A 4-year crop rotation with susceptible cash crops only, combined with one soil fumigation per rotation cycle, was successful to control root-knot nematodes. The crop rotations tested included peanuts, cotton and potatoes in that order. Since potatoes are the most susceptible, but also give the highest net profit, it appears advisable to fumigate directly before potatoes are planted.


We study two meta-population models of infectious diseases in heterogeneous networks. We distinguish between asymptomatic and symptomatic infections and these two go through the different courses of infection and recovery. We consider that asymptomatic infections are described by an SIS model and symptomatic infections by an SIR or SIRS model depending on the immunity upon recovery. By introducing the probability of being infected asymptomatically, we combine an SIS model for asymptomatic infections with an SIR or SIRS model for symptomatic infections to obtain the SIS-SIR and SIS-SIRS models. We use a heterogeneous mean-field theory and Monte Carlo simulations to analyze two models and find that both models undergo nonequilibrium continuous phase transitions from the endemic phase to the disease-free phase at certain critical thresholds as we vary the proportion of asymptomatic infections. It suggests that it may be possible to maintain the population in the disease-free phase by controlling the proportion of asymptomatic infections. The SIS-SIRS model shows that asymptomatic infection drives symptomatic infection and vice versa. In addition, the spreading of infections eventually ceases as the population decreases even at a fixed proportion of asymptomatic infections corresponding to the endemic phase. The results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the epidemiological facts that social distancing and reducing asymptomatic infections are important factors in optimizing quarantine measures to prevent the epidemic outbreaks of infectious diseases.


Kienbock's disease was first described by Austrian radiologist Robert Kienbock in 1910 in Vienna, Austria. It is avascular necrosis of the lunate, generally found in the dominant hand of young active males, usually in their 3 rd or 4 th decades with a prolonged history of wrist pain. MRI(magnetic resonance imaging ) is the diagnostic modality of choice in a clinically suspected case of Kienbock's disease with normal radiographic findings. Herein we have reported a similar case. KEYWORDS: Kienbock's disease, avascular necrosis, lunate, MRI


If wisdom literature is not distorted by a priori suppositions, its theological potential can be appreciated. This article explores the female character of Israelite Wisdom as a balance to the culturally conditioned language of biblical patriarchalism.


ABSTRACT In the final decades of the 20th century, the majority of modern Sinophone scholars believed that Confucianism was an outdated and obsolete ideology that was not only unsuitable for the development of modern science and democratic societies, but also responsible for the deep social and political crisis that had branded China for the previous two centuries. Modern New Confucians, however, never assumed that the Confucian system was responsible for such a situation. Most of them believed that Confucianism was compatible with science and democracy. Moreover, the majority of them assumed that the East Asian cultures would never be able to develop truly democratic structures of their societies unless they incorporated the appropriate elements of their own, i.e. Confucian, traditions. This paper critically analyses the theoretical models of Tang Junyi and Mou Zongsan on the possible revival and development of Confucian proto-democracies.


ABSTRACT In 2020, nation states across Europe restricted access to, and use of, public space to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As almost all public spaces in Europe were consequently affected by restrictive measures, so too did outdoor retail markets drastically change. Some had to close down completely, whereas others operated under the sway of severe limitations for traders and customers. By re-engaging with the work of the late Michael Sorkin, it could be argued that the effects of COVID-19 add another dimension to the "end" or "death" of public space. In this paper, we shift attention to the tactics and strategies of one category of public figures behind the everyday production of markets, the traders, to show that markets in Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the Netherlands did not simply stop functioning as public spaces. Rather, they took on different forms that extended spatially beyond their physical boundaries. These transformations allowed for the continuation of the social and political dimensions of public space.


One may identify the general properties of the neutrino mass matrix by generating many random mass matrices and testing them against the results of the neutrino experiments.


For the characteristics of 5G antenna with high gain and high broadband, this paper designs a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) antenna applied to marine 5G communication system, the antenna uses a dual-polarized antenna fed by the central copper axis, and radiates with a patch unit instead of a dipole unit, the antenna unit can work in the 2.251GHz to 2. 675GHz after generating MIMO array. After testing, the return loss (Return Loss) of the antenna is less than -10dB and the insertion loss (Insertion Loss) is less than -15dB in the operating band, and the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the antenna is less than 2, and the maximum gain of 11. 83dBi is obtained at 2. 60GHz. The antenna has excellent performance and fully meets its design requirements for communication in 5G band, with high gain and high directionality, and the structure is simple, easy to process and convenient for mass production.


Civilians constitute a large share of casualties in civil wars across the world. They are targeted to create fear and punish allegiance with the enemy. This maximizes collaboration with the perpetrator and strengthens the support network necessary to consolidate control over contested regions. I develop a model of the magnitude and structure of civilian killings in civil wars involving two armed groups who …ght over territorial control. Armies secure compliance through a combination of carrots and sticks. In turn, civilians di¤er from each other in their intrinsic preference towards one group. I explore the e¤ect of the empowerment of one of the groups in the civilian death toll. There are two e¤ects that go in opposite directions. While a direct e¤ect makes the powerful group more lethal, a fear e¤ect increases the number of civilians who align with that group, leaving less enemy supporters to kill. I study the conditions under which there is one dominant e¤ect and illustrate the predictions using sub-national longitudinal data for Colombia's civil war. Draft; comments are welcome. I am indebted to James Robinson. I thank Robert Bates, Alexandra Hartman, Ron Smith and participants at the 4th Annual HiCN Workshop for helpful comments. I also thank Hend Alhinawi for excellent research assitance. yEconomics Department, Universidad del Rosario. La Buhardilla, Cl 14 # 4-80, Bogota, Colombia. Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com


We study regularity properties of the subdifferential of proper lower semicontinuous convex functions in Hilbert spaces. More precisely, we investigate the metric regularity and subregularity, the strong regularity and subregularity of such a subdifferential. We characterize each of these properties in terms of a growth condition involving the function.


One of the potential areas for developing mariculture in Raja Ampat Regency is Yensawai. This research aim to determine biophysical parameter for seaweed culture. The parameters were proped in to four classes; high suitable, suitble, currently not suitable and permanently not suitable. The result showed that the cultivation area size were 14 hectares, where Ramon 1 and Ramon 2 Stations were categorized as currently not suitable, while Warkabas and Metabai stations were grouped into suitable for seawed cultivation.Key words: analysis of suitability, seaweed cultivation, Yensawai


Immobilization of biomolecules on transducer surfaces depends on detailed characteristics of linker molecular layers. In this paper, we investigate amine layer growth on atomically smooth hydrogen-terminated diamond surfaces, applying a photochemical attachment process using ω-unsaturated 10-amino-dec-1-ene molecules protected with trifluoroacetic acid groups. The layer formation and growth is characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in tapping and contact mode, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and surface conductivity experiments. A two-dimensional (2D) formation of a mono-molecular amine-layer is revealed that needs about 8−10 h to form a closed layer on the surface of diamond. Application of photochemical attachment for longer times results in three-dimensional (3D) growth, governed by cross-polymerization and generation of layer protrusions. The diamond/amine interface remains basically hydrogen-terminated, which points toward low surface-defect generation by olefin addition. The 2D growt...


The letter provides practical tips for developing, implementing and scaling an effective simulation‑based education programme at a large scale for undergraduate medical students. Using time-lapsed scenarios and the pause-discuss method of debrief are some of the useful tips that are discussed further in the letter.


On the surface, the Commissioning Oath and modernized Hippocratic Oath can contradict one another. This piece aims to provide a foundation upon which trainees and providers can grapple with dueling obligations as they stand in the crosshairs of the intersection between medicine and the military.


We develop a monthly Global Financial Stability Index (GFSX) that incorporates the global stock market outlook, momentum, and overall risk. Refining the financial stability concept presents challenges because of the many different approaches researchers have pursued, as well as the availability of periodic data. The stock market is the nervous system for the overall economy that anticipates key issues with a precision of some months to the future, especially pitfalls in the financial system, so we use time series data of 23 countries to form global financial market portfolios and create a measure of risk adjusted financial stability (risk adjusted stationary probability for a good state) that predicts future stability. The intuition behind our GFSX model is that we view financial stability as the likelihood that the financial market will operate in a steady state that reflects global risk and momentum. We also develop regional financial stability indexes, including Europe and Asia, and we examine the cross sectional sensitivity of industry sectors to the GFSX. Our results show that the regional financial stability indexes are highly correlated with GFSX, furthermore, our GFSX provides information that existing indexes do not (such as VIX). We also demonstrate that there is significant variation in conditional GFSX sensitivity across some sectors: specifically, sectors Toys, Recreation, Smoke Tobacco Products, and Mines Non-Metallic are positively sensitive to financial stability; while sectors Soda, Candy, Coal, and Gold and Precious Metals are industries that are negatively sensitive to financial stability.


Objective To investigate the impact factors of normal liver stiffness measurement in elastography point quantification(ElastPQ).Methods Totally 293normal subjects underwent liver stiffness measurement(LSM)by using ElastPQ,the liver stiffness values were recorded,and the impact of gender and age on liver stiffness were analyzed.The impact of different liver segments,respiratory phases,probe positions and examiners on LSM were evaluated in 34subjects.Results S5exhibited the lowest coefficient of variation(CV)on LSM(19.94%).Significant differences of liver stiffness value were found between S5and S1,S2and S3(all P0.05).There was no significant difference between S5and S4,S6, S7nor S8(all P0.05).The liver stiffness value at the end-expiration was significantly higher than that at the end-inspiration([4.14±0.93]kPa vs[3.35±0.55]kPa,P0.001).The normal liver stiffness value was(3.87±1.04)kPa,of men was significantly higher than that of women([4.18±1.29]kPa vs[3.71±0.85]kPa,P=0.002).There was no significant difference among different probe positions,examiners and ages(P0.05).Conclusion LSM should be performed at the same breathing phase in S5with inter-costal approach by ElastPQ for normal liver.The reference values of liver stiffness for the normal men and women need to be defined differently.


where for the present cylindrical system, dV = 2rR'dR' and ~=R~(0~~27r). Substitution of equation (21) in equation (22) gives equation (20). An interesting aspect of the present series method of simulation is suggested by a comparison of the relatively simple analog circuit of figure 2 and the corresponding complex analytical relationship, equation (20). The computer simulation provides a simple and direct method for studying distributed systems which at best are difficult to study analytically, particularly when part of a larger system. The present series method has been applied to problems in fluid flow and vibration S4 and appears to be generally applicable to a variety of problems involving distributed systems.


