The role of chemotherapy (CT) with side effects in elderly women with advanced breast cancer is to controversial and there may be refutance to use citotoxic treatments in older patients (pts): Mitoxantrone have activity in this disease. Four- teen pts with metastatic breast cancer were treated with CT consisting of: Mitoxantrone 12 mg/m 2 i.v. q21 (M) or mitoxantrone 12 mg/m 2 i.v., 5-flurouracil 600 mg/mg 2 i.v, cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 i.v. q28 (FNC) or mitoxantrone 7 mg/m 2 i.v. q21, methotrexate 35 mg/m 2 i.v. q21, mitomycin 7 mg/m 2 i.v. q42 (3M). The median age was 68 years (range 65-74). All pts had ECOG PS < 2. Previous CT was given to 7 pts: 2 as adjuvant and 5 for metastatic disease. Meta- static sites included 6 soft tissue, 7 lung, 4 liver, 5 bone. Results: neutropenia grade ll/III.No hepatic or toxicity observed Conclusions: Mitoxantrone achieved satisfactory effectiveness in elderly pts There was a tendency to a high stable disease and long response duration in all The association known as Quality of Life in Oncology has been monitoring those patients who receive treatment in their homes and have expressly requested treatment with Di Bella multiple therapy (DMT). Over six months, forty patients with advanced manifestations of local or metastatic neoplasia untreatable with conventional methods or displaying neoplastic progression following chemo- therapy or radiotherapy took part in our study. The concept defined as quality of life is undoubtedly complex, but it may be generally hypothesized that patients experiencing different levels of quality of life consequently display different atti-tudes, perceptions and behaviour which may be identified by means of indica- tors. Research on the topic of quality of life may only performed by using instruments capable of assigning empirical content to qualitative variables. Patient monitoring was carried out using three instruments: 1) the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist; 2) Clinical Benefit; and 3) Karnofsky Performance Status. The Rotter- dam and Clinical Benefit criteria were divided into their physical, psychological and social components and each item was assigned a point scale ranging from 4 (well) to 1 (bad). For example: /; do you well quite well not well The makeup of our sample group was extremely heterogeneous with regard to the types of primary tumor, the location of the metastasis, the treatment pre- viously received and the symptoms experienced. The average age was 63 years (range 35-78). The initial average PSK was 50. the suspension electroconductivity registration - Hz Patients (48 1:55-65 years old, 66-75 years old; years old and more. We a correlation between: a) the patients condition (from I, and especially group II) and low frequency electroconductivity (lO/MCHz); and b) the patients conditions (from group II) and high frequency electroconductivity (10 5 -10 7 Hz). Previously it was shown that alterations in low-frequency electroconductivity in general depend on p-lymphocytes surface modifications, while high-frequency electroconductivity permits to estimate cell membrane destruction. Taking these into account we may assume that alterations in younger patients p-lymphocytes (group I) are caused mainly by chang-ing in antigens composition of the cells (group II) these changes are more demon- strative). At the same time for oldest patients (group III) the leading role in (3-lymphocytes changes are played by modifications in the cell membrane structure. From November 1993 to present, 19 patients (6 men, 13 women aged from 62- 86 years) underwent External Bilio-Digestive Bypass (EBDB), an original newly introduced procedure for palliative care of otherwise untreatable Neoplastic Ob- structive Jaundice (NOJ). We performed EBDE combining Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) and Endoscopic Gastrostomy (EG). Prog- nosis of these patients is very poor, lasting usually not more than 1 month. When bilirubin values are 10-15% mg/ml, median survival of our patients was 7 months (1-11: mo), with an acceptable quality of life. Mean complications were infec-tions and transhepatic catheter occlusion. EBOB is a valuable procedure for palliative treatment of otherwise untreatable neoplastic obstructive jaundice in the elderly. Cancer is a disease primarily of older persons. Over 60% of all cases of cancer are diagnosed after age 65, an age group that constitutes only 13% of west country population. By 2030, 70% of patients with cancer will be over 65. More than 67% of can- cer death occur in this older group. The risk of persons over 65 years of age developing cancer is 10 times that of those under 65. Up to the age of 50, the incidence of cancer is higher in women. After age 60 there is a remarkable increase in cancer among men. In the last two decades cancer-related mortality has declined for persons under 50, but increased for those who are older. This disturbing observation may reflect the scarce information related to cancer prevention and cancer treatment in the aged. Possible causes of this scarce information include the diversity of the geriatric population, the limited understanding of the biology of aging, the current per-ception of the elderly as frail and dependent individuals, the poor comprehen- sion that older patients and their family have of clinical research, and the scarcity of clinical trials specifically designed for aged. the problems emerging from geriatric oncology. About 48% of newly diagnosed breast cancers occurs In women 65 and over and some studies have found that elderly women are at Increased risk for locally advanced stage diagnosis. The vast majority of these patients received treat- ment, however co-morbidity can be a problem and a reason to choose for lesser therapy.From 1989, 137 patients withT 2 -T 3 -T, non metastatic breast carcinoma wore treated at our Institute with primary chemotherapy, (demolitive or con-servative), adjuvant therapy and radiotherapy. 12 patients ( 8.7%) were 65 and over (median 48), 1 T 2 , 3T 3 and 8T 4 ; ER+, 2 PgR+, 3 Ki67+. Primary chemotherapy consisted in 3-4 cycles of FEC 50 q 21 or q 14 (with G-CSF ) or mitoxantrone 7 mg/m z +mito C 7 mg/m 2 +MTX 30 mg/m 2 q 14 with G-CSF. Pathological response was 1 pTO, 1 pT1, 7 pT2, 2 pT3, 1 pT4. Median disease free survival was 22.5 months ( 5-79 ) and overall survival 30 months regimens were manageable and no unexpected toxicity was observed when compared to that from the 125 young patients. No differences in responses and DFS and OS was observed In patients re- ceiving FEC 50 and MMM. Since trials In breast cancer patients have demonstrated that mitoxantrone cause fewer cardiac adverse effects than enthracychne, the MMM regimen may be of Interest In the elderly especially when susceptible to the anthracycline cardiac toxicity. Objective from the study: The present work counts and analyzes retrospectively the incidence of cancer in older than 65 years old people into a healthy area contained in the healthy map of the Galicia Community Autonomy (Spain). It is studied the observed incidence between 1986-1995 and its prediction till 2001 year. Material: The population studied is 7819 patients diagnosed of cancer. The information collected includes personal data (clinical history, age, sex) and facts about the tumor (location, histology, date of diagnosed, source of information). They have been classified following the international classification for oncology (IDC-O) starting for the ninth published revision in 1997 of the OMS. Methods: We have used statistical methods that include: linear, composed, logarithmic, curve, inverse, logistic, quadrantic, cubic, exponential and potential growth. In the same way when it was necessary we have enlarged the chi test otherwise the Fisher's exact probability. Results: Globally we appreciate an increase of tumoral pathology in older than 65 year old people in this healthy area. In the same way, and in relation with observed facts, we can predict a porcentual increasing in cancer pathology: respiratory, breast, gastrointestinal, orophanngeal and genitourinary. The statistical analysis shows a significant p for this locations. Conclusion: This study shows the importance that neoplasic pathology has in Galicia and specifically in older than 65 year old people. In this phase 3 study we have evaluated the impact of dose or time intensifica- tion of FNC chemotherapy supported by granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rHu G-CSF) on objective response-rate, time to progression and quality of life for patients with metastatic breast cancer, who have not had prior chemotherapy for advanced disease. From December 1994 to July 1997, twenty-one patients with advanced breast cancer were treated. Patients were randomized in three arms: to . We have started a palliative chemotherapy program, as a part of complex treatment, using oral fluoropyrimidine drug ftorafur (Tegafur, FT) 600 mg/m 2 /d 1-28 or FT 600 mg/m 2 16 1-28+leucovorin (LV) 20 mg/m 2 /d 1-28 in these age groups. Treatment is well tolerated, no differences up to now were observed between these group of pts and those under 60 yrs. Improvement in QoL as a rule was observed in those patients with PR or SD. The disease progression usually correlates with poor QoL. Our data shows that oral FT ± LV is one of the treatment options for elderly stage IV colon cancer patients aimed to improve or preserve the QoL. ln-111 octreotide is well known to be taken-up by endocrine tumors. However the uptake of ln-111 octreotide by non endocrine tumors is an intriguing matter by the diagnostic as well biological point of view. We have studied 15 patients aged more than 65 years, 5 of whom with lung adenocarcinoma, 7 with squamous carcinoma and 3 with small cell carcinoma (SCLC). Planar images were performed 4 and 24 hour after the administration of 111


Abstract Iran is known, as a main producer of Fennel. Fifty genotypes of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) from different part of Iran were collected and some phenotypic traits were studied with these main objectives (1) evaluate phenotypic diversity among Iranian fennel populations; (2) compare essential oil content and seed yield among populations originating from different ecological areas; (3) determine possible correlations between essential oil and seed yield with phenotypic traits. Genotypes of Meshkin shahr, Mogan and Fozve showed a high range (273–395 g/m2) of seed yield, while high essential oil content was detected in genotypes Fozve, Kashan, Givi, Marvdasht and Kaleibar (3–3.6 cc/100 g dry matter). Correlation and causal relationships among 26 phenotypic traits were determined. Seed yield and essential oil content were used as dependent variables in a stepwise regression model to determine predictor variables. Direct and indirect effects of each independent variable were calculated using path analysis. Stepwise regression showed that weight of dry biomass, harvest index, days to 50 %flowering, number of leaves, length of peduncle and number of tillers accounted for 55.58, 39.4, 1.57, 1.14, 0.43 and 0.2 %respectively, of the variations in seed yield. Also, stepwise regression showed that the number of leaves, length of peduncle and weight of dry biomass and length of the middle internodes accounted for 27.14, 11.91, 7.11 and 3.66 %respectively, of the variations in essential oil content. The residual effects in the present study were estimated to be 0.1694 for seed yield and 0.7079 for essential oil content model. Totally for seed yield improvement, positive selection for the weight of dry biomass and harvest index and negative selection for day to 50 %flowering are recommended and for the essential oil improvement, selection of weight of dry biomass, length of peduncle and length of middle internodes with negative effect can be done. In conclusion genetic diversity of Iranian fennel populations as shown in this study should play a critical role in future selection and breeding programs.


