4606 Retrieval Number: F9818038620/2020©BEIESP DOI:10.35940/ijrte.F9818.038620 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering & Sciences Publication Abstract: Asynchronous motors used in applications like electric vehicles require protection against all possible fault conditions like short circuit, over voltage, over current etc., for their reliable operation. 3-phase inverter is used as power modulator for induction motor. In this paper a novel fault protection scheme is implemented for inverter used in modulating voltage and frequency of power supply driving 3-phase Induction Motor. Function of gate drive circuits used in power electronics converters is to provide isolation for gate signals and shift the voltage level of gate pulses to the required level to enable turn on and turn off the switches as desired. Gate signals are generated using Texas instrument F28069M board. Level shifting is achieved by buffer ICs and fault protection is provided by enabling shut down pin in the DSP on occurrence of fault. Hardware results show that modulation index of gate signals is set to zero under fault conditions and ensure total safety of Inverter driver circuit and power circuit used in the Inverter.


Adiponectin circulates as different oligomers and exerts protective functions on energy metabolism and cell proliferation by AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 receptors. Today, the role of adiponectin on lung was not assessed. Here, we demonstrated high adiponectin levels in serum of COPD patients. Being the oligomerization state critical for adiponectin activities, we analyzed the expression of high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin oligomers observing a specific HMW increase. We also investigated AdipoRs in COPD lungs demonstrating a AdipoR2 lower specific expression. Next, we investigated in vitro adiponectin effects on lung A549 cells, showing that it decreases viability and increases apoptosis. Then, we examined the effects on A549 cells exposed to TNFα and IL-1s showing that adiponectin reduces the cytotoxic effects of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, we demonstrated that adiponectin inhibits NF-κB activation mainly by AdipoR1 and induces the anti-inflammatory IL-10 without modifying IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 cytokines expression. Thus, our results demonstrate that adiponectin and its receptors represent critical targets to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for lung diseases


where x is a vector function of time t, A and B are given matrices andfis a given vector function of t;A and B may involve t or a small parameter 8;suitable starting conditions on x are supposed given. If A is nonsingular, then the required procedures are known and straightforward but here attention is directed explicitly to the case when A is singular and this requires the extensive use of Drazin inverses (although the results obtained embrace the simpler case as well).Chapter 1 provides a review of the relevant methods of linear algebra and functional analysis. Illustrations of (*) from electrical engineering circuit theory and control theory are then given. Chapters 3 and 4 study (*) with A and B constant by direct and Laplace transform methods respectively. Chapter 5 treats the singular perturbation situations for (*) with A(G) and B(8)where 8 is a small parameter and A(o) is singular. Chapter 6 discusses (*) with A(t) and B(t); Chapter 7 considers computational aspects of solutions; and Chapter 8 is concerned with direct methods for higher-order systems. Exercises are incorporated in the earlier chapters. The book provides a systematic account of the subject and it contains a wealth of recent material. The attention given to singular perturbation problems (albeit linear) should be especially noted. Research workers and postgraduate students in pure and applied mathematics, electrical engineering, control engineering and systems science will find this book of particular use, and it may be supplemented by the references provided. H. G. HOPKINS, Professor of Mathematics, UMIST.


Researchers often experience difficulties with the negotiation of access into firms for the purpose of data collection. The question we explore is: What are the main obstacles associated with access negotiation into firms; and what strategies do researchers employ to increase their chances of success? Our research work on the tendering process of contractors took place between 2006 and 2008. We successfully negotiated access into four firms (two each in Ghana and the UK) to observe live examples of tender preparation The techniques we employed in negotiating access were personal contacts, contacting firms through online details and professional institutions, etc. With all of this effort, our average success rate was less than 5 per cent. The main obstacles encountered were firms' reluctance because of commercial sensitiveness and fear that the data could eventually be divulged to their competitors or end up in the public domain. However, some firms agreed mainly because of the written assurances of confidentiality and anonymity in reporting the study; reputation of the researchers' academic institution; gatekeepers who spoke to their colleagues on our behalf; academic purpose of the study; and a feedback report which was promised in return for access to the case studies. Although the access through personal contacts is by far the easiest, it is not always possible. Researchers can approach firms as complete strangers, especially in a foreign country, and that could make the firms more likely to assist the research.


A grating surface can drive the liquid crystal molecules to orientate along the direction parallel or vertical to the projected plane of the grating surface. The nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell manufactured with two pre-treated grating surface substrates may realize the vertical display, parallel display and twist display. In this paper, the threshold property of this NLC cell is investigated systematically. With the Frank elastic theory and the equivalent anchoring energy formula of grating surface substrate, the analytic expressions of the threshold voltage related to three displays are obtained, which are dependent on their geometrical parameters such as amplitude δ and pitch λ of the grating surface substrate. For a certain anchoring strength, the threshold voltage increases or decreases with the increase of the value δ/λ of the different displays.


PurposeIn 2020, mining activity by Rio Tinto destroyed rock caves in Western Australia's Juukan Gorge that are considered sacred sites by the First Nation Peoples of that area, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Peoples. This paper examines the public response to the damage caused at this culturally sensitive site and identifies cultural heritage protection strategies that emerged in the aftermath of this catastrophic event.Design/methodology/approachThis research applies a qualitative case study method and analysis of open-sourced official policy documents, media reports and published institutional statements.FindingsThe research identified specific cultural heritage protection strategies, including stakeholder-driven advocacy and shared values approach to business practices to help foster a greater appreciation of the connections between people, objects and lands. Whilst the mining activities were considered lawful, significant gaps in the legislation to protect heritage sites were also exposed.Originality/valueUsing a recent case that occurred in 2020, this paper unpacks how the motivations for accessing minerals can override cultural sensibilities and legal/ethical frameworks established to protect cultural heritage. This paper brings to light the liabilities associated with the mining industry when operating in a culturally significant environment where appropriate due diligence to manage cultural heritage is not thoroughly applied. The paper highlights the role the community can play in demanding improved corporate social responsibility which can, in turn, act as a strategy for cultural heritage protection.


: Motion planning issues encountered in assembling airplanes by employing the 6PURU parallel mechanism are analyzed in this paper. A sine curve of the change rate of acceleration, which is called as jerk in the following text, is proposed for uniaxial flexible acceleration and deceleration planning based on the optimal time and velocity and acceleration constraints. Compared with other curves, the proposed curve can realize a continuous n -order derivative and the smooth change of the speed and acceleration. The method is computationally simple and suitable for programming. In addition, a multiaxial coordinated movement scheme is proposed. The motion trajectory is no longer simply split into many single-direction trajectories nor are all single-direction planning trajectories combined directly. The multiaxial coordinated movement scheme aims to achieve synergic movement in multiple directions to ensure smoothness of the movement in the event of a kinematic error when maintaining a stable value. If the movement fails to achieve this goal, driving force mutations will deteriorate the effect of synergic movement. A physical model of the parallel mechanism is developed in simMechanics, and a holistic system model is completed in SIMULINK. The feasibility of the new planning algorithm is simulated and tested, and then, the multiaxial synergic movement planning method is proposed and verified.


Trust in software services is a key prerequisite for the success and wide adoption of Services-Oriented Computing (SOC) in an open Internet world. However, trust is poorly assessed by existing methods and technologies, especially in dynamically composed and deployed SOC systems. In this paper, we discuss current methods for assessing trust in Service-Oriented Computing and identify gaps of current platforms, in particular with regards to runtime trust assessment. To address these gaps, we propose a model of runtime trust assessment of software services and introduce a framework for realizing the model. A key characteristic of our approach is the support that it offers for customizable assessment of trust based on evidence collected during the operation of software services and its ability to combine this evidence with subjective assessments coming from service clients.


INTRODUCTION
Currently there are only a limited number of drugs available for treatment of androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium. However, certain plants and their standardized extracts may provide some clinical benefits against hair loss. We formulated a herbal shampoo and a solution to evaluate their efficacy, safety, and synergy in hair loss.

METHODS
We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind, clinical and instrumental study for 6 months on 120 subjects with androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium, confirmed by pull test and phototricogram. Each subject was examined monthly. At the end of the study, a self-assessment test was carried out.

RESULTS
Herbal formulations were found to be more effective in preventing and reducing hair loss than placebo at every assessment point. Anagen/telogen ratios improved significantly in the study group. In addition, concomitant use of the shampoo and solution were found to be more effective than single product use.

CONCLUSION
We interpret this eutrophic effect for scalp hair as the final outcome of the entire content of our herbal formula, which has antiandrogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, angiogenic, and hair-stimulating features. In combination, these features help prevent hair from falling out and reducing hair loss.


