Abstract This article examines the relationship between sociologists and the Communist Party headquarters in 1960 Czechoslovakia. It is based on the archives of the coordinating body of Czechoslovak sociology, the Scientific Board of Philosophy and Sociology at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. First, the article depicts the synergy between sociology and the powers: the research commissioned by the supreme Party bodies or the Party sponsorship of sociology's institutionalization. However, instances of lacking material support to the discipline are noted as well. Second, the conflicts between social scientists and the Party headquarters are discussed: namely, the layoff of the philosopher Ivan Svitak in 1964 and the following interventions into the Institute of Philosophy. Finally, the article maps the demands for autonomy as formulated by the scholars in 1968. In concluding, it points to the fact that despite requesting independence from the Communist headquarters, the Marxist elite in the social sciences never abandoned their own claim to hegemony. They resisted both the challenge of non-Marxist scholars in 1968, and the spontaneous claims and complaints that might come from the society at large. In that respect, the sociology of the 1960s seems a perfect child of the Czechoslovak reformist movement.


Abstract:A play about the end of the roaring 1920s and the return of a renegade artist, Djuna Barnes's The Antiphon (1958) is both a family drama and a reflection on the state of 1930s and 1950s American politics. Written in blank verse, the play's poetic style and wealth of inter-textual references to personal and public history attest to Barnes's aesthetic savvy and modernist sensibility. Not only does the play rely on the kind of role-switching associated with Platonic dialogues whereby materiality is excoriated to give way to purer, loftier ideas, but it also deploys a quest for state (or family) justice as a theatrical performance that is strong on stylized politics, but short on ethics and ideas. In its blending of the political and the abstract, The Antiphon evokes what Alain Badiou refers to in Rhapsody for the Theatre as a "theatre of ideas" that combines an artistic "heresy in action" with a "figurative reknotting of politics" (13). In The Antiphon, such "reknotting" not only points to the destructive politics permeating 1930s and 1950s America, but also exposes Barnes's search for a method that would simultaneously rupture and transcend the very limitations of art forms by transforming politics into a philosophically-charged theatre of ideas.


The use of such a group model would seem to be useful for all families of psychiatric patients, and most particularly, for families experiencing an initial hospitalization episode. The benefit of mutual support, it is concluded, is a powerful and effective means of meeting the needs of families during the hospitalization phase of the patient's illness.


To the Editor.— We read the article of Mueller et al reporting successful treatment of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) with bromocriptine mesylate (1983;249:386). At the time this article appeared, we were in the process of evaluating the effect of bromocriptine in a patient with features of the NMS, who eventually responded favorably. Report of a Case.— A 48-year-old chronic schizophrenic receiving treatment with monthly 1.5-mL (37.5-mg) intramuscular injections of fluphenazine deconoate was admitted to the hospital on Dec 24, 1982, because of nausea, vomiting, and generalized seizures. The family stated that the patient was consuming large amounts of water and complaining of thirst before his admission. The patient had a temperature of 35.5 °C, BP of 140/72 mm Hg, a regular pulse rate of 80 beats per minute, and respirations of 20/min. The remainder of the general physical examination results were unremarkable. The neurologic examination results were remarkable for


Laboratory workers had high risk of being exposed to biological factors such as HIV/AIDS, HBV, HCV viruses and mycobacterium tuberculosis germ. It was obligatory to protect laboratory workers from all contagious diseases by using Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).This researchhad done to learnfactors related to laboratory workers behavior of PPE usage at PHC Surabaya Hospital. This was a descriptive observational research with cross-sectional design. Sample of this research was total population of all PHC Surabaya Hospital laboratory workers (medical analyst/health analyst) in June 2014. Data were taken by questionnaires, observation and interview. The independent variables were predisposing factors (age, sex, time worked, education level, knowledge and attitude), enabling factor (the availability of PPE), reinforcing factors (regulation/policy, socialization, monitoring and reward and punishment). The dependent variable was behavior of PPE usage. The result of this research was acquiredthat 53,3% respondents were < 31 years, 73,3% respondents was woman, had time worked about 5 – 10 years,80% respondents had education level diploma, 86,7% respondent had good knowledge and 53,3% respondents had good attitude, 60% respondents stated that the availability of PPE were laboratory coats, gloves, and masks, 86,7% respondents stated that there was socialization, 73,3% respondents stated that there was monitoring and 80% respondents stated that there wasn't punishment. The younger age, the lower time worked, and more complete the availability of PPE, the better the behavior of PPE usage.Keywords: PPE usage, laboratory worker, hospital


Lighting energy consumption can be saved and light environment is improved by using daylighting in buildings space.The relation of daylighting and architectural design of atrium shape,atrium height,atrium area,skylight area of atrium,glass style was researched.These results provide references for architectural design of atrium buildings.


Background and purpose: Pesticides are used in agriculture to increase crop production. Organophosphate pesticides are used more than other pesticides since they are inexpensive and more influential on a wide range of pests. Fish containing pesticides have significant human health consequences. In this study, three types of most consumed fish in the Caspian Sea were evaluated for Diazinon organophosphate levels. Materials and methods: Twenty seven samples of three species of fish (Rutilus frisii kutum, Cyprinus carpio, leaping mullet) were randomly collected from three stations in central coast of Caspian Sea. The samples were digested and extracted and Diazinon residues were extracted. Diazinon concentrations were determined using a Gas chromatography (GC-MS) method. All results were statistically analyzed using One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test. Then Tukey-post test was applied to compare the pesticide residues levels in the samples. Results: Diazinon was found detected in all samples. The leaping mullet samples collected from Babolsar and Khazarabad stations showed higher levels of Diazinon (55.25±48.03, 55.17±52.5 μg/kg, respectively) compared to others. ANOVA did not show any significant difference between all three types of fish in concentration of diazinon (P=0.33). Conclusion: In this study, Diazinon was found at a high level in all samples (115.78 μ μ g/kg) in leaping mullet sample from Babolsar region. However, it was not more than acceptable level determined by WHO (0.01 mg/kg). Hence, the three investigated species fish are considered to be safe for human consumption.


Self-predictive unsupervised learning methods such as BYOL or SimSiam have shown impressive results, and counter-intuitively, do not collapse to trivial representations. In this work, we aim at exploring the simplest possible mathematical arguments towards explaining the underlying mechanisms behind self-predictive unsupervised learning. We start with the observation that those methods crucially rely on the presence of a predictor network (and stop-gradient). With simple linear algebra, we show that when using a linear predictor, the optimal predictor is close to an orthogonal projection, and propose a general framework based on orthonormalization that enables to interpret and give intuition on why BYOL works. In addition, this framework demonstrates the crucial role of the exponential moving average and stop-gradient operator in BYOL as an efficient orthonormalization mechanism. We use these insights to propose four new \emph{closed-form predictor} variants of BYOL to support our analysis. Our closed-form predictors outperform standard linear trainable predictor BYOL at $100$ and $300$ epochs (top-$1$ linear accuracy on ImageNet).


Reflection on the figure of the translator from the most careful Spanish editions of the Portuguese author Antonio Vieira, whose work - both in his native language and in the translated one - circulated with impetus in Spain of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. I write from publications that support the work of translators by the censors, and in those in which the translator's own voice appears when he points out the difficulties inherent in his work and his way of dealing with them.


The Patrimonio Santo Antonio and Sao Domingos Granites are located in the northwest portion of the Itaiacoca Belt, which is part of the Apiai Terrane (or tectonic domain), a segment of the southern Ribeira Belt, the major tectonic unit of the Mantiqueira Province (Southeast Brazil). These granites are related to the Cunhaporanga Granitic Suite and are intrusive into metasedimentary rocks of the Itaiacoca Group. The plutons are represented mainly by porphyritic monzogranites, with rare occurrences of syenogranites. The porphyritic monzogranites are ferroan to magnesian, high-K, alkali-calcic, and metaluminous to peraluminous. Trace elements patterns of the granites, which have been locally affected by hydrothermal alteration, suggest an association with magmas emplaced in a late- to post-tectonic setting. The geochemical signatures suggest a mantle source enriched in incompatible elements remobilized from the oceanic crust during subduction. The geochronological age of the Patrimonio Santo Antonio Granite (589 ± 6 Ma, zircon, U-Pb SHRIMP) indicates that the magmatism associated with these plutons occurred between the fi nal stages of evolution of the Cunhaporanga Granitic Suite (ca. 650 to 590 Ma) and the emplacement of the post-orogenic and anorogenic plutons of the Apiai Domain (ca. 590 to 570 Ma).


Wen-Shai Hung Abstract— this paper investigates the influencing factors of health and labour force participation (LFP) among the young people in Taiwan. The data used are from the National Health Interview Survey and only focused on the youths sample as those aged 15 to 24 in 2005. The method uses the probit model to estimate the probability of work or not work. The main results find that young female workers, married workers, workers with higher income, and workers with excellent health are more likely to remain employed. In contrast, Mainlander workers and female Hakka workers are less likely to enter the labour force as more pursued higher education. For the health behaviours, young people concern more traffic safety, including using a car, motorcycle, and bicycle have a higher probability of LFP participation. Young people with smoking or chewing betel nuts have a higher probability of LFP participation. They may do some heavy work and need these habits to improve their power. Keywords—Health, Labour Force Participation, Probit Model.