The conformations and energies of 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) are estimated using molecular mechanics and Monte Carlo/stochastic dynamics (MC/SD) simulations. The torsional parameters of the Amber* and OPLS* force fields were modified to reproduce high-level ab initio data describing DME conformer energies in the gas phase. Predicted conformer populations from gas-phase molecular mechanics and simulations are in agreement with theoretical calculations and with previous electron diffraction data. For simulations in chloroform and aqueous solution an implicit solvation model (GB/SA) was used. The GB/SA treatment gives the TGT as the most populated conformer in aqueous solution, providing the major contribution to the observed gauche effect around the C−C dihedral. Significantly, the energy of the TGT conformer is lower than that of the TTT structure in solution, and it is stabilized relative to the TGG' conformer. These results are compared to previous work in solution and in vacuo and with ab initio results.


This study involved a herd consisting of 200 goats in Green Mountain area, suffering from decrease in weight gain, bloody diarrhoea and severe anaemia and in some cases death within few days. Generally, there was no response to the treatment with antibiotics, anthelmentics and multivitamins. The last animal that died was submitted for post-mortem examination. The disease affecting the herd was diagnosed as coccidiosis. This is the first report of caprine coccidiosis in the Green Mountain Area in Libya.

 Key words: Coccidiosis, Eimeria, caprine, goat, small ruminant, Libya.


A low-cost method for the fabrication of nanostencils is presented. Microstencils with 1–2-µm-wide patterns were fabricated by standard microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processes. In order to avoid the use of highly expensive nanolithography tools, the size of microapertures in a stencil was reduced by the subsequent deposition method. The size of microapertures was reduced to the sub-micrometer scale by the additional deposition of SiO2. In this study, 500-nm-thick SiO2 layers were deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on the top surface and bottom surface of a stencil. Deposition on the bottom surface showed a greater size reduction than that on the top surface owing to the taper shape in the cross section of a stencil membrane. The size-reduction rates were 420 nm on the bottom surface, and 290 nm on the top surface when a 500-nm-thick SiO2 layer was deposited on a plane. Nanopattering test results using the fabricated nanostencil showed the feasibility of the proposed low-cost nanolithography. An aluminum layer (100 nm thick) was deposited through the nanostencil by e-beam evaporation. Nanoscale lines as small as 100 nm wide were successfully patterned.


As information technology,networking and intelligent technology continue to evolve and progress,people have more needs for a better environment and conditions so that an integrated multiple protocol home network control system is urgently needed.This paper presents a design method that will help ActiveX controls and ASP.NET server components interact with each other by Ajax,JavaScript and XML.


Reports a new field emitter fabrication method based on conformal chemical beam deposition. These vertical thin-film-edge structures should be fundamentally better than conical emitters in high emission currents, low voltage operation, high packing density, low angular dispersion, insensitivity to oxidation and back-ion bombardment, and they should be extremely economical to manufacture. Advantages of this approach include superior film material properties such as small grain size, low stress, oxidation resistance and low work function, as well as a vertical design geometry and simplicity requiring no precise lithography or eventually no lithography at all.


The expressions for the second and third order elastic constants of fluorite lattice are derived using Lundqvist three-body potential incorporating thermal phonon pressure and inter-sublattice displacement through the shell model. Theoretically calculated values of the third order elastic constants are compared with the theoretical results of other workers and experiments. First order pressure derivatives of the second order elastic constants calculated using Thurston and Brugger relations for Ca1-xSrxF2 and Sr1-xBaxF2 are found to be in agreement with the experiment.


In this paper,the wall rocks and wall rock altered characteristics as well as rock body characteristics related to metallogenic and structural features of Jinchanggou Au deposit in the Ji'an area,Jilin province were described in detail The metallogenic stages and the formative order of minerals were divided;isotopes of C,H,O and S were analyzed Meanwhile,determining metallogenetic temperature and analyzing the ore-forming process of the strata,magma and structure,thus defining metallogenetic material source,metallogenetic environment and the structures as the passage-ways for ore fluids and host rock process and discussing the origin of ore deposit and favorable metallogenetic place for prospecting These have a directive function for prospecting in the study area


Many physicians avoid a third, late-afternoon administration of methylphenidate for fear of inducing insomnia. This study evaluated the effects on behavior and sleep of methylphenidate administered at 4:00 p.m. to 12 children in an inpatient psychiatric program. This was a doubleblind, cross-over study in which each child received a 4:00 p.m. dose of either 15 mg or 10 mg of methylphenidate or placebo in random order for 12 consecutive


We used the bolometric brightness temperatures (TBol) derived from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiters Diviner Lunar Radiometer (Diviner) as an upper boundary condition in our thermal model. We then calculated temperature profiles at any local time based on our improved thermal model at low to middle latitudes (70° N/S). Based on the temperature profiles, we modeled the midnight brightness temperature at 19.35 (TB19) and 37 GHz (TB37). Comparing to the Chang'E‐1 and Chang'E‐2 (CE‐1/2) observations, we found that CE‐1 showed a better data quality than that of CE‐2, especially for the TB37 data. Assuming that the issue with the CE‐2 data is caused by heat contamination of the cold‐reference antennas, we performed an empirical normalization of the CE‐2 microwave radiometer data near midnight following the approach of Hu et al. (2017). The results show that TB difference (modeled values minus modified TB) for 19.35 GHz is less than 3.40 K for ∼80% of the pixels. At 37 GHz, ∼67% of the pixels have TB difference less than 2.88 K. Additionally, we identified some areas of low microwave temperature in our modified TB maps. These low‐TB features can be characterized by two types: (1) low TB spots at fresh craters with high rock abundance and bright rays and (2) high‐Ti lunar mare surfaces with a low content of rock fragments. Investigating these low‐TB regions with the modified TB data can reveal more information about subsurface thermal regime and properties and help us better understand the evolution of regolith on the Moon.


201 Background: Pancreatic cancer have a multi step progression model with successive mutations like activation of KRAS and inactivation of SMAD 4. Various studies demonstrated that loss of SMAD 4 cooperate with an activating KRAS mutation to promote progression, leading to dysregulation of TGFb pathway. This plays a pivotal role in the formation of desmoplastic reaction by the activation of stellate cells. Stromal cells synthesize and secrete multiple proteins like SPARC which has been associated with worst prognosis. Early data have suggested that the identification of cancer stem cells in primary tumors is associated with shorter OS, resistance to therapy and metastatic potential. Emerging evidence suggest that the activation of the NOTCH 1 pathway is associated with molecular characteristics of stem cells. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship and the potential prognostic role of these biomarkers. Methods: In 110 histological samples of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were performed...


Artificial Neural Networks(ANNS) have top level of capability to progress the estimation of cracks in metal tubes. The aim of this paper is to propose an algorithm to identify modeled cracks by magnetic flux leakage inspection in Non Destructive Testing (NDT) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6]. The analysis is carried out with a simulated database of signals in which the depth of the crack, its width, shape, And geometric dimension of the detection process, is allowed to change. The simulated signal is input to the network, after a reduction process in which the main features of the signal are extracted. Feature extractors are used in pattern recognition area due to their advantages in representing data. With this approach classifier's job became easier and more effective. The main goal of the feature extractor is to reflect the characteristics of an object in a given dataset. In this way feature extractor simplify the amount of resources required to describe a large dataset accurately. This paper presents the results of employing different kinds of feature extraction functions and classification and provides compression between them. As the output of ANN, we shall justify if any care in meta lto indicate whether the input signal is crack or not. The analysis based on the neural network and feature extractor functions is shown to be quite top probability of detection.


For a class of uncertain time-delay nonlinear systems represented by Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy models, the finite-time stabilization problem with exogenous disturbances is discussed. Based on the stochastic Lyapunov-krasovskii functional approach, a new finite-time stabilization condition is established for such fuzzy systems. By applying linear matrix inequality technique, the finite-time state feedback controller is derived. A numerical example is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the design procedure.


This study aims to determine the extent of the tendency of learning facilities, parents 'attention, peer environment and mathematics learning achievement of students in grade VIII SMP Negeri Pleret Bantul District and to determine the influence of learning facilities, parents' attention and the environment of peers on student learning achievement of mathematics Class VIII Junior High School District of Pleret Bantul either individually or collectively.Descriptive research results show that the tendency of learning facilities in the high category, the attention of parents in high category, peer environment in the high category and the achievement of learning mathematics in the high category. The research results obtained correlation coefficient (R) = 0.627 and correlation coefficient (R 2 ) = 0.393. There are positive and significant influence of learning facilities, parental attention and the environment of peers together to the achievement of learning mathematics 39 , 3%. There are positive and significant influence of learning facility on mathematics learning achievement (R = 0,240, t hit = 2,266, t tab = 1,663 with sig value = 0,026); There was a positive and significant influence of parent's attention on mathematics learning achievement (R = 0,226, t hit = 2,128, t tab = 1,663 with sig value = 0,036); There are positive and significant influence of peer environment on mathematics learning achievement (R = 0,299, t hit = 2,871, t tab = 1,663 with sig value = 0,005).


