The objective of the present article is to explain how all the chemical elements were formed from the big bang generated element: hydrogen. The methodology used was to analyze the main cosmological and astrophysical processes in order to explain the origin of all the known chemical elements. The main results are: Hydrogen cannot be formed in any part of the actual universe; it must come from the Big Bang. Helium and a little bit of lithium can have a cosmological origin associated to the Big Bang nucleosynthesis and the recombination process. The elements with an atomic number between 3 and 26 were, and continue to be, synthetized by nuclear fusion reactions inside the core of massive stars and liberated by explosion when the stars go supernovae, at the end of their lives. In the process of going supernova, elements with a medium atomic number, between 27 and 40, are created. All the elements with an atomic number larger than 40 were generated by neutron star collisions. When Mendeleev and Lothar Meyer designed an ordered arrangement of chemical elements, their tables included the 63 chemical elements known in 1869. A century and a half later, the known elements are 118. By studying different topics related to the elements, it was possible to uncover fundamental particles, such as quarks and leptons, and the strong and weak nuclear forces that form the baryonic part of the universe. The Sun was formed 6000 million years ago and its planets, including earth, were formed 4600 million years ago when and where there were debris of different stars that went supernova, in particular 1A type, and also debris, of at least one of a binary neutron star collision, so to attain, all the elements that have been identified in the solar system, and especially in earth. In addition, the current "periodic table" includes 26 synthetic elements that were produced in neutron star collisions but, because of their short lifetimes, they are not found, on earth. The vast quantities of the elements, produced during the aforementioned astrophysical processes, clustered into planets, stars and galaxies; and at least in one planet, our earth, some chemical elements organized themselves into living creatures.


Analytical solutions to the one‐dimensional advection‐dispersion equation are presented for several cases where the source concentration is either input continuously at a periodically fluctuating level or input as a single pulse of finite duration. The solute of interest can undergo linear equilibrium adsorption. Both semi‐infinite and infinite flow domains are considered. The solutions are utilized to quantify the degree to which the traveling contaminant pulses are attenuated (damped) as they migrate through an aquifer. The degree of damping is shown to be related to two dimensionless parameters and this relationship is conveniently presented in graphical form. The analytical results compare favorably with the behavior of trace organic contaminant pulses observed during injection of advanced‐treated wastewater into a shallow, alluvial aquifer in the Palo Alto Baylands.


An angular position-sensing transducer wasusedtomake continuous measurements ofacid-induced elongation ofAvena sativa coleoptile segments. Elongation ratesatpH 4.5(5mM succinate buffer) wereabout5-fold greater thanthoseatpH 6.0. Buffered 0.1mM abscisic acidproduced apartial decrease ofthegrowth rate. Pretreatments withabscisic acidbuffered at pH 6.0usualy causeda further reduction oftheelongation response when thecoleoptile segments were subsequently placed inbuffer atpH 4.5containing abscisic acid. Abscisic aciddidnotcompletely prevent thepH effect inanyofthese experiments, andthebrief latent period ofthepH response was notaffected by abscisic acidtreatments. At pH 4.5, wheretheinhibitory effect ofABA wasmaximum,lowpH-inducedelongation wasalsoinhibited byKCN andHgCI2. These results suggest thatpH-(4.5) induced elongation inthissystem may be dependent on some metabolic processes andthat abscisic acid-induced inhibition ofthiselongation may involve aninteraction withthese processes.


ABSTRACT Water distilled essential oil from fruits of Scaligeria lazica, an endemic species in Turkey, was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Nine compounds were identified representing 93.2% of the oil with (Z)-β-farnesene (89.18%) as the major constituent.


In this letter, Anfinsen wrote Asada at the Biotechnology Research Laboratories of the Takara Shuzo Company in order to acquire
 several hundred milligrams of Pyrococcus amylase and to gauge the interest of the company in supporting the work of Anfinsen's
 lab on Pyrococcus furiosus, which had the potential to degrade mustard gas.


At first glance, Karma and happiness may appear to be an unusual book for reviewing in Nursing Ethics because it is not a 'traditional' ethics book. However, good storytelling can be an effective way to teach ethics, and this book tells an engrossing story. Too many ethics books are written from an abstract, intellectual, impersonal perspective that fails to address sufficiently how individuals actually experience ethical problems each day. In this book, the author uses a phenomenological approach to describe her lived experience of ethical problems involving Tibet. Rather than giving easy answers, the dialogue encourages readers to identify and examine their own ethical problems and deal with them in a manner that leads to personal and societal healing. The book describes two journeys, one a journey in Tibet and the other one an inner journey. The author, a nurse ethicist and researcher who has contributed to this journal, both with articles and as a reviewer, tells how she journeyed to Tibet as part of her inner search for wisdom. In the midst of a travelogue, she explains what Tibetans taught her about Buddhism and how she combined this Tibetan wisdom with her western education in nursing and ethics. Individual chapters examine mindfulness, impermanence, suffering, and healing, subjects that are of interest to individuals in any culture. While struggling with ethical problems about the political situation between Tibet and China, the author again and again compares and contrasts the approaches of various wisdom traditions or religions to ethical problems. She describes Tibetan traditional medicine and provides an insightful comparison between this ancient system and western health care. While in Lhasa, she met a nurse, a traditional physician, and a western-trained physician. During her journey in Tibet, she took a Tibetan herb to treat altitude sickness and, in describing its use, illustrates ways to combine alternative/complementary therapies with conventional western health care. Although this book is not specifically about nursing, nurses can benefit from the author's generous sharing of her own personal search for wisdom. Reading this book could help nurses to develop new understanding of compassion, nonattachment, equanimity, spirituality and healing, which are concepts that confront nurses constantly. Nurses will benefit from this in-depth, carefully written story of how one western nurse learned to appreciate the values of a very different culture and wisdom tradition. The sensitive, caring style alone makes this book a rare gift in itself.


Following the shortage of capacity in the reinsurance market after the disaster of Hurricane Andrew, the interactive approach between insurance and capital markets was started. This means the indication of liquidity of catastrophe exposure and possibility of arbitrage between both markets. In order to accelerate this movement we need to establish a common, standard practical base between both markets. However there are differences in pricing mechanisms and risk management techniques between both markets. Therefore this new development seems to take a complementary role, not a substitutional one.


Objective To observe the curative effect of electroacupuncture and pricking blood therapy on chronic whiplash injury and ameliorative effect on anxiety-depression.Methods The patients(n=40) were randomly divided into electricacupuncture group(EA group,n=20) and electricacupuncture combined with blood-letting group(EAPB group,n=20).The two groups were respectively given corresponding treatment,and the ameliorative rate of symptoms and changes of anxiety-depression index were observed.Results There was a significant difference in the ameliorative rate of symptoms(P0.05) between two groups,but no difference in the amelioration of anxiety.Conclusion Electroacupuncture and pricking blood therapy has a cooperative effect on chronic whiplash injury and the clinical curative effect can be improved significantly.


It was a pleasant surprise to see Gary White's call for papers on race and physics teaching. We definitely think that the physics teaching and learning of students from diverse and minority backgrounds is an important issue to discuss, especially given the fact that bias and discrimination are common experiences in the lives of many Latinx, including school-age children and college students.


It is often the case in binocular vision that one eye can see between two objects lying at different distances but the other eye cannot. We have found that the visual system is able to correctly interpret images produced this way in which a single solid rectangle in one eye is fused with two half-sized rectangles in the other eye separated by a vertical gap comprising the background. Two rectangles in depth are seen. It is as if the solid rectangle is treated as two components which each match one of the physically separated rectangles in the contralateral eye. The sign of the depth depends on which eye's view has the gap and its magnitude increases with gap width. Measured depth is found to be equivalent to real stereoscopic depth with a relative disparity equal to the monocular gap. If overall disparity differences are eliminated, between the left and the right images, variations in perceived slant of the two rectangles are still seen with increasing gap size. That two surfaces can be seen in metric binocular depth despite complete camouflage of their separation in one eye's view, suggests that stereopsis be regarded as a broad process of surface recovery not necessarily requiring image disparity at the location of the depth step. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.


The processes limiting the accuracy or range of total pressure measurements in the UHV range by ionization gauges are examined. These processes include x‐ray induced photoemission, ion currents resulting from electron stimulated desorption, Kingdon orbits of the ions in Bayard–Alpert gauges, variations in electron yield by ion impact at electrode surfaces, and the effects of variations in electrode geometry. The various methods and designs of UHV ionization gauges that have been developed to reduce or eliminate these limiting processes are critically reviewed.


Academic achievement refers to performance outcomes in intellectual domains taught at school, college, and university. As an indicator of intellectual education, academic achievement is the most important prerequisite for individual, in research and social prosperity. Higher education institutions play a pivotal role in producing qualified human power that enables solving the real problems of a community through their research activities. Education is a powerful agent of change that improves the researches outcomes, health and livelihoods and contributes to social stability. At the micro-level, it is associated with better living standards for individuals through improved productivity; through higher ethical and moral values; given that those who have received a higher education tend to have more economic and social opportunities. At the macro level, education builds well-informed and skilled human capital, which has been considered an engine of economic growth, which positively contributes to educational research outcomes, ethical consideration and economic development. However, gaining knowledge, attitudes, values, and skills through education is not a simple task; rather it is a long and challenging trip in life. Students are expected to spend much of their time studying and need to graduate with good academic results. Through this research paper, it has been try to establish the relationship between academic achievement and ethical consideration in doctoral research. In this research paper it has been assumed that higher the academic achievement, higher the ethical consideration and higher level the outcomes of the research.


