Higher plants can be categorized as C3, C4 or CAM according to their photosynthetic pathways, and some succulent plants are known to shift their patterns of photosynthesis from C3 to CAM in response to environmental stresses such as salt treatment or water deficiency. To investigate fundamental photosynthetic patterns and the induction of pattern shifts (C3, CAM, C3-CAM etc.) as a result of environmental stresses, we measured the water content, diurnal changes in pH, net CO2 exchange, transpiration rate, total ionic contents, and osmolality of Kalancoe daigremontiana, Sedum kamschaticum and Sedum sarmentosum which belong to Crassulaceae known as representative CAM plant, after 10 days of drought treatment. S. kamschaticum and S. sarmentosum did not show a significant difference in diurnal pH variation in the treatment and control conditions. However, the pH of drought-treated Kalancoe was low at night and high in the daytime, with a pH value between 4 and 5. Typical CAM plants display a net CO2 exchange that increases at night and decreases in the daytime. Kalancoe displayed the predicted pattern. However, S. kamschaticum and S. sarmentosum showed a photosynthetic pattern more typical of C3 plants, and did not show changes in photosynthetic pattern under drought stress. Kalancoe also showed a transpiration rate typical for CAM photosynthesis, whereas the transpiration rates of S. kamschaticum and S. sarmentosum were in the typical range for C3 photosynthesis. Kalancoe had high total ionic contents during the night, which decreased somewhat during the daytime, whereas S. kamschaticum and S. sarmentosum displayed the opposite pattern. This result is similar to the diurnal patterns of changes in pH in the three plant species, which suggests a relationship between pH and ionic contents. S. sarmentosum showed lower osmolality under drought stress than in the control condition, whereas the osmolality of Kalancoe and S. kamschaticum did not differ between conditions. S. sarmentosum may have maintained internal water content by lowering its osmolality and raising its total ionic contents. In conclusion, Kalancoe displayed the characteristic responses of a typical CAM plant, whereas S. kamschaticum and S. sarmentosum displayed aspects of the C3 photosynthetic pattern under drought conditions. These results suggest that S. kamschaticum and S. sarmentosum (Crassulacea) in Korea overcome drought stress by increasing solute and ionic contents internally rather than changing their photosynthetic pattern from C3 to CAM under drought stress.


The years between 1500 and 1789 were characterized by keen rivalries, at first primarily dynastic but later national in nature, as one state after another sought to establish its hegemony on the continent of Europe. Some powers, such as Spain and Sweden, declined. Others, such as Prussia and Russia, appeared for the first time as states to be reckoned with. Especially after about 1600 European diplomats, jealous of the relative position and security of their own countries, thought in terms of maintaining a balance of power, to prevent any one state or bloc of stats from dominating the Continent. This idea, like the practice of diplomacy, has been traced to the Italian city-states, whose leaders in the fifteenth century strove to prevent any one of their number from achieving a position from which it could control Italy. [excerpt]


In Portland cement which has Gongyuan 32.5 levels,when the content of Sodium tripolyphosphate increases,the slump retaining ability will be higher.This mixture has some retarding effects and it reduces the early strength of concrete,however the later strength will increase to a reasonable level.The optimum concentration of Sodium hexametaphosphate is between 0.05% and 0.10% to provide the best slump retaining ability,better retarding effects and higher later strength.The optimum level of Sugar Sodium is 0.15%,but the slump retaining ability remains at a reasonably high level when it is between 0.05% and 0.15%.As the content of Sugar Sodium increases,the strength of 3 d and 28 d concrete will also decrease.When the level is at 0.05%,the strength of 3 d and 28 d concrete can reach 19.0 MPa and 38.6 MPa,which are 21.0% and 9.3% higher than the blank test results respectively.The optimum content of Sodium Gluconate is 0.05%,the compression strength of concrete can arrive 44.8 MPa which is 26.2% higher than the blank test result.Silicone can not provide better slump retaining ability in Gongyuan 32.5 levels Portland cement.When the content of T11-904 is 0.10%,it can provide the optimum slump retaining ability and significant retarding effects,but the strength development is not ideal within 28 days.The content of ATMP will reach its saturation point when the content is 0.05%,the strength of 28 d concrete will increase as the amount of ATMP increase.The content of HEDP should be keeping within 0.05%,it will have some certain level of retarding effects.


This project develops a method of wireless communication between a mobile device and a HART modem through the programming in Micropython of the microcontroller based board WiPy in order to obtain the values of different HART sensors. For this, a wireless communication is established through the WiFi router between the WiPy and the client, and a direct link between the WiPy and the HART modem, in this way, the WiPy performs a data gateway function between them. The query is done through the client by entering the address of the sensor and the obtained response is composed by the measured value and the units, which are displayed on the mobile device.


The Albergo diffuso is a new form of hotel in which typical rooms and houses are scattered throughout different buildings within the same village, are overseen by one manager to achieve the highest hotel quality and social involvement standard. When this new business opportunity is presented without detailed informations, often confusion occurs. How can we manage the risk? The first thing to do, as shown by many experiences is describing the advantages and the obstacles, in a compete, detailed and realistic way to the interested people. The first trap to avoid is believing that basic information is enough to understand the idea of AD and the way of doing business it requires. Many detailed informations are also required. A good practice is to weigh the quantity of information based on their quality. This must be as bigger as the enterprising and tourism inexperience of interested subjects. Another best practice is managing first informations about the Albergo diffuso and the co-operative way of doing business as one of the key assets for virtuous tourism development. Acting this way allows the local community to be fully aware of the business opportunity.


Background : Indonesia is one of the country in Asia that have high maternal mortality rate. According to Depkes 2015, there are 3 main causes of high maternal mortality rate in Indonesia such as haemorrhage (35%), hypertension in pregnancy (22%), and infection (6%). Postpartum haemorrhage is a common cause of all deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage and 70% postpartum haemorrhage caused by uterine atony. Uterine atony is the failure of uterine miometrium to contact and causing haemorrhage.

Methods : This research is a descriptive study with retrospective design, that conducted in medical record in Dr.Tengku Mansyur Hospital on june 2016. In this research there are 46 samples and used total sampling. Each sample was taken by the age of the maternal, education, parity, distance delivery, birth attendant and weight of the baby born.

Results : From 46 samples that had been analyzed, the highest percentage of uterine atony is the mother in older age group 20-35 years noted 35 patients (76%), basic education group noted 23 patients (50%), multiparity groups noted 28 patients (61%), the distance delivery ≤2 years noted 23 patients (50%), birth attendat by midwife noted 41 patients (89%), and the baby was born non macrosomia (<4000gr) noted 37 patients (80%)

Conclusions : Based on this research it is known that the older age, basic education, high parity, the distance of delivery ≤2 years, birth attendant by midwife with less education about active management of third labor is very susceptible cause of uterine atony.


Compudose®, a growth promotant implant for cattle which gives a sustained release of estradiol-17β over a relatively long period of time, was evaluated in a 140-day trial with 80 growing-finishing cattle. An average of 96.9 (± 0.53 SE) μg of estradiol-17β was released daily from these implants. Implanted cattle gained 15.0% faster, ate 7.6% more feed daily and required 6.7% less feed per unit of gain than control steers. Steers which had received Compudose® had 17 kg larger carcasses when slaughtered and a higher dressing percentage. It was concluded that Compudose® is a good growth promotant implant for growing-finishing steers and has the advantage that a single implant can be used in the finishing period. Key words: Compudose, estradiol, growth promotant, implant, cattle


