By way of corollary, the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) and the EU Qualifications Directive complement each other in rejecting the idea of asylum and political offences within the European Union. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 provides for a right to seek asylum, but not even in a mere General Assembly Declaration would States concede there was a right to asylum per se. Unlike human rights law, though, the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 also permits exclusion. Exclusion provides yet another area of overlap with extradition law. The question of refugee status can arise in two ways with respect to extradition law: can one extradite a refugee and what is the consequence of someone applying for refugee status who has been requested for extradition? The two questions clearly overlap to some extent.Keywords: asylum; European Arrest Warrant (EAW); European Union; extradition law; human rights law; refugee status


This article is a retrospective review of all of the patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery who were taking direct oral anticoagulants to evaluate for any perioperative complications. After review of the recommendations based on pharmacodynamics profiles, the authors did not find any significant postoperative complications. Interestingly, they did not find any complications while the patients were not taking anticoagulants. Objective We aimed to review recommendations for the postoperative resumption of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and report complications 30 days postoperatively. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients receiving DOAC therapy who underwent preoperative evaluations from January 1, 2015 through May 30, 2018. We noted days that DOAC therapy was withheld, postoperative time until resumption of the DOAC, and complications within 30 postoperative days. Results A total of 317 patients were included. Ten had complications. Complication rates among patients stratified by time to resumption were not significantly different, except for the deep vein thrombosis rate when DOACs were resumed after 72 hours (n = 2 [4.17%]; P = 0.02). The total time without DOACs did not affect the complication rates. Conclusions We suggest withholding DOACs for 48 to 72 hours before surgery and resuming them 48 to 72 hours after surgery, if safe. The interruption of therapy was not associated with an increase in thrombotic events for patients who resumed DOACs within 72 hours postoperatively. Patients who resumed DOACs after 72 hours postoperatively had a low rate of thrombotic complications.


Nuclear Bragg diffraction with synchrotron radiation as source will become a powerful new X‐ray source in the A‐region. This source exceeds by now the brilliance of conventional Mossbauer sources giving hyperfine spectroscopy, solid state physics, and γ‐optics further momentum. As example, application to hyperfine spectroscopy will be discussed.


1. Beyond Colonialism, Development and Globalization: Social Movements and Critical Perspectives Dominique Caouette and Dip Kapoor Part I: Indigenous and Peasant Movement Perspectives 2. Subaltern Social Movement Post-Mortems of Development in India: Rural Dispossession, Trans-local Activism and Subaltern Re-visitations Dip Kapoor 3. Democratic Hopes, Neoliberal Transnational Government(re)ality: Grounded Social Movements and the Defence of Communal Natural Resources in Ghana Jonathan Langdon 4. Indigenous Movement Politics in Bolivia: Forging New Citizens of a Plurinational and Decolonized State Stephanie Rousseau Part II: Acting across Borders 5. What are Peasants Saying about Development? La Via Campesina and Food Sovereignty Annette Aurelie Desmarais 6. Debunking the Productivist Myth: Food Sovereignty Movements Eric G. Chaurette and Beatriz Oliver 7. Neoliberal Immigration and Temporary Foreign Worker Programs in a Time of Economic Crisis: Local/Global Struggles Aziz Choudry 8. Working for a Day Off: Advocating for the Rights of Migrant Women in Southeast Asia Michele Ford and Lenore Lyons 9. The Alter-globalization Movement: A New Humanism? The Case of the World Social Forum Kleber Ghimire Part III: Reflections on Critical Knowledge, Culture and Pedagogy 10. Liberating Development from the Rule of an Episteme Dia Da Costa 11. Neoliberal Globalization as the Settler Colonialism the Remix: Centring Indigenous Resistance and Resurgence Sandy Grande and Naadli (Todd Ormiston) 12. Globalization, Culture and Development: Perspectives on Africa Ali A. Abdi 13. Learning, Knowledge and Action in Social Movements Brian K. Murphy 14. Conclusion Dominique Caouette


Bacterial products can stimulate inflammatory reaction and activate immune cells to enhance the production of inflammatory cytokines, and finally promote osteoclasts recruitment and activity, leading to bone destruction. Unfortunately, effective preventive and treatment measures for inflammatory osteolysis are limited and usually confuse the orthopedist. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), the main extractive of Astragali Radix, has been widely used for treating inflammatory diseases. In the current study, in vitro and in vivo experimental results demonstrated that APS notably inhibited osteoclast formation and differentiation dose‐dependently. Moreover, we found that APS down‐regulated RANKL‐related osteoclastogenesis and levels of osteoclast marker genes, such as NFATC1, TRAP, c‐FOS and cathepsin K. Further underlying mechanism investigation revealed that APS attenuated activity of MAPK signalling pathways (eg ERK, JNK and p38) and ROS production induced by RANKL. Additionally, APS was also found to suppress LPS‐related inflammatory osteolysis by decreasing inflammatory factors' production in vivo. Overall, our findings demonstrate that APS effectively down‐regulates inflammatory osteolysis due to osteoclast differentiation and has the potential to become an effective treatment of the disorders associated with osteoclast.


PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clearance expansion tool for a heat transfer pipe which is used for favorably inserting a vibration suppression member in a clearance between adjacent heat transfer pipes, and provide a method for additionally providing a vibration suppression member by using the clearance expansion tool.SOLUTION: A clearance expansion tool includes a tool body 81 inserted into a clearance between adjacent heat transfer pipes, an inflow port 88 provided in the tool body 81 for flow of fluid into the tool body 81, and a balloon 85 provided in the tool body 81 and expanding the clearance by the flow of the fluid into the inside of the tool body 81.


I study whether U.S. CEOs well connected in China better capture investment opportunities from China after China's accession to the WTO. I find that Chinese connected CEOs realize larger sales from China, better announcement returns of investment activities involving Chinese firms, greater long-term firm value and operating performance, higher pay, and more future directorships when investment opportunities from China increases, especially for CEOs' connections with political officers in China. These relations are also stronger for firms that lack relevant information about Chinese environment in the boardroom. My results are robust to various controls for managerial skill and regulatory reforms in China as well as tests for endogeneity.


The method of calculating shear strength c,f value of rock and surface of discontinuity with the fuzzy regression estimate is presented and the regression principle and method are given out. Fuzzy cohesion and angle of internal friction expressed by fuzzy number reflect the fuzziness of the test sample and have clear limit that the rock mechanics parameter is chosen in the rockmass engineering stability analysis,to avoid casual election of the parameters.


As the availability and distribution of content through the medium of networks is increasing, the need for information-search technology keyed to content for the purposes of marketing, searching, and managing it is also constantly increasing. This paper proposes methods of extracting image features that can be used as content ID information, and of identifying identical images as keys to these features. As a result of experiments done on images, to which noise and lighting effects had been added, results were obtained that demonstrated better identification using our methods than that with existing ones. Further, the possibility of timely, efficient ID was also demonstrated in low-resource environments using mobile phones equipped with a camera.


Analysis on grain size of the sediment is very important to differentiate sedimentary environments,determinate the ways of sediment transport,estimate hydrodynamic conditions and analyze grain size trends.Grain size parameters of sand dust in Taklimakan Desert,Kumtag Desert,Badain Jaran Desert,Tengger Desert and Mu Us Sandland were analyzed and compared.The results showed that during sandy and dust weather,the mean grain size values and standard deviation of Tazhong were 2.95~3.95 and 0.03~0.98,respectively,however,those of Xiaotang transition zone were 2.93~4.56 and 0.01~0.1,respectively.The kurtosis value of Xiaotang desert transition zone was higher,and that of Tazhong desert district was lower.The mean grain size values,standard deviation,skewness and kurtosis were 1.55~2.92,0.41~1.11,0.11~0.31 and 0.77~1.23,respectively.Mean values of grain size in Badain Jaran Desert,Mu Us Sandland,Tengger Desert and Kubuqi Desert were 1.6~1.8,1.7~2.0,1.7~2.3 and 2.1~2.4,respectively.The standard deviation of Kubuqi Desert was the lowest,0.46~0.51,while the value of Badain Jaran Desert was 0.55~0.68,0.41~0.65 for Tengger Desert,0.81~0.91 for Mu Us Sandland.Most samples of Tengger Desert positively deviated,while the samples of Badain Jaran Desert and Mu Us Sandland negatively deviated.The orders in lower size to mean grain size were Xiaotang,Tazhong,Kumtag Desert,Kubuqi Desert,Tengger Desert,Mu Us Sandland and Badain Jaran Desert.The orders in higher value to standard deviation were Xiaotang,with the worst sorting features,Mu Us Sandland,Taklimakan Desert,Kumtag Desert,Tengger Desert,Badain Jaran Desert,Kubuqi Desert,with the best sorting features.The distribution frequency shapes reflected that there was more fine silt in Xiaotang,Kumtag Desert and Kubuqi Desert and here was more coarse silt in Taklimakan Desert,Mu Us Sandland,Tengger Desert and Badain Jaran Desert.


Several discrete and continuous–time first order autoregressive models and first order autoregressive type models are studied and the solution of the stochastic differential equations are considered. A diffusion approximation of the multitype branching process is given. Furthermore, maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters in the emigration–immigrarion model and of the drift parameters in the diffusion approximation of the multitype branching model are obtained.


Solitary film cholangiograms and cinecholangiograms were made using indwelling T-tubes on forty-five patients after biliary tract surgery. Conventional cholangiograms demonstrated various abnormalities in fourteen patients: filling defects, deformities, and apparent obstructions to bile flow. Even repeated examination failed to clarify their significance. Cinefluorography showed them to be due to clinically insignificant anatomic and physiologic mechanisms or to technical errors during spot film examination. In all the patients concerned, removal of the T-tube was followed by complete recovery. Cinecholangiography cannot be regarded as a substitute for conventional cholangiography but it adds significantly to the information gained by the latter.Observations were also made as regards the information cineradiology offered on the kinetics, sphincteric activity, and bile flow of the surgically explored biliary tract. After transduodenal sphincterotomy not exceeding 20 millimetres in length the cinefluorograp...


