than the chromosome 9 inversion found in the mother, the karyotype of the father and mother were normal. Only the deletion of band q21.1 from chromosome 7 in the child represents a genetic imbalance. Behavioral therapy and parent counseling were employed, but they had a limited effect on the management of the child's behavioral problems. Carbamazepine, given in a dosage of 100 mg in the morning and again in the evening, was started as treatment for his seizure disorder. Haloperidol, 1 mg administered each morning and evening and 0.5 mg given at noon, was added to treat his violent behavior. Benztropine, 0.5 mg given in the moming and evening, was added to counteract the side effects of the neuroleptic. The child became less aggressive and was more easily managed on this treatment. At his 6 month follow-up, he continued to have occasional aggressive outbursts, and no seizure activity was reported; by 1 year, aggressive outbursts had stopped and seizure activity remained absent.


In order to understand the urban soil fertility quality and to serve soil health management,soil particle and nutrient contents in 0-10 cm layer near the different ring road greenbelts located Northern Beijing were analyzed.The results showed that sand content was as high as 71.74 %,while clay content was only 4.05 %,the soil texture types mainly belong to sand,loamy sand and sandy loam;soil pH values were from 8.01 to 8.97 and belonged to slightly alkaline or alkaline soil.The average contraents of soil organic matter,soil total nitrogen,soil available phosphorus and available potassium were 19.81 g·kg-1,0.81 g·kg-1 29.16 mg·kg-1 and 252.22 mg·kg-1,respectively.The variation degrees of soil nutrient contents were different.The order of the coefficient of variation was available phosphoruspotassium NH+-4 NO——3 total nitrogen total phosphorus total potassium.On the other hand,the differences between contents of soil nutrients in different road greenbelts was significant.In the North Second Ring Road greenbelts,the soil nutrient contents reached the maximum value except soil potassium content.In general the soil nutrient contents decreased from downtown to suburb.The concentration of total nitrogen,available phosphorus and total potassium in grassland soil were significantly higher than those in the open soil.


Abstract We present a simple proof of Toda′s result (Toda (1989), in "Proceedings, 30th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science," pp. 514-519), which states that ⊕ P is hard for the Polynomial Hierarchy under randomized reductions. Our approach is circuit-based in the sense that we start with uniform circuit definitions of the Polynomial Hierarchy and apply the Valiant-Vazirani lemma on these circuits (Valiant and Vazirani (1986), Thoeret. Comput. Sci. 47, 85-93).


Studies have shown that on average, English language learners (ELLs) take seven to ten years under "optimal conditions" to acquire the language skills necessary to compete with native-born peers in the classroom (Cummings, 1991). There seems to be a lack of literature on the role of oral language anxiety for ELL student and how it may hinder their language production. The purpose of current study is to qualitatively investigate the role of incorporating LEGOi?½ StoryStarter as manipulatives to facilitate communication through collaboration with peers to support their oral language production of anxious young ELL students. We interviewed six elementary ELL participants, paired them into dyads, and asked them to narrate stories together with and without LEGOi?½. Findings suggested that the use of LEGOi?½ StoryStarter shapes the way that participants interact with each other, as it encourages communication not only with each other, but also with themselves. This study adds on to the lack of research on young ELL students.


Human species A adenoviruses (HAdVs) comprise three serotypes: HAdV-12, -18, and -31. These viruses are common pathogens and cause systemic infections that usually involve the airways and/or intestine. In immunocompromised individuals, species A adenoviruses in general, and HAdV-31 in particular, cause life-threat- ening infections. By combining binding and infection experiments, we demonstrate that coagulation factor IX (FIX) efficiently enhances binding and infection by HAdV-18 and HAdV-31, but not by HAdV-12, in epithelial cells originating from the airways or intestine. This is markedly different from the mechanism for HAdV-5 and other human adenoviruses, which utilize coagulation factor X (FX) for infection of host cells. Surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that the affinity of the HAdV-31 hexon-FIX interaction is higher than that of the HAdV-5 hexon-FX interaction and that the half-lives of these interactions are profoundly different. Moreover, both HAdV-31–FIX and HAdV-5–FX complexes bind to heparan sulfate-containing glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) Infection experiments. The effects of various human coagulation factors on the infection of cells by species A were examined. were with a


Aiming at the limitation of dependency model in description and analysis of uncertain problem for testability evaluation of complex equipment,a testability model was provided based on Bayesian networks.Firstly,the causality between failure modes and signals was expressed by directed edges.Moreover,uncertain information was described by conditional probability based on Bayesian networks testability model.The testability modeling was assigned to structure and parameters learning problem on the basis of incomplete data because of the incompletion of fault symptoms and reasons in statistical data.A testability modeling method based on discrete particle swarm optimization (DPSO) was put forward,and Bayesian measure was taken as score value by the completion of testability data.Finally,an example proves that our method is correct and effective.


This paper reflects on the process of embedding circular thinking within a multidisciplinary research project on future smart materials. We have identified a series of complexities and saw the need for facilitating a shared material understanding between stakeholders. As an attempt to tackle these complexities and integrate circularity as core part of the material development process, we report on the creation of two design tools; a (i) material properties capturing tool to classify smart materials based on their technical properties and a (ii) scenario mapping tool to articulate future use-case scenarios where smart materials circulate in closed loop systems. Following numerous iterations and feedback sessions with our collaborators, we discuss a range of emerging challenges and how we tackled them.


Abstract : Murrells Inlet is an important harbor for recreational craft as well as a number of charter fishing boats. Encompassing about 3,330 acres, Murrells Inlet is a comparatively small system characterized by ocean beaches, sand and mud flats, intertidal shellfish beds, and expanses of saltmarsh intersected by numerous tidal streams. The inlet receives negligible freshwater inflow and salinities are high, typically approaching that of the ocean. The channel at the entrance of the inlet has constantly shifted over the years due to transport of sand by currents and wave action. The Murrells Inlet Navigation Project would provide a stabilized channel of sufficient depth and width for use by commercial and recreational vessels. In addition to channel dredging, the project would include a system of two jetties at the inlet entrance. Channel maintenane dredging about once every four years will also be necessary. The primary objectives of this environmental inventory were to conduct studies on the megabenthic communities, to collect and anlayze water and sediment samples, and to classify, survey, and chart the marsh vegetation and intertidal oyster reefs in this small neutral embayment. Our study was of a short-term nature and was not intended as a comprehensive environmental impact study of the Murrelss Inlet Navigation Project.


We consider the background of a rotating axially symmetric black hole. Let particle 0 decay to two fragments 1 and 2 in the direction parallel to that of particle 0. It is shown that if decay occurs inside the ergoregion, both particles 1 and 2 move in the same direction as particle 0. For the scenario, when decay happens in the turning point of all three particles, we find the condition when angular momenta of both particles 1 and 2 have the same sign. We elucidate the relation between the approach of Wald that imposes constraint on maximum and minimum energies of fragments and our approach. In doing so, we express the results in terms of characteristics of particle 0 and all particle masses. The conditions of the maximum efficiency depending on the relation between masses is discussed. We find an explicit expression for angular momenta of particles 1 and 2. We discuss also particle decay for static black holes, when the Penrose process is impossible. Because of the absence of the ergoregion in the static case, scenarios of decay for static black holes can significantly differ from those in the rotating background.


The procurement, screen and burn-in, and field history of the semiconductor parts in the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) is given. Both field failures and variability of performance through screen and burn-in are directly related to changes occurring in the parts manufacturer's facilities. The problems of developing and sustaining high reliability are discussed.


Selected indicators were compared of the slaughter value and quality of meat in 50-day-old pure Pomeranian lambs (P) and F1 lambs (P ewe x Blackface ram and P eve × Charolaise ram - PB and PCh crossbreds, respectively). The slaughter value was determined based on live body weight, intestinal fat weight, dressing percentage, loin eye length and area, thickness of fat cover over the ribs and loin, proportions of valuable cuts in a carcass, and tissue composition of the leg. Meat quality was evaluated based on the chemical composition as well as the physico-chemical and sensory properties of quadriceps femoris muscle. PB and PCh lambs, as compared with P lambs, had higher live weight, a higher dressing percentage, a higher proportion of valuable cuts in a carcass, as well as more desirable lean-to-bone and lean-to-fat ratios in the leg. The length and area of loin eye were also greater in PCh lambs. Meat from PCh lambs, as compared to meat from lambs P, contained more protein and less collagen, and was characterized by a better water holding capacity, a lighter color, a greater diameter of muscle fibers, as well as worse tenderness and juiciness. Meat from PB lambs showed a lower collagen content and a smaller diametre of muscle fibers than meat from P lambs, as well as a higher fat content, better tenderness and juiciness than meat from PCh lambs.


We extend previous results on sufficient conditions for rearrangeable Log/sub 2/(N,m,p) networks to Log/sub d/(N,m,p) networks. We show that the original argument using path-intersecting graphs cannot be extended to d>2, and we give a new argument. Further, we show our sufficient conditions are also necessary.


The Absolute Acceleration Shock Response Spectrum (AASRS), which is most commonly used in engineering is analyzed in detail, and the effects of shock duration, shock amplitude and shock waveform on AASRS are discussed respectively. Shock duration has the greatest influence on the shape and change trend of AASRS, followed by shock amplitude. However, shock amplitude only affects the amplitude of AASRS and does not change the overall change trend. Shock waveform has the smallest influence on AASRS and mainly affects the frequency point of peak acceleration.


One merit point of this manuscript could be the determination of a method to select the most appropriate time scale for drought assessment, especially in tropical countries, as the authors mentioned in the end of the introduction section. Specifically, the authors conclude that "Among the SDI time scales, SDI-3 is the most suitable for effectively tracking hydrological drought. For tropical regions, this is the scale that is most sensitive to changes in streamflow" However, I cannot find in this manuscript a robust scientific method / technique which could prove this result, on the contrary the authors mentioned in many different parts of this paper controversial aspects concerning this point.


