job units are classified as Duties, Tasks and Elements in order to perform efficient research. Direct Observation Method is applied as analytic technique and Expert Interview supplements the weak point of the method to minimize the subjective errors. Through these processes, this study presents the Job classification of the Controller in accordance with job patterns and characters, grouping 5 duties and 60 tasks those are classified by sorting of each elements.


Colletotrichum acutatum has been identified as the major pathogenic species of CLD in rubber. Recently, C. siamense was identified as another causative agent of this disease from Sri Lankan rubber plantations. The present study was focused to compare C. acutatum and C. siamense giving special reference to cultural and reproductive characteristics, fungicide sensitivity and pathogenicity. Comparison of new pathogens with already existing pathogens are required for understanding of new pathogen population. That knowledge will be important to improve management strategies, quarantine regulations and to protect crop avoiding a huge economical lose. C. siamense was isolated from symptomatic rubber leaves on to Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and C. acutatum was collected from department culture collection. Cultural characters were observed after 10 days of incubation. Reproductive characters were compared using slide culture technique. Conidia concentrations were detected using haemocytometer. Growth rates were measured along two perpendicular axis on PDA plates. Fungicide sensitivity was tested with 0.01-500 ppm carbendazim following poisoned food technique. Pathogenicity test was performed using 5×105 conidia/ml suspension on detached rubber leaves and Disease Index (DI) was calculated. Colonies were circular, smooth and cloudy with raised elevation, opaque nature and entire margin. Both upper and lower surfaces of C. siamense were light grey with orange conidiomata on the lower surface. C. acutatum produced white to light grey colonies which were initially salmon coloured in lower surface. Conidia in both isolates were aseptate one celled, hyaline, smooth-walled and granular with size of 14-16 μm×4-5 μm. C. siamense produced cylindrical, both ends rounded spores with 4×105 conidia/ml concentration while C. acutatum produced fusiform conidia with 2.08×107 conidia/ml upon 7 days of incubation. However, the growth of C. siamense in PDA was higher (1.60 cm/day) than the growth of C. acutatum (1.48 cm/day). Although C. siamense inhibited 100% of its growth even at 0.5 ppm of carbendazim, C. acutatum was extremely tolerant to carbendazim and couldn't inhibit the growth even at 500 ppm. In the pathogenicity test, lesions were produced at all inoculation points but the size and type of lesions produced by both isolates were different. C. acutatum produced darker anthracnose-like watery lesions with 3.00 DI value and C. siamense produced slightly dark watery lesions with DI value of 2.00. According to the characters of both isolates, C. acutatum can be identified as a severe pathogen than C. siamense.


NKT cells are a regulatory subset of T lymphocytes with immune modulatory effects and an important role in anti‐tumor immunity. The feasibility of "ex‐vivo education" of NKT cells has recently been demonstrated. To evaluate the anti‐tumor effect of ex‐vivo immune‐modulated NKT lymphocytes in a murine model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Athymic Balb/C mice were sublethally irradiated and transplanted with human Hep3B HCC. NKT cells prepared from immunocompetent Balb/C mice were pulsed ex vivo with HCC‐derived antigens (Group A), Hep3B cells (group B) or BSA (group C), and adoptively transferred into HCC harboring mice (1 × 06 NKT cells per mouse). Group D mice did not undergo NKT cell transplantation. Group E mice were transplanted with 1 × 106 NKT cells from HBV‐immunized donors. Mice were followed for tumor size and weight. To determine the mechanism of the anti‐tumor effect, intrasplenic lymphocyte populations were analyzed by FACS for NKT, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subpopulations; STAT 1, 4 and 6 expression in splenocytes was assessed by Western blot, and serum cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. Adoptive transfer of NKT cells pulsed with HCC‐derived antigens (group A) and NKT cells from immunized donors (group E) resulted in complete disappearance of tumors within 4 weeks and attenuated weight loss (6.5% and 7% in groups A and E, respectively). In contrast, mice in groups B, C, and D developed large, necrotic tumors and severe weight loss (21%, 17% and 23% weight loss in groups B, C, and D, respectively). NKT/CD4 and CD8/CD4 ratios were significantly increased in groups A and E (12.3 and 17.6 in groups A and D, respectively, compared to 6.4, 4.8 and 5.6 in groups B, C and D, respectively, for the NKT/CD4 ratio; 41 and 19.8 in groups A and E, respectively, compared to 6.5, 11.8 and 3.2 in groups B, C, and D, respectively, for the CD8/CD4 ratio). Expression of the transcription factor STAT4 was evident in group A, but not in groups B‐D. Serum IFNγ, IL12 and IL4 levels were increased in groups A and E. Adoptive transfer of NKT lymphocytes exposed ex vivo by HCC‐derived antigens loaded on dendritic cells and NKT cells from immunized donors led to suppression of HCC in mice. NKT‐mediated anti‐tumor activity was associated increased NKT and CD8+ T lymphocyte numbers, increased expression of STAT4, a marker for IL‐12 activity and elevated serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IFNγ and IL12, and of IL4. Ex‐vivo modulation of NKT lymphocytes holds promise as a novel mode of immune therapy for HCC. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The retrovirus designated RPMI8226V (isolated from human myeloma cells RPMI8226) has been characterized with respect to its morphological, biochemical and immunological properties as well as its propagation in various animal and human cells. The myeloma cells RPMI8226 produce intracytoplasmatic A-type particles and extracellular particles. The extracellular particles have been classified as immature particles with translucent core center, typical mammalian C-type virus particles and C-type particles with intermediate membrane. However, the budded particles in secondarily infected human neoplastic cells contained complete doughnut-shaped nucleoids. This type of budding is rather characteristic for B-type particles. The 3H-uridine labeled RPMI8226 viral particles have a buoyant density 1.17 g/ml in sucrose gradient containing high molecular weight RNA and the distribution of viral structural proteins in SDS-PAGE is characteristic for oncornaviruses. The internal structural proteins according to MW are ranged from 13 000 to 30 000 daltons. The virus contains a magnesium-dependent reverse transcriptase. The cellular homogenate and viral concentrate from RPMI8226 cultures do not react with antibodies against ALSV, MuLV, FeLV, RD114, MP-MV and SiSLV. The only reaction was scored with anti BLV antibodies. However, anti BLV serum inhibiting the reverse transcriptase activity of BLV to 60% does not cross-react with the reverse transcriptase of RPMI8226V. In contrast to BLV concentrates, neither XC nor KC cells show syncytia formation by RPMI8226V. The RPMI8226V replication is restricted to human tumor and normal human glia-like cells. The possible origin of the virus is discussed.


