China's favorable balance of trade in tourism service pushed China's foreign trade forward. It would still be a major pillar of economic growth in future. The paper study China's economic status from the index of RCA, the conclusion is China's tourism service trade is still weak in comparative advantage. Thus, analysis the influence factor of China's tourism service trade seems to be of momentous current significance.


This paper discusses the problem of strengthening the professional ethics especially the professional ability of the librarians,and points out that the improvement of librarians' comprehensive quality must rely on the continuous education.


In the province of Quebec, Canada, safety training for young motorcyclists takes place in two stages. The first stage covers the learning of road safety as an official part of the school curriculum, which although not specifically for motorcycle riders, the program aims to make pupils as future drivers or riders safe on the roads. For motorcyclists, since 1985, applicants for a Quebec drivers licence must take a training course offered by an approved driving school. The course offers theory and practice which takes place on a closed track, and forms the second stage of training. A government committee is currently examining methods to improve motorcycling safety, and has recommended that more emphasis should be placed on training on the public roads, and further investigation into motorcycle rider psychology. The german title of this paper is 'Sicherheitstraining fuer junge motorradfahrer'. For the covering abstract of some of the papers see IRRD 837529. (Author/TRRL)


Myocardial imaging with 99Tcm-hexamethylpropylene amineoxime (HMPAO)-labelled white blood cells (Tc-WBC) was used to detect carditis and differentiate rheumatic fever (RF) and inactive rheumatic heart disease (IRHD). Ten cases of RF and 15 cases of IRHD were studied, and the results revealed 60% (6/10) of the cases of RF with carditis, but none of the cases (0/15) of IRHD with carditis. There was significant difference (P < 0.05, by Fisher's test) between RF and IRHD. In our preliminary conclusion, Tc-WBC heart scanning may be a noninvasive method for evaluating the existence of carditis in cases of RHD and in the differentiation of RF and IRHD.


This research work investigated education, male child and childlessness as predictors of spouse abuse among Ibowomen living in the rural and urban areas in Nigeria. The purposive sampling was used to select 331 married women, with age range of 22-66, and all living in Imo state. The spouse rape inventory (Sri) developed by Uwaoma, Udeagha and Madukwe, (2011) was used to collect data. The multiple regression analysis of the SPSS II version 15 was used to analyze data. The researchers found education and residential area as significant predictors while male child and childlessness were not significant predictors of spouse abuse. The discussion highlighted the role of education in equipping women with the knowledge of their sexual rights and skills on how to cope with marriage based problems especially when they live in the rural areas. Key words: Education; Abuse; Spouse Abuse; Male Child; Childlessness Resume Ce travail de recherche a etudie l'education, les enfants de sexe masculin et l'infecondite comme des predicteurs de violence conjugale chez les Ibo-femmes vivant dans les zones rurales et urbaines au Nigeria. L'echantillonnage raisonne a ete utilise pour selectionner 331 femmes mariees, avec la gamme d'âge des 22-66, et tous vivent dans l'Etat d'Imo. L'inventaire viol conjoint (Sri) developpe par Uwaoma, Udeagha et Madukwe, (2011) a ete utilise pour recueillir des donnees. L'analyse de regression multiple de la version SPSS II 15 a ete utilise pour analyser les donnees. Les chercheurs ont constate domaine de l'education et residentiel des predicteurs significatifs tout enfant de sexe masculin et l'infecondite sont pas des predicteurs significatifs de violence conjugale. La discussion a souligne le role de l'education a equiper les femmes de la connaissance de leurs droits sexuels et des competences sur la facon de faire face a des problemes de mariage a base surtout quand ils vivent dans les zones rurales. Mots cles: Education; Violence; Violence conjugale; Enfant de sexe mâle; Infecondite


Objective To study the significance of heart-type fatty acid binding protein( H-FABP)in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods One hundred and two cases of acute coro-nary syndrome were divided into unstable angina(UA)(35 cases),non-ST segment elevation acute my-ocardial infarction(NSTEMI)(49 cases)and ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction(STE-MI)(18 cases). Forty cases of normal healthy people were enrolled into the normal group. Serum cTnI and H-FABP levels were detected. Results Serum cTnI and H-FABP levels in UA,NSTEMI,STEMI were higher than those in the normal group(P ﹤ 0. 01). Serum cTnI and H-FABP levels in NSTEMI were higher than those in the UP group(P ﹤ 0. 01). Serum cTnI and H-FABP levels in STEMI were higher than those in the NSTEMI group(P ﹤ 0. 01). After 2,4,6 hours of the onset of chest pain,serum H-FABP levels was significantly higher than cTnI positive rate,there were significant differences(P ﹤0. 05). After 12 hour of the onset of chest pain,the serum H-FABP positive rate was significantly lower than cTnI positive rate,there was significant difference(P ﹤ 0. 05). Serum cTnI and H-FABP levels in the high-risk group were higher than the low-risk group(P ﹤ 0. 05). The intermediate-risk group were higher than the low risk group(P ﹤ 0. 05). Serum cTnI and GRACE score had a significant positive cor-relation(r = 0. 27,P ﹤ 0. 05). Serum H-FABP and GRACE score had a significant positive correlation (r = 0. 58,P ﹤ 0. 05). The correlation coefficient of serum H-FABP and GRACE score was greater than the correlation coefficient of serum cTnI and GRACE score. Conclusions H-FABP is more sensitive in the diagnosis and risk stratification of acute coronary syndrome.

Key words:
Acute coronary syndrome; Heart-type fatty acid binding protein


According to the uncertain influence of paving concrete mixed into rubber particles,the influence of rubber particles produced by cutting method on concrete basic properties is investigated with different water-cement ratio,different dosages,different mixture methods and admixture mixed into rubber particles.The results show that the slump increased and the compressive strength decreased with increasing of rubber particles;the slump decreased and compressive strength increased with the decreasing of water-cement ratio;the final compressive strength tended to the same with sands replaced by rubber particles in the same volume or sands and stones replaced by rubber particles in the same volume.


We report an investigation of the popular Z-scan technique for elliptical Gaussian beams. A thin lens wave optics theory is developed for such a beam by generalizing the existing theory for circular Gaussian beams. We find that the Z-scan signature is greatly influenced by two parameters, namely, the ellipticity of the input beam and the waist separation. Depending on these parameters, an additional peak and valley may appear in a closed-aperture Z scan, whereas a small asymmetry may be observed in an open-aperture Z scan. We demonstrate what the qualitative features of both open and closed Z scans would be for a beam with any ellipticity.


We observed changes in the conformation of individual single giant DNAs (T4DNA) using fluorescence microscopy at different temperatures, 3∼53 °C, in an aqueous solution containing 1.2 mM spermidine. We found that individual DNAs take either elongated coil or collapsed globule conformation and that the relative population of the globule state increases with an increase in temperature. Based on this temperature dependence, the change in entropy for the coil−globule transition was deduced to be ΔS = 32 ± 8 kB, where kB is the Boltzmann constant. In other words, at TC = 301 K the change in enthalpy is ΔH =32 ± 8kBTC(= 19 ± 5 kcal/mol chains). The thermodynamics upon the transition in a single T4 molecule from the elongated coil to the collapsed globule is discussed in terms of statistical physics by considering the different contributions to the change in entropy; i.e., elasticity, mixing with the solvent, the translation of counterions, hydration, and charge neutralization. We conclude that the small positiv...


English idioms consist of set phrases, proverbs, colloquialisms, slangs, allusions as well as metaphorical phrases, etc. This paper is to analyze the application of the English idioms' translation techniques from different angles such as the definition of English idioms and its origin and so on.


The artical researches synthesis of L-ascorbic acid-2-phosphate magnesium with the method of radical protection,analyzes the influence of each reaction factor to the reaction result,and determinates the best synthesis condition.


The main goal of this paper is to study the influence of the temperature on the mechanical and tribological characteristics of titanium nitride thin films. The titanium nitride thin films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on silicon substrates using a titanium high purity target. The films were deposited in different conditions. Several films were deposited on silicon substrate at room temperature while the others were obtained after the substrate was preheated. The majority of the films were deposited on non-biased substrates while the rest were deposited on substrates to which a negative bias was applied. Once the films were deposited, the characterization was realized by atomic force microscopy investigations determining the topographical parameters as well as the mechanical properties such as the modulus of elasticity and the hardness. The mechanical properties mentioned before were determined at 20 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C, 80 °C and 100 °C in order to establish the effect of testing temperature on the mechanical characteristics. The results highlighted a significant influence of temperature on the mechanical and tribological properties of the investigated titanium nitride thin films.


The thesis discusses the ideas Dahlhaus introduced on the subject of the music history and history interpretation on continuity. It is based on the integrate readings and quotes from his Grundlagender Musikgeschichte and especially the fourth chapter inquiry about the subject in history of music and to make cautions inquiry about aesthetics with the historical facts of music and to give a constructive description of its history through an overview of cognitive approach .


Highly fragmented, mainly indeterminate mammal bone from two sites on the inland margins of the Northwest Coast are analyzed in terms of size and fracture characteristics and interpreted as the result of bone grease rendering. Methodological approaches to the determination of this activity are discussed, and it is argued that multiple lines of evidence that include these characteristics in combination with interspecies comparisons of fragmentation levels and site processing facilities are most convincing. Predictions based on intra-skeletal grease yields, or utility indices, are not supported in this case, and similar arguments based on optimal behavior models which strictly relate grease rendering to resource stress are criticized. It is argued in this case that bone grease was routinely exploited as a supplement to the staple, dried salmon, and had advantages over the better known eulachon oil in this regard.


