Abstract α-Thalassemia is a common inherited disease in southern China. The severest form is Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis, in which the affected fetuses almost always die in utero or shortly after birth, and the mothers are at high risk for severe morbidity. Therefore, this condition should be controlled, especially prenatally. In this study, we reported on a two-year experience in prenatal control of Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis at a mainland Chinese hospital. Totally, 573 pregnancies at risk for Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis were referred and different prenatal procedures were offered depending on the gestational age at presentation. One hundred fifty-two affected fetuses were diagnosed prenatally; among these, only half presented in early gestation, and were terminated in time. Although our prenatal program has successfully prevented the birth of children with severe thalassemia, it does not show a satisfactory outcome, considering the gestational age when an affected pregnancy is terminated.


beta-Amyloid peptide (A beta), a normal constituent of neuronal and non-neuronal cells, has been proven to be the major component of extracellular plaque of Alzheimer's disease. Interactions between A beta and neuronal membranes have been postulated to play an important role in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease. Here we show that A beta is able to insert into lipid bilayer. The membrane insertion ability of A beta is critically controlled by the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids. In a low concentration of cholesterol A beta prefers to stay in membrane surface region mainly in a beta-sheet structure. In contrast, as the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids rises above 30 mol%, A beta can insert spontaneously into lipid bilayer by its C terminus. During membrane insertion A beta generates about 60% alpha-helix and removes almost all beta-sheet structure. Fibril formation experiments show that such membrane insertion can reduce fibril formation. Our findings reveal a possible pathway by which A beta prevents itself from aggregation and fibril formation by membrane insertion.


New or improved syntheses are described of some NN-bis-2-chloroethylanilines carrying both a free phenolic group and a methoxycarbonyl ring substituent.A study has been made of the hydroxyethylation, with ethylene oxide, of a variety of chloro-, methoxy-, and methoxycarbonyl-nitroanilines, and of methoxy- and methoxycarbonyl-N-acylphenylenediamines. Bishydroxy-ethylation was inhibited by an o-methoxycarbonyl group and by an o- or p-nitro-group, but otherwise the NN-bis-2-hydroxyethyl derivatives were obtained and subsequently converted into the NN-bis-2-chloroethyl compounds. Reduction of the nitro-group, or hydrolysis of the acylamino-group, in these dichlorides led to NN-bis-2-chloroethylanilines carrying both a free amino-group and also a methoxycarbonyl-, methoxy-, or chloro-group as ring substituents.The ring-substituted (bis-2-chloroethylamino)-phenols or -anilines are precursors of mustard urethanes having potential importance as anti-tumour agents.


During the last few dacades, most nations have seen a significant growth in the number and proportion of women, especially married women, in the labour force. However, the cultural norms of many of these countries remain ambivalent about the employment of women outside the home. Rarely, outside socialist countries, do nations fully accept or endorse the employment of women. Political constraints reinforce ambivalent social and cultural attitudes and generate resistance to the acceptance of the costs involved, and benefits to be gained, in adjusting society's structure to the changing roles of women and assisting in the integration of women into the labour force without discrimination.


Originally syncopes were defined as seizures without organic (W. Schulte), nowadays all periods of unconsciousness not caused by epilepsy but by primary or secondary cardiovascular diseases are included. Precipitating factors, pathophysiology, symptoms and differential diagnosis are discussed.


Two types of 5 μm thick hybrid orientation structure wafers, which were integrated by (110) or (100) orientation silicon wafers as the substrate, have been investigated for 15–40 V voltage ICs and MEMS sensor applications. They have been obtained mainly by SOI wafer bonding and a non-selective epitaxy technique, and have been presented in China for the first time. The thickness of BOX SiO2 buried in wafer is 220 nm. It has been found that the quality of hybrid orientation structure with (100) wafer substrate is better than that with (110) wafer substrate by "Sirtl defect etching of HOSW".


This paper discusses various issues in integrated manufacturing planning that establish the need for incremental process planning. Interfaces between process planning and design, facility planning and scheduling modules are explained in order to verify that process plans are developed afcer receiving a feedback from other manufacturing planning systems and justify the need for incremental process planning. An experimental process planning system that provides for incremental planning is described and its modules explained. The control structure that enables incremental process planning for various changes in product design and manufacturing environment is discussed and appropriate process plan representation is suggested.


Growing clinical evidence shows that a partial rheumatoid arthritis( RA) patient treated with Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets( TGT) may fail to achieve clinical improvement. It is of great clinical significance to predict the therapeutic effect of TGT in RA. Therefore,the aim of the current study was to identify potential biomarkers for TGT treatment in RA. Affymetrix EG1.0 arrays were applied to detect gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 6 RA patients( 3 responders and 3 non-responders) treated with TGT. By integrating differential expression data analysis and biomolecular network analysis,360 mRNAs( 185 up-regulated and 175 down-regulated) and 24 miRNAs( 7 up-regulated and 17 down-regulated) which were differentially expressed between TGT responder and non-responder groups were identified. A total of 206 candidate target genes for the differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained based on miRanada and Target Scan databases,and then the miRNA target gene coexpression network and miRNA-mediated gene signal transduction network were constructed. Following the network analyses,three candidate miRNAs biomarkers( hsa-miR-4720-5 p,hsa-miR-374 b-5 p,hsa-miR-185-3 p) were identified as candidate biomarkers predicting individual response to TGT. Partialleast-squares( PLS) was applied to construct a model for predicting response to TGT based on the expression levels of the candidate gene biomarkers in RA patients. The five-fold cross-validation showed that the prediction accuracy( ACC) of this PLS-based model efficacy was 100.00%,100.00%,100.00%,66.67% and 66.67% respectively,and all the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve( AUC) were 1.00,indicating the highly predictive efficiency of this PLS-based model. In conclusion,the integrating transcription data mining and biomolecular network investigation show that hsa-mir-4720-5 p,hsa-mir-374 b-5 p and hsa-mir-185-3 p may be candidate biomarkers predicting individual response to TGT. In addition,the PLS model based on the expression levels of these candidate biomarkers may be helpful for the clinical screen of RA patients,which potentially benefit individualized therapy of RA in a daily clinical setting.


A deadlock avoidance algorithm for flexible manufacturing systems containing both multiple capacity resources and mixed choices in part routing is presented. The method determines whether moving a part to its next step is safe, unsafe, or undetermined. That classification is linear in complexity. Undetermined part movements are further analyzed using another procedure, which attempts to empty the system virtually to determine whether the move is safe or not. It is polynomial in complexity. An example is provided to illustrate how the method can be applied.


An inconsistency of quantum field theory, regarding the signs of vacuum energy and vacuum pressure of elementary fields versus non-elementary fields (like e.g. phonon fields), is pointed out. An improved law for the canonical quantization of fields is presented, which is based on the distinction between elementary and non-elementary fields. Remarkably, the improved quantization method removes not only the inconsistency of quantum field theory, but at the same time solves the (old) cosmological constant problem for all fields of the standard model of elementary particles (but not for the hypothetical inflaton fields), without compromising any of the achievements of established quantum field theory.


ABSTRACT This study tests the hypothesis that defensive message processing, like defensive behaviors in the real world, has two directions, fight-and-flight. The Limited Capacity Model of Motivated Mediated Message Processing (LC4MP) characterizes defensive message processing by increases in unpleasantness and arousal reports, and accelerated heart rate indicating either a focus on internal processing (internal thoughts) or the active withdrawal of cognitive resources from processing highly arousing and unpleasant media messages. However, the LC4MP has not included direct measures that allow discrimination between fight-and-flight responses. Psychological reactance theory (PRT) predicts defensive responses including anger and counterarguments (reactance) when media messages threaten viewers' freedom and autonomy. We hypothesized that PRT provides the LC4MP with the appropriate measures (anger and counterarguments) needed to discriminate fight-or-flight responses. Results supported this prediction. Participants (N = 49 adult-smokers) high in defensive and low in appetitive reactivity (risk-avoiders) withdrew from the message (fled: characterized by low anger and counterarguments) while those high in appetitive and low in defensive reactivity (risk-takers) experienced reactance (fought: characterized by high anger and counterarguments) in response to freedom threatening antitobacco messages that are highly arousing and unpleasant. Moreover, both reactance and message withdrawal yielded the same cognitive, emotional, and physiological responses predicted by the LC4MP as indicators of defensive message processing. Theoretical and message design recommendations are discussed.


Exploration by space missions of the near-nucleus regions of comets Halley and Grigg-Skjellerup has resulted in valuable but expensive snapshots of cometary phenomena. The 'ground truth' from such missions, which can be established only by this means of dedicated space exploration, provides essential inputs to models of cometary processes. It also gives calibration data for a very wide base of cometary and asteroidal observations, past, present and future. Seen as objects which are both eroded by impacts from interplanetary dust and also the progenitors of interplanetary dust, we find both asteroids and comets are needed to contribute to this population. Contrary to expectations, as new data on the asteroids and comets is analysed, we find the differences between the two classes of primordial body is very much less distinct; accounting for the interplanetary distribution and properties of dust mass requires not only both classes of object but also a distribution of mixed classes. ESA's newly selected cometary mission Rosetta will offer a unique opportunity, during a rendezvous encounter from aphelion to perihelion, for the extended and detailed in situ observations of a target comet. It will also act as a valuable focus on the nature and role of comets in both the origin and development of the Solar System.


