The complex between cytochrome f and plastocyanin from the cyanobacterium Nostoc has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The binding constant is 16 mm–1, and the lifetime of the complex is much less than 10 ms. Intermolecular pseudo-contact shifts observed for the plastocyanin amide nuclei, caused by the heme iron, as well as the chemical-shift perturbation data were used as the sole experimental restraints to determine the orientation of plastocyanin relative to cytochrome f with a precision of 1.3 Å. The data show that the hydrophobic patch surrounding tyrosine 1 in cytochrome f docks the hydrophobic patch of plastocyanin. Charge complementarities are found between the rims of the respective recognition sites of cytochrome f and plastocyanin. Significant differences in the relative orientation of both proteins are found between this complex and those previously reported for plants and Phormidium, indicating that electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are balanced differently in these complexes.


In the now well-known The Shona and Zimbabwe, goo-1850 (Gweru, 1984), David Beach gave us an extensive synthesis of Zimbabwean history on the basis of an exhaustive range of archaeological, oral and documentary sources not to speak of much personal knowledge of the physical terrain. The present book is a methodological companion volume which isolates from that wider work Beach's own contribution to the corpus of oral historical knowledge, and gives us a detailed analysis of the place of oral traditions in the reconstruction of Zimbabwe's past. It is pitched at the university student and at the wider professional academic audience. The first four chapters present the objectives, conditions and results of Beach's oral research in the 1970s on the central and southern Shona, material necessarily much abridged in the earlier publication. For the non-local reader, the detail of Chapters 2-4 is often quite difficult; the material is almost all about the rulers of the land and the ways in which they tried to maintain their sway. Nevertheless, the author is always at pains to describe aspects of the geographical setting important for our understanding of the traditions and of political control itself, to probe the veracity of supposed linkages between dynasties and lineages having the same apparent origin, and to make transparent how his comparative and analytical reasoning shapes his conclusions. Demolishing some locally well-established beliefs, the preliminary versions presented here constitute a valuable basis for local economic and social history, not to speak of archaeology or anthropology. Chapter 5 ('The Rozwi in search of their past', published in History in Africa in 1983) and 6 ('The changing traditions of the Mutapa dynasty', an updated article from 1976) analyze more broadly the historiography as well as the history of the respective dynasties. They show how, and at times why, amateur and quasiprofessional historians reused or misinterpreted oral traditions, and what part of this material ought to be jettisoned. For example, after a systematic undoing of much previously accepted Mutapa tradition, chapter 6 ends with a tentative genealogy proposing the removal of a number of figures on the grounds that, at least as rulers, they are interpolations of the twentieth century. The final chapter offers a thematic characterization of Shona traditions and discusses their general relevance to the historian and society. In a salutary reminder of the limitations of oral research aimed no doubt primarily at students, Beach confirms that, except for occasional references, the chronological range of the traditions collected in the twentieth century does not reach back to the great states of the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries; and that 'it is essential that the researcher consult all available archival sources and even the columns of local newspapers before beginning to collect traditions' (p. 208). However, despite the author's injunction that his work is in many ways preliminary, his general position on the value of oral traditions is one of 'cautious optimism'.


Aspects of the methods herein, in connection with the manufacture of absorbent articles, the continuous topsheet web advances in the machine direction. Liquid acquisition layer, and absorbent core are combined with continuous topsheet web. Combined continuous topsheet web, a liquid acquisition layer, and absorbent core, in order to emboss the pattern into a continuous topsheet web, it advanced through the embossing nip. Combined continuous topsheet web, a liquid acquisition layer, and the absorbent core is advanced through the embossing nip, the patterned embossing roll rotating in contact with the continuous topsheet web. Anvil roll rotating in contact with the absorbent core. Acquisition layer topsheet, and with the absorbent core, by advancing through the embossing nip, a relatively thin top sheet web material during the embossing than possible inherently a relatively deep pattern topsheet it can be embossed.


PURPOSE
Current dosimetry phantoms used for clinical trial credentialing do not directly assess IGRT processes. This work evaluates a custom-built IGRT phantom for credentialing of multiple IGRT modalities and processes.

METHODS
An IGRT phantom was built out of a low-density body with two inserts. Insert A is used for the CT simulation. Insert B is used for the actual treatment. The inserts contain identical targets in different locations. Relative positions are unknown to the user. The user simulates the phantom (with insert A) as they would a patient, including marking the phantom. A treatment plan is created and sent to the treatment unit. The phantom (with insert B) is then positioned using local IGRT practice. Shifts (planned isocenter, if applicable, and final isocenter) are marked on the phantom using room lasers. The mechanical reproducibility of re-inserting the inserts within the phantom body was tested using repeat high-resolution CT scans. The phantom was tested at 7 centers, selected to include a wide variety of imaging equipment.

RESULTS
Mechanical reproducibility was measured as 0.5-0.9mm, depending on the direction. Approaches tested to mark (and transfer) simulation isocenter included lasers, fiducials and reflective markers. IGRT approaches included kV imaging (Varian Trilogy, Brainlab ExacTrac), kV CT (CT-on-rails), kV CBCT (Varian Trilogy, Varian Truebeam, Elekta Agility) and MV CT (Tomotherapy). Users were able to successfully use this phantom for all combinations of equipment and processes. IGRT-based shifts agreed with the truth within 0.8mm, 0.8mm and 1.9mm in the LR, AP, and SI directions, respectively.

CONCLUSION
Based on these preliminary results, the IGRT phantom can be used for credentialing of clinical trials with an action level of 1mm in AP and LR directions, and 2mm in the SI direction, consistent with TG142. We are currently testing with additional institutions with different equipment and processes, including Cyberknife. This project was funded by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas.


This paper presents a novel intra prediction method for inter pictures (i.e. P pictures and B pictures), denominated enhanced intra prediction (EIP). The traditional intra prediction only uses the reconstructed pixels to the left and above to derive intra prediction blocks. While the proposed method combines the left-above and right-below pixels to strengthen the prediction efficiency of the intra blocks in inter pictures. For accessing the pixels below and to the right of intra coding units (CUs), the encoding and decoding structures are adjusted to guarantee that all the inter CUs are reconstructed before all the intra CUs. With more available reference samples around the intra CUs, EIP achieves better prediction results. The proposed method is implemented on top of the H.265/HEVC reference software (HM-16.12), and the experimental results show that approximate 0.5% BD-rate reduction is achieved under Random Access (RA) and Low Delay P (LP) configurations.


The non-uniformity is a major issue in large area IR detector arrays of HgCdTe. The source of this non-uniformity is the variations in material and device parameters. Out of all the parameters, some have large impact on the performance and need to be controlled tightly. Here we present the effect of variations in the various device and material parameters on the performance of MWIR photodiodes of HgCdTe. However, the method is applicable to other types as well. We also show the relative impact of these parameters on the device performance by using the sensitivity analysis.


The dynamics of pseudo-classical spinning particles in spa cetime of gravitational plane waves of general polarization and harmonic profile is studied. The resulting equations of motion are solved exactly and the results are compared with those of the ot r approaches. The relative accelerations of nearby particles is also calculated. PACS numbers: 04.20.-q, 04.25.-g, 04.30.-Nk


Aims/hypothesis : Three hallmarks of the pancreatic islets in early human type 1 diabetes (T1D) are overexpression of HLA class I, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and beta cell apoptosis. The mediators of these phenomena remain to be defined. The type I interferon IFNα is expressed in human islets from T1D patients and mediates HLA class I overexpression. We presently evaluated the mechanisms involved in IFNα-induced HLA class I expression in human beta cells and determined whether this cytokine contributes to ER stress and apoptosis. Methods : IFNα-induced inflammation, ER stress and apoptosis were evaluated by RT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence and nuclear dyes, and proteins involved in type I interferon signalling were inhibited by small interfering RNAs. All experiments were done in human islets or human EndoC-βH1 cells. Results : IFNα up-regulates HLA class I, inflammation and ER stress markers in human beta cells via activation of the candidate gene TYK2, and the transcription factors STAT2 and IRF9. Furthermore, it synergizes with IL-1β to induce beta cell apoptosis. Conclusions/interpretation : The innate immune effects induced by IFNα may induce and amplify the adaptive immune response against human beta cells, indicating that IFNα has a central role in the early phases of diabetes.


Newborn screening programs have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders. A compelling example is found in SLC22A5 encoding OCTN2, a bi‐directional plasma membrane transporter, which acts in the influx carnitine and efflux of drugs. Newborns with low plasma carnitine levels and biallelic SLC22A5 variants are diagnosed with Carnitine Transporter Deficiency (CTD), a potentially fatal disorder that can be treated with L‐carnitine supplementation. Here, we sought to validate the role of novel OCTN2 variants in CTD via functional characterization of mutant transporters in vitro.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of individualism‐collectivism, trust, and ethical ideology on ethically questionable negotiation tactics, such as pretending, deceiving and lying, in Turkey.Design/methodology/approach – Survey questionnaires translated from English to Turkish were administered to 400 respondents, of whom 379 fully completed the questionnaires.Findings – The research empirically corroborated a classification of three groups of negotiation tactics, namely, pretending, deceiving and lying. Turkish negotiators who scored high on horizontal individualism tended to score highly on pretending and deceiving and less on lying, and presented an inverse relationship between scores on those tactics and score on idealism. Trust was not found to be related to any of the negotiation tactics.Research limitations/implications – The study investigated the respondents' perceptions rather than their actual negotiation behavior. The sample size, though large and inclusive of public...


