This year marks the IV Centenary of the birth of Sr. Maria de Jesus de Agreda (1602-1665), an outstanding master of the spiritual life and of mystical experience. Her work "Mistica ciudad de Dios" or "Vida de la Virgen", is a model of narrative Mariology. She describes a path departing from the eternal designs of the Trinity and moving through the History of Salvation, stressing within the rich symbolism of her language the singular relationship of Maria with the Divine Persons. Trinitarian Mariology finds one of its best expressions in this work from among the theologians of the XVII century.


A calculator solution of a simple computational problem is discussed with emphasis on its ramifications for the understanding of some fundamental theorems of pure mathematics and techniques of computing.


: In theory, there exist two extreme forms of substances: pure form and single-molecule mixture form. Single-molecule mixture form contains a mixture of molecules that have molecularly different structures. This elusive form has not yet been explored. Herein, we report a study of single molecule mixture state by a combination of model construction and mathematical analysis, and a series of interesting results were obtained. These results provide theoretical evidence that single-molecule mixture state may indeed exist in realistic synthetic or natural polymer system. Realistic substances always contain a mixture of molecules, in theory, there exist two extreme forms of substances: pure form and single-molecule mixture form, as is shown in Figure 1. Pure form contains only one kind of molecule. Single-molecule mixture form, on the other hand, contains a mixture of molecules that have molecularly different structures. It is noted that this elusive form of molecules has not yet been explored. A very interesting question is whether single molecule mixture form substance exists in nature or synthetic systems. Herein, we report a theoretical exploration of single molecule mixture form and provide theoretical evidence that this form of molecules may indeed distributed in nature or synthetic polymer systems.


Nematodes play an important role in various habitats where numerous factors serve to shape their communities. One such factor is the potentially pathogenic nematode-prey interaction. This project is focused on the elucidation of the genes that the bacterivorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans employs to respond to the emerging nosocomial bacterial pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. A virulent S. maltophilia strain JCMS requires the action of several C. elegans conserved innate immune pathways that serve to protect the nematode from other pathogenic bacteria. However, insulin-like DAF-2/16 signaling pathway mutants that are typically pathogen resistant are susceptible to JCMS, and several DAF-2/16 regulated genes are not significantly differentially expressed between JCMS and avirulent E. coli OP50. We have determined the complete set of mRNA transcripts under different bacterial treatments to identify genes that might explain this JCMS specific DAF-2/16 pathway evasion. The identified set included 438 differentially expressed transcripts among pairwise comparisons of wild-type nematodes fed OP50, JCMS or avirulent S. maltophilia K279a. Candidate genes were nominated from this list of differentially expressed genes using a probabilistic functional connection model. Six of seven genes that were highly connected within a gene network generated from this model showed a significant effect on nematode survival by mutation. Of these genes, C48B4.1, mpk-2, cpr-4, clec-67 and lys-6 are needed for combating JCMS, while dod-22 was solely involved in K279a response. Only dod-22 had a documented role in innate immunity, which merits our approach in the identification of gene candidates. To a lesser extent, we have also focused on the identification of virulence factors and the mode of action employed by S. maltophilia. JCMS virulence requires rpfF, xps and involves living bacteria that accumulate in the intestinal lumen. Additionally, the bacterial secretion encoding genes cs, p773, p1176, pi1y1 and xdi are involved in JCMS evasion of daf-2. In summary, we have discovered a novel host-pathogen interaction between C. elegans and S. maltophilia JCMS, revealed genes that are involved in each partner of the interaction, and established a new animal model for the study of S. maltophilia mode of action. THE INTERACTION BETWEEN CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS AND THE BACTERIAL PATHOGEN STENOTROPHOMONAS MALTOPHILIA


The subject matter of the paper focuses on evaluating the possible application of time-frequency analysis of vibroacoustic signals of transformers to assess the technical condition of their cores. The paper presents the results of the research related to development of a non-invasive diagnostic method for transformers' magnetic circuit on the basis of measurements and analysis of mechanical vibrations registered during the start-up of the device under test. The results presented in the paper have been obtained during laboratory tests conducted on a 630 kVA unit with dry isolation. During the experiment conducted defects of the transformer core were modelled and then mechanical vibrations of the unit occurring during switching it into idle state were measured. The vibroacustic signals registered were digitally processed using the continuous wavelet transform (CWT). The method proposed by the authors, the so-called modified vibroacoustic method is based on measurements and time-frequency analysis of vibrations measured under transient operating conditions of the diagnosed transformer.


Introduction: Pterygium a vascularized encroachment of bulbar conjunctiva over the cornea. It is cosmetically undesirable. There are multiple surgical techniques described for its treatment but none is universally accepted. Aim: To evaluate the technique of pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft sealing with autologous blood from the pterygium bed in terms of efficacy, outcome and complication rate. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken in 41 patients who underwent pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft with sealing from autologous blood from the pterygium bed after local anesthesia. Results: There were 41 patients with a mean age of 45.32 ± 9.48 years. There were 10 males and 31 females. The chief indication for surgery was cosmetic blemish. There were 4 patients who had complications in the form of graft loss 1 patient, foreign body granuloma in 1 and recurrence was seen in 2 patients. Conclusion: The recurrence rate and complication rate was found to be comparable with other techniques without the hassle of suturing or using expensive fibrin glue. Hence it is an easy, quick and cheap alternative to other techniques.


Technology for the design and development of sensors for clinical practice becomes critical because of the human interface. Integrated inputs from physical, biological, engineering and medical sciences are necessary. During the past two decades most significant advance in clinical practice has been due to the interactions between scientists drawn from all the disciplines. Because of this interdisciplinary approach, monitoring of physiological, biochemical and behavioural changes for clinical management has become possible. Future trends show that by 2000 AD intelligent sensors will make them useful in on-line data analysis and help in planning the bedside treatment. This paper reviews some of these developments. Out of the broad spectrum of transducers three representative examples have been chosen which show the present status of technology in that area. These are intelligent electrodes, intracranial pressure transducer for infants and the biosensor for immunological estimations.


My text is about drawing. My artistic practice is a practice where drawing has completedictatorship. I have learnt other techniques too, but none of them can give me exactly what I want,they still ...


A brand-new equipment used to cut kinds of pipe had been brought out and took the place of existent cutter machine, which was of low degree in automation and behindhand. So structure analysis and pneumatic control technology of the device had been introduced based on simulation technique. First, three-dimensional software PRO/E was used for avoiding the overlap and penetration phenomenon before the model was imported to MSC. Adams, where the working process of pipe-cutting machine was simulated, to optimize the structure and mode of motion. Its hydraulic circuit and electric loop had been designed in the software of FluidSIM-H to improve working efficiency and automation. Now, pipe-cutting machine had been manufactured which was effectively controlled and used.


The Axiological Tatar-Russian Phraseological Dictionary contains 2,354 Tatar phraseological units with their Russian translations. The Tatar phraseological units (PU) reflect the following conventional values and anti-values: life (146 PU) – death (140 PU); health (70 PU) – disease (171); happiness (106 PU) – unhappiness (211 PU); homeland (95 FU) – foreign land (31 FU); labor (104 PU) – rest (7 PU) – idleness (49 PU); wealth (279 PU) – poverty (181 PU); intelligence (61 PU) – stupidity (73 PU); truth (128 PU) – lie (326); laughter (PU 52) – cry (PU 85); paradise (16 PU) – hell (24 PU). The dictionary reveals the etymology of the phraseological units, provides links to their bibliographic sources. The dictionary is intended for philologists and a wide range of readers.


Instructional scaffolding is a well-researched, commonly-practiced educational technique whereby support is temporarily provided as an individual learns [1]. Grounded in constructivist teaching and learning theory, scaffolding historically referring to support provided by a teacher to a student. However, in the modern learning environment, instructors have access to a wide range of tools and techniques with which to help them scaffold learners [2]. This paper reports the findings of a design experiment comparing the employment of two instructional scaffolding strategies in reducing the impact of large laboratory class size on undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory computer programming course having a mandatory laboratory component. The design experiment compared the performance of students on programming procedural knowledge assessments as well as programming self-beliefs in two offerings of the course, each treated as a cohort, which differed in the instructional scaffolding strategy employed in the mandatory laboratory component. In one cohort, an undergraduate teaching assistant was used as a supplement to the laboratory instructor while students completed programming exercises in the laboratory component of the course. In the other cohort, a cooperative programming methodology known as pair programming was used as a supplement to the laboratory instructor while students completed programming exercises in the laboratory component of the course. Cohort composition, including school of study (e.g., Liberal Arts, Science, Technology, Engineering, Business, etc.), student classification (i.e., freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or other), gender ratio, and amount of prior programming experience, was comparable. Course content, administrative processes and assessment mechanisms (formative and summative) remained constant. Each student completed a summative assessment of programming procedural knowledge at weeks 7, 12, and 16 of the semester. Open ended feedback was solicited from each student via anonymous questionnaire during weeks 8 and 16 of the semester. Finally, each student completed a 19-item Likert-scale questionnaire investigating their self-beliefs on 5 constructs: debugging self-efficacy, programming self-concept, programming interest, programming anxiety, and programming aptitude mindset. The questionnaire employed to investigate self-beliefs is based on the Scott & Ghinea [3] instrument, modified for use in the specific context of the course. Our results indicate that the two scaffolding strategies provided comparable support to student learning during the first 12 weeks of the semester. However, during the last 4 weeks of the semester, the cohort scaffolded by a supplemental teaching assistant slightly outperformed the cohort scaffolded by employment of the pair programming methodology. This performance difference, though small, was statistically significant. Student programming self-beliefs, however, remained comparable between cohorts throughout the entire semester. Interestingly, the theme of 'immediacy of assistance' revealed itself during analysis of student open-ended feedback in both cohorts. These findings are considered using as lens Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development theoretical concept [4]. Implications are discussed for instructional practitioners considering employing these scaffoldings strategies in their own learning environments.