The authors describe an efficient and robust approach to the computation of the steady-state response of periodic nonlinear microwave circuits. The problem of solving a set of differential equations is converted into that of solving a system of nonlinear algebraic equations using a technique called convolution-based sample balance. Although exact in all cases for which harmonic-balance techniques are exact, this technique does not require the use of discrete Fourier transforms, and calculating the Jacobian is straightforward. For the solution of the resulting system of nonlinear equations, an efficient and yet robust algorithm has been developed. In the examples given, savings in computational effort of over 85% are reported when this algorithm is compared with Newton's method. >


The intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) takes second position after the premature births as a cause for neonate with smaller weight for it's gestational age. Perinatal morbidity of retard children is important, but perinatal mortality is about eight times higher then normal weighted neonates. It is very important to make the right diagnosis of IUGR, the cause of their illness, the therapy they need and when it's necessary to find the right time, place and way of birth.


Introduction There is gathering interest in the presence of B cells within liver tissue and their contribution to chronic inflammation and fibrosis but the recruitment signals for B cells into peripheral tissue is poorly understood. In addition a large proportion of lymphomas which infiltrate the liver are of B cell origin but again little is understood of the mechanism that underlies this process. Lymphocyte recruitment to the liver occurs within the hepatic sinusoidal channels. These low shear vascular beds are lined by specialised hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSEC). Our aim was to understand the molecular mechanisms of B cell and B cell lymphoma recruitment to the liver. Methods We used isolated human HSEC in flow assays with purified peripheral blood B cells to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of B cell recruitment via HSEC. The contribution of conventional adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and unconventional molecules VAP-1 and CLEVER-1/stabilin-1 was assessed by using function blocking antibodies. We repeated our experiments with two B cell lymphoma cell lines, CRL-2261 and Karpas B cell line. We assessed the contribution of chemokines by performing transwell assays and adding chemokines to our flow assays. We also tracked the motility of B cells and lymphoma cell lines on HSEC using tracking software. Results B cells were captured from flow and firmly adhered to HSEC, the primary adhesion receptor on HSEC was VCAM-1. B cells also underwent transendothelial migration which was mediated by a combination of ICAM-1, VAP-1 and CLEVER-1/stabilin-1. Lymphoma cell line recruitment shared several features of primary lymphocyte homing, firm adhesion was mediated by ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and they demonstrated shape-change and crawling behaviour which was ICAM-1 dependent. The lymphoma cell lines did not undergo transendothelial migration and this could not be initiated with the addition of SDF-1α. Conclusion There is increasing evidence that B cells play an important role in chronic inflammatory liver diseases. The recruitment signals we have identified for B cells in this study may provide potential therapeutic targets for liver disease. Furthermore we have demonstrated preserved lymphocyte homing mechanisms in malignantly transformed B cells. These properties could be therapeutic targets to prevent lymphoma dissemination to the liver. Competing interests None declared.


The purpose of this study was to determine the mean EC50 of adrenaline on heart rate and force of contraction of isolated New Zealand white rabbit hearts and to determine the concentration of atenolol that completely blocks the effect of adrenaline using one of modern physiological acquisition system, PowerLab, AD instrumnets. Twelve Isolated hearts from New Zealand white rabbits were perfused through aorta in a Langendorff mode. Heart rate and contractility were determined for 5 minutes after bolus injection of 5 different concentrations of adrenaline (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 μg/mL). The changes in heart rate and contractility after each treatment were compared with their baseline values. These data were used to calculate the mean EC50 of adrenaline on heart rate and force of contraction. This EC 50 was then used after perfusion of different concentrations of atenolol (1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10μg/mL). Data were collected with the help of PowerLab data acquisition and analyzed by Labchart pro7 software. Adrenaline resulted in a stimulatory effect on the heart rate and the amplitude of the heart contraction. The maximum increases in both heart rate and force of contraction were seen at adrenaline dose of 7.5 μg/mL and the plateau phase was achieved at a dose of 10 μg/mL. The average EC50 of adrenaline was 3.5 μg/mL. The positive inotropic effect of adrenaline was antagonized only at atenolol concentrations of 5.0 and 10 μg/mL and complete inhibition of adrenaline effect on heart rate was achieved at atenolol concentrations of 10 μg/mL. These data showed that atenolol must be used at a concentration no less than 7.5 μg/mL to demonstrate if β adrenergic receptors are involved in the mechanism of action of any newly tested positive inotropic or choronotroic drug.


The one-body Jastrow factor has been introduced into the transcorrelated variational Monte Carlo (TC-VMC) method. The principal role of the one-body Jastrow factor in the Jastrow–Slater-type wave function is to prevent an unfavorable effect of the two-body Jastrow factor that alters the charge density. In the TC-VMC method, since the one-body orbitals are optimized by the transcorrelated self-consistent field (TC-SCF) equations, which take into account the electron–electron correlation interactions originating from the two-body Jastrow factor, the unfavorable effect of altering charge density can be avoided without introducing the one-body Jastrow factor. However, it is found that it is still better to incorporate a one-body Jastrow factor into the TC-VMC method for the practical effect of reducing numerical errors caused by the Monte Carlo sampling and the re-weighting calculations in solving the TC-SCF equations. Moreover, since the one-body Jastrow function adopted in the present work is constructed from the two-body Jastrow factor without increasing any variational parameter, the computational cost is not significantly increased. The preferable effect of the use of the one-body Jastrow factor in the TC-VMC calculation is demonstrated for atoms. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006


Considering the reference frequency dissemination requirements of the Square Kilometre Array telescope (SKA) project, on the basis of the 1f–2f precision frequency synchronization scheme, we propose and demonstrate a fiber-based multiple-access frequency synchronization scheme. The dissemination reference frequency can be recovered at arbitrary nodes along the entire fiber link. It can be applied to antennas close proximity to the SKA central station, and will lead to a better SKA frequency synchronization network. As a performance test, we recover the disseminated 100-MHz reference frequency at an arbitrary node chosen as being 5 km away from the transmitting site. Relative frequency stabilities of 2.0×10−14/s and 1.6×10−16/104s are obtained. We also experimentally verify the feasibility of a frequency dissemination link with three access points.


ABSTRACT Two experiments tested the semantic feature hypothesis with children younger than those previously studied. Two predictions were considered: (1) that order of acquisition of dimensional adjective pairs corresponds with their order of semantic generality; (2) that at an early stage of development, the marked members of dimensional pairs are interpreted as having the meaning of the unmarked members. In general, both experiments supported prediction one but failed to support prediction two. In Experiment II, a possible confounding variable (non-semantic size preference) was examined. Two general conclusions were reached: (1) that it is difficult to rule out semantically irrelevant factors (size preference) from experiments investigating the learning of dimensional adjectives; and (2) that refinements of the semantic feature theory may be necessary to accommodate individual differences (which may be age dependent) in strategies for learning dimensional adjectives.


Patients who were undergoing CD4+ lymphocyte and HIV-1 viral load measurement as part of their routine clinical care were asked to predict the results of these tests compared to their last recorded CD4+ lymphocyte and HIV-1 viral load measurements. One hundred eight patients predicted the results of 240 CD4+ lymphocyte and 244 viral load measurements. Both Spearman bivariate correlation and a generalized estimating equation repeated measures analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between patient-predicted and actual laboratory values for both tests. Patients with a history of depression were less likely to predict their test results correctly than patients without such a history.


As the digital age creates new ways of spreading news, fake stories are propagated to widen audiences. A majority of people obtain both fake and truthful news without knowing which is which. There is not currently a reliable and efficient method to identify "fake news". Several ways of detecting fake news have been produced, but the various algorithms have low accuracy of detection and the definition of what makes a news item 'fake' remains unclear. In this paper, we propose a new method of detecting on of fake news through comparison to other news items on the same topic, as well as performing logistic regression and multinomial naïve Bayes classification. From the techniques and methodologies, we found that fake news can be classified in the simplest terms as fact-based or non-fact-based. Our model, built upon reverse plagiarism and natural language processing, produces positive results but is not as effective as logistic regression and multinomial naïve Bayes. These models classify fake news more correctly and efficiently than a human could and show that fake news is easily identifiable. The traditional classification models outperform the reverse plagiarism method, but improvements and refinements can be made.


There is a wide interest in single-mode optical fibers for the middle infrared range of 3–30μm. These fibers will be useful for a variety of applications such as spatial filtering and interferometry. However, many technical and theoretical problems hindered the development of such fibers. Segmented cladding fibers may make it possible to combine an extremely large core area and single mode operation over a large spectral range. The design parameters may accurately control the optical properties of such fibers. We report here the design and fabrication of segmented cladding fibers made of crystalline silver halides, which are highly transparent in the middle infrared.


The waveform of the source pulse applied at the input of an UWB antenna can be optimised to obtain maximum peak radiated field in one direction. Presented is a systematic technique that helps the UWB system designer to achieve the best peak radiated field in a range of directions. Since the transfer functions of all known printed UWB antennas are direction dependent, application of such a technique is crucial in the system design when an UWB system is required to radiate close to the peak over a range of directions.


In this study is substantiated the new mathematical model of vector of electroencephalographic signals, registered under the conditions of multiple repetitions of the mental control influences of brain–computer interface operator, in the form of a vector of cyclic rhythmically connected random processes, which, due to taking into account the stochasticity and cyclicity, the variability and commonality of the rhythm of the investigated signals have a number of advantages over the known models. This new model opens the way for the study of multidimensional distribution functions; initial, central, and mixed moment functions of higher order such as for each electroencephalographic signal separately; as well as for their respective compatible probabilistic characteristics, among which the most informative characteristics can be selected. This provides an increase in accuracy in the detection (classification) of mental control influences of the brain–computer interface operators. Based on the developed mathematical model, the statistical processing methods of vector of electroencephalographic signals are substantiated, which consist of statistical evaluation of its probabilistic characteristics and make it possible to conduct an effective joint statistical estimation of the probability characteristics of electroencephalographic signals. This provides the basis for coordinated integration of information from different sensors. The use of moment functions of higher order and their spectral images in the frequency domain, as informative characteristics in brain–computer interface systems, are substantiated. Their significant sensitivity to the mental controlling influence of the brain–computer interface operator is experimentally established. The application of Bessel's inequality to the problems of reducing the dimensions (from 500 to 20 numbers) of the vectors of informative features makes it possible to significantly reduce the computational complexity of the algorithms for the functioning of brain–computer interface systems. Namely, we experimentally established that only the first 20 values of the Fourier transform of the estimation of moment functions of higher-order electroencephalographic signals are sufficient to form the vector of informative features in brain–computer interface systems, because these spectral components make up at least 95% of the total energy of the corresponding statistical estimate of the moment functions of higher-order electroencephalographic signals.


