The adhesion between glass and polyethylene (high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE)) was improved by means of polyethylene chains grafted on the glass surface. Chlorosilane-terminated polyethylene (PE) with different molar masses were synthesized in order to obtain (i) semicrystalline polymers able or not to crystallize with the free chains of the polyethylenes matrices and ( ii) polymer chains which could react with the silanol groups from the glass surface. The grafting of alkylchlorosilanes (alkyl chain length varying from C4H9 to C30H61) was considered in comparison to the polymer chains. The adhesion developed at the polyethylene/glass interface was studied as a function of the molar mass of functionalized-polyethylene grafted on the glass surface. For that purpose, the asymmetric double cantilever beam test was used to determine the fracture energy, Gi, of the interface. On both high-density and low-density polyethylene/glass joints, the fracture energy of the interface,...


The purpose of this work is development of program complex designed to simulate the spread of pollutants, including oil and petroleum products, in coastal systems, as well as transport, transformation and deposition of aerosols in air on a super-computer. The objective of this study is to develop the modules of aero- and hydrodynamics, which are part of the software package, an effective parallel method and conduct a computational experiment. For the effective implementation of the task, a parallel version of the adaptive modified alternating triangular method of the fastest descent was developed, its acceleration and efficiency were investigated. With the help of the software in question, an emergency oil spill was simulated that occurred in the Kerch Strait in November 2007. A computational experiment was also carried out to simulate the spread of impurities from motor vehicles in the coastal (recreational) area of Taganrog with and without forest plantations.The purpose of this work is development of program complex designed to simulate the spread of pollutants, including oil and petroleum products, in coastal systems, as well as transport, transformation and deposition of aerosols in air on a super-computer. The objective of this study is to develop the modules of aero- and hydrodynamics, which are part of the software package, an effective parallel method and conduct a computational experiment. For the effective implementation of the task, a parallel version of the adaptive modified alternating triangular method of the fastest descent was developed, its acceleration and efficiency were investigated. With the help of the software in question, an emergency oil spill was simulated that occurred in the Kerch Strait in November 2007. A computational experiment was also carried out to simulate the spread of impurities from motor vehicles in the coastal (recreational) area of Taganrog with and without forest plantations.


This paper summarizes recent results of the study and development of high-power repetitive nanosecond generators employing a semiconductor opening switch(SOS). The SOS-based pulsed power generator(SPG200, SPG700) has been developed and tested in Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology. Some applications are carried out on the SOS-based generator, such as the high-frequency diode, research of long lifetime cathode, insulating research of breakdown. An experimental system of foilless diode with low guiding magnetic field is designed on the generator S-5N. The SPG200 delivers pulses with FWHM of 35 ns and amplitude up to 200 kV at 2 kHz repetition rate into a load in burst mode. The average output power is 13 kW. The generator can work at 300 Hz continuously. The SPG700 is designed by the same technique. The output specifications of the generator are as follows: output voltage 700 kV, output current 5 kA, pulse duration(FWHM) 40 ns. Now the generator is being tested, which delivers pulses with 660 kV,4.4 kA, 70 ns(FWHM) on the resistance load.


The influence of urethral catheter, bladder volume, and body position on the ultrasonic assessment of bladder neck position and mobility was evaluated in 24 incontinent women. The bladder neck position was described by two independent parameters: BS‐distancc, from the bladder neck to the lower tip of the symphysis pubis. and the rotation angle between the BS‐line and the symphyseal middline.


A method is described for joint precise point positioning and attitude determination with tight coupling of two single-frequency low-cost global navigation satellite system receivers and an inertial sensor. The sensor fusion is performed with an extended Kalman filter. The carrier phase ambiguities are determined in a constrained tree search using soft a priori information on the antenna distance. A code multipath parameter is determined for each satellite to improve the accuracy. Ionospheric corrections are estimated also by single-frequency receivers.


This paper presents a sea cucumber survey conducted by an International Union for Conservation of Nature mission on the coral reefs of North Ari Atoll for three weeks in April–May 2015. The main result is the extremely low population of commercially important sea cucumbers in North Ari Atoll, consistent with other recent surveys in the country. The assemblage was largely dominated by two species in the family Holothuriidae, Holothuria edulis and Pearsonothuria graeffei, with strikingly different proportions than the neighbour atolls of Malé and Baa. This study increases the number of holothurian species recorded in Maldives to 28, with 10 records for Ari Atoll, including three new records for the country. and 7 main uninhabited islands. Ari Atoll echinoderm fauna had not been studied before, and the holothuroid assemblage was compared with the recently surveyed neighbouring atolls of Baa (Ducarme 2015) and Malé (Muthiga 2008). Materials and methods Study site The 12 islands surveyed in North Ari Atoll (Alifu alifu) are exposed to different human impact and management regimes (four resort islands, four community islands and four uninhabited islands). The location of the 12 islands is shown in Fig. 1. Survey methodology At each island reef, three sites were surveyed on the cardinal directions closest to the island. At each site, three replicate 50-m transects were laid lengthwise along the reef slope, with a minimum of 3 m separating each transect. Holothuroids were surveyed and quantified in a 50 m by 2 m belt transect, by scuba diving at 10 m depth. At 7 out of 12 sites, this protocol was replicated at 7, 5 and 1 m depths along parallel transects. Large sea cucumbers sighted outside the transects (down to 25 m) were also recorded separately. Additional nonlinear night surveys were carried out at most sites at shallow depths to spot potential nocturnal species. All surveys were carried out by examining the benthos, searching under crevices and rocks on the reef, and recording all sea cucumbers encountered. Pictures of each newly encountered species were taken for identification, as no specimen sampling was authorised for this mission. The benthos was surveyed separately, on 10-m depth transects using 1 Centre d'Écologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, UMR 7204, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris) Email: email@example.com 10 SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin #36 – March 2016 a similar method, and the results will be published in a separate publication.


Variations in species diversity among the forest communities under different protection regimes,i.e.,experimental zone,buffer zone,and core zone of Nanling National Nature Reserve,were compared and analyzed in terms of species abundance,richness,Shannon-Wiener diversity index and evenness index.According to the investigation,species abundance was significantly different in the experimental zone,which experienced much disturbance.Species abundance varied moderately in the buffer zone and was not significantly different in the core zone with strict protection.The core zone had the highest species richness,next came the buffer zone and the experimental zone.The Shannon-Wiener diversity index increased with higher protection level,while the evenness index increased as the protection level decreased.But the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the evenness index among the three communities were not significantly different.The study suggested that human disturbances to some extent had an effect similar to the process of the natural disturbance,which could maintain and increase species diversity of the forest community.


Purpose The introduction of alternate care provider roles is at the forefront of many new health human resource strategies and is one of the key approaches in reducing orthopaedic wait times in Canada. The present study was part of a formal evaluation of an expanded role for physiotherapists which included referral triage, comprehensive assessment and development of a management plan and post-surgical follow-ups. Specifically, we examined the efficacy and role of an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP) with respect to reduction in wait times to care for patients with shoulder complaints referred to an orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty in shoulder reconstruction. Method We used data of 100 consecutive patients seen by an APP in 2010 to examine the following: 1) type of diagnosis, 2) number of new investigations ordered, percentage of patients who needed a consultation with the surgeon, 3) and indication for surgery. Patients who were sent for a second surgical opinion, had a failed surgery in the affected side, had a motor vehicle accident or were a surgical candidate for stabilization or superior labral repairs were not included in the study and were directly booked for the orthopaedic surgeon. To compare change in waiting times, a random sample of 100 charts of patients seen in 2008 by an orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty in shoulder reconstruction were reviewed. The following time frames were compared between the surgeon and APP: T1: time from date of referral to date of consultation, T2: time from date of consultation to date of final diagnostic test, T3: time from date of consultation to confirmed diagnosis. Parametric and non-parametric analyses were performed as indicated by the distribution of data. Results The highest pathologies managed by the APP were rotator cuff pathology, osteoarthritis, impingement syndrome, and adhesive capsulitis. The number of investigations ordered was 9%, 12%, and 85% for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ultrasound, and plain x-rays respectively. Forty four patients (44%) were referred to the surgeon of which, 10 had a subacromial injection, 17 required surgery and 13 required the surgeons opinion/input. There was a statistically significant difference between the surgeon and APP in all three time points (T1: p=0.02, T2: p=0.02, T3: p=0.007). The APP had shorter wait times despite the fact that patients seen by the APP were actually chosen from the surgeons long waiting list. Conclusion The extended role is a viable strategy for reducing waiting times and freeing surgeons time by providing care to patients who do not require surgery or those who have an uncomplicated post-surgical recovery.


The big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) model predicts students' academic self-concept to be negatively predicted by the achievement level of their reference group, controlling for individual achievement. Despite an abundance of empirical evidence supporting the BFLPE, there have been relatively few studies searching for possible moderators. Integrating the BFLPE model with Achievement Goal Theory, the present study aims to determine whether the negative effect of class-average achievement on academic self-concept is moderated by individual and class-average achievement goals. Our sample comprised of 2987 students (50% boys) from Grade 6 in 112 elementary schools in the Flemish region of Belgium (174 classes). Applying multilevel modelling, we found a stronger BFLPE when students' individual achievement goals were higher, regardless of the specific nature of these goals. The BFLPE was not moderated by class-average levels of achievement goals. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the BFLPE is moderated by individual goal-related factors.


