Background: The negative impact of COVID-19 in patients with ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) and patients on rituximab (RTX) treatment have been reported (1). Risk factors for severe course of COVID-19 and increased mortality in these patients are unclear. Objectives: To evaluate the course of COVID-19 in our AAV cohort and identifying risk factors for mortality. Methods: Patients with AAV who were classified according to CHCC and whose scheduled last visit were after December 2019 were screened and evaluated for COVID-19 either by phone call or in the clinic. Records of patients with a history of hospital admission due to COVID-19 were evaluated. Cumulative clinical findings and treatment history were noted. Hypogammaglobulinemia (hIgG) was defined as IgG level below 700 mg/dl. All inpatients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were screened for hIgG and IVIG was administered if necessary. Results: Eighty-nine patients (47.2% female, mean age 56 + 12.5 (28-81)) were included into the study. The diagnosis was GPA in 56 (62.9%) and MPA in 33 (37.1%) patients. Mean follow up time was 91 + 53.4 (26-272) months. Anti-PR3 and anti-MPO were positive in 46 (51.7%) and 32 (35.9%) patients, respectively. Lower respiratory tract (LRT) involvement was present in 72 (80.9%) and 10 patients had a history of diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH). Sixty-one patients (68.2%) had a history of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) and 21 (23.6%) had peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement. Fifteen (16.9%) patients had COVID-19;14 of them were PCR positive, one patient had symptoms and thorax CT findings compatible with COVID-19. Pulmonary infiltrates were observed in 13 patients (86.7%);9 (60%) had severe pneumonia. Twelve patients (85.7%) were hospitalized, 6 patients (42.9%) needed ICU admission and 5 patients (35.7%) died. Tocilizumab and anakinra for hyperinflammation during COVID-19 were used in 1 (6.7%) and 4 (26.7%) patients, respectively. Four out of five deceased patients (3 on RTX treatment, 1 with renal transplant) were in remission at the time of COVID-19. COVID-19 was detected in a patient with disease flare and DAH, during treatment with high dose steroids and plasmapheresis. hIgG was detected in all deceased patients from COVID-19 during hospital admission (mean IgG: 495±113.2 mg/dL). Symptomatic COVID-19 was more frequent in patients with a history of DAH, RPGN and hIgG. hIgG during the follow-up was significantly associated with COVID-19 in multivariable analysis (p=0.01, OR=20,6 %95 CI (2-210). Comparison of patients who died of COVID-19 and survived showed that female sex, PNS involvement and hIgG during the clinical course and hospital admission were risk factors for increased mortality (Table 1). Age, smoking, treatments, history of flares or serious infections, remission status and chronic renal insufficiency did not differ between groups. Conclusion: The frequency and mortality from COVID-19 is found to be high in our AAV cohort compared to previous reports (1). Patients with serious lung or renal involvement are prone to symptomatic COVID-19. Previously reported severe outcomes on RTX therapy might be related to consequent hIgG. High dose IVIG treatment may not be sufficient in improving survival in AAV patients with severe COVID-19 and hIgG.


Since the quality of frozen sperm of giant panda is at a low level and it influences the outcome of artificial insemination,a study on using different methods to improve the rates of the frozen sperm's motility and acrosome integrity of the giant panda has been done in this paper.The results show:(1)Supplementing 1mg/ml of vitamin B12 in the cryopreservation medium elevates the intact acrosome rate from 76.66% to 83.34%(P 0.05);(2)Using four mediums produced by U.S.Hyclone Inc.(M199 and Ham's F·10)and Irving Scientific Inc.(two type of Ham's F-10,catalog No.168 and 175)with supplementary of 5% FBS to thaw frozen sperm,Ham's F-10(catalog No.175,Irving Scientific Inc.)obviously enhances the motility to 74.7%±2.706,and SOP to 3±0.82(P0.05);(3)Supplementing higher concentration of BSA can influence motility of sperm(P0.05);(4)Heparin does not effect the motility of the frozen sperm(P0.05).


In principle, the effect of both atmospheric and technical electricity on the organism is the same. On passing through the tissues, the current is liable to destroy cells both by heat and electrolysis. I t can also cause powerful muscular contractions, and hinder or disturb the functioning of every vital centre or organ on its way. The injurious effect of an electric current depends above all on its power i. e. the number of amperes. The fatal number lies between 0.05-1.0 A. AcE (tension in volts) cording to Ohm's law, I (power of current in amperes) = R (resistance in ohms) The resistance in an adult mainly in the skin lies between 1,000-5,000 ohms. But moist skin and wet footwear can reduce it to 300 ohms (Loftus 1957). Under such circumstances, a current as small as 110-120 V can kill. Voltages between 500 and 4,000 V are the most dangerous for human life. On the other hand, very high voltages only cause serious burns. As a rule, the lower the skin resistance, the more serious are the internal injuries and viceversa. And the higher the skin resistance, the more severe the external damage. In discharges of atmospherical electricity, voltages vary greatly. For instance, a streak of lightning 2 km long produces 50-100 million volts. Local lesions include ramified lightning patterns on the skin that quickly disappear, and also necrotic areas. Convulsions, loss of consciousness and disturbances of the respiration and heart function are regarded as general symptoms. If death ensues, it is due to paralysis of the respiratory centre (re-


Indian Leather Industry occupies a place of prominence in the Indian economy in view of its massive potential for employment, growth and exports. India has well proven itself as a potential sourcing destination for Leather product especially Saddlery and Harness. Though India is positioned as the 3rd largest exporter of Saddlery and Harness in the world, India accounts for a share of less than 10% in the global Saddlery and Harness import and hence there is a huge scope to enhance exports and increase the market share. The author believes that an explanation of the challenges faced by Indian Leather Industry in exports of Saddlery and Harness would enrich our understanding of complexity in business. *Corresponding author: Mohamed Rafiuddin, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India, Tel: +91-422-2428356; E-mail: email@example.com Received October 10, 2018; Accepted October 29, 2018; Published November 10, 2018 Citation: Rafiuddin M, Satyanarayana G (2018) India's Saddlery and Harness Sector: Exports and Its Challenges. Ind Eng Manage 7: 271. doi:10.4172/21690316.1000271 Copyright: © 2018 Rafiuddin M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


This paper makes research on lithologic character association,sedimentary facies and sedimentary structure of the Paleogene in the Kuqa depression,Tarim basin based on profile and logging data.The research indicates that the Kuqa depression in the Paleogene was in a fluvial-lacustrine environment.The sedimentary pattern was controlled by tectonism,fluctuation of sea level,climate and provenance.Sedimentation in the Kuqa depression in the Paleogene may be divided into 2 stages.


Agents face challenges to achieve adaptability and stability when interacting with dynamic counterparts in a complex multiagent system (MAS). To strike a balance between these two goals, this paper proposes a learning algorithm for heterogeneous agents with bounded rationality. It integrates reinforcement learning as well as fictitious play to evaluate the historical information and adopt mechanisms in evolutionary game to adapt to uncertainty, which is referred to as experience weighted learning (EWL) in this paper. We have conducted multiagent simulations to test the performance of EWL in various games. The results demonstrate that the average payoff of EWL exceeds that of the baseline in all 4 games. In addition, we find that most of the EWL agents converge to pure strategy and become stable finally. Furthermore, we test the impact of 2 import parameters, respectively. The results show that the performance of EWL is quite stable and there is a potential to improve its performance by parameter optimization.


The stoichiometry of the polyanions formed by the action of nitric acid on sodium tungstate(≤ 0.01M) has been studied by means of electrometric techniques involving pH-potentiometric andconductometric titrations. The well defined inflections and breaks in the titration curves provideevidence for the existence of the polyanions, para-W 12 O 4110- and meta-W 12 O 396- corresponding to theratio of H + :WO 42- as 7:6 and 9:6 in the pH ranges 5.7-6.0 and 3.6-4.1, respectively. The interaction oflanthanum nitrate with sodium tungstate solutions, at specific pH levels 8.0, 5.9 and 4.0 was alsostudied by pH and conductometric titrations, in aqueous and alcoholic media, with each of the reagentsalternatively used as titrant. The electrometric experiments provide definite evidence of the formationof normal-La 2 O 3 .3WO 3 , para-5La 2 O 3 .36WO 3 and meta-La 2 O 3 .12WO 3 tungstates in the vicinity of pH6.3, 5.0 and 4.2, respectively. Analytical investigations on the precipitates formed confirm the resultsof the electrometric study.


E-learning is a big pace in education and has a significant role in instruction of students in higher education. Plagiarism is one of the most serious challenges for lecturers to detect; several techniques and algorithms are exist that try to solve this problem or mitigate the bad effect of it. In this research, a comprehensive overview about e-learning focusing on plagiarism is introduced, and presenting an efficient algorithm for detecting plagiarism. Text Matching is the basic of the proposed algorithm; it analyzes texts and searches for matches, not just looking for what in common. When applying the proposed algorithm on two files containing questions and answers. Results show that the algorithm can detect fair and real matching between text files even when the files are including the questions themselves


The present invention relates to a sensor element (10) and Preparation of a body fluid for the electrochemical process. The present invention proposes, the conductive layer structure (14) is applied to the non-conductive carrier substrate (12), wherein the structure layer (14) has a continuous base layer formed from tantalum or niobium or an alloy thereof (26) and Construction and completely or partially covers the metal covering layer (28) living in the base layer (26), and wherein the comparison to the base layer (26) of the cover layer (28) formed of a more noble metal.