This is one of a series of articles written by eminent clinicians for the purpose of extending information concerning the official medicines. The twenty-four articles in this series have been planned and developed through the cooperation of the U. S. Pharmacopeial Committee of Revision andThe Journal of the American Medical Association.—Ed. The past two decades have witnessed radical changes in the management of anemia. Previously treatment for all types of anemia consisted chiefly in general hygienic measures, fresh air, nutritious food, iron and arsenic to "stimulate" the bone marrow, and transfusion of blood when necessary. Today diagnosis of the specific type of anemia is of primary importance. It is recognized that anemia occurs either because of loss or increased destruction of blood, or because of decreased formation of blood. If anemia results either from acute loss or from increased destruction of blood, drug or diet


Fine structural analysis of a series of 51 adenocarcinoma in the human pancreas revealed their composition of one major cell type, a mucoprotein secreting cell which has a number of structural features resembling the cells of the larger interlobular ducts in the normal pancreas. In addition to mucus secretion, the tumor cells released large quantities of membrane material, both as vesicles pinched off from microvilli and as blebs sequestered from the plasma membrane. At the ultrastructural level the subdivision of tumors into three major grades of malignancy was manifested by a progressive loss in cell polarity and a reduction in the association of tumor cells with elements of the extracellular matrix (basal lamina). The highest grade of differentiation grew as tubular structures with a common luminal space, while with progressive dedifferentiation and loss of cell polarity secretion occurred into both luminal and interstitial spaces. This release pattern of tumor cell products, which constitute a complex mixture of exportable and constitutive proteins, will lead to their appearance in both pancreatic juice and blood circulation. Tumor cell spreading occurred along perineural sheaths and was combined with nerve fiber destruction. Primary tumors and lymph node or liver metastases did not differ significantly in their respective grading.


If there is no health record history of a patient then it will be very difficult for treating in different hospitals. Especially for travelers and in the case of emergency it can ruin the auspicious treatment and diagnosis. If the smart health records are based on Cloud then there is higher difficulties for protection and security, the open difficulties of interoperability and joining and also lack of every day support for the high accessibility of wellbeing history. The smart health records that are already exists can store only limited about of data of patients and they stored data only for specific hospital and do not support versatility of patients crosswise over various medical clinics. The technology that use better treatment for patients, improve quality of life for everyone and provide better diagnostic tools can be consider as smart health.


The nucleation of a eutectic alloy –at an early stage– and the factors that determine whether rod or hexagonal growth occurs were evaluated as a function of the process control agent (PCA)—or the lack of it. The study is subdivided into three separated experiments; in all cases, the samples (elemental powders of Pb and Sn) were processed by high-energy milling under composition, pressure and temperature (c-P-T) vial conditions. In the first case, it was detected an excessive mechanical kneading when the powders were processed without PCA and a monolith –as long as 5 mm in length– was obtained. However, this route should not be underestimated because the presence of α−, β− and eutectic-phases –at the surface of the monolith– were traced as nanoparticles (<100 nm). In the second and third cases, to prevent the excessive mechanical kneading and interparticle bond of the powders during milling, two different mechanochemical routes with PCA were considered: (i) tributyl phosphate (TBP) and (ii) ethanol (ETOH). Both of them were proposed to modify the viscoelastic behaviour of the powders. Nanorods resulted when TBP was used. Although structural disorder –at nanometric scale– was not traced, other effects associated with TBP like organic debris and the presence of by-products were detected. Based on the results with the ETOH option, it was shown that the precursors store energy as structural defects during milling. This suggests that the early eutectic nucleation (hexagonal crystal structure) occurred due to structural defects, crystals interfaces and phase boundaries. These acted as preferential sites for nucleation. Moreover, a typical eutectic phase distribution was detected. Finally, it was demonstrated that even after prolonged milling time and nonetheless the kind of PCA –or the lack of it, only the eutectic formation was scarcely traced; that is to say, a partial eutectic formation took place.


This essay builds on the monumental material reconstruction of the Cave 1 hodayot scroll (1QHa) first proposed by Hartmut Stegemann and brought to completion by Eileen Schuller in the critical edition available in DJD 40, which is, and will remain, an invaluable scholarly resource. At the same time, the proliferation of scholarly editions of the Cave 1 hodayot projects to modern readers an illusory material unity that the Cave 1 hodayot did not enjoy in antiquity. This study highlights some curious aspects of the unprovenanced Cave 1 hodayot, especially as they pertain to our understanding of the literary collection known popularly as the first group of Community Hymns (= CH I), and offers a possible scenario to account for the material state of the hodayot at the time of its abandonment.


A rapid and sensitive method for the sequential determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples based on flow injection on-line preconcentration and separation with two-microcolumn system-flame atomic absorption spectrometry has been developed. The Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples were respectively retained in a microcolum with cation exchange resin and in a microcolumn with anion exchange resin and were eluted directly by 15% HNO3 and 8% NH4NO3, respectively. The characteristic concentrations (pre-concentration time of 1 min) for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 1.50 micrograms.L-1 and 1.39 micrograms.L-1, respectively, The relative standard deviations at 10 micrograms.L-1 level were 3.41% and 1.80%, and the corresponding detection limits (3 sigma) were 1.03 micrograms.L-1 and 0.54 microgram.L-1, respectively. The satisfactory recovery of 93.48%-107.5% could be obtained from water samples.


OBJECTIVES
Describe cases of children with hepatosplenomegaly (HS) attended at the General Pediatric Teaching Ambulatory (AGER) of Instituto da Criança, São Paulo, identifying the main causes, evolution, necessity for hospitalization and/or referral to specialists.

METHODOLOGY
Retrospective analysis of the records of children presenting HS on admission at AGER from September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1996.

RESULTS
Of the 89 children included (age range, 1 to 148 months; 24 months), 64 (72%) were referred from other services for HS investigation. Most common presenting complaints were: fever--39 (44%); pallor--26 (29%); weight loss--21 (24%) and jaundice--14 (16%). Main alterations noticed on physical examination were: pallor--47 (53%) and short stature--17 (19%). Anemia was diagnosed in 70 children (79%); 35 children (39%) had infections; 7 (8%) metabolic disorders and 5 (6%) neoplastic disorders. The most frequent infections were of the urinary tract--9 (10%) and hepatitis A--6 (7%). Thirty six children (40%) were referred to specialists, 17 of which were already diagnosed.

CONCLUSIONS
Most of the children with HS present deficiency anemia associated with infections which the general pediatrician is able to diagnose. Persistence of unexplained HS for more than 2 months, especially when there is substantial volume enlargement or alteration in the organs consistency, is an indication for referral to specialists.


The first significant cases of herbicide-resistant weed populations were to the triazines in the 1970s. In the last 10 years there has been an increase in the number of weed populations that have become resistant to an array of herbicides. In some of these cases, like rigid ryegrass in Australia, a multitude of resistant biotypes has evolved with different mechanisms of resistance. If the present trend continues, the number of herbicides effective on certain weed species may diminish rapidly. To counteract this trend, industry has organized a number of intercompany working groups to specifically address the development of resistance and to implement plans to manage resistance. University and extension along with industry personnel across the world have begun educating growers on resistance management. However, this effort needs to be intensified to find new solutions for controlling weeds through the use of integrated weed management practices that incorporate new and established herbicides with cultural, mechanical, and biological control methods. The challenge is to develop cost effective, environmentally sustainable programs for weed control while maintaining the present efficiency in food and fiber production so that needs of an ever expanding human population can be met.


Adult stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), were monitored during three winters at two, four, and 13 locations with Alsynite fiberglass traps and by examination of the interiors of buildings. No stable flies were found inside buildings during the winter. Adult stable flies were consistently caught on Alsynite traps at one location during two winters and at two other locations during one winter. Distribution and physiological age of these flies indicate that they emerged from pupae that had developed at or near the location where they were captured. Potential breeding sites were examined. A few third instars were found in silage in midwinter, but silage should not be considered a major source for overwintering stable flies.


Natural nest-site selection was investigated in 50 radiocollared southern flying squirrels Glaucomys volans during spring and summer, 1994–1996, in the Ouachita National Forest of Arkansas. Squirrels nested in 226 trees in a variety of habitats at five study areas. Contrary to previous reports describing southern flying squirrels as habitat generalists, in this study squirrels showed selection in both the habitat and tree type in which nests were placed. Where it was available, mature pine–hardwood forest was selected for nesting. Young (< 15 years old) and immature (15–40 years old) pine plantations and harvested areas were avoided as nesting habitats. At harvested study areas, squirrels nested in protected riparian mature forest strips (greenbelt) along, and 10–20 m either side of, intermittent creeks and in adjacent mature forests. Squirrels constructed only outside nests in pine trees. In mature pine–hardwood forest, pines were used for outside nests more frequently than hardwoods; in greenbelt habitat, pines and hardwoods were chosen equally for outside nests. Both outside and cavity nests were found in hardwoods; standing dead trees (snags) contained only cavity nests. Snags were selected over hardwoods for cavity nesting in both mature pine–hardwood forest and greenbelt habitat. All hardwood species and all decay classes of snags were used for diurnal nesting in greater frequency than expected. Considering both cavity and outside nest-site selection, pines were used less than expected. Results suggest that mature forests are optimal flying squirrel nesting habitats and should be retained adjacent to harvested areas to provide resources to squirrels abandoning stands after disturbance. Within harvested areas, nesting habitat can be substantially improved through the retention of overstory hardwoods and snags, as well as protection of mature forest strips along drainages.