The article is devoted to the communicative behavior of a linguistic personality in blog discourse. Pragmaticon as the subjective perception of the world by a human represented in the language reflects the psychological causal links and relations. In the space of social environment of virtual communication the main element of pragmaticon is not only a speech act. It is joined by communicative-active needs of a person, which are caused by the specific features and conditions of the communicative situation and the potentially possible communicative roles. User name contains the expected program of strategic development, nickname bears the traits of the user''s real life interpreted through their needs in network environment. By using the elements of the pragmatic level of a linguistic personality, a communicant creates the specific image of the author and implements the main goal of the linguistic personality of a blogger, i.e. obtaining feedback.


In this paper, the study on roughness of skin surface utilizing laser Doppler effect is put forward. Theoretically speaking, the roughness can be regard as the synthesis of longitudinal and transverse displacement of a point on epidermis. In the paper, the fundamentals and method of displacement measurement utilizing laser Doppler effect are introduced, and the theoretical system of skin surface cognition utilizing laser Doppler effect is established. The system design of skin surface character testing is extracted, a new reference optical system is put forward to achieve the roughness detection, an optical grating is used for frequency mixing and getting high SNR signals in this measurement. The factors influencing the measurement accuracy are expounded. Moreover, the theory analysis and experiment-based methods are offered to improve the accuracy. The measurement technique utilizing laser Doppler effect has many advantages, such as high precision, quickly response speed, large measurement range and non-touch measurement, so this study can be applied in analyzing the profile and distortion of skin surface, which is very important in theory and practice for the non-invasive detection fields ofbiology and iatrology.


Since the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in the early 1970s, the choice of the exchange rate regime has been the subject of a lively debate in international finance. In this study, we investigate the determinants of three exchange rate regimes (fixed, flexible and intermediate). Our contribution to the literature is threefold: (i) we examine the unordered choice between the three regimes, with a multinomial logit model and cross-section data from 1982 to 1999. Previous studies are generally based on binomial and/or ordered models and use a short data span; (ii) we cover three different currency zones, the US dollar, the ECU/EMU, and the CFA Franc. The previous literature confines the analysis mainly to the US dollar zone; (iii) we compare two streams of the literature, the optimal currency area (OCA) and the currency crises (CC) models, and examine when each model explains the choice of exchange rate regimes better. Our approach provides a rich framework for the analysis of exchange regimes. Results with the OCA model show that the probability of choosing the flexible or intermediate regimes increases with a rise in fundamental variables (economy size, exchange rate volatility, capital mobility, inflation, low openness). Results with the CC model, however, suggest that policy variables and financial factors also affect the choice of the exchange regime. Adverse shocks to foreign factors (deteriorating current account, rising foreign liabilities, falling reserves) increase the probability of choosing the flexible or intermediate exchange regime over the fixed regime. Furthermore, we find that there is no one-size-fits-all model for all regions. The OCA model performs better in Europe and the Latin America, and the CC model in East Asia, Pacific regions and the CFA area. This result is consistent with the general perception that the currency crises that hit the international markets since the 1980s were fundamentals-driven in Europe and Latin America but financial-driven in Asia.


Heparinless venoarterial bypass (HL‐VAB) was carried out in 16 sheep for 6 days, by means of a closed circuit tubing coated with nonthrombogenic polyurethane‐polyvinyl‐graphite (PPG) and a roller pump. Nine experiments were completed uneventfully. Seven sheep died during bypass. The causes of death were pneumonia (2), caseous granulomatous lung abscess (3) or abdominal abscess (1), and thromboembolism (1). The last complication was caused by inadvertent trauma to the PPG coating at the time of tubing connection.


The classical and medieval elements in Milton's description of Hell have been so fully established that it has not seemed necessary to ask whether the poet drew his inspiration from other than literary sources. Yet there is a realism in Milton's details which accounts in large part for their vividness, and which gives to the first book of Paradise Lost a verisimilitude not unnaturally lacking in the scenes in Paradise, and not equalled even by the scenes in the terrestrial Paradise of the Garden of Eden. Is it possible that in the first book Milton was drawing upon memory no less than upon imagination, and combining actual sense impressions with literary reminiscence? If so, what was the district which so fired his imagination that even in later blindness he remembered it in close detail?


The use of specific planting segments as sowing material can augment sustainable production of sugarcane. Therefore, to have a base-line information on the sustainable production of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), field trials were carried out on the growth and yield analysis of the crop on farmers' field at Dargai, Malakand Agency, Khyber Pakhtumkhwa-Pakistan during the spring cropping season of 2010-11 and 2011-12. Triplicate RCB, design was used with plot area of 67m . A total of 16 sugarcane genotypes, 2 comprising 14 candidate and two check genotypes were used in the experiment. The data were collected on eight yield and yield contributing parameters. Combined ANOVA over years and segments revealed significant differences among sugarcane genotypes for germination, tillers, plant height, internode length, cane yield, millable canes and sugar yield. Significant (p 0.05) segment x genotype interactions were observed for cane yield, sugar yield and millable canes. Mean results showed that highest germination (65.92 and 47.58%) and tillers (164.95 and 137.00) in top and bottom segments were exhibited by genotype MS91CP238, against the check genotypes. The maximum plant height (233.64 cm) for top segment was exhibited by genotype Hoth127, while the same for bottom segment (234.17cm) was recorded by genotype MS94CP15. The maximum nodes plant (20.22, 17.78) in top and bottom segments, respectively was recorded for genotypes Hoth127 and 1 MS99HO388. Genotypes MS92CP979 and MS94CP15 exhibited maximum internode length (16.45 and 17.04cm) in top and bottom segments, respectively. The highest cane yield (59.72, 64.10 t ha ) and milliable canes 1 (127.26 and 95.81) in top and bottom segments were recorded for genotypes MS99HO388 and MS91CP238, respectively. Maximum sugar recovery (12.23 and 10.49%) in top and bottom segments, respectively was recorded for genotypes MS99HO93 and S97CP288. The highest sugar yield (7.05 and 5.96 t ha ) in top and 1 bottom segments was recorded for genotypes MS99HO388 and MS91CP238, respectively. On the basis of overall combined over years performance, it can be concluded that genotypes MS99HO388, Hoth127, S96SP1215, MS91CP238 and MS99HO388 showed better performance in top segments regarding parameters germination, tillers, plant height, cane yield, millable canes, sugar recovery and sugar yield. On the contrary, genotypes MS94CP15, MS99HO388, MS91CP238 and CP89831 exhibited better performance in bottom segments for the same growth and yield attributes. Genotypes MS91CP238, MS99HO388, MS94CP15 and Hoth127 proved to be superior in both top and bottom segments for the studied traits.


A hybrid technique, combining lithography which exploits atomic force microscope tip manipulation with modified electric force microscopy was used to study surface electric charging (deposition and evolution) of polymethyl methacryalate and polystyrene films. Upon charging the films past a threshold voltage, two distinct regimes were observed: (1) stable feature formation related to electric breakdown and mass transport resulting in stable film deformation due to the negative surface charging (negative tip bias) and (2) no stable feature formation regime attributed to viscoelastic deformation of polymer surface followed by the surface relaxation in the case of positive surface charging (positive tip bias).


(1) Twenty-eight species of Diptera, including five species of Drosophila were reared from fallen fruit collected in subtropical rainforest sites in eastern Australia. The situation was similar to that modelled by Atkinson & Shorrocks (1981). They showed that in discrete and ephemeral breeding sites, coexistence was facilitated if the competitors were aggregated. The aim here was to determine whether aggregation could explain the persistence of this diverse community of flies. (2) There was little niche differentiation among the flies, many of the species sharing the same kind of fruit. Though there was less overlap over individual fruit items, the dipteran species were not negatively associated as they would be if the low overlap was caused by systematic niche separation. (3) Low overlap over fruit items would be expected if the fly populations were kept at a low level by density-independent mortality and this might also explain the persistence of a diverse community. There was, however, widespread intraspecific competition, which would not be expected if density-independent mortality was important. (4) If this guild of flies was maintained by aggregation over discrete and ephemeral breeding sites we would expect low overlap of the species over fruit items, random associations between the species and evidence of intraspecific competition. These were all observed in this guild. Adult flies emerging from the fruits also showed sufficient aggregation to account for their coexistence, as did eggs laid in the wild on artificial breeding sites. The occurrence together of these phenomena suggests strongly that the model of Atkinson & Shorrocks (1981) best explains the coexistence of so many species of Diptera.


The application of non-associated flow rule for plastic flow of anisotropic aluminium alloys sheets PA2 and PA4 is presented. The anisotropic yield criterion proposed by Ota, Shindo and Fukuoka was used as a plastic potential. The method of calculation of constants to obtain the best fit with experimental results of plastic strain increment ratios is described.


The article defines radicalisation as part of the processes of modern liberation, which are recognised in the interlacement of emancipatory potential in social pedagogy and mobilisation in the theory of community development. In parallel to this, we problematise the internally divided socio-pedagogical attitude, which, on the one hand, seeks to liberate, and on the other hand, is repeatedly caught in the preservation of existing
"oppressive" power relations. In doing so, we consider the concerns regarding political action as the goal of "radicalising" social pedagogy, which indicate that in social pedagogy we have internalized collaboration as a democratic "norm" of solving social and other societal issues and thus accepted it as the only formally realistic option to achieve structural change.


In the 20th century,the development of educational management studies in China has experienced preliminary construction,stagnation,reconstruction,forming and development stages.During this period,Chinese scholars did a lot of studies of their objects,natures,systems,research methods and construction of discipline groups.On the basis of the retrospect of and the reflection on the discipline construction of educational management studies in the 20th century,this paper puts forwards three problems that must be resolved in the development of educational management studies: they are resolving the classification of discipline,strengthening the construction of discipline and raising the academic grade of discipline.