This paper aims to measure the quality of all Romanian cities' websites in 2019 and 2022, before and after the disruptive event of COVID-19. Since the official websites are the core instrument of e-governance, the changes in the quality of Romanian cities' websites reflect the changes in the development of urban e-governance in Romania. The COVID-19 lockdowns and contact restrictions and the moving of most activities into the online environment had the potential to impact the performance of Romanian cities' websites significantly and catalyze the progress of local e-governance. The quality of Romanian cities' official websites was measured using an adapted survey instrument proposed by Holzer and Kim and Manoharan, Melitski, and Holzer. The tool covers five critical criteria of website quality or performance: personal data security, usability, content, services, and citizen participation. The research results may seem contrary to expectations: the improvements of websites have been incremental rather than transformational. Although our research provides only a case study, we may assert that the reform of traditional administration remains a step-by-step process. Our study's main contribution consists in showing that the progress of e-governance is an incremental process even in a situation of emergency that requires the moving of most activities into the online environment.


This paper analyzes the call quality perceived by Skype users in both fixed and mobile environments. Specifically, LAN, WLAN, ADSL and UMTS network connections are evaluated by means of both PCs and mobile terminals. The end- to-end delay is below 150 ms in all cases, so it does not degrade the call quality (in the case of no echo loss in the path). The traffic patterns of Skype were also studied for uplink/downlink, private/public addresses, which node initiates the call, and what kind of terminal is used. Additionally, PESQ measurements reveal that Skype calls are above the minimum acceptable quality when using PC-based nodes, whereas quality is not acceptable when using mobile terminals. The effect of the CPU load of the mobile terminal on the perceived call quality has also been analyzed.


The utility model discloses an exoskeleton splint device used for curing bone fracture. The exoskeleton splint device used for curing the bone fracture comprises a small splint external fixing mechanism and a clamping mechanism, wherein the small splint external fixing mechanism is wrapped outside an injured limb of a human body, the clamping mechanism is clamped with a healthy limb which is connected with the injured limb, and the small splint external fixing mechanism is connected with the clamping mechanism on a joint between the healthy limb and the injured limb in a revolving mode. Compared with the prior art, a method combining the small splint external fixing mechanism and the clamping mechanism is adopted, the small splint external fixing mechanism is connected with the clamping mechanism in a revolving mode, and modern science and technology are in organic combination with the small splint of Chinese medicine. Requirements on external fixing force for curing the bone fracture of modern medicine science is met, the bone fracture is enabled to be naturally cured in an original ecology condition, so that a good condition is created for movement of the injured limb during an external fixing period. Recovery quality of the bone fracture is improved and a recovery process is accelerated according to an objective law of recovery of the injured limb, so synchronization between external fixing cure and rehabilitation is achieved.


An auditors' job is to review the company's figures and, as an independent part, give an accurate picture of its financial situation. Auditors have to relate to ISA where ISA 570 can be found and w ...


Subtitle: Few airframe markets have as rich a heritage as Piaggio, which has been involved in aviation for nearly nine decades. However, it wasn't until recently that the company firmly established itself in the U.S. market.


BACKGROUND
Over a third of the world's population is infected with the tuberculin bacteria. In 1993 WHO launched the DOTS-strategy to enhance treatment compliance. Despite Gambia's adaption in 1985 it falls below WHO target of 85% cure rate. The defaulter rate was 14% in 2001, which reached 16% in the urban areas of the Western Division in 2003.

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to compare TB treatment and outcomes before and after the introduction of daily directly observed therapy (DOTS) medication and the perceptions/attitudes of defaulters in the Western Division of the Gambia.

METHODS
The study employed a mixed study design; a quantitative cross sectional study that reviewed the clinic records of pulmonary TB patients before and after the introduction of daily TB-DOTS medication and an in-depth interview of defaulters on the daily medication. The study was conducted at the Brikama TB-clinic in Gambia, located at the main hospital of Brikama serving all satellite villages. It registers on average 110/100 000 new smear-positive pulmonary TB-cases per annum. The quantitative arm compared clinic-based records of TB-DOTS medication before and after the introduction of daily medication. The qualitative arm explored the perceptions of daily medication defaulters.

RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference between the treatment outcomes of the two medication policies. However patients were less likely to have had three sputum tests reviewed in the daily medication period (22% v 72% Odds Ratio 6.2 (p <0.001). However, they reported that daily medication with its fixed-dose combination was more convenient.

CONCLUSION
Patients' full compliance with daily medication was hindered by socio-economic factors. The daily medication with its increased workload undermines the proper implementation of fundamental DOTS-elements, particularly follow up and sputum review.


This paper studies the determination of income taxes in a dynamic setting with human capital accumulation. The goal is to understand the factors that support an outcome without complete redistribution, given a majority of relatively poor agents. In the analysis, the internal dynamics of income are not sufficient to prevent complete redistribution under majority rule without commitment. However, a political influence game limits the support for expropriatory taxation and preserves incentives. In some cases, the outcome of the game corresponds with the optimal allocation under commitment.


ABSTRACT
Prostate cancer is the third most common diagnosed malignancy. It is a heterogeneous disease with incidence rates that vary substantially across the world, from 6.3 to 83.4 per 100,000 people. Age-standardized incidence rates are the highest in Northern Europe and lowest in South Central Asia. Men of African origin are more prone to the disease compared with other ethnicities. Mortality rates differ significantly from incidence rates, with the highest figures in the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa and Micronesia/Polynesia. This chapter provides an overview of the global trends in epidemiology of prostate cancer. Incidence and mortality rates in the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania are presented.


Indonesia's diversity includes religion, ethnicity, tradition, and culture. Various traditions carried out by society circle. Nyadran's tradition is one of example form local wisdom that still preserved by javanese people. This tradition proven to be in multiple regions toward month of Ramadan, the ritual widely carried out. Nyadran underwent acculturation process in the Walisongo era, from Hindu-Buddhist culture to islamic traditions. However, the appearance of  sense conservatism in society make minder thinking to preserve the nation's culture. Nyadran is considered out from Islamic religion and impressed heretics. This research aims to remove the understanding of conservatism and inferiority among society by discussing the values of Sufism contained in the nyadran's tradition. The practice form of these values can be seen from concrete of social Sufism in society, aslo their closeness to God. This research form of qualitative research with a literary approach. The author found, in nyadran's practice, not only social dimensions with human, and nature, but also with God. This dynamic is very appropriate as a method of missionary endeavor and the development of Sufism as one of the vehicles to create the intimacy of life. Through this approach, Walisongo be able to change the practice of Sufism that nuance mystical change with Islamic and rational version. The form of this tradition still same as the beginning, but prayers are replaced with the phrase tayibah, tahlil, tahmid, and others.


Based on the CUDA(compute unified device architecture) of GPU(graphics processing unit),the technical fundamentals and methods for general purpose computation on GPU are introduced.The algorithm of matrix multiplication is simulated on Geforce8800 GT.With the increasing of matrix order,algorithm speed is slowed either on CPU or on GPU.After the data quantity increases to 100 times,the operation time only increased in 3.95 times on GPU,and 216.66 times on CPU.


Approximately 40% of women have dense breast tissue that can make it harder to detect breast cancer with mammography. Yet, many women with dense breast tissue do not fully understand their risk of developing breast cancer. The reason? The information they receive about breast density can be confusing and unclear. But new technologies to assess breast density, coupled with improved efforts to communicate the results, could help more women better understand this health issue and make more informed decisions in the years ahead.


Ensuring sustainability of a well-run charity that achieves its mission and purpose is a governance challenge faced by charity boards.


Accessible online at: www.karger.com/goi Intrauterine insemination (IUI) remains a widely used treatment option for many couples with unexplained infertility, cervical factor subfertility, physiological or psychological sexual dysfunction, mild endometriosis, and mild-to-moderate male subfertility. The rationale behind IUI is bypassing the cervical mucus barrier and increasing the gamete density at the site of fertilization. Despite the extensive literature on the subject of artificial insemination, controversy remains about the effectiveness of this very popular treatment procedure, particularly in relation to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection [1]. To investigate the real value of IUI in unexplained and male subfertility cases, this treatment option has to be weighed against expectant management, medical and surgical treatment, timed coitus, IVF, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This comparison should not only involve success rates, but should also include a cost-benefit analysis, an analysis of the complication rates of the different treatment options, the invasiveness of the techniques, and couple compliance. Contradictory results with IUI are observed because most studies are retrospective and vary in the comparison of the study groups, the use or nonuse of different ovarian hyperstimulation regimens, the number of inseminations per treatment cycle, the timing of ovulation, and methods of sperm preparation. Nevertheless, pregnancy rates of between 10 and 18% per cycle are reported [2–4]. Considering the effectiveness of IUI, Cohlen et al. [4] reported on the results of meta-analyses indicating the advantage of IUI versus timed intercourse during natural cycles in case of cervical factor subfertility, male factor subfertility, and unexplained infertility. The use or nonuse of ovarian hyperstimulation is another important confounding factor, significantly influencing the success rate of IUI. The rationale behind the use of ovarian hyperstimulation in IUI is to increase the number of oocytes available for fertilization and to correct subtle unpredictable ovulatory dysfunction. Another advantage of superovulation with human menopausal gonadotropins or recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone is the enhanced opportunity for oocyte capture, fertilization, and implantation. On the other hand, the risks of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and especially multiple pregnancies are increased. The meta-analyses analyzed by Cohlen et al. [4] show the benefit of IUI with mild ovarian hyperstimulation (MOH) versus timed intercourse with MOH in couples with male subfertility and unexplained subfertility. IUI with MOH was also more effective as compared with IUI during natural cycles in couples with unexplained subfertility. On the other hand, no difference in success rates could be observed in IUI with or without MOH, if a moderate or severe male factor was involved. Opponents of IUI draw our attention to the fact that the prediction of a multiple gestation is highly uncertain,


Rapp, Gravity Anomalies and Sea Surface Heights Derived From a Combined GEOS 3/Seasat Altimeter Data Set, vol. 91 No. B5, Journal of Geophysical Re search, 4867-4876 (Apr. 10, 1986). Brennecke, Lelgemen, Geoid and Gravity Anomalies in the North Sea Area Derived from SEASAT-Altimeter Data, 7 Marine Geophysical Research, 113-115 (1984). Liang, The Adjustment and Combination of GEOS-3 and SEASAT Altimeter Data, Ohio State University, Jun. 1983. Rapp, The Determination of Geoid Undulations and Gravity Anomalies from SEASAT Altimeter Data, 5,001,634 Mar. 19, 1991 11 Patent Number:


The utility model discloses a silicone rubber insulation flexible cable which comprises four conductors. Each conductor is a silvering conductor. A silicone rubber insulating layer is wrapped outside the four conductors, respectively. A shielding layer is wrapped outside the whole body of the silicone rubber insulating layer. A silicone rubber sheath layer is wrapped outside the shielding layer. The silicone rubber insulation flexible cable is flexible, exhibits high temperature resistance and anti-tearing properties, and is high in anti-mechanical damage capability.