Formation of micellar morphologies in aqueous solutions of charged random copolymers has been reported in several studies. This paper reports on liquid crystallization of the cationic random acrylic terpolymer i.e., poly[(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-co-(methyl methacrylate)-co-(butyl methacrylate)] containing no mesogenic groups. The viscometric behaviour of the terpolymer solutions deviated in several ways from ordinary behaviour of polyelectrolytes supporting the possibility of self-assembly of this cationic random terpolymer in a solvent mixture containing acetone, ethanol and 1-propanol or each of these solvents separately. The existence of nano-sized liquid-crystalline structures was demonstrated using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis of the terpolymer solutions. Morphology and sizes of the liquid-crystalline structures were determined according to the SAXS results and confirmed by dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy findings. Liquid crystallization was reasoned on the basis of the existence of a segregated chain microstructure as for polyelectrolytes containing folded parts connected to each other by monomer strings. In a random amphiphilic copolymer or the terpolymer under investigation, the folded parts and strings must be hydrophilic and hydrophobic, respectively. The role of alcohol aggregates should be considered in self-assembly of the terpolymer chains. The alcohol aggregates can act as physical crosslinkers leading to the formation of more compact liquid-crystalline structures. The deviations observed in the viscometric behaviour of the terpolymer solutions are suggested as the result of the ability of terpolymer chains to self-assemble. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry


We discuss the statistics involved in the legal case of the nurse Lucia de B. in The Netherlands, 2003-2004. Lucia de B. witnessed an unusually high number of incidents during her shifts, and the question arose as to whether this could be attributed to chance. We discuss and criticise the statistical analysis of Henk Elffers, a statistician who was asked by the prosecutor to write a statistical report on the issue. We discuss several other possibilities for statistical analysis. Our main point is that several statistical models exist, leading to very different predictions, or perhaps different answers to different questions. There is no such thing as a 'best' statistical analysis.


Nonhealing forms of leishmaniasis in humans are commonly associated with elevated levels of the deactivating cytokine IL-10, and in the mouse, normally chronic infections can be cleared in the absence of IL-10. Using a Leishmania major strain that produces nonhealing dermal lesions in a T helper type 1 (Th1) cell–polarized setting, we have analyzed the cellular sources of IL-10 and their relative contribution to immune suppression. IL-10 was produced by innate cells, as well as CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25−Foxp3− T cells in the chronic lesion. Nonetheless, only IL-10 production by antigen-specific CD4+CD25−Foxp3− T cells, the majority of which also produced IFN-γ, was necessary for suppression of acquired immunity in Rag−/− reconstituted mice. Surprisingly, Rag−/− mice reconstituted with naive CD4+ T cells depleted of natural T regulatory cells developed more severe infections, associated with elevated levels of IL-10 and, especially, Th2 cytokines in the site. The data demonstrate that IL-10–producing Th1 cells, activated early in a strong inflammatory setting as a mechanism of feedback control, are the principal mediators of T cell–derived IL-10–dependent immune suppression in a chronic intracellular infection.


We report on the successful realization of a novel single electron memory device utilizing a Schottky in-plane gate (IPG) quantum wire transistor (QWTr) with nano Schottky metal dots whose position and size can be precisely controlled. Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the nano-metal dot formed on n-GaAs showed clear hysteresis which suggests charging of the nano-metal dot. A fabricated single electron memory device utilizing nano-metal dots showed clear threshold voltage shift once the bias was applied to the charging control gate of the nano-metal dot. This indicates successful memory operation of the fabricated device.


Using of phase change materials (PCM) for increasing energy savings in sustainable buildings is receiving a lot of interest in commercial applications. Butyl stearate (BS), as PCM, can be used to maintain ambient temperature in the human comfort zone and prevent temperature fluctuations by enhancing the thermal properties of concrete. The long‐term effects of BS on concrete are not well known. In this study, the applicability of BS, as a smart concrete additive, by direct incorporation in the concrete structure was investigated comprehensively including thermal, rheological, and corrosion behaviour. The thermal characterization of PCM was achieved using DSC, TGA, thermal conductivity, and thermal buffering experiments. Thermal storage capacity of BS was measured to be 134.2 J/g, which is high enough to be used for passive solar energy storage in buildings. The fresh concrete experiments revealed that workability and flowability of fresh concrete mixes were improved. The maximum hydration temperature was reduced, and a retarding effect was observed by the addition of BS. Moreover, the corrosion behaviour of steel embedded in concrete with BS as PCM was studied in a solution of NaCl (3.5 wt%) representing an aggressive environment by utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for long‐term corrosion tests that lasted for 1 year. The open circuit potential of steel in concrete with BS showed noble potential indicating low corrosion probability. The FESEM images and polarization resistance (Rp) values showed that the addition of BS in concrete decreases corrosion of the rebar in comparison with concrete without BS. Addition of BS not only enhances thermal capacity but also exhibits corrosion protection of rebar by hindering penetration of chloride ions into the concrete.


Sexual behaviour was not induced in ovariectomized cows by single doses of 100 or 250 micrograms oestradiol benzoate or by 3 injections of 50 micrograms oestradiol benzoate given at 12-h intervals. Treatment with 3 doses of 250 or 500 micrograms oestradiol benzoate at 12-h intervals produced plasma levels that were similar to those during pro-oestrus and oestrus in intact cows, and 11 of 12 treated animals showed oestrous behaviour. The higher dose resulted in a more pronounced response in 'mounting' and 'mounted' behaviour and a shorter interval to the onset of behavioural signs of oestrus. Oestrous behaviour was not observed in any ovariectomized cows treated with 1,2 or 20 mg testosterone propionate, doses that resulted in plasma levels comparable to those in intact pro-oestrous animals. Treatment with pharmacological doses of testosterone propionate resulted in transient mounting and interest in similarly treated females, but the results were inconsistent.


This article puts forward a novel idea of power tower inspection depending on model-based behavior planning. It mainly focuses on the problems caused by uncertain security, flight time limitation and stochastic noise affection when inspecting with flying robot. Firstly, we construct a safety space and some target viewing regions based on the model of the power tower. Then a reinforcement learning procedure is adopted to find an optimal policy of guiding the inspection behavior. Experimental results show that the model-based behavior planning improves the efficiency of the inspection significantly even with the wind gusts or stochastic interferences.


A novel heterodyne method for measuring the linewidth ranging from 100 MHz to 100 GHz is developed. The line shape of 1.3- mu m DFB (distributed-feedback) lasers biased below threshold is measured by the use of this method. The center-frequency shift and the linewidth are determined as functions of the bias current, showing linear dependencies on the bias current. From this result, the linewidth enhancement factor is estimated. >


Summary

The invasive plant species, Tradescantia fluminensis, first appeared in the Whakapohai Reserve in South Westland, New Zealand, during the 1960s, and by 2002, it had spread throughout the 43-ha riparian reserve. It was presumed at high risk of spreading to neighbouring National Parks because of its ability to spread by floodwaters. A restoration project with the aim of eradicating Tradescantia in the reserve began in May 2002, at which time eight transects were established. The cover of Tradescantia was measured before control, and after on six subsequent occasions. The initial cover of Tradescantia was estimated to be about 17% of the entire reserve in 2002 and declined with annual control to <0.1% in 2011. The effects of this management regime on the forest community are described along with documentation of the costs and time put into achieving these outcomes.


To the Editor.— Through their comparative group selection, Ryback and co-workers have compromised their sophisticated analysis of biochemical and hematologic correlates of alcoholism and liver disease. These correlates would be more meaningful if they would allow distinction between alcoholics with alcoholic liver disease and alcoholics with nonalcoholic liver disease. Distinguishing alcoholic patients with liver disease often can be intimated by taking a history, as Ryback and associates have done in part by choosing their two major groups for study. They, in fact, may be identifying a pattern that reflects simultaneously both nonspecific liver disease and alcoholism rather than alcoholic liver disease per se. Moreover, their third group—patients in the alcoholic treatment program— may have had serious alcoholic or nonalcoholic hepatic disease without dramatic abnormalities in their laboratory test results. 1 Although the authors may not have felt justified in performing liver biopsies in these patients, this group remains a weak


There has been increasing recognition of the importance and value of strategic water source areas ("SWSAs"). SWSAs form about 10% of South Africa's landscape and provide 50% of the country's water. Their strategic importance lies in their significant ability to provide for the country's economic, agricultural and basic human needs. One such SWSA has been at the centre of various court hearings, due to proposed mining activities in the Mabola Protected Environment – which falls squarely within the Enkangala Drakensberg SWSA. In May 2019, the Water Tribunal handed down a judgment pertaining to the water use licence application for these proposed mining activities in Endangered Wildlife Trust v The Director-General, Department of Water and Sanitation (WT 03/17/MP) [2019] ZAWT 3 (22 May 2019). The applicants challenged the decision to grant the water use licence on seven grounds, all revolving around how public authorities should exercise their statutory mandates when dealing with the country's most scarce natural resource – water. As important as the judgment is for underscoring the balance between the use of natural resources and economic gain, it also highlights a trite point – SWSAs are not regulated in South Africa's environmental legislation and as such, their legal protection is questionable. Although various scientific research documents and guidelines point to the need to protect SWSAs, the Tribunal insisted that these do not meet the "relevant considerations" requirement as per the National Water Act 36 of 1998 and could thus not be taken into account when coming to its final decision. This case note has three objectives. First, to provide a summary of the case and the Tribunal's findings. Secondly, to reflect critically on the lessons learned from the Tribunal's consideration of the scientific reports calling for SWSA protection. Thirdly, to suggest a way forward for promoting the protection of SWSAs in environmental law.


