Actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex nucleates new branches in actin filaments playing a key role in controlling eukaryotic cell motility. This process is tightly regulated by activating factors: ATP and WASp-family proteins. However, the mechanism of activation remains largely hypothetical. We used radiolytic protein footprinting with mass spectrometry in solution to probe the effects of nucleotide- and WASp-binding on Arp2/3. These results represent two significant advances in such footprinting approaches. First, Arp2/3 is the most complex macromolecular assembly yet examined; second, only a few picomoles of Arp2/3 was required for individual experiments. In terms of structural biology of Arp 2/3, we find that ATP binding induces conformational changes within Arp2/3 complex in Arp3 (localized in peptide segments 5–18, 212–225, and 318–327) and Arp2 (within peptide segment 300–316). These data are consistent with nucleotide docking within the nucleotide clefts of the actin-related proteins promoting closure of the cleft of the Arp3 subunit. However, ATP binding does not induce conformational changes in the other Arp subunits. Arp2/3 complex binds to WASp within the C subdomain at residue Met 474 and within the A subdomain to Trp 500. Our data suggest a bivalent attachment of WASp to Arp3 (within peptides 162–191 and 318–329) and Arp2 (within peptides 66–80 and 87–97). WASp-dependent protections from oxidation within peptides 54–65 and 80–91 of Arp3 and in peptides 300–316 of Arp2 suggest domain rearrangements of Arp2 and Arp3 resulting in a closed conformational state consistent with an "actin-dimer" model for the active state.


Using the corresponding Fresnel formula of anisotropic uniaxial crystal the transmissivity and reflectivity is calculated when the light passes the interface of Nicol prism, the shortcoming of a paper elsewhere is also pointed out in this aspect.


The interpretation in a gender perspective of the Shari'a texts is a central issue for feminine and feminist theology in Islam. The roots of a 'feminist ijtihad' are in the first women's rights movements that developed in the Arab countries at the end of the nineteenth century. They were closely related to the arabic nationalism and Colonial and post colonial dynamics. Aisha Abdurrahman (Bint Shati, 1913-1998) was a forerunner of Arab and Muslim feminism. His literary tafsir's work laid the foundation for a historical interpretation of the Koran. Her modern literary approach did not break with classical exegesis, but its new perspective had a great influence on the feminist exegesis of the twentieth century. The article highlights the life and study path of Bint Shati and the characteristics of his method, considering the important influences on the contemporary feminist ijthad.


OBJECTIVE: To discuss the features of qingkailing injection-induced ADRs.METHODS: Qingkailing injection-induced ADR cases reported in domestic pharmaceutical journals from 1994 to 2005 were retrieved and analyzed statistically.RESULTS: The ADRs induced by qingkailing injection were independent of patient's sex and age.Its chief clinical manifestations were allergic reactions or anaphylactic shock in serious cases.Of the total ADR cases induced by qingkailing injection,110(64.71%) occurred within 30 min after injection,151(88.82%) occurred in the initial user,which showed that the ADRs characterized by immediate type on initial use and tachy type.CONCLUSION: Clinical physicians and pharmacists should be alert to the ADRs induced by qingkailing injection;meanwhile they should follow rational use of drugs.


In this paper, we prove the supercylicity for a tuple of operators in the strong operator topology and in the norm of Hilbert-Schmidt operators. Also, the same result for hypercyclicity of tuples is considered. AMS Subject Classification: 47B37, 47B33


ABSTRACT In order to understand the needs for academic-level staff in the food system, this chapter first tries to investigate today's tendencies in this system in Europe. With reference to the FAST publications structural changes, some technical developments and consumer attitudes are discussed. The food system in Europe will in the future be much more internationally integrated and this will influence the development of all elements of the food chain and require new and different roles for many of tomorrow's food technologists. An outline diagram of the food chain is given and the elements of this chain are defined: production, processing, distribution and catering. The food chain is, however, not an isolated system, and its interactions with other industries and activities in society are demonstrated. The corresponding contacts and cooperation for these interactions also require food technologists with special knowledge. In conclusion, there is a need to integrate several new subjects into the curricula of the universities teaching food technology students, in order for them to meet the needs of tomorrow, or maybe already today. But the students' programmes are already full and this results in a dilemma: it is not possible to add more courses if we do not take away something else.


Background: Despite the increasing frequency of anaphylaxis, there is inadequate information on the etiology and clinical features in various countries, regions and age groups, especially in developing countries. Objective: Our aim is to assess the etiology and clinical findings of anaphylaxis in Turkey. Gathering reliable data about the etiology and clinical findings of anaphylaxis in the general population will decrease the related morbidity and mortality. Methods: Individuals who had been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis were evaluated by a phone survey. Demographic data, clinical history of the first episode of anaphylaxis including the triggering agent, clinical findings, course of hospitalization, and the management of anaphylaxis were queried. Results: A total of 843 patients with a mean age of 21.4±17.3 years were evaluated. There was a significant male predominance among children younger than 10 years of age but a female predominance in older subjects. The most common causes of anaphylaxis were foods(40.1%) in children and bee venom(60.8%) in adults. The biphasic reaction rate was 4.3% and the median length of stay at an emergency department was 4.0 hours. Almost 60% of the patients had recurrent anaphylaxis episodes. Only 10.7% of the cases were prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector and only 59.2% of the patients were referred to an allergist during discharge from the emergency department. Conclusion: The venom-induced anaphylaxis rate was slightly higher in our study compared to previous studies. Low rate of epinephrine auto-injector prescription in emergency services show the importance of educational programs for physicians on the management of anaphylaxis.


During the past two and one-half years, work in this laboratory has been directed toward the study of human pulmonary secretions in health and disease. For this purpose the secretions of three groups of patients have been examined: so-called "normal" secretions from a group of laryngectomized patients, secretions from patients with bronchiectasis, and secretions from a group of patients with cystic fibrosis. The pulmonary secretions were collected essentially according to the method of Denton,' and then stored a t -770" C. prior to use. TABLE 1 shows that the per cent solids in the secretions of the "normal" and bronchiectasis groups is about half the value found for the cystic fibrosis group, whereas ash content is highest in the "normal" group, intermediate in bronchiectasis, and lowest in cystic fibrosis. It was of interest to examine the inorganic constituents of the secretions, and the same table shows that sodium and chloride parallel the relationship observed for total ash content, that is highest in the "normal," intermediate in bronchiectasis, and lowest in cystic fibrosis. This relationship is reversed when potassium and phosphorus content are considered. Calcium is found in highest amount in bronchiectasis secretions, whereas the cystic fibrosis secretions are intermediate in magnitude and elevated with respect to the "normal" secretions. TABLE 2 summarizes the protein, lipid, and carbohydrate content of the three groups of secretions. Total protein is highest in cystic fibrosis and lower in amount in bronchiectasis secretions. The "normal" secretions contain the smallest amount of protein. About 70 to 80 per cent of the total nitrogen of the three groups is present as protein nitrogen. The values in the table for total carbohydrate represent the additive sum of hexosamine, hexose, methyl pentose, and sialic acid, and parallel the relationship observed for total protein. However the differences between the groups are not significant. The results of analyses for total lipid in the secretions of the three groups of patients show that the values are in the same relationship as total protein and carbohydrate. TABLE 3 summarizes the over-all chemical composition of the secretions of the three groups. The values for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content illustrated in the table were determined by Schmidt-Thannhauser fractionation.2 The table shows that there is a spectrum of values for DNA, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate ranging from the low in the "normal" group to the highest values in the cystic fibrosis group. The values for the bronchiectasis secretions are all intermediate. The experimental data has been uniformly presented on a wet weight basis. Because of the elevated values for total lipid and protein in cystic fibrosis secretions, calculation of the other components of the cystic fibrosis secretions on a dry weight basis yields values which are deceptively low relative to the other two groups of secretions. The similarity between our results and those of Chernick and Barbero3 on secretions


Paracaphylla setifemorata, sp.n., the second species for the genus, an Eriophyidae - Phyllocoptinae acarina from Hydrangea sp. (Saxifragaceae) in Brazil, is described and figured.


In Wireless communication, Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) systems have always been quite popular. Multicarrier systems are established along with different techniques of space-time coding to accomplish the demands of these systems. One of the most popular techniques is Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access (MC-CDMA) with Alamouti's Space-Time Block Codes (STBC). This article, proposed the Fuzzy Logic empowered Adaptive Back Propagation Neural Network (FLeABPNN) based Multi User Detection (MUD) system, which is used to determine the receiver weights of MC-CDMA with the scheme of two variations. The proposed FLeABPNN approach takes advantage of a neuro-fuzzy hybrid system which conglomerates the competences of both fuzzy logic and neural networks for multi-user detection. It is observed that due to the fuzzy logic-based learning rate, proposed FLeABPNN based receiver without relationship & with relationship achieved the 3.04× 10−06 and 2.05× 10−06 Bit Error Rate (BER) respectively. The proposed FLeABPNN based receiver gives fast convergence rate & low BER as compared to other suboptimal published techniques like GA & LMS. It also observed that the Computational Complexity of the proposed FLeABPNN based MC-CDMA receiver is less then LMS based receiver up to 18 users, but higher than GA based receiver.


