abrogate the 665/1267 treaty with the Hospitallers unilaterally, but there is no mention of anything like that in the treaty text itself. A constant issue between the parties is the return of 'fugitives' and their chattels. Contrary to expectation, in some cases (treaties nos. 1, 6 and 10) it is accepted on the Muslim side that the person of a fugitive, as distinct from his goods, is not to be returned if conversion to Christianity has taken place. This is a recognition of apostasy, and the point seems to be obscured, even misrepresented, in the author's summary comment (pp. 10-11). In nos. 2 and 3, fugitives on either side are to be sent back, whether they convert or not, it seems! It is equally interesting to note that the treaty with Byzantium of 680/1281 (no. 9) specifies that any mamluks of Greek or other Christian origin, 'adhering to the religion of the Christians' (!), should, after emancipation, be allowed to return to Byzantine territory. However, this clause is not picked up in Qalawun's oath. The procedure in cases of homicide involving subjects of the signatories is laid down. P. M. Holt interprets the phrase in no. 1, ' the compensation ['iwad] for a knight is a knight, for a foot-soldier a foot-soldier, etc.', as meaning 'the release of a prisoner of equal status to the victim'. I am convinced that a financial compensation is intended in all cases (the Arabic of no. 1 does after all specify the circumstances under which the accuser will ' take the compensation') and that the arrangements in no. 8 which set out the appropriate tariff are just a fuller expression. There are some points here and there in the translations that one might query. For instance, 'A few prisoners and chattels were kept back to be sent to whoever should claim them' (p. 94). The last phrase (sayyara man yutdlibuhu bi-hi) should surely be 'and he sent someone to demand them from him.' Also on p. 53 'If the culprit is found, the culprit shall be taken red-handed' (fa-in wujidafa'ildhdlikayu'khadh al-fa'ilbi-dhanbihi) should end with ' the culprit shall be punished for his offence'. The volume also contains two maps, a useful bibliography and an index of persons and one of places.


Beginning with our cosmic ancestors and the 1950s ancestors of Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS, the "Ghosts"), this essay highlights the wider, post-World War II cultural context, including other science and religion organizations, in which IRAS was formed. It then considers eight challenges from today's context. From the context of science there are (1) the challenge of scale that leads us to question our place in the scheme of things and can lead to a challenge to morale concerning whether we make any difference; (2) the challenge of human variability that leads to the question whether there is a single human moral nature; and (3) the challenge of detailed explanation that leads to the question of what is the task of theology in relation to detailed scientific explanation. From the religion context there are (4) the challenge of objectivity—studying religion without practicing religion; and (5) the challenge of pluralism and the variety of cultural and religious perspectives. From the context of the growing and diverse science-and-religion enterprise, considered from the perspective of IRAS developed in the first part of this essay, there are the challenges of (6) apologetics and (7) intellectualization. Finally, from the context of our growing, worldwide consumerist culture that is contributing to the radical alteration of the planetary environment, leading to much suffering, there is (8) the challenge of becoming more motivated to act for the long-term global good.


Abstract : This grant was made available to partially support a workshop on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The Symposium provided a forum for recent advances and applications of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to a variety of problems related to general electrochemical mechanisms and models, passivity, electrochemistry in non-aqueous environments, batteries and fuel cells, mass transport, photoelectrochemistry and semiconductors, and membranes and biological systems. The extended abstracts provided in this document are for talks and posters presented at the workshop.


Clustering and aggregation of PS20-[Ru]-PEO70 copolymers (where PS = polystyrene and PEO = poly(ethylene oxide)) was investigated. Aq. micelles of the copolymer exhibited complicated assocn. behavior, and were spherical in water. The micelles aggregated into small polydisperse clusters with an av. size of .apprx.60-70 nm. A small no. of large clusters was also obsd. The 3 types of species were visualized with TEM. The formation of aggregated species of metallo-supramol. micelles was related to ionic interactions among the micelles, as evidenced by the effect of added salt which is obviously able to dissoc. the small clusters into individual micelles. The bulky \"hydrophobic\" PF6- counter-anion could play an essential role in this phenomenon and act as a \"glue\" for the micelles.


Several different types of aerogels and xerogels are demonstrated as effective sorbents for the capture and/or immobilization of radionuclides and other contaminants in gaseous form [e.g., Hg(g), I2(g), Xe, Kr] as well as ionic form (e.g., Cd2+, Ce4+, Cs+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Hg2+, I−, IO3−, Kr, Pb2+, Rb+, Sr2+, 99Tc7+, U6+, Zn2+). These sorbents have unique properties, which include high specific surface areas, high pore volumes, a range of pore sizes, and functionalities that provide methods for binding radionuclides and other contaminants, generally through physisorption, chemisorption, or a combination thereof. This combination of properties and functionalities makes these types of materials ideal for use as sorbents for capturing radionuclides. The primary base materials that will be discussed in this paper include Ag0‐functionalized silica aerogels, Ag+‐impregnated aluminosilicate aerogels, Ag0‐functionalized aluminosilicate aerogels, metal‐impregnated (non‐Ag) aluminosilicate aerogels and xerogels, sulfide‐based aerogels, and carbon‐based aerogel composites. For the capture of I2(g), the materials reported herein show some of the highest iodine loadings ever reported for inorganic sorbents. For the capture of ionic species, these materials also show promise as next‐generation materials for active radionuclide remediation. This progress report describes materials fabrication, general properties, and environmental remediation applications.


Adapalene–benzoyl peroxide (A‐BPO) is a first‐line topical treatment for acne vulgaris. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) detect micromorphological changes over time and visualize transfollicular delivery.


The clinically important coronary segmental anatomy has been described in a format useful for quantitative analysis and standardized display. We have determined the intrathoracic location and course of each of the 23 coronary artery segments and branches commonly used for clinical description of disease. Measurements were averaged from perpendicular angiographic viewpairs in 37 patients with normal-sized hearts. Each segment or branch is described by several points along its course; each point is specified in polar coordinates as the radial distance from the principal coronary ostium and by angles about the patient, corresponding to those describing rotation in c-arm radiographic systems. This computer-assisted measurement method is accurate to within ±0.2 cm (SD) and ±20 in phantom studies. Coronary segment location among a group of normal-sized hearts can be specified to within ± 1.0 cm (SD). For example, the left anterior descending coronary artery segment at the apex of the heart is 12.2 ± 1.0 cm from the left coronary ostium, 32 ± 40 to the left of the anterioposterior axis, and at 46 ± 70 of caudal angulation. There are several clinically important applications of this new knowledge. First, this anatomic format provides the basis for estimating regional myocardial contraction and the relative size of the myocardial region at risk from a given arterial occlusion. Second, precise knowledge of "normal" segment location greatly simplifies the computation of dimensional correction factors for quantitative arteriography. Third, viewing angles most appropriate for videodensitometric assessment of lesion lumen area may be computed from these data. The theoretical basis and numerical values needed for most of the above estimates


Purpose – This paper presents a longitudinal experimental study on teams with the purpose of investigating the impact of communication media on decision‐making teams. The authors aims to achieve that by comparing face‐to‐face (FTF) and computer‐supported (CS) teams over a series of three sessions on three response variables: performance, cohesiveness, and synergy.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 24 teams, each of five students, participated in three separate decision‐making sessions in which they solved a survival simulation scenario. Each team was randomly assigned to either face‐to‐face (FTF) or computer‐supported (CS) communication condition. The analysis compared overall means and mean patterns over time on the three response variables across the two communication media.Findings – Results suggest that there were no differences in overall performance between CS and FTF teams and no differences in performance changes over time between the two media; there were no overall differences in overall s...


Transnationalism and sovereignty are in many ways conflicting. The two concepts have evolved in worlds that are apart historically, disciplinarily and in a normative sense. Whereas the roots of the modern concept of sovereignty lay in the Westphalian (and UN) world system of separated (and non-interfering) states, transnational studies lecture methodological postnationalism and criticize taking state borders as granted – asymmetric interference in territories occur frequently. While the classical idea of sovereignty envisions a population tied to a territory, transnationalism perceives individuals as mobile. And while sovereignty debates are to a great extent shaped by legal scholars, transnationalism remains a ground for anthropologists and sociologists, many of whom have a gist against legal predetermination.


Epistemology which is also called the Theory of Science occupies a very urgent space in the development of the progress of a nation's culture or civilization. Epithemology is a branch of philosophy that discusses the nature, source, structure, method and validity of knowledge. The nature of education is all the adult efforts in association with children to lead their physical and spiritual development toward maturity. Adults do not mean just physical maturity but can also mean psychic maturity. The source of Islamic education is revelation (God) and is obtained through a number of channels, healthy senses, correct reports based on authority, sound reason and intuition, while the source of Western education is ratio and experience. Islamic education develops an integral view of the profane and the sacred, while Western education only develops the profane aspect only. Islamic education develops all aspects of the human personality from the heart to the intellect, while Western education is only mindful.


Judging from the current development of China's enterprises, there are many shortcomings and problems in the management of human resources in enterprises, which have a certain impact on the economic benefits of enterprises. Therefore, in order to effectively improve the economic advantages of enterprises and promote the stable development of enterprises, it is imperative to analyze the reform and innovation of human resources management.