Rapeseed meal (RSM) obtained in Europe predominantly from rape seed of double-low varieties (<2% erucic acid content in total fatty acids and <25 μM · g−1 glucosinolate content in an oil-free dry matter) is considered as a valuable component of feed mixtures because of its high protein content with well-balanced essential amino acids composition (Mansour et al., 1993), favourable ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in residual oil (Nguyen et al., 2003), significant amount of minerals and a wide variety of vitamins (Mansour et al., 1993). However, the dietary inclusion of meal, in particular for monogastric animals, is limited due to high content of polysaccharides (crude fibre) (Pustjens et al., 2013) and non-nutritive substances – glucosinolates (Bell, 1995; Tripathi and Mishra, 2007), polyphenolic compounds (Naczk et al., 1998) and phytates (Thompson and Serraino, 1986). The content and digestibility of amino acids is considered to be the main factor influencing effective animal nutrition. Rapeseed protein, preferably balanced, is characterized by lower digestibility than the protein of other ABSTRACT. The aim of the study was to analyse the quality changes in rapeseed meal (RSM) in the presence of oxygen and water vapour at elevated temperature. The chemical composition of fresh and after storage (30 days at 40 °C and 80% relative humidity) samples of RSM was determined. In comparison with fresh samples significant differences in the meal after storage in the content of true protein (35.7 vs 37.5% DM), crude fat (6.8 vs 7.5% DM), crude fibre (11.5 vs 10.6% DM), methionine (7.7 vs 8.2 g · kg−1 DM), cysteine (8.2 vs 8.9 g · kg−1 DM) and arginine, histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, tannic acid and phytic phosphorus were observed. After storage, the content of butyric, caproic, caprylic and palmitoleic acids increased, while concentration of lauric, stearic and oleic acids decreased. Proportion of saturated fatty acids in total fatty acids raised (19.7 vs 14.3%) and that of unsaturated fatty acids declined (80.3 vs 85.7%). The storage had influence on acid and peroxide values of oil, increasing them to 20.9 mg KOH · g−1 and 27.08 meq · kg−1, respectively. No significant differences in the content of starch, sugar, some amino acids (including lysine) and polyunsaturated fatty acids in fresh and post-storage meal were noticed. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and ochratoxin A were not detected after storage. It can be concluded that storage conditions affect adversely the quality of RSM having the moisture content only slightly above the recommendation (12.7 vs 12.5%) and simultaneously changing significantly its protein and lipid profiles. Received: 22 November 2016 Revised: 23 March 2017 Accepted: 13 June 2017


At the companys contractors, Selling price becomes very important for its expansion. Precisely determining whether selling prices may affect the companys revenue. In a project tender price becomes very important for a company to offer acceptable prices and the company is implementing projects to be tendered earlier. The sale price here must meet reasonable standards and projects in accordance with the wishes of the client working. The more expensive the price offered, the greater the bid was accepted. One method of determining the selling price applied for the contracting company is cost-Type Contracts, which the selling price calculation by entering the full cost of the real good all directly or indirectly coupled with the companys desired profit


The dosage of molecular weight regulator controls the molecular weight distribution.Meanwhile,the molecular weight affects physical and chemical properties of the polymer significantly.This paper chose TDDM,as molecular weight regulator,to synthesize styrene butyl-acrylate emulsion used for surface sizing agent.The properties of styrene butyl-acrylate emulsion and its paper surface sizing performance with the change of the dosage of molecular weight regulator were studied.The results showed that the different dosage of molecular weight regulator has great influence on the emulsion stability,and the amount of gel increases significantly when the dosage is more than 0.6%,or less than 0.2% on monomer dosage.Furthermore,when the regulator dosage is in the range of 0.2% to 0.4%,the water-resistance of the paper surface sized with the emulsion is the best,the Cobb value reduces from 103.4/110.1 g/m2 to 29.2/31.6 g/m2.The relative molecular weight of the polymer is 129896,and the dispersion coefficient is almost 1.0.


AbstractAfter telephone, radio, television, telex and data networks, it will be communication satellites, comsats, which will bring the greatest benefits to the Developing World, particularly through direct broadcasting. A warning is given for the future, to choose wisely between competing facilities and the distinction between regulations and controls is emphasized. An end of censorship is foreseen, as freedom of information will inevitably come about and even poor countries will be able to rent the facilities of 'electronic tutors'. It is forecast that by the year 2000 these 'weapons of peace' will be available for all Mankind.


In the contemporary world, communication goes far beyond the well-known traditional written or spoken forms. For today's digital users, these have become insufficient, as using them, they cannot express their thoughts fully. The youth that has developed its own language, has become more hermetic, but not because it rejects other generations. The reason is the inability of older generations to understand the new ways of communication. Seniors find it challenging to learn how to use new technologies and stay up to date with trends. Although young people are able to understand them, the older generation cannot keep up with the news and stays excluded. The lack of mutual understanding results in weaker bonds. Once again, it is possible to observe ICT as a contemporary key competence essential for an adequate, mutually comprehensible exchange of messages. The best way to connect two generations in this aspect is informal education, especially one focusing on intergenerational activities, which will not only reduce the exclusion of a social group such as seniors but will also let them to develop their critical thinking skills, which in the age of the Internet are crucial. Bringing up both generations in two different 'normalities' does not make any of them inferior but simply different. Investing in education, the desire for self-development and learning about the culture of different generations will not only open people's minds but will also have a positive impact on the development of intergenerational solidarity and mutual understanding.


Background: Using WG-DASL expression microarrays and whole genome genotypes,we performed an expression quantitative trait loci study (eQTL) in the temporal cortex and cerebellum of autopsied subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other pathologies, including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). We determined that genetic variants that associate with risk for lateonset AD (LOAD) and PSP also showed association with brain expression levels of nearby genes. We also identified that the top brain eQTL variants were enriched for human disease-associated variants. Collectively, these results suggest that regulatory variants have significant influence on human disease including neurodegenerative diseases. Next-generation RNA sequencing (RNAseq) can provide detailed information on transcriptional changes at a greater dynamic range thanmicroarray approach.We performed an eQTL study using gene and exon levels measured by RNAseq in the temporal cortex of w100 LOAD and w100 PSP subjects. Methods: Library preparations and RNAseq as paired-end 51 base pair runs on Illumina HiSeq2000were carried out at theMayoClinicAdvancedGenomic Technology Center. Data analysis including read alignments, tabulation of detected genes/ exons and their levels was completed utilizing the infrastructure and analytic pipelines established at the Mayo Bioinformatics Core. Gene expression levels were tested for association with cis variants (+/1Mb) and all tests were adjusted for relevant biological and technical covariates. Results: For cis -eQTL analysis, 4,799,008gene-SNPpairswere considered. False discovery rates (FDRs) were calculated according to Benjamini and Hochberg procedure to account formultiple hypothesis-testing correction. 1751 and700 cis -eQTLswere detected at FDR<1⁄45%, in LOAD and PSP brains, respectively with 421 common cis -eQTLs. At FDR<1⁄410%, 2371 LOAD and 1305 PSP cis -eQTLs were detected with 541 common results. Conclusions: RNAseq identifies significant brain cis -eQTLs that are commonly detected in two neurodegenerative diseases, as well as distinctive to each disease, as expected from themicroarray studies. The cis -eQTLs identified in this RNAseq data will be utilized to dissect the previously reported microarray expression associations and to identify novel cis -eQTL that also confer LOAD and PSP risk.Weare also in theprocess of isoformabundance calculations in these two groups that will be assessed as additional phenotypes.


During the economic crisis in Greece, the national forest sector wounded by a serious decline in demand. The national forest sector faced an important decline in forest products consumption. The paper examines the quantitative changes in the above consumption regarding several wood products categories. The results indicated that a very important decline in consumption per capita took place after 2008. Moreover, an unwanted positive relationship between GDP and the forest products trade deficit is confirmed. During the crisis, the continuant reduction of GDP brings reduction on deficit in trade of forest products while an important increase of exports occurs. However, the results also show that policy makers must act immediately in order to stop the total collapse of the sector.


The monitoring of an asset in an industrial context is a real challenge today, as data are more and more available, and computation power becomes cheaper with time. However, if we want to use data from different sensors to detect if there are anomalies of any kind, it is usually needed to individually consider a whole time series, or the values of several time series at a particular moment.In this article, we propose an adaptation of 3D object description methods to the context of the detection of unknown multi-sensors fault. This allows to detect an unknown problem to come on an asset monitored by several sensors. To our knowledge, this problem has not been completely solved yet, and opens new opportunities in class disequilibrium contexts.Final performances confirm the interest of the proposed approach adapted to a real time industrial context, and allow to open a new way of extracting features in the pretreatment of multi time series.