Chronic inflammation promotes atherosclerosis and is a prognostic factor in coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) are at risk for progressive atherosclerosis. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a key player in atherosclerosis, mediating pro‐inflammatory responses. Its endogenous antagonist Gremlin‐1 inhibits foam‐cell formation and atheroprogression by binding MIF, neutralizing its proatherosclerotic functions.


The present work deals with the investigation of strength of a specialized chassis mounted platform/structure designed to carry concentrated load. This work deals with the mathematics behind braking through shear and bending diagrams analysis processes. The perceptible loading case in the present analysis comprises braking load and its effect on the platform/structure by usage of simple shear force & bending moment diagrams. These diagrams reveal the distribution of shearing force during braking for typical Indian truck. Present analysis accentuates on the design stage aspects of the platform as this research is a step in doctoral study. Effect of load during braking for an atypical type of combination of longitudinal and cross members in platform/frame design is formulated. This paper provides a new technique for computation of strength using shear and bending diagrams. Peculiarity of this analysis is the usage of combined section modulus of three members for computation of stress.


Mass-produced fortified foods are widely used in developing countries to prevent malnutrition. To determine current use of, beliefs about, and acceptance of Incaparina, a mass-produced fortified food that was first introduced in the 1960s, 100 Guatemalan caretakers of children 6 to 23 months old in rural and periurban communities were surveyed and group discussions were conducted. Store owners were interviewed to find out how much Incaparina cost, and health-care personnel were interviewed to find out what recommendations they gave to caretakers about feeding Incaparina to young children. Caretakers served Incaparina 13.7 days a month on average; 82% of the children had consumed Incaparina. The percentage of caretakers who gave Incaparina to children under 5 months of age differed according to the community: 41% in rural and 16% in periurban communities. Caretakers reported positive perceptions about Incaparina's taste (100%), smell (95%), and color (71%). Most caretakers thought Incaparina was inexpensive or moderately priced. Health professionals in both communities recommended Incaparina for children; they differed on recommendations for feeding Incaparina during episodes of diarrhea. Widespread and frequent use of Incaparina over a period of nearly 50 years suggests that mass-produced fortified foods can be important vehicles for improving child nutrition in Guatemala and elsewhere.


BACKGROUND The potential for long term adverse effects from inhaled corticosteroids relates to their systemic absorption, usually assessed from proxy markers in short term studies. When fluticasone propionate and budesonide have been compared in this way the results have been inconsistent. To determine whether this is because of the subjects studied or the sensitivity of the systemic marker used, we have compared the effects of fluticasone propionate and budesonide in healthy and asthmatic subjects and investigated the effect of treatment on three systemic markers. METHODS Forty six healthy subjects were randomised to receive inhaled fluticasone propionate 1500 μg/day (via an Accuhaler), budesonide 1600 μg/day (via a Turbuhaler), or placebo; 31 subjects with moderately severe asthma were randomised to receive the same doses of fluticasone propionate or budesonide but not placebo. Systemic effects in healthy and asthmatic subjects were compared after 7 days. Treatment was continued for another 21 days in the subjects with asthma when systemic effects and asthma control were assessed. RESULTS At baseline healthy subjects had higher urinary levels of total cortisol metabolites (TCM) than subjects with asthma. After 7 days of treatment with fluticasone propionate urinary TCM levels in the healthy subjects were significantly lower than in the subjects with asthma (mean difference between groups 1663 μg/day, 95% CI 328 to 2938). This was not the case with budesonide, however, where urinary TCM levels in the healthy subjects remained above those in the asthmatic subjects (mean difference between groups 1210 μg/day, 95% CI –484 to 2904). Urinary TCM levels were considerably more sensitive to the effects of inhaled corticosteroids than morning serum cortisol or osteocalcin concentrations. Only budesonide reduced the serum level of osteocalcin. CONCLUSIONS When given by dry powder inhaler for 7 days, fluticasone propionate 1500 μg/day has a greater effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy subjects than in subjects with asthma, but this is not the case for budesonide 1600 μg/day. These findings, together with the differences in sensitivity between systemic markers, explain many of the discrepancies in the literature.


The utility model discloses a dimmable LED device of a stage. A direct-current power supply, a microcontroller and a plurality of output channels are arranged in an outer casing of a lamp body, an LED lamp is respectively arranged at the tail end of each output channel, an output end of the direct-current power supply is respectively connected with each output channel, the microcontroller is respectively connected with each output channel, an input end of the microcontroller is further provided with a substrate temperature signal unit and a DMX (data memory) signal unit, and each output channel is in an identical structure. By the aid of the existing lamp bead technology, colors of the dimmable LED device are adjusted by various colorful lamp beads and the corresponding output channels, color offset caused by temperature change and PWM (pulse width Modulation) duty ratio change is compensated, subtle and gentle dimming is realized, and simultaneously rich and bright colors can be realized conveniently. The dimmable LED device of a stage is also widely applicable to lighting dimming on various high-grade occasions besides the field of stage lighting.


Many studies examining on the comparison of computer-based tests and paper-and-pencil tests are available in the literature. These studies are applied to various fields, variables and workgroups. So it is important to compile and review these studies by using meta-analysis for reaerchers and authorities. In this paper, a survey of the studies on comparison of student performances in paper-based and computer-based tests is presented. By considering these studies, a meta-analysis on the comparison of students' achievements for paper- based and computer-based tests is provided. To determine if the studies included into meta-analysis have bias, Funnel Graph and Begg-Mazumdar correlation test are utilized for sensitivity analysis. Influence quantities


We address the problem of assessing the power flexibility that a pool of prosumers equipped with a generalized storage device can offer to the electrical grid as an ancillary service for balancing power demand and generation. A key feature of the proposed approach is that the disaggregation policy is computed jointly with the aggregate flexibility set, and it is hence readily available for the pool to supply any (feasible) power profile request from the grid. Each prosumer is assumed to provide a contribution which is an affine function of the aggregated power profile. The coefficients of the affine policies are designed by solving a distributed optimization program where the volume of the aggregate flexibility set is maximized while satisfying the power and energy constraints of each storage device and additional constraints involving multiple (possibly all) devices. Simulation results show the superiority of the proposed approach with respect to a state-of-the-art method that inspired our work.


This is a qualitative research on how a family with special needs children (epilepsy) cope their communication problem concerning medical and non medical treatment, the people around the family such as their grand parents, neighbors and school, and the obstacles were faced by the family. Parent with special need child try all possible medical and non medical alternatives such as psychologist, neurologist, therapist in the forms as sport activities, massages and concentration increasing ability , energy transfer and recently bring the child to Singapore to get information and medication from the doctor specialized on epilepsy genetic. Meanwhile, the communication problem were faced by the family is communication with the extended family whom is considered to be much harder than communication with neighbor and school. The obstacles of treating the child come from the grandparents who always give permission for some activities which are prohibited by the parent.


This study explores how teachers' unions are responding to the growing policy of dual enrollment (DE). I reviewed all available collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) of public schools in Ohio, using qualitative content analysis to look for ways that CBAs are addressing DE policy. Analysis revealed four themes. The first theme suggests that teachers' unions are incrementally bargaining provisions addressing DE into their CBAs. Of the 586 CBAs analyzed, 160 included provisions regarding DE. The three remaining themes centered around working conditions for teachers, including provisions related to monetary compensation, existential protection of bargaining unit members, and the protection of teacher time. Additionally, district typography was explored, revealing that wealthier/smaller school districts have bargained more teacher protections for DE than larger districts with less wealth. This study provides information about what might be of interest to teachers and policymakers when reforming DE policy.


There have always been many challenges to understand and use nominal data as effectively as numerical data. The judgment-based scaling of nominal data is not as efficient as a formula-based transformation of numerical data where mean, mode, median, and standard deviation are calculated. In this paper, we propose a novel framework to process nominal data by transforming nominal attributes into equivalent statistically significant values for any given data domain. The transformation process has three stages. The three stages consist of addition of domain knowledge, preservation of collected attributes/features, and evaluation of numerical values by identifying co-relations and similarities of the features. These three stages in the framework will help improve the nominal data processing and will address issues related to knowledge transformation such as adding existing knowledge to the data domain, data loss such as rejecting less relevant attributes, and feature transformation such as transforming the values while processing nominal data.