ABSTRACT This article reviews the most recent volume in the series of archival document collections on the history Australia's external affairs, Documents on Australian Foreign Policy, covering the years 1920 to 1930. It focuses upon two main themes of central importance to the Australian global presence in that decade: the organisation and purposes of the Empire-Commonwealth and the impact of the League of Nations.


Background: Catheterization of the axillary vein in the infraclavicular area has important advantages in patients with long-term, indwelling central venous catheters. The two most commonly used ultrasound-guided approaches for catheterization of the axillary vein include the long-axis/in-plane approach and the short-axis/out-of-plane approach, but there are certain drawbacks to both approaches. We have modified a new approach for axillary vein catheterization: the oblique-axis/in-plane approach. Methods: This observational study retrospectively collected data from patients who underwent ultrasound-guided placement of an axillary vein infusion port in the infraclavicular area at the Central Venous Access Clinics of Zhongshan Hospital at Fudan University between March 2014 and May 2017. The patients' demographic data, success rate of catheterization, venous catheterization site, and immediate complications associated with catheterization were recorded. Results: Between March 2014 and May 2017, a total of 858 patients underwent placement of an axillary vein infusion port in the infraclavicular area at our center. The ultrasound-guided oblique-axis/in-plane approach was used for all patients, and the venipuncture success rate was 100%. Two cases of accidental arterial puncture and one case of local hematoma formation were reported, and no other complications, such as pneumothorax or nerve damage, were reported. Conclusion: The ultrasound-guided oblique-axis/in-plane approach is a safe and reliable alternative to the routine ultrasound-guided approach for axillary venous catheterization.


The Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is a multi-disciplinary engineering by combing the IoT, big data, and cloud computing to cope well with the dynamic changing industry. In this paper, the DDS (Data distribution service) communication protocol is employed to implement a cloud platform for data acquisition of various sensors including accelerometer, sound, temperature, brightness, and humility, etc. The sensor signals acquired by the ESP32 microcontroller (MCU) are collected by the Raspberry Pi serving as the edge device and then published with the DDS application to the cloud and stored to the MySQL database. With the Django web server, the sensor signals acquired are real-time shown on the webpage. It is expected that the proposed DDS cloud platform can be applied to a legacy machine to enable sensing and communication abilities such that the development of smart machine is achievable.


The objective of the study is to find out the improvement Students' Writing Skill Of Procedure Text By Using Picture Series Of Eigh Grade Year Student SMP IT An-Naas Binjai In Academic Year 2017/2018. The subjects of this study are students who sit in class VIIISMP IT An-Naas BinjaiAcademic Year 2017/2018 there are 32 Students consisting of 13 Men and 19 Women. And the object in this study is all student in eight grade SMP IT An-Naas Binjai. The improvement of this classroom action research can be known from the learning process and the result of the writing of the Student Text Procedure after being given action by using picture series. Improvement of the process can be seen from the motivation of student learning to be better with the student's enthusiasm in writing procedure text with the existence of picture picture will facilitate students in making dialog in procedure text, students' imagination become more developed, and student literature appreciation woke up well. In cycle I, 22 students are failed and 10 students are good. In cycle II, 5 students are failed, 23 students are good and 4 students are Very good.From the results of this study it can be concluded that the use of picture picture series can improve the ability of writing procedure text students.
Keywords: Picture Series, Writing Procedure Text.


Abstract. We use two snow models, the IMAU Firn Densification Model (IMAU-FDM) and SNOWPACK, to model firn characteristics in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP). We force these models with mass and energy fluxes from the Regional Atmospheric Climate MOdel (RACMO2.3p2) to construct a 1979–2016 climatology of AP firn density, temperature and liquid water content. A comparison with 75 snow temperature observations at 10 m depth and with density from 11 firn cores, suggests that both snow models perform adequately. In this study, we focus on the detection of so-called perennial firn aquifers (PFAs), that are formed when surface meltwater percolates into the firnpack in summer, is then buried by snowfall, and does not refreeze during the following winter. In 941 model grid points, covering ~ 28,000 km2, PFAs existed for at least one year in the simulated period, most notably in the western AP. At these locations, surface meltwater production exceeds 150 to 300 mm w.e. yr−1, with accumulation at least an order of magnitude larger. Most pronounced and widespread are PFAs modelled on and around Wilkins ice shelf. Here, both meltwater production and accumulation rates are sufficiently high to cause PFA formation in most years in the 1979–2016 period, covering a large part of the ice shelf. Other notable PFA locations are Wordie ice shelf, an ice shelf that has almost completely disappeared in recent decades, and the relatively warm northwestern mountain ranges of Palmer Land, where accumulations rates can be extremely large and PFAs are formed frequently. We find that not only the magnitude of melt and accumulation is important, but also the timing. If large accumulation events occur in the months following an above average summer melt event, this favours PFA formation in that year. Finally, we find that most PFAs are predicted near the grounding lines of the (former) Prince Gustav, Wilkins and Wordie ice shelves. This highlights the need to further investigate how PFAs may impact ice shelf disintegration events, in a similar way as supraglacial lakes do.


In this approach, a rotation, scaling and translation invariant blind second generation watermarking technique is proposed using Tchebichef moments of the original image to estimate the geometric distortion parameters of the corrupted watermarked images. The Tchebichef moments of original image can be used as private key of watermark extraction process. The characteristics of the human visual system are incorporated into the watermark embedding, and the embedding process can be performed in any image domain, including spatial and transform domain. A method in DWT domain is proposed in this paper. Independent Component Analysis is adopted by watermark detector so that the watermark can be correctly extracted but not merely detected. The experimental results show that this method has a good robustness to attacks produced by the popular watermarking test software Stirmark.


A simple model for atomic polarizability is used to calculate the long-range component of the atomic pair polarizability. The correct classical expressions for the excess pair polarizability and th...


The generation of square pulses with different wavelengths based on dissipative soliton resonance (DSR) has been investigated in an Yb-doped passively mode-locked fiber laser. By fixing the pump power and changing the orientations of polarization controllers, wavelength-tunable square pulses have been obtained, which demonstrates that the DSR and lasing wavelength are independent of each other.


Abstract In this article, we statistically examine the effectiveness of non‐pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented by the national governments of Greece and Cyprus during 2020 to (a) limit the spread of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, and (b) mitigate the economic fallout brought about by the Covid‐19 pandemic. Applying a modified health belief model, we hypothesize that behavioral outcomes at the policy level are a function of NPIs, perceived severity, and social context. We employ a Prais‐Winsten estimation in 2‐week averages and report panel‐corrected standard errors to find that NPIs have clear, yet differential, effects on public health and the economy in terms of statistical significance and time lags. The study provides a critical framework to inform future interventions during emerging pandemics.


Issues on deteriorating environment have drawn great attention from the world over. Environment protection and forest rehabilitation for securing our homeland have become consensus of the international community. However, destruction of environment and forests by human activities is still under way. A prominent environmental problem is caused by cutting of fuelwood forest. This paper takes fuelwood forest management in Benxi for an instance to analyze the problems existent in management and development of fuelwood forest in mountainous and rural areas and puts forward some countermeasures for sustainable fuelwood forest development and use.


Recommendation system is one of the most important service applications in the world, and graph neural network is currently the most popular research direction in the field of recommendation system. In this survey, we conduct a literature survey on graph neural network-based recommender systems. Firstly, we introduce the classification for graph neural networks. Secondly, different recommendation scenarios in the recommendation system are introduced, and the challenges faced by graph neural networks in different recommendation scenarios are analyzed. Finally, the solutions to these challenges are summarized.


Hitherto prophylactic vaccines are employed to protect the chicken against IB. Even then there are frequent outbreaks of IB and production losses are occurring apart from causing mortality in chicken affected. Hence, attempts were made for isolation of infectious bronchitis virus in poultry farms in and around Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Out of ten poultry farms tested the samples collected from two poultry farms showed characteristic lesions like dwarfing and curling in embryonated chicken eggs which were designated as KRT ( layer isolate) and MRC (broiler isolate). Viral confirmation was done by haemagglutination test at each passage level employing Clostridium perfringens type A crude filtrate treated antigen and trypsin treated antigen followed by HI with specific antisera raised against IBV vaccine strain M41. Untreated virus failed to produce haemagglutination. Trypsin treated antigen produced higher titre (one log2) than Clostridium perfringens type A crude filtrate treated antigen. The indigenous isolates KRT and MRC were well adapted to CEF cell culture which exhibited CPE in 24 hours post infection with rounding of cells, syncytia and detachment of cell sheet. Further, AGPT and CIE were employed to identify the indigenous virus isolates in allantoic fluid, which revealed precipitation line against M41 hyperimmune serum in AGPT and CIE. The virus isolates were characterized by embryo infective dose, physico – chemical properties, pathogenicity, SDS-PAGE profile and RFLP analysis. Embryo infectivity of titres of two virus isolates KRT and MRC were 10 7.7 and 10 6.2 0.1 ml -1 respectively. Pathogenicity of the virus isolates was studied by using IBV – E. coli co-infection model. Both the isolates were pathogenic to chicken. Mortality rate ranging from 16.66 per cent (group I, group V) to 33.33per cent (group III and group IV) was observed. The chicken in group II and group VI (control) did not cause any mortality. The chicks exhibited typical IB clinical signs supported by gross and histopathological observations. Polypeptide profiles of indigenous IBV isolates and vaccine strains (M41 and H120) by SDS-PAGE revealed five viral coded peptides. S1 gene of the virus isolates and vaccine virus were amplified by RT-PCR which yielded 1026bp Massachusetts serotype specific product. Restriction enzyme analysis of virus isolates and vaccine strain with Hae III enzyme revealed no difference in the fragment pattern. The present study revealed that the two indigenous virus isolates were analogous to M41 strain which indicated recent outbreaks and warranted development of indigenous vaccines against IBV. LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS % – Per cent °C – Degree centigrade μ – Micron μg – Microgram μl – Micro liter AF – Allantoic fluid AGPT – Agar gel precipitation test AMV-RT – Avian myeloblastosis virus – ReverseTranscriptase APS – Ammonium per sulphate bp – Base pair cDNA – Complementary deoxynucleic acid CEF – Chicken embryo fibroblst CEKC – Chicken embryo kidney cells CFU – Colony forming unit CIE – Counter immunoelectrophoresis CPE – Cytopathic effect DEPC – Diethyl Pyrocarbonate dNTP – Deoxy nucleotide triphposphate dpi – Days post infection dtt – Dithiothreitol E. coli – Escherichia coli EEO – Electro endosmosis EID50 – Embryo infective dose 50 FCS – Fetal calf serum g – Gram GNTE buffer – Glycine Tris EDTA buffer HA – Haemagglutination Hcl – Hydrochloric acid HI – Haemagglutination inhibition Hrs – Hours IBV – Infectious bronchitis virus IU – International unit KDa – Kilo Dalton M – Molar MA – Milliampere Mg – Milligram Ml – milliliter mM – Millimolar Mm – millimeter MOPS – 3-Morpholino propane sulphonic acid MW – Molecular weight N – Normality Nm – Nanometer OD – Optical density PAGE – Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pH – Hydrogen ion concentration pm – Picomoles RE – Restriction enzyme RFLP – Restriction fragment length polymorphism RNA – Ribonucleic acid RNAsin – RNase inhibitor rpm – Rotations per minute RT-PCR – Reverse trancriptase polymerase chain reaction SDS – Sodium dodecyl sulphate SE – Standard Error Taq – Thermus aquaticus TCID50 – Tissue culture infective dose 50 TEMED – N, N, N'N' tetramethyl ethylene diamine TPVG – Trypsin phosphate versene glucose U – Unit V – Volts w/v – Weight by volume CHAPTER –