As many as 30,000 African Americans have sickle cell disease (SCD). Though the political activism of the 1960s and a major 1970s health campaign spurred demands for testing, treatment, and education programs, little attention has been given to how families cope with SCD. This first study to give SCD a social, economic, and cultural context documents the daily lives of families living with this threatening illness. Specifically, Shirley A. Hill examines how low-income African American mothers with children suffering from this hereditary, incurable, and chronically painful disease, react to the diagnosis and manage their family's health care.The 23 mostly single mothers Hill studies survive in an inner-city world of social inequality. Despite limited means, they actively participate, create, and define the social world they live in, their reality shaped by day-to-day caregiving. These women overcome obstacles by utilizing such viable alternatives as sharing child care with relatives within established kinship networks.Highlighting the role of class, race, and gender in the illness experience, Hill interprets how these women reject, redefine, or modify the objective scientific facts about SCD. She acknowledges and explains the relevance of child-bearing and motherhood to African American women's identity, revealing how the revelation of the SCD trait or the diagnosis of one child often does not affect a woman's interpretation of her reproductive rights.


Along with the improving of dental devices and demands of patients for high standards and high efficiency in dental treatment,clinical practice teaching in Stomatology is gradually facing many challenges.Pd(Proprioceptive Derivation)is a new technologies and changes in dental care,providing dentists with greater comfort and better health.Pd had a positive effect on dentists' working posture but also on working effective,reducing operation hours and preventing cross infection.Pd as an international standard working procedure was introduced to our hospital since its establishment,achieving good results in clinic and we also have some beneficial exploration in clinical practice teaching according existing problems.


Corporate Governance is seen as a set of systems, rules, regulations that are in place in order to keep the company on a straight path and to give assurance to the shareholders that their investment is well protected. One of the instruments that are at the choice of the shareholders is the Board of Directors (BoD). Debates go around its role of monitoring and supervising, on obtaining an adding value board or a competitive advantage, on the changes that it has suffered along the years. This paper is a literature review on the diversity in gender, age and experience of the members of the board that have in their hands the power to bring value or destruction to companies. The study shows that are many contradictory results and opinions on the matter and that company's performance is determined by many factors combined together, like a good mix of culture, experience, professionalism. Discrimination shouldn't be made on gender, age, background, all persons should be given equal chances and stereotype should be fought more.


The 1991-1992 report includes: synopsis of 19 exhibitions; listings of events, activities, publications, staff, acquisitions, and finances; a newspaper article on the "Africville" exhibit; a summary of the 1986 feminist-conceived artist's conference; plans for computerization of the collection; and notes on "Rememberance Time". 5 bib. ref.


Marine microbiology is developing strongly in several countries with a distinct focus on bioactive compounds. Analysis of the geographical origins of compounds, extracts, bioactivities, and Actinobacteria up to 2003 indicates that 67% of marine natural products were sourced from Australia, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, Japan, the Mediterranean, and the Western Pacific Ocean sites [1]. Marine Actinobacteria have been looked upon as potential sources of bioactive compounds, and the work done earlier has shown that these microbes are the richest sources of secondary metabolites. They hold a prominent position as targets in screening programs due to their diversity and their proven ability to produce novel metabolites and other molecules of pharmaceutical importance [2]. Since the discovery of actinomycin [3], Actinobacteria have been found to produce many commercially bioactive compounds and antitumor agents in addition to enzymes of industrial interest [4]. Approximately, two-third of the thousands of naturally occurring antibiotics have been isolated from these organisms [5]. Of them, many have been obtained from Streptomyces [6] and these natural products have been an extraordinary source for lead structures in the development of new drugs [7]. Although the diversity of life in the terrestrial environment is extraordinary, the greatest biodiversity is in the oceans [8]. More than 70% of our planet's surface is covered by oceans and life on Earth originated from the sea. In some marine ecosystems, such as the deep sea floor and coral reefs, experts estimate that the biological diversity is higher than that in the tropical rainforests [9]. As marine environmental conditions are extremely different from the terrestrial ones, it is surmised that marine Actinobacteria have characteristics different from those of terrestrial counterparts and, therefore, might produce different types of bioactive compounds. The living conditions to which marine Actinobacteria had to adapt during evolution range from extremely high pressures (with a maximum of 1100 atmospheres) and anaerobic conditions at temperatures just below 0 C on the deep sea floor to high acidic conditions (pH as low as 2.8) at temperatures of over 100 C 1


Christine Korsgaard spotlights the notion of moral agency and thereby refutes the Reductionist thesis of Derek Parfit. Parfit claims that personal identity just involves physical and psychological continuity, which can be described in an impersonal way and without claiming that experiences are had by a person. Instead Korsgaard regards persons primarily as agents, and stresses the importance of viewing ourselves both from the theoretical and the practical standpoints. From the theoretical standpoint, an action may be viewed as just another experience, but from the practical standpoint, actions and choices must be viewed as having agents and choosers. This is what makes them our own actions and choices as well as contributes to the process of self-constitution. Personal identity as the chooser of our desires and author of our actions can be thought of as the common denominator between Korsgaard and Wang Yangming. For liangzhi is none other than the agency that acts as the capacity for moral judgment and the motivation of performing moral actions. It not only expresses one's authentic self but steers the process of selfconstitution to the right path. However, for all the common ground, there still exists a significant divergence where Korsgaard emphasizes that personal identity has nothing to do with metaphysical fact while the two dimensions of liangzhi, ontological and ethical, are intertwined with each other.


Context: In animal models, the luteinizing hormone surge increases progesterone (P4) and progesterone receptor (PGR), prostaglandins (PTGs), and epidermal growth factor (EGF)–like factors that play essential roles in ovulation. However, little is known about the expression, regulation, and function of these key ovulatory mediators in humans. Objective: To determine when and how these key ovulatory mediators are induced after the luteinizing hormone surge in human ovaries. Design and Participants: Timed periovulatory follicles were obtained from cycling women. Granulosa/lutein cells were collected from in vitro fertilization patients. Main Outcome Measures: The in vivo and in vitro expression of PGR, PTG synthases and transporters, and EGF-like factors were examined at the level of messenger RNA and protein. PGR binding to specific genes was assessed. P4 and PTGs in conditioned media were measured. Results: PGR, PTGS2, and AREG expressions dramatically increased in ovulatory follicles at 12 to 18 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In human granulosa/lutein cell cultures, hCG increased P4 and PTG production and the expression of PGR, specific PTG synthases and transporters, and EGF-like factors, mimicking in vivo expression patterns. Inhibitors for P4/PGR and EGF-signaling pathways reduced hCG-induced increases in PTG production and the expression of EGF-like factors. PGR bound to the PTGS2, PTGES, and SLCO2A1 genes. Conclusions: This report demonstrated the time-dependent induction of PGR, AREG, and PTGS2 in human periovulatory follicles. In vitro studies indicated that collaborative actions of P4/PGR and EGF signaling are required for hCG-induced increases in PTG production and potentiation of EGF signaling in human periovulatory granulosa cells.


The sample area of national ecotourism is a national key project in the period of our nation's "tenth 5 years". To evaluate and reflect the progress of this project, the paper puts forward an index system of valuation, composed of the layer of three criterions, the layer of eleven indexes and the layer of fifty-six elements, and offers a valuation standard to valuate and analyze this system by using AHP method. Under this system, Longsheng hot-spring national forest park has been tested and the result shows that it has better consistence with the reality.


Dacryodes edulis, a multipurpose plant contains high concentrations of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents that protect against tissue damage. The study was aimed at determining the ethanolic seed extract of dacryodes edulis on the of paraquat induced on testicular toxicity in male adult wister rat. Fifty-four adult male albino wister rat weighing between 150-180g were used for the study. LD 50 was determined for both dacryodesedulis and paraquat. The rats used for this experiment were distributed into eight groups. Group A (control group) while B C D E F G H were the treated group. (group B paraquat 0.1ml only for4 weeks, group C paraquat only for 2 weeks, group D paraquat + 500mg/kg of dacryodes edulis, group E paraquat only for 2 weeks and discontinued, Group F paraquat +1000mg/kg of dacryodes edulis for 4 weeks' group G and H received 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg of dacryodes edulis for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment animals were anesthetized and samples were collected for assessment. The result from this study shows that paraquat produces destructive effects on testes evaluations, There was significant increase in LH, FSH testosterone level, was high in group C E F. There was also a significant decrease in the body weight and relative organ weight throughout the period of administration. Histopathological finding reveals distortion of the testicular tissues with mild toxicity in group B. The treated group showed sign of recovery and reversal effect of paraquat. In conclusion the ethanolic seed extract of dacryodes edulis possess ability to improve sperm morphology in paraquat toxicity.