Setting the scene cultural adjustments - helping teachers to understand going to school in English - language acquisition issues day-to-day life in the classroom - language acquisition in practice day-to-day life in the classroom - management issues day-to-day in the classroom - strategies that support second language children teaching language arts to young second language students in mainstream classrooms teaching language arts to older second language students in mainstream classrooms answering the needs of second language students in social studies and science strategies for supporting second language students in mainstream mathematics classes further resources available to teachers of second language children. Appendices: resources for teachers Internet sites of use to teachers.


This practice-based paper discusses an approach to an innovative collaborative pilot project between Beamish Museum, The Living Museum of the North, and an Occupational Therapist. The "Men's Group" was developed in response to a growing need in the community for more opportunities for men to engage in activities to help combat isolation and mental and physical health issues. Despite the accumulation of qualitative data which indicated a hugely positive impact upon the well-being of the men who attended, this pilot highlighted deficiencies in previous approaches to evaluate and communicate such findings with others. It has since led to further explorations of more appropriate methodologies and key learning outcomes for both partners involved.


Magnetic domain structures in Fe 73.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Nb 3 Cu 1 alloys annealed at different temperatures have been observed in situ under external magnetic fields by electron holography. Under a weak magnetic field of less than several A/m, a typical magnetization process of the high permeability material is observed in the specimen annealed at 823 K consisting of the bcc Fe-Si nanocrystalline and the amorphous matrix phase. On the other hand, in the specimen annealed at 973 K consisting of large Fe-Si grains and Fe-B compounds, many domain walls are observed at the boundaries between Fe-Si grains and also between Fe-B grains. Under a strong magnetic field of more than several kA/m, domain walls are observed only between Fe-B grains. The result indicates that the boundaries between Fe-B grains act as stronger pinning sites of domain walls than the boundaries between Fe-Si grains and those between Fe-Si and Fe-B grains in the Fe 73.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Nb 3 Cu 1 alloy annealed at 973 K.


Based on the background of the Urban-rural Integration d evelopment in china and the limitation of the traditional region highway network planning theo ries, this paper combines the theory for the node important degree and area loca tion into a new system. The processing and the level division based on the syst em is also given.


A 53‐year‐old male underwent a pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) of atrial fibrillation (AF) with a second‐generation cryoballoon (CB). Although the patient maintained sinus rhythm after the PVI, a superior vena cava (SVC) fibrillation was recorded by a circular‐multipolar‐electrode catheter positioned inside the SVC that suggested conduction block between the right atrium (RA)‐SVC connection. An adenosine triphosphate intravenous injection induced a dormant reconnection of the SVC myocardial sleeve and converted sinus rhythm to an AF rhythm. This case demonstrated that a CB application for the isolation of a right superior pulmonary vein could induce an electrical conduction block between the RA‐SVC connection.


A composition includes a bismaleimide triazine (BT) compound with a nanoclay composited therewith. A mounting substrate includes polymer compound with a nanoclay composited therewith to form a core for the mounting substrate. A process includes melt blending a polymer such as BT with a nanoclay and forming a core. A process includes dissolving a monomer such as BT with a nanoclay and forming a core. A system includes a nanoclay dispersed in a polymer matrix and a microelectronic device mounted on the mounting substrate that includes the nanoclay dispersed in the polymer matrix.


Abstract In this study, we document a reflexive process via bracketing techniques and the development of a conceptual map in order to better understand how emotions that arise in the field can inform research design, implementation, and results. We conducted a content analysis of field notes written by a team of researchers who administered an interview to caregivers bringing children to visit an incarcerated family member at a local jail. Our self-examination revealed themes around the team's discomfort connected to the institutional jail setting and intense emotions regarding the life situations of study participants, their treatment by jail staff, and our own concerns about leaving the research setting. We offer recommendations for scholars conducting research in similar environments with vulnerable participants. In this study, we document a reflexive process via bracketing techniques and the development of a conceptual map in order to better understand how emotions that arise in the field can inform research design, implementation, and results. We conducted a content analysis of field notes written by a team of researchers who administered an interview to caregivers bringing children to visit an incarcerated family member at a local jail. Our self-examination revealed themes around the team's discomfort connected to the institutional jail setting and intense emotions regarding the life situations of study participants, their treatment by jail staff, and our own concerns about leaving the research setting. We offer recommendations for scholars conducting research in similar environments with vulnerable participants.


The fatty acid compositions of phospholipids extracted from leaves and leaf mitochondria, which were sampled from several horicultural plants grown under blue color-deficient sunlight (BCDS), were determined and compared with those from plants grown under natural white colored sunlight(WCS). It was found that the mitochondria isolated from plants grown under BCDS contained phospholipid whose degree of unsaturation in unit of number of double bonds per lipid molecule was remarkably higher than that from plants grown under WCS, the relative increment being . This was significantly larger than the relative increment, for total phospholipid extracted from whole leaves grown under BCDS campared to WCS. This observation demonstrated that the blue light effect of sunlight on the chemical property of cellular membranes, as long as it was concerned with fatty acid composition, arose mainly at the mitochondrial membrane. Also observing that the degree of unsaturation of mitochondrial phospholipid was much lower than that of total phospholipid, it was interpreted that this was the consequence of rather active oxidative destruction of lipid-fatty acid components occuring in mitochondrial membrane by the reactive oxygen species, especially superoxide(), which was known to be produced in mitochondrial inner membrane through the side reactions of the respiratory electron transport chain and also probably through the photosensitized reaction involving oxygen induced by blue colored light. Thus, it may be tentatively concluded that the extent of photosensitization in mitochondrial membrane could be considerably reduced under BCDS resulting in lowering of the level in the respirating organelle The possible involvement of photodynamic action in membrane oxidation was also indicated by the fact that the typical fat-soluble antioxidant, , was found to be contained on a higher level in leaves under BCDS than those under WCS.


We show that certain characteristic varieties of a finitely generated module over a given Weyl algebra arising from weighted degree filtrations are equal to the critical cone of some other characteristic varieties. This behaviour of the characteristic varieties permits us to introduce a new invariant of the module. As a second consequence we are able to provide an easy and non-homological proof that the characteristic varieties of a module arising from weights in the natural polynomial region of the Weyl algebra all have the same Krull and Gelfand-Kirillov dimension, equal to the Gelfand-Kirillov dimension of the module. Third we give an upper bound for the number of distinct characteristic varieties of a cyclic module in terms of degrees of elements in universal Groebner bases and the above results allow us to conjecture a further upper bound.


The paper describes the design of a temporary base for the integrated circuit dies placement used for the packaging operation at wafer level. In order to accurately predict the thermal deformation that would take place during the technological process, an analytical model has been devised to estimate the thermal deformation of the polyimide carrier. The level of deformation of the carrier and dies was determined through simulation of the structure in a finite element analysis environment. The difference in the values of the deformation of the die carrier when calculated by the analytical method and the finite element method turned out to be significant, but within the same order of magnitude. This indicates that the analytical calculation method can be used to quickly estimate the deformations occurring in the designed structure. However, when calculating the deformation of the dies themselves, this analytical method gives a significant error, which requires the development of a new analytical model.


A detailed analysis of porosity is often necessary to obtain a better understanding or to forecast the various types of behaviour of natural or synthetic materials. The mercury-injection porosity meter is one of the methods of indirect analysis for porous media. This technique has been known for a long time in some branches of earth sciences and seems to offer powerful possibilities to the geology engineer provided that some technological improvements are made and a better interpretation of results is ensured. The author outlines the modifications to the techniques that are required and describes the possibilities and limits of mercury injection on the basis of 5-year experience on very diverse materials. Mention is made of some examples of applications, and it is shown how porosity measurements can be used in conjunction with other tests of indirect identification of structure. (TRRL)


: In Rastafari, smoking herbs (cannabis) and tobacco is central to spiritual practices, such as grounding (the process of initiation into Rastafari) and reasoning (ritual discussions). This paper presents ethnographic research with (primarily) Jamaican Rastafari smokers in England. It shows that smoking is considered to be a 'professional' activity that communicates dedication to the movement, aids in learning different dialects and modes of speech, and facilitates experiences of communication with the herbs 'herself.' Through various rituals that 'professional' smokers engage in, herbs can become a 'plant teacher,' which Tupper (2008: 300) defines as 'a natural divinatory mechanism that can provide esoteric knowledge to adepts skilled in negotiating its remarkable effects.' An appreciation of smoking as a form of multi-species communication between 'professional' smokers and 'plant teachers' recasts the role of agency in anthropological studies of smoking and contributes to our understanding of consciousness and intentionality in both humans and plants.


The statistics on fertility of Catholics and Protestants are examined for timing and prevalence of marriage by region. Religious differences among racial and ethnic groups are small except among non-Hispanic white women. White Protestants have 1.91 lifetime births while white Catholics have 1.64 lifetime births Jews 1.54 and women with no religious affiliation 1.12. Differences are smallest in the Midwest and largest in the Northeast. When marriage patterns are adjusted for the differences are apparent only in the Northeast. These trends are based on combined data from the 1982 and 1988 National Survey of Family Growth on 9065 non-Hispanic whites 5807 non-Hispanic blacks and 1138 Hispanics. Blacks had 1.52 mean number of children ever born (CEB) for Protestants 1.41 for Catholics and 1.34 for women with no religious affiliation. Hispanics had 1.58 mean number of CEB among Protestants and 1.52 among Catholics. There were significant differences between white Protestants (1.31) and Catholics (1.08) Jews (1.07) or women with no affiliation (.83). A detailed analysis was conducted among whites on total fertility rate (TFR) mean CEB and total births expected. TFR for total whites was 1.76 lifetime births/women. The highest TFR was among Mormons (3.09) followed by Protestants (1.99). Protestant rates were higher than Catholic rates throughout the nation. The differences amounted to .06 in the Midwest .24 in the West .40 in the South and .47 in the Northeast. TFR was not associated with frequency of communion among Catholics. TFR among Protestants varied for attendance at weekly services; differences were greatest in the Northeast (.81) followed by the West (.75) and the Midwest (.67). TFR for Protestant church attenders was higher at 2.24. CEB was higher among Protestants; significant differences with Catholics appeared in the Northeast and South. In multiple classification analysis of marital duration there were no differences between Catholics and Protestants. Controls for age reduced differences in the West and Midwest. Expectations of births were higher in Catholics. Differences in CEB but not TFR can be explained by socioeconomic status.