Abstract: The Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein (APP) is the metalloprotein that is cleaved to generate the pathogenic Aβ peptide. We showed that iron closely regulated the expression of APP by 5′‐untranslated region (5′‐UTR) sequences in APP mRNA. Iron modulated APP holoprotein expression by a pathway similar to iron control of the translation of the ferritin‐L and ‐H mRNAs by iron‐responsive elements in their 5′‐UTRs. APP gene transcription is also responsive to copper deficit where the Menkes protein depleted fibroblasts of copper to suppress transcription of APP through metal regulatory and copper regulatory sequences upstream of the APP 5′ cap site. APP is a copper‐zinc metalloprotein and chelation of Fe3+ by desferrioxamine and Cu2+ by clioquinol appeared to provide effective therapy for the treatment of AD in limited patient studies. We have introduced an RNA‐based screen for small APP 5′‐UTR binding molecules to identify leads that limit APP translation (but not APLP‐1 and APLP‐2) and amyloid Aβ peptide production. A library of 1200 drugs was screened to identify lead drugs that limited APP 5′‐UTR‐directed translation of a reporter gene. The efficacy of these leads was confirmed for specificity in a cell‐based secondary assay to measure the steady‐state levels of APP holoprotein relative to APLP‐1/APLP‐2 by Western blotting. Several chelators were identified among the APP 5′‐UTR directed leads consistent with the presence of an IRE stem‐loop in front of the start codon of the APP transcript. The APP 5′‐UTR‐directed drugs—desferrioxamine (Fe3+ chelator), tetrathiomolybdate (Cu2+ chelator), and dimercaptopropanol (Pb2+ and Hg2+ chelator)—each suppressed APP holoprotein expression (and lowered Aβ peptide secretion). The novel anticholinesterase phenserine also provided "proof of concept" for our strategy to target the APP 5′‐UTR sequence to identify "anti‐amyloid" drugs. We further defined the interaction between iron chelation and phenserine action to control APP 5′‐UTR‐directed translation in neuroblastoma (SY5Y) transfectants. Phenserine was most efficient to block translation under conditions of intracellular iron chelation with desferrioxamine suggesting that this anticholinesterase operated through an iron (metal)‐dependent pathway at the APP 5′‐UTR site.


: HIV-1 auxiliary proteins play a critical role in both the infection of HIV-1 target cells and the morbidity of AIDS. Rev, as one of the HIV-1 auxiliary proteins, is essential for the replication of HIV-1. As a membrane-shuttle protein, it can regulate the transportation of HIV-1 structural protein's mRNA. The rev gene from HIV-1 was transfected into THP-1 cells. The Rev-stably-expressed cell model was generated by electroporation and then sorted and selected with G418. The cell model was characterized at both mRNA and protein levels with an RT-PCR assay, fluorescent observation, and flow cytometry analysis. The rev gene was successfully transfected into THP-1 cells and stably expressed. This is a useful result for future research of the interaction between Rev and cells.


We confirm the tolerance of our proposed wavelength-swept wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) access system to four-wave mixing (FWM) crosstalk induced during fiber transmission. Since wavelength-swept light is employed as the carrier in the proposed system, there is little mutual interaction between different channel signals. Therefore, the tolerance to FWM crosstalk of the proposed technique is superior to that of conventional methods based on continuous-wave carriers. As a proof-of-concept, we perform experimental 10- and 20-km single-mode fiber transmissions of four-channel 1.25Gb/s/ch WDM signals with a 12.5GHz spacing, and show that FWM crosstalk has no serious impact even with a high optical power of +19dBm.


Abstract. The geologic record of mountain glaciations is a robust indicator of terrestrial paleoclimate change. During the last glaciation, mountain ranges across the western U.S. hosted glaciers while the Cordilleran and Laurentide ice sheets flowed to the west and east of the continental divide, respectively. Records detailing the chronologies and paleoclimate significance of these ice advances have been developed for many sites across North America. However, relatively few glacial records have been developed for mountain glaciers in the northern Rocky Mountains near ice sheet margins. Here, we report cosmogenic beryllium-10 surface exposure ages and numerical glacier modeling results showing that mountain glaciers in the northern Rockies abandoned terminal moraines after the end of the Last Glacial Maximum around 17–18 ka and could have been sustained by −10 to −8.5 °C temperature depressions relative to modern assuming similar or drier than modern precipitation. Additionally, we present a deglacial chronology from the northern Rocky Mountains that indicates while there is considerable variability in initial moraine abandonment ages across the Rocky Mountains, the pace of subsequent ice retreat through the Lateglacial exhibits some regional coherence. Our results provide insight on potential regional mechanisms driving the initiation of and sustained deglaciation in the western U.S. including rising atmospheric CO2 and ice sheet collapse.


Organization studies scholars have researched the relations between technology and organization extensively, ranging from the technological imperative (Leavitt and Whisler 1958) through the social construction of technology (Bijker 1995; Law and Singleton 2005) to subtle interplays between technology, its uses and management strategies (Markus and Robey 1988; Zuboff 1988; Orlikowski 1992). Many have emphasized the control possibilities of technology over labour behaviours and worker subjectivities. Fifty years ago, Woodward (1958, 1965), Burns and Stalker (1961) and Lawrence and Lorsch (1967) were already posing questions about the relationships between organizational structures, identities and technologies. The themes of organizational complexity, technology and rates of change are truly classics in our field. The recent (re-)discovery of Gilbert Simondon (1924–1989), who heavily influenced philosophers such as Deleuze, Stiegler and Latour, provides challenging alternative ways of conceiving of technology in its relation to culture and organizations.


Abstract Objectives: Improvement of nutritional status, which may help prevent osteoporosis, can be assessed using the body cell mass (BCM) index, measured by the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). However, the relationship between BCM and osteoporosis is not clear. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between osteoporosis and four components of body composition, including BCM. Methods: The study included 600 participants who underwent measurements of bone status by quantitative ultrasound and body composition by BIA at an annual health check-up. Normal and osteoporosis groups were compared. Results: There were 414 and 186 participants in the normal and osteoporosis groups, respectively. Significant differences between the two groups were observed in age, sex, height, weight, BCM, extracellular water (ECW) content, and minerals, even after adjusting for age and sex. In logistic regression analysis, BCM, age, and ECW were significant risk factors for osteoporosis. Furthermore, BCM and ECW in males and BCM and age in females were significant risk factors for osteoporosis. Conclusion: Of the four body composition components measured with BIA, reduction in BCM most reflected osteoporosis. BCM was a significant risk factor in both sexes for osteoporosis. BCM can be easily measured, and may be useful in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.


Based on the normalized product correlation image matching algorithm, this paper uses wavelet transform for image pre-processing and conducts a content-based image retrieval applied research based on blue apple flea beetle. The experiment proves that this method can not only greatly shorten the matching time, but also improve the identification of Nprod coefficient. It makes image matching more accurate, and provides a new train of thoughts for the image retrieval of fruit tree diseases and insect pests based on content.


In this study, the molecular characterization and potential association of SLC39A7 gene with carcass traits were investigated in pigs. The sequence of SLC39A7 cDNA was obtained by in silico cloning and RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two transcripts, variant 1 (2398 bp) and variant 2 (2088 bp), of the SLC39A7 gene were identified. Expression analysis of SLC39A7 in 10 different tissues by RT-PCR showed that variant 1 was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues analysed, but variant 2 was not found in fat tissue. The cDNA regions of variant 1 and 2 were organized in seven and eight exons respectively. A c.205G>A substitution in exon 3, which changes a codon for glycine into a codon for arginine, (p.Gly69Arg) and a c.1138-216T>C substitution in intron 6 were detected by PCR-HpaII-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) and PCR-cofI-RFLP respectively. Significant differences were found in the allele frequencies of c.205G>A among six Chinese indigenous pig breeds and two commercial pig breeds. Linkage analysis showed that the c.205G>A polymorphism within the SLC39A7 gene was closely linked to the marker Sw1856 on pig chromosome 7 in a Large White x Meishan F(2) resource population. The QTL and association studies between polymorphisms of the SLC39A7 gene and carcass traits were carried out. Significant associations of the SLC39A7 polymorphisms with backfat thickness at thorax-waist (p < 0.05), average backfat thickness (p < 0.05) and leaf fat weight (p < 0.01) were found. Additional F-drop test or marker assisted association analyses also supported the association of the mutation in SLC39A7 with the above traits. Together, the present study provided the useful information for the characterization of SLC39A7 gene and potential association with carcass traits in pigs.


BACKGROUND
Participation in organized cervical cancer screening has declined recently. While research has focussed on barriers to screening participation, less attention has been paid to what motivates women to attend. Moreover, little is known about health care provider/practitioner-level barriers and facilitators to participation. Better understanding of these issues could help inform strategies to improve participation.

OBJECTIVES
To explore the role of GPs in influencing women's cervical screening behaviours and investigate other motivators for women to attend for a cervical smear.

METHODS
Ten focus groups were conducted in Ireland, shortly before the launch of a national cervical screening programme. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and transcripts were analysed thematically.

RESULTS
GPs greatly influence women's screening behaviours and can have a positive or negative impact on women's participation in screening. Four major subthemes emerged in relation to this: the attitude of the GP; prompting by the GP; trust in the GP and women's relationships with their GP. Two main motivators to screening participation were identified: personal reasons/benefits (e.g. potential of smears to be life-saving); and practical issues/convenience. Women's also expressed desires for what they would like to see incorporated in the national screening programme (e.g. an 'out-of-hours' service).

CONCLUSION
GPs can impact positively and negatively on women's cervical screening participation. Providing on-going support to GPs around their cervical screening practices is essential to maximize screening attendance. Targeted information materials that focus on the personal reasons and benefits of having smear tests could help stimulate women to participate.


