Through the developments of the education sciences and the education system, this study presents two major historical changes of the post World War II period in Hungary – hopes regarding democratic reconstruction and their quelling after 1945, and the aspirations of the years of political change in the 1990s following the collapse of the communist dictatorship to restore and develop a pluralised, democratic society and education system. Through the changes to the conditions surrounding education sciences, the first part of the study displays the consequences of the political dictatorship taking over power, regarding the development of scientific institutions, professional journals, the professional sphere and the lives of individual researchers. It introduces the illusions of the post-war years, the hope of constructing a democratic Hungarian society, the revival of various schools of pedagogy (human sciences, cultural pedagogy, nation-education, popular movements and reform pedagogy trends), and the real...


Copper plates of 1 mm in thickness were joined with a solder layer (60 mm in thickness) of Sn-3.8 mass% Ag-1.2 mass% Cu alloy, and then subjected to the shear fatigue testing. At required numbers of fatigue cycles, the specimen was subjected to the acoustic microscopy to measure the shape and the size of the bonded region. After fatigue testing, the fracture surface was observed through scanning electron microscope to verify the distribution of fine penny-shaped cracks in the bonded region. The area of the bonded region estimated from the acoustic image monotonically decreased with increasing number of fatigue cycles. The larger the initial bonded region, the longer was the fatigue life. The density of the penny-shaped crack in the bonded region decreased with the distance from the edge of the bonded region, and increased with the number of fatigue cycles. The average size of the penny-shaped crack slightly increased with the distance from the edge of the bonded region, but showed no dependence on the number of fatigue cycles. The numerical calculation was also conducted with a simple model to obtain the bonded area as a function of the number of fatigue cycles. The calculated change in the bonded area with the number of fatigue cycles agreed well with the estimated one from the acoustic image. Calculated distributions of the density and the average size of the penny-shaped crack explained the change in the measured ones with the distance from the edge of the bonded region. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.I-MRA2008821]


In this article, a modified control structure for a single-stage three phase grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system is presented. In the proposed system, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) function is developed using a new adaptive model-based technique, in which the maximum power point (MPP) voltage can be precisely located based on the characteristics of the PV source. By doing so, the drift problem associated with the traditional perturb and observe (P&O) technique can be easily solved. Moreover, the inverter control is accomplished using a predictive dead-beat function, which directly estimates the required reference voltages from the commanded reference currents. Then, the reference voltages are applied to a space vector pulse width modulator (SVPWM) for switching state generation. Furthermore, the proposed inverter control avoids the conventional and known cascaded loop structure of the voltage oriented control (VOC) method by elimination of the outer PI controller, and hence the overall control strategy is simplified. The proposed system is compared with different MPPT techniques, including the conventional P&O method and other techniques intended for drift avoidance. The evaluation of the suggested control methodology depends on various radiation profiles created in MATLAB. The proposed technique succeeds at capturing the maximum available power from the PV source with no drift in comparison with other methods.


Although the biochemical basis for the extrapyramidal symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), namely the brain nigrostriatal dopamine deficiency has been well defined (for review, see reference l), very little is known about the etiological factor(s) responsible for the neuronal loss in the substantia nigra (SN). One of the most popular research hypothesis deals with the possible involvement of free radicals' species as a cause for nigral cell death in 1PD.I It assumes that the loss of nigral cells is a direct consequence of excessive oxidative stress due to defective antioxydant protection, leading to excessive lipid peroxidation. Indicators of oxidative stress such as glutathione content of the SN was shown to be lowered in patients with Parkinson's disease,2J whereas lipid peroxide formation was found to be increased in the SN of IPD.4 The cerebrospinal fluid lipid hydroperoxide content remains unaltered in 1PD.S The increased lipid peroxidation in IPD was recently correlated with a significant increase of iron level^^*^ and a reduction of ferritin concentration' in the SN of Parkinsonian patients. These two compounds are known as catalists of lipid peroxidation. The key antioxidant enzyme responsible for the scavenging of the toxic superoxide radicals, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), was found to be increased in the striatum and SN of IPD patients."l0 The increased SOD activity in IPD has to be interpreted with caution since high SOD activity should lead to chronic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide:


G raduating nursing students are often comfortable with the concept of bedside patient advocacy; however, students also should be prepared to advocate more broadly across the health care system. The expectation that nurses know how to collaborate to develop and implement policy is even more essential in the current changing health care system. This activity empowers students to move beyond bedside-based patient advocacy through historical exploration and guided self-reflection. A foundation for policy activism is provided using a political development framework, such as the Political Development Framework, which includes stages: buy-in, self-interest, political sophistication, and leading the way. Using the conceptual framework, students examine a politically active nurse role model through Internet research. Guiding the exploration of the nurse's political development are specific questions addressing each of the stage of political development. What "problem" was the nurse passionate about, or was there an "aha" moment (stage 1)? How did the nurse go from recognizing the problem to wanting to make change (stage 2)? What did the nurse have to do to gain expertise (stage 3)? How did the nurse influence public policy? What changes to the world did he/she make (stage 4)? After researching, students present and discuss the identified nurse role model with their peers. Often this discussion leads to application of historical events to personal stories from the students' lives, passions, or envisioned future careers. To wrap up the learning experience, students complete a 5-minute self-reflection. They identify the key concepts that resonated from the lesson, where they are in the policy development process, and the possibility of political activism in the future.


Medical geneticists, genetics counsellors and nurses in genetics who staff medical genetics clinics rely upon internet-accessible and stand-alone databases for access to the medical literature, for disease recognition, for current information on genetic test availability and use, for patient-support materials and for locating other genetics professionals.

Keywords:

Genetic testing;
Molecular genetic testing;
Genetic counselling;
Prenatal diagnosis;
Inherited diseases


Tetramethylammonium hydrogen carbonate was synthesized directly from dimethyl carbonate and trimethylamine in water.The effects of materials′ molar ratio,reaction temperature and time on the yield of the product were investigated.The optimum reaction conditions were ascertained as follows:the molar ratio of dimethyl carbonate to trimethylamine was 1∶ 1.2,the reaction temperature was 105 ℃,and the reaction time was 5 h.Under such optimum reaction conditions the yield of the product reached 93.0%.


Abstract Designs are the instructions based on knowledge that turn resources into thingsthat people use and value. All goods and services have designs, and a new design liesbehind every innovation. Clearly then designs are an important source of economicvalue, consumer welfare and competitive advantage for individuals, companies andcountries. But despite their pervasive influence, designs as drivers of innovation andwealth creation are not much discussed by social scientists, senior managers, or policy-makers. More often than not, to nonspecialists designs appear to be esoteric objects,which can only be understood by experts in the design's particular domain. We believe itis time to integrate the study of designs across disciplines and make them the focus of unifiedscientific research in their own right. The structure and value of designs as well as whatdesigns "need" in the way of organizations and social policies are all topics that can beinvestigated scientifically and in a unified way across disciplines. These topics belongon the agenda of research that seeks to understand how knowledge creates wealth inmodern economies. Such unified research may allow engineers to construct morevaluable designs and design architectures. It can also help senior managers organizetheir enterprises more productively; assist investors in allocating resources; and informpublic debate and serve as the basis of rational public policy.


The reduviid subfamily Centrocnemidinae is reported from Vietnam for the first time, with a new species, Centrocnemis schaeferi Truong, Li & Cai. The new species is distinguished from other members of the genus Centrocnemis by the black spots and confluent suffusions on the posterior pronotal lobe, the rostrum and the membrane of forewings, and whitish tubercles on the apical and basal potions of the corium.


Detection of interacting SNPs predictive of complex disease will help identify individuals at high risk, make personalized treatment possible, and provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of the conditions in question. Although the interaction effect of multi-locus SNPs is widely expected, the existing strategies have limited power in detecting SNPs with interaction effects. This paper presents a new method (SCA-HCIG) to detect complex interaction effects. The method is tested on a realistic simulated data with 17 embedded ground-truth SNPs under 5 interaction models. Compared to six existing methods, SCA-HCIG achieves the best result in terms of both high sensitivity and specificity.


The emulsification capacity of white muscle of Oregon groundfish was investigated — English sole, sand sole, petrale sole, lingcod, and orange rockfish emulsified 75–80 ml oil/g muscle. Little variation was found in the emulsifying capacity of samples from four catches spaced over a 3-mo period. Frozen storage (−40 C) caused no apparent decrease in emulsifying capacity even after 12 mo of storage. In vitro exposure to formaldehyde and Cu++ caused a decrease in emulsifying capacity, but Cu+ had no significant effect. The addition of 0.02% free fatty acid caused a > 20% increase in emulsifying capacity.


An Al-9.0Zn-2.5~2.8Mg-2.0~2.4Cu-0.1~0.15Zr-0.2~0.25Ag Ultra high strength aluminum alloy was prepared by low frequency electric-magnetic casting process, The microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy under different treatment conditions was investigated by tensile properties and hardness test, SEM, TEM observations and XRD analysis. The results show that the peak aging occurred at 120 ℃ for 24 h. Under the peak-ageing condition, the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of the studied alloy was 730 MPa, 705 MPa and 8.8%, respectively. The main strengthening mechanism of the alloy was precipitation hardening and the strengthening phase was GP zone and η′(MgZn 2).