Introduction Portal venous hypertension (PVH) is important in several clinical situations, particularly in patients with cirrhosis who are at risk of potentially life-threatening variceal haemorrhage. Portal venous pressures can be measure directly but only by invasive techniques that are often not practical for serial monitoring or evaluating treatment response. Over the last four decades alternative indirect non-invasive markers have been investigated including portal venous flow, splenic size, and portal vein diameter but none of these have proven to be reliable indicators of PVH. Currently the most widely used method remains an invasive one – the use of hepatic vein wedge pressure measurements [1]. This technique is safer than direct splenic puncture methods but remains relatively impractical for many patients. Recently the ability to measure organ stiffness non-invasively using US or MR based elastography [2] has provided an opportunity to investigate whether spleen stiffness is related to portal pressure. An early study has indicated a correlation but in order to investigate this relationship it is necessary to understand the normal range of splenic stiffness and whether or not this is correlated with other parameters such as splenic volume, age or body mass index. There is little or no established literature on physical measurements of splenic stiffness although in clinical medicine many diseases are known to affect spleen size and stiffness based on manual palpation. The aim of this work was to establish the range of normal splenic stiffness using MRE in healthy adult volunteers and to investigate any correlation with other parameters that might influence the results in future studies of the technique in patients with portal venous hypertension. Methods 16 healthy volunteers (9 male, 7 females, mean age 37 ± 9 years ranging from 28 to 56 years) with no history of gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary or cardiovascular disease and not receiving any regular medication were recruited. Their age, height and weight were recorded and they were fasted prior to an MRI examination using a whole body 1.5T MRI system (Signa HDx, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, USA) with an 8 channel cardiac receive coil. Following initial localiser images axial FIESTA 10mm sections were obtained through the upper abdomen encompassing the spleen during a single breathhold. Based on these images a 19cm diameter pneumatic membrane driver was placed over the anterior abdominal wall at the axial level of the midpoint of the cranio-caudal extent of the spleen. Two MRE examinations were performed centred on the spleen during repeat breath-holding with the driver in a right and left anterior abdominal wall position with the following parameters: FOV 36cm, flip angle 30, two sections 10mm thick and 10mm apart, 60Hz excitation, gradient echo based MRE sequence. The MRE images were processed using an LFE inversion algorithm previously developed and described[3]. Volunteers' blood pressure was recorded at the end of the examination while they were still supine. Splenic stiffness values were obtained using manually placed regions of interest (ROI) outlining the splenic margins on the gradient echo magnitude images (Figure 1a) which were then mapped onto the corresponding MRE inversion images and the weighted (for ROI area) mean of the results for both left and right excitation positions and both sections obtained. The liver and splenic stiffness results were compared for driver location. Splenic volumes were estimated using planimetry of the spleen on the sequential FIESTA images. Splenic volume, body mass index, age and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) were then compared with the MRE results (liver stiffness using the right driver position and splenic stiffness left driver position) for evidence of any correlation and Student's t-test with a Bonferroni correction applied. Results Figure 1 demonstrates typical MRE images in a volunteer. Figure 2 displays the plots of the MRE values against the other parameters with their correlation coefficients. With the driver placed on the right the mean splenic stiffness for the group was 3.6 ± 0.59 kPa (range 2.4 to 4.4 kPa); with the driver on the left the mean splenic stiffness was significantly different (p 0.08) in the mean liver stiffness for the group between the two driver positions: Right position mean liver stiffness 3.0 ± 0.28 kPa (range 2.6 to 3.6 kPa); left position mean liver stiffness 2.8 ± 0.33 kPa (range 2.4 to 3.4 kPa). Spleen volumes ranged from 122 to 427 mls (mean 231 ± 82 mls), BMI from 22.2 to 32.4 kg/m (mean 26.3 ± 3.2 kg/m), mean arterial blood pressure ranged from 68 to 102 mmHg (mean 83 ± 9 mmHg). No significant correlation was observed between liver and spleen stiffness (r = 0.32, p = 0.223). A moderate negative correlation was observed between splenic stiffness and volunteer age but this was not significant after Bonferroni correction (r = -0.499, p' = 0.25). No significant correlation was observed between spleen stiffness and the volunteers' BMI, AMBP, and spleen volume (all p and p' > 0.05) or between liver stiffness and volunteer age, spleen volume, and MABP (all p and p' > 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between the volunteer BMI (body mass index) and liver stiffness (r = 0.652, p' = 0.03). Conclusion These preliminary results in a small number of healthy volunteers demonstrate that spleen stiffness is not significantly correlated with BMI, AMBP, spleen volume, and liver stiffness. A significant difference was observed using different driver positions and the reason for this is unclear but may relate to the direction of excitation wave and its relationship to the image plane, the influence of the stomach may increase non-orthogonality when using the left anterior driver position. Our results using the right anterior driver position are very similar to those observed in the only other similar published study[4]. These findings suggest that with a consistent technique splenic stiffness measurements could be useful in studying portal hypertension. Splenic volume, body mass index and blood pressure do not appear to influence the results in healthy volunteers. In this study a non-significant trend was observed with age and the importance of this may become clearer with a larger population. Acknowledgements Addenbrookes Charitable Trust, Dr Richard Ehman, MRI Lab, Mayo Clinic, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. References [1] Thalheimer U, et al. Dig Liver Dis, 2005, 37(8), 601-608. [2] Muthupillai R, et al. 1995, Science 269, 1854-7. [3] Manduca A, et al. 2001, Med Image Anal, 5(4), 237-54. [4] Yin M, et al, Proc ISMRM 2007, 217.


Caption: "The Egyptian Cavalry Band. There is only one native regiment of cavalry, kept chiefly for escorting the Khedive and his guests. They wear a very bright light-blue uniform."


The greatest challenge of e-supply chain formation is the integration of cross-application processes in a seamless manner. As platform independent, web-based interoperability are becoming key issues in web-based integration and supply chain formation, organisations are in search of architectural solutions to overcome these challenges.  Thus, this paper focuses on the service oriented architectures (SOA) as the recent trend in cross-platform enterprise application integration. SOA paradigm is discussed in detail with special focus on e-supply chain formation. Findings indicate that SOA still appears as the most convenient paradigm to meet the challenges of today's e-supply chain formation requirements.

 Key words: EAI (Enterprise Application Integration), SOA (Service Oriented Architecture), e-supply chain.


Chemical composition of Zinc - chrome film was analyzed by XPS. It is shown that the valence of Zinc is + 2 and 0, chrome is + 3 and + 6, but mainly + 3. Difference thermal test is adopted to, research film. formation, and corrosion resistance mechanism is brought forward.


Objective The prognosis of the subdural thin hematoma accompanied cerebral hemispheric swelling was analyzed.Methods The relationship of the presentation of subdural thin hemotoma accompanied cerebral hemispheric swelling,CT scan and operational prognosis was studied in 86 cases,from Apr.1993 to Apr.2000.Results The hematoma was removied and decompression used with removing bone petal in 86 patients.The post-operational mortality rate was 62.8%(54 cases).Conclusion The hematoma was not reliable operation indication in subdural thin hematoma accompanied the cerebral hemispheric swelling.If the patient was in deep coma and cerebral herniation forming,especially the disappearance of the basic cistern,ventricle Ⅲ and circular cistern,the operation shoud be carefully considered.


The present study was undertaken with the objective to screen promising L. gasseri, L. reuteri and L. helveticus isolates for the Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and their characterization through biochemical and molecular tests. A total of 7 isolates of L. gasseri and 37 isolates of L. reuteri and one isolate of L. helveticus were screened for the EPS production through various tests and finally L . gasseri Lg62 and L. helveticus V3 were selected for the further study. The most promising EPSs producing isolates i.e. V3 and Lg62 gave a prominent growth on RR-MRS agar plate whereas Lg63 and Lg50A were not so prominent on RR-MRS agar plate. V3 and Lg62 showed better viscosity than Lg63 and Lg50A. V3 showed viscosity and corresponding O.D. in the range of 1.100 -1.677 cp and 0.753-1.207 (at 525nm) respectively at 42 0 C and 1.050-1.242 cp and 0.673-0.952 (at 525nm) at 37 0 C respectively. The isolates were found to be purple coloured Gram-positive rods of varying size under microscope. Lactobacillus cultures were catalase negative. V3 showed growth when incubated in MRS broth at 37 0 C as well as at 42 0 C for 24-48 hrs, in terms of turbidity whereas there was no turbidity at 15 0 C. In the arginine hydrolysis test neither LG62 nor V3 showed positive reaction. Both the EPS+ cultures produced acid from glucose, maltose, fructose and sucrose on incubation at 37 0 C for 24 hours. None of the culture produced gas in glucose. Both the cultures V3 and Lg62 showed growth at 4% NaCl concentration and changed the colour of the media from purple to yellow. Growth of V3 was not detected in 6.5% NaCl concentration whereas Lg62 showed growth in the same concentration. After identification of the selected cultures by biochemical techniques they were further confirmed by PCR using species specific primers.


Corrosion of cast iron pipes buried in wet soils has long been associated with severe localized effects often attributed to microbiological influences and also with the chemical and physical proper...


The purpose of present study was to explore the factors affecting job satisfaction and organizational commitment of primary health care providers working in Government health facilities of Delhi, India.

 Study was conducted on a sample of 333 health care providers who were selected using multistage simple random sampling technique. Factor analysis of job satisfaction scale, statistical test like multiple regression, correlation tests were applied using SPSS version 18.

 The seven factors affecting job satisfaction emerged from the factor analysis which are; privileges attached with job, interpersonal relation and cooperation, working environment, patient relationship, organization facilities, career development and human resource issues. Nature of job whether regular or contractual explains 25.1% of variance in the job satisfaction of staff (R Square= 0.251, p = 0.000). Nature of job along with level of education of health care providers is affecting 26.5% of variance in job satisfaction (R Square= 0.265, p = 0.015). For organization commitment type of job whether regular or contractual is responsible for 44.7% of variance in the commitment (R square 0.447; p = 0.000) and experience of health care providers is affecting 29.0% of variance in commitment (R square= 0.290; p = 0.000). Other predictors of organization commitment are salary, job security, working environment, appreciation of work and career growth.

 The findings strongly suggest that the mode of entry of employee, privileges, career growth and working atmosphere contribute substantially to the job satisfaction and organization commitment.

 Appropriate changes are required at the policy level to keep the human resource satisfied and committed to the organization keeping in consideration the factors responsible for them.


Trends in the development of the modern digital economy have determined the practical digital transformation of all aspects of human activity, including both production and social spheres. Currently, technologies are dynamically developing and under their influence; the volume of received, transmitted and stored information is constantly increasing. Accordingly, demand for Big Data technology is growing, since it allows you to work with large amounts of data, which determines the growing popularity of blockchain technology. This article presents a model of the workings of blockchain technology in an educational organization and the procedures for its use. It also highlights several directions for the development of educational institutions and processes that are based on the use of blockchain technology. These include confirmation of the authenticity of documentation, accreditation of an educational organization, confirmation of intellectual property and identification of students. In addition, the article discusses the problem of the attitude of the academic community towards blockchain technologies, which can significantly reduce the intensity of implementation. This paper presents a study of why professionals in the educational field are afraid of a significant digitalization in education. Thus, a balanced approach is the optimal strategy for introducing blockchain technologies into educational processes.


Objective:To observe the influence of Chinese nutgall extracts on the inhibitory effect of lipopolysaccharide to human dental pulp cells' activity in different doses and action time.Methods:Human dental pulp cells were cultivated from tissue explants.Human dental pulp cells of the fifth passage were cultured in DMEM with 1×105μg/L lipopolysaccharide Chinese nutgall extracts(1.25×103 to 2×104 μg/L) and 20ml/L new born bovine serum.The MTT was applied to analyze cells' activity.One-way ANOVA(completely random design) was used for statistical analysis.Resluts:Low-dose of Chinese nutgall extracts(1.25×103,2.5×103,5×103 μg/L) can resist the inhibitory effect of lipopolysaccharide to human dental pulp cells' activity significantly.From the third day,the activity of human plup cells incubated with 2.5×103 μg/L Chinese nutgall extracts and lipopolysaccharide increased signicificantly in a time-dependent manner.Conclusion:Low-dose Chinese nutgall extracts can resist the inhibitory effect of lipopolysaccharide to human dental pulp cells' activity.