Students Ask the Darnedest Questions I haven't met a school class yet that does not rise to the challenge of a classroom design activity. Often in classrooms as early as third grade, students display a remarkable facility for out-of-the-box thinking--very much better, I might add, than their teachers who undertake the same challenge. So why not harness this enthusiasm and allow it to make your school shine? I am talking about showing the local community what your students can do. What would happen if you contacted local businesses in your school's neighborhood and asked them to come to school to discuss how their business functions. They could also talk about the kinds of problems faced in their everyday activities. Why couldn't your students offer to try and solve these real-world business problems? I know it sounds overly optimistic to think that school students can solve commercial-scale problems, but I tell you not to underestimate their creative power. Most grown-ups lack out-of-the-box thinking and creativity because they are biased by their extensive life experiences and often tend to dismiss solutions they feel may be too simplistic. Students, I have found, are fearless, because they don't yet know what they don't know; and this can be liberating, often leading to flesh approaches to problem solving. If there is something my 35 years of industrial problem solving has taught me, it is that simple questions are usually the breakthrough questions. These killer questions often are the ones that lead to paradigm shifts in the way a problem is viewed--making its solution not only possible, but solved in a way that is truly unique. Every one of my patents was gained through this kind of simple question revelation. Students have an innate capacity to ask almost frighteningly simple, show-stopping questions. I have seen it too often to think otherwise. So here is what you should consider doing. Inviting Business Leaders Into the School Identify businesses in the area that are conveniently close to the school. Have your students compose letters inviting them to visit and talk about their operations. Couch the letters in terms that describe how your students are: * Learning about the business world and how it works * Understanding the kinds of problems business leaders face * Determining how to ask key questions to get to the bottom of a problem Be specific and up-front in the letters to these business leaders that students would especially benefit from trying to solve real problems, and any such problems they might be able to discuss with students would be especially worthwhile--even to the extent that students could actually try to develop solutions to such problems. In drafting these letters, the students would be gaining solid communication-skills practice, as well as learning how to present themselves. If you think that business leaders might be turned off by the kind of simple optimism that such unsolicited letters present ... not to worry! I predict they will be received with a smile and interest. They will also be flattered that the school is inviting them to visit. Business leaders know that even if students may not be able to solve a tough problem, they might be able to point out a fresh approach, or a path not considered before. More businesses are realizing the need to be visible in their local educational experience. Many large companies are even working with high schools and junior colleges to create whole course offerings that would allow graduates to seek employment in their industries. …


Acute kidney injury (AKI)2 is an increasingly recognized syndrome associated with short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have demonstrated that even mild AKI portends an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (1). There is thus great impetus to develop novel therapies for treatment of AKI. Several agents are currently being tested in phase I/II clinical trials (2). Despite these ongoing efforts, no effective therapeutic agents have yet emerged on the clinical scene. Some of the reasons for the lack of beneficial therapies in AKI include incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of this disorder and the absence of early and reliable markers of AKI, which may enable treatment before irreversible injury ensues. The importance given to the development of novel biomarkers is high, as evidenced by the proclamation of the American Society of Nephrology to designate this research endeavor a top priority (3).

Biomarkers of AKI have represented an area of active research in the last decade. These biomarkers should identify those at risk, enable a timely diagnosis of AKI (i.e., before the alterations in traditional markers), stratify patients on the basis of prognosis, and improve understanding of the nephron segment(s) affected (4). Markers of renal dysfunction in current use lack both specificity and sensitivity. Serum creatinine is the most widely employed marker of AKI. However, it is a late marker, highly nonspecific to the site or type of injury. It predicts glomerular filtration rate (GFR) only in the steady state and varies with muscle mass and diet. Another biomarker used in the diagnosis of AKI is urine output. Urine output is unreliable except in monitored settings such as intensive care, and it can be altered by administration of fluids and diuretics. Despite their shortcomings, serum creatinine and urine output are the diagnostic biomarkers of AKI included …


This paper identifies the usefulness of available national indicators in forecasting tourist arrivals to Australia from the USA, Japan, the UK and New Zealand. Income, unemployment, forward exchange rate, money supply, price ratio, industrial production, imports and exports of the tourist's country of origin are potential leading indicators of the tourist arrival series. A composite indicator is developed to forecast tourist arrivals. Further, disaggregated data are analysed to determine whether there is likely to be any increase in accuracy if the travel data is divided by travel type. The main travel types analysed are 'holiday', 'visiting friends and relatives' (VFR) and 'business' as well as total flow. To establish the causality between the indicator and international tourist arrivals to Australia, the performance of the transfer function model incorporating the national indicator is compared with ARIMA forecasts.


SummaryThe contact desiccant dinoseb was used to manage excessive cane growth and to control cane pests and diseases in many Scottish plantations of the raspberry cv. Glen Clova from 1977 to 1987. All further use of dinoseb in the UK was banned in January 1988. This paper describes a trial that compared insecticides to control raspberry cane midge (Resseliella theobaldi) and midge blight in plots treated or untreated with dinoseb. Midge populations and damage were greatly reduced where dinoseb had been applied, and insecticide treatment was unnecessary to protect the replacement canes. Only 2.7% of the fruiting canes were found to be dead or wilting in June of the following year compared with 16.8% in completely untreated plots. In plots untreated with dinoseb, two applications in June of fenitrothion at 525 g a.i. or chlorpyrifos at 470 g a.i., both applied in 11001 water/ha, controlled first generation R. theobaldi and lesion development. The control of lesion development and subsequent midge blight by ...


Background Intraoperative blood loss is a known potential complication of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce intraoperative blood loss and postoperative transfusion in patients undergoing TKA. While there are numerous studies demonstrating the efficacy of intravenous and topical TXA in patients undergoing TKA, there are comparatively few demonstrating the effectiveness and appropriate dosing recommendations of oral formulations.

Methods A retrospective cohort study of 2230 TKA procedures at a single institution identified 3 treatment cohorts: patients undergoing TKA without the use of TXA (no-OTA, n=968), patients undergoing TKA with administration of a single-dose of oral TXA (single-dose OTA, n=164), and patients undergoing TKR with administration of preoperative and postoperative oral TXA (two-dose OTA, n=1098). The primary outcome was transfusion rate. Secondary outcomes included maximum postoperative decline in hemoglobin, number of blood units transfused, length of hospital stay, total drain output, cell salvage volume, and operating room time

Results Transfusion rates decreased from 24.1% in the no-OTA group to 13.6% in the single-dose OTA group (p<0.001) and 11.1% in the two-dose OTA group (p<0.001), with no significant difference in transfusion rates between single- and two-dose OTA groups (p=0.357). Operating room time was reduced from 154 minutes in the no-OTA group to 144 minutes in the one-dose OTA group and 144 minutes in the two-dose OTA group (p<0.01). Additionally, maximum postoperative decline in hemoglobin was reduced from 4.3 g/dL in the no-OTA group to 3.5 g/dL in the single-dose OTA group (p<0.01) and 3.4 g/dL in the two-dose OTA group (p<0.01), without a significant difference between the single- and two-dose regimens (p=0.233).

Conclusions OTA reduces transfusions and operating room time, with the potential advantages of greater ease of administration and improved cost effectiveness relative to other routes of administration. Further study such as a randomized clinical trial is needed to verify the effectiveness of OTA and further optimize dosing regimens in the TKA setting.

Level of Evidence Therapeutic Level III.


Low-carbon economy,as a new engine for the sustainable economic development in the "post-crisis era",is of great significance to the transformation of economic development and the promotion of sustainable development.Practice about guidance and development of low-carbon economy both home and abroad shows that a low carbon economy calls for legislation.Legislation is key in the development of low-carbon economy.Harmonious development of man and nature is a necessary requirement for the development of human society,which is reflected in the relationship between man and nature,hence the basis for ethics legislation for a low carbon economy.


Large-scale loading tests were conducted on closed-toe and open-toe piles driven into dense submerged sand confined in a pressure chamber. Unit load-transfer relations were developed and related to stress conditions in the chamber. Ultimate shaft resistance in compressional loading was found to be approximately equal to the ambient lateral effective stress in the chamber before driving, and was generally not dependent on the geometry of the toe. From this observation it can be inferred that because of installation and loading effects the operative earth-pressure coefficient on the pile shaft approximately doubled from the ambient value that existed before driving. In uplift, ultimate shaft resistance was about 20% lower than in compression, regardless of depth. The open-toe piles consistently remained plugged during static testing but nonetheless exhibited lower bearing capacity than the closed-toe piles. This can be explained by deformation and compression of the soil within the plug as a means of effectively reducing the rigidity index of the soil against which the toe bears.


Acute myeloid leukemia is a disease for which, until recently few options were available both for the newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients. In the recent years, several new agents have been approved offering patients more options. Encouragingly, the new agents are targeting molecular aberrations/key proteins sparing the patients from the side effects of the intensive chemotherapy regimens. In this review, we highlight the studies leading to approval of Glasdegib, Venetoclax, Enasidenib, Ivosidenib, and Gilteritinib and we highlight key clinical points. We also outline the challenges that the new agents bring in the clinical practice.


In all the narratives of the Civil War the portrait of a peaceful Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who gets back to Italy and reassures the Italians about his intentions, is closely followed by the proscriptions and the dictatorship. There is no intrinsic contradiction between these two moments, which are in fact different aspects of the same strategy. After his arrival in Italy, Sulla showed his talent for building fruitful relations with the communities that were prepared to second his interests. In Appian's account, the punishment of the individuals the proscriptions chronologically precede the retaliation that Sulla decided against some communities which had supported the Marians. This is true of the colonies that were founded in Italy by Sulla himself, but not necessarily of the Italian municipia. In Larinum, for instance, the elected magistrates were proscribed by the envoys of Sulla.Keywords: Italy; Lucius Cornelius Sulla; proscriptions; retaliation


Importance of hypertension as a cause and contributor to renal disease / Renal effects of antihypertensive drugs / Pharmacokinetic considerations of antihypertensive drugs in renal insufficiency / Hypertension management in chronic renal failure and dialysis patients / Treatment of hypertension in pregnancy / Hypertension in diabetes / Management of refractory and malignant hypertension / Post-transplant hypertension diagnosis and treatment / Hypertension and hypokalemia - work up and management / Specific treatment options in hypertensive states - Non-pharmacologic management / Calcium channel blockers / Angiotensin convert, enzyme inhibitors, A-II Receptor, antagonists, renin inhibitors / Alpha-1 and Alpha-2 adrenergenic receptors.