F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emis-sion tomography (FDG-PET) is effective for staging of lung cancer. However, the efficacy ofFDG-PET for staging lung cancer after neoadjuvant treatment is still controversial. Thisstudy compared FDG-PET and computed tomography (CT) for lung cancer staging, andevaluated the ability of the two methods to predict the pathologic response of the primarytumor to neoadjuvant treatment.Patients and Methods: Twenty-two patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment followedby surgery were investigated. Eighteen patients received chemoradiotherapy and four pa-tients received chemotherapy only. One hundred and three lymph node stations in the 22patients were evaluated by FDG-PET and CT. The pathologic responses of the tumors werecompared by FDG-uptake and tumor size on CT for the 15 patients who underwent FDG-PET and CT both before and after neoadjuvant treatment.Results: There was no significant difference in the ability of FDG-PET or CT to predictresidual viable tumor. Although positive predictive value by FDG-PET (0.29) was lower thanthat by CT (0.64) (p


Anisotropy influences many aspects of seismic wave propagation and, therefore, has implications for conventional processing schemes. It also holds information about the nature of the medium. To estimate anisotropy, we need both forward modeling and inversion tools. Forward modeling in anisotropic media is generally done by ray tracing. We present a new and fast method using the τ‐p transform to calculate exact reflection‐moveout curves in stratified, laterally homogeneous, anisotropic media for all pure‐mode and converted phases which requires no conventional ray tracing. Moreover, we obtain the common conversion points for both P‐SV and P‐SH converted waves. Results are exact for arbitrary strength of anisotropy in both HTI and VTI media (transverse isotropy with a horizontal or vertical symmetry axis, respectively).Since inversion for anisotropic parameters is a highly nonunique problem, we also develop expressions describing the phase velocities that require only a reduced number of parameters for both...


Background: TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a pleiotropic cytokine, which plays a key role in the immune system as well as in controlling the balance of apoptosis and proliferation in various organs and tissues. Objective: To investigate the presence and levels of soluble TRAIL in human colostrum and milk. Methods: The levels of soluble human TRAIL were measured in human colostrum (day 2 after delivery) and breast milk (day 5 after delivery). The presence of TRAIL was also measured in infant formula. Results: Levels of soluble TRAIL in the colostrum and mature human milk were, respectively, at least 400 and 100 fold higher than those detected in human serum. No TRAIL was detected in formula. Conclusion: Human soluble TRAIL is present at extremely high levels in human colostrum and human milk and might have a significant role in mediating the anti-cancer activity of human milk.


This work shows the results from an environmental practice promoted with the cooperation of elementary school students from the city of Sao Miguel do Guama - PA. Due to the constant changes in society over the years, environmental pollution becomes sometimes a result of unconscious practices. Thus, the implementation of sustainable activities is necessary also in schools once we have students in formation process. In this sense, the use of organic solid waste from school meals was used in the production of organic fertilizer using composting. This method proved to be a viable alternative to the encouragement of environmental education at school. Thus, it takes teachers and students to be good deeds agents at the place where they work and study, collaborating during the process of reuse organic waste generated in the educational institution. The ecologically formed fertilizer has been applied in the garden made with recyclates that benefit of all. It is important to note that work in this area also help to build important skills in elementary school.


An in situ cutting technique has been developed to expose bare lithium metal in various organic electrolyte environments. The corrosion potential-time transients have been measured. The electrolytes investigated were LiAsF/sub 6/, LiPF/sub 6/, LiBF/sub 4/, LiClO/sub 4/, and Li(CF/sub 3/SO/sub 2/)/sub 2/N in tetrahydrofuran (THF), 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran (2Me-THF), and propylene carbonate (PC). The transients permit the ranking of the reactivity of the electrolytes and show that the passivating reactions are completed in less than one second, even for very carefully purified electrolytes. Cyclic voltammetry and normal Raman spectroscopy (NRS) have also been used to characterize the lithium/organic electrolyte interface. For LiAsF/sub 4//THF and 2Me-THF, NRS has given evidence for reduction of As(V) to As(III) by the bare lithium metal at open-circuit potential. The measurements have shed light on the understanding of the stability of various salts and solvents in contact with lithium.<<ETX>>


Objective To explore the nursing measure of upper limb swelling caused by PICC catheter.Method We gave symptomatic treatment in time,guided the patients to perform physical exercise and gave topical drugs to relieve the swelling degree caused by PICC catheter.Results In 250 cases,25 patients had limb swelling.After nursing intervention,swelling disappeared in 22 cases,1 case had to extubate.Conclusion Patients with the PICC tube due to the tension,the stimulating catheter and react spasm,can cause local blood circulation obstacle,and appear local edema,pain.We can prevent or reduce swelling occurs through effective nursing measures.


A .ppt presentation which explains how to spin a yarn or tell a story stressing the importance of narration, description and dialogue.


We explore the possibility of synchro-curvature maser in the magnetosphere of neutron stars (NSs). Unlike previous studies, we employ relativistic quantum mechanics, solving the Dirac equation for an electron in helical magnetic fields and calculating the radiative transition rates perturbatively. Assuming that the curvature of magnetic-field lines is much larger than the Larmor radius, we utilize adiabatic spinor rotations to obtain the wave functions of an electron. We classify the electron states further either by the spin operator projected on the magnetic field or by the helicity operator. We then evaluate numerically the true absorption rates accounting for the induced emission for some parameter values typical to the outer gaps of different types of NSs. We show that maser is indeed possible for a range of parameters. We will also present the dependence on those parameters systematically. We finally give a crude estimate of the amplification factor in the outer gap of NSs, which seems to favor millisecond pulsars as the host of maser emissions.


The education has shifted from the traditional applications to the technology use in the classrooms. In this case, the role of teacher's in the application of technology into education has become an essential part of the research in this area. Also, in higher education, teachers become the key factors to the effective use of technology in the teaching and learning processes. In this case, teachers' technology acceptance level remains an important issue. The purpose of this study is to examine the technology acceptance level of teachers at Anadolu University School of Foreign Languages to test the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) that determines the variables influencing individuals' technology acceptance. Technology acceptance refers to the adoption and use of technologies in the way they were designed for. A mixed research method will be used in this research. Firstly, a Likert scale type of questionnaire will be administered to measure UTAUT and the attitudes of teacher's towards the technology and then interviews will be conducted to get a deeper information. The participants will be the lecturers who have started using technology recently at Anadolu University School of Foreign Languages.


The content of phenolic compounds in grape skins of the red grape variety 'Merlot' using different extraction solvents and analytical techniques were studied. The 1% solution of 2,6-di-rert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) in methanol and ethanol/formic acid/water solution were used as extraction media, and the content of phenolic compounds was determined using HPLC and spectrophotometry. Methanol compared to ethanol/formic acid/water performed better, as statistically significantly higher contents were determined. The following contents were determined: (+)-catechin 68-74 mg kg -1 , (-)-epicatechin 32-35 mg kg -1 , oenin 440-450 mgkg -1 ,rutin2.9-3.5 mg kg -1 ,myricetin 0.4-0.5 mg kg -1 , kaempferol 2.3 mg kg -1 andquercetin3.2-3.6 mg kg -1 . Using spectrophotometry, an arbitrary procedure was followed for determination of phenolic compounds extracted with ethanol/formic acid/water. Thus, the content of total phenols (791-1127 mg kg -1 ), tartaric esters (219 mg kg -1 ) flavonols (163-167 mg kg -1 ) and total anthocyanins (2179-2219 mg kg -1 ) was determined. A comparison with literature data is difficult due to different varieties studied, ecological conditions, ripening stage, analytical methods etc., but some similarities can be observed. For our understanding of the process of grape maturation and its quality, it is of importance to develop a reliable and simple method.


The design of security processor is resource-intensive and time-consuming. By using the configuration method of open processor IP core Leon2 and the simulation function of ModelSim, this paper tries to design a platform supporting the security application. It analyzes the features of the processor platform and the configuration approach of Leon2, and designs the configurable project for the security application. In the simulation experiments, the security functions of the platform is realized successfully, and its feasibility is verified in a systemic way. The final result indicates that the platform can work successfully. Furthermore by running the "paranoia" program, the numerical calculation is verified. Compared with other existing methods, the proposed method in this paper is more abstemious in resource and time, and can configure many coprocessors by modifying the package program.


The application and the notices of wort filter in beer production were introduced in this paper.The production practice suggested that the use of wort filter for wort treatment could not only get over the disadvantages of traditional filter tank but also meet the basic requirements of wort filtration.The use of wort filter had the advantages including high-efficiency, high-quality wort and evident economic benefits.


Compared with battle injury,higher burning incidence,increased rate of limb fracture and traumatic amputation,more combined injuries and higher mortality are found among the armored forces' battle injuries in the early period through the research towards former battle injuries.With the application of new technologies and materials,the front protective ability of armored vehicles is being improved and a large part of the vehicle will not be punctured,while raided by anti-armored weapons.The characteristics of armored forces' battle injuries are changed based on whether the armored vehicles have been punctured,resulting in different factors and mechanisms.In addition,higher incidence of traumatic brain injuries may be in relation with this reason.The following will summarize the research progress of armored vehicle passengers' explosion injuries.


The wide use of digital media in these recent days has led to an increase of digital piracy and tampering especially for biometric identification system. This research presents the concept of information hiding and one of its sub areas is called fragile image watermarking. While the biometrics techniques offer a reliable method for personal identification, the problem of security and integrity of the biometrics data is studied. This research had proposed an architectural framework that will apply information hiding method into biometric identification system. A fingerprint watermarking method has been used to hide additional information into fingerprint images by changing the least significant bit value of a random chosen pixel of the image. The embedded information can be extracted without referencing to the original image. Table and charts are presented to show the image quality of the watermarked
fingerprint images comparing to the unwatermarked(original) images. The performance of the biometric identification system when using both kinds of images is also presented. The watermark payload that can be embedded into one image is then analyzed. This study can be use for image authentication especially to detect whether the image has been tampered by image processing intention such as noise addition and blurring.


