Ionization is the fundamental process in interaction of atoms/molecules with femtosecond strong laser fields. Comparing to atoms, molecules exhibit peculiar behaviors in strong-field ionization because of their diverse geometric structures, molecular electronic orbitals as well as extra nuclear degrees of freedom. In this study, we investigate strong field single and double ionization of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in linearly polarized 50-fs, 800-nm laser fields with peak intensity in the range of 2×1013 W/cm2 to 2×1014 W/cm2 using time-of-flight mass spectrometer. By comparing the ionization yields with that of the companion atom krypton (Kr), which has similar ionization potential to the molecules, we investigate the effect of molecular electronic orbitals on the strong-field ionization. The results show that comparing to Kr, no significant suppression is observed in single ionization of both molecules and in non-sequential double ionization (NSDI) of CO, while the NSDI probability of CO2 is strongly suppressed. Based on our results and previous studies on homonuclear diatomic molecules (N2 and O2), the mechanism of different suppression effect is discussed. It is indicated that the different structure of the highest occupied molecular orbitals of CO and CO2 leads to distinct behaviors in two-center interference by the electronic wave-packet and angular distributions of the ionized electrons, resulting in different suppression effect in strong-field ionization.


There is a wide-spread assumption in academia that each individual student has unique learner characteristics, learns differently and possesses a "learning style." Attempts to measure these characteristics and to establish reliable learner styles have been less than 100% successful. One historical problem with learning styles research is that no one has clearly defined the underlying elements of a learning style.


Background: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is considered, most common cause of end stage Liver disorder needing liver transplantation worldwide. NAFLD is considered the hepatic presentation of metabolic syndrome. The association between thyroid dysfunction and NAFLD has increasingly become a focus of research. Aim of Study: Evaluation of thyroid function in obese adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease attending at Tanta University Hospitals from July 2017 to February 2018. Patients and Method: In our study patients were classified into 2 groups first included 60 obese with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD) patients, second group included 60 obese non NAFLD patients recruited from endocrinology, diabetology and metabolism outpatient clinics and inpatient wards, Internal Medicine Department at Tanta University Hospitals. Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Thyroxine (FT4), Free Tri-iodiothyronine (FT3) by ELISA, Anti thyroid peroxidase (ANTI-TPO), Anti thyroglobulin (Tg Ab) and thyroid ultrasound were done for both groups for evaluation of thyroid function in obese adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease attending at Tanta University Hospitals from July 2017 to February 2018. Results: TSH levels showed statistically significant difference being higher within obese NAFLD group p=0.001 with mean values 2.72±0.77 in obese NAFLD group, 1.93± 0.66 in obese non-NAFLD group. Also FT4 levels showed statistically significant difference lower in obese NAFLD group p=0.006 with mean values 1.08±0.22 in obese NAFLD group, 1.25±0.42 in obese non-NAFLD group. As regard FT3 levels, ANTI-TPO levels, Tg Ab levels and thyroid ultrasound characters did not show statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: We concluded that there was elevation in levels of TSH within the normal range in obese NAFLD group over obese non-NAFLD group. Also FT4 results was within normal range 0.8-1.8ng/dl with lower levels in obese NAFLD group than obese non-NAFLD we still need further research on large scale. Correspondence to: Dr. Asmaa M. Emara, The Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University


Tubing failures caused by CO/sub 2/ corrosion and erosion are examined. Corrosion inhibitors were used for batch treatments, formation squeezing and continuous injection downhole through the annulus. Plastic-coated tubing also was used. Evaluation was by surface corrosion monitoring, tubing caliper surveys and inspection of recovered tubing. Economics were reviewed.


Sulfonamides are considered to be biologically active and an important class of pharmaceutical compounds. These constitute an important class of antimicrobials, antidiabetics, anticancer and diuretics. These were the first chemotherapeutic drugs introduced to the world but their rapidly developed resistance decreased their use. In the present work, N-(2/4-substitutedphenyl)-4-(substituted)benzenesulfonamide (3a-d) and N-(tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (3e) were synthesized by the reaction of substituted aniline (1a-c) and tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethanamine (1d) with substituted benzenesulfonyl chloride (2a-d) using 10% aqueous Na2CO3 solution as a reaction medium. In the second step, the synthesized molecules 3a-e were allowed to react different alkyl/aralkyl halides (4a-j) to synthesize the target N-substituted compounds, 5a-z,aa,bb, using lithium hydride as an activator and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as a reaction medium. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by using spectral techniques such as 1H-NMR, IR and EI-MS; and further examined for their anti-bacterial activities.


This paper aims to shed light on how producers (artistic production companies) on the one hand, and distributors (theaters) on the other, can regulate their exchanges in the performing arts distribution channel. Indeed, the principal contribution of this paper is to bring to light the various determinants of a theater's programming and their possible repercussions on its relationships with artistic production companies. The first part is therefore devoted to the presentation of a theoretical framework for analyzing a distributor's programming strategy and its impact on relations upstream in the channel. The second part of the paper presents the empirical research that was conducted at three major theaters in the south of France. The third and final part of the paper presents the findings. They show that, contrary to a widely-held opinion among performing arts professionals, theater managers do not build their programming solely on the basis of their own artistic preferences and affinities. Other factors come into play, and affect the theater's choice of artistic production company and particular show just as much.


In this article, we investigate when the set of primitive geodesic lengths on a Riemannian manifold have arbitrarily long arithmetic progressions. We prove that in the space of negatively curved metrics, a metric having such arithmetic progressions is quite rare. We introduce almost arithmetic progressions, a coarsification of arithmetic progressions, and prove that every negatively curved, closed Riemannian manifold has arbitrarily long almost arithmetic progressions in its primitive length spectrum. Concerning genuine arithmetic progressions, we prove that every noncompact arithmetic hyperbolic 2– or 3–manifold has arbitrarily long arithmetic progressions in its primitive length spectrum. We end with a conjectural characterization of arithmeticity in terms of arithmetic progressions in the primitive length spectrum. We also give an approach to a well known spectral ridigity problem based on the scarcity of manifolds with arithmetic progressions.


With the development and utilization of wind energy, as well as the large number of power electronic devices access to power system, subsynchronous oscillation has a serious threat to the safe and stable operation of wind power grid-connected system. In view of this phenomenon, this paper has carried on the research of analysis and suppression strategy of subsynchronous oscillation in wind power grid-connected system. Firstly, the model of wind power grid-connected system is established by using double-fed induction generator (DFIG). Then, the subsynchronous oscillation is simulated by PSCAD/EMTDC, and the mechanism of subsynchronous oscillation is analyzed by frequency scanning method and time domain simulation method. The subsynchronous oscillation suppression strategy based on bypass current compensation is verified by simulation.


Studies have shown that nitrogen oxides released to the atmosphere as a result of combustion processes can be linked to the formation of acid rain and ground level ozone (smog). Several different processes to reduce the amount of NOx (deNOx process) have been developed and applied. A common factor in all is the need to control the ammonia slip below the low PPM levels. The flue gas stream contains ammonia, nitrogen oxides and in some cases sulfur dioxide. These components all absorb UV radiation, and therefore can be monitored by a UV diode array process spectrometer. In some applications, however, the sulfur dioxide concentration in the gas can be too high to allow for the accurate and direct measurements of the ammonia slip. To overcome this difficulty a fast separation cell is utilized to remove the SO2 from the stream prior to measurement. The analyzer measures the spectrum of the almost separated components; the spectra are then analyzed by a multicomponent method to give the concentration of the individual components. Withdrawing a representative sample across the stack is a crucial factor in this application; spatial averaging across the stack is obtained by drawing a sample through 12 holes with non-equal diameters. The spectroscopic methods, separation of stream components, and the in-situ sampling will be discussed.


We propose an experimental setup for cracking the TDS of electro-optic self-feedback phase loop, and demonstrate the feasibility of the cracking scheme for modulating NRZ signals at different rates by combining statistical analysis techniques with hardware devices.


born in barcelona in 1955, Arnal ballester has always been attracted to art and began to draw at a young age. Although he studied History at the Universidad Autónoma of barcelona, he also pursued his love of art, studying illustration and Art at the Escola Massana d'Art i disseny of barcelona and at the Artes y ofi cios in Lootja. While working as an illustrator for Spanish comedic magazines during the seventies, he created his fi rst work of children's literature, Les onades, in 1973. Since then, he has gone on to illustrate many books for children and young people as well as continuing to provide illustrations for major newspapers. Much of ballester's most important work has been his illustrations for key Venezuelan authors, including Chamario, written by noted poet Eduardo Polo. in addition to illustrations, ballester has also become known for his work with animation, receiving several awards, including the Festival de Annency Award in 2005. Currently, he is a teacher of illustration at the Escola Massana d'Art i disseny in barcelona. ballester has won awards and recognition both nationally and internationally for his illustrations. in 1993, he received the National Children ś book illustrator Award from the Spanish Ministry of Education and in 1994 the ragazzi di bologna-UNiCEF named him illustrator of the Year. other important awards that ballester has received include the Critica Serra d ́or in 1995 and the National illustration Award in Spain in 2008. Arnal ballester's illustrations speak to children though their playful, joyful images, full of bright colors and movement. He also incorporates humor, wit, and metaphors taken from everyday life. Yet, it is for these same reasons that his creations appeal to more mature audiences as well. He uses the texts that he illustrates as both points from which to create and expand his own world around, as well as to challenge their meanings. Yet, ballester does not need any text in order to create his illustrations: his book No tinc paraules [i Have No Words] provides a narrative that is completely visual.