A three-by-three polarization ray tracing matrix P which is defined in global coordinates characterizes the polarization transformations associated with single ray through optical system. The P matrix contains both a geometrical transformation effect and the polarization characteristics of diattenuation and retardance from the optical and polarization elements. In order to separate the geometrical transformation and calculate the "physical" retardance, a non-polarizing ray tracing matrix Q is used. The diattenuation and the retardance of a dove prism are analyzed as an example.


This article addresses two questions: (a) to what extent have the effects of family background on leaving school without qualifications changed over time in the Netherlands, and (b) to what extent have the background family characteristics of the unqualified changed. We estimate discrete-time event-history models, using data from the Family Surveys Dutch Population 1992, 1998, and 2000. The results show that the effects of parental socio-economic resources and parental educational attainment on leaving school unqualified have decreased over birth cohorts, whereas the effects of parental cultural and socio-demographic resources have been stable. These developments have been accompanied by decreases in the proportions of younger cohorts who leave school without qualifications. The combination of these two developments has caused the family background characteristics of the low-educated to deteriorate: they increasingly originate from families with unfavorable socio-economic, cultural and demographic resources. We argue that due to statistical discrimination and labeling this compositional change may have negative consequences for the economic and social well-being of low-educated persons in the Netherlands.


Strychnine poisoning is a common cause of suicidal and accidental death. It appeals to one contemplating suicide because of its cheapness, accessibility and small lethal dosage. Sugar coated strychnine tablets intended for adult medication tempt children. About one third of the accidental deaths from 1926 to 1928 in children under 5 years of age insured by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company were caused by strychnine. 1 Many antidotes for strychnine poisoning have been suggested. One group of authors list twenty-six. 2 These include inhalation anesthetics, stimulants, vasodilators, sedatives and even bleeding. Emetics have also been used. 3 Not one of these methods is specific, many are ineffective and few can be accurately controlled. In 1929 Zerfas and McCallum 4 reported three cases of strychnine poisoning in human beings successfully treated with barbiturates. Lundy 5 commented on the successful use of barbiturates in strychnine poisoning in 1931. I have found more


After China's supply chain finance business has gradually matured in the consumer finance field, it has begun to extend to the industrial finance field. As a branch of industrial finance, the natural gas industry supply chain finance business has gradually developed, and the number of participants has gradually increased. The article mainly introduces the development status of natural gas supply chain financial services in China. Research has found that there are still many problems in the current industry development, such as the inability of effective collaboration among participants, and the inability to unify logistics, information flow, capital flow and energy flow in the industry. On this basis, the article studies the methods of blockchain technology to solve corresponding problems, and proposes the application ideas of blockchain technology in the field of natural gas supply chain finance, hoping to promote development by constructing a business model business architecture and technical architecture, This model can produce significant economic and social benefits, has a high theoretical feasibility, but there is no concrete examples at present. Finally, suggestions are made in five aspects, including strengthening the design of top-level systems, incorporating energy flows into the supply chain financial framework system, creating an open innovation atmosphere, enhancing technological progress, strengthening core corporate social responsibility, and promoting core corporate organizational innovation.


This article shows the importance of bus-bar protection,analyzes some short comings of current bus-bar protection and describes the new style bus-bar protection is based on ANN model.


When addressing the sustainable use of metals, one must consider not only primary metals in the natural environment but also alternative resources, such as secondary metals found in society. For that purpose, elucidating the availability of secondary metals, that is, secondary metal reserves, is important. A classification framework of the secondary resources was applied to investigate its applicability to zinc and to assess the secondary zinc reserves and resources of major targeted countries. Our estimates show that Japan and the United States have secondary zinc reserves of 14 and 13 Mt, respectively, and showed the total estimated amount of secondary zinc reserves of the study countries is equivalent to about 24% of the global primary zinc reserves. On a per‐capita basis, France, Germany, and Japan have the largest secondary zinc reserves. The application of a classification framework showed that a considerable amount of secondary zinc resources is found in landfills, providing a future potential target for secondary zinc landfill mining. The framework provides details about the sizes and locations of secondary zinc resources. This information is useful for both industry and policy makers to maximize access to valuable secondary zinc sources. This study also highlights the necessity for the integrated management of primaszzry and secondary zinc resources.


Introducing effective approaches and providing equal opportunities for all language learners at any level of language knowledge to learn successfully seems to be an asset. In this study, the role of employing Partnership Approach (PA) to teach speaking to undergraduate EFL students through Streaming/Homogeneous-Grouping of the learners in Mixed-Ability classrooms was examined. A quasi-experimental research method was employed and 72 Iranian male and female undergraduate students majoring in TEFL whose ages ranged from 19-24 participated in the study. The study comprised three experimental and three control groups in high, low, and mixed language-ability levels based on the results of an Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT) so that there were 12 students in each group. The findings indicated that among the streamed experimental groups, low-ability students did not significantly develop their speaking ability. On the contrary, low-ability students benefited from the mixed-ability teaching more than the other students both in the control and the experimental groups. Mixed-ability and high-ability students in the experimental group significantly outperformed their counterparts in the control group. Low-ability students in the control group outperformed their counterparts in the experimental group. This study has the potential to develop new insights and ideas which can be adapted by both EFL teachers and students in different educational settings. The processes and outcomes of the study can be adapted for use in other disciplines to examine the effect of ability grouping and partnership on the individuals' overall success.


Two stimulation systems designed for use in functional neuromuscular stimulation of paralyzed people are discussed. One is portable and one is a nonportable laboratory system. Compared to previous systems, these have greatly enhanced capabilities, especially in terms of memory capacity, expandability, and user interface. They are extensively operator programmable. The laboratory stimulation system was designed to provide quick turnaround time for stimulation pattern or program changes while maintaining complete compatibility with the portable system. The lab system also accommodates external closed-loop control.<<ETX>>


52 species occurrence points (SOPs) and 14 bioclimatic variables were used to generate baseline and projected site suitability models for Adlai and evaluate the impact of climate change to the distribution of the species. Purposive sampling was adapted to gather SOPs while bioclimatic variables were acquired from a credible online source. Results have shown that 245,980 ha. in the province is suitable for the species based on the model. To assess the impact of climate change, a 30-year projected suitability model was modelled revealing an increase in suitable area from 245,980 ha. to 391,872 ha., an increase of 145,892 ha. Most of the projected suitable areas are found in the southern part where some towns have almost 100% suitability coverage. The model accuracy was excellent at 92%. The bioclimatic variable that had the most important contribution is bio 12 (annual precipitation) which obtained 24.74%. The information generated in this study is key for interested sectors in planning, targeting and prioritizing areas to put in investment programs for Adlai.


[Objective] The marker for the identification of Allium fistulosum L.var. giganteurn chromosome was provided through the research on the CPD bends so that the molecular character of DNA sequence of its chromosomes could be understood. [Method] The mitotic chromosomes of the root-tip cells of Allium fistulosum L.var.giganteurn Makino was prepared with the wall degradation hypotonic method and the chromosomes were stained by CPD(combination of PI and DAPI) . Then,the karyotype analysis of the materials was conducted combined with conventional measure of the chromosome. [Results] The red CPD bends were showed on all chromosomes endpoint area of tested materials after CPD staining and the karyotype formula of A. fistulosum L.var.giganteurn was 2n=2x=16=14m+2st(SAT) . [Conclusion] The A. fistulosum L.var.giganteurn chromosome could exactly be identified depending on the CPD bends. The DNA sequence in the endpoint area of all of chromosome was richened with GC. The evidence of DNA molecule in the research on the identification,systematic classification and evolution of Allium sp. could be provided.


This paper identifies and documents the properties of output gap recessions and recoveries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan (MENAP) during the 1980 to 2008 period. It goes on to investigate the key determinants of the recoveries. The duration of MENAP countries' recessions and recoveries has increased from the 1990s to the 2000s. MENAP hydrocarbon exporting countries' recessions were on average more pronounced in the 2000s, and hydrocarbon importing countries' recessions milder. Fiscal policy is found to have played a key role during the recoveries to potential output, although with weaker effects for MENAP countries that are more open to trade. Monetary policy is found to have been less effective. This is likely to be related to the fact that many of the MENAP countries have fixed exchange rate regimes and hence have limited room for active monetary policy. 1 The author would like to thank Paul Cashin, Reinout de Bock, Daniel Florea, Heiko Hesse, Sam Ouliaris, Niklas Westelius, and seminar participants at the IMF Institute for insightful comments.


Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 3 © 2019 The Authors This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. The authors have stated they have no conflict of interest. Substantial investments have been made by governments internationally in the provision of public health programs and services. There is now broad acceptance of the need to improve the potential benefits of such investment through enhanced implementation of evidence-based programs at-scale.1 The prevailing emphasis on implementation as a vehicle for public health improvement is illustrated by the establishment of national funding schemes for implementation and dissemination research, and the proliferation of speciality implementation science training opportunities to support the development and application of the science of implementation in health service. As a consequence of such developments, there has been considerable growth in implementation-related research. Public health indexed publications in Medline with 'implementation' in the title have increased from 917 in the year 2007 to 2,858 in the year 2017,2 and the leading speciality journal Implementation Science has seen a sevenfold increase in submissions over the same period.3


This research was aimed to examine conditions on synthesis of nanoporous carbon materials from durian peel via the process of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) as an application for delaying durian ripening process. The experiment was conducted by using durian peel as materials for producing nanoporous carbon via the process of hydrothermal at 160-200 °C for 8-24 hours. It also included the process of carbonization at 500-900 °C for 2 hours under nitrogen atmosphere for developing pore structure and removing contaminants to obtain the nanoporous carbon. The properties of nanoporous carbon were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectrometer analysis. The results indicated that the process of hydrothermal at 200 °C for 12 hours and carbonization at 900 °C for 2 hours was suitable for delaying ripe durian. This is become of the carbon content, porous structure and amorphous structure increased with HTC temperature.


tenance or alternative immunosuppressive strategies are required [3] . To standardize and facilitate the challenging diagnosis of AIP, especially with regard to the life-threatening differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, international consensus diagnostic criteria have been developed that entail 5 diagnostic key features: pancreatic imaging, steroid response, serology, other organ involvement, and histology that are categorized in levels 1 and 2 evidences. Especially in western countries, the incidence and prevalence of AIP is largely unknown. In Japan, a recent survey suggests a prevalence rate of about 4 per 100,000 individuals, and an annular incidence rate of 1.4 per 100,000 [4] . In a clinical routine, acute or chronic pancreatitis will mostly be caused by chronic alcohol abuse or biliary pathologies. However, it is extremely important to know when to look for rare causes of pancreatitis, such as AIP. In this issue of Digestion, Schneider et al. [5] present a retrospective cross-sectional study in ( n = 704) patients ( n = 373 with alcoholic pancreatitis, and n = 331 with non-alcoholic pancreatitis) from a tertiary referral hospital in the southwest of Germany. The authors analyze 2 different cohorts, the retrospective pancreas cohort (RPC; n = 534 patients) and the pancreas clinic cohort (PCC; n = 170) for features of AIP. In the RPC, prevaAutoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is an increasingly recognized fibro-inflammatory disease of the pancreas, characterized by distinct histopathological and clinical features. AIP-type 1 not only affects the pancreas but frequently involves a multiorgan syndrome (kidney, salivary glands, biliary tree, retroperitoneum, lymph nodes) that is referred to as IgG-4-related disease. It occurs mostly in elderly men with painless jaundice and is frequently accompanied by elevated IgG-4 serum levels. The histopathological form is described as lymphoplasmic sclerosing pancreatitis, but diagnosis can often be made without histological sampling if IgG-4 serum levels are sufficiently high [1] . In contrast, AIP-type 2 is a pancreas-specific inflammation that often only focally involves the pancreas and can easily be misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer. It occurs more often in younger patients with painful pancreatitis episodes and associated inflammatory bowel disease. Other organ involvement does not occur and IgG-4 levels are typically not elevated. On histology, AIP-type 2 is termed idiopathic duct centric pancreatitis , and sufficient biopsy material is often difficult to obtain using minimally invasive techniques [2] . Usually, AIP responds well to oral steroids initially; however, in some patients there is a relapse, especially in those with AIP-type 1, and hence low-dose steroid mainReceived: August 28, 2017 Accepted: September 3, 2017 Published online: September 29, 2017


In the paper the results of research on rapid prototyping using electron beam and deposit-ed material in the form of wire are presented. Electron beam rapid prototyping with wire is an efficient method for manufacturing complex shapes from metal alloys such as alloy steels, nickel alloys or titanium. This technology is used primarily in the aviation industry, especially in the military as it is designed rather for a unit production or small series production. As part of the work, technological conditions of the process for which it is possible to deposit test pieces in the form of rectangular prism were determined. Test elements were made using a stainless steel wire grade G 18 8 Mn. Metallographic examinations and selected mechanical properties were investigated. The deposited material is characterized by austenitic with ferrite delta, cell-dendritic microstructure. There are large dendritic grains which are extended towards the heat dissipation – towards the substrate. The hardness in the deposited material is in the range of 192 to 273 HV0.05 depending on the number of layers. In the area of mixing with the substrate, the hardness reaches the value of 355 HV0.05.


Neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are well documented and recently reviewed. As many as 14% to 75% of patients with SLE eventually develop various degrees of neuropsychiatric manifestations. It is relatively rare, however, for patients with SLE to have such manifestations initially. According to a retrospective study of 140 patients with SLE, only 5 patients (3%) initially had neuropsychiatric manifestations, and only 1 patient initially had aseptic meningitis. Searching through MEDLINE, we were able to find only 10 cases of SLE-related aseptic meningitis from 1966 to 2000. We describe a case of SLE-related aseptic meningitis with fever, headache, neck rigidity, and laboratory findings otherwise typical of pyogenic meningitis.


Recruitment and academic success at the Master of Science (MS) degree level is an often-overlooked line of inquiry. The Stellar Engineering Students Graduate Program Scholarship (SEnS GPS), a National Science Foundation S-STEM funded program at Boise State University, is beginning to bridge this gap in our knowledge of masters-level students. Boise State is a medium-sized, metropolitan, rural serving institution in the mountain west with a large population of typically underserved student groups. SEnS GPS is investigating the experiences of computer science and engineering MS students from pre-decision and recruitment to graduation. This project is working to determine if best practices in the areas of recruitment, retention, and persistence to degree at the undergraduate level translate successfully to the MS level, looking specifically at low-income, academically talented, first-generation, and generally underrepresented students in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. SEnS GPS is currently in its second year and has just graduated its first cohort of 10 students in May 2022. Sixteen students have participated in the program as scholars (scholars are defined as receiving NSF-sponsored scholarships) and 18 as general, non-scholar participants. All students received pre-decision and application mentoring, graduate program culture and expectations programming, cohort building activities, and staff support beyond the faculty advisor. Initial research has identified the pre-recruitment process as a critical juncture for college students when deciding to pursue an MS degree in a STEM discipline. This paper will discuss research-based pre-recruitment strategy development and initial qualitative data related to strategy successes and challenges encountered in the program over the last two years. An overview of significant self-reported education progression decision-making factors gathered from college seniors, and current graduate students will also be discussed.


There is a sufficient amount of data that TNF-alpha, the monokine produced by macrophages after bacterial stimulation might be an important factor responsible for irreversible tissue damage during the septic shock. In an attempt to elucidate the possible function of TNF-alpha in the pathomechanism of sepsis the assesment of TNF-alpha activity in the blood of newborns with bacterial septicaemia was performed. A sample of 21 newborns with sepsis (13 with Staph.epi., 1 with Staph.aur., 7 with G(-) bacteria) was studied. A group of 22 infection-free infants matched by gestational age, birthweight and sex, were used as a controls. TNF-alpha in the blood was determined by ELISA method. For statistic analysis a non-parametric (Wilcoxon) test was used.Comparisons: A:B(p <.025). A:C(p <.001), B:C(p <.005)Conclusions: 1. Infants with G(+) and G(-) sepsis reveal significant activity of TNF-alpha in their blood. 2. G(+) bacteria seem to be more potent stimulator of TNF-alpha production in vivo than the G(-) ones.


This report summarizes several investigations of the quiet and active solar atmosphere. It includes a discussion of a technique for studying the physical conditions in active region loops and the application of the technique to loops in McMath region 12628 and loops associated with the 7 September 1973 proton flare in McMath region 12507. The report also summarizes some work on coronal hole models, models for the chromosphere and an investigation of relationships between flare rates and 8.6 mm brightness temperatures. (auth)


Objective  To evaluate the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 or 33 infection in primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC).


In this paper,the effect of Aerosol Optical Thickness(AOT) on cyanbacteria bloom in the Taihu Lake was investigated,which could lay a foundation for dynamically monitoring cyanbacteria bloom.Moreover,a study of the elimination of the effects of AOT on the extraction results was carried out.MODIS products(MOD 02,MOD 04 and MOD 09) were chosen.Single band(NIR) and ratio vegetation index(NIR/G) were used to extract the spatial distribution of cyanbacteria bloom in the Taihu Lake in 2006.The effect of AOT was explored.A quantitative analysis of the degree of the effect of AOT on both the net changes of the area of cyanbacteria bloom and threshold selection was conducted.The results show that the correlation in the case of fixed threshold is higher than that of the demand threshold when the correlation of the area differences of cyanbacteria bloom and AOT is studied with single band and ratio vegetation index.In these two methods,the correlation without atmospheric correction is higher than that with atmospheric correction in the case of the corresponding value.This shows that the atmosphere will have some impact on the extraction of cyanbacteria bloom.Therefore,if cyanbacteria bloom information needs to be extracted accurately and reliably,AOT cannot be ignored.Also,if it cannot be completely eliminated,appropriate methods could be used to minimize its effect.


In less than half a century automobilism in socialist Yugoslavia expanded rapidly; from the least developed European country in that aspect immediately after the Second World War, to a country on the verge of a stable motorized society by the late 1980s, comparable to the level of West European countries. At the same time, Yugoslavia was far ahead of all other so-cialist countries in Europe. Constructing an original model of a society somewhere on the crossroads between the "capitalist" West and "socialist" East, Yugoslavia achieved a little bit of both worlds, supporting the development of private motorization and automobilism, but at the same time keeping all the characteristics and the problems of the socialist system. Never-theless, with many successes and failures along this original "road to communism" the achieved results are impressive: the automobile became a member of an average Yugoslav family, and the socialist period can be truly understood and explained as the "golden age" of automobilism in former Yugoslav countries.


The use of high‐Z plasma facing components requires intensive research in all areas, i.e. in plasma wall‐interaction, in the physics of the confined plasma, diagnostic, and in material development. Only a few present day divertor tokamaks ‐ mainly Alcator C‐Mod and ASDEX Upgrade ‐ gained experience with the refractory metals molybdenum and tungsten, respectively. ASDEX Upgrade was stepwise converted from graphite to tungsten PFCs and in parallel a reduction of the deuterium retention by almost a factor of ten has been observed due to the strong suppression of D co‐deposition with carbon. The deuterium retained in W is in line with laboratory results. In order to diagnose W sources and the W content in the main plasma adequate spectroscopic methods had to be developed. As expected from the sputtering threshold of Mo and W, negligible erosion by the thermal divertor background plasma is found in ASDEX Upgrade and Alcator C‐Mod under low temperature divertor conditions. However, erosion by fast particles and...


