Increases in the amount of required information and intensive cooperation have caused a need to create an efficient knowledge sharing and exchange between members of the global information environment. The study of operations constituting these activities has led to the formulation of a new scientific area called knowledge logistics. This paper presents a KSNet-approach to knowledge logistics based on knowledge fusion, which implies a synergistic use of knowledge from different sources in order to complement insufficient knowledge and obtain new knowledge. This approach utilizes such technologies as ontology management and intelligent agents. Possible Air Force application areas are discussed.


Monoalkyl and diphenyl sulfides have a significantly higher value of the ratio φp/φF and shorter phosphorescent lifetimes than do the ether (oxygen) analogs. The results in the sulfides are explained in terms of the existence of: (1) a To,π* state between the lowest S1 (π, π*) and T1 (π, π*) states, (2) first‐order spin‐orbit coupling involving one‐center terms connecting S1 and the Tσ,π* state and a heavy‐atom effect, and (3) a relatively large second‐order coupling (pertinent to the lifetime). The addition of HCl(g) to phenyl‐n‐propyl sulfide causes a dramatic change in the absorption and emission spectra, the value of φp/φF, and τp such that all of these become essentially identical to those of anisole. The latter results establish the importance of the role of the nonbonding electrons of sulfur in determining the spectral parameters of the sulfides and are consistent with the state energy ordering and the sources and nature of the couplings given above. Exciton interaction is a salient factor determin...


Purpose: To identify the diurnal variations of tear osmolarity (TO) and its relationship with central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal deswelling over a 14-hour period. Methods: TO and CCT were measured using the TearLab Osmometer and Bioptigen spectral domain optical coherence tomography, respectively, on 38 healthy neophytes (mean age, 21.5 ± 2.2 years). TO and CCT were measured at bedtime (baseline), upon awakening, 20 minutes, 40 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, and 8 hours after awakening. Deswelling rate was estimated and expressed as percent recovery per hour (PRPH). Mixed-effect linear regression models describe the relationships among TO, CCT, and PRPH. Results: The tear film upon wakening (264 ± 14 mOsm/L) was hypoosmotic compared with baseline (297 ± 15 mOsm/L, P < 0.001). TO (in mOsm/L) at 20 minutes, 40 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, and 8 hours were 287 ± 10, 292 ± 16, 293 ± 12, 292 ± 10, 289 ± 10, and 286 ± 10, respectively. CCT (mean ± SD) at baseline was 552.2 ± 35.9 µm and increased to 572.0 ± 38.7 µm after sleep. CCT returned to baseline thickness 4 hours after awakening (P < 0.000) and remained stable throughout the day. A small but statistically significant association was found between higher TO and lower CCT (P < 0.0001) and between lower baseline TO and higher PRPH (faster deswelling; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The diurnal pattern of TO has been established. The association of TO with corneal thickness and deswelling suggests that the tear film tonicity may be partly responsible for corneal hydration control; however, the effect may not be of clinical significance in a normal study cohort.


The methanolic extracts of Indigofera aspalathoides (MEIA) and Wedelia calendulaceae (MEWC) were evaluated for their anticancer activity against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice. On day 1, the extract of Indigofera aspalathoides at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight and the extract of Wedelia calendulaceae at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/ kg body weight were administered orally and continued for 9 consecutive days. The anticancer activity of MEIA and MEWC were examined by determining the tumor volume, tumor cell count, viable tumor cell count, nonviable tumor cell count, mean survival time and increase in life span in experimental animal models. Both these extracts increased the life span of EAC treated mice and restored the hematological parameters as compared with the EAC bearing mice. Thus, the present study revealed that the MEIA and MEWC showed anticancer activity in the tested animal models.


Relevance. According to official data, in 2020 in Russia, Ixodic tick-borne borreliosis took the leading position in the prevalence and registration frequency among tick-borne infections, which amounted to 38.5% of all cases of natural focal transmissible infections. In the Tomsk region for many years, the average long-term incidence of Ixodic tick-borne borreliosis exceeds the Russian one by more than 3 times. Aim. Identify features the features of the clinical and epidemiological manifestations of the Ixodic tick borne borreliosis foci in the Tomsk region; to identify priority areas for carrying out problem-oriented research in the field of ecology, epidemiology and the clinic of borreliosis infection in the Tomsk region. Materials and methods. The material for the study was the data of the federal statistical observation form «Information on infectious and parasitic morbidity» for the 2015-2020. The materials of 713 cases of Ixodic tick-borne borreliosis disease and more than 125 thousand appeals to medical organizations of the region regarding the tick bites, registered in official registration forms, were studied. As part of the annual epidemiological monitoring for a six-year period, 1200 specimens of Ixodid ticks collected in natural biotopes of the Tomsk region were examined for the presence of Borrelia DNA, depending on their genus (Ixodes and Dermacentor). DNA detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (B. burgdorferi, B. garinii, B. afzelii) and B. miyamotoi was performed by real-time PCR. Results. The high number of ixodid ticks in local areas of natural biotopes (up to 200.0 specimens/km at the height of the epidemiological season), as well as the failure to comply with personal prevention measures, determines a consistently high rate of referral of the population of the Tomsk region to medical organizations due to tick bites. The number of requests annually averages 20.8 thousand. As a result of an annual study using PCR tests of ticks taken from people who applied to emergency prevention centers, Borrelia DNA was detected on average in 40% of samples; blood samples from individuals affected by tick bites were positive on average in 3.7% of cases. In the period 2015-2019 spirochetes B. garinii and B. afzelii were most often found in the tissues of ixodid ticks. Since 2020, the species Borrelia miyamotoi has been included in the list of pathogenic borrelia species to be monitored in the Tomsk region – spontaneous infection of ticks (Ixodes) was 3%. The maximum values both in the number of patients with ixodic tick-borne borreliosis and in the density of infections per 10,000 hectares (90-110 cases) are observed in the south of the Tomsk region (Asinovskyi, Kozhevnikovskyi, Krivosheinskyi, Tomskyi, Shegarskyi districts, the city of Tomsk). In the epidemic season of 2020, the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of non-erythema ixodic tick-borne borreliosis was more than 2.5 times higher than the number of diseases with skin manifestations. Conclusion. The large number of ixode mites in natural biotopes, the high degree of their infection with pathogenic spirochetes indicate the presence of active natural foci of ixodic tick-borne borreliosis in the Tomsk region. The study of the genotypic diversity of pathogenic borrelias in relation to the species diversity of vectors, the analysis of the clinical manifestations of different etiological variants of tick-borne borreliosis (mono- and mixed infections), as well as the development of an algorithm for differential diagnostic search and a model for predicting the outcomes of the infectious process in tick-borne borreliosis and mixed infections are priority directions of problem-oriented scientific research in Tomsk region.


This study was carried out to evaluate PAHs concentration in crabs (Callinectes pali)and shrimps (Penaeus notialis) collected from Kaa, B-Dere and Bodo City in Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria. These samples were measured by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC/FID). The Average concentrations of these PAHs ranged from below detection limit of 0.0001 to 90.7 ± 1.00 µg/kg wet wt. in Callinectes paliand from 0.0001 to 77.5 ± 1.65 µg/kg wet wt. in Penaeus notialis. The highest average concentration of90.7 ± 1.00 µg/kg wet wt. was recorded for Benzo(b)fluoranthene from Bodo City. Between the two species, Callinectes pali accumulated significantly higher concentrations (P < 0.05) of total PAHs at all the sites except at Kaa. High molecular weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs) were generally predominant compared to low molecular weight PAHs (LMW-PAHs). The LMW- PAH/HMW-PAH ratios were < 1 for both species, indicating anthropogenic, mainly pyrogenic, origin of PAHs in Kaa, B-Dere and Bodo City of OgoniLand. Concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in Callinectes pali collected from B-Dere and Bodo City analyzed exceeded the EU recommended limit of 2 µg/kg wet wt., while that in Penaeus notialis collected from the three sites were below EU recommended limit of 2 µg/kg wet wt. in food. Thus, PAHs residues in the examined Callinectes pali were high and would constitute threat to human health than those in Penaeus notialis. The public health concerns of PAHs are cancer, mutations and birth defects as discussed.


AIMS AND METHOD To explore the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of the effects
of two anti-stigma films on medical students' attitudes to serious
mental illness and psychiatry. Attitudes to serious mental illness, perceived
dangerousness, social distance and psychiatry, were measured before and after
watching the films and at 8 weeks. RESULTS Intervention films significantly improved general attitudes to serious
mental illness and social distance, with a trend towards reducing perceived
dangerousness. These effects appeared to attenuate during the students'
clinical placements, suggesting a possible interaction with their clinical
experiences. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Our results suggest both that it may be possible to conduct a substantive
trial of the effects of the intervention films on a larger cohort of medical
students and that the films may be effective in reducing stigmatising
attitudes in medical students.


Transient transport in high-temperature and turbulent plasmas is investigated. Microscopic fluctuations in toroidal plasmas are localized in the outside of the torus, so that the radial correlation length of fluctuations is meso-scale (hybrid between micro-scale and system size). The long radial correlation induces the interference of gradient and flux in different radii, and causes a fast propagation of transient response. The upper bound of thermal diffusivity, deduced from transients, is derived. The role of geometry in transport far from thermodynamical equilibrium is highlighted.


