A −1 of the strongly correlated transition-metal oxide V2O3. We focus in particular on the transitions between d states that give rise to the spectra below 6 eV. We show that the main peak in this energy range is mainly due to t2g → e σ transitions, and that it carries a signature of the phase transition between the paramagnetic insulator and the paramagnetic metal that can already be understood from the joint density of states calculated at the level of the static local density approximation. Instead, in order to obtain theoretical spectra that are overall similar to the measured ones, we have to go beyond the static approximation and include at least crystal local field effects. The latter turn out to be crucial in order to eliminate a spurious peak and hence allow a safe comparison between theory and experiment, including an analysis of the strong anisotropy of the spectra.


Our self-representation in a virtual world can influence our behavior and actions there. This survey studies the existing literature in these aspects, and concludes on the impact of your virtual appearance on your behavior. The process applied involves the analyses of key points relevant to body ownership, virtual reality, embodiment, and human behavior. ACM Classification


The pressure on EU countries to increase migrant returns has been incessant. The first milestone in this process was the 2010 enactment of the Return Directive, and the second occurred in May 2015 ...


Taking initiative is essentially assuming the risk of a possible failure. While doing so, you put yourself out there and things don't always go as planned. But the alternative to this is choosing to be in active, which will force you get out of the competition in the corporate world. If you are a leader, it's important that members of your team make the right choice between doing nothing and dong something. For a healthy, forward-looking operation, they should want choose action – and this begins with the encouragement of a proactive leader, who should be "SMART" {Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound} Typically in any canteen of an organization, the talk among managers will be " Too much Stress, Fed up, not able to control the team etc.". In the dynamic world, managing a team successfully in any organization becomes a tough task not because of the individual is not skilled or inexperienced, but because of lack of focus and unorganized data. The expectations from the management are growing every day to meet the target or objective with QCD approach (Quality Cost and Delivery on Time) and it becomes a stress for a good percentage of managers. The reason, in majority of the cases we do not spend time on organizing and updating the basics facts about the Four walls of the business namely " People, Process, Customer and Technology " and we take it for granted. This leads to last minute rush, confusion, and ineffective communication to the Supervisor. The objective of this article is to provide key factors that a manager should always watch out on daily basis in order to enhance him into a state of Transformational Manager status and set as an example for the team to follow and live "Stress Free work life ",  "Easy go lucky Guy " style with Confident career. Here are the points to ponder and should be identified and documented.


Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a rare disease with chronic inflammatory osteoarticular symptoms and various dermatologic lesions, manifesting as synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis. Various skin manifestations of SAPHO syndrome mainly include palmoplantar pustulosis, severe acne, psoriasis vulgaris and follicular occlusion triad. However, the causes of skin manifestations of SAPHO syndrome remain uncertain. Recent studies have found that it may be related to the activation of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) pathway and dysregulation of P2X7-interleukin (IL) -1β axis. It is hard to control the symptoms of SAHPO syndrome. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) usually serve as traditional first-line drugs, and second-line drugs usually include glucocorticoids, bisphosphonates and antirheumatic drugs. Current studies also suggest that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonists can relieve the symptoms of SAPHO syndrome, but their therapeutic effect is also controversial. Recent studies have found that secukinumab, an IL-17A antagonist, is rather effective for palmoplantar pustulosis. Correct understanding of the skin manifestations is meaningful for early diagnosis, treatment and pathological exploration of SAPHO syndrome.

Key words:
Acquired hyperostosis syndrome; Skin manifestations; Psoriasis; Acne vulgaris; Hyperostosis


This piece of research characterizes the lesions observed during collecting specimens of lungs of cows from butchers. Grossly, lesions varied from pulmonary paleness to congestion and necrosis. These gross lesions confirmed the histopathological lesions that represented by variant stages of pneumonia; acute, serous, serofibrinous, hemorrhagic, fibrinonecrotic and cases of chronic bronchopneumonia. This study suggests paying attention to preliminary cases of pneumonia as how fast would be deteriorating into advanced stages that affect both dairy products and human consumption. Keywords: pneumonia, cows, lungs


Differential evolution (DE) algorithm is a global optimization algorithm over continuous search space. DE also has been applied in many fields, such as artificial neural networks, chemical engineering, mechanical design, robotics, signal processing, biological information, and economics. At the same time, as a powerful evolutionary algorithm for solving global numerical optimization problems, the DE algorithm has drawn more and more attention. However, how to make a proper balance between the global and local search is a burning question and to limit the optimization performance of DE. In this paper, an improved algorithm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta _{\_{}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>CODE with a new <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta _{\_{}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>Cauchy operator is proposed to enhance the global and local search ability of a well-known DE variant JADE. In order to guarantee the effective performance of the proposed operator, all the fitness values are ranked through a ranking scheme based on increasing order before a new <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta _{\_{}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>Cauchy operator is conducted. The pNP individuals that have better fitness are selected and carried out Cauchy disturbance operation considering the complexity of the algorithm. The Dynamic parameter mechanism is utilized to select pNP individuals that number is also adjusted dynamically in each generation. The scale factor F and crossover probability CR are obtained with Lehmer mean without using determined parameter c in JADE, which aims to balance the exploration and exploitation of the algorithm during the running time. A total of sixty benchmark functions from CEC2014 and CEC2017 on real parameter optimization are employed to prove the validity of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta _{\_{}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>CODE for solving complex high-dimensional problems. The experiments indicate that <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta _{\_{}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>CODE is better than or at least comparable with several state-of-the-art DE variants, including JADE, SinDE, TSDE, AGDE, and EFADE in the global numerical optimization problems. In order to further analyze the performance of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta _{\_{}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>CODE, we also select extra two high-powered modified algorithms called EBLSHADE and LSHADESPACMA based on LSHADE to discuss advantages and disadvantages of the proposed algorithm.


Social interaction combined with social conformity spreads attitudes and behaviors through a society. This paper examines such a process geographically for compliance with the norm that good citizens should vote. The diffusion of conformist behavior affects the local degree of conformity with the norm and produces highly specific and predictable patterns of behavior across a country. These are demonstrated with qualitative and quantitative spatial analysis of voter turnout in the United States and Russia.


Friction welding was applied to dissimilar aluminum cast bars alloyed with 2 and 8% copper and the effects of upset time on joint properties were evaluated in this study. The welding process was carried out by a vertical milling machine. Tensile test results show that the ultimate tensile strength increased with an increase in upset time and it reached 88% for Al-2%Cu and 74% for Al-8%Cu base metals. The heat affected zone, thermo-mechanical affected zone, and weld metal were detected in this joint by optical examination, in addition to the base metals. A peak temperature of 436 °C was measured in the weld zone. Hardness values also varied according to microstructural changes. The highest hardness values were detected in the weld metal and its average hardness was 217 Brinell.


A guide to English usage from the author of "Collins Gem English Grammar", this book aims to provide guidance on modern English without being over-prescriptive. 2500 entries are listed alphabetically, and cross-referenced.


ABSTRACT Bacteriophage lysins (Ply), or endolysins, are phage-encoded cell wall lytic enzymes which are synthesized late during virus multiplication and mediate the release of progeny virions. Bacteriophages of the pathogen Listeria monocytogenesencode endolysin enzymes which specifically hydrolyze the cross-linking peptide bridges in Listeria peptidoglycan. Ply118 is a 30.8-kDa l-alanoyl-d-glutamate peptidase and Ply511 (36.5 kDa) acts asN-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase. In order to establish dairy starter cultures with biopreservation properties against L. monocytogenes contaminations, we have introducedply118 and ply511 into Lactococcus lactis MG1363 by using a pTRKH2 backbone. The genes were expressed under control of the lactococcal promoter P32, which proved superior to other promoters (P21 and P59) tested in this study. High levels of active enzymes were produced and accumulated in the cytoplasmic cell fractions but were not released from the cells at significant levels. Therefore, ply511 was genetically fused with the SPslpA nucleotide sequence encoding the Lactobacillus brevis S-layer protein signal peptide. Expression of SPslpA–ply511 from pSL-PL511 resulted in secretion of functional Ply511 enzyme from L. lactis cells. One clone expressed an unusually strong lytic activity, which was found to be due to a 115-bp deletion that occurred within the 3′-end coding sequence ofSPslpA–ply511, which caused a frameshift mutation and generated a stop codon. Surprisingly, the resulting carboxy-terminal deletion of 80 amino acids in the truncated Ply511Δ(S262–K341) mutant polypeptide strongly increased its lytic activity. Proteolytic processing of the secretion competentSPSlpA-Ply511 propeptide following membrane translocation had no influence on enzyme activity. Immunoblotting experiments using both cytoplasmic and supernatant fractions indicated that the enzyme was quantitatively exported from the cells and secreted into the surrounding medium, where it caused rapid lysis of L. monocytogenes cells. Moreover, transformation of pSL-PL511ΔC into L. lactis Bu2-129, a lactose-utilizing strain that can be employed for fermentation of milk, also resulted in secretion of functional enzyme and showed that the vector is compatible with the native lactococcal plasmids.


Disposition kinetics in goats of fenvalerate [(RS)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (RS)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methylbutyrate] were studied after oral administration at 5 mg kg−1. The insecticide persisted in blood for up to 48 h. The Vd(area), t1/2(β), and t1/2(Ka), of fenvalerate were 12.14 (±0.39) litre kg−1, 12.25 (±0.25) h and 0.63 (±0.11)h, while the AUC and ClB values were respectively 7.35 (±0.39) μg h ml−1 and 0.68 (±0.04) litre kg−1 h−1. The residues in tissues reached a peak four days after insecticide administration and then started to decline. Maximum residue was found in the adrenal gland, followed by liver, kidney and intestine. Both GOT and GPT activities in kidney tissue, but only GPT activities in liver tissue had decreased significantly 4, 8 and 22 days post-administration. The fenvalerate did not produce any significant effects on serum acetylcholinesterase, cholesterol or protein levels in goats. Histopathological examination showed fatty changes in the periphery of lobule, congestion in sinusoid, haemolysis in central vein, necrosis and periportal fibrosis around the central vein of liver, and necrosis in kidney of fenvalerate-treated goats.