Radioactive bromine introduced per os in doses of 0.170 to 0.342 mc 2 to 4 times with the interval of 12 days to 6 months did not cause any visible changes in behavior or condition of the animals either on the day of its administration or later. Chronaxie of unconditioned defensive reflex is prolonged to 135 to 320% of its initial value in the same experiments. Muscle chronaxie is at first shortened by 2 1/2 to 2 1/2 times under the effect of NaBr/ sup 82/ but later becomes prolonged. There were no regular changes revealed in the rheobase of the muscle chronaxie and chronaxie of the defensive reflex after the introduction of Br/sup 82/. Changes in the neuromuscular system appear and disappear on the first day, while the changes in the spinal reflexes remain up to the 57th day. Changes of the spinal reflexes have, evidently, no connection with the changes in the neuromuscular system. (tr-auth)


The purpose of this study was to develop a computer-based inquiry activity to learn stimuli and response. The software to measure the reaction time can run on the Microsoft Windows operating system. With this computer program, various visual and auditory stimuli can be produced. Accurate reaction times can be instantly obtained simply by clicking mouse buttons or using a keyboard. The program contains an extra function that allows additional variables to be set. Using this function, students can perform their own experiments. Based on the developed software, computer-aided reaction time experiments were also developed. The developed experiments were related to three types of reaction time measurements: simple reaction time, discrimination reaction time and the reaction time when focusing on other ideas. 20 middle school students and 8 biology teachers tried the developed software and experiments. Most of them performed the suggested experiments effectively. Their opinions were reflected in the developed results.


Instances of deficiency or toxicity of micronutrients in different parts of the Punjab are discussed in relation to soil, crop and irrigation water. The work on responses in crop yields and on citrus cultivation in the state in respect of trace elements has been reviewed and future lines of investigations indicated.


Introduction:  Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery can be followed by organ failure, due to a systemic inflammatory reaction. To reduce this systemic inflammation, CABG can be performed on the beating heart (off-pump CABG), thereby avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamping of the aorta. There is increasing evidence thatthe endothelium plays an important role in the pathophysiology of organ failure post CABG. When the endothelium becomes activated, it starts to express adhesion molecules and secretes pro inflammatory cytokines [1]. The Angiopoietin (Ang)/Tie2 receptor system and the VEGF/VEGF receptor system are involved in endothelial activation in organ failure [2]. Endothelial activation can be studied by measuring systemic levels of soluble adhesion molecules, and angiogenic and vascular leakage related factors in the plasma [3]. Objectives:  To study the effects of off-pump versus on-pump CABG surgery on systemic inflammation and endothelial activation.  Methods:  In this prospective, randomized, observational study, 60 patients who were scheduled for elective CABG surgery were randomized to have surgery for on-pump or offpump CABG. One patient was excluded from the study because off-pump CABG was performed, whereas the patient was randomized for on-pump CABG. Blood was collected at four time points: at start of the procedure, at the end, 6, and 24 h postoperatively. Levels of inflammatory cytokines [IL-6, TNF-a, IL-10, and myeloperoxidase (MPO)], soluble adhesion molecules (E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1), and angiogenic factors and their receptors (Ang-1, Ang-2, sTie2, VEGF, sFlt-1, and KDR) were measured in the plasma. Results:  There was no difference in pre-operative characteristics between the patient groups. The inflammatory cytokines TNFa, IL-10 and MPO, but not IL-6, were more increased after the procedure in the on-pump group compared with the off-pump CABG group. The soluble endothelial adhesion molecules E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 showed a similar release pattern in the plasma during and after CABG in on-pump and offpump and were not elevated. Ang-2 was only increased 24 h after surgery, and was not different between on-pump and off-pump group. Higher levels of sFlt-1 were found at the end of the procedure in off-pump CABG compared to on-pump CABG.  Conclusions:  Our study showed that avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping in CABG surgery reduces the systemic inflammatory response. On-pump CABG does not lead to a higher release of soluble endothelial adhesion molecules in the system compared to off-pump CABG. The systemic levels of angiogenic and vascular leakage related molecules of the endothelial Ang/Tie2 and the VEGF/VEGF receptor system were more deranged from start values in on-pump than in off-pump CABG. Reference(s):  1. Aird WC. Crit Care Med 2003;31(4 Suppl):S221–30.  2. van Meurs M et al. Crit Care 2009;13(2):207.  3. de Pablo R et al. Eur J Intern Med 2013;24(2):132–138.


Mining activities normally generate large amounts of waste in the form of waste rock, mining water and waste from processing the ore. Since certain types of minerals and ores also contain elevated levels of natural radioactivity from the uranium and thorium decay series, U, Th and their associated daughter nuclides (often referred to as NORM), may be found in different types of wastes from the mining activities at different concentrations. This may give rise to problems such as elevated exposure to the public from external gamma radiation, radon and groundwater contamination.


On a basis of performance features of instruments and examples for instruments selection in some wet flue gas desulfurization plants,its selection principle and application cases of the instruments are analyzed,which is referential for engineers to select instruments of wet flue gas desulfurization.


1 ABSTRACT Nowadays, pregnancy in teenagers is considered as a critical public health issue due to its individual and colective implications related to pregnancy at early age meaning. Biological age borderlines of adolescence and the comprehensive growth stage represent a challenge for social and health assessments, This article aims to analyze pregnancy rates in adolescents taking international, national and regional data about this event in the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga. The analysis shows the disparity between measurements from different sources and the scarce information available in the city. It is noted that these indicators report little about this reality (which has become a normal consequence of social interactions), specially in the fields of education, health, economical status, family functionality and emotional situation.


Abstract A high performance liquid chromatography system is presented for analytical and preparative separation of proteins. The method utilizes a macroreticular polystyrene resin having no specific functional groups, and proteins are eluted by the use of linear gradient of acetonitrile (20% −75%, v/v) in 0.1% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid. In this standard elution system, twenty proteins having a molecular weight of 4,200–58,000 and an iso-electric point of 3.9–11.0 have been chromatographed successfully within 80 min. The method allows a rapid, sensitive, and high resolution separation of relatively low molecular weight proteins, where the isolated proteins can be used for subsequent biochemical determinations.


To identify phenol degrading isolate, a phenotypic fingerprint is produced in a characteristic pattern from discrete test reactions performed using Gen III Micro log, a biolog microtitre plate assay. Six strains were isolated from phenol contaminated effluent, KP-1 to KP-6. Screening was done at different concentrations from 0.2 to 1.4 g/l. Relationship between growth and degradation of the isolate suggested that the strain KP-3 could degrade 92.7% of phenol optimally at 36oC, pH 7.5 and 20 g/l of phenol. This study demonstrated that Pseudomonas strain KP-3 had strong ability to degrade.


Composite adsorbent comprising noble metals and a surfactant polymer synthesis process and their use for the desulfurization of fluid. # The invention relates to a material of high surface area comprises a surfactant polymer and metal nanoparticles, their synthesis process , and the use of such material as desulfurizing agent high performance, in fluids containing impurities of sulfur compounds, particularly flammable liquids, and more particularly in petroleum or other sources dedicated to the energy field.


The article is devoted to the determination of technological regimes for the production of starter using a polyvidic bacterial preparation for direct vat inoculation for the production of sour-cream spreads. The main technological properties of starter at different temperatures of preparation were investigated. The temperature of preparation of starter ignificantly affects on the growth and metabolic activity of the fermentation microflora are showed. The preparation of starter for the sour-cream spread on the basis of a bacterial preparation at a temperature of 34 С and its subsequent ripening at a temperature of 14 С for 5 hours ensures a high yield of lactic and propionic acid bacteria, the required level of acidity, flavoring substances and pronounced sour-milk taste and aroma was established. The using of starter for the production of sour-cream spreads enriches the products with flavoring substances: diacetyl to 0.18-0.23 mg/100 g and volatile organic acids up to 29-37 mEq /100 g. The microflora of the starter in sour-cream spreads promotes increases the intensity of extinction of the extraneous microflora, whereas in the sweet-cream spread, its development is limited was established.


Background: In Indonesia, 18 suspected cases of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology were found on May 11th, 2022. Vigilance efforts were needed by providing education to the public regarding how to prevent the disease. This study aims to determine the increase in mother's knowledge and attitudes after education with audio visual media about the prevention of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology.
Methods: This study is an analytic descriptive study that was conducted in Ulak Karang Selatan Area of Padang City in April 2023. The study population was all mothers of children under-five in Ulak Karang Selatan Area of Padang City. Sample selection was carried out using consecutive sampling technique consist of 35 people in each group.
Results: The results showed that the average percentage of mothers who answered correctly increased from 51.7% to 88.4% after education with audio visual media. In the positive attitude statement, the average percentage of mothers who answered strongly agree increased from 34.0% to 66.6% after education with audio visual media. In the negative attitude statement, the average percentage of mothers who answered strongly disagree increased from 15.7% to 46.6% after education with audio visual media. In the control group, the average percentage of mother's knowledge and attitudes were not much different between post-test and pre-test.
Conclusion: The increase in mother's knowledge and attitudes regarding the prevention of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology was higher in intervention group that had been given education with audio visual media than the control group.

Keywords: [Knowledge, Attitudes, Audio Visual, Acute Hepatitis]


The meeting had studied some of the problems remaining after privatisation; many problems had still to be resolved. At no time was there pessimism, just a realistic view that the problems have to be stated and resolved in the very tight time schedule that theRegulator intends to maintain.


