A new highly sensitive and reliable NDRO system based on the planar Hall effect has been developed for the purpose of signal detection in the thin film domain-wall motion devices. In this system, the output channel of these devices is placed perpendicular to the magnetic easy axis of the planar Hall element (PHE). The measured maximum sensitivity of signal detection in this system is of the order of 50 mV/A. For the PHE tested, the maximum useful continuous current is 20 mA, and the frequency response is flat at least up to 10 MHz. Upon switching the domain tip at the output channel, a reliable output voltage of 1 mV is obtained for the continuous PHE current of 20 mA in this system. This readout system has been used for signal detection in the domain tip shift register. The output voltage waveforms are shown.


This paper reviews the recent progress in germanium (Ge) spintronics on the basis of the electrical spin injection from ferromagnets (FM), where Ge is a next generation semiconductor for applications such as CMOS and optical communication on the silicon platform. In general, four-terminal nonlocal voltage measurements in FM–Ge lateral spin-valve devices are important to discuss the spin transport and spin relaxation in n-Ge. First, to obtain relatively low contact resistance compared to the FM/MgO/Ge contacts, we introduce the formation of high-quality FM/Ge heterointerfaces with a phosphorus δ-doped Ge layer, where the atomic arrangement matching at the interface between the (1 1 1) surface of body-centered cubic FMs and Ge(1 1 1) is important. Next, we explain electrical detections of the spin transport in degenerate n-Ge. Owing to the Heusler alloy/Ge Schottky-tunnel barrier contacts, we obtain relatively large spin signals compared to those detected by using conventional CoFe contacts. Furthermore, we can experimentally determine the spin diffusion length and the spin lifetime in degenerate n-Ge by quantitatively analyzing the contact-distance dependence of the spin signals and the Hanle-effect curves. Since we can clarify the temperature dependence of the spin lifetime from 8 to 296 K, the spin relaxation mechanism in n-Ge can be understood as a consequence of the intervalley spin-flip scattering in the conduction band. We propose an advantage over GaAs systems by comparing the spin lifetimes between Ge and GaAs at around room temperature. Finally, we describe future prospects of Ge spintronics, including vertically fabricated device structures such as vertical spin MOSFETs and spin LEDs.


The theological meaning of the word 'ēdût, which is used in the priestly narrative about the construction of the Tent of Meeting, has long been a topic of debate. A synchronic analysis allows us to see in it "two stone tablets", a kind of artifact which Moses puts into the Ark and which is not to be seen again. It symbolizes and brings to mind all the words of God passed on by Moses at Sinai. On other hand, diachronic analysis allows us to think that the idea of the Ark did not belong to the priestly strata of PG but rather was added later (PS). It has also been suggested that in P originally the Ark was called the Ark of Meeting and then the Ark of Testimony (the connection between j'd and 'dwt → 'd). In its original form, the narrative about the Ark might have suggested the traditional role of the object: it symbolized the presence of God and was understood as the footstool of His invisible throne, where the treaty was kept. Later, the concept of the place of meeting with God was transferred to the Ark-cover (kappōret), and 'ēdût (Testimony) became the symbol of the covenant stipulations. In the final phase it came to mean the two stone tablets with the Decalogue.


The current investigation aims to develop hydroxyapatite-based biofunctional composite coatings on polydopamine-treated porous 3D-printed Ti6Al4V alloy implant specimens for orthopedic uses. The porous 3D-printed implants based on Ashby Gibson's mathematical model for cellular materials are fabricated at a 65% level of porosity, so as to attain the mechanical strength of human bones. Further, the addition of strontium and silver in hydroxyapatite for improved biocompatibility of the 3D-printed implant to enhance its biofunctionality and its validation is performed. The resulting coated substrates are subjected to a series of morphological, elemental, phase, mechanical, and biological tests. When subjected to the uniaxial compression, the values for modulus of elasticity and yield strength of 3D-printed substrates are compared to the targeted value of elastic modulus and yield strength for the human bones (10–30 GPa and 148–240 MPa, respectively). The effect of polydopamine-treated 3D-printed Ti6Al4V substrates on the coating compositions of calcium and phosphorus has been compared to the untreated samples. The coating thickness and adhesion strength have been calculated and compared for different coating groups. All the samples, except untreated pure hydroxyapatite samples, displayed antimicrobial activity for both the gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in the zone inhibition test. Hence, the current experiment provides a novel option to fabricate porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds, with a low-temperature surface coating to attain improved biofunctionality for orthopedic applications.


Abstract The theme for the autumn issue of ITNOW is, unsurprisingly, based around the rapid change of pace faced by all in the IT profession as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, writes Ian Fish, Chair of the Information Security Specialist Group (ISSP).


The work considers the forecasting of the process of functioning of a dynamic complex system, which is a big problem because of the considerable volume of information circulating in it and many random factors affecting its operation. In this paper, the structure of the information process described in the form of a discrete information flow is considered. To determine portions of the information flow information for the formation of a control action, these flows are identified and structured based on determining the dimension of the attractors of dynamical systems in finite-dimensional spaces. To manage a discrete information process, the number of control checks that make it possible to determine the duration of this process predicts it. In this case, the pieces of information and time intervals for each portion of the discrete information stream are considered the same. As a result of the conducted researches the program complex on formation of predicted parameters of training with definition of portions of training information is developed. The paper gives comparative results of the duration of training - experimental and predicted.


Molecular and carbon isotopic variation during degassing process have been observed in marine shale reservoirs, however, this behavior remains largely unexplored in terrestrial shale reservoirs. Here, we investigate the rock parameters of five terrestrial shale core samples from the Xiahuayuan Formation and the geochemical parameters of thirty natural gas samples collected during field canister degassing experiments. Based on these new data, the gas composition and carbon isotope variation during canister degassing are discussed and, further, the relationship between petrophysics and the carbon isotope variation is explored. The results show that methane content first increases and then decreases, the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen gas (N2) peak in the early degassing stage, while heavier hydrocarbons gradually increase over time. Shale gas generated from humic source rocks contains more non-hydrocarbon and less heavy hydrocarbon components than that generated from sapropelic source rocks with similar maturity. Time-series sampling presents an upward increase in δ13C1 value during the degassing process with the largest variation up to 5.7‰, while the variation in δ13C3 and δ13C2 is insignificant compared to δ13C1. Moreover, we find that there is only a small variation in δ13C1 in shale samples with high permeability and relatively undeveloped micropores, which is similar to the limited δ13C1 variation in conventional natural gas. For our studied samples, the degree of carbon isotope variation is positively correlated with the TOC content, micropore volume, and micropore surface, suggesting that these three factors may play a significant role in carbon isotope shifts during shale gas degassing. We further propose that the strong 13C1 and C2+depletion of shale gas observed during the early degassing stage may have resulted from the desorption and diffusion effect, which may lead to deviation in the identification of natural gas origin. It is therefore shale gas of the late degassing stage that would be more suitable for study to reduce analytic deviations. In most samples investigated, significant isotopic variation occurred during the degassing stage at room temperature, indicating that the adsorbed gas had already been desorbed at this stage Our results therefore suggest that more parameters may need to be considered when evaluating the lost gas of shales.


The software proposed in the report can be used as a technological tool in the teaching and learning of the discipline of stereometry. The aim is to improve the learning process by supporting the development of students' creativity and spatial imagination, qualities needed in the study of spatial geometric bodies. A new boundary method is used in the generation of geometric objects. This new method uses elements of the Cavalieri Indivisible method and Isaac Newton's boundary method, thus achieving higher accuracy with respect to generated objects compared to 3D systems that use the rules of trigonometry in the construction of geometric bodies. This article performs a comparative analysis between a traditional and a new method for generating 3D geometric objects according to certain parameters and criteria. The new method involved in the analysis was proposed by the author of the report. While the traditional one is based on trigonometry. Two parameters were studied, one for accuracy in generating objects, and the second determining speed. In order to generate cylindrical bodies, are used the quadratic Bézier curve and the 3D modeling technique known as an extrusion, which transforms two-dimensional objects into three-dimensional ones.. One way to generate a prism and pyramid is by extruding polygons. This report presents a new way of constructing edged bodies. The considered technique for 3D modeling participates in the analysis of the studied methods.


Rice husks cellulose-containing vegetable product. As to chemical composition husk is a combined polymer system, containing lignin, pectin and hemicelluloses along with the base component cellulose. Macromolecules of these components include hydroxyl groups, which can be subjected to carboxymethylation by alkylation agents. Chemical conversions proceeding in solid substances under mechanical effects are of great practical importance. At solid-phase mechanochemical interaction of rice husks with a carboxymethylation agent, i.e. sodium monochloracetate, one obtained a product, the composition and properties of which are similar to carboxymethyl cellulose. The given product was synthesized using the technology developed at the Institute of Solid State Chemistry and Mechanochemistry SD RAS (Novosibirsk). The content of water-soluble substances accounted for 82.6 %. The properties of carboxymethyl cellulose prepared from rice husks are comparable with those of commercial carboxymethyl cellulose. Viscosity of 5 % aqueous solution of the product is 37.3 mPa-s. I t corresponds to viscosity of 1 YO solution of the commercial carboxymethyl cellulose. The analysis of rheological characteristics of the solutions at thermostatting showed that the nature of viscosity changes and its values for 5 YO solution of the synthesized carboxymethyl cellulose nearly coincide with similar parameters for 1 % solution of the commercial carboxymethyl cellulose. One can use carboxymethyl cellulose obtained by the technology developed to control viscosity of water-based drilling fluids.


We examine the effect of temperature on three viscosity-sensitive fluorophores termed 'molecular rotors'. In the case of the conjugated porphyrin dimer, it can be used for measuring both viscosity and temperature concurrently.