An analogue-feedback method has been developed to reduce quantising noise in p.c.m. systems. The improvement in signal/noise ratio, however, depends on the loop delay, saturation limit of the coder and the number of digits used. The overall characteristics of the feedback p.c.m. systems have been found to be better than those of the conventional p.c.m. for bit rates up to 50 × 103 bit/s.


Amplified spontaneous emissions (ASEs) of the Na/sub 2/ violet, K/sub 2/ yellow, and Rb/sub 2/ orange diffuse bands, which are potentially important in the development of continuously tunable high-power laser sources, were observed from electron-beam-excited mixtures of Na-Na/sub 2/, K-K/sub 2/, or Rb-Rb/sub 2/ vapor with argon buffer gas. The continuum spectra centered at 436, 574, and 604 nm were attributed to triplet-triplet Na/sub 2/, K/sub 2/, and Rb/sub 2/ bound-free transitions, respectively. The dissociative recombination reaction of Na/sub 3//sup +/, K/sub 3//sup +/ or Rb/sub 3//sup +/ is discussed as an efficient formation process of the upper states in the present electron beam pumping experiments.


ALMA is an interferometer composed of 66 independent systems, with specific maintenance requirements for each subsystem. To optimize the observation time and reduce downtime maintenance, requirements are very demanding. One subsystem with high maintenance efforts is cryogenics and vacuum. To organize the maintenance, the Cryogenic and Vacuum department is using and implementing different tools. These are monitoring and problem reporting systems and CMMS. This leads to different maintenance approaches: Preventive Maintenance, Corrective Maintenance and Condition Based Maintenance. In order to coordinate activities with other departments the preventive maintenance schedule is kept as flexible as systems allow. To cope with unavoidable failures, the team has to be prepared to work under any condition with the spares on time. Computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) will help to manage inventory control for reliable spare part handling, the correct record of work orders and traceability of maintenance activities. For an optimized approach the department is currently evaluating where preventive or condition based maintenance applies to comply with the individual system demand. Considering the change from maintenance contracts to in-house maintenance will help to minimize costs and increase availability of parts. Due to increased number of system and tasks the cryo team needs to grow. Training of all staff members is mandatory, in depth knowledge must be built up by doing complex maintenance activities in the Cryo group, use of advanced computerized metrology systems.


Excited-state spectroscopy of organic dyes is demonstrated with a laser-induced grating technique. The basis of this method is the creation of a population grating in the material that is being investigated and the use of a probe detuned from the pump, permitting a great increase in effective contrast. The absorption–emission spectrum of transitions from S1, the first singlet state, were determined from the diffracted signal of the tunable probe laser. The resulting theory of the grating function and the results of experiments on Nile Blue and Rhodamine 640 are presented. In conjunction with other techniques such as flash photolysis, population gratings may provide useful information on excited-state structures of dye molecules.


In the rapid development of the campus network,the traditional mode of teaching can not meet the learning needs and individ-ual needs of network-assisted learning platform to become rich teaching methods,teaching to make up for missing a necessary complement.Network-assisted learning platform for Web-based RIA method using ASP.NET AJAX application framework and modular design to achieve the management,teachers,students in three areas of application functionality.Network-assisted learning platform for the application of improved teaching quality,and enhance the effectiveness of teaching to meet the individual needs of students,the use of advanced tech-nology of modern education and training of self-learning ability of students.


ABSTRACT The Wayback Machine, the world's most extensive web archive, contains over 370 billion webpages dating to 1996. Yet despite its tagline, "Universal Access to All Knowledge," overwhelmed visitors report frustration and trouble with keyword searching and site navigation. This essay uses the Wayback Machine to demonstrate how access as a digital archival ideal is realized only to the extent that it is defined in terms of delivery and not disposition. Further, I submit that the combination of copious delivery and a weak structure, or lack of meaningful arrangement, is conducive to flânerie, a perusal movement through digital objects. Contra the cultural imaginary of the flâneur as a figure of pleasure, I suggest that practices of flânerie generate an experience of displacement and angst. With reference to Martin Heidegger's concept of the unheimlich (uncanny), I characterize being in a web archive as immersive but anxiously placeless. I then rely on Heidegger again to identify a productively dispositional role for rhetoric in digital archiving. As logos, rhetoric builds a structure, or "dwelling," that might provide orientation and make the archival unheimlich tolerable. The essay's implications pertain to the conditions of inhabitability in networked culture, which by design is functionally archival.


The recent rapid progress in development of new technologies offers new procedures, which are environmental-friendly. One of such area are modern seed-protective methods based on treatment of seeds by plasma discharges with consequent settling of the surface by protective fungi. These biotechnological approaches represent progressive practices, which may in the future reduce the amount of chemical compounds used during chemical treatment of seed. In the past decade we performed extensive laboratory research in order to establish the plasma processing parameters. In past three years the research continued by field experiments, which aimed to assess the possibility to use such approaches in real conditions. We stated that plasma treatment of seeds in combination with consecutive microbial protective coatings of grains enhances biological value of the rapeseed, when process parameters are appropriately selected. Plasma treated seeds have higher water absorbability that contributes to better germination and early growth. The plants are more robust, they have stronger root system, quicker development and maturing. And the main benefit of such approaches is, that the presented dual treatment technique results in higher yields in field experiments.


Abstract Disclosure: K.M. Hasan: None. T.C. Friedman: None. W. Chen: None. Myc-transformed and hypoxic cancer cells are sensitive to glutamine deprivation. Reprogramming to glutamine addiction helps to maintain the TCA cycle pool and anaplerosis that provide cancer cells energy and various macromolecules critical for rapid proliferation. However, the mechanism of glutamine addiction has yet to be fully understood. Here we explore the effect of mitochondrial sirtuins (Sirt3 and Sirt5) on glutamine metabolism in prostate cancer (PCa) cell. We used lentiviral-based knockdown or overexpression methods to examine the effect of Sirt3 and Sirt5 on the growth and proliferation of PC3 and LnCap cells. Cells were grown in both regular or glutamine-free liquid and soft agar media to investigate the effect of Sirt3 and Sirt5 on anchorage-dependent or independent growth, respectively. Cells after the knockdown of Sirt3 and Sirt5 were also grown in media supplemented with cell permeable dimethyl ketoglutarate (DMK), an alternative to ketoglutarate to continue the TCA cycle in the absence of active glutamine metabolism. We showed that anchorage-independent growth (AIG) of PCa cells relied on mitochondrial sirtuins (mtSirts). Inhibition of Sirt3 and Sirt5 activity impaired AIG, and the inhibitory effect was rescued by supplying DMK, suggesting the impact of mtSirts on glutamine metabolism. Most intriguing, our results demonstrated that Sirt3 overexpression enhanced AIG, which can be suppressed by knockdown glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), suggesting that Sirt3 upregulated glutamine metabolism through GDH activation. Indeed, we found that silencing of Sirt3 and Sirt5 induced the acetylation of GDH and decreased the GDH activity. In agreement, we further observed that glutamine was essential for AIG of prostate cancer cells, and the addition of DMK in a glutamine-free medium rescued the growth, implying that PCa cells are addicted to glutamine. Finally, we showed that the knockdown of Sirt3 and Sirt5 impaired the tumorigenicity of PC3 cells in vivo mouse xenograft model. Thus, we concluded that sirtuins-mediated GDH regulation is a crucial process in the metabolic adaptation of PCa cells that can be a therapeutic target. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023


A century ago, The Tale of Gengi created by Murasakisikibu became the masterpiece of Japanese literature. Seven hundred years later, The Dream of the...


This article aims to describe the research on the prevailing factors in students' choice for Interdisciplinary Bachelors (BI) of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). For this study it was made an exploratory qualitative research that aimed to investigate if the choice for BI involved in a vocational pursuit and identify what factors motivated and influenced the choice for the courses. The study results showed the presence of a vocational/career indecision in students of Interdisciplinary Bachelors, as well as a more informal knowledge about the BI when joining in. On the other hand, the interviewed students indicated a prior interest in professional courses. Therefore this study may contribute to the strengthening and growth of cycles model purposed by BI at UFBA, since it shows its importance in offering a broader, interdisciplinary training and providing more time to vocational/career choice, which can contribute to more maturity in this choice.


The solutions to reduce CO2 emissions are addressed to prevent global warming over the world. It is necessary that methodology in transportation sector should be developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, methodology was developed to quantitatively estimate CO2 emissions for an advanced safety vehicle. Capacity, travel time, and speed were estimated in the manual traffic and in the automated traffic. The CO2 emissions were estimated and evaluated through comparison between CO2 emissions in the manual traffic and the automated traffic. The CO2 emissions reductions are estimated on the basis of baseline methodology approved by UNFCCC. Developed methodology is expected to accomplish goal of greenhouse gases reduction and takes action against climate change.


