Background: In Thailand from the past until now we saw that Thai students usually carry huge bags to school exceeding the recommended bag weight of less than 10% of body weight. This overloading adversely affects health of students.  The issue has become of public interest for a while, but no follow-up studies have been done. Therefore, we are motivated to conduct such a research in Khon Kaen. Objectives: To study 1) proportion of students with bag weight exceeding the recommended weight at the Khon Kaen University primary demonstration school   2) the factors related to the excessive bag weight. Study design: A descriptive study was conducted. Setting: The Demonstration school, Khon Kaen University. Study population and sample: The samples of 212 students were randomly selected from 635 study population. Tools: A calibrated digital weighing scale, an interviewed questionnaire and direct observation were applied to collect the data. Data analysis: SPSS-PC version 15 was used to analyze the frequencies, percentage, mean (SD), median (IQR) and 95% Confidence Interval Student T – test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson Chi – square and Multiple logistic regression were also used to analyze the association between the excessive school bag weight and some interesting factors. Results: The response rate was 99.1% (210/212). showed that 81% (95%CI: 75.4, 86.3) of the students carried school bags that weighted ≥ 10 % of their body weights. In addition, 16.2% (95%CI: 11.6, 22.0) of the students carried school bags that weighted at least 20 % of their body weights.  The variables that were statistically significantly related to the excessive bag weights were female and wheeled bag (adj.ORs were 2.6 and 14.2 respectively). Musculoskeletal symptoms were reported by 30% (95%CI: 24.0, 36.6) of the students. No factor had statistically significant (p-value< 0.05) association with the pain. Concerning bag types, 58.1% used wheeled bag. The most common  reason for using wheeled bag was concerns about the bag weight (61.5%), a gift from parents (49.2%), carrying capacity of wheeled bag (23.8%) and fashioned life style (15.6%). Conclusion: The problem of overloaded school bags is still existed. Eighty one per cent of the students carried school bags that weighted exceeding the recommended weight. Girls tended to carry heavier bag than boys. Wheeled bags were associated with the excessive weight. Safety and long term health effects of using heavy school bags should be studied in the future . Keywords: school bag, weight excess


This article reports on a qualitative study of the UK's labour activation pathway for jobseekers with disabilities and health conditions.  The aim was to explore the experiences of Work Choices programme participants, specifically to identify barriers to employment, the resources available to them, and the kind of support experiences they found empowering. Nine adult jobseekers took part in research interviews.  Accounts of their experience of the programme were recorded, transcribed, and analysed with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.  The Capability Approach of Amartya Sen was used as the conceptual lens through which the data was interpreted. Participants reported substantive health conditions, lack of skills and confidence, and practical obstacles to finding work. They valued being treated with dignity, having genuine choice about their work and learning options, and experiencing a service underpinned by a supportive helping relationship.


Power dissipation in long interconnects and increasing wire temperatures due to (self) Joule heating are becoming important issues to address in nanometer-scale technologies. While many low-power bus encoding schemes have been proposed, no encoding techniques exist for explicitly reducing temperatures in high-speed on-chip signal buses. In this work, we propose: (1) an interconnect/wire signaling and layout optimization that considers self and inter-wire coupling activities and is tailored to data traffic characteristics; (2) an integer linear programming (ILP) technique to optimize bus energy and; (3) a novel methodology to add thermal constraints to this ILP optimization to reduce not only average but also peak wire temperatures. Our contributions enable a designer to efficiently explore the hottest wire temperature and total bus dynamic energy trade-off space. One such trade-off point yielded a thermally-constrained, energy-optimal encoding scheme that reduced wire temperatures by up to 12.26degC (12.96degC) for data (instruction) buses and significant average energy savings of 14.24% (16.17%) for data (instruction) bus. These results are still much better than energy reductions obtained by previous work.


Ultraviolet, visual, and near-infrared spectra of Phobos, obtained by Mariner 9 and Viking Orbiters, were interpreted to suggest a compositional similarity with carbonaceous chrondrites. Such a composition would be inconsistent with the moon's origin in the proto-Mars region, as Mars is composed chiefly of differentiated silicates. This interpretation was used to suggest that the moons originated in the main-asteroid belt, with subsequent capture and orbital evolution into their current locations. Interpretations of more recent visual and near-infrared spectra, obtained by Phobos-2 and Mars Pathfinder, have demonstrated that the Phobos spectrum is more similar to spectra of other classes of asteroids and lunar soils. If lunar mare soil is the correct analogy, then such a composition suggests a formation of Phobos from materials similar to that on Mars, i.e. basalts, and would not require a dynamically difficult capture and orbital evolution. During the science phasing orbits of the Mars Global Surveyor mission Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) observations of Phobos were acquired at each of four encounters. The spectral variability observed for localized surface regions on Phobos has been previously reported and is greatest near the northern wall of Stickney crater. Interpretation of the thermal infrared spectra of airless bodies, based upon most existing laboratory measurements, is complicated by the absence of interstitial gases on the celestial objects that would act to minimize potential thermal gradients in the upper layers of the surface. As an aid to interpretation of the TES Phobos spectra are compared to telescopic and airborne thermal infrared spectra of asteroids from several classes, including Ceres (G), Pallas (B), and Vesta (V). The asteroid spectra provide a direct analogy to the physical situation encountered at the surface of Phobos, albeit different thermal gradients may exist for each surface. This work is supported by NASA RTOP's 344-30-30-01 and 344-34-21-08.


We present the first spectroscopic images of solar radio transients from the prototype for the Murchison Widefield Array, observed on 2010 March 27. Our observations span the instantaneous frequency band 170.9– 201.6 MHz. Though our observing period is characterized as a period of "low" to "medium" activity, one broadband emission feature and numerous short-lived, narrowband, non-thermal emission features are evident. Our data represent a significant advance in low radio frequency solar imaging, enabling us to follow the spatial, spectral, and temporal evolution of events simultaneously and in unprecedented detail. The rich variety of features seen here reaffirms the coronal diagnostic capability of low radio frequency emission and provides an early glimpse of the nature of radio observations that will become available as the next generation of low-frequency radio interferometers come online over the next few years.


Inborn metabolic errors, while not common, may have significant implications for patients. Those patients with such errors who have acute life-threatening symptoms must be treated immediately, and specimens for analysis should best be obtained during the critical stage. Many infants and children seen with acute symptoms are the ones most likely to have treatable diseases. At a more leisurely pace, other inborn errors can be diagnosed in order to provide appropriate counseling and prognosis.


Summary Camptothecin (CN) is active against several experimental tumors and has also been studied clinically. We report here the effect of CN on L1210 cells and asynchronous and synchronous DON cells in culture. CN was toxic both to L1210 cells (0.06 µg/ml, 2-hr exposure) and DON cells (0.15 µg/ml, 1-hr exposure), and it inhibited DNA and RNA synthesis more than it inhibited protein synthesis. CN was more cytotoxic to DON cells in S phase than cells in G1 or G2, although it inhibited DNA and RNA synthesis of L1210 cells and asynchronous DON cells almost equally. When asynchronous DON cells were exposed to CN for 30 min and CN was then removed, RNA synthesis was no longer significantly inhibited, but the inhibition of DNA synthesis persisted. The survival patterns of synchronous DON cells were closely related to DNA synthesis inhibition but not to RNA synthesis inhibition. These results collectively suggested that the marked effect of CN on DNA synthesis appeared to be one of the primary determinants of its cytotoxicity. Since no significant effect was observed on the enzymes involved in DNA synthesis, DNA synthesis inhibition by CN may be in part due to its effect on the DNA template. The interaction between CN and DNA was detected by melting point determinations. CN did not block the progression of mitotic cells into S phase. At 100 µg/ml, CN prevented the progression of S phase cells into G2; at 1 µg/ml, some cells did leave S and proceeded into G2. Cells in G2 were blocked from moving into mitosis even at 0.01-µg/ml doses of CN. Thus, the progression of late S or early G2 cells into mitosis was most sensitive to the drug.


Objectives: To determine correlation between macroscopic appearances of superficial endometriotic lesions noted at laparoscopy and the final histopathology diagnosis. Methods: A prospective cohort study involving consecutive women with chronic pelvic pain who underwent laparoscopy between January 2015 December 2016. The laparoscopic findings were recorded in terms of location, number and morphological description (i.e. red spot, white spot, pocket and/or fibrous adhesion) of the endometriotic lesions. These findings were correlated with the final histopathological diagnosis. All endometriotic lesions were excised at the time of laparoscopy. Results: A total of 77 consecutive women underwent laparoscopy. 9/77 were noted to have deep infiltrating endometriosis with bowel involvement and were excluded. 4/77 had a negative laparoscopy with normal pelvis. 64/77 had visualised lesions suspicious of superficial endometriosis. The mean age of the women was 27.7±7.7 y, 37% were nulliparous, 27.5% had previous history of endometriosis. A total of 180 biopsies were collected .The description of lesion were: red spots74/180, white spot 87/180, peritoneal pocket 11/180 and adhesions 8/180. Overall histopathological confirmation rate for endometriosis was 56%.There was no correlation between lesion distribution, morphology and positive diagnosis of endometriosis (p-value=0.8). These parameters were not statistically different in the presence of past history of endometriosis (p-value=0.19). Conclusions: Although the numbers in this study are small, there is no correlation between the macroscopic appearance of superficial endometriosis lesions and gold standard histological confirmation.


This paper presents the designed proposal of a solar PV and grid-connected electricity system with multiple modes operation for homes and buildings. It introduces to a more resourceful solar PV system that suits with the needs for different occasions rather have to be limited to one particular application. This concept uses a DC motor and synchronous generator as an electromechanical inverter to alternatively present popular approach of using solid-state inverters in converting the solar DC supply into AC, suitable to run common electrical appliances. The block concept of the system and the main controller with programming flowcharts for the multiple operations are proposed for a 2kW output power.


