In order to find the influence of extruding condition on the nature of fractures in α+β brass rods, the foIloving experiments have been carried out, vig.: (1) Study of effects of extruding temperature, speed and rate of extrusion, angle and shape of dies and pressing discs, pressure of extrusion and some other extruding factors on the mechanical properties, appearance of fractured surface, and micro-structures of the extruded products. (2) Examination of the flow of metals at successive stages of direct and indirect extrusion using composite billets. It was found that, in all respects, the indirect method is superior to the direct method. By adopting the indirect method, not only can be obtained a rod having quite uniform structures for full length, but also the core-structure on the fractured surface will be eliminated entirely. Even by the indirect method, however, the coarse crystalline appearance of the fracture can be avoided with difficulty, in some degrees. It would appear probable that these coarse crystalline surface of fractures in the extruded rods of α+β brass is consisted of extremely stretched fiber structure caused by peculiar actions of extruding operation, hence the extruded products of the coarse crystalline fractures are not always show unsatisfactory qualities.


This study is aimed at obtaining (K,Na)NbO3 powders with wide grain size distribution methods. (K,Na)NbO3 powders were successfully synthesized by different ways, including hydrothermal method, sol-gel method, and molten-salt method. The experiment results showed that the hydrothermal and sol-gel methods could not control the grain size of the (K,Na)NbO3 powders effectively . The grain size of (K,Na)NbO3 powders can be only tailored by the molten-salt method through controlling the starting oxide powder morphology, as well as crystallization temperature. The grain size was not affected by the experimental parameters whether or not the initial powders were milled. Furthermore, it has been found that the crystallization temperature could change the grain size of the powders monotonously. The (K,Na)NbO3 powders synthesized by molten salt method distributed from nanoscale to micron level, which can lay the foundation for further research on the grain size effect of (K,Na)NbO3 lead free piezoelectric ceramics.


This study was carried out to determine the biometeorological conditions in the mountainous communities of Nafpaktia (MNC) in West Greece (Municipulity of Apodotia, Prefecture of Aitoloakarnania), a rural and unexploited region in comparison with the nearby urban center, Lamia, the capital of the Periphery of Central Greece. Air temperature and humidity data were recorded by the meteorological station of Lamia and from sensors with loggers at selected sites of the mountainous Nafpaktia district. Data were used for the calculation of the thermohygrometric (THI) and the humidex (H) indices, based on which biometeorological conditions were evaluated. It was concluded that the THI index provides more detailed information for the asssesment of biometeorological conditions of MNC than the H index. In July this district is characterized by more advantageous biometeorological conditions than the ones in Lamia. MNC can be seen as an ideal tourism and recreation destination for summer vacation.


The interaction between the components in the Cu 2 S – In 2 S 3 – CuI system has been inverstigated by methods of X-ray analysis and differential-thermal analysis. An isothermal section of the quasi-ternary system at 770 K, two phase diagrams, three polythermal sections and the liquidus surface projection of the system were constructed. The isothermal section of the Cu 2 S – In 2 S 3 – CuI quasi-ternary system at 770 K has been built based on the results of the X-ray analysis. The large regions of the solid solutions based on binary, ternary and quaternary compounds do not form at 770 К. The following one-phase regions were fixedat the temperature: κ-solid solutions based on Cu 2 S with cubic structure (S.G. Fm -3 m ), η-solid solutions based on CuI (S. G. F -43 m ), e-solid solutions based on CuIn 2 S 3 I with a cubic structure (S. G. F -43 m ), δ′-solid solutions based on LTM-In2S3 (S.G. I -4/ amd ), μ-solid solutions based on CuIn 5 S 8 (S.G. Fd 3 m ), γ-solid solutions based on LTM-CuInS 2 (S.G. I -42 d ). These single-phase regions are separated by nine two-phase equilibria. The liquidus surface projection was built based on the two phase diagrams of In 2 S 3 –CuI and CuInS 2 – CuI systems and three polythermal sections CuIn 5 S 8 –CuIn 2 S 3 I, CuInS 2 –CuIn 2 S 3 I, CuInS 2 – "Cu 3 SI", which have been constracted in this work. In addition, literature data about the interaction in In 2 S 3 – Cu 2 S and Cu 2 S – CuI systems have been used. The liquidus surface projection consists from the areas of primary crystallization of κ-solid solutions based on Cu 2 S, α-solid solutions based on HTM-CuInS 2 , β-solid solutions based on 2-HTM-CuInS 2 , γ-solid solutions based on LTM-CuInS 2 , μ-solid solutions based on CuIn 5 S 8 , δ-solid solutions based on HTM-In 2 S 3 , e-solid solutions based on CuIn 2 S 3 I, η-solid solutions based on CuI. These areas are separated by 18 mono-variant curves and 17 non-variant points.


At present the operation of sympathectomy is widely practised as a therapeutic procedure in the treatment of conditions in which the blood supply to the extremities is impaired. The development of the operation for this purpose followed an incidental observation made in 1924 by Hunter and Royle who were using sympathectomy as an operation for the treatment of spastic paralysis. They noted that vascular changes occurred in sympathectomized limbs. These were considerable only in the first post-operative week and were described as an alteration in the


The article analyses mainly a social-philosophic aspects and some legal-philosophic aspects of modern anti-counterfeiting policy model. In context of various anti-counterfeiting measures' realization possibility, regarding their potential to make an influence upon the information society's progress dynamics, it was made an endeavour to comprehend a new meaning of intellectual property institute.


From 20th century's end till now,there is a popular topic,which has never fade,and,actually,becoming more intense—that is,Natural Ecology Topic.The "Rag Look" and "Beggar Look" of 1980's is the typical fashion design of this topic.This paper attempts to study the reason behind the phenomenon of "Rag Look" and "Beggar Look",with Natural Ecology View of Dialectical Materialism,and more than 20 years social development history,thus to reveal today's fashion designers' care and consideration over social development from it's unrestrained appearance.By decoding the essence of the today's fashion developing tendency,this paper offers today's designers and fashion-related people with its valuable idea,thus help them to study and grasp the tendency of fashion better.


This paper discusses the future of the new trade order in the Asia-Pacific region in the light of the negotiations for mega-FTAs. As the Doha Round of WTO negotiations continue to stagnate, moves toward mega-FTAs are accelerating. The best way of improving the business environment for companies, which contributes to smoother global supply chains, is to establish twenty-first century global trade rules, such as in the areas of intellectual property rights, competition policies, the environment, and labor.The world may be renewing the trade order with mega-FTA negotiations on the trade rules for the twenty-first century. Negotiations for mega-FTAs in the Asia-Pacific region have been flourishing in recent years. The US-led TPP is the most important mega-FTA in this region. Expanding the TPP into the FTAAP will generate rules which are closer to being global. At this stage, it is almost impossible for China to take part in the TPP. The TPP negotiations led China, which feared the growing influence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, to launch negotiations for the RCEP. What does this mean for the future of the trade order in the Asia-Pacific region? The United States and China are pushing competing visions for the FTAAP. Negotiations have started on two megaFTAs that could become a foundation for the FTAAP. As the host of the 2014 APEC summit, China pushed actively for the realization of the FTAAP. The fear is that pursuing the FTAAP could derail the TPP by dissipating attention. The TPP could be challenged by a China-led "Beijing Roadmap" for the FTAAP, building on APEC rather than the TPP. How does the Asia-Pacific region avoid a "spaghetti bowl" of mega-FTAs? Can APEC become an incubator for coordination on the TPP and the RCEP? Although APEC is not a platform for trade negotiations, it has an important role to play in facilitating the preparatory work toward the materialization of the FTAAP. The New Trade Order in the Asia-Pacific and Mega-FTAs


Increasing data support the notion that simian virus 40 (SV40) is involved in the pathogenesis of several human malignancies(1,2). The exact etiopathology of SV40 and cancer is still a mystery. One approach for unraveling the connection between viral exposures and cancer is to recognize the molecular mechanisms of cellular responses to toxic exposures. Several concepts have to be considered in these multifactorial disease processes. The first concept is the mechanism whereby B lymphocytes respond to toxic challenge. Antibodyproducing B lymphocytes do not store genes for each possible toxin. Instead, the genome has hot spots of antigenresponsive multigene families that can generate the necessary protein diversity for detoxifying unpredictable agents. The diversity is generated at the level of DNA somatic rearrangements and RNA splicing. This genetic material is rearranged, selected, and reinserted back into the genome. One hot spot from which these rearrangements occur is found on chromosome 22q11.2, where the immunoglobulinl light chain region is located. This region is also an active site linked to SV40-associated malignancies, including mesotheliomas, meningiomas, sarcomas, ependymomas, and neuroectodermal tumors. The second concept is the role of retroelements in chronic illnesses (3). Approximately 1% of the human genome is endogenous retroviruses, and another 5% of the genome are short, interspersed, nuclear retroelements known as Alu sequences. Alu retroelements are important because of the following: 1) they are expressed as a result of viral infection, cell stress, and toxic exposures; 2) they are actively involved in recombinatorial events leading to novel RNA generation; and 3) they are inextricably linked to primate evolution. SV40 T-antigen recognizes binding sites present within Alu family sequences(4). The third concept is the detection of RNA in serum and plasma. Novel "rearranged" RNA, with chromosome 22q11.2 segments, has been detected in the serum of veterans who have Persian Gulf War-related illnesses (5). The presence of plasma RNA also has been described for several cancers (6). In studying active human multiple myeloma, we have noted the presence of an unique plasma RNA species (GenBank accession number AFO18254) that has 99% homology from four different patients (7). Sequencing of the amplicon from reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction revealed a 713-nucleotide segment from the flanking region of the PPAR gene (GenBank accession number HSBSE3A) at chromosome 22q11.2. Interestingly, the PPAR gene is specifically triggered by pesticides and herbicides. Within the segment was an Alu retroelement containing two SV40 T-antigen binding sites. Appreciating the concepts outlined above will further assist us in dissecting the molecular pathways by which cells respond to genotoxic events. Finding fingerprints of viruses (e.g., SV40) is just as meaningful as finding the entire viral genome for determining the factors leading to tumorigenesis. New techniques and procedures are needed to identify and measure the cumulative damage to the genome, cell, and body to fully understand the associations between SV40 and cancer.


