Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is identified as an in vivo activator of progelatinase A/proMMP-2 on cell surface, and the activated MMP-2 as well as MT1-MMP degrades extracellular matrices to increase tumor invasiveness. On the other hand, hyperthermia is one of the therapeutic strategies for preventing tumor progression by inhibiting tumor growth. 1 We found the evidence that the heat shock preferentially suppresses the gene expression and production of MT1-MMP in human tumor cell lines. To clarify the suppressive mechanism, we examined the involvement of 3 ́, 5 ́-cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the regulation of MT1MMP production in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells and normal human fibroblasts, since cAMP is known as a suppressor of proMMPs production in human fibroblasts 2 and is increased by heat shock in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. 3


We determine all three-dimensional homogeneous and $1$-curvature homogeneous Lorentzian metrics which are critical for a quadratic curvature functional. As a result, we show that any quadratic curvature functional admits different non-Einstein homogeneous critical metrics and that there exist homogeneous metrics which are critical for all quadratic curvature functionals without being Einstein.


Fig. d. The length of the wire bougies is of course in proportion to the distance up the canal to which the catarrhal affection has travelled; in recent cases, an inch and a half may suffice; in older cases, it miay be necessary to have it greatly longer. Mr. Hilliard, of Renfield Street, Glasgow, can supply them to any member of the profession who may be inclined to put this method of treatmeint to the test.


A configurable Delta-Sigma ADC with on-chip signal conditioning is presented for low frequency, low level micro-mechanical gyroscopes in this paper. A differential input programmable gain front end (PGA) varying from 1 to 128 allows the reception of weak voltage signals directly from analog sensors. A pseudo SPI interface is compatible for microcontroller or DSP based system. Gain settings, signal polarity, channel selection and output data rate from 10Hz to 1kHz can be configured from the control registers by SPI three-wire operation. Using charge balancing and switched capacitor techniques, the presented Delta-Sigma ADC achieves 20 bits of resolution with the sampling clock of 19.5kHz, occupying only 2.9mm2 in 0.35μm CMOS technology. It consumes 5.0mW with the supply voltage of 5V.


The analysis of modern cosmological data is becoming an increasingly important task as the amount of data multiplies. An important goal is to extract geometric information, i.e. the metric of the cosmos, from observational data. The observer metric is adapted to the reality of observations: information received along the past null cone, and matter flowing along timelike lines. It provides a potentially very good candidate for developing a general numerical data reduction program. As a basis for this, we elucidate the spherically symmetric solution, for which there is to date no single presentation that is complete and correct. With future numerical implementation in mind, we give a clear presentation of the mathematical solution in terms of 4 arbitrary functions, the solution algorithm given observational data on the past null cone, and we argue that the evolution from one null cone to the next necessarily involves integrating down each null cone.


Introduction and objective: The placement of short dental implants is used as an alternative treatment modality to bone grafting procedures. The aim of this ...


Different cultural backgrounds can become the barriers in cross-cultural communication , so learning a language is inseparable from learning its cultural background. Teachers should introduce the knowledge of cultural background while impart the skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation so as to cultivate acute awareness to the cross-cultural differences and improve their ability in cross-cultural communication. Furthermore, the following methods can be adopted: comparison, illustration of the key points and with supplementary materials etc. .


A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Clinical Microbiology, School Of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, for the Award of Master of Philosophy (Mphil) Degree in Clinical Microbiology, 2014


A conference held at Langley Research Center in May of 1980 brought together university experts from the fields of Control Theory, Operations Research, and Artificial Intelligence to explore current research in automation from both the perspective of their own particular disciplines and from that of interdisciplinary considerations. Informal discussions from the final day of the those day conference are summarized.


Critical thinking has become one of the main competencies of learning at the level of higher education in Indonesia, and teaching interventions that lead to the achieving of these competencies are important to do. One of the learning models developed to promote critical thinking ability is the Inquiry Creative Process (ICP), a learning model. This research aims to describe the effectiveness of the ICP learning model to promote the critical thinking ability of prospective physics teachers. The implementation of the ICP learning model involved prospective physics teachers at four higher education institutions in the province of West Nusa Tenggara - Indonesia, that are the Mataram University (UNRAM), Teacher Training and Education Institut of Mataram (IKIP Mataram), Mataram State Islamic University (UIN Mataram), and the University of Muhammadiyah Mataram (UM Mataram). This study is experimental research, where is for each group performed pretest, implementation of the ICP learning model, and then posttest. The critical thinking ability of prospective physics teachers was measured using a critical thinking ability test instrument. The data of critical thinking ability were analyzed descriptively and statistically, where the homogeneity, normality, t-test, and ANOVA test were conducted. The results showed that the implementation of the Inquiry Creative Process learning model was effective to promote the critical thinking ability of prospective physics teachers. Descriptions of further research results are described in this article.


This paper expounds the relation among the tender, the operational m anagement of the construction enterprises, and the tender strategy, and puts for ward some concrete jobs that should be down well in the decision making before t he tender and the decision making in the tender stage, and some risk problems ne eding attention in the tender decision making.


Objective: Fetal movement counting is one of the most important indices reflecting the health of the fetus. In the hospital, ultrasound method serves as gold standard but could only be used within a short time because of the potential of tissue damage. Out of the hospital, maternal perception is recommended by obstetrician-gynecologist while its accuracy varies between pregnant women and typically is low. This study aims to develop a wearable device for out-of-hospital monitoring of fetal movement with acceptable accuracy. Methods: In this work, a wearable device with two accelerometers was developed for accurate and continuous fetal movement monitoring. Nine different machine learning algorithms with optimized hyperparameters and features were compared and analyzed, and the ensemble method was found to have the best performance compared to ultrasound as gold standard on 20 pregnant women. Feature importance factor and optimized number of accelerometers were also studied. Conclusions: The high-performance metrics indicate that our system could potentially replace maternal perception for accurate out-of-hospital fetal movement detection. Furthermore, because it's intrinsically passive and wearable, it could broaden the application horizon of fetal movement monitoring, and be applied to discover more rich biological profile of fetus during perinatal period.


Acute kidney injury develops in a 20-year-old man with Marfan's syndrome after aortic-valve replacement complicated by thoracic aortic dissection. Continuous renal-replacement therapy rather than intermittent hemodialysis is recommended because of hemodynamic instability.


The thermophysical properties of supercritical fluids (SCF) will change drastically in the narrow range of thermodynamic conditions near the pseudo-critical line, and this narrow region of thermodynamic parameters is named the pseudo-critical region. The complex fluctuation of thermophysical properties in the pseudo-critical region makes SCF's thermal-hydraulic characteristics very different from that of subcritical fluids. Therefore, the normal flow and heat transfer prediction models are no longer applicable among this region. From the perspective of engineering application, it is very necessary to determine the pseudo-critical line and pseudo-critical region as a reference point for adjusting thermodynamic parameters and improving the processing efficiency in the application of SCF. In the paper, supercritical carbon dioxide is taken as the research object. First, the pseudo-critical lines were obtained respectively according to three different equations of state. Then, based on the continuous phase transition theory, the pseudo-critical region was determined by the Ehrenfest equation. Finally, the occurrence area of heat transfer deterioration was in alignment with the proposed pseudo-critical region, and the mechanism that affects the heat transfer deterioration behavior was analyzed.


Directed at the longer cycle and higher cost coming from conventional software development,the paper introduces harmonic analysis-based MCGS software technology to the implementation of online system accuracy rotary dynamic testing system.The paper features the completion of three projects tests,such as beating of radial,axial movement of swing and the angle by using ST-2 eddy current non-contact displacement vibration sensor for signal acquisition,acquisition board responsible for receiving signals and transporting them to IPC.MATLAB simulation results show that,test system,based on MCGS software development can completely meet the requirements of the rotary accuracy test system with high-speed operation.


In this paper we present the use of ontology for knowledge representation and handling for Administration Processes. Motivation has come from Pellucid (Platform for Organizationally Mobile Public Employees) is European Project IST-2001-34519, where we need to capture and capitalize employee's knowledge in an organization. This knowledge is then presented to other employees as they work on particular tasks. The Pellucid System is built on Multi-agent system, thus ontology is used also for communication between agents and for knowledge representation as well.


With the advent of perforator-based skin transfer, computed tomography angiography has emerged as an invaluable tool in the preoperative planning of perforat...


This study was undertaken to determine the best method of sampling and preparation of rocksalt for the determination of the anticaking agent Sodium Ferrocyanide deca-hydrate (YPS). Two methods were compared, one a splitting technique and the other a homogenizing technique. The homogenizing technique was found to be superior. This technique was applied to the analysis of YPS in five different salt stockpiles throughout the State, and to the analysis of YPS in different areas of a single stockpile to determine the variation of YPS both among and within salt stockpiles. A recommended sampling procedure is presented using the homogenizing technique. The colorimetric method of chemical analysis of YPS used in this study is given in the Appendix.


Some special plants and minerals in nature were recorded in Chinese ancient literature books which can become an important symbol of looking for tin ore.After the modern geological survey,it finds that the records are highly consistent with the factual situation.This method is simple and effective,and is still used today,not only has important reference value to explore the modern tin ore,but also provides reference basis for the study of Chinese ancient tin ore material source of this great historical mystery.In addition,Shang-Zhou copper mining and smelting site,such as Hubei Tonglvshan and Jiangxi Tongling,unearthed a large number of mining and mineral processing facilities,which verifies that beneficiation technology in China has been in a leading position in the world in the pre-Qin period.


