Lacing systems for use with footwear and other articles are also disclosed. The lacing system may have flexible webbing line guides. In some embodiments, the line guide may include a first line guide member and a second line guide member. The line can go one after the other on the first page of the article by the first and second line guide members before it crosses to the opposite side of the article. The first and second line guide members can successively be angled to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the Schnurweg by the line guide members. In some embodiments, the line guide may have a central portion which is less flexible than the end portions in order to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the Schnurweg by the line guide when a voltage is applied to the cord.


This paper proposes a high-resolution DOA (Direction Of Arrival) estimation method using GROUSE and EM algorithms for low-cost array antenna system. The low-cost array antenna system, which uses less receiver modules than array elements, often leads worse DOA estimation accuracy when comparing with the full-cost array antenna system. The proposed method first employs the modified GROUSE algorithm to pre-estimate DOAs, and then the EM algorithm is applied to further improve the DOA estimation accuracy. Performance of the proposed approach is evaluated through computer simulation.


Optical wavefront shaping is one of the most effective techniques in focusing light inside a scattering medium. Unfortunately, most of these techniques require direct access to the scattering medium or need to know the scattering properties of the medium beforehand. Through our scheme we develop a novel concept in which both the illumination and the detection is on the same side of the inspected object and the imaging process is a real time fast converging operation that does not require to capture large plurality of images. We model the scattering medium being a biological tissue as a Matrix having mathematical properties matched to the physical and biological aspects of the sample. In our adaptive optics scheme, we aim to estimate the scattering function and thus to encode the intensity of the illuminating laser light source using DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) with an inverse scattering function of the scattering medium, such that after passing its scattering function a focused beam is obtained. We optimize the pattern to be displayed on the DMD using Particle Swarm Algorithm (PSO). As first proof of concept we show validation via numerical MATLAB simulations where we obtain a focused spot behind a scattering medium in amplitude modulation scheme.


A 76-year-old man complicated with end-stage renal disease had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and isoniazid (INH) 300 mg daily was started to prevent reactivation of LTBI before using biologic agents for rheumatoid arthritis. On the 8th day after administration of INH, he presented with a fever, petechiae, and myalgia. Serological studies revealed elevated myogenic enzymes and creatinine level. Based on the exclusion of other etiologies, rapid improvement with cessation of INH, and the recurrence of the fever and myalgia with re-administration of a reduced dose of INH, we diagnosed him with INH-induced rhabdomyolysis. Physicians should be aware of rhabdomyolysis induced by INH at a therapeutic dose as an infrequent but potentially fatal adverse drug reaction.


5 The load cell industry has become more competitive over recent years with cheaper and better performing load cells available on the market. In order to compete smaller companies have to target other more specific areas, whether it is load cells for a particular industrial applicaE tion or area of measurement, or a standard load cell that has been adapted for digital communication directly to a PC or PLC, or for connection to a new or existing Fieldbus system. The strain gauge load cell consists of a Wheatstone bridge resistor network comprising a number of strain gauges bonded, at the location of maximum strain, to a piece ofmaterial (mainly stainless steel or aluminium) and referred to as the element. This element acts as the medium for converting the mechanical strain to an electrical analogue signal. The load cell has the following measurabie entities:


The article is devoted to the formation of republican and imperial emblems of the late 18th — early 19th centuries. in France, an important element of which was the state seal. A complete break with the heraldic tradition of the Old Order ended not in 1789, but in 1792 in connection with the overthrow of the monarchy. In August 1792, the National Convention approved a new state seal, which was used until 1804 with minor changes. The central element of the seal — the allegory of Liberty in the image of a woman was a well-known visual representation of the image of France from the very beginning of the Revolution, but in September 1792 it for the first time acquires the official status of a state emblem. The author shows how the revolutionary leaders made attempts to replace this image with others, wanting to emphasize the radical break and aspects of their political program. The projects of 1793 by Jean-Louis David and 1796 by Henri Gregoire differed significantly from each other. But the decree on the state seal of 1793, according to which the image of Liberty should be replaced by the image of Hercules, was not put into practice, and Gregoire's proposals were completely rejected. On the basis of elements of revolutionary emblematic and neoclassical heraldic designs, in June — July 1804, a new state seal of the empire was created, the central elements of which are a golden eagle on an azure field and the image of Napoleon sitting on a throne in imperial insignia. The author emphasizes that the Napoleonic system of heraldic representation was originally conceived by Bonaparte and his advisers as an important political resource.


Abstract The school-based curriculum gives teachers freedom to design and develop all learning activities for students by themselves, so it is expected that the teachers' competence can be improved optimally. Besides, teachers' creativity and innovation can be developed to increase their professionalism. But, the fact shows that the teachers' responsibility is so heavy that they do not have enough time to develop their professionalism. Almost all SMPs/MTss and SMAs/MAs in Indonesia assign teachers some duties based on classes. One of the ways to improve teachers' mastery can be done by taking specialization in teaching materials. This method gives some advantages to teachers and students as well. For the teachers, specialization in teaching materials can make them: (1) concentrate on the teaching material development; (2) plan learning strategies effectively; (3) look for references easily and attentively; (4) write summaries and modules; (5) select seminars and workshops to attend; and (6) direct students based on their ability. For the students, specialization in teaching materials can make them: (1) get the unity of concepts from the same teacher; (2) avoid needless character adaptation from different teachers; (3) detect self-ability; (4) look for references easily; and (5) avoid from learning over-lapping concepts. It seems difficult to implement specialization for teaching material, but by having a good intention to increase learning quality in Indonesia, all difficulties and obstacles can be handled. Patience and seriousness are really needed to start a new thing. Whatever the result is, this effort should be made. Keywords : specialization, effort, professionalism, teacher


The preoperative status of tubal patency in 61 infertile patients was compared with findings at laparotomy. Using the method of quantitative hydrotubation, a correct preoperative diagnosis was made in 52 (85%) patients. Of the 48 in whom tubal patency was thought to be abnormal on the basis of this test, 43 (90%) were found to have tubal dysfunction at laparotomy. This method offers a much more reliable index of the status of tubal function than can be obtained with tubal insufflation. It can be done as a simple office procedure, offers minimal or no discomfort to the patient and is extremely safe.


Abstract. The novel tetraphenylethylene (TPE) based sensor 1 bearing bis(2-pyridin-2-ylmethyl) amine (BPA) unit and BODIPY unit linked with triazole moieties could be obtained by click reaction efficiently. It was employed as a fluorescence probe for the selective recognition of Cu2+ and Co2+. They form stable 1:1 stoichiometric complexes and the lowest limit of detection was 1×10-7 M.


There is a problem for current Exam Card Reading System that may produce errors.In order to reduce errors and make a fair and impartial environment in card reading,we have established an image recognition technology to recognize answer sheets effectively through the analysis of the possible reasons for misjudgment.By this method,the recognition error rate can be minimized in an acceptable range.


Many observers have found specific differences in the properties of haemoglobins from different species (Barcroft, 1928). These differences are due—as Barcroft states—to the globins, whereas the hematin is probably the same in all haemoglobins (Barcroft, 1928). Another important question was raised by Bohr (1892). This author advanced the hyppthesis that more than one haemoglobin may be present in the same animal. Bohr's hypothesis was also supported by Hoppe-Seyler's investigations (Hoppe-Seyler). Crystallographic observations on haemoglobins by Reichert and Brown (1909) showed that it is possible to obtain different crystals are dimorphous or polymorphous in may species of animals. A. K. Boor, criticising the findings of Reichert and Brown, states (Boor, 1930) that the conditions of crystallisation were not uniform. According to Boor, various organic impurities might have influenced the crystal habit, as well as the crystal system and form. Boor prepared oxyhaemoglobin by mixing washed red corpuscles with aluminium cream, followed by filtration in a refrigerator. The crystals were formed from the pure filtrate by adding a suitable amount of ethyl alcohol and maintaining a temperature of 0°C. or lower. Only one kind of crystal of horse oxyhaemoglobin and of horse carbon monoxide haemoglobin is reported, while dog oxhaemoglobin was found to be represented by two forms, though only one form of dog carbon monoxide haemoglobin was observed. According to Boor, every case of dual form is doubtful, and he suggests that there is only one haemoglobin for each species.


Abstract : Engineer Regulation (ER) 1130-2-540 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 2005) mandates that natural resource inventories be conducted on all Corps of Engineers (CE) operational projects. The basic inventory to be conducted at Corps projects was identified by the CE Stewardship Advisory Team (SAT) as the Natural Resources Level I Inventory, described in Krause et al. (2004). In 2005, a study was undertaken as part of the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program (EMRRP) to (1) provide a basic protocol for conducting Level I inventories for Special Status Species, (2) evaluate broad-based inventory methods available for selected taxa, (3) field test and verify components of the Level I Inventory protocol, and (4) develop a methodology for assessing the condition of vegetation types on Corps lands. A protocol for conducting Level I Inventories was completed in 2005 and described in Martin et al. (2006). This technical note provides the results of a preliminary evaluation of the Level I protocol for selected Corps projects.


Ken Carpenter retired in December 2000 after working in the Harvard Libraries for almost 40 years. Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Ken attended Girard College in Philadelphia from age seven to 17 and then went to Bowdoin College, graduating in 1958. He began working at Harvard's Houghton Library as a "stacks boy" in 1960 when William A. Jackson was librarian. He ended his career as assistant director for research resources, Harvard University Library, under the direction of Sidney Verba. In between, he worked on the Bibliography of American Literature with Jacob Blanck, served as curator of the Kress Library at the . . .