Introduction: Mechanical ventilation in cardiac surgery constitutes an anesthesiological challenge, the new protocols for improved postsurgical recovery (ERAS) include, among others, protective mechanical ventilation determined by low tidal volumes, moderate positive pressure at the end of expiration (PEEP) Inspiratory fraction of oxygen (FiO2) that maintains normoxemia, factors that influence the postoperative period and pulmonary complications. It is important to determine that there are several moments in cardiac surgery that will modify the ventilatory pattern depending on the cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal pump circulation, unipulmonary ventilation.
Objectives: Provide the best scientific evidence in the intraoperative management of mechanical ventilation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Material and methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature published in the period 2015-2020 was carried out. A search of the following sites was performed using the following terms: "mechanical ventilation", "ventilation", "cardiac surgery", "airway management", "airway extubation", "cardiopulmonary bypass", "coronary artery bypass", " coronary artery bypass, off-pump "," anesthesia, general "," anesthesia recovery period "," emergence delirium "in databases: Medline, Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology, Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology, Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia and Annals of Cardiac Anesthesia.
Results: The best scientific evidence suggests that mechanical ventilation in cardiac surgery should be provided under the protective model for better immediate postsurgical results and long-term mortality.
Conclusions: Protective mechanical ventilation offers fewer postoperative pulmonary complications, low tidal volumes based on the patient's predicted weight should be respected, keep PEEP moderate, FiO2 between 40 - 60% to maintain normoxemia. Enhanced postoperative recovery protocols (ERAS) have been established in the management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with better overall results in morbidity and mortality.


In order to meet the ever-growing demand for data traffic, highly efficient multiple access schemes, such as OFDMA, are widely used in modern communication standards. In such multiple access schemes, adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) are used to optimize the transmission rate of each user. However, feedback information, such as SNR and Doppler shift, characterizing the communication environment of each user is indispensable of key importance for AMC. In the past, these information and parameters were often estimated using reference signals. However, the reference signal becomes overhead, resulting in throughput degradation and processing delay. Furthermore, the computation burden can be large as it is necessary to perform channel parameter estimation individually for each user. Previously, over the single-user channel, we have proposed a joint SNR and Doppler shift detection method via a spectrogram-based data-driven method, without the reference signal. This paper extends this framework to multiuser OFDM multiple access channels. In the newly proposed method, SNR and Doppler shift for all users can be detected simultaneously via deep learning-guided object detection algorithms from each spectrogram image. Simulation results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.


We show that strain distribution on the surface of an isotropic spacer layer induced by an embedded island of large base-to-height aspect ratio deviates significantly from the description of the point force dipole model in the regime of small spacer layer thickness. In this regime, the strain profile displays several local maxima above the embedded island. The regions with local strain maxima serve as nucleation centers for growth of surface islands under appropriate growth conditions, resulting in locally well-organized surface islands above the embedded island. Our theoretical results are in excellent agreement with recent experiments for Ge islands embedded in Si.


Attempts by theorists of transpersonal psychology to explain the place of meditation within an overall framework encompassing Western notions of the development of the self often see meditation as a "therapeutic" intervention most appropriate for those possessing a "fully developed" sense of self. This approach has been useful in distinguishing transpersonal levels of development from early, pre-oedipal levels, but appears to have sidestepped the issue of how Buddhist meditation practice, for example, could be seen as therapeutic for psychological issues that have their origin in the infantile experience of the meditator. The emergence of object relations theory and the psychodynamics of narcissism has provided a vocabulary more relevant for the discussion of such influences than was Freud's original drive theory that stressed the evolution and persistence of unconscious (Russell, 1986) aspects of libido and aggression. It has been noted that some of those attracted to meditation have demonstrable narcissistic pathology (Epstein & Lieff, 1981;Engler, 1983; 1984),but the role of meditation in transforming narcissistic pathology has not yet been explored. By focusing on two particular dynamic structures relevant to narcissism, the ego ideal and the ideal ego, and charting how these psychic structures are affected by the meditative path, it is possible to begin to unravel the complex relationship between meditation and narcissism.


Choices in stabling and management affect the behavior, health, longevity and performance of cows. Resting behavior provides additional information about comfort and health. In the current study were used twenty Romanian Black and White multiparous cows, housed in a tie stall barn 24 hours per day. Experiments were carried out during winter and summer seasons, in February and June 2008. Cows monitored were in their first hundred days of lactation. In our study cows spent resting during winter season on average 379.9 minutes (6.33 hours), value that represents 26.38 % from the days interval. During cold season, cows spent resting while standing on average 277.40 minutes, and while lying recumbent, only 97.55 minutes. Time devoted to rest during summer season per 24 hours was on average 613.75 minutes (10.22 hours), value that represents 42.60% from the days interval. During summer, position adopted by cows for resting periods was as follows: 453.65 minutes in standing position and 160 minutes while lying recumbent. Differences registered between the two seasons for time spent resting and position adopted during resting periods, were very significantly statistically (p0.001).


The notion is sustainable, it is suggested that it is well established at the level of the whole society, which is attributed to education, everything is very important, but the role of higher education is a clearly more important decisive statement. Firstly the universities must become sustainable, and then to be reached a sustainable society. From the performed research activity, so far, we have identified a proposal for universities to become leaders. Even though a lot of debates are on-going about sustainable development, in Romania it's acting at low level rates in the direction of both quantifying this concept and elaboration of a country specific model. There are very well known all the efforts put by the Romanian Statistics Institute on identifying of some indicators, for their own consolidation and, for collecting data and information. Romanian higher education system can take over the proposed indicators by other experienced countries or can come up with its own set of indicators. In the first case, it becomes possible not just status evaluation or the changes made, but also the comparison with other prestigious foreign universities. The chosen / applied indicators might be exploited to highlight all the progresses done by the universities on the everywhere of sustainable development and will allow decisive factors / entities to take correct solid decisions. Also, in this way the positive changes can be emphasized, which must be consolidated later.


Laruelle's essay from 1987 strives to scientifically describe the individual experience of minorities distinguished from the State's point of view, including political philosophy. This essay pairs well with Laruelle's texts written around this time, including Le principe de minorite (Paris: Editions Aubier, 1982), A Biography of Ordinary Man: On Authorities and Minorities (Paris: Editions Aubier, 1985; trans. Jessie Hock and Alex Dubilet, Cambridge: Polity, 2017), and Philosophies of Difference: A Critical Introduction to Non-Philosophy (Paris: PUF, 1986; trans. Rocco Gangle, London: Bloomsbury, 2010).


Castor oil polyol (COP) having a hydroxyl number of 400 mg KOH/g was prepared through the transesterification reaction of castor oil with glycerol. The effect of reaction temperature on the composition, hydroxyl number and viscosity of the COP products was studied. A series of rigid polyurethane foams were synthesised using the mixtures comprising COP and a petroleum-based polyol with various proportions as polyol component. It was found that the foaming rate, compressive strength and dimensional stability and morphology of resulting foams were dominated by the foam formulation, in a more accurate way, COP content in the polyol mixtures. The combination of expandable graphite and dimethyl methyl phosphonate exhibited stronger flame retardant function which was ascribed to the synergistic effect associated with the simultaneous presence of the two additives. An improvement in thermal stability was observed due to the inclusion of the flame retardants.


ABSTRACT Background: Although many case reports on neologistic jargon have been documented, reports on semantic jargon are extremely rare, suggesting that semantic jargon may occur more rarely than neologistic jargon. Aims: To investigate potential mechanisms underlying semantic jargon. Methods & Procedures: We describe a patient who presented with semantic jargon after a left thalamic hemorrhage that mainly affected the pulvinar, lateral posterior nucleus, centromedian nucleus, and reticular nucleus. She was followed for 8 years, during which the temporal changes in her linguistic and neuropsychological functions were investigated. Outcomes & Results: The patient's semantic jargon disappeared and selective attention improved in parallel. Word-finding deficits remained at the end of the observation period. Conclusions: Our observations of this patient suggest that a thalamic lesion can cause attentional and linguistic dysfunction that does not activate an intended word and its images and, conversely, fails to inactivate non-relevant words and associated images, resulting in semantic jargon.


Abstract This article presents the synthesis of a neural motion control system of a robot caused by disturbances of constraints limiting the movement, which are the result of flexibility and disturbances of the contact surface. A synthesis of the control law is presented, in which the knowledge of the robot's dynamics and the parameters of a susceptible environment is not required. Moreover, the stability of the system is guaranteed in the case of an inaccurately known surface of the environment. This was achieved by introducing an additional module to the control law in directions normal to the surface of the environment. This additional term can be interpreted as the virtual viscotic resistance and spring force acting on the robot. This approach ensured the self-regulation of the robot's interaction force with the compliant environment, limiting the impact of the geometrical inaccuracy of the environment.


Numerous lines of inquiry have concluded that tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) will continue to experience drastic population declines and may even disappear entirely from redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests as a result of the exotic disease sudden oak death (SOD) (Maloney and others 2005, McPherson and others 2005, Meentemeyer and others 2004, Rizzo and others 2005). As the only species that can both compete for canopy space and tolerate the deep shade of redwood understories, tanoak is widespread and abundant in redwood forests, and is an integral component of the structure and function of these unique ecosystems. Tanoak is the most common hardwood species in conifer forests of California's coastal mountains, and is associated with redwood throughout the majority of the redwood range (Burns and Honkala 1990, Hunter and others 1999, Noss 2000). As such, the loss of tanoak from redwood forests is likely to result in significant impacts. The primary objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the short-term compositional and regenerative effects of SOD in redwood forests; (2) determine which compositional and regenerative variables are correlated with tanoak abundance; and (3) consider the long-term structural and compositional effects of SOD-induced tanoak decline in redwood forests.