In this paper, optimal surveillance mission plans are developed to cover disjoint areas of interest (AOIs) over an extended time horizon using multiple aerial vehicles. AOIs to be covered are divided into a number of cells. To promptly update information collected from AOIs and to ensure persistent surveillance, each cell is to be revisited within a time slot. Joint path planning and temporal scheduling is formulated as a combinatorial optimization with the proposal of novel objective functions: 1) maximizing the minimum number of nonrepeatedly covered cells in a sliding-window fashion and 2) maximizing the total number of covered cells in the mission plan. A multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) with a specific chromosome representation and custom genetic operators, in which the constraint that each cell be revisited within a time slot is transformed into the third objective to handle infeasibility, is developed. The initial single-period paths are generated by solving a series of orienteering problems. The initial population is obtained by connecting these single-period paths and selecting the take-off time for each flight. Three mutation moves are proposed to enable revisiting in a single-period path and rescheduling of take-off time. The solutions converge in the MOEA and are selected by a weighted-sum model according to user preferences in decision making. Simulation results on different mission scenarios and different criteria show the superiority of the proposed algorithm. The algorithm is done offline ahead of the missions and requires modest computational resources.


This paper presents a deformable hollow organ model considering the self-collision between the inner surfaces of a hollow organ for real-time surgical simulation. The hollow organ was modeled by the finite element method with 10400 tetrahedral elements, 2160 nodes, and 1040 inner meshes. In the model, the continuous collision detection is performed between the inner surfaces to prevent penetrations of them. As a result, it was shown that the model is well-behaved about 40 fps by a standard PC with Pentium4 3GHz and 2GB RAM.


This book is a collection of great essays which discuss four brilliant and impressive investigators and detectives in literary masterpieces by Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy Bowers. The focus of this book is on Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Jane Marple, and Dan Pardoe. These highly intelligent, perceptive, problem-solving, resilient, and resourceful investigators are committed to examining the evidence in any situation carefully, fairly, and honestly and devoted to searching for and discovering the truth in various criminal cases, even though such heroic endeavors frequently threaten their own lives. In Chapter Seven of Agatha Christie�s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Hercule Poirot agrees to accept the case which is presented to him only if he may "go through with it to the end" and search for "all the truth." In numerous investigations Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Jane Marple, and Dan Pardoe demonstrate not only an extraordinary commitment to searching meticulously and valiantly for the whole truth but also the absolute genius to discover it.


provisioning of food assistance detract from the fact that millions of lives have been enhanced or saved. International food assistance—while flawed—is certainly a good thing. Nor does this predictability in any way lessen Barrett and Maxwell's accomplishment. Their book is an excellent read. The eleven chapters of Food Aid after Fifty Years comprehensively explore the history and the future of food assistance with breadth and clarity. The authors also use empirical evidence to disprove thirteen common myths about food aid, including the myth that it is primarily concerned with feeding the hungry (Myth #1), that it is an effective means of supporting U.S. farmers (Myth #2), and that it is a cause of food-aid dependency (Myth #12). On this often claimed last point, the authors explain that dependency assertions have the causal argument reversed. Food shocks (whether caused by drought, drastic price fluctuations, floods, civil war, or other events) do force people to modify their behavior in ways that may necessitate a variety of safety nets, including food aid. But the volume of food aid distributed even in severely stricken areas is usually too small to disrupt food self-sufficiency itself. The text also brings discussion of abstract international policies down to earth via abbreviated case studies in many "boxes" inserted throughout the book, including "War and Food Aid in Afghanistan," "Food and Talk in North Korea," and "Self-serving Food Aid to Russia."


Abstract This paper considers the homopolar components which occur in induction machine/branch-delta soft-starters combinations.An extension to an 'ideal rotating transformer' based transient machine model isintroduced to accommodate homopolar components.Results given confirm the presence of a substantialhomopolar flux component in the machine. 1 Introduction The use of soft-starters with induction machines remains an economically attractive option.Conse-quently considerable attention has been given in the past to modelling such combinations [1], [2].Todate work on this topic appears not to have considered the presence of homopolar components in themachine.These occur for the soft-starter-motor configuration referred to as 'branch-delta' as shown infigure (1.1(a)). This type of soft-starter configuration is particularly popular for large machines, becausethe thyristors are exposed to the phase rather than the line currents.A prime example of their use isfor connecting large (MW level) wind turbines to the grid.This paper aims to model the branch-deltasoft-starter/machine combination in order to quantify the homopolar components in the machine.Theresults given may be used to access the implication of such a component in terms of violating the designenvelope of the machine.The first part of this paper extends the 'ideal rotating transformer' (IRTF) based four parametertransient model [3] to accommodate homopolar components on the stator side.The original IRTFbased model as given in figure (1.1(b)) shows the rotating transformer module which is character-istic for this type of machine model.The energy balance of this 'IRTF' module is of the form


Abstract. The dismantling of nuclear facilities is a continuous process of change
encompassing the complete site. Thereby, the focus changes from a stable and
standardized operational phase to a situation characterized by constant
changes in the facility as well as in the facility organization. Thus,
employees and managers are confronted with a markedly changed working
environment: processes and methods must be continuously re-evaluated and
adapted, qualification requirements change or shift and new interfaces
emerge. Furthermore, compared to the operational phase, the regulatory depth
is reduced, decisions must be made faster and more flexible and the mode of
operation changes from hierarchically organized routine standard operational
procedures to an efficiency-orientated project-based mode of operation with
limited resources at the same time. To make dismantling efficient and safe,
this change should be actively managed by a change project in terms of the
human technology organization approach (MTO approach, Strohm and Ulich, 1999). Against this background, our BMBF-funded collaboration project ("Die Kompetenzen von Führungskräften und
MitarbeiterInnen für den Rückbau stärken –
Rückbaukompetenzen"; funding number 15S9426A) aims to identify the
dismantling-related requirement changes and the associated competence shifts
as well as to develop and support the changed roles of managers and employees
by scientifically based training (Goldstein and Ford, 2002; IAEA,
1998). Thereby, seminar-based training (knowledge-based and
demonstration-based, e.g., Sitzmann and Weinhardt, 2019) will be complemented
by exercise-based and experience-based training (Cannon-Bowers and Bowers,
2010) with multimodal mixed reality applications, which allow experience-based
learning with the help of virtual reality-based representations (via data glasses,
tablet or PC) and can be adapted to the individual usage and learning style
preferences of the trainees. The training will be developed and implemented in
cooperation with our project partner GfS
(Gesellschaft für Simulatorschulung mbH). After project completion,
the GfS will provide the training to nuclear power plant operators and, if
necessary, develop them so that a sustainable contribution to the preservation
of the specialized knowledge in the nuclear energy sector is achieved. To identify the needs for dismantling-relevant training objectives and
competencies in the first step, a document analysis (safety alerts and monthly
reports from our project partner PreussenElektra GmbH and over 500 reportable
incidents from 28 nuclear power plants from 2012–2020), as well as
10 expert interviews, were conducted. The document analysis was used to
investigate the incidents for (1) differences between operational phase and
decommission, (2) differences in events between in-house and contractor
personnel and to identify the incidents with the highest frequencies. The objective of the expert interviews was the qualitative context analysis as
well as the identification of dismantling-relevant competence fields. The
analysis allowed us to identify nine dismantling-related competence fields for
employees and managers and a further three specifically for managers. These 12 competence
fields will be discussed and defined in more detail in further interviews with
approximately 20 managers and 30 employees. Based on these findings, training
objectives will be formulated and training content designed. The presentation outlines the analysis described above as well as the
identified fields of competence and sketches the further procedure of the
collaborative project.


BACKGROUND
Increased oxidative stress potentially leads to accelerated atherosclerosis and, consequently, cardiovascular diseases, the main cause of death in Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE). To gain insight into these mechanisms, we studied the association of uncoupling protein (UCP) 2 genetic variants, gene involved in the mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species, and oxidative stress with SLE and the presence of atherosclerosis.

METHODS
Genetic analysis of the UCP2 -866 G/A and UCP2 Ins/Del polymorphisms was performed in 45 SLE patients and 36 healthy controls by RFLP-PCR. Oxidation status was determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was investigated by evaluation of intima-media thickness using echo-colour-Doppler carotid ultrasound examination.

RESULTS
Allelic and genotypic frequencies of the SNPs analysed were evaluated by gene count. Significant association was found between UCP2-866A allele and susceptibility for SLE (p=0.001). Higher levels of MDA were found significantly increased in SLE patients (MDA, 5.05±3.36 μmol/L) compared to normal controls (MDA, 2.79±0.89 μmol/L) (p< 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that -866G/A UCP2 polymorphism is associated with SLE causing increased ROS production that, in turn, result in increased MDA levels responsible of accelerated atherosclerosis.


Cordres (Cordres, H.O., 1956, Über die Randwertaufgabe bei quasilinearen Differentialglei- chungen zweiter Ordnung in mehr als zwei Variablen. Mathematische Annalen, 131, 278–312) gave some a priori estimates of classical solutions of the Dirichlet problem for quasilinear elliptic equations of second order Alkhutov and Mamedov (Alkhutov, Yu. A. and Mamedov, I.T., 1988, The first boundary value problem for nondivergence second order parabolic equations with discontinuous coefficients. Math. USSR Sbornik, 59, 471–495) discussed the solvability of the Dirichlet problem for the linear uniformly parabolic equation with measurable coefficients where the coefficients satisfy the conditions In the present article, we try to give estimates of solutions of mixed boundary value problems for nonlinear uniformly elliptic equations of second order with measurable coefficients in higher dimensional domains, and then prove the solvability of the problem.


