Rheological properties of acorn starch dispersions at different concentrations (4%, 5%, 6% and 7%) were evaluated under steady and dynamic shear conditions. The flow behaviours of the acorn starch dispersions at different temperatures (25, 40, 55 and 70 °C) were determined from the rheological parameters provided by the power law model. The acorn starch dispersions at 25 °C exhibited high shear-thinning fluid characteristics (n = 0.23-0.36). Consistency index (K) and apparent viscosity (η a,100 ) increased with an increase in starch concentration, and were also reduced with increasing temperature. Within the temperature range of 25-70 °C, the η a,10 obeyed the Arrhenius temperature relationship with a high determination coefficient (R 2 = 0.97-0.99), with activation energies (E a ) ranging between 16.5 and 19.0 kJ mol -1 . Both the power law and exponential type models were employed in order to establish the relationship between concentration and apparent viscosity (η a,100 ) in the temperature range of 25-70 °C. Magnitudes of storage (G') and loss (G") moduli increased with an increase in the starch concentration and frequency (ω). The magnitudes of G' were higher than those of G" over most of the frequency range (0.63-62.8 rad s -1 ). The dynamic (η*) and steady shear (η a ) viscosities of acorn starch dispersion at 7% concentration follow the Cox-Merz superposition rule.


Primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin (PMCS) is a rare, low-grade malignancy. Herein, we report a case of PMCS with in situ components, which are thought to be a precursor of PMCS.A 60-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital with a three-year history of an asymptomatic, gradually growing nodule on his right cheek. The nodule was yellowish, multilobular, elastic, soft, and 5 mm in diameter, with capillary dilatation on the surface and arborizing telangiectasia (figure 1A). Dermoscopical examination [...]


Many communities have an underserved population. This article describes how one community and one nurse instituted a primary care service that meets the needs of a population that lacks access to quality health services. By applying the nursing process to staff scheduling within a rolling clinic setting, care and services were consistently available to the rural population.


Bisphenol A (BPA) was administered by gavage (2.5-300,000 μg/kg body weight/day) to pregnant Sprague-Dawley dams, newborn pups, and continuing into adulthood. Aglycone (i.e., unconjugated and active) and conjugated (i.e., inactive) BPA were evaluated by LC-ES/MS/MS in serum to better interpret toxicological endpoints measured in the study. Ethinyl estradiol (EE2, 0.5 and 5 μg/kg bw/day) and the endogenous hormones, 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone were similarly evaluated. Mean BPA aglycone levels in vehicle and naïve control rat serum (0.02-0.5 ng/ml) indicated sample processing artifact, consistent with literature reports of a propensity for post-exposure blood contamination by BPA. Direct measurements of BPAglucuronide in vehicle and naïve control serum (2-10 nM) indicated unintentional exposure and metabolism at levels similar to those produced by 2.5 μg/kg bw/d BPA (7-10 nM), despite careful attention to potential BPA inputs (diet, drinking water, vehicle, cages, bedding, and dust) and rigorous dosing solution certification and delivery. The source of this exposure could not be identified, but interpretation of the toxicological effects, observed only at the highest BPA doses, was not compromised. Internal exposures to BPA and EE2 aglycones were highest in young rats. When maximal serum concentrations from the two highest BPA doses and both EE2 doses were compared with concurrent levels of endogenous E2, the ERα binding equivalents were similar to or above those of endogenous E2 in male and female rats of all ages tested. Such evaluations of estrogenic internal dosimetry and comprehensive evaluation of contamination impact should aid in extrapolating risks from human BPA exposures. 2 at Srials Sction N orris M eical L irary on Feruary 4, 2014 http://toxsfordjournals.org/ D ow nladed from INTRODUCTION Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used extensively in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic products and epoxy resins used for food can liners (National Toxicology Program, 2008). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates BPA-containing products including food-contact materials and medical devices. Regulatory risk assessments of endocrineactive chemicals like BPA often incorporate data from animal toxicology studies that include explicit evaluation of hazards from perinatal exposure since aberrant developmental programming can induce irreversible adverse changes in phenotype. The potential for toxicity of BPA exposure was evaluated in a subchronic study that included fetal, neonatal, and adult lifestages (see Delclos et al., in press). Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed by daily gavage to doses of BPA ranging from 2.5 to 300,000 μg/kg body weight (bw)/d starting on gestation day (GD) 6 until parturition. Direct daily gavage dosing of pups continued with starting on postnatal day (PND) 1 through termination of the study. For a point of reference, the lowest BPA dose tested in this study is approximately 70-fold above median American aggregate daily exposure (0.037 μg/kg bw/d; Lakind et al., 2012). An important element of this study, which was jointly sponsored by the National Toxicology Program and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Birnbaum et al., 2013), was an evaluation of BPA internal dosimetry because its pharmacokinetics are well-known to change during fetal and neonatal development in rodents (Doerge et al., 2010a), a phenomenon not observed in nonhuman primates (Doerge et al., 2010b). The critical role of Phase II metabolism in detoxification made it important to measure both the aglycone (i.e., unconjugated and active) and conjugated (i.e., inactive glucuronide and sulfate) forms of BPA. Although many molecular and cell-based studies suggest the potential for interaction of BPA with many receptor systems and cellular targets (e.g., thyroid hormone, aryl hydrocarbon, androgen, aromatase) as possible toxic modes of action, a prominent hypothesis for adverse potential of BPA centers on estrogenic mechanisms, via classical nuclear and non-classical membrane-bound receptors (Richter et al., 2007). Therefore, it was also important to evaluate the internal dosimetry from concurrent treatment with a reference estrogen, EE2, as well as endogenous levels of the major steroid hormones, 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone, both of which are known to vary throughout life stages. This paper describes the analytical strategies used to determine these internal exposures 3 at Srials Sction N orris M eical L irary on Feruary 4, 2014 http://toxsfordjournals.org/ D ow nladed from and uses this information to compare relative estrogen receptor (ER) occupancy as a contributor to dose-dependent estrogenic effects reported in the companion paper (Delclos et al., in press). A goal of these two studies was to evaluate whether life stage-dependent internal dosimetry of estrogenic compounds could be used to evaluate critically the hypothesis that aberrant estrogenic signaling during critical developmental windows could manifest as phenotypical changes in the adult animal. This goal is important for human risk assessment because consistency between internal dosimetry, receptor-mediated signaling, and demonstrably adverse effects in animal models would facilitate the interpretation of estrogenic mechanisms in the endocrine disruption debate.


Composition is a means of teaching with its ultimate aim to train students in an all-round way. The improvement of the students' ability in composition writing is of great importance both for the imporvement of their language proficiency and the comprehensives development of their quality. When carrying out quality-oriented education in composition writing, we should stick to the student-centered way of teaching; we should try hard to develop the students morally and intellectually, to cultivate their creativity as well as to pay attention to their non-intelligent factor in composition writing.


National identity is a characteristic or characteristic of a nation that distinguishes it from other nations. National identity is born from a group of individuals who group and agree to establish a nation.It has been proven that a nation that wants to progress must have an identity, which is really practiced and colors their work ethic, and is really practiced which is believed to bring the nation to be respected, respected, and respected by other nations in the world and at the same time will bring this nation becomes a developed nation.This first identity is very extraordinary, if it is practiced all diseases, both physical and non-physical, social and criminal diseases will disappear. Because all diseases originate as a result of not understanding or not mastering the first identity. When the first identity is combined with attitude / behavior, patience, big spirit and good prejudice, it is inconceivable how beautiful human relationships are who are very human, clear and peaceful, as a nation that is virtuous and highly cultured. Which in turn will bring the glory of the Indonesian nation.


Two severe earthquakes occurred at 20:26 and 20:34 on December 26,2006 in Pingtung.They were with 7.0 on the Richter scale.After the earthquake,the Pingtung County started the "12.26 earthquake" disaster response center and dispatched crews and equipment to the Hengchun Fire Station,which was set as the disaster response and dispatch ststion command post.The purpose of this study was to investigate the merits and defects of the operation procedure during this Pingtung earthquake.It is expected that this examination will be the rescue reference in severe disasters for other organizations in the future.In addition,it is hoped that more precise and feasible Standard Rescue Operation Procedures can be established from the results in this study.


A video classification method, comprising the steps of: reading the video to be classified; statistics for each object in the object to be a predetermined frequency of occurrence of classified video; and each preset information according to preset each target object in the target object frequency of occurrence to be described later in the video classification information to be calculated the entropy of the video classification; calculating the distance to be entropy video information entropy categories with each type of video; acquires the distance calculated in the minimum distance corresponding video type the type classification of the video to be video. In addition, the video also provides a classification system. Since the frequency of a specific object appearing in the video object may reflect the video type video belongs to, the above-described method and system information corresponding to a predetermined frequency of occurrence of the entropy of the object to be classified according to the video object to determine the type of video to be classified video, which can be accurately Analyzing video video type to be sorted.


At present, the development of semiconductor sensor elements that detect hazardous oxides (CO, CO2) is an urgent scientific and technical task. As a rule, wide-gap metal oxides, such as ZnO, CuO, are used as a sensor matrix. Today, there are a large number of approaches to the synthesis and modification of gas-sensitive semiconductors with the possibility of sensitivity to carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The state of the environment and the forms of morbidity that occur in this area. The ultimate goal of the study is to find the optimal conditions for the mechanical grinding of zinc oxide in order to achieve the maximum value of the chemoresistive response. In this paper, we studied the patterns of evolution of defects and chemical features of the surface under the action of mechanoactivation in the attritor. Using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) method, we studied samples ground for 1, 3, and 5 hours using an attritor in an isopropyl alcohol without additional chemical treatment. Deconvolution was carried out by subtracting the Shirley background and then fitting the peak to the Voigt functions, which have a mixed character of Gauss and Lorentz. As a result, it was found that the ratios between the elements and their phases correlate with the stoichiometry of the sample.