The aim of present study was to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of polyherbal formulation of leaves of H. aciatica, C. gigantean & A. aspera were collected and authenticated. Extractions of dried leaves and rhizome were carried out with ethanol in soxhlet apparatus. The polyherbal formulation showed the significant anti-inflammatory activity comparable to the standard drug Diclofenac sodium against carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. The polyherbal formulation reduced the inflammation induced by carrageenan by 49.3% and 61.73% on oral administration at 100 mg/ kg and 200 mg/kg respectively as compared to the control treated group.


SOI devices exhibit excellent performance and scalability, but the presence of the buried oxide (BOX) induces self-heating. A possible solution is to replace the SiO/sub 2/ BOX with other dielectrics that offer improved thermal conductance without degrading the electrical properties. The trade-off between short-channel and thermal effects in advanced SOI MOSFETs (10 nm thick, 20-50 nm long) is examined by comparing various materials: Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, SiC, quartz, diamond and air. Diamond and quartz are excellent candidates for relatively thick BOX whereas alumina and SiC are suitable for ultra-thin BOX. This novel structure can be fabricated by wafer bonding technology.


The Hylleraas coordinates $s=r_{1}+r_{2}$, $t=r_{1}-r_{2}$, $u=|{\bf r}_{1}-{\bf r}_{2}|$ are the natural coordinates for the determination of properties of the Helium atom, the positive ions of its isoelectronic sequence, and the negative Hydrogen ion. In this paper, we derive a new expression for integrals representing properties such as the energy, normalization and expectation of arbitrary operators, as written in the $(s,t,u)$ coordinates. The expression derived is valid for both \emph{finite} and \emph{infinite} space. The integrals for the various properties are comprised in each case of two components $A$ and $B$. The contribution of these components to the volume of integration and the normalization of a wave function for finite space, and in variational calculations of the ground state energy of the Helium atom confined in a finite volume is demonstrated by example. We prove that when the integration space is \emph{infinite}, the expression for the energy and other properties employed by Hylleraas corresponds \emph{only} to that of integral $A$. We further prove that for the approximate variational wave functions employed by Hylleraas and other authors, the contribution of the term $B$ vanishes. This contribution also vanishes for the exact wave function. It is interesting to note that the component $B$ to the integral is not mentioned in the literature. A principle purpose of the paper, therefore, is to point out the existence of this term.


This paper was commissioned and carried out on the premise that consumer satisfaction is an extremely important criterion in judging the level of success of a national system of air services. Unfortunately, the importance to governments in considering consumer satisfaction as a measure of success has not always received the attention it should because of a lack of public data. The paper also provides management within individual companies with some data against which they can compare the findings from studies that were previously carried within their organization. In cases where such studies have not yet been executed, the paper outlines a methodological approach to the issues which may be of value. The paper exclusively focused on inputs that were obtained from persons who currently use airline services. Therefore, the findings provide no direction concerning the views of the non-user.


The invention discloses a method and a device for generating a page calling file, mainly relates to the technical field of internet, and mainly aims at improving the efficiency of calling a file corresponding to a module by a page. The method comprises the following steps: selecting a first file for loading the page, wherein the first file comprises a first module, which is used for providing a first function required by the page; selecting one or more second files to be packed together with the first file according to the first file, wherein each second file comprises a second module, which is used for providing a second function required by the page; packing the first file and the second file to obtain a third file which is called by the page, wherein the third file comprises a first module and a second module, which are used for providing the first function and the second function during calling by the page. According to the method and the device disclosed by the invention, the page can utilize a plurality of module functions when obtaining one file from a server; the less files are obtained, the greater improvement of the loading efficiency of a webpage is facilitated.


Qualitative and quantitative analyses of metal elements in prunella vulgaris were carried out by microwave digestion,inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Elements related with the anti-cancer mechanism were identified.The results show that prunella contains high contents of Mn,Zn,Mo,and other metals;and they may be target elements for the anti-tumor.This study can lay a foundation for carrying out research on anti-cancer mechanism of prunella vulgaris.


Objective: Previous research suggest decreased immune function and increased risk of infections in persons with insomnia. We examined the effect of insomnia symptoms on risk of bloodstream infections (BSI) and BSI-related mortality in a population-based prospective study. Methods: A total of 53,536 participants in the Norwegian HUNT2 study (1995-97) were linked to prospective data on clinically relevant BSIs until 2011. In Cox regression, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for a first-time BSI and for BSI related mortality (BSI registered [≤]30 days prior to death) associated with insomnia symptoms. Results: Compared with participants who reported ''no symptoms of insomnia '', participants reporting having ''difficulty initiating sleep '' often/almost every night had a HR for a first-time BSI of 1.14 (95% CI 0.96-1.34). Participants reporting ''difficulties maintaining sleep '' often/almost every night had a HR of 1.19 (95% CI 1.01-1.40), whereas those having a ''feeling of non-restorative sleep '' once a week or more had a HR of 1.23 (95% CI 1.04-1.46). Participants experiencing all three above insomnia symptoms frequently had a HR of 1.39 (1.04-1.87) and being troubled by insomnia to a degree that affected work performance was associated with a HR of 1.41 (95% CI 1.08-1.84). The HRs for BSI related mortality suggest an increased risk with increasing insomnia symptoms, but confidence intervals are wide and inconclusive. Conclusions: We found that frequent insomnia symptoms and insomnia symptoms that affected work performance was associated with a weak positive increased risk of BSI.


Supply chain system is not only a collaborative system with consistent overall objective,but also a complex system with multi-objective conflicts.Besides,it also featured by self-organization.Supply chain strategical synergetic dominates self-organization behavior of supply chain.Based on the analysis how supply chain self-organization behaviour come into being,this paper expounds features of supply chain strategical synergetic mechanism.Meanwhile,it also discusses the formation mechanism of supply chain strategical synergetic mechanism.


This study brings forward some important new analysis of the topic of land-precipitation coupling in the US. The starting point is the study published by Findell and colleagues in Nature Geoscience in 2011, which used reanalysis data to identify a strong role for land surface fluxes in the triggering of convective rain across large regions of the US, particularly in the east. In the current work, the authors use independent observational data to explore the sensitivity of the original results to the choice of dataset. To examine the behaviour of the surface flux partition between sensible and latent heat, they use both site-based flux measurements from 39 sites across the US and Canada, and outputs from a simple global land evaporation model driven by remote sensing. They also explore the impact of the precipitation dataset on the results.


We propose three new estimation procedures in the linear regression model with randomly-right censored data when the distribution function of the error term is unspecified, regressors are stochastic and the distribution function of the censoring variable is not necessarily the same for all observations ("unequal censoring"). The proposed procedures are derived combining techniques which produce accurate estimates with "equal censoring" with kernel-conditionali Kaplan-Meier estimates. The performance of six estimation procedures (the three proposed methods and three alternative ones) is compared by means of some Monte Carlo experiments.


The project's overall goal is to develop optimal experimental campaigns to achieve a particular objective, namely metabolite yield alteration. The optimal experiments will be designed by quantifying the cost of uncertainty in the current predictive model—a transcriptional regulatory network model that regulates metabolism—and selecting the experiments that are expected to maximally reduce the model uncertainty that affects the attainment of the aforementioned objective. This approach will serve as a proof of principle, demonstrating the significant potential of computationally guided biology in areas directly relevant to BER's missions.


This article proposes to shed light upon the biblical exegetical method used by Hans Urs von Balthasar in his studies of the New Testament. Three simple argumentative steps are followed. First, the method is described by use of definitions and explanations of the author himself at a rather theoretical level. Then this is illustrated with an example of concrete interpretation: the exegetical and hermeneutic commentary on the petition for glorification that Jesus makes to his Father (Jn 17: 1-5) in the volume dedicated to the New Testament from the Swiss theologian's famous work Glory of the Lord (Part IV, Volume seven). Finally, the principal contributions of his method to exegesis and biblical theology are treated. Among these latter, the attention Balthasar lends to the interpreters' participation in the salvation event claims special resonance. In effect, only the person who lives the Paschal Mystery can, in the final analysis, understand and explain it convincingly. Concretely, upon engaging in the exegesis of the New Testament and, then, reflecting upon its theological content, the believer can make precise sense of it, for he or she lives and possesses its nucleus or center.


OBJECTIVE
To report the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for precise localization of inapparent, retained foreign body in ocular coats.

METHODS
A 30-year-old man presented with diminution of vision in left eye of 1 year duration. Visual acuity was 20/400. Ocular examination revealed a large macular hole. An impacted foreign body in the ocular coats was suspected and picked up with ultrasound B scan although orbital computed tomography scan failed to detect any foreign body. OCT helped in precise localization of intraocular foreign body, enabling its removal through the macular hole following vitrectomy.

RESULTS
At 6 weeks follow-up, macular hole was closed and visual acuity improved to 20/100, N36. Repeat OCT did not reveal any foreign body.