AB STRACT This paper describes methodology to measure health from a human rights perspective. We define 'unjust health gaps' as departures from normal functioning caused by violations of human rights. Normal functioning has previously been defined as functioning which is statistically typical in an age group of a sex of a species (a reference group). We add the condition that those composing a reference group for normal functioning must live under the environmental conditions that are critical to achieve normal functioning for the function in question. Using work by the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study, we illustrate the method for defining normal child physical growth. The Convention on the Rights of the Child states the right of children to grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding, with access to health care services, and with caregivers who are informed about issues like the advantages of breastfeeding and good hygiene and environmental sanitation. WHO established an international reference group composed of breastfed children with non-smoking mothers and access to health care, to provide growth data to define normal and abnormal growth (stunting). This is a departure from the typical practice of choosing as a reference group those in a society living under the best socioeconomic conditions. The rational for this departure is that even those best off in a society may not live under the essential conditions for normal functioning. We show how this methodology can be used in health promotion settings such as schools and workplaces.


The paper presents a novel concept of a wide viewing angle LCD light shutter, making advantage of the highly symmetric 180°‐twisted LC‐configuration and ordinary mode of the light propagation. The resulting very high overall symmetry allows for efficient angular compensation using just a simple negative‐birefringent c‐plate retarder.


1. Introduction. This paper is concerned with fourth order differential equations of the form (L) (p(x)y")" - q(x)y" - r(x)y = 0, where p, q and r are assumed to be continuous, real-valued functions on the interval [a, °° ). In addition, it will be assumed throughout that p > 0, q ^ 0 and r^Oon [a, o° ), with r not identically zero on any subinterval. If q is a (non-negative) constant, then (L) is self-adjoint; otherwise (L) is non-self-adjoint. The objective of the paper is to study the oscillatory behavior of the solutions of (L). A non-trivial solution y is oscillatory if the set of zeros of y is not bounded above. If the set of zeros of y is bounded above, which implies y has only finitely many zeros, then y is non-oscillatory. Hereafter, the term "solution" will be interpreted to mean non-trivial solution. Various special cases of (L) have been studied in detail. In particular, we refer to the fundamental work of W. Leigh ton and Z. Nehari [5, Part I] on the self-adjoint equation (1) (P(x)y")" - r(x)y = 0. M. Keener [3, Part I] continued the investigation of (1), concentrating on the oscillatory behavior of solutions. S. Hastings and A. Lazer [2] considered the self-adjoint equation (2) y(4) - r(x)y = 0, showing that (2) has a linearly independent pair of bounded oscillatory solutions when it is assumed that r E C ' [a, «> ), with r > 0 and r ' ^ 0 on [a, oo ). S. Ahmad [1] has also studied (2), giving necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a linearly independent pair of oscillatory solutions. Finally, we refer to the work of V. Pudei [6], [7] in which the equation (3) yW - q(x)y" - r(x)y = 0 is considered.


This unit is designed for the most demanding oil and gas well fracturing requirements of some specific China's oilfields.This truck mounted unit utilizes the high horsepower,broad pressure and rate range of Type-2000 Pumper,and integrates the functions of pumper,fracturing blender,manifold and control center.It ideally suits for pressure test,fracturing,acidizing,sand control and other operations.Utilization of this versatile unit allows us to perform a fracturing job with less field personnel,equipment and simplified field coordination system.This paper presents a comprehensive review of the status of fracturing units and the operation parameters of some oilfields.The chassis,mounted equipment and other design parameters are described in this paper based on the research as well.Successful development of this unit will meet the operational requirements of the oilfield.


A new cluster-cracking method to synthesize dithiolate metal complexes was reported and four unsymmetric complexes with formula (Me4N)2[M(Ln)(SPh)2] (M = Cd and Zn, L1 = dmit = 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4, 5-dithiolate, L2 = dmid = 1, 3-dithiole-2-one-4, 5-dithiolate, SPh= thiophenolate) (1–4) were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV NMR spectra and so on. The advantages of this method are summarized in two aspects: (1) the preparation is very convenient; (2) the reaction usually completed giving the product with high purity. The crystal structure of 1 showed that the bond distances of Cd(II) to the sulfur of the thiophenolate group are shorter than those of Cd(II) to the sulfur of dmit, so that the thiophenolate group does not be replaced in the reaction and the mixed ligand complexes are the dominant products. The dmit complexes showed well third-order NLO properties, but not of the dmid complexes, although dmid is an analogue to dmit.


This test use two group parents(Zoophobous cotton and normal cotton)dispose 23 combination F_1 one side it has cmopared hybrid superior.on the other side of it analysed superior determination and exploring every characters effect.Result indicated that high superior combination is K_6×K_5。It has super comprehensive characters.Select heavy boll variety as parents is one of basin on dispose high superior combination.


This study aims to identify and analyze the effect on the profitability of the murabaha financing. This research is associative causal. The study population used the financial statements that have been on going public. Sample is the balance sheet and income statement. The data analysis technique used is quantitative data to perform statistical analysis using linear regression analysis, analysis of the correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination analysis, hypothesis testing, and analysis using a t-test. The results showed that the influence of the murabaha financing with proven profitability calculations manually or by program. The conclusion is murabaha financing may affect the profitability of the PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia, Tbk. for the year 1997 to 2006.


Case materials offer a high potential for the learner to interact with content because they are problem-and process-oriented. Details of a case may help learners transfer both process and content outcomes to new situations. Support for using casescomes from many schools of thought although the exact nature of mental interaction are difficult to define. A macro model for the design of case materials is provided that includes: (a) objectives, (b) entry skills, (c) content, (c) questions, and (e) boundaries. Preparing effective questions is particularly critical. New models of design for interactive media such as hypermedia hold promise. Current interactive video systems are seldom used for high-level objectives such as evaluating and judging which is the strength of using case materials and can not be recommended based on cost/ benefit. Case problem-vignettes can be excerpted from other material. Other delivery systems and methods such as print material and role play are highly effective and seem to yield the best return for most education and training needs at the present time.


The effects of composition and temperature on viscosities of liquid metals have been studied by systematical analysis of data found in the literature to estimate the viscosities of liquid alloys. These viscosities are expressed by the following equations: η = A exp(B/RT)A=(1.7×10−7ρ2/3Tm1/2M−1/6)/[exp(B/RTm)]    [Pa · s]B= 2.65Tm1.27    [J · mol-1]where ρ is the density of alloy [kg·m-3], Tm is the absolute temperature of liquidus [K], M is atomic weight [kg·mol-1], and R is gas constant [8.3144 J·mol-1·K-1]. Values calculated from the above equations for the viscosities of various liquid binary alloys were in good agreement with the experimental data from the literature. Using these equations, it is possible to estimate viscosity for any liquid alloy at any temperature.


A 32-year-old man was referred to our orthopedic service for evaluation of a left plantarmedial forefoot mass that had been present for at least 2 years. He had had intermittent foot pain in the past but currently denied any pain or difficulty walking, even with footwear. He had received dialysis


This paper reports on two case studies concerning young children's reasoning about human actions on nature. In each study, children are presented with a different plausible scenario of tree logging, before and after a teaching intervention. The latter has to do with trees as animal-habitats and is set in the broader context of Education for Sustainable Development. We are discussing the possible impact of the teaching intervention as well as that of the probing scenarios, on children's attitudes for tree logging and on the ways they justify them.


The results of investigation of the effect of additions of lithium compounds (LiNO3, LiCl, LiBr, LiF) in the KF–AlF3 eutectic on the spreading of the brazing alloy, strength and microstructure of brazed joints are presented. The dependences of the spreading area of the brazing alloy on the content of the investigated compounds, the microstructure and the results of mechanical tests of the brazed joints are discussed.


This paper explores the Post Cold War origins of the organized criminal violence that once gripped Colombia and now grips Mexico and particularly the highly controversial counterinsurgency strategy used in Colombia that forms the basis for the current strategy in Mexico. It argues that ideology is a reason why the military aspect of these problems was neglected for so long and the reason its detractors see it as a strategy that reduces national sovereignty and endangers democracy when statistics on control of territory, reduction of violence and democratic progress demonstrate the opposite to be true. The paper uses the term "colombianization" to emphasize Colombia's dramatic shift from almost ungovernable to one of the most stable countries in the region. Colombianization is defined not as a counterdrug strategy as are both the Colombian and Mexican U.S. assistance strategies but as an integrated, law-based, counterinsurgency strategy implemented from the bottom up that facilitates the establishment of elite consensus and puts the country on a path toward rule of law. Ironically, it was democratic and free market reforms that strengthened the forces of instability in both Colombia and Mexico and the militarization of security that appears to facilitate democratic stability. This study uses local level assessments of Plan Colombia and local interviews conducted in Chihuahua and Michoacan to evaluate the prospects of colombianization in urban and rural Mexico. Colombia's experience suggests that colombianization can stabilize the country and help reactivate the economy but democratic progress is painfully slow and the strategy has little impact on the drug industry and the corruption associated with it.


This study aims to understand Secondary General Education teachers', 9th through 12th grade teachers of subjects such as math, English science, etc., perceptions and approaches to students with ED. A mixed methods approach was used to survey General Education teachers in a Midwestern high school. General education teachers did not feel adequately prepared to meet the needs of students with an Emotional Disability. Teachers identified many challenges in working with students with ED. Teachers identified how to keep these students engaged in the classroom and interested in learning as a struggle. They also acknowledged the managing the classroom after an outburst from the student as a struggle.


The main goal of this dissertation is to verify if it is possible to outperform the Brazilian stock index (Ibovespa) over the long term using relative valuation, based on past and predicted data. It was chosen four market multiples, according to a survey done with 33 brazilian investment firms: Price/Earnings (P/E), Enterprise Value/Ebitda (EV/Ebitda), Price/Book (P/B) and Enterprise Value/Net Sales (EV/Sales). Considering the limitation of time and data availability, the results suggest that it is possible to beat the market index using relative valuation, mainly with projected and past Value Price/Earnings portfolios. The P/B and EV/sales portfolios also had a good performance, but in smaller proportion when compared against P/E. Regarding to EV/Ebitda, the results were a little disappointing as the pure returns were not statistically different from zero. The base case portfolios were compounded by 12 stocks equally weighted. It was also run a sensitivity analysis using portfolios with different compositions (ranging from 5 to 18 stocks), randon portfolios and with value weighted. KEY-WORDS: Capital Markets, Asset Pricing, Relative Valuation, Investment analysis, Market Efficiency, Price/Earnings.