Hydroacoustic technique was used to analyze spatiotemporal stability and distribution of demersal fish aggregations in the coastal region to overcome some limitations of the existing methods such as net and diving. The survey was carried out in the Baekeum Bay on the south coast of Korea in January 2007. The bottom depth in the study site ranges from 7 to 25 m. In order to outline aggregations of demersal fish initial scanning using 200 ㎑ split-beam transducer was randomly conducted over the large area. Having detected fish aggregation in the specific region, intensive acoustic survey of irregular star pattern was carried out along 14 transects across the area in question. The results of the acoustic survey show that all demersal fish aggregations are concentrated about 5 m from sea bottom having a slight slope and remain steady with no spatial or temporal variations during acoustic survey. The hydroacoustic method used in this study offers a new approach to understand vertical and horizontal distribution, spatiotemporal stability, and biomass estimate of demersal fish aggregations in coastal regions. Additionally, the number of individual fish estimated from in situ acoustic target strength data can be used to understand the standing stock of demersal fish aggregation.


Single cloud computing platforms, like Amazon's EC2, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, are common and popular today. Obtaining resources from a multiple cloud system gives clients competitive pricing, flexibility of resource provisioning, better points of presence and reduced risk of a total blackout. When these clients happen to be carriers, like Internet service providers, seeking to deploy their network services over multiple clouds, there still are many research challenges that inhibit large-scale deployments. This talk revolves around some of the key issues that were designated as "challenges" at the beginning of the network virtualization journey, and still need considerable research to see any kind of resolution in the near future. Specifically, I will present my work on the techniques that improve availability of virtual network services and secure inter-domain flow of data in the context of Internet of Things and multi-cloud based health networks.


INTRODUCTION:
As the number of cancer survivors grows, new models of survivorship care are being implemented, but there is limited evaluation to date. This retrospective review assesses the concordance of care provided to adult-onset cancer survivors by advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) with Institute of Medicine guidelines for survivorship care.

METHODS:
Records from three survivorship clinics at a single institution were reviewed for frequency of recurrence surveillance, screening for second cancers, symptom management (physical, psychological), health promotion education (alcohol, tobacco, cholesterol, and bone density screenings; diet/exercise discussion), care coordination, and provision of care plan. Data were characterized using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS:
Over 2 years, 9,052 unique survivorship visits occurred; 210 breast, 208 prostate, and 204 colorectal visits were randomly selected for review. All patients with breast cancer underwent surveillance for recurrence; 99% were screened for new cancers. Discussion of health promotion activities ranged from 83% to 100%; 91% of patients were reviewed for physical symptoms, and 93% were reviewed for psychological symptoms. All patients with prostate cancer underwent recurrence surveillance; 97% were screened for new primaries. Health promotion activities ranged from 70% to 97%, and symptoms were discussed in 89% of visits. All patients with colorectal cancer underwent a surveillance colonoscopy for recurrence; 97% had a carcinoembryonic antigen test. Among women, 97% had mammograms, and 96% had a Papanicolaou test; 83% of men had a prostate-specific antigen test. Health promotion activities ranged from 69% to 100%, and symptoms were discussed in 93% to 97% of visits.

CONCLUSIONS:
Findings suggest that advanced practice providers can provide survivorship care in accordance with Institute of Medicine standards, which provide a normative standard. This assessment is an important step in evaluating survivorship outcomes.


Background: In recent times, one of the factors implied in poor school performance in children is increasing screen time. Objective of the study was to find the association of screen time duration with school performance among primary school children in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 134 primary school students at the state of Tamil Nadu, India from June 2019 to August 2019. Data regarding screen time were collected from the parents and school performance from teachers using a predesigned questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with suitable statistical methods using SPSS 25 software. Results: Of the 134 children, 72(53.7%) were male and 62(46.3%) female children. 52(38.8%) were in the age group of 6 to 7 years, 47(35.1%) in the age group of 8 to 9 years and 35(26.1%) in the age group of 10 to 11 years. Majority of the children (56.7%) had an average daily screen time of >120 minutes followed by 61 to 120 minutes (29.1%) and ≤60 minutes (14.2%). Based on composite academic performance, 23(17.2%) children were categorized as having poor academic performance, 71(52.9%) as average and 40(29.9%) as good academic performance. There was no statistically significant correlation of screen time duration with composite academic performance and academic performance in mathematics, science and language. (p Value >0.05). Conclusions: There was no significant correlation between screen time duration and school performance in primary school children in this study. Further studies are required to find the influence of screen time on various domains of learning and on long term cognition and educational achievement.


Methane emission from enteric fermentation of Indian livestock is estimated using dry matter intake approach. Indian livestock emitted about 10.08 Tg methane due to enteric fermentation in the year 1994, in which crossbred cattle, indigenous cattle, buffaloes, goats and sheep and other livestock (mule, yak, camel, donkey, pig, mithun, horse and pony) emitted about 4.6, 48.5, 39, 4.7, 1.8 and 1.4% respectively. Amongst states, methane emission was highest in Uttar Pradesh followed by Madhya Pradesh and Bihar due to their larger livestock population. Average methane emission for lactating animals was about 53.6 g CH 4 /kg milk; however, when the methane emission from whole livestock population (productive and non-productive male and female) was considered, the emission value was about 159.9 g CH 4 /kg milk. Studies for reducing uncertainty in methane emission estimate and mitigating the same from the livestock may be undertaken as it is a major sources category in the agriculture sector.


Estratificação volumétrica; Valoração; Análise de agrupamento; Manejo florestal. Abstract This study aimed to identify classes of productive capacity of the forest and to valuate commercial forest products occurring in the Zone for management of Non Timber Forest products of the Tapajós National Forest., Systematically, 94 plots of 30 x 250 m were installed with size classes (CT): CT 1 - 10 cm ≤ DBH < 25 cm in subplot 30 m x 50 m; CT 2 - 25 cm ≤ DBH < 50 cm subplot of 30 m x 100 m; and CT 3 - DBH ≥ 50 cm in the plot of 30 m x 250 m; each plot was inventoried and the valuation of forest products was carried out, according to market value. Through cluster analysis it was possible to identify two valued forest sites: according to the BMI an estimated R $ 216,209.26 for site I and R $ 179,468.00 for site II per work unit (UT = 100 ha), and when IMC was not considered, the site I also showed a higher value. The valuation of the forest was estimated at R $ 218,939.26 by UT for site I and R $ 186,377.00 for site II considering the BMI; and R $ 290,151.42 (site I) and R $ 220,826.19 (site II) by UT without regard to IMC. The Zone for management of Non Timber Forest products of the Tapajós high stock of commercial timber, especially Manilkara huberi, Hymenaea courbaril and H androanthus impetiginosus .


Rules, a quintessential property of any and every game, are one of the factors that influence player experiences. Online multiplayer games have two dimensions of rules that can be leveraged to improve player experiences - game rules that developers work with at the game design level and server rules that the player community creates and maintains. A few studies suggest that server rules can be leveraged to shape player experiences at the individual and community levels, but little work has investigated the role of server rules in play communities tailored for youth. The rise in online multiplayer gaming among youth motivates a need to understand how server rules shape the culture and climate of online communities. Using a mixed methods research approach, we analyzed server rules (1920) across 60 "in-the-wild" moderated Minecraft servers. We report on findings from a subset of 19 Minecraft servers explicitly tailored for young adolescents (475 rules). We offer a nuanced understanding of server rules in relation to youth developmental needs, particularly during early adolescence (ages 7-14 years) and discuss how server rules can be harnessed to shape positive player experiences in online gaming communities for all youth.


Instead of virgin plastic, some growers are now using containers manufactured with alternative materials that can be planted directly in the soil and will degrade over time, thus eliminating the waste of disposing the pot into landfi lls. While previous studies have addressed certain aspects of consumer willingness to pay issue for biodegradable containers, this study specifi cally addresses consumer's perceived value for the containers themselves; that is, without the infl uence of the plant in the container. Analysis of the confi dence intervals for wheat starch pots, rice hull pots, straw pots, coir pots, and peat pots reveal that they are overlapped, which indicates the price premiums participants are willing to pay for these fi ve types of biodegradable containers do not signifi cantly differ from each other. Consumers express a positive willingness to pay for several types of biodegradable containers relative to the standard virgin plastic container. There are two distinct levels or tiers that emerged with the fi rst tier including coconut coir and peat pots, which received ratings in the same range as rice hull, straw, and wheat pots. A second, lower tier of similarly rated containers included the poultry feather, cow manure, and recycled plastic pots (relative to virgin plastic). Index words: marketing, willingness to pay, biodegradable pots. 1Received for publication April 13, 2010; in revised form July 29, 2010. The authors gratefully acknowledge The Horticultural Research Institute, 1000 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005, the American Floral Endowment, and the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program for providing instrumental funding for this research project. 2Bachman Endowed Chair in Horticultural Marketing, Department of Applied Economics and Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. 3Professor and Ellison Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University. 4Professor, Michigan State University. 5Research Scientist in Horticulture Economics, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Ontario, Canada. 6Assistant Professor, Purdue University. 7Associate Professor, Purdue University. Signifi cance to the Nursery Industry Most nursery plants are sold in some type of container, with the exception of bare-root plants. Many of these containers are manufactured from plastic. Through intelligent packaging and system design, it is possible to 'design out' the potential negative impact of ornamental plant packaging on the environment and society — in this case, the prominent amount of virgin plastic produced as requisite to the nursery and greenhouse industry. 'Cradle to cradle' principles offer strategies to improve the material health of packaging and close the loop on packaging materials including the creation of economically viable recovery systems that effectively eliminate waste. The use of biodegradable pots refl ects these cradle to cradle principles. This research has the potential to benefi t the nursery and fl oral consumers by ensuring that environmentally-friendly products are available for their use while contributing to green industry sustainability.


