This paper demonstrates a two-stage implementation of a power factor preregulator design in which the energy buffer capacitor is placed at the output of the converter. In this implementation, a resonant LLC converter supplies power to a boost converter operating in continuous conduction mode. Here, a variable frequency (VFX) technique is used in the resonant LLC converter stage to achieve a lower variation in the overall efficiency across the universal input voltage range (85 — 265Vrms). The efficiency performance achieved is flatter than other single-stage boost-based power factor correction circuits, whose efficiency tends to drop significantly at low input voltages. The VFX technique not only compresses the effective operating range required of the resonant converter stage, but also allows MOSFETs with lower voltage ratings and better conduction/switching characteristics to be used in both converter stages.


ABSTRACTObjective: This paper aims to compare the efficacy and safety of three widely used antidepressants, sertraline, reboxetine, a sertraline-reboxetine combination and venlafaxine, in the treatment of MDD and their effect on depressive symptoms in MDD patients.Methods: A total of 206 patients were included in reboxetine, venlafaxine, sertraline, and sertraline-reboxetine combination groups; however 37 cases dropped out during the study period. The remaining 169 patients were distributed to groups as follows: reboxetine: 43, venlafaxine: 43, sertraline 42, sertraline-reboxetine combination group: 41. The data from patients, who were included and completed the previous four open-label studies, were pooled in the current study.Results: Treatment groups did not differ in terms of depression-related and sociodemographic features. There were no significant differences among treatment groups in terms of efficacy, safety, and remission. The reductions in HDRS scores as percentages were higher in venlafaxine g...


The membership of small Baptist churches in Great Britain is presented. The advantages and disadvantages that these churches experienced is presented. It is concluded that they were not significantly different from big churches as each possesed it own autonomous leader.


This paper proposed switched-inductor quasi-Z-source inverters (SL-qZSIs) with maximum constant boost control. SL-qZSIs adds only one inductor and three diodes as compare to the quasi z-source inverter but as compare to qZSI boost factor is high in SL-qZSI. In comparison to the SL-ZSI, for the same input and output voltages, the SL-qZSI provides continuous input current, a common ground with the dc source, reduced the passive component count. Due to presence of maximum constant boost control shoot-through duty ratio maintain constant as well as less voltage stress capacitors and lower current stress on inductors and diodes. To verify the performance of the proposed inverter, the circuit of the inverter is simulated on Simulink/Matlab for 48 Vdc input. The simulation results verified that the inverter has high boost ability and provide less voltage stress on device.


A method is proposed for the analysis of arbitrarily loaded lossy and dispersive single or coupled nonuniform transmission lines (NTLs). In this method, the integral equations of the NTLs, converted from their differential equations, are solved using the method of moments. It is assumed that per‐unit‐length matrices are known at all or even some points along the length of the coupled NTLs. The validity of the method is verified using a comprehensive example. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2008.


A series of multispecies, multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses of the 24-inch diameter joint government industry industrial research and development (JIRAD) hybrid rocket motor is described. The 24-inch JIRAD hybrid motor operates by injection of liquid oxygen (LOX) into a vaporization plenum chamber upstream of ports in the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) solid fuel. The injector spray pattern had a strong influence on combustion stability of the JIRAD motor so a CFD study was initiated to define the injector end flow field under different oxidizer spray patterns and operating conditions. By using CFD to gain a clear picture of the flow field and temperature distribution within the JIRAD motor, it is hoped that the fundamental mechanisms of hybrid combustion instability may be identified and then suppressed by simple alterations to the oxidizer injection parameters such as injection angle and velocity. The simulations in this study were carried out using the General Algorithm for Analysis of Combustion SYstems (GALACSY) multiphase combustion codes. GALACSY consists of a comprehensive set of droplet dynamic submodels (atomization, evaporation, etc.) and a computationally efficient hydrocarbon chemistry package built around a robust Navier-Stokes solver optimized for low Mach number flows. Lagrangian tracking of dispersed particles describes a closely coupled spray phase. The CFD cases described in this paper represent various levels of simplification of the problem. They include: (A) gaseous oxygen with combusting fuel vapor blowing off the walls at various oxidizer injection angles and velocities, (B) gaseous oxygen with combusting fuel vapor blowing off the walls, and (C) liquid oxygen with combusting fuel vapor blowing off the walls. The study used an axisymmetric model and the results indicate that the injector design significantly effects the flow field in the injector end of the motor. Markedly different recirculation patterns are observed in the vaporization chamber as the oxygen velocity and/or spray pattern is varied. The ability of these recirculation patterns to stabilize the diffusion flame above the surface of the solid fuel gives a plausible explanation for the experimentally determined combustion stability characteristics of the JIRAD motor, and suggests how combustion stability can be assured by modifications to the injector design.


A method for demonstrating nuclear ribonucleic acid is given. This entails the use of Grams' stain of heat fixed tissues. The selectivity of crystal violet for nuclear ribonuclei acid suggests a fundamental difference between the nuclear and cytoplasmic varieties of this substance.


Sharing full immersive experience in real-time has been the one of ultimate goals of telecommunication. Possible application can include various applications such as entertainment, sports viewing, education, social network and professional assistance. Recent head-worn wearable camera enables to shoot the first person video, however, view of angle is limited with the head direction of the person who is wearing, and also captured video is shaky that makes us dizzy. We propose JackIn Head, an immersive experience sharing system with wearable camera headgear that provides 360 degrees spherical images of the user's surrounding environment. JackIn Head system performs spherical video stabilization and transmits it to other users, so that they are able to view shared video comfortably and also look around at the scene from a different view angle independently from the first person. In this note, we explain the overview of the JackIn Head system implementation, stabilization and viewing experience.


Background: Imatinib mesylate (IM) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to inhibit the BCR-ABL fusion protein, the hallmark of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Interestingly, IM treatment possesses a rapid lipid-lowering effect on patients with hyperlipidemia, particularly those receiving 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCoAR) inhibitors. While it is known that IM may competitively inhibit statin metabolism, the lipid-lowering effect of IM is not fully understood. Therefore, we have studied the effects of IM on a family of genes critically involved in lipid metabolism, including low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), HMGCoAR, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), apolipoprotein B (apoB) and apolipoprotein B editing complex (apobec1), in K562, a CML cell line model. Methods: Cell cultures and treatments: K562 cells were grown in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS. Cells were treated with IM or DMSO (1mM) and were harvested after 24–96 hours. Untreated cells served as a control as did the DMSO-treated cells. RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis: RNA was extracted using Trizol reagent method and reverse transcribed using random primers and M-MLV. Real-time PCR assays: Real-time PCR assays were conducted using assays on demand for the different genes (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) and performed on Applied Biosystems 7900HT Prism® real-time PCR instrument with a 100ng equivalent of cDNA, in a total volume of 20 ml 1X Taqman master mix (Applied Biosystems). Results were quantified using the delta-delta cycle threshold method, normalized to actin beta and expressed as "fold-change from control". Statistics: Results were analyzed using unpaired students' t-test. Results: LDL-R, HMGcoAR, CETP, apobec1 and apoB genes expression were evaluated in untreated K562 cells (control) and following treatment with DMSO (negative control) or IM for 24 to 96 hours. IM treatment of K562 cells significantly affected the expression of lipid-related genes. Namely, a time-dependent increase in LDL-R (3–6 fold), HMGcoAR (2–5 fold) and CETP (4–50 fold) expressions were documented following IM treatment. No increase in expression of these genes was observed in untreated and DMSO treated controls. Basal apobec1 and apoB expression detected in untreated K562 cells was abolished following IM but not DMSO treatment. Discussion: Putative mechanisms for the decrease in serum cholesterol and triglycerides observed in some patients treated with IM include reduced intestinal absorption and inhibition of platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), resulting in decreased lipoprotein lipase (LPL) synthesis. Our novel observation proposes another explanation, namely a direct effect of IM on central lipid-related genes. Conclusions: The direct effect of IM on lipid-related genes, together with the fact that in cell culture IM inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis, suggest a possible role of lipids in apoptosis/cell cycle pathways. This possibility is currently the subject of further investigation.


Digital Videos (DVs) are a powerful mean of communication and they are spreading on Social Networks (SNs) more and more every day (i.e. ~ 100 million of hours of video viewed per day1 in 2016). H.264 AVC is a common video format used to encode videos. It has been proved to be very effective for HD videos, but when the video resolution increases (4K and 8K) the efficiency decreases. For this reason in the next years more and more Online Social Networks (OSNs) will move to the new H.265 HEVC standard[15]. It is widely known that Pixel Non Uniformity (PNU) noise can be exploited to identify the camera that acquired an image applying the method introduced by Fridrich et al. [16]. The same technique has been adapted to identify video DVs source camera. Unfortunately the noise present in a digital image heavily depends on the compression level used to store it and high (lossy) compression algorithms, can completely filter out any kind of noise. In this paper we analyze the effects of H.265 encoding on PNU noise, to prove under which conditions it still can be exploited for Source Camera Identification (SCI) for DV. We present the results of several experiments explicitly designed to point out the limits of this technique when dealing with H.265 videos.


Tina Bonneau — a student at the State University of New York at Brockport — notified university officials in 2008 that she had a disability. They provided extended test-taking time, short breaks during classes, and notes for missed class time.


Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a slowly progressive inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease caused by persistence of measles virus in the central nervous system. Progressive clonal dissemination of defective measles virus throughout the central nervous system with demyelination and neuronal death, caused both by host immune response and viral replication appears to be the core of the pathogenesis. Causal treatment for this inexorable disease remains controversial, but measles vaccination seems an effective means of preventing SSPE. Nevertheless, we present a case of SSPE in a vaccinated, internationally adopted child : An 8.5-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with mild tremor of the right hand and mouth for 3 months and occasional drop attacks. At school, the teacher noticed an altered writing pattern, diminished concentration, declining results, and changes in behaviour. Clinical examination revealed increased osteotendinous reflexes in the right leg, dysarthria, perseveration, visuocontructive apraxia, and writing difficulties. Romberg's test was positive. We managed to observe the mild tremor described by the mother and we clearly saw myoclonic jerks of the mouth and neck together with eye deviation to the right. The girl was born in the Philippines. Her Belgian parents adopted her in October 1992 at an age of 1 year and 2 months. There is little known about her first period of life except that she was hospitalised shortly before the adoption for a severe lung infection and failure to thrive. She received the essential vaccinations including vaccination against measles on 20 May 1992. Although vaccination against measles virus was administered at 9 months of age, which is common in endemic areas, the diagnosis of SSPE was made based on the clinical presentation and disease progression, slow waves and diffuse delta-activity on EEG (Fig. 1) with periodic slow wave complexes time-locked to synchronous generalized myoclonic jerks on video-EEG telemetry, hyperglobulinorrachia (IgG : 134 mg/dl, IgG/albumin ratio : 1,7866) with oligoclonal bands of immunoglobulins and elevated IgG antibodies to measles virus in CSF (14000 mIU/ml, Boehringer ELISA processor) and in serum (34000 IU/ml, >325 IU/ml is positive). The initial treatment with valproatic acid showed no beneficial effect on the myoclonic jerks. Therapy therefore was changed to carbamazepine with temporary improvement. One month after diagnosis, isoprinosine (2000 mg/day) was added. After a disease progression of seven months, the girl died quietly in a vegetative state. Diagnosis of SSPE requires the presence of three of the following five criteria : 1) typical clinical presentation with inexorable cognitive decline and stereotyped myoclonic jerks ; 2) characteristic EEG ; 3) elevated CSF g-globulin levels ; 4) elevated CSF measles antibodies ; 5) typical histopathological findings in brain biopsy or autopsy (Risk and Haddad, 1979). Causal treatment for SSPE remains controversial. The most frequently used medication is isoprinosine (100 mg/kg/day orally), a purine derivative that combines antiviral properties against both RNA and DNA viruses with immunmodulating capacities by affecting lymphocyte and macrophage functions. Treatment with intraventricular, intrathecal, and possibly intravenous a-interferon (IFN) may be more effective but is known to cause important complications. The combination of isoprinosine and intraventricular a-IFN may act synergistically to produce temporary remission in 44% to 50% of treated patients, mainly when started in stage II or earlier and in patients with slow disease progression. Due to large scale vaccination efforts, the incidence of measles and SSPE declined significantly in Western Europe and North America and is estimated to be less than one per million population. In other regions, where effective vaccination programs have not been established yet, measles conLetter to the Editor


In this article, we propose a new over-penalized weak Galerkin (OPWG) method with a stabilizer for second-order elliptic problems. This method employs double-valued functions on interior edges of elements instead of single-valued ones and elements \begin{document}$ (\mathbb{P}_{k}, \mathbb{P}_{k}, [\mathbb{P}_{k-1}]^{d}) $\end{document} , or \begin{document}$ (\mathbb{P}_{k}, \mathbb{P}_{k-1}, [\mathbb{P}_{k-1}]^{d}) $\end{document} , with dimensions of space \begin{document}$ d = 2, \; 3 $\end{document} . The method is absolutely stable with a constant penalty parameter, which is independent of mesh size and shape-regularity. We prove that for quasi-uniform triangulations, condition numbers of the stiffness matrices arising from the OPWG method are \begin{document}$ O(h^{-\beta_{0}(d-1)-1}) $\end{document} , \begin{document}$ \beta_{0} $\end{document} being the penalty exponent. Therefore we introduce a new mini-block diagonal preconditioner, which is proven to be theoretically and numerically effective in reducing the condition numbers of stiffness matrices to the magnitude of \begin{document}$ O(h^{-2}) $\end{document} . Optimal error estimates in a discrete \begin{document}$ H^1 $\end{document} -norm and \begin{document}$ L^2 $\end{document} -norm are established, from which the optimal penalty exponent can be easily chosen. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate flexibility, effectiveness and reliability of the new method.


In this paper values of the unimolecular decay lifetimes of several vibrational states of HN2 based on an accurate coupled channel dynamics study using a global analytical potential surface that was derived from previously reported ab initio calculations are reported. The surface was developed by fitting the N–N stretch part to a Morse function, with parameters that are represented by a two‐dimensional spline function in terms of the H to N2 center of mass distance and approach angle. This surface reproduces the ab initio points with a root mean square error of 0.08 kcal/mol for energies below 20 kcal/mol. Modifications to the potential that describe the effect of improving the basis set in the ab initio calculations are also provided. Converged coupled channel calculations have been done for the ground rotational state of HN2 to determine lifetimes of the lowest ten vibrational states. We find that only the ground vibrational state (000) and first excited bend (001) have lifetimes longer than 1 ps. The b...


Global Christianity 2000: Expansion, Shift, and Conundrum The twentieth-century expansion of the global Christian community is widely noted and celebrated-from half a billion people in the year 1900 to two billion in 2000. It is not as readily recognized that this remarkable expansion nonetheless fails to translate into an increased percentage of the world's population. In his latest annual statistical table (see the January 2000INTERNATIONALBULLETIN) contributing editor David B.Barrett calculates the Christian community as 33 percent of world popu lation, little changed from what it was a hundred years earlier (actually slightly less). More remarkable than numerical expansion is the demo graphic shift in the global Christian community. In 1900 Chris tians in Europe and North America accounted for more than 80 percent of the world Christian community, but at the end of the century these erstwhile Christian heartlands contributed less than 40percent. Today it is the non-Western world thatboasts the majority-more than 60 percent of the globe's Christian popula tion. In "Shifting Southward," the lead article of this issue, con tributing editor Dana Robert lays out the dimensions and the dynamics of the new concentration of Christian communities in regions formerly served by Western missions. Professor Robert also attends to a peculiarity of this other wise welcome phenomenon: even as the Christian faith has surged around the world, establishing what one would like to think of as a truly universal religion, close observers detect more fragmentation than ever. If mission leaders once worried about the divisiveness that Western denominations brought to their ministries in non-Western lands, what are we to think today when distinctives between Christian communities are further multiplied. as indigenization plays itself out around the globe? As Robert writes, "What at first glance appears to be the largest world religion is in fact the ultimate local religion." In terms of the statistics Barrett has compiled over the years, there were fewer than 2,000Christian denominations in 1900,but 20,000in 1980and nearly 34,000today. It is only right and fitting that we should rejoice at the global extent of Christ's followers, but as Robert challenges us, it is going to take diligent study and analysis if we are to appreciate just how all the parts fit into the impressive whole. This is a task alike for historians, theologians, and the practitioners of the world Christian mission.


Having read the article about influenza vaccination of medical personnel I can't help but perceive the German healthcare sector as one step further towards a situation resembling that in the former German Democratic Republic. I left that country for political reasons, and I would rather not see a repeat performance in this day and age. The symbolism of having to wear compulsory face masks for critical medical personnel for higher (socioethical) reasons, by offering vaccination when this is quite obviously clashing with the staff's personal convictions, can probably be understood only by someone who has first-hand experience of similar situations within a system that is closed to the outside.

However, the question that is obvious to me is what limitations are there in terms of what are "tolerable" therapeutic interventions for medical staff? Whatever the limits are, they should be respected and adhered to in the future, thus balancing personal rights with (often only seemingly) general interest. If, as the authors have found, people were not convinced on the basis of arguments in favour of widespread use of influenza vaccination, then it is particularly in the interest of achieving hospital hygiene that democratic principles—such as discussions—are not easily sacrificed—or else the medically beneficial face mask may too easily turn into a symbolic muzzle.


The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a method for creating a database for comprehensively identifying/quantifying, with high sensitivity, the peaks of peptides constituting a protein to be examined, through analysis using LC-MS/MS; and a method in which use of the database makes it possible to comprehensively identify/quantify, with high sensitivity, the peaks of peptides constituting a protein to be examined, through analysis using LC-MS/MS. The elution time for each common peptide peak among identified peptide peaks of analyzed samples is used as a reference to normalize the elution time for all the peptide peaks of the analyzed samples. Thus, a database comprising an accumulation of the normalized elution times is created. Using this database, a protein to be examined in a sample is analyzed using LC-MS/MS to identify the peaks of peptides to be examined, and the identified peptide peaks are checked for validation, thereby identifying/quantifying the peaks of peptides constituting the protein to be examined in a sample.


Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a challenging professional issue for midwives, and is associated with serious health consequences for the woman and her baby including significant long-term physical, psychological and social ramifications. One in four women will experience IPV in their lifetime and midwives have an important role in the screening, care and management of pregnant women who may be experiencing IPV. Antenatal screening for IPV is recommended for all women, regardless of presence of risk factors or indicators of abuse.


Models trained using reinforcement learning (RL) are a powerful replacement for hand-written heuristics in many networked systems, but their potentially unpredictable behavior makes them unsafe for production deployment. We propose an approach to applying RL to networked systems that allows for safe deployment of models that rapidly adapt in the face of changing conditions. The key idea is to train the RL model online, in the real system, but to fall back on a simple, known-safe fallback policy if the system enters an unsafe region of the state space, while still providing sufficient feedback for RL to learn a good policy. Augmenting RL with such "training wheels" for safety helps a proof-of-concept request load balancer faced with sudden workload changes to rapidly adapt without violating response time objectives. Training wheels are effective, and they motivate research into general interfaces for developers to identify and specify unsafe states and fallback policies, as well as questions on how to integrate them deeper with RL methods.