Spinal subarachnoid hematoma is a very rare complication of spinal anesthesia. This complication can, and is, often overlooked and dismissed as a fatal neurological con-sequence of (what amounts to) delayed diagnosis. In this case, a 59-year-old female patient with no specific medical history underwent right knee arthroscopy under spinal anesthesia. The arthroscopic surgery concluded without complications but, on the first postoperative day, the patient complained of lower back pain, headache, nausea, vomiting. On the fifth postoperative day, magnetic resonance imaging was taken and it revealed evidence of a subarachnoid hematoma involving the L3 and L4 vertebral lev-els. Hematoma evacuation was performed, and the patient recovered without sequelae. Here, we report this case that lumbar spinal subarachnoid hematoma was found five days after spinal anesthesia which was done in a patient without coagulopathy.


The invention relates to a radio receiver for a radio transmission system for transmission of radio messages, each having a header part of certain modulation sequence and a subsequent information data part. The radio receiver is operable in a header identification mode, in which he he monitored radio signals received on the presence of a header portion of a radio message and upon receiving a header portion adjusts at least one reception parameters in accordance with characteristics of the header part. The radio receiver is adapted to switch to the identification of a header portion out from the header identification mode into a message data detection mode to detect for maintaining the set reception parameter following the header part of signaling events as data of the information data part of the radio telegram, the radio receiver means (2, 38) for provision of the received signal strength representing the receive field strength indexing signal includes and is configured to start from the telegram data acquisition mode out the header identification mode again as soon as the reception field strength indexing signal changes beyond a threshold.


We show how to apply convolution quadrature (CQ) to approximate the time domain electric field integral equation (EFIE) for electromagnetic scattering. By a suitable choice of CQ, we prove that the method is unconditionally stable and has the optimal order of convergence. Surprisingly, the resulting semi discrete EFIE is disper- sive and dissipative, and we analyze this phenomena. Finally, we present numerical results supporting and extending our convergence analysis. AMS subject classifications: 65M38, 65M60, 65N15, 65R20, 78A45


The degradation of azo dye acid blue 92 by hydrogen peroxide was investigated using copper hydrophosphate prepared hydrothermally as catalyst.The effects of reaction conditions such as initial solution pH,catalyst and hydrogen peroxide dose,initial concentration and reaction temperature on the degradation were experimented.The results show that the copper hydroxyphosphate behaves the excellent properties for the catalytic degradation of Acid blue 92.The addition of small amount catalyst increases the degradation rate significantly.The catalyst maintains high catalytic activity at wider pH range.The degradation rate increases with increasing the catalyst and hydrogen peroxide dose.Increasing the reaction temperature also increases the degradation rate.


In literary studies, there is a vibrant tradition of the Bibliomemoir, books that document a reader's personal and extended engagement with an author and his or her works. Here, Sam Solecki offers us his Cinememoir of François Truffaut, a ''disorderly . . . mongrel notebook'' that uses Truffaut's life, films, criticism, and other bits of cultural flotsam to fashion a double portrait of the director and this one particular spectator. Solecki's book is an exercise in cinematic consolation in which he watches and re-watches Truffaut's films, using art as a path to understanding both Truffaut and himself in the wake of a significant romantic breakup. Solecki plays multiple roles in this analytic relationship: he is analysand and scribe, with Truffaut (a name encompassing both the individual director and his many aesthetic achievements) as an indirect analyst, the provocateur and sympathizer who elicits tears and provides comfort. The idiosyncratic result is entertaining and illuminating moment by moment, without necessarily transforming what the reader might already think of Truffaut or his films in any lasting way. The book 's structure follows the chronology of Truffaut's career, with snippets of his letters, quotations from interviews, production lore, and of course, scenes from the films themselves forming self-contained and often very short standalone fragments. Solecki mixes these ingredients in ways that offer something new, if fleeting, as a richer context for films many of us already know well. Solecki's consideration of Truffaut's painful attempts to mend his relationship with his parents after the release of The 400 Blows is one example. Another is a brief discussion of screenplays for films Truffaut didn't make (Bonnie and Clyde is the outstanding example) that were eventually made, in one form or another, by others. With the timeline of Truffaut's filmmaking life as exoskeleton, each segment of this book is free to eddy and swirl around contingencies of spectatorship, memory, and allusion. Chapters circle playfully around details of viewer fascination (extending to the design of the poster for The Bride Wore Black) or recount personal moments connected to Truffaut's film universe, such as the author's meeting Jeanne Moreau in Venice in the 1990s. That meeting, Solecki writes, ''brought me closer to Truffaut and created a sense of aura within the everydayness of my life.'' Trying to get close to an artist through immersion in his creations is the irresistible but impossible project of this book, and one of the pleasures of its allusive method is the way that Truffaut evades all of Solecki's attempts to consolidate his auteur essence into something knowable. It is Solecki's life in art that gives him an immense range of texts upon which to light briefly and tellingly as he looks to one media to illuminate humanities 241


Abstract Urban Air Mobility (UAM) can provide new air mobility faster and avoid city traffic with the growth of new technologies. But they need to be co-developed with the city infrastructure. Thus, understanding the working scenarios of UAM and how they will interact with the city and the other modes of transport systems is vital. Storyboarding helps policymakers, city planners, designers, and investors better understand the product's contextual interaction over time. This process allows the design team to be implicit or express a design that is easy to understand, reflect upon, or modify.


A high-temperature fuel cell system includes individual SOFC fuel cells which are contacted with each other for electrical parallel or series connection. For this, suitable contacting elements must have some flexibility for continuous operation in addition to the required electrical conductivity. According to the invention the contacting between two fuel cells are formed by a knitted fabric of metallic wires which is advantageously formed of nickel. Such nickel wires can be machined into a continuous fabric, in particular hose, customize, are separated from the parts of suitable length and brought into the appropriate shape.


An automatic multi-cell injection is provided to automatically inject materials into one more cells using a fluid system, counter, fixing device, injection system, and measurement system. An automatic multi-cell injection(100) comprises a fluid system(200), counter(300), fixing device(400), injection system(500), power measurement system(540) and control unit(610). The fluid system delivers one more cells. The counter is installed at one side of the fluid system and has the information on movement and position of one more cells. The fixing device is installed ate one side of fluid system, and fixed the cells on the certain position. The injection system comprises one more injectors. A method for injecting cells comprises: a step of fixing one more cells; a step of measuring the reaction force of each cells; and a step of injecting a material into the cells using the measured reaction force.


The article evaluates a campaign to promote breast-feeding organized in Trinidad in 1974 by a private association of housewives. Advantages of breast-feeding were advertised in newspapers, television, and especially through the radio. A total of 418 women were interviewed for the first time after delivery at the hospital, and 4 months after that in their homes. The campaign reached 93% of the target population. There was a relationship between exposure to the campaign and knowledge of nutritional value of maternal milk, advantages of breast-feeding, and a relationship between knowledge of media messages and avoidance of the bottle before the infants were 2 months old.


Geopropolis samples were obtained from the entrance tubes of the nests of six species of Meliponinae located in the same apiary at the Campus of the University of Ribeirão Preto-USP, state of São Paulo, Brazil, and submitted to pollen analysis after chemical treatment. The aim of the study was to recognize the vegetation and the environment around the apiary for interest of the bees, as well as possible foraging preferences. Tree species were frequently visited by the six bee species, outstanding Eucalyptus for all except for Frieseomellitta varia. Melipona quadrifasciata attended pollen of Mimosa species from grassland vegetation. Pollen grains of anemophilous plant species from Cecropia, Pinus, Piper, Poaceae and Typha occurred frequently in the geopropolis sediments. It was possible to characterize the environmental conditions and the vegetation around the apiary using pollen analysis of geopropolis samples, as well as the trophic preferences for some of the bees.


Photochemical oxidation process is under development for treatment of organic radioactive wastes. Among the organic wastes being currently addressed are spent ion-exchange resins, oxalate supernatant of reprocessing origin. Detailed laboratory investigations using immersion type photoreactor showed that photo-Fenton oxidation reaction can be used to decompose spent resins and oxalate. A tubular flow photochemical reactor was developed in-house for pilot scale photochemical oxidation studies.


This study was an attempt to explore aspects of the development of communication strategy (CS) use in the interlanguage (IL) of young second language (L₂) learners. The investigation examined the frequency and patterns of CS use by successful language learners (SLLs) and by less successful language learners (LLLs) at two points in time, in an attempt to document inter-group and intra-group patterns of change over developmental time. The eight subjects of the study were students in an Early French Immersion (EFI) Program in an urban Newfoundland school and data was collected at the end of the Grade Two Year (Time 1) and again at the end of the Grade Five Year (Time 2). The subjects provided taped speech samples by means of picture description elicitation tasks at both times. -- The speech samples were transcribed and analyzed for CS use, using a typology of CS based on those developed by a number of second language (L₂) researchers. The information obtained through the analysis was converted into table format, showing individual and group strategy use at Time 1 and Time 2. -- As well as a quantitative description of CS use, a qualitative description was undertaken. The results of the study indicated that both groups of subjects showed evidence of variation over time in the frequency of use of particular strategies and in the percentage of use of these strategies. Over time, most subjects decreased their use of reduction strategies, cooperative strategies and retrieval strategies and increased their use of L₁-based (interlingual) and L₂-based (intralingual) strategies. -- The analysis also indicated that the pattern of use of categories and subcategories CSs changed over time for both groups. Both groups used more achievement strategies and fewer reduction strategies at Time 2 than at Time 1. The LLLs dramatically increased their use of L₂ –based strategies, indicating that change was in the direction of the target language (French). The SLLs, however, showed a much slighter increase in their use of L₂-based strategies. -- Analysis of the surface realization or quality of strategies used at Time 1 and Time 2 did not indicate any clear-cut differences between the two groups of subjects, nor between Time 1 and Time 2 strategies. Both groups did, however, use more qualitatively superior strategies (intralingual strategies) at Time 2 than at Time 1, but for the SLLs the degree of change over time was less than for the LLLs.