The study of women business founders provides an opportunity to determine their unique leadership characteristics. Starting a business may be a way for women business owners to be authentic and create more people-centered businesses. Servant leadership's gender integrative attributes where both agentic and communal behaviors are valued may be more congruent and reflective of the leadership behaviors of women entrepreneurs. Recently, the motivation of compassionate love was theorized to be an antecedent to servant leadership and, it is argued, exists in conjunction with authenticity. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate compassionate love, authenticity and servant leadership and determine whether they exist in the behaviors of founding female business owners.,This qualitative research study used summative content analysis of telephone interviews conducted with 12 women business owners of professional service firms in four US states to determine whether these women's motivations, traits and behaviors were consistent with the compassionate love servant leadership model and whether authenticity was the cornerstone of servant leadership.,The analyses found that these women revealed a strong authenticity orientation as they enacted a compassionate love servant leadership style within their businesses. Themes that emerged from the study were agency, calling, humility, trust and respect, self-development, stewardship, authenticity and providing direction. The study revealed support for some of the characteristics associated with compassionate love servant leadership and two characteristics which were unique to this study.,As a qualitative study of 12 individuals, these findings may not be generalizable beyond the four US states of professional service enterprises of women business founders. Future research should test the full servant leadership model of women business owners on a larger group of business founders and the sub-themes where little support exists.,The more gender integrative style of compassionate love servant leadership may be beneficial for women owners to employ as business leaders.,This research revealed support for a variation of compassionate love servant leadership model. The resulting servant leadership model herein was a mixture of agentic and communal leadership motivations, traits and behaviors useful to women business founders. Behaviors of authenticity were found to complement compassionate love. These women were able to extend the boundaries of what it means to be a leader and incorporate behaviors associated with both their gender and leadership roles, thus expanding their ability to successfully empower and equip themselves to navigate barriers unique to women leaders.


This Research was conducted to measure the performance quality of the educational laboratories at the faculty of Islamic Education and Teacher Training in State Islamic University or UIN Imam Bonjol Padang, especially in the performance of the field Practice for Teacher Training laboratory (PPL), Computer and Islamic Education Practice Laboratory (PPAI) by using balanced score card method. In term of the method, four perspectives were used such as: financial perspective, customers (the users) perspective, internal business perspective, and growth and learning process. The foci of this study included: PPL, computer, and PPAI. The subjects of this research were 3 heads of the labors, 6 laboratory staff, 3 financial staff, and 90 students who were studying in semester VII at faculty of Islamic Education and Teacher Training in UIN IB Padang at academic year 2016/2017. Questionnaire, interview guide, and observation sheet were used as the instruments that have been tested their reliability and validity. Data analysis was employed by measuring the customer perspective questionnaires, internal business process perspective, and learning growth perspective. The finding of the study showed that the performance of labor the PPL laboratory is 3.27 (65.35%) with good category. The Performance of computer laboratory is 3.05 (61%) with good category. The Performance of the PPAI laboratory was 2.76 (55.2%) with less good category. Overall, all three laboratory have 3.03 (60.6%) performance measurement result   with good category.


Most city planners and managers already recognize that urban areas require careful design/re-design and considered management, based on resource sustainability criteria. Involved aspects range from protection of natural and human resources, wise energy and water management, reduction of air pollution and traffic control, health and well-being of population, safeguard of cultural heritage, comfort standards in residential districts, industrial production, craftsmanship preservation, etc. Advanced instruments for territorial planning/management are required. Decisions should be based on "proper" information. Data set has to be accurate, objective, reliable, comprehensive and always up-to-date. Specific data/information have to be extracted out of all available information but some data/information have to be collected specifically for the purpose. This article is part of a wider research effort to carry out GIS (geographical information system) and a DSS (decision support system) for the city of Rome. Thematic maps are derived from accurately geo-coded remotely sensed images and used to draw "Guidance Tables for Urban Planning." A multidisciplinary team carries out coordinated work to this scope. Application examples and results for the city of Rome are illustrated in this paper, based on integration of multispectral data from various satellites (ESA-ERS, Landsat, SPOT) and MIVIS hyperspectral data from aircraft. High complexity has been observed in land cover types, surface composition and morphology, which is directly interrelated with all phenomena taking in urbanized areas (i.e. physical, chemical, social, economic, etc.). Attention has been focused on climate, urban elements, patterns and materials.


The hot holes produced by plasmonic noble metals have a mild oxidizing ability and provide an ideal alternative for photocatalytic selective oxidation. In this work, BiOCl with oxygen vacancies (BiOCl–OV) was photosensitized to the visible spectrum using plasmonic Au@Ag nanoparticles (NPs) to study photocatalytic selective alcohol oxidation using O2 as the oxidant. In the Au@Ag/BiOCl–OV system, the Au@Ag NPs consisting of a plasmonic Au core and covered by a very thin Ag shell were distributed on BiOCl spheres with the assistance of 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES). The combination of Au@Ag NPs and BiOCl–OV into one system endowed it with remarkable advantages in photocatalytic selective oxidation. Firstly, strong O2-adsorption capacity was achieved on the BiOCl–OV surface due to the presence of oxygen vacancies that serve as active sites. Secondly, the electron–hole generation capability is enhanced due to the extended optical absorption properties and amplified electromagnetic (EM) field effect that originated from the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) coupling effect of Au and Ag. Thirdly, the enhanced separation efficiency of hot electrons and holes was achieved through the trapping of hot electrons by the oxygen vacancies. The aforesaid, resulted in the remarkable enhancement of Au@Ag/BiOCl–OV as a photocatalyst in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. We believe that the present strategy based on the plasmonic effect would be a significant contribution in the design and preparation of efficient photocatalysts for the selective oxidation.


Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of human pregnancy that is characterised by widespread vascular endothelial cell activation, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The regulation of chemokines and adhesion molecules in these cells is important in inflammatory responses. This thesis explores the hypothesis that the levels of soluble Fractalkine (sFkn), a marker of inflammation, are increased in PE, and that over-expression of the protective enzyme, heme oxygenase-1 (HO- 1), reduces sFkn. We found that sFkn release was not increased in plasma and placenta lysates in patients with PE compared to normal pregnancy. However, it was induced by the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ), in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs). Honokiol, an antioxidant agent, significantly reduced sFkn release. Collectively, these studies indicate that cytoprotective HO-1 pathway and Honokiol may offer partial protection against PE, by down-regulating sFkn and reducing the impact of pro-inflammatory factors in PE. Affymetrix Gene array profile of human placenta identified high expression of two new factors involved in the pathogenesis of PE, Noggin, and Leucine rich and immunoglobulin like domains protein 1 (Lrig1). This led us to investigate whether the expression level of Noggin and Lrig1 changes in preeclamptic placentas. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) revealed no significant differences in expression of Noggin at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level between normal and IV preeclamptic placenta. Western blot (WB) analysis of Noggin demonstrated an increase in the expression levels throughout gestation. In contrast, the expression of Lrig1, both at mRNA and at the protein level, was significantly higher in the PE placenta compared to the normal placenta. Immunohistochemical staining showed that Noggin and Lrig1 are expressed and localised in the cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. These data suggest that Noggin and Lrig1 are found in human placenta and their expression is altered in PE. Further studies are needed to validate the significance of these early studies.


Modeling the milling process requires cutter/workpiece engagement (CWE) geometry in order to predict cutting forces. The calculation of these engagements is challenging due to the complicated and changing intersection geometry that occurs between the cutter and the in-process workpiece. This geometry defines the instantaneous intersection boundary between the cutting tool and the in-process workpiece at each location along a tool path. This paper presents components of a robust and efficient geometric modeling methodology for finding CWEs generated during 3-axis machining of surfaces using a range of different types of cutting tool geometries. A mapping technique has been developed that transforms a polyhedral model of the removal volume from Euclidean space to a parametric space defined by location along the tool path, engagement angle and the depth-of-cut. As a result, intersection operations are reduced to first order plane-plane intersections. This approach reduces the complexity of the cutter/workpiece intersections and also eliminates robustness problems found in standard polyhedral modeling and improves accuracy over the Z-buffer technique. The CWEs extracted from this method are used as input to a force prediction model that determines the cutting forces experienced during the milling operation. The reported method has been implemented and tested using a combination of commercial applications. This paper highlights ongoing collaborative research into developing a Virtual Machining System.Copyright © 2007 by ASME


In the real world as in the virtual one, trust is a fundamental concept. Without it, humans can neither act nor interact. So unsurprisingly, this concept received in the last years a growing interest from researchers in security and distributed artificial intelligence that gave rise to numerous models. The principal aim of these models was to assist users in making safe decisions at the individual level. However, studies have shown that the behavior of an individual within collective structures (e.g., a group, a community, a coalition or an organization) is affected (directly or indirectly) by the behavior of other members, creating a social influence dynamics within these structures. In this article, we study the impact of social influence phenomena when they are applied to trust management within open distributed communities of self-organized and self-governed agents.


Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, a native insect pest in tropical and subtropical America, has rapidly spread to most parts of China and become a major pest of corn and other crops since invading in early January 2019. As an emergency and important control measure, chemical control of S. frugiperda has the advantages of quick effect and low cost. However, long-term and large-scale use of pesticides might pollute the environment and increase pest resistance. By improving the control effect and reducing the dosage of chemical pesticides, graphene oxide (GO) is used synergistically with insecticides to increase control efficacy to achieve low-cost and sustainable management of insect pests as a new type of synergist. In this study, graphene oxide was compounded with insecticides to form nanocomposites. To clarify pest physiological responses, the laboratory toxicity of graphene oxide-insecticide nanocomposites was measured on the larvae of S. frugiperda. The results demonstrated that GO could enhance the activity of four selected pesticides: chlorantraniliprole (Chl), beta cypermethrin (Bet), methoxyhydrazide (Met) and spinetoram (Spi). Compared with pesticides alone, the toxicity of Chl-GO, Bet-GO, Met-GO and Spi-GO mixtures to the third instar larvae of S. frugiperda increased by 1.56, 1.54, 2.53 and 1.74 times, respectively. The easy preparation and higher bioactivity of GO-pesticide nanocomposites indicated their promising application potential in pest control.


We generalize a theory of Shelah for continuous logic, namely a continuous theory has OP if and only if it has IP or SOP.