Strong longshore currents were measured on a multi-barred beach at Stanhope Lane beach on the northern coast of Prince Edward Island in Canada. The long time scale variability of the measured currents suggested considerable time dependence. In the scales of several days, the currents variability were correlated with the corresponding mean wind vector. There was lack of coherence between the longshore currents over different bars. However, flow on the same bar as measured by various current meters was coherent. This suggested that flow over different bars were forced independently. There was no correlation between the estimated local radiation stress component and the longshore current response. This was interesting because longshore currents are clearly forced by radiation stress. The observed currents were compared to theoretical estimates based on a dissipation model. The results showed that longshore currents over a complex topography could be reasonably modeled using turbulent momentum exchange and non-linear bottom friction without surface wind stress. Both the observations and theory suggest that longshore currents are strongly tied to individual bar crests. However, the observations were consistently displaced landward relative to the theoretical estimates.


Even the largest tumour removed, which measured 7.5 by 5 by 1.8 cm. and weighed 26.2 grammes, could not be felt in the neck as it was behind the trachea. The patient should be prepared for operation by giving for some weeks a high calcium diet and vitamin D. The neck should be explored through a collar incision and the four sites of the parathyroids examined. The chief operative difficulty is that of finding the tumour. Search must be made from the bifurcation of the carotids to the arch of the aorta. If a single parathyroid tumour is discovered it should be excised, but if two tumours are found there is some risk in removing both. In at least six cases the tumour has been removed from the mediastinum. In eight cases two parathyroid tumours were removed; five of the patients survived this drastic treatment and the other three died in tetany. In three cases subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed, for the good reason that in each of them two normal parathyroid bodies had already been excised. When no tumour at all has been discovered removal of one or two normal parathyroid glands has had no permanent good effect. Such an operation does not in fact seem to be permissible, for in every case of hyperparathyroidism yet recorded there has been a tumour measuring at least 0.7 cm. in its greatest diameter. Moreover, 30 per cent. of the deaths recorded after operation have been due directly or indirectly to interference with one or more normal parathyroid bodies. In less than 4 per cent. of recorded cases has death immediately followed operation, but in 10 per cent. tetany or a renal complication killed the patient at periods varying from nineteen days to fourteen months later. Even if we allow that unsuccessful ventures do not always find their way into print the operative mortality is not high, and this in spite of the fact that the technical problems confronting the surgeon may be complicated. Thus in 1931 Walton reported a case in which search in the usual sites of parathyroid glands did not reveal a tumour, and a small mass in the lower part of the thyroid gland was removed in the belief that it might be a parathyroid tumour. However, on section this proved to be thyroid tissue, and since its removal was not attended by any material chemical changes in the blood Walton opened the wound five days later. He then incised a deep layer of the cervical fascia which forms the bed of the thyroid gland, and two parathyroid tumours were found and removed. One tumour was lying behind the oesophagus, and the second-and larger-retrosternal tumour was lying in front of the second and third thoracic vertebrae. Since learning of this experience others have realized that previous unsuccessful explorations have been incomplete. In one such case seven exploratory operations were performed in the course of six years, the tumour being found ultimately only by dividing the sternum (Churchill and Cope, 1934). The ordinary post-operative treatment should include a high calcium diet, vitamin D, and ultraviolet irradiation. Rarely, in cases in which giant-celled tumours have destroyed a bone, amputation is necessary. Operation upon the kidneys may be required for renal calculi.


Since the early 1970s special education courses at graduate and post-graduate levels have become standard offerings at many Australian universities. As these courses continue to be the main avenue of professional development for special educators in this country, it is pertinent to wonder how often the objectives and content of the courses are examined and revised to ensure contemporary relevance. It must be recognized that the field of special education appears to be in what Tomlinson (1982, p.24) has described as a 'permanently dynamic state', with frequent changes in policy, service delivery, roles and responsibilities. The roles and responsibilities of special educators have certainly changed significantly during the past decade (Watts, 1990; Dyson, 1991), and the earlier studies of essential competencies required by special education teachers (e.g. Whitmore,1982; Scott, 1983; Davis, 1983) may not provide reliable data on which to design current courses. There has been renewed interest overseas in the issue of what constitutes essential knowledge and skills for teachers working in special education (Best, 1988; Ramsey & Algozzine, 1991; Ramsey, Algozzine & Smith, 1990; Glomb & Morgan, 1991; Folio, 1990; Cannon, Idol & West, 1992; Reynolds, Wang & Walberg, 1992; Swan & Sirvis, 1992), and it is worth analysing some of this material to determine its relevance for the Australian context. The information could well prove useful as a basis for evaluating special education courses here.


1BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF AN UNCONVENTIONAL LEGUME, Canavalia maritima OF COASTAL SAND DUNES OF INDIA [EVALUACION BIOQUIMICA Y BIOLOGICA DE LA LEGUMINOSA Canavalia maritima COLECTADA EN DUNAS COSTERAS DE LA INDIA] S. Seena, K.R. Srid har* and B. Bhagya Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore 574 199, Karnataka, India fax, 91 824 2287 367; E-mail, email@example.com *Corresponding author SUMMARY Canavalia maritima [Synonym: Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC. and.Canavalia lineata (Thunb.) DC.] is a common mat-forming wild legume frequent on the coastal sand dunes of tropics. Seeds of C. maritima collected from the dunes we re analyzed for proximate composition, minerals, protein fractions, amino acids, fatty acids and Anti-Nutritional Factors (ANFs) and were compared with Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) and Canavalia gladiata (sword bean). Growth and nitrogen balance studies was undertaken to determine protein and food efficiency ratios, true digestibility, biological value and net protein utilization, net protein retention and protein retentio n efficiency. The seeds of C. maritima consisted of 34.1% proteins, 55.5% carbohydrates and 1590 kJ 100


Sandia National Laboratories has considerable experience with video systems used for alarm assessment. Until recently the camera of choice for lighted security applications was the monochrome vacuum tube video camera. However, with recent advancements in the solid state imager technology, the integration of tube cameras in security system may son become obsolete. The sensitivity and resolution of solid state imagers is approaching that of vacuum tube imagers. In addition, solid state cameras have a relatively long lifetime and require little maintenance. Initial equipment costs are similar. Due to the increased performance of solid state imagers, Sandia has established an ongoing program to evaluate these cameras. The evaluations are performed mainly to verify manufacturers; specifications for resolution, sensitivity, and signal to noise ratio, which are the critical camera parameters that should be considered within designing video systems. This paper defines these parameters, describes the test procedures, and provides test results.


Strength measurements of soldered joints in electronics are widely used for the assessment of joint quality. However, a variety of experiments, reported in this article, clearly show that a strong relationship between initial strength and joint quality does not exist. Far more important for joint reliability is the resistance of soldered constructions to low‐cycle fatigue of the solder metal, caused by thermal expansion differences upon temperature cycling during use. A temperature cycling test is proposed as a standard accelerated ageing method for the prediction of the low‐cycle fatigue life of soldered joints in electronics.


The geo-hazard survey shows that landslide and collapse constitute the main geo-hazard types in the city area,with 668 hazard points.The article summarizes the effectiveness of the geo-hazard prevention and control in recent years,analyzes the existing problems and the situation and proposes future countermeasures and suggestions.


Background : Induction gemcitabine-based chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiation would increase response rate and resectability in locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. Patients: Patients with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma . Methods: were assigned to receive gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for 2-4 cycles, patients who showed partial response were assigned to receive CCRT with IMRT technique, our primary endpoint was surgical resection, secondary end point was disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: After 2-4 cycles of induction chemotherapy. Only 28 patients received the planned protocol of chemoradiation. Nine patients underwent surgical resection. No marginal involvement (R0) was observed in 3 patients. They reached a complete response until the end of the study. Nineteen patients received chemoradiation only. Good partial response was observed in 13 patients, one showed stationary disease. Disease progression occurred in seven patients. Chemotherapy toxicity was mild in all patients. Neutropenia was more with Gemcitabine/oxaloplatin. Thrombocytopenia was more in both gemciatabine monotherapy and gemcitabine/cisplatin arm. Anemia was more common with gemcitabine/cisplatin. Non heametological toxicity included, fatigue, Weight loss, gastrointestinal toxicity, nausea & vomiting. Radiation side effects were mild in all patients and included mild inflammatory skin reaction, delayed gastric emptying, flatulence or diarrhea. Gastrointestinal bleeding was observed in 5 patients. Progression free and overall survival rates were better in patients who received CCRT even who did not proceed for surgery. Conclusion: The use of concomitant chemoradiation as part of a neoadjuvant multi-modality treatment is associated with improved outcomes, tumor downstaging, increased rate of R0 resection and better survival.


Developmental dysplasia of hip is a disorder of abnormal development of the hip joint resulting early osteoarthritis of the hip. In late stage of disease, total hip arthroplasty is the option to reduce pain. Total hip arthroplasty in development dyplastic hip is a very challenging procedure in view of abnormal anatomy and biomechanic of the hip. A proper pre-operative planning is important of successful surgery. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman with neglected DDH with severe hip pain, who underwent total hip replacement with good result.


The Chow ring of $\mathcal{M}_g$ is known to be generated by tautological classes for $g \leq 9$. Meanwhile, the first example of a non-tautological class on $\mathcal{M}_{g}$ is the fundamental class of the bielliptic locus in $\mathcal{M}_{12}$, due to van Zelm. It remains open if the Chow rings of $\mathcal{M}_{10}$ and $\mathcal{M}_{11}$ are generated by tautological classes. In these cases, a natural first place to look is at the bielliptic locus. In genus $10$, it is already known that classes supported on the bielliptic locus are tautological. Here, we prove that all classes supported on the bielliptic locus are tautological in genus $11$. By Looijenga's vanishing theorem, this implies that they all vanish.