In Reply.— Disk protrusion does occur in 15-year-old boys, but rarely so. Low-back myofascial strain is by far the more common injury in a young man with strong muscles guarding a healthy spine. Straight leg-raising can rotate the pelvis and through ligamentous or muscle pull irritate the lumbosacral region, producing pain in this condition. 1 Radiation or referral of pain can occur without nerve root irritation, and, indeed, the experimental injection of hypertonic saline solution into the lumbosacral supraspinous ligament has generated sciatic-like pain reaching as far distal as the calf. 2 Restricted kick is nonspecific; although it might suggest quadriceps weakness, it could as well indicate guarding to avoid discomfort. In the face of usual and symmetrical deep-tendon reflexes, normal sensation, unilateral positive straight leg-raising (unconfirmed by forced ankle dorsiflexion) only at 70° and roentgenographic findings negative for disk space or foraminal narrowing or pathological condition, I believe the


This paper describes the methodology developed and implemented in the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications Core Simulator (VERA-CS) to perform high-fidelity, pressurized water reactor (PWR), multicycle, core physics calculations. Depletion of the core with pin-resolved power and nuclide detail is a significant advance in the state of the art for reactor analysis, providing the level of detail necessary to address the problems of the U.S. Department of Energy Nuclear Reactor Simulation Hub, the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL). VERA-CS has three main components: the neutronics solver MPACT, the thermal-hydraulic (T-H) solver COBRA-TF (CTF), and the nuclide transmutation solver ORIGEN. This paper focuses on MPACT and provides an overview of the resonance self-shielding methods, macroscopic-cross-section calculation, two-dimensional/one-dimensional (2-D/1-D) transport, nuclide depletion, T-H feedback, and other supporting methods representing a minimal set of the capabilities needed to simulate high-fidelity models of a commercial nuclear reactor. Results are presented from the simulation of a model of the first cycle of Watts Bar Unit 1. The simulation is within 16 parts per million boron (ppmB) reactivity for all state points compared to cycle measurements, with an average reactivity bias of <5 ppmB for the entire cycle. Comparisons to cycle 1 flux map data are also provided, and the average 2-D root-mean-square (rms) error during cycle 1 is 1.07%. To demonstrate the multicycle capability, a state point at beginning of cycle (BOC) 2 was also simulated and compared to plant data. The comparison of the cycle 2 BOC state has a reactivity difference of +3 ppmB from measurement, and the 2-D rms of the comparison in the flux maps is 1.77%. These results provide confidence in VERA-CS's capability to perform high-fidelity calculations for practical PWR reactor problems.


Background: Concurrent emphysema may be associated with spurious preservation of FVC in CPFE. Serial FVC measurement used to monitor progression in IPF might fail to capture disease progression in CPFE. Aim: To evaluate the change in FVC% predicted over time in patients with IPF and CPFE in relation to the extent of emphysema and fibrosis on HRCT. Methods: The extent of fibrosis and emphysema on baseline HRCT scans was quantified by visual estimation in 309 patients participating in a placebo-controlled clinical trial of interferon γ-1b with evaluable HRCT scans. The diagnosis of IPF was made using ATS/ERS 2000 criteria, with surgical lung biopsy in 58.3% of patients. Results: The mean age was 66.0±8.1 years, including 225 males (72.8%) with 68.0% former and 5.2% current smokers. At baseline, FVC% predicted was 73.2±13.5% and DLco was 46.9±8.6%. Emphysema was present in 121 patients (39%). The extent of emphysema was negatively related with the extent of fibrosis (r = -0.277, p l 0.001 ; and test of linear trend, p=0.01). The 48-week decrease in FVC% predicted was correlated with the extent of fibrosis (r = 0.249; p l 0.001), and inversely correlated with the extent of emphysema (r= -0.115; p=0.044). Patients with less fibrosing disease and those with a higher extent of emphysema showed less decline of FVC% predicted, but no less decline in DLco and no greater increase in CPI score. Conclusions: In patients with IPF and associated emphysema (CPFE), change in FVC may not be a sensitive measure of disease progression. These findings have implications for both patient management and clinical trial design.


The paper begins with a short survey of results on non-trivial models (that is, those that are not integrable analytically) in general relativity and gas dynamics. The investigation of these models is carried out by the methods of the qualitative theory of many-dimensional dynamical systems, using geometrical and topological ideas. The first section deals with the results of research on the evolution of homogeneous cosmological models with a hydrodynamic energy tensor - the impulse about a singularity. In the second section similar models are applied to the study of the complex oscillating regimes of a classical ideal compressible fluid. The Appendix contains new, unpublished results due to one of the authors, describing stochastic perturbation of a completely integrable Toda chain.


Abstract Due to the need for structures with refined properties to bear against different loading conditions, recently, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been used widely to reinforce them. The extremely high stiffness of CNTs makes them significant as one of the best reinforcements to improve the mechanical behaviors of structures. This work focuses on microbeam buckling response with an initial curvature that includes three layers. The mid-layer that is known as the core is constituted of functionally graded porous (FGP) materials and two CNT-reinforced composite skins are bonded to the core to integrate it. The whole structure is affected by the hygrothermal environment and springs and shear layers are put below it. For the first time, for such a structure, a refined shear deformation theory (RSDT) as a higher-order theory that considers thickness stretching effect in polar coordinates is used that presents more accurate results, especially for deeply curved beams. Modified couple stress theory (MCST) in combination with the virtual displacement principle is utilized to establish the governing equations. The obtained results demonstrate the significance of porosity percentage and CNTs' addition to the skins on the critical nanotubes buckling load. Also, the different behaviors of the microstructure at various temperatures are analyzed and discussed in detail.


This study evaluated the effect of the supplementation with organic microminerals on performance and egg quality of semi-heavy layers. Dekalk Brown layers (n=216) were distributed according to a completely randomized design into four treatments, nine repetitions and six birds per repetition. The experiment lasted 140 days and was comprised of five 28 day cycles. The basal diet was formulated to fulfill the nutritional requirements and was supplemented with organic or inorganic minerals, resulting in four treatments: T1 - basal + 100% inorganic minerals; T2 - basal + 100% organic minerals; T3 - basal + 66% organic minerals; T4 - basal + 33% organic minerals. Egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion for dozen and mass, albumen percentage, specific gravity, shell thickness and relative gross margin have better results when the inorganic minerals are replaced with 66% organic.


As a simple analysis method to solve eigenmodes of optical waveguides, we present an imaginary distance beam propagation method (BPM) based on finite element scheme. The matrices used in the beam propagation analysis are essentially complex, so lossy optical waveguides can be easily treated. Moreover, employing the transparent boundary condition or perfectly matched layer boundary condition, the validity of a which has been already confirmed in the real distance BPM, we can easily treat not only guided modes but leaky ones. To show the validity and usefulness of this approach, eigenmodes of twoand three-dimensional leaky waveguides, and optical fibers are calculated.


Jacketed cylindrical specimens of pure, homogeneous, anisotropic Hasmark dolomite have been deformed dry under a constant confining pressure of 5000 atm at a strain rate of 1 per cent per minute. Uniaxial compression and extension experiments were carried out on cylinders oriented parallel and perpendicular to the direction of the optic-axis maximum of the fabric, and tests were conducted at room temperature and at 300°C for each orientation. All tests ended in fracture along a shear surface inclined at about 60° to the least principal stress axis, at a strain of less than 10per cent. The stress-strain curves obtained suggest (1) little or no strength anisotropy beyond the yield points, (2) little or no effect of temperature on strength or ductility, (3) a marked dependence of strength on normal stress. The grain orientation of the deformed specimens was investigated by standard U-stage methods. After deformation at 300°C the principal visible change in the fabric is a moderate development of twins. Measurements indicate that these have a negative 1 direction sense of gliding, thus conforming with the recent lattice analysis of Bradley et al . (1953) and the recent experimental work of Turner et al . (1954). Observed results compare favorably with predicted deformed fabrics based on the assumption of twin-glide on in a negative sense, a mechanism further supported by lamellae-spacing index data. No unequivocal evidence for translation-glide on the base {001} or for any other mechanisms was found. However, preliminary results of single crystal experiments confirm Johnsen9s (1902) discovery of basal translation.


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Introduction: The clinical and prognostic utility of MRD monitoring in MM bone marrow (BM) by first generation (4-6-color) flow cytometry (flow-MRD), has been now demostrated for more than a decade. Thereby, flow-MRD is considered to be a well-suited technique for MRD monitoring in MM, due to its high applicability and specificity, and its broad availability in diagnostic laboratories. However, recent results have confirmed that 1st generation flow-MRD has a lower sensitivity than molecular techniques such as allele-specific oligonucleotyde (ASO)-PCR and next generation sequencing (NGS); in addition, the lack of standardization of conventional flow-MRD approaches, also has a negative impact on its reproducibility. Here we report on the validation of the next generation flow (NGF)-MRD approach developed by the EuroFlow Consortium and the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) for ultrasensitive and standardized detection of MRD in MM.

Methods: A total of 275 BM samples were included in the study: 1) a group of 31 normal/reactive and 63 diagnostic MM BM samples were evaluated to identify the most efficient candidate markers for the NGF panel, using a multivariate analysis-based approach; 2) next, a total of 181 BM samples from 15 healthy donors (HD), 36 MGUS, 15 MM and 3 solitary plasmacytoma (SP) patients studied at diagnosis, plus 112 MM follow-up samples, most of which (n=71) corresponded to BM samples from MM patients in very good partial response, complete remission (CR) or stringent CR were analyzed. These samples were evaluated by the EuroFlow-IMF NGF-MRD method. The method was based on a (standardized) lyse-wash-and-stain sample preparation protocol, the measurement of high numbers of BM cells (≥5x106 cells/tube) and an optimized 8-color, 2-tubes, antibody panel, for accurate identification of BM plasma cells (PCs) and discrimination between phenotypically aberrant (aPC) and normal PC (nPC): tube 1: CD138BV421 CD27BV510 CD38FITC CD56PE CD45PerCP Cy5.5 CD19PE Cy7 CD117APC CD81APC C750, and; tube 2: identical to tube 1 except for cytoplasmic (Cy) Immunoglobulin (Ig) kAPC/CyIglAPC C750). Results obtained with the NGF-MRD MM method in the 71 VGPR, CR and sCR samples, were then compared with a 2nd generation (routine) 8-color flow-MRD approach which involved a single 8-color combination staining for the same markers described above for tube 1, but in the absence of full optimization of the positions for the antibody-fluorochrome conjugates and no selection for treatment-independent antibody CD38 clones. In a subset of 16 of these 71 MRD samples in which enough material was available, comparison with NGS was also performed in parallel.

