Many factors influence food purchasing behavior by households, but economists have most often focused on the role of income and prices in helping determine purchases and diet. However, income and price effects are not isolated from other variables, and empirical measurements and observation have long shown that the levels of income and price elasticity for a given food vary both across parts of the world and over time. Rice consumption per person, for example, began to be negatively associated with income changes in the late 1960s in Japan and around 1985 in South Korea (Chino, 2005; Ito, Wesley, Peterson, and Grant, 1989; Han, 2005), after centuries of positive correlation between changes in income, wealth, and rice consumption. This is not an aberration: in projecting food demand in one country for a very long period time such as a half a century, or food demand across countries of different stages of economic development, it is essential to consider the stage of economic development reached by different parts of the world, and the movement of countries from one stage to another (Seale, Regmi, and Bernstein, 2003).


We prove Sarnak's Mobius disjointness conjecture for all unipotent translations on homogeneous spaces of real connected Lie groups. Namely, we show that if $G$ is any such group, $\Gamma\subset G$ a lattice, and $u\in G$ an Ad-unipotent element, then for every $x\in\Gamma\backslash G$ and every continuous, bounded function $f$ on $\Gamma\backslash G$, the sequence $f(xu^{n})$ cannot correlate with the Mobius function on average.


The conception and technology of security support platform become more and more mature in the building of E-government.The application of SoftSwritch(SS),the core technology of next generation network (NGN), in the E-goverrnment is the general tendency in future building of government. It will be a great important problem that how to build security supporting platform in the next generation E-government. The paper introduces the SS and E-government security supporting platform separately.In addition,it gives imagine of the combination of them,including the system framework after combining.Finally,it gives the next generation E-government system structure.


Objective To evaluate diagnosis and treatment for severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) in early stage. Methods Diagnosis and treatment of 120 cases admitted from January 1992 to January 2002 were analyzed. 65 cases received emergency operative treatment,while 55 cases received conservative treatment. Results The complication morbidity and mortality were 70.8%(46/65) and 15.4%(10/65) respectively in operation group, and 20%(11/55) and 5.5%(3/55) in non operative group. There were significant differences between the two groups ( P 0.05). Conclusions Non operative therapy should be the major treatment of SAP in early stage. The individualized principle is the key point for improving the treatment effect.


A high dispersible hydrophobic fine silica powder can be made, wherein the silica powder has hydrophobicity of more than 50%, triboelectrostatic charge of more than-500 uC/g, decomposition rate of an organic group on the powder Surface of less than 15%, transmittance of a 5% alcoholic dispersion liquid of more than 40% preferably, and a specific surface area of more than 200 m/g. This high dispersible hydropho bic fine silica powder can be made by mixing a hydrophobic agent comprising a volatile organic silicon compound in the gas state with a fine silica powder in a fluidized bed type reaction vessel at the time of a hydrophobic treatment, and controlling a gas flow rate to more than 5.0 cm/sec at the time of this mixing.


We introduce Christoffel deformations of discrete orthogonal polynomial ensembles by considering the Christoffel deformations of the measure of orthogonality, and prove that this construction extends to more general point processes describing distribution on partitions : the poissonized Plancherel measure and the $z$-measures. The extension to the Plancherel measure is obtained via a limit transition from the Charlier ensemble, while the extension to the z-measures follows from an analytic continuation argument. A limit procedure starting from the non-degenrate z-measures leads to a deformation of the Borodin-Olshanski's Gamma process.


PURPOSE: A construction method of a root barrier sheet is provided to reduce the breakage rate caused by the roots of plant on the rooftop of a building and ensure improved strength by employing fiberglass. CONSTITUTION: A construction method of a root barrier sheet(100) is as follows. A butyl rubber layer(20) of sheet form is prepared and attached to a release paper(10). A first film layer(30) is attached to the butyl rubber layer. A first aluminum layer(40) is attached to the first film layer. Fiberglass(50) is attached to the first aluminum layer. A second film layer(60) is attached to the fiberglass. A second aluminum layer(70) is attached to the second film layer. A third film layer(80) is attached to the second aluminum layer.


This research was conducted to investigate how frequently Turkish advanced learners of English use the logical connector 'thus' in their academic prose and to investigate whether it was overused, underused or misused semantically in comparison to English native speakers. The data were collected from three corpora; Corpus of Contemporary American English and 20 scientific articles of native speakers as control corpora, and 20 scientific articles of Turkish advanced EFL learners. The raw frequencies, frequencies per million words, frequencies per text and log-likelihood ratio were measured so as to compare varieties across the three corpora. The findings revealed that Turkish learners of English showed underuse in the use of the connector 'thus' in their academic prose compared to native speakers. Additionally, they did not demonstrate misuse in the use of the connector 'thus'. Nevertheless, non-native learners of English tended to use this connector in a resultative role (cause-effect relation) more frequently whereas native speakers used it in appositional and summative roles more as well as its resultative role. Furthermore, the most frequent occurrences of 'thus' have been in academic genre.


Background: People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk to develop type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases. Behavioral lifestyle intervention may play an important role in slowing down, stop or even reverse the progression to type 2 DM. The purpose of this study is exploring the epidemiological characteristics of prediabetes and assess the available knowledge about the role of PE intervention on prediabetic adults. Methodology: Narrative review was done through using academic database search. Fifty-one English online articles about the effect of exercises on prediabetic adults have been included in the study. Findings: Most studies agreed on positive effects of PE on glycemic status in prediabetic patients. However, some studies find slight or even no effects of lifestyle modifications including PE on developing type 2 DM and other complications. Studies agreed that, PE on both aerobic and resistance exercise adjusts cellular glucose uptake, improve insulin sensitivity, muscular and hepatic glucose metabolism resulting in more glycemic control, which reverses many pathological factors related to the usual glycemic & metabolic control and cardiopulmonary function. Substantial inconsistency in some studies could be explained by race, existing comorbidities, individual physiological status and PE prescription. Conclusion: This review suggests that PE may express a positive influence among prediabetic patients. However more population-based studies with clinical trial design are needed taking into consideration many confounders including race, gender, genetics, physiological status and PE training prescription.


The effect of added sodium bicarbonate on 2-chloroprocaine epidural anesthesia in women having postpartum tubal ligation was compared to the commercial product in a double-blind, randomized study. The rationale for the comparison was the reported hastened onset of anesthesia when the pH of bupivacaine and lidocaine are raised. Anesthetic solutions were prepared no more than 20 minutes before use by adding 1 ml sterile 8.4% sodium bicarbonate or 1 ml sterile saline to 27 ml commercial product (3% solution). The pH of the commercial solution was 3.82; that of the saline diluted drug was 3.74; and the pH of the bicarbonate diluted drug was 7.08. Groups of 15 subjects received 23 ml of either diluted anesthesia by a standardized protocol. There were no differences in the matched groups in age, height, weight, or postpartum interval. There were no differences in anesthetic variables, i.e., time of onset of anesthesia, time to T4 level, time to maximum level, or duration of anesthesia, between the groups.


We have measured the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) frequency and field linewidths of thin epitaxial Fe films (grown using molecular beam epitaxy) using network-analyzer FMR and conventional FMR. From the linewidths, we determined quantitatively the intrinsic and extrinsic contribution to the Gilbert damping. The observed broadening of the linewidth for thinner Fe films is consistent with the two-magnon scattering mechanism proposed by Arias and Mills. The decrease of the linewidth as a function of film thickness is fit to a power law. This fit allows a determination of the intrinsic contribution to the linewidth. We find a frequency width=0.147 GHz and field linewidth=47 Oe.


Since its inception in 1863, the federal False Claims Act ["the Act"] has included provisions whereby citizens can assist in the detection and enforcement of frauds against the government. To increase fraud recoveries, the Act authorizes private citizens ("relators") to sue on behalf of the government ("qui tam" lawsuits) when they detect a fraud that is not already the subject of a federal


Nowadays simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms are being tested at least in two phases: software simulation and real hardware platform testing. This paper describes hardware design and control software for small size omni-directional wheels robot implemented for indoor testing SLAM algorithms.


Ground-based zenith DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) measurements have been used to detect and estimate the altitude of PSCs over Belgrano II Antarctic station during the polar sunrise seasons of 2018 and 2019. The method used in this work studies the evolution of the color index (CI) during twilights. The CI has been defined here as the ratio of the recorded signal at 520 and 420 nm. In the presence of PSCs, the CI shows a maximum at a given solar zenith angle (SZA). The value of such SZA depends on the altitude of the PSC. By using a spherical Monte Carlo radiative transfer model (RTM), the method has been validated and a function relating the SZA of the CI maximum and the PSC altitude has been calculated. Model simulations also show that PSCs can be detected and their altitude can be estimated even in presence of optically thin tropospheric clouds or aerosols. Our results are in good agreement with the stratospheric temperature evolution obtained through the ERA5 data reanalysis from the global meteorological model ECMWF (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts) and the PSCs observations from CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol-Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations).

