Models of both the shape and material properties of physical objects are needed in many computer graphics applications. In many design applications, even if shape is not needed, it is desirable to start with the material properties of existing non-planar objects. We consider the design of a system to capture both shape and appearance of objects. We focus particularly on objects that exhibit significant subsurface scattering and inter-reflection effects. We present preliminary results from a system that uses coded light from a set of small, inexpensive projectors coupled with commodity digital cameras. Introduction We consider the problem of capturing digital models of the shape and material properties of physical objects. These models are needed in a variety of applications. A digital model with both shape and material is needed to visualize an object in a virtual scene in computer graphics. Material properties are needed in design tasks in which a new object is to be created with a material "look" similar to existing objects. Even if the shape is not of interest, if the object is not flat the shape of the object must be estimated to extract the material properties. Many methods have been developed to scan both shape and appearance. However these methods produce errors in both the shape and material properties when there is subsurface scattering in the material. In this project we build on recent work in separating light paths using spatially coded patterns of light to estimate both shape and material. Our goal is to have an inexpensive capture system that produces models that can be rendered in a computer graphics system with visually acceptable results. Background and Previous Work An image of an object is a function of the object itself, the incident lighting and the properties of the imaging system, as shown in Figure 1. Systems for capturing shape and material properties fundamentally depend on following light paths from a light source, to the object, and then to an camera sensor. The paths depend on the object shape and material scattering properties. Most systems assume simple paths, such as the one shown in Figure 1. Knowing the light source and camera positions, and the direction from each to a point on the object allows the calculation of the point position using triangulation. Knowing the magnitude of the reflected light can be used to estimate the surface reflectance property. The accuracy of the 3D point position depends on accurately locating the 2D point, shown in bright red in Figure 1, in the camera image. Locating the point in the image however can be difficult when the object diffuses the light into a region around the point of incidence as a result of subsurface scattering. Rather than a precise point on the image there is a blurred spot, as represented in pink in the figure. The appearance of the blurred spot also indicates that the material property can not be represented by a simple surface reflectance. Figure 1. Shape and material capture systems depend on estimating/controlling the parameters of object illumination and the imaging device. With the availability of inexpensive digital cameras (in particular the high resolution cameras on smart phones) and scanners (such as the NextEngineTM and KinectTM there has been a great deal of interest in assembling systems for capturing digital content for 3D graphics applications, rather than modeling content from scratch. Early work in shape and material properties used laser scanners, cameras and lights [1]. Recent work includes limited acquisition (large, flat samples with statistically stationary textures) using just a smart phone camera [2] , simultaneous shape and surface reflectance capture with an RGB-D sensor [3], and sophisticated separation of light paths using an interferometer [4]. With the exception of [4] these systems do not account for the errors in shape introduced by subsurface scattering, and do not attempt to estimate subsurface scattering properties. In our project we seek a simple, inexpensive system that accounts for subsurface scattering. In previous work [5] we considered the use of spatial patterns for estimating material properties for near-flat surfaces. We made use of the seminal work presented by Nayar et al. [6] for separating direct and indirection illumination effects in images by using projected spatial patterns. In addition to verifying the effects originally demonstrated in [6] we showed that indirect effects can be further separated by using direct/indirect separations from multiple illumination directions. Further we showed that while subsurface scattering effects are never spatially uniform, direct/indirect separations can be used to produce spatially maps on the material surface for where subsurface scattering is significant. Finally we proposed that subsurface scattering parameters could be estimated by iteratively comparing images formed with light patterns and synthetic images of the material generated with varying scattering parameters. We seek to extend this work to arbitrarily shaped objects. Since we use projected patterns for examining the material properties, we wish to use projected patterns to estimate the shape as well. The use of light patterns for shape acquisition has been studied extensively [7], and techniques such as temporal sequences of binary patterns have been used for decades [8]. In work following [6], Gu et al. [9] demonstrated that direct/indirect separation using spatial patterns could improve a wide range of shape measurement techniques developed in the field of computer vision. Arguing that separation techniques require large numbers of images and are vulnerable to noise, some subsequent research on shape acquisition has focused on creating robust patterns for shape that do not depend on explicit path separation [10, 11]. These projects however do not consider the simultaneous recovery of material properties, in particular subsurface scatting properties. We return to the idea of direct/indirect separation for sequences of binary patterns, with the goal of acquire both shape and subsurface scattering properties. System Overview The system we use for our experiments is an upgraded version of the setup we described in [5]. We have upgraded components of the system used in that system based on our experience with the captured results, and extend our processing pipeline to the estimation of arbitrary shapes.


The objective of the present work is to study forms of identifying the aerodynamic states, for state space aeroelastic stability analyses in the frequency domain, using high- fidelity CFD codes in an efficient fashion. In particular, there is interest in the use of non- parametric identification techniques in order to obtain the necessary aerodynamic transfer functions from a single unsteady CFD computation. The CFD tool used is based on the 2-D Euler equations, which are discretized using a finite volume approach for unstructured grids. A centered scheme, with added artificial dissipation, is used for spatial discretization and explicit Runge-Kutta methods are employed for time marching. The work implements a single combined input method in order to simultaneously excite the aerodynamic responses in all the system natural modes and, at the same time, allow the output to be split into the contribution of each individual mode to the aerodynamic transfer function. The proposed approach is applied to a NACA 0012 airfoil-based typical section model in transonic flight. Results are compared to a previously implemented identification capability in which the aerodynamic transfer functions are computed with an unsteady simulation for each modal movement.


A capacitive non-contact angular position sensor is composed of a casing, a rotating shaft, a metal moving sheet, a substrate printed with a capacitance plate, a signal processing circuit composed of a single chip and the like. The working principle is that capacitance is changed by changing a medium between capacitors through the metal moving sheet, and measurement, calculation and output of the capacitors are controlled by the single chip. The capacitive non-contact angular position sensor is structurally characterized in that one or more capacitance plates are arranged on the same plane or a curve face. The metal moving sheet completely separated from the circuit is fixed on the rotating shaft, and the metal moving sheet is used for changing the capacitance medium of the device. Due to the fact that a movable part of the sensor is not provided with a charged body, non-contact measurement is truly achieved. Indexes of sliding touch, service life, resolution ratio and the like of the sensor are the same as indexes of a grating encoder type angular position sensor, but cost of the sensor is only one half of that of the grating encoder type angular position sensor. The capacitive non-contact angular position sensor is particularly suitable for toning devices and peripheral equipment for game consoles needing manual operations.


In this paper, two PID conventional controllers of an Electronic Throttle Valve (ETV), based observers, are developed to estimate the opening angle of the electronic throttle, to compensate unexpected external disturbances and to detect sensor or system faults. The first approach is based on the use of a Luenberger Observer (LO) in order to detect the occurrence and to localize faults using residual values and the second one on the use of Unknown Input Observer (UIO) to detect and isolate the faults in presence. Numerical simulations based on a system linear model show the efficiency of the suggested control laws to make the throttle angle tracking the desired reference. The obtained results show the robustness of the proposed PID controllers based observers via the system parameters variations and in presence of sensor faults and unknown input disturbances.


This report describes our bachelor project work on concept development dealing with medication errors in developing countries. The report describes the process we have been through, and the results we have achieved.
 The report starts with describing our research and analysis phase. We began the project by researching on the different issues concerning medication in developing countries. We have then mapped the problems in an analysis, trying to navigate the problem fields and the users relation to medication. We also describe, where the problems occur in the medication process discovering that the relation between the health centers and the patients contain a lot of the problems.
 The data obtained in the research and analysis is then processed in an idea generation. Here we describe the various methods we have used to open up the solution space and create concept ideas. We also reflect on the benefits of these different methods.
 Lastly we describe five concepts that work with different
 aspects of the problem field and evaluate these from UNICEF's, the user's and our point of view.
 In the last phase we detail the final outcome of this project, the DScale. The DScale is a scale for measuring patients' body weight and converting it into precise doses. We shortly describe our considerations about physical form, technology and materials. We also reflect on where in the relation between the health centers and the patients, the DScale will have its impact.
 As a final point we describe the perspectives of the concept on short and long term.


The main objective of this study is to determine the optimum size of systems able to fulfil the electrical energy requirements of remote sites located in Hajer Bani (HB) Hameed in the North of Oman, Masirah Island and the Mothorah area in the South of Oman. The methodology applied provides a useful and simple approach for sizing and analysing the hybrid systems using Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER). The aim is to identify a configuration among a set of systems that meet the desired system reliability requirements with the lowest energy cost. The results of the analysis are a list of feasible power supply systems, classified according to their net present cost. Actual hourly load data are taken from these sites and are used in the model, and the meteorological readings are used either from the same site or from a nearby one. A comparison between the costs of electricity generated from renewable energy resources in these locations is done and the payback period for renewable energy components is calculated. Moreover, the effects of the temperature on the photovoltaic cells efficiency and energy cost are considered. The cost of energy was found to be 0.206, 0.361 and 0.327 $/kWh for Masirah Island, Mothorah and HB Hameed, respectively.


The aim of this article is to study the relationship of attributive style and personal values with the motives of students' training. Methods . The questionnaire of study the attribute style (M. Seligman, V. Yu. Shevyakhova, T. O. Gordeeva adaptation), questionnaire of values (Sh. Schwartz, the modification of V. N. Karandashev), method of studying the motivation of training at University (T. I. Ilyina). Result . The differences in the expressiveness of the study motives at university, the degree of their consistency and personal values of students with optimistic and pessimistic style of attribution are defined. Conclusion . Attributive style of personality in connection with personal values determines the educational and professional motivation of students. In particular, as distinct from the value-motivational sphere of the students with pessimistic attributive style of personality, the value-motivational sphere of personality of the optimistic students is substantially more saturated, and this indirectly affects the motivation of studying at university. In addition, students with optimistic attribute style have a detailed idea of life plans, while specifying the content of aims and results of activities for the period of study at university.