Emotion is now a consideration for industrial design within the health sphere to help speed the recovery of patients. Communication design however, lags behind other design disciplines in this regard. This paper demonstrates the historical reasons for this: That the health and pharmaceutical graphic aesthetic is the embodiment of the Neue Schweizer Grafik. I will firstly establish that there is a general aesthetic in this genre of graphic design, and secondly that it comes from post-war Switzerland. This mid-century modernist approach to graphics which held designers in thrall into the 1980s still has a stranglehold in those industries where its aseptic appearance seems to be appropriate: medicine, pharmaceuticals, chemistry. This paper explains some of the flaws in the modernist graphic approach, specifically in its rejection of illustration and humour, and argues for design based on psychology and emotion rather than flawed and outdated manifestos.


In this presentation, renowned arts practitioner, Sean Mee, and Nigel Lavender, Executive Director of the Queensland Music Festival, talk about how community arts practice can be used to build cultural captial in communities, using examples such large-scale musicals such as The Road We're ON (Charleville) and Behind the Cand (Bowen), Mee and Lavender highlight the importance of community-driven narrative and particiaption.


Many Chinese-Americans are still influenced by the teachings of Confucius, Laotze, and Buddha. A worker's understanding of how these influences may affect a client's way of life, thinking, and communicative behavior is important to accurate assessment and effective treatment.


Patient handling from hospital bed to CT scan, X-Ray centre, M R Scan, Sonography centre etc is a tedious job. Generally from bed to stretcher trolley the patient is manually transferred. Two persons lift the patient and put him on trolley stretcher. The manual handling of patient is injurious to patient as stresses are produced in the body of patient, especially in neck, backbone, limb joints etc. Also the nursing staffs who handle the patients also face health problems like shoulder, back pain. The primary objective of this device achieved is safe and efficient transfer of an injured patient to and from a hospital bed without any discomfort on account of the transfer. This is accomplished by the use of a pair of endless belts attached to rollers. The slab will travel with the movement of endless belts. A hand operated worm gearbox is used to drive the rollers. Two pairs of finite length belts are used connect slab and endless belts. This device can take a load up to 150kg smoothly which is sufficient for the weight range of obese persons.


Transl Cancer Res 2020;9(4):2154-2156 | http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tcr.2020.03.07 Pancreatic cancer, which is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States, can be initiated by many factors, including mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. The majority of familial pancreatic cancers are caused by these mutations. For individuals with a BRCA2 mutation, the lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer is 5–10% (1-3). It has long been known that, because of deficiencies in homologous recombination repair, patients with BRCA mutations respond well to chemotherapeutic agents that bind to DNA directly and induce double-strand breaks to cause their cytotoxic effect (4). The BRCA mutation prevents tumor cells from repairing the double-strand damage caused by these chemotherapeutic agents. Accumulated DNA damage in the tumor cells ultimately eliminates the tumor. PARP inhibitors are a group of drugs that inhibit cells from repairing double strand breaks (5), and they are used in platinum therapy for cancer. Olaparib (AZD2281) is a powerful oral PARP inhibitor that induces toxicity for BRCA1/2-deficient tumor cells (6). In a recent paper, "Maintenance Olaparib for Germline BRCA-Mutated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer," Golan et al. (2019) screened 3,315 patients with pancreatic cancer and found that 247 of them had a germline BRCA mutation. All 3,315 patients received platinum-based chemotherapy before this study was conducted. Out of the 247 patients with a germline BRCA mutation, 154 were selected for randomized study. Ninety patients were given 300 mg olaparib orally twice a day, and 61 patients were given placebo (7). The authors found no difference in overall median survival between the olaparib (18.9 months) and placebo (18.1 months) groups at a data maturity of 46% (Figure 1). However, at this interim data analysis stage, the median disease-free progression time was longer in the olaparib group (13.2 months) than in the placebo group (9.2 months). Importantly, the median progression-free survival was significantly longer (P=0.004) in the olaparib group (7.4 months) than in the placebo group (3.8 months) at a data maturity of 69%. At the closing of this study (January 15, 2019), 30 patients in the olaparib group and 8 from the placebo group were still on the treatment regime. Moreover, two patients in the olaparib group had a complete response. The authors reported that the duration of median response for the olaparib group was 24.5 months. By contrast, Kaufman et al. (2015) found that, when patients with pancreatic cancer were given 400 mg olaparib orally twice a day, the duration of median response was 134 days (8). Significantly, olaparib was most effective in increasing the progression-free survival of metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with a germline BRCA mutation.


The study of folklore began to distinguish the wondertalea as a quite definite, discrete genre of oral prose narrative toward the end of the nineteenth century. Although there is still no agreement on the most appropriate term to designate this category, the range of folklore texts whose plots are listed in the Aarne-Thompson Index under the numbers 300-7502 is sufficiently well defined that in practical terms it is usually clear whether a particular text belongs to this category. It is much more difficult to determine whether this distinction is conventional, or whether the wondertale does have an objective distinct place among the different varieties of folk oral narratives and constitutes a group of texts linked by common laws, peculiar to them alone, of formation, evolution, and currency. It is quite clear that the wondertale can be characterized not by the motifs it contains (they all exist in other folklore genres as well), but rather by the way these motifs are used to construct the whole. The qual...


The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide international survey conducted every third year with the purpose to evaluate the education systems in many different countries by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year old students. PISA tests the students knowledge in reading, mathematics and science. Since 2000, the PISA test is performed each third year, as 15-year old students are randomly selected worldwide to take a test within these subjects.

The motivation for this study is to investigate why the results of Swedish pupils continues to tumble. Swedish pupils knowledge results have fallen below the OECD average. The declining results and knowledges of Swedish pupils has hence led to a big debate about how this issue could be explained and the education system has been questioned.

In this thesis the purpose is to study the debate about the Swedish PISA results and the national education system. In the study a triangulation of methods is applied. A statistical analysis of national media, mainly news paper articles dating back to year 2000, is applied to show the scope of the debate and how much it has been written about PISA related to the Swedish education system. In the study the main method applied is a qualitative text analysis of national media, news paper articles.

The results of the statistical analys and qualitative text analys shows that the declining teacher status, school segregation and early tracking of pupils, decentralization and the major increase in private schools since the beginning of 1990 are some of the the main explanatory reasons for the declining results of Swedish pupils according to the debate.


Efficient leukocyte trafficking through blood, secondary lymphoid organs, lymphatics, and tissue is critical during the development of the immune response to transplant antigens. Understanding trafficking and migration is important for determining the anatomic domains in which lymphocytes interact with alloantigen presenting cells during the establishment of tolerance. Leukocyte trafficking into the lymph nodes is a process generally known as lymph node homing, and is an important event that determines the outcome of the immune response. However, identifying the precise lymphoid organs where T lymphocytes interact with alloantigen-presenting dendritic cells (DC) under systemic immunosuppression is also necessary for manipulating the immune response towards the development of tolerance. This review summarizes recent findings with regard to leukocyte trafficking to distinct anatomic sites that are responsible for the induction and maintenance of tolerance, and compare these findings to studies that analyze leukocyte migration during priming and rejection in organ transplantation.


Background. Neuroendocrine neoplasms are diverse in terms of sites of origin, functional status, and degrees of aggressiveness. Since neuroendocrine cells are ubiquitous in the human body, these neoplasms can arise in different organs, with gastrointestinal tract being most frequently involved. The past few years have seen a surge in the diagnosis of these neoplasms, which were earlier considered to be rare. Their nomenclature, classification, and diagnostic criteria are revamped frequently, as new knowledge emerges.
Aim. To study the histopathological spectrum of neuroendocrine neoplasms of gastrointestinal tract and assess the immunohistochemical expression of neuroendocrine markers in them.
Material and methods. Ours is a descriptive study of the distribution and pathologic characteristics of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala, over a three year period. Neoplasms were categorised based on 2019 updated WHO classification.
Results. Among the 59 cases, we observed a male predominance. (Male to female ratio - 1.8:1). Most patients were in 6th and 7th decades of life. Duodenum was most frequently involved followed by rectum and appendix. NET G2 and G1 constituted the predominant histologic grades (47% and 24% respectively). NEC and MiNEN were infrequent. All cases were positive for synaptophysin, with variable positivity for chromogranin. Ki67 helped establish the histologic grade. We also came across a rare case of neuroendocrine tumor with coexisting mucinous neoplasm in appendix.
Conclusions. With evolving knowledge and advanced imaging modalities, the incidence of these neoplasms is increasing with time.  Histopathology is the mainstay of diagnosis and plays a decisive role in influencing management protocols and prognosis.