Inorganic polyphosphate [poly(P)] induces bone cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo; therefore, we examined morphological changes of MC3T3‐E1 osteoblastic cells cultured in the presence of poly(P). MC3T3‐E1 cells, which are immature murine bone cells, were cultured with or without poly(P) and then examined by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Ultrastructural observations revealed that MC3T3‐E1 cells had morphological characteristics of osteoblasts. Cells cultured with poly(P) were strongly stained with an anti‐collagen type I antibody, whereas cells cultured without poly(P) were not. Ultrastructural analysis of cells cultured with poly(P) revealed a well‐developed Golgi apparatus, swollen and elongated rough endoplasmic reticulum, large mitochondria, and many coated pits. MC3T3‐E1 cells were transformed from a resting phase into an active blastic phase when cultured in the presence of poly(P), which implies that poly(P) can effectively induce bone regeneration. MC3T3‐E1 cells exhibiting osteoblastic characteristics in the resting stage can be transformed into the maturating or activating phase by culture with poly(P).


The invention belongs to the technical field of antibiotic drug synthesis, in particular to a synthesis methodof cefcapene pivoxil hydrochloride. The invention is mainly used for process improvement and optimization of cefcapene pivoxil, and the advantage of the synthesis process of cefcapene pivoxil are obvious; new catalytic agents are used, such as phenol, boric acid and other reagents, thereby improving the product quality, increasing the yield, simplifying the operating steps and realizing greater productivity effect and social effect.


Based on an average‐derivative method and optimization techniques, a 27‐point scheme for a 3D frequency‐domain scalar wave equation is developed. Compared to the rotated‐coordinate approach, the average‐derivative optimal method is not only concise but also applies to equal and unequal directional sampling intervals. The resulting 27‐point scheme uses a 27‐point operator to approximate spatial derivatives and the mass acceleration term. The coefficients are determined by minimizing phase velocity dispersion errors and the resultant optimal coefficients depend on ratios of directional sampling intervals. Compared to the classical 7‐point scheme, the number of grid points per shortest wavelength is reduced from approximately 13 to approximately 4 by this 27‐point optimal scheme for equal directional sampling intervals and unequal directional sampling intervals as well. Two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the theoretical analysis. The average‐derivative algorithm is also extended to a 3D frequency‐domain viscous scalar wave equation.


[The authors respond:]

The 3 major outcomes measured by the PEI blood notification program were identification of patients as tested for the hepatitis C virus, dead or "out of province." The most reliable and widely used outcome available in all health information systems is death. However, John


The study presents a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction based on pollen, no-pollen palynomorphs (= NPPs) and microcharcoals analyses on samples of two cores (PL1 e PL2) taken at Piano Locce ( 1225 m a.s.l., Barisciano, L'Aquila - Italy), within a multidisciplinary programme. Piano Locce is a tectono-karstic depression on the southern side of the "Massiccio del Gran Sasso d'Italia" mountain and it is a hollow that trapped the sediments eroded from the soils of the sorrounding mountains and the wind carried pyroclastic ashes.
Methods – Core PL1, drilled in 2003, 80 m long without reaching the limestone at the base, was sampled for pollen analysis following the stratigraphy to obtain an ample vegetational/climatic reconstruction. Core PL2, drilled in 2008, 10 m long, was sampled approximately every 5-10 cm to obtain a detailed reconstruction of the floristic-vegetational/climatic events and of human impact during the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene. For this study 91 of the 260 samples taken from the two cores were studied: 10 from PL1 core (from 0 to 5.14 m) and 81 from PL2 core. The finds analysis, the data exposition and the results interpretation principles followed the current standards. For microcharcoals a particle-count method that divides them in 5 classes was carried out.
Chronology – Two datings based on chemical analysis of volcanic minerals are available: core PL1 is dated 170.000-200.000 years BP at the bottom and core PL2 is dated 36.000 years BP at 5 m depth.
Results, Discussion, Conclusions – Pollen analysis of Piano Locce series (46.150 pollen finds in the two cores) provides the history of vegetal landscape from 36.000 years BP, plus former data. The finding of high percentage of Artemisia pollen, with Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae and low percentage of arboreal plants suggests, for the lower part of the sequence, a steppe vegetation environment referable to the Last Glacial. In this part some zones may be included in the Last Glacial Maximum (minimum of woody plants pollen), in the interstadial Bolling-Allerod (low Artemisia, relative increase and differentiation of trees/shrubs) and in the Younger Dryas (arboreal plants decrease and Artemisia rise).
The transit from the Last Glacial to the Holocene is testified by an arboreal plants increase and the affirmation of mixed Oak-wood (at about 1.50 m depth in PL2). Data suggests that in the area a grass-land grazed quite precociously persisted during the time. Wood always remained far from Piano Locce depression and it was formed alternatively by conifers and broadleaves and subsequently by the predominance of Oak-wood broadleaves. Beech-wood is little represented, probably due to local climatic factors. The combination of Cultivated/cultivable plants begins to be significant in the Medium Holocene and it is obvious in the Upper Holocene. This is testified by Castanea, Juglans, Olea, Vitis e cereals. Prunus dulcis was found in the most superficial samples.
NPPs (1.797 finds identified in PL2 core) in the Upper Pleistocene show mainly algal microremains (Pediastrum and Botryococcus colonies and Spirogyra spores) attesting a lacustrine sedimentation, while coprophilus fungi spores appears in good percentage during the Holocene, in a terrestrial environment with periodical water puddles. This fungi presence, like Sporormiella-type, Sordiaria-type, Apiosordiaria and Valsaria-type, in levels caracherized by Cichoriodeae, Asteroideae, Cirsium-type, Galium-type, Ranunculaceae, Stellaria-type pollen suggests the hypothesis that Piano Locce depression was exploited as a grazing area, first by wild animals, then by domestic ones.
Microcharcoals (analyzed in PL2 core) are less represented in the lower part of the sequence, maybe due to the presence of humans living in caves and shelters settled in areas at lower quotes than Piano Locce. The presence of bigger sized particles testifies nearer fires, natural or caused by the hunter-gatherers that hunted in the area. During the Holocene the sum of microcharcoals increases, according to the evidence of anthropization provided by pollen and no-pollen palynomorphs.


The antimonides RE2Ir3Sb4 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) were synthesized by arc-melting of the elements and subsequent annealing or via high-frequence melting. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and the four structures were refined from sin-gle-crystal X-ray diffraction data: Pr2Ir3Sb4-type, Pnma, Z = 4, a = 1621.9(2), b = 458.60(8), c = 1099.8(1) pm, wR2 = 0.036, 1558 F2 values for La2Ir3Sb4, a = 1616.6(8), b = 456.5(2), c = 1094.8(5) pm, wR2 = 0.092, 1080 F2 values for Ce2Ir3Sb4, a = 1613.0(5), b = 454.9(2), c = 1094.1(5) pm, wR2 = 0.057, 1428 F2 values for Pr2Ir3Sb4, and a = 1609.8(6), b = 452.9(2), c = 1092.3(5) pm, wR2 = 0.052, 1472 F2 values for Nd2Ir3Sb4, with 56 parameters per refinement. The Sb1 atoms show enhanced displace-ment off the mirror planes at y = 1/4 and y = 3/4. A series of temperature dependent structure refinements of Pr2Ir3Sb4 down to 90 K are indicative of static disorder. The iridium and antimony atoms build up complex covalently bonded three-dimensional [Ir3Sb4] networks with Ir-Sb distances ranging from 256-269 pm (Nd2Ir3Sb4). The two crystallographically independent rare earth sites fill cavities of coordination numbers 17 (8 Ir + 9 Sb) and 15 (6 Ir + 9 Sb) within the [Ir3Sb4] polyanions. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate a stable trivalent ground state for the ce-rium compound. No magnetic ordering was evident down to 3 K.


Developing radiosensitizers based on the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment can improve the effectiveness and overcome the bottleneck of cervical cancer radiotherapy. Herein, an in situ synthesis strategy is demonstrated by using a highly bioactive zeolitic imidazolate framework to cap Mn3O4 and folic acid as targeting molecules (FA‐Mn3O4@ZIF‐8) to achieve enhanced radiosensitization against cervical cancer. As expected, the ZIF‐8 cap on the surface of Mn3O4 responds more effectively to X‐rays. Meanwhile, by facilitating the presence of oxygen vacancies and valence transition of manganese on the surface of Mn3O4, the ZIF‐8 cap on Mn3O4 can increase the catalytic capacity for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and glutathione as well as produce more singlet oxygen under X‐ray, alleviate hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment, and increase reactive oxygen species production. Moreover, FA‐Mn3O4@ZIF‐8 shows excellent radiotherapy‐sensitizing properties in vitro and in vivo by promoting DNA damage and apoptosis. Collectively, this study suggests that designing and construction of X‐ray responsive nanoradiosensitizers could be a good way for future clinical radiotherapy of malignant cervical cancer.


The article analyzes the recommendations for the building of training sessions in the health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA), offers directions for further improvement this process. As you know, the effectiveness of health-enhancing physical activity is determined by the factors: the use of means and methods adequate for age and fitness, the optimal physical load and the peculiarities of its alternation with rest. Ultimately, the implementation of these requirements is carried out through the rational building of various structural elements as microcycles, mesocycles, macrocycles, training session. However, in our opinion, some of the theoretical provisions of the planning of training sessions, in contrast to sports training, have not been sufficiently studied.
Research aim is to study the peculiarities of building training sessions in health-enhancing physical activity.
Objectives:

Analyze of specialists recommendations on the characteristics of the load used in the building of health-enhancing sessions.
Study the peculiarities of the building selective and complex sessions.