(57) Abstract: The present invention, all or part of the nucleotide sequence encoding the alfalfa genus and / or mRNA encoding cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR) in maize as coding region, or the above-described mRNA hybridized encoding an antisense mRNA capable of, about every DNA sequence comprising all or part of the sequence having the complementary to said sequence. The present invention also relates to the use of said sequence for carrying out the method of modulating lignin biosynthesis in plants.


The paradigm shift of deploying applications to the cloud has introduced both opportunities and challenges. Although clouds use elasticity to scale resource usage at runtime to help meet an application's performance requirements, developers are still challenged by unpredictable performance, little control of execution environment, and differences among cloud service providers, all while being charged for their cloud usages. Application performance stability is particularly affected by multi-tenancy in which the hardware is shared among varying applications and virtual machines. Developers porting their applications need to meet performance requirements, but testing on the cloud under the effects of performance uncertainty is difficult and expensive, due to high cloud usage costs. This paper presents a first approach to testing an application with typical inputs for how its performance will be affected by performance uncertainty, without incurring undue costs of brute force testing in the cloud. We specify cloud uncertainty testing criteria, design a test-based strategy to characterize the black box cloud's performance distributions using these testing criteria, and support execution of tests to characterize the resource usage and cloud baseline performance of the application to be deployed. Importantly, we developed a smart test oracle that estimates the application's performance with certain confidence levels using the above characterization test results and determines whether it will meet its performance requirements. We evaluated our testing approach on both the Chameleon cloud and Amazon web services; results indicate that this testing strategy shows promise as a cost-effective approach to test for performance effects of cloud uncertainty when porting an application to the cloud.


In south-east Bulgaria the presence of Hettangian (by indirect data) and Sinemurian, Pliensbachian, Toarcian. Aalenian, Bajocian and Bathonian (on the basis of direct biostratigraphic proofs) has been established. The Kostina Formation is represented by quartzites, and almost everywhere is related to the Hettangian. However, in a restricted area, in the vicinity of Stara Zagora Town, the Kostina Formation probably belongs to the Upper Sinemurian. The Ozirovo Formation (represented by shallow water, sandy, bioclastic, partly ferrugineous limestones) and the Bliznak Formation (mainly consisting of fine-grained quartz sandstones) are related to the Sinemurian. The Ozirovo Formation and the Bliznak Formation comprise also the Pliensbachian, the Toarcian, the Aalenian and the lowermost part of the Lower Bajocian (the lower part of Hyperlioceras discites ammonite Zone). The Lower Bajocian (without the lower part of Hyperlioceras discites ammonite Zone) belongs to the Zvezdets Formation, represented by shales, rich in organic matter, with siderite and phosphorite concretions, in some places being interbedded with sandstones, or the Boyanovo Formation (new formation), represented by an alternation of terrigenous-clastic and pelitic rocks and bioclastic limestones. In the south-eastern part of the Strandzha Mountains, sandstones are more abundant in the Zvezdets Formation, and in addition some olistostromes, consisting mainly of limestone breccias, are found – Kazanski Member of the Zvezdets Formation. Only the Zvezdets Formation and its Kazanski Member belong to the Upper Bajocian. The Brushlyan Formation (represented by shallow water bioclastic limestones in alternation with phyllites) and the Hranova Formation (shallow-water calcareous phyllites and a lesser amount of limestones with bioclasts) belong to the Bathonian. All autochthonous Lower and Middle Jurassic rocks in southeast Bulgaria occurred within the limits of the Tundzha Early-Middle Jurassic Fault-Angle Valley which gradually subsided during Early Jurassic and the beginning of Middle Jurassic times. As a result of these phenomena, the sea rapidly ingraded from south-east, from the Vardar Ocean side. In the valley, 7 blocks (steps) were formed and separated bathymetrically from each other: Yambol, Indzhe Voyvoda, Botevo, Kraynovo, Stara Zagora, Elhovo and Kondolovo Steps. Along the valley, a sea sound was formed and carried out the connection between the Vardar Ocean and the epicontinental basin of the Moesian Early-Middle Jurassic Platform since the Hettangian up to the Bathonian time. The valley passed two stages in its development: (a) transgressive one (Hettangian-Bajocian) and (b) regressive one (Bathonian). During the transgressive stage the sea gradually overflowed the Yambol Step (during the Hettangian), the Indzhe Voyvoda, the Botevo and the Kraynovo Steps (during the Early Sinemurian), the Stara Zagora Step (during the Late Sinemurian), the Elhovo and the Kondolovo Steps (during the Early Bajocian). During Hettangian, Sinemurian and Pliensbachian, everywhere in the sea sound, a shallow sublittoral biotop with calcareous or sandy bottom and agitated waters existed. The depths did not exceed 50 m. During Toarcian, Aalenian and Early Bajocian, some bathymetric differentiation took place. The shallow sublittoral biotop remained near the sound coasts, while in the parts distant from the coasts, bottom subsidence took place. An environment of moderate deep sublittoral biotop mainly with calcareous and partly sandy bottom appeared there. The depths were of the order of 50-100 m. During the Early Bajocian, in the south-eastern part of the sea sound the most intensive deepening took place. There, environments of a deep sublittoral biotop with a silty and partly sandy bottom and relatively calm water have set in. The depths were 150-200 m. In the central parts of the sound, the sea overflowed new considerable parts of the Tundzha Valley. There, a shallow sublittoral biotop existed, and the sedimentation regime often changed (shallow-water limy silts, pelites and terrigenous-clastic sediments were deposited). In the north-western part of the sound, probably deeper-water pelitic sediments were deposited, but in the interval Callovian-Early Cretaceous, under conditions of emergence, they were eroded. During the Bathonian, a rapid general shallowing arose there, and under conditions of a shallow sublittoral biotop with calcareous and muddy bottom, limy silts with bioclasts and pelites were deposited. The depths did not cxceed 50 m. In considerably large parts of the Tundzha Fault-Angle Valley, a shallow sublittoral biotop with strong bottom currents existed and caused a sedimentation gap. At the end of the Bathonian, the Tundzha Fault-Angle Valley was uplifted over the sea level and joined the dry land of the Thracian Massif. As a result of this, the sea-strait between the Vardar Ocean and the Moesian Early-Middle Jurassic Platform stopped existing.


Significant opportunities for improvement in semiconductor Assembly/Test (A/T) manufacturing reside in the Test areas. These Test areas can very often be the system constraint, due to complex testing policies, bin-to-order mapping, and cost. A very difficult problem for both researchers and manufacturers is to determine the best methods for assigning test programs for lots on these test equipment. To answer these problems, Intel has produced dynamic discrete event simulation models that consider multiple wafer types, multiple end products, multiple test program methods, and binning policies of end products according to the tested performance of the die. This model does not require modeling specific manufacturing equipment and operator activities, only detailed logic of test program and binning policies. The quantitative output data from this model provides the relative decision support necessary to determine what methods work best for Intel, given other costs and business drivers.


Probiotics is a special group of health products on the market. The most common type of  these is live cultures of lactic acid fermenting bacteria from raw milk . These include, among others, yogur ...


In response to the changing nature of bikeway planning, consultants, along with local and regional government agencies, have been slowly increasing the amount of information and the level of detail in bikeway plans. The purpose of this paper is to provide examples of how this trend is affecting bikeway planning and to recommend a general outline of the new requirements for bikeway plans that is based on solid planning principles as well as state and federal funding program requirements. The paper is intended to contribute to the resource data available to planners and engineers on how to prepare bikeway plans that meet more stringent planning and engineering requirements necessary to compete for scarce funding.


This thesis aims to provide a suite of techniques to generate completeness results for coalgebraic logics with axioms of arbitrary rank. We have chosen to investigate the possibility to generalize what is arguably one of the most successful methods to prove completeness results in `classical' modal logic, namely completeness-via-canonicity. This technique is particularly well-suited to a coalgebraic generalization because of its clean and abstract algebraic formalism.


We studied the effects of deposition power density and thickness of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited (PECVD) amorphous Si (a-Si) on the microstructural evolution and activation energies of aluminum-induced crystallization (AIC). We found that a lower deposition power density and higher a-Si thickness yielded a lower activation energy and faster reaction, which in turn provided a lower AIC reaction temperature. By using scanning and transmission electron microscopy to examine the AIC microstructures and crystallinity we found that high-quality AIC polysilicon thin films consisting of submicrometer-scale Si crystallites could be achieved at temperatures as low as 120°C.


1H and 13C NMR spectra of AC–PSer–Gly, Ala–PSer–Gly and Gly–PSer–Phe have been measured and analysed as a function of pD. The NMR parameters of the PSeryl side chain are a function of the sequence. The second titration step of the phosphate group (pK2 = 5.7) is much more difficult to detect in Ac–PSer–Gly and Ala–PSer–Gly than in Gly–PSer–Phe. The conformation in which H-αC-αC-βOP forms a planar W-type arrangement predominates only for Ala–PSer–Gly. In the other two phosphopeptides the gauche conformations contribute increasingly, in particular for Gly–PSer–Phe.


In a recent work, Abdel-Aty and Obada (2002 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 35 807–13) analysed the quantum inversion of cold atoms in a microcavity, the motion of the atoms being described quantum mechanically. Two-level atoms were assumed to interact with a single mode of the cavity, and the off-resonance case was considered (namely the atomic transition frequency is detuned from the single-mode cavity frequency). We demonstrate in this paper that this case is incorrectly treated by these authors, and we therefore question their conclusions.