We show that germline‐specific proteins, olvas (vasa), nanos, and tdrd1 (tudor), alter their localization in the cytoplasm during germline development in the medaka (Oryzias latipes). By immunohistochemical analysis, these three germline‐specific proteins were detectable on granule‐like structures in the cytoplasm of migrating primordial germ cells. In the germ cells of the gonadal primordia, these granules formed a hollow area lacking these three protein components. During the sexual differentiation of the female gonads, the granules were found to be reduced in size in the germ cells undergoing cystic division and they showed a perinuclear localization in the oocytes. However, the germ cells in the male gonads retained their hollow granules during this early sex differentiation stage. We further demonstrate the differential localization of olvas, nanos, and tdrd1 on these granules during medaka germline development. Developmental Dynamics 237:800–807, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


One of the many concerns for parents of young children and caregivers of geriatric patients is the potential for scalds. Skin tissue can be thinner and more susceptible to scalds, and the accidental spilling of hot soups can be a common source of burns. The type of soup, however, may not elicit any such misgivings. Here, we elucidate the effects of reduced skin thickness on the severity of soup burns. In particular, we compare the two most popular types of soups (tomato and chicken noodle) along with hot water, to identify the roles that the viscosity and solid constituents in these different soups may play in the severity of the burn. We find that the more solid constituents in the chicken noodle soup, in particular, prevents the soup from flowing from the skin, which increases the time of exposure to elevated temperatures, and therefore increases the severity of the burn.


Introduction Intestinal resection with lymph node dissection is the current standard treatment for high-risk lower rectal submucosal invasive cancer after local resection; however, surgery affects patients' quality of life due to stoma placement or impaired anal sphincter function. A recent study demonstrated that adjuvant chemoradiation yields promising results. Methods and analysis This study aims to confirm the non-inferiority of adjuvant chemoradiation, consisting of capecitabine and concurrent radiotherapy (45 Gy in 25 fractions), measured by 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS), over standard surgery in patients with high-risk lower rectal submucosal invasive cancer after local resection. The primary endpoint is 5 year RFS. The secondary endpoints are 10 years RFS, 5-year and 10-year overall survival, 5-year and 10-year local RFS, 5-year and 10-year proportion of anus-preservation without stoma, Wexner score, low anterior resection syndrome score, adverse events and serious adverse events. During the 5-year trial period, 210 patients will be accrued from 65 Japanese institutions. Ethics and dissemination The National Cancer Center Hospital East Certified Review Board approved this study protocol in October 2018. The study is conducted in accordance with the precepts established in the Declaration of Helsinki and Clinical Trials Act. Written informed consent will be obtained from all eligible patients prior to registration. The primary results of this study will be published in an English article. In addition, the main results will be published on the websites of Japan Clinical Oncology Group (www.jcog.jp) and jRCT (https://jrct.niph.go.jp/). As to data curation, it has not been prepared yet. Trial registration number jRCT1031180076


The invention relates to a control system, in particular to a control system of site work states of a switch cabinet. The control system comprises a switch cabinet unit, a controller area network (CAN) bus, a CAN bus control module, a microprogrammed control unit (MCU), an ethernet network control module and a long-distance master control room, the CAN bus comprises a high controller area network (CANH) connecting line and a low controller area network (CANL) connecting line, one end of the CAN bus control module is respectively connected with the CAN bus through the CANH connecting line and the CANL connecting line, the CAN bus is respectively connected with the switch cabinet unit through the CANH connecting line and the CANL connecting line, the other end of the CAN bus control module is connected with the MCU through an input/out put (I/O) port, the MCU is connected with the ethernet network control module through the I/O port, and the ethernet network control module is connected with the long-distance master control room through a network interface. The control system is based on a networking protocol to achieve a purpose of controlling the switch cabinet in a long distance, overcomes defects of the CAN bus on transmission distance and transmission rate, and improves expandability and flexibility of a system.


LBNL-44350 IT U R L L A W R :n L E T L a i Reducing Mortality from Terrorist Releases of Chemical and Biological Agents: I. Filtration for Ventilation Systems in Commercial Buildings Tracy L. Thatcher and Joan M. Daisey Environmental Energy- Technologies Division September 1999 s TD O CO C D O O C I o o m -n m fi) TP in m z z O m CO r+ o m fD r+ o o Z o-- 'r+ • O m er DJ D) o S r+ !• fD T> O O


Objective: To identify the risk factors for infants who die suddenly and unexpectedly, but whose deaths are not related to prone position, or having the head covered.


The Suzuki–Miyaura reaction is one of the most interesting coupling schemes and is widely used in industrial applications. The catalytic cycle of Suzuki–Miyaura coupling has been investigated using N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. Detailed analysis of the effect of the NHC ligand points out that bulky groups can promote the reaction in two different ways. First, the bulkiness of the NHC groups can cause steric repulsion in the precursor Pd complexes, which triggers the reaction toward the active Pd(0) compound. Second, in the oxidative addition step, favorable intramolecular π–π and C–H/π interactions between the aryl-chloride reagent and the bulky groups of NHC can decrease the rate determining activation barrier, which can explain previous surprising experimental results. On the basis of our results, we show how appropriate substituents can be designed to promote the key step of catalytic reactions.


An approach is proposed to forecast lumpy spare parts demand associated with non-routine aircraft maintenance based on a stochastic model. The model assumes demand arrival in the form of a Homogeneous Poisson Process (HPP). The developed model is applied to a dataset from an aircraft maintenance operator consisting of lumpy spare parts demand for nine Line Replacable Units (LRUs) from a shared customer pool of parts, which are associated with significant repair turnaround time delays. To meet the operator's service level requirements and associated stocking strategy, the model is evaluated for its capacity to forecast peak demand, rather than its capacity to minimize forecasting error. Under these terms, the proposed model outperforms the existing company approach.


Student-directed projects are a promising approach to supporting powerful learning, yet uncertainty about how to assess these projects presents a barrier to widespread incorporation in K-12 classrooms. Drawing on interviews with computer science teachers and an interdisciplinary literature review, Karen Brennan, Sarah Blum-Smith, and Paulina Haduong offer four principles to guide assessment of student-directed projects: recognizing the individuality of the learner, illuminating process, engaging multiple perspectives, and cultivating capacity for personal judgment. They describe the research behind these principles and provide and example of what they look like in practice.


Recent legislative and social pressures have driven manufacturers to consider effective part reuse and material recycling at the end of product life at the design stage. One of the key considerations is to design and use joints that can disengage with minimum labor, part damage, and material contamination. This paper presents a unified method to design a high-stiffness reversible locator-snap system that can disengage nondestructively with localized heat, and its application to external product enclosures of electrical appliances. The design problem is posed as an optimization problem to find the locations, numbers, and orientations of locators and snaps as well as the number, locations, and sizes of heating areas, which realize the release of snaps with minimum heating area and maximum stiffness while satisfying any motion and structural requirements. The screw theory is utilized to precalculate a set of feasible orientations of locators and snaps, which are examined during optimization. The optimization problem is solved using the multi-objective genetic algorithm coupled with the structural and thermal finite element analysis. The method is applied to a two-piece enclosure of a DVD player with a T-shaped mating line. The resulting Pareto-optimal solutions exhibit alternative designs with different trade-offs between the structural stiffness during snap engagement and the area of heating for snap disengagement. Some results require the heating of two areas at the same time, demonstrating the idea of a lock-and-key.


Figure 1 – Schematic depiction of hippocampal structure and function from a tissue to synaptic level. (A) Simplified sagittal illustration of the rodent brain, showing the relevant positioning of one hippocampi relative to the rest of the brain. (B) Simplified illustration of a cross-sectional slice of the hippocampus showing the tri-synaptic circuitry involved in communicating information to and from the Entorhinal cortex (EC). The primary route of communication is via the perforant pathway, with the medial perforant pathway (MPP) illustrated here, projecting to both the cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) pyramidal neurons, directly, and to the granule cells of the dentate gyrus, in an en passant fashion. These granule cells also project to the CA3 pyramidal neurons via their axons, the mossy fibers (MF). The CA3 neurons project to the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) pyramidal neurons via their schaffer collateral (SC) axons. Lastly, the CA1 pyramidal neurons project efferently from the hippocampus to the subiculum, which projects to the EC. (C) Basic Illustration of the cellular process behind long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) at the synaptic level (Fontaine et al., 2016). In comparison with baseline neurotransmission, LTP elicits stronger excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) while LTD elicits weaker EPSPs. LTP and LTD is also commonly associated with the recycling of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors to and from the post-synaptic membrane surface as a function calcium concentrations fluxed by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in DG and CA1 neurons. Pre-natal ethanol exposure (PAE) is thought to affect LTP and LTD by acting as a NMDAR antagonist at these synapses.


Numerical computations are carried out for different length: draught ratios for the two kinds of ships-flat-bottomed and full-bodied. The graphs show that for the flat-bottomed ship the wave resistance is greater as expected. One numerical table and the graphs also reveal some interesting features of the differences in wave resistance co-efficient for the two types of ships. These features are discussed.


A silver(I) complex with succinic acid in the form of succinate is presented. Chemical characterization confirms the molecular composition Ag 2 C 4 H 4 O 4 for the complex. Infrared spectra suggest a bidentate coordination of both carboxylate groups of succinates to the two Ag(I) ions. Density functional theory (DFT) studies were used in the structures of succinic acid and Ag(I) succinate complex with coordination formula [Ag 2 (C 4 H 4 O 4 )] in order to optimize them to their minimum energy. The studies confirmed that each carboxylate group of the succinate anion is coordinated to one silver atom by the two oxygen in a bidentate mode and the bond lengths O···Ag theoretically determined range from 2.325 to 2.338 A. The complex [Ag 2 (C 4 H 4 O 4 )] showed in vitro antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa complex. Anti- Mycobacterium tuberculosis analyses were also performed and the [Ag 2 (C 4 H 4 O 4 )] complex was shown to be active over M. tuberculosis H 37 Rv strain with MIC 90 of 23.94 μg mL -1 while succinic acid itself showed a value higher than 25.00 μg mL -1 .