It was found that the recommendations regarding the duration of the training load for building of health-enhancing physical activity are sufficiently developed. However characteristic classification for sports practice is not used when planning the value of loads in separate sessions. This refers to a classification that takes into account the phase of physical performance in which the session was ended. It classification include low, medium, significant and large loads. In our opinion, this negatively affects the quality of planning both sessions and microcycles. It is revealed that there is a need to further improve the building complex training sessions with a consistent solution of tasks and the development of methodological conditions for the use of means and methods in complex training sessions with a parallel solution of tasks.


The emergence of the Internet sparked a revolution regarding to new forms of interaction between people, offering experiences of real-time communication, in the so-called virtual environments. In this scenario, new text genres emerge, opening up new possibilities for analysis from various perspectives. In this work, our study object is the digital conversations, and we try to ascertain, at first, how these conversations are similar, approach or move away from face to face conversations. We seek also to identify, describe and analyze some interactional strategies inherent to this new genre, in addition to observing the manifestation of phenomena of verbal (dis) courtesy between the interlocutors who use this form of communication. Our basements are on the perspective of Conversation Analysis and Interactional Sociolinguistics, where we try to define the genre and digital strategies of conversational "spoken text written" on the Internet. The corpus used in this work is composed by digital conversations coming from the MSN instant messenger software from Microsoft Corporation, which was chosen because of its wide usage among people who access the Internet for communications. We intend, therefore, to contribute to the study of digital conversations in the Portuguese language scope, offering a new approach to the study of computer-mediated communications. Key-Words: interaction, digital conversation, computer mediated communication, courtesy.


Recent research has shown the feasibility of in-band full duplex (FD) wireless operation allowing wireless nodes to send and receive in the same frequency band at the same time. In this paper, we propose a novel FD medium access control (MAC) protocol, and discuss two issues related to the FD MAC layer. These include fairness between half duplex (HD) and FD users, and a channel access mechanism called centralized random backoff (CRB) to resolve collisions caused by the random backoff algorithm adopted in the IEEE 802.11 MAC standard. Simulation results show that the protocol provides evenly distributed channel access opportunities to both FD and legacy HD users. Moreover, it is demonstrated by simulation that using CRB complements the random backoff algorithm and improves the performance of HD and FD MAC protocols for Wi-Fi networks.


Global simulation models used to predict climate change typically have resolutions too coarse for resolving small drainage basins, creating a major obstacle to evaluating the hydrologic impacts of climate variability. The writers circumvent this difficulty by using a physical model for severe hurricanes to derive changes in hurricane rainfall under a predicted global warming. The modified rainfall is then transferred to a linked hydrologic‐hydrodynamic model to compute the impact of global warming on hurricane‐induced flooding in a susceptible watershed. As an example, using simulations of tropical, doubled‐CO2 climate change, the hurricane model predicts a 40% precipitation increase for severe hurricanes affecting southeastern Florida. The 40% increase is assumed for a 100‐year, three‐day event used for flood‐management planning in South Florida and applied to the Basin Runoff and Streamflow Simulation (BRASS) model of the Western C‐11 drainage system. The increased precipitation provokes substantially g...


The first priority of agricultural policy in North Korea lies in the increase of food grain production. There has been a lot of effort to expand the livestock production in many ways. However, the result has not been successful, mainly because of the shortage of feed grain, poor improvement of genetic techniques, low farming level of inefficiency due to the collective farming system, and so forth. The potentiality of livestock production in North Korea can be realized through agricultural cooperation between South and North Korea. For the economic cooperation, the later has comparative advantages in labor and resources, while the former in capital and technique. In this paper, several points are suggested to vitalize the livestock production of North Korea in the cooperation between South and North Korea preparing for the national reunification in the future. These points should be efficiently designed and pursued in harmony with the southern part of Korea for enhancing the competitiveness of both parts in livestock production.


Based on complexity of construction conditions and diversity of type layout of bridge on high-speed railway in China,at present,independently-developed 900t box bridge girder erection machine includes walking type,guiding beam type and transportation-erection-in-one type,which are characterized by big elevating capacity,strong span-change function,convenient erection of first and end beams and safety and reliability.For construction companies,the equipment for lifting,transportation and erection of whole-span box girder belongs to large-scale equipment characterized by hugeness and high cost,therefore,the first problem to be resolved is how to select and allocate rationally the equipment according to engineering conditions to avoid idling and poor generality of equipment and improve the adaptability of equipment.Through engineering practice and comparative study,gird erection technology and adaptive different engineering conditions of different series of 900 t box girder erection machine are put forward,which can provide reference for construction technology and selection of reasonable ancillary equipment for bridges on high-speed railway and intercity passenger dedicated railway.


To provide a method and system for detecting wrong merchant classification code (MCC). This creates a database of merchants and corresponding MCC, includes placing the one or more payment card accounts. According to the method, a transaction involving one or more payment card accounts is attempted with the merchant database. Then, compared to the corresponding MCC for the merchant transaction message the MCC sent in (such as acknowledgment message) stored in the database from the merchants. (Such as monitoring the merchant to notify the acquirer) If the MCC does not match, it is determined that the MCC provided from the merchant is wrong, proper treatment can take. .Field


AIM: To assess the efficacy of combined Aliskiren and Losartan vs high dose Losartan and Aliskiren alone in chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 143 patients with non-diabetic CKD comparing combined Aliskiren (150 mg/d) with Losartan (100 mg/d) therapy vs High dose Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (Losartan 200 mg/d) and the third group Aliskiren (150 mg/d) alone. This study involved only patient medical records. Entry criteria included those patients who had been treated with the above drugs for at least 36 mo within the 5 years period; other criteria included proteinuria of 1 g or more and or CKD Stage 3 at the start of the 36 mo period. The study utilised primary renal end points of estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) < 15 mL/min or end stage renal failure. RESULTS: Patients treated with high dose ARB compared to the other two treatment groups had significantly less proteinuria at the end of 36 mo (P < 0.007). All 3 groups had significant reduction of proteinuria ( P < 0.043, P < 0.001). Total urinary protein was significantly differ ent between the 3 groups over the 3-year study period (P = 0.008), but not eGFR. The changes in eGFR from baseline to each year were not significantly different be tween the 3 therapeutic groups (P < 0.119). There were no significant differences in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the 3 drug groups throughout the 3 years. The incidence of hyperkalemia (> 5.5 mmol/ L) was 14.2% (7/49) in the Combined Aliskiren and ARB group, 8.7% (4/46) in the Aliskiren alone group and 6.3% (3/48) in the High dose ARB group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study in non-diabetic CKD patients showed that Combination therapy with Aliskiren and ARB was effective but was not safe as it was associated with a high prevalence of hyperkalaemia. to unmask serious adverse events like ischemic heart disease and strokes because it had included Cardio-Renal Endpoints among its primary end points. It may be advisable to require future trials on drugs which could impact on the kidneys, heart and brain to have similar Cardio-Renal Endpoints or Cardio-Neuro-Renal End points to further ensure therapeutic safety of the trial drug. Our modest study compared to the magnitude of the ALTITUDE study still managed to detect the problem of hyperkalaemia in the group treated with Combination therapy with Aliskiren and ARB. Based on our study it would appear that the findings of the AL TITUDE study would also apply to non-diabetic Chronic Kidney Disease patients.


Some HTTP servers provide a subset of resources that require
additional authentication to interact with. HTTP/1.1 servers rely on
TLS renegotiation that is triggered by a request to a protected
resource. HTTP/2 made this pattern impossible by forbidding the use of
TLS renegotiation. While TLS 1.3 provides an alternate mechanism to
obtain client certificates, this mechanism does not map well to usage
in TLS 1.2. This document describes a how client authentication might
be requested by a server as a result of receiving a request to a
protected resource.


Why has financial deregulation led to credit crisis? This macroeconomist returns to John Maynard Keynes for an explanation of the failure of financial markets—and indeed the failure of accepted economic theory today—to warn the nation, no less to prevent its occurring.


The Shaker movement in this country as a socio-religious separatist venture, was representative of the character and growth of America. The single minded community, devoted to a particular ideal, reflects a major aspect of America's early social character. The various religious communities, whether Quaker, Shaker, Brook Farm, transcendental or other, were manifestations of a spirit which was fostered by conditions in a new world.


As I sit down to write about the role of exercise in the aging, I am conscious of the pleasant and relaxing effect of a brisk walk in the clear cold air of Santa Fe and the hills around. As a senior member of society, I can vouch for this particular positive effect of exercise; for many aging persons this may be its chief value. However, there are other physiological results of exercise which deserve as much emphasis in the aging as they do in the young, and possibly even more. Though such effects of exercise are frequently referred to in the presentation of health programs, they are but little discussed in planning for the health and happiness of older persons. To be sure, no hard and fast rules about exercise can be laid down for everyone of a certain age, in the first place, because no two persons have


To develop a steady‐state saturation with radial readout chemical exchange saturation transfer (starCEST) for acquiring CEST images at 3 Tesla (T). The polynomial Lorentzian line‐shape fitting approach was further developed for extracting amideCEST intensities at this field.


In remote sensing image geometric correction, the ground control points (GCPs) to be selected are required to distribute evenly in full image scenes, which is often a subjective description in practice. For this purpose, this paper proposes to use Voronoi diagram as an assistant tool to select GCPs, and builds the relationship between GCPs distrbution and their number. It has been proved by an example that using Voronoi diagram to control GCPs distribution is an effective method for improving the precision of geometric correction.


Guidelines developed by the American Association of School of Librarians and the Reference and Adult Services Division of the American Library Association can aid school library media specialists in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of reference and information services for the school community. This article discusses the value of such professionally sanctioned guidelines and uses two documents, Information Power and "Information Services for Information Consumers," as the basis for a checklist for assessing building-level school library media reference services. Media specialists can use this checklist in evaluating and upgrading reference services within their schools.


