Vernalization, the promotion of flowering by a prolonged period of low temperature, results in repression of the floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and in early flowering. This repression bears the hallmark of an epigenetic event: the low expression state is maintained over many cell division cycles, but expression is derepressed in progeny. We show that the two stages of the response of FLC to vernalization, the repression of FLC and the maintenance of the repression during growth at normal temperatures after vernalization, are mediated through different regions of the FLC gene. Both promoter and intragenic regions are required for the responses. We also identify a 75-bp region in the FLC promoter that, in addition to intragenic sequences, is required for expression in nonvernalized plants.


One of more frequent events in the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) is Steam Generator Tube Rupture (SGTR) accident, which is among the main accidents in the field of nuclear safety. This paper studies the SGTR event in the Multi-application Integrated Pressurized Water Reactor (IPWR) using the best-estimate thermal-hydraulic code RELAP5/MOD3.4. In the reactor of IPWR, several Once-Through Steam Generator (OTSG) cassettes are used and located between the core support and the pressure vessel. The tube rupture location is on the top of the tube sheet of a steam generator. Three different tube rupture modeling methods and several different subcooled discharge coefficients in the critical flow model are considered and compared. In the safety analysis, high pressure safety injection system, core makeup system and Passive Residual Heat Removal System (PRHRS) that would affect the accident consequences are considered.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


To screen out vaccine candidate against PRRSV, adenovirus vector was used to express the M protein of Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). A recombinant adenovirus was constructed and the expression of the M protein was identified by RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The purified recombinant adenovirus M (rAd-M) was passaged 25 times in 293A cells. The titer of stocks of rAd-M was stably 107.8\CID50/mL. Furthermore, the recombinant M protein adenovirus could induce PRRSV specific humoral immunity and cell mediated immunity in mice. It indicated that the recombinant adenovirus expressing the main structural proteins of PRRSV is a potentially viable candidate vaccine against PRRSV.


Voice traffic prediction is significant for network deployment optimization thus to improve the network efficiency. The real entropy based theorectical bound and corresponding prediction models have demonstrated their success in mobility prediction. In this paper, the real entropy based predictability analysis and prediction models are introduced into voice traffic prediction. For this adoption, the traffic quantification methods is proposed and discussed. Based on the real world voice traffic data, the prediction accuracy of N-order Markov models, diffusion based model and MF model are presented, among which, 25-order Markov models performs best and approach close to the maximum predictability. This work demonstrates that, the real entropy can also predict voice traffic well which broaden the understanding on the real entropy based prediction theory.


Past research documents the persistence of positive impacts of early-life interventions on non cognitive skills. We test the symmetry of this finding by studying the persistence of a sizeable negative shock to non cognitive outcomes arising with the introduction of universal child care in Quebec. We find that the negative effects on non cognitive outcomes persisted to school ages, and also that cohorts with increased child care access had worse health, lower life satisfaction, and higher crime rates later in life. Our results reinforce previous evidence of the central role of the early childhood environment for long-run success. (JEL I1, J13, K42)


Recently, because a renewable power source must operate as a constant rate in accordance with RPS(Renewable Portfolio Standard), the study of the renewable power sources has been ongoing. Especially because of noise of wind turbine, troubleshooting, and urban greening business, research related with small wind turbine are underway. The economics and reliability are important parts for the activation of small wind turbine, such as solar energy. In this paper, by analyzing the temperature variations for each location and efficiency of power conversion devices in accordance with short period wind speed changes in simulation test, we reviewed the safety about temperature variations of wind generator and the method of selection of power converter.


In this paper we study the problem of passive walking for a compass-gait biped with gait asymmetries. In particular, we identify and classify bifurcations leading to chaos caused by the gait asymmetries because of unequal leg masses. We present bifurcation diagrams showing step period versus the ratio of leg masses at various walking slopes. The cell mapping method is used to find stable limit cycles as the parameters are varied. It is found that a variety of bifurcation diagrams can be grouped into six stages that consist of three expanding and three contracting stages. The analysis of each stage shows that marginally stable limit cycles exhibit period-doubling, period-remerging, and saddle-node bifurcations. We also show qualitative changes regarding chaos, i.e., generation and extinction of chaos follow cyclic patterns in passive dynamic walking.


The purpose of this study was to explore the influence mechanism of challenging and threatening work stress on employees' innovative behavior, and to examine the mediating role of psychological distance and the moderating role of employment relationships. A web-based survey of 498 employees
 was conducted. The main findings were as follows: (a) Challenging stress had a significant and positive impact on innovative employee behavior, whereas threatening stress negatively affected innovative employee behavior, (b) psychological distance mediated the relationship between both challenging
 and threatening stress and employees' innovative behavior, and (c) the employment relationship positively moderated the relationship between challenging stress and employees' innovative behavior and negatively moderated the relationship between threatening stress and employees' innovative
 behavior. Implications are pointed out and suggestions provided for management personnel who are searching for ways to encourage employees' innovative behavior in firms where there is work stress.


Since the first description in 1925, thalassemia has been studied intensively and extensively. Thalassemia is inherited by Mendelian recessive genes, in which there is a mutation or deletion of the DNA nucleotide or results in defective production of one or more globin chains of the hemoglobin. There are two important forms of tha/assemias, a- and ft-thalassemia that are health problems in the tropical belt, extending from Africa and Meditenanian countries up to West Melanesia. The molecular studies of thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies had discovered such a lot of abnormal hemoglobin structures and pathogenesis of the disease, so that the hemoglobin is now indeed a paradigm for our understanding of gene action at the molecular level. The thalassemia occurs essentially due to deletion, whereas 13thalassemia is mostly due to mutation of the gene(s). The understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of thalassemia is very essential for the diagnosis of the trait and especially for prenatal diagnosis, and in the future might be for genetic therapy. Key Words: thalassemia gene deletion gene mutation polymerise chain reaction haemoglobin


Diatoms are thought to have acquired an Fe-containing cytochrome (cyt) c6 to transfer electrons between cyt b6f and photosystem (PS) I of the photosynthetic apparatus like other chlorophyll a/c-containing phytoplankton. Here we report the isolation and cloning of a plastocyanin gene from Thalassiosira oceanica (CCMP 1005). The gene encoded a Cu-containing protein that is known in other organisms to functionally replace the Fe-containing cyt c6. The inferred protein sequence had the highest identity with the green haptophyte, Emiliania huxleyi, and possessed many of the globular properties necessary for function and interaction with upstream and downstream partners. Eleven strains of oceanic and coastal diatoms were screened for the presence of the plastocyanin gene using degenerate primers: one other species was observed to contain the gene; T. oceanica (CCMP 1006). Phylogenetic analysis of the 5.8 rRNA gene of these species showed that both T. oceanica strains with plastocyanin were closely related to each other. The cloned sequence of T. oceanica (CCMP 1006) contained greater than 80% of the protein-coding region and shared 99% nucleotide identity and 100% conserved unique intronic region. The inferred protein sequence of this species had 100% identity with the inferred protein sequence of T. oceanica (CCMP 1005).


Selection of earthquake ground motions is considered with the goal of accurately estimating the response of a structure at a specified ground motion intensity, as measured by spectral acceleration at the first‐mode period of the structure, Sa(T1). Consideration is given to the magnitude, distance and epsilon (ε) values of ground motions. First, it is seen that selecting records based on their ε values is more effective than selecting records based on magnitude and distance. Second, a method is discussed for finding the conditional response spectrum of a ground motion, given a level of Sa(T1) and its associated mean (disaggregation‐based) causal magnitude, distance and ε value. Records can then be selected to match the mean of this target spectrum, and the same benefits are achieved as when records are selected based on ε. This mean target spectrum differs from a Uniform Hazard Spectrum, and it is argued that this new spectrum is a more appropriate target for record selection. When properly selecting records based on either spectral shape or ε, the reductions in bias and variance of resulting structural response estimates are comparable to the reductions achieved by using a vector‐valued measure of earthquake intensity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


DOCUMENT RESUME 214 TE 001 951 King, David J. The Influence of Inter-Item Interval on the Learning of Connected Discourse. Final Report. State Univ. of New York, Oswego. Coll. at Oswego. Office of Education (DHEW) , Washington, D.C. Bureau of Research. BR-8-E-065 Apr 70 OEG-0-8-0800653720 47p. EDRS Price MF-$0.25 BC-42.45 *Connected Discourse, Discourse Analysis, Interval Pacing, *Intervals, Item Analysis, Learning, Learning Processes, *Recall (Psychological) , *Time Factors (Learning), *Verbal Learning This research evaluated the total-time hypothesis for the learning of connected discourse--that in verbal learning "a fixed amou.tit of time is necessary to learn a fixed amount of material regardless of the number of individual trials into which that time is divided." Learning material consisted of two sets of connected discourse for each of the seven lengths examined--10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 words-in-length. For all 14 passages, each word was typed on a radio-mat slide in preparation for projector presentation with an exposure interval for each word of .5 seconds. The subjects, introductory psychology students assigned to individual treatment on a random basis (except for sex, numerical, and inter-item balance) , were presented with the learning material after a brief explanation. Basic learning data were scored in four ways: the number of trials to criterion, the number of words recalled (not necessarily correctly) on each trial, the number of three-word sequences identical with tho original recalled on each trial, and the number of intrusions in each recall of each subject. Results of the research rejected the total-time hypothesis. (Lengthy appendices contain the learning material and data on the number of trials to criterion, followed by the quantitative and organizational factors, and the results for intrusions.) (JMC) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION d WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION CO THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE CY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS CO STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY. FINAL REPORT CD


Objectives This study investigated the relationship between the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and myocardial salvage as determined by T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Background IMR is a simple invasive measure of microvascular function available at the time of pPCI. T2-weighted non-contrast CMR can reveal myocardial oedema, and in the post-infarct population this represents the ischaemic area at risk (AAR). Contrast-enhanced CMR delineates the area of myocardial infarction. The volume of myocardium within the AAR, but not contained within the infarct area is salvaged myocardium. Methods 108 patients with STEMI underwent invasive coronary physiology measurements during pPCI and had a subsequent CMR scan at a median of 19 h post pPCI. Short axis non-contrast T2-weighted images were acquired and delayed enhancement imaging was performed following administration of intravenous gadolinium (0.1 mmol/kg). AAR was determined and myocardial salvage was calculated as AAR—infarct area. Results IMR was 29 (21), AAR 32% (13%) and myocardial salvage 6% (9%)—all mean (SD). Spearman rank correlation between IMR and AAR was 0.27 (p 0.02) and between IMR and salvage was −0.31 (p 0.01). IMR was also a multivariate predictor of AAR (p 0.01) and a negative multivariate predictor of myocardial salvage (p 0.02). Conclusions IMR measured acutely correlates with AAR and correlates negatively with myocardial salvage as determined by MRI.