The invention discloses a method for preparing composite photocatalyst containing activated carbon coating. In the method, activated carbon as coating is attached on foam material matrix, so that activated carbon coating material is formed, the activated carbon coating material is used as carrier to carry titanium dioxide, wherein the titanium dioxide as an active component is 1 percent to 10 percent by weight, the activated carbon coating is 4 percent to 15 percent by weight, and the balance is the foam material matrix. Since the method uses the activated carbon coating as photocatalyst carrier, the dispersibility of the titanium dioxide as an active component can be effectively enhanced, the defects of the traditional activated carbon material, including loose structure and low strength, are overcome, the transmission of light in a system is improved, the process of transferring pollutant to the catalyst surface is improved, and moreover, the service life of activated carbon can be greatly prolonged.


The present invention relates to an optical disk reproducing apparatus, the optical pickup unit, and a signal processor for extracting streams from a signal gave read through an optical pickup, a demultiplexer separating and outputting the stream input from the signal processing unit by the data, and an audio decoder section for decoding the audio data received from the demultiplexer, OSD processing unit and the audio / video decoder and the OSD processor for the video decoder section for decoding the video data received from the demultiplexer, it processes the OSD data from the de-multiplexer control in the optical disk reproducing apparatus including the control unit executes the application when the content view request signal, and the application program; the output section, and a control unit for controlling the overall device, and outputting the data processed through under according to the user's input Reading a necessary metadata file for playback control of the LA content, based on the access information on the media data included in the metadata file to access the MPEG still images required for reproduction and output in the video decoder, the graphic data is the OSD processing unit to control so as to output to the features.


Objective: To improve the status of the elderly and clinical features of thyroid function knowledge to provide guidance on the treatment of elderly patients with thyroid and evaluated. Methods: 190 cases meet diagnostic criteria for thyroid disease in elderly patients with radioimmunoassay of thyroid function and clinical analyzed. Results: Elderly patients with abnormal thyroid function in T3, FT3 abnormal, ALb the most common abnormality, and thyroid abnormalities in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and respiratory diseases based, and serum T4, FT4 levels abnormal small. Conclusion: Severe chronic wasting disease can indirectly affect the thyroid function, mainly in the T3, FT3 decreased; thyroid function, a clear reason for the occurrence of disease, so that timely treatment and improve quality of life of elderly patients.


Ouyang Xiu and Lv Xiaqing proposed to compile historical records guided by spring and autumn writing method (with a style of writing in which sublime words with deep meaning are used).Their different attitudes towards Chun Qiu and the three explanatory works led to their different application of the spring and autumn writing method,which exerted far-reaching influence upon the development of Historiography.


The industrial operation for the resources of the Three Represents Theory,which is the unprecedented first time in the history of human development,is the most important strategic resources of both theory and practice to build a harmonious socialist society.It will fire a new industrial revolution and a marketing revolution.It will surely help to establish the new millennium pole for our country and even the whole world to develop the harmonious economy.In the article,the necessity,the feasibility and the operation system of the industrial operation of the Three Represents Theory resources have been presented and discussed systematically for the first time.


William James' investigation of religious experience neglected consideration of immortality. This was likely because, as James saw it, belief in personal immortality often engenders what can be called spiritual provincialism. In Human Immortality: Two Supposed Objections to the Doctrine (1897/1979), James brings up the phenomenon of psychological overload that occurs when an individual considers the immense numbers of humans who would inhabit Heaven if spiritual merit were determined democratically. Consideration of James' example shows the beginnings of his pragmatic notion of immortality, one that is influenced by the religious philosophy of Henry James, Sr., and which focuses on the undeniable connections among people on earth rather than the immutable persistence of individual souls in Heaven. Those who have considered the implications of James' notion of immortality as it relates to the notion of worldly embeddedness include French writer Romain Rolland, who, inspired in part by the work of James, advocates a socialistic religious philosophy. With reference to Rolland and the elder James, as well as contemporary Christian pragmatist Cornel West, James' view can be more clearly understood.


This study aims to evaluate if immunostimulatory gene therapy is a good enhancer of checkpoint blockade therapy. Lung cancer is a deadly disease responding poorly to conventional therapy. Checkpoint blockade antibodies inhibiting PD-1/PD-L1 signaling have shown significant clinical benefit. Nevertheless, there is still room for improving overall survival rates. Since the success of PD-1 blockade therapy prerequisites the presence of tumor-reactive T cells, we hypothesized that an activating immunotherapy with high potency to stimulate T cell responses would be an ideal candidate to combine with anti-PD-1 antibody treatment. LOAd703 is a replication-restricted adenovirus serotype 5/35. It is armed with two immunostimulatory transgenes, 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) and a trimerized, membrane-bound human CD40 ligand (TMZ-CD40L) (PCT/EP2015/057489). Both molecules are key co-stimulatory molecules in the dendritic cell (DC)/T cell synapse. The capacity of LOAd703 was tested using the lung cancer cell lines A549 and H727. Infected tumor cells were killed by oncolysis in a 72hr MTS viability assay with high dose virus (100MOI) which also translated into tumor control in a xenograft mouse model. In tumor cell co-culture with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (Incucyte), the PBMCs were rapidly tolerized by the tumor microenvironment and did not proliferate, nor kill, the allogeneic tumor. Addition of anti-PD-1 antibody did not increase tumor cell apoptosis as a monotherapy. If OKT3/IL2 was added to the co-culture, apoptosis was confirmed in the cultures peaking at day 5. Combination of OKT3/IL2 with anti-PD-1 antibody significantly enhanced the effect. LOAd703 was added to tumor cell/PBMC co-cultures at a low MOI to delay oncolysis but allow transgene expression. LOAd703 rapidly induced caspase activation in the tumor cells, starting already at day 2 and the activity was continuously rising throughout the experiment. Combining LOAd703 with anti-PD-1 antibody significantly increased apoptosis induction of tumor cells. A control virus lacking immunostimulatory transgenes was less efficient. At endpoint, LOAd703 plus anti-PD-1 was twice as effective as OKT3/IL2 plus anti-PD-1. Immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and supernatants taken for cytokine analysis. The T cells were increased in the same groups as tumor cell killing was previously noted. IFNg, TNF, IL2 were all enhanced by LOAd703 and OKT3/IL2. The LOAd703 virus does not infect murine cells since it targets human CD46. However, murine B cells can take up the virus by another route albeit with poor efficacy. Nevertheless, the murine A20 B cell lymphoma was used as a surrogate syngeneic model to test the ability of LOAd703 to potentiate aPD-1 therapy. In line with in vitro data, LOAd703 could enhance in vivo tumor control of anti-PD-1 therapy. IFNg and TNF were enhanced in serum of combination animals. In conclusion, LOAd703 is a potent stimulator of T cell responses and potentiates the effect of aPD-1 therapy. LOAd703 is currently in clinical phase I investigation prior initiating combination studies in suitable indications such as lung cancer. Citation Format: Jessica Wenthe, Emma Eriksson, Ann-Charlotte Hellstrom, Angelica Loskog. Immunostimulatory gene therapy enhances PD-1 blockade antibody therapy in experimental lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2017 Oct 1-4; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2018;6(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B07.


Background: Disasters are unpredictable events that kill and affect people, demolish properties and disrupt environment. During such events, nurses play a vital role in dealing with the victims. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge of nurses toward the emergencies and disasters preparedness of the community; and also, determine the relationship between the knowledge of the participants and their related socio-demographic data. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study used assessment approach with questionnaire items was conducted at AL-Hashimiyah General Hospital in Babylon Province for the periods of September 15 2020 to September 3


As a cultural movement, globalization has presented the differences that tear do wn the totality and unity of values and beliefs .Global culture is characterized by the integration of local culture into the global order.  Accordingly ,various foreign cultural values become the bases of the formation of sub-culture that stands alone with the freedom of expression. As a cultural movement, it brings the differences that under mine the totality and the unity of values and religious beliefs. This climate conduci ve to these different ways of life and then spawns a widespread individualization process, which turns man away from the general context. This massive shift can be seen in the so-called "privatization of religion", the process of individualization in the appreciation and religious practices. Revitalization of religion is needed to restore the basic values of religion that have been secularized. Religion must come back as a legitimate sovereign social values and piety . This sovereignty of religion should be structured as a strategy for revitalizing religion in the lives of individuals and social piety .  Thus,religion as a sovereign authority regulates individual piety personally and socially .However, the sovereignty of religion should give a wide freedom for individuals to perform the function of religion in accordance with the present context.