To the editor:

Rituximab, a chimeric CD20 monoclonal antibody that causes depletion of B cells, shows short-term treatment efficacy in 40% to 60% of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients.[1][1],[2][2] Our recently published multicenter randomized open-label phase 2 trial comparing 3 rituximab


The bimolecular reaction of [ReVL(O)Cl3] [L = 2-(2-pyridyl)benzoxazole (L1), 2-(2-pyridyl)benzthiazole (L2)], 1 with excess diphosphine [Ph2P(CH2)xPPh2
(x
= 1–4)] has furnished [ReIIIL(OP(Ph)2(CH2)xP(Ph)2)Cl3], 2 which is spontaneously converted in solution to [ReIIIL(P(Ph)2(CH2)xP(O)(Ph)2)Cl3], 4. The reaction of [ReIIIL(OPMeyPh3 − y)Cl3], 3 with PMeyPh3 − y (y
= 0–2) has afforded [ReIIIL(PMeyPh3 − y)Cl3], 5. Oxidation of 2 and 3 by dilute nitric acid has furnished nitrates of the rhenium(IV) species, 2+ and 3+. Structure determination vis-a-vis spectral and electrochemical comparisons have revealed a meridional geometry for 2, 3, 2+, and 3+ and a facial geometry for 4 and 5. The transformation 2
→
4 is a twin isomerization (linkage-cum-geometrical), the geometrical part of which recurs in the conversion 3
→
5. Rate studies have revealed that the reaction 2
→
4 is intramolecular in nature. It is initiated by nucleophilic attack of the metal by the dangling phosphine function. The process slows down nearly exponentially as the diphosphine spacer length (x) increases. The oxidised complex 2+ does not isomerize.


The electron injection mechanism of the effective cathode structure has been investigated, doping cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3) into the organic electron-transport layer, which significantly enhances the electron injection in comparison with an ultra-thin Cs2CO3 injection layer, with a notable superiority in both luminance and efficiency. The results show that Cs2CO3 doped tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3)/Al cathode exhibits better electron injection efficiency than that in Cs2CO3/Al bilayer cathode, thus a maximum current efficiency of 6.5 cd/A (3.1 cd/A for Cs2CO3/Al) is obtained for 30% Cs2CO3 doping concentration device. It is proposed that this improved efficiency is related to the greatly enhanced electron injection at the Alq3:Cs2CO3/Al cathode interface and efficient electron transport in the bulk of the Cs2CO3:Alq3 layer. The result from atomic force microscopy shows that with the insertion of Alq3:Cs2CO3 layer, the roughness of Alq3 surface decreases, which is favorable to improve the device luminance and increase the device lifetime.


Within the framework of the concept of a circular economy, research in the field of creating technological systems for recycling waste from mining and processing plants occupies one of the key positions. This is connected, on the one hand, with significant volumes of such waste, reaching tens of millions of tons and posing a significant environmental hazard to air and water basins, human health, and, on the other hand, with their rich chemical and mineralogical composition, which makes it possible to call them accumulations of technogenic deposits. In this regard, the task of creating control systems for technological processes of processing such waste and their information support, including support for all stages of the passage of information processes, is urgent. The novelty of the presented research lies in the proposed structure of an intelligent control system for a complex chemical and energy technological system for processing apatite-nepheline ores, as well as in an algorithm for predicting technological parameters, which is part of the information support of the control system under consideration. The algorithm is based on the use of the apparatus of deep recurrent neural networks and Kalman filtering, which is used at the stage of data preprocessing to train the neural network. The paper describes the proposed algorithm for predicting multidimensional time series, adapted to the considered technological process, presents the software executed in the MatLab environment to demonstrate the efficiency of the specified combination of methods for processing technological parameters. In a model experiment, it has been shown that the use of filtering makes it possible to increase the accuracy of the forecast, which is especially noticeable at its large horizons. The practical significance of the research results is the proposed structure of an intelligent control system for the processing of apatite-nepheline ore waste and software for predicting its parameters, which can be used in various decision support systems.


The research's aim is to examine the effect of gender on science self-efficacy and science self-efficacy of gifted and nongifted middle school students. The research has been carried out at the education and training term of 2016-2017 in Melikgazi district of city of Kayseri. 634 students have constituted the total research sample, 191 of whom are gifted middle school students and the remaining 443 students are middle school students with normal development. Survey research, which is one of quantitative methods, has been implemented in the research. Likert Type "Science Self-Efficacy Scale" have been used as a data collecting tool. The reliability coefficient of scale used in the research has been found out as 0.917. The independent sample t-test was used to data analysis. The results show that; there is a meaningful difference in behalf of gifted students between gifted middle school students and other middle school students' science self-efficacy scores. During the research, mastery, emotional and verbal factors have been studied one by one in order to find out if there is a meaningful difference between science self-efficacy levels of two groups of students in terms of three factors. In conclusion, a meaningful difference has been appeared on behalf of gifted students in terms of mastery, emotional and verbal. When the self-efficacy scores of the middle school students in both groups were examined in terms of gender variation, it was seen that there was no significant difference between the self-efficacy levels of the students of different sexes.


The internet offers important ways for UK clinical psychologists to engage the global community of aspiring psychologists. Increasing and diversifying the use of social media and internet-based platforms to target this audience may increase access and inclusion in clinical psychology.


Traffic flow cannot be predicted solely based on historical data due to its high dynamics and sensitivity to emergency situations. In this paper, a real traffic data collected from 2011 to 2014 is used, and an adaptive prediction model based on a variant of Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), namely On-line Sequential ELM with forgetting mechanism, is built. The model has the capability of updating itself using incoming data, and adapts to the changes in real time. However, limitations, such as the requirements of large number of neurons and dataset size for initialization, are discovered in practice. To improve the applicability, another scheme involving sequential updating and network reconstruction is proposed. The experimental results show that, compared with the previous method, the proposed one has better performance in time while achieving the similar accuracy.


The mechanisms by which corticosteroids affect circulating granulocytesare not completely understood. Since granulocyte adherence and chemotaxis are both prerequisite for an exudative response in inflammation, we studied these functions in vitro before and at 4, 24, and 48 hr after administration of 60 mg of prednisone to healthy human volunteers and patients with idiopathic hypereosinophilia. Adherence was determined by the number of eosinophils and neutrophils from heparinized whole blood that remained adherent to nylonwool colums after a 1 5-mm incubation. Prior to prednisone administration, 68 ± 7 % neutrophils and 60 ± 1 8 % eosinophils were adherent; 4 hr after prodnisono administration, adherence of both cell types decreased by one-third (p < 0.02); at 24 hr adherence had partially recovered (neutrophils 63 ± 10 %; eosinophils 60 ± 5 %). Chemo


Spectral decomposition is a powerful analysis tool used to identify the frequency content of seismic data. Many spectral decomposition techniques have been developed, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The basis pursuit technique produces a high time frequency resolution map through formulating the problem as an inversion scheme. This techniques differs from conventional spectral decomposition methods in that produces not only frequency information but also phase information. The synthetic and real data examples shown in this study illustrate the advantages of the basis pursuit method for seismic spectral decomposition.


The stability curve of a protein is defined as the plot of the free energy of unfolding as a function of temperature. For most proteins the change in heat capacity on denaturation, or unfolding, is large but approximately constant. When unfolding is s two‐state process, most of the salient features of the stability curves of proteins can be derived from this fact. A number of relations are obtained, including the special features of low‐temperature denaturation, the properties of the maximum in stability, and the interrelationships of the characteristic temperatures of the protein. The paper closes with a formula that permits one to calculate small changes in stabilization free energy from changes in the melting temperature of the protein.


A Report on the Proceedings of the American Italian Historical Association Conference held October 26, 1968 at Casa Italiana, Columbia University, New York City, New York.


indicating tBDv replication in the brain of the affected horses (de la Torre anid others 1996, Gonzalez-Dunia and others 1997, Sauder and de la Torre 1998). Some investigations have detected BDV antibodies and a BI)v nucleic acid sequence in sera and PB\MCs from clinically, healthy horses through the use of immunoblotting or Pc K techniques (Nakamura and others 1995, Bahmani and others 1996). They demonstrated seropositivity against ml)\ protein and Box RNA signlals by PCR in healthy horses, anid suggested that BDV is more widespread than has been thought in healthv horses worldwide, as wvell as in Japan (Nakamura and others 1995). Otherwvorkers demonstrated BD\ RNA-pSitive signals by Pc onlyr in restricted regions of the brainis from horses wvith locomotor disease (Hagiwvara and others 1997). A higher prevalence of B\' infection in human blood donors liv ing near thoroughbred horse farms supports the possibilitv that iov may be horizontally transmitted, at least in part, from infected horses to human beings (Takahashi and otlhers 1997). [hus, Borna disease may be considered as a possible zoonotic disease that has spread worldwide, from an enrzootic disease of horses in Germany (Durrwald and Ludwvig 1997). This is the first report describing clinical Borna disease in horses in Japan. The numbers of horses imported from abroad including from endemic areas of Borna disease, atnd the numbers of racing horses travelling around the world are on the increase. Such a situatioin mav enhance the risk of Borna disease occurring in many countries, including Japan.


CEO Narcissism has the potency to influence individual characteristics positively or negatively. We aim to examine the relationship between narcissism as CEO-level characteristics and tax footnotes readability. We measure narcissism using the CEOs' photos on the firms' annual reports. Using 799 firm-year Indonesia listed firms from 2015 through 2019, we find that higher CEO narcissism is related to a higher tax footnote readability. This result is robust for alternative measures of readability. By examining the relationship between CEO narcissism and tax footnotes readability, we provide an additional important factor to boards for consideration during the CEO selection. We also offer insight for shareholders or investors to consider CEO traits, namely narcissism, in assessing and interpreting tax footnotes readability.


OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of MMP-8 in human and rat tooth development.

METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the localization of MMP-8 protein while in situ hybridization was used to examine the expression of MMP-8 mRNA.

RESULTS
The expression of MMP-8 protein was localized in odontoblast and dentin matrix at the later bell stage in human tooth germ. The dentin was denser close to the pulp cavity. The expression of MMP-8 mRNA was found in very few polarized odontoblast at the early bell stage and all polarized odontoblast at the later bell stage in rat tooth germ.

CONCLUSION
The results suggested that MMP-8 involved in dentin matrix rebuilding in the process of dentin formation in human and rat dental development.


Rainfall measurement system is a useful tool in weather measurement system. In tropical country such as Malaysia, rainfall measurement for agricultural and weather forecasting system is very important. Sampling- related tipping-bucket (TB) rain gauge measurements have significant errors for short time estimation. In this paper, a stable electronic rain gauge system with comprehensive data manipulation is designed and developed. This project used two major systems (a) tipping bucket with potentiometer and (b) capacitive sensor. Data is recorded and analyzed before the output is displayed. The system measures rainfalls accurately, saves the data reading and shows specific calculated for display. 


....................... ............................................................................................. iii DEDICATION ... .................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................. xii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................ xx LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................... xxiii CHAPTER


Abstract The liquid crystalline properties of alkyl 4-(4-alkoxybenzylideneamino)benzoates, where the ester alkyl groups are propyl, isobutyl, neopentyl, racemic 2-methylbutyl, pentyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, and 4-methylpentyl, have been studied by thermal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The alkoxyl group includes all the members from methoxyl to decyloxyl in most of the series. Chain branching of the purely smectogenic five propyl, two butyl, and six pentyl esters produces nematic behavior. All the resulting nematogens but one are the 2-methyl derivatives in which two are neopentyl esters. The smectic B phases observed for many propyl esters are not found for the isobutyl and neopentyl esters. Similarly, the smectic B and C phases of the butyl esters are eliminated by a 2-methyl substituent. On the other hand, smectic B behavior not exhibited by the pentyl esters appears in a few early homologs and smectic C behavior is thermally enhanced in some higher homologs ...


To evaluate the prognostic values of perinephric fat invasion and renal vein invasion in pT3a renal cell carcinoma, as stand‐alone factors and in combination with tumor size and Fuhrman grade.


Proposes that, due to the changing market, companies can no longer work with the logistic systems of the past but must develop new logistic concepts, logistic management and control systems to support the new concepts. Discusses the importance of order penetration point (OPP) within the development of time‐based management and control systems. Concludes that creativity in product development, production and distribution must be based on strong modern logistical foundations to survive in the competitive market.


Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks effective therapeutic targets. Immunotherapy is considered as a novel treatment strategy for TNBC. However, only some patients could benefit from the treatment. Limited studies have comprehensively explored expression patterns and prognostic value of immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) in TNBC. In this study, we downloaded relevant ICGs expression profiles and clinical TNBC data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) database. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was employed to develop a multi-gene signature for predicting the prognostic outcome. PDCD1, PDCD1LG2 and KIR3DL2 were identified as hub genes and incorporated into the model. This gene signature could stratify patients into two prognostic subgroups, and unfavorable clinical outcomes were observed in high-risk patients. The predictive performance was assessed by the receiver operating characteristic curves. Moreover, we also analyzed differences in immune status and therapeutic response between both groups. This novel gene signature may be served as a robust prognostic marker, but also an indicator reflecting immunotherapy response.


Abstract Three sources of uncertainty in model projections of precipitation change in China for the 21st century were separated and quantified: internal variability, intermodel variability, and scenario uncertainty. Simulations from models involved in the third phase and the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3 and CMIP5) were compared to identify improvements in the robustness of projections from the latest generation of models. No significant differences were found between CMIP3 and CMIP5 in terms of future precipitation projections over China, with the two datasets both showing future increases. The uncertainty can be attributed firstly to internal variability, and then to both inter-model and internal variability. Quantification analysis revealed that the uncertainty in CMIP5 models has increased by about 10%–60% with respect to CMIP3, despite significant improvements in the latest generation of models. The increase is mainly due to the increase of internal variability in the initial decades, and then mainly due to the increase of inter-model variability thereafter, especially by the end of this century. The change in scenario uncertainty shows no major role, but makes a negative contribution to begin with, and then an increase later.


In this paper, we focus on (n+3)-dimensional metric n-Lie algebras. To begin with, we give some properties on (n+3)-dimensional n-Lie algebras. Then based on the properties, we obtain the classification of (n+3)-dimensional metric n-Lie algebras.


Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), is one of the most prevalent and costly infectious diseases of livestock, particularly sheep and cattle herds. The aim of this study was to estimate true animal, within-herd, and between-herd prevalence of Map antibodies in sheep herds of the Kars Region in the Northeast part of Turkey. A seroprevalence study was carried out using a commercial ELISA kit. Twenty six sheep herds, non-vaccinated against Map, were randomly selected in different regions and in total 450 sheep aged 24 months and more were sampled. Herds were declared positive if one or more sheep in the herd tested positive for Map antibodies. The animal, within-herd, and between-herd apparent prevalences were calculated as 6.2% (95% CI = 4.3 to 8.8%), 10.2% (95 CI = 7.1 to 14.3%) and 57.7% (95% CI = 38.9 to 74.5%), respectively. True prevalences were estimated by conversion from apparent prevalences via the Rogan-Gladen estimator. True animal, within-herd, and between-herd prevalences were calculated as 8.3% (95% CI = 4.7 to 11.8), 14.6% (95 CI = 8.9 to 20.2) and 90% (95 CI = 59.8 to 120.1), respectively. The results provide useful information regarding the prevalence of Map infection in sheep herds in the Kars Region and will hopefully attract the special attention of veterinarians and promote the establishment of an efficient control programme.


Most of the shipped products are sensitive against shock and vibration events during the distribution. Various cushioning materials are usually used to prevent the product damages. During the design process the protective packaging system is developed by the engineers based on the cushion and vibration transmissibility features (ie. cushion curve) of the material used. However, after the assembly of the packaged-product, these are stored for various long periods in warehouse. During this time the products pre-load the cushioning material and its parameters can be changed. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the vibration transmissibility of PE and XPE cushioning material at varied storage (pre-loaded) time and static load conditions. Four different kinds of duration (1 hour, 10 hours, 100 hours and 1000 hours) were used for the pre-loading period at three different static loads (3.488 kPa, 4.651 kPa, and 6.976 kPa), and then at 0.5 oct/min sine sweep vibration the peak frequencies of response and vibration transmissibility, and damping ratio were determined. The results show that the effect of pre-loading is minimal by PE material, but can influence the resonance frequencies by XPE cushioning material. The findings of this study help the packaging engineers to understand better the mechanism of these cushioning materials and to design suitable protective packaging systems.


Abstract

Fikroh, Inaqotul. 2016. "The Main Character of The Short Story Shigatsu No Aru Hareta Asa Ni Hyaku Paasento No Onna No Ko Ni Deau Koto Ni Tsuite by Haruki Murakami". Thesis, Department of Japanese Studies Faculty of Humanities Diponegoro University. The First Advisor Zaki Ainul Fadli, M.Hum. Second Advisor Nur Hastuti, SS, M.Hum.
In this thesis, the witer analyze the short story titled shigatsu no aru hareta asa hyaku paasento no onna no ko ni deau koto ni tsuite which is included in the short story compilation titled Zou no Syometsu by Haruki Murakami published by Shinchosa in 2005. This short story tells about the encounter of a Boku with a girl whom he consider as a perfect girl when he met her in a street of Harajuku.
The purpose of this study is to answer the main problem which is how is the character of the main role "Boku" in the story. In analyzing the character "Boku", the writer used the theory of fiction characteristics namely telling and showing according to Minderop Albertine. Both methods are used because it can analyze the main character in detail and meticulously. The results obtained from the methods are that character "Boku" is easy going, mature, low self- esteem, a dreamer, a loner, irrational, pessimist, fearful, much consideration, hesitant and romantic.
In addition, to determine the relationship between the character and the intrinsic elements of the story, the writer also use structural approach by Nurgiantoro. From that structural approach, we know that the element developing the short story of shigatsu no aru hareta asa hyaku paasento no onna no ko ni deau koto ni tsuite are as follows, the theme of this short story is regret; the plot of this short story is the thought of dissapoinment; the setting of the story is in the morning, in a spring time on April in 1981; The point of view contained in the story is first person as a main character; the moral value in this story is that the perfection of man is not measured by physical appearance and the most important thing is the courage to fight for the person we loved no matter what happened.

Keywords: character, telling method, showing method


The article deals with the peculiarities of the dialogue which occurred at the turn of the 19th century between the creative searches of Surikov and the newest modernist trends in Russia: from Symbolism of the artists of the World of Art (known in Russian as Mir Iskusstva) group and the Blue Rose (Golubaya Roza) circle to the different stages of the Russian avant-garde – from the Jack of Diamonds (Bubnovy Valet) to Suprematism. The composition of the study is based on the counterpoint of two questions – how Surikov perceived "modernism" and how "modernism" perceived Surikov. The concept of "modernism" in this case is interpreted in the extended sense of the creative search to the early 20th century for unconventional art of magical and plastic means of expression that went beyond the limits of the Itinerant (Рeredvizhniki) Movement's realism. The collision of relationships is viewed through the prism of the stable plastic and emotional features of the artistic poetics of Surikov himself. That is why the author touches the issues of the artists's personal understanding of the nature of art and the problems of innovation, which worried him until the end of his life and found expression in the decorative, lyrical and expressive features of the late creative period.


