Since a CLS with interstitial pulmonary edema has been the major toxicity of IL-2 administration in humans, the authors studied this CLS in mice by quantitating the IL-2 mediated, tissue extravasation (Ex) of intravenously injected /sup 125/I-bovine serum albumin (BSA). Mice received saline (HBSS) or 200,000 U of IL-2 intraperitoneally thrice daily from day 0-6 before tissues were counted. A permeability index (PI) was calculated by dividing the mean counts per minute (CPM) from tissues of treated mice by those from controls. In a representative experiment, increased BSA Ex was noted in the lungs of mice treated with IL-2 when compared with HBSS (6187 +/- 141 and 638 +/- 64 CPM +/- SEM, respectively; p2 < .001; PI = 9.7). Other tissues with increased BSA Ex included the liver, spleen, kidneys and mesenteric lymph nodes (PI = 6.7, 10.0, 6.3, 6.0, respectively). BSA Ex, which did not occur with the excipient control, was dependent upon the dose and the duration of IL-2. Serial lung weights showed dramatic increases in water weight induced by IL-2. Treatment of mice with radiation (500R), cyclophosphamide, or cortisone acetate significantly reduced IL-2 mediated BSA Ex. Thus, IL-2 induced a generalized CLS which is mediated directlymore » or indirectly by cellular mechanisms.« less


This paper presents innovative driving method for the magnetically driven microtool (MMT) which is actuated in a microfluidic chip by permanent magnets on the XY stage. A piezoelectric ceramic is applied to induce ultrasonic vibration to the microfluidic chip and the high-frequency vibration reduces the effective friction on the MMT significantly. As a result, we achieved 1.1 micrometer positioning accuracy of the MMT, which is 100 times higher accuracy than without vibration. The enucleation process has been conducted inside the microfluidic chip by this precisely controlled MMT and we achieved to remove nucleus from swine oocytes in high speed.


A new two-port same-polarized rectangular patch antenna based on generating two out-of-phase TM10 modes for multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) access-point antenna application is proposed. Two simple probe feeds located at two opposite positions along the resonant direction of the TM10 mode modify the excited electric field distribution inside the resonant cavity such that the zero or very weak electric field excited by the first probe feed occurs in the close proximity of the second probe feed. This behavior leads to good port isolation. A design example of the proposed antenna in the fifth-generation band of 3.4−3.8 GHz shows the excitation of two out-of-phase TM10 modes with impedance matching <italic>S</italic>11 (<italic>S</italic>22) lower than −25 dB, port isolation <italic>S</italic>12 lower than −15 dB, envelope correlation coefficient less than 0.02, and antenna efficiency larger than 92%. An additional method of placing a conducting block on the ground plane and below the patch center to finely adjust the <italic>S</italic>12 to have a much lower value is also studied.


The utility model discloses a skirting board assembly adopting a magnet for fixing. The skirting board assembly comprises a skirting line, the magnet and an iron screw or expansion screw, wherein the skirting line is fixed to a wall space in the mode of attaching to the floor, the magnet is fixedly connected with the skirting line, and the iron screw or the expansion screw is used for fixing the magnet to the wall space. A magnet groove is formed in the inner side face of the skirting line, the magnet is fixedly arranged in the magnet groove, the iron screw or the expansion screw is nailed into the wall space in a horizontal state, and the inner side face of the magnet is attached to the outer side face of a cap of the iron screw or the expansion screw. The magnet is detachably connected with the iron screw or the expansion screw through magnetic force. According to the skirting board assembly adopting the magnet for fixing, the skirting line is fixed to the wall space through the magnetism of the magnet, so that the structure is ingenious, installing speed is high, and besides detaching is very convenient; the skirting line can be detached without any damage only by pulling the skirting line outwards and making pulling force be larger than the attraction of the magnet; in this way, the skirting line is not damaged, besides, a wall is not damaged, and after the floor is maintained and replaced, the skirting line can be rapidly installed at an original position.


............................................................................................................................................ i DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................... v TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................... xv CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Literature Review .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.


and especially an anonymous referee for helpful conversations and comments. Abstract This paper proposes and studies the rationalizable foresight dynamics. A normal form game is repeatedly played in a random matching fashion by a continuum of agents who make decisions at stochastic points in time. A rationalizable foresight path is a feasible path of action distribution along which each agent takes an action that maximizes his expected discounted payoff against another path which is in turn a rationalizable foresight path. We consider a set-valued stability concept under this dynamics and compare it with the corresponding concept under the perfect foresight dynamics. perfect foresight, stability under rationalizable foresight (RF-stability), stability under perfect foresight (PF-stability).


The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an adherend to a surface, it characterized in that it consists of a composition contacts the surface on which said product is incorporated in substantially spherical multilamellar vesicles with a diameter between 0.1 and 100 micrometers, containing concentric membranes based on at least one separate surfactant using a solvent medium; said vesicles having an onion-like structure and carries a positive charge due to global presence of at least one cationic agent within these vesicles. The surface to be treated may be either an inert surface such as a fiber or a fiber assembly such as a fabric, or a biological surface such as skin, hair, hair, the surface of a body, cuticle beings alive or plant cuticle.


We thank Pedersen-Bjergaard et al. (1) for their comments regarding our study (2). In our study, the ability of three methods (Gold et al. [3], Clarke et al. [4], and Pedersen-Bjergaard et al. [5]) to identify impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) in people with type 1 diabetes was evaluated. The method that was initially described by Pedersen-Bjergaard et al. (5) required patients to respond to the question, "Can you feel when you are low?" and asked them to select …


Polyloidy was induced in the ornamental plant, Tagetus erecta (n=12) using 0.15 and 0.20 percent colchicine solution. Cytomorphological analysis of the colchiploids and diploid controls was made. It is seen that colchiploidy has effected significant enhancement of size of the capitulum and reduction in height of the plant. Both these characters add to the ornamental value of the plant.


Since the finding that treatment directed at the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) may relieve low back pain in selected patients, infiltrations and radiofrequency (RF) procedures of the SIJ have become common practice in pain therapy. The SIJ is a common cause of low back pain; depending on the diagnostic criteria employed (clinical examination, intra-articular test blocks, medical imaging), the reported prevalence of SIJ pain among patients with axial low back pain varies between 16% and 30%. Targets and RF parameters used for treatment of SIJ pain vary greatly. Gevargez et al. performed three lesions (at 90°C) in the ligamentum sacroiliacum posterior and one targeting the L5 medial branch, whereas Ferrante et al. performed multiple bipolar intra-articular lesions at 90°C while Cohen performed single lesion (at 80°C) at the level of the L4-L5 medial branches and the S1–S3 (or S4) lateral branches. One study reported the use of pulsed RF therapy for the treatment of SIJ pain. In this issue of Pain Practice, Cosman and Gonzalez present the results of their in vivo and ex vivo research in which they try to increase the volume of the RF lesion, thus improving outcome after RF treatment of the SIJ. In the ex vivo section the authors showed that by increasing the active tip length of the electrode on one hand and the electrode spacing on the other, the size of conventional bipolar lesions can exceed the size of monopolar and cooled RF lesions. The authors extrapolate these data to in vivo "palisade" treatment of patients with SIJ pain by placing five to seven RF cannulize perpendicular to the dorsal sacrum and producing four to six overlapping bipolar RF lesions between the dorsal sacral foramina and the ipsilateral SIJ. Although theoretically sound, no outcome data are presented and this idea needs further clinical elaboration. Still, good outcome after interventional pain therapy is fundamentally dependent on a correct primary diagnosis for which that treatment is installed. In reality, accurate diagnosis of SIJ pain based on history and clinical examination remains difficult. Different provocative maneuvers have been advocated which, individually, have weak predictive value but combined can help ascertain the diagnosis. Diagnostic blocks are the gold standard for diagnosing SIJ pain but must be interpreted with caution, since false positive as well as false negative results occur frequently. As our understanding of the complex innervation of the SIJ increases, therapies are modified accordingly, resulting in more numerous and bigger RF lesions to interrupt SIJ nociception via the lateral branches. In a recent study by Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Pascal Vanelderen, MD, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (campus A. Dumont), Stalenstraat 2, 3600 Genk, Belgium. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest. DOI. 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2010.00419.x


The purpose this research is to examine whether fraud diamond can be used to detect fraudulent financial statement, an empirical study in banking companies that listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2011-2014. In this research purposive sampling method used to determine sample of this research with 92 companies as population and 23 companies as samples. Analysis method used is multiple linear regression with SPSS 20 program version. Based on the result of the hypothetical examination in this research, it proved 6 of hypothesis that (1) Financial stability which have 0.254 as level of significant and bigger than level of signicant which used in this research, 0.05, partially does not have a influence toward against fraudulent financial statement. (2) Personal financial need which have 0.004 as level of significant and smaller than level of signicant which used in this research, 0.05, partially has a signifikant influence against fraudulent financial statement. (3) Ineffective monitoring which have 0.817 as level of significant and bigger than level of signicant which used in this research, 0.05, partially does not have a effect against fraudulent financial statement. (4) Rationalization which have 0,826 as level of significant and bigger than level of signicant which used in this research, 0.05, partially does not have a influence toward fraudulent financial statement. (5) Capability which have 0,053 as level of significant and bigger than level of signicant which used in this research, 0.05, partially does not have a influence toward fraudulent financial statement. (6) Financial stability, personal financial need, ineffective monitoring, rationalization, and capability which have 0.036 as level of significant and smaller than level of signicant which used in this research, 0.05, simultaneously influence toward fraudulent financial statement. Keyword: financial stability, personal financial need, ineffective monitoring, rationalization, capability, fraudulent financial statement


We present a simple analytical treatment of gain switching in semiconductor lasers at intermediate intensities, based on a second‐order perturbative treatment of the rate equations. The analytical solution is compared with experimental nonlinear transient relaxation oscillations measured using high‐speed, p‐doped In0.35Ga0.65As/GaAs multiple quantum well lasers, under perturbation of the dc electrical bias by pulsed optical excitation. The experimental results show excellent agreement with the analytical solution, even at excitation densities beyond the small‐signal regime.