Abstract Background Patients affected by COVID-19 pneumonia who present severe symptoms with manifest hypoxemia and cytokine storm have a high mortality rate, which is why therapies focused on reducing inflammation and improving lung function have been used, one of them being jakinibs through of the blocking of the JAK tracks. Methods Patients who presented data of severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 with data of severe hypoxemia and cytokine storm were selected, from June to August 2020, to whom the SaO2/FiO2 ratio is measured at the beginning, intermediate and end of treatment, as well as D dimer and serum ferritin. Comorbidity and drugs taken previously are analyzed. The patients being cared for at home. Results We included data from 30 patients, 8 (27%) women and 22 (73%) men, with a median age of 58.5 (46.5 - 68.0) years. 23 patients (77%) had comorbidities, the most frequent being arterial hypertension (43%), followed by obesity (30%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (27%), among others. In the laboratory, the medians of D-Dimer 982 ng/mL, Ferritin 1,375 ng/mL and C-Reactive Protein 10.0 mg/dL. Regarding the use of previous medications, we found that 29 (97%) patients had treatment with some medication, the most frequent: azithromycin (77%), ivermectin (53%) and dexamethasone (47%). The median number of medications received was 3. The initial pulse oximetry (SaO2) measurement with room air had a median of 80.5% and the median SaO2/FiO2 (SAFI) was 134; Regarding the type of SIRA, 90% had moderate SIRA and 10% had severe SIRA. The median day of evolution on which baricitinib was started was 10 days, all received 4 mg/day, and the median days of treatment with baricitinib was 14.0 days. At follow-up, SaO2 at 7 days had a median of 93.0% and the median SAFI at 7 days was 310.0; the median SaO2 at 14 days was 95.0% and the median SAFI at 14 days was 452.0. In comparative analysis, baseline SaO2/SAFI was significantly lower compared to 7 and 14 days (p = 0.001 for both comparisons). The outcomes, 27 (90%) patients improved and there were 3 (10%) who died. Demographic Variables Respiratory Variables Results on SAFI and SaO2 Conclusion Baricitinib therapy in these patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who present with severe hypoxemia and cytokine storm presented good results by improving clinical status and pulmonary failure, with patients being cared for at home and avoiding mechanical ventilation. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


Cases of cutaneous neoplasms occurring on prior sites of trauma and scars are common. Vaccination scars are common sites of this phenomenon. We report a case of superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) occurring on a prior bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) site in a 59-year-old man. Any modification on a prior vaccination scar should prompt a skin biopsy to be performed to rule out a cutaneous malignancy.


More than 700 physician medical examiner/coroners (ME/Cs) were surveyed to assess differences in manner of death classifications for typical but often controversial death scenarios: 198 physicians participated by choosing the manner of death (homicide, suicide, accident, natural, undetermined) for 23 such scenarios. Sixteen questions related to death certificate training, work location, and manner of death issues were also asked. The classification of manner of death by ME/Cs was highly variable. For some challenging death scenarios, majority agreement was lacking. Agreement was > or = 80% for only 11 of the 23 scenarios and was 100% for only 1. Manner of death classification method was not influenced by forensic pathology board certification status, by whether or not the physician actually completed death certificates, or by previous threats of lawsuits over manner of death classification. However, there were some differences by state. No textbook or individual was widely recognized as authoritative on manner of death issues. Few ME/Cs had formal death certification training in medical school or residency. The data lend credence to the practice of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of classifying manner of death for statistical purposes by using coding and classification rules and selection criteria rather than solely on the basis of the classification of manner chosen by ME/Cs. The data also indicate that caution is in order when one compares manner of death statistics of one ME/C with those of another Published guidelines and more uniform training are needed so that ME/Cs may become more consistent in their manner of death classifications. Further information is presented in Part I (history of manner of death classification) and in Part III (individual death scenarios and their analysis) companion articles in this issue of the Journal.


The purpose of the work, the results of which are presented within the framework of the article, was to develop algorithms for calculating the damage to a solid or a system of solids based on the Monte Carlo method and the analytical boundary element method. The analytical boundary element method was used to calculate and analyze the stress-strain state of a solid under the distributed surface load. Based on indicators of the stress state, the algorithms for numerically assessing the dangerous volume and integral damage using the Monte Carlo methods, have been developed. Based on the pattern of distribution of stress fields, the technique of determining the area for randomly generating integration nodes is described. General recommendations have been developed for determining the boundaries of a subdomain containing a dangerous volume. Based on the features of the Monte Carlo methods, a numerical assessment of the indicators of damage of continuous media for a different number of integration nodes was carried out. Methods and algorithms were used to calculate the dangerous volume and integral damage in the plane and spatial cases for the two most common laws of the distribution of surface forces in the contact mechanics of solids: in case of contact interaction of two non-conformal bodies (Hertz problem) and when a non deformable rigid stamp is pressed into elastic half-plane or half-space. The scientific novelty of the work is to combine analytical and numerical approaches for the quantitative assessment of damage indicators of the power system. As a result the quantitative indicators of the dangerous volume (in the flat case - the dangerous area) and the integral damage of the half-plane and half-space related to the value of the applied load are obtained.


Public acceptability of road pricing schemes has been extensively studied in the literature, however, this has rarely been investigated in the Chinese context. Given the differences in culture and political system between China and the West, it is questionable whether these Western context-based key determinants and frameworks for assessing public acceptability can be applied to the Chinese context. Therefore, this research aims to contribute to the knowledge by discussing whether contextual factors matter to the analysis of public acceptability of congestion charging.
A mixed method approach was adopted in this research. Firstly, twelve stakeholder interviews were undertaken to explore policymakers' understanding of public acceptability and their motivations for considering it. Secondly, nine focus groups were conducted to identify key determinants of public acceptability in the Chinese context and to propose a framework for analysing public acceptability in China. Thirdly, an attitude survey was conducted to understand the extent to which acceptability constructs matter. A final sample of 1104 valid responses was obtained and then analysed by using structural equation modelling (SEM).
The findings of stakeholder interviews suggest there are multiple barriers for policymakers to considering public acceptability while only a few factors urging them to think about it. Findings from focus group discussions. The results of focus group discussions and the SEM exercise demonstrate that public acceptability is dominantly influenced by the level of trust people have towards government and experts. Various determinants in the Western context, such as access to information and perceived effectiveness were found inappropriate to investigate public acceptability in the Chinese context. The results imply that public acceptability of congestion charging in the Chinese context has a stronger resonance with wider social issues than more specific transport problems. As such, attempting to present evidence on the anticipated effectiveness of the policy in alleviating congestion and smog problem may not make the policy more acceptable to the public. The overall inference of the study is that contextual factors are more important than has been previously considered within public acceptability studies which has important implications for the role of context and cultural values in both research and practice.


Histone post-translational modifications (PTM) as one of the key epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that plays critical role in various biological processes, including regulating chromatin structure dynamics and gene expression. Histone lysine methyltransferase contributes to the establishment and maintenance of differential histone methylation status, which can recognize histone methylated sites and build an association between these modifications and their downstream processes. Recently, it was found that abnormalities in the histone lysine methylation level or pattern may lead to the occurrence of many types of cardiovascular diseases, such as congenital heart disease (CHD). In order to provide new theoretical basis and targets for the treatment of CHD from the view of developmental biology and genetics, this review discusses and elaborates on the association between histone lysine methylation modifications and CHD.


Among 600 yeast isolates screened for phytase production, five (Zygosaccharomyces bisporus NCIM 3265 and 3296, Williopsis saturnus NCIM 3298, Zygosaccharomyces priorionus NCIM 3299 and Schizosaccharomyces octosporus NCIM 3297) were selected as potential phytase producers. Phytase activity was found to be cell wall associated with temperature and pH optima of 50C and 4.0, respectively. Highest phytase production was attained in cane juice medium as compared with other media used. Addition of phytase to chickpea flour significantly enhanced mineral mobilization by approximately 20–28%, 26–37% and 24–42% for Zn2+, Fe2+ and Ca2+, respectively, and decreased phytic acid content by about 75–88%.

Practical Applications

Chick pea is one of the most popular vegetarian foods in most developing countries. It is a rich source of protein and minerals like Ca2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+ and Mg2+; but these metal ions are bound to phytic acid, which acts as an anti-nutrient. Treatment of chickpea flour with yeast phytase hydrolyzed the phytic acid and released the bound metal ions. The ability of yeast phytase to improve mineral mobilization and dephytinization of chickpea flour suggests its potential application in food processing and feed industry.


Social protection faces a number of specific hurdles and challenges in complex polities, be they multilayered or plurinational, or both. The intersection between social policy-making and institutional design raises issues of effective management, policy preferences, economies of scale and tension between "recognition" and "redistribution". In this article, the author explores how comparative federalism can shed some light on processes of social protection in the context of European multilevel governance and how public actors in a multi-layered and interdependent set-up can contribute to an inclusive social project. She considers three dimensions of the potential dialogue between social protection in federal contexts and in the EU. First, she outlines why, given the wide diversity between MLG systems, it is illusory to go beyond an embryonic response to the intersection between multi-layered and multinational regimes on the one hand and social policy on the other. She then explains three functions (redistribution, bureaucratic and political legitimation, identity politics) played by social protection in federal regimes, particularly in multinational federations and quasi-federations. Finally, she surveys instruments used by federal partners in the design of social policies. The author concludes by noting that issues related to the intersection of social protection and institutional design raised in multinational federations resonate in the EU, regardless of the nature of the latter.


Spauligodon zweifeli n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestines of a gecko, Lepidodactylus novaeguineae (Sauria: Gekkonidae), is described and illustrated. Prevalence of infection was 57% (mean intensity 8.5, range 1– 23). Spauligodon zweifeli n. sp. is the 43rd species to be assigned to this genus and differs from other species in the genus by possessing asymmetrical fusiform eggs in which the ends are extended as digitiform processes. It is the second species to be described from the Australian biogeographical realm.


The Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices (GEPs) for Occupational and Environmental Epidemiologic Research address the conduct of studies generally undertaken to answer questions about human health in relationship to the work place or the environment. The GEPs propose minimum practices and procedures that should be considered to help ensure the quality and integrity of data used in epidemiologic research and to provide adequate documentation of the research methods. The GEPs address the process of conducting individual epidemiologic studies and do not prescribe specific research methods. The Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices propose minimum practices and procedures in the following areas: I. Organization and Personnel II. Facilities, Resource Commitment, and Contractors III. Protocol IV. Review and Approval V. Study Conduct VI. Communication VII. Archiving VIII. Quality Assurance Although the Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices will not guarantee good epidemiology, they do provide a useful framework for ensuring that all research issues are adequately addressed. This framework is proposed as a first step in improving epidemiologic research practices through adherence to sound scientific research principles. Appendices provide an overview of standard operating procedures, a glossary of terms used in the Guidelines, and suggested references on occupational epidemiology methods.


Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) can be found in high concentrations in sewage sludge and, hence, may enter the soil compartment as a result of sludge application. Here, LAS may pose a risk for soil‐dwelling organisms. In the present probabilistic risk assessment, statistical extrapolation has been used to assess the risk of LAS to soil ecosystems. By use of a log‐normal distribution model, the predicted no‐effect concentration (PNEC) was estimated for soil fauna, plants, and a combination of these. Due to the heterogeneous endpoints for microorganisms, including functional as well as structural parameters, the use of sensitivity distributions is not considered to be applicable to this group of organisms, and a direct, expert evaluation of toxicity data was used instead. The soil concentration after sludge application was predicted for a number of scenarios and used as the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) in the risk characterization and calculation of risk quotients (RQ = PEC/PNEC). A LAS concentration of 4.6 mg/kg was used as the current best estimate of PNEC in all RQ calculations. Three levels of LAS contamination (530, 2,600, and 16,100 mg/kg), three half‐lives (10, 25, and 40 d), and five different sludge loads (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 t/ha) were included in the risk scenarios. In Denmark, the initial risk ratio would reach 1.5 in a realistic worst‐case consideration. For countries not having similar sludge regulations, the estimated risk ratio may initially be considerably higher. However, even in the most extreme scenarios, the level of LAS is expected to be well beyond the estimated PNEC one year after application. The present risk assessment, therefore, concludes that LAS does not pose a significant risk to fauna, plants, and essential functions of agricultural soils as a result of normal sewage sludge amendment. However, risks have been identified in worst‐case scenarios.


This paper describes several improvements of an iterative algorithm for modular multiplication originally proposed by Jeong and Burleson. A first modification of the recurrence relation allows us to implement a fused multiply and add unit. Then, we show how to reduce the circuit area by a factor two when the operator offers the possibility to choose the modulo among a set m_1, m_2,, m_q. A new iterative algorithm making the implementation of modular exponentiation easier is eventually discussed. For 16-bit numbers, our operators perform for instance 6 millions of operations per second on a Virtex-E device while only requiring 17 slices.


Use high definition abrader and practicing is practicing method after disjoint main shaft disjointing headstock of machine tool to grind now main shaft of machine tool but this method has several controversial points. This research does not disjoint damaged main shaft of machine tool to solve these problem, and develop spindle exclusive use grinder that can grind main shaft damaged directly attaching exclusive use grinder to bed of machine tool on the spot.


The Seppic Company
developed a new adjuvant Montanide ISA 201
VG, the upgraded version of Montanide ISA 206 VG, which keep the advantage and
added some chemical components on the basis of ISA 206 to improve the cellular
responses. The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of swine FMD
(foot-and-mouth) vaccine emulsified with oil adjuvant of ISA 201 or ISA 206
respectively. The pigs were vaccinated with FMD vaccine emulsified with
inactive FMD type O antigen and adjuvant ISA 201 or ISA 206 respectively,
according to 2.0 ml (1/1 dose), 0.67 ml (1/3
dose), 0.22 ml (1/9 dose) to calculate their PD50. The
sera were collected from the vaccination of the day 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and the
ELISA FMD type O antibody were detected. Furthermore, the PD50 were calculated
after the pigs were challenged with virulent
FMDV type O on 28 days post vaccination. The ELISA antibody titers of
201vaccine were significantly
higher than that of 206 (except the third time). The fifty percent of
protection dose (PD50) of 201 vaccine (PD50 = 15.59) was higher than that of 206 vaccine
(PD50 = 10.05). The above data showed that the
efficacy of the FMD vaccine emulsified with ISA 201 was better than which with
ISA 206.


"HOMICIDE is not a disease, but it is a public health condition whose primary cause is possession of guns—and it could be considered an epidemic because of the high incidence in certain populations," recently said Paul Stolley, MD, president of the American College of Epidemiology, announcing that group's first policy statement calling for research on the effects of handgun control. "Nonsense!" says Paul H. Blackman, PhD, research coordinator of the National Rifle Association (NRA). "Epidemics are things that are catching, and gun ownership and use aren't catching. Calling something an epidemic doesn't make it an epidemic. That's typical of gun control people's shoddy thinking." The battle between those who favor and those who abhor regulation of gun ownership and use was joined years ago, but it's been heating up lately as medical authorities have begun to examine the relationship of guns and injury from the viewpoint of public health rather


A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of albiflorin and paeoniflorin in rat plasma using geniposide as an internal standard. Plasma samples were extracted by solid-phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Zorbax SB-C(18) analytical column (150 × 2.1 mm × 5 µm) with 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) as the mobile phase. Detection was performed by multiple reaction monitoring mode using electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode. The total run time was 3.0 min between injections. The calibration curves were linear over a range of 1-1000 ng/mL for albiflorin and 2-2000 ng/mL for paeoniflorin. The overall precision and accuracy for all concentrations of quality controls and standards were better than 15%. Mean recovery was determined to be 87.7% for albiflorin and 88.8% for paeoniflorin. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of albiflorin and paeoniflorin in rat plasma after oral administration of Radix Paeoniae Alba extract and Tang-Min-Ling-Wan. The pharmacokinetic parameters showed that albiflorin and paeoniflorin from Tang-Min-Ling-Wan were absorbed more rapidly with higher concentrations in plasma than that from Radix Paeoniae Alba extract. The results provided a meaningful basis for evaluating the clinical applications of traditional Chinese medicine.


The production and appreciation of art involves thought processes that have excluded from traditional measures of human intelligence. This book, written by a leading cognitive scientist, makes a compelling case for broadening these definitions and discusses the value other cultures place on artistic abilities. Gardner explores the function of art in human development as well as the strategies children employ in the process of constructing images.


The financing structure of a shopping center is decomposed into an income security and two put options. These put options are respectively held by the borrower against the lender for default, and by the lender against an insurer or reinsurer. The prices of the put option depend on the loan-to-value ration of the loan and on the risk of the investment. The interest rate charged on the loan is the sum of four components: a riskless rate, lender production costs, and the net price of the put options. The risk structure of the loan depends on the loan-to-value ratio and the lender production costs. The model has implications for shopping center investors and lenders. For investors, the trade-off between loan-to-value ratio and interest rate is evaluated explicitly, so that an optimal loan contract can be structured. For lenders, a method of pricing a shopping center loan is presented.


The paper computes the optimal control and state of the two-dimensional Energized wave equation using the Extended Conjugate gradient Method (ECGM). This piece of work has to do with all the vital computational elements as derived in the implementation of the ECGM algorithm on the codes were derived which gave various numerical optimal controls and states. These optimal controls and states were considered at various points in a plane surface.


An aircraft is a complex structure, but very efficient man-made flying machine. Aircraft are generally built up from the basic components of wings, fuselage, tail units and control surfaces. Each component has one or more specific functions and must be designed to ensure that it can carry out these functions safely. Any small failure of any these components may lead to catastrophic disaster leading to huge destruction of lives and property. If the structural integrity of these components is achieved as designed, it means that the structure has the capacity to retain its desired aerodynamic shape under flight conditions. The optimum structural design of an Air craft wing is an important factor in the performance of the airplanes i.e. obtaining a wing with a high stiffness/weight ratio and sustaining the unexpected loading such as gust and maneuvering situations. The critical element of aircraft is the design of the wings. Several factors influence the selection of material of which strength allied to lightness is the most important. Composite materials are well known for their excellent combination of high structural stiffness and low weight. Because of higher stiffness-to-weight or strength-to-weight ratios compared to isotropic materials, composite laminates are becoming more popular. The objective of this project is to perform static structural analysis to evaluate stresses and displacement induced in air craft wing for different lamina orientation. Also to study the effect of stacking sequence and lamina thickness on performance of wing structure.


The aspherical measuring technology that based on computer-generated hologram (CGH) was introduced. The advantage of this method is that the phase shifts can be controlled digitally, no any mechanical moving and rotating element. By changing CGH coding which displayed on the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), the wavefront and phase shifts in measuring system were induced. Based on the characteristics of aspherical measurement and LCD structure, the CGH encode technology used in LCD was discussed. Then a new encode method which applied to aspherical measurement was put forward. In this method, the LCD modulates functions of amplitude and phase was coexistent, and the character of LCD diffraction frequency spectrum was considered, and phase hologram was applied. This aspherical measuring technology is more flexible than usual method. In this paper, the hologram encode method based on LCD were illuminated in detail. In order to verify the correction of encode technology, the aspherical surface with standard wavefront was generated by coaxial hologram reconstruct system when hologram encode image was displayed on SONY LCX023 LCD, it interfere with the standard spherical wavefront, then the interferogram was sampled to computer by Charge Coupled Device (CCD) and A/D transfer, the wavefront of hologram reconstruct was obtained by image process finally. All calculation is completed by Matlab. An aspherical measuring system based on LCD was built experimentally. Both the theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of this approach.