Vll LIST OF FIGURES Vlll INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER I. PRIVACY 9 CHAPTER II. SUBURBAN ILLUSION 28 CHAPTER III. OCCUPATION 48 CHAPTER IV. INTERVENTION 55 CONCLUSION 85 REFERENCES 92 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 99


Dynamic networks are complex networks as their structures and node features change over time. However, they can better represent the real world, thus attracting the interest of researchers. Although realistic dynamic networks often exhibit changes in their patterns, the existing dynamic network models tend to classify all the snapshots as having the same pattern to learn during their embedding. These embedding models ignore a large amount of information about the patterns of dynamic networks. So, it is necessary to design a dedicated framework for learning the patterns of dynamic networks. Accordingly, this paper proposes a new framework, namely the NFE-PCN framework for effectively extracting information about the change in the patterns of networks. Specifically, the framework first determines the pattern in which the dynamic network snapshot is located, and then enhances the node information between networks by maintaining the same pattern. We conduct experiments with both real and artificial datasets for predicting links and classifying nodes. The obtained results show that the existing model under this framework decreases the computational effort in dynamic network embedding. The performance in the network embedding is improved by up to 29%, which is quite significant.


Subgrid modeling of a filtration flow of a fluid in a inhomogeneous porous medium is considered. An expression for the effective permeability coefficient for the large-scale component of the flow is derived using a scale-invariant hypothesis. The permeability coefficient possesses a log-stable distribution.


In order to satisfy the establishment of agriculture of China,a greenhouse intelligent testing system was introduced in this paper,Which was composed by main-controller and peripheral components.MCS-51 single chip took the role of main controller,most of peripheral components were sensors which were used to measure temperature,humidity,carbon dioxide,etc.This system has many advantages,such as display intuitionsticly,accurate,stable and easy to use.It′s the representation of the latest development tendency of greenhouse testing system.Cost-performance was took into account seriously during the process of design.By testing,the result was coherent with the design requirement.


U2, observing that the band wants to preserve basic truths and traditions. In support of his thesis, Catanzarite points to the band's embracing of Christian values. However, Catanzarite seems to ignore the socialist tradition within Christianity; after all, Jesus was a working-class carpenter who drove the moneychangers from the temple. As an editor, Calhoun reserves the right to the final word, placing U2 within a progressive orientation in which the future promises a better world. Calhoun concludes, "U2 has been looking ahead for over thirty-five years, an eon for a rock band, and still believes that the future is better" (258). Exploring U2 is a fascinating anthology that will provide readers, both aficionados and novices, with an appraisal of the band's influence upon contemporary music, theology, politics, and culture. It will also encourage the reader to re-examine U2's music by uploading the I-pod or placing some vinyl on the turntable.


It is commonly believed that large dielectric constants are required for efficient charge separation in polymer photovoltaic devices. However, many polymers used in high‐performance solar cells do not possess high dielectric constants. In this work, the effect of polymer–fullerene interactions on the dielectric environment of the active layer blend and the device performance for several donor–acceptor conjugated polymer systems is investigated. It is found that, while none of the high‐performing polymers studied has a dielectric constant value larger than 3, all polymer–fullerene blends have a significantly larger dielectric constant compared to their pristine constituents. Additionally, it is found that the blend dielectric constant reaches a maximum value in fully optimized devices. Using PTB7:PC71BM blends as an example, it is showed that, in addition to a small increase in the dielectric constant, devices fabricated using the optimum processing additive concentration exhibit almost 3X larger excited state polarizability. This large increase in excited state polarizability results in a substantial difference in short‐circuit current and ultimately device performance. The results show that the excited state polarizability critically depends on polymer–fullerene interactions, and can be a leading indicator of device performance for a given material system.

publisher-specific, author manuscript: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions


Purpose. The work involves the development of a numerical model for calculating the «vulnerability» zone of a possible terrorist attack objective with the use of a chemical agent in a built-up environment. The «vulnerability» zone is a territory near the attack objective, where the emission of a chemical agent during the attack will lead to undesirable consequences. The emission of a chemical agent outside the «vulnerability» zone will not create a dangerous concentration near the attack objective. Methodology. To solve this problem, we use the equation for the velocity potential, on the basis of which we determine the wind stream velocity field, and the equation adjoint to the equation of mass transfer in the atmospheric air of the chemical agent emitted in the event of a terrorist attack. During simulation, we take into account the uneven wind stream velocity field, atmospheric diffusion and the rate of emission of a chemically hazardous substance. For the numerical integration of the velocity potential equation, we use the method of A. A. Samarsky. For numerical solution of the adjoint equation, we introduce new variables and use an implicit difference splitting scheme. The peculiarity of the developed numerical model is the possibility of operative estimation of the «vulnerability» zone near a possible attack objective. Findings . The developed numerical model and computer program can be used for scientifically grounded assessment of the «vulnerability» zone near significant facilities in the event of possible attacks with the use of chemical (biological) agents. The constructed numerical model can be implemented on computers of small and medium power, which allows it to be widely used to solve the problems of this class when developing the emergency response plan. The results of the computational experiment are presented, which allow us to evaluate the possibilities of the proposed numerical model. Originality . An effective numerical model is proposed for calculating the «vulnerability» zone near the facility, which may be the target of a terrorist attack with the use of a chemical agent. The model is based on the numerical integration of the velocity potential equation and the equation adjoint to the equation of mass transfer of a chemically dangerous substance in the atmosphere. Practical value. The developed model can be used to organize protective actions near the target facility of a possible chemical attack by terrorists.


Since the industrial revolution, acid rain has caused the leaching of nutrients such as calcium from forest soils, resulting in declines in the health and biomass production of northern US hardwood forests (Likens 2004). To reverse the effects of calcium loss, scientists added 50 tons of wollastonite (CaSiO 3) to the soils of a small watershed in Hubbard Brook Valley, NH in 1999. In July and August 2005, 100 American Beech (Fagus gradinfolia) saplings were harvested, 25 from each of four sites: upper control, lower control, upper calcium and lower calcium. I recorded the age, height, and diameter for each sapling, and determined the yearly extension and radial growth rates for the last 15-20 years. Due to the occurrence of a winter ice storm at the upper elevations in January 1998, saplings in these sections (upper control and upper calcium), had significantly higher radial and extension growth rates as compared to saplings in the lower sections of the watersheds. Although increased calcium concentrations in leaf samples show that soil calcium is being taken up by the saplings, any impact of the calcium on growth rates is being drowned out by other local environmental factors (climate, site-to-site differences).


Argentina entered the twenty-first century in political and economic turmoil. Twenty-plus years later, the nation continues to muddle through even as the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its economic and societal toll. Politically, Argentina continues to operate as a liberal democracy. Elections take place on a regular basis (with the exception of delays due to the pandemic) and political parties and groups align to jockey for position in upcoming elections. In 2015, the country saw its first president elected who was neither a Peronist nor a member of the Radical Civic Union Party. Still, Peronism as a political party and a political movement dominates in national, regional, and local politics. Economically, Argentina continues to have challenges with fiscal and monetary reform. The pandemic delayed ongoing discussions on debt repayment and the problems of creating sustained economic growth persist, with no end in sight. On the social front, Argentina has made giant strides toward creating a more inclusive society. It is a world leader in legislating same sex marriage and gender identity laws, designed to recognize the rights of gays, lesbians, and transgender people. Women's rights have also advanced, with abortion rights legislation passed in early 2021. A gender quota law for political party representation has advanced the participation of women in the nation's politics. © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade.


This study analyzes the relationships between land use pattern and generation of non-point pollutants in watershed areas. The land use pattern is identified by the area ratio and spatial pattern of impervious surfaces such as roads and roofs of buildings. The intensity of non-point pollutants generation is measured by non-point pollutants load per unit area in a watershed. A regression model is developed to examine the impacts of land use pattern on non-point pollutants generation. The explanatory variables include the amount of rainfall, the duration of preceding non-rainy days, a seasonal dummy, the impervious surface area ratio, the clustering index of buildings, and the distance index of building groups to the rivers, The findings based on the estimation results are as follows : Firstly, a high ratio of impervious surfaces (building and road) increases non-point pollutant loads in the watershed. Secondly, the spatial pattern of impervious surfaces also affects the non-point pollutants load. As buildings are clustered and located near the river, non-point pollutants load increases.