This paper studies on molecular connectivity index(MCI)which is often applied in the research of quantitative structure-activity relationships(QSAR).To improve the calculat-ing efficiency and the practicability of MCI,a detailed analysis of MCI algorithm is made and the software for MCI calculating is compiled and debugged.In the meanwhile,the computer identification for various molecular and the calculation commonization of MCI are realized.Besides,by establishing vertex degree distance matrix,the traditional algorithm for MCI is simplified and the calculating efficiency,veracity,and program attainability for MCi are im-proved.


The system of floating and choosing to measure and control in Han Dan Xi Xuan factory has already used for more than ten years,because parts of electricity equipmentses are aging and the machine electricity incidents are continuous,the examining accuracy is lower and lower,the supporting strength is bigger and bigger,the producing craft index sign hardly keeps in the best appearance.By analysis and comparison to choose manufacture with the coal section hospital of Peking of Siemens PLC float to choose the process craft parameter to measure to control the device automatically,lower the machine electricity trouble rate and obtain the preeminent economic performance.It has a great value to generalize widely.


Dielectrics
Dielectric capacitors are vital components of electronics and power systems. The thin-film materials of which capacitors are composed are usually optimized by changing the material composition. However, Kim et al. found that postprocessing an already effective thin-film dielectric by high-energy ion bombardment further improved the material because of the introduction of specific types of defects that ultimately improved the energy storage performance. The results suggest that postprocessing may be important for developing the next generation of capacitors.

Science , this issue p. [81][1]

 [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abb0631


Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) method, gene encoding the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase type 1β (PPP1CB) in human and its corresponding gene in rat (PP1δ) and mouse (dis2m2) were mapped to human 2p23, rat 6q21-q23, and mouse 12D, respectively. These results indicate that PPP1CB is a member of conserved syntenic group. It is shown that the genes encoding catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase type 1 family (PP1α, PP1β, and PP1γ in human and those corresponding genes in rat and mouse), in spite of their high identity, are located to different chromosomes in these three species.


The purpose of this article is to present the pioneering works in the field of environmental and energy economics by the Bulgarian economist Slavcho Zagorov (1898–1970) during the early 1950s, when Zagorov was in emigration. Zagorov is known to the Bulgarian reader as an economist and policy maker in the years between the two world wars. It is little known, however, that Zagorov was one of the first (his publications chronologically predate those of Nicolas Georgescu Roegen by about a decade) to present the concept of energy flow in the economy and human metabolism, explained through the prism of thermodynamics. Criticizing the traditional economic approach to national income from the point of view of "value", Zagorov developed a new energetic approach to national income and productivity. According to him, national income is a "movement of energy", which he calculates in terms of primary energy sources. The Bulgarian economist conducted a number of empirical studies on energy balances in the Danube Region, including in Bulgaria.


Sociologists have looked at crime as a 'normal feature,' an 'integral part of all healthy societies'.' Focusing on important aspects of social aberration and dysfunction, the history of crime and criminality is gradually assuming its rightful place as an essential rubric in the social history of a community. Social scientists are thus becoming increasingly interested in the interrelationship between socio-economic forces on the one hand and the magnitude and pattern of criminal behaviour on the other. This is reflected in a number of historical studies on crime and criminality in the European context.2 2


The rolloff of the Schottky-diode responsivity in the far infrared have been theoretically and experimentally studied. The measured data are compared with the theory taking into account the retardation of the carrier distribution function with respect to high-frequency electric field in the depletion layer of the semiconductor. The new highest possible cutoff frequency, following from this theory, differs considerably from generally accepted one.


In May 1969, CIVIL ENGINEERING featured a report on the three-year study of San Francisco Bay and the conflicting procedures for the development of its shoreline. The article "San Francisco Bay Shoreline: Balancing of Development and Conservation Proposed," by the author traced the activities of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) which was created by the California Legislature in 1965. The current article follows BCDC's activities since it was designated a permanent agency in 1969, and its enforcement of Bay Plan Policies.


Field experiments conducted at research Station, Barakachha, Mirzapur of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, revealed that all the growth parameters, yield attributes and the yield of pigeonpea were higher when pigeonpea was intercropped with 75% population of seasame. However, yield of sesame grown in association was lower than sole crop. Two hand weedings given at 20 and 40 DAS (days after sowing) proved most effctive in promoting growth, yield and yield attributes of both the crops closely followed by fluchloralin 1.0 kg/ha. An association of 100% pigeonpea and 75% sesame with two hand weeding or fluchloralin 1.0 kg/ha had the yield potential of both the crops comparable with their sole crops using same weed control methods.


Weeds are a severe pest in agriculture, causing extensive yield loss. Weed control of grass and broadleaf weeds is commonly performed by applying selective herbicides homogeneously all over the field. As presented in several studies, applying the herbicide only where needed has economical as well as environmental benefits. Combining remote sensing tools and techniques with the concept of precision agriculture has the potential to automatically locate and identify weeds in order to allow precise control. The objective of this work is to detect annual grasses and broadleaf weeds among cereal as well as broadleaf crops, with the aid of field spectroscopy tools. Leaf and canopy spectral relative reflectance values of three targets: crop (wheat and chickpea), grass as well as broadleaf weeds, with soil background, were obtained by Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) FieldSpec Pro FR spectrometer in the range of 400-2400 nm. Leaf spectral classifications for botanical genera as well as category were almost perfect (99%). Canopy spectral classification for targets was accurate (total of 95%) when the field of view (FOV) contained the same target. Within the critical period for weeds control (i.e. 25-40 days after emergence), classification of 87% was achieved for canopy spectra of target in heterogeneous FOV, providing an applicative herbicide implementation. The Spectral Camera HS (Specim) with 1600 pixel per line and 849 bands in the range of 400-1000 nm was selected to continue this study. The properties of the camera should improve the ability to separate spectrally between targets by applying spatial factor. The data obtained by the camera will also be resampled to bands of the superspectral future satellite Vegetation and Environmental New micro Spacecraft (VENμS). Thereafter, VENμS spectral and spatial resolution should potentially provide precision agricultural applications including weeds control.


We consider three types of changes that attractors can undergo as a system parameter is varied. The first type leads to the sudden destruction of a chaotic attractor. The second type leads to the sudden widening of a chaotic attractor. In the third type of change, which applies for many systems with symmetries, two (or more) chaotic attractors merge to form a single chaotic attractor and the merged attractor can be larger in phase-space extent than the union of the attractors before the change. All three of these types of changes are termed crises and are accompanied by a characteristic temporal behavior of orbits after the crisis. For the case where the chaotic attractor is destroyed, this characteristic behavior is the existence of chaotic transients. For the case where the chaotic attractor suddenly widens, the characteristic behavior is an intermittent bursting out of the phase-space region within which the attractor was confined before the crisis. For the case where the attractors suddenly merge, the characteristic behavior is an intermittent switching between behaviors characteristic of the attractors before merging.


Hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctopathy (CRP) is a common complication after pelvic radiotherapy in patients with prostate or gynecological cancers. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in treating hemorrhagic CRP. The databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for related studies from inception to July 2017. Finally, 33 studies were identified with a total of 821 hemorrhagic CRP patients. After APC treatment, hemoglobin levels increased from 7.7–13.4 g/L to 11–14 g/L (including 15 studies). All (n = 33) studies reported an effective rate in rectal bleeding, among which five studies had a rate of 100%. Short-term complications were reported in 31 studies, while long-term complications in 33 studies and no complication in 11 studies. As for the severe complications, perforation was reported by 2 out of 33 studies, and the incidences were 3.3% (1/30) and 3.7% (1/27), respectively. As for APC setting, argon gas flow rate (median 1.5 L/min) and electric power (median 50 W) had no significant influence on complications and hemostasis. In conclusion, current literature indicated that APC therapy was an effective and safe strategy for hemorrhagic CRP, and large-scale prospective studies are needed to warrant our study.


Providing a molecular characterisation of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) could improve our understanding of its pathogenesis and pathophysiology, and provide a step toward the development of better treatments. To this end, we performed a deep phenotyping analysis of 185 blood donors, 10 obese, and 10 lipodystrophy patients. We analysed transcriptomes and epigenomes of monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages and platelets. Additionally, plasma metabolites including lipids and biochemistry measurements were quantified. Multi-omics integration of this data allowed us to identify combinations of features related to patient status and to order the donor population according to their molecular similarity to patients. We also performed differential analyses on epigenomic, transcriptomic and plasma proteomic data collected from obese individuals before and six months after bariatric surgery. These analyses revealed a pattern of abnormal activation of immune cells in obese individuals and lipodystrophy patients, which was partially reverted six months after bariatric surgery.


The present invention relates to improved organic field-effect transistor performance. The output current is increased by the structure of a plurality of current channels on OFET. Incidentally, the plurality of current channels are intended to contribute to all of the output current. A source electrode and a drain electrode, by not disposed on a plane parallel to the substrate surface, it is possible to shorter than was possible the distance between the source and drain conventional. Thus, short current channel from having a faster switching speed. Finally, the present invention relates to an integrated circuit transistors are arranged in a small area on the substrate.


Quebec's Aboriginal poverty is severe, and the large gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal education levels is the most important factor in explaining it. In the report, the author examines the relationship between education levels and employment for Quebec Aboriginals. Comparing outcomes within the province's Aboriginal identity groups to results for other Quebecers, and for Canadians overall, Richards finds that the province's Aboriginal education outcomes rank below the Canadian average, which itself is disturbingly low. Richards makes six broad recommendations to address the crisis in Aboriginal education – in Quebec and the rest of Canada.