In this paper, we study an integrated framework to generate expressive sketch animation from real video with user interaction. It consists of two mainly steps: (i) image sketch computation by a learning-based edge detector; (ii) temporal sketch propagation by a robust stochastic matching algorithm. In the first step, given a video clip, the edge probability map on each frame is first computed by a discriminative model that is trained with a collection of various features. A template sketch is flexibly extracted from the beginning frame by threshold tuning, where user intervention is allowed to perfect the sketch template. Then this template is matched and localized to the following image sketches over frames by the graph-based matching algorithm. User interaction is allowed to sequentially correct the matching results. A number of sketch animations from real videos are presented to verify this framework in the experiments.


Abstract : This document presents a methodology for developing an organizational process model which is based on the principles of object oriented design and formal software engineering methods. The methodology begins with the development of an object oriented Rumbaugh model (27). The Rumbaugh model is then formally specified in Z (Zed) schemas. Finally, the Z specifications are translated into an executable model in the Software Refinery Environment(TM). This model is described based on the AF wing domain and developed in this domain. The proposed methodology is then shown to produce a very general model which is extendable across almost any domain. The proposed methodology is also shown to be very general and tailorable for specific domain applications.


Frustulia Rabenhorst is an established diatom genus that is common and widespread across North America. As for many diatom genera, taxa within Frustulia have been the subject of taxonomic confusion...


A new simple, sensitive and cost effective method has been proposed for rapid determination of trace quantities of cadmium in vegetable samples, using supramolecular-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (SM-DLLME) prior to its microsample introduction-flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). This method is based on extraction of cadmium–ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) with coacervates made up of decanoic acid reverse micelles dispersed in tetrahydrofuran (THF)–water. Several important factors influencing the extraction efficiency of cadmium and its subsequent determination were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions and preconcentration of only 5.00 mL of sample, the enhancement factor was 22, limit of detection (LOD) was 0.3 μg L−1 and relative standard deviations (RSDs) for 100 μg L−1 and 30 μg L−1 of cadmium in vegetable samples were 2.5% and 4.2%, respectively (n = 6). The accuracy of the method was confirmed by parallel analyses with the reference method (ASTM D 3557-90).


Abstract In the present work scattering experiments with cold neutrons are described, which were done with molten Bi-Cu alloys in the region of small momentum transfer (0.08 A−1 < k < 1.5 A−1). Using the time-of-flight method of analysis for the scattered neutrons, the inelastically scatterered neutrons were separated from the elastically scattered neutrons. The coherent scattering cross section was obtained by integration as the area below the quasielastic line and shows a strong increasing tendency with smaller momentum transfer, especially for the molten alloys in the mid-concentration region. This can be explained by the existence of regions with one kind of atoms within the molten alloys. These inhomogeneities are considered from a more dynamic point of view according to Ornstein and Zernike as concentration fluctuations, the correlation length of which can be determined to be approximately 2A. Using the more static interpretation according to Guinier, the regions can be regarded as so-called cluster...


To introduce the industry background and related standards of dimethyl ether(DEM) mixing problem in the liquefied petroleum gas(LPG),to explain that the dimethyl ether should pure burning,rather than mixing as a clean fuel which substitute for liquefied petroleum gas,and to put forward some advices that establish the dimethyl ether standardization system,and to perfect the test method of dimethyl ether and to expand application fields of dimethyl ether and so on.


Johnson, Daily and Ellstrand (1996) had noted that directors' most significant duties consists of three overlapping roles of control, resource dependence and service, and that the board composition influences the effectiveness with which directors perform these roles. The paper presents the background, literature and methodology employed into a study investigating the role of non-executive directors (NEDs) in Malaysian public listed companies. Initial results derived from face-to-face interviews with 27 company directors reaffirm these propositions and provide evidence from the perspective of a developing nation of the expanding responsibilities of NEDs. The early findings bode well to the future of the corporate governance system of a country on the verge of recovering from the Asian crisis.


Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is a drought tolerant minor millet found in rainfed low input agricultural systems in Sri Lanka. This paper presents an analysis of characteristics of rainfall, of the onset, retreat and length of the 'Yala' growing season (March-September) and the relationship between rainfall and crop husbandry strat-egies in a Proso millet growing area. Daily rainfall data (1983-2015) obtained from Udawalawa, Sewanagala, Pelwatta, Thanamalwila and Kuda Oya meteorological stations were analysed along with information gathered from a survey of farmers. Among these 5 stations significant (p < 0.05) differences were found in retreat date, the length of the season and rainfall amount during the season. It was observed that onset date can be used to predict the season length with high accuracy (r = -0.7335, significant at p < 0.05). The selection of crops and the timing of crop management practices in the Proso millet growing area coincided with the distribution of rainfall. However, the yields reported by farmers (mean 1.18 t ha-1) are far below the expected potential (4 t ha-1). Soil moisture con-servation and water management strategies could be critical to reduce the risk of water-related damage in the susceptible flowering stage.


The invention relates to a method for preparing a p-type CuAlO2 transparent conductive film. The method comprises the following steps of: performing artificial grinding or mechanical ball milling on Cu2O and Al2O3 which serve as raw materials, mixing uniformly, putting the mixed powder into a powder tablet machine to form a cylindrical target blank, putting the target blank into a corundum crucible, covering, putting into a single crystal furnace, and sintering at the temperature of between 1,100 DEG C and 1,200 DEG C for 10 to 12 hours to obtain a CuAlO2 ceramic target material; and putting the sintered CuAlO2 target material into a crucible of electron beam evaporation coating equipment, vacuumizing until the background is vacuum, performing electron beam evaporation coating under the condition that any reactant gas is not introduced, and controlling electron beams and deposition time to obtain the p-type CuAlO2 transparent conductive film. The p-type CuAlO2 transparent conductive film is easy to prepare, high in purity and clean and environment-friendly in the preparation process, and is heated uniformly in the sintering process.


Dairyland Power Cooperative is installing a new distribution automation/telecommunications system that will provide secure collection of substation meter readings, load profile billing information, real-time meter data, local alarms, and a secure communications path for member Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) systems. Dairyland Power is a generation and transmission cooperative located in La Crosse, WI that provides wholesale power to 25-member cooperatives and 19-member municipal electric systems. Dairyland Power was experiencing diminished analog cellular service with limited bandwidth, minimal security, and no guarantee of service beyond February of 2008. As a result, a comprehensive distribution automation and telecommunications project was approved in December 2004. Expansion of the existing digital microwave network, installation of point-to-multipoint I/P-capable spread spectrum radios, and installation of custom-designed metering, communications, and automation cabinets provides secure serial and I/P connections for real-time and billing metering data, distribution SCADA, load management, and AMR traffic.


ABSTRACT The consistency between the virtual environment and the real environment perceived by the body is important, and sensory stimulation technologies that can enhance the sense of self-ownership and self-agency for the virtual body are required. The objective of this study is to clarify the effect of tendon vibration stimulation on the perception on the body when the inconsistency of the body motion is generated by virtual reality (VR) experience in which the virtual body motion is equal to or more than the real body motion. We carried out experiments to clarify perceptual characteristics such as the relationship between the intensity of the tendon vibration stimulus and the degree of perceptual angle modulation. When the vibration stimulus provides clarity of illusion, the change was about 17 degrees in flexion and about −12 degrees in extension in the same-direction group. It is suggested that the perceived angle can be changed in any direction by the tendon vibration stimulation, regardless of the actual motion direction. The experimental results suggest that the perceptual modulation by tendon vibration stimulation may be one of the solutions to the inconsistency between virtual and real bodies. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


A¢Â€ÂœThe Impact of Social Security on Private Saving: Evidence from the U.S. Time Series,A¢Â€Â by Robert J. Barro, with a reply by Martin Feldstein, is the first of a series of studies of the effect of social security on saving and capital formation.A' It sheds more light on the dispute begun in 1974 when Martin FeldsteinA¢Â€Â™s startling research showed that social security had significantly depressed private saving.


Despite their early discovery, the bioactivity of acidic cannabinoids was long overlooked. Issues of stability and a pharmacological focus on Δ9-THC and its biological profile combined to relegate the non-narcotic native form of phytocannabinoids to a sort of investigational limbo. Recent studies have disclosed an attractive bioactivity profile for specific acidic phytocannabinoids but concerns about their limited stability have remained substantially unaddressed. To solve this issue, we have developed the hydroxamate derivatives of Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (Δ8-THCA-AH, 6) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDAH, 5) as novel acidic cannabinoid bioisosteres, and we report here their synthesis and bioactivity profile against specific cannabinoid targets, as well as promising in vivo activity in a murine model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) associated with obesity.


A method for filling containers with a liquid product using a filling system with a plurality of each of a filling element with a liquid valve having filling positions and with a Fullgutkessel, forming at least one load chamber for receiving the filling material, wherein the respective container located in a sealing position to a filling position, the filling material from the Fullgutkessel controlled by the liquid valve is supplied and a case displaced return gas is discharged via a return gas from the filling material from the interior of the container, and wherein after completion of the filling process and after closing of the liquid valve of the non-occupied by the filling head space of the in sealing position on the filling position is applied to the container located fill level with a pressurized inert gas or Trinox- and thereby displaces the excess filling material from the container via the return gas, together with gas Trinox ,


This study considers the final examinations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, from 1882–1981. Discussion of the likely purposes of the examinations, and of possible ways of assessing their efficiency, is followed by a review of the final examination structures from 1882 onwards. Finally, material on the achieved pass rates is presented. The structural changes illustrate some shift in emphasis from bookkeeping and law towards managerial accounting and economics, taxation, and systems and data processing. Pass rates have declined from around 60 percent to around 40 percent over the period, though not evenly.