Graphene is known to display roughness as a result of conforming to surface – e.g. silicon dioxide (SiO2), and intrinsic roughness in the absence of a substrate [1]. Roughness is a suspected key source of scattering and a limiter of the carrier mobility in clean graphene samples [2]. Suspending graphene flakes has proven to increase the electron mobility drastically compared to graphene supported on SiO2 [3], as adverse effects on the mobility from the SiO2 are eliminated. Similar improvements in mobility are obtained by encapsulating the graphene in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) [4]. In this study we have fabricated graphene samples encapsulated by hBN that are suspended over apertures in a substrate and used electron diffraction in a transmission electron microscope to measure the roughness [5] (Fig. 1). For this sample type we find a strong suppression in the measured RMS roughness down to 12 pm. We furthermore compare the roughness of these samples to suspended bare graphene and graphene on suspended hBN, and find the roughness of graphene on suspended hBN to be < 25 pm; similar to that measured for previous work for graphene on mica, and less than that typically observed for graphene on hBN supported by SiO2 [4]. Our first-principles calculations of the phonon bands in graphene/hBN heterostructures show that the flexural acoustic phonon mode is localized predominantly in the hBN layers upon hBN encapsulation. These results may lead to new fabrication strategies for obtaining high electron mobility graphene devices.


Altman's book gives us snippets of information about what was probably a very complex process. Some of them are wonderful, like the way migration rippled through entire family groups in Brihuega (pp. 130-143, 150-152), or the tale of broken promises in the family of Diego de Anzures (pp. 156-165). But snippets they remain. This is not meant as a criticism of the research underlying this book, which is as thorough as the source material will allow. Rather it means that the story told is a partial one, one where often we are not so sure the extent to which, for example, the tale is directly concerned with Brihuega-Puebla links or is rather concerned with colonial society as a whole. What is the specificity of Brihuega in this tale? Giving this question the reply it deserves is often difficult or impossible. Even so, the Altman's tale rings true, even in its minor details. The reason for this is that this book affords multiple, early-modern examples of how well much of classic migration theory really does hold up when compared with historical reality. It is surprising, on this count, that the author cites very few of these works and theories which are precisely the ones that turn her snippets into a cogent and very convincing account of how migration processes linked the colonial empire of Spain.


With this issue, we inaugurate a new service within the Journal of Vision: download reports for individual articles. Citation counts have long been an important measure of the interest in, and impact of, an article. Online journals offer an additional valuable metric: how often an article has been downloaded. Web servers typically retain a record of each transaction they conduct with users on the Internet. These are called web logs. At the Journal of Vision, we have preserved our web logs since October 23, 2003. The contents of each record vary with server software and configuration but usually include the date and time of the transaction, the file requested, and information about the client making the request. In addition to web logs, servers and browsers may record and exchange additional information about user requests. This information may be analyzed in various ways to measure usage of a given article. The approach we have taken is to record, for each article, the date and time at which each unique user downloads the PDF article for the first time. In this way, we exclude multiple downloads by a single user. We call these "unique downloads." From this record, we can construct what we call the trace of an article: the graph of cumulative unique downloads as a function of days since publication. An example is shown in Figure 1. This trace is itself an informative graphic, and we now provide it for each published article. It can be accessed either from the home page for each article, under "Downloads," or from the new "Download Reports" page that is reached from the "Information" link on the upper right of each page. We have observed that the trace is similar in form for all papers. As in the example in Figure 1, the cumulative number of unique downloads grows rapidly, then settles down to a lower and nearly constant rate. These two phases can be characterized by an initial rate and a current rate. The time at which the rate changes is not precisely defined but is somewhere in the first 3 months, and we define this "corner" to be at 90 days. We define InitialRate as the rate within the first interval extending up to the corner and CurrentRate as the rate within a final interval of 30 days. Another metric of interest in individual papers is total unique downloads, and we provide this measure for each paper. However, because papers continue to be downloaded indefinitely, this measure favors older papers. For this reason, it is useful to construct a measure that reflects the demand for each paper, independent of its age. To do so, we again note that the trace is similar in form for all papers. As can be seen in Figure 1, there is a rapid initial rise, which slows to a steady, nearly linear pace. We capture this second phase by fitting a polynomial of order 2 to the trace from the corner to its end point. An example of this fit is shown by the red curve in Figure 1. From this curve, we estimate the overall rate of downloads per day within the 1,000 days following publication. We call this the DemandFactor. A table of the top 20 papers based on this metric is given in Table 1. It is also provided on the Download Reports page at the journal. We note that DemandFactor cannot be estimated accurately for papers published before the start of our logs, because we have no record of the early phase of their trace. Accordingly, those PaperRanks are reported with


Transcription factors are modular proteins where distinct functions, such as DNA binding, trans-activation or transrepression, are often contained within separable domains. DNA-binding domains tend to be particularly well conserved and can be used as the basis for a classification that reflects phylogenetic relationships. Transcription factors with the same basic design in their interaction with DNA also tend to be related in function and to share properties such as the ability to heterodimerize or to convey certain intracellular signals. Forkhead proteins are not among the largest transcription factor families, but display a remarkable functional diversity and are involved in a wide variety of biological processes. The name derives from two spiked-head structures in embryos of the Drosophila fork head mutant, which are defective in formation of the anterior and posterior gut (Weigel et al., 1989). With the discovery in 1990 of a 110-amino-acid DNA binding domain that was almost perfectly conserved between FORK HEAD and the mammalian HNF-3 transcription factors, it became clear that this motif defined a novel transcription factor family (Weigel and Jackle, 1990). A comprehensive review on forkhead genes has been published by Kaufmann and Knochel (1996).


A new measurement method was developed,that could provide improved measurement of loose-coal thermal properties.The method was based on the hot-wire method and could determine thermal conductivity and diffusivity simultaneously.The bulk thermal conductivity was measured by cross-hot-wire method while the thermal diffusivity was calculated by numerical methods starting from thermal data taken parallel to the wire.The experiments show that the thermal conductivity and diffusivity measurements are reproducible and agree with the literature values.The maximum deviation only is 0.726%.


Background To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Turkey and to establish screening criteria for this condition. Methods A prospective cohort study (TR-ROP) was performed between 1 April 2016 and 30 April 2017 in 69 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Infants with a birth weight (BW)≤1500 g or gestational age (GA)≤32 weeks and those with a BW>1500 g or GA>32 weeks with an unstable clinical course were included in the study. Predictors for the development of ROP were determined by logistic regression analyses. Results The TR-ROP study included 6115 infants: 4964 (81%) with a GA≤32 weeks and 1151 (19%) with a GA>32 weeks. Overall, 27% had any stage of ROP and 6.7% had severe ROP. A lower BW, smaller GA, total days on oxygen, late-onset sepsis, frequency of red blood cell transfusions and relative weight gain were identified as independent risk factors for severe ROP in infants with a BW≤1500 g. Of all infants, 414 needed treatment and 395 (95.4%) of the treated infants had a BW≤1500 g. Sixty-six (16%) of the treated infants did not fulfil the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity requirements for treatment. Conclusions Screening of infants with a GA≤34 weeks or a BW<1700 g appears to be appropriate in Turkey. Monitoring standards of neonatal care and conducting quality improvement projects across the country are recommended to improve neonatal outcomes in Turkish NICUs. Trial registration number NCT02814929, Results.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of diagnostic markers obtained through epiduroscopy by evaluating the accuracy of outcome prediction after treatment of epidural pathology using epiduroscopy.


The Selfish-brain theory has created the theoretical basis for the systemic analysis of the energy metabolism in terms of a supply chain. The energy in form of glucose equivalents is transported from the exterior environment into the brain where it is finally consumed as ATP in the neurons. The transport process is governed by the brain itself as regulatory authority.

We discuss general supply chains and certain components to understand regulatory mechanisms in metabolic supply chains. Push and pull mechanisms are distinguished and discussed in detail. The dynamical systems describing supply chains are related to partial differential equations and they inherit their properties.

Furthermore, certain components like side compartments are regarded which act as short-time store. Examples are glycogen in the glycolysis or the fat compartment in the individual metabolism. Similar supply chains and regulatory mechanisms can be identified at different levels.

Due to the large amount of regulative substances and hormones involved in the regulation and the lack of quantitative knowledge, a bottom-up modelling fails and minimal models can provide a qualitative understanding. There are several observations and experimental results, from which certain properties of the supply chains can be deduced. A top-down analysis identifies crucial elements and allows a virtual pre-selection of experiments.

Finally, we present hierarchically ordered regulatory loops for the allocation, the appetite and the exploration for the simulation of daily cyclic behaviour and its development on a medium-term time-scale. Metabolic diseases can be understood as disturbances or congestions in the supply chain.


The invention provides landscape stone binding mortar, comprising the following components by weight: 30%-45% of cement, 45%-60% of aggregate, 1%-10% of filling material, 1%-3% of re-dispersible emulsion powder, 0.3%-0.5% of cellulose ether, 0.2%-0.4% of lignocellulose, 0%-4% of pigment, 0.1%-0.5% of hydrophobic agent and 0.1%-1% of crystalline bloom resistant material. The invention also provides preparation and use methods of the landscape stone binding mortar. The landscape stone binding mortar provided by the invention has the characteristic of having the same colour and quality as those of a landscape stone, and the whole natural beauty of the landscape stone is not influenced; the landscape stone binding mortar has good binding ability, and the landscape stone binding mortar can be attached and bound to stones firmly; the landscape stone binding mortar has strong weatherability, no cracking, steady colour and long service life; the landscape stone binding mortar is rapid and convenient to use, and proper in price; and at the same time, the mortar can be used as the repair mortar for the damaged parts of the landscape stone, so the mortar has diversified use.


