The term "vasculitis" refers to a group of rare immune‐mediated diseases characterized by the dysregulated immune system attacking blood vessels located in any organ of the body, including the skin, lungs, and kidneys. Vasculitides are classified according to the size of the vessel that is affected. Although this observation is not specific to small‐, medium‐, or large‐vessel vasculitides, patients show a high circulating neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, suggesting the direct or indirect involvement of neutrophils in these diseases. As first responders to infection or inflammation, neutrophils release cytotoxic mediators, including reactive oxygen species, proteases, and neutrophil extracellular traps. If not controlled, this dangerous arsenal can injure the vascular system, which acts as the main transport route for neutrophils, thereby amplifying the initial inflammatory stimulus and the recruitment of immune cells. This review highlights the ability of neutrophils to "set the tone" for immune cells and other cells in the vessel wall. Considering both their long‐established and newly described roles, we extend their functions far beyond their direct host‐damaging potential. We also review the roles of neutrophils in various types of primary vasculitis, including immune complex vasculitis, anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa, Kawasaki disease, giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis, and Behçet's disease.


The natural antioxidants of anise (Pimpinlla anisum L.) and caraway (Carum carvi, L.) were extracted, determined and added to refined sunflower oil at different concentrations to evaluate their effect on the oxidation activity of the oil by Rancimat assay and determination of the peroxide value. Phenols and flavonoids compounds were identified and quantified using HPLC method. The obtained results indicated that total polyphenols were 64.63 mg/100g (as galic acid), total carotenoids were 23.33mg/100g and total tannins were 83.31mg/100g (as tannic acid) in anise ethanolic extract, while, in caraway ethanolic extract the same compounds value were 77.86, 103.42 and 40 mg/100g, respectively. HPLC-analysis of ethanolic extracts of anise and caraway showed presence of a large number of phenols and flavonoids compounds (14 compounds). The possibility of their application as powders and extracts by different concentrations as natural antioxidant in El-mewled El-nabawy sweets (sesames and folia) with sweetener and fortified by full cream milk powder was evaluated for retarding the rancidity of fat/oil in the sweets to recode a large storage time. [Sahar Ahmed Shafik and Afaf Salah Abd El-Mohsen. Occupational health: Health Promotion Program to Improve Health Workers in Tourah Cement Factory] Journal of American Science 2012; 8(4):310-318].(ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 42


ANITATM Mox is a new one-stage deammonification Moving-Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) developed for partial nitrification to nitrite and autotrophic Nremoval from N-rich effluents. This deammonification process offers many advantages such as substancial reduction in aeration requirement and sludge production along with the lack of need for an external carbon source. In this paper, we present the experience and results of the first pilot-scale trial of using ANITA Mox process for sidestream deammonification in Brisbane, Australia.


The invention belongs to the technical field of artificial oxygen input equipment, and relates to a disposable sterile PP (polypropylene) humidification bottle and a manufacturing process thereof. The humidification bottle comprises a bottle body and a bottle cover installed on the upper end of the bottle body, wherein an oxygen input pipe and an oxygen output pipe communicated with an inner cavity of the bottle body are arranged at the upper side of the bottle cover, the oxygen input pipe is extended to the bottom of the bottle body and a gap is formed between the oxygen input pipe and the bottom of the bottle body, both the ends of the oxygen input pipe and the oxygen output pipe at the upper side of the bottle cover are provided with end caps which are easily broken, an air filtering device is arranged at the lower end of the oxygen input pipe, and humidification liquid for humidifying oxygen is filled in the bottle body and accounts for 60-80% of the capacity of the inner cavity of the bottle body. The manufacturing process of the humidification bottle comprises the steps of: producing purified water; manufacturing the bottle cover with the oxygen input pipe and the oxygen output pipe, a bottle body, a sleeve, an air filtering device and a dustproof protective sheath; sterilizing at high temperature; and packaging and warehousing for future use, and the like. The manufacturing process is simple and practical, and the product is low in noise, free from nose irritation, simple, safe and healthful in structure and suitable for the use as a disposable humidification bottle for patient oxygen inhalation.


In this article,authors analyze the requirement and characteristic of information technology in international construction project contract,introduce the range and content of information technology in international construction project contract,and present the key point and developmental direction of information technology in international construction project contract.


The research purpose is the study of the dynamics of hormones concentration, morphological and biochemical blood composition of the lambs of a new West Siberian meat breed during weaning period. The research subjects were the ewe lambs of the West Siberian meat breed born in autumn and spring lambing. Of the obtained offspring 2 groups of 20 animals were formed: Group 1 "Autumn" and Group 2 "Spring". At the age of 4 months, "Autumn" lambs in February, "Spring" lambs in July, the lambs were weaned; the following was studied during the weaning: the hormonal activity of endocrine glands, the biochemical and morphological blood indices before weaning, right after weaning, in a day and in a month after weaning. The researches' materials dealing with the data on the features of hormonal, biochemical and morphological blood indices of West Siberian meat breed lambs under the effect of technological process, the weaning, are presented, for it is an inevitable and important technological factor causing the development of stress response in lamb organism. The research revealed that the lambs of West Siberian meat breed possess a high genetically determined adaptive potential which is able to resist the effect of the factors related to the technological stress. The adaptive abilities of the lambs born in spring and weaned in summer are higher than those of the lambs born in autumn and weaned in winter.


Photoacoustic imaging provides optical contrast with good penetration and high spatial resolution, making it an attractive tool for noninvasive neural applications. We chose a commercial dye (NK2761) commonly used for optical imaging of membrane potential to enhance photoacoustic images of the live lobster nerve cord. The abdominal segment of the nerve cord was excised, stained and positioned in a custom neural recording system, enabling electrical stimulation and recording of compound action potentials. Photoacoustic and pulse echo images were also collected using a commercial ultrasound scanner and a 10-MHz linear probe. A wavelength-tunable pulsed laser source (SureliteTM, 5 ns, ~15 mJ, 30 mJ/cm2) operating at 20 Hz produced photoacoustic waves. Longitudinal photoacoustic scans of a 25-mm segment of the excised nerve cord, including ganglionic and axonal processes, were collected and displayed every 7 seconds. Without the contrast agent, an average of 10 scans produced a peak photoacoustic signal 6 dB over background noise. An additional 29 dB was obtained after the nerve was submerged in the dye for 20 minutes. The gain decreased to 23 dB and 14 dB at 810 nm and 910 nm, respectively - consistent with the dye's optical absorbance measured using a portable spectrometer. The contrast-enhanced photoacoustic signal had a broad spectrum peaking at 4 MHz, and, after high pass filtering, images approached 200-&mgr;m spatial resolution. The hybrid imaging system, which provided several hours of electrical stimulation and recording, represents a robust testbed to develop novel photoacoustic contrast for neural applications.


This article examines patterns of work and retirement in Vietnam based on two recent surveys of the elderly. Vietnam provides a unique context for addressing elderly labor force participation due to its transition from a socialist to a market economy. As expected, elderly persons are less likely to be working to the extent that they are older or sick, although there is little variation by socioeconomic status. There are, however, distinct patterns of work stoppage across employment sectors (agricultural, state, and nonstate), due in part to the nature of work in these sectors. The data permit measurements across time, including job switches from one sector to another, or to retirement. Most notably, the data demonstrate the strong outflow of elderly employees from the state sector. We discuss explanations for these findings, paying particular attention to Vietnam's recent history and social policies designed to facilitate the transition toward a market-based economy.


The propagation of monochromatic electromagnetic waves in stratified periodic structures is studied both theoretically and numerically. The low frequency case is considered. The frequency should be close to the saddle point of the dispersion surface. The effect of directed propagation of waves in such structure is predicted theoretically and is confirmed by numerical simulation.


Laryngeal spindle cell carcinoma (LSpCC) is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Surgery is the reported mainstay of treatment, but previous analyses failed to demonstrate survival outcomes by therapeutic modality. This study aims to carry out the largest population‐based analysis of this histology to determine tumor characteristics, incidence, survival, and prognostic indicators.


Abstract Spiders are generalist predators, abundant in terrestrial ecosystems, and hence good candidates for interspecific competitive constraints. Contrary to these premises, evidence of interspecific competition in web‐weaving spiders is ambiguous, and new experiments on natural communities are interesting. This paper reports on an experiment designed to test competitive effects in a natural community of web‐weaving spiders, accomplished by selective removal of each of the three locally dominant species: Araneus marmoreus, Argiope bruennichi, and Agelena labyrinthi‐ca. No statistically significant difference was found among control plots and the plots where one of the three species had been removed, for any of the variables measured, but the small number of replicates limited statistic power. Considering only effect direction, and not statistical significance, these removal experiments supported competitive effects on community structure, habitat overlap, and spider body size. On the other hand, effects...


The purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize the superabsorbent polyacrylate hydrogel containing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS). In addition, cinnamon oil obtained from the inner bark of several trees was added to give antibiotic and anti-inflammatory effects on the hydrogels. The surface morphologies of the superabsorbent hydrogels were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As the CMCS contents increased in the hydrogel of 0.75 g CMC, the pore size decreased and the pore was uniformly distributed over the whole surface of the hydrogels. Swelling properties of the superabsorbent polyacrylate hydrogel containing CMC and CMCS were investigated at 24 h in distilled water (DW) at room temperature. The polyacrylic acid hydrogel exhibited swelling ability of 131.6 (g/g) at 24 h in DW, whereas as the CMC and CMCS contents were increased in the hydrogels, the swelling ability decreased significantly at the same time. Interestingly, when the amount of CMC and CMCS was 0.75 and 0.1 g, respectively, the higher swelling ability of the hydrogel showed compared with the polyacrylic acid hydrogel. There was no influence of cinnamon on the swelling properties of the hydrogels. In this study, we found that the polyacrylate hydrogels containing CMC, CMCS and cinnamon can show higher swelling ability compared with the polyacrylate hydrogel. Therefore, it can be expected that the more safe and biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogel can be developed by adding biopolymers.