CONCLUSION
OCT is a useful adjunct for precise localization of retained, inapparent intraocular foreign body in the ocular coats.


The South American tortoise Geochelone denticulata was studied in the wild near Iquitos, Peru, and in enclosures in Lima. In the wild, specimens fed regularly on a variety of fruits that had fallen to the forest floor, as well as on mushrooms, dead animals and faeces. The reproductive behavior of the species is described. Captive tortoises consumed 100-125 g of food a day and experienced a weight increase of 43.3 g per day . Biometric data for 143 adult male and 57 adult female tortoises indicate that the length of the carapace is longer in males than in females, and that the length of the carapace and body weight were correlated (r2 = 80%) . A survey of 80 families in the area revealed the extent to which this species is utilized for food, as compared to fish and domestic animals. Problems associated with raising this species in captivity are discussed.


Disclosed are a method, apparatus and system for controlling acquisition of M2M node position information, and a storage medium. The method comprises: a registration CSE receives a resource request carrying positioning parameters; and the registration CSE performs positioning control according to the positioning parameters in the resource request, the positioning parameters comprising a positioning interval and/or a positioning duration.


Yoo WH, Kim SR, Kim SH, Lee J, Mok J, Shin DH, et al. Stability and safety of transbronchial dye mixture for preoperative localization in a porcine model. Thorac Cancer. 2023;14(9):834–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.14814 The authors would like to update affiliation 2. The correct affiliation is shown below: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, South Korea. We apologize for these errors. Accepted: 6 May 2023 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.14934


We demonstrate the manufacturable 22nm FD-SOI 40Mb embedded MRAM (eMRAM), by achieving product functionality and reliability at package level across industrial-grade operating temperature range (−40 to 125 °C) with ECC-off mode. The magnetic tunnel junction stack, integration and etch processes were optimized to achieve superior MTJ performances to meet all product requirements. From package level data, we confirmed the product reliability by passing LTOL, HTOL, 1M endurance cycling and 5x solder reflows tests with failure rate < 1 ppm. In addition, we demonstrate the eMRAM capability to cover stand-by magnetic immunity of ~ 600 Oe at 105 °C for 10 years and active-mode magnetic immunity of ~500 Oe.


Introduction: The underground drainage-pipe network is one of the vital components of a modern city, and it plays an important role in preventing or mitigating urban flooding. Thus, pipe network data are necessary for simulation of the entire urban rainfall–runoff process. However, pipe network data are sparse or unavailable in most urban areas. Methods: To solve this problem, we developed a novel approximation method that can be used calculate the drainage capacity of the pipe system. This method is named the road-drainage method, and it works under the assumption that the pipe network functions by subtracting the corresponding mass from the water conservation equation only from areas of road. The mass is determined from weir flow formulas together with the road properties and correction for this mass is applied to the rainfall source term. Results: Two test cases were used to compare the performance of the new method with an existing method, under which mass is subtracted from the entire area during the rainfall–runoff process. The results showed that the new method considerably improves the accuracy of simulated peak volume, with an improvement of 2.62%–58.75% compared with the existing method across various scenarios. Moreover, the proposed new method reduces the time shift of the rise and peak of surface inundation by 10–45 min in various scenarios, which reflects a more realistic model of the rainfall–runoff process. Discussion: These results demonstrate that the proposed new method can represent the drainage capability more accurately and is more consistent with reality. The road-drainage method has promising potential for application in urban flood simulation in areas without drainage system data and for the support of large-scale urban hydrologic modeling.


Simple Summary The commentary discusses the recent movement by animal rights organizations to secure legal personhood for animals in various courts in the United States. Laws, regulations, and legal jurisprudence are often influenced by scientific and societal developments. However, legal challenges on behalf of animals residing in zoological facilities using habeas corpus, a mechanism traditionally used by prisoners to challenge conditions of confinement, have been unsuccessful in each state and federal court that has considered the issue. Courts have been unwilling to include nonhuman animals within the meaning of "person" or afford them the legal rights and protections that humans receive in the American legal system. An analysis of these legal personhood decisions reveals that courts have rejected animals' complex cognitive abilities as a justification for an extension of the law. Courts have been careful to state that societal-changing legal developments must originate in the legislatures, not the courts, and emphasize that significant societal and ethical issues may occur if animals are extended the legal rights and protections afforded to humans. Abstract The use of Latin in identifying an organism's genus and species is likely familiar to scientists and zoological professionals, but a traditional legal doctrine, known as habeas corpus (meaning "you have the body") may not have obvious applicability to nonhumans in the animal kingdom. In recent years, animal rights organizations have utilized the habeas corpus doctrine as a basis to bring legal challenges on behalf of nonhuman animals to expand "legal personhood" to them. These lawsuits, which have focused on species such as nonhuman primates and elephants, seek to challenge the "confinement" of animals in zoological institutions and by private owners, much like a prisoner or other detainee. The small but vocal animal legal personhood movement bases its argument on the fact that elephants and nonhuman primates are highly sentient and have complex cognitive characteristics. Proponents of legal personhood for animals have argued that the common law has progressed and expanded over the years as societal norms and conditions have changed and, much like the law has expanded to afford women and persons of color legal rights and protections, so should the law expand to treat animals the same as humans. Despite these efforts, to date, no court in the United States has accepted this invitation. This article summarizes key legal challenges and decisions to date in the United States, examines how science and societal conditions have influenced the law, and analyzes the reasons why legal personhood for animals so far has been viewed as a "bridge too far" in the American legal system.


Abstract : This report details tne results or a study that was conducted in the application of wavelet transforms to the processing of digital reconnaissance imagery. Although the major emphasis in the study centered on General Frame wavelets, orthonormal wavelets (Daubechies) were also implemented. The study results led to the implementation of a set of wavelet based tools to be included in the Image Processing Toolkit at Rome Laboratory. Some of the tools were designed to aid in the visualization of the interaction of the wavelet transform and imagery. Other tools were designed to provide different views of the imagery (such as pseudocoloration) and to enhance certain image features based on the localization property of the wavelet transform.


Scalable Video Coding (SVC) in media streaming enables dynamic adaptation based on device capabilities and network conditions. In this paper, we investigate deployment options of SVC for Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) with a special focus on scalability options, which are relevant for dynamic adaptation, especially in wireless and mobile environments. We evaluate the performance of SVC with respect to spatial and quality scalability options and compare it to non-scalable Advanced Video Coding (AVC). Performance evaluations are performed for various encoder implementations with high-definition (1080p) content. We show that a hybrid approach with multiple independent SVC bitstreams can have advantages in storage requirements at comparable rate-distortion performance.


In this paper,the suppression of frequency shifting by sliding filters in dispersion-managed soliton system with the Gaussian pulse has been studied. Firstly,starting from the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation,a high-order nonlinear Schr?dinger equation is derived to describe the transmission model with the effects of third-order dispersion and group velocity dispersion.Secondly,the derivation of the dynamic equations for the evolution of soliton parameters is carried out by the perturbed variational method.By simulating dynamic equations,one can find out the characters of the amplitude,width,chirp and frequency of the pulse as the function of the transmission distance.Finally,a comparison about performance is made among up sliding filter,down sliding filter and none sliding filter in suppression of frequency shifting.


In this paper, we revisit the problem of digital camera sensor identification using photo-response non-uniformity noise (PRNU). Considering the identification task as a joint estimation and detection problem, we use a simplified model for the sensor output and then derive a Maximum Likelihood estimator of the PRNU. The model is also used to design optimal test statistics for detection of PRNU in a specific image. To estimate unknown shaping factors and determine the distribution of the test statistics for the image-camera match, we construct a predictor of the test statistics on small image blocks. This enables us to obtain conservative estimates of false rejection rates for each image under Neyman- Pearson testing. We also point out a few pitfalls in camera identification using PRNU and ways to overcome them by preprocessing the estimated PRNU before identification.


An attempt has been made to investigate the effects of heat sink and chemical reaction on a three dimensional Magneto hydrodynamics (MHD) convective flow with mass transfer of an incompressible viscous electrically conducting fluid past a porous vertical plate with transverse sinusoidal suction velocity. A magnetic field of uniform strength is assumed to be applied transversely to the direction of the main flow. The magnetic Reynolds number is considered to be small that induced magnetic field can be neglected. The governing equations are solved by regular perturbation technique. The expression for velocity field, temperature field, species concentration, current density, the skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number at the plate are obtained in non dimensional forms. The effect of Hartman number, chemical reaction parameter, heat sink parameter on the velocity field, zeroth order skin friction and the amplitude of the first order skin friction, first order Nusselt number and the first order Sherwood number at the plate are discussed graphically. It is seen that chemical reaction and heat sink have significant effects on the flow and on the heat and mass transfer characteristics.

 Key words: Three-dimensional convective flow, heat transfer, incompressible viscous fluid, wall shear stress, heat sink.


The paper summarizes the reason and development of the Garbage Collection Mechanism and the major object of the Garbage Collection and illustrates the collection principle of the C++ and Java programming language to the garbage memory. Contrasts some Garbage Collection algorithm which are often used in Garbage Collection Mechanism. Finally it describes the way of the time point of the Garbage Collection.


The use of antibiotics in animal feeds has been prohibited in Europe and reduced in many of the developed nations. Consequently, it affects the export of livestock and livestock products. Hence, it is necessary to  nd an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters which ensure food safety to consumers and the pro tability of pig farmers. One such alternative is the use of prebiotic. The mannans act as high af nity ligands for the mannose-speci c type-1  mbriae of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and salmonellae (Spring et al., 2000). But, there is little information available about the use of prebiotics in livestock feeding particularly in pigs. The aim of the study is to determine the effects of mannan oligo saccharides (MOS) on the growth performance of piglets.