Although there is much research ongoing in developing building blocks for ubiquitous applications like context models or advanced communication middleware there are hardly convincing everyday scenarios for applications. In this technical report we describe applications off the usual scenarios like healthcare or tour guides. Most of these applications are used in everyday life. From them we learned what applications users consider to be useful, how users change their behaviour and how much intrusion in daily routines is accepted. This document is a report on ongoing development of smart applications. These applications use the Mundo infrastructure for realizing mobile, context aware applications with non intrusive user interfaces. Technical Report TUD-CS-2006-4, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 19. 7. 2006 http://www.tk.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de/Forschung/publikationen Applications for Smart Environments Technical Report No. TUD-CS-2006-4 Gerhard Austaller, Jussi Kangasharju Telecooperation Group, Department of Computer Science, Darmstadt University of Technology Hochschulstraße 10, D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany {gerhard,firstname.lastname@example.com http://www.tk.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de Abstract Although there is much research ongoing in developing building blocks for ubiquitous applications like context models or advanced communication middleware there are hardly convincing everyday scenarios for applications. In this technical report we describe applications off the usual scenarios like healthcare or tour guides. Most of these applications are used in everyday life. From them we learned what applications users consider to be useful, how users change their behaviour and how much intrusion in daily routines is accepted.Although there is much research ongoing in developing building blocks for ubiquitous applications like context models or advanced communication middleware there are hardly convincing everyday scenarios for applications. In this technical report we describe applications off the usual scenarios like healthcare or tour guides. Most of these applications are used in everyday life. From them we learned what applications users consider to be useful, how users change their behaviour and how much intrusion in daily routines is accepted. This document is a report on ongoing development of smart applications. These applications use the Mundo infrastructure for realizing mobile, context aware applications with non intrusive user interfaces.


Objective:To explore the functional improvement and efficacy of Shengmai Injection for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods:150 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in our hospital from October 2010 to October 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.And they were randomly divided into two groups and 75 cases were in each group.The control group was treated with conventional treatment such as anti-inflammatory,anti-asthma,cough and phlegm and antispasmodic oxygen therapy.The observation group was treated with Shengmai Injection on the basis of the treatment in control group.The symptoms′ disappearing time and hospital time of the two groups were recorded.The improvement of lung function index and the changes of the immunoglobulin were observed before and after treatment.The clinical efficacy was compared.Results:After treatment,some symptoms' disappearing time and hospital time of the observation group were shorter than those in the control group.Spirometry indicators as well as immune globulin were significantly improved.In addition,the total effective rate of the observation group was 97.33%,while of the control group was 86.67%.The efficacy of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group and there was statistical significant difference(P0.05).Conclusion:Shengmai Injection can improve the lung function and patients' immunity.It is effective and safe and is worth to be used in clinical practice.


We investigate the response of a well-characterized colloidal star glass to large-amplitude oscillatory stress and strain fields. By combining these measurements with dynamic time sweeps we demonstrate the importance of probing both strain- and stress-induced nonlinear rheology of such complex fluids in order to elucidate the yielding and fluidization behavior. We also show that, due to the strong time dependence, it is essential to perform dynamic time sweeps at different strain and stress amplitudes, which result in different departures of the glass cage from its quiescent quasiequilibrium structure. This allows for steady-state responses to be reached and for nonlinear oscillatory responses to be treated properly while also suggesting that yielding is a gradual process. Further, we use a recently published framework for analyzing nonlinear responses to large-amplitude oscillatory shear [Rogers et al., J. Rheol. 55, 435 (2011)], based on the analysis of the whole stress waveforms as a sequence of physic...


In the present work the numerical simulation and experimental investigation of processes inside a bipolar singlegrid energy analyzer during low energy ion beam analysis is conducted. The simulation using a numerical PIC-code show the possibility of hysteresis at the bidirectional measurement of the collector current-voltage traces during low energy ion beam analysis due to formation of secondary plasma between the analyzer grid and collector. The existence of hysteresis at the low ion energy (<50 eV) has been confirmed by the experimental measurements. PACS: 52.70.Nc


Option pricing is irreversible, fuzzy, and flexible. The fuzzy measure which is used for real option pricing is a useful supplement to the traditional real option pricing method. Based on the review of the concepts of the mean and variance of trapezoidal fuzzy number and the combination with the Carlsson-Fuller model, the trapezoidal fuzzy variable can be used to represent the current price of land expropriation and the sale price of land on the option day. Fuzzy Black-Scholes option pricing model can be constructed under fuzzy environment and problems also can be solved and discussed through numerical examples.


This research study has gone through more than 34 sample tumors in Violet Cancer Institute (VCI) to find the cancer cells' resemblances to the primitive eukaryote cells in 3.5 billion years ago before the entrance of the mitochondria into the eukaryote cells as endosymbionts. Nearly all the samples showed that the mitochondria inside the cells were not working properly. Their cristae were damaged or the mitochondria did not work or better said "shut down" inside the cancer cells. This study introduces a new hypothesis called the Evolutionary Cell Memory (ECM) based on the Lamarckian Evolutionary Hypothesis and the Evolutionary Metabolic Hypothesis of Cancer introduced by the Somayeh Zaminpira and Sorush Niknamian in 2017.


The multi-body model of double-wishbone independent suspension is built by use of virtual prototyping technology and the mechanical system dynamics analysis software ADAMS/View.Through kinematics simulation,analysis of the alignment(camber,toe-in angle,kingpin inclination and caster) and its change rule with the up and down of the wheel is obtained,which provides a theoretical basis for sptimizction of vehicle suspension system.


An interesting case is presented to analyze the trajectory of a satellite around an oblate planet, taking in consideration the multipolar expansion of potential gravitational, this model is applied to satellites Atlas and Mimas around Saturn that has a higher atness in the Solar System. As an application additional this thesis is presented, the study of trajectories of an arti cial satellite around Earth an low altitude around 600 km, where it is necessary to consider the shape of the Earth, as a model of an oblate planet.


The invention relates to a system for managing and processing of digital media (9) by means of an electronic data processing system. The system consists of a database (1), in the digital media (9), such as images, text, tables, product data, etc., are stored in a standardized, neutral database format and managed. By suitable input and output filter (2, 3, 4, 5), the various digital media (9) werden.In converted to the database format of the database (1) manages the media (9) as a linked data objects. thereby define the layout of documents in various output formats such as PostScript and HTML can be output by means of suitable output routines for publication purposes, the links of the data objects.


Preparation of Starting Materials. General Synthetic Methods for the Polyaza-Crown Macrocycles. Common Methods for the Formation of Polyaza Macrocyclic Rings. Monoaza-Crown Macrocycles. Diaza-Crown Macrocycles. Polyaza-Crown Macrocycles. Benzoaza-Crown Macrocycles. Aza-Crown Macrocycles Containing Other Heteroatoms in the Macroring. Aliphatic Peraza-Crown Macrocycles (Cyclams). Peraza-Cyclophanes. Aza- and Peraza-Crown Macrocycles as Part of Macromolecular Compounds. Some Practical Approaches to the Aza-Crown Macrocycles. Indexes.


A personal home surveillance system is a low cost technology based on internet of things technology (IOT) that makes it possible for users to monitor the events that is happening in their homes remotely. There are multiple challenges in home surveillance systems such as picture is unclear, oddity cannot be specified automatically, motion sensors limitations, in addition to high cost of storage space. The trend of this paper, is to design and achieve moving objects extraction based home surveillance system with low cost, functional, and suitable solution within IOT context. The communication process is achieved essentially using Rasberry-Pi microcontroller device which enables a streaming of real time video along with capturing a snapshot images. In addition, a modified approach for moving objects detection in video sequences is presented in this paper based on the results of motion detection approach. The key result of the proposed moving object detection is represented by retaining the moving parts only in the video sequences captured by Pi camera in order to decrease the duration time of video frames, storage space required, in addition to minimize the reviewing time of the recording video. Furthermore, a real time stream video can be viewed from any web browser or mobile platform in term of surveillance system. The moving parts extraction process is achieved using the statistical information of the sequence frames within a modified motion detection algorithm. To analyze and evaluate the proposed motion detection algorithm results, we have attended our own video dataset that compose of three video files with different motion situations. The experimental result of the proposed moving objects detection based home surveillance system outperforms a remote surveillance of home integrity with efficient availability, reliability and high rate detection of moving objects in the captured video sequences .


This paper presents different dynamic models of vehicles to compare their dynamics. The main objective is to appreciate the couplings between the different model blocks after splitting systems to five sub models. The passivity approach is used and illustrated by simulation results obtained by the proposed simulator SimK106N.