A statistical study of results from experimental plots of Marquis wheat grown annually (though not on the same soil) at five points in Saskatchewan and Alberta indicates that there was a significant negative correlation between the amount of rainfall during the growing season and the nitrogen content of wheat. The main effect of rainfall was exerted during May and June. The data do not justify the conclusion that the amount of rain falling in July or August, or the amount of pre-seasonal precipitation, modified the nitrogen content significantly. Mean maximum temperature for July or August failed to show a significant correlation with nitrogen content, but may not be a satisfactory measure of the temperature conditions actually experienced by the crop.It is suggested that the preponderating effect of early rainfall may be due to the fact that it stimulates tillering and vegetative development generally. The available nitrogen must thus be distributed amongst an increased number of culms, whilst at the sam...


Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a highly heterogeneous disease. The prognosis of adolescents and adults with ALL is worse than that of children with ALL, mainly because of differences in biological characteristics. Molecular markers are of great value on risk stratification, prognosis evaluation, treatment guidance. The good news is with the deepening of studies on pathogenesis of ALL and the introduction of new technologies, novel molecular markers of prognostic relevance continue to be discovered. It was found that increased Sox4 expression was shown to correlate with accelerate leukemia progression. Unfortunately, resistance to medicine is associated with two cyclin-dependent kinase-inhibitor-2AB (CDKN2A/B) deletion.And the deletion of IKZF1 increase risk of relapse. Meanwhile, Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia is characterized by a variety of genetic alterations that activate kinase or cytokine receptor signaling pathway. Identification of these molecular markers will provide important insights into the treatment strategies. This paper reviewed the advance in the Ph-positive ALL and Ph-like ALL.

Key words:
Precursor cell lymphoblastic leukemia-lymphoma; Philadelphia chromosome; Biomarkers; Fusion proteins, bcr-abl; Review


The invention provides an anti-lock USB (universal serial bus) identity authentication system and an anti-lock USB identity authentication method by means of recognizing data. The anti-lock USB identity authentication system comprises an equipment source recognizing module, a signal receiving module, a user selection module, a speech module, a recording module, a voiceprint recognizing module, a three-dimensional face recognizing module and a quick starting module. The voiceprint recognizing module comprises a speech module judging module and a recording module judging module. The anti-lock USB identity authentication method includes steps of recognizing equipment sources; receiving signals; enabling users to select authentication modules; recognizing voiceprints; three-dimensionally recognizing faces of the users; matching results with one another. The anti-lock USB identity authentication system and the anti-lock USB identity authentication method have the advantages that a plurality of options for identity authentication can be provided for the users, so that identities of the users can be quickly and efficiently authenticated, system locking due to misoperation or accidents can be prevented, and problems of voiceprint matching failures due to poor personal health or unwell moods and incapability of using systems can be solved; the various authentication modules with authentication functions are built, and accordingly flexible, accurate and efficient identity authentication can be guaranteed.


Both linear growth processes associated with non-normality of the mean flow and nonlinear interaction transferring energy among fluctuations contribute to maintaining turbulence. However, a detailed understanding of the mechanism by which they cooperate in sustaining the turbulent state is lacking. In this report, we examine the role of fluctuation-fluctuation nonlinearity by varying the magnitude of the associated term in the dynamics of Couette flow turbulence to determine how this nonlinear component helps maintain and determine the structure of the turbulent state, and particularly whether this mechanism is parametric or regenerative. Having determined that the mechanism supporting the fluctuation field in Navier-Stokes turbulence is parametric, we then study the mechanism by which the fluctuation component of turbulence is maintained by parametric growth in a time-dependent mean flow by examining the parametric growth mechanism in the frequency domain using analysis of the time-dependent resolvent.


Ambient concentrations of sulphur (IV) oxide (SO2) have been determined in the city of Ilorin, Nigeria between mid February and mid Novembers 2003. SO2 levels were found to vary significantly with the traffic density and human activities. There was a significant difference (P = 0.05) between the SO2 concentrations at two sites (high and low traffic volume areas); however, there was no significant difference (P= 0.05) between high traffic/medium population density and medium traffic/high population density areas. The regression analysis indicated a strong correlation (r= 0.94) between the concentration of SO2 pattern and the hourly average traffic volume in all the sites. Average level found for the city was 59.3 ± 1.9ppb, which falls within the limits of the United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for air quality standards. Atmospheric pollution being one of the most dominant problems associated with urbanization, urban areas are associated with high density of industries and transport networks, among other infrastructure, which generate a wide range of air pollutants .@JASEM Generally, it is estimated that each year between 250 and 300 million tons of air pollutants enter the atmosphere above the United States as a direct results of human activities and the annual emission estimate for sulphur (iv) oxide is put at 130 million tones for industrialized Europe, Asia and USA as reported by Foell et al (1975) and UNECEP (1994). Globally, combustion processes emit an estimated 163 million tons on the basis of NOx while Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that nearly 23 million tons of NO2 are released annually into atmosphere of United States arising mainly from human activities. These pollutants, acting in concert rather than separately have been implicated in many forms of damage to vegetation, materials, aquatic resources, wildlife and human health according to USEPA (1971). Sulphur (iv) oxide pollution is known to inhibit photosynthesis in lower and higher plants. Also reproductive disorders, respiratory and cardiac problems in humans have been related to sulphur (IV) oxide pollution and it's main source of acidity in rainfall, which causes a great damage on vegetation and materials as mentioned by Baumbach and Vogt (2003). If the concentration of SO2 is higher along with other gaseous pollutants in the troposphere and it accumulates over time, the overall concentration has a negative effect on health, vegetation and structures. This coupled with the dearth of reported works in the developing countries such as Nigeria gave impetus to our work, which focuses on monitoring and modeling of concentrations of SOx, NOx and ozone as total oxidants in different cities and rural areas of Nigeria of which this work is a part. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area: The ancient city of Ilorin is located on latitude 8° 20'N and longitude 4° 35'E, at an approximate altitude of 306 m above the mean sea level. The city, which is about 500km South-West of Abuja, the Federal Capital City of Nigeria, is strategically located in the Guinea Savannah belt of Nigeria, at what may be described as the geographical and cultural confluence of the Northern and Southern parts of the country. As a result of its location, Ilorin experiences two major seasons: dry and rainy. The persistence of either season is influenced by the absolute fraction of time during an annual cycle that the line of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) or the Inter-tropical Discontinuity (ITD), as it is called in West Africa, is below or above its line of latitude. The dry season (under the influence of the north-east trade winds, when the ITD is south of the city), on the average, starts around the middle of October and lasts until the middle of April of the following year, though more pronounced between mid November and mid February. Rains initiated by predominance of southwest monsoon winds in the area, dominates the remaining six months of the year when the ITD lies north of the city. The dry season period is characterized, not only by near absence of rain, but also by transport of dust haze from the Sahara Desert into the region. The winds are generally cold because they form part of the Hadley cell, which are known to move equator-ward from the poles at ground levels, and pole-ward from the JASEM ISSN 1119-8362 All rights reserved J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Mgt. June, 2006 Vol. 10 (2) 5 10 Full-text Available Online at www.bioline.org.br/ja Determination of Sulphur (IV) Oxide in... Abdul Raheem, A M O; Adekola, F A; Obioh, I B 6 equator at upper levels. The Harmattan period, being wintertime in Europe, implies that very cold air, drafted across Europe through the Sahara, arrives in the sub-region, carrying the Sahara dusts with it. The season is characterized by high atmospheric turbidity, which inhibits the penetration of a significant fraction of the solar radiation to the earth's surface. The city may be described as semi-industrial in the sense that, although a relatively large urban centre geographically by national standard, there seems to be very little presence of large scale industries that could qualify as major point sources. Hence, apart from the few industries, which are sparsely located, the rest of the city is dominated by mobile sources from the expanse of road network across the city, and area sources, which are a mix of residential, commercial and, medium to small scale industries. As for other major cities in the country, no strict demarcation exists between industrial, residential and commercial areas. The sampling locations were selected across the city to reflect the following categories of interest: High traffic volume/medium population density (HT-MPD) zones; Medium traffic volume / High population density (MT-HPD) zones; Industrial areas / Low traffic volume (IA-LT) zones, and Low population density / No traffic volume (LPD-NT) zone was used as control (CTR). The application of these techniques to the monitoring required the preparation of the following reagent as sampling and absorbing solution. Fig 1a: The schematics of the air-sampling set-up In the preparation of the absorbing solution, 10.41g of sodium ethanoate 4.17cm ethanoic acids and hydrogen peroxide} (18.4cm) were successively dissolved in distilled water. The solution was made up to the 1 litre mark on the volumetric flask. The pH of the absorbing solution was maintained at 5 in order to prevent the dissolution of carbon (IV) oxide along with SO2 into the absorbing solution. The details of the air sampling set up used have been described elsewhere by Lawani et al (1996). However, a brief overview of the schematic is presented in Fig. 1a. The flow rate was slow, about (1000cmmin) and the volume of absorbing solution (30cm) to ensure that the pollutants were given enough time to dissolve in the absorbing solution because of the low concentration. The sampling train was made completely airtight by use of silicon grease at all necessary joints. After each sampling of sixty minutes (60mins), the bubbler was removed carefully and the absorbent solution transferred into sample bottle for analysis. Reference samples, containing no sample were run along with the samples in order to take care of the sample matrix of the reagents used for the analyses. In order to determine pollutant variability over daytime periods, air sampling was undertaken at each location over seven defined sixty minutes periods for any sampling day. The seven sampling periods were equitably spaced between approximately 6 am and 6 pm. A minimum of 21 samples was collected at each site per week for the pollutant monitored. The time of sixty minutes was Determination of Sulphur (IV) Oxide in... Abdul Raheem, A M O; Adekola, F A; Obioh, I B 7 found from the preliminary investigations to be sufficient for the quantitative sampling of these gases within the environment of Ilorin. All samplings reported were carried out in triplicates. The sampling exercise lasted 12 weeks and precisely, between mid November and Mid February. Since road traffic is the common source cutting across all sites classes, the average traffic densities were determined for all sampling locations. Traffic counts were undertaken at hourly intervals. The daily minimum and maximum temperatures were between 23C and 36.5C, throughout the sampling time. Conductivity measurements were undertaken using the Hanna Instruments EC 214 Conductivity meter model. From the samples of absorbing and sampling solutions, approximately 20 cm were measured respectively into a liquid sample holder boiling tube of Hanna model Conductivity meter. The concentrations of the samples were picked from reference plot (Fig.2) got by the use of standardized tetra oxo sulphate (vi) acid. All the results obtained were correlated and corrected with the use of a standard LaMotte air sampling kit and accompany reagents. The diagram is shown in Fig.1b Fig. 1b: LaMotte airSampling set-up RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The specific urban locations, and the site classification by type of activity as well as the results of the hourly traffic counts undertaken at the various urban sites where sampling were undertaken are presented in Table 1. This shows urban site classes, type HT-MPD represented by the Post Office Roundabout recorded the highest average traffic density of 2,065 vehicles per hour over the sampling period. The other two sites had 1,701 and 1,004 while the background site represented by the University of Ilorin Research Farm recorded no vehicle traffic throughout the sampling period. The average traffic density per hour at different sites used was 1,590 for the city. In order to relate traffic density with the diurnal variations in the monitored trace gas concentrations, the hourly average traffic flow density recorded over the entire day is presented in Table 1. Results of calibration curves obtained for the trace gas pollutant is presented in Figure 2.


