In this paper we study the relationship between the relative size of the U.S. nonprofit sector and population heterogeneity, at the county level, by adopting and extending the model of Alesina, Baquir and Easterly (1999). The relative size of the voluntary sector is assessed as a share of voluntary donations in the total public good provided locally via public expenditures and private contributions.We demonstrate empirically that the relative size of the nonprofitt sector in each county depends not only on its population heterogeneity, but also on its neighbors' average relative size of the nonprofit sector and average population heterogeneity. Moreover, this relationship seems to be unstable across counties as the signs and magnitudes of neighborhood effects vary with geographical location.


Research on games and simulations for learning in the last decade has expanded the instructional design knowledge base to such an extent that degree programs in instructional design and technology are beginning to develop and offer courses on games and simulations as learning technologies. This design case chronicles the context, design decisions, and designer/instructor observations from the pilot implementation of a graduate course on Games & Simulations for Learning for a masters program in educational technology at a regional university in the southwestern United States.


Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Besides being a worldwide public health problem, obesity is a major risk factor for a number of noncommunicable diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Once considered a problem only in high-income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. In Egypt, obesity prevalence is on the rise. Weight loss or bariatric surgeries are gaining more and more popularity as a surgical solution to tackle obesity. This is a cross-sectional study conducted at a specialized center of bariatric surgery for 1-year period on 396 patients who underwent bariatric surgeries (sleeve gastrectomy, OAGB) with age range from 15 to 64 years and BMI range from 32 to 76 kg/m2. All surgical procedures were performed by the same bariatric surgical team. Postoperative follow-up consisted of visits with a multidisciplinary team, including the surgeon, physician assistant, and registered dietitian, at 3 weeks, 3, 6, 9, 12 months, and then yearly. The role of surgery in the treatment of diabetes is evolving. A noteworthy reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels at postoperative was noted in diabetic patients. Our study suggests a relation between HbA1c levels and BMI. This relation states that reduction in BMI (i.e. tackling obesity) leads to reduction in HbA1c. It is of paramount importance to assess the long-term clinical outcomes of the surgical weight loss interventions. Obesity-related comorbidities should be evaluated in depth.


SUMMARY77 species of Pteridophyta were investigated at the electron microscope. In mesophyll cells of 59 species an impressive occurrence of intranuclear paracrystals was observed. Their sizes are approximately 1–3 μm varying according to the age of the plant. The paracrystals are usually polygonal-shaped but different forms are frequently encountered. At higher magnification a crystal lattice pattern can be resolved. Its substructure consists of a series of electron-opaque parallel subunits alternated with others whose electron opacity is less evident. The centre to centre spacing between two electron-opaque subunits is about 120 A.A nonspecific proteolytic enzyme (pronase) has been successfully tested, showing the essential proteic nature of the nuclear paracrystals.In general terms a correlation of paracrystals with the aging of the plant is indicated. No inverse size relationship, as reported by other authors, between nucleolus and these paracrystal-line formations was observed.Taxonomic perspectives ...


Single-phase Bi_2Se_3 nanoplates have been synthesized in the NH_3·H_2O-NH_4Cl buffer solution(PH=10),using Bi(NO_3)_3·5H_2O and Na_2SeSO_3 as starting materials,and EDTA was employed as complexing agent.The temperature of the solution was held at 45-95℃ for 2~8h.Uniform ultra-thin hexagonal nanoplates with the thickness of 20 nm and the edge length of 200nm were obtained.The effects of reaction temperature and time on the phase composition and microstructure were discussed,and the reaction mechanism of Bi_2Se_3 nanoplates was also investigated.


It is our practice in the obstetric service of the Woman's Hospital to inspect the cervix at the end of the third stage of labor. If lacerations of 1 cm. or more are found, they are immediately sutured unless there are contraindications such as shock or infection. Patients are observed in the follow-up clinic for a period of from eight to sixteen weeks following delivery. This follow up has shown an unsatisfactory condition of the cervix in about one half of these women. Trauma of some degree exists in practically all cervices after delivery, and it is well known that many cervices are the seat of chronic inflammatory conditions which antedate the first pregnancy. A careful study of the cervix at the sixth week post partum shows a good involution and healing in about one half of the patients. If lacerations and erosions are unhealed at the end of the


In rat liver, dihydrodiol dehydrogenase and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities are catalyzed by the same protein. This study shows that estrogen and growth hormone can induce the enzyme in hypophysectomized rats. This implies that estrogen can exert an effect on hepatic steroid and carcinogen metabolism in the absence of the anterior pituitary.


One of the great challenges of most of the investment companies is the analysis of investment costs in the development of new products, in the initial stages of production. This study develops the appropriate methods for the analysis of kinds of investment costs, within the three-dimensional concurrent engineering. This study presents a suggested model based on multi-objective programming and multi-attribute decision-making. This model considers the qualitative and quantitative parameters relevant to the process of new product creation, such as supply chain parameters, and reliability for each project in the early stages of product design. And at the end, it identifies and selects the best design with minimum cost but the highest product quality.


Construction has begun on a new facility in the US that will produce a wide range of isotopes including radioisotopes for medical applications.


Plastoglobuli (PG) are plant lipoprotein compartments, present in plastid organelles. They are involved in the formation and/or storage of lipophilic metabolites. FIBRILLINs (FBN) are one of the main PG-associated proteins and are particularly abundant in carotenoid-enriched chromoplasts found in ripe fruits and flowers. To address the contribution of different FBNs to isoprenoid sequestration and PG function, a multiplex gene editing approach was undertaken. Analysis of single and high-order fbn mutants for the major PG-related FBNs in tomato, namely SlFBN1, SlFBN2a, SlFBN4, SlFBN7a, revealed functional redundancy. High order fbn mutants displayed phenotypes associated with abnormal isoprenoid accumulation, and aberrant PG formation and morphology. Lipidomic analysis highlighted broader changes in lipid metabolism. Paralog-specific roles were also observed and included the regulation of specific isoprenoids (e.g., plastochromanol) and control of plastidial esterification capability by SlFBN7a. Collectively, the results support both structural and regulatory roles of SlFBNs in PGs. Our findings expose fundamental aspects of metabolic compartmentalisation in plant cells and the importance of lipoprotein particles for their plastid metabolism/physiology. Significance statement In the chromoplast of ripe tomato fruit and flower, plastoglobuli (PGs) are associated with several important biotechnological traits, due to their functional involvement in metabolism, developmental transitions, and environmental adaption. FIBRILLINS (FBN) are a multigene family of proteins that are collectively major components of the PG. Using a multiplex CRISPR-Cas9 approach single and high-order fbn mutants have been developed. Functional redundancy amongst the members of the FBN multigene family was evident, but also paralog specific functions/influence. Aberrant plastoglobuli formation and altered lipid metabolism are evident among fbn mutants. Characterisation of this resource has shed light on the functional role of FBN and their role in PG formation. This strategy offers new potential for the development of nutritional enhanced and climate resilient crops.


Filter-paper diffusion method was adopted in lab to test the anti-microbial activities of nine extracts,four solvent-extracted extracts and five eluates obtained with DIAION HP20 at different ethanol concentrations from Smilax scobinicaulis roots,to six common bacteria and five common fungi,and anthoxanthin and steroid saponin,the common active anti-microbial compounds and major chemical constituents of the extracts were determined.The results revealed that the eluates obtained with DIAION HP20 with ethanol at a concentration of 100% showed a very strong broadband anti-microbial activity, and the eluates obtained with DIAION HP20 with ethanol at the concentration of 80% showed very strong inhibitory activity to Trichoderma lingnorum and Escherichia coli. All the extracts obtained with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and butanol showed a strong resisting capacity to Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli; the extracts obtained with petroleum ether and ethyl acetate showed strong inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aurenus, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus megathrium. The contents of anthoxanthin and steroid saponin, the common active ingredients in Smilax scobinicaulis roots, were 2.83% and 4.55%, respectively.


Most calf mortality is due to a serious problem called dystocia. Dystocia is when cows have difficulty birthing due to a large or awkwardly positioned fetus. Dystocia has been a direct link to the failure of the passive transfer of immunoglobulins. Barrier et al. (2013) investigated neonatal physiology, survival, health, and growth of 455 calves following the occurrence of dystocia. Calves delivered during dystocia suffered from higher stress, higher mortality, and reduced transfer of immunoglobulins. In other animals, oxygen therapy is used to improve physiological function and reduce stress, therefore, some research has focused on using supplemental oxygen in dairy calves. Bleul et al. (2008) examined the effects of intranasal oxygen on the respiratory state of neonatal dairy calves. Before and after oxygen was administered, researchers evaluated the arterial partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide and oxygen saturation. Results concluded intranasal oxygen significantly improved the survival rate of calves with respiratory distress. Providing calves with supplemental oxygen post-birth may be used to improve the level of passive transfer of immunoglobulins, save farmers time and money and, most importantly, reduce calf mortality.


In this paper we describe a novel algorithm for active appearance model (AAM) alignment in which the normalized cross correlation (NCC) is maximized, rather than minimizing the sum of squared errors (SSE). We use an inverse compositional approach and derive an analytic solution rather than rely on an off-the-shelf non-linear optimization routine. We show that the algorithm performs better than traditional AAM fitting in terms of accuracy, stability and speed.


In this study, we demonstrate the use of grating lock-in IR thermography for the determination of the thermal conductivity of composite materials. This technique is based on the use of a spatially modulated heating pattern. The latter results in the formation of a similarly modulated temperature field and the thermal properties are determined via their influence to the modulation depth. In lock-in thermography, the excitation source is also temporally modulated at a certain frequency which results in a higher signal-to-noise ratio. This method leads to the simplification of the ill-posed problem of the thermal properties' determination. Moreover, the right placement of the grating allows separating the influence of the conductivities in each direction in order to obtain better accuracy.