We explore the relationships between size, stellar mass, and average stellar population age (indicated by Dn4000 indices) for a sample of ∼11,000 intermediate-redshift galaxies from the SHELS spectroscopic survey (Geller et al. ) augmented by high-resolution Subaru Telescope Hyper Suprime-Cam imaging. In the redshift interval 0.1 < z < 0.6, star-forming galaxies are on average larger than their quiescent counterparts. The mass-complete sample of ∼3500 quiescent galaxies shows that the average size of a quiescent galaxy increases by ≲25% from z ∼ 0.6 to z ∼ 0.1. This growth rate is a function of stellar mass: the most massive ( ) galaxies grow significantly more slowly in size than quiescent systems an order of magnitude less massive that grow by 70% in the 0.1 ≲ z ≲ 0.3 redshift interval. For galaxies, age and size are anticorrelated at fixed mass; more massive quiescent systems show no significant trend in size with average stellar population age. The evolution in absolute and fractional abundances of quiescent systems at intermediate redshift are also a function of galaxy stellar mass. The suite of evolutionary trends suggests that galaxies more massive than have mostly assembled their mass by z ∼ 0.6. Quiescent galaxies with lower stellar masses show more complex evolution that is characterized by a combination of individual quiescent galaxy size growth (through mergers) and an increase in the size of newly quenched galaxies joining the population at later times (progenitor bias). The low-mass population ( ) grows predominantly as a result of progenitor bias. For more massive ( ) quiescent galaxies, (predominantly minor) mergers and progenitor bias make more comparable contributions to the size growth. At intermediate redshift, quiescent size growth is mass-dependent; the most massive ( ) galaxies experience the least rapid increase in size from z ∼ 0.6 to z ∼ 0.1.


Background: Various techniques of underlay graft placement have been described in literature. In this study we compare two simple underlay techniques of temporalis fascia graft placement that is Buttonhole tympanoplasty and tympanoplasty with placement of graft lateral to handle of malleus in mucosal type of chronic otitis media patients undergoing tympanoplasty to find out which among the two is a better technique based on the audiological improvement post-operatively. Methods: This is a case series study which included 30 patients undergoing type-1 tympanoplasty. Group A with 15 patients underwent Buttonhole tympanoplasty and Group B with 15 patients underwent tympanoplasty with placement of graft lateral to handle of malleus. Results: Post-operative hearing improvement was assessed after duration of three months. In Group A, 13 (87%) patients showed hearing within normal limits and 2 (13%) patients showed mild conductive hearing loss. In Group B, 9 (60%) patients showed hearing within normal limits and 6 (40%) of patients showed mild conductive hearing loss. Both the techniques were statistically significant. Conclusions: Both the techniques mentioned are simple and effective procedures. Buttonhole tympanoplasty was considered as superior technique among the two as the handle of malleus provides better anchoring for the temporalis fascia graft, intra-operative manoeuvring of the graft is easier without causing displacement of the graft, there is no reduction in the middle ear space and post-operative hearing improvement is excellent. When the handle of malleus is eroded surgeon can perform tympanoplasty with placement of graft lateral to handle of malleus.


Many of the recently published estimates of the global inventory of marine methane hydrate are based on simplified diagenetic models, which were run for each grid point of a homogeneous grid of the seafloor. Since this is a very complex and time-consuming method, which may also be limited by data availability, we invented a simple transfer function, which calculates the amount of gas hydrates based on easily accessible data. The transfer function was derived from a large set of systematic runs of a numerical diagenetic model covering the wide range of environmental conditions that are typically met along the continental margins. An exhaustive parameter analysis established that the formation of gas hydrates from biogenic methane production can be sufficiently described by the total organic carbon accumulation rate and the thickness of the gas hydrate stability zone (Marquardt et al., submitted). The resulting transfer function was applied to available global datasets of 1x1-degree resolution in order to derive global estimates of the distribution and total inventory of gas hydrates. The global grids include the seafloor bathymetry, TOC input (Seiter et al., 2004), bottom water temperature, and geothermal gradient estimated from heat flow (Hamza et al., 2008). The global amount of gas hydrate is predicted to be about 2400 Gt of C and is in good agreement with previously published results (e.g. Archer et al., 2009). So far, our calculations do not consider any thermogenic methane, but only microbially produced and hence, represent only a minimum estimate of the gas hydrate budget.


The purpose of this study was to examine whether human monocytic line THP-1 after differentiation into adherent macrophages, taken as a model of human macrophages implicated in atheroma, is able to produce lower quantities of O(2)(*)(-) either in the presence of polyphenol-rich olive oil wastewater (OWW) fractions or after OWW preincubation and withdrawal from the medium. In these respective conditions, the purpose was to examine the scavenging activity and the cell action of OWW toward O(2)(*)(-) production. It was clearly seen that OWW fractions lowered the O(2)(*)(-) production in both conditions, leading to the conclusion that they were able to scavenge O(2)(*)(-) and to depress O(2)(*)(-) production in the cell. Given the role of O(2)(*)(-) in LDL oxidation and oxidized LDL in atheroma, these results support an antiatherogenic role of OWW and its potential utilization as a food complement.


The clinical and social effects of flupenthixol decanoate and fluphenazine decanoate were compared in the maintenance treatment of a population of chronic schizophrenic out-patients over a period of 9 months. The results failed to show significant difference between the treatments, and in particular, reports suggesting specific advantages for flupenthixol decanoate in alleviating the negative symptoms of apathy, anergia and depression in chronic schizophrenics were not confirmed. It seems that chronic schizophrenic patients who are well established on one depot preparation are unlikely to be benefited by being changed to the alternative.


Introduces the current situation of the development of today,text processing,and introduces EM iterative algorithm for the classic one,and the derivation of the EM algorithm,and the specific implementation steps of algorithm of poly a further description;then after the summary of several methods commonly used nowadays in text classification,focuses on the analysis of Bayes classification methods,and the combination of EM and Bayes algorithm,application of enhanced Bayes classifier in text processing and text classification,indirectly,to improve the classification accuracy of Bayes,and describes the deficiencies in the face of the future data times how to compensate for the EM algorithm.


Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the current state and development perspectives of Materials Science and Engineering in Poland. Design/methodology/approach: The actual state of affairs, further development trends, assessment of the state integration of scientific circles and proposals for the joint activities for development in the area of Materials Science and Engineering in Poland is presented. Findings: The paper presents the assessment of the state integration of scientific circles in the area of Materials Science and Engineering in Poland. Practical implications: The proposals for the joint activities for development in the area of Materials Science and Engineering in Poland are presented. Originality/value: The value of this article lies in the fact that it proposes the joint activities for development in the area of Materials Science and Engineering in Poland.


Abstract : System requirements are presented for a noise measurement system capable of performing tests conforming to FAR Part 36 and for a research noise measurement system applicable to a broad range of objectives. The characteristics of subsystems for the functions of acoustical data collection, aircraft tracking, weather data collection, aircraft performance data collection and data processing are discussed. Alternative subsystems representative of a range of performance capabilities and costs are considered in terms of specific measurement objectives and other factors. Example system configurations for both certification and research applications are described. The study emphasizes conceptual design rather than detailed equipment/system specifications. (Author)


We present a new consensus protocol for Blockchain ecosystems – PPoM – Predictive Proof of Metrics. First, we describe the motivation for PPoM – why we need it. Then, we outline its architecture, components, and operation. As part of this, we detail our reputation and reward based approach to bring about consensus in the Blockchain. We also address security and scalability for a PPoM based Blockchain, and discuss potential improvements for future work. Finally, we present measurements for our short term Provider Prediction engine.


Contractor A of country X enters into negotiations with B, the Minister of Economics and Development of country Y, with a view to concluding an agreement on a large infrastructure project ("the Contract"). B requests the payment of a "commission" of 7.5% of the contract price in order to conclude the Contract. A pays the requested "commission" and the Contract is concluded. After A has fulfilled all of its obligations under the Contract, a new Government comes to power in country Y and the new Minister of Economics and Development, invoking the payment of the "commission", refuses to pay the remaining contract price [see Comment 2, Illustrations 2, Art. 3.3.2. UNIDROIT Principles 2010].


Deciphering the hematopoiesis mechanism that underlies progenitor cells definition and fate decision are critical to understanding fundamental questions of hematopoietic lineage commitment. Classic and traditional surface markers are often speciosity, inefficient and inaccurate for defining hematopoietic progenitor cells. Aims: The transcriptional atlas and the lineage commitment of hematopoietic progenitors (HPCs) in adult peripheral blood remains to be elucidated. Methods: Herein, we reaffirmed the adult hematopoietic progenitors, and recovered the key transcript factors in lineages fate decision, and restructured the lineage commitment model of HPCs by single-cell sequencing.


Bonding CFRP to strengthen reinforced concrete bridge structures is a new technology in transportation engineering. This paper presents a analytical model, which is based on strain compatibility to describe the behavior of beams strengthened with CFRP. Tests of beams reinforced with CFRP indicate that bonding CFRP can significantly increase the ultimate load and restrain cracking of the beam.


This article considers the experiences of health consumers who have undergone testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies, T cells, and viral load. These HIV-related tests are deployed for the purposes of making definitive diagnoses; yet some test consumers experience ambiguous outcomes. Drawing on an analysis of differing end-user experiences of these tests, where consumers' knowledge reflected the multiplicity and heterogeneity in test design, the author explores how these experiences reflect particular knowledges about these tests. The article contributes to efforts analyzing how health consumers are active end users co-constructing the social meaning of technologies in mutual relationship with other users. The author discusses how this new knowledge can be used to delineate a greater role for consumer evaluation of medical testing within a broader understanding of test design and performance. Relevant links are made to issues such as genetic testing and assessing claims about the efficacy of medical tests.