The aim of this study was to determine the localization and number of apoptotic cells in lung tissue and bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) of newborns, young, and adult rats exposed to formaldehyde (6 ppm) or technical xylene (300 ppm) for 6 weeks (8 h/day). A total of 27 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Apoptotic cells were mainly localized around the bronchus and bronchioles and relatively less frequently on the walls of alveoli and interalveolar septa both in control and experimental groups. In the BALT, reactive cells were localized in the area under the epithelium and distributed homogenously within the lymphoid follicles. The numbers of apoptotic cells in the lung tissue including the BALT were significantly higher in young and adult rats exposed to formaldehyde and xylene than those detected in control groups.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of motivational strategies on staff satisfaction. Using the quantitative methodology, data was gathered from two hundred and seventy one (271) respondents (employees) of Eco bank Ghana. The Pearson's product moment correlation analyses were used to establish the relationship between motivational strategies and all dimensions of job satisfaction. The standard regression analysis was also used to determine the influence of motivation on job satisfaction. Firstly, the study showed that employees were most satisfied with training (M=3.89, SD= .640)and least satisfied with the benefits they receive from the organisation(M=3.36, SD=.581).The results revealed that there exist a significant positive relationship between motivational strategies and all dimensions of job satisfaction(training satisfaction, recognition satisfaction, payment satisfaction, promotion satisfaction and benefit satisfaction). Also, it was confirmed that motivational strategies had a significant influence on all dimensions of job satisfaction. The results indicate that if employees are well motivated through strategies such as car loan systems, housing loan systems, fringe benefits, fair promotional packages, educational systems and justifiable salary differences, they will be satisfied and work towards a better performance of the organization.


Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is one of the most important crops in many developing countries and provides a candidate source of bioenergy. However, neither high-quality reference genome nor large-scale full-length cDNA sequences for this outcrossing hexaploid are still lacking, which in turn impedes progress in research studies in sweetpotato functional genomics and molecular breeding. In this study, we apply a combination of second- and third-generation sequencing technologies to sequence full-length transcriptomes in sweetpotato and its putative ancestor I. trifida. In total, we obtained 53,861/51,184 high-quality transcripts, which includes 34,963/33,637 putative full-length cDNA sequences, from sweetpotato/I. trifida. Amongst, we identified 104,540/94,174 open reading frames, 1476/1475 transcription factors, 25,315/27,090 simple sequence repeats, 417/531 long non-coding RNAs out of the sweetpotato/I. trifida dataset. By utilizing public available genomic contigs, we analyzed the gene features (including exon number, exon size, intron number, intron size, exon-intron structure) of 33,119 and 32,793 full-length transcripts in sweetpotato and I. trifida, respectively. Furthermore, comparative analysis between our transcript datasets and other large-scale cDNA datasets from different plant species enables us assessing the quality of public datasets, estimating the genetic similarity across relative species, and surveyed the evolutionary pattern of genes. Overall, our study provided fundamental resources of large-scale full-length transcripts in sweetpotato and its putative ancestor, for the first time, and would facilitate structural, functional and comparative genomics studies in this important crop.


This work effectively responds to the pressing need for a clinically-oriented textbook that focuses on all aspects of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). "Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy: A Clinical Perspective" is divided into three sections: Fundamentals, Clinical Implementation, and Clinical Sites. The book aims to provide a 'practical approach' oriented text for radiation oncologists and physicists interested in commencing or expanding an IMRT program. It discusses the fundamentals of IMRT including physics and biology and provides a site-by-site review (i.e. breast, prostate, etc) of IMRT treatment techniques and outcomes with practical clinical examples. The content reviews published IMRT outcome studies and suggests possible future directions for IMRT research.


Integrin αvβ6 is a cell surface receptor minimally expressed by healthy tissue but elevated in lung, colon, skin, ovarian, cervical, and pancreatic cancers. A molecular PET agent for integrin αvβ6 could provide significant clinical utility by facilitating both cancer staging and treatment monitoring to more rapidly identify an effective therapeutic approach. Methods: Here, we evaluated 2 cystine knot peptides, R01 and S02, previously engineered with a 3–6 nM affinity for integrin αvβ6, for 18F radiolabeling and PET imaging of BxPC3 pancreatic adenocarcinoma xenografts in mice. Cystine knot peptides were labeled with N-succinimidyl-4-18F-fluorobenzoate and evaluated for binding affinity and serum stability. Peptides conjugated with 18F-fluorobenzoate (2–3 MBq) were injected via the tail vein into nude mice xenografted with BxPC3 (integrin αvβ6–positive) or 293 (integrin αvβ6–negative) tumors. Small-animal PET scans were acquired at 0.5, 1, and 2 h after injection. Ex vivo γ-counting of dissected tissues was performed at 0.5 and 2 h. Results: 18F-fluorobenzoate peptides were produced in 93% (18F-fluorobenzoate-R01) and 99% (18F-fluorobenzoate-S02) purity. 18F-fluorobenzoate-R01 and 18F-fluorobenzoate-S02 had affinities of 1.1 ± 0.2 and 0.7 ± 0.4 nM, respectively, and were 87% and 94%, respectively, stable in human serum at 37°C for 2 h. 18F-fluorobenzoate-R01 and 18F-fluorobenzoate-S02 exhibited 2.3 ± 0.6 and 1.3 ± 0.4 percentage injected dose per gram (%ID/g), respectively, in BxPC3 xenografted tumors at 0.5 h (n = 4–5). Target specificity was confirmed by low tumor uptake in integrin αvβ6–negative 293 tumors (1.4 ± 0.6 and 0.5 ± 0.2 %ID/g, respectively, for 18F-fluorobenzoate-R01 and 18F-fluorobenzoate-S02; both P < 0.05; n = 3–4) and low muscle uptake (3.1 ± 1.0 and 2.7 ± 0.4 tumor to muscle for 18F-fluorobenzoate-R01 and 18F-fluorobenzoate-S02, respectively). Small-animal PET data were corroborated by ex vivo γ-counting of dissected tissues, which demonstrated low uptake in nontarget tissues with only modest kidney uptake (9.2 ± 3.3 and 1.9 ± 1.2 %ID/g, respectively, at 2 h for 18F-fluorobenzoate-R01 and 18F-fluorobenzoate-S02; n = 8). Uptake in healthy pancreas was low (0.3% ± 0.1% for 18F-fluorobenzoate-R01 and 0.03% ± 0.01% for 18F-fluorobenzoate-S02; n = 8). Conclusion: These cystine knot peptide tracers, in particular 18F-fluorobenzoate-R01, show translational promise for molecular imaging of integrin αvβ6 overexpression in pancreatic and other cancers.


We study the efficient allocation of buyers in the presence of recommender systems. A recommender system affects the market in two ways: (i) it creates value by reducing product uncertainty for the customers and hence (ii) its recommendations can be offered as add-ons, which generates informational externalities. We investigate the impact of these factors on the efficient allocation of buyers across different products. We find that the efficient allocation requires that the seller with the recommender system has full market share. If the recommender system is sufficiently effective in reducing uncertainty, it is optimal to have some products to be purchased by a larger group of people than others. The large group consists of customers with flexible tastes


Author(s): Raturi, Ankita | Advisor(s): Tomlinson, William; Richardson, Debra | Abstract: Agriculture is a critical component of the human food system. Its coupling to the success of human societies and its impact on the environment is nontrivial. Varied efforts -- including new regulations, certifications, techniques and software -- exist to assess and improve the sustainability of agriculture. Multiple stakeholders in a fragmented field, with tensions and pulls in different directions, results in a duplication of efforts and disconnected data and processes.To explore the challenges that exist in modeling sustainable agriculture, I characterize environmental assessment as a modeling process, and secondly, characterize sustainable agricultural systems as a type of complex adaptive system. Framing the assessment process and system of interest in this manner permits the application of various techniques from software engineering, systems analysis, and human-computer interaction to tease apart the core issues and to subsequently respond to these challenges through design.First, I present an analysis of the capacity of Life Cycle Assessment (a formal and quantitative environmental assessment technique) to represent small- to medium-scale sustainability-oriented farms. Then, I described a qualitative field study, in which I visited 16 farms across California, interviewing sustainability-oriented farmers, and collecting samples of farm data. The goal of this study was to uncover how and why farmers model farms in practice, the nature and availability of farm data, and the experiences of farmers with various environmental assessment techniques.The findings of these two studies resulted in the articulation of domain-specific modeling requirements. These include: creating selective and partial system models, knitting together qualitative and quantitative data in system models, capturing both spatial and temporal structures, and all of this through models that are abstract yet grounded in real farm data.Building on these studies, I present MoSS: a framework to enable the Modeling of Sustainable Systems. MoSS consists of three parts: an abstract model, domain-specific elements to allow for modeling agricultural systems, and model 'perspectives' that allow for the assessment of the environmental performance of the system. I conducted a scenario-based evaluation of MoSS to assess its ability to express the varying dynamism and complexity of sustainable agricultural systems. MoSS addresses the core challenges involved in modeling sustainable agriculture, providing a consistent mechanism to capture the essence of farms.MoSS represents a step forward in grounded information design for sustainable agriculture, paving the way for the design of information management and environmental assessment tools that more closely meet the needs of small- to medium-scale farms and farmers. Through the work presented in this dissertation, I have also demonstrated how one may engage in applied and interdisciplinary software engineering research to support sustainable development.