We experienced a patient emergently operated on for generalized peritonitis, whom dozens of uclers in the entire small intestine and intestinal perforation were detected. A 67-year-old man receiving an antibiotic for common cold and abdominal distention for several days was seen at another hospital because of worsened abdominal distention and abdominal pain. The patient was transferred to the emergency center of our hospital with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. CT examination confirmed perforation of the intestine. On laparotomy sporadic ulcers were found in the entire small intestine, especially in the terminal ileum, at where perforation existed. Intestinal Behcet disease with small intestinal ulcers was susepcted. Excision of the ileocecal region was performed and sporadic ulcers were sutured and closed. Immediately after the operation the same type of ulcers in the oral cavity as those in the small intestine and folliculitis like eruptions in the anterior thoracic region were found, but they disappeared within several days. No eye symptoms nor external pudental ulcers were confirmed. The definite diagnosis of intestinal Behcet disease could not be made, but it was strongly suspected, because the patient showed positive response to HLA-B51. The patient is strictly followed on an ambulant basis. It is rare for intestinal Behcet disease that ulcers appear in the entire small intestine. Some notes based on the relevant literature are also presented.


The energy conservation goal of more miles per crude oil barrel will be materially affected by the ultimate level of two governmental regulations of the automotive and petroleum industries, automotive emission standards and lead antiknock content of gasoline. Moreover, the ability of these industries to improve energy conservation is seriously impaired by uncertainty regarding the regulations. If the 1978 U. S. statutory emission standards are not relaxed to more realistic levels and if a regulated phasedown of lead antiknocks is imposed, the resulting energy penalty in terms of crude run may approach or even exceed 10% by 1985.


We consider a wavelet Galerkin scheme for solving partial integrodifferential equations where sparse tensor product spaces are applied for the discretization to reduce the complexity in the number of degrees of freedom. The resulting matrices are dense, since the jump operator is non-local. Therefore, wavelet compression methods are used to decrease the number of non-zero matrix entries. We focus on algorithmic details of the scheme, in particular on the numerical integration of the matrix coefficients. Since the multidimensional Lévy densities have singularities at the origin and on the axes, variable order composite Gauss quadrature formulas are employed. We show that the quadrature rule leads to exponential convergence for Lévy densities which are piecewise analytic. Using an hierarchical data structure, an adaptive numerical scheme is developed which computes each matrix entry with a given accuracy. The accuracy is chosen by an a-priori numerical analysis of the scheme such that the solution of the perturbed problem still converges at the optimal rate. We give numerical examples. In particular, the regularization of the multidimensional Lévy measure is considered where small jumps are either neglected or approximated by an artificial Brownian motion. We study and compare the impact of these approximations on various financial contracts in multidimensional Lévy market models.


Objective:To establish a HPLC method for the determination of mangiferin in Suanzaoren Decoction.Methods:The determination was performed on WatersC18 column(250nm×4.6mm,5um)with a grient mobile phase composed of acetionitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid.The detection wavelength was 257nm,and the flow rate was 1ml/min.Results:The Mangiferin showed good lin-earity(r=0.9999)in the range of 0.316ug-1.264ug,the average recovery was 97.64% with RSD 0.36%.Conclusion:The method is simple,accurate,reliable and suitable for determination of Mangiferin in Suanzaoren Decoction.


The utility model provides a manual multi-way rotary valve which is used for controlling fluids to change directions, which is characterized in that improvements are made on the basis of the existing manual rotary valve; a feed inlet is arranged on the lower part of a valve seat; a plurality of feed outlet are arranged on the circumferential wall of the valve; a valve core is provided with a valve chamber which is communicated with the feed inlet and a through hole which is corresponding to the feed outlet; the valve core is tightly pressed on the valve seat through a press cover and a fixing nut. Through the improvement, the valve seat can be provided with more feed outlets, thus the disadvantage of convenient manual rotary valve use when channels are more than four is overcome. The utility model has the advantages of simple structure, multiply channels and convenient operation.


Aims This perspective is exploring the effect of residential aged care facility COVID-19 lockdowns on resident mortality. Relevance People living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection and death. In Australia, COVID-19 infections in RACF residents represented seven percent of recorded infections and the case fatality rate (CFR) was 33%. RACFs were categorised as high-risk settings for COVID-19 and a number of measures to reduce the risk of acquiring COVID-19 were implemented at the National and State and Territory levels, such as strict infection control, monitoring, testing, vaccination and increased clinical capacity. Methods All COVID-19 infections and deaths in the 12-months from 15 October 2021 to 14 October 2022 for the cohort of residents living in an Australian RACF (except Western Australia) at the beginning of this period were analysed. Key points Lockdowns of RACFs were successful in substantially reducing the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in RACF residents. This was largely because the infection and mortality rates of COVID-19 were high in 2020 and 2021. The findings of this study could be used to evaluate and inform national and local states and territory guidelines on the management of COVID-19 in RACFs.


Abstract In 1993 one of the authors formulated some conjectures on monotonicity of ratios for exponential series sections. These lead to a more general conjecture on monotonicity of ratios of Kummer hypergeometric functions, which remained open ever since. In this paper we prove some conjectures for Kummer hypergeometric functions and its further generalizations for Gauss and generalized hypergeometric functions. The results are also closely connected with Turán-type inequalities.


Objective: to draw the socioeconomic profile of patients with venous ulcers. Method: a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted with 50 people in the outpatient surgical clinic of the University Hospital Onofre Lopes / HUOL located in Natal / Rio Grande do Norte / northeastern Brazil, using an interview guide. The collected data were tabulated and stored in Excel spreadsheet software and analyzed by descriptive statistics. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research, CAAE 0038.0.294.000-11. Results: mean age 59.72 years old, 66% were female, 60% had a partner, the average of studies was 4.98 (± 3.36) years and family income 2.3 minimum wages. It was found therefore the profile of persons with venous ulcers similar to that shown in literature. Conclusion: It is essential to know the characteristics of these clients to develop strategies aimed at improving their health. Descriptors: Venous Ulcer; Nursing; Socioeconomic


In this article, a fault-tolerant topology of a cascaded H-bridge (CHB) converter is proposed for motor drive applications. Usually, multiwinding transformer fed CHB converters are provided with pre-charge windings for precharging the dc-link capacitors. The windings become inactive after the precharging process. The proposed topology contains redundant cells connected to the precharge windings. After faults in the converter, when the faulty cells are bypassed, the redundant cells can substitute the faulty cells with their power fed from the precharge windings. The aim is to obtain prefault rated line voltages during postfault conditions using the redundant cells. In addition, multiple faulty cells in the same leg or different legs of the converter can be tolerated with the proposed topology. The available power factor range for the proposed topology during most of the multiple fault conditions is improved. The impact of the dc-link voltage of the redundant cells on fault-tolerant capability of the proposed converter is also discussed. To maintain the rated line voltage during postfault conditions, a pulsewidth modulation (PWM) clamping technique is proposed and analyzed in this article. The proposed fault-tolerant topology is verified using computer simulation and experimental results.


One Of the many challenges of the theology of liberation of Latin America (TL or LT) has been to rethink the relation between theory (theology) and praxis. A debate, which has been going on for over a century among philosophers and social thinkers since Hegel and Marx has finally hit the serene shores of Christian theology. Are theory and praxis two co-equal dimensions of human existence, or is the one derivative from the other? Is Christian faith primarily a matter of theory, belief and truth, or is it primarily a matter of praxis, action and justice? Is theology only a reflection on faith or a reflection in faith as well? What is the relation between theology and contemporary historical praxis? Does theology have to remain 'external' to that praxis in order to preserve its critical objectivity, or is participation of theology in that praxis the very condition of its objectivity? Is the prior commitment of theology— so much insisted on by TL — to the praxis of liberation detrimental or necessary to the integrity of theology? In this essay I propose to deal with these issues in the context of recent debates between Schubert Ogden and the Vatican on the one hand and TL on the other. I shall first review Ogden's and the Vatican's critique of TL, then present the position of TL, and finally evaluate both TL and its critics and reconstruct a theory of the relation between theology and praxis in light of the preceding discussion.


This article presents the translation to Greek of three poems by the Venezuelan poet Lucila Velasquez. These poems have been chosen from "The Chernobyl Tree" poetic work, which is one of the most representative piece of the sciencepoetry lyric style. In addition to the translation, some difficulties which arose during this procedure are also mentioned, such as certain metaphors or altered syntax. Also the way to translate them is analyzed here.


Compound spirals offer better performance in a more efficient configuration. Prep plant operators in the US are increasingly opting to use spiral concentrators. They are easy to install, operate and maintain but their downfall is low capacity. The article describes spirals available from PrepTech/Multotec, Krebs Engineers and Roche MT. It reports on research on spiral concentrator technology. 1 ref., 4 figs.