This letter presents a wideband quasi‐Yagi antenna fed by a microstrip‐to‐slotline transition. The transition consists of a microstrip radial stub and slot radial stub, both at 90° but with different radii, to achieve wideband impedance matching. The antenna has a measured fractional bandwidth of approximately 46% (4.64–7.42 GHz) for a −10 dB reflection coefficient and a flat gain of 6.0–6.75 dBi with a front‐to‐back ratio and cross‐polarization level better than 17 and −15 dB, respectively, across the bandwidth. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:150–153, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26504


Beekeeping is a very interesting activity having a positive impact on agricultural production and rural incomes. This study conducted in both municipalities of Djidja and Zogbodomey, in southern Benin, aimed at analyzing the determinants and constraints of beekeeping activities. For this purpose, a sample of 110 beekeepers randomly selected was investigated. Data about socio-economic and demographic characteristics of households as well as the difficulties in beekeeping were collected through individual interviews and focus groups. The statistical analysis done with R software version 3.1.2 have shown that beekeeping in the study area was influenced by three important socio-economic factors such asthe municipality of the producer, , literacy level and the producer belonging to a village agricultural association. The studies also revealed that the development of beekeeping faced many problems such as: the lack of financial resources, the low level of knowledge in beekeeping techniques, the lack of extension services, the high level of parasitism and other forms of constraints as theft, bush fire. Taking into account these results will allow to pay more attention on farmers' and beekeepers situation what will be a means of alleviating of rural poverty.


The article introduces the situation of rural non-point source (NPS) pollution in Tianjin in 2004, and analyses primary pollution sources and environmental impact. The article also presents the emission control targets and countermeasures of NPS pollution of Tianjin and on the basis of the research. The article puts forward control-ling-measures about the pollution from livestock poultry in the villages around Yuqiao reservoir, which is set as an example in the article.


The invention provides an electric furnace power control method suitable for foaming slag furnace condition. The electric furnace power control method comprises the following steps: setting a power set value Pset of an electric furnace, and obtaining the practical power value Pact of the electric furnace; calculating the current set value Iset and the current measured value Iact of the electric furnace according to the power set value Pset and the practical power value Pact of the electric furnace; judging whether foaming slag is generated in the electric furnace according to the current set value Iset and the current measured value Iact; if the foaming slag is generated, promoting electrodes by using a first travel set value; if the foaming slag is not generated, calculating the lifting amplitude of the electrodes according to the current set value Iset and the current measured value Iact of the electric furnace, and controlling the electrodes according to the lifting amplitude. According to the method provided by the invention, the generation of the foaming slag can be predicted and identified, and the promotion of the electrodes is controlled, so that the furnace condition is quickly recovered to normal, and the operating safety of the electric furnace is improved.


Based on NiTi shape memory alloy threads and ordinary fluid viscous damper,a kind of new-type SMA-viscous damper has been designed and developed,which has been used to control the vibration of long-span cable stayed bridge.The dynamic finite element model of long span stayed bridge with SMA-viscous damper is established,and the calculation results show that the effect of energy dissipation and vibration reduction of SMA-viscous damper is more distinct than the ordinary viscous damper.The SMA-viscous damper designed in this paper can reduce the displacement of the tower and main girder of long-span cable stayed bridge efficiently under simple harmonic and earthquake effect.


In Martin-Löf's Constructive Type Theory (CTT) judgements are given in terms of assertion conditions. They, in turn, furnish an account of the key notions of presupposition, assumption, and premise. The analysis spells out required epistemic and alethic constraints on the notion of truth for categorical and hypothetical judgements. The distinctions drawn throw new light on the proper connection between truth, meaning, and assertion conditions, from a constructive point of view. Constructive Type Theory, assertion conditions, constructive theory of judgement, information. 1 The Theory of Judgement in CTT In classical logic formulae are contents with truth-conditions. In Martin-Löf's Constructive Type Theory the derivable objects are instead judgements. In this framework, a judgement made is the assertion of the truth of a certain proposition, as in this schema: judgement { }} { A }{{} proposition is true. The explanation of this a form of judgement is the following: the propositional truth is defined as the existence of a proof of the proposition; truth for propositions is thus ultimately given in terms of proof-objects: A true = proof(A) exists. Thus, proof-conditions play the central role in the constructive interpretation of propositions. ∗ 1The first published expositions of the theory are in Martin-Löf (1975) and (1982); a first complete version of the theory is in Martin-Löf (1984). See also Nördstrom, Petersson, Smith (1990). These are introduction to the polymorphic version; for an introduction to the monomorphic version, far more complete that the one presented in the second and third sections of this article, see Primiero (2006). 2For the here shortly introduced basic distinction between judgements and propositions in the constructive perspective, see Martin-Löf (1987) and (1996). 3The form of judgement holding in CTT reflects therefore the passage from the Aristotelian form "S is P" to the Bolzanian one, "A is true". For the fascinating history of judgement and inference, presented in a complete way, see Sundholm (2002), sec. VII-VIII and (2006). For an extended presentation of the Bolzanian notion of judgement, which results essential in the development of a constructive theory of judgement, see Sundholm (1998a) and Proust (1989) for a specific comparison with the Kantian notion.


Dust measurements have been obtained with the dust detector onboard the Galileo spacecraft inside a distance of about 60RJ from Jupiter (Jupiter radius, RJ = 71,492 km) during two periods of about 8 days around Galileo's closest approaches to Ganymede on 27 June and on 6 Sept 1996. The impact rate of submicrometer‐sized particles fluctuated by a factor of several hundred with a period of about 10 hours, implying that their trajectories are strongly affected by the interaction with the Jovian magnetic field. Concentrations of small dust impacts were detected at the times of Ganymede closest approaches that could be secondary ejecta particles generated upon impact of other particles onto Ganymede's surface. Micrometer‐sized dust particles, which could be on bound orbits about Jupiter, are concentrated in the inner Jovian system inside about 20RJ from Jupiter.


The analysis of realisibility and feasibility of small, lightweight noncoherent infrared LED rangefinder for mass application as a distance telemeter system for moving traffic objects are given. The proposed short-range rangefinder, suitable for measuring distances from fixed and moving objects, in the range from 1 m to 20 m, with significantly increased accuracy is presented in the paper. These measuring methods, with double referent mixing technique, improves the distance resolution when the phase measurement principle is applied. A phase difference still detectable is +/- 1/4, at symmetrically double frequency conversion from 0.5 MHz to 100 Hz, and enables distance resolution +/- 0.1 m. The detection process is completely independent of the signal amplitude. That means that the reflectivity of target does not disturb the distance measurement results. The possible applications are in traffic control and traffic safety systems as a proximity switch in contest of alarm systems. This paper describes the optimum characteristics of the rangefinder regarding the cost/performance parameter. The description of the method with analytical analysis and the results of experimental realization are also given. The discussion is presented as the experimental support of theoretical analysis.


Purpose : This study was designed to investigate the direct relationship between smoking and intraocular pressure. In addition, the tear film breakup time was measured to evaluate the stability of the tear film due to smoke during smoking. Methods : The subjects of this study were 24 adults, including 22 males and 2 females, who had no ocular diseases. The ocular function test was conducted to measure pupil size, intraocular pressure, accommodation, and tearfilm breakup time. All test values were applied with the average of three measurements, and statistically significant at p<0.050. Results : Pupil size was not significantly different between before and after smoking. Intraocular pressure were significantly increased after smoking(15.79 mmHg) than before binocular mean smoking(14.17 mmHg). The mean of accommodation was significantly decreased after smoking (9.15 D) than before binocular mean smoking(9.63 D). The tearfilm breakup time was significantly decreased in the right eye before smoking(8.00 s) and after smoking(7.35 s), while the left eye after smoking(6.92 s) and after smoking(6.81 s), but there was no significant difference. Conclusion : In this study, there was a significant positive correlation between smoking and intraocular pressure. In addition, higher intraocular pressure were observed in the right eye, showing a shortening of tearfilm breakup time. As a result, smoking were closely related to the increase of intraocular pressure, and the instability of tear film caused by smoking have an additional effect on the increase of intraocular pressure.


A self‐starting, stable, and symmetric driving circuit is described for use with a taut‐band optical modulator such as a Bulova L50 or L51. The astable multivibrator consists of a capacitor, two resistors, three adjustment potentiometers, two diodes, and a dual operational amplifier. The circuit is particularly useful in applications requiring a small modulation amplitude that cannot be obtained from the factory‐supplied driver.


Customer churn is a big concern for telecom service providers due to its associated costs. This short paper briefly explains our ongoing work on customer churn prediction for telecom services. We are working on data mining methods to accurately predict customers who will change and turn to another provider for the same or similar service. Sample dataset we use for our experiments has been compiled by Orange Telecom from real data. They posted the sample dataset for 2009 Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining Competition. IBM has scored the highest on this dataset requiring significant amount of computational resources. We are aiming to find alternative methods that can match or improve the recorded highest score with more efficient use of resources. Dataset has very large number of features, examples and incomplete values. As the first step, we employ some methods to preprocess the dataset for its imperfections. Then, we compare and contrast various ensemble and single classifiers. We conclude the paper with future directions for the study.


(54) HIGH-Q MICROMECHANICAL RESONATOR OTHER PUBLICATIONS DEVICES AND FILTERS UTILIZING SAME Nguyen, Clark T.-C., Vibrating RF MEMS for Next Generation 75 _ -_ I Wireless Applications, Proceedings, 2004 IEEE Custom Integrated ( ) Inventors' (cdggl?srllqlei glgllilglilifrhngggozAMl Circuits Conference, Orlando, Florida, Oct. 3-6, 2004, pp. 257-264. (US)' g ' ' Abidi, Asad A., Direct-Conversion Radion Transceivers for Digital Communications, IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. 30, No. 12, Dec.