An optical device for monitoring is embedded in a mammalian tissue (e.g., the skin) of the implant. The implant receives the excitation light from the optical device, and light emitted by the optical detecting means comprising an analyte associated optical signal. Since hydration, changes in blood perfusion and oxygenation of the tissue scattering and absorption properties vary with time. The optical device is arranged a light source, filter and detector, to transmit the excitation light in a wavelength range of the excitation and measuring the emission of light in the detection wavelength. Light scattering and absorption in tissue changes (e.g., diffuse reflectance) is monitored. The light source, filters and detectors may also be used to monitor tissue autofluorescence to correct for background autofluorescence.


A stator (12) has multi-phase stator coils (28u, 28v and 28w) wound in concentrated winding around a stator core (26). A rotor (14) has rotor coils (42n and 42s) wound at a plurality of circumferential pitches of a rotor core (16) and diodes (21n and 21s) serving as a rectifier unit connected to the rotor coils (42n and 42s) and which alternates the magnetic properties of the respective rotor coils (42n and 42s) in the circumferential direction. A rotary electric machine drive system includes a step-down / step-up superimposing unit which applies a step-down pulse current through a q-axis current command to conduct currents through the stator coils (28u, 28v and 28w) and which provides an up-pulse current for a pulse Increase over a d-axis current sets.


In the improvement and extension work of synthetic ammonia process, the most important factors that of the selection of ammonia converter, were process parameter and structure design and it has been confirmed in the practical process.


The research status and the development trend of dietary fiber at home and abroad are investigated,mainly including the definition,the classification,the physical and chemical properties,the function,the modification methods and the application of dietary fiber in food.The determination methods of dietary fiber are also reviewed.


The aim of this study was to prepare the oridonin liposomes and evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and pharmacokinetics in rats. A three-level three-factor Box-Behnken Design was used to optimize the preparation of oridonin liposomes. A highly sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic quantification method with ultraviolet detection was established and validated for the determination of oridonin in rat plasma. Twelve Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to inject with 15 mg/kg of oridonin or oridonin liposomes via the tail vein. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using a compartmental modelling approach by PKsolver software. The optimum conditions were as follow: soybean phospholipids/cholesterol ratio of 3.9:1, soybean phospholipids/drug ratio of 8.5:1, and soybean phospholipids concentration of 1.1%. Under these conditions, the mean particles size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of oridonin liposomes were 170.5 nm, 0.246, -30.3 mV, and 76.15%, respectively. The pharmacokinetic results showed that liposomes could significantly prolong the elimination half-life (from 2.88±0.55 to 13.67±3.52 h), increase area under the concentration-time curve (from 1.65±0.17 to 6.22±0.83 μg·h/ml), and decrease the clearance (from 6.62±1.38 to 1.96±0.24 l/kg·h). The oridonin liposomes increased the elimination half-life and area under the concentration-curve and offer a reference for the development of drugs with short half-life.


The study investigates the implication of Islamic work ethics (IWE) towards the organizational commitment and the moderating impact of job involvement. IWE is analogous to the concept of Islam that emphasizes cooperation in work, and consultation is seen as a way of overcoming obstacles and avoiding mistakes to meet one's needs and establish equilibrium in one's individual and social life. IWE is examined on how far the employees practicing what they have claims to be for the organization The result will determine impact of the implementation of Islamic work ethic and the employee commitment towards the organization. Other than that it will determine the understanding of the Islamic work ethics from the employee perspective. This research will help the management to determine the understanding of the employee towards Islamic work ethics and to measure the element in Islamic work ethics that lead to the organizational commitment.


Author(s): Godsil, H C | Abstract: In "A Systematic Study of the Pacific Tunas" it was shown that specimens of yellowfin tuna, (Neothunnus macropterus), and albacore (Thunnus germo), obtained from Japan and the Hawaiian Islands are individually indistinguishable from those taken in the eastern Pacific. In the present study the relationship of the foreign to the local specimens is more closely investigated. In the two sections of this report an effort is made to determine, firstly, whether fish (of the two species discussed) from Japan and from the Hawaiian Islands are of the same or different populations from those taken by the California fishing fleet off this coast; and secondly, whether the yellowfin tuna in the eastern Pacific constitute a single, homogeneous and intermingling population or an aggregate of separate and recognizable groups, each confined to a specific geographic area.


SUMMARY

We conduct a parametric study on the subcritical propagation of an oil-filled, penny-shaped microcrack induced by the pressure increase caused by transformation of kerogen to oil. The excess oil pressure on the crack surfaces, and the subcritical crack propagation distance and duration, are obtained using a coupled model of fracture mechanics and kerogen–oil transformation kinetics. The numerical results show that the excess oil pressure and crack propagation distance/duration are significantly influenced by the temperature and elastic/fracture properties of the source rock, and the initial kerogen particle size. The subcritical propagation behaviour is relatively insensitive to the volume expansion rate associated with the conversion of kerogen to oil. Because the subcritical crack propagation rate is much faster than the kerogen–oil conversion rate, the crack propagation duration is primarily determined by the transformation kinetics.


[Problem] To provide an excellent therapeutic or prophylactic agent for dementia, schizophrenia, and the like, which is based on a serotonin 5-HT 5A receptor-modulating action. [Solution] The present invention was realized by discovering that an isoquinoline derivative, wherein a ring group is bonded to position 1 of the isoquinoline ring and a ring group or the like is further bonded to position 7 of the isoquinoline ring via a linking group having an amide group, has a potent 5-HT 5A receptor-modulating action and an excellent pharmacological action based on that action, and by finding that the derivative is effective as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for dementia, schizophrenia, and the like.


Recently, IEEE 802.11 protocol has been widely implemented in wireless local area networks (WLAN). The primary medium access control (MAC) technique, distributed coordination function (DCF), that specified contention-based medium access mechanism has been widely used to support applications in new regimes. Fully understanding IEEE 802.11 DCF is the focus of this article. This topic has already been discussed by several existing models, however most of them ignored some protocol details. This thesis is about the problems of existing models with DCF protocol and provides a new model that takes behaviors of the channel and more details into consideration. Based on the proposed model,we perform simple, but rigorously accurate analysis model of saturation extensive performance in WLAN to present our results in the transmitted probability, throughput, and interarrival time. All the findings are verified by Qualnet Simulation to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of the proposed model.


This study investigated the compatibility of stimulus codes and response modalities and how it mediated the spatial Stroop effect. Stimulus code (word, arrow and moving dots), response modality (voice, keypress and mouse movement), directional information (left and right) and physical location (centre, left and right) of the stimulus were manipulated. Participants responded to the directional information of the stimulus. Spatial interference was expected when the stimulus' directional information and physical location were incongruent. Results showed that more compatible pairings for the three response modalities were word–voice, arrow–keypress and arrow–movement. Incongruent spatial location delayed the reaction time for all response modalities with the word, speeded up the vocal and keypress responses with the moving dots, and had no effect with the arrow. Arrow was thus recommended for conveying directional information on interfaces. This study demonstrated that spatial interference was mediated by the stimulus code, response modality and their compatibility. Practitioner Summary: This study manipulated three stimulus codes and three response modalities to examine how stimulus–response compatibility mediated the spatial Stroop effect. Spatial interference appeared with the word and moving dots, but not arrow stimulus, for vocal, keypress and mouse responses. Arrow was therefore recommended to convey directional information on an interface.


When an image is photographed vertically, vertical position information is added to the image. When an upside-down image is photographed, data itself is rotated by 180 degrees and recorded. Thus, when the image is reproduced by a general another reproducing apparatus, the image can be viewed with the too and bottom thereof being normally positioned.


The gas chromatography (GC) column is a critical component in the microsystem for chemical detection (pChemLabTM) being developed at Sandia. The goal is to etch a 'meter-long' GC column onto a l-cm2 silicon chip while maintaining good chromatographic performance. Our design strategy is to use a modeling and simulation approach. We have developed an analytical tool that models the transport and surface interaction process to achieve an optimized design of the GC column. This analytical tool has a flow module and a separation module. The flow module considers both the compressibility and slip flow effects that may significantly influence the gas transport in a long and narrow column. The separation module models analyte transport and physico-chemical interaction with the coated surface in the GC column. It predicts the column efficiency and performance. Results of our analysis will be presented in this paper. In addition to the analytical tool, we have also developed a time-dependent adsorption/desorption model and incorporated this model into a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code to simulate analyte transport and separation process in GC columns. CFD simulations can capture the complex three-dimensional flow and transport dynamics, whereas the analytical tool cannot. Different column geometries have been studied, and results will be presented in this paper. Overall we have demonstrated that the modeling and simulation approach can guide the design of the GC column and will reduce the number of iterations in the device development.


Based on the molecular topology research, the paper researches quantitatively the molecular structure and biological activity of the organic toxicant, the quantitative research has realized the software by adopting the calculation of the molecular connectivity index, a kind of topological index. Based on the studies deeply and systematically for the back propagation method of the artificial neural network, the artificial neural network software is developed. The 45 kinds of pollutions with the carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic actions in Songhuajiang river are forecasted and researched for the biological toxicity by using the software. The results have the more good effect comparing with the results of the multiple stepwise regression method and have made three innovativeness great achievements in scientific research.