The rare branched-chain sugar apiose, once thought to only be present in the plant kingdom, was found in two bacterial species: Geminicoccus roseus and Xanthomonas pisi. Glycans with apiose residues were detected in aqueous methanol-soluble fractions as well as in the insoluble pellet fraction of X. pisi. Genes encoding bacterial uridine diphosphate apiose (UDP-apiose) synthases (bUASs) were characterized in these bacterial species, but the enzyme(s) involved in the incorporation of the apiose into glycans remained unknown. In the X. pisi genome two genes flanking the XpUAS were annotated as hypothetical glycosyltransferase (GT) proteins. The first GT (here on named XpApiT) belongs to GT family 90 and has a Leloir type B fold and a putative lipopolysaccharide-modifying (LPS) domain. The second GT (here on XpXylT) belongs to GT family 2 and has a type A fold. The XpXylT and XpApiT genes were cloned and heterologously expressed in E. coli. Analysis of nucleotide sugar extracts from E. coli expressing XpXylT or XpApiT with UAS showed that recombinant XpApiT utilized UDP-apiose and XpXylT utilized UDP-xylose as substrate. Indirect activity assay (UDP-Glo) revealed that XpApiT is an apiosyltransferase (ApiT) able to specifically use UDP-apiose. Further support for the apiosyltransferase activity was demonstrated by in microbe co-expression of UAS and XpApiT in E. coli showing the utilization of UDP-apiose to generate an apioside detectable in the pellet fraction. This work provides evidence that X. pisi developed the ability to synthesize an apioside of indeterminate function; however, the evolution of the bacterial ApiT remains to be determined. From genetic and evolutionary perspectives, the apiose operon may provide a unique opportunity to examine how genomic changes reflect ecological adaptation during the divergence of a bacterial group.


Information system vendors are moving away from consolidation and merger, while more multihospital systems that buy from the vendors are moving toward centralized decisionmaking, says George Kennedy.


The capability of the bonds market to channel savings to investors plays a significant role in promoting aggregate output. However, some recent studies argue that the connection between bond market development and economic activities is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to examine how the bonds market in Malaysia may affect its aggregate output based on the period between 1990 to 2020. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test is applied to study the nexus of the bonds market and the aggregate output of Malaysia. The results suggest a positive effect of private and public bonds on the economy of Malaysia. The findings imply a long-term effect running from the bonds market to aggregate output, supporting the notion that the bonds market has a direct and positive effect on channelling a surplus of funds to finance economic activities in Malaysia.


Bedsores, also known as decubitus ulcers and pressure sores, are continual problems for the debilitated and disabled but are often not regarded with the seriousness they deserve. Pressure sores arise when localized areas of the body are subjected to prolonged pressure that occludes vascular flow. When blood flow is obstructed for a sufficiently long period, the mechanism of reactive hyperemia cannot compensate for inadequate cell nutrition and soft tissue necrosis begins. Pressure sores develop under bones that are close to the skin, where soft tissues are compressed by concentration of body weight. Particularly vulnerable areas are those over the sacrum, heel, greater trochanter, elbow, lateral and medial malleoli, scapula, and occiput in the bedfast patient and over the ischial tuberosities in the chairfast.


The focus of this article is The Rape of the Lock, written by Alexander Pope (1688–1744). The poem was first published in 1712 but was further revised and expanded by Pope, prior to its publication in the first edition of Pope's collected works in 1717. The opening lines of the poem What dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things (Canto I.1–2) point to its ostensible purpose as an instrument of reconciliation; its epic treatment of a matter so trivial as the stealing of a lock of hair being designed to "laugh together" the once friendly but now hostile families of the offender and the offended. Although the conciliatory intent of the poem remains a popular assumption, scholars have strongly disputed this view, arguing instead that the anecdotal reporting of a family feud provided Pope with a most welcome and timely poetic opportunity. Pope was a Roman Catholic and because of the recusancy laws that existed throughout his lifetime all the conventional means by which he could hope to influence society were closed to him. However, this article argues that it was through the establishment of his reputation as a poet that Pope was able to gain authority and respect far beyond the confines of the Catholic community. Further, and via an alignment with views that dispute the traditional, positivist approach to the definition of legal judgment, the article suggests a reading of The Rape of the Lock as an instrument of judgment. The epic treatment of an insignificant dispute both operates to ridicule the trivial concerns of Pope's immediate society, and allows for a wider questioning of the social and political issues of the period.


This paper explores the role of Rwandan government officials in the massacres of Tutsi prior 1994. It focuses on the massacres of Tutsi in different communes in the former prefecture of Gisenyi during the Habyarimana regime, and specifically examines the events between October 1990 and August 1993.  Since October 1990, Rwandan government officials were either directly involved in the massacres of Tutsi, by encouraging, planning, directing or participating in the violence; or indirectly involved through their negligence or deliberate inaction. Local government officials (prefects, sub-prefects, mayors, assistant mayors, sector leaders, cell leaders), and security forces (gendarmes, police communale, Forces Armees Rwandaises) played a crucial role in the massacres of Tutsi in the commune of Kibilira, Satinsyi, Ramba, Gaseke, Giciye, Karago, Mutura, Kanama and Kayove. This paper thus shows that the intent of killing Tutsi as an ethnic group did not begin in 1994. Rather, the Genocide against the Tutsi that occurred in April 1994 was the culmination of events that had been initiated in the years preceding.


AIM
To formulate, design, and chemically characterize a novel denture base resin (DBR) copolymer containing triazine-based antimicrobial comonomer and also to evaluate the double bond conversion (DC) in the copolymer with various concentrations of the comonomer by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study groups comprise a control group G0 in which the specimens (n = 10) were polymerized without the triazine comonomer and trial groups G10 and G20 where the polymerized specimens (n = 10 each) contained 10 and 20% triazine comonomer, respectively. FTIR was employed to ascertain and evaluate copolymerization (CP) and DC. The obtained DC values were subjected to statistical analysis.

RESULTS
A new denture base copolymer containing antimicrobial triazine comonomer was formed with ascertained copolymerization and higher DC than the control group. Twenty percent triazine comonomer in the copolymer exhibited the maximum DC.

CONCLUSION
Incorporation of the antimicrobial comonomer copolymerized with DBR to form a novel denture base copolymer exhibiting high DC.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The novel denture base copolymer may prevent the microbial adhesion on the denture surface thereby preventing denture-induced stomatitis in the edentulous patients. Nonetheless, this novel copolymer may enhance the other necessary properties of the DBR and would ameliorate the living quality of the senile geriatric population with good in vivo serviceability.


A theoretical method is presented for the estimation of cross sections and rates for excitation and charge-transfer processes in low-energy hydrogen-atom collisions with neutral atoms, based on an asymptotic two-electron model of ionic-covalent interactions in the neutral atom-hydrogen-atom system. The calculation of potentials and nonadiabatic radial couplings using the method is demonstrated. The potentials are used together with the multichannel Landau-Zener model to calculate cross sections and rate coefficients. The main feature of the method is that it employs asymptotically exact atomic wave functions, which can be determined from known atomic parameters. The method is applied to Li + H, Na + H, and Mg + H collisions, and the results compare well with existing detailed full-quantum calculations. The method is applied to the astrophysically important problem of Ca + H collisions, and rate coefficients are calculated for temperatures in the range 1000-20 000 K.


The Mental Deficiency Act (1913) was prompted by the Royal Commission on the Care and Control of the Feeble-Minded. Two Birmingham figures, Ellen Pinsent and Dr William Potts, were part of and witnesses to the Commission, ensuring that the city and their pioneering diagnostics influenced national legislation. Against the backdrop of the nineteenth-century institutional landscape, this article explores how the apparently clear definitions and medical terminology (now obsolete and considered insulting) engineered through the legislation, gave way locally to more nuanced understandings. Using the case study of Monyhull Colony, this article considers how these local interpretations funnelled children into, through, and rarely out of the specialist mental deficiency facility in England between c.1913 and c.1940. During each stage of this filtering process - in education, in the community, at Mental Deficiency Committees, on admission to the colony, at the colony school, and on reaching the age of sixteen - it will show that a dense and ever-expanding panoply of descriptors and organising principles was employed.