Boat case: Two boats, X and Y, got severely damaged in a storm and are both about to sink. There are five people on boat X, and there is one person on boat Y. A captain of a nearby ship is the only person around who is in a position to help, and she can do so without any significant cost or risk to herself. She can arrive at either of these boats on time, but not at both. There are no relevant differences between the individual persons on the sinking boats.


The current issue of CNS Spectrums focuses on the 5-HT1B/1D receptor serotonin subsystem in psychiatry and neurology. I congratulate Michael Briley, MD, director of scientific evaluation at the Institute de Recherche Pierre Fabre in Castres, France, for guest editing this timely and cutting edge issue. As neuropsychopharmacology develops, basic pharmacological and molecular cloning techniques have identified new and highly selective neurotransmitter/neuropeptide subsystems that hold promise for unique therapeutic actions in various neuropsychiatric diagnostic entities, as well as far fewer side effects and better patient tolerability. Dr. Briley describes the pharmacological techniques that established the existence of 5-HT1B/1D receptors in rodent and primate brains, and the therapeutic agents, or "triptans," that target this serotonin subsystem. While the prototypical agent, sumatriptan (Imitrex, Glaxo Wellcome), is marketed as an antimigraine agent, these agents may eventually prove to be of great therapeutic value across the CNS spectrum. Drs. Briley and Moret review the in vitro and in vivo neuropharmacology of the 5-HT1B/1D receptor subtypes, including their regulatory effects on serotonin release and synthesis. They describe the behavioral effects of 5-HT1B agonists on animal models of depression, anxiety, and aggression, and the effects of chronic antidepressant treatment on 5-HT autoreceptor sensitivity. The growth hormone response to sumatriptan in humans may also serve as an indicator of 5-HTjg^1D receptor sensitivity via inhibition of somatostatin release. The clinical implications of modulation of this subsystem on depression, anxiety, aggression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), autism, eating disorders, and migraines have yet to be fully explored. Dr. Waeber describes the pathophysiology of migraine, the role of 5-HT^ subsystems on migraine nociceptive pathways, the effect of sumatriptan and other antimigraine agents on vascular constriction, avd vasoactive and inflammatory peptide release in trigeminovascular sensory neuBy Eric Hollander, MD


The improvement of students' physical education and training lever is the emphasis of schools' physical education.However there are some differences between group activities and amateur training,which disfavors the goal of physical education.This paper analyzes the differences and offers solutions to the problems.


Simple Summary New drugs are needed for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We analyzed data from genome-edited leukemia cells to identify druggable targets. These targets were necessary for AML cell survival and had favorable binding sites for drug development. Two lists of genes are provided for target validation, drug discovery, and drug development. The deKO list contains gene-targets with existing compounds in development. The disKO list contains gene-targets without existing compounds yet and represent novel targets for drug discovery. Abstract Refractory disease is a major challenge in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Whereas the armamentarium has expanded in the past few years for treating AML, long-term survival outcomes have yet to be proven. To further expand the arsenal for treating AML, we searched for druggable gene targets in AML by analyzing screening data from a lentiviral-based genome-wide pooled CRISPR-Cas9 library and gene knockout (KO) dependency scores in 15 AML cell lines (HEL, MV411, OCIAML2, THP1, NOMO1, EOL1, KASUMI1, NB4, OCIAML3, MOLM13, TF1, U937, F36P, AML193, P31FUJ). Ninety-four gene KOs met the criteria of (A) specifically essential to AML cell survival, (B) non-essential in non-AML cells, and (C) druggable according to three-dimensional (3D) modeling or ligand-based druggability scoring. Forty-four of 94 gene-KOs (47%) had an already-approved drug match and comprised a drug development list termed "deKO." Fifty of 94 gene-KOs (53%) had no drug in development and comprised a drug discovery list termed "disKO." STRING analysis and gene ontology categorization of the disKO targets preferentially cluster in the metabolic processes of UMP biosynthesis, IMP biosynthesis, dihydrofolate metabolism, pyrimidine nucleobase biosynthesis, vitellogenesis, and regulation of T cell differentiation and hematopoiesis. Results from this study serve as a testable compendium of AML drug targets that, after validation, may be translated into new therapeutics.


A comprehensive computational study using the convergent close-coupling method of 64.6 eV electron-impact ionization of the ground state of helium is presented. The kinematics considered range from the very asymmetric energy-sharing through to equal energy-sharing. The cross sections given range from the total to fully differential, with the latter being calculated for in- and out-of-plane geometries. Generally excellent agreement with available experiment is found, but some systematic discrepancies are also identified.


Simple Summary Feed additives have been used in the livestock industry because of their positive effect on animals, including broiler chickens. Recently, probiotics, which are one of the representative feed additives for antibiotic replacement, have been widely used due to the prohibition of the use of antibiotics in the livestock industry. Various beneficial effects of probiotic Lactobacillus spp. have been reported; however, to our knowledge, there are few studies related to their regulating effects on gut immunity and microbiome in early-age broiler chickens. In the present study, we performed a comparative animal study on gut immunity and gut microbiome in early-age broiler chickens fed either a control diet or Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NSMJ56-supplemented diet. Our results suggest that L. paracasei NSMJ56 has modulatory effects on the gut environment, such as gut immunity and microbiome, in early-age broiler chickens. Abstract Gut health has been attracting attention in the livestock industry as several studies suggest that it is a crucial factor for growth performance and general health status in domestic animals, including broiler chickens. Previously, antibiotics were widely used to improve livestock growth, but their use is now prohibited due to serious problems related to antibiotic resistance. Thus, finding new feed additives to replace antibiotics is drawing attention. Probiotics are representative feed additives and many beneficial effects on broiler chickens have been reported. However, many probiotic studies are focused on productivity only, and there are insufficient studies related to the gut environment, especially gut immunity and gut microbiome. In this study, we conducted an animal experiment using Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NSMJ56 to determine whether it has beneficial effects on gut immunity and microbiome. To evaluate the effects of NSMJ56 supplementation, newly hatched Ross 308 broiler chickens were fed an NSMJ56-containing diet for 10 days, and growth performance, antioxidant indicators, gut morphology, gut immunity-related parameters, and gut microbiome were analyzed. Flow cytometry analysis results revealed that NSMJ56 treatment increased CD4+ T cells and decreased CD8+ T cells in small intestine lamina propria and decreased IL1b and IL10 gene expression in small intestine tissue. In the microbiome analysis, NSMJ56 treatment increased the alpha diversity indices and led to three enriched genera: Massilimicrobiota, Anaerotignum, and Coprococcus. This study suggests that NSMJ56 supplementation has regulatory effects on gut immunity and microbiome in early-age broiler chickens.


The uranium deposits in carbonate rocks in northwestern New Mexico are almost entirely associated with folds, faults, and minor fractures. These deposits are of epigenetic origd-n; they occur in two geologic provinces in formations of three geologic ages, and they probably represent two different periods of mineralization. lt was concluded that localiza tion of the uranium deposits is controlled by the tectonic structures. (M.C.G.)


Civil engineering projects trigger the economic growth by providing infrastructure facilities and job opportunities as well as attracting the attention of foreign investments. Due to their significant contributions toward the nation growth, the performance of civil engineering projects has become the upmost concern by the government. Unfortunately, many civil engineering projects in Malaysia are dominantly associated with unsatisfactory performance in terms of cost, time and quality of the delivered products. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the underlying causes which lead to unsatisfactory performance by determining the factors affecting civil engineering projects. The objective of this paper is to identify the civil engineering project characteristics and the quality of Standard Form of Contract (SFoC) adopted and the contractual behaviour of key participants of civil engineering project which affecting the performance. Questionnaires survey were conducted to undertake the research. 124 feedbacks received out of 300 questionnaires distributed to the G7 contractors registered under Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and consultant engineer registered under Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). The data was statistically analysed using SPSS 21 and descriptive analysis was used for rank assessment of factors. It was found that the top three (3) most significant factors affecting civil engineering project performance are delay in making payment, environment uncertainty and the clarity of SFoC. These factors belong to three categories i.e the contractual behaviour of key participants, project characteristics and the quality of SFoC category. Thus, these categories are paramount to be put more concern on the performance of civil engineering projects in Malaysia.


Party phenomenon of aging in China,especially in rural areas is a very prominent issue,which does not help strengthen and improve the Party's leadership and consolidate the party's ruling status in the rural areas.Currently,Older members in rural China showed a wide range of phenomena,such as the high proportion of older members and so on.Correctly understanding and analysis of these phenomena,to find the reasons behind the problem and take practical measures,has become a very important current task.


spirit was built from slogans that reinforced excellence as well as school and university partnerships. Cunningham utilizes the example of Norfolk, Va., with its &dquo;believe, achieve, succeed&dquo; motto, to depict how character and climate can shape cultural excellence. He was the facilitator for this school district. His illustrations serve to demonstrate how professors from major universities joined other school district teams as facilitators in order to work with faculty members, parents, and students. The culture of the organization is the foundation for school improvement. The creation of an aura of excellence or a mandate for excellence will not provide for the development of excellence. Culture and leadership