This essay traces the expansion of memory studies as a discipline through the lens of the Venice Ghetto and reveals how a particular memory-space can be used comparatively to study other, far-flung spaces. The Venice Ghetto has a site-specific history and local regime of memory. But, as an archetype whose blueprints have been used globally, we can also deduce patterns of memory that can be applied to the psycho-geography of other site-specific places. After visiting the Ghetto during the summer of 2016—the 500th anniversary of its founding as the world's first ghetto—we have taken a more psycho-geographical approach to teaching the relationship between space and memory, with the objective of bringing the field of memory studies into the globalized, twenty-first century. The 500th anniversary of the establishment of the Venice Ghetto in 2016 inspired an outpouring of scholarship, commemorative exhibitions, and public discussion of the legacy of religious discrimination and segregation.1 The Venice Ghetto Collaboration, founded by an interdisciplinary and mutually supportive working group of humanities scholars interested in a set of shared questions, develops projects that examine both the specificity of the Venice Ghetto and the symbolic power of ghettos more generally. The Collaboration recently launched its first digital project, "Approaches to Teaching the Ghetto in a Global Context." This tool, developed to help teachers create and tailor courses on the broad topic of ghettos, is divided into modular units, each of which provides a set of learning objectives and suggested reading assignments. Beyond teaching the history, conditions, and GJSS Vol. 15, Issue 2 28 lived experience of the Venice Ghetto, we want instructors to encourage students to consider the connections between the physical spaces of global ghettos and the way that historical ghettos are imagined, remembered, and memorialized. The term "ghetto" originated with the founding of the Venice Ghetto in 1516. In the midst of a war, the Republic of Venice allowed Jews to move to their island city so that the state could more easily borrow funds from Jewish moneylenders. To prevent Jews from "contaminating" or converting Venetian Christians, however, they restricted their residence to a small island in the neighborhood of Cannaregio that had formerly been the city's copper foundry—il ghetto, from the Italian root gettare meaning "to cast" or "to throw." This was not the first time that Jews were forced to live in a segregated, confined and guarded space, but as other cities in the Papal States like Rome and Florence likewise began establishing Jewish quarters, they referred to these areas by the name "ghetto" (Goldman & Trotter, 2018). From the Venice Ghetto's founding until the gates finally fell in 1797, the Ghetto was a densely crowded but also intensely vibrant space. Jews were allowed to practice their religion and established several synagogues; they also governed their own communal affairs, ran commercial enterprises, creatively renovated what little space they had and supported artistic and literary production. They nonetheless lived under the scrutiny of the state, paid exorbitant taxes, and rented from exploitative landlords who neglected their buildings (Sennett, 1994). After the Napoleonic invasion that brought down the Venetian Republic, Jews steadily abandoned the ghetto and scattered throughout the city (Bassi, 2013). A Jewish presence nonetheless remains; a small number of Jewish residents still live in the neighborhood's tall apartment buildings, several kosher restaurants operate along its narrow streets, Chabad occupies a storefront, one congregation still worships in the largest of the Ghetto synagogues, and the Jewish Museum of Venice anchors the large Campo di Ghetto Nuovo. "Approaches to Teaching the Ghetto in a Global Context" reveals how the Venice Ghetto, as a particular memory-space, can be used comparatively to study other, far-flung spaces. The Venice Ghetto has a site-specific history and local regime of memory. It is at once a memory space and a living space, where visitors see the past and the present in juxtaposition. Observing residents and tourists entering and exiting the old walls illuminates the difference between past confinement and the present freedom of movement. The density of buildings and people 29 Trostel & Oren: The Venice Ghetto at 500 highlights how confinement affected Ghetto dwellers, but the endurance of Jewish residents and Jewish institutions also reveals how confinement created lasting traditions, networks, and structures that supported and sustained the Ghetto's community. The Ghetto is an archetype whose blueprints have been used globally, however, and exploring the physical space of the contemporary Venice Ghetto also reveals patterns of memory that can be applied to the psycho-geography of other ghettos across time and space. How has the Venice Ghetto as a kind of global metaphor come to influence other sites and eras as an organizational model for cities, as a simultaneous symbol of exclusion and inclusion, as a marker of difference? The term "ghetto" traveled to the United States with Jewish immigrants, who referred to their densely but (mostly) voluntarily populated Jewish neighborhoods as "ghettos." As Jim Crow laws in the South and restrictive covenants in northern cities segregated African Americans into urban neighborhoods, "ghetto" increasingly crept into black discourse as a descriptor of these neighborhoods because the term drew a useful political parallel between anti-Semitism and racial discrimination. Although the strategies used to restrict Jews and African Americans to certain residential spaces differed widely, the results were similar: a cycle of disinvestment, decaying housing, and the foreclosure of economic and educational opportunities reinforced arguments for why the majority should isolate the minority. In this way, to restore the memory of the ghetto as a physical space—not just a policy or abstract descriptor—opens up comparative potential (Oren, 2018). As part of opening memory studies up to new comparative possibilities, the study of history and literary places must now account for physical space. Our working group seeks to uncover the many stories that have attached themselves to this place and expands upon the idea of a traveling ghetto that has come to mean different things in different spaces and different historical contexts. Our research plots the traces that still mark the Jewish quarter and expands this exploration to embrace a conception of a "memory space that travels." Our discussions engage with questions of authenticity and of porous borders, the importance of tactility, and the layering of meanings that have attached themselves to the word "ghetto." This article in part addresses a tension that is found in memory studies itself: between those memories that are intimately bound to place—site-specific remembrances that orbit a particular space—and the inherent mobility of memory in the twenty-first century. GJSS Vol. 15, Issue 2 30 On the one hand, we collectively ask what it means to inhabit a space using more than our sense of sight. How do we encounter place through the tactile and experience its daily, social rhythms? Robert Bevan, in The Destruction of Memory: Architecture at War (2006), argues that our connection to architecture is key to preserving our cultural memory. Drawing on the seminal work of Pierre Nora, Les Lieux de Mémoire (1989), Bevan, too, argues that memory dwells in place, that it "... takes root in the concrete, in spaces, gestures, images, and objects" (Nora, 1989, p. 9). However, Bevan builds upon Nora's work to ask what might happen when these memory sites are destroyed, or in this case, radically altered over time. He notes that certain spaces inspire a call to remember—an observation that is particularly relevant with respect to the globally iconic site of the Venice Ghetto. Bevan writes that these sites of layered memory can "result in an especially strong power of place—a psycho-geography, an 'awareness' of the past (rather than an architectural avatar of a petrified spirit) that is dynamic, handed down by the people rather than recorded on the very stones" (p. 16). But, Bevan warns, "If the touchstones of identity are no longer there to be touched, memories fragment and dislocate" (p. 16). As our working group's discussions have highlighted, the Ghetto today is very different than the lived, communal space of 1516. The vibrant Jewish community that once inhabited its walls has dwindled in numbers, but its symbolic resonance as a global metaphor continues to mark its importance as a "touchstone for memory." Our Collaboration explores the possibilities of maintaining and encouraging a dynamic and palpable relationship to this site—understanding that the Ghetto itself can function as a container for memory—while simultaneously considering how it might also serve as a model for memory work across time and space. For, in addition to recognizing the importance of maintaining a relationship to the physical site of the Ghetto itself, our group seeks to emphasize that this place has implications for memory work that move beyond the literal gates of the Ghetto. In Memory Unbound: Tracing the Dynamics of Memory Studies (2016), editors Lucy Bond, Stef Craps, and Pieter Vermeulen consider the defining characteristics of what it means to do memory studies in the twenty-first century—a moment in which memories are conceived of as fluid, flexible, and mobile. Their book is organized around what they identify as the four key concepts of "memory dynamics": that memory is transcultural, that it is transgenerational, that it is transmedial, and that it is transdisciplinary. Our project is in dialogue with these new developments 31 Trostel & Oren: The Venice Ghetto at 500 in the field, as we consider how the Ghetto of Venice might serve as a m


Though clinical chemotherapy of malignant disease is only in its second decade it has already achieved a place in the management of a wide variety of malignancies. In one malignancy, choriocarcinoma, it is the treatment of choice, and there are now numerous reports in which the use of methotrexate in choriocarcinoma, either localized or with metastases, has resulted in a very high percentage of cures.


The undersea acoustic communication channels are severely band-limited resulting in relatively low data rates compared to those achievable in RF communications. As the ocean noise being complex and non-Gaussian, which arise due to numerous mechanisms including weather, surface wave action, biologics, shipping and industrial noises near the coastline, spread spectrum communication technique is an ideal choice for improving the bit error rate performance of undersea communication systems. The spreading of the spectral bandwidth also results in accomplishing secure communications thus, increasing the resistance to interference, and noise rejection. In view of the behaving of the undersea channels for the propagation of acoustic signals a study has been carried out to simulate the effects of underwater channel using BPSK based direct sequence spread spectrum systems with improved performance incorporating the undersea channel impulse responses, under varying environmental conditions.


Abstract A review is presented of the mathematical treatment of the development of surface topography of amorphous materials bombarded by an energetic beam of particles. In the first section the relevant analytical equations are presented and extended to include surface diffusion. In general the complete analytical approach is shown to be intractable, but in the second section some of the equations are adapted to suit computer programmes which allow calculation of the development of a surface contour provided the original contour and the functional relationship between sputtering coefficient and angle (S(θ)) are specified. Finally, geometrical construction techniques, which allow the topographical development to be predicted, are discussed and a new cursor, which evolves from the appropriate S,θ relationship, is shown to be significantly simpler to use than the erosion slowness curve when making a geometrical construction of the evolving surface.


BACKGROUND
Previous studies have suggested that there is cross-reactivity in subjects sensitive to natural rubber proteins with other plant proteins such as banana, chestnut, and avocado. There are numerous other plants known to produce rubber including Parthenium argentatum and Ficus elastica. It is not known whether patients with IgE-mediated systemic reactions caused by the common source of natural rubber Hevea brasiliensis are also sensitive to the rubber-containing material from these other plant sources of latex. It is also not certain how much the allergenicity of latex made from Hevea brasiliensis can be reduced by extracting proteins from the sap since some proteins are tightly associated with the cis-1,4-polyisoprene.

OBJECTIVE
In this study we investigated whether there would be cross-reactivity to other natural sources of latex in these patients.

METHODS
Seven patients with histories of systemic type I hypersensitivity to latex products had strongly positive skin tests to Hevea brasiliensis latex from two different sources. These subjects were tested by the prick method for sensitivity to three other natural sources of latex. These included latex-containing material from Parthenium-argentatum and Ficus elastica as well as washed and centrifuged rubber particles from Hevea brasiliensis sap.

RESULTS
All subjects had negative skin tests to all dilutions of the rubber samples from these other natural sources of latex.

CONCLUSION
These results suggest several potential sources of natural hypoallergenic latex that might be tolerated by latex-sensitive individuals.


Understanding the nature of Extremely Red Objects [EROs; (I-K)>=4] is one of the most challenging issues in observational cosmology. Here we report on the X-ray constraints provided by the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North Survey (CDF-N). X-ray emission has been detected from 11 out of 36 EROs (approx 30%). Five of these have hard X-ray emission and appear to be obscured AGNs, while non-AGN emission (star formation or normal elliptical galaxy emission) is likely to be the dominant source of X-rays from the soft X-ray sources detected at the faintest X-ray flux levels.