The paper discusses the botanical perspective of the Quaternary research in the light of phenomenal and revolutionary progress ushered in by the oceanic research of deep sea cores and long uninterrupted terrestrial sequences. It is suggested that the botanical parameter should be equipped sufficiently and the dynamic nature of climatic requirements of plant species must be taken into consideration for past inference of environmental syndromes and for its overall applicability so that the consumer disciplines are not misled.


Abstract Acoustic facies interpretation, high-resolution velocity analysis and amplitude versus offset modelling have been performed on high resolution seismic data acquired on the West African margin offshore Angola, in water depths of about 2000 m. The area has a complex structural, thermal and fluid-flow setting, in which sediments are affected by salt diapirism and faulting associated with sediment compaction. A discontinuous bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) at a depth of about 200 m below sea floor could mark the base of the gas hydrate occurrence zone, which does not always coincide with the top of the free gas zone. Within the gas hydrate stability zone, a shallow bottom-simulating reflector is observed at a depth of about 75 m below seafloor. This shallow bottom simulating reflector, that is termed 'sheep back reflector' (SR), correspond to a small amount of gas being trapped in the sediments. It could mark the top of the gas hydrate occurrence zone, where gas hydrate dissociation may occur. A reversed polarity reflector (R1) is also observed about 25 m below the sea floor. This reflector could correspond to a limit between normally compacted and underconsolidated sediments, possibly related to a permeability change in the sediments. Thus, the occurrence of excess pore pressure generated during gas hydrate dissociation could explain some subsurface sediment mobilization processes.


This paper summarizes work on an architecture for robots that combines the complementary strengths of knowledgebased reasoning and data-driven learning. The architecture supports non-monotonic logical reasoning and probabilistic reasoning with incomplete commonsense domain knowledge. Reasoning triggers and guides learning of previously unknown domain knowledge when needed based on deep learning and reinforcement learning methods. Furthermore, the architecture enables the robot to provide relational descriptions of its decisions and the evolution of beliefs during reasoning and learning. The architecture's capabilities are illustrated and evaluated in simulation and on physical robots.


During his 33 years in Congress, Henry Waxman has sponsored legislation that's touched the lives of every American: The Clean Air Act. Nutritional labeling on food. Smoking bans on airplanes. As chairman of the most powerful government oversight committee in the House of Representatives, Waxman has also investigated waste, fraud and abuse throughout society, from Wall Street to Major League Baseball to Iraq. Few legislators can match his accomplishments or his insights into the way good work gets done in Washington. In his first book, Waxman takes us inside the life of politician to show readers how landmark legislation is crafted; how Congress really works. Only someone who has observed the workings of Washington for decades could explain with such insight the subtle rules of success (and the most common pitfalls of failure) on Capitol Hill. At a moment in our history when most Americans want change, Henry Waxman is the ideal guide to show us how it happens through the art of legislation.


Chitosan-based nanofibres were synthesized using a fibre electrospinning technique and tested for the removal of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions. The downside of chitosan-based materials is swelling. In this study, it was found that the addition of polyisoprene not only improved the electrospinning ability of chitosan but also reduced the swelling of the nanofibres by 50%. The adsorption studies of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol on the chitosan-based nanofibres were conducted in a batch process. The nanofibres were found to remove up to 90% of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol with an adsorption reduction capacity of 12% at each cycle of reusability test. The reduction capacity was associated with the chemical interaction of the adsorbate and the adsorbent. This indicated that the nanofibres can effectively remove 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol from water for at least 3 cycles. The adsorption efficiency improved as the degree of cross-linking was reduced and the adsorption mechanism followed the Freundlich isotherm suggesting that the adsorption of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol occurred in different layers on the surface of the nanofibres. The degree of crosslinking of the electrospun nanofibres with glutaraldehyde was found to affect theadsorption capacity. Nanofibres with different degrees of crosslinking were used to study the effect of pH, adsorbent dose, and initial concentration.


Please provide your name, county district number, and fax number when requesting information. Texas Education Agency 1701 North Congress AvenueAustin, Texas 78701 (512) 463 8992 (phone) (512) 463 7441 (fax) firstname.lastname@example.com (e mail) Program Evaluation Unit (512) 463 7004 (phone)


In order to achieve fault-tolerant quantum computation, we need to repeat the following sequence of four steps: First, perform 1 or 2 qubit quantum gates (in parallel if possible). Second, do a syndrome measurement on a subset of the qubits. Third, perform a fast classical computation to establish which errors have occurred (if any). Fourth, depending on the errors, we apply a correction step. Then the procedure repeats with the next sequence of gates. In order for these four steps to succeed, we need the error rate of the gates to be below a certain threshold. Unfortunately, the error rates of current quantum hardware are still too high. On the other hand, current quantum hardware platforms are designed with these four steps in mind. In this work we make use of this four-step scheme not to carry out fault-tolerant computations, but to enhance short, constant-depth, quantum circuits that perform 1 qubit gates and nearest-neighbor 2 qubit gates. To explore how this can be useful, we study a computational model which we call Local Alternating Quantum Classical Computations (LAQCC). In this model, qubits are placed in a grid allowing nearest neighbor interactions; the quantum circuits are of constant depth with intermediate measurements; a classical controller can perform log-depth computations on these intermediate measurement outcomes to control future quantum operations. This model fits naturally between quantum algorithms in the NISQ era and full fledged fault-tolerant quantum computation. We show that LAQCC circuits can create long-ranged interactions, which constant-depth quantum circuits cannot achieve, and use it to construct a range of useful multi-qubit gates. With these gates, we create three new state preparation protocols for a uniform superposition over an arbitrary number of states, W-states and Dicke states.


Abstract The Neolithisation of Europe involved socio-economic and biological adaptations to new environments. The use of seaweed as livestock fodder, for example, was key to the introduction of animal husbandry to the Orkney archipelago, c. 3500 cal BC. Using stable isotope analysis of faunal remains from Skara Brae, this study provides new evidence for, and clarifies the chronology of, the adoption of seaweed consumption by sheep. The results show that sheep consumed moderate amounts of seaweed from the moment of their introduction to Orkney—a practice that facilitated the successful spread of the farming lifeways to the most remote areas of Europe.


Abstract. The availability of water-related data and information across different geographical and jurisdictional scales is of critical importance for the conservation and management of water resources in the 21st century. Today information assets are often found fragmented across multiple agencies that use incompatible data formats and procedures for data collection, storage, maintenance, analysis, and distribution. The growing adoption of Web mapping systems in the water domain is reducing the gap between data availability and its practical use and accessibility. Nevertheless, more attention must be given to the design and development of these systems to achieve high levels of interoperability and usability while fulfilling different end user informational needs. This paper first presents a brief overview of technologies used in the water domain, and then presents three examples of Web mapping architectures based on free and open source software (FOSS) and the use of open specifications (OS) that address different users' needs for data sharing, visualization, manipulation, scenario simulations, and map production. The purpose of the paper is to illustrate how the latest developments in OS for geospatial and water-related data collection, storage, and sharing, combined with the use of mature FOSS projects facilitate the creation of sophisticated interoperable Web-based information systems in the water domain.


Sakai Hoitsu was one of the most prominent painters of late 18th- and early 19th-century Japan, known for technical bravura, arresting compositions, and striking use of color. After becoming a Buddhist monk, Hoitsu was able to dedicate himself to painting, establishing a studio and studying the work of Ogata Korin (1658-1716). Hoitsu successfully revived the earlier artist's style, which later came to be known as Rimpa, "the school of Korin." The first book in English to focus exclusively on the work of this important artist, Silver Wind examines fifty-eight of Hoitsu's works and those of his predecessors and artistic heirs, ranging from scrolls and screens to fans, lacquer, and woodblock-printed books. Accompanying essays explore Hoitsu's discovery and reinterpretation of Korin's artistic legacy; the aesthetics of the Rimpa style; and the career of Suzuki Kiitsu, his leading student.