The trend and distribution of a sandstone body in most cases must be estimated from fragmentary data. However, on the north flank of the Pryor uplift south of Billings, Montana, surface exposures permit a rather precise deter mination of the local trend and geographic distribution of the Lower Cretaceous Greybull Sandstone (Figures 1 and 2). The purpose of this investigation is to characterize the Greybull in the study area according to geometry and internal features and to utilize those data in interpretation of depositional environment and determination of trend. Geometric features of significance in study of sandstone units are trend, length, and relative geographic location; width; thickness; and nature of boundaries. Important internal features are the vertical and lateral sequences of sedimentary structures, textural sequences, and certain authigenic or autochthonous constituents. In the study area, which includes most of four town ships (T. 4-5 S., R. 24-25 E.) (Figure 2), the features of


The article presents data on the analysis of U accumulation in recent sediments of lakes in the territory of the Southeast Fennoscandia. The research was carried out in the study area of the Republic of Karelia. It has been established that the content of U in sediments varies from 0.1 to 42.3 mg/kg (median is 0.91 mg/kg). In general, the studied sediments of the region had low concentrations of U in comparison with the average content of this element in the upper part of the Earth's crust. In some areas associated with deposits or ore occurrences of U, an increased content of U in lake sediments was revealed. The highest U accumulation level was found in the lake sediments, which are under the influence of the North Onega ore-geochemical region, where V deposits and ore occurrences that contain U, Fe, Mo and Cu are widespread. In the sediments of some studied lakes, Th anomalies were found, which often accompany U in ore geological formations. The analysis of uranium fractions in the sediments of some lakes in Karelia revealed the key role of the mineral (insoluble) phase in the accumulation of U, up to 64–68% of the total U content. The share of the organic fraction in the accumulation of U in the studied sediments of the lakes is small and ranges from 7 to 15% with respect to the total concentration of the metal.


RESEARCH OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of the paper is to recreate and show the dignity awareness of young people in the aspect of their experiences in various life situations.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS:
The presented research problem concerns the answer to the question of how the respondents understand the personal dignity of a person, how they evaluate outstanding individuals with a high level of acquired dignity. The basis for empirical considerations are the results of qualitative research carried out in 2017-2018 among various categories of young people.
THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION:
Referring to scientific studies, an interdisciplinary reflection was made on the understanding of the concept of dignity and the results were confronted with the opinions of the respondents.
RESEARCH RESULTS:
Qualitative research shows that about 60% of respondents declare positive - sometimes vague - assessments of people with a high sense of self-esteem. Only every tenth respondent expressed negative opinions about such people. Some respondents had difficulty giving closer definitions of what personal dignity is or considered the concept indefinable.
CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMENDATIONS
In a situation where many people lose the proper sense of personal dignity, the postulate of awakening the sense of dignity and respect it becomes a challenge and an educational task for all subjects of interaction in educational and didactic processes.


Let me start this article on the valuation basis of social policy by a negative assertion contradicting the title. To stress the subjectivity of the valuation process, I deliberately use the word 'valuations' and avoid the term 'values' that is so popular in all social science – except in the combination 'value-premises' when certain valuations have been defined and made explicit for use in research.


Submicron dispersions of the plastomer, necessay for cold-temperature impact modofication, were achieved in a series of homopolymer polypropylenes having a wide range of melt-floww rates


In a protected area on the southern coast of South Africa, holts (dens) of the Cape clawless otter were spaced at intervals of 470 m and spraints (faeces) were concentrated in the vicinity of the holts. Population density estimates for separate sections of coast were in close agreement, and the mean estimate for the study area was one otter per 1.9 km of coast. The minimum home range size of an adult female was 14.3 km of coast, a 7.5 km central section constituting her core area. A radio-tracked adult male had a minimum home range size of 19.5 km of coast and a centrally located 12.0 km core area. The known home ranges of four adult males overlapped completely and males were observed foraging together, indicating a clan-type of social organization.


In-flight icing is considered one of the most dangerous weather conditions for pilots. Small amounts of ice on the surface of an aircraft can increase the amount of drag and decrease lift, which can cause hazardous flight conditions. Even though most commercial aircraft are now equipped with antiicing devices, general aviation aircraft are less likely to have icing defense, and aircraft accidents have happened because the pilot chose to stay in icing conditions too long. The pilot must take evasive actions when icing conditions are observed. Icing typically occurs when an aircraft ascends or descends through a layer of clouds or through precipitation that contains supercooled liquid water (SLW). SLW can be suspended in the atmosphere at temperatures below 0°C, until nearby ice crystals remove the liquid water from the air through the process of rapid evaporation and deposition onto the growing ice crystals, or through riming (Rogers and Floyd, 1989). As an airplane flies through areas of SLW, the SLW freezes upon contact with the leading edge of the wing and engine cowlings of the aircraft. Once the pilot has confirmed that icing is occurring, there are a few strategies that may be considered for extracting his or her craft from the hazardous conditions. These include ascending or descending from the cloud layer or simply turning around 180 de-


The study sought to develop a spiritual revival and discipleship program to uplift the spiritual standards of Bamburi Great News Church members. The study adopted a mixed method. Data was collected by means of random sampling. 10 people were interviewed on the topic. Among them were 2 youths, 3 elderly men, and 5 women. Questionnaires were also used to corroborate the findings of the interviews. Several members with email addresses were sent questionnaires, while others were given directly to the respondents on a particular Sabbath. There were 17 electronic respondents and 25 verbal respondents then; the rest were hard copy respondence Totalling 148 people. The result of this program is that it has proved successful and, if implemented, can benefit other churches that would like to grow and revive spiritually. It resulted in reaching out evangelism to neighbours and an increase in membership. They have a strong culture of Bible study, intercessory prayers, intermediation, and fasting. Members have been acquainted with the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and are now well established in the church and its mission. As a result, there is a deeper renewal of commitment to God. Intercessory prayers should be encouraged at all levels of the church's activities. Additionally, Bible study should be encouraged at all program levels in the church. Also, there should be regular seminars held in the church to keep a reminder to believers of their weak points in faith.


The effect of transplanting true potato <Solatium tuberosum) seedlings o f hybrid and open pollinated progenies, either prickcd-out or not at various ages (28. 35 and 42 days after sowing DAS) on plant survival and tuber yield was investigated under field conditions at Kabetc field Station. University of Nairobi, during die short and long rains of 1994/95 cropping seasons. A factorial experiment arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications was used. Data collected included number ol true leaves of seedlings, seedling height and seedling vigour at transplanting, plant surv ival at establishment and at maturity, plant vigour in the field, top fresh and dry weights per hill, unal and marketable tuber yield, mean luber yield per plant and tuber size distribution. The general performance ot seedling age treatment indicated a significant effect during the long rains. The oldest seedlings (42 days) had more plants surviving (80.9 and 72.9% at establishment and maturity, respectively) and more total (18.5 t/ha) and marketable (I5 .b t/ha) tuber yields than the young ones. Pricking out increased plant survival rate at maturity rrom 74.7 to 80.2 % (short rams). 53.8 to 6 3 .1 % (long rains), total tuber yield from 28.2 to 34.4 and 13.2 to 15.7 t/ha (short and long rains, respectively) and marketable tuber yield from 2 5 .1 to 30.6 t/ha during the short rams. Hybrid progeny was significantly superior to open-pollinated progeny in plant survival (66.2%) at maturity during die long rains, total <34.3 and 18.0 t/ha) and marketable (31.2 and 14.5 t/ha) tuber yields in short and long rams, respectively. The interaction between seedling age and pricking-out was not significant for most of variables except lor seedling vigour and height at transplanting. Pricking-out etleci increased with an increase in seedling age for seedling lieight and decreased with an increase in seedling age for seedling v igour.


The title of this new French publication might lead the prospective reader to suppose that it would be little more than a catalogue of the causes of blindness in early childhood; it is, in fact, a comprehensive practical textbook of medical paediatric ophthalmology. Following short introductory sections on genetics and the normal development of vision from early premature birth to the second year of life, there is an excellent chapter describing methods of clinical examination and special diagnostic procedures with an emphasis on the use of electrophysiological methods of investigation, especially in the elucidation of the cause of visual defects in the absence of gross ocular pathology. There are then sections devoted to the description of all those conditions, both hereditary and acquired, which may cause congenital or infantile blindness, and these are accompanied by a bibliography which is both up-to-date and comprehensive. Interspersed among accounts of disorders which have been well documented by other authors, are detailed descriptions of personal cases which do not easily fit into previously recorded categories. There are also several comprehensive tables analysing many series of cases which have been personally observed over years of practice. The very individual style of this book marks it as the work of widely-read authors with great practical personal experience and understanding of this subject. In addition to surgical skills, the practice of paediatric ophthalmology requires some understanding of genetics, a wide knowledge of hereditary and congenital ocular disorders, a familiarity with all the objective methods of clinical examination which are applicable to the small child, and an understanding of the additional information which may be acquired from electro-physiological methods of investigation. This book is an excellent practical guide to all these aspects of the specialty and one must hope that it will not be too long before it can be read in the English language.