Within the last two decades, major advances have been made in the development of effective treatments for erectile dysfunction. Oral therapy is now established as the mainstay of treatment and new treatments continue to emerge following the launch of sildenafil in 1998. We review here modern treatment strategies for erectile dysfunction.


In the second part of their series on leadership, Elaine McInnes and Terry Rich discuss how different people respond to change, and ways in which leaders can support them.


Phytochemical screening provides first hand knowledge of plants chemical constituents. Phytochemical Screening of the ethanolic extract of Passiflora edulis indicates the presence of the following phytochemicals: Cardiac Glycosides, Tannins, Flavanoids, Emodols, Anthracenosides, Alkaloids, Glycosides, Sterol and Triterpenes, Saponins, Phlobatinins. Cholesterol wasn't detected. In contrast, phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract of Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae) indicates the presence of all phytochemicals with the exception of Anthracenosides and Sterols and Triterpenes. The aqueous extract of both plants showed fewer phytochemicals in comparison to the ethanolic extract. For Passiflora edulis, these include Tannins, Emodols, Anthracenosides, Glycosides and Saponins, reducing sugars. For Vicia fabia, these include Tannins, Alkaloids, Glycosides, Sterol and Triterpenes and Saponins. Reducing sugars were also detected for the ethanolic extract only. The other phytochemicals weren't detected. The selective presence of phytochemicals were also evident.


The computational complexity grows exponentially for multi-level thresholding (MT) with the increase of the number of thresholds. Taking Kapur's entropy as the optimized objective function, the paper puts forward the modified quick artificial bee colony algorithm (MQABC), which employs a new distance strategy for neighborhood searches. The experimental results show that MQABC can search out the optimal thresholds efficiently, precisely, and speedily, and the thresholds are very close to the results examined by exhaustive searches. In comparison to the EMO (Electro-Magnetism optimization), which is based on Kapur's entropy, the classical ABC algorithm, and MDGWO (modified discrete grey wolf optimizer) respectively, the experimental results demonstrate that MQABC has exciting advantages over the latter three in terms of the running time in image thesholding, while maintaining the efficient segmentation quality.


This research presents an image compression algorithm using modified Haar wavelet and vector quantization. For comparison purposes, a standard Haar wavelet with vector quantization and SPIHT, which is used in JPEG2000, are compared with the proposed method using Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR). The proposed method shows better results on average over the compared methods.


particularly in colder climates; however, it may also be used to preserve life. Defined as a core temperature <35 C, hypothermia as a treatment for medical conditions is not a new practice. Ancient Greek physicians used hypothermia for various conditions including haemorrhage and trauma. More recent use has centred on its efficacy as a neuroprotective strategy. Therapeutic hypothermia was first reported scientifically by Fay in 1940 for the treatment of head injury. Most of the early use of hypothermia was at mild to moderately low temperatures, mainly for cardiac and intracranial aneurysm surgery. The first use of profound hypothermia (<30 C) for head injury was described in 1964; however, its use was restricted because of systemic complications. Accidental hypothermia causes many deaths in colder parts of the world; a third of persons do not survive temperatures of<28 C. The lowest authenticated body temperature occurred in aNorwegian skier in 1999,whowas trapped under ice in a frozen gully. She was successfully resuscitated from being clinically dead but with a core temperature of 13.7 C. Her neurological recovery was complete and she has returned to her work as a doctor! The resurgence of interest in mild hypothermia (32–35 C) for neuroprotection in the 1980s resulted form perceived benefit with a lower incidence of severe side-effects. Induced hypothermia in a modern ITU setting can now be achieved in a controlled fashion without the deleterious effects of unintentional overcooling. In certain critical care patient groups, it has demonstrable effects on improving patient outcome.


A 14-yr-old boy was first found to have tracheal stenosis when anaesthesia was induced for extensive scoliosis surgery in the prone position. There are no guidelines for airway management under these conditions. We describe how we managed the problem and suggest some useful modifications.


Objective To compare the clinical effects and stress responses of epidural PCA with intramuscular injection pethedine for patients after gynecologic operations.Methods Eighty patients undergoing hysterectomy under epidural anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups:PCEA group(n=40) and intramuscular analgesia (IM) group (n=40).The epidural catheter was inserted between L 1 and L 2 with the epidural block level betweenT6 and S5.The mixture of 0.15% bupivacaine and 0.005% morphine combined with 0.005% droperidol was administed postoperatively for PCEA by a infusion system with loading dose of 6ml,PCA dose of 0.5ml and lockout time of 15min in group PCEA,and in group IM intramuscular pethedine 1mg·kg -1 was given intermittently for postoperative analgesia.The analgesic and side effects were recorded.Blood pressure,heart rate,respiratory rate and pulse oxygen saturation were monitored for 24h postoperatively.Results In PCEA group the score of visual analog scale was significantly lower than that in group IM (P0.01) and serum cortisol level decreased markedly in PCEA group (P0.05).Blood pressure (BP),heart rate (HR),respiratory rate (RR),and SpO 2 remained steady all the time in both groups.The incidence of nausea and vomiting was obviously higher in group IM than that in group PCEA(P0.01).Conclusion PCEA after gynecologic operation with morphine and bupivacaine can provide better pain relief and inhibit postoperative stress more effectively than intramuscular injection of pethedine intermittently.


The formation of spine is a primitive evolutionary event in plants. In sago palm, studies reporting the results of RAPD and AFLP analyses showed lack of significant genetic variation among spiny and non-spiny plants. This observation led us to the hypothesis that spine formation may be an epigenetic event. The inheritance of spine formation is of high interest to plant breeders because spineless plants are preferred due to their more cost efficient handling. In this study, we analyzed the DNA methylation patterns of sago palm DNA by distinguishing methylated (5dmC) and non-methylated cytosine (dC) in HPLC analysis. We optimized HPLC conditions (nucleoside digestion, retention time of mobile phase and stop time) and identified the factors (growth environment and age of the palms) which may have affected DNA methylation levels. Our data show that a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min using C18 columns was most suitable in distinguishing between dC and 5mdC peaks. There was significant difference in methylation percentage between spiny (21.5%) and non-spiny (11.5%) palms at P ≤ 0.05, indicating that the formation of spine was an epigenetic event. Further, there was an indication that the wet environment may have caused the epigenetic event and that spine formation was also age dependent. The influence of these factors will be confirmed using a more sensitive technique such as the methylationsensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) analysis.


To investigate the merits of crystal structure prediction using ab initio computational techniques, we have used density functional (DFT) methods to investigate the relative stabilities of the four known crystalline phases of glycine and also a range of alternative putative crystal structures of the zwitterion. Energy differences are calculated using a range of exchange-correlation functionals, and it is found that the calculated relative stability of the phases is sensitive to the choice of functional. Energy differences are found to be on the order of a few tenths of a kilocalorie per mole with little separation in energy found between observed and putative structures. This result is similar to that typically obtained from force field calculations and confirms the difficulty of the task of predicting the structure of molecular crystals. Optimization of structures, including optimization of unit cells, highlights the limitation of DFT in describing the long-range dispersion interaction. Use of the local ...


In the field of LCD special display, button function durability test is essential to verify the lifetime and reliability of button light guide plate. At present, button function durability test is still performed manually, which is labor‐intensive and time‐consuming and results in the incidence of missed detection and false detection. In this paper, an automatic test system for button function durability was designed. The reciprocating pressing motion of the cylinder was used to replace the action of the manual keystroke in this work. In addition, the pressure sensor was driven by the servo motor to detect the contact force between the button trigger probe and the button, so as to realize the feedback of the button force and judge the damage degree of the button. The system achieves an acceptable effect to realize the automatic test of button fatigue life and button force value, and can be applied to test other units of special display, such as touch panel.


Synopsis

An account is given of the time of pupation, adult emergence, choice of pupation site, sex ratio and copulation behaviour of Phalanta phalantha aethiopica at Ibadan.


Exogenous growth factors normally required in cell culture activate cell proliferation via the molecular controls of cell‐cycle progression. Highly differing influences of mitogenic stimulation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by insulin and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) have been clearly observed in a defined protein‐free medium. CHO K1 cells stimulated only with insulin grow with flattened cell morphology and extensive cell–cell contact, whereas stimulation with only bFGF or bFGF plus insulin results in loss of cell‐cell contact and a transformed and rounded‐up morphology. Compared with insulin‐stimulated cells, bFGF‐stimulated cells exhibit a relatively long G1, and short S phase, and contain higher levels of cyclin E. Observation of elevated levels of cyclin E in wild‐type CHO K1 cells mitogenically stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor motivated transfection of these cells by a cyclin E expression vector. These transfectants grew rapidly in protein‐free basal medium and had similar cyclin b levels, distributions of nuclear cell‐cycle times, and cell morphologies as bFGF‐stimutated CHO K1 culture. Metabolic engineering of cell‐cycle regulation thus bypasses exogenous growth factor requirements, addressing a priority objective in economical, reproducible, and safe biopharmaceutical manufacturing. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons Inc.


Relevance: Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common oncological pathology of the endocrine organs.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 567,233 new cases of thyroid cancer were registered worldwide in 2018. According to IARC, in 2018, 486 new cases were detected in Kazakhstan, which accounted for 1.4% of all cases in Asian countries.
TC ranks 10th in the overall structure of cancer incidence globally; TC accounts for 3.1% of all cases of primary malignant tumors. Despite the relatively low incidence, the problems of pathogenesis have been extremely relevant in recent decades due to the increasing prevalence of thyroid cancer.
Samsung Medison introduced AI-based S-Detect to improve sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in the differential diagnosis of thyroid masses.
The study aimed to explore the S-Detect program capacities in differential diagnostics of thyroid masses.
Methods: 75 patients with focal lesions in the thyroid gland were examined using the Samsung Medison RS85 ultrasound machine equipped with the S-Detect program; additionally, Doppler and non-Doppler methods were used.
Results: The S-Detect program made it possible to make a correct diagnosis in 97% of patients (73 of 75), which was confirmed by the results of morphological verification (histology, cytology). The sonoelastography method showed correct results in 91% of patients (68 of 75).
Conclusion: The use of the S-Detect program for thyroid examination positively affects the diagnostic value of ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of thyroid masses, increasing the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnosis, as well as avoiding redundant biopsies.