This article aims at analyzing a distinctive symbol of black women : their hair. In the last decade, many Afro-feminists (in America, France, the Caribbean and many other countries) have been reclaiming hair as part of their heritage and embracing its natural « nappy » state (for « natural » and « happy »). In my analysis of hair, I will compare and contrast how Leonora Miano in her novel Blues pour Elise and her short story « Corpus Christi » and Rokhaya Diallo, in her graphic novel Pari(s) d'amies !, seek to replace the self-loathing and deprecating narratives that women of color are commonly told about their hair and their physique. Instead, they reclaim these negative images of hair as well as of other bodily features by self-love and self-fulfillment. While some characters may still be struggling with this idea, I argue that the repossessing of one's own hair constitutes a performative act.


Coulomb coupling has been applied for imaging of bulk and guided acoustic waves propagating in a 0.5 mm thick, z cut Lithium Niobate single-crystal. The excitation and detection of acoustic waves was performed by localized electrical field probes. The developed scheme has been applied to imaging of the transport properties of skimming longitudinal and guided acoustic waves. A short pulse of 20 ns has been used for the excitation of acoustic waves. Broadband coupling is achieved since neither mechanical nor electrical resonances are involved. The attenuation of acoustic waves in piezoelectric crystals is studied by this method. A thin film of conductive silver paint was deposited on the surface of the crystal acting as an acoustic attenuator inducing also mass loading effects and shortening of electrical fields. The group velocities of the propagating acoustic waves for both conditions, with and without the conductive silver paint film, are determined from the propagation of the acoustic wave fronts.


We report here the complete sequence of a highly divergent chicken erythrocyte &tubulin, c86, which appears to represent a major exception to the observation that the primary sequences and sites of expression of &tubulin isotypes are conserved within vertebrates. The amino acid sequence was deduced from overlapping cloned cDNAs  identified  in a chicken erythroblast cDNA library contained in the expression vector, Xgtll. Compared with other chicken j3-tubulins, among which the maximum sequence divergence is only 8%, cB6-tubulin is more hydrophobic, contains seven fewer net negative charges, and exhibits a surprising 17% overall divergence in its amino acid sequence. DNA and RNA blot analyses show that castubulin is present as a single gene copy in the chicken genome and is specifically expressed in the bone marrow. Comparisons of RNA blots and immunoblots of various cells and tissues confirm that this &tubulin isotype is contained specifically in erythrocytes and thrombocytes and accounts for 75% of the &tubulin mRNA species contained in developing erythroblasts. Interestingly, cj36-tubulin exhibits 18% amino acid sequence divergence relative to MB1, the analogous hematopoietic &tubulin contained in mouse.


calculation of synthesis rate. Once this parameter was available, we were then able to deconvolute the heavy and light variants of the monovaline peptides to reveal the amount of newly synthesised material compared to residual protein synthesised before the labelling period. As expected, the amount of unlabelled material declined over time (degradation) and the amount of labelled protein increased over time (synthesis). This approach can be applied on a protein-by-protein basis and delivers an understanding of proteome dynamics to protein accretion in skeletal muscle.


Conflicts of religious nature have affected western societies for centuries, presenting the dire necessity to discuss the incidence of these conflicts. The aim of this paper is to analyze the importance of education for freedom of belief we means of preventing and managing religious conflicts in Brazil. Education had a fundamental role in promoting the acknowledgement of brazilian religious and cultural diversity and may be used as a strategy to minimize conflicts. It is, however, necessary to work on the initial training of teachers so they can be advocates of a secular education based on respect and peace.


Adsorptive removal of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals by finely powdered calix[4]crown oligomers has been studied. Batch adsorption experiments and electron microscope measurements demonstr...


OBJECTIVE
To examine outpatient care fragmentation and its association with future hospitalization among patients at high risk for hospitalization.

DATA SOURCES
Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicare data.

STUDY DESIGN
We conducted a longitudinal study, using logistic regression to examine how outpatient care fragmentation in FY14 (as measured by number of unique providers, Breslau's Usual Provider of Care (UPC), Bice-Boxerman's Continuity of Care Index (COCI), and Modified Modified Continuity Index (MMCI)) was associated with all-cause hospitalizations and hospitalizations related to ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) in FY15. We also examined how fragmentation varied by patient's age, gender, race, ethnicity, marital status, rural status, history of homelessness, number of chronic conditions, Medicare utilization, and mental healthcare utilization.

DATA EXTRACTION METHODS
We extracted data for 130,704 VA patients ≥65 years old with a hospitalization risk ≥90th percentile and ≥ four outpatient visits in the baseline year.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
Mean (standard deviation) of FY14 outpatient visits was 13.2 (8.6). Fragmented care (more providers, less care with a usual provider, more dispersed care based on COCI) was more common among patients with more chronic conditions and those receiving mental health care. In adjusted models, most fragmentation measures were not associated with all-cause hospitalization, and patients with low levels of fragmentation (more concentrated care based on UPC, COCI, and MMCI) had a higher likelihood of an ACSC-related hospitalization (AOR, 95% CI = 1.21 (1.09-1.35), 1.27 (1.14-1.42), and 1.28 (1.18-1.40), respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to expectations, outpatient care fragmentation was not associated with elevated all-cause hospitalization rates among VA patients in the top 10th percentile for risk of admission; in fact, fragmented care was linked to lower rates of hospitalization for ACSCs. In integrated settings such as the VA, multiple providers and dispersed care might offer access to timely or specialized care that offsets risks of fragmentation, particularly for conditions that are sensitive to ambulatory care.


In this paper, we want to associate to a n-vector on a manifold of dimension n a cohomology which generalizes the Poisson cohomology of a 2-dimensional Poisson manifold. Two possibilities are given here. One of them, the Nambu-Poisson cohomology, seems to be the most pertinent. We study these two cohomologies locally, in the case of germs of n-vectors on Kn (K = R or C).


Ethical behavior of the accountants is important to maintain the public confidence of the profession and their ethical judg ment ability effects the decision making stage when ethical di lemmas are encountered at the accounting environment. The aim of this study is to determine the ethical judgment levels of the accounting professionals and the effect of the demo graphic variables on the ethical judgment level scores. Ethical judgment levels of the accounting professionals and the effect of the demographic variables are measured by Defining Issues Test improved by Rest (1986). Accounting professionals are in the conventional level and ethical judgment levels of the women are higher than men according to the Defining Issues


The electric device has been created to prevent briefcases and wallets from being stolen both in the case of violent robberies and in the case of non-violent robberies where the owner is distracted by the thief. The device comprises two interconnected parts, namely a receiver and a transmitter. The first part, or the receiver, takes the form of an inner bag for wallets and briefcases, which can have different sizes depending on the briefcase/wallet to be protected, in order to protect the objects normally contained therein. The second part, or the transmitter, is affixed to a device carried by the user, allows the first device to be activated after it has been stolen and can be worn in different ways by the user (e.g. watch, belt buckle, collar, etc.). The device is activated automatically, beginning with the activation of an immediate alarm once a specified distance between one device and the other has been exceeded. Next, while the alarm is still active and after a specified period of time has lapsed, intermittent electric shocks are delivered, said shocks stopping once the two devices are within the specified deactivation range.


Aim  To investigate relative niche stability in species responses to various types of environmental pressure (biotic and abiotic) on geological time‐scales using the fossil record.


The biodiversity and biomass of coccolithophore species observed in the NE Gulf of Mexico during August through November of 2011 to 2013 were quite dynamic. Following the Macondo Well blowout in 2010, analyses were carried out on samples taken during the subsequent three years. The photic zone was sampled at 28 sites, along four transects across the continental shelf and slope, in order to observe ecological patterns in the calcareous nannoplankton assemblages. The number of observed species increased from station to station, moving from shallow continental shelf waters into deep water. This was related to a two-layered water configuration, observed during August to November. In moving into the deeper waters, the salinity, temperature and amount of light penetration began to change, which was useful for tracing the thermocline and distinguishing the two layers. Once the depth exceeded 75m, a new assemblage of deeper photic-zone dwellers could be observed. Therefore, two separate nannoplankton assemblages were distinguished, an upper one from the mixed layer, from the surface to 75m depth, and a lower one below the thermocline, from 75m to the lower limits of the photic zone, which for the Gulf of Mexico is 200m. A comparison of site biodiversity and biomass across the stations during the study period also showed an increase in both cell density and number of species observed for each successive year sampled. The lowest cells/L and species diversity were observed in 2011, with increasing numbers in 2012, and the highest recorded in 2013.