The American Academy of Neurology has published a position statement on abuse of neurology patients, calling on neurologists to routinely screen for


The close underdrainage is introduced to solve the problem of setting underdrainage to lower the water table but difficult to set the outlet, where there is no natural water system but there is seepage under the upper terrain below the first shallow aquifer. The main structure, construction techniques, and particularly the calculating method about close underdrainage are presented in this paper. Validation with an example indi?cates that the close underdrainage is an effective measure to solve the drainage problem in low lying flatness zones.


Objective:To understand the situation of gynecological examination and explore influencing factors among women of reproductive age in the past one year in Dongcheng district in Beijing.Methods:There were 600 qualified women in the study,who were face to face interviewed by the trained investigators with the questionnaires.Results:Gynecological examination rate was 70.50 %. The first three healthy questions that women of child-bearing age most cared were gynecopathy (44.00%),overtired (22.17%) and cold (16.33%). The gynecological examination (52.83%) and the safe effective contraceptive method (37.67%) were the most demand two reproductive health service items. Logistic regression analysis showed that the higher the family average monthly income last year was,the higher the rate of gynecological examination would be.Conclusion:The woman of reproductive age have the strong requirements on gynecological examination and the effective contraceptive measures,but the rate of accepting the gynecological examination should be raised. Therefore,we should continue to strengthen the work of contraceptive informed choice,and implement convention gynecological examination.


In United Paperworkers International Union v. Misco, Inc. the Supreme Court reversed a Fifth Circuit decision, which, on public policy grounds, had affirmed the vacating of an arbitrator's award. This paper, prepared against the backdrop of the court of appeal's decision, explores rival conceptions of the scope of the public policy defense. An addendum treats the Supreme Court's decision. The author argues that under the Supreme Court's approach and the wider traditions of contract law, that defense involves a balancing approach-even in the labor-arbitration context. He suggests that the limitist view of that defense, in the just-cause context and elsewhere, would disregard the proper roles ofjudges and arbi trators in balancing societal and contractual concerns. He also points to considerations that would undercut the finality which the limitist approach is designed to promote. The author concludes by suggesting that the limitist position is incompatible with established traditions, recently reaffirmed by the Supreme Court, and that a broader conception of the public policy defense, which applies to contracts in general, also applies to labor arbitration awards.


High costs of fertilizer in western Canada have generated interest in alternative N sources. Legumes produce N through fixation, and may increase soil residual and mineralizable N, thus reducing the need for fertilizer N in subsequent crops. Hybrid canola (Brassica napus L.) has a high N requirement for optimum yield, but knowledge of rotational effects of legumes on canola is limited. The objective was to determine the effects of legume and non-legume preceding crops on yield and quality of canola grown the follow ing year and malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown after canola. Field pea ( Pisum sativum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), canola, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) harvested for grain, and faba bean grown as a green manure were direct-seeded at seven locations in 2009. Canola was seeded in 2010 and barley in 2011, with fertilizer N applied at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha –1 . On average, all legumes, except faba bean for seed, produced higher canola and barley yields than when wheat was the preceding crop. Faba bean green manure produced the highest yields, while canola on canola produced the lowest canola yield. The legumes had little negative effect on canola oil or barley protein concentration. Yields of both crops increased with increasing N rate, but canola oil concentration decreased, and barley protein increased. The results indicate that growing legumes for seed before hybrid canola can improve canola and subsequent barley yield without negatively affecting canola oil or malting barley protein.


In this thesis is studied how to design the minimum order-controller. The order of plant is firts reduced by using the singular perturbation and then the minimum-order controller is deigned for the reduced-order plant.The procedure of the singular perturbation can be expressed as follows : first, the state space of the high-order plant is transformed to the balanced realization. And then, the balanced staet varisbles are devided into the slow and fast modes based on the Hankel singular values. The Small hankel Singular values are as ast mode, otherwise are as the slow mode. The reduced-order plant can be obtained by setting the velocity of the fast mode equal to zeros. furthermore, the necessary conditions for stability of the reduced-order plant and the upper bound of the reduction eror in the H infinite norm are derived. Finally, the necessary of sufficient conditions for the existence of admissible comtroller is discussed. to verify the performence of the minimum-order controller, it is applied to aflexible structure having 30th order. Inthis case, the order of the reduced plants is 11, so the orer controller is 11


The US and Japan have successfully demonstrated one of grid computing's long-standing holy grails - dynamic, on-demand provisioning of bandwidth and interoperability between high-performance resources in two national research testbeds. The automated interoperability between Japan's G-lambda project and the US's Enlightened Computing project was demonstrated 11 September at the annual Global LambdaGrid Workshop (http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/2006/sept/documents/global lowbargrid.pdf) in Tokyo. The demonstration featured some of the most advanced research facilities in both nations, highlighting new middleware capable of reliably coordinating both network and computational resources as well as other protocol and interface technologies. Advances in grid computing technology have tended to focus on large-scale research deployments like this one, but smaller deployments are beginning to get headlines as well. This shift could change the way we view this field-as long as grid architects are willing to expand their vision of a grid beyond raw network speed and CPU aggregation


The dynamic analysis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with chiralities has been performed using an atomistic finite element method. SWCNTs with different chiral angles are considered for the resonant frequency analysis. The cantilever carbon nanotube (CNT) is modelled by considering it as a space frame structure similar to three-dimensional beams and point masses. The beam element elastic properties are calculated by considering the mechanical characteristics of covalent bonds between the carbon atoms in the hexagonal lattice. The mass of each beam element is assumed as a point mass at nodes coinciding with carbon atoms. This atomistic simulation approach is used to visualize the effect of defects such as atomic vacancies in the CNT on the resonant frequency. The variation of the atomic vacancy is performed along the length and the response is obtained for different chiralities. It is observed that there is a reduction in the simulated natural frequency due to the atomic vacancy. This has a significant effect on dynamic behaviour when the defect is nearer to the fixed end. The change in resonant frequency of such a defective CNT is observed when it is used as a mass sensor. The resonant frequency is also evaluated for various chiralities and numbers of defects. The simulation results indicate that the existence of defects mostly affects the resonant frequency (bending rigidity) of the SWCNT as the number of defects increases. It is quite evident from the simulation results that the effect of atomic vacancies is a maximum when they are situated nearest to the fixed end and the effect diminishes at a mass addition of 10 —2 fg.


Due to the widespread usage of the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology, researchers are concentrating more on developing methods to encode and input brain signals from external devices. Therefore, the Brain Co-processor, which integrates encoding and decoding between the brain and external equipment, has become an ideal option. As a result, this paper outlines the use of the Brain Co-processor in both medical and non-medical applications in accordance with the fundamental principle behind them. Based on the characteristics of the Brain Co-processor, this paper applies the results of these studies to applications such as brain recovery and enhancement through the study of the relationship between the brain and external devices, the study of specific areas of the brain, the study of electrical stimulation of the brain and the change of brain signals, and offers potential possibilities in the future. Researchers can provide a broad prospect for the current and potential applications of the Brain Co-processor by dialectically summarizing, comparing, and analogizing the summarized applications in this passage.


Manhattan Transfer, John Dos Passos' first important study of urbanindustrial life, owes much to the machine-oriented aesthetic of Italian futurism and other modernistic movements in the visual arts. Utilizing techniques and modes of perception indigenous to the machine age, Dos Passos' sought to express the spirit, rhythms, and structure of modern reality in such a way as to evoke in the reader a sense of involvement and participation in the problems of contemporary society. In its visual directness and sensory immediacy, Manhattan Transfer suggests the influence of photography and the "lively arts" of film and vaudeville. In its overall pattern of compositional contrasts and oppositions, the novel resembles abstract painting and the montage structure of the motion picture. Basic to Dos Passos' outlook is a synoptic or visual concept of reality as a network of dynamically interacting parts. Only by viewing his world as a "system" in which nothing is fully comprehensible in isolation can man realize himself as a responsible individual and direct the energies of the machine toward socially desirable ends.


A method is described for producing improved mapping of radio sources from Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI) data. The method described is more direct than existing Fourier methods, is often more accurate, and runs at least as fast. The visibility data is modeled here, as in existing methods, as a function of the unknown brightness distribution and the unknown antenna gains and phases. These unknowns are chosen so that the resulting function values are as near as possible to the observed values. If researchers use the radio mapping source deviation to measure the closeness of this fit to the observed values, they are led to the problem of minimizing a certain function of all the unknown parameters. This minimization problem cannot be solved directly, but it can be attacked by iterative methods which we show converge automatically to the minimum with no user intervention. The resulting brightness distribution will furnish the best fit to the data among all brightness distributions of given resolution.


The experiment was made to study the effects of health feed additives on the young meat type pigeons.Four treatment groups and a control group were set for the 120 day long experiment.The four treatment groups were respectively provided 1.5 g(standard group),2 g,2.5 g or 3 g of the qualified health feed additives,which were designed according to the nutrition requirements of the meat type pigeons,per pigeon per day.It was supplied with the feed additives produced by unprofessional farmers(1.5 g/(pigeon·day))in the control group.All young pigeons for the experiment were fed on the basal diet mainly comprised of grain and soybean(ME 3.24 MJ/kg,CP 13%,Ca 0.07%,P 0.28%).After the 120 day long experiment,the increase of the body weight of male pigeon in treatment groups(94.68±74.67 g)is 3.84 times when compared with the increase of the control group(24.68±22.69 g)( P 0.01).The increase of the body weight of female pigeon (74.43±38.85 g)is 4.76 times compared with the increase of that in the control group(15.63±9.10 g)( P 0.01).Comparing to the control group,the age of onset of lay is 5 days earlier,the egg yield increases by 31.75%,the number of pigeons fit for breeding increases by 40% in the experimental young meat type pigeons. The best feeding result is attained through 1.5 g qualified health additives satisfying standard nutrition requirements per day per pigeon. However,when young pigeons are provided more qualified health additives than the standard requirements, the increase of body weight of them decreases significantly( P 0.01)and the number of pigeons fit for breeding is affected,whereas the egg yield is not.A significantly negative effect on the health,on the growth and development,and on the reproduction of the young meat type pigeons is found when they are fed with the additives produced by unprofessional farmers.