An efficient synthetic pathway for the synthesis of biscalix[4]arenes 5-10 using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions is reported. Biscalix[4]arene 10 is capable of forming a complex with methyl viologen because of favorable cation-π interactions and a proper cavity size to accommodate the guest. Moreover, biscalix[4]arenes 8a and 8b were found to be atropisomers at room temperature. These two conformers were unable to exchange at room temperature because of the restricted rotation of the C(9)-C(11) or C(10)-C(12) bonds of the β-amino-α,β-unsaturated ketones of anthracene.


In this work, the natural geometric relation between the space time block code design if the channel is unknown at the receiver and its counterpart design if the receiver knows the channel is exploited, to establish an estimate on the corresponding diversities. This leads to a decomposition of code designs and splits the design problem into two complexity reduced sub tasks.


Sugarcane is the most important sugar and bioenergy crop in the world. The selection and combination of parents for crossing rely on an understanding of their genetic structures and molecular diversity. In the present study, 115 sugarcane genotypes used for parental crossing were genotyped based on five genomic simple sequence repeat marker (gSSR) loci and 88 polymorphic alleles of loci (100%) as detected by capillary electrophoresis. The values of genetic diversity parameters across the populations indicate that the genetic variation intrapopulation (90.5%) was much larger than that of interpopulation (9.5%). Cluster analysis revealed that there were three groups termed as groups I, II, and III within the 115 genotypes. The genotypes released by each breeding programme showed closer genetic relationships, except the YC series released by Hainan sugarcane breeding station. Using principle component analysis (PCA), the first and second principal components accounted for a cumulative 76% of the total variances, in which 43% were for common parents and 33% were for new parents, respectively. The knowledge obtained in this study should be useful to future breeding programs for increasing genetic diversity of sugarcane varieties and cultivars to meet the demand of sugarcane cultivation for sugar and bioenergy use.


During the 1990s Morocco implemented a series of major institutional and economic reforms that made the country politically stable and helped it to withstand the destabilizing effects of the Arab Spring. Political reforms resulted in the adoption of a new constitution in 2011, was followed by initiatives to improve justice, public administration, the fight against corruption, and to strengthen governance, transparency and ethics in public life. The country also embarked on a regionalization of public policies and decentralization of administration to ensure an integrated and durable regional development. This reform momentum was further emphasized by the King of Morocco when in his 2019 throne speech he stressed that "… the stake is thus to rebuild a strong and competitive economy, by encouraging the private initiative, while launching new productive investment plans and by creating new job opportunities…".

Keywords: Moroccan economy, Investment in Morocco, Political reforms.


Microchannels are primarily used in biomedical devices and microfluidic applications. Fabrication of microchannels has always been a tough task using conventional manufacturing technologies. Various types of materials are in use for fabricating microchannels in different types of applications including metals, polymers and ceramics. A number of methods are in use for fabricating different types of microchannels. These processes include both conventional and nonconventional fabrication techniques such as micromilling, lithography, embossing processes and laser ablation processing. During the recent years, some hybrid techniques have also been developed for fabrication of microchannels. This survey of various literatures reveals a broad spectrum of different processes used for fabricating microchannels. Currently, laser micromachining has been evolved as a potential technology for fabricating microchannels. Laser processing has been proved to be the most time efficient and clean. In this article, fabrication processes for creating microchannels have been reviewed with special emphasis on laser micromachining. This article mostly addresses the fabrication techniques for creating surface microchannels.


The Mg-Gd alloys compressed at intermediate temperatures exhibit flow serrations which present a significant dependence on strain rate and compression temperature. The apparition of this phenomenon is due to the dynamic strain ageing effect, that basically consists in the simultaneous and competitive movement of diffusing solute atoms, mobile dislocations and twin boundaries during deformation. Compression tests have been carried out at temperatures between 25–300 °C and strain rates in a range of 4×10 8×10 s to analyze the apparition of serrations and, implicitly, the DSA effect. A relation between the activation energy for serrated flow and the concentration of gadolinium was determined and indicates that there would be an inversely proportional relation between these two parameters.


During the past year, there have been interesting reports on the association of head tilt, facial asymmetry, and congenital superior oblique palsy. The etiology of sixth nerve palsy and its outcome in adults and children have been studied in two large series, and an orbital surgical approach has been reported to be valuable in cases of Brown's syndrome and superior oblique overaction.


The zero-divisor graph of an associative ring R is the graph whose vertices are all nonzero zero-divisors (one-sided and two-sided) of R, and two distinct vertices x and y are joined by an edge if and only if either xy =0 or yx=0. In the present paper, we give full description of finite rings with regular zero-divisor graphs. We also prove some properties of finite rings such that their zero-divisor graphs satisfy the Dirac condition.


Whatever the level of competition exists in manufacturing industry of Sri Lanka the performance greatly affects the survival and prolong life time in industrial scenario. In measuring the corresponding level of performance of a particular organization, the term "productivity" becomes vital. It entails achieving of productivity improvement with new strategies and techniques hence all the processes, people, goods and information within the work floor would be enhanced by providing a good performance. In term of assuring a better performance of such an organization the role of maintenance accounts to a great extent. According to the past researches, the performance of a productivity improvement strategy is affected by the maintenance practices established by the maintenance management of the organization. In response, the combination of these maintenance practices; called as maintenance function would optimize performance of the applied productivity improvement strategy.Since maintenance also has a strategic dimension, its performance measurement system should be linked to the espoused strategy of the function in order to get the maximum impact. This paper therefore comprehends some literature reviews of an empirical study done emphasizing theeffect of the maintenance functionin improvingof productivity in manufacturing industry of Sri Lanka.


Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is demonstrated for the determination of the preservative diazolidinyl urea in cosmetic formulations. The extremely high resolving power of CE separates the compound from other detectable formulation components. This direct method is an improvement over traditionally used methods, which involve derivatization/degradation reactions. Due to complex matrices, the method of standard additions is used for quantitation. A negative charge is effected by the use of borate buffer (pH 9.3), and diazolidinyl urea elutes at ca. 4 minutes with detection at 215 nm


Abstract This study intends to explain the difference in brightness stability between hardwood ECF and TCFz kraft pulps bleached by DEpDD and A(ZEo)(ZEo)(ZP) sequences respectively, using UV Resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy. The brightness stability of the pulps was tested via dry aging experiments where the Post-Color Number (PCN) of the ECF pulp was twice that of the TCF pulp. The aged and non-aged bleached pulps were analyzed with UVRR spectroscopy to identify the cause of the large difference in PCN. The spectra of ECF and TCF bleached pulps presented clear differences in the intensities of the Raman shifts associated to lignin, lignin-like compounds, and degradation products such as muconic acids. To identify more specifically the compounds affecting the PCN, several post-bleaching treatments were applied on the ECF pulp including single stages (E, B, P, Z) or combinations (ZE, ZB, ZP), and their UVRR spectra analyzed. It was found that alkaline-soluble compounds were the main culprits for the difference in PCN values between ECF and TCFz pulps. ZP combination was the most efficient in eliminating residual lignin and other unsaturated components and for the development of brightness and brightness stability.


The metabolism of IgG immunoglobulins in the body is tightly regulated in order to maintain their intravascular concentration. Different subclasses may have different intravascular half‐lives, and in the mouse, passively administered IgG2b disappears from the circulation more rapidly than IgG2a. We have attempted to localize the sequences in the constant region which are responsible for this difference by examining the intravascular metabolism of mutant immunoglobulins that were generated in tissue culture and have undergone deletions of individual constant region domains or contain different combinations of γ2b and γ2a CH2 and CH3 domains. Our results suggest that the regulation of intravascular metabolism is complex but indicate that sequences in the CH3 domain are important in determining the different intravascular half‐lives of IgG2b and IgG2a antibodies in the mouse.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

Background: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most common childhood cancer. Intensified and central nervous system (CNS)-directed chemotherapy has significantly improved outcomes for pediatric patients but are associated with late-effect morbidities. Moreover, ∼20% pediatric and a higher frequency of adult patients suffer relapses that are often fatal. Thus there is a need to develop therapies that target signaling abnormalities in B-ALL, which may reduce complications of CNS leukemia and decrease long-term morbidities. Rationale: Using a p53-/- SCID mouse model of B-ALL we observed pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR)-independent activation of the spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) and found that it was crucial for the proliferation and survival of these leukemias. We then asked whether abnormal SYK activation occurs in human B-ALL and whether these cells are sensitive to small molecule SYK inhibitors. Methods: Viably frozen diagnostic B-ALL samples from children (n=54) and adults (n=42) tested for sensitivity to SYK inhibitors R406 (Astra-Zeneca) and BAY61-3606 in a short-term in vitro proliferation assay. Phospho-flow cytometry was also performed to quantify phosphorylation of SYK and other signaling proteins in B-ALL samples. The R406 pro-drug (Fostamatinib: Fosta) was used in a xenotransplant assay to determine therapeutic potential of SYK inhibition in vivo. Results: Phospho-flow cytometry profiling of primary B-ALL samples revealed prominent phosphorylation of SYK (Y348) and downstream signaling proteins that was decreased by SYK inhibitors. Furthermore, SYK inhibitors significantly attenuated proliferation of pre-BCR-negative and pre-BCR-positive B-ALL samples indicating that SYK was required for their survival and proliferation. In contrast, FLT3 or SRC inhibitors did not inhibit proliferation of pediatric and adult B-ALL samples. Importantly, siRNA-mediated SYK knockdown also reduced proliferation of B-ALL cell lines. Therefore, we tested the therapeutic potential of SYK inhibition using xenotransplantion. NOD.SCID.gamma C-/- (NSG) mice were injected intrafemorally with primary B-ALL samples (n=9) and fed chow containing either vehicle (AIN-76A diet) or Fosta (AIN-76A diet with 2g Fosta/kg). Leukemia burden was assessed 4-8 weeks post-transplantation. Mice given the Fosta diet had significantly reduced numbers of leukemic blasts in their injected femurs, other bones, spleens and CNS as compared to vehicle-treated mice. In addition, Fosta treatment reduced spleen, liver and kidney weight in ALL-transplanted mice. Conclusion: SYK signaling is vital to B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia survival; small molecule SYK inhibitors have therapeutic potential in poor-prognosis and relapsed B-ALL.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 867. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-867