The following work of diploma has like main objective the characterization of the white iron of the guy X28H2, which Comandante Gustavo Machín Hoed manufactures in the EMNi of Moa Of Beche himself. The foundry of the aforementioned alloy came true in an oven of high-frequency induction, the selected load was from scrap metal, little lever, sintered nickel, ferrocromo, ferrosilico, ferromanganese and coal anthracite. By means of the analysis microesteructural determined that the foundry is made out of chrome carbides of the guy Cr7C3 and Cr23C6 eutécticos, austenita eutéctica and dendrítica in a state of supply, as well as the martensita. Given hardness is in mail of the percent of microconstituyentes, which comes from 67.7 HRC. The total cost of the obtaining of the foundry with 141.03 CUP'S value was determined. The cost-reducing analysis and environmental impact of the process of foundry were established. TABLA DE CONTENIDOS Pág. INTRODUCCIÓN .................................................................................................... 1 CAPÍTULO 1. MARCO TEÓRICO CONCEPTUAL ................................................. 4 1.1. Introducción.................................................................................................... 4 1.2. Características generales de la bomba .......................................................... 4 1.3. Estructuras y propiedades de la fundición ..................................................... 5 1.4. Características de los hierros de elevada aleación ........................................ 6 1.5. Efectos de los elementos de aleación en los aceros ...................................... 6 1.6. Generalidades de las fundiciones aleadas al cromo ...................................... 8 1.6.1. Formación de la fundición blanca aleada al cromo .................................... 11 1.7. Proceso de solidificación del hierro .............................................................. 13 1.8. Tratamiento térmico de la fundición blanca .................................................. 15 1.9. Resistencia al desgaste de los hierros fundidos .......................................... 16 1.10. Conclusiones del Capítulo I ......................................................................... 18 CAPÍTULO 2. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.......................................................... 19 2.1. Introducción.................................................................................................. 19 2.2. Generalidades del proceso de obtención de la aleación .............................. 19 2.3. Obtención de las probetas metálicas ........................................................... 20 2.4. Composición química según las normas ASTM y SAE ................................ 21 2.4.1. Influencia de los elementos componentes de hierro .................................. 22 2.5. Obtención de la cantidad de elementos en la aleación ................................ 22 2.5.1.Obtención del contenido de manganeso ..................................................... 22 2.5.2.Carbono equivalente en función del carbono, el silicio y el fósforo ............. 23 2.5.3.Obtención de la cantidad de carbono y silicio .............................................. 24 2.5.4.Cálculo del carbono equivalente .................................................................. 24 2.5.5.Composición de las interfases ..................................................................... 24 2.6. Preparación de las muestras........................................................................ 26 2.6.2. Ataque químico empleado .......................................................................... 29 2.7.Observación microesteructural ....................................................................... 29 2.8.Obtención del porciento de microconstituyentes ............................................ 30 2.9.Evaluación de las propiedades mecánicas ..................................................... 31 2.9.1.Ensayos de dureza a la aleación X28H2 ..................................................... 31 2.10. Conclusiones del capítulo 2 ......................................................................... 32 CAPÍTULO 3. ANÁLISIS DE LOS RESULTADOS ............................................... 33 3.1. Introducción.................................................................................................. 33 3.2. Análisis de la composición química del X28H2 ............................................ 33 3.3. Análisis microesteructural del X28H2 ........................................................... 36 3.4. Análisis del porciento de microconstituyentes .............................................. 38 3.5. Análisis de la dureza .................................................................................... 39 3.6. Valoración económica .................................................................................. 39 3.7. Impacto ambiental ........................................................................................ 41 3.8. Conclusiones del capítulo 3 ......................................................................... 42 RECOMENDACIONES ........................................................................................ 44 REFERENCIAS BIBLIOGRÁFICAS ..................................................................... 45


In recent years a great deal of meteorological and climatological data has been exchanged between the two principal climate data centers of the United States and the former Soviet Union: the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), in Asheville, North Carolina, and the Research Institute of Hydrometeorological Information (RIHMI) in Obninsk, Russia. This was accomplished via Working Group VIB (Influence of Environmental Changes on Climate) of the bilateral initiative known as the Agreement on Protection of the Environment, established on May 23, 1972 by the United States and the USSR. One of the key datasets compiled by RIHMI includes 3-hourly meteorological observations from 223 USSR stations for the period 1966-83. RIHMI has chosen to use daily and hourly data from these stations as the basis for considerable climate research efforts. These data (hereafter referred to as the RIHMI database) will soon be made available by both NCDC and the Department of Energy`s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The data have undergone extensive quality assurance checks at RIHMI, NCDC, and CDIAC. The data contain observations of some 22 meteorological variables, including near-surface air temperature, sea level pressure, precipitation amount, weather type, and total cloud cover. This study more » uses the RIHMI database to examine the spatial distribution of total cloud cover over the former USSR (hereafter referred to as the USSR). In this initial assessment, we focus on comparing our results with total cloud cover data presented in the atlas: Global Distribution of Total Cloud Cover and Cloud Type Amounts Over Land for the common data period 1971-81. « less


Optical vortices were intensively studied during the last decade. In the literature there are papers presenting applications of the optical vortices. The regular net of optical vortices generated by the three plane waves interference allows for the new kind of the interferometer – the Optical Vortex Interferometer (OVI). The precision of the OVI depends on the localization accuracy and the phase reconstruction. The localization methods lead to errors if we use beamsplitters with coatings changing the polarization state of the light. There are six beamsplitters used in this interferometer. In the setup we used non-polarizing coatings. We observed a pleochroism effect which occurs in these coatings. It is the cause of errors in the localization of optical vortices. In this paper we study the effect of pleochroism and we show the way to avoid errors in the localization of optical vortices in the OVI.


Personality research on social media is a hot topic recently due to the rapid development of social media as well as the central importance of personality study in psychology, but most studies are conducted on inadequate label samples. Our research aims to explore the usage of unlabeled samples to improve the prediction accuracy. By conducting n user study with 1792 users, we adopt local linear semi-supervised regression algorithm to predict the personality traits of Micro blog users. Given a set of Micro blog users' public information (e.g., Number of followers) and a few labeled users, the task is to predict personality of other unlabeled users. The local linear semi-supervised regression algorithm has been employed to establish prediction model in this paper, and the experimental results demonstrate the usage of unlabeled data can improve the accuracy of prediction.


Much of Australia's common law does not substantially differ from the common law of England where it originated. Whilst Australia is a federation of six States and two Territories, the High Court of Australia, the country's final court of appeal, has recently fostered the view that not only is there a 'common law of Australia' but also that it is 'a single and unified one'. However, as in any common-law jurisdiction, the legislators of the nine Australian jurisdictions (including the Federal) have intervened to supplement or replace the common law in many areas.


Abstract Two hundred and seventeen HI profiles at positions approximately 1 ° apart in the bridge region between the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds have been observed with a 15' arc beam. Diagrams of all the profiles, lists of column densities and average radial velocities are given, together with details of the extensive Gaussian analysis needed to account for the components. It is shown that the bridge region is most complex. (a) Two radial velocity groups, +214 and +238 km s-1, represent the actual HI bridge between the two galaxies, (b) Three other components, at mean radial velocities of +155, +177 and +195 km s-1 are seen to be integral parts of the SMC, stretching east to R. A. ~ 04h. (c) A further three components in groups at mean radial velocities +253, +272 and +293 km s-1 appear to be extensions of HI from the main body of the LMC. Nine sets of five closely spaced observations in the lower Magellanic Stream and in the bridge region at high sensitivity supply further information about the region.


In the early days of double star astronomy the great question to be answered was: "What is the law of the force which governs the observed motions in stellar systems?" Theories of the motion based upon the assumption that the controlling force was identical with that described by Newton's law of gravitation had, indeed, been formulated soon after the appearance of Herschel's epochmaking paper, in 1803, "Account of the Changes that have happened during the last Twenty-five Years, in the relative Situation of Double-stars; with an Investigation of the Cause to which they are owing;" it remained to test their adequacy by accurate measures of a large number of systems. Such measures were accumulated by the labors of many eminent astronomers in the course of the nineteenth century, and it has long been known from them that the law of gravitation permits us to represent the observed motion and predict the future motion in binary star systems within the limits of the unavoidable errors of measurement. In the few cases in which periodic groupings of the apparent positions indicate systematic departure from pure elliptic motion, it has been possible to find adequate explanation in the assumption that one or the other of the visible stars of the pair is attended by an unseen companion and the correctness of this assumption is now not questioned. In fact, in the case of Epsilon Hydrae, its correctness has been demonstrated. Schiaparelli, in 1888, discovered that the principal star of the Struve pair was itself a close unequal pair. In 1903 I computed the orbit of this close pair and Seeliger soon afterward showed that its motion in its fifteen-year-period orbit fully accounted for the observed irregularities in the motion of the wider long-period Struve system. All this does not mean that it is no longer necessary or desirable to measure the visual binary stars; it simply means that interest has shifted largely from the motion in the particular system and the laws governing it to the information we can gain from a comparative study of the orbits of many systems as to the origin of the binary stars and their relation to single star systems. Of at least equal importance is the knowledge of the masses of the stars which


Ivory shell (Babylonia areolata) is a commercially important aquaculture species mainly found on the southeast coast of China. However, it has been greatly affected by vibriosis in recent years. In this study, FP17 (a potential pathogen) was isolated from a dying ivory shell with "acute death syndrome" and confirmed as a pathogen via infectious experiment. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis based on the average nucleotide identity (ANI) sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and housekeeping genes (ftsz, gapA, gyrB, mreB, pyrH, rpoA, and topA) indicated that FP17 was identical to Vibrio tubiashii. Transmission electron microscopy showed that FP17 is curved and has a short rod shape, with a single flagellum. Besides, the calculated LD50 after the intramuscular injection of FP17 was 2.11 × 106 CFU/g at 14 d. The genome of the FP17 strain consists of two chromosomes and one plasmid with 5,261,336 bp and 45.08% GC content, including 4824 open reading frames (ORFs) and 150 non-coding RNAs (ncRNA). Genome mining revealed that 120 candidate gene clusters, including vibrioferrin and flagellum-related proteins, are responsible for virulence. Comparative genomic analysis showed that vibrioferrin genes, such as pvs and type Ⅵ secretion system protein genes (vas), are specific in V. tubiashii FP17 but not in the ATCC19109 strain. Furthermore, 92 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, such as tufA, tet(35), crp, etc., were mapped within the genome as the potential candidate for virulence, consistent with antibiotic susceptibility assay. This is the first study to describe the complete genome sequence of V. tubiashii infecting ivory shell. The genetic characteristics, virulence factors, and antimicrobial resistance of the V. tubiashii strain FP17 were also explored.


Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis (OSCS) is a rare X-linked dominant genetic disorder resulting mutation in the WTX gene. Clinically, OSCS presents with linear striations in the metaphyseal region of the long bones and pelvis in combination with sclerosis of the cranium and face. A twenty-seven year old G5T1P3A0L2 woman with a history of peri- and neonatal infant male deaths was referred to us at 22 weeks, 6 days into her recent pregnancy. Ultrasound evaluation identified a male fetus, bilaterally enlarged lateral ventricles, a cloverleaf skull, suspected bilateral cleft lip, nuchal thickening, bilateral bowed radii and ulnae, gastroschisis with herniated viscera, bilateral absent fibula and clubfeet. The results of prenatal testing identified a male fetus with a 330kb Xq11.1 deletion involving the entire WTX gene. Initial microarray analysis of maternal blood identified a normal female karyotype, 46,XX. FISH analysis with a BAC clone mapped to the WTX gene identified low-level mosaicism in blood and buccal samples, 17% and 15%, respectively, which explained the negative maternal microarray result.