The most serious water-hammer is caused by cavity collapsing in the coolant systems of Nuc-lear Power Plant.The process of cavity forming and collapsing is rather complicated with two-phase flow and transient state. It is very difficult to describe this process. In order to solve theproblem,the cavity is treated as free surface and water as viscous fluid with a variable boundary.For calculating the free surface,the VOF method is used and the condensation of vapor at the sur-face is considered.With this method, not only the cavity can be vividly described for forming andcollapsing,but also the highest pressure and closing velocity can be gotten. The results of calcula-tion are compared and are coincided with the results from the experiment in the laboratory.So itcan supply the theoretical foundation for designing pipeline.


This paper describes our efforts towards the development of a knowledge-based scheduling system for the scheduling of semiconductor testing operations. Semiconductor testing is the final phase of a four-phase semiconductor manufacturing process. The scheduling problem is a static deterministic version of what we call the workstation scheduling problem (WS). WS can be characterized as a generalized job shop problem with both parallel workstation clusters and batch processors; it requires sequencing and routeing decisions on discrete (i.e. nonbatch) and batch workstations. The proposed system consists of two distinct components: a knowledge base developed using a frame-based knowledge representation scheme, and a solution strategy based on filtered beam search. The scheduling mechanism and the associated knowledge representation scheme have been implemented on a Sun Sparc station 1+ using the programming language Common Lisp. We report on our experience to date with the system on three dimensions: computati...


This paper presents an analytical algorithm to determine the pressure variation on the Low Pressure side of a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger (STHE) after a tube rupture and its validation using CFD simulation. STHEs are often used for exchanging heat between high-pressure (HP) and low-pressure (LP) fluids in the chemical process industry. In case tube rupture occurs in a STHE having a large pressure difference between HP and LP side, there is a risk of release of significant quantity of fluid from the HP side to the LP side. The consequent pressure build-up can lead to the failure of LP side pressure envelope. Generally, design pressure of the LP side is about 10–20% higher than the operating pressure of the LP side fluid, but well below the operating pressure on the HP side. There is no well-established methodology to design the LP side to withstand sudden release of high pressure fluid following a tube rupture. Three dimensional analyses were carried out using Computational Fluid Dynamics to study the pressure variation in LP side (shell side) of a Gas Cooler and to validate the results obtained from the analytical algorithm. It has been observed that the pressure on the LP side exceeds the design pressure instantaneously due to generation of a pressure pulse after tube rupture. This may lead to damage of LP envelope (shell) and internal structure of STHE.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


The paper is devoted to discussing the thesis, recently indicated on the basis of Swiss evidence, that temporary employees present higher labour productivity than permanent employees because of higher effort. The thesis is discussed first theoretically. Secondly, the paper examines some Italian and European empirical results based on Labour Force Surveys and European Community Household Panel. The paper concludes by considering the public labour policies necessary to improve labour productivity, notwithstanding the growing rate of temporary jobs in countries like Italy. JEL Classification: M51, J24, J28


Author SummaryThe purpose of this study was to: (1) ascertain if sex of the writer can be determined from an examination of a standard written text at better than the level of chance, and (2) study the methods by which sex of the writer may be determined from the study of a writing.


Hyperfamiliarity for unknown faces (HFUF) is a rare disorder in which unfamiliar faces seem familiar. We report one case of HFUF syndrome. A 34-year-old woman was admitted as encephalitis with seizure. She repeatedly reported to her husband that all faces around her looked familiar. Our case supports the studies that show a differential contribution of two hemispheres in face recognition. Here we report this case for the first time in Korea. J Korean Neurol Assoc 30(4):329-332, 2012


Crystallization from solution is important industrially because of the variety of materials that are marketed in the crystalline form. To improve the teaching-learning process of this Unit Operation, in this work, performed as a Degree Final Project in Chemical Engineering studies, a simulation program of crystallization has been developed using data of an industrial NaCl crystallization process. The objective was the use of computational tools to simulate and optimize the crystallization, enabling a deeper insight into the crystallization operation and into the use of computational tools.


Purpose:To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of the congenital megaureter in adults.Methods:35 cases with megaureter in adults were presented.The anomaly was on left side in 14 cases,on right side in 11 cases and bilateral in 10 cases.All cases were examined by B-ultrasonic scan and IVU.39 megaureters were administered by surgical treatment,in which 12 sides underwent total renoureterectomy,27 sides ureteroplasty reimplantation.Results:All 29 cases were followed-up from 1 year to 5 years.Of the all operated sides,the hydronephrosis and hydroureter reduced in 37 sides,2 sides no evident improvement.Conclusions:B-ultrasonic scan and IVU are the primary examination methods for the congenital megaureter in adults.The principle of treatment for the disease is to relief obstruction and preserve the function of kidney.The better pattern is to carry out the ureteric reimplantation following clipping or folding dilated ureter.Nonsurgical treatment with close surveillance may be permitted for the cases with good renal function.


Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with both dyslipidemia and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Despite the indication to treat in patients affected by both dyslipidemia and NAFLD, an undertreatment in statin therapy due to the potential liver damage is frequently observed. We sought to evaluate retrospectively the impact of statin on the lipid profile and on the achievement of Low density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol targets in relation to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) cardiovascular risk in dyslipidemic patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of NAFLD and elevated liver enzymes before statin prescription. As a secondary endpoint we investigated whether statin could be associated with changes of liver enzymes. Design and Method: 43 dyslipidemic NAFLD patients presenting with increased values of aspartate aminotransferase and/or alanine aminotransferase and/or γ-glutamyl-transferase at baseline were analyzed retrospectively as regard the lipid profile and liver enzymes (values reported before statin and during statin therapy). Results: Total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides were significantly reduced at follow-up (5.4 ± 5.4 months). The LDL target was achieved at the second visit in 30 patients (69.8%). The number of patients achieving the LDL target was significantly higher in low risk group as compared with moderate and high risk subjects. Liver enzyme levels showed no significant changes between baseline and follow-up. Conclusions: Statin treatment was effective (without changes in liver enzymes) in patients with dyslipidemia and NAFLD and therefore presenting a profound alteration in lipoprotein metabolism. The number of patients achieving LDL target was related to the ATPIII risk classification, being higher in the patients with lower risk.


The application of four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4DSTEM) in Nanobeam Electron Diffraction (NBED) has enabled studies to correlate local nanoscale structure with microscale phenomena. The study of the phase and domain structures of Barium Titanate (BaTiO 3 , BTO) is an example of how the material properties can be engineered with improved understanding on the complexity in structure as the spatial resolution increase. Prior works [1,2] have demonstrated that nominally tetragonal regions are more complex, containing offset rhombohedral nanoregions and clusters even at temperature ranges that predict tetragonal structure. The advent of 4DSTEM has allowed mapping of projected polarization and phase at spatial resolutions limited only by the probe size. Since the studies on mapping BTO phases rely on the analysis of the non-overlapping structure of the disks in convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED), the sampling resolution is limited by the probe sizes (0.8 ~ 1.5 nm) corresponding to the convergence angles below the Bragg angle, resulting in probes sampling multiple columns of unit cells. To improve spatial resolution requires using higher convergence angles, however, complications of the intensity in CBED with overlapping regions challenges data analysis. In this presentation, we report the mapping of the polarization, orientation and phase in BTO sampled at a rate equivalent to the size of unit cells in two dimension (2D) using 4DSTEM. We accomplish this by taking advantage of the fact that the intensity structure populated within the non-overlapping region of a partially overlapped CBED is equivalent to that from the CBED patterns acquired using a small convergence angle equal to that area. By increasing the convergence angle to above the Bragg angle, we generate slightly overlapping CBED patterns, resulting in probe sizes at or below the dimension of the unit cell, allowing the sampling of a single column


A t Western Asset, environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis plays an essential role in our search for long-term fundamental value investments, as we believe that material ESG factors can affect an issuer's risk profile. By integrating ESG considerations into our analysis of investment-grade, high-yield and bank loan corporate issuers, as well as sovereign and corporate issuers in both emerging market (EM) and frontier markets, we seek to identify investment opportunities that would otherwise be mispriced. Our previous piece, ESG Investing in Sovereigns: Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities , focused on how ESG can complement the financial and macroeconomic components of sovereign analysis. In that paper, we explained how ESG factors can significantly affect a sovereign's path for economic growth. We also introduced our framework for sovereign ESG analysis, highlighting the key environmental and social factors we consider and their nexus with governance. Building upon our prior work, here we outline our views on Indonesia to illustrate how a focus on ESG principles can complement traditional sovereign credit analysis. Past results are not indicative of future investment results. for informational purposes and reflects the current opinions of Western Asset. Information contained herein is believed to be accurate, but be guaranteed. not as an or solicitation to the purchase or sale of any security and subject to notice. Statements in this should be considered investment advice. Employees clients of Western Asset position the securities


Slovak scholars maintained close contacts with the Czech milieu in the 19th century, for which there are several reasons (for example, the historical background, related to the issue of language and religion, the political situation in the Habsburg Monarchy). This paper sheds light on certain types of cooperation which took place between Czech and Slovak scholars between the years 1850 and 1882: cooperation in the field of journalism, publishing and editing the first Czech encyclopaedia.