Coastal wetlands are affected by both natural processes and human activities. In the present study, the impacts of natural processes on wetland area variations along the Jiangsu coast in the East China Sea were investigated using a long-term high-resolution numerical model (55 years from 1955 to 2010) validated by satellite and gauge observations. In our 55-year simulation, a 1.33 km2 yr−1 decreasing trend of wetland area as a result of global warming was identified. It was found that the wetland area varied depending on the following temporal scales: intra-seasonal, seasonal, interannual, and decadal. Tides and steric sea level changes are responsible for the intra-seasonal and seasonal wetland variations, respectively. The long-term variations are attributable to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation. These basin-scale phenomena cause changes in the local wind patterns along the Jiangsu coast and impact the wetland variation on long-term scales.


This article points out that the Three Gorges Prokct (TGP) has been planned mainly for flood control to protect 15 to 30 million people downstream. Power generation despite being of tremendous magnitude is secondafy in importance. Large relocation is essentially due to dense population of the nation. All altemahves would require even greater relocation.Developmental relocation now being practised may help ease the painful process. Mitigation of flood damages is tantamount to the mitigation of the worst environmental and ecological problem of loss of human lives due to floods.


Abstract A survey was conducted in farmers' fields in Nigeria during the 1990 cropping season to determine the prevalence of sorghum diseases in the four major sorghum‐growing climatic zones (Sahel, Sudan, northern Guinea, and southern Guinea). The foliar diseases anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) oval leaf spot (Ramulispora sorghicola) sooty stripe (Ramulispora sorghi) and grey leaf spot (Cercospora sorghi) were widely distributed. Anthracnose was predominant throughout the areas surveyed with ≥40% leaf area covered or destroyed by lesions in 70% of the surveyed fields. The incidence of other foliar diseases was low. Among the panicle diseases, long smut (Tolyposporium ehrenbergii) incidence was ≤10% in ≥20% farmers' fields in the sahelian zone. Head (Sporisorium reilianum) covered (Sporisorium sorghi) and loose (Sphacelotheca cruenta) smuts were common, but their incidence varied from 1 to 10% in the Sahel, Sudan, northern Guinea and southern Guinea zones. Survey results based on ELISA indicated ...


Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a rare syndrome caused by an inborn error of cholesterol
metabolism secondary to a deficiency in the 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) reductase enzyme leading to
hypocholesterolemia. A broad spectrum of clinical manifestations can have significant surgical and
anaesthetic implications. Patients exhibit growth retardation, microcephaly, congenital heart disease and
moderate to severe intellectual disability. Distinctive facial features including micrognathia, cleft palate and
prominent incisors can lead to difficult airway management [1]. We present the case of a 16-year-old female
with SLOS who developed an esophageal perforation following esophageal foreign body retrieval.
Anaesthetic and surgical considerations in a patient with SLOS are discussed.


Wheat cultivars with very early maturities appropriate for late sowings in low-rainfall (<325 mm) short-season environments are currently unavailable to wheat growers in the eastern margin of the cropping region of Western Australia. A demonstration that very early-maturing genotypes can out-perform current commercial cultivars would open new opportunities for breeding programs to select very early-maturing, high- and stable-yielding cultivars for these environments. Six field experiments were conducted over 4 seasons at 2 low-rainfall sites in Western Australia to investigate crop growth, grain yield, and water use efficiency of very early-maturing genotypes compared with current commercial cultivars when sown after 1 June. Very early-maturing genotypes reached anthesis up to 24 days (328 degree-days) earlier than the current cultivars, produced less leaves, had similar yields and dry matter, and maintained high water use efficiencies. On average across seasons and locations the very early-maturing genotypes (W87–022–511, W87–114–549, W87–410–509) yielded more than the later maturing cultivars Gamenya and Spear (190 v. 160 g/m2) but they were similar to the early-maturing commercial cultivars Kulin and Wilgoyne (191 g/m2). Very early-maturing genotypes generally had a higher harvest index and produced fewer spikelets, but heavier and more grains, than Kulin and Wilgoyne. There were only small differences in total water use between very early-maturing genotypes and commercial cultivars; however, very early-maturing genotypes used less water in the pre-anthesis period and more water in the post-anthesis period than the later maturing genotypes, and hence, experienced less water deficit during the grain-filling period. This study indicates that there is a role for very early-maturing genotypes in low-rainfall short-season environments, when the first autumn rains arrive late (after 1 June).


25/December/2019 Approved: 17/March/2020 ABSTRACT This experiment aimed to evaluate the impacts of dietary lysophospholipid (LPL) and lipase enzyme complementation based on low-energy diets on growth performance, intestinal morphology, blood metabolites, immune response, and carcass traits in broiler chickens. Two hundreds broiler chicks were assigned to a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications with ten one-day old chicks. The five treatments were: positive control (PC) without LPL supplementation and adequate in all nutrients, significant but and increased improved


The aim of this study was to determine if subclinical hypothyroidism revealed by elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels affects body composition, lipids profil and energy balance in healthy premenopausal women. A cross sectional design of the first year from the MONET (Montreal Ottawa New Emerging Team) cohort was done. The sample consisted of 94 premenopausal women. We measured body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue area by CT-scan, physical activity energy expenditure by omnidirectional accelerometer (Actical), resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry, and food intake by food diary. Plasma lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B), TSH, free thyroxin (FT4) levels were also measured. The results indicate that elevated TSH levels within normal range in healthy premenopausal women do not seem to affect body composition, lipid profile and energy balance parameters in healthy premenopausal women.


XPERIMENTS designed to utilize radiation-induced genetic variability E through artificial selection are relatively recent. Unlike studies with mutations of specific well known genes where mutation frequencies can be obtained by enumeration, the quantitative experiments rely on the measure of genetic variation and selection response as the measure of induced mutation effects. Neither the frequencies nor the magnitude of individual gene effects are known under those circumstances, so that much less precise statements can be made about genetic mechanisms underlying radiation response. Nevertheless, it has been shown for Drosophila and many species of plants that radiation-inkred polygenic variation can be of sufficient magnitude to be important. With relatively high doses of radiation (up to 100,000r) plant geneticists have been able to increase genetic variation up to sixfold of that observed in natural populations, but the effectiveness of such treatments clearly depends on whether the character considered shows an average decline from irradiation (BROCK and LATTER 1961). Thus. improvements from selection following irradiation appear more pronounced for traits such as plant height (RAWLINGS, HANWAY, and GARDNER 1958 for soya beans) or early maturity (BROCK and LATTER 1961 for subterranean clover) than for yield, which is initially reduced by radiation (GREGORY 1955 for peanuts; RAWLINGS, HANWAY, and GARDNER 1958 for soya beans). In animals almost all published evidence on selection with radiation-induced variation has been obtained with Drosophila. Two early experiments by SEREBROVSKY (1935) and ROKIZKY (1936) in Drosophila melanoguster showed relatively little added selection response in abdominal bristles due to radiation. More striking responses were obtained by SCOSSIROLI (1954) who was able to almost double the number of sternopleural bristles by alternative selection and radiation in a population that had presumably reached a plateau for that trait under previous selection. He ( SCOSSIROLI and SCOSSIROLI 1959) later repeated essentially the same experiment with isogenic lines and a population based on crossing two isogenic lines with very similar results. In the latter case he was able to increase sternopleural bristle number from about 17 to 25 over ten generations of selection with 3000r of X radiation given to both males and females. Smaller but consistent effects of radiation on selection response and genetic variation were obtained by CLAYTON and ROBERTSON (1955) for abdominal bristles in highly inbred lines of D. melunoguster derived from their Kaduna population, and using a dose of only 1800r of X rays per generation. In contrast to these successful selection experiments with bristles there is little evidence that viability in Drosophila can be improved by radiation followed by selection (WALLACE 1956; CARSON 1964).


The memory organization is partitioned into four 64k matrices. The power to the submicron CMOS memory cells is supplied by an on-chip switching voltage regulator. The 3.9V matrix supply protects the memory cells against hot carrier stress and ensures high cell noise margins'. In the 5V periphery, 1 . 3 ~ NMOS cascode devices were integrated'. Each matrix is organized in 128 rows by 512 columns and is further divided into 16 blocks of 32 columns, utilizing a divided word line structure3. A common read/write block area with local sense amplifiers and write drivers is shared between each pair of matrices. A matrix global Y-select signal enables one of eight columns and precharges the remaining unselected columns to the matrix voltage (VDI).


Osteochondral defects (OCDs) of the talus is a broad term used to describe an injury or abnormality of the talar cartilage and adjunct bone. The treatment options vary from non-surgical treatment to a variety of surgical treatments depending on patient signs and symptoms. This review aims to provide an overview of treatment strategies that could be made available in Thailand. The pros and cons of several techniques including conservative treatment, fixation, microfracture, OAT and antegrade or retrograde drilling are discussed. We also provide suggestions for future development in OCDs of the talus care.
Keywords:  osteochondral lesion of the talus, Thailand, conservative treatment, fixation, microfracture, osteochondral autografttransplantation, antegrade drilling, retrograde drilling


This paper presents preliminary studies on two aspects of nylon-based nanoclay composite films: their out-of-plane tearing fracture resistance and moisture diffusion characteristics. Attempts to analyze the out-of-plane tearing fracture based on the essential work of fracture analysis will be presented. Also, theoretical modelling of the permeability of these polymer nanocomposites is also presented which takes into account the degree of exfoliation, orientation, aspect ratio and volume fraction of the nanoclay sheets; crystallinity of polymer matrix; and the affinity of polymer and clay with the diffusing species. Comparisons with published permeability data are given.