This paper presents a method of image protection using self-embedding.The image is divided into 8×8 block,compressed codes of each block and authentication information of the block offset are embedded into the block offset.When data is embedded,only no more than half of the data on the least significant bits need to be modified,and relatively the influence to the original image is on the small side.Changes to the image can be detected,located and corrected with this method.


CD of Live Performance, Arnolfini, Bristol 31 May 2012. Endings is a creative collaboration between composer Jeremy Peyton Jones and electronic composer and sound artist Kaffe Matthews. The collaboration combines material for voices and ensemble with live electronic manipulation focused around a series of vocal settings of the final paragraphs of works of modernist literature and the writing of David Gale. The programme also featured the large scale works And the days are long for electric guitar, live electronics and amplified ensemble. The purpose of the research was to deliberately bring together the usually separate styles and idioms of acoustic and electronic music and explore new means of combining them which address the problematics inherent in both. The research explores the interface and tension between contemporary live electronic music which typically doesn't rely on traditional notation and involves improvisation, and more traditional acoustic music relying on notation and fixed scores. Electronic music often lacks a strong live performance element and its improvisatory nature can be obscured or lost in delivery whereas acoustic music has great potential for re-contextualisation through the extension of the spatial, textural and timbral elements using electronics. An additional purpose was the exploration of the collaborative process and an analysis of the changing roles of notation, experimentation and improvisation in contemporary performance practice. The combination explored here is different from what is conventionally understood as electro-acoustic music and is transferable to any kind of live music which seeks to explore new means of presentation and collaboration.


The association rules mining algorithm(FCLattice) of the electronic patient record based on the frequent concept lattice is put forward.And the algrithm can constuct the corresponding lattice incrementally.At the same time it also can find maximal frequent item-set and extract the corresponding association rules.Finally the mining experiment of the electronic patient record is designed.The results show that it is better on both sides of the running speed and the mining capability.


A mathematical simulation procedure is developed for a single cryogenic distillation column with a feedback stream and a catalytic equilibrator used for protium-tritium (HT) separation. Large errors in calculation of mole fractions of the HT in the two products may occur unless special care is taken. Errors are minimized here by solving a single-variable nonlinear equation using the Newton-Raphson method. Parametric investigations of interest for column design and operation are also presented. One result is that the sidestream location is found to strongly affect column performance, and the optimum location depends strongly on the external feed composition. Further, as the mole percentage of HT in the external feed increases, the flow rate of the sidestream must be increased. Finally the effect of thermodynamic properties of the isotopes and of the decay heat of tritium on static column behavior are examined. Differences in the latent heat of vaporization among the three molecular species (H/sub 2/, HT, and T/sub 2/) are found to be significant. It appears that consideration of the decay heat of tritium and of the nonideality of the H/sub 2/-HT-T/sub 2/ solution is necessary to accurately predict the tritium concentration in the top product of high purity protium, amore » key output parameter. The usual assumption of equal molal heats and equal molal overflows within the column can lead to error in the reboiler load exceeding +250%.« less


Bioinformatics is a multi-disciplinary subject that encompasses a wide range of fields including; genomics, biotechnology, information technology, algorithms and statistics. As a result, it is important to establish a skeletal set of courses capable of providing both a general and a detailed background on all aspects of bioinformatics. In this study, a problem-based project entitled "in silico PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) of Bacillus species" was assigned to students. The project aimed to cover the background of genetic information retrieval, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis and in silico PCR-RFLP. Initially, the 16S rRNA genes of 34 Bacillus species were retrieved from the NCBI database. The sequence data obtained were then analyzed in terms of their similarities and variation using the ClustalW software. Subsequently, the phylogenetic tree was constructed to investigate their evolutionary relationship. The results indicated that these Bacillus species could be grouped into different clades. In addition, in silico PCR-RFLP was performed to introduce students to the principles of molecular taxonomy.


The authors have proposed the novel concept of a sliding system involving an antiwear probe with a groove and oil lubrication for probe-based archive memories. The system has been proven to endure a meter-scale probe slide, not only in terms of electric contact stability but also in regards to the readout resolution degradation of recorded patterns. This demonstrates the possibility of bringing probe-based memories into actual products used in data archiving, which requires limited time data access.


Yonekura has systematically checked every word in Pickles and Dawson's Concordance to Gower's CA against both MED and OED, and he offers several long lists presenting his results. He finds 265 words for which Gower appears as the first citation in the OED, of which 141 are still in current use, plus 26 other words "which only Gower first used in English," which evidently means "for which Gower's is the only recorded use." He finds an additional 459 words for which Gower provides the first use under a particular definition in the OED; 263 of these senses are still in current use. He evidently made rather less use of the MED: he cites eight words listed in the MED that OED omits (all beginning with A, C or D), and four words for which OED gives a citation earlier than the MED's (all beginning with A). A bit of bibliographical history might have been appropriate here: the anomalies he finds early in the alphabet (many of which involve collocations that may or may not be compounds, according to an editor's choice) are no doubt due to the appearance of Macaulay's edition of CA while the OED was already in progress. Yonekura also fails to note anywhere that the MED itself is still incomplete. There are a few other quibbles that one could make: the first that comes to mind is that Gower's "basketh" (CA 3.315) is not neglected by both OED and MED as Yonekura claims, but appears is OED s.v. "bask" (Yonekura evidently looked for a non-existent "baskle"). [PN. Copyright The John Gower Society. JGN 15.1


The emf of galvanic cells with zirconia solid electrolytes was measured from 975 to 1242 K on binary Ga-Ge alloys and from 1058 to 1236 K on ternary Ga-Sb-Ge alloys by use of Ga-Ga 2 O 3 as a reference electrode. From the emf values the activity of gallium in the liquid alloys is determined. At 1073 K the activity of gallium in the Ga-Ge alloys and in the three pseudobinary alloys Ga-(Sb y Ge 1-y ) where y=0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 shows small negative deviations from ideality. Isoactivity curves in the ternary Ga-Sb-Ge alloys were derived by combining the activity data of Ga-Sb. Ga-Ge and the temary alloys. The shape of the curves at 1073 K is simple in the Ga-poor region, but shows a very small wavy form with increasing Ga concentration. Isovalues curves in the excess Gibbs energies of mixing in the temary alloys are derived from Darken's method, and the results are compared with the model calculation proposed by Chou based on the experimental data in three binary systems. The shape of isovalue curves in ΔG xs is similar to those obtained from Chou's method, but the agreement between them in the values is not good.


A comprehensive school and community wellness plan was developed and implemented to transform Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities, an urban school, where student achievement and faculty satisfaction has soared. The school has become the center for the local neighborhood where culture, language, and equity are valued. The school's Comprehensive Wellness Plan includes student wellness, family wellness, staff/faculty wellness, and environmental wellness.


In making a game, a map is an important component. In making maps, several techniques can be used, one of which uses the Procedural Content Generator (PCG) method. In making maps using PCG can apply the Perlin Noise algorithm, as a generator engine for making maps automatically. The Algorithm Perlin Noise can make a noise gradient of and store values from 1 to 0 in each pixel. This value can be utilized as the height value of a 3D map formed from a point which is then connected to a surface called a mesh. The bigger the mesh, the more detailed a map will be. However, there are obstacles in its formation, namely the burden of the processor in processing the map. The level of detail (LOD) in a mesh will affect the workload of the processor, so we need a dynamic LOD. In this study, game performance measurements were performed using the average FPS with the application of Dynamic LOD and LOD Statistics. The performance test managed to increase processor performance to the maximum extent but did not reduce the overall performance of the game. In table 3 the connectedness calculation uses the person correlation method that the connectedness between the CPU and Vertex has a value of -0.81942 which means that if the CPU goes up the vertices go down, and the value of the connectedness between the CPU and LOD is 0.92299 which means if the CPU performance goes up, the LOD will go up, this indicates The CPU is optimized to run the rendering process and can optimize processor performance.