The IGT hydroretorting process, used for over 20 years to extract energy from oil shales, can be sucessfully applied to Eastern U.S. shales with less environmental damage. Long considered to be uneconomic for retorting feedstocks because the Eastern shales give low Fischer-assay results, use of hydroretorting produces results that are comparable to those of the Western shales. Eastern shales, having a higher carbon-to-hydrogen ratio, need to be heated in hydrogen in order to remove the organic carbon, or kerogen. The operation of this process is described as it is integrated into the general refining requirements for direct conversion of shale oil to high-quality substitute natural gas and oil. Because in situ retorting can use technoloby developed for thermal retorting, the first commercial application is expected to be for above-ground processing. (DCK)


Statistical data analysis is a core activity in experimental sciences. It encompasses a wide variety of tasks, ranging from, e.g., a simple linear regression to fitting complex dynamical models. Developing statistical data analysis programs, however, is an arduous and error-prone process which requires profound expertise in different areas: statistics, numerics, software engineering, and of course the scientific application domain. We believe that statistical data analysis is a very promising domain for the application program synthesis, despite-or even because--these difficulties. Statistics provides a unifying and concise domain-specific notation. Graphical models (Buntine 1994) provide a structuring mechanism which can be exploited during the synthesis process, e.g., to decompose a problem into independent subproblems. Statistical algorithms like EM (Dempster, Laird, & Rubin 1977) are often applicable to a wide range of problems; their generic formulations allow a "plug'n'play"-style algorithm combination. Recently developed sophisticated data structures as for example kd-trees (PeUeg & Moore 1999) offer orders-ofmagnitude speed-up for certain problems but are rarely employed due to the increased programming complexity they cause. Finally, data analysis is characterized by an iterative development s yle: an initial model is hypothesized, implemented, evaluated on real data, and--if necessary---refined. However, each iteration typically involves substantial programming efforts as prototyping is often not sufficient to work with real data sets and even small model modifications may require radically dfferent algorithms. Program synthesis encapsulates many of the statistical, numerical, and software engineering aspects of each iteration and thus allows users to concentrate on their scientific application. Its fast turn-around times make model refinement and design-space exploration feasible. We are currently developing AUTOBAYES, a program synthesis system for the generation of data analysis programs from statistical models. A statistical model specifies the properties for each problem variable (i.e., observation or parameter) and its dependencies in the form of a probability distribution. Figure 1 shows the model for a random walk (i.e., a simple noisy dynamical process) in AUTOBAYES's input notation. The last two lines are the core of the specification; the remaining lines just declare the model variables


This paper is a survey about the constantly evolving web services, their composition methods and the various problems and challenges that they faced. The paper aims to provide an overview of numerous Web Service technologies like WSDL, UDDI, SOAP etc. The paper also provides insights about composition/processes like WS-CDL (Web Services Choreography Description Language), BPEL etc. The intention of this survey is to help the reader to understand about the different problems that were faced by the different composition methods while also providing information regarding the various aspects of Web Services. Keywords: Web Services, SOA, WSDL, BPEL4WS, Web Service Composition, Orchestration, RESTful services, Composition Methods.


FIELD: transportation. SUBSTANCE: device comprises: the housing with the possibility of mounting on a railway carriage; the temperature sensor; the electrical circuit within the housing; the power source electrically connected to the electric circuit to ensure its power supply, disposed in said housing; the probe located outside the housing. The probe comprises said temperature sensor and a magnet to attract the railway car part by means of the magnetic field; the communication device within said housing for transmitting the information about the measured temperature. Wherein the control of the measuring device power consumption is performed due to switching to the standby mode and the periodic activation of the measuring device for collecting the data received from the temperature sensor, and transmitting the information about the measured temperature by means of the communication scheme. EFFECT: improved effectiveness of the carriage operational characteristics monitoring. 32 cl, 9 dwg, 1 tbl


Aboriginal elders talk to the press after the handover of land on Tempe Downs Station (Kings Canyon) to the Watarrka National Park estate. Chief Minister, Ian Tuxworth to the left of photo. Speaking to the reporters is Bruce Braedon and standing behind him is Paster Peter Bulla.


The authors detail information on the AMOS system dedicated to the automatic continuous monitoring of very high pressure gas pipeline safety functions. The development of this monitoring system was initialized by the technical development departement, in the year 1990 and was realized during the years 1991-1994. Due to the result of the result of the tests the AMOS system was gradually installed on the first transit pipeline section during 1995.


Introduction: Kshara is described in Anuyantras and Anushastras according to Acharya Sushruta. It is considered to be Pradhana among Shashtra and Anushashtra because of its Chedana, Bhedana, Lekhana property, as well as it is said to be Tridoshaghna and used for the special procedures. Pratisaraneya Kshara is been indicated externally for various disorders such as Arsha, Bhagandara, Kilasa. Materials and Methods: Pratisaraneeya Kshara with the drug Apamarga is prepared as per Acharya Sushruta's description with 12 kg of Apamarga Panchanga. Results: Physicochemical analysis: iron as Fe - 0.043%, sodium- 0.63%, potassium - 9.19%, ph value - 13.88, acid insoluble ash - 9.69%, loss on drying at 110 degree c - 64.24%, total ash - 47.03%, colour - white. Discussion: Physicochemical analysis shows ph value as alkaline, amount of insoluble ash, iron, sodium and potassium. Conclusion: The method of preparation of Pratisaraneeya Kshara holds good even for today's era and can be considerd as standard protocol for Teekshana Pratisaraneeya Apamarga  Kshara.


The 2-point angular correlation function $w(\theta)$ (2PACF), where $\theta$ is the angular separation between pairs of galaxies, provides the transversal Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) signal almost model-independently. In this paper we use 409,337 luminous red galaxies in the redshift range $z = [0.440,0.555]$ obtained from the tenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS DR10) to estimate $\theta_{\rm{BAO}}(z)$ from the 2PACF at six redshift {shells}. Since noise and systematics can hide the BAO signature in the $w - \theta$ plane, we also discuss some criteria to localize the acoustic bump. We identify two sources of model-dependence in the analysis, namely, the value of the acoustic scale from Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) measurements and the correction in the $\theta_{\rm{BAO}}(z)$ position due to projection effects. Constraints on the dark energy equation-of-state parameter w$(z)$ from the $\theta_{\rm{BAO}}(z)$ diagram are derived, as well as from a joint analysis with current CMB measurements. We find that the standard $\Lambda$CDM model as well as some of its extensions are in good agreement with these $\theta_{\rm{BAO}}(z)$ measurements.


Peptide-based protein quantitation using LC-MS/MS is a valuable method for the measurement of specific proteins in complex biological samples. To ensure accurate measurement of the target protein the signature peptides must be true stoichiometric representatives of the amount of protein in the sample. We report here the results of our evaluation of candidate signature peptides for IDMS quantitation of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane proteins PorA and PorB. We observed considerable differences in the quantitation of the individual peptides and determined that the digestion protocol used was crucial to the accuracy of protein quantitation. A rapid rate of cleavage was essential to produce high quality data for the quantitation of PorA and PorB. This report also highlights the need for signature peptides and their isotopically labelled form, i.e. the internal standards, to be stable throughout digestion. However, we did observe that biased quantitation likely due to peptide instability could be mitigated by concurrent addition of the labelled internal standard peptide. Furthermore we observed that sample matrices have differing effects on specific peptide cleavage during protein digestion. In conclusion, the selection of stable signature peptides and the optimisation of the digestion conditions are not trivial considerations but are essential for accurate protein quantitation. pmol/μL in 0.1% formic acid. The internal standard (IS) was prepared in the same way using the heavy PorA and PorB peptides. Calibration curves for the quantitation of the PorA and PorB peptides were generated using seven standard solutions containing 15, 30, 50, 70, 100, 180 and 250 fmol/µL of the native peptide calibration standard and 70 fmol/μL of the paired heavy peptides as IS.


The hydroxyl-carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HCTPB) liquid rubber was synthesized by a conversion technique of terminal groups with using hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) liquid rubber as raw material and organic acid anhydride as carboxylation agent. The results show that when the reaction temperature is 80℃, time is 3h and the carboxylation agent is 20%, the conversion rate reaches more than 60%. The contents of cis-1,4, trans-1,4 and 1,2 units are almost equality with raw material HTPB by IR analysis of the determination of the microstructure of HCTPB with different contents of carboxyl group, and the conversion process of terminal groups has no effect on the microstructure of the main chain of HTPB.


Abstract Large-scale projects often have several activities which are performed by some contractors having multiple resources such as human resources, budget, equipment, etc. Time and multi-resources trade-off are important factors for the contractors and the client. In real large projects, the contractors cooperate with each other and form coalitions to improve the project profit and/or to reduce the project time, which is reasonable. The purpose of this paper is to address the challenges of time and multi-resources management during the contractors' cooperation. This study presents a model based on cooperative game theory for project time/multi-resource trade-off problems. A numerical example is presented for the comprehensive investigation of the problem and the cooperative techniques of game theory. Results of the proposed model demonstrate that the contractors can obtain higher profits due to cooperating through sharing resources. Moreover, it is found that techniques such as the Shapley value, the max–min core, and the equal profit method are able to assign the extra cooperation profit fairly among the contractors.