The paper analyzes the theoretical and methodological bases of scientific research on social policy, the theoretical and methodological approach to its implementation, the essence of this concept and the methods formed during its evolutionary development as well as the main directions of scientific research. There is also a discussion of national and international data, the criteria for scientific research based on the research of scientists, the theoretical and methodological basis for the scientific study of social policy in the life of a number of other developed countries.


In mucolipidasis (I-cell disease) the genetic disorder is characterized by selective loss of lysosomal enzymes, that cannot reenter the cells through pinocytosis, and by depletion of lysosomal enzymes in the cells, leading to disturbance of lysosomal function. Selective loss of lysosomal enzymes, inhibition of uptake of normal lysosomal arylsulfatase A and decrease of intracellular enzyme activity can also be provoked in normal cells after treatment with the antimalaria drug chloroquine in concentrations between 5 × 10−6 and 1 × 10−6 M. Pinocytosis of 14C-Dextran (80′000 MW) however is inaffected. The morphological and the biochemichal changes in the cells are slowly reversible within 3-4 days. We speculate, that the treatment of cultured cells with chloroquine produces effects similar to the ones observed in I-cell disease. But unlike in I-cell disease, where these phenomena are the result of abnormal enzyme proteins, the changes after chloroquine application are brought about by alteration of the cell membranes.


In a range of courses taught in the English department at The College of Wooster, students use technology to interrogate ideas in ways novel in humanistic study. In an otherwise conventional seminar room, networked computers (to the Internet as well as locally) along the walls and both commercial and locally developed software tools represent the use of technology as 'equipment for language'. As our descriptions of how students use the tools (from page-layout programs to a new counting program) show, technology in this setting adds power to students' ability to question and therefore to understand-in the context of a kind of discussion as old as learning.


Present study was aimed to develop and assess the acceptability of culturally-competent cookies based on locally grown crops for the vulnerable population of a disaster-prone Himalayan state Uttarakhand. The supplemented cookies were developed using a cereal-pulse-millet mix of wheat flour, black soybean or Bhat flour and ragi or Madua flour in the ratio of 60:20:20 and were found to be high in protein (18.58%), fat (20.09%), fibre (1.67%), ash (2.53%), lysine (585.2 mg), NDP Cal % (13.4%), calcium (97.2 mg), iron (4.9 mg) and zinc (0.88 mg). These were acceptable for 60 days in aluminum laminate pouches. A consumer acceptability trial to determine the acceptability of these cookies by the local population showed a significantly (pd"0.01) higher acceptability by all age groups. It was concluded that cookies were nutrient dense food which can be effectively targeted for meeting the nutritional needs of the disaster hit population and address the food insecurity issues that arise aftermath any emergency especially when the donated food conflicts with the cultural/religious beliefs of the affected region.


The functional interpolation problem on a continual set of nodes by an integral continued C-fraction is studied. The necessary and sufficient conditions for its solvability are found. As a particular case, the considered integral continued fraction contains a standard interpolation continued C-fraction which is used to approximate the functions of one variable.


Laser transmitting apparatus of the present invention is configured to be disposed in firing chamber users firearms by the disturbance to firearms 抽筒Ko in firearms loading is minimized. The laser device is fired to simulate the operation of the firearm a beam of laser light in response to operation of the firearm trigger towards the target firearm laser training system. Furthermore, since the laser device is manufactured to project concentric laser beam to firearm barrel, it can be used without the need to align the device with the optical sight of firearms Ju腔.


Abstract The biological role of the very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDL-R) in humans is not yet elucidated. This cellular receptor binds apolipoprotein E (apoE)-containing lipoparticles and is mainly expressed in peripheral tissues. The VLDL-R gene contains a polymorphic triplet (CGG) repeat located 19 bp upstream of the initiation codon. We explored the allelic distribution of this repeat in 1384 subjects of European Caucasian origin, 609 of them surviving a myocardial infarction. Six alleles corresponding to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 repeats were detected in this population. The alleles 5, 8, and 9 were the most frequent, with frequencies of 0.413, 0.275, and 0.292, respectively. No association was found between the VLDL-R polymorphism and myocardial infarction. In controls without lipid lowering treatment, a statistically significant interaction between VLDL-R genotype and apoE phenotype was found for plasma triglycerides (P<.04), suggesting a gene-gene interaction. There was also a main effect of ...


Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa) inhibitors were shown recently to facilitate the rate and the extent of pharmacological thrombolysis. However, their synergistic potential with rtPA in dissolving thrombotic vaso-occlusions is not fully understood. We have therefore developed a dynamic and structural approach for analysis of fibrinolysis to assess the inhibiting effect of platelets and the facilitating effect of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in dissolving platelet-rich clots (PRCs). Fluorescent rtPA was used to study the architecture of PRCs, to follow the progression of the rtPA binding front, and to measure the lysis-front velocity using confocal microscopy. Fibrinolysis resistance of PRCs was related to a reduction of both rtPA binding and lysis-front velocities of platelet-rich areas compared with platelet-poor areas (2.4±0.2 versus 3.5±0.4 &mgr;m/min for rtPA binding velocity, P =0.04, and 1.2±0.6 versus 2.8±0.2 &mgr;m/min for lysis-front velocity, P =0.008, in platelet-rich and platelet-poor areas, respectively). Fibrinolysis appeared heterogeneous, leaving platelet-rich areas un-lysed. Adding pharmacological concentrations of abciximab (0.068 &mgr;mol/L) or eptifibatide (1 &mgr;mol/L) before clotting decreased the average surface of platelet-rich areas by 64% (P =0.0005) and 72% (P =0.0007), respectively. The resulting equalization of rtPA binding rate and rtPA binding-front velocity between platelet-rich and platelet-poor areas led to a 3-fold increase of the lysis-front velocity in platelet-rich areas of either abciximab-PRC (P =0.006) or eptifibatide-PRC (P =0.03). The overall lysis rate of treated-PRC was increased by 74% compared with control-PRC (P <0.01). These results demonstrate that fibrinolysis resistance of PRCs is related primarily to the heterogeneity in the clot structure between platelet-rich and platelet-poor areas. GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors facilitate the rate and the extent of fibrinolysis by improving rtPA binding velocity and, subsequently, the lysis rate in platelet-rich areas. These findings provide new insights on the synergistic potential of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and fibrinolytic agents.


The changes in the contents of enzymes activity of the seed of three varieties of mungbean were analysed at different hour of germination. Amylase and invertase activity were tremendously increased 200-220 % and 165-175 % respectively at 24 hour of germination and decreased gradually from 48-96 hour of germination. Protease activity was remarkably increased at 24 hour then further increased upto 48 hour (131-161%) and then decreased from 72-96 hour of germination. BARIMung-3 variety showed the best result i.e the highest amount of enzymes activity among the three varieties of mungbean at 24 hour of germinaton.

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 42(2), 213-216, 2007


OBJECTIVE: Gestational thrombocytopenia is the most common cause of the thrombocytopenia in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gestational thrombocytopenia (GT) among pregnant women in our center. STUDY DESIGN: Platelet count was analyzed in 452 pregnant women. The patients were divided according to severity of thrombocytopenia. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were thrombocytopenic. Six patients were severe, 16 patients were moderate and 23 patients were mild thrombocytopenic. The prevalence of GT was found 9.9 %. CONCLUSION: Gestational thrombocytopenia is usually observed as mild form.


Yang‐Mills gauge field with gauge group SU(2) decomposes into a single charge neutral complex vector, and two spinless charged scalar fields. At high energies these constituents are tightly confined into each other by a compact U(1) interaction, and the Yang‐Mills Lagrangian describes the dynamics of asymptotically free massless gauge vectors. But in a low energy and finite density environment the interaction between the constituents can become weak, and a spin‐charge separation may occur. We suggest that the separation between the spin and charge with the ensuing condensation of the charged scalars takes place when the Yang‐Mills theory enters confinement. The confining phase becomes then surprisingly similar to the superconducting phase of a high‐Tc superconductor.


Background: The Government of Indonesia is currently implementing its Coastal Community Economic Empowerment Program or Pemberdayaan Ekonomi Masyarakat Pesisir (PEMP) to numerous coastal communities in the island of Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Nusa Tenggara. The program is geared to empower local coastal communities through its integrated, holistic vision, its local-based, participatory method, and its public-partnership approach. Locality is important since the program aims to induce local initiatives and retain social and economic progress within the area, taking into account its ecological carrying capacity. Method: The research is a qualitative inquiry using ethnomethodological tools and purposive, snowball sampling. The research was conducted in 2015-2016 in Cilacap, Central Java.   Data analysis was conducted through tabulation, categorization, comparison, conceptualization and theorization. Results: Issues beset the government's PEMP program, including its utilitarian framework to coastal resource governance, its adverse incorporation of small fishermen into the fishing industries, and its unsustainable public-private partnership to promote entrepreneurial growth. Attempts to resolve those issues include ensuring that funding for the PEMP program is incorporated within the yearly provincial and regency budgets and regulations, instilling consensus building over the program's direction and activities with local communities and the private sector through the Provincial and Regency Level People's Representative Council, and brokering with local communities and the private sector to achieve workable common ground should conflicts arise. Conclusion: Establishing sound intervention policies and programs require securing flexibility and adaptive management capacity through negotiations and brokering.