Abstract : Specialized snow runway processing and construction equipment ordinarily is not available to Army engineer troop units. Therefore, utilization of existing equipment and devices improvised in the field is necessary. Disaggregation of the natural snow cover, followed immediately by compaction and grading, is the fundamental procedure required for preparing a snow pavement capable of supporting, after age hardening, wheeled aircraft of the Caribou and C-47 class. A peg-toothed A-frame harrow, a corrugated roller and drags, constructed in the field, can be used with available D-7 or D-8 bulldozers for the disaggregation, compaction, and grading processes. (Author)


"When in Gregg-v-Georgia the Supreme Court gave its seal of approval to capital punishment, this endorsement was premised on the promise that capital punishment would be administered with fairness and justice. Instead, the promise has become a cruel and empty mockery. If not remedied, the scandalous state of our present system of capital punishment will cast a pall of shame over our society for years to come. We cannot let it continue." (Justice Thurgood Marshall, 1990)1


Using computer vision library OpenCV, a method of automatic recognition high points of scraped workpiece surface is presented. The image is dealt with by background subtraction, Median filtering, morphological processing, image negates, contour finding and drawing contours. In order to accurately and efficiently recognize the high-point contours and mark its center positions, mathematical morphology and specific processing function were used.


Flexibility feature is the main feature for generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM); digital transceiver can using any pulse shaping filter. While it was limited by rectangular pulse shape in Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). In this work Rayleigh and Nakagamifading channel are depended with different Nakagami fading parameter, furthermore Additive White Gaussian noise (AWGN) to describe the GFDM performance in terms of symbol error rate. Also make performance comparison between the two multicarrier physical layer modulations OFDM and the new GFDM over above channels by simulation and theoretical expression. Keywords— GFDM, AWGN, Nakagamim , fading parameter, performance, symbol error rate.


This study analyzed the implementation of the Self-Help Housing Assistance (SHA) program in achieving rural spatial planning in Subulussalam Utara Village, Simpang Kiri District, Subulussalam City, Aceh Province. The program involved multiple organizations and actors, each with specific tasks and functions. The research identified both supportive and inhibiting factors influencing the implementation of the SHA program. Supportive factors included effective communication among program implementers and cooperation among stakeholders. On the other hand, inhibiting factors included human resource limitations and the need for accurate targeting of beneficiaries. Overall, the program was found to be on track, but improvements are recommended, such as enhancing coordination and cooperation among relevant stakeholders. This can be achieved through persuasive approaches and continuous guidance from the Subulussalam City Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (Dinas PUPR).


The author presents an overview of the technical revolution in operations at rural electric utilities. He begins with a review of the major responsibilities of operations, including power delivery, losses, restoration of power, and planned outages. Next, he reviews incentives that are fueling the revolution, i.e., economics, complexity of loads, quality of service, retiring databanks, conservation, and blackout/brownout. The author examines off-the-shelf technology that could be applied to operations for the purpose of loss reduction, real-time analysis, automated trouble call processing, and automated mapping/facilities management.<<ETX>>


Abstract A new synthesis of the antipsychotic ziprasidone from 2,5-dichloro-4-nitrotoluene 3 is presented. The nitro group in 3 was used to activate the ortho-chlorine for displacement and the methyl group for enamine formation and introduction of the piperazinyl moiety.


The degree-constrained subgraphs decomposition problem, such as anf-coloring, anf-factorization, and a [g,f]-factorization, is to decompose a given graphG=(V,E) to edge-disjoint subgraphs degree-constrained by integer-valued functionsfandgonV. In this paper we show that the problem can be simply reduced to the edge-coloring problem in polynomial-time. That is, for any positive integerk, we give a polynomial-time transformation ofGto a new graph such thatGcan be decomposed to at mostkdegree-constrained subgraphs if and only if the new graph can be edge-colored withkcolors.


The oil pan (1) is made of plastic or metal, and has a filter housing upper shell, a filter housing lower shell, a filter medium, a filter inlet and a filter outlet (2). A carrier unit (11) is provided with a frame (10), where a filter housing (9) is fastened to a mounting of the oil pan on an associated unit, particularly on an engine block or a gearbox unit.


171 Abstract— The objectives of this research were to study i) we aving cotton culture, ii) identifying ways to pass on traditional weaving local wisdom of Tai-So Communit y. Participatory Action Research : PAR was used wit h various groups of Tai-So e.g. local wisdom teacher, weaver women, community leaders, educational institutes, r ligious institutes and Phonjan Sub-district Administration Organization. Results indicated that forty years ago traditional weaving has started to disappear from Tai-So commun ities e.g. cotton cultivation, using indigo-blue for dying, be cause of paddy fields expansion resulting from incr ease population. Traditional custom such as "LONGKHUNG KHENFAI" also disappeared from Tai-So communities. With good roa d connection between Kusumal-Tha-uthen, it brought tr adesmen to the communities with commercial dyes, ar tificial fibers and factory weaving cloths. So no traditiona l local wisdom of cotton production, dyeing cotton hand weaving has not passed on to the young generation in present Ta i-So communities. Furthermore, at present children in these communities commuted to the city or nearby province s to attend bigger/better schools. Opportunities t o pass on local wisdom from old generation to the young are even mo re slim. After PAR activities of this project in Phonjan sub -district, Tai-So began to have more awareness abou t the importance of conservation of the local wisdom, Tai -So culture of weaving traditional cotton cloth. T hey have established folk museum of Tai-So weaving at Phonsa i temple, to bring local wisdom e.g. traditional pa tterned design weaving and process making it to be a lesson using modern media in various forms at Phonjan school. F urthermore, traditional style weaving products now have been pr omoted through Tai-So women groups with supports fr om Phon – Sawan District Municipality and Phonjan Sub-distric t Administration Organization.


This paper gives a short account of results associated with the high catalytic activity of metallic gold, deposited on ferric oxide, in the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. Until now there have been no literature data on the catalytic activity of gold in that important industrial reaction except some results for the hydrogenation of CO{sub 2}. 8 refs., 1 fig.


This article examines the influence of automotive lighting systems on the occurrence of road accidents. The statistics of road accidents in Russia are given and what studies have been conducted by other countries on this issue.

Keywords:
lighting system, lamps, screens, traffic accident, reflectors, types of headlights, types of headlights, cargo transport, passenger transport, specialized


-A method for the production of clones of plant material which can be maintained as single cells under controlled, aseptic conditions is described. The technique has been specifically discussed using pole bean cells as the example. This opens possibilities for experimental work with cells of higher plants under conditions which will permit manipulation such as has been possible heretofore with microorganisms and animal cells.


On May 9 and May 10, 2012. Tonomura FIRST International Symposium on "Electron Microscopy and Gauge Fields" was held in downtown Tokyo hosted by Japan Science and Technology Agency together with Hitachi, Ltd., RIKEN, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, OIST, The Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei Inc. and Nikkei Science Inc. Here FIRST stands for "Funding program for world-leading innovative research and development on science and technology". In 2010 as principal investigator Dr. Akira Tonomura was awarded this Japanese-government-funded project aiming at developing a 1.2 MV "holography electron microscope" which is capable of observing quantum phenomena in the microscopic world. The symposium was also intended to celebrate his 70th birthday, but on May 2, just a week before the opening of the symposium, Tonomura passed away during the course of a medical treatment on pancreatic cancer. Consequently, what had been planned to be a grand meeting with many of his scientific friends from all over the world, then turned as a memorial conference.


A vertex set S of a graph G is convex if all vertices of every shortest path between two of its vertices are in S. We say that G has a convex p-cover if X(G) can be covered by p convex sets. The convex cover number of G is the least p ≥ 2 for which G has a convex p-cover. In particular, the nontrivial convex cover number of G is the least p ≥ 2 for which G has a convex p-cover, where every set contains at least 3 elements. In this paper we determine convex cover number and nontrivial convex cover number of special graphs resulting from some graph operations. We examine graphs resulting from join of graphs, cartesian product of graphs, lexicographic product of graphs and corona of graphs.


—Avionics is definitely a safety-critical application domain. Software complexity is ever increasing together with more autonomy as well as increased real-time based interaction between airplanes, drones and potentially future air taxis. This again raises the question, whether developing software the same way as we did the last 30 years is still appropriate, or in the times of much better formal methods and cheap and powerful computational capabilities, it would be feasible to use clear and model-based specification techniques for an integrated systems engineering approach and formally verify any physical and logical implementation of functionality, including the software against that specification. This could be another important step towards quicker development of highly safety- critical systems.


In a rocket experiment designed to measure the infrared atmospheric system of the O2 and several OH Meinel bands in the Δυ = 2 sequence, an unexpected enhancement of the emission was observed on the upleg when the rocket reached an altitude of 92 km. The glow was detected only in the channels with larger half-power bandwidth, those devoted to the study of the OH emission. This enhancement is interpreted in terms of local contamination originating from interactions between the instrument and the atmosphere. On the basis of the spectral distribution of the radiative glow the contaminating agent is tentatively identified as vibrationally excited OH, and the proposed mechanisms giving rise to the glow are discussed.