The numerical modeling of elastic-plastic deformation process of unidirectional composite materials is considered. On the basis of simplified deformation theory of plasticity of transversally izotropic environments and finite elements method the computational algorithm and software are developed. This allows applying the theory of small elastic-plastic deformations for the solution of concrete applied tasks on the account of stress - deformed state of fibrous composite materials of complex configuration. The dependence of the mechanical characteristics of a fibrous material on the volumetric contents of a fiber is investigated. The influence of the isolated cavity on elastic-plastic stress-deformed state is researched. On this example the borders of values of the volumetric contents of a fiber, where the interrelation of a fiber and matrix is executed by the best way, are determined


The agglomeration of carbon nanotubes makes the formation of composites difficult as it hinders uniform distribution of carbon nanotubes within the matrix. This paper investigates the effects of alcohol as a de-agglomerating chemicals i.e surfactant or dispersing agent on the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes were purified, dried and reconstituted with the dispersing agents followed by mechanical agitation using sonicator. The formed composites, after embedding the dispersed carbon nanotubes in the Low Density Poly-Ethylene (LDPE) were subjected to mechanical test. The Ultimate Tensile Strength of 4.6MPa and percentage elongation of 25.75% of 0.5%wt CNT/LDPE-alcoholdispersed composites were achieved. The interfacial interaction of the carbon nanotube reinforcement in Low Density Polyethylene was studied using scanning electron microscope. The tubes were seen evenly distributed and perfectly embedded within the low density polyethylene.


Many electrical devices in homes continue to draw power while switched off or not actively performing their primary function. These devices include familiar appliances, such as televisions, microwave ovens, computers, set‐top boxes, mobile phone chargers, and video and audio components but also less obvious devices like dishwashers, tankless water heaters and smoke detectors. The energy use of these devices while in their low‐power modes is now about 980 kWh/year (or 112 watts) per home in California, corresponding to about 13% of the state's total residential electricity use in 2006. If treated as a separate end use, low‐power mode energy use is the fourth largest residential end use. About half of the electricity in the electronics end use is consumed in the low‐power modes.


For the problem that efficiency is low and cost is high existing in the traditional software testing method, the paper tested software using cloud testing technology. It introduced related technologies including cloud testing, and described the design of overall architecture of the system in details, designed and implemented the scheduling module using a high priority first scheduling based on dynamic priority. The results of the Matlab simulation experiment show that this scheduling algorithm can reduce test cost and realize the automation of software testing under the condition of significantly improving test efficiency and resource utilization.


The simplicity and cost-effectiveness of CRISPR technology have made high-throughput pooled screening approaches available to many. However, the large amount of sequencing data derived from these studies yields often unwieldy datasets requiring considerable bioinformatic resources to deconvolute data; a feature which is simply not accessible to many wet labs. To address these needs, we have developed a cloud-based webtool CRISPRCloud2 that provides a state-of-the-art accuracy in mapping short reads to CRISPR library, a powerful statistical test that aggregates information across multiple sgRNAs targeting the same gene, a user-friendly data visualization and query interface, as well as easy linking to other CRISPR tools and bioinformatics resources for target prioritization. CRISPRCloud2 is a one-stop shop for labs analyzing CRISPR screen data.


The purpose of this study is to verify the relationship of three variables(positive and negative emotion, work flow, subjective happiness) of workers who are on duty for various type of occupation. For this purpose, a subject of inquiry was set-up based on the previous researches and theoretical con...


The High Efficiency Neutron Detector Array (HENDA) project at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), Oak Ridge Tennessee, has driven the need for state of the art radiation detector readout electronics. Readout electronics of this class must support multi-channel inputs while providing a high level of integration and precision. The Patara II ASIC targets this need by integrating a charge sensitive front end followed by analog and digital signal processing that supports the connectivity of 64 detectors. A monolithic biasing system and digital programmability was integrated in order to reduce the amount of required external components on the end system motherboard.


BACKGROUND: Due to broad geographical and ecological distribution of Scots pine we witness the shaping of a significant species heterogeneity. There is a demand in researching the features of the genetic structure and differentiation of Scots pine populations in different parts of the range.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 12 populations were scrutinized with the use of ISSR markers. The genetic structure was assessed by estimating basic indicators of genetic diversity (the number of alleles per locus, the number of effective alleles, and the expected heterozygosity) and by the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). Genetic differentiation was assessed by Neis GST statistic, Mantel test, Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA), and creating a tree diagram.
RESULTS: Populations that grow on the right bank of the Volga in the northern and central parts of the Volga Uplands are characterized by a higher genetic diversity (Na = 1.841.89; Ne = 1.341.39; He = 0.2170.241) and a lower subdivision (GST = 0.092). Populations that grow on the left bank proved lower rates of genetic variability (Na = 1.681.81; Ne = 1.271.35; He = 0.1740.218) while the divergence was higher (GST = 0.179). Much of the genetic variability is within the populations (more than 80%).
CONCLUSIONS: The study determined differences in the genetic structure and the degree of differentiation of Scots pine populations, that grow on different banks of the Volga in the Middle and Upper Volga Regions.


Abstract In this paper, we have developed a block cipher by using the elements of cryptography, namely, permutation, substitution, and iteration. These three ideas cause confusion and diffusion effectively. In this, the plain text is represented as a matrix 28x7 in size containing binary bits. We selected a key containing twenty-eight decimal numbers and represented it as a matrix containing binary bits. The cryptanalysis carried out in this paper clearly indicates that the cipher cannot be broken by any cryptanalytic attack.


Forty-seven patients with tinea unguium and 110 tinea unguium, proven bacteriologically and pathologically, were treated with an Nd:YAG laser and Chinese herbal medicine, after which they were analyzed. All patients were adult men and women. The duration of illness varied from 1 to 10 years. The patients were treated with Nd:YAG laser wavelength 1.06 micrometers and the ending output power 500 w/cm2. The diseased nail was removed by laser scanning or cauterization, charring, gasification and coagulation layer by layer until the nail matrix was exposed, and then it was bandaged with a small amount of Chinese herbal medicine. The cure rate is 80.0%. The tinea unguium infection rate of pars super finialis is very high in cities, accounting for more than 80% of the cases among the population. It influences patients' lives and finger appearance. However, removal of tinea unguium with Nd:YAG laser cauterization and coagulation is simple, painless, and does not require disinfection. Also, the reoccurrence rate is low. Treatment of tinea unguium is intractable. Oral administration of griseofulvin and ketoconazole are not completely satisfactory and hardly persist for a long-term treatment course. Moreover, long-term administration of these drugs might produce serious side effects such as renal injuries, leukopenia, psychosis, etc. Thus, we conclude from this data that Nd:YAG laser and Chinese herbal medicine are an effective treatment for hypertrophic scarand kiloid and valuable for further investigations.


We examined the crystallization impact of the surfactant, 2-aminonicotinic acid and/or β-cyclodextrin on the formation of two anhydrous metal carbonates, MCO3 (M = Ca2+ and Sr2+), from their respective calcium chloride and strontium chloride salts along with NaHCO3 at room temperature. By varying the concentrations of this hybrid surfactant to the concentrations of MCO3 during the preparations and examined their particle sizes by PXRD, FTIR, TGA and SEM. The characterization on these newly
formed anhydrous metal carbonates clearly indicated that CaCO3 formed with three different shapes such as truncated calcite, hexagonal calcite and rod shaped aragonite. Whereas, SrCO3 formed with two different shapes such as hexagonal poles and bloom scale bars by varying concentrations of the surfactants. The mixed surfactant certainly made an impact on the metal carbonates formations with different shapes and sizes by varying surfactants concentrations and conditions.


In this Final Degree Project we discuss different multivariate analysis techniques applied in ecology and environmental biology. In the first chapter, we present four basic classes of methods of multivariate analysis: regression, scaling or ordination, clustering and classification. The following chapters are devoted to explain those techniques. We start with regression methods in Chapter 1. We explain linear regression and several variants of it, gathered together under the collective title of generalized linear models. The third chapter contains ordination methods such us factor analysis, correspondence analysis and canonical corresponence analysis, one of the key methodologies in ecology, which attemps to relate multivariate biological responses to multivariate environmental predictors. Ordination methods simplify multivariate data into low dimensional graphics. The fourth chapter introduces clustering and discriminant analysis, which are used for grouping a set of objects in different categories. Both methods visualize inter-sample and inter-variable relationships in a fairly simple way. In the last chapter, we have drawn several conclusions from this work. In order to illustrate the statistical methods discussed throughout the proyect, we carry out some case studies using data sets on ecology. All the analyses presented in the project can be replicated using the R scripts and data sets that are avaiable on appendix A.


Landslides are natural disasters that normally cause misery over the Mount Elgon region, especially in Bududa district. A landslide early warning system was developed in collaboration with the community and this study investigated it's effectiveness in disseminating warnings to the community. The data were collected from 82 respondents (mean age 43) and 4 focus group discussions (one per village). Majority of the respondents lost crops (35.9%); land (29.8%); lives and livestock (6.9%). The frequent occurrence of landslides is due to the changes in landuse patterns; settlement on steep slopes; and prolonged rainfall of low intensities. The study found that, 93.2% of respondents have ever received the warnings and alerts. 78.8% of those who received the warnings evacuated. The use of radios to disseminate warnings is the most efficient communication channel (44.4%) followed by using the clan members (19.5%). Only 40% of the women received the early warning through radios, an indicator that this channel puts women at a disadvantage. The main challenges regarding utilization of early warning system were: poor timing (29.9%); poor coordination (20.7%); and poor sensitization (18.4%). There is need to strengthen the community networks, and with continuous sensitization, the effectiveness of the landslides early warning will improve and this is expected to enhance the resilience of the community to landslides.


In the recent past, researchers and practitioners have been attempting failure prevention as one of the major enablers of attaining continuous quality improvement. For this, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) technique is adopted to reduce the probability of system failure and achieve good product quality. However, there has been no significant effort made by the researchers to overcome the pitfalls of FMEA. This practical gap is overcome by applying a technique called total failure mode and effect analysis (TFMEA). This research gap has been indicated and explored further by conducting literature review to draw synergy out of TFMEA along with the unconquered areas of the TFMEA, where TFMEA can be applied. A roadmap for implementing TFMEA has also been contributed in this paper.


More than a decade has passed since APHA adopted its first Public Health Code of Ethics, but as issues such as access to care and climate change evolve, Association members say it is time for an update.