Abstract : Phosphate paraoxon was studied in Yorkshire pig, rat and human sera. Enzymatic hydrolysis was significantly affected by certain buffers in the reaction mixture. Kinetic measurements suggest that more than one enzyme hydrolyzes the organophosphate. Depending on pH and substrate concentration, inhibition of the enzymes by paraoxon is or is not observed. Enzymatic activity in human serum increases with a rise in pH whereas in pig serum activity decreases. (Author)


) it becomes vital that its design and creation be carried out carefully and based on sound, evidence-based analysis. This paper presents a first analysis of essential requirements and key features of an EIT and sets out the options. The IUB provides financial assistance to admitted students whose financial circumstances otherwise do not permit them to enrol. The faculty conducts research as well as teaches. Research is a central component of the teaching and learning process. The operating budget of the university is supported by income from a sizeable endowment, and the city of Bremen provided start-up capital of about €110 million. The university depends entirely on tuition fees and endowments. The student body is multinational and relatively small with about 930 students. The IUB enjoys close cooperation with Rice University (US), the University of Bremen and the Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung. Agreements govern collaboration in the areas of teaching and research as well as the shared use of resources.


Art of Chu-Han culture plays a rather important role in Chinese traditional art. The reason is not only that Chu-Han culture is the source of traditional culture art, but that Chu-Han culture is full of romance, brilliance and speculativeness. Therefore, its quality has gotten continual transformation and integration in the long river of art development history, which makes this culture artistic quality constantly create the innovation accomplishment full of aesthetic thought, national fashion and style. This paper made the discussion concentrating on the inheritance and innovation of Chu-Han culture artistic quality, in the hope of providing the reference value for innovation and transformation of art.


A 66‐year‐old man with hypoalbuminemia was found to have diffuse giant mucosal folds in the body of the stomach. Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) status was evaluated by several examinations, all of which showed positive results. To eradicate H pylori, he was treated with clarithromycin (200mg b. i. d.), lansoprazole (30mg q. d.) and plaunotol (80mg t. i. d.). By two weeks, the serum albumin concentration had risen to 3.4g per dl. Four weeks after finishing clarithromycin therapy, endoscopy was repeated and H pylori status was evaluated as before. All examinations showed negative results and the giant mucosal folds had improved markedly. Before treatment, histological specimens showed irregular elongation of pits with inflammatory infiltrates. After treatment, the architecture of pits returned to its normal form with decreased inflammatory infiltrates. In this case, giant gastric folds and hypoalbuminemia were improved by H pylori eradication, suggesting that H pylori infection may play a role in the giant gastric folds associated with hypoalbuminemia.


Recently, there has been a paradigm shift from a concentration on technical processes to a recognition of the role of human behavior in developing a knowledge sharing system (KSS), particularly in governmental organizations (GO). A qualitative case study method was selected in order to obtain deeper insights into both the social and technological factors which influence academicians' knowledge sharing behavior (KSB) in GOs. Data were collected over a six-month period through a series of semi-structured interviews with a sample of highly educated academic staff at a large Malaysian GO. This study contributes to the field of knowledge exchanging and sharing systems through developing a socio-technical knowledge sharing system model (STKSSM) which can be used as a guide to develop a KSS in GOs that could facilitate the knowledge sharing (KS) process. In particular, the model could be used to develop KSSs in similar academic institutions.


Parents are transmitters of attitudes that the child adopts in forming a self-image. Our personal narratives are initially largely constructed through our relationship with our parents or other significant adults. The relationship that we form with our parents is elemental to the concept of self, forming the base of our identity. Neurologist Oliver Sacks (2001:4) proffers that the world does not have a predetermined structure: our structuring of the world is our own--our brains create structures in the light of our experiences. What happens in our minds and bodies works synergistically to give meaning to our lives. Our physical and mental experiences cannot be separated from our sense of self. This social construction of human behavior can also be self-destructive. If we are to have happy, satisfying lives, we must develop the ability to have intimate relationships with others. According to Psychologist Eric Erickson, we accomplish this by moving through a series of stages that represent crisis points that must be resolved for successful identity formation (Bee 2000:35-37). Any stage not fully dealt with remains an unresolved issue that keeps you from establishing integrity. According to Erikson, the first stage of identity development occurs approximately during the first year of life. Erikson labeled this stage Basic Trust versus Mistrust. Ideally the infant forms a trusting, loving relationship with their caregiver. If this does not occur there may be an enduring sense of mistrust that interferes with our ability to sustain intimate relationships. Our parents are our primary means of the socialization experience that provides the lens through which we perceive ourselves. If our parents show us love and caring, nurture us and give us positive regard we are likely to feel good about them, others, and ourselves. If there is neglect, physical and mental abuse, and a sense of not being cherished, we may incur a pervasive and enduring sense of mistrust toward our parents, others, and even about ourselves. While Erickson places this stage in the first year of life, I believe that it can become salient at a later age due to changes in circumstance. Social psychologist Charles Horton Cooley's Looking-Glass Self theory proposes that we react to the perceived judgments of others regarding our behavior. By adopting the imagined perspective of someone else we form images of self that are reflected in the treatment we receive from them. Cooley says (2001:17), there is no sense of I, as in pride or shame, without its correlative sense of you. We garner self-esteem when we receive positive feedback and experience low self-esteem when judgments are negative. As a child we internalize others' imagined perception of ourselves. A child develops a sense of being worthwhile, capable, important and unique from the attention given to them by parents and other significant adults. I was born the fourth child in a family of eight. My father was an enlisted soldier in the Air Force and my mother was a homemaker. Depending on where my father was stationed, our family frequently moved from place to place within New York State. Our grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins lived in Upstate New York where we frequently visited. I had a sense of being part of a family, under an umbrella of care and nurturing. All seemed right with the world, as I knew it; I felt secure and safe. To the best of my understanding, I was loved and cared for, fed and sheltered, and did not feel any lack in environment or self. I didn't possess the awareness necessary to see things any other way. From the naive perspective of a child I constructed my world as a good place and I was good in it. When I was seven there was a precipitous event that changed how I perceived my world, how I felt about my parents ability to fulfill their roles, and how I saw myself in relation to these new experiences. My mother was pregnant with her eighth child. …


Abstract Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection (PA-BSI) is associated with high mortality. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced challenges to diagnosis and treatment of this infection is unknown. In this study, we examined the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on PA-BSI associated mortality in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) population. Methods We identified patients within the VHA database with PA-BSI identified between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019 (pre-COVID) and January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021 (COVID). Extracted data included age, race, ethnicity, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), susceptibility testing, treatment, and COVID-19 infection. Antimicrobial resistance was characterized as pan-susceptible, any unclassified resistance, multi-drug resistant (MDR), difficult to treat resistant (DTR), and extremely or pan-drug resistant (XDR/PDR). Active therapy was defined as an effective antibiotic initiated within 48 hours of blood culture collection. We used logistic regression to assess the impact of each factor on 30-day mortality. Results We identified 7,578 patients with PA-BSI and known 30-day mortality status, which was 24% overall (Table 1). Age and CCI were higher during COVID, while effective treatment and resistance improved (Table 2). In the multivariate analysis, concomitant COVID infection tripled the odds of mortality (odds ratio [OR] 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40–6.37) (Figure 1). However, the COVID period itself was not associated with higher mortality. Effective treatment was associated with 19% lower odds of mortality (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.66–1.01), while DTR and XDR/PDR nearly doubled mortality (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.23–2.47 and OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.25–3.34, respectively). Conclusion We observed higher odds of mortality in patients with PA-BSI and COVID-19 coinfection, supporting the hypothesis that COVID-19 directly impacts PA-BSI outcomes. Annual PA-BSI incidence and associated 30-day mortality, however, were similar during the COVID period. Favorable resistance trends, effective treatment, and a low rate of PA-BSI and COVID-19 coinfection may explain these findings, despite increased age and comorbidities in this vulnerable population. Disclosures Federico Perez, MD, MS, Accelerate: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Robert A. Bonomo, MD, Merck: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Honoraria|VenatoRx: Grant/Research Support|Wockhardt: Grant/Research Support.


Network attacks have been around since the beginning of the Internet and they are still relevant due to the numerous attempts of independent hackers, cybercrime organizations and state-sponsored hacking squads to intrude into others computer networks. Similarly, the industry and academia have been providing constantly evolving solutions to try to thwart the ever-sophisticated network attack techniques. Machine learning (ML) and deep learning have shown promising results for detecting and preventing network attacks. In this paper, we investigate a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)-based network attack detection. Our goal is to find the optimal values for network attack detection by fine-tuning different LSTM hyper-parameters: optimizers, loss functions, learning rates and activation functions, and by comparing their performance by using the CICIDS2017 labeled dataset. Our results show that LSTM can effectively detect the network attacks with high accuracy and reasonable detection rates. With the optimized hyper-parameter values, the proposed LSTM model can detect DoS attacks with an effective detection accuracy of 99.08% and a detection rate of 0.93. We achieved BoT, DDoS, and port scan attacks detection accuracy of 99.54% and detection rate of 0.84.


We provide a Hilbert-style axiomatization of the logic of 'actually', as well as a two-dimensional semantics with respect to which our logics are sound and complete. Our completeness results are quite general, pertaining to all such actuality logics that extend a normal and canonical modal basis. We also show that our logics have the strong finite model property and permit straightforward first-order extensions.