Introduction Food allergy affects 6% of children and causes 85% of childhood anaphylaxis. It is a public health concern as anaphylaxis hospitalisation rates multiplied sevenfold between 1990 and 2000 in England. New-onset food allergy after liver, cardiac and intestinal transplantation has been reported but it is unknown if it is increased in paediatric renal transplant recipients (RTR). Methods We investigated whether new-onset allergy development occurred in RTR, using three questionnaires regarding general health, food allergy and atopy, by patient and/or parent interview. We obtained blood samples from children under 18 years who had undergone renal transplantation, from our single centre and analysed for eosinophilia, total-IgE, and cow's milk, egg and peanut-specific IgE. Questionnaire and IgE results were presented to a blinded allergist to determine allergic status. Results Seventy (60% male) children aged 30-207 (median 161) months and 0-161 (median 37) months post-renal transplantation were included. The primary renal disease was non-immunologically based (62% congenital abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract). Our cohort were compared to healthy controls in the normal population. Eleven (16%) RTR were sensitised to at least one food (cow's milk [6], egg [9], peanut [7]), eight (11%) were clinically 'allergic' (table 1, figure 1). Abstract G35(P) Figure 1 Bar chart to show the number of children sensitised or allergic to cow's milk, egg or peanut Abstract G35(P) Table 1 Patient baseline results Patient Detail Result Age at transplantation (months)  Median 90.5  Range 177.0  Interquartile range 92.5  Mean 96.7 Age at assessment (months)  Median 161.0  Range 177.0  Interquartile range 73.5  Mean 144.3 Main cause for transplantation  Nephrotic syndrome 14 (20%)  CAKUT   Renal dysplasia 18 (26%)   Hydronephrosis/Hydroureteronephrosis 6 (9%)   Posterior urethral valves 5 (7%)   Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 1 (1%)   Structural kidney defects 2 (3%)  Nephronophthisis 7 (10%)  Unknown aetiology 4 (6%)  Other   Cystinosis 2 (3%)   Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease 1 (1%)   Renal venous thrombosis 2 (3%)   Neonatal renal failure 3 (4%)   Wilms' tumour 1 (1%)   Hemolytic uremic syndrome 1 (1%)   Cortical necrosis 1 (1%)   Tubulointerstitial disease 1 (1%)   End stage renal failure 1 (1%) Transplant Type  DDRT 39 (56%)  LRRT 30 (43%)  LURT 1 (1%) Mismatch (/6 antigens)  Median 2  Range 4  Interquartile range 0  Mean 2 Current immunosuppressant used – No. (%) patients who received each medication  Tacrolimus 60 (86%)  Ciclosporin 1 (1%)  MycophenolateMofetil (MMF) 33 (47%)  Prednisone 59 (84%)  Azathioprine 15 (21%) Total serum IgE  Median 16.5  Range 2871.0  Interquartile range 51.8  Mean 157.6 Egg-whole specific IgE  Median 0.0  Range 73.4  Interquartile range 0.0  Mean 2.7 Cow's milk specific IgE  Median 0.0  Range 3.9  Interquartile range 0.0  Mean 0.2 Peanut specific IgE  Median 0.0  Range 98.4  Interquartile range 0.0  Mean 1.6 Eosinophil count (× 109/L)  Median 0.1  Range 1.1  Interquartile range 0.2  Mean 0.2 Total-IgE results ranged 1.0 to 2872.0 (median 16.5 kUIgE/L). Eosinophil counts ranged 0.0 to 1.07 (median 0.14 x109/L). Nine (13%) participants reported experiencing food allergy symptoms by questionnaire. Six (9%) reported parental food allergy history. There was a significantly low breastfeeding rate (61%) and duration, range 0-26 (median 0) weeks, in RTR. There was a significant difference in gestation, range 24-43 (median 40) weeks (p=0.05), and birthweight, range 0.7-5.7 (median 3.2) kilograms (p=0.03), between sensitised and non-sensitised children (table 2). Abstract G35(P) Table 2 Food sensitisation risk factors Risk factor Food sensitised (n = 11) Non food sensitised (n = 59) p-value Confidence interval for difference in percentage History of asthma – No. (%) 3 (27.3) 10 (16.9) 0.416 (–11.2) – (+42.7) History of eczema – No. (%) 3 (27.3) 11 (18.6) 0.681 (–12.5) – (+39.0) History of hayfever – No. (%) 6 (54.5) 9 (15.3) 0.009 (+14.6) – (+70.7) Parental asthma – No. (%) 4 (36.4) 10 (16.9) 0.212 (–4.6) – (+51.2) Parental eczema – No. (%) 1 (9.1) 10 (16.9) 1.000 (–23.0) – (+22.8) Parental hayfever – No. (%) 0 (0.0) 1 (1.7) 1.000 (–30.4) – (+21.2) Parental food allergy – No. (%) 0 (0.0) 6 (10.2) 0.580 (–16.2) – (+37.0) Sibling asthma – No. (%) 2 (18.2) 9 (15.3) 1.000 (–16.2) – (+37.0) Sibling eczema – No. (%) 2 (18.2) 6 (10.2) 0.602 (–11.7) – (+52.2) Sibling hayfever – No. (%) 1 (9.1) 0 (0.0) 0.157 (–26.6) – (–4.9) Sibling food allergy – No. (%) 1 (9.1) 4 (6.8) 1.000 (–17.2) – (+52.0) Gestation (weeks)  Median 40 40 0.056  Range 4 19  Interquartile range 0.5 3  Mean 40 37.8 Caesarean delivery – No. (%) 3 (27.3) 23 (39.0) 0.521 (–20.1) – (+15.1) Birthweight (Kg)  Median 3.39 3.01 0.030  Range 2.85 3.86  Interquartile range 0.91 1.36  Mean 3.79 2.84 Breastfed – No. (%) 8 (72.7) 35 (59.3) 0.511 (–11.7 ) – (+22.2) Exclusively breastfed (weeks)  Median 0 0 0.213  Range 24 26  Interquartile range 23 6.5  Mean 10.36 5.04 Age at solid introduction (months)  Median 6.0 5.5 0.272  Range 85.0 69.0  Interquartile range 1.5 4.6  Mean 17.0 13.9 No. older siblings  Median 1.0 1.0 0.695  Range 2.0 6.0  Interquartile range 1.0 2.0  Mean 0.8 1.2 Pet ownership – No. (%) 3 (27.3) 22 (37.3) 0.735 (–19.7) – (+16.2) Discussion Food allergy prevalence in paediatric RTR was not increased to the general population (rates of 6-22%) with no clear evidence of allergy being passively transferred from donor to recipient. There was no association with recipient-specific factors, such as immunological cause of renal disease, post-transplantation immunosuppression (tacrolimus has been implicated) or degree of renal function (figure 2). Abstract G35(P) Figure 2 Box-plot to show eGFR distribution amongst pre-transplant and unknown-onset sensitised children


The formation of the People's Republic of China is an important moment in the history of the country. As of this time, a stage of new processes has begun in the life of the country. There have been shifts in state politics and economy, which have invariably caused changes in the sphere of culture, particularly in the field of literature. The history of modern Chinese literature since the formation of the People's Republic of China, as a rule, is divided into three periods. This article considers the literature of the Seventeen-Year Literature (1949–1966) including the novel, poetry, prose, and drama, which could exist and develop only by following its own rules while pursuing the goal of serving the people. Modern Chinese literature reflects the political construction of the country that has taken place in Chinese society since 1949, as well as the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Historical and realistic novels have had some success. The poetic works are mainly devoted to the formation of the People's Republic of China. Unfortunately, poetry lacked individual traits. Prose became the main genre and flourished. Traditional Chinese theatre, spoken drama, opera – the three main genres of drama also released works devoted to the people. Thus, it does not matter from the point of view of the needs of society for literature or the leading policy of literature, or the point of view of the practical path of literature, modern literature has its own differences. 2357-1330 © 2021 Published by European Publisher.


On the basis of current situation of the sightseeing orchard,the background and prospect of sightseeing orchard were described.The existed problems of sightseeing orchard were analyzed.Furthermore,some corresponding countermeasures were proposed.


In this paper, free vibration and static response of magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) beams has been investigated. To this end, a 3D finite element formulation has been derived by minimization the total potential energy and linear constitutive equation. The coupling between elastic, electric and magnetic fields can have a significant influence on the stiffness and in turn on the static behaviour of MEE beam. Further, different Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) and Cobalt Ferric oxide (CoFe2O4) volume fractions results in indifferent coupled response. Therefore, through the numerical examples the influence of volume fractions and boundary conditions on the natural frequencies of MEE beam is illustrated. The study is extended to evaluate the static response of MEE beam under various forms of mechanical loading. It is seen from the numerical evaluation that the volume fractions, loading and boundary conditions have a significant effect on the structural behaviour of MEE structures. The observations made here may serve as benchmark solutions in the optimum design of MEE structures.