The semiconductor memory device and a bit line sense amplifier control method which can reduce the time to restore the data masking operation is started. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory core, and data input and output circuit. The memory core separates the read column select signal, a write column select signal, and a first bit line pair in response to a data masking signal to the input and output line pair electrically. Data input and output circuit to determine the output sequence for the signal input and output line pair and buffers provided in the input and output pins and buffers to receive input data from the input and output pins and provides the input and output line pair. Accordingly, the semiconductor memory device can not speed up the data write and high speed operation is therefore possible. The bit line sense amplifier, EDRAM, data masking, PSRAM


Generative kernels have emerged in the last years as an effective method for mixing discriminative and generative approaches. In particular, in this paper, we focus on kernels defined on generative models with latent variables (e.g. the states in a Hidden Markov Model). The basic idea underlying these kernels is to compare objects, via a inner product, in a feature space where the dimensions are related to the latent variables of the model. Here we propose to enhance these kernels via a nonlinear normalization of the space, namely a nonlinear mapping of space dimensions able to exploit their discriminative characteristics. In this paper we investigate three possible nonlinear mappings, for two HMM-based generative kernels, testing them in different sequence classification problems, with really promising results.


This report describes the evaluation plan for the Yosemite Area Traveler Information (YATI) system. The objectives of this system which is to be fully operational by May 1995, are to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, enhance mobility, and preserve/promote tourism in and around Yosemite National Park by providing visitors with a variety of services. Included in the report is a schedule of tasks to be conducted in the evaluation.


The Mo and V nitrogenases are structurally homologous yet catalytically distinct in their abilities to reduce CO to hydrocarbons. Here we report a comparative analysis of the CO‐reducing activities of the Mo‐ and V‐nitrogenase cofactors (i.e., the M and V clusters) upon insertion of the respective cofactor into the same, cofactor‐deficient MoFe protein scaffold. Our data reveal a combined contribution from the protein environment and cofactor properties to the reactivity of nitrogenase toward CO, thus laying a foundation for further mechanistic investigation of the enzymatic CO reduction, while suggesting the potential of targeting both the protein scaffold and the cofactor species for nitrogenase‐based applications in the future.


Wireless biomedical sensor networks in healthcare have been a great motivation in providing a timely and effective response in healthcare services as one of the many target applications such networks have. Being heterogeneous in real-time traffic attributes associated with each biological sensor, organizing the access to the shared wireless medium becomes a subtle task. This paper exploits a fuzzy logic decision system integrating application traffic diversity to propose a dynamic controlled range for the randomly chosen backoff periods. The dynamically adjusted upper and lower bounds of backoff period introduced on top of the IEEE 802.15.4 medium access control protocol has resulted in a more significant delivery ratio as demonstrated by simulation results in Castalia.


Supplier selection is one of the most important issues in supply chain management (SCM) which greatly affects its performance and market competitiveness. In the recent years, supplier selection in SCM has become imperative to balance between the ordinal and cardinal criteria. This paper proposes a two-phase model which aims to evaluate and select suppliers using an integrated Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Technique for Ordering Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) methods. A fully developed model consisting of several evaluation criteria, both quantitative and qualitative in nature, as assessed by FAHP method to estimate the criteria weights, while FTOPSIS method is used to rank the potential suppliers that have been singled out through expert assessment. The proposed model is a support tool in the optimization of the purchasing process, and it provides the possibility of realizing additional savings by developing stronger cooperation with the optimal supplier.


The palace of memory - the Carolingian court as political centre, Stuart Airlie wish you were here - Alcuin's courtly poetry and the boys back home, Andy Orchard defining settlements - York and its Hinterland AD 700-1000, Julian D. Richards Competing capitals? York and London in the fourteenth century, W.M. Ormrod the politics of presentation - the architecture of Charles IV of Bohemia, Paul Crossley the court and the regions in later medieval Catalonia, Peter Rycraft isolated or integrated? the English soldier in Lancastrian Normandy, Anne Curry the pastons and London, Colin Richmond.


In this note we give an example of an ergodic non-singular map whose unitary operator admits a Lebesgue component of multiplicity one in its spectrum.


The goal of present study was to investigate the effect of flax stems diameter (small- less than 1.99mm and large- greater than 2.19mm) on fibre quality. Linseed flax, cultivar-sorrel was used for this study to measure parameters such as fibre yield, presence of functional groups, tensile strength of single fibre and fibre bundle, crystallinity of single fibre and morphology of stems. Data collected was statistically analyzed using non-parametric one-way Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Result indicates, stem diameter had significant effect on whole fibre yield. The whole fibre yield for small and large diameter stems was 20.98±0.16% and 19.70±0.40%, respectively. Similarly, cross-sectional area of single fibre and diameter of stems had significant effect on single fibre tensile strength (MPa). Cross-sectional area of single fibre for small and large diameter stems was 3.65×10-9±2.60×10-10 um and 4.41×10-9±2.53×10-10 um. As cross-sectional area of single fibre and stem diameter increases tensile strength reduces. The average strength values for small and large diameter stems was 690.41±34.67 MPa and 838.07±45.48 MPa, respectively. However, stem diameter had no significant effect on fibre bundle tensile strength and crystallinity of single fibres. The average crystallinity values for small and large diameter stems was 45.16 ±1.86% and 43.26±1.93%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images of water retted flax stem cross- sections showed visible separation of fibre and fibre bundle. Although, it was hard to determine the boundary line for each fibre and layer in stems and requires further imaging to distinguish structural distribution between small and large diameter stems.


1. Introduction. Part I: The Biosphere 2. The biosphere. 3. Environmental variables. 4. Historical biogeography. 5. Biomass characteristics. 6. Biological productivity. 7. The biological cycling. 8. Biomass change and soil development. Part II: Ecosystems: 9. Tropical and temperate forest ecosystems. 10. Boreal ecosystems. 11. Grassland ecosystems. 12. Desert ecosystems. 13. Island ecosystems. 14. Mountain ecosystems. 15. Aquatic ecosystems. Part III: Biotic resources: use and misuse 16. Ecosystems, stability and disturbance. 17. Human impact: ecosystem exploitation. 18. Human impact: environmental pollution. 19. Managed ecosystems. 20. The urban ecosystem. 21. Conservation.


frequency (or wavenumber) as opposed to wavelength. Although mid-infrared spectra are typically collected (as with FT-IR) and presented as a linear function of wavenumber; NIR spectra have traditionally been represented in terms of wavelength. To some extent, this may be a reflection of the wavelength-linear rotational dependence of the diffraction grating found in instruments typically used to collect near-infrared spectra. Even though the conversion between wavenumber and wavelength representations is a relatively simple computer task, wavelength-linear scanning can actually be achieved with an AOTF spectrometer, if desired, by varying the RF input to the crystal in a wavelength-linear fashion. An additional consideration With any spectrometer is its resolution, or bandpass. The resolution characteristics of an AOTF crystal are determined upon its manufacture, and can be made to accommodate most practical NIR applications. Although this means that the resolution of an AOTF spectrometer is non-adjustable (aside from swapping crystals), since varying the resolution of a NIR instrument (which could alter its quantitative performance) is rarely done, sufficiently low and the angular deflection is sufficiently high to permit geometric resolution, assuming that the "untuned" radiation can be adequately blocked. An advantage of this method is that it permits the use of both polarisation components from the radiation source. A combination of crossed polarisers with geometric separation to compensate for incomplete extinction of the "untuned" radiation can be used to minimise absolutely the amount of unfiltered radiation exiting the monochromator (Figure 2). As previously mentioned, the output radiation from an AOTF monochromator varies linearly with RF input in terms of


This study investigates the main links among psychodrama, theatre and education. These areas of knowledge are described in their historical context, and the main limitations and perspectives of their interrelations are discussed. We propose the mutual acceptance and exchange of informations among these areas, using a multireferencial approach, with the objective of creating a collective perspective of knowledge building.


For monitoring risks of occupational radiation exposure to workers of Russian nuclear industry the system ARMIR is used. The system was developed at the State Corporation ROSATOM in cooperation with the Russian Scientific Commission on Radiological Protection and the National Radiation Epidemiological Registry [1-3]. The ARMIR system is designed on the basis of principles and methods for calculation of radiation risk recommended by ICRP [4]. During the creation of the system algorithms of calculation of different radiation risk measures from multiple radiation exposure, specialized software and database were developed. Justification of adaptability of mathematical models based on follow-up data on A-bomb survivors in Japan to Russian conditions was carried out. The system ARMIR was first used in the "Mayak Production Accociation" in 2006. At present the system is used in more than 100 radiation and nuclear hazardous sites of the ROSATOM. ARMIR databases consist all information necessary for calculating radiation risks, that is employee's ID number, gender, date of birth, as well as annual radiation doses received by a regulatory monitored worker being registered on a database maintaining records of the doses received by each individual dosimeter wearer. More than 60 thousand personal records are collected annually (Table 1).


At present,the contradiction between urban Green Space and urban land,water resources,has become the necessary challenge for building a harmonious society.Since the Ministry of Construction of the People's Republic of China issued the " The Views on Conservation-minded Urban Green Space "in 2007,many cities take a series of measures to emphasize the conservation-minded afforestation.From the content and requirements of conservation-minded afforestation,as well as the current situation of urban afforestation in Changsha city on how to afforest a conservation-minded Changsha.