This study was planned with the objectives of evaluating the pattern of antimicrobials used for UTI and to determine the recurrence rate of UTI in diabetic and nondiabetic women in our settings. New diagnosis of UTI is defined as a patient with no prescription for UTI in the history (for 1 year) and a first prescription for UTI in the study period. A recurrent UTI was defined as a prescription for UTI in the follow-up period (5 days after the first prescription until 30 days after the end of the first prescription) or hospitalization admission with the diagnosis of a UTI. Among 220 patients, 106(48.18%) had recurrence. Out of these patients, 74 were diabetics (74%) and the remaining were nondiabetics (26.67%). Recurrent UTI was more frequent in diabetics of above 50 years group. Duration antimicrobial therapy was significantly longer in diabetics. Most commonly used antibiotic group is cephalosporins in both diabetics as well as non-diabetics.


This 43-year-old man with a known history of schizophrenia presented with a one-week history of left ear pain accompanied by a purulent discharge from the external auditory canal over the last 3 days. Shortly afterwards he became confused.
On direct examination, the left ear canal was oedematous containing granulation tissue.
This 43-year-old man with a known history of schizophrenia presented with a one-week history of left ear pain accompanied by a purulent discharge from the external auditory canal over the last 3 days. Shortly afterwards he became confused.
On direct examination, the left ear canal was oedematous containing granulation tissue.


Cytologic, colposcopic, histologic and bacteriologic examination was performed in 229 patients because of previous abnormal cervical cytology. Chlamydia trachomatis was found in a significantly greater proportion as well in 70 women with spontaneous recurrence to normal (17.1%) as in 85 women with dysplasia (17.6%). In comparison, chlamydial infection is found in 4.1% of cytologically normal women. In the 2 to 22 months follow-up Chlamydia trachomatis was seen in 19.6% of 92 women with recurrence to normal cytologic pattern, however, in 10.8% of 65 patients with persistence or progression (p less than 0.025, t-test).


The focus of development for the next five years is to solve the issues of food, marine and fishery, industry, and tourism industry improvement. Therefore, it is expected that the economic structure of South Kalimantan, in the future, will become strong and solid with a very long productive age, and will grow sustainably. In the past, the strategic position of South Kalimantan, on the coast of sea, attracted many big traders from other countries who sought to sail into South Kalimantan, aiming not only to trade but also to spread their religion. Hence, it is not surprising that South Kalimantan offers the wealth of diverse cultures, languages and natural resources. The abundant natural resources and very diverse cultures provide promising potential resources of Local Revenue (PAD) for the welfare of people of South Kalimantan. However, it should be taken into account that these potential resources must be managed and controlled wisely. So that these potential can create and enhance a strong economic structure with a very long productive age, and implement sustainable development patterns. This study analyzed the natural resources and local wisdom-based potentials of South Kalimantan in order to increase Local Revenue (PAD). This research was conducted by using qualitative descriptive method, which tried to understand the phenomenon of social context naturally. The data was collected by conducting in-depth communication with informants who were considered capable to enrich this research and relevant to research problems. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that South Kalimantan has enormous potential for the tourism industry and offers the wealth of diverse cultures. This wealth is considered as potential local wisdom that can be developed and contribute to Local Revenue (PAD) of South Kalimantan Province. The results of the analysis also found a model of sustainable development that can be implemented by the local government of South Kalimantan Province in order to improve the welfare of the community.


Fusina is a particular area of Porto Marghera, Venice mainland industrial area, different from any other areas inside the industrial compound. It's situated in the southern border, the most close to the Veneto coun- tryside. This area was one of the last to turned from rural to agricultural at the beginning of the 60's, with more reprises in the following years. The rural landscape characterized by woods, countryside and isolated vernacular buildings turned into an industrial landscape characterized by infrastructures, factories, vapor and ash. ; The heavy industrialization deeply compromised the fragile lagoon ecosystem and lead to a diffuse problem of soil and water pollution. The project aim to transform Fusina in a big machine for the de-pollution where can be tested experimental techniques, fast and slow method of cleaning of the soil. The masterplan try to improve the industrial grid of roads and factory, defining distinct parcels and trying to preserve most important recycling and energy factories still active in the area and reconverting some of them into a research centre or laboratories. The program of my project is a thermal desorption for the cleaning of the soil and a thermal plant for the production of energy through biomass.


Background Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is a rare subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and no effective treatments have been defined for advanced disease. Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed in a group of cancers that may be suitable targets for specific immunotherapy. Methods This study investigated the expression and clinical value of PD-L1 in pulmonary LELC. Seventy-nine patients with pulmonary LELC were investigated. Paraffin-embedded tumor sections were stained with PD-L1 antibody. Correlations of PD-L1 expression with clinicopathologic parameters and outcomes were analyzed. Results Fifty patients (63.3%) were PD-L1 positive. The 3-year and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 76.0% and 68.0%, respectively, and the 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 88.0% and 79.0%, respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that patients with positive PD-L1 expression had longer PFS and OS than those with negative PD-L1 expression (P=0.019 and P=0.042, respectively). In a multivariate Cox regression model including age, tumor size, stage, and PD-L1 expression status, the latter three factors were found to be independent predictors of PFS (P=0.023, P=0.000, and P=0.009, respectively), but only stage was found to be an independent factor for OS (P=0.007), and PD-L1 expression status showed a trend to be independently correlated with OS (P=0.080). Conclusion Our results showed that a large proportion of patients with pulmonary LELC had positive expression of PD-L1, supporting the potential use of anti-PD-1/PD-L1-targeted therapies in this distinct type of NSCLC.


Introduction There is now substantial evidence of a social gradient in bone health. Social stressors, related to socioeconomic status, are suggested to produce an inflammatory response marked by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Here we focus on the particular role in the years before the achievement of peak bone mass, encompassing childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. An examination of such associations will help explain how social factors such as occupation, level of education and income may affect later-life bone disorders. This paper presents the protocol for a systematic review of existing literature regarding associations between socioeconomic factors and proinflammatory cytokines in those aged 6–30 years. Methods and analysis We will conduct a systematic search of PubMed, OVID and CINAHL databases to identify articles that examine associations between socioeconomic factors and levels of proinflammatory cytokines, known to influence bone health, during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. The findings of this review have implications for the equitable development of peak bone mass regardless of socioeconomic factors. Two independent reviewers will determine the eligibility of studies according to predetermined criteria, and studies will be assessed for methodological quality using a published scoring system. Should statistical heterogeneity be non-significant, we will conduct a meta-analysis; however, if heterogeneity prevent numerical syntheses, we will undertake a best-evidence analysis to determine whether socioeconomic differences exist in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines from childhood through to young adulthood. Ethics and dissemination This study will be a systematic review of published data, and thus ethics approval is not required. In addition to peer-reviewed publication, these findings will be presented at professional conferences in national and international arenas.


The idea of the out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC) has recently emerged in the study of both condensed matter systems and gravitational systems. It not only plays a key role in investigating the holographic duality between a strongly interacting quantum system and a gravitational system, but also diagnoses the chaotic behavior of many-body quantum systems and characterizes the information scrambling. Based on the OTOCs, three different concepts -- quantum chaos, holographic duality, and information scrambling -- are found to be intimately related to each other. Despite of its theoretical importance, the experimental measurement of the OTOC is quite challenging and so far there is no experimental measurement of the OTOC for local operators. Here we report the measurement of OTOCs of local operators for an Ising spin chain on a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum simulator. We observe that the OTOC behaves differently in the integrable and non-integrable cases. Based on the recent discovered relationship between OTOCs and the growth of entanglement entropy in the many-body system, we extract the entanglement entropy from the measured OTOCs, which clearly shows that the information entropy oscillates in time for integrable models and scrambles for non-intgrable models. With the measured OTOCs, we also obtain the experimental result of the butterfly velocity, which measures the speed of correlation propagation. Our experiment paves a way for experimentally studying quantum chaos, holographic duality, and information scrambling in many-body quantum systems with quantum simulators.


Individual responsibility for health is a popular discourse that extends to prescriptions on how to live 'positively' with HIV. This study used in-depth interviews over several months with 10 women at public healthcare clinics in Gauteng to examine their uptake of such prescriptions. The transcripted narratives were analysed using qualitative coding of emergent themes. Foucault's notion of technologies of the self is used to illuminate exemplars from interviews on how these women struggled to forge new identities as women living with HIV and to take responsibility for their health and that of their loved ones. It is demonstrated how material deprivation, dependence on the state and stigma contoured the lived experiences of these women. It is concluded that a notion of healthy consumers, free to choose and take responsibility for their own health, obfuscates the constraints that women living with HIV may face.


A Bearing-Only TMA running on a submarine, which can exploit the crossbearing effect from sensors installed at different locations needs no own manouevre for convergence, if the parallax between the involved bearings exceeds a certain value. In this paper we discuss some results for the cases where data from a Towed Array is fused with data from an on-board sensor or the data of 2 on-board sensors are available. Finally, we decribe a procedure for an automatic adjustment of the filter length of the non-recursive TMA filter by means of which it becomes even possible to handle targets which are not moving on a straight line.


Age is one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Treatment with statins can significantly reduce CVD events and mortality in both primary and secondary prevention. Yet despite the high CVD risk among the elderly, there is underutilization of statins in this population (ie, the treatment-risk paradox). Few studies have investigated the use of statins in the elderly, particularly for primary prevention and, as a result, guidelines for treating the elderly are limited. This is likely due to: uncertainties of risk assessment in older individuals where the predictive value of individual risk factors is decreased; the need to balance the benefits of primary prevention with the risks of polypharmacy, health care costs, and adverse medication effects in a population with decreased life expectancy; the complexity of treating patients with many other comorbidities; and increasingly difficult social and economic concerns. As life expectancy increases and the total elderly population grows, these issues become increasingly important. JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) is the largest primary prevention statin trial to date and enrolled a substantial number of elderly adults. Among the 5695 JUPITER participants ≥70 years of age, the absolute CVD risk reduction associated with rosuvastatin was actually greater than for younger participants. The implications of this JUPITER subanalysis and the broader role of statins among older adults is the subject of this review.