The design of a new high-efficiency switching power amplifier with an ultralow-power spread spectrum clock generator (SSCG) is first reported in this paper. An effective low-power frequency modulation method is first proposed to reduce the electromagnetic interference of the pulse width modulation class D power amplifier without degrading its power efficiency. Also, a simple RC voltage feedback circuit is used to reduce the total harmonic distortion (THD). This amplifier proves to be a cost-effective solution for designing high fidelity and high efficiency audio power amplifiers for portable applications. Measurement results show that the power efficiency and THD can reach 90% and 0.05%, respectively. The power dissipation of the SSCG is only 112 ¿W. The harmonic peaks of the switching frequency are greatly reduced when the SSCG technique is applied to the amplifier design. The impact of the SSCG on the THD of the class D power amplifier is also first reported in this paper. This switching power amplifier is implemented using a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacture Company (TSMC) 0.35- ¿m CMOS process.


This research was conducted to explore the characteristics of encephalofluctuographs in 10 execellent toxophily athletes aged 17 to 28 years by comparison with those in 30 undergraduates as controls. The data were collected through EEG- Encephalofluctuograph technology(ET) under quiet and eye-closed conditions of the subjects. The results showed that the multiple indices of S-spectrum of ET possessed the following characteristics the toxophily athletes' frequency of S2, S3/S4, S5, S11 and S13 increased, while their frequency of S1, S6 and 57 decreased. The EEG - Encephalofluctuographic Characteristics were different; moreover, the left brain was in the ascendent notably. In terms of the intrinsic relation between S spectrums and neurotransmitter, it was noted that when compared with the controls, the toxophily athletes had better memories, stronger self-control and adaptability, and they could concentrate greater attention on an object.


The natural hazard, mainly earthquake, has caused substantial economic losses and human life loss to many countries. Taiwan, which is located on the western Circum-Pacific seismic belt, has encountered the problem as mentioned earlier in Meishan, Hsinchu-Taichung, and Chi-Chi earthquakes a few years ago. In this study, the researchers propose a novel robot-event integrated system capable of doing the automated inspection and emergency response due to a significant earthquake. When the household's earthquake warning receiving device picks up an alert, its built-in wireless communications system will send a signal to the robot. The robot commences inspection of the indoor area via real-time image recognition and tracking. It will approach them upon detecting fallen people, regulating their movements via a robot operating system (ROS) monitoring interface. The robot is designed to operate in a house that remains standing with acceptable damage in which the furniture might falling and injure the occupants after an earthquake hit. The indoor experiment conducted to verify the robot system and operation with a designed condition such as fallen and non-fallen people as a detected object. The robot tested to deliver food or medicine for fallen people while waiting for rescuers to arrive. Tests indicate that the proposed smart robot has prospective implementation to the real-world application with more research and development. The smart robot integrated with an earthquake early warning system has a promising approach to the temporary care of people affected by earthquakes.


The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a high‐fat and high‐calorie meal on the single‐dose pharmacokinetics (PK) and tolerability of savolitinib. The study included two phases: safety run‐in phase and food effect assessment phase. In the safety run‐in phase, 9 healthy male volunteers were divided into three groups to be administered a single oral dose of savolitinib tablets at 200, 400, and 600 mg. In the food effect assessment phase, 16 healthy male volunteers received a single 600 mg dose of savolitinib tablets following an overnight fast or a high‐fat and high‐calorie breakfast prior to dosing. Blood samples were collected at the designated time points for pharmacokinetic analysis. Safety and tolerability were assessed throughout the study by clinical assessments and adverse events (AEs). A total of 25 healthy male volunteers were enrolled in the study, including 9 in the safety run‐in phase and 16 in the food effect assessment phase. In the food effect assessment phase, the geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) for savolitinib dosed under the fed condition compared with that dosed under the fasting condition were 102.7% (84.9%, 124.2%) and 117.1% (103.9%, 131.9%) for Cmax and AUC0‐inf of savolitinib, respectively. The Tmax was delayed significantly (p = 0.023) under fed condition. The most common AEs possibly related to the study drug were dizziness, nausea, and emesis. The study indicated that a high‐fat and high‐calorie meal has no clinically relevant impact on the PK and bioavailability of savolitinib in healthy male volunteers.


Purpose Although decreased natural killer cell activity (NKA) has been observed in many solid cancers, clinical implication of NKA has been scarcely investigated in lung cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of using NKA to support diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and methods We prospectively evaluated and compared peripheral blood NKA using a novel interferon-gamma releasing assay in healthy population (n=40), patients with benign lung disease (n=40), and those with NSCLC (n=71). We explored the correlation between NKA and clinical parameters and assessed diagnostic performance of NKA for NSCLC using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results Median NKA values in healthy population, patients with benign lung disease, and those with NSCLC were 1,364.2, 1,438.2, and 406.3 pg/mL, respectively. NKA in NSCLC patients was significantly lower than that in the other two control groups (both P<0.001). At a cutoff value of NKA at 391.0 pg/mL, the area under the curve was 0.762 (95% CI: 0.685–0.838, P<0.001), with a sensitivity of 52.3%, a specificity of 91.0%, a positive predictive value of 85.3%, and a negative predictive value of 65.4% for the diagnosis of NSCLC. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that diagnosis of NSCLC is the only clinical parameter that was significantly associated with NKA (P<0.001). Conclusion This pilot study showed that patients with low NKA were more likely to have lung cancer. Further studies are warranted in order to establish the clinical utility of NKA test for diagnosing lung cancer.


Occlusion of small-bore feeding tubes (Dobbhoff, 8 French) was observed at our institution in 32 of 90 patients (35%) over an 8-month period. The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible causes of tube occlusion and to assess the efficacy of an activated pancreatic enzyme solution to clear obstructed feeding tubes. A Drum cartridge catheter was inserted into the occluded feeding tube to displace any liquid formula and to apply the enzyme solution close to the obstruction site. Water was injected first and served as control. The feeding tubes of 32 patients occluded 60 times during an 8-month period and declogging was attempted in 44 instances. Water was able to clear the obstruction in 12 cases. In the remaining 32 cases, the activated pancreatic enzyme was injected, and the obstruction was cleared in 23 cases (72%). The causes of failure to clear the obstruction were determined in seven cases: tablet impaction (three cases), knotted feeding tube (two cases), tomato seed occluded the feeding port (one case), formula clot in two-third length of the tube for 24-hr (one case). Thus, the pancreatic enzyme solution was successful in restoring tube patency in 23 of 24 instances (96%) where formula clotting was the likely cause of occlusion and Coke or water had failed.