The human body and its distinct parts are considered to play an important role in the figurative comprehension of reality, which is partly due to the fact that they are clearly delineated in our minds. Our experience of the body is imaginatively mapped onto other domains, enabling us to fully understand and express concepts that are less tangible and cannot be easily determined or directly represented through language. The chapter aims to give an insight into these phenomena, basing on an analysis of the figurative extensions of four source concepts: head, eye, mouth and nose in a corpus of the 1995-1996 issues of The Economist . The main areas of research in the field encompass, among other things, a number of cross-linguistic investigations focusing on selected body-part terms as a source for metaphors and metonymies denoting more abstract concepts and entities, mainly in general or journalistic texts. Keywords: cross-linguistic investigations; human body; metaphors; metonymies; The Economist


Compilation of source code from different papers and books is a tedious and lengthy process. The result of the first phase of compilation, which is tokens, is given to the next phase called parsing which outputs a parse tree (also called syntax tree) to a grammar for a given input string. If there is more than one parse tree which are different with one another, then it calls the grammar as ambiguous grammar, or in short there exists an ambiguity in the grammar This paper tries to present an alternative method for checking the so called ambiguity problem in context free grammars by having an infix tree structure for a given input and comparing it with the corresponding parse trees and obtained from the given grammar in a top-down parsing approach


C216 methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathways. However, some steps of these pathways are catalysed by completely different enzymes in different strains. For example, the NADPH-dependent production of MEP from deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) in the first committed step of the MEP pathway is catalysed by DXP reductoisomerase (DXR) in most bacteria, whereas an unrelated DXR-like (DRL) protein was recently found to catalyze the same reaction in some organisms. Because DRL is found instead of DXR in animal and human pathogens such as Brucella and Bartonella, DRL might be a new target for highly specific antibiotics against these DRL-harboring bacteria that would not affect beneficial bacteria that use DXR (like those present in the gut). Despite their catalytic similarity, DRL and DXR only show some sequence identity at the level of the NADPH-binding domain. We have determined two X-ray crystal structures of the cattle pathogen Brucella abortus DRL (BaDRL) enzyme: the apo state and a complex with the broad spectrum antibiotic fosmidomycin (FSM); solved to 1.5 and 1.8 Å resolution, respectively. Initial phases to solve the BaDRL structure were obtained by the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion method of an osmium-derivative crystal belonging to the primitive orthorhombic space group P21212. To improve the electron density a crystal averaging protocol was followed, combining the initial phases with data from a selenomethionine-labelled DRL crystal belonging to space group C2 and native data from a primitive triclinic (P1) crystal. DRLs are dimers, with each polypeptide folding into three distinct domains starting with the NADPH-binding domain in resemblance to the structure of bacterial DXRs. Other than that, DRLs and DXRs show a very low structural relationship with a different disposition of the domains and topologically unrelated C-terminal domains that in DRL presents an unsuspected structural similarity with antifreeze proteins. The DRL active site, containing a catalytic magnesium ion, shows a unique arrangement, suggesting that the design of drugs that would selectively inhibit the DRL or the DXR enzymes should be feasible. DRL catalytic residues were assigned and found to be strictly conserved among the active DRL sequences and, most interestingly, structurally non-equivalent to the catalytic residues in DXRs. Single-residue mutations of some of these amino acids confirmed their importance in catalysis. The structure of DRL in complex with FSM explains in particular why, despite the structural differences, the inhibition mechanism remains essentially identical in the DRL and DXR family of enzymes.


In the aftermath of the 2008 financial meltdown, scientists and economists have rushed into the field of network science as it can be applied financial systemic risk. This exciting new area of research brings challenges from both the understanding of complex adaptive systems and the economics of financial institutions. Since this event, research groups around the world have been created, all with a common goal to better understand the linkages between banks, and the chains of defaults that may be transmitted through these linkages. Current understanding sees financial systemic risk as being the risk that a modest sized shock to the financial system triggers a domino-type cascade of bank failures that could engulf a significant fraction of the network. One can identify four key channels through which systemic risk may flow: the impact of large correlated losses across asset classes, cascades of default, cascades of funding illiquidity and market illiquidity leading to major firesales of assets. The first and fourth effects are not really network effects, but network science can have a great deal to say about the risks associated with cascades of default and illiquidity. The stakes are high in this research area. The potential consequences of preventing the next global financial crisis are of course enormous. Understanding the factors that drive systemic risk, has the potential to yield valuable tools for central bankers and financial regulators, and to inform the current international debate on financial regulation. Our focussed research group consisted of members of the research team working on a project called "Financial Systemic Risk: a Network Science Approach", sponsored by the Global Risk Institute in Toronto. The major aim of this project is to combine Monte Carlo methods and the analytical framework based on Watts' 2002 information cascade paper [10], and apply these techniques to increasingly sophisticated models of financial risk networks.


Fermi's golden rule is expanded in Planck's constant to study quantum effects of nuclear baths on transitions between electronic states. For six approximations, the second-order expansion of the transition rates is compared with the exact expansion. The comparison provides the conditions for agreement between the exact and approximate rate constants in the second order. Two of the conditions show that the change in electronic states of the solute does not affect solvent structure much. The other concerns linearity of the reaction coordinate. Besides the comparison of analytical expressions, the expansion of approximations is numerically compared, using a simple model. Most approximations show similar values for a parameter set. The values approximate the value obtained by quantum molecular simulations.


A new composite material based on fish gelatin (FG) was obtained by graft copolymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) onto fish gelatin. The process was initiated by radicals formed by the RbTe1.5W0.5O6 photocatalyst under visible light (λ=400-700 nm) irradiation at room temperature. The characteristics of the new polymer material were obtained by the methods of elemental and physico-chemical analyses.


OMEGA EP is a petawatt-class, Nd-doped phosphate glass laser system that can be operated in both 1053-nm, short-pulse (<1- to 100-ps) and 351-nm, long-pulse (1- to 10-ns) regimes. It was completed in FY08 and began user shots in FY09 during which 350 target shots were conducted for 30 principal investigators. As of the start of FY11, over 1000 target shots have been performed. The beamline architecture consists of 40-cm, single-segment disk amplifiers in a multipass configuration to provide the necessary gain and resulting IR energy. For long-pulse operation, type-I/type-II frequency-conversion crystals are used to convert the 1053-nm fundamental wavelength to its third harmonic. An important operational goal of the Omega EP Laser Facility is to provide principal investigators with maximum UV energy on target, while maintaining UV peak fluences within an acceptable margin for safe operation. To optimize the long-pulse, on-target energy of OMEGA EP, we have pursued a threefold effort: (1) Improve the laser-induced damage threshold of beam-transport optics; (2) improve the near-field beam profile; and (3) develop simulation tools to use during shot operations that provide rapid prediction of laser-system performance. These simulation tools predict the UV near-field beam-fluence distribution and on-target energy based on measurements of the inputs to the main amplifiers and are regularly used during shot operations. They have streamlined daily system qualification, making it possible for UV energy to be maximized within current system constraints.


Purpose: The analyse of pearlite morphology changes as a result of hot rolling process and isothermal annealing. Design/methodology/approach: Physical modelling of isothermal annealing for a transition point of 520-620°C was carried out using a Gleeble simulator. A scanning electron microscope was used for a quantitative evaluation of the microstructure. Tests of resistance to abrasive wear were carried out at the Amsler stand. Findings: The obtained test results confirm that these methods can be effectively used in shaping the pearlitic structure and properties of the steel. Practical implications: In physical modelling of tests of resistance to abrasive wear for the steel grade R260 after hot rolling and isothermal annealing it has been proved that this feature is a function of the steel structure and properties in the given operation conditions. The resistance to abrasive wear of steel R260 with a pearlitic structure and different pearlite morphology decreases with the increase of load and slide. Originality/value: An advantageous pearlitic morphology of steel (block sections) with interlamellar distance in the order of 0.12-0.13 μm, ensuring hardness of about 340-350 HB, is facilitated by a hot rolling process combined with isothermal annealing.


Helping Underachieving Boys Read Well and Often. ERIC Digest........ 1 HOW BOYS VIEW READING................................................ 2 READING MATERIALS THAT BOYS LIKE................................ 2 CLASSROOM STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING BOYS' READING. 3 JOINT STRATEGIES FOR THE SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND HOME....................................................................... 4 ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS................................................. 4 CONCLUSION.................................................................. 5 REFERENCES.................................................................. 5


The present invention relates to the application of Zijing as one single ingredient new Chinese medicine for treating myopia. Zijing is prepared with full health eyeball of vertebrate ox, horse, donkey or mule. Biochemical analysis shows that Zijing contains several kinds of trace element, amino acids, vitamins, protein, enzymes, polypeptide, nucleotide and other matters, is the material basis for eyes of the said animal to metabolize, and contains the matters essential for treating myopia. Zijing has the functions of invigorating vital energy, nourishing blood, eliminating heat from liver, strengthening eyesight, etc. and thus excellent myopia treating effect.


ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine the social impact of natural hazards in Japanese society. Using the Japanese General Social Survey, this study examines how citizens' previous experiences and perceived risks of disasters are associated with their levels of four different forms of trust: in-group, out-group, generalised, and political trust. Furthermore, as the survey was conducted a year after the devastating Triple Disaster in 2011, the study examines the residents of the Tohoku region, who were the primary victims of the Triple Disaster. The results of this study suggest that the disaster experience is positively associated with trust: Japanese citizens with disaster experience had higher levels of in-group and out-group trust than those without disaster experience, and Tohoku residents showed higher levels of out-group, generalised, and political trust than the residents of other regions. Contrarily, citizens' perceived risks of disaster showed negative relationships with trust: the Japanese citizens who perceived higher risks of disasters had lower levels of out-group, generalised, and political trust. However, the negative effects of the perceived risks of disasters significantly reduced among Tohoku residents.