Lower torso pain and muscle guide hip, thigh and knee pain and muscle leg, ankle and foot pain and muscle guide.


The non-resonant bounded uniserial representations of Vec(R) form a certain class of extensions composed of tensor density modules, all of whose subquotients are indecomposable. The problem of classifying the extensions with a given composition series is reduced via cohomological methods to computing the solution of a certain system of polynomial equations in several variables derived from the cup equations for the extension. Using this method, we classify all non-resonant bounded uniserial extensions of Vec(R) up to length 6. Beyond this length, all such extensions appear to arise as subquotients of extensions of arbitrary length, many of which are explained by the psuedodifferential operator modules. Others are explained by a wedge construction and by the pseudodifferential operator cocycle discovered by Khesin and Kravchenko.


The demand for wireless channel models including realistic user environments is increasing. This motivates work on more detailed models that are reasonably simple and tractable but with adequate statistical performance. In this paper, we present an investigation of the spatial outdoor-to-in-car radio channel at 2.6 GHz. Specifically, we investigate the performance of a multiple antenna smartphone mock-up in the hand of a user. We evaluate and utilize a composite channel approach to combine measured antenna radiation patterns with an estimated spectral representation of the multipath channel outside and inside the car in two different scenarios. The performance of the method is investigated and comparisons with direct channel measurements are performed. Statistical and directional properties of the outdoor-to-in-car channel are presented and analyzed. It is found that the composite method, despite nearfield problems when estimating plane-wave channel parameters in a very narrow environment, constitutes a tool that provides reasonably viable statistical results. In addition, we have found that the introduction of the car in the propagation environment increases scattering and eigenvalue dispersion while it decreases pairwise antenna signal correlation. These statistical properties are found to slightly increase the possible diversity and the spatial multiplexing gains of multiple antenna terminals when located inside cars. This positive effect, however, is small compared to the negative effect of car penetration loss.


The governing equation of water-air phase flow is the best one, and established by the two fluid volume-averaged momentum and continuity equations based on seepage mechanics and the optimization theory of parameter inversion .The con- stitutive relationships of permeability-saturation-pressure controlling multiphase flow is given.The optimal estimation values are obtained by adopting the constrained variable metric method to inverse the parameters.The results show that the optimized val- ues by the numerical method in this paper is in good agreement with the experimental data, and the comparison analysis vali- dates the reliability and practicability of the numerical model, which deals with the sensitivity of the values to the initial condi- tions.The uniqueness and stability analysis indicates that the inverse model is well posed, and that the numerical model pro- vides sufficient information for the successful application of the parameter-estimating approach.The numerical experimental is completed by this method, using the numerous initial values to meet the practical project.It not only supplies the foundations to the numerical calculation of the contaminant transport in unsaturated zone, analyzes well the test data in the process of oil gas reservoir exploitation, the landfill gas release and the contamination remediation of the volatile organic compounds, but also provides the theoretical basis for determining the parameter of the permeability-saturation pressure.


Wind tunnel simulations of the effect of non-erodible roughness elements on sediment transport show that the flux ratio q/qs, shear velocity U*, and roughness density λ are co-dependent variables. Initially, the sediment flux is enhanced by kinetic energy retention in relatively elastic collisions that occur at the roughness element surfaces, but at the same time, the rising surface coverage of the immobile elements reduces the probability of grain ejection. A zone of strong shearing stress develops within 0·03 to 0·04 m of the rough bed because of a relative straightening of velocity profiles which are normally convex with saltation drag. This positive influence on fluid entrainment is opposed by declining shear stress partitioned to the sand bed. Similarly, because the free stream velocity Uf is fixed while U* increases, velocity at height z and particle momentum gain from the airstream decline, leading eventually to lower numbers of particles ejected on average at each impact. When the ratio of the element basal area to frontal area σ is approximately equal to 3·5, secondary flow effects appear to become significant, so that the dimensionless aerodynamic roughness parameter Z0/h and shear stress on the exposed sand bed Ts decrease. It is at this point that grain supply to the airstream and saltation drag appear to be significantly reduced, thereby intensifying the reduction in U*. The zone of strong fluid shear near the bed dissipates.


Abstract Objective. Reliable indicators of the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (sESCC: intramucosal and submucosal invasive carcinoma) may contribute to assist optimal clinical decision-making for treating sESCC. In esophageal cancer, there is a possibility of metastasis, even in sESCC, and careful evaluation is needed when making a pathological diagnosis. In this study, we objectively evaluated predictive factors of LNM. Materials and methods. A total of 110 consecutive sESCC cases were obtained. We evaluated candidate predictive factors of LNM as follows: (1) maximum tumor diameter; (2) macroscopic type; (3) depth of tumor invasion; (4) histological differentiation; (5) infiltrative growth pattern; (6) tumor budding; (7) lymphatic invasion; (8) venous invasion and (9) lympho-vascular invasion (LVI). Both Elastica–Van Gieson staining (EVG) and immunohistochemistry (IHC: D2-40, CD31, CD34) were used to evaluate invasion into the lympho-vascular spaces. For statistical analyses, single and multiple logistic regression were performed. Results. LNM was observed in 37 cases (33.6%). LVI using EVG and IHC was the strongest independent predictor of LNM with an odds ratio of 12.01. Analysis of the relationship between LVI using EVG and IHC and LNM showed a negative predictive value of 94.6%. Conclusions. Evaluation of LVI using EVG and IHC may contribute to predict LNM in sESCC.


When a plastic package is subjected to repeated thermal excursions such as during thermal cycling or thermal shock, progressive damage to the silicon die occurs. Damage can be initiated in the form of interfacial delamination accompanied by passivation cracking, and subsequently, by dielectric fracture that may ultimately lead to device failure. The extent of damage depends on the interaction between the various components in the package. In this study, thermal cycling of PLCC packages indicated that the die design configuration, the nature of the coating and its thickness, the formulation of the molding compound, the preconditioning of the packages, and the thermal excursion conditions all govern the electrical failure rates observed. Thus, careful selection of the proper combination of parameters can offer improved device reliability.<<ETX>>


Purpose: To compare the epidemiological and ocular findings of twin children with non- twin age matched individuals as their control.Methods: In this cross sectional study, a total of 92 twins (184 cases) were compared with 182 non- twin matched children. The comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including measurement of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), cycloplegic refraction, ocular deviation, strabismus as well as the anterior and posterior ophthalmic examinations were conducted. An organized questionnaire was also filled out for both groups to record their demographic information. Monozygotic twins were considered if there were similarity of their phenotypic characteristics and gender, otherwise the twins were considered as dizygotic. The mirror- image twins (MIT) was defined based on the laterality of symmetrical ocular characteristics of twins.Results: In this study, the mean age of the study subjects was 7.08±4.68 and 7.56±4.02 years in the twins and non-twins groups, respectively. Among the twins 27 (30%) were monozygotic. Refractive form of MIT was seen in 5 twins (5%). BCVA in the twins group (0.07±0.16LogMAR) was significantly worse than non-twins (0.03±0.08LogMAR, P<0.001) and higher percentage of them were amblyopic (21.8% versus 10.5%, P=0.005). Twin and controls had history of strabismus surgery in 7.8% and 3.3%, respectively (P=0.009). Multivariate analysis showed significant correlation among low gestational age and female gender, low birth weight and seizure. Conclusion: Female sex, less gestational age, low birth weight, amblyopia and strabismus were significantly higher in twins. Therefore, it is important to check their refractive error, anisometropia, MIT phenomenon and amblyopia to prevent their further complications.


Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease, clinically characterized by movement disorders, cognitive deficits, and psychiatric problems. HD is caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat within exon 1 of IT15 gene. HD exhibits the typical phenomenon of genetic anticipation and the symptoms of the disease appear earlier and more severe in subsequent generations due to meiotic instability.
The onset of HD is conventionally defined as motor onset although cognitive and psychiatric impairments may precede choreic movements or other movements disorders. The relationship between CAG repeats number and motor onset is well-known in HD; little is reported about the correlations between CAG repeats and non-motor onset. In the first part of this PhD thesis, we aimed to investigate the dependence of motor, cognitive and psychiatric onsets from expanded CAG repeat length and to study the correlation among these several modalities of clinical debut in a cohort of 188 patients with HD. We found that psychiatric and motor problems often represented the first symptoms of the disease, alone or in combination. The isolate cognitive onset was very rare. Lower but always consistent correlations were present between psychiatric onset and motor onset and between cognitive onset and psychiatric onset. Among the different psychiatric symptoms, Perseverative/Obsessive Behaviour and Apathy showed considerable positive correlation levels with motor and cognitive onsets. We evidenced that cognitive onset can depend from CAG repeats in IT15 pathological allele: in our cohort, the length accounts for the 54% of variability in age at cognitive onset.
The CAG repeat accounts only for approximately 56%-70% of the variation in age at onset in HD. It is therefore possible to imagine that modifier genetic variations, that segregate independently from the primary mutation, could influence the age at onset. In the second part of this PhD thesis, we decided to study seven SCAs genes (ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, CACNA1A, ATXN7, PPP2R2B, and TBP) as modifiers of age at onset in HD due to genetic, pathological, and clinical similarities between HD and SCAs. Our study did not find extensive correlations between CAG repeats in SCA genes and age at onset of HD. The only exceptions are represented by ATXN2 and CACNA1 for age at motor onset, and ATXN2 for age at psychiatric onset. When a multiple regression model was formulated and when the age at motor onset was considered, a small additional effect was identified only for CACNA1A. CAG repeats in expanded IT15 and larger CACNA1A alleles account for 64% of age at motor onset in HD patients.
In the last part of this PhD thesis, we designed a clinical study to measure the expression levels of MAP1LC3, SQSTM1 and WDFY3 in 20 patients with HD, and to compare these levels with those found in healthy controls and patients suffering from SCA 2 (spino-cerebellar ataxia type 2), another polyglutamine repeat disorder. MAP1LC3, SQSTM1 and WDFY3 genes seem to have a critical role in aggrephagy and aggrephagy levels are reported pathologically increased in HD patients. We measured expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells as they represent an easily accessible and repeatable matrix for clinical use such as clinical trials or observational studies. MAP1LC3B, SQSTM1, and WDFY3 were all increased in HD patients, suggesting a profound and intense induction in autophagy, aimed at counteracting the formation of protein aggregates. In contrast, SCA2 patients had a more modest modification with higher expression levels of WDFY3 alone.