The corrosion of the sewage pipe leakage in hydrogenation heat exchanger tube has been analyzed by using scanning electron microscope and energy spectrum analysis from the microstructure and fracture morphology of perspective.The results showed that the failure mainly results by crevice corrosion,which was caused by the joint action of a large number of sulfide in the pipe wall defecting at the surface of abnormal accumulation,and the hydroxides.The crevice corrosion causes stress corrosion cracking results.


Atomically thin graphene membranes are intrinsically non-flat and have random or quasiperiodic corrugations at the nanometer scale [1, 2]. Since this is closely affecting the electronic properties, there is an increasing need for the realization of graphene sheets with controlled corrugation. Substrates play a crucial role, as the graphene–substrate interaction can impart an extrinsic rippling to graphene which differs from its intrinsic corrugation [3, 4]. Such rippling can contribute to the scattering of charge carriers [5, 6]. In order to preserve the high carrier mobility needed for nanoelectronic applications, atomically flat mica [7] and hexagonal boron nitride [8] substrates were introduced recently, which reduce charge inhomogeneity [9] and smooth out corrugations in graphene leading to ultra-flat morphology. On the other hand, corrugated graphene can be good candidate for sensor applications, as recent simulations [10, 11] predict enhanced chemical activity in rippled graphene. The crests and troughs of graphene ripples form active sites for the adsorption of different molecules. It was proposed – based on first-principles calculations [12] – that this can open a way for tunable, regioselective functionalization of graphene. The extrinsic rippling can be induced for example by preprepared elastic substrates [13] or silica nanoparticles (NPs) [14], a possibility which has not been fully explored yet experimentally [15]. In this work we investigate by atomic force microscopy (AFM) the properties of CVD-grown graphene transferred onto a continuous layer of SiO2 NPs with diameters of around 25 nm, prepared on Si substrate by Langmuir-Blodgett technique (Figure 1). We show that the extrinsic graphene rippling can be controlled by annealing at moderate temperatures (400 o C). Confocal Raman microscopy (WITec) revealed that annealing increases doping and introduces compressive strain into the atomically thin membrane (Figure 2). Due to the high nanoparticle density, graphene membranes remain completely detached from the Si substrate. The membrane parts bridging the nanoparticles are suspended, as revealed by both AFM topographic and phase images, and can be reversibly lifted by the attractive forces between an atomic force microscope tip and graphene. Such dynamic control of the local graphene morphology can play an important role in the development of graphene based nanomechanical devices such as switches [16, 17]. Local indentation experiments were performed on the suspended parts in order to investigate the elastic properties of the graphene membrane.


The work capacity at sea level and high altitude has been measured on nine men, five of whom had taken part in similar studies at high altitudes from 18 to 33 years earlier. Except for a few measur...


W e applaud the National Institutes of Health for funding this important study by Gochuico et al. Continued research is crucial for gaining insight into the natural history of interstitial lung disease (ILD) related to connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Assessment and response criteria are profoundly lacking, making it very challenging to develop and gauge effective targeted therapy. In addition, only investigative attention to screening will be able to reveal whether drugassociated CTD-ILD (eg, biological agents, methotrexate) are the primary culprits or triggers exacerbating preexisting subclinical ILD. Among CTDs, the prevalence of occult ILD may be greater than 30%. Early detection and treatment is imperative. We report our experience with 4 patients with systemic sclerosis ILD, 2 with polymyositis ILD, 1 with Sjögren ILD, and 3 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-ILD, all of whom were treated with mycophenolate mofetil, with 9 patients receiving mycophenolate for longer than 1 year. Notable improvement was demonstrated in symptoms, alveolitis, performance status, and quality of life, with stabilization or improvement on physiological and imaging studies. Importantly, prednisone therapy was discontinued or drastically reduced without worsening. Of interest, 2 patients with RA initially presented with ILD and later developed synovitis, with results from physiological and imaging studies showing stabilization or improvement with mycophenolate therapy. The first patient experienced quiescence of both ILD and RA with mycophenolate and hydroxychloroquine therapies. The second patient, initially wheelchair and supplemental oxygen dependent due to severe dyspnea, is now fully ambulatory and not using supplemental oxygen. Interestingly, after decreasing the mycophenolate dose, he developed worsening synovitis. A third patient with persistent synovitis treated with etanercept and methotrexate therapies developed ILD. Therapies with both agents were discontinued, but ILD worsened. With mycophenolate and hydroxychloroquine therapies, complete subsidence of synovitis and return to an active life was achieved within 4 weeks. Prednisone therapy was discontinued in these patients. Mycophenolate is a specific immunosuppressant targeting lymphocytes and is known to inhibit proliferation and activity of "nonimmune" cells implicated in fibrosis, especially fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. Relevant to the findings in the article by Gochuico et al, mycophenolate inhibits the expression of fibrosing cytokines such as transforming growth factor , interferon , platelet-derived growth factor, connective tissue growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin 6, preventing deposition and contraction of collagen, extracellular matrix proteins, and smooth muscle actin. The efficacy of mycophenolate observed in our series of patients with CTD-ILD is similar to that described elsewhere for scleroderma, undifferentiated and mixed CTD, Sjögren ILD, polymyositis, and dermatomyositis. In scleroderma specifically, increased vital capacity as well as improvement or stabilization of lung function in forced vital capacity and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide have been documented for up to 24 months. This is indeed hopeful for scleroderma ILD, since the 24-month data for cyclophosphamide therapy is disappointing.


VRML is the language used to describe interactive 3D objects and the environment, and it also the language for developmenting virtual studio scene.This article discusses the production of the common effect of virtual video panels in a virtual studio scene using Movie Texture node.


The article highlights the principal economic aspects of managing tourism under the plummeting stability of the industry markets. The author shows the dynamics of the Russian tourism market development, defines the role and significance of the tour operating financial provision and lays out the guidelines to improve the situation through setting up a joint security (insurance) fund of tour operators.


Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using tembesu bark extract (Fagraea fragrans) and antifungal tests on fungi that infected mango plants have been carried out. Making AgNPs through variations in the volume of the tembesu bark extract and temperature, the best volume of tembesu bark extract whichwas 5 mL and the best temperatureof AgNPs is at 70oC. The results of the analysis FTIR on tembesu bark extract and its silver nanoparticles which showed a loss of absorption from the aldehydes functional group in 1732.95 cm-1 and the appearance of a carboxylic acid peak in 1652.78 cm-1 indicated the existence of a redox process or reduction of silver ions. The XRD analysis results provide angular values of 2θ at 37.80o (111), 44.02o (200), 64.19o (220) and 77.01o (311) which showed a typical 2θ angle for silver nanoparticles which complies with the JCPDS standard No. 99-0094. The particle size calculated from the Debye Scherrer equation was 12.15 nm. Antifungal activity test results obtained the best percentage of inhibition of silver nanoparticles at the best temperature against N. parvum and F. diaminni fungi of 38% and 32%, respectively.


Correlation clustering is a widely used technique in data mining. The clusters contain objects, which are typically similar to one another and different from objects from other groups. In the authors previous works the possible usage of correlation in rough set theory were investigated. In rough set theory, two objects are treated as indiscernible if all of their attribute values are the same. A base set contains those objects that are indiscernible from one another. The partition, gained from the correlation clustering, can be understood as the system of base sets, as the clusters contain the typically similar objects (not just to a distinguished member) and it considers the real similarity among the objects. In this work the extension of this study is presented, using the method to approximate graphs representing similarity relations.


Bromination is herein exploited to promote the emergence of elastic behavior in a short peptide-SDSYGAP-derived from resilin, a rubber-like protein exerting its role in the jumping and flight systems of insects. Elastic and resilient hydrogels are obtained, which also show self-healing behavior, thanks to the promoted non-covalent interactions that limit deformations and contribute to the structural recovery of the peptide-based hydrogel. In particular, halogen bonds may stabilize the β-sheet organization working as non-covalent cross-links between nearby peptide strands. Importantly, the unmodified peptide (i.e., wild type) does not show such properties. Thus, SDSY(3,5-Br)GAP is a novel minimalist peptide elastomer.


This text draws on contemporary cultural and historical theory to portray Walt Whitman's poetry as a balancing act between the personal and the social, the literary and the plainspoken.