HIV‐1 RNA viral load (VL) in plasma samples of HIV‐1–positive patients is used to assess the level of viral replication, the risk of disease progression, and the response and efficacy to antiretroviral treatment. Knowing the performance of different tests for HIV‐1 RNA detection is, therefore, important for clinical care. This study compared the performance of the recently introduced Aptima HIV‐1 Quant Dx assay (Hologic, Inc) and the standard COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV‐1 v2.0 Test (CAP/CTM2) (Roche Molecular System, Inc) for HIV‐1 RNA quantitation.


Gyroklystron operated in dual-band has profound research significance as a high-power microwave source, which can reduce the size, weight, and cost and contribute to the research of dual-band radar systems. In this paper, the theoretical analysis and simulation are used to design the output cavity operated in dual-band, the resonant frequency and quality factor of which are 9.34 GHz and 122 in X-band TE011 mode, 16.8 GHz and 475 in Ku-band TE021 mode respectively. It lays a foundation for the beam-wave interaction of the dual-band gyroklystron. Keywords: dual-band, output cavity, Gyroklystron


OBJECTIVES

Dengue is an endemic viral disease affecting tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The aim of this study was to retrospectively study the clinical characteristics of dengue fever (DF) and evaluate the metabolomic changes.
METHODS

The medical records of 50 patients presented with dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) RNA positive were reviewed. Serum was collected from 20 patients diagnosed with DF and 20 healthy volunteers. The changes in serum metabolites were explored by UPLC-Q-TOF MS spectrometer.
RESULTS

Fever, nausea and vomiting, asthenia, skin hyperemia were the most common clinical symptoms. The results of the laboratory examinations showed that leukopenia (76%, 38/50), thrombocytopenia (92%, 46/50), increase of aspartate aminotransferase (96%, 48/50), increase of free fatty acids (FFA) (68%, 34/50), increase of creatine kinase (CK) (44%, 22/50) were more common. Based on orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), 2 up-regulated and 15 down-regulated metabolites were identified, contributing to DF progress to some extent. Among them, LysoPC (18:2(9Z,12Z)) were highly positive correlated with PE (21:0/20:5(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)) and 13'-Hydroxy-alpha-tocopherol. The identified biomarkers were mainly involved in glycerophospholipids metabolism pathway.
CONCLUSIONS

The metabolic abnormalities of glycerophospholipids involved in the occurrence of DF caused by DENV-2.


Growth and yield of maize crop is often limited by variation in the quantity and frequency of irrigation or rainfall in arid and semiarid regions. Besides water, the supply of nitrogen (N) also affects the growth and development of the crop. Therefore, optimization of these two inputs provides a favorable condition for crop growth and productivity. Keeping this in view, an experiment to study the impact of variable water and nitrogen supply on growth and yield of maize hybrid BIO9681 was conducted in the research farm of the Water Technology center (WTC), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India. The experiment was carried out during the kharif season of 2009 and 2010 with four irrigation levels (i.e. rainfed: W ; 50% FC: W ; 1 2 75% FC: W and full irrigation: W ) and three nitrogen fertilization levels (i.e. not fertilized: N ; 75 kg N ha : N ; 3 4 1 2 1 and 150 kg N ha :N ). Generated data of two years experiment were analysed to estimate the grain yield and 1 3 above ground biomass under varying irrigation and nitrogen supply situations for maize. It was observed that varying levels of irrigation and nitrogen resulted in significant difference in yield of maize. Maximum grain yield and biomass during 2009 were observed for full irrigation (W ) and N treatment amounting 5930 kg ha and 4 3 1 18150 kg ha respectively. Moreover, the grain yield and biomass during 2010 was maximum for W N treatment 1 4 3 amounting to 5775 kg ha , 17900 kg ha . These findings obtained from the experiment will assist in deciding 1 1 the water and nutrient management strategies of maize crop for enhancing crop productivity under deficit irrigation in the semiarid environment.


This chapter details how in the Habeas Corpus Act, Parliament took control of the law of detention and established a powerful check on executive authority. But the Act's limitations quickly came to light, including geographic limitations and the ability of Parliament to circumvent the Act with bills of attainder. Parliament also created the concept of suspension, by which it passed legislation to displace the Act's protections for a period of time. This chapter details the early suspensions, their legalization of extra-judicial detentions, and how on their lapsing the habeas privilege sprang back to life. The chapter also highlights the continuing importance of the common law writ in cases to which the Act did not apply, such as slave cases. In particular, as explored in the chapter, Somerset's Case is an example of just how powerful the common law writ could be not just in protecting—but also expanding—liberty.


Tuberculosis is a public health problem in the world. Condition of the house plays an important role in the transmission of tuberculosis. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the condition of the house with the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Puskesmas Kismantoro, Wonogiri. This research is a quantitative research design Case Control. The population in this study are patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Puskesmas Kismantoro as many as 41 respondents and a sampling technique by calculating the minimum sample size and obtained a minimum sample of 40 respondents. The results showed that the area of home ventilation case group (82.9%) did not qualify and the control group (57.3%) qualified, home lighting in the case group (75.6%) and the control group (53.7%) did not qualify , moisture house case group (78.0%) and the control group (53.7%) did not qualify, the type of flooring the case group (56.1%) and the control group (65.9%) did not qualify, and type of ceilings case group (85.4%) and the control group (65.9%) are not eligible. Based on the results obtained by Chi Square test showed no relationship between ventilation (p = 0.001), home lighting (p = 0.038), humidity (p = 0.020),type of ceiling (p = 0.040) and there was no relationship between type of floor with the incidence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.


The concept of modern general purpose programs for finite element stress analysis is described, taking the MAGIC System as a representative example. Advantages of the general purpose program approach are discussed. Data processing aspects of the development of such programs are observed to overshadow such considerations as the finite element matrix representations. Nevertheless, the library of finite element representations is asserted to continue to provide an important characterization. Thus, a user-oriented description of general purpose programs is presented from the somewhat old-fashioned viewpoint of the finite element library. This description is carried forward on the basis of example problems that collectively establish the problem solving capabilities of general purpose finite element programs for linear stress analysis.


Fig 1 Enterococcus hirae colonizes the small intestinal epithelium of healthy kittens. In healthy kittens ≤ 12-wks of age, Gram positive cocci are observed to extensively colonize the small intestinal epithelium, are identified by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) as enterococci (using a species-specific probe) and intimately associate with epithelial cells as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From Nicklas et al. Winn Grant Number (W-, MT-) W14_1616, W14-035


In a study of the vascular pattern of the human pituitary body carried out by one of us (Xuereb, 1953) the benzidine methods (Lepehne, 1919; Pickworth, 1934) of staining red cells were chiefly used. Satisfactory results were obtained, but the use of these methods is accompanied by two wellknown disadvantages: the stained preparations gradually fade and the technique cannot be applied to old, formalin-fixed material. In order to overcome these difficulties the method of fuchsin staining (Eros, 1941) was also used, but it did not yield satisfactory results when applied to the pituitary body as a whole. We therefore substituted various other dyes for the acid fuchsin, and good results were obtained by the use of fast green. The following staining procedure was evolxed using a dilute aqueous solution of this dye.


SIMBAD has been developed to facilitate the tasks involved in the design of a concatenative speech synthesis system: 1) building a dictionary of parameterized speech units, and 2) obtaining a set of rules to concatenate these units and to model prosodics. It is an interactive, menu-driven and graphical software tool that allows both automatic processing and graphical editing of speech with high flexibility.


We are making a strong e f f o r t to include in t h i s sect ion the most complete in format ion about theses recent ly f in ished or topics cu r ren t l y under inves t iga t ion (those marked * ) . The fo l lowing abstracts are re -p r i n ted by permission from volumes 36-37 (1975-1977) o f Disser tat ions Abstracts In te r nat ional , or have been submitted d i r e c t l y by the author. I f you are working on a d i sse r ta t ion and i t is not l i s t e d here, or have completed one, and no abstract i s inc luded, please inform us of your p ro jec t and send i n an abs t rac t .


SUMMARY

The anthocyanin pigments of Bing cherries (Prunus avium L. var. Bing) were extracted with 1% methanolic HCl, partially purified by extraction from an n-butanol-ether mixture with water, and then separated by paper chromatography with various solvents. The anthocyanins were identified by, Rf values, sugar moiety, alkaline degradation products of the aglycone, partial acid hydrolysis, and absorption spectra. The major pigments were shown to be cyanidin 3-rutinoside and cyanidin 3-glucoside. Also present were small amounts of cyanidin, peonidin, peonidin 3-gucoside, and peonidin 3-rutinoside. The fluorescence spectra of the anthocyanin pigments, when excited with an incident light at 300 mμ, can be used to differentiate the anthocyanins. The cyanidin-containing pigments have a characteristic fluorescence peak at 520 mμ, whereas the peonidin ones exhibited a peak at 610 mμ.


In this paper we present an objectively defined catalog of 459 small, high-density groups of galaxies out to z ∼ 0.2 in a region of ∼6260 deg2 in the northern sky derived from the Digitized Second Palomar Observatory Sky Survey. Our catalog extends down to r = 19.0 and has a median redshift of zmed = 0.12, making it complementary to Hickson's catalog for the nearby universe (zmed = 0.03). The depth and angular coverage of this catalog makes it valuable for studies of the general characteristics of small groups of galaxies and how galaxies evolve in and around them. We also examine the relationship between compact groups and large-scale structure.