We report the repeated observation at molecular resolution of lipid and fatty acid mono‐ and bimolecular layers on graphite in air. The films of di‐myristoyl‐phosphatidic acid and cadmium–arachidate were deposited by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. This confirms the possibility of gaining scanning‐tunneling microscopy (STM) images by electron transfer through layers more than 50 A thick. Sample preparation, STM technique, and results are discussed.


MyGrid is a complete grid solution for running Bag-of-Tasks applications (i.e. parallel applications whose tasks are independent) over whatever resources are available to the user. MyGrid middleware empowers users to interoperate with heterogeneous computational resources across geographic and administrative boundaries. Due to MyGrid's flexible architecture, it is easy to add a new kind of machine in the grid through an abstraction called grid machine. The grid machines implementations currently available in MyGrid are user agent, grid script and globus grid machine. This work shows how MyGrid works and its main concepts. We present a parallel application, MyPhotoGrid, in order to demonstrate a practical use of MyGrid.


Until now little of China's massive literary output of the last thirty years has been available to American readers. This landmark volume presents a generous sampling in translation of the literature written in the PRC from 1949 to the present. Included here are more than 200 selections: poems, stories, essays, a hsiang-sheng (comic dialogue), and excerpts from novels, plays, movie scripts, and an opera. Among the major writers represented are Ting Ling and Hao Jan (fiction); Ai Ch'ing and Feng Ching-yuan (poetry); T'ien Han and Yang Han-sheng (drama); and Teng T'o and Chou Yang (essays). Literature of the People's Republic of China offers a fascinating glimpse into Chinese life and demonstrates the struggle of creative writers to be true both to their art and to their country's revolution.


The invention provides a method for determining antenna use and electronic equipment. The method includes: determining the communication modules, which need to be in a working state, of the electronic equipment on the basis of the acquired control instruction, and if currently only the first communication module is used, controlling the first communication module and a first antenna, a second antenna or a third antenna to form a communication channel; if currently only the second communication module is used, controlling the second communication module and the first antenna to form a fourth communication channel; if currently the first communication module and the second communication module are used, controlling the first communication module and the second antenna or the first antenna to form a communication channel, and controlling the second communication module and the unoccupied first antenna or second antenna to form a communication channel. By the arrangement, the method has advantages that only three antennas needs to be disposed in the electronic equipment to satisfy the communication requirements of the communication modules, the antenna setting space in the electronic equipment is increased, interference among signals of different frequencies is avoided, and electronic equipment performance is increased.


The natural frequencies and modes of a structure can be determined by the modal analysis. In this paper, the CATIA software based on the FSC car frame to carry out a three-dimensional modeling, save as STP format. In the Workbench ANSYS, the modal of the frame is solved by the finite element method, and the first 10 order non zero modes and the natural frequency of the frame are obtained. The natural frequency is calculated when the engine idle speed is 33.3Hz, the normal speed frequency range of 5000-7000r/min is 166.7-233.3Hz, the natural frequency of the finite element method to calculate the first 10 order vibration mode under 100Hz, so the conclusion of this paper is the frame model of the scheme effectively avoids the excitation frequency of the engine and to avoid the risk of resonance.


Nested simulation is a natural approach to tackle nested estimation problems in operations research and financial engineering. The outer-level simulation generates outer scenarios and the inner-level simulations are ran in each outer scenario to estimate the corresponding conditional expectation. The resulting sample of conditional expectations is then used to estimate different risk measures of interest. Despite its flexibility, nested simulation is notorious for its heavy computational burden. We introduce a novel simulation procedure that reuses inner simulation outputs to improve the efficiency and accuracy in solving nested estimation problems. We analyze the convergence rates of the bias, variance, and MSE of the resulting estimator. In addition, central limit theorems and variance estimators are presented, which lead to asymptotically valid confidence intervals for the nested risk measure of interest. We conduct numerical studies on two financial risk measurement problems. Our numerical studies show consistent results with the asymptotic analysis and show that the proposed approach outperforms the standard nested simulation and a state-of-art regression approach for nested estimation problems.


Phosphodiesterases (PDE) are a diverse family of 11 isoenzymes that play a central role in regulating cell function, and sildenafil citrate (SC) is a PDE-5 inhibitor. In a recent study published in BJOG, Maher et al. (BJOG 2019;126:729–35) studied the role of SC in the management of threatened preterm labour, concluding that SC in combination with nifedipine is superior to nifedipine alone in preventing threatened preterm labour. It is important to underline that in the aforementioned study, SC was used in combination with nifedipine and only on a short-term basis. The theoretical benefits of SC have been sought mainly among women with preeclampsia and FGR fetuses, in light of the perceived vasodilatory effect of SC resulting in increased endorgan perfusion. SC is considered by some as a novel therapy for FGR as a meta-analysis has demonstrated its potential to improve fetal growth and maternal blood pressure regulation in FGR fetuses and women with PET (Paauw et al. Hypertension 2017; 70:998–1006). However, serious safety concerns have been raised recently by the STRIDER trial (Sharp et al. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2018;2: 93–102) highlighting that prolonged administration of SC is unadvisable outside a research protocol. The theoretical benefits of SC have been sought mainly among women with pre-eclampsia and FGR fetuses in light of the perceived vasodilatory effect of SC resulting in increased end-organ perfusion. SC is considered by some to be a novel therapy for FGR, as a meta-analysis has demonstrated its potential to improve fetal growth and maternal blood pressure regulation in FGR fetuses and women with PET (Paauw et al. Hypertension. 2017;70:998–1006). The novel report of SC in the management of threatened preterm labour is a point of true interest. Interestingly enough, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), one of the hormones postulated to maintain uterine quiescence throughout pregnancy, was studied for its role in preventing preterm labour and was found to be clinically effective (Than et al. Placenta 2003;24(Suppl A)S60– 4). The effect of hCG on PDE5 expression in human myometrial cells is inhibitory in nature and is dose-dependent. Further indirect evidence that might warrant the further study of SC in the preterm delivery scenario comes from basic research investigating the effects of PDE4 inhibition. PDE4 inhibitors were shown to block the production of myometrial and fetal membrane-derived inflammatory cytokines that might play a vital role in the pathogenesis of preterm delivery. The concurrent myorelaxant and anti-inflammatory capacities of PDE4 inhibitors make this subset of pharmacological agents a particularly attractive study target. In light of the fact that intra-amniotic inflammation is an important risk factor of neurological and respiratory disorders of the preterm infant, an agent that can potentially reduce the degree of inflammation coupled with myorelaxant effects on the uterine tone is of particular interest in the setting of threatened premature delivery. As the armamentarium of tocolytic therapy has not change dramatically in recent decades, this novel finding regarding the role of SC is extremely interesting.


Mesoporous silica films have been synthesized as a single pore layer on silicon, germanium, and indium tin oxide substrates. The film structure consists of a hexagonal array of pores approximately 10nm in diameter, with 3nm wall thickness. The film thickness is controlled through ethanol dilution of the precursor solution, while the film structure is controlled through the acid content and relative humidity of the aging environment. Increasing acidity suppresses the condensation and polymerization kinetics in the film, while the water content of the aging environment increases the fluidity of the film prior to condensation and the curvature of the micelles. Higher acidity and relative humidity result in films that develop the thermodynamically stable phase, as would be predicted by the volume fraction of the block copolymer. Gold was sputter deposited onto mesoporous substrates, resulting in gold islands that are thermally more stable compared with those resulting from deposition on the bare substrate. Th...


In their 2014 article, Mendes, Snow, and Baidawi explored the ethical challenges of conducting research with young people who have been in out-of-home care. The heightened vulnerability of care leavers presents researchers with major ethical complexities, with little research to assist them. These complexities are magnified when care leavers are parents, and responsible for the care and protection of their own very young children. Although we commend Mendes and his colleagues for examining these issues, we are concerned that their paper focuses on why researchers should not report suspicions of child abuse and neglect, or violent crime, yet provides virtually no reasons why they must. Our response to their paper provides the legal, ethical and moral imperatives for researchers to report suspicions of child abuse and neglect.


Objective
To investigate the effects of surgical trauma on Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)expression in the hippocampus of aged mice.

Methods
Ninety male Kunming mice, aged 16-18 months, weighing 30-40 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=30 each)using a random number table: control group(group C), anesthesia group(group A), and partial hepatectomy group(group PH). Normal saline 0.1 ml/10 g was injected intraperitoneally in group C. In group A, fentanyl 0.2 mg/kg and droperidol 5 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally.In group PH, fentanyl 0.2 mg/kg and droperidol 5 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally, and the mice underwent partial hepatectomy.Cognitive function was assessed using Morris water maze test at 1, 3, and 7 days after anesthesia or surgery.After the end of the test, the hippocampus was immediately harvested for determination of the TLR4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)and interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β)protein and mRNA expression by Western blot and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively.

Results
Compared with group C, no significant changes were found in group PH in the escape latency, percentage of swimming distance in the target quadrant, and TLR4, TNF-α and IL-1β protein and mRNA expression at each time point after anesthesia in group A(P>0.05), and the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the percentage of swimming distance in the target quadrant was decreased, and the expression of TLR4, TNF-α and IL-1β protein and mRNA was up-regulated at 1 and 3 days after surgery in group PH(P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with group A, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the percentage of swimming distance in the target quadrant was decreased, and the expression of TLR4, TNF-α and IL-1β protein and mRNA was up-regulated at 1 and 3 days after surgery in group PH(P<0.05 or 0.01).