Abstract:The Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer's 1966 novel, The Late Bourgeois World was written in response to the demise of an underground organization of the early 1960s in South Africa, the African Resistance Movement (ARM). It tells the story of Max van den Sandt, whose political career is a failure and who chooses suicide, leaving his ex-wife Elizabeth mulling over their life together. In due course, Elizabeth has to discover her own future as an activist. The novel's treatment of the subject was modeled by Albert Camus's L'Etranger and its achievement is to create an austere, detached mode of address which demonstrates how, in South Africa's version of what Ernst Fischer called "the late bourgeois world," sabotage would come to be seen as an existential solution. The essay draws on historical and archival sources, including court records and censorship archives, to explore Gordimer's rewriting of history.


Dissociation of acetaldehyde in moderate strong laser field of 1013–1014 W/cm2 was investigated. Singly charged parent ion CH3CHO+ and fragmental ions CH3+, CHO+, C2H4+, O+, CH2CHO+, and H+ were produced by 800 nm laser of 100 fs pulse duration and recorded by time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The CH3+ fragment further dissociated to CH2+, CH+, and C+ ions at higher intensity. Ab initio calculated results show that the singly-, doubly-, and triply charged parent ions are stable. So, the dissociation mechanism was not due to Coulomb explosion of multicharged ion. A field-assisted dissociation (FAD) theory, which assumes that only one bond undergoes dissociation while the rest of the molecular geometry stays unchanged, was employed to treat the dissociation dynamics. Accordingly, the dressed potential energy surfaces of the ground state for the parent and the fragment ions were calculated. Corresponding quasiclassical trajectory calculations show that the bond ruptures take place in the order of C–C, C–O, a...


The Government of India launched its National Rural Roads Program known as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to connect the 167 thousand unconnected villages in the country by all-weather roads to improve connectivity there. It is important to study the impact of such intervention on various socio-economic indicators of rural development there. This study assesses the impact of those roads on the different aspects of rural community. The assessment has been completed based on spatial visualisation of the impact created by various facility parameters in rural development using various questionnaires formed and applied on a few selected blocks. Spatial data was collected and integrated using open-source software (QGIS) and statistical analysis has been performed to understand the percentage change in socio-economic indicators related to education, healthcare, agriculture, marketing and employment opportunities which are essential elements of the integrated rural development in India. The analysis appears helpful in estimating the sensitivity of government policies in the context, and thus understanding the requirement of policy changes and implementation in rural India.


Effect of the Type of Connecting Bridge (Skybridge) on the Stability of the Multi-Story Building Structure. The stability of a building will increase to a shock (earthquake) if it is connected by another building compared to if it only stands alone. In planning the bridge bridge structure (skybridge), it is necessary to study the selection of effective pedestal types on the connecting bridge. But at present, studies on the types of effective pedestals on connecting bridges are still lacking. This study aims to determine the comparison of the stability value of many multi-storey building structures that are connected by bridges (skybridge) with variations in the type of pedestal rollers, joints, and rigid. The building structure consists of two 50-storey identical buildings with the main material reinforced concrete. The structure of the building was analyzed with the ETABS program. The analysis used is a dynamic analysis of Time linear History, using 3 earthquake data, namely the Kobe Earthquake (Japan), the Tabas Earthquake (Iran), and the Chi-Chi Earthquake (Taiwan). The results showed the smallest displacement value was 89.955 mm found in variations of the T8 pedestal, namely the Stiff-Joint, Stiff-Joint. With a displacement value of 91,467 mm, the combination of the Stiff-Stiff, Stiff-Stiff is the most effective in stabilizing the building on the combination of A-A, A-A. With a displacement value of 95,361 mm, a combination of Rigid Joints, Rigid Joints is the most effective in stabilizing buildings in a combination of A-B, A-B. With a displacement value of 89,955 mm, the combination of Rigid Joints, Rigid Joints is the most effective in stabilizing buildings on A-B, B-A pedestal combinations. With a displacement value of 90,831 mm, a combination of Rigid Joints, Rigid Joints is the most effective in stabilizing buildings in a combination of A-A, B-B. Kata Kunci: Bangunan berlantai banyak, jembatan penghubung, kestabilan struktur, tumpuan


: The formation of gelatinous networks within an aerosol particle signi fi cantly alters the physicochemical properties of the aerosol material. Existing techniques for studying gel transitions rely on bulk rheometry, which is limited by contact with the sample, or microrheological techniques such as holographic optical tweezers, which rely on expensive equipment and high-powered lasers that can degrade light-absorbing aerosol. Here, we present a new technique to probe the microrheological characteristics of aerosol particles and explore gel formation under atmospheric conditions in a contactless environment without the need for high-power light sources. In a dual-balance quadrupole electrodynamic balance, levitated droplets of opposite polarity are trapped and equilibrated at fi xed relative humidity (RH) and then subsequently merged, and the physical characteristics of the merged droplets are monitored as a function of time and RH using imaging techniques. By comparing the RH-dependent characteristics of MgSO 4 (known to undergo a gel transition) to glucose and sucrose (known to remain as viscous Newtonian fl uids) under fi xed equilibration time scales, we demonstrate that gel phase transitions can be identi fi ed in aerosol particles, with MgSO 4 abruptly transitioning to a rigid microgel at 30% RH. Further, we demonstrate this technique can be used to also measure aerosol viscosity and identify non-Newtonian fl uid dynamics in model sea spray aerosol composed of NaCl, CaCl 2 , and sorbitol. Thus, using this experimental technique, it is possible to distinguish between aerosol compositions that form viscous Newtonian fl uids and those that undergo a gel transition or form non-Newtonian fl uids. This technique o ff ers


In this paper, we introduce a user cooperation diversity scheme for uplink Collaborative Coded dual receive diversity Multiple Access (CCMA) system. In this scheme, the cooperating users transmit their own codewords and that of their partners' employing collaborative coding. The base-station receives two copies of the composite codeword signals via two different channels. Joint detection and decoding is employed at the receiver to recover the individual users' codewords and their data based on the minimum distance criteria of collaborative coding. The bit error performance of the proposed technique is analysed in flat Rayleigh fading channels with AWGN, and shown to provide significant gain compared to CCMA with no cooperation and near to that of CCMA using dual receive diversity.


Virtual reality is the way of the future. The use of virtual reality is expanding over time across all sectors, from the entertainment industry to the military and space. VREd is a similar concept where a virtual reality-based classroom is used for online education where the user will have better interaction and more control. Unity3D and WebGL software have been used for implementation. Students or learners accustomed to contemporary technologies may find the traditional educational system unappealing because of its flaws. Incorporating the latest technologies can increase the curiosity and learning abilities of students. The system architecture of VREd is similar to that of an actual classroom, allowing both students and teachers to access all of the course materials and interact with one another using only an internet connection. The environment and the background are also customizable. Therefore, all the users can comfortably use the system and feel at home. We can create an effective educational system that raises educational quality by utilizing virtual reality.


Finds that the model for Gower's process of composition in VC was provided by the classical and post-classical cento, the tradition of composing new poems by selecting lines and parts of lines from the works of earlier poets.
As practiced by Greek and Roman poets, the art of the cento involved not just borrowing but adapting borrowed phrases to a new context and harmonizing borrowings from different sources. Except for the 10th-century "Ecbasis Captivi," the practice was not otherwise known to have
been revived before the Renaissance. It is unlikely that this work circulated in England, nor is Gower likely to have been familiar with most classical examples. The most likely model, Yeager concludes, is the 4th-century Christian poet A. Faltonia Proba. Though Gower does
not name her or quote her directly, her works were available in England, sometimes grouped with other works that Gower is known to have used. He may also have known of her second-hand: she is discussed by both Isidore and Boccaccio, ands the account in "De Claris Mulieribus" provides a strikingly apt description of Gower's practice
in VC. Yeager says "we can be certain" that Gower had read Boccaccio's work (p. 122), but no one else has ever presented any real evidence that he had. Even if Proba does not provide Gower's actual model, however, the very knowledge that other poets composed such works is interesting in itself, and by providing a point of comparison, suggests that Gower's technique might be examined more closely for what it is rather than being dismissed as mere plagiarism. [PN. Copyright The John Gower Society. JGN 9.2]


Potential radio frequency interference (RFI) sources at L-band include L-band radars; mobile, navigation and other satellite services; and various land services. We have collected data using our airborne L-band interferometric HUT-2D radiometer in order to support the ESA SMOS mission. We participated in April-May 2008 in ESA's rehearsal campaign for SMOS satellite validation activities in Germany and Spain. Additional data have been collected in Finland. Two basic categories of RFI have been observed: (1) Point-wise weak sources that do not saturate the HUT-2D instrument, and (2) strong sources that totally saturate the sensor over a large area.


It will be described various intravascular filter. At least a portion of the filter is modified to provide an enhanced the echogenic properties of the filter.


The nature of civil society is transformed by a strong military presence, which occurs in the Asia-Pacific region. While modern civil society survives under military rule through co-optation, veiled resistance or geography, traditional organisations may continue to threaten the state's dominance of political society. This article examines the nature of civil society in two countries in the Asia-Pacific that have recently emerged from direct military rule—Burma and Fiji. It considers the independence of civil society under military rule, how militaries take steps to safeguard their roles in political society, and how democratic postures change during transitions away from military rule. Understanding how militaries preserve their influence provides a better perspective of authoritarian resilience in the region and the limits to democratic reforms.