The self-sensing actuator can be used to decrease structural weight and volume,and to achieve true collocated control in the active structural vibration control.A new piezoelectric self-sensing actuator based on the time-division multiplex de-coupling system has been designed,in which the piezoelectric element served as a sensor to measure vibration in sensing timeslot,and as an actuator to suppress vibration in actuating timeslot,and to release the driving charges in discharge timeslot.The switch sequential pulse was designed and used to control the switching of the three timeslots.Based on LabVIEW software and with the positive position control algorithm,the first modal active vibration control of the cantilever beam was implemented by using time-division-multiplex piezoelectric self-sensing actuator.Experimental results showed that the good vibration control has been achieved.


The invention discloses a low quiescent current level switching circuit and an electronic instrument comprising the same, and relates to the technical field of electronic circuits. The low quiescent current level switching circuit comprises a micro control unit and a DCDC circuit, wherein the output end of the DCDC circuit is electrically connected with a power input pin of the MCU. The low quiescent current level switching circuit further comprises an LDO circuit and a logical control circuit, wherein the LDO circuit is connected with the DCDC circuit in parallel, and the output end of the LDO circuit is electrically connected with the power input pin of the MCU. The input end of the logical control circuit is electrically connected with a control output pin MCU_EN of the MCU, the two output ends of the logical control circuit are electrically connected with the LDO circuit and the DCDC circuit respectively, and the logical control circuit controls switching on and switching off of the LDO circuit and the DCDC circuit according to signals of the control output pin MCU_EN of the MCU. By adopting the level switching circuit, power consumption of the electronic instrument can be greatly reduced, cruising ability of the electronic instrument is improved, and electrification time of the electronic instrument is prolonged.


The X-ray emission yield by the Al-2p core-exciton excitation in GaAs/AlAs/GaAs heterostructures is studied theoretically: especially the angular correlation between absorbed and emitted X-rays are discussed. It becomes clear that the angular dependence of the X-ray emission yield is drastically changed according to the excitation character whether 2p → s or 2p → d transitions.


The stirring wind-heating system uses natural wind as the power to drive the wind turbine so that the wind turbine directly drives the heater to stir the liquid to generate heat. Therefore, the mechanical energy is directly converted into heat energy. The start-up process is a crucial step for the regular operation of the stirring wind-heating system. To optimize the start-up performance of the stirring wind-heating system, its structure is improved in this work. In the system, the flexible connection is realized by using the torque-limited hydraulic coupling instead of the mechanical shaft connection. The torque characteristic is the characterization of the start-up performance of the system. Therefore, the stirring wind-heating test-bed was designed. Taking the torque in the starting process as the primary research object, the start-up performance of different schemes of the system was tested respectively under different working conditions, such as stirring speed, angular acceleration, and liquid-filled content of the heater. After improving the connection structure of the system, the starting torque is reduced from 2.2, 4, and 7.2 N·m to 0.68, 0.9, and 1.46 m, respectively, which optimizes its starting performance.


Thomas C. Schelling's most influential contributions include focal points in coordination games, commitment and credible threats in bargaining, the theory of social dilemmas, and anticipatory selfcommand in intertemporal choice. His spatial proximity models are early prototypes of cellular automata. Contributions to this special issue were inspired by a few of these theoretical ideas. 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. JEL classfication: B31; C72; C78; D90 PsycINFO classification: 2340; 3020


A memory device with improved thermal isolation. The memory cell includes a first electrode element, having an upper surface; an insulator stack formed on the first electrode element, including first, second and third insulating members, all generally planar in form and having a central cavity formed therein and extending therethrough, wherein the second insulator member is recessed from the cavity; a phase change element, generally T-shaped in form, having a base portion extending into the cavity to make contact with the first electrode element and making contact with the first and third insulating members, and a crossbar portion extending over and in contact with the third insulating member, wherein the base portion of the phase change element, the recessed portions of the second insulating member and the surfaces of the first and third insulating members define a thermal isolation void; and a second electrode formed in contact with the phase change member.


The tangential momentum accommodation coefficient(TMAC) is the importance boundary conditions for describing gas slip flow.A physical model was constructed using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics method,which reflects more realistic particle interaction between fluid and solid wall.The results show TMAC values decrease with increasing temperature under the same potential energy intensity when there is gas adsorption layer or not one on the wall and TMAC values occur to jump when the temperature arrived desorption temperature of the adsorption layer.Under the simulated conditions of this paper,the distribution of TMAC was determined by the capacity of gas particles leaving the wall desorption capacity and the roughness generated by thermal motion of the wall and adsorption layer particles.


The development of information technology and communications have resulted in the incorporation of new strategies
in search of meaningful learning. This, together with the growth of wireless and mobile networks and the
increased use of mobile devices imposes a new challenge for its use in the context of ICTs to expand digital educational
services, with emphasis on virtual academic activities to enable content search, evaluation and discussion
topics. This project directs its efforts towards the design and implementation of a mobile platform to support the
teaching-learning process in physics courses mechanical engineering programs in institutions of higher education.
Formed by a web environment, a set of virtual objects and animated learning in a mobile application Java
ME technology that allows students access to information anytime, anywhere.


Let R be a commutative ring with identity. Nicholson defined R to be clean if each element of R is the sum of a unit and an idempotent. In this paper we study two related classes of rings. We define a ring R to be weakly clean if each element of R can be written as either the sum or difference of a unit and an idempotent and following McGovern we say that R is almost clean if each element of R is the sum of a nonzero-divisor and an idempotent.


In the framework of the research project "indicators for traffic safety of roads" by the Dutch institute of road safety research SWOV, an inventory is made of the characteristics of the road, traffic, and accidents. This was done on the main roads. The sequence of it is the inventory of data on secondary and Tertiary roads outside built-up areas. From the efficiency point of view it was decided to make this inventory all at once. However, it was clear that such an inventory would cost a lot of money. Therefore it was decided to make a sample of the relevant areas and road networks, which are representative as regards to size, dispersion etc. The method used and the criteria for such a sample are presented and discussed here.


Through experiments on rushed ice of 12mm mean diameter conveying as ice water two phase flow in the horizontal pipe with a diameter of 49 7mm in a range of lower velocity, fluidity of non Newtonian fluid of ice water two phase flow was found. In addition, a new calculating method was built to estimate pressure loss of ice water two phase flow with the characteristic of non Newtonian fluid, the calculated volues was accord with experimental results.


We study the phase diagram of the Yao-Lee model with Kitaev-type spin-orbital interactions in the presence of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions and external magnetic fields. Unlike the Kitaev model, the Yao-Lee model can still be solved exactly under these perturbations due to the enlarged local Hilbert space. Through a variational analysis, we obtain a rich ground state phase diagram that consists of a variety of vison crystals with periodic arrangements of background Z2 flux (i.e. visons). With an out-of-plane magnetic field, these phases have gapped bulk and chiral edge states, characterized by a Chern number {\nu} and an associated chiral central charge c_{-} = {\nu}/2 of edge states. We also find helical Majorana edge states that are protected by magnetic mirror symmetry. Our results spotlight the tunability and the accompanying rich physics in exactly-solvable spin-orbital generalizations of the Kitaev model.


Among many other key features, the 5G technology introduced the concept of Network Slicing. It supports that different services or even different operators use the same network resources in a dedicated or shared way. On the other hand, QoS for the traffic is mostly provided on the network resources by weighted or strict scheduling. In this paper, we introduce heuristic service chaining solutions that consider shared slicing and apply a kind of preservation of network resources for other slices to hold the QoS expectations. Our numerical results show the advantages of them from the aspects of loads and overloads of links.


In this paper, a new method of minimizing the input current total harmonic distortion (THD) as well as power factor by using a chain inverter to replace a traditional inverter is presented. This proposal is verified through simulation which uses one type of DC to AC converter with 3-links which can be used to generate seven level output voltage by connecting a number of similar Insulated Gate Bipolar junctions Transistor (IGBT) in series, to form a high Voltage- Source-Inverter (VSI). The main feature of t h i s t o p o l o g y is l ow cost, small size, high efficiency and simplicity, and is excellent for existing ac drives, UPS etc. A new method of implementing stepped voltage waveform proposed here is based on the operation principle of Chain link converter. With reference to the control algorithm, this strategy has realized for seven-level inverter which generates high quality sinusoidal voltage contains lower THD. During one cycle, each IGBT of a CLI switches 'ON/OFF' for a certain time and period using a Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) technique. This SPWM technique uses two triangular carrier bands - one positive and one negative - per link, and has a carrier frequency of twice the fundamental frequency and one modulating signal for all links. Simulation is carried out by using MATLAB/SIMULINK which confirms the feasibility of the proposed system.


Endogenous neurosteroids that potentiate the gamma‐aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor are thought to enhance the generation of sleep spindles. This study tested the hypothesis that the 5α‐reductase inhibitor finasteride, an agent associated with reductions in neurosteroids, would be associated with reduced sleep spindles in men referred for polysomnography.


Construction of three Donegal Senior High School site is the realization of the goals and mission of the school that is superior in technology implementation. While the mission is expected to establish harmonious relationships with relevant agencies and the wider community. Previous work done SMA 3 Karawang in providing information there are two ways, namely brochures and blogs. But both ways were experiencing such constraints on the limited information presented brochures and blogs that are used only to inform about labotarium computer. Therefore, the existence of this site users either students or other parties can easily find information about SMA 3 Karawang which can be accessed at any time.