By using the auxiliary fuction method and dispersed Bellman in equality,the second order nonlinear difference equation Δ(r_nΔy_(n-1))+q_nf(y_n)=0,n=0,1,2,…,is studied,and two criteria for asymptotic behavior of the equation are obtained.


The invention relates to a foot bone fixator, which comprises an ankle restricting device and a palm fixator, wherein the ankle restricting device comprises a leg fixing ring and an ankle covering plate, the leg fixing ring is fixedly connected with the ankle covering plate, the palm fixator comprises a palm support part, a foot back fixing assembly and a support pad, the palm support part comprises a palm support plate and a fixing part, the fixing part is fixedly connected with the palm support plate, the fixing part is rotationally connected with one side, backing to the leg fixing ring, of the ankle covering plate, the foot back fixing assembly comprises N arc-shaped fixing rods A, the two ends of the fixing rods A are fixedly arranged on the two sides of the palm support plate in the width direction, the middle part of the palm support plate is provided with a hollow hole corresponding to the palm surface, a plurality of fixing rods B are arranged inside the hollow hole in a parallel array way, a bone surface fixing assembly is arranged between the foot back fixing assembly and the palm fixing plate, and comprises fixing blocks arranged on the fixing rods A and the fixing rods B, and fixing cables are arranged among the fixing blocks.


The effect of different measures on green color keeping and physiological and ecological characteristics of the turf grass in the winter season was studied by analyzing various reasons for the turf grass to turn yellow in the winter and the function of appropriate tending,application of plant growth regulators,fertilization,particularly the new types of turf fertilizers,in order to provide turf grass management,prolong the green color period and improve the ornamental value of the turf grass in the winter with references.


A multi-modal system with dual-channel fluorescence microscopy and high-resolution optical coherence tomography was developed to enable the co-registration of structural and functional information. The system's performance was demonstrated with microscopic beads sandwiched between multi-layer tapes.


Background: Brucella spp. are Gram-positive, rod-shaped, and spore-forming bacilli. Brucella abortus and B. melitensis are the main causes of brucellosis. Objectives: The aim of the study was to establish a rapid and simple molecular method for the detection of this disease. Methods: Forty-five Brucella spp. were isolated from blood samples using the BACTEC Fluorescent 9050 system and were detected by anti-IgM or IgG Brucella specific antigen. DNA extraction was conducted on all samples. Fluorescent amplification based specific hybridization (FLASH-PCR) test was utilized to detect the 351-bp fragment from eryD gene, which was specific for Brucella spp. Results: A351-bpfragmentresultedfromPCRreactionandshowedtheaccuracyofdesignedprimers. Thisfragmentwassuccessfully amplified in the FLASH-PCR reaction. In this study, we have positive and negative samples and a standard method. In addition, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity of this method as 100%. Conclusions: Results of the study was proved that the FLASH-PCR method was a rapid, sensitive, and safe method for the detection of Brucella genome in whole blood samples of patient harbored brucellosis and is recommended for routine usage.


Deodorization of vegetable oils may introduce potentially carcinogenic, as well as genotoxic contaminants, generating health risks for consumers. However, the deodorization step of the refining process leads to the formation of 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD). 3-MCPD has been classified as potentially carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization (WHO). The purpose of this study was to optimize recently updated oil treatment techniques using Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) to improve 3-MCPD elimination in edible palm oil. Based on the central composite (CCD-DoE), response surface methodology (RSM) was developed to find the best combination of two variables at five levels to remove 3-MCPD from the palm oil. Samples of palm oil were split into two groups. The first group was treated only by the traditional method, including refining, degumming, deacidification, decolorization, deodorization, dehydration, filtration, and dewaxing processes. The second group was first treated by the traditional method, followed by the DIC technique during different periods at various temperatures and pressures. In the experiment, the effect of 3-MCPD removal in palm oil was examined by varying the oil inlet pressure and reaction time from 200 to 325 kPa and from 8.66 to 26.34 s/cycle, respectively. The 3D surface graphs showed that the optimum reduction of 3-MCPD occurs with a reaction time of 26.34s and a pressure value of 413 kPa. Samples of palm oil were analyzed using a GC-MS/MS method to determine 3-MCPD concentrations. It was found that the DIC technology reduces oil contamination with 3-MCPD when used after the traditional oil treatment process.


The paper introduced the energy-saving measures of air compressors in paper mills including strengthening the energy-saving operation management, adopting reactive compensation energy conservation, energy-saving with speed control by frequency variation technology so as to supply reference for safe, effi cient and reliable running of air compressors in paper mills.


In this study, a series of model tests were carried out to evaluate the performance of an active heave compensator (AHC) in deepwater installation operations. In the tests, a crane vessel and three different subsea structures were examined during deepwater crane lifting operations with an AHC. To validate the experimental results, time-domain numerical simulations were performed with the same AHC control algorithm. First, free-decay tests were conducted to identify the added mass of the subsea structure and the natural period of the hoisting system. Then, the performance of the AHC was evaluated for regular and irregular wave conditions. The effects of winch capacity and installation water depth on AHC performance are discussed.


Oil content in rapeseed is a complex quantitative trait,which is controlled by multiple genes and influenced by environments.Extensive efforts have been made in mapping of the QTL for this trait since 1995,which indicate that almost all the 19linkage groups have found the presence of oil QTL in Brassica napus.On the other hand,a large body of QTL information for fatty acid compositions is also available because they play an important role in the accumulation of oil content.However,the genetic relationships between oil content and individual fatty acid content on QTL level still remains poorly understood.Our main objective was to evaluate the genetic influence of four major fatty acid components on oil content in a population with no allelic segregation on two major erucic acid gene loci in oilseed rape.In present study,the previously developed doubled haploid(DH)population with Sollux/Gaoyou background(SG-population)was used for QTL identification.Both parents have high seed oil content but also high in erucic acid content.Taking the phenotypic data of oil and the four main fatty acids content from four environments,the new published SG-map was combined to perform the QTL analysis by QTLNetwork 2.0. Results indicated that the additive effects of all mapped QTL showed small but quite significant(P 0.01). The epistatic effects and genotype by environments interaction effects were also small.By unconditional mapping analysis,7,10,10and 5 QTL were identified for erucic acid,oleic acid,linoleic acid and linolenic acid, respectively.Among them,erucic acid QTL on A2,A7,A9and C1,and QTL for oleic acid and linolenic acid in C7 and A9were new identified loci,while five new detected QTL for linoleic acid content were located on A4,A10, C6,C7and C9linkage groups.The numbers of QTL identified in present study for four fatty acid compositions are clearly more than that detected in populations with segregation for erucic acid content,indicating that the existence of allelic differentia in two major erucic acid gene loci might restrain or hide the expression of QTL with minor genetic effects.Conditional QTL mapping indicated that OilA9,OilC2 and OilC8-1 were significantly influenced by linoleic acid,since when oil content was conditioned on linoleic acid,they showed no significant or deeply reduced effects;OilA4 might be influenced by oleic acid,linolenic acid and erucic acid simultaneously,while oleic acid QTL or underling candidate genes may directly contribute to oil content in the loci OilA1,OilA7 and OilC8-2 because QTL for both traits were co-localized and significantly shifted the genetic effects for oil QTL after conditional mapping.In addition,four additional QTL with small effects were only identified in the conditional mapping, further demonstrating the complex genetic inheritance of oil content in B.napus. In conclusion,by comparing unconditional and conditional QTL for oil content,the genetic relationships between oil content and fatty acid compositions on individual QTL were analyzed,which may provide valuable information for breeding varieties with high oil combining high oleic acid content.In the case of no allelic segregation on two major erucic acid gene loci,larger numbers of QTL with significant but small genetic effects were observed for all four major fatty acid compositions.Selection for high erucic acid content based on those flanking markers linked to erucic acid QTL might be special interesting for breeding high erucic acid materials for industry purpose.


Under rational expectations, one may interpret a normal capital structure, contingent on variables that differ among firms, as an optimal capital structure. The firms are rational if they adjust to this common normalized capital structure since this norm minimizes the cost of financing. Estimating parameters in this normal capital structure I find that the determinants of capital structure are fixed assets, size, growth, taxes, return on assets and industry category. This study contributes by analyzing the maturity structure in Norwegian non-listed firms. Using a large sample panel data facilitates use of panel data techniques to wipe out unobserved firm heterogeneity that may bias the estimates of the parameters of interest. Robust estimates of standard deviation are also provided. The new findings of this study compared to previous studies are that only the fixed assets seem to have any economic significance as measured by the elasticity between debt and fixed assets. The other variables are statistically significant, however, they do not have a non-trivial magnitude of the elasticities. This study confirms the common belief that the asymmetric information about returns and expected bankruptcy costs have negative effects on the debt-ratio while agency cost of management, asymmetric information about risk and the tax shelter effects of debt financing are increasing the leverage of the firms. The tax effect is controversial since the Norwegian tax systems have been known to treat debt and equity neutrally. The inefficiency of debt financing of growth firms is not supported in the sample, except for the finding that growth firms have more short term debt.