Liberalization and globalization tendencies having had domination in the world since the beginning of 1980s have facilitated the developing countries' access to external sources. So, serious increases have been seen in the countries' foreign debts. There is a common consensus in both theoretical and empirical literature that one of the reasons which lead to increase in foreign debts is defence expenditures. Based on this point of view, this study mainly aims at analyzing the relationship between foreign debts and defence expenditures as specific to Turkey by considering data of 1980-2016 period. In this regard, Toda-Yamamoto and Dolado-Lutkepohl (TYDL) tests have been utilized. Analysis findings indicate that defence expenditures are the reasons of foreign debts in Turkey.


Abstract We study the existence of positive solutions for fractional elliptic equations of the type (-Δ)1/2u = h(u), u > 0 in (-1,1), u = 0 in ℝ∖(-1,1) where h is a real valued function that behaves like eu2 as u → ∞ . Here (-Δ)1/2 is the fractional Laplacian operator. We show the existence of mountain-pass solution when the nonlinearity is superlinear near t = 0. In case h is concave near t = 0, we show the existence of multiple solutions for suitable range of λ by analyzing the fibering maps and the corresponding Nehari manifold.


To minimize perioperative complications after orthopaedic procedures, patients may undergo medical optimization, which includes an assessment of their renal function and gastrointestinal (GI) system. The GI and renal systems are complex, and their proper optimization in the preoperative period can influence the success of any procedure. Several factors can prevent complications and reduce morbidity, mortality, and the cost of care, including a thorough evaluation and screening, with particular emphasis on anemia and its renal and GI causes; management of medications that are metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys; and careful attention to the patient's nutritional status. Elective orthopaedic surgery, such as total joint arthroplasty, alleviates pain and improves the quality of life for patients with end-stage arthritis.1 The overall rate of complications after orthopaedic procedures is low, and improvements in the quality of life equal or surpass those realized after procedures such as coronary artery bypass graft or renal dialysis.2 To reduce postoperative complications, patients typically are assessed for the presence of various conditions that could compromise the outcomes of elective procedures. Such assessment has been shown to reduce the rate of perioperative complications during and after elective orthopaedic surgery.3 Patients are evaluated to identify modifiable risk factors that can be controlled and optimized before the elective procedure. Here, we describe some of the important renal and gastrointestinal (GI) conditions that can be optimized before an elective procedure. Patients with renal and GI conditions share numerous common complications, including anemia, increased perioperative blood loss as a result of platelet dysfunction, increased infection rates,4,5 wound-related issues,6 and the potential for fluid imbalance. Other complications are specific to each organ system. It is important to note that some patients with severe renal and/or GI issues should not be subjected to elective orthopaedic procedures until these issues are addressed fully. We believe that all patients undergoing elective inpatient surgery—and those deemed at risk for renal or GI dysfunction who are undergoing more minor procedures—should be screened for anemia and renal dysfunction. Elderly patients aged .80 years should be screened for malnutrition, as should those with a body mass index (BMI) ,18.5 kg/m2 and .35 kg/m2. Understandably, the additional laboratory evaluation adds January 2016, Vol 24, No 1 e1 Peter Pyrko, MD, PhD Javad Parvizi, MD, FRCS From the Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. This article, as well as other lectures presented at the Academy's Annual Meeting, will be available in March 2016 in Instructional Course Lectures,


Power cable insulated with XLPE is developed in past 40 years and also widely used in China in the past 30 years. However,some defect,such as water tree,may grow in XLPE insulation of medial voltage cable. Furthermore,theses water tree could develop as electrical tree at extreme high electric field,leading to accidents such as breakdown. Some assessment criterion could be provided with the method based on physics,chemistry and line monitoring technology. The status of power cable could be assessed with these criterions. Isothermal relaxation current( IRC) is a non-destructive method applied in other countries. Some valuable information related with insulation status could be acquired with this method. In this paper,the general evaluation methods used in power cable are introduced,especially the theory of IRC. Criterions of aging fact A based on IRC theory in other country are introduced. Moreover,the aging fact A for unaged and aged cable produced in China is investigated for comparison with the value in other country. It seems that the value of aging fact A for unaged cable is lager than that value provided by other country. Some probably reasons for these phenomenons are discussed,which could provide necessary foundation for the application of IRC method in China.


Aiming at the characteristics of fault in good-sized machinery,a safety clustering algorithm for fault diagnosis is provided.The algorithm introduces influence gene to measure the aftermath of the fault,synthetically considers the relativity and the security,and assembles the fault species with vicinal similarity degree into a new clustering center by the method of calculating the similarity degree distance of fault samples.Then a safety binary tree acquired through training samples realizes fault diagnosis flow of the algorithm.In the safety binary tree,the fault species with greater influence gene is more near to the root node of the binary tree.According to the sequence from root node to leaf node,the safety binary tree diagnoses fault through testing samples,which effectively ensures that the fault species brought serious aftermath is firstly diagnosed.Finally,the algorithm is applied in fault diagnosis of hydraulic pressure excavator,the experimental result demonstrates that the correct ratio and the efficiency of the algorithm are high,and the algorithm is feasible and effective to fault diagnosis of good-sized machinery.


As a "body of writings or other creative works that have been recognized as standard or authoritative" (Makaryk 1993: 514), a canon is a socio-cultural construct having an elite character and a legitimating function, more visible in the epoch of canonic differentiation. The semantic richness of the word canon, defined initially as a list, a rule, a law, a principle, then as a paradigm, a hierarchy, an episteme, could generate misunderstanding and manipulation. M. Martin (2000b: 5) refers to the paradox of the canon consisting in the fact of being simultaneously a principle of coagulation (the integration of the exception) and a principle of differentiation (the promotion of the exception). According to H. Bloom, the qualities that make an artistic work eligible for inclusion in a canon constitute its canonicity; it is given by originality, strangeness and therefore influence: "All canons, including our currently fashionable counter-canons are elitist" (Bloom 1994: 37). In fact, the canon is a space of convergence between valuation (which is central to the question of the canon) and the subjective "taste"; it needs a consensus of successive generations of readers, critics and educators. The term canon formation names the process whereby authors become recognized and highly esteemed as standard in a given culture. Bloom's Western canon denotes a canon of books, subjectively established, that have been the most important and influential in shaping the Western culture; as such, it includes "the greatest works of artistic merit". By School of Resentment Bloom designates the modern promoters of de-canonization; the canon extension by the inclusion of the peripheries equates, in fact, to its demolition. Bloom's historical rhetoric designates the Modern Age by the deprecating expression Chaotic Age. In Bloom's view, the canon is important to the theory of educational perennials and the development of "high culture". What in America was called canonical criticism, as opposed to "theory" was an


Background: Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) blocks replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, inhibits cytokine synthesis, prevents cytopathy, and upregulates surfactant production in human pulmonary cells. RLF-100™ (aviptadil), is currently in phase 2/3 trials with FDA Fast Track designation for treating Critical COVID-19 with Respiratory Failure. Methods: Case series of 21 consecutive with Critical COVID-19 and multiple co-morbidities, treated with intravenous aviptadil (synthetic VIP). Sixteen patients were treated with ventilation alone and five with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Results: So far, 19 of 21 patients have survived. Improved radiographic appearance was seen in both lungs of 17 patients and in one lung of 2 patients. A mean 2.5-fold increase in PaO2:FiO2 ratio was seen (P<0.0001) with complete remission from respiratory failure in 9 patients and ongoing improvement in 10. Seven patients were discharged from the hospital, 7 sent to intermediate care, and 5 remain in the ICU. Four of 5 patients on ECMO have been decannulated, and thus far three have been discharged. A 75% (95% CI±3%: P<.001) reduction in IL-6 was seen with corresponding decrease in C-reactive protein. A median 3 point reduction (mean 2.7; P<0.001) in the WHO Ordinal Scale was observed (P<.001). Comment: The short term outcome in these 21 patients represent a dramatic response in patients whose comorbidities precluded their randomization in all other trials of COVID therapeutics and who were previously treated with remdesivir, tocilizumab, or convalescent plasma. Improvement in radiographic appearance, oxygenation requirement, and inflammatory markers is consistent with in vitro evidence of direct anti-viral effect


This case demonstrates that in utero exposure to antineoplastic agents may affect differentiation of the lymphoid lineage, particularly B cell. Current literature on the use of chemotherapeutic agents during pregnancy and their impact on the fetus is briefly discussed.


Optimum procedures for measuring the preva lence of crime vary tremendously by type of offense, because these procedures depend on whether the crime creates a death, a complaining victim, a satisfied customer, an annoyed audi ence, or a dangerous condition. Assessing the effectiveness of criminal correction requires long-term data on criminal careers, to compare the subsequent criminality of similar of fenders who receive different kinds of correctional action. The formulation of crime reduction goals must take into account the instability of crime definitions, and the social costs of crime control actions, in addition to the dimensions of crime. Because of the multiplicity of data sources and the breadth of perspective required for this diversity of measurement, it should be the primary responsibility of a single national agency, to be assisted by the many other agencies now oriented to segments of this task.


The chemistry ofgold is briefly reviewed, with emphasis on its oxidation states, unique properties and structures of its complexes. The chemistry relevant to the use ofgold thiol complexes in medicine is discussed and related to the questions posed in this work. The preparation of1:1 gold to thiomalate complexes, as both sodium and ammonium salts, is described, as well as the preparation of highly optically pure thiomalic acid and gold complexes thereof. The use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the characterization of gold thio! complexes is described and its structural implications are discussed and compared with results from other studies. The preparation and characterization of 1:2 gold to thiomalate complexes, as ammonium salts, are described. The crystal structures of both racemic and optically pure samples are described and compared. These complexes are the first gold thiomalate complexes for which crystal structures have been determined. The preparation and characterization ofan analogous complex ofn..penicillamine is described. The crystal structure of this complex is presented and discussed.