To evaluate the stability of a prestressed railway embankment (PRE), approximate solutions for the additional normal and shear stresses on an arbitrary potential sliding surface of a PRE are first derived using the elastic theory, by which the propagation effect of additional stresses due to the prestressing loads is appropriately considered. Then, a limit equilibrium slice method incorporating the additional stress effect, equivalent interslice forces, track weight, and train axle load but avoiding repeated iteration calculations is developed to analyze the PRE stability. The additional stress solutions are also introduced to modify three commonly used conventional slope stability analysis methods, and comparative analyses were performed to investigate the applicability of the proposed method. The results showed that the differences between the safety factor (Fs) of a PRE evaluated using the proposed and modified methods were within 2% in this study and the values were less than those yielded by the conventional methods because of the partial negative effect of the additional normal and shear stresses on a few slices around the lateral pressure plate (LPP). Besides, the adaptive genetic algorithm was introduced to search the critical sliding surface of the PRE. Finally, the effect of reinforcement pressure on the stability of a PRE was investigated, where the results indicated that the Fs of the PRE increased from 1.323 to 1.626 with an increase of the reinforcement pressure from 0 to 200 kPa, while the PRE gradually varies from potential integral instability to potential local instability. The accurate and efficient determination of the additional stresses on the sliding surface is important in analyzing the PRE stability, and the developed method can provide an easy-to-use and relatively safer stability analysis method for the design of a PRE.


Aim. To assess the rate of promoter methylation of putative TSGs for PCa in tumor tissue and in urine of PCa patients for better understanding of regulation of gene expression upon the PCa development and to evaluate the possibility to use the data on TSGs' methylation for the development of noninvasive PCa markers. Methods. A quantitative methyl-specific PCR (qMSP) was used for the analysis of a methylation rate in prostate tissues and cell lines, and an ordinary MSP was performed for the study of urine samples. Results. We found that the RASSF1A promoter demonstrated a higher methylation rate in the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion positive PCa. The methylation of NKX3.1, PTEN and RASSF1A in DNA from urine was more common for cancer patients than for healthy donors. The promoters of CDH1 and GDF15 were methylated more frequently in PCa patients, than in patients with inflammatory disease. Conclusions. The abovementioned five genes can form a panel for early non-invasive detection of PCa. This set can be combined with the detection of the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion transcript. More work should be done to understand the molecular mechanisms explaining the functional role of promoter methylation of the selected genes.


In the modern world, the problem of the perception of science in society is relevant, and it is impossible to expect scientific breakthroughs and the introduction of new technologies into everyday life without its solution. Anti-scientology views have taken root in society with the active assistance of the media. In this regard, it seems useful to analyse the features of the science image formation by means of fiction. The purpose of the article is to study the possibilities of using the genre of the American thriller novel as a means of scientific communication that can inspire society's confidence in science. To achieve the stated purpose, the analysis of the peculiarities of the science perception in modern society is carried out; the methods of communication between scientists and society are considered, and the specific features of the thriller genre are revealed. The author came to the conclusion that the genre nature of the thriller novel makes it possible to tell mass audience about new technologies in a fascinating way, take a fresh look at scientific achievements, comprehend the moral principles of science, and build trust in innovative technologies in modern society.


Electrochemical sensor for determining substances which are present in a liquid and under the influence of enzymes are able to react with oxygen, comprising a layered structure. The sensor is provided with a membrane of which during operation one side comes into contact with the liquid to be measured, said membrane being permeable to the substance to be determined and to oxygen, but impermeable to components having a high molecular weight which may be present in the liquid to be measured. The sensor further includes an enyzme- containing hydrophilic layer on the other side of the said membrane, in which layer the substance to be determined reacts with oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide, and also includes a detection electrode via which the amount formed of hydrogen peroxide is detected. The detection electrode is designed as a porous, electrically conductive layer which is permeable to the substance to be determined, to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide and is disposed between the said membrane and the enzyme- containing hydrophilic layer.


The research work introduces a step by step tutorial to solve transportation problems by using an M.S. Excel solver add-on. This research is carried out based on the actual data of a transportation company. The studied transportation network includes ten sources and nineteen destinations. It was required to minimize the total ton-kilometers. The real data, the solution algorithm, the Excel solver tutorial, as well as the optimal solution, are included.


ABSTRACT CD8 T cells are the principal antiviral effectors controlling cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. For human CMV, the virion tegument protein ppUL83 (pp65) has been identified as a source of immunodominant peptides and is regarded as a candidate for cytoimmunotherapy and vaccination. Two sequence homologs of ppUL83 are known for murine CMV, namely the virion protein ppM83 (pp105) expressed late in the viral replication cycle and the nonstructural protein pM84 (p65) expressed in the early phase. Here we show that ppM83, unlike ppUL83, is not delivered into the antigen presentation pathway after virus penetration before or in absence of viral gene expression, while other virion proteins of murine CMV are processed along this route. In cytokine secretion-based assays, ppM83 and pM84 appeared to barely contribute to the acute immune response and to immunological memory. Specifically, the frequencies of M83 and M84 peptide-specific CD8 T cells were low and undetectable, respectively. Nonetheless, in a murine model of cytoimmunotherapy of lethal CMV disease, M83 and M84 peptide-specific cytolytic T-cell lines proved to be highly efficient in resolving productive infection in multiple organs of cell transfer recipients. These findings demonstrate that proteins which fail to prime a quantitatively dominant immune response can nevertheless represent relevant antigens in the effector phase. We conclude that quantitative and qualitative immunodominance are not necessarily correlated. As a consequence of these findings, there is no longer a rationale for considering T-cell abundance as the key criterion for choosing specificities to be included in immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis of CMV disease and of viral infections in general.


The thrust of this work was to determine the effects of roasting, boiling, combination of roasting and boiling and soaking on the nutrient and anti-nutrient composition of Afzelia Africana . Two kilograms of Afzelia Africana seeds were purchased from the local market, cleaned and divided into four equal portions for the four treatments. At the end of the treatments, the seeds were sun dried for 24 hours and hammer-milled into fine flours. The proximate, the individual minerals and anti-nutrients of the flours were determined using standard assay methods.
Boiling alone caused the highest increases in protein, ash, total dietary fiber, insoluble fiber, iron, calcium and phosphorus as against other treatments. Combination of roasting and boiling reduced moisture to 0.45%, iron (9.13mg), copper to traces, potassium (0.16mg), tannins to traces and least viscosity as against other methods.
Soaking decreased protein, moisture, fat, total dietary and soluble fiber, calcium, phosphorus, copper, tannins and viscosity. Roasting alone had advantages over other food processing techniques in food energy, soluble dietary fiber, potassium, viscosity and reduced anti-nutrients. Key Words: Afzelia Africana , food processing, nutrient potentials, soluble dietary fiber Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol.2(2) 2004: 86-91


The article presents the problem of the wear of the components of injection apparatus of a self-ignition engine during the addition of water. The observer was subject to an injector from the KIPOR KDE3500E generator set engine. The tests carried out consisted in observing the atomizer after 120 minutes of running the engine powered with diesel oil and after working at the same time but with the addition of water to the intake manifold.


Decades of investigation have established a central role for presynaptic mesostriatal dopamine dysfunction, in particular elevated dopamine synthesis and release capacity, in the pathoaetiology of psychosis1, 2. The question of exactly how increased striatal dopamine synthesis and release capacity causes the symptoms and signs of psychosis, however, remains unresolved2, 3.


In this study, the effect of various commercial fruit juices (used as plant carbon source) was assessed on cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) cv. Liza at seedling stage under aseptic conditions. Seeds were germinated on ½MS medium (within 2-days) under dark conditions. They were sub-cultured on MS 0 (MS basal salts) medium and its derivatives [MS, supplemented with fruit juices in place of sucrose (3%) such as, MS 1 (orange), MS 2 (apple), MS 3 (red grapes) and MS 4 (strawberry)] for six weeks. Maximum seedling growth was observed in MS 1 and MS 3 cultures (p > 0.05). Significant increase in proline and reducing sugars was measured in MS 2 and MS 4 in comparison to MS 0 (control) culture. Abundance of chlorophyll contents (Chl a, b and ab ) and total carotenoids including its precursor (lycopene) was also found in MS 1 medium. Both orange and grapes supplied cultures were most effective in relation to all growth related parameters.


AC-DC-AC converter-fed induction motor (IM) drive is mainly realized by back-to-back three-phase converters. However, fault in a single semiconductor switch will make it inoperative. To enable continued controllable operation in case of the faults occurring in the converter, the five-leg converter with a shared leg between the grid and load sides is a possible solution. However, this topology poses an inherent two-objective control problem, because its grid and load sides should be controlled simultaneously. More importantly, the potential increase of the shared-leg current may destroy the converters. In this paper, a new control scheme based on the FCS-MPC combined with intrinsic characteristic of the five-leg converter is proposed for independent control of the rectifier and inverter subsystem with the shared-leg overcurrent constraint. The condition for independent control is analyzed. In order to give a complete evaluation of the proposed control scheme, the conventional pulsewidth modulation (PWM) control scheme is conducted for comparison. Experimental results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.


Almost 60 years ago H. Stammreich obtained the Raman spectra of two photosensitive molecules, CI4 and SnI4, using a pioneering technology developed by him. At the time the excitation source was homemade gas lamps. The same experiments were repeated by us, with the best technology available, with outstanding correlation, and some new information was obtained that wasn't possible 60 years ago. The major difference between the experiments was the use of laser, that made the Raman spectroscopist's life much easier and less time-consuming.