Actuating device (100) for a clothing means (200) of a finger (300) such as a glove (210) or a finger stall (220) - with an elastic portion (110) having an outwardly curved outer surface (111) and an inwardly curved inner surface (112) for a finger tip (310) - with an electrically conductive contact area (120) on the outer surface (111) of the elastic region (110) for a contact with a touch-sensitive surface (400), - wherein the elastic region (110) of the finger tip (310) is formed by an actuating force (F1, F2) has a contact surface (Ak1, Ak2) to enlarge the electrically conductive contact area (120).


In the Passive Containment Cooling System (PCCS) design, if Loss of coolant accident (LOCA) occurs, the iodine isotopes with reactor coolant are spilled out of reactor vessel. The coolant in water phase and condensed water flow to the lower locations in the reactor containment (Containment flooding area 1 ). Then, according to NUREG-0800, Standard Review Plan (SRP), it is requested that the pH of the coolant should be above 7.0 to prevent elemental iodine evolution after LOCA [1]. For compliance with this requirement, the trisodium phosphate (TSP) with high pH are stored in steel baskets, and they are laid on the lowest floor at containment flooding area to control the pH of the water. The purpose of this paper is to assess 1) pH value of the containment flooding area and 2) iodine re-evolution from this area in LOCA condition. In order to evaluate the pH value and the iodine re-evolution, two kinds of methodologies, such as, 1) the Equilibrium constant method (ECM) and 2) the Gibbs free energy method (GFM), are applied. According to NUREG/CR-5950, in situations where pH levels fall below ~7, the formation of I2 will occur in irradiated iodide solutions, so it is recommended to maintain pH values above 7.0. The methodology of NUREG/CR-5950 is used to evaluate the iodine re-evolution as described in subsection of 2.3 of this paper [6].


The invention relates to a digital display counter calibration system and a digital display counter calibration method. The system comprises a computer, a signal generator and a reference frequency scale, wherein the computer is used for setting the count pulse number, the counter frequency (rate), measuring mode of the signal generator and sending a starting signal to the signal generator, the signal generator is connected with a digital display counter and the computer respectively, the reference frequency scale is used for sending counter pulse to the digital display counter according to the count pulse number, the counter frequency (rate), measuring mode as well as the starting signal and connected with the signal generator. The digital display counter calibration system and the digital display counter calibration method are used for calibrating accuracy of the counter pulse sent by the signal generator, and can generate accurately controlled counter pulse, and effectively solves the calibration problem of the digital display counter.


There is a lack of clarity on whether to choose a mechanical or a bioprosthetic valve for aortic valve replacement in patients between the age of 50 and 70.


identifi ed valve interstitial cell deformation as a key player in leafl et tissue homeostatic regulation and as such, used it as the metric that makes the critical link between in vitro responses to simulated equivalent in vivo behavior. Results indicated that cell responses have a delimited range of in vivo deformations that maintain a homeostatic response, suggesting that deviations from this range may lead to deleterious tissue remodeling and


This paper investigates evidence on the effect of dollar depreciation on the US tourism balance of trade. Export revenue and import spending functions are estimated separately with structural vector autoregressive methods to better capture the dynamic adjustment to exchange rate shocks. Quarterly data cover the period of floating exchange rates from 1973 through 2007. Depreciation raises long term US export revenue but there is no effect on import spending.


Objective: To study the effects of early intervention on premature infants.Methods: In 183 preterm infants,111 preterm infants were received in the treated group,and 72 patients were received in the control group,respectively.The physical and neurological conditions,Vojta posture reflex and intelligence test(Bayley) were studied.The treated group was gived early intervention methods included Bobath therapy,neurodevelopmental therapy and other methods,and the control group only received health introduction.Results:(1) Intelligence development: At six month the mental development index(MDI) and psychomotive development index(PDI) in treated group showed 4.5 scores higher than those in control group,there were no significant difference,P0.05.At 12 and 18 month treated group got 6.3 and 7.4 scores higher than that of control group,there were significant differences between two groups,P0.05.At six,twelve,and eighteen month the psychomotive development index(PDI) in treated group showed 8.3,9.3,11.3 scores higher than those in control group,there were significant differences,P0.05.(2) In treated group,the incidence of cerebral palsy and mental retardation and disability are lower than that of control group.Conclusion: The application of early intervention methods could improve the prognosis of primature infant.The early intervention might reduce the incidence of cerebral palsy,mental retardation and disability.


We discuss recent models of the evolution of massive stars at very low metallicity, including the effects of rotation, magnetic fields and binarity. Very metal poor stars lose very little mass and angular momentum during their main sequence evolution, and rotation plays a dominant role in their evolution. In rapidly rotating massive stars, the rotationally induced mixing time scale can be even shorter than the nuclear time scale throughout the main sequence. The consequent quasi‐chemically homogeneous evolution greatly differs from the standard massive star evolution that leads to formation of red giants with strong chemical stratification. Interesting outcomes of such a new mode of evolution include the formation of rapidly rotating massive Wolf‐Rayet stars that emit large amounts of ionizing photons, the formation of long gamma‐ray bursts and hypernovae, and the production of large amounts of primary nitrogen. We show that binary interactions can further enhance the effects of rotation, as mass accretio...


A measure of the changes in soil water which induce water deficits–and thus physiological stress–in the tissues of plants is described, and named the stress index. Known outbreaks of psyllids throughout Australia were strongly correlated with suddenly increasing high levels of this stress index. It is postulated that physiological stress of plants at these times increased the amount of nitrogeneous food available to the psyllids, thus greatly increasing the chances of young surviving and reproducing. A similar correlation of outbreaks of other sorts of phytophagous insects with the appropriate stress index has been found, and it is suggested that herein may lie an ecological generalization of some significance. See full-text article at JSTOR


This paper brings together the results of two other papers. The earlier of these two papers suggests that the number of accidents at a T-junction would increase if that junction were made into two T-junctions. The later paper demonstrates the savings in delay to side road traffic wishing to enter the main road which would be obtained by splitting a simplified junction into two. In the comparison made in this paper of these results it is found likely that the expected accident costs would be higher than the value of the delay saved.


An account of 21st century problem-based learning (PBL) in preclinical medical education is provided through a detailed explanation of the overall process, a description of PBL case construction, and a brief consideration of related activities, including case wrap-up sessions and facilitator debriefing meetings. Composition of student PBL groups, the role of the faculty facilitator, and PBL decorum are also explored in this chapter. The implementation of PBL in a new medical school curriculum by rational design is compared to the introduction of PBL into an existing medical school curriculum by retrofit. Advantages and challenges of PBL are enumerated; a brief comparison of PBL with team-based learning (TBL) is also included.


Abstract Introduction: Recurrent fistulization after tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair can be a complication of difficult management. There are few data on thoracoscopic reintervention.1,2 The authors present a video of a thoracoscopic approach in a recurrent fistula after TEF repair by thoracotomy. Material and Methods: A child with 20 months of life was found with a recurrent fistula by bronchoscopy. The patient had a history of recurrent respiratory symptoms after a surgical correction of esophageal atresia with TEF by thoracotomy. A right-sided thoracotomy was performed; three trocars were used (two 5 mm and one 3 mm). Right upper lobe adhesions from a previous surgery were divided with electrocautery. The azygos vein was identified and preserved. The TEF was identified just above the azygos vein, dissected, and isolated; two titanium clips were applied and the fistula was then divided. The clips were reinforced with endoloops®. A prolene® mesh was interposed between the trachea and the esophagus...


Two clearcut types of circulatory failure have emerged from the experimental and clinical studies of the cardiovascular system. The first, congestive heart failure, is the result of the inability of the heart to pump blood because of mechanical defects or disease of the heart muscle. It is characterized clinically by dyspnea, edema, prolonged circulation time, increased venous pressure and an increase in blood volume. Congestion may be present in the pulmonary circuit and absent in the systemic circulation. The second type, circulatory collapse, or shock, is the result of a diminished venous return to the heart. It is characterized clinically by the signs of a marked decrease in cardiac output and tissue anoxia, namely, pallor, cold extremities, sweating, weak pulse, low arterial blood pressure, narrowing of the field of consciousness and a normal or decreased venous pressure. The clinical pictures of congestive failure and of shock are so different that


Objective
To study the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings like liver function, immunoglobulin and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets, and to provide evidence for diagnosing and the therapy for acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection.