A transient assay has been used to study bovine papilloma virus type 1 (BPV-1) replication. We show that BPV-1 early replication occurs faster than cellular DNA synthesis. Initial replication events are dependent on a gene product(s), encoded by the BPV-1 E1 open reading frame. Mutational analysis of the viral upstream regulatory region shows the requirement of two domains in cis for replication. Domain one, located outside of the viral 69% transforming fragment, is an enhancer-like activity and can be replaced by other known viral enhancers. Domain two lies within sequences previously defined as plasmid maintenance sequence 1. The apparent requirement for a proximal enhancer function for replication may explain why certain BPV-1 constructions, when linked to bacterial plasmid sequences, can be maintained extrachromosomally while others cannot.


Background—Information on long-term clinical outcome of patients with Brugada syndrome treated with electrophysiologically guided class 1A antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) is limited. Methods and Results—An aggressive protocol of programmed ventricular stimulation was performed in 96 patients with Brugada syndrome (88% males; mean age, 39.8±15.9 years). Ten patients were cardiac arrest survivors, 27 had presented with syncope, and 59 were asymptomatic. Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 66 patients, including 100%, 74%, and 61% of patients with cardiac arrest, syncope, and no symptoms, respectively. All but 6 of the 66 patients with inducible ventricular fibrillation underwent electrophysiological testing on quinidine (n=54), disopyramide (n=2), or both (n=4). Fifty-four (90%) patients were electrophysiological responders to >1 AAD with similar efficacy rates (≈90%) in all patients groups. Patients with no inducible ventricular fibrillation at baseline were left on no therapy. After a mean follow-up of 113.3±71.5 months, 92 patients were alive, whereas 4 died from noncardiac causes. No arrhythmic event occurred during class 1A AAD therapy in any of electrophysiological drug responders and in patients with no baseline inducible ventricular fibrillation. Arrhythmic events occurred in only 2 cardiac arrest survivors treated with implantable cardioverter–defibrillator alone but did not recur on quinidine. All cases of recurrent syncope (n=12) were attributed to a vasovagal (n=10) or nonarrhythmic mechanism (n=2). Class 1A AAD therapy resulted in 38% incidence of side effects that resolved after drug discontinuation. Conclusions—Our data suggest that electrophysiologically guided class 1A AAD treatment has a place in our therapeutic armamentarium for all types of patients with Brugada syndrome.


People's representatives are elected through general elections to represent the people fighting for the people's interests and aspirations. However, in practice, muslim politician who became people's representatives often represent themselves and their groups rather than represent those who have chosen them. This research was conducted to reveal how muslim politician who became people's representatives' actions the correlation between clientelism politics in managing the budget function. This descriptive qualitative research method collects data through direct observation in the field and in-depth interviews with various informants related to the research. The theory used in this research is political clientelism theory. From the research results, muslim politician who became people's representatives fight for the community's aspirations to escort a grant program to community groups, social assistance, and empowerment. The program is directly related to the winning team and supporters of voters in the previous elections. The program is intended to maintain the people's voting base and the granary in the next election. This is how the people's representative uses the parliament's existence and potential for electoral interests.


— Hydroquinone is often used as a bleach in face creams. Hydroquinone is an effective substance against skin whitening but has damaging side effects if used long term. Basically hydroquinone does not work as a skin whitener, but inhibits the production of skin melanin. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in hydroquinone levels in face cream before and after treatment with different storage temperatures. This study was conducted using spectrophotometry at a maximum wavelength of 280 nm. As for this study using variations in storage temperatures are 24°C, 31°C and 3°C, and before treatment at 28°C. Hydroquinone levels were obtained with the lowest levels of 0.113 ppm in sample C stored at 24°C and the highest levels of 0.518 ppm in sample A without treatment at 28°C. Based on this study, it was concluded that in sample A there was a difference between the sample before and after treatment. While in sample B and sample C there is no difference between the samples before and after treatment.


Composites of calcium modified lead titanate powder dispersed in a polyvinylidene fluoridel trifluoroethylene copolymer matrix have been prepared using solvent casting followed by compression molding. Two groups of poled samples have been prepared: one with only the ceramic phase polarized and the other with both phases polarized. The observed permittivities of the unpoled composites are consistent with the predictions of the Bruggeman model. The changes in the pyroelectric and piezoelectric coefficients of the poled composites with increasing ceramic volume fraction can be described by modified linear mixture rules. When the ceramic and copolymer phases are poled in the same direction, the piezoelectric activities of the two phases partially cancel each other while the pyroelectric activities reinforce. Hence, at a certain ceramic volume fraction, the composite is pyroelectric but not piezoelectric.


This thesis examines the historical problem of determining the relationship between a government's perception of public opinion and the decisions it takes. We introduce evidence for the social habits of the Cabinet in order to suggest new formulations of 'elite' and 'mass' public opinion. We argue that parliamentary opinion was generally more important in decision-making for the Cabinet, except at moments of extreme crisis when a conception of 'mass' opinion became equally significant. These characterization of mass opinion were drawn from a set of stereotypes about public opinion which academic and political theorization had produced. It is argued that this theorization was stimulated by ongoing debates about mass communication, the importance of the ordinary man in democracy and the outbreak of the first world war during the inter-war period. The thesis begins with an introduction to the methodological problems involved, followed by one chapter on theorization about public opinion in the inter-war period. Three diplomatic crises are considered in the case study chapters: the withdrawal of Germany from the Disarmament Conference in 1933, the German reoccuption of the Rhineland in 1936 and the threat of invasion of the Sudetenland in 1938. Two further chapters examine the role of public opinion in protests to Germany about the treatment of the Jews in 1933 and in 1938. It is argued that perceptions of public opinion played a much more important role in decision-making than has hiterto been thought. The most significant argument posits that perceptions of public opinion were equally as important as military considerations in the decision to refuse the Godesberg terms in 1938. More generally, the way in which politicians used public opinion rhetorically is described and the limits of the usefulness of the term for historians are suggested.


The aim of the work is to identify changes in the state of astrocytes and microglia with unilateral ligation of the carotid artery, sensitization with the cerebral antigen and their combination in the sensorimotor cortex in rats.; Studies were performed on 185 male Wistar white rats weighing 260-290 g. The brain was examined 1, 3, 10, 30 and 90 days after surgery and, respectively, 12 (1), 15 (3), 22 (10 ), 42 (30), 102 (90) days after sensitization (surgical intervention).; Immunohistochemical reactions were carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's protocols. Primary antibodies were used in the work: S100 (Dako, Denmark); GFAP (Dako, Denmark), Iba-1. Densitometric measurements of S100 expression were performed using ImageJ 1.46 and counting the number of labeled GFAP and Iba-1 cells. Statistical processing was performed using t-student test.; In general, the observed reactions suggest that with discirculatory disturbances in the brain in rats, the detected changes in astrocytes and microglia tend to reverse. This can be explained by the fact that the animals used in the experiment were practically healthy and had high compensatory-adaptive potencies. In humans, a similar reverse development of glial reactions cannot be expected, since cerebral hypopefusion / dyscirculation develops against the background of changes in the vascular bed, which, as a rule, also progress. Accordingly, similar changes in human glia of the brain will act as secondary factors contributing to neurodegenerative processes.; Comparatively small hemocirculation disorders in the brain with unilateral ligation of the carotid artery can cause activation of astrocytes and microglia. In this case, the reaction of astrocytes detected by the expression of GFAP is more pronounced than Iba 1 + cells. Perhaps this is due to the close contact of astrocytes with blood vessels. A significant role in glia changes is played by sensitization by cerebral antigens, which develops with impaired hemocirculation in the brain and potentiates the damage caused by it. When extrapolated to humans, it can be assumed that sensitization can make a significant contribution to the development of brain damage in conditions associated with hypoperfusion.


We analyse the impact of gender and sociocultural origin of freshmen from their college entrance exam scores and chosen undergraduate courses, as well the anticipation of difficulties in academic adaptation, and in academic success, at the end of their first year in college. The study's sample consists of 1407 freshman students from the Universidade do Minho. Results show that gender and sociocultural family background influence the courses that are chosen (most female students and students from less advantaged social class origins attended Social Science courses, whereas most male students and students from more advantaged social class origins attended Engineering courses). Higher sociocultural status and female students presented higher entrance exam scores and averaged better academic achievement at the end of their first year in college. Concerning anticipated difficulties, female students and students from Social and Economic Science courses anticipated more inter-personal difficulties, while male students and students from Engineering and Economic Science courses anticipated more difficulties in relation to learning and organizing daily activities. The anticipation of learning difficulties was associated in a negative and statistical way with entrance exam scores and academic achievement.