In this work plasma immersion (PI) was applied to Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyethylene Terephtalate (PET) to improve their characteristics for food packaging. The effects of plasma composition were investigated by comparing treatments using N2 and SF6. Different treatment times were used at a total reactor pressure of 1.33 Pa composed by a steel vacuum chamber containing two internal circular electrodes. Radiofrequency Power (13.56 MHz at 150 W) was applied to the lower electrode while the upper electrode was grounded. Preliminary results show the dependences of parameters with the new surface obtained by PI. Thus, is possible to obtain a hydrophilic or hydrophobic surface.


International political debate on how climate change should be mitigated has grown stronger, and one key issue has been burden sharing, i.e. the question of how much each nation should be allowed to emit greenhouse gases. This Thesis examines the outcomes of emission reductions using the TIMES energy system model in four SRES scenarios, proposes a multicriteria approach for evaluating economic implications, regional equity and attractiveness of burden sharing, and analyzes four previously proposed burden sharing schemes: Triptych, Multistage, Equal emissions per capita and Grandfathering approaches. The developed scenarios confirmed the result of previous studies that emissions can be significantly reduced while satisfying the rising demand for energy due to technological alternatives with lower emissions. A combination of biofuels, wind, hydro and nuclear power would allow substantial emission reductions in the electricity sector, while a switch from fossil to biofuels could be expected in industrial and transportation sectors. With the trade of emission allowances, the emission reductions were made in a globally cost-optimal manner regardless of the burden sharing scheme. Therefore the burden sharing doesn't influence the impact of emission reductions on regional economies. The trade is however likely to involve major transfers of wealth, making the burden sharing a highly relevant issue in international politics. Also due to this, the regional mitigation costs varied greatly with different burden sharing schemes. Global mitigation costs were calculated to be 1% of global GDP, a much lower figure than the costs of climate change, estimated e.g. in the Stern Review to be around 10% of GDP. This multi-criteria assessment highlighted the conflicting interests of the developed and developing nations for choosing the burden sharing method. The four schemes created a wide range of outcomes with regard to emission trading, equity and attractiveness. With the methodology used, all of the schemes were seen as relevant, Triptych however providing greatest trade-off between the developed and the developing nations. Number of pages: 67


In the year 1970, during excavations at Aphrodisias in Caria, fragments of an inscription were discovered, beginning with the words: BICHARACTA Mİ [—, The editors suggest this should be read: BICHARACTA MONETA. The inscription may be dated to the year 301, and is part of an edict of the Emperor Diocletian dealing with his monetary reforms. The editors further suggest that 'Bicharacta moneta' perhaps refers to 'the new coinage of A.D. 294, created by a grand recoinage (i.e. second striking) of old pieces'


Data breach laws affect a broad range of consumer experiences. This article presents an empirical analysis of every state data breach law and examines the variety of incarnations of this category of laws within the United States. This article draws insights from linguistics, behavioral sciences, and law to develop achievable recommendations for a unified approach to this vital legal issue. This article also notes the interaction of data breach laws with modern legislative trends, including the increasing use of omnibus bills and external drafting services. This article encourages the adoption of a unified data security regime that would current address points of inconsistency between data breach laws.


Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the biophysical and socioeconomic impacts of climate change on maize production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using adapted improved maize varieties and well-calibrated and validated bioeconomic models. Design/methodology/approach – Using the past climate (1950-2000) as a baseline, the study estimated the biophysical impacts of climate change in 2050 (2040-2069) and 2080 (2070-2099) under the A1B emission scenario and three nitrogen levels, and the socioeconomic impacts in 2050. Findings – Climate change will affect maize yields across SSA in 2050 and 2080, and the extent of the impact at a given period will vary considerably between input levels, regions and maize mega environments (MMEs). Greater relative yield reductions may occur under medium and high-input intensification than under low intensification, in Western and Southern Africa than in Eastern and Central Africa and in lowland and dry mid-altitude than in highland and wet mid-alt...


Through the analysis of AGV kinematics model,according to the environment of AGV in unknown obstacle-avoidance problem,fuzzy control and neural network,a fuzzy neural network controller,formation of AGV travel environment were analyzed,will obstacles information input controller,output data from controller to find out the best path,obstacle-avoidance by using fuzzy neural network self-learning and adaptive ability,improve the success rate of AGV obstacle avoidance.


Abstract : In this paper realization procedures for 2-D systems are discussed from an input/output point of view (leaving the state-space approach for further studies). Stochastic as well as deterministic techniques of realization are presented. In the stochastic case the Levinson algorithm is generalized to the 2-D case. The 2-D Levinson recursions are related to similar recursions for 2-D orthogonal polynomials on the unit hyper circle generalizations of the Szego polynomials. These recursions are connected to the factorizations of the block covariance matrix in elements which are causal in each of the four quadrants. Furthermore, 2-D maximum-entropy spectral analysis techniques are discussed. From a deterministic standpoint several recursive partial realization schemes are considered, which represent fast solutions of the 2-D Pade approximation problem. These methods are extensions of the Lanczos recursions to the 2-D case.


Objective
To analyze the effect of transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of seminal vesicle diseases.

Methods
A total of 30 patients with seminal vesicle disease treated at our hospital from June, 2015 to March, 2017 were recruited as study objects and received conventional treatment. The unhealed patients were treated with transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy. The patients' recovery and prognosis were observed after 3 months follow-up.

Results
26 cases were cured by conventional anti-inflammatory treatment, while 4 unhealed patients were treated with seminal vesicle examination and endoscopic treatment. Ejaculatory duct stones were found in 1 case and were smashed out by holmium laser during the operation. Right seminal wall inflammation was found in 1 case and burned by holmium laser. Intumescentia and hyperemia was found 1 case with normal seminal vesicle. Ejaculatory duct orifice could not be found in 1 case with seminal wall inflammation and was burned by holmium laser. The seminal vesicle operation time was 30-95 min, with an average of (47.1±10.5) min. The bleeding volume was 19-50 ml, with and average of (34.4±8.5) ml. All the 30 patients were followed up 3 months after the operation; 1 patient got testicular pain 2 d after the surgery and was diagnosed with acute epididymitis and the symptoms were relieved after 5 d anti-inflammatory treatment. All the patients had no urethral injury, retrograde ejaculation, rectal injury, or other complications. No recurrence of hemospermia was found within the follow-up period.

Conclusions
Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy can improve the diagnostic accuracy and clinical effect of seminal vesicle diseases with failures of conventional treatment, so it is worth being clinically generalized.

Key words:
Transurethral; Seminal vesiculoscopy; Seminal vesicle disease; Effect


The purpose of this project is to document the availability of poultry manure in South Carolina and assess its potential for energy generation. Several technical, environmental, economic, and policy issues were identified that would impact the development of poultry manure as a significant bio-fuel feedstock.


In the years 1945 and 1946 we have seen the completed development of new and larger Diesel engines designed specifically for use in main line Diesel-electric locomotives. Application of the larger electric transmission systems required for converting the engine power into tractive effort at the rail has presented new control problems, in the solution of which many new developments in circuits, apparatus, and manufacture have been made.


Abstract Drug elimination is the removal of a drug from the body by metabolism and/or excretion. The main routes for drug excretion are the kidneys, hepatobiliary system and the lungs, the latter being particularly important for inhalational anaesthetics and medicinal gases. The kidney excretes polar compounds in the urine without further metabolism. In contrast, lipid-soluble compounds have to be metabolized to polar compounds before renal excretion. Most metabolism occurs in the liver. The liver can also be involved in elimination via biliary excretion. Phase 1 includes oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis. In the liver, many of these reactions are catalyzed by the mixed function oxidase system, of which the most important group is the cytochrome P450 system. Some phase 1 metabolites may be pharmacologically active. Phase 2 reactions occur when a drug or phase 1 metabolite has a suitable group such as amino, hydroxyl or thiol that makes it susceptible to conjugation, most commonly glucuronide. Phase 2 products are usually pharmacologically inactive and are excreted via the biliary route or via the kidney in the urine.


PtPb catalysts with molar ratios of 3:1,2:1,1:1,1:2,1:3 and Pt/C catalyst were synthesized using direct electrodeposition.The catalysts were characterized by cyclic voltammetry.The results indicated that the addition of Pb inhibit the poisoning of the Pt/C catalysts by the COad intermediate,and improve the properties and longevity of the catalysts.Under the same condition,the properties of the catalysts are different as the PtPb atom ratio changes.In the four PtPb catalysts with different ratio,the anti-posion property of the catalysts are enhanced as the Pb content increases.In order to reduce the Pt/C used,PtPb catatysts were used in place of Pt/C catalyst.The electrochemical properties of the catalysts with different Pb content were studied,and the optimal mole ratio was determined to be Pt:Pb=1:2 The catalysts can be used as important electrocatalysts of fuel cells.


Development of Coffee shop business as income source and job opportunity for the community in poverty reduction is an important issue and urgent to be implemented recently. Although the demand for coffee shop's services is increasing in accordance to the culture and lifestyle development, however competition in the coffee business is also increasing. This research aims to analyze factors influence the visitors' number and the profit level of the coffee shop businesses of popular coffee shops in Banda Aceh City.  By taking 100 respondents from ten popular coffee shops in Banda Aceh City which different locations, accesses, and performances of the coffee shops, hopefully the questions of this research will be answered. The research used Decretive Analysis Method for the visitors' characteristic and Doubled Regression method for the coffee shop's performances that influences the number of visitors and the profit level. The result of the research shows that popular coffee shops have good facilities and performances with consumers who are generally young, private company's employees and students with high education background. Factors that    have positive and significant influence to the visitors' number and the profit level of the coffee shops are: wide of the coffee shops, interior, and access. And Factors that have negative significant influence are facility and price.  In order to increase the visitor's number and the business' profit, the coffee shop's entrepreneurs should pay attention on the wide of coffee shop, interior, and access to the coffee shops with reasonable facilities and prices.