Introduction Heavy metals are some of the most common chemical contaminations of the environment. They get to waters with industrial waste waters, wastes, flows from fields and metallurgical dumps. They can cumulate in bottom sediments. They are toxic for living organisms including man. They can cause diseases, permanent and irreversible damages of various organs e.g. liver, kidney and brain. There have been worked out many technologies of waste Walters purification from heavy metals of which sorption processes play significant role owning to their great effectiveness and simplicity as well as possibility of using a wide range of ion exchange resins. Very good results are achieved in the heavy metal ions sorption using sulfonic cation exchangers e.g. Amberlite IR 120, Lewatit SP 112 or Purolite C 100 [1÷3]. Also ion exchangers with functional carboxilic groups e.g. Lewatit CNP 80 are applied [4]. At present also anion exchangers are used in the heavy metal ions sorption. This is possible due to applying chelating agents such us methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) or ethylenediaminodisuccinic acid (EDDS) forming anion complexes with metal ions (Fig. 1).


Eumenius' map, both described in a panegyric and serving as one, presents a convenient starting point for an exploration of the intersection between descriptions of lands and peoples and imperial rhetoric in late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Roman geo-ethnography, steeped in imperial ideology, continued to provide imperial models even after the Roman Empire in the West ceased to exist in a political sense. Carolingian imperial rhetoric, building on the prestige of the Roman Empire, presented the Franks as successors and legitimate heirs to the Romans. The influence of maps and texts which creatively developed Roman models was not limited to scholarly education. Rather, in the medieval period geo-ethnography also contributed to ideology and politics by enriching the understanding and justification of translatio imperii . Keywords: Carolingian; Eumenius map; panegyrics; Roman geo-ethnographical


The high incidence of malaria epidemic among rural households in developing countries is not in doubt. The study assessed factors influencing malaria incidence in rural Kogi State, Nigeria. This study aimed to identify farmers' socioeconomic characteristics in relation to malaria occurrence and determinants. Structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 240 randomly selected registered farming households in the State's Agricultural Zones B and D. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result of the study revealed good knowledge on malaria prevention, causes and symptoms among the farming households. Despite their level of knowledge, malaria was prevalent and significantly influenced by closeness to bush and dumps, closeness to stagnant water, and distance to health centres with the coefficient of 1.341, 1.520 and 1.741 at 5%, 5% and 1% level of significance respectively. Household with access to health campaign and subsequent use of insecticide treated mosquito nets had low probability of malaria infection. These predictors, however, need further work to validate reliability. Original Research Article Oyibo et al.;AJRID, 5(4): 1-9, 2020; Article no.AJRID.61762 2


Introduction. This article analyzes the dramatic and cognitive mechanisms that activate viewers' emotional identification with antihero protagonists of serial fiction, taking Breaking Bad as a case study. Methods. The analysis of the mechanisms that enable identification is based on cognitive media theory (Carroll; Plantinga; Smith), and is reinforced through media psychology, applied through a close reading of the last season of the series. Theoretical framework. The notion of "structure of sympathy" (Smith) is used to identify four dramatic strategies that modulate the spectatorial moral judgment against the antihero, while the concept of the "expanded narrative" is used to explain the familiarity established with the protagonist. Discussion. In its fifth season, the story destroys the viewer's moral sympathy for the character, but rebuilds it in the last episodes of the series through the aforementioned four dramatic strategies. Conclusion. The concept of moral sympathy is proposed as a synthesis of narrative familiarity and moral modulation of the ethical perspective.


The liquid crystal composition according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first compound and a second class including a first class and a polar liquid crystal compound comprising a neutral liquid crystal compound, the first class is to represent by the formula (1) and to a second compound represented by General formula (2). Formula (1) Formula (2) (In the above formula (I) and Formula (2) R is independently a carbon number of from 1 to 7 alkyl group, can be the same or different from each other).


A naı̈ve translation of recursive cases in type class instances will give code that allocates a new dictionary and copies the data from the input dictionary to the new dictionary for the recursive call. This record creation allocates memory and leads to bad performance for a conceptually simple and rather common operation, for example equality between lists. We present a positive supercompilation algorithm, parametrized with respect to evaluation order, and show how this algorithm can remove these allocations resulting in both time and space savings. We also show how a small extension to the folding mechanism of our supercompiler can give similar effects the static argument transformation at nearly no extra cost.


Abstract : The APL atmospheric sciences group is working to improve forecaster performance at Navy operational weather forecast detachments afloat and ashore. This work encompasses broad research and technology development in areas of visualization, human factors, human-machine interaction, and model and forecast verification with an emphasis on mesoscale ensembles and visualization of uncertainty. The verification effort's long-term goal is to develop an automated, objective verification technique for assessment of very high-resolution mesoscale predictions which accurately accounts for spatially or temporally misplaced features, false alarms and misses (Brown 2002).


We present an expression, based on scaled particle theory, for the calculation of cavitation free energy of molecules dissolved in nematic liquid crystals. This expression, depending on the orienta...


We investigate the L Æ -convergence, 1 < Æ < 2, of the class of bisexual branching processes with population-size dependent mating, suitably normalized, to a finite limit W such that P ( W . 0) . 0. Through different probabilistic approaches, we provide some necessary and sufficient conditions for such convergence. In particular we establish, by analogy with the classical Kesten and Stigum result for Bienayme´–Galton–Watson processes, a logarithmic criterion for L 1 -convergence.


Amphiphilic oligomers of poly(N-acryloylmorpholine) terminated at one end by primary amino groups have been prepared by free radical polymerization of the corresponding monomer, N-acryloylmorpholine, in the presence of cysteamine (2-mercaptoethylamine) as chain-transfer agent. The polymerization reaction was performed in aqueous media at acidic pH, in order to avoid any hydrogen-transfer addition reaction the the acrylic double bonds by the SH or NH 2 groups present in cysteamine. The chain-transfer constant of cysteamine towards N-acryloylmorpholine, under the conditions we used, was found to be very close to 1. The aminated poly(N-acryloylmorpholine) oligomers were found to behave as true macromonomers in polyaddition reactions with a diacrylamide, leading to new poly(amidoamines) carrying poly(N-acryloylmorpholine) chains as side substituents.


Purpose: To report subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab (Avastin) for treatment of primary active pterygium. Method: Patients with primary active pterygia without other ocular disease, pregnancy or diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive injection of Avastin or placebo. Patients were evaluated for changes in photophobia, conjunctival congestion and size of the pterygium. Results: In the first 48 hours, conjunctival congestion was greater in the treatment group as compared to the placebo group (125.76 vs 73.98, P<0.001). The same was observed for photophobia (139.01 vs 69.18, P<0.001), but there was no difference in the size of pterygium between the two groups (105.86 vs 94.08, P= 0.130). After one week, conjunctival congestion (90.98 vs 108.20, P= 0.01) and photophobia (85.08 vs 114.36 P<0.001) were less marked in the treatment group; however, mean pterygium size did not differ between the two groups (105.89 vs 94.06, P= 0.120). This trend continued up to 6 months after the injection, the time at which the results regressed to become similar to those observed 48 hours after injection. Conclusion: Local injection of bevacizumab may be effective in treatment of pterygium; however, repeat injections should be considered.


Negative carbon dioxide (CO2)-emissions are prevalent in most global emissions pathways that meet the Paris temperature targets and are a critical component for reaching net-zero emissions in Year 2050. However, economic incentives supporting commercialization and deployment of BioEnergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) are missing. This Policy and Practice Review discusses five different models for creating incentives and financing for BECCS, using Sweden as an example: (1) governmental guarantees for purchasing BECCS outcomes; (2) quota obligation on selected sectors to acquire BECCS outcomes; (3) allowing BECCS credits to compensate for hard-to-abate emissions within the EU ETS; (4) private entities for voluntary compensation; and (5) other states acting as buyers of BECCS outcomes to meet their mitigation targets under the Paris Agreement. We conclude that successful implementation of BECCS is likely to require a combination of several of the Policy Models, implemented in a sequential manner. The governmental guarantee model (Model 1) is likely to be required in the shorter term, so as to establish BECCS. Policy Models 2 and 3 may become more influential over time once BECCS has been established and accepted. Model 3 links BECCS to a large carbon-pricing regime with opportunities for cost-effectiveness and expanded financing. We conclude that Policy Models 4 and 5 are associated with high levels of uncertainty regarding the timing and volume of negative emissions that can be expected—Thus, they are unlikely to trigger BECCS implementation in the short term, although may have roles in the longer term. Based on this study, we recommend that policymakers carefully consider a policy sequencing approach that is predictable and sustainable over time, for which further analyses are required. It is not obvious how such sequencing can be arranged, as the capacities to implement the different Policy Models are vested in different organizations (national governments, EU, private firms). Furthermore, it is important that a BECCS policy is part of an integrated climate policy framework, in particular one that is in line with policies aimed at the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the creation of a circular economy. It will be important to ensure that BECCS and the associated biomass resource are not overexploited. A well-designed policy package should guarantee that BECCS is neither used to postpone the reduction of fossil fuel-based emissions nor overused in the short term as a niche business for "greenwashing" while not addressing fossil fuel emissions.


The optimal process of extracting the effective component ursolic acid from P.tomentosa(Thunb.)Steud leaves is selected by using orthogonal test: the extraction is conducted twice,1 hour each time;the temperature is 85℃; the ethanol density is 90%~95%; the crude residue was suspended in 15~20 times PE (Bp 60~90℃) for 3~4 times (18~24 hours for each time),and then purified by 3 times EtOH for 2~3 times.The colorless ursolic acid needles was identified by organic spectral analysis such as IR,UV and MS.The content of ursolic acid is 96.9% by HPLC.