The maximum and minimum principles in the slope stability analysis,can be used to test the accuracy of the stability analysis model,and obtain the related condition used in improving the model.This paper uses the Simplified Three-dimensional Sarma Method.It analyzes the variation of the stability factor caused by the direction of shearing force on the sliding surface.The results show that no matter what the distribution of the direction,when it changes,the corresponding stability factors has a great value.This just proves that the maximum principle in three-dimensional slope stability analysis is applicable.At the same time,on the base of a rigorous determining method for the two-dimensional potential sliding surface of slope,this paper builds an algorithm for determining the three-dimensional potential sliding surface,and analyzes the effect of the parameters in the object function on the stability factor through the case in ZhangXing's paper.The results show that two-dimensional determining method is feasible,and it also proves that the minimum principle in the two-dimensional slope stability analysis is met.But in the three-dimensional slope stability,the results have some difference with the demand of the minimum principle for the three-dimensional limit equilibrium method not taking into account the boundary conditions of three-dimensional slope.


We present electrical, magnetic and crystal structure for a series of La 1.2 (Sr 1.8~x Ca x )Mn 2 O 7 (x"0}0.8) manganites. The sample of x"0.4 exhibits the highest magnetoresistance (MR) ratio [o(H)!o(0)/o(H)]]100% of !108% at the temperature of 102 K. The Curie temperature (" C ) decreases from 135 K for x"0}102 K for x"0.4. The hysteresis phenomenon was observed when the temperatures were lower than the magnetic transition temperature. The static strain within the compound for x"0.4 has also been found by high-resolution transmission electron microscopic techniques. ( 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.


The two spotted spider mite (TSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the major mite pests on agricultural crops worldwide. The present work aims to study abundance  of TSM and the most common predatory phytoseiid species, Typhlodromips capsicum Mostafa (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on four cotton cultivars viz. Giza 45, Giza 86, Giza 87 and Giza 92 mostly cultivated in Egypt during two successive growing seasons 2016 and 2017 at Aga district, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt in relation to prevailing atmospheric temperature and relative humidity. Also, the synchronization of TSM and T. capsicum under field conditions on the above-mentioned investigated cotton cultivars was investigated. Obtained results showed that TSM populations were significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher on the cotton cultivars Giza 45 and Giza 92 in comparison with the other investigated ones (Giza 86 and Giza 87) during the two investigated seasons 2016 and 2017. Populations of the phytoseiid species, T. capsicum did not significantly affected by the tested cotton cultivars. There were positive correlations between the changes of TSM and T. capsicum populations and temperature while the correlations with relative humidity were positively insignificant during the two investigated growing seasons. Good synchronization between TSM and T. capsicum populations on tested cotton cultivars was detected during the first and second seasons. These results showed that cotton cultivars, predatory mites and weather factors are of the most important factors affecting the populations of T. urticae on the investigated cotton cultivars.


PURPOSE: A method for manufacturing a solid imaging device and the method for manufacturing an electric device are provided to form an on-chip filter of the red, green, and blue by pattering a resist film. CONSTITUTION: A signal circuit is formed on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate forming a photoelectric converter though an interlayer insulation layer(14). The light is inputted from a second surface of the semiconductor substrate to the photoelectric converter. An on-chip color filter(19) and an on-chip micro lens(21a) are formed on the second surface to which the light is inputted. After forming the on-chip color filter and the on-chip micro lens, an opening is formed on a pad unit of the second surface to which the light is inputted.


Biofilm and hard-to-heal wounds Although there is some debate around the exact mechanisms by which biofilm impairs wound healing processes, current data suggest that the wound is kept in a low-grade, ineffective inflammatory state, preventing normal wound healing from occurring (Bjarnsholt et al, 2008; Gurjala et al, 2011). The sustained inflammatory response is associated with elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines. This leads to an increased number of neutrophils, macrophages and mast cells, which start to secrete proteases and reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately destroying host cell activity that is essential for healing. Work from Gurjala and colleagues (Gurjala et al, 2011) also shows that biofilm impairs epithelialisation and granulation tissue formation (in vivo). Overall these mechanisms result in the progression to a chronic state with the typical signs and characteristics of hard-toheal wounds (Bjarnsholt et al, 2008).


Submitted for the MAR06 Meeting of The American Physical Society Conductance switching in carbon nanotube transistors induced by electrochemical reactions JAAN MANNIK, BRETT R. GOLDSMITH, ALEXANDER A. KANE, PHILIP G. COLLINS, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4576 — Carbon nanotube transistors provide a promising architecture for studying biomolecular dynamics at the single molecule level. To achieve this goal, single bioactive molecules must be integrated into the circuits in a controllable and reliable way. While techniques can be borrowed from bulk chemical functionalization, we focus on the controlled production of a single, chemically-functional site on the sidewall of an operational nanotube transistor circuit. Our approach allows real-time, in situ monitoring of electrical signals from the transistor in order to discern reaction events. Using an electrochemical cell biased under oxidizing or reducing conditions, we have observed sharp, reversible conductance switching events consistent with single-site reactions. The reactions have well-defined electrochemical thresholds, which provides an electronic means to control their production. The dynamics of the switching events, including the rates and degree of reversibility, changes in different electrolyte solutions. This work is partly supported by NSF grant EF-0404057.


Ultrasonic velocity, density and viscosity have been measured for fructose in aqueous NaCl and MgCl2 at 298.15K, 303.15K & 308.15K. Thermodynamic parameters such as adiabatic compressibility(β), acoustic impedance (z),intermolecular free length(Lf) and relative association number (RA) have been obtained from the experimental data for the solutions of inorganic salts i.e. NaCl and MgCl2 with fructose at various concentrations and temperatures, with a view to investigate the exact nature of the molecular interactions. Adiabatic compressibility and intermolecular free length decreases with increase in concentration and temperature and gradually increases with concentration of solutes. These parameters have further been used to interpret the hydrophilic part of the solute and molecular interactions in the solutions.


The aim of the study was to describe selected morphologic features in Creole cattle in Panama. During 2011, we evaluated 63 adult specimens, indigenous from three different locations: Gualaca (Chiriqui), El Valle de Anton (Cocle) and the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca (Chiriquí). Nine zoometric variables were measured: face length (LC), face width (AC), thoracic perimeter (TP), total length (TL), height at withers (Acr), rump height (AG), body length (LgCu), hip length (LgCa), and hip width (ACa). Descriptive statistical analysis were conducted for each variable. Analysis by sex and by locality were performed using Duncan's multiple comparison tests. Linear correlation analysis with sex was also tested. Difference in PT between male and female specimens was statistically significant. Comparisons by location revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05)) for LC, AC, PT, LT, ACa, and LgCu. Duncan's multiple comparison tests show similarities in LC, PT and LT among specimens According to Duncan's multiple comparison tests, Creole cattle from Ngäble-Buglé Comarca is similar to the one found in El Valle de Anton —but different to Gualaca's— when LC, PT and LT are compared. Meanwhile, AC and LgCu values were found to be similar among Creole cattle from Ngäble-Buglé Comarca and from Gualaca; specimens from El Valle reported differences these measures. Cattle populations studied have no sexual dimorphism and show a degree of morphological homogeneity, which may be due to the Panamanian Creole cattle population being highly inbred.


Abstract : This is the final report of a series of experiments designed to study impasses in the learning of skills with a strong perceptual component. Several series of experiments were designed with the purpose of producing experimentally manipulable impasses or plateaus in the course of learning. Subjects in learning studies identified targets in various complex computer-presented displays. Among the factors manipulated were complexity, noise, salience, biassing instructions, and the distribution of target features across boundaries of displays. Impasses were produced, but patterns of impasse phenomena were not reproduced reliably enough to support of disconfirm a theory of impasses in learning. Keywords: Impasse; Learning impasses; Behavioral; Blocking; Noticing; Spectrograms; Inward/outward projecting masks; Consonant discrimination; Vowel transfer; Feature noticing.


Acknowledgements: For inspiration and comments I would like to thank, but not implicate, Ravi Kanbur, Chris Barrett, Per Pinstrup-Andersen and participants at seminars at Cornell and at the NEUDC 2006. I would also like to thank IFPRI for making available the data, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for financial support through grant LAG-A-00-96-90016-00 to the BASIS CRSP. Any views expressed and any remaining errors are mine alone.


................................................................................................................. ii PREFACE .................................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................... xii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER


With the recent progress in transplantation of neuronal tissues, cellular markers are needed to distinguish the grafted cells from the host. To generate monoclonal antibodies (MAb) recognizing species-specific antigens in the chick nervous system, we immunized mice with chick optic nerves and obtained 2 MAb which bind to chick but not to quail neural tissues. MAb-39B11 recognizes the cell surface antigen on the nerve fibers. MAb-37F5 recognizes the cytoplasmic components in several cell types, including ependymal cells and some large neurons. The utility of these MAb as markers for chick cells in the chick-quail chimeric brain and their advantages over conventional markers are discussed.


Synopsis The various reactions belween liquid iron-chrolllium alloy and silica saluraled slag Izave beell measured ill Ilze silica crucible al Ilze lem/leralures 1.600'. 1,650" alld 1,700°C. (1) Tlze chemical formula of oxide of chromium in Ihe oxide jlhase was invesligaledfrom Ihe results obtained all Ihe dislribulions of chromium allri iron at tlze clzromilllll concentratioll 1Il0re than 3 0 0 , (2) At tlze clzromium cOllcelltratiolls less Ihan 3 D", Ihe chemical formula of oxide of clzromium was investigated frOIll Ihe equilibriulII con slalll ~r chromiulII alld oxygen. (3) The e.fleet of clzromiulll on tlze soluhilil)' of silicoll was exalllined. (4) The interaction jlarGll1eler f~Ccl was measured as a jimction of lell/flerature and chrolllium [oneenlration. And Ihe equilibriulII (onslant of .<ilicon (lnd OX)'geJl was sludied al the temperatures 1,600 , 1,650 and C.