Haze with high loading of particles may result in significant enrichment of particle-bound Hg (PBM), potentially impacting the atmospheric Hg transformation and transport. However, the dynamics of Hg transformation and the relative environmental effect during severe haze episodes remain unclear. Here, we report Hg isotopic compositions of atmospheric particles (PM2.5, PM10, and TSP) collected during a severe haze episode in Tianjin, China, to investigate the transformation and fate of Hg during haze events. All severe haze samples display significantly higher Δ199Hg (up to 1.50‰) than global urban PBM, which cannot be explained by primary anthropogenic emissions. The high Δ199Hg is likely caused by photoreduction of PBM promoted by water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) during the particle accumulation period, as demonstrated by the positive correlations of Δ199Hg with WSOC and relative humidity and confirmed by our laboratory-controlled photoreduction experiment. The results show that, on average, 21% of PBM are likely photoreduced and re-emitted back to the atmosphere as Hg(0), potentially requiring revision of atmospheric Hg budgeting and modeling. This study highlights the release of large portions of PBM back to the gas phase through photoreduction, which needs to be taken into account while evaluating the atmospheric Hg cycle and the relative ecological effects.


I fully agree with Professor Birta that simulation is often not the ultimate task of a study but rather it plays part of an encompassing optimization or identification problem. This can easily be formulated in the way suggested by Professor Birta and this solution technique may be useful, although it tends to result in high computational costs (since generally hundreds, if not thousands, of simulation runs have to be performed). It is often more advisable to solve the problem by extending the original set of differential equations with some additional equations whose steady-state solution is the optimized value of the parameter vector. I call these techniques (based upon adaptive control theory) online optimization technqiues in contrast to the offZine optimization techniques suggested by Professor Birta. These techniques, however, are much more complicated to apply, since the additional equations must be determined for each problem separately. They are, therefore, not appropriate for implementation with a CSSL-type general-purpose simulation package, although they are the only practicable solutions for many problems.


The recent advances in hardware and software have enabled the capture of different measurements of data in a wide range of fields. These measurements are generated continuously and in a very high fluctuating data rates. Examples include sensor networks, web logs, and computer network traffic. The storage, querying and mining of such data sets are highly computationally challenging tasks. Mining data streams is concerned with extracting knowledge structures represented in models and patterns in non stopping streams of information. The research in data stream mining has gained a high attraction due to the importance of its applications and the increasing generation of streaming information. Applications of data stream analysis can vary from critical scientific and astronomical applications to important business and financial ones. Algorithms, systems and frameworks that address streaming challenges have been developed from the past few years. This paper presents a system for induction of forest of functional trees from data streams able to detect concept drift. The Ultra Fast Forest of Trees (UFFT)is an incremental algorithm, which works online, processing each example in constant time, and performing a single scan over the training examples. It uses analytical techniques to choose the splitting criteria, and the information gain to estimate the merit of each possible splitting-test. For multi-class problems the algorithm builds a binary tree for each possible pair of classes, leading to a forest of trees. Decision nodes and leaves contain naive-Bayes classifiers playing different roles during the induction process. Naive-Bayes in leaves are used to classify test examples. Naive-Bayes in inner nodes play two different roles. They can be used as multivariate splitting-tests if chosen by the splitting criteria, and used to detect changes in the classdistribution of the examples that traverse the node. When a change in the class-distribution is detected,all the subtree rooted at that node will be pruned. The use of naiveBayes classifiers at leaves to classify test examples, the use of splitting-tests based on the outcome of naive-Bayes, and the use of naive-Bayes classifiers at decision nodes to detect changes in the distribution of the examples are directly obtained from the sufficient statistics required to compute the splitting criteria, without no additional computations. This aspect is a main advantage in the context of high-speed data streams. This methodology was tested with artificial and real-world data sets. The experimental results show a very good performance in comparison to a batch decision tree learner, and high capacity to detect drift in the distribution of the examples.


ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of copper ions on egg white (EW) gel induced by strong alkali. Changes in gel characteristics were examined through texture profile analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and chemical methods. The value of gel strength reached its maximum when 0.1% copper ions was added. However, the lowest cohesiveness values were observed at 0.1%. The springiness of gel without copper ions was significantly greater than the gel with copper ions added. SEM results illustrated that the low concentration of copper ions contributes to a dense and uniform gel network, and an open matrix was formed at 0.4%. The free and total sulphhydryl group content in the egg white protein gel significantly decreased with the increased copper. The increase of copper ions left the contents of ionic and hydrogen bonds basically unchanged, hydrophobic interaction presented an increasing trend, and the disulfide bond exhibited a completely opposite change. The change of surface hydrophobicity proved that the main binding force of copper induced gel was hydrophobic interaction. However, copper ions had no effect on the protein component of the gels. Generally, a low level of copper ions facilitates protein‐protein association, which is involved in the characteristics of gels. Instead, high ionic strength had a negative effect on gels induced by strong alkali.


Chronic cough is one of the most common symptoms for patients-seeking consultation in an outpatient clinic. It is associated with substantial psychological, physical, and social burdens and impaired quality of life. This review highlights some of the major diagnostic and management challenges confronted in the field of cough with a special focus on the Indian perspective. Heterogeneity in definitions and classifications and challenges associated with over-the-counter drug use and irrational drug use are some of the major controversies. Streamlined diagnostic approach involving a combination of subjective and objective tools, evidence-based amendments in clinical practice, and stringent implementation of regulatory guidelines are mandatory to address controversies in cough management in developing countries.


Background Outdoor workers (OW) receive a higher dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) compared to indoor workers (IW) which increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Regular sunscreen use reduces the NMSC risk, however, adequate sun-safety behavior among OW is poor. The main objective was to conduct method- and intervention-related elements of a future intervention trial among OW, based on providing sunscreen and assessing sunscreen use on group- and individual level. Methods This pilot study was conducted at a construction site in the Netherlands from May-August 2021. Nine dispensers with sunscreen (SPF 50+) were installed at the worksite. OW (n = 67) were invited to complete two (cross-sectional) questionnaires on sun-safety behavior, before and after providing sunscreen. Stratum corneum (SC) samples for the assessment of UV-biomarkers were collected from the forehead and behind the ear from 15 OW and 15 IW. The feasibility of the following elements was investigated: recruitment, (loss to) follow-up, outcome measures, data collection, and acceptability of the intervention. Results The first questionnaire was completed by 27 OW, the second by 17 OW. More than 75 percent of the OW were aware of the risks of sun exposure, and 63% (n = 17) found sunscreen use during worktime important. The proportion of OW never applying sunscreen in the past month was 44.4% (n = 12) before, and 35.3% (n = 6) after providing sunscreen. A majority of OW (59.3%, n = 16) found sunscreen provision encouraging for sunscreen use, the dispensers easy to use (64.7%, n = 17) and placed in practical spots (58.8%, n = 18). Collecting SC-samples was fast and easy, and several UV-biomarkers showed higher levels for sun-exposed compared to less exposed body parts. There was no significant difference in UV-biomarker levels between OW and IW. Conclusions This pilot study revealed low sunscreen use among OW despite providing sunscreen, overall satisfaction with the sunscreen, and the sufficient awareness of the risks of UVR-exposure. Collecting SC-samples at the workplace is feasible and several UV-biomarkers showed to be promising in assessing UVR-exposure. The low participation rate and high loss to follow-up poses a challenge for future intervention studies.