Revisiting Graphical Statics Dr. Sarah C. Baxter, University of St. Thomas Dr. Baxter is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering at the University of St, Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She received her PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science. Prof. Ann Johnson, University of South Carolina Ann Johnson holds a joint appointment as an associate professor in the departments of history and philosophy at the University of South Carolina. Her main research interests lie in studying the profession work practices of engineers, with particular attention to the ways the produce knowledge and the role of mathematical modeling. Dr. Bethany S. Fralick, University of South Carolina, Aiken Dr. Fralick is an Assistant Professor of Engineering in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of South Carolina Aiken in Aiken, SC. She received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Computing.


Insurers are evaluating the costs and benefits of generic testing to determine their level of commitment to the emerging medical discipline.


In December 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it had completed its "risk assessment" on food from animal clones. Our report, "Not Ready for Prime Time: FDA's Flawed Approach to Assessing the Safety of Food from Animal Clones" analyzes FDA's risk assessment and its conclusion (stated in the Agency's press release) that FDA "finds that meat and milk from clones of adult cattle, pigs and goats, and their offspring, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals."


We characterize the cancellative and continuous semigroup operations on the real field which are distributed by the ordinary multiplication or addition.


According to the particularity and complexity of agricultural technology service and management,the article defined the basic concept of agricultural technology service and management,summarized its basic characteristics,combed and explored its structural elements and functions.Agricultural technology service and management plays an important role in accelerating rural construction,narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas,protecing the ecological environment of regional agriculture,it guarantees the achievement of science and technology and the benign loop of regional environment and promotes the agricultural industrialization development.


The concept of Industry 4.0 is highlighting that high-speed mobile internet, artificial intelligence, big data analytics and cloud technology are very likely to develop in all sectors of industry technologies between 2020 and 2022. The companies are already looking into machine learning, augmented reality, and additive manufacturing for considerable business investments. All this will increase the need of highly qualified trainees and therefore, the universities will need to align with the needs of industry. The paper will present an overview of Additive Manufacturing training, the needs of highly skilled competences according to Industry 4.0 and will also underline the role of ergonomics specialists in Industry 4.0.


PurposeThe purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of stress and to identify the occupational stressors among Lebanese police officers.Design/methodology/approachOperational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-op) was addressed to 100 randomly selected male Lebanese Police officers. Twenty items from the PSQ-op were run through the principal component analysis to determine the most significant factors of stress and loading within each of the factors.FindingsThe results indicated that 59% of officers reported moderate stress level and 41% reported strenuous stress. Principal component analysis identified six independent factors or stress among Lebanese police officers explaining in total 72.1% of the total variance: excessive workload (30.6%), social-life time management (12.8%), occupational fitness (9.1%), success-related stress (8.6%), physical and psychological health (5.8%), and working alone at night (5.2%).Research limitations/implicationsThis research approach encountered some limitations so further research must: use a larger sample size, include female gender and identify other sources of stressors mainly organizational or job context stressors.Originality/valueAddressing and understanding stress factors among Lebanese police officers helps improving awareness and developing individualized treatment strategies leading police officers to engage in stress-management training to learn coping strategies and use effective tools for preventing stress before it becomes chronic.


38 taxa in 22 genera of 12 families were found in Dashuixi stream ecosystem of Wanshan Mercury deposit,Guizhou province,P.R.China.Among them,36 taxa in 20 genera and 10 families are mosses while 2 species in 2 genera and 2 families are liverworts.Pottiaceae and Bryaceae were dominat families while Hydrogonium,Bryum and Philonotis are dominat genera.The life-forms are Short turfs(44.74%),Wefts(13.16%),Tall turfs(36.84%),Mats(5.26%) and.There were 7 geographical elements of the flora such as Cosmopolitan,Tropical Asia,North Temperate,Temperate Asia,Eastern Asia,Pantropical elements and Endemic to China.Among of them,North Temperate,Endemic to China and Tropical Asia were dominat elements.The bryoflora obviously shows the temperate and tropical characters are similar to the flora of seed plants,locations and weather conditions.


Eight day old greenhouse grown Phaseolus vulgaris L. seedlings were exposed to three different temperature regimes. The concentration of the total free nucleotides, nucleoside triphosphates, RNA and protein was much more pronounced in seedlings exposed to the interactive day/night temperature of 28 °C (soil) and 15 °C (air) of regime I. Seedlings treated to a low soil/air, day/night temperature of 15 °C (regime II) had the lowest content of total free nucleotides, nucleoside triphosphates, RNA and protein. The nucleoside triphosphate content and energy charge value of seedlings treated to a high soil/air, day/night temperature of 28 °C (regime III) declined much earlier than in the seedlings exposed to temperature regimes I and II. The fresh and dry weight of seedlings exposed to temperature regime I was significantly higher than those seedlings exposed to the other two temperature regimes. The slowest growth was observed in seedlings exposed to temperature regime II. The noticeably higher concentration of ATP, pyridine nucleotides and root nodulation in seedlings exposed to temperature


Increasinglyfathers are living apartfrom their children and often go on to form new families. We use nonresidentfathers' longitudinal reports of visits with their children from both waves of the National Survey of Families and Households to evaluate whether and how changing family configurations influence fathers' visitation with their nonresident children. Nonresidentfathers often report reducing visitation, but almost one quarter experience increases in thefrequency of visits with their nonresident children. Generally, wefind that nonresidentfathers who form new unions (spouse or cohabiting partners) do not subsequently see their nonresident children less often than fathers who do notform new unions. Instead, it is the number of new children (particularly new biological children) that reduces the odds offathers'frequent in-person contact with nonresident children.


The paper holds that along with the appearance and development of internet BBS,blog,cell phone blog,v blog,Wikipedia and some other civics media,news and information promulgating of traditional mass media is being toppled down,and the connotation of public domain on internet is enabled to be enriched and the external extension to be enlarged.Civics media have created the groundwork and conditions for the establishment of public domain in our country,but there is still a certain distance away from the ideal one in the mind of Juergen Habermas.At present,it is needed to foster the spirit of nous,and develop exceeding tolerance of the netizen in order to further enhance the quality of entire netizen.


The results of soil formation after equal periods of time on two types of dumps from polymetal deposits of Sikhote-Alin' are studied : on sulfide-free and sulfidized rocks. Very thin contrasting profiles are formed on the surface of sulfidized rocks, whereas the profiles are thicker and develop after the zonal type on sulfide-free soils.


It can be loaded into the flash memory IC recorder software program read and executed by the PC connected to the IC recorder via the external I / F and input and output terminals, so that such data is maintained by the audio information signal from the PC transferred to the PC refresh memory. Management information about the signal is transferred to and stored in the flash memory is generated by a software program and stored in the PC executing the refresh memory to make the IC recorder may use the management information.


Introduction: The Malocclusion or misalignment of teeth affects not only oral function but also facial esthetics and the psychological well-being of patients. In addition, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a psychological disorder associated with anxiety involving 2-2.5% of the population during their life. This study aimed to assess the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients having class I malocclusion with crowding.
Materials & Methods: In this case-control trial, Using the Yale-Brown questionnaire, female patients with 18-22 years old of ages having class I crowding malocclusion and referring to orthodontic department of Azad Dental school enrolled in the trial as the case group (n = 60). The participants with similar malocclusion without reference for orthodontic treatments followed up as the control group (n = 60). The obtained data by Yale-Brown questionnaire classified the obsessive-compulsive disorder in the participants into four groups of mild, fairly mild, moderate and severe levels. The results of the two groups were analyzed using the Chi-square test (p value < 0.05).
Results: In malocclusion patients referring for orthodontic treatments, 19 (31.7%) had mild OCD; 7 (11.7%) had fairly mild OCD; 23 (38.3%) had moderate OCD and 11 (18.3%) showed severe OCD. These values were 28 (46.7%); 12 (20.0%); 15 (25.0%) and 5 (8.3%) for malocclusion patients not referring for orthodontic patients respectively. No significant differences were found among 2 groups regarding severity of OCD (p value = 0.07).
Conclusion: In terms of the severity of OCD, there were no significant variations between malocclusion patients with and without referring for orthodontic treatments.


Objective To study the effects of local vibration on the sexual function of male rabbit by detecing the expression of reproductive endocrine hormone and VEGF mRNA of penis in male New-Zealand rabbits.Methods Thirty male adult rabbits were assigned randomly to group A(8 cases),group B(8 cases),group C(8 cases)and control group(6 cases).Rabbits in group A,group B and group C were treated with various strength of vibration respectively.Rabbits in the control group were not treated by the vibration.The concentrations of teslen(T)luteinizing hormone(LH)and estradiol(E2)in plasma were measured by ELISA before treatment and on the 10th,20th,30th day after vibrating.The expression of VEGF mRNA were measured by RT-PCR on the 30th day after vibrating.Results The concentration of T of group C on the 30th day after vibrating was lower than that before vibrating or the control group(P0.05).The expressions of VEGF mRNA of the group A,group B and group C were higher than that of the control group(P0.01).Conclusions Vibration may result in change of concentrations of T,LH and E2 in rabbits plasma,and increase the expression of VEGF mRNA.