The objective of this work was to evaluate the response of the sugarcane crop to the mineral fertilization, filter cake and Nutry Cana Micronutrientes, in the planting groove and foliar route. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block, where five treatments were established (T0, T2, T3, T4 and T5) with five replications. The development of the crop was evaluated at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after planting, and the productivity 12 months after planting, during which period the physiological maturation of the crop is understood. It was possible to reach high yields of sugarcane reducing the recommended dose of mineral fertilizers, complementing with the organic fertilization from the filter cake, and the application of micronutrients via tolete and foliar route. The sugarcane showed a positive response to the joint application of these fertilizers, where a gain of 27.6 kg in the stems per linear meter in the T5 treatment was verified, maximizing the effect on the productivity and reducing the costs with mineral fertilizers.


Objective: The objective of the study is simple, sensitive; eco-friendly reverse phase chromatographic method has been developed and validated for the quantitative determination of ofloxacin in bulk and marketed formulation. Method: The developed method was done using Hypersil silica C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μ particle size) as column and the mobile phase is containing water and methanol in the ratio of (10:90) vol/vol. The mobile phase pass at 1 ml/min flow rate and the eluted solution is measured at 270 nm using a PDA detector. Results: The assay method is linear from the concentration range of 5–30 μg/ml. The corelation coefficient is 0.9998. The mean percentage recovery for the developed method is found to be in the range of 98.4–100.6%. The developed method complies robustness studies. Conclusion: The validation of the developed method was done by as per the ICH guidelines. It obeys the linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness studies. Validation parameters are within the limitations. The results of the developed process indicated the reverse phase chromatographic method is simple, accurate as well as precise, rapid and eco-friendly method for routine analysis of ofloxacin in bulk and its pharmaceutical dosage form.


1.1.Introduction:It is an undeniable reality that anatomy has a chief role to play in the practice of training doctors. It is a worldwide common belief that anatomy must be taught and learnt in such a way that it becomes clinically meaningful and is linked to the proficiency mandatory for new medical graduates. To facilitate clinical anatomy instructions, one method is to have regional anatomy taught by both anatomists as well as by clinicians. A study was conducted on 45 medical students admitted to the first MBBS course in the year 2014 at K J Somaiya Medical College.The aim of this study was to evaluate any difference in the level of knowledge of gross and clinical anatomy among first year MBBS students when taught by Anatomist alone Clinician alone and by both anatomist and clinician. In addition the student's perception regarding the teaching method was estimated using a structured questionnaire. Our study confirmed the fact that the group taught by anatomist and clinician was the best.

 1.2.Conclusion:Anatomists and clinicians should identify core anatomical knowledge in a clinical context. They should set some strategy on an anatomy curriculum which they feel any independent medical practitioner must be acquainted with. A need based curriculum can be developed in each institute so as to arrange interactive sessions of preclinical and clinical teaching which will be more useful for the students in subsequent years.


When Ag film is sputtered onto polystyrene (PS) spheres, the curved Ag nanocaps form with scattered Ag nanoparticles along the brim of the Ag nanocap. Ion etching results in parallel PS nanorods due to the masking effects of the scattered Ag nanoparticles when the Ag cap array is transferred to another substrate with the top down. The highly polarized SERS substrate of random working domains composed of parallel nanorods is prepared when another 5 nm film is deposited. The nanorod diameters range from 10 nm to 20 nm, depending on the sizes of the masking Ag nanoparticles prepared by the magnetron control system and the ion etching process. Compared with other techniques, our nanorods have the advantages of highly ordered patterns in each domain, which show the excellent behavior of the polarized SERS for all PS spheres. This polarized SERS substrate is used to detect thiram with a concentration as low as 10−9 M when the background noise is successfully removed by a self-reference technique.


Background
To study if patients that have a second radiograph 2 or more years after nonoperative treatment of an isolated radial head fracture have radiocapitellar osteoarthritis (RC OA).

Methods
We used the database of 3 academic hospitals in one health system from 1988 to 2013 to find patients with isolated radial head fractures (no associated ligament injury or fracture) that had a second elbow radiograph after more than 2 years from the initial injury. Of 887 patients with isolated radial head fractures, 54 (6%) had an accessible second radiograph for reasons of a second injury (57%), pain (30%), or follow-up visit (13%). Two orthopedic surgeons independently classified the radial head fractures on the initial radiographs using the Broberg and Morrey modified Mason classification, and assessed the development of RC OA on the final radiograph using a binary system (yes/no).

Results
Four out of 54 (7.5%) patients had RC OA, one with isolated RC arthrosis that seemed related to capitellar cartilage injury, and 3 that presented with pain and had global OA (likely primary osteoarthritis).

Conclusion
With the caveat that some percentage of patients may have left our health system during the study period, about 1 in 887 patients (0.1%) returns with isolated radiocapitellar arthritis after an isolated radial head fracture, and this may relate to capitellar injury rather than attrition. Patients with isolated radial head fractures can consider post-traumatic radiocapitellar arthritis a negligible risk.


Intercalated degrees are optional at most UK medical schools. From 2023, intercalated degrees will no longer be considered in post-graduate application scoring in the UK, ranging from Foundation Programme to Specialty Training applications. This aims to make application scoring more equitable. Intercalation costs an additional year of university fees and delays graduation and earnings, which not all students may be able to afford. As clinical academics who have intercalated degrees, we suggest that this move risks increasing inequality of access to postgraduate training and may reduce the diversity of the clinical academic workforce. With less of an immediate benefit to intercalation, the cost-benefit calculus for students may shift away from taking an intercalated degree. This deterrent may be most pronounced for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and/or mature students. Meta-analysis has shown numerous educational and career benefits of intercalation (Jones et al. 2013), which now risk being disproportionately reaped by wealthier students. Intercalated degrees are associated with higher undergraduate medical achievement, which may reflect selection bias but may also reflect the development of deeper learning styles (Mahesan et al. 2011). Career inequality could be further magnified through indirect outputs of intercalation—such as prizes, publications, and presentations— which remain included in applications after Foundation Training. Intercalation represents a valuable opportunity for students to gain their first research exposure and remains part of the scoring criteria for academic posts. Notably, intercalating students are significantly more likely to pursue academic careers and up to six times more likely to take higher degrees (Jones et al. 2013). In summary, changes to national recruitment risk running counter to their stated objective of widening participation, especially for clinical academics. Universities and funders should prioritise funding support for students with the least means to afford intercalation.


Substantial progress has been made over last few decades on understanding the physics of multiphase flow and reactive transport phenomena in subsurface porous media. Confluence of advances in experimental techniques (including micromodels, X-ray microtomography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)) as well as computational power have made it possible to observe static and dynamic multi-scale flow, transport and reactive processes, thus stimulating development of new generation of modelling tools from pore to field scale. One of the key challenges is to make experiment and models as complementary as possible, with continuously improving experimental methods in order to increase predictive capabilities of theoretical models across scales. This creates need to establish rigorous benchmark studies of flow, transport and reaction in porous media which can then serve as the basis for introducing more complex phenomena in future developments. This


Aluminum (Al) powder, a high energetic metal material, is common in processing factories of various Al products and bears a great danger of explosion [1, 2]. Experimental investigations of Al-gas detonation are rather difficult due to the requirements of large tubes and strong initiation sources, and experimental conditions are hard to control and reproduce as well due to dispersion problems of solid particle suspensions, which makes numerical simulation an important aspect of studying Al-gas detonations [3,4].


An inter-pattern association (IPA) neural network model is presented in which basic logical operations are used to determine the association among common and special features of reference patterns. Hetero- and auto-associative memory are synthesized by applying a generalized logical rule. Computer simulations for pattern recognition by using the IPA model have shown a better performance and a higher storage capacity than the Hopfield model. A 2-D adaptive optical neural network is used to perform parallel neurocomputations. Since the interconnection weight matrix for the IPA model has a tristate structure, the dynamic range imposed on a spatial light modulator is rather relaxed, and the interconnections are much simpler than for the Hopfield model.<<ETX>>


Star Schemas were first devised by Red Brick Systems [11] to speed up queries on data loaded from operational databases at intervals of about a day, with no updates between loads. Variant designs (allowing some updates) were adopted by Oracle [8,12], DB2 [1,7], Sybase IQ [14] and recently Vertica [13]. Dimension tables have relatively small numbers of rows compared to the fact table. The POS Transaction fact table of Figure 1 has nine columns, a total of 40 bytes, and disks on an inexpensive PC can contain a fact table of a few hundred gigabytes, or several billion rows, while the largest dimension table is usually Products, with up to a few million rows. (There are only a few thousand rows in Dates, Stores, etc.). As a result, practitioners commonly place a large number of descriptive columns in dimensions; most queries restrict these dimension columns, and combined joins from dimensions determine fact table rows retrieved. In the late 1980s, a query filter factor of about 1/300, selecting rows on about one disk page out of ten, led to a DB2 query plan that retrieved just the selected subset of disk pages; if more than one disk page in ten was selected, a sequential scan that retrieved all table pages gave better performance. Since that time, disk technology has sped up sequential scans about 35 times more than it has sped access to selected disk pages. A query filter factor of about 1/10,000 or less is now required to retrieve just the selected pages, so most Data Warehouse queries scan across hundreds of GB of the fact table. To improve performance, some form of clustering must limit query retrieval range on most queries. A form of clustering by several attributes at once was introduced in 2003 with IBM's Multi-dimensional Clustering (MDC) technology, explained in Section 2.2. MDC provides a powerful new tool, but does not directly solve the star schema access problem because the attributes typically used in queries on star schemas lie in dimension tables, not in the fact table as assumed by MDC. The fact table normally has just the foreign keys to the dimension tables, typically meaningless surrogate keys.