This paper presents a novel method to deal with deadlocking in multicast routing in mesh Network-on-Chip. The proposed design does not use the virtual channels used in the conventional designs, instead it provides a unique method to interleave data from different input ports. The method avoids deadlocking in tree-based multicasting by providing a flit-by-flit interleaving and at the same time reducing the Head-of-Line blocking. Therefore, the design reduces the latency while routing to multiple destinations, thereby improving over the limitation offered by most of the multicast deadlock avoidance techniques. The effectiveness of the proposed routing design has been verified by subjecting the router to different traffic congestions. It has been observed that the present design could reduce the latency by nearly half, as compared to the conventional combined method of wormhole and flit level virtual cut-through switching.


We study the dynamic consequences of the economic integration in a two-countries overlapping generation model where human capital accumulation is the engine of growth. Comparative advantage is endogenous and dynamic. We show that economic integration leads to a strengthening of the comparative advantage of the country whose human capital endowment is greater. This is a cumulative process which may lead to divergence.


The operating room (OR) unit is one of the most sensitive units of a hospital. Unfortunately, only limited efforts have been made so far to optimize the OR towards being an ergonomic work place. Due to a lack of ergonomics, awkward postures and adaptation to sub-optimal conditions, potential hazards for the OR staff as well as for the patients are a normal course of life within operating rooms and OR units. Based on the evaluation of various OR units and surveys among surgeons and OR nurses, various reasons for these hazards can be discovered: medical technical devices were found to be lacking in usability as a result of unclear symbols, hindrances and insufficient ease in handling. In addition, the positioning of devices in the OR demonstrates ergonomic deficiencies which force the employees into awkward and often painful working postures. Cables and tubes often create snares for stumbling, hinder the OR team in their work or cannot be clearly assigned to the correct device. Combining the findings from the ergonomic checklist with the results of the surveys draws a very sharp picture concerning potential hazards within the OR. These hazards can, sometimes easily, be minimized and therewith the safety of the working place OR can be maximized for the OR team as well as for the patient.


Thin-disk laser oscillators can nowadays reach few tens of femtosecond pulses at gigawatt-level intracavity powers and megahertz-repetition rates becoming increasingly more powerful sources for intra-oscillator high harmonic generation (HHG). Currently, we can generate high harmonics in neon reaching photon energies of 70 eV, which we expect to increase toward 100 eV in the near future. In parallel, the achievable average and peak output powers of these oscillators in the range of 100 W and 100 MW, respectively, make these sources very promising to drive HHG in single-pass configuration after nonlinear pulse compression. Starting from transform-limited 30 to 50-fs soliton output soliton pulses of TDL oscillators, we will likely see these lasers approaching a single-cycle regime becoming highly attractive sources for attosecond science.


We examine country-level data for agricultural inputs and outputs for Latin America. We examine data demonstrating a steeply increasing use of resources for agriculture and contrast this with the modest increases in output. We analyse the connection between these processes and a measure of rural population density, and finally discuss the agricultural dominance of Brazil and Mexico in the region. We conclude that the evidence continues to point to both Malthusian and Boserupian processes at work simultaneously in the region, and that global demographic, political and economic factors are increasing in importance relative to local population production and demand.


The NASA Strategic Plan is a living document. It provides far-reaching goals and objectives to create stability for NASA's efforts. The Plan presents NASA's top-level strategy: it articulates what NASA does and for whom; it differentiates between ends and means; it states where NASA is going and what NASA intends to do to get there. This Plan is not a budget document, nor does it present priorities for current or future programs. Rather, it establishes a framework for shaping NASA's activities and developing a balanced set of priorities across the Agency. Such priorities will then be reflected in the NASA budget. The document includes vision, mission, and goals; external environment; conceptual framework; strategic enterprises (Mission to Planet Earth, aeronautics, human exploration and development of space, scientific research, space technology, and synergy); strategic functions (transportation to space, space communications, human resources, and physical resources); values and operating principles; implementing strategy; and senior management team concurrence.


The Internet opens a series of expectations about its emancipatory potential. However, the path to the realization of this promise is devious. In the field of digital history there are at least three major challenges to be considered in the construction of new ways to inhabit the virtual world. The first of these relates to the filters that lead our access to data, casting, influencing surreptitiously on our navigation; The second challenge relates to the precise delimitation of what we mean by historical source in an era in which the speeches (even the official ones) become progressively polyphonic; Finally, we ponder on the role of education in a society marked not by tradition, but by an incessant flow.


Automated text summarization is aimed at extracting essential information from original text and presenting it in a minimal, often predefined, number of words. In this paper, we introduce a new approach for unsupervised extractive summarization, based on the Minimum Description Length (MDL) principle, using the Krimp dataset compression algorithm (Vreeken et al., 2011). Our approach represents a text as a transactional dataset, with sentences as transactions, and then describes it by itemsets that stand for frequent sequences of words. The summary is then compiled from sentences that compress (and as such, best describe) the document. The problem of summarization is reduced to the maximal coverage, following the assumption that a summary that best describes the original text, should cover most of the word sequences describing the document. We solve it by a greedy algorithm and present the evaluation results.


As can be gathered from literature, photorefractive phase conjugation is inherently an unstable process, whether it be Simple or Double Phase Conjugation (DPC). In this article, a novel quasi-geometrical model of beam fanning, from which phase conjugation is said to stem, is proposed. Predicting the fanning pattern and thus the main fanning directions of both incident beams allows to make both the fanning patterns overlap naturally. This technique allows to suppress the would-be competition between fanning and DPC, thus reducing instabilities in the DPC process: an efficient and stable Double Phase Conjugate Mirror based on this approach in BaTiO3 is demonstrated.


The invention discloses an assembled light-gathering solar collection device, which is characterized in that the solar collection device comprises a bottom panel, two top panels and one transparent surface panel, the two top panels are respectively provided with a bearing and a heat collecting tube penetrates through the two bearings; an upper side and a lower side are arranged on the top panel, the upper side is a straight line, the lower side is a symmetrical parabolic line, and the bottom panel and the top panels are respectively provided with a reflecting mirror surface; and a strip assembling component is arranged on each side of the bottom panel, the top panels and the surface panel, the bottom panel, the top panels and the surface panel are assembled into a closed box through the assembling components and form a light-gathering reflection structure, and the heat collecting tube penetrates through the inner rings of the two bearings and is positioned on the focal line of the light-gathering reflection structure. The solar collection device can be directly assembled by flat panels, the material can be bent to form light-gathering curved surfaces by using the natural elasticity of the material and no heated preformation is adopted. The invention has the advantages that the manufacturing and the installation are quite simple and convenient, the manufacturing technology is greatly simplified, the cost is greatly reduced, the high light-gathering precision can be easily obtained through correction, and the volume and the cost are minimized during packaging and transportation.


ABSTRACT The Trump administration has consistently opposed refugee resettlement, slashing national admission ceilings and undermining the long-running U.S. resettlement programme. While these changes have been broadly supported by conservative, evangelical voters, other evangelicals have publicly challenged the administration's decisions. This dissent is also evident in the expanding involvement of evangelical, faith-based actors in refugee resettlement. Drawing on a case study of two faith-based refugee 'third sector' organizations in a southeastern U.S. city, this paper addresses the role of faith-based organizations, employees, and volunteers operating in the U.S. resettlement context. It examines how faith informs the resettlement efforts of these organizations and how individuals involved with these organizations understand, perform, and reinterpret their faith through this work. This article advances understandings of faith-based resettlement work; from the perspective of employees and volunteers, resettlement work is a form of religious practice, demonstrating that the 'sacred' is not limited to certain spaces, places, or institutions, but rather can be carried out in everyday life. Evangelical faith-based involvement is mobilized by inclusive theologies and Biblical commands to care for the stranger; however, encounters between refugees and faith-based resettlement workers are complex, and meanings of this faith-based involvement are not well understood.


The microstructure of coconut skim milk powder was observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Small surface folds and cracks were noticed in some particles, whereas many samples contained small depressions, resembling the surface of moon. The surface of particle looked like honeycomb structure. Some of the particles were more wrinkled and curly.


Jenang Kutai judges or judges of custom law are judges that are selected from traditional leaders, community leaders or religious leaders. They are highly respected as they are considered as a role model and are prestigious in the society. Well-mannered characteristics owned by custom law judges is underpinned by their maturity balanced with applicable norms in the society. As a judge, Jenang Kutai judge should be calm, assertive, fair, and bold in making decision or delivering a verdict. This is done in order to enforce the law. Even though sometimes such judges psychologically have sympathy for the defendant, they have to pass sentence because people they believe that God's punishment through hazard disaster will come for those who commit the crime and do not enforce the law.


This study explores how five teachers from five different special schools work with their students´ speech disorders in a way that stimulates the students to develop their speech. The study is based on interviews as a qualitative method of investigation. An analysis was performed from a sociocultural perspective, where artefacts, the proximal zone of development, as well as the students' opportunities for interaction, were examined. The result of the study shows that teachers use many different types of artefacts. The most common artefacts used by these teachers are pictures and signs as means of support. When the teachers lack knowledge as to how the students would be stimulated to develop their speech, they engage speech therapists who are trained in speech development. There is an awareness with the teachers concerning how the students could take yet another step in their speech development. The teachers also think that the students need to experience contexts where they learn how to interact with each other. Special school students with additional functional disabilities who have extensive speech disorders are those with Down's syndrome or states within the autistic spectrum. Motivation is a key concept for these teachers. To find the motivation within the students, means that they work based on the various areas of interest that the children have. Finding the key to motivation is crucial, in order for the students to develop their speech.


The necessity to incorporate several hardware changes to optimize the Yale PDS 2020G microdensitometer for photometric and astrometric research are discussed. The properties of a new high speed photometer and a positional calibration system are described. The new photometer incorporates a high speed logarithmic analog to digital converter with more than 10 times the resolution of the former system and a cycle time of approximately 50 usec. The positional calibration system monitors the drunkenness of the stages with respect to fixed index lines and enables the correction of the +/- 5 micro stage errors to an accuracy of better than 1 micro.