Using L(Pi*) -self-friction polynomials (L(Pi*)-SFPs), complete orthonormal sets of ψ(Pi*)-SF exponential type orbitals ψ(Pi*)-SFETOs) in standard convention and Qq-integer auxiliary functions (Qq-IAFs) introduced by the author, the combined one- and two-center one-range addition theorems for x-noninteger Slater type orbitals (x-NISTOs) are established, where Pi* = 2l + 2 — α* and α* is SF quantum number. As an application, the one-center atomic nuclear attraction integrals of x-NISTOs and V-noninteger Coulombic potential (V-NICPs) are calculated. The obtained formulas can be useful especially in the electronic structure calculations of atoms, molecules and solids


This article traces the early developments, in 1967, that were to form the foundation of today's LEXIS-NEXIS service. Originally built on a text retrieval system designed for the US Air Force by the Ohio-based Data Corporation, the LEXIS-NEXIS service began life as a text-retrieval system for private use by the Ohio State Bar Association. Describes the subsequent acquisition of the service by Mead Corporation; its launch as a commercial online service; and its later purchase by Reed Elsevier. Outlines the various changes and acquisitions that have taken place over the past 30 years and that have led to LEXIS-NEXIS becoming the world's largest online host. Describes the current offering of the service; details its various technical developments and acquisitions; and outlines the new focus on widening its international profile (in particular its current activities in Europe following the formation of LEXIS-NEXIS EUROPE Limited); and describes current moves to adapt the service to the Internet. Notes some of the competitors to LEXIS-NEXIS, notably Dialog, DataStar, FT Profile and MAID (as well as new generation Internet services like Pointcast), but concludes that with its unique combination of information sources and the commitment of a powerful international owner, LEXIS-NEXIS is currently ideally positioned to take advantage of a unique window of opportunity.


The aim of this study was to broaden the relatively small number of qualitative and quantitative data available on the endothelium of human blood vessels by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and computer based image analysis of the human endothelial microstructure and dimensions. Endothelium of the arterial blood vessels (common iliac artery and hepatic artery) was imaged directly by using SEM. From high quality images, precise information on the microstructure and dimensions of endothelial cells was obtained by using GIMP and Leica QWin image analysis software. The mean endothelial cell width, length, and area of common iliac artery endothelial cells were found to be 13.2 ± 4.1 µm, 25.8 ± 8.5 µm, and 245.0 ± 115.1 µm2, respectively. For hepatic artery endothelial cells, mean values of cell width, length, and area were found to be 4.9 ± 1.5 µm, 21.9 ± 6.6 µm, and 70.7 ± 34.8 µm2, respectively. Morphology and dimension of the endothelial cells were different depending on the donor, type, and diameter of the arteries due to the effect of blood flow direction and volume rate. The presented method is useful for obtaining quantitative data on human endothelial cells. This study provides a first basis for future studies with larger numbers of samples on morphological changes secondary to pathological conditions, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the data may support the development of a template for a novel artificial vascular graft with superior performance.


The development of machine learning methods based on deep learning boosted the field of artificial intelligence towards unprecedented achievements and application in several fields. Such prominent results were made in parallel with the first successful demonstrations of fault tolerant hardware for quantum information processing. To which extent deep learning can take advantage of the existence of a hardware based on qubits behaving as a universal quantum computer is an open question under investigation. Here I review the convergence between the two fields towards implementation of advanced quantum algorithms, including quantum deep learning.


Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are used to enhance the mechanical properties and functionality of wood plastic composite (WPC) targeting applications such as de-icing or anti-icing and fast thermal ...


This paper suggests that rather than criminalising or pathologising truancy as a "deviant" behaviour in need of either treatment or punishment, truancy should be considered as a rational enactment of dissatisfaction with State educational provision. It should be of little surprise that attempts to "solve" the truancy "problem" by recourse to coercion or legal action have proved ineffective. Indeed, such practices may exacerbate rather that ameliorate the truancy and exclusion "problem". While attempts to improve staff–student relations, curriculum relevance and the school environment may prove beneficial in encouraging some absentees to return to school, further attention should be paid to alternative educational provision, and in particular to raising the awareness among staff, students and parents of the legality and potential benefits home education may offer for persistent school refusers.


Summary Heating raw milk at 80 °C for 2·5–20 min was found to result in compositional changes in the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). The yield of protein material increased with the duration of heating, owing to incorporation of skim milk proteins, predominantly β-lactoglobulin, into the membrane. Lipid components of the MFGM were also affected, with losses of triacylglycerols on heating.


We show that spin-S ladders undergo, for antiferromagnetic rung coupling, a series of 4S topological phase transitions when the ratio of the leg to rung coupling changes from strongly antiferromagnetic to strongly ferromagnetic. These phase transitions are characterized by a change of Berry phase on the rungs, and, with appropriate boundary conditions, by the appearance and disappearance of edge states without the bulk gap ever closing. The various phases can be distinguished by the number of valence bond singlets on the rungs, which decreases from 2S for strong rung coupling to 0 for dominant leg coupling. In particular, the isotropic spin-3/2 ladder with equal leg and rung coupling is explicitly shown to be in the valence bond solid phase with one singlet per bond.


Objective: It remains to be clarified whether prolonged Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone agonist (GnRHa) administration before frozen embryo transfer to patients with and without endometrioma resection improves reproductive outcome. This study was designed to investigate freeze-all cycles with subsequent prolonged GnRHa administration in patients with and without endometrioma surgery. Method: A total of 164 patients with complaints of infertility and diagnosed with endometrioma were included in this case controlled study. Endometrioma resection was performed in 65 out of 164 women and then Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) was performed (Group 1). Fresh embryos were transferred to 40 of 65 patients who underwent endometrioma surgery. Embryos were vitrified in 25 patients and administered leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg for 3 months. The remaining 99 patients were referred directly to the COS without any surgery for endometrioma (Group 2). While fresh-ET was applied to 49 of 99 cases, embryos were frozen in the remaining 50 cases. Subsequently they were administered leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg for 3 months. Primary outcome was Clinical Pregnacy Rates (CPR), Ongoing Pregnancy Rates (OPR), and Live Birth Rates (LBR). Results: No significant difference was found between the operated and non- operated groups in terms of CPR, OPR and LBR between patients who received fresh-ET. While there was no significant difference in CPR and OPR in operated and non-operated groups who underwent frozen-ET, LBRs were found to be significantly higher in patients who were not operated (p<0.01). Making fresh-ET or frozen-ET in patients who underwent endometrioma surgery did not significantly affect CPR, OPR and LBR. Making frozen-ET in patients who did not undergo surgery significantly increased both CPR (p <0.02) and OPR (p<0.03). Conclusion: Prolonged use of GnRH agonist treatment before frozen-ET in patients without endometrioma surgery resulted in significantly higher clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates than did patients with endometrioma surgery.


Inactivated oil emulsion Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine was prepared and evaluated at laboratory and put to field tests with success. Oil adjuvant, ISA 70, gave a very satisfactory result causing desirable immunological responses. The oil emulsion vaccine engendered immunological responses both in livevaccine primed birds and unprimed birds. However, immunological responses were noticeably higher in the birds that were first primed with a live vaccine. Birds which were primed with BI vaccine alone demonstrated almost similar reactions as those that were first primed with BI and later with La Sota live vaccine. The vaccinated birds when challenged, by 5.5 intramuscular injection of 10 ELD 50 of a VV NDV strain, showed a very strong resistance.


The oxidation reaction of phenyl hydrazine (Phh) by hexacyanoferrate ([Fe(CN)6]3−) has been studied in water‐in‐oil (w/o) microemulsion media. The kinetic profile of the reaction was investigated as a function of [Phh], droplet size, and droplet concentration. Comparison of the kinetic profiles of the reaction in microemulsion, water‐urea, and water‐AOT‐urea media indicates that the kinetic profile of the reaction in microemulsion shows a behavior similar to that of the reaction in water‐AOT‐urea medium at 4 M urea. An initial increase and then a decrease in kobs is observed with increasing molar ratio, Wo(=[H2O]/[AOT]) at constant [AOT] (=0.4 M), whereas kobs decreases upon increasing the AOT concentration at constant molar ratio.


This paper is a summary of the work done at Rock Island Arsenal on additives for greases. It covers antioxidants, antiwear and extreme pressure agents and rust preventive additives. No attempt is made to list the results of all additives tested. Instead the additives are divided into groups of related compounds and the results of typical, ones given. A general evaluation of each group as a whole is given, Classes of compounds which proved good as antioxidants were metal dithiocarbamates, amino‐phenyl ethers, phenylene‐diamines, methane derivatives and certain hindered phenols and di‐substituted amines. The temperature barrier was the major obstacle for the anti‐oxidants and only 9 of the 100 or so which were effective at 21()°F, were equally effective at 250°F. Sulfur, chlorine, and lead‐containing additives were the best for extreme pressure improvement. Those containing only phosphorous were belter for antiwear. Improvements in both properties could be obtained by mixing the additives. Improvement in either property seemed to depend, more upon the type of compound than upon the responsible element. For example, all sulfur containing compounds were not equal in extreme pressure properties. Some of the antiwear and extreme pressure additives were tested for their ability to reduce fretting corrosion. Results indicate that sulfur containing compounds reduce fretting while, compounds containing only phosphorous increased it. Results are given which indicate that molybdenum disulfide added to greases is detrimental to wear at lower loadings. It does improve the extreme pressure abilities of the grease. Us presence in a grease increases the rusting tendencies of greases unless an antirust agent is also present.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and analyse the recently launched strategic and marketing tourism plan for the Azores and how this is being used to foster tourism development in the region.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on information drawn from official national and regional sources.

Findings

In recent years, the Azores Archipelago has been enjoying a wave of popularity that witnessed a boost with the change in the new air accessibilities policy, culminating with the arrival of the low-cost airlines to the region. The positive isolation that the Azores faced for many years, because of few and expensive air connections, presently allows the offering of an unspoiled region of nine islands to the world tourism markets. To maintain and further expand the benefits of tourism, a tourism strategy, deeply rooted in sustainable principles, was developed and is being implemented.