Today's government accountants find themselves confronted with varying, and sometimes conflicting, continuing professional education requirements necessary to maintain their professional licenses and certifications. For example, most states now require CPAs to complete 80 hours of continuing professional education every two years in order to renew their licenses to practice public accounting. And, for governmental auditors, including those CPAs who audit governmental entities, the US General Accounting Office also requires 80 hours of CPE every two years, but specifies that 24 of those 80 hours be in subjects "directly related" to the government environment and to government auditing. The Association of Government Accountant's Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) designation also requires 80 hours biennially of continuing professional education and training. However, in order for government accountants to maintain their professional certifications as CGFMs,the subject matter for all 80 hours must be in government financial management or related technical topics. For many government accountants and government financial managers, it may be difficult to identify or locate courses that will satisfy this specific requirement. Consequently, it may be wise for them to consider other options aside from trying to take traditional CPE courses. One alternative that should be explored is pursuing an advanced or graduate degree from a college or university in a field relating to government financial management. The decision to embark on a graduate program requires careful consideration by each prospective student. Benefits include more professional and career enhancement opportunities as well as job enrichment. Because of the tremendous commitment that must be made to graduate school, the ultimate decision to pursue graduate study should be based on these and other factors and should not be based solely on the need to find an alternative to fulfilling the myriad of CPE requirements. One possibility for government accountants and government financial managers to consider is pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from a nationally accredited college or university that offers a concentration in public finance, public budgeting and/or financial management. The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), an institutional membership organization that exists to promote excellence in public service education, publishes a biennial Directory of Programs of member organizations that have received NASPAA accreditation. Included in its 1996 Directory of Programs is a listing of 97 colleges and universities that offer graduate degrees, mainly the MPA degree, with a concentration in public finance and budgeting. This fall, Rutgers University, through its Graduate School of Management, and in conjunction with its Graduate Programs in Public Administration, will begin offering a Master of Accountancy degree (known as the MACCY degree) in Governmental Accounting. Essentially, it is an interdisciplinary, 30 credit professional Master's Degree program, consisting of five MPA courses and five Master of Business Administration (MBA) courses in accounting. The program is open to candidates who hold a Bachelor's Degree, preferably in business, economics or accounting. It is a challenging program that integrates core courses in governmental accounting, budgeting, public sector auditing, information systems technology and public financial management with electives such as municipal finance administration and management control in nonprofit organizations. The 30 credit format was chosen in part because of the new 150-hour requirementfacing undergraduate accounting students in most states. In addition to government accountants, auditors and CPAs practicing in the government sector, this program is especially suited to prospective CPAs. For example, beginning in 2000, candidates will need to satisfy an additional 30 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination in New Jersey. …


There usually is the problem of the late effect of making bubbles in emulsion explosive when people adopt the way of making bubbles to sensitize emulsion explosive by chemical reaction in production, and there is bad influence in product quality. In this paper, a way is given to overcome the problem of the late effect of making bubbles, and theoretically analyze and prove that the way is practically possible by practicing in production. Then we adjust the productive technique in order to solve the problem of the late effect and to improve the product quality, and get a perfect result in production .


ABSTRACT Narratives of adventure constitute a well-established convention of describing travel experiences, yet the significance of this narrative genre in individuals' accounts of their migration and life abroad has been little investigated. Drawing on Simmel and Bakhtin, among others, this article analyses how Caribbean immigrants in Denmark present themselves through narratives of adventure as travellers of the world eager to experience different cultures and societies. In this way they assert themselves as actors within a global arena in contrast to a Denmark that, like many other nations in the global north, presents itself today as increasingly inward oriented and anxious to protect the local culture and society against foreign intruders. It is suggested that ethnographic analysis of migrants' narrative self-representation in receiving societies can offer new insights into migrants as acting and reflecting subjects at a time when many societies display growing scepticism towards people on the move.


To limit human contact with contaminated waters, fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are used to evaluate risk of illness from recreational bathing at beaches. Enterococci are one of the most commonly used bacteria for confirmation of sewage presence in recreational water bodies. Recent studies at a subtropical non-point source beaches have identified the intertidal zone as a potential alternative source of FIBs; thus encouraging further experiments to obtain a better understanding of the behavior of FIBs, particularly enterococci, within the intertidal zone. Such experiments can aid in improved regulations and monitoring practices. This study evaluated enterococci behavior in simulated intertidal sand and ditch environments. The focus of the study was to determine whether there is die-off, persistence, or increases of cultural enterococci under saturated and unsaturated conditions in the beach environment. By utilizing a combination of experiments, the relationship of enterococci survival was evaluated. Results exhibited a constant die off of enterococci in all simulated ditch environments. Sand experiments showed an increase in enterococci concentration in dry sand after wetting events, however these were not statistically significant due to the limited number of samples (p=0.33, p=0.20 and p=0.14 respectively). All sand experiments showed a statistically significant difference between enterococci concentration variance in dry sand after simulated wetting (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, p=0.0005 respectively). No significant change in enterococci die-off rates were observed in sand from both intertidal and ditch zones. Further studies are necessary to establish correlations and statistical significance of the change in concentration of enterococci in dry sand after wetting events.


Objective To explore the clinical application of laparoscopic splenectomy in treatment of spleen disease at our hospital.Methods We reviewed laparoscopic splenectomy carried out at our hospital since 1995,patients were grouped by date.63 laparoscopic splenectomies were divided into six groups.Operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative hospital stay,time to feeding,days of drainage,amount of drainage,postoperative complications and indications for surgery were compared.Results Patient's age averaged at 44.19 years,body mass index averaged at 23.75,3 patients were converted to open surgery.Mean operating time,blood loss,postoperative hospital stay,time to feeding,converting rate in the 53 cases which had the surgery after 2003 were much better than the 10 cases before 2003.Surgical indications for laparoscopic splenectomy were limited to hematopoietic disease related splemegaly before 2003,the indication range significantly expanded after 2003,during which laparoscopic splenectomy were mainly applied to treat spleen tumors.Conclusions There is a marked learning curve in laparoscopic splenectomy after 10 surgeries before 2003 we have achieved the level.With the suitable approach,apparatus and skillful technique,laparoscopic splenectomy is safe and feasible to treat tumors of the spleen.

Key words:
Splenic neoplasms ;  Hematologic diseases ;  Laparoscopy ;  Splenectomy


A wide wavelength tuning of an external cavity quantum-cascade laser (QCL) based on the anticrossed dual-upper-state to multiple-lower-state design is demonstrated in continuous wave (cw) operation at room temperature. The tuning ranges of 321 cm-1 (Δλ/λ∼22%) in pulsed operation and 248 cm-1 (Δλ/λ∼17%) in cw operation are achieved, despite employment of the active region with translational symmetry. The present tuning range in cw operation substantially exceeds the values obtained with the QCLs based on conventional broadband active region designs. In addition, the continuous, single mode tuning is realized with its widely homogeneous gain spectrum.


▸ Unmet health care needs and insufficient health insurance coverage still exist among European elders and vary widely across countries ▸ Insufficient access and lack of insurance coverage are most prevalent in poorer countries with low health care expenditures and in countries with large income inequalities ▸ Health insurance coverage and access to care are socially graded within almost all countries and may contribute to social inequalities in health status


Neuraminic acid (sialic acid), which is a component of the glyco-proteins and lipo-proteins together with hexosamine, hexose and fucose, occurs in the serum proteins of the blood exclusively in the form of acetyl compound. According to Haddad and Becker (1961), the sialic acids occur in various tissues of the human eye. In the aqueous humour the concentration, as percentage of the serum is 6.0. In the other tissues they triplicate in the adult in comparison with the child: form 0.41 to 1.40 pMol/gr wet tissue, according to Haddud (1964). The same Author (1962) demonstrated that an increase of the sialic acid concentration also occurs in the lens in the course of a senile cataract, proportionally to the loss of transparency. An analogous behaviour was previously placed in evidence for the total hexosamine of the lens by Aztricchio and 7esta (1959). In the lenses from patients with incomplete senile cataract they obtained the mean values shown in table I. This means that glyco-proteins increase in the lens during the cataractogenesis; a change in the chemical composition of these glyco-proteins is not yet demonstrated. Tesla and Delogu (1961) have shown that hexosamine content in the serum of normal and cataractous subjects is not influenced by the presence of the senile cataract (see table 11). Daniele und Bocci (1964) studied the electrophoretic pattern of the serum glyco-proteins in the course of senile cataract concluding that the distribution values of the fractions did not show difference when comparing cataratous and normal subjects of the same mean age (see table 111). Moione and co-workers (1965) demonstrated an increase of the amount of sialic acid in the serum from patients affected with diabetes in comparison


Oral Health Status of Individuals with Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate or Both in a Nigerian Population Background: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) deformities are congenital anomalies with fissures of either the lip, palate or both combined. The altered oral anatomy causes physiological changes and diminished self cleansing ability. The oral hygiene may thus not be properly maintained. Aim: A prospective study of the oral health status of individuals with these deformities in Lagos-Nigeria was carried out to determine the need, types, and extent of pre-operative dental management that these patients may require. Material and Methods: Individuals with orofacial deformities in Lagos were screened by a CL/P management team at a sponsored treatment programme between April and June 2007. All those with CL/P deformities that were seen during the exercises participated in the study. Dental examinations included inspections for caries, plaque, calculus, gingivitis, malocclusions and enamel hypoplasia. The following parameters were assessed: Oral Hygiene, Debris, and Calculus Indices; Periodontal diseases, Caries experience, and CPITN. Results: Fifty-two cases with CL/P were seen. The ages ranged from 3weeks to 32years (mean 11.5 ± 10.9). CLP was the commonest presentation (48 %). The mean Oral Hygiene Index Score was 2.1 and 38.6 % had good oral hygiene. Highest prevalence of caries was in the age group 26-30 years. Enamel hypoplasia in primary dentition was present in one subject and 50 % of permanent dentition. Nearly 50 % of the cases had malocclusion and different degrees of periodontal diseases. All the cases in age group 31-35 years had calculus. Conclusion: The oral health status of patients with CL/P deformities is poor in the environment in which the study was conducted.