Conclusion
Surgical trauma can up-regulate the expression of TLR4 in the hippocampus of aged mice, which may be involved in the mechanism of surgical trauma-induced postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Key words:
Surgical procedures, operative; Cognition disorders; Aged; Toll-like receptor 4


Diabetes education has become one of the best examples of how patient counselling can lead to health improvement, both physically and psychologically. A medico-technical approach i s insufficient to obtain better long-term metabolic control. Since hormonal, familial, social and professional factors can affect glycaemic fluctuations, knowledge about physio-pathology, control patterns and therapy adjustments are of a tremendous importance for each diabetic patient1 Since so many different people are involved in diabetes education (medical doctors, diabetes teachin nurses, dietitians and social worker8, the better the education unit is structured, the more effective it is likely to be.


Endoscopic laser therapy has been used in the treatment of vascular lesions throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The "watermelon stomach" is a pattern of vascular ectasia in the gastric antrum that results in chronic gastrointestinal blood loss and iron deficiency anemia.


The paper explores the impact of federalism upon the performance of banking sector in Russia. It considers how the federalist arrangement shapes the behavior of local and regional leaders which in its turn affects the incentives of various types of banks – the small and medium sized local ones, Moscow banks trying to expand into the regions and the state banks. The key claim is that Moscow as the federal centre has a more favorable competition regime, whereas majority of the regional administrations exhibit a paternalist treatment of banks that disrupts the competition. Consequently, Moscow is remarkably overbanked while the regions are largely underbanked. This claim rests on two observations: the Russian governors, despite Moscow's attempt at liberalizing the banking sector, are sticking to the practice of "feudal" banking when most lucrative profit opportunities are available to the selected few. Besides that, the governors and local leaders create administrative barriers for the banks from other regions to penetrate the local market. The conclusion is that owing to the pitfalls of the Russian federalist dynamics, Moscow is incapable of policing the governors' arbitrary behavior towards the banks.


Simple Summary The floodplain ecosystem of the Colombian Orinoquia has a diversity of native grasses; however, there is little information on its agronomic and fermentation characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and fermentation parameters of the grasses Leersia hexandra, Acroceras zizanioides, Hymenachne amplexicaulis, and Urochloa arrecta (Tanner grass, "introduced") as a control group. Green forage samples were taken in a 1 m2 frame at 30, 40 and 50 days of age and biomass production was estimated. The chemical composition was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, and the fermentation parameters by the in vitro gas production technique. Data were analyzed using a mixed model for repeated measures. The nutritional characteristics variations were: dry matter (DM, 0.7–2.0 ton/ha), crude protein (CP, 6.1–12.2%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, 56.6–69.6%), ash (5.8–15.8%) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) between 20.8 and 60.6% from 12 to 48 h of fermentation. L. hexandra and A. zizanioides presented higher biomass, CP, ash, cellulose and Ca production. During the experimental period (30 to 50 days), the grasses did not present significant changes in nutrient availability. L. hexandra increased the concentrations of ammonia and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and butyric acid. This last effect was also observed in the A. zizanioides grass. L. hexandra and A. zizanioides grasses constitute an alternative forage resource for ruminants during the flood seasons of the studied ecosystem. Abstract Grasses from lowland ecosystems in flooded savannahs are useful to feed extensive grazing animals; however, scarce information about its agronomic and fermentation characteristics exists. This study aims to determine the chemical composition and fermentation parameters of native grasses from the floodplain lowlands ecosystem in the Colombian Orinoquia. Three native grasses (Leersia hexandra, Acroceras zizanioides and Hymenachne amplexicaulis) and a "control" grass (introduced Urochloa arrecta—Tanner grass) were sown and sampled at 30, 40 and 50 days of age. On each sampling date, biomass production in a 1 m2 frame was estimated, and the chemical composition and fermentation parameters were analyzed using near-infrared spectroscopy and the in vitro gas production technique, respectively. Data were analyzed using a mixed model for repeated measures and the least significant difference (LSD) was used for mean differentiation (p < 0.05). The grasses' nutritional characteristics varied as follows: dry matter (DM, 0.7–2.0 ton/ha), crude protein (CP, 6.1–12.2%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, 56.6–69.6%), ash (5.8–15.8%) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) between 20.8 and 60.6% from 12 to 48 h of fermentation. Native plants such as L. hexandra and A. zizanioides presented higher biomass production, CP, ash, cellulose, and Ca levels than the control plant. During the experimental period (30 to 50 days), the grasses did not present significant nutrient availability changes. In terms of fermentation characteristics, L. hexandra increased ammonia concentrations and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and butyric acid. This latter effect was also observed in A. zizanioides grass. L. hexandra and A. zizanioides grasses constitute a valuable alternative forage resource during the flooding times of the studied ecosystem.


When our grandchildren and great-grandchildren excoriate those of us still alive in the 2060s for our failure to do enough to stop climate change, more thoughtful political scientist-types writing in Environmental Politics Volume 75 might cite Creating a Climate for Change and Facing Climate Change Together as evidence that some in our generation knew what the problems were, lamented the lack of action, and tried their hardest to do something about them. These books both go beyond traditional academic study and take a normative perspective on the question: What should we do to make progress on dealing with climate change? Many characteristics of climate change make it particularly difficult to deal with, including its global and long-term nature, high uncertainties, multiple actors and only partially-formed remedial institutional mechanisms (Rayner and Okereke 2007). To this list must be added the difficulties in marshalling knowledge about climate change and our responses. There is a large and growing corpus of literature on multiple aspects of climate change, spanning disciplines from atmospheric physics to sociology, and its status as a 'wicked issue' par excellence is only reinforced by the difficulties encountered when trying to combine insights from these myriad knowledge spheres. One of the great problems of climate change is that, in spite of all our knowledge, we still find greenhouse gas concentrations, and global temperatures, rising. Both of the books under review contribute to attempts to synthesise different perspectives, disciplines and research across national borders by trying to make practical suggestions in different ways: the first book essentially by setting out challenges and potential actions; and the second by providing science and policy recommendations. Environmental Politics Vol. 18, No. 4, July 2009, 633–637


The empirical researches on the effect of internal governance on company operating efficiency have been done.The results indicate that the ownership concentration is positively correlated to operating efficiency in Chinese securities companies.The effect of equity restriction ration on companies operating efficiency is not significant;The state-owned nature helps improve the companies operating efficiency;The size of board of directors and proportion of independent directors has significant negative relationship with the operating efficiency;The separation of ownership and control helps improve the operating efficiency;The scale and independence of the supervisor board have slight negative relationship with operating efficiency;And the size of management and the executive compensation are significant positive related to operating efficiency.


In this note we relate the property of a semisimple -adic Galois representation being F-split to its having abelian image.


One of the outstanding features of the work on excretion of bacteria by the kidney is the relationship of the technic employed to the results obtained. The use of the catheter or of methods of securing the urine other than by sterilization of the bladder wall and by direct puncture has given results that are at variance with those in which there was no instrumentation. The work of Rolly, and particularly of Biedl and Kraus, is constantly quoted when the passage of bacteria through the normal kidney is discussed. Their technic is definitely open to criticism, in that both series of experiments were carried on either with the catheter tied into the ureter, or by obtaining the urine by catheter from the bladder. RESULTS The uniformly negative results which we obtained in all of our experiments in contradistinction to those of the before-mentioned observers led us to repeat the experiments


Violence is a characteristic that has somewhat become definitional for the Hindu goddess Kālī. But looking at it through the lens of folk narrative and the popular, devotion-infused and highly personalised opinions of her devotees shows that not only the understanding, but also the acceptance of this violence and the connected anger and bloodthirst that are usually attached to it, as well as the feelings of fear and danger that arise from them on the devotees' end, are subjects open to discussion. This article, at the juncture between anthropology, performance, and Hindu studies, analyses and compares discourses about her Malayali counterpart, Bhadrakāḷi, drawing simultaneously on various versions of her founding myth of Dārikavadham ('The Slaying of Dārikan'), ritual routines of her temples in Central Kerala as well as ritual performing arts that are conducted in some of them. The concluding discussion of her alleged thirst for blood and identification of the 'real' addressee of blood offerings made to her particularly illustrates how far the negotiation of Bhadrakāḷi's use of violence and her very definition as violent goddess reaches deep into the worshipper/deity relationship that lies at the heart of popular worship.


Many articles have described the computed tomographic (CT) diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibrosis and its similarities to lymphoma and other retroperitoneal processes. The author reports a patient with classic uroradiographic findings of retroperitoneal fibrosis and CT findings consistent with extensive periaortic masses. A gallium-67 (/sup 67/Ga) citrate scan, performed to exclude lymphoma, demonstrated intense periaortic activity. Specimens obtained during laparotomy, however, showed typical pathologic findings of retroperitoneal fibrosis without evidence of lymphoma or other malignancies.


A comparison is made between optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques on germanium surfaces that have been etched in several common chemical etchants. The morphology of the etch pits due to dislocations and different types of surface preparation are discussed. The high resolution and depth of field of the scanning electron microscope allowed resolution of the fine structure of the etch figures. Due to the manner in which the image is formed on the scanning electron microscope, the limit of resolution is much higher and light interference encountered using standard metallurgical microscopes is eliminated.


Regioregular yet near-amorphous indacenodithiophene-based polymers exhibit superior deformability as well as high mobility values up to 1.67 cm2 V−1 s−1.