Methods
From July 2012 to June 2015, clinical data from 321 patients with acute EBV infection admitted to Children′s Hospital of Fudan University for treatment were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical characteristics and the findings by liver function test, detection of virus, immunoglobulin and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed.The patients were divided into an abnormal liver function group (186 cases) and the normal liver function group (135 cases). The copy number of EBV-DNA, serum EBV-IgM, immunoglobulin, CD series between the 2 groups were analyzed.Stata 12.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

Results
(1) There were 321 cases diagnosed with acute EBV infection.Among them, the gender of 183 cases were boys, 138 cases were girls, male to female ratio was 1.33∶1.00.The average age of onset was (52.07±35.05) months.There were 186 cases (57.94%) with abnormal liver function and 135 cases (42.06%) with normal liver function.(2) Clinical course was (9.11±8.21) days, and period of fever lasted (7.12±5.00) days; 281 cases (87.54%) had fever, and the highest temperature reached (39.04±0.69) ℃; lymphadenectasis occurred in 267 cases (83.18%), 245 cases (76.32%) had angina, hepatomegaly occurred in 235 cases (73.21%), 142 cases (44.24%) had splenomegaly, and rash occurred in 60 cases (18.69%); 155 cases (48.29%) occurred trilogy of fever, lymphadenectasis and angina.(3) There were 186 cases had abnormal liver function without jaundice, and their levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acid, albumin and coagulation function were normal.Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased from 40 to 400 IU/L in 125 cases, 400 to 800 IU/L in 2 cases, and more than 800 IU/L in 6 cases.Aspartate aminotransferase(AST) increased from 40 to 400 IU/L in 157 cases, 400 to 800 IU/L in 5 cases, more than 800 IU/L in 1 case.Ninety-seven cases were followed up for liver function, and the recovery time was 21-74 days.(4) In comparison of the abnormal liver function group to the normal liver function group, the differences were statistically significant in age, IgG, IgA, CD4+ T cell, the ratio of CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell (all P 0.05).

Conclusions
Children with acute EBV infection may have a high incidence of liver damage.The clinical manifestations are characterized by elevated transaminase and self-limiting.The occurrence of liver damage may be related to case of cell-mediated immunity

Key words:
Epstein-Barr virus; Liver function damage; Child


The solution of higher professional college students professional direction and localization's puzzled and professional goal education flaw and erroneous zone lies in the strengthen of professional goal realizes, the construction of professional goal education system and the enhancement occupation instructs teachers' troop and the curriculum constructs. The union of the society occupation needs and the students' personalization needs is the basic way of returning vocational education essence goal, enhancing employment competitive power ,impelsing to get employed harmoniously and realizing talented person sustainable development.


Abstract The goal of this research is to examine customers′ perceptions of the latest technology solutions and marketing communications within the hotel context in two Mediterranean countries – Croatia and Italy. In particular, hotel guests of four- and five-star hotels located in these countries participated in the research. Firstly, guest perceptions of advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and communication consistency are analysed and compared in Croatian and Italian hotels. Secondly, the impact of ICT on communication consistency is tested in both studies. The findings show that the level of customer perceptions of communication consistency is relatively high in both countries, while the perception of technology is moderate. The influence of ICT on communication consistency is also corroborated. The findings of this study have important implications for marketing managers who deal with increasingly demanding consumers in the current digital environment.


This work addresses meta-learning (ML) by considering deep networks with stochastic local winner-takes-all (LWTA) activations. This type of network units result in sparse representations from each model layer, as the units are organized into blocks where only one unit generates a non-zero output. The main operating principle of the introduced units lies on stochastic principles, as the network performs posterior sampling over competing units to select the winner. Therefore, the proposed networks are explicitly designed to extract input data representations of sparse stochastic nature, as opposed to the currently standard deterministic representation paradigm. We posit that these modeling principles, inspired from Bayesian statistics, yield representations of stronger generalization capacity; this is of immense importance in the case of ML, which is the focus of this work. As we experimentally show, our approach produces state-of-the-art predictive accuracy on standard few-shot image classification benchmarks. This improvement comes with an immensely reduced network sized required for achieving this accuracy; this amounts to a parameter reduction by one order of magnitude on average compared to the current state-of-the-art.


Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (AIPD) is a rare condition with approximately 50 reported cases, and represents a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to endogenous progesterone. Symptoms flare during the second half of the menstrual cycle when serum progesterone increases, and abate with the onset of menstruation. Cutaneous manifestations vary and include urticaria, pruritus, erythema multiforme and eczema. We describe a patient with AIPD presenting with petechiae and purpura, a clinical manifestation that has not been reported before. One similar case describes pigmented purpura and petechiae due to progesterone injections, i.e. synthetic progesterone. A 44-year-old woman presented with a cyclical eruption for 1.5 years. Premenstrually, itchy areas developed on her chest and upper arms, accompanied by blue and purple spots. These lesions occurred spontaneously and were not induced by scratching. All symptoms resolved spontaneously within several days. She was otherwise healthy and had never used exogenous progesterone. Clinical examination revealed petechiae and palpable pinpoint purpura over the clavicle and on the right mamma (Fig. 1). A skin biopsy showed slight perivascular lymphocytic infiltration in the upper dermis, some eosinophils, extravasated erythrocytes and oedema. The latter two can explain the purpura, as no vasculitis was present. Patch testing with the European standard series and corticosteroid series revealed no positive reactions. For intradermal testing progesterone and ethinylestradiol were solubilized in a 50% ethanol ⁄ saline mixture to produce 0.01% and 0.1% test solutions. As an irritant reaction was present at the site of the diluent after 30 min, early reactions at progesterone sites were discounted. After 48 h a weal-and-flare reaction was present only at the two progesterone sites, implying progesterone sensitivity. At that time, our patient had had amenorrhoea for 2 months, during which she had not experienced any of the skin symptoms she was being studied for. One week later her menses started, again preceded by itch and petechiae. The aetiology of AIPD is still unclear. According to one hypothesis sensitization to synthetic progesterone (such as in oral contraceptives) results in cross-reaction with endogenous progesterone. Yet, 30% of women with AIPD have never been exposed to exogenous progesterone. Alternatively, cross-sensitization with corticosteroids has been suggested as the sensitization mechanism. In our patient negative patch test results showed no support for this hypothesis. Although there is no reliable standard method of demonstrating progesterone sensitivity, intradermal tests are most frequently used. Intradermal testing is hampered by the insolubility of progesterone in water and irritant properties of the diluent. Therefore, all early reactions should be discounted as irritant and only weal-and-flare reactions persistent after 24–48 h should be regarded as positive. Considering that after 48 h a positive reaction was noted only at the progesterone sites and not at the ethinylestradiol sites, this reaction does not reflect cross-sensitivity with other steroid hormones and is unlikely to represent a late irritant reaction. Delayed hypersensitivity to progesterone can also be confirmed by intramuscular and oral challenge; though the former can rarely induce systemic reactions, and the latter is less reliable. In some patients serum progesterone antibodies can be detected. Treatment modalities include oestrogenic preparations, tamoxifen and danazol. Our patient was reassured when she learned the diagnosis and declined treatment.


Relativistic particle dynamics is studied analytically and numerically in the electrostatic wave propagating obliquely to the uniform static magnetic field. The criterion is obtained that there exist the particles which keep trapped if the ratio of the field strength of the electrostatic wave to that of the static magnetic field is greater than the critical value which is a function of the propagation angle and the phase velocity of the electrostatic wave. The trapped particles can be accelerated unlimitedly if the propagation angle is larger than the angle which is determined from the phase velocity. The maximum acceleration gradient is also obtained as a function of the field strength, the phase velocity and the propagation angle of the wave.


MIMO-OFDM (Multiple Input Multiple Output-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) technology has been utilized widely in wireless communication systems for faster transmission of data and efficient bandwidth utilization. MIMO-OFDM technology is the core of the 4th generation wireless networks. However, the computational complexity of MIMO OFDM receivers is much higher than in the single-input single-output (SISO) OFDM approach. This paper presents, to the best of the knowledge, the first 4 × 4 MIMO-OFDM WLAN physical layer ASIC based on the OFDM specifications of the IEEE 802.11a standard. and a VLSI design of MMOOFDM systems targeted to future wireless LAN systems. Implementation provides reference for the silicon complexity of MIMO-OFDM systems Keywords-MIMO, OFDM, SISO, VLSI Design, wireless networks, LAN.


The working condition and main wear behavior of pantograph strip/copper contact wire are reviewed in this paper.The performance characteristic and existing problems in actual application of pantograph strip made of different materials are compared.The species and preparation methods of carbonic system pantograph strip materials are explained in detail.The development tendency of the strip material is forecasted according to the present features of the couples.And it is pointed out that the carbonic system composites of quasi-3D fibre braid are the main development orientation of the pantograph strip for electric locomotive.


Information Systems (IS) projects failure is 'a gap between what the users expect from an IS and how well these expectations are met by the perceived performance of the delivered system'. IS projects fail more than they succeed. IS failure rates in the Developing Countries (DCs) are much higher than those in the Industrialised Countries (ICs) because among other reasons, the gaps tend to be exaggerated by the huge difference between the ideas/IS projects and the political /behavioural realities in the DCs. These chronic failure rates have continued to place the DCs on the wrong side of the digital divide, turning IS projects and ICTs in general into a technology of inequality. Solution: employment of Joint Application Development (JAD); a software development methodology that will involve the stakeholders in the entire process of IS implementation. This paper explains how JAD can be used to eradicate most of the causes of IS projects' failures in the DCs using the University of Nairobi case study. The CHAOS Ten Success factors have been employed to analyze data for nine IS projects.


Protection of fetus rights is inadequate as stipulated in China's civil law.In real life,fetus' rights,if hurt,often do not get effective protection and proper compensation.Just when Civil Law is legislated,it is necessary to reconsider the legal status of human fetus and the appropriateness of the protection of human fetus by legislation at present in China so as to affirm in legal form the limits of rights enjoyed by human fetus.While taking conditioned protectionism for fetus' interests we should also expand the domain to protect fetus' civil rights.We ought to affirm in legal form that human fetus enjoy five rights,i.e.health rights,property heirship,right of being brought up,right of presenting a gift,and right of being regarded as procedural subject in Procedural Law.In the meantime,legislation should give more detailed stipulations on the protection mode of the civil rights of the fetus.