Two productions of Dr Faustus on Bankside, presented by Little Goblin Productions at the Rose Theatre, and by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Summer 2011.Little Goblin Productions at the Rose Theatre. Director: Vince Tycer. With Christopher Diacopoulos (Faustus) and Cheska Moon (Mephistopheles).Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Director: Matthew Dunster. With Paul Hilton (Faustus) and Arthur Darvill (Mephistopheles).1. Some of the publicity for the campaign to save the Rose Theatre on London's Bankside claims that Dr Faustus was first performed there in 1587 when the theatre opened. There is no evidence for this, but in the heat of the campaign it is an understandable confusion. In fact, the first recorded performance of Marlowe's play in Philip Henslowe's wonderfully useful diary ('docter ffostose', a spelling which may indicate how it was pronounced), was on September 30, 1594 by the Lord Admiral's Men. That production was almost certainly at the Rose (Bevington and Rasmussen, 48-9), but there may have been earlier performances, and the whole question of the date of writing of the play is uncertain; it may have been written at any time between the success of Tamburlaine in 1587 and Marlowe's death in 1593. Most recent editors, including David Bevington and Eric Rasmussen in the authoritative Revels edition, favour an early date for the play, c. 1588, but the first performances may not have been at the Rose (Bevington and Rasmussen, 1-3).2. The Rose Theatre Trust regularly allows theatre companies to perform in the tiny performance space it has made overlooking the excavated part of that ancient theatre (the dig lies underneath an insurance company building, and may be visited on Open Days). In the summer of 2011, Little Goblin Productions performed Dr Faustus in a production that contrasted strikingly with the spectacular version staged by the neighbouring Shakespeare's Globe Theatre during the same summer. Of the latter, The Daily Express wrote: 'It is the sheer stagecraftwhich wows the audience .... rude, robust, bawdy, magical and violent, it is a provocatively entertaining production.' Even the more upmarket Spectator called it 'a triumph of spine-tingling spectacle'. The contrast of the two versions has a great deal to do with the difference in the two spaces, but also with the money available to each. Above all, it became clear how variously the play itself may be read by two radically different directors.3. The Rose version of the play, directed by Vince Tycer, had a rather understated, almost meditative Dr Faustus (Christopher Diacopoulos), strongly contrasting with the flamboyant performance at the Globe, and an actress Cheska Moon, as Mephistopheles. We might expect an erotic charge between a female devil and the male lead, but the company avoided this. Instead, Moon's interpretation was sinister, very obviously the focus of the action, dark and extensive eye makeup accentuating the whites of her eyes. As the play developed we became aware that the reflective but changeable Faustus was a deliberate contrast with this splendidly riveting devil. At the Globe, on the other hand, the two male leads, Paul Hilton and Arthur Darvill, came almost to look like twins, and explicitly dressed the same way, in black cloaks and maroon skullcaps.4. The darkened space at the Rose overlooks the watery foundations of the original theatre, marked out by a ring of red electric bulbs tracing the line of the walls down below. Within this historic but fragile space, the stage for the performance of the play, facing no more than three rows of seats for the audience, was set with a desk, a wooden trunk and a bookshelf containing dusty volumes and a skull. In this tiny playing area the audience was startlingly close to those blackened eyes, indeed to every facial expression. In the opening scene, Faustus could almost touch us as he picked up and threw aside each of those faded books. But at the Globe, with its large resources, the books were cleverly represented by a chorus of scholars morphing into insects and white-masked toffs. …


Anterior inter osseous artery perforator flap is a versatile and reliable flap in covering volar aspect of distal forearm, dorsal surface of hand that are classical defects following electrocution and snake bite cellulitis sequel. Our experience with 5 cases done between 2017 t


The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of navigator timing on image quality in navigator‐gated and real‐time motion‐corrected, free‐breathing, three‐dimensional (3D) coronary MR angiography (MRA) with submillimeter spatial image resolution. Both phantom and in vivo investigations were performed. 3D coronary MRA with real‐time navigator technology was applied using variable navigator time delays (time delay between the navigator and imaging sequences) and varying spatial resolutions. Quantitative objective and subjective image quality parameters were assessed. For high‐resolution imaging, reduced image quality was found as a function of increasing navigator time delay. Lower spatial resolution coronary MRA showed only minor sensitivity to navigator timing. These findings were consistent among volunteers and phantom experiments. In conclusion, for submillimeter navigator‐gated and real‐time motion‐corrected 3D coronary MRA, shortening the time delay between the navigator and the imaging portion of the sequence becomes increasingly important for improved spatial resolution. Magn Reson Med 47:196–201, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Recent research has begun to challenge the received idea that Milgram's 'obedience' experiments are demonstrations of obedience as typically understood (i.e. as social influence elicited in response to direct orders). One key warrant for explaining the studies in terms of obedience has been the post-experiment interviews conducted with participants. The present study uses data from archived audio recordings of these interviews to highlight the extent to which participants used rhetorical strategies emphasising obedience when pressed by the interviewer to account for their behaviour. Previous research that has used these accounts as reports of underlying processes misses the extent to which they performed particular social actions in the context of their production. It is concluded that the standard social psychological version of 'obedience' is present in the experiments after all, but in a rather different way than is typically assumed – rather than an empirical finding, obedience is a participants' resource.


Flexible scintillators for digital x-ray image sensors were designed, fabricated and characterized. In these scintillaotrs, terbium-doped gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd2O2S:Tb) scintillator pixels were embedded into a polyethylene (PE) substrate. To evaluate the difference in the spatial resolution according to the pixel size, we designed three scintillators with pixels of different pitch sizes: 50 µm pitch size (P50), 100 µm pitch size (P100) and 200 µm pitch size (P200). Because of the high flexibility and good formability, polyethylene was used as the substrate of the scintillator. To fabricate nickel micromolds with high-aspect-ratio microstructures, two microfabrication techniques were employed: silicon dry-etching using a deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) process and nickel electroforming. The pixelated PE microstructures were fabricated by a hot embossing process. Because the solution-type Gd2O2S:Tb precursor can be handled at room temperature, Gd2O2S:Tb was used as the scintillator material. The measured sensitivities of the P50 and P100 models were, respectively, about 65% and 97% of that of the P200 model. The lower sensitivity values of the models with a small pitch size were due to two factors, such as the different pixel heights and the different fill factors. Because a scintillator with a small pixel size has a low fill factor, the sensitivity of the scintillator decreases as the pixel size decreases. The fill factors of the P50, P100 and P200 models were 36%, 49% and 56.25%, respectively. On the other hand, the spatial resolution of the scintillator increases as the pixel size decreases. Therefore, P50 gave the best spatial resolution among the designed models. The spatial frequency at 10% of the modulation transfer function (MTF) with P50 was 13.5 mm−1, while that with P200 was 10.0 mm−1. The resolution pattern and the tooth x-ray images obtained from a scintillator with a smaller pixel size was also clearer than that obtained from a scintillator with a larger pixel size. PE-based flexible Gd2O2S:Tb scintillators can be utilized directly in flexible x-ray image sensors.


The authors investigated the rheological properties of two vacuum resid fractions in a series of solvents. The authors measured the viscosity as a function of concentration and temperature respectively. In this study, two aspects were focused: (1) the concentration dependence of viscosity for the pentane soluble fractions in a series of n-alkane solvents for study of the particle structure, and (2) the temperature dependence of viscosity of the heptane insoluble fraction in toluene at various concentrations for the study of the phase transitions. From their results it was found that all the systems studied are Newtonian. The results for (1) show that the particles are approximately spherical and as the carbon number of the n-alkane solvent increases, the quality of the solvent increases, thereby increasing the particle solvation. This result is consistent with that reported in a recent paper by Ali and Saleem. Also, the particles were found to behave similarly to colloidal particles. As for (2), a glass-like transition was observed at 50% concentration (0.31 volume fraction) with glass transition temperature at about 254 K, while no structural or phase transitions were observed for concentrations below 50%.


In an interview for Sirius XM Radio released this Monday, May 1, President Donald Trump made some intriguing comments regarding the reasons why the American Civil War took place. He started by describing his beliefs on how 7th President Andrew Jackson would have influenced the events leading up to the Civil War


In this brief article, Freis, et al, reported that after six years, over sixty-percent of the patients in their antihypertensive
 study were still in compliance with their treatment regimen.


The architecture of 6-band HDTV camera system, which is newly developed for accurate color reproduction of motion picture based on spectral information is presented. The 6band HDTV camera is constructed by an optical system connecting the objective lens and two sets of conventional HDTV cameras whose spectral sensitivities are modified differently by interference filters inserted between the optical system and each camera. We evaluated the accuracy of the color estimations achieved by the 6-band and a conventional RGB (i.e. 3-band) HDTV camera. The evaluations are conducted using simulated camera signals and those obtained by experimental measurements. It is confirmed that the 6-band camera achieves the accurate color estimation for the use in extensive applications. In the experimental evaluation the average color difference of dEab obtained from the 6-band camera signals and the RGB camera signals became 1.43 and 4.12 respectively.


It has become an important and challenging issue to foster students' concepts and skills of computer programming. Scholars believe that programming training could promote students' higher order thinking performance; however, many school teachers have reported the difficulty of teaching programming courses. Although several previous studies have attempted to develop friendly user interfaces to ease students' loads, teaching programming courses remains a big challenge for most school teachers. In this study, an online peer assessment-based system was developed to cope with this problem. The students could use the peerassessment function to provide comments to peers, and review the feedback and scores from peers during the learning activity. A quasi experiment was conducted on four classes of 166 ninth graders of a junior high school located in southern Taiwan to examine the impacts of the developed system. Two classes of students were assigned to the experimental group, learning with an online peer assessment-based teaching strategy, while the other two classes were the control group, learning with the conventional teaching strategy. The experimental results showed that the students in the experimental group had better programming knowledge and skills as well as more positive learning attitudes and critical thinking awareness than those in the control group, revealing the benefits of the proposed approach.