Originality/value

This paper presents the perspective of the Azorean government and the responses given to the challenges and opportunities derived from a new wave of tourists to the region as a result of changes in the new air accessibilities policy, culminating with the arrival of the low-cost airlines to the Archipelago.


Incorporating the national standards on journal format,this paper discusses the format of the front cover and copyright pages of the journal collections in our library.Based on the detailed analysis of the examples,the lack of standardization of the format of current journal periodicals and its resulting effect on the journal management tasks in routing library works are discussed.The importance of standardization of the format of journals is discussed and highlighted.


ABSTRACT Management of nuisance aquatic plants in New York state is directed toward the exotic species, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton crispus, Trapa natans, and Cabomba caroliniana. Public access to a lake may be the number one factor contributing to invasion by M. spicatum. All types of lakes in the Adirondack Mountain region have been invaded by this species except acid lakes. In shallow, eutrophic lakes the entire littoral zone is often comprised of M. spicatum growing to the surface, whereas populations in more oligotrophic lakes form isolated patches. Native plant species in general appear to be stable, except where exotic species have colonized and are dominating.


This paper summarizes the sort and structure of the intelligent water meter,analyzes it's technology and according to it's current status introduces it's future development direction: economical and practical,double direction and real time,communion data.


Data mining methods are typically employed in predictive analytics to obtain the valuable information and it has great attention in healthcare. Due to the extensive growth in healthcare communities, physicians detect the patients especially in the mode of delivery prediction during pregnancy. The early prediction of the mode of delivery assists to reduce the concern and pressure associated as well as the women in being emotionally and financially prepared. Recently, many methods have been developed to carry out the pregnancy delivery mode prediction but the accuracy of prediction was not improved with lesser time. Feature selection and classification methods are applied for predicting the delivery mode but, most of the delivery was not predicted with minimal time. Motivated by this fact, the novel machine learning technique is designed for analyzing certain risk factors and complications associated with the delivery. Through the risk factor analysis, the delivery prediction is efficiently performed with maximum accuracy and minimum time.


Abstract The cultural value of familismo is regarded as one of the main sources of support and reliance among Latina/o families. However, such familial dynamics can be challenged when involving sexual identities that do not align with familial values or traditional cultural expectations in Latina/o families, such as queerness. Thus, the author proposes the concept of precarious familismo to capture adverse, supportive, and disparate familial dynamics that can occur among Latinas/os when queer identities are involved. In doing so, he accounts for the influence of systems of oppression. To illustrate the functioning of precarious familismo, the author developed a two-part model. Data for this qualitative study stems from the Latino Male Leadership Project, a multisite investigation including men from four colleges and universities across the United States. Implications for research and practice are discussed.


A new test procedure developed by Kentucky Transportation Center investigators for testing highway panel drains is introduced. Because of installation problems and possible siltation problems, the Kentucky Department of Highways, since 1989, has been installing panel drains on the back side of the trench with the more open side of the panel facing a sand backfill. A test procedure was developed to simulate field installation conditions.


New treatments for patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancers are urgently needed due to their resistance to all current therapies. Current studies focus on alternative treatment approaches that target or normalize the abnormal microenvironment of pancreatic tumors, which among others, is responsible for elevated mechanical stress in the tumor interior. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms by which mechanical stress regulates pancreatic cancer metastatic potential remain elusive. Herein, we used a large-scale proteomic assay to profile mechanical stress-induced signaling cascades that drive the motility of pancreatic cancer cells. Proteomic analysis, together with selective protein inhibition and siRNA treatments, revealed that mechanical stress enhances cell migration through activation of the p38 MAPK/HSP27 and JNK/c-Jun signaling axes, and activation of the actin cytoskeleton remodelers: Rac1, cdc42, and Myosin II. Our results highlight targeting aberrant signaling in cancer cells that are adapted to the mechanical tumor microenvironment as a novel approach to effectively limit pancreatic cancer cell migration.


Assimilate import by flower buds in two cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was inhibited by heat stress. With increasing temperature, levels of sucrose in the source organ increased while levels of starch decreased. The transport of radioactive carbon was correlated with the starch content of the flower buds. In Saladette, a heat-tolerant cultivar, conversion of the imported carbon to starch occurred to a greater extent than in Roma VF, a heat-sensitive cultivar. Uptake of sucrose from agar medium by detached flower buds was negatively correlated with their internal ratio of sucrose to hexoses. Glucose uptake from agar medium by detached flower buds decreased with increasing temperatures. Sucrose hydrolysis was negatively affected by high temperatures, and this was more pronounced in the heat-sensitive than in the heat-tolerant cultivar. The effect of heat stress on assimilate translocation from the leaves to the sink organ is discussed.


Despite the relative abundance of rainfall and plentiful surface water resources, recent reports suggest that Malaysia is faced with the prospect of water scarcity.The predicted scarcity is less related to changes in rainfall patterns but in the diminishing availability of water resources and treatment capacity for urban populations, both of which are linked to the inadequacy of the current water management regime.Further to this, growing concerns over dilapidated infrastructure, urban water pollution, institutional weaknesses, and political interference to the implementation of recent water reforms have sought to characterize Malaysia's modern day water industry.One way of addressing the current un sustainability of the water industry is for greater collaboration and partnership between the industry's key players, including developing robust and relevant university-industry collaborative partnerships. To date, there is no evidence of a strategy to coordinate and integrate broad interests of industry and university stakeholders; instead, research tends to be done in an ad hoc manner, focused on specific technical issues without addressing some of the more fundamental and complex industry challenges.With this in mind, this paper aims to present the findings of a recent research project aimed at developing an interdisciplinary research framework for university-industry collaboration in the Malaysian water industry.


A New Centre for Food Research was created in September 1993 at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh. Its main purpose is to promote research into food choice, particularly factors influencing choice such as sensory, socio‐cultural and nutritional aspects. Research undertaken involves a multi‐disciplinary approach by bringing together expertise from various disciplines including consumer sciences, dietetics and nutrition, food science, social sciences and hospitality studies. A one‐day symposium "Food research in Europe" was held in 1994 to mark the Centre′s official launch. The symposium was well attended, with delegates representing a wide range of organizations in the UK and other EU countries. Presentations were given by eminent speakers and researchers – Dr David Lindsay, MAFF; Dr Ronan Gormley, The National Food Centre in Dublin; Dr David Kilcast, Leatherhead Food Research Association; Dr Wendy Brown and Dr Richard Shepherd, both from the Institute of Food Research, Reading. The centre′s major research...


Chapter 2 looks at how individual, group, and collective memory construction occurs in societies; how memories are blended into a form of story-telling that seeks to overturn the hegemonic account of history on which states are built and which is propagated through media outlets over generations. A constant process of reshaping and retelling the insurgent story challenges state control of history. Insurgents seeks to control the past, to take ownership of the present, in order to legitimize their right to the future. Propaganda of the Deed's violent and heroic acts that travel as electronic images through global networks resonate with the constructed past––a past structured around moments of suffering, grievance, and atrocity.


As competition in the industries relying on software increases, software product quality has become a prominent factor in the competition since quality issues within software-applications have a drastic effect on the organizations' reputation, and their customers experience. It has become more important to define and follow software quality metrics in order to determine the current situation in terms of quality of the developed software applications and to ensure continuous improvement. Within the scope of this paper, software products belonging to a technology company were ranked in terms of quality based on the scores assigned to software development metrics. The metric values were evaluated by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and that result was used by PROMETHEE method for ranking the software products. This software quality measurement model can help people to produce their institutional standards over international standards by considering the best practices generated over the time.


Communication technology, advanced by Tingye Li and other pioneers, has not only improved interaction among people, but also enabled new forms of entertainment, especially for the youth. Technology has enriched people's life in many ways.


Simple Summary This systemic review and meta-analysis compared and analyzed the safety and effectiveness of transoral robotic thyroidectomy on the thyroid tumor with other thyroid approaches. Transoral robotic thyroidectomy showed similar results to other robotic-assisted thyroid surgeries. Compared to a conventional open thyroidectomy, transoral robotic thyroidectomy had longer operational times and hospitalization days, and worse postoperative pain, but a higher cosmetic satiation score. However, more randomized controlled studies need to be included and analyzed. Abstract Background: To assess the safety and effectiveness of transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) in thyroid tumor. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar up to June 2022. Studies comparing outcomes and complications between TORT and control groups (robotic bilateral axillo-breast, trans-axillary, postauricular approach, conventional open thyroidectomy (OT), and transoral endoscopic approach) were analyzed. Results: Ten studies of 1420 individuals. The operative time (SMD 1.15, 95%CI [0.48; 1.89]) was significantly longer and the number of retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) (SMD −0.27, 95%CI [−0.39; −0.16]) was fewer in TORT than in the control group. The postoperative cosmetic satisfaction score (SMD 0.60, 95%CI [0.28; 0.92]) was statistically higher in TORT than in the control group. In subgroup analysis, there was no significant difference between robotic surgeries. However, TORT had significantly longer operative times (SMD 2.08, 95%CI [0.95; 3.20]) and fewer retrieved LNs (SMD −0.32, 95%CI [−0.46; −0.17]) than OT. TORT satisfied significantly more patients in cosmetic view. However, it increased hospitalization days and postoperative pain on the operation day and first day compared to OT. Conclusions: TORT is not inferior to other robotic-assisted approaches. Its operation time and hospitalization days are longer and postoperative pain is greater than OT, although its cosmetic satisfaction is high.