The appearance of the BCP or Pre-C mutations, which reduce or abolish HBeAg production, could increase HBV replication. The remove of the HBeAg often lead to a vigorous immune response, which has an important role in HBV related fulminant outcome. In this study, BCP mutations and Pre-C mutations were separately introduced by site-directed mutagenesis in the same genetic background of an HBV infectious clone, to determine the effect of these mutations per se on replication. BCP and Pre-C mutations increased HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo. HBV could persist in mice injected with wild type HBV infectious clone for about 7 weeks. However, HBV could persist about 5 weeks in mice injected with BCP HBV infectious clone, and 3 weeks only in mice injected with Pre-C HBV infectious clone. HBV related CD8+ CTL response in BCP HBV infectious clone injected mice only slightly increased, but significantly increased in Pre-C HBV infectious clone injected mice compared with that in wild type HBV infectious clone injected mice. The population of Tregs significantly increased in liver but not in spleen of mice injected with Pre-C HBV infectious clone. In summary, we demonstrate that HBeAg plays an important role in suppressing the CTL response, which is related with increasing the frequency of Tregs in mouse. Lack of HBeAg expression leads to the partial loss of immune tolerance.


The invention discloses a near-field electrostatic jet-printing head, relating to the electrostatic jet-printing head. The invention provides the near-field electrostatic jet-printing head with low-voltage driving and capability of jetting and printing micro-nano pattern structures accurately. The near-field electrostatic jet-printing head is provided with a laser generator, a computer, an electromagnetic valve, an air guide pipe, a sealing head, a jet pipe, a conducting probe and an air pipe, wherein the laser generator generates laser beams; the computer is connected with the electromagnetic valve and the laser generator; the upper end of the jet pipe is provided with an outer thread, and the lower end of the jet pipe is a jet nozzle; the sealing head is in threaded connection with the outer thread of the upper end of the jet pipe by an inner thread; the air pipe is positioned in the jet pipe and is fixed on the sealing head; one end of the air pipe is connected with the output end of the electromagnetic valve by the air guide pipe, and the other end of the air pipe is an air outlet with a reducing structure; the air outlet is coaxial to the jet nozzle; and one end of the conducting probe is fixed on the sealing head and is connected with a positive electrode of a direct-current voltage source, and the other end of the conducting probe extends out of the end part of the jet nozzle.


In this paper we develop a new mathematical model of immunotherapy and cancer vaccination, focusing on the role of antigen presentation and costimulatory signaling pathways in cancer immunology. We investigate the effect of different cancer vaccination protocols on the well-documented phenomena of cancer dormancy and recurrence, and we provide a possible explanation of why adoptive immunotherapy protocols can sometimes promote tumor growth instead of inhibiting it (a phenomenon called immunos-timulation), as opposed to active vaccination protocols based on tumor-antigen pulsed dendritic cells. Significantly, our simulations suggest that elevated numbers of professional antigen presenting cells correlate well with prolonged time periods of cancer dormancy.


Dîvânü Lugâti't-Türk, a work of Karahanid Turkish Period, is a very significant work that reflects the lexicology of 11 th. century Turkish language. There are 8783 words in Dîvânü Lugâti't-Türk's index. Because the work reflects Turkish culture, a lot of data relating to sacial life can be encountered. A great deal of studies have been done about Dîvânü Lugâti't-Türk until this time. The lexicology of the work has been examined from various points of views. In this work, how the term "heroism" is dealed has been studied. The term of "heroism" is very important in the living culture of central Asia. Heroism is an irrevocable thing fort he Turkish nation which is a warrior society and who are 1 Yüksek Lisans Öğrencisi, Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi, Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı Bölümü, Samsun email@example.com,


Context. The jets of compact accreting objects are composed of electrons and a mixture of positrons and ions. These outflows impinge on the interstellar or intergalactic medium and both plasmas int ...


We are exploring the feasibility of a neutrino factory based on a muon storage ring. In this, beams of nu_mu and nubar_e arise from the decay of mu- particles (or alternatively, nubar_mu and nu_e from mu+). The muons come from the decay of low-energy pions produced by a megawatt proton beam incident on a nuclear target. The muons are captured into a magnetic channel, "cooled" by ionization in liquid hydrogen, accelerated to energy of order 50 GeV, and injected into a storage ring. A nonhorizontal ring can deliver neutrino beams to an on-site detector, as well as to two off-site detectors separated by global distances. Such a neutrino factory is a challenging extension of present accelerator technology. It is also a natural path to a muon collider, in that both facilities share many common elements upstream of their storage rings. Prior to a formal design study, R&D must be performed in several keys areas, such detailed simulations and actual targetry and cooling experiments. This in an excellent opportunity to advance the field of accelerator physics both at national laboratories and at universities.


"In this article there have been applied some analytical methods of multidimensional analysis based on calculated abridged mortality tables for the districts of Czechoslovakia (1981-1985)." The techniques were used to assess average life span and probability of death. (SUMMARY IN ENG AND RUS)


In the Bronze Age several possibilities for tin bronze production were available, namely direct from copper and cassiterite ore or by alloying copper with metallic tin. Cassiterite ores from two sources, Cornwall and Schlaggenwald, were available. It has to be noted that cassiterite from Schlaggenwald contained about 25 wt. % WO3, presumably as wolframite. For the experiments, copper was melted at 1090 °C, covered with charcoal and then cassiterite and again charcoal was added. As is known from Sn smelting, the presence of tungsten reduces the yield of Sn. Thus, in our experiments the Sn content in the bronze was reduced. It can be confirmed by these experiments that the direct production of tin bronzes from copper and cassiterite ore is possible. In the Bronze Age the negative effect of tungsten should not have played a role, because at that time only the cassiterite deposits of Cornwall were known in Europe.


View looking along the Waipa Bridge at Ngaruawahia. Photographed by R.S.F., probably Robert Stanley Fleming, storekeeper of Ngaruawahia.
Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom left - Waipa Bridge. Ngaruawahia. 22; Photographer's title on negative - bottom right - R.S.F. Protd 1.8.10
Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).
Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative 4.5 x 6.5 inches


Differences in nonnative speakers' pragmatic performance may lead to serious communication problems. Although previous research has investigated different types of request strategies employed by English as a foreign or second language (EFL/ESL) learners, little is known whether they use different or similar types of request strategies in the faculty context. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate cross-cultural variation in the use of request strategies by EFL/ESL learners to their faculty. To this aim, the request strategies elicited from 38 intermediate Iranian EFL learners in Iran, 24 intermediate ESL learners in England, and 16 British native English-speaking teachers were examined. A discourse completion test (DCT) was used to elicit the EFL/ESL learners' request strategies to the faculty. Frequency findings suggested preference for the use of conventionally indirect request strategies to their faculty by the participants. Moreover, chi-square results indicated that their first language (L1) had no effect on the choice of request strategies employed by such learners to their faculty. Conclusions are that EFL/ESL learners generally use more negative politeness strategies to mitigate their requests to their faculty.


This paper gives a tutorial on system level design methodologies for system LSI, or System-On-Chip (SOC) designs and discusses about formal verification technologies targeting such system level specification/design descriptions. As a representative of system level specification/design language, we pick up SpecC language and introduce its associated design methodology for SOC designs. Although there are other system level specification/design languages, such as SystemC, the presented design methodology is basically shared with them. We also give an overview of the formal verification technology which can verify system level specification/design descriptions including verification of both hardware and software.


This research explores the numerous ways queer Latinas and Asian/Pacific Islander women are marginalized in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement and their racial/ethnic communities in regards to their intersecting, subordinate identities. Through in-depth interviews with 25 queer identified women and ethnographic observation at Gay Pride events, this research examines how the women interviewed make sense of their overlapping oppressions as they affect and frame their experiences and shape their identities. By integrating Collins' notion of the outsider-within along with Sandoval's concept of differential oppositional consciousness, I assert that queer Latinas and Asian/Pacific Islander women experience marginality within the mainstream LGBT movement primarily as a function of invisibility that serves simultaneously as a source of alienation and empowerment, ultimately serving to challenge hegemonic notions of queer identity and politics.


With the development of high-performance lithium ion batteries, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) has been widely applied as a high-precision technique to investigate the atomic-level features of doped lithium transition metal oxide cathodes. However, the corresponding effect of the high-energy electron beam irradiation during STEM has been largely ignored, even though it often causes structural modification or breakage of the ionic bonds in the material, leading to the misinterpretation of the atomic structure. Therefore, to improve the accuracy of atomic-level observation, it is important to develop a consolidated methodology that can specify the critical parameters that trigger the effect of the high-energy electron beam. To achieve this, the electron beam-induced radiolysis phenomena of layer-structured lithium mixed-transition metal oxides (LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2, NCM) were characterized by STEM-EDX at different accelerating voltages. The results revealed that the susceptibility of the materials to electron beam irradiation significantly depends on the energy of the accelerated electrons; a 200 kV electron beam triggered cation migration that resulted in structural changes, while the original structure was retained for a prolonged duration under an 80 kV electron beam, thus securing the true structural information of the material. Remarkably, a small amount of Ti doping into NCM significantly increased its tolerance to the electron beam. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the high resistance of the Ti-doped NCM to the electron beam can be attributed to enhanced conductivity due to the semiconductor–metal transition. Furthermore, there was a reliable correlation between the observed phenomenon and the cycling performance of the materials, thus suggesting that STEM probe-based monitoring at atomic resolution can be exploited as an indicator of battery stability and life.