Results: In all MGUS, MM and SP cases analyzed at diagnosis, aPC showed aberrant phenotypes vs. nPC from HD BM, based on multivariate analysis of individual cells from each of the patients against a reference data base of normal/reactive PCs (100% applicability). For the MM MRD BM samples, a median of 9.8x106 (range: 2.4-15.3) events were acquired (tube 1 plus 2) vs. 1x106 (range: 0.03-5) events for the 2nd generation flow-MRD approach with an (estimated) 10 times lower limit of detection and 10 times lower limit of quantitation of 3x10-6 and 5x10-6 vs. 3x10-5 and 5x10-5 for the NGF-MRD vs. the 2nd generation flow-MRD approaches, respectively. This led to a higher rate of MRD+ samples with the NGF-MRD method: 14/48 (29%) cases that were flow-MRD-negative with the 2nd generation 8-color flow-MRD method became MRD+ (median percentage of residual aPC of 0.0007%; range: 0.0002 to 0.02%) (Figure 1A). In contrast, 4/38 (11%) samples were negative by NGF, while positive by 2nd generation flow-MRD; one of these four proved to be MRD-negative by cytoplasmic immunoglobulin light chain restriction analysis. Further comparison of NGF vs NGS showed 9 of the 16 samples evaluable were MRD-negative by NGS; from them, one third (3/9) were positive by NGF with a median number of residual aPCs of 0.005% (range: 0.0002-0.006%) (Figure 1B).

Conclusions: The EuroFlow-IMF NGF-MRD approach provides a fast, highly applicable, ultrasensitive, standardized and accurate approach for the assessment of MRD in BM samples from MM patients and overcomes the current limitations of both 1st and 2nd generation flow-MRD approaches; preliminary results showed higher sensitivity than NGS.

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Figure 1.

Disclosures Paiva: Sanofi: Consultancy; Binding Site: Consultancy; EngMab AG: Research Funding; BD Bioscience: Consultancy; Millenium: Consultancy; Onyx: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Puig: Janssen: Consultancy; The Binding Site: Consultancy. Mateos: Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Onyx: Consultancy. San Miguel: Sanofi-Aventis: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Millennium: Honoraria; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Onyx: Honoraria. Durie: Celgene: Consultancy; Onyx: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Consultancy. van Dongen: Immunostep: Patents & Royalties: Licensing of IP and Patents on immunobead-based dection of fusion proteins in acute leukemias and other tumors. Royalties for Dept. of Immunology, Erasmus MC and for EuroFlow Consortium ; BD Biosciences (cont'd): Other: Laboratory Services in the field of technical validation of EuroFlow-OneFlow antibody tubes in dried format. The Laboratory Services are provided by the Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Dept. of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, NL; Cytognos: Patents & Royalties: Licensing of IP on Infinicyt software, Patents on EuroFlow-based flowcytometric Diagnosis and Classification of hematological malignancies, Patents on MRD diagnostics, and Patents on PID diagnostics.; Cytognos (continued): Patents & Royalties: Royalty income for EuroFlow Consortium. The Infinicyt software is provided to all EuroFlow members free-of-charge. Licensing of Patent on detection of IgE+ B-cells in allergic diseases. Royalties for Dept. of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, NL; DAKO: Patents & Royalties: Licensing of IP and Patent on Split-Signal FISH. Royalties for Dept. of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, NL; InVivoScribe: Patents & Royalties: Licensing of IP and Patent on BIOMED-2-based methods for PCR-based Clonality Diagnostics. Royalty income for EuroClonality-BIOMED-2 Consortium; BD Biosciences: Other: Educational Services: Educational Lectures and Educational Workshops (+ related travelling costs). The lectures and workshops fully focus on the scientific achievements of the EuroFlow Consortium (No advertisement of products of BD Biosciences)., Patents & Royalties: Licensing of IP and Patent on EuroFlow-based flowcytometric Diagnosis and Classification of hematological malignancies; Royalty income for EuroFlow Consortium.; Roche: Consultancy, Other: Laboratory Services in the field of MRD diagnostics, provided by the Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Dept. of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, NL..

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Land surface temperature Ts and near-surface air temperature Ta are two main metrics that reflect climate change. Recently, based on in situ observations, several studies found that Ts warmed much faster than Ta in China, especially after 2000. However, we found abnormal jumps in the Ts time series during 2003–05, mainly caused by the transformation from manual to automatic measurements due to snow cover. We explore the physical mechanism of the differences between automatic and manual observations and develop a model to correct the automatic observations on snowy days in the observed records of Ts. Furthermore, the nonclimatic shifts in the observed Ts were detected and corrected using the RHtest method. After corrections, the warming rates for Ts-max, Ts-min, and Ts-mean were 0.21°, 0.34°, and 0.25°C decade−1, respectively, during the 1960–2014 period. The abnormal jump in the difference between Ts and Ta over China after 2003, which was mentioned in existing studies, was mainly caused by inhomogeneities rather than climate change. Through a combined analysis using reanalyses and CMIP5 models, we found that Ts was consistent with Ta both in terms of interannual variability and long-term trends over China during 1960–2014. The Ts minus Ta (Ts − Ta) trend is from −0.004° to 0.009°C decade−1, accounting for from −3.19% to 5.93% (from −3.09% to 6.39%) of the absolute warming trend of Ts (Ta).


This article is the result of a study of several references that explain the transformation of Hinduism from various perspectives. This paper tries to show the meaning of Hindu tolerance that does not shift as true intrinsic values of the human self. In a pluralistic and heterogeneous society, Hinduism transforms the values of tolerance in a universal perspective of life. Hinduism offers extraordinary diversity through its beliefs, culture, arts, and customs. Claiming more than 1.08 billion adherents or 15% of the world's population. Its diversity offers a freedom that allows individuals to follow many different paths in their quest for God. Hinduism is a religious and cultural phenomenon that breeds tolerance and contains important teachings about values for the modern world. These include beliefs about the sacred earth, belief in the relationship with each other between all life, belief in the law of karma, and other commitments contained in the simplicity of life and spiritual benefits greater than material wealth. Of course, Hinduism still faces many challenges caused by the values of globalism, materialism, consumerism, and individualism. Although much affected by the adverse effects of globalism, Hinduism continues to survive with its theology. The important meaning of Hinduism is basically the most diverse philosophical religion and contains almost every philosophical idea that emphasizes the concepts of self, the world, and God itself. These ideas and ideas form the conceptual background of the uniqueness of Hinduism through the perspective of tolerance.


Experimental work which uses laser-cooled ions in Penning traps is reviewed. With laser-cooling the ions are strongly coupled and exhibit spatial correlations characteristic of a liquid or crystal. In plasmas with dimensions less than 10–15 interparticle spacings, the observed correlations are strongly affected by the finite size and shape of the trapping potential. Plasmas with greater than 60 interparticle spacings should exhibit correlations characteristic of an infinite one-component plasma. Radiation pressure from a laser is also used to apply a torque to the plasma and change the plasma density. This permits access to all possible thermal equilibria, including the maximum density state where the plasma undergoes Brillouin flow. If the size of the plasma is small compared to the trap dimensions, Penning traps produce plasmas with simple shapes whose normal modes can be calculated exactly. The modes provide a nondestructive diagnostic technique for obtaining information on the plasma density and shape.


BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Morbid obesity with body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2 requires surgical correction if the diet program fails. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) (bariatric surgery) is the standard surgical procedure. The haemodynamic effects of the typical pneumoperitoneum had been studied but, the additional effects of morbid obesity and the consequences of LAGB surgery had not. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the haemodynamic changes under anaesthesia during bariatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Under general anaesthesia, 7 patients (4 males) were studied. Their mean age was 36.2 yr (range 25-50 yr) and mean BMI was 49.7 kg/m2 (range 39.3-67.3). Besides routine monitoring of vital signs, non invasive cardiac output monitor (NICO, Novametrix, Wallingford, CT, USA) was used to monitor cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI) and stroke volume (SV). All the haemodynamic variables were taken at three phases: A) after induction of anaesthesia, B) during pneumoperitoneum and C) after gas deflation.

RESULTS
The mean HR and BP showed significant high values during phase B compared to phase A. The mean values of CO were 7.2 +/- 1.1 and 9.06 +/- 2.6 L/min during phases A and B respectively with significant differences. The mean values of SV were 91.1 +/- 12.3 and 123.2 +/- 42.6 ml during phases A and B respectively with significant differences. The mean values of CI during phases A and B were 3.1 +/- 0.7 and 3.4 +/- 1.09 L/min/m2 respectively with significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS
We have reported high CO and CI during pneumoperitoneum, which may be due to increased heart rate induced by sympathetic stimulation.


On 2 January 2013, in the small town of Denning, New Mexico, David Eckert failed to come to a complete stop at a "Stop" sign in a car park. A police officer spotted this infringement and asked him to step out of the vehicle. The officer thought Eckert appeared nervous, with an unusual posture. According to reports, an enthusiastic narcotics dog and an allegation that Eckert had previously hidden drugs in his rectum led a local judge to issue a warrant permitting an intimate body search of Eckert.

Armed with the warrant, the police brought Eckert to a doctor, who allegedly refused to perform the procedures on ethical grounds. Eckert was then taken to the regional medical centre, where he underwent radiography, digital rectal examinations, enemas, and a colonoscopy without his consent. These were performed by medical professionals.