Given the recent economic crisis and the accompanying funding cuts across social service programs, it is helpful to observe the geographic distribution of demographic characteristics and economic conditions that together create a human service needs profile. The authors provide a conceptual framework for a systematic analysis of county characteristics and demonstrate that rural areas of America have higher levels of needs and more complex needs than do metropolitan areas. This suggests that human service strategies that are successful in metropolitan areas may not translate well to nonmetropolitan areas.


The present invention is equipped with a series circuit that includes a DC power supply, switching elements and a diode for supplying DC or AC current pulses to a machining gap between a machining electrode and a workpiece, diodes that regulate a direction of the current flow to one direction, and a control unit that controls the switching elements. When the control unit generates a current pulse having a triangular waveform by an inductance that is present in the series circuit, the control unit controls the switching elements in order that a current-pulse time ratio that is a ratio between the non-current time and the current continuation time in the current pulse is equal to or lower than 1/5.


With local differential privacy (LDP), users can privatize their data and thus guarantee privacy properties before transmitting it to the server (a.k.a. the aggregator). One primary objective of LDP is frequency (or histogram) estimation, in which the aggregator estimates the number of users for each possible value. In practice, when a study with rich content on a population is desired, the interest is in the multiple attributes of the population, that is to say, in multidimensional data (d ≥ 2). However, contrary to the problem of frequency estimation of a single attribute (the majority of the works), the multidimensional aspect imposes to pay particular attention to the privacy budget. This one can indeed grow extremely quickly due to the composition theorem. To the authors' knowledge, two solutions seem to stand out for this task: 1) splitting the privacy budget for each attribute, i.e., send each value with ε d ≥-LDP (Spl), and 2) random sampling a single attribute and spend all the privacy budget to send it with ε-LDP (Smp). AlthoughSmp adds additional sampling error, it has proven to provide higher data utility than the formerSpl solution. However, we argue that aggregators (who are also seen as attackers) are aware of the sampled attribute and its LDP value, which is protected by a "less strict" eε probability bound (rather than e^ε/d ). This way, we propose a solution named Random S ampling plus Fake Data (RS+FD), which allows creatinguncertainty over the sampled attribute by generating fake data for each non-sampled attribute; RS+FD further benefits from amplification by sampling. We theoretically and experimentally validate our proposed solution on both synthetic and real-world datasets to show that RS+FD achieves nearly the same or better utility than the state-of-the-artSmp solution.


This paper proposes a new approach of modeling the collaboration of sensor system artifacts to address the security and survivability concerns of sensor networks. The model considered is composed of sensors, base and users. Sensors are nodes that acquire and process data. Base is the node that acquires and processes data from sensors and provides an interface to access and monitor the sensor network while users monitor the system. The model proposed is instantiated and validated using association rule mining to compensate missing data in order to provide security and survivability to sensor networks.


According to the ant colony algorithm in many ants to find the optimal path need long time or hard to find the optimal path from the path of desultorily, and the contradiction between the shortcomings of accelerating convergence and premature stagnation phenomenon, puts forward a new bionic optimization algorithm. The main idea of the algorithm is introduced visual concepts in MMAS form artificial fish algorithm, which many of ants can more quickly find optimal path, and introduced crowded degree concepts of artificial fish algorithm to set strong crowded degree limit, which method can global optimization better and avoid the local extreme value also accelerate the speed and improve the accuracy of the algorithm. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the algorithm.


Thank you for downloading india a financial sector for the twenty first century. As you may know, people have search numerous times for their favorite readings like this india a financial sector for the twenty first century, but end up in infectious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they are facing with some infectious virus inside their computer.


In this article, a model of an advertising company is viewed where the factor that defines the shift of curve of price-demand and the factor that defines the tilt of curve are changed under the influence of the advertisement. We find equations that define the optimum moments of completion of the promotion of goods and cessation of the expenses for the advertisements. The profit of the company on a fixed space of time appears as the criterion of optimum.


The hot deformation behaviors of 0.4C–13Cr martensitic stainless steel at the nitrogen contents of 0.13% and 0.03%, respectively, are investigated at the deformation condition featuring the temperature range of 1223–1523 K and the strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1. The variation of flow stress curves of experimental steels with different nitrogen contents is systematically analyzed. According to the flow stress curves, the activation energies determined by regression analysis are 472.77 and 411.58 kJ mol−1 for 0.4C–13Cr steel with N contents of 0.13% and 0.03%, respectively. It demonstrates that the deformation resistance of 0.4C–13Cr steel improves with the increase in nitrogen content. The reason is related to the pinning effect of solid solution nitrogen atoms, and Cr2N particles on dislocations and grain boundaries. The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) kinetics models of experimental steels are established. Furthermore, the microstructures of experimental steels are also analyzed. The result shows that the pinning effect caused by nitrogen also plays an important role in the development of DRX and microstructure evolution. The more nitrogen addition in 0.4C–13Cr steel, the earlier achievement of DRX onset, the slower the DRX kinetics and the finer the microstructure.


Managers working for multinational firms must evaluate the extent to which they should adapt corporate governance mechanisms to local markets or to pursue a one-size-fits-all approach. In 1999, the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance were endorsed by OECD ministers in an attempt to influence policymakers worldwide by setting global governance standards. Yet the level of approval and understanding of these principles in non-OECD nations is still unclear. In this study we develop and test a survey instrument in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assess perceptions of OECD principles by 168 Saudi Arabian managers. Results suggest that Saudi Arabian perceptions of shareholder rights are positively related to a) maintaining an effective corporate governance framework and b) the effective monitoring of management by the board of directors. Managerial implications and future research directions are also discussed.


Objective To analyze the expression of Fos, KSP-70 protein and ZnT3 mRNA in rat's brain following heat stress and febrile cons convulsions. Method A total of 80 male Sprague Dawley rats (sanitary degree), 21-day, weighing 52-62 g, were used in the study. They were provided by College of Medicine, Zhejiang University. The rats were randomly divided into control group (n=8) d heat stress group (n=28). Among the 28 rats, 15 reached grade 5, and served as febrile convulsion (FC) group; 10 didn't have convulsion, and served as heat stress (HS) group; 3 rats only reached grade 2, and were excluded. Warm water was used to induce FC model. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization method were used for observing Fos, HSP-70 protein, and ZnT3 mRNA. The data were expressed as (average)x±s), and analyzed by using W teat and Chi-square test. A P value less than 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results Compared with KS group, the number of Fos positive cells was significantly higher in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of FC group (P<0.01). There were no HSP-70-IR positive cells in HS group and control group, while there acre a lot of HSP-70-IR positive cells in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and amygdala of FC group. There was no ZnT3 mRNA expression in HS and control group, while there existed lots of ZnT3 mRNA expression in hippocampus of FC group. Conclusions The high expression of Pos-IR in FC group suggested overexcitation of neurons in FC rats. This indicates the slight injury of neurons at early phase. The rapid expression of HSP-70-IR of FC group and negative expression of HS group suggests that FC might cause degeneration of neuron at early phase. The obvious expression of ZnT3 mRNA indicates the abnormal increase of zinc transport in hippocampus of FC group.


The objective of this paper is to report on a co-operative research project between the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Queensland Transport to predict the contributions that motor vehicle emissions from various fleet compositions and traffic conditions make to the level of airborn sub-micrometer particles. Extensive data relating to sub-micrometer particle concentration levels and the corresponding contributing vehicles have been collected at two significantly different Brisbane sites. One site is a straight section of the Pacific Motorway, with average free flowing peak hour flows of 1650 vehicles per hour per lane, of which 15% were LCVs and HCVs. The other site is a signalized intersection on a major urban freight arterial route outside a public hospital where the traffic has a significantly larger proportion of HCV undergoing stop/start conditions. These sites have significantly different fleet compositions and driving cycles resulting in differing particle concentration levels and speciation. Particle concentration data at each site was collected over several weeks and matched to the corresponding vehicle counts. Fleet composition was determined from analysis of video and other data. Meteorological data (e.g., wind speed and direction, temperature, precipitation, humidity) and terrain data at the sites were also recorded. From an analysis of this data, the effect of various meteorological factors on the measured concentration levels was determined and then an estimate of the amount of tailpipe particle emissions for the particular fleet compositions and driving cycles was made. Functional dependencies between time of a day (for week and weekend days) and vehicle flow were developed. Flow rates for specific time of day /day of week, were statistically analyzed in order to predict the average flow for those periods of interest within a 95% confidence level. Vehicle flow rates were further categorized by fuel type. From this analysis, the flow rates for different fuel categories for the period of interest can be predicted. From the statistical analysis of this data, models have been developed that can predict worse case levels of sub-micrometer particle concentrations with a satisfactory level of confidence. The models also indicate how the concentrations are affected by changes in the proportions of petrol/diesel vehicles and increases in CVs. This has significance for use in modeling to assess environmental impacts of alternative transport options.


March 2020 was a game changer. In one fell swoop our worlds were turned upside down by a viral pandemic that no one could have anticipated a year before. The novel coronavirus and COVID-19 amplifie...


Thermodynamic and transport properties of a particle subject to a fluctuating gauge field are obtained in two-dimensional space, in the regime where the range of flux correlation is long compared to the thermal length. The resistivity is linear in temperature when the temperature is low compared to the characteristic amplitude of the flux fluctuation. The conductivity shows a non-Drude behavior at finite frequencies. The model has an anomalous response with respect to externally applied magnetic fields: the diamagnetic susceptibility and Hall coefficient vanish at low temperature


The present invention provides a heterogeneous sample in another state, in order to test simulating the optical homogeneity, a method and apparatus which utilizes a reflective enclosure (10). Illumination light source (20) and the analyte, by location within the reflective enclosure (10), conductive to provide a method for testing different analytes reflection or transmission. The apparatus and method is particularly well adapted to non-invasive testing of in vivo for blood components.