In Guru Nanak, the Ninth Circuit upheld RLUIPA by accepting its conflation of individualized assessments and substantial burden. Although RLUIPA involved a misreading of Oregon v. Smith, it was a misreading the Ninth Circuit adopted. The question is, why did Sutter counsel allow the misreading of Smith, especially since Smith lost? It is because, in general, the American bar has failed to see that there has been a substantial corrosion of the scrutiny regime established by West Coast Hotel v. Parrish. They are in denial: they can't believe that the scrutiny regime could ever fall. And yet, the Court in Lawrence v. Texas -- which established an individually enforceable right to liberty -- not only implicitly overruled the West Coast rationale that liberty needed to be controlled -- but also, it set up a test which is not even part of the scrutiny regime. Guru Nanak affirms the undermining of the scrutiny regime, and RLUIPA will probably be upheld if Guru Nanak is appealed and on Ninth Circuit grounds. Part of the reason it will be upheld, is that those opposing RLUIPA do not know how to argue in our new Constitutional epoch, an epoch in which West Coast Hotel has been left far behind. Together, Guru Nanak and Lawrence argue a revisiting of all health and welfare regulation. The bar should take note.


This article offers specific guidelines to effective report writing: (1) It discusses the key issues in which top corporate personnel are most interested and explains how to present these issues in an informative manner; (2) it gives an organizational structure designed to facilitate report writing and to maximize reader interest by grouping ideas and concepts in a logical sequence; and (3) it details basic techniques on how to overcome writer's block, reinforce major points, and use charts, graphs, and illustrations to make a report visually appealing as well as easily readable.


Awareness regarding the importance of initial education has grown in recent years and education through research appears as a dimension to be invested considering the improvement of the quality of training and education. It is also known that national contexts have an impact on theway initial teacher education is structured and therefore on the way research is valued. The aim of this paper is to describe and discuss the relationship established between teaching and research on initial teacher education in two courses, in institutions with distinct characteristics and in two different countries – Portugal and England. Data were collected with students and educators from both coursesthrough individual and group interviews, and through focused discussion groups. The results allow us to conclude that the value attributed to research varies from country to country and from institution to institution. The Portuguese data suggest a perspective of research closer to academic research and those of England a perspective of research more associated with practice. In both cases, there areconcerns about the technical view of being a teacher and about the late appearance of research in the FIP programs.


Private participation in roads revived strongly in transition and developing countries between 2005 and 2008, growing during the period from US$6.2 billion to US$16.4 billion a year, a new historic peak. However, in view of the recent global financial crisis, there has been some retraction of private financing resulting in an investment of US$15.8 billion in 2009. Driving policy-makers' renewed interest in attracting private financing for roads is the need for greater investments to keep road networks in an acceptable condition and carry out social and economic expansion plans in a context of public budget constraints. An analysis is presented of recent trends in road projects with private participation in developing and transition economies, in view of the policies and models adopted by these countries. A procedure for estimating the minimum toll rates required to attract private investors is also presented.


Abstract Moving average techniques provide a flexible tool for the smoothing of curves of vital rates and other curves based on sequences of initial parameter estimates. These techniques are very robust, but they also give rise to a perennial problem which is unique to moving averages: They leave the curve tails ungraduated. The smoothing of the tails must be based on considerations additional to those which guided the choice of a moving average formula. This paper offers a general solution to this problem and provides an account of our experience with its practical use in extensive empirical experiments. Our method can take care of heteroscedasticity, but the graduations seem little influenced by it. This surprising finding may help explain the practical success of classical moving average formulas, whose derivation has taken no real account of variance considerations. Our findings also suggest that minimum-R 1 solutions may have better properties than the min-R 3 or min-R 4 moving averages usually recom...


After two kinds of different heat-treated technologies are applied to Ti-6Al-4V alloy, the Hopkinson tension experiment, cylinder explosive test and numerical simulation are conducted in this paper. Consequently, the differences between two hot-workings are determined and the influence of microstructure of Ti-6Al-4V alloy on the expansive radius of cylinder under internal explosive loading is revealed by microscopic analysis. The experiment and numerical calculation show that excellent mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy have been acquired by double annealing heat treatment technology. Under identical loading conditions, the double annealing hot-working gives the cylinder abundant expanding radius before leaking out of detonation products and the damage of adiabatic shear can not be formed so easily. Meanwhile, the method of determining rupture point of the cylindrical shell is practicable by high speed scanning records and the obtained fracture time is consistent with the numerical calculation results.


The growing demand for accurate and reliable on-orbit refueling missions has prompted the development of advanced solutions. In response, this paper introduces an innovative berthing system that utilizes a 6-degree-of-freedom robotic arm. The primary objective of this system is to enhance the precision and dependability of on-orbit refueling operations. To achieve improved force tracking performance, an enhanced admittance control approach is proposed, which incorporates a proportional-derivative controller. This integration enhances the traditional admittance control method and ensures precise interaction between the robotic arm and the target spacecraft during the berthing process. The effectiveness of the proposed berthing system and control algorithm is validated through extensive experimentation. The results demonstrate significant improvements in the system's fast response capability and reduction in force overshoot. Notably, when employing the designed berthing system and the improved admittance control algorithm, the maximum contact force remains below 20N, and the maximum contact torque is limited to 0.8Nm. These outcomes underscore the system's ability to achieve safe and reliable berthing operations in on-orbit refueling missions.


Objectives The objectives of the study were (a) to document the demographic and practice characteristics, levels of job satisfaction and emigration intentions of psychiatrists registered in South Africa in 2008; and (b) to compare the current data with that obtained from a 1993 survey to discern trends and observe if changes suggested following the earlier survey have indeed occurred.


In an overlapping generations maximization framework with consumers, whose information on uncertain future income realizations is front loaded, a closed form aggregate consumption function with CRRA preferences is derived. To have a closed form solution we assume that consumers solve their intertemporal optimization problem sequentially. First they assess riskadjusted life-time wealth and then the optimal consumption path. The derived model captures precautionary saving, which is dependent on the human to non-human wealth ratio. On aggregate level, after accounting for habit formation, the model is able to explain both the short-run (e.g. the excess sensitivity and the excess smoothness puzzle) and long-run stylized facts of the U.S. consumption data. JEL Classification: D11, D12, D82, E21


This study sought to address the development of accounting education in the Brazilian scenario. A methodology applied to the analytical method, however, with a quantitative and qualitative approach. The results showed that masters programs are more offered by public higher education institutions, a reality that is controversial for a graduate. The Research concludes that it is necessary to carry out a strategy and incentives to increase as vacancies in the Masters and Doctoral Programs in Brazil.


The performance of degree of polarization (DOP) is investigated as a control signal in polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) compensation systems aided by polarization scrambling. The relation between the input and output polarization states of a signal propagating through a polarization scrambler and a PMD-induced optical fiber is described by a 3 times 3 Stokes transfer matrix. The average DOP of the output signal over a period of polarization scrambling is derived as an alternative to the conventional DOP-based control signal, i.e., minimum DOP. In the presence of first- and all-order PMDs, the performance of the average and minimum DOPs in monitoring of differential group delay (DGD) for different data formats (i.e., RZ and NRZ) is evaluated. The performance of the two control signals are further investigated by calculating the outage probability of a feedforward first-order PMD compensation system. The results show that the average DOP outperforms the minimum DOP and also gives a wider DGD monitoring range.


On 28 June 2016 High Representative Federica Mogherini presented the long-awaited Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy (EUGS) to the European Council. Many pundits will present it as another example of Brussels' otherworldliness to table an external strategy just a few days after the UK created a huge internal challenge by voting to leave the Union. But would it have demonstrated a better sense of reality to pretend that because of the British decision to put a stop to its EU membership, the world around Europe will come to a stop as well? The EU needs the EUGS and that "is even more true after the British referendum", as Mogherini rightly says in the foreword. The EUGS introduces a new overall approach to foreign and security policy, which can be read as a correction on the 2003 European Security Strategy (ESS) that preceded it. "The best protection for our security is a world of well-governed democratic states", the EU said in 2003. Unfortunately, spreading good governance and democracy proved more difficult than expected, and when their absence provoked crises, the EU did not always muster the will and the means to respond. Where the ESS proved to be overoptimistic (and optimism is a moral duty, as Karl Popper said), the EUGS is more conscious of the limits imposed by European capabilities and by others' intractability, and therefore more modest. It charts a course between isolationism and interventionism, between "dreamy idealism and unprincipled pragmatism", as I put in a 2014 policy brief, under the new heading of what the EUGS now calls "principled pragmatism". This represents a return to Realpolitik. Not Realpolitik as it has come to be understood, as the end justifying the means, but Realpolitik in the original sense of the term. As John Bew usefully reminds us, Realpolitik as coined by the German liberal Ludwig von Rochau in 1853 meant a rejection of liberal utopianism, but not of liberal ideals themselves. Rather, "it held out a vision of the future and a guide for how to get there", for how to achieve those ideals in a realistic way. Or, as the EUGS has it, "responsible engagement can bring about positive change". This, says Bew, is the "real Realpolitik"; given that other actors still pursue the Machiavellian version, let's call it Realpolitik with European characteristics. The fact that for the first time ever an EU document lists our vital interests (which is a breakthrough in its own right) is a reflection of this new approach. Policy is about interests; if isn't, no one will invest in it. That applies to the EU as much as to a state and, states the EUGS, "there is no clash between national and European interests". The vital interests that the EUGS defines are vital to all Member States: the security of EU citizens and territory; prosperity (which, the EUGS states, implies equality – otherwise we would indeed not be talking about the prosperity of all citizens); democracy; and a rules-based global order to contain power politics. Setting these interests off against the analysis of the global environment that Mogherini presented to the European