The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operation of a discharge lamp (EL) having a rectifier (GL) with a first and a second input connection for coupling to an AC supply voltage and having a first and a second output connection for provision of an operating DC voltage (UZW), a free-running half-bridge inverter which comprises two voltage-controlled electronic switches (T1, T2) connected in series, which series circuit is coupled between the first and the second output connection of the rectifier (GL), wherein a half-bridge centre point (HB) is formed between the first (T1) and the second (T2) electronic switch, having a starting circuit for starting the free-running oscillation of the inverter (T1, T2), wherein the starting circuit comprises a drive circuit (AS) with a first and a second output connection, wherein the first output connection of the drive circuit (AS) is coupled to the control electrode of the first (T1) and of the second (T2) electronic switch, as well as a starting capacitor (C5) with a first and a second connection, wherein the first connection of the starting capacitor (C5) is coupled on the one hand via a first non-reactive resistor (R1) to the first output connection of the rectifier (GL) and on the other hand to the second output connection of the drive circuit (AS), the second connection of the starting capacitor is coupled to the half-bridge centre point (HB), and the half-bridge centre point is coupled via a pull-down resistor to the second output connection of the rectifier (GL). The invention furthermore relates to a method for operation of a discharge lamp on a circuit arrangement such as this.


The invention discloses a method for realizing large-screen multi-projection seamless splicing. The method comprises the following steps of: 1) projecting a measuring image through multiple projectors, collecting projected image information on the large screen, and analyzing to obtain geometric correction parameters and color correction parameters; 2) generating a parameter file through the parameters and storing the parameter file in a mobile memory; 3) reading the parameter file in the mobile memory to obtain parameter data, and inputting the parameter data into a parameter memory for storage; 4) caching source video data according to frames by employing a ping-pong storage method, performing pixel-by-pixel processing on the frame image obtained through caching according to frames through the parameter data in the parameter memory, and obtaining multi-path sub-video pixel data; and 5) processing the multi-path sub-video pixel data to obtain multi-path sub-video signals, outputting the multi-path sub-video signals and performing combined projection on the large screen. The invention also discloses a splicing fusion device for realizing the large-screen multi-projection seamless splicing. The method is simple in hardware structure and high in practicality.


Shoreline spiders have been proposed as sentinels to monitor aquatic contaminants including methylmercury (MeHg). The present study examined the effect of spider body size on MeHg concentrations in shoreline spiders. We collected 6 taxa of spiders belonging to 4 families (orb‐weavers [Araneidae], long‐jawed orb weavers [Tetragnathidae: Tetragnatha sp.], jumping spiders [Salticidae], and wolf spiders [Lycosidae: Pardosa sp., Rabidosa sp., and Schizocosa sp.]) from the shorelines of 14 human‐made ponds at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands in north Texas (USA). As a proxy for body size, we measured leg length (tibia + patella) of each spider. Spider taxa differed by 3‐fold in mean MeHg concentration, and MeHg concentrations in 4 of 6 spider taxa increased significantly with leg length. The present study is the first to demonstrate that shoreline spider MeHg concentrations increase as a function of spider body size. Because spider size may account for some within‐taxa variation in MeHg concentrations, future studies that utilize spiders as sentinels of aquatic contamination by MeHg or other biomagnifying contaminants should take spider size into account. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1149–1154. © 2020 SETAC.


In contrast to conventional weather radar,the dual polarity weather radar transmits and receives both horizontal and vertical polarized signals,which significantly improves the accuracy of radar-based rainfall measurements and enhances the ability to classify precipitation.However,the measuring results can be affected by the radar system itself.The differential reflectivity ZDR can be estimated imprecisely,resulting in a decreased reliability of generated meteorological products.The National Weather Service made a large number of experiments on upgraded WSR-88 D radar and found that it is necessary to straighten the deviation made by signal differences in both transmit and receive paths.After a plenty of experiments on the C-band dual polarity vehicle Doppler radar and comparing the results with United States WSR-88 Dtest reports,it is concluded that that bias of the ZDR calibration consists mostly of 3components which are transmit bias,receive bias,and sun measurement bias.The biases can be adjusted by using cross and parallel methods to eliminate effects of test signals,cables,and other equipment differences.Furthermore,dry aggregated snow is considered as an optimal weather target for the calibration of ZDR.The results show that the calibration method is an effective and practical way to reduce the system bias of ZDR so to ensure the precision of dual polarization radar system.


The Beer Distribution Game ("Beer Game"), developed at the Sloan School of Management in early 1960's (Jarmain, 1963), is a classic supply chain problem widely used in graduate business programs to teach the concepts of supply chain management (Mosekilde et al., 1991). The goal of the participant in the game is to minimise the costs of maintaining sufficient inventories of beer while at the same time avoiding out-of-stock condition that could lead to loss of customers. The Beer Game is notable for its ability to confuse typical human players (Sterman, 1988, 1989) giving rise to instabilities in the supply chain as well as demand distortion (Chen et al., 2000). The game is also used to illustrate how different decision policies influence the dynamics of a distribution system.


Having just re-read the brochure by Dr. Forbes Winslow on "? Spiritualistic Madness," I cannot refrain from mentioning an instance where I quite believe that a distinct epidemical spiritualistic contagion was present in a room as decided as any miasma at times recognised by sensitive people as the cause of any given fever. I was calling on a friend in Paris, whom I did not know to be a spiritualist. Several spiritualists were present at her afternoon reception ; she herself and her brother were both tracing in


: Background: Psoriasis is a chronic disease, in which genetic, immunological, and environmental factors play a significant role. The immunological mechanism involved in pathogenesis causes cutaneous inflammation and keratinocytes hyperproliferation. Subcutaeous adipose tissue secretes adipokines which play a role in cutaneous inflammation. Visfatin is an adipokine that induces inflammatory process by increasing cytokines production and activation. It affects inflammatory and immune response through induction of chemotaxis. Aim of this work: To estimate visfatin level in lesional tissues of psoriatic patients in comparison with healthy controls and its correlation with disease severity. Patients and Methods: The expression of visfatin was detected in the skin of 30 psoriasis patients and 30 healthy controls using using ELISA technique. Results: Visfatin expression was significantly higher in psoriasis patients compared to healthy controls. In addition, there was no significant difference between visfatin expression and severity of the disease. Conclusion: Visfatin may play a role in pathogenesis of psoriasis.


This paper proposes a fast method for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) based target identification. First, high range resolution (HRR) profiles are extracted from the SAR data, to be used in a fast, one-dimensional (1D) HRR template-matching classifier. The role of this classifier is to prune the hypothesis space by producing a set of "best guesses." Then, a two-dimensional (2D) SAR template classifier makes a final decision, performing a limited number of template matches based on the HRR results. The hybrid method yields results up to six times faster than a strictly 2D template classifier, with very little sacrifice in classification accuracy.


The specific atomic structure of materials plays an important role in solid-state physics and materials science because it is inherently related to many physical properties of materials. Various structural fingerprints have been proposed to identify the configuration of atoms. They do not depend on the coordinate system and the order of atoms, so they are more convenient than traditional atomic coordinates. They are unique, but they cannot fully describe the structure of the atom. Therefore, we hope to have a notation that uniquely identifies the atomic configuration and contains as much structural information as possible. This paper proposes a novel and intrinsic representation of atomic structure. We first proposed an extended distance matrix to describe the atomic structure of the cluster. It is different from the traditional distance matrix in that the zero of the diagonal element is replaced with the characteristic quantity of each atom to distinguish different elements. The extended distance matrix contains all the structural information of the cluster. In addition to the overall chirality, through spectral decomposition, the position information of the atoms can be discussed based on the eigenvector coordinate system and the eigensubspace framework. Studies have shown that due to the difference in the number of bonds, the Λ dec distance between the diamond atom (the number of bonds is 4) and the other two atoms (the number of bonds is 3) is relatively large, about 0.076; graphene atoms and C 60 atoms the Λ dec distance is relatively small, about 0.051.


The activation of chiral titanium(IV) complexes with phenolic N-oxides additives has been found to provide an alternative strategy for the asymmetric cyanosilylation of ketones. By using 10 mol % of chiral salen-titanium(IV) complex in combination with 1 mol% achiral phenolic N-oxide as an additive, aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic ketones have been converted into the corresponding cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers in 58-96% yields with 56-82% ee. Several factors concerning the reactivity and enantioselectivity have been discussed. A catalytic cycle based on experimental phenomena and studies has been proposed to explain the origin of this activation and the asymmetric induction.


The crystal and molecular structure of N-carboxy anhydride(NCA) of glycine was determined from three-dimensional X-ray diffraction data. The crystals of glycine-NCA are monoclinic with space group C2/c and Z=8; the cell dimensions are a=9.298(2), b=5.156(2), c=16.900(4) A and β=107.88(2)°. A pair of molecules forms the dimer structure around a center of symmetry, with two N(1)–H(1)···O(1′) hydrogen bonds in the crystals.


The utility model provides a connecting support for an automobile fender, belongs to the technical field of automobiles, and solves the problem that the existing connecting mechanism causes poor fixation of the fender the engine chamber, deforms easily and is low in connecting strength. The connecting support comprises a stereoscopic support body formed by connecting a first support and a second support through bolts. The first support comprises a horizontal connecting portion for connecting the fender, and one side of the horizontal connecting portion is bent to form a connecting surface for connecting with an automobile left front shock absorber assembly. One end of the second support is connected below the horizontal connecting portion, and the other end of the second support is connected to the automobile left front shock absorber assembly. The connecting support comprises the stereoscopic support body formed by connecting the first support and the second support through the bolts, so that contacts of a left front shock absorber are increased and connection mechanical strength is increased effectively. The connecting support in split connection also has the remaining function of protecting passengers.