OBJECTIVE
To analyses lung cancer incidence and mortality trends to gender and age group in Grande Cuiabá between 2000 to 2016.

METHODS
Study of times series applying incidence data from the Population-Based Cancer Registry of Cuiabá, and mortality data from Mortality Information System. Annual Percentage Change and the Average Annual Percentage Change were calculated in the incidence and mortality rate through the Joinpoint regression.

RESULTS
It was observed between men a decrease of -2,2% in the overall incidence of lung cancer during the term of 2000-2016 and by age range: 40 to 49 years (-4,2%), 60 to 69 years (-2,0%) and 70 to 79 years (-9,4%), in this last age group it was between 2000-2009. The general mortality was stable on historical series, nonetheless, a decline between men of 50 to 59 years (-3,5%) among 2006 to 2016 and of 70 to 79 years among 2002-20011 (-6,3%) were observed. The incidence trends among female individuals maintained stable whereas the overall mortality trends had an increase of 7,2% between 2000-2012 and decrease of -34,1% between 2012-2016. Amid women from 50 to 79 years, there was a raise, ranging from 3,5% to 3,9% between 2000-2016.

CONCLUSIONS
There is an evident disparity between the trends analysis of incidence and mortality of lung cancer among men and women, that can be explained by changes in smoking over time, for example, the adherence or not of the smoking withdraw program besides social, cultural, economics differences and even biological.


We propose a modified susceptible-infected-refractory-susceptible (SIRS) model to investigate the global oscillations of the epidemic spreading in Watts—Strogatz (WS) small-world networks. It is found that when an individual immunity does not change or decays slowly in an immune period, the system can exhibit complex transition from an infecting stationary state to a large amplitude sustained oscillation or an absorbing state with no infection. When the immunity decays rapidly in the immune period, the transition to the global oscillation disappears and there is no oscillation. Furthermore, based on the spatio-temporal evolution patterns and the phase diagram, it is disclosed that a long immunity period takes an important role in the emergence of the global oscillation in small-world networks.


Koskela, L., Sinha, B.K. & Nummi, T. 2007. Some aspects of the sampling distribution of the Apportionment Index and related inference. Silva Fennica 41( ): 699–715. As customer-oriented production strategies have gained ground in the sawmill industry, proper measurement of the fit between the log demand and log output distributions has become of crucial importance. The prevailing means of measuring the outcome is the so-called Apportionment Index (AI), which is calculated from the relative proportions of the observed and required distributions. Although some statistical properties of the AI have recently been examined and alternative means of measuring the bucking outcome have been suggested, properties of the sampling distribution of the AI have not yet been widely studied. In this article we examine the asymptotic sampling distribution for the AI by assuming a multinomial distribution for the outcome. Our results are based mainly on large-sample normal approximations. Also some studies of the determination of the number of logs needed to obtain a specified level of accuracy of the AI have been carried out.


In 1991, four hundred and forty three (443) first-fourth-and final-year students from the Monash University, Faculty of Medicine were surveyed to seek details of previous computer use [1], knowledge of computer concepts, individual computer skills, perceived usefulness of computers in medicine, and the level of interest in further education on medical computing. his poster will demonstrate the comparison of statistics obtained in the first questionnaire (1991) with the results of the same questionnaire that is currently being distributed and analyzed (1994 -1995). As a response to the first study, Medical Informatics as an optional subject was introduced in 1992 to first, second, and third year medical students. Medical Informatics is currently being developed for inclusion as a compulsory subject for first year students in 1995, taking into account the results of both the first and second survey.


The authors used the Split-and-Recombine (SAR) structure as an acceleration method of mixing and chemical reaction in the micro fluidic device. The number of layers of two reacting fluids by using this structure is increased. Then, the contact areas increase, the thicknesses of layer decrease, and the mixing and chemical reaction can accelerate. To evaluate of the mixing and chemical reaction by the SAR structure, the numerical calculation was performed. The SAR structure has many curved channel and the shape is important. An angled channel and the curved channel of two different shapes were compared numerically. As a result, the mixing efficiency was large in angled channel, because an effective secondary flow generated. The mixing efficiency of three SAR structures with angled channels (45 degrees) showed 7.5 times more than that of the straight channel of the same channel length.


Numerous studies equate immigrant homeownership with assimilation into the residential mainstream, though only rarely is this claim verified by studying the ethnic character of neighbourhoods where immigrants actually buy homes. In this paper, the 1996 and 2001 Census of Canada master files and bivariate probit models with sample selection corrections (a.k.a. Heckman probit models) are used to assess the neighbourhood-level ethnic determinants of homeownership in Toronto, Canada. By determining whether low levels of ethnic concentration accompany a home purchase, it can be assessed whether immigrants exit their enclaves in search of a home in the 'promised land', as traditional assimilation theory suggests, or if some now seek homes in the 'ethnic communities' that Logan, Alba and Zhang (2002) recently introduced in the American Sociological Review. Assessing the role of concentration under equilibrium conditions, evidence emerges that same-group concentration affects the propensity of several group members to buy homes.


ABSTRACT Receptor-interacting protein (RIP) plays a critical role in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced NF-κB activation. However, the mechanism by which RIP mediates TNF-α-induced signal transduction is not fully understood. In this study, we reconstituted RIP-deficient Jurkat T cells with a fusion protein composed of full-length MEKK3 and the death domain of RIP (MEKK3-DD). In these cells, MEKK3-DD substitutes for RIP and directly associates with TRADD in TNF receptor complexes following TNF-α stimulation. We found that TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation was fully restored by MEKK3-DD in these cells. In contrast, expression of a fusion protein composed of NEMO, a component of the IκB kinase complex, and the death domain of RIP (NEMO-DD) cannot restore TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation in RIP-deficient cells. These results indicate that the role of RIP is to specifically recruit MEKK3 to the TNF-α receptor complex, whereas the forced recruitment of NEMO to the TNF-α receptor complex is insufficient for TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation. Although MEKK2 has a high degree of homology with MEKK3, MEKK2-DD, unlike MEKK3-DD, also fails to restore TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation in RIP-deficient cells, indicating that RIP-dependent recruitment of MEKK3 plays a specific role in TNF-α signaling.