In the early 1960s, Brayton and Moser proved three theorems concerning the stability of nonlinear electrical circuits. The applicability of each theorem depends on three different conditions on the type of admissible nonlinearities in circuit. Roughly speaking, this means that the theorems apply to either circuits that contain purely linear resistors or conductors-combined with linear or nonlinear inductors and capacitors or to circuits that contain purely linear inductors and capacitors-combined with linear or nonlinear resistors and conductors. This brief note presents a generalization of Brayton and Moser's stability theorems that also includes the analysis of circuits that contain nonlinear resistors, conductors, inductors, and/or capacitors at the same time.


In this paper, we generalize the recently developed analytical solutions of the radiation modes problem to the determination of closed-form expressions for the singular value expansion of a number of integral operators that map the boundary velocity of a baffled planar structure onto the acoustic pressure radiated in far-field or intermediate regions. Exact solutions to this problem involve prolate spheroidal wave functions that correspond to a set of independent distributions with finite spatial support and maximal energy concentration in a given bandwidth of the transform domain. A stable solution to the inverse source reconstruction problem is obtained by decomposing the unknown boundary velocity into a number of efficiently radiating singular velocity patterns that correspond to the number of degrees of freedom of the radiated field. It is found that the degree of ill-posedness of the inverse problem is significantly reduced, when considering a hemi-circular observation arc with respect to a linear array of sensors, by a factor scaling on the small angular aperture subtended by the observation line. Estimates are derived from the spatial resolution limits that can be achieved in the source reconstruction problem from the dimension of the efficiently radiating subspace.


The effects of sigma ligands on the central acetylcholine (ACh) systems in the rat frontal cortex were examined. By using brain microdialysis techniques, we showed that nonbenzomorphan sigma ligands, (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine and 1,3-di(2-tolyl)guanidine (DTG) dose-dependently increased the extracellular ACh level in this area. Similarly, benzomorphan sigma ligands, (+/-)-pentazocine and (+)-N-allylnormetazocine [(+)-SKF-10,047] also increased the extracellular ACh level. The increase in extracellular ACh level elicited by (+)-SKF-10,047 was greater than that by (-)-SKF-10,047. Moreover, the (+)-SKF-10,047- and DTG-induced increase in the extracellular ACh level were reduced significantly by simultaneous administration of haloperidol, a putative sigma receptor antagonist, whereas the (+)-SKF-10,047-induced increase was unaffected by (+/-)-3-(2- carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid, a competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel antagonist. On the other hand, none of the sigma ligands tested in this study had any effects on acetylcholinesterase or choline acetyltransferase activity and sodium-dependent high affinity choline uptake site in the rat frontal cortex. Ranking of potency for increasing extracellular ACh level was in the following order: (+/-)-pentazocine > (+)-SKF-10,047 > (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine > DTG. This order was positively correlated with the order of binding potency for the (+)-[3H]SKF-10,047 binding site in the rat frontal cortex, but was not correlated with binding to the [3H]DTG, [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate and [3H]AF-DX116 ([3H]11-[(2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl)acetyl]-5, 11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one) binding sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Scales for measuring systems are either based on incremental or absolute measuring methods. Incremental scales need to initialize a measurement cycle at a reference point. From there, the position is computed by counting increments of a periodic graduation. Absolute methods do not need reference points, since the position can be read directly from the scale. The positions on the complete scales are encoded using two incremental tracks with different graduation. We present a new method for absolute measuring using only one track for position encoding up to micrometre range. Instead of the common perpendicular magnetic areas, we use a pattern of trapezoidal magnetic areas, to store more complex information. For positioning, we use the magnetic field where every position is characterized by a set of values measured by a hall sensor array. We implement a method for reconstruction of absolute positions from the set of unique measured values. We compare two patterns with respect to uniqueness, accuracy, stability and robustness of positioning. We discuss how stability and robustness are influenced by different errors during the measurement in real applications and how those errors can be compensated.


The first stereocontrolled Cu-catalyzed sequential 1,6/1,4-asymmetric conjugate addition (ACA) of C-metalated hard nucleophiles to cyclic dienones is reported. The use of DiPPAM (diphenylphosphinoazomethinylate) followed by a phosphoramidite as the stereoinducing ligands facilitated both high ee values for the 1,6-ACA and high de values for the 1,4-ACA reaction components, which thus gave enantioenriched 1,3-dialkylated moieties. The absolute configurations were determined by using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) spectroscopy, in combination with DFT calculations and X-ray analysis. Interestingly, DFT calculations for the mechanism of enantioselective 1,6-addition by using an unprecedented Cu-Zn bimetallic catalytic system confirmed this attribution. Lastly, exploring intramolecular cyclization avenues for enantioenriched 1,3-dialkylated products provided access to the challenging drimane skeleton.


The designed synthesis of a series of copper(II) specific fluorogenic hydrophobic task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) from a new naphthalene-based tetradentate ligand is reported. Absorption and fluorescence spectral studies reveal both the ligand and its derivative TSILs show exclusive selectivity towards copper(II) ions. The Stern-Volmer method for calculation of the detection limit for ligand and TSIL1-3 shows values of 0.12, 20, 17, and 15 μM, respectively. Extraction and striping studies by doping these TSILs in [bmim][NTf2] demonstrated that these TSILs are recyclable extractants for the selective recovery of Cu(II) ions from a mixture of 14 relevant metal chloride aqueous solutions in biphasic liquid-liquid extraction with approximately 95% recovery.


The avionics data bus systems of the last four decades were dominated by federated systems. In the European Integrated Project DECOS (Dependable Embedded Components and Systems, partially funded by EC-IST-FP6-511764), in Subproject 6 (SP6) - application demonstrator domain aerospace, the attempt was to develop a new technology approach for an integrated system based on the time-triggered communication architectures. The new technologies in flight control electronics systems selected for the DECOS SP6 test-bench consist of the following: layered time-triggered data bus architectures (LTTP), digital actuator control electronics (ACE), signal processor based motor control electronics (NICE) and a centralized system control unit (SCU) embedded in an integrated modular avionics (IMA) cabinet. These electronics were used to drive two mechanically synchronized rotary actuators with DC brushless motors. The purpose of the present paper is to describe the new technologies implemented in DECOS SP6 with an emphasis on the experiences made and efforts deployed at Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg in developing, manufacturing and integrating all components into a high-lift actuation system test-rig.


One type of pest that often attacks soybean plant leaves in tidal swamplands is the armyworm pest. The intensity of leaf damage due to armyworm attack in tidal swamps ranges from 30-95%, and can even lead to crop failure. In controlling pests in soybean plants in general, always rely on chemical insecticides. The use of these chemical insecticides has a negative impact on the environment. To overcome this, the control is directed towards environmentally friendly pest control by utilizing swamp plants as a botanical insecticide. The study used a randomized block design (RBD) with 3 treatments of swamp plant extracts (galam, kirinyuh, kepayang) and 3 controls, namely without control, botanical insecticide made from neem, chemical insecticide with the active ingredient kloraniliprol. The aim of this study was to obtain a swamp plant extract that could be used in controlling armyworm pests (Spodoptera litura). The results showed that the three types of swamp plants could be used as botanical insecticides in controlling armyworm pests, and has an effectiveness value above 70%. The highest effectiveness of botanical insecticides was obtained at the age of 75 DAP, namely Galam (78.29%), Kirinyuh (78.86%) and Kepayang (78.85%).


Abstract Nuclear energy has the potential to exert a major positive impact on energy security and climate change by coupling it to the transportation sector, primarily through hydrogen production. In the short term, this coupling will provide carbon-free hydrogen for upgrading increasingly lower-quality petroleum resources such as oil sands, offsetting carbon emissions associated with steam methane reforming. In the intermediate term, nuclear hydrogen will be needed for large-scale production of infrastructure-compatible synthetic liquid fuels. In the long term, there is great potential for the use of hydrogen as a direct vehicle fuel, most likely in the form of light-duty pluggable hybrid hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs). This paper presents a review of the potential benefits of large-scale nuclear hydrogen production for energy security (i.e., displacing imported petroleum) and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Life-cycle benefits of nuclear energy in this context are presented, with reference to recent major publications on this topic. The status of U.S. and international nuclear hydrogen research programs is discussed. Industry progress toward consumer-grade HFCVs is also examined.