The methodology used in this work could also be applied to foreseen and/or historical measurements obtained with ground-based spectrometers such e. g. the DOAS instruments dedicated to trace gas observation in Arctic and Antarctic sites. This would also allow to investigate the presence and long-term evolution of PSCs.

Keywords: Polar stratospheric clouds; color index; radiative transfer model; visible spectroscopy.


Objective By analyzing the results of 4 cases of residual primary papilloma of choriod plexus (PCP) patients who received postoperative irradiation and reviewing the related literature to discuss the pathological criteria for papilloma of anaplastic choroid plexus (PACP) and the role of radiotherapy in treating primary PCP.Methods Four cases of residual lesion of primary PCP in the fourth ventricle received postoperative irradiation from June 1990 to February 1997 to the tumor bed with 1?cm to 2?cm safety margin according to preoperative CT observation. The irradiation was conducted by 6 or 8 MV X ray with daily 2?Gy, five times a week to a total of 40~55?Gy .The related literature from 1975 was reviewed . Results One case was lost to follow up with the remainders having been followed for two years. One adult patient has been free from disease. Two children developed recurrence within the field 21 months and 24 months after the operation, one of them had also extensive subarachnoid spread.Conclusions The biologic behavior of primary PCP is not always consistent with the pathological diagnosis which still needs perfection. Most PCP are curable by complete resection. Radiotherapy to the entire cerebro spinal axis should be given to PACP postoperatively.


With the rapid development of wearable and intelligent flexible electronic devices (FEDs), the demand for flexible energy storage/conversion devices (ESCDs) has also increased. Rechargeable flexible metal‐air batteries (MABs) are expected to be one of the most ideal ESCDs due to their high theoretical energy density, cost advantage, and strong deformation adaptability. With the improvement of the device design, material assemblies, and manufacturing technology, the research on the electrochemical performance of flexible MABs has made significant progress. However, achieving the high mechanical flexibility, high safety, and wearable comfortability required by FEDs while maintaining the high performance of flexible MABs are still a daunting challenge. In this review, flexible Zn‐air and Li‐air batteries are mainly exemplified to describe the most recent progress and challenges of flexible MABs. We start with an overview of the structure and configuration of the flexible MABs and discuss their impact on battery performance and function. Then it focuses on the research progress of flexible metal anodes, gel polymer electrolytes, and air cathodes. Finally, the main challenges and future research perspectives involving flexible MABs for FEDs are proposed.


Our team is dedicated to offering the most comprehensive program of its kind in Louisiana. When a patient comes to the Emergency Department with symptoms of a stroke: • A Certified Stroke Nurse and Stroke Team is available around the clock, seven days a week, to evaluate a stroke patient within 10 minutes of arrival • Each patient is evaluated and treated using a uniform and extensive set of evidencebased guidelines that addresses both emergency treatments and ongoing care • Continuously available brain imaging with interpretation and rapid laboratory testing • Strong clinical leadership and commitment from administration


Historiography of the years immediately preceding the English civil war has tended to conceive of two disparate entities in politics, Westminster and the localities. There are in practice two distinct kinds of history, reflecting diis division, which connect only on rare occasions. The latest major work on the period can, despite its title, limit itself almost entirely to the confines of Westminster and the court, while the student is faintly aware of volumes of local works which contain scarcely a hint of what passes outside the town wall or beyond the county boundary. Parliament was indeed an aggressively self-conscious and independent body, and the county or borough was frequently particularist and introverted, but this did not preclude all contact between the two. Dr Pearl has demonstrated how vulnerable parliament was to the influence of London, and vice versa, and there have recently been several local studies which illustrate the close relationship between the county and the centre. But by and large, Clarendon's assessment of the importance of the Buckinghamshire petition against the attempt on the Five Members, and the obvious prominence accorded by Commons leaders of both sides to petitioning, has not been sufficiently appreciated. Parliament was deeply concerned about what might be termed 'public opinion': events in the localities, and the reactions to parliament's policies.


Abstract Alkali activated silica fume and fly ash based geopolymer (ASFG) were prepared through vibromoulding process, the optimum mix amount of silica fume and influence of different curing temperatures of room temperature (RT), 60, 80 and 210°C on the mechanical properties of ASFG were evaluated respectively. Results of mechanical properties shown silica fume could reinforce and toughen alkali activated fly ash based geopolymer, and the optimum additive amount of silica fume was 10 wt-% as the starting materials in various curing systems. The results of mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscope showed that the smaller pore volume of ASFG decreased with increasing curing temperatures and formed amorphous porous network structure due to accelerated geopolymerisation; the weight loss decreased gradually and temperatures of weight loss improved with increasing curing temperatures derived from the increased content of bound water through the results of thermogravimetric analysis.


In this paper the nature of knowledge, the purpose of knowledge in regards to leadership, the means of acquisition of knowledge, and the application of knowledge will be discussed. It is evident that the discipline of philosophy is ever changing. There is always room for growth and change as the quest for knowledge is explored. It appears that there are no specific right-or-wrong answers when it comes to philosophy; rather, the importance of the study of philosophy seems to lie in the philosophies themselves. Studying the many different approaches to philosophy can be very beneficial to 21 century scholars who understand and apply the ideas of the various philosophers to learning situations they face in their daily endeavors. It is helpful to review the many divisions of philosophy from the traditional through the modern period, since philosophy is a living model that is never outdated or obsolete.


Pre‐emptive pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is potentially an efficient approach to improve drug safety and efficacy but the target population to test is unclear.


The Independent Labour Party (I. L. P. ) during the nineteen thirties is remembered only for its 'stupid and disastrous' decision to disaffiliate from the Labour Party in 1932 and for its subsequent rapid decline. This 'suicide in a fit of insanity' has been frequently used as a cautionary tale for subsequent left-wing activists. Yet, beyond casual references, the Party during the decade has scarcely been studied. Drawing on a wide range of previously unstudied archival materials this thesis presents the first full-length study of the decline of the I. L. P. It examines the way in which, through the decade, the I. L. P. sought to attract socialists by presenting itself, locally and nationally, as the Party of militant working-class activity as well as advancing an ideology distinct from the Labour and Communist Parties. In some localities such an approach was successful as the I. L. P. carved out a political niche for itself. The focus of the thesis is on examining the reasons why the I. L. P. failed to transform these local political spaces into a national political presence. This discussion is structured around the differing political spaces available for the Party to exploit: in localities, in elections, and in formulating policy. It also examines the I. L. P. 's relationship with the major competitors for this political space, the Labour and Communist Parties. This information is combined with a detailed understanding of the internal politics of the Party, factional and organisational. From this overall picture a contrast is drawn between those areas where the I. L. P. succeeded, and the Party failures. The resulting analysis seems to suggest that the electoral and organisational niches available at the local level where the I. L. P. succeeded, could not be transformed to the national arena. Thus, the concept of political space can give some indication of why the party failed in its attempt to build a significant socialist alternative in Britain.


Carrying out the activity in equal conditions, enterprises can achieve different results, as they have different levels of economic potentials. Assessment of the economic potential allows developing a complex understanding of all aspects of the organization for increasing its investment activity, competitiveness and effective functioning. Over the years, theoretical justification of the category of economic potential has not developed a common approach and a common methodology for its evaluation. This is due to the variety of the concept, its versatility and diversity of economists' opinions. The aim of the research was the development of universal methods for the assessment of the economic potential and it's testing on materials of fisheries enterprises.


Machine learning systems both gained significant interest from the academic side and have seen adoption in the industry. However, one aspect that has received insufficient attention so far is the study of the lifecycle of such systems. This aspect is particularly important due to various ML systems' strong dependency on data, which is constantly evolving-and, therefore, changing-over time. The focus of my PhD research is the study of the implications of these dynamics on the ML systems' performance. Concretely, I propose a method of detecting changes caused by drift in the data early. Furthermore, I discuss possibilities for automating large parts of the ML lifecycle management, to ensure a better and more controllable maintenance process.


Fiber lasers,due to their excellent characters,have been widely applied in the fields of fiber-optic communications,sensors,industry processing,national defense and military. In the paper,four main technologies of high power fiber lasers,including fiber technology,pump-coupling technology,mode-control technology and laser combining technology were introduced and reviewed regarding their research progresses. Besides,through summarizing and analyzing,prospects of a portion of main technologies were presented.