It is the purpose of this paper to report the experience of a multidisciplinary teaching project of Legal Dentistry and Forensic Sciences, aimed at university students and the academic community in general. The project, through biweekly meetings with short courses, a group of textbook studies and scientific articles as well as other activities, stimulated the discussion and learning of these thematic areas that are increasingly in focus. For didactic purposes, a sequence of subjects of Legal Dentistry and Forensic Sciences was set up, allowing students to experience criminal expertise, through contact with simple essays, whose legal and forensic concepts involved are present in the curriculum experienced in different university courses. The biweekly lectures enabled the public (undergraduates and teachers) to exchange knowledge about the different areas that comprise the project. The subjects covered in the lectures are especially important in the areas that encompass Forensic Sciences, especially Forensic Chemistry and Dentistry. The teaching project entitled "Legal and Forensic Dentistry" can play a fundamental role in the academic formation, both for future dental surgeons and future experts, enabling vast knowledge in different areas of Forensic Sciences. Descriptors: Forensic Dentistry. Forensic Sciences. Teaching Project. Interdisciplinary Communication. Legal and Forensic Dentistry in the formation of dental students: experience report of a multidisciplinary learning project Revista da ABENO • 20(2):111-118, 2020 – DOI: 10.30979/rev.abeno.v20i2.952 112


Antisera against the neuromodulatory peptides, Phe‐Met‐Arg‐Phe‐NH2‐amide (FMRFamide) and gastrin cholecystokinin, demonstrate that the mushroom bodies of honey bees are subdivided longitudinally into strata. Three‐dimensional reconstructions demonstrate that these strata project in parallel through the entire pedunculus and through the medial and vertical lobes. Immunostaining reveals clusters of immunoreactive cell bodies within the calyx cups and immunoreactive bundles of axons that line the inside of the calyx cup and lead to strata. Together, these features reveal that immunoreactive strata are composed of Kenyon cell axons rather than extrinsic elements, as suggested previously by some authors. Sorting amongst Kenyon cell axons into their appropriate strata already begins in the calyx before these axons enter the pedunculus. The three main concentric divisions of each calyx (the lip, collar, and basal ring) are divided further into immunoreactive and immunonegative zones. The lip neuropil is divided into two discrete zones, the collar neuropil is divided into five zones, and the basal ring neuropil is divided into four zones. Earlier studies proposed that the lip, collar, and basal ring are represented by three broad bands in the lobes: axons from adjacent Kenyon cell dendrites in the calyces are adjacent in the lobes even after their polar arrangements in the calyces have been transformed to rectilinear arrangements in the lobes. The universality of this arrangement is not supported by the present results. Although immunoreactive zones are found in all three calycal regions, immunoreactive strata in the lobes occur mainly in the two bands that were ascribed previously to the collar and the basal ring. In the lobes, immunoreactive strata are visited by the dendrites of efferent neurons that carry information from the mushroom bodies to other parts of the brain. Morphologically and chemically distinct subdivisions through the pedunculus and lobes of honey bees are comparable to longitudinal subdivisions demonstrated in the mushroom bodies of other insects, such as the cockroach Periplaneta americana. The functional and evolutionary significance of the results is discussed. J. Comp. Neurol. 424:179–195, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


An amphiphilic taurocholic acid (TCA) doped polypyrrole (PPy) film (PPy/TCA) was used as a dynamic mimic membrane model to explore how switchable surface wettability influences amyloid aggregation. Our results indicate that the hydrophobic surface, not the hydrophilic surface, plays important roles in Aβ40 adsorption and aggregation.


The chemical and mechanical properties of cured adhesives are sensitive to variations in the starting material. Many parameters are responsible for the properties of the final epoxy network. The chemical structure of the epoxy network is one of these parameters affected by reactions during the curing process. In this work, a commercially-available bonding adhesive, MBrace ® Saturant, is used for modification with different concentrations, (0,1,2.5 5 and 7.5 wt%),of Nanomer ® I.30E using direct mixing method. The bonding adhesive is commonly used thermosetting polymer for bonding CFRP to concrete members. Characterization of the structure of the adhesive with and without modification was investigated by Near-Infrared spectroscopy (NIR). The results provide qualitative information about the structure of the epoxy network, with and without modification with nanoclay, and enable understanding of the nature and extent of the chemical reactions during the curing process in the presence of nanoclay. No influence was found of nanoclay on the cure reactions and spectrometric changes of cure reactions could be better observed by NIR.


Chapter 2 establishes the historical context by summarizing how Nubri gradually became part of the broader Tibetan Buddhist cultural world through the immigration of lamas and establishment of temples. Even after being incorporated into the Hindu kingdom of Nepal during the nineteenth century, the residents of Nubri retained a Tibetan cultural orientation. The chapter's historical perspective is essential for understanding the development of the social networks that play a major role in shaping the direction and magnitude of today's educational migration.


Composite materials, comprised of fibre-reinforced polymers, offer a high strength-to-weight ratio, making them excellent for the building of complex, lightweight structures in several industries, including the marine industry. There is an improvement in fuel efficiency and cost-effectiveness in general marine component developments as a result of the lightweight and flexible design characteristics. Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are often used to construct boats, ships, and other marine compounds, such as the hull, column beams, piling structures, and other internal ship components, since they meet the aforementioned characteristics. In terms of durability, rigidity, and corrosion resistance, these FRPs may readily replace their conventional metal counterparts. So, thisreview gives an overview of FRP composites' application in marine industries for various potential applications. Fibre-reinforced polymer composites offer a significant advantage in strength and weight when compared to conventional materials.


The least complex sun based cell comprises of a light safeguard, sandwiched between two metals with unique work capacities. Transporter particular contacts (CSC's), which are pervasive in present day sunlight based cells, are added to improve the electrical presentation. The correct plan and usage of a CSC is significant, as the exhibition, lifetime, as well as cost decrease of sunlight based cell can be hampered by a solitary interface or layer.


Abstract : Successfull interdiction operations are critical to the achievement of the Joint Force Commander's operational objectives and can significantly affect the outcome of war. Joint Pub 3-0, Doctrine for Joint Operations, defines interdiction as an action that diverts, disrupts, delays, or destroys the enemy's surface military potential before it can be used effectively against friendly forces. Joint Pub 3-0 also states that when interdiction is synchronized with maneuver, it 'provides one of the most dynamic concepts available to the joint force. ' Joint interdiction, due to its significant impact upon the outcome of theater operations, its inherently joint nature at the operational level of war, and its challenging coordination requirements, is the focus of this monograph. Many elements of the joint force can conduct interdiction operations. Joint Pub 3-03, Doctrine for Joint Interdiction Operations, states that 'all subordinate commanders possess resources that can contribute to interdiction. The capabilities of all joint forces.. must be considered in planning and conducting interdiction. Although all forces can contribute to the interdiction effort, Joint Pub 3-0 clearly establishes the joint force air component commander (JFACC) as 'the supported commander for the JFC's overall interdiction effort.' The purpose then of this examination is to provide some answers to the research question: How can the U.S. Army support the JFACC in his role as the supported commander for the JFC's overall interdiction effort? The methodology used to address the research question will consist of two parts. The first part will examine joint interdiction during the (Gulf War and how well Army capabilities were integrated into the interdiction effort of that war.


TPS506Background: MIBC is a systemic disease as >40% of patients (pts) ultimately develop recurrence after radical cystectomy (RC). For pts who cannot receive or refuse cisplatin-based chemotherapy...


The experimental results of studying the resistivity and magnetic susceptibility are presented for the single crystal La(1-x)Sr(x)MnO(3) (x=0.15;0.175) and CaMnO(3-d). We revealed the temperature dependence of the magnetic component of activation energy of hopping conductivity (Em) in paramagnetic phase: Em=Em0(+ or -)a/T, where the "+" sign corresponds to antiferromagnetic manganite CaMnO(3-d), and the "-" sign to ferromagnetic manganites La(1-x)Sr(x)MnO(3). It has been shown that for antiferromagnetic that temperature dependence of activation energy has a maximum coinciding with a maximum of magnetic susceptibility. For ferromagnetic sample La(0.85)Sr(0.15)MnO(3) the minimum of activation energy and maximum of magnetic susceptibility also coincide. The results obtained are explained on the basic of the model proposed in Gor'kov's works.


TO THE EDITOR: In a recently published review on management of patients with biochemical failure (BF) following primary definitive therapy for localized prostate cancer (PCa), Darwish and Raj (2012) stated that following radical prostatectomy (RP) patients who are at high risk for recurrence after radiation therapy (RT), based upon a salvage nomogram, should be spared from this treatment modality justifying it by a range of toxicities it causes. Additionally, in the algorithm for management of BF after primary therapy they suggested that patients with a short prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time (PSA-DT) and PSA > 10 ng/mL should not be offered salvage RT at all. Do these recommendations provide the optimal use of salvage RT following RP? Unfortunately, we feel that they do not.