We consider a multiple-input single-output interference channel where each transmitter is equipped with a uniform linear array. By controlling the geometry of the array, i.e. adapting the antenna spacing, the rotation of the array, and the number of antenna elements, we investigate whether the capacity of the channel can be achieved with single user decoding capabilities at the receivers. This objective is reached when it is possible for each transmitter to perform maximum ratio transmission to its intended receiver while simultaneously nulling the interference at all unintended receivers. We provide for the two and three user case the necessary antenna spacing and rotation angle of the array in closed form. For the four user case, an integer programming problem is formulated which additionally determines the required number of antennas.


In the industry revolution 4.0 era, the agriculture sector still has an important position in human life because, without this sector, human capital development cannot be well developed. Globally, the share of agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector has declined significantly in the last two decades. However, the demand on agriculture product, especially rice, incline every year. Rice supply and demand projection with appropriate methods are very important because their result affect how agricultural policies are applied.  The aim of this study is to examine the likely evolution of rice consumption in Indonesia and forecast the Indonesia rice consumption per capita based on global data. The results indicate the income elasticity of demand for rice in the Indonesia has become negative. The forecast of model show that Indonesia's rice demand will keep incline, at least in the next five years. Due to those result, in order to maintain farmers' wealth, modernization in agriculture is needed. Government has encouraged some programs such as Simluhtan, Katam, Si Mantap, Smart Farming, Smart Green House, Autonomous Tractor, dan Smart Irrigation to accelerate the agricultural transformation. Unfortunately, human resource quality becomes a problem. Indonesia need massive effort so that modernization in agriculture works well.


Profiled steel roof claddings in Australia and its neighbouring countries are commonly made of very
thin high tensile steel and are crest-fixed intermittently
with screw fasteners. The failure of the roof
cladding systems was due to a local failure (dimpling
of crests I pull-through) at the fasteners under wind
uplift Cyclic wind uplift during cyclones causes
fatigue cracking to occur at the fastener holes which
leads to pull-through failures at lower load levels.
At present the design of these claddings is entirely
based on testing. In order to improve the understanding
of the behaviour and the design and test
methods of these claddings under wind uplift loading
during storms and cyclones, a detailed investigation
consisting of finite element analyses, static and
fatigue experiments and cyclonic wind modelling
was carried out on two-span roofing assemblies of
three common roofing profiles. This paper presents
the details of this investigation and its important
results.


In this paper, design and configuration of a high-performance Click-based packet classifier on GPU is presented. In this regard, Bloom filter-based classification algorithm is used in order to design and implement the Click-based packet classifier elements (processors) on Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). On one hand, utilization of Bloom filter data structure leads to memory usage reduction of the router. On the other hand, the parallel nature of Bloom filter and GPU architecture bring higher throughput of the software router. The analysis results indicate approximately five times speedup of the proposed Click-based classifier on GPU compared with the standard Click-based classifier.


With the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), different IoT nodes such as 6LoWPAN devices can be connected as a network to provide integrated services. Since security and intrusion detection are becoming crucial among IoT devices, real-time detection of the attacks are critical to protect the IoT networks. However, there exists limited research for efficient network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) in the IoT networks. This paper therefore proposes a new NIDS protocol with an efficient replica detection algorithm to increase the utility and performance of existing NIDS, where a number of replica test nodes are intentionally inserted into the network to test the reliability and response of witness nodes. The proposed protocol, Enhanced NIDS, can address the vulnerability of NIDS and improve IoT network security to detect severe compromise attacks such as clone attacks. The simulation study shows that compared to the state-of-the-art SVELTE protocol, the proposed protocol can significantly increase the detection probability and reduce the energy consumption for detecting clone attacks in IoT networks.


This study aims to clearly understand `Functional Requisite of Authority Data(FRAD)` being studied by IFLA focused on aspect of change from FRAR. In addition, it has established relationship between FRAD and concerned rules by analyzing effect of FRAD on RDA and MARC21 and reviewed cataloguing rules, format and situations of major authority DB implementations concerned about domestic authority controls in reflection of IFLA`s activities for authority control. Based on the analysis, it has looked into considerations for domestic authority controls standards such as access control methods, expansion of application scope, introduction of new approaches such as entity-relationship model, reinforcement of roles for national bibliographic agency. These study results would be utilized as basic data for authority control.


Abstract. The growing use of optimization for geographic object-based image analysis and the possibility to derive a wide range of information about the image in textual form makes machine learning (data mining) a versatile tool for information extraction from multiple data sources. This paper presents application of data mining for land-cover classification by fusing SPOT-6, RADARSAT-2, and derived dataset. First, the images and other derived indices (normalized difference vegetation index, normalized difference water index, and soil adjusted vegetation index) were combined and subjected to segmentation process with optimal segmentation parameters obtained using combination of spatial and Taguchi statistical optimization. The image objects, which carry all the attributes of the input datasets, were extracted and related to the target land-cover classes through data mining algorithms (decision tree) for classification. To evaluate the performance, the result was compared with two nonparametric classifiers: support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF). Furthermore, the decision tree classification result was evaluated against six unoptimized trials segmented using arbitrary parameter combinations. The result shows that the optimized process produces better land-use land-cover classification with overall classification accuracy of 91.79%, 87.25%, and 88.69% for SVM and RF, respectively, while the results of the six unoptimized classifications yield overall accuracy between 84.44% and 88.08%. Higher accuracy of the optimized data mining classification approach compared to the unoptimized results indicates that the optimization process has significant impact on the classification quality.


The article describes the reasons of appearance of mental illnesses among the troops during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905, analyses the problems of organization of medical care for the soldiers with mental problems basing on the statistics from the Harbin hospitals. The author concludes that the prevalence of mental disorders associated with the military event led to the formation and development of military psychiatry in Russia.


Thymoma is a rare malignancy of unknown etiology. Thymoma is exceedingly uncommon in children and young adults. A cytologic diagnosis of thymoma is extremely challenging as the tumor is uncommon and aspirates are infrequently encountered. With this case report, we want to emphasize the importance of the fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of this rare neoplasm.


The compound TtsiH [Ttsi = (p-MeC5Ü4Me2Si)3C] has been prepared and readily metallated with MeLi in refluxing THF to give the lithium reagent TtsiLi, which reacts with Mel to give TtsiMe and also with Me2SiHCl, MeSiHCl2 and S1CI4 to give TtsiSiMe2H, TtsiSiMeHCl and TtsiSiC^ respectively, but not with Me3SiCl or a range of other organosilicon halides. TtsiSiMe2H gives the halides TtsiSiMe2X (X = CI, Br, I) upon treatment with halogens, and the iodide is converted into TtsiSiMe2Y species (Y = F, NCS, ONO2) by treatment with appropriate silver salts. The iodide TtsiSiMe2l reacts with KSCN in MeCN to give TtsiSiMe2NCS, the rate being fairly similar to that of (Me3Si)3CSiMe2lIn contrast the latter is markedly less reactive than TtsiSiMe2l in reactions with silver salts and in methanolysis and this is tentatively attributed to greater anchimeric assistance (in 1,3 Si to Si bridging) by a tolyl than by an Me group. The compounds TtsiGeMe3, TtsiSnMe3, TtsiSnMe2Cl, and TtsiSnCl3 have also been prepared. Introduction Organometallic compounds containing the bulky ligand C(SiMe3)3 (the'trisyl' group, frequently denoted below by the symbol Tsi) or a related group, show an astonishing variety of reactions and mechanisms, many of which can not be observed for derivatives possessing less bulky ligands". One aspect of this is the 1,3-Si-to-Si migration of a methyl group observed in many reactions of TsiSiRR'X compounds with electrophilic reagents apparently via a silicocationic intermediate of the type (I)". In previous studies we have prepared the novel organolithium reagent (o-MeC6H4Me2Si)3CLi, which failed to react with a wide range of simple organosilicon halides known to react satisfactorily with TsiLi. In the present work we report the preparation and reactions of tris(p-tolyldimethylsilyl) methyl derivatives of silicon, germanium and tin. YN / M e Si κ \ (GMe2Si)2C + Ζ X R R' I; G = Υ = Ζ = Me ll;G = Z = p-MeC6H4,Y = Me III; G = Y = p-MeCgH^ , Ζ = Me Figure 1. Silicocationic intermediate Experimental 'H NMR spectra were recorded at 100 MHz for solutions in CD3CI on a JEOL EX-100 FT-NMR spectrometer. The IR spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 883 spectrophotometer, using Nujol mulls between KBr plates. Mass spectra were recorded at 70 eV under electron impact. Elemental analyses were carried out by the Research Centre at College of Science (K.S.U). Melting points were determined with an "Elctrothermal" apparatus with samples in open tubes. The solvents were dried by standard methods and distilled from the drying agent immediately before use. Tribromomethame was shaken several times with water to remove EtOH (present as stabilizer), dried over CaCl2 and distilled under reduced pressure. Potassium thiocyanate of analytical reagent grade was dried at 110 °C for 2 h under vacuum (0.2 mmHg ). n-BuLi and silver salts were obtained from Aldrich Ltd. The compounds TsiSiMe2l and p-MeCöH4Me2SiCl were synthesized according to the literature methods. Preparation of T^siH A 2.5 Μ solution of BuLi in hexane (180 cm,0.45 mol ofBuLi), cooled to-78 °C, was added dropwise under nitrogen to a vigorously stirred solution of CHBr3 (11 cm, 0.13 mol) and p-MeC6H4Me2SiCl (72 g, 0.39 mol) in anhydrous THF (150 cm) and maintained at -78 °C. When addition was complete, the stirred mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature (ca. 24 °C) and 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid was added cautiously with stirring and cooling. The organic layer was separated, washed, dried (MgS04) and filtered. The by-products were distilled off (up to 120 °C at 2 mmHg) and the residue was treated with charcoal in CCI4. Filtration and removal of


The utility model discloses a cleaning device for a filter screen of a fresh air system in a communication machine room. The cleaning device comprises an electromagnetic vibrator arranged on the filter screen and a ventilation fan arranged at the front of the filter screen, wherein the ventilation fan and the electromagnetic vibrator are connected with the same controller. With the adoption of the technical scheme, dust on the filter screen is cleaned by virtue of the reverse rotation of the ventilation fan and the vibration of the electromagnetic vibrator, and the whole procedure is automatically controlled by the controller, thereby achieving a good effect.


Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive rheumatic disease which is the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain and functional impairment, particularly in the elderly group. Ultrasound therapy is one of the most commonly used physical modalities in the OA treatment. It has deep heating effect and increases tissue regeneration, blood flow and metabolic effects while reducing the inflammation. In addition, it increases the cartilage regeneration according to certain in vivo and in vitro studies (1). Objectives: To research the effect of pulsed ultrasound treatment on pain, functionality, synovial fluid and cartilage thickness in knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This study was a randomised-controlled and parallel group study. 96 patients (79 females and 17 males) were included to study who had knee pain, aged between 45-75 years. They also have diagnosed as knee osteoarthritis according to ACR diagnostic criteria and their Kellgren-Lawrence grades were ≤3. These patients were divided in two groups randomly: Treatment group (exercise + US), (9 male, 39 female), control group (exercise + Sham US), (8 male, 40 female). The patients in the treatment group were treated with a 1 MHz probe and a density of 1w/cm², 1: 4 for 10 minutes, and 3 sessions a week for 8 weeks. Sham US treatment was applied to each group at the same time. Both groups received a home exercise program including knee range of motion and isometric strengthening exercises. All patients were evaluated by ultrasonographic measurements and quality of life tests; VAS (Visuel Analog Scale) rest, VAS walking, Timed Up and Go Test, WOMAC Questionnaire scores (before treatment, after treatment, 3 months after treatment). Results: 9 out of 48 patients in the treatment group and 12 out of 48 patients in the control group were excluded from the study because they did not continue treatment or come to the control. The distribution of groups was similar (Table-1). VAS rest, VAS walking, Timed up and go test, WOMAC questionnaire scores, were improved statistically significant in both groups (P<0.05), but group effect could not be demonstrated (P>0.05) There were no statistically significant results in terms of both synovial fluid and femoral cartilage thickness measurements (P>0.05) (Table 2).Abstract THU0435 –Table 1 Conclusion: Therapeutic ultrasound treatment in addition to home exercise program has not been shown to be effective rest and walking pain, functionality, synovial fluid and femoral cartilage thickness in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. This is the first study to evaluate the effect of therapeutic intermittent ultrasound on synovial fluid and cartilage thickness by ultrasonography. International collaborative studies and randomized clinical trials will help in clarifying these areas of uncertainty. References: [1] -Loyola-Sánchez, A. 2012." Effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on the cartilage repair in people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis: a double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study", Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 93(1), 35-42 Disclosure of Interests: None declared


Objective The aim of this study was to explore the baseline characteristics and correlation of the C-reactive protein, D-dimer, Ferritin and human serum albumins, with the treatment outcome of COVID-19 infection Methods Our study was conducted in the Clinic for infectious diseases at the University Clinical Center Kragujevac during the time frame from November 1st 2020 to February 1st 2021 It was designed as case series and it included patients of age greater than 18 years and positive Polymerase Chain Reaction test or serological (antigen) test on SARS-COV-2 who were treated at our clinic Results A significant correlation was found between human serum albumins (g/L) with the outcome variable p=0 009, while correlation coefficient was 0 466 Furthermore, the lower level of albumins was significantly correlated with the intrahospital mortality, with p=0 007 and correlation coefficient 0 484 Conclusion Our study results suggest that hypoalbuminemia could be possibly used as a significant prognostic factor for intrahospital mortality in COVID-19 patients © 2020, Serbian Medical Society All rights reserved


An effective method of shielding an ambient magnetic field in the CRTs is presented. The key to this method is the use of the L-shaped strip iron. The L-shaped pieces are arranged with separation around the frame of the CRT. The new shielding method has the effect of reducing and reshaping the perpendicular field to the screen and reduces the color change. On the other hand, there are no effects from reducing and reshaping the parallel field to the screen.


In the article that appeared on page 1466 of the November 2009 issue, incorrect percentages were given in the second paragraph. The sentence BConversely, ASTEC also demonstrates morbidity from lymphadenectomy, particularly moderate/severe lymphedema (0.341% vs 0.003%).[ should read BConversely, ASTEC also demonstrates morbidity from lymphadenectomy, particularly moderate/severe lymphedema (3.5% vs 0.3%). This error has been noted in the online version of the article, which is available at www.pidj.org. REFERENCE: Nordin AJ. Life After ASTEC: International Journal of Gynecological Cancer Forum Submission. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2009;19:1466. ERRATUM


Carbon nanotube (CNT) and SiO2 etching effects was studied and was found that using different techniques of focused ion beam (FIB) exposure and using two pass etching leads to a significant difference in the etching rate of CNTs relatively of SiO2 and directly individually oxide itself. The parameters annealing of the structures to remove the effects of the charge arising from the etching of CNT on SiO2 was determined and the effect of the charge on the effects of the deposition of organic molecules from solution was studied. Different behavior of deposition of polar and non-polar polymer materials on charged regions with width less than 100 nm was found. Obtained structures was investigated by SEM, AFM methods and for structures with polyaniline deposited CVC was measured and by comparison with literature and experimental data analysis of polyaniline structuring in nano-scale gap formed with FIB was carried out.


This paper presents the concept of "intelli-carpooling", a blend of casual carpooling with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The program would feature transponders, safety features, security checks and monitoring devices. The concept, benefits, and drawbacks of the system are outlined.


We describe a new paradigm for the inclusion of advertisements on the WWW. This paradigm takes advantage of the internet's great ability for instantaneous online processing of information in real time. A methodology is described for the use of intelligent agents to help in the determination of the appropriateness of displaying a given advertisement to a visitor to a site using very specific information about potential customers. Use is made of fuzzy systems modeling for the construction of these agents. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


Through monitoring the physiques of infants, adults and aged inhabitants in Yanbian Korean prefecture, the paper probed into their characteristics and changing discipline, compared them with the national average, and found out the problems, then put forwards certain countermeasures.


By 2070, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration [CO2] is expected to be double that observed in 1950. In this higher [CO2] world, the sustainability of global crop production may be in jeopardy unless current nitrogen (N) management strategies are changed because of potential interactions between elevated atmospheric [CO2] and soil N dynamics. However, these interactions are poorly understood especially in semi-arid cropping systems. In this paper, experimental results are presented on the effects of elevated [CO2] on crop N demand, fertilizer N recovery, symbiotic N2 fixation and greenhouse gas emissions from cropping systems in southern Australia and northern China using free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) facilities. Also discussed are the findings of a meta-analytic review of current literature which estimated quantitatively the effects of elevated [CO2] on soil N dynamics in grain crop and legume pasture systems. Results of experiments reported here and the meta-analysis suggest that under future elevated CO2 atmospheres (i) there will be an increase in crop demand for N, (ii) higher fertilizer N application rates and greater use of legume intercropping using locally appropriate agricultural management practices to meet the additional crop N demand, and (iii) increases in the terrestrial C sink may be less than expected since there will be a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2-equivalent) associated with an increase in atmospheric [CO2].


Thermoelectric materials are known for their ability to convert a heat gradient into electrical power. They are currently gaining considerable attention for their potential applications in harvesting the large amounts of waste heat lost by industrial processes and automobiles. The performance of thermoelectric materials is characterized by the figure of merit, ZT, which is defined as ZT = σST/κ, where σ, S, κ and T are the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity and temperature respectively. ZnO has been studied extensively for thermoelectric applications. ZnO has clear advantages for use as a thermoelectric including: low cost, use of abundant elements, nontoxicity and stability in air to temperatures in excess of 1000 C [1]. In this work, Mn-Al co-doped ZnO was studied in order to understand the effects of co-doping on the microstructure and thermoelectric properties of ZnO. Al is known to act as a donor in ZnO and can increase the electrical conductivity by up to three orders of magnitude [2]. Mn has a high solubility in ZnO (~8 at.% at 1400 C [3]) and can act as a point defect to scatter short wavelength phonons by substituting for Zn. This could potentially result in ZT improvement by a reduction of the thermal conductivity. Samples with the following stoichiometries: Zn1-x-yMnxAlyO (x = 0.0, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1, y = 0.01) were prepared by sintering in air at 1400 C for 12 hr and also by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 900 C for 30 min. Characterization was done by X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDS. Thermoelectric measurements were done by measuring the resistivity and Seebeck coefficient using the ZEM-2 (Ulvac Riko). The thermal conductivity was determined using the laser flash method. X-ray diffraction showed an increase in the lattice constants of ZnO for increasing Mn doping levels in the air-sintered sample [4]. This is attributed to the substitution of Mn on the Zn sublattice. Peaks due to a Zn1-xMnxAl2O4 spinel phase were also detected. Samples sintered by SPS at a lower temperature showed different secondary phase peaks. It was possible to index these peaks according to the hetaerolite Mn3-xZnxO4 phase, which is likely mostly due to unreacted Mn3O4. However, an increase of the lattice parameter of the ZnO phase was observed so it can be inferred that a finite amount of Mn substituted for Zn even at the low sintering temperature (900 C). SEM analysis of air-sintered samples showed a microstructure with precipitates dispersed throughout the grains and at grain boundaries. These precipitates were determined to be rich in Mn, Al and O and depleted of Zn relative to the ZnO matrix (Fig. 1), consistent with the results of XRD analysis. For high Mn doping levels (10 at.% Mn) segregation of Mn to grain boundaries with a corresponding depletion of Zn was detected. The electrical resistivity of the air-sintered samples (Fig. 2 (a)) increased in value and showed a gradual transition from metallic to semiconducting behavior for increasing Mn content. The thermal conductivity of air-sintered samples (Fig. 2 (b)) showed a trend


The invention relates to a pingxiao tablet inspection method which is used for research based on the existing pingxiao tablet inspection method. The inspection method comprises a pingxiao tablet identification method and determination on contents of nux vomica and fructus aurantii stir-fried with bran. The identification method comprises the steps that: taken pingxiao tablets examined; a filtrate serves as a testing solution; a nux vomica control medicinal material filtrate is taken to serve as a contrast medicinal material solution; and a strychnine mixed solution is taken to serve as a contrast substance solution. The inspection method is high in sensitivity, good in reproducibility, simple and convenient in operation, clear in spot, and good in separating effect; and the condition that a negative sample is free from interference can be determined through a negative contrast test.