The question "What `holds up' the Moon?" was used to generate discussion, amongst A-level students, which led to the identification and exploration of some of their conceptual difficulties regarding circular motion generally and the Earth/Moon system in particular.


Organochlorine (OC) levels in liver and blubber of 20 bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) collected during the Eskimo subsistence harvest at Barrow (Alaska, USA) in 1992 and 1993 are presented. Liver sum DDT (lipid weight) was significantly greater in male whales than in females. Most of the organochlorines measured were at higher levels in longer (older) than in shorter (younger) males. For female bowhead whales, hexachlorobenzene and lipid levels decreased and other OC levels did not change significantly with increasing length. Most organo-chlorine contaminants have low concentrations in tissues of the bowhead whale compared to concentrations in tissues of other cetaceans, especially Odontocetes. Based on allowable daily intakes (ADI) levels established by the Canadian Northern Contaminants Program (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) "safe" levels of blubber to consume were calculated. Chlordane levels in bowhead whale blubber results in the most restrictive consumption amount (50 g blubber/day). We expect no adverse effects related to these organochlorine contaminants to occur in bowhead whales or in consumers of their tissues. However, investigation of low level chronic exposure effects and a more rigorous assessment of histopathology, biomarkers, and immune status in the bowhead whale would be required to conclude "no effect" with more certainty.


The papers in this issue of ephemera have their origins in a conference, 'Digital Labour: Workers, Authors, Citizens', held at the University of Western Ontario on October 1618, 2009. The conference was organized by the Digital Labour Group, an assembly of scholars from within the Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS), a nondepartmentalized unit that houses programs in Library and Information Science, Journalism, and Media Studies. While the Faculty has always, since its origins more than a decade ago in the heady times of the dot.com boom, identified itself as 'interdisciplinary', the practical meaning of this claim has often been vague and sometimes contentious. In 2008, however, in the very different climate of global economic crisis, an exploratory meeting of faculty who saw their work as related to digital technologies and labour revealed a surprising degree of convergence. Some studied the material working conditions and cultural products of places like newsrooms, recording studios, libraries or video game companies. Others analyzed more abstract processes, such as neo-liberal regulatory regimes or struggles around intellectual property rights and access to information. Still others examined the ways in whichever more intimate aspects of human sociality were being rendered profitable for capital in the wake of digital media. But what emerged from the first encounters of the Digital Labour Group was a common commitment to understanding the complex political, social and cultural implications of new forms of digital labour around the globe.


Experiments were performed to determine the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the maturation of temperature regulation in the preweanling rat. Animals 6–16 days of age were placed in a 15 C air environment. The time required for their colonic temperatures to drop from 30 to 20 C was taken as an index of cooling rate. Reserpine, pentolinium, and nerve-growth-factor antiserum were used to evaluate autonomic function. None of these blocking agents influenced the rate of cooling of the 6-day-old animal. In the 16-day-old animal the same agents had a pronounced effect, such that control animals did not cool, while animals that had received reserpine cooled at a rate of 0.18 C/min, animals that had received the pentolinium cooled at a rate of 0.07 C/min, and animals that had received the antiserum for the first 5 days of life cooled at a rate of 0.15 C/min. This study indicates that the sympathetic nervous system is concerned with the development of homeothermy in the rat.


This paper presents a fast and reliable method to optimize the workspace of a 3R planar parallel manipulator. The ratio between the lengths of the first two links of each limb of a 3R parallel manipulator is changed whereas the other parameters and the outer boundary of the whole manipulator are kept the same during the optimization process. In this method, first, enough number (not necessarily very large) of points is generated in the workspace and then techniques of computational geometry are applied to determine the boundary of the workspace. The modified gift wrapper algorithm is used to determine the boundary. It is shown that, for a given mechanism, increasing the ratio of the length of the second link relative to the length of the first link increases the workspace. However, at certain value, gaps start to appear within the workspace which mean discontinuity in the workspace. Increasing the ratio, the workspace becomes separated regions.


distribution maps obtained from the maximum entropy method (MEM) describe that 13.4 % of protons exist at inter-layer space. Proton diffusion constants were estimated as 1.9(1)×10 m/s at 393 K and 2.1(3)×10 m/s at 413 K respectively. The structural change corresponds to a rotational mode of SeO4 tetrahedra, which is led from the group theoretical analysis from R3m to C2/c. A diffusive spectrum was observed around 0 meV at the L-point (0.5 2 0) above TC as an over dumped phonon mode. The rotational mode of SeO4 tetrahedra drives the improper ferroelastic phase transition, and assists the disconnection and reconstruction of hydrogen bonds in the high temperature phase.


Daily weather types (WTs) over the Southeast United States have been analyzed using 850 hPa winds from reanalysis data from March to October of 1979–2019. Six WTs were obtained. WTs 1–3 represent mid-latitude synoptic systems propagating eastward. WT4 is a summer-type pattern predominantly occurring in June–August, with the center of the North Atlantic Subtropical High (NASH) along the Gulf coast in the southern United States. WT5 is most frequent from August to middle October, with the NASH pushed further north and southerly winds over the northern Great Plains. An anticyclone centered at the Carolina coast characterizes WT6, which occurs in all months but is slightly more frequent in the spring and fall, especially in October, corresponding to fair weather in the region. WTs 1, 2 and 3 can persist for only a few days. WTs 4, 5 and 6 can have long spells of persistence. Besides self-persistence, the most observed progression loop is WT1 to WT2, to WT3, and then back to WT1, corresponding to eastward-propagating waves. WTs 4 and 5 are likely to show persistence, with long periods of consecutive days. WT6 usually persists but can also transfer to WT3, i.e., a change from fair weather in the Southeast U.S. to rainy weather in the Mississippi River Valley. A diurnal cycle of precipitation is apparent for each WT, especially over coastal plains. The nocturnal precipitation in central U.S. is associated with WT3. WTs 1–3 are more frequent in El Niño years, corresponding to stronger westerly wave activities and above normal rainfall in the Southeast U.S. in the spring. The positive rainfall anomaly in the Mississippi and Ohio River valley in El Niño years is also associated with more frequent WT3.


The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of methicillin-susceptible (MS) and methicillin-resistant (MR) coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) strains isolated from milk of cows with mastitis. The study was conducted on 100 CNS strains (20 MRCNS and 80 MSCNS) isolated from milk samples of 86 cows from the Lublin (Poland) region farms. Antibiotic susceptibility of microorganisms was evaluated using the disc-diffusion method on the Mueller-Hinton agar according to the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). The highest efficacy against MSCNS was demonstrated for cephalosporin antibiotics, i.e. cefacetril (91.3%), ceftiofur (67.5%), cefoperazone (66.3%) and cephalexin (60.0% of susceptible MSCNS strains). Moreover, a high percentage of vancomycin-susceptible strains was demonstrated (83.8%). The activity of combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and gentamicin was found weaker (63.8% and 61.3% of susceptible strains, respectively). About 50.0% of MSCNS were susceptible to erythromycin, enrofloxacine and amoxicillin. A large proportion of CNS was resistant to neomycin, penicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, lincomycin and ampicillin (28.8%, 30.0%, 31.3%, 31.3%, 33.8% and 33.8% of susceptible strains, respectively). The highest percentage of MRCNS was susceptible to vancomycin (75.0%), erythromycin (65.0%) and streptomycin (50.0%). Their susceptibility to enrofloxacine (35.0%) as well as gentamicin and tetracycline (30.0%) was markedly lower. The lowest activity was found for lincomycin and neomycin (20.0% of susceptible MRCNS strains, each).


The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC)-associated tumor markers in follicular epithelial dysplasia showing PTC-like nuclear alterations (FED) in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and to explore the relationship between HT and PTC. In this study, 43 PTC, 18 HT with FED and 16 peritumoral benign thyroid tissues were immunohistochemically analyzed for CK19, galectin-3, HBME-1, CD56, claudin-1 and NGAL expression. Our research revealed that in HT, the expression of CK19, galectin-3, HBME-1, claudin-1 and NGAL was focal and limited to FED, while CD56 was strongly positive in FED and most Hürthle cells. The stain intensity of CK19, claudin-1 and NGAL in FED decreased compared with PTC, but were significantly higher than that in peritumoral benign thyroid tissues (all P < 0.0125). For galectin-3, HBME-1 and CD56, no statistically significant difference was detected between HT and peritumoral benign thyroid tissues (all P > 0.05). In conclusion, In HT, FED might be a precancerous condition closely associated with PTC development as they have overlaps in cytological and immunomarker profiles, indicating that in patients with HT, under prolonged stimuli from chronic inflammation, part of follicular epithelia may show regeneration, hyperplasia, Hürthle cell metaplasia and dysplasia, eventually malignant transformation. Hence, long term follow-up and regular inspection would be necessary for Hashimoto's thyroiditis with FED.


In the past decade the Zaire strain of Ebola virus (ZEBOV) has emerged repeatedly into human populations in central Africa and caused massive die-offs of gorillas and chimpanzees. We tested the view that emergence events are independent and caused by ZEBOV variants that have been long resident at each locality. Phylogenetic analyses place the earliest known outbreak at Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo, very near to the root of the ZEBOV tree, suggesting that viruses causing all other known outbreaks evolved from a Yambuku-like virus after 1976. The tendency for earlier outbreaks to be directly ancestral to later outbreaks suggests that outbreaks are epidemiologically linked and may have occurred at the front of an advancing wave. While the ladder-like phylogenetic structure could also bear the signature of positive selection, our statistical power is too weak to reach a conclusion in this regard. Distances among outbreaks indicate a spread rate of about 50 km per year that remains consistent across spatial scales. Viral evolution is clocklike, and sequences show a high level of small-scale spatial structure. Genetic similarity decays with distance at roughly the same rate at all spatial scales. Our analyses suggest that ZEBOV has recently spread across the region rather than being long persistent at each outbreak locality. Controlling the impact of Ebola on wild apes and human populations may be more feasible than previously recognized.