The study was
 conducted to investigate the opinion of the parents (Class IX X
 students), English teachers, students of secondary classes and
 experts in curriculum field about the purpose of studying English
 and selection of contents accordingly. In addition the experts in
 curriculum field were also consulted on the procedures and processes
 used at present for selection of content. The focus was on four
 major areas i.e. social forces in society /community values and
 purposes, knowledge and its treatment, the nature of learning and
 the learner and human growth and development that are fundamental to
 any curriculum.
 Content and construct reliability and validity of the questionnaires
 were ensured through pre-testing as well as by obtaining experts
 opinion. For data collection a sample of 1000 English teachers, 2000
 students, 2000 parents and 50 curriculum experts from all the four
 provinces and the federal capital was selected by adopting
 multi-stage random sampling procedure. It was ensured that the
 sample represents the population from rural and urban areas, Urdu
 and English mediums and public and private schools for both male and
 female in the right proportion.
 The key conclusions based on the descriptive and statistical
 evidences indicated that the people of Pakistan attach great
 importance to values and purposes related to religious teachings and
 want to promote these through schooling. It also revealed that the
 people are very keen to learn English as it is the language of
 knowledge and higher learning in all fields. The findings of the
 study indicated that in the present textbooks of English speaking is
 least emphasized as compared to other skills. The findings of the
 study also gave a fairly good idea of themes and sub-themes that the
 majority of population wants to include as content of English for
 classes IXX. Based on statistical analysis of the data, criteria
 for selection of contents for teaching English in Secondary Schools
 has been developed and weightage suggested for each which have been
 validated by the Textbook Boards and Curriculum Bureaus in the
 country.


Unlike fields in the humanities and social sciences, mathematics is traditionally taught through lectures in which students are expected to passively learn material. Research has shown that this didactic method leaves students with little conceptual understanding and discourages them mathematically. The Calculus Concept Inventory (CCI) is an exam which was developed to determine the impact of different teaching methodologies on students' conceptual understanding. The results have demonstrated that teaching methods which fall under the category of Interactive Engagement have the largest positive impact on conceptual knowledge. These methods actively engage students through social interactions with their peers and instructors in addition to providing immediate feedback and time for second attempts. The purpose of this report is to describe the current status of calculus reform and the ways in which the CCI is affecting mathematics pedagogy. For example, the University of Texas at Austin Mathematics Department has implemented flipping, an interactive engagement method delivering instruction on-line outside of class and bringing homework into the classroom.


BACKGROUND
Rural experience for dental students can provide valuable clinical education, change attitudes to rural practice, and make a valuable contribution to clinical service provision. The aim of this paper is to assess the costs and benefits of service delivery by students through rural training programmes.

METHODS
Groups of two students worked in the public dental clinics in adjacent rural centres where there had been long-term difficulties in recruiting staff. The costs and benefits of the programme were assessed by the impact on waiting lists, the total cost per patient of a course of care and by the marginal cost of adding service provision by students to existing arrangements.

RESULTS
The total costs of emergency and complete treatment provided by students were greater than the costs of treatment provided by public-sector dentists but less than the costs of private providers treating public patients. However, the value of services were greater when care was provided by students or private providers and the marginal cost of students providing services was 50-70 per cent of the cost of care provided by public dentists.

CONCLUSION
This assessment suggests that the service benefits achieved compliment the primary objective of influencing the attitude of students to rural practice.


High strength materials are most widely used in producing the parts of military, automobile, marine and mining industries. Special abrasion resistance material is used for above industries because of their superior mechanical properties like good weld capacity, good bendability, higher toughness and better workability. These alloy materials are classified as "Hard-to-cut" type materials and very difficult to cut the work piece. Cutting of high abrasion resistance alloy material with better dimensional accuracy in faster cutting speed within economic cost is still a challenging task for manufacturing industries. Generally fabrication units employed plasma arc cutting machine to cut the high strength material due to its advantages over the other cutting processes. The correct selection of machining parameter and plasma gas is very important for smooth cutting with high precision. The optimization of input parameters reveals the proper machining condition for cutting process. In addition to that, it was also noticed that the selection of appropriate plasma gas could enhanced the cutting process. Therefore, in the first stage of the research work, Investigation and optimization of plasma arc cutting process using different optimization techniques of some high strength and high abrasion resistance alloy material which was not sufficiently addressed so far were carried out. A CNC plasma arc cutting machine of MESSER industry named (BURNY 1250) was used to conduct the experiment of sailhard steel, abrex 400 steel and hardox 400 steel. These alloy materials have superior mechanical properties for manufacturing the parts of mining, automobile, petrochemical, oil and natural gas industries. On the other hand, a portable laboratorial plasma arc cutting machine was employed to investigate and optimize the cutting operation of 304L stainless steel. This alloy material has mostly employed for household and commercial application because of its superior corrosion resistance in nature. The cutting parameters were selected as cutting current, gas supply pressure, cutting speed, stand-off-distance and feed rate were selected as cutting parameter. Surface roughness, material removal rate, kerf, chamfer and dross were considered as output responses. Taguchi's orthogonal array was taken to design the run of experiment during cutting process. Additionally, three different multi criteria decision making techniques viz. Desirability approach, Technique for order of preference by similar to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and Vlsekriterijumska optimizacija KOm-promisno Resenje (VIKOR) were suggested to attain optimal cutting condition in order to minimize the production cost and maximize the productivity without compromising the quality. Also, a prediction model was developed to estimate the responses using multiple regression analysis (MRA). A comparison between experimental and predicted result shows the accuracy of the model. An ANOVA test was established to evaluate the significance of process parameter. Finally, a confirmation test was obtained to show the degree of effectiveness of proposed method. The optimum setting of process parameters will offer a very good cutting condition in order to achieve the preciseness.

 In the second stage, an experimental analysis was carried out to observe the effect of different plasma gas on the work piece material during plasma arc cutting process. The influence of flow rate of plasma gas on the plasma arc cutting process was investigated. Four different plasma gases were selected for this experiment viz. air, argon, oxygen and nitrogen. The thermo physical properties of plasma gases, properties of generated arc, cutting performance and energy balance was explained for different plasma gases. This research work was also clarified the potential of cutting process by varying the flow rate and chemical composition of the plasma gas.

 Finally, a temperature analysis was developed over the surface of work piece during plasma arc cutting process. The moving heat source was taken into consideration for calculation the heat created by plasma arc. The heat of fusion was also considered for estimation due to molten layer separates the plasma and solid layer. Different thickness of molten layer were taken for calculation viz. zero thickness, 10% and 20%. The estimated results are shown in non-dimensional form. So, the method can be applied for any other types of material.


MicroRNAs are a class of 18–22 nucleotide non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression by associating with the 3′ untranslated regions of mRNAs. A large number of microRNAs are involved in the regulation of myoblast differentiation, many of which remain undiscovered. In this study, we found that miR-143-3p was upregulated during C2C12 myoblast differentiation and over-expression of miR-143-3p significantly inhibited the relative expression levels of MyoD, MyoG, myf5, and MyHC genes, especially in the later stages of differentiation. In addition, miR-143-3p inhibited expression of genes involved in the endogenous Wnt signaling pathway during C2C12 myoblast differentiation, including Wnt5a, LRP5, Axin2, and β-catenin. These results indicate that miR-143-3p represents a new myogenic differentiation-associated microRNA that can inhibit C2C12 myoblast differentiation, especially in the later stages of differentiation. Graphical abstract MiR-143-3p may inhibit C2C12 myoblast differentiation by regulating marker genes related myoblast differentiation and Wnt signaling pathway.


For microelectronics and especially for upcoming new packaging technologies in micromechanics and photonics, fluxless, reliable and economic soldering technologies are needed. In this article we consequently focus on the oxidation and reduction kinetics of three commonly used eutectic solder alloys: SnPb, InSn and AuSn. The studies of the oxidation kinetics show that the growth of the native oxide, which covers the solder surfaces from the start of all soldering operations is self-limiting. The rate of oxidation on the molten, metallic solder surfaces is significantly reduced with decreasing O/sub 2/ partial-pressure. Using in-situ Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) it could be shown for the first time, that H/sub 2/ can reduce Sn-oxide as well as In-oxide at moderate heating durations and temperatures. In the second part of this study the results, obtained by the investigation of oxidation and reduction kinetics, are applied to flip-chip (FC) bonding experiments in vacuum with and without the injection of H/sub 2/. Wetting in vacuum is excellent but the self-alignment during flip-chip soldering is restricted. The desired, perfectly self-aligned FC-bonds have been only achieved, using evaporated and reflowed AuSn(80/20) and SnPb(60/40) after the introduction of H/sub 2/.


Advanced tactile tools in minimally invasive surgery have become a pressing need in order to reduce time and improve accuracy in localizing potential tissue abnormalities. In this regard, one of the main challenges is to be able to estimate tissue parameters in real time. In palpation, tactile information felt at a given location is identified by the viscoelastic dynamics of the neighboring tissue. Due to this reason the tissue examination behavior and the distribution of viscoelastic parameters in tissue should be considered in conjunction. This paper investigates the salient features of palpation behavior on soft tissue determining the effectiveness of localizing hard nodules. Experimental studies involving human participants, and validation tests using finite element simulations and a tele-manipulator, were carried out. Two distinctive tissue examination strategies in force-velocity modulation for the given properties of target tissue were found. Experimental results suggest that force-velocity modulations during continuous path measurements are playing an important role in the process of mechanical soft tissue examination. These behavioral insights, validated by detailed numerical models and robotic experimentations shed light on future designs of optimal robotic palpation.


Teixobactin is a depsipeptide natural product with potent antibiotic activity against a range of Gram-positive multi-drug resistant bacteria. Its composition features a unique L-allo-enduracididine (allo-End10), three Iles2/6/11 residues, and one D-allo-Ile5 residue. Intrigued by the potential biological impact of the stereochemistry of these residues, we synthesized teixobactin and three of its stereoisomers carrying L-End10, D-End10 or D-allo-End10. In addition, stereoisomers with D-allo-Ile shuffled to positions 2, 6 or 11 were prepared. Our synthetic strategy uses the combined methods of solution and solid phase peptide synthesis. The solution phase synthesis overcomes the racemization issue for ester coupling between Ile11 and Thr8. The solid phase synthesis improves efficiency and convergence. This method also allows the efficient preparation of fluorescent-labeled analogs of teixobactin.