Focusing on the technical objects, the relation of technical objects is analyzed on the basis of the product data concept model and the integrated product model by Schöttner. Taking for coding as a tie, the relations among the parts, the documents, the drafts and the models are explained as well as the revised coding solutions. Taking diesel engine enterprise as an example, the deficiencies are pointed out based on the data model status, and the corresponding improved suggestions are proposed. The relations model of technical objects is applied for the enterprise. The application indicates that the model realizes the reusing of existing resources, improves the efficiency of enterprise personnel. It is the guide of implementation for information in future.


Platelets are central participants in hemostasis, and also contribute to the host inflammatory and immune responses. Platelets are known to have a direct effect on the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. Moreover, the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus exhibit multidirectional disturbances in the functional activity of platelets and neutrophils. Changes in inflammatory and thrombotic events can be considered predictors for adverse clinical course in systemic pathology. The aim of present study was to evaluate the possible role of platelets in maintaining increased netosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Blood platelets and white blood cells from 29 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were subject to the study. We have registered the in vitro effects of platelets upon formation of extracellular traps by autologous neutrophils under the conditions of co-cultivation for 30 minutes (vital NETosis) and 150 minutes (suicidal NETosis), as well as the relationships between the platelet counts, their activity and the number of NETs observed. It was found that the severity and direction of the platelets effect upon NETosis in vitro cultures depends on the degree of activity of disease: in the 1st degree of SLE, the effect of platelets did not differ from healthy individuals, i.e., intact platelets suppress NETosis (p = 0.002), whereas ADP-induced patelets did not exert any effect); at the 2nd degree of activity, both intact and activated platelets increase NETotic activity (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04 for intact and activated platelets, respectively). In the patients with 3rd degree of the disease activity, platelets did not affect formation of NETs. Hyperactivation of platelets was detected in SLE patients, mostly pronounced in the cases with 2nd degree of activity. However, we have not revealed any significant relationships between the count of platelets, their functional activity (according to results of ADP-test aggregation), and the indexes of NETosis. At the same time, the counts of neutrophil extracellular traps in bloodstream depended on the concentration of C-reactive protein (r = 0.58; p = 0.02), the titer of autoantibodies (anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B) (r = 0.66; p = 0.04 and r = 0.76; p = 0.02, respectively), rheumatoid factor (r = 0.73; p = 0.007) and circulating immune complexes (r = 0.68; p = 0.02). The obtained results indicate that the platelet/neutrophil interactions are not the leading cause for increased NETs numbers in SLE, compared to significantly higher effects of soluble autoagressive factors.


Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes adhere dichotomously to the host receptors CD36 and chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). This dichotomy is associated with parasite sequestration to microvasculature beds (CD36) or placenta (CSA), leading to site-specific pathogenesis. Both properties are mediated by members of the variant P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP-1) family and reside on nonoverlapping domains of the molecule. To identify the molecular basis for the apparent dichotomy, we expressed various domains of PfEMP-1 individually or in combination and tested their binding properties. We found that the CD36-binding mode of the cysteine-rich interdomain region-1 (CIDR1) ablates the ability of the Duffy binding-like γ domain to bind CSA. In contrast, neither a non-CD36-binding CIDR1 nor an intercellular adhesion molecule 1 binding domain had any affect on CSA binding. Our findings point out that interactions between different domains of PfEMP-1 can alter the adhesion phenotype of infected erythrocytes and provide a molecular basis for the apparent dichotomy in adhesion. We suggest that the basis for the dichotomy is structural and that mutually exclusive conformations of PfEMP-1 are involved in binding to CD36 or CSA. Furthermore, we propose a model explaining the requirement for structural dichotomy between placental and nonplacental isolates.


Background: Neonatal sepsis is defined as a clinical syndrome of bacteremia with systemic signs and symptoms of infection in the first 28 days of life. Neonatal sepsis is classified as early onset sepsis (EOS) within 72hours of birth and late onset sepsis (LOS) after 72 hours of birth. Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of mortality in neonates and it is responsible for 30 – 50 % of total neonatal death each year in developing countries. The emergence of antibiotic resistance to commonly used antibiotics lead to difficulty in the treatment of neonatal sepsis. Early diagnosis and treatment will lead to decrease in morbidity and mortality due to neonatal sepsis. Aim and objective:1.To estimate the prevalence of early and late onset neonatal sepsis in NICU 2.To study the bacteriological profile and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern of pathogens causing neonatal sepsis 3.To analyse correlation between CBC and CRP values along with blood culture among NICU patients Results: Most common organisms isolated in our institution by our study from total isolate of 120 are Klebsiella pneumonia were 40(33.30%), Coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp were 17(14%). CRP is elevated in 40% of patients at the admission and 80 % after 72 hours of admission. Most of the patient have total leukocyte count more than 11000 – 72 (48%).67(44.6%) patient have more than 9000 of absolute neutrophil count in per mm3, which indicates bacterial infection. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Gram negative organism isolated in neonatal sepsis isolates show sensitivity in the order of 75 (83 %) Imipenem,72 (79.50%) Piperacillin- tazobactum, 71(78.30%) to Cefaperazone sulbactam, 68 (74.6%) to Gentamicin,, 67(73.40%) to Amikacin,9(60%) to Doxycycline, 52(59%) to Ciprofloxacin, 36(38.5%) to Ceftazidime, 29(37.3%) to Cotrimoxazole, 32 (36.10%) to Cefotaxime, 30(33.70%) Amoxyclav Conclusion: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of death in developing countries which is largely preventable with rationale antimicrobial therapy. The most common pathogen associated with neonatal sepsis vary with time of infection and geographical location. Therefore, continuous monitoring of bacteriological profile in NICU and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern is needed. Early detection of the resistance pattern and strict follow up of antibiotic stewardship program and adherence to hospital antibiotic policy would reduce the emerging multidrug resistance, neonatal mortality and morbidity.


Superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistulae are rare. They are usually associated with previous penetrating abdominal trauma or surgery. Patients may present with ascites or gastrointestinal bleeding. This report is of a patient with postoperative refractory ascites. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan and digital subtraction angiogram showed a communication between the superior mesenteric artery and the dilated superior mesenteric vein. A superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula can be treated with either surgical ligation or endovascular embolisation, with the latter successfully performed for this patient.


In 2009 we tried an experiment in our large core first year physics course: we introduced mastery learning. The basic idea behind mastery learning is that any student can learn anything well, but that it takes some students much longer than others. We should therefore let students proceed through a course at different speeds, while insisting that they totally master each section of the course before moving on.

The students have to get over 80% in each homework assignment before they are allowed to take the next one. They are, however, allowed to take different versions of each assignment multiple times until they reach this threshold. At the end, the weaker students would have covered less content than the strong ones, but they should have fully understood whatever they did. In the laboratory component, the students were assessed in each experiment against a set of lab mastery goals. The students could pass the lab component only if they have mastered each of these goals at least once.

Did it work? Logistically it worked very well, somewhat to our surprise. There were a number of striking unexpected benefits: students did more work, complained less about the workload, asked for help more often, and showed an improved ability to solve questions first time around. Gains in student conceptual understanding were much improved, but this may be due to other innovations introduced in the course. Examination performance, however, did not improve, even on the most basic material. Students could do the problems when given unlimited time and assistance from peers, but not in exam conditions.


Summary: Patients with AIDS often develop cognitive and motor dysfunction that results from damage to synapses and death of neurons in brain regions such as the hippocampus and basal ganglia. This brain syndrome, called AIDS dementia or HIV encephalitis, is believed to result from the infection of one or more populations of mitotic brain cells with HIV‐1, which then release viral proteins that are toxic to neurons. Two neurotoxic HIV‐1 proteins have been identified, the viral coat protein gp120 and the transcription regulator Tat. Each of these proteins can induce apoptosis of cultured neurons and can render neurons vulnerable to excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. Gp120 and Tat also cause neuronal dysfunction and death in rodents in vivo. Both gpl20 and Tat disrupt neuronal calcium homeostasis by perturbing calciumregulating systems in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum. Accordingly, drugs that stabilize cellular calcium homeostasis can protect neurons against the toxic effects of gp120 and Tat. By altering voltage‐dependent calcium channels, glutamate receptor channels, and membrane transporters, the HIV‐1 proteins promote calcium overload, oxyradical production, and mitochondrial dysfunction. A better understanding of how gp120 and Tat disrupt neuronal calcium homeostasis may lead to the development of novel treatments for AIDS patients.


This thesis examines the phenomenon of visual transparency in a novel application of the efficiency approach. Transparency provides a useful stimulus to probe the visual mechanisms that underlie the visual surface representation, introduced in Chapter One. Previous research has found that there is a cost in processing visual transparency defined purely by motion or stereo cues. This has been interpreted in terms of visual mechanisms constraining the recovery of transparency. However, the cost for transparency may reflect the increased complexity of the stimuli. To address this issue I computed the efficiency for motion and stereo defined transparency tasks by comparing human performance with that of the ideal observer. The efficiency approach has two key advantages over traditional psychophysical measures: 1) it provides a performance measure normalised relative to the available information, 2) it is an absolute measure and can be compared directly across diverse tasks. I provide a review of the efficiency approach in Chapter Two. In Chapter Three, I present a study of the efficiency for speed discrimination of transparent random dot stimuli and comparable non-transparent random dot stimuli, as a function of the speed ratio and the dot density of the stimuli. In Chapter Four, I present a study of the efficiency for depth discrimination of transparent and non-transparent random dot stereograms, across a range of disparity ratios and dot densities. In Chapter Five, I present an extension of the efficiency approach to the motor domain, for the smooth pursuit of high-density transparent and non-transparent random-dot stimuli. Finally, in Chapter Six I provide physiologically plausible accounts of the findings.