One of the most frequently studied problems in the context of information dissemination in communication networks is the broadcasting problem. We propose here several time efficient, centralized as well as fully distributed procedures for the broadcasting problem in random radio networks. In particular we show how to perform a centralized broadcast in a random graph Gp=(V,E) of size n=|V| and expected average degree d=pn in time O(ln n/lnd+lnd). Later we present a randomized distributed broadcasting algorithm with the running time O(ln n). In both cases we show that the presented algorithms are asymptotically optimal by deriving lower bounds on the complexity of radio broadcasting in random graphs. In these proofs we determine some structural properties in random graphs which may be of independent interest. We should note here that the results of this paper hold with probability 1-o(1/n).


FIELD: chemistry. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of producing carotenoids, including astaxanthin. Method involves culturing bacteria belonging to genus Paracoccus that produces astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, in a medium containing biotin in concentration 0.001-50 mg/l. Concentration of dissolved oxygen in cultivation product is maintained at a level of 1 ppm or more during cultivation, and ratio of concentration of produced canthaxanthin to concentration of produced astaxanthin in cultivation product after cultivation is 25 wt% or less. EFFECT: invention ensures production of astaxanthin in high concentration with low level of production of canthaxanthin. 7 cl, 9 tbl, 6 ex


About Mieke Bal provides a sustained scholarly assessment of Bal's writings in art history, visual studies and critical theory. The collection considers Bal's writings in depth, developing and extending her thinking, and providing enlightening reflection on many of her most important ideas and concepts. The essays consider Bal's approaches to the art of the past alongside more recent film, photography, graffiti, interactive immersive environments, online performance, and several ofher recent films. Essays consider historical art such as the Sistine Chapel and the watercolours of Charlotte Salomon, alongside discussions of intermediality in art by Gabriel Orozco, Candice Breitz, Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, and reflections on works by Christian Boltanski, Ydessa Hendeles, and Peter Forgacs in relation to the archival medium in Holocaust studies. Attention is given to graffiti, interactive immersive environments, online performance, and areas of visual interest often positioned outside the pages of art history.

The collection includes an edited conversation between Mieke Bal and Michael Ann Holly, entitled 'Reading, Writing, Filming, Dreaming, Dressing'.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the moderating effects of sexual orientation and exercise status on measures of body image and eating disturbance in a sample of men.

METHOD
One hundred and thirty-four men completed measures designed to index a range of body image facets (ideals, actual, partner's preference, overall dissatisfaction), eating disturbance (restrictive and bulimic levels), and overall self-esteem.

RESULTS
There were few significant effects as a function of exercise status or sexual orientation. Bodybuilders were more satisfied on a global measure of body image and had a higher ideal and actual upper torso size rating. Gay men had a smaller actual upper torso rating than heterosexual men, but ideal size upper torso did not differ as a function of sexual orientation.

DISCUSSION
Findings are discussed in terms of methodological limits of previous work and future examinations of moderating factors for body image and eating disturbance in men.


The 6th issue of the journal "Diacronia" (6/2017) includes 12 papers covering topics on the diachronic grammar of Romanian, written by the members of the Department of Grammar of the "Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti" Institute of Linguistics of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest. Most of the studies address diachronicmorphology, diachronic syntax ormorpho-syntax issues and one of the papers deals withword formation and its relation to derivational morphology. These investigations are in line with older research topics developed inDepartment ofGrammar (see the volumeTheSyntax of Old Romanian (sor), Oxford University Press, 2016, 680 p.) on the one hand, and, on the other, they bring to the fore partial results of an extensive work in progress on the diachronic morphology of Romanian. A common characteristic of the articles included in the current issue is that they are based on corpus research. The authors employ a rich and diversified corpus of old Romanian (1521–1780), whichwas also used for sor, using the same system of quoting (the acronym is followed by the year when the text was written/published; for example: cc2.1581, po.1582, a.1620, ad.1722–5). Another common feature is related to the contents of the papers, as there are numerous ideas and concepts circulating in more than one article (i.e., the existence of grammaticalization stages and of incomplete grammaticalization processes, the lexical plural, the concepts of plurifunctionality, ambiguity/syncretism and the disambiguation mechanism, diachronic vs. synchronic variation, syntheticity vs. analicity, etc.). The main goals of this thematic issue are:


A modification of Kuethe's method for investigating social schemata in which 5s place magnets representing "mother," "father," and significant others on a board in relation to a centrally placed "self" magnet was administered along with the MMPI to 30 recently admitted female psychiatric patients. Distance between self and mother magnets was correlated with increased schizophrenia (Sc) and decreased ego strength (Es) scores on the MMPI, was greater than that of controls (N = 40), and tended to decrease following 6 wk. of treatment. Distance from father was not significantly correlated with Sc or Es, was not different from that of controls, but was found to increase after therapy.


Magnetic microfibers are fibers that behave as a flexible paramagnetic body, for example, polymer fibers filled with superparamagnetic particles. A cantilevered magnetic microfiber will bend in response to an applied magnetic field. In a nonuniform field, generated for example by a single electromagnet or by a magnetic dipole, a magnetic microfiber displays position hysteresis as the field strength increases and decreases. This paper presents a model for determining stable shapes of a cantilevered magnetic microfiber in a nonuniform magnetic field. The model determines stable shapes by finding local minima of the potential energy using a Rayleigh-Ritz method. The model predicts the position hysteresis behavior observed in magnetic microfibers. Experimental data ware collected using two electromagnets with different geometries. The model simulation and experimental data compare well both qualitatively and quantitatively. The model will be useful for designing actuators based on magnetic microfibers and for characterizing the magnetic properties of fabricated fibers. A rigid bar model is also introduced, which captures the qualitative behavior of the fiber and illustrates the source of the position hysteresis behavior.


In order to improve image resolution, some interpolation has to be applied. However, in general, an interpolation generates smooth connections between adjacent sampling points and causes blurred edges in the interpolated image. To suppress such blur in edges, it is desired that some sharpening e ff ect is included in the interpolating process. In this paper, we propose a sharpening method using cubic operations of the di ff erences of pixel values. Experimental results show that this method produces sharp high resolution image which is more similar than that by any other method to a target image.


Sonication with fast scanning method can generate homogeneous lesions without complex planning. But when the target region is large, switching focus too fast will reduce the heat accumulation, the margin of which may not ablated. Furthermore, high blood perfusion rate will reduce this maximum volume that can be ablated. Therefore, fast scanning method may not be applied to large volume tumor. To expand the therapy scope, this study combines the fast scan method with multiple mode strategy. Through simulation and experiment, the feasibility of this new strategy is evaluated and analyzed.


A microwave electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma source has been operated to produce reactive plasmas of oxygen and its mixture with argon. Aluminum samples (0.95 cm by 1.9 cm) were coated with thin films (<20 {mu}m in thickness) of Shell Vitrea oil and cleaned by using such reactive plasmas. The plasma cleaning was done in discharge conditions of microwave power up to 1300 W, radio frequency power up to 200 W, biased potential up to 400 V, gas pressures up to 5 mtorr, and operating time up to 35 min. The surface texture of the postcleaned samples has been examined visually. Mass loss of the samples after plasma cleaning was measured to estimate cleaning rates. Measured clean rates of low-pressure (0.5-mtorr) argon/oxygen plasmas were as high as 2.7 {mu}m/min. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to determine cleanliness of the sample surfaces after plasma cleaning. The XPS study on polished samples confirmed the effectiveness of plasma cleaning in achieving atomic level of surface cleanliness. In this technical memorandum plasma properties, cleaning phenomena, and significant results are reported and discussed.


We study temporal networks of characters in literature focussing on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll and the anonymous La Chanson de Roland (around 1100). The former, one of the most influential pieces of nonsense literature ever written, describes the adventures of Alice in a fantasy world with logic plays interspersed along the narrative. The latter, a song of heroic deeds, depicts the Battle of Roncevaux in 778 A.D. during Charlemagne's campaign on the Iberian Peninsula. We apply methods recently developed by Taylor et al. [Taylor, D., Myers, S. A., Clauset, A., Porter, M. A. and Mucha, P. J., Eigenvector-based centrality measures for temporal networks, CoRR (2015).] to find time-averaged eigenvector centralities, Freeman indices and vitalities of characters. We show that temporal networks are more appropriate than static ones for studying stories, as they capture features that the time-independent approaches fail to yield.


Deflection and design equations for Vierendeel type coupled beams, which are composed of a floor beam in the upper modular unit and a overhead beam of the lower one coupled by steel plates in order to improve serviceability of multi-story modular building structures, are proposed in this paper. Semi-rigid end conditions of the coupled beams and sub-optimal locations of the coupling plates are assumed. Deflection equations of the coupled beams are derived using flexibility method with an additional aid of direct stiffness methods. Design equations for the upper limit of the flexibility and corresponding dimensions of the coupling plate that can restrict the beam deflection below a target value are proposed. Based on numerical analysis, coefficients of the design equation is calibrated, and the revised equation is proved to have considerable accuracy.