The main objective of this work was to investigate the laser light interaction with highly diffusing tissue media like milk. In this work collimated  transmission, fluence rate measurements and angular distribution of intensity measurements were made on three types of milks having different fat contents such as fresh cow milk (3.90%), skimmed milk (2.8%) and powdered milk and absorption coefficient.... , scattering  coefficient.... , reduced scattering coefficient .... Œ , anisotropic factor g , scattering particle diameter d and particle size parameter X for different milks were observed. The results of the study revealed that fresh cow milk showed more fat content when compared to skimmed milk and powdered milk. Finally, the fluence rate  measurement methods may be used to test the quality of milk more accurately.


Large-area (>900-cm/sup 2/) single-junction a-Si:H-based modules have been fabricated with an aperture area conversion efficiency of 100%. Triple-junction a-SiC:H/a-Si:H/a-SiGe:H modules with an efficiency of 9% have also been demonstrated. The improved large-area performance can be attributed to developments in several areas: (1) the scale-tip of a high-reflectivity ITO/Ag rear contact, (2) an improved laser patterning method that permits a 98% active area, (3) an improved large-area diagnostic and defect repair method, and (4) an optimized module design.<<ETX>>


To evaluate the local circulatory changes that accompany chronic localized work, we studied the effects of a 4-wk handgrip work protocol on maximal forearm work-related blood flow (ml X min-1 X 100 ml-1) in the nondominant forearms of six normal subjects. The reactive hyperemic blood flow response (RHBF) was also evaluated pre- and posttraining in both forearms of each subject to determine whether maximal vasodilatory capacity would be enhanced. In addition, maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) was measured. We found that chronic handgrip work led to an increase in work-related blood flow (before, 22.4; after, 32.1; P less than 0.05); a drop in work-related minimal resistance (R) (before, 6.4; after, 4.1; P less than 0.05). RHBF rose in the chronically exercised extremity by 30% (before, 33.5; after, 43.7; P less than 0.05) as minimal R fell (before, 3.2; after, 2.2; P less than 0.05). RHBF and R in the unstimulated dominant forearm remained unchanged (blood flow: before, 33.5; after, 31.0; NS; R before, 3.2; after, 3.2; NS). VO2max (ml X kg-1 X min-1) did not change (before, 35.7; after, 34.0). These findings show that localized skeletal muscle forearm work is associated with a localized increase in vasodilation (RHBF). Thus the vascular system appears to be an independent integral partner in the training process.


Internal friction measurement on hydrogen-induced cold work peak in Fe-0.5wt%Ti alloy is reported. The character of the peak is determined and compared with that in pure iron. The activation energy for the peak has been obtained. The binding energy between hydrogen atoms and dislocations is estimated from the result of isothermal aging experiment.


At IETF97, at a meeting regarding the Path Layer UDP Substrate (PLUS)
protocol, a request was made for documentation about the benefits that
might be provided by permitting middleboxes to have some visibility to
transport-layer information. This document summarizes benefits
provided to the Internet by intermediary devices that provide
functions apart from normal IP forwarding. Such intermediary devices
are often called "middleboxes". RFC3234 defines a taxonomy of
middleboxes and issues in the Internet. Most of those middleboxes
utilize or modify application-layer data. This document primarily
focuses on devices that observe and act on information carried in the
transport layer, and especially information carried in TCP packets. A
primary goal of this document is to provide information to working
groups developing new transport protocols, in particular the PLUS and
QUIC working groups, to aid understanding of what might be gained or
lost by design decisions that may affect (or be affected by) middlebox
operation.


Relationship between psychological empowerment and organization commitment was empirically studied. Empowerment is granting power or enabling people to exercise power. Organizational commitment is understood as individual's identification with and involvement in the organization. The study was conducted on employees from the service industry. Results showed that psychological empowerment led to commitment at workplace.


On a three years base experience in the geriatric department of Geneva's university psychiatric clinic, the paper studies among practical problems encountered in the application in institutional geriatry of relaxation, those related to therapists' training and to the nature of therapy control established for them and their patients. Problems pertaining to the management of the cure according to the method of J. de Ajuriaguerra amd M. Cahen are viewed, and the position of relaxation in the post-graduate psychiatric training defined. The study also mentions the influence of relaxation applied to the aged patient on his human environment in and out of the hospital. These notes are complementary to those already presented on the indications of relaxation in geriatry, the way body is preceived by the aged patient through relaxation, and it's consequences on the adjustment of an aging person.


This paper presents a hardware implementation of three-phase distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) using an adaptive theory-based improved linear sinusoidal tracer (ILST) control algorithm for different functions of DSTATCOM such as reactive power compensation for power factor correction, harmonics elimination, load balancing, and zero-voltage regulation under linear/nonlinear loads. An ILST-based control algorithm is used for the extraction of fundamental load currents and their active and reactive power components. These components are used for the estimation of reference source currents. A prototype of DSTATCOM is developed and its real-time performance is studied using a digital signal processor. The performance of DSTATCOM is found satisfactory with the proposed control algorithm under various types of loads.


We link two important ideas: attention is scarce and a lack of information about an individual drives discrimination in selection decisions. We model how knowledge of ethnicity influences allocation of attention to available information about an applicant. When only a small share of applicants is accepted, negative stereotypes are predicted to lower attention, while the effect is opposite when most applicants are accepted. We test for such "attention discrimination" in two field experiments. We send emails responding to job offers and apartment-rental advertisements and monitor information acquisition, a new feature in this type of experiment. We vary the names of applicants to signal ethnicity and find that minority names are about half as likely to receive an invitation for an apartment viewing or a job interview. The novel finding is that minority names affect the likelihood of resumes being read on the labor market as well as an applicant's personal website being inspected on the housing market, but the effects are opposite across the two markets. These results support the model's assumption of endogenous attention, which magnifies the role of prior beliefs in discrimination. The model implies persistence of discrimination in selection decisions, even if information about individuals is available and there are no differences in preferences, lower returns to employment qualifications for negatively stereotyped groups, and for policy, the important role of the timing of when a group attribute is revealed.


ABSTRACT Using ethnographic methods to investigate the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic affected two Makerspaces, we discuss the limits of the Maker movement's ideological foundations. Both spaces moved their activities online but differ in their engagement with Corona-specific projects: While the eLab Berlin decided to avoid any involvement due to legal and practical issues, the South London Makerspace produced face shields using 3D printing and laser cutting processes. Across these differences in engagement, our main argument is that the pandemic caused, in both cases, a shock of the real, for the Maker ideology: Individually, the spaces' members were shocked at what the pandemic meant for the limits of their practice. From a more macro perspective, there was a shock of the real for the entire movement as a whole as the pandemic revealed the limits of its claims; the idea that the Maker movement can develop fast creative ideas and physical prototypes, which can then be scaled-up in production and, therefore, restructure manufacturing processes on a societal level.