Preliminary results indicated that good separation of ions of sodium, potassium, rubidium and caesium could be achieved by means of high-performance liquid chromato-graphy in ten minutes, with a column filled with 5% dibenzo-18-crown-6 in chloroform on YWG-CH. A solution of 0.2 M sodium thiocyanate (pH 6.5) was used as the eluant and 24Na, 42K, 86Rb and 134Cs were used as tracers to indicate the course of column operation.


A point x-ray emission was obtained from a diode configuration composed of a graphite-nanofiber cold cathode and a conical-shaped copper metal anode. When combined with a highly sensitive charge coupled device (CCD) camera with a scintillator, this x-ray source was then used to obtain x-ray transmission images of a tungsten mesh and an x-ray test chart. The spatial resolution of this x-ray radiography system was on the order of 10 μm and the acquisition time for these images was less than 10 s. This combination of the point x-ray source and the sensitive detection system offers a high-resolution x-ray radiography system.


Little is known about the long-term impacts of selecting progeny born to ewe-lambs (EL) as replacements. This study investigated whether being born to a ewe-lamb affected the liveweight, milk production and reproductive performance of the offspring to 3 years of age in comparison with those born to adult multiparous ewes. Twenty-seven and 28 single-born Romney ewe progeny (G1) were born to either EL or to adult ewes (AE), respectively. Offspring born to ewe-lambs (ELG1) were lighter (P 0.05). The second generation offspring born to ELG1 and AEG1 did not differ in birthweight in the first parity, but it did differ in the second parity and those lambs born to ELG1 were heavier from birth to weaning compared with those lambs born to AEG1. Combined, these results indicate, in the animals used in our study that productive performance of ewes born to EL does not differ to 3 years of age to that of ewes born to AE.


The volumes and water retention capacity of the litter layers under six forest communities in the Lashi Lake Catchment,Li Jiang City,Yunnan Province were measured. The result showed that Quercus pannosa forest had the highest litter volume( 22. 45 t·hm-2); and the Pinus yunnanensis forest had the lowest( 6.54 t·hm-2).For all the six forest types,the litter volumes of decomposed and semi-decomposed layers were generally higher than that of the un-decomposed layer. The same was true for water retention capacity except the Populus yunnanensis forest,which was in descending order the Quercus pannosa forest,the Picea likiangensis forest,the Pinus yunnanensis+ Quercus pannosa + rhododendron mixed forest,the Quercus aquifolioides forest,the Populus yunnanensis forest andthe Pinus yunnanensis forest. The water absorption rates of litter would gradually decrease over waterlogging time.And the processes would significantly slowdown after 2-4 hours and eventually reach saturation. The water absorption rates and water storage capacity of the decomposed and semi-decomposed layers were also larger than that of the un-decomposed layer. The water storage capacities of litter layer of the six forests were in the order from high to low:the Quercus pannosa forest,the Picea likiangensis forest,the Pinus yunnanensis + Quercus pannosa + rhododendron mixed forest,the Quercus aquifolioides forest,the Populus yunnanensis forest and the Pinus yunnanensis forest. And their depths of rainfall storage were respectively 6. 70,4. 12,3. 68,3. 30,2. 12 and 1. 66 mm.


Objective:To establish a RP-HPLC fingerprint and its pattern recognition method for the quality control of Spica Prunellae.Method:The optimal condition of separation and detection were achieved on an Elite SinoChrom ODS-AP with a gradient elution with acetonitrile and 0.01% phosphoric acid aqueous solution(v/v)at 35℃ and detected at 203nm.Further more,principal component analysis and cluster analysis had been performed on the basis of the HPLC fingerprints.Results:Fifteen samples of Spica Prunellae obtained from different regions and habitats in China were analyzed.Seventeen peaks were regarded as the characteristic peaks of Spica Prunellae.According to the similarity,the diversity of quality among different samples was minor.And sample grouping based on principal component analysis and cluster analysis coincides nicely with geographical origin.Conclusion:The HPLC fingerprint in combination with pattern recognition methods is repeatable,feasible,flexible and reliable in analysis of Spica Prunellae and can be used effectively for the screening analysis or quality assessment of Spica Prunellae.


Significance The photosensitive protein Cryptochrome (Cry) is involved in the detection of magnetic fields (MFs) in Drosophila. However, Cry-dependent responses to natural MF intensities and to the direction of the MF vector have not been demonstrated previously in any insect. Birds, monarch butterflies, and many other species perceive the direction of geomagnetic field (GMF) lines, but the involvement of Cry has not been rigorously proven using genetic tools. In this study, by combining behavioral and genetic approaches, we provide the first unambiguous evidence to our knowledge of a Cry-dependent sensitivity to the direction of GMF in two cockroach species. Furthermore, by eye-covering experiments and by immunolocalization of a crucial mammalian-type Cry2 under the retina, we clearly show that the eye is an indispensable organ for the directional GMF response. The ability to perceive geomagnetic fields (GMFs) represents a fascinating biological phenomenon. Studies on transgenic flies have provided evidence that photosensitive Cryptochromes (Cry) are involved in the response to magnetic fields (MFs). However, none of the studies tackled the problem of whether the Cry-dependent magnetosensitivity is coupled to the sole MF presence or to the direction of MF vector. In this study, we used gene silencing and a directional MF to show that mammalian-like Cry2 is necessary for a genuine directional response to periodic rotations of the GMF vector in two insect species. Longer wavelengths of light required higher photon fluxes for a detectable behavioral response, and a sharp detection border was present in the cyan/green spectral region. Both observations are consistent with involvement of the FADox, FAD•− and FADH– redox forms of flavin. The response was lost upon covering the eyes, demonstrating that the signal is perceived in the eye region. Immunohistochemical staining detected Cry2 in the hemispherical layer of laminal glia cells underneath the retina. Together, these findings identified the eye-localized Cry2 as an indispensable component and a likely photoreceptor of the directional GMF response. Our study is thus a clear step forward in deciphering the in vivo effects of GMF and supports the interaction of underlying mechanism with the visual system.


The study aimed to investigate the impact of creativity orientation in achieving competitive advantage. The study used the descriptive and analytical research methods, which were appropriate for the purpose of research.  For achieving the study objectives, a questionnaire was designed and distributed. The target population consisted of all managers, head departments and directors. The researcher used a random sample method and designed a questionnaire to collect data from the study sample. The researcher distributed (90) questionnaires and (15) questionnaires dropped due to incomplete answers; therefore, (75) were analyzed. Different statistical methods were used to achieve the objectives of the study. The results showed that there is a statistically significant impact at (α≤0.05) level of creativity orientation on competitive advantage in Jordan pharmaceutical companies. The results also concluded that there is a statistically significant Impact at (α≤0.05) level of creativity orientation on competitive dimensions (quality, flexibility and responsiveness). The study recommends that pharmaceutical companies should alert all employees with the role of creativity orientation in achieving competitive advantage. Keywords: Creativity orientation, Competitive advantage, Quality, Flexibility, Responsiveness, Pharmaceutical companies. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-8-06 Publication date: March 31 st 2020


There appears to be a scarcity of reliable information readily available to the researchers and planners, in usable form, on the cotton crop, cropping conditions, ecological requirements, agronomic practices ana socioeconomic factors. In the present paper, the author has attempted to pull together the available data on the crop in the hope of alleviating some of these problems. The paper examines the reasons for lack of smooth progress in cotton production in the Lake Victoria Basin. It deals with origins of cotton and research development; morphology and development of the cropj cultivated commercial varieties of cotton; uses of the c^op; environmental requirementsa historical perspective of cotton development*, patterns of cotton production, and recent cotton production problems. Some maps and tables are provided wherever they serve to illustrate a problem.


Feature selection is the essential process to obtain the best feature vectors in pattern recognition system. These feature vectors contain information describing the original data's important characteristics. In this research, a framework based on factor analysis technique namely the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is performed to determine the best features extracted from the daily load curve prior to clustering process. The rules of thumb applied include Bartlett's test of sphericity, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure, Kaiser Criterion, Scree test along with Varimax approach. Accordingly, KMO as well as Bartlett's test suggested the data factorability is significant. Furthermore, Kaiser Criterion and Scree test together with component matrix approach implied that the first two most significant factor must be retained whilst Varimax approach confirmed that clustering analysis should comprise of the entire load curve values. Upon selection of features, the capability of fuzzy clustering in classifying these features attained from 247 feeders in a particular distribution network is examined. Initial results demonstrated the effectiveness of feature selection process and the potential of fuzzy clustering in particular the fuzzy cmeans (FCM) in classifying electrical energy consumption.