This paper sought to assess head teachers' effectiveness in the management of school financial resources in Bomet sub-county. Head teachers' effectiveness in managing financial resources is determined by the way they perform their roles as required by the Ministry of Education. Descriptive survey research design was used. A sample of 120 head teachers was selected from a population of 174 head teachers of public primary schools in Bomet sub-county. A proportionate and simple random sampling technique was used. Questionnaire for head teachers were used to collect data. The data was analysed using the statistical package of social sciences (SPSS)version 11.5. Frequencies and percentages were computed to determine effectiveness of head teachers in managing school finances. Most of the head teachers were found to be ineffective in the management of school finances because they were already overworked with administrative duties and class work. It is recommended that the Government consider employing accounts clerk to assist head teachers in proper management of school of school finances. The study is great value to all stakeholders in education in enhancing head teachers' effectiveness in managing school finances. This is because the stakeholders can utilise the research findings to intensify school-based in-service trainings at the divisional levels to benefit head teachers on the various ways of ensuring effective management of school finances. Further, it is hoped that the findings will be used by the Government in the formulation of education policies which would focus on effective management of financial resources in public primary schools in Kenya.


Changing realities in innovation ecosystems challenge the next generation of development processes for innovation environments at all levels. According to findings in the most recent innovation studies, discussion on closed national innovation systems is rather artificial, while new scientific knowledge and technological inventions are generated in almost purely global settings (Hautamäki, 2008; Ishikura, 2006; Kao, 2007; Saxenian, 2006). The expanding collaboration in value networks brings innovation production closer to the marketplace, the pure technology-push approach is increasingly being complemented with a market-pull type needs analysis for penetrating a growing number of market segments, and a practically free movement of talented people brings down artificial national borders and provides a foundation for a creative transfer of knowledge between the interconnected innovation ecosystems. Regional innovation ecosystems are the core building blocks for innovation-creation activities from a national innovation policy point of view. They build on a local knowledge base and specialize in bringing out the best in their respective innovation processes. They focus on accumulating academic knowledge and combining it with private sector, market-driven commercialization processes. In most cases, these regional ecosystems are organized around a core-hub organization such as a science or technology park, or alternatively a regional cluster management office, where all the key coordination decisions are made. But, the innovation hub itself is necessarily a much wider concept than only a park or a coordination office. It consists of all the regional innovation ecosystem elements, starting from policies and ending with market-driven business activities.


This invention relates to a method for measuring for each time a unit amount of electric charge through a vacuum volume area in a defined direction (x), wherein the particles carrying the load are sensed by means of one (10) sensor means connected to a measuring circuit for a galvanic current, and the galvanic current generated by capture is measured in the circuit (17). In the direction (x), the capture of the particles is carried out simultaneously and in cascade. The invention also relates to a measuring device comprising a sensor device disposed in the vacuum and connected to a galvanic current measuring circuit. The sensor device includes sensors (10a to 10c) arranged in cascade in the direction (x) and performing a simultaneous measurement. The invention finally relates to the use of the method and measuring device.


This article challenges the moral parable of the film Cannibal Tours by drawing on long-term ethnographic research in a Iatmul-speaking village along the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea—one of the very communities featured in the film. In this article, first, I argue that Cannibal Tours silences indigenous agency and thus contributes to the very symbolic violence the film-maker aims to critique. Second, I interpret Sepik River tourist art not as meaningless trinkets, as the film implies, but as complex aesthetic expressions of postcolonial identity. Finally, I discuss the recent emergence of cargo cult ideation in a Sepik society as a response to heightened fiscal marginalization after the sale of the tourist ship in 2006. The moral force of Cannibal Tours leads most viewers to wish that the tourists would simply leave. And they have. Local villagers, however, desperately yearn for the return of tourism—and now enlist the dead in this effort.


The invention relates to a method and apparatus for preventing rapid, induced by an external ambient air pressure changes in a closed space (1). According to the invention the internal pressure in the space (1) with a sensor (3) monitors. Rapid changes of the internal pressure can be compensated by selective supply or discharge of air, at least partially. The supply and discharge of the air takes place preferably by means of pressure and vacuum tanks (5, 6) (Fig. 1).


The term "olive-shaped" glass bead is used in Czech archaeology for the long time, but for its ambiguity is not very suitable. We should distinguish the "olive-shaped smooth beads" and "olive-shaped lengthwise latticed beads". Article deals with the form, glass, measures and production technology of these two types of beads, which were found in early medieval cemetery in Dolni Věstonice - Na piskach (South Moravia).


Residual stress are present after cold forming. It can be of two different types: compressive or tensile stress. The most traditional method to evaluate the residual stress present in a part is the x-ray diffraction. However, there is limitation on it from geometric shape and its size. This work presents a alternative method to evaluate residual stress using indentation test. By hypothesis, when a compressive residual stress is present on metal surface, indentation test shows a greater value than the same test performed on a surface where residual stress is not present. I Other way, if tensile residual stress is present, indentation test shows a lesser value. Aluminum and copper samples were cold bending in five angles and indentation tests was performed on its lateral surface, from top to bottom in order to obtain the gradient of hardnes. Methodology includes a design of experiments using a analysis of variance. The results were compared to a tension gradient obtained from a FEM simulation. It can be demonstrate that there is a strong correlation between residual stress and hardness and it is also possible to determines the type of residual stress present. Thus, a simple method to evaluates residual stress was established using a indentation test.


(57) a braking system 30 for a hospital bed 20 having a Abstract base frame 28 includes a plurality of caster devices 44 rotatably coupled to the base frame 28. Caster between the second position each caster device 44 to a first position and a brake 48 for wheel 55 and a brake 48 mounted rotatably to the caster frame and caster frame to prevent rotation of the wheel 55 causes the free rotation of the wheel 55 and a brake 48 mounted to operate with respect to the frame. A plurality of pedals coupled to an actuator for actuating the brake 48 between the first position and the second position in a different one for movement of the respective adjacent pedal 56 of the caster device 44 actuators 128 and a plurality of caster devices and a linkage coupled to all of the actuators 128 of the plurality of caster devices 44 to actuate all of the actuator 128 by one operation of the plurality of pedals 56.


Comparative morphology of the spermathecae of some species of Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy and Cochliomyia Townsend (Diptera, Calliphoridae). Little is known about the morphology of the chitinized structures of the spermathecae of the Calliphoridae. In this work, the spermathecae of Chrysomya albiceps Wiedemann, 1819, C. megacephala Fabricius, 1794, Cochliomyia macellaria Fabricius, 1775 and C. hominivorax Coquerel, 1858 are described and illustrated. The occurrence in one species of four spermathecae, an atypical form for blow flies, was recorded for the first time. The analysis of these structures will allow a better understanding of this group as well as provide taxonomic characters for future phylogenetic studies.


Manganese vanadium oxide thermistor materials both in bulk and thin film form have been prepared and characterized. The bulk materials synthesized by ceramic tape casting and solid state sintering are crystalline in nature while thin films are amorphous even after post deposition annealing at high temperature. The electrical properties' study clearly shows that these materials follow a typical characteristic of negative temperature coefficient (NTC) of resistivity which is attributed to small polaron hopping. The thin film samples have direct optical band gap and shows increased absorption in the infrared region.


New results with a mouse model of Alzheimer9s disease provide further support for the idea that "use it or lose it" applies as much to the mind as to the body.


ABSTRACT The effects of the introduction of a single sheet of different types of geoesynthetic materials on the mechanical behavior of a sand layer are studied through precise physical model loading tests performed using circular plates resting on reinforced sand. The results of the plate tests are then used to validate a finite element approach to model the response of the reinforced granular soil below the plate. It is shown that the finite element model can reliably predict the overall behavior of reinforced soil, giving, particularly, an insight on the influence of geosynthetic reinforcement over the volumetric behavior at failure of the surrounding soil and, therefore, on the mechanical response of the composite system.


The Raman spectrum of a calcined (773 K, 5 h, air) Mo/SiO2 catalysts of high Mo loading (20 wt.%) is identical with that of MoO3, whereas EXAFS results indicate that MoO3 is not the dominant species in the 20 wt.% Mo catalyst.


Graphic novels and comic books are often thought about as pulp fiction aimed specifically at adolescent males: their characters are usually armed with superpowers and rescue beautiful women. Over the last 20 years, however, comics have 'grown up' and it is increasingly acknowledged that these works have a presence within literary culture. This paper considers the role of graphic novels and comic books within the broader context of popular culture – looking at the unique mechanism of communication they offer as they bring together words and graphic images. Further, I consider the insights of graphic novel authors who are using this cross section of literature and art to discuss and confront some of today's key challenges, including racism and climate change. Focusing on two specific works – Vertigo's Y: The Last Man and the short novels of Australian independent artist Pat Grant – I consider how this medium raises these issues and the dystopian futures that often are perceived to inevitably follow.


The degradation of off-flavors which is 2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and geosmin by means of ultrasound (US) and pulsed ultraviolet (PUV) irradiation and its combination with catalyst (wire mesh, wire mesh coated TiO2, and TiO2) and additive (H2O2) were investigated via water system. A combination treatment of TiO2 and H2O2 heterogeneity with US (24 kHz) and PUV (6000 W) has shown improved results in destroying 2-MIB and geosmin, which may be attributed to chain reactions by the enhanced formation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) through H2O2 dissociation and reactive oxide ions of TiO2 addition. Rapid degradation of off-flavors occurred within 2 min under PUV process with H2O2 100 mg/L (81.5% for 2MIB; 79.3% for geosmin) and TiO2 100 mg/L (83.7% for 2-MIB; 79.8% for geosmin), while compared with H2O2 100 mg/L (58.4% for 2-MIB; 58.0% for geosmin) and TiO2 100 mg/L (59.2% for 2-MIB; 38.5% for geosmin) within 5 min under US process. Surprisingly, the emphasis was given on the comparison with the same injected energies between PUV and US on degradation efficiency. Based on the injected energy comparison, the US provided better degradation performance under equal input power of 200 kJ with H2O2 100 mg/L, while compared with H2O2 100 mg/L under PUV process. Our findings suggest that US can be more effective compared to PUV for the degradation of off-flavors in aspect of energy consumptions.