A quantitative risk measurement method was developed to analyze the influence of the coordination mechanism on risk allocation in the supply chain. The method was used to study risk allocation when the supply chain achieves channel coordination with several commonly used contracts. When a buy back contract is used, the risk of the retailer is equal to that of the manufacture. When a two part tariff contract is used, the risk of one unit is zero and the risk of the supply chain system is taken by the other side. When a target rebate contract is used, the risk of the retailer is larger than that of the supply chain. The characteristics of these contracts were then combined into a new kind of contract where the supply chain achieves channel coordination and the system profit and risk of arbitrarily are allocated between the retailer and the manufacturer.


The steroid hormone 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 [1 alpha,25(OH)2D3] stimulates biological responses via both genomic mechanisms and nongenomic mechanisms (opening of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels). We report here that 1 beta, 25(OH)2-vitamin-D3 (a) is devoid of activity as an agonist for transcaltachia, (b) is a potent stereospecific antagonist of 1 alpha,25 (OH)2D3 stimulation of the nongenomic transcaltachia response and also (c) has less than 1% the ability of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 to bind to the chick intestinal nuclear 1 beta,25(OH)2D3 receptor. We conclude that the membrane response element(s) which generates the nongenomic response of transcaltachia has a different ligand specificity than the classic nuclear 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 receptor.


We study the message complexity of distributed algorithms in tori and chordal Rings when the communication links are unlabeled, which implies that the processors do not have "sense of direction." We introduce the paradigm ofhandrailwhich allows messages to travel with a consistent direction. We give a distributed algorithm which confirms the conjecture that the leader election problem for unlabeled tori ofNprocessors can be solved using ?(N) messages instead ofO(NlogN). Using the samehandrailparadigm, we solve the election problem using ?(N) messages in unlabeled chordal rings with one chord (of length approximatelyN). This solves the long-standing open problem of the minimal number of unlabeled chords required to decrease theO(NlogN). message complexity. For each topology, we give an algorithm to compute the sense of direction in ?(N) messages (improving theO(NlogN) previous results). This proves the more fundamental result that any global distributed algorithm for these labeled topologies can be used with a similar asymptotic complexity in the respective unlabeled class.


Abstract The recent crisis in East Timor highlights the inadequacy of existing Asia-Pacific security arrangements to cope with regional crises, and the increasing importance of the relationship of international security and human rights in the post-cold war world. The role of the United States in the crisis was complicated by the legacy of its past support for Indonesian repression in East Timor. However, the inability of other states in the region to act in concert to influence the disposition of the crisis ceded leadership to the United States and Australia. This result imposed costs on all the relevant actors and set back the prospects for developing regional security mechanisms capable of reacting quickly and effectively to such crises in the future. At the same time, the crisis demonstrated the growing role of civil society and communication technologies in international politics, which is increasingly forcing capable powers to cope with the humanitarian imperatives as well as the security concerns that such crises raise. This emerging role suggests that similar crises are likely to arise with increasing frequency. Thus, the need has never been greater for mechanisms enabling both states and non-state parties to cooperatively and rapidly meet the intertwined humanitarian and security challenges such crises pose.


The laccase of Coriolus versicolor CV-8 was purified by salting out from ammonium sulfate,dialyzed by semipermeable membrane,DEAE-Cellulose ion exchange and Sephadex G100 column chromatography in order to explore its productive situation and characteristics.It was purified 36.1 times;and the specific activity and recovery of purification laccase were 10180 u/mg and 46.6% respectively.The curve of laccase production and optimal condation of laccase reaction were also studied.The results showed that Coriolus versicolor came the laccase production peak which was 398u/ml at the 11 day in this culture condition.The optimal temperature and optimal pH of laccase reaction were at 25℃ and pH4.6.Mg~(2+),Mn~(2+) and Cu~(2+) increased laccase activity whereas Ag~+,Fe~(3+) and Cl~-obviously inhibited it.The form view Km of laccase was 892×10~(-3)mol/L with o-Tolidine as substrate.This fungus can be the productive strain of the Lignin Degradation and the laccase in envirmental protection industry.


macs' is rendered plural, even though the name in its Aboriginal formulation is plural. As Ruth Holmes Whitehead once observed, 'saying "Micmacs" is like saying "Englishmens."' Although the two parts of this North American volume of The Cambridge History of the Native Peoples of the Americas have their defects, the work stands as an impressive summing-up of Euro-American scholarship on Aboriginal peoples in the early 1990s. It will be a boon to students as they begin research on a particular period or topic. However, it is to be hoped that it will be the first, rather than the only, source on which neophytes rely. J.R. MILLER University of Saskatchewan


Two hundred eighty‐nine patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus underwent subtotal esophagectomy from December 1965 to June 1986. Resection of esophageal carcinoma was absolutely noncurative in 64 patients (20%) due to invasion to the surrounding structures. These 64 patients were subdivided as follows into three groups based on the type of preoperative treatment: Group I included 16 patients without preoperative treatment; Group II included 38 patients with preoperative radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy (average doses: radiation 37.3 Gy, 1‐(2‐tetrahydrofuryl)‐5‐fluorouracil [tegafur] 8.4 g); Group III included 10 patients who underwent preoperative hyperthermia (42°C to 45°C) combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (average doses: radiation 33 Gy, bleomycin 33.9 mg, or cis‐diamine dichloroplatinum 75 mg, hyperthermia 6.2 times). There were no significant differences in terms of postoperative therapy among the three groups. The median survival times for patients in Groups I, II, and III were 6, 7.5 and 11 months, respectively. The 2‐year survival rates for patients in Groups I, II, and III were 0, 15.6%, and 34.3%, respectively. The prognosis in Group III was superior to that for Group I (P < 0.05) and Group II. These results suggest that preoperative hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy could prolong survival even in patients who have had noncurative resection.


examination of the ways African Americans have interacted with technology from the days that the first enslaved Africans reached colonial shores to the present can greatly inform the ways in which scholars approach the larger questions of ethnicity, race, and the technological relationship of racially or otherwise marginalized peoples in the United States. As engaging and insightful as some of the essays are in the collection, this volume as a whole only provides a brief glimpse into the relationships between African Americans and technology and an even briefer glimpse into race and technology relationships. Nevertheless, this text does indicate that the connections between African American people and technology have been understudied.


We thank Professor Wiwanitkit for his interest in our paper. We agree with him that preanalytical errors can and should be controlled before optical coherence tomography scan acquisition. As mentioned in our paper, some examples include proper centering of the peripapillary circle as well as proper foveal centering by the operator before scanning. However, despite the best efforts at centering by the operator, artifacts may be induced due to the microsaccades occurring during scan acquisition. Thus, eye tracking might be useful during scan acquisition. Frequent blinking can be encouraged to reduce the impact of dry eye just before scan acquisition. However, though scan errors can be reduced, they cannot be avoided altogether. This is because typical scan acquisition takes place after the pupils have been dilated and intraocular pressure has been checked, both of which require instillation of eye drops that may predispose to disturbance of the tear film. Reduction of preanalytical errors can be achieved by performing scans during a separate visit when visual field testing and gonioscopy have not been performed, both of which might contribute to corneal dryness thus affecting scan quality. This, however, may not be practical in some patients. Attention to the above two issues in addition to ensuring good dilation of the pupil should help reduce preanalytical errors.


Clustering is the application of data mining techniques to discover patterns from the database. This research work incorporates soft clustering concept, which is the process of deriving the information from the similarity from the unsupervised database. The choice of a suitable distance measure is crucial to the clustering process and, given the vast number of distance measures for time series available in the literature and their diverse characteristics, this selection is not straightforward. To overcome these issues, this research work presents an optimal perspective on the problem of Similarity Measure Selection for Clustering Time Series Databases applications. The proposed method called "Agglomerative Hierarchical algorithm Clustering deviations for tree classification in large database", which takes as key measures of correspondence between pairs of data points. The proposed method is to establish a unified framework on unsupervised data sets.


This paper consists of four general parts: convex sets; convex functions; convex optimization; and the interior-point algorithm. I will start by introducing the definition of convex sets and give three common convex set examples which will be used later in this paper, then prove the significant separating and supporting hyperplane theorems. Stepping into convex functions, in addition to offering definitions, I will also prove the first order and second-order conditions for convexity of a function, and then introduce a couple of examples that will be used in a convex optimization problem later. Next, I will provide the official definition of convex optimization problems and prove some characteristics they have, including the existence (through optimality criterion) and the uniqueness of a solution. I will also generate two convex optimization problems, one of which cannot be simply solved and requires additional skills. Afterward, I will introduce duality, for the sake of constructing the interior-point method. In the last section, I will first present the descent method and Newton's method, which serve as the foundation of the interior-point method. Then, I will show how to use the logarithmic barrier function and the central path to build up the interior-point method.


Ownership simplifies reasoning about object-oriented programs by controlling aliasing and modifications of objects. Several type systems have been proposed to express and check ownership statically...


The sensor, spontaneous breathing is sensed. At the end of the inspiration operation, by a jet gas stream, the oxygen additional amount to the lungs is administered. Respiration rate, absorption of oxygen in the inspiratory and removal of carbon dioxide in exhaled is improved. If necessary, in order to avoid collapse of the airway, can inhibit or slow the patient's exhalation operation by backflow. Apparatus containing oxygen pump can be connected to an oxygen source, include tracheal prosthesis, which may be connected through a catheter. Breath detection sensor is connected to a control unit for activating the oxygen pump. The tracheal prosthesis, includes a tubular support body with a connecting portion of the catheter, the sensor is accompanied by support body. Artificial trachea and jet catheter, the patient is free to breathe, made to a size that can be spoken to the unconstrained.