A benthic and sedimentological survey undertaken in the lagoon of Obidos, western coast of Portugal, based on 57 fauna1 samples and 61 grain-size analysis provided initial data for the assessment of the bio-sedimentological gradients in that system. Five sediment types were characterized and charted, ranging from clean coarse sand, in the vicinity of the lagoon mouth, to fine mud in the inner areas with a mean silt percentage of 98 %. The 68157 individuals collected were distributed among 119 species characteristic of both Atlantic and Mediterranean lagoons. Species richness was higher at those intermediate sampling stations, where more diverse surface sediments occur. Faunal abundance was higher in the center of the lagoon, on fine muds, and on the intertidal sand-banks. The correspondence analysis shows that both surface sediments and benthic communities were distributed along a gradient normal to the longitudinal axis of the lagoon, evolving from an outer marine community, occupying 4 % of the lagoon bottom and settled on clean coarse unstable sand, to an inner lagoon community, corresponding to 85 % of the lagoon bottom and located on fine muds. Transition occurred within a central ecotone area, where species richness was higher, which occupied the remaining 11 % of the bottom surface and was located on slightly silty medium sand. A cenotic model proposed for this lagoon is discussed in relation to hydrological and sedimentological data, and compared with both the faunistically similar lagoon of Albufeira located 140 km south of Obidos, and the general model proposed for Mediterranean lagoon systems.


Quality of manure, pests-diseases, market price fluctuation, possibilities of low yield and in present scenario climate change pattern have a great impact on organic farming. Focusing on these, a field experiment was conducted to study the feasibility of papaya-banana relay cropping under organic farming at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) in randomized block design comprising of eight treatments with four replications during kharif of 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. Results were statistically analyzed. Pooled data showed that application of BC:VC:CC (25%N:40%N:15%N) + BPS @ 2.0 l/plant (T8) significantly increased plant height (139.2 cm), fruit weight (1.06 kg) and fruit yield (64.7 t/ha) of papaya. Though the maximum number of fruits per plant was significantly higher in treatment T6 (BC:VC:CC-25%N:40%N:15%N) but was at par with treatment T8. Fruit quality of papaya i.e. acidity, ascorbic acid, TSS, reducing sugar and self life were also affected significantly due to treatments but the results of quality parameters of fruit were found very conspicuous and no uniform trend was observed. In banana crop, maximum plant height (180.6 cm) was observed with BC:VC:CC (50%N:40%N:00%N) + BPS @ 1.0 l/plant (T4) which was at par with treatments T3, T6, T7 and T8. Some yield attributing characters were also significantly affected due to treatment effects and maximum fingers per bunch were noted with the treatment T8 which was at par with treatments T2, T4 and T7 while, maximum bunch weight and yield were found significantly higher with treatment T2 (BC:VC:CC -50%N:00%N:50%N) and T8, respectively. Maximum acidity in banana fruit was found in treatments T6 and T7 which were at par with most of the other treatments. Considering net income, treatment T8 showed economically viable in papaya and banana as a sole crop and also in papaya-banana relay system under organic farming.


This paper examines the emergence, structure, and consequences of a new phase of global capitalism, characterized by a developing Global Innovation System (GIS). While certain features of the GIS mirror preexisting national innovation systems, it transcends these roots. It integrates national innovation complexes to the point where a coherent global structure of innovation and an associated new international division of labor have evolved, even beyond today's intricate global production chains. We describe the innovation clusters and knowledge pipelines that are increasingly knitting together this new global network. We show that key clusters in the United States still play a leading role and ask whether the new patterns of innovation can overcome the decline in advanced-country economic growth that has set in since the early 2000s.


The aim of the research reported herein was to identify and develop a dried blood spot (DBS) direct analysis technique that could support high sample throughput quantitative bioanalysis in a regulated drug development environment.

An initial literature review, coupled with proof of concept testing of the most prominent direct analysis techniques coupled to mass spectrometers (MS), resulted in direct elution (direct extraction of DBS via a confined solvent, producing a liquid extract) being selected as the most suitable technique to develop for this application. Direct elution technology was then developed into fully automated techniques with sufficient functionality to enable compatibility with high sample throughput quantitative bioanalysis. Proof of concept robustness data demonstrated that direct elution, despite the lack of sample clean up, was a reliable technique which had no detrimental effects on detector or chromatographic performance compared to conventional wet plasma extraction and analysis. A proof of concept investigation also demonstrated that a method of improving internal standard (IS) performance by spraying IS solution onto DBS samples prior to extraction, allowed the analyte of interest and IS to be co-extracted, while retaining adequate analytical performance.

The foregoing proof of concept data was then combined to produce a fully automated DBS direct elution instrument designed to introduce sample extracts into a LC-MS/MS system. This instrument incorporated a 500 DBS card capacity, an intelligent visual recognition system, a dynamic IS applicator module, and a highly effective wash system that virtually eliminates carryover. Ultimately, this work led to the production of a fully automated DBS direct elution system that is now commercially available. Subsequent research focused on optimising the system, and using this technology to address some of the issues that are currently inhibiting the development of DBS usage in drug development applications, namely haematocrit (HCT) based assay bias, and the decreased sensitivity on offer from DBS sampling.

It was demonstrated that using the IS sprayer enabled the IS to integrate sufficiently with the DBS sample prior to extraction to nullify HCT based recovery bias. The direct elution mechanism was also optimised with a view to maximising assay sensitivity while retaining acceptable analytical and chromatographic (LC-MS/MS) performance. Generic optimised direct elution conditions were developed which demonstrated that increases in assay sensitivity of up to 30 fold (compared to conventional manual extraction methods) were possible using a set of representative small molecule compounds.


The genus Perkinsus occupies a precarious phylogenetic position. To gain a better understanding of the relationship between perkinsids, dinoflagellates and other alveolates, we analyzed the nuclear-encoded spliced-leader (SL) RNA and mitochondrial genes, intron prevalence, and multi-protein phylogenies. In contrast to the canonical 22-nt SL found in dinoflagellates (DinoSL), P. marinus has a shorter (21-nt) and a longer (22-nt) SL with slightly different sequences than DinoSL. The major SL RNA transcripts range in size between 80–83 nt in P. marinus, and ∼83 nt in P. chesapeaki, significantly larger than the typical ≤56-nt dinoflagellate SL RNA. In most of the phylogenetic trees based on 41 predicted protein sequences, P. marinus branched at the base of the dinoflagellate clade that included the ancient taxa Oxyrrhis and Amoebophrya, sister to the clade of apicomplexans, and in some cases clustered with apicomplexans as a sister to the dinoflagellate clade. Of 104 Perkinsus spp. genes examined 69.2% had introns, a higher intron prevalence than in dinoflagellates. Examination of Perkinsus spp. mitochondrial cytochrome B and cytochrome C oxidase subunit I genes and their cDNAs revealed no mRNA editing, but these transcripts can only be translated when frameshifts are introduced at every AGG and CCC codon as if AGGY codes for glycine and CCCCU for proline. These results, along with the presence of the numerous uncharacterized 'marine alveolate group I' and Perkinsus-like lineages separating perkinsids from core dinoflagellates, expand support for the affiliation of the genus Perkinsus with an independent lineage (Perkinsozoa) positioned between the phyla of Apicomplexa and Dinoflagellata.


Three diets including 13.2%, 22% or 30.5% carbohydrates as extruded wheat meal were fed to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (initial weight 34.8 g), for twelve weeks to investigate their influence on growth, protein and energy utilization and carcass composition. Daily feeding rates were 1.76, 2.05 or 2.17 g feed per 100 g body weight for the three diets, respectively, so as to reach a daily allowance of about 35.5 kJ digestible energy per 100 g body weight. No significant differences (p>0.05) in final mean weight or specific growth rate were observed between the treatments. Feed efficiency was negatively correlated to the dietary carbohydrate level. Utilized digestible protein and energy per kg growth were 365, 348, 358 g and 15.4, 15.9, 17.0 MJ, respectively, for the three diets. Apparent net protein and energy utilization of the groups fed a medium or high carbohydrate level were higher than those of the low carbohydrate group. Analysis of fish carcasses at the end of the trial revealed no significant (p>0.05) variations attributable to the carbohydrate level.


Author(s): Oliveira, J. M.C.; Silva, S. X.B.; Nascimento, A. S.; Miranda, S. H.G.; Barbosa, C. J.; Laranjeira, F. F. | Abstract: Bahia is the second most important citrus region in Brazil, accounting for 5.5% of Brazilian production. 80% of this production comes from family based farms, which depend on this crop for economic support. Huanglongbing (HLB) was never recorded in Bahia, but is already spreading in three other citrus-producing states of the country, one of which borders the state of Bahia. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the potential economic impact resulting from an eventual introduction of HLB in Bahia. The mathematical model of Gompertz and a logistic model were used to determine the epidemiological pattern of the disease, considering three scenarios. In scenario A, the efforts of the Bahia State Agency of Agricultural Defense were positive preventing the establishment of HLB (baseline scenario). In scenario B, there was the introduction of the bacteria into Bahia citrus orchards, and the absence of control measures contributed to the expansion of HLB in the following years. In scenario C, after detection of the disease, the producers would adopt control measures: eradication of symptomatic hosts and the insect vector population suppression. The costs of disease control were measured by the need for sprays, carrying out periodic inspections and eradication of plants with symptoms. The net present value (NPV) was used for comparing different scenarios. The results showed that, if HLB is introduced in Bahia, the losses would be very significant in the following 20 years. Should control and eradication procedures not be followed, losses of up to US $ 890,7 million could occur.