While we agree with the authors that patients with higher PSA at the time of radiation (RT), short PSA-DT, high Gleason score, and other "bad" prognostic characteristics do generally worse than patients without those features, it does not mean that salvage therapy should categorically not be discussed and potentially offered to patients at high risk of recurrence. As a matter of fact, in the study that was cited in the manuscript (Stephenson et al., 2007), select patients with some "bad" prognostic features did remarkably well after salvage RT. The 6-year progression-free estimate in patients with PSA-DT ≤ 10 months and GS 8–10 with low PSA was 41%. When looking at PSA-DT, in particular those with the shortest doubling time may be at the greatest risk for PCa-specific mortality (PCSM). Therefore, although salvage RT may be less likely to prevent recurrence in this group in the ones who are salvaged with RT the benefit may be profound. This is supported by the analysis from Trock et al. (2008) who found, in a retrospective analysis of 635 patients with BF after RP, that there was an increase in PCa-specific survival after salvage RT in patients with short PSA-DT ≤ 6 months only and not in those with a longer PSA-DT. Ina similar retrospective analysis of 432 patients with BF after RP, the beneficial effect of salvage RT on all-cause survival was more prominent in patients with PSA-DT ≤ 6 months than in patients with PSA-DT > 6 months, with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.35 (95% CI 0.17–0.72, p = 0.042) and 0.6 (95% CI 0.37–0.98, p = 0.04), respectively (Cotter et al., 2011). All these data suggest that salvage RT is effective and local control is still important in many patients with short PSA-DT, and PSA-DT should not be used to select patients that will not receive RT. As a result the suggestion by Darwish and Raj to avoid salvage RT in these patients would potentially deprive those with the greatest relative benefit in regard to PCSM and overall survival from receiving this therapy.

Similarly, we disagree with the authors that "every salvage local therapy…for patients with BF is associated with a significant risk of complications…" Late complications after adjuvant or salvage RT are well documented from prospective randomized trials and from retrospective series. The rate of severe side-effects ranges from low (all grade 3–4, ≤5%; Bolla et al., 2005; Pearse et al., 2008) to very low (<1%; Feng et al., 2007; Wiegel et al., 2009) and should not preclude caretakers from offering this life-saving treatment to their patients. While every treatment decision should be based on patient's preferences and informed consent, one should remember how little benefit from toxic antineoplastic therapies some patients will accept, when it is their only chance for cure. When considering adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer (with less impressive HR for all-cause mortality (Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group, 2005), and whose toxicities include death, life-threatening infections, neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, secondary cancers, infertility etc., a 1%-improvement in the chance of cure, or additional life expectancy of 6 months were found to be sufficient by 50% of women to decide that adjuvant chemotherapy was worthwhile (Duric and Stockler, 2001). For a man with a rising PSA after RP the use of salvage RT is the only potentially curative therapy, it can be delivered with a low risk of long-term toxicities, and should be discussed with patients as part of multidisciplinary management.

Further, we would support enrollment of these men on a number of key clinical trials now being evaluated in this setting which aim to further refine the impact of the timing of RT, the use, and duration of androgen deprivation therapy, and the use of pelvic RT in this critical patient population (RADICALS; RTOG-0534). However, we would not, as the authors suggest, recommend that these patients be recommended to go directly to systemic therapy due to a misconception about both the potential benefits and likely harms of salvage RT.


Dendritic cells (DC) are professional APC that have an extraordinary capacity to prime naive T cells. It has been reported that human DC subsets express distinct toll‐like receptor (TLR), which influences their function. In mice, we observed that plasmocytoid DC (pDC) express a higher level of TLR9 compared with myeloid DC (mDC) cultured with GM‐CSF. However, we demonstrated that stimulation with IFN‐γ is capable of upregulating TLR9 expression in mDC to a level comparable with expression in pDC. Consistent with this observation, IL‐12 p40 and IL‐6 mRNA expression and IL‐12 p70 secretion in response to CpG‐oligodeoxynucleotides are enhanced in mDC pretreated with IFN‐γ compared with untreated cells. Therefore, TLR‐mediated responses of DC subsets may be influenced not only by signals delivered by pathogens but also by regulatory signals from cytokines such as IFN‐γ.


Our study aimed to investigate the potential clinical utility of a poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, veliparib (ABT‐888), as a radiosensitizer in the medication of endometrial carcinoma (EC).


Absorption bands, corresponding to the crystal-field (CF) excitations of the ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{3+}$ ions in ${\mathrm{SmBa}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{6},$ have been observed by infrared transmission spectroscopy and assigned to transitions from the lowest energy levels of the ${}^{6}{H}_{5/2}$ multiplet to the excited multiplets ${}^{6}{H}_{7/2},$ ${}^{6}{H}_{9/2},$ ${}^{6}{H}_{11/2},$ ${}^{6}{H}_{13/2},$ ${}^{6}{F}_{7/2},$ and ${}^{6}{F}_{9/2}$ of ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{3+}$ ions on the regular ${D}_{4h}$-symmetry sites and the ${C}_{4v}$-symmetry Ba sites. A set of the CF parameters that fits the levels in the regular sites and reproduces the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy has been derived. The CF interaction parameters in the Sm/Ba sites have been modeled by combining the superposition model and an ab initio method based on the density-functional calculations.


Objective To establish a highly sensitive multiplex nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) system for analysis of key clock genes expression in individual cells.Methods Six key clock genes(bmal1,clock,per1,per2,cry1,cry2) and a housekeeping gene(β-actin) were chosen and the nested primer pairs were designed using Oligo 6.0 primer analysis software.Sensitivity for multiplex nested PCR and RT-PCR was examined separately.And then the expression profiles of clock gene were examined in single cells collected with micromanipulator.Real-time PCR was used to test the general level of the clock gene expression.And then the clock gene expression profiles were compared between general level and single cell level.Results One DNA copy of each gene could be detected with our multiplex nested PCR system.Four RNA copies of each gene could be detected with the multiplex nested RT-PCR system.The expression pattern of clock genes was distinct among individual NIH/3T3 cells.The expression pattern of per1 and per2 were distinct in general level.But the expression pattern of per1 was not distinct in single cell.Conclusion A highly sensitive multiplex nested RT-PCR system examining clock genes was established.Molecular clock is poorly synchronized among individual NIH/3T3 cells,it was also proved that the expression pattern of clock gene was distinct between general level and single cell.


Agrium's Kapuskasing Phosphate Operations (KPO) is an open pit mining facility located approximately 40 km southwest of the town of Kapuskasing, Ontario. In operation since 1999, three contiguous pits have been developed (North, Centre, and South) with mining activities expected to be complete in 2013. As part of the rehabilitation strategy the open pits will be transformed into a freshwater lake. Agrium KPO has had previous success in constructing and establishing a lake ecosystem. In 2006, in order to further access ore deposits, a small boreal lake was relocated which included the transplantation of fish, benthic invertebrates, plankton and aquatic vegetation. This paper will discuss Agrium KPO's integrative planning approach based on geotechnical, geochemical, and biological specifications, including lessons learned from the previous lake relocation, to ensure the successful establishment of the pit lake.
After closure, the pit will be flooded to approximately 239 masl in the North and South pits while backfill placed in the Centre pit will rise above the projected lake elevation. Geotechnical reports indicate that the safety factor of pit slopes will increase over time due to the stabilising force of the water weight on the slopes. To minimise erosion, rock cover may be required in areas potentially exposed to wave action. An assessment of geochemical loadings has also been completed to model the expected quality of water in the pit once flooded. Results suggest that concentrations of modelled parameters (such as metals) released from the submerged waste rock will be below applicable regulatory acceptability criteria after the lake has filled to capacity. As such, the final flooding of the pit can be done sequentially without in situ treatment of the water within the pit. In terms of biological development of the lake, the ultimate objective is to maintain a viable aquatic ecosystem. The construction of a littoral zone, including enhanced aquatic habitat features, will provide spawning and refuge areas geared towards the successful reproduction of sentinel fish species found in this area. It is predicted that once flooded, the open pit will provide a stable, deep cool water fisheries habitat.


Considerable progress has been made toward the understanding of the origin and characteristics of the ferrimagnetic anisotropy through the introduction of the so-called "one-ion models." In this paper the nature of the one-ion model is examined from the point of view of formal statistical mechanics. The purpose is to establish the relationship between the one-ion models and the rigorous theory, to derive a formulation for correction terms, and to determine the conditions under which one-ion theories will be applicable. Under the assumption that the Hamiltonian contains isotropic pair-exchange interactions plus single-ion anisotropy operators alone, the formal theory demonstrates that the anisotropic free energy cannot, in general, be decomposed into a sum of single-ion contributions. It is shown, however, that a one-ion theory based on the correct single-spin density operator will be adequate in certain restricted circumstances. The correction terms to this one-ion theory are found to consist of fluctuations in the expectation values of multiplets of ions and thus represent n-ion contributions. A criterion for the applicability of the one-ion theory has been constructed in terms of the magnitudes of the anisotropy energy and the Curie temperature.


Abstract Grey Alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.) stands are distributed in the Carpathian area on alluvial deposits with sediments of different grain size as galleries along rivers and streams of the sub-montane to the middle montane level. The geological structure (Tertiary sedimentary deposits) in relation to the hydromorphological processes is the base for the structure of the stream valleys, which are in part very deep. Under the special microclimate of these deeper stream stretches with lower temperatures there are favourable conditions for the development of grey alder stands.


National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 411 found that the most important factor for good long-term performance of microsurfacing used in a typical agency pavement preservation program was project selection. This paper expands on that information and furnishes a decision-making framework for selecting roads whose characteristics make them good candidates for microsurfacing. The tool is based on the output of a survey that included responses from 44 US state and 12 Canadian provincial highway agencies combined with the results of a comprehensive literature review. The paper concludes that microsurfacing is a pavement preservation tool with very few technical or operational limitations that is best suited to correct rutting, raveling, and loss of surface friction. It performs well if it is used to preserve structurally sound pavements. The survey found that it is considered a highly specialized treatment and as a result, most agencies do not understand those conditions in which microsurfacing can accrue significant pavement preservation benefits. Also, few US and Canadian agencies have a formal project selection process Therefore, the framework presented in the paper is both timely and needed. It will furnish agencies with the ability to identify those roads where microsurfacing is the appropriate treatment.