Corresponding author Sang Tae Kim, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, 776 1sunhwan-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju 28644, Korea Tel: 82-43-269-6237 Fax: 82-43-272-0264 E-mail: email@example.com ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9315-2107 Background: Postoperative sore throat is a common complication of endotracheal intubation; the thicker the endotracheal tube, the higher the frequency of postoperative sore throat. So, we evaluated the effect of benzydamine hydrochloride spray on postoperative sore throat, associated with double-lumen endobronchial intubation. Methods: Sixty patients undergoing thoracic surgery were scheduled and enrolled for intubation, with a double-lumen endobronchial tube. Of these patients, 30 were sprayed with benzydamine hydrochloride (group B), and 30 with normal saline (group N), 10 minutes before intubation was performed. Patients were randomly assigned to the two groups. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before, and after endotracheal intubation. Symptoms of sore throat, hoarseness, and dysphagia were examined one hour, as well as 24 hours, after surgery. Results: Incidence of sore throat was 73.3% and 23.3% (P < 0.001) in groups N and B, respectively, at one hour after surgery. In addition, incidence of sore throat at 24 hours after the operation, was also statistically significant (66.6% and 20.0%, P = 0.001). Frequency of dysphagia at one hour, and 24 hours after surgery, was lower in group B. There were no significant differences in heart rate, blood pressure, and hoarseness at 24 hours after surgery between the two groups. Conclusions: In cases wherein a double-lumen endobronchial tube was used, an oropharyngeal spray of benzydamine hydrochloride before tracheal intubation, reduced incidence of postoperative sore throat.


Ahmed, Akbar. Postmodernism and Islam: Predicament and Promise. New York: Routledge, Chapman & Hall, 1992. 294 pp. $49.95. Boccaccini, Gabriele. Middle Judaism: Jewish Thought 300 BCE to 200 CE. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992. 289 pp. n.p. Buber, Martin. On Intersubjectivity and Cultural Creativity. Ed. S. N. Eisenstadt. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992. 264 pp. $39.95. Castro, F. Perez. El Codice de Profetas de El Cairo Tomo VIII. Madrid: Instituto de Filologia del CSIC, 1992. 316 pp. n.p. Charron, Regine. Concordance des textes de Nag Hammadi he Codex VII. Quebec: Les Presses de L'Universite Laval, 1992. 785 pp. $65.00. Clark, Gordon H. Sanctification. Jefferson, MD: The Trinity Foundation, 1992. 128 pp. $8.95. Coakley, J. F. The Church of the East and the Church of England. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. 422 pp. $85.00. Crownfield, David, ed. Body/Text in Julia Kristeva. Religion, Women, and Psychoanalysis. Albany: SUNY Press, 1992. 160 pp. $39.50. Curran, Charles E. The Living Tradition of Catholic Moral Theology. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1992. 256 pp. $27.95. Davis, R. W. and R. J. Helmstadter, eds. Religion and Irreligion in Victorian Society. New York: Routledge, Chapman & Hall, 1992. 205 pp. $79.95. Dawidowicz, Lucy S. What is the Use of Jewish History? New York: Schocken, 1992. 278 pp. $27.50.


OBJECTIVE To discuss the effects of different drugs combined with mifepristone in second-trimester pregnancy termination in the scarred uterus.METHODS All patients had mifepristone by oral.The patients in study group had misoprostol and rivanol together,and the other patients in control group had only rivanol.RESULTS The total effective rate of Bishop Score in the study group was 100% which was significantly higher than 85.42% of the control group(P﹤0.05).The total effective rate of induction in the study group was 100% which was significantly higher than 97.92% of the control group(P﹤0.05).CONCLUSION Mifepristone,rivanol and misoprostol together have good effects in second-trimester pregnancy termination in the scarred uterus,which could improve the success of induction and reduce the pain of patients.


Skopostheorie proposes that since translation is a purposeful and intercultural communicative action based on the source text,all the translational activity should cardinally follow the 'skopos rule'.Kong Yiji written by Lu Xun is rendered by different translators,such as Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang's version and Julia Lovell's version,in which contains a great deal of culture-loaded words.Within the framework of Skopostheorie,the reason why different translators adopt different strategies is that the translators' purposes and the intended receivers are different through a comparative study of culture-loaded words in the two versions.


The usual explicit finite-difference method of solving partial differential equations is limited in stability because it approximates the exact amplification factor by power-series. By adapting the same exponential-splitting method of deriving symplectic integrators, explicit symplectic finite-difference methods produce Saul'yev-type schemes which approximate the exact amplification factor by rational-functions. As with conventional symplectic integrators, these symplectic finite-difference algorithms preserve important qualitative features of the exact solution. Thus the symplectic diffusing algorithm is {\it unconditionally stable} and the symplectic advection algorithm is {\it unitary}. There is a one-to-one correspondence between symplectic integrators and symplectic finite-difference methods, including the key idea that one can systematically improve an algorithm by matching its modified Hamiltonian more closely to the original Hamiltonian. Consequently, the entire arsenal of symplectic integrators can be used to produce arbitrary high order time-marching algorithms for solving the diffusion and the advection equation.


The treatment of VUR in children with UTI has changed significantly, due to studies showing that antibiotic prophylaxis does not decrease renal scarring. As children with kidney transplants are at higher risk for UTI, we investigated if select patients with renal transplant VUR could be managed without surgery.


Calcium bis chronic alcoholism treatment [3- (acetylamino) -1-propane sulfonate], that is a novel method of producing a glyphosate pro Arkham calcium are disclosed. Acetylation reaction step of the manufacturing method of the Arkham Pro glyphosate calcium using acetic anhydride as a solvent, the reaction of acetic anhydride and potassium acetate homo and taurine; And a step of obtaining a pro Arkham glyphosate calcium from the acetylation reaction product. Alcohol addiction treatment, Arkham Pro glyphosate calcium, acetylation reaction


Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plants and is abundant in most mineral soils. The bioavailability for efficient Fe-uptake, however, depends on the redox state and pH of the soil. Calcifuge (chalk-fleeing) species show Fe-deficiency phenotypes in alkaline soils due to poor Fe-uptake capacity, while calcicole (chalk-loving) species possess an efficient Fe-uptake strategy that enables their survival on calcareous soils with high pH. The underlying factors that confer calcicole or calcifuge behavior to plant species remain one of the oldest questions in plant ecology. POLYPEPTIDE4 ( CYP82C4 ), required for conversion of fraxetin to sideretin. Under alkaline conditions, the FRO2-IRT1 system is inactive, and the IMA1/IMA2 driven increased synthesis and secretion of coumarin fraxetin is favored via induction of MYB72 mediated phenylpropionate pathway and repression of CYP82C2 . The secretion of coumarins is known to be facilitated by the coumarin exporter PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE9 ( PDR9 ). Modified from Figure 7 of Gautam et al. (2021).


Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a serious health problem in the world, including in Indonesia. Transient elastography (TE) is now regarded as a reliable surrogate marker for grading the severity of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. The Mac-2 binding protein of glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is a novel non-invasive serum biomarker for liver fibrosis staging in various liver diseases including CHB. This study aims to evaluate the correlation of M2BPGi and liver stiffness (LS), measured through TE, in predicting liver fibrosis among CHB patients.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Hasan Sadikinl General Hospital Bandung between September 2021–January 2022 on patients diagnosed with CHB based on clinical and biochemical examination. The subjects underwent TE examination using Fibroscan® and M2BPGi levels were determined with an automated immunoassay analyzer HISCL-800, Sysmex, Japan. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Spearman rank correlation method with a significance value of p 0.05.Results: A total of 119 CHB (M:F = 66:53, median age 43 years) patients were consecutively recruited. The median M2BPGi level was 1.04 COI (0.74–1.59) and the median of LS was 7.3 (5.6–12.5). M2BPGi had a moderate and significant correlation with LS (r = 0.525; p 0.001). Median M2BPGi values in each fibrosis stage were 0.89 COI in F0-F1, 0.88 in F2, 1.61 in F3, and 2.24 in F4 (p 0.001).Conclusion: This study revealed a moderate positive correlation between serum M2BPGi level and LS in CHB patients.


The formation of Russia as multiethnic empire demanded from the power of policy which would provide the integration of its member Nations, the dominance of centripetal tendencies, the strength of its state unity. As one of the most important means to the success of such  Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке РФФИ в рамках научноисследовательского проекта No 17-01-00327 «Русская православная церковь: миссионерская деятельность и культура калмыков». Кавказология / Caucasology No 4/2017 39 policy the government considered the conversion to Christianity of non-Christian peoples, including the Kalmyks. The historical experience of missionary activity of Russian Orthodox Church among the non-Christian people still hasn't received the exhaustive comprehensive research yet and its studying already in itself is a relevant problem of historical science. Beginning 18th century and especially in the 19th century many Russian scientists, figures of Orthodox church and also representatives of officials were engaged in the questions connected with history of resettlement of Kalmyks across the territory of Russia, policy of the state in regard for them, the process of their Christianization. At community of world outlooks in approach to these issues their vision of problems and assessment could differ. It was defined by specifics of their activity, specific goals which were pursued by representatives of each of these groups. It is variously time of their appeal to the specified questions that reflects different times of the emergence of close and regular contacts with Kalmyks.


The purpose of this work was to determine the orientations of grains in polycrystals using electron back-scattering patterns (EBSP). In order to lower the degree of statistical uncertainty, the orientation of the same grain was measured several times. The orientation of the corresponding grain was assumed to be the mean of the orientations measured. From a theoretical point of view, the way to calculate a mean orientation from several orientations was solved on the basis of the properties of quaternions. The accuracy of the measurements, including the mean and maximum deviation of the orientations established, could be evaluated. The orientation of α plates of Ti-64 products was determined and it was possible to show that the metallurgical state of the parent β phase prior to the β–α phase transformation is likely to influence the orientation spread of the variants inherited from the same β grain, belonging to the same orientation family.