The problem of processing vacuum residues is relevant due to the enhancement of heavy crude oil recovery. The processing of fuel oil and vacuum residues is complicated due to the high content of resins and asphaltenes present in them. In order to develop new approaches to the processing of vacuum residues, it is necessary to comprehend the mechanisms of thermal degradation of high-molecular-weight oil components. Three samples of high-sulfur vacuum residues are cracked at a temperature of 500 °C and with a various process duration. The characteristic changes in the material and fractional composition of the products of the vacuum residue cracking depending on the process conditions are shown. It is found that the ratio of light to medium distillates in the composition of the products depends on the duration of cracking.


The introduction of defects in a photonic band-gap (PBG) material breaks its periodicity, and produces interface states of the electromagnetic field, at frequencies within the stop-bands, manifested by sharp peaks in the transmission response of the structure. We study PBGs properties in the presence of multiple periodicity interruptions, by using a full-wave approach. Results are presented, both for TE and TM polarizations, showing the transmission efficiencies as a function of the involved parameters. We discuss how the selectivity and the position of the transmission peaks inside the stop-band can be controlled. We show that a pass-band filtering behavior can also be obtained.


In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the ECB has relaunched a massive asset purchase programme within its combined-arms monetary strategy. This paper presents and discusses the theory and the evidence of the central bank's asset purchases, mainly in the euro area. It analyses the role of asset purchase programmes in the ECB's toolkit and the potential associated risks, focusing specifically on the problems of the programmes' unwinding. Finally, the paper offers some possible alternatives to the asset purchase programmes. This document was provided by Policy Department A at the request of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON).


The nature of the initial interaction between calcium phosphate (CaP) thin films and osteoblasts can be mediated by the outermost surface properties of that material. As such, the phase, crystallin...


The main purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-relationship among economic growth, savings and inflation and to estimate the threshold level of inflation for the economy of Pakistan. Annually time series data from 1973 to 2010 were used. Simultaneous equation model was used in the study. Three equations were used. 2SLS technique was applied for findings the results. OLS model was used for investigating the suitable rate of inflation for the economic growth. Inflation, economic growth and savings were endogenous variables while unemployment, foreign direct investment, depreciation rate, real interest rate, total debt servicing, indirect taxes, dependency ratio and total investment were exogenous variables. The results of 2SLS showed that inflation and real interest rate negatively and significantly affect the economic growth, whereas depreciation rate positively affect the economic growth. Economic growth, unemployment and real interest rate were negatively affecting the inflation rate, while indirect taxes had positive impact on inflation. The results also showed that economic growth, dependency ratio (% of working age population) and foreign direct investment were beneficial for enhancing the savings of a country, while depreciation rate is harmful for savings. It was also observed that there is no significant relationship between inflation and savings. The findings of OLS indicated that 9% rate of inflation was to leralable for the economic growth of Pakistan.


Volatiles are essential substances that determine distinct fruit flavors and user preferences. However, the metabolic dynamic and molecular modulation models that regulate the overall flavor generation during fruit growth and ripening are still largely unclear for most fruit species. To comprehensively analyze the molecular mechanism and regulation mechanism of aroma accumulation and aroma component formation in Pyrus spp. 'Panguxiang' ('Panguxiang'pear), this study compared pear phenotype, sugars, organic acid content, and the expression of related genes and metabolites amid pear growth and development in Pyrus spp. 'Panguxiang'. A total of 417 VOCs (4 amines, 19 aromatics, 29 aldehydes, 31 alcohols, 38 ketones, 64 heterocyclic compounds, 89 terpenoids, 94 esters, and 49 others) were found. The potential gene expression patterns were explored by combining transcriptomics and metabolomics, and VOC-associated metabolism and transcriptome data from all samples were integrated during the growth and development period. On this basis, we constructed a colorful model depicting changes in the VOCs and genes throughout pear growth and development. Our findings reveal that terpenoid biosynthesis pathways are the main aroma production pathways during pear growth and development. In addition to providing novel insights into the metabolic control of fruit flavor during growth and development, this study also provides a new theoretical basis for studying aroma metabolites in pears.


Four steel-plate shear walls were tested on the shaking table.Two of the walls are steel-plate shear walls with concrete-filled steel tube columns and the other two are composite shear walls with concrete-filled steel tube columns and embedded steel-plate.The ratio of height to width is 1.7 and 3.2 respectively.The Taft seismic ground motion was input in the shaking table test.Based on the experiment,dynamic characters,dynamic responses and failure modes of the four specimens in different seismic peak accelerations are contrastively analyzed.The results show that compared with the steel-plate shear walls with concrete-filled steel tube columns,shear walls with concrete-filled steel tube columns and embedded steel-plate have the following characteristics: the dynamic responses are significantly reduced,the seismic behavior is significantly improved.


While fault-tolerance and dependability requirements are traditionally specified for computer system designs of life-critical and space applications, the large-scale use of computers in the services domain coupled with the size and complexity of these systems has made such specifications commonplace for these applications also. Thus, mathematical modeling has become an integral component in the design of fault-tolerant systems to demonstrate that a given design meets its specifications. Unfortunately, dependability models are, in general, cumbersome and computationally expensive to construct and solve.
In this thesis, we focus on the computational aspect of reliability evaluation of fault-tolerant systems for aerospace applications and private telecommunications networks. In the first case, we analyze two state-space reliability models corresponding to systems with and without repair. Through this analysis we show that for non-repairable systems, the solution is particularly simple but that the more difficult repairable case has several properties which result in computational savings. We conjecture that other fault-tolerant reliability models will exhibit similar properties which can be exploited to design efficient solution techniques. The solution proposed by previous researchers unifies the solution of non-repairable and repairable systems, but is cumbersome. For private network reliability evaluation through state-space modeling, the first major problem is in model construction. The state space is usually too large even to enumerate and simulation is often used to solve these models. Our approach is to partition the state space and to replace each subset with a single state. We then derive state transition rates for this model from the original (Markov) model. This approach is referred to as lumping in the literature. The lumped process is generally non-Markovian but can be approximated by a Markov Chain of the same small size. This approximate Markov model can be solved by standard Markov solvers and network reliability computed. In this thesis, we present a heuristic to construct a lumped Markov Chain. The heuristic takes advantage of differences in time-scale in fault-tolerant system models. The underlying idea in this thesis is to use special properties and symmetries offered by fault-tolerant system models to design computationally efficient solution procedures. (Copies available exclusively from Micrographics Department, Doheny Library, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182.)


The utility model relates to a full-automatic keycap assembling machine. The full-automatic keycap assembling machine comprises a base, a vibrating plate, a material conveying slot, a keycap moving device and a PLC (programmable logic controller), wherein the vibrating plate is arranged on the upper left part of the base, and the keycap moving device is arranged on the upper right part of the base; the vibrating plate is connected with the material conveying slot; the keycap moving device is provided with a transverse moving arm and a longitudinal moving arm which are horizontally arranged and are vertical to each other; one end of the longitudinal moving arm is fixed on the transverse moving arm, and a flexible rod is arranged at the lower end of the longitudinal moving arm; the flexible rod is provided with a cylinder and a piston rod; a suction cup is arranged at the lower end of the piston rod and is connected with a vacuum generator; and the PLC is connected with the keycap moving device and the vacuum generator. According to the full-automatic keycap assembling machine disclosed by the utility model, the PLC is used for controlling the keycap moving device and the vacuum generator, thus a full automatic operation is realized, a manual operation process is reduced, unqualified products caused by manual misoperation are avoided, the efficiency is improved, the cost is saved, the stability is high, and the continuous operation can be realized.


The invention discloses a control method of a cooling fan for vehicular adaptive noise control. The method includes the steps: speed control is performed on the cooling fan by detecting temperature, vehicle speed and engine speed and by means of different duty cycles of PWM square wave; the duty cycles of the PWM square wave are in direct proportion to speed of the fan; the higher the speed, the higher the cooling capacity of the fan is; the duty cycle of the fan can be used to express the speed and cooling capacity of the fan; the fan is started softly, and the speed transition time of the fan is four times of duty cycle variation; the proper duty cycle is selected to drive the fan to operate, according to the different vehicle speeds, temperature condition of a control unit and engine speed, and the requirements of the control unit for cooling and the requirements of the vehicle for noise are met. The control method has the advantages that on the basis of not increasing hardware cost of existing vehicle, the adaptive noise control method is used to decrease or eliminate vehicle noise, and riding comfort of the vehicle is effectively improved while cooling effect is guaranteed.