The necessity for metal lift-off processes in the compound semiconductor industry is very acute because of the need to pattern non-reactive metals such as gold. As the gallium arsenide industry matures from the niche markets of the past to competing with the mainstream semiconductor industry, reducing manufacturing costs becomes increasingly important to ensure continued growth. Moreover, newer technologies have pushed the typical requirements for lift-off into a realm difficult to achieve with many existing methods. Presented, is the development work of a single layer and single exposure lift-off silicon nitride dry etch process prior to metal evaporation. Daily process control has been demonstrated with a variation of ± 0.032μ on 1.2μ nominal features. This lift-off technique relies upon a single layer of photo resist with no added costs for additional dielectric deposition and etch processes or applications of photosensitive polyamide layers. In addition to being relatively low cost, the improved performance has enabled development of new technologies with fine line requirements and challenging topographies.


The present study aims to examine the adverse effects of the absence of Computer-assisted Translation (CAT) tool course syllabi in Libyan universities on the translation quality in Libyan government institutions. This research is motivated by the underutilization of CAT tools in translation departments and the lack of education on their use in Libyan universities, which may result in a shortage of professional translators proficient in utilizing these tools. The study employs a survey research design, utilizing a sample of 59 staff members from translation departments of Libyan universities. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through statistical techniques and qualitative data analysis. The findings indicate that the absence of CAT training in Libyan universities is a major factor affecting the quality of translation in Libyan institutions. This can be attributed to the lack of resources, funding, and qualified translators. Based on these results, the study concludes that the implementation of CAT course syllabus in Libyan universities is crucial in ensuring the development of professional translators and improving the translation quality in Libyan government institutions."


Ultrafast demagnetization processes in ferromagnetic films have been shown to produce terahertz (THz) emission. We present an experimental demonstration that, following ultrafast optical excitation, the magnitude of terahertz electromagnetic pulses emitted from a ferromagnetic film is proportional to the Gilbert damping constant, which is conventionally used to describe the damping of magnetization precession. The damping of a ferromagnetic thin film is tuned by using an adjacent nonmagnetic layer, which does not change the magnetization and anisotropy of the ferromagnetic film, allowing an unambiguous determination of the relationship between the THz emission and the damping constant.


We study the Ext modules in the category of left modules over a twisted algebra of a finite quiver over a ringed space (X,OX), allowing for the presence of relations. We introduce a spectral sequence which relates the Ext modules in that category with the Ext modules in the category of OX-modules. Contrary to what happens in the absence of relations, this spectral sequence in general does not degenerate at the second page. We also consider local Ext sheaves. Under suitable hypotheses, the Ext modules are represented as hypercohomology groups.


Abstract The synthesis of thioamides(1) from nitriles generally involves base catalyzed reaction of nitriles with hydrogen sulphide in a polar organic solvent.


The Story Cloze test is a recent effort in providing a common test scenario for text understanding systems. As part of the LSDSem 2017 shared task, we present a system based on a deep learning architecture combined with a rich set of manually-crafted linguistic features. The system outperforms all known baselines for the task, suggesting that the chosen approach is promising. We additionally present two methods for generating further training data based on stories from the ROCStories corpus.


The development of sensitive and noninvasive magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for the long- and short-term evaluation of vascular prostheses requires detailed knowledge of the evolutionary trend of the MR properties of the perigraft tissue during the healing process. To characterize changes in water MR properties, the water proton relaxation times, T1 and T2, of the muscle in the vicinity of an implanted polyester material were measured as a function of implantation time. To provide better insight into interpretation of the MR results, we carried out histologic and peripheral blood cell activation studies and tissue water content measurements. The MR results illustrated the sensitivity of the relaxation times to changes in cellular response to the presence of an implant. The evolutionary trend of these MR parameters exhibited two distinct phases. The crossover from phase I to phase II occurred around 10 days postimplantation. This crossover is attributed to the transition in the inflammatory response from the acute phase to the chronic phase. During the acute phase, the very high initial T1 and T2s (the slower relaxing component of the transverse relaxation time) values decreased significantly and steadily. The value of T1 dropped by a factor of 2, whereas T2s went down by a factor of 6. During the same time, the diffusion parameter, beta, remained constant. However, during the chronic phase, the diffusion parameter increased sharply. By 30 days postimplantation, the value of beta had increased by a factor of 10. The relaxation times, on the other hand, increased steadily with implantation time. Because the current MR results provide an in vivo and noninvasive follow-up of the healing process around the polyester implant material, they will be of considerable value in the early detection of vascular graft complications by MR imaging.


Gizzerosine (GZ), a derivative of histamine, is a biogenic amine found in fish meal, and one of the causative agents of black vomit, a poultry disease. We describe here the preparation of anti-idiotype antibodies to the anti-GZ monoclonal antibody (anti-GZ 3H4) and their possible application to an immunoassay. BALB-c mice were immunized with anti-GZ 3H4 antibody coupled to hemocyanin from Concholepas concholepas. Using somatic cell fusion between NSO/2 cells and splenic lymphocytes from the immunized mice, we obtained 34 potential anti-idiotype antibodies. They were characterized by passive agglutination with supernatants from hybridoma cultures and latex particles conjugated to the idiotype. Anti-idiotype antibodies were analyzed by a competitive RIA, to determine their ability to dissociate the interaction between (125)I-GZ and the anti-GZ 3H4-idiotype antibody. They were also characterized by GZ inhibition of latex passive agglutination assay. Three anti-idiotypes named 2D11, 2H6, and 3A12, all of the IgG isotype, were obtained. They were evaluated by a competitive ELISA, in which GZ competes with the tracer (HRP-idiotype). All presented sensitivity in the range of 0.1-10 microg/mL of GZ; and the 3A12 anti-idiotype antibody showed the best performance. An ELISA was developed using the idiotype bound to the solid phase and the anti-idiotype 3A12-HRP as the tracer. The assay showed a similar sensitivity and cross-reactivity with histamine was only observed at concentrations over 10 microg/mL. Lysine and histidine did not interfere with the assay up to 500 microg/mL. An experiment was conducted with fish meal contaminated with synthetic GZ. The results are promising, and showed that no other compounds of the fish meal interfere with the ELISA system; however the extraction procedure of the sample needs to be improved. From the results presented here, we conclude that the idiotype anti-idiotype ELISA would be an appropriate method to determine GZ in fish meal.


In 1932, Wareham Smith published Spilt Ink, a memoir of his time as Advertisement Director at Associated Newspapers Limited. The book offers a fascinating insight into the period in which newspaper advertising was becoming consolidated as an industry, spurred on not only by a postmonopoly economy of surplus products, but by rapid technological change in paper production, printing and distribution. Smith charts his lengthy battle with his superiors to change the country's top-selling newspaper, the Daily Mail, from a medium of news-dissemination, to a typographically innovative organ trumpeting the joys of consumerism. An advertising evangelist, Smith saw the burgeoning advertising industry and its many forms and technologies as a force for civilisation. Making an explicit connection between consumption and moral development, he saw advertisements as symbolic of social progress. Just four years later, George Orwell's Keep the Aspidistra Flying was to offer a very different perspective on the industry. The novel follows the misfortunes of Gordon Comstock, former copywriter at the New Albion advertising company, now a novelist manque. Haunted by his low commercial past, Gordon views the advertising industry as a contemptible and corrupting power. Comstock sees advertisements, far from being the vectors and indicators of social improvement that Smith suggests, as representative of "The great death-wish of the modern world [. . .]. And the reverberation of future wars [. . .] the shattering thunder of the bombs" (Orwell 16). By looking at these two texts, poised between the wars, and at the point of the technologically facilitated expansion of advertising's scope and powers, this article aims to illuminate two instructively opposed views of advertising and its media. In a period when a "New Albion" was becoming a very real possibility, the connection between consumerism and either civilisation or apocalypse is a fundamental debate. From either perspective, it is text that feels the force of change, as the advertising industry bends it to new shapes, forms and purposes. Placing Orwell's text alongside Smith's makes greater sense of Comstock's rage in the face of contemporary commerce, and allows the social and political context of Keep the Aspidistra Flying to regain its rightful place at the centre of any critical analysis of the novel.


Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising crystalline materials for various application due to their controllable porous structure and large specific surface area. Their properties can be further improved by several means, such as making a binary MOF comprising of two different MOFs. In this research, UiO-66/HKUST-1 composites have been synthesized by solvothermal method, in which the UiO-66 was prepared at 120 °C for 24 h in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) prior to preparation of HKUST-1 at 100 °C for 10 h in solvent mixture of DMF, ethanol and water. Amounts of Zr2+ for the synthesis of UiO-66 added during the synthesis process were varied at 5, 10 and 20% toward the amount of Cu2+ for synthesis of HKUST-1. Diffractogram patterns of the obtained composites showed dominant characteristic peaks, similar to that reported for HKUST-1. Furthermore, FTIR spectra of all solids showed absorption bands at the same wavenumbers as reported for HKUST-1. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images showed the spread of Zr metal evenly on the pore of composites.