1. In external sodium concentrations of up to 100 mM./l. the blood sodium concentration of Astacus is only slightly increased. As the external level approaches or exceeds the normal blood sodium concentration of 200 mM./l. so the increase becomes more marked. Similarly, there is an increase in urine sodium concentration. This net gain of sodium is accompanied by a considerable rise in sodium outflux as shown by 22 Na. At external concentrations exceeding 300 mM./l., blood and urine concentrations rise to a similar level and active sodium movements appear to cease. 2. With increased blood sodium concentration the level in the muscles rises also. This relationship is not one of simple proportion and at high concentrations there is relatively more sodium in the muscles. 3. In artificial tap water animals with a high blood concentration lose sodium until the normal level is regained. This net loss is due to influx being much lower and outflux much higher than normal. Of the outflux, up to 70% is initially due to renal losses and losses over the body surface are higher than normal due to the excess sodium in the blood. 4. From the results given in this and previous papers the way in which sodium balance may be achieved under normal conditions is discussed.


Athletes with upper extremity injuries can often participate in their sport if the injury is protected. These guidelines help the physician provide protection for the patient while ensuring safety to other players.


This study was designed to compare the use of insulated and uninsulated needles with a peripheral nerve stimulator for locating a peripheral nerve in an anesthetized cat. The needles were mounted on a one-dimensional manipulator and both the saphenous and sciatic nerves were located. The tip of the insulated needle was consistently placed on the sciatic nerve. The tip of the uninsulated needle was placed 0.1–0.9 cm past the sciatic nerve. Injecting saline to assess the position of the tip of the needle relative to the sciatic nerve did not detect the needle being past the nerve. With the saphenous nerve preparation, both the needle and nerve were visible through the tissue. Using an insulated needle, the minimum current required to stimulate the nerve occurred when the tip of the needle touched the saphenous nerve. Using an uninsulated needle, the minimum current occurred when the tip was 0.1–0.8 cm past the nerve. The conclusion is that insulated needles more precisely locate the peripheral nerve than uninsulated needles.


Reading and writing is modelled in CSP using actions containing the symbols ? and !. These reading actions and writing actions are synchronous, and there is a one-to-one relationship between occurrences of pairs of these actions. In the CPA conference 2017, we introduced the extended half-synchronous alphabetised parallel operator X ⇕ Y , which disconnects the writing to and reading from a channel in time; the reading processes are divided into sets which are set-wise asynchronous, but intra-set-wise synchronous, giving full flexibility to the reads. In this paper, we allow multiple writers to write to the same channel set-wise asynchronously, but intra-set-wise synchronously and we study the impact on our (Extended) Vertex Removing Synchronised Product. The advantages we accomplish are that the extension of X ⇕ Y gives more flexibility by indexing the writing actions and the reading actions, leading to a straightforward majority vote design. Furthermore, the extension of X ⇕ Y preserves the advantages of the X ⇕ Y operator.


The purpose of present study was examined Peer Pressure as Predictor of Delinquent Behavior and Impulsivity as moderating role among adolescents. Self-Report Delinquency Scale (naqvi, 2005), Peer Pressure Assessment Scale (PPAS; Mehmood et al., 2012) and Impulsivity by Impulsiveness scale (Biss-11; Patton et al.,1995), individually administered to check peer pressure, Delinquency and level of impulsiveness, the relationship in above mentioned variables the Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used. Multiple Regressions was applied to check prediction. Results revealed that there was a strong relationship among delinquent behavior, peer pressure; Impulsiveness and Delinquent Behavior Furthermore findings suggested that healthy and mentally positive bond with peers, and strong self-control will become less delinquent behavior shows less impulsive behavior among adolescents (Rotter, 2000).


In this work, a novel antipodal linearly tapered slot antenna (ALTSA) using grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW)-to-substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) transition is proposed and demonstrated. The antenna is well designed for using as the feed antenna in the focal plane array (FPA) imaging system. The S11 of the proposed antenna is below −13dB on Ka-band, meanwhile, the E-plane side lobe is almost 15dB down and 40dB down after reflecting by a parabolic antenna when placing along a line on its focal plane, which show us its high availability for passive millimeter-wave (PMMW) focal plane array imaging system.


Abstract The article offers an Aristotelian analysis of emotion-based defences in criminal law: someone who commits an offence is entitled to an excuse if she was motivated by a justifiably aroused and strongly felt emotion that gave her good (albeit not good enough) reason to commit the offence and that might have destabilised the practical rationality even of a 'reasonable' person. This analysis captures the logical structure of duress and provocation as excuses—and also shows why provocation is controversial (and should perhaps be rejected) as even a partial defence. This pattern of analysis is then applied to compassion as a motivation for assisting another's death, in the light of some recent developments in English criminal law's treatment of assisting suicide: even if we accept that (in the law's eyes) such assistance cannot be justified, we can see how compassion can ground an excuse, and make sense of the Director of Public Prosecution's recently published Policy for dealing with cases of assisting suicide. Finally, the article briefly discusses the question of whether, if we accept that assisting suicide can sometimes be justified, compassion should play any essential role as an element in such justification.


ABSTRACT Zhang, L., 2015. Study and application of properties equivalent algorithm for composite wind turbine blade based on strain energy method. To simplify the modeling and improve calculating efficiency of wind turbine blade, properties equivalent method of composite laminate based on strain energy method is put forward. To take representative volume element of composite as research object, basing on the two-dimension strain energy method, the equations set, which shows the relationship between equivalent stiffness matrix coefficient of composite properties and strain energy of RVE, is deduced on the three-dimension strain energy method through utilizing strain energy conservation theory and transforming of different strain energy formula. And the equation set is in accordance with the stress and strain field of RVE is the same as that of homogeneous equivalent unites under certain conditions. Then energy expression of properties equivalent stiffness matrix for composite is given. Turning the stiffness matrix into compliance matrix, the equivalent properties parameters of composite laminated plate can be obtained. Additionally, properties equivalent algorithm is applied to tri-axial composite laminated plate [0°, ±45°], and the calculating results are agreed with the measured ones. Meanwhile, properties equivalence along the longitudinal and thickness direction of 1.5 MW blade is done respectively. After comparing the results of structural analysis of the blade root for layered element model and equivalent model, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm can be well proved.


Writing is acknowledged as a skill that needs a high order thinking and a deep understanding of developing ideas. It also deals with the students' ability in organizing a proper paragraph, various vocabularies, and decent grammar application through written text. To create a worthy writing product, it requires the integration of numerous aspects involving diction, organization, grammar, cohesion, and sequence. Due to the complexity of writing, students may find obstacles in transforming and organizing their ideas into written text. Specifically, in this paper, Information Technology (IT) Department students of State Polytechnic of Malang faced problems in writing a text. Thus, the researchers applied infographics media to improve students' writing skills in composing instruction in the form of procedure text to solve the problems. The results of the research showed that infographics are beneficial and successful in improving students' writing skills, especially in using sequence adverbs and imperative verbs.

Keywords: infographics, writing skills, procedure text


This manuscript presents measurements of the isotopic composition of N2O obtained from a high-altitude European site – Jungfraujoch in Switzerland, using a recently developed QCLS coupled with a preconcentration unit. The system provided direct and individual measurements of four N2O isotopocules at an ambient level of N2O. From the extensive data sets covering the 5-year study period, authors attempt to derive seasonality and interannual trends in N2O isotopic compositions and discuss them in combination with observed changes in N2O mixing ratio. Overall, the writing and


This article proposes criteria for testing university students' strategic competency in speaking. The roots of the derivation of the four criteria and their indicators is the demands for the future specialists – university students, the essence and distinctive peculiarities of strategic competence, the specificity of speaking as a skill and as an activity, the modern tendencies in evaluation processes. Hence, such criteria with the corresponding indicators for evaluation were established: cognitive, communicative, goal-seeking, educational-compensatory. Studying specific tasks for assessment and developing tools of evaluating strategic competence in writing and interaction activities open new prospects for further educational research.


Agitation or aggressive behaviors are frequently associated with an acute psychotic episode. Patients experiencing severe auditory hallucinations, paranoia or acute mania are particularly prone to agitation. In the elderly, agitation and aggression are often associated with delirium, dementia or various medical illnesses. Agitated patients urgently require rapid control of symptoms. Traditionally, treatment has included administration of iv. or im. benzodiazepines or neuroleptics. However, each of these is associated with adverse effects that may be serious in nature. An injectable formulation of a novel antipsychotic may effectively treat agitation and aggression while placing the patient at a lower risk for more serious side effects frequently associated with parenteral neuroleptics.