This issue includes an electronic symposium on partial evaluation and articles on concurrency and distribution in object oriented programming, garbage collection on the Internet, and wormhole-routing techniques for multicomputer systems. Danvy, Gluck, and Thiemann identify partial evaluation with program specialization, place the contributions in perspective, and provide a useful bibliography. They classify papers into three areas: foundational issues, transformation techniques, and computational practice, suggesting that this area is maturing to the point where theory is beginning to have an impact on practice. This is the first of several electronic symposia that Surveys will publish during the coming year. Briot, Gerraoui, and Lohr examine the extension of sequential single-user object-oriented programming to concurrent and distributed applications. They classify approaches to concurrent and distributed OOP into library, integra-tive, and reflective approaches. The library approach extends language power through class libraries, the integrative approach extends the primitive concept of sequential object to concurrent and distributed form, while the reflective approach combines extension of primi-tives with the library approach. The complementarity of these approaches for application programming is examined. Abdullahi and Ringwood suggest that the garbage-collection problem was considered solved in the late 1980s, but that distributed systems of the 1990s, like the Internet, provide a new set of challenges. A spectrum of garbage-collection schema for linked structures distributed over a network is reviewed. A taxonomy is developed to explore distribution issues for locality of action, communication overhead, and indeterminis-tic communication latency. Mohapatra surveys techniques for enhancing the performance and reliability of wormhole-routing techniques in directly connected networks. Wormhole routing, which is a form of pipelined packet routing, is described, along with the theory behind deadlock-free routing. The functionality of various elements of routers is described for deterministic, fully adaptive, and partially adaptive algorithms. Deadlock avoidance and deadlock recovery algorithms are considered , including performance and fault tolerance of algorithms.


Simple Summary Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and L. sativae (Blanchard) are closely-related, polyphagous leafminers that occur worldwide and presumably compete with each other. In this study, we evaluated the response of pupae and adults from both species to acute (2 h) cold exposures. The results were used to identify the lethal temperature for 80% of the population (LT80) for each species. In a separate set of experiments, insects were cooled to one of six nonlethal temperatures (0–5 °C) for 4 h and then cooled to the LT80 for 2 h to evaluate their rapid cold hardening (RCH) response. L. trifolii exhibited stronger cold tolerance than L. sativae; furthermore, the supercooling point of L. trifolii was significantly lower than that of L. sativae. RCH was induced in pupae of both species at a range of low temperatures (0–5 °C), and L. sativae pupae showed a more robust RCH response (e.g., lower supercooling pointand more durable RCH) than L. trifolii pupae. Our results indicate that subtle differences in RCH and basal cold tolerance impact the competitiveness of the two leafminers. Abstract Rapid cold hardening (RCH) is a rapid and critical adaption of insects to sudden temperature changes but is often overlooked or underestimated as a component of survival. Thus, interspecific comparisons of RCH are needed to predict how phenotypes will adapt to temperature variability. RCH not only enhances cold survival but also protects against non-lethal cold injury by preserving essential functions such as locomotion, reproduction, and energy balance. This study investigated the difference in basal cold tolerance and RCH capacity of L. trifolii and L. sativae. In both species, the cold tolerance of pupae was significantly enhanced after short-term exposure to moderately cold temperatures. The effect of RCH last for 4 h in L. sativae but only 2 h in L. trifolii. Interestingly, L. trifolii adults had a RCH response but L. sativae adults failed to acclimate. Short-term acclimation also lowered the supercooling point significantly in the pupae of both species. Based on these results, we propose a hypothesis that these differences will eventually affect their competition in the context of climate change. This study also provides the basis for future metabolomic and transcriptomic studies that may ultimately uncover the underlying mechanisms of RCH and interspecific competition between L. trifolii and L. sativae.


Labor productivity is an important indicator to evaluate business performance. This study aims to determine the factors affecting labor productivity of workers working at Ca Mau Petroleum Fertilizer Joint Stock Company (DCM). Research data was collected through a survey of 245 workers working at Ca Mau Fertilizer and the research model was tested by the quantitative method. The research results show that all four factors affecting the labor productivity of workers, consisting of personal capacity, production management system, human resource management and internal relationships. Of the factors, the internal relationship and the production management exert the strongest influence while the individual capacity and human resource management have less impact on performance. As a result, management implications are proposed such as training and developing skills by the specificity of the industry, the development of standards to evaluate job results suitable for each job position and compensation policies, communication activities, corporate culture to improve labor productivity of workers at Ca Mau Fertilizer.


Context: The mainstay of treatment for acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is to artificially elevate the patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP) to >85 mmHg to increase blood flow to the injured spinal cord for 7 days. However, the literature supporting these recommendations are only Class III evidence. In fact, the critical time window in which to elevate MAP after SCI and the optimal vasopressor to use are largely unknown, as is whether cerebrospinal fluid diversion has a role, and this leads to variability among practitioners. Also undefined is whether manipulating these parameters improves neurological outcome. Objective: Our goal is to better delineate current clinical practice and identify gaps in knowledge surrounding the care of patients with traumatic SCI. Methods: We undertook a systematic review of the current literature identified from PubMed on MAP elevation and spinal cord parenchymal pressure in acute SCI. Results: The 8 articles (6 human; 2 porcine) that met our inclusion criteria were all published within the last 6 years. Four were prospective, 1 was retrospective, and 3 were review articles. Only one study was randomized. All of these studies involved small sample sizes and varying lengths of MAP elevation. Choice of vasopressor was variable as well. Conclusions: From our literature review, we posit that norepinephrine may be the vasopressor of choice, that spinal parenchymal pressure monitors can be safely placed at the injury site, and that the combination of MAP elevation and cerebrospinal fluid drainage may improve neurologic outcome more than either intervention alone.


Baseball's Great Experiment relates the slow desegregation of America's national pastime, from April 18, 1946, in Jersey Citywhere Jackie Robinson, playing for the Montreal Royals, broke the color barrier-to July 21, 1959-when Elijah &dquo;Pumpsie&dquo; Green appeared as a pinch runner for the Boston Red Sox, at that time the only major league team not to have fielded a black player. It is an unusual sports book, not only because it is so well researched-it contains 32 pages of notes-but because it constantly evokes the turbulent American society within which its principal action takes place. Jules Tygiel, a Brooklyn native and professor of history at San


The European Landscape Convention (ELC) highlights the landscape as an holistic concept, which is important for individual and social well being and for quality of life. Landscape questions tend today to fall between the responsibilities of different sectors of society. The implications of the Convention for giving 'landscape' a higher status in spatial planning are discussed. Important challenges for planning that need to be focused from a landscape approach are discussed: the growing urbanization; the development and new roles of the urban fringe areas; new infrastructure landscapes; the mental landscapes of tomorrow; an holistic approach to landscape ecological planning and environmental policies and the need for co‐ordination of European planning issues that concern landscapes. Planning for good landscape qualities is not a new issue; many landscape architects and landscape planners have worked in the spirit of the ELC for decades. The importance of educating landscape architects and planners with an holistic approach is particularly addressed. Efforts for a more integrated landscape education, such as the European network LE:NOTRE, already exist and contribute to the implementation of the ELC.


Poster for the labex OSE meeting 2015. Research project :Distribution costs in home-care production: what are the effects of local regulations on productive efficiency and spatial equity? Research questions : In home-care production, how do production costs vary with the geographical location of users? What are the effects of local public regulation in terms of productive efficiency and spatial equity?


Rational choice theorists, including those who designate themselves "new paradigm" thinkers, have attributed the growth and decline of religious organizations to the machinations of a free market religious economy, characterized by pluralism and competition. In Reinventing American Protestantism, Donald Miller draws extensively on this school of thought to account for the growth of an emergent group of religious organizations. Designating them "new paradigm" churches, Miller concentrates on three West Coast–based groups—Calvary Chapel, the Vineyard Christian Fellowship, and, to a lesser extent, Hope Chapel. These upstart "postmodern sects"—Miller's term—have a simple and intensely spiritual message that makes high demands on members. These rapidly growing groups place a strong emphasis on biblical authority, a conversionist approach to evangelism, and culturally current and emotionally affecting worship. Throughout the book, these "winners" in the spiritual marketplace are contrasted with the "losers," that is, mainline Protestant denominations whose theological refinement and lack of cultural currency keep them from attracting their share of the baby boom and generation X age groups. This comparison yields both provocative proposals for the mainline denominations, delineated in the concluding chapter, and some glaring stereotypes of the losers. The strength of Reinventing American Protestantism is its sympathetic portrayal of the new paradigm churches. Miller is at his best when describing his response, as a progressive Episcopalian, to the services and people of these new evangelical movements. Without self-conscious postmodern ado about the author's place in the text, Miller integrates the personal and the ethnographic narrative in an engaging manner. In one particularly moving account, Miller depicts his experience at a Vineyard Christian Fellowship healing conference. He interprets the actions and emotions of the scene—which included energetic music making and straightforward testimonies by an Indian healer/evangelist, interspersed with much weeping, laughing, and being "slain in the spirit"—while also revealing his own anxieties and conflicted feelings. Along with fellow researchers Brenda Brasher and Paul Kennedy, Miller gathered detailed qualitative and quantitative data from 200 interviews, extensive participant observation, and surveys with more than 3,000 congregants and 400 pastors. Though missing information about the sampling procedures for the interviews and surveys and omitted frequency distributions on variables frustrates the reader, these lapses are mostly compensated for by the richness of the ethnographic detail. The following picture of these new paradigm churches emerges.


Summary The rate of development of spermatocysts in the larva of the tobacco budworm moth, Heliothis virescens appears to be modulated by stimulatory factors from the brain and inhibitory factors from the suboesophageal ganglion. Intact nerve connections between these organs and the ventral nerve cord must be vital to normal functioning of this system in vivo.


"I'm not sure who the father is. How do I find out?" Such questions about paternity are being heard more and more often in ob/gyn offices. This article provides the practical information you need to address the many issues surrounding prenatal testing.