The use of group work, in which three or more students jointly produce a piece of work for summative assessment, is an established aspect of teaching and learning in higher education. Opinions vary however about whether their marks should vary according to the respective contributions they made to the work. This paper is based on the assumption that if adjustments are to be made, they should be made on sound statistical grounds. Current methods for adjusting student marks do not allow the size of the adjustments to be controlled and empirical data are presented which show that very large adjustments can occur. This paper presents a method for deriving final student marks from a single tutor mark and ratings which students make of each other's contributions. The method incorporates a mechanism for directly controlling the size of the adjustments made. It is demonstrated using data from students following a degree programme in computing. A spreadsheet has been written which undertakes the calculations necessary to apply the method.


Abstract Reductions play a key role in organic synthesis, producing chiral products with new functionalities. Enzymes can catalyse such reactions with exquisite stereo‐, regio‐ and chemoselectivity, leading the way to alternative shorter classical synthetic routes towards not only high‐added‐value compounds but also bulk chemicals. In this review we describe the synthetic state‐of‐the‐art and potential of enzymes that catalyse reductions, ranging from carbonyl, enone and aromatic reductions to reductive aminations.


T he most exciting technology in artificial intelligence is Machine learning. Machine Learning provides systems for the machine and gives capability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. For Example the search engine Google is used for search something on internet, the main reasons its work well because of learning algorithm, Every time mailbox is used and it identify inbox, drafts box, sent box etc. That's also machines learning. The main aim of machine learning is the improvement of computer programs and to allow the computers learn automatically.


This paper reports on the foundation of an e-Book Working Group, which has formulated a national strategy to facilitate the provision of e-books to the academic communities in the UK. The remit, activities and impact of this group are discussed. The paper draws upon a range of research projects into the publishing of e-books and their provision by university libraries that have been undertaken by the authors.


Patients with endstage liver disease are at risk for both bleeding and thrombotic complications.1 Although the paradoxical risk for both bleeding and thrombotic events has been ascribed to the complex haemostatic changes that occur in patients with cirrhosis, this explanation may be wrong. It is now well accepted that patients with endstage liver disease largely remain in a haemostatic balance due to simultaneous changes in proand antihaemostatic pathways.2 The increased thrombotic risk is likely related to specific prothrombotic changes in the haemostatic system such as an imbalance in the von Willebrand factor/ADAMTS13 axis, decreased hepatic production of the natural anticoagulants associated with enhanced thrombin generating capacity, a prothrombotic clot structure and resistance to fibrinolysis in the sickest patients.3– 5 In contrast, the spontaneous or procedurerelated bleeding risk of patients with endstage liver disease is at least in part unrelated to the haemostatic changes in these patients.1 For example, multiple lines of evidence suggest that variceal bleeding, one of the most common bleeding complications, is fully unrelated to haemostatic failure but is altogether attributable to portal hypertension and local vascular abnormalities. Indeed, the cornerstone of the prevention and variceal bleeding treatment consists of medication (nonselective betablockers, vasoactive drugs) or procedures (TIPS) that decrease portal pressure. Prohaemostatic therapy, either with blood component transfusion or by infusion of pharmacological agents, is therefore not indicated. Nevertheless, despite clear expert opinion6 and societal recommendations,1,7 patients with variceal bleeding frequently receive blood products or other prohaemostatic therapy during initial resuscitation in line with general recommendations on treatment of massive bleeding. Although societal guidance documents indicate that transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or platelet concentrate likely is ineffective in acute variceal bleeding and is associated with adverse events such as infection, transfusionrelated acute lung injury or transfusionassociated circulatory overload, the risk/benefit of blood component transfusion in acute variceal bleeds has not been formally assessed. In this issue of Liver International, Mohanty and coworkers provide compelling evidence that transfusion of FFP during acute variceal bleeding is ineffective and does harm.8 Specifically, in multivariable analysis, FFP transfusion was associated with an increased risk of failure to control bleeding at 5 days and with mortality at 42 days. Why is FFP still commonly given to patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding, even though societal guidelines advise against this treatment? First, in the setting of acute variceal bleeding, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion might become necessary either because of anaemia or because of the development of hypotension, with evidence from randomized trials favouring a low haemoglobin threshold for RBC transfusion (7 g/dL).9 When RBCs are transfused, clinicians are inclined to transfuse balanced amounts of FFP and platelet concentrate as per general major bleeding protocols. Indeed, in the study by Mohanty, almost all patients that received FFP had also received RBC transfusion. Secondly, patients with advanced chronic liver disease frequently have a prolonged prothrombin time or associated International Normalised Ratio (INR), and it is (at least at first sight) a logical clinical response to try to correct a prolonged INR in a bleeding patient. Interestingly, a proportion of patients in the Mohanty study received FFP in the absence of a substantially prolonged INR (<1.5), suggesting that these patients were given FFP not to counteract their coagulopathy but as a general response to RBC transfusion. Why is FFP ineffective as a haemostatic agent in the setting of acute variceal bleeding? The most likely explanation is that variceal bleeding is truly a nonhaemostatic bleed.1 The risk of variceal bleeding is not enhanced by anticoagulant therapy,10 and the severity and outcome of variceal bleeding are not worse in patients using anticoagulant drugs at the time of the bleed.11 If anticoagulants do not make variceal bleeding worse, it seems plausible that it is unlikely that procoagulants are effective in stopping the bleed. Indeed, recombinant factor VIIa, a low volume prohaemostatic, had little effect in randomized studies on variceal bleeding.12 In addition, the coagulation system in patients with endstage liver disease is intact, or even hypercoagulable,2 and one study published only in abstract form has demonstrated intact thrombin generating capacity even in patients during an acute variceal bleed.13 The 'don't fix anything that isn't broken' principle is another reason why FFP is likely ineffective during bleeding in patients with endstage liver disease. In vitro and ex vivo studies have shown that although FFP improves the INR, it hardly enhances thrombin generating capacity,14– 16 although one recent study suggested FFP to have prothrombotic effects in a reallife clinical setting by increasing the thrombin generation to levels higher than healthy controls and by demonstrating an increase in levels of markers of coagulation activation.17 Importantly, the number of units


ABSTRACT This study reviews the international literature of empirical educational research to examine the application of logistic regression. The aim is to examine common practices of the report and interpretation of logistic regression results, and to discuss the implications for educational research. A review of 130 studies suggests that: (a) the majority of studies report statistical significance and sign of predictors but do not interpret relationship magnitude in terms of probabilities; (b) odds ratio is the most commonly reported effect size, and it tends to be incorrectly interpreted as relative risk, which leads to significant exaggeration of the association magnitude and misleading conclusions; and (c) marginal effects and predicted probabilities are reported by only 10.7% of reviewed studies, and the specification of independent variables' values is frequently missing. It is suggested that marginal effects and predicted probabilities be reported more frequently to fully utilise the information provided by logistic regression results.


Dutchak, Alexander R. (Ph.D., Geological Sciences, Department of Geological Sciences) Mammalian faunal change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (Wasatchian and Bridgerian) at Raven Ridge in the northeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Jaelyn J. Eberle This project investigated patterns of mammalian faunal change at Raven Ridge, which straddles the Colorado-Utah border on the northeastern edge of the Uinta Basin and consists of intertonguing units of the fluvial Colton and lacustrine Green River Formations. Fossil vertebrate localities comprising >9,000 fossil mammal specimens from 62 genera in 34 families were identified and described. Included in this fauna are the index taxa Smilodectes, Omomys, Heptodon, and Lambdotherium, among others, which were used to biostratigraphically constrain the Raven Ridge strata as midWasatchian (Wa3-5, ~53.5mya) through mid-Bridgerian (Br1b, ~48.5mya) in age. This time interval coincides with the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO), an extended interval of globally warm temperatures that is coincident with a large negative δC


Combining with west station channel engineering practice at small north station in No.5 line of Guangzhou,this paper mainly describes the manufacture of TSS tube and its application in shallow and bored tunnel engineering crossing water sand layer.Practice shows that: TSS technology can effectively strengthen tunnel face,control surface subsidence,and provide technical reserves for bored tunnel across water sand layer.Thus,it is worth further promoting.


This surveillance report examines trends in selected pneumoconioses in the U.S. for 1968--2005 and their relationship with past indicators of extent of exposure. Numbers of deaths with asbestosis, silicosis, and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) were tabulated by time and age at death. Worker monitoring CWP prevalence data were tabulated by tenure group. Information on indicators of extent and intensity of exposure were obtained from various sources. Asbestosis deaths from 1968--2005 closely followed the historical trend in asbestos consumption, and appear to be declining in most age groups. Given appropriate exposure control, asbestosis could be eliminated by 2050. Silicosis deaths decreased substantially from 1968--2005, but levelled off after 1998 in all age groups, indicating a continuing occupational risk. In the anthracite coal region, CWP mortality has been declining rapidly. If there is no resurgence in the industry, CWP could disappear in that region by 2030. In the much larger bituminous region, deaths have declined over time but may be increasing among younger individuals. In addition, although CWP prevalence in working coal miners declined substantially from 1970 to 1994, it increased from 1995 to 2006. This indicates the need for increased vigilance in dust control in underground coal mining.