Biosolids from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have a high content of nutrients and organic matter and are used as a land fertilizer constituent. However, biosolids can contain many toxic chemicals, including heavy metals and synthetic organic chemicals. Thus, land application of biosolids may introduce these toxicants to water resources through runoff or soil leachate. The objective of this study was to assess the toxicity of biosolid elutriates from different WWTP processes to Ceriodaphnia dubia . Class B biosolids and composted biosolids (Class A) were collected from six southeastern WWTPs. Elutriate from each biosolid sample was used as the test solution in 48 hour acute toxicity tests. Results indicated that elutriates were highly toxic (LC50 range 11.2%-35.5%) to C. dubia . A decrease in toxicity (completely alleviated) was observed for one elutriate from a composted biosolids sample, but an increase in toxicity was observed in the other. Reductions in dissolved oxygen concentrations in some tests confounded toxicity results. Elevated concentrations of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) were found in several biosolid samples that had high elutriate toxicity. Additional chemical analyses are being conducted to identify other toxic compounds in elutriates and biosolids. Anticipated benefits include selection of different treatment and disposal methods of biosolids to reduce potential for toxicants to enter surface waters.


From Sarah Bradford, Britain's best Royal biographer comes America's Queen, the definitive biography of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - a fascinating account of an extraordinary life. Jackie Bouvier's privileged upbringing instilled rigid self-control, while her expedient marriage into the Kennedy clan consolidated her determination. Revealing new testimony from many of the couple's closest friends show the profound complexities both of this very public relationship, including the affairs that threatened it, and of her controversial marriage to Onassis. Here is the private Jackie - neglected wife, vigilant mother, obsessive shopper and working widow - whose fascinating nature is illuminated by all that Bradford has discovered. "Exceptionally intelligent and well-written ...a thumping good read". (Daily Mail). "There has not been, nor will there be, a better biography of Jackie". (TLS). "Lucid, well-written. Long before Diana Spencer, Jacqueline Kennedy was the world's ultimate fantasy princess". (Guardian). Sarah Bradford is a historian and biographer. Her books include Cesare Borgia (1976), Disraeli (1982), winner of the New York Times Book of the Year, Princess Grace (1984), Sacherevell Sitwell (1993), Elizabeth: A Biography of Her Majesty the Queen (1996), Lucrezia Borgia (2005), Diana (2007) and Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Our Times (2011). She frequently appears on television as an authority on her biographical subjects and as a commentator on notable royal events. She is currently working on a full scale biography of Queen Victoria. She lives in London.


Diabetic foot ulceration is a serious and expensive complication with considerable morbidity that affects up to 15% of diabetic patients during their lifetime and 80-85% of amputations are preceded by foot ulcers. The aim of this work is to study the correlation between severity of clinical abnormalities and electrophysiological studies in diabetic foot ulcers. This study was a cross sectional evaluation of 44 patients with diabetic foot ulcers seen in 2 hospitals in Basrah (Al-Faiha General and Basrah Teaching) from October 2003 to July 2004. All patients were type 2 diabetes mellitus. The sensitivity of numbness, burning feeling, pricking feeling and worse symptom at night was 84.6%, 69.2%, 61.5% and 51.5% respectively. While sensitivity of decreased pin prick sensation, absent vibration sense, absent ankle jerk, decreased temperature sensations and absent position sense was 100%, 87.2%, 71.8%, 56.5% and 12.8% respectively. Sensitivity of combined clinical symptoms was 66.6%, with specificity of 40%, and predictive value of 89.6% while that of clinical signs 48.7% and 60% respectively and predictive value of 90.4 %. There was no significant difference in severity of electrophysiological abnormalities in the affected and non-affected feet. Clinical findings was correlated well with the severity of electrophysiological changes in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.


Spirituality is often mistakenly equated with religion but is in fact a far broader concept. The aim of this integrative review was to describe experiences of the positive impact of spirituality and spiritual values in the context of nursing. The analysis was guided by Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method. The findings revealed seven themes: 'Being part of a greater wholeness', 'Togetherness − value based relationships', 'Developing inner strength', 'Ministering to patients', 'Maintaining one's sense of humanity', 'Viewing life as a gift evokes a desire to 'give back'' and 'Achieving closure − life goes on'. It is difficult to draw definite conclusions, as spirituality involves many perspectives on various levels of awareness. However, spirituality was considered more inclusive, fluid and personal. Furthermore, it emerged that spirituality and spiritual values in the context of nursing are closely intertwined with the concept of caring.


The activity of the main extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, such as protease, nuclease and amylase was studied in the process of the development of the actinomycetes producing streptomycin, novobiocin, levorin and oleandomycin. It was found that the enzymatic activity significantly changed during the development of the cultures depending on their individual properties. Comparative study of the enzymatic activity of the streptomycin-producing organisms differing in the antibiotic production levels and the use of special nutrient media providing the increased biosynthesis of DNAases allowed a definite relationship to be disclosed between the activity level of extracellular hydrolases and antibiotic production.


CD4 molecules on human cells function as a major receptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); however, certain CD4-negative cell types may also be susceptible to infection. Therefore, we attempted to quantitate the relationship between HIV infection and CD4 expression on human cell lines before and after introduction of the CD4 gene by using a retrovirus vector. Prior to introduction of the CD4 expression vector, low levels of HIV infection were detected by a sensitive focal immunoassay on all three cell types studied. With several HIV strains in clones of human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells expressing different levels of CD4, HIV titer increased with increasing CD4 expression. In contrast, in squamous cell carcinoma cells (SCL1) and astroglial cells (U87MG), even high levels of CD4 expression failed to augment HIV infection. The CD4 protein expressed in these two cell lines had the expected molecular weight and was capable of binding HIV virions. However, in contrast to CD4-positive HeLa cells, CD4-positive U87MG and SCL1 cells were unable to form syncytia when cultured with cells expressing HIV envelope protein. Thus, the inability of HIV to infect these cells appeared to be due to lack of fusion between HIV virion envelope proteins and CD4-positive cell membranes. This block is infectivity was overcome when cells were infected with HIV which was pseudotyped with the envelope protein of amphotropic murine leukemia virus. Thus, in addition to CD4, other cell surface molecules appear to be required for successful HIV entry into and infection of these two human cell lines.


Common hepatic artery is a branch of coeliac trunk. It normally terminates by dividing into hepatic artery proper and gastroduodenal artery. We report here the trifurcation of the common hepatic artery. The common hepatic artery terminated in the lesser omentum by dividing into three branches; the left hepatic artery, right hepatic artery and gastroduodenal artery. This termination was at a higher level than the usual termination. The gastroduodenal artery terminated by dividing into superior pancreaticoduodenal and right gastroepiploic arteries within the lesser omentum, above the pyloric part of the stomach. The right gastric artery arose from the left hepatic artery in the porta hepatis and descended down through the lesser omentum to reach the lesser curvature of the stomach.


This essay discusses Justice Anthony M. Kennedy's choice to foreground arguments from due process rather than equal protection in the majority opinion in Lawrence v. Texas. Kennedy's choice can realize constitutional legal doctrine that is more consistent with radical queer politics than arguments from equal protection. Unlike some recent critiques of Kennedy's opinion, a queer rhetorical analysis of Lawrence reveals a futuristic, always-open-to-change vision in Kennedy's rhetorical framing of constitutional law that is significantly less damaging to possibilities for "queer world making" in the United States than other contemporary US judicial arguments of and about sexuality.


Background: Responsiveness to pharmacologic agents may differ among subpopulations compared with the general population. In patients of African descent, possible differences have been observed for inhaled beta-agonists. However, pharmacologic responsiveness to a long-acting anticholinergic has not been prospectively evaluated. Methods: An 8-week, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of the once-daily, inhaled anticholinergic tiotropium in COPD patients of African descent. African-American COPD patients ≥40 years, FEV1 ≤ 65% predicted, FEV1/FVC ≤70% were included. Spirometry (pre-study drug, and 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hours post-dose) and the University of California, San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ) were performed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks. Data on use of rescue medication and on adverse events (including COPD exacerbations) were also collected. Results: Randomized patients (n = 166) were (mean ± SD) 62.5 ± 9.3 years; baseline mean FEV1 1.02 ± 0.37 L (41 ± 13% predicted); 67.5% were male. A total of 160 patients were eligible for efficacy evaluation. At 8 weeks, mean FEV1 AUC0 − 3 response was 180 mL greater with tiotropium (n = 78) than with placebo (n = 82), (p < 0.0001). Difference (tiotropium–placebo) for mean peak FEV1 response was 182 mL (p < 0.0001) and 122 mL (p = 0.002) for mean trough FEV1 response. There were no significant differences in SOBQ or use of rescue medication between the groups. No patients in the tiotropium group experienced a COPD exacerbation compared with 12 in patients receiving placebo. Conclusion: Tiotropium significantly improved pulmonary function in African-American COPD patients.


In this thesis I explore the range of complex social relationships and practices encountered in the cemeteries of Alvaro Obregon, Mexico City. The research, conducted over several periods of fieldwork, aimed to produce a visual ethnography of the social life of cemeteries by combining photographic techniques, participant observation and interviews. The narrative and visual data collected during fieldwork demonstrate the ways in which the cemeteries of Alvaro Obregon reflect the sentiments and actions invested in producing social and visual spaces that commemorate the dead.