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that influence the diffusion of a systemic innovation in the Swedish construction sector. The focus is on high-rise multi-storey timber housing; the development of which was enabled by a change in building regulations. This allowed building higher than two stories in timber.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal case study was used with multiple data collection methods to study the development and diffusion of a multi-storey timber house system by a case study organisation.

Findings

The findings contribute to understanding for a number of interacting factors influencing the diffusion of a systemic innovation related to the case study organisation.

Originality/value

The research provides a holistic view of interacting factors influencing the diffusion of a systemic innovation. The results have value to the Swedish construction sector and to the global community of construction researchers, as it provides empirical findings that further increase the understanding for diffusion of systemic innovations in a specific context.


Chapter headings and selected papers: Ship Autopilots. Batch adaptive yaw-roll controllable autopilot (J.S. Park, K. Ohtsu). Ship Propulsion and Power Systems. Emissions and performance tradeoffs for advanced marine diesel propulsion (A. Stefanopoulou, R. Smith). Dynamic Positioning Systems for Ships. Positioning of semi-submersibles with roll and pitch damping (A.J. Sorensen, J.P. Strand). Position Mooring Systems for Ships. Dynamics of a turret-FPSO and shuttle vessel due to current (H.M. Morishita, B.J.J. Cornet). Rudder-Roll Control Systems. Quantitative analysis and design of a rudder roll damping controller (G. Hearns, M. Blanke). Maneouvering and Tracking Control Systems. Improved fuzzy autopilot for track-keeping (Z. Vukic et al.). Marine Navigation Systems I. Vehicle and mission control of the SIRENE underwater shuttle (P. Oliveira et al.). Underwater Vehicles. Adaptive neural-net controller system for underwater vehicle (K. Ishii, T. Ura). High-Speed Crafts. The decoupled cushion control in ride control systems for air cushion catamarans (D. Bertin et al.). Modeling and Identification of Marine Vessels. Bayesian estimation of directional wave spectra based on ship motions (T. Iseki, K. Ohtsu). Marine Navigation Systems II. A new collision-avoidance-supporting-system and its application to coastal-cargo-ship "Shoyo Maru" (K. Kose et al.). Software Architecture. Trends in real-time communication networks onboard ships (J.D. Nielsen et al.). Risk Assessment and Fault Handling. ANN-based nonlinear time series models in fault detection and prediction (T. Tang et al.). Optimization in Marine Systems. Opimization control for fuel consumption of a ship propulsion system with CPP using decoupling and LMI approach (Y.-B. Kim et al.). Author index.


The proton spin–lattice relaxation time T1 in water has been measured as a function of pressure in the temperature range 150 to 700°C. This study focuses on the supercritical region (tc=374°C) where the spin–rotation interaction mechanism dominates the observed proton relaxation rate. Since water is an asymmetric top molecule, the analysis of the experimental data involves a number of simplifying assumptions discussed in detail. The experimental finding that in supercritical water the spin–rotation relaxation time T 1SR is a linear function of density ρ, up to relatively high densities (ρ≃ 1.5 ρc) provides rationale for analysis of the NMR experimental data in terms of a model used for dilute gases. The T 1SR data are analyzed on the basis of the assumption that the collision modulated spin–rotation interactions can be described by a single correlation function which is an exponential function of time. Using this procedure, we find that T 1SR/ρ αT−2, i.e.T 1SR/ρ exhibits a stronger temperature dependence ...


In the first set of experiment the Authors use different concentrations of PMMA (from 0.1 mg/ml to 1 mg/ml). The increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine production is statistically significant at all the concentrations tested. In the following experiments, the Authors use 1 mg/ml of PMMA in the presence of LXA4. The Authors should discuss why they use this concentration in the following experiments, considering that probably the effect reaches the highest plateau, rendering more difficult to evaluate an effect of LXA4. However, even in these experimental conditions, LXA inhibits cytokine production in a range of concentrations between 10 nM and 100 nM. On the other end, the endogenous levels of LXA measured in the supernatants are about 2 nM. This concentration should be used also in the experiment when exogenous LXA is tested and probably PMMA should be used at a lower concentration.


Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by decrease in CD4 cell count and immunodeficiency, leading to opportunistic infections (OIs) and tumors.  Objective of this study was to find out any association between thyroid function abnormality and CD4 count, duration of disease and ART drugs. Methods: Among 300 HIV/AIDS Persons attending ART centre, M.Y. Hospital, or attending general OPD, or admitted as in patients Dept. of Medicine, MGM Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore, India. Results: Amongst 300 HIV patients,62 (20.66%) had thyroid dysfunction, most common being subclinical hypothyroidism (24/300, 8.0%) followed by sick euthyroid (17/300, 5.6%) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (13/300, 4.3%). Overt hypothyroidism was present in 5 of 300 (1.66%) patients and overt hyperthyroidism was present in 3 of 300 (1.0%) patients.  25 of 152 (16.44%) and 37 of 148 (25%) male and female HIV patients had thyroid function abnormality. Thyroid dysfunction was significantly more observed in old HIV patients (42/150, 28.0%) than in newly diagnosed HIV patient's group (20/150, 13.33%). Conclusions: This prevalence being fairly high, it can be suggested that all retro positive patients, recently diagnosed and on treatment also may be subjected for routine thyroid function testing.


Adhesion bands and adhesion formation is one of the most importants post surgical complication in pelvic and abdominal operations. Post operation adhesions are the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in the western world. Approximatly one-third of all intestinal obstruction are likely to be due to adhesions. In over 10% of infertile women, adhesion formation is the main cause of infertility. Major studies in prevention of adhesion formation have based on anti-inflamatory agent. In this study we decided to compare corticostroid agents in intraperitoneal injection for reduction of postsurgical intraperitoneal adhesions. Forty rats devided to 4 groups (N=10) and after anesthesia with 50mg ketamine intraperitoneally and laparatomy, an abrasion between uterine horns was created and then, 10mg talc powdered in each rat. Also in the group A 10ml normal saline, group B 1mg/kg betamethazone phosphate, group C 1mg/kg dexamethazone and group D 1mg/kg betamethazone-LA added into peritoneum. Then abdominal wall was repaired. After 4 weeks relaparatomy was done and adhesions with modified Swolin method was registered. In comparison among groups there were statistically significant difference in the rate of adhesions (P=0.04). It showed betamethazone-LA decreases grade of adhesion (P=0.07). Difference between betamethazone-LA and control group in amount and thickness and strength of adhesion was statistically significant. In the phosphate decreased fibrin formation in rats and multiple dose of dexamethazone intraperitoneally and orally were effective in reducing of adhesions. But at the present study single dose of betamethazone-LA intraperitoneally reduced rate of adhesion and betamethazone phosphate and dexametazone were ineffective.


"Lightweight" semantic annotation of text calls for a simple representation, ideally without requiring a semantic lexicon to achieve good coverage in the language and domain. In this paper, we repurpose WordNet's supersense tags for annotation, developing specific guidelines for nominal expressions and applying them to Arabic Wikipedia articles in four topical domains. The resulting corpus has high coverage and was completed quickly with reasonable inter-annotator agreement.


A technique for rapid detection of chikungunya virus IgM antibodies in human serum samples using infected Ae- des aegypti mosquito head squashes as immobilized antigen, was developed. Its sensitivity and efficacy was evalu- ated with two other methods i.e. MAC-ELISA and C6/36 cells. Results showed sensitivity at par with that of C6/36 cells and MAC-ELISA. However, weak positives of MAC-ELISA could not be detected either in the new technique or in C6/36 cells. The technique is simple, rapid and reliable and can be useful in preliminary screening of samples at outbreak areas where ELISA set up is not available. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a member of the genus Alphavi- rus, family Togaviridae is transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes and is of considerable public health importance in Africa and South East Asia ( Jupp & McIntosh, 1988; Powers & Logue 2007). The viral infection is generally self-limiting and is characterized by sudden onset of fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, myalgia, rash and arthralgia. CHIKV has made an explosive resurgence in 2005-06 in the Indian sub-continent after a gap of 32 years, affecting more than 13 lakh people across the country with a few CHIKV associated deaths (Chandak et al, 2011; Sudeep et al 2011). However, the recent epidemic has been characteris- tic as it flared up quickly over a large geographical area cover - ing 25 states/union territories (NVBDCP 2014). The sufferings of the patients were enormous as arthralgia persisted for pro- longed periods. Many other clinical complications that are not associated with CHIKV infections earlier were also seen during the recent outbreak 3,5 (Chandak et al 2011; Tsetsarkin & Weaver


The introduction of the Euro has drawn interested parties' attention on the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate market. In this research, three variance ratio tests: Lo-MacKinlay's (1988) conventional variance ratio test, Chow-Denning's (1993) simple multiple variance ratio test, and Wright's (2000) non-parametric ranks and signs based variance ratio tests are adopted to test the random walk hypothesis (RWH) of the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate market using the data from January 1999 to July 2008. All of three variance ratio tests' results show that the RWH cannot be rejected. Therefore, the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate market is regarded as weak-form efficient.


The work presented in this paper aims at combining fuzzy function approximation and reinforcement learning in order to create robotic soccer agents that are able to coordinate their behaviours locally and socially while learning from experience. This simultaneous coordination and learning ability can play a crucial role in improving the behaviour usage of robotic soccer agents. To achieve this goal, a fuzzy reinforcement learning technique for a single agent is first examined and then this technique is applied to multiple agents. The conducted experiments through a soccer simulation system show that the performance of robot scoring speed is improved using the proposed approach.