Fredric Jameson is an important post-modernism theorist and cultural critic in our times. His greatest contribution to the construction of post-modernism theory is that he put forward the post-modernism or the cultural logic of late Capitalism and summarized its cultural characteristics, which is not only a milestone for the construction of post-modernism theory in the West but also an edification for the construction of the socialist mass culture in China.


We have previously demonstrated that cross‐linked bispecific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) heteropolymers (HP), specific for primate erythrocyte (E) complement receptor type 1 (CR1) and target antigen (Ag), facilitate the binding of these target Ag to human and non‐human primate E. Once bound in vitro to rhesus monkey E, upon re‐infusion these HP/Ag complexes are recognized in vivo by cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and removed from the circulation without loss of the E. We now show, in squirrel monkeys, that an HP specific for E CR1 and human IgM (anti‐CR1 × anti‐IgM) can be used to facilitate in vivo E binding and clearance from the circulation of a previously injected and circulating model protein pathogen, human IgM. Approximately 70—80% of 125I‐labeled human IgM is cleared from the circulation of each of five squirrel monkeys via the HP system. We observe, in experiments analogous to previous studies on immune complex (IC) clearance, that subsequent to HP/Ag clearance there is a decrease in the number of CR1 epitopes per E which is manifested when we use both monoclonal and polyclonal anti‐CR1 probes. Our results indicate that the primary organs responsible for uptake of the complexes are the liver and spleen. This work strongly suggests that the HP/Ag complexes, bound to E, function as IC prototypes and are recognized and processed as such in vivo This, the HP‐E system may eventually serve as a viable immunotherapy for the clearance of blood‐borne pathogens from the circulation.


The paper deals with the nomenclature, synonymy, identity and distribution of some species of Indian Araliads. Recent authors have shown that nomenclatural changes are required in the genera Brassaiopsis, Schefflera, Acanthopanax and Dendropanox . The correct identity of some species also needs elucidation. These are discussed in the following pages. some new combinations are also made.


Parkinson Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder exhibiting 36% of hypokinetic dysarthria affecting motor speech coordination among people throughout the world. A gamut of speech and non-speech problems due to Parkinson"s disease can have an impact on the functions of everyday life also affecting participation in life situations. However, standardized tests are unable to fully reflect individuals functioning in everyday life. The present study aims at utilizing the ICF framework for the assessment of speech and non-speech characteristics in individuals with Parkinson"s disease within age range of 50-70 years using an ICF framed questionnaire. The results were suggestive of a significant differences in terms of respiration, articulation and speech intelligibility, phonation and prosodic problems as observed in both the groups i.e. Group I (mild-moderate category) and Group II (severe category). In all 3 domains of Body function, 6 domains of Activity and Participation and single domain under Environmental Functions, a significant difference within Group II having higher scores suggesting individuals in severe group face more difficulties in day to day life as compared individuals in mild-moderate group i.e. Group I. The nature of impact which these speech problems may have on activity and participation as well as other domains is not assessed, highlighted and focused upon which also has an impact on the quality of life of these individuals. Hence the need of the hour is thus to use the ICF framework for assessing of input of speech and non- speech characteristics in individual with Parkinson disease.


Objectives: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital vascular malformations that result from a defect in vascular morphogenesis. These lesions are slow-growing, infiltrative, and destructive resulting in significant morbidity associated with cardiac overload and increased susceptibility to massive bleeding. Recent evidence suggests a role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of enzymes functioning in tissue remodeling via degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and cleaving of surface molecules, in the pathogenesis of AVM development and rupture. This study sought to explore the role of MMPs, particularly MMP-9, in AVM formation and progression. Methods: Serum samples from patients with AVM, hemangioma, and pyogenic granuloma were collected and isolated at various stages of development. Relative quantities of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF in each group were calculated and analyzed using sandwich-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: MMP-2 concentrations were found to be decreased in AVM serum samples when compared with serum samples from the pyogenic granuloma controls (27.9 ± 5.97 vs 32.84 ± 2.20, P = 6.3 × 10–9); MMP-9 concentrations were found to be increased in AVM serum samples when compared with hemangioma serum samples (1698.81 ± 410.86 vs 1105.02 ± 239.43, P < .02); and VEGF concentrations were found to be decreased in AVM serum samples when compared with hemangioma serum samples (52.27 ± 63.02 vs 174.0 ± 9.84, P < .05). Conclusions: The results of this study provide support for a role of MMP-9 in AVM progression and recurrence. Specifically, an increase in MMP-9 appears to be associated with AVM formation and may play an important role in its pathogenesis.


Object-oriented programming, which treats objects as processes in execution, has shown significant effectiveness in distributed systems. To measure this effectiveness, a modelling technique is required. However, contemporary techniques for modelling processes are not fully satisfactory for object-oriented computation. Therefore, an appropriate analytical model is necessary. The authors propose an analytical model based on the coloured generalized stochastic Petri net (CGSPN) theory. This model can be used to analyze the behaviour of object invocations in a distributed manner. It also provider guidelines for the design of an effective object assignment strategy.


As television drama undergoes a renaissance across Europe and the US, this article focuses on remakes of 'Nordic noir' crime serials. The genre has its origins in contemporary literary fiction, and became a cinema cause celebre with the Swedish adaptations of Stieg Larsson's Millennium novels, and the controversial US remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. While adaptation scholars have long discredited comparative approaches based on the source/target text binary organised along value-judgement lines, in terms of television remakes, the opposite is fast becoming the case; comparisons between different versions of the same narrative becomes playful and almost vital aspect of contemporary adaptation. While some theorists have argued that remakes often attempt to efface previous versions, in television, the opposite can be true. In examining the remakes of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Forbrydelsen (The Killing), Broen/Bron (The Bridge & The Tunnel) and Broadchurch (Gracepoint), this article proposes that a new type of 'synchronous' or 'active' adaptation invites some audiences to engage in a far more playful exchange of textual moments, augmented and overseen by social media, and that television remakes are now reflecting this.


In this paper, we consider a discrete fractional boundary value problem of the form: ΔααΔα+β−1β+λEβx(t)=f(t+α+β−1,x(t+α+β−1)),t∈N0,T,x(α+β−2)=0,x(α+β+T)=ρΔα+β−1−γx(η+γ), where 0 < α,β≤1, 1 < α + β≤2, λ and ρ are constants, γ > 0, η∈Nα+β−1,α+β+T−1:={α+β−2,α+β−1,…,α+β+T−2,α+β+T−1} , f:Nα+β−1,α+β+T−1×R→R is a continuous function, and Eβx(t) = x(t + β − 1). The existence and uniqueness of solutions are proved by using Banach's fixed point theorem. An illustrative example is also presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


By the very nature of its composition, involving the presence of micron-size particles bridging the various aggregate fractions in the matrix, a very large specific surface becomes available for adsorptive mechanisms to come into play. The diffusion of fluids through the polymeric films on the filler materials in polymer concrete, coupled with the adsorptive nature of the matrix, together offer a beneficial opportunity of interest to the transformer industry. Specifically, this opportunity pertains to the in-situ cleansing/improving of transformer oil during the operational life of the transformer. The premise of this paper is that the purification ability of polymer concrete in an oil-filled transformer environment can render many economic benefits in both a specific and overall sense by reducing or eliminating oil-related maintenance chores.


This paper explores the nature of agoraphobic sufferers' fears of social spaces drawing on Merleau-Ponty's dual conceptions of 'lived' and 'objective' space. Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological approach highlights both the mediating role of sensations in acquiring a sense of identity and the importance of recognising the social (as opposed to the merely individual) construction of lived space. I argue that an approach capable of theorising agoraphobic 'being-in-the-world' requires just such recognition of the effect that other people have on the space that they occupy. The potential relevance of this approach for sufferers from agoraphobia is explored through a case study.


OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of Astragalus polysaccharide(APS) on hypertrophic myocardium caused by abdominal aorta constriction in rats,and to explore its molecular mechanism.METHODS Myocardial hypertrophy model in rats was established by adopting abdominal aorta constriction(AAC).APS 200,400 and 800 mg·kg-1 were ig given to the rats for 11 weeks.Heart mass index(HMI)and left ventricular mass index(LVMI) were detected.Left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP),left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP),and maximum rate of rise/decrease of LVSP(±dp/dtmax) were detected,and pathological section by HE staining.Lactic acid(LAC) and free fatty acids(FFA) were measured.mRNA expression of heart atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) was observed by RT-RCR.The mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP) was measured.RESULTS Compared with sham group,MMP significantly decreased and other indicators significantly elevated in all index in AAC group.Compared with AAC group,APS 800 mg·kg-1 decreased HMI,LVMI,LVSP,LVEDP and ±dp/dtmax(P0.05).APS 400 and 800 mg·kg-1 could also remarkably down-regualte the overexpressions of ANP mRNA induced by AAC and significantly improved MMP level(P0.05).LAC content effectively decreased by APS 200,400 and 800 mg·kg-1(P0.05).CONCLUSION APS significantly improves myocardial energy metabolism in AAC rats and protects the function of myocardial mitochondria.