The need for accurate material models to simulate the deformation, damage and failure of polymer matrix composites under impact conditions is becoming critical as these materials are gaining increased usage in the aerospace and automotive communities. In order to address a series of issues identified by the aerospace community as being desirable to include in a next generation composite impact model, an orthotropic, macroscopic constitutive model incorporating both plasticity and damage suitable for implementation within the commercial LS-DYNA computer code is being developed. The plasticity model is based on extending the Tsai-Wu composite failure model into a strain hardening-based orthotropic plasticity model with a non-associative flow rule. The evolution of the yield surface is determined based on tabulated stress-strain curves in the various normal and shear directions and is tracked using the effective plastic strain. To compute the evolution of damage, a strain equivalent semi-coupled formulation is used in which a load in one direction results in a stiffness reduction in multiple material coordinate directions. A detailed analysis is carried out to ensure that the strain equivalence assumption is appropriate for the derived plasticity and damage formulations that are employed in the current model. Procedures to develop the appropriate input curves for the damage model are presented and the process required to develop an appropriate characterization test matrix is discussed.


The general strategy for the synthesis, by conventional procedure, of the entire sequence of porcine pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor II (Kazal) is discussed. Six suitably protected subunits, spanning the entire amino acid sequence of the inhibitor, have been synthetized and fully characterized.


This paper proposes range-based distributed single-hop and scalable 3D node localization algorithm by using the application of Biogeography Based Optimization in anisotropic Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). In anisotropic networks, radiation patterns are not uniform. An anisotropic property of propagation media and heterogeneous properties (different battery backup statuses) of the devices are considered.


Bioethanol is the leader engine biofuel, and concern to bioethanol is increasing rapidly because of high fossil fuel prices, fossil fuel's negative effects on environment and high demand of energy, hence, bioethanol production technologies are still developing. Though, while the developments are increasing, economical and environmental conditions should be assessed. Economical and environmental impacts are determined with life cycle assessment. Life cycle assessment is a "cradle-to-grave" approach for assessing industrial systems. "Cradle-tograve" starts with collecting of raw materials from nature to develop a new product and ends at the point when all materials are returned to the nature. LCA evaluates all stages of a product's life from the perspective that they are interdependent, meaning that one operation leads to the next. LCA enables the estimation of the cumulative environmental and economical impacts resulting from all stages in the product life cycle, often including impacts not considered in more traditional analyses (e.g., raw material extraction, material transportation, ultimate product disposal, etc.). By including the impacts throughout the product life cycle, LCA provides an extension view of the environmental aspects of the product or process and a more accurate picture of the true environmental trade-offs in product and process selection. An LCA can help decision-makers select the product or process that result in the least impact to the environment. This information can be used with other factors, such as cost and performance data to select a product or process. Life cycle assessment is analyzing according to both environmental and economical and present how biofuels contribute economical and environmental fuel problems. For energy economy and management, the production technologies from sources to end-use should be cleaner, and in addition to climate change, the effects of energy production on soil, water and air should be assessed. In this study, different types of bioethanol production methods with different feedstocks were examined, the effects on economical and environmental life cycle analysis were compared, and the best potential production methods for bioethanol were determined. According to this study, second generation bioethanol production is improving environmental conditions more than first generation bioethanol and conventional fossil oils' systems. In terms of economy, second generation bioethanol system should be developed to become widespread.


It is summarized for the realities that Internet has a great impact on the development of science and technology and people's behavior as well as potential action of its on the future scientific and technical progress in mechanical engineering as well in this paper. In addition, the conception of REDE and International team are presented. An example of application of REDE is afforded.


1. System (20) for a static exciter winding (17), the excitation generator (16) which is connected to the power supply via the bus system (19) comprising first means (12, 18, 21) for producing a constant voltage which is connected to the coil ( 17) and together with the excitation winding (17) generates the excitation exciter circuit, second means (23; 29, C1, ..., C3) for supplying electric power, wherein the second means (23; 29, C1, ..., C3) provides short-term supply of additional energy into the exciter circuit when required, characterized in that the circuit WHO arouser a diode (22) is forward-biased, and second means (23; 29, C1, ..., C3) is arranged to connect to the diode (22) in the direction of the reverse bias power supply circuit in vozbuditelya.2. exciter according to claim 1, characterized in that the first means (12, 18, 21) comprises a transformer (12) of the pathogen that is connected to the bus (19) of the generator (16), and a circuit (18, 21) of the rectifier, which is connected to the output of the transformer (12) vozbuditelya.3. exciter system according to claim 2, characterized in that the rectifier circuit is a circuit controlled rectifier, in particular a thyristor bridge (18), wherein the system comprises an automatic controller (14) for controlling the voltage of the rectifier circuit or thyristor bridge (18), wherein an automatic controller (14) is connected to the input voltage side through a transformer (13) to a voltage bus (19) of the generator (16) .4. exciter system according to claim 3, characterized in that the second means (23; 29, C1, ..., C3) is arranged to connect to the diode (22) via a switch (24) .5. exciter system according to claim 4, characterized in that the switch (24) pre


The utility model relates to a steel processing technology field discloses a rail is fixed to coil of strip material stock saddle, include: two tracks of parallel arrangement, article two, connect through at least one connecting rod between the track, article two, all be formed with the fixed slot that is used for holding coil of strip material stock saddle on the track, the orbital arrangement setting is followed to the fixed slot. The utility model discloses a be provided with the fixed slot in two tracks of rail is fixed to coil of strip material stock saddle, buy an estate two pairs four saddles and place in the fixed slot, determine what fixed slots at the interval between the coil of strip material stock saddle of two oppositions according to the diameter of coil of strip for coil of strip bottom is built on stilts, can effectual strick precaution reservoir area impounded surface water, and coil of strip and ground can not cut to pieces each other and is rubbed, because orbital plane dispersion to ground is passed through to the weight of coil of strip, can not be owing to heavy load causes the damage to ground.


Active primary/secondary suspensions have been proposed to solve the trade-off between curving and stability in railway vehicles. One concept is known as secondary yaw control (SYC), which consists of applying a controllable yaw torque between the carbody and the two bogies. This has been studied in the past mainly to enhance the vehicle's curving ability, but this paper extends the idea by examining the implications of designing a bogie with soft yaw stiffness between the bogie frame and the wheelsets and using SYC to provide active stabilisation. To this aim, a state feedback control law is designed according to the LQR technique. The paper presents the general concept of the active suspension control to be investigated and the specific control strategies applied. Then the effectiveness of the proposed actuation concept is investigated by means of numerical simulations performed on mathematical models of the passive and actively controlled vehicles implemented in a fully nonlinear multi-body simulator.


ARTEMIA is commonly known as the brine shrimp. It is a crustacean. It lives high saline waters. It is widely distributed throughout the world; it is the most important live feed organism. ARTEMIA lives in high saline environment where its predators cannot survive. Hence ARTEMIA can be effectively cultured in saline water. Such water bodies are found in solar saltpans, which occur all along Indian coast. More than 85% of the marine animals cultivated thus far have been offered ARTEMIA saline as food source, either together with other foods or more often as a sole diet. In most cases brine shrimp are used as freshly hatched nauplii, although out grown ARTEMIA larva are reported to be a better food than nauplli for many predators (Kelly.et.al 1977). During the last years we have had the opportunity to study in detailed the effect of various a biotic parameters on the hatcheing process. Effect of water temperature on the hatching metabolism of ARTEMIA cysts are attained around 30 0 c. Lower salinities the hatching at low salinity is the P H of the medium. From this study it appears that for most parameters studied. Considerable variability exists. Between ARTEMIA strains these initial data already provide pertinent information for the selection and practical use of brine shrimp nauplii in aquaculture.


This paper seeks to complicate two primary norms within argumentation theory: 1) engaging with one's interlocutors in a 'pleasant' tone and 2) speaking directly to one's target audience/interlocutor. Moreover, I urge argumentation theorists to explore various cultures' argumentative norms and practices when attempting to formulate more universal theories regarding argumentation. Ultimately, I aim to show that the two previously mentioned norms within argumentation obscure and misrepresent many argumentative practices within African American Vernacular English—or Ebonics, specifically the art of signifying.


The thesis focused on three components,including the feeling,the behavior and the understanding,discussed the detail using Descriptive Statistics,Correlate Analysis,Independent-Sample T Test,One-Way ANOVA,and so on.The survey told us three findings.Firstly,the average of scores in the feeling was highest,while the behavior's was the lowest.Secondly,the average of scores between the students whose X subject was significantly different.Thirdly,the average of the scores was closely related to the scores of the mathematics examination.


Liver transplantation is the definitive management for patients with decompensated cirrhosis and/or liver malignancy. Two types of liver transplantation are traditionally performed including deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) and living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the latter of which involves a partial liver from a live donor and is a response to the limited resource of donor livers. In LDLT, the biliary anastomosis can be accomplished by a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy or a duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction. Biliary strictures, which typically occur at the anastomosis, are known complications of both methods but occur more commonly in LDLT. While the duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis provides normal enteric anatomy and ease of endoscopic access, the anastomosis is more peripheral and angulated, and thus management strategies and outcomes have generally been studied separately from DDLT1 .


In contrast to other transport industries little is known about fatigue offshore. One factor that is thought to contribute to fatigue offshore is noise disturbed sleep. A large scale survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of noise-disturbed sleep in the UK offshore oil industry (oil installations; ships supporting these installations support vessels, dive support ships). Questionnaires were returned from nearly 1,000 workers in this industry. Over 30% of the respondents reported that noise frequently disturbed their sleep. The possible impact of this noise-disturbed sleep on health and safety will be discussed.


Initial rate measurements of the oxidation of tyramine were carried out with purified pig brain mitochondrial monoamine oxidase. The reciprocal plots obtained when the concentration of either substrate was varied at a series of fixed concentrations of the other gave families of parallel lines consistent with a kinetic mechanism in which a ternary complex is not involved. This mechanism was supported by product inhibition studies and the demonstration of a half-reaction in the absence of oxygen.