Background: The potential re-emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites sensitive to chloroquine provides an opportunity for the reintroduction of the drug in patient care. With the recent discovery and spread of artemisinin resistance in South east Asia, the emergence of chloroquine sensitivity gives hope for malaria treatment globally. In this study, we explored the prevalence of genotypic chloroquine resistant P. falciparum isolates collected from symptomatic patients in northern Uganda. Methods: Finger-prick capillary blood spotted on Whatman 903 filter papers were collected from adult symptomatic outpatients ( $ 18 years) in Lira and Gulu regional referral hospitals. Patients were screened for the presence of Plasmodium infection using rapid diagnostic test histidine rich protein-2 (HRP- 2) prior to blood sample collection. Parasite DNA was extracted from individual spots on the filter papers using chelex-resin method. Presence of mutations, Pfcrt K76T and Pfmdr N86Y were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. A total of 213 and 169 amplicons were analyzed for Pfcrt K76T and Pfmdr N86Y polymorphisms, respectively. The data were analyzed in an Excel 2007 spreadsheet. Results: A total of 89/213 (41.8%) of the P. falciparum isolates analyzed for Pfcrt K76T polymorphism had wild type (chloroquine sensitive) genotype (76K). The majority, 116/213 (54.4%) carried the mutant (chloroquine resistant) genotype 76T whereas 8/213 (3.8%) had mixed genotypes Pfcrt- 76K/T (sensitive/resistant). For Pfmdr N86Y polymorphisms, the majority, 164/169 (97%) of the isolates had wild type (chloroquine sensitive) genotype Pfmdr 86N. A small proportion, (3/169) 1.8% had mutant (chloroquine resistant) genotype Pfmdr 86Y, whereas 2/169 (1.2%) samples had mixed genotypes Pfmdr1- 86N/Y (sensitive/resistant). Conclusion: P. falciparum parasites with genotypic resistance to chloroquine have persisted in the population after more than a decade since the change of policy in Uganda.


The interaction of myosin and actin plays an important role to express cell functions in various cells. Phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) causes activation of actin-activated myosin Mgt+-ATPase activity (1 for review) and that by protein kinase C (PKC) causes inactivation.2),3) Insulin-induced myosin RLC phosphorylation during receptor capping in IM-9 human B-lymphoblasts was recently reported,4) suggesting a potential involvement of insulin receptor kinase in cap formation. In this paper, we studied phosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin RLC in vitro by purified insulin receptor kinase in the presence or absence of insulin and/or poly(L-lysine). Poly (L-lysine) was included in the assays since phosphorylation of calmodulin and H-ras protein by insulin receptor kinase was found to absolutely require the presence of basic proteins.5)'6) We examined the phosphorylated myosin by pyrophosphate (PPi) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in which active, phosphorylated forms of myosin migrate faster than inactive forms.7)'8) Materials and methods. Myosin from chicken gizzard smooth muscle was prepared according to the method of Ebashi.9) Gizzard myosin light chains were dissociated from myosin heavy chain with alkali treatment.10) After neutralization, myosin heavy chain was precipitated by adding 8 vol. of ice cold 8 mM MgCl2 followed by centrifugation. The resultant supernatant was dialyzed against redistilled water followed by lyophilization and then used as a myosin light chain preparation. Insulin receptor was purified from human placental membranes as previously described.11),12) The purified receptor retained high binding and tyrosin-specific protein kinase activities. The insulin receptor (0.11kg) was preincubated in a solution containing 50 mM Tris-HC1 (pH 7.5), 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100, 2 mM MnCl2 15 mM MgC12, and 6.7x10-8 M insulin and/or 0.24 M poly(L-lysine) for 1 hr at 25°C as described previously.5) The light chain fraction and intact myosin were dissolved in the phosphorylation buffer separately and mixed with the preincubated receptor


We present a simple and robust procedure that allows extracting with high fidelity speed distributions from ion images that contain a large background contribution. The procedure requires no detailed knowledge about the background and is conveniently applied after performing the inverse Abel transform that reconstructs the three-dimensional velocity distribution from a recorded image.


Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is increasingly utilized in patients with lifethreatening neurologic injury and has several practical applications in neurocritical care. It holds promise for the diagnosis and monitoring of vasospasm (VSP) in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the detection of increased intracranial hypertension. In addition, it has the ability to estimate flow velocity alterations, associated with critical decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure, in patients with clinical diagnosis of brain death (BD). It is easily performed, it is relatively inexpensive and non invasive and can aid intensivists in optimizing neurovascular dynamics for the individual patient. In general, TCD findings in different clinical scenarios can be useful tools for screening neurocritical patients during clinical trials for the development of new therapeutic treatments, leading to improvement in final outcome. In this article we will try to describe basic technical issues regarding TCD instrument and examination and we will also try to provide a description of indications and findings in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and brain death clinical diagnosis, through the presentation of a case report with SAH and subsequent vasospasm leading to BD, treated in the Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital. Monitoring of physiologic functions is an important element of patient care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Cardiovascular and pulmonary functions can be continuously monitored in ICU; however, the development of continuous monitoring of cerebrovascular function has lagged behind. Bedside measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is a cumbersome task and requires expensive techniques that are not available in the ICU setting. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) was used in Neurology for the first time by Aaslid in 1982 [1] and is a non-invasive monitoring method that can be useful for bedside measurement of cerebral blood flow velocity (FV) and treatment response. It is portable, inexpensive, easily repeatable and non-invasive. Analysis of the FV waveform can indirectly provide information about CBF, cerebrovascular resistance and intracranial pressure (ICP) in neurocritically ill patients[2]. When monitoring cerebral heamodynamics, TCD can assess vessel patency, alterations in diameter of basal arteries of the Willis circle through the changes in FV, autoregulation (stable FV within a mean arterial pressure range of approximately 50-150 mmHg) and vascular reactivity to CO2[2-5]. TCD can also monitor vasospasm after SAH and estimate blood flow patterns in patients with stroke, head trauma, hydrocephalus and intracranial masses [6-10]. Furthermore, TCD can be of significant value for guiding therapeutic decisions and prediction of outcome. In this study we discuss methodology and basic guidelines for using TCD ultrasonography in Intensive Care Unit, Department of Neurosurgery Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis University Hospital The Greek E-Journal of Perioperative Medicine 2008; 6:95-104 (ISSN 1109-6888) www.anesthesia.gr/ejournal Ελληνικό Περιοδικό Περιεγχειρητικής Ιατρικής 2008; 6:95-104 (ISSN 1109-6888) www.anesthesia.gr/ejournal ©2008 Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine of Northern Greece ©2008 Εταιρεία Αναισθησιολογίας και Εντατικής Ιατρικής Βορείου Ελλάδος 96 the ICU, along with clinical applications in the diagnosis and monitoring of SAH and brain death. Furthermore, we present major TCD findings of a patient with SAH, complicated by cerebral vasospasm with severe intracranial hypertension that led to cerebral circulatory arrest. Examination and Doppler instrument Ultrasound examination of a vessel by means of TCD is referred to as insonation. The TCD probe is placed over different 'acoustic windows' that are specific areas of skull where the cranial bone is thin (Figure 1). The transtemporal window is used to insonate the middle cerebral artery (MCA), the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery (TICA) before its bifurcation. The transorbital window is used for insonating the ophthalmic artery (OA) and the internal carotid artery at the siphon level, whereas the transforaminal (occipital) window allows insonation of the distal vertebral arteries (VA) and the basilar artery (BA)[11,12]. Although the temporal bone allows the best insonation of the brain and its vessels, there are still important limitations. An inadequate temporal acoustic window is the major cause of inaccurate TCD measurements and has a prevalence of approximately 14.5%. In addition, bone has the highest acoustic impedance, resulting in great attenuation of the ultrasonic signal before it reaches the brain[13]. All TCD devices use a pulsed Doppler system with a low-frequency, 1-2 MHz ultrasonic signal that provides adequate penetration through thin areas of the cranium and exploits the Doppler effect, in order to determine the speed and direction (velocity) of flow in blood vessels. According to Christian Andreas Doppler, the Doppler effect is the change in the frequency or wavelength of a wave due to relative movement between the sound source and the receiver. The change in frequency is called Doppler frequency shift and is the difference between the transmitted and reflected frequencies. A positive shift indicates flow towards the transducer and a negative shift implies the opposite. Accurate estimation of the Doppler frequency shift requires knowledge of the angle between the sound beam and the flow direction (angle of insonation θ) and is inversely related to the cosine of this angle (cos θ)[11]. The ultrasonic beam is produced by piezoelectric crystals that have been stimulated electrically. This beam bounces off the erythrocytes within the insonated artery. The reflected signal is received by the transducer and converted to an electrical signal. This information is subtracted from the transmitting signal and then processed to obtain a waveform that allows accurate determination of blood flow velocities and direction of flow. Because the calculation of blood flow velocity depends on the cosine of the angle of insonation, the highest velocities are found with a 0-degree angle (cos θ=1), whereas it becomes impossible to accurately determine velocity at insonation angles approaching 90 degrees (cos 90=0). There are two categories of Doppler transducers: those that transmit and receive frequencies continuously (continuous wave-CW Doppler) and those that transmit or receive intermittently (pulse wave-PW Doppler). During TCD ultrasonography, CW Doppler transducers cannot localize the depth of reflecting signal, Figure 1: TCD probe position over different acoustic windows of the skull. The Greek E-Journal of Perioperative Medicine 2008; 6:95-104 (ISSN 1109-6888) www.anesthesia.gr/ejournal Ελληνικό Περιοδικό Περιεγχειρητικής Ιατρικής 2008; 6:95-104 (ISSN 1109-6888) www.anesthesia.gr/ejournal ©2008 Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine of Northern Greece ©2008 Εταιρεία Αναισθησιολογίας και Εντατικής Ιατρικής Βορείου Ελλάδος 97 whereas PW Doppler transducers permit knowledge of depth of insonated vessels, and are exclusively used for blood flow velocity estimation. A hand-held transducer, which operates as both transmitter and receiver, is used by the technician who takes measurements at selected sites, 25-100 mm from the transducer[11,14]. In addition, transcranial ultrasonography may allow the examination of the parenchyma of the central nervous system (CNS) through the intact skull by means of B-mode ultrasonographic imaging techniques, with the aid of many different transducers of relative low frequency (2-3.5 MHz), allowing at the same time direct visualization of insonated vessels. Ultrasonographic B-mode imaging yields twodimensional image plan segments that are liberally angled and have relatively free axial or coronal orientations. This method is the standard procedure for static imaging and allows vessel visualization through transcranial colorcoded ultrasonography techniques (TCCS), (Figure 2)[15]. Except for flow velocities [peak systolic (PS), end-diastolic (ED), mean] estimation, TCD permits calculation of pulsatility index (PI) that is considered a reliable marker of resistance distal to the insonated site. It is easily calculated by the Gosling equation: PI= (Peak systolic-end diastolic FV)/Mean FV. Another useful measure is Pourcelot's resistance index (RI) that is a measure of peripheral flow resistance. R I= (Peak systolic-end diastolic FV)/Peak systolic FV. High vascular resistance is characterized by low diastolic flow velocities and a high RI (>0.8), whereas reduced RI (<0.8) is associated with high diastolic flow and low vascular resistance[16-18]. Different vascular scenarios are related to different patterns of blood flow velocities and PI[19]. 1. Pure focal narrowing at the site of insonation will cause an increase in FV. 2. Narrowing or obstructing lesions proximal to the insonation site will cause a decrease in FV at the insonation site. 3. Distal (downstream) increased vascular resistance will decrease FV and increase PI proximal to lesion (PI>1.2). Different depth range, flow direction and normal age-related flow velocities have been established for each vessel (Table 1)[12]. Figure 2: Transcranial color-coded B-Mode ultrasonography (TCCS) of the left anterior cerebral circulation. The upper red coded segment is the middle cerebral artery (MCA), followed by the blue coded A1 segment of ipsilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA). The two spots at the bottom of the image that are placed next to each other (red and blue coded) are the controlateral right A1 segment of ACA and the right P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) respectively. Table 1: Accepted Guidelines for a normal TCD examination Artery Window Depth (mm) Direction Mean flow velocity MCA ACA PCA TICA ICA (si