With the development of the science and technology, our life has been improved which can be reflected in every aspect of our lives, but at the same time there will be a lot of problems. The inspiration of this article comes from a question of Speculative Design, that is, the people want to receive how much reality.With this question, the blind is selected as the target population, and the theoretical basis of this investigation is "the role of body language played in conversation" and "body language means differently depending on communicative contexts", which is approached by AI with deep learning. Thus, the authors designed a special viewing glasses as the carrier of AI, and investigated how does the AI glasses obtain information that is unavailable to the blind in the process of human-to-human communication, and how does the glasses interact with the blind in time. Focusing on speculative design, the authors further questioned, the acquisition of real-world information affect people. By investigating several groups of target population being tested, the author explored the influences of the development and application of emerging AI technology on human life. Finally, we found that ai technology needs to be used more reasonably to truly improve people's living standards.


Particle generation in thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes can lead to the formation of contaminant particles that affect film properties and eventually device performance. This article reports on measurements of particle formation during low-pressure CVD of SiO2 from silane and oxygen. Measurements of aerosol size distributions were made using a particle beam mass spectrometer (PBMS) and were carried out at pressures and temperatures ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 Torr (67–267 Pa) and 200–800 °C, using an O2/SiH4 ratio of 20. We found that within this parameter space, there are three different particle formation regions and a particle-free region. The particle formation regions include an explosion region [200–300 °C, P≳1.0 Torr (∼80 Pa)], an unsteady region [400–600 °C, P≳0.8 Torr (∼107 Pa)], and a steady region [700–800 °C, P≳0.6 Torr (∼67 Pa)]. PBMS size analysis in the steady region shows that the size distributions are bimodal with one mode around 7 nm in diameter and the other around 20 nm, ...


The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between results of scientific process skills and their placement test of eighth graders (in K8). In addition, students' process skills and their demographic features (gender, mother's and father's educational status, number of siblings, frequency of reading books and selecting a future occupation) was compared in this study. The sample of the study was composed of the 99 eighth grade students in one secondary schools located in Erzurum city. "Scientific Process Skills Test" (SPST) and "Placement Test" (PT) was used as data collection instruments. It was determined to a positive correct relationship among the total score of the SPST with the total score of the PT and the results of the Scientific and Technology test of The PT. It was observed that female students were better than male students in identifying variables and operationally defining skills. There was no statistically significant difference between other demographic features.


There was a well-established tradition of the Anglo-Irish gentry serving as officers in the British army and this continued into the war. The British army, pre-war, was very class conscious with officers requiring a private income. The costs associated diminished in wartime but officers were still generally from upper and middle-class backgrounds. As with other recruitment in Ireland, officer recruitment was politicised. Officer Training Corps units pre-war were, almost exclusively, at Protestant schools and universities, which meant that few Catholics presenting themselves for commissions could claim previous military training. The War Office quickly commissioned large numbers of Ulster Volunteer officers, who had enlisted with their men in September 1914. Nationalists felt that they were less favoured by the War Office though the National MPs who sought commissions did not do so before 1915. Lieutenant General Sir Lawrence Parsons established a cadet company in the 16th (Irish) Division but this did not assuage Nationalist concerns. An Officer Selection Board was established in Dublin in the Summer of 1915 and, throughout the remainder of the war, it had some success in attracting Catholic recruits for officer training.


A control circuit for controlling light emitting diodes comprises a switch for turning on or off a string of light emitting diodes. A combiner generates a control signal from a data signal and a noise signal. A sigma delta modulator receives the control signal and a clock signal with a clock period and generates a switching signal for controlling the switch.


The most common hernias in infants and children are indirect inguinal hernias related to patency of the vaginal process of the peritoneum. Groin hernias in general should have early repair, with operation in a matter of hours if incarceration occurs. Umbilical hernias tend to close spontaneously or may be repaired by a simple operation if correction is indicated. The life-threatening hernias include posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia and omphalocele.


[1] Lidar ratios Sp of Saharan dust were determined at the Cape Verde Islands in the framework of the second phase of the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment to investigate possible changes during the first few days of transport from the source regions. Lidar ratios were retrieved from vertical profiles of particle extinction coefficients and backscatter coefficients measured simultaneously at 355 and 532 nm with the two Raman lidar systems MULIS and POLIS of the Meteorological Institute of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat. As previous studies are lacking, one of the main foci of this paper is the elaboration of an extensive error analysis of the Sp retrieval. Only the determination of systematic errors, resulting from the uncertainties of the input parameters of the retrieval, and statistical errors of Sp due to signal noise allows one to compare measurements at different sites and to gain insight into the changes of the dust lidar ratio with time. Suitable conditions for the assessment of Sp and the error analysis were met during a strong Saharan dust outbreak from 28 to 30 January 2008, where particle extinction coefficients of the dust layer as high as 0.2–0.4 km−1 in the UV and visible spectral region were observed. We found an average lidar ratio of dust over Cape Verde Islands of 63 ± 6 sr at 355 and 532 nm.


The paper aims at the single bore many room continuous curve beam construction characteristics,puts forward beam and board model space limited unit model,considering the beam shear slice to transform,calculation analyzes the side moves of curve a beam problem,backlog the experience for the same kind beam construction calculation.


FastSLAM has been shown to degenerate over time due to sample impoverishment, that is, poor samples are generated during the sampling process. One of major culprits of the sample impoverishment problem is lack of the number of particles estimating the pose of the robot and the environment. In this work, an adaptive prior boosting technique is proposed for the efficient sample size according to the uncertainty of each situation in performing FastSLAM. It uses a back-propagation neural network, learned in various environments, in order to decide the required sample size. This adaptive approach generates a small number of particles when the uncertainty is low while performing FastSLAM, and it generates a large number of particles when the uncertainty is high. This technique efficiently generates the sample size in computer simulations and real environmental experiments, which significantly reduces the RMS feature and position errors.


We have made an IP (Intellectual Property) core for the T425 transputer. The same machine instructions as the transputer are executable in this IP core (which we call the TPCORE). To create an IP core for the transputer has two aspects. On one hand, if we could succeed in building our own one and putting it in an FPGA (or VLSI chip), we could apply it as a core processor in a distributed system. On the other hand, if we can extend our transputer development from a very conventional one to more sophisticated ones, as Inmos proceeded to the T9000, we hope to find technological breakthroughs for the bottlenecks that the original transputer had – such as the restriction of the number of communication channels. It is important to have an IP core for the transputer. Although the TPCORE uses the same register set with the same functionality as the transputer and follows the same mechanisms for the link communication between two processes and interrupt handling, the implementation must be very different from original transputer. We have extensively used micro-code ROM to describe any states that the TPCORE must take. Using this micro-code ROM for the state transition description, we could implement the TPCORE economically on FPGA space and achieve efficient performance.


Museums and libraries have an urgent need to find ways of computerising archive card indexes to support computational analysis and automated database interrogation of their curatorial records. Existing commercial OCR software and document analysis packages are totally inadequate for handling the diverse heterogeneous formats of typescript, hand-print and handwriting encountered in archive indexes. This paper outlines the problems to be overcome in transcribing archive indexes, and proposes a progressive approach to archive conversion in which a hierarchical interpretation of each card image is recorded for posterity. Systems developed using the tools proposed will have application in museums, libraries and archives all over the world, establishing this field as a major future commercial application of document and handwriting analysis. (4 pages)


Loss of biodiversity is regarded as one of the key problems affecting the environment. In order to demonstrate the significance of biodiversity, the value of individual species or ecosystems today is generally determined in science and practice. The underlying thought is that a species or ecosystem is worthy of being conserved provided its value exceeds the benefit of its loss. This is, at first glance, a rational line of thought typical of economists. As this study shows, however, this way of looking at the situation is inadequate. Biodiversity, rather like a share portfolio or a portfolio of insurance risks, is concerned with a portfolio of different genes, species or ecosystems. The finding from portfolio theory that in portfolios returns are additive whereas risks diversify and that well managed portfolios frequently also contain securities which, viewed in isolation, appear to hold little attraction, is now generally acknowledged in the management of securities. Portfolio theory is not currently brought into discussions on biodiversity issues, and that is regrettable. The way in which biodiversity is generally viewed at present lags more than fifty years behind securities management. This study shows how portfolio managers would look at and manage biodiversity. Probably the most surprising and provocative finding is that it may be assumed that portfolio managers would conserve more species than appears appropriate from the way the situation is usually viewed at present.