The long-term deposits product is often offered to prospective customers by the bank through telemarketing strategy. How to maximize customer value through telemarketing strategy is a major focus in this research. Therefore, required a model that can classify potential customers with the potential to increase corporate earnings. The Decision Tree (DT), Naïve Bayes (NB), Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbour (K-NN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Neural Network (NN), and Logistic Regression (LR) model have been proposed to compare. The comparison of these algorithms evaluated using the Protestal Bank dataset of the UCI Machine Learning repository, for performance algorithms using Area Under Curve (AUC) and Accuracy. From the experiment, the results show that SVM yield promising results with the Accuracy and AUC 97.07% and 0.925 respectively. It can be concluded that SVM is the best choice for classifying prospective customers who have the potential to be interested in time deposit products that are offered by telephone or cellular as distinguished from other classification algorithms.


Normal lung fibroblasts of the mouse, started in serial in vivo culture in January 1983, underwent transformation in June into a vigorously growing cell line that had a hypertriploid stemline and a hypertetraploid sideline. The stemline had new markers, some with additional C-bands, and double minutes (DM): the sideline had few markers and no DM. By the end of 1983, the stemline gradually lost all DM and acquired one long homogeneously staining region (HSR). A tumorigenicity test in August 1983 gave rise to a tumor that was subsequently carried in serial culture and studied in frequent fixations. The sojourn in the animal host had induced lasting effects on the chromosomes. The most conspicuous effect was total loss of sideline cells and consequent presence of DM in practically all cells. Three problems were taken up for discussion: (1) The unexpected formation of DM in a cell line of normal origin and without known selective pressure; (2) the elimination of all DM-less cells from the tumor, suggesting correlation between DM and tumor formation; and (3) the possibly stimulative action on cell viability of markers with extra C-bands, expressed in their tendency to accumulate in cell clones and stemlines.


This study investigates stress-cracking failure of polymer/clay composites. Tensile and stress relaxation tests were conducted to evaluate the stress cracking resistance of PET and PET/clay in the presence of sodium hydroxide aqueous solution. The X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the clay formed a typical structure of a microcomposite, and not an exfoliated structure. The presence of clay causes stress concentration, with a strong consequence to the stress cracking behavior, but the effects depend on the lamellar ordering and the content of clay. When the clay lamellae are less ordered the rise in stress concentration is lower, but causes more surface cracks on the polymer, suggesting that the barrier effect was not very effective. Molar mass measurements showed that the clay accelerates the chemical attack of the matrix when higher concentrations of NaOH are used, but reduces the effect of mechanical stress on degradation.


In this article, we present multiple-input receiver architecture for MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) wireless communication applications. The proposed implementation is provided by a defined number of identical receiver units that are fed by a RF modulated signal on specific carrier frequency, power strength and initial phase. These units carry out the corresponding amplification, filtering and demodulation procedures. Details on design and implementation of this Printed-Circuit-Board are introduced and further discussed. Experimental results are also presented, allowing the validation of investigation on the performance of the current receiver architecture. Besides, these measurements indicate that the proposed device, combining with a suitable antenna array, provides a versatile receiver platform for baseband signal processing. The incoming RF modulated signals have frequencies on the range of 2.4 GHz, several phases, magnitudes and modulation modes. From these, it seems that the proposed receiver implementation supports MIMO communication and multiple port channel characterization applications at 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band.


High-efficiency power amplifiers (PAs) will be critical building-blocks for future sub-THz communications systems. InP heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) with THz-class transistor bandwidth demonstrate PAs with high RF power density and high efficiency at frequencies between 100-300GHz. We review the performance of a state-of-the-art InP HBT IC technology and reported IC results that are applicable to future sub-THz communications systems.


This report updates the status of the coral reefs of the Northern Caribbean and Western Atlantic since 2004 and includes the following: The Bahamas; Bermuda; Cayman Islands; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Haiti; Jamaica; and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The reefs in the northern Caribbean have suffered significant declines since the 1970s from mass mortality due to the grazing sea urchin Diadema, new coral diseases, over-fishing and other human stresses, such as nutrient and sediment pollution and habitat destruction. Since 2004 the northern Caribbean has suffered from 12 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms in addition to coral bleaching resulting from elevated sea surface temperatures in 2005. More details and reference material are contained on the attached CD with this printed report. 17. status oF Coral reeFs in the northern CariBBean and western atlantiC gCrmn node in 2008


To analyze the DNA molecules of 12 strains of enterococcus faecalis. Cut DNA molecules of enterococcus faecalis to several fragments using Smal as restriction enzyme. Use the GENE NAVIGATOR SYSTEM - PULSED FIELD GEL ELECTROPHORESIS produced by Amersham pharmacia biotech to run the gel and to separate these DNA fragments with straight-lane. After analyzing and comparing we found the arrangement of DNA fragments of these 12 strains were different from each other. [Conclusion] These 12 E.faecalis strains had different origins in epidemiology.


Nanocarbons, which have been obtained by controlling the structure and bonding nature at the nanometer scale, can provide highly functional performances. Carbon nanotubes and vapor grown carbon fibers of diameter less than 100 nm can have quantum effects, which are very different from those of conventional carbon fibers. In this paper, preparation and properties of nanocarbon, are demonstrated and discussed.


The coming of age of "safety" indicators

Can safer practices—especially pertaining to medication use—be measured and analyzed within the existing paradigm of performance assessment in health care? More than 20 years of experience in performance measurement and evaluation, primarily through indicators, have built a path upon which the more controversial, challenging, and yet similar concepts of safe practices can indeed proceed. Whether descriptive and qualitative (organizational culture towards punishment when errors are identified1–3) or quantitative (use of successive measurement methods to build a performance profile4–6), safer practice is affected by the same latent confounders of performance measurement.

The latency of these confounders complicates identification of the explanatory factors regarding the safety of processes. Consequently, and with the recognition that many explanatory factors remain to be uncovered, the evaluation of safety faces at least the following challenges:

These challenges are also considered by Paton and Lelliott in their paper on the quality of prescribing for psychiatric inpatients in this issue of QSHC .7 They present critical first steps in addressing medication use and safety issues. Based on the findings of this paper, a few additional comments on the …


The problem of Lurie consists of finding necessary and suLfficient conditions for all solutions of the system {x'= Ax+bf(a), a'=cTx-rf(a)} to tend to zero as t-oo under appropriate conditions on the functions involved. When f(a)/a-0 as IaI-oo, we obtain NASC's for all solutions to be uniformly ultimately bounded.


One of the most important diseases of rubber tree is Corynespora Leaf Fall (CFL) disease, caused by Corynespora cassiicola fungus. The pathogen can attacks in all of rubber plant growth stages, lead to significant decrease of latex production and moreover it is causing plant death. Using resistant clones as a planting material is the most effective and economical way to prevent CLF disease. Therefore identification of resistant clones become the main strategy in the management of CLF disease. This study was aimed to identify the degree of resistance of the 50 selected genotypes IRRDB 1981 (PN'81) germplasm to CLF. The 6 clones of Wickham population were used as a control (BPM 24, BPM 1, GT 1, RRIC 600, PB 260 and RRIM 600). Four isolates of C.cassiicola (CC01, CC-20, CC-22, and CC-23) were inoculated to young leaves of B2C stage of growth independently, and the intensity of wilting leaves was calculated based on water losses estimation due to the pathogenicderived toxin activity. The results showed that 12 genotypes were highly resistant, 13 genotypes were resistant, 23 genotypes were susceptible and 8 genotypes were highly susceptible. The PN 451, PN 494 and PN 604 genotypes showed better survival rates against CLF compared Wickham population, therefore these genotypes might be potential to be used as a resistant gene source in the rubber breeding program.


This study aimed to evaluate the effect of forms of application of foliar fertilizers and fungicides to control fungus causing white maize spot, Phaeosphaeria maydis , and the growth and development of hybrids maize. The design had randomized blocks, with the use two sources hybrids maize with different reaction to white maize spot: resistant and susceptive and application with moisture of foliar chemical fungicide + cobalt foliar + molybdenum foliar + manganese and control treatment, without application consisting of four treatments and five replications. In the treatments with application of moisture were done on vegetative maize growth stage V8 (stage that determine that the number of kernel rows), VT (stage that arrives when the last branch of the tassel is completely visible) and reproductive maize growth stage R2 (kernels are white on the outside and resemble a blister). The evaluation of variables of growth of maize plants: grain dry mass, cob dry mass, leaf dry mass, culm dry mass and modificated leaf ear and total plant dry mass. Harvest was carried out when the grains were 20% humidity. The application of fungicides and foliar fertilizers increased the leaves, culm, ear modificated, cobs and shoot dry mass plants maize. The application of fungicides and foliar fertilizers providing returning of 11.409,5 kg ha -1 of shoot dry mass plants with increased of 1.296 kg ha -1 on soil(12,81%). In the susceptive hybrid maize the application of fungicides and foliar fertilizers provide higher dry mass grains and shoot of plants.


We wish to report an improved, general synthesis of 4-aryl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylates 1. Two different routes have previously been reported for the synthesis of examples of this class of pyrimidine carboxylates. The parent compound, ethyl 4-phenyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylate was prepared in low yield by the reaction of s-triazine with ethyl benzoyl acetate. In addition, the enol ether β-ketoaldehyde synthon, ethyl 2-benzoyl-3-ethoxy-2-propenoate, was reported to give 1a in modest yield when reacted with guanidine (2).