The International Space Station as humanity's outpost in low Earth orbit, is an ideal platform for studying how to live in space, as well as to conduct research to learn more about life. A long-duration microgravity platform such as ISS allows the study of biological and physiological processes free of the one constant force to which they have been subjected since the origin of life on Earth: gravity. Although construction of ISS is still under way, the US Laboratory Module Destiny has been outfitted with its full complement of 10 research facilities, two of them dedicated to life sciences research. In the coming years, Destiny will be joined by the European Space Agency's Columbus and by Japan's Kibo research modules with additional facilities, and then by the Centrifuge Accommodation Module containing a centrifuge for variable gravity research. Research has been ongoing for only 2 of its planned 15 years of orbital life, so we have clearly just opened the door to learning about life on Space Station.


The past several years have seen a dramatic increase in research interest regarding ordered and disordered mesoporous molecular sieves. UL-ZSM5s belong to the class of disordered mesoporous materials where zeolites are intergrown in mesoporous structures. They are considered to have a great potential for adsorption separation and catalysis. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the main diffusion path of these novel materials, using the zero length column (ZLC) technique with an appropriate theoretical analysis. Two UL-ZSM5 samples and their precursors were investigated, employing o-xylene as a probe molecule. In addition, ZSM-5 and ZSM-12 crystals with n-heptane/toluene as probe molecules were used as reference systems. The results revealed that the structure of UL-ZSM5 and its precursor behaved approximately as a three-dimensional (isotropic) diffusion system, while ZSM-5 and ZSM-12 crystals behaved as three- (isotropic) and one-dimensional (anisotrpic) diffusion systems, respectively. T...


The invention provides a power supply system for a central processing unit. The power supply system comprises a mainboard and an external circuit board, wherein the mainboard also comprises the central processing unit, a first power module, a first connection part and a control unit; the first power module supplies first current to the central processing unit; the control unit is coupled between the first connection part and the central processing unit; the external circuit board also comprises a second connection part which is used for connecting the first connection part and a second power module which is coupled with the second connection part and is used for supplying second current; and the control unit transmits the second current to the central processing unit when the second connection part is electrically connected with the first connection part.


While it is widely known that many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, better known as Mormons, practiced a form of polygamy during the nineteenth century, the architectural manifestations of this experiment remain largely mysterious. This article looks at houses designed for multiwife families in Utah during the period from 1847, when the Mormons went West, and 1890, when "living the principle" of polygamy was abolished. The study focuses on several themes, including separate and cohabitational living arrangements, spatial equity among wives, and the gendering of space in multifamily situations.


Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra and their angular dependencies were measured for Co2+ trace impurities in stoichiometric samples of lithium niobate doped with rhodium. It was found that Co2+ substitutes for Li+ in the dominant axial center (CoLi) and that the principal substitution mechanism in stoichiometric lithium niobate is 4Co2+ ↔ 3Li+  +  Nb5+. The four Co2+ ions can occupy the nearest possible cation sites by occupying a Nb site and its three nearest-neighbor Li sites, creating a trigonal pyramid with C3 symmetry, as well as non-neighboring sites (e.g. a CoNb–CoLi pair at the nearest sites on the C3 axis with two nearby isolated single Co2+ ions substituted for Li+). In congruent crystals and samples with Li content enriched by vapor transport equilibrium treatment the excess charge of the Co2+ centers is compensated by lithium vacancies located rather far from the Co2+ ions for the dominant axial center or in the nearest neighborhood for low-symmetry satellite centers (the Co2+ ↔ 2Li+ substitution mechanism). The use of exact numerical diagonalization of the spin-Hamiltonian matrices explains all the details of the EPR spectra and gives a value for hyperfine interaction A|| that is several times smaller than that obtained using perturbation formulae. The refined values of A and g-tensor components can be used as reliable cornerstones for ab initio and cluster calculations.


A method of forming a composite sheet made in the first sheet and the second sheet is disclosed. First and second sheets, in some of spaced discontinuous sheet adhesion locations are adhered to each other. The method of precursor nonwoven web by mechanically deforming comprises forming a first web having a deformable portion therein. Deformable portion is formed a protrusion extending outwardly from the first surface of the first web and an opening in the other surface of the web. The method includes providing a first nonwoven web having a deformable portion therein bonding nip, in this bonding nip, a portion of the first region of the first web of the outer deformation part first It is bonded to the second web to form a base adhesive composite web.


By definition, nominal data cannot be ranked. However, there are circumstances where it is essential to rank nominal data. Examples of such ranking include ranking hospitals and colleges, defining the "most livable cities", and conference paper submissions. In this project, we consider ranking patient severity. The purpose is to determine how patient severity can be used to rank the quality of hospital performance. There are thousands of patient diagnoses and co-morbidities that make such a ranking very difficult. Generally, nominal variables have been ranked by using quantitative outcome variables. Currently, hospital quality measures used stepwise logistic regression to reduce the number of patient diagnoses considered to define a measure of patient severity. More recently, a weight-of-evidence method has been developed for predictive modeling such that nominal data are compressed and ranked using a target variable. However, there are now methods available that allow for ranking nominal data that do not require outcome variables; instead, outcome variables can be used to validate the ranking. Ranking can be done using SAS Text Miner to compress nominal data fields containing information on patient diagnoses, combined with PROC KDE to define and validate the patient severity ranking. It will be demonstrated that SAS Text Miner can define an implied ranking of nominal fields that is identified through the application of PROC KDE. Once the patient severity rank has been defined, it will be used to examine patient outcomes, and physician variability in patient outcomes.


The impact of different variables on the performance of stock market has seen the key issues for all the analysts .It has the significant role for enhancement the progress of the economy .For purpose of this study is to examine that financial position of the country .Palm oil is the major product of the Malaysia. Increase and decrease the prices of palm oil impact the stock index of Malaysia .In pursing the object, we have adopted the bound test .we have applied the co integration approach to analysis the association between underlying variables .we have taken the data from 1998 to 2013 and applied the ARDL approach and taken the results that there is existence both long and short run relationship.


Based on China's colleges and universities are the different types of 267136 questionnaire data, as well as acquisition simulator WeChat grabbed to nearly 2GB of data, as well as the tertiary education sector keyword data collection, as well as domestic colleges and universities to provide authoritative body ranking WeChat collection of data. Then the data collected by the authors of the word design clustering survey model modeling analysis, given China's colleges and universities WeChat universal status reports. The report found that in China's colleges and universities using WeChat is already a way of life, the high viscosity user WeChat, dependencies, colleges and universities of vermicelli WeChat public rational structure, information dissemination of efficiency. Report data can be used as a digital campus building in colleges and universities, and management. Keywords—WeChat popularity of colleges and universities; WeChat universal model; colleges and universities WeChat application


Objective: To explore the relationship between Self-concept and Defense Style of college students.Methods: Self-concept and Defense Style of 390 college students were tested by GSES and DSQ.Results: ①There were significant difference in Self-concept between male and female(P0.01),and there were significant difference between urban and rural college students(P0.05);②There were no significant differences in Defense Style between urban and rural college students(P 0.05),but obvious differences between sexes(P0.05).③There was significant correlation between Self-concept and Defense Style.Conclusion: Self-concept is an important factor in influencing Defense Style of college students.


The purpose of this study was to compare the daily inter‐ and intra‐situational ambulatory blood pressure (BP) variation by ethnicity in women.


The article considers SMM advertising as an effective opportunity to promote Internet projects in the hotel business. This information environment is conducive to promotional activities, as Internet visitors are predisposed to receiving information about the hotel industry. Moreover, it is for this information that they go to the net. SMM is a mass communication medium that differs from other media mainly in the way it spreads and presents information, providing a lot of opportunities for integrated marketing programs in the hotel industry. The specificity of SMM activities on the network lies in the fact that any user has the opportunity to be both a recipient and a sender of an information message. Therefore, SMM advertising, compared to traditional PR (public relations) on the Internet, provides a deeper level of interaction with potential customers.


The _World Investment Report_ (_WIR_) has sought "Big Questions" rather than Grand Challenges and has been entirely successful in mirroring the focus of international business (IB) research. It has not, however, focused on "Grand Challenges" deeming them to be beyond its remit, or too broad for a single report. There is no shortage of potential topics for future *WIR*s, building on past success and extant IB research.


Adequate methods for the determination of protein digestibility in bullfrogs are important for the understanding of nutrient utilization. Therefore, this study evaluated two methods of feces collection: intestinal dissection and fecal decantation, using cylindric-conical tanks. Frogs were fed with a commercial diet (45% crude protein) which was ground and supplemented with 0.5% chromium oxide III. The frogs were fasted 48h before force-feeding (5% of the animal's live weight). For the decantation method, the animals were sacrificed 36 h after force-feeding and feces were collected directly from the large intestine. For the sedimentation method, feces were collected when they appeared in the tubes attached to the front end of the cylindric tanks. No significant difference (P>0.05) in the apparent digestibility coefficients of crude protein for dietary was observed between the methods tested (74.0% and 76.4% for the dissection and decantation methods, respectively). In conclusion, both methods can be used for the determination of protein digestibility of bullfrog feeds


According to the marine CSEM(controlled source electromagnetic method),many controlled source electromagnetic acquisition stations in the bottom of the sea need to observe weak electromagnetic signal synchronously and continuously for long term.To solve the problem that it can't receive GPS RF signal in submarine,the high stability OCXO combines with precision GPS clock as the hardware foundation.The low time drift technology is put forward through locking GPS before and after launched deployment,as well as time drift compensation.Many controlled source electromagnetic acquisition stations are realized synchronous observation.Indoor and sea trials indicated that the technology could reduce data synchronization error significantly.