This article argues that despite the fact that the concept of knowledge and is much discussed, it is underdeveloped in economic theory. It discusses this in relation to three dominant positions in economics; the Neoclassical, Institutional and Austrian. Of the three, the Austrian is the position that has gone deepest into the study of knowledge. However, not even the Austrian position has fully explored how knowledge development can be integrated into its theory. It is therefore argued that economic theory should embrace a broader understanding of knowledge, which draws upon a cross-disciplinary approach and takes into account that knowledge is inherently both a subjective, social and complex phenomenon.


Apparatus for discharging predetermined quantities of food for dairy cows and beef cattle, which apparatus comprises a hopper, an elongate flat-sided housing, a conveyor positioned in a conveyor section of the housing, a plurality of separate collector compartments formed in a collector section of the housing, and a plurality of sliding plates joined to a common rod for simultaneously closing and opening a plurality of discharge apertures in the collector compartments.


Previous research has demonstrated that empowering women in developing nations has been shown to enhance agricultural productivity and rural development. Although women in Southeast Asia are often considered to be more empowered than in other parts of the world, in Thailand, women still experience persistent barriers to gender equality. In response, this case study examined the positionality of women in Thailand's agricultural sector by describing their underlying beliefs and values regarding their careers. As a result, three distinct themes emerged: (1) dichotomous gender roles, (2) the perpetuation of gender stereotypes, and (3) positive perceptions and beliefs in gender equality and women's abilities. The findings illuminated that despite having a distinctly positive perception of themselves and their abilities, women internalize prescribed gender stereotypes in the agricultural industry in Thailand. Such views appeared to impede the participants' sense of empowerment in the agricultural workforce. Moving forward, we recommend that extension professionals design programming to empower women in Thailand by tailoring professional development opportunities based on regional differences in regard to gendered customs, norms, and traditions. Further, additional research should be conducted to distill the specific topic areas that could be used to stir critical reflection and action among women in Thailand's agricultural sector.

Keywords: agricultural development; gender equality; Thailand; women empowerment


The purpose of this study was to examine the availability of the CPITN and the B.I. (Bleeding Index) for adults in the dental health administration system of preventive dental clinics. At the outpatient clinic in the hospital of Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, we have managed to control periodontal disease using a maintenance dental care system consisting of oral examination, motivation, tooth brushing instruction, scaling, and periodic recall based on an original screening method.We analyzed the data obtained over a 2-year period from 472 patients (aged 15 to 70, who were new cases from April, 1984 to September, 1986). As the result of continuous administration of this dental care system, the B.I. decreased to about half the value of the first examination. In addition, we could easily estimate the manpower necessary to provide preventive treatment of periodontal disease to the public. If a dental team composed of one general dentist and two dental hygienists works 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, they can offer this program to 1, 167 people, excluding serious patients with CPITN code 4.We concluded that the application of CPITN with B.I. was useful in the screening of patients, the evaluation of prognosis at each recall examination, and the estimation of manpower.


This study examined the role of cathode-ray tube (CRT) display characterizations on soft-copy image manipulation and perceived color quality of subsequently printed photographs. CRT gamma, color temperature, and excitation purity were manipulated using a central composite experimental design, resulting in fifteen unique monitor calibrations. Twenty-two participants viewed 3 images under each of the 15 CRT conditions. Participants edited color balance, brightness, and contrast of each soft-copy image. The direction and magnitude of image edits were recorded for analysis. Photographic-quality hard-copy prints of each edited soft-copy image also were generated. Participants were brought back to the lab after one month to rate the color quality of the hard-copy prints. Response surface analyses indicated that monitor calibration did influence soft-copy editing and perceived hard-copy color quality of prints generated from the edited images. CRT gamma had the greatest influence on image editing and perceived hard-copy color quality.


Abstract Airway compliance is an important index in the surgery of pediatric patients. This study aimed to explore factors affecting dynamic airway compliance (Cdyn) and airway resistance (Raw) after general anesthesia endotracheal intubation for adenotonsillectomy of pediatric patients. A prospective study was undertaken of 107 children who underwent adenotonsillectomy in Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine between January and June 2018. The values of Cdyn and Raw were recorded at 5, 10, and 15 minute during general anesthesia endotracheal intubation. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed for factors that affected Cdyn and Raw. Of the 107 patients aged 56.67 ± 18.28 months, 69 (64%) patients were male, and 26 (24%) and 12 (11%) had an upper respiratory infection in the past week and 1 to 2 weeks, respectively. During anesthesia, Cdyn showed a decreasing trend (P < .001) while Raw showed an increasing trend (P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that height (β=0.177–0.193) had the strongest correlation with Cdyn; rales during pulmonary auscultation (β= –2.727 to –1.363) and sputum suction (β= –1.670 to –0.949) were also associated with Cdyn (all P < .05). Height was the factor with the strongest negative correlation with Raw (β= –0.382 to –0.305). Rales during pulmonary auscultation (β=10.063–11.326) and sputum suction (β=3.863–9.003) were also associated with Raw (All P < .05). Height, rales during preoperative auscultation and sputum suction were all associated with intraoperative Cydn and Raw for pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy and should be considered before the surgery.


A plasma electrolytic device with dripped electrolyte was used to deposit Ni coatings on aluminium alloy surface directly. The technological conditions of plasma electrolysis,microstructure,adhesion strength and corrosion resistance of these coatings were studied.It is demonstrated that the passivation of Ni coatings can be reduced by adding sulfuric acid in electrolyte to decrease its pH,a smooth surface of Ni coatings can be obtained by using high-frequency pulse current,the adhesion strength of the coatings can reach to 140 N which is twice higher than that of the traditional Ni coatings deposited on the dipped zinc. The existence of trace O and S in Ni coatings can raise the corrosion potential and improves the corrosion resistance.


One of the elements of any at a distance university system of studies is the tutorial action, which is conceived like an inherent activity to the work of the professor, whom it tries to favor the process of learning and the decision making of academic and vocacional order of the students. This action must be studied with respect to its importance, types, modalities, forms, characteristics, frequency, resources and planning, from the perspective of the tutor, the participants and the institution. However, in this report one describes to the importance and direction that the tutorial action in the SED-LUZ has.


Poly(butylene/diethylene naphthalate) copolymers (PBN-PDEN) were synthesized in bulk according to the polycondensation procedure and examined by NMR, GPC, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and XRD. At room temperature they appeared as semicrystalline materials; the copolymerization caused a lowering in the Tg value, a decrement of Tm and of the crystallization rate. Pure α or β′ form was obtained at low and high DEN unit content, respectively; crystalline form transition never occurred in the solid state, analogously to PBN. After cooling from the melt, the pure α form was always evidenced in PBN-PDEN10 and PBN-PDEN20, whereas the pure β′ crystal phase develops in the copolymer containing 40 mol % DEN units, independently on the cooling rate. In the case of PBN-PDEN30 a pure α or β′ form was obtained at low and high cooling rate, respectively. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1356–1367, 2009


The invention discloses a method for realizing radiofrequency impedance match, and a radiofrequency impedance matching system, which includes the following steps: comparing the input admittance of the matching network with the output admittance of the radio source, adjusting the input admittance of the matching network according to the compared result, thereby realizing the impedance matching control. The impedance tester tests the input admittance of the matching network, and the controller uses the difference of the real component and the imaginary component of the admittance to control the adjustment of the tuned cell, and uses the special relationship between the real/imaginary component of the input admittance of the matching network and the tuned cell. The tuned cell of the series branch does not influenced by the parallel branch tuned cell, and can be adjusted separately. The system impedance can be realized by the decoupling control arithmetic. The invention has the advantages of simple arithmetic, rapid matching process and reliable matching system, and can be realized easily.


Coffey is correct about the shape and direction of Goodwin's thought. This is a big, richly detailed book. It contains most of what is known about Goodwin, and much that can be surmised. It corrects the conventional, posthumous estimate of him (attributed to Edmund Calamy, Sr.) as an isolated polemicist and party-of-one. Goodwin in fact had connections, influence, and an audience; his tracts sold well. Directly and indirectly in the 1640s and early 1650s, he had a hand in the Parliamentary and Puritan "cause," in the contentious interactions among the city, the Commons, the Westminster Assembly, the Army, and the Protector. As in his book on Rutherford, Coffey directs attention to intellectual (as well as religious and political) ferment in the revolutionary period; and, in the case of Goodwin, to pertinent continuities between mid-century Puritans and subsequent, postPuritan, rationalism in English religion.


The problem of statistical inferences about functions of population quantiles is considered. The asymptotic distributions of functions of sample quantiles are normal.We propose estima tots of the variances and covariances of the asymptotic distribution by the jackknife method and establish their consistency.The results provide asymptotically valid procedures for statis- tical inferences.


Shade matching can be difficult for clinicians, but with experience and improvements in restorative materials, you can produce excellent outcomes.


A variety of stimuli applied to the spinal cord evoke compound action potentials which move along the cord at less than half the rate characteristic of the fast potentials. Descending slow potentials, but not ascending ones, tend to fail at the atriopore, the reverse of the situation observed in hemichordates (Pickens, 1970). As in hemichordates, graded stimulation produces recruitment of the slow response, and a striking disappearance of the slower components. The slow potentials are closely associated with muscular contractions in adjacent myotomes, but coupling is loose. Localized recordings suggest the origin of slow potentials in widely dispersed, fine processes from the secondary interneurone and somatic motor areas of the cord. The pacemaker properties of the slow system derive from certain interneurones in the anterior cord, and not in the Rohde cells as stated by Ten Cate (1938), although there is evidence for functional connections between Rohde and slow elements.