Tooth formation and replacement were analyzed in 41 specimens of Scomberomorus cavalla. Teeth of this species are laterally compressed blades adapted for cutting action on prey. Development of each tooth begins at the tip and proceeds toward the base. New tooth buds form in a resorption cavity in the base of an older tooth. Resorption occurs at two points on each tooth: in the base and in the anterior-posterior edges just above the jawline. Teeth pass through seven stages of develop- ment and resorption, but remain longest in the preeruptive and primary functional stages. Replace- ment occurs in overlapping waves in alternate tooth loci. Replacement waves may be flat, progress from the rear to front, or progress front to rear. Most replacement data can be adapted to either the Zahnreihen concept of Edmund (1960, 1969) or the tooth family concept of Osborn (1971, 1972, 1974). One tooth germ failure, causing the crossing of replacement waves, is noted. Polyphyodont tooth replacement in lower vertebrates was summarized by Edmund (1960, 1969), who primarily considered reptilian dentitions, but made a few observations on other groups. He proposed that tooth replacement in all polyphyodont dentitions was regulated by a series of stimuli passing caudad along the dental lamina producing tooth germs at each locus. He demonstrated that the interval between successive stimuli determined the direction in which replacement waves, operating in alternate tooth loci, would progress. Edmund used the term Zahnreihen to indicate the teeth produced by a single stimulus. When depicted graphically, Zahnreihen appear as obliquely running lines connecting teeth in adjacent loci. Edmund demonstrated that if Zahnreihen producing stimuli pass down the dental lamina at intervals of 2.0 tooth posi- tions, simple alternate replacement will result. If stimuli are produced at inter- vals greater than two tooth positions, rear to front waves are produced. When stimuli occur at intervals of less than two tooth positions, fron to rear waves are produced. Lawson, et al. (1971) presented a theoretical analysis of variations in replacement waves produced by different Zahnreihen spacings. Osborn (1971, 1972, 1974) rejected the Zahnreihen concept in favor of the tooth family concept. His findings, based primarily on studies of Lacerta vivipara, suggest that tooth replacement is regulated by a sphere of inhibition surround- ing developing teeth and extending into adjacent loci. Since a developing tooth temporarily inhibits tooth development in adjacent loci, adjacent teeth are always in different stages of development. Gillette (1955) first suggested such a sphere of inhibition around the developing teeth of Rana pipiens. Osborn (1971, 1974) suggested that tooth initiation, and initiation of rear to front replacement, is caused by the invasion of neural crest cells from the caudal end of the jaw bone. Some previous studies of tooth replacement in bony fishes include: Norris and Prescott (1959) studied replacement in Girella nigricans; Roberts (1967) surveyed many of the characoid genera; Lawson and Manly (1973) studied an additional characoid species Ctenolucius hujeta; Miller and Radnor (1973) investigated the holostean Amia calva; and Wakita, et al. (1977) reported on tooth replacement in


Objective: To analyze trace elements in 10 kind of Yi nationality's Medicine.Methode: The szmples were digested in HNO3+HClO4(1∶3).then it was determination by ICP-AES.Results: shows metal elements of Ca,Mg,Cr,Mn,Fe,Zn and Cu in Yi Herbal Medicine.Conclusion: these elements have relativity with pharmacology function of the Yi nationality's Medicine.


It is quite common in document analysis and symbol recognition to rely on a priori knowledge about the nature of the document in order to locate candidate symbols. It is desirable, but less common, for a segmentation procedure to rely on "a posteriori" feedback from a non-human-guided process to adjust for segmentation errors. For this method to succeed, the feedback must come from a reliable classifier (one that is able to reject negative symbols including miss-segmented symbols). This paper examines the use of positive and negative training data on a nearest-neighbour classifier for hand-drawn geometric shapes. We explore the issues involved in the development of a reliable classifier using this method, and we discuss the trade-off between reliability and correctness.


We propose a new seesaw model in an extra-dimensional setup where only right-handed neutrinos are bulk fields. In the model, localizations of an extra-dimensional wave function and brane Majorana mass of the right-handed neutrinos can be different among each generation of the right-handed neutrinos. The setup can lead to different suppression factor dependences of effective right-handed neutrino masses and neutrino Yukawa couplings for each generation. It is shown that the resultant mass spectra of the right-handed neutrinos and neutrino Yukawa couplings are favored in models of neutrino dark matter with baryogenesis.


Objective: To evaluate the effect of therapeutic exercises on pregnancy related low back pain in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi. Material & Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with non-probability convenience sampling technique. Study was carried out at Liaquat National Hospital Karachi. Patients were divided into two groups (Experimental and Control). Inclusion criteria were age <30 years, 2nd and 3rd trimester, stable medical status and those who gave the informed consent. Exclusion were pregnancy induced hypertension (>140/90mmHg), Cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, persistent vaginal bleeding, history of miscarriages, decreased foetal movement. Data was collected through assessment Modified Oswestry Low back pain disability questionnaire. SPSS version 23.0 was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 30 samples were selected for the study. There were 15 respondents in experimental while 15 in control group. Disability levels were found to be significantly decreased after post treatment in experimental group with P-value= 0.002. It was seen that number of patients was increased from 1(6.7%) to 6(40%) in minimal disability group whereas crippled back pain group in pre-treatment group was totally shifted towards minimal or moderate pain 3(20.0%) and no case was seen in post-treatment. Conclusion: Low back pain in pregnancy can disturb daily life routine but exercise therapy and proper counselling will lead stress free life to female in gestation. After post treatment in experimental group showed decrease in pain as compare to control group who were not provided any exercise therapy. Working women in experimental group also showed decrease by crippled back pain to moderate pain after exercise. So in the end researcher suggest that physiotherapy exercises play a vital role in reducing Low Back Pelvic Pain (LBPP) during pregnancy.


B cell activating factor (BAFF) of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), cytokines which bind and signal through BAFF-R, transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI), and/or B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on B cells, play overlapping and non-redundant roles in B cell development, proliferation, function, and survival. Therapeutic agents targeting BAFF and/or APRIL have demonstrated promising clinical potential in autoantibody-related glomerulonephritides (GN) such as lupus nephritis (LN), immunoglobulin (Ig) A nephropathy (IgAN), membranous nephropathy, and other B cell-related diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, there is still need for more safe and efficacious therapies. Povetacicept (ALPN-303) is an Fc fusion protein of an engineered TACI variant TNFRSF domain (vTD) with enhanced affinity for APRIL and BAFF which mediates more potent inhibitory activity than wild type (WT) TACI-Fc or BAFF- or APRIL-specific antibodies. In preclinical studies, povetacicept demonstrated enhanced pharmacokinetic (PK) and immunomodulatory properties vs. WT TACI-Fc, which may translate to lower and/or less frequent doses in humans. Povetacicept also suppressed autoantibodies, renal IgG deposition, and nephritis in mouse models. Povetacicept may therefore significantly improve clinical outcomes in autoantibody-mediated GNs and other B cell-related diseases.

 In this first-in-human study (NCT05034484), 66 healthy adult volunteers were randomized 4:2 into single ascending dose cohorts of intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) povetacicept or placebo. Participants were followed to assess safety and PK, circulating Ig, galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1), and circulating leukocyte populations.

 Povetacicept has been well tolerated in all cohorts evaluated as single IV or SC doses of up to 960 mg. Overall, it exhibits dose-related PK and expected pharmacodynamic (PD) effects, including dose-related reductions in serum IgA, IgM, IgG, and Gd-IgA1 (Figure 1), and in circulating antibody-secreting cells (ASC; plasmablasts and plasma cells) (Figure 2). In the same setting, these PD effects appear greater than those reported for WT TACI-Fc molecules and appear to be saturated at doses ≥80 mg. Coverage of free APRIL was maintained for 2-3 weeks with 80 mg and ≥4 weeks with 240 mg, respectively. The most frequent adverse event has been mild headache. To date, there have been no imbalances of infections between placebo and povetacicept groups, no treatment-related reactions other than mild injection site pain, and no adverse trends in safety laboratories.

 To date, povetacicept has demonstrated acceptable safety and tolerability as single IV or SC doses, exhibiting dose-dependent PK and PD that appear to differentiate favorably vs WT TACI-Fc. Based on the magnitude and duration of the observed PD effects, dose regimens of 80-240 mg SC every 4 weeks are anticipated for use in future studies. Overall, the study findings support future clinical development of povetacicept in multiple autoantibody-related GN, as well as other B cell- and/or autoantibody-related diseases such as SLE and autoantibody-associated cytopenias.


Wistar rats were used as experimental animals in this study.7 kinds of single injury,11 kinds of combined injury with 2 factors and 5 kinds of combined injury with 3 factors were simulated under condition of deeply buried.Clinical observations,hematology,serum biochemistry,blood gas analysis,pathology,immunohistochemistry,molecular biology,morphometry techniques combined with epidemiological research were used in this study.Animals were curshed 3 d and then were released.The recovery process and pathophysiological changes of distant organ were observed systematically between 3 d and 28 d.This study provides a reference for the on-site first aid and subsequent treatment of the wounded personnel.


The study was conducted during 2011-2012 vintage-storage season. Freshly harvested apples were pre-cooled at 2°C for 24 h in a cold storage chamber to remove the field heat, then were dipped in five various concentrations of CaCl2 solution (0-2.5%) for one hour and were exposed to hot air at 20C and 90% RH for 24 hours. Three replications for treatment, with ninety uniform apples for each treatment on each replication, were used. Apples were placed on wooden crates and were stored under refrigerated conditions (0±2C, 90% RH) for six months and up to 30 days post-cold storage, under normal environmental conditions (15±2°C, 75% RH). Apples were sampled for several quality parameters at intervals of 60 days during cold storage period and at intervals of five days during post-cold storage. Observed results showed that duration of cold storage and post-cold storage significantly affected fruit firmness, juice content, weight loss and shelf life of "Golden Delicious" apples. Postharvest CaCl2 dip treatments of 2.0% and 2.5% maintained the highest quality of "Golden Delicious" apples, with less negative effects on consumer acceptance, and, since there were not observed significant differences between them, CaCl2 2.0% was recommended for "Golden Delicious" apples grown under Korca's conditions.