With the rapid development of power electronics technology and better characteristics of electrical equipment being required,the inverter and the technology based on it are more and more popular in many areas.And Pulse Width Modulation(PWM) becomes the most important technique of inverter.People now pay more attention to this method.And the control strategy of PWM is worthy to be concerned.The main body of a book has been carried out on the systematic stability of contravariant and PID under the control of tactics application meticulously according to PWM and the present age control theory are researched.


The present invention relates to a differential pressure valve having a biasing spring and a parallel method for reducing the chatter of the spring. Discloses a differential pressure valve comprising: a valve body (111), said valve body having at least one inlet (118) and a flow outlet (120); at least one gate (112), the gate can be in a cross differential pressure moves through the valve between an open position and a closed position; the flow passage from the inlet (118) to the outlet (120) (126); at least one biasing member (114), which is configured to brake ( 112) biased toward a closed position, in order to block the flow through the inlet passage (118). Biasing means (114) comprises at least two springs arranged in parallel (114A, 114B), said spring having one different from the other two springs at least one resonance frequency of at least one resonance frequency.


Distance learning is the education of students who may not often be physically present. Internet technology has made many possible ways of distance learning by open educational tools and services, such as e-learning and MOOCs. The distance learning technologies are divided into two types of delivery: synchronous learning and asynchronous learning. The two methods can be combined to create a hybrid learning model. In this work, we will discuss an adaptable hybrid teaching model we call it Zoom Sandwich. The model utilizes the benefits of both methods and integrates active learning techniques where students learn the concepts and topics online and then come to the classroom for application through interactive groups and class level discussions utilizing technology breakout rooms and chat platforms. We also consider the best practices to humanize online learning and increase students' and instructors' social presence. Covid-19 Pandemic changed the way institutions conduct business and provide services. To fight the spread of coronavirus, schools across the country have temporarily closed and transitioned to distance learning. This provided an opportunity for cybercriminals to hack and expose human vulnerabilities. We are proposing a set of security best practices and policies to countermeasures the cyberattacks.


1West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China; 2HEOA Group, Institute for Healthy Cities and West China Research Center for Rural Health Development, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China; 3Institute of Hospital Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China; 4Department of Health Services Administration, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; 5Department of Maternity and Child Health Management, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu, People's Republic of China; 6Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China; 7State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China


This final paper explains the tactics of grain silo fire extinguishing. In addition to the tactics of fire extinction, it explains the general possibility of fire on outbuildings, fire protection measures of outbuildings, general construction of grain silo, the possibillity of fire occurrence and fire protection measures of grain silo, and lists valid reguations for fire protection of outbuildings.


Abstract In 2011, Government introduced "IT Convergence Technology Prediction Survey 2025". This report includes 10 ICT industries. Convergence was combined with a word 'digital'. Digital convergence means a service or new product which appeared through fusion of unit technologies in information and communication regions. The effects of convergence technologies and social phenomenons are visualized in overall regions of society such as economy, society, culture, etc. In this paper, we described a prospects and technologies needed in digital convergence environment. And we described IT-Building, IT-Car, IT-Medicine, IT-Textile which was related with our lives in today among 10 ICT industries. Key Words : Convergence, IT-Building, IT-Car, IT-Textile, IT-Medicine Received 16 October 2013, Revised 8 November 2013Accepted 20 November 2013Corresponding Author: Dong-Woo Lee(Woosong University) Email: email@example.comⒸ The Society of Digital Policy & Management. All rights reserved. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.otg/licenses/by-nc/3.0), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is ISSN: 1738-1916 properly cited.


Permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) control system processes massive electrical and mechanical data sets which are important for various data-driven methods of big data analysis or failure data recording. However, as the control frequency going up, motor data processing faces more challenges of the limited computational resource of a motor controller. This paper proposes a real-time data compression method based on connected piecewise linear regression (CPLR) and compressed sensing (CS), so the motor operational data can be recorded with a minimum memory storage space. The study demonstrates the parameter boundary of CPLR under the condition that samples obtained by digital sensors. On this basis, adaptive-CPLR is proposed, which tunes parameter automatically with the given active function and has parameter reset mechanism. Further, CS is implemented using sparsity binary matrix (SBM) for space and time saving and triggered by adaptive-CPLR aimed to preserve frequency domain information conditionally. Experiment results is presented to demonstrate the real-time characteristic of the proposed compression method in resource limited motor controller STM32F407. Adaptive-CPLR and CS are also evaluated, showing that the proposed method successfully achieves desired performance of high compression ratio and low percentage root mean square residues.


Through questionnaires and statistical analysis,we can understand Hebei medical library infrastructure construction,literature collection,management and procurement,human resource and so on.In addition,the authors make recommendations and countermeasures on the distribution of its scientific,rational distribution,reduce cost and improve efficiency.


It has been over three decades since the term "sustainable development" was coined in Brundtland's report in 1987, and 28 years have passed since the world's first sustainability assessment method for buildings was founded by the Building Research Establishment in UK in 1990. During these three decades, many sustainability standards, codes, and rating systems were created and used to help in designing, constructing, maintaining, rating, and labeling buildings with attaining the principles of sustainability. Yet by looking at the Arab world at the beginning of 2019, one can argue that, although the Arab countries have dedicated the effort and budget to save energy, water, and natural resources, the region as a whole is still struggling to shift the paradigm of the building industry from conventional to sustainable. This struggle raises some questions; are there any challenges that Arab countries must overcome to leap forward to a prosperous sustainable building design and construction practices? Why are existing green building rating systems such as Estidama in United Arab Emirates, global sustainability assessment system (GSAS) in Qatar, and ARZ in Lebanon lagging behind the trends of green building rating systems in the developed countries? What are the coordinated steps needed to expedite this movement across the region? The current study explores the limits and potentials of the green building industry in the Arab world through analysis of the green building initiatives, academic scholarship activities in architecture and engineering sectors, and feedback from green building professionals across the Arab world. This article introduces a theoretical framework to expedite the green building movement in the Arab region; the framework is shaped by the environmental, social, and economic factors that are crucial to the transformation of the building industry from conventional to sustainable. The study seeks to support a line of research that could help governments in the Arab world catch up with the global green building trends.


The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), under contract by the U.S. Air Force, has designed and constructed a fully automated ultrasonic inspection system for the detection of embedded defects inside in-service gas turbine engine disks. This system uses many new approaches that conduct automated ultrasonic inspections to produce highly reliable engine disk inspections without human involvement. The ultrasonic inspection system incorporates off-the-shelf, industry standard components typically not found in NDI systems, that have been integrated using a modular-architecture approach to produce a system capable of sustained operation in an Air Force depot environment. Designed to he rugged and easily maintained, the system consists of a six-axis articulated robotic arm, rotating water tank, phased-array ultrasonic instrument, automated probe changing of 'smart' probes, collision avoidance hardware, PC-based industrial computer, Windows-based operating system, digital vision system, and a specialised water management system that eliminates air bubbles in the water. The robotic manipulation of the probes allows ultrasound to be directed at almost all features of the engine component. Use of the phased-array ultrasonic instrument and probes allows for optimisation of both the sensitivity and resolution for each inspection through electronic beamforming, scanning, and focusing processes. The system requires an operator to load the part, and then conducts all parts of the inspection automatically. including part recognition, part dimensioning, probe changing, probe calibration, inspection, and accept/reject decisions. This paper discusses the components and specifications of the system and technology improvements over conventional systems that have been incorporated.


Privacy policies inform users about how their data is collected, stored, used and shared by organizations. However, users do not read these policies as they are lengthy and difficult to comprehend. This suggests the need for automated techniques for summarizing a privacy policy for the user. This paper presents an effort towards automated analysis of Pakistani websites' privacy policies' compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Pakistan Data Protection Act. We compiled a labelled dataset of privacy policies from 120 Pakistani websites belonging to 5 sectors. Four machine learning classifiers were used on this dataset, among which, the Support Vector Machine showed a high accuracy of 97.7% in determining compliance. Our work lays the foundation for developing a tool to automatically analyse the privacy policy of a Pakistani website and check its compliance with GDPR and Pakistan Data Protection Act.


The generation background of fault diagnosis technology was narrated,and the progress of the technology was reviewed.In addition,the main study achievement and application at home and abroad were introduced,and the problems existing in the fault diagnosis technology and the key study direction were discussed also.