The dominant theme of this thesis is that random matrix valued analytic functions, generalizing both random matrices and random analytic functions, for many purposes can (and perhaps should) be effectively studied in that level of generality. We study zeros of random analytic functions in one complex variable. It is known that there is a one parameter family of Gaussian analytic functions with zero sets that are stationary in each of the three symmetric spaces, namely the plane, the sphere and the unit disk, under the corresponding group of isometries. We show a way to generate non Gaussian random analytic functions whose zero sets are also stationary in the same domains. There are particular cases where the exact distribution of the zero set turns out to belong to an important class of point processes known as determinantal point processes. Apart from questions regarding the exact distribution of zero sets, we also study certain asymptotic properties. We show asymptotic normality for smooth statistics applied to zeros of these random analytic functions. Lastly, we present some results on certain large deviation problems for the zeros of the planar and hyperbolic Gaussian analytic functions.


This essay will examine the manner in which composers and artistic directors have used conductors and click-tracks within the context of new music ensembles performing integrative concerts. The analyses and examples provided will rely for the most part on material gathered during in-depth interviews that I conducted with artistic directors, composers, conductors, and musicians, all of whom are professionally active in the new music field in Europe (and beyond). I will examine the application of both click-tracks and conductors and demonstrate that their implementation represents an active choice made by either the composer and/or artistic directors. both click-tracks and conductors are viewed by the interviewees as potential tools with somewhat overlapping possibilities and capacities and their presence is no secondary phenomenon of the music. They become instead a means for the above actors to meet their objectives, be they artistic, pragmatic, technical, or otherwise.


Abstract. As the ferret, Mustela putorius furo L. (Carnivora: Mustelidae), is becoming increasingly popular as a pet animal and as it is susceptible to the cat‐flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis Bouché (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), an experimental model was established for evaluating insecticidal treatments on this host. A high establishment rate (76.7–91.8%) was recorded when 60 unfed adult C. felis were placed on ferrets. This provided an adequate infestation for chemotherapeutic evaluation without causing undue discomfort to the host. Twelve ferrets were allocated to two groups matched for sex and individual ability to sustain a flea population. One group was treated topically with an imidacloprid spot‐on formulation at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg body‐weight on Day 0. All ferrets were infested with C. felis on Days − 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28, and flea counts were performed 8 and 24 h post‐treatment and one day after each subsequent infestation. Fleas were removed at all but the 8 h count (when they were returned to their host). Flea burdens were reduced by 95.3% (P < 0.001) within 8 h of treatment and 100% efficacy was recorded at 24 h. At 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks post‐treatment, protection against re‐infestation was 92.9% (P < 0.001), 55.7% (P < 0.02), 18.3% (NS) and 7.4% (NS), respectively. Thus, at this dose rate, imidacloprid gave excellent efficacy against a resident C. felis population and provided a high level of residual activity for at least one week after treatment.


This paper focuses on identifying a continuous time state space model for a system operating in closed-loop, using a subspace method based on error-in-variables (EIV) models. The proposed approach in this paper extends the existing methods in the discrete-time systems to continuous-time systems where the Laguerre filters are used in the identification procedure. Furthermore, to meet the requirement for continuous time model and to remain filter causality, the choice of instrumental variable is based on the future horizon variables. Monte-Carlo simulation results are presented to verify the consistency of the estimated models.


The number of candidates for total hip replacement (THR) is steadily increasing. Judging by the clinical results and implant longevity, THR is one of the most common and most successful orthopedic interventions of all times. Material, design, surgical techniques and subsequent rehabilitation continue to evolve. Choice of the prosthesis and fixation technique depends on the patients' bone structure and joint stability and their individual characteristics, such as age, weight and level of activity. Rehabilitation after THR is as important as the surgery. Rehabilitation protocols vary with the type of endoprosthesis. There is some controversial evidence about the differences in the surgical approach, the role of the preoperative education and exercises, as well as the implementation of the most efficient rehabilitation protocol. Despite many uncertainties and dilemmas, most studies have shown that majority of patients are satisfied with their arthroplasty results. Acta Medica Medianae 2018;57(1):48-53.


When subjects describe concepts in terms of their characteristic properties, they often produce composite properties, e. g., rabbits are said to have long ears, not just ears. We present a set of simple methods to extract the modifiers of composite properties (in particular: parts) from corpora. We achieve our best performance by combining evidence about the association between the modifier and the part both within the context of the target concept and independently of it. We show that this performance is relatively stable across languages (Italian and German) and for production vs. perception of properties.


South Africa has "globally unprecedented" levels of violence against women (Medical Research Council, 2009). Despite the country's progressive constitution and support for women's rights, the Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust estimates that up to 500,000 women are raped each year. Oxfam is partnering with Rape Crisis to support their peer education programme, which trains high school students as peer counsellors and educators to support rape survivors and fight sexual violence in their schools and communities.


In this paper, we are concerned with the semantic and morphosyntactic properties of -er nominalizations in English. Our main contribution to the theoretical discussion on these nominals is that we should distinguish between two groups of -er nominals: those that obey the external argument generalization, irrespectively of whether they are eventive or not, and whether they have complements or not, and those that do not obey the external argument generalization. The first group -er nominals sub-divides into episodic ones, which always project their internal complements, and dispositional ones, which may leave these objects unexpressed; we argue that both episodic and dispositional nominals have the exact same rich syntactic structure, namely they are derived from verb phrases. They differ as far as their aspectual properties are concerned, a property from which we will derive the presence vs. absences of complement structure. The second group contains -er nominals that are not fully productive; we argue that these have a poorer syntactic internal structure. Specifically, these involve affix attachment at the root level and not contain any verbal layers. The paper is structured as follows. In section 2, we offer a brief overview of the literature on the subject and outline our analysis as well as our theoretical assumptions. In section 3, we propose our decomposition of -er nominals. In Section 4, we discuss the episodic vs. dispositional distinction for -er nominals that obey the external argument generalization. In section 5, we turn to those -er nominals that do not obey this generalization. In section 6, we offer some brief conclusions.


This first issue of the third volume highlights the centrality of ethical concerns to practice, research and education, and ventures into complex terrain which surrounds us all professionally and personally. The articles herein focus on research governance in social care (McLaughlin & Shardlow), the ethical issues surrounding the choice and use of evidence in practice (Shdaimah), and the complexities surrounding end-of-life decisions (Johnson). They focus too on giving effective meaning to professional language (Beckett), rooting ethics in professional practice (Banks) and evaluating the contribution of anti-oppressive values to practice (Clifford). All the articles take us back to education for professional practice and the obligation on students and tutors to seek effective ways of exploring the contributions of values and ethics to navigating through the dilemmas and challenges of practice, and of ensuring the quality of the future workforce. The success with which this can be done is demonstrated by three papers in the practice section. All written by students (Sexton, Miranda-Galarza and Evans), they reveal a rich stream of reflection in and on practice. On such critical and thoughtful reflection service users will rely. It is what service providers must appreciate if the highest standards of care-ful practice are to be achieved. So important is debate around ethics in the theory and practice of the social sciences that the Academy of Social Sciences in the United Kingdom is focusing on how best to facilitate cross-disciplinary discussion, not least because of continued policy development around, and concern about, the relative merits of research governance, scrutiny and review. Equally topical in the UK context is the recent trend whereby social workers have successfully appealed against their removal from the professional register, which would otherwise have denied them a right to practise as social workers, on the grounds of organizational and supervisory or managerial failures. This, and the renewed focus on professional education and training as a result of high-profile child-protection tragedies, once again focuses the spotlight on learning and teaching for the challenges of professional practice. That the journal's purpose is clearly resonating across the social professions was demonstrated at the London conference, organized by the journal's editorial board, the keynote papers for which appear in this issue. Participants were asked whether they felt there might be a role for a network that brought together


Results  90% had no prior experience using insulin pens or syringes  Addition of standardized patient interaction increased:  counseling skills  knowledge retention  knowledge level  Strengths  results consistent with previously published studies  validated test questions provided by APhA10  utilized standardized patient interactions in first-year doctor of pharmacy students  100% participation in knowledge test and counseling checklist  Limitations  time constraints and follow-up time  potential variability in student knowledge level


In Novak's "concept mapping", fully constructed "concept map" is shown to subjects before and/or after mapping work. As it takes too much time to get satisfactory results, in this study map completion tasks were introduced. Subjects were to insert some of the suitable concepts or lines into the blanks to make up the map wholly. In preliminary experiments the difficulty of getting satisfactory results were tested. In Exp. I , map completion task with some blanks of concepts are found to be the most effctive. In Exp. II, time spent on this task were manipulated. Subjects had negative effects when only 5 minutes were allowed. When 25 minutes were spent on this task in a 50 minute-experiment, subjects had the best positive effects.


The aim of this study was to determine the effect of MO leaves and termite powders on the nutritional properties of an instant-maize porridge. Inclusion of MO leaves and termite powders in instant-maize porridge, at different treatments were considered using a completely randomised design. Factor levels were: AOB-control (maize flour); BEA (maize, cooked dried MO and termite powders); CIA (maize, blanched dried MO and termite powders) and DJE (maize, uncooked dried MO and termite powders). The addition of MO leaves and termite powders (independent variables) at different treatments increased the protein and mineral content (dependant variables) and also showed positive effect on the textural and pasting properties of instant-maize porridge, although a negative effect on colour attributes of instant-maize porridge was observed. Data from three replicates were analysed using SPSS version 23. The protein content of fortified instant-maize porridge (FMP) significantly (p < 0.05) increased from 10.02 to 21.20%. The mineral content of FMP was higher in terms of Zn, Fe, Ca and Mg. The moisture content of FMP increased from 5.00 to 6.0%. MO leaves and termite powder could be used in complementary foods to increase their protein and mineral contents.