Among micronutrients, zinc (Zn) is important for coffee tree cultivation, especially in the clayey acid soils of Brazil's southeast region, where coffee production is an important activity. This study aimed to evaluate the Zn use efficiency of coffee tree varieties using two zinc concentrations. Seedlings of 11 varieties of coffee trees were grown in a greenhouse in nutrient solution containing either 0.0 or 6.0 μmol L -1 of Zn. After eight months, we evaluated the total biomass production, leaf biomass production, concentration of Zn in the plant organs, absorption efficiency, and Zn use efficiency. All characteristics were affected by the Zn concentration. The biomass production of apical leaves was most affected by the Zn treatments, with high variability for the studied varieties. The 'IPR-103' variety had the highest Zn use efficiency, and the 'San Ramon' and 'San Bernardo' varieties had the lowest Zn use efficiency. The 'Rubi' variety had a high and low Zn use efficiency when grown at 0.0 and 6.0 μmol L -1 of zinc, respectively. The 'Oeiras' variety had a low Zn use efficiency when cultivated at 6.0 μmol L -1 of zinc. The other varieties


The present invention is, after heating to a temperature lower than the transition temperature Ttrans until softening takes place, provides a method that can be removed from the hollow organ of the human or animal tubular tissue support (stent). .BACKGROUND


We performed observations of seafloor crustal deformation employing the Global Navigation Satellite System/Acoustic technique at two stations installed at about 45 and 70 km from the axis of the Nansei‐Shoto (Ryukyu) Trench, to the southeast off the Okinawa Main Island. The observations for 3‐ and 6‐year survey periods indicate that the two stations moved landward, in the opposite direction to the trench, by 63 and 21 mm/year relative to the Ryukyu Arc, suggesting interplate coupling around the stations. The observational results reveal the strong coupling state on the plate interface with coupling ratios of 0.9–1.0 at the slab depths of 10–13 km or 0.7–0.8 at slab depth ranging from 13 km up to the seafloor. The strongly coupled segment completely coincides with the source area of the 1791 tsunami event and does not overlap with the activity area of slow slip events.


Objective To study the effect of ISO-1 [(S,R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic acid methyl ester],a specific antagonist of MIF(Macrophage migration inhibition factor),on TLR4(Toll-like receptor) activities in HUVEC(Human umbilical vein endothelial cells),and to provide experimental evidence for the treatment of TLR4-related diseases in which ISO-1 is targeted.Methods HUVECs were cultured and divided into 4 groups: the LPS(lipid polysaccharide) group,the ISO-1 pretreatment group,the LPS+ISO-1 group and the Medium control group.Effects of ISO-1 on TLR4 expression,TNFα(tumor necrosis factor) and NOS(nitric oxide synthase) secretion were investigated with RT-PCR,immunofluorescense staining,radioimmunoassay and enzyme-chemical reactions.Results Expression of TLR4 in HUVEC was obviously inhibited by pretreatment with high concentration of ISO-1,especially in the 25 and 50 μmol/L groups(P0.05).Low expression of TLR4 was also detected at 0.5,1,2 and 3 h after pretreatment with 50 μmol/L ISO-1,in which the lowest appeared at 1h(P0.05).Immunofluorescense showed a low level TLR4 in normal HUVEC,however,expression could be enhanced by LPS(10 ng/mL).TLR4 expression,TLR4-induced TNFα and NOS secretion were markedly suppressed 1h after the pretreatment with 50 μmol/L ISO-1,and such inhibition was dose dependent(P0.05).The effective time of ISO-1 was short and the maximal was at 1 h.Conclusion ISO-1 can exert inhibitory effects through down-regulating the TLR4 activities of HUVEC,which suggests that ISO-1 may be a potential target-agent in the treatment of TLR4-related diseases,such as atherosclerosis and inflammation.


In this article, we report the various kinds of Radiochromic films and their char-
acteristics as well as their applications in the medical field. We also developed an
algorithm which gives the proton distribution at particular amount of energy for the
Radiochromic film GafChromic HD-810 and compared the obtained result with al-
ready exiting results of Breschi et al.,
[6]
and G. S. Hicks et al.,
[4]
with some error
analysis.


Use this classroom-ready lesson plan to meet a self-reliant 20th-century homesteader whose ingenuity allowed him to thrive in the inhospitable California desert.


A rock mass often contains joints filled with a viscoelastic medium of which seismic response is significant to geophysical exploration and seismic engineering design. Using the propagator matrix method, an analytical model was established to characterize the seismic response of viscoelastic filled joints. Stress wave propagation through a single joint highly depended on the water content and thickness of the filling as well as the frequency and incident angle of the incident wave. The increase in the water content enhanced the viscosity (depicted by quality factor) of the filled joint, which could promote equivalent joint stiffness and energy dissipation with double effects on stress wave propagation. There existed multiple reflections when the stress wave propagated through a set of filled joints. The dimensionless joint spacing was the main controlling factor in the seismic response of the multiple filled joints. As it increased, the transmission coefficient first increased, then it decreased instead, and at last it basically kept invariant. The effect of multiple reflections was weakened by increasing the water content, which further influenced the variation of the transmission coefficient. The water content of the joint filling should be paid more attention in practical applications.


The development of the enterprise is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Ambiguity terminological apparatus on the quality of industrial complicates the mechanism of development management. In addition, existing approaches to development management does not always take into account the qualitative characteristics of development and sectoral characteristics of industrial enterprises by striving for universality. These features have identified the need to develop new approaches to effective quality management of industrial companies by providing clear business operation of the internal structure and organizational changes intended to adapt the industrial enterprise to environmental effects. Lack of theoretical and practical developments in this area, the impossibility of practical use of many of them led to the choice of this area of research. The mechanism of the use of benchmarking in quality management of industrial enterprises, formed by a number of elements that are based on the model to ensure a balance between the contours of the quality management of industrial enterprise can realize the benchmarking procedure, consisting of interrelated information and successive stages: analysis of the current state of the parameters of control loops and the factors influencing them; definition of the reference object; Identification of priority industrial processes on the basis of a comparative evaluation of similar indicators of the enterprise-standard; development program implementation results benchmarking with subsequent analysis of the effectiveness of their implementation.


A number of basic considerations in this field are enumerated. (Table I). A brief review of the more important modem ulcer therapies will now be presented. Table II reveals in outline form most of the modern therapies for peptic ulcer. Obviously, it will be impractical to discuss each one. I shall however, make a few critical remarks about the more important modem ulcer therapies. The Einhorn Treat-ment. This treatment consists of tube feedings into the duodenum aimed to lessen mechanical irritation of the ulcer. This is accomplished but unfortunately it is very stimulating to acid secretion. Today it is generally considered unphysiologic and is therefore used very little. Hen7ing Therapy. Henning passed the thin tube deep into the jejunum. He claimed that intrajejunal feeding does not stimulate gastric secretion but will prevent trauma of the ulcer. However, we have found that it does not stop the continuous nervous hyper-secretion. Also, it causes in many cases uncontrollable diarrheas. For these reasons, it has not become popular.


The findings that insulin resistance has important implications in the pathogenesis of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and that insulin-sensitizing drugs are a useful therapeutic approach are relatively recent. Nevertheless, multiple well-designed clinical trials have been published in the past decade, and there is now sufficient evidence in the literature to support clinical recommendations. The management of PCOS includes short-term objectives, such as treatment of infertility and control of androgen excess, as well as long-term considerations, such as prevention of endometrial cancer and management of the dysmetabolic syndrome with its associated risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The present review will address the rationale for the use of insulin-sensitizing drugs to treat both the short-term and long-term issues in PCOS. Since it has been only sparsely reviewed in the literature, we will emphasize the importance of preventing the long-term risks associated with PCOS, if possible, when choosing a pharmacologic therapy.


As immediate past permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health in Nigeria and former chief medical director of one of the country?s top medical centers, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Femi Olugbile has had a close view of his country?s health care progress over the years. Despite decades of economic booms and busts and sociopolitical turmoil, Nigeria?s health systems have grown, Olugbile says?but not enough. The average life expectancy is around 52 years. Ongoing problems with extremist groups like Boko Haram have hamstrung vaccination programs, and this year, the country experienced the first Ebola threat in its history.


A new analytical approach and validation study were developed to assess the quantity of ximenynic acid (XMA) in Santalum album Linn. extract. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in reverse phase is the technique that is used in this procedure. The anti-aging properties of the medicine were tested using enzymes that inhibit hyaluronidase and elastase, respectively, in order to gather information and findings. Methanol and water were used as the mobile phase for the analysis, which was carried out using a ZORBAX SB-C18 column with a size 5 µ (4.6 x 250 mm) column size. During the course of this HPLC method validation, a number of different tests that were pertinent to specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness were carried out. The technique was tested to see whether or not it would be able to fulfill the prerequisites set out by the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH). Research conducted on anti-aging found that XMA was much more efficient than catechin at decreasing the activities of elastase and hyaluronidase. Because of its use, speed and reliability, the HPLC method that was described has the potential to be effectively utilized in industry for the standardization of herbs and phytomedicines. Because XMA has the potential to be a breakthrough anti-aging treatment, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries may benefit from its development.


Since culture and language are closely related, culture cannot be left aside when teaching languages. Cultural training is mush more than being exposed to cultural information; includes the critical evaluation of such information and comparison whit one's culture. In today's globalized world, cultural competence has become fundamental. The following article introduces a unit to incorporate culture into the English class as a foreign language in Costa Rica. It suggests activities to develop intercultural awareness and linguistic objectives.