Recent studies have included gender diversity as a driver of innovations at firm level. This paper analyses the effect that firm size may exert on the link between gender diversity and the probability of innovating. We use a panel data set constructed from various waves of the Spanish Community Innovation Survey that contains 5,383 firms during the period 2007‒2012. Applying a multivariate probit model and controlling for endogeneity, we analyse the effect of gender diversity on different innovation outputs—product, process, marketing and organizational innovations. Our results confirm our hypothesis that firm size exerts a moderating role between gender diversity and the probability of innovating. We highlight two results. First, small firms have greater difficulties in capturing the advantages of gender diversity during the innovation process as compared to large firms. Second, the impact of gender diversity on innovation outcomes differs according to the innovation type. JEL Code: O30, O31, J16


This paper illustrates how both marketing and advocacy are crucial skills to keeping the public aware of the library's impact. If marketing is promoting an individual library to increase public use, advocacy is broadcasting the purpose of libraries and the role of the librarian to garner public support. The issue of image of must be confronted, a professional image that has been diminished by insufficient salaries and a stereotyped image that is maintained by popular culture. Libraries and librarians can position themselves through marketing, including developing a public library Web site and designing promotional materials or using readymade materials available through sources such as the American Library Association's (ALA's) Public Information Office. Librarians can get help in marketing by participating in large-scale advocacy efforts such as ALA's Campaign for America's Libraries, known by its familiar "@ Your Library" trademark; state libraries, public libraries, and ALA chapters have created marketing slogans by customizing the "@ Your Library" logo. In addition to developing partnerships, the following tasks can be added to the "how-to list" for marketing libraries and librarians: share stories of successes; announce needs by sharing bad news along with the good; create a better online presence; see each day as an opportunity to not only tell the public what you do and who you are; and market libraries by marketing yourself. (AEF) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.


Being a Female Engineer: Identity Construction and Resistance of Women in Engineering Schools. (August 2006) Hyejin Chu, B.A., University of Incheon, South Korea; M.A., Seoul National University, South Korea Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Jane Sell Compared to other professions, women's representation in engineering professions is considerably lower than men's, and this particular situated-ness or locality makes women experience a unique process of identity construction. Using qualitative methods – two focus group meetings, nineteen autobiographical essays, and twenty two individual interviews, this research focuses on what women learn from their experiences in engineering school, and how they respond to their perceived experiences. This study proposes to delineate (a) the dynamic interaction between women and the social structure of engineering school; (b) women's perception and conceptualization of the social structure they practice; and (c) women's strategic responses to the structure leading to identity construction. Becoming an engineer is problematic for women because the identity of "engineer" is based upon hegemonic ideas developed by previous generations of engineers – men. This research explores how women, standing in the borderline of being women and


ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AIR QUALITY ISSUES ARE MULTIPOLLUTANT ISSUES Epidemiology demonstrates statistical associations between adverse health impacts and air contaminants inhaled in the home, general environment, and workplace. It is clear that air contaminants impact health at some level of exposure, although the nature of the exposure-dose-response relationships is often not well defined. There is also considerable uncertainty about the physical-chemical species and combinations that cause the different effects identified by epidemiology. Toxicological studies provide useful insights into both issues, but it is often difficult to merge epidemiological and toxicological findings into a coherent picture. In large part, the persistent uncertainties result from the dilemma that such exposures are always to complex mixtures, and both epidemiology and toxicology have developed only a limited ability to deal with such mixtures (Mauderly, 2004). The relationship between air quality and health is unavoidably a multipollutant, multisource issue, rather than a singlepollutant or single-source issue. Nobody ever breathed only one pollutant at a time, or pollutants from only one source, in any environmental or occupational setting. To properly understand and manage the relationship, we need to answer several interrelated questions such as the following: Which air contaminants are causally related to which health effects, and which are the most important (regardless of source)? To what extent can we lump pollutants and pollutant classes for regulatory purposes? What are the contributions and relative importance of differ-


Static and non-static flame methods were used to measure the laminar burning velocity of methane, ethane and natural gas. The flame slot angle and velocity of unburned gas mixture were determined by Schlieren method and LDV, respectively, for static flame. The diameter of nozzle was selected as 11 mm. The experimental results containing the stretch effect showed that the maximum burning velocities were 41.5 for natural gas, 40.8 for methane and 43.4 cm/sec for ethane on equivalence ratio of 1.1. Constant volume combustion chamber was also used for non-static flame. The propagation process of flame front was visualized by high speed camera during constant pressure. The maximum burning velocity of natural gas was determined as 42.1 cm/sec on equivalence ratio of 1.15.


Viscous fingering is a commonly observed interfacial instability during fluid displacement, where a finger-like shape is formed at the fluid interface when a more viscous fluid is displaced by a less viscous fluid. In this study, a hybrid numerical model based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and finite difference method (FDM) is developed for investigating the control of viscous fingering of leaky dielectric fluids in a channel using electro-hydrodynamics. Extensive simulations are carried out for studying the effects of the strength and direction of the electric field as well as the fluid properties, including the permittivity and conductivity ratio, on viscous fingering. It is shown that a horizontal electric field, i.e., when the direction of the electrical field is perpendicular to the direction of fluid motion, can either promote or suppress the viscous fingering, depending on the permittivity and conductivity ratio. For a vertical electric field, the extent of promotion of viscous fingering first decreases and then increases with the increase of conductivity ratio at a constant permittivity ratio. Also, various interfacial morphologies, such as broad fingers and thin jets, are observed under different fluid properties. A phase diagram for both the horizontal and vertical electric field is established based on the simulations with different permittivity and conductivity ratios to characterize the interfacial morphologies. This study offers insights into the electro-hydrodynamic effects on viscous fingering of leaky dielectric fluids, which could facilitate the control of multiphase flow in various applications, such as enhanced oil recovery and coupled chromatographic systems.


The sigma model with (3,3*) direct-sum (3*,3) bilinear symmetry breaking is studied with a view to find a suitable model smooth in symmetry-breaking parameters. The meson masses and decay constants are treated as functions of xi, the ratio of SU(3) -octet-to-singlet vacuum breaking, which is varied from -2.0 to +2.0. The symmetry-breaking Lagrangian is discussed under various approximations resulting in two-, three-, and four-parameter models. We find that one of the two-parameter models is at least as good as the linear model with a larger region of smoothness. The three- and four-parameter models are smooth in one of the solutions. In most of the three-parameter models with F/sub K//F/sub ..pi../ constrained to be between 1 and 1.3, it is predicted that the Lagrangian and vacuum are approximately SU(2) x SU(2) and SU(3) symmetric, respectively, a much discussed feature of the linear model.


High time resolution ultrasonic transducer consists of multi layered piezoelectric ceramic structure is presented and its sound field was studied. Numerical simulation using distributed constant equivalent circuit shows wide band potential. Experimental and theoretical examination of the pulse sound field each for incident and diffracted pulses is performed. Liquid velocity measurement sensor using this transducer within the near sound field is also presented which was compacted to be an extent that could be installed in a mobile information instrument.


The number of references to Thomas in late antiquity and beyond indicates just how persistent curiosity or concern about works such as Thomas was. Testimonia explicitly mentioning Thomas are merely listed here; the individual passages have been discussed at greater length elsewhere. Those who composed what is entitled the Gospel according to the Egyptians, and that entitled the Gospel of the Twelve, they 'set their hands to it'. Basilides had already ventured to write the Gospel according to Basilides. Of the New Testament, there are only four Gospels. The others are falsely attributed and harmful. The Manichees wrote the 'Gospel according to Thomas', which is dabbed on the surface with the fragrance of the title 'Gospel', but which destroys the souls of simpler folk.Keywords: Egyptians; Gospel; Manichees; Testimonia; Thomas


This paper presents a 12b 180 MS/s partial-interleaving Pipelined-SAR analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The 1st-stage is implemented with a 2b/cycle SAR ADC for high speed, where we propose a merged-residue-DAC technique to improve the noise performance. The capacitor pre-charging in conventional 2b/cycle operation wastes settling time and switching energy, while with this design approach the switching procedure is optimized to avoid the pre-charging for tri-level reference generation. The prototype ADC fabricated in 65nm CMOS achieves a SNDR of 63.8dB @DC input with 6mW power dissipation from a 1.2V supply, leading to a FoM @DC of 26.3 fJ/conv.-step.


In order to provide a more ideal and friendly environment in smart homes. The design of a smart home based on context-awareness is studies in this paper. Firstly, it introduces the research status of smart home industry based on context-awareness home and abroad, then after analysis of the design methods of smart home system done by previous researchers and practitioners, a five-layer model based on context-awareness is proposed and the design of smart home system from low to high information processing level requirements is formulated, finally, some solutions to refer a new software architecture for smart homes are discussed. Testing of the proposed system shows that the novel method for the context information modeling and processing and the use of sensor technologies could greatly enhance home automation.


We present a curious case of spontaneous reformation of patella/patellar tendon ossification after partial patellectomy. This is a very rare pathology that has been reported as a complication after sleeve fractures of the tibial tuberosity, total patellectomy during total knee arthroplasty, intramedullary nailing of tibial fractures, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft and knee injury without fracture. Patellar tendon ossification after partial patellectomy has been reported just once in literature. We present the second one of this nature. The patellar tendon ossification resembled a reformation of the patella and could easily be mistaken for an inadequate removal of the patellar remnant.


An electroelution apparatus prototype of a new design was constructed. In that design, the electric field passes vertically through the protein band located on a horizontal (PhastSystem) minigel polymerized on a net of Gel‐Fix (Serva). A simple, home‐made apparatus allows for electroelution of protein bands at the level of a few picomoles and their identification, after concentration, by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight mass spectrometry. The technique is applicable to one‐dimensional (1‐D) or two‐dimensional (2‐D) gels of any size, but has been exemplified only by application to 1‐D minigels to demonstrate the lower limits of protein load of the method. When in the course of further development of the prototype it will be combined with a modification to two dimensions of the electroelution mechanism under computer control of the high‐performance gel electrophoresis apparatus**** (formerly of LabIntelligence), the new design appears uniquely qualified for an automated spot elution from 2‐D gels under avoidance of gel sectioning.