Listening comprehension is a comlicated prosess.In the process of understanding the listening materials,listeners must understand both the literal meaning and the implied meaning of the utterance.The application of relevance theory in listening pratice can help us keenly capture the relevant factors,effectively mobilize the cognitive environment and create the relevant context in order to understand the listening content exactly.The article bases on the test paper of CET4 designed for college students to explain,form the relevant theory's point of view,how to guide the students to establish the relationship between the listening materials and one's own knowledge,so as to improve their comprehension ability and listening skills.


. Thirteen patients with primary type II hyperlipoproteinemia have been treated with neomycin and cholestyramine, alone and in combination with clofibrate, during 6-week periods in a cross-over study lasting 36 weeks. Neomycin, 2 g daily, and cholestyramine, 24 g daily, produced significant median 23% and 27% reductions of plasma cholesterol respectively. Cholesterol was further but non-significantly reduced by addition of clofibrate 2 g daily. Dyspeptic side-effects were severe, necessitating withdrawal of 7 and 4 patients from treatment with neomycin and cholestyramine respectively.


The methodology of The Zen is to have people uncover enlightenment by themselves. Though the great awakening can be realized only by oneself, the guidance from a good friend or teacher (Kalyānamitra,善知識) who leads one to the Buddhist way is equally important. This study discusses the categories of good friends/teachers in Platform Sutra of Dunhuang Manuscripts, as well as the roles they play in one's great awakening process. This study also takes Huineng's uncover enlightenment journey as example to feature the relationship between a good friend/teacher and people in their great awakening process.


As it is well known, the porous structure of stones can change due to different degradation processes that modify the characteristics of freshly quarried blocks. Their knowledge is fundamental for predicting the behavior of stones and the efficacy of conservative treatments. In this context, neutron radiography is a useful tool not only to visualize the structure of porous materials, but also to evaluate the degree of degradation and surface modifications resulting from weathering processes. Furthermore, since thermal neutrons suffer a strong attenuation by hydrogen, this technique is effective in order to investigate the amount of absorbed water in building materials. In the present work, we report a neutron radiography investigation of limestones cropping out in the South-Eastern Sicily and widely used as building stones in Baroque monuments of the Noto Valley. The analyzed samples have been submitted to cyclic salt crystallization that simulate degradation processes acting in exposed stones of buildings. The obtained results demonstrate the interest of neutron radiography to better understand deterioration processes in limestones and to acquire information useful for restoration projects.


The present invention relates to a RF token issuing device mounted to modular RF token vending machine, the RF token issuing system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of loading area (21, 22) and different types to each loading area (21, 22) of the RF token 10 it is to be loaded. Thus, the RF token 10 of different appearance, depending on the charge information is to be issued is possible the user to see only the appearance of the RF token 10 can easily identify that the charge information.


The detection of smart contracts vulnerability is a valuable research problem because smart contracts hold a huge amount of cryptocurrency. In the past, popular detection tools were mainly based on some traditional techniques such as fuzzing and symbolic execution, which rely on fixed expert features or patterns and often miss many vulnerabilities. Recent machine learning approaches alleviate this issue but do not notice the semantic information in the source code. In this paper, we develop a system called SVChecker to classify the smart contract source code written in Solidity. To show the superiority of our system, we conduct experiments on more than 40,000 smart contracts collected from Ethereum. Empirically, our experimental results demonstrate that our system outperforms all popular detection tools.


Controlled adsorptive accumulation of bismuth (III) complexed with alizarine red S (ARS) on a hanging mercury drop electrode provides the basis for the direct stripping measurement of this element in the nanomolar concentration level. The reduction current of adsorbed complex ions of bismuth is measured by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry, preceded by an accumulation period of one minute. The peak potential is at 0.05 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Optimal experimental parameters were found to be an ARS concentration of 15 μM, an accumulation potential of −0.2 V, and an acid concentration of 0.10 M (nitric acid). The limit of detection (3σ) is 0.5 nM, and the response is linear up to 150 nM. Many common anions and cations do not interfere in the determination of bismuth. An intercomparison of bismuth determinations performed by the proposed method and previously electroanalytical methods demonstrates higher selectivity, and shorter analysis time of this method. The voltammetric procedure was then applied successfully to the determination of bismuth in various complex samples.


Space multiband CCD camera compression encoder requires low-complexity, high-robustness, and high-performance because of its captured images information being very precious and also because it is usually working on the satellite where the resources, such as power, memory, and processing capacity, are limited. However, the traditional compression approaches, such as JPEG2000, 3D transforms, and PCA, have the high-complexity. The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems-Image Data Compression (CCSDS-IDC) algorithm decreases the average PSNR by 2 dB compared with JPEG2000. In this paper, we proposed a low-complexity compression algorithm based on deep coupling algorithm among posttransform in wavelet domain, compressive sensing, and distributed source coding. In our algorithm, we integrate three low-complexity and high-performance approaches in a deeply coupled manner to remove the spatial redundant, spectral redundant, and bit information redundancy. Experimental results on multiband CCD images show that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms the traditional approaches.


The new tariffs which has been applied since January 1988 in Tokyo, Japan, have posed a problem due to the diversity of tariffs for seasonal/time-of-use consumption and methods of determining the contract demand based on real value. The electronic watthour meter has solved the problem. The authors deal with the outline of these tariffs and the function of the electronic watthour meter applied along with new tariffs. >


The performance of nonblocking space-division packet switches in a correlated-input traffic environment is investigated. In constructing the input traffic model, it is considered that each input is a TDM (time division multiplexing) link and connected to multiple sources. A call experiences the alternation of active and inactive periods, and periodically generates packets while in the active period. All the packets generated by each call are assigned to the same output. The output address of each call is assumed to be uniformly assigned. In this multimedia correlated-input traffic environment, it is shown that the maximum throughput of the switch is always bounded by 0.500<or= lambda /sub max/<or=0.586. When the access rate of each source in an active period is limited to less than or equal to 2.5% of the link transmission rate, it is found that the effect of input traffic correlation on the output contentions can generally be ignored. Therefore, not only is the maximum throughput equal to 0.586 as in the uncorrelated traffic case, but the analysis of each input queue can also be separated from the rest of the switch, with its service time replaced by a renewal process.<<ETX>>


The present invention relates to a burner (100) and a method for operating a combustor (100). A combustor (100) comprising a channel (1), the passageway having a mixing zone (2) and an oxidizer input member, in particular the air inlet member (16), an input member and having at least one fuel injecting fuel, wherein , channel (1) is provided with spacer means (15), which channel (1) along a lengthwise region of the channel into at least two spaced apart channels, i.e. a first channel (3a) and a second channel (3b ). Such a burner (100) is operating, wherein the burner (100) comprising a channel (1) having a premixer zone (2), and oxidant mass flow into which fuel is injected, according to the present method, by means of one dividers in (1) (15), and spaced apart first and second channels (3a) whereby the at least two isolation device configuration, (3b), forming two substantially independent flow path.


A quantum mechanical scattering study is carried out to test a collisional pumping model for cooling the 6 and 2 cm doublets of interstellar formaldehyde. The Arthurs and Dalgarno formalism is extended to the collision of an s‐state atom with a rigid asymmetric top molecule and applied to rotational excitation of ortho formaldehyde by helium impact. Using a previously determined configuration interaction potential energy surface, the coupled‐channel (CC) equations are integrated at 12 scattering energies between 20 and 95°K. Up to 16 ortho formaldehyde states, yielding a maximum of 62 CC equations, are retained to test convergence of computed cross sections. Resonance structure is obtained at ∼20.2, 32.7, and 47.7°K. The computed inelastic cross sections are averaged over a Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution and the resultant rates used to solve the equations of statistical equilibrium for the relative populations. The 6 and 2 cm doublets are found to be cooled only upon inclusion of the j=3 doublet.


Objective We aimed to study the clinical effectiveness of using total pneumonecto my to treat pulmonary cancer.Methods A retrospective analysis was made to study 186 patients suffering from primary bronchopneumonial cancer during April,1987 to March,1997 in our hospital treated with total pneumonectomy.Results 13 5% of patients of total operation on patients with pulmonary cancer were treated with the above surgical method.The in hospital mortality was 2 7%,30 1% of these patients were treated with operation of pulmonary blood vessels in pericardium.The survival rate of 1,3,5 years after surgery was 81 2%,39 2%,20 4% respectively.Conclusions Total pneumonectomy was an effective surgical method used to treat middle or late pulmonary cancer patients.Treating pulmonary blood vessels in pericardium could improve the clinical effectiveness.


ABSTRACT The action of Beauveria sulfurescens on terpinolene mainly gives products resulting from attack on the 4,8 double bond. Bioconversion of 4,8-epoxy p-menth-1-ene mainly gives p-menth-1-en 4,8-diol (Penicillium digitatum and Beauveria sulfurescens). The ratio of the two diastereoisomers is determined.


A country that can not afford to meet the country's need to import from other countries and the countries that supply of certain commodities from other countries in need will tend to export activity. The title of this research is the influence of Import Export and Foreign Exchange Reserves Against National Period 1999-2010. The problem in this study is the import, export and exchange rate simultaneously significantly affect the national foreign exchange reserves? How does the influence of export, import and exchange rate partially on national reserves? Export the results of this study are a positive and significant impact on the national reserves. Imports are not significantly positive effect on the national reserves. Exchange rate has positive and significant impact on the national reserves.