The use of symmetry groups in analysis of the kinematics aspects of assembly is described. The goal is to find how to assemble a product from a characterization of its final assembly configuration. From such an assembly configuration, a contact state lattice expressed in terms of the contacting faces of mating assembly components is generated. This contact state lattice contains all the partially ordered assembly motion sets (POAMS) that describe the intermediate contact states of an assembly component and the translational motions leading from one contact state to another. POAMS form a detailed task specification for a robot task-level planner and can be used for generating compliant control strategies. The work described forms part a kinematic assembly planning system that reasons about how parts with multiple contacting features fit together and generates assembly task specifications automatically from solid models using symmetry groups.<<ETX>>


From One Place to Another: Emma Goldman Clinic Stories, 1996, video, 80 minutes, directed by LeAnn Erickson and Camille Seaman, produced/distributed by LeAnn Erickson. I remember my first clinic defense: I was a graduate student at the University of Iowa and had cut morning classes to stand on the grass outside the Emma Goldman Clinic, to link arms with my friends and trade loud insults with the pro-life demonstrators there. I remember watching two women from the clinic, in fluorescent orange safety vests, escorting young patients with downcast faces through the gauntlet of screaming protestors lining the sidewalk. I remember admiring the courage of those workers and wishing that I knew them. In From One Place to Another: Emma Goldman Clinic Stories, we are offered a portrait, at once intimate and anonymous, of the women who founded and run the feminist women's health care facility in Iowa City. More than a portrait of specific individuals, it is a document of a process, of individuals acting as part of a group, following the courage of their convictions, feeling their way. The story starts on a very specific date-January 22, 1973-when the Supreme Court legalized abortion in the hallmark case Roe v. Wade. A group of young, politically aware women-who had already been operating an abortion-referral service-formed a collective and eventually grew into a feminist women's health care clinic. Their vision was of a resource for all women, which would offer reproductive counseling and abortion services. The collective was made up of women of different ethnicities, college students and housewives, blue-collar workers and white-collar workers, who came together because, in the words of one founder: "It seemed so fair, after living in a world where we'd been bossed all our lives.... It was not easy, but it just felt right." From One Place to Another chronicles the long, arduous process of forming a feminist collective and several crises that befell the clinic along the way. The stories are pieced together using various means. There are many interviews of the members in personal spaces, such as kitchens and living rooms. The women who are interviewed are never identified by name. These sequences are mixed with extreme close-up shots of memos, clinic logs, the minutes of meetings, and herstory entries. Over these shots we hear the voice of a woman reading these written records. The use of a single narrator is significant. For a solitary voice to convey these disparate recollections creates a sense of the overarching desire of all the individuals for a true collective. It gives us a very personal sense of a group process. The interview footage is interspersed with three distinctly different kinds of cine-collages. There are highly impressionistic, fragmented shots of a woman's body, framed against the light. These are juxtaposed against close-up shots of different parts of the clinic: a teakettle in the kitchen, the view out the window of the waiting room, an examination table. There is an important link between these two collages, between the quiet privacy of the interior clinic space and the privacy of the space of the body. This parallel between the two spaces is an eloquent expression of the reason for all the talk, all the meetings, all the work: the sovereignty of a woman's body, her right to privacy, to respect, dignity, and control, which the collective struggled to provide through the clinic. The visual parallel suggests these ideas in a deep, powerful way and provides a foundation of immediacy and engagement on which the interviews unfold. …


The aim of this study is to determine the main factors affecting the use of foreign exchange hedging instruments by Chinese firms, following their regulatory changes in the derivative markets. The original contributions to this literature include the use of a panel dataset of 316 Chinese firms with the data running from 2012 to 2017 and a dynamic random effects probability approach. The results suggest the main determinants of derivative use are the overseas trade conducted by these firms, with some evidence of non-linearity, as well as firms being more likely to use derivatives when there is more information asymmetry and agency problems, potentially due to greater controls on their use in China.


Classical protein kinase C (PKC) family members are activated by the binding of various ligands to one of several cysteine-rich domains of the enzyme. The natural agonist, diacylglycerol (DAG), and the natural product superagonist, phorbol dibutyrate (PDB), activate the enzyme to produce wide-ranging physiological effects. The second cysteine-rich (Cys2) domain of rat brain PKC-gamma was expressed and labeled with 15N and 13C, and the solution structure was determined to high resolution using multidimensional heteronuclear NMR methods. The phorbol binding site was identified by titrating this domain with phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) in the presence of organic cosolvents. Titrations of this domain with lipid micelles, in the absence and presence of phorbols, indicate selective broadening of some resonances. The observed behavior indicates conformational exchange between bound and free states upon protein-micelle interaction. The data also suggest that half of the domain, including the phorbol site and one of the zinc sites, is capable of inserting into membranes.


Multiagent learning is an important tool for long-lasting human-machine systems (HMS). Most multiagent learning algorithms to date have focused on learning a best response to the strategies of other agents in the system. While such an approach is acceptable in some domains, it is not successful in others, such as when humans and machines interact in social dilemma-like situations, such as those arising when human attention is a scarce resource shared by multiple agents. In this paper, we discuss and show (through a user study) how multiagent learning algorithms must be aware of reputational equilibrium in order to establish neglect tolerant interactions.


Endothelial synthesis of the C-C chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) has been implicated in the regulation of monocyte recruitment for extravascular pools under both physiologic and inflammatory conditions. We designed and characterized five antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (PS-ODN) targeting MCP-1 secretion by human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-L). The most effective PS-ODN (MCP-1 AS 2) dose-dependently suppressed the secretion of MCP-1 but not the secretion of the C-X-C chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) in both HPAEC and HMVEC-L in the nanomolar concentration range. Mismatch controls bearing 2 or 4 bp substitutions showed markedly reduced inhibitory capacity. MCP-1 mRNA levels were not affected even at the highest PS-ODN doses employed (ribonuclease protection assay), suggesting a translational arrest of MCP-1 production. Accordingly, PS-ODN exhibited no nonspecific side effects on immediate-early gene regulation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), as analyzed by gel shift assays. Antisense pretreatment of HPAEC reduced the monocyte chemotactic bioactivity liberated from tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-activated endothelial cells (EC) and reduced the TNF-alpha-induced transendothelial monocyte migration. We conclude that nanomolar concentrations of specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides effectively inhibit human endothelial MCP-1 synthesis and may thus provide a rational approach to modulate monocyte recruitment under inflammatory conditions.


The article discusses the events that have been filed in recent years in the Caucasus and its significance for the balance of forces in the international political and economic arena. The wealth of natural resources such as oil and gas, and geo-strategic location of the area make it susceptible to the intervention of foreign powers interested in controlling it for profit. This dispute between players and West of the continent has become evident with the political problems in Georgia and South Ossetia, which have confronted Russia, United States, the European Union, among others, showing clearly the meaning of this region in the current era. In addition, the presence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a factor that has contributed to increase tension in the Caucasus, pitting the United States and Russia in areas such as military.


Intelligent visual surveillance system can work normally under clear weather. But under bad weather, especially in foggy days, it can not detect moving objects accurately due to low scene visibility. Our research aims to resolve this problem. This paper presents a novel method for moving object detection in foggy days. Firstly, surveillance video under foggy weather is defogged, leveraging a physics-based image restoration approach. Secondly, we exploit a novel background maintenance algorithm based on the Unscented Kalman Filter(UKF) to subtract the background from the defogged video. Finally, moving objects are segmented by background differencing. Evaluations are performed to verify the effectiveness and practicality of this approach. Experimental results show that our method can be applied in real time surveillance systems.


An approach to the design of reconfigurable programmable logic arrays (RPLAs) is proposed in which diagnosis of faults and reconfiguration are performed simultaneously. The approach also takes advantage of a laser programmable interconnect to simplify the test circuitry and area overhead. The RPLA design presented makes it possible to diagnose and repair faults on bit lines, product lines, and output lines. The unrepairable area in the RPLA is kept to a minimum. Only one extra input is required for testability. A mapping process for masking out missing crosspoint faults is employed to further enhance the yield of PLAs. Experimental results on the area overhead and the yield of the proposed RPLAs are presented. The field of the proposed RPLAs is higher than that of the original PLAs. >


The outbreak of viral pneumonia in China due to a novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV poses significant threats to international health. In this study we perform bioinformatic analysis to take a snapshot of the codon usage pattern of 2019-nCoV and uncover that this novel coronavirus has a relatively low codon usage bias. The information from this research may not only be helpful to get new insights into the evolution of 2019-nCoV, but also have potential value for developing coronavirus vaccines.


Two species of legless, fossorial skinks (Typhlosaurus) are partially sympatric in the Kalahari Desert. Typhlosaurus lineatus occur both in the sandridge and flatland geographic provinces of the Kalahari, in dune streets and on sandridges microgeographically in sympatry, and primarily under log and leaf litter microhabitats. Typhlosaurus gariepensis, always sympatric with T. lineatus, occur only in sandridge areas geographically, on sand- ridges microgeographically, and primarily in basal roots of bunch grass microhabitats. Micro- habitat overlap in sympatry is low. Morphologically, T. lineatus differ from T. gariepensis in being longer and in having a longer and wider head. Snout-vent lengths, head dimensions, and proportional head lengths of sympatric T. lineatus are larger than those of allopatric T. lineatus; thus T. lineatus displace from T. gariepensis in sympatry. Both species are viviparous, have one brood per year, and give birth in summer after a 5-mo gestation period. Maturity is reached at minimum ages of one and two-thirds yr. Mean litter size of T. lineatus is 1.6, whereas T. gariepensis have but one young. A response to competition between the two species is suggested by the facts that offspring of sympatric T. lineatus are significantly heavier than those of allopatric females, and that fewer sympatric T. lineatus females are reproductive than allopatric females. Because Typhlosaurus are termite specialists (92.4% of diet by volume), termites in guts were identified to species and caste. Compared with sympatric T. lineatus, T. gariepensis eat more Psammotermes workers, fewer Allodontermes major workers, and scarcely any Hodo- termes. Sympatric T. lineatus eat fewer Psammotermes workers and more Allodontermes major workers than do allopatric T. lineatus. Prey size differences parallel lizard size dif- ferences. Because of dietary shifts by T. lineatus in sympatry, dietary overlap with T. garie- pensis is substantially reduced for females and immatures, although not for males. Strong morphological and dietary evidence support, for T. lineatus females and immatures, the hypothesis that behavioral and morphological character displacement has occurred which reduces dietary overlap with T. gariepensis. Dietary data for male T. lineatus are possibly conflicting.


OBJECTIVE
To understand the current status and clinical relevance of early (<24 weeks) glucose challenge test (GCT) in pregnant women with risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in China.