Abstract. Phytate degrading enzyme (phytases) catalyze the hydrolysis of phytate (myo-inositol hexa-phosphate, IP 6 ) the major form of phosphorus in the plant kingdom. The degradation of phytate increases the nutrient content of the food product. The kinetics of inositol phosphate degradation by the naturally occurring endogenous phytase takes about 90 min in peas and lentil flour. Hence, the addition of purified commercial enzyme will reduced the inositol phosphate degradation time. It is therefore hypothesized that purified commercial Natuphos enzyme will increase enzyme activity and increase the inositol phosphate degradation time in whole and ground Red Kidney Beans (RKB). Thus, the objective of the study was to optimize the inositol phosphate degradation in whole and coarsely ground RKB with commercial dialyzed Natuphos enzyme. Whole and coarsely ground RKB samples were mixed in acetate buffer solution and hydrolyzed with or without dialyzed commercial Natuphos phytase enzymes. The samples were agitated in an Incu shaker at 37° C and 300 rpm. Samples were collected at 0, 6, 24, and 48 hours. The activities of the enzymes were determined at various inositol phosphate degradation times (10, 60, and 90 min). The results obtained shows the hydrolysis time (48 h) had significant effect (p


The effect of different retention times (one year, two months and without retention) and stock densities (1, 2 and 3 individuals/m2) on the growth and surviv...


The change in backscattering parameters during the appearance of chilling injury in bananas was investigated. Bananas were stored at a chilling temperature for two days and the degrees of the chilling injuries that appeared were measured before, during and after storage using backscattering imaging and visual assessment. Laser lights at 660 nm and 785 nm wavelengths were shot consecutively onto the samples in a dark room and a camera was used to capture the backscattered lights that appeared on the samples. The captured images were analysed and the changes of intensity against pixel count were plotted into graphs. The plotted graph provides useful information of backscattering parameters such as inflection point (IP), slope after inflection point (SA), and full width at half maximum (FWHM) and saturation radius (RSAT). Results of statistical analysis indicated that there were significant changes of these backscattering parameters as chilling injury developed.


In this paper, we propose a hybrid of random forest and multivariate adaptive regression splines algorithms for building a breast cancer survivability prediction model. We use random forest to perform a preliminary screening of variables and to receive a importance ranks. Then, the new dataset is extracted from initial WDBC dataset according to top-k important predictors and is input into the MARS procedure, which is responsible for building interpretable models for predicting breast cancer survivability. The capability of this combination method is evaluated using basic performance measurements (e.g., accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity) along with a 10-fold cross-validation. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides a higher accuracy and a relatively simple model.


The article deals with the analysis of semantics and structure of Tatar denominal verbs, having the interpretation 'S, which starts to have S.', where S is the component, denoting the part of plant. The semantic mm structure of verbs under analysis includes integral semantic features: beginning, properly possessive relations, meronymy relations, characterization relations; the verb semantics also expresses changes in the subject of possessive relations (in the plant), conditioned by new qualitative state, namely the appearance of new part. A distinctive feature of verbs of analyzed type is the presence of incorporated actant. The denotation sphere of verbs of analyzed type is determined, some restrictions on collocability, conditioned by the verbal semantics, are described. Using methods of classical semantics and cognitive linguistics, it was shown that the features, connected with the plant growth and development stages, which are are also important for the human life activity, are verbalized in the verbs of this group. The article deals with the analysis of semantics and denominal verb can be considered by analogy with collocated features of Tatar verbs, motivated by nouns, incorporation ((2, 3) etc.) naming the parts of plants. The verbs of this type were Our work was based on examples, taken from the not subject to system structured-semantic analysis; Tatar National Corpus (4). Corpus-based technologies nevertheless, they present a great interest from the provide an opportunity to study real language use at the viewpoint of both semantics and syntagmatics. material of large amount of texts of different types (5). The selection of topic is also connected with the The word semantic structure, as a product of human necessity to study the semantics of Tatar denominal thought, is connected with compression of information by verbs from a perspective of cognitive linguistics-a branch human mind, with the mechanisms of categorization, of linguistics, which studies the correlation problems of presupposing comparison, classification, generalization. language and mind, the role of language in The peculiarities of categorization of human experience conceptualization and categorization of the world, in and its reflection in language are connected with the cognitive processes and generalization of human peculiarities of lexical, grammatical and word-formative experience, the connection of separate cognitive human language systems. A categorization implies a process and abilities with the language and their interaction forms. results of classificatory (taxonomic) activity of minds, the At that, the language is understood as an informative perception of infinite multitude of world phenomena mechanism, a system of signs, coding and transforming (objective and subjective) through their contraction to the information in a specific way. less number of groups or unifications. The apprehension In Russian linguistics, the semantics of denominals of categorization mechanisms is necessary to understand, was traditionally studied in the aspect of dependence on how a man thinks and acts, consequently, to understand the semantics of deriving name or on context, where the the essence of the human nature, it is necessary to derivative verb is used. In Turkic linguistics, there are also understand the functioning of categorization.


Nowadays, the concept of the sports sponsorship is considered as a marketing activity that attracts the attention of the company from every sector. The aim of this study is to develop a scale to determine how communication companies' sports sponsorship practices are perceived. Research is a screening model. 47 items and personal information were included in the test form of the measurement tool.  The evaluation of the items in the scale form was made with a 5-point Likert-type rating consisting of values ranging from 1 to 5. The validity and reliability studies were performed by applying the measurement tool to 250 participants who participated voluntarily. The item total correlation values were examined for the validity study and explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis was applied. For reliability, Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was calculated. In communication Companies Sports sponsorship scale, there are 25 items totaly; 9 items in cooperation dimension, 8 items in support dimension and 8 items in impact dimension. The increase in points that can be taken from the subscales of the scale indicates that sports sponsorship practices are positive and helpful. As a result, the Communication Companies Sports Sponsorship Scale was found to be valid and reliable. Extended English abstract is in the end of  PDF (TURKISH)  file . Ozet Spor sponsorlugu kavrami gunumuzde her sektorden sirketin dikkatini ceken bir pazarlama faaliyetidir. Bu calismanin amaci, iletisim sirketlerinin spor sponsorlugu uygulamalarinin nasil algilandigini saptamak icin bir olcek gelistirmektir. Arastirma tarama modelindedir. Olcme aracinin deneme formunda 47 madde ve kisisel bilgiler yer almistir. Olcek formunda yer alan maddelerin degerlendirilmesi 1'den 5'e kadar degisen degerlerden olusan 5'li Likert tipi derecelendirme ile yapilmistir. Olcme araci gonullu katilan 250 kisiye uygulanarak, gecerlik ve guvenirlik calismasi yapilmistir. Gecerlik calismasi icin madde butun  korelasyon katsayilarina bakilmis, dogrulayici ve acimlayici faktor analizi uygulanmistir. Cronbach's Alpha katsayisi ile guvenirlik hesaplanmistir. Iletisim Şirketleri Spor sponsorlugu olcegi, etki boyutunda 8, isbirligi boyutunda 9 ve destek boyutunda 8 madde olmak uzere toplam 25 maddeden olusmustur.  Olcek alt boyutlarindan alinabilecek puanlarin artmasi, spor sponsorlugu uygulamalarinin olumlu oldugunu gostermektedir. Sonuc olarak, Iletisim Şirketleri Spor Sponsorlugu Olceginin gecerli ve guvenilir oldugu saptanmistir.


Despite the existence of various approaches addressing the development of nowadays interactive systems, smart environments impose an additional set of challenges for the designer. The main tenet of those environments is to deliver proper assistance to resident users who are performing their daily life tasks. However, an assistive system to be deployed in a smart environment has to meet some crucial requirements in order to successfully accomplish its mission. Thus, a well-defined development methodology for the generation of such a system to be employed in a given smart environment is highly beneficial. In this paper, we present a development methodology enabling the generation of tailored (user-specific) assistive user interfaces based on contextual activity patterns. We illustrate step by step the various stages by which the development of a supportive system for smart environments has to pass.


This minireview focuses on current understanding of the blue technology with special emphasis on algae products utilization. These relationships are discussed based on their economic value. The emerging antioxidant role for human health is highlight and the approach used to identify the oceanic parameters that are most suitable for the macro algae cultivation in Bidong Island, Redang Island, Perhentian Island and Setiu Wetland (Malaysia water) is reported.


Josephson junctions with weak-links of exotic materials allow the elucidation of the Josephson effect in previously unexplored regimes. Further, such devices offer a direct probe of novel material properties, for example in the search for Majorana fermions. In this work, we report on DC and AC Josephson effect of high-mobility, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) encapsulated graphene Josephson junctions. On the application of RF radiation, we measure phase-locked Shapiro steps. An unexpected bistability between $\pm 1$ steps is observed with switching times on the order of seconds. A critical scaling of a bistable state is measured directly from the switching time, allowing for direct comparison to numerical simulations. We show such intermittent chaotic behavior is a consequence of the nonlinear dynamics of the junction and has a sensitive dependence on the current-phase relation. This work draws connections between nonlinear phenomena in dynamical systems and their implications for ongoing condensed matter experiments exploring topology and exotic physics.


A stepwise approach ensures that all the potential issues and needs affecting a women's sexual dysfunction are addressed prior to initiating management strategies.