"The issues surrounding the film are feminist. But the film itself is not." Thus argued Callie Khouri, writer of Thelma and Louise (Francke, 1991: 17). Despite Khouri's claims, the critical reception of the film, nevertheless, centred quite explicitly on assessing the film's status as a feminist text, therefore suggesting that it is not, in fact, possible to separate the textual ("the film itself") from the extra-textual ("the issues surrounding the film"). Indeed, as Richard Dyer's work on film stars illustrates, extra-textual material such as star personas, reviews and publicity material play an important part in the construction of any particular text's meanings, particularly its dominant or preferred meanings (Dyer, 1979 and 1987). Traditionally, feminist analyses of mainstream texts have read "against the grain" of these dominant or preferred meanings in order to produce resistant feminist readings. Here, however, I want to read "with the grain" of these dominant meanings as they are inscribed in reviews of The Accused (Jonathan Kaplan, 1988) and Thelma and Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991) in order to explore the ways in which they might produce popular, common-sense understandings of feminism.


The Medical Journal of Australia ISSN: 0025729X 19 March 2012 196 5 358-358 ©The Medical Journal of Australia 2012 www.mja.com.au Reflections suppress the configurational impulse. Whether the configuration of choice happened to be biological or sociological, it generally revealed assumptions — about fit and stress, about balance and mismatch — between humans and their milieu. Following the tradition of social medicine, Rosenberg evidently favoured political economy and cultural patterns in explaining outbreaks of diseases such as cholera. Another adherent of social medicine, Paul Farmer, would later Viewing germs through biological and sociological lenses


As digital images have been propagated all over the world, identification techniques for image sources become more important. In this paper, we analyze properties of the scanner and find the spectral noise appeared in the frequency domain. Based on this observation, we propose a new method for identifying scanner models from scanned images. To enhance characteristics of the spectral noise, a refining process is proposed and employed to scanned images. We make reference patterns with the refined noise for each scanner. The proposed method uses the Euclidean distance to calculate a similarity between each reference pattern and the extracted spectral noise from the test image. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves high accuracy with various types of images.


Objective To evaluate the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1),Exendin-4 and C-peptide on renal blood flow(RBF)in normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rats.Methods Adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups and intravenously given saline(or 30%glucose,as control),GLP-1,Exendin-4 and C- peptide respectively. Mean arterial blood pressure was monitored and mierosphere technique was adopted to measure RBF and adrenal blood flow. Results Glucose administration augmented RBF significantly(P 0.05).Exendin-4 had no effect on either basal RBF or post-glucose-load RBF,but prevented the glueose-induced increase of RBF.C-peptide enhanced basal RBF(P<0.0 1),but did not affect RBF after glucose injection. Conclusion GLP-1.Exendin-4 and C-peptide exert a regulatory effect on RBF in Wistar rats.Exendin-4 prevents the increment of RBF in hyperslycaemic rats and miight be a promising agent against diabetic nephropathy.

Key words:
C-peptide; Glucagon-like peptide-1; Exendin-4; Microsphere technique; Renal blood flow


Ans and Phillips' recent independent releases of the Symposia of Plato and Xenophon, edited by Christopher Rowe and Anthony Bowen respectively, contain new versions of the classic alternative pictures of Socrates. They both provide excellent cross-references in the commentary to their opposite. Both provide the Greek texts with new translations, useful introductions, English indexes and ample Bibliographies. Bowen's text has the added advantages of a Vocabulary for the dialogue, and a Linguistic index. Bowen's edition is intended for all levels of classical education, particularly of those university students who are learning Greek for the first time. For this reason, his commentary on the translation is prominent, although it is not the kind of commentary which one might find in the Clarendon Plato or Aristotle series, for example. As he notes, the use of Xenophon to learn Greek is fruitful because of the clarity of his language, which is all the same not without its own artfulness. His introduction is helpful in recounting the life of Xenophon, including many scholarly references to confirm his account. Particularly interesting is his conjecture that one of the functions of Xenophon's writing was to 'sustain that attention, particularly in Athens, which was denied him by exile' (4). (The exile was the result of his support of the Persians and Spartans after the restoration of the democracy in 401.) Echoes of the good reputation sought by men of nobility seem to be presupposed by this interpretation.


The work deals with the research related to finding the relationship between the wear rate of diesel engine injector nozzles and the fractal characteristics of spots of fuel atomized by such injectors. At present, the processes of diagnosing the degree of fuel atomization by injectors are carried out either using too complicated and expensive methods, or at a basic, visual level with conclusions about the injector efficiency. Based on the analysis of the methods of diagnostics of diesel engine injectors, the method of fractal diagnostics, which does not require the verification of elements either on a working engine, or with the use of complex and expensive devices is proposed. The research has shown the effectiveness of the proposed quantitative fractal diagnostics to assess the wear rate of diesel engine injector nozzles. The proposed method of fractal diagnostics of the degree of fuel atomization by injectors can be divided into the following stages: getting an image of the spot of fuel atomized by an injector, allocation of the area for the fractal analysis and dimensioning, image segmentation, generation of features and comparison with the reference image. The experimental research using the method of fractal diagnostics of the degree of fuel atomization by diesel engine injectors is carried out. On the basis of experimental data, the fractal dimension of the spot of fuel atomized by the diagnosed injector allows drawing conclusions about the readiness of injector operation on an engine or about the need for repairing such an injector


One of the most frequently attested facts concerning M. Porcius Cato, cos. 195 B.C., 'the Censor', is that his place of origo was Tusculum. Tusculum was a Latin town which had long since acquired the status of a municipium and the full privileges of Roman citizenship: Cato was a 'new man' in the political sense, but we might naturally infer that he came from a long line of Roman citizens. Yet some of the most eminent of modern scholars, and in particular P. Fraccaro, have held that the inference is false. Instead it has been argued that his family was Sabine, had received Roman citizenship only in his father's generation, and only recently had taken up residence in Tusculum. Although several writers have rejected these conclusions—some by silence rather than explicitly—the arguments for them, which are weighty and at first sight convincing, have not been subjected to the detailed examination which they merit. The present paper seeks to supply such an examination.


Chemically graded composites, consisting of layers with different amounts of Si 3 N 4 , Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 ranging from Si 3 N 4 -rich plus Y 2 O 3 to Si 3 N 4 -free were hot-pressed at 1600°C under 12.5MPa uniaxial pressure in argon atmosphere. The aim of the study was the development of functionally graded laminate system capable for oxidation protection of non-oxide substrates at high temperatures. Starting materials for the composite layers are β-Si 3 N 4 , α-Si 3 N 4 , α-Al 2 O 3 and Y 2 O 3 submicron powders coated with amorphous SiO 2 by means of a sol-gel process. The individual layers of the FGM display favourable densification behaviour due to viscous flow sintering of the amorphous silica, and is almost complete at 1400°C. Up to 1400°C no reaction between constituents is observed. Increasing the sintering temperatures to 1600°C causes extensive formation of mullite (2.SiO 2 .3Al 2 O 3 ), and X-phase sialon (Si 12 Al 18 O 39 N 8 ) in the surface and intermediate layers, respectively. In the substrate layer Si 3 N 4 and a glassy Y-Si-Al-O-N-phase forms which crystallises at further heat-treatment at 1200°C to Y 2 Si 2 O 7 . The FGM composites display few cracks in the surface layer but which are stopped or deflected in the adjacent intermediate layer. This is explained with low stresses in the substrate and intermediate layers due to the similar low thermal expansion coefficients of Si 3 N 4 and X-phase sialon, while the expansion coefficient of mullite being the only phase in the surface layer is considerably higher. Since in oxidation protection layers crack formation should be prevented, it is reasonable to omit the mullite surface layer and to use the intcnnediate layer for oxidation protection only: Experiments show clearly that up to 1300°C the oxidation behaviour of the intermediate layer material is excellent, and after isothermal heat-treatment at 1200°C no interdiffusion between substrate and intermediate layer does occur.


A recently developed metaheuristic techniques cuckoo search algorithm and its updated version are used to design finite impulse response digital fractional order differentiator. In standard cuckoo search, the switching parameter which maintains the balance between local and global random walk is kept constant. Here, the impact of linearly increasing switching parameter is studied on convergence rate and performance parameters of digital fractional order differentiator to get better exploration in search space. The results obtained from updated algorithm are compared for magnitude and phase errors, execution time and fitness curve with standard cuckoo search algorithm and particle swarm optimization algorithm. It is discovered from extensive simulations that fractional order differentiator using updated cuckoo search algorithm outperforms other algorithms..