An embodiment of the invention provides an optical fingerprint detection device and display equipment. The optical fingerprint detection device includes a light source, a touch panel and a detection device. The touch panel has a first surface and at least one second surface adjacent to the first surface, the first surface is provided with at least one touch area, the second surface is used for receiving a light beam emitted from a light source and forms an included angle of smaller than 90 degrees with the first surface, so as to guide the light beam which enters the touch panel through the second surface towards the touch area of the first surface, and the touch area is such arranged that when the touch area is not touched by a finger or a toe, one side of the light beam, which is towards the touch panel and opposite to the first surface, is totally reflected; and the detection device is located outside one side of the touch panel which is opposite to the first surface, and is used for receiving the light beam reflected by the touch area and emitted from the touch panel and detecting intensity distribution of the received light beam.


The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT) is a quality‐of‐life (QOL) questionnaire that proved to correlate with St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Correlations between CAT scores and other COPD parameters have not been thoroughly evaluated in Japanese outpatients.


Nowadays, the usage of batik clothes increased would make batik wastewater more desecrate the rivers in Indonesia. Batik wastewater contained much of chemical substances, so that very dangerous. One of environmentally alternatives energy that could solve this problem was Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) which utilizes organic matter as an energy source of microbes in carrying out its metabolic activities to produce electricity. MFC system with microalgae named Microalgae Microbial Fuel Cell (MMFC). In this study, it would investigate the electrical energy produced by MMFC using Chlorella pyrenoidosa as catholyte and batik wastewater as anolyte. This study aims to evaluate performance of MMFC based on the influence of yeast variations (2 gr/L and 8 gr/L), concentration of wastewater (100%v and 50%v), and number of graphite electrode (1:1 and 2:2). The methods started from culturing microalgae. Then, MMFC simulation operated for 7 days. Every 24 hours, voltage and current were measured to be processed into polarization curve. The value of absorbance and COD level of wastewater too. The results of this study showed that 100%v batik wastewater, 2:2 bars graphite electrode, and 8 gr/L yeast addition was the best results in MMFC simulation.


A micro-optical element that is a combination of a phase diffraction grating and a convex lens will disperse and focus light of different wavelengths that fall on it. Such a device can be fabricated using binary optics technology to create a multilevel structure that approximates the element. The performance of this multilevel dispersive microlens depends on design parameters such as the grating period and the f-number of the lens. The performance also depends on the resolution used in the fabrication of the element (feature sizes and etching depths). We present a study of how these design parameters and resolution requirements affect performance characteristics of the element, such as diffraction efficiencies, blur spot sizes, and wavelength dispersion.


Trials in young people with diabetes are commonly perceived to be problematic because of participants' rejection of authority and issues with adherence. Attitudes were examined in patients aged 6–17 years (from the UK and Ireland) who had participated in a trial comparing insulin detemir (Levemir, Novo Nordisk, Denmark) with NPH in a multi-injection therapy for type 1 diabetes. Most patients needed to increase injection frequency (by at least one per day — usually at lunchtime, often at school), clinic attendance and glucose monitoring, and make multiple diary entries. A bespoke, 23-item, child-friendly questionnaire, which gave patients the option to remain anonymous to encourage honesty, was distributed to 44 patients. Of these, 36 completed the questionnaire: 58% aged 12–14, 25% aged 15–17, and 17% aged 6–11 years. The most popular reasons for trial entry were desire to improve glycaemic control (30%), 'interesting prospect' (21%) and a desire to help others (19%). Only 9% entered because of parental persuasion; 86% scored increased injection frequency and frequent visits positively, and 81% reported that they would participate in another trial if asked. Notwithstanding the possible self-selecting nature of this small cohort, experience of trial involvement was positive, implying that patients of all ages can be motivated to participate in trials to learn and help others, and they appreciate the inclusion of new technology, information supplied and additional support given by site staff. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


944 President Ewing, members of the Society, and guests: It is indeed a special honor for me to accept the Mineralogical Society of America's Distinguished Public Service Medal. I must say, this award came as a complete surprise. When Kase Klein called earlier this summer to tell me I had been selected by the MSA to receive this medal, I was convinced that he had called the wrong David Hill—after all, I'm a seismologist and not a member of the Society. I have since learned of the distinguished list of past medal recipients and that the scope of this medal encompasses contributions in volcanology—a field in which I have become increasingly involved over the past 20 years. The generous tradition of the MSA in considering candidates outside the Society membership adds a special luster to the medal. As far as I am aware, this enlightened attitude of the MSA is unique among earth science professional societies. I've earned my volcanologist credentials through my role as Scientist-in-Charge of the Long Valley Observatory and the USGS efforts to monitor unrest in the Long Valley CalderaMono Craters volcanic field in eastern California. I agreed to take on this responsibility in early 1982 as a means of restoring both my sanity and ability to do science after having spent five years in an administrative role as Chief of the Seismology Branch in Menlo Park. In hindsight, this turns out to have been a most rewarding decision, not only affording opportunities for fascinating science but also the challenges and satisfaction of relating the significance of science to the public. Many of you are aware of the volcanic unrest in Long Valley caldera (LVC) that began on 25 May 1980 (a week after the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens) with a sequence of three M6 earthquakes followed two days later by a four M6 event. Our problems didn't really begin, however, until May of 1982 when the USGS released a "Notice of Potential Volcanic Hazards" for the area of eastern California that includes LVC and the resort community of Mammoth Lakes. Details of how this release came about is a story in itself; the immediate impact, however, was the reaction of outrage, anger, and disbelief by the residents of Mono County and Mammoth Lakes— a reaction characterized by "…what volcano? I've lived here for five years. You cone-head scientists are nuts." The anxiety underlying this reaction was certainly underscored by the fresh images of Mount St. Helens. This communal antagonism toward geologists (and USGS geologists in particular) was expressed by, among other things, "geologists not welcome" signs in motels and restaurants and, in one case, an apparent death threat to my colleague Dan Miller. As with many things, however, time is an ally. With time, residents became more aware of the active geologic setting in which they lived and, on our side, scientists became better at explaining the nature and implications of the unrest in terms understandable to the public. In addition, continued unrest in the form of recurring earthquake swarms and the onset of tree-killing CO2 emissions in 1990 emphasized that natural hazards in this part of eastern California are of a different stripe than those in non-volcanic regions. The "geologists not welcome" signs have long since disappeared from the restaurant windows in Mammoth Lakes, and when asked, most residents express their appreciation that the USGS is monitoring the situation, perhaps with too much con


This paper aims to identify the most important social media purposes of usage by responding women's attitudes according to age and the economic stage of development of their respective country. Research was done through an online survey in 2017–2018 followed by an analyses of the results from eight countries: four countries that represent an emerging economy and four developed economies. Participants responded to questions concerning social technologies and their purposes of usage as well as resulting job opportunities. The conducted analysis of regarding Facebook as a platform resulted in the highest number of responses in the survey. In this paper, detailed results are presented including a comparative analysis between two groups of economies. Findings reveal that in both groups, the usage of Facebook in business is related mostly to a positive experience. The result showed that among women in emerging economies, social media were used more broadly, and from an age perspective, the results show that marketing is a key benefit emphasized among older respondents. The communication benefit of Facebook usage in business was noticed as a key factor by respondents in groups from both developed and emerging economies.


The invention relates to a separation method for glycol, propylene glycol and butylene glycol and mainly aims to solve the problem of high energy consumption in separation of glycol, propylene glycol and butylene glycol by using azeotropic rectification in the prior art. The invention comprises the following sequential steps that: a raw material containing glycol, propylene glycol and butylene glycol and an extractant enter into an extraction tower (1) respectively from the top and the bottom of the extraction tower, an extractant material flow I containing butylene glycol is obtained at tower top, and glycol material flow II containing propylene glycol is obtained at tower bottom; the material flow I enters into the central part of an extractant recovery tower (2), the recovered extractant is obtained at tower top, and an extractant solution containing butylene glycol is obtained at tower bottom; the material flow I enters into the central part of a glycol treating tower (3), a solution containing propylene glycol and the extractant is obtained at tower top, and the product of glycol is obtained at tower bottom. The method provided in the invention enables the above-mentioned problem to be well overcome and can be used in industrial production for separation of glycol, propylene glycol and butylene glycol.


We discuss the two-capacitor problem found in many introductory physics texts in which there appears to be missing energy in an ideal, zero-resistance circuit, following the sudden charging of one capacitor from another. The paradox of this missing energy is traditionally ascribed to finite-resistance wires, the initial assumption of an ideal circuit and the rapid nature of the charging notwithstanding. By treating radiative effects in the simplest approximation, we show that the paradox is really nothing more than an inappropriately applied lumped-parameter model. In particular, we show that in the zero-resistance circuit, radiation fully accounts for all of the energy lost. To explore radiative effects in more realistic circuits, we also discuss numerical examples that include a small resistance and inductance.


The leapfrog development of space power supply products brings new challenges to reliability engineering. Space power controllers have long life and high reliability requirements due to its complex and precise composition, long mission time, high mission success rate and difficult to maintain during orbit operation. Once failure occurs, it will directly affect the completion of the mission. The service life of space power controllers is an important technical index. Generally, the service life of space power controllers need to meet about 20 years. The traditional life evaluation methods are far from meeting the verification requirements of long life index. In order to effectively evaluate the life of the power controller and provide support for the long time in-orbit operation of the spacecraft power subsystem, a long-life design method is proposed in this paper. Firstly, based on the theory of stress cumulative damage model, a method to quickly evaluate the reliability and life level of the current product is obtained. Secondly, according to the structural characteristics, historical fault information, service environment and maintenance mode of charge and discharge regulators, the main fault modes and the most critical excitation environment factors affecting the life of charge and discharge regulators are obtained. Finally, the controller is tested by this design method. The experiments results verify the prototype design is rational and feasible.