This paper documents the Waterloo Aerial Robotics Group's design strategy for a system of autonomous air vehicles for the International Aerial Robotics Competition. The vehicles will have the ability to fly autonomously to a target building, identify the building and an opening in it, enter the building, and navigate through it in order to locate and photograph a target object. This paper presents the overall methodology used in designing the system, including the control, vision and intelligent navigation schemes, as well as some innovative hardware and software solutions. A discussion of the group's strategy to complete the objectives of the competition is given.


A fine analysis of nine southern supergiants of spectral types F through K, including the bright Cepheid variable l Car, is presented. The average metal-to-hydrogen ratio is found to be twice the solar value. No essential differences are found between the nonvariable stars and the Cepheid variable.In an initial attempt to determine the spatial distribution of abundances within the local region of the Sun (r< or approx. =0.5 kpc), the abundances of this study are combined with abundances from previous studies. The data are consistent with a homogeneous distribution of metallicity in supergiants within 0.5 kpc of the Sun.


Nanofiltration(NF) membrane has been used to remove trace organic compounds such as PPCPs in drinking water treatment,but the presence of dissolved organic matter(DOM)in raw water is detrimental to NF membrane in filtrating PPCPs.Furthermore,algogenic organic matter(AOM),being different from DOM,incurs membrane-fouling.To cope with the problem,the experimental study was conducted,which focused on AOM extracted from two species of algae(Anabaena,Chlorella)and its effects on naproxen(NPX)removal by NF membrane.Findings of the study uncovered that AOM of two algal species could promote separation of NPX by the membrane,enhancing NPX removal from water;however,flux of the membrane was greatly reduced.It was also found that hydrophilic polysaccharide and protein organic matter of AOM were the main organics causing membrane fouling thus affecting NPX removal.In additon,formation of the filter cake layer could alter hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties and molecular weight cut-off(MWCO)of the membrane,thus leading to the increase of NPX removal,and at the same time the decline of membrane flux.


This study tested the hypothesis that activation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)/cGMP/protein kinase G signaling inhibits transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1–induced extracellular matrix expression in cardiac fibroblasts and defined the specific site(s) at which this molecular merging of signaling pathways occurs. Left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis, collagen deposition, and myofibroblast transformation of cardiac fibroblasts in response to pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction were exaggerated in ANP-null mice compared with wild-type controls. ANP and cGMP inhibited TGF-β1–induced myofibroblast transformation, proliferation, collagen synthesis, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression in cardiac fibroblasts isolated from wild-type mice. Following pretreatment with cGMP, TGF-β1 induced phosphorylation of Smad3, but the resultant pSmad3 could not be translocated to the nucleus. pSmad3 that had been phosphorylated with recombinant protein kinase G-1α was analyzed by use of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) and ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. The analysis revealed phosphorylation of Ser309 and Thr388 residues, sites distinct from the C-terminal Ser423/425 residues that are phosphorylated by TGF-β receptor kinase and are critical for the nuclear translocation and down-stream signaling of pSmad3. These results suggest that phosphorylation of Smad3 by protein kinase G is a potential molecular mechanism by which activation of ANP/cGMP/protein kinase G signaling disrupts TGF-β1–induced nuclear translocation of pSmad3 and downstream events, including myofibroblast transformation, proliferation, and expression of extracellular matrix molecules in cardiac fibroblasts. We postulate that this process contributes to the antifibrogenic effects of the natriuretic peptide in heart.


In Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 137002 (2011), A. Hackl and M. Vojta have proposed to explain the quantum critical behavior of YbRh2Si2 in terms of a Zeeman-induced Lifshitz transition of an electronic band whose width is about 6 orders of magnitude smaller than that of conventional metals. Here, we note that the ultra-narrowness of the proposed band, as well as the proposed scenario per se, lead to properties which are qualitatively inconsistent with the salient features observed in YbRh2Si2 near its quantum critical point.


Abnormal temporal perception is a hallmark characteristic of schizophrenia associated with cognitive impairment, however the relationship between these functions is yet to be characterised within translational models. Using the maternal immune activation (MIA) rat model, this study investigated the contribution of sustained attention and working memory capacity to temporal perception impairments via operant paradigms. In addition, we also investigated the involvement of L-arginine metabolites in timing and cognition via high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Principally, we identified that underestimation of interval durations (2-8 s) in MIA rats was related to attentional capacity. MIA rats were found to exhibit impaired working memory maintenance, however this was not related to temporal perception. In addition, we identified evidence of MIA impacting PFC L-arginine metabolites, L-citrulline and putrescine, which both correlated with working memory maintenance impairments. MIA also appeared to produce discrete differences in glutamate levels depending on whether inflammation was incited early or late in gestation (gestation day 10/18). Following late gestation MIA exposure, higher glutamate levels in PFC corresponded with poorer sustained attention capacity. These findings represent the first direct identification of a timing-attention relationship within rodents, and provide clues regarding the potential involvement of elevated dopamine in timing-cognition pathology in schizophrenia. Moreover, we present preliminary evidence that changes in L-arginine metabolism have functional consequences for cognition. These outcomes commend the MIA rat model as a tool for potential future investigations exploring the biological instantiation of timing deficits.


The problems of frequent administration and variable low bioavailability after oral administration of conventional dosage forms of diltiazem can be attenuated by designing it in the form of microcapsules which would facilitate intimate contact with the absorption surface and thereby improve and enhance the bioavailability. Diltiazem-loaded microcapsules were successfully prepared by ionotropic gelation technique employing Sodium carboxy methylcellulose, Xanthan gum as rate controlling polymers and Aluminium chloride as cross linking agent. Microcapsules obtained were discrete, spherical, free flowing and showed a maximum encapsulation efficiency of 91.20 ± 0.08%. Particle size of the microcapsules was found to be in the range of 1009 – 1311 µm. Interaction studies performed using FTIR spectroscopy revealed that there were no drug and polymer interactions. The drug remained dispersed in the polymer matrix in amorphous state, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The in vitro drug release follows matrix-diffusion controlled release and the release mechanism was non-Fickian type controlled by swelling and relaxation of polymer. There was no significant change in drug content and cumulative drug release of drug-loaded microcapsules stored at different storage condition after 90 days. From the study, it was concluded that diltiazem loaded microcapsules could be successfully prepared by ionotropic gelation technique with high entrapment efficiency and prolonged release characteristics.


The metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitors on low-temperature grown (LTG) GaAs were made using the jet-vapor-deposition (JVD) silicon nitride as the gate dielectrics. The unpinned JVD-SiN/LTG-GaAs interface was shown by the capacitance-voltage characterization. The observed Fermi level "pinning" in the unannealed samples was caused by the bulk point defects in LTG GaAs. Annealing reduced the bulk defect density in LTG GaAs and revealed the intrinsically unpinned Fermi level at the interface. The result is consistent with the expected unpinning of LTG GaAs surface, and JVD SiN appears to play a critical role to enable this unpinned interface. JVD SiN showed low leakage current (∼10nA∕cm2 at 2MV∕cm) and high breakdown electric field (∼9.8MV∕cm), promising for MIS device applications.


UNLABELLED
Fine needle aspiration cytology is a widely accepted, reliable diagnostic modality for the early detection of metastases.

OBJECTIVE
Quality assurance analysis of fine needle aspiration cytology in melanoma patients.

METHOD
A total of 194 biopsies performed in 142 melanoma patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS
138 (71.13%) cutaneous or subcutaneous nodules and 56 (28.87%) palpable lymph nodes were studied. 87 (44.85%) true positive, 92 (47.42%) true negative, 3 (1.55%) false positive and 12 (6.19%) false negative cytology results were found. High sensitivity (87.89%), specificity (96.84%) and diagnostic accuracy (93.72%) were confirmed.

DISCUSSION
The quality assurance of fine needle aspiration biopsy in these patients with recurrent and metastatic melanoma meets the international requirements.


The etiology of psychiological distress is one of the more interesting topics for all the mental health professionals involved in the social intervention (including prevention). Psychological (cognitive and behavioral) theoretical frameworks have become dominant in the literature about mental illness, A shared element present in ah these models is the individual origin of psychological distress, the high effectivity of the intervention techniques derived from the theoretical work has legitimated the dominant role of psychology in the study of mental health. Focusing on depression, the present paper argues psychological variables are just one face of the problem In this vein. Sociological approaches are discussed, claiming the need for a deeper insight into the social origins of depression.


Three Year Action Programme of Sichuan Province Preschool Education puts forward the specific tasks of Sichuan preschool education during 2011—2013,which is the basis for the implementation of Sichuan preschool education development goals in the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" period.Based on data analysis,this article first reveals the current demand for Sichuan preschool teachers and the existing problem of regional differences,then predicts the preschool teacher development scale according to the calculated number of children in the kindergarten from the total population,birth rate,and gross enrollment rate of Sichuan,and finally presents three suggestions to cultivate sufficient amount of qualified preschool teachers.The suggestions are as follows: 1) the government should increase financial investment to training of preschool teachers and expand the scale of preschool education major in normal schools systematically;2) normal schools should provide study opportunities for in-service preschool teachers;3) preschool education training institutions should organize a team with full time and part-time trainers to carry out training for the teachers with high school diploma and transferred teachers so as to raise preschool teachers' professional levels comprehensively.


A new anti-mosquito finishing agent has been successfully prepared.Due to its active group and hydrophobic cavity,nonochlorotriazinyl--βcyclodextrin(ab.MCT--βCD) was used to embed DEET which is an anti-mosquito agent.DEET-embedded MCT--βCD was proved by means of ultraviolet-visible detector and the prime technique for preparing DEET-embedded MCT--βCD as an anti-mosquito finishing agent was determined as follows: temperature was 50℃,time was 2 h,stirring velocity was 300 r/min,and the ratio of DEET to MCT--βCD was 2∶1.DEET-embedded MCT--βCD have excellent heat-resistant and alkali-resistant stability,and it can meet the requirement of actual applications.