This study investigated the social and cultural notions by capturing Emma Watson's speech on gender equality campaign to find out types of semiotic rules principles which can be applied in formal conditions as well as the function in the speech, by employing the theory of van Leeuwen (2004) on semiotic rules with 5 subcategories. The descriptive qualitative method was used in analyzing the paper, in which the data were collected randomly, then analyzed them with the five theories mentioned above, and drew conclusion based on the findings and discussion. The result of this study was divided into four parts for which it was discovered that four of the five rules were used by the speaker, and one was absent due to her own assumption about the matter and the pressure of being an ambassador. The result also demonstrated the nature of the speech as a mere promotional campaign rather than a start of a bigger movement to solve inequality problem in the society.


A method for coating a toner is provided to improve transfer efficiency and resolution by coating an external additive to a toner particle without the application of excessive shear force. A method for coating a toner comprises the steps of preparing a toner particle and an external additive; and coating the toner particle with the external additive at a temperature of 40 deg.C to a glass transition temperature(Tg). Preferably the toner particle is prepared by adding a dispersant and an anionic surfactant to an aqueous solution; preparing a monomer composite; adding the monomer composite to the aqueous solution; and applying shear strength to the monomer composite added to the aqueous solution to polymerize the monomer composite with pulverizing it into colloidal microparticles.


An object of the present invention is to provide a spiral spring assembly that is capable of suppressing lateral force generated in a central shaft. A spiral spring assembly 1 includes a central shaft 2; a spiral spring 3 that is disposed on the periphery of the central shaft 2 and includes an outer end 3a, an inner end 3b, and a spiral portion 3c that connects the outer end 3a and the inner end 3b in a spiral form; an inner end fixing member 4 to which the inner end 3b is fixed so as to be capable of transmitting torque; and an outer end fixing member 5 to which the outer end 3a is fixed, and which is capable of moving relative to the inner end fixing member 4 within a predetermined section extending from a first state to a second state. The outer end 3a is fixed to the outer end fixing member 5 so as to be capable of transmitting torque and suppressing a lateral force that is generated in the central shaft 2 in a predetermined state within the predetermined section.


We extend Takuro Onishi's result on displaying substructural negations by formulating display calculi for non-normal versions of impossibility and unnecessity operators, called regular and co-regular negations, respectively, by Dimiter Vakarelov. We make a number of connections between Onishi's work and Vakarelov's study of negation. We also prove a decidability result for our display calculus, which can be naturally extended to obtain decidability results for a large number of display calculi for logics with negative modal operators.


A 54-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with a half-year history of cough. Physiological examination revealed an unmovable, infant's head-sized mass at the left lateral abdominal region. CT scan and ultrasonography showed irrguler and partly cystic patterns in the mass of 35×20 cm in size. Angiography disclosed encasement and A-V shunt of the left gastroepiploic left hepatic, and left phrenic arteries which fed the tumor.Laparotomy and left thracotomy were performed on October 26th, 1988. The tumor was partly covered with the omentum with enlaged vessels, and adhered to the spleen, left diapragma, left lobe of the liver and sotmach.In order to remove the tumor, splenectomy, partial left lobectomy of the liver and resection of the diaphragma were performed. Macroscopically the tumor was 40×26×15 cm in size and 5800 g in weight and the surface was irregular with lobulation. Histologic diagnosis was liomyosarcoma.


The gastrointestinal tract of ruminants contains a considerable number of microbes that can utilize lignocellulosic biomass from plants. In this study, faecal samples of a local white spotted swamp buffalo or tedong bonga from North Toraja, South Sulawesi [Bubalus bubalis carabanesis] were investigated to aimed bacterial isolate that are capable of degrading both cellulose and xylan. Direct isolation and enrichment methods were performed by using selective medium containing 1% carboxymethyl cellulose [CMC] or xylan in the isolation process. Plate screening and enzyme quantification indicate that 11 out of 25 isolates have double actions of cellulase and xylanase with the range of 0.18-0.30 U/ml and 0.10-1.56 U/ml, respectively. Further, molecular identification using 16S rRNA gene for four selected isolates shows that three strains [KBX04, KBX07 and KBX08] were identical to Bacillus altitudinis 41KF2bT [100%] while another strain [KBX03] were identical to Cellulomonas flavigena DSM 20109T [99%]. We demonstrated that faeces from ruminants are a promising source for lignocellulose degrading bacteria that could be used for biomass conversion.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide the details of developments to researchers in test apparatus and evaluation methods to rate the thermal protective performance (TPP) of firefighters' clothing under high-temperature and high-humidity condition. Design/methodology/approach – This review paper describes the influence laws of moisture on thermal protection and the moisture distribution in actual fire environment. Different evaluation methods used for assessing the effect of moisture on the TPP were investigated, with an emphasis on test devices, evaluation indexes as well as their relationship and limitations. Findings – The moisture from the ambient, clothing and human perspiration plays an important role in determining the TPP of firefighter protective clothing. It is obvious that research on moisture-driven heat transfer in firefighter's clothing system are comparatively little, primarily focussing on pre-wetted methods of multi-layer fabric. Further studies should be conducted to develop ...


I had the good fortune to study electron microscopy at UC Berkeley during my graduate studies under the expert guidance of Gareth Thomas. He was a true master of the electron microscope and had an incredible gift for applying electron microscopy to solve critical problems. My year-long fellowship under Gareth was a pivotal experience in my life and had a profound influence on my conception of how materials science research should be conducted. I am deeply grateful to Gareth for his influence on my development as a materials scientist and I truly believe that he deserves recognition for his positive impact on an entire generation of materials scientists such as myself. I would like to honour Gareth by highlighting a few of my research endeavours in which electron microscopy has played a crucial role.


A 65-year-old man reported to Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with a painful swelling over the left mandibular molar region and inability to open the mouth since one month. The patient gave history of pain since one and half month and noticed the swelling since 15 days. His general health was non-contributory and clinical examination revealed poor oral hygiene with fixed partial dentures, periodontitis and gingivitis. Intra-oral examination revealed smooth localized swelling in relation to tooth #36, which was grossly decayed with deep periodontal pocket involving furcation area with food debris and calculus. There was pain on palpation and percussion. Oral hygiene was poor with fixed partial dentures, gingivitis and periodontitis. A provisional diagnosis of chronic periodontal abscess was given and differential diagnoses of chronic periapical abscess/granuloma were considered. On radiographic examination Orthopantomograph (OPG) revealed periapical radiolucency pertaining to tooth #36 [Table/Fig-1]. With a clinical diagnosis of a chronic periapical abscess due to combined periodontic-endodontic involvement was considered. As the tooth was grossly decayed with furcation involvement, the patient was referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for extraction of tooth #36.


In this paper, we investigate the problem of covering the vertices of a graph associated to a finite vector space as introduced by Das \cite{Das}, such that we can uniquely identify any vertex by examining the vertices that cover it. We use locating-dominating sets and identifying codes, which are closely related concepts for this purpose. These sets consist of a dominating set of graph such that every vertex is uniquely identified by its neighborhood within the dominating sets. We find the location-domination number and the identifying number of the graph and study the exchange property for locating-dominating sets and identifying codes.


The policy environment surrounding issues of the safety and nutritional quality of the U.S. food supply is in considerable,although not unusual,turmoil. Calls for reform touch on every aspect of the regulatory effort,including standards,methods of achieving standards,and the choice of agencies for regulatory responsibility. The most recent large scale incident was in Washington,Idaho,California,and Nevada in early 1993 where approximately 500 people suffered cases of hemorrhagic colitis associated with E. coli 0157:H7 and three children died from eating contaminated hamburgers served at a fast food restaurant chain (U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1993,Schneider 1993). Another significant incident was the 1985 Chicago outbreak of salmonellosis associated with tainted pasteurized milk (Ryan et al. 1987),while concerns mount about salmonella in chicken,Alar on apples.


Objective:To explore effect of four fixation methods for fracture of tibia and fibula.Methods:A total of 320 cases with fracture of tibia and fibula admitted during Aug.2004 to Sep 2009 were treated by four fixation methods:closure reduction and fixation with gypsum,internal fixation with steel plate,external fixation with frame and cross intramedullary pin.The effect was compared.Results:The follow-up for 1-2 years showed that the average time for callus appearance was 6-8 weeks,clinical cure duration was 23-26 weeks in patients with closure reduction and external fixation by gypsum,22-25 weeks in internal fixation by steel plate group,25-27 weeks in external fixation by frame group,and 18-21 weeks in intramedullary pin group.Complication occurred in each group.And cases with intramedullary pin had shortest cure duration and lowest incidence of complication(P0.05).Conclusions:Cross intramedullary pin is stable,of few injury and complication,and can be the first option for treating multi-segment fracture.


With the development of the national economy and the society in China, job burnout has become an epidemic syndrome. As for female employees, they face greater job pressures and suffer form more serious job burnout than their male counterparts. The purpose of this paper is to probe what causes job burnout of female employees and how job burnout can be prevented and mitigated. Based on the study of female employees at Huangpu district of Shanghai through interviews and questionnaires, we conclude that job burnout of female employees is due to organizational, environmental, and personal factors. Finally, we propose some measures for preventing and mitigating job burnout of female employees.