Excised Albizzia leaflet pairs exposed to red (R) light close within 30-90 min after transfer to darkness. Interruption of darkness by far-red (FR) light at any time after R inhibits closure within ca. 10 min. Similarly, irradiation with R at any time after prior FR promotes closure within ca. 10 min, and the increased rate of closure is independent of the time lapse between the FR and R irradiations. Closure in the dark is inhibited by NaN3 and DNP (5 X 10-4 M), by anaerobic conditions and by externally applied salts of monovalent cations, especially K; it is also temperature sensitive. Pulvinule cells are very high in K. Electron microprobe analysis of cryostated, lyophilized pulvinules reveals that during closure, K is lost from ventral cells and enters dorsal cells. FR before darkness inhibits the former but not the latter process. Thus, K flux appears to control the changes in volume of the pulvinule cells that control leaflet movement. While leaflet closure normally requires a dark period, salts of organic acids such as sodium acetate, propionate, and butyrate cause closure in the light. INVESTIGATIONS on the mechanism of action of phytochrome have recently centered on rapid reactions occurring within seconds or minutes of R and FR irradiation. Such reactions include chloroplast rotation in algal cells (Haupt, 1965), nyetinastic leaflet closure (Fond6ville, Borthwick, and Hendricks, 1966), and adhesion of root segments to glass (Jaffe, 1968; Tanada, 1967). Our investigations on this subject have involved the regulation by phytochrome of leaflet closure in Albizzia julibrissin. This control is exerted within 10 min after pigment conversion (Hillman and Koukkari, 1967; Jaffe and Galston, 1967) through changes in the volume of the motor cells of the pulvinule (Satter, Sabnis, and Galston, 1970). During leaflet closure, subepidermal ventral cells of the pulvinule shrink, and dorsal cells swell. Thus, phytochrome ultimately controls water movement into and out of these cells. We undertook the current investigation in an attempt to define the regulatory processes that precede water movement, in the hope that we could identify reactions close to the primary process controlled by phytochrome. Several years ago Toriyama (1955, 1962) used histochemical techniques to demonstrate K movement 1 Received for publication 4 February 1970. We thank Dr. Horace Winchell and Mr. Malcolm McConnell of the Geology Department, Yale University, for aid in the use of the electron microprobe and Dr. Ian M. Sussex for the use of his cryostat microtome. This work was aided by grants to the third author from the Herman Frasch Foundation and the National Science Foundation. An account of this work was delivered at the XI International Botanical Congress in Seattle, Washington, in August, 1969. out of contracting cells in the primary pulvinus during seismonastic movement of Mimosa pudica. His findings were recently confirmed by Allen (1969), who demonstrated 42K efflux. The transition from light to darkness or the reverse change can control K fluxes which, in turn, control water movement in cells and in cell organelles. Fischer and Hsiao (1968) and Sawhney and Zelitch (1969) independently demonstrated that K fluxes control guard cell turgor in Vicia faba and Nicotiana tabacum, respectively, while Shavit, Dilley, and San Pietro (1968) have shown that light-induced swelling of isolated chloroplasts in the presence of nigericin requires K in the external medium. These several reports, together with Jaffe and Galston's (1967) report of increased electrolyte efflux from Albizzia pinnae during nyetinastic closure, led us to investigate K fluxes in A ibizzia, and their control by phytochrome. Detailed kinetic experiments were also performed to permit evaluation of the ionic flux data. MATERIALS AND METHODS-A lbizzia julibrissin plants were grown from seed (F. W. Schumacher Co.) in a greenhouse as previously described (Satter et al., 1970) until they were 6-12 months old and had several large leaves. Individual plants were transferred to a growth chamber at least three days before experiments, to permit them to adjust to the new environmental conditions (16 hr photoperiod furnished by 9:1 mixed cool white fluorescent and incandescent lights, yielding ca. 1000 ft-c, and a constant temperature of 23 C).


Abstract The present study focuses on the development of the methodology necessary for the study of fluid-structure interactions between a square cross-section cylinder and a turbulent cross-flow. The square cylinder is simulated in three configurations: 1) stationary, 2) undergoing prescribed vertical motion, and 3) undergoing autonomous vertical motion. Motion of the square cylinder through the computational domain is facilitated through a method of localized mesh deformation, which deforms the control volumes immediately above and below the square cylinder as it moves. Results for prescribed vertical motion of the cylinder, governed by sinusoidal equations of motion, are compared to those from published literature and a substantial agreement is achieved. In order to simulate autonomous motion, a vibration model is implemented providing direct application of the shear and pressure balance around the square cylinder to the motion of the cylinder.


Abstract : The Programming Specifications Manual represents comprehensive documentation of the NMCS Automated Input Processing System - NAIPS. As such, it serves as the basic document for program maintenance activities as well as being the most complete description of the facilities afforded users of the system. Volume 1 contains detailed descriptions of the programs and data areas comprising the system. (Author)


Olivine-structured LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4/C solid solution was successfully prepared by a Sol-Gel approach combined with a high-temperature solid-state reaction, and characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscope(SEM) and transmission electron microscope(TEM). The results revealed that LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4nanoparticles were evenly dispersed in the in-situ formed carbon conductive network. When the nanocomposite served as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs), except a short plateau(~3.5 V vs Li+/Li) ascribed to Fe3+/Fe2+couples in the charging/discharging profile, the long plateau at higher voltage(~4.1 V vs Li+/Li) is corresponding to the redox reaction of Mn during the Li+extraction/insertion in the LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4lattice, and this high voltage plateau can significantly enhance the energy density of relevant LIBs. In addition, the chemical diffusion behavior of lithium in the LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4/C electrode was investigated in detail using galvanostatic intermittent titration technique(GITT)and electrochemical impedance spectroscope(EIS), and the chemical diffusion coefficients of lithium, DLi, obtained by GITT and EIS were 5×10-15 1×10-14cm2/s and 1.27×10-13 2.11×10-13cm2/s, respectively. The results indicate that the value of DLi increases with elevated test temperature, and it can be inferred that the electrochemical properties of such materials can be improved by raising the working temperature.


Many quantum mechanics textbooks give the remarkable argument of Einstein wherein he introduces his famous ''A and B coefficients'' and uses detailed balancing to derive the Planck distribution for thermal photons. But it seems to be not widely known that the same approach can yield the Fermi–Dirac distribution for thermal electrons.


The article emphasizes the urgency of forming and implementing a public policy of improving the quality of providing medical services to the population. The purpose of the study is the scientific substantiation of the methodological and applied principles of the streamlining of the public policy of improving the quality of medical care of the population in Ukraine. It is shown that carrying out the medical reform in Ukraine actualizes the problem of improving the quality of medical care for the population, especially at the local level; for territorial communities, this means, first of all, the formation of an integral system of medical care, which will cover its primary and secondary links and will allow to simplify the access of residents of the territory of the community to quality medicine. The development strategies of the regions of the Ukrainian Carpathians were analyzed, and on this basis it was proved that in Ukraine, at the regional and local levels, quite significant attention within the framework of public policy is paid to medicine in general and, in particular, to the improvement of the quality of medical care of the local population. The modern processes of transformation of the domestic system of providing medical services to the population are characterized, namely trends that reflect the fact that the health care system began to noticeably lose its stability during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the unfolding of the full-scale Russian war on Ukraine, it experienced colossal shocks due to the transfer of part of medical workers to serve the needs of the army, migratory losses of personnel, increased burden on the industry due to a large number of injured civilians and military personnel, as well as a new wave of forced migrants. The directions of the public policy of improving the quality of medical care for the population in Ukraine were defined and substantiated, namely, the initialization of the infrastructural part of the health care reform; creation of a single coordination center based on the center of emergency medical care and disaster medicine; development of regulations regarding vulnerable population groups, including IDPs, in the context of obtaining the necessary medical and rehabilitation assistance; activation of work with international funds; ensuring rotation of medical and social workers at meeting points for IDPs.


ABSTRACI Polyadenylated (poly A')RNAswereprepared frombothdryand incubated embryonic axesofVigna unguiculata seeds andweretranslated byawheatgermtranslation system. Analysis withgelelectrophoresis andfluorography showed that translation products ofpoly A'RNA from dryembryonic axeswerenearly thesameasthose from2-hour incubated axesbutsomewhat different fromthose of4-to24-hour incubated axes, andthat translation products remained almost unchanged between the4and24-hour stages ofpostimbibition. Theresults indicate thepossibility that thestored mRNA (poly A RNA fromdryembryonic axes) directs theprotein synthesis required forearly stages ofgermination. Thisis supported bycomparison oftheinvitro translation products ofpoly A' RNAswiththose ofpolysomal RNAs.Experiments witha-amanitin, a specific inhibitor ofRNApolymerase II(J. Jendrisak 1980JBiol Chem 255:8529-8533), suggested thatthesynthesis ofsomeofthestored mRNAspecies isresumed asearly as4hours after theonset ofimbibition.


Abstract The theoretical concept of innovative work behavior (IWB) has achieved substantial consideration from academicians across the globe starting with the second half of the last century. More recent, for about three decades, researchers have become concerned with more concrete organizational implications towards the innovative work behavior. Therefore, they directed their attention to organizational factors that might influence innovative behavior and to the relationship between multiple organizational aspects and innovative work behavior. Employees' behavior at work is a key component for organizational success. Consequently, employees' innovative spirit plays a critical role in the performance of their companies. The current paper has two purposes. First, to do a key literature review on innovative work behavior as part of the general concept of innovation by highlighting the theoretical aspects from international literature. Second, to present an analysis on the topic of innovation for the top 10 multinational companies in automobile industry taking into consideration three components: the mission statement, core values and dedicated innovation section declared on their official global websites.


A translation of a series on the flora of the USSR, completed with editorial collaboration from renowned botany experts, this volume covers species such as Compositae, Tribes Cynareae and Multisieae.


A study was made of the effects of satiation on the quality of a well-established delayed matching-to-sample performance. Drive levels were manipulated by (1) allowing Ss (3 white Carneaux pigeons) to run to satiation in prolonged sessions and (2) prefeeding Ss 10% of their working weights 2 hr. before the experimental sessions. Performance at low drive levels shows no decrements compared with that under control (high drive) conditions and may even be improved at long delays.