Abstract Recent advancements in 3D printing involve reinforcing the polymer matrix with high-strength fibers offer improved mechanical properties over unreinforced polymeric materials. The fiber-reinforcement offers a great potential to customize fiber-reinforced 3D printed polymer composites for complex shapes and high-performance parts for diverse end use applications. The advance capabilities also allow to vary the 3D printed composite weight without compromising the mechanical properties. The aim of this research was to investigate unique macrostructures of 3D printed samples developed by varying the printing parameters, and their influence on the tensile behavior. Samples developed for this study comprised of nylon matrix reinforced with continuous fiberglass with three varying fiber orientations and four different infill geometries. Tensile properties of the unreinforced and reinforced 3D printed samples were evaluated to investigate the impact of fiber orientation and infill geometries and further benchmarked with traditional 3D orthogonal woven (3DOW) composites. The results indicated that the tensile properties due to fiber orientation mainly dictated the tensile properties more than the cellular structure. The analyses from this study showed that the macrostructure (hence tensile properties) of 3D printed specimens were directly related to the printing parameters that include fiber amount and orientation, void formation and the bonding between individual raster/layers.


OBJECTIVE
Lung-recruited Ly6C monocytes had been shown to be involved in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Our present study aimed to investigate whether the COX-2 inhibition modulates the function of lung-recruited Ly6C monocytes in a mouse model of VILI.

METHODS
Mice were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 20 ng) intraperitoneally prior to injurious mechanical ventilation (Vt = 30 ml/kg, PEEP = 0 cmH2O). A subgroup of mice was treated with intravenous parecoxib (30 mg/kg), a COX-2 inhibitor, 1 hour prior to ventilation. Control mice received saline and were not ventilated. At the end of the experiment, blood gas analysis was performed and lung tissue was collected for histological assessment. Flow cytometry was employed to quantify the different populations of lung monocytes/macrophages and their function. Isolated Ly6C cells were used to measure the intracellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) by fluorescent probes, and cytokine production by cytometric bead array.

RESULTS
Exposure to LPS and injurious ventilation was associated with severe lung histological damage, oxygenation impairment, and pulmonary edema; all of which were largely attenuated following the treatment of parecoxib. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis revealed that parecoxib caused a reduction in the number of the lung-recruited CD11bLy6C monocytes while there was no effect on tissue-resident CD64 alveolar macrophages. In addition, the production of oxidative stress products (ROS, NO), MHC-II expression and inflammatory cytokines in response to LPS and VILI in CD11bLy6C monocytes was ameliorated by parecoxib.

CONCLUSION
Parecoxib-induced alleviation of oxidative stress and inflammation in lung-recruited Ly6C monocytes may partly explain the beneficial action of COX-2 inhibition in VILI.


Embedded deterministic test is a manufacture test paradigm that combines the compression advantage of built-in self-test with the high fault coverage of deterministic stimuli, inherent to methods based on automatic test pattern generation and external testers. Despite enabling the use of low-cost testers for rapidly achieving high fault coverage, embedded deterministic test must consciously use the available tester channel bandwidth to ensure non-disruptive scaling to future devices of increased complexity. The focus of this paper is to show how exploitation of care bit clustering in a test set combined with a low cost implementation for on-chip decompressors based on seed borrowing, facilitates an increased utilization of the tester channel bandwidth, and hence improved compression of deterministic stimuli.


Poor patient–provider interaction among racial/ethnic minorities is associated with disparities in health care. In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, we examine African American women's perspectives and experiences of patient–provider interaction (communication and perceived discrimination) during their initial prenatal visit and their influences on perceptions of care received and prenatal health behaviors. Pregnant African American women (n = 204) and their providers (n = 21) completed a pre- and postvisit questionnaire at the initial prenatal visit. Women were also interviewed face to face at the subsequent return visit. Women perceived high quality patient–provider communication (PPC) and perceived low discrimination in their interaction with providers. Multiple regression analyses showed that PPC had a positive effect on trust in provider (p < .001) and on prenatal care satisfaction (p < .001) but not on adherence to selected prenatal health behaviors. Findings suggest that quality PPC improves the prenatal care experience for African American women.


Acute renal failure (ARF) represents a severe complication of malignancies, that causes significant morbidity and mortality. ARF is a common part of multiple organ dysfunction in critically ill patients with cancer with reported mortality rates from 72% to 85% in patients who need renal replacement therapy. The pathways leading to ARF in cancer patients are common to the development of ARF in other conditions. However, certain factors leading to the development of ARF may be associated to the tumor or to the tumor therapy. The purpose of this review is to give specific aspects of renal disease in critically ill cancer patients (CICPs), to overview the causes of ARF in CICPs and to describe recent progress in the management of these complications, including treatment toxicity and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The prevention of ARF is obligatory and therefore the possible treatments of ARF in CICPs are also discussed.


The aim of the present work was to study morphological and morphometric study of thyroid cartilages in adult human cadavers. The material for present study comprised of 30 adult (M:F::25:5) apparently normal cadaveric larynges, obtained from the Anatomy Department of Govt. Medical College, Amritsar. Material used were a vernier caliper with least count of 0.01 mm to measure the different straight distances, unbraided silk thread for measuring the curved distances of the laryngeal cartilages, Indian ink for marking ends of unbraided silk thread, scale, protractor for measuring different angles. All the larynges were removed along with hyoid bone and trachea up to third tracheal ring. All the muscles and ligaments attached to larynx were removed carefully. Different morphological features were observed; measurements were taken and recorded on the predesigned proforma. All the major measurements of thyroid cartilage were found to be more in males as compared to females except upper breadth of thyroid cartilage on anterior aspect, thyroid angle. Length and breadth of thyroid laminae in both sexes were larger on left side as compared to right one. In males the left superior horn and in females right superior horn was longer. In males, the inferior horn was longer on right side while in females; the left inferior horn was longer. Both in males and females length of left oblique line was more than right oblique line. When compared between the two sexes, on the right side, it was more in males while on left side it was more in females.


The essays in "Recognition, Work, Politics" indicate the diversity and continuity of contemporary French critical theory concerning both the question of politics and its philosophical articulation. These themes are approached and addressed from directions that include post-structuralism, the paradigm of the gift, and post-marxism. "Recognition, Work, Politics" also highlights critical theories developed in France today that concentrate on the central issues of recognition and work. These themes highlight the renewed reception of German Critical Theory in contemporary French thought particularly around the project of recognition developed by Axel Honneth. Philosophers and social and critical theorists published in Recognition, Work, Politics include Etienne Balibar, Jacques Ranciere, Axel Honneth, Christophe Dejours, Alain Caille, Christian Lazzeri, Emmanuel Renault, Gerard Raulet and Yves Sintomer.


We studied 6 patients with liver metastasis of AFP-producing gastric cancer, especially about the angiography and treatment. The angiographic findings of liver metastasis are characteristic in 3 patients. Multiple rounded hypervascular tumor are seen in the arterial phase and its vessels are fine. In the venous phase, the tumor is homogeneous. We called the findings "Fireworks like stain". These patients were treated with TAE and responded it.


Abstract The paper analyses the transformation of the collective memory of the Lithuanian guerrilla war (1944–1953) during the Soviet occupation. The problem that arises on observation of the collective memory of Guerrilla war period is the disparity between the sense and meaning of the guerilla war as it was happening and the shapes of its memory that emerged at the beginning of the perestrojka and the reestablishment of the independence. The shift from the high support for the resistance and it's goals in the 50's to the ignorance of it can be observed, as well as the changing of the perception of it as the fight between two sovereign countries (Lithuania and the SSRS) towards the internal conflict in Lithuanian society. The paper raises the question about the reasons for this transformation and the impact of Soviet propaganda (expanding it to the scope of "historical culture" in Jorn Rüsen terms). The research of one peculiar sphere of soviet historical culture, that is, the building of monuments and carrying out of the related memorial practices, proved, that the forms and the intensity of the development of the soviet narrative of the Lithuanian Guerrilla war were poor and inconsequential. Such a results support the hypothesis that the soviet historical culture was not decisive in transformation of a collective memory, and that suggests to pay more attention not to the actions of the regime, but to sociological, sociohistorical and anthropological research of Lithuanian soviet society.


Scholarly resources in Italian Studies. The resources organized here are all freely available and have undergone a selection and evaluation process.


The main objective of this paper is to show the ability of resistivity technique for investigating the buried utilities (their location and depth) for characterizing the surrounding subsurface soils. This study deals with implementation of 2-D electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) to detect the location of buried utilities existing in the Al-Dhubat Interchange in Kut city, Wassit Governorate south of Baghdad. Interpretation results of the subsurface investigation of this site have been compared with those obtained from conventional methods. Generally, the site is characterized by its gradual decreases in resistivity with depth with range of resistivity values (<1-140 ohm.m) which is mostly consists of silty clay to clayey silt with lenses or pockets of medium, stiff and very stiff silty clay with sand or gravel. Several utility pipes with different diameters of φ1200, φ1100, φ600 and φ 400 mm with low resistivity values (<1 ohm.m) have been identified in the 2-D resistivity sections. The results of 1-D VES are in agreement with that of 2-D ERI as their resistivity values decrease with depth. Besides, IP values for this site are in agreement with the resistivity data as it is an indicator of clay content and their uniform sections reflecting the high moisture content and the effect of salts in the subsurface soil and water.