Activity at Pacaya volcano, Guatemala is characterized by persistent degassing, coupled at times with lava effusion and/or coincident Strombolian‐style explosions. We used 0.25 Hz sample rate sulfur dioxide emission data from a UV camera and coincident infrasound recordings to investigate the link between varied emission rates and infrasound events. Degassing rates varied on two scales during this study; smaller, more rapid variations on the scale of 1 to 3 minutes are superimposed on larger, slower changes over 30 minutes to 1 hour. The acoustic record was dominated by repeated N‐shaped events characteristic of Strombolian explosions. Because of the high‐resolution of the gas measurements, we were able to calculate gas masses for individual explosions from both datasets and find the two estimates agree within an order of magnitude. The infrasound explosion records correlate with small pulses in degassing, but the longer‐term degassing trends may represent a deeper process.


A radial nonlinear multi-spring-damper tire (RNMST) model is proposed in this paper for dynamics behavior analysis of the cooperative bridge-vehicle (CBV) system by considering different road surface roughness and separation. First, both the finite element (FE) and force analysis of the RNMST model were analyzed and studied under different velocity and different class of road surfaces. The three types of tire models, nonlinear single-spring tire (NSST) model, nonlinear multi-spring tire model and RNMST model, were introduced as the vehicle tire devices for a quarter vehicle models into nonlinear cooperative bridge-vehicle system. The cooperative dynamics problem, alongside separation and the responses of road surface in terms of its uneven nature, is a typical dynamics problem with the nonlinearity of material which can be solved using the Newmark- $\beta $ method. The comparison of the results demonstrated that the analysis of the dynamics of the cooperative bridge-vehicle system under the RNMST model and NMST model are generally similar. However, the radial nonlinear multi-spring-damper tire model is more accurate and closer to the stress state of the real tire model. Also, to further illustrate the comprehensive performance of the RNMST, the responses under different pavement excitations were analyzed by using the amplitude-frequency spectrum method. Finally, to research the influence dynamics of tire force on the CBV system, the horizontal component of tire force was analyzed. This is conducive to numerical research of the dynamic responses of both the bridge and the vehicle.


This paper introduces the founder, editors and columns design of Zhejiang Public Library Annual Report, and evaluates the functions of Zhejiang Public Library Annual Report in the development of modern librarianship in China.


This paper investigates the factors affecting the impulse characteristics of purposely built grounding systems. We installed 2 m × 2 m grounding systems in four different sites with different soil resistivity values. The effect of impulse polarity on soil characteristics was also investigated for different soil resistivity. A circular ring electrode was used as a return electrode in all four sites. For one of the sites, different configurations of grounding systems were installed to allow the study of the effect of ground electrode configurations on soil characteristics. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of soil resistivity, impulse polarity, and earth electrode configurations on soil electrical properties under high impulse conditions by field measurements. The new data could be useful in understanding the characteristics of grounding systems in various factors under high impulse conditions. It is hoped that by considering these factors, it can help optimize the design of earthing systems.


The catalytic regioselective C–H silylation of a wide range of alkoxy-substituted benzene derivatives with primary hydrosilane was achieved by the use of scorpionate-supported calcium benzyl comple...


Objective To investigate the prevention of after cataract by clearance of lens epithelial cell.Methods Anterior capsules had been obtained by circular capsulohexis during cataract surgery.The anterior capsules were treated with trypsin.The lens epithelial cells were cleaned up.Results 0.25%?0.2% trypsin can clean up lens epithelial cells from anterior capsules totally.0.1% tripsin can clean up lens epithelial cells from anterior capsules partly.Conclusion The experiment provides a scientific basis for clearance of lens epithelial cells by trypsin to prevent after cataract.


Abstract : The objective of the study is to investigate mechanisms of flame straightening with emphasis on its effectiveness on high-strength-steel structures. In the Phase 1 study an investigation was made of mechanisms of flame straightening on simple weldments in low-carbon steel and HY-80 steel (quenched and tempered steel with specified minimum yield strength of 80,000 psi). Flame straightening was two to three times more effective on low-carbon steel specimens than on HY-80 steel specimens. In the Phase 2 study an investigation was made of mechanisms of flame straightening on framed panel structures. The specimens were made in low-carbon steel (AISI 1020), low-alloy high-strength steel (U. S. Steel CORTEN), and quenched and tempered steel (U. S. Steel T-1). It was also found that flame straightening techniques were more effective on low-carbon steel specimens than on high-strength steel specimens.


This paper analyzes the effect of the Rehnquist Court on Supreme Court precedent, using a network of all Court citations to other Supreme Court cases. Network analysis enables a study of the Court's use of precedent that may not be readily visible. We find that the Rehnquist Court has made a dramatic alteration in the network of precedent and, in the process, set the stage for a potentially revolutionary change in the makeup of the law.


The magnitudes of the nonlinear optical susceptibilities of trigonal selenium, cadmium telluride, and indium antimonide have been measured at 28.0 μm relative to d11 (tellurium). By comparison to the recently measured absolute value for tellurium, d11(Te)=(5.7±1.6×10−10 m/V, the values obtained in this work are d11(Se)=(18.4±8.6)×10−10 m/V, d14 (CdTe)=(5.9±2.4)×10−11 m/V, and d14(InSb)=(5.6±2.3)×10−10 m/V. For Te, CdTe, and InSb, the measured 28.0 μm value is less than the 10.6 μm value, while for Se, the 28.0 μm value is considerably larger than the 10.6 value. These seemingly inconsistent results are explained using Garrett's anharmonic oscillator model.


1 Evans DMD, Hudson EA, Brown CL, et al. Terminology in gynaecological cytopathology: report of the working party of the British Society for Clinical Pathology. J Clin Pathol 1986;39:933-44. 2 Soutter WP, Wisdom S, Brough AK, Monaghan JM. Should patients with mild atypia in a cervical smear be referred for colposcopy? BrJ Obstet Gynaecol 1986;93:704. 3 Walker EM, Dodgson J, Duncan ID. Does mild atypia warrant further investigation? Lancet 1986;ii:672-3. 4 Singer A. The abnormal cervical smear. BrMedJ 1986;293:1551-6.


Objective:To observe the clinical effect of self-ascites superfilter concentration and reinfusion on the treatment of refractory ascites in the patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods:The abdominal circumference,body weight and plasmatic albumin of 30 patients before treatment and after treatment was analysized,and compared with that of 30 patients before treatment and after treatment without self-ascites superfilter concentration and reinfusion.Results:The abdominal circumference and body weight decreased obviously(P0.01),plasmatic albumin increased obviously(P0.01),the number of recovery and improvement increased obviously(P0.01) in the patients with self-ascites superfilter concentration and reinfusion was compared with that of 30 patients without self-ascites superfilter concentration and reinfusion.Conclusion:Self-ascites superfilter concentration and reinfusion is an effective treatment for refractory ascites in the patients with liver cirrhosis.


Research on snow by the United States Forest Service is not new. Almost since the establishment of the national forests information on this subject has been sought. This information has been in demand not because of an interest in snow, per se, but because the national forests are being managed to obtain their greatest service as watersheds, and any management practice or scheme must be evaluated in the light of its influence on the accumulation and rate of melting of the annual snowfall. In this relationship between land-management and snow lies the interest of the Forest Service in snow-research.


Random Walk models have been developed to simulate, in detail, the short-term fate of sewage effluent and suspended sediment plumes in coastal waters. The accuracy of the effluent plume model has recently been demonstrated in a study of an estuary on the coast of Wales. The sediment plume model has been used to simulate plumes associated with dredging-related activity near the south coast of England. Small-scale plume structure can be simulated to an extent which has previously only been possible using conventional modelling approaches requiring more extensive computing resources.


OBJECTIVE To control abuse use of antibiotics.METHODS Various methods were used to strengthen the management of antibacterials,for example,fully exert the rational use antibiotics,enforce the training of the doctors and nurses for the rational use of the antibiotics,and stipulate the rules and principles for the use of antibiotics.RESULTS The management of antibacterials was strengthened,and the rational use of antibiotics was improved.CONCLUSIONS To enhance surveillance of antibacterial use and prevent antibacterial unrational use are propitious to control occurrence of nosocomial infections.


Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major global health concern, even though the availability of an effective commercially available vaccine comprising yeastderived recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) protein has provided an effective means of preventing infection. The beneficial effect of HBV vaccination programs has become evident in several regions of the world where HBV endemicity is high. In the 15 years of follow up after the introduction of vaccination programs in Taiwan a marked reduction in infant mortality, HBsAg prevalence and incidence of liver cancer have all been reported [1]. The introduction of universal HBV vaccination in Italy also resulted in a dramatic decline in the incidence of acute hepatitis B and in the prevalence of HBsAg [2]. Similar reductions in the incidence of HBV have now also been reported from Alaska [3], South Africa [4] and the Pacific Islands [5], attesting to the success of HBV vaccination programs in curbing the prevalence of HBV infection. The efficacy of the hepatitis B vaccine can be attributed to its ability to induce protective neutralizing antibodies to an antigenic region of the HBsAg protein referred to as the 'a' determinant [6–8]. An important concern for HBV immunization programmes is what effect the emergence of hepatitis B variants harbouring altered HBsAg proteins with reduced antigenicity and the ability to escape neutralization may have on the long-term success of these programmes. It is clear that these variants are selected following immunization of infected individuals. The 'a' determinant is a highly conformational region of the HBsAg protein and mutations in and around the 'a' determinant have been shown to alter the antigenicity of the HBsAg protein and, consequently, antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs) fail to neutralize HBV [9–13] resulting in infection of vaccinated individuals [11,14]. In fact, a mutation of even a single amino acid residue within this region is sufficient to result in failure of anti-HBs to neutralize the virus. Some of the commonly reported HBsAg mutations with the potential to escape neutralization by vaccine-induced antibody include sG145R, sD144A, sP142S, sK141E, sQ129H, sI/T126N/A and sM133L [10,12]. The sG145R variant has been associated with high levels of viraemia and persistence for up to 8 years, suggesting that once such viruses emerge in a population they are likely to persist for extended periods. In Taiwan, a country with a high HBV prevalence and a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme that has been continuing for over 15 years, up to 28% of children carrying HBV harbour HBsAg mutants [14]. The introduction of hepatitis B immunization programmes in other countries of high HBV endemicity has resulted in similar increases in the incidence of HBV variants with antigenically altered HBsAg protein [15,16]. However, the emergence of these viruses to date has not resulted in an apparent failure of HBV vaccination programs. Despite the success of HBV vaccination programmes there are a number of important virological factors that may have a further negative effect on the longterm success of these programmes and warrant consideration. The genome of hepadnaviridae, including HBV, is organized into compact overlapping reading frames. In addition, hepadnaviridae utilize an error-prone reverse transcription step in the replication of the viral genome. This process results in the selection of viral quasispecies that contain mutations within the viral genome, some of which are functionally significant; changes in the overlapping genes and their translational products can also result in changes in the functional properties of mutated viral proteins [17,18]. The complete overlap of the gene encoding HBsAg (the


Analysis of karyotype, nucleic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were performed in Zantedeschia aethiopica and Zantedeschia elliottiana. Mitotic metaphase in both species showed 2n=32. The chromosomes of both species were quite similar with medium length ranging from 1.55 ± 0.04 to 3.85 ± 0.12 µM in Z. aethiopica and 2.15 ± 0.04 to 3.90 ± 0.12 µM in Z. elliottiana. However, some differences were found in morphology and centromeric position among the chromosomes. Identification of individual chromosomes was carried out using chromosomes length, and centromeric positions. The karyotype of Z. aethiopica was determined to be 2n = 32 = 14 m + 18 sm and of Z. elliottiana to be 2n = 32 = 10 m + 22 sm. The 2C nuclear DNA content was found to be 3.72 ± 0.10 picograms (equivalent to 3638.16 mega base pairs) for Z. aethiopica and 1144.26 ± 0.05 picograms (equivalent to 1144.26 mega base pairs) for Z. elliottiana. Leaf protein analysis showed 11 and 9 bands for Z. aethiopica and Z. elliottiana, respectively, among which some were species specific. These results may provide useful information regarding Zantedeschia for the study of taxonomic relationships, genetics and breeding.


This paper presents a prototype of virtual transparency on a hand-held device. The prototype is restricted to such device with no additional material to show that a semblance of virtual transparency can be achieved with today's smartphones and has been designed be as simple as possible to use. The user's head is tracked using the front camera and the eyes co-ordinates are estimated from the head position. The area to be displayed is then computed from the these coordinates, an estimation of the distance head-phone and phone-scene, as well as the phone and lens specifications. It provides a realistic illusion of virtual transparency, not an geometrically accurate render of the scene, and still works in non-optimal situations (non-flat scene).


An efficient database management systems (DBMS) developed for a three-dimensional photo-based image generator. The technique eliminates some of the problems which have restricted the performance of these systems for real-time presentation on raster displays. The DBMS uses two general principles to simplify the processing of digitally stored video images. Rather than storing a contiguous picture or sections of a picture, the technique stores a digitized photograph as a series of interlaced cells called I-cells. Each I-cell contains pixel information which is interlaced in both the horizontal and vertical directions. A virtual memory is used to allow selective updating of picture information. The bandwidth required to process a picture as resolution requirements change is significantly reduced. The technique permits high-resolution target areas to be surrounded with equally rich generic terrain; false cuing of pilots or operators toward resolution-rich target areas is minimized. The technique is suited for quick turnaround mission rehearsal using reconnaissance photography, single and multichannel simulator displays, and smart bomb or remotely piloted vehicle simulations.<<ETX>>


This paper discusses how to display the map of the major hazard information system using SVG technology.This system makes use ofthe SVG's advantages of describing the vector graphics.A descriptive model of map symbol based on SVG is presented.It describes the generalpoints, lines and regions, depending on which, most of the entity objects in map are displayed.The storing method of space data in digital map isimplemented by using the characteristics of SVG based on XML.This method sets up an efficient relationship between the space data and theattribute data.


Abstract : This study investigated the utility of the current Model Installation Program (MIP) as a tool for managing innovation within the Strategic Air Command and the Air Force. It looks at the central problems facing a program that promotes innovation within the military bureaucracy, and how MIP successfully circumvents certain risk-avoidance mechanisms inherent in the system it seeks to change. One hundred MIP submissions from Fairchild AFB, Washington were sampled. Each of these suggestions was tracked from the initial submission through final disposition. Results were tabulated and compared to program objectives, and shortfalls were explored via review of MIP procedures. The study concluded that the program is achieving its objectives in a manner unparalleled in Air Force history. MIP provides a fair evaluation and quick test of promising ideas-- even in the face of failure. However, it was noted that some changes could be made to improve participation, standardize procedures, and provide more insight into the disapproval process to facilitate more extensive analysis of program success. Four recommendations were formulated by the author based on the findings of the study.


Behavior and activities awareness of people within a smart house is studied using pressure sensors on the floor. In turn, Machine Learning algorithms are used to predict unusual behavior of the house residents. The research focuses in people with supported needs trying to live a normal life in their own houses, allowing them more independence. The system relies on using pressure sensors on the floor to estimate the position of a person in some regions of interest, by measuring their presence on the sensors. System is designed as an Internet of Things (IOT) platform. An array of sensors on the floor are connected through routing devices to an Internet gateway that publishes the data to a Cloud System and into a Database. Machine learning (ML) is used to predict the activities of a person (standing, sitting, lying down), and to determine whether their behavior is common or not. IOT enables technologies that allow having remote monitoring of activities and behavior of residents. Unlike other researches done using pressure sensors that concentrates on predicting people's activities on small area of the room, we are utilizing the sensors to predict people's activities and behavior on all areas of the room.


Objective To investigate the career planning of baccalaureate nurses with different initial educational level,in order to provide basis for nursing educators and managers.Method A total of 816 nurses with baccalaureate degree were investigated with a self-designed questionnaire.Results The total score of career planning was(158.04±22.11),which was at medium level.The score of career planning in nurses with an initial educational level of secondary technical degree was significantly higher than that of nurses with an initial educational level of baccalaureate degree or associate degree(P0.01). There were significant differences in the factors of understanding themselves and environment,cognition of nursing career, confidence of being a nurse,implementation and management of career planning and career development among nurses with different initial educational levels(P0.05).Conclusions It is suggested that nursing educators and managers should establish a mechanism of nursing career management and provide career counseling and management to promote nurses' career development on basis of status of nurses with different initial educational levels.


The article deals with the analysis of the necessity of feedback as an essential component of assessment procedures. Two types of assessment applied in EFL classes described in the article are the basis for different types of feedback techniques, which can be oral or written, explicit or implicit. Eight functions of feedback, which influence on the formation of feedback were also defined. The necessity of addition to existing frames of reference, internalization and personalization of reflection procedures were discussed in the article.


A three-stage composite wet scrubber was designed and developed to scrub fly ash particles through different modules from the effluent gas stream of an industrial production. The flue gas entering the scrubber is purified by the falling film scrubbing of Raschig ring packing, the spraying settlement of water mist, the mesh water film interception of grilles, and the electrostatic adsorption of filaments, thereby removing particulate matter and water mist. In the experiment, the particle removal efficiency at different packing heights, the inlet concentrations of fly ash and the inlet flow rates of flue gas were investigated. The experimental results show that, without any additives or pretreatment, the packing height is 30 cm, the particle removal efficiency of the new scrubber can reach more than 99.5%, and the outlet concentration is less than 8.75 mg/m3 when the inlet concentration of fly ash is less than 12.53g/m3 and the inlet flow rate is less than 12.13 m3/s. The three-stage composite wet scrubber was evaluated to add a novel scrubber in the list of wet scrubbers for industrial applications. This wet scrubber has a simple structure, easy operation, improved compactness, and high efficiency at low energy consumption.


The present invention provides a zoom lens unit and an imaging device can be realized 40 times more than the degree of magnification and miniaturization, favorably correct various aberrations. The zoom lens sequentially, a second lens group, the third lens group, the fourth lens group, the fifth lens group from the object side to the image side, a first lens group, zooming is performed by the spacing of each lens group changes, the a lens group sequentially, the 1-2 lens and the 1-3 lens from the object side by a 1-1 lens, the fifth lens group in zooming, when the focus is not moved together, the following conditional formula: νd12> 80 ( 1) νd13> 80 (2) nd11> 1.9 (3) 18 <f1 / fw <22 (4) wherein, νd12: Abbe number of lens 1-2 νd13: Abbe number of lens 1-3 nd11: 1-1 refractive lens f1: a composite focal length of the first lens group, fw: focal length of the wide-angle end of the zoom lens.


A new species of the family Ichneumonidae,Arthula maculifacialis sp.nov.collected from Jiangxi Province,China is reported.A key to species known in China is provided.Specimens are deposited in the General Station of Forest Pest management,State Forestry Administration,Shenyang,China.