Many polymer-based electrical insulating composites containing a proportion of mineral fillers up to tens of weight percent are being prepared in the present time. Used fillers, often as flame retardants, are commonly modified with surfactants primarily to provide better filler dispersion in the polymer matrix. Currently, high interest is given to the good dispersion of particles and the processing of as homogeneous material as possible; nevertheless, potential adverse effects of such modification, often with strongly polar character, on important dielectric parameters of the material are analyzed in detail rarely. This problem will be emphasized in this paper, which compares the dielectric properties of composites based on the epoxy resin with the addition of montmorillonite clay without and with surface modification (by quaternary ammonium salt). Monitored loss factor representing dielectric losses in materials prove that the effect of the montmorillonite modification is negative in a certain frequency and temperature interval. The observed loss factor increases caused by the surface modification of montmorillonite is approximately threefold at 50 Hz and 50 °C (common operating conditions). It is advisable to pay attention to optimizing the incorporation of mineral fillers as a multi-step homogenization of mineral fillers within the polymer composites processing for electrical insulation systems. Only when the required level of filler dispersion has not been achieved by optimizing of filler incorporation without modification, the usage of modification designed to improve dispersion is well-founded.


Some Japanese plum (Prunus salicina L.) cultivars are prone to erratic fruit set. However, the causes of this behaviour are not entirely clear. Since a number of factors intervene in the process leading to final fruit set, a limitation in its study is the difficulty in ascertaining to what extent it is caused by pollination deficiencies. In this work, two Japanese plum cultivars are studied to ascertain the influence of inadequate pollination in fruit set. The evaluation of pollen tube behaviour and fruit set, in open-, self- and cross-pollinated flowers of 'Songold' and 'Black Amber' in two locations, shows that fruit set in these conditions is limited by the absence of compatible pollen. Field and laboratory experiments confirmed that 'Songold' and 'Black Amber' behave as self-incompatible. Likewise, crossings with cultivars from the orchards were also incompatible. Finally, the S-alleles of the cultivars studied were determined by PCR in order to establish which cultivars could be used as pollinators of 'Songold' and 'Black Amber'.


Special features of the application of power sources for mechanized welding are described. The advantages of the MAGMA-315 inverter power source in comparison with traditional rectifiers are investigated.


A real-time monitoring system for milling cutter breakage, which is based on cutting power signal and implements data processing using technology of neural network is introduced. The result of experimentation indicates that the system can well competently identify the milling cutter breakage.


It is well known that the level of pyridine nucleotide (PN) is generally very low in actively growing tissues such as tumour or foetal tissues (1-8). It has been suggested that the decrease of PN level in these tissues may be caused by a diminished rate of the PN synthesis rather than by an increase of its destruction (8). On the other hand, a marked increase of the PN content has been observed in the mouse liver following the injection of nicotinamide which is acting thereby as a precursor substance of PN (9, 10). In a previous paper, the author has reported that the intrasplenic implantation of a nicotinamide pellet is very effective in elevating the PN level of normal and regenerating rat liver and that the numbers of mitoses are thereby greatly reduced (11). It has also been reported that the decrease of the PN level is a general occurrence in livers of the tumour-bearing animals, indicating that there may be a sort of hormonal intervention (12). It is possible that the adrenal, especially adrenocortical hormones are involved in such hormonal intervention, since the presence of a tumour may act as a stressor. In the present study, the capability of PN synthesis in livers of tumour-bearing mice was tested by injecting nicotinamide, and furthermore the effect of cortisone acetate on the PN level in these mice was examined.


A relationship between tracheary element differentiation and the cell cycle was studied in single cells isolated from the mesophyll of Zinnia elegans L. cv. Canary bird. Almost all nuclei of isolated mesophyll cells were at the 2 C level of DNA, indicating that almost all cells were initially in the G1 phase and that somatic polyploidy was absent. Cultured cells underwent partially synchronous DNA replication at 42 h and mitosis at 54 h of culture, and the first cell cycle time was approximately 58 h.

The occurrence and timing of DNA replication and mitosis during cytodifferentiation to tracheary elements were investigated using microspectrophotometry, microfluorometry, tritiated thymidine autoradiography, and serial observation. More than 55% of the nuclei of the immature tracheary elements were at the 2 C level of DNA and were not labeled by continuous feeding with tritiated thymidine, providing clear evidence that these cells differentiated without interventing DNA replication. Some tracheary elements (approximately 30%) were formed after one round of the cell cycle, and others (less than 5%) were formed after passing through the S phase, but without intervening mitosis. All types of tracheary elements appeared simultaneously after 58 h of culture, and their patterns of increase in number were similar. From the results, we propose a hypothesis concerning the relationship between cytodifferentiation and the cell cycle.


Abstract Miller has analyzed capital structure in the presence of both corporate and personal taxes. The present work investigates the effect of inflation on both interest rates and equity returns when the Miller equilibrium condition is employed in a loanable funds model. Both an interest rate effect and a redistribution effect are derived. The interest rate effect forces the responsiveness of the interest rate to the inflation rate to be below that hypothesized by Darby. However, the redistribution effect may change this responsiveness in either direction.


The research of individual sensitivity of leukocytes' mitochondria of 56 patients with a stable angina pectoris to introduction of phosphocreatine in tests in vitro have been made. It has been found out two variants of reaction in the form of activation (in 49 % of patients) or oppressions of mitochondria functional activity (in 51 % of patients). Sensitivity of mitochondria to introduction of phosphocreatine has appeared dependent on an individual condition of bodies-targets, smoking factor, neurohumoral regulation, initial mitochondrial activity and degree of damaged DNA in patients. It testifies about the necessity of personification of phosphocreatine appointment in complex treatment of patients with angina pectoris.


Sharing personal informatics data to social networking sites is a common and well-studied practice in both research and commercial applications, but there have been substantial mistakes and failures within this space that offer important lessons to application developers. We discuss three common types of failures salient in our own work, other research, and popular press stories. These failures surface important open questions to the field of personal informatics.


The main purpose of this Master's thesis is to investigate how the transfer from academic studies into professional life is experienced in retrospect by professional librarians. The aim is also to ...


In order to increase fishing efficiencies of the fyke net used in the coast of Jeju Island, water tank experiment was caried out entering and escaping behavior using nets that were reduced to 1/20 of the size of the full scale fyke net and were improved to have antrance structure, and mackerel Scomber japonicus as experimental fish. The results of measurement are as follows : 1. Fish school behavior in the main net was showed two different patterns : swimming in a circle in the right space of the main net and swimming back and forth in ellipse in the right and left space. 2. The swimming speed of mackerel school was 23.9. 12.6 and 32.0cm/sec in the center space, right space of main net and in the mouth 3. The entering rate of fish school was 40% in net with 35cm length of the upper and funnel net in the mouth of fyke model net and 49% in conventional type fyke model net. 4. The escaping rate of fish school was 10% in net with 35cm length of the upper and funnel net in the mouth of fyke model net and 69% in conventional type fyke model net. 5. The remain rate of fish school was 90% in net with 35cm length of the upper and funnel net in the mouth of fyke model net and 31% in conventional type fyke model net.


Trichothecium roseum (Hoffm) Link ex Fr causes a foliage rot of green-house cucumbers in southern Ontario The fungus develops saprophytically for a time upon decaying organic matter such as insect excreta and abscissed blossoms, prior to its parasitic invasion of adjacent healthy leaf tissue The greatest damage occurs on tender foliage in the presence of high humidity.


In order to gain control over the assembly and functioning of photosynthetic antenna, we have developed methods to manipulate pigment composition of bacterial LH1 complexes via their reconstitution with modi ed bacteriochlorophylls or carotenoids, major photoactive cofactors of these antennae. In the present work we show how the reconstitution and pigment exchange approach is applied to control structural and functional parameters of LH1 and its subunits. The size of the subunits and the energy of the rst excited singlet state can be controlled via the use of detergent while the thermodynamics of LH1 formation can be modi ed using carotenoids and/or a co-solvent. Carotenoids a ect the e ciency of the intracomplex energy transfer, while the replacement of native bacteriochlorophyll a with its Ni-substituted analog allows one to control the excited state properties of LH1. These results show that LH1 is a very promising model system applicable for the design of bio-inspired device performing solar energy conversion.


Nowadays, the usefulness of the social network is very widespread. Besides used to socialize, business and advertising, the social network is also used for learning. In this study, Facebook is used as a medium of learning. E-learning applications have been embedded into Facebook as Facebook applications. This is to facilitate access to e-learning applications. Previous research has shown that web usage mining method could only track users who access e-learning applications on the social network. They did not track the behaviour of users in e-learning applications. Therefore, the use of Tin Can API is proposed to overcome this issue. Integrating e-learning applications with Tin Can API enables user behaviour can be tracked and recorded. In this paper, the use Tin Can API for web usage mining in e-learning applications on the social network is explored.


Recent theory and experiment have revealed that strong spin-orbit coupling can have dramatic qualitative effects on the band structure of weakly interacting solids. Indeed, it leads to a distinct phase of matter, the topological band insulator. In this paper, we consider the combined effects of spin-orbit coupling and strong electron correlation, and show that the former has both quantitative and qualitative effects upon the correlation-driven Mott transition. As a specific example we take Irbased pyrochlores, where the subsystem of Ir 5d electrons is known to undergo a Mott transition. At weak electron-electron interaction, we predict that Ir electrons are in a metallic phase at weak spinorbit interaction, and in a topological band insulator phase at strong spin-orbit interaction. Very generally, we show that with increasing strength of the electron-electron interaction, the effective spin-orbit coupling is enhanced, increasing the domain of the topological band insulator. Furthermore, in our model, we argue that with increasing interactions, the topological band insulator is transformed into a "topological Mott insulator" phase, which is characterized by gapless surface spin-only excitations. The full phase diagram also includes a narrow region of gapless Mott insulator with a spinon Fermi surface, and a magnetically ordered state at still larger electron-electron interaction.