Continuous Integration is a practice in the software program development process where software program builders combine code into a shared repository frequently, more than one instance throughout the day. Jenkins is a continuous integration tool that assists developers and testers by using automating the entire test, on the way to reduce their work with the aid of tracking the development at each and every stage in software development, each integration push is then tested by means of automated build and test cases, and an easy way to make CI quicker and accelerate CI procedure is to automate the testing of a recent build. In this paper, a real scenario is taken into consideration, how the software program trying out is performed in corporate sectors and how Jenkins can save developers/testers important valuable hours by automating the whole software development system.


Chromium exists at various valences, including elemental, trivalent, and hexavalent chromium, and undergoes reduction-oxidation reactions in the environment. Since hexavalent chromium is known as a human carcinogen, it is most important to evaluate the oxidation-reduction characteristics of the hexavalent chromium species. Although hexavalent chromium can be reduced to trivalent state, the detailed information on this in workplace environments is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate hexavalent chromium reduction in time in various conditions. A pilot chrome plating operation was prepared and operated in a laboratory for this study. There was evidence that the hexavalent chromium was reduced by time after mist generation. The percentage ratio (with 95% confidence intervals in parentheses) of hexavalent chromium to total chromium was almost 100% (99.1 approximately 102.3) immediately after mist generation, and was reduced to 87.4% (84.8 approximately 89.9) at 1 hour and 81.0% (78.3 approximately 83.5) at 2 hours, respectively. Another test indicated that hexavalent chromium collected on PVC filters was also reduced by time after sampling. Hexavalent chromium was reduced to 90.8% (88.2 approximately 93.3) at 2 hours after sampling. It also was found that hexavalent chromium was reduced during storage in air. It is recommended that air samples of hexavalent chromium be protected against reduction during storage.


Grid Computing aims to allow unified access to data, computing power, sensors and other resources through a single virtual laboratory. The development or adaptation of applications for Grid environments is being challenged by the need of scheduling a large number of tasks and resources efficiently. The general problem of optimally mapping tasks to machines in a heterogeneous computing suite has been shown to be NP-complete. In this paper we propose a modified simulated annealing algorithm for scheduling independent tasks in Grid environment. Experimental results show that our proposed algorithm improves the performance of static instances compared to the results of other algorithms reported in the literature.


Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for aggressive condylar resorption (ACR) after orthognathic surgery. Methods: A total of 25 female patients with osteoarthritis (OA) scheduled for orthognathic surgery were divided into two groups: those who exhibited ACR (ACR (+), n = 8) and those who did not exhibit ACR (ACR (−), n = 17) after surgery. Clinical indices were used to determine the extent of mandibular advancement, the presence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), and relevant medical treatment histories (including the use of oral contraceptive (OC) medication. TMJ dysfunction was clinically evaluated in terms of pain, the presence of sounds (clicks or crepitus), and disc displacement, joint effusion (JE), and synovial hyperplasia (SH); these were further investigated with the aid of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cephalographic findings were compared with the normal profiles of Japanese subjects. Results: The mean (with SD) extent of mandibular advancement was 11.4 mm (2.4) in ACR (+) and 4.1 mm (1.8) in ACR (−). The TMD medical history of ACR (+) was much more extensive than that of ACR (−); all patients in ACR (+) had a history of OC use. More patients in ACR (+) than in ACR (−) had TMJ dysfunction and disc displacement, JE, and SH on MRI. Preoperative cephalograms showed that ACR (+) patients exhibited counterclockwise rotation of the mandible and retrognathism that was attributable to a small sella–nasion–B (SNB) angle, a wide mandibular plane angle, and a negative inclination of the ramus. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that the development of ACR after orthognathic surgery to treat mandibular retrognathism may be associated with coexisting TMJ pathologic abnormality.


Background/Aim: Mammary neoplasms are very common tumours in female dogs. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the oncogenesis process. One of the useful proteins used in the diagnostics of CAFs cells is podoplanin (PDPN). The aim of our study was to assess the expression of PDPN in mammary cancer in female dogs. Materials and Methods: Our study cohort included 61 cancers and 21 adenomas of the mammary tumour in bitches. Expression of podoplanin, Ki-67 and HER2 was determined using the Immunohistochemical (IHC) method. PDPN expression at the mRNA level was determined using real-time PCR. Results: Expression of PDPN in CAFs was observed in 22.9% of cases of mammary cancers in bitches, with no PDPN expression in adenomas. A positive correlation was found between the expression of PDPN in CAFs and the grade of histological malignancy and expression of Ki-67. Conclusion: PDPN plays a significant role during the process of carcinogenesis of mammary tumours in female dogs.


This paper outlines methodology to predict the spatial distribution of soil classes using digital terrain analysis and multinomial logistic regression for the Vestfold County of south-eastern Norway. A digital elevation model of 25 meter resolution and digitized soil map were used as original data for the terrain and soil respectively. Fifteen terrain attributes were derived from the digital elevation model. There were thirteen soil types in the surveyed area of the study site. The relationship between the soil types and the terrain attributes were modeled using multinomial logistic regression. The logit models were used to predict the probability of existence of each of the soil classes. The result showed that elevation, flow length, duration of daily direct solar radiation, slope, aspect and topographic wetness index were the most significant terrain attributes determining the spatial distribution of soil classes. The probability prediction for each soil class was found to be reliable when conceptually evaluated and visually compared against the empirical soil maps except for those which are not greatly influenced by topography but by other factors such as human activity.


Anyone in literary studies who has looked recently at titles of books, conferences, research clusters, and even syllabi across the field cannot have missed two key words, borrowed from historical studies, that are doing substantial periodizing duty for literary and cultural criticism: one a chronological unit, the longue durée, and the other nominally a geographic unit, the Atlantic world. While it may not be obvious, each of these terms has spatial as well as temporal dimensions that reflect their shared origins with Ferdinand Braudel. Braudel first developed an application of the concept of the longue durée (pioneered by Marc Bloch) during the 1940s when, as a German prisoner of war, he wrote the initial draft of his book The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II; later, in 1958, he published his famous conceptual piece on the longue durée in Annales. Braudel posits that time moves at different speeds, defined as geographic, social, and individual, each corresponding to a different durée (literally, a duration of time). The longue durée (usually translated as "long perspective" or "long term") is the slowest-moving, operating on the scale of centuries, in which historical changes are humanly imperceptible. Braudel's Mediterranean constructs a geography commensurate with his theory of time, the methodological and conceptual frameworks of his book-its geohistorical plan, its comparative approach, its macrohistorical, multidimensional perspective, shifting from the longue durée to the courte durée of political events, embodied in its tripartite division into structures, conjunctures, and events, each section proposing a different mode of periodization and time scale. Braudel's Mediterranean thus consists spatially of multiple seas unfolding temporally over the longue durée and as such simultaneously provides literary studies with a flexible tool for revisionist periodization and Atlantic studies, both historical and literary, with the powerful model of a region as a unit of geographic and chronological analysis.


The fuel prices are increasing year by year due to the limited sources and extensive use. Automotive industries have taken initiatives to shift from conventional fuel to renewable and E-vehicles. Still a day is long where all the conventional vehicles in India will be replaced with E-vehicles. Another approach in this regard is utilizing the fuel/ energy to optimum level. The effective use of the fuel is conventionally achieved through modifications in the engines, while the fuel consumption of the vehicles can further be controlled with the automatic ignition and turning off method. It is observed that in standstill condition at traffic signals, the fuel consumption of the vehicle is comparatively more than running condition and it is wasted as not utilized for the movement. Authors have identified the opportunity to develop a system for auto ignition and turning off the automotive engines with traffic signals. Authors have proposed the Arduino based system to address the said issue and is presented in this paper.


Objectives: Based on the environmental protection law, this paper analyzes our current tobacco control policy and studies the effectiveness of the follow-up policy. Methods: This paper studies the impact of environmental law on tobacco industry and tobacco control from the legislative
 principles and regulatory subjects of environmental protection law. Grasping the basic connotation of tobacco control policy is the premise of understanding and implementing tobacco control. This paper analyzes tobacco control policy from the perspective of policy network and policy tools.
 Through the description of Smith policy model, find out the deficiencies in the implementation of tobacco control policy. Results: The smoking population in China tends to be younger, and the control of teenagers' smoking behavior should be more strict. Conduct investigation and management
 around the school, put forward certain requirements for students' parents, and carry out health education for students. Based on the legislative intention of environmental protection law, we should use policy tools, policy network and policy implementation process theory to supervise and manage
 the whole process of tobacco control implementation in China from the aspects of tobacco system, policy formulation, policy implementation and policy evaluation.. Conclusion: The government should strengthen the scientificity of tobacco control policy-making and improve its operability and
 unity. It should improve the implementation system of tobacco control policies and improve the construction of law enforcement subjects. An effective administrative punishment mechanism should be established and the information disclosure system of tobacco control policy should be strengthened.
 The social members should be guided to participate in and supervise. We should evaluate tobacco control policies and strive to improve the formulation, implementation and evaluation of tobacco control policies.