Making a change to the SAP database can represent a significant risk to an organisation. The effects of an unexpected problem could be widely felt and have serious consequences. For this reason, testing of changes prior to production deployment is considered critical. The cost involved in testing using traditional methods can be very high both in time and money. Even after testing, many problems will only be discovered in production, and as a result end-users will suffer from poor performance or possibly even outages.


Background: Firefighters are required to have high levels of aerobic and anaerobic power because they often perform physically demanding work in dangerous environments. Therefore, it is important to find out salient factors influencing voluntary exercise training among Korean firefighters based on well-validated theory. Methods: The present study conducted an elicitation study to elicit salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about exercise training among Korean firefighters and identified salient beliefs that have a significant indirect effect on behavior through intention using structural equation modeling. Results: Although ten modal salient beliefs obtained from our elicitation study are similar to those elicited from previous TPB belief-based research with a focus on exercise behavior, only three of these (i.e., "improves my physical ability" (coef. = 0.078, p = 0.006), "takes too much time" (coef. = 0.064, p = 0.023), and "colleagues" (coef. = 0.069, p = 0.016) indirectly influenced exercise training behavior through intention among Korean firefighters. Conclusions: Our results may contribute to the literature by providing important information suggesting that three modal salient beliefs are major cognitive determinants of exercise training behavior among Korean firefighters and they may play an essential role in developing effective programs or policies for promoting Korean firefighters' exercise training.


A method for the rapid screening of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol, 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol,3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol, and 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol in soy sauce was developed based on dispersive solid phase extraction-gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). The samples were extracted by ethyl acetate, cleaned up using N-propylethylenediamine and detected by GC-HRMS. The chloropropanols were quantified by the internal standard method. The results demonstrated that the limits of quantitation of the four chloropropanols were in the range of 0.5-10 μg/kg. The recoveries of the four chloropropanols in soy sauce spiked with three levels varied from 78% to 103%, and the relative standard deviations were no more than 8.8%. The proposed method is simple, accurate, sensitive and suitable for the rapid screening of the four chloropropanols in soy sauce.


In the manuscript [1] we derived the general Doppler effect equations. In order to prove the correctness of the equations, it remains to define an adequate coordinate system. We have argued that such a coordinate system cannot be chosen arbitrarily but is determined by the direction between the receiver at the time when the signal is received and the sender at the time when the signal is emitted. In this manuscript, several experiments have beenproposed to prove the existence of such a coordinate system. In addition, we will determine the velocities at which the sender and receiver of the signal move and the distance between them.


Overlapping communities of American missionaries and higher education administrators and faculty laid the foundations for international education in the United States during the first half-century of that movement's existence. Their interests and activities in China, in conjunction with Chinese efforts to develop modern educational systems in the early twentieth century, meant that Chinese students featured prominently among foreign students in the United States. Through the education and career of Meng Zhi, an American-educated convert to Christianity, staunch patriot, and long-term director of the China Institute in America, this article examines the transition of international education programs from U.S.-dominated efforts to extend influence overseas to initiatives intended to advance Chinese nationalist projects for modernization.


Traditionally, the family begins with the story of two people that form a couple, the support for the raising of children. Throughout the life cycle, several transformations occur. Adolescence and the transition towards adulthood are developmental phases important to understand the changes in the parent-child relationship, in which many times separation has already happened. The purpose of this article is to discuss the repercussions of conjugality and separation on parenthood, analyzing, from the historical narrative of fathers and mothers, the parent-child relationship throughout life, and especially, during emerging adulthood. In a qualitative research, we interviewed men and women, fathers and mothers of 15to 26-year-old children, of the middle class of Rio de Janeiro. The interviewees were either married, divorced or remarried, and told stories of conjugality, parenthood and separation that affected and/or still affect the parent-child relationship. From the analysis of the 25 interviews, we concluded that both father and mother actively participate in the life of their children, yet in different ways. We noted the striking predominance of the mother and the specificity of the paternal presence, still poorly valued and understood, especially when the separation takes place.


In this paper we propose a system using PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) & Sensors which will reduce all human errors while assembly of geared shaft in automobile industry .Every human being makes mistake in work. Traditionally managers think these are due to the carelessness of the workers. But lean manufacturing understands that large portion of these mistakes is due to the problems in the system itself. Therefore lean manufacturing needs a system which is mistake proof by nature itself. This is known as "Zero Quality Control" or "Poka-yoke". All sensor output fed to PLC for the detection of sequence. If the sequence is OK then Pneumatic Press will be automatically operated by PLC to complete the operation. If sequence is not followed, it will not process for next operation. Thus, this simple principle can lead to massive savings in Manufacturing Industries. KeywordsLean manufacturing, Zero Quality Control, Poka-yoke, PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), Pneumatics, Sensor


FastDu is a file system service that tracks file system changes by intercepting file system calls to maintain directory summaries, which play important roles in both storage administration and improvement of user experiences for some applications. In most circumstances, directory summaries are independently harvested by applications via traversing the file system hierarchy and calling stat () on every file in each directory. For large file systems, this brute-force traverse-based approach can take many hours to complete, even if only a small percentage of the files have changed. This paper describes FastDu, which uses a pre-built database to store harvested directory summaries, and tracks the file system changes by intercepting file system calls, so that new harvesting is restricted to the small subset of directories that contain modified files. Tests using FastDu show that this approach reduces the time needed to get a directory summary by one or two orders of magnitude with almost negligible penalty to application-aware file system performance.


This work is concerned with the boundary stabilization of an abstract system of two coupled second order evolution equations wherein only one of the equations is stabilized (indirect damping; see, e.g., J. Math. Anal. Appl., 173 (1993), pp. 339--358). We show that, under a condition on the operators of each equation and on the boundary feedback operator, the energy of smooth solutions of this system decays polynomially at $\infty$. We then apply this abstract result to several systems of partial differential equations (wave-wave systems, Kirchhoff--Petrowsky systems, and wave-Petrowsky systems).


Fine-resolution palaeovegetation and palaeomonsoon proxies for the last 13 ka have been established at the desert-loess transition belt in northern China. These are based on pollen, organic carbon and δ13C analysis of samples from a peat section at Midiwan. Results show that the palaeovegetation underwent nine major changes: desert-grassland, grassland, semi-desert, humid grassland, desert, sparse-wood-grassland, steppe, humid grassland and desert-grassland. An interval with semi-desert, humid grassland and desert is associated with rapid oscillation events of cold-dry conditions (11200-10600 14C yr BP) to cool-humid conditions (10600-10200 14C yr BP), followed by a change to a cold-dry climate (10200-10000 14C yr BP). The Holocene optimum (10000-7500 14C yr BP) and another humid interval (4500-3500 14C yr BP) have also been detected in the area. During the last 3000 years, dry conditions have prevailed and human impact may have affected the location of desert-loess transition zone. The record therefore shows a sensitive response to climate on sub-Milankovitch timescales, and this suggests that possible forcing factors linked to processes in the north Atlantic and their influence on the Northern Hemisphere Westerlies, and the South China Sea and its influence on Summer Monsoon precipitation, have been important controls on climates and human activity in eastern Asia.