The invention discloses a method for synthesizing veratraldehyde. In the method, a methylation reaction and a formylation reaction are performed on catechol serving as a raw material in turn to generate the veratraldehyde, wherein the methylation reaction comprises two reaction stages: guaiacol is mainly generated at the first reaction stage, and the veratrole is generated at the second reaction stage; and during the formylation reaction, the veratrole and a formylation reagent are synthesized to obtain the veratraldehyde. Through comprehensive utilization of a methylation reagent and the formylation reagent, the current situation that the veratraldehyde can only be synthesized by expensive vanillin in the conventional industrial production is changed, the process route for synthesizing the veratraldehyde is effectively shortened, and the cost of a product is reduced; both the yield and the content of the veratraldehyde prepared by the method are greater than those of the veratraldehyde prepared in the prior art; due to the increase of the yield and the content of the veratraldehyde, the process for synthesizing the veratraldehyde is effectively controlled; thus the entire process flow is smooth and stable.


burden. Early recognition along with prompt, appropriate and effective intervention are more important than ever in reducing its economic and health consequences, especially in the context of growing resistance to antibiotics. This important document represents the consensus opinion of an international panel of experts who met in 2007. A major strength of this meeting was the open sharing of the realities and practicalities of treating wound infection in many different situations. The content of this document has been carefully considered to relate directly to daily clinical practice. In particular, it provides broad, clear and safe guidance on the areas of diagnosis and the topical/systemic treatment of bacterial wound infection. The wide disciplinary and geographical representation of the panel ensures that the principles presented are both practical and adaptable for use in local settings worldwide. Research will continue to provide greater understanding of wound infection and to shape future practice.


A single port waveguide probe (SPWP), non-destructive material measurement system is developed to measure uniaxial anisotropic media. A moment method technique employing a uniaxial parallel plate Green's function is used for extracting dielectric material properties. Simulated and measured uniaxial samples are evaluated to judge system performance.


Summary: We investigated the effect of two oral (p.o.) doses of cicletanine (5 and 30 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks on urinary excretion (UKE), renal concentration (RKC) of kallikrein, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-keto-PGFlα urinary excretion of stroke-prone (SP) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) rats submitted to a high sodium intake (1%). Both doses of cicletanine induced a significant antihypertensive effect in treated SHR as compared with hypertensive untreated controls (HC). After 4-week treatment, a significant difference in mortality was observed between normotensive controls (NC) (0%) and HC (84%). Both doses of cicletanine reduced the mortality of hypertensive animals (8% SHR with 5 mg and 24% SHR with 30 mg vs. 84% in HC). Whereas UKE and RKC were decreased in HC during the progression of untreated hypertension from week 1 to week 4, both doses of cicletanine administration significantly prevented this decrease. Consistently with maintenance of UKE during the course of hypertension, the level of tissue kallikrein was higher in hypertensive cicletanine-treated than in untreated SHR. This increased RKC was associated with a significantly higher rate of kallikrein biosynthesis. The increased level of the urinary excretion and tissue concentration of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGFlα in cicletanine-treated SHR as compared with untreated animals was also of interest. This protective effect on PG excretion correlated with that on kallikrein excretion. The results confirm the efficiency of cicletatine as an antihypertensive treatment. The antihypertensive action includes protective effects on potential vasodepressor kallikrein-kinin and prostaglandin systems. Furthermore, the effect on the renal kallikrein-kinin system may also indicate a functional improvement in the intracellular homeostasis of the distal connecting tubular cells, the major site for renal kallikrein production. Whereas the cardioprotective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors through a kinindependent mechanism has already been documented in ischemic hearts, the present data support similar effects in kidney by a new antihypertensive agent not belonging to the ACE inhibitor family.


The effect of electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling on thermal transport across metal-nonmetal interfaces is yet to be completely understood. In this paper, we use a series of molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations with e-ph coupling effect included by Langevin dynamics to calculate the thermal conductance at a model metal-nonmetal interface. It is found that while e-ph coupling can present additional thermal resistance on top of the phonon-phonon thermal resistance, it can also make the phonon-phonon thermal conductance larger than the pure phonon transport case. This is because the e-ph interaction can disturb the phonon subsystem and enhance the energy communication between different phonon modes inside the metal. This facilitates redistributing phonon energy into modes that can more easily transfer energy across the interfaces. Compared to the pure phonon thermal conduction, the total thermal conductance with e-ph coupling effect can become either smaller or larger depending on the coupling factor. This result helps clarify the role of e-ph coupling in thermal transport across metal-nonmetal interface.


ABSTRACT Many developed nations have reportedly turned to protectionism to speed up recovery from the recent global financial tsunami. Emerging economies that rely on exports and tourism have been particularly hard hit by these barriers. This study analyzes a conceptual framework that captures the effects of product image, country image, ethnocentrism, and animosity on consumers' attitudes for imports and overseas travel. The results offer a fresh perspective, beyond that which has been explained by literature on product evaluation and country-of-origin. The findings imply that an export-dependent nation will need a linkage strategy to defend against protectionism. Strategic implications are discussed.


Striving to respond to clients' pressing social needs while simultaneously providing solid educational experiences for students leaves many field instructors vulnerable to burnout. Rather than viewing burnout as an individual ailment, this article focuses on the organizational demands that produce role overload in the field instructor. Preventive responses emphasize the importance of replenishing energy, clarifying role expectations, and negotiating realistic responsibilities. Efforts which the university-based fieldwork liaison can take to reduce burnout in fieldwork instructors include careful assessment when recruiting field instructors, problem exploration, clarification, and advocacy with ongoing field instructors, and providing ample opportunities for field instructors to acquire new learning.


With the global trend to exploit more renewable energy sources, tidal range energy has been gaining more attention recently. This power generation technology is expected to reduce the share of fossil fuels and provide flexibility to the power system. With a pioneering tidal range generation project just granted in Wales and more proposals planned in Great Britain, it is important to study how the incorporation of multiple tidal range power stations will affect power system operation. In this paper, the role of tidal range energy generation in the future Great Britain power system is investigated based on a day-ahead scheduling model of power system incorporating multiple tidal range power stations. In the proposed model, tidal range power stations situated at different sites operate flexibly and in coordination, supporting the power system to reach the minimum operating cost. A case study based on the Great Britain electricity transmission system in 2030 with one tidal barrage and one tidal lagoon was investigated. The results showed that the coordination of flexible tidal range power stations can reduce the power system's operating cost. Furthermore, the energy-storage feature of tidal range power stations can act as a stable source of flexibility in the power system.


The article work deals with the main points of the policy pursued by the central and republican powers in the DASSR in 1957-1960s for rehabilitation of the repressed population in 1944. According to archival materials, the importance of measures taken in that period was great, but in spite of their successful realization, they did not lead to a cardinal solution of the problem, as the repressed population was not rehabilitated in the territorial rights. In this connection, programs bound up with the rehabilitation of the repressed population in its territorial rights have been adopted and realized in Daghestan since 1991.


A three-dimensional finite element calculation model was established for the main bridge of the Dongshuimen Yangtze River Bridge in Chongqing by using software MIDAS Civil.It was obtained that different positions of the auxiliary pier exerted influence on the main tower,the bottom chord on the bracket,the main girder in the bridge completion state of the new partially cable-supported girder bridge.The calculation results demonstrated that increase of auxiliary piers would lead to bending moment of the lower main tower,vertical displacement of upper tower,smaller axial stress and deflection of the main girder central span and greater bending moment of bottom chord on the bracket.


WALTER J. STEVENS HAS plans for chemical science research at the Department of Energy. Stevens is the new director of the Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences of DOE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES). At the time Stevens talked to C& EN, he had only two weeks under his belt as chemical division director. However, he knows the division, having been with BES for nearly two years, working on biophysics and biochemistry research, as well as with the office's advanced scientific computing activities. He also has his hands full as the DOE Office of Science's principal contact person for the White House Homeland Security Office. Stevens singled out four areas in the division where he would like to see growth in the near and long term: research in catalysis, theory and modeling in nanoscale science, bioscience research, and computational chemistry. Stevens came to DOE from the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), where he was chief of the Biotechnology Division. He began ...


The epidermis of the mudskipper Periophthalmus magnuspinnatus consisted of three layers: the outermost layer, middle layer and stratum germinativum. Extensive vascular capillary networks were present near the superficial layer of epidermis and outermost layer. The diffusion distance between the vascular capillaries and the surface of epidermis was c. 1.5 ± 0.9μm. The middle layer consisted of small or voluminous cells swollen by epidermal cells. Due to the swollen cells, the thickness of the epidermis increased and the epidermis appeared web-like. The swollen cells contained tonofilaments, lucent contents and desmosomes. Fine blood capillaries were also discernible in this layer. Well-developed lymphatic spaces containing lymphocytes existed in the stratum germinativum. Numerous blood capillaries were present under the basement membrane. The dermis consisted of a stratum laxum and stratum compactum, and there was a definite area with acid mucopolysaccharides and a small scale in the stratum laxum. The skin had an epidermal pigment cell, dendritic melanophores (-cytes) containing melanin granules within their cytoplasm, and two kinds of dermal pigment cells, melanophores and colourless pigments containing reflecting platelets.


The over-consumption of food, coupled with lives that are increasingly sedentary, is producing large numbers of people who are overweight and obese – primarily in highincome countries, but also in emerging middle-income countries. Indeed, the world has seen an explosion in overweight and obesity in the past 30 years (Figure 1). Globally the percentage of adults who were overweight or obese grew from 23% in 1980 to 34% in 2008, with the vast majority of this increase seen in the developing world. Here, the numbers of people affected more than tripled, from around 250 million people in 1980 to 904 million in 2008. By contrast, the number of people who were overweight or obese in high-income countries increased 1.7 times over the same period.