FIELD: medicine. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to automated injectors such as automated medical injectors, and particularly to rechargeable automated injectors that may be capable of supplying one or more individual doses from a medicament cartridge or a prefilled syringe containing a medicament. The rechargeable automated injector for adrenaline injection has a housing to accommodate a syringe with a needle, a piston rod, piston rod tube, a syringe, an actuator, a piston rod actuator and a recharge mechanism. The syringe is located in the housing for movement between the first position in which the needle is positioned within the housing and a second position in which the needle protrudes outwardly from the housing. The piston rod is made to advance in the syringe to deliver at least one dose of medicament. The piston rod tube has two or more deflectable locking elements provided for engagement with the piston rod stopper for piston rod locking with the piston rod tube in the normal state. The syringe actuator is made for force application to the syringe thereby moving the syringe from the first position to the second position. The syringe actuator is also configured to advance the piston rod tube with the piston rod to the second position. The piston rod actuator is configured to apply force to the piston rod to advance the piston rod in the syringe for delivery of one dose of medicament after each of the two or more deflectable stoppers are released. The recharge mechanism is configured to retract the syringe from the second position to the first position and to recharge the syringe actuator for re-activation of the syringe actuator. The recharge mechanism is configured to release the first deflectable stopper after the first movement of the syringe from the first position to the second position, thus freeing the piston rod from the piston rod tube to supply the first drug dose, and release the other deflectable stopper after another movement of the syringe from the first position to the second position, thereby releasing the piston rod of the piston rod tube to supply another dose of medicament. The recharge mechanism comprising activation of the automatic injector for another injection, requires an operator start-up. The recharge mechanism includes a rechargeable handle with the first hole formed to align with the first deflectable member when the piston rod tube is advanced to the second position for the first time, and another hole formed to align with the other deflectable member when the piston rod tube is advanced to the second position next time. EFFECT: invention provides selective supply of one or more doses, wherein the subsequent doses are also fed automatically, and together with compact dimensions, provides reliability in prevention of premature drug removal, which can lead to wet injection. 18 cl, 15 dwg


The article examines the possibility of the biosynthesis of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) a highly reactive ketotriose used in different industry branches via glycerol biotransformation by nonproliferating Gluconobacter oxydans cells. The authors define the optimal conditions for Gluconobacter oxydans cultivation and show the possibility of the continuous process of DHA synthesis by free nonproliferating cells accompanied by micro filtration.


In this paper I study the congestion in the Netherlands, specifically Rotterdam. Congestion is one of the biggest problems that economies are facing nowadays. Economic growth, along with the population growth, is one of the main causes of congestion. At the same time, this growth is under pressure because of congestion. Something has to be done.
In London there is a good working congestion pricing system, the London Congestion Charge. A closer look at this system learns that its success is mainly due to a positive public opinion and a reliable public transport system. The absence of these two make it very doubtful that a similar congestion charge could work in Rotterdam.
I therefore started to look for other possible solutions and came across the slot reservation system. The system is not yet implemented anywhere. This not only makes it hard to compare but this also brings some favourable and unfavourable features with it. I think Rotterdam and the Netherlands are not yet ready for the implementation of such a system.
A comparison of the two systems learns that the congestion charge is slightly better, mainly because of the applicability of an existing system compared to that of a new one. Overall can be concluded, that the Netherlands are not yet ready to implement a [new] congestion pricing system. As long as there is no shift in dogma, chances are that implementation will lead to failure.


Decision support tools are already playing an important role in clinical laboratories. With appropriate leadership from the clinical laboratory community, these systems will provide significant input to, and become extensions of, electronic health records (EHRs). Clinical laboratories must drive this process ‐ successful engagement with the EHR development community requires effective professional input. The future will in part be determined by the answers to the following questions. Should clinical laboratories provide a comprehensive consultative and interpretative service? Yes. Evidence confirms the effectiveness of interpretative reporting in influencing clinicians' use of tests, and therefore in supporting improved patient outcomes. The team at Massachusetts General Hospital has shown that the work-up of disorders of coagulation is improved by specialist interpretation (M. Laposata, personal communication). In Australia, as elsewhere, compliance with diabetes monitoring protocols is known to be as low as 10-15%. Through patient-specific reporting, clinical laboratories can target areas of poor compliance, such as diabetes, to support improved use of pathology tests and ultimately improve clinical outcomes.


ABSTRACT Isaac Newton, like many of his contemporaries, appears to have distinguished between the practice of divinity, founded on divine revelation, and philosophical considerations of God derived from the study of nature. This article evaluates these distinct modes of divine discourse through a close reading of the chymical content of Newton's optical writings and his correspondence with Thomas Burnet regarding Genesis. Newton's chymical exploration of divine activity in the natural world in Query 31 to the Opticks (1704) seems independent from Scripture in its physico-theological demonstration of God from natural phenomena and its divine metaphysical reliance on a priori concepts of God to establish principles of nature. Nonetheless, the sensorium analogy by which he explored divine agency in nature drew directly from the biblical doctrine of the imago Dei. Moreover, Newton used his chymical understanding of nature to access the natural-philosophical realities behind the accommodated words of the Mosaic creation account.


Gene-manipulated mice were discovered for the first time about a quarter century ago. Since then, numerous sophisticated technologies have been developed and applied to answer key questions about the fundamental roles of the genes of interest. Functional genomics can be characterized into gain-of-function and loss-of-function, which are called transgenic and knock-out studies, respectively. To make transgenic mice, the most widely used technique is the microinjection of transgene-containing vectors into the embryonic pronucleus. However, there are critical drawbacks: namely position effects, integration of unknown copies of a foreign gene, and instability of the foreign DNA within the host genome. To overcome these problems, the ROSA26 locus was used for the knock-in site of a transgene. Usage of this locus is discussed for the gain of function study as well as for several brilliant approaches such as conditional/inducible transgenic system, reproducible/inducible knockdown system, specific cell ablation by Cre-mediated expression of DTA, Cre-ERTM mice as a useful tool for temporal gene regulation, MORE mice as a germ line delete and site specific recombinase system. Techniques to make null mutant mice include complicated steps: vector design and construction, colony selection of embryonic stem (ES) cells, production of chimera mice, confirmation of germ line transmission, and so forth. It is tedious and labor intensive work and difficult to approach. Thus, it is not readily accessible by most researchers. In order to overcome such limitations, technical breakthroughs such as reporter knock-in and gene knock-out system, production of homozygous mutant ES cells from a single targeting vector, and production of mutant mice from tetraploid embryos are developed. With these upcoming progresses, it is important to consider how we could develop these systems further and expand to other animal models such as pigs and monkeys that have more physiological similarities to humans.


This study examines what contract hazards Foreign Investment Firms have in licensing agreements including intra-firm licensing and inter-firm licensing and what compensation structure can be selected to solve these contract hazards. The compensation structure such as royalty payment, lump-sum payment and two-tariff payment, is one of the most important features of licensing agreements since it is one way to mitigate contractual hazards. The empirical findings based an the agency theory and the real option theory provide that the choice of a compensation structure strongly depend s upon the information asymmetry and uncertainty in the licensing contract level. However, this paper provides that subsidiaries in internal transfer isn't selected by information and uncertainty. It implicates that although relationship between parent and subsidiaries is similar to that of principal and agency in the agency theory, agency cost is much less than external transfer since parent and subsidiaries have attributes participated in equity ownerships.


A first bearing case houses a first spherical bearing while restraining the axial displacement of the first spherical bearing, a second bearing case houses a second spherical bearing while permitting the axial displacement of the second spherical bearing, and the second bearing case includes a protrusion disposed between the second spherical bearing and second oil seal members while being axially spaced apart from the second spherical bearing.


The aim of the paper is to examine how banking groups on Polish market for corporate control manage their corporate branding in the context of mergers and acquisitions. It also identifies the factors that differentiate the used strategies. The article analyses 50 transactions carried out on the Polish market for corporate control throughout the years 2000–2016 and identifies used rebranding strategies, as well as components that influence the choice of options for rebranding. The main rebranding strategy of banking groups on the Polish market is to retain the acquiring bank name. The main factors that differentiate the used strategies are: the brand value of participants acquisitions and the nature of the investor (strategic or financial investor).