The implementation of learning is the most important part in improving the quality of education. The Covid-19 pandemic period is part of the challenge for education so that learning continues. The purpose of this study was to investigate in depth the implementation of distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. The method used in this research is qualitative with a case study approach. The research was conducted at Muhammadiyah Pakel Elementary School. The data sources in this study were teachers, parents, and students. Data collection techniques using structured interviews assisted with guidelines that are structured questions systematically. Data analysis using the Denzin & Licoln case study model assisted by atlas.ti software version 8. The technique used to improve the quality of research is source triangulation. The results of this study provide information that in the implementation of the implementation of distance learning there are three factors, namely policy, distance learning process, and human resource activeness. These three factors are novelty which can be recommendations for the three education centers in order to be part of improving the quality of distance learning education during the Covid-19 pandemic.


In The Modern Corporation and Private Property, Adolf Berle and Gardiner Means argued that modern times required the rejection of the classic economics conception of business enterprise. For Berle and Means, the modern economy was dominated by corporations, whose legal structure allowed the separation of operational control from the enterprise's ownership. In consequence, one could no longer assume that free markets would lead to socially preferable outcomes. Competition among Adam Smith's numerous artisan shops and merchant owned-andoperated businesses had been replaced by industries dominated by a few large corporations, whose concentrated management operated independently of its ownership, which was diffused across hundreds, if not thousands, of isolated individuals. Diffused ownership with concentrated managerial control in oligopolistic industries could then lead to outcomes that were less than socially optimal. The separation of ownership and control in the modern corporation raised two related questions for Berle and Means. First, if stockholders were no longer responsible for operational decisions, should they be en-


Despite much emphasis being placed on what the handling of the pandemic tells us about relations between London and the devolved governments, the situation has also exposed a number of neglected public policy areas within Scotland, writes James Mitchell.


This chapter argues that, although there is mixed evidence about the link between emotional intelligence (EI) and workplace applications, steadily maturing research in the field is providing increasing confidence regarding the predictive ability of EI. It provides a broad overview of EI in organizational-behaviour research and industrial and organisational (I/O) psychology, including a review of applications and coverage of some of the contentious issues in the field. The chapter concludes by placing EI research within the context of the wider framework of research on the role of emotions in organizational settings.


In i9o7, Loeb (5) observed that when a mouse bearing a spontaneous tumor was inoculated with a piece of spontaneous tumor from a second mouse, the transplanted piece continued to grow until the time when the host died, 13 days after transplantation. Proliferating tumor tissue was seen on microscopic examination of the graft. On the other hand, when the same tumor was transplanted into a large number of normal mice, growth was not noted in any of these animals. Subsequently, however, Haaland (4) maintained that tumors which originated spontaneously in a mouse could be transplanted into normal mice just as well as into mice with spontaneous tumors. Later, Fleisher and Loeb (2) extended these investigations to include 55 mice with spontaneous tumors and 69 normal controls of similar strains, into all of which pieces of tumors were transplanted. Control mice and mice with spontaneous tumors were inoculated with pieces from the same spontaneous tumors obtained from mice of a different strain. In i6 of the experimental mice (29 per cent) the transplantation was successful and the grafted tumors grew, while in only 5 mice of the control group (7 per cent) did the tumor transplant proliferate. These observations were further confirmed by subsequent experiments of Fleisher and Loeb (3), in which 82 mice with spontaneous tmnors were inoculated with spontaneous neoplasms which had originated in other animals of this species. In 2i of these mice (26 per cent) the transplantation was successful, while in only 5 of i64 control mice (3 per cent) did the tumor grafts take. While this might appear to be conclusive evidence that mice with spontaneous tumors offer a better soil for the growth of homoiotransplanted spontaneous tumors than do normal mice, it must be considered that variable factors may have entered into these experiments, and that the greater number of positive results in animals which were the bearers of spontaneous tumors may, after all, have been due to such variable factors. It was therefore thought advisable to repeat


Metacogntive strategy plays a very important role for learners in language learning.On the basis of the data collected in a study of 150 freshmen of Henan University of Science and Technology,the present research investigates and analyzes the relationship between their metacognitive strategies and English proficiency in the multimedia network environment.Results of the study indicate that the frequency of metacognitive strategy among freshmen of Henan University of Science and Technology is not high;that their use of matacognitive strategy is positively related to their English proficiency and that the intensity of learners' study motive is positively related to their use of metacognitive strategy.


Electrons occupying surface states on the close-packed faces of noble metals form a two-dimensional (2-d) nearly free electron gas. Because this system is accessible to the scanning tunneling microscope (STM), it provides a unique opportunity to study the local properties of low-dimensional electrons. OnCu(111)we have observed standing wave patterns in the surface local density of states due to the quantum mechanical interference of surface state electrons scattering off of step edges and adsorbates. We find that Fe adatoms strongly scatter the surface state and, as a result, are good building blocks for constructing atomic-scale barriers ("quantum corrals") to confine the surface state electrons. The barriers are constructed by individually positioning Fe adatoms using the tip of a cold (4 K) STM. Tunneling spectroscopy performed inside of the corrals reveals discrete resonances, consistent with size quantization. A more quantitative understanding is obtained by accounting for the multiple scattering of surface state electrons with the corrals' constituent adatoms. This scattering is characterized by a complex phase shift which can be extracted from the electronic density pattern inside a quantum corral.


The electronic transport of a noninteracting quantum ring side coupled to a quantum wire is studied via a single-band tunneling tight-binding Hamiltonian. We found that the system develops an oscillating band with antiresonances and resonances arising from the hybridization of the quasibound levels of the ring and the coupling to the quantum wire. The positions of the antiresonances correspond exactly to the electronic spectrum of the isolated ring. Moreover, for a uniform quantum ring the conductance and the persistent current density were found to exhibit a particular odd-even parity related with the ring order. The effects of an in-plane electric field were also studied. This field shifts the electronic spectrum and damps the amplitude of the persistent current density. These features may be used to control externally the energy spectra and the amplitude of the persistent current.


Decolonisation at its different levels and stages is a movement that started around the sixties and has swept across all continents of the world. However, there has been a re-invigoration of this movement in recent years on the African continent, particularly in the education sector. This took a different turn in South Africa in late 2015 when the #Mustfall movement started. Different institutions responded to this in a frenzy and the result was absolute chaos in both the understanding of the subject and response to it. About eight years later many academics are still grappling with the meaning of the consult and how to go about decolonising in higher education. Though there is a dearth of academic writing on the subject particularly in South Africa, this has translated to little action and the vestiges of colonialism remain. This paper sought to deconstruct decolonisation from an institutional perspective and theorise how the same can be made to unfold within the stratosphere. This study was designed as a qualitative case study of a South African University and used interviews as the data generation method. The findings indicated that decolonisation is about politics, language, and identity, not forgetting an element of confusion. The paper concluded that decolonisation has to transcend individual understandings of the same to deal with all facets of the higher education sector. It, therefore, recommended the adoption of a holistic approach to dealing with decolonisation and an overall improvement in the understanding of lecturers on decolonisation. This paper makes a vital contribution to the body of knowledge by articulating the conflicting understandings that exist and the confusion it breeds. It also points to the lack of decolonisation within the higher education space.

Keywords: South Africa, Deconstructed Decolonisation, Higher Education, Teacher Education


We synthesized a series of hexagonal phase Bi1-xEuxPO4by a room-temperature co-precipitation method. The phase structure transformation from hexagonal phase to high temperature monoclinic phase,then to low temperature monoclinic phase was achieved by calcinations and grinding,respectively. Concerning the luminescent properties,the internal quantum yield of the grinded samples for Bi0. 95Eu0. 05PO4is 5% higher than that of the calcined samples. These luminescent changes were further discussed in terms of the phase structure and particle size.


Ultrasonic extraction and response surface method was used for optimizing the extraction technology of proanthocyanidins.Based on single-factor experiment,extraction time,extraction temperature and ration of material to liquid were selected as influencing factors during extraction.The experiment mathematical model was arranged according to Box-Behnken central composite experiment design.The results showed that the optimum extraction condition for proanthocyanidins were extraction time 36min,extraction temperature 63℃,ration of material to liquid were 1︰46.The predicted extraction rate of proanthocyanidins was 0.944%,and the verification extraction rate was 0.983%,with relative error of 4.13%.


In humans with pemphigus foliaceus (PF), pathogenic autoantibodies are suspected to be of IgG4 subclass. The goals of this study were to determine the isotypes of circulating autoantibodies in dogs with PF, and to assess whether serum autoantibody titers decreased during successful treatment outcome. Using an indirect immunofluorescence assay performed on neonatal mouse skin sections, circulating IgG autoantibodies were detected in 36 out of 44 dogs with PF (82%). Serum autoantibodies belonged predominantly to IgG4 (35/44; 80%) and IgG1 (30/44; 68%) subclasses. Circulating IgA and IgE autoantibodies were not found. Serum IgG autoantibodies targeted autoantigens in both superficial and/or basal epidermal layers. Remarkably, antikeratinocyte IgG autoantibodies were detected in 16 out of 20 normal dogs (80%), and these autoantibodies were of IgG1 (16/20, 80%) but rarely of IgG4 (2/20; 10%) isotypes. Antikeratinocyte IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 autoantibody serum titers were followed in six dogs with PF while the severity of their clinical signs decreased with immunosuppression. IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 autoantibody serum titers decreased during remission in four (67%), one (17%) and four (67%) dogs, respectively. Conversely, serum IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 autoantibody titers increased during remission in one (17%), one (17%) and no dogs, respectively. These observations suggest that, in dogs with PF, antikeratinocyte IgG4 autoantibodies could be relevant to the pathogenesis of the disease and that monitoring of IgG4 autoantibody titers could be useful for assessment of clinical outcome. Remarkably, the detection of circulating IgG1 antikeratinocyte autoantibodies in normal dogs is similar to the situation observed in geographical areas where human PF is endemic.