An Anthropology of the European Union: Building, Imagining and Experiencing the New Europe. Irene Bellier and Thomas M. Wilson. eds. New York: NYU Press, 2000. 224 pp.


Background : Although profound hypochlorhydria is considered to be an important risk factor for development of gastric cancer, long‐term effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on its reversibility remains uncertain.


This study investigated the multiple-choice of scientific literacy resembling to PISA framework assessment test to assess senior high school students' literacy acquisition in physics by applying Item Response Theory (IRT) with three-parameter logistic. The multiple-choice instrument composed by 15 items test measuring three aspects of the scientific literacy assessment in PISA 2015 framework such as Context, Knowledge and Competencies. Three-parameter logistic (3PL) used to analysing test are difficulty, discriminatory, and guessing parameters of the instrument items were fitted by IRT model, using EIRT. Data was gathered on 32 students in science program of student high school in Bandung region. The IRT framework reveals item-level information and indicates appropriate ability ranges for the test. With the result that these methods can apply to diagnose and evaluate the features of items at various scientific literacy aspects of test takers.


This article has the purpose of offering an interpretative set on the literary representations of Brasilia, that transit between utopia and reality. Valuing the special work with the language performed by the writers, the critical exercise contemplates a set of poems involving the multiple authorial experiences of living with the beauties and the ills of the Brazilian capital.


Automatic alignment techniques in wafer processing have been developed on the basis of experiment. They were derived from case-by-case idea, so they were not easy to be applied to other cases. This fact came from the lack of generality of the related researches. This paper proposed a key to make a general model for automatic alignment in 2D space. The algorithm was developed under assumption of precise positioning system with vision inspection. To describe motion of machine, modified rigid body transformation was proposed. It contained x, y, /spl theta/ alignment in 2D space. The suggested formula had a simple matrix form, which could be connected to state-space equation. Current alignment models could be built with this form. Final equation also solved direction changes in the system. Experiment was done on the dicing machine, and alignment values were obtained with rule-based algorithm. The result from matrix form was compared and verified with this experiment.


Protective immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is poorly understood, but mounting evidence, at least in animal models, implicates major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CD81 T cells as an essential component. By using a highly sensitive assay for single cell interferon g release, we screened an array of M. tuberculosis antigenderived peptides congruent with HLA class I allele-specific motifs. We identified CD81 T cells specific for epitopes in the early secretory antigenic target 6 during active tuberculosis, after clinical recovery and in healthy contacts. Unrestimulated cells exhibited peptide-specific interferon g secretion, whereas lines or clones recognized endogenously processed antigen and showed cytolytic activity. These results provide direct evidence for the involvement of CD81 cytotoxic T lymphocytes in host defense against M. tuberculosis in humans and support current attempts to generate protective cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses against M. tuberculosis by vaccination. One-third of the world's population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes over 2 million deaths per year (1); more than any other single pathogen. The global resurgence of tuberculosis, together with the HIV pandemic and emerging multi-drug resistance, have heightened the need for an effective vaccine suitable for use in immunocompromised individuals. The current live attenuated vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), has variable and limited efficacy in tuberculosis-endemic regions (2). Knowledge of protective immune responses in tuberculosis is incomplete. Delayed type hypersensitivity, mediated by cytokine-secreting CD41 T cells, contributes to both pathogenesis and protection. However, delayed type hypersensitivity, as measured by tuberculin skin testing, does not correlate with the partial protection induced by BCG vaccination, implicating another component of cellmediated immunity (2). CD81, as well as CD41 T cells are a feature of the tuberculous granuloma. Recent evidence from murine models points to a protective role for CD81 T cells in M. tuberculosis infection (3–6). However, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted CD81 T cells specific for M. tuberculosis have not hitherto been found in humans, although BCG-specific CD81 T cell responses of undefined antigen specificity have been reported (7). Low frequencies of MHC class I-restricted M. tuberculosis-specific CD81 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) below the limits of detection of standard assays may have impeded their detection; we have adopted a novel, sensitive approach to identify such cells. Two secreted antigens of M. tuberculosis, early secretory antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) and the Antigen 85 complex, were studied because secreted antigens are implicated as targets of protective immune responses (8) and are more likely to access the host cell cytosol and hence the MHC class I antigen processing pathway. These antigens are the target of protective immune responses in mice (9, 10). ESAT-6 (6 kDa) is virtually specific for M. tuberculosis complex; the gene is present in all isolates of M. tuberculosis and virulent Mycobacterium bovis but is absent from all strains of BCG examined (11). The 30–32kDa Antigen 85 complex consists of 3 homologous proteins, A, B, and C, which constitute 30% of M. tuberculosis culture filtrate (12) and elicit strong CD41 T cell responses in tuberculin skin test-positive subjects (13). The sequences of ESAT-6 and antigens 85A, 85B, and 85C were scanned with allele-specific peptide motifs for the HLA class I types HLA-A2, HLA-B7, HLA-B8, HLA-B35, HLAB52, and HLA-B53, all of which were present in the study population. A total of 49 peptides congruent with these motifs were synthesized (Table 1). These candidate epitopes were then sorted into pools according to HLA class I alleles and used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from subjects with the corresponding HLA class I allele. In vitro-expanded populations of peptide-specific T cells were then detected with two different assays of effector function. In a preliminary study using the standard 51Cr release CTL assay we detected low levels of lytic activity against some peptide pools, but responses from the few remaining cells were too weak to define epitopes. We therefore adapted a more sensitive enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) technique for detecting single cell interferon g (IFN-g) secretion. We calibrated this assay against the 51Cr release CTL assay and found it an order of magnitude more sensitive for detecting low numbers of cultured human CD81 peptide-specific T cells (14). Thirty-nine adults were studied using the more sensitive ELISPOT assay. These included patients representing the full clinical spectrum of active tuberculosis (pulmonary, lymphadenitis, and extrapulmonary), as well as healthy contacts. MATERIALS AND METHODS Subjects. Thirty-nine adult patients and contacts with suitable HLA haplotypes were studied. Most subjects originated The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. This article must therefore be hereby marked ''advertisement'' in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact. © 1998 by The National Academy of Sciences 0027-8424y98y95270-6$2.00y0 PNAS is available online at http:yywww.pnas.org. This paper was submitted directly (Track II) to the Proceedings office. Abbreviations: BCG, Bacille Calmette-Guerin; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; CTL, cytotoxic T lymphocyte; ESAT-6, early secretory antigenic target 6; PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; IGN-g, interferon-g; SFC, spot-forming cells; STCL, short-term cell line; BCL, B cell line; ELISPOT, enzyme-linked immunospot. †A.L. and R.B. contributed equally to this work. ‡To whom reprint requests should be addressed. e-mail: roger.brookes@ ndm.ox.ac.uk.


Based on the data of twice forest investigations in Liaoyuan City,the dynamic change of forest resources was analyzed.Results showed that the quantity of forest resources was increasing gradually.The annual growth rate of forest was up to 1.8%.The woodland area reached to 648.3 hm2 from 1998 to 2008,forest coverage rate increased 0.03%.Volume of energy woodland increased to 2261408 m3 and forest volume reached to 2443026 m3,plantation area increased 5.73%,growth rate of plantation volume was up to 24.50%.Increased reasons of forest area and volume in study period were discussed in this paper.


This study is concerned with identifying the determinants of credit risk in Ethiopian Commercial Banks. We collected secondary data from the audited financial statement of eight senior commercial banks for the period of 14 years. To analyze the data, a fixed effect ordinary list square model was applied. Finally, the study found out macro-economic and micro variables affect the level of credit risk in Ethiopian commercial banking industry. DOI: 10.32602/jafas.2019.


THE FRINGE PARKING LOT AS RELATED TO TRANSIT OPERATIONS IS REVIEWED. THE BALTIMORE TRANSIT COMPANY BEGAN THE OPERATION OF A FRINGE PARKING LOT WITH A SHUTTLE BUS LINE INTO THE DOWNTOWN SHOPPING AND BUSINESS DISTRICT IN 1946. THE WASTEFULNESS OF CURB PARKING IS REALIZED AS WELL AS ITS INTERFERENCE WITH THE PRIMARY MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES CONTRIBUTING TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION. THE PARKING PROBLEM IS THAT OF PROVIDING OFF-STREET STORAGE FOR THE AUTOMOBILES OF DRIVERS WHO NEED TERMINAL FACILITIES IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SECTION. THE VALUE OF FRINGE PARKING HAS IMPROVED IN BALTIMORE AND THE IDEA SEEMS POPULAR WITH THE MOTORISTS.


A circularly polarized (CP) antenna is proposed, where four metalines are used as radiation elements. This CP antenna supports a negative phase constant current, leading to a small antenna height of approximately 1/100 wavelength. The same antenna characteristics are reproduced even when the feed point position is changed for beam-steering in the azimuth plane, because the metalines are arrayed symmetrically with respect to the antenna center point. Thus, this CP antenna works as a reconfigurable antenna. The radiation pattern and VSWR are analyzed and discussed.