LJPC is not so much a journal I would say. It is more like a movement that gives hope by championing and supporting a broad vision for health and care. It lifts our eyes beyond the single picture frame to view a whole gallery. It also provides opportunities to think freely and design systems and models of care that derive from the range of people's needs and meet them, rather than simply describing and assessing focused aspects. Further, LJPC works with many different people's views and experiences and, having valued them, comes up with comprehensive solutions; the words on its lips being 'collaboration' and 'co-production'. As Gupta et al. enunciate in this issue: 'Primary care can have an enhanced effect on the good mental health of the population by collaborating with others within local communities for health'. It is affirming to know that such collaboration also benefits the efficiency and health of those doing the collaborating [1]. The enhanced effects of collaborative working on individual practice reminds us that Governments and leaders of all kinds often devise strategy that does the opposite, exemplifying individual actions that can isolate and demotivate others. As John Donne famously wrote in 1624, 'No man is an island entire of itself'.2 We are all interconnected, even if dividable, and policy should help to achieve strong, healthy inter-connections between people for the sake of the whole of society. Gupta et al. continue: 'we hope that this paper will help general practice and more broadly, primary care, to take a strong role in developing this (force for whole-society health), in collaboration with public health, local authorities, healthcare and other organisations'. This aligns the paper to the increasing number of initiatives that enable collaboration, such as that being undertaken by The Health Foundation in its (UK Four Nation) Healthy Lives Strategy.3,4 Strategies are nothing without enactment. It is change that matters, beyond the words. LJPC has an important role to play here in supporting those who are committed to making a real difference in their own backyard. In the case of a GP, that means making a real difference to the person in front of them – one of the main duties and rewards of general practice McCartney highlights in this Issue of LJPC, general practices can fail in their duties when we fail to see patients in their full humanity and complexity and instead simply apply guidelines from medical science:


The present work describes the development of a new high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of Cefixime trihydrate under different stress conditons as specified by ICH. For the analysis, a Phenomenex (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 µm particle size) ODS column and a SPD 20 A UV detector at 289 nm was used. The selected mobile phase was 10 mM disodium hydrogen phosphate (with 0.5% TEA, pH adjusted to 6.3 with OPA) and methanol in the ratio of 75:25 (v/v) in isocratic mode at a flow rate of 1 mL.min-1.The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r2 = 0.9997 in the concentration range of 5-100 μg.mL-1. The stress degradation was performed using acid, alkali, water, hydrogen peroxide and uv light.


The aim of this note was to present a signal model based on Van de Par Model to obtain an efficient algorithm which is able to reconstruct speech coding. An extrapolation TSVD method is used to a matrix obtained by the use of KLT transformation in speech coding for the baseline of source coder.


THE DEPOSITION and distribution of tetracyclines in body tissues has been a subject of recent interest. Their deposition in teeth, osseous tissue, and several pathologic lesions has been investigated. Tetracyclines given to patients for infectious disease may be retained as a relatively insoluble complex with calcium in the mineralized tissues. In a manner similar to lead, alizarin, and radioactive isotopes of some elements, tetracyclines are deposited in relatively "hot spots" in the less than 1% of the skeleton which is recognized as exchangeable, reactive, or labile. Urist and Ibsen1reported that the "oxytetracycline molecule is too large to fit anywhere except on the surface of the apatite crystal and is bound to it." In another report2they found that organic matrix substances in bone appear to inhibit binding of oxytetracycline. They demonstrated that calcium reacts in a specific stoichiometric proportion to produce a fluorescent complex that appears as bright


On single oral administrations of (RS)-(E)and (RS)-(Z)-1-(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)-4, 4-dimethyl-2-(1, 2, 4-triazol-l-yl)-1-penten-3-ols [(RS)-8AE and (RS)-8AZ], both labeled with 14C at the phenyl or triazolyl carbon, to male rats at the rates of 5 and 125 mg/kg b. w., 14C was eliminated rapidly in feces (major) and urine (minor) with 100% recovery within 7 days. Tissue residues on the 7th day after the administration at the rates of 5 and 125 mg/kg b. w. were less than 29 and 400 ng of parent compound equivalents/g tissue, respectively. Metabolic pathways of (RS)-8AE and (RS)-8AZ were established after identifying approximately 80% of the dosed 14C. Major metabolites were carboxylic acid and alcohol derivatives biotransformed by oxidation of the tent-butyl group, which amounted to 25-62% and 4-15% of the dosed 14C, respectively. Most of the metabolites were secreted into bile and underwent enterohepatic circulation. The amount of the carboxylic acid derivative excreted into feces was smaller in (RS)-8AZ-dosed rats than in (RS)-8AE-dosed rats. A smaller amount of a ketone derivative generated by oxidation at C3 position was found only in bile of the rats dosed with (RS)-8AZ, whereas metabolites having methylthio and/or hydroxy groups on the benzene ring were detected only in feces of the rats dosed with (RS)-8AE.


Valery Chalidze's book is intermittently angry, in parts dispassionately provocative, and here and there a bit plodding, but, overall, it is well put together and thoroughly informative. In the opinion of this reviewer, it is a valuable book for the nonspecialist in Soviet law, be the reader someone versed in law or Soviet affairs or a lay person seeking to expand his or her knowledge and understanding of Soviet ways. Valery Chalidze is a prominent human rights activist. Deprived of his Soviet citizenship and refused reentry into his country, he now lives in New York City where he edits a bimonthly journal on matters concerning the Soviet human rights movement he helped to found. He has also written To Defend These Rights, a study of the realities of the civil rights aspects of Soviet constitutional law. The book opens with a brief essay on the Russian criminal tradition, an inquiry into the prevailing popular attitudes toward what might be called mala in se. Toleration of crime, glorification of brigands, disrespect for property, and widespread violence and cruelty in the pre-Soviet era are noted. According to the author, the Soviet criminal tradition absorbed many features of this earlier period. The Bolsheviks robbed for the party's treasury, elevated plunder to a principle of revolutionary policy, and harnessed the hitherto diffuse violence and cruelty in the service of the state. It is ironic, the author observes, that keeping violence off Soviet screens in order to lessen incentives to criminal behavior "would not be acceptable ideologically, since it would preclude educational references to the heroic revolutionary past" (p. 211). For the most part, he agrees with the official Soviet line that the criminal underworld has ceased to exist in the Soviet Union but attributes the beginnings of its demise to "[t]he seizure of power by amateur criminals and the underworld's collaboration with the new regime" (p. 71). The chapter on hooliganism is analytic and reflective, particularly with regard to the relationship between the broad definitions of hooliganism and the ostensibly discarded principle of "crimes by analogy." By contrast, the chapters on murder and sexual crimes contain perhaps an excessive number of case synopses. It is also my feeling that the chapter on bribery is not as clearly and crisply written as some other parts of the book; for example, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether bribe-giving or bribe-taking is being discussed. The author's attempt to gauge the extent of criminality in the Soviet Union reveals both the constraints that Soviet crime reporting imposes and the possibilities that a close study of the scattered published data holds out for an interested scholar. Moreover, the citation of the available figures juxtaposed to a chapter on combating private enterprise once again reminds us of the amorphousness of "crime" and, therefore, its virtual uselessness as a measurement unit for purposes of global comparisons. The bibliographic notes indicate that the book is based entirely on indigenous sources. The book also concludes with a good index. Had this reviewer been in a nastier mood he might have quibbled with a few of the English renderings of the original; despite his mellowness, however, he cannot accept P. Stuchek for P. Stuchka (p. 223).


To thoroughly teach fundamentals of robotics to computer science undergraduates, a well-balanced curriculum should be designed and complemented with hands-on applications on a platform that allows rapid construction of complex robots, and implementation of sophisticated algorithms. This paper describes such a course where the Lego Mindstorms NXT kits are used as the robot platform. The aims, scope, and contents of the course are presented and the design of the laboratory sessions as well as the term projects, which address more than one core problem of robotics and artificial intelligence simultaneously, are explained in detail.


An old formalization of the Process Algebra CCS (no value passing, with explicit relabeling operator) on has been ported from HOL88 theorem prover to HOL4 (Kananaskis-11 and later). Transitions between CCS processes are defined by SOS (Structured Operational Semantics) inference rules, then all algebaric laws (including the expansion theorem) were proved upon SOS transition rules.
We have used HOL4's new co-inductive relation support to re-define strong and weak bisimulation equivalances, and shows that the new definitions are equivalent with old ones. Finally, there's decision procedure for automatic detection of CCS transitions. The aim is to provide an up-to-date sound and effective tool to support verification and reasoning about CCS, and to provide a formal logic basis for further theoretical developments in Concurrency Theory.


This paper explores and evaluates the support for object-focused interaction provided by a desktop Collaborative Virtual Environment. An experimental "design" task was conducted, and video recordings of the participants' activities facilitated an observational analysis of interaction in, and through, the virtual world. Observations include: problems due to "fragmented" views of embodiments in relation to shared objects; participants compensating with spoken accounts of their actions; and difficulties in understanding others' perspectives. Implications and proposals for the design of CVEs drawn from these observations are: the use of semidistorted views to support peripheral awareness; more explicit or exaggerated representations of actions than are provided by pseudohumanoid avatars; and navigation techniques that are sensitive to the actions of others. The paper also presents some examples of the ways in which these proposals might be realized.


The population is increasing rapidly globally, and urban expansion of the cities has become an extensive trend in developing nations. Urban expansion patterns, such as transportation structure and road networks, affect transportation planning. This research was conducted on a mega project in Lahore city of Pakistan, i.e., the Lahore Ring Road (LRR) project. Limited research focused on the beneficiary assessment of the road project, and this research was carried out to fill this research gap. This research aims to evaluate the beneficiary assessment of DHA Phase 8 and Halloki Settlement along the Lahore Ring Road. The simple Random Sampling technique was used to conduct the household survey in the study area. This study concluded that most of the residents did not modify their houses nor increase the built-up area and height after the introduction of the project. This study inferred that the rental potential was high at some locations and low at old existing settlements. This research further concluded that community participation was ignored, and public facilities were not improved in the study area. But a project of LRR was very much beneficial and alive for the residents of Lahore city. Community participation should be enhanced in such types of megaprojects, and allied facilities in the nearby community should be upgraded. This research will be helpful for policymakers, urban planners, transportation planners, development authorities, and other stakeholders in planning future road projects in the country.


Distinction of hypodermic lipocells of practically healthy people and patients with NIDDM to temperature eposure is revealed. This distinction is caused not only by the peak size difference of lipoblasts in practically healthy people and in insulin metabolism disorders, but in the greater degree - by distinction of morpho-functional properties of lipocell membrane of practically healthy donors and patients with noninsulindependent mellitus.