The amyloidoses constitute a group of diseases in which misfolding of extracellular proteins plays a fundamental role. The aggregation of normally soluble proteins into insoluble unbranching fibrils is the basic underlying pathology in amyloidosis. The process of amyloid formation generates toxic insoluble (in saline) protein aggregates that are deposited in tissues in the form of β- pleated sheets of fibrillary material. The amyloidoses are considered to be part of the so-called protein storage diseases (protein thesauroses). In addition, due to the unusual protein folding associated with amyloid, this group of diseases has been referred to as conformational and protein folding disorders. For many years amyloidosis was considered an extremely rare, somewhat mysterious disease. However, in recent years its pathogenesis, particularly that of renal amyloidosis, has been carefully dissected in the research laboratory using in vitro and, to a lesser extent, in vivo models. These have provided a molecular understanding of sequential events that take place in the renal mesangium leading to the formation of amyloid fibrils and eventual extrusion into the mesangial matrix, which itself becomes seriously damaged and, in due time, replaced by the fibrillary material. Amyloid, once considered to be an 'inert' substance, has been proven to be involved in crucial biological processes that result in the destruction and eventual replacement of normal renal constituents. Although there are more than two dozen recognized amyloid precursor proteins (and new ones being added to the list) that can be involved in the genesis of amyloid fibrils, the pathophysiologic mechanisms that occur in the renal mesangium are likely to be very similar, if not the same, regardless of the type of amyloidosis. Likewise, the same is true of amyloid formation in the renal vasculature. Mesangial cells are essentially smooth muscle cells and the events that take place in the mesangium and vasculature (where smooth muscle cells and/or pericytes are present) in the entire body responsible for the formation of amyloid are the same. In the renal interstitium, fibroblasts likely participate in the formation of amyloid, following a similar sequence of events as smooth muscle cells. Although much of the information gathered has been from in vitro systems, an in vivo model of renal amyloidosis has recently been designed to study renal amyloidogenesis. Crucial steps in the cascade of events that result in the formation of amyloid fibrils have been elucidated in the laboratory. The information that has been gathered regarding the pathogenesis of amyloidosis has been translated to the clinical arena where implementation of new therapeutic approaches is beginning to occur. Additional molecular-based therapies will be implemented in the near future.


PURPOSE
The main objective was to compare parent-reported health-related quality of life (HRQL) of child and adolescent survivors of childhood cancer to that of controls who had no history of cancer.

METHODS
We assessed HRQL of 800 child and adolescent survivors younger than 16 years and 923 randomly selected, age- and sex-matched controls from the general population in a national multicenter retrospective cohort study using the Child Health Questionnaire parent report. Participation was 69% among survivors and 57% among controls.

RESULTS
Survivors had means that were consistently lower than controls on the HRQL physical summary (PH; 49.9 v 55.3; P <.005), psychosocial summary (PS; 49.4 v 52.6; P < .005), and all but one of the eight subscale scores. Clinically important survivor-control differences in means on PH were found for survivors of CNS tumors, bone tumors, lymphoma, leukemia, soft tissue sarcoma and Wilms' tumor (differences: -8.7, -7.0, -6.3, -5.4, -4.4, -3.8/100, respectively); on PS, survivors of CNS tumors were most compromised (-6.1/100). Survivor-control differences in both PH and PS were also large for survivors treated with radiation only (-5.8 and -11.9/100, respectively), or radiation combined with surgery (-6.6 and -5.9/100, respectively), or radiation combined with both surgery and chemotherapy (-7.8 and -5.1/100, respectively). Cranial radiation was associated with the most compromised HRQL.

CONCLUSION
According to parents, HRQL for survivors was somewhat poorer, overall, than for controls. Survivors of CNS tumors, lymphoma, and leukemia and those patients treated with cranial radiation were reported to have poorest HRQL. These findings support development of guidelines for levels of follow-up care for particular groups of survivors.


The epidemiological emergency caused by CoV-2 (COVID-19) has changed priorities in breast cancer management. In those places where the pandemic has had the greatest effect, it is of paramount importance for most patients to be at home, reducing or postponing their attendance at clinics, as well as avoiding surgeries. In this scenario, neoadjuvant endocrine treatment could be an appropriate alternative treatment for hormone receptor positive breast cancer (luminal-like tumours) in order to minimise hospital admissions and to delay elective surgeries. Accordingly, we present a simple protocol that can be applied to most cases of luminal-like breast cancer and is appropriate for the majority of secondary or tertiary medical centres, or even primary care.


Summary. Estimating the productivity of colonial waterbirds can have important conservation and management implications. For tree-nesters, investigators must climb nest trees to obtain productivity data. In this study, we employed indirect inspection of nest status by using a pole-mounted camcorder at 77 nests in five colonies of tree-nesting grey herons Ardea cinerea in northern Poland. We found no significant relationship between the time spent recording per nest and the age or height of the inspected trees. We found that nestlings did not react to the presence of the climber manipulating the polemounted camcorder. However, we did record visible reactions from small chicks (< 4 weeks old) to the presence of cameras close to the nest, including threat poses and upright, forward and snap displays. For older nestlings (≥ 4 weeks old) we recorded only threat postures. This novel method allows the collection of ecological and/or behavioural data that cannot be obtained by observation from the ground, for example, the presence of eggs and small chicks, food or dead nestlings. Our study demonstrates that pole-mounted camcorders are a good alternative to nest climbing if there is no need for direct contact with nestlings. This method also reduces the duration of disturbance and is also safer for the climber.


Author(s): Ye, Ziliang | Advisor(s): Zhang, Xiang | Abstract: In the nano-scale world, many interesting optical effects cannot be detected in the far field zone by linear probes. Nevertheless, they are promising to bring numerous novel optical functionalities while some already play dominant roles in determining the overall optical responses. This dissertation presents a consistent endeavor to study these fascinating optical dark effects, using a wide range of tools including, but not limited to, the nearfield scanning optical microscopy, the nonlinear spectroscopy/microscopy and the photocurrent scanning microscopy. The studied systems are classified into two categories: artificial plasmonic structures and natural two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide.Among the plasmonic artificial structures, we focus on plasmonic antennas. By fine-tuning the nearfield coupling between them, we demonstrate a range of classical analogs to many interesting atomic effects, such as electromagnetic induced transparency and anti-Hermitian coupling induced superradiance. Both of them are dark to the far field, but can serve as effective color sorters below the diffraction limit within the near field zone. Employing the resonance nature of plasmonic antenna, we demonstrate for the first time the photonic spin Hall effect at the metasurface. A large spin orbit coupling induced deflecting is observed even at the normal incidence condition. Also, with nearfield microscopy, we map the mode profile of the hybrid waveguide. The optical mode is found to be highly confined within the gap between the metal and dielectric layer, which has a good potential to become the future platform for integrated active optical components.In the study of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide, we discover a series of dark excitonic resonance with a set of selection rules complimentary to the linear transition, provided by two-photon absorption process. These resonances are originated from a very large binding energy in a unique 2D exciton model. A TMDC exciton based light emitting device is further demonstrated as a potential application. With the nonlinear probes, both the crystal orientation and an edge state resonance are identified, which has an otherwise zero or negligible response to the linear probe. Finally, we extend the study to explore the valley Hall effect in TMDC. Different photocurrent mechanisms are investigated and a laser polarization dependent transverse photocurrent is observed.


Nursing students face numerous challenges and stressors related to the dynamics within the academic, psycho-social, and health care environments. Peer mentoring has the potential to support nursing students with these challenges by providing academic and psychosocial support, which may increase retention in the programme and student wellbeing. The focus of this article is on peer mentors' and mentees' views of professional relationships as an essential requirement to create and maintain an effective peer mentoring programme. The aim of the study is to support the design and implementation of a peer mentoring programme to enhance students' academic success in an undergraduate nursing programme. It is thus important to determine students' views about the relationship that would create a supportive environment for them. A descriptive qualitative research design was used. A purposive sample of 20 participants participated in semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups with peer mentors and mentees in an undergraduate nursing programme. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical research were implemented. The importance of professional relationships as the glue that holds a peer mentoring programme together emerged. In order to establish the professional relationship, participants explained the importance of boundaries in the relationship, commitment toward the programme by all role players, and the qualities required of a mentor. Recommendations were made for training mentors and mentees in establishing and maintaining boundaries, negotiating relationship contracts, and developing the qualities required of mentors.


This article concerns Wall Street financial actors and how these actors construct a culture. The focus is twofold: on the one hand, prevailing discourses that provide a popular ideational setting and frame for Wall Street financial actors and their activities; and, on the other hand, how these actors perceive themselves and their work. The perspective used parallel understandings of financial markets as cultural and social phenomena, stressing that professional finance cannot solely be understood in terms of structured economic mechanisms with relatively clear causes and effects. The findings point out that in a sociocultural system cherishing moneymaking as a strong value orientation, financial actors are given the means to both influence and direct money transactions and investments, as well as to preserve the prestige attached to such activities. At the same time, this orientation also provides them with the means to build images of themselves and their work, incorporating these as part of their self-identification.


Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of heavily calcified stenoses remains a significant challenge to interventional cardiologists. Over the last years, high-pressure balloons, cutting balloons as well as atherectomy devices have been used to tackle such lesions. Lithoplasty is a method of lesion modification using intravascular lithotripsy (IVL, shockwave) to treat particularly calcified coronary lesions. A 55-year-old male without previous cardiac history reported chest pain and was found to have ECG changes anterolaterally and significantly elevated troponins. Coronary angiogram showed heavily calcified severe proximal left anterior descending (LAD) stenosis. The attempts to predilate the lesion with semi-compliant and non-compliant balloons at high pressures were unsuccessful so the decision was made to use a shockwave balloon. Subsequently a drug-eluting stent was successfully implanted and post-dilated at high pressure. Final angiography showed an excellent result, also confirmed in optical coherence tomography (OCT).


Combating SARS-CoV-2 is the first concern and goal of the whole world faced with the global health crisis. Since 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and even mutated infection cases have been increasing rapidly. From 2019 through 27 August 2021, a total of 214,468,601 individuals were confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2, including 4,470,969 death toll. Some of these individuals were able to access treatment and some could not, but for a while there was complete uncertainty. It was not known whether those who accessed treatment were lucky, but treatment was based on trial and error because of this uncertainty around the world until data was collected. Therefore, the aim of this study was to model SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease progression from the date of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to the date of negative outcome via Bayesian multi-state model approaches considering risk factors such as gender, age, and antiviral treatment. Data from 746 inpatients were collected from August 1st until the December 1st, 2020. For the multi-state model, five various discrete states were selected according to the Republic of Turkey Ministery of Health treatment algorithm. The results showed that Bayesian multi-state models with the Weibull distributed baseline hazard function were more appropriate models in the presence of risk factors and antiviral treatment.