The paper introduces the new methods of measuring rotation speeds by 89C51 singlechip based on weak magnetic detection. It discusses the working principle of the measuring system and the function of the hardware and gives the block diagram of the software design. This measurement system is high in accuracy and convenient for fixing. Therefore, it can be widely used.


The CN Pt(111) vibrational spectrum presented in Fig. 1 of our Letter is incorrect. We used a new procedure for CN adsorption which, as we learned later on, seemed to allow for a large CO contamination of the surface [1]. Here we present a corrected Fig. 1, containing a spectrum of CN on Pt(111) which was obtained after adsorption from a solution of tetrabutylammonium cyanide in acetonitrile. The change in the form of the spectrum does not alter the physical conclusions of the Letter, for the corrected spectrum agrees better with the theory than the incorrect one. The differences are (1) in the corrected spectrum there is no peak due to adsorption on hollow (or bridge) sites observable, which actually should have been expected because of the much smaller dynamic dipole moments for CN on these sites (0.05e). Only on-top adsorption of CN with a stretching frequency of 2108 cm21 is observed. (2) The intensity of the CN band in the corrected spectrum is 1 order of magnitude smaller than that of CO adsorbed at on-top sites (note the different scales for CN and CO), which is consistent with the smaller dynamic dipole moment of on-top CN (0.35e) in comparison with CO (1.2e).


and migrants who each spoke his/her individual language with a personal voice, having no former knowledge of the Theban state where they were seeking refuge. Hence, she was intent on revealing how destructive the non-citizen can be to the harmony of a nation-state. These refugees were the chorus; they were dressed in heavy coats of a range of colors and materials, all somber in hue and practical in appearance. About the edges of the stage area was a scaffolding, against which six long ladders had been balanced. These were positioned around the edges of the rectangular girders that delineated the refugee camp, and the actors in the chorus delivered most of their lines on the ladder rungs.


The genetic improvement program through selective breeding is one of the efforts to overcome the slow-growing constraints in gourami (Osphronemus goramy Lac.) farming. The selective breeding to improve the growth performance of gourami using the family selection method was first conducted by the formation of a base population using a diallele cross of four populations originating from Kalimantan (Borneo), Jambi, Majalengka, and Tasikmalaya. The best performing individuals were selected to produce the first generation (F1) population. This study aimed to evaluate the growth (body weight) and determine the heritability of the F1 population. Individuals selected from the base population were communally spawned using a half-sib mating with a male:female ratio of 1:2. The grow-out phase was carried out in earthen ponds with a stocking density of 5 fish/m2, 7 families out of 14 families were kept until 13 months of age. The results showed that the body weight variation coefficient ranged from 12.36-18.65% with a selection differential of 70.75 - 112.56 g. The heritability of the body weight was 0.88, with a selection response of 11.18%. These results revealed the selection progress with increased body weight in F1 population. Thus, selective breeding is effective to be continued.


Spot blotch of wheat caused by Cochliobolus sativus is an emerging disease in hot and humid climate. Breeding for resistance is most suitable approach for management of this disease. A collection of 55 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were phenotyped for spot blotch resistance at seedling and adult plant stages. Based on phenotyping of 10 days old seedling Chirya 7, Chirya 3, Ning 8139, Suzhou, Milan-3, HD 2888, HD 2967, WR 95 were identified as resistant, while genotypes, viz. A-9-30-1, Agra local, C-306, K-68, Sonalika were highly susceptible. Phenotyping of adult plants stage revealed Chirya 7, Chirya 3, Ning 8139, Suzhou, Milan-3, HD 2888, HD 2967, WR 95, HW 3081 as resistant, whereas genotypes A-9-30-1, Agra local, C-306, Sonalika were highly susceptible. Phenotyping in adult and seedling plants showed a strong correlation of r = 0.91. DNA was isolated from all genotypes and was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers, viz. Xgwm148, Xgwm374 and Xgwm067, Xgwm371 for QTL Qsb.bhu-2B and Qsb.bhu-5B respectively. Presence and absence of different markers was confirmed by a unique amplification by PCR and visualized in Agarose gel electrophoresis. Two markers Xgwm371 and Xgwm374 showed significant association with resistance to B. sorokiniana and established to be linked with resistance since these were absent in highly susceptible genotypes. Hence, these markers could be useful in increasing the efficiency of selection for resistance to B. sorokiniana in wheat breeding and can be used in marker assisted selection.


A semiconductor power package has a preformed chip housing and an electrically conductive chip carrier, which is molded in place in the preformed chip casing. The semiconductor power package further includes a power semiconductor chip, which is bonded to the electrically conductive chip carrier. A cover is provided to embed the power semiconductor chip, wherein the covering has a modulus of elasticity which is less than the elastic modulus of the material of the preformed chip package, and / or has a thermal conductivity that is greater than the thermal conductivity of the material of the preformed chip package, and / or has a temperature stability that is greater than the temperature stability of the pre-formed die package.


Human resources are backbone for every organization. Employees play a major role in every instance and contribute their services in meeting the objectives of the organization. Every department is equally important and somehow the division of work flow is segregated for the work-flow to be smooth and derive better results, which can be only possible through effective communication, leadership and mostly teams. Every organization faces challenges in managing teams and forming effective teams but essential factors which influence the teams are usually neglected. The main objective of this research is to check the role of employees and their contribution towards their teams from different departments and their level of positive or negative impact and identify the challenging areas in the current organization. The current organization constitutes of 150 employees covering from Jr. officers to General Managers with their years of experience, gender, age and education. Results are derived using Regression to study the impact, SPSS 23 and AMOS/SEM techniques. Analysis showed that all the four variables namely – Interpersonal relationships, Job motivation and commitment, Team cohesiveness and upgrading skills and talents showed statically significant results where Interpersonal relationships and team cohesiveness resulted significantly high impact on Team effectiveness rather than latter variables.


The proliferation of RFID applications motivates an integrated solution to reduce the cost and physical size of readers. This paper describes the architecture and design of a world-wide regulation-compliant single-chip RFID transceiver for multiclass tags. Based on direct-conversion architecture, this chip integrates all of the RF blocks, synthesizer, analog signal conditioning, ADC/ DAC, and modulation and demodulation functions. Fabricated on a 0.18 mum SiGe BiCMOS process, this chip occupies 21 mm2 and produces output power of +11 dBm in linear mode and +20 dBm under supply modulation mode; the receiver has sensitivity down to -85 dBm in the presence of a 0 dBm self-jammer signal. Total power consumption is 1.2 W.


Education theory is of great significance to the training of teachers,but the current teaching of education theory is not satisfactory in many aspects.We should rethink and improve our teaching.Teaching of theoretical knowledge is not the only task,but rather we should nurture educational thinking in students.In doing so,students' awareness of future education will be enhanced by self-contemplation.


We present and discuss several spatiotemporal kernels designed to mine real-life and simulated data in support of drought prediction. We implement and empirically validate these kernels for support vector machines. Issues related to the nature of geographic data such as autocorrelation and directionality are investigated.


This paper evaluates using metal-oxide-varistor (MOV) surge arresters to protect shunt-capacitor banks from overvoltages. Protection requirements and surge arrester duties are analyzed for both lightning transients and switching-surge overvoltages, using both digital and transient network analyzer (TNA) simulations. Simple analytical expressions are developed for evaluating arrester duty as a function of capacitor bank size. Guidelines and limitations for applying arresters at grounded-and ungrounded-wye capacitor banks are developed based on overvoltage characteristics and arrester capabilities.


The Prototypes of two single-shaft, open-cycle gas turbines, Type 9 and 11, have been put through extensive factory full load test programs before shipment. In the meantime, the first production units have been in commercial operation for a number of thousand of hours with scheduled maintenance already done on some of them. The paper describes some interesting results of factory testing. Furthermore, the performance under normal service conditions will be described as well as reliability and availability.Copyright © 1974 by ASME


Social capital, the accumulation of resources through relationships, has become a well-established concept in the business world. A critical factor in both individual and organizational achievement, social capital is seen as being responsible for the "luck" or the "being at the right place at the right time" component of success. The potency of relational resources is nowhere more evident than in the context of entrepreneurship.This report summarizes the findings of a series of studies conducted on networks and entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is an ideal setting in which to uncover the formation and influence of networks due to the high concentration of entrepreneurship in the area. This report is divided into three sections. The first summarizes the characteristics that the entrepreneurs' networks tend to display at two early stages of venture creation and is based on interviews with start-up entrepreneurs as well as web-based surveys. The second section shows the impact that the entrepreneurs' networks tend to have on funding the ability of start-up companies to attract funding. Using a new sample of Silicon Valley corporations, the third section examines the role of networks in the survival of environmental turbulence such as the stock market crash of 2000.


(57) The invention provides a PN sequence phase searching apparatus and method for a CDMA mobile communication system using a multiple carrier. The present invention is in the PN sequence phase searching apparatus in a multi-carrier CDMA mobile communication system, the assigned receiving any one of the received signals of the at least two received signals are received through different bands and at least two PN sequence phase searcher outputs the PN phase and energy information by respectively PN sequence phase search by different search condition assigned different search conditions to the PN sequence phase searcher, a PN phase and energy information characterized in that comprising a controller for determining a minimum phase variation period is provided.