The case focuses on Australian Red Cross, part of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. In particular it explores challenges experienced by its Indigenous training and employment program, and considers opportunities for this program to adopt a social enterprise (commercial) business model as a pathway to financial security and sustainability.


The FPGA concentrates the buffer FIFO,the timing circuit,the control circuit and dispersive component into an independent circuit block,which can not only relize high-speed buffer to avoid losing data, but also give birth to the strict timing logic to insure the reliability of the system.The buffer velocity is fell by using PingPong latch which combine data into 32 bits being easy to connect with DSP.The circuit is simple,reliable and easy to debug the system.The design of FPGA in the system is presented in detail.


In this paper we consider a distributed parameter boundary control system described by a reducible quasilinear hyperbolic system, [formula]posed on the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, with the nonlinear boundary conditions[formula]In the case that the system islinear degenerate, we show that it isgloballyexactly boundary controllable.


Objective To evaluate the methods in preparation and nursing before and after enhancement of MRI.Methods Paramagnetic contrast medium Gd DTPA was performed in 833 patients(585 males and 248 females)who were injected by 0.2 mL/kg,among them there were 110 patients to be given double quantitive enhancement.We performed inform obligation carefully and subscribed agreements.The patients who's contrast medium leaked out were covered with fresh potato slices.Results There were 823 patients who get fine effects and no serious side effects.The three patients who's contrast medium leaked out completely cured by covered with fresh potato slices about three hours.Conclusion Careful preparation is very important for getting well effects.To perform inform obligation carefully and subscribed agreements not only respect the rights of patients but also is the needs of practising medicine according to law and pledging medical safe.


Before deploying to the surface of Mars, the short‐period (SP) seismometer of the InSight mission operated on deck for a total of 48 hr. This data set can be used to understand how deck‐mounted seismometers can be used in future landed missions to Mars, Europa, and other planetary bodies. While operating on deck, the SP seismometer showed signals comparable to the Viking‐2 seismometer near 3 Hz where the sensitivity of the Viking instrument peaked. Wind sensitivity showed similar patterns to the Viking instrument, although amplitudes on InSight were ∼80% larger for a given wind velocity. However, during the low‐wind evening hours, the instrument noise levels at frequencies between 0.1 and 1 Hz were comparable to quiet stations on Earth, although deployment to the surface below the Wind and Thermal Shield lowered installation noise by roughly 40 dB in acceleration power. With the observed noise levels and estimated seismicity rates for Mars, detection probability for quakes for a deck‐mounted instrument is low enough that up to years of on‐deck recordings may be necessary to observe an event. Because the noise is dominated by wind acting on the lander, though, deck‐mounted seismometers may be more practical for deployment on airless bodies, and it is important to evaluate the seismicity of the target body and the specific design of the lander. Detection probabilities for operation on Europa reach over 99% for some proposed seismicity models for a similar duration of operation if noise levels are comparable to low‐wind time periods on Mars.


A hot surface ignition system for a gas furnace and method of making the same are provided, the system comprising a high voltage circuit for being connected to a source of high voltage AC current, the high voltage circuit having a hot surface igniter therein and disposed in the path of gas issuing from a burner that is adapted to be fed gas from a source thereof through an electrically operated gas valve, a low voltage circuit for being connected to a source of low voltage AC current, the low voltage circuit having the gas valve therein and having a thermostatic switch therein controlling the energization of the low voltage circuit with the low voltage AC current, a first relay unit having contacts in the high voltage circuit and controlling the energization of the igniter with the high voltage AC current, and another relay unit having contacts in the low voltage circuit and controlling the energization of the gas valve, the other relay unit comprising two separate relays respectively having contacts that are disposed in series in the low voltage circuit whereby the contacts of the two relays must be in the same condition thereof to energize the gas valve.


M u c o r m y c o s i s is a fungus infect ion charac te r ized b y t h e prol i fera t ion in t issue of b road , b r a n c h i n g , rare ly sep ta te hyphae . Species of the gene ra mucor , rhizopus, absidia, Mor t ie re l la , a n d bas id iobolus , all of the class phycomyce te s , h a v e b e e n observed as pa thogens in t he re la t ive ly few cases r epor t ed in which cul tures h a v e been o b t a i n e d ? F o r th is reason the now genera l ly accep ted t e r m "phycomycos i s " was suggested b y Lie a n d his co-workers 7 as a more app r op r i a t e de s igna t i on for th is group of infect ions, in which sect ions of t issue reveal a fungus of the phycom y c e t e morphology . T h e s e fungi are ub iqu i tous molds in na tu re , c o m m o n as l a b o r a t o r y and household con tami n a n t s , a n d no t ord inar i ly considered pa thogen ic . U l t i m a t e diagnosis depends on the hisLopaflmlogic d e m o n s t r a t i o n of the charac te r i s t i c h y p h a e i n v a d i n g t i ssue a n d c a n n o t be based solely on the i so la t ion b y cu l tu re of such sap rophy t i c organisms. On t he o the r hand , cul ture is necessary to e s t ab l i sh t he toxonomic s t a tus of t he etiologic agen t . Phycomycos i s of the o rb i t a n d cen t ra l n e r v o u s s y s t e m is general ly caused b y species of mucor , rhizopus, or absidia. 4 P h y c o m y c o s i s appea r s to be on the increase. P r i o r to 1948 only 30 cases were col lected f rom the l i t e ra tu re , 4 involv ing the cen t ra l ne rvous sys tem. 5 I n a comprehens ive review, S t r a a t s m a a n d his co-workers t~ repor ted 158 cases in t he 19 years f rom 1943 to 196~. One th i rd of these inv o l v e d t he nasa l and pa ranasa l sinuses, orbit , a n d cen t r a l ne rvous system. T he infec t ion is p r in c ipa l ly a compl ica t ion of o ther diseases, of which d i abe t e s is t he inos t common, s I n a recen t series 4e pe r cen t of the pa t i en t s were diabet ic . O t h e r p red ispos ing s i tua t ions are leukemia, depress ion of b o n e mar row, and generalized mal ignancy . As w i t h o t h e r mycoses, increased incidence in recen t years seems re la ted to the t h e r a p y w i t h an t ib i otics, s teroids, or an t imetabol i t es . T h e p o r t a l of e n t r y is usual ly a superficial lesion of t he mucous m e m b r a n e of the nose, p a r a n a s a l s inuses, b r o n c h o p u l m o n a r y tree, or a l i m e n t a r y


Background: Onion is an economically important bulbous vegetable crop widely cultivated in India. Onion produced in West Bengal can only partially meet up its domestic need and thus extremely depends upon supply from other Indian States during lean period. Bringing more area under cultivation with improved varieties can boost the production and productivity of onion in West Bengal. The present situation leads to explore the scope of onion cultivation in non-traditional area. The objective of the study was to know the production and storage performance of onion varieties under Coastal Saline Zone of West Bengal, with the greater aim to explore this non-traditional onion growing area in future.Methods: Sixteen short day onion varieties were evaluated in Rabi 2014-15 and 2015-16 in Ramkrishna Ashram KVK, Nimpith following Randomized Block Design with three replications. Eight field parameters, three laboratory parameters and four storage parameters were studied. Result: Enough variation was noticed for different growth, yield, quality and storage attributes among the onion cultivars. The bulb yield, bulb weight, bulb equatorial and polar diameter was ranged from 62.8 to 124.5q/ha, 38.9 to 78.5 g, 32.5 to 47.6 cm and 34.7 to 47.3 cm respectively. The average TSS and pyruvic acid content was noted 12.7 ºBrix and 11.2 µmol/g respectively. After six month of storage in ambient condition, average PLW, rotting, sprouting and total losses was found 33.6%, 24.8%, 1.3% and 59.7% respectively. Among the varieties, Sukhsagar followed by Arka Niketan registered minimum storage losses of 20% and 35.1% at the end of storage period. Onion variety, Sukhsagar, Agrifound Light Red, Bhima Shakti, NHRDF Red-2, Pusa white Flat and NHRDF Red-3 were identified as top performers.


The dislocation structure of germanium covered by a SiO2 pyrolitic film has been studied by X-ray topography. The dislocations gliding in the Ge bulk are accompanied by the formation of steps on the optically smooth interface GeSiO2. Dislocations and steps are shown to be connected with a bending of the GeSiO2 system which is due to the densification of the film during its synthesis. In the germanium bulk a neutral surface N arises with dislocations accumulated near this surface. The interaction of dislocations with equal sign results in their symmetric distribution respective to N, if they lie in the same slip plane, while those ones lying in the intersecting slip planes interact with the formation of L-type prismatic dislocations. A study of dislocation interaction near N gives estimates of the structural stresses in the film and in germanium.

[Russian Text Ignored].