Research problem/aim; The aim of this study is to determine the opinions of the 9th grade students who use teaching materials designed with augmented reality technology on the usefulness and effectiveness of the material. For this purpose, 3 activities were designed using 9th grade topics and a total of 27 AR materials were applied to the students in these activities. Method; In this study, "developmental research" and "case study" were used. As data collection tools, "AR application course observation form", "student evaluation form" and "3 AR activities" were designed by the researchers. Findings; 30 codes were formed and the answers given by the students to the questions and grouped as positive and negative by combining them under the theme of effectiveness, usefulness and suggestions which is the main question of the research. Conclusions; According to the results of the research; In the "usefulness " theme, the most repeated positive code is "functionality / interactive ", while the negative code is "unrealistic", In the theme of "effectiveness", the most repeated positive code was "providing 3D detection", while the negative code was "not contributing". In the theme of suggestions, the code "animation and graphics should be developed" was repeated the most.


The present paper is an attempt to integrate financial market instability and corporate finance in a dynamic setup. The results of the study highlight that financial market instability, tangibility, and profitability have a negative impact on leverage of the firm, whereas assets growth has a positive effect.


Objective The aim of this study is to estimate the psychometric psychometric of the Chinese version of the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence(FTND) in Chinese people. Methods Collected information of outpatients who went to the outpatient service for advices and assistants of smoking cessation in Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital From November 2008 to July 2009. Then randomly select the sample of 60 participants and estimated the reliability and validity of FTND. Results The Cronbach's a coefficient was 0.658, cocurrent with reliability coefficients of foreign studies, but did not meet the satisfactory standard of 0.70. The six items of FTND could not cover main elements of diagnostic criteria of substance dependence and nicotine with drawal in DSM-Ⅳ, lacked content validity. There were two components with eigenvalues>1,with accounted totally 58.767% of the total Variance in this scale,which indicated that it is multi-factor influenced. Conclusions The Chinese version of FTND is a fairly reliable and valid scale, but still needs to be revised to accommodate coss-cuhural differences to play a more important role in smoking cessation therapies and scientific studies in China.

Key words:
Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence; Chinese version; Reliability; Validity


The tubes of tube and shell heat exchangers destructively vibrate at certain velocities with which fluid flows over their outside surfaces. An acoustic generator is positioned to respond to the fluid vibrations generated by the tubes. The structure of the acoustic generator is sized and arranged to produce a modulated tone representative of tube vibration. A detector mounted external the heat exchanger shell responds to the tone to initiate corrective action which will reduce the tube vibration.


When actions generate negative externalities for third parties, incentives exist to pass these "morally costly" decisions to others. In laboratory experiments, we investigate how market interaction affects allocations when the right to divide a sum of money between oneself and a passive recipient is commoditized. Allocation to recipients is reduced by more than half when determined by subjects who purchase or keep the right to make the division as compared to a control where subjects are directly assigned the right. Sellers report accurate beliefs about recipient allocations and do not report feeling less responsible the more often they sell the allocation right. The market allocates the right to make divisions more frequently to buyers who allocate more to recipients, but sellers who allocate less to recipients tend to sell less often. Selection cannot solely explain the results, suggesting market interaction itself may directly impact behavior.


Objective: To establish an HPLC method for evaluating and controlling the quality of Chuanxiong medicine material. Method: The samples were pretreatment by solvent extract, and HPLC separation was carried out on an Agilent Extend - C18 column by a linear gradient elution with ratios of methanol - 1% acetic acid solution changed from 35: 65 to 80: 20 within 40 min. The flow rate of the mobile phase is 0. 8 mL ·?min-1. The detection wavelength is 290 nm. Result: The main effective components in the sample were separated in 35 min with good resolution. Conclusion: The HPLC method developed here is stable and reliable.


This article gives the analysis of the climatic characteristics of Northeast China and offers the mea-sures to respond to the local climate while designing the urban open space,which is introduced to the field of urban design for the reference to the urban open space design,such as the square and the green design of Northeast China.


SUMMARY: A study of the development of the microfloras on the seeds and roots of tomatoes and oats during germination and subsequent root development showed a rapid selective multiplication on the seed during the initial stages of germination and also on the root almost immediately after emergence. Evidence is presented that further development of the root surface population after the initial high rate of multiplication was dependent on the normal development of the plant.

Direct microscopic observations of the micro-organisms of the root surfaces showed interesting differences between the roots of tomatoes and oats. In the former, the root hairs of young plants were free from bacteria but in the oats even young root hairs supported large numbers of organisms. In both plants the root tips were invariably free from organisms.


children and may observed in two forms like primary and secondary (1, 2 and 16). Primitive reflux which is common among girls is omlur in almost 1 percent of children and is recognized in 30 percent of children with urinary infection. This illness is generated due to the inexpressive valve in the joint position of the ureter to the urinary bladder (15). Secondary Vesicoureteral reflux is created after inflammation process and or urologic surgery (6 and 10). Also, the secondary position can omlur by the factors of high pressure in the urinary bladder like neurogenesis urinary bladder. On the other hand, block factors are cause to facilitate urinary reflux from inexpressive sphincter and resonate the reflux degree (9 and 13). The factor of TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha) is a homotrimeric protein that plays role in creating INTRODUCTION


Since Elsa started working here, I don't have to rush home to cook dinner. I can take my time. I don't have to worry about the messy house. . . . She picks up the children from school. She cooks them dinner. She prepares their lunch boxes. She helps them with the bath. They practice English with her. . . . Children really like her. I appreciate her too. But I am a bit jealous that they are so attached to her. They are becoming close to her like she was the mother. . . . My husband likes her too. . . . He is glad that I stop nagging him about helping me around the house. It's like she is becoming the mother and the wife. . . . I think about that a lot. Excerpt from an interview with Hui-Ling, a Taiwanese female employer of a Filipina domestic.


Even if one were to surmount this problem, researchers are skill faced with the question of how to define the base population. The term suicide has been applied to a wide variety of behaviours and experiences. Ass uming that suicidal behaviour is distributed symmetrically in the general population, what are the dimensions of this distribution? One extreme could represent completed suicides and the other persons who manifest no suicidal behaviour. The centre of the curve could then represent suicidal ideation with attempts falling between suicide ideation and completed suicide and "normal" suicidal behaviour between ideation and zero (Zubin, 1974).


With the rapid growth of network technology, two or more products from different vendors are integrated and interact with each other to perform a certain function in the latest systems. Thus. interoperability testing is considered as an essential aspect of correctness of integrated systems. Interoperability testing is to test the ability of software and hardware on different machines from different vendors to share data. Most of the researches model communication system behavior using EFSM(Extended Finite State Machines) and use EFSM as an input of test scenario generation algorithm. Actually, there are many studies on systematic and optimal test case generation algorithms using EFSM. But in these researches, the study for generating EFSM model which is a foundation of test scenario generation isn't sufficient. This study proposes an EFSM generating technique from informal requirement analysis document for more complete interoperability testing. and implements prototype of Test Case Generation Tool generating test cases semi-automatically. Also we describe theoretical base and algorithms applied to prototype implementation.


By taking the data on China's listed companies from 2002 to 2006, this paper investigate the effect of ultimate controlling shareholders on investment decision. The results show that, as for ultimate controlling shareholders of private firms, the higher the divergence between the cash-flow rights and the control rights is, the more serious is the underinvestment because of tunneling activities. The negative effects of agent problem on investment inefficiency are mainly in firms of the lower cash-flow rights. Furthermore, the results show that the high preference of cash holdings may be the mechanism resulting in underinvestment for ultimate controlling shareholders. However, all these conclusions may fail to explain some phenomena in the state-owned firms. This research gives a useful reference to understanding the disputation of privatization to improve efficiency from the view of investment. What is more, it also gives further complement to the theory of investment in developing countries.


Therapists' Experiences of Domestic Violence Among African American Lesbians by Barbara Bryant MA, University of Michigan, 1981 BA, Western Michigan University, 1975 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Psychology


Red blood cells are capable of transport and accumulation of catecholamines. The aim of this paper is to characterize the catecholamine transport system in the human red blood cell and in particular that of dopamine. Dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline enter the red blood cell by a similar process, which shows saturation kinetics with Vmax values of 0.54 +/− 0.12, 0.48 +/− 0.08 and 0.63 +/− 0.13 mumol (1 cells)‐1 min‐1, respectively, and K(m) values of 15.62 +/− 1.19, 5.81 +/− 1.19 and 12.00 +/− 2.97 nM, respectively. Observations based on the dependence of dopamine influx on the transmembrane H+ gradient, and the effect of transport inhibitors such as DMA (dimethyl‐amiloride), DIDS (4,4'‐diisothiocyanatostilbene 2,2'‐disulphonic acid), reserpine, GBR 12909 (1‐(2‐(di(4‐fluoro‐phenyl)‐methoxy)‐ethyl)‐4‐(3‐phenylpropyl)piperazine) , GBR 12935 (1‐(2‐(diphenyl‐methoxy)‐ethyl)‐4‐(3‐phenyl‐propyl)piperazine), and cyanine suggest that catecholamine transport is not mediated by the Na(+)‐H+ exchanger, the anion exchanger or a system similar to that responsible for dopamine uptake in either synaptosomes or the proximal tubule. However, choline inhibits the influx of dopamine with an IC50 value of 17 microM and stimulates the efflux of dopamine with a K(m) value of 8.20 microM. These results strongly suggest that dopamine is transported by the choline exchanger previously reported to be present in red blood cells. Probenecid inhibits dopamine uptake with an IC50 of 0.63 microM. The presence of insulin receptors in human red blood cells, and the relationship between insulin and catecholamine levels in the plasma led us to investigate the effect of insulin on catecholamine transport. In fasting subjects, dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline influxes were higher than in fed subjects. Furthermore, the addition of exogenous insulin to red blood cells from fasting subjects significantly reduced the influx of catecholamines while no effect was observed when insulin was added to red blood cells obtained from fed subjects. The present study shows that catecholamines, and in particular dopamine, are transported in red blood cells via an exchanger which is possibly the choline transport system. The activity of this transporter is regulated by insulin. These results support a role for red blood cells as a storage pool for circulating catecholamines.