No drugs were found. Eckert has issued proceedings against several defendants, including the city of Denning, the police officers, …


Object of the present research is the Russian chronograph, an extensive chronicle in which the history of the Slavs is described as part of the world. The information about the Bulgarians occupies an important place. The data about the Bulgarian history in the 9th – 11th c. is taken from Slavic translations of Byzantine chronicles and from some Russian historical works, most notably from the Bulgarian additions to the Manasses Chronicle. This article seeks to answer the question of how productive the Chronograph is as a historical source. Unpublished editions and copies of the Chronograph were also used for the purposes of the research. The method of comparative analysis shows that although some of the information is found in earlier Russian historical texts, different points of view are presented in the Russian chronograph. The chronograph contains rich information about Bulgarian history, part of which remains out of scientific interest. It is valuable for science and can be productively used as a source for Bulgarian medieval history.


BACKGROUND
Ovarian cancer tends to be chemosensitive and confine itself to the surface of the peritoneal cavity for much of its natural history. These features have made it an obvious target for intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer is usually given as an intravenous infusion repeatedly over 5 to 8 cycles. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IP) is given by infusion of the chemotherapeutic agent directly into the peritoneal cavity. This may increase the anticancer effect with fewer systemic adverse effects in comparison to intravenous therapy.

OBJECTIVES
To determine if adding a component of the chemotherapy regime into the peritoneal cavity affects overall survival, progression free survival, quality of life (QOL) and toxicity for women receiving primary treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

SEARCH STRATEGY
The reviewers searched the UK Cochrane trials register, Gynaecological Cancer Group Specialised Register, computer databases and handsearched and cascade searched the major gynaecological oncology journals.

SELECTION CRITERIA
The analysis was restricted to randomised controlled trials assessing women with a new diagnosis of primary epithelial ovarian cancer, of any FIGO stage, following primary cytoreductive surgery. Standard intravenous chemotherapy was compared with chemotherapy that included a component of intraperitoneal administration.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two reviewers conducted data extraction independently. The reviewers retrieved data on overall and disease free survival as well as adverse events and QOL and then performed a meta-analysis of outcomes, using hazard ratios for time-to-event variables and relative risks for dichotomous outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS
Eight randomised trials studied 1819 women receiving primary treatment for ovarian cancer. Women were less likely to die if they received an intraperitoneal (IP) component to the chemotherapy (hazard ratio (HR) =0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70 to 0.90)and the disease free interval (HR =0.79; 95%CI: 0.69 to 0.90) was also significantly prolonged. There may be greater serious toxicity with regard to gastrointestinal effects, pain and fever but less ototoxicity with the intraperitoneal than the intravenous route.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
This analysis establishes the benefit of IP chemotherapy. It increases overall survival and progression free survival from advanced ovarian cancer. The results of this meta-analysis provide the most reliable estimates of the relative survival benefits of IP over IV therapy and should be used as part of this decision making process. However, the potential for catheter related complications and toxicity needs to be considered when deciding on the most appropriate treatment for each individual woman. The optimal dose, timing and mechanism of administration cannot be addressed from this meta-analysis. This needs to be addressed in the next phase of clinical trials.


This article attempts to analyze the food and non-food expenditure among the poor and needy zakat recipients in Kelantan, Malaysia, which holds the lowest quartile of poor population. This study is motivated by the lack of concern in providing the perfect amount of food and non-food items in zakat distributions as a poverty alleviation program for these groups. The difference between food and non-food expenditure that does not reflect the true expenditure among the poor and needy can make poverty alleviation (zakat distribution) ineffective. The Kelantan state was selected because of their achievement of being among the highest zakat fund collectors and distributors (fourth in Malaysia and the highest among the government zakat agencies) (MAIK, 2014). Conversely, the state of Kelantan also has among the highest number of poor and needy in Malaysia (EPU, 2014). A sample of 505 households from the 2014 Household Expenditure Survey (HES) among the poor and needy zakat recipients in Kelantan is used in this study. Descriptive statistics is used to profile the pattern of household expenditure on food and non-food items, expenditure patterns of food and non-food items across poverty status and an estimation of the effects of household characteristics on food and non-food expenditures. Household characteristics include age, region (rural/urban), gender, size, and household head?s marital status. The findings show that the expenditure pattern among the poor and needy is different based on food and non-food items? shares. The result of this study indicates that not all poor and needy in Kelantan spend most of their expenditure on food items. Thus, applying the same higher food items on each poor and needy household would overstate the food expenditure and devalue the cost of non-food items. Therefore, it will create a flawed poverty line which will further create a flawed poverty assessment.


Chemotherapeutic resistance is a major obstacle in the control of advanced breast cancer (BCa). We have previously shown that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) can transmit adriamycin resistance between BCa cells. Here, we describe that sEV‐mediated TGF‐β1 intercellular transfer is involved in the drug‐resistant transmission. sEVs were isolated and characterized from both sensitive and resistant cells. sEVs derived from the resistant cells were incubated with the sensitive cells and resulted in transmitting the resistant phenotype to the recipient cells. Cytokine antibody microarray revealed that most metastasis‐associated cytokines present at the high levels in sEVs from the resistant cells compared with their levels in sEVs from the sensitive cells, particularly TGF‐β1 is enriched in sEVs from the resistant cells. The sEV‐mediated TGF‐β1 intercellular transfer led to increasing Smad2 phosphorylation and improving cell survival by suppressing apoptosis and enhancing cell mobility. Furthermore, sEV‐mediated drug‐resistant transmission by delivering TGF‐β1 was validated using a zebrafish xenograft tumor model. These results elaborated that sEV‐mediated TGF‐β1 intercellular transfer contributes to adriamycin resistance in BCa.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to perform Shariah review of Brownian motion that is used for prediction of Islamic stock prices and their volatility.

Design/methodology/approach
It uses the Shariah compliant development model guidelines to review the Brownian motion and its applications.

Findings
The model of Brownian motion does not involve any variable that renders it non-Shariah compliant; neither all applications of Brownian motion are Shariah compliant. Because the model is based on stochastic properties that involve randomness, therefore the issue of gharar takes the utmost important to handle in the applications of the model. The results need to be analyzed strictly in accordance with the Shariah whether they create any element of gharar or uncertainty in case of expected price and volatility estimates.

Research limitations/implications
The research suffers from the limitation that it analyses only one model of physics, i.e. Brownian motion model from Shariah perspective.

Practical implications
The research opens an area for Shariah analysis of results generated from the application of advanced models of physics on matters related to Islamic financial markets.

Originality/value
The originality of this study stems from the fact that to the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the first study that extends Shariah guidelines into Financial physics for making the foundations of Islamic econophysics.


In recent years, high-performance multicrystalline silicon (HPMC-Si) has emerged as an attractive alternative to traditional ingot-based multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si), with a similar cost structure but improved cell performance. Herein, we evaluate the gettering response of traditional mc-Si and HPMC-Si. Microanalytical techniques demonstrate that HPMC-Si and mc-Si share similar lifetime-limiting defect types but have different relative concentrations and distributions. HPMC-Si shows a substantial lifetime improvement after P-gettering compared with mc-Si, chiefly because of lower area fraction of dislocation-rich clusters. In both materials, the dislocation clusters and grain boundaries were associated with relatively higher interstitial iron point-defect concentrations after diffusion, which is suggestive of dissolving metal-impurity precipitates. The relatively fewer dislocation clusters in HPMC-Si are shown to exhibit similar characteristics to those found in mc-Si. Given similar governing principles, a proxy to determine relative recombination activity of dislocation clusters developed for mc-Si is successfully transferred to HPMC-Si. The lifetime in the remainder of HPMC-Si material is found to be limited by grain-boundary recombination. To reduce the recombination activity of grain boundaries in HPMC-Si, coordinated impurity control during growth, gettering, and passivation must be developed.


BACKGROUND. Competency in pediatric resuscitation is an essential goal of pediatric residency training. Both the exigencies of patient care and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education require assessment of this competency. Although there are standard courses in pediatric resuscitation, no published, validated assessment tool exists for pediatric resuscitation competency. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to develop a simulation-based tool for the assessment of pediatric residents' resuscitation competency and to evaluate the tool's reliability and preliminarily its validity in a pilot study. METHODS. We developed a 72-question yes-or-no questionnaire, the Tool for Resuscitation Assessment Using Computerized Simulation, representing 4 domains of resuscitation competency: basic resuscitation, airway support, circulation and arrhythmia management, and leadership behavior. We enrolled 25 subjects at each of 5 different training levels who all participated in 3 standardized code scenarios using the Laerdal SimMan universal patient simulator. Performances were videotaped and then reviewed by 2 independent expert raters. RESULTS. The final version of the tool is presented. The intraclass correlation coefficient between the 2 raters ranged from 0.70 to 0.76 for the 4 domain scores and was 0.80 for the overall summary score. Between the 2 raters, the mean percent exact agreement across items in each domain ranged from 81.0% to 85.1% and averaged 82.1% across all of the items in the tool. Across subject groups, there was a trend toward increasing scores with increased training, which was statistically significant for the airway and summary scores. CONCLUSIONS. In this pilot study, the Tool for Resuscitation Assessment Using Computerized Simulation demonstrated good interrater reliability within each domain and for summary scores. Performance analysis shows trends toward improvement with increasing years of training, providing preliminary construct validity.


Despite the progress made in the clinical management of sepsis, sepsis morbidity and mortality rates remain high. The inflammatory pathogenesis and organ injury leading to death from sepsis are not fully understood for vital organs, especially the liver. Only recently has the role of the liver in sepsis begun to be revealed. Pre-existing liver dysfunction is a risk factor for the progression of infection to sepsis. Liver dysfunction after sepsis is an independent risk factor for multiple organ dysfunction and sepsis-induced death. The liver works as a lymphoid organ in response to sepsis. Acting as a double-edged sword in sepsis, the liver-mediated immune response is responsible for clearing bacteria and toxins but also causes inflammation, immunosuppression, and organ damage. Attenuating liver injury and restoring liver function lowers morbidity and mortality rates in patients with sepsis. This review summarizes the central role of liver in the host immune response to sepsis and in clinical outcomes.