Submitted for the APR12 Meeting of The American Physical Society Integrated Plasma Simulation of Lower Hybrid Current Drive in Tokamaks1 P.T. BONOLI, J.C. WRIGHT, PSFC-MIT, R.W. HARVEY, CompX, D.B. BATCHELOR, L.A. BERRY, ORNL, C.E. KESSEL, S.C. JARDIN, PPPL, SWIM TEAM — It has been shown in Alcator C-Mod that the onset time for sawteeth can be delayed significantly (up to 0.5 s) relative to ohmically heated plasmas, through the injection of off-axis LH current drive power [1]. We are simulating these experiments using the Integrated Plasma Simulator (IPS) [2], where the driven LH current density profiles are computed using a ray tracing component (GENRAY) and Fokker Planck code (CQL3D) [3] that are run in a tightly coupled time advance. The background plasma is evolved using the TSC transport code with the Porcelli sawtooth model [4]. Predictions of the driven LH current profiles will be compared with simpler "reduced" models for LHCD such as the LSC code which is implemented in TSC and which is also invoked within the IPS. [1] C. E. Kessel et al, Bull. of the Am. Phys. Soc. 53, Poster PP6.00074 (2008). [2] D. Batchelor et al, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 125, 012039 (2008). [3] R. W. Harvey and M. G. McCoy, Proc. of the IAEA Tech. Comm. Meeting on Simulation and Modeling of Therm. Plasmas, Montreal, Canada (1992). [4] S. C. Jardin et al, J. Comp. Phys. 66, 481 (1986). 1Work supported by the US Department of Energy. Paul Bonoli PSFC-MIT Date submitted: 09 Jan 2012 Electronic form version 1.4


Hydrothermal springs with discharge temperatures of up to 28°C occur beneath the Grimsel Pass in the Transitgas AG tunnel crosscutting through paraautochthonous crystalline units of the Aar massif (Pfeifer et al., 1992). Located at about 1900 m.a.s.l., these springs are the highest thermal discharges documented in the entire Alps (Belgrano et al., 2016). The springs occur over a narrow tunnel section of <100 m and are associated with a major mylonitic shear zone that has experienced brittle overprint during uplift and cooling of the Aar massif. Stable and radiogenic isotope analyses (O, H, H, C) reveal a meteoric origin and suggest that the springs infiltrated more than 30,000 years ago at an elevation of about 2200-3000 m.a.s.l. (Waber et al., 2016). Moreover, these analyses show that the springs actually correspond to a mixture of an old thermal component with a surface-derived, young cold water component. Applying an enthalpy balance and assuming a contribution of 40-50% yield hypothetical spring temperatures of 45-50°C in the absence of cooling with cold water. Beside the occurrence of warm springs, hydrothermal activity is also manifested by the occurrence of a hydrothermal breccia which is widely exposed at and near the Grimsel Pass. Dating of this so-called Grimsel Breccia demonstrated that the hydrothermal system has been active for at least the last 3.3 Ma years (Hofmann et al., 2004). Furthermore, oxygen isotopes in quartz and adularia, combined with fluid inclusion data, indicate a maximum Breccia formation temperature of 160°C. Taking into account a geothermal gradient of 25°C per km and a mean annual surface temperature of 4°C this temperature estimation suggest that meteoric water infiltrates to a maximum depth of 6.25 km.


This paper presents control design optimization for an asymmetric half-bridge (AHB) converter with current-doubler-rectifier (CDR) for high-performance airborne applications. An accurate dynamic model will be first developed by taking into account the zero-voltage switching transition. Input voltage feedforward control is used to improve line regulation. A simple linear feedforward control law is developed to linearize the complex nonlinear dc voltage transfer function. Placement of the output EMI filter and its effects on output impedance as well as voltage feedback control loop design are studied, and an optimized design with the EMI filter included in the voltage loop is presented. The analysis and design are validated by simulation and measurement results of a 2 kW module.


Indium orthovanadate, InVO4, doped with Eu ions were synthesized using sol-gel method. The precursor of InVO4:Eu powders were heated at 950°C for 10 hr in air, and the crystal structure, surface morphologies, and the photoluminescence properties were also examined. XRD results indicate that the crystallinity of InVO4:Eu powders decrease with increasing the Eu ion concentrations. From the SEM photographs, the shapes of the InVO4 particles are uniform and like the pebbles. With increasing the Eu ion concentrations, the shapes of the InVO4:Eu particles become small and irregular. In the PL studies, the sharp excitation peaks between 300 and 600 nm correspond to the Eu intra-4f transitions. Excitation at 327 nm in terms of Eu concentrations in (In1-xEux)VO4 powders shows that the (In1-xEux)VO4 phosphors display bright red luminescence at about 615 nm belonging to the D0→F2 electric dipole transition, and the time-resolved D0→F2 transition presents a single exponential decay behavior. The saturation of emission intensity excited by intra-4f transitions occurs at a concentration of x = 0.3, indicating that the concentration quenching is active when the x > 0.3. 217th ECS Meeting, Abstract #1100, © The Electrochemical Society


Two concepts—one of the coupled fixed point and the other of the generalized metric space—play a very active role in recent research on the fixed point theory. The definition of coupled fixed point was introduced by Bhaskar and Lakshmikantham (2006) while the generalized metric space was introduced by Mustafa and Sims (2006). In this work, we determine some coupled fixed point theorems for mixed monotone mapping satisfying nonlinear contraction in the framework of generalized metric space endowed with partial order. We also prove the uniqueness of the coupled fixed point for such mappings in this setup.


Background: Optimal biomarkers for cancer pts treated with IO are currently lacking. Markers of inflammation, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are readily available and associated with poor outcomes. We investigated the association between these markers and CO in pts treated with IO. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 90 pts with advanced cancer treated on IO-based phase I trials at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University between 2009-2017. Baseline NLR, MLR, and PLR were treated as continuous variables and rescaled by their own standard deviation. Overall survival (OS) was measured from the first dose of IO to date of death or hospice referral. Progression-free survival (PFS) was determined from first dose of IO to clinical or radiographic progression or death. We defined clinical benefit (CB) as complete response, partial response, or stable disease. Univariate association (UVA) and multivariable analysis (MVA) were carried out using Cox proportional hazard model or logistic regression model. Baseline covariates included race, gender, ECOG PS, # of prior therapies, Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) risk group, IO indication, and # of metastatic sites. Results: The median pt age was 63 years and most (59%) were men. The most common histologies were melanoma (33%) and GI cancers (22%). The majority (81%) were RMH good risk. 46% of pts had CB on IO. The median NLR, MLR, and PLR was 3.63, 0.48, and 182.65, respectively. Increased NLR, MLR, and PLR were all associated with worse OS, PFS, and chance of CB (Table 1). NLR, MLR and PLR are highly correlated to each other (Pearson correlation coefficients ≥ 0.8, all p Conclusion: NLR, MLR, and PLR are strongly associated with CO in pts treated with IO. Prospective validation of these findings are warranted. Table 1: UVA and MVA of NLR, MRL, and PLR with CO *statistically significant Citation Format: Dylan J. Martini, Yuan Liu, Colleen Lewis, Hannah Collins, Mehmet Akce, Haydn Kissick, Bradley C. Carthon, Walid L. Shaib, Olatunji B. Alese, Rathi Pillai, Conor E. Steuer, Christina Wu, David H. Lawson, Ragini Kudchadkar, Bassel El-Rayes, Viraj A. Master, Suresh Ramalingam, Taofeek K. Owonikoko, R Donald Harvey, Mehmet Asim Bilen. Blood based biomarkers and association with clinical outcome (CO) in advanced stage patients (pts) treated with immunotherapy (IO) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2607.


to identify an Alexandrium "tamarensis complex" NH01 isolated from the South China Sea,phylogenetic trees were constructed with SSU rDNA and ITS sequences combined with that from GenBank and literatures.In both SSU rDNA and ITS phylogenetic trees,"tamarensis complex" of different geographical genotypes were subdivided into independent clades.Consistent with other "tarmarensis complexes" isolated from China's coast area,NH01 also are "temperate Asia" type.The feasibility of identification of "tamarensis complex" with SSU rDNA and ITS sequences was conducted,and two kinds of system classification methods based on ITS sequence were discussed.SSU rDNA and ITS sequences can be used as molecular markers to identification Alexandrium between or even within species,can accurately determine their geographic genotype.Suggesting that a SSU rDNA and ITS nucleotide sequence tag approach is used as a routine method to identify,investigate Alexandrium of China's coast.Meanwhile,a DNA probe based on ITS sequences was identified and could be used to identify different geographical genotypes of "tamarensis complex".


One of five different carriers[polyethylene glycol(PEG) 4000,polyvidone(PVP) K30,Poloxamer 188,Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether(Brij35) and hypromellose(HPMC)]and tacrolimus were mixed into organic solvents, and the solid dispersions were prepared by wet granulation.The characteristics of these solid dispersions were evaluated by in vitro dissolution,differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and X-ray diffraction(XRD).The results showed that the dissolution of the five solid dispersions was significantly improved as compared with the corresponding physical mixture. The increment of dissolution was affected by the varieties of carrier.The dissolution behaviors of the solid dispersions with PVP K30 or HPMC as carrier were similar to the reference capsules(Prograf).The results of DSC and XRD showed that there was less crystalline tacrolimus existed in the above two solid dispersions.


One hundred forty-one individuals suffering from chronic depression, unresponsive to previous drug therapy, were treated with a 44-hour program of education, Cranial Electrical Stimulation (CES), Brain Wave Synchronization (BWS), musical conditioning, and a mentally programmed quartz or glass "crystal" randomly assigned with therapists and patients blinded to the crystal's composition. Eighty· four percent of the depressed patients were improved at the end of two weeks of therapy, apparently as a result of the multimodal therapy and group interaction. The results at three months follow-up suggest a positive subtle energy effect of quartz: 70% of the depressed patients who received quartz remained improved, while only 31.5% of the depressed patients receiving glass remained improved. These differences are highly statistically significant. It appears that mentally "programmed" quartz may offer a significant reinforcement to allow patients better long-term recovery than would occur with placebo (glass). The cost effectiveness of such a therapeutic approach is significant. Other therapists are encouraged to replicate these studies.


Objective To investigate the effect of ERK in apoptosis of neuron induced by endotoxemia,provide the theory basis for the early intervention. Methods Wistar rats aged 10 day were randomly divided into two groups:LPS group and NS group. Neuron apoptosis at 6、12、72 h after abdomen injection were detected by TUNEL method, the expressions of ERK were measured by immunohistochemial method.Results ( 1 ) apoptosis cell appeared at 6 hour in LPS group, but the apoptosis index showed no difference from NS group( P > 0. 05 ). The apoptosis cell obvious increased at 12 hour, peaked at 72 hour( P < 0. 05 ,P <0. 01 ). (2) As compared with NS group, the expression of ERK increased at 6 h ( P < 0. 01 ), obviously decreased at 12 h(P <0. 01 ) ,and reversed to the level of NS group at 72 h(P >0. 05). Conclusion LPS can induce the neuron apoptosis in young rats, the ERK is activated and could play role in apoptosis.