The application of the QFD method for solving the problem of designing an innovative enterprise infrastructure is proposed. As requirements of the "consumer", the conditions for effective implementation of the company's innovation strategy are considered. Five alternative types of innovative strategies are identified. The requirements for each strategy to the level of development of the company's innovation infrastructure are determined. With the use of benchmarking technology and the expert assessments method, the matrix of the elements of the innovation infrastructure has been constructed to meet the requirements of the innovation strategy. As a result of the deployment of the quality function, two types of discontinuities were calculated: due to the existing innovation infrastructure as a whole, ensure successful implementation of the enterprise strategy and the degree to which each element of the innovation infrastructure corresponds to the requirements of the innovation strategy. The expediency of the use of cooperative interactions for the development of the innovation infrastructure is substantiated. A matrix model for the selection of the strategy for the development of the innovation infrastructure has been developed, taking into account the following parameters: the type and size of the gap, the organizational and financial complexity of the implementation of the reforms.


Recently IMO and IALA have developed the strategy of e-Navigation and the concepts of VTM to enhance the safety, efficiency and security of vessel traffic and protection of the marine environment. And current technical and functional trends require vessel traffic management systems to be improved so as to control vessel traffic not only in waters of harbour area, but also within EEZ waters. Under the consideration of these circumstances, a three-layered vessel traffic management system was proposed in this paper. The proposed system consists of three sub-systems, called Local VTS, Regional VTS and National VTS, and those sub-systems are designed respectively to be suitable for managing vessel traffic within their own jurisdiction waters.


To the Editor. —Dr Lavin states: "Certainly, if the blood pressure is to be reduced in patients with cerebral hemorrhage, it should be done cautiously, not aggressively with a short-acting hypotensive agent such as sodium nitroprusside...."1 Many would argue that sodium nitroprusside is not the agent of choice since intracranial pressure has been observed to increase dramatically in some cases with a decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure.2In fact, in the first case report Dr Lavin presented, hydralazine's effect could have been mediated through a rise in intracranial pressure rather than a decrease in systemic arterial pressure. Only by simultaneously measuring intracranial and systemic arterial pressures can we accurately know cerebral perfusion pressure, and only then can we "guess" at regional blood flow. For it is regional blood flow that is really our concern when speaking of ischemic nervous tissue. Many intensivists prefer trimethaphan camsylate for its minimal


The article examines accumulation of macroand microelements in the leaves of Momordica charantia L. and Trichosanthes cucumerina L. grown using a grafting method. It contains data on the content of key mineral nutrients in the leaves of examined crops. It marks high calcium content in the leaves, reaching 6.51-10.73%, which is peculiar to the plants of Cucurbitacee L. family. It has been determined that grafting of Momordica charantia L. and Trichosanthes cucumerina L. results in changes in accumulation of mineral nutrients in plant leaves, the nature and the trend of which depended on the type of the stock. Keywords— Momordica charantia L., Trichosanthes cucumerina L., Cucurbit species, scion, stock, graft compatibility, mineral nutrition, survival ability


The widespread use of networked environments and the recent availability of high network bandwidths has rekindled interest in the area of automatic data refresh/update mechanisms. In many application areas, the updated information has a limited period of usefulness. Therefore, the development of systems and protocols that can handle such update tasks within predefined deadlines is required. The authors propose and evaluate two real-time update-propagation mechanisms in a client-server environment. The main idea is the transport of update transactions to the location of the cached data rather than the updated data itself. Unlike current push mechanisms, the propagation of update transactions to client sites is neither periodic nor mandatory. Instead, it is based on client-specific criteria which depend on the contents of the database object being updated. They examine real-time push scheduling issues using the popular client-server database model as the underlying framework and carry out a performance scalability study under varying system configurations.


The extensive use of pesticides in agricultur has raised toxicity level in environment because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic activity. A sensitive technique is needed to develop for the detection of pesticides to get high sensitivity and selectivity in complex matrices. Modified Stober's method was used for the synthesis of pure SiO2 particles and grafted by linoleic acid. Grafted SiO2 were examined for its capability as a sorbent for removal and preconcentration of four organochlorine pesticides i.e. endrin, dieldrin, aldrin and DDT. The particles of SiO2 undergo hydrophobic interaction with linoleic acid by grafting. Both pure SiO2 and linoleic acid grafted SiO2 particles were characterized by SEM, FTIR and XRD. FTIR confirmed the grafting of SiO2 with linoleic acid. XRD and SEM results showed monodispersed and spherical SiO2 particles. The evaluation of grafted SiO2 was carried out by spiking organochlorine pesticides in drinking water. The grafted SiO2 particles could be used as a sorbent in solid phase extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography with reverse phase C18 column with aqueous acetonitrile as a mobile phase with ultraviolet detector at 224 nm. The percent recoveries for aldrin, dieldin, endrin and DDT were 81, 52, 60 and 91%, respectively.


The eddy current is one of the unavoidable effects in the electrically conductive parts of electrical machines. Its calculation is not easily achieved. In particular, the induced current developed by the primary eddy current is generated, and it increases the computational complexity. In order to study the induced eddy current, this paper uses the finite difference method (FDM) as the numerical method, and the finite-difference (FD) stencil is applied to the curl, div., and the discrete Laplace operator. In addition, this paper applies some methods to reduce the numerical error the calculation. There are two general numerical errors: round-off errors by rounding of decimal values, and truncation error by using approximations in the mathematical process. Each error can be reduced by applying a higher order FD scheme, and a smaller increment of the local discretisation in the structure. Especially, to evaluate the eddy currents at the edges of the structure, the non-uniform mesh is proposed, which leads to a reduction of the computing costs as well. The numerical results gained with a non-uniform mesh is compared to the results reached by a commercial FEM tool to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method.


This article analyzes the legal basis and the procedure of administrative violation proceedings in cases of violations in the field of road safety recorded automatically. Attention is drawn to determine the name of the first stage of the procedure and its stages. In particular are the following: Official obtain information on administrative offense; clarify (research) of the case; procedural design the study. Special attention is paid to the process of detection of the offense, as the reason for instituting proceedings on administrative offense. It is noted that the formation of complex automatic foto- video- fixation ordered set of data about the event recorded in the control that contains the elements of an offense in the area of road safety, in itself is not a cause for proceedings in cases of administrative offenses. Only when conscious perception and preliminary legal assessment of the circumstances of recorded road conditions can claim the discovery of an authorized police officer signs an administrative offense. Also, pay attention to the shortcomings of current legislation in matters of establishing National Police employee authorized to consider cases on administrative offenses recorded automatically on the stage infringement proceedings the person who imported the vehicle into the customs territory of Ukraine.


BUTLER, Melvin L. Island Gospel: Pentecostal Music and Identity in Jamaica and the United States. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2019. 224pp. ISBN: 9780252084720. Pbk. $25.00.


Objectives: Evaluate diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of a mail-out home oximetry kit. Design: Patients were referred for both the tertiary/quaternary-centre hospital-delivered oximetry (HDO) and for the mail-out remotely-delivered oximetry (RDO). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The COVID-19 pandemic began during this study; therefore, necessary methodological adjustments were implemented. Setting: Patients were first evaluated in Swan Hill, Victoria. RDO kits were sent to home addresses. For the HDO, patients travelled to the Melbourne city area, received the kit, stayed overnight, and returned the kit the following morning. Participants: All consecutive paediatric patients (aged 2–18), diagnosed by a specialist in Swan Hill with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) on history/examination, and booked for tonsillectomy +/− adenoidectomy, were recruited. Main outcome measures: Diagnostic accuracy (i.e., comparison of RDO to HDO results) and test delivery time (i.e., days from consent signature to oximetry delivery) were recorded. Patient travel distances for HDO collection were calculated using home/delivery address postcodes and Google® Maps data. Qualitative data were collected with two digital follow-up surveys. Results: All 32 patients that had both the HDO and RDO had identical oximetry results. The HDO mean delivery time was 87.7 days, while the RDO mean delivery time was 23.6 days (p value: <0.001). Qualitatively, 3/28 preferred the HDO, while 25/28 preferred the RDO (n = 28). Conclusions: The remote option is as accurate as the hospital option, strongly preferred by patients, more rapidly completed, and also an ideal investigation delivery method during certain emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.


Our aim is to create a personal assistant, a chatbot, that can answer queries from software developers regarding Privacy by Design (PbD) methods and applications throughout the design phase of IoT system development. We used semantic web technologies to model the PARROT Ontology that includes knowledge underlying PbD measurements, their intersections with privacy patterns, IoT system needs, and the privacy patterns that should be applied across IoT systems. To determine the PARROT ontology's requirements, a collection of real-world IoT use cases were aided by a series of workshops to gather Competency Questions (CQs) from researchers and software engineers, resulting in 81 selected CQs. In a user study, the PARROT ontology was able to answer up to 58% of software developers' privacy-related issues. The technical report \citeorca149337 contains further analysis and results from data collecting and intermediate synthesis steps.