Schools are not only tasked with communicating academic knowledge to students, but also preparing and training them to assume adult roles, including participation in the work force. Educators attempt to foster engagement with learning and cultivate student behaviors such as punctual attendance and preparation for classes, attention to lectures and directions, and timely completion of assigned tasks. These learning behaviors are crucial to students' success in school and their preparation for the labor market. However, the widespread practice of grouping students by perceived ability means that students in the same school, or even the same classroom, can have very different training experiences. While there is a large literature on how ability grouping can affect student achievement, we have comparatively little empirical evidence on how it affects the development of students' academic engagement. I consider two different types of grouping – within-class grouping in the early elementary grades, and between-class grouping (tracking) during high school – using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Cohort of 2002 and the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988. I describe predictors of students' assignments to ability groups and examine opportunities for advancement. I also use propensity score stratification to estimate the effects of group assignments on math and reading achievement as well as students' academic engagement through its attendant learning behaviors.
 Findings indicate that there are substantial opportunities for students to move up to higher groups as they progress through school and students can improve their group assignments by demonstrating positive academic engagement. However, group assignments do tend to "stick" to students over time, even after controlling for prior achievement, learning behaviors, and other observable characteristics. Moreover, assignment to a higher group improves students' math and reading achievement outcomes and improves students' academic engagement, while assignment to a lower group depresses both of these, making upward mobility more difficult. These effects diminish in size as students age. Following high school, students who graduated from an academic track were more likely to attend traditional four-year colleges (though less likely to attend other postsecondary education programs), and differences in labor market outcomes were modest.


This study aims to investigate the electrophoretic behavior of TRGO dispersed in Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) using a custom-made vertical electrophoretic set-up, under varying voltages at constant current for 10 hours. The separated upper and bottom layers of TRGO solution were characterized using UV-Vis spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The upper layer of the TRGO dispersion after electrophoresis retained their TRGO properties and were able to produce uniform and smooth surface with a well-packed layered structure of graphene nanosheets. The lower layer appeared to be oxidized resulting to the reappearance of graphene oxide. The mechanism of separation and formation are explained.


Anemic syndrome of different severity often accompanies ischemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic heart failure (CHF). Anemia has association with unfavorable prognosis in patients with all forms of CVD — acute and chronic. In this article the authors summarize a literature review of English articles dedicated to the problem of anemia and ischemic heart disease (IHD) and the results of original research on the relationship between anemic syndrome and prognosis in the hospitalized patients with IHD and chronic heart failure (CHF). Anemia is frequently observed in patients with CHF, and evidence suggests that anemia might be associated with an increased mortality in both systolic and diastolic chronic heart failure (CHF), morbidity and rate of hospitalization in CHF patients. Moreover, CHF itself could be involved in the pathogenesis of anemia. Early studies suggested a pathogenic role of inflammation mediators. The normalization of hemoglobin concentration by EPO and iron supply in patients with CHF and chronic renal insufficiency results in improved exercise capacity by increasing oxygen delivery and improving cardiac function. However, there is limited information concerning the association of hemoglobin concentration and new onset of clinically recognized coronary artery disease, and lack of information about the effect of anemia treatment on prognosis of acute forms of IHD


There has already been much scholarly work produced about the Sydney Opera House, discussing the production of its architecture, historical and political context, and its symbolic meaning to Sydney. However little scholarly attention has been paid to the way this building is represented through tourist practices of photography. The essay attempts to bring an architectural perspective to the study of this tourist practice, which is usually addressed from the disciplines of cultural geography, sociology and anthropology. The essay considers the above questions by the analysis of some 300 images sourced from the photo sharing website Flickr (www.flickr.com). It draws on John Urry's notion of the 'tourist gaze' which describes how places are structured and regulated by the visual. The essay then uses Jonas Larsen's work, which position tourist photography as a performance of social relations to argue that the activity of photographing the Sydney Opera House is more than a ritual of consumption, and can be seen as an embodied performance located at the intersection of space, experience and image.


1189 Nearly 4 million women give birth in the United States annually. The majority of these women tolerate the physiological changes of pregnancy without incident. The hemodynamic changes, which are largely mediated by hormonal changes, may not be well-tolerated by women with complicated congenital and genetic heart disease as well as those with advanced hypertension, cardiomyopathies, or significant valve disorders. Knowledge of how pregnancy-associated physiological changes intersect with these disorders is paramount in the care of these patients. Most women begin pregnancy without preexisting cardiovascular conditions, but some of them develop hypertension with or without preeclampsia/eclampsia. Effective therapy is important for the successful pregnancy outcome of these women and their offspring. More recently, it has been recognized that the presence of cardiovascular risk factors during pregnancy, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, influence the development of cardiovascular disease in later life. Research into the long-term health effects of pregnancy on mothers and their children is an evolving area of interest. Cardiovascular disorders such as myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy develop in a small proportion of women during pregnancy or early postpartum. The causes of these disorders include coronary artery dissection and peripartum cardiomyopathy, distinctly different from the usual causes of these problems seen in older patients. These disorders can influence the incident pregnancy and alter maternal risk in subsequent pregnancies. In this Circulation Series on Cardiovascular Management in Pregnancy, a group of experts has reviewed topics ranging from the physiology of pregnancy, management of pregnancy in patients with a variety of preexisting (adult congenital heart disease) and de novo (hypertension, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy) diseases, to the impact of pregnancy on long-term maternal and fetal outcomes. Knowledge of these disorders in pregnancy, safety of pharmacological therapies, and the long-term impact of these conditions on maternal and fetal outcome is important for both obstetric and cardiology providers caring for these patients.


Fe1-xOsxSi2 is a novel semiconducting opto-electronic material designed by energy-band engineering. This material has potential application in the Silicon-based light emitting device and thin film photovoltaic devices. In this work, novel Fe1-xOsxSi2 thin films were fabricated by magnetic sputtering deposition. The microstructures were studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and compared with FeSi2 and OsSi2 thin films. The atomic ratios between Fe and Os were determined by energy dispersion X-ray spectrometry. Optical absorption was measured to study the band gap properties. Experimental results show that all the Fe1-xOsxSi2 films have direct band gap property. The strongest optical absorption was obtained when x is equal to 0.5 and the results are valuable for the practical applications.


Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) dominates large tracts of rangeland in the western United States. Previous research has demonstrated the competitive nature of this species; however, the mechanisms contributing to its dominance have not been well elucidated. It is often suggested that cheatgrass outcompetes perennial seedlings because it germinates and grows at lower soil temperatures. However, even in studies where temperatures are not limiting, cheatgrass outcompetes perennial seedlings. Therefore, I conducted a study to compare accumulation of root length, leaf area, and biomass of cheatgrass and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult. cv. Nordan) seedlings under non-limifting conditions. Seedlings were grown in pots in the greenhouse for 60 days post-sowing. There were 4 seedlings per pot, and sampling was conducted weekly at 24-60 days after sowing. Maximum and minimum temperatures were 28? C and 40 C, respectively, and plants were watered twice a week. Cheatgrass had greater root length density and leaf area than crested wheatgrass, especially during the later samplings. For the last 2 samplings, cheatgrass averaged about 12% more root mass and 56% more shoot mass, yet had more than twice the root length and leaf area of crested wheatgrass. Cheatgrass was more efficient (per unit of biomass) in producing leaf area and root length, which helps explain its ability to quickly become established and exploit soil nutrient and moisture reserves.


Objectives: To examine changes in sexual behaviour among London homosexual men between 1998 and 2003 by type and HIV status of partner. Methods: Homosexual men (n = 4264) using London gyms were surveyed annually between 1998 and 2003 (range 498–834 per year). Information was collected on HIV status, unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in the previous 3 months, and type of partner for UAI. High risk sexual behaviour was defined as UAI with a partner of unknown or discordant HIV status. Results: Between 1998 and 2003, the percentage of men reporting high risk sexual behaviour with a casual partner increased from 6.7% to 16.1% (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.36 per year, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26 to 1.46, p <0.001). There was no significant change in the percentage of men reporting high risk sexual behaviour with a main partner alone (7.8%, 5.6%, p = 0.7). These patterns were seen for HIV positive, negative and never tested men alike regardless of age. The percentage of HIV positive men reporting UAI with a casual partner who was also HIV positive increased from 6.8% to 10.3% (AOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.58, p <0.05). Conclusion: The increase in high risk sexual behaviour among London homosexual men between 1998 and 2003 was seen only with casual and not with main partners. STI/HIV prevention campaigns among London homosexual men should target high risk practices with casual partners since these appear to account entirely for the recent increase in high risk behaviour.


Medical waste is various types of waste produced by public health center and health service units which can endanger and cause health problems for visitors, the community, especially the officers who handle it. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of knowledge, attitudes and infrastructure on medical waste management at the Sumenep District Health Center. The design of this research is an observational quantitative study with a cross sectional approach with the focus of the research directed at analyzing the influence of knowledge, attitudes and infrastructure on medical waste management. at the Sumenep District Health Center. The total population is 135 respondents and a sample of 100 respondents is taken by using Simple Random Sampling technique. Data analysis using Linear Regression test. The results showed that smost of the respondents have high category knowledge as many as 63 respondents (63%). Most respondents have sufficient category attitude as many as 59 respondents (59%). Most of the respondents have infrastructure in the good category as many as 61 respondents (61%). Most respondents have medical waste management in good category as many as 58 respondents (58%). Based on the results of Multiple Linear Regression analysis shows that with a p-value of 0.000 <0.05 then H1 is accepted so it is concluded that simultaneously there is an influence of knowledge, attitudes and infrastructure on medical waste management at the Sumenep District Health Center with a magnitude of influence 86.7%. It is hoped that respondents will be better at managing medical waste so that in Sumenep Regency can fully have good medical waste management to the fullest.