Key words:
Endotoxin ; Sepsis ; Apoptosis ; Rat


Pregnant women may be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus and develop serious complications of the disease. Covid-19 causes primarilya respiratory system infection but can also affect cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, and neurological systems. Cardiovascularinvolvement includes new onset hypertension, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary embolism, and pre-eclampsia like syndrome.We report a confirmed Covid-19 pregnant case presented with eclampsia to the emergency department and undergone emergentcesarean section. Following surgery, she was admitted to the intensive care unit due to hypoxemia and hypertension. After observinglymphopenia and high CRP level with hypoxemia, radiological imaging revealed typical findings for viral pneumonia and nasopharyngealswab, which was not carried out at admission, was positive for Covid-19. On the 20th hour of follow-up, she became hypotensiverequiring noradrenalin infusion. Echocardiography diagnosed cardiomyopathy with left ventricular ejection fraction of 35-40 % withhigh levels of NT pro-BNP, hs-troponin, and CK-MB in the patient.Covid-19 should be considered in complicated pregnancies. In complicated cases, a chest CT scan upon admission may aid in quicklydetecting the presence of infection and preventing nosocomial spread of the virus. Cardiomyopathy could be found in pregnantpatients with Covid-19 infection. Since cardiomyopathy can be seen in late pregnancy and early postpartum period, it is difficult todistinguish between viral and postpartum cardiomyopathy in these patients. Recognizing the infection earlier will help to anticipate thecomplications that might contribute to deterioration of the patients, perioperatively.


The authors discuss developmental abnormalities of the thyroid cartilage and its injuries in blunt injuries of the neck. Basing on two cases, they describe developmental abnormalities (no joining between the superior horn and the lamina or complete absence of one of the superior horns) that during autopsies were considered, to be resultant from injuries.


Objective:To investigate the influence of the hyperthyroidism on the outcome of the pregnancies.Methods:Clinical data of80cases of pregnancy complicated with hyperthyˉroidism from January,1995to October,2002were retrospectively.Results:Among these80cases,57cases were treated,the incidence of PIH、IUGR、premature delivery、fetal distress within the treated patients were lower than the untreated23cases.Conclusion:The level of the thyroid should be keeped normal or elevated slightly and perinatal monitoring of the perigestaˉtion were intencified,to improved the outcomes of mother and neonate.


Tooth decay is considered the most widespread infectious disease in the world. This study aims to isolate and identify the important bacteria related to tooth decay,
determine the sensitivity of bacteria in certain types of antimicrobial agents, and study the effect of heavy metals and virulence factors on oral bacterial isolates. A total of 50 swabs were collected from the mouths of patients from both gender, with ages ranging from 1–60 years. The patients were advised to consult with dental clinics and
specialized centers to isolate and identify the causative agents associated with oral diseases. Results showed that infection rates in younger age groups (1–20 and 20–40)
are higher than the elder group (40–60), with percent incidence of 44% and 32%, respectively. Antibiotic sensitivity test against the isolates showed that
chloramphenicol had the highest sensitivity effect with 83.2% followed by rifampicin and gentamicin with 81.35%, penicillin G with 64.40%, and streptomycin with 16.94%
Also, these differences were found have lower effect for isolates against (10) heavy metals, where it showed resistance to Iron 3.38%, then nickel, aluminum, copper, lead to 20.33%, 22.03%, 27.11%, 28.81% respectively, also sliver shown 57.62%. And, this similarity were found have sensitive to antimony and chromium 61.01%.while appeared sensitivity to mercury and cadmium by 100, 86.44. Hemolysin had the highest ability to produce virulence factors (72.88%), followed by lecithinase (42.37%) and protease (25.42%). Lipase and urease had the lowest virulence factor production (10.16%).


The downfield shift of the tyrosyl proton resonances and an increased chemical shift difference between the resonances for the 2',6' and 3',5' hydrogens in a series of deamino-oxytocin analogs modified in the disulfide bridge provide evidence for aromatic-sulfur interactions in d6-dimethylsulfoxide solutions.


The paper focuses on the studying of key concepts associated with the word самоизоляция during the coronavirus pandemic period. The paper is based on the chain-association experiment among the contemporary Russian native speakers aged 18 to 26. The experimental study showed associations Russian native speakers provide in response to the stimulus самоизоляция (self-isolation) are often expressed by such groups as family, time, isolation, measures, feelings, freedom, leisure, daily activities during the pandemic period, studying.


A new formal method for communication protocol specification is presented.FSM,CSP and ADT are mixed and the best features of these approaches can be offered in the fomal method.First,we briefly describe the formal techniques of communication protocol.We then put forward the hybrid method of protocol specification.Finally,an example,i.e.,IEEE 802.3 MAC protocol for LAN described by the proposed formal method,is given.The results of studies show that this hybrid formal method for protocol specification is a correct,unambiguous and complete approach.


Objective The objective of this study was to explore the clinical effects of Bushen Culuan prescription on infertility due to decreased ovarian reserve of kidney deficiency and liver depression pattern.
 Methods Totally 100 infertile patients with ovarian hypofunction treated from October 2019 to January 2022 were selected and divided into the observation group and the control group by a random number table. The control group was treated with estrogen sequential therapy, and the observation group was treated with Bushen Culuan prescription. The clinical efficacy, sex hormone levels including (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], and estradiol [E2]), ovarian function, ovarian blood flow status (peak systolic velocity [PSV], antral follicle count [AFC], arterial pulse index [PI], and resistance index [RI]), and pregnancy outcome in the two groups were compared and analyzed.
 Results The total effective rate of the observation group (96.00%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (80.00%). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in sex hormone levels (FSH, LH, E2, and FSH/LH), ovarian function (number of primary follicles, number of dominant follicles, ovulation number, and endometrial thickness), and ovarian blood flow (PSV, RI, PI, and AFC) between the two groups (p > 0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum hormones FSH, LH, E2, and FSH/LH decreased significantly in both groups. The number of primary follicles, dominant follicles, and ovulation increased significantly, and the thickness of endometrium decreased significantly; the indexes of PSV, RI, and AFC of ovarian blood flow increased significantly, and the PI index decreased significantly. The levels of each index in the observation group were better than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In the control group, 32 cases were pregnant within 1 year after treatment, and the pregnancy rate was 64.00%; 21 cases in the observation group were pregnant within 1 year after treatment, and the pregnancy rate was 42.00%; the pregnancy rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 4.014, p = 0.045 < 0.05).
 Conclusion Bushen Culuan prescription has a definite effect on infertility due to ovarian hypofunction. The action mechanism may involve multicomponent and multitarget stimulation to improve patients' ovarian function, regulate the level of sex hormones, and improve the pregnancy outcome.


This is one of a series of film reviews of Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan Coogler. This review analyzes engagement with the movie as a religious experience and considers some political implications of both its storyline and reception. In particular, the piece focuses on constructions of race, especially in relationship to Africa and African Americans, as well as practical tensions around commodifying dissent.


The outgoing five-year term has profoundly shaken up the supplementary health insurance sector. Its integration is accompanied by the explicit desire for control and nationalisation, as is reflected in the taxation of the sector. The outgoing term has not called into question any of the taxes imposed by the previous majority, although it is known that they have contributed to a significant increase in supplementary coverage. This has been marked by new form of 'dirigisme': in addition to regulatory dirigisme there is now administered competition between operators, which thus makes full use of market mechanisms at the core of the health field. This mixture of regulatory dirigisme and intensified competitive pressure could even be considered the trademark of supplementary health insurance coverage, introduced in 2012.


SUMMARY Electronic monitoring systems (EMS) are used in some fisheries to collect the same types of scientific information that human observers can collect, and in some cases for compliance with existing regulations. An EMS system was tested previously onboard a tropical tuna purse seiner in the Atlantic Ocean and it showed that the system could perform very well in many tasks. Since then, 17 purse seine vessels operating in the 4 RFMOs, have been equipped with a different EMS that has been developed recently by SATLINK (SeaTube). In this paper, we present preliminary analyses comparing information collected by human observers from the IEO and recordings of the SeaTube system reviewed by DOS (Digital Observer Services) of 103 sets made along 4 trips in 2 different vessels in the Atlantic Ocean. We compare in particular estimates of catch per set (for target and non-target species), amounts of discards, fishing effort type and set location. We also comment on other potential uses of the electronic system including for compliance purposes.


We find that leverage-initiating stocks experience an increase in return comovement with existing leveraged stocks and a decrease in return comovement with existing zero-leverage stocks in the year after the leverage initiation event. In contrast, stocks that fully deleverage comove more with their new peers of zero-leverage stocks and less with their old peers of leveraged stocks. These findings are robust after controlling for common factors and firm characteristics and using various time series and events as exogenous shocks to corporate leverage decisions. The shifts in return comovement are greater for larger absolute leverage changes and distinct from the dividend clientele effect. Our findings can be explained by the financial leverage clientele effect. We find that mutual funds adjust their holdings of leverage changing stocks around the event year and that funds have a propensity to invest their capital flows according to their investors' preference for leveraged (zero-leverage) stocks.


REVEALS IT PARTIALLY ACCOUNTS FOR OOCYTE MITOGENIC ACTIVITY R.B. Gilchrist, L.J. Ritter, M. Cranfield, L. Jeffery, F. Amato, S. Myllymaa, H. Lankinen, D.G. Mottershead, N.P. Groome and O. Ritvos Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Australia. School of Biological & Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, UK. Programme for Developmental & Reproductive Biology, Biomedicum Helsinki, and Department of Bacteriology & Immunology, and Peptide & Protein Laboratory, Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.