METHODS
Data from the survey of incidence of GDM in China were re-analyzed. The incidence of abnormal glucose metabolisms and the rate of early GCT in all women were calculated according to different numbers of risk factors. Sixteen risk factors were included in the survey. However, 4 independent risk factors were considered separately in this re-analysis. The ADA criteria for GDM diagnosis were applied.

RESULTS
A total of 16 286 pregnant women were included in this analysis and 64.3% (10 468) presented with at least one risk factor. The incidence of GDM became elevated with the increasing number of risk factors (P < 0.001). Early GCT was performed in 1687 (16.1%) pregnant women and the early detected GDMs only accounted for 11.9% of all GDMs among those with at least one risk factor. Among those who had early GCT, the GDM diagnosis rate increased with the number of risk factors (P < 0.001). Previous analysis in this survey identified 4 independent risk factors for GDM among 16 risk factors: BMI > or = 24, age over 30 years old, family history of DM and southerners. Similar analysis was performed according to the above 4 risk factors and similar results were found as those found for 16 risk factors. No significant difference was found in the GDM and GIGT incidence between the two analyses in those with at least one risk factor.

CONCLUSION
Early GCT is necessary for pregnant women with risk factors of GDM, but the screening rate in China is low. GCT should be repeated for those women with risk factors of GDM and normal GCT at early screening.


Many manufacturing firms entrust partners to provide services on their behalf. However, it is not clear whether and when firms can capture the potential value advantages of outsourcing business services. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of different types of business service outsourcing on firm value.,The paper uses event study methodology to estimate the impact of business service outsourcing announcements on abnormal returns of publicly traded manufacturing companies in Europe.,External service outsourcing that directly affects the company's customers leads to more favorable outcomes than internal service outsourcing. This effect is contingent on the strategic outsourcing intention, the service's reliance on technology, and the choice of the outsourcing partner.,Findings show that firm value depends critically on the service value it delivers to customers. Future research could explore further contingency variables, and investigate the role of service outsourcing networks and relationships.,The insights of this study help managers to decide why, how, and to whom they should outsource their business services, as well as how to justify their outsourcing decisions, and how to communicate them toward the financial markets.,This research sheds light on the value implications of outsourcing decisions. Two types of business service outsourcing are distinguished, namely, internal and external. Furthermore, the study enhances our understanding of a contingency perspective on service outsourcing decisions.


【Objectives : Zizyphus jujube (ZJ) has been used as a traditional medicine for various diseases. However, the inhibitory effect of ZJ on intestinal inflammation has not been fully understood, yet. The aim of this study is to investigate anti-colitis activity of ZJ in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Methods : To investigate the protective effects of ZJ,the colitis mice were induced by drinking water containing 5% DSS for 7 days. Mice were randomized into groups receiving ZJ (500 mg/kg), sulfasalazine (SFZ) (150 mg/kg) as a positive control, or water as a negative control. We assayed the effects of ZJ on DSS-induced the clinical signs, measuring weight loss, colon length and disease activity index (DAI). Additionally, to find a possible explanation for the anti-inflammatory effects of ZJ, we evaluated the effects of ZJ on the production of prostaglandin $E_2$ ( $PGE_2$ ) and expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in colitis tissue. Results : The results showed that mice treated with DSS showed considerable clinical signs, including weight loss, and reduced colon length. However, administration of ZJ significantly reduced the weight loss, shortens colon length, and improved DAI as clinical symptoms. Moreover, ZJ inhibited the $PGE_2$ production and COX-2 expression levels in DSS-treated colon tissues. Conclusions : Collectively, the findings of this study provide us with novel insights into the pharmacological actions of ZJ as a potential molecule for use in the treatment of intestinal inflammation including ulcerative colitis.】


This study investigated the correlations between the form features and legibility of Chinese characters by employing the eye tracking method in two experiments: Experiment 1 examined factors affecting Chinese character legibility with character modules and identified the correlations between character form and legibility of crossing strokes; and Experiment 2 examined the effect of crossing strokes on subjective complicacy perception in both Chinese characters and English letters. This study determined that enclosed Chinese characters affect subjective complicacy perception and reduce saccadic amplitude. In addition, greater number of stroke crossings produced higher subjective complicacy perceived for both Chinese characters and English letters. The results of this study serve as a reference for predicting Chinese character legibility and assessing type design superiority.


ABSTRACT Background: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy may improve cholestasis, increase hepatic regeneration, and decrease oxidative stress in liver. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of HBO therapy on hepatic oxidative stress parameters, such as total thiol groups (T-SH), protein carbonyl (PCO), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as well as the predictive value of the noninvasive biochemical marker, sialic acid (SA), and prolidase activity in bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced oxidative damage and fibrosis in rats. Methods: We divided 32 adult male Sprague Dawley rats into four groups: sham, sham + HBO, BDL, and BDL + HBO; each group contained eight animals. We placed the sham + HBO and BDL + HBO groups in an experimental hyperbaric chamber, in which we administered pure oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres for 90 min on 14 consecutive days. Results: The application of BDL significantly increased PCO levels and prolidase activity, and decreased T-SH and TAC levels. HBO significantly decreased PCO levels and prolidase activity and increased T-SH and TAC levels in the liver tissues. There was no significant difference in sialic acid levels between any groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that HBO therapy has hepatoprotective effects on BDL-induced injury by decreasing PCO and prolidase activity and increasing antioxidant activities. We therefore suggest that HBO therapy may be useful after BDL-induced injury.


This study may be the first to directly test the hypothesis that mixed-age interaction can increase cooperation and reduce competition among peers. Twenty pairs of preschoolers (ages 4-6) were observed twice in same-gender triads in a play situation involving a limited-resource: once in a same-age triad of preschoolers and once in a mixed-age triad that included a child approximately 5 years older. Children in mixed-age groups spent more time playing, were more equitable in sharing the resource, better organized and more cooperative, with smoother turn-taking and higher performance scores in the game. Children in same-age groups spent more time interfering with the game or disengaged. These findings demonstrate the potential benefits of mixed-age interaction in school settings.


Purpose
Evaluations of food aid products such as corn soy blend (CSB) suggest that higher nutrient-dense weaning foods are needed. CSB at 20 per cent solids was suggested, but it is too thick for weaning use. The purpose of this paper is to examine if high or low pressure extrusion or a change from corn to sorghum could reduce viscosity without major sensory changes compared to CSB, a widely used fortified blended food (FBF).

Design/methodology/approach
A 2×2 factorial design of grain (corn or sorghum) and extrusion pressure (low or high) was used to produce fortified extruded CSB and sorghum soy blend (SSB) that match new nutritional recommendations at 20 per cent solids. A control CSB sample was also produced. Porridge was made and a descriptive panel measured sensory properties and a Bostwick Consistometer determined viscosity.

Findings
Control CSB was thicker, lumpier, and stickier than the extruded samples. Sorghum samples had more sorghum flavour and corn samples had more corn flavour, but generally other flavour characteristics differed only slightly from the control product. None of the samples were as thin as recommended for infant swallowing, but the extruded sorghum samples were less viscous than other samples.

Originality/value
Nutrient-dense FBFs at high solids content have been recommended but not yet well tested. This paper provides a sensory examination of high solids FBFs with the potential for use as supplementary foods for infants and children.


Alzheimer's disease is characterized by extracellular amyloid deposits in the brain at both vascular sites (cerebrovascular amyloid, CVA) and within the neuropil (plaques). In the present study we demonstrated that brain amyloid of aged non-human primates is efficiently detected by [125I]A beta in vitro, and assessed the detection of that amyloid in vivo by intravascular infusion of [125I]A beta. Aged squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) were anesthetized and infused intra-arterially with [125I]A beta, and sacrificed 2 h later. Analysis of the anterior frontal and temporal cortices by autoradiography demonstrated that [125I]A beta was deposited on CVA and that essentially every amyloid deposit which could be detected with thioflavin S or anti-A beta antibodies was also labeled by [125I]A beta. These experiments suggest that intravascular infusion of radiolabeled A beta can be used to detect and image amyloid deposits in the human AD brain.


Pig B lymphocytes are responsive to anti-immunoglobulin antibody, which triggers mitosis, and to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which initiates both mitosis and differentiation of cells into lymphoblasts that synthesize and secrete immunoglobulin. In this study, the absence of Ig secretion after anti-Ig triggering of pig lymphocytes has been evaluated by observing the effects which anti-Ig has on cells already activated by LPS. Anti-Ig caused pronounced suppression of secretion of Ig by LPS-activated lymphoblasts in a dose-dependent fashion. The degree of suppression was not influenced by the time after LPS activation that anti-Ig was added to cells. IgG and F(ab')2 antibodies were equally suppressive; F(ab') antibody was less suppressive. Synthesis of Ig in anti-Ig-treated cells was not significantly altered. It is concluded that the surface Ig receptors of pig lymphocytes can have more than a single, initiating role in lymphocyte activation, and can also act as a pathway for regulating signals in differentiating B cells.


Just as today's economy is a mixture of old and new, similarly, marketing pattern is a hybrid of the traditional and the modern. The traditional marketing competencies have established their deep roots since the time immemorial, however, new technological competencies have also been absorbed in the market to add potential for growth. As 'trust' forms a background for the growth of e-Commerce, therefore, a field study has been conducted in order to explore the patterns of trust and security for consumers in 'e'-marketing.