Far-field displacements (FFDs) generally refer to the horizontal surface movements that occur outside the vertical subsidence limit or angle of draw to an extracted pillar panel or longwall block. It is considered that FFDs are a phenomenon caused by the reduction of horizontal stress in the ground when collapse of overburden rock (i.e. goafing) occurs above an extracted area. Predicting FFDs at sensitive infrastructure for subsidence management plans has been undertaken recently using an empirical 2-D model developed using measured FFDs from several longwall mines in the Newcastle Coalfield. The method has been successful when making predictions for panels with similar geometry, geological and topographic conditions. However, in the situation where the conditions are clearly outside of the available database, additional analysis methods are needed to enable reasonable extrapolations to be made. This paper describes the development and calibration of a commercially available 3-D boundary element numerical model (Map-3D) to predict far-field displacements and strains around pillar extraction and longwall panels in flat and mountainous terrain in the Newcastle Coalfield. Understanding the influence of (and how to model) regional horizontal stress field changes, mining geometry, geology (bedding and structure) and topography is discussed. Consideration of tolerable impact and survey accuracy limits also influence the degree of modelling complexity necessary. The methodology has been described with reference to proposed mining layouts in the vicinity of sensitive broadcasting towers.


Background: Hydroxyurea has emerged as the primary disease-modifying therapy for both children and adults with sickle cell anemia (SCA). New guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute include a recommendation that all children with SCA be offered hydroxyurea as young as nine months of age, regardless of the frequency or severity of clinical complications. The benefits of hydroxyurea are most evident when the dose is escalated to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD); however, a stable MTD may take 8-12 months to achieve. In this era of personalized medicine, individualized pharmacokinetics (PK) profiles can be used to predict appropriate medication dosing. Accordingly, we investigated hydroxyurea PK data in a large cohort of children with SCA at their first oral dose and at MTD, to understand inter-patient variability and to create an accurate dose prediction model for hydroxyurea MTD.

Methods: The Hydroxyurea Study of Long-term Effects (HUSTLE, [NCT00305175][1]) is a longitudinal observational study for children with SCA receiving hydroxyurea therapy. Prospective investigation of hydroxyurea pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomics is a primary study objective. HUSTLE includes two cohorts of children: a "New Cohort" with children initiating hydroxyurea therapy upon enrollment in the study, and an "Old Cohort" with children already taking hydroxyurea upon study entry. Children in the "New Cohort" received their first oral dose of hydroxyurea 20 mg/kg with formal first-dose PK data collection using peripheral blood analysis at baseline (t=0) followed by 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 minutes. PK analyses were performed at MTD for both the New and Old Cohorts. Hydroxyurea concentration was determined by a previously described color-based method, testing each sample in triplicate with a standard curve ranging from 0 to 1000mM, and sensitivity as low as 8mM.

Results: A total of 97 children with SCA who enrolled in the New Cohort had first-dose hydroxyurea PK analysis, 65 of whom also had a paired PK study at MTD. Another 34 samples from the Old Cohort had PK analysis performed at MTD.

| Patient samples | PK analysis timepoint | # of patients | Tmax (hr) | Cmax (mg/mL) | CL/F (L/hr) | t ½ (hr) | AUC (mg¥hr/mL) |
| --------------- | --------------------- | ------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| All | Baseline | 97 | 0.82 ± 0.47 (57.1) | 26.0 ± 6.60 (25.4) | 6.77 ± 3.14 (46.4) | 1.64 ± 0.55 (33.3) | 91.8 ± 23.0 (25.0) |
| All | MTD | 99 | 0.80 ± 0.52 (65.1) | 31.2 ± 8.08 (25.9) | 7.27 ± 2.99 (41.2) | 1.94 ± 0.87 (44.6) | 115 ± 24.1 (20.9) |
| Paired | Baseline | 65 | 0.82 ± 0.46 (56.4) | 25.3 ± 5.56 (22.0) | 7.11 ± 3.16 (44.4) | 1.73 ± 0.49 (28.5) | 93.1 ± 23.1 (24.8) |
| Paired | MTD | 65 | 0.74 ± 0.47 (62.8) | 31.0 ± 7.82 (25.2) | 7.40 ± 3.13 (42.3) | 1.82 ± 0.89 (48.9) | 114 ± 22.3 (19.5) |

Abstract 2707. Table 1.

Baseline (first-dose) hydroxyurea pharmacokinetics revealed substantial interpatient variability, with a coefficient of variation ranging from ~25% for maximum concentration (Cmax) and area-under-the-curve (AUC) to ~50% for time to maximum concentration (Tmax) and apparent oral clearance (CL/F). At MTD, the PK parameters showed an expected increase in Cmax due to the higher average dose, but a convergence toward AUC of ~115 (mg¥hr/mL) with a reduced coefficient of variation. Based on this target AUC, predictive equations were generated that include PK parameters, but the simplest equation for the starting hydroxyurea dose is: Dose (mg) = 400 – [1000 x creatinine] + [21 x weight].

Conclusions: Individual hydroxyurea absorption patterns for young children with SCA can be used to predict MTD. The starting dose can be optimized by using predictive equations that reflect apparent oral clearance instead of body weight alone, and subsequently titrated by marrow suppression. AUC is the most relevant PK parameter, and our data show its variability is consistently lower at MTD, with a target AUC of 115 mg.hr/mL. As the use of hydroxyurea therapy expands, we plan a prospective study to tailor the starting dose using a pharmacometrics model involving weight, renal function, and selected PK parameters to rapidly achieve a safe and stable MTD.

Disclosures Off Label Use: Hydroxyurea use for children with sickle cell anemia.

 [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00305175&atom=%2Fbloodjournal%2F124%2F21%2F2707.atom


Given an edge-weighted graph $G=(V,E)$ and a set $E_0\subset E$, the incremental network design problem with minimum spanning trees asks for a sequence of edges $e'_1,\ldots,e'_T\in E\setminus E_0$ minimizing $\sum_{t=1}^Tw(X_t)$ where $w(X_t)$ is the weight of a minimum spanning tree $X_t$ for the subgraph $(V,E_0\cup\{e'_1,\ldots,e'_t\})$ and $T=\lvert E\setminus E_0\rvert$. We prove that this problem can be solved by a greedy algorithm.


Experiments have shown that morphological features, e.g., crystalline discontinuities, can influence the stability of plasmas in wire z-pinches. In experiments reported here, morphological changes in copper wires consisted of crystalline discontinuities induced by heating and recrystallization. Excimer laser shadowgraphy photographs of expanding plasmas indicated that hydrodynamic instabilities were more pronounced in wires with crystalline discontinuities.


The key attribute that distinguishes Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANET) from Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) is scale. To wit, while MANET involve up to one hundred nodes and are short lived, being deployed in support of special-purpose operations, VANET networks involve millions of vehicles on thousands of kilometers of highways and city streets. Also, being mission-driven, MANET mobility is inherently limited by the application at hand. Indeed, in a search-and-rescue mission a search party is deployed to look, say, for children lost in the woods. It stands to reason that in such a context the mobility of individual nodes is not arbitrary, but rather restricted by the search strategy implemented. In most MANET applications, such as the one just mentioned, mobility occurs at low speed. By contrast, VANET networks involve vehicles that move at high speed, often well beyond what is reasonable or legally stipulated.
 Given the scale of its mobility and number of actors involved, the topology of VANET is changing constantly and, as a result, both individual links and routing paths are inherently unstable. Motivated by this latter truism, our first main contribution is to propose a probability model for link duration based on realistic vehicular dynamics and radio propagation assumptions. We then go on to show how the proposed model can be incorporated in a routing protocol that results in paths that are easier to construct and maintain, both locally and globally. Extensive simulation results confirm that our probabilistic routing protocol results in paths are that easier to maintain.


Low thrust trajectories utilizing electric propulsion and photovoltaic power sources are derived for the transfer of a large spacecraft from assembly in low earth orbit to operation at geosynchronous orbit. Conventional silicon photovoltaic devices are assumed. A 1 MeV equivalent electron flux model is used. The solar panel mass and size are taken from Advanced Photovoltaic Solar Array design concepts with 3-mil shielding. Shadowing of the vehicle and low earth orbit atmospheric drag are also modeled. The power system is sized so that end of life output is 30 percent of initial output. Steering of the thrust vector is defined by a three term series in which the coefficients are varied as controls to minimize the total power loss with cumulative exposure in the Van Allen region.


ABSTRACT In most African rural communities, ground water is the primary source of drinking water. Fluoride is a harmful substance found in ground water that causes serious health problems. The only answer to the fresh and clean water crisis is water treatment. Sustainable, cost-effective and efficient membrane filtration technologies are becoming progressively vital to solve the scarcity. Owing to their unique tunable physico-chemical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used in water treatment. This paper thoroughly reviews the health effects of consuming excess fluoride ions. The recent progress on the synthesis of CNT was also highlighted. A special emphasis was given to green synthetic routes for its preparation. Green catalysts provide defined size and morphology than conventional materials and also prevent metal leaching. The effects of incorporation of CNTs as filler in the matrix have been discussed in detail. The large-scale production of CNTs and their growth mechanisms; for water purification purposes are explored. It has been observed that CNTs have got an excellent filtration performance of fluoride, low biofouling activities and high water flux capacity. Besides, this review attempt to provide a clue for the functionalized CNTs based membranes as potential solutions in water purifications of fluoride ions in the future. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


Although Louis Sullivan (1856-1924) has long been associated with the American transcendentalist movement of Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman, this is the first book to analyze his transcendetalist thought with the development of his architectural style. It also explores sources of and influences on his thought that have not been considered before. With the help of Narciso G. Menocal s new work, both scholars and students of architectural and art history, as well as American cultural and intellectual history, will gain new insights into Sullivan and his work."