We present a patient in whom the exact location of a right atrial lipoma identified with two‐ and three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2‐D and 3‐D TEE) was correlated with the surgical findings. By orienting the 3‐D TEE images to conform to the view of the surgeon from the right side of the patient and referencing the site of attachment of the tumor to the surrounding structures, this lipoma was correctly localized to a 7 o'clock position in the right atrium.


Wax deposition has been a significant concern in flow assurance. Mechanical pigging is the most common technique used to remediate wax deposition in subsea pipelines. Although researchers have revealed the wax removal process of pipe pigs, it is still unclear whether the pipe pig speed affects the pigging process. Due to a lack of understanding of the wax removal process, the field pigging operation is mainly reliant on empirical rules, resulting in frequent blockage accidents. In this work, the effect of pipe pig speed on the pigging process of cup and disk pigs was investigated using the in-house pigging facility. The experimental results show that the pigging process of both pipe pigs at high and low speeds can be divided into four parts. However, the wax breaking force (WBF) is approximately 2–3 times greater at high speed than at low speed. Also, the WBF of the disk pig is higher compared to the cup pig under the same pigging conditions. The mechanism behind this phenomenon is because of the rheological features of wax deposits. Since the wax deposit exhibits rheomalaxis elasto-viscoplasticity, it is exposed to a larger shear rate at high pipe pig speed, which leads to increased dynamic yield stress of the wax deposit. Furthermore, the difference in WBF between cup pigs and disk pigs results from the geometric characteristics of the pipe pigs. This work can serve as a qualitative guide for on-site pigging operations of subsea pipelines.


Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising technology platform for the production of chemicals and fuels from CO2 and external conducting materials (i.e., electrodes). In this system, electroactive microorganisms, called electrotrophs, serve as biocatalysts for cathodic reaction. While several CO2-fixing microorganisms can reduce CO2 to a variety of organic compounds by utilizing electricity as reducing energy, direct extracellular electron uptake is indispensable to achieve highly energy-efficient reaction. In the work reported here, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a CO2-fixing chemoautotroph and a potential electroactive bacterium, was adopted to perform a cathodic CO2 reduction reaction via MES. To promote direct electron uptake, the graphite felt cathode was modified with a combination of chitosan and carbodiimide compound. Robust biofilm formation promoted by amide functionality between R. sphaeroides and a graphite felt cathode showed significantly higher faradaic efficiency (98.0%) for coulomb to biomass and succinic acid production than those of the bare (34%) and chitosan-modified graphite cathode (77.8%), respectively. The results suggest that cathode modification using a chitosan/carbodiimide composite may facilitate electron utilization by improving direct contact between an electrode and R. sphaeroides.


The Sofala Volcanics are a sequence of chert-laminated lutites, arenites and rudites (Fig. 1),containing graptolites of Gisbornian age (Cas, 19691, and including a possible andesite vent 10 km east of Sofala (Cas, 1969). The clastics are immature sediments of andesitic volcanic detritus, and are thought to have been rapidly emplaced on the flanks of one or more marine volcanoes by subaqueous mass-flow processes, mainly of the grainflow type (Stauffer, 1967; Carter, 1975). Packham (1968) suggested a local source for the uppermost rocks and it is possible that the vent may represent that source. The chert bands, which are radiolarian in part, represent periods of non-supply of volcanoclastic sediment.


* This paper analyzes the valuation effects of and the motivation for issuing exchangeable debt a hybrid form of convertible debt. This research is motivated by what Miller [6] describes as a "revolution" in financial innovation that has occurred over the last 20 years. Miller [6] regretfully concedes that the major impulses to successful financial innovations over the past 20 years have come from regulations and taxes. The question which arises, however, is whether these innovations are truly breakthroughs or merely neutral mutations of previously existing instruments. Exchangeable debt is one example of a financial instrument which made only minor modifications to a previously existing instrumentconvertible debt and was marketed as an instrument which offered unique tax advantages. Though it is easy (and probably correct) to conclude that tax considerations led to the development of exchangeable debentures, the question addressed here is whether these tax considerations are a potential source of value for issuing firms.


Variable-temperature 1H n.m.r. spectroscopic studies in CD3COCD3 and u.v. spectroscopic measurements in Me2CO demonstrate that in the 1 : 1 complex, [Diquat·(1)]2+, the quest is encapsulated within the host and that the complexation strength (ΔG°=–7.4 Kcal mol–1) is enhanced by the macrobicyclic cryptate effect.


The geology of the Barkerville, B.C. area consists of three pericratonic terranes: the Barkerville, Slide Mountain and Cariboo, which are fault bounded and located adjacent to one another. The main terrane investigated in the summer 2011 research season was the Barkerville terrane. The Barkerville terrane has a Lower Permian limestone referred to the Sugar limestone unit, which is exposed on the northwest slope of Mount Tom. The Sugar limestone is the only Lower Permian limestone within the Barkerville, Slide Mountain and Cariboo terranes. Chert and pillow basalts of largely Mississippian to Late Pennsylvanian and possibly Early Permian age occur within the Antler Formation in the Slide Mountain terrane (Struik and Orchard, 1985). The Cariboo terrane contains carbonate rocks including the Mississippian Greenberry Formation and the Upper Mississippian to Pennsylvanian (Orchard and Struik, 1984) Alex Alan Formation as well as unnamed Permo-Triassic greywacke and slate (Struik, 1988). Understanding the age relationship of the Sugar limestone with the surrounding lithostratigraphic units is fundamental for reconstructing the late Paleozoic environments and relationships between the Barkerville, Slide Mountain and Cariboo terranes.


Increasing the alkylene chain length in N-(2-methylpropyl)-ω-phenylalka-2,4-dienamides revealed in addition to the active compounds reported earlier a second peak of activity, but only against mustard beetles, with the tridecadienamide. Similar extension in the methyl-terminated series gave much weaker peaks, at different lengths for the two test species. Results with terminal vinyl compounds were intermediate, and indicated a specific functional role in the lethal process for the terminal unsaturation, with a possible contribution to steric flexibility and physical property optimisation from the longer chains. Synthetic samples of pellitorine and pipercide, natural products to which insecticidal activity has been ascribed, were only very weakly active in the present tests, but compounds with other groups on the ends of chains nearer the optimum length were more active.


The present invention provides compounds of formula [Formula 1] Process for their preparation, and as a medicine, in particular their use for the treatment of inflammatory or obstructive respiratory disease.


Brachytherapy (BT) with continuous low dose rate (LDR) has been used for 100 years and is considered as the radiotherapy method able to deliver a dose in the shortest time with high efficacy and lo ...


In the past, work has been done concerning the effect of mental activity on basal metabolism. Some investigators, Speck, 1 Loewy, 2 Johansson 3 and Benedict and Carpenter, 4 found a slight increase in the metabolic rate during mental activity. Grafe, 5 in his monograph, also concluded that mental effort probably has an influence on metabolism. The effects of strong emotional reactions on basal metabolism in the waking and in the hypnotic states have also been studied. Grafe 6 mentioned a metabolism experiment in which intense sorrow increased the metabolic rate. Du Bois 7 cited a similar observation brought on by anger. Like observations have been made by Hafkesbring and Collett, 8 who noticed that harsh or sudden noises had a tendency to increase metabolism. Landis 9 noted that strong emotions usually cause an increase in the metabolic rate. In his experiments, anticipation of a strong electrical stimulation raised the metabolism in the three persons tested, 6, 17 and


Pulmonary fibrosis is a consequence of chronic lung injury and is associated with a high mortality. Despite the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis remaining as an enigma, immune responses play a critical role in the deregulation of wound healing process after lung injury, which leads to fibrosis. Accumulating evidence argues the rationales for current treatments of pulmonary fibrosis using immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids. In this study, we report that bleomycin (BLM), a well-known fibrogenic agent functioning as a TLR2 agonist, induced the maturation of dendritic cells and release of cytokines. The BLM activation of TLR2 mediated a time-dependent alteration of immune responses in the lung. These responses resulted in an increase in the tissue-infiltrating proinflammatory cells and cytokines in the early period initially following BLM exposure and an increase in the tissue-infiltrating suppressive immune cells and factors during the later period following BLM exposure. TLR2 deficiency, how-ever, reduced pulmonary inflammation, injury, and subsequently attenuated pulmonary fibrosis. Targeting TLR2 by a TLR2-neutralizing Ab not only markedly decreased animal death but also protected animals from the development of pulmonary fibrosis and reversed the established pulmonary fibrosis through regulating BLM-induced immunosuppressive microenvironments. Our studies suggest that TLR2 is a promising target for the development of therapeutic agents against pulmonary fibrosis and that eliminating immunosuppressive cells and factors via immunostimulants is a novel strategy for fibro-proliferative diseases. More-over, combining BLM with an anti-TLR2 Ab or TLR2 antagonist for cancer therapy will improve the BLM therapeutic profile by enhancing anti-cancer efficacy and reducing systemic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. The Journal of Immunology, stimulate the release of DAMPs, e.g., HMGB1 from the damaged tissue, which are subsequently recognized by pattern recognition receptors (e.g., TLR2), and induce the TH2-predominant chronic inflammatory responses. Moreover, BLM activation of TLR2 stimulates transcript factors Stat3 and Smad3 that produce inhibitory cytokines and chemokines to recur suppressive immune cells (e.g., Tregs, M2 cells, and pDCs) and the release of suppressive cytokines (e.g., IL-6 and TGF- (cid:2) 1). This results in the formation of immunosuppressive microenvironment to promote the deposition of collagens and fibrogenesis.