This study investigates electron transport and distribution of an organometallic dimer‐based dopant (RuCp*Mes)2 in benchmarked P(NDI2OD‐T2) films, in which electron transport is not affected by deep traps originating from atmospheric contaminants. The electron mobility of P(NDI2OD‐T2) can be enhanced by >10' in diodes with reduced thermal activation energy using (RuCp*Mes)2 dopants, which is rationalized by the filling up of tail electronic states by doping induced carriers. n‐doping with (RuCp*Mes)2 can also improve electron injection at Schottky contacts in nanoscale transport measurements confirmed by conducting atomic force microscopy. The results suggest that the (RuCp*Mes)2 dopants are homogenously distributed throughout the P(NDI2OD‐T2) film, at least laterally, at moderate doping concentrations. Thus, these results demonstrate an opportunity of using air‐stable molecular n‐doping to modulate charge transport properties for solution‐processed organic optoelectronic devices.

publisher-specific, author manuscript: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions


The chief impression gained from reading this book is that there must be few data on psychosomatic disease in childhood and adolescence. Some of the papers are not particularly concerned with the young; and of those that are, many deal with the general management of "emotional disturbances." One is struck by the lack of reasonably hard data with respect to many of the questions discussed, a lack that presumably reflects not poor selection by the editors but rather the state of the literature with respect to this age group. There are many interesting clinical insights and case reports of various sorts, the kind of things that might provide leads for the systematic research that should be the next step. Readers dealing with individual patients may find that they are helped in their own clinical activities by some of the material presented. There is a useful reprinting of Ring's evidence for


Ni/CeO 2-ZrO 2-Al 2O 3 catalysts were prepared using hydro-thermal method. CO 2 reforming of CH 4 reactions were carried out with or without vapor. The amount of carbon deposit and the EXAFS of K-edge of Ni were measured. The result shows that the nearest Ni-Ni coordination distances do not change obviously, but the coordination numbers of the nearest Ni-Ni shell change obviously. The nearest Ni-Ni coordination number reduces largely after reaction without vapor. For the condition of accession of vapor, the nearest Ni-Ni coordination numbers reduce much smaller than that of without vapor. The accession of vapor can reduce the amount of carbon deposit, stabilize the Ni structure, and thereby increase the stability of CO 2 reforming of CH 4 reaction.


Objective: To determine optimal level of serial section in transbronchial and pleural biopsy that yield maximal definite diagnosis. Methods: A cross sectional study of 118 transbronchial biopsy and pleural biopsy specimens submitted with serial sectioning in 3 levels were performed. Specimens of 1 mm. in diameter were serially cut and slides at levels I, II, III (120, 240 and 360 µm.) from initial exposure of tissue in paraffin blocks were studied, and specimens of 2-3 mm. in diameter were cut at levels I, II, III (0, 120 and 240 µm.) after tissues in paraffin blocks were trimmed to expose maximal diameter. Comparisons of diagnoses of each level were done. Results: The percentages of definite diagnoses were 89, 95.8 and 93.2 in sections of level I, II and III, respectively. Chronic granulomatous lesions were found in section level II more than other levels, but there was no statistical significance. (P value 0.131, Chi-Square test) Conclusion: Transbronchial and pleural biopsy specimens should be cut deep to level II, one slide for hematoxylin-eosin staining and 3 unstained slides for further investigation.


Tactical ballistic missiles (TBM) target may experience severe spiral maneuvers as they reenter the earth's atmosphere due to a configurational asymmetry. To hit these targets, the interceptor must possess extremely fast maneuver response characteristics. Before 10 sees to go optimal integrated guidance and control (OIGC) is slightly better than a conventional autopilot. From 2 to 10 sees OIGC is much better than a conventional autopilot in closing up trajectories. However, with 2 sees to go, OIGC uses up full authority and with the aerodynamic surfaces alone may not catch the tactical ballistic missile target. Therefore, there is a need for thrusters. In this paper, a blending mechanism of optimal integrated guidance and control (OIGC) and fuzzy logic controlled thruster is developed for a skidto-turn missile to improve the missile interception performance. OIGC is an innovative approach to designing guidance and control laws. The OIGC approach combines the guidance law and autopilot designs into one framework so that the end-game parameters can be accounted for in the control gains. This design augmentation has the merits of optimizing the interactions between the guidance dynamics and control dynamics, leading to a reduced miss distance. Fuzzy logic control is used to determine the magnitude and direction of the thrust. As a result, the blending control of the OIGC controlled aerodynamic surface and the fuzzy logic controlled thruster is specifically investigated. A 6DOF nonlinear missile model is


When computing the Fourier Transform with a microprocessor, the speed and complexity of the algorithm which is used become especially important. The most frequently used algorithm has been the Fast Fourier Transform. More recently developed algorithms require fewer multiplications and about the same number of additions as the FFT. A comparison of these algor ithms is made and some possible structures of machines are suggested. A description of a machine built to use one of the new algorithms is given and the problems which were encountered are discussed.


Overhang,jumping,endurance exercise as the main content of the exercise prescription,using the orthogonal experimental method,for around 17 years of age in university freshmen was conducted over a period of eight months of experimental. The results show that,the effect of exercise prescription on height growth is very significant,while females did not exhibit significant differences. Three factors,overhang practice the greatest contribution to the height growth of human body,followed by bounce practice and endurance exercise; The optimal combination of various factors appear in group two,namely: Standing vertical jump or jump rope,Drape vibration waves,and 1600 m variable speed run,are most favorable for height growth.


Summary Importance of Coula edulis Baill. for the People of South-East Gabon: Harvest Levels and Economic Potential Coula edulis is a non-timber forest tree species that provides edible fruits for local people. However, its economical importance has never been quantified. The present study aimed to identify the fate of stocks of harvested C. edulis fruits in Gabonese villages, emphasizing the social impact and economic income generated by this activity. Our investigations revealed that C. edulis fruits are predominantly utilized for own subsistence, since trading proportion concerned less than 20% of collected fruits. The average income from trade during the harvest period (two months) varied from € 1.7 to € 3.3 per household, depending on the proximity of the market (local or urban). The economical potential of C. edulis fruits could be improved if a sustainable production strategy through domestication processes and agroforestry practices was developed. Such a strategy may also contribute to the increase of the local demand of C. edulis fruits, assuming that a better diffusion was also carried out.


Anthropogenic activities like industrialization, unplanned urbanization, deforestation and profit oriented capitalism have resulted introduction of many undesirable substances into our immediate environment creating environmental degradation to a great extent. Normally, nature takes
 the responsibility of reducing the adverse effect of these substances through the operation of many physical, chemical and biological processes such that these substances can be partitioned in various biotic and a-biotic components of an environmental ecosystem. Present study is an attempt
 to highlight the extent of partitioning of some heavy metals in the compartments of water, sediments, macrophyte and fishes of a sewage-fed fishery pond in East Kolkata Wetland (EKW). Study distinctly revealed that all heavy metals show a common preference to be deposited on the sediments
 with higher values (28.5 to 56.5%) followed by macrophytes (20.3 to 35.4%), fishes (15.7 to 43.2%) and water (less than 1.0%). Similar types of partitioning might be observed in each higher plants and animals. As an example, in fishes, higher accumulation of heavy metals were in viscera (27.5
 to 69.2%) followed by bone (4.6 to 47.7%), gill (8.1 to 30.6%) and least in flesh (< 1.0 to 19.0%). Again, in cases of toxic metals, it has been observed that flesh contains less than 1% and while the essential group of metals (Zn and Cr) showed comparatively higher degree of accumulation
 (11.3 to 19.5 %). Thus, the study evidently forecasted that re-distribution of heavy metals in large number of inter and intra compartments of natural biotic and abiotic agents, could be considered as the most effective mechanism for reducing the undesirable consequences of heavy metals or
 any toxic waste along with passage of time.


Financial Disclosure(s): Sonia Ancoli-Israel is a consultant, is on the advisory board, and/or on the Speaker's Bureau for Acadia, Cephalon, Inc., King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., Neurogen, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., SanofiAventis, Sepracor, Inc., Somaxon, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. David G. Folks is a consultant for and/or on the Speaker's Bureau for Abbott, Forest, Novartis, Pfizer, and Sepracor. Andrew D. Krystal is a consultant, has research grant funding, is on the advisory board, and/or Speaker's Bureau for Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Cephalon, Inc., Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., Sepracor Inc., Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Organon, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., Respironics, Neuronetics, Cyberonics, Mecta Corporation, Transoral, Neurogen, and Somaxon. W. Vaughn McCall has received research support from Sepracor, Wyeth, Glaxo Smith-Kline, Takeda, and Sanofi. Dr. McCall has received honoraria for participating in the Speaker Bureau of Glaxo Smith-Kline and Sepracor. Author Contributions: Drs. Ancoli-Israel, Folks, Krystal, and McCall all contributed to the conceptualization, writing, and editing of this work. Sponsor's Role: There was no sponsor for this letter.


The Family Planning Association of Kenya (FPAK) has been instrumental in developing a body of motivated and trained personnel both in the public and private sectors to meet the demand for voluntary surgical contraception (VSC) services. In Kenya the introduction of ambulatory procedures using local anesthesia with sedation sharply increased the demand for VSC which now exceeds the supply of services. At the Provincial General Hospital in Nyeri alone 1422 tubal ligation procedures were performed between 1979-83 and the number of clients increased from 118 in 1979 to 400 in 1983. The need for trained service delivery personnel rose in response to the demand for services. To meet this increasing demand a training program was initiated in 1978 with the objective of creating and organizing motivated teams of physicians and assistants who could provide VSC procedure under local anesthesia in rural settings. The Ministry of Health the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Nairobi and the FPAK have contributed to this ongoing program. Training facilities and funds have been provided by international organizations. The program trains physicians in laparoscopy and minilaparotomy and operating room nurse assistants in the care and maintenance of equipment. Originally trainers for the program received instruction abroad through the Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO). Upon their return they worked with training personnel from the Ministry of Health the University of Nairobi and FPAK to develop curricula and select institutions for local in-country training. About 250 physicians and 20 nurses have been trained since the program began in 1978. Training for laparoscopists and nurse assistants is provided at Kenyatta National Hospital. Because laparoscopy calls for teamwork on the part of the surgeon and the nurse planners have developed training programs for the team rather than the surgeon alone. Provincial hospitals in Nyeri Machakos and Mombasa offer instruction in minilaparotomy. By the end of the training period participants have completed a minimum of 10 solo procedures. Course materials for laparoscopy and minilaparotomy trainees cover population issues the effects of childbearing on maternal health and temporary and permanent methods of contraception for both sexes. While clinical practice is the main component of training trainees also learn to manage VSC programs. Training staff at the Nyeri minilaparotomy training course have worked with course participants to develop a manual on how to organize and manage a VSC clinic. The manual based on experiences with African clients outlines management procedures that are most suitable for the African environment and provides guidelines for maintaining safe high quality services.