The apocalypse is trending. Climate catastrophe looms, endtimes movie scenes spool out in real life all around us, and like a portent of our worst fears the COVID-19 pandemic is now upon us. As the scions of Big Bog Roll count their lucre, I've one pressing question for psychoanalyst Anouchka Grose – why toilet paper?! 'It's like the last thing between us and barbarism' she laughs, 'once that's gone and you have to touch your own shit, it's like the whole of culture's collapsed then'! Grose is refreshingly unguarded and swears liberally (a sign of her honesty and intelligence I think, as well as her Antipodean roots). She came to London from Sydney in the 1970s, aged 2, to live in 'an Australian ghetto' as she puts it. Her new book, A Guide to Eco-Anxiety: How to Protect the Planet and Your Mental Health, is to be published in May 2020, and she does worry a bit about how her irreverent tone will be received. It has tongue-in-cheek chapter titles like 'Anxiety: freaking the fuck out' and 'Pleasure yourself: you know you want to'. She wrote it like that partly so the act of writing wasn't unbearable, 'There's the question of how do you talk about something that's intolerable? And the climate thing is intolerable'. I think she's struck the balance in tone, which mitigates the nagging sense of fear. Grose describes herself as a Lacanian psychoanalyst, who also lectures on Freud. She writes novels, non-fiction books, and journalism. Her new book originated from a piece she wrote in The Guardian in 2019, on the ecological crisis making Greenlanders depressed. However, she has long been an eco-warrior. She's been mostly vegetarian since 1985 and is a supporter of XR (Extinction Rebellion), the environmental movement that encourages 'non-violent civil disobedience'. The movie Apocalypse Now is based on the novel Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad's racist fever dream. His tale of rapacious Belgian colonialism in the Congo seems a fitting allegory for Grose's left-leaning world view. Like many, she links our rapacious consumerist culture both to the climate and COVID-19 crises, 'Everyone seems as if they've seen behind the scenes of capitalism suddenly, like this window's open and you can see that it's just a stage'.


Objective:To study the functional mechanism of Semen Raphani which moves qi and removes food retention.Methods:Cisapride was assigned as the positive control group. The effect of the drug on emptying liquid and solid of mice, inhibited gastrointestinal movement induced by Atropine and Dopamine, and the level of MTL in blood was observed.Results:N-hexane part could improve the gastrointestinal movement more than any others. But the effect could be prevented by Atropine. N-hexane part could increase the level of MTL in blood, which was similar to Cisapride (P0.05).Conclusion:The mechanism of Semen Raphani may be related to increasing the secretion of MTL and affecting the M-receptor.


FIELD: medicine. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to field of medicine, in particular to orthopedic dentistry, and can be applied for orthopedic rehabilitation of patients with dentition defects by means of stationary dental prosthesis with cast construction. Dental titanic support, is made from titanium by method of milling, is fixed in stationary dental prosthesis in the place of absent tooth, has be and abutment, made conical in 12 degrees. On base surface facing mucous membrane of alveolar process, there is rounding of dome-shaped form. Abutment has two flat sides, and on butt end surface there is 1 mm deep saw cut which corresponding to 90 degrees angle. Support has three types of dimensions with total height 5.5 mm or 6 mm or 6.5 mm, taking into account height from tray of support base to the highest point of abutment. Height of support base is 1.5 mm or 2 mm or 2.5 mm respectively. Support has base area in diameter 8.5 mm and height of abutment 4 mm, as well as two types of dimensions on abutment diameter on base 3.5 mm, in the centre 2.66 mm, on the highest point 2.00 mm and diameters in base 6.5 mm, in the centre 5.8 mm, on the highest point - 5.66 mm respectively. EFFECT: ensuring orthopedic rehabilitation of patient with dentition defect by installation of titanium support with variable dimensions in the place of absent tooth and strength of fixation in dental prosthethis with cast construction. 6 dwg


The present study was designed to determine the effect of using the aqueous ginger extract on the physical and sensory properties of yoghurt.In club to see the issue of different concentrations of the aqueous ginger extract on yoghurt properties, manufactured from cow's milk, first the milk was divided into five treatments and was considered as the control treatment (T1).Aqueous ginger extract at the concentrations of (1, 3,6, and 9) ml.100 ml -1 milk as (T2, T3, T4, and T5) treatments, respectively were added to the samples and incubated at 42 ° C until the milk coagulated . The produced samples were then examined for pH, Titratable acidity and coagulation time during the incubation period. In addition, the sensory evaluations of the product samples were done.The results indicated that there was a decreased in pH value for plain yoghurt and yoghurt with aqueous ginger extract during the incubation time, as the aqueous ginger extract increased the pH value decreased in comparison with titratable acidity which reported an increased as the aqueous ginger extract increased. In addition, the coagulation time of the treatments (T2, T3, T4, and T5) was decreased with increasing in ginger concentrations in comparison to control treatment (T1) which was coagulated in standard time 3.15 hours. For the sensory evaluation test, the results indicated that T1 has higher flavor score compared to other treatments. However, as the aqueous ginger extract increased the flavor score decreased. 1027 000 – 932 : )0( 3 Kufa Journal For Agricultural Sciences 392 While the yoghurts with aqueous ginger extract have higher texture and acidity scores compared to the control treatment.


This paper studies the over-the-air computation (AirComp) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system with imperfect channel state information (CSI), in which multiple single-antenna wireless devices (WDs) simultaneously send uncoded signals to a multi-antenna access point (AP) for distributed functional computation over multiple subcarriers. In particular, we consider two scenarios with best-effort and error-constrained computation tasks, with the objectives of minimizing the average computation mean squared error (MSE) and the computation outage probability over the multiple subcarriers, respectively. Towards this end, we jointly optimize the transmit coefficients at the WDs and the receive beamforming vectors at the AP over subcarriers, subject to the maximum transmit power constraints at individual WDs. First, for the special case with a single receive antenna at the AP, we propose the semi-closed-form globally optimal solutions to the two problems using the Lagrange-duality method. It is shown that at each subcarrier, the WDs' optimized power control policy for average MSE minimization follows a regularized channel inversion structure, while that for computation outage probability minimization follows an on-off regularized channel inversion, with the regularization dependent on the transmit power budget and channel estimation error. Next, for the general case with multiple receive antennas at the AP, we present efficient algorithms based on alternating optimization and convex optimization to find converged solutions to both problems.


Steganography [6][13] refers to embedding information or secret message into media. This paper presents a simple and secure high-capacity steganographic algorithm for information hiding [15]. We synthesize a cover-image texture with four gray levels 32, 96, 160, and 224 of user-selected size based on a Markov Random Field (MRF) model [3]. On the other hand, each byte of the secret information (secret message, image, etc.) is first encrypted based on an exponential modular arithmetic which is then partitioned into two 4-bit words. Each 4-bit word represented as an integer value in [0, 15] is inserted into a pixel in the selected cover-image to form a stego-image. The embedding capacity for an m by n cover-image could be as high as (m × n)/2, an experiment is illustrated for the proposed methodology. Keyword: Cover-Image, Encryption, Markov Random Field, Stego-Image.


Footwork follows a project conducted over five years by a team of outreach workers, tasked to look out for the homeless and others. Tom Hall draws on this project, cohering aspects of urban geography, care work and street-level poverty, violence and isolation, to provide an revealing and important account of lives so rarely acknowledged.


Background: Melatonin, a hormone, has gained popularity and is being used by millions for a variety of indications. There are few data on its safety or its effects on hemodynamics and coronary blood flow. Also, studies have confirmed that melatonin is a potent antioxidant. Therefore, it may be capable of scavenging free radicals during the reperfusion phase after a heart attack. This study evaluates the safety of melatonin with regard to its cardiovascular effects and tests the hypothesis that melatonin might be protective in the setting of ischemia-reperfusion and reduce myocardial infarct size. Methods and Results: Anesthetized rabbits were treated with melatonin (n = 8, 10 mg/kg, intravenously) 10 minutes before coronary artery occlusion (CAO) and again 15 minutes before reperfusion. Control rabbits received vehicle (n = 8). All rabbits underwent 30 min utes of occlusion and 3 hour reperfusion. Both before and during CAO, melatonin did not alter heart rate compared with control (185 ± 7 beats/min v 181 ± 7 before; and 179 ± 5 v 181 ± 9 during, respectively, P = NS) or blood pressure (70 ± 4 mmHg v 66 ± 6 before and 59 ± 4 v 58 ± 5 during, respectively, P = NS). Regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) was similar before CAO in the melatonin group (1.18 ± 0.17 mL/min/g) versus the control group (1.15 ± 0.10 mL/min/g). Infarct size, expressed as a fraction of ischemic risk zone, was simi lar in the melatonin (0.29 ± 0.03) and control groups (0.29 ± 0.06, P = NS). At a higher dose of 50 mg/kg in treated (n = 7) versus control (n = 7) rabbits, melatonin treatment did not alter heart rate (204 ± 14 in melatonin group v 181 ± 5 in controls, P = NS) or blood pressure (80 ± 11 in melatonin v 66 ± 7 in controls, P = NS) when compared with control. Melatonin at this dose also did not affect infarct size, 0.38 ± 0.06, when compared with con trol, 0.34 ± 0.07, P = NS. Conclusion: Melatonin's effects on hemodynamics and coronary blood flow were neutral, and it did not exacerbate myocardial ischemia or necrosis in this model. Melatonin appears to be a safe drug with no apparent effects on the cardiovascular system in this model.


AZ31 magnesium alloy is prepared by self-designed equipment.By the analysis of microstructure,XRD pattern and the compressing experiment at room temperature(RT),the effects of the directional solidification technique on crystal orientations and mechanical properties at RT of AZ31 magnesium alloy are studied.The experiment reveals that columnar structures form with this technique and the second spherical phase distribute equally in the matrix.During the process,crystals grow regularly in some direction and show an apparent orientation preference due to the effect of temperature gradient.Moreover,the RT mechanical properties and plastic deformation show anisotropy.


Important aspects of human cognition are considered in terms of patterning, which we claim represents a shift from focusing on what is present to what is absent. We make use of Deacon's notion of absentials and apply it to the patterning that underscores human cognition. Several important aspects of human cognition are considered that represent a shift from focusing on what is present to what is absent, namely, language as representing the transition from percept to concept-based thinking, mathematical grouping and patterning of items into sets that gave rise to verbal language, as well as imaginative thinking which is so critical for the development of the arts, mathematics and science. The connection between information and absence is also examined, in which we claim that information is an absential, paralleling an idea of Deacon's.