Wind power engineering itself is an environmentally friendly clean energy development and utilization project.In its construction and operation,does not produce waste gas,waste water and waste residue,but also have a negative impact on the environment.Therefore,to carry out the construction of wind farms and run environmental factors identification and evaluation of the research is very necessary.


AbstractA method is presented in which the adjoint of a four-dimensional variational data assimilation system (4D-Var) was used to compute the expected analysis and forecast error variances of linear functions of the ocean state vector. The power and utility of the approach are demonstrated using the Regional Ocean Modeling System configured for the California Current system. Linear functions of the ocean state vector were considered in the form of indices that characterize various aspects of the coastal upwelling circulation. It was found that for configurations of 4D-Var typically used in ocean models, reliable estimates of the expected analysis error variances can be obtained both for variables that are observed and unobserved. In addition, the contribution of uncertainties in the model control variables to the forecast error variance was also quantified. One particularly powerful and illuminating aspect of the adjoint 4D-Var approach to the forecast problem is that the contribution of individual obser...


After the Second World War, philosophers from former colonies began to work on a hermeneutic better suited to the postcolonial context, as the frameworks adopted in conventional academic philosophy were considered to be in-adequate in this regard. This position had already been taken during the colonial period by thinkers like Rabindranath Tagore. Today, current work on world philosophies seems to be informed by similar concerns. This paper will first focus on the common ground between these positions by delineating rea sons for closely attending to the context in which philosophy is carried out as well as to the impact that this practice could, and does, have on the lives of those it affects. The paper will then revisit Tagore's spirited appeal to reappro priate and recontextualise the aspects of Asian traditions that undergird common humanity in a world dominated by imperialism and colonialism, before briefly dwelling on current work on world philosophies. In a kind of boomerang effect, categories and


Hypothesis / aims of study The uterosacral ligaments play an important role in female pelvic organ prolapse of the apical vaginal end according to the Integral Theory (1). We now report on the clinical outcomes of 40 patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP-Q stage II – IV) treated by laparoscopic cervicoand vagino-sacropexy. Thereby a bilateral augmentation of the uterosacral ligaments was performed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic bilateral replacement of the uterosacral ligaments on female pelvic organ prolapse of the apical vaginal end.


This performative text was delivered by Michael Greyeyes as a keynote address at "Indigenous Film and Media in an International Context," a conference hosted by Wilfred Laurier University in association with York University in May 2007. The text examines a life in cinema through a post-colonial lens. Michael Greyeyes, an established screen actor and educator, explores the means by which native culture is constructed through media images and how indigenous performers resist, subvert and rewrite these constructions as part of their collective mandate to reclaim their own images and portrayals on screen.
 Resume
 Ce texte performatif a ete livre par le conferencier Michael Greyeyes a Waterloo en mai 2007 lors d'un colloque sur le cinema et les medias indigenes dans un contexte international organise conjointement par l'Universite Wilfrid Laurier et l'Universite York. Greyeyes presente une vie au cinema telle que vue a travers une lentille postcoloniale. Comedien de cinema accompli et pedagogue, l'auteur explore les moyens par lesquels la culture autochtone est construite dans les images media et ceux par lesquels un performer indigene peut resister a cette construction, la subvertir et la reecrire. Tel serait en partie son mandat collectif: reclamer les images et les representations de l'Autochtone au grand ecran.


In this paper, the methodology of detecting cancer, has been presented. The database consists 200 samples of PET & CT scans each. 50% of the samples were non cancerous. Wavelet based decomposition is performed for each PET & CT scan images, using haar mother wavelet with depth 5. After decomposition, averaging fusion rule has been applied for fusing the four details of wavelet decomposition (approximation, horizontal, vertical & diagonal details) to get a fused image having both details of PET and CT images. Further, these 200 fused images are segmented manually by cropping method to extract the region of interests (ROIs). GLCM technique has been used to classify images in which 17 features have been extracted. Extracted features are examined further by using support vector machine (SVM) and k-nearest neighbors algorithm (k-NN). The accuracy percentage of SVM classifier vary from 95.5% - 98% and accuracy of k-NN classifier vary from 69.5% - 95.5%. This indicates that fused images can be a more powerful tool to diagnose the lung cancer.


Abstract This study compared hemodynamic changes and occurrence of complications following oxytocin administration with a prior injection of phenylephrine 100 μg or normal saline during elective cesarean section. Sixty-six healthy term parturients with uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were studied. They received either intravenous phenylephrine 100 μg or normal saline before oxytocin 3 IU was administered over 30 seconds. Oxytocin dose was repeated depending on the adequacy of uterine tone. There was no significant change in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures during the initial 3 minutes following oxytocin administration in the phenylephrine group but a significant fall in mean and diastolic pressures in the saline group. Heart rate did not change significantly, and no significant complications occurred in either of the groups. To conclude, phenylephrine 100 μg administered before oxytocin injection maintained hemodynamic parameters better than normal saline injection during elective cesarean section.


We extend the three-step generalized methods of moments (GMM) approach of Kapoor et al. (2007), which corrects for spatially correlated errors in static panel data models, by introducing a spatial lag and a one-period lag of the dependent variable as additional explanatory variables. Combining the extended Kapoor et al. (2007) approach with the dynamic panel data model GMM estimators of Arellano and Bond (1991) and Blundell and Bond (1998) and specifying moment conditions for various time lags, spatial lags, and sets of exogenous variables yields new spatial dynamic panel data estimators. We prove their consistency and asymptotic normality for a large number of spatial units N and a xed small number of time periods T. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the root mean squared error of spatially corrected GMM estimates|which are based on a spatial lag and spatial error correction|is generally smaller than that of corresponding spatial GMM estimates in which spatial error correlation is ignored. We show that the spatial Blundell-Bond estimators outperform the spatial Arellano-Bond estimators.


Non-degenerate bilinear forms over fields of characteristic 2, in particular, nonsymmetric ones, are classified with respect to various equivalences, and the Lie algebras preserving them are described. Although it is known that there are two series of distinct finite simple Chevalley groups preserving the non-degenerate symmetric bilinear forms on the space of even dimension, the description of simple Lie algebras related to the ones that preserve these forms is new. The classification of 1-forms is shown to be related to one of the considered equivalences of bilinear forms. A version of the above results for superspaces is also given.


Systems engineers use the term sociotechnical system in academic literature and in their practice. Sociotechnical systems are gaining more attention as systems engineers aspire to address the social elements of their systems engineering practice as well as societal challenges, such as those included in the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Vision 2035. Even though there is a basic working definition of sociotechnical system in the Systems Engineering Book of Knowledge (SEBoK), use of the term varies in systems engineering literature depending on application domain. As systems engineering research and practice venture into social domains, it is critical that systems engineers have a shared understanding of terms they use as a foundation of knowledge and practice. To contribute to this foundation, this study is a systematic literature review of how the term sociotechnical system is used in systems engineering literature. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) methodological framework and Web of Science (WoS) for conducting the systematic literature review. We only included peer‐reviewed systems engineering academic papers in this study, and these papers had to either explicitly define the term or implicitly define it by context in the paper. In total, 61 papers were included after inclusion criteria were met, and these were evaluated and synthesized into definition categories. Evaluation and synthesis were conducted according to the PRISMA framework by the study authors in order to manage bias. We found that most papers use sociotechnical system generically as a system that includes social (people) and technical elements. Papers with more refined definitions of sociotechnical system stem from two distinct theoretical traditions: ergonomics/safety and philosophy of engineering. We do not aim to propose a single, normative definition of sociotechnical system. This study is limited by including only systems engineering literature since sociotechnical system has established definitions in other disciplines (e.g., social sciences disciplines). However, the outcome of this study provides systems engineers with documented understanding of how the term sociotechnical system is used within systems engineering.


The antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of seeds of Abutilon muticum was evaluated by two model systems like 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay and total reducing power assay. The results clearly indicate that methanolic extract of seeds possesses significant antioxidant potential relative to standard ascorbic acid.


Bailey et al. (2009) standardized the Type Ia Supernova (SN Ia) luminosities using the flux ratios from flux-calibrated spectra whose phase are around the date of B band magnitude maximum. In this paper we generalize the flux ratios method with two variables as SN Ia luminosity indicators and search the optimal relations on a set of spectra whose phases are around not only the date of B maximum but also other phases t=-3,3,6,9,12 for the two methods. Comparing with one variable case, the two variables method can greatly improve the magnitude scatter about 0.1 mag, in particular at the phase t=12 and flux ratio pair (R_{485/727},R_{627/450}), the scatter can be as small as 0.083(0.016) mag.


We study theoretically the pressure induced solid-solid phase transitions and elastic properties of curium monopnictides (CmX; X=N, P and As) by using first principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) within the local spin density approximation (LSDA). We predict the first order structural phase transition from their ambient NaCl(B1) type structure to CsCl(B2) type structure at 111.80, 36.81 and 22.08 GPa for CmN, CmP and CmAs respectively. The calculated structural parameters like lattice constant (a0), bulk modulus (B) and pressure derivative of bulk modulus (B′) are reported in B1 and B2 phases and compared with the available results. We present first time the elastic constants for curium monopnictides.