The 80th mainstream literature is apparently the important literature phenomenon about scar literature, introspection literature, seeking origin litrerature and vanguard literature. However, the mainstream literature are continually changed, emphasized, douted because of the change of age atmosphere in the literature historical works, historical data of the past 90th age. That is to say, the abnormal phenomena and diversify position of these historical works make the past literature history being a object to discuss, a topic to be accomlished. This paper want to clear the diverge, to revert profound historical affair and to discuss the social culture behind rewritting literature history. The author considers, rewritting literature history ,in fact, reflects the levity and uncertainty of social and literature ,the reform and construct of subject, and would have experience of historical change deeply.


The article reveals the essence of consumer lending and outlines the key development trends. Of particular relevance are the directions associated with the development of consumer credit, the bank as a whole and the function is successful, the management of the credit institution.


Geological flow units based on reservoir rock typing can be used to characterize geological facies based on their dynamic behavior. A procedure for identifying and characterizing geological flow units helps resolve some of the key challenges faced in exploration and production of carbonate reservoirs. The current work focuses on the rock typing/flow units classification for reservoir characterization in a carbonate gas reservoir. The Sui Main Limestone (SML) Eocene reservoir, located in the southwestern part of the Middle Indus Basin in Baluchistan Province was selected, and the study carried out using core, wireline logs of 30+ wells and production logging data. The reservoir was previously categorized based on the geological information into four layers.
 An integrated workflow was used for characterization of Geological Flow Units based on all available information. The Sui Main Limestone (SML) reservoir was divided into three flow units/rock types, depending on the well log patterns, core data, Porosity–Water saturation relationships, flow zone indicators (FZIs), and the Porosity–Permeability relationships. Production logging data was used to validate flow unit classification.
 The field is a gas bearing reservoir composed of medium hard to hard limestone characterized by high porosity but poor/low permeability. The matrix permeabilities and porosity range from 0.01–40 mD and 0–35 percent respectively. Three rock types and groups have been identified in the SML formation; the first group represents the poor reservoir quality (GFU-1) Highly cemented limestone, the second group reflects the moderate reservoir quality (GFU-2) Moderately cemented limestone, and the third group represents the very good reservoir quality (GFU-3) poorly cemented limestone.
 Production logging data was used to validate flow unit classification. Pressure Transient Analysis (PTA) indicated that only partial penetration occurred, and therefore only a portion of the perforated area was contributing to production. Specifically, the majority of inflow zones identified in the production logging data corresponded to GFU-3 flow units. As expected, the other two flow units only provide a small increase in production. This further validated the partial penetration model determined from PTA.
 Geological flow units/rock types in these thick carbonate reservoirs and can be helpful in selecting optimum perforation intervals rather than perforating the whole thickness. This innovative method can save significant CAPEX without compromising the production.


In this paper, we explore a unique exogenous instrument to examine how the intra-familial position of women influence health outcomes of their children using micro data from Ghana. Using the 2SLS-IV estimation technique,we build a model of household bargaining and child health development with perceptions of women regarding wife-beating and marital rape in the existence of domestic violence laws, in Ghana. Even though the initial OLS estimates suggest that women's participation in decisions regarding purchases of household consumption goods help to improve child health outcomes, the IV estimates reveal that the presence of endogeneity underestimates the impact of women's bargaining power on child health outcomes. Our test for endogeneity also confirms that child-health investment decisions is mediated through domestic violence laws, which protect women from physical and sexual abuse in the household. Our instrument is also robust to rural residency and father characteristics controls.


Background. Socio-cultural pressure exerted by the environment and the media makes the majority of women take care of their bodies. That is especially true in Western culture which promotes slimmer women in recent decades. Methods. Two questionnaires were used in this research: Body Shape Questionnaire and Sense of Coherence scale. Research participants were 79 women aged 34.6 ± 3.76 years. Results. After six months of regular fitness classes women's satisfaction of their body and their sense coherence level improved significantly. Relations between body shape dissatisfaction and sense of coherence, body shape dissatisfaction and manageability, comprehensibility and manageability were found. Conclusions. Systematic fitness training positively affects women's satisfaction with their body. Understanding of the capability of controlling their body shape was improved. There was a significant relationship between dissatisfaction with their body shape and sense of coherence. The effect of physical activity improved the values of all three components of the sense of coherence construct. The values of comprehensibility, meaningfulness and manageability indicators show that respondents may already have a better control of their sense of coherence.


Introduction 1. Toson, Literary History, and National Imagination 2. The Disease of Nationalism, the Empire of Hygiene: "The Broken Commandment" as Hygiene Manual 3. Triangulating the Nation: Representing and Publishing "The Family" 4. Suicide and Childbirth in the I-Novel: "Women's Literature'" in "Spring" and "New Life" 5. The Times and Spaces of Nations: The Multiple Chronotopes of "Before the Dawn" Epilogue. The Most Japanese of Things


An organization's environment normally can be well studied from two perfectives, which are the extent of change and the level of complexity. The extent of change considers the stability and instability of the environment and complexity of environment depends on the number of inconsistent pattern which are liable to vary and resulting in either complex or a simple environment. This paper therefore seeks to provide an overview of organizational environment, and discuss the uncertainty of organizational environment in developing countries. It started with the introduction of both terms organization and environment. It explains the developing countries perspective and the uncertainty of its environment, and identifies the factors that contribute to a grown climate of uncertainty in developing countries It goes on analyses the impact of uncertainty of environment towards organizational performance caused by political system, economic, socio cultural, legal, technology and demographic factors and tries to elaborate the best practice of SWOT analysis in managing organizational environment. After that it ended up by a conclusion. Keywords: Uncertainty, Organization, Environment, Developing Countries, Environmental forces, SWOT analysis.


This paper examines the effects of tawfik or the will and ability to carry out something in ethical decision making process. Decision making requires art and science in the process to understand issues or problems, consequences of the decisions to the relevant stakeholders, methodology to execute the decisions, and evaluation on the decisions. The study interviewed 10 owners
and decision makers of micro and small businesses in Malaysia to solicit their views pertaining to the effects on the will and ability (tawfik) in their decision making process. The informants were personally interviewed with note taking approach within 20-30 minutes duration at their business locations. Most of the informants stated that they used impromptu and rational approach in decision making process just to solve issues or problems at hand without taking into long term consequences of the
decisions. The nature of small business requires them to make swift, quick and short term basis decision due to the intense pressure of competition. Sometimes they decided for 'short cut' instead of the long-winded and difficult actions. Some informants argued that sometimes they performed special prayers and making supplications for clueless and too difficult issues, problems
and cases. As Muslims, they performed and steadfast with obligatory prayers and other recommended deeds. The informants realized the importance of obtaining tawfik from Allah not only in critical situations but also in all situations. The results of the study are very contextualized and contributed to the insights and understanding of the effects of tawfik in ethical decision making process within the context of selected micro and small businesses in Malaysia. The immediate implication to the theory is in the ethical decision making theory from the Islamic perspectives. In terms of practical implications, the findings of the study can be used as input for micro and small businesses to formulate guidelines in decision making process. The study recommends the future study should expand the number of informants and also to employ triangulation, a combination of interview, survey, and case study.


Background and purpose: Today, cognitive-behavioral group therapy is empirically supported in treatment of emotional disorders and in some ��chronic diseases such as diabetes. The aim of the present research was to study the effect of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), self-efficacy, depression, illness perception, and quality of life in patients with type II diabetes. Materials and methods: In this clinical trial, 43 patients were found eligible, of whom 30 were selected using simple random sampling and were divided into two groups: experimental and control. HbA1c was measured in all participants and they completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Self-efficacy in diabetic patients (DMSES), Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), and Diabetes D-39. The experimental group attended 10 training sessions based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (Beck approach), for 1.5 hours, twice a week. The scales were completed again, after the intervention and a month later. The HbA1c was also measured again. Results: The mean age of participants was 46.5p7.21 years. At first, both groups were heterogeneous in dependent variables. Cognitive behavioral group therapy decraesed depression (P=0.049) and increased illness perception (P=0.005) in patients with type II diabetes, but HbA1c, self efficacy, and quality of life did not change significantly. Conclusion: In this study, cognitive-behavioral group therapy was found to have positive effects on reducing depression and increasing the illness perception in diabetic patients. Hence, it is suggested along with current treatments in type II diabetes. n


In Sima Qian's eyes, Confucius is a famous sage. Sima Qian wrote a special article for Confucius. There are three reasons why Sima Qian promoted and respected him so much. Firstly, Sima Qian was influenced greatly by the School of Gong Yang in the Spring and Autumn Period. Secondly, Sima Qian was influenced by academic knowledge and thoughts of his own family. Thirdly, Confucius' own experiences were similar to him, which echoed in Sima Qian's feelings. In Sima Qian's Confucius, Records of the Historian, he not only restored the real Confucius who was deified a superhuman by the School of Gong Yang in the Spring and Autumn Period, which broke through the academic tradition of today's character and classical schools, but also filled rationality in the Western Han Dynasty, which demonstrated the precious consciences of learning and the conventional spirits of historians.


A theoretical model was proposed in 2013 by Moriya et al. predicting the light curves of interaction powered supernovae, potentially applicable to type IIn events. A possible improvement to that model for the early phase is presented. This improvement seems to be supported by recalculated values of parameters derived using the original model, that when compared, appear to be slightly more reasonable. More importantly, it could probably be used for more accurate modeling of such events.