A series of second generation of on-chip optical communication links of 50µm length, utilizing 650 – 850 nm propagation wavelengths, have been designed and realized, with a SiGe radio frequency (RF) 0.35µm bipolar process. Micron dimensioned optical sources, silicon nitride waveguides and detectors were all integrated on the same chip to form a complete communication on-chip micro-optical links. Avalanche based Si LEDs (Si Av LEDs), Schottky contacting, TEOS densification strategies, silicon nitride based waveguides, and state of the art SiGe bipolar detector technologies were used as key design strategies. From the measurement, best performances of the designed on-chip optical links show optical edge-coupling from source to detector with -30dB total optical link budget loss up to 500MHz in cut off frequency. We observed that the good alignment of the waveguide with the source and the good efficiency of each integrated device are then clearly achieved. Higher frequency performances are also envisaged from preliminary measurements.


In the island of Fuerteventura, society and administration have shown interest in maintaining the natural values in view of the incipient pressure of the mass tourism. Recently, the entire island has been declared Biosphere Reserve and several spaces have been registered under different protection figures. This protectionist growth arises immediately after the approval of a controversial sculpture project designed for the Mountain Tindaya that supposedly has reasonable expectations to channel tourism development model via 'art-culture-nature'. Gradually begins to be observed how the destination begins to be offered by an image of sustainable development supposedly based on scientific criteria. The result is a new reinterpretation of the space in which largely is ignored the efficient involvement of local populations. The Tindayas mountain resymbolization process highlights the different meaning of space for the different local actors and interest. From an ethnographic qualitative study, this paper tries to analyze how the different projected symbolizations over the mountain influence the different processes of appropriation.


Background National Household Survey of Drug Use in the India in its systematic effort to document the nationwide prevalence of drug use including alcohol consumption reported that almost 21% of the adult male Indian consume alcohol in a year. To find out prevalence, pattern and consequences of drinking and determine the relationship of  alcohol use with demographic and socio-economic factors among auto-mobile repair workers. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among auto-mobile repair workers in the urban field practice area of All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata. Results Prevalence of alcoholism in the community of automobile repair workers was found to be as high as 79%.  More than 50% of the alcoholics belonged to the hazardous and dependent variety according to the WHO developed AUDIT instrument.53.01% of the alcoholics consumed foreign liquor predominantly and 87.95% bought them from licensed liquor shops. Mean age of initiation of drinking was 18.67 years. Taking loan OR (95% CI) 3.51(1.56-7.92), gambling OR (95% CI) 3.38(1.48-7.69) and clinical signs of alcoholism OR (95% CI) 5.52 (2.13 - 14.29) were significantly associated with chronic alcohol abuse. A multivariate logistic regression model was created for socio-economic variables which showed education AOR (95%CI) 4.65(1.34- 16.31) and total number of family members AOR (95%CI) 5.33(1.31-25.02) were significantly associated with drinking status (Nagelkerke R 2 for this model is 0.2585). Conclusion The prevalence of alcoholism is high in the automobile repair workers and therefore all efforts must be made to reduce, if not eliminate, alcohol consumption among the workers of auto-mobile service centres. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nje.v3i3.9188 Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 2013;3(3): 269-274


Abstract Water-soluble monomer APEG-PG-(OH)n were produced and the Structure of APEG-PG-(OH)5 were identified by 1H-NMR. APEG-PG-(OH)n were copolymerized with maleic anhydride (MA) to synthesize no phosphate and nitrogen free calcium carbonate inhibitor MA/APEG-PG-(OH)n. The structure and thermal property of MA/APEG-PG-(OH)5 were characterized and measured by 1H-NMR, GPC and TGA. The observation shows that the dosage and n value of MA/APEG-PG-(OH)n plays an important role on CaCO3 inhibition. MA/APEG-PG-(OH)5 displays superior ability to inhibit the precipitation of calcium carbonate, with approximately 97% inhibition at a level of 8 mg/L. The effect on formation of CaCO3 was investigated with combination of SEM and XRD analysis.


Relationships, intent, commitment and a little serendipity – the ingredients that create the magic that make the real difference toward improving the mental health of children, youth and their families. Flashback…2003…a new wet behind the ears psychiatrist and a passionate parent advocate crossed paths and unbeknownst to each it would lead to a partnership, friendship and shared desire to create a future where children, youth and their families could flourish, succeed in life and be understood and valued. Flashforward…2010…here we are co-guest editing this special issue of the Journal on engaging children, youth and families in all aspects of child and youth mental health.

We have attempted to secure articles that can speak to the importance and necessity of engaging children, youth and families to inform and improve systems, policies, practices, programs and research.

There is no doubt that full engagement is possible and fruitful as described by Spencer, Blau & Mallery in their article on the impact of "family-driven" care in America. As they point out there are facilitating steps which promote the success and uptake of engagement with children, youth and families. However, as Goplan et al. recognize, engaging families into mental health treatment remains a serious challenge. This is not an insurmountable hurdle; however, it is one that impedes efforts to engage when there is only so much time, limited resources and too many kids in crisis – impacting not only the families but also all those working in the systems – all of whom would benefit from the engagement.

Parents and families in this country are thinking and worried about their children's mental health. In 2009, Today's Parent Magazine published a Healthy Kids 2009 series which featured four topic areas; mental health, fitness and nutrition, environment and health, and injury prevention. As noted in Anderson et al., the Editor of the magazine stated that mental health was the most powerful of the four topics.

The youth with lived experience that were engaged in developing the framework for the BC Provincial Family Council, co-chaired by a youth and a parent, stated that a primary motivator for their engagement was their worry about having children and the potential impact of their own mental health on their kids and their children's risk of developing mental health concerns as noted in Davidson, et al. When provided an opportunity, youth and families are very frank and contribute significant energy in describing what worked, what they need and what they hope for. This is clearly evident in Chovil & Panagiotopoulos who engaged families in determining the health literacy needs related to the use of second-generation antipsychotic medications.

Each article in this special issue demonstrates the importance of relationships, intent, commitment and a little serendipity. How does one achieve this? We and these authors know that these ingredients were necessary to bring about the engagement that they desired.

Find other champions and be champions together. It is the magic of relationships that make possibilities real.

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you." (The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real, Margery Williams).

Guest Editors, Jana Davidson and Keli Anderson


Adverse environmental exposures before and during pregnancy can have lifelong consequences for the offspring. Maternal insults such nutrient restriction or prenatal stress, for example, initiate an adaptive response by the fetus, which in the short term may improve fitness after birth, but in the long term leads to a range of adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome. The prenatal environment is inherently rhythmic, with the fetus subjected to changes in temperature, substrates and hormones that oscillate over a 24 h period, driven largely by maternal behavioural and endocrine rhythmicity. A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to environmental conditions which disrupt maternal circadian rhythms may also constitute an insult with lifelong consequences for the offspring. Studies in rats have demonstrated that exposure of pregnant dams to chronic phase shifts (CPS) of the photoperiod, whereby the timing of light exposure is repeatedly manipulated throughout pregnancy, not only disrupts maternal circadian rhythms, but also programmes increased adiposity, poor glucose tolerance and elevated blood pressure in adult offspring (Varcoe et al. 2011; Mendez et al. 2016). In a recent study in The Journal of Physiology, Salazar et al. (2018) expand our understanding of the consequences of maternal circadian rhythm disruption for offspring health. In this study, rat dams were exposed to CPS from mating until day 19 of pregnancy, whereupon a regular 12 h light–12 h dark photoperiod was maintained for the remainder of gestation and into adulthood of the offspring. The adult male offspring were found to display increased anxiety-like behaviours and, intriguingly, an altered corticosterone rhythm such that the timing of peak secretion was uncoupled from the external photoperiod. Further interrogation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis suggested these changes were mediated at the level of the adrenal gland. Twenty-four-hour profiles of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were not affected, whereas ACTH-induced corticosterone secretion was attenuated in adrenals cultured from CPS offspring. Unexpectedly, cellular rhythms within the adrenal were not affected, with 24 h profiles of clock gene mRNA similar between control and treatment offspring. However, the timing of key genes involved in ACTH responsiveness and glucocorticoid synthesis was affected. These studies highlight that maternal circadian rhythm disruption, 'chronodisruption', programmes changes in the HPA axis of the adult offspring, likely at the level of the adrenal gland. An analysis of fetal adrenals on day 18 of gestation also revealed changes to the timing of clock gene expression, suggesting that maternal CPS exposure acutely affected the developing fetal circadian timing system. These results provide another piece in the puzzle of our understanding of the impact of maternal chronodisruption upon offspring health. The changes in HPA axis function described in male CPS offspring in this study may underlie or contribute to other previously described phenotypes including increased adiposity, glucose intolerance and hypertension. However, there remain some critical gaps in the literature to address. First, we need to better explore the sex-dependent effects of maternal chronodisruption on the phenotypes described both in this study and in the broader literature. It is well known that maternal insults can have differential effects upon male and female offspring, and we therefore should characterize the phenotype in both sexes. We also don't know at which stage of gestation the fetus is most susceptible to maternal chronodisruption. Is it during the early stages of pregnancy, in which events such as implantation and placental development are so critical for both pregnancy success and the long term health of progeny? Or does exposure during late gestation mediate these effects, with high nutrient utilization and rapid fetal growth making the fetus susceptible to environmental insults? None of the studies to date have adequately addressed these questions. There are other potential impacts upon offspring health also yet to be characterized. For example, is the reproductive capacity of both male and female offspring affected by maternal chronodisruption? Can a 'second hit' such as a high fat diet or chronic stress exacerbate the phenotype? Is the effect transgenerational? By characterizing the impact of CPS exposure during pregnancy on the dam, we can begin to piece together potential mechanisms by which maternal chronodisruption programmes impairment of offspring health. Pregnant rat dams exposed to CPS display disrupted 24 h profiles of activity, core body temperature, corticosterone and circadian clock gene expression in peripheral tissues (Varcoe et al. 2013; Mendez et al. 2016). Melatonin secretion is also chronically affected, and there is some evidence from the literature suggesting this may mediate some of the programming effects. For example, suppression of maternal melatonin through exposure to constant light or pinealectomy also programmes chronic disease in offspring, an effect which can be attenuated by timed exogenous melatonin administration (Ferreira et al. 2012). Melatonin, being lipophilic, readily passes through the placenta and can bind to melatonin receptors present within fetal tissues. Despite the strong evidence from rat models that maternal chronodisruption can have lifelong consequences for offspring health, it is unknown whether these effects occur in humans. Disruption of human circadian rhythms can occur through shift work, international travel, or exposure to light at night via room lighting and hand-held tablet devices. However, defining the impact of maternal chronodisruption on both progeny and pregnancy outcomes will require prospective and retrospective studies in human populations, alongside studies in animal models using a wide range of experimental approaches. This dual approach is needed to allow better understanding of critical periods and underlying mechanisms, as well as to enable the design and testing of interventions to improve outcomes.