This paper discusses some technical problems arising from the diverse ways our patients have of making themselves understood or not understood. It aims to show how patients who have reached the depressive position are able to use understanding in a way that is very different from those in the paranoid-schizoid position. It describes particular methods that the latter patients have of avoiding understanding by splitting and projection and attempting unconsciously to draw the analyst into a type of acting out in the transference. It stresses the importance for the analyst, of listening to the patient in terms of the position from which he is operating, so that contact can be achieved and with it real understanding, as opposed to subtle acting out and pseudo-understanding.


Exercise has been shown to cause an increase in the concentration of brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in humans and experimental animals. The increase in brain serotonin coincides with the onset of fatigue and is referred to as "central fatigue". Experiments in humans and animals involving serotonin receptor agonists have demonstrated reductions in exercise performance by simulating the exercise-induced increase in endogenous serotonin. Conversely, the administration of serotonin receptor antagonists has been shown to extend exercise performance in experimental animals, but not in humans. Although the relationship between the concentration of brain serotonin and exercise performance is well described in the literature, the precise effect of central fatigue on muscle function per se is unclear. Furthermore, there appear to be differences in serotonergic function between trained and untrained cohorts. However, it is not clear whether the differences are due to a training adaptation or if the differences are inherent in the individual. In addition, the time course of these adaptations and the mechanisms of adaptation are not known. The initial purpose of this thesis was to determine whether six weeks of endurance exercise training had any effect on central serotonin receptor sensitivity in Wistar rats. The rats ran on a treadmill 4 times per week with 2 exercise tests of endurance performance per week. Receptor sensitivity was determined indirectly, at the end of each training week, by the reduction in endurance performance, under the influence of a 5-HT1a agonist, (m-Chlorophenylpiperazine, m-CPP). Improved tolerance to the fatiguing effects of the serotonin agonist would suggest desensitisation of central serotonin receptors, probably 5-HT1a receptors. Two groups of controls were used to examine, i) the effect of the injection per se on exercise performance and ii) changes in serotonin receptor sensitivity associated with maturation, in the absence of any exercise training. In the training group, undrugged exercise performance significantly improved by 47% after 6 weeks of training (mean ± SEM, 4518 ± 729 s vs. 6640 ± 903 s, p=0.01). Drugged exercise performance also increased significantly from week 1 to week 6 (306 ± 69 s to 712 ± 192 s, p=0.004). Control group results indicated that the dose of m-CPP alone caused fatigue during exercise tests and that maturation was not responsible for any decrease in receptor sensitivity. Endurance training appears to stimulate an adaptive response to the fatiguing effects of increased brain serotonin, which may enhance endurance exercise performance. The purpose of the second set of experiments described in this thesis was to investigate changes in serotonin receptor sensitivity in response to exercise training in human subjects. Twelve male volunteers completed 30 minutes of stationary cycling at 70% of VO2peak, on 3 days per week, for 9 weeks. Serotonin receptor sensitivity was assessed indirectly by measuring the prolactin response to a serotonin receptor agonist (buspirone hydrochloride), using a placebo controlled, blind cross-over design. A sedentary group of control subjects were also recruited to control for possible seasonal variations in serotonin receptor sensitivity. Endurance capacity was also assessed as time to exhaustion while cycling at 60% of VO2peak. The exercise training caused a significant increase in aerobic power (VO2peak, 3.1±0.16 to 3.6±0.15 L.m-1, p 0.05) in the prolactin response to a serotonin agonist. However, 25% of the subjects in the training group demonstrated a decrease in receptor sensitivity, as indicated by a decrease in prolactin response. These results suggest that while the exercise training caused an increase in aerobic power and endurance capacity, there was no measurable change in 5-HT receptor sensitivity. In addition, it is possible that changes in receptor sensitivity may take longer to occur, the training stimulus used in the present investigation was inadequate or that changes occurred in other 5-HT receptor subtypes that were not assessed by the present methodology. The third set of experiments described here, investigated the changes in neuromuscular function under the influence of a serotonin receptor agonist (buspirone hydrochloride). Subjects were administered the agonist or a placebo in a blind cross over design. Measures of neuromuscular function included reaction time (RT), hand eye coordination (HEC), isometric neuromuscular control (INC), maximal voluntary isometric contractile force (MVIC-F), isometric muscular endurance capacity (IMEC) and various electromyographic (EMG) indices of fatigue in biceps brachii. A preliminary experiment was conducted to determine a drug dose that did not cause sedation of the research subjects. The agonist caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in MVIC-F, INC and IMEC. There was a non significant (p = 0.08) decrease in EMG amplitude during the MVIC-F trial with the agonist, compared to the effect of the placebo. The median EMG frequency during the IMEC test was also significantly less with the agonist, when compared to the placebo effect. There was a decline in RT and HEC, although this was not significant. These findings indicate that a serotonin receptor agonist causes a decrease in neuromuscular function during isometric muscle contractions. The decrements in muscle function reported in this study may help to explain previous reports of an association between increased brain serotonin concentration and a reduction in endurance performance. Although the present study does not exclude the possibility that an increase in brain serotonin does cause fatigue by affecting organs peripheral to the brain, it provides evidence of fatigue within the central nervous system. Further examination of the effect of a serotonin agonist on muscle function during non-isometric muscle contractions is warranted.


Following China entered the World Trade Organisation in November 2001, attention has been paid worldwide to the current Chinese legal system, political policies, and the development of economic reform. Recent debates on corporate governance in China have become a global topic of interest. The corporate governance reform is now the centre of the enterprise reform. This paper evaluates the development of corporate governance reform in China and identifies its changes in legislation on corporate control. This paper provides evidence to show that China has been making significant progress in the development of corporate governance reform. It concludes that China has established a fundamental legal framework for corporate governance. The changes in regulations on corporate control indicate that the development of a more sophisticated corporate governance system is under way. However, corporate governance reform in China is still at an early stage of development. The existing problems are still significant. Laws and legal institutions have experienced difficulties keeping up with the changes that have been taking place in China. The rights of selecting management of state‐owned enterprise still remain in the hands of the state. The reform of the banking system lags behind the development of the market economy and state‐owned banks are still under government's control. The paper argues that in Chinese context as far as the rights of selecting management remain in state's hand, the independent board of directors will have less power to achieve the goals in corporate control. Thus the agency problems will not be solved, and it is very difficult to excise and protect minority shareholders' interest. In today's Chinese market the corporate governance cannot provide the protection of minority investors' interests. This paper also argues that it is very dangerous for individual investors to invest in the Chinese market and they have to bear higher risks. This paper suggests that increasing the Sophistication of the corporate governance system of both internal and external control is the key for the Chinese market. This is because the Chinese context is very complicated. There are so many regulations and laws applied in business practice. Different companies and enterprises apply different laws. This paper points out when a national corporate governance system is established it should serve the whole economic market. Thus the further reform of state‐owned enterprises and also the banking system should take place so that China can build up a real economic market structure according to international regulations. This paper also suggests that in the long‐term, building up a cultural background for applying corporate governance system is very important in Chinese society. Improving the culture in the social environment could help to improve the corporate governance in business practices.