The invention discloses a preparation method of an improved polylactic acid injection implant. The method comprises the steps that 1, polylactic acid particles are prepared; 2, a hydrogel fluid of carboxymethylcellulose is prepared; 3, the polylactic acid particles are dispersed in the hydrogel fluid to obtain a suspension; 4, the suspension is frozen and dried after the third step is executed, and solid matter is obtained. The method for preparing the polylactic acid particles comprises the steps that 1, an oil-in-water emulsion of which polylactic acid is in an oil phase is formed; 2, after the polylactic acid oil phase is subjected to sieving through a sieve mesh under pressure at the temperature higher than starting curing temperature of 5 DEG C or below, curing is conducted within 30 seconds, and the polylactic acid particles are obtained; 3, sieving is conducted through a sieve with smaller mesh sizes, and the parts which are not subjected to sieving are retained. By means of the preparation method of the improved polylactic acid injection implant, the technology is simplified, the working efficiency is improved, and waste is reduced; the syringeability of the preparation and the uniformity of polylactic acid degradation are improved.


Ultrasonic imaging is widely applied for visualization of blood flow using different imaging modalities. However, due to the inherent physical limitations of the ultrasonic imaging process, the actual flow dynamics and the information embedded in the ultrasound image do not necessarily strictly correspond. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can play an important role in interpreting and improving ultrasound imaging via numerical simulation of ultrasound images. For this purpose, CFD velocity data can be directly processed to mimic ultrasonic images (1st order approach) or can be further coupled to ultrasound simulation software, providing a fully coupled approach.
We compared both methods for the clinically relevant case of color flow imaging of the carotid artery. We conclude that for this application, the 1st order approach leads to results lacking indispensable properties of the imaging process, i.e., (i) the imaging dynamics, and (ii) the statistical properties of the ultrasonic velocity estimator.


The increase of digital image acquisition devices, combined to the growth of the Web, requires the definition of Information Retrieval (IR) models and systems providing fast access to images searched by users among large amounts of data.


Objective: To evaluate and compare sensitivity and specificity of ANB, Wits, APDI and AF-BF to diagnose sagittal skeletal malocclusions, in children between 6 to 12 years old, using ROC curves, a widely accepted method for the analysis and evaluation of diagnostic tests.  Material and Methods: A descriptive-comparative study of diagnostic tests was conducted. From a population of 3,000 children, a non-probabilistic sample of 209 was selected. The clinical classification of the patients as class I, II or III, made by a group of experts based on the visual inspection of models and photographs, was chosen as the gold standard. After calibration (ICC>0.94) the variables were measured in cephalograms. Eight ROC curves were plotted (I vs II, and I vs III for each one of the variables). The area under the curve was measured and compared (Ji-square test). Cut points were established.  Results: To discriminate Class I from II, ANB showed the largest area under the curve (AUC) (0.876) and the cut point (best sensitivity and specificity) was at 5.75°. To discriminate class I from III, Wits showed the largest AUC (0.874) with a cut point of -3.25 mm. There were no statistical differences between the AUC for the four variables (p=0.48 y p=0.38 for class I-II and I-III).  Conclusion: ANB and Wits performed better for the diagnosis of class II and III, respectively. Cut points in children were different from those reported in adults.


(57) Abstract: The present invention improves the performance of the plastic bag of the side seal and / or fin sealed using narrow molecular weight distribution or the degree of polymerization dispersion resin. The side seals of plastic bags and / or fins seal performance is improved by using body panels made of a second resin to the first resin and optionally. The first resin is suitably being produced in the presence of a single site catalyst. The first resin is a polymerization degree and dispersion from about 1 to about 4, a melt index of about 0.2 to 20, a melt flow ratio (I Strength and toughness of the side seal and the fin seal is enhanced by the use of such a first resin, the possibility of leakage is reduced. The second resin is LDPE, LLDPE or mixtures thereof. The body panels consisting of first and second resin, or the first resin is coextruded as a thin layer of the body panel with LDPE or LLDPE, or, together first resin and LDPE and / or LLDPE It is mixed.


Museum collections contain enormous quantities of insect specimens collected over the past century, covering a period of increased and varied insecticide usage. These historic collections are therefore incredibly valuable as genomic snapshots of organisms before, during, and after exposure to novel selective pressures. However, these samples come with their own challenges compared to present-day collections, as they are fragile and retrievable DNA is low yield and fragmented. In this paper we tested several DNA extraction procedures across pinned historic Diptera specimens from four disease vector genera: Anopheles, Aedes, Culex and Glossina. We identify an approach that minimizes morphological damage while maximizing DNA retrieval for Illumina library preparation and sequencing that can accommodate the fragmented and low yield nature of historic DNA. We identify several key points in retrieving sufficient DNA while keeping morphological damage to a minimum: an initial rehydration step, a short incubation without agitation in a low salt Proteinase K buffer, and critical point drying of samples post-extraction to prevent tissue collapse caused by air drying. The suggested method presented here provides a solid foundation for exploring the genomes and morphology of historic Diptera collections. Significance statement Large museum collections of pinned insects could provide important snapshots of genomes through time, but unfortunately DNA retrieval from such fragile samples often leads to severe morphological damage, especially in delicate species such as disease transmitting Diptera. In this study we have worked on a combined method that minimizes morphological damage while maximizing the retrieval of DNA from dry pinned Diptera species. We identified the importance of tissue rehydration, gentle DNA lysis buffer incubation, and critical point drying to restore collapsed tissues. We hope this approach will make it possible for more historic insect specimens to become available for genomic research while ensuring they remain intact for morphological studies.


We investigate waveguide resonators, and a coupled system based on two-dimensional silicon-on-insulator photonic crystal (PhC) slabs. First, we show a way of designing PhC waveguides and PhC resonators to overcome the radiation loss that occurs in the thickness direction in a two-dimensional system and how to couple a PhC waveguide to an optical fiber. Next, we effectively couple PhC waveguides to PhC resonators, devise a three-port-resonant-tunneling filter, and develop an ultrasmall multi-port channel-drop filter. Finally, we describe a two-beam optical switch operating with very low power that employs a PhC coupled resonator-waveguide system.


Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of skeletal muscle atrophy and its relation to exercise intolerance and abnormal muscle metabolism in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods and Results Peak Vo2, percent ideal body weight (% IBW), 24-hour urine creatinine (Cr), and anthropometrics were measured in 62 ambulatory patients with HF. 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and imaging (MRI) of the calf were performed in 15 patients with HF and 10 control subjects. Inorganic phosphorus (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr), and intracellular pH were measured at rest and during exercise. Calf muscle volume was determined from the sum of the integrated area of muscle in 1-cm-thick contiguous axial images from the patella to the calcaneus. A reduced skeletal muscle mass was noted in 68% of patients, as evidenced by a decrease in Cr-to-height ratio of <7.4 mg/cm and/or upper arm circumference of <5% of normal. Calf muscle volume (MRI) was also reduced in the patients with HF (controls, 675±84 cm3/m2; HF, 567±112 cm3/m2; p < 0.05). Fat stores were largely perserved with triceps skinfold of <5% of normal and/or IBW of <80% in only 8% of patients. Modest linear correlations were observed between peak Vo2 and both calf muscle volume per meter squared (r = 0.48) and midarm muscle area (r = 0.36) (both p < 0.05). 31P metabolic abnormalities during exercise were observed in the patients with HF, which is consistent with intrinsic oxidative abnormalities. The metabolic changes were weakly correlated with muscle volume (r = −0.42, p<0.05). Conclusions These findings indicate that patients with chronic HF frequently develop significant skeletal muscle atrophy and metabolic abnormalities. Atrophy contributes modestly to both the reduced exercise capacity and altered muscle metabolism.


A single crystal CVD diamond detector (SDD) was installed in the torus hall of the Large Helical Device (LHD) to measure neutron during deuterium plasma operation. The LiF foil with 95.62% of 6Li isotope enrichment pasted on the detector was used as the thermal neutron convertor. The energetic ions of 2.0 MeV alpha and 2.7 MeV triton particles generated by the nuclear reaction of neutron with 6Li in LiF foil. Then, energetic ions deposited the energy into diamond, producing a signals in SDD. SDD were exposed to the neutron field in the torus hall of the LHD during the 2nd campaign of the deuterium experiment. The total charge in SDD during one plasma shot in LHD was linearly propotional to the neutron yield over 4 orders of magnitude. The energetic alpha and triton were separately measured by SDD with LiF with the thickness of 1.9 μm, although SDD with LiF with the thickness of 350 μm showed a broadened peak due to the large energy loss of energetic particles generated in the bulk of LiF. The modeling with MCNP and PHITS codes well interpreted the pulse height spectra for SDD with LiF with different thicknesses.


Objective To investigate the superiority of high field MRI in the early diagnosis,activity evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Tweney-six patients with rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed by clinical from 2011 June to 2012 May were underwent bilateral wrist X-ray,CT,MRI,and the test results were analyzed.Results All the 52 wrist joint of 26 patients had bone erosion lesions,and the X-ray,CT,MRI were detected respectively: 13, 22,50.In the 50 joints with bone erosion change on MRI,95% confidence interval of synovial membrane thickness is 1.98mm to 4.10mm.And through statistical analysis of the relevant clinical indexes found that the thickness of synovitis have relationship with activity in RA patients.Conclusion MRI has a very important significance in the early imaging diagnosis in RA.In the early and activity stage,it is more sensitive than radiography and CT examination. MRI has certain value on activity assessment of RA.