Abstract The Climatological Water Budget (CWB) determined by the Thornthwaite and Matter (1955) allows the temporal visualization of the variables that compose the climate, thus allowing the climatic characterization of a region. Therefore, this work aimed at identifying and quantifying the months of water surplus and deficit through CWB to characterize the climate for the municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul - AC, Brazil, and analyze the temporal distribution of rainfall for the municipality. We used daily precipitation and temperature values and procedures to fill in the database. We calculated the potential evapotranspiration (ETP) using the Hargreaves Samani method (1985). Subsequently, we determined the periods of soil water storage (SWS), water deficiency (DEF), and water surplus (SUR) on a monthly scale. The climate of Cruzeiro do Sul, located in the northern region of Brazil, was characterized according to the Thornthwaite (1955) as B1rA'a' for a AWC of 140 mm, that is, a humid climate with annual rainfall average of 2227 mm and real evapotranspiration of 1660 mm, with small water deficiency in the months from June to October, with no thermal deficiency, and summer concentrated in three months with an average air temperature of 25 °C ranging between 18 °C and 32 °C.


A dielectric liquid lens driven using a chevron-patterned electrode is prepared. The bending angle of the electrode is 90°. This newly designed electrode can effectively and symmetrically deform the shape of the liquid lens, which in turn leads to a variable focus. For a 3-mm-diameter lens, a driving voltage changed from 0 to 52 V can vary its focal length from ~19.3 to ~4.9 mm. Using a 40-Vrms pulse voltage to impact the lens, the dynamic response time is ~6.7 s. Using a step voltage to impact the liquid lens, the response time can be largely reduced. Multiple lenses or a microlens array can be driven at the same time. Due to in-plane actuation, the driving voltage is insensitive to the size of the liquid lens.


Objective To optimize the processing temperature and time of Zingiberis Rhizoma Praeparata(ZRP) according to ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) fingerprints and the contents of 6-gingerol,8-gingerol,and 10-gingerol.Methods Samples were treated by stir-baking in sand method at 180,185,190,195,and 200 ℃,stirred for 6,7,and 8 min at each temperature,respectively.Then the fingerprint similarity of the samples and the contents of 6-gingerol,8-gingerol,and 10-gingerol were determined by UPLC method.Results The similarities of the two samples at 195 ℃ for 7 min and for 8 min were the highest,0.995 and 0.994,while the contents of 6-gingerol,8-gingerol,and 10-gingerol of the two samples were the lowest,5.792 and 5.412 mg/g,respectively.Conclusion According to the similarities of the fingerprint,the contents of 6-gingerol,8-gingerol,10-gingerol,and the apperance of the processed products,ZRP should be better processed by stir-baking in sand method at 195 ℃ for 7 min.


Auxiliary production expenses apportionment method is the subject of study in the paper.The key and skill of apportionment are pointed out.It is of reference value for the students to study the sequential apportionment and put it into practice.


Researchers have asserted that the sense of uncertainty of the other person's nonverbal cues during a conversation, could become an inhibitor for good communication and accordingly create anxiety. Since not much has been done to empirically prove such assumptions, this study explores the effect of Nonverbal Communication training on Iranian EFL learners' perception of communication apprehension and communicative competence. In order to conduct this quasiexperimental study, intermediate level Iranian EFL learners from two intact classes studying in a language institute were selected through convenience sampling. These study participants were assigned to the Control Group (n=27) and the Experimental Group (n=32), respectively. Both groups were trained in speaking skills within a span of ten sessions in accordance with the regular method used in the study venue. The only difference was that the Experimental Group was trained in non-verbal communication incorporated into their regular speaking classes as an intervention program. The SPCC and PRCA-24 self-report questionnaires were used to collect learners' perception of communicative competence and communication apprehension prior and subsequent to the intervention program. These pretest and posttest measures were then analyzed to test the null hypotheses of this study using two sets of the Analysis of Covariance. The results showed an empirically significant increase in the self-perceived communication competence and a simultaneous decrease in the personal report of communication apprehension scores of the Iranian EFL learners in the experimental group who participated in the intervention program. On the other hand, the control group students, who were not provided with the non-verbal communication training, perceived no significant changes in neither their communication competence nor their communication apprehension. This empirical evidence suggests that familiarity with non-verbal cues of the target language could positively affect learners' perception of their speaking ability and lower speaking anxiety. Thus, this study not only provides evidence as to the effectiveness of incorporating non-verbal communication training in speaking classes in decreasing apprehension and increasing communicative competence but it also provides a sample within which this training can be integrated into a regular language learning class. The findings contribute to EFL research on the importance of nonverbal communication in the teaching and learning of the speaking skill and provide input for further analysis in this context.


Tapered Fiber Optic Sensors (TFOS) are typically interrogated using an Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA) or a spectrometer. As a result, multiple TFOS with similar operating wavelengths cannot be interrogated simultaneously. This paper is an extension to the previously published work on "Interrogation of Fiber Bragg Grating Arrays by Illumination using a Low Coherence Interferogram" [1]. In this paper, the ability of the system to simultaneously interrogate multiple TFOS in a single interferometric scan is demonstrated. Varying concentrations of glucose solutions were used to determine the system's sensing capability. Of the two TFOS used, the one with the larger FSR was found to yield a linear resolution of $\mathbf{\sim 2.96\mathbf{e}-3\Delta \mathrm{Rad}/1000\mathbf{ppm}}$ and the other sensor with a smaller FSR yielded a linear resolution of $\mathbf{\sim 5.23\mathbf{e}-3\Delta \mathbf{Rad}/1000\mathbf{ppm}}$.


The Lagrangian formulation of subsurface transport quantifies transport and reactions as they take place along advection flow paths. It can be derived from the Eulerian transport system under the assumptions that water flow is steady-state or uniform, and that transport is advection dominated. The application of the probabilistic Lagrangian approach to coupled chemical processes and hydrological transport, e.g., by preferential flow, is exemplified here for transport through the unsaturated zone, in terms of the expected soil water concentration of sorptive solute, and the expected field-integrated discharge of solute mobilised by mineral dissolution. The approach is readily applied to other coupled transport-reaction systems by use of various analytical solutions presented in the literature. Recent theoretical developments have also clarified its application to reactive transport through an integrated unsaturated-saturated subsurface system.


The objective of the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) Advanced Automation Project is to influence the design of the initial and evolutionary Space Station Freedom Program (SSFP) ECLSS toward a man-made closed environment in which minimal flight and ground manpower is needed. Another objective includes capturing ECLSS design and development knowledge future missions. Our approach has been to (1) analyze the SSFP ECLSS, (2) envision as our goal a fully automated evolutionary environmental control system - an augmentation of the baseline, and (3) document the advanced software systems, hooks, and scars which will be necessary to achieve this goal. From this analysis, prototype software is being developed, and will be tested using air and water recovery simulations and hardware subsystems. In addition, the advanced software is being designed, developed, and tested using automation software management plan and lifecycle tools. Automated knowledge acquisition, engineering, verification and testing tools are being used to develop the software. In this way, we can capture ECLSS development knowledge for future use develop more robust and complex software, provide feedback to the knowledge based system tool community, and ensure proper visibility of our efforts.


The visual spaces with some visual illusions are discussed from the point of Riemannian geometry. On the assumption that each local visual space is furnished with parallel lines fields, Riemannian metric in the visual spaces of concentric cricles and of radial lines is considered. By this metric tensor, the equations of geodesies are derived, and solved numerically. Further, the scalar curvatures of either visual space can be calculated. Consequently, straight lines in these visual spaces can be considered to be the geodesics in these Riemannian spaces and the scalar curvatures turn out to be both negative.


The Aharonov–Bohm effect is formulated in terms of a constrained path integral. The path integral is explicitly evaluated in the covering space of the physical background to express the propagator as a sum of partial propagators corresponding to homotopically different paths. The interference terms are also calculated for an infinitely thin solenoid, which are found to contain the usual flux dependent shift as the dominant observable effect and an additional topological shift unnoticeable in the two slit interference experiment.


We construct solutions to initial, boundary and initial-boundary value problems for quasilinear parabolic equations with an infinite dimensional Levy Lapla- cian L, @U(t,x) @t = LU(t,x) + f 0(U(t,x)), in fundamental domains of a Hilbert space. The solution is defined in the functional class where a solution of the corresponding problem for the heat equation @U(t,x) @t = LU(t,x) exists.


Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(4): 611-618
Hospital waste water has a great potential to pollute the environment and severely affect public health. In order to remediate the toxic impact of arsenic (III) and mercury (II) ions, activated carbon were prepared from Detarium microcarpum and Balanites aegyptiaca fruit shells using 2M ortho phosphoric acid and 2M zinc chloride as activating agents. The adsorption of Hg2+ and As3+ were investigated by varying the dosage of the adsorbent, pH and period of contact using batch adsorption experiment. Concentrations of Hg2+ and As3+ were determined using ICP-AES. The results obtained indicated that all the adsorbent effectively removed As3+ and Hg2+ at varying experimental conditions. Optimum adsorption capacities were recorded at dosage values of 0.4 and 0.6 g for Hg2+ and As2+ respectively, pH of 6 and contact time between a0 and 15 minutes. Acitivated carbon synthesised from Detarium microcarpum using H3PO4 and ZnCl2 displayed better efficiencies than commercial activated carbon while others exhibited comparative adsorption efficiency. Therefore, the use of local materials can provide the needed technology that can help in the removal of hospital wastewater


A catalyst for preparing 3,4-dichlorophenylamine from 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene by hydrogenating is prepared through immersing activated carbon in the aqueous solution of potassium (or sodium) halide, washing until no halogen ions, immersing it in the aqueous solution of H2PdCl4, regulating pH value, filtering, washing filtered cake, reducing to obtain neutral product, and drying. It has high catalytic activity and selectivity.