Focused Ion Beam (FIB), an advanced technology combining microanalysis with microprocessing, plays an important role in modern IC design and manufacturing. Enhanced Etching (EE) is one of the main functions of FIB. In this paper, the fundamental properties such as etching rate and crater topography on different materials or under different ion currents are studied. The results are also compared with the data and micrographs of physical sputtering etching in the same condition. The difference is fully discussed. It is meaningful to practical work and research.


Digital technologies are revolutionizing the practices of teaching and learning at colleges and universities all around the world. With the emergence of internet and web technologies, tertiary institutions are increasingly exploring the potential uses of e-learning technologies to cater for the ever growing demands of flexible teaching needs in distance education. Teaching institutions are making significant efforts in e-learning development and investing significantly in associated information technology infrastructure with the expectation of high return of their investment. However, in spite of this effort and investment the teachers and faculty do not always use the technology as expected and often elearning systems continue to be underutilized. This paper introduces a model which integrates the findings from previous research into the factors which affect the attitude of academic staff towards the adoption of e-learning technologies. Factors were classified into three key categories: individual, system and organizational, which were then divided into sub-categories. The model presents a detailed analysis for factors relating to: (a) individual characteristics; (b) individual perceptions; (c) e-learning system characteristics; (d) external system characteristics; (e) organisational support and (f) organisational characteristics. The model has been validated by a case study which investigated the factors that influence or inhibit the adoption of e-learning technologies in a polytechnic in New Zealand. A group of teaching staff at a polytechnic were interviewed to ascertain their views on adopting e-learning technologies in their teaching process. The results show that whilst individual and system factors have a strong influence on users' attitudes to system adoption, the organisational factors are most crucial for user acceptance in e-learning technologies. The users ranked that lack of institution strategy, lack of time and lack of training support as the three most critical barriers for user adoption of e-learning technologies.


The l e vel of interpersonal, leadership a n d s u pervisory skills must be d e termined to design enhancement programs to elevate their skills. The researcher aimed to find out the interpersonal, leadership and supervisory skills of the Cluster A schools administrators of the Diocese of Butuan, Mindanao, Philippines. The s tudy u sed the descriptive type of research which utilized a questionnaire as the main instrument for data gathering supplemented by focus group discussion. The following statistical tools were used weighted mean and Frequency. Results showed that interpersonal skills are a strong predictor of business and professional success as well as an indicator of a decrease in organizational success, and problem solving. Supervisory skills play a major role in creating atmosphere in the school system stimulating to the growth of more admirable qualities among the personnel and the teaching staff. It is the scope of instructional supervision to stimulate and inspire the teachers to do creative work and to encourage them to grow professionally. The study concludes that administrators of the Cluster A schools of the Diocese of Butuan are at all times practicing the skills of interpersonal and supervisory while at many times practicing the skills of leadership. Among the different skills, the area of leadership has the lowest rating and the interpersonal has the highest. Peer Reviewed Journal


We applaud the efforts of the European Federation of Neurological Society (EFNS) committee to help provide guidance in the neutralizing antibody issues with interferons [1]. However, their consensus-based recommendation for mass neutralizing antibodies (NAb) screenings (at least twice) for each interferon treated patient is questionable on both scientific and economic grounds. The considerable confusing and conflicting clinical data on NAb effects have not been resolved. The committee focused much of their attention on data that supported their opinion, whilst minimizing data that conflicted with their opinions. They even misstated some relevant data, which did not support their opinion. In addition to the scientific issues, the cost of multiple tests of (potentially) hundreds of thousands of interferon treated patients worldwide might be enormous. Their vague guidelines for additional NAb testing after 2 years [if increased multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity] might include a minor relapse, vague new symptoms, or a single new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion, which would further increase the number of NAb tests. The committee opined that high titered (1:100), persistent NAbs (positive NAbs on two consecutive tests) are causing current or will cause future suboptimal treatment responses (SORs). They lumped the NAb data from all interferons. Are all NAb titers the same? Much of the current data indicates differences in frequency, persistence, and titer amongst the various interferons NAbs. For example, does a NAb titer of 1:100 for Betaferon have the same clinical relevance as the same titer for Rebif or Avonex? They also lumped data trends (P > 0.05) with scientific data (P < 0.05). For example, Table 4 lists 24 outcomes, where statistical significance had been measured related to NAbs. Of these 24 outcomes, 14 were not statistically significant. Only four outcomes had P < 0.05 and only six outcomes had P < 0.01. In other words, <50% of the outcomes they relied upon showed a statistical impact of NAbs on clinical or MRI activities. In fact, some of the data trends contradicted the committee's opinion. For example, the committee misstated that NAbs had a deleterious effect on disability progression in the Betaferon pivotal trial. In fact, the data showed a positive trend (P 1⁄4 0.08). This paucity of statistically significant outcomes and conflicting data does not support mass NAb testing at this time. We agree with the committee that considerable NAb data indicates an association of NAbs with increased clinical activity, especially on the MRI. However, Cutter [2] and Petkau and White [3], in separate articles have emphasized that associations of NAbs to clinical parameters do not necessarily mean causation . What is the magnitude of the NAb issue? What percent of interferon patients are at risk for high titered, persistent NAbs that cause SORs? These risks have not been identified using their recommended NAb test, which has only Class IV data for validation. What is the magnitude of the NAb issue for the specific interferons? Avonex was reformulated several years ago with the resulting reduction of risk of NAbs from 22% to <5% at a 1:20 titer (not 1:100). We suggest the Avonex patients risk for high titered, persistent NAbs on consecutive tests is inconsequential. Why test Avonex patients? Rebif, which currently may have the highest risk for persistent, high titered NAbs, has recently been reformulated. The 48-week NAb titers of the reformulated drug at 1:20 (not 1:100) show a decrease in titer and frequency compared with the EVIDENCE Trial Rebif data (Rebif vs. Avonex Trial). NAb data at 18 and 24-month are still awaited but may help better define the prevalence of NAbs to the reformulated Rebif. Betaferon has the highest percentage of patients with NAbs from many, but not all, data sets (Sorensen). The alleged culprit for SORs is high titered, persistence NAbs, but most Betaferon patients have low titered NAbs that are often transient. For example, Rice et al. [4] showed a reversion of NAbs to <10% of patients after 8 years of Betaferon therapy. Polman et al. [5] showed a substantial reversion of NAbs from positive to negative in patients in the secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) Betaferon Trial. Using the committee recommended 1:100 titer on two consecutive tests, the percentage of positive patients will undoubtedly be even lower. Hillert et al. [6] reported at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) (2005) that only 9% of Betaferon patients had high titers of NAbs . Further, Hurwitz and Polman [7] reported that only 7% of patients with increased clinical activity (SORs?) on Betaferon had high titers of NAbs (1:400). These data indicate that SORs are related to other factors in most Betaferon patients. These data also suggest that NAbs may be less prevalent in SORs than the general Betaferon treated population [8]. In spite of these unresolved inconsistencies, the committee recommended a change in therapy, if high titered NAbs persist, even if patients are clinically stable. Presumably, they hypothesize that NAbs will eventually cause SORs. If true, how long will it take to see the clinical effects of NAbs? Barbero et al. [9] showed that switching from a high-dose Betaferon to a low dose, but still active, interferon b-1a (Avonex) resulted in increased clinical disease activity within 1 year. Presumably, the clinical effects of NAbs, if they were to destroy the action of an interferon, would be seen sooner. Therefore, why not utilize the clinical neurological evaluation every 6 months to determine SORs? A thorough neurological evaluation, with the judicious use of MRI's, may be a less expensive option than mass, multiple NAb testing. Our point is that most NAb data sets contain some controversial data, which can be used to support opposing points of view. Using the AAN Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) Guideline, no Class I


By manipulating chamber geometries as well as engine cycle pressures and timing, engineers are exploiting a long-obscure technology known as activated radical combustion. Piston-driven internal combustion engines generally come in two varieties: compression-ignited diesels and spark-ignited gasoline power plants. There, is however, a third way to initiate burning of the fuel-air mixture. The technique--variously called radical ignition (RI), activated radical (AR) combustion, Toyota-Soken combustion, and active thermo-atmosphere combustion--is not exactly new, but only recently have engineers begun to exploit the process in practical power plants. These new units include a lightweight two-stroke racing-motorcycle engine, truck diesels with reduced soot output, and lean-burn spark-ignited car engines. This long-obscure combustion process is based on a range of specialized chemical kinetic and physical acoustic techniques developed over decades. Engineers manipulate fundamental combustion parameter such as chamber geometries, valving and porting configurations, and engine cycle pressures and timing to foster the formation of certain highly reactive chemical species that lower the fuel-air mixture`s flash point so that even modest compression make sit self-ignite. These chemical initiators are then retained into the next cycle to start combustion, allowing the engineer to run stably with no spark.


In this study, chemical analysis and fiber structure of aspen (Populus tremula L.) tree were analyzed. The log of Aspen tree was obtained from Arit chief in Bartin forest management. Ratios of main chemical components of aspen tree, holocellulose, cellulose, lignin and ash content, hot and cold water solubility, % 1 NaOH and alcohol-benzene solubility, respectively. As a result, holocellulose, cellulose, lignin, ash content, the resolution of hot and cold water, %1 NaOH and respectively, alcohol-benzene resolution, %85.7, %58, %17.2, %0.28, %14,9, %5.86 and %19.2, respectively. In addition, measurements of fiber, fiber length, vessel size, lumen width, double wall thickness, elasticity ratio, Runkel classification rate and rigidity values were felting 1. % 53.5, 0.86, %58.9 and 20.1 respectively. These results obtained here are by and large parallel to those of previous studies aspen tree species.