Power frequency magnetic field shielding is used for protection of sensitive electronic devices and data storage media and for prevention of interference in video display unit operation. The interest in magnetic field shielding is growing due to increasing concern of possible health effects on persons exposed to power frequency magnetic field. In the surrounding of substations, magnetic fields of power frequency can arise with flux densities in the range between 1 /spl mu/T and 10 /spl mu/T. These fields are mainly produced by busbars, cables and transformers. A primary source of the magnetic field in the substation is generally the cable section from the transformer secondary terminal. Eddy currents and magnetisation induced in metal enclosures, special shields and other conductive and ferromagnetic structures are secondary sources. When the rearrangement of substation equipment is not possible, magnetic field shielding around the sources can be implemented to reduce power frequency magnetic fields in the vicinity of a substation. It is common to associate ferromagnetic materials with magnetic field shielding. Various types of steel have frequently been used for shielding. However, conductive materials with no ferromagnetic properties, such as aluminium and copper, can also perform well as magnetic field shielding materials.


The present invention provides a even when the preview image is obtained through the document type of the user erroneously set, do not pre-scanned again, and can be displayed through the image reading system is adapted to the type of document image preview . When the document is set to the film scanner, the preview image reading does not change for the positive film and the negative film reading method, and a preview image is read in the same reading method, and selected by the user type film (positive film, negative film) the image processing when displaying a preview image corresponding to the change.


When underground piping for a water or gas supply is buried, the construction site should be checked in advance, referring to the plan or sign. However, some obstacles, such as unknown pipes or stones, can be encountered. To avoid these cases, an examination of the underground condition is required. The purpose of this study is to detect underground objects that exist in the ultra-shallow layer, where 2-3 m below the surface, and to obtain underground image which is easy to see intuitively. For detection, seismic method is applied. However, this method has two downsides. One is a generally used seismic source not having reproducibility. The other is mixing Rayleigh wave which is one of the surface waves and reflected waves. To compensate these downsides, giant-magnetostriction vibrator was used as a seismic source, and magnified cross-correlation analysis was proposed. Underground image was obtained using combinations of them. In this paper, as the method of underground imaging, new algorithm of elliptic orbit brightness value it was developed by the authors was used.


In Caring for Strangers: Filipino Medical Workers in Asia, Megha Amrith examines the personal narratives, experiences and aspirations of Filipino medical workers who are living and working in Singapore as one of the many destinations that appear to offer a lucrative and stable career overseas. This ethnographic study offers a comprehensive insight into its participants' lives, writes Michael Warren, and shows the multiple articulations and meanings of care as it crosses borders.


NASA's Land, Vegetation and Ice Sensor (LVIS) is a wide-swath, medium-footprint, waveform recording laser altimeter (lidar) sensor. In 2016, the sensor was used to image sub-canopy topography, canopy topography and structure at several sites in Gabon as part of the NASA and ESA Afrisar Campaign. Afrisar is a joint remote sensing mission involving multiple airborne and ground-based data collection activities that support the calibration and validation of future spaceborne missions, particularly GEDI, NISAR and BIOMASS, as well as other investigations. LVIS data products available at lvis.gsfc.nasa.gov include footprint-level canopy height, ground topography and canopy metrics, as well as vertically and horizontally-geolocated lidar return waveforms that enable end users to produce additional georeferenced data products as needed.


In our previous work, a real-time market-grid-coupling is proposed for interconnecting the physical grid and the economic market in a decoupled control loop. In this paper, we extend our feedback control framework with a distributed model predictive control approach for coupling distributed power markets and grids, in order to investigate the mutual influence between them with respect to both price and supply-demand-balance stability. The main contribution of the paper focuses on the mathematical model of a distributed feedback control system for an interoperable control between distributed market and grid units. The controller objective refers to a concurrent market price and power dispatch stabilization through maximizing the total social welfare. Finally, we demonstrate simulation-based numerical results to show the capability of proposed collaborative model predictive control feedback loops towards the impact of an optimal dynamic dispatch on the market price stability.


Objective To explore the effect of inversion splint fixation and functional exercises on subtalar joint space and the medial malleolus Methods The foot exercised 10 times(10~15 minutes per time and lasted for 4 weeks) at inversion and internal rotation position with splinting after closed reduction.Results In 25 cases the subtalar joint space and medial malleolus were normal,fibula and medial malleolus were in good alignment;1 case had improvement and the results were satisfactory in all.Conclusion Inversion fixation and early exercise can effectively reduce the detached fracture fragment and recover the ankle function.


The traditional information theory indicators namely channel capacity and noise-immunity are studied peculiarly in current paper. From one side, these indicators are functions of energy parameter h, which is applicable for transmitted signals reliability research. From other side, the main variable argument is the rate VC. Following proposed approach, the principal feature becomes apparent for applied information theory: the informational properties research of communication channels by way of telecommunication systems characteristics. The main task of current study is analysis of discrete communication channel productivity through identification of the regularities in reliability behavior of modulation multi-position keying signals. Integral productivity assessment is the efficiency metric of communication channel resources usage. Understanding and using the tool for right channel capacity and productivity assessment gives a chance for system analysis principles development in applied information theory for telecommunication. Model description and task statement


The essence of fixed point theory in feedback design is to replace the difficult parts of the design problem by others involving either uncertain linear time invariant (LTI) elements and/or disturbance sets. Since plant parameter and/or disturbance uncertainty is anyhow the basic problem in feedback design, this eliminates to a large extent the differences between linear and nonlinear systems. If compensators can be found to solve the new equivalent LTI problem, then these same compensators are guaranteed to solve the original much more difficult problem. Three such applications of fixed point theory are presented for generating simple LTI equivalent problems which replace the original nonlinear and MIMO design problems.


An efficient and user-friendly synthesis of 7H-chromeno[3,2-c]quinolines has been developed via a one-pot oxidative O-arylation, Pd-catalyzed C(sp3)-H arylation of readily available arylols and trivalent aryliodine reagents. A variety of valuable and complex fused heterocycles were quickly assembled in high isolated yields with broad substrate scopes.


Cancer is a leading cause of death and disability in Africa, and addressing this disease remains a significant challenge for many African countries. This paper examines the survival times of cancer in Africa through a critical review of 38 publications that comprise 27,795 samples with lung, breast, cervical, and prostate cancer. The overall survival time at one year was 77.4%, and the loco-regional rate of survival at three years was 71.8%. For cervical, breast, lung, and prostate cancer, the five-month survival time was 73.1-79.9%. The mean survival times for lung cancer patients at one year was 78.2%, and the mean annual survival times at three years was 52.8%. The mean age at the time of the study was 57.6 years. Total estimated pooled survival times for cancer patients in Africa was 60.66% (95% CI: 56.27, 65.06). And, the survival times of cancer patients in Southern Africa is 14.30%, 26.21% in Eastern Africa, 24.51% in Western Africa, and 41.06% in Central Africa. To improve survival times of lung, breast, cervical, and prostate cancer patients in Africa, it is important to increase awareness about cancer and its risk factors. And consortia should be promoted, whereby regions in Africa that have better resources can serve as mentors.


is to do its part in the development of the new social order. The book is a distinct contribution to this task. It is written with insight and discrimination. It may be specially commended to those who have come to feel that the church is hopelessly out of touch with the spirit of the age. Christian Unity at Work is the official report of the addresses delivered at the second quadrennial session of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ, which took place at Chicago in December, 1912. It gives an interesting record of the matters which engaged the attention of the delegates of the thirty or more religious bodies represented in the council, and is of impor-


Video games, as with any other cultural resource, are basic tools in social and cultural learning, tools for socialising that provide players with instrumental and social competences and skills. We have just completed a pilot project entitled ELLAD, (Esplai de Lleure i Aprenentatge Digital - Digital Learning and non-formal education classroom), looking at the use of video games in non-formal educational contexts as a tool to improve the quality and effectiveness of their education practices and processes. In this paper, we summarise the factors that led to the creation of the video games classroom in the context of non-formal education, the dynamics established, the initial conclusions reached and the further research related to this pilot project: the forthcoming study "Rethinking Digital Entertainment: a project on young people's digital socialization in spare time", funded by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, that will be developed between 2009 and 2011.


The important of internal control quality has been discussed by practioners and academics. One of the factors affecting the internal quality control is director's entrenchment where according to the agency theory, this aspect of director will reduce the quality of internal control. However, the study that investigate the relationship between director's entrenchment and internal control quality still limited, especially using the Indonesia's companies. The significant different between Indonesia environment and other previous studies is corporate governance system, especially dismissed and appointed the directors. Indonesia apply the modified continental europe board system. Therefore, this condition will make director's entrenchment higher and finally it will weaken the internal control. This study  aims to investigate empirically the effect of director's entrenchment on the quality of internal control by using the governement-link companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange. This study also examine  the board director characteristics, such as  director's ownership, director's tenure, director's incentive, director's gender, and director's age. The Sample of this research were 17 companies that listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2009-2013. The data used  in this research was secondary data that selected  by using purposive sampling method. Technique of data analysis for examining the hypothesis was logistic model.The Result of research indicate that director's entrenchment do not have a significant effeect on the internal control quality. The only variabel that have a significant relationshi with the internal control quality is director's age.. Keyword:        Internal control quality, director's entrechment, director's ownership, director's tenure, director's insentive, director's gender, and director's age.