Addiction is characterized by a persistent cycle of drug seeking and taking as well as high relapse rate. Neuroimaging technology offers an opportunity to elucidate the brain neurobiology in addiction, with particular attention to those circuits implicated in reward processing, memory and cognitive control etc. Here, we summarized the neuroimaging evidence in addiction to reveal the brain structural and functional plasticity changes and recovery with prolonged abstinence. Moreover, neuroimaging combined with machine learning may allow a prediction of relapse risk. Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proved to be effective in drug addiction by modulating the brain region and circuits. We further proposed neuronavigated rTMS may provide a scientific and advanced strategy to improve the therapy by promoting accurate individualized stimulation targets. In conclusion, combination of neuroimaging with multimodal fusion, machine learning and neurostimulation has the potential to extend our understanding of the brain neuroplasticity and therapy in addiction. We expected this paper would promote the translation and treatment in addiction and propound recommendations for the urgent challenges to mitigate the addiction relapse rate in future.


We herein report a rare case of malignant mixed germ cell tumor comprising both an embryonal carcinoma (60%) and a yolk sac tumor (40%). A 7-year-old girl presented to the emergency department with persistent vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, and vomiting. A CT scan of the pelvis and abdomen revealed a huge pelvic mass, 16 × 16 × 8 cm, arising from the left ovary and extending into the upper abdomen and displacing bowel loops to the sides. The mass was lobulated and heterogeneously enhancing. Initial investigations revealed raised values of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (B-hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). She underwent a laparotomy and a left salphingo-oophorectomy. Histopathology of the excised mass revealed a malignant mixed germ cell tumor comprising both an embryonal carcinoma (60%) and a yolk sac tumor (40%). Following surgery, she was started on adjuvant chemotherapy based on the MAKEI 96 protocol and was given 4 cycles of PEI chemotherapy (cisplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide). Multidisciplinary team management consisting of careful initial surgery with adequate staging biopsies followed by combination chemotherapy and endocrinological evaluation and treatment can greatly improve the prognosis of these patients.


This article creates a framework for conceptually designing a performance dashboard for banks. It provides guidelines for developing such a framework for banks and other organizations with similar characteristics. A three-step approach for developing the dashboard is proposed. The first step is to determine the ideal characteristics of an effective performance dashboard using an extensive literature search and expert opinions of TMB bank executives. Second, the current performance reporting system is analyzed using a simplified "Delphi" method to identify discrepancies from the ideal characteristics. Third, some missing elements are identified, and recommendations are provided to enhance the current performance reporting systems, to be an effective performance dashboard. The proposed ideal characteristics and the simplified "Delphi" method are effective to identify missing elements. Moreover, a working team comprised of academicians and bank executives can provide acceptable recommendations to improve the current performance reporting system, to become an effective performance dashboard.


Donald McKenzie and David L. Peterson are research biologists at the USDA Forest Servi Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Lab; Amy E. Hessl is an assistant professor, Departm Geography, West Virginia University; James K. Agee is a professor, College of Forest Reso Washington; John F. Lehmkuhl is a research wildlife biologist, USDA Forest Service, Paci Station, Wenatchee Forestry Sciences Lab; Lara-Karena B. Kellogg is research scientist, C University of Washington; and James Kernan is Ph.D. candidate, Department of Geology a University. re


Months after the federal health minister ignored expert advice and approved a generic version of the much-abused prescription drug oxycodone, she has now asked for assistance from the United States in controlling the drug's use.

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq sent a letter on Mar. 12 to


Cascade performance is examined when the degree of enrichment per separative unit is arbitrary, but not small. An approach is developed that is applicable to new technologies which project significant enrichment per unit. Analysis shows that ideal operation and minimum separative work do not occur concurrently and that neither is a reliable guide for optimizing costs for a small cascade. Cascade performance is studied in a systematic manner that keeps the feed assay, the product assay, and the amount of product fixed. Many small cascade configurations are examined, and the results are combined with a hypothetical operating curve, thereby generating a simplified relative cost evaluation. Three costs are considered: feed, mechanical pump power, and laser power. No single configuration optimizes all three, but the analysis does indicate the superiority of a few of the examined configurations. 8 figures, 2 tables.


Anticipating the use of knowledge-based expert systems for robot task planning, a geometric reasoning is envisioned for the representation and manipulation of geometric information in a manner uniform with other knowledge. The general requirements for such a reasoner are outlined and a proposed architecture is described, built on four concepts: a class structure of spatial sets, features as subsets of those spatial sets, geometric abstractions as partial representations of features, and constraints as a mechanism for reasoning. An example implementation is built in an object-oriented environment and uses an underlying solids modeler, transparent to the end user. >


This paper reports that immobilization of lipase by using DM-130 wide-aperture resin as support abietate was synthesized by using immobilized-lipase as catalyst.The optimal conditions for the immobilized-lipase-catalyzed esterification of abietic acid were found.The optimal reaction temperature is 35℃,pH value of the reaction is 6.0,the moisture content is 1%(by volume).The best proportion of molecular sieves to reactant is 1∶40(by quality) and the best oscillatory reaction time is 36h.


Efficient allocation of resources is of paramount importance in building reliable and efficient transportation systems. This is particularly true because of the key role that transportation plays in the economic development of any region. Despite continuing efforts by economists, planners, and transportation system analysts to determine the relationship between transportation investment and economic development, the correlation is yet to be understood clearly. One of the most intriguing matters is the time lag between the two. Transportation investments have a complex, dynamic influence on economic systems. They generate both direct and indirect benefits, and they have short-term effects such as an increase in construction-related employment and an increase in markets for local goods and services, as well as longer-term effects such as the establishment of new industries that are attracted by increased access to local goods and services. The time lag between transportation investment and economic return significantly affects how the benefits of an investment are evaluated. This paper examines a framework for evaluation based on the data envelopment analysis technique that captures the dynamic relationship between transportation investment and economic development. In the analysis performed, a strong correlation was observed between the relative scarcity of transportation infrastructure, as compared with other input parameters in the production process, and a lag time between investment and the materialization of economic return. Short-, medium-, and long-term time lags were analyzed in the study, and it is suggested that current demand for increased accessibility is correlated with the dynamic characteristics of time lag with spatial variation.


Abstract Process variations are classified into common cause and assignable cause variations in the manufacturing and services industries. Common cause variations are inherent in a process and can be described implicitly or explicitly by stochastic methods. Assignable cause variations are unexpected and unpredictable and can occur before the commencement of any special events. Reducing process variations are critical for industries with a low tolerance for variability such as semiconductor manufacturing. While engineering process control (EPC) methods such as feedback/feedforward controllers are widely employed in continuous process industry to reduce common cause variations, statistical process control (SPC) methods have been successfully utilized in discrete parts industry through identification and elimination of the assignable cause of variations. Recently, integration of EPC and SPC methods has emerged in the semiconductor manufacturing industry and has resulted reducing manufacturing waste and improving process efficiency. This paper provides a review of various control techniques and develops a unified framework to model the relationships among these well-known methods in EPC, SPC, and integrated EPC/SPC. A case study centered on chemical mechanical planarization process demonstrates the utility of this framework.


A large proportion of people living with diabetes are not able to meet their glycemic targets. Consequently, it is not uncommon for a physician to come across such a person in their practice. Often a few queries about their lifestyle reveal that they have not been able to do what they were advised to. One wonders why this person did not do what was obviously the best for him and his health. But in reality, our decisions and actions depend on a lot more than what rationality dictates.[1] Psychology, emotions, fears, biases, and priorities in each person's life determines their actions. Their behavior is the outcome of an interplay of complex factors, many of which may be beyond the realm of the physician.


Abstract : The present invention provides a method for the treatment of septic shock and inflammatory complications of shock. A process for selectively inhibiting the expression of the human ICAM-I mRNA transcript using at least one oligonucleotide which is complementary to at least a portion of the human ICAM-I mRNA is disclosed, as are oligonucleotides which are complementary to portions of the ICAM-I mRNA and compositions comprising the oligonucleotides.


In order to improve reliability and fatigue life of cylinder gaskets in heavy duty diesel engine, several methods and algorithms are applied to optimize operating factors of gaskets. Finite element method is utilized to figure out and analyze the temperature fields, thermal-mechanical coupling stress fields, and deformations of gasket. After determining the maximum values of three state parameters, the orthogonal experimental design method is adopted to analyze the influence rules of five operating factors on three state parameters of the gaskets and four factors which most significantly affect these state parameters are determined. Then, the method which uses operating factors to predict state parameters is established on the application of hybrid neuron network based on partial least squares regression and deep neural network. The comparison results between the predicted values and real values verified the accuracy of the hybrid neuron network method. Based on artificial bee colony algorithm, improvement is attached to the way three kinds of grey wolves locate preys in grey wolf algorithm and the way how using different hierarchy wolfs in grey wolf algorithm to determine three weight coefficients and the location of prey is put forward with. The method using artificial bee colony algorithm to optimize the grey wolf algorithm is called ABC and GWO. The proposed HNN and the ABC and GWO method are applied to work out operating factors values which correspond to optimal state parameters of gasket, and the gaskets are optimized according to the optimal values. It has been demonstrated by finite element analysis results that maximum temperature, maximum coupling stress, and the maximum deformation decrease to 6 K, 12.57 MPa, and 0.0925 mm compared to the original values, respectively, which proves the accuracy of the algorithm and the validity of the improvement.