Paper presents kinetic models of changes in genetic controlling systems of cells in the states of cell proliferation and differentiation. It was shown that the changes in the genetic control of cells in the state of proliferation and differentiation occur at the maximal rate of reactions constants. It was built on response surfaces for each of the reaction rate constants showing what parameters of the model make the largest contribution to the value of each of them. It was established that the greatest contribution to the rate of reaction constants of changes in the genetic controlling systems of cells in the state of proliferation have histone genes and cyclin-dependent kinases, and a little less – genes-stimulators of proliferation and transcription factors. In cells in diffe rentiation a state of inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases, and equally transcription factors, cell cycle genes, transcription proteins genes, structural genes and hyperpolarization of the cell membrane. As a result, we got data that the value concentration of cyclin-dependent kinases and inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases in the cell is the trigger that determines whether a cell proliferates or differentiates. Also, it was set specific numerical value of each of the reactions rate constants which characterize changes in the genetic control of cell in the state of proliferation and differentiation. kinases; k ′ 4 – structural genes and inhibitors of cyclin–dependent kinases; k ′ 5 – differentiation and inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases; k ′ 6 – hyperpolarization and inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases; and k ′ 7 – transcription factors and inhibitors of cyclin-depen-dent kinases. As seen from the results, the greatest contributions to all constants have inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases. On equal level contribute: transcription factors; cell cycle genes; transcription proteins genes; structural genes and hyper polarization of the cell membrane. The effects of structural proteins on the rate of changes were not found.


13 A legacy seismic transect acquired on 30 and 31 May 2009 in the southern South China Sea 14 (SCS) was reprocessed to reveal the thermohaline structure of the water column. In the study 15 region, a mesoscale subsurface lens with extraordinary features was detected at (113.5 E, 16 11.5 N). It is centered at 450 m depth, occupies both the subsurface and intermediate water 17 from 250 to 600 m, and has a diameter of around 60 km. The simulated results from Hybrid 18 Coordinate Ocean Model reveal an eddy-induced subsurface current running southwestward 19 along the deep basin edge and suggest that the imaged lens is a snapshot of the subsurface 20 current core rather than a subsurface eddy. 21


Our knowledge of the oceanic lithosphere largely comes from analogy with ophiolite complexes and the direct scientific drilling of the present‐day oceanic crust (e.g., Christensen and Salisbury, 1975, 1989; Smith and Vine, 1989; Dilek and Furnes, 2011, 2014). In this study, we summarized previous experimental results on seismic properties of oceanic lower crust and upper mantle according to different tectonic settings. The results are used to highlight the compositional heterogeneity and the nature of the oceanic Moho. Observation in different ophiolites reveal an ideal oceanic lithosphere profile with ideal petrologic units and seismic units (Dilek and Furnes, 2011, 2014). The lithospheric mantle beneath ocean basins is composed of tectonized peridotites, which include layered lherzolites and harzburgites and lenses of dunites with chromitites and nearly correspond to the seismic Layer 4. The overlying layered gabbros and mafic sheeted dike complex equal to the seismic Layer 3, as a result of crystallization from a magma chamber. The transitional unit between the former two petrologic units consists of layered ultramafic and mafic rocks, corresponds to the petrological Moho. The seismic Layer 2 and 1 are well defined by pillow lavas and massive flows, and the overlying abyssal sediments, respectively. Compared these results with the refraction seismic profiles, the oceanic crust and upper mantle show different composition and structure. The P‐wave velocities of the Layer 3 gabbros varies from 6.7 to 7.0 km s‐1 and have low velocity gradients of <0.1 km s‐1. Although the gradual increase of P‐ and S‐wave velocities with depth can be attributed to the increasing proportion of mafic minerals from the top to the bottom, prehnite‐pumpellyite facies alteration of basalts, greenschist‐faces metamorphism to epidote‐amphibolite facies metamorphism of gabbros will decrease the velocities of the Layer 2 and Layer 3 (Christensen and Salisbury, 1975, 1989), because the P‐wave velocities of chlorite and hornblende are 6.00 and 7.00 km s‐1, respectively, lower than those of plagioclase and pyroxene, respectively (Carlson, 2004). In addition, local velocity anomalies near the petrologic Moho can be related serpentinization of ultramafic rocks (Salisbury and Christensen, 1978;Carlson et al., 2009). In the Layer 4, the characteristic P‐wave velocities of the upper mantle should fall in the range of 7.8 to 8.2 km s‐1. Poisson's ratios of chrysotile and lizardite, which are stable in oceanic crustal environments according to the phase diagram, is 0.267 and 0.359, respectively, higher than those of olivine and pyroxene (Wang et al., 2013). Serpentinization will significantly decreased velocities and densities of peridotites and is the main reason for the variation of the Moho reflectivity beneath oceans.


The paper researches the theoretic connotation of the soft power theory,interprets the enterprises' soft power from the enterprises' culture,and points out the idea and suggestions for the special quality of the survey and design enterprises from three aspects,so as to build up the competitive capacity of the survey and design enterprises.


Based on the monitoring data on water quantity and water quality from two small river basin experimental stations in west mountainous areas of Xingtai City, an analysis is made on some factors affecting the water quality under conditions of different river basins, different covers, and different underlying surfaces. The results show that the factors of basin covers, underlying surfaces, and water and soil conservation play important roles in regulation of runoff and guarantee of quality of water sources.


Higher education is in crisis mode, and as organisations we need to find new ways to exist. The traditional entities tasked with change in the sector have had limited impact, however, and it may be time to explore new catalysts for organisational change. This short narrative paper describes one such potential catalyst, the concept of organisational learning design – a new practice domain that harnesses the capabilities and affordances of learning design and evolves them beyond technology into organisational learning and organisational culture practices to create a high-leverage change agent.


The penetration of renewable power generation is increasing at an unprecedented pace. While the operating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of photovoltaic (PV) and wind power are negligible, their upstream emissions are not. The great challenge with the deployment of renewable power generators is their intermittent and variable nature. Current electric power systems balance these fluctuations primarily using natural gas fired power plants. Alternatively, these dynamics could be handled by the integration of energy storage technologies to store energy during renewable energy availability and discharge when needed. In this paper, we present a model for estimating emissions from integrated power generation and energy storage. The model applies to emissions of all pollutants, including greenhouse gases (GHGs), and to all storage technologies, including pumped hydroelectric and electrochemical storage. As a case study, the model is used to estimate the GHG emissions of electricity from systems that couple photovoltaic and wind generation with lithium-ion batteries (LBs) and vanadium redox flow batteries (VFBs). To facilitate the case study, we conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of photovoltaic (PV) power, as well as a synthesis of existing wind power LCAs. The PV LCA is also used to estimate the emissions impact of a common PV practice that has not been comprehensively analyzed by LCA—solar tracking. The case study of renewables and battery storage indicates that PV and wind power remain much less carbon intensive than fossil-based generation, even when coupled with large amounts of LBs or VFBs. Even the most carbon intensive renewable power analyzed still emits only ~25% of the GHGs of the least carbon intensive mainstream fossil power. Lastly, we find that the pathway to minimize the GHG emissions of power from a coupled system depends upon the generator. Given low-emission generation (<50 gCO2e/kWh), the minimizing pathway is the storage technology with lowest production emissions (VFBs over LBs for our case study). Given high-emission generation (>200 gCO2e/kWh), the minimizing pathway is the storage technology with highest round-trip efficiency (LBs over VFBs).


Future cellular radio systems aim at maximizing the spectral efficiency. OFDMA radio resources are the scarce good with their dimensions bandwidth, time and space. Due to frequency selective fading the effective pathloss varies in all dimensions. Adaptive algorithms are available which allocate the best modulation and coding scheme depending on the expected SINR, as well as dynamic subchannel assignment which aims to choose the best subchannel for each user. This already boosts the performance of OFDMA system. However, these algorithms alone do not touch the transmitted power per subchannel. On the cell edge this is fine, but large areas are covered with a transmitted power exceeding the usually required SINR. In this paper we introduce a power control which saves power on the users within the cell. This leads to a reduced interference into neighbor cells, especially for future reuse one systems. Also some of the saved power can be used to boost transmissions at the cell edge. In this paper we introduce an adaptive power control concept and arrange it into a closed loop control system which contains blocks for all adaptive algorithms for modulation, power, subchannel usage and channel quality indication.


Field desorption mass spectrometry was applied to the analysis of tryptic and chymotryptic peptides of the duck egg white lysozyme C whose amino acid sequence was not known. Almost all mass peaks of the protonated molecular ions of the subpeptides in the digested peptide mixtures were observed. Comparing with the known sequence of lysozyme A, the sites and kinds of amino acid substitution in lysozyme C were studied.


This paper discusses attitudes which influence study habits and the specific skills needed for successful study. A description of a class designed to develop study skills is given including such topics as the use of a dictionary, outlining, textbook reading, note-taking, and the library. Appendices provide sample exercises of note-taking and a micro-lecture for the laboratory with electronic note-taking cues.


From a gender and ethnic perspective, this article examines the cultural change in indigenous contexts and, specifically, those changes affecting the position and condition of indigenous women. We aim to document the processes followed by the cultural cause such changes. This analysis will reveal whether the change is a real pro-equity transformation in gender relations or, on the contrary, it is just a new form of traditional gender subordination. The case that we will analyze in this article focuses on the recent and increasing participation of women in the cargo system, which represents a cultural cange in relation to the traditional women exclusion in this social and communal institution.