Colloidal gold nanostructures are nowadays widely involved in sensor applications. One of the most interesting techniques that takes advantage of them is certainly the Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) effect, even if it is often considered a tricky technique due to structural constraints required by the nanostructured substrates to obtain high enhancement factors (EFs), i.e. the presence of hot spots. Because of the easy preparation and high number of hot spots, aggregated gold nanospheres seem to be the most efficient through the SERS colloids, but their characteristic high disorder makes them unpredictable and difficult to compare between different batches. For this reason, less SERS effective, but more regular and organized substrates are usually preferred. In this study, a method based on Boundary Element Method (BEM) simulation is used to accurately predict the colloidal SERS EFs of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregates, starting from their experimental extinction spectra. Surprisingly, it was found that larger aggregates do not exhibit stronger hot spots, but rather higher amounts of them, influencing the overall predicted EFs, which well reflect the results obtained experimentally.


This paper considers the design of equalisation transfers in the presence of asymmetric information with respect to the provision cost of regional public output (Adverse selection). To overcome this problem, the central layer of government has to design an optimal incentive-compatible direct co-ordination mechanism. This provokes a distortion in the (optimal) private decisions of the high-cost type governments in order to opt to the transfers. Moreover, both levels of government levy a tax on labour income in such a way that a vertical tax externality also crops out, and affects private decisions of high and low-cost type regions. The model which will infer such results is a preliminary attempt, open to future research, to approximate to the present Spanish situation, and achieve useful recommendations based on economic theory.


Background: Inguinal hernia is the most frequent variety of hernia. Lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia is considered the gold standard treatment, however many surgeons in our locality are reluctant to perform this procedure due to fear of complications. This study is aimed at determining the frequency of complications following Lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia in our hospital.
Material & Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in Department of Surgery at MM Teaching Hospital, D.I. Khan, from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013. All the patients were followed up for 1 year. All the patients aged 18 to 70 years with inguinal hernia, either primary or recurrent were included in this study. Patients with obstructed or strangulated inguinal hernia, patients with cirrhosis/ ascites and patients too feeble to with stand surgery were excluded from the study. Postoperative complications and recurrence rates were noted.
Results: A total of 50 patients were studied. One patient (2%) developed superficial wound infection while two (4%) patients were affected by scrotal hematoma. All the complications were treated conservatively. No case of recurrence was noted during one year follow-up.
Conclusion: Lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia is a simple and safe procedure and should be preferred over non-mesh repairs in patients with inguinal hernia.


A main component of branding is to link a brand name to nonverbal cues that facilitate brand name memory. The authors examine the integration in memory of auditory and visual brand identifiers with brand names written in the logographic Chinese script compared with the alphabetic English script. The first experiment compares native Mandarin speakers living in China with native English speakers living in the United States. The second experiment examines bilingual Cantonese–English speakers living in Hong Kong. The results of the experiments suggest that visual brand identifiers are integrated in memory more easily with Chinese brand names, whereas auditory brand identifiers are integrated in memory more easily with English brand names. These results are of theoretical interest because they demonstrate that writing systems affect cognitive processes that are involved in the integration of words with nonverbal information. The results are of practical interest because they suggest that the relative success of auditory and visual brand identity strategies is affected by differences in writing systems.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical efficacy of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in the treatment of adenomyosis.

METHODS
Forty-two patients with adenomyosis diagnosed by clinical symptoms, MRI, laparoscopy and/or chromatic colour type-B ultrasound were treated with LNG-IUS, and the menstrual blood volume, severity of dysmenorrhea and uterine volume were observed three months later.

RESULTS
After 3 month treatment of LNG-IUS, the menstrual blood volume reduced significantly to (27 +/- 11)% of that before treatment. The uterine volume was decreased from (143 +/- 33) cm(3) to (115 +/- 22) cm(3) (P < 0.05). Dysmenorrhea was completely relieved or significantly alleviated. Hemoglobin recovered to (124 +/- 8) g/L (P < 0.05) in 20 patients with anemia.

CONCLUSION
LNG-IUS is an effective and safe method in the short-term treatment of adenomyosis.


Introduction: Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is one of the established parameters for the evaluation of nutritional status of patients. Low GNRI is related with mortality in patients with heart failure. Although polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly omega-6 PUFAs (including dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid [DGLA] and arachidonic acid [AA]), are associated with long-term mortality in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), the clinical significance of PUFAs in various nutrition statuses remains unclear. We investigated whether low PUFA levels predict poor prognosis of patients with ADHF, regardless of the GNRI. Methods: We enrolled 267 consecutive patients with ADHF admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit in our hospital from April 2012 to March 2014. Patients with malignant diseases, end-stage renal diseases, and patients who had received eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) therapy were excluded. GNRI and fasting PUFA (DGLA, AA, EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) levels were measured within 24 hours after admission. Results: During the 22.6-month mean follow-up period, 62 patients died. The GNRI and individual PUFA levels were significantly lower in the non-survivor group compared with the survivor group (all p p p = 0.04, Figure). Multivariable cox regression analysis showed that low DGLA, AA, and DHA levels were predictors for all-cause mortality independent of the GNRI (all p Conclusion: Decreased levels of PUFAs, especially DGLA, in patients with ADHF were significantly associated with long-term mortality, independent of the GNRI.


Anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking (RWB) is characterized by the rapid and irreversible deformation of potential vorticity (PV) contours on isentropic surfaces manifesting as a pair of meridionally elongated high- and low-PV tongues that transport extratropical stratospheric air equatorward and tropical tropospheric air poleward, respectively. Previous studies have noted connections between different types of RWB and the modulation of localized atmospheric phenomena such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and tropical cyclogenesis. Despite being the season in which anticyclonic RWB events are most prevalent, no work has focused solely on the frequency, genesis, or variability of the synoptic environment surrounding the equatorward branch of anticyclonic RWB events during the North Atlantic summertime, providing motivation for this study. Using 58 years (1960–2017) of NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data, a comprehensive spatiotemporal climatology of North Atlantic equatorward anticyclonic RWB identified on the 350-K isentropic surface is developed and the synoptic environment surrounding these events from time- and high-PV-tongue centroid-relative perspectives is investigated. Consistent with previous studies, composites suggest that high-PV tongues associated with equatorward anticyclonic RWB introduce anomalously dry, stable extratropical air into the tropical environment, subsequently inhibiting convection there. Additionally, a connection between atmospheric responses to Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and the intrabasin frequency of anticyclonic RWB events is uncovered and explored. Results from this study may aid short- to medium-range forecasts of North Atlantic tropical convection, with applications extending into the field of tropical cyclogenesis forecasting.


Smart System has implemented in government sector. There are varies Implementation that was utilized by research activities for numerous domains is very broad. Besides that, the Industry, transportation and health, also where such a system is incredibly beneficial. This study discuss supply chain and governmental link issue, coordination of all stakeholder in supply chain has to reflect the government role. It support with the condition in Indonesian government environment is unique. It is a challenge to construct smart system based on Feature Oriented Domain Analysis (FODA) approach. It can produce software product line (SPL). We proposed framework for develop software product line for smart supply chain in government sector. It is used to enhance and improve the development of software systems by multiple software system developers. It will be a guidance for construct smart government, and more specificity in supply chain for government system area environment. It is called SGSC Framework. It consists of four layers, such as optimization layer, integration layer, supply chain layer and data layer.


PURPOSE
To identify differences in clinical characteristics, histological features, hormone receptor status, and tumor marker expression between patients with sporadic and familial breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
As in the previous Part I of this study, two groups of women with breast cancer were compared. The first group (group I) included 504 patients with a family history of breast cancer. The second (control) group (group II) consisted of 300 patients not reporting such a history in their relatives. The examined parameters in this report were stage and axillary lymph node involvement at the time of the initial diagnosis, treatment methods, hormone receptor status, and serum levels of the tumor markers CEA and CA 15.3. The data were processed and analysed using the SPSS statistical package. The statistical significance of differences between groups and subgroups was evaluated by x(2) Pearson's test and Student's paired t-test.

RESULTS
Compared to sporadic cases, patients with familial breast cancer were more often diagnosed at an advanced III or IV stage; metastatic involvement of the regional lymph nodes was more frequent in group I patients. In the same group more radical surgical procedures combined with chemotherapy and local irradiation were performed. In group I the percentage of negative hormone receptors was higher (35.3% versus 22.6%; p <0.0001) for estrogen receptors (ER), and 47.6% versus 32.6% (p <0.0001) for progesterone receptors (PR). Also, in group I raised serum levels of CA 15.3 were significantly more frequent compared with group II (48% versus 35.5%, p <0.0789), and this applied also for CEA values above 50 ng/ml (10.6% versus 1.5%, p <0.0002).

CONCLUSION
Familial breast cancer displays particular clinical characteristics, distinguishing it from the sporadic type of the disease. Patients with familial breast cancer are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Commonly, the hormone receptors are negative and the serum concentrations of tumor markers elevated. The steroid receptor status represents the most reliable predictor of response to hormonotherapy and an important prognostic factor of the patient's outcome. As a result of their particular characteristics, these patients require more radical surgical techniques combined with pre- or postoperative local radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy.