The extensions of first-order logic with a least fixed point operator (FO + LFP) and with a partial fixed point operator (FO + PFP) are known to capture the complexity classes P and PSPACE respectively in the presence of an ordering relation over finite structures. Recently, Abiteboul and Vianu (in "Proceedings of the 23rd ACM Symposium on the Theory of Computing," 1991) investigated the relationship of these two logics in the absence of an ordering, using a machine model of generic computation. In particular, they showed that the two languages have equivalent expressive power if and only if P = PSPACE. These languages can also be seen as fragments of an infinitary logic where each formula has a bounded number of variables, L?∞?, (see, for instance, Kolaitis and Vardi, in "Proceedings of the 5th IEEE Symposium on Logic in Computer Science," pp. 156-167, 1990). We investigate this logic on finite structures and provide a normal form for it. We also present a treatment of Abiteboul and Vianu?s results from this point of view. In particular, we show that we can write a formula of FO + LFP that defines an ordering of the Lk∞?, types uniformly over all finite structures. One consequence of this is a generalization of the equivalence of FO + LFP and P from ordered structures to classes of structures where every element is definable. We also settle a conjecture mentioned by Abiteboul and Vianu by showing that FO + LFP is properly contained in the polynomial time computable fragment of L?∞?, raising the question of whether the latter fragment is a recursively enumerable class.


Research has begun to provide valuable insight into the impact of drink driving rehabilitation programs on key program outcomes such as motivations to change problem behaviours, and self-efficacy levels to control such behaviours. The present study reports on the self-reported impact of an Australian rehabilitation program on the drinking and drink driving behaviours of a group of recidivist offenders (N=87). The findings indicate that program completion produced a positive impact on participants' motivations to change both their drinking and drink driving behaviours, although the majority of participants continued to drink heavily after completing the program. In addition, participants reported high levels of self-efficacy to control both their drinking and drink driving behaviours before and after program completion. Importantly, participants' appraisal regarding the effectiveness of the program was not associated with motivations to change problem behaviours. The findings have direct implications for the development of effective programs that address not only the act of drink driving, but also the problem of harmful levels of alcohol consumption. Language: en


The human being is both an individual and a person. It seems valid to use the concept of "individuality" with emphasis on his uniqueness, and the concept of "personality" with emphasis on his representative typicality. Every entity, from atom to man, is in some measure unique and in some measure typical. But what distinguishes a man from a cow or an ant is that he is a reflectively social person, contemplating human life as a drama. He plays a conscious role in the drama. He is a farmer, architect, statesman, etc., speaking and acting as representative of a type. Or, he may be speaking and acting for the Zeitgeist. What should be thought of as "personal" is this representative human activity.


The application of transition metal complexes as chemotherapeutics has been presented throughout the history. Platinum-based drugs are widely used as anticancer agents with a broad range of antitumor activities. The study of the substitution reactions of metal complexes with nitrogen containing biomolecules can help to develop new antitumor drugs with improved characteristics. Kinetics of the substitution reactions of [Pt(caffeine)2Cl2] and [Pd(caffeine)2Cl2] (caffeine = 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) complexes with biologically important ligands such as 9-methylguanine (9-MetGua) and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) were studied by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and by stopped-flow technique. Kinetics measurements were performed under the pseudo-first order conditions at 37 °C and pH = 7.2 (25 mM Hepes buffer) in addition of 50 mM NaCl. The obtained results showed that all substitution reactions undergo the two reaction steps giving the [M(caffeine)2(Nu)2] (M = Pd(II) or Pt(II) and Nu = 5′-GMP or 9-MetGua) as the reaction product. Additionally, [Pd(caffeine)2Cl2] complex was more reactive compared to analogue platinum-complex, while 9-MetGua reacted faster than 5'-GMP.


In order to improve the accuracy and real-time of network security risk assessment, this paper proposes a model about network security risk assessment based on the Support Vector machine for Regression optimized by t time-delay parameter. It combines and optimizes the key parameters of t-SVR, making use of the global search performance of GA.The simulation result of network security risk data-set indicates that the assessment model of t-SVR evaluation based on GA parameter optimization has solved the shortage of SVR, and the risk assessment is made more accurate, the time more less and the performance more stable.


We derive explicit closed-form matrix representations of Hamiltonians drawn from tensored algebras, such as quantum spin Hamiltonians. These formulas enable us to soft-code generic Hamiltonian systems and to systematize the input data for uniformly structured as well as for un-structured Hamiltonians. The result is an optimal computer code that can be used as a black box that takes in certain input files and returns spectral information about the Hamiltonian. The code is tested on Kitaev's toric model deployed on triangulated surfaces of genus 0 and 1. The efficiency of our code enables these simulations to be performed on an ordinary laptop. The input file corresponding to the minimal triangulation of genus 2 is also supplied.


We investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of strain accommodation during multiphase rift evolution in the Shire Rift Zone (SRZ), East Africa. The NW-trending SRZ records a transition from magma-rich rifting phases (Permian-Early Jurassic: RiftPhase 1 (RP1), and Late Jurassic-Cretaceous: Rift-Phase 2 (RP2)) to a magma-poor phase in the Cenozoic (ongoing: RiftPhase 3 (RP3)). Our observations show that although the rift border faults largely mimic the pre-rift basement metamorphic fabrics, the rift termination zones occur near crustal-scale rift-orthogonal basement shear zones (Sanangoe (SSZ) and the Lurio shear zones) during RP1-RP2. In RP3, the RP1-RP2 sub-basins were largely abandoned, and the rift axes migrated northeastward (rift-orthogonally) into the RP1-RP2 basin margin, and northwestward (strike-parallel) ahead of the RP2 rift-tip. The northwestern RP3 rift-axis side-steps across the SSZ, with a rotation of border faults across the shear zone and terminates further northwest at another regional-scale shear zone. We suggest that over the multiple pulses of tectonic extension and strain migration in the SRZ, pre-rift basement fabrics acted as: 1) zones of mechanical strength contrast that localized the large rift faults, and 2) mechanical 'barriers' that refracted and possibly, temporarily halted the propagation of the rift zone. Further, the cooled RP1-RP2 mafic dikes facilitated later-phase deformation in the form of border fault hard-linking transverse faults that exploited mechanical anisotropies within the dike clusters and served as mechanically-strong zones that arrested some of the RP3 fault-tips. Overall, we argue that during pulsed rift propagation, inherited strength anisotropies can serve as both strain-localizing, refracting, and transient strain-inhibiting tectonic structures.


We study terahertz photoconductivity of a rutile single crystal between 10 and 300 K under strong photoexcitation by femtosecond pulses at 266 nm. A marked dependence of the carrier mobility on the carrier density is observed leading to highly complex transport phenomena on a picosecond time scale. We develop a general model of carrier photoconductive response in the case of time dependent inhomogeneous distribution of carrier density and mobility. This allows us to assess an important role of both electrons and holes in the response of photoexcited rutile. At low temperatures, the carrier mobility is initially reduced due to the electron-hole scattering and increases by one order of magnitude upon ambipolar diffusion of the carriers into deeper regions of the sample. At room temperature, contributions of transient hot optical phonons and/or of midinfrared polaron excitations with charge-density-dependent dielectric strength emerge in the photoconductivity spectra.


An ultrafast x-ray streak camera is under development at LBNL for application primarily to studies of ultrafast magnetization dynamics. In initial work, a temporal resolution of 900fs in accumulative mode at 5 KHz has been achieved. These results and methods currently being developed to improve the resolution and repetition rate are resented. One of the primary limits to temporal resolution is caused by the finite energy width of the electron distribution from the photocathode. The positive time of flight dispersion with energy in the accelerating region of the camera can be countered by introduction of downstream optics that give negative time of flight dispersion with energy, leading to an approximate overall cancellation of this temporal aberration. Initial results of an end-to-end simulation model using the full photoelectron distribution are presented.


Managing conflict and differences has always been an essential, but challenging, skill to master for effective leadership. This case was designed to build expertise in developing external and internal relationships and dealing with conflict. Grounded in the pedagogy of experiential learning, the case consists of three role-play scenarios that exemplify three challenging education situations. In each scenario, two individuals are faced with a possible difference in perspective or goals. The role-play requires students to assume the role of one of the individuals, and each scenario requires one student to initiate the follow-up discussion. Please note: This case should be printed single-sided only.
Excerpt
UVA-OB-0907
LEARNING IN REAL TIME:
ROLE-PLAYS IN EDUCATIONAL SCENARIOS
When leading change, even if we have good intentions, there is a tendency for people to approach change from a plan-and-control mind-set: We plan the change, give people directions, motivate them to implement the changes, and monitor their progress. Social and organizational change, however, are emergent processes that seldom lead to desired results unless leaders take a learning orientation as the change unfolds, especially in the midst of difficult and upsetting professional encounters. Each of the three role-plays in this case offers an opportunity to practice taking a learning orientation even in challenging situations.
Please read the instructions before turning the page.
Instructions:
1) This case is designed for use in three-person teams. There are three scenarios included in this case, and the team should work with only one scenario at a time. Upon beginning, team members should remove any binding or staples from the case and separate the scenarios. Put aside all but the one on which your team is working at a given point in time.
2) For each scenario, one team member plays the principal role, one team member plays the respondent role; the third team member acts as an observer, taking notes and preparing to lead a short debriefing session. Take five to seven minutes to engage in the role-play, and five to seven minutes to debrief, using discussion points from class.
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Objectives Aging is one of the important stages of human development. Death anxiety and sleep quality are among the most common mental health issues in the elderly which can be improved by proper intervention. This study aims to assess the effect of self-healing training on sleep quality and death anxiety of older women living in nursing homes. Methods & Materials This is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest/posttest/follow-up phase. The study population consists of all older women aged 60-70 years living in a nursing home in Isfahan, Iran in 2020. Of these, 40 were selected using a convenience sampling method and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and were randomly assigned into two groups of intervention (n=20) and control (n=20). They were assessed by the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index before, immediately after, and 45 days after the intervention. The intervention group received a 12-session self-healing intervention while the control group was placed in a waiting list without receiving any intervention. The results were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS software, version 24. Results The self-healing training significantly improved the components of death anxiety (fear of own death, fear of the process of own dying, fear of the death of others, and fear of the process of others dying) and some of sleep quality components (subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and use of sleeping medication) (P<0.05). These effects significantly remained constant in the follow-up phase in the components of fear of own death, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances and use of sleeping medication (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in other variables between the post-test and follow-up phases (P> 0.05). Conclusion The self-healing training can reduce perceived death anxiety and improve sleep quality of older women living in nursing homes. It can be used as an effective educational method for improving the lifestyle and mental health of older women living in nursing homes.