The Isolation of few-layered transition metal dichalcogenides has mainly been performed by mechanical and chemical exfoliation with very low yields. in particular, the two-dimensional layer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has recently attracted much interest due to its direct-gap property and potential application in optoelectronics and energy harvesting. However, the synthetic approach to obtain high-quality and large-area MoS2 atomic thin layers is still rare. In this account, a controlled thermal reduction-sulfurization method is used to synthesize large-MoOx thin films are first deposited on Si/SiO2 substrates, which are then sulfurized (under vacuum) at high temperatures. Samples with different thicknesses have been analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and TEM, and their photoluminescence properties have been evaluated. We demonstrated the presence of mono-, bi-, and few-layered MoS2 on as-grown samples. It is well known that the electronic structure of these materials is very sensitive to the number of layer, ranging from indirect band gap semiconductor in the bulk phase to direct band gap semiconductor in monolayers. This synthetic approach is simple, scalable, and applicable to other transition metal dichalcogenides. Meanwhile, the obtained MoS2 films are transferable to arbitrary substrates, providing great opportunities to make layered composites by stacking various atomically thin layers.


Mechanical ventilation at high tidal volume (HTV) increased bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell count and protein concentration reflecting ventilator-induced lung injury. In clinically-relevant two-hit model edemagenic agonist thrombin further promoted HTV-induced lung injury in mice. These effects were attenuated by iloprost administration. In vitro, pathological cyclic stretch (CS) and thrombin caused disruption of endothelial (EC) barrier manifested by increased paracellular permeability, stress fiber and gap formation, and Rho pathway activation. Iloprost treatment markedly inhibited thrombin-induced EC barrier compromise. Rap1 knockdown suppressed protective effects of iloprost in vitro and in vivo.


In this era of antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents the incidence of postoperative wound infections has been reduce to a negligible percentage. This is due not only to these new agents but also to improvement in the efficiency of personnel, sterilization of instruments and fields, and improved surgical techniques that follow the basic concepts of good surgery and good tissue care. Against this background, there occur, rarely, certain infectious complications of normal surgical treatment. These complications, at first slow-moving, are insidious, relentless, and almost totally resistant to the usual modes of treatment. All concerned, the surgeon, the physician, the bacteriologist, and the pathologist, may well conclude that much is yet to be done in the field of bacteriology in assessing the specific organism or organisms causing such an infection and in determining the best specific therapy to combat them. All types of chronic gangrene, although characterized by certain differences, are caused


T he International Union of Nutritional Sciences, Committee IV/1 (Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension), held a meeting of experts in Oslo, Norway, on March 21-23,1985 to discuss the state of the art concerning n-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases. The meeting is summarized below. Dietary fatty acids have been associated with the occurrence of atherosclerosis and thrombosis in humans. Experimental studies have confirmed that dietary fats may induce atherosclerosis. On the other hand, a diet with reduced amounts of saturated fatty acids may cause regression of atherosclerosis in animals. Fatty acids may exhibit their effects through their influence on the metabolism of lipoproteins and other plasma proteins, or by changes introduced in platelets, endothelial cells, and monocytes and macrophages. Until now, attention has mostly been focused on the total amount of dietary fat and on the ratio between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and saturated fatty acids. However, the reports by Dyerberg and Bang on cardiovascular diseases and dietary fat intake among Eskimos drew attention to certain very long-chain PUFA of marine origin, i.e. eicosapentaenoic (20:5) acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acid (DHA), both belonging to the n-3 fatty acid family.


A Sampling moire method is one of the convenient phase analysis methods. The accuracy of phase difference analysis is from 1/100 to 1/1000 of the grating pitches. This method is useful to a real-time deformation measurement because the two-dimensional phase analysis can be performed from a single shot two-dimensional grating image. We developed a sampling moire camera which can analyze the two-dimensional displacement images in real-time by using the sampling moire method. The camera is composed of a C-MOS sensor, an FPGA, memory modules and a USB interface. A two-dimensional grating image on the object is taken by the CMOS sensor in synchronization with a camera trigger. The algorithm mentioned previous was written into the FPGA. The two-dimensional grating images analyzed from one-shot image by the FPGA and outputted in real-time. It is confirmed that the camera can measure static displacement in high accuracy. However, it is not confirmed that the camera can measure dynamic displacement in high accuracy. In this paper, the accuracy of dynamic displacement measurement by using sampling moire camera is confirmed. And the sampling moire camera was applied to measure dynamic displacement of train bridges while a train is passing.


Introduction: In our centralized unit for the preparation of anticancer drugs, quality control is carried out by flow injection analysis (FIA) with detection by photodiode array detector. Criteria of concentration acceptance were established with ±10% of the theoretical concentration. The infusions were prepared with polyolefin infusions bags (Easyflex). However, due to an Easyflex shortage, Viaflo infusion bags were used and cyclophosphamide (CPM) concentrations showed a 10% increase despite a similar manufacturing process. The objectives of this work were to study the influence of different containers on CPM concentrations measured by FIA and to investigate the origin of this artificial increase in concentration. Methods: Thirty infusions were prepared using 3 different infusion bags: Viaflo multilayer container, Ecoflac, low-density polyethylene, and Easyflex polyolefin bags. Vials of CPM 1g were reconstituted with 50mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. CPM was injected into 0.9% sodium chloride 250-mL infusion bags. Then 1mL samples were withdrawn to be analyzed by FIA, to determine CPM concentrations (ultraviolet detection at 205nm). Results: Mean CPM concentration values (n=10) were 3.52mg/mL for Viaflo infusions, 3.12mg/mL for Ecoflac infusions, and 3.16mg/mL for Easyflex infusions. CPM concentrations were higher in Viaflo infusion bags. This difference could be explained by e-caprolactam, a component released by the multilayer infusion bag. Conclusion: Viaflo infusion bags disturb outcomes of CPM dosage with a concentration artificially increased by about 10%. The FIA method cannot be used to quantify CPM at this concentration and at wavelength 205nm. Abbreviations: CPM = cyclophosphamide; FIA = flow injection analysis; HDPE = high-density polyethylene; HPLC = highperformance liquid chromatography; LDPE = low-density polyethylene; PDA = photodiode array; RP-HPLC = reversed-phase highperformance liquid chromatography; UV = ultraviolet.


An implantable stimulation device without lead (10), comprising: a capsule stimulation including a housing (12), the housing having a proximal region (16) and a distal region (14); a first electrode (26) disposed along the distal region; and one or more anchor members (18) coupled to the distal region including at least one of the anchoring members with a region a composite curve comprising a plurality of different curves; and wherein each of the anchor members are able to switch between a first configuration and a deployed configuration, and wherein at least one of the anchoring members includes the region with the composite curve when it is in the deployed configuration.


The InSAR technique has been proved to be a powerful tool in order to detect, monitoring and analyse movements related to geological phenomena. Its application ranges from regional/national scale to a very detailed scale, up to a single building analysis. Moreover, since 2014, the free and constant availability of Sentinel-1 data has been helping the tendency of using more and more this technique in the institutional risk management activities. Many European and national projects have been financed in order to investigate and improve the processing performances and broaden the operational use and application of the results. In this work, we present the first results developed in the framework of the project Riskcoast (SOE3/P4/E0868) over an area of around 4 km2 in Andalucía (Spain), including the city and the coast of Granada. Riskcoast has been funded by the Interreg Sudoe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The presented work is as an example of multi scale (medium to large) application of InSAR for geohazard applications. The velocity map including the estimation of the displacement time series have been produced over the whole area by processing 139 radar images of the Sentinel-1 (A and B). Starting from those results a rapid and semi-automatic extraction of the most significant active displacement areas (ADA) has been performed. Then, after a classification of the detected areas, a more detailed analysis has been done over some selected costal landslides. Over those landslides a damage mapping has been generated based on field surveys, and then analysed together with the spatial gradient of displacement derived by the InSAR results. The Riskcoast project will be introduced and the first results presented.