Finite Volume Method (FVM) which can solve fluid problems effectively is used in this paper. Gauss theorem is used to transfer volume integration to area integration , by which the relation formula of the nodes around each element is founded based on the constancy of the flux into and out of the element. With that the discrete equations are obtained. This method with free cubic element is applied in 3D seepage and tidal flow problems. From the practice it can be found that seepage flux is more accurate than FEM and FVM also has the advantages of good stability, convenience of solving. easy programming, less computing time and storage.


Summary: Black eyes of the moth of Heliothis virescens were controlled by a single, autosomal recessive gene, b. Black‐eyed moths were discovered among progeny in an outcross made to test for allelism of two known genes ye, conferring yellow eyes, and yes, conferring yellow eyes and scales. Complementation to the wildtype gray eye color was observed in 686 (99.1%) of the progeny; however, six progeny of one mating exhibited the new phenotype, black eyes. Two black‐eyed females mated to a wildtype sibling produced descendents displaying golden eyes, striped eye, purple eyes, white eyes, and "cat's" eyes. No black‐eyed progeny were observed in the F2 generation of lines segregating for y, ye, and yes, confirming that black eye was not a combination of those other genes. These newly discovered genes could be useful in basic studies of developmental genetics or in applied transgenesis. genesis 36:34–39, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The campus website of higher vocational and technical education play positive role in enhancing the profile and informational management level of higher vocational schools. Aiming at the problems existed in the campus website of higher vocational and technical education such as low information publicity level, lack of applied functions, low participation rate and incomplete matching infrastructure, a suit of campus website evaluation system composed of seven indicators of the first level for higher vocational and technical education was put forward, and the campus website was evaluated by blur comprehensive evaluation method, qualitative method and quantitative method.


Maya elites and commoners intensively occupied the Itzan escarpment, located in the lower Río de la Pasión drainage system of Petén, Guatemala, during the Preclassic and Protoclassic periods. Itzan was colonized during the Xe phase of the Middle Preclassic period, and its occupation intensified during the late Middle and Late Preclassic periods, when elite residential and ceremonial facilities were erected. During the Late Preclassic and Protoclassic periods, the escarpment was dominated by Chaak Ak'al, a large site distinguished by massive pyramids and lengthy wall-like constructions, which undoubtedly served as a polity capital. Subsequent to the Protoclassic period, the locus of activity atop the escarpment shifted back to Itzan, which served as a polity capital through the Late Classic period. From data collected at Itzan, Chaak Ak'al, and other sites of the lower Río de la Pasión drainage system, a picture of regional Preclassic Maya political geography is emerging.


Thisproject studied the mapping of stream processing onto legacy architectures. Cache memorieswere treated as SRF, into which datawere loaded by prefetch instruction. By using cache, wecould conveniently index into theSRF, and also blended theusageof the SRF with the scratchpad memory. However, we still liked to have dataarranged sequentially or packed together in the memory to efficiently utilize memory bandwidth and cache capacity. Such related work wasdone at Utah called Impulse, which wasa memory controller that doesdatagathering/scattering; but since we would like to limit thisproject to legacy architectures, wedecided to emulatesuch functionalities in software by copying selected data into a new datastructure. (Thispiece of code, however, is referred as Impulse later in the report.) Loading data into the cache with prefetch and the actual computation were made overlapped by software pipelining, which was manually scheduled. When the whole stream was too large to fit in the cache, it's strip-mined.


The purpose of this study is to find out the influence of compliance with accounting rules, human resources competence, effectiveness of internal control, and good corporate governance against the tendency of accounting fraud (fraud) in LPD Se-Subdistrict KediriTabanan. This research was conducted in all LPD Se-Subdistrict of Tabanan Regency which is still active with a population of 21 LPD with the number of LPD employees 159 people. The research sample is determined by the purposive sampling method, which is a certain criterion, then the number of samples becomes 63 respondents. The data collection technique using questionnaires was then performed multiple liner regression analysis. The results of this study found that the Observance of Accounting Rules affects the tendency of Accounting fraud (fraud). HR competence has no effect on the tendency of Accounting fraud (fraud). The effectiveness of Internal Control affects the tendency of Accounting fraud (fraud). Good Corporate Governance affects the tendency of Accounting fraud (fraud). The advice given is expected to help the Village Credit Institute (LPD) in Kediri sub-district, Tabanan in reducing the tendency of Accounting fraud (fraud) especially in LPD employees.


In 2002, a field experiment with split-plot design was established in Juva in order to compare the use of nurse crop to establish perennial legume grass sward in organic farming.


In this work we created analytical model of dynamics of nonlinear process of record and reading of the hologram in photopolymer taking into account photoinduced absorption of photopolymer. The anlytical model is based on the equations Lorentz-Lorenz and relations of the theory photopolymerization. Photoinduced absorption has been described with the help of the logarithmic function on the base of experimental data


Abstract: AAC blocks and red clay bricks are two of the more majorly used blocks used in buildings all over the world. Both the block categories have a definite set of pros and cons. A comparative analysis of them is essential to understand and determine which of the two is a superior product, both technically and economically. Experimentation was done on samples of both blocks. Although, some defective set of samples didn't provide the expected results, it did provide an insight in the technicalities associated with the blocks. It further allowed a comparison between the observed data and the expected data, highlighting how defects within the blocks could affect the properties. Further, some tests were analysed by studying available reports, thesis, articles prepared by various research workers working on the behaviour and properties of AAC blocks and red clay bricks. The overall study proved that AAC blocks, though weaker in compressive strength are much superior in most other properties than the red clay bricks


Simple Summary Due to lacking exploitation capability, traditional genetic algorithm cannot accurately identify the minimal best gene subset. Thus, the improved splicing method is introduced into a genetic algorithm to enhance exploitation capability for achieving balance between exploitation and exploration of GA. It can effectively identify true gene subsets with high probability. Furthermore, a dataset of the body weight of Hu sheep has been used to show that the proposed method can obtain a better minimal subset of genes with a few iterations, compared with all considered algorithms including genetic algorithm and adaptive best-subset selection algorithm. Abstract Selecting the minimal best subset out of a huge number of factors for influencing the response is a fundamental and very challenging NP-hard problem because the presence of many redundant genes results in over-fitting easily while missing an important gene can more detrimental impact on predictions, and computation is prohibitive for exhaust search. We propose a modified memetic algorithm (MA) based on an improved splicing method to overcome the problems in the traditional genetic algorithm exploitation capability and dimension reduction in the predictor variables. The new algorithm accelerates the search in identifying the minimal best subset of genes by incorporating it into the new local search operator and hence improving the splicing method. The improvement is also due to another two novel aspects: (a) updating subsets of genes iteratively until the no more reduction in the loss function by splicing and increasing the probability of selecting the true subsets of genes; and (b) introducing add and del operators based on backward sacrifice into the splicing method to limit the size of gene subsets. Additionally, according to the experimental results, our proposed optimizer can obtain a better minimal subset of genes with a few iterations, compared with all considered algorithms. Moreover, the mutation operator is replaced by it to enhance exploitation capability and initial individuals are improved by it to enhance efficiency of search. A dataset of the body weight of Hu sheep was used to evaluate the superiority of the modified MA against the genetic algorithm. According to our experimental results, our proposed optimizer can obtain a better minimal subset of genes with a few iterations, compared with all considered algorithms including the most advanced adaptive best-subset selection algorithm.


This article critically examines the emergence in the professional literature of a new category of criminal deviant: the very young juvenile "sexual offender" ("child perpetrator"). It is argued that current research and writings on "child perpetrators" 1) fail to adhere to established tenets of scientific inquiry; 2) attempt to pathologize species‐typical behaviors; and 3) reflect symbolic opposition to widespread sexual license perceived to have resulted from the "sex positive" interpretive changes regarding sexuality that occurred during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Interactionist methods are applied in tracing three decades of interpretive changes regarding sexual behavior as reflected in the content of professional and popular sexological literature from the mid 1960s to the present. It is concluded that the writings on "child perpetrators" constitute an anomalous but predictable development in the field when considered against the background of recent trends in sexual discourse, professional ideo...


Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly evolving fabrication technology beneficial for its cost-saving potential to produce complex, low-volume shapes. However, AM materials are currently limited to nonstructural applications due to variability in their structural integrity, particularly their fatigue lives. IN718, Ti64, and Al10MgSi specimens manufactured by Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) were characterized based on variation of post-processing techniques and build direction. To understand the impact of each variable, surface roughness, hardness, residual stresses, microstructure, and strain accumulation in response to Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) were studied. The use of Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) provided grain orientation and grain size distributions in each material. This data also provided a grain boundary overlay to be used in conjunction with in-situ Digital Image Correlation (DIC) during LCF to analyze strain distribution with respect to grain characteristics. This work provides experimental background data to be used for computational modeling of the structural integrity of AM materials in order to establish relationships between microstructure and fatigue. The ultimate goal is to understand the influence of material type, post-processing, and build direction variables in AM processes so these materials can be further explored for structural applications.