While the term system-of-systems (SOS) is widespread and generally recognized within academia and industry, there is still confusion about its definition. For example, there are many different interpretations of system-of-systems (Sauser, and et at., 2009). A sample of different definitions is provided by Jamishidi (2005). So far, little research has been done to provide standard definitions of its characteristics. Many prominent researchers including Dagli, Kilicay-Ergin, (2009), Buede (2009), Keating (2009), Eisner (1997), and Djavanshir (2005) accept that systems-of-systems are meta-systems that exhibit meta-systemic behaviors. The meta-system provides the structural mechanism that integrates a system-ofsystems as a whole ((Beer, 1979,1981) and Keating (2009)) and prevents it from falling into chaos. This is accomplished by a meta-system's governance system. Therefore, a metasystem is a system-of-systems that has an additional characteristic, called a governance system, which integrates the system-of-systems' components, and provides balanced operations among them in order to achieve a common mission and strategy. According to our studies and understanding (Beer 1979, 1981, Esiner (1997), Keating (2009), Dagli and Kilicay-Ergin (2009), Buede (2009), and Djavanshir, et. al., 2009), if any system-of-systems possesses two properties, namely, (1) evolutionary process between the system-of-systems and its component enterprise systems and (2) passion of integrated centralized governance system, the system-of-systems is called a meta-system. In this chapter we will call a systemof-systems with these two characteristics a meta-system. Furthermore, the concept of metasystem provides powerful means to a better understanding of the so-called system-ofsystems' nature, characteristics (Esiner, 1997, Djavanshir, and et. al., 2009, Klir, 1985, Kawakek, 2002, and Buede, 2009), behaviors (Keating, 2009), and finally, its structure (Dagli, Kilicay, Ergin, 2009). Furthermore, accepting the fact that meta-systems are the extended version of meta-systems with these properties, enables researchers to apply well-researched, standardized and accepted definitions, behaviors, and characteristics of meta-systems in studying, understanding, designing, and deploying the so-called systems-of-systems.


Manufacture of composite materials which structure includes oil bitumen, al-lows to receive inexpensive products, for the various purposes of civil building. But working out and manufacture of the modified bitumen materials quite often has entirely empirical character. It is inadmissible, as it is absolutely impossible to predict all com-plex of properties of a received material that causes of carrying out of great volume of skilled works. Working out of technology of reception organic knitting in which bitumen plays a component role, and the product basis is made by polymers, will allow receiving a durable material.


e18252Background: Lenalidomide (LEN) and azacitidine (AZA) are 2 standard active Tx options recommended by national guidelines for pts with MDS. Limited information exists on the total cost of care for pts treated with these agents. This descriptive analysis evaluated real-world costs for US pts without higher-risk MDS at diagnosis. Methods: Pts were identified from the MarketScan US claims database (2008–2013) by ICD-9 codes. Initial MDS diagnosis defined the index date. Pts with ≥ 12 months pre- and ≥ 6 months post-index enrollment were included; pts with codes for high-grade MDS or acute myeloid leukemia at diagnosis, or concomitant LEN + AZA use, were excluded. Pt cohorts based on first active Tx post-index were followed up to the earliest of: end of data, 24 months, or Tx change. A generalized linear model was used to control for baseline differences between groups. Results: 1,402 pts met the inclusion criteria (LEN, n = 456; AZA, n = 946). At baseline, 48% and 52%, respectively, were aged ≥ 75 years...


A challenge in infrastructure asset management occu rred in both developed countries and developing countries. The challenge is how to p redict infrastructure performance with appropriate models regarding the ability of co mplete data in order to make optimal maintenance and repair strategies. A great study on maintenance, repair and rehabilitation is generally in form of stochastic c ontrol models with found on Markov decision process (MDP). Standard models of infrastr ucture management are based on the MDP which the condition state of facilities is defined in discrete states. Statistical estimation methods have been applied to overcome th e problem of deterioration using econometric analysis approach. As a part of s tatistical method, the Markov hazard model becomes a valuable research that is pr oved by a plentiful paper and research produced in this field. Inspection data is n essential in Markov hazard models application. Accuracy of estimation occupied at least two inspection times which will be affected by quality of inspection dat a. A measurement error should be done due to errors occurred in inspection data as c au ed by measurement system or inspector (human or machine), inspected objects, or from data processing and data interpretation. Methods with focused on formulating evaluation techniques for quantifying the error term have been posted. In add ition, estimation methodologies using Bayesian estimation technique suggested in or der to overcoming small sampling population of inspection data and measurem ent errors has already documented. Recently, a variety of databases have been develope d by road administrators. However, it is still measly database functions cont ribu ing to infrastructure asset management. This fact mentions that even if a datab ase contains plentiful and detailed data, it is not a guarantee that it would definitely be used. Appropriate management suitable in developing countries depends o their needs and limitations. Poor systems of database or due to the database is se med like just black boxes are kind of challenge in database application in infras tructure asset management. Thus, a comprehensive strategy to build a methodology of database application in infrastructure asset management should be considere d. Understanding of basic knowledge of deterioration model in connecting with tools will be valuable in field of database development. This study is aimed at understanding and elaboratin g deterioration prediction models by referring to application of Markovian deteriorat ion hazard process for infrastructure asset management. Practically, focus es on the pavement asset management systems. Secondly is verifying and apply ing The Kyoto model Pavement Management Systems as a part of road pavem ent asset management systems with preferential on pavement database to s upport pavement maintenance work. Lastly is developing a practical approach of empirical studies of pavement maintenance management systems. The practical model is provided as open systems of database for practical orientation. Chapter 3 has discussed a methodology of maintenance managem ent with strategy and policy approach. The maintenance management pol icy is developed from viewpoint of mid/long-term maintenance plan. This p olicy is working with highway pavement maintenance. In order to verify the applic ability of this policy, an empirical study was conducted on maintenance manage ment in Kyoto City road pavement. This study has made a contribution to the field by comparison and benchmarking repair using maintenance policy approa ch. The maintenance policy approach represented can be extended to apply not o nly for main road pavement but to various other kinds of road facilities as well. In chapter 4, deterioration risk in pavement section was evalua ted by paying attention to road pavement maintenance issues, gene rat s routine maintenance work using statistical data, and proposes concept of ass et management system that continuously decreased deterioration risk. In addit ion, a methodology that requests maintenance strategy to aim at achieving reduction c st and making long-lived pavement was developed, and an approach that attemp ts in applying to actual maintenance work was considered. In that case, focu ses on maintenance of road pavement that local government managed, constructs pavement logic model for highway, and proposes operation method. In addition , management system to perform steadily such as repair method selection an d updating necessary data in order to propose benchmarking evaluation method at deterioration speed using statistical deterioration prediction model as a qua ntit tive evaluation method to achieve cost reduction and pavement long-lived. Chapter 5 has explained logic model and benchmarking evaluat ion that forms as basis of the Kyoto model more in detail, has discus ed a basic concept of Kyoto model pavement management system that has evaluatio n function and customization which enabled to overseas standardization, and has satisfied requirement of ISO for road pavement based on trend concerning internation al standardization of asset management. Furthermore, example of benchmarking evaluation was shown, and evaluation method that synchronized with logic model was confi rmed. The Kyoto model wish to emphasize overall platform of PMS composed by logic model in more with database, application and evaluation system, mechanism, stand ard, in order to construct mechanism of PMS in average not merely aimed at sta ndard application of PMS as pointed out but also while corresponding to each mo dule and AM plan process. In addition, to form the strategic pavement management system in a long-term perspective, to construct PDCA cycle, and to synchr onize with inspection function of ISO. When restructure asset management plan through Check and Action by ISO, the logic model is redefined. As a result, customizatio n of asset management system is ensured, and standardization of PMS that has divers ity is achieved. In chapter 6, it has proposed a practical model approach for un derstanding of pavement management system in order to solve of pro blem related to lack of information of pavement condition due to minimum ac tion of maintenance and inspection. Within this practical model, integrated database as a unification of several otherwise distinct files was an approach to sharing data and also enforcing standards to reach that goal. Having common open-source data is prominent effort in providing beneficial work purposes, for instance, in research , in academic, and in noncommercial works. Development a practical model of PMS is the way of handling problem of opensource pavement inventory data. In this works, hypo thetical approach is utilized. Virtual or imaginary but closes-in-reality as a poi nt of view with the target of highway network in form of city (municipalities) or province (prefectures) level target. Following integrated pavement database form s as customized database by flexible structure in regard to user's options, and compatibility with external and internal models.


The relation of e-commerce with the public sector, is in strong growth and one of the latest
investment is the e-government. In this paper we intend to address the use of information and
communication technologies in the Portuguese Public Administration and how citizens can
benefit from this. According to the eGovernment Benchmark 2010 report released by the
European Commission, Portugal is in first place in the European ranking the availability and
sophistication of online public services. In the edition held in October 2004, Portugal presented
itself in the 16th position in the availability and the 14th in the level of sophistication. Over the
past six years Portugal has moved from a position below the European average, for leadership in
online public services, assuming it is in Europe as a reference in Electronic Government. This
article shows that Portugal has evolved in the use of ICT and that special attention was given to
the electronic government as shown by the data presented in this study.


These comparability tables offer country-by-country analysis of primary and secondary teacher qualifications offered in 35 Commonwealth countries, in an accessible and easy-to-read format.
They were prepared by the South African Qualifications Authority for the Commonwealth Secretariat to enhance recognition of teacher qualifications across borders and between the member countries of the Commonwealth.
Please note that Fair Trade for Teachers: Transferability of Teacher Qualifications in the Commonwealth (February 2010; 60pp; £25.00; ISBN 978-1-84929-014-2) includes a copy of the Commonwealth Teacher Qualifications Comparability Table as an insert in the back pocket of the main book.


Data mining and knowledge discovery in database have now been an active research area in scientists and engineers.This is a new discipline lying at the interface of statistics,pattern recognition,artificial intelligence,machine learning,database technology,high performance and parallel computing,and so forth.The purpose of this paper is to discuss the data mining model of preference degree for website users.We present a data mining model for the preference degree of information browsed of website users.


This paper gives the prototype of a microstrip antenna with an inset feed, at two different frequencies of 2.2 GHz and 5.2 GHz. The bandwidth of these antennas has been enhanced, by introducing slots in it; and has been made suitable for WLAN applications. On successful simulation of the antennas, the values of directivity and gain were observed. Gain and Directivity for the antennas operating at 2.2 GHz was found to be 7.699 dB and 8.480 dBi. The value of Gain and Directivity for the antenna operating at 5.2 GHz (Without Slots) was found to be 6.187 dB and 5.199 dBi. On introduction of slots in this antenna, the values achieved were 6.452 dB and 12.94 dBi. The results are analyzed and discussed in terms of return loss, gain, directivity. The simulation of the antennas is done on CST Microwave Studio.