Could marine plastic pollution be integrated as a novel entity within the planetary boundary framework? We know that human activities are capable of changing the normal function of Earth-systems pr ...


E.J. Stevens discusses the new procedure introduced by the Federal Reserve in October 1979 to achieve money-growth objectives, focusing on the supply of nonborrowed reserves. Weekly nonborrowed-reserve objectives accommodate expected seasonal and some offsetting week-to-week variations in the demand for money. Otherwise off-target money growth is accommodated only through the discount window, with consequent repercussions on the federal-funds rate and other rates. Persistent deviations of money from target automatically cause interest-rate movements that tend to counteract the deviations, reinforced or dampened by discretionary adjustments in the nonborrowed-reserve objective and the discount rate. Experience with the new procedure in 1980-81 demonstrates the willingness of the Federal Open Market Committee to tolerate substantial interest-rate variations to achieve noninflationary money growth.


Selenium as a trace element essential is of great importance to human health.Func-tional Se-enriched food has become emphasis of the present research and development of food products,Se-enriched sweetpotato as a natural nutrition,health food,are broad prospects for development.For the reasons,the paper outlined the selenium to the importance of human health,the development of the practical significance of Se-enriched sweetpotato,sweetpotato selenium nutrition-related research as well as the outlook of Se-enriched sweetpotato.


The following section of this supplement concerning current technologies focuses on the six CE-marked devices for renal denervation. The pace at which next-generation catheters are currently being designed is incredible and the fact that the field of renal denervation promises to be a highly profitable business has encouraged up to 65 companies today into positioning themselves in this emerging market. Multiple treatment modalities are being tested with various energy sources, intravascular drug delivery and non-invasive as well as non-renal artery approaches. In addition, the manufacturers of the currently discussed CE-marked devices are already working on second and third generations of their existing products.


Recently, scholars worldwide have been focusing on conducting studies on energy-saving behavior to promote efficient usage and conservation of energy. However, in Vietnam and some other developing ...


This study was carried out to determine the growth performance and carcass
characteristics of Finisher Broiler birds fed varying levels of Black Soldier Fly
larvae meal (BSFLM) at Enugu State University of Science and Technology
(ESUT) Teaching and Research Farm. A total of 128 Finisher broilers were
used for the experiment which lasted for four (4) weeks. The 128 birds were
randomly assigned to four (4) dietary treatment groups and each treatment was
replicated four times with eight (8) birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. T1, which was the control group had 0% inclusion of BSFLM. T2,
T3 and T4 contained 0.07%, 0.14% and 0.21% BSFLM treatment levels. The
result of the experiment showed that at 0.21% (T4) inclusion level of BSFLM,
the final weight, total weight gain, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) better than other treatments (T1, T2 and
T3); T1 and T2 were significantly (P>0.05) not different. The prime cuts of
drumstick, thigh, breast and gizzard followed the same pattern observed with
growth. It can be concluded that 0.21% inclusion of Black Soldier Fly Larvae
Meal enhanced growth performance as well as carcass characteristics of finisher broiler


Hugh Davis Graham is professor of history at the University of Mary land in Baltimore. The modern feminist move ment came of age during the 1970s. Yet these events have been so recent that we lack both the histori cal perspective and the evidence necessary to understand their full meaning. In short, the mature books that we need on the 1970s have not yet been written. Now that the major archival holdings are being opened for research, we can soon expect to receive a wave of second generation studies that probe the events of the 1970s. This essay will survey the current major literature and specu late on the contours of the coming interpretations. It will concentrate on the realm of public policy, espe cially in the national arena. Much of the future history of women in the 1970s will lie outside the gambit of national politics and policy--in the rich lodes of popular culture, of social and economic life, intellectual and professional development, women's biography and organiza tions, state and local history. But as in the past, with the movements for black civil rights and women's suf frage, the original tone of interpre tation tends to be set by national studies of politics and policy. American feminism was reborn in the 1960s. It spun off of the movement for black civil rights, much as the radical feminism of the Civil War era had flowed from the egalitarian logic and reform experi ence of abolitionism. Yet not until 1980 did we get our first archival based history of women and public policy during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. This was Patricia Zelman's able monograph, Women, Work, and National Policy (1980). The 1960s witnessed the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the publication of American Women, the report of President Kennedy's Commission on the Status of Women (also in 1963); the unex pected inclusion of gender protec tion in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: and the formation of the National Organization of Women (NOW) in 1966 to pressure the recal citrant Equal Employment Oppor tunities Commission (EEOC) to enforce the rights of women as well as those of minorities. The second mature histori cal study of the 1960s, Cynthia Harrison's On Account of Sex (1988), covers the postwar years through 1968. Whereas Zelman looks mainly at job discrimination against women and efforts to combat it, Harrison's more comprehensive study surveys a broad range of women's national policy issues. Most of them cen tered on the running battle among Democrats between the special pro tectionists led by Eleanor Roosevelt, Mary Anderson, and Esther Peter son, and the younger feminists of the 1960s, like Marguerite Rawalt and Pauli Murray, who pushed for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). These books appeared as late as the 1980s largely because the Kennedy and Johnson presidential libraries, upon which Zelman and Harrison mainly based their research, did not open their collections on domestic policy until the 1970s. For much the


In this article, the authors suggest a profile-likelihood approach for estimating complex models by maximum likelihood (ML) using standard software and minimal programming. The method works whenever setting some of the parameters of the model to known constants turns the model into a standard model. An important class of models that can be estimated this way is generalized linear mixed models with factor structures. Such models are useful in educational research, for example, for estimation of value-added teacher or school effects with persistence parameters and for analysis of large-scale assessment data using multilevel item response models with discrimination parameters. The authors describe the profile-likelihood approach, implement it in the R software, and apply the method to longitudinal data and binary item response data. Simulation studies and comparison with gllamm show that the profile-likelihood method performs well in both types of applications. The authors also briefly discuss other types of models that can be estimated using the profile-likelihood idea.


In recent years, several studies proposed new techniques aimed at improving the performances of rigid block‐like objects under base excitation. The majority of these studies considered passive control methods, such as base isolation or other techniques based on the tuned mass damper principle. Only few studies considered active and semi‐active control methods applied to the dynamics of rigid blocks. This paper proposes an active control method for symmetric rigid blocks that is based on the LQR approach. The optimal control law is obtained starting from the linearized equation of motion. The effectiveness of the proposed control method is investigated comparing the behaviour of rigid blocks with and without active control under harmonic and seismic excitation. The results are summarized in overturning spectra, in the case of harmonic excitation, and rocking maps, in the case of seismic excitation. Although the proposed active control method is expected to work well for slender blocks, specific analyses show that the method also improves the dynamics of no‐slender blocks and is effective for blocks with different geometrical characteristics. Moreover, the results show that the control law has a good robustness with respect to the sampling time and the time delay.


A faunistic field study of 2237 specimens of lymnaeids found in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt, was carried out Malacological analyses showed that only the species Radix natalensis was included in the snail materials collected Snail population dynamics studies showed that lymnaeid numbers peak in spring and summer, and decrease in autumn and winter A total of 91 snail specimens (41%) was found infected by trematode larval stages, with the highest infection rate in autumn followed by spring, and the lowest in winter Fasciolid larval stages were detected in 35 individuals (156%), including very low rates of snail infection during July (048%) and September (063%), an appreciable rise in April (307%) followed by another increase in October (412%), and the highest percentage during November (1296%) No fasciolid infection could be found in lymnaeids collected during the rest of the year Three species of cercariae, other than Fasciola, were found among a total of 56 (25%) infected snails: xiphidiocercariae were found in 53 lymnaeids (236%), echinostome cercariae in 2 snails (009%), and bird schistosome cercariae in only 1 snail (005%)


Summary

Following exposures to potato root diftusate of between 6 and 12 h, desiccation killed a proportion of juveniles in eggs of G. pallida and affected the hatching behaviour of survivors. In hatching tests of 9 wk duration, more juveniles hatched in the final wk from cysts, which were soahed and dried alternately for 9 wk than from cysts soaked in tap water for the final 2 wk only. Mustard root diffusate prevented eggs previously stimulated by potato root diffusate from hatching, but it did not alleviate the effects of desiccation.


In semi-arid tropical regions, the availability of reliable data for water retention in relation to soil type, texture, and organic matter content is low. It would be therefore desirable to develop pedotransfer functions (PTF) in order to estimate water retention characteristics from easily available soil parameters. In the present study, a soil database containing water retention characteristics, particle size distribution, and total organic carbon content of 663 horizons from semi-arid regions in NE Brazil and SE Niger was used to investigate the effect of contrasting clay mineral composition on water retention and PTF characteristics for soils from semi-arid tropical regions. For soil water content at field capacity (–33 kPa) and wilting point (–1500 kPa), PTFs were established and validated with disturbed samples from LAC soils (soils containing predominantly low activity clay; CEC < 24 cmol/kg clay) and non-LAC soils. The PTFs for the LAC soil group differed considerably from the PTFs for non-LAC soils with respect to the contribution of total organic carbon and silt content to the prediction of soil water content at field capacity and wilting point. For the particle size classes sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, and sandy clay loam, the mean measured soil water contents in LAC soils were significantly smaller than in non-LAC soils at a matric potential of –33 kPa. The results demonstrate the influence of clay mineral composition on soil water retention and its importance for the development of pedotransfer functions.