The issue of measuring the relationship between e-service quality to develop e-loyalty has emerged as an area of strategic importance in the information systems and marketing literature in recent times. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for measuring the determinants of e-loyalty1 that includes e-service quality, esatisfaction2, e-value3 and Internet expertise. It is hypothesized that the quality of a Website can contribute to strengthening attitudinal and behavioural outcomes that ultimately enhance consumer relationships. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that Internet expertise moderates the impact on the proposed direct relationships. Resultant research hypotheses are explored with reference to the theoretical framework. Managerial implications are highlighted with potential research areas identified and discussed.


The six essays here by American and European authors primarily provide a technical look at the antecedents and development of this type of furniture, especially as produced abroad by Michael Thonet and many others. Robert Keil's essay on the social and cultural context of bent-wood and metal furniture may be of most interest to historians. He presents an interesting perspective on the introduction of bent-wood furniture, first to a small group of rich people, followed by a trickledown to the masses. The book also includes a catalogue of the 119 objects included in the accompanying traveling exhibition.


M. The detection limit of the electrode is ~ 15 nM and the response time and life times are 14 s and eight weeks respectively over a wide pH range (3.5 - 9.5). Interference from other anions is very low and it can be used as indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of chloride ions and to determine chloride in agricultural soil water samples.


The transition from multiple-port to single-port robotic systems in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) procedures has made flexible, dexterous manipulation an essential capability. The requirement that single-port MIS devices span an enclosed surgical workspace through only one access point while avoiding collateral damage to surrounding tissues necessitates the employment of mechanically sophisticated, kinematically redundant device architectures. These redundant architectures, while capable of achieving clinically-acceptable performance levels on complicated MIS procedures, are difficult to design and can easily result in economically prohibitive or technically impractical solutions. The problem of balancing clinical functionality and design economy in single-port MIS devices becomes even more challenging when the dexterous use


The study of the nutritional value and amino acid composition of the mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus ) was carried out with the Somycel 653 strain cultivated on a synthetic compost containing rye straw, broiler chicken manure and gypsum. In 4 developmental stages of the whole fruit-bodies and the caps and stipes the following were determined: dry matter, vitamin C, nitrates, total nitrogen, crude protein (N × 4.38) and amino acid composition. It was observed that in all stages of development the levels of total N and crude protein are significantly higher in the caps than in the stipes. From the amino acid composition it appears that the caps of stage 4 contain the highest amounts of essential and total amino acids as compared with caps, stipes and whole sporophores found in any developmental stage. This is correlated with the opening of the mushrooms in stage 4. It was observed that the nitrates level tends, to be higher in the cap than in the stipe.


Novel (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·yLiI composite solid electrolytes (y = 5, 10, 15) were prepared by mechannochemical synthesis. XRD results showed that the pattern of 80Li2S − 20AlI3 was similar to that of AlI3, which means that Li2S was dissolved in AlI3 matrix during preparation. This structure was still maintained after LiI addition. The current measured at constant applied DC voltage indicated that (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·yLiI composites are intrinsically pure Li-ion conductors. The ionic conductivity at 25 °C of y = 10 was about 2.3 × 10−4 Scm−1, which was about three times higher than that of y = 0. The conductivity of y = 10 increased 20 times to 2.2 × 10−3 Scm−1 at 70 °C. These values were highest among those observed from Li2S-based materials. It was revealed that Li-ion moves in 80Li2S − 20AlI3 by a hoping mechanism, while the lattice dipoles are the origin of Li-ion movement in (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·yLiI. The polarization measurements using Liǀ90 (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·10LiI ǀLi and LiǀLi6PS5Clǀ90 (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·10LiIǀLi6PS5ClǀLi cells proved that 90 (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·10LiI reacts with Li metal, but it is relatively stable at a low voltage. Sample y = 10 was also employed as a solid electrolyte in the positive electrode of a solid-state Li-S battery to study its stability in the voltage range of the positive electrode. CuS and Li4.4Si were the electrode-active materials. The cell was cycled in CC-CV mode at 1.0 mA cm−2 (CC) with a cut-off voltage of 1.0–2.3 V. The cell delivered a stable capacity of about 400 mAh g−1CuS after 40 cycles.


Abstract During rapid chemistry, cultural convergence, and technological advancement, music education management has increasingly become an interdisciplinary discipline integrating musicology, pedagogy, management, educational economics, ethics, and related technological sciences. However, in the current structure of general music education, there is still a discrepancy between the reality and the ideal in terms of philosophy, content, methods, and evaluation in the practice of family, school, and social music education. In order to solve such problems, this paper focuses on the current knowledge-tracking mechanism in music learning education. Firstly, we analyze and compare the DKT model, DKVMN model, and LSTM neural network and propose a new LMKT model after studying the advantages and disadvantages. In order to analyze the characteristics of student learning data, the student learning process was observed visually on two online publicly available real data sets, ASSISTMents2009 and ASSISTMents2015. The results show that the AUC value of the LMKT model proposed in this paper (73.83%) is 4.62% and 1.15% higher than that of the DKT model (69.21%) and the DKVMN model (72.68%), respectively, and that knowledge tracking is less effective as the number of clusters increases when the number of student clusters K is greater than 6. When the number of K is less than 6, the knowledge-tracking effect becomes better as the number of clusters increases. It is finally concluded that the LMKT model shows a better tracking effect, and the clustering feature improves the knowledge-tracking ability of the model.


This paper studies competitive brand advertising and cooperative generic advertising strategies in the market with a dominant firm and a weak firm,and gives a Stackelberg game model.Then,the equilibrium brand advertising,generic advertising,value function and the equation of market sharing are obtained from the model with Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation.The research shows that the sale and the profit of the dominant firm and the weak firm in cooperative strategy are higher than that in non-cooperative strategy respectively.Furthermore,the generic advertising costs of the dominant,the weak and the industry are higher than that in non-cooperative strategy respectively.


India is on the threshold of a stark global competition, especially so for the banking sector with the likelihood of the economy opened for global banks soon. The Indian public sector banks which have come face-to-face with competition just since last decade are found wanting both with regard to performance as well as their customer orientation. This paper, first of all, evaluates the need for CRM implementation in the Indian public sector banks (PSBs) through the study of secondary as well as primary data. With the insight received from the exercise, and the review of other implementation models found in CRM and related IT literature, an optimum model for CRM implementation for Indian PSBs has been suggested in the second part.


The increased autonomy of robots is directly linked to their capability to perceive their environment. Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) techniques, which associate perception and movement, are particularly interesting because they provide advanced autonomy to vehicles in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Such ITS are based on both proprioceptive sensors to estimate their dynamics and exteroceptive sensors in order to perceive the surrounding of the vehicle. This second class of sensor is dominated by camera and rotating range sensors such as LIDAR or RADAR. Indeed, the majority of intelligent vehicles uses today 2D/3D laser or panoramic radar to localize itself or detect and avoid obstacles. The use of a rotating range sensor, while moving at high speed, creates distortions in the collected data. Such an effect is, in the majority of studies, ignored or considered as noise and then corrected, based on additional proprioceptive sensors or localization systems. In this study, rather than considering distortion as a noise, we consider that it contains all the information about the vehicles displacement. We propose to extract this information from such distortion without any other information than the exteroceptive sensor data. The idea is to resort to velocimetry by only analyzing the distortion of the measurements. As a result, we propose a linear and angular velocities estimator of the mobile robot based on the distortion analysis.


(54) METHODS OF MAKING ALO-SIO, 1,263,708 A 4, 1918 Saunders et al. CERAMICS 1,263,709 A 4, 1918 Saunders et al. 1,263,710 A 4, 1918 Saunders et al. (75) Inventors: Ahmet Celikkaya, Woodbury, MN 1,268,532 A 6, 1918 Allen (US); Thomas J. Anderson, Woodbury, 1,268,533 A 6, 1918 Allen MN (US) 1,314,061 A 8, 1919 Harrison 1,339,344 A 5, 1920 Hutchins (73) Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co., St. 1402.714 A 1/1922 Brockbank Paul, MN (US) 1448,586 A 3/1923 Allen 1910,444 A 5/1933 Nicholson (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 2,000,857 A 5, 1935 Masin patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 615 days.


Autolysis is shown by bacterial species to varying degrees; among pneumococci it is a diagnostic feature. This autolysis can be accelerated by processes •which kill the cell rapidly without destroying the enzymes responsible (Dubos, 1945). I t is known that, in the case of the pneumococcus, excess of formalin will prevent lysis, and removal of the inhibitor induces a change from a Gram positive to a Gram negative reaction. Gratia & Dath (1925) noteda lytic action of mould filtrates on many organisms. In Thorn's Monograph (1930) this is mentioned as due to the action of a bacteriophage. Fleming's original observation on penicillin showed lysis of staphylococci, but Todd (1945) first drew attention to the almost complete clearing of certain bacterial fluid cultures under its influence. I t is the purpose of this paper to indicate some of the conditions under which bacteriolysis takes place, and to show that not only penicillin but a large variety of antiseptics under suitable conditions induce bacteriolysis.


Dominik Mokoš (1718–22.XII.1776) was a Franciscan monk and religious writer who also acted as preacher, vicar, teacher and chronicler in the second half of the 18th century in various regions of Slovakia (such as Nižná Šebastová, Stropkov, Kremnica, Pruské, Okoličné, Beckov) or as a missionary in various areas of Šariš, Spiš, Orava and Poland. He was one of the most prolific authors of homiletic literature in the second half of the 18th century in Slovakia. In his Marian, Christmas and lenten preaching, we can identify intertextual references to the Bible, patristic, medieval and humanist religious literature. This study focuses on how these sources were used by Mokoš to draft his sermons and how he applied their moral tidings to the particular situations that the believers in the 18th century were facing.