To solve the primary security problem of Linux,build an access control model based on security label.The paper describes the structure and operational theory of the model,dwells on its realization based on LSM mechanism,analyses in theory the function and system compatibility of the model,experiments on the model correctness,it is the summary of its feature and inadequacy at last.


This paper looks at explicit grammar instruction (EGI) in relation to recent curriculum developments in L1 and FLs. After a brief historical view of L1 grammar teaching, aspects of the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) are examined. Despite considerable merits, as a largely decontextualised framework, it contains avoidable weaknesses; its evidence base could also have been more robust. The NLS may well bring benefits for FL study, but these cannot yet be accurately assessed. The paper then considers EGI in FLs, specifically, possible uses of grammar rules. Objections to them are considered but it is argued that, within limits, TL grammar rules can be helpful. The judicious use of EGI in both L1 and FLs is justifiable. The lack of references to evidence in FL syllabuses is noted; but attention to current theory and research is surely necessary in L1 and FL policy-making.


The relation between body mass index and prevalence of asthma symptoms in adults. Objective: To evaluate the relation between body mass index and prevalence of asthma symptoms in adults. Setting: Centro Educativo Latinoamericano University. Rosario. Argentina. Population: 311 students, 86,1% women, aged 18 and 30. Method: Samples were obtained using the ISAAC as well as weight, height, reflux and physical acti- vity questionnaires. The statistical analysis was performed with EPI INFO.


Attack Detection in a tactical mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) environment is a daunting task due to its wide open and dynamic characteristics. In the battlefield arena the use of peer-to-peer wireless ad-hoc networks by the army bestow a multitude of vulnerabilities within the network that may prove detrimental to the users of that system. Preliminary studies have shown that traditional approaches to intrusion detection may be inadequate for effective detection in an environment with dropping nodes and rapidly changing network topologies stemming from node movements. This study shows a distributed attack detection approach for a tactical MANET using intelligent agents equipped with inference systems based on fuzzy logic. The results produce a prototype intrusion detection system capable of effectively detecting attacks in a tactical MANET with accuracy approaching 95%. The attack recognition system is implemented using stationary intelligent fuzzy agents (SIFA) resident on each node. Agents run autonomously on each node, collect packets from the data stream, extract relevant information, exchange information through light-weight messages, and trigger alerts using the fuzzy inference process. The research was conducted in two phases. First, the environment was characterized and analyzed for which a representative data set was produced. Secondly, the SIFA application was developed and tested on the dataset. The results suggest a successful technique for performing intrusion detection in a dynamic tactical MANET.


The production of a sufficient supply of food protein sources, of adequate quality, to meet the requirements for nitrogen and amino acids for humans will be a major challenge for the future, as population growth continues throughout the world. There remains a need for clear answers to the concep-tual questions of nitrogen and amino acid requirements and amino acid bioavailability and to practical questions regarding the routine and accurate evaluation of the ability of given protein sources to satisfy human nitrogen and amino acid requirements.Asdiscussed by Reeds (2000) and Young (2000), the nutritional requirement for dietary protein consists of three components: 1 ) amino acids that are nutritionally indispensable under all conditions (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine); 2 ) amino acids that can become conditionally indispensable under specific physiological or pathological conditions (e.g., cystine, tyrosine, taurine, gly-cine, arginine, glutamine and proline); and 3 ) nonspecific nitrogen for the synthesis of the nutritionally dispensable (nonessential) amino acids (aspartic acid, asparagine, glu-tamic acid, alanine and serine) and other physiologically important nitrogenous compounds. It of food protein


This paper presents and analyzes new data on ethanol production costs. Future industry expansion and the economic potential of technology advances are evaluated. For ethanol to compete in the 1990's without the Federal subsidy, crude oil prices would have to rise to $40 per barrel.


Abstract Pet cemeteries provide a unique opportunity to investigate the development of human-animal relationships, yet few archaeological studies of these cemeteries have been undertaken. This article presents an archaeological survey of gravestones at British pet cemeteries from the Victorian period to the present. These memorials provide evidence for the perceived roles of animals, suggesting the development of an often conflicted relationship between humans and companion animals in British society—from beloved pets to valued family members—and the increasing belief in animal afterlives. The results are discussed in the context of society's current attitude towards animals and the struggle to define our relationships with pets through the mourning of their loss.


A fiercely independent thinker, colorful storyteller, and spirited teacher, David Grene devoted his life to two things: farming, which he began as a boy in Ireland and continued into old age; and classics, which he taught for several decades that culminated in his translating and editing, with Richmond Lattimore, the "Complete Greek Tragedies".In this charming memoir, which he wrote before his death in 2002 at the age of eighty-nine, Grene weaves together these interests to tell a quirky and absorbing story of the sometimes turbulent and always interesting life he split between the University of Chicago - where he helped found the Committee on Social Thought - and the farm he kept back in Ireland.Grene's form and humor are quite his own, and his brilliant story-telling will enthrall anyone interested in the classics, rural Ireland, or twentieth-century intellectual history, especially as it pertains to the University of Chicago.


From the Publisher:
This book covers network programming with Perl but goes beyond programming network sockets. It presents the entire spectrum of skills network professionals need, including the ability to analyze network traffic that programs generate, efficient interaction with standard network protocols, and effective management of complex network systems.


A new Au/Ti(70%)/Al(30%) composition has been proposed and investigated as an ohmic contact to p-type SiC. The dependence of the resistivity on the annealing conditions has been studied at temperatures ranging from 700 /spl deg/C to 950 /spl deg/C. The lowest contact resistivity of 1.40 /spl times/ 10/sup -5/ /spl Omega/.cm/sup 2/ is achieved after annealing at 900 /spl deg/C. The study of the thermal properties determines the contact stability during the ageing at temperatures of 500-700 /spl deg/C, operating temperatures up to 450 /spl deg/C and current densities of 10/sup 3/ A/cm/sup 2/. XPS depth analysis of annealed and aged contacts has been performed to understand the origin of the ohmic properties and the thermal and power stability observed.


The influence of three coarse-aggregate types on the relationships between compressive and tensile (split tensile and modulus of rupture) strengths of a plain concrete was investigated. It was found that, in some cases, aggregate type has significant effects on these strength relationships. The mineralogical differences in the aggregate types are considered to be responsible for this behavior. The commonly accepted 0.5 power relationship between compressive strength and tensile strength was found to be applicable neither for all aggregate types nor at different ages. From the available experimental data for modulus of rupture and splitting tensile strengths of concrete, alternative relationships between the tensile and compressive strengths were calibrated and are presented. Finally, a previous study of the effect of three coarse aggregates on the coefficient of linear thermal expansion and water-cement ratio was discussed and enhanced using graphic representations of the relationships. The correlation between the experimental results and analytical predictions provides a simple approach for developing tensile strength models for plain concrete using three types of aggregate. Tables of results and figures supporting these observations and conclusions are included.


Abstract Bauhinia variegata L. var. variegata is a popular ornamental tree in the tropical and subtropical region. We herein report and characterize the complete plastid genome of B. variegata var. variegata in an effort to provide genomic resources for genetic utilization. The complete plastome is 155,415 bp in length and contains the typical quadripartite structure, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,549 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,110 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,207 bp. 130 genes are annotated, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, and four unique ribosomal RNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis based on the plastomes from B. variegata var. variegata and 12 previously reported species of Cercidoideae suggested a sister-relationship between B. variegata var. variegata and B. × blakeana with a strong bootstrap value.


This article examines and problematizes the everyday practice of ascribing ideology to skin color. This practice is widespread in part because particular ideologies compliment the dominantly expressed racial perspectives of specific racial groups. These ideologies are not only normative to their group, but group members privilege these ideologies by using ideological adherence as a rule for racial group membership. By looking at two unconventional groups, Black conservatives and color-conscious Whites, we consider the ways that Americans use both political and racial ideologies as a litmus test for authentic racial group membership. Both groups are marginalized within their racial group because their viewpoints and agendas are often read as antagonistic to the standing of the in-group and the broad goals of the majority of their racial counterparts. By de-emphasizing the role of the state, Black conservatives challenge the well-worn path many Blacks have travelled to secure egalitarian victories. Color-conscious Whites, on the other hand, call attention to the racial advantages their group receives and criticize the racial supremacist ideologies and practices that buttress the dominant standing of White Americans. Instead of taking the deviant individual's worldview to task on principled terms, many so-called guardians of racial group interest will dodge substantive political discourse by labeling Black conservatives and color-conscious Whites as 'lost,' 'self-loathing,' or even 'pathological.' We suggest that American political discourse will gain complexity if we stop dismissing the ideological minorities within racial groups on shallow grounds, and start asking why they think and act the way they do. Perhaps this line of questioning will open up new possibilities for political coalitions.


Inaccurate circuits make possible the conservation of limited resources, such as energy. But effective design of such circuits requires an understanding of resulting tradeoffs between accuracy and design parameters, such as voltages and speed of execution. Although studies of tradeoffs have been done on specific circuits, the applicability of those studies is narrow. This paper presents a comprehensive and mathematically rigorous method for analyzing a large class of inaccurate circuits for addition. Furthermore, it presents new, fast algorithms for the computation of key statistical measures of inaccuracy in such adders, thus helping hardware architects explore the design space with greater confidence.