This paper discusses one of the contemporary challenging issues—it is the challenge of e-commerce to the sovereignty of the state, where governments are unable to implement their own laws on disputed cases resulting from trans-border e-commerce interactions. The objective of the current research is to draw attention to the impact of international characteristics of e-commerce on the sovereignty of state, and to identify the factors affecting this sovereignty. The issue of the dynamicity of time and place will be taken into consideration, where activities carried out over the internet are characterized by their cross-border dimension. Based on real e-commerce case studies disputed on international level, this paper will draw on the legal perspective of cyberspace, identifying the relationship between cyberspace and state sovereignty, and outlining the mechanisms by which cyberspace could cross borders and the territory of the state despite all the precautions taken by the state to protect its sovereignty.


The coagulation of dust particles immersed in plasmas is studied in the presence of a relative drift between dust and plasma species. The plasma environment is responsible for the deposition of a net charge on the dust particles; the relative drift causes an anisotropy of the species deposition on the dust surface and leads to a dipole moment. The charge and dipole moment affect the coagulation rate significantly. In particular, the dipole moment is responsible for a coagulation rate dependent upon the orientation of the coagulating particles with respect to the dipole moment. This effect may be responsible for the linear structures observed in agglomerates of dust particles formed by coagulation in experimental plasma reactors.


Al(111) has been studied with angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. A previously not observed surface state band located around the K point in the surface Brillouin zone is reported. The measured dispersion of the surface state band falls in an absolute electron energy band gap when the three-dimensional band structure from a new LAPW (Linearized-Augmented-Plane-Wave) calculation is projected onto the surface Brillouin zone of the (111) crystal face. The existence of this surface state has been theoretically predicted by several authors. Direct transitions between bulk bands are found to give significant contributions to the photocurrent. Experimentally deduced initial-state energy dispersions of the bulk transitions are compared to the corresponding dispersions obtained from the LAPW band structure calculation.


Dear Editor, In this issue of Acta Paediatrica, Dr AlFaleh hypothesizes that flaws in the design of the Trial of Indomethacin Prophylaxis in Preterms (TIPP) led to 'erroneous conclusions' about the long-term effects of prophylactic indomethacin (1). Like others, AlFaleh is puzzled that prophylactic indomethacin reduces the rates of prognostically important short-term outcomes such as severe peri-and intraventricular hemorrhage (P ⁄ IVH) and early serious pulmonary hemorrhage without any apparent benefits on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months (2). Do we have to invoke methodologic errors in the design of TIPP to explain this conundrum? Why would a sane clinician deny very preterm patients the short-term benefits of prophylactic indomethacin? The numbers of infants who need to be treated to prevent an important short-term morbidity help answer this question: For every 100 preterm patients who receive prophylactic indomethacin, a severe P ⁄ IVH is prevented in five (2). Of every 100 recipients, 95 will not experience the benefit on P ⁄ IVH that motivates clinicians to prescribe prophylactic indomethacin. How certain are we that this majority of our patients are not harmed by our well-intended attempts to protect a small minority of infants? The Trial of Indomethacin Prophylaxis in Preterms did not have sufficient power to demonstrate < 20% reduction in relative risk, and < 9% reduction in the absolute risk of death or impairment at 18 months. However, the converse is equally true: TIPP did not have sufficient power to rule out a small but clinically important long-term harm from indomethacin prophylaxis. The rates of poor outcome at 18 months were 47% in the prophylaxis group and 46% in the placebo group. A posthoc subgroup analysis suggested that infants without severe P ⁄ IVH had better 18 month outcomes after placebo than after prophylactic indomethacin (Table 1). AlFaleh et al. (3) made a similar observation in TIPP participants without serious pulmonary hemorrhage. Any benefit derived from preventing severe P ⁄ IVH or serious pulmonary hemorrhage in a small minority of infants was offset by an apparent small adverse effect of prophylactic indomethacin on the long-term outcome of the majority of infants who did not develop a severe P ⁄ IVH or serious pulmonary hemorrhage (Table 1). We agree that the composite endpoint of TIPP at 18 months is unlikely to predict functional outcomes at school age perfectly. However, this endpoint accounts for competing outcomes. For example, a child with severe cerebral palsy cannot undergo cognitive testing. Similar composite outcomes support therapies such as cooling for perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy and caffeine for apnea of prematurity. Does AlFaleh not use these therapies? In summary, TIPP failed to demonstrate any long-term benefit of indomethacin prophylaxis, but the study also failed to prove the absence of long-term harm. Some interventions with short-term benefits result in serious long-term risks. Early postnatal corticosteroids reduce the rate of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia but increase the rate of cerebral palsy and are therefore not recommended for prevention of chronic lung disease (4). Routine indomethacin prophylaxis may expose many babies at relatively low risk of shortterm morbidities such as P ⁄ IVH to harm while only benefiting a small minority of especially vulnerable infants. References 1. AlFaleh K. Indomethacin prophylaxis revisited: changing practice and supportive evidence. Acta Paediatr 2011; 100: 641–6. 2. Fowlie PW, Davis PG, McGuire W. Prophylactic intravenous indomethacin for preventing mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 7: CD000174. 3. AlFaleh K, Smyth JA, Roberts RS, Solimano A, Asztalos EV, Schmidt B. Prevention and 18-month outcomes of serious pulmonary hemorrhage in extremely low birth weight infants: results from the trial of indomethacin prophylaxis in preterms. Pediatrics 2008; 121: e233–8. 4. Halliday HL, Ehrenkranz RA, Doyle LW. Early (<8 days) postnatal corticosteroids for preventing chronic lung disease in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 1: CD001146.


Many of today's applications require that a phase-locked loop (PLL) operate at high speeds, while maintaining reasonable phase noise and jitter performance. Voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO) are important building blocks in PLLs. More importantly, the VCO is the major contributor of phase noise in a PLL. The noisy environment, mainly due to the switching noise generated by the digital portion of these systems. imposes stringent constraints on the design of VCOs, especially phase noise or timing jitter. The switching noise originated in the digital portion of the systems are coupled to the supply and ground rails of the VCO of PLLs. Another important block of a PLL is the charge-pump, a block that is responsible for generating the control voltage to be applied to the VCO. The stability or fluctuation of the control voltage, can severely affect the phase noise performance of the VCO. The research in this thesis, centered on (i) the design considerations of CMOS charge-pumps, (ii) the timing jitter of the delay-cells of low-voltage CMOS ring-VCOs and (iii) the design of a high-speed ring oscillator. A PLL was designed using a new active inductor 6.3-GHz ring oscillator, with a tuning range of +/- 15% was designed in 0.18um CMOS technology. The ring oscillator employed active inductor loads that resulted in an improvement of about 42% in oscillation frequency when compared to the conventional resistor loaded ring oscillator.


Abstract Despite increased knowledge about environmental toxins and changes in lead use (i.e., the mandated use of nonlead paint, gasoline, and shotgun pellets used for hunting waterfowl on federal lands), lead poisoning continues to occur in terrestrial birds. The degree of exposure and its demographic effect, however, continue to be described, emphasizing the growing concern over lead exposure. We examined 302 blood samples from common ravens (Corvus corax) scavenging on hunter-killed large ungulates and their offal piles to determine if lead rifle-bullet residuum was a point source for lead ingestion in ravens. We took blood samples during a 15-month period spanning 2 hunting seasons. Of the ravens tested during the hunting season, 47% exhibited elevated blood lead levels (≥10 μg/dL) whereas 2% tested during the nonhunting season exhibited elevated levels. Females had significantly higher blood lead levels than did males. Our results confirm that ravens are ingesting lead during the hunting season and are likely exposed to lead from rifle-shot big-game offal piles.


The hydrological effects of changing catchment vegetation cover are well known, and rainfall to runoff models have been used to predict those effects. However, use of these models may be constrained by data availability and expertise. There is thus a need for planners to have access to simple, science-based models that can be used confidently to indicate the degree of hydrological change caused by conversions between forest and grassland. Published relationships between rainfall parameters and flow changes accompanying afforestation of grassland or forest clearance have normally provided relationships with large uncertainties. In this study we critically examine the data from New Zealand paired catchment afforestation studies, details of the degree of forest cover, control catchment conditions, and catchment similarity. This process resulted in some studies being discarded, and allowed the adjustment of runoff from studies with partial forest cover to provide a data set for estimating runoff differences from fully forested catchments. The relationship compares well with an existing empirical model developed using a global dataset implying that this model may be more generally used across New Zealand as there are so few local studies. This suggests that both approaches may be useful for planning in New Zealand.


Serum from dental patients was examined for its capacity to affect migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes toward a complement-independent chemotactic factor, bacterial filtrate of Escherichia coli, (BF). Seven subjects with advanced periodontitis, documented with clinical measurements of pocket depth, loss of attachment, indices for gingival inflammation and oral hygiene, were paired with normal subjects of similar age and sex. This study shows that patients whose only apparent clinical symptom was severe periodontal inflammation harbor a heat-stable, serum component which neutralizes factors chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes. A role for this component in modulation of inflammatory infiltration is discussed.


A formal ikamework to support the analysis of multiple views at the design stage with the purpose to detect design discrepancies is described. First, each view is formalized, independently analyzed, that is, each formalized view is checked for validity contain any undefined entities). Then, the multiple view analysis ikamework is used to compare two abstract views, and to identifr discrepancies between them. The type of design discrepancies identified were omission of information, incompatible information, and inconsistencies between views.