Background : Number of new events of oncology diseases in Georgia ranges from 7 000 to 8 000 annually and is the second reason for population mortality indicators. Social challenges existing in the country and healthcare system during the years, structural reforms, problems with respect to medical service accessibility have evidently hindered availability of oncology diseases detection on their early stage of development. Reforms conducted in the healthcare system of the county, widening of screening programs availability, cancer diseases detection on the early stage and activation of population registry in the country have considerably contributed to the proper evaluation of epidemiological indicators, diagnosis and treatment results significant improvement. Notwithstanding conducted reforms and achieved success, current regulatory documents fail to correspond to the international standards and acknowledged regulations. They need certain refining in accordance with international guidelines and clinical experience. Method : For the literature review we have revised articles, methodological guides, orders and manuals published PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, CANCERLIT, EMBASE, PsychINFO and Google Scholar medical database. Unfortunately, databases not properly recognized the keyword – "clinical groups" in oncology despite the Soviet period regulatory documents and literature, which are still available and actual in current regulatory documents and orders in Georgia. Conclusion : The concept Clinical Group in the practice of clinical oncology represents the unit of dispenser station remaining from the Soviet healthcare system. Unfortunately, in Georgia, it is to the date the indicator for assessment of incurable patient status. Notwithstanding the fact that throughout the world, there are several factors defining general criteria for assessment of incurable patient, such as general standing of the patient, incidence/outbreak of oncological disease, concomitant diseases, current complications and along with the all above-mentioned, life quality of the patient, the elements of the Soviet healthcare system remaining in Georgia precondition receipt of such significant treatment/service for the oncological patients, as adequate administration of the chronic pain, and build a kind of bureaucratic barrier between the patients and the medical service. To the date, use of the clinical groups in the medical practice is conditional and its presence interferes with the complete/perfect service rendering to the patients, making it impossible for the patients to be prescribed with opioids for medical needs in case of severe pain while anti-cancer radical treatment.


most frequently observed in urban areas in Japan is the problem related to neighboring residents being deprived of sunshine and drafts which they previously enjoyed. In recent years, interference of T.V. signals due to highrise buildings has become another cause of such conflicts. In origin, they are private conflicts which can be settled in courts of law according to the Japanese legal system and there are a considerable number of court deci-


Non-recurrent traffic events, consisting of events of an unpredictable nature such as incidents and vehicle breakdowns, can either directly or indirectly influence road traffic. A better understanding of these events could prove beneficial towards improving a multitude of facets concerning the management of the Dutch road network. Traditional traffic event detection, based on significant changes in traffic flow/speed characteristics, is often limited by sparse road sensor coverage. More importantly, traditional detection methods are unable to categorize and describe traffic events. The aim of this study is to explore to which extent geosocial data (e.g., data from Twitter and Waze) could enrich traditional traffic data (e.g., traffic speed/flow data), in order to improve the detection, categorization, and description of traffic events in the Netherlands. In order to achieve this, a pipeline was designed for extracting knowledge on traffic events from geosocial data sources. We collected geosocial data from Twitter, Waze, and TomTom and used traffic data provided by DiTTLab. We specifically focused on reports by real road users, which we define as natural persons that report on their own account, therefore excluding all legal person entity accounts such as public/private organizations, and bots. A machine learning approach was applied to automatically classify tweets as either traffic event related or not. In order to categorize tweets into a traffic event category, a rule-based traffic domain annotator was created. Additionally, a geocoding method to link tweets to a geographic location was developed. As Waze and TomTom event reports are classified and geocoded by default, we could cluster these reports together with the processed tweets based on their categorical, spatial and temporal extent into a combined traffic event. These combined traffic event reports were then linked to traffic data, based on corresponding spatial and temporal aspects. In order to present the collected data, a web-based interactive map application was built. This methodology was applied to data collected over the period from 05-12-2017 to 17-02-2018. From the set of collected tweets approximately 6.71% proved traffic event related. Based on a linear support vector machine classification model we achieved an average f1-score of 0.95 and an accuracy of 0.954, for detecting traffic event-related tweets. The rule-based traffic domain annotator showed an average f1-score of 0.874, and an accuracy of 0.964. The geocoding method proved able to geocode tweets to a location that covers all place indicators in a tweet in 86% of the evaluated cases. The remaining 14% of the tweets either got geocoded to a part of relevant indicators or to no relevant indicators at all. Our clustering approach is able to cluster 39.61% of the event reports into a traffic event report cluster consisting out of more than one event report, from which 48.66% could be linked to traffic data. All in all, based on the achieved results, this work shows that geosocial data can be used to enrich traffic data towards the improvement of the detection, categorization, and description of non-recurrent traffic events.


In ancient times, botanical extracts were essential complementary method for microbial control. This study has been carried out to assess the antibacterial activities of methanol, acetone, and aqueous leaf extracts of Libyan Juniperus phoenicea L. against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, S. haemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis) using the agar well diffusion method. Based on the inhibition zone's diameter or appearance, the tested MDR bacteria were identified as susceptible, intermediate, or resistant using the standard criteria. The current study's findings showed that the concentration, type of solvent and bacterial species had a significant impact on the effectiveness of the plant extracts. Results of the study revealed that the methanol and acetone extracts demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial properties against all tested bacteria at all predefined concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100%), with the zone of inhibition ranging from 15.66 to 27.66 mm. Among the tested solvents, the aqueous extract of J. phoenicea was the least effective against the clinical bacterial isolates. Further, the plant's leaf extracts were more effective against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Most importantly, neither the aqueous extract nor the standard antibiotics inhibited P. aeruginosa, while the methanol and acetone extracts displayed remarkable inhibition zones against all tested bacteria. Consequently, the plant extracts (acetone and methanol) in this study may provide insightful information about the potential use of J. phoenicea leaves as a natural antibacterial agent, which could be used to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.


Working long hours during your period can be tough, Abi Rimmer hears, but there are some things you can do to make it a bit easier


Self-regulated learning strategies have recently received a remarkable attention by researchers. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between self-regulated learning strategies and students' language proficiency as well as their reading comprehension. To do so, 115 Iranian EFL university students were selected. First, a TOEFL test was given to the participants so as to determine their language proficiency and reading comprehension. Then, they were asked to fill out Self-Regulated Learning Strategies Questionnaire (Al Asmari & Mahmoud Ismail, 2012). To analyze the data, descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were conducted. The results revealed that there is a significant relationship between the students' use of self-regulated learning strategies and their language proficiency. Also, a significant relationship between the students' use of self-regulated learning strategies and their reading comprehension was found. Finally, the pedagogical message of this study is that teachers and students should incorporate self-regulated learning strategies into their teaching and learning process.


Potts and Factored Attention estimate a single undirected graphical model from the training data. While a single graph can be a good approximation for the structure associated with a protein family, many families have subfamilies with different functional specializations and even different underlying contacts.45,46 Since subfamily identity is rarely known, allowing edge weights to be a function of sequence could enable the estimation of a family of graphs. In the language of the Transformer, factored attention estimates a single graph because it computes queries and keys using only the positional encoding. We show more precisely that factored attention can be recovered from standard attention by computing queries and keys from one-hot positional encodings and values from one-hot sequence embeddings. Single attention layer. Given a sequence of dense vectors x = (x1, . . . , xL) with xi ∈ Rp, the attention mechanism of the Transformer encoder (multihead scaled dot product selfattention) produces a continuous representation y ∈ RL×p. If head size is d, this representation is computed using H heads (WQ,WK ,WV ), where WQ,WK ,WV ∈ Rp×d. Queries, keys, and values are defined as Q = xWQ,K = xWK , V = xWV . For a single head (WQ,WK ,WV ), the output is given by


Fast food is characterized by unbalanced nutrient content. mostly high in calories, fat, but very low in fiber. consumption of fast food will lead to excessive problems of nutrition. This research was conducted to study the behavior (knowledge and attitude) of female adolescent and the diet of fast food (frequency, type, and number of carbohydrate, protein, fat and fiber) to the female adolescent at SMAN 1 Barumun. This research is descriptive study by cross sectional study.sample amounted to 77 is the  female student in class X, XI, XII, SMAN 1 Barumun. primary data collection using questionnaires, forms meal frequency and recall 24 hours. The result of research indicates that the female adolescent have good knowledge (97,4%) and have good attitude (74%) to the fast food, type of fast food consumed by adolescent is snack , fried, sausage, and instan noodles with frequency of weekly, daily, weekly, and monthly. Contribution of carbohydrates, proteins and fats consumed by adolescent SMAN 1 Barumun already exceed the recommended dietary allowance figures, while the fiber is still far from the recommended dietary allowance. It suggested of the female adolescent to have a good diet pattern and minimize the consumtion of fast food to avoid the obesity. Keyword : fast food behavior, nutrition status.


The antioxidative activities of crude and pure polysaccharides from Rosa roxburghii were compared using the superoxide anion free radical system,hydroxyl radical system and system of DPPH·.The experimental results showed that crude and pure polysaccharides had different scavenging effect in these radical systems,and the antioxidetive activities become stronger with the increase of the polysaccharide concentration.The quality concentration IC50 was 0.325mg/mL for the crude polysaccharide to inhibit hydroxyl radical,while the pure polysaccharide IC50 was 0.56mg/mL.The scavenging capability of the crude polysaccharide to superoxide anion free radical was stronger than the pure polysaccharide,but weaker than Vc.The IC50 of crude polysaccharide scavenging DPPH· was 0.03mg/mL,however,the scavenging ability of pure polysaccharide only reached to 27% at the concentration of 0.5mg/mL.The scavenging capability of the crude polysaccharide was stronger than those of pure polysaccharide on the three free radical system.