An inviscid, nonconservative, three-dimensional full-potentia l flow code, ROT22, has been developed for computing the quasi-steady flow about a lifting rotor blade. The code is valid throughout the subsonic and transonic regime. Calculations from the code are compared with detailed laser velocimeter measurements made in the tip region of a nonlifting rotor at a tip Mach number of 0.95 and zero advance ratio. In addition, comparisons are made with chordwise surface pressure measurements obtained in a wind tunnel for a nonlifting rotor blade at transonic tip speeds at advance ratios from 0.40 to 0.50. The overall agreement between theoretical calculations and experiment is very good. A typical run on a CRAY X-MP computer requires about 30 CPU seconds for one rotor position at transonic tip speed. a c


In this paper, we introduce new parametric generative driven auto-regressive (DAR) models. DAR models provide a nonlinear and non-stationary spectral estimation of a signal, conditionally to another exogenous signal. We detail how inference can be done efficiently while guaranteeing model stability. We show how model comparison and hyper-parameter selection can be done using likelihood estimates. We also point out the limits of DAR models when the exogenous signal contains too high frequencies. Finally, we illustrate how DAR models can be applied on neuro-physiologic signals to characterize phase-amplitude coupling.


This paper is to summarize the primary experience in excision of pituitary adenoma through direct transsphenoid approach. Fifty six consecutive pituitary adenoma cases undergone direct transnasal pituitary adenama resection were reviewed.No seller floor was reconstructed during operation.Post operation MRI revealed that among 37 cases with tumor smaller than 3 cm,86.4%(32) had total tumor resection.For 19 cases with tumor larger than 3 cm only 26.3%(5) had total resection.Symptoms were relieved in severity in all cases.During 2 9 months follow up period,no severe complication was found.Resection of tumor via direct transnasal approach is simple and time saving,and it avoids cosmetic complications.The middle line can be exactly located according to surrounding structures during operation. Open sella can prevent the accumulation of post operative hematoma and subsequent intrasellar cysts,accelerating the descent of the remaining suprasella tumor into the sella;both of which facilitate the extirpation of the remnant tumor for later resection.


This report describes a fatal case of left atrial‐esophageal fistula occurring in a 72‐year‐old man after a radiofrequency catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Catheter ablation was performed around the pulmonary vein using an 8‐mm‐tip electrode (60 W or 55°C) guided by a 25‐mm circular catheter. On day 22 of follow‐up, the patient presented with seizures followed by hematemesis due to left atrial–esophageal fistula. His clinical condition deteriorated, and he died of speticemia. Thus, left atrial–esophageal fistula is a sever complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation of the left atrial posterior wall. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 960‐962, August 2004)


A direct function theoretic method is employed to solve certain weakly singular integral equations arising in the study of scattering of surface water waves by vertical barriers with gaps. Such integral equations possess logarithmically singular kernel, and a direct function theoretic method is shown to produce their solutions involving singular integrals of similar types instead of the stronger Cauchy-type singular integrals used by previous workers. Two specific ranges


The southern comedian Brother Dave Gardner once cracked that "the only reason people live in the North is because they have jobs there." He added, "You never heard of nobody retiring to the North, have you?" That was funnier in the early 1960s, before the South began to attract people who only live in it because they have jobs there. And maybe it shouldn't have been so funny even then: One way to hear it is as a comment on the absence of jobs in the South at the time. But the second half of Brother Dave's observation still has the ring of truth about it: You don't think of retirees as flocking to the Northeast and the Midwest. And, as a matter of fact, they don't. Sociologist Charles F. Longino Jr. recently ranked the fifty states and the District of Columbia by the net number of migrants--in-migrants minus out-migrants--sixty years old and older between 1995 and 2000. (See the numbers in the right-hand column in the table below.) Longino's data reveal that eight of the top ten destinations for older Americans were in the South: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas, in that order. The only nonsouthern states in the top ten were Arizona (number two) and Nevada (number four). (1) In general, Longino's analysis shows that most of the South and parts of the West were net gainers of senior citizens; in the South only Louisiana and Kentucky showed net losses. The difference in the absolute numbers of in- and out-migrants is obviously important for purposes of planning and analysis, but even more revealing in some ways is the number of in-migrants per out-migrant, in other words, the ratio of in-migrants to out-migrants, which can be seen as a measure of attractiveness independent of the size of a state's population. (Given a large state and a small one with the same ratio, the large state will have greater net migration, other things equal.) A state that attracts two retirees for every one it loses obviously has something to offer that a state that is only breaking even does not. As the table shows, some states are more--and others less--attractive than the net migration figures indicate. Delaware, for example, was only fourteenth among the fifty states and the District of Columbia in net in-migration, but the three retirees it attracted for every two it lost moves it up to number seven in attractiveness--similar to Georgia and Tennessee. Alaska, on the other hand, was thirty-fifth in net migration, but it lost nearly two golden-agers for every one who moved there, a ratio that moves it down even further, to forty-seventh. (It may, in fact, be true for Alaska that the only reason many people live there is because they have jobs there.) By contrast, when ranked by net migration California was fiftieth, its net out-migration second only to New York's, but it managed to attract two oldsters for every three who left, which moves it up to fortieth--not quite so bad. Whatever measure is used, however, the picture is clear. In the 1970s a great deal was heard about the "Sunbelt," and that simplistic idea received much well-deserved criticism at the time. (2) But to say that the Sunbelt is more attractive to retirees than the Frost Belt is a good first approximation. …


Most of financial institution systems have been affected due to global financial crisis in 2008 in which consequently caused the financial institutions to be exposed with risks. This project paper focused on how profitability performance of banks can be influenced by the presence of selected risks. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship and impacts of credit risk (CR), market risk (MR), liquidity risk (LR) and operational risk (OPR) with return on assets (ROA) of foreign-owned Islamic Bank in Malaysia. In Malaysian context, this study is an extension from previous study by combining all the risks while focusing on foreign-owned Islamic Bank in order to study about the concept of risk and return. This study utilized quarterly data collected from financial reports of Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad in Malaysia over the period of December 2008 – June 2017. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method is used in this study in order to do the empirical analysis using eviews software. The findings revealed that there is positive significant relationship between OPR and ROA of Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad in Malaysia. However, CR and MR are found positive and insignificant towards ROA while LR is found negative insignificant on ROA. The study of risks impact on foreign-owned Islamic Bank in Malaysia can provide the empirical literature for future research. This study enhanced the bank regulators and policymakers to have better risk management to sustain the profitability performance of the bank.


The most widely accepted theory of the restirng potential of muscle is that the electrical potential difference between the inside and outside of a muscle fibre arises from the concentration gradients of the potassium and chloride ions. If we follow Boyle & Conway (1941), the membrane is assumed to be permeable to K and Cl but to be impermeable or sparingly permeable to other ions. Since K is more concentrated inside and Cl is more concentrated outside, the interior of the fibre should be electrically negative to the external solution. If K and Cl are distributed passively, the concentration ratios and the membrane potential under equilibrium conditions ought to conform to the relation


Abstract Bacterial communities, taxonomic functional groups, and chemical characteristics of granular sludge were assessed in an ultrahigh-temperature (70°C) upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) used to treat super heavy oil-containing wastewater. The UASB, with an organic loading rate of 3.0 kg COD m−3 day−1, achieved an average chemical oxygen demand removal of 48%, with 52% oil removal from the wastewater. It was also found to successfully degrade two typical biomarkers of super heavy oil, C26–34 17α 25-norhopanes and C26–28 triaromatic steroid. Scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction results showed that the granular sludge became more compact with an increased quantity of extracellular polymeric substances, Fe2O3, FeS, and CaCO3 crystals in the reactor. Polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and real-time polymerase chain reaction results indicated that after 90 days of operation, the density of total bact...


[1] The Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) measured polar stratospheric enhancements of NO2 mixing ratios due to energetic particle precipitation (EPP) in the Arctic winter of 1978–1979. Recently reprocessed LIMS data are compared to more recent measurements from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) and the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE-FTS) to place the LIMS measurements in the context of current observations. The amount of NOx (NO + NO2) entering the stratosphere that has been created by EPP in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (EPP-NOx) has been quantified for the 1978–1979 and 2002–2003 through 2008–2009 Arctic winters. The NO2 enhancements in the LIMS data are similar to those in MIPAS and ACE-FTS data in the Arctic winters of 2002–2003, 2004–2005, 2006–2007, and 2007–2008. The largest enhancement by far is in 2003–2004 (∼2.2 Gmol at 1500 K), which is attributed to a combination of elevated EPP and unusual dynamics that led to strong descent in the upper stratosphere/lower mesosphere in late winter. The enhancements in 2005–2006 and 2008–2009, during which large stratospheric NOx enhancements were caused by a dynamical situation similar to that in 2003–2004, are larger than in all the other years (except 2003–2004) at 3000 K. However, by 2000 K the enhancements in 2005–2006 (2008–2009) are on the same order of magnitude as (smaller than) all other years. These results highlight the importance of the timing of the descent in determining the potential of EPP-NOx for reaching the middle stratosphere.


After spinal cord injury (SCI), inpatient rehabilitation begins and continues through outpatient therapy. Overground exoskeleton gait training (OEGT) has been shown to be feasible in both settings, yet its use as an intervention across the continuum has not yet been reported.

 This study describes OEGT for patients with SCI across the continuum and its effects on clinical outcomes.

 Medical records of patients with SCI who completed at least one OEGT session during inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation from 2018 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury-II (WISCI-II) scores, and OEGT session details (frequency, "walk" time, "up" time, and step count) were extracted.