The results of a geophysical survey carried out at the archaeological site of Masseria Nigro, located
on a fluvial terrace on the north-eastern flank of the Agri valley (Viggiano, Basilicata Region),
are presented and discussed. The site includes an important ancient structure, developed in successive
phases between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC and destroyed after the Roman conquest.
Magnetic mapping, GPR profiling and electrical resistivity tomography were applied in the course
of geophysical exploration in the archaeological area. The application of these methods revealed
information about buried ancient walls, helping to define the boundaries of the whole building.
During the first phase of the excavation, archaeologists targeted only the western part of the ancient
structure (about 1000 m 2 ), but the geophysical survey performed in a second phase was able to
cover the entire ancient structure (1400 m 2 ), enabling the archaeologists to define the extent of the
buried structures. Our findings confirmed the hypothesis of the larger extent of the archaeological
area in the eastern part and revealed the complete plan of the ancient building.


The study aims at investigating the dimensions of stigma of spinsterhood in terms of cultural (Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia) and gender differences. The sample consisted of (740) participants (233 males, 507 females). Stigma of spinsterhood was measured as perceived within the society. In addition, culture dimensions' according to Hofstede's model were also measured. The results revealed that there is difference among Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia in Hofstede's culture dimensions. Algeria was the most culture which stigmatizes single women. Compared with women, men have higher stigmatizing attitudes toward single women. In addition, there is a significant interaction effect between culture and gender in the stigma of spinsterhood. Finally, the study presented some relevant recommendations.


This paper describes the design of a 3D running game with educational content. The goal of the game is to teach children capitalization in German. Sentences are presented to the children in increasing order of difficulty, determined by the syntactic structure of the sentences. Words within sentence were presented decaptialized and the children had to select the words that should have been capitalized. The game design uses an emotional avatar along with speed factor in order to motivate the children to play longer and improve their performance. 20 children played the game with the avatar and 16 children played the game without the avatar. A qualitative feedback was collected via an online survey. In addition, their performance profile was logged and analyzed. Based on the data, we report some trends that indicate increased engagement and performance. These indicators can be used for improving user-dependent, adaptive design for the player. ACM Classification


There are several experiments involving single‐cell recording which are clearly measuring peripheral processes only (i.e., do not involve efferent action): steady‐state rate functions versus amplitude, click response PST histograms, sine‐wave tuning curves, envelope response to brief noise and tone pulses, steady‐state two‐tone inhibition, envelope response to steady tone plus inhibiting tone pulse, and transient response to closely spaced click pairs. Ideally, one would like to construct a model of the mechanical to neural transduction process which encompasses all of the above results. Several models have appeared in the literature over the past 15 years, but each matches only a limited set of experiments. However, we have combined the most promising features of several of these models to synthesize a new model which at least qualitatively matches all of the experimental data listed above except the click‐pair experiments, and has some physiological validity. Detailed comparisons between experimental data and computer generated simulations will be presented. [Supported by Defense and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine.]


This paper has investigated the possibility of glass insulator breakage by resonance and accelerated degradation based on an analysis of natural frequency characteristics of glass insulators on the KTX overhead line and behavioral characteristics of the overhead line on site. The natural frequencies were formed within the range of 10 kHz, and the largest amplitude was observed at 5.15 kHz. The largest frequency that was imposed on strut tube glass insulators was 80 Hz with 1.13 g of vertical vibration in the viaduct section, the largest vertical vibration (0.38 g) was detected at 103 Hz in the open route section. When site frequency and natural frequency of strut tube glass insulators were compared in terms of characteristics, the resonance was not the same. In both the viaduct and open route sections, it seems that the impact by vertical vibration in strut tube glass insulators is large. Through this study, therefore, it has been confirmed that the failure of the glass insulator has nothing to do with resonance. In addition, no damage was detected in the accelerated degradation test.


In this paper, we extend the well known QR-updating scheme to a similar but more versatile and generally applicable scheme for updating the singular value decomposition (SVD). This is done by supplementing the QR-updating with a Jacobi-type SVD procedure, where apparently only a few SVD steps after each QR-update suce in order to restore an acceptable approximation for the SVD. This then results in a reduced computational cost, comparable to the cost for merely QR-updating. We examine the usefulness of such an approximate updating scheme when applied to subspace tracking. It is shown how an O(n 2) SVD updating algorithm can restore an acceptable approximation at every stage, with a fairly small tracking error of approximately the time variation in O(n) time steps. Finally, an error analysis is performed, proving that the algorithm is stable, when supplemented with a Jacobi-type re-orthogonalization procedure, which can easily be incorporated into the updating scheme. 1. Introduction. In many signal processing applications, it is necessary to continuously update matrix decompositions as new measurement vectors are appended as additional rows. Such problems frequently occur in beamforming, direction nding, spectral analysis, etc. [21]. Ecient updating techniques have long been known for the QR-decomposition [8], while the more dicult problem of updating the (ordinary) singular value decomposition (SVD) has only recently been addressed [1, 2, 4, 9, 20]. Previously described techniques for row updating of the SVD mostly reduce to computing the rank-one modication of the corresponding symmetric eigenvalue problem [1, 2, 9]. A major drawback is the necessary knowledge of the exact eigenstructure of the original matrix in order to compute the updated eigenstructure. For real-time applications, where in each time step an exact updating is thus to be performed, this results in an unacceptably heavy computational load, viz. O(n 3) per update. Moreover, round-o errors due to the use of nite precision arithmetic are likely to accumulate unboundedly. In this paper, we derive a fast SVD updating technique as a combination of QR-updating on the one hand and a Jacobi-type SVD procedure on the other hand. The updating scheme provides only an approximate decomposition after each update. It has a low computational complexity {O(n 2) per update{ and it is particularly suited for parallel implementation [18]. When combined with exponential weighting, such an algorithm is seen to be highly applicable to subspace tracking problems. SVD methods are known to be extremely reliable in this respect, …


A new definition of the effective input noise temperature which allows negative real part source and port imittances and multiresponse systems is proposed. This extended effective input noise temperature is used to modify the Friis formula to include cascading of a large class of multiresponse stages with possibly negative real part source and port imittances.


Superconducting materials with non-centrosymmetric lattices lacking the space inversion symmetry exhibit a variety of interesting parity-breaking phenomena, including magneto-electric effect, spin-polarized currents, helical states, and unusual Josephson effect. We demonstrate, within a Ginzburg-Landau framework describing non-centrosymmetric superconductors with $O$ point group symmetry, that vortices can exhibit an inversion of the magnetic field at a certain distance from the vortex core. In a stark contrast to conventional superconducting vortices, the magnetic-field reversal in the parity-broken superconductor leads to non-monotonic intervortex forces and, as a consequence, to the exotic properties of the vortex matter such as the formation of vortex bound states, vortex clusters, and appearance of metastable vortex/anti-vortex bound states.


Gallium-Nitride power transistors have a limited short-circuit withstand time, which can be as low as 200 ns. Typical short-circuit detection methods such as the desaturation detection method and current based methods present difficulties when they are applied to Gallium Nitride devices. The former requires a blanking time and therefore can detect a short-circuit at a relatively late stage, this method also reacts slowly under high-inductive short circuits. Current based methods require either a special transistor with a current mirror or a special package with a Kelvin connection. This work presents the use of a current sensor integrated into a printed circuit board to perform a very fast short-circuit detection. Two detection methods using the integrated current sensor were implemented, which neither use a blanking time nor require a special transistor package. The functioning under both Hard Switch Fault and Fault Under Load types of short circuit was experimentally tested and a resulting short circuit detection time as low as 30 ns is demonstrated.


A Laboratory Investigation of the Role of Guide Planes in the Retention of Cast Cobalt-chromium Alloy Partial Denture Frameworks. M. Ali, N.E. Waters, R.I. Nairn, F. West and M. Sherriff. Journal of Dentistry 2001; 29: 291–299


Nigeria is a highly populated country in West Africa where less than half of the residents have access to safe potable water. Usually characterised by poor socioeconomic infrastructure, the rural people often carry the brunt of this menace. In this paper, we review existing publications and reports on water scarcity and access to potable water in southwestern Nigeria with the view of keeping the subject matter in perspective for policymakers and relevant government agencies and ministries to take urgent steps in ad-dressing the situation. The reported cases of high pathogenic microbial loads, detection of some heavy metals and physicochemical water parameters exceeding the WHO standard for drinking water quality was discussed. The results have serious public health implications. There is, therefore, a need for a paradigm shift from indiscriminate attitudes of water abuse for sustainable solutions to the water challenges.


While in predicating and designating, quantifying and generalizing, and in numbering, English speakers use one/many figuring, Yoruba speakers do the same in whole/part as they, like their English counterparts, do the little embodied rituals (with hands, eyes, gestures) that go with these acts. Numbers as used in English and Yoruba languages reveal two systems of abstraction constructed in two diverse systems of categorization. The disparity in the two strings of abstraction is the divergence between Yoruba and English, regarding the forms of actions that bodies do, actions that are in turn coded as the language users engage in predication and designation. As a part of grammar, natural number is a historical product; an attempt at giving meaning. It has been naturalized, and is no longer seen as a social product. Establishing how the truths numbers form come into existence, Verran explains quantifying as resulting from ritualized and routinized collective embodied acting. She renders an account of generalization in the explanatory frame of "emergent worlds." She tells of the experience of doing quantification and managing diversity in a manner that allows a "going-on together" in Yoruba classrooms, markets, and civil administration. She tells of practicing diversity and telling about that practice, a responsible communication of diversity as practicable and amenable to matters of mutual concern. She also recounts an 'irresponsible' doing and telling of difference (conservativist universalism and liberalist relativism), a contriving that legislates a moral order, presenting difference as undoable and unmanageable. Contemplating worlds as outcomes of reciprocally rebelling and cooperating co-players, we find explanatory frames that not only celebrate difference and sameness, and appreciate the place of the inanimate in the animate (human), but also that do not radically sever the symbolic from the material.