ntroduction: The incidence of advanced colorectal neoplasia in the screening population shows great diversity with a prevalence of 3–12 %. Due to the uneven distribution in the population, potential risk factors that would allow the stratification of individuals according to the degree of risk of colorectal neoplasia are searched. Aim: To determine the risk factors associated with the occurrence of advanced colorectal neoplasia in the screening population. Methods: Asymptomatic individuals aged 45–75 years who underwent preventive colonoscopy in 2012–2016 in a multicenter prospective study monitoring metabolic risk factors for CRC (MRF CRC study) were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Fisher's exact test was used to compare the risk factors with the occurrence of advanced colorectal neoplasia. Results: There were 1,108 men (56.3%) and 859 women (43.7%) in the group; the average age of the individuals was 60 years. The majority of subjects were referred for primary screening colonoscopy (1,174 subjects; 59.7%) and 793 subjects (40.3%) underwent FOBT positive colonoscopy. The total number of advanced colorectal neoplasms in the cohort was 11,8% (233 individuals). The independent risk factors significantly associated with advanced colorectal neoplasia included age (p < 0.001), male gender (p = 0.001), smoking (p < 0.001), serum concentrations of triglycerides (p = 0.029; especially concentrations > 2 mmol/l) and low vitamin D (p = 0.033). These are preliminary results which will be specified in the following more detailed data analysis using logistic regression. Conclusion: The strongest risk factors associated with advanced colorectal neoplasia were age, gender and smoking. In addition to these factors, serum triglyceride levels and low vitamin D were significantly associated with advanced colorectal neoplasia. In the individuals with a higher incidence of advanced colorectal neoplasia according to the given factors, primary screening colonoscopy should be considered.


Modern switches and routers require a large amount of storage space to buffer packets. This becomes more significant as the link speed increases and switch size grows. While DRAM is a good choice to provide capacity, the access time becomes a problem for high-speed applications. In this case, SRAM has to be used to match the link speed. However, SRAM is more costly and the density is low. The SRAM/DRAM hybrid architecture provides a good solution to meet both capacity and speed requirements. -- To minimize packet loss and provide better quality of service (QoS), each switch port is normally equipped with a large amount of buffering resources, which is usually based on the worst case scenario. However, under normal load conditions, the buffer utilization is very low. Therefore, we propose a reconfigurable buffer sharing scheme in which a buffer controller can dynamically adjust the buffer size allocated for each port according to the parameters derived from the traffic pattern and buffer saturation status. The target is to improve the buffer utilization without posing much constraints on the buffer speed. -- In our research, we study how buffer sharing architectures improve the switch performance, based on the results from both numerical analysis and simulations. The performance results obtained from both uniform and nonuniform traffics demonstrate that the proposed reconfigurable shared buffer can provide better queuing performance with a much smaller shared buffer. We further conduct research into the VLSI design of the proposed reconfigurable shared queue architecture using hardware description language VHDL and using 0.18um CMOS technology. The design result indicates that the buffer sharing and control logic can be integrated into port controllers with a increasing of about 20,000 gate-count for each 4-port group, while the memory size can be reduced into half of the dedicated buffer scheme.


This paper discusses the following topics on retrieving and analyzing computer usage accounting data: prepackaged reports using public command procedures; reports that can be tailored by the user - the KOMTOOLS procedures; and detailed information on KOMTOOLS. (LSP)


Initially came mathematics, then numerical analysis developed, and, finally, discrete mathematics (DMths) was born. This statement describes the progression of the relationship between mathematics and computers. DMths is the core of computer science. Thus, it is the backbone and the organic structure necessary for developing computing. The homonymous book Discrete Mathematics attends to this movement, with strong pedagogical overtones. The manner in which a book's structure is determined is of particular interest. This is especially true in the case of this book, which is dedicated to DMths. The authors organised the content of their book following a master plan prototype proposed at a conference. They also adopted additional prototypes, current in US universities, relative to their book's subject. The next point of interest is the interconnection and causality of the content itself. In this context, Logic is the foundation of the book under examination. The next most significant subject, building on the foundation of logic, is the concept of mathematical proof. The latter is the basis of two fundamental aspects, set theory and matrix algebra. From set theory descends the theory of relations and from that follows functions theory. Relational DataBases (RDB) also derive from the theory of relations. In parallel, functions direct the content of the book in three interesting and significant ways: (1) cardinality; (2) graph theory and its applications; and (3) algebraic structures. The latter also descend from matrix theory and lead to Boolean algebra as well. We also delve, in what follows, into the vast field of DMths, with an eye also on the book's subject matter. Initially the foundation of DMths, and subsequently of computer science, is considered. Undoubtedly, the foundation is Logic. It is the connection, the result, and the impact of philosophical logic on algorithmic computation and computers, in other words, on logic machines. The pillars on which the whole structure is built are the mathematical proofs. We cite in particular the authors' successful and noteworthy undertaking regarding the presentation of mathematical proof methodology. The tools for developing and implementing proofs are, of course, the sets. The relative set theory encompasses the rules and norms of the abstract construction of mathematical proofs. The way to get these tools (i.e. sets) to work, to communicate, to relate, to join, etc. is the relation. Relations are also sets. In this book three types of relations are considered: functions, equivalence relations and order relations. Functions are demonstrated from the point of view of set theory. Set theory is the infrastructure necessary for developing vital parts of DMths theory. The other fundamental mathematical elements used in computing are developed into the main substrates of matrix theory, number theory, Boolean algebra and graph theory. Applications of primary interest are databases, cryptography and applications of graphs (trees, sorting, searching, networks, etc.). The book's bibliography has the advantage of being concise, but at the same time it could be enriched more. This fact reveals the authors' contributions to developing the material, at the expense of a more well-rounded approach to the bibliography. Thework thus has amore personal character. The authors do not follow a strict bibliographical style of cross-references; instead, they utilise a freer connection to the bibliography. The authors' diligent attempt to present, analyse and thoroughly demonstrate the subject of DMths is noteworthy. In keeping with the textbook character of their book, they also cite many examples. The book is an integrated textbook of DMths, adequate for undergraduate computer scientists, featuring however a synoptic and vital presentation of this important, useful and interesting field. Of course, it is also interesting and useful for students of mathematics, as well as for those who work with informatics in general. It is a classic textbook, well structured and sufficiently complete within the framework established by similar textbooks. The work does a good job keeping a balance between conciseness and in-depth examinations, with, however, an overemphasis on the exercises–examples that are provided.


Molecular dynamics simulation and analysis are performed on the mechanical properties of mono-and poly-crystalline nano-Cu film. Computational results indicate that the temperature effects are very significant on the tensile strength and the deformation mechanism of the mono-crystalline Cu-film. The strength of the sample is much higher at absolute zero temperature than at normal temperature. The plastic deformation at zero temperature is induced by the short-distantce sliding of the particles while it is caused by the long-distance propagation of dislocations at normal temperature. The strength of polycrystalline Cu-film increases with the decrease of grain size. In the process of strain accretion, grain boundary sliding dominates the plastic deformation. Dislocations originating from grain boundaries propagate toward grains. The area of the grain boundary enlarges and the grain size shrinks with the development of plastic deformation. However, the shapes of the basic grains have no remarkable change even at very large strain.


We all know that clopidogrel reduces thrombotic complications during and after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure. Because clopidogrel is a prodrug and only ≈2% of ingested clopidogrel is ultimately bound to platelets, it is entirely possible, even likely, that small differences in metabolism that lead to a reduction in the formation of the active metabolite could potentially have an enormous clinical impact.1 So, it would seem entirely logical to measure individual patient's response to clopidogrel and to alter their therapy in an individualized manner. After all, are we not moving as a profession with great enthusiasm to the practice of "personalized medicine?" And should we not? Does it make sense that patients young or old, tall or short, lightweight or obese, and so on would all require the same dose of clopidogrel and respond to it to the same degree? No, it does not.

Response by Price on p 288

Having said that, the truth is that there are scant data to date that the routine use of platelet function testing for all patients to whom clopidogrel is administered would improve clinical outcomes. In fact, the currently available data suggest the opposite.