 Eighteen patients [male (83%), White (61%), aged 37.4 ± 15 years, with tetraplegia (50%), American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A (28%), B (22%), C (39%), D (11%)] completed OEGT sessions (motor complete, 18.2 ± 10.3; motor incomplete, 16.7 ± 7.7) over approximately 18 weeks (motor complete, 15.1 ± 6.4; motor incomplete, 19.0 ± 8.2). Patients demonstrated improved OEGT session tolerance on device metrics including "walk" time (motor complete, 7:51 ± 4:42 to 24:50 ± 9:35 minutes; motor incomplete, 12:16 ± 6:01 to 20:01 ± 08:05 minutes), "up" time (motor complete, 16:03 ± 7:41 to 29:49 ± 12:44 minutes; motor incomplete, 16:38 ± 4:51 to 23:06 ± 08:50 minutes), and step count (motor complete, 340 ± 295.9 to 840.2 ± 379.4; motor incomplete, 372.3 ± 225.2 to 713.2 ± 272). Across therapy settings, patients with motor complete SCI experienced improvement in WISCI-II scores from 0 ± 0 at inpatient admission to 3 ± 4.6 by outpatient discharge, whereas the motor incomplete group demonstrated a change of 0.2 ± 0.4 to 9.0 ± 6.4.

 Patients completed OEGT across the therapy continuum. Patients with motor incomplete SCI experienced clinically meaningful improvements in walking function.


The present invention relates to the use, in cosmetic or dermatological compositions, of an extract of a macroscopic alga, of molecular weight less than 10,000 daltons, as an oxygen carrier in the skin. This extract is in particular SPD or Superphyco-D. The compositions according to the invention are especially used to tone the skin and the scalp and to prevent hair loss.


An adaptive array can control its own reception pattern. This feature is specially interesting when the location of the emitter is unknown, as happens with mobile communications. Algorithms based on temporal references decrease the efficiency of the communication systems. We present an optimal combiner driven by estimated spatial restrictions. To extract the necessary information directly from the received signals we propose to exploit the ciclostationary properties of the signal of interest. A modified version of the direct iteration method is also used to reduce the computational load of the algorithm. The presented technique exhibits fast convergence and low sensitivity to estimation errors.<<ETX>>


PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation) vertical profiles that were obtained from casts with the Sea and Sun MSS90 microstructure probe in the southern part of the Gulf of Trieste near buoy Vida were...


Blank patents were warrants to survey [3]land for grants [4]that had blank spaces to be filled in later with the description of the land. They were issued by colonial land office officials for their own convenience, since blank patents freed them from having to appear in person to sign each patent individually. The receiver of the blank patent subsequently wrote a description of the land he desired. This gave the individual a claim to a specific piece of property while allowing him to avoid paying taxes until the land was actually surveyed and recorded.


This paper proposes a new method called typical points-based well log correlation and picking up technology and provides several related application examples based on this method.
 The new method firstly determines representative extreme points, typical or characteristic points by analyzing the characteristics of logging curves and lithology of different wells, which are generally representative points with special geological significance, including the points with the best physical properties or tight points. (For example, the maximum flooding surface or exposed surface in a sedimentary cycle, etc.). On the basis of these characteristic points, we carry out stratigraphic correlation and tracking between wells to obtain a data set of a series of characteristic points. From the same characteristic point, all points have the same or similar petrophysical properties, and the logging curve values of these characteristic points are extracted. And then analyze the change trend, distribution characteristics and the internal relationship of the parameters of the data set of each feature point.
 Based on the data set obtained from the method above, we extended it to the following application areas: 1) Through mathematical theoretical models, two free water level distribution modes and their determination workflows were established, including horizontal and tilted free water levels. 2) Perform data quality analysis and control, especially logging data analysis. 3) Exploratory application in the standardization of logging curves.4) Application in dynamic performance analysis
 The new method is developed on the traditional stratigraphic correlation method and stratal slicing method (Zeng Hongliu, 1998) and then used for well log data extraction and analysis. It is a practical means and technique for geological analysis. The application effect shows that the it is reliable, convenient and practical.


Multiple regression equations were used to assign 40 students to fixed-difficulty or adaptive training based upon the shorter predicted time-to-train score. In addition, 40 students were randomly assigned to the two training conditions, and 40 students were mismatched to training based upon the longer predicted time to train. Using predicted scores to match students to training alternatives resulted in a 47% savings in training time over random assignment and a 53% savings over mismatched assignment. The assignment effect was reliable at the 0.0001 level. Future research will examine different categories of predictors, additional training alternatives, and more complex training tasks.


Large surface radiative forcing from surface-based ice crystal events measured in the High Arctic at Eureka G. Lesins, L. Bourdages, T. J. Duck, J. R. Drummond, E. W. Eloranta, and V. P. Walden Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA Department of Geography, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA Received: 25 July 2008 – Accepted: 28 August 2008 – Published: 29 September 2008 Correspondence to: G. Lesins (firstname.lastname@example.com) Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.


The invention relates to a device for wireless, directional data transmission with at least one transmitting unit for transmitting a directional data transmission signal and at least one receiver unit for receiving the directional data transmission signal. The device has for this purpose a tracking logic, which for focusing the directed data transmission signal to the receiver unit, and for tracking the directed data transfer signal in response to a relative movement between the at least one transmitter and which is provided at least one receiving unit.


Eukaryotic Elongation Factor One Alpha (eEFIA) is an abundant protein found in every cell of every organism and is involved in functions concerning protein synthesis and degradation, the cytoskeleton, and signaling. How these functions are regulated is not yet understood for this protein. Regulation of the protein may be controlled by transcription of the genes encoding the protein or the stability and modification of the protein. The goal of this project was to determine the stability of eEFIA proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. Protein stability was determined by treating tissues with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis was used to visualize a decrease in protein concentration and calculate the protein half-life in the cell.


Many plays published during the time between 1910s to 1920s show characters that are driven to insanity or suicide in the end. In these works, such dramatic consequences as insanity or suicide function as a major development within its plot. Usually one or the other appears in the play, but there are also works where both appear, as in 〈Hwang-hon (Dusk)〉. Insanity and suicide are certainly familiar subjects in the field of drama. Insanity can be divided into roughly two categories - psychosis and neurosis. Accordingly, the main characters of the plays analyzed in this paper show symptoms of either psychosis (as in 〈Gyu-han (The Sorrow of a Wife)〉) or neurosis (as in 〈Hwang-hon (Dusk)〉). The psychotic or neurotic symptoms that the main characters of the plays display represent the pain and suffering of an average person living in those times when everything was going through rapid and drastic changes. The plays where its characters commit suicide show in a more direct and radical way, the inner-conflicts of that era. 〈Gi-juk-bul-ttae (When the Steam Whistle Blows)〉 and 〈Gyuh-wool-bul-ggot (Winter Flame)〉 are representative works that fall under this category. Both works draw our attention in that they show resistance toward colonial rule. 〈Yun-gwa-jye (Love and Sin)〉, 〈Hwang-hon (Dusk)〉 and 〈Gi-juk-bul-ttae (When the Steam Whistle Blows)〉 have been analyzed in this paper as important works that are in themselves prototypes of 'dae-joong-guk(popular play)', 'shin-guk(modern play)', and 'proletarian play'. These works use insanity and suicide, in order to maximize the effect of the play. The main flaws of these plays seem to be that the actions of the main characters are sometimes unnatural, and the intent of the playwright often unclear. However, such limitations and shortcomings should be understood as an inevitable stage that Korean Modern Play had to go through, in the process of its development.


Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the stages of the linguistic first language acquisition process which emphasized the aspects of sound and pronunciation in children aged two to four years. Research focuses on phonological analysis of sound and pronunciation in a pragmatic perspective. This type of qualitative research uses a cross sectional approach, namely data collection from the age of two to four years at the same time in order to obtain complete and fast data so that it can describe each individual in the process of acquiring his language. The focus of research is all sounds or sounds that are spoken or produced by the child in a pragmatic view, namely when communicating. Sub focus in research is the sound and pronunciation of children according to the theory of Susan M. Gass and Larry Se, at the initial stage the pronunciation of children is not the same as the pronunciation of adults. Some sounds can be distinguished at first such as: the difference between consonants in [ta] and [da]. Even when children start using words that more or less resemble adult words, at least in a sense, there are different pronunciations, namely deletion of syllables (em..bek→goat), elimination of sound (japah→jerapah→giraffe), and simplification process words (fis→fish). The results showed that there was a relationship between the ability of sound produced by children and pragmatic rules according to their age. In the acquisition of languages and stages of linguistic processes with almost the same age there are also differences between children with each other.


BACKGROUND
The authors performed a study to evaluate if the onset time, duration of sensory block, and quality of postoperative analgesia in superficial cervical plexus anesthesia with 0.5% levobupivacaine (1 mg/kg) was greater than 0.75% ropivacaine (1.5 mg/kg).

METHODS

DESIGN
randomized, double-blind study.

SETTING
University teaching hospital.

PARTICIPANTS
28 consecutive patients undergoing elective carotid thromboendoarterectomy were randomized into two groups.

INTERVENTIONS
patients received either 1 mg/kg of 0.5% levobupivacaine (N.=15), or 1.5 mg/kg of 0.75% ropivacaine (N.=13). We assessed the onset time (pinprick test), duration of sensory block, and postoperative analgesia with the two drugs.

RESULTS
Onset time of sensory block was 20+/-6 min with ropivacaine and 29+/-8 min with levobupivacaine (P=0.003). Intraoperatively we used different total doses of lidocaine, with the median (interquartile range) dose of 50 (40-100) mg for ropivacaine and 130 (60-180) mg for levobupivacaine (P=0.05). The first pain medication was requested after 12+/-0.4 h by ropivacaine patients and after 11+/-1.6 h by levobupivacaine patients (P=0.5).