Quantum key distribution (QKD) is one of the most important subjects in quantum information theory. There are two kinds of QKD protocols, prepare-measure protocols and entanglement-based protocols. For long-distance communications in noisy environments, entanglement-based protocols might be more reliable since they could be assisted with distillation procedures to prevent from noises. In this paper, we study the entanglement-based QKD over certain noisy channels and present schemes against collective noises, including collective dephasing and collective rotation, Pauli noises, amplitude damping noises, phase damping noises and mixtures of them. We focus on how to implement QKD protocols over noisy channels as in noiseless ones without errors. We also analyze the efficiency of the schemes, demonstrating that they could be more efficient than the standard entanglement-based QKD scheme.


We study the effect of within-country income inequality on the diffusion of mobile phones using data on market penetration in a sample of developing countries from 1985 to 1998. Mobile phones are an example of international technology, originating in industrialized countries and diffusing worldwide. We find that income inequality, as measured by the income share of the highest earning deciles, has a positive effect on the early diffusion of mobile phones and that the estimated effect becomes greater when a measure of agricultural endowments is used as an instrument. The instrumental variable results are robust to weak instruments. Our findings suggest that the diffusion of new technologies originating from industrialized countries may generate yet another channel that links inequality and development.


Abstract: The author describes how a Summer Honors Course in Insurance and Risk Management for outstanding high school students has been devised to create visibility for the Insurance and Risk Management Program at Indiana State University. As the author points out, the same type of course could be devised at other institutions that have both 1) a Summer Honors Program, and 2) a strong undergraduate program in insurance and risk management.


The psychrotolerant bacteria able to induce carbonate precipitation of heavy metals at low temperatures play an essential role in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil in cold regions. In this study, a psychrotolerant bacterial strain DC1 with carbonate mineralization potential, identified as Glutamicibacter sp., was isolated from tailing soil. The optimal temperatures and pH range for the growth of strain DC1 were 10-30oC and 6-8, respectively. Besides, strain DC1 showed a high degree of resistance to various metals (Pb>Cu>Ni>Cd). Furthermore, strain DC1 produced a large amount of urease (266.91 U/mL), which induced the fermentation suspension's pH (pH 9.5 at 10oC). Moreover, the fermentation suspension of strain DC1 could generate carbonate precipitates of various metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cu) to remove them from the solutions. Based on the analyses of XRD, SEM, and EDS, the carbonate precipitates of Pb and Cd have been identified as PbCO3 and CdCO3 mineral crystals, respectively. In contrast, no mineral crystals of Ni and Cu existed. Furthermore, the carbonate minerals of Cd and Pb with regular crystal improved resistance to dilute acid. Thus, this study showed that strain DC1 without acid production could induce carbonate precipitates of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Ni at low-


Background: An adnexal mass, which refers to a mass located in the ovary, fallopian tube, or surrounding connective tissues, is a common problem in gynecology. A significant number of females present with adnexal masses, and the clinicopathological pattern and outcome of these masses are not well characterized. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate the clinicopathological features and outcomes of adnexal masses in females from puberty to perimenopause.
Methods: This study was a prospective observational study that was conducted over a period of one and a half years in the postgraduate department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Lalla Ded Hospital, GMC Srinagar. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institution Ethics Committee (IEC) prior to conducting the study.
Results: For patients aged 12-20, the chief complaints were pain abdomen (66.7%) and menorrhagia (33.3%). For patients aged 21-30, the chief complaints were pain abdomen (70.3%), dysmenorrhea (11.1%), secondary infertility (7.4%), and incidental finding during LSCS (11.1%). For patients aged 31-40, the chief complaints were pain abdomen (96%) and incidental finding during LSCS (4%). For patients aged 41-50, the chief complaints were distension and menorrhagia (both 50%). The chief complaints associated with these masses include Pain abdomen, Dysmenorrhea, Secondary infertility, Menorrhagia, Distension, Polymenorrhea, and Incidendal finding. The percentage of patients associated with each type of adnexal mass varies from 1% to 100%, depending on the type and chief complaint.
Conclusion: The study found that adnexal masses were more prevalent in married women aged 21 to 40 years, with abdominal pain being the primary presenting symptom. Most of the masses were less than 100cc, and the majority of neoplastic lesions were surface epithelial tumors. The study also showed that non-neoplastic lesions were more common than neoplastic lesions, with only one malignant tumor found among the neoplastic lesions.

Keywords: Adnexal mass, ovarian cancer, clinical presentation, histopathology


Purpose

– Provides an expert opinion on the role of technology in revolutionising the business world.

Design/methodology/approach

– Draws on the authors vast experience to provide an informed viewpoint.

Findings

– Describes the huge impact that technological advancements, in particular cloud computing, will have on the workplace.

Originality/value

– Describes the huge impact that technological advancements, in particular cloud computing, will have on the workplace.


duction is the definition of sources responsible for the emission. Odor emission from swine facilities is due to fermentation of manure. Pig manure is predominantly a mixture of urine and feces, and contains undigested components of the diet, endogenous end products of digestion, and bacteria from the lower gastrointestinal tract. Manure contains a variety of simple and complex organic compounds and inorganic compounds, and may contain feed additives, depending on the dietary components. Odorous volatile organic compounds can be produced. The gases of most concern in swine buildings are ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. These gases are a major source of indoor air contamination. Ammonia is a gas with a very sharp odor. The odor is familiar to most people because ammonia is used in smelling salts and household cleaners. A major source of ammonia emission is the metabolic processes of producing urea, which is excreted via urine. Urea is converted into ammonia and carbon dioxide by the enzyme urease, present in feces. The most important factors affecting this process are the urinary urea concentration, pH and slurry temperature. Ammonia volatilization is a process that depends on factors such as concentration of ammonia, air speed in the building and ammonia and dry matter content in the manure. Most of the ammonia in the environment comes from the natural breakdown of manure and from dead plants and animals.


Blood quinidine determinations by the photofluorometric method were made in 30 patients with auricular fibrillation or flutter in whom conversion to sinus rhythm was attempted. Successful conversion occurred in 82 per cent of the patients, with a mean blood level of 5.9 mg./liter. Vomiting and, in one case, ventricular tachycardia were the most important toxic manifestations. Doses of 0.4 to 0.6 Gm. every two hours for five doses daily were usually adequate to obtain the average conversion blood level. The importance of the quantitative aspects of quinidine therapy and the relation of time, dose and concentration of quinidine in the blood are discussed.


Background: Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are important carriers in drug delivery and medical application. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of original and modified CNTs on A549 cells, as a cellular model of human lung. Materials and Methods: Single-wall CNTs were pegilated via different functional groups. Original and modified CNTs were exposed to A549 cells. Different concentrations (0-600 µg/ml) of CNTs were evaluated at exposure times of 24, 48 and 72 hours. Morphologic changes were observed by an inverted microscope and the viability percentage of A549 cells was determined using the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Results: Amine-mediated pegilated CNT (amin-PEG-CNTs) and carboxyl-mediated pegilated CNT (carboxyl-PEG-CNTs) in concentration of 600 µg/ml after 48 hours exposure led to severe morphologic changes in the A549 cells. These changes were also obvious after 72 hours. In concentrations of 100, 200 and 400 µg/ml of CNTs, in all times, amin-PEGCNTs showed better biocompatibility than carboxyl-PEG-CNTs. The MTT results showed a significant reduction in viability of A549 cells in concentrations more than 200 µg/ml after carboxyl-PEG-CNTs exposure and more than 400 µg/ml after amin-PEG-CNTs exposure (P<0.05). While, original CNTs showed a cytotoxic effect on A549 cells in concentration of 100 µg/ml. Conclusion: It seems that the amine group in combination with positive charge in surface, with surface modification of CNTs, can be an interesting solution to safer application of CNTs as carriers.


The possibility of improving image resolution in comparison with value which determined by <> width was analyzed using photon average trajectories method. The limit of resolution determined by Nyquist's consequence ofthe Kotel'nikov-Shannon theorem and the ratio <> is achieved using image reconstruction methods. According to these facts it was demonstrated that the resolution of the PAT method can be increase only two-three times more.


Single kernels of durum wheat have been analyzed by hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Such an approach is based on the utilization of an integrated hardware and software architecture able to digitally capture and handle spectra as an image sequence, as they results along a pre-defined alignment on a surface sample properly energized. The study was addressed to investigate the possibility to apply HSI techniques for classification of different types of wheat kernels: vitreous, yellow berry and fusarium-damaged. Reflectance spectra of selected wheat kernels of the three typologies have been acquired by a laboratory device equipped with an HSI system working in near infrared field (1000-1700 nm). The hypercubes were analyzed applying principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the high dimensionality of data and for selecting some effective wavelengths. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was applied for classification of the three wheat typologies. The study demonstrated that good classification results were obtained not only considering the entire investigated wavelength range, but also selecting only four optimal wavelengths (1104, 1384, 1454 and 1650 nm) out of 121. The developed procedures based on HSI can be utilized for quality control purposes or for the definition of innovative sorting logics of wheat.


This paper aims at proving the local boundedness and continuity of solutions of the heat equation in the context of Dirichlet spaces under some rather weak additional assumptions. We consider symmetric local regular Dirichlet forms, which satisfy mild assumptions concerning (1) the existence of cut‐off functions, (2) a local ultracontractivity hypothesis, and (3) a weak off‐diagonal upper bound. In this setting, local weak solutions of the heat equation, and their time derivatives, are shown to be locally bounded; they are further locally continuous, if the semigroup admits a locally continuous density function. Applications of the results are provided including discussions on the existence of locally bounded heat kernel; L∞$L^\infty$ structure results for ancient (local weak) solutions of the heat equation.