Professionals use language in particular ways, which are usually very accurate and precise, to communicate among themselves. Yet, some professionals, such as those in the olive oil tasting industry, face the problem of describing subjective impressions expressed and interpreted through language. The aim of this paper is the description of the genre and the language of olive oil tasting notes in English, focusing on the ways lexical units combine in order to help those olive oil tasting professionals produce acceptable olive oil tasting notes in English for their discourse community. This has been done using a corpus of olive oil tasting notes originally written in English designed and compiled ad-hoc for this purpose. Word combinations have been analysed from two perspectives: syntactic and grammatical form and function, and lexical semantics. The conclusions of these analyses and their results are intended to be a model upon which olive oil tasting language users can rely to write olive oil tasting notes with an accepted linguistic quality, allowing them to be recognized as part of the genre by the discourse community.


We observe marked increases in the time-averaged intensity, peak intensity, efficiency and spectral purity of the VUV output from an Xe excimer barrier discharge lamp when using short-pulse (~150 ns FWHM (full width half maximum)) excitation. Intensity increases with Xe pressure up to 600 Torr with a maximum output 2.6 times higher and an efficiency 3.2 times higher than the same lamp excited by conventional ac excitation (i.e. sinusoidal voltage waveform). The output occurs in regular short pulses (<300 ns FWHM) with a peak intensity more than six times the peak intensity typically obtained using ac. The spectral characteristics are similar to that observed using ac excitation except that the ratio of VUV to visible Xe* emission increases by a factor of three. The pulsed discharge appears diffuse (i.e. glow-like), even at the higher pressures at which the ac discharge is filamentary. It is concluded that the enhanced performance results largely from the ability for pulsed excitation to generate a discharge at near atmospheric pressures with a much lower electron density than that possible using ac.


Infants with low birth weight (LBW ⩽ 2,500 g) are at high risk for developmental delays, including cognitive impairments. Retrospective studies have shown that these children often have learning and/or behavioral difficulties at school age. Early evaluation and enrollment in early intervention (EI) programs may reduce the impact of these difficulties; however, many children who would benefit from such programs may not receive EI services. This study provides information on 279 children born LBW and includes information on developmental capability and EI enrollment. Results indicate that children born LBW in EI services had lower overall developmental standard scores than those not in EI. However, it is concerning that almost an equal number of children across all categories of birth weight are not in services.


Gross primary production (GPP) has been identified as the largest terrestrial carbon flux and the major driver of the growing biosphere uptake of carbon. Factorial simulations using several biosphere models have been used to estimate the effects of long‐term (>50 years) climate change on global terrestrial GPP. However, no study has integrated large‐ensemble climate simulation data into a biosphere model to realistically estimate global terrestrial GPP with associated uncertainty. Here we present a novel approach to estimate the global terrestrial long‐term GPP with associated climate data‐induced uncertainty that combines a diagnostic‐type biosphere model with a large‐ensemble climate simulation data set. We distinguish the effects of recent anthropogenic activity on global GPP (the anthropogenic GPP effect) from the effects of interannual climate variability (the natural GPP effect) by comparing GPP model estimates forced by historical and "nonwarming" climate data. We provide evidence for an increasing anthropogenic effect on global terrestrial GPP. The anthropogenic GPP effect is driven by CO2 fertilization, which is projected to weaken or saturate by 2050–2150, depending on the representative concentration pathway scenario used. Model results suggest that shortwave radiation couples with El Niño–Southern Oscillation conditions and volcanic eruptions to drive the natural GPP effect. Because shortwave radiation at the surface is related to cloud cover, we encourage future studies to focus on cloud‐radiation feedbacks on the carbon cycle.


In the title molecule, C17H14BrFN2O, the benzene rings form dihedral angles of 6.58 (6) and 85.31 (6)° with the mean plane of the 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0231 Å). The latter ring is planar with a maximum deviation of 0.032 (1) Å The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 78.75 (6)°. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯F hydrogen bonds link the molecules into corrugated layers parallel to the ab plane.


Early childhood is a period of dramatic change in sleep and emotion processing, as well as a time when disturbance in both domains are first detected. Although sleep is recognized as central in emotion processing and psychopathology, the great majority of experimental data have been collected in adults. We examined the effects of acute sleep restriction (nap deprivation) on toddlers' emotion expression. Ten healthy children (seven females; 30–36 months old) followed a strict sleep schedule (≥12.5 h time in bed per 24‐h) for 5 days, before each of two randomly assigned afternoon emotion assessments following Nap and No‐Nap conditions (resulting in an 11‐day protocol). Children viewed emotion‐eliciting pictures (five positive, three neutral, three negative) and completed puzzles (one solvable, one unsolvable). Children's faces were video‐recorded, and emotion displays were coded. When sleep restricted, children displayed less confusion in response to neutral pictures, more negativity to neutral and negative pictures, and less positivity to positive pictures. Sleep restriction also resulted in a 34% reduction in positive emotion responses (solvable puzzle), as well as a 31% increase in negative emotion responses and a 39% decrease in confused responses (unsolvable puzzle). These findings suggest sleep is a key factor in how young children respond to their world. When sleep restricted, toddlers are neither able to take full advantage of positive experiences nor are they as adaptive in challenging contexts. If insufficient sleep consistently 'taxes' young children's emotion responses, they may not manage emotion regulation challenges effectively, potentially placing them at risk for future emotional/behavioral problems.


This paper introduces air bearings. High-speed air bearings offer very specific advantages over other, more conventional bearing technologies. The reason use of air bearing air bearings as it avoid the traditional bearing-related problems of friction, wear, and lubricant handling, and offer distinct advantages in precision positioning and high speed applications. The use of air bearings means tool life can be greatly extended. Air bearings provide extreme radial and axial rotational precision. The factors affecting the performance of the air bearing like friction, wear, stiffness, load capacity. This paper also introduces with the types of air bearing. New air bearing products like flat bearing, air bushing, vacuum preloaded bearings, air bearing slides, radial bearing and its applications in various fields. It also discuss about the advantages and disadvantages of air bearings.


A challenge for the design of drip irrigation systems with non-pressure compensated emitters is to increase the maximum length of the lateral lines without significantly reducing water application uniformity. This work evaluated the effect of the flow-rate variation and the local head loss in the maximum length of drip tape with a non-pressure compensated flat emitter. The tests were carried out in a laboratory, using a collapsible drip tape non-pressure compensated in three 50-meter segments. The production line was configured to generate drip tapes without insertion of emitters and with closed emitters (0.30 m spacing). The experimental local head loss was compared with the Darcy-Weisbach equation's estimates using the Blasius friction factor. In the sequence, simulations were generated for the flow-rate variations of 10 and 20% for the emitter spacings of 0.30, 0.40, and 0.50m. The results showed that the local head loss had little influence on the lateral line's maximum length, generating variations of 2.5% on average. However, increasing the allowable flow rate variation from 10 to 20% resulted in a 34% increase in the lateral line maximum length. Also, the reduction in uniformity coefficients was less than 5%, enabling the indexes to remain above 90%. The adoption of higher flow rate variation values allowed gains in the lateral line length with a small decrease in uniformity, making it an alternative to reduce design and operational costs.


The Archaic Potnia Theron schema depicts a central female figure grasping an animal in each hand. She is often associated with the goddess Artemis. Yet, evidence from the early Archaic period indicates that she was not yet associated with the goddess. The identity of the schema has been the subject of a number of studies, and the connection of the figure with Artemis is well ingrained in scholarship. The identification of the figure as Artemis relies heavily on a brief description from Pausanias's Perigesis, and the epithet Ποτνία Θηρῶν given to Artemis once in the Iliad (Hom. Il. 21.470). Furthermore, the image was later attributed to the goddess Artemis on account of her affiliations to wild animals. However, this thesis investigates the identification of the figure and examines the evidence (or lack thereof) for the attribution of the figure to Artemis in the Archaic period.  Chapter One will investigate the Potnia Theron schema and its use in the Bronze Age. It will consider the possible contribution that the Bronze Age schema may have had on the image in the Archaic period, acknowledging possible influence from the Near East. It will also discuss problems with Archaic source material, the fluidity of Archaic Greek religion, and the characteristics of the Archaic Potnia Theron schema. Chapter Two will analyse the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia in Sparta as the main case study for the use of the Archaic schema in a sanctuary context. The chronology at the site, and its examples of the schema make it particularly useful for this investigation. Chapter Three will follow with an analysis of the schema on items lacking contexts, as it was used for decorative purposes on vases, jewelry, and plaques. Finally, Chapter Four will examine the role of Artemis, how the Potnia Theron pose has since been interpreted to represent the goddess. This thesis will determine when the schema became associated with Artemis and investigate evidence for its use prior to this association.


RW Aurigae (RW Aur) is a binary star system with a long molecular arm trailing the primary star. Cabrit et al. (2006) noted the resemblance between this extended structure and the tidal arm stripped from the primary star in the simulations of stardisc encounters by Clarke & Pringle (1993). In this paper we use new hydrodynamical models and synthetic observations to t many of the parameters of RW Aur. Using hydrodynamic models we nd that the morphological appearance of RW Aur can be indeed explained by a tidal encounter with the secondary star. We reproduce all the major morphological and kinematic features of the system. Using radiative transfer calculations, we nd that synthetic CO and dust continuum observations of our hydrodynamic models agree well with observations. We reproduce all the main features of the line proles, from emission uxes to the optical depth of the dierent components of the system. The agreement between observations and simulations thus lends strong support to the hypothesis of a tidal encounter scenario. Finally, we propose a possible solution for the origin of the dimming of the primary star observed in 2010/2011 by Rodriguez et al. (2013).


: The article is devoted to developing the principles and methods of resource assessment of mental health military contingent in terms of demographic decline and reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. From the standpoint of the concept of the mutual influence of the value-semantic components and the level of psychological adaptation resources demonstrates the possibility of evaluating resource capabilities of the psyche of military contingent.