A method was proposed for the measurement of thermal diffusivity of solids as a function of temperature at elevated temperatares. The method consists of generating a temperature oscillation on one face of a finite solid and measuring the phase difference between this oscillation and that which results on the other face. The specimen in the form of a thin disk will be irradiated on one face by chopped radiation in a carbon-arc image furnace. This will result in a steady axial temperature distribution with a small amplitude temperature oscillation superimposed. The phase difference between the fundamental components of the oscillations at both faces will be measured. This phase difference is a function of the diffusivity, frequency of oscillation and thickness of specimen. (auth)


The antitumor and cytotoxic activities of methanolic extract of Phyllanthus polyphyllus (MPP) were evaluated using mice and human cancer cell lines. The anticancer property of MPP was assessed against Dalton's ascitic lymphoma (DAL) tumor model by evaluating survival time, hematological parameters, lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), solid tumor mass, and in vitro cytotoxicity (short-term). MPP (200 and 400 mg/kg) upon oral administration increased the survival time and reduced the solid tumor volume significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Packed cellular volume (PCV), protein, and hematological parameters were restored which were altered by tumor inoculation. MPP reduced the levels of LPO, GPx, GST, and increased the levels of SOD and CAT significantly. MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity using human cancer cell lines like cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and breast carcinoma cells (HBL-100). MPP showed IC50 values of 170 and 130μg/ml on HeLa and HBL- 100 cells respectively. MPP was found to possess significant antitumor and cytotoxic activity on DAL and human cancer cell lines.


Abstract This study merges two perspectives, the historiographical and the archival, in order to capture and analyze key elements relating to issues encountered in records-based research into the labor history of Yugoslav socialism. In combining ongoing historiographical (social and labor history) and theoretical (archival science) research with auto-ethnographic, practice-based reflections, the author outlines several observations, facts, and propositions, which may be of help to both researchers and archivists. The essay accepts the recent resurgence of Yugoslav labor history as a premise upon which it discusses key problems relating to fieldwork, local and historical case study research, obstacles relating to communication and information, as well as pressing issues in the field of the archival profession, upon which it elaborates possible strategies and practical solutions to remedy the current conditions.


The stability of liquid bridges under terrestrial conditions can be enhanced when a recirculating flow is introduced inside the bridge. The Plateau–Rayleigh (PR) limit sets the stability limit of a liquid bridge in the absence of gravity and flow. The PR limit corresponds to a cylindrical bridge of length L equal to its circumference, L = 2&pgr;R. At lengths exceeding this first onset point, antisymmetric disturbances grow and result in disconnection. In recent experiments involving flow in the bridge, stable lengths greater than the PR limit were obtained by suppressing the antisymmetric disturbances. The observed lengths are close to the second bifurcation or onset point, where centro–symmetric disturbances become unstable. The second onset point occurs at L ≈ 8.987R. In this paper, the problem is modelled using the lubrication approximation and a rectilinear flow within the bridge with zero flow rate across the cross–section is assumed. The bifurcation analysis indicates that while gravity or flow acting alone is destabilizing, a combination of the two can increase the region of stability. Local bifurcation analysis using the Liapunov–Schmidt approach is complemented by global computations of the nonlinear model equations using pseudoarclength continuation with the AUTO software. Symmetries affect the stability of the bridge solutions in a key way. Singularity theory provides a framework for the unfolding of the two bifurcations (antisymmetric and centro–symmetric branches). A detailed analysis of the governing equation obtains the coefficients in the unfolding. A surprising result is that there is a maximal influence that flow can have on the centro–symmetric disturbances. That is, as flow is increased, imperfection increases up to a certain value, beyond which the imperfection diminishes with increasing flow rate. Singularity theory provides a framework for understanding this and other reports of stabilization of the PR instability.


Context. Massive-star formation triggered by the expansion of HII regions. Aims. To understand if sequential star formation is taking place at the periphery of the HII region Sh2-219. Methods. We present 12CO(2-1) line observations of this region, obtained at the IRAM 30-m telescope (Pico Veleta, Spain). Results. In the optical, Sh2-219 is spherically symmetric around its exciting star; furthermore it is surrounded along three quarters of its periphery by a ring of atomic hydrogen. This spherical symmetry breaks down at infrared and millimetre wavelengths. A molecular cloud of about 2000\msol lies at the southwestern border of Sh2-219, in the HI gap. Two molecular condensations, elongated along the ionization front, probably result from the interaction between the expanding HII region and the molecular cloud. In this region of interaction there lies a cluster containing many highly reddened stars, as well as a massive star exciting an ultracompact HII region. More surprisingly, the brightest parts of the molecular cloud form a `chimney', perpendicular to the ionization front. This chimney is closed at its south-west extremity by H-alpha walls, thus forming a cavity. The whole structure is 7.5 pc long. A luminous H-alpha emission-line star, lying at one end of the chimney near the ionization front, may be responsible for this structure. Confrontation of the observations with models of HII region evolution shows that Sh2-219 is probably 10^5 yr old. The age and origin of the near-IR cluster observed on the border of Sh2-219 remain unknown.


Multi-source content distribution and file download systems such as BitTorrent and Edonkey emerge as a better scheme than the traditional ftp systems in distributing files to very large scale systems. However, a major drawback of those systems is that they largely rely on a tracker server to maintain state information of a horde. Furthermore, if the peer holding all the pieces of a file leaves the system, there is a high probability that the other peers cannot download the entire file. We propose a scalable and highly available P2P multi-source content distribution system called SODON to solve those problems. SODON distributes all the pieces of a file from a seed to a number of carefully selected sub-seeds in order to guarantee a complete set of pieces that are available for a long time. The sub-seeds also work as sub-trackers to maintain the horde state information. As a result, the original tracker server is not overwhelmed by a large population of download requests. Our traces on BitTorrent and simulation result show that SODON is feasible to build, and the sub-seeding and sub-tracking schemes effectively reduce the tracker load while offering a comparatively high availability of shared files