Based on the design principle of energy storage used in hydraulic, the simulative actuation test method for pyrotechnic actuated device under the deep water was proposed. The test instrument was carried out by calculating the parameters of instrument, and verification test has been done, result showed that the pyrotechnic actuated device can meet the requirement. The method can be reference for the instrument design which simulate deep water environment.


1. The effects of Coccinia indica, an indigenous plant used in Ayurvedic medicine in India, on aortic collagen content and its characteristics were assessed in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats.


In this paper,it is shown that: ① Ring R is a quasi-normal ring if and only if for all e∈E(R), eR(1-e)Re=0;② Let R be a quasi-normal ring with a ring endomorphism σ such thatσ(e)=e for all e∈R.Then R/(x2) is a quasi-normal ring.Some related results are also given.


Vineyards in western and center regions of Algeria were surveyed for the Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2). Analyses by DAS-ELISA and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) reveal 15, 8% prevalence. The genetic diversity of the GLRaV-2 population was studied by phylogenetic analyses of the HSP70h gene region of seven samples sequenced in this study and other sequences downloaded from GenBank. Results reveal segregation of the GLRav-2 population into six distinct groups. An estimation of the ratio of non-synonymous substitutions per non-synonymous site to synonymous substitutions per synonymous site indicated that HSP70h gene evolve under positive selection. Similarity plot constructed with representative sequence from each group confirmed previous results.  All Algerian isolates belong to group PN. As far as we know, this is the first characterization of GLRaV-2 isolates from Algeria.


Outermembraneproteins ofnontypeable (NT)Haemophilus influenzae areamongthemajorcandidates for inclusion invaccines against these organisms. Thisarticle reports thepurification ofthee(P4)lipoprotein of H.influenzae andthesubsequent production ofantiserum directed against this protein. Theanti-e polyclonal serumcross-reacted witheprotein inmultiple clinical NTH.influenzae isolates. Monoclonal antibody analysis ofeprotein showed atleast onesurface-exposed epitope tobeconserved amongNTH.influenzae strains. Anti-e serumalso hadbactericidal activity against multiple clinical isolates ofNTH.influenzae. Theseresults arein contrast toprevious reports intheliterature that purified P4protein didnotelicit biologically active antibodies. Anti-e antibodies exhibited synergistic bactericidal activity directed against NTH.influenzae whenmixedwith antibodies directed against another Haemophilus lipoprotein, PCP.Thisbactericidal synergy wasobserved against avariety ofNT clinical isolates. We alsoreport thecloning oftheHaemophilus elipoprotein, orhel, geneencoding theeprotein anditsexpression andprocessing inEscherichia coli. Thenucleotide sequence of thegeneanddeduced aminoacidsequence oftheprotein aregiven. Theseresults demonstrate thateprotein isaviable candidate tobeacomponent ofavaccine against NTH.influenzae.


Analysis has been conducted on the basis of the registry of children of the towns of Ozyorsk and Snezhinsk. The differences between these towns are associated with different distances from the PA "Mayak" and, correspondingly, different doses of radiation exposure resulting from living in the vicinity of the operating nuclear complex. Infant mortality and childhood mortality between 1 and 15 years of age were studied in the cohort of children born in 1974-1988. The average value of effective dose due to the Mayak operations was 2.2 mSv (the range 0.05-3.4 mSv) in Ozyorsk and 1.3 mSv (0.07-2.0) in Snezhinsk. No significant differences were observed in the infant mortality and mortality from all causes at the age 1-15 years between Ozyorsk and Snezhinsk. The pattern of mortality was similar in the two towns. Endogenous causes (specific states of the perinatal period and congenital malformations) were the most common causes of infant mortality in both towns. The three most important causes of death between 1 and 15 years of age were traumas and poisonings, neoplasms and respiratory diseases. Cancer mortality in the cohort of children who attained 15 years of age is 9.6 (in Ozyorsk) and 4.9 (in Sne-zhinsk) deaths per 105 person-years, leukemia mortality 3.7 and 2.4 deaths per 105 person-years, respectively. No differences were observed between the mortality in the subcohort of children of the Mayak workers and in the control subcohort. A number of uncertainties and plans for future research are discussed.


The purpose of this paper is to present the essence of action research in foreign language teaching in simple terms and to link it with the strive for personal professional development and the need to improve our own teaching practice and our students' learning. Producing a worthwhile practice-related study on the job and implementing its findings back into practice need not be considered off realm by any motivated teacher committed to quality in their professional performance. The paper also offers the readers hands-on experience of some practical activities that will empower them to become reflective practitioners, critically exploring their professional contexts and harnessing research into their service in order to "customise" their own classrooms.


The increasing complexity of weapon systems requires an interdisciplinary approach to the conduct of weapon reviews. Developers need to be aware of international humanitarian law principles that apply to the employment of weapons. Lawyers need to be aware of how a weapon will be operationally employed and use this knowledge * This paper was written in a personal capacity and does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Department of Defence or the Australian Defence Force. Thank you to many friends and colleagues who generously provided comments on the draft. Volume 94 Number 886 Summer 2012 doi:10.1017/S1816383112000707 483 to help formulate meaningful operational guidelines in light of any technological issues identified in relation to international humanitarian law. As the details of a weapon's capability are often highly classified and compartmentalized, lawyers, engineers, and operators need to work cooperatively and imaginatively to overcome security classification and compartmental access limitations.


A high‐gain wideband low‐profile microstrip patch antenna array is designed and tested. A method for enhancing the impedance bandwidth through the combination of a driven rectangular patch with parasitic elements is proposed. The array, which has 16 elements in a 4 × 4 arrangement, is pasted on a 2‐mm dielectric substrate. The impedance bandwidth and the gain of the array is 12% (for SWR ≤ 2) centered at 4.5 GHz and 20 dBi, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 729–730, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21458


High-performance anode materials in lithium ion batteries greatly rely on the elaborate control of their size, shape, structure and surface. However, it is difficult to assemble all of the controls within one particle, due to difficulties in their synthesis. Here, hierarchical carbon-coated α-Fe2O3 nanotubes are prepared by a facile hydrothermal reaction between branched MnO2/Fe2O3 nanorods and glucose. The resulting nanotubes realize all these controls in one particle in terms of their nanoscale size, one-dimensional shape, hollow structure, hierarchical surface and carbon coating. Meanwhile, the thickness of the carbon layer could be easily controlled by the ratio between the different reactants. Electrochemical measurements show that the core–shell nanotubes with the thinnest carbon layer give the best cycling and rate performances. They deliver a specific capacity of 1173 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g−1, or 1012 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles at 1 A g−1. Even after 1000 cycles at a current density of 4 A g−1, the specific capacity could be still kept at 482 mA h g−1. The excellent lithium-storage performance could be attributed to the well-designed controls in this nanocomposite and a thin carbon layer, which increases the electron conductivity of the electrode and simultaneously keeps the carbon content lower.


Inthis paper, wepresent amulti-channel acoustic echocanceller thatisintegrated intothetransfer-functio n generalized sidelobe canceller (TF-GSC). Theproposed scheme consists ofaprimary TF-GSC,fordealing withthenoise interferences, andasecondary modified TF-GSC, fordealing withtheechocancellation. Thesecondary TF-GSCincludes anechocanceller embedded within areplica oftheprimary TF-GSCcomponents. Experimental results demonstrate improved performance compared tocascade schemes ofacoustic echocancellation andadaptive beamforming. IndexTerms-Echosuppression, array signal processing, adaptive signal processing, acoustic noise


In combination witn the practice of construction and rebuilding work of the dispatching automation of power system by Lenfen Power Suppy Company,this article makes theoretic analysis and offers solutions in the view of the problem resulting from the process of the dispatching automation work,which have reference value for the operation of power production.


This book takes one of the largest and high-profile social movements to arise this decade, that of Make Poverty History (MPH), and dissects its communications and media strategies across its lifespan. The book is split into three distinct parts that detail the history, the creation of the MPH brand, its messages and communications, and the audience reception of MPH's campaign. It provides an invaluable view of the construction of social movement communications, and illuminates the audience interpretation of these messages, providing an effective contribution to a relatively underdeveloped area of social movement study. The research that Sireau undertakes in the book comes from the privileged perspective as a member of a charity in the MPH coalition. This allowed an unenviable amount of access to the inner workings and senior operatives within the MPH congregation. The campaign is deconstructed using a wide range of different theoretical viewpoints and methods; from a marketing-based orientation centred on brand theory, to the social movement theory of collective action framing which is used to analyse MPH's messages. By addressing more than just the media reflections on the campaign Sireau provides a valuable insight into the inner workings and tensions that form, steer and drive a campaign into the media glare. After ''setting the scene'' with a detailed history of MPH in the first section of the book, the second part expands on the creation of the campaign's brand and messages. Sireau explores this through the innovative use of brand theory, where the construction of the MPH name creates a simple framework for people to attach values and meaning to. This presents a different way of thinking about social movements, these brand terms provide a view of social movement existence as more than just a social occurrence. It takes it into a more product-orientated standpoint, which is a perspective that resonates more succinctly with consumerist capitalist society in which a protest lifestyle can become a protest brand. With the coalition containing both insider and outsider NGOs, that is those with a closeness to government and those that take a more adversarial approach to government. Sireau identifies the major conflicts that occurred between ''marketers'' and ''campaigners''. The wider implications these ''inner tensions'' have on campaigns is it dictates the nature of the communications utilised. This reveals a world that often remains hidden in social movement research. Part three of the book examines the consumption of social movement messages. Sireau's use of focus groups of varying levels of political interest unveils the prevalence of collective beliefs in audiences, in MPH's case, poverty. What is uncovered here is the power of the media, and the extent to which it shapes people's opinions. What Sireau shows is that, even with all the marketing and campaigning know-how available, control over the message is often dictated to by external factors. These included media representations,


In this work, Kay Mussell and Johanna Tunon collect essays by contemporary North American romance authors who have come to prominence, directly or indirectly, as a result of the huge change in the field of romance writing which started in the early 1980s. New publishing houses began to compete with Harlequin, and the North American romance novel came into its own as a genre. In their essays on their own work, each of the writers in this volume describes her own "take" on the romance novel today and how she has adapted the form to accommodate her own voice and concerns. Collectively, these writers have used the romance genre to address a broad range of social issues and problems. Presenting these essays together provides a window into the creativity and originality of some of the best writers in the field.