Water-soluble polysaccharide was isolated and extracted from Lycium barbarum L..The components of the water-soluble polysaccharide were identified and quantified by Gas Chromatography(GC).The polysaccharide was extracted by water and deposited by ethanol.Then the extract was deproteinated by Sevage method and further purified by Sephadex G-75 column.The results showed that the Lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP) contained rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose, and their percentage were 5.59%, 45.57%, 4.07%, 1.85%, 7.83%, and 35.07%, respectively.


Much of what Hannes Alfvén envisaged some 70 years ago has now penetrated virtually all branches of astrophysical research. Indeed, magnetic fields can display similar properties over a large range of scales. We have therefore been able to take advantage of the transparency of galaxies and the interstellar medium to obtain measurements inside them. On the other hand, the Sun is much closer, allowing us to obtain a detailed picture of the interaction of flows and magnetic fields at the surface, and more recently in the interior by helioseismology. Moreover, the solar timescales are generally much shorter, making studies of dynamical processes more direct. This special issue on current research in astrophysical magnetism is based on work discussed during a one month Nordita program Dynamo, Dynamical Systems and Topology and comprises papers that fall into four different categories (A)–(D). (A) Papers on small-scale magnetic fields and flows in astrophysics 1. E M de Gouveia Dal Pino, M R M Leão, R Santos-Lima, G Guerrero, G Kowal and A Lazarian Magnetic flux transport by turbulent reconnection in astrophysical flows 2. Philip R Goode, Valentyna Abramenko and Vasyl Yurchyshyn New solar telescope in Big Bear: evidence for super-diffusivity and small-scale solar dynamos? 3. I N Kitiashvili, A G Kosovichev, N N Mansour, S K Lele and A A Wray Vortex tubes of turbulent solar convection The above collection of papers begins with a review of astrophysical reconnection and introduces the concept of dynamos necessary to explain the existence of contemporary magnetic fields both on galactic and solar scales (paper 1). This is complemented by observations with the new Big Bear Solar Observatory telescope, allowing us to see magnetic field amplification on small scales (paper 2). This in turn is complemented by realistic simulations of subsurface and surface flow patterns (paper 3). (B) Papers on theoretical approaches to turbulent fluctuations 4. Nathan Kleeorin and Igor Rogachevskii Growth rate of small-scale dynamo at low magnetic Prandtl numbers 5. Erico L Rempel, Abraham C-L Chian and Axel Brandenburg Lagrangian chaos in an ABC-forced nonlinear dynamo 6. J E Snellman, M Rheinhardt, P J Käpylä, M J Mantere and A Brandenburg Mean-field closure parameters for passive scalar turbulence Research in dynamo theory has been actively pursued for over half a century. It started by trying to understand the large-scale magnetic fields of the Sun and the Earth, and subsequently also in galaxies. Such large-scale fields can nowadays be understood in terms of mean-field dynamo theory that explains the possibility of large-scale field generation under anisotropic conditions lacking mirror symmetry. However, even when none of this is the case, dynamos can still work, and they are called small-scale dynamos that were referred to in paper 2. This was studied originally under the assumption that the flow is smooth compared with the magnetic field, but in the Sun the opposite is the case. This is because viscosity is much smaller than magnetic diffusivity, i.e., their ratio, which is the magnetic Prandtl number, is small. In that case the physics of small-scale dynamos changes, but dynamos still exist even then (paper 4). Tracing the flow lines in nonlinear small-scale dynamos is important for understanding their mixing properties (paper 5). Turbulent mixing is a generic concept that applies not only to magnetic field, but also to passive scalars which are often used as a prototype for studying this. Turbulence simulations have helped tremendously in quantifying the ability of turbulent flows to mix, but the more we know, the more complicated it becomes. It turns out that spatial and temporal coupling is an important consideration for allowing accurate comparison between numerical simulations and mean-field theory (paper 6). (C) The large-scale solar cycle 7. V V Pipin and D D Sokoloff The fluctuating α-effect and Waldmeier relations in the nonlinear dynamo models1 8. Radostin D Simitev and Friedrich H Busse Solar cycle properties described by simple convection-driven dynamos The mean-field concept has helped us constructing detailed models of the solar cycle and to make comparison with observed features of the solar 11-year cycle. One such feature is the Waldmeier relation between growth time and amplitude of the cycle, and there is another relation for the declining part of the cycle. These relations reflect nonlinear aspects of the model and therefore constitute an important test of the model (paper 7). While mean-field theory is a useful concept for modeling solar activity, it must eventually be tested against fully three-dimensional simulations. At present, such simulations are often quite idealized, because only the large scales of the turbulent convection of stars can be resolved. Nevertheless, numerical simulations begin to show many properties that are also seen in the Sun (paper 8). (D) Flow and dynamo properties in spherical shells 9. Maxim Reshetnyak and Pavel Hejda Kinetic energy cascades in quasi-geostrophic convection in a spherical shell 10. Radostin D Simitev and Friedrich H Busse Bistable attractors in a model of convection-driven spherical dynamos As the rotation speed is increased, the flow becomes more strongly constrained by the Coriolis force. In a spherical shell, such a flow is additionally constrained by gravity, or at least by the geometry of the domain. Such flows are called geostrophic. Only now are we beginning to learn about the subtle properties of the kinetic energy cascade in such flows (paper 9). Turbulent systems are highly nonlinear and it is in principle possible to find multiple solutions of the equations even for the same boundary and initial conditions. For turbulent systems, we can only ask about the statistical properties of the solutions, and the question of multiple solutions is then less obvious. However, in turbulent dynamos in convective shells, a nice example has been found where this is possible. A detailed account of this is given in paper 10. Most of the participants of the Nordita program were able to stay for the full month of the program, allowing them to think about new ideas that will be reflected not only in papers on the short term, but also in new projects and collaborations on a larger scale in the years to come. We therefore thank Nordita for providing a stimulating atmosphere and acknowledge the generous support. 1This paper has been published as V V Pipin and D D Sokoloff 2011 Phys. Scr. 84 065903.


In a recent publication (Ostromoukhov95), a new image reproduction technique, artistic screening, was presented. It incorporates freely created artistic screen elements for generating halftones. Fixed predefined dot contours associated with given intensity levels determine the screen dot shape's growing behavior. Screen dot contours associated with each intensity level are obtained by interpolation between the fixed predefined dot contours. A user-defined mapping transforms screen elements from screen element definition space to screen element rendition space. This mapping can be tuned to produce various effects such as dilatations, contractions and non-linear deformations of the screen element grid. Although artistic screening has been designed mainly for performing the creation of graphic designs of high artistic quality, it also incorporates several important anti-counterfeiting features. For example, bank notes or other valuable printed matters produced with artistic screening may incorporate both full size and microscopic letters of varying shape into the image halftoning process. Furthermore, artistic screening can be used for generating screen dots at varying frequencies and orientations, which are well known for inducing strong moire effects when scanned by a digital color copier or a desktop scanner. However, it is less known that frequency-modulated screen dots have at each screen element size a different reproduction behavior (dot gain). When trying to reproduce an original by analog means, such as a photocopier, the variations in dot gain induce strong intensity variations at the same original intensity levels. In this paper, we present a method for compensating such variations for the target printer, on which the original security document is to be printed. Potential counterfeiters who would like to reproduce the original with a photocopying device may only be able to adjust the dot gain for the whole image and will therefore be unable to eliminate the undesired intensity variations produced by variable frequency screen elements.


Multimode simulations predict dramatic ionization-induced self-compression of high energy ultrashort pulses within short gas filled capillaries. The mechanism observed allows for the temporal compression of 53 fs pulses into the few-cycle regime.


Mao Zedong's Democratic Ideas shine with the brilliance of the truth;however,they also include mistakes in the theory and lessons in practical.He practiced the pursue for democracy throughout his life,but ignored the limitation of the democratic function.He focused on the class properties of democracy but ignored the social attributes of democracy.Today,we need to research Mao Zedong's Democratic Ideas seriously,such as social attributes of democracy and effective ways of realizing democracy,while constructing the socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics.


(ā0) obtained from both dynamic and steady shear measurements are in good agreement and found to be proportional to 3.8 power of the weight-average molecular weight. CoxMerz rule does not hold so well at high rate of shear for both the whole polymer and its fraction. Steady state compliance (Je0) of the fractions is much higher than expected value and is remarkably dependent on molecular weight. Storage compliance (J') obtained from dynamic measurement and steady shear compliance (Js) from steady flow measurement agree with each other in the value and the behavior for each fraction. It was found that


Abstract The stability of adrenal catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes under different postmortem conditions and time of adrenal gland removal was studied in the rat. Dopamine-B-hydroxylase (DBH) was found to be relatively stable under all conditions examined. While there was some decrease in phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) activity, the level was always at least 60 per cent of its initial activity. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity was almost completely lost when adrenal gland removal was delayed for 6 or 12 hours. This loss in TH activity was shown not to be due to the postmortem appearance of an inhibitor. When these enzymes were measured in human necropsy specimens, only adrenal DBH appeared stable. Thirty-six necropsy specimens from sources representing 8 different clinical diagnostic categories were assayed for DBH. Levels of DBH in adrenal gland specimens from men were higher than those from women. Levels of DBH in the adrenal glands of 3 patients who had died from drug addiction or drug overdose were lower than those found in the adrenal glands of subjects who died of traumatic injuries.