The conjoined landscapes of the living and the dead are spaces of personal and collective grief, charged with emotions, and shaped by ethical dilemmas on the part of the bereaved, mourners, the cemetery workers and the fieldworker. Profound dilemmas arise because of the dramatic expansion of the city's population. High rates of population growth and vigorous urban development throughout the city have placed the existing landscapes of the dead under enormous pressure to make way for the living. On the one hand, the thesis considers the arguments of some residents of Mexico City for rejecting cremation, now accepted by the Catholic Church as a rational solution to the problem of shortage of burial space; on the other, it shows how other residents opt for cremation but devise a range of strategies to produce a sense of permanence and presence of their dead. This is achieved largely through the manipulation of material objects, including photographs.

The need to recycle burial sites means that exhumations are quite frequent and the thesis provides a detailed visual record of the quality and demands of the work of exhumation and preparation of graves. The thesis also explores the range of daily activities and yearly rituals involved in sustaining the space of the cemetery and in supporting the intense, long-term relationships reproduced internally by mourners, regular, daily and casual visitors and cemetery workers.

The thesis provides a detailed account of the economy of the cemetery and its links with the city via the work of religious, funeral parlours, stonemasons and many others who contribute to the making of this space. Attention is also paid to the ways in which the private and the public are expressed as separate yet merging spheres, marked by yearly commemorations and festivities such as the Day of the Dead that are occasions for intense social and economic activity in the cemetery. The thesis also illustrates the importance of attachment, whether to kinship, friendship or other networks and relationships that define access to the cemetery, whether for burial or for employment as a worker in Alvaro Obregon. The thesis shows how the dead in Mexico City remain important members of families of the living and how the living actively and dynamically integrate and maintain the 'dead persons' as social participants in their lives and daily practices.


PURPOSE
To present a new approach to the problem of estimating errors in deformable image registration (DIR) applied to sequential phases of a 4DCT data set.

METHODS
A set of displacement vector fields (DVFs) are made by registering a sequence of 4DCT phases. The DVFs are assumed to display anatomical movement, with the addition of errors due to the imaging and registration processes. The positions of physical landmarks in each CT phase are measured as ground truth for the physical movement in the DVF. Principal component analysis of the DVFs and the landmarks is used to identify and separate the eigenmodes of physical movement from the error eigenmodes. By subtracting the physical modes from the principal components of the DVFs, the registration errors are exposed and reconstructed as DIR error maps. The method is demonstrated via a simple numerical model of 4DCT DVFs that combines breathing movement with simulated maps of spatially correlated DIR errors.

RESULTS
The principal components of the simulated DVFs were observed to share the basic properties of principal components for actual 4DCT data. The simulated error maps were accurately recovered by the estimation method.

CONCLUSIONS
Deformable image registration errors can have complex spatial distributions. Consequently, point-by-point landmark validation can give unrepresentative results that do not accurately reflect the registration uncertainties away from the landmarks. The authors are developing a method for mapping the complete spatial distribution of DIR errors using only a small number of ground truth validation landmarks.


Background and aims: Hepatitis B vaccination is the most successful way to prevent the virus infection. Serum concentration of vitamin D has recently been proposed as a novel predictor of response to antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis infection. The main target of this paper was to review the recent knowledge regarding the association between obesity and vitamin D level and immune response to Hepatitis B vaccines. Methods: This review was written by referring to research literature including 32 articles published from 200 to 2015 on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. Searches were undertake on the key phrases of Hepatitis B, Obesity(overweight), Hepatitis B vaccine, antibody titre,Vitamin D level and other similar keywords. References included a variety of research papers (descriptive and analytical) and intervention articles. Results: In healthy patients, adequate hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titer is the most important for prevent hepatitis B. Secondly, obesity cased vitamin D insufficiency and immune system dysfunction. In patients with overweight, vitamin D deficiency is associated with a poor antibody formation upon hepatitis B vaccination, therefore hepatitis B vaccine maybe require booster doses at obese population should be considered. Conclusion: this review revealed an association between vitamin D deficiency and poor body response to vaccination in obese patients. The reduced immune response of overweight patients to immunization can be harmful not only for the patient but also for the community. In conclusion, vitamin D levels measured previously starting the vaccination should be considered.


In general, special tax regimes create inefficiencies and might destroy horizontal equity. However, many countries have special tax regimes for small businesses or specific economic sectors. The goal is usually to reduce compliance costs, but also to reduce inequality since it is assumed that owners of small businesses are generally low-income taxpayers. To study the magnitude of tax avoidance of special tax regimes in Chile and their effects on horizontal equity, I use administrative data from the Chilean IRS to simulate a tax reform that replaces them with a cash flow tax for small firms. The results show that a reform of this type would have positive effects, especially in terms of horizontal tax equity as 85.6% of the profits from firms under presumptive taxes and 77.6% of the profits from the small firms under special tax regimes, belong to taxpayers in the top income decile.


The Workshop on Diagnostic Services in Network-on-Chips, held during DATE 2007, focused on test, debugging, and online monitoring in NoCs. The main body of the workshop was formed by two sessions with full-length paper presentations and two lively poster sessions with a total of 28 posters. EPFL's Giovanni De Micheli gave the keynote address, and the workshop also featured a panel session led by Tensilica's Grant Martin and invited talks by Virage Logic's Yervant Zorian and NXP Semiconductors' Kees Goossens. The workshop produced electronic online proceedings, including papers, slides, and posters-totaling 420 pages.


In this project, the pure adsorption of mixtures of hydrogen and carbon monoxide on nanotubes (7 and 7) of boronitrile nanotubes was studied by Montecarlo method. The potential for the interactions of gases with each other and with a nanotube according to the Lennard-Jones equation and its parameters are calculated according to Lawrence-Bartwell rules for interaction between gas, gas and gas-nanotubes. Simulation of adsorption of gases at different temperatures and pressures and the results of gas adsorption density are calculated and compared in each case. The results show that the adsorption of gases is directly related to the increase of pressure and with the increase of temperature, the relation is opposite. Comparison of the results shows that absorption is higher in pure state.


This article begins by reviewing the causal set approach in discrete quantum gravity. In our version of this approach a special role is played by covariant causal sets which we call $c$-causets. The importance of $c$-causets is that they support the concepts of a natural distance function, geodesics and curvature in a discrete setting. We then discuss curvature in more detail. By considering $c$-causets with a maximum and minimum number of paths, we are able to find $c$-causets with large and small average curvature. We then briefly discuss our previous work on the inflationary period when the curvature was essentially zero. Quantum mechanics on $c$-causets is considered next. We first introduce a free wave equation for $c$-causets. We then show how the state of a particle with a specified mass (or energy) can be derived from the wave equation. It is demonstrated for small examples that quantum mechanics predicts that particles tend to move toward vertices with larger curvature.


Superhydrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been suggested to catalyze the formation of H2 in certain regions of space, but it remains unclear under which circumstances this mechanism is viable given the reduced carbon backbone stability of superhydrogenated PAHs. We report a laboratory study on the stability of the smallest pericondensed PAH, pyrene (C16H10+N , with N = 4, 6, and 16 additional H atoms), against photodestruction by single vacuum ultraviolet photons using the photoelectron–photoion coincidence technique. For N = 4, we observe a protective effect of hydrogenation against the loss of native hydrogens, in the form of an increase in the appearance energies of the and C16H8 + daughter ions compared to those reported for pristine pyrene (C16H10). No such effect is seen for N = 6 or 16, where the weakening effect of replacing aromatic bonds with aliphatic ones outweighs the buffering effect of the additional hydrogen atoms. The onset of fragmentation occurs at similar internal energies for N = 4 and 6, but is significantly lower for N = 16. In all three cases, H-loss and C m H n -loss (m ≥ 1, carbon backbone fragmentation) channels open at approximately the same energy. The branching fractions of the primary channels favor H-loss for N = 4, C m H n -loss for N = 16, and are roughly equal for the intermediate N = 6. We conclude that superhydrogenated pyrene is probably too small to support catalytic H2-formation, while trends in the current and previously reported data suggest that larger PAHs may serve as catalysts up to a certain level of hydrogenation.


Providing economic incentives to all parties involved is essential for the success of dynamic spectrum access. Cooperative spectrum sharing is one effective way to achieve this, where secondary users (SUs) relay traffics for primary users (PUs) in exchange for dedicated spectrum access time for SUs' own communications. In this paper, we study the cooperative spectrum sharing under incomplete information, where SUs' wireless characteristics are private information and not known by a PU. We model the PU-SU interaction as a labor market using contract theory. In contract theory, the employer generally does not completely know employees' private information before the employment and needs to offers employees a contract under incomplete information. In our problem, the PU and SUs are, respectively, the employer and employees, and the contract consists of a set of items representing combinations of spectrum accessing time (i.e., reward) and relaying power (i.e., contribution). We study the optimal contract design for both weakly and strongly incomplete information scenarios. In the weakly incomplete information scenario, we show that the PU will optimally hire the most efficient SUs and the PU achieves the same maximum utility as in the complete information benchmark. In the strongly incomplete information scenario, however, the PU may conservatively hire less efficient SUs as well. We further propose a decompose-and-compare (DC) approximate algorithm that achieves a close-to-optimal contract. We further show that the PU's average utility loss due to the suboptimal DC algorithm and the strongly incomplete information are relatively small (less than 2 and 1.3 percent, respectively, in our numerical results with two SU types).


In this paper we present Beacon Location Service (BLS): a location service for beacon-based routing algorithms like Beacon Vector Routing (BVR) [8] and S4 [19]. The role of a location service is to map node names to topologically meaningful addresses that can be used for routing. We evaluate an implementation of BLS that works on top of BVR. BLS resolves the destination node's name to BVR coordinates and then uses BVR to route the source message to the destination node. Together, BVR with BLS offer a complete solution for scalable point-to-point routing in sensornets. We describe our design and its implementation and evaluate BLS in simulation and on a sensornet testbed. Our results show it can sustain a high look-up and routing success rate (greater than 90% on most network sizes we tested) over various send rates and network sizes. We also compare our results to two existing point-to-point routing schemes for sensornets, and show that BLS+BVR performs comparably to state of the art point-to-point routing protocols. Finally, we demonstrate a simplified distributed hash table application implemented over BLS.