Purpose
This paper aims to explore value creation configurations pursued by suppliers in high-cost countries. The proposed value creation configuration approaches are seen as means for supplier firms to strengthen their competitiveness when faced with increasing global sourcing.

Design/methodology/approach
Survey data on supplier firms in Denmark are used in a hierarchical cluster analysis. The identified clusters are interpreted as expressions of different value creation configurations pursued by suppliers with regards to relations with their most important customers.

Findings
Three types of suppliers are identified: detached suppliers, which seek to create customer net benefits through low costs; technology-focused suppliers, which design value creation around benefits linked to being at the technological forefront; and integrated suppliers, which share characteristics with technology-focused suppliers, but also align closely with a relatively broader range of customer activities.

Research limitations/implications
Limitations include the specificity of findings from one small, open economy with an extensive supplier base.

Practical implications
For managers in supplier companies, the research suggest value configurations can be used as strategic templates for further specialization and as way to assess and address value creation potential in customer firms.

Originality/value
Previous studies tend to overlook suppliers' developments of value-creating activities to maintain customer relationships. The paper takes a supplier perspective to deepen the empirically based understanding of value creation configurations followed by high-cost country suppliers in the context of increasing global competition and production relocation. Theoretical implications as well as lessons formanagers in supplier firms of the identification of the different approaches to value creation configurations are presented.


THE tabulations compiled by the Registry in Human Kidney Transplantation sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council and under the careful direction of Murray and his associates1 2 3 permit survival data of patients with renal grafts to be calculated by means of conventional technics.4 The published tables are based on worldwide experience with over 500 renal grafts at centers specializing in this technic, and the survival data derived have important implications for the future of isografts and allografts in renal disease, in other disease that may benefit from organ replacement and for the evaluation of artificial organs . . .


Understanding the evolutionary patterns of genetic diversity of cultivated plants and their wild relatives is a fundamental aspect of agrobiodiversity research. Documenting genetic diversity and understanding the evolutionary histories of crops will have important impacts in terms of food security in southern countries such as Africa. In this study, we develop a generalized method for sequencing full chloroplast genomes via hybridization enrichment suitable for multiplexing a large number of individuals. We will present application of the method to the study of wild pearl millet, wild and cultivated yams, fonio and to African rice. (Texte integral)


We report a case of abnormal origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery trunk. The original features of this case were its discovery in a young pregnant woman, the normality of basal left ventricular function and the electrocardiogram, the diagnosis by transoesophaegeal echocardiography, and the demonstration of severe myocardial ischaemia by stress echocardiography.


In the present work, we have discussed the electrical transport properties of the polycrystalline NiCr2O4 by employing Impedance spectroscopy and DC resistivity techniques. It was observed that charge carriers follow Arrhenius type conduction throughout the temperature range. Activation energy (Ea) has been calculated from the impedance data, 0.462 for Rgb and 0.42 from Rg, which is well buttressed by the activation energy from the DC resistivity fitted data which is 0.468 eV.


NAD+ is an essential cofactor for several metabolic processes. In plants, the NAD+ biosynthesis takes exclusively place in the cytosol (Noctor et al., 2006; Hashida et al., 2009) whereas NAD+-dependent enzymes are located in the cytosol and other cell compartments, including peroxisomes. Earlier evidences assume that the peroxisomal membrane is impermeable for "bulky" cofactors like NAD+ and CoA (Donaldson, 1981; Antonenkov and Hiltunen, 2012). However, the fact that peroxisomal metabolism require theses molecules (e.g. for fatty acid β-oxidation, photorespiration, and H2O2 detoxification; Hu et al., 2012) necessitates the need for a NAD+ import. For decades, the existence of such a peroxisomal NAD+ transport protein was controversially discussed. In this thesis, the first peroxisomal NAD+ carrier, named PXN, was characterized in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The carrier encoded by the gene At2g39970 is a member of the mitochondrial carrier family (MCF) and closely related in sequence to peroxisomal, chloroplastic, and mitochondrial ATP and NAD+ transporters from Arabidopsis, yeast, and human. Interaction studies confirmed that PXN is targeted to peroxisomes via interaction with PEX19 that is known to act as chaperone for PMP targeting (Jones et al., 2004; Van Ael and Fransen, 2006). Performing uptake assays, it was demonstrated that recombinant PXN protein catalyzed the transport of NAD+ and CoA in exchange with AMP, which was recently confirmed by Agrimi et al. (2012b). Furthermore, cell-free expressed PXN protein mediated the exchange of NAD+ with NADH and acts thereby as reduction/oxidation (redox) shuttle. The NADH transport activity is unique compared to the other known MCF-type NAD+ transporter from Arabidopsis, yeast, and human. This thesis indicated first evidences that the PXN activity is positively regulated via phosphorylation. The phosphorylation site at serine 155 was detected in two independent phosphoproteomic studies (Eubel et al., 2008; Ito et al., 2009). Here, it was in addition shown that the phosphorylation site at S155 and the unique loop region of the PXN protein did not influence the PEX19-dependent peroxisomal targeting, indicating that the PEX19 binding site is not located at the loop region. Three independent Arabidopsis pxn T-DNA insertion lines illustrated the requirement of peroxisomal NAD+ and CoA supply mediated by PXN for optimal fatty acid β-oxidation. pxn seedlings were delayed in breakdown of fatty acids released from storage oil, which was visualized by higher levels of storage fatty acids and the retention of oil bodies. However, germination was not impaired in plants deficient in PXN. The pxn β-oxidation phenotype correlated with the increased PXN expression during β-oxidation-dependent seedling establishment and the PXN co-expression with proteins involved in β-oxidation. Furthermore, the link between PXN function and the β-oxidation-dependent processes (e.g. mobilization of storage oil and biosynthesis of phytohormones) was exhibited by the expression pattern using PXN promoter-GUS studies in stable transformed Arabidopsis seedlings. A redundant system for PXN was predicted, because pxn mutants exhibited an impaired but not complete block of β-oxidation, as expected for plants lacking the NAD+ and CoA supply via PXN. Two redundant systems were assumed. (i) The NAD+/AMP shuttle could be taken over by the peroxisomal adenine nucleotide carriers PNC1 and PNC2 when PXN is absent, because both transport substrates, ATP and NAD+, are similar in structure. To address this, mutant lines repressing both pnc genes and pxn were generated by using a small interfering RNA approach. The obtained transgenic plants needs to be investigated in the future. (ii) The NAD+/NADH exchange function of PXN could be redundant to the malate/oxaloacetate (malate/OAA) shuttle that transfers reducing equivalents across the peroxisomal membrane (Pracharoenwattana et al., 2007). Furthermore, the peroxisomal hydroxypyruvate reductase 1 (HPR1) is proposed to play a role in regeneration NAD+ for β-oxidation and thus also functions as redox shuttle during early seedling growth (Pracharoenwattana et al., 2010). To test this hypothesis, different Arabidopsis plants were generated in this work by crossing the pxn lines with the mutant defective in both pMDHs and HPR1 and by repressing the PXN expression using an PXN specific artificial microRNA in the pmdh and hpr1 mutant lines. However, the resulted transgenic plants need to be further investigated regarding the impact on β-oxidation for storage oil mobilization. In silico analysis revealed that PXN is co-expressed with the ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and the NADH-dependent monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR), which are required for H2O2 detoxification (Graham, 2008). PXN expression is altered during oxidative stress, when H2O2 accumulated inside the cells. This implicated a role of PXN in supplying NAD+ for peroxisomal H2O2 detoxification via the APX/MDAR system. This hypothesis has to be verified by examining pxn mutants under oxidative stress conditions. In sum, this thesis described the characterization and the function of a peroxisomal NAD+ and CoA carrier during seedling establishment and oxidative stress. Site-directed mutagenesis of the PXN protein revealed that the transport activity is regulated by phosphorylation. Regarding the PMP import, it was demonstrated that the PEX19 receptor is involved in the peroxisomal targeting of PXN and several other PMPs.


ABSTRACT Site-specific habitat reconstructions in the form of faunal enamel stable carbon and oxygen isotope data allow for a finer assessment of the context of Homo sapiens in eastern Africa. To date, these studies have focused on a small collection of sites within a constrained spatiotemporal scope. Here, I analyse a compilation of faunal stable isotopes from the Kibish Formation and Porc Epic Cave, Ethiopia, and Rusinga and Mfangano Islands, Karungu, Lukenya Hill, and Panga ya Saidi, Kenya. New data for primate and notably Homo sapiens at Porc Epic are presented. Faunal isotope data indicate that the Lake Victoria and northern Lake Turkana basins were dominated by open grasslands between ~ 105 ka and 50 ka. Sites near the Ethiopian Rift and closer to the coast were at least in part buffered from the environmental changes that occurred further inland. In the following period, ~ 49 ka – 20 ka, inland sites see more wooded conditions while Panga ya Saidi at the coast becomes drier. This compilation provides evidence for spatial and temporal trends in local habitats necessary for understanding the mechanisms through which human populations exchanged genes, ideas, and behaviours during the Late Pleistocene.


The photovoltaic characteristics of organic solar cells based on pentacene and C60 were studied in detail. By simulate the J-V curve of the fabricated device, photocurrent density Jph was extracted. A theoretical analysis using modified optical transfer matrix theory was carried out to obtain insight into light-absorbing and exciton-transporting properties in organic layers. Furthermore, the photovoltaic response was parameterized and modelled to analyze the energy loss rate in the device.