The paper presents the evaluation of a radiofrequency capacitively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with two ring electrodes (TRT r.f.CCP-AES) operated at 275 W and 0.4 L min - 1 Ar in comparison with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in determination of Cu, Mn and Zn in sediments and aquatic animals. The limits of detection in r.f.CCP-AES were 2 (Cu), 6 (Mn) and 3 (Zn) μg g - 1 Statistic evaluation of the results was based on 31 samples collected in the basin of the Cris rivers, Romania. After removing the samples with a metal concentration lower than the limit of determination in TRT r.f.CCP-AES, the F-test (95% confidence level) showed similar precision in the two methods, with one exception in the case of Mn and one in the case of Zn. From 21, 28 and 31 determinations of Cu, Mn and Zn, statistical correlation and regression as well as the analysis of Bland and Altman (95% confidence level) showed systematic errors in TRT r.f.CCP-AES versus FAAS only in one case for Cu, two cases for Mn and one case for Zn. The metal content amounted to: 10-400 μg g - 1 (Cu), 20-16000 μg g - 1 (Mn) and 20-1200 μg g - 1 (Zn).


When one of the random summands is Gaussian, we sharpen the entropy power inequality (EPI) in terms of the strong data processing function for Gaussian channels. Among other consequences, this 'strong' EPI generalizes the vector extension of Costa's EPI to non-Gaussian channels in a precise sense. This leads to a new reverse EPI and, as a corollary, sharpens Stam's uncertainty principle relating entropy power and Fisher information (or, equivalently, Gross' logarithmic Sobolev inequality). Applications to network information theory are also given, including a short self-contained proof of the rate region for the two-encoder quadratic Gaussian source coding problem and a new outer bound for the one-sided Gaussian interference channel.


The invention discloses a vehicle locating method. The method includes the steps of obtaining first locating information of a located vehicle and second locating information of the located vehicle at the same moment, conducting information fusion on the first locating information and the second locating information to obtain final locating information, and matching the final locating information with roads in a pre-stored map to determine the specific position of the located vehicle in the pre-stored map, wherein the first locating information is the locating information obtained after GPS locating is conducted, and the second locating information is the locating information obtained after dead reckoning is conducted. The invention further discloses a vehicle locating device.


Modern Question Answering (QA) systems rely on both knowledge bases (KBs) and unstructured text corpora as sources for their answers. KBs, when available, generally offer more precise answers than unstructured text. However, in specialized domains such as software engineering, QA requires deep domain expertise and KBs are often lacking. In this paper we tackle such specialized QA by using both text and semi-structured knowledge, in the form of a corpus of entity-labeled documents. We propose CASE, a hybrid of an RNN language model and an entity co-occurrence model, where the entity co-occurrence model is learned from the entity-labeled corpus. On QUASAR-S, a dataset derived from Stack Overflow consisting of Cloze (fill-in-the-blank) software questions and a corpus of tagged posts, CASE shows large accuracy gains over strong baselines.


Analyses the characteristics of the technical process in production of the workshop and generation mechanism of welding fume and welding plume.The three-dimensional digital computer simulation results and engineering practices show that the dust removal effect of overall ventilation and dust removal air conditioning system is better than that of conventional ventilation and air conditioning system,and the energy saving and pollution reduction effect is obvious.


Background: Osteoporosis is an important health issue due to its high prevalence. This disease is three times more common in women than in men. This study aimed at determining the level of knowledge, belief, and practice of osteoporosis prevention in adolescent girls.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Zabol in 2020, and 370 adolescent girls from girls' high schools participated in the study through multi-stage sampling method. The researcher-made questionnaire had 36 items in four sections containing demographic characteristics, knowledge, belief, and practice of adolescents regarding osteoporosis prevention, which was completed by the participants in the form of self-reporting after determining its validity and reliability and obtaining informed consent.
Results: Most female students were at a good level in terms of knowledge (67.6%), belief (68.1%), and practice (57.1%) of osteoporosis prevention. The most sources used to obtain information were the media such as radio and television.
Conclusion: According to the results of the study conducted on adolescent girls, despite the acceptable level of knowledge, belief, and practice, educational programs through mass media and educational classes seems to be necessary. In addition, provision of free sports facilities and strict monitoring of girls' nutrition in schools are other appropriate measures.


Purpose: Programs focused on employee well-being have gained momentum in recent years, but few have been rigorously evaluated. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention designed to enhance vitality and purpose in life by assessing changes in employee quality of life (QoL) and health-related behaviors. Design: A worksite-based randomized controlled trial. Setting: Twelve eligible worksites (8 randomized to the intervention group [IG] and 4 to the wait-listed control group [CG]). Participants: Employees (n = 240) at the randomized worksites. Intervention: A 2.5-day group-based behavioral intervention. Measures: Rand Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS) 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) vitality and QoL measures, Ryff Purpose in Life Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies questionnaire for depression, MOS sleep, body weight, physical activity, diet quality, and blood measures for glucose and lipids (which were used to calculate a cardiometabolic risk score) obtained at baseline and 6 months. Analysis: General linear mixed models were used to compare least squares means or prevalence differences in outcomes between IG and CG participants. Results: As compared to CG, IG had a significantly higher mean 6-month change on the SF-36 vitality scale (P = .003) and scored in the highest categories for 5 of the remaining 7 SF-36 domains: general health (P = .014), mental health (P = .027), absence of role limitations due to physical problems (P = .026), and social functioning (P = .007). The IG also had greater improvements in purpose in life (P < .001) and sleep quality (index I, P = .024; index II, P = .021). No statistically significant changes were observed for weight, diet, physical activity, or cardiometabolic risk factors. Conclusion: An intensive 2.5-day intervention showed improvement in employee QoL and well-being over 6 months.


Book Citations: Authors, Title, HemaSphere, 2023;7(S3):pages. The individual abstract DOIs can be found at https://journals.lww.com/hemasphere/pages/default.aspx. Disclaimer: Articles published in the journal HemaSphere exclusively reflect the opinions of the authors. The authors are responsible for all content in their abstracts including accuracy of the facts, statements, citing resources, etc. 358 beyond 24 hours after cell infusion. As shown in the accompanying figure, responses for patients with NHL were as follows: 2 out of 4 at the 3 × 108 dose level, 5 out of 6 at the 1 × 109 dose level and 3 out of 4 at the 1.5 × 109 dose level. Of the 8 patients who achieved CR, 3 with indolent lymphoma subsequently relapsed, each after more than 6 months of remission. While one patient with CLL achieved stable disease, no other responses were seen in patients with leukemia in this limited sample. Pharmacokinetic data showed a correlation between higher cell doses and higher peak measured NKX019 concentration (Cmax), and trend towards higher Cmax in patients achieving CR (median 298 transgene copies/ug DNA vs <6.7 copies/ug DNA in responders vs non-responders, p <0.001). No association was observed between clinical response and elevation of serum cytokine concentrations at any time point following NKX019 administration.


With the deregulation of interest rates in India, it is expected that the traditional channel of monetary transmission mechanism, which is tire interest rates channel will be revitalized. The present study examines the monetary policy transmission through the interest rates by analyzing the interest rates pass through within the spectrum of interest rates. In the process the pass through of the policy signal among select short term rates and long term rates was carried out, using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) approach. The results reveal that the transmission of a monetary policy signal is incomplete. It can be concluded that while some transmission of the monetary policy signal takes place in the short run, the policy impulses get lost in the long run.


Portable regenerator according to one embodiment of the invention includes a heating unit for heating the liquid storage unit and the liquid to be heated liquid can be stored. These portable regenerator is heated to a liquid heating unit is connected to the power stored therein. The liquid stored in the liquid storage unit is mainly water can be used, but I may be capable of self-heating heat In addition to water. Such an exemplary portable regenerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, was got hot water heating function by itself, while portable, easy to use and the risk of ever upon heating, provides a significant amount of heat to the body and a fomentation function, interior not only it can be used as a heat source, such as a bed at outdoor camping.


ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the occupational exposure of workers to heat during manual harvesting of coffee. The case study was conducted between May to August. Occupational heat in coffee plantations was evaluated using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) method and the metabolic rate. The WBGT was obtained using the TGD 400 thermal stress meter. The determined WBGT values were compared to two standards: the Occupational Hygiene Standard (NHO) 06 and Regulatory Norm (NR) 09. For acclimatized workers, the exposure limit was not exceeded at any time during the evaluated period. Fornon-acclimatized workers, the exposure limit was not exceeded only in July.


This paper investigates the effect of siliceous, limestone and plastic aggregates on the compressive behavior of concrete. Firstly, the matrix/aggregates interface is characterized using a scanning electronic microscope. Compressive test is then simulated on a 3D numerical concrete using finite element method. The influence of the matrix/aggregates interface quality is quantified. The results give a new insight and help on the understanding of the contribution of the nature of the aggregate on the overall mechanical behavior of concretes.


The paper analyses the present situation and problems of the post -market situation of contact lenses in China. According to the principles of risk management, suggestions for improving the supervision of circulation and consumption of contact lenses were given.


With the development of integrated avionics systems,bus MIL-STD-1553B can no longer meet the requirements of times.Fibre channel switching network,as a new generation of high-performance network,has been introduced into the avionics system.Its performance indexes exert great influence on the overall performance of the avionics system.In order to resolve the problem of real-time system message transmission,the communication of the fibre channel switching network is researched by adopting the weighted round robin scheduling algorithm.This paper conducts modeling for the scheduling process of the fibre channel switching network by applying stochastic Petri nets,and then,through simulation and analysis,derives some important performance indexes,such as data traffic,network load,delay time,and the ratio of time-out messages.Finally,the performance of the scheduling algorithm is analyzed.The simulation results prove that the fibre channel switching network possesses the qualities of high speed and stability,and that the weighted round-robin scheduling algorithm can satisfy the requirements of realtime and fairness in the process of message transmission.