The effects of fruit maturation on changes in the total phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids of meth- anolic extracts of Citrus sudachi, in addition to its antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, were determined. Generally, the concentration of these chemical constituents increased as C. sudachi reached maturity. C. sudachi contained high levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids at maturity, contributing 6339.5 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g, 2364.2 mg of rutin equivalent per 100 g, and 678.7 mg/ml, respectively. The scavenging activities of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), hy- drogen peroxide and nitric oxide radicals and the reducing power of mature fruits were significantly higher at all data points than those of immature fruits (p <0.05). In contrast, the ferrous ion chelating activity of mature and immature C. sudachi fruits was similar. The 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of mature fruits were 4.1± 0.10 mg/ml for scavenging DPPH radicals, 3.1±0.02 mg/ml for scavenging hydrogen peroxide, 3.9±0.01 mg/ml for scavenging nitric oxide, and 3.8±0.02 mg/ml for chelating fer- rous ion. The antidiabetic activity of C. sudachi was studied in vitro using the α-glucosidase inhibitory method. The inhibitory activity of mature C. sudachi fruits on α -glucosidase was higher than that of immature fruits. These results suggest that the content of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of C. sudachi change during maturation. These findings can be further ex- tended to exploit them for their possible application for the preservation of food products, as well as their use as health supplements and nutraceuticals.


A new structure of highly birefringent honeycomb photonic bandgap fibres (PBGFs), including an elliptical air hole in its solid core, is proposed and analysed by using full vectorial plane wave expansion method. From the numerical results it is confirmed that the proposed PBGF has birefringence of the order of 10−3. Moreover, there are two single-polarization single-mode ranges at varying normalized wavelength, in one of which only the slow-axis mode exists, and in the other only the fast-axis mode exists, which has not been achieved in index-guiding photonic crystal fibres so far.


In
modern ecology, the traditional diversity indexes (usually of
richness, abundance, and species evenness) have been highly revealing
and useful for monitoring community and ecosystem processes. However,
around two decades ago, a pioneering research team noticed that these
indexes did not completely resolve their open questions. Thus, they
suggested changing the way biodiversity was measured. At its base,
this new methodology considers the distance between species
(in phylogenetic or functional terms) before subsequently applying the
appropriate biodiversity indexes. Including phylogenetic and
functional elements in the evaluation of diversity allows us to
approach the concept of biodiversity in a more comprehensive
way.


The phosphorylation of tyrosine, and to a lesser extent threonine and serine, plays a key role in the regulation of signal transduction during a plethora of eukaryotic cell functions, including cell activation, cell-cycle progression, cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell movement, differentiation, apoptosis and metabolic homeostasis. In vivo, tyrosine phosphorylation is reversible and dynamic; the phosphorylation states are governed by the opposing activities of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs)2 and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as cellular messengers in cellular processes such as mitogenic signal transduction, gene expression, regulation of cell proliferation, senescence and apoptosis. Redox regulated proteins include PTPs and PTKs, although with opposite regulation of enzymatic activity. Transient oxidation of thiols in PTPs leads to their inactivation by the formation of either an intramolecular S–S bridge or a sulfenyl–amide bond. Conversely, oxidation of PTKs leads to their activation, either by direct SH modification or, indirectly, by concomitant inhibition of PTPs that guides to sustained activation of PTKs. This review focuses on the redox regulation of both PTPs and PTKs and the interplay of their specular regulation.


Background: Urinary tract infection (UTIs) are considered to be the most common infections in humans.Aims: this study aimed to evaluate the immune status of the patients with UTI by studying of (IL-6 and IL-10).Subjects and Methods: A total of 49 UTI patients infected with gram –ve bacteria and 25 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Urine samples from UTI cases was collected in AL-Imam AL-Hussain teaching hospital in Thi- Qar province, during the period from February 2014 to July 2014. Urinary isolates were identified by conventional methods.3 ml were collected in plastic tube and then centrifuged at 3000 round per minute (rpm) for 5 min to obtain sera. And after the serum sample were collected they were divided into two apendroff tubes and stored in deep freeze at – 20º C until performing IL-6 and IL-10. (Lewis et al., 2006).Results: Patients with E. coli infection accounted for 26 (53.06%); other culture results were as follows: 7 (14.29 %) patients had K. pneumonia, 9 (18.37%) patients had P. aerogenosa, 4 (8.16%) had Proteus and 3 (6.12%) patients had K.oxytoca. Measure levels of serum IL-6 and IL-10 for study group against control group, which is showed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.01) in the levels of interleukins (IL-6, IL-10) in all serum patients compared to the control group.Conclusion: E- coli was most common causative agent in UTI, The high rate concentration of IL-6 and IL-10 in patients with UTI compared with the healthy control group. This refers to the injury for their role in the immune response.


. The authors discuss the need for implementing scientific expertise related to the conservation of biodiversity, key ecosystems, and high conservation value areas in order to mitigate the consequences of the anthropogenic impact in the region. In the example of the Primorsky region, the authors considered the possibilities of conducting an effective environmental policy in conditions of the Government's declared commitment to maintaining a favorable investment climate. Based on GIS technologies, environmental zoning is conducted and discussed by authors, anthropogenic changes in geosystems of the Primorsky region are shown, main types of socio-economic systems of the Primorsky region are briefly characterized.


The recent decline in IPO activity can be explained by the small firms' increasing preference for being acquired rather than growing independently. This paper sheds light on this explanation by focusing on the nature of the firms facing this decision and their potential merger synergies. First, the above explanation should be particularly true for Young Innovative Companies (YICs), which are often superior to incumbents in originating innovations but face greater difficulties in bringing them to the market. Second, a firm's trade-off between being acquired and remaining independent strongly depends on the extent of the synergies arising from a potential merger, which are however difficult to assess ex-ante. Using a new, text-based measure of business similarity as a proxy for M&A synergies, we document that YICs facing the potential to develop larger synergies are the main responsible for the decline in IPOs. Compared to 15years ago, the quarterly number of IPOs conducted by these firms has decreased by 20. At the same time, while M&A activity of other firms has declined, the number of acquisitions involving this particular type of firms has remained stable over time.


AIM
Quantify the impact of involving caregivers in self-management interventions on health-related quality of life of patients with heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

DESIGN
Systematic review, meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES
Searched: Medline Ebsco, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, The British Library and ProQuest. Search time frame; January 1990 - March 2018.

REVIEW METHODS
Randomised controlled trials involving caregivers in self-management interventions (≥2 components) compared with usual care for patients with heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A matched sample based on publication year, geographic location and inclusion of an exercise intervention of studies not involving caregivers were identified. Primary outcome of analysis was patient health-related quality of life.

RESULTS
13 Randomised controlled trials (1,701 participants: 1,439 heart failure; 262 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) involving caregivers (mean age 59; 58% female) were identified. Reported patient health-related quality of life measures included; Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire, St. George's respiratory questionnaire and Short-Form-36. Compared with usual care, there was similar magnitude in mean improvement in patient health-related quality of life with self-management interventions in trials involving caregivers (SMD: 0.23, 95% confidence interval: -0.15 to 0.61) compared with trials without caregivers (SMD: 0.27, 0.08 to 0.46).

CONCLUSION
Within the methodological constraints of this study, our results indicate that involving caregivers in self-management interventions does not result in additional improvement in patient health-related quality of life in heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, involvement of caregivers in intervention delivery remains an important consideration and key area of research.

IMPACT
Greater understanding and awareness is needed of the methodology of caregiver engagement in intervention development and delivery and its impact on patient outcomes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


OBJECTIVE
To study the difference between the preventive and therapeutic effects of dexamethasone on acute lung injury models induced by lipopolysacharide (LPS) in different phases.

METHODS
Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1)control group to receive intraperitoneal NS injection (2 mL/kg). (2)LPS group to receive intraperitoneal LPS injection (5 mg/kg). (3)one-hour group to receive intraperitoneal dexamethasone injection (2 mg/kg) one hour after LPS injection. (4)three-hour group to receive intraperitoneal dexamethasone injection (2 mg/kg) three hours after LPS injection. Then histopathology, arterial blood gases, lung permeability, wet-to-dry weight ratio and immunohistochemistry AQP1 were performed 24 hours later.

RESULTS
Dexamethasone could improve biological indexes. Lung permeability, wet-to-dry weight ratio and immunohistochemistry AQP1 were (5.73+/-1.37), (4.92+/-0.23), (19.92+/-6.47) in LPS group, (2.4+/-0.51), (4.89+/-0.21), (33.47+/-9.41) in one-hour group and (2.15+/-0.63), (4.57+/-0.14), (40.69+/-9.18) in three-hour group, respectively. Dates in three-hour group were prior to those of one-hour group, and there was slight but no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION
Dexamethasone can improve lung permeability and reduce lung edema. There is no need to be treated with glucocorticoids in advance.


High intensive microwave pretreatment is a new method to modify wood for the fabrication of wood-based nanocomposites. Based on the physical law on heat transfer, a mathematical model to describe the temperature profiles within wood heated by high intensive microwave was established and simulated in this research. The results showed that the temperature profiles within wood were related to microwave heating methods;The temperature inside wood firstly increased and then gradually decreased along the direction of microwave transmission when the unilateral microwave heating was applied, and the temperature difference along the thickness direction of wood was very significant; The temperature with wood firstly increased and then gradually decreased from the wood surface to interior when the bilateral microwave heating was applied. Compared with the unilateral microwave heating, bilateral microwave heating is a better microwave heating method for the more uniform wood microwave pretreatment.