The current economic crisis is creating serious global effects on the real economy, especially in terms of solvency and economic stability of many companies, forced to interrupt their activities and to initiate bankruptcy proceedings. In this case, the assessment of the value of the industrial machinery that can be reused is a problem that often arises. In the literature different approaches to estimate plant and industrial machinery are illustrated. Each method includes several specification and, in practice, only in exceptional cases, there are consistent data for comparison. The major problem consists in the identification and the valuation of the level of depreciation which intervenes in the definition of the value of used industrial machinery. In the present work an algorithm to determine in a rational manner the depreciation of used industrial machinery has developed. The procedure has its theoretical basis in the analysis of formal deductions of the value of new machinery. The model defined in this research considers the factors that contribute to decrease the original value of the machinery. Empirical formulas have been developed to estimate the market value of used industrial machinery on the basis of quantitative and qualitative analysis of depreciation functions. The interpretation and schematization of the results have led to the definition of value-time curves for the three main depreciation factors (age, income decay, obsolescence). The result is a flexible model for the evaluation of different types of machinery and a simply procedure, with a reduced number of variables to be taken into consideration. The paper must be attributed in equal parts to the three authors. Key-Words: estimation model, value of used industrial machinery, depreciation factors, companies in liquidation.


A novel solid base catalyst, structured MgO/Al2O3-Al catalyst packing, was prepared by supporting MgO onto a thin film of alumina that was formed by anodic oxidation of high purity aluminium foils. Some preparation parameters including the molar ratio of Mg(NO3)2•6H2O to CH3(CH2)16COOH, the aging time, the calcination temperature and time were investigated by using the catalyst for the condensation of acetone to diacetone alcohol. Each of those factors had some influence on the catalyst activity and an optimum value was obtained. The conversion of acetone was 20.2%, and the selectivity to diacetone alcohol was 100% under the optimized preparation conditions.


Methods for determination of blood volume in man and common laboratory animals have been the subject of many investigations over the past twenty years, The availability of Isotopic markers for red blood cells and plasma proteins made such studies technically easier and more accurate. By comparison these methods and measurements have been applied relatively seldom to the domesticated animals. The aim of the work described in this thesis was to apply to the domestic animals blood volume techniques which had proved to be successful in man. Early on in this work it became clear that because of species differences modifications of existing methods would have to be made, e.g. it was found that the uptake [32]P by red cells showed very wide species differences. Perhaps the most important species anomaly was found in the measurement of "trapped plasma" in the haematoorit. This is a very important correction which has to be applied in all precise work, particularly where efforts are being made to measure true blood volume by simultaneous estimation of red cell volume and plasma. This species anomaly had not been formerly reported. A critical approach to the technicalities of measuring trapped plasma was made, and a method developed which overcomes many of the difficulties involved in the 'direct' procedure. Using this method a substantial number of determinations of trapped plasma were carried out on the bloods of normal horse, oow, shoep, pig and dog, under centrifugation conditions suitable for each species. While centrifuge condition were being investigated an important temperature effect on trapped pleasma observed. A study was also made of the distribution of trapped plasma in the red cell column, thus allowing variations in hematocrit to be taken into account in correcting for trapped plasma. In the estimation of trapped plasma in the foregoing experiments centrifugation was carried out in polythene tubes or Wintrobe hematocrit tubes at an RCF of 1500 g for varying periods of time. Chien, Dellenback, Ussmi and Gergesene (1965) compared trapped plasma in the hematocrit of various species when the blood was spun at 1500 g for 30 minutes in Wintrobe tubes and when spun at 15000 g for five minutes in micro-hematocrit capillary tubes. Though the latter method of centrifugation resulted in a much lower proportion of trapped plasma, a species difference was still quite obvious. Even after centrifugation at the higher impulse, the red cell columns of goat and sheep bloods were found to contain 9 per cent and 4 per cent trapped plasma respectively. Marked species differences were found in the uptake of [32]P by red blood corpusooles. Red cells of the ruminants, cow and sheep, and the cells of the horse labelled relatively slowly with this isotope. Some species differences of this nature had been noticed previously by Hansard et al (1953) and Sohambye (1952a) . It was found that removal of plasma from the cells before addition of the isosope increased the amount and rate of uptake of [32]P and in the larger species this was of marked practical value. In studying the persistence of [32]P-labelled cells in the circulation the radioactivity of samples was related to a common haematocrit, but although this was done with a correct allowance for trapped plasma the disappearance curves showed significant fluctuations. The rate of disappearance however was less than that described by Hansard et al (1953). When [51]Cr became available it was used for labelling red cells simulataneously with [32]P and the uptake and loss from the circulation of the tow isotopes was compared. It was found that the red cells of all the species studied took up [51]Cr rapidly and effectively. The loss of [51]Cr from the circulation was less rapid than that of [32]P but it was found that in the farm animals the rate of loss of [51]Cr was distinctly greater than the loss rate described in man and the dog. Blood volumes based in labelled cells in general were in agreement with the results reported in the literature of the last fifteen years. Blood volumes based on [51]Cr-labelled cells were smaller than those based on [32]P-labelled cells in all the species examined. As the red cells of species which labelled poorly with [32]P labelled rapidly and effectively with [51]Cr, and as the less of [51]Cr from the circulation was less, it was considered to be the label of choice for blood volume estimations based on labelled cells. It was considered that the results obtained by the use of labelled cells were not quite satisfactory and that the use of plasma protein labelled with [131]I might give better results and was worthy of further investigation.


The aim of this study was the quantification of the effect of the cocoa fat content on the wetting characteristics and surface free energy of different chocolate compositions. On the market, there are many different types of chocolate products which differ both in the sensory and physico-chemical properties together with their raw material compositions and the contents of the individual components. This paper focuses on differences in the use of different types of fats - cocoa butter, milk fat, equivalents or cocoa butter substitutes in chocolate products. Studied samples (prepared at Carla, Ltd. Company) were followed by static contact angles of wetting measurements and by calculated surface free energies. There were investigated the effects of fat content and used fat types of the chocolate products on their final wettabilities and resulting surface free energies. There was found a linear dependence between total fat content and the surface free energy, which was gradually increasing with increasing fat content. Additionally, there were performed TG DTG and NIR spectrometry measurements of the tested materials with the aim to determine the melting point of studied fats used, as well as to determine and identify individual fat components of chocolate products which may affect the resulting value of surface free energy.


Background: Supracondylar fractures of humerus are the commonest injury, constitutes about 65.4% of all fractures around the elbow in children. Displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus demand great respect and challenging one to treat, since it requires accurate anatomical reduction and internal fixation to prevent complications. We reported the results of open reduction and internal fixation with K-wires of the displaced (Gartland's type III) supracondylar humeral fractures in children. Objectives: To study the anatomical and functional results of treatment of supracondylar fracture of humerus by open reduction and internal fixation with K-wires. Methods: 25 cases of displaced (Gartland's type III) supracondylar fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation with K-wires were studied between September 2011 – August 2013 at PES Institute of Medical Sciences & Research and followed for an average of 24 months. Results: In our study of 25 patients, all were closed Gartland's type III fractures with mean age of 6.3 years, 13 patients sustained fracture due to fall while playing, 18 had on left side, with posteromedial displacement in 16 patients. 2 patients had associated distal end radius fracture. Majority of patients operated on 2nd day and discharged on 3rd postoperative day. 3 patients had superficial pin tract infection, 2 had traumatic median nerve palsy, 2 had migration of K-wire, 1 had cubitusvarus deformity and 1 had loss of motion >15. Conclusion: Open reduction and internal fixation with K-wires gives more stable fixation, better anatomical reduction with negligible complication and can be accepted asthe best method of treatment for irreducible type 3 supracondylar humerus fracture.


This book combines currency matters with competitiveness considerations, with a view to raising the understanding of exchange rate dynamics and to analysing the role of exchange rates in reinforcing economic competitiveness.


Varicella zoster virus infections are common in children and most recover without complication. Myopericarditis is an uncommon but serious complication of varicella zoster virus infection and may lead to severe morbidity and mortality. Myopericarditis can be very similar to acute myocardial infarction at presentation and therefore may have result with thrombolytic mistreatment. We report a case with chickenpox myopericarditis suggestive of acute myocardial infarction.


The settlement of railway subgrade has an important connection with the quality, safety and natural life of the railway, the excessive settlement of subgrade will directly cause too many problems in the process of railway using. Especially in high speed railway, these problems will be more outstanding, thus affecting the development and progress of the railway. For the foundation of traffic infrastructure in areas with soft subsoil often embankments supported by piles are necessary due to the settlement requirements. For sufficient load transfer into the piles different construction methods are possible. For the construction of a high speed railway, a cement stabilization of the embankment material and geogrid reinforcement on top of the piles were used. Before the temporary load the settlement is monitored continuously for 10 months. In this paper, the method of construction is described and important field monitoring results are presented.


Background Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined as thromboembolic complications and/or pregnancy morbidity in the presence of persistent increased titres of antiphospholipid antibodies. Nevertheless, some patients with clinical signs suggestive of APS are negative for diagnostic antibodies and may be classified as having seronegative-APS (SN-APS). Among the 'non-diagnostic' antibodies, a few studies have suggested that the IgG anti-vimentin/cardiolipin antibodies (AVA/CL) may be associated with risk of thrombosis. Aims The aim of this case report is to encourage the assessment of non-conventional antibodies in APS. Patient and methods: We report the case of a 69-year-old male patient with rapid onset of apparently unexplained multiple exclusively arterial thrombotic events in both coronary and peripheral vascular beds. Results The patient did not meet the diagnostic criteria for APS but was positive for AVA/CL, which result persisted on further testing at 3 and 6 months. Discussion Ongoing research has revealed the existence of non-criteria antibodies which may be relevant for the diagnosis of SN-APS and should be included in the classification criteria for the disease. LEARNING POINTS In patients with unexplained multiple thrombosis without the conventional antibodies of antiphospholipid syndrome, the assessment of non-conventional antibodies should be considered. IgG anti-vimentin/cardiolipin antibodies may be associated with risk of thrombosis. Arterial thrombosis could be the only manifestation of antiphospholipid syndrome.