Author(s): Gilbert, Karoline M; Tollerud, Erik J; Anderson, Jay; Beaton, Rachael L; Bell, Eric F; Brooks, Alyson; Brown, Thomas M; Bullock, James; Carlin, Jeffrey L; Collins, Michelle; Cooper, Andrew; Crnojevic, Denija; Dalcanton, Julianne; Pino, Andres del; D'Souza, Richard; Escala, Ivanna; Fardal, Mark; Font, Andreea; Geha, Marla; Guhathakurta, Puragra; Kirby, Evan; Lewis, Geraint F; Marshall, Jennifer L; Martin, Nicolas F; McQuinn, Kristen; Monachesi, Antonela; Patel, Ekta; Peeples, Molly S; Pillepich, Annalisa; Quirk, Amanda CN; Rich, R Michael; Sohn, S Tony; Ting, Yuan-Sen; Marel, Roeland P van der; Wetzel, Andrew; Williams, Benjamin F; Wojno, Jennifer | Abstract: The Great Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the nexus of the near-far galaxy evolution connection and a principal data point for near-field cosmology. Due to its proximity (780 kpc), M31 can be resolved into individual stars like the Milky Way (MW). Unlike the MW, we have the advantage of a global view of M31, enabling M31 to be observed with techniques that also apply to more distant galaxies. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that M31 may have survived a major merger within the last several Gyr, shaping the morphology of its stellar halo and triggering a starburst, while leaving the stellar disk largely intact. The MW and M31 thus provide complementary opportunities for in-depth studies of the disks, halos, and satellites of L* galaxies. Our understanding of the M31 system will be transformed in the 2020s if they include wide field facilities for both photometry (HST-like sensitivity and resolution) and spectroscopy (10-m class telescope, g1 sq. deg. field, highly multiplexed, R~ 3000 to 6000). We focus here on the power of these facilities to constrain the past, present, and future merger history of M31, via chemo-dynamical analyses and star formation histories of phase-mixed stars accreted at early times, as well as stars in surviving tidal debris features, M31's extended disk, and intact satellite galaxies that will eventually be tidally incorporated into the halo. This will yield an unprecedented view of the hierarchical formation of the M31 system and the subhalos that built it into the L* galaxy we observe today.


In this paper all total volume air distribution principles are addressed based on discussions of air flow pattern in a room with heat sources giving a cooling load. The supply and exhaust air openings are considered to have different locations and sizes in the room, and it is possible to show that all the known types of air distribution systems are interconnected in a "family tree". The influence of supplied momentum flow versus buoyancy forces is discussed, and geometries for high ventilation effectiveness are indicated as well as geometries for fully mixed flow. The paper will also show conditions which are not used for air distribution in general. A number of experiments with different air distribution systems are addressed, and they illustrate the behaviour at the different conditions discussed in the paper.


A secondary ion mass spectrometer is coupled to a vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron beamline to perform neutral postionization experiments. The goal of the project is to develop a new molecule-specific imaging technique that can provide maximum chemical information of chemically heterogeneous samples while also maintaining information on their spatial distributions. Modifications are made to the beamline branchline to accommodate the new imaging instrument.Initial experiments focus on the application of ion sputtering with VUV postionization to simple metal and semiconductor systems. From these experiments, VUV-secondary neutral mass spectrometry (VUV-SNMS) is established as a complementary imaging technique to SIMS. Signal intensities for select species are determined to be comparable to SIMS mass spectra, however VUV-SNMS signal intensities are more generally found to be limited by the low ionization cross sections of molecular analytes and low synchrotron flux. Despite this, it is observed that postionization significantly reduces the matrix effects that makes SIMS analysis difficult to quantitate. No significant differences were observed in the internal energies of atoms/clusters desorbed with different primary ions (Bi + , Bi3 + , and Bi3 2+ ) from the photoionization efficiency curves of the sputtered atomic and cluster species. In atomic Au and As, no electronic excitation was observed. Organic molecules are also investigated; however the non-electrically conductive nature of most organic surfaces leads to sample charging during VUV-SNMS analysis. To deal with this problem, a double pulse extraction scheme is developed. Organic test molecules thymine and tryptophan are examined and used as molecular thermometers to determine the approximate internal energies and temperatures of the ion-sputtered organics. By approximating the energies by two different methods, these molecules are found to have on the order of 2.5 eV to 3 eV of internal energy.The feasibility of using VUV-SNMS for the study of lignin within plant systems is evaluated by studying the energetics and fragmentation mechanisms of coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol, two monomer units of the lignin polymer. The mass spectra are compared to those obtained with positive mode secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and thermal desorption molecular beams (TDMB) mass spectrometry. While SIMS shows extensive fragmentation of the monolignols and a non-distinctive mass peak at the parent m/z, both TDMB and VUV-SNMS show prominent parent signal. Furthermore, it is found that many of the major VUV-SNMS peaks of the monolignols (m/z = 124 and 137) are observed in the TDMB mass spectra, suggesting that the fragments may arise due to dissociative photoionization of ion-sputtered molecular parent molecules. With the tunability of the synchrotron light, ionization energies of coniferyl alcohol are measured to be 7.60 eV p 0.05 eV, and dihydrosinapyl and sinapyl alcohol were found to have ionization energies of <7.4 eV.Alkali lignin from Sigma Aldrich is analyzed with VUV-SNMS. Extensive fragmentation is observed, and signatures from the monomer mass region provided the only characteristic ion signals in the mass spectra. Thus, while VUV-SNMS may be useful for probing monomer composition of lignin, it cannot provide much more chemical insight on lignin structure and how it changes upon different perturbations. Laser desorption is therefore developed in order to provide a desorption method that imparts less internal energy into the analyte molecules. Lower internal energies can be achieved by using a nanosecond-UV desorption laser, which is applied to study coniferyl alcohol and lignin. As expected from previous VUV-laser desorption postionization (VUV-LDPI) work, coniferyl alcohol molecules are largely desorbed intact into the gas phase by minimizing the laser dosage and laser peak power. Similarly, when the laser is used to desorb molecules from the sample of alkali lignin, signatures in the dimer mass region appear. Several monomer masses are identified by their molecular weights and photoionization efficiency curves. Lignin dimers could not be assigned and are an area for much future work. Different mass spectral features are observed from different lignin extracts, illustrating that chemical differences between samples are reflected in the mass spectra. Preliminary results also suggest that it may be possible to follow the chemical changes that occur during laser pyrolysis of lignin and other important plant biopolymers.


This paper describes simple control structures for the vector-controlled stand-alone induction generator (IG) used to operate under variable speeds. Different control principles, indirect vector control and deadbeat current control, are developed for a voltage source pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) converter and the three-phase variable-speed squirrel-cage IG to regulate dc link and generator voltages with the newly designed phase-locked loop circuit. The required reactive power for the variable-speed IG is supplied by means of the PWM converter and a capacitor bank to buildup the voltage of the IG without the need for a battery, to reduce the rating of the PWM converter with the need for only three sensors, and to eliminate the harmonics generated by the PWM converter. These proposed schemes can be used efficiently for variable-speed wind energy conversion systems. The measurements of the IG systems at various speeds and loads are given and show that these systems are capable of good ac and dc voltage regulations


The traditional range of trademarks has been limited to words, symbols or designs or a combination thereof. Even if there are small differences from country to country, this scope is somewhat steady and the expansion of this scope has been discussed for more than 100 years. Any trademark that does not fall within that traditional scope of 'word, symbol or design or a combination thereof shall be considered as a non-conventional trademark. With the industries seeking new forms of protecting their marks with sensory appeal through colour, scent and sound, the adoption warrants special consideration. Across the globe, though these marks have attained attraction, the difficulty in the graphical representation of these marks hinders their statutory recognition. Over time, colour and colour combinations play an important role in distinguishing products in the marketplace. The use of single colour per se has got recognition in many jurisdictions. Yet another important leap is in the introduction of sound marks and scent marks in commerce. The reduction of these marks into a description in the paper is what makes it difficult to provide statutory recognition. Through this new concept of unconventional trademarks is helpful to the customers and innovative to the producers, this has expanded the subject matter eligible to be protected. This expansion has erased the clear delineation between patent, copyright and trademark law and leads to overlaps that allow multiple bodies of intellectual property law to simultaneously protect the same subject matter. The overlapping of intellectual property rights is not yet addressed among nations. Often these overlaps can create overprotection of intellectual property by avoiding some of the carefully developed doctrines designed to limit protection under a specific body of intellectual property law.


Soil harbors the greatest biodiversity on the planet, and soil biodiversity plays a significant role in maintaining carbon dynamics and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Currently, soil biodiversity is one of the most important issues in soil ecology. In this review, we summarize the developments and achievements in soil biodiversity research over the last two decades. First, we introduce three critical developmental stages in soil biodiversity research, namely forums and symposiums, experimental testing, and monitoring and conservation practices. Then, we discuss four important soil biodiversity topics that have attracted extensive attention, and that epitomize important progress in soil biodiversity research. These topics include the mechanisms explaining The enigma of soil biodiversity, the relationships between soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, the biogeography of soil biodiversity, and the links between soil biodiversity and plant diversity. Finally, we discuss the challenges for future research on soil biodiversity, including the practical implementation of new methodologies, analyses of geographical distributions of soil biota, the impacts of human disturbance and global change on soil biodiversity, and the roles of soil organisms in ecological restoration.


Abstract:  Angelman syndrome is a condition characterized by developmental delay due to abnormalities in the maternally derived chromosome 15q11‐q13. Typical features include impaired expressive language, an ataxic gait, and seizures. Hyperactivity may result in accidental bruises and abrasions, raising issues of possible inflicted injury. A fascination with water may predispose to drowning. A 5‐year‐old boy with an established diagnosis of Angelman syndrome is reported who died of upper airway obstruction due to massively enlarged tonsils complicating infectious mononucleosis. Assessment of the severity of underlying illness in developmentally delayed children may be difficult due to failure to vocalize worsening symptoms and distress. In addition, signs of upper airway narrowing due to infection in Angelman syndrome may be masked by the sucking and swallowing difficulties that affected individuals may have with drooling and excessive chewing and mouthing behavior.


LBNL 57406 E RNEST O RLANDO L AWRENCE B ERKELEY N ATIONAL L ABORATORY Home Energy Article: A Systems Approach to Retrofitting Residential HVAC Systems J.A. McWilliams and I.S. Walker Environmental Energy Technologies Division April 2005