A frequent problem in the production of organic compounds via partial oxidation are unwanted byproducts, like acetic acid. In this article, the convenient method for working-up the aqueous acidic effluents (containing up to 10 wt% acid) after removing the main product is the extraction. The influence of various extractant systems containing organic solvents and trialkylamines on distribution coefficients and selectivities of acids has been studied. Acetic acid and lactic acid served as model compounds for acidic byproducts and acidic fermentation products, respectively. Experimental results indicate that combinations of tri-n-hexylamine and an alcohol show greatest synergistic effects and as a consequence comparably high distribution coefficients.


The purpose of brand community is not only to cultivate the consumers' loyalty but also to increase the influence of buying behaviors as well. Nevertheless, in terms of method how the brand community assists to increase the influence to consumers still remains a missing puzzle and thus requires further study to complete. The objective of this paper is S3 fan page which has the maximum fan numbers of brand community on Taiwan Facebook page. Through in-depth interviews via 10 consumers who are influenced and thus attracted to shop online, this paper is to discuss in which method the corporate influenced fans' buying behaviors and perceived values in the relationship management of brand community. The study indicates: (1) The primary consideration that consumers participate to brand community is the functional requirements and then comes the social and psychological requirements respectively. (2) Amongst of all (the most influential factors to fans' buying behaviors in brand community), the relationship between marketer and consumers draws the most important attention, in particular the persuasive ability against purchasing actions from product-information-providing and the affinity of marketer. (3) The research indicates that from the interview the respondents get functional value and social value in brand community.


1 The effects of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), 3‐aminopropane sulphonic acid (3‐APS) and baclofen on spontaneous, electrically‐induced and propulsive motility were investigated in rabbit distal colon. 2 In unstimulated longitudinal (LMPs) and circular muscle strip preparations (CMPs) 3‐APS (10–200 μm) and GABA caused a clear‐cut relaxation susceptible to desensitization. Baclofen (10–200 μm) caused relaxation in a minority (30%) of preparations. The 3‐APS response was sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX; 1 μm), SR 95531 (a novel competitive GABAA‐receptor antagonist) (10 μm), picrotoxinin (30 μm), and insensitive to hyoscine (1 μm) and to a combination of prazosin (1 μm) and propranolol (1 μm). The baclofen response was antagonized by 5‐aminovaleric acid (DAVA, 500 μm), TTX and hyoscine and resistant to GABAA‐receptor and adrenoceptor blockade. GABAA‐receptors were therefore associated with non‐adrenergic non‐cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory nerve activation while GABAB‐receptors were involved in depression of cholinergic tone of smooth muscle. GABA (10–200 μm) elicited both above mentioned effects. 3 In LMPs, baclofen (10–200 μm) dose‐dependently inhibited submaximal responses to both cholinergic and NANC inhibitory nerve stimulation. This effect was resistant to SR 95531 and picrotoxinin and prevented by DAVA and baclofen desensitization. GABA (10–200 μm) mimicked the action of baclofen. GABA inhibitory effects persisted in the presence of GABAA‐receptor blockade. 4 In segments of distal colon, GABA and baclofen (1–200 μm), but not 3‐APS (1–200 μm), dose‐dependently decreased the velocity of propulsion of an intraluminally‐distended balloon. This effect was antagonized by DAVA and GABA or baclofen desensitization and resistant to SR 95531 and picrotoxinin. These antagonists per se had no effect on propulsion. In preparations in which propulsion was slowed by hyoscine (1 μm), baclofen caused no consistent further depression of propulsive activity. 5 Our results show that GABAA‐ and GABAB‐receptors are present in rabbit colon. GABAA‐receptor stimulation activates NANC inhibitory nerves without apparently affecting propulsion. GABAB‐receptors are associated with a reduction of neural (mainly cholinergic) activity subserving muscular tone and peristalsis and appear to be located on both cholinergic and NANC inhibitory nerves. However, the persisting propulsive activity during suppression of GABAA‐ and GABAB‐receptor function suggests that GABA in enteric neurones is not crucial for the neural circuitry subserving colonic peristalsis in this species.


New optically active hyperbranched polymers have been used as microenvironments as well as scaffolds for noncovalent and covalent immobilization of pincer platinum(II) complexes, respectively. The catalytic activity/selectivity of the incorporated platinum(II) complexes in these polymeric chiral supports was investigated. Chiral amphiphilic hyperbranched polyglycerols with core−shell "nanocapsules" structure, namely (−)-P(G40C160.5) (1) and (+)-P(G73C160.5) (2), have been prepared in two straightforward steps by ring-opening multibranching polymerization (ROMBP) of either (−)- or (+)-glycidol, resulting in (−)-PG40 (Mn = 3000, Mw/Mn = 1.3) or (+)-PG73 (Mn = 5500, Mw/Mn = 1.6), respectively. Polymerization was followed by partial esterification of a certain fraction of OH groups with palmitoyl chloride. Multifunctional hydrophilic NCN-pincer platinum(II) complexes with sulfonate groups, [PtCl(NCN-SO3H)] (3; NCN = 2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl anion), were encapsulated in 1 and 2. The NCN-pincer plat...


A strong and vibrant agricultural sector requires that farmers receive returns on production that help them grow and prosper. With more than 95 per cent of Australian broadacre and dairy farms being family farms, achieving reasonable returns means earning sufficient income to support the family, fund productivity improvement over the long term and provide an acceptable return on capital.


This paper describes how to design an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) resonator antenna to radiate directive patterns for multiple frequencies. The principle is explained and applied to a GSM/DCS antenna. A prototype which is smaller than the GSM/DCS antenna for ease of manufacture, is realized. The operating frequencies are 4.2 GHz and 7.4 GHz. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 40: 420–423, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11398


Biological responses to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 are mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR), of which there are two protein isoforms. The A/B region of the recently identified VDRB1 isoform is extended at the N-terminus by 50 amino acids producing a 73 amino acid A/B region, compared with the 23 amino acids of the conventional VDRA receptor. As A/B regions of nuclear receptors often contain ligand-independent activation function (AF-1) domains, the functional properties of this region of VDRB1 might differ from those of VDRA. The VDRB1 isoform exhibited greater (144% ± 17%) transactivation of a rat 1,25-dihydroxvitamin D-24-hydroxylase reporter construct than VDRA in transiently transfected COS-1 cells 6 hr post treatment with 10nM 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. This difference was not apparent at 16 hr post treatment. Evidence for AF-1 activity in the VDRB1 N-terminal A/B region was observed in yeast and mammalian one-hybrid experiments. The VDRB1 A/B region exhibited strong AF-1 activity (8-fold ligand-independent activation), compared to the VDRA A/B region (3-fold activation). Similarly, there was stronger interaction between the A/B region of VDRB1 and the VDR ligand binding domain (LBD) in mammalian two-hybrid and GST pull-down assays (3-fold in the presence of ligand, whereas interaction between the VDRA A/B domain and the LBD was weak. Introduction of an E420Q mutation into the LBD, which inactivates C-terminal ligand-dependent transactivation (AF-2) activity by abolishing recruitment of coactivators, markedly reduced but did not abolish ligand-dependent interaction with the VDRB1 A/B domain. This suggests that, as well as cofactor mediated interaction between the VDRB1 A/B domain and the LBD, there may be a direct AF-1/AF-2 interaction. In the absence of ligand, GFP-tagged VDRB1 accumulated in discrete nuclear foci whereas VDRA exhibited a diffuse nuclear signal. VDRB1 foci were not observed with the E420Q mutation, suggesting that speckle formation may be mediated at least in part by A/B domain-LBD interaction or by cofactor recruitment in the absence of ligand. Ligand-independent interaction of p160 co-activator proteins with full-length wildtype VDRB1, but not with the E420Q mutant VDRB1 or wildtype VDRA in GST-pull-down assays, supports the latter concept. Thus, accumulation of VDRB1 in nuclear foci may relate to its differential binding to transcriptional co-activators in the absence of ligand and the physical association of cofactors in the absence of ligand may allow for a more rapid response to ligand leading to the more effective transactivation observed.


As of now, solder bump oxidation has been one of the concerns in the shelf period from wafer level bumping process to flip chip assembling. The issue has been confirmed as continuous enhanced oxidation due to the high temperature and/or high humidity storage environment. Such phenomenon causes the so-called "discolored bumps", which means darker solder ball surface can be observed by macro view due to the degradation on reflection of native oxide property. The effected bumps, including high lead (Pb-5 % Sn), eutectic (Pb-63 % Sn), and tin-silver (Sn-2.3 Ag) lead free systems, all show a thicker oxidation layer than as- reflowed ones, and they have a higher risk on non-wetting failure of flip-chip assembling reflow process. In this study, a specific thermal oxidation method has been introduced to fabricate a controlled quality oxidation layer right after reflow. The layer then acts as a barrier, which is able to prevent further native oxide growing in post storage period. From the Auger electron spectrum (AES) and depth analysis results, the purpose of the oxidation layer can be monitored and the prevention effect can be confirmed.


A bipolar semiconductor device is described in which a mobile domain of current rotates around a circular path at a rate proportional to a magnetic field, when this is perpendicular to the planar structure, or follows the magnetic vector when this is in the same plane. Potentially high sensitivities are possible, since the response is inherently integrating; practical limitations to this are discussed.


Blend of acrylonitrile butadiene/isoprene-isobutene rubber (NBR/IIR) with different compositions was prepared. Scanning electron microscopic observations confirmed the compatibilization of bromo isoprene-isobutene rubber on NBR/IIR blend. Each rubber blend was loaded with different ratios of N-326 (high-abrasion furnace (HAF)): N-774 (semi-reinforcing furnace) carbon blacks. Current–voltage curves, joule electrical heating, and temperature-dependent electrical conductivity of the prepared blends were measured. The electrical and thermal properties of the blends were enhanced upon the increase of N-326 (HAF) content.