Objective To investigate the effects of sericin( obtained by soaking,decocting and concentrating from silkworm cocoon) on Akt signal transduction pathway of hippocampus of the rat with diabetes mellitus. Methods Thirtysix male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups,12 rats per group: normal control group,diabetes mellitus model group and sericin treatment group. The type 2 diabetes mellitus rat model was established by continuous peritoneal injection of streptozotocin with a small dose( 25mg / kg / d,3d). The rats in sericin treatment group were lavaged with sericin for 35d( 2. 4g/kg·d). TUNEL was used to detect neurons apoptosis in CA1 region of hippocampus; Western blotting and RT-PCR to detect the expression of Akt signal transduction pathway related factors: Akt,NF-κB and Bad. Results Compared with normal control rats,the apoptotic index of hippocampal neurons of diabetes mellitus rats increased obviously( P 0. 01); Akt and NF-κB expression in hippocampus decreased obviously,Bad expression increased obviously( P 0. 01). Compared with diabetes mellitus rats,the apoptotic index of hippocampal neurons of rats in sericin treatment group decreased significantly( P 0. 05); Akt and NF-κB expression in hippocampus increased significantly,Bad expression decreased significantly( P 0. 01,P 0. 05). Conclusion Sericin can reduce hippocampal neurons apoptosis by regulating abnormal changes of Akt signal transduction pathway,thus sericin has fairly protective effects on hippocampus injury during diabetes mellitus.


Objective:To investigate the outcomes of different insemination methods during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods:One thousand four hundred and seventy patients,who attended the Tianjin Central Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology,from 2005 to 2008,were divided into 2 groups,1 009 patients in group A received conventional insemination; 461 patients in group B received intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The values of the gonadotrophins (Gn) dosage,days of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH),number of growing follicles,number of egg retrieval,clinical pregnancy rate,abortion rate and the malformation rate were compared between group A and group B. Results:The Gn dosage was higher and days of COH was longer in group A than those in group B. The estrogen level,the number of growing follicle and the number of egg retrieval were lower in group A than those in group B. There were no differences in the clinical pregnancy rate,abortion rate and malformation rate between the two groups. Conclusion:The data of our center showed that ICSI did not increase the possibility of abortion and malformation. Therefore,ICSI is an effective method to treat the male factor infertility.


Glioblastoma has limited therapeutic options and is associated with a poor prognosis. Treatment, clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors remain poorly characterised outside of the selected population enrolled in clinical trials.

 Demographic, tumour molecular profiles, treatment, and survival data was collated for patients who underwent a biopsy or resection diagnostic of de novo glioblastoma at our centre between July 2011 and December 2015. We used multivariate proportional hazards models to examine the association of potential prognostic markers with survival.

 490 patients were identified: 60% were male with a median age of 59 years. 60% of patients had surgical debulking, and 40% biopsy only. Subsequently, 56% had standard chemoradiotherapy, 25% non-standard chemo/radio-therapy, and 19% no further treatment; 22% of patients who had adjuvant therapy had surgery at relapse, 37% second-line chemotherapy, and 11% third-line chemotherapy. Median survival was 9.2 months (IQR 7.9-10.3 months), with survival at 12- and 24-months 41% and 13% respectively. In multivariate analysis, longer survival was associated with debulking surgery vs biopsy alone (14.9 vs 8 months) (HR 0.54 [95%CI 0.41-0.70]); subsequent treatment after diagnosis (HR 0.12 [0.08-0.16]) (standard chemoradiotherapy [16.9 months] vs non-standard regimens [9.2 months] vs none [2.0 months]); tumour MGMT promotor methylation (HR 0.71 [0.58-0.87]); and younger age (hazard ratio vs age< 50: 1.70 [1.26-2.30] for ages 50-59; 3.53 [2.65-4.70] for ages 60-69; 4.82 [3.54-6.56] for ages 70+). IDH mutation was associated with longer survival (HR 0.64 [0.66-0.97] in univariate but not multivariate analysis.

 Median survival for patients with glioblastoma is less than a year. Younger age, debulking surgery, treatment with chemoradiotherapy, and MGMT promotor methylation are independently associated with longer survival.


The Francis unit of rated power 700MW of Three Gorges hydropower station is one of the largest units in the world up to now.This paper introduces the basic parameters of the turbine and generator,and analyzes the structural characteristics of the main parts of the unit and the stability of the unit.


PURPOSE:To provide an easy-to-use animation help guidance method which can intuitively understand the text help messages like an operating manual, etc., without reading them when an operation help key is pushed and also can quickly and easily secure the operation help. CONSTITUTION:The help guidance information expressed in the time series data (animations) on the images are stored in the storage means 8 and 9. Then these stored information are called out at an optional time point and shown on a display means 4 in the animations. Thus the help guidance information are shown in the animations when a user calls a help. Furthermore a function is added to enable the user to control the display time intervals of the animations together with a function which displays the help guidance information obtained by a text, and a function which displays the help guidance information by voice.


The Internet and associated technology are fast changing the conceptualization and determinants of value to the customer. Marketers would, thus, have to explore what constitutes value for the consumer and determine newer ways to create and deliver such value to the customer. We extend quality-value-loyalty chain and add to this chain trust factor in internet environment. Given certain key behavioral characteristics of consumer online shopping, we then note the challenges that marketers would face in attracting and retaining loyal customers when marketer implement internet marketing of agricultural products.


The anticancer agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is cytotoxic and often used to treat various cancers. 5-FU is thought to inhibit the enzyme thymidylate synthase, which plays a role in nucleotide synthesis and has been found to induce single- and double-strand DNA breaks. ATR Ser/Thr kinase (ATR) is a principal kinase in the DNA damage response and is activated in response to UV– and chemotherapeutic drug–induced DNA replication stress, but its role in cellular responses to 5-FU is unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of ATR inhibition on 5-FU sensitivity of mammalian cells. Using immunoblotting, we found that 5-FU treatment dose-dependently induced the phosphorylation of ATR at the autophosphorylation site Thr-1989 and thereby activated its kinase. Administration of 5-FU with a specific ATR inhibitor remarkably decreased cell survival, compared with 5-FU treatment combined with other major DNA repair kinase inhibitors. Of note, the ATR inhibition enhanced induction of DNA double-strand breaks and apoptosis in 5-FU–treated cells. Using gene expression analysis, we found that 5-FU induced the activation of the intra-S cell-cycle checkpoint. Cells lacking BRCA2 were sensitive to 5-FU in the presence of ATR inhibitor. Moreover, ATR inhibition enhanced the efficacy of the 5-FU treatment, independently of the nonhomologous end-joining and homologous recombination repair pathways. These findings suggest that ATR could be a potential therapeutic target in 5-FU–based chemotherapy.


We report the first measurements of friction angles for a naturally formed gravel streambed. For a given test grain size placed on a bed surface, friction angles varied from 10o to over 100o; friction angle distributions can be expressed as a function of test grain size, median bed grain size, and bed sorting parameter. Friction angles decrease with increasing grain size relative to the median bed grain size, and are a systematic function of sorting, with lower friction angles associated with poorer sorting. The probability distributions of critical shear stress for different grain sizes on a given bed surface, as calculated from our friction angle data, show a common origin, but otherwise diverge with larger grains having narrower and lower ranges of critical shear stresses. The potential mobility of a grain, as defined by its probability distribution of critical shear stress, may be overestimated for larger grains in this analysis, because our calculations do not take into account the effects of grain burial and altered near-bed flow fields.


The primary purpose of this paper is to empirically examine traits of IT, their relationships with corporate strategies and their influences on corporate performance in Korea. The secondary purpose of this research is to identify which IT traits are the most powerful fuels that firms in ageing society can apply in pursuit of creative economy. Research findings confirm that IT provides competitive advantages such as efficiency, threat, functionality, attack and integration. And the study shows that traits of IT significantly contribute to corporate performance and play significant mediating roles between corporate strategies and corporate performance. Research findings indicate that IT traits of efficiency and integration are the two most competitive advantages that IT could provide. Corporate strategies have indirect effects on corporate performance through traits of IT. Cost leadership strategy shows stronger associations with traits of IT than differentiation strategy does.


We examine the relationship between equity incentives and earnings management in the banking industry. By focusing on this regulated industry and using industry-specific earnings management proxies, we provide evidence on the impact of regulation on earnings management arising from chief executive officers' equity incentives. We find that bank managers with high equity incentives are more likely to manage earnings, but only when capital ratios are closer to the minimums required by regulators. This finding indicates that, in the banking industry, potential regulatory intervention induces, rather than mitigates, earnings management arising from equity incentives.