Several basic assumptions of classical mechanics were discussed in detail and different assumptions were brought forward.These assumptions are as following: uniform rectilinear motion doesn't exist,uniform circular motion of particle revolving centroid axis is inertia motion,coordinate system based on such centroid axis and motion is unique inertia reference system;Newton's second law reflects force between two objects with huge different weights which has logical conflicts with the definition of force and needs to be revised;inertia force is an acting force which needs to meet Newton's third law;concept of mass should be "matter's contents" and mass has relativity;so-called gravitational constant G is not a generally applicable constant,and gravitational coefficient of gravitation system between two objects should be between 1 and 2 which means gravitational theory needs to be revised;non-inertia motion of particle is the superposition of inertia motion and inertia motion of the whole system,etc..


A stalked, cyphelloid basidiomycete from Kenya described as Stipitocyphella keniensis gen. et sp. nov. is illustrated. Possible relationships of this species with other basidiomycetes are discussed. Phylogenetic processes during gill and basidioma formation are proposed.


The present invention provides methods for detecting and monitoring metabolite concentrations, which comprise detection and measurement of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer upon ligand binding. The methods of the present invention are useful for real time monitoring of changes in metabolite levels in living cell cultures.


Medical Director of Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement Dr Nikki Kanani shares her thoughts on the role GPNs have played throughout the COVID-19 pandemic


Objectives: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is commonly treated with twice-daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. However, a significant number of patients do not achieve complete resolution of symptoms. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of twice-daily PPI treatment on the oropharyngeal pH environment in patients with pH-probe confirmed LPR. Methods: LPR was identified in 56 symptomatic patients using 24 hour Dx-pH probe monitoring at a single center. Following a period of treatment with twice-daily PPI, a second 24 hour pH monitoring study was performed. Compliance was determined by self-report. Outcomes included supine and upright Ryan scores, number of patients with normal Ryan scores post-treatment, and reflux severity index. Reflux severity index (RSI) was assessed pre- and post-treatment. Results: 34 women and 22 men were assessed pre- and post-treatment, with age of 51.9 ± 16.8 years and BMI of 30.8 ± 7.0 kg/m2 (mean ± SD). Pre-treatment upright and supine Ryan scores were 142.3±161.9 and 14.21 ± 17.14, respectively (mean ±SD). Patients were treated with twice-daily PPIs for a duration of 105.7 ± 88.2 days (mean ± SD). Post-treatment upright and supine Ryan scores were 72.66±140.5 and 12.27 ± 21.1, respectively (mean ±S D). Paired T-tests showed a significant decrease in mean post-treatment upright Ryan scores (P = 0.0003). However, post-treatment Ryan scores normalized in only 26 subjects (46.4%). RSI scores were higher in non-responders. Conclusions: While PPI therapy resulted in a significant decrease in mean upright Ryan score, the Ryan score was normalized in only 46.4% of patients. This suggests that twice-daily PPIs may be insufficient to completely eliminate reflux and symptoms of LPR.


The title compd. was synthesized and the structure was studied by x-ray methods. The compd. crystallizes in orthorhombic space group Pbca with a 7.0310(4), b 16.0290(17), c 18.602(2) A…, Z = 8. The mol. is nonplanar. The structure exhibits inter- and intramol. H bonds C-H···O and O-H···O. [on SciFinder(R)]


Silver-gold alloy catalyst for ketones hydrogenation in liquid-phase using NaBH4 as hydrogen source is reported. AgAu alloy nanoparticles are synthesized from common inorganic precursors and mild experimental conditions. To favour the dispersion of the sample in the mixed-aqueous reaction solution a ligand exchange with citric acid was promoted. This citric acid modified AgAu catalyst, thanks to the synergistic effect of Au and Ag, allows for the selective hydrogenation of ketones with to maximum isopropanol yields of 99.7 % within 8 min and shows an excellent reusability after 7 run.


Cerebral autosomal‐dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a cerebrovascular disease that is closely related to the NOTCH3 gene. Recurrent ischemic stroke, progressive cognitive dysfunction, and mental symptoms are the main clinical manifestations, whereas symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage is rare.


With the advent of new technologies which surpass their predecessors, the impact of information on the lives of people has immensely proliferated. In this challenging and dynamic environment, the need for reliable computer security steadily increases. Biometric technologies are used widely to ensure the security aspect of a system. They are divided into two categories as physical biometrics and behavioral biometrics. Physical biometrics are based on direct measurement of various parts of the human body while behavioral biometrics are related to the behavior exhibited by people. Modern systems mostly do the authentication in the user login phase. In this phase, authenticating a user with a username and a password is done. This is named as the static authentication. There are also some systems that do the authentication passively when the user is working in the session. This is called the continuous authentication. In both types of authentication processes, we can utilize keystroke dynamics for user authentication. It is a behavioral biometric which concern about the typing pattern of a user. The objective of this research is to develop a secure user authentication and verification model for web applications using keystroke dynamics based on the time dimension which includes static authentication for user authentication and continuous authentication for user verification. The time factor will be considered in building this model since the way a person types can be different in various occasions due to various circumstances. Studying the previous work done related to keystroke dynamics in the behavioral biometrics domain was completed at the beginning of this research. Various measures such as dwell time and flight time used in previous works were considered when selecting most suitable measures used in keystroke dynamics. In the second phase of the research, development of the machine learning model will be done. The incorporation of suitable measures into the model using the machine learning technique selected will be done in this stage. In the final stage of the research, validation of the construction model will be done. An optimum population for validation should be selected at the start of this stage. Through this validation, the accuracy of model developed can be assessed. This constructed model expected to be more accurate and sophisticated since it incorporates both static authentication and continuous authentication into a single system.


When Cu-TEPA (Cu2+ coordinated with tetraethylenepentamine) is used as the template in one-pot synthesis of Cu-SSZ-13, Cu2+ will be reduced to Cu0, resulting in too high Cu content in the...


The influence of the different AC on the performance of CuCl2-La(NO3)3/AC adsorbents was investigated. It was found that CuCl was dispersed entirely on AC by XRD. The average pore size and micropore volume of AC was crucial to ethylene adsorption amount and separation factor of ethylene/ethane. The less the average pore size and the more the micropore volume was, the bigger ethylene adsorption amount and separation factor were. Coco AC made in Shanghai had more favorable adsorption performance for ethylene because of the least average pore size and the most micropore volume.


This review of the exhibition Marcelo Pompo, unartista del pueblo shows the proposed curatorial narrative in relation with two fundamental concerns: the expansion of the artistic field and the visibility of some spaces of marginality. This article states that the curatorship identifies the artist with different roles, through seven thematic cores, what is considered most specific to his production. Also, the review analyzes the presence of certain works of art, their relationships with the space and other exhibited pieces, and the possible readings inspired by the tour.


The lady of of all ladies, Mercedes' biggest limousine, is back. This time with a different, intelligent scent, the 2014 S-class primarily promotes safety, but it also happens to be a luxurious vehicle. The new slogan states, "The new S-Class. Vision accomplished."  It represents a decade of hard work and the finest German engineering. According to Dr.…


Winds of massive stars have density inhomogeneities (clumping) that may affect the formation of spectral lines in different ways, depending on their formation region. Most of previous and current spectroscopic analyses have been performed in the optical or ultraviolet domain. However, massive stars are often hidden behind dense clouds rendering near-infrared observations necessary. Our objective is to investigate whether a spectroscopic analysis using either optical or infrared observations results in the same stellar parameters with comparable accuracy, and whether clumping affects them in different ways. We analyzed optical and near-infrared observations of a set of massive O stars with spectral types O4-O9.5 and all luminosity classes. We obtain similar stellar parameters in the optical and the infrared, although with larger uncertainties in the near-infrared, both with and without clumping, albeit with some individual deviating cases. We find that the inclusion of clumping improves the fit to H$_\alpha$ or HeII 4686 in the optical for supergiants, as well as that of Br$_\gamma$ in the near-infrared, but it sometimes worsens the fit to HeII 2.18$\mu$m. Globally, there are no significant differences when using the clumping laws tested in this work. The infrared can be used for spectroscopic analyses, giving similar parameters as from the optical, though with larger uncertainties. The best fits to different lines are obtained with different (linear) clumping laws, indicating that the wind structure may be more complex than adopted in the present work. No clumping law results in a better global fit, or improves the consistency between optical and infrared stellar parameters. Our work shows that the optical and infrared lines are not sufficient to break the dichotomy between the mass-loss rate and clumping factor.


If handled correctly, parent helper rotas can be of huge benefit to the knowledge and experience of parents, the lives of children and the working practices of a setting. Sharon Paul-Smith explains.


Public order went from political,social,and moral fields to economic field,and has been divided into protective and directive.Public order plays important roles in legal adjustment and construction and adjustment in legal system.In France,the mode that legal acts violating public order are void is changed.In civil legislations of China,the concept of public interest should be replaced by public order and fair practice;and in civil justice,it should be avoided to judge private legal act with public interest,and should not determine legal act to be void by this.


Strip-yield models, which assume that the effective stress intensity range (Keff) is the driving force for fatigue crack propagation, are widely used for fatigue design purposes. Since originally proposed by Newman in 1981, a few strip-yield algorithms have been developed and implemented in commercial or proprietary codes, to calculate fatigue crack opening stresses created by plasticity-induced crack closure. Since such codes are not properly discussed in the open literature, here an academic strip-yield algorithm especially developed to calculate Keff under constant and variable amplitude loading is described in detail. Like in similar commercial codes, this homemade algorithm uses equations for plastic zones, element displacements, and opening stresses proposed by Newman, and combine them with a proper calculation procedure. Moreover, its capability to reproduce measured opening loads and fatigue crack growth rates is also analyzed.