How can we make such a statement in view of all the studies that at first glance might seem to suggest the opposite?

The issues suggesting that routine platelet function testing of all patients on clopidogrel ought not yet be routinely used to guide clinical practice can perhaps be most clearly understood by examining the following basic yet fundamental concerns:

Clopidogrel resistance, or to use the more appropriate and preferred term, hyporesponsiveness to …


The relations between science and philosophy are so close that philosophy of science is a central concern of both, philosophers and scientists. Moreover, science education research considers philosophical aspects to improve science education. Over the last decades decades, science education has depicted philosophical perspectives on science that target understanding concepts and the nature of science as well as socio socio-scientific issues. Surprisingly, d idactics of philosophy is not very much concerned with the connection between philosophy and science education. Teaching philosophy of science in secondary schools is not very popular even though science constitutes a dominant and pervasive aspect of stude nts' lives. Hence, this paper focuses on philosophy of science as a missing link, connecting students' direct experience and science's growing influence on their lives with the general statements, methods, and concepts of science generated to a large exten t within secondary school subjects. To counter potential misunderstandings, I examine some misguided ways of thinking of philosophy of science in schools. The aim is to institutionalize philosophy of science in upper secondary schools and to foster the int erconnection of subjects within post post-compulsory education.


and Greek occur in both collections, though otherwise they differ in scope. One might wish that this extraordinarily versatile scholar had planned a series of collections which might have reflected his areas of interest more systematically (as he has done to some extent in the field of spirituality, by collections in both English and Syriac). Thus the material in these two volumes could helpfully have been so arranged that the material on any given area stood all together; but Brock has almost certainly more to publish on most of these subjects, and meanwhile one can only be grateful that he has made available what he has, especially the pieces published in places where not everyone would think of looking (Kerala, Baghdad, Nicosia...) as well as in those necropolises of scholarship, Festschrifts and congress volumes. The new collection starts with history: a survey of Syriac historical writing which is a most useful teaching aid, followed by a study, with translation, of Book XV of the world history by the seventh-century John bar Penkaye, who gives an apocalyptic account of events in northern Mesopotamia in the 680s. Between these would naturally come nos. VII and VIII in the previous volume; but since then has appeared a grander monument to Brock's long-standing interest in the century of the rise of Islam, in The seventh century in the WestSyrian Chronicles, edited by his pupil Andrew Palmer, with translations by the latter, S. P. Brock himself, and (on Arabic sources) R. Hoyland (Liverpool University Press, 1993). Next (III) comes one of Brock's many and invaluable bibliographies, ' Syriac inscriptions: a preliminary check-list of European publications'. No. IV, 'Jewish traditions in Syriac sources', could well serve to introduce a collection of Brock's fascinating editions and studies on the ' Binding of Isaac' in Syrian literature (in both Syriac and Greek). The short study V, 'A piece of wisdom literature in Syriac' (a fragment on royal riddles) asks to be accompanied by Brock's study of another fragment, on the Queen of Sheba's questions (mentioned in the 'Addenda and Corrigenda', p. 2). These also point towards his extensive studies in Syriac dispute poems and dramatic dialogues (sogyata), which by themselves could form a volume no smaller than the Variorum pair. Nos. VI-X all reflect Brock's interest in the interplay of Greek and Syriac culture. No. X, ' Towards a history of Syriac translation technique', relates closely to nos. II-V in the earlier collection. No. VI , ' Syriac and Greek hymnography: problems of origin', asks to be supplemented by 'From Ephrem to Romanos' (see again the 'Add. and Corr.', p. 2). Nos. VII-IX give texts and translations with commentary on three odd pieces of Syriac tradition, reflecting Greek popular lore about the philosophers, which were discussed in the earlier volume, no. II. No. XI, 'Clothing metaphors as a means of theological expression in Syriac Tradition', might seem to stand rather on its own, perhaps more related to Brock's studies on the poetic theology of St Ephrem; but in fact this example of the Syriac preference, in speaking of Jesus's human nature, for a metaphor which is not easily reducible to theological precision is a highly suitable introduction to the remaining four items, XH-XV (together with XI-XIII in the other volume). No. XII, ' The Christology of the Church of the East in the Synods of the fifth to early seventh centuries', is a very solid piece of theological and ecumenical history, such as probably few others today could undertake with such authority or such exemplary fairness and tact. No. XIII, ' The conversations with the Syrian Orthodox under Justinian (532)', described and discussed in the other volume, no. XI, gives the critical text, translation and commentary. The last two articles do the same for two documents relating to Monotheletism in the sixth century (see also the former volume, XII-XIII). These are also relevant to the early history of the Maronites. The brief Addenda and Corrigenda have been referred to above. Unfortunately neither volume has a general index, which would be possible even though there is no continuous paging. One tiny detail: in no. XII (on the Church of the East), p. 131, n. 39, the 'Anon' who contributed the Appendix on Syriac theological terms in Bethune-Baker's Nestorius and his teaching (1908) was Dom Richard Connolly, as his papers in Downside Abbey prove. The Appendix was also issued as an elegant offprint (still anonymous). Connolly also provided all the translations from Syriac in the book.


The change detection task of remote sensing images is a basic scientific problem, and has been further widely used in real life. Recently, transformer model has shown strong learning and representation abilities in visual interpretation. In this article, Inspired by the success of the Vision Transformer and its variants, we propose a novel change detection model for remote sensing images, named Swin ResNet Transformers (Swin ResNet). Different from other methods, the proposed Swin ResNet architecture uses a Swin transform encoder, which extracts feature representations of multiple resolutions through a shift window mechanism to calculate self-attention. On three datasets, the proposed model showed good performance, and demonstrate that the Swin transformer has a strong ability to learn long-term dependencies of multi-scale context representation.


: The optimization of an integrated coal gangue system of mining, dressing, and backfilling in deep underground mining is a multi-objective and complex decision-making process, and the factors such as spatial layout, node location, and transportation equipment need to be considered comprehensively. In order to realize the intellectualized location of the nodes for the logistics and transportation system of underground mining and dressing coal and gangue, this paper establishes the model of the logistics and transportation system of underground mining and dressing coal gangue, and analyzes the key factors of the intellectualized location for the logistics and transportation system of coal and gangue, and the objective function of the node transportation model is deduced. The PSO– QNMs algorithm is proposed for the solution of the objective function, which improves the accuracy and stability of the location selection and effectively avoids the shortcomings of the PSO algorithm with its poor local detailed search ability and the quasi-Newton algorithm with its sensitivity to the initial value. Comparison of the particle swarm and PSO–QNMs algorithm outputs for the specific conditions of the New Julong coal mine, as an example, shows that the PSO–QNMs algorithm reduces the complexity of the calculation, increases the calculation efficiency by eight times, saves 42.8% of the cost value, and improves the efficiency of the node selection of mining–dressing–backfilling systems in a complex underground mining environment. The results confirm that the method has high convergence speed and solution accuracy, and provides a fundamental basis for optimizing the underground coal mine logistics system. Based on the research results, a node siting system for an integrated underground mining, dressing, and backfilling system in coal mines (referred to as MSBPS) was developed.


This paper is devoted to the study of the signal synchronization conditions in the 5G downlink. A model of the physical layer of a downlink communication channel is considered. The structure of the OFDM signal frame is investigated, the noise immunity data transmission is determined, and the error vector magnitude is estimated. A technique for ensuring signal synchronization while minimizing the error in a channel with OFDM signals is considered. Mechanisms have been developed for solving the problem ensuring the orthogonality subcarriers of OFDM signals in the condition's interference.


The main purpose considered in this paper is to maintain a specific location and behavior for a robot that uses type-2 fuzzy logic for controlling its behavior. In this work, we propose a combination of behaviors by following a trajectory without leaving or losing it and avoiding obstacles in an omnidirectional mobile platform. The results of the simulation show the advantages of the proposed approach. We describe the previous knowledge about type-2 fuzzy logic, the virtualization of the mobile robot and its modeling according to real situations. The proposed control system is developed in Matlab/Simulink, the system can model and guide a mobile robot in a successful way in simulated and real environments.


Considering the great cultural and religious diversity of the African continent and the dynamic role of religion at all levels of African life, Africa would seem to offer fertile ground for generating studies of gender and religion. However, such is not the case. In addition to the political, cultural, and academic marginalization of Africa, there are the familiar reasons adduced in other contexts—namely that several of the earlier, classic studies of African religions were conducted by European and African scholars for whom gender was not an analyti cal category—what Ursula King calls "sexism by omission" (King 1995: 2). This paper examines practical, as well as theoretical and methodological, problems and prospects in studies of gender and religion in the vast African context. It is an overview and reflection, rather than a systematic and comprehensive survey. On an autobiographical note, I should add that my own interest in studying women and religion in Africa was not originally intentional, but emerged as I was working on new religious movements in Ni geria, and more specifically on religious pluralism in the town of Calabar. Based on this research, I published an initial study of the diversity of women's religious activities (1985). Following that I was asked to write more generally on women and religion in Africa (1994, 1995), which has led me to cast a critical eye over the literature. For obvious reasons, notably the dearth of historical and descrip tive data, there has been a tendency toward "additive" studies (e.g., Mbon 1987)—filling in the gaps created by androcentric scholarship. Sometimes these studies have adopted a sentimental and nostalgic overtone, waxing lyrical about the positive contributions of women— "the flowers in the garden"—and their important procreative and nurturing roles (Mbiti 1991; Omoyajowo 1991). The heritage of phenomenological comparativism and a predilection for the irreduc ibility of "religion" in the history of religions has not served the study of gender well, in that it has fostered a generalized, essentialized, and decontextualized view of religion. This is particularly inappropriate in the African context where indigenous notions of religion are far


The main goal of this article is to describe the investigation conducted in themasters' thesis project: Digital Medellin – communities of practice and informationand communication technology for organizational development. This is done by givinga description of the background, problem area, the method and theories suchas ethnography, a socio-cultural perspective and the concept of communitiesof practice. Two case studies are presented and discussed. The findings of theresearch are stated in the form of three principal conclusions.