Call provides a client-side signaling mechanism or be processed how on call server client can be controlled. The client user may use a client control component that manages a session protocol message can create a call transmission command to the client device. Once created, call routing rules created on the client is sent to the call server, at the call server, call routing component of the call server processes the instructions for the call associated with the client. If it is determined that the server is received and instruction commands (being processed in incoming or currently) associated with the existing call, the server created by and client stops the current normal server instructions for processing for the call It has been to execute the instructions. In one embodiment, SIP session message is used for client control of server-side call forwarding.


I have been thinking a lot these days about my career as a biology professor. Why I spend endless hours caring about pedagogical methods, frontiers in assessment, delivering cutting-edge scientific information, and pushing students to critically think about the world around them. It takes a lot of energy to do this job right; but, when I evaluate the endless reasons why I actually do it, I never look back. My glass is always half full. I went into science because I, like 90% of college science freshmen out there today, wanted to be a medical doctor. Simply put, I had no idea that so many "ologies" existed--like physiology, cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, immunology, virology, and parasitology, etc., and that a person could actually specialize in one of these areas by doing research and getting an M.S. and/or a Ph.D. Wow, I didn't even know what it actually meant, Ph.D. Anyway, I remember to this day the moment that my career choice changed. It was when I sat in my first cell biology class as a freshman at New College, Sarasota, Florida. Believe me, I was always a naturalist at heart, and always felt connected to every living creature around me. (I grew up in a rural area in New York dubbed "upstate," like anywhere in New York that wasn't New York City because cows were more populace than humans at that time.) But, never had I seen such excitement about the living world before! I recall vividly when my first college professor, Dr. John B. Morrill (aka JBM) stomped into our classroom to eagerly deliver cutting-edge information on cellular organelle ultra-structure via a display of "his" transmission electron micrographs. He didn't take a breath. He was exuberant. He was amazing. And, when he was done, he torpedoed out of class to get right back to his research bench where he was studying the early cleavage patterns of sea urchins. I just remember saying to myself, "He's so cool." "He's brilliant." "I want to be just like him." And "Oh my gosh, I love cells!" So devoted was I to learning everything related to cell biology and to be just like JBM, that I even minored in chemistry to be well-rounded, studied electron microscopy at Duke one summer to be a better researcher, carried out a thesis project on molluscan mantle development--all while acting as my mentor's teaching assistant and taking every biology class offered to me so as to be as sagacious as he. I can see today that I still try to emulate my first professor, or should I say my first mentor and real role model, in my classroom. The bottom line is that I believe in mentorship. It's a powerful word and should never be used lightly. It means that someone has helped shape your career and in doing so, helped shape your life. I am grateful to those who took the time to help carve my career and life. After JBM, it was Dr. Jerry Schatten at Florida State University who allowed me to research and be-dazzle over "how" pro-nuclei migrate via microtubules toward each other following fertilization to yield syngamy; Winfield Sale at Emory University who gave me the opportunity to ponder sperm tail motility via dynein-ATPase; and Dr. David Birk at Rutger's University/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School who opened my eyes to the world of the extracellular matrix molecules and their role in corneal development. These men instilled in me the importance of creativity in, and dedication to, biological research. They pushed me to my limits, and most of all, challenged me to think like a scientist, not just in lab, but in their classrooms. Until this day, I find myself bringing to my teaching the critical thinking, rigor, creativity, and spirit of experimentation that defines research itself because of the world I explored through their eyes, and how I now view the world. Scholars in teaching and learning call this teaching approach--when entwined with proven instructional methods that have been tested and shown to reach diverse students such as setting learning goals and outcomes, and using embedded assessments to measure and provide feedback--"scientific teaching" (Handelsman et al. …


Abstract:  Background:  Engineered tissue heart valves may become a promising therapeutics for heart valve disease. Compared with synthetic materials, acellular porcine scaffolds are considered as suitable matrices for tissue‐engineered heart valves for the mechanical and structural properties of native tissue. Whether acellular porcine scaffolds can cause infection in recipients with porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) is critical for evaluating the safety of transplantation of tissue‐engineered heart valves based on acellular porcine scaffolds. This study was completed to evaluate the risk of PERV transmission for application of acellular porcine aortic valves (PAVs).


Primordial black holes (PBHs) can form in the early Universe via the collapse of large density perturbations. There are tight constraints on the abundance of PBHs formed due to their gravitational effects and the consequences of their evaporation. These abundance constraints can be used to constrain the primordial power spectrum, and hence models of inflation, on scales far smaller than those probed by cosmological observations. We compile, and where relevant update, the constraints on the abundance of PBHs before calculating the constraints on the curvature perturbation, taking into account the growth of density perturbations prior to horizon entry. We consider two simple parameterizations of the curvature perturbation spectrum on the scale of interest: constant and power-law. The constraints from PBHs on the amplitude of the power spectrum are typically in the range 10 −2 10 −1 with some scale dependence.


The key factors in low temperature phosphating process have been studied . For the former , three factors , PO 3- 4/NO 3?[Zn 2+ ]?and pH , play the most important role in the process when the concentration of Zn 2+ is constant . But for the latter, selecting the accelerator correctly and the use of surface conditioning agent are crux.


Background Study IT-01, KN-A10: INT230-6 is a new prod-uct with a unique dual anti-cancer mechanism. The drug is comprised of cisplatin and vinblastine co-formulated with a molecule that enables drug dispersion throughout an injected tumor and diffusion into cancer cells. The drug directly kills cancer and activates an immune response. Results from a neo-adjuvant breast cancer study confirms that a single injection induces necrosis in up to 95% of a tumor and recruits TILs. 1 Methods INT230-6 intratumoral (IT) treatments are Q2W up to 5 followed by maintenance dosing Q9W. Dose is set by the tumor ' s longest diameter or volume. Pembrolizumab is 200mg IV Q3W in the INT230-6 comboniation arm. Biopsies from the injected tumor at pretreatment and day 28 are sent for immunohistochemistry analysis. Endpoints are safety and exploratory efficacy by overall survival. Results Sixty-four subjects received INT230-6 alone (median 4 prior treatments). Thirty received


Abstract Hundreds of tombs have been excavated at Jericho yet publications of the osteological findings remain minimal. This paper presents the results of osteological analyses of two Middle Bronze Age tomb groups from Jericho currently curated by the Nicholson Museum, University of Sydney. Following a brief description of the burial practices implemented during the Middle Bronze age at Jericho, the excavation and subsequent curation of the human remains are outlined. The impact of burial practices and post-excavation treatment of the remains on skeletal preservation is discussed. While assessment of the remains is limited due to relatively poor preservation, evidence of joint disease, neoplastic disease and oral pathologies are noted. The findings augment our current understanding of people's health in the past at Jericho.


Platelets are best known as the cellular mediator of haemostasis and thrombosis. They also possess immune and inflammatory functions that contribute to many vascular pathologies, including atherogenesis, vascular remodelling, valvar calcification, and atherothrombosis. Platelet activation is a complex process that requires intracellular signal transduction initiated and then amplified by surface receptors for platelet agonists and involves active rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. Dynamic rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton underlie the production of functional platelets by megakaryocytes as well as the secretion of platelet granules, platelet shape change, spreading, and aggregation events necessary for proper haemostasis. Among the cytoskeletal regulatory proteins, members of the Rho family of GTP binding proteins, RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 have emerged as critical regulators of platelet function. These small GTPases have overlapping redundancies in signalling processes, but also exhibit distinct features. Thus, RhoA governs platelet contractility and thrombus stability, Rac1 drives lamellipodia formation and Cdc42 may play predominant roles in filopodia formation and granule secretion. Megakaryocyte-specific RhoA deficiency results in thrombocytopenia and defective platelet activation. The most studied downstream effectors of RhoA are the two isoforms of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase (ROCK), ROCK1, and ROCK2, members of the AGC family of serine/threonine kinases. Genetic deletion studies have shown that ROCK1 and ROCK2 mediate diverse functions in different cell types. Extending these studies, Sladojevic et al. provide evidence that ROCK2 plays a pivotal role in platelet activation and thrombosis, but does not mediate platelets' contribution to atherosclerotic lesion and vascular remodelling. Sladojevic et al. developed mice with megakaryocyte-specific deletion of ROCK2 (ROCK2). ROCK2 deficiency leads to increased size of resting platelets and impairs cytoskeletal rearrangement that occurs during platelet activation. Loss of platelet ROCK2 leads decreased aIIbb3 integrin binding to fibrinogen and reduced expression of CD62P (P-selectin) without affecting surface expression of major glycoproteins. These findings would indicate a role for ROCK2 in the initial activation of aIIbb3 and triggering the release of CD62P from a-granules, rather than maintenance of receptor activation on activated platelets. Consequently, ROCK2-deficient platelets form considerably lesser amounts of heterotypic (platelets and leucocytes) and homotypic aggregates than wild-type ones. Using the ferric chloride-induced carotid artery injury model, the authors show that platelet-specific loss of ROCK2 decreases thrombus formation in situ. Likewise, in a model of acute thrombo-embolic stroke evoked by injection of pre-formed blood clots from wild-type or ROCK2 mice into the middle cerebral artery, ROCK2-deficient thrombotic clots are less stable and consequently, cause less cerebral injury and neurological deficits. ROCK2 mice displays slight macrothrombocytopenia, forming about 80% of the numbers of platelets relative to wild-type mice. Although the underlying mechanism is unknown, these observations would suggest a limited contribution of ROCK2 signalling to platelet generation as opposed to the dual requirement for Rac1 and Cdc42 for proper platelet production. The modest 20% reduction of platelet count in ROCK2 mice is unlikely by itself to affect primary haemostasis, indicating that the antithrombotic action of ROCK2 deficiency can be attributed to inhibition of platelet function. These findings underscore the importance of platelet ROCK2 in thrombosis and thrombo-embolic stroke and are consistent with increased ROCK activity detected in experimental models of vascular inflammation, and patients with acute ischemic strokes. An obvious limitation of the study of Sladojevic et al. is that it provides no information on how platelet ROCK2 deficiency leads to protection against thrombo-embolic stroke. Furthermore, the authors' observations do not exclude a role for ROCK in the vessel wall, which may be activated by mediators released from platelets. Clinical studies have shown that antiplatelet therapy is associated with systemic anti-inflammatory actions in patients with atherothrombotic disease. One perspective is to investigate whether genetic deletion or pharmacological blockade of ROCK2 could also activate anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The RhoA-ROCK signalling pathway has extensively been studied. Like ROCK2, ROCK1 also triggers phosphorylation of myosin-binding subunit of myosin light chain phosphatase (MYPT1) that drives actin remodelling events. It is unclear why ROCK1 does not compensate for loss of ROCK2. Interestingly, ROCK2-deficient platelets also exhibit slightly reduced ROCK1 expression. Whether ROCK2 regulates