The increasing outputs of plastics and polymer materials necessitate correspondingly larger outputs of various organic monomers. Phthalic anhydride is one of the source products for organic synthesis. Phthalic anhydride is made in the coking industry by the catalytic vapor-phase oxidation of naphthalene. The product is difficult to isolate from the reaction mixture leaving the static-bed catalytic reactors, since the volume of gases and vapors to be cooled is very large and the phthalic anhydride concentration in the mixture is very low. Continuous freezing condensers have been developed, in which the gas stream is cooled by counterflow contact with a stream of solid granular material on which the phthalic anhydride is condensed. One serious drawback is the need to expend large amounts of heat to remelt the phthalic anhydride crystals. The low strength of the granulated solid substrate leads to dust formation in operation, and the dust contaminates the product. We have developed a condenser in which the freezing and remelting stages take place on metal balls in the same unit and the heat is derived from the incoming reaction mixture. Accordingly, units of large capacity can be constructed giving a higher product yield and lowering the heat consumption in themore » remelting stage.« less


The aim of this study was to find a suitable granulation method intended for the transformation of waste in powder form from nickel ore processing, into stable granules. Requirements for the granulate were a particle size of a few millimeters, high strength and low friability for trouble-free transportation and material handling. For their further use as a sorbent in bio-gas plants, the granules had to have high porosity. By applying non-compacting granulation methods, a granulate of the desired dimension and properties was created. The created granulates were analyzed by dynamic image analysis (DIA) and powder rheometer. A high shear granulation method was chosen as the best method for powder waste processing, in which the most sustainable granulates were created using a small amount of granulation liquid. The granules produced by this method had good strength, low friability and a porous structure.


This work reports on high-performance Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) fabricated on Ga2O3 epilayers using Cu as Schottky contacts (SCs). The fabricated SBDs exhibited high Schottky barrier heights (SBHs) with values greater than 1.0 eV, near-unity ideality factors, and a high rectification ratio (RR) of 1012 at 300 K. Temperature-dependent current–voltage (I–V–T) and capacitance–voltage (C–V–T) measurements were performed up to 500 K. The SBHs' ϕBIV , calculated from the IVT characteristics, initially increased with temperature and then decreased with near-unity ideality factors. The increase in ϕBIV with temperatures up to 410 K indicated the spatial inhomogeneity at the metal–semiconductor interface. The observed decrease in ϕBIV above 410 K indicated the enhancement of barrier homogeneity at higher temperatures (⩾410 K). The decrease in ϕBIV above 410 K and decrease in ϕBCV , calculated from the CVT characteristics, with increasing temperature were assigned to the bandgap narrowing of Ga2O3. The IVT measurements were repeated many times, and the SBDs exhibited excellent thermal stability and showed high SBHs >1.0 eV, a high RR, and near-unity ideality factors. All these findings were attributed to the formation of high-work-function copper oxide thin film at the interface between Cu and Ga2O3. X-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the formation of a thin layer of high-work-function copper oxide. These findings provide the possibility to fabricate an SC with a high and homogeneous barrier and thermal stability using cheap, abundant Cu material, enabling low-cost mass production of future power semiconductor devices based on oxide semiconductors.


Varying concentrations of Piper guineense, Ocimum gratissimum, and Cymbopogon citratus leaf extracts, at different periods of storage were tested against moderately aggressive strain of cocoa pod rot pathogenPhytophthora megakarya. Percentage inhibitions exhibited by the extracts and chemical fungicide used as standard were calculated and recorded with respect to their storage time. Percentage mycelia inhibitions exhibited by the freshly prepared extracts against the pathogen ranged between 27.73-51.58% (P. guineense), 26.99-34.77% (C. citratus) and 24.49-48.46% (O. gratissimum), while the synthetic fungicide (standard) gave 44.25%. The inhibitions exhibited after seven days of storage dropped to 5.12-15.67%, 4.4120.72%, 11.23-24.38% and 20.58% for P. guineense, C. citratus,O. gratissimum and fungicide respectively. Percentage inhibitions of the pathogen after 14 day storage partly followed a similar trend. The antimicrobial potencies of plant extracts and fungicide used in this study clearly decreased with storage time and as such, could be best applied when freshly prepared to control black pod disease of cocoa.


Inhalation of CO and decreased O/sub 2/ were used to stimulate effects of CO at various altitudes. 0.3 and 0.6% CO were used to produce means of 6 and 13% COHb increases during subsequent 25 min tests; limited control of smoking. Pulse rate during exercise increased with altitude and was used as a measure of anoxia. CO increased the exercise pulse rate response to altitude. For altitudes between 7 and 10,000 ft, a 1% increase in blood COHb above 13 was equivalent to a response to a rise in altitude of 335 ft.


Ab initio MO calculations at the QCISD(T)/6–31G* */MP2/6–31G* * + ZPE level on the XX′CP2 isomers (X = H1 F and Cl) show that the energies of the isomeric species are often reordered following halogen substitution. The phosphorushalogen moiety behaves as the main stabilizing factor on the rest of the molecular structure. This is particularly true when X = F is involved. In the dihalogenated series phosphanyl-phosphaalkyne (4) becomes the most stable species followed by diphosphaallene (3) and 1 H-diphosphirene (6). The effect on the geometry following halogenation is larger if substitution takes place at carbon than at phosphorus. The behaviour of the P species is found to be quite different from, if not opposite to, that of their nitrogen analogues. Finally, the infrared spectra of the most stable isomers are also predicted.


This work is a defence of tradition and continuity, it contends that conservatism in the economic sphere married to liberalism in the cultural domain has become the contemporary intellectual reflex. This union is, according to Clark, deeply hostile to public morality, antipathetic to civic engagement and destructive to our sense of tradition. Topics covered include: the effects of postmodernism and the purpose of studying history; the formation of states and national identity; the relationship between the nations of the United Kingdom; the absence of English nationalism; the legends upon which the United States is built; the myth of the Anglo-American "special relationship"; and Britain's historic relations with Germany and with Europe.


Recurrent abdominal pain is one of the most common chronic illnesses of childhood. Yet an organic cause can be found in less than 5 per cent of cases. The lack of a clear aetiology has prompted researchers to theorise possible causes, but researchers have had more success in isolating how children with recurrent abdominal pain differ from their peers. The second article looks at depression in childhood, looking at its prevalence, diagnosis, assessment and management.


Introduction: A wide spectrum of temporal bone pathology can present with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. This originates from the defects in the temporal bone that can be spontaneous, traumatic, pathological and iatrogenic. Most common routes are from labyrinthine window dehiscence, along fracture lines, via inner ear malformations or by direct dural invasion due to middle ear pathology. Complications of CSF leak include otogenic meningitis, temporal lobe abscess and otic hydrocephalus. Methods: This is a case review of three interesting patients, who presented with varied etiology of CSF leaks. Their complex pathology and the rationale in management of CSF leaks are highlighted. Case 1: Post road traffic accident (RTA) bilateral temporal bone fracture with unilateral CSF otorhinorrhea with total facial palsy with profound Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Case 2: Petrous cholesteatoma recurring in a previous mastoid cavity with large tegmen and dural erosion, fungus cerbri and CSF leak. Case 3: Adolescent girl with unilateral cochleovestibular dysplasia presenting with recurrent meningitis due to spontaneous CSF otorhinorrhea. Results: All patients had successful repair of defects to achieve complete arrest of leak by following meticulous approach with a multi-layered closure and post-operative management with neuro monitoring. Based on our experience we recommend a standard protocol for CSF leak repair in the temporal bone. Conclusion: CSF otorrhea is a rare entity. Diagnosis is suspected through otorrhea, aural fullness, hearing loss and radiological investigations. Surgery is successful when managed at a tertiary referral centre having an experienced skull base team, using a protocol as suggested here.


The utility model provides a product warehousing system for logistics management, which comprises a handheld data collector, a wireless base station, a central server and a data base. The data collector is connected with the central server through the wireless base station, and the data base is connected with the central server. According to download code rules in configuration files, the product warehousing system for the logistics management can judge whether the code rules of read label data are coincident, and cleaning check is easier. The central server carries out further check on goods information prestored in the data base after receiving label data uploaded by the handheld data collector. Therefore, double check guarantees accuracy of the information and reduces errors in all aspects. The central server returns receipt information to the handheld data collector according to judgment results in comparison process, thereby facilitating niche-targeting rescanning and recording carried out by field staffs and greatly improving warehousing working efficiency.


Inner force of soil nail is a key parameter of soil nailing design.Virtual excavation stress is used to simulate the excavation status of soil nailing.On the basis of the hypothesis that there exists no load on the face of soil nail,a calculation model is presented that the distribution of shear forces between soil and nail is double-triangle.The calculation formulas of axial force and shear force of soil nail are derived.The lateral displacement of soil at potential break surface and the end of nail by the virtual excavation of soil shear stress is obtained based on Mindlin strain solution.The zero relative displacement and the equivalent axial force of soil nail at both sides of potential break surface can provide two equations for two unknown coefficients of the calculation model.The measured data from French research test on soil nailing are used to illustrate the validity of the proposed calculation model.


Influence of a chronic intoxication by lead ions on biochemical parameters of annotinous carp blood (the maintenance of the common protein, albumin, bilirubin, urea, malonic dialdehyde, activity of catalase, alaninand aspartataminotranspherase and the common antioxidant activity of blood plasma) is studied. The data testifying the development of oxidizing stress in aquatic organisms that is important for an es-timation of state of their health and monitoring fishery reservoirs are obtained.