The Physiologus, originally written down in Alexandria, Egypt, between the end of the second and the beginning of the third century A.D., became one of the most popular handbooks of the Middle Ages since its material dealing with real and imaginary animals, plants and stones, could be constantly manipulated to suit audiences and employed in instructing Christian believers. The two Icelandic fragments, conventionally called Physiologus A and Physiologus B, are independent of each other and seem to have been written in about 1200. Scholars agree in thinking that their source is to be found in the Latin version conventionally called Versio B. Although this statement is true in a general sense, it acts as a screen which hides a much more complex reality: textual and iconographic features give evidence of their derivation from models whose origins lie in England. Moreover the analysis of the chapters dealing with onocentaurs highlights that the two Icelandic Physiologi, in which tradition and innovation mingle profoundly with each other, are original manipulations of the ancient matter.


The present invention can suppress reduction cleaning wiper function maintenance device, a liquid ejecting apparatus and a maintenance method. Maintenance apparatus comprising: a wiper (25), which is attached to the attachment wipe the liquid ejecting portion; a first cleaner (41), which has adhered to the wiping by the wiper attachments (25) for cleaning; and a second a cleaner (51), of which a first cleaner for cleaning (41) the result of the cleaning attachments attached.


A review is given of the theoretical basis for the development of the modern resonance accelerators. The phasing properties, the stability of motion of particles in magnetic fields, and the effects of various perturbing influences on the motion of particles are analyzed. Finally, the performance of the various cyclic resonance accelerators such as synchrotrons, phasatrons, synchrocyclotrons, synchrophasatrons, and microtrons, as well as the performance of linear and strong-focusing accelerators, is discussed. 64 references.


p 591) reported that even a fairly high single dose, 2000 mg, in a suicide attempt had no effect on blood pressure or pulse rate. They concluded that "the effect of propranolol on the healthy heart needs to be reconsidered." It is also well known that propranolol may be given in very high doses in the treatment of hypertension. Prichard' has been using doses up to 4000 mg daily and Kincaid-Smith and her co-workers2 up to 2000 mg daily, but with a gradual titration of the optimal dose. It is therefore of interest to note that even a relatively small "massive" dose of propranolol can give rise to severe cardiac disturbances.


Introduction: care for mental patients needs to be continuous and collaboration between health workers and the client's family is needed. This collaboration can be done by carrying out one of the complementary training activities to extend the recurrence time and prepare the client to return to the community. Objective: to find out schizophrenia nursing care in a hospital. Method: The process of writing this scientific article uses a case study approach with a descriptive method drawn from the life and personal experience of the author. To collect data in the form of articles, the author uses several databases, namely Science Direct and Google Search. The author also uses several search keywords such as "Psychiatric Disorder", "Perception Disorder", "Delusion", "Therapy Complementer", using the boolean "AND". In addition to using keywords, the author also uses inclusion and exclusion criteria starting from articles published 2010-2020, using Indonesian and English as well as fulltext articles with reliable sources. From the search above, thousands of articles were obtained and the authors analyzed and raised the title "Nursing Care for Schizophrenic Clients (Delusions) in Hospital Service Management: Case Studies". Results and Discussion: Clients in cases showing chronic schizophrenia with prominent symptoms are delusions. Clients with delusions can be done training or complementary therapy for the process of preparation for returning home and returning to the community. Conclusions and Recommendations: The nursing process in psychiatric patients especially chronic schizophrenia must be continuous and continuous. This severe mental disorder is chronic and there will be a recurrence so there is a need for cooperation between the nurse and the client's family for the implementation of therapy. Therapies such as music therapy, aromatherapy, massage, reflexology, animal therapy, cinema therapy, yoga and social skill training. Further research is needed related to the effects of complementary therapy associated with schizophrenia. Keywords: Nursing Care, Schizophrenia, service management, delusions


Abstract The room-temperature, tensile mechanical properties and fracture topographies of a range of polyamide-cured bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether epoxies with differing physical characteristics are reported. Epoxies of different physical structure were prepared by varying the initial physical state of the epoxy monomer (crystalline versus noncrystalline), the cure conditions, and the initial epoxy:polyamide curing agent ratio. Epoxy monomer crystals (mp 41.5°C) present in the unreacted epoxy remain embedded in the room-temperature partially cured glass. Exposure of this epoxy to 48°C produces liquidus islands of unreacted epoxy monomer which locally enhance crazing. At higher temperatures, the unreacted epoxy monomer escapes, leaving microvoids which collapse as the glass softens. Unreacted epoxy monomer also recrystallizes between microgel regions of high crosslink density at room temperature. The resultant liquid produced by melting these crystals causes homogeneous plasticization. Volatilization of the...


In order to improve the efficiency of surface intersection algorithm,and to overcome the five-axis freeform surface end milling shortcomings of engineering application,the key technologies of integrated axial impeller end mill were studied.In the field of computer aided design(CAD),through the using of local property of B-spline,the computation efficiency of surface intersection was improved by choosing the appropriate initial iteration.In the field of computer aided manufacturing(CAM),the parameter screening algorithm was improved to determine cutting step,the length of numerical control(NC) program was shortened and the processing efficiency was improved.Integrated with axial impeller,special CAD/CAM software was developed.The generated cutting path was simulated and processed.Simulation and experimental results showed that these algorithms were feasible,and provided reference for the development of CAD/CAM software with proprietary intellectual property rights.


Introduction: Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) cholesteatoma type with deterioration of the posterior ear canal wall is treated with Canal Wall Down (CWD) mastoidectomy followed by reconstruction of the posterior ear canal wall with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and bone cartilage. Combining PRP with soft tissue and bone cartilage may stimulate the mineralization of regenerating tissue. Purpose: To achieve an effective combination of methods, such as CWD mastoidectomy with posterior ear canal wall reconstruction using PRP, bone cartilage, and soft tissue, to improve wound healing, resulting in a smooth mastoid cavity with no complications. Case report: of a 53-year-old man with CSOM suspicious cholesteatoma type at the left ear and devastation of the posterior ear canal wall treated with CWD mastoidectomy and reconstruction of the posterior ear canal wall using PRP, bone cartilage, and soft tissue. Method: Literature searching through the Cochrane database, Pubmed, and Google Scholar, using keywords of platelet-rich plasma, posterior ear canal wall reconstruction, mastoid obliteration, and canal wall down mastoidectomy. Result: The selection process based on inclusion and exclusion criteria yielded only one pertinent study. The patient underwent mastoid reconstruction using PRP and a cortical bone plate following CWD mastoidectomy. This study included 21 patients, including 9 men and 12 women. Sixteen patients had the disease on the left side. Within ninety to one hundred and thirty-five minutes, all surgical procedures are performed without incident. External canal stenosis and mastoid fistula were not discovered at 12 to 16 months of follow-up. In 18 patients, the tympanic membrane healed properly. There were no radiological indications of recurrence, and the reconstructed mastoid cavity was smooth and well-ventilated. In three patients, residual tympanic membrane perforations were detected. Conclusion: When PRP, bone cartilage, and soft tissue are used to rebuild the back wall of the ear canal, the wound heals faster and there are no problems. The result is a smooth surface in the mastoid cavity. Platelet-rich plasma, mastoid obliteration, and posterior ear canal wall reconstruction are the key terms.


Jacques Lacan and Stephen Greenblatt, in their criticisms of Hamlet, "Desire and the Interpretation of Desire in Hamlet" and Hamlet in Purgatory, both deal with the question of "mourning" seriously though they approach it with different interests and perspectives. Lacan's analysis of Hamlet, however, has an aspect that makes readers who are unfamiliar with Lacanian theory, feel difficult to understand what Lacan intends because of his some specific psychoanalytic terms. On the other hand, Greenblatt's telling of Hamlet with his emphasis on Hamlet's "mourning" provides readers with various historical and social resources to get Renaissance context of mourning but is lacking in satisfying readers literary curiosity, for instance, into Hamlet's multi-layered subjectivity. Thus, this paper interrogates into a connection between "mourning" and Hamlet's internally split subjectivity. This crucial connection is, however, first investigated not by Lacan's analysis above but by the examination of Sigmund Freud's "Mourning and Melancholia." But this first step to open a more accessible reading of Hamlet's mourning through Freud's "Mourning" leads us to reason what Lacan means to say; in this sense, it manifests a certain "Lacan's return to Freud" as is often called. Furthermore, this paper shows an essential relationship called "implication" between literature and psychoanalysis, here, Shakespeare's Hamlet and psychoanalysis via the subject of "mourning". Thus, this paper plays a trio between Hamlet, Freud, and Lacan. Freud distinguishes mourning and melancholy by explicating mourning as taking place in the conscious while considering melancholy as emerging in the unconscious realm. But, in Hamlet, this division between mourning and melancholy, conditioned by the boundary between the conscious and the unconscious, is unsettled. Rather, mourning and melancholy, in Hamlet, aggravates each other's extent: mourning gives rise to melancholy, and melancholy deepens mourning in a profound way. One of the most obvious problems in Hamlet is Hamlet's consistent hesitancy to revenge related with the question of "insufficient mourning" which actually motivates both Hamlet and Laertes to revenge. Laertes decides, plans, and performs a revenge in a play whereas Hamlet does not despite his ceaseless declarations of revenge. Hamlet's this reluctancy before his father's command of revenge explains that Hamlet's feeling of loss caused by his father's sudden death and the following his mother's remarriage to his step-father, Claudius, is of the unconscious not of the conscious one. This loss that makes Hamlet disabled in revenge is much related with the loss Freud elucidates as the cause of melancholy; in melancholy, she is aware that she has experienced a kind of loss, but she cannot see what has been lost, to be more exact, she does not know what she has really lost in that loss. Hamlet's unconscious loss certainly has to do with his recognition of his father's sin which was strongly indicated in his mother's sexuality and his father's own confession. Next, the father's sin is internalized into Hamlet's own ego. This makes Hamlet split from himself, which results in the self-reproaches or the impoverishment of the ego, as indicated in Freud's second explication of mourning and melancholy. In this process, the relation between the ego and the loved object is changed into the conflict between the ego and its another ego. In Hamlet, Hamlet's encounter with his father's ghost intensifies Hamlet's own awareness of his own guilt. From the moment he faces his father's ghost, he can be never free from this guilty feeling; he feels guilty at the level of existence. The only moment Hamlet can be released from it is when he dies. Hamlet's death completed by the annihilation of himself and his ideal-ego reflected in his partner of a duel, Laertes, is the moment of his entrance into the symbolic order as Lacan says.