An interactive learning platform comprises a teacher terminal, a student terminal and a server. The teacher terminal and the student terminal are in communication connection with the server. The server is used for storing teaching resources uploaded by teachers, information of schools, information of teachers and information of students. The teacher terminal and the student terminal are in communication connection with the server so as to achieve interaction of teaching information. The teacher terminal uploads sorted knowledge resources to the server and directly carries out one-to-one or one-to-many interactive teaching communication, electric board writing, document labeling and the like with students through a video mode. The student terminal can obtain learning resources, or carry out one-to-one communication with a teacher or watch the process of answering questions by the teacher through communication connection with the server, and the students do not need to spend time going to a training mechanism or get a private teacher for learning. Meanwhile, the mastering situation of the students on each knowledge point can be known by the platform through data analysis, targeted learning is achieved, time of the students is saved, and the learning efficiency of the students is improved.


The spatial distribution pattern dynamics and spatial association of female and male Omocesstus haemorrhoidalis(Charpentie)were investigated in the upper reaches of the Shiyanghe river,Qilian Mountain,from June 7 to October 17,2010.The results show that the semi-variable function of female and male O.haemorrhoidalis can be described by both Spherical and Gaussian models.The spatial distribution pattern of both females and males was aggregative and the change in strength of the female was similar to that of the male.The spatial distribution pattern of this grasshopper had a dynamic trend of diffusion-aggregation-diffusion-aggregation,corresponding to the grasshopper developmental cycle,but the dynamic intensity of the female was stronger than that of the male from July to August.The fuzzy proximity between females and males was within a range of 0.53-0.78,implying close synchronization of the sexes in spatial distribution pattern dynamics.


The work presented here is focused on the elimination of coolants in the high speed milling of wrought aluminium alloys. This is a very interesting issue from the point of view of the high costs of the coolant life cycle and for environment preservation. The main factor to be considered is the estimation of temperature at the tool/chip interface, since it acts directly on the tool degradation mechanism: the previous diffusion and the later adhesion of aluminium on the rake and clearance faces, the well-known BUL (built up layer) effect. Two techniques are discussed to keep the temperature below the diffusion threshold, the tool geometry optimisation making use of the simulation of the removal process using the finite element method and the measurement of the tool edge temperature with an infrared device. Five different types of hard metal tools have been tested under the same conditions.


The transition region analysis of an abrupt heterojunction is extended to include the effects of mobile carriers' charge in the space charge regions. Deviations from the depletion model are obtained when the wide band-gap semiconductor is heavier-doped-This is due to a non-negligible potential drop across the narrow band-gap semiconductor at an isotype (i.e. n-n or p-p) heterojunction, and to an inversion layer at the interface in the same semiconductor at an anisotype (i.e. p-n or n-p) heterojunction. The C−2 versus V plots are acceptable, straight lines having slopes in agreement with the depletion model predictions, but the intercept voltages differ. A constant electric dipole at the interface causes a similar effect.


Part 1 Bipartisan foreign policy and policymaking since World War II: meanings of bipartisan foreign policy post-war record of bipartisanship perspectives on bipartisan foreign policy issues the partisan context - can foreign policy be separated from politics? building a bipartisan foreign policy conclusion. Part 2 Documents on bipartsian foreign policymaking: models of making bipartisan foreign policy the importance of criticism. Part 3 Strengthening executive-legislative consultation on foreign policy: the meaning of consultation problems in the consultation process improving consultation.


The financialization of commodity markets over the last decade has changed the behavior of commodity prices in fundamental ways. In this paper, we uncover the gradual transformation of commodities from a physical to a financial asset. Although economic demand and supply factors continue to play an important role, recent indicators associated with financialization have emerged since 2008. We show that financial variables have become the main driving factors explaining the variation in commodity returns and volatility today. Our findings have important implications for portfolio analysis and for the effectiveness of hedging in commodity markets.


The control of the spatial expression of gene products is one of the most important and complex processes contributing to the embryogenesis of metazoans. This control can be achieved through many levels of regulation. Transcription factors such as homeodomain proteins are important regulators of the phenotypic output of cells in which they are expressed. The Hox genes are a genomic cluster of homeodomain containing master control proteins, each of which is expressed in, and controls the morphology of a specific anteroposterior domain. While transcription factors have long been known to be an important type of regulatory molecule, recent discoveries have shown that there is always more out there for biology to teach us. The discovery of microRNAs has led to a whole new paradigm, in which the expression of many genes is controlled by the activity of tiny RNAs that were once invisible to researchers. The Hox complexes of bilaterian animals typically contain a few microRNAs, but nearly all of them have the mir-10 gene. This ancient regulatory molecule is conserved in its sequence, genomic position, and to some extent its spatial expression over evolutionary time scales. In Drosophila melanogaster, this gene produces two mature microRNA products, each of which has strong complementarity to conserved sequences in Hox genes. These microRNAs are also expressed in patterns that are complementary to these potential target genes. Despite these correlations, disruption of the normal expression of the mir-10 gene does not strongly effect the expression of these genes, but may instead function to canalize their expression. Appendages are structures common to a wide variety of animal body plans. When compared between distantly related animals there are no obvious structural characteristics which suggest they are homologous, yet they are patterned by similar transcription factors. Since these structures are not likely ancestral, their seemingly conserved patterning mechanism may have been acquired through independent co-option of a pre-existing network of genes for a similar purpose. The core genes responsible for patterning the proximodistal axis of appendages are also expressed in domains of the anterior neurectoderm that are conserved among distantly related animals and function to pattern the anteroposterior axis of the head. This ancient gene network was likely co-opted in order to pattern the axis of appendages during the early evolution of bilaterian animals. The advent of multicellularity has provided our planet with a rich variety of organisms. It is unknown what was necessary to allow single celled organisms to give rise eventually to the people that would research them, but there are many proteins that are assumed to be important for this process. Multicellular organisms are composed of many different types of cells, and homeodomain transcription factors are often involved in the specification of these cell types. The nearest relatives to animals are choanoflagellates, which are simple single celled organisms that sometimes exist in colonies. Although most animals have a specific set of homeodomain containing genes, most these are either evolutionary novelties specific to animals or have been secondarily lost in choanoflagellates. For this reason it is unknown what role homeodomain proteins played in the process of multicellularization that gave rise to animals, but further studies may provide exciting answers


BACKGROUND Fractional ablative laser resurfacing has been shown to improve the final cosmetic appearance of surgical scars, but optimal timing is unknown. OBJECTIVE To compare surgical scars treated with fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser performed on Day 0 and Day 14. METHODS Prospective, randomized, split-scar, physician-blinded study of 30 surgical scars on the limbs. Scars halves received fractional CO2 laser on either Day 0 or Day 14. Scar assessment at 6 months evaluated patient preference, physician modified Manchester Scar Scale (MMSS) score, and quantitative scar analysis on histology (fractal dimension [FD] and lacunarity [L] analysis). RESULTS There was no significant difference in patient assessment (54% preferred Day 0 side, 46% preferred Day 14 side, p = .58) or physician assessment (mean MMSS 8.4 for Day 0 vs 8.7 for Day 14, p = .28). Fractal dimensions were similar for both interventions (mean 1.778 for Day 0 vs 1.781 for Day 14, p = .80). Lacunarity was similar for both interventions (mean 0.368 for Day 0 vs 0.345 for Day 14, p = .44). LIMITATIONS Single-center study with wounds limited to limbs of skin Phototype I-II subjects; 4 of whom were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION Intraoperative CO2 laser is noninferior to Day 14 laser resurfacing for surgical scar treatment.


The form factors relevant to B q → D ∗ q ( J P = 1 − ) ℓν ( q = s, d, u ) decays are calculated in the framework of the three point QCD sum rules approach. The heavy quark effective theory prediction of the form factors as well as 1 /m b corrections to those form factors are obtained. A comparison of the results for the ratio of form factors at zero recoil limit and other values of q 2 with the predictions of the subleading Isgur-Wise form factor application for B → D ∗ ℓν is presented. The total decay width and branching ratio for these decays are also evaluated using the q 2 dependencies of these form factors. The results are in good agreement with the constituent quark meson model and existing experimental data. The q = s case can also be detected at LHC in the near future. by their interpolating currents taken at large virtualities. The correlation


The article is devoted to problems of struggle against corruption in modern conditions. We consider proposals to reform the legislation in this sphere.


The behavior of the orientation structure of a suspension of diamagnetic particles based on a cholesteric liquid crystal in an external magnetic field is theoretically studied. The effects of magnetic segregation and rigid homeotropic coupling between the liquid crystal matrix and admixture diamagnetic particles are taken into account. Within the framework of the continuum approach, a system of equations for the orientation equilibrium of the suspension was obtained using standard variational procedures. In the limit of weak magnetic fields, analytical dependences describing the behavior of the director vector field and the distribution of the admixture concentration along the suspension helix are obtained. A significant influence of the anisotropy parameter of the diamagnetic susceptibility subsystems on the wave-like concentration profiles in the suspension was revealed.