Humor art is one of Lao She's most important characteristics,and it is hard for anyone else to reach. But obviously it is a superficial understanding of humor if you only consider it as a form of expression or technical ability. Lao She's humor contains a certain kind of profound cultural code.It not only discloses that era,nation,society and morality were branded in his works, but also shows a lot of secrets between Lao She and the western realism literature. Based on this cultural mentality and aesthetic standards, we can easily find that Lao She developed a new style of his own and formed unique and perfect humor finally.


Humus balance methods are used to estimate the humus situation on arable land of a farm. Guarantee for a stable yield is a sufficient supply of humus. There for it is necessary to use the appropriate balance method. The humus balance method from Leithold has been compared with the one that is described at Hulsbergen (2002) by using the Software Model REPRO. The humus balances of the investigated farm increased continuous throughout the study period. Based on the entire study period the humus supply increased 4 percentage points per year from 70% to 125%. The results of this study leads to the conclusion that improving the humus supply primarily resulted in the increase of livestock. The intensification of milk production has improved the supply of humus. Basically, it can be stated that the use of both methods has led to similar statements regarding the development of the farm.


Sustainability indices are generally created to serve as a benchmark for sustainable investment. In all markets, but particularly in emerging markets, these indices can also contribute to stimulate responsible practices in companies that want to be part of the index and those that are already members. Furthermore, they can contribute to the deepening of the capital markets, not only by serving as a benchmark, but also by developing interest in responsible investment on the part of foreign and domestic institutional investors. To play these roles, the admission, selection and removal process of companies into sustainability indices must have particular characteristics. For example, there should be a relatively large stock of eligible companies. Furthermore, the investment environment in the capital markets must also be relatively developed for investors to appreciate the long-term value of responsible companies and analysts must have the right incentives to promote responsible investments. Under certain conditions, the indices can also help to attract foreign capital, seeking international diversification, to the local capital markets. Even though there are more than 50 general and specialized sustainability indices, there are only seven associated with stock exchanges in developing countries: South Africa, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, China, India, Turkey and Mexico. This study analyses the conditions that make for effective sustainability indices in promoting capital market development and responsible practices and the impacts that corporations and investors can expect. This study includes, as an example, evidence from an evaluation of the impact of the BM&FBovespa Sustainability Index in Brazil. We also include recommendations for the design of sustainability indices in emerging markets.


Abstract The approach to convolutional codes from the linear systems point of view provides us with effective tools in order to construct convolutional codes with adequate properties that let us use them in many applications. In this work, we have generalized feedback equivalence between families of convolutional codes and linear systems over certain rings, and we show that every locally Brunovsky linear system may be considered as a representation of a code under feedback convolutional equivalence.


A hot air heat exchanger furnace that uses crop residue as a fuel source is provided for producing the heat required for various purposes, such as the drying of grains, peanuts, soybeans and other materials and for the heating of buildings. The furnace includes a combustion chamber, an upper manifold, a lower manifold, a plenum and a number of exhaust tubes. The exhaust tubes direct the flow of combustion gases from the combustion chamber in a serpentine path in the plenum between the upper and lower manifolds and into a stack. Meanwhile, ambient air passes into the plenum, past the heat transfer surfaces of the combustion chamber and the exhaust tubes as heat transfers to it. Then it passes out of the furnace.


The invention relates to a multi-functional lifting stool with a toolbox. The lifting stool can be used as not only a stool but also a small desk or ladder after being lifted by a mechanism. When an operator sits on the lifting stool to rotate a handle clockwise, a screw rod rotationally drives a front slider and a rear slider to move towards the middle along the screw rod and simultaneously drives a connecting rod component to move upwards to lift a stool holder upwards; when the front slider and the rear slider move to the middle of the screw rod, the connecting rod component moves to the highest position; and self-lock devices of the front slider and the rear slider are locked and the sliders cannot move backwards so that the stool realizes the function of a ladder. When the operator rotates the handle anticlockwise, the screw rod rotationally drives the front slider and the rear slider to move towards the two ends along the screw rod and simultaneously drives the connecting rod component to move downwards so as to drive the stool holder to move downwards, thus the function of a common stool is realized. When being used as a stool or a small desk, the lifting stool takes up small space, can move conveniently and flexibly, and is widely applied to home furnishing and other places.


The Chronist, whose work embodies Chronicles and substantial parts of Ezra-Nehemiah, deliberately locates the meetings of the people at an Oriental Gate next to the temple. In anticipation of such meetings under Zorobabel (A Esd 5,6; cf. Esr 3,2) and under Ezra (Esr 10,9; A Esd 9,38. 41; cf. Ne 8,1.3), he chooses that place, described in general terms, for the reformatory speech of Hezechiah in 2 Ch 29,3-4. A Esdras (III Esdras), as an old textform, plays a decisive role in the proof, and its importance is in return better assessed.


Disposal of large quantities of certain minerals (mining) containing 40K, 232Th and 226Ra and other radionuclides in the decay series of Th and U from the earth crust results in increase in the radionuclides concentrations. This research looks at the radiological safety assessment of quarry Processing Site in Keffi, Nigeria. The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the five (5) different Soil samples, varied widely as 10.54±3.040 Bq/ kg, 2.61±1.170 Bq/kg and 36.99 ± 7.490 Bq/kg respectively. Ungwan Tanko (UTN) has the highest activity concentration of 14.90 ± 2.30 Bq/kg for 226Ra while Pyanku (PYK) has the highest activity concentration of 4.52 ± 0.32 Bq/kg for 232Th. Activity concentration of 40K was highest (57.32 ± 2.530 Bq/kg) in Ungwan Kwara (UKW). It was also observed that Yalwa (YLW) had the lowest activity concentration of 02.20 ± 1.31 Bq/kg for 226Ra, while Ungwan Tanko (UTN) had the lowest activity concentration values of 1.03 ± 1.74 Bq/kg for 232Th and Attab Fueling Station (AFS) had the lowest activity concentration values of 13.67 ± 15.73 Bq/kg for 40K. Radium equivalent activity Raeq (Bq/kg), alpha index, internal hazard index, and total cancer risk 17.52 Bq/kg 0.055, 0.077 and 6.82 x 10-7 respectively. Based on the results presented, the present quarry processing sites in Keffi has less effect on ingestion rate of Soil and may poses no radiological risk to the population.


In offshore applications, high-strength grout is used to connect tubular steel sections. Grouted connections rely on welded shear keys to ensure sufficient interlocking of the grout-steel interface. These shear keys lead to stress concentrations, which in turn lead to fatigue cracks, and local damage of the grout. The hybrid grouted joint is a newly developed connection that is characterised by a multi-layered composition. In contrast to state-of-the-art grouted joints, hybrid grouted joints include thin adhesive layers, which are applied on the steel surfaces prior to grouting. The new connection type is in the focus of a recently finished research project. This paper presents selected results concerning the quasi-static load-bearing capacity under axial loading. The experimental campaign aimed at identifying and quantifying various aspects that influence the connection's performance. Different adherent combinations, varying overlap lengths, load directions and systematically induced imperfections were evaluated.


Taraz State University named after M.Kh. Dulaty, Taraz, Kazakhstan Abstract: Industrial, agricultural production wastewater and household drains are the main cause of intense pollution of surface water resources, which lead to the violation of the natural biological cycle and aquatic organisms' environment destruction. In this regard, water resources protection is one of the most pressing environmental problems at the present stage of human development.


Accumulating evidences report mutation in ASXL1 as an important predictor to clinical outcomes of patients with hematological malignancies, particularly acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. However, the prognostic impact in myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) remains underexplored. Here, we evaluated clinical and laboratory features of 208 Philadelphia negative MPN patients (polycythemia vera, PV; essential thrombocythemia, ET; primary myelofibrosis, PMF), according to mutations in ASXL1. Screening for ASXL1 mutations were performedby Sanger sequencing. Germline variations were excluded. ASXL1 mutations were detected in 22/208 patients (10%), of which four in PV patients (4/54-7%), 11 in ET patients (11/123-9%) and seven in PMF (7/31-22%). Baseline features were similar between ASXL1-mutated and non-mutated patients. Evaluated individually (PV, ET, PMF), we observed that ET patients harboring ASXL1 mutations were older (P = 0,049) than ASXL1 non-mutated patients. Similarly, PMF patients presented higher frequency of splenomegaly in ASXL1mutated group (P = 0,026). No other features were associated with ASXL1mutations. The median follow-up was 5,1 years (CI95%: 4,5-7,3 years). One hundred and thirty six patients (65%) developed some of the clinical common manifestations, which the most frequent was vascular complications (n=54; 26%), followed by splenomegaly (n=47; 22%), bleeding (n=30;14%) and thrombosis (n=21;10%). ASXL1 mutations were not associated with development of such events. In our cohort, only two patients have evolved for myelodysplastic syndrome and one for acute myeloid leukemia, all of them without mutations in ASXL1.


This article provides an insight into Spanish Monuments Restoration in the 20th century focusing on the interventions on the Gates of Santa Fe (Granada). We start from 1912, year of the demolition of the Loja Gate according to road traffic regulations. This comes to show how some buildings were not preserved despite the new Heritage Protection Law. Thus, we look at how reconstruction and conservation were ensured by means of interventions at various stages in a century influenced by its historical and political peculiarities. This investigation is based on extensive documentation such as photographic images and unpublished plans from the local and Spanish national archives. The authors of some of them are Leopoldo Torres Balbas and Francisco Prieto-Moreno y Pardo, two important exponents of Spanish contemporary restoration.