For modeling and forecasting on ecological processes of our environment, difficulties arise due to the stochastic observation data, the limits in understanding complicate natural system and the interaction between various factors in modeling. The new"black box" model ANN (Artificial Neural Network) is among our reasonable solutions. From this viewpoint, the present study deals with the techniques of artificial neural network applications, data set analysis, optimization techniques, and other statistical components. The aim of the analysis is to obtain useful practical information from the available data-sets and to try to minimize the effects from various sources of error and uncertainty in the forecasting process. Various tests are included in this work on the problem of Chlorophyl concentration simulation for Veluwemeer(Lake Veluwe) in the middle of the Netherlands.


The present invention is a reduced pressure to ambient pressure using a sieving apparatus, a method of classifying the water absorbent resin particle shape, and, at a reduced pressure relative to ambient pressure, the water-absorbing particle shape It relates sieving apparatus for resin classified.


Vulnerability of critical infrastructures have increased with widespread use of information technologies. Although individual hackers whose major aims are self-satisfaction and financial gain are already on the stage, nation sponsored attacks are considered as important threats after Stuxnet attack. An important intention of targeted attacks by nation states may be the degradation of cyber physical systems of their enemies. After these developments, cyber-attacks have become an agenda item of the academics, practitioners and policy makers. In this study, we employed Monte-Carlo reliability analysis technique to quantify the impact of cyber-attacks on industrial control systems used in power generation systems. Economic value of cyber-attacks can help decision makers to decide if a cyber-security investment is feasible or not. The results showed that cyber-attacks may have significant impact on reliability of power generation systems.


ABSTRACT This study examines the question of asymmetry/symmetry regarding the use of language in partisan media outlets in the US. Some research has suggested that conservatives and conservative media are unique in how they present information to their audience, positing that conservatives use simpler, more uncivil language. Others have noted that some of these matters, such as use of uncivil language, applies to both conservative and liberal outlets. The current study adds to this literature by examining whether the ideological leanings of news sources correlate with reading ease, level of negativity (sentiment), and level of formality (tone). Specifically, we examine whether only conservative outlets use simpler, negative, and less formal language or if these trends appear for media outlets across the ideological spectrum. Our findings find support for the symmetry hypothesis. Indeed, our findings suggest that ideological extremity and partisanship strength correlate with use of easier-to-read language.


An extension of the REX relativistically parametrized extended Hueckel LCAO molecular orbital method to periodic solids is outlined. The method provides a simple and systematic approach to the description of the spin-orbit splitting of energy bands. The method is illustrated with results for the main-group elements tellurium and polonium, with trigonal-helical and simple-cubic structures, respectively. The helical structure of tellurium is described as a distortion of a simple-cubic structure, with the distortion being quenched in the case of polonium by its very large spin-orbit coupling. 36 references, 10 figures, 1 table.


The aim of the present work was to evaluate the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in clay soil a 45-days experiment. The experiment was conducted using an aerobic fixed bed reactor, containing 300g of contaminated soil at room temperature with an air rate of 6 L/h. The growth medium was supplemented with 2.5% (w/w) (NH4)2SO4 and 0.035% (w/w) KH2PO4. Biodegradation of the crude oil in the contaminated clay soil was monitored by measuring CO2 production and removal of organic matter (OM), oil and grease (OandG), and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), measured before and after the 45-days experiment, together with total heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial count. The best removals of OM (50%), OandG (37%) and TPH (45%) were obtained in the bioreactors in which the highest CO2 production was achieved.


ABSTRACT A wide-beam linear polarization antenna with circular patch, ring, microstrip line, and electromagnetically coupled patch is presented in this paper. This antenna was used in missile telemetry system. Circular patch is fed by a coaxial probe directly, and the regular patch is excited by the coupling energy. In order to broaden the antenna beamwidth, the ring and regular patch were added to change the distribution of electromagnetic field. Four microstrip lines were used to obtain a wide impedance-matching bandwidth. This antenna is simulated and optimized by using the full wave electromagnetic simulation technique. It can achieve an impedance bandwidth (S11<-10 dB) of 2.36–2.38 GHz. The simulated results showed a linear polarization radiation with a wide half-power beamwidth (>71.9°) and a high radiation gain (>6.2 dB) within the operational bandwidth. The proposed antenna is fabricated and measured. Measured results show that the proposed antenna achieves the expected radiation performance and validates the effectiveness of the dual polarized antenna design. The wide-beam antenna studied in this paper is suitable for missile telemetry system. The research results have laid a technical foundation for its practical engineering application.


Dermatophytosis is caused by dermatophytes (fungi) that can invade the epithelial tissue or stratum corneum. It extensively occurs in warm humid environment and in immuno-compromised persons. Dermatophytes are classified into three genera, Trichophyton (M.canis, M.gypseum), Microsporum (M.canis, M.gypseum) and Epidermophyton (E.floccosum) which causes dermatophytosis such as tinea pedis, tinea corporis, tinea mannum, tinea cruris and tinea capatis. Here we formulated Tolnaftate loaded topically active microsponges by quassi emulsion solvent diffusion method for effectively eradicating dermatophytes. Two grades of Eudragit (ERL 100 and ERS 100) alone and in combination were selected to evaluate for their active role in controlled drug release at target site. The microsponges were characterized through and evaluated for FTIR, SEM, DSC, TGA studies, particle size, drug content, in vitro drug release, following peppas release kinetics and selected for formulation of topical gels and anti fungal activity. From in vitro drug release study it was concluded that microsponge formulated by ERL 100: ERS 100 (3:1) exhibited maximum controlled release & this formulation was subjected for topical active gels preparation. On applying various drug release kinetics model it was found that formulated gels followed peppas model with diffusion coefficient less than 0.5, describing fickian diffusion type of drug release. Hence formulated tolnaftate loaded gels have potential to treat dermatophytosis and can be used to treat other tinea infections.


"This article analyzes the biblical-theological theme of vocation by proposing a vocational reading of the Johannine figure of the «Beloved Disciple» in the context of the preparatory document of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment (January 1, 2017). This article is composed of three chapters: (1) the relevance of vocation in Benedict XVI's Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini; (2) the importance of the «stories of calling» in the Bible; (3) the «Beloved Disciple» as a young icon of vocational discernment. This study shows that a profound reflection on the reality of vocation allows one to better interpret the relationship between God and man. In the course of the Fourth Gospel, the figure of the «Beloved Disciple» particularly assumes an interesting revelatory and pedagogical role in relation to the youths' life decisions and to vocational discernment."


Despite intense efforts by development organizations to generate entrepreneurial growth in base-of-the pyramid (BOP) markets over the past several decades, the result has been largely a proliferation of ventures that simply imitate existing business. To achieve a more sustainable and transformative level of development, local entrepreneurs must hone the ability to identify new and more innovative business opportunities. While current theory offers two competing descriptions of how entrepreneurs come to identify new business opportunities – using an 'ends- focused' approach vs. a 'means-focused' approach – there is no prescription offered as to which would be more likely to lead to the identification of more novel opportunities within impoverished contexts. In an effort to contribute meaningfully to both academic and practical discussions, we employed a quasi-experimental field study involving 147 entrepreneurs in rural Ethiopia. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either an 'ends-focused' or 'm...


With the popularization of real time multimedia services,how to provide quality of service(QoS) support has become a hot point of mobile Ad hoc network(MANET) researches.However,the established path is often disconnected because of the mobility of nodes and dynamic topology.In this paper,an improved dynamic source routing protocol is proposed.This routing protocol tries to find a stable path between source and destination,and supervise the state of path by real time link detection to reduce the probability of communication discontinuity and provide QoS support by soft path switching.


Silicon wafers represent key elements in modern microelectronics or photovoltaics. Technological fabrications of wafers with large diameters (e.g. 300...450 mm) allow an efficient realization for integrated circuits at low cost. However, this material shows a high sensitivity to vibrations that strongly depend on the positioning as well as orientation of a wafer in a mounting, realized e.g. by single fixed points (typically four [1]) located at the rim of the device. Numerical calculations of the modes in dependence of variable boundary conditions are thus of high importance for the optimization of handling of wafers during mounting and storage.


A household survey was conducted to determine the epidemiological characteristics of injuries among people living in Tehran, the mega capital of Iran. Using cluster random sampling in April 2007, survey was conducted seeking information about injuries occurred within families in past Persian year. All injury patterns and causes were classified according to ICD-10 and analysed using SPSS version 16. Out of 9173 household participants, 765 ones (8.3%) had injuries during the past Persian year, frequently open wounds and burns with a male to female ratio of 0.54 : 1. They occurred mostly due to 'exposure to the inanimate mechanical forces', followed by 'contact with heat or hot substances' and 'falls'. The common locations were home, and then streets. Approximately 15% of injuries required medical attention and the incidence rate was 175.5 per 10,000 person–year with male to female ratio of 2.37 : 1. They were frequently fractures and open wounds and mostly associated with falls and transport accidents that had been transpired on streets or at workplace. This study evidences the high rate of injuries in Tehran city and prevention priorities should be given to traffic and home injuries.