The paper analyzes why Egypt's labor movement, while having played a significant role in the runup to the 2011 revolution, has been increasingly marginalized politically ever since, failing to achieve either significant labor-specific gains and/or broader objectives related to the overall process of political transformation. It does so by investigating Egypt's movement of independent trade unions, the most dynamic element within the country's labor movement, from a comparative perspective. Specifically, the paper uses the experience of Brazil's New Unionism in the 1980s as a contrasting case, identifies the factors that have enabled and constrained what is arguably the most successful example of a New Unionist movement in the Global South, and applies this explanatory framework in an in-depth study on the trajectory of Egypt's New Unionism since 2011.


Large convertors such as DC drives or HVDC schemes will generate noncharacteristic harmonics if fed from unbalanced AC busbars. In particular, high levels of third harmonic may be generated. The paper describes the mechanism for the generation of this third harmonic both for conventional and equally pulse spaced (phase locked) control systems. The mechanisms are shown to be different. It is also shown that noninfinite reactances on the DC side of the convertors can increase the harmonics, in particular if there is a second-harmonic series resonance between the DC reactors and the cable or line capacitance.


Mutual Aid Societies arose between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in Europe, and are a historical form of solidarity with the working classes - anti-elite, free from state control, independently run - established to deal with illness, death and unemployment. On the basis of a survey of the Italian situation, the paper addresses the role that mutuality can play today in response to the welfare crisis. Around 2,000 mutual aid societies are currently active in Italy, and an investigation of 34 of the approximately 100 societies operating in Piemonte found that, in addition to the activities envisaged by law - as providing supplementary health insurance and helping cover funeral expenses - the societies combine recreational activities (restaurants, cafes and clubs) with cultural activities and assistance for both members and non-members in areas ranging from transportation services for the elderly and ill, to in-home care and scholarships. The only society that can boast a uninterrupted tradition of mutual aid from its origins and which operates nationwide is "Cesare Pozzo", founded in 1877 by railroad workers in Milano, which provides supplementary health insurance to 86,000 members and has branches throughout Italy staffed by employees and volunteers. In general, however, Italy's mutual aid societies have a limited role in the field of supplementary health insurance, covering only 14% of out of pocket expenses: much less than their counterparts in other European countries. A further development of mutuality which does not betray its original principles of solidarity can be imagined only if social innovations are produced which can combine economic sustainability with democracy, avoid the risks of adverse selection and moral hazard, and if solidarity is accompanied, as it has been historically, by the ability to produce a new culture of welfare and to provide advocacy for the young generations who must deal at first hand with the risks of an economy that is becoming increasingly less regulated.


| The author proposes mathematical models of hyperbolic type for training of neural networks , and its computational implementation using the Markov Chain approximation method.


In microcystin-LR (MC-LR) degradation system, the change in surface characteristics and cell viability of Pseudomonas putida was studied. The purpose of this study was to reveal the influence of MC-LR on P. putida and elucidate the toxicity of MC-LR on microorganisms. The result demonstrated that MC-LR enhanced the cytoplasmic membrane permeability, as well as affected the ion metabolism and protein release of P. putida. The soluble sugar and Na+, Cl-release increased with the rising concentration of MC-LR ranging from 0 mg x L(-1) to 2.0 mg x L(-1). Flow Cytometry Method(FCM) analysis revealed that MC-LR accelerated the death of P. putida, and the death rate increased with the ascending concentration of MC-LR. Compared with the control, the death rate on day 5 increased by nearly 30% when 2.5 mg x L(-1) MC-LR was added. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the cells were deformed under the toxicity of MC-LR. After 5-day exposure to 2.5 mg x L(-1) MC-LR, the majority of the cells were ruptured and the intracellular materials flew out. The cellular structure was severely damaged under this condition.


In this paper, different approaches to the analysis and design of electrical devices for automotive applications are presented. These are mainly characterised by different finite element (FE) formulations (magnetostatic and electromagnetic quasi-static formulation), different geometrical hypothesis (2D and 3D domain) and different solutions of coupled problems (weak and strong coupling). Several components have been examined, designed and realised and calculated results have been validated by experimental investigation.


PURPOSE
Anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab (C225) is used in combination with radiotherapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. We investigated whether conjugation of cetuximab with trans-cyclohexyl-diethylene-triamine-pentaacetic acid (CHX-A″-DTPA) and radiolabeling with (90)Yttrium affect the molecular and cellular function of cetuximab and improve its combined effect with external-beam irradiation (EBI).

METHODS
The following cell lines were used: HNSCC UT5, SAS, FaDu, as well as A43, Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), and human skin fibroblast HSF7. Binding affinity and kinetics, specificity, retention, and the combination of (90)Y-cetuximab with EBI were evaluated.

RESULTS
Control cetuximab and CHX-A″-DTPA-cetuximab blocked the proliferation activity of UT5 cells. In combination with EBI, CHX-A″-DTPA-cetuximab increased the radiosensitivity of UT5 to a similar degree as control cetuximab did. In contrast, in SAS and HSF7 cells neither proliferation nor radiosensitivity was affected by either of the antibodies. Binding [(90)Y]Y-CHX-A″-DTPA-cetuximab ((90)Y-cetuximab) to EGFR in HNSCC cells occurred time dependently with a maximum binding at 24 h. Retention of (90)Y-cetuximab was similar in both HNSCC cell lines; 24 h after treatment, approximately 90% of bound activity remained in the cell layer. Competition assays, using cell membranes in the absence of an internalized fraction of cetuximab, showed that the cetuximab affinity is not lost as a result of conjugation with CHX-A″-DTPA. Cetuximab and CHX-A″-DTPA-cetuximab blocked EGF-induced Y1068 phosphorylation of EGFR. The lack of an effect of cetuximab on EGF-induced Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation and the inhibition of irradiation (IR)-induced Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation by cetuximab were not affected by DTPA conjugation. (90)Y-cetuximab in combination with EBI resulted in a pronounced inhibition of colony formation of HNSCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS
Conjugation of CHX-A″-DTPA to cetuximab does not alter the cellular and biological function of cetuximab. (90)Y-labeling of cetuximab in combination with EBI may improve radiotherapy outcome.


The purpose of the research is to study the prevalence of thyroid diseases and the risk factors of their generation in adult people living in Tisul district of Kemerovo Region. The examination of 2064 people (1015 men and 1049 women) aged 18 to 40 living in Tisul district included assessment of social status, heredity, actual nutrition, visit to endocrinologist, ultrasound investigation of the thyroid, tests for thyroid hormones (TTH, free T4) in the serum, antibodies to thyroid globulin, iodine concentrations in the morning urine. The prevalence of the thyroid diseases in the district reached 26,0% (36,3% in women, 15,4% in men). The study of the structure of the thyroid pathology showed: diffuse nontoxic goiter of the second degree (14,2%), nodular goiter (9,5%), autoimmune thyroiditis (3,4%), which in combination with the prevalence of the hypothyroidism (2,6%) and low median of iodine excretion with urine (8,8 mkg/dl) refer Tisul district to the zone of goiter endemia. The countryside population of the Tisul district need the continuous prophylaxis of iodine deficit.


The mechanism of suspension of particles in horizontal pneumatic conveying was studied by experimental and numerical analyses. It was found from experiment that the particles flowing in the duct were rotating at high speeds such as 1, 000 r. p. s. or more. A model based on the ellipsoid approximation of the particle shape was constructed and was applied to account for the irregular bouncing phenomena of nonspherical particles. Moreover, the real pneumatic transport process was simulated satisfactorily by introducing a random factor into the ellipsoid model.


Here we describe the establishment of microscope-based functional screening assays in intact cells that allow us to systematically identify new proteins involved in secretory membrane traffic, and proteins that can influence the integrity of the Golgi complex. We were able to identify 20 new proteins that affected either secretory transport, Golgi morphology, or both, when overexpressed in cells. Control experiments with human orthologs to yeast proteins with a role in membrane traffic, or already well characterized mammalian regulators of the secretory pathway, confirmed the specificity and significance of our results. Proteins localized to the Golgi complex or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) showed preferential interference in our assays. Bioinformatic analysis of the new proteins interfering with membrane traffic and/or Golgi integrity revealed broad functional variety, but demonstrated a bias towards proteins with predicted coiled-coil domains and repeat structures. Extending our approach to a much larger set of novel proteins in the future will be an important step toward a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of the secretory pathway. It will also serve as an example for similar microscope-based screens addressing different biological questions.


Hybrids of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) treated by tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) have large n-type voltages in response to temperature differences. The reduced carrier concentration by TDAE reduction and partially percolated CNT networks embedded in the PEDOT matrix result in high thermopower and low thermal conductivity. The high electron mobility in the CNTs helps to minimally reduce the electrical conductivity of the hybrid, resulting in a large figure-of-merit.


In this paper, we develop an improved fault detection (FD) technique in order to enhance monitoring abilities of nonlinear chemical processes. Kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) is an effective data driven technique for monitoring nonlinear processes. However, it is well known that data collected from complex and multivariate processes are multiscale due to the variety of changes that could occur in process with different localization in time and frequency. Thus, to enhance process monitoring abilities, we propose to combine advantages of KPCA and multiscale representation using wavelets by constructing a multiscale KPCA model and a new detection chart named multiscale kernel generalized likelihood ratio test (MS-KGLRT) is derived for fault detection. The detection performance of the new chart is studied using the Tennessee Eastman process (TEP).