Physical education teachers should purposefully accept the fact that they are the role models in developing individual and group characteristics. In addition, teachers should structure competitive activities to maximize the participation of all students. In this regard, teaching physical education is an exciting experience. It is important that we teach more than just knowledge, skills, and strategies like cooperative strategy and other. From this perspective, the teacher must model the desired outcome in the same way he demonstrates the critical elements of a kids' athletics. The aim of this experimental study is to determine the effect of the practice of the cooperation strategy with a new concept of Kids' Athletics; their contribution towards the improvement of teaching conditions in lessons of Physical Education and Sports in middle School; and the improvement of sports performance among students of the middle School in long jump (m), shot put (m), sprint 50 m (s), and endurance racing 1000 m (s). Thus, this study is one of the very best practices that promote a higher level of participation among all students in physical education. It is designed to give children the pleasure of playing athletics. It helps them to embark on sprinting, endurance running, jumping, and throwing. Two groups of girls (aged 11 ± 0.65 years) participated in this study. The students were divided into experimental and control group (n=24). The results according to the research variables is characterized by significant differences (*p≤0.05). Consequently, teacher's use of the cooperative learning techniques in physical education will encourage a higher level of participation among many students in the activities of the kids' athletics. Therefore, this will improve the physical performance of students and their relationships better than the traditional teaching method using a command style (Mosston & Ashworth, 2002).


This work presents a single‐layer millimeter‐wave wide‐band high‐efficiency reflectarray antenna with the subwavelength element based on the partial‐optimization method. A three‐loop subwavelength element with the unchanged parasitic outer‐ring is used to guarantee the design accuracy and depress the dispersion influence. Then, the partition‐optimization method is used to restructure the element phase‐response characteristic. The proposed design method is beneficial to expand the reflectarray antenna bandwidth and achieve the high efficiency, especially for the large‐aperture reflectarray antenna. A center‐fed reflectarray antenna is designed and fabricated at the center frequency of 34 GHz. The measured gain of the proposed reflectarray antenna is 35.4 dBi with the 1 dB gain bandwidth of 20.3%, that is, from 32.3 GHz to 39.2 GHz. The proposed reflectarray antenna can keep the stable radiation pattern for a multi‐band wireless backhaul system.


A rapid repair and retrofitting technique for reinforced concrete (rc) Chinese existing bridges damaged by a strong earthquake, is proposed and tested. These bridges were designed according to Chinese codes [1] [2] [3] but with insufficient transversal steel reinforcement. The damaged rebar and concrete parts were replaced by new bar systems and concrete cast respectively. Finally, a C-FRP wrapping was applied to increase the insufficient shear strength and to guarantee the necessary ductility in plastic hinge. This repair technique is an upgrade of the one tested with very good results during a previous experimental research [4] on bridge designed according to old Italian code [5] without proper seismic details. A new bar system assures that plastic dissipation is distributed in plastic hinge only. Some pier specimens (in scale 1:6) were built with and without the new bar systems. These specimens were tested by cyclic tests at Fuzhou University lab (China) to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.


Background: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with significant morbidity and mortality among healthcare workers worldwide. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers toward COVID-19
at Ataq General Hospital, and three other hospitals and health centers in Shabwah Governorate, Yemen. Materials and Methods: From January 1, 2022, to February 28, 2022, a cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers was conducted in the city of Ataq, Shabwah
Governorate at the following hospitals: Ataq General Hospital, Al Shefa'a Hospital, Al Aafiah Hospital, and COVID-19 Isolation Center. Results: A total of 107 healthcare workers completed the survey. Their mean age was 28.17 ± 7.73 years, 79 (73.8%) of them were male and 28 (26.2%) were female. The overall knowledge was good, with a score of 19 out of 21; however, most participants were unaware of some of the extra-respiratory symptoms of the disease, such as diarrhea and confusion, and about 57% of them were unaware that eating or interacting with wild animals may contribute to the infection with the COVID-19 virus.
Attitude analysis of the participants revealed that about half of those surveyed do not believe that Yemen can contain COVID-19. In general, the practice of the participants was good.
Conclusion: Although the overall knowledge score in this study was good, most respondents could not recognize some of the extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 and were unaware of the possibility of transmission of the disease from wild animals. In addition, about half of those surveyed do not believe that Yemen can contain COVID-19.


The range solving precision of bistatic guidance radar is systemically simulated.One data fusion algorithm of range solving is introduced to solve the problem of unable to position finding related to the base line with high precision.Through targets location by multistatic radar and data fusion,simulation shows that the optimization methods could realize the high range solving precision,enhance the systematic location perform and antijamming ability and greatly improve the position accuracy related to the areas around base line.


TO THE EDITOR: I was interested in the recent article by Telford and colleagues [1]. I have seen three documented cases of ehrlichiosis among patients from the eastern shore of Virginia. The first was that of a 61-year-old man admitted to our hospital in May 1994. He was acutely ill with conjunctivitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, acute renal failure, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. He improved slowly after receiving doxycycline therapy. Ehrlichia antibody tests were done by National Health Laboratories at Herndon, Virginia. The acute titers to Ehrlichia IgM and IgG were 1:16 on 25 May 1994. On 9 June, the Ehrlichia IgM antibody titer was greater than 1:320, and the Ehrlichia IgG antibody titer was greater than 1:1024. The laboratory did not specify the Ehrlichia species for which the patient was tested. The second case was that of a 73-year-old man who was hospitalized with fever, pneumonitis, and cytopenias. He developed acute hepatitis and acute renal failure. His IgG titer to Ehrlichia chaffeensis increased to greater than 1:1024. The patient died despite doxycycline therapy. The third case was that of a 69-year-old woman treated as an outpatient for headache, fever, chills, nausea, anorexia, and myalgias. Her laboratory results showed leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver enzyme levels. The IgM titer to E. chaffeensis was greater than 1:320. In the last 2 years, our group has treated five other patients with Rickettsia-like illnesses (characterized by prominent fever and leukopenia) for which a diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever or ehrlichiosis could not be established. The eastern shore of Virginia is a rural area infested with ticks. We frequently see cases of Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever and now have unequivocal evidence of the presence of ehrlichiosis.


Can the rule of law exist, in any meaningful sense, in areas of limited statehood (ALS)? As seen in this volume, the question is a salient one not only for reasons purely in the realms of legal or political theory. Modern democratic States combine and balance three sets of institutions – the State, rule of law and democratic accountability – and when one or more of these constitutive elements is either weak or absent, the expectation is that political order decay or break down.1 Normatively, if the rule of law is entirely co-dependent on consolidated statehood, then we are compelled to conclude that alternative (i.e. non-state) governors cannot, as a general rule, live up to the rule of law conditions we have come to expect from reasonably consolidated States. Similarly, from a policy perspective, if the rule of law can effectively exist only in consolidated functioning States, then any rule of law promotion efforts – from transitional administrations and post-conflict reconstruction missions to softer forms of transformative engagement2 – must, by definition, either strive to create or restore modern statehood, or forego the rule of law. If no substantial


One of the finest bits of dialogue in any play occurs in Shakespeare's The Tempest, when evil Antonio seduces lackadaisical Sebastian into attempting to kill the king. Sebastian, the king's brother, would claim the throne and Antonio would reap the benefits of royal friendship. Antonio must pull off three verbal feats at once: he must make Sebastian aware of the opportunity that has presented itself; he must secure Sebastian's cooperation; and he must leave himself an out if Sebastian balks. Although his aims are nefarious, his selling of the plot to Sebastian is a masterpiece of logic, intimation, and metaphor.


Oceanic surface velocity fields are objectively estimated from time-sequential satellite images of seasurface temperature from the Advanced Veiry High Resolution Radiometer on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's polar arbiters. The hierarchical technique uses the concept of image pyramids and multi-resolution grids for increased computational efficiency. Images are Gaussian filtered and sub-sampled from fine to coarse grid scales. The number of pyramid levels is selected such that the maximum expected velocity in the image results in a displacement of less than one pixel at the coarsest spatial scale. Maximum Cross-Correlation at the sub-pixel level with orthogonal polynomial approximation is used to compute a velocity field at each level of the pyramid which is then iterated assuming a locally linear velocity field. The first image at the next finer level of the pyramid is warped towards the second image by the calculated velocity field. At each succeeding finer grid scale, the velocity field is updated and the process repeated. The final result is an estimated velocity at each pixel at the finest resolution of the imagery. There are no free parameters as used in some gradient-based approaches and the only assumption is that the velocity field is locally linear. Test cases are shown using both simulated and real images with numerically simulated velocity fields which demonstrate the accuracy of


The substructure content of dark matter halos is interesting because it can be affected by complex galaxy physics and dark matter particle physics. However, observing the small scale structure of dark matter is a challenge. The subhalo abundance (mass function, minimum mass) and morphology (density profile, subhalo shape, subsubstructure) contain information about complex astrophysics (halo formation processes) and new exotic fundamental physics (dark matter interactions). Indirect detection of dark matter annihilation radiation (DMAR) in gamma rays may be the most direct method for observing small scale structure. I outline the ways in which gamma rays may probe halo substructure. If substructure is bountiful, it may be responsible for the eventual discovery of DMAR, for instance in galaxy clusters or the diffuse gamma-ray background. Otherwise, the observation of DMAR in places without much substructure, such as the Galactic center, would lead to strict limits on the properties of small scale structure. Properties of the gamma-ray angular power spectrum will also provide information or constraints on Milky Way halo substructure.The substructure content of dark matter halos is interesting because it can be affected by complex galaxy physics and dark matter particle physics. However, observing the small scale structure of dark matter is a challenge. The subhalo abundance (mass function, minimum mass) and morphology (density profile, subhalo shape, subsubstructure) contain information about complex astrophysics (halo formation processes) and new exotic fundamental physics (dark matter interactions). Indirect detection of dark matter annihilation radiation (DMAR) in gamma rays may be the most direct method for observing small scale structure. I outline the ways in which gamma rays may probe halo substructure. If substructure is bountiful, it may be responsible for the eventual discovery of DMAR, for instance in galaxy clusters or the diffuse gamma-ray background. Otherwise, the observation of DMAR in places without much substructure, such as the Galactic center, would lead to strict limits on the properties of small scale structure....