The purpose of this study was to develop a nuanced perspective of the nature of assessment practices in Geography teaching and the extent to which such practices are aimed at promoting learning, in agreement with policy changes that underpin a shift from a behaviourist to a more social-constructivist teaching and learning approach. I developed this perspective through taking cognisance of the literature on educational assessment and my experience as a Geography teacher, as well as through my observation and experiences with regard to the assessment practices prevalent in Grade 10 Geography classes. The study focused on practices in assessment for learning in high schools in and around Stellenbosch in order to analyse and understand the actions of and interaction between the various role players in the educational activities that take place in differing contexts. This was done from within an interpretative research paradigm. The research confirms that the process of implementing curriculum renewal is highly complex and that it is co-determined by factors that operate both within the microcontext (the classroom, the school) and the macro-context (nationally, globally). The aforementioned complexity is further increased by the ongoing interaction between the contexts. The latter was illustrated clearly in the course of the research through a strongly conservative approach to assessment practices that is typical of an assessment-of learning regime on the one hand and pressure to comply with policy and career expectations on the other without properly considering the possible implications for assessment for learning. The study argues that the grounding of teaching, assessment and learning practices in productive pedagogies and the corresponding policy making and in-service training of teachers could direct the focus on assessment for learning in support of quality teaching and learning in Geography classes in high schools. iv Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za


This dissertation is about the developement of the trade law in the Kingdom of Hannover and how it was received in the public. The named state was founded 1813 including the former electorate Hannover, the bishoprics Hildesheim and Osnabruck and the principality of Ostfriesland. Occupied and annected by Prussia it lost its autonomy 1866. With the help of laws, bills and other relevant sources the descrition shows, how the old craft constitution, which had been abolished some years ago by the french occuoators, nearly totally was restored; how various gouvernments partly libaralized and unified this constitution during the following decenniums; finally, how Prussia 1867 introduced the freedom of trade in Hannover, which now was a Province. On the other hand we treat the arguments, that were made about the current trade policy as well as about the problem of the trade constitution in general. The description shows this with the help of petitions and publications. Then there are made references to higher subjects, especially to the Revolution of 1848, the relation between town and country, also the industrialization and the changing of mentallity, which was a consequence of it. This make finally clear, that the problem of the trade constitution is not solved up to now and that the present discussions about that subject are partly similar to those of the 19th century.


Biotas are constantly being reshaped by invasions. Introduction is now an added route to invaders. Impacts must be viewed against the background of massive changes in type, extent and quality of freshwater habits globally and in that freshwater fishes are almost living fossils. Also, old lakes and lacustrine fishes are highly restricted geographically. Lakes are young while rivers are old. Riverine, marsh and pond fishes are not well adapted to lacustrine conditions now widespread due to reservoir construction. Some Clupeidae and Cichlidae are lacustrine-adapted and highly productive. They have therefore made major impacts on fish yields in lakes and reservoirs. In tropical Asia and America, there have been a series of overlapping waves offish introductions during the past 150 years, culminating tin the tilapias from Africa. These fishes now dominate capture and culture fisheries in many countries. Fish introductions are a fait accompli and will continue. They must be realistically assessed and carefully ...


Adding stress and strain to the lives of busy researchers hardly sounds like a strategy for improving productivity. It can work wonders for catalysts, however. A study has revealed that straining catalytic sites in molybdenum disulfide films substantially boosts the reaction rate of a key step in the water-splitting process relative to the rate on unstrained films (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b01377). Splitting water could provide a nearly limitless supply of hydrogen to run clean-burning fuel cells if a suitable catalyst can be found. Platinum works well, but it's expensive. In looking elsewhere, researchers have found that low-cost MoS2 films with microscopic defects catalyze H2 production. But complete details of the process have remained unknown, impeding further development. To sort out the kinetics, a team led by Xiaolin Zheng of Stanford University and Allen J. Bard of the University of Texas, Austin, exposed a MoS2 film to a


With as many as 3.5 million passengers using the London underground system every day, it is desirable to examine and understand their interests and opinions, and to harness this information to improve the services of Transport for London (TfL). This research aims to achieve a better understanding of passengers' interests by harvesting text from geo-tagged Tweets sourced over a four week period in 2014 from the vicinity of the stations. An unsupervised topic modelling method Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) is used to generate topics, and k-means is used to cluster stations in order to understand the overall patterns of topics.


Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a new group of drugs that have been recently used as part of antineoplastic therapy targeting the immune system to activate the anti-tumor effect. However, as a result of this immune activity adverse events usually occur that can affect different body parts known as immune related adverse events (irAEs). In the oral and maxillofacial area, irAEs mimic many immune-mediated conditions, including oral lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid, and Sjögren syndrome, among others. The aim of this review is to summarize the irAEs in oral and maxillofacial areas and to enlighten oral healthcare professionals on how to recognize these events and to be a part of the care team for patients treated with ICIs.


Frequency efficiency, noise immunity and implementation complexity are the most important parameters of binary message transmission. One of the ways to increase frequency efficiency is the conscious or controlled introduction of intersymbol interference into the transmitted signal with an acceptable reduction in noise immunity. The purpose of the work is to model one of the ways to implement this direction. The formation of the transmitted signal, receiving and processing of samples during reception using a whitewashing filter and the Viterbi algorithm are considered. The noise immunity of the transmission under the influence of interference in the form of white noise is evaluated.The considered method of transmitting binary messages provides good frequency efficiency without using a spectrum shaper with sufficiently high noise immunity.


The authors present the solution of the problem of torsion of an inhomogeneous rectangular prismatic bar. They first develop a general methodology wherein they reduce the problem to the solution of a simple linear ordinary differential equation. Subsequently, as illustration, they investigate in detail a particular choice of the form of the shear modulus.


Digital mammography is superior to screen-film mammography, and the digital technology has other patient benefits as well, a new study finds.


The physiological actions of nitric oxide (NO) as a signaling molecule in endothelial and brain cells and as a toxic molecule used by activated immune cells have been the focus of a wide range of studies. Nevertheless, the downstream effector molecules of this important neuromodulator are not well understood. We have previously demonstrated that expression of the gene for the reproductive neuropeptide, GnRH, is repressed by the glutamate/NO/cyclic GMP (cGMP) signal transduction pathway through cGMP-dependent protein kinase in the hypothalamic GnRH-secreting neuronal cell line GT1–7. This repression localized within a previously characterized 300-bp neuron-specific enhancer. Here, we find that mutation of either of two adjacent elements within the enhancer eliminates repression by this pathway. An AT-rich sequence located at− 1695 has homology to the octamer motif known to bind POU-homeodomain proteins, while the adjacent element at −1676 has homology to the C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein) protein f...


Objective To seek effective methods for postoperative nutrition support to promote postoperative recovery of liver transplantation.Methods Different methods for nutrition support were selected for 48 liver transplantation patients.After recovery of gastrointestinal functions,EN in combination with PN and with infusion of human albumin was begun as early as possible.For patients with serious malnutrition,EN was used in combination with PN+rhGH+Gln,or TPN+rhGH+Gln,and with infusion of human albumin.Results There was no occurrence of complications resulting from nutrition support.All patients had a smooth perioperative period and recovered.Conclusions Effective postoperative nutrition support plays an important role in improving the survival rate of liver graft and promote postoperative recovery.


Objective To establish a validation method of automated ELISA detection system calibrated by the manufacturer and ensure the normal operating condition of the inspection instrument.Methods The mid-value quality control samples of the same batch and same concentration were detected.Firstly,precision(RSD) of the kits was manually tested.Secondly,after adding the sample manually,the results were compared in parallel measured by DADE-BEhring automatic enzyme immunoassay analyzer with the results determined by independent plate washer and microplate reader.By this method,the good state of DADE-BEhring automatic immunoassay analyzer could be confirmed.At the same time,by adjusting the added-sample mode of the Xiril automatic sampling system,its best precision could be determined.Results RSD value of kit was less than 15%,which was in accordance with the expectation value.When DADE-BEhring automatic immunoassay analyzer was in good condition,the result of RSD value could be less than 15%.When the Xiril automatic sampling system in the condition of no-reducing sample needles and multi-pin sample introduction(group A),the RSD value would be as high as 42.2%;When in the condition of reducing sample needles and multi-pin sample introduction(group B),the RSD value would be 18.1%;When in the condition of reducing sample needles and single needle sample introduction(group C),the RSD value would decrease to 13.5%,which was similar to the RSD value 7.7% determined by the manual mode of sample introduction.The result indicated that the Xiril automatic sampling system was in good working condition.Conclusion The method of detecting the same sample by automated ELISA detection system can not only be applied to validate equipment performance after manufacturers' calibration,major repairing or maintenance,but also be applied to daily monitor the whole experimental system such as equipment,reagents,etc.This will help us promptly detect systematic error.


Abstract This study provides a comparison of cross-cultural differences in the use of EDI between 81 firms in the U.S. and 67 firms in Taiwan. Most of these firms were using traditional VAN mediated EDI, and had been influenced by some type of external pressure to use. The motivation for this study was to assess whether the Western model of EDI usage that most research is based on is applicable across cultures. Findings reveal that there are few differences between firms in the two countries with respect to type of benefits realized, compatibility of EDI with existing processes, and degree of integration of EDI in the firm or in the network of trading partners. However, ex post facto analysis provides further insight into the usage of EDI in both cultures.