The transportation system has a number of adverse environmental impacts. The effects can be direct, indirect and both. Indirect effects may have greater consequences than direct effects, but are not generally well known. Transportation system and the operation of vehicles can affect rural and urban community. Emission and road crashes have a significant impact on health, and the form of the transport system. The development of motor vehicle-dependent environments imposes higher average living costs on families and can also restrict mobility for the elderly, children, the poor, the disabled and those who do not wish to own a motor vehicle.


We present a case of 12 years old patient, with a juvenile or virginal mammary hypertrophy and the postoperative result 5 years later without further recurre...


The newly emerged SARS‐CoV‐2 causing coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) resulted in >500 million infections. A great deal about the molecular processes of virus infection in the host is getting uncovered. Two sequential proteolytic cleavages of viral spike protein by host proteases are prerequisites for the entry of the virus into the host cell. The first cleavage occurs at S1/S2 site by the furin protease, and the second cleavage at a fusion activation site, the S2′ site, by the TMPRSS2 protease. S2′ cleavage site is present in the S2 domain of spike protein followed by a fusion peptide. Given the S2′ site to be conserved among all the SARS‐CoV‐2 variants, we chose an S2′ epitope encompassing the S2′ cleavage site and generated single‐chain antibodies (scFvs) through an exhaustive phage display library screening. Crystal structure of a scFv in complex with S2′ epitope was determined. Incidentally, S2′ epitope in the scFv bound structure adopts an alpha‐helical conformation equivalent to the conformation of the epitope in the spike protein. Furthermore, these scFvs can bind to the spike protein expressed either in vitro or on the mammalian cell surface. We illustrate a molecular model based on structural and biochemical insights into the antibody‐S2′ epitope interaction emphasizing scFvs mediated blocking of virus entry into the host cell by restricting the access of TMPRSS2 protease and consequently inhibiting the S2′ cleavage competitively.


Objective: To establish the relative frequency, age distribution and histological patterns of the various gynaecological malignancies seen in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital over a 5-year period.
Methodology: Data related to socio-demographic variables, clinical and histopathology findings of patients with genital malignancies seen in the hospital between 1997 and 2001 were obtained. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse the differences in the age distribution of the different histological types of malignancies.
Results: A total of 152 cases were recorded. Cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and cancer of the corpus uteri constituted 90 (59.2%), 41 (27.0%) and 18 (11.8%) of the cases respectively, while cancer of the vulva 3 patients (2%) and vagina 1 patient (0.7%) were rarely seen. The ovarian cancers were predominantly of the epithelial type, with serous cystadenocarcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and clear cell carcinoma, constituting 14 (35.5%), 9 (22.5%) and 1 (2.5%) of patients respectively. Granulosa-cell tumours accounted for 9 (22.5%) and sex cord stromal tumour 7 (17.5%) of patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean ages of patients with different gynaecological malignancies (F = 8.55; p
Conclusions: The present study corroborates reports from other regions of Nigeria and developing countries, which show squamous cell cervical cancer as the most common gynaecological malignancy.
Key Words: Genital Cancer, Malignancy, Frequency, Histology
[Trop J Obstet Gynaecol, 2003, 20: 105-108]


The purpose of this research is to explore the relationships consumers forge with original brands and their counterfeits and the effect of these relationships in consumer ́s satisfaction with the brand. Our study reveals that the relationship established with the original brand gets to play a deep emotional role, whereas the consumer relationship with the fake is rooted mainly on convenience, social purposes. We propose that while original brands inspire consumers ́ love and that counterfeits can ́t make people fall in love with them.


Complementary mass spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques were employed to provide direct information at the microscale on the sequestration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants in Milwaukee Harbor sediment particles. Microprobe two-step laser desorption/laser ionization mass spectrometry was used for PAH measurements, infrared microspectroscopy was used for organic carbon measurement, and scanning electron microscopy with wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used for elemental microanalysis. PAH concentrations on coal- and wood-derived particles were found to be several orders of magnitude higher than on silica particles. A cryomicrotome sectioning procedure was employed for particle cross-sectional investigations, and it was found that most PAHs are concentrated on external surface regions indicating near surface sorption mechanisms. The coal/wood-derived particles constitute only 5% of the sediment by weight but contain 62% of the total PAHs. The remaining 38% are mainly in...


In this issue of Nordregio News we focus on the discussions of how gender equality and economic development are related.


Laboratory teaching is an important component of higher education,and it is necessary to help students develop practical and innovative abilities.With the building of our faculty laboratory center,this paper analyzes the importance,types and mechanism of laboratory opening,discusses some preliminary explorations on how to ensure the laboratory opening successfully.


Au-decorated WO3 cross-linked nanodomes are fabricated using soft templates composed of highly ordered polystyrene beads and self-agglomeration of Au. The distribution and size of Au nanoparticles on the surface of WO3 cross-linked nanodomes are controlled by varying the thickness of the initial Au film. The responses of Au-decorated WO3 cross-linked nanodomes to various gases such as NO2, CH3COCH3, C2H5OH, NH3, CO, H2, and C6H6 are at least 5 times higher than those of bare WO3 cross-linked nanodomes. The response enhancement by Au decoration is dependent on the target gas, which is attributed to an interplay between electronic and chemical sensitizations. In particular, the Au-decorated WO3 cross-linked nanodomes exhibit extremely high sensitivities and selectivities, and ppt-level detection limits to NO2 and C2H5OH at 250 °C and 450 °C, respectively. These results suggest that Au-decorated WO3 cross-linked nanodomes are very promising for use in breath analysers to diagnose both asthma and lung cancer from exhaled human breath.


Optically pure sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate is efficiently and practically synthesized through a chiral hemiacetal as the key intermediate in 54% overall yield starting from (E)-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)but-2-enal and N-boc-protected hydroxylamine. The chiral hemiacetal fragment is constructed by a tandem aza-Michael/hemiacetal reaction catalyzed by an organocatalyst and the influence of acidity of Brønsted acid on tandem aza-Michael/hemiacetal reaction is researched in detail.


may not confer survival benefit over conservative manage-ment (CM), but is associated with significant reduction in quality of life. Yet, dialysis incidence among older adults has increased more than in any other age group; and many regret dialysis. Despite guidelines recommending shared decision-making and discussion of CM, nephrologists vary significantly in their approaches. We examined how neph-rologists' ethical perspectives shape their approach towards decision-making with patients, and characterized different models of decision-making. In this qualitative study, we interviewed a national sample of purposively sampled nephrologists (n=35) from 18 practices. Interviews continued until thematic saturation. Data were analyzed using typo-logical and thematic approaches. Four distinct approaches to decision-making emerged: paternalist, informative (patient-led), interpretative (navigator), and institutionalist. Only one-third of providers presented CM to patients; all of whom followed either informative or interpretative approaches. Five themes characterized differences between these approaches, including: patient autonomy, engagement and deliberation (disclosing all options, presenting options neutrally, elicit-ing patient values, explicit treatment recommendation), influence of institutional norms, importance of clinical out-comes, and physician role. Paternalists and institutionalists viewed initiation of active treatment as a measure of suc-cess, interpretative and informative nephrologists focused on patient engagement, quality of life, and aligning patient values with treatment. The interpretive model best achieved shared decision-making. Our findings clarify how differences in perceptions of physician role, patient autonomy, and suc-cessful versus unsuccessful encounters contribute to vari-ation in care. These distinct approaches highlight a need for greater tailoring in interventions and shared decision-making guidelines.


This study examines (1) the association between agency costs and audit‐procurement practices, and (2) the association between audit‐procurement practices, audit quality, and audit fees. Improved audit procurement has been promoted as a mechanism for improving audit quality, particularly in the public sector where auditor moral hazard problems have historically existed. Using a sample of municipal organizations, we find evidence that cities facing higher levels of agency costs, and cities that rely more on their external auditors to relieve such costs, tend to have better‐developed audit‐procurement practices. We also find evidence that well‐developed audit‐procurement practices (and individual audit‐procurement elements), are associated with the hiring of auditors who have higher levels of industry experience—suggestive of higher audit quality. Finally, we find evidence suggesting that well‐developed audit‐procurement practices have a minimal combined effect on audit fees; however, individual audit‐procur...


One of the biggest health hazards is a sedentary or inactive lifestyle. Sedentary behaviour entails spending too much time sitting or lying down without activity. Vital practices for good health are physical activity and regular exercise. However, many people do not exercise regularly. "All causes of death raised by Sedentary lifestyles, the risk of CVD, diabetes mellitus, and obesity doubled due to sedentary lifestyle and chances of colon cancer increase, development of high blood pressure, progression of osteoporosis, occurrence of lipid disorders, depression, and anxiety are also caused due to sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary behaviour is becoming a major public health concern according to the WHO. Despite being connected to a variety of chronic health disorders; sedentary lifestyles appear to be becoming more prevalent in many countries. The health concerns connected with a sedentary lifestyle are being confirmed by recent study.