CONCLUSION
No beneficial effect was noted in the quality of nerve block or patient's satisfaction for 0.5% levobupivacaine when compared to 0.75% ropivacaine.


Risk has became as a complex phenomenon, and risk management clearly requires in other to business survival. This article attempt to describes some methodology approach for risk management implementation. There are three common extendable phases in risk management which is depend on their own condition and considerations.

Key words: risk, management, identify, analysis


The capability of capital centralization and distribution and the capability of average unit business are the unique factors of enterprise groups competition. The characteristic of enterprise groups competition decides that the two factors are different form general factors of enterprise competition. In this paper we first discuss the definition of enterprise groups and enterprise groups competition. Then we advance the connotation of the two unique factors and the relation between them. In the meanwhile we put forward the other factors of enterprise groups competition and the figure of the whole factors.


[1] The utility of dissolved barium (Ba) as a quasi-conservative tracer of Arctic water masses has been demonstrated previously. Here we report distributions of salinity, temperature, and Ba in the upper 200 m of the Canada Basin and adjacent areas observed during cruises conducted in 2003–2004 as part of the Joint Western Arctic Climate Study and Beaufort Gyre Exploration Project. A salinity–oxygen isotope mass balance is used to calculate the relative contributions from sea ice melt, meteoric, and saline end-members, and Ba measurements are incorporated to resolve the meteoric fraction into separate contributions from North American and Eurasian sources of runoff. Large fractions of Eurasian runoff (as high as 15.5%) were observed in the surface layer throughout the Canada Basin, but significant amounts of North American runoff in the surface layer were only observed at the southernmost station occupied in the Canada Basin in 2004, nearest to the mouth of the Mackenzie River. Smaller contributions from both Eurasian and North American runoff were evident in the summer and winter Pacific-derived water masses that comprise the underlying upper halocline layer in the Canada Basin. Significant amounts of Eurasian and North American runoff were observed throughout the water column at a station occupied in Amundsen Gulf in 2004. This suggests the export of runoff from both sources through the passages of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.


The Upper Zone represents the topmost section of the Rustenburg Layered Suite (RLS). The stratigraphy of the Upper Zone includes a number of anorthosite layers but is better known due to the presence of thick magnetitite layers which host large concentrations of vanadium. What makes the Upper Zone interesting on a petrographic level is the presence of a number of mineralogical and geochemistry "cycles" which appear to coincide with the anorthosite and magnetitite layers.


The Specialist Library Clemencia Rabbit Chacon, School of Human Movement Sciences and Life Quality of the National University of Costa Rica is a unit of information and scientific-technical sport. The collection includes texts on various subjects such as physical education, sport science, recreation, sports medicine, sports psychology, sports sociology and sports journalism.Born as a library in 1969, on the initiative of a group of teachers and students of the School, was one of the first type, both nationally and in Central America. At its inception, received funds donated by several teachers and the embassies of Spain, the U.S. and Mexico. This center provides information resources for academic, research, extension and production, in order to strengthen and consolidate a system of higher education professionals in the field of sports science.


Crystals of the title compound are monoclinic, a= 9·720(7), b= 18·888(17), c= 7·146(3)A, β= 97·97(5)°, Z= 4, space group P21/n. The structure was determined from diffractometer data by the heavy-atom method and refined by full-matrix least squares to R 0·082 for 1191 observed reflections. The molecule exists as a centrosymmetric dimer and contains two types of tropolone ligand: one co-ordinated to one nickel atom only, the other, co-ordinated both to the first nickel atom, and to a second nickel via a bridging oxygen atom. This, together with a co-ordinated water molecule gives the nickel atoms six-co-ordination. There is evidence for hydrogen bonding, via the water molecule, between adjacent dimers.


Chromium(III)-zinc(II) double hydroxides of various compositions have been prepared by coprecipitation from nitrate solutions. The hydroxides and their thermolysis products have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray powder diffraction, and chemical analysis. Phase transitions in ZnCr 2 (OH) 8 . nH 2 O (n = 5.5-7.0), Zn 2 Cr 2 (OH) 1 0 . 7.2H 2 O, and Zn 4 Cr 2 (OH) 1 4 . 7.5H 2 O during thermolysis have been studied. These hydroxides can be employed for the low-temperature synthesis of ZnCr 2 O 4 spinel and its ZnO solid solutions with the spinel phase percentage of 50 and 25 mol %, respectively.


Pressure containment components in nuclear power plants are designed by the conventional deterministic safety factor approach to meet the requirements of the ASME Pressure Vessel Code, Section III. The inevitable variabilities and uncertainties associated with the design, manufacture, installation, and service processes suggest a probabilistic design approach may also be pertinent. Accordingly, the burst reliabilities of two thin-walled 304 SS cylindrical vessels such as might be employed in liquid metal plants are estimated. A large vessel fabricated from rolled plate per ASME SA-240 and a smaller pipe sized vessel also fabricated from rolled plate per ASME SA-358 are considered. The vessels are sized to just meet the allowable ASME Code primary membrance stresses at 800/sup 0/F (427/sup 0/C). The bursting probability that the operating pressure is greater than the burst strength of the cylinders is calculated using stress-strength interference theory by direct Monte Carlo simulation on a high speed digital computer. A sensitivity study is employed to identify those design parameters which have the greatest effect on the reliability. The effects of preservice quality assurance defect inspections on the reliability are also evaluated parametrically.


A correlation between anode surface treatment and spatially localized photocurrent variations has been found in bulk heterojunction poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Atomic force photovoltaic microscopy was used to scan arrays of 2 μm diameter OPV devices with varied indium tin oxide (ITO) surface treatments. The standard deviation of the average photocurrent was found to be 11.4% for devices fabricated on untreated ITO, 8.6% for devices with a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) interlayer, and 6.7% for devices with a HCl-treated ITO surface. These results suggest that spatial variations in the structure and electronic properties of the anode surface degrade the overall performance of OPVs, including reductions in short-circuit current by up to 20%, thus highlighting the importance of surface treatments that improve the homogeneity of ITO.


The invention provides a power metal-oxide semiconductor assembly which comprises a drain, a body disposed over the drain, having a body top surface, a source embedded in the body, extending downward from the body top surface into the body, a gate trench extending through the source and the body into the drain, a gate disposed in the gate trench, a source body contact trench having a trench wall and an anti-punch through implant that is disposed along the trench wall. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a hard mask on a substrate having a top substrate surface, forming a gate trench in the substrate, through the hard mask, depositing gate material in the gate trench, removing the hard mask to leave a gate structure, forming a source body contact trench having a trench wall and forming an anti-punch through implant.


Acknowledgements Introduction 1 TO BE: Konstantin Stanislavsky and Peter Brook 2 TO BE AND NOT TO BE: Bertolt Brecht and Peter Brook 3 LET BE: Jerzy Grotowski and Peter Brook EPILOGUE: A multi-faceted ontology in performance: Uniting Rough and Holy in Le Mahabarata&N Notes Bibliography Index


Metastatic process has still not been completely elucidated, probably due to insufficient knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we provide an overview of the current findings that shed light on specific molecular alterations associated with metastasis and present novel concepts in the treatment of the metastatic process. In particular, we discuss novel pharmacological approaches in the clinical setting that target metastatic progression. New insights into the process of metastasis allow optimizing and designing new treatment strategies, especially when taking into account the fact that metastatic cells share common features with stem cells. Lastly, we touch upon nano- and micro-technologies in targeted drug delivery for metastatic cancer. The latter could provide more efficient way to tackle metastasis and thus bring about advancements in the treatment and management of cancer patients.


For the modeling and simulation of large water recovery and irrigation systems, standard component models as found in simulation tool libraries are too complex. In this work, simple models are derived and applied for the modeling and simulation of a real system. In this system, water for irrigation will be collected by recovery wells around the wastewater treatment plant infiltration basins located in northern Gaza. There will be 27 recovery wells to collect the water in a reservoir before being distributed for irrigation via 10 booster pumps. During summer time, the system is expected to recover and distribute about 50885 m daily. The model derived in this paper using Modelica helps better understanding the system dynamics and provides a tool for evaluating the performance of possible control schemes.


We clarify some ambiguous points in a derivation of duality via brane exchange using M-theory language, and propose a "proof" of duality in MQCD. Actually, duality in MQCD is rather trivial and does not need a complicated proof. The problem is how to interpret it in field theory language. We examine BPS states in N = 2 theory and find the particle correspondence under duality. In the process, we also find some exotic particles in N = 2 MQCD, and we observe an interesting phenomenon in type IIA string theory, namely, that fundamental strings are converted into D2-branes via the exchange of two NS5-branes. We also discuss how we should understand Seiberg's N = 1 duality from exact duality in MQCD.


Cetaceans (whales and dolphins) use acoustic cues to determine the locations and identities of envi- ronmental stimuli within their underwater habitats. Dolphins evolved unique auditory systems for spatially differentiating ultrasonic signals, whereas the larger baleen whales appear to have evolved different mechanisms for localizing lower frequency sound sources. Many of the cues that terrestrial mammals use to localize sounds in air are less well suited for localizing sounds underwater. Never- theless, cetaceans can localize sounds as well as or better than most terrestrial mammals. Position- dependent spectral filtering likely plays an important role in sound localization by toothed whales, whereas phase differences between the ears may be important for baleen whales. However, it is ex- ceedingly difficult to determine how filtering and phase differences contribute to spatial hearing by whales and dolphins because, in contrast to terrestrial mammals, the structures through which cetace- ans receive sounds are completely internalized (and thus invisible). Computational models of ceta- cean auditory processing provide one viable approach to generating testable predictions about the mechanisms cetaceans use to localize and identify sound sources.