The dynamics of redox metabolism necessitate cellular strategies for sensing redox changes and for responding to them. A common mechanism for receiving and transmitting redox changes is via reversible modifications of protein cysteine residues. A plethora of cysteine modifications have been described, including sulfenylation, glutathionylation, and disulfide formation. These post-translational modifications have the potential to alter protein structure and/or function and to modulate cellular processes ranging from division to death and from circadian rhythms to secretion. The focus of this thematic minireview series is cysteine modifications in response to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.


Abstract : The flow of water through a dam of fairly arbitrary shape is examined in the limit of large frictional drag on the flow. The relation of the problem to the one-phase Stefan problem and a problem of anodic smoothing is explored. Monotonicity and uniqueness results for the solution of the time-depedent problem are obtained. Numerical solution of the time-dependent problem is considered. Algorithms to treat the steady state problem are studied in detail. (Author)


Linux has been used widely today. In this paper, a new method is introduced to implement user access control based on IPChains. The combination of ″Challenge/Response″ authentication and dynamic adding access rules according to user is adopted to implement user access control. The method can effectively solve the existing defects of user access control in traditional Packet Filtering Firewall, and discusses the key technologies of implementation.


As I reviewed the articles for this Editor's Corner of Neurology®: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation (N2), I was reminded of the childhood treat alphabet soup. I am sure that many of our readers enjoyed, as I did, the challenge of the search for letters to form words that could be scooped up in a spoonful. The complexity of the immune system and its representation in a myriad of abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms appeared in that moment as a bowl of alphabet soup waiting to be organized and understood. The studies in this edition of N2, several of which are summarized below, move us closer to that goal.


A new magnetotelluric (MT) survey comprising 17 MT soundings throughout a 30 km long N30°W transect in the Iberian autochthons domain of NW Iberia (Central Iberian Zone) is presented. The 2‐D inversion model shows the resistivity structure of the continental crust up to 10 km depth, heretofore unavailable for this region of the Variscan Orogen. The MT model reveals a wavy structure separating a conductive upper layer underlain by a resistive layer, thus picturing the two main tectonic blocks of a large‐scale D2 extensional shear zone (i.e., Pinhel shear zone). The upper layer represents a lower grade metamorphic domain that includes graphite‐rich rocks. The lower layer consists of high‐grade metamorphic rocks that experienced partial melting and are associated with granites (more resistive) emplaced during crustal thinning. The wavy structure is the result of superimposed crustal shortening responsible for the development of large‐scale D3 folds (e.g., Marofa synform), later deflected and refolded by a D4 strike‐slip shear zone (i.e., Juzbado‐Penalva do Castelo shear zone). The later contribution to the final structure of the crust is marked by the intrusion of postkinematic granitic rocks and the propagation of steeply dipping brittle fault zones. Our study demonstrates that MT imaging is a powerful tool to understand complex crustal structures of ancient orogens in order to design future prospecting surveys for mineral deposits of economic interest.


One of the profound changes to have taken place over the last two decades in the construction industry in Malaysia is the emergence of foreign site operatives as an indispensable component of the labour force. This research shows that they have been exposed to some degree of discrimination at the hands of local employers. Labour segmentation has prevailed as a consequence of variability in country-specific traits. Schisms between the foreign nationals and local workers and between the various foreign nationals operate to the employers' advantage in that greater control can be exerted. Labour violations have always been an inexorable feature of the Malaysian construction industry, with little prospect of reform. As there seem to be no signs of the dependence on foreign workers attenuating, future waves of migrant workers can expect to be subjected to the same employer treatment, and hence labour segmentation.


A review of the book 'A History of the Hellenistic World 323-30 B.C.' written by R. Malcolm Errington is presented. The manner in which the book effectively describes the political events and developments in the Hellenistic regime during the period, also providing an overview of the cultural situation thereof, is analysed.


Treatment of 6-arylthiouracils with the Vilsmeier reagent (dimethylformamide-phosphorus oxychloride) gave the corresponding 6-arylthio-5-formyluracils, which could alternatively be prepared by the condensation of 6-chloro-5-formyluracils with thiophenols. Dehydrative cyclization of the above 5-formyluracils with polyphosphoric acid gave 1-benzothiopyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-(3H)diones (10-thia-5-deazaflavins). These 10-thia-5-deazaflavins oxidized alcohols to give the corresponding carbonyl compounds with the aid of strong base, and they were hydrogenated to 1,5-dihydro-10-thia-5-deazaflavins. Treatment of 10-thia-5-deazaflavins with concentrated aqueous potassium hydroxide led to the exclusive formation of 1,5-dihydro-10-thia-5-deazaflavins and 1,5-dihydro-10-thia-5-deazaflavin-5-ones via intermolecular oxidation-reduction (disproportionation) between initially formed 1,5-dihydro-5-hydroxy-10-thia-5-deazaflavins and unchanged 10-thia-5-deazaflavins.


ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to identify empirically, for the first time in France, the prevalence of adolescent weapon carrying with particular focus on the contribution of a broad range of social bonding, strain, social learning, and sociodemographic predictors. A multivariate logistic regression model was conducted using a backward elimination procedure to identify the significant predictors of weapon carrying controlling for age, gender, and SES in a sample of 12,706 French youth aged 11–19 years. Results revealed that the odds of weapon carrying increased among adolescents who suffered from past victimization, who had a negative relationship with their mother, and who repeated a grade at school. Moreover, holding pro-delinquent beliefs and having delinquent peers also increased the odds of weapon carrying. Our findings highlight the importance of the interpersonal and social context when examining the determinants of weapon carrying and showed a unique contribution of components of social bonding, strain, and social learning in weapon carrying among adolescents.


T he above plea in "Fiddler on the Roof" by Hodel was for help in finding a soul mate. But how much more important is it to find the best match for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) donor/patient pair? As in day-to-day life, the perfect match may not be available. The selection of a best match is an art based on experience and knowledge of what is likely the most important for the pair, and a compromise on what is seemingly important but may not affect the long-term goal—patient's survival and cure. In other words, the decision is made on the best available evidence. Now, more than 50 years after the first HSCT, thousands of patients undergo these procedures every year. Many of them receive the transplant from family members (i.e., related transplant), typically a preferred source of the graft, but a growing number of HSCTs are performed using unrelated donors. Quite often the donors live far away, and the only connection to the recipient is a match of HLA type and possibly a few other attributes considered by the transplant team, among them ABO type. The history of human development tells us an interesting tale of change and adaptation. If we are to believe anthropologists, all humans currently living can trace their ancestors to a small region in northeast Africa approximately 120,000 years ago. Migration to Europe and Asia began 80,000 years later followed by passage to the Americas. This unprecedented and successful movement combined with geographical influence and survival benefit for some not only contributed to the diversity we see today, but also to the homogeneity we also appreciate when looking for the perfect match. Interestingly, African populations are characterized by greater levels of genetic diversity, extensive population substructure, and less linkage disequilibrium among loci compared to nonAfrican populations. Furthermore, Africans, as other ethnic groups, adapted to diverse climates, diets, and infectious disease pressures. Various parts of our genome have been affected differently by these challenges. HLA genes, located on chromosome 6, were under different selection pressures than genes encoding the glycosyltransferases that are responsible for ABO type located on chromosome 9. The HLA match is defined in terms of the amount of agreement between HLA antigens of the donor and recipient. HLA matching was initially described based on antigen matching, now referred to as low-resolution typing. As techniques and knowledge progressed, we were then able to match at the genetic level looking at both alleles for each specific HLA locus, now referred to as high-resolution typing. Many studies, including the one published in this issue of TRANSFUSION, report only on antigen-matched HSCT, that is, low resolution. Red blood cell (RBC) antigens, including ABO, are neither part of the HLA system nor are they major histocompatibility antigens. Unlike solid organ transplantation, ABO compatibility is not considered critical in the selection of potential hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) donors because pluripotent and early committed HPCs do not express ABO antigens. The lack of these antigens allows for homing and engraftment of stem cells irrespective of ABO incompatibility between the donor and the recipient. Selection of donors for stem cell transplantation is a hierarchical process starting with familial relationship, HLA type, age, sex, cytomegalovirus status, and only later the ABO typing. Although ABO population heterogeneity is limited, in combination with a continuously growing HLA diversity, finding the perfect or best HLA match will invariably result in an ABO mismatch in some donor/ recipient pairs. The relationship between ABO types of the donor and recipient can fall into one of four categories: compatible, *Williamson Music (NY, NY) representing Mayerling Productions MATCHMAKER from the Musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Words by Sheldon Harnick, Music by Jerry Bock Copyright © 1964 (Renewed) Mayerling Productions Ltd. (Administered by R&H Music) and Jerry Bock Enterprises for the United States and Alley Music Corporation, Trio Music Company, and to Jerry Bock Enterprises for the world outside of the United States. Used by permission. All rights reserved. TRANSFUSION 2009;49:612-614.


NASA programs involving students and teachers at historically Black colleges and universities are discussed. The programs at each of the NASA research centers are described. Guidance is given on proposal submission for NASA grants. The Cooperative Education program, the Graduate Student Researchers program, and summer faculty fellowships are discussed.


Preferential conduction from an origin to breakout sites can occur during ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) originating from the left ventricular papillary muscles (LVPMs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, electrophysiological characteristics, and relevance to radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of such a preferential conduction demonstrated by pace mapping.


In this work, we consider a mathematical model of an incompressible fluid governed by the generalized Stokes system in a stationary regime in a 3‐dimensional thin domain Ωϵ with Tresca friction law. The problem statement and variational formulation of the problem are formulated. Then the estimates on velocity and pressure are proved in a fixed domain. Finally, our main goal concerns the specific Reynolds equation and the uniqueness of the solution ûϵ,π^ϵ are obtained.