Background: Although lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (LPAF) is clinically defined as an arrhythmia that occurs in the absence of structural heart disease, it has been suggested that the presence of anatomical substrate is related to LPAF. The aim of the present study is to determine whether structural and functional remodeling of the left atrium (LA) occurs in patients with LPAF, and to identify whether frequent episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) contribute to LA remodeling. Methods and Results: Forty‐five patients who diagnosed as LPAF and age‐, gender‐, and body mass index‐matched healthy control subjects (n = 45) were enrolled. Patients were grouped based on the frequency of AF episodes. An echocardiography was performed >2 weeks after last episode of AF without antiarrhythmic drugs. There were no statistical differences in left ventricular (LV) diastolic and systolic functions as well as baseline characteristics between patients and controls, whereas, patients had significantly larger LA volume (LAV), lower active LA emptying fraction (LAEFactive, P = 0.009) and total LAEF (LAEFtotal, P = 0.005) compared with controls. Passive LAEF (LAEFpassive) was not different between patients and controls (P = 0.664). LAEFactive was significantly depressed in patients with frequent episodes of AF than the others (P = 0.034). Conclusions: Compared with healthy controls, patients with LPAF had increased LAV and depressed LAEFactive and LAEFtotal without accompanying compensatory increase in LAEFpassive. LAEFactive was influenced by frequent episodes of AF. These findings may support the hypothesis that LPAF is "not‐so‐lone AF" and related to the concealed cardiac dysfunctions. (Echocardiography 2011;28:44‐51)


Objective
To explore the clinical value of pulse blood oxygen saturation detection combined with physical examination in the diagnosis of neonatal congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods
724 cases of newborn children with the detection of pulse oxygen saturation (POX) combined with physical examination in our NICU were screened, and clarified the diagnosis with cardiac ultrasound, observed the screening results and the sensitivity and specificity of measuring methods.

Results
55 cases of CHD were detected in 724 cases of newborn children, the sensitivity and specificity of POX, physical examination, and POX combined with physical examination were 16.4%, 89.1%, 96.4%, and 99.7%, 95.7%, 95.2% respectively.

Conclusion
The sensitivity and specificity of POX combined with physical examination were high, which could effectively detect CHD, reduce misdiagnosis, and thus helped to improve the quality of CHD screening.

Key words:
Pulse blood oxygen saturation detection; Physical examination; Neonatal congenital heart disease; Diagnosis


Embedded deformation graph is a widely used technique in deformable geometry and graphical problems. Although the technique has been transmitted to stereo (or RGB-D) camera based SLAM applications, it remains challenging to compromise the computational cost as the model grows. In practice, the processing time grows rapidly in accordance with the expansion of maps. In this paper, we propose an approach to decouple the nodes of deformation graph in large scale dense deformable SLAM and keep the estimation time to be constant. We observe that only partial deformable nodes in the graph are connected to visible points. Based on this fact, the sparsity of the original Hessian matrix is utilized to split the parameter estimation into two independent steps. With this new technique, we achieve faster parameter estimation with amortized computation complexity reduced from O(n2) to almost O(1). As a result, the computational cost barely increases as the map keeps growing. Based on our strategy, the computational bottleneck in large scale embedded deformation graph based applications will be greatly mitigated. The effectiveness is validated by experiments, featuring large scale deformation scenarios.


The present invention relates to a furnace for heating purposes by means of a method of combustion of a gas burner, wherein a gas burner is of the type in which the inner end of the burner head disposed gas pipe (2), and an outer protective tube (3) surrounding the inner gas tube, wherein the gas from the burner head (1) of the inner tube and outer tube flow, and then flows into the exhaust passage to the surroundings (5). Feature of the present invention, the inner tube (2) is not reached in the burner head (1) terminates at; sleeve (10) is arranged downstream of the burner head, wherein the sleeve (10) is inserted into the tube slightly ( 2) and / or the inner tube (2) is arranged concentrically to the sleeve outlet (13) located in said inner tube; gap (14) provided in the inner tube (2) opening (15) and the sleeve (10); size of the gap (14) such that the mixture of fuel and gas from the burner head (1) and mixing such amounts through the gap (14) will be recirculated exhaust gas, so the combustion temperature low forming temperature NO x of. The present invention also relates to a burner.


A prospective survey of 174 consecutive patients in whom plain radiographs of the optic canals were requested by ophthalmologists disclosed no cases in which these films made a positive contribution to management. It is suggested that as a general rule this radiographic examination has no useful role.


Colleges playing personnel advantages,actively organizing college students to devote to the socialist new countryside construction,is a major task for colleges,especially for the Communist Youth League in colleges under new circumstances.Social practice of college students can only play its social and educational function through sticking to the times,improving the working system,combing with promoting the rural production and living standard of peasants,with promoting the rural civilization,democratic management and rural environmental regulation.This paper discusses the importance of social practice of college students to the socialist new countryside construction and the existing problems and improving solutions.


Experiment teaching is one of the most important links in course teaching of principles and applications of industrial microcontroller technology. The insufficiency of present industrial microcontroller experimental teaching was analyzed. Effective reform measures such as optimizing configuration, enriching the experimental content and improving the grading system and so on, were applied to improve experimental teaching effect. A series of phased and stratified experimental teaching system, which including basis, advanced and comprehensive application experiments, was established. Practices show new experimental teaching system could better stimulate students' initiative and creativity, and the ability of project design, problem solving, exploration and creativity of students were effectively improved.


Research experts of retail shrinkage, security, crime, and loss prevention believe that
irrespective of technical advancements all across the globe there has not yet been desired
substantial positive changes in reduction of shrinkage and retail crime. Every year,
retailers lose billions of dollars through reduction in retail inventories due to shoplifting,
employee theft, supplier fraud, and deliberate administrative errors. Retailers do invest
money in all sorts of tangible measures such as installing CCTVs, GIS, RFID tags,
appointing private security guards etc. to reduce incidents of crime against them.
However, the relations of retailers with their stakeholders are formal and transactional.
It is today's necessity that retailers should constructively work upon building quality
business transactions along with harmonious and safe relationships with their
stakeholders. Our research is based on improving stakeholder relationship quality that
ensures support for retailers to have secured business environment which results in
effectively minimized retail crime incidents.


Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have consistently been shown to have a detrimental effect on bacteria, fungi, and plants. The interaction of AgNPs with plants has received considerable scientific attention, because it is potentially through plants that these structures can enter the food chain and bioaccumulate in humans and animals. To determine the effects of AgNPs on plants, Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were chronically exposed to sublethal levels of AgNPs using a standardized method. To gain insight on mechanism of phytotoxicity, the seedlings were exposed to low concentrations of Ag (in the form of silver nitrate), AgNPs, or gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). To test if NP size influenced the response by the plant, AgNPs and AuNPs were tested at both 20 nm and 80 nm sizes. Exposure to AgNO3 altered the expression of several genes, but exposure to AuNPs did not cause any measurable changes in the Arabidopsis transcriptome. Exposure of plants with 20 nm and 80 nm AgNPs, on the other hand, caused the differential expression of 226 and 212 genes, respectively, indicative of cell wall reorganization and response to oxidative and biotic stress. The size of the AgNPs had little influence on gene expression patterns. Root length measurements were taken to quantify phytotoxicity of various NPs. While AgNO3 increased root elongation, the NPs, irrespective of metal composition and size, did not cause significant differences in root length. Taken together, my data suggest that the chemical nature of the metal core is the major determinant of AgNP phytotoxicity in chronically exposed plants.


Abstract The packed column technique serves as a useful tool in the investigations of the deposition and removal mechanisms of particles dispersed in a liquid in contact with a solid substrate. A model is presented which can be used to estimate explicitly the effects of multilayer deposition, which is based on three phenomenological parameters: two mass transfer coefficients, and one blocking parameter. The latter accounts for the area occupied by each adhered particle. The method can be used to evaluate the experimental results in terms of the particle-collector and particle-particle interactions. The former are related to heterocoagulation, and the latter to homocoagulation. It is shown that the rate of deposition of hematite particles onto glass beads, in the absence of a repulsion barrier, is governed by a convective diffusion mechanism. If a repulsion barrier exists, the deposition rate depends on the ionic strength in a manner consistent with colloid stability. The adhered particles can be removed b...


Since 2 February 1990 the pace of change in South Africa has been accelerating on all fronts. One naturally thinks of political development,but this change applies equally to economic development in the black informal sector There is a need for national and local authorities as well as fo r the private sector to play a role in promoting informal business activities. Instead of legislating away the so-called problem, the reality of the economic situation in the informal sector should be recognised and managed in a supportive manner In a changing society high priority should be given to the nurturing of economic growth in the informal sector. The increasing numbers of the unemployed in South Africa, especially in urban areas, necessitates positive steps to deal with the realities of urbanisation and to ease the way in which honest income can be earned through various opportunities in the informal sector A healthy and growing small business in the informal sector is a vital ingredient to ensure widespread employment and income-creation in a market-orientated economy. This sector of the economy tends to be labour-intensive, is competitive by nature and is noted for the ease of entry - thus being a prime training gun d for entrepreneurship. It is absolutely clear that the growing debate surrounding the informal sector in South Africa should be coupled with the application of reformist development strategies throughout the sub-continent. It order to improve the current situation, some specific strategies to achieve social and economic upliftment in the informal part of the economy are identified by the author. Although the informal sector forms an integral part of the economy as a whole, the focal point of this article is the economic role and function of the black population in the informal sector.


The subjects were 23 patients ef neurological diseases and 15 controls with normal speech. Cases of the neurological diseases investigated in this study were 7 spinocerebellar degeneration, 5 myastenia gravis, 3 Parkinson's disease, 2 amyotrophic lataral sclerosis, and each 1 of myotonic dystrophy, motor neurone disease, pseudobulbar paralysis, oculopharyngeal dystrophy, mitochondrial myopathy, and brain tumor. The results were summarized as follows : 1 . The score of the intelligibility rating examination of the neurological di$ease group (DG) was lower than that of normal group (NG) (p< O.05). 2. The score of the intelligibility rating examination on vowel, Ha-sounds, voiced and voiceless suonds and Ra-sounds of DG was lower than that of NG (p< O.Ol). That of