Health and wellAbeing are major key issues in today's society. With today's technology there is great potential for using it to contribute to healthAimproving measures instead of technology beeing associated with sedentary. With the massive technology development that occurred during the 2000s, the concept of eHealth in health care received considerable growth in recent times. Today there is a lot of information concerning care and health to take part of from the internet which have caused a need to make this information relevant and useful. The idea of systems that are designed from the user's perspective resulted in the following question; Which design principles are important for potential users to experience the usability of an eHealth system? To answer the question a qualitative study was made through interviews with people who have high technical skills. This is to get a user based information for the three themes that were considered most relevant; navigation, functionality and customization. The result was connected to the theory and from that emerged patterns that led to the design principles we recommend. The conclusions from the study shows that the user value most the simplicity, but also clarity and to be able to choose, plays a central role in eHealth systems to be perceived as useful.


Methods of signal processing which have been developed and tested for the detection of venous embolism using ultrasound Doppler systems are presented. The detection scheme developed is based on a time-frequency characterization of the Doppler signals obtained with a suitable transducer placed on the cartoid vein. The developed scheme has been implemented and tested for the automatic signaling of an embolism which can occur in the course of a surgical operation.


Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a peptide hormone that becomes elevated in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and during chronic intermittent hypoxia. Forebrain circumventricular organs (CVOs) are sensitive to circulating Ang II and project to the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO). The MnPO projects to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and contributes to elevated sympathetic tone and thirst. In the present study, we use Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) to test the role of the MnPO in the drinking and neuroendocrine responses to Ang II in adult male rats. Prior to the drinking tests, adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats (250–300g) were anesthetized with isoflurane and stereotaxically injected with a Cre‐independent inhibitory (Gi) DREADD (rAAV5‐CaMKIIa‐hM4D(Gi)‐mCherry) or control (rAAV5‐CaMKIIa‐mCherry) virus in the MnPO. After 2 weeks of recovery, each rat was administered 10 mg/kg of exogenous clozapine‐N‐oxide (CNO) ip to inhibit DREADD expressing cells or vehicle ip followed by 2 mg/kg Ang II sc twice per week (at least 72 h apart) for 4 weeks. Rats transfected with the Gi DREADD in the MnPO and subsequently treated with CNO during Ang II exposure had a significantly attenuated drinking response compared to vehicle treatments or to animals transfected with the control virus injected with CNO and Ang II (p<0.050). Interestingly, Gi DREADD injected rats also did not have as robust of a drinking response to Ang II during subsequent treatments with vehicle after the first CNO treatment, indicating a possible protective effect. After the testing period, rats were anesthetized with inactin (100 mg/kg ip) and transcardially perfused 90 minutes following CNO and Ang II treatments. Brains were processed for cFos and mCherry immunohistochemistry. Overall, MnPO transfection with the Gi DREADD and subsequent CNO treatment decreased cFos staining in the MnPO (p=0.002), magno‐ and parvo‐cellular subregions in the PVN (p<0.050), supraoptic nucleus (p=0.017), and rostral ventrolateral medulla (p=0.004) compared to controls. Plasma samples were also taken to measure plasma Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) on the day rats were perfused. Ang II injections significantly increased plasma AVP and this increase was significantly attenuated by CNO in rats injected in the MnPO with the Gi DREADD (p=0.009). In vitro loose‐cell voltage clamp recordings were obtained from MnPO neurons transfected with Gi DREADD. Focal CNO (10 uM) application significantly reduced the firing rates of MnPO neurons transfected with Gi DREADD but not unlabeled neurons in the same slice or neurons transfected with the control virus. In situ hybridization experiments analyzing the colocalization of DREADD transfected MnPO neurons and vesicular glutamate transporter 2, indicated that neurons transfected with the DREADD virus containing the CaMKIIa promotor are largely glutamatergic (89.17±1.32%). The results indicate that CNO‐induced inhibition of excitatory, CaMKIIa‐expressing MnPO neurons influences activity in downstream regions controlling drinking behavior, neuroendocrine function, and autonomic regulation.


Indirect gradient analysis was applied to 48 vegetation samples taken from a mosaic of woody vegetation at Berry Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. Compositional variation among the samples was effectively summarised by a two-dimensional ordination by non-metric multidimensional scaling. Subsequent rotational correlation analysis revealed marked relationships between the vegetation pattern and edaphic variables which reflect two aspects of the moisture regime: water availability during the dry season and the degree of inundation during the wet season. Moisture availability is principally determined by topographic position, through its relationship with soil texture and water table depth. Poor drainage during the wet season appears to separate Melaleuca communities from those dominated by eucalypts. Shrubby and grassy open forests appear to be differentiated by the intensity of the winter drought. The grassy understoreys, which occur on upslope positions well above the water table, die off shortly after the end of the wet season thus providing fuel for fires. A closed Carpentaria forest, located on the slopes above a spring, was found to have relatively organic-rich, fertile, fine-textured soils, possibly reflecting the superior nutrient cycling of the closed forest compared with the frequently burnt surrounding open communities. We suggest that the dense evergreen vegetation presents a barrier to fires from the open communities. This would account for the greater proportion of woody, closed forest species that regenerate exclusively from seed. The fires in the eucalypt forests are of low intensity and plants have vegetative mechanisms to recover from damage. We conclude that the edaphically determined vegetation controls fire regime rather than the converse.


Abstract Portfolios are becoming increasingly popular both in the assessment of writing as well as a mode of assessment to measure teacher learning. In this paper I will describe a portfolio used for measuring student learning outcome in four partially web-based courses in a university in Hong Kong. Students had completed web tasks set by the teachers, put in journal entries to record what they had learnt, and regularly participated in web-based bulletin board discussions of key issues. To create the portfolio students were asked to choose 3 or 4 items from the range of work done on the web to show what they had learnt from the course. The data consisting of an analysis of the portfolios created and interviews with 22 students indicate that learning portfolios have the potential for bringing in a reflective dimension in assessing student learning in online classrooms. ********** Learning Portfolios to Assess Online Participation The question of alternative modes of assessment applies to all teaching situations irrespective of the mode of delivery. Within an alternative approach, assessment of student learning is increasingly seen in terms of a process and not a singular objective/standardized test. Such assessment should require students to demonstrate deep understanding of learning, not just mastery of a set of discrete facts or skills (Zessoules & Gardner, 1991). Wiggins (1991) argues that direct assessment of performance on desired tasks is the only means of assessment to understand whether there has been "a measurable effect on teaching and learning" (1991). One way to measure effect on learning is portfolio assessment. Portfolios can be seen as a "purposeful collection of student work and records of progress and achievement assembled over time" (Valencia and Calfee, 1991). Portfolios reflect a student's own perceptions of the learning process, thus bridge the gap between assessment and instruction (Paulston et al, 1991). Integration of computers into the curriculum brings changes to every aspect of the curriculum (Patricks, 1997) including assessment of learning. Alternative modes of assessment have become increasingly important because as Jonassen et al (1999) argue, "If you agree that learning is or should be an active, constructive, intentional, authentic and cooperative process, and if you agree that technologies should be used as learning tools for students to learn with, then you must probably also challenge your beliefs about how to assess and evaluate learning by students". Today web-teaching environments incorporating conferencing and online pedagogic tools are becoming increasingly popular as a means to dialogic and flexible learning. Participation in interactive online learning needs to be recognized when we measure learning outcomes. Portfolios may well provide a viable option for measuring the contribution of such participation in students' overall learning. In this paper, I describe why and how portfolio assessment was chosen for four partially web-based courses, the kinds of learning outcome student portfolios demonstrated and the opinions 22 students expressed regarding learning portfolios in follow-up interviews. The Context To understand why portfolios were used to measure student learning, we need a brief description of the four classrooms where they were used. The four classes were: 1. Image and Text was offered in year three to eight students of a three-year BA in Contemporary English (BACEL). The subject largely examined concepts in semiotics and text analysis. 2. English for specific purposes: Image and Text was offered in year one to 12 students of BACEL. The focus was on the reading, writing and analyses of multimodal texts. 3. General and Academic English focused on language proficiency. There were 19 students - all in the first year of a bachelor's degree in Language and Business which aimed at developing fluent tri-lingual graduates. …


The article is devoted to the role of insertion-deletion polymorphism of -2-adrenoreceptor gene in development of hereditary disorders of cardiac conduction. We examined 71 patients with atrioventricular blocks and 92 patients with sick sinus node syndrome. Statistically significant preponderance of homozygous genotype DD of ADRA2B gene was found in both groups. Associations of alleles with male or female gender were also revealed.


Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have gained considerable interest due to their state-of-the-art performance in many recognition tasks. However, the computational complexity of CNNs hinders their application on power-constrained embedded platforms. In this paper, we propose a variation-tolerant architecture for CNN capable of operating in near threshold voltage (NTV) regime for energy efficiency. A statistical error compensation (SEC) technique referred to as rank decomposed SEC (RD-SEC) is proposed. RD-SEC is applied to the CNN architecture in NTV in order to correct timing errors that can occur due to process variations. Simulation results in 45nm CMOS show that the proposed architecture can achieve a median detection accuracy Pdet ≥ 0.9 in the presence of gate level delay variation of up to 34%. This represents an 11x improvement in variation tolerance in comparison to a conventional CNN. We further show that RD-SEC-based CNN enables up to 113x reduction in the standard deviation of Pdet compared with the conventional CNN.