THE PATIENT is a 79-year-old man who was evaluated for treatment of a basal cell carcinoma on his left antihelix. Clinically, he had an ill-defined, pearly, telangiectatic, ulcerated plaque involving the left antihelix. Mohs micrographic surgery was indicated because of the high-risk location, large size, and illdefined clinical margins. Vigorous curettement of the gross tumor and three Mohs micrographic surgery stages were required to obtain a tumor-free plane. The final defect measured 3.5 2.3 cm. It extended from the inner rim of the helix to the inferior crus of the antihelix and through the cartilage of the triangular fossa and superior antihelical crus to the level of the dermis on the posterior aspect of the ear (Figure 1). How would you repair this defect?


In May 1848 the Irish revolutionary nationalist John Mitchel was convicted of treasonfelony
and sentenced to fourteen years transportation to the hulk convict station at
Bermuda, where he remained from June 1848 until April 1849. He then spent another
tortuous eleven months on the convict transport the Neptune. He wrote about his
experiences in his famous Jail Journal, a classic in the literature of the prison. This
writing had therapeutic value and helped Mitchel cope with his captivity while held on
the accommodation hulk the Dromedary, what he called his 'seaweed state'. The
mental anguish of being incarcerated on the Dromedary and being unable to fight for
Irish freedom drove Mitchel, the archetypal man of action, close to madness. The Jail
Journal gives a vivid view of incarceration from the point of view of an educated
insider, but is here analysed in depth for the first time. Like other captivity narratives, it
is rich and revealing not only about Mitchel's own feelings on death, madness, mental
decline, suicide, and loss of freedom and family, but also about his fellow convicts, his
guards and the transportation system itself. Above all it demonstrates the triumph of the
human mind over the physical and mental adversity of shipboard incarceration.


In the present article, we construct the traveling wave solutions involving parameters of some nonlinear PDEs; namely the nonlinear Klein - Gordon equations, the nonlinear reaction- diffusion equation, the nonlinear modified Burgers equation and the nonlinear Eckhaus equation by using the modified (G′/G)- expansion method, where G satisfies a second order linear ordinary differential equation. When these parameters are taken special values, the solitary waves are derived from the traveling waves. The traveling waves solutions are expressed by hyperbolic, trigonometric and the rational functions.


Detailed numerical simulations were performed to study the mechanics of the using Reversed injection VGJs(Vortex Generator Jets)to control the flow separation occurred on the suction side of low pressure turbine at low Reynolds numbers.The results show that the fully developed turbulence boundary layers on the blade surface caused by reversed injection VGJs restrain the flow separation.This mechanism of separation control is very different from the 90° VGJs.The reversed injection VGJs can be treated as the Turbulence Intensity Generator.The VGJs with 135° skew angle could reduce the injection mass 67% compared to the 90° VGJs at the nearly same flow separation control performance.It showed that the VGJs with 135° skew angle may be a better way to reduce the flow loss.


Automotive slope downshift manually start the complexity and danger, we specifically developed the initial slope of anti-skid, and can effectively address the issue.


One of the main problem areas within computer graphics is simulating natural phenomena's, working with fluid solvers, and particle systems. In the special effects industry, there is a demand for mi ...


The utility model discloses a cam board for a computerized flat-bar knitting machine. The cam board comprises a bottom board, as well as a left guard cam, a left lower guard cam, a right guard cam and a right lower guard cam which are arranged on the bottom board, wherein a left needle selector is arranged on the bottom board between the left guard cam and the left lower guard cam; and a right needle selector is arranged on the bottom board between the right guard cam and the right lower guard cam. The cam board has a simple structure because the left needle selector and the right needle selector are reasonably and skillfully arranged on the bottom board of the cam board device, so that the failure rate is reduced while the needle selection function is increased.


Abstract : This report documents the results of a technical support task performed for the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM). U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM) is interested in the use of inertial sensors for the guidance and control of robot manipulators. A project has been launched to conduct a preliminary control system. This task was to provide technical support for the project, including dynamic and error analysis, modeling, data reduction, control scheme establishment, algorithm development, and performance evaluation.


An all-optical logic NOR gate operating at 40 Gb/s has been demonstrated using an SOA-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). An optical loop mirror is used as a delayed interferometer to reshape the return-to-zero (RZ) NOR sequence from the MZI output port. The performance of the NOR operation is numerically analyzed by solving the rate equation of an SOA. An increase in signal output power enhances the Q factor and extinction ratio. Faster SOAs such as quantum-dot SOAs can achieve higher Q value. The demonstrated technique has potential for optical logic operation at ultrahigh speed


It is standard and critical practice in the majority of geotechnical engineering applications to use a rock mass classification system to evaluate the condition of rock in mine planning and operations. The use of geotechnical classification schemes for rock mass characterisation in underground coal mines is well established. Several rock mass classification systems have been developed and used in civil engineering design and for underground mining operations. In the past, these rock mass classification systems were modified and used in the coal mining industry to quantify descriptive geological information for use in coal mine design and roof support selection. To facilitate geotechnical evaluations, mining companies in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland put considerable effort into obtaining geomechanical data from surface exploration boreholes and borecore. The advance or innovation in the proposed method is not in doing the characterisations, but the method of evaluating the required parameters from available borehole geophysics and geomechanical test data. Evaluating radial point-load strength from geophysical correlations is dependent on collating a large comprehensive database of actual point-load test data across the range of lithological types.


BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend pharmacological treatment for systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130 to 139 mm Hg in secondary prevention. However, uncertainty persists in primary prevention in low cardiovascular risk patients (CVR). METHODS: Cohort study representative of the general population of Albacete/Southeast Spain. We examined 1029 participants with untreated blood pressure and free of cardiovascular disease, followed-up during 1992 to 2019. Cox regression modeled the association of SBP with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (outcome-1) and cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality (outcome-2). RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 44.8 years (53.8%, women; 77.1% at low-CVR); 20.3% had SBP 120 to 129; 13.0% 130 to 139 at low-CVR and 3.4% at high-CVR; and 27.4% ≥140 mm Hg. After a 25.7-year median follow-up, 218 outcome-1 and 302 outcome-2 cases occurred. Unadjusted hazard ratios of outcome-1 for these increasing SBP categories (versus <120) were 2.72, 2.27, 11.54, and 7.52, respectively; and 2.69, 2.32, 10.55, and 7.34 for outcome-2 (all P<0.01). After adjustment for other risk factors, hazard ratio (95% CI) of outcome-1 were 1.49 (0.91–2.44), 1.65 (0.94–2.91, P=0.08), 1.36 (0.72–2.57), and 1.82 (1.15–2.88), respectively, and 1.39 (0.91–2.11), 1.69 (1.05–2.73), 1.09 (0.63–1.88), and 1.64 (1.11–2.41) for outcome-2. Compared with 130 to 139 at low-CVR, hazard ratio for 130 to 139 at high-CVR was 4.85 for outcome-1 (P<0.001) and 4.43 for outcome-2 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this primary prevention population of relatively young average age, untreated SBP of 130 to 139 mm Hg at low-CVR had long-term prognostic value and might benefit from stricter SBP targets. High-CVR patients had nonsignificant higher risk (limited sample size) but 4-fold greater risk when compared with low-CVR. Overall, results indicate the importance of risk stratification, supporting risk-based decision-making.


Hydro-alcoholic extracts of the rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus L. (Asparagaceae), mainly processed into pharmaceutical formulations (1), are used for the treatment of venous insufficiency. Pharmacologically active constituents are saponins related to those of Dioscorea and Convallaria species; thus one sapogenin is 13-hydroxydiosgenin, ruscogenin (2). This report describes an improved preparative separation method using a simple DCCC technique that allows a direct isolation of two characteristic major glycosides from the complex saponin mixture in crude extracts (3). The snponins were identified


In the solfeggio training, melody model singing is an important part of auditory training. Reasonable and effective model singing training is of great significance to train the singer's hearing. So, the level of model singing also reflects the level of the singer's solfeggio to a certain extent. The correct model singing score will help students to master their own real melody model singing level and help students to better improve their solfeggio skills. However, the melody model singing training scoring system that has been developed has low accuracy and needs to be improved. In order to improve the accuracy of the intelligent scoring results of melody model singing training, this paper used deep learning technology to study the intelligent scoring method of melody model singing training. This paper first extracted the features of songs, then collected a large number of song features, trained the existing feature data, and established an intelligent scoring model for melody model singing training. Then, the students' model songs and standard songs were used as two inputs, and the similarity of the characteristics of the two songs was analyzed; then, the score results of the model songs were obtained. The validity of this research should be verified by a comparative experiment. The research results showed that the melody model singing training intelligent scoring model, established by deep learning technology, has a higher accuracy rate, and the accuracy rate was increased by 6.82% compared with the original scoring model, indicating the research has practical significance.