OFDM is an appealing modulation and multiple access technology for channels having a non-flat frequency response because it eliminates the need for complicated equalisers. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing In terms of bandwidth efficiency, resistance against multipath fading, and cost-effective implementation, it can deliver excellent results. There are a few downsides to this method, including its high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). Because of its adaptability and scalability, OFDM is a viable option for CR systems. A non-contiguous OFDM (NCOFDM) technique is proposed in this dissertation, where the implementation achieves high data rates of noncontiguous subcarriers while avoiding any interference. DFT precoding and Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) pulse shaping are used in an unique modulation strategy proposed in this research to lower the PAPR of OFDM-based VLC systems. In addition, to deal with the increased complexity of the DFT precoding system, the notion of group precoding is added. As compared to DFT precoded O-OFDM and O-OFDM counterparts, the findings reveal that different variants of the proposed system provide superior PAPR, symbol error rate (SER), and power-saving performance Furthermore, the proposed system's PAPR analysis, computational complexity, and spectral efficiency have been studied and reported in this research.


Reproduction of culture can influence adaptation strategies and identity building. In this process there is domination and subordination of culture, and in the social order it can be observed the process of resistance to maintain identity, as an ethnicity. On the one hand, the process of cultural reproduction involves how the culture of origin are represented in this new environment, on the other hand, the identity of the origin of which has become part of a person's life history can not be abandoned, even the culture of origin tends to be a guide in life in a new place (cultural mission). The principle mission of Javanese culture: 'building castles /omah' in the place of origin, while making slums in the areas of migration. Due to the simple life of Javanese (the unskilled migrants) in Denpasar consequently it creates slums, so that Denpasar as tourism area is hegemonized by 35 locations of slums. On the basis of these reasons, the paper analyzed 1) What are the unskilled Javanese migrants' adaptation strategies?; 2) What are the implications of the unskilled Javanese migrants' cultural mission? The process of data collection was conducted by using field observations, in-depth interviews with 15 informants from migrants, as well as focus group discussions and studies examining documents with reading and browsing the internet. In dissecting the Javanese unskilled migrants' adaptation problems in Denpasar, it was used the theories of Maslow's needs hierarchy theory and cultural configurations. The results showed that, first, to live a life in a new place (the city of Denpasar), the unskilled Javanese migrants are able to adapt socially with the local population (the Balinese people) in harmony and to carry out their cultural mission, which still retains their cultural traditions. Second, the mission of the cultural mission of the unskilled Javanese migrants in Denpasar have implications (impacts), namely the strengthening of ethnic identity of Java, shifting consumption patterns and lifestyles as well as their commitment to sustaining their own culture. It is suggested that tolerance and harmonious cooperation PIRAMIDA Vol. X No. 2 : 94 - 99 ISSN : 1907-3275 Volume X No. 2 Desember 2014 95 Emiliana Mariyah dan Novena Ade Fredyarin between migrants and natives (the Balinese people) that has existed in the slums communities in Denpasar need to be maintained to establish the life of a multicultural society.


The future of sustainable energy is bright, with continued advancements in technology and growing
global awareness of the need to transition to renewable energy sources to combat future challenges. The
electrical vehicle is new hope for the automobile industry where the deduction of carbon emission is the priority. The increasing
level of carbon emission may be harmful to the environment and society. A qualitative exploration of sustainable energy and its
role in electrical vehicles are other aspects of the study where green energy is another variable. The research design used in the
study is exploratory in nature and covers the different dimensions of sustainable energy. Production of the batteries is also
following certain protocols of natural sustainability and emission. This study will enunciate the role of sustainable energy
sources under the aspects of green energy. Economic benets are also associated with the dened issue. Resultants are
qualitative in nature where the crux of the previous study had been discussed. This study has concluded


The objective of this work was to study the capability of advanced polymeric material constituted by chitosan and natural rubber matrices for controlled release of pesticides (1-hydroxynaphthalene and 2-hydroxynaphthalene) in aqueous solution. The released amount of pesticides was measured spectrophotometrically from the absorbance spectra applying a standardized curve. The release of the pesticides was studied into refreshing and non-refreshing neutral aqueous media. Interestingly, formulation successfully indicated a consistent, controlled and prolonged release of pesticides over a period of 35 days.


This article traces the evolution of European Union-China
relations in terms of arms transfer, specifically from France,
Germany, and the United Kingdom. States sell arms for the
reasons of security, political influence, and the pursuit of
wealth; however, the motives for the arms trade conducted
between these European countries and China are driven by
political decisions that will increase European non-military
exports to China to improve general trade conditions for
European investors in China.


Wage gaps between executives and workers have tended to widen since the start of neoliberal globalization in the 70s. This growing gap helps explain the collapse of labor participation in the primary distribution of income and the growth of inequality worldwide. In this paper we try to contribute to the ongoing debate in Ecuador where it has enacted a law that aims to stimulate innovative responsible wage policy by setting a limit on the deductible wage gap of income tax. A measuring methodology is proposed to analyze pay practices, sector and size di erences. The work concludes with recommendations about several aspects of the law and its regulation.


IntroductionA great deal of rich work has been carried out within the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) developing the concept of quality of life (QOL), measuring it, and applying it to both service delivery and to individuals' lives (1,2). Although this work addressed one small subpopulation of the general population, its core concepts reflect characteristics of the human condition as a whole (3). In other words, the concepts, as well as how to measure and apply them, are equally relevant to people with and without disabilities (4).Family quality of life (FQOL) as a concept and as a focus of research and application emerged in the final years of the twentieth century from this broader and robust study of quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (5). FQOL is based on the same general assumptions as QOL outlined by Brown and Faragher (6) although its focus is not on individuals but rather on the family as a whole, as an independently functioning unit (7). Brown and Brown (3) described two ways the family might function as a unit from a FQOL perspective: the family as a meeting place of the separate quality of the life of individual members of families and the quality of the family life experience as a whole.To achieve a good quality of life has long been an implicit goal for families, just as it has been for individuals. Societal expectations often determine what a good quality of life consists of, but for the most part families consider their lives to be happy and fulfilling if all members are healthy, have a safe place to live, have a stable income, enjoy their lives together, have opportunities to learn and improve, benefit from their community supports and resources, and experience fulfilling social relationships with others.The IDD field has been a leader in examining family quality of life. Since the year 2000, numerous FQOL studies have been carried out in about 25 countries across the world (8,9) using two main information-gathering tools: the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (10) and the Family Quality of Life Survey - 2006 (11). These have been described in the FQOL literature in some detail (10-13) and one analysis (14) compared the merits of the two scales. Although there are differences in accent, the two scales complement one another and there is a reasonable degree of consistency between them. Most of these studies have examined family quality of life from the perspective of the main caregiver (usually mothers), and their main findings have been compared through collaborative research roundtables within the Quality of Life SIRG of IASSIDD (15).On the whole, this research shows that families around the world respond to FQOL measurement tools in much more similar ways than might be expected, especially when considering cultural and economic differences and the wide diversity in availability of services. Some of the major findings that have emerged from this set of research activities include: 1) family relationships are important to families everywhere and families value experiences with their families; 2) satisfaction with services is often a problem noted by families in almost all countries, particularly when family needs are not being appropriately addressed; 3) health and financial challenges compromise the quality of life for some families in all countries; 4) there is universally low support from other people in families' lives (e.g., relatives, friends, neighbors, and others); 5) lower levels of community interaction and integration seem to negatively impact families' quality of life; and 6) careers and schooling are often important components in family quality of life, both for the caregivers and for the person with a disability. Overall, the importance of concepts measured is always rated higher than either satisfaction or attainment, signifying that there is a perception among families around the world that their quality of life could be improved (16). …


DS-CDMA is the most practical techniques available in satellite spread spectrum multiple access schemes. This paper shows a software to calculate synchronous DS-CDMA satellite links, where the probability error and the maximum number of users, are used to evaluate its performance. Several non-orthogonal pseudorandom sequences generators are probed to get spread spectrum. The digital link budget is also employed to compare altitude orbits and features of terminal architectures.


Brown-rice originating from local tidal swamp rice is identified as having high iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content. This paper aims to elaborate the potentials and prospects of Fe and Zn content of brown rice in tidal swamp local rice, especially from South Kalimantan. This research was carried out at tidal swampland of Belandean Experimental Station, Barito Kuala District South Kalimantan. A total of 71 local varieties of tidal swamp rice originating from the tidal swampland were planted in a 2 m x 5 m plot. The planting system was followed by the South Kalimantan farmers' traditional system with three times transplanting. The harvested rice was threshed and then milled which was still aleuron. The analysis of Fe and Zn of the brown rice was carried out in the laboratory of The Center for Soil and Agroclimate Research (at present ICALRD) Bogor. The results of the analysis of Fe and Zn levels of rice showed that levels of Fe and Zn of brown rice varied greatly. Fe levels ranged from 11-83 ppm, where Fe levels of local varieties were higher than high yielding varieties. Likewise, levels of Zn with a wide enough interval, which ranged from 20-108 ppm Zn. Among 71 brown rice local varieties, Siam Panangah showed high levels of Fe and Zn, which were 54 ppm Fe and 108 ppm Zn. The brown rice can be used as a source of nutrition Fe and Zn and as the parents in rice breeding with high Fe and Zn content.