Rose, LarraSybilDanning. 2012. The Speaking Ability of the Eleventh Grade Students of SMA 1 Mejobo Kudus in Academic Year 2012/2013 Taught by Using Video Recorded. Skripsi.EnglishEducation.Department Teacher Training and Education Faculty Muria Kudus University. Advisors: (i). Dr. H.A. HilalMadjdi, M.Pd., (ii). TitisSulistyowati, SS, M.Pd.
Keywords: Speaking Ability, Video Recorded.

Speaking is often viewed as an easiest activity to do for many people. For that, they only have to speak the conversation with classmates. But being able to speak well with the correct pronunciation is a competence that should be practiced. For some eleventh grade students of senior high school, they still get difficulties in speaking and understanding the content of English text.Some students said that speaking is one of difficult subjects. It could be proofed from the score of the students are not enough to achieve the KKM. In this research the writer uses Video Recorded as a technique media in teaching speaking.
This research is aimed to know the ability of speaking of the students in the eleventh grade of SMA 1 Mejobo Kudus in the academic year 2012/2013 before being taught by Video Recorded.To know the ability of speaking of the students in the eleventh grade of SMA 1 Mejobo Kudus in the academic year 2012/2013 after being taught by using Video Recorded.To find out whether or not is there any significant difference of the ability of speaking the students in the eleventh grade of SMA 1 Mejobo Kudus in the academic year 2012/2013 before and after being taught by using Video Recorded?
This research is quantitative experimental research. The data were collected by recording. Instrument of the research is oral test. The writer gave pre test before being taught by using Video Recorded and gave post test afterbeing taught by using Video Recorded. The sample of the research is thirty four students from XI IPS 3. The sample got by using cluster random sampling.
The results of the experiment in pre test before being taught by using Video Recorded are: the minimum score is 52, the maximum score is 72 and the mean of pre test is 59.7. Meanwhile the standard deviation is 5.8. It indicates that the speaking ability of the eleventh grade students of SMA 1 Mejobo Kudus in Academic Year 2012/2013 before being taught by using Video Recorded is categorized as sufficient.The results of the experiment in post test after being taught by using Video Recorded are: the minimum score is 56, the maximum score is 88and the mean of post test is 72.9. Meanwhile the standard deviation is 7.6. It indicates that the speaking ability of the eleventh grade students of SMA 1 Mejobo Kudus in Academic Year 2012/2013 after being taught by using Video Recorded is categorized as good. After processing the data found, the mean of the post test is better than the pre test. (72.9> 59.7).The t observation (t0) is 13.2,the level of significant (df) is1.694. Therefore, the mean difference of the students significance 5% df (33) = 1.694p: .05) concluded that there is significant difference the speaking ability of the eleventh grade students of SMA 1 Mejobo Kudus in Academic Year 2012/2013 before and after being taught by using Video Recorded.
In this research, the writer suggeststhe English teachers to use Video Recorded as a teaching technique media to improve students speaking ability.The students have to be more confident and not be afraid of making mistake when they are speaking in front of the class. The readers would have more information about the use of Video Recordedmedia in teaching speaking. For the further researchers, this skripsi also could be one of the references.So, everyone should increase their ability in improving the students speaking ability. Because the video recorded can help them learn about their own mistakes in practice speaking in English.


Caffeine concentrations were measured in the urine of 4633 athletes tested for doping control in the Ghent Doping Control Laboratory in 2004. Determination of these concentrations was done using an alkaline extraction with a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol (9:1; v/v) followed by high performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The method was validated according to ISO 17025 standards (International Organisation for Standardisation). Quantification was done by using a linear calibration curve in the range from 0 to 20 μg/ml. The limit of quantification (LOQ


Abstract The efficacy of six locally available plants extract was evaluated for their phytobiocidal effect on Alternaria solani the causal agent of early blight (EB) disease of tomato and was compared with commercial fungicide mancozeb under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Under in vitro conditions, Eucalyptus globus and Datura alba were found to be ineffective, while the remaining plants extract (Allium sativum, Curcuma longa, Melia azedarach, Zingiber officinale) significantly reduced A. solani growth on PDA. Increasing concentrations of A. sativum (0–25%) were found negatively correlated with growth of A. solani on PDA. Among the tested plants, A. sativum extract at 20% concentration was found most effective against A. solani witnessed by both in vitro and in vivo experiments result. It reduced EB disease up to 75.11% over positive control. Similarly, among the different plants extract, maximum plant height (76.25 cm), fruit size (57.50 cm3) and yield (511.30 g) were observed in A. sativum sprayed treatments (20%), beside mancozeb and negative control. Upon phytochemical analysis of these extracts, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides and steroids were detected. Present study showed that 20% concentration of garlic extract has the potential to reduce EB disease severity, while having no noticeable phytotoxicity.


In this paper, we examine the wavelength tuning limitations of type-II antimonide lasers containing InAs∕InGaSb∕InAs quantum wells. Wavelength tuning is accomplished by varying the thickness of the InAs electron wells while keeping all else fixed. In principle, these wells can be tuned from λ≈2.5μm out to far IR wavelengths by increasing the thickness of the InAs layers. However, a practical upper limit of λ≈9.5μm is set due to the high waveguide losses awg and the diminishing modal overlap with the gain at longer wavelengths. The waveguide losses grow as awg∝λ3.44 and are attributable to free carrier absorbance. In order for the long-IR laser devices to achieve threshold, they must continually band fill, spectrally tuning to shorter wavelengths, until the laser gain exceeds the losses, which occurs near 9.5μm.


Some evidence suggests that testosterone might be involved in the cognitive impairments of schizophrenia. We assessed major cognitive domains and serum testosterone levels in male long‐term inpatients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to test whether testosterone in serum was abnormal in patients, and whether it was related to the cognitive impairment of schizophrenia.


Peripheral hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is reported as an endogenous relaxation factor in the bladder, while in the central nervous system, roles of H2S in regulation of micturition is unclear. In this study, therefore, we examined effects of centrally administered GYY4137 (GYY, H2S donor) or AOAA (H2S synthesis inhibitor), on the micturition reflex in urethane-anesthetized (0.8 g/kg, ip) male Wistar rats. A catheter was inserted into the bladder to perform cystometrograms (CMG). CMG was started 2 h after the surgery and 1 h after the start, GYY (3 or 10 nmol/rat) or AOAA (30 or 100 μg/rat) was intracerebroventricularly (icv) administered. Effects of icv pretreated SR95531 (SR, GABAA antagonist, 0.1 nmol/rat) or SCH50911 (SCH, GABAB antagonist, 0.1 nmol/rat) on the GYY-induced responses were also examined. GYY dose-dependently prolonged intercontraction intervals (ICI), while AOAA dosedependently shortened ICI. The AOAA-induced ICI shortening was reversed in the presence of GYY. Pretreatment with SR or SCH significantly attenuated the GYY-induced ICI prolongation. These results suggest that brain H2S can inhibit the micturition reflex via brain GABAA and GABAB receptors in rats. Poster Sessions


Antibacterial effects of catechins, the major green tea polyphenols, were studied using Clostridium and Bacillus spores. Incubation with crude catechins decreased the number of C botulinum and C butyricum spores but not B cereus spores. Furthermore, the effects of six catechin derivatives on spores were investigated. (−)-Epicatechin gallate (ECg), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and (+)-gallocatechin gallate (GCg) were more effective in decreasing C botulinum and C butyricum spore numbers than (+)-catechin (C) and (−)-epicatechin (EC). The vegetative growth of C botulinum and B cereus was inhibited by crude extracts of the catechins. Specifically, purified GCg and EGCg inhibited the vegetative growth of C botulinum and B cereus. The inhibitory effect of ECg on B cereus was similar to that of GCg. However, toxin-production by B cereus was not inhibited by catechin. Damage to the membrane of C butyricum spores by catechin derivatives was shown using fluorescent microscopy. This study shows that low concentrations of catechins, although requiring a long exposure time, inhibited the growth of bacterial spores. However, the effects of the purified derivatives of the catechins were not the same and GCg and EGCg were found to be the most potent. Spores that are generally resistant to many disinfectants were sensitive to catechins. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry


In short review some milestones of the history of tuberculosis research are outlined. Perspectives on the past, present and the future of tuberculosis research are linked to these historical facts. Within this context the contribution of members of the Medical Faculty at the University of Berne such as L. Lichtheim, Th. Langhans and E. A. E. Klebs receive particular consideration in connection with the 125th anniversary issue of the "Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift" which was founded in 1871 by Klebs.


Hydroelectric energy is an increasingly vital and effective renewable energy for modern society. The protective effect on the water hammer in the pipeline, the operational stability of the hydropower system, and the flow regime in the air-cushion surge chamber (ACSC) are three main problems during the design of the hydropower station with an ACSC. Comprehensively comparing the above issues between the horizontal and vertical ACSCs is meaningful. This study established the one-dimensional (1D) model based on the Method of Characteristics (MOC) under large load disturbances (LLD) and the rigid water column theory under small load disturbances (SLD). At the same time, the three-dimensional (3D) model was built based on the Volume of Fluid (VOF) to obtain a more detailed flow regime in the ACSC under the load acceptance condition. The results showed that the vertical ACSC was superior to the horizontal one for its large safe water depth, smaller maximum air pressure, and more stable flow under LLD. In contrast, the horizontal one was better than the vertical one for its extensive water area to calm the SLD during the transient process and smaller fluctuation of the surge under SLD. This study will provide a reference for a future project on selecting the structure of the ACSC.