Evolutionary shifts in breeding systems are often accompanied by changes in reproductive attributes such as floral morphology and biology, and pre- and post-zygotic allocation patterns. The effects of breeding system variation on several such attributes were examined in self-fertile tableland and outcrossing coastal populations of Blandfordia grandiflora R. Br. In general, overall flower size was similar in both populations, although pedicel and pistil stipe diameters were greater in coastal plants, and pistil length and stigma-anther separation were greater in tableland plants. Although all floral parts from coastal flowers weighed more, proportional biomass allocation to floral parts was similar in both populations. Daily nectar production per flower was similar in both populations. Tableland flowers produced more ovules but fewer pollen grains than did coastal flowers. Pollen-ovule ratios were 11 500 in coastal flowers and 5600 in tableland flowers. Open-pollinated tableland fruits produced more seeds than coastal fruits, but individual seeds weighed less; total seed biomass of tableland fruits was greater than coastal fruits. Prezygotic relative male biomass did not differ significantly between populations. Relative male biomass, estimated from stamen and seed weights, was 5% greater in coastal plants, although populations did not differ significantly. Similarly, relative biomass allocation to pollinator attraction (i.e. coralla and nectar) did not differ between populations. The onset and duration of stigmatic receptivity and pollen longevity of flowers from the two populations were similar. The large differences in ovule, seed and pollen production supports sex allocation theory which predicts that in self-fertile plants resource allocation should be female biased whereas in outcrossing plants, allocation should be male biased. The lack of differences between the Christmas bell populations in other aspects of floral morphology, allocation pattterns and biology suggests that changes in ovule and pollen production precedes changes in other traits during the evolution of autonomous selfing. Overall, these findings suggest that tableland plants may have evolved self-fertility only recently and selection has had insufficient time to change floral traits. Alternatively, self-fertility may not have evolved recently and floral traits promoting outcrossing have been maintained by selection, imposed by inbreeding depression and/or overdominance.


In linking together, seemingly through force of critical will, three heterogeneous aesthetic entities--an artwork, a symbol within a literary work, an interpretation of an artwork that most take as a symbol within a larger work variously seen as interpretive and literary--this article means to solicit not only the question of how these entities relate to each other but of what it means to consider Victorian literature through the perspective of postmodernism. Indeed, the answer to that second consideration also responds to the first question. If, following the model of various literary theories in their treatment of Victorian and other literature, one argues that various aspects of Victorian literature were really already postmodern, one calls the propriety of the term into question in a special way, because postmodernism has as an important part of its self-definition its complete break with what has gone before. (1) Consequently, a postmodern aspect of Victorian literature, hence something at least chronologically pre-modernist, could not arise from a break with the past and immediately would indicate that that aspect of the literature was not really postmodern at all. Any discovery of such an ostensible postmodern Victorianism would, upon this realization, lose at least some of its piquancy. On the other hand, applying a postmodern concept or model as a tool for understanding Victorian literature would seem to be a particularly arbitrary undertaking. Because postmodernism means to break with its past, the understandings it yields of events and objects that are part of the history leading to that break will be pre-determined by its theory of its own break. It will construct a history that both prepares for and ends with the break it defines for itself. And this will be true even if the break is a real one because, real or not, its cause will be a change in intellectual perspective, not a natural event. Any interpretation of Victorian literature and art will, therefore, already be implicit in that history and thus redundant at best. And even though I have been using the terms "postmodern" and "Victorian" in an inexcusably monolithic way, any more nuanced definition of the terms that even minimally preserved their historical elements would still fall prey to the same contradictions. But the second of these paths, using an example of postmodern art as a microscope of thought, as Walter Pater, quoting Victor Hugo, would have it (189), will be the direction of this article. Its protection against the redundant conclusions of a reproducing microscope will be the arbitrary limitation of "postmodernism" to the questions raised about art by Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" and its heirs, thus removing from the term its historical implications while insisting on its aesthetic significance. I will, then, concentrate on the particular features of Duchamp's readymade as a model for reading the Dickensian symbol and the Paterian interpretation, or at least reading the causes of the critical responses to them. The first aspect common to Duchamp's "Fountain" and these two Victorian moments I hope will seem evident without much argument. They have all been, if for different reasons, critically scandalous. They have all called attention to themselves as excessive gestures, needing critical explanation, usually an explanation that explains them away. Excessiveness is not peculiarly postmodern, though. Duchamp's presentation of a urinal as an artwork, however, has a number of features that does recommend it as having retrospective explanatory power. First, in order to account for the significance of "Fountain," one needs to move beyond the usual understanding of it as little more than a conceptual joke that swallows up its own object. But, at the same time, to understand the value of the object, we have also to recognize that that value strangely tolerates a separation from the art object so extreme as to call into question whether "Fountain" has ever existed simultaneously as an artwork and as an actual object. …


ABSTRACT Research on the experiences of the recent tremendous rural construction and restructuring in China show that the social dimension of sustainability is crucial for the success of rural development. However, most conventional built environmental sustainability assessment tools (BESATs) are mainly focussed on environmental sustainability and building performance. There are to date no useful or complete assessment methods of social sustainability in the rural built environment. This study reviews the concept of the social dimension of sustainability and its application in architecture. Several existing BESATs are analysed and compared to identify their features and gaps in the assessment of social sustainability. From this, a series of indicators of social sustainability in the built environment are developed and discussed in the context of the current situation and challenges in poor rural areas in China. Compared with conventional BESATs, the social dimension of sustainability assessment method (SDM) not only considered indoor environmental quality but also covered a variety of issues from human physiological needs to psychological needs. More importantly, it can be used to guide the practice of rural construction from the initial stage by providing a systematic understanding and point-by-point instructions.


The occurrence of the flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) was investigated in 458 sections (each 2.59 km2) in Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties, California, in 1979. In all sections, 40 P. mcallii (0.09/man-hour) and 2,191 horned lizard scats (4.8/man-hour) were counted. When sections were grouped in 12 general areas, mean numbers of horned lizards ranged from 0.40/ hr (north of Benson Dry Lake) to 0.00/hr (northern East Mesa, Coyote Wells area). The density of P. mcallii in a plot in the Yuha Basin (40 km west of El Centro) was 6-8/ha. The flat-tailed horned lizard is similar to P. platyrhinos in terms of sex ratio (1:1), age at maturity (20 months), and ability to la more than one clutch of eggs in favorable years. Mean home ranges for five male an m-ale P. mcallii (estimated as convex polygons) were 0.13 ha and 0.05 ha, respectively. P. mcallii feeds almost exclusively (>95% of items) on ants. The most commonly consumed species are harvester ants (Veromessor pergandei, Pogonomyrmex californicus and P. magnacanthus). In 1980 the relative abundance of P. mcallii (L), density (P), diversity (A,) of perennial plants and relative abundance of harvester ants (A) were estimated in ten plots in southeastern California. The abundance of the lizard was positively correlated (r = 0.93) with perennial density, and a clear positive association between lizard and ant densities was exhibited in nine of the ten plots. A regression model accounted for 91% of observed variation in lizard density, and predicted relative abundance of P. mcallii as:


OBJECTIVES
Despite the preclinical evidence on protective effects of colchicine against kidney fibrosis, whether colchicine could delay the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans remains unknown. This study examined the association between long-term colchicine use and risk of adverse kidney outcome in patients with CKD who were treated for hyperuricemia or chronic gout.

METHODS
We conducted a multicentre, nested, case-control study in three Korean hospitals. Patients were aged ≥ 19 years; had CKD G3-G4; and used drugs including colchicine, allopurinol, and febuxostat for hyperuricemia or chronic gout during April 2000-October 2020. Patients with CKD progression, which was defined as ≥ 40% decrease from the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate or the onset of kidney failure with replacement therapy, were matched to controls based on follow-up time, age, and sex.

RESULTS
Overall, 3085 patients with CKD progression were matched to 11715 control patients. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed that patients with ≥ 90 cumulative daily colchicine doses were associated with a lower risk of CKD progression (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.96) than non-users. In the sensitivity analysis with matched CKD stages, the AOR was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.62-0.97). This association was more pronounced in patients without diabetes or hypertension, and in patients with CKD G3.

CONCLUSION
Colchicine use is associated with a lower risk of adverse kidney outcomes in CKD patients with hyperuricemia, or chronic gout.


A book exploring the use of plastic materials and their application within the context of product design. It develops my particular research based on how materials can be presented to designers in a way that provides a greater understanding of their properties and application in design in an original format.

The originality of the book comes from the presentation of information, which in all other cases is delivered to designers in a way that does nothing to aid the implementation of materials in the design process. There are also countless industrial websites but nothing that acts as research tool and a comprehensive resource. The focus of the research was exploring the presentation of materials in a visual format that attempts to evoke the essential visual characteristics of specific materials. The use of language is intentionally informal and draws on a variety of sources to provide information on a level which is relevant to this specific reader.

Selection of content was based around deconstructing and re-evaluating established and everyday materials that occur in the common practice of design, with information presented using elements of layout, language and image, to create a mechanism for objective interpretation by the reader. Information draws on a number of sources and experts within the materials field to enhance the knowledge that is available to the design community. This is achieved by providing key references, sources and suggestions for ways that new materials can be implemented within a project and the scope they offer to enhance the design process.


We study the ``effective string picture'' of confinement, deriving theoretical predictions for the interquark potential at finite temperature. At low temperatures, the leading string correction to the linear confining potential between a heavy quark-antiquark pair is the "L\"uscher term''. Assuming a Nambu-Goto effective string action, subleading contributions can be worked out in an analytical way. We also discuss the contribution given by a possible ``boundary term'' in the effective action, and compare these predictions with high precision results from simulations of lattice Z(2) gauge theory in three dimensions, obtained with an algorithm that exploits the duality of the Z(2) gauge model with the Ising spin model.