This chapter details Ernst Kantorowicz's hatred for Nazi Germany. He once told a favorite student in Berkeley, "as far as Germany is concerned they can put a tent over the entire country and turn on the gas." After war broke out, Kantorowicz wrote mordantly about the aggressive lust of his compatriots: "Europa once more is being raped by a bull." On the day of Germany's surrender in May 1945 Kantorowicz skipped his regular lecture in his Renaissance class to comment on the event and its significance. He referred to the Nazi regime as a "monstrous obscenity" and pronounced that "the worst grotesquerie of the world saw to it that in Hitler excrement was made flesh."


By means of the centralized matrix of structural matrix, the existance conditions and the synthesis method of the output feedback controller for stabilization and pole assignment of the system under a given general IS (or economical IS) are obtained, and the indirect method proposed in [1] which convert the given CIS into the block diagonal form can be avoided. A numerical example is given for illustration.


Abstract Guideline‐based medical therapy is the foundation of treatment for individuals with coronary artery disease. However, revascularization with either percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting may be beneficial in patients with acute coronary syndromes, refractory symptoms, or in other specific scenarios (eg, left main disease and heart failure). While the goal of percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting is to achieve complete revascularization, anatomical and ischemic definitions of complete revascularization and their methodology for assessment remain highly variable. Such lack of consensus invariably contributes to the absence of standardized approaches for invasive treatment of coronary artery disease. Herein, we propose a novel, comprehensive, yet pragmatic algorithm with both anatomical and ischemic parameters that aims to provide a systematic method to assess complete revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting in both clinical practice and clinical trials.


Objective: To observe the clinical effect on liver stomach heat accumulation illness of Reflux esophagitis(RE) cured by the treatment of the Hezhong Pingni decoction.Methods: A randomized controlled trial designed with 60 patients were divided into Chinese medicine test group(n=30) and the omeprazole controlled group(n=30) by endoscopy and traditional Chinese medicine dialectical method,treatment for 8 weeks.We will get the assessment of the improvement of RE symptom in the pre-treatment and post-treatment.Results: The total effective rate of improvement of symptoms was 96.67 % in test group,and 96.66 % in the controlled group;there was no significant difference(P0.05) between test group and controlled group.The total effective rate of endoscopic treatment was 73.33 % in the test group,and also 73.33 % in the controlled group;there was no significant difference(P0.05).The total effective rate of improvement of liver stomach heat accumulation illness was 96.67% in the test group,but 76.67% in the controlled group;there was significant difference between test group and controlled group(P0.05).Conclusion: 1.The results showed the test group and the controlled group have a remarkable effect in improving the symptoms of RE.2.The improvement of liver stomach heat accumulation syndrome of RE in the test group is superior to that in the controlled group.


Executive function (EF) describes a complex set of skills, including flexible attention, inhibitory control, and working memory, that coordinate to achieve behavioral regulation. Visuospatial skills (VS) describe the capacity to visually perceive and understand spatial relationships among objects. Emerging research suggests VS skills are associated with classroom functioning, including behavioral adjustment. Children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to enter school with EF and VS deficits, with consequences for classroom adjustment. In response, we developed and experimentally tested an after-school intervention that incorporates fine and gross motor activities targeting EF and VS skills in a sample of 87 kindergarten and first-grade students from low-income communities. The aim of the present study was to preliminarily explore whether EF and VS skills were bolstered by the intervention and subsequently whether EF and VS skills mediate or moderate intervention impacts on learning-related and problem behaviors in the classroom. Intent-to-treat analyses confirm intervention effects for EF and VS skills. Using full information maximum likelihood and bias-corrected bootstrapping, results indicate that improvements in EF mediated the impact of assignment to the treatment condition on improvements in learning-related behaviors and reductions in problem behavior. Taken together, findings suggest out-of-school contexts are a reasonable point of intervention for improving daytime classroom behavior.


Ultrasound wave has been widely utilized in various industries for its physical and sonochemistry effects. In this paper, the mechanism of ultrasound wave technology was introduced briefly and some functions with its utilization were reviewed mainly in biological and food processing to supply reference for its applications on ultrasound technology in future.


Objective:To optimize separation and purification technology of total flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis by macroporous adsorption resin.Method: Twelve different types of resin were selected with the amount of absorption and desorption ratio of total flavonoids as indexes,based on this,separation and purification technology of total flavonoids were optimized.Result: Purification effect of AB-8 type macroporous was the best,its optimum technology conditions were:the concentration of sample solution 0.2 g·mL-1,maximum sample quantity 2 mL to 1 mL resin,velocity of absorption 0.5 BV·h-1,pH of sample solution 6,6 BV water to remove impurities at 1 BV·h-1,eluted by 4 BV 70% ethanol at flow rate of 1 BV·h-1.Under this optimized process,purity of total alkaloids in elution was 38%.Conclusion: This optimized process was rational,feasible and suitable for industrial production.


Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease that is endemic in 88 countries. Most of the patients after recovery from the infection develop a long-lived natural immunity against re-infection. Reactivation of leishmaniasis subsequent to suppression of the immune system due to HIV infection or administration of systemic immunosuppressive drugs, underscores the importance of developing new drugs and effective vaccine. Despite the many efforts that have been done, there is still no effective vaccine. Up to now, many candidate vaccines from three generations of the vaccine, including Live/killed vaccines, subunit vaccines, and DNA vaccines have been developed and studied. However the sophisticated vaccines, such as prime-boost DNA vaccines are introduced, the best results are obtained from live vaccines. As safety is the most important obstacle to the use of live vaccines, many different approaches have been used to enhance the safety of live vaccine candidates. In this short review, these approaches are summarized.


Book review of Richard Pipes' Property and Freedom: The Story of how Through the Centuries Private Ownership has Promoted Liberty and the Rule of Law.


: Air pollution is one of the primary sources of risk to human health in the world. In this study, seasonal and spatial variations of multiple volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured at six sampling sites in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The seasonal and spatial variations of 19 VOCs were evaluated in 2020, including the periods before and after COVID-19 lockdown. The concentrations of 9 out of 19 VOCs had been changed significantly ( p < 0.01) during 2020. The maximum concentrations of total VOCs (TVOCs) were observed on 15, 17, and 19 January and ranged from 233 to 420 µ g m − 3 . The spatial distribution of TVOCs concentrations in the air during sampling seasons correlated with the elevation and increased from southern to northern part of Almaty, where Combined Heat and Power Plants are located. The sources of air pollution by VOCs were studied by correlations analysis and BTEX ratios. The ranges of toluene to benzene ratio and benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene demonstrated two primary sources of BTEX in 2020: traffic emissions and biomass/biofuel/coal burning. Most of m-, p -xylenes to ethylbenzene ratios in this study were lower than 3 in all sampling periods, evidencing the presence of aged air masses at studied sampling sites from remote sources.


Summer 2013, Vol. 22, Number 2 Page 14 I 2006, the National Education Association noted that the number of males teaching in public school classrooms had fallen to a 40-year low (National Education Association, 2006). The ratio of male to female teachers steadily declined over this same period. The number of male teachers decreased precipitously at every level of the nation's PK-12 teaching pool. Additionally, since there is a higher concentration of male teachers in secondary education, the dearth of male teachers at the PK-8 level seems even more ominous. Compounding this situation is the lack of minority male teachers, especially in elementary education. In the spring of 2011, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, noting that less than 2% of the American teaching workforce consists of African-American males, launched an initiative to increase their number by 80,000 before the end of 2015 (U.S. Department of Education, 2011). Both the popular press and government officials have noted the lack of male teachers as a worldwide phenomenon (Cushman, 2007). This paper explores conjectural reasons for this situation. The literature indicates that there is a multifaceted basis for this condition. Some of this basis is historical in nature, while other elements are based in sociological and gender behavior aspects. An analysis of the percentage of male teachers in United States public schools has signified a decrease over the last five decades (Figure 1) extraordinary, studies have indicated that the female teacher predominance phenomenon has long been considered a construct of 20th century education.


One prominent feature of online sales is that consumers rely on search tools offered by platforms to process the tremendous amount of information in searching for products. These search tools, such as search engines and recommender systems, can have anti-competitive impacts on the market by affecting the consideration sets of consumers. We develop a model that demonstrates how a search algorithm affects the market structure and welfare. Our model also captures two other effects generated by online platforms: reducing search costs and increasing market participation. Using data from food delivery platforms, we provide empirical evidence of the model.


Geochemical and isotopic studies have been undertaken to assess the origin of CO2-rich waters issuing in the northern part of Portugal. These solutions are hot (76C) to cold (17C) Na–HCO3 mineral waters. The d 2 H and d 18 O signatures of the mineral waters reflect the influence of altitude on meteoric recharge. The lack of an 18 O-shift indicates there has been no high temperature water–rock interaction at depth, corroborating the results of several chemical geothermometers (reservoir temperature of about 120C). The low 14 C activity (up to 9.9 pmC) measured in some of the cold CO2-rich mineral waters (total dissolved inorganic carbon) is incompatible with the presence of 3 H (from 1.7 to 4.1 TU) in those waters, which indicates relatively short subsurface circulation times. The d 13 C values of CO2 gas and dissolved inorganic carbon range between )6& and )1& versus Vienna-Peedee Belemnite, indicating that the total carbon in the recharge waters is being diluted by larger quantities of CO2 ( 14 C-free) introduced from deep-seated (upper mantle) sources, masking the 14 C-dating values. The differences in the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of the studied thermal and mineral waters seem to be caused by water–rock interaction with different granitic rocks. Chlorine isotope signatures ()0.4& < d 37 Cl < +0.4& versus standard mean ocean chloride) indicate that Cl in these waters could be derived from mixing of a small amount of igneous