The feasibility of a photoconductive antenna (PCA) using GaAs/AlGaAs modulation-doped heterostructures (MDH) as the photoconductive substrate is studied. Terahertz (THz) emission enhancement from a lateral transient photocurrent is achieved via a magnetic field applied transversely to the MDH sample surface, simulating PCA operation with a lateral electrical bias. Prototype PCAs are then fabricated and tested, demonstrating their THz emission and detection capabilities.


Abstract In an effort to improve the evaluation process and gain greater insight into student's perspective of the Georgia Southern University Recreation and Tourism Management (RTM) program, a unique semester-long evaluation project was integrated into the Evaluation and Research course curriculum. While University-supported course evaluations were in existence, an evaluation of the RTM program exploring issues related to curriculum, advisors, professional experiences, and internships did not exist. The most unique factor of the project was the collaboration between faculty and students as they worked side-by-side to create a student exit-survey examining various aspects of the RTM program. As a result of being a part of a real-world, collaborative effort with faculty, students experienced several benefits including (a) improved problem solving skills, (b) critical thinking ability, (c) research and evaluation skills, (d) improved professional presentation skills, and (e) participation in professional development activities beyond the classroom.


Security certification of complex systems requires a high amount of effort. As a particular challenge, today's systems are increasingly long-living and subject to continuous change. After each change of some part of the system, the whole system needs to be re-certified from scratch (since security properties are not in general modular), which is usually far too much effort. We present a tool-supported approach for security certification that minimizes the amount of effort necessary in the case of re-certification after change. It is based on an approach for model-based development of secure software which makes use of the security extension UMLsec of the Unified Modeling Language (UML). It allows the user to integrate security requirements such as secure information flow and audit security into a system design model, it supported by a security verification tool chain, and has been applied to a number of industrial applications.


This paper investigates diurnal variations in the dynamical and chemical structure of the middle atmosphere observed by UARS. Dynamical variations are of tidal nature and appear prominently in the temperature field near the equator. The temperature field is smooth enough for higher harmonics of the diurnal cycle, which are unresolved by the UARS sampling, to be negligible. Diurnal variations in the temperature field can therefore be mapped synoptically. Daily maps of the diurnal variation of temperature exhibit meridional and vertical structure typical of the propagating solar diurnal tide. Through advective and photochemical effects, diurnal variations of temperature introduce diurnal variations of ozone in the middle and upper stratosphere, chemical variations which are mapped in similar fashion. Diurnal variations of other chemical species contain higher harmonics, which are undersampled by UARS, preventing diurnal variations in those species from being mapped reliably. Instead, the average diurnal variation over a month or longer is composited from observations at individual local times. In the middle stratosphere, diurnal variations of NOx are strongly influenced by the zonal mean distribution of NOx, which in turn is controlled by the mean meridional circulation. So too are diurnal variations of ClOx but with sign opposite to those of NOx, owing to the coupling of those families.


Abstract The expected future demand for highly nutrient animal food products will push the animal production system to search for new sources of high-quality protein feedstuffs. In this scenario, economic and environmental issues will have to be considered while reducing the competition with the plant-based human food chains. Legume grains and some oilseed cakes, by-products from the oil industry, are the main protein sources for ruminants and terrestrial monogastrics such as pigs and poultry. Their relevant role will hold in the next decades, but it is necessary to increase the diversification of sources that can be grown profitably throughout the world, including European countries. Microalgae are a promising source of protein and other nutrients for animal feeding. However, an amazing richness of biologically active substances makes these organisms very interesting as feed ingredients, as their role go far beyond the supply of nutrients. Due to the limited usage of microalgae as human foodstuffs or food ingredients, low competition between microalgae-based feed and food chains is predictable. This review aims to synthesise current knowledge on minor pulses and other protein-rich plant products and microalgae, as alternative ingredients to the conventional animal protein sources, focussing on their production, availability, and nutritional values. Points of strength, weakness, opportunity and threat related to the use of these protein sources in animal feeding are separately analysed through a SWOT approach to underlie future needs in terms of research and/or technological development that could help valorise these nutrient sources as feed ingredients.


NF-κB is a critical nuclear transcriptional factor that is activated in response to cellular stresses and regulates the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and cell death. When regulated NF-κB activation is disrupted, cells undergo apoptosis. That is, constitutively elevated or dysregulated NF-κB activation leads to cell death in response to stress. These mechanisms have been shown experimentally by expressing dominant negative inhibitors of NF-κB (IκB-α) in cancer cells exposed to chemotherapeutic agents or to ionizing radiation. NF-κB also plays an important role in a novel, radiation-inducible signaling pathway that involves the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein kinase. Cells from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) are exquisitely sensitive to ionizing radiation and exhibit impaired NF-κB activation in response to this stress. Restoration of NF-κB regulation in AT fibroblasts by introducing a dominant negative form of IκB-α has resulted in correction of radiation sensitivity and a reduction of ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis. Expression of introduced ATM in AT cells results in correction of NF-κB regulation and an increase in postradiation survival without reduction in radiation-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these observations support a central role for NF-κB regulation in cellular intrinsic radiation sensitivity and apoptosis after exposure to ionizing radiation. Therefore, we hypothesize that the signaling pathway involving ATM/NF-κB/IκB offers attractive potential molecular targets for radiation sensitization in strategies to enhance the therapeutic ratio in cancer treatment.


Samples of fresh apple pomace were collected from 14 loads of apple pomace as delivered from the processing plant in October 1968 and from stored apple pomace that had been obtained in October 1967 and fed during a feeding trial from mid-November 1967 through April 1968. All samples were analyzed for dicofol (kelthane), tetradifon (tedion), DDT, DDD and DDE. For the pesticide residues in fresh apple pomace, the difference between the low and high load means was greater than 10-fold and these differences between loads were significant (P<.01) for DDT, DDD and DDE. The pesticide residue content of stored apple pomace during a feeding trial ranged from .36 to 1.16 ppm for dicofol, .07 to .53 for tetradifon, 1.00 to 3.57 for DDT, .38 to .94 for DDD and .30 to .74 for DDE, which demonstrated potentially wide variation in pesticide intake during an apple pomaee feeding period. Accumulation of pesticide residues in the fat depots of 28 pregnant beef cows was significant when apple pomace was fed for 160 days. Accumulation of residues was not affected by the type of nitrogen supplementation or by the inclusion of oil in the diet. Accumulation of residues appeared greater when pesticides were added to a simulated apple pomace diet than when apple pomace was fed. Tetradifon, DDT and DDD accumulated at a similar rate in fat tissue; 29% as fast as DDE. Dicofol accumulated 8% as fast as tetradifon. Total DDT residues (sum of DDT, DDD and DDE) were highest in heart fat, lowest in brisket and


Echolocating bats (Eptesicus fuscus) can perceive changes of as little as 3 degrees of arc in the vertical angles separating pairs of horizontal rods. This acuity depends upon modification of sounds entering the external ear canal by the structures of the external ear. Deflection of the tragus degrades the acuity of vertical-angle perception from 3 degrees to about 12 degrees to 14 degrees. The pinna-tragus structure produces a strong secondary echo of sounds entering the external ear canal, and the delay of this echo after the time when the sound directly enters the ear canal apparently encodes the vertical direction of a sound source.


A computationally-efficient algorithm for blind Doppler frequency estimation from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals is proposed. The objective of this algorithm is to estimate the Doppler frequency of received low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite OFDM signals, which are planned for massive future deployment. A method for resolving the ambiguity in the resulting Doppler estimate is discussed. To demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm, and knowing that the considered LEO satellite constellations are not fully deployed yet, experiments are conducted with real terrestrial fifth-generation (5G) New Radio (NR) signals. The experimental results show a ground vehicle traversing a 6.5 km trajectory in 700 seconds, while blindly estimating the Doppler frequency of received 5G signals, achieving a Doppler root mean squared-error (RMSE) of 6.45 Hz.


Consumer behavior is driven, in part, by the degree to which goods and services appeal to underlying motives for agency and communion. The purpose of this research was to develop a brief individual differences measure of these motivations for use in behavioral research and theoretical and applied consumer psychology and marketing studies. We employed a bi-lingual scale development procedure to create the 10-item Agentic and Communal Consumer Motivation Inventory (ACCMI) in English and French. Two studies show that the ACCMI is language invariant, demonstrates convergent and discriminant validity with consumer, motivational, and interpersonal constructs, and predicts evaluations of products described in agentic and communal terms, respectively, in both languages. The general conclusion of this research is that agency and communion provide a useful framework for understanding and studying consumer buying motivations. Discussion focuses on the relevance of motivational factors for studying human behavior and the applied utility of the ACCMI.


At present, low-carbon economy has become the great trend in the development of global economy under the serious climate environment gradually. China's small and medium enterprises (SME) have taken the large proportions in national economy, which face large amount of opportunities and challenges in the wave of reform. This article analyses the current situation and the problems on development strategy, technology innovation and the path of reform of China's SME, which takes examples by the SME in some regions to improve the operating environments. It expects to change the extensive production mode, strengthen the management capability and technology innovation in China's SME. Under the basis of this research, the article concludes the relevant strategy transformation modes, which provides the references and evidences for China's SME.