This research examines possible effects of climatic change focusing on global warming and its impacts on three villages from Tuticorin District and suggests measures to mitigate climate change. The general objective of this research is to expand understanding of three villages from Tuticorin District viz, Therespuram, Ettayapuram and Puthukkottai peoples' experience of climate variability and responses made to overcome impacts of climate change. Specific objectives of the present study are 1. To collect data on the socio-economic structure and activities of the respondents in three villages from Tuticorin District viz, Therespuram, Ettayapuram and Puthukkottai. TS 2. To understand the local peoples' awareness towards climate variability. 3. To find out the major impacts of changing climate in local peoples' view. The study was conducted in Tuticorin District of Tamilnadu. This study is compiled with the help of the primary data covered only three months period (2010). The primary data was collected with the help of specially prepared interview schedule. In this research, total of 364 interviewees were selected in three villages from Tuticorin District. This is purely a descriptive study. A list of simple questions was prepared prior to the actual fieldwork. In-depth Interviews was conducted by making transect walk to gather the household information, attitude of local peoples' toward climate change, their knowledge and experiences regarding climate variability, impacts and adapting activities. The data has been presented in the form of tables for easy understanding and analysis. Secondary data was collected through journals, articles, thesis, reports, publications, web sites. Commensurate with the set objectives various analytical tools were employed for the analysis and interpretation of the data.


Objective:To observe the effects of preemptive analgesia with parecoxib on patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA) after lumbar operation.Methods:Eighty cases(ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ) with lumbar operation were randomly divided into parecoxib group(group P) and control group(group C).Parecoxib sodium 40 mg was injected into the patients in group P before 10 min of anesthesia induction,patients in group C were not injected any drugs.All patients were used PCIA by pentazocine combined with sufentanil after surgery.Visual analogous scale(VAS) and bruggman comfort scale(BCS) scores of all patients were recorded at 6,12,24,36 and 48 hours after surgery.Total times of the PCIA press and times of effective press within 48 hours,and the cumulative doses of sufentanil consumption and the adverse reactions were also recorded.Results:The VAS scores of group P were significantly lower than that of group C,but the BCS scores were significantly higher compared with group C(P0.01).Total times of the PCIA press and times of effective press of group P were significantly less than those of group C(P0.01) within 48 hours,and the cumulative doses of sufentanil consumption and the adverse reactions were also less compared with group C(P0.05).Conclusions:Parecoxib sodium 40 mg injecting 10 min before anesthesia induction can improve the analgesic effects of pentazocine combined with sufentanil on PCIA after lumbar operation,and reduce the cumulative doses of sufentanil consumption and the adverse reactions.


Starch production in all plants examined is altered by mutations of isoamylase-type starch debranching enzymes (DBE), although how these proteins affect glucan polymer assembly is not understood. Various allelic mutations in the maize (Zea mays L.) gene sugaryl (sul), which codes for an isoamylase-type DBE, condition distinct kernel phenotypes. This study characterized the recessive mutations sul-Ref, sul-R4582::Mul, and sul-st, regarding their molecular basis, chemical phenotypes, and effects on starch metabolizing enzymes. The sul-Ref allele results in two specific amino acid substitutions without affecting the Sul mRNA level. The sul-R4582::Mul mutation is a null allele that abolishes transcript accumulation. The sul-st mutation results from insertion of a novel transposon-like sequence, designated Toad, which causes alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Three sul-st mutant transcripts are produced, one that is nonfunctional, and two that code for modified SU1 polypeptides. The sul-st mutation is dominant to the null allele sul-R4582::Mul, but recessive to sul-Ref, suggestive of complex effects involving 1 Reprinted with permission from Plant Physiology 125: 1406-1418. 2 Author for correspondence.


Our statements (Cogley and Adams, 1998;CAl, challenged by Oerlemans, were not "firm" but tentative. We were careful to qualify our main conclusion at several places. Given the extreme under-sampling of mass balance, it would not be surprising if our conclusion were shown to be in error, but we do not think that Oerlemans has done so. Oerlemans notes that many of the larger measured glaciers are in Norway. If, following CA, we define "larger" as "larger than 16km", then the nine larger glaciers from to thermal forcing. One cannot say that larger glaciers showed little retreat compared to small ones. \\Tith proper correction for geometric factors, or better, explicit simulation with calibrated ice-flow models, it requires a certain mass-balance sensitivity to simulate the post-Little Ice Age retreat £i'omobserved meteorological records. Sensitivities thus found arc in good agreement with the results from the meteorological fieldwork and mass-balance modelling referred to above. .For further background the reader is referred to Oerlemans and others (1998) and references therein. Altogether, I do not agree with the main conclusion of CA that glaciers have contributed little to sea-level rise in the light of an alleged dependence of mass-balance sensitivity on glacier size. On the contrary, the good agreement between the independent estimates of DM and ZO makes it very likely that glaciers made a significant contribution. Norway, occupying the 16-32 and 32-64 km size classes, contribute 68 of the 440 annual balance measurements made on larger glaciers. If they and other Norwegian glaciers are excluded, we find that the Norwegian glaciers do indeed shift our results in the direction argued by Oerlemans. However, these glaciers are not near to the peak of the frequency distribution of observed sizes (fig.7b of CAl, and CA:ssize-corrected estimate of the small-glacier contribution to sea-level rise, 0.058mm a \ is revised only to 0.066mm a-] when they are excluded. More seriously, we see no reason why Norwegian glaciers should be given special attention. The fact that many of the larger Norwegian glaciers have positive mass balance is not really relevant. \\That would be relevant would be a demonstration that Norwegian glaciers are so globally atypical as to make the available sample unrepresentative of the world's small glaciers.\Vedo not think that this can be done. However, we agree entirely with Oerlemans on the need for regional differentiation. Indeed we took some trouble to evaluate spatial bias, and our paper contains an estimate of its magnitude: about -60 mm a\ or +0.10mm a-[ ofequivalent sea-levelrise. Our results are not in conflict with those of Dyurgerov and 11cier (1997;DM). The cumulative data of DM shown in Oerlemans' figure I are for practical purposes identical with those shown as annual averages in figure 5a of CA. It followsthat the latter are not in conflict with the modelling results ofZuo and Oerlemans (1997;ZO). In fact, Oerlemans' figure 1reveals that the best agreement between ZO and DM (and hence CAl is for t:!.T ~ 0 K. A reasonable interprctation of this agreement is that (i) ZO's model suggests that small glaciers were in equilibrium during 1865-95,while (ii) the measurements of DM and CA suggest that, when biases are allowed for, small glaciers were close to equilibrium during 1961-90. To assimilate this latter claim, the reader should mentally differentiate the curves in Oerlemans' figure 1, and should note that ZO's model assumes a (calibrated) dependence of balance on temperature, while the DM and CA data are complementary in that they demonstrate such a dependence. CA:s conclusions, restated succinctly, are as follows. Firstly, a naive calculation yields a moderately negative estimate of global average mass balance. Secondly, this estimate must be revised upwards because at least three biases distort the result: (a) neglect of internal accumulation, (b) the spatially uneven distribution of the measured glaciers, and (c) the size bias identified in CA:sfigure 7.Oerlcmans does not address bias a, the significance of which is emphasized by results reported recently by Bazhev and others (1998)and Rabus and Echelmeyer (1998);he may not have understood that we had already addressed bias b; and we show above that his comments on bias c do not affect our conclusion. Thirdly, it is not practical to correct all of these biases at once, because they are not additive and are probably correlated. The extent of overlap needs to be determined carefully, which will require a substantial effort. Fourthly, CA:s analysis, when taken as a whole, entails the conclusion that small glaciers were probably close to equilibrium during 1961-90. Our empirical demonstration of the size bias warrants a practical response in the medium-term disposition of measurement effort, but its physical causes also deserve study. In this regard we accept Oerlemans' argument that sensitivity to precipitation should be examined as well as sensitivity to temperature. His earlier work (e.g. Oerlemans and FortJUn, J. OERLEMANS


The various studies conducted in the past on the performance of the Italian innovation system have almost inevitably underlined the weakness of the Italian R&D systems. Its main salient feature is the poorly performing, insufficiently developed, and scarcely organised block of activities related to Scientific and Technological Research (STR). The failure of the Italian system in promoting basic science and technology development in high-tech sectors is not just "institutional" and it does not involve only the public sphere. In fact, it cannot be limited to the issue of the structural inefficacy of the Italian complex of public institutions delegated to support STR programmes (Universities, centralised authorities at ministerial level, and government funded public centres). On the contrary, it involves also the business sector, namely, the private system of R&D in-house laboratories. Although Italy was a late industrialised country, it did not make any serious effort to overcome its backwardness by establishing new modern institutional forms at the frontier of the most advanced research 1 (either within the public system of basic research or in any high-tech sector.) As an inevitable result, Italy is still very backward in high-tech sectors. It failed during the past in the development of any sustainable capability in high-tech sectors such as aerospace, nuclear energy, computer technologies and superconductors, telecommunication and bio-technologies. These are advanced sectors which require a


In this paper,the authors mainly elaborate the role and operating skill of external reference as well as several problems which should ke paid attention to.The usage of it is also explained with example.