Thermal infrared imagery plays an important role in a variety of fields, such as surface temperature inversion and urban heat island effect analysis, but the spatial resolution has severely restricted the potential for further applications. Data fusion is defined as data combination using multiple sensors, and fused information often has better results than when the sensors are used alone. Since multi-resolution analysis is considered an effective method of image fusion, we propose an MTF-GLP-TAM model to combine thermal infrared (30 m) and multispectral (10 m) information of SDGSAT-1. Firstly, the most relevant multispectral bands to the thermal infrared bands are found. Secondly, to obtain better performance, the high-resolution multispectral bands are histogram-matched with each thermal infrared band. Finally, the spatial details of the multispectral bands are injected into the thermal infrared bands with an MTF Gaussian filter and an additive injection model. Despite the lack of spectral overlap between thermal infrared and multispectral bands, the fused image improves the spatial resolution while maintaining the thermal infrared spectral properties as shown by subjective and objective experimental analyses.


To develop modern applications for vibration decoupling based on electrorheological fluids with suitable control strategies, an appropriate mathematical model of the ERF is necessary. The devices mostly used have annular-shape electrorheological valves. This requires the use of flow channels to measure the static and dynamic properties of the electrorheological fluids in similar flow conditions. Particularly for the identification of the dynamic behavior of the fluids, the influences of the non-electrorheological properties on the overall system must be taken into account. In this contribution three types of parameters with several nonlinear dependencies for the mapping of the static and dynamic properties of the ERF are considered: electro-rheological, hydraulic and electrical. The mathematical model introduced can precisely demonstrate the static and dynamic behavior of the electrorheological fluid and can be used for the future design of real systems for vibration decoupling or other systems with high dynamic requirements.


(57) Abstract: through the transmission channel comprises a near-end subscriber unit and far subscriber units communicate with each other, the electrical communication system arranging at least the proximal subscriber unit for hands-free communication is known. In this known system, the near-end subscriber unit comprises a near-end subscriber unit three stable states, a transmission mode, a reception mode, a dual controller for controlling to the sleep mode. The known subscriber unit, operating in half-duplex mode, a voice and noise detector for transmission and receive paths, a voice level comparator for controlling the mode switching. In the mode switching, in order to prevent howling in empty-handed mode, it performs appropriate gain adapted in the receive and transmit paths. The known dual controller, when the near end speaker is relatively far from the microphone does not work satisfactorily. Providing telecommunications system operating satisfactorily when the near end speaker is relatively far from the microphone. The time constant of the system to stop the far-end talker is talking, affected when taken over the near end speaker, so that no loss of audio in the far-end.


This is a preliminary report on an EEG study of samatha meditation, a core Buddhist practice so far little studied scientifically. Unlike the more familiar mindfulness meditation practices, samatha meditation aims to develop attention and concentration to high levels, to access the states of absorption known as the jhānas. This paper highlights the implicit self-directed neurofeedback nature of this technique, where a self-generated internal mental object is the parallel to the conventional neurofeedback monitor. Some preliminary findings are described, including (1) the prevalence of low frequency activity sometimes including delta waves normally seen only in stage 3 sleep, or pathological states, (2) the use of sLoreta to identify underlying cortical sources, and (3) the ability of some experienced samatha meditators to access high energy states with similarities to epileptic seizures. Although preliminary, these early results suggest themes and directions to pursue, and indicate that the samatha technique has relevance to, better understanding processes of attention, to sleep studies, and to the degree of resilience to seizures in epilepsy sufferers.


UAV Video is rapidly emerging as a widely used source of imagery for many applications in recent years. This paper presents our research on the UAV video processing system for the purpose of fire surveillance, which include: (1) UAV video stream processing. This step involves three aspects: decoding, re-sampling and matching. Microsoft(R) DirectX(R) technology is used to decode highly compressed video stream and re-sampled them into still video frame based on the time base and rate of UAV navigation sensor. One feature-based image-matching algorithm is developed to quickly obtain Tie points for latter calibration operation. (2) UAV system orientation. This step also involves three aspects: Camera IOP, Boresight Alignment and bundle adjustment. TSAI's two-stage technique is used to obtain initial camera focus length f, distortion coefficients k1 and six Exterior Of Parameter (EOP) for one selected video image. Meanwhile, the Boresight Matrix is deduced by the comparison of GPS/INS derived parameters with solved EOPs. Further more, all parameters including EOPs of all re-sampled video images and camera IOP are optimally estimated based on developed bundle adjustment algorithm. (3) UAV Video geo-registration and mosaic. All re-sampled video frames are geo-registered into uniform geo-reference coordinate frame vice Classic photogrammetric orthorectification model and merge with each other with developed mosaic algorithm. The results demonstrated that the geo-accuracy of mosaic image generated from UAV video can achieve 1-2 pixels in planimetry and its combination with GIS-supported data for fast response to time-critical event, e.g., forest fire, is descried.


The Communication Switch is designed for speech pathologists to monitor the progress of physically and mentally disabled individuals who have impaired verbal communication abilities. This communication switch consists of two modules - Simple Communication Switch (SCS) and Communication Switch Downloader (CSD). The SCS emits a light and tone to signal staff, counts the number of communications emitted and stores these data along with a device ID. The CSD connects to one or more SCSs to provide data collection, simple menu-driven LCD displq, SCS initialization and data transfer to computer.


In sixteenth-century England, unusual events inspired religious and political interpretations. Some historians have viewed such responses as reactionary attempts to assign a spiritual gloss to fundamentally ordinary phenomena, a process that early modern thinkers rejected as they naturalized rare prodigies and brought them into a more secular and regular worldview. Such an explanation is inadequate to address the concerns of contemporaries who saw the concept of 'natural' itself as a problematic interpretation and who consequently sought to attribute a greater significance to extraordinary occurrences, allowing them to represent the potential for divine activity in the world.


This paper presents the effect of an integral feedback controller for minimizing the pointing error at the tip of a very flexible and slender cantilever beam to follow a command signal. A piezoeletric PZT actuator patch isbonded on near the clamped end of the cantilever beam. Also it is considered that a position sensor is located near the tip of the beam but it is not attached on the beam. The beam is designed to be lightly damped and its step response withoutcontrol is quite long. But because of the non-collocation of the sensor and actuator, the plant response is non-minimum phase. After an intensive computer simulation, it is noted that the integral controller can reduce the settling time with proper stability and control gains. Also an analysis and comparison of the integral controller with a proportional-integral controller for the pointing error minimization of the very flexible and slender beam is described in detail.


The problem of online tolerance is especially relevant today, when a modern child spends a lot of time in Internet and communicates with children and persons over the age of 18 from all over the world. Unfortunately, online communication carries risks, and children are most vulnerable because they are naive and uninformed enough about it. Anonymity may be maintained in Internet, leading to impunity for acts that should be punished, which makes behaviour in the virtual space freer than it actually is in reality. The idea of tolerance education should cover children from the earliest possible age when their views, attitudes, expectations, and rules for communicating with peers and other people are formed. It follows that online tolerance definitely must be nurtured, which is not supposed to be a form of behaviour, precisely because the Internet gives more opportunities than just limits. The study, some of the results of which will be analysed in this article, was conducted among 234 primary school students. The aim is to examine their attitude towards the lack of tolerance in Internet, the use of insults and threats on social networks, rejection of others' point of view. The survey was conducted through a questionnaire of 20 questions that seek students' opinions in several aspects, listed below in the article, and their experience with intolerant behaviour online, which has been their action or which has made put them in position of victim. It is wrong to think that insults and rude language are normal for today's students, who are heavily influenced by the media, the Internet, and social networks. Rather, adequate methods must be sought to respond to roughness with tolerance and positive communication. The fact is that the higher the computer literacy of students is, the more their online behaviour is targeted and with less risk of being socially unacceptable.


Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3) is a cytokine-inducible negative regulator of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. We have previously shown that cardiac-specific SOCS3 deficiency spontaneously develop cardiac dysfunction with advanced age. However, the role of SOCS3 in smooth muscle cells in cardiovascular pathophysiology remains elusive. In this study, we determined whether STAT3 and SOCS3 in smooth muscle cells would play a role in cardiovascular pathophysiology.

 To target inactivation of the SOCS3 gene to smooth muscle cells, SOCS3-flox mice were bred with transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase under control of the mouse SM22-α promoter (sm-SOCS3-KO mice). Left ventricular weight to body weight ratio was significantly increased in sm-SOCS3-KO mice compared with wild-type mice at 12 months of age (p<0.05). Echocardiographic analyses of smSOCS3-KO mice showed significantly increased left ventricular diastolic dysfunction compared with wild-type from 12 months of age (p<0.05). Sirius-red staining revealed that thickness of pericardium and cardiac interstitial fibrosis in sm-SOCS3-KO mice were markedly greater compared with wild-type mice at 12 months of age (p<0.05). Western blot analyses showed that phosphorylated STAT3 was significantly increased in sm-SOCS3-KO hearts compared with wild-type mice at 12 months of age (p<0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed at 2 months of age. To investigate the mechanism that gave rise to promoted cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction during aging in sm-SOCS3-KO, we conducted a real-time PCR array analysis for fibrosis. The expression of pro-fibrotic CTGF (connective tissue growth factor), PDGFb (platelet growth factor-b), and TGF (transforming growth factor) family genes including TGFb1, TGFb2, and TGFb3, were significantly higher in sm-SOCS3-KO hearts than those in wild-type at 6 months of age.

 Thus, smooth muscle cell-specific SOCS3 deletion induces increased pericardial fibrosis, cardiac interstitial fibrosis, and increased diastolic dysfunction in aging mice, possibly through the augmentation of pro-fibrotic growth factors.

 Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Grant JSPS KAKENHI