This article examines the poetics of childhood in Moroccan filmmaker Nabil Ayouch's Ali Zaoua, Prince of the Streets, focusing on dream culture, sea travel, and elements of Sufi mysticism. In Ali Zaoua, symbols such as eyes, a compass, Twin Towers, sea travel, and an imaginary island with two suns visualize an Islamic dream culture. Ayouch presents the cruelty of life on the streets marked by violence, filth, and concrete, yet the film celebrates a dream culture by focusing on fantasy, images of a spiritual voyage, poetry, and Sufi mysticism, which eclipse the harsh, socially realistic portrayal of the lives of homeless children.


By using the cloudiness data from 1966 to 1972, a quasi-stationary appearance of 30 to 40 day period was confirmed during the summer monsoon season over India, which is recently found in the data for 1973 as a predominant mode of the monsoon fluctuations (Yasunari, 1979). In the same manner as the result of Yasunari (1979), the fluctuation of this mode shows a northward movement over India-Indian Ocean area in each year. This periodicity seems to appear annually except for the severe drought years such as 1972.


The application of big data in health care is a fast-growing field, with many discoveries and methodologies published in the last five years. Big data refers to datasets that are not only big but also high in variety and velocity, which makes them difficult to handle using traditional tools and techniques. Moreover, medical data is one of the most growing data, as it is obtained from Electronic Health Records (EHRs) or patients themselves. Due to the rapid growth of such medical data, we need to provide suitable tools and techniques in order to handle and extract value and knowledge from these datasets to improve the quality of patient care and reduces healthcare costs. Furthermore, such value can be provided using big data analytics, which is the application of advanced analytics techniques on big data. This paper presents an overview of big data content, sources, technologies, tools, and challenges in health care. It also intends to identify the strategies to overcome the challenges.


Abstract The physical and social realities, mental biases and limitations of being human differentiate human brands from others. It is their very humanness that introduces risk while generating the ability for enhanced returns. Four particular human characteristics can create imbalance or inconsistency between the person and the brand: mortality, hubris, unpredictability and social embeddedness. None of these qualities manifest in traditional non-human brands, and all of them present risks requiring active managerial attention. Rather than treating humans as brands and making humans into brands for sale in the commercial marketplace, our framework forces a focus on keeping a balance between the person and the personified object.


[reaction: see text] This work describes the synthesis of two novel macrocyclic taxoid constructs by ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) and their biological evaluation. Computational studies examine conformational profiles of 1 and 2 for their fit to the beta-tubulin binding site determined by electron crystallography. The results support the hypothesis that paclitaxel binds to microtubules in a "T" conformation.


The unoccupied-states potential correction (USPC) in the local spin-density-functional (LSDF) formalism is proposed as a way to take correlation effects into account approximately. The method is based on using different potentials for the electrons in valence and conduction bands. When applied to antiferromagnetic transition-metal oxides (NiO, MnO, FeO, CoO), it solved the long-standing problem of reproducing the experimental values of the band gaps, which are underestimated in normal LSDF calculations. FeO and CoO become insulators, in contrast to the metallic ground state obtained in the usual LSDF calculations. Moreover, the calculated magnetic properties improved considerably due to the introduction of the USPC. It is shown that band-structure calculations using the USPC provide a correct description of available data from spectral measurements (ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, bremsstrahlung isochromate spectroscopy) for these compounds.


As to more efficiently manage the inventory in the retail supply chain and to meet the customer demand in a timely manner, vendor-managed inventory (VMI) has been widely accepted, which manages inventory in the retail supply chain via sharing information and collaborating with the retailers. Applying VMI generates vendor-managed inventory/distribution problem (VMIDP), which involves inventory management for both the vendor and the retailers, and the design of vehicle routes for delivery, to minimize the total operating cost in the supply chain. In this paper, we suggest a mixed integer programming (MIP) model to obtain the optimal solution for VMIDP in a two-echelon retail supply chain, and develop an efficient heuristic based on the operating principles of the MIP model. To evaluate the performance of the heuristic, its solution was compared with the one of the MIP model on a total of twenty seven test problems. As a result, the heuristic found optimal solutions on seven problems in a significantly reduced time, and generated a 4.3% error rate of total cost in average for all problems. The heuristic is applied to the case problem of the local famous franchise company together with GIS, showing that it is capable of providing a solution efficiently in a relatively short time even in the real world situations.


In view of detecting the influence of L-asparaginase on blood and spleen blood globulins, 42 rabbits were daily injected for three weeks with different doses of this drug. Electrophoretic analysis of blood and spleen blood samples from these animals showed no relationship between the doses used and the changes of circulating blood globulins indicating the well known immunodepressing effects of the drug. However, in the spleen blood from the inoculated rabbits (as compared with a control group) a small excess of gamma globulins which appeared especially after 1-2 weeks of daily injections with 2,000 or 10,000 I.U.L-asparaginase/kg b.w. was interpreted as due to the antigenic action of the enzymatic product administered.


Combining 2D materials and 2D metasurfaces enables the fabrication of photonic devices based on extreme interactions between electrons and light. [Also see Report by Britnell et al.] Extraordinary electronic or optical properties can result when layered solids are realized as two-dimensional (2D) materials (single or few-layer sheets), as is the case when graphene is formed from graphite. Optical properties can also be enhanced by restructuring materials at subwavelength scales into metamaterials, such as enhancing the plasmonic properties of gold—the coupling of light to electrons—by forming nanoparticles. Combining these approaches can lead to devices with capabilities that are otherwise difficult to realize. For example, for photovoltaic devices or sensors, materials with high electronic conductivity could be optically thick (to efficiently absorb light) but dimensionally thin (to impart flexibility and light weight). On page 1311 of this issue, Britnell et al. (1) combined highly conductive graphene and optically active 2D transition metal dichalcogenides into a heterostructure that photoexcites electron-hole pairs within a band-gap material. These carriers were separated with a p-n junction and extracted as a photocurrent with transparent graphene electrodes (graphene), and the performance was enhanced with plasmonic gold nanoparticles.


Background: Renal impairment (RI) is a common complication of multiple myeloma (MM). Around 50% of patients with MM have RI at presentation, and up to 5% require dialysis treatment. Severe acute kidney injury (AKI) as a cause of RI is a particular challenge as historically the survival of patients who sustain this complication and require dialysis is very poor. However, in this current period, survival is improving and the focus is on optimum use of novel chemotherapies and the evaluation of extra-corporeal therapies for removal of serum immunoglobulin light chains. Summary: RI in patients with MM is commonly associated with excess monoclonal free light chain (FLC) production; myeloma cast nephropathy is the predominant renal pathology in patients presenting with severe RI secondary to AKI. The majority of patients have mild to moderate RI and recover renal function. However, patients with more severe RI, in particular those with a requirement for dialysis, are less likely to recover renal function. Rapid diagnosis and prompt institution of anti-myeloma therapy is an important determinant of renal function recovery, through targeting early and sustained reduction of involved monoclonal FLC. Novel agents are associated with excellent disease response, and bortezomib is now widely used as a first-line agent in the management of MM in patients with severe RI. Extended haemodialysis using high cut-off dialysers is more effective for extracorporeal removal of FLC than plasma exchange, and clinical trials are in process. High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation does have a role in patients with severe RI but requires careful patient selection. Key Messages: RI is very common in patients with MM, and renal function recovery is associated with improved clinical outcomes. We summarise the epidemiology of MM in the UK, present the impact of RI and renal function recovery on patient outcome, and describe the current management of MM in western countries. Facts from East and West: (1) A serum creatinine level >2 mg/dl has been reported in 16, 21, 24, and 33% of patients with MM in cohort studies from Japan, Europe, China, and Korea, respectively. A creatinine clearance rate <30 ml/min was observed in 30 and 15% of patients in Chinese and Western MM cohorts, respectively. The commonest cause of severe RI in patients with MM is myeloma cast nephropathy. (2) The efficacy of novel treatments (bortezomib, carfilzomib, thalidomide, and lenalidomide) has predominantly been assessed in Western patients. Bortezomib and dexamethasone are the current standard of care for MM and severe RI in the West. Severe RI is not a contraindication to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Most of the data are from the West; there are case reports from China describing good outcomes with ASCT. The removal of FLC by high-cut-off hemodialysis is under evaluation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the West. Studies in this area are not yet conducted in China. In China, new treatments, such as bortezomib, are more widely used than before, and favorable results are being reported; however, RCT studies are still needed in this area to confirm the efficacy and safety of this and other novel treatments.


A framework for the study of the jet-grouting hydration reaction and of the associated THMC interactions with the surrounding soils has been developed. In this work, we summarize the basic formulation that may be used for the simulation of such interactions, including references to the balance equations governing the problem, to the release of heat during the curing of the jet-grouted mass, to the TMC behavior of such material and to the THM behavior of the surrounding soil. The approach presented falls within the framework of plasticity for saturated soils, and it has been implemented within a FEM code for the study of the potential effects of the THMC couplings associated to jet-grouting treatments. The results obtained with this program validate it as a proper tool for the systematic analysis of a number of questions of interest in engineering practice, allowing the assessment, among others, of the following issues: magnitude and rate of production of the thermo-plastic settlements caused by the heat release associated to the installation of jet-grouted columns in the soil; effects of the release of the hydration heat on the hydraulic conditions in the surrounding soil; effects of the boundary conditions, the relative position of the jet-grouted zones and its sequence of installation on the rate of increase of the stiffness and strength associated to the curing of the jet-grouted zones; effects of those factors on the impact of the heat release on the surrounding soils.