The development and efficient production of effective bioplastics is a hot topic, required to face up to the issue of the difficult disposal of plastics derived from oil. Among the different natural sources of bioplastics, starch is one of the most promising. However, for most applications, the proper mastering of the surface properties of bioplastic is necessary. We report about the surface modification of extruded corn starch films by means of cold plasma based on helium (He) and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The differently treated surfaces were functionally characterized in wettability and water absorption. The nanoscale morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The obtained images were analyzed by advanced figures describing both texture and amplitude parameters, including fractal behavior. The combined treatment (He/HMDSO) resulted in more homogeneous films with smaller, better-distributed grains compared to the case wherein He was not used. Despite the different morphologies observed, starch coated by HMDSO alone and by He/HMDSO presented similar hydrophobic character, with contact angles higher than 110°. Plasma treatment with HMDSO and He/HMDSO resulted in a significant reduction of absorbed water content without reduction of water vapor permeability. The nanotexture of the films did not present statistically significant differences, in terms of spatial complexities, dominant spatial frequencies, homogeneous void distribution, and surface percolation.


Patients with difficult-to-treat severe asthma represent an asthma category in which poor response to treatment reflects the presence of factors other than asthma alone (1). An important factor to address in such cases includes poor adherence to medication. Nonadherence is a major reason for poor asthma control, asthma-related emergency visits and hospitalizations, persistent eosinophilic inflammation, and increased oral steroid use (2, 3). In consequence, guidelines and consensus statements on the diagnosis and assessment of patients with difficult-to-treat asthma unanimously stress the importance of identifying and addressing nonadherence in this population (1, 4). Adequate assessment of adherence allows practitioners to determine whether uncontrolled asthma symptoms are due to the intrinsic disease severity, the inadequacy of treatment, or a failure to follow prescribed recommendations. This is the more important given currently available and other imminent expensive biological therapies (5). It is not unexpected that adherence to inhaled corticosteroids is relatively poor (6), due to absence of perceived immediate relief. Measuring adherence to inhaled corticosteroids, however, is notoriously difficult. Serum levels cannot be measured, and canister weighing and patients' and physicians' reports are unreliable (7). Electronic monitoring giving the time and date of use is a good means of directly assessing medicine taking (8), but monitoring itself can change behavior. More recently, prescription data recorded in administrative health databases have been used to assess patients' adherence to chronic medications. However, satisfactory prescription filling does not mean that the medication is actually taken (6). Thus, at present, there are no reliable tests for assessing this aspect of patient care. In this issue of the Journal, McNicholl and colleagues (pp. 1102– 1108) have developed a clinical test for objective assessment of adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy, using changes in exhaled nitric oxide during a trial of directly observed inhaled steroid treatment in patients attending a Difficult Asthma Clinic (9). The authors studied 213 new referrals and assessed adherence on the basis of prescription-filling records. Subsequently, the authors administered inhaled corticosteroid treatment for 7 days, observed directly by a research fellow at home visits or clinic attendance, and measured the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels before and after the 7 days of treatment. FENO was chosen because it is rapidly responsive to inhaled corticosteroids (10). The authors calculated the change in FENO as a log ratio, and derived the optimum cut point for the ratio as a determinant of adherence/nonadherence. They then validated their findings by applying the optimum FENO cut point to a further 40 patients, out of 229 who were screened. These 40 had an elevated baseline FENO of more than 45 ppb at screening. In these patients, nonadherence was verified using a composite adherence measure including prescription records, adherence interview, blood testing, and inhaler technique. For practical purposes, a shortened 5-day directly observed test was chosen. The results of this study are novel and important. Previous reports have suggested that FENO measurements may be used to confirm nonadherence with inhaled corticosteroid therapy in children (11), but until now there have been no data to validate this claim in adults. The study by McNicholl and colleagues clearly demonstrates that the dynamic effect of inhaled corticosteroids on FENO may be used as an accurate discriminator of nonadherence to inhaled corticosteroids, and therefore addresses a very sizable gap in the evidence base. The strengths of the study include the way patients were recruited, the use of directly observed therapy with inhaled corticosteroids, and the study design combining a proof-of-concept study and a validation cohort. To limit the effect of study recruitment on adherence behavior, participants were informed that the study was examining the effect of inhaled steroids on inflammation without reference to adherence measurement. In the proof-of-concept study, patients received inhaled corticosteroids by directly observed therapy, which is considered the most accurate method to guarantee adherence (12). To validate the test, a "gold standard" composite adherence measure was used in a cohort of patients with difficult-to-treat asthma. Together, these strengths justify the introduction of this test in clinical practice. The question is how practical this test really is for use in dayto-day patient care. A FENO-guided assessment of adherence requires that patients with uncontrolled asthma who exhibit a FENO level of 45 ppb or more have directly observed therapy twice daily for at least 5 consecutive days. In the study setting, a research fellow was assigned to observe treatment administration at home visits or clinic attendance depending on patient preference. In real life, this is difficult to realize, even though it cannot be excluded that a shorter duration (3 d) of a FENO suppression test might be feasible (10). More importantly, the test will also raise questions by the patients. Explaining the reason for the test will obviously violate patients' confidence in their health care professional, which is the least desirable outcome. There are, however, other situations in which the FENO suppression test as described by McNicholl and coworkers might be extremely useful in the management of adults with difficult-totreat asthma, for example, when invasive therapeutic interventions or expensive biologicals are being considered as a Global Initiative for Asthma step-5 add-on treatment (13). In this case, the test should not be applied to assess nonadherence as such, but rather to verify that there is no further room for improvement of asthma symptoms with high doses of correctly inhaled corticosteroids. Accurate indication for most of the novel biologicals requires the demonstration of an inhaled corticosteroid resistant inflammatory process (14), and this could be effectuated by the FENO suppression test. For the practicing physician, nonadherence should always be the prime suspect in causing loss of asthma control in every patient with difficult-to-treat asthma. With or without an accurate measurement of adherence, physicians should address the factors that might lead to nonadherence in their patients at every office visit. These factors may be multifactorial and complex, including fear of drug-related side effects, erroneous health beliefs, psychosocial elements, complexity of the regimen, insufficient knowledge about the disease, or just individual acceptance of suboptimal control. If these issues are being addressed in a concordance discussion in which patients share in making decisions about their treatment, there may be significant alteration in patient behavior with improved adherence and asthma outcome (15).


Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act instituted a nationwide system of tradeable pollution permits for sulfur dioxide emitted by electric power plants. This paper asks: What were the cost savings from using a market-based instrument, rather than a more conventional prescriptive approach? Using an econometric model of the decision whether or not to install a scrubber under different policy regimes, I simulate the decisions that would have been made under prescriptive regulation. I find that under an uniform emissions-rate standard chosen to achieve the same aggregate abatement as actually occurred, the total number of scrubbers would have been about one-third higher than under the baseline cap-and-trade program. The change in the distribution of scrubbers among units is more striking. Under prescriptive regulation, installed scrubbers would have had systematically higher scrubbing costs than they actually did, and would have been installed at plants with significantly higher costs of switching to low-sulfur coal (the principal alternative to scrubbing). At the aggregate level, these effects translate into aggregate costs of compliance that would have been greater than actual costs by an estimated $150 million to $270 million per year. Thus the use of the market-based instrument resulted in cost savings of between 16% and 25%. The results provide a concrete demonstration of the influence of policy design on both unit-level choices of abatement technique and aggregate abatement costs.


Schachter (1971) summarized a series of studies which indicated that normal weight people generally rely on internal physiological cues, such as the subjective feeling of hunger, to control their eating (the internal hypothesis). In contrast, obese people rely on external cues, such as the time of day, to control their food intake (the external hypothesis) . Nisbett (1972) disagreed and proposed an alternative explanation. He suggested that each person has a biologically determined ideal weight or set point for weight. He argued that the critical variable with regard to the external control of eating is not whether one is obese, but rather whether one is below the biologically programmed set point for weight. This study was designed to investigate Nisbett f s hypotheses. Schachter and Gross (1968) noted that the passage of time is an important external cue for eating. They suggested that if time is manipulated, the eating behavior of obese persons should also be manipulated. In contrast, based on Nisbett's (1972) suggestion, this study predicted that if time is manipulated, the eating behavior of all subjects below set point (as defined by their eating and weight history), regardless of their absolute weight, should also be manipulated. VI The present study used six groups of fourteen female subjects each. The groups differed with regard to the subject's present weight and her diet/weight history. Subjects who were on a diet and who also lost weight were assumed to be below set point. The groups were labeled as follows: (1) High Obese at Set Point, (2) High Obese Below Set Point-Diet, (3) Moderately Obese at Set Point, (4) Moderately Obese Below Set Point-Diet, (5) Normal Weight at Set Point, (6) Normal Weight Below Set Point-Diet. For half the subjects, the clock in the experimental room was speeded up to twice its normal rate during the first half hour of the subjects' hour-long participation (the fast clock group); for the other half, the clock was slowed down to half its normal rate (the slow clock group) . After half an hour, participants were given low calorie desserts to taste. According to the clock, the fast clock group was eating at their normal time, the slow clock group at 45 minutes before their normal time. The results did not support Nisbett's hypothesis. Being below set point had no effect on amount eaten. However, it was found that Normal Weight subjects ate significantly more when the clock said it was their dinner time than when it indicated it was before dinner time. The High Obese subjects ate the same amount regardless of the time on the clocks. The results reflect the high probability that Moderately Obese women will eat between meals, even though they can control their food intake at mealtimes. The eating behavior of the High Obese females was not influenced to any great extent by the time, in contrast to VII the Normal Weight females, who showed significant differential sensitivity to the time. This may reflect the likelihood that High Obese ( females respond to a wide range of stimuli with eating. The eating behavior of Normal Weight females is externally controlled, demonstrating that normal food intake can also be controlled by external cues. These results suggest that there are two distinct groups of obese females; the moderately obese and the high obese, who respond quite differently with regard to external cues. Differences between the results of the present study and those of Schachter and Gross (1968) were discussed. It was suggested that these differences were possibly a function of subject gender, the foods used for tasting, or the kind of statistical analysis used. Implications for treatment and future research were discussed. Table of


Objective To study the common reason and therapeutic measure of hypermagnesemia.Methods Make a retrospective analyse to one case with serious septic shock after liver transplantation.Results Elevate vigilance,early diagnosis,prompt treatment can get good result.Conclusion While utilizing the salamarum as to the high-risk groups,it should monitor the level of haemato-magnesium.


I would like to congratulate Dietz and Boyle for raising discussion on discourse measures as an integral component of any core data set designed to capture meaningful outcome following language treatments for aphasia. After all, participating in everyday talk and interactive language activities (i.e., written or spoken discourse) is central to what constitutes communicative function. I would also like to support the notion of collecting comparable discourse data across studies so that evidence for treatments, and hypotheses regarding brain function and communicative function and the links between them, can be based on significant amounts of data rather than being generalised from very small data sets which has been traditional in aphasiology. Dietz and Boyle acknowledge the complexity of the undertaking, and it is from this perspective that I also want to add some caveats to these premises before we move forward into a predetermined set of measurements which will potentially be held as a gold standard for years to come, in a similar way that standardised tests such as the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, Western Aphasia Battery, etc., have been regarded and used for the last 30–40 years. On the one hand, such measurements appear important for comparability purposes, and must meet the criteria of being sufficiently simple to be used across both research and clinical contexts, and having social validity. On the other hand, if the measures are largely pragmatic in nature, i.e., clinically simple, and able to reflect functional change, but are not truly representative of the complexity of a speaker's discourse skills at a more detailed impairment level, they then have the potential to constrain future research exploring our understanding of the phenomenon we are measuring. For example, a speaker may demonstrate discourse features such as strength in macrostructure but poor cohesion, difficulty in producing the orientation section vs. complicating action vs. evaluation of a narrative, inability to use a normal variety of conjunctions which limits the line of arguments – all important elements to be considered in assessment and treatment. Obviously, we can use more "impairment"-based outcome measures as secondary outcome measures, as suggested by Brady et al. (2014), and indeed we are doing this in our current randomised control trial endeavours, but we must also be mindful of the fact that, as Dietz and Boyle cite Duffy (2000) in their introduction, dominant paradigms (including recommended or even compulsory core data sets) do determine the way we think about practice. What is determined as a way of looking at discourse outcomes can have a strong influence on what happens clinically – and what subsequently constitutes "treatment". We already know that


The business of developing new products should be market driven. The market must be identified and the proposed product thoroughly researched. A structured systematic approach to each stage must be taken, from the initial market survey to the final distribution chain. Each stage should be carefully appraised as to if it meets pre-set goals on performance, cost and market acceptability. Manufacturing, finance, advertising and distribution systems must all be in place long before launch date. This business is perhaps the most all-encompassing multi-discipline business of all. Besides the technical and manufacturing aspects, expertise is required in Buying, Selling, Banking, Advertising, Government negotiating, Patent Law, etc. This paper covers many of these aspects.


Let Hn be the maximum possible number of limit cycles of systems ẋ = P(x, y), ẏ = Q(x, y), where P and Q are polynomials of degree at most n. We are concerned with the rate of growth of Hn as n increases: it is known that Hn ≽ kn2 for some constant k. In this paper we show that Hn grows at least as rapidly as n2 log n.


Foucault's analysis of the history of evolutionary thought in Les Mots et les choses introduces monsters as incomplete beings that form important steps on the evolutionary ladder toward the terminal species. Monsters represent attempts by nature to achieve the perfection of the terminal species and are, therefore, significant for naturalists in constructing the details of the natural continuum. Despite their incompleteness, monsters underwrite the natural continuum and evidence the grounding of this continuum in reality. To a great extent, the continuum of nature, proposed by Foucault, resembles a continuum of civilization through which the history of the world and the history of colonization were often seen. The non-European emerged as the monster that showcased the deeper history of the more-perfect European. In the same way that monsters were written into natural history as intermediary and incomplete beings, losing in the process their uniqueness as independent species, the colonized were written into the (new) World History as objects of colonization, modernization, and development and as the living fossils of a bygone European past. This new history was not only created for European consumption but was also an important part of European-style education in the colony shaping colonial and postcolonial identities and perceptions of self and other.

This article uses Foucauldian monsters to understand the making of historical narratives about the precolonial past in nineteenth-century Egypt, where one of the earliest European-style medical schools in Africa and Asia was built in the early nineteenth century. In this school and surrounding emerging educational system, narratives about science, modernity, and religion produced new histories that came to form colonial subjects. Finally, the article asks about a postcolonial/postmonstrous epistemology, what it might look like and whether and how it can emerge from the postcolonial condition.


Abstract James Tunstead Burtchaell had been teaching Rosemary Haughton's 1967 book The Transformation of Man for a number of years when he published Philemon's Problem in 1973. Now, with both authors having reworked their books in the last two years, we are given an opportunity to compare and contrast the development of Burtchaell's and Haughton's thinking on how grace transforms human beings. The present essay sees an intellectual convergence between Haughton and Burtchaell; it sees much to be grateful for in both books by both authors; and it claims that Haughton's new book has developed her thinking on grace's communal character further than Burtchaell's new book has developed his thinking on the same topic.


dominant hermeneutic of "the closet"' (p. 1), Nicholas de Villiers resorts to the concept of 'opacity'. As silence, enigma, or indeterminacy, opacity enables a written or a visual text seemingly to withhold information at the same time as not being committed to the existence or the retrievability of any information supposedly withheld. What de Villiers calls 'strategies of opacity' (p. 3) can, moreover, take many different guises. In the AIDS writings of Hervé Guibert, opacity takes the form of confusions between discourses and identities: are Guibert's texts documents or fictions and is À l'ami qui ne m'a pas sauvé la vie disclosing or re-encrypting details about Foucault? If the former, then the text can be seen as a betrayal rather than as a confession; if the latter, the text is still 'taking part in the ritual of secrecy itself ' (p. 45). In either case, the open secret that is AIDS can be seen as an agent of opacity, challenging forms of expression and representation. In Roland Barthes, different strategies of opacity include his recourse to the fragment that resists 'any larger narrative logic' (p. 69) and to 'the neutral' whose vitality thwarts the masculine/feminine paradigm and 'suggests the possibility of a "suspension" of the arrogant conflicts of meaning' (p. 82). Nowhere, perhaps, is the outplaying of both obligatory confessional speech and closeted silence better achieved than in the 'interviews' accorded by a cryptic, enigmatic Andy Warhol. By being, moreover, similarly absent/present in photographs and by offering infinite duplication and replication in his own art, Warhol continues to thwart truth, authenticity, and transparency. It follows that all the writers/artists surveyed here are fascinating examples of the queering of discourses — of identity, sexuality, and of 'the system known as the "epistemology of the closet"' (p. 163). For the seeming coyness of Barthes, Foucault, Guibert, and Warhol about their own 'homosexuality' is, for de Villiers, not collusive with heteronormativity but provocatively and persistently queer. Given the pertinence of this study, it is hoped that de Villiers will now write a further, less obviously canonical, 'queer opacity' volume on female and/or transgender figures and that his publishers will permit him to include an index and a bibliography in addition to rich and substantial endnotes.


The incorporation of the 1,2,4-oxadiazole entity in the core of a calamitic heterocyclic liquid crystal results in the formation of a bent geometry, known as the " banana structure ". This 135 o bend angle is what many believe to be the reason for the distinct characteristics absolved from incorporation of oxadiazoles in liquid crystals. Researchers found it intriguing to incorporate oxadiazoles into liquid crystals for organic electrodes because of their charge carrier mobility, exceptional chemical and thermal stability, and high fluorescence quantum yields. Thus far, 1,2,4-oxadiazole mesogenic properties have not been extensively studied, which lead to our research group's fascination in synthesizing a family of unique liquid crystals with potential use in optics technology. ! We present the synthesis and mesogenic studies of two novel isomeric libraries of 3-and 5-biphenyl-(1,2,4-Oxadiazole) bent liquid crystals. Variation in the lengths of the two tails results in different mesogenic properties; the short-tailed compounds are non-mesogenic while the medium-tailed members produce nematic phases, and even some medium-tailed compounds show both nematic and smectic A phases. The long-tailed structures produce only smectic phases.A few members have a wide range nematic phase (50 ○ C). To reduce transition temperatures, we decided to introduce fluorine atoms at the biphenyl rings. The known high electron transport property of oxadiazoles give these compounds a potential for possible applications in the fields of optoelectronics and displays.