Background: Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) effectively restores plasma volume and thereby enhances microcirculation and tissue oxygenation at the expense of coagulation impairment. These effects are related to molecular weight, substitution and C2:C6 ratio. But, most of the studies regarding coagulation impairment in cardiac surgeries were performed in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass which significantly causes coagulation derangements. Therefore, we have evaluated the effects of 2 different HES solutions on tissue oxygenation and postoperative bleeding in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). Methods: Forty four patients were prospectively enrolled. After the induction of anesthesia, either HES 130/0.4 (V group) or 200/0.5 (H group) were infused for fluid therapy to maintain predetermined urine output, cardiac index and filling pressure up to 16 h after the surgery. Tissue oxygenation profiles and respiratory parameters were recorded after induction of anesthesia, completion of distal anastomosis and sternum closure, upon admission at intensive care unit, and 4 h thereafter. The amounts of chest tube drainage, transfusion and fluid balance were measured up to 16 h after the surgery. Results: Patients' demographic data were similar between the groups. Tissue oxygenation profiles, respiratory parameters, hemodynamics, and time to extubate were not different between the groups. However, chest tube drainage and transfusion requirements were significantly less in the V group. Conclusions: In OPCAB, 6% HES 130/0.4 causes less postoperative bleeding and transfusion requirement and has a comparable efficacy on hemodynamic stability, pulmonary function and tissue oxygenation when compared to 6% HES 200/0.5. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2007; 52: 649~56) 󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏


This paper explores the effects of environmental regulation (ER) and rural residents' health investment (RRHI) on agricultural eco-efficiency (AEE) to provide a reference for the Chinese Government and other developing countries for implementing environmental regulation policies and to provide new paths to further improve green development in agriculture. Using the panel data of 31 Chinese provinces from 2009–2018, the Super-SBM model was used to measure AEE. The role of ER on AEE was analyzed based on panel two-way fixed effects with endogeneity treatment and a robustness test, and this mediating effect analysis was conducted to analyze the role of RRHI in ER and AEE, examining the extent of the effect of ER on AEE in three regions of China—eastern, central and western—using a heterogeneity analysis. The results of the study show that: (1) from a national perspective, ER has a significant positive impact on AEE, showing that ER is effective at this stage; (2) when RRHI is used as a mediating variable, the rising ER's intensity can promote AEE by increasing RRHI; and (3) the results of the heterogeneity analysis show that ER has the greatest impact on AEE in the economically developed eastern region; the western region with a weaker level of economic development is in second place. However, ER has a negative impact on AEE in the central region with a medium level of economic development. Thus, the impact of ER on AEE will show great differences depending on the stage of economic development.


The electromyogram (EMG) signal, which is a kind of biomedical information, might be promising as a computer-human interface. The purpose in this paper is to make a brief report on implementation of the EMG interface in CAVE-clone display and propose the advantages of it. In general, it is expected that the environmental electromagnetic noise would disturb the novel EMG signals. We measured the EMG signals and obtained high signal-to-noise ratio in CABIN immersive multiscreen display constructed at the University of Tokyo. The observed signal-tonoise ratio would make EMG signals a reliable input channel with simple signal processing, and real time control of virtual objects was successfully performed. The advantages of the EMG signals will be proposed as a promising human interface in immersive multiscreen environments. The user would control virtual objects reflecting the activations of the user's muscles to realize fine operations. Furthermore, by using this additional biosignal channel, the user might interact with virtual objects without definite motion.


An efficient method for the numerical simulation of MM-wave transferred electron devices in a frequency range around 40 GHz has been presented. The improved energy and momentum balance model (EMB) of electron transport has been applied to take into account the time-dependent phenomena appearing due to the non-stationary electron transport in the active region of a Gunn diode. The fundamental dependencies of the diode current on the carrier diffusion has been also incorporated.


A heuristic derivation of the relationship between electronegativity differences, band bending potentials and Schottky barriers is given as well as a formula relating shifts in Schottky barriers (for fixed semiconductor and for various metals) with ESCA chemical shifts or semiconductor sites at the interface. These are further related to transition charge densities and local density of states (for a pseudo system including both initial and final states).


▪ Abstract In this paper, an overview is presented of coupled processes linking thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) effects in fractured rocks. A formulation is first presented to show the linkage mathematically, which can be used as a basis for numerical solutions and for further developments. Two simple examples of hydromechanical (HM) and thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled processes are discussed to convey physical insight into such couplings. Finally, three large-scale, long-term experiments currently under way are described. These are being conducted specifically to study coupled processes in situ.


Objectives Nowadays, use of selective nonoperative management has decreased the incidence of nontherapeutic laparotomies in patients with anterior thoracoabdominal stab wounds. The safety of selective nonoperative management was investigated in these patients, not requiring emergency laparotomy. Patients and methods Patients referred to the Tabriz Imam Reza Hospital with anterior thoracoabdominal stab wounds were studied from August 2008 to 2010. The hemodynamically unstable patients, those with evidence of peritoneal irritation or with organ evisceration, underwent an emergency laparotomy. For other patients, diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) was used and patients with positive results were operated. Patients with negative DPL results underwent serial physical and laboratory examinations. Results A total of 204 patients were studied. Sixty-two cases (30.4%) had emergency operations, with 12 (19.4%) cases of nontherapeutic laparotomies. On the basis of DPL results in 142 (69.6%) patients, laparotomy was carried out in another 18 (12.7%) cases with a nontherapeutic result in eight (5.6%) cases. Finally, 124 (60.8%) patients were left for further observation and serial physical and laboratory examinations. Accordingly, five (4%) patients needed delayed laparotomy without any serious complications due to the delayed operation. The length of hospital stay and nontherapeutic laparotomies in our study were lower than mandatory laparotomy management and also, there were no significant complications or mortalities within the 90 days follow-up period. Conclusion This study showed that the proposed approach of selective nonoperative management in patients with anterior thoracoabdominal stab wounds is safe, feasible, and probably cost-effective.


Initiation rites are the lifeblood of most African communities. In East Africa, these rites are part of traditional beliefs and customs, and may include physical mutilation,. In Kenya, particularly, the initiation rite was seen as a graduation ceremony and a means of enculturation, giving a sense of identity. The arrival of European missionaries in the early 20 century set the stage for contestation between Christianity, as understood by the European missionaries, and the African leaders over the rite of initiation. Female genital mutilation was at the core of this contestation. Missionaries perceived the practice as not only brutal and oppressive but also medically and hygienically undesirable. They considered it foreign to both their culture and to Christianity. It was barbaric and primitive, by their standards. They felt it was deserving of church discipline. In 1929, this rite was vigorously attacked by a number of influential European agencies, missionaries, pro-African bodies and government educational and medical authorities. An injunction was put out by the missionary churches preventing circumcised girls and their parents from attending church and school. The African leaders and cultural systems hit back strongly, especially against the church. In 1930, a strong challenge against the missionary position was launched by the Kikuyu Central Association (KCA) in Nyeri. The result was the opening of independent schools and churches. These independent churches tolerated FGM and many other African cultural practices. Whereas the African Independent Churches (AICs) demanded religious freedom from what they perceived as cultural imperialism, however, they in turn denied freedom to children and women who had for years been suppressed by patriarchal ideals. This article outlines the 1929 contestation in Kenya with regard to female genital mutilation, with special reference to the Scottish Presbyterian Church and the Kikuyu community. It endeavours to demonstrate that the point at issue between the Missionary Church and the African Independent Churches was religious freedom in the form of a customary rite. The article uses written sources to reconstruct the history of the 1929 FGM contestation in Kenya and attempts to assess its implications for the church and society in general. It argues that in this contestation, FGM was used only to score political and religious points and was not addressed per se.


The etch characteristics of titanium (Ti) film in Cl2/N2 plasmas and titanium nitride (TiN) film in Cl2/N2/BCl3 plasmas are examined by design of experiment using central composite-face centered type design and modeled by response surface methodology (RSM). The Ti and TiN etch experiments are carried out in a Lam Research Rainbow 4600 single wafer parallel plate metal etcher. For the Ti etch process, the effects of variation of the process parameters such as Cl2, N2 gas flow, RF power and reaction pressure on output responses, etch rate and etch uniformity, are investigated. For TiN etch process, BCl3 gas flow is added as a factor in addition to the factors listed above. A statistical analysis software package, JMP, is used to design experiment and analyze the results. The factors are normalized with respect to center point for the design and analysis of the experiment in order to compare the relative significance of the model terms. Using the etch rate and uniformity data obtained from the experiment, a quadratic model is developed for etch rate and uniformity for each rate and uniformity data obtained from the experiment, a quadratic model is developed for etch rate and uniformity for each of the films. From the coefficients of the models thus developed, it is easy to determine the relative influence of the first and second order effects of factors, and two factor interactions on the etch rate and uniformity response. Contour plots, which are helpful in determining the optimum process window, are generated for both etch rate and uniformity factors. Addition of nitrogen is found to decrease the etch rate due to dilution effect. The reaction pressure decreases the etch rate probably due to loss of energies of radicals, ions and electrons. Increasing of all the factors except nitrogen flow lead to better etch uniformity. Increase in nitrogen flow is causing poor uniformity probably due to dilution of etchant species leading to across-the-wafer nonuniformity.


The paper proposes a critical appraisal of the possibility of transposing the national margin of appreciation doctrine as developed in the ECtHR case law to the WTO dispute settlement system on the one hand and to investor-State arbitration on the other. For that purpose, the analysis first establishes the difference between the doctrine and the concept of national margin of appreciation which takes into account many situations that would otherwise be misleading. The paper then looks at the functional nature of the doctrine within the case law of the ECtHR to conclude that it acts as a "softener" of the otherwise stringent proportionality analysis test. While the observation of the case law in WTO and international investment law shows that there is currently little room for the transposition of the doctrine to these areas, the paper looks at possible theoretical explanations for such a state of the law which seems to be due to both structural differences and political contingencies.