Oñoro, H. 2009. Effect of the crossbreeds on the birth, weaning and adjust at 205 days weight in calves of beef cattle of GAINSA company, Chontales, Nicaragua. Special Project for the Program of Agricultural Engineering from the Career of Science and Agricultural Production. Zamorano, Honduras. 14p. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Birth Weights (BW), Weaning Weight (WW), Adjust Weaning Weight at 205 days (AWW205) and Daily Weight Gain (DWG) during the period of lactation, in six different breeds in beef cattle. The study took place in the farm Guapinolapa in Chontales, Nicaragua. We used a completely randomized design (CRD), for the analysis of the data we also used the Analysis of Variance Procedure, mean separation, minimum significant difference with a significant level of P≤0.05 using the statistical analysis system (SAS 2009). The highest BW (P≤0.05) was obtained by pure Brahman and crossbred Brahman with 35.5 and 37.2 kg respectively. For the variable WW the best results (P≤0.05) were obtained by pure Brahman, crossbred Brahman and Angus with 203.2, 197.2, 206.3 kg respectively and for the variable for DWG we obtained the same results with the same breeds. For AWW205 the highest (P≤0.05) were for pure Brahman and the cross with Angus cattle. In a planned crossbreed the best results were obtained for pure Brahman and the cross with Angus cattle.


The interest of social sciences in the military dates back ages, and currently, special attention is being paid to Russia's war in Ukraine. The present paper also follows this research trend, and it intends to analyze both the tactical and operational levels of war by investigating how the military assistance provided by Western states and international organizations to Ukraine is influencing the course of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Subsequently, the paper studies the military assistance in all three phases of the war, beginning from the invasion of Crimea, through the Donbas offensive, to the phase of Ukrainian counter-offensives. The research method used by this paper was to review and synthesize the existing but scarce and sometimes disinformative literature. The findings suggest that Western military aid began cautiously by providing only non-lethal, defensive weapons, but it was of crucial importance in the second phase of the war by guaranteeing heavy weaponry. The paper concludes that Western military assistance, especially from the United States, United Kingdom, Poland, and Germany, has had a significant role in the Russo-Ukrainian war, without which Ukrainian forces may not have persisted to now.


It is widely recognized that the systems analyst's task is a formidable one. To perform his duties, the systems analyst must rely upon a broad array of disciplines. In particular, he must be familiar with the intricacies of two diverse worlds: that of the organization and that of the computer. Aside from the obvious size and complexity of these concerns, the contrast between these two ends of the spectrum is most striking. On one hand, the organization is qualitative and unstructured. On the other hand, the computer is technical and rigid. Therefore, it is no surprise to anyone that we have had difficulty with the application of computing technology to the information systems of organizations.


The DC circuit breaker is used to realize fault isolation and clearing of the DC system, and is an essential core equipment for the DC distribution network. The principle of the mechanical DC circuit breaker is to generate the medium frequency oscillating current by LC and reversely inject into the main circuit to form a current zero crossing point, and then complete the breaking by the AC circuit breaker. Since the design of the DC circuit breaker involves the design of the circuit topology, the design of the interrupter, the design of the operating mechanism, and the design of the final assembly. The process is very complicated and the workload is very large, and it is urgent to standardize, integrate and simplify the design process. This paper first analyzes the steps of mechanical DC circuit breaker design, and then plans the function of the virtual design platform according to the design steps. Finally, the method of contact design of the arc extinguishing chamber is described.


REFERENCES British Medical Journal (1972) ii, 608 Faero 0, Kastrup K W, Lykkegaard, Nielsen E, Melchior J C & Thorn I (1972) Epilepsia (Amsterdam) 13, 279 FalconerM A (1971) Epilepsia (Amsterdam) 12, 13 FalconerM A & Taylor D C (1968) Archives ofNeurology (Chicago) 18, 353 Lennox-BuchthalMA (1973) Electroencephalograplhy and Clinical Neurophysiology Supplement 32 Melchior J C, Buchthal F & Lennox-Buchthal M (1971) Epilepsia (Amsterdam) 12, 55 Millichap J G, Madsen J A & Aledort LM (1960) Journal ofPediatrics 56, 364 Ounsted C (1971) In: Recent Advances in Pediatrics. 4th edn. Ed. D Gairdner & D Hull. Churchill, London; p 363 Ounsted C, Lindsay J & Norman R (1966) Biological Factors in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Heinemann Medical Books, London Wallace S J (1974) Archives of Disease in Childhood (in press)


As Satoshi Kitamura's first book since Me and My Cat, this promises a welcome return of the sleepy board book character, Boots, in a collection of humorously philosophical tales with titles such as 'Operation Fish Biscuit,' and 'Pleased to Meet You, Madame Quark.' Boots gets up to all sorts of ridiculous mischief, told in an engaging comic strip style.


Background: COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has spread rapidly throughout the country, so the government implemented COVID-19 vaccination program. This program raises differences in public perception of COVID-19 vaccination, includes polemics against religion and beliefs, vaccinations as right or obligation, as well as refusal against vaccines. Methods: This is a qualitative descriptive study that focuses on knowledge, attitudes and behavior on three themes, namely obligation and voluntary for vaccination, the right to refuse vaccination, as well as social, religious and cultural barriers in accepting vaccination. This study uses purposive sampling with FGD technique in academic community in University of Mataram who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Total 11 lecturers and students met the inclusion and exclusion criteria participated in FGD. There were 11 sub-themes found. Participant knowledge is good, represented by knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination policy, benefits of COVID-19 vaccine policy and sources of information regarding COVID-19 vaccine. The majority of participants' attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine were positive and viewed the polemic of refusing vaccinations and vaccinations as right or obligation as a conditional matter. Social barrier is considered the biggest barrier to COVID-19 vaccination. Participant behavior regarding vaccine availability varied and some participants willing to help increase vaccination in the community. Conclusion: FGD Participants have good knowledge ofCOVID-19 vaccination policy. The attitudes of FGD participants showed that there were variations in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, vaccines as mandatory or voluntary, refusal to vaccinate and COVID-19 barrier vaccinations. Participant behavior varies in willingness to vaccine and some participants willing to participate in increasing vaccination in the community.


We give conditions for the parabolic evolution operator to be an- alytic with respect to a coecient operator. We also show that the solution of a homogeneous parabolic evolution equation is analytic with respect to the coecient operator and to the initial data. We apply our results to example that can not be studied by the standard methods.


The nonlinear optical properties of nanometersized SnO 2 organosol are investigated through Z-scan method with 18ns, 1.06 μm pulse laser. Its potential applications as optical switching device are analyzed.


For more than two decades intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has been the treatment of choice for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), the most acute and severe form of inflammatory neuropathy 1. Despite the frequent usage and proven beneficial effect of IVIg in GBS, the working mechanism remains elusive 2. Patients with GBS show a variable clinical response to IVIg, ranging from a rapid and full recovery to further disease progression, resulting in respiratory failure and considerable long-term disability. The optimal dosage and pharmacokinetics (PK) of IVIg in GBS have not been defined, and may differ between patients 1,3. There is an unmet need for biomarkers to monitoring disease activity or treatment effect of IVIg in individual patients with GBS. Such biomarkers could help to adjust and personalize the treatment with IVIg. GBS is an immune-mediated disorder but has an acute and monophasic clinical course which is different from most classical chronic or relapsing–remitting autoimmune diseases 1. GBS is a typical postinfectious disorder in which the preceding infection results in the production of cross-reactive and neurotoxic antibodies in a subgroup of patients. This pathomechanism is best described for preceding infections with Campylobacter jejuni bacteria, wherein the lipo-oligosaccharides (LOS) mimic carbohydrates expressed on peripheral nerve gangliosides. The subsequent cross-reactive antibody response results in rapidly progressive nerve damage with the typical acute and monophasic weakness in the limbs 1. Sialic acid moieties expressed on both the LOS and the gangliosides seem to be important for this event to occur. The presence of sialic acids in C. jejuni LOS is known to stimulate the immune response and may explain the increased pathogenicity of sialylated strains 4.

In addition, sialic acids as part of immunoglobulin (Ig)G Fc glycosylation may play an important role in the immunomodulatory effects of IVIg. Ravetch and co-workers have shown that in certain animal models the terminal sialic acid, in a α2,6 linkage, confers an anti-inflammatory effect 5,6. While it might not be the predominant mechanism of action in every disease (model) 7, it has led to a surge of interest in IgG glycosylation. At asparagine 297 in the Fc-region, an N-glycan structure is attached to the protein backbone on each CH2 domain. There is a core structure with variation in further glycosylation by the presence or absence of bisecting N-acetylglucosamine, fucose, galactose and sialic acid (Fig. 1) 8. In human disease these glycoforms of serum IgG may reflect the activity of the immune system or disease. In general, the serum IgG Fc glycosylation is stable in a healthy person, but decreases upon inflammation or immunization 8. This feature makes IgG Fc glycosylation a potential biomarker for disease activity, as has been demonstrated for galactosylation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases 9.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the immunoglobulin (Ig)G Fc-N-glycan structure (adapted with permission from 8, copyright 2014, The American Chemical Society). Each IgG molecule possesses more than two of these carbohydrate structures attached to asparagine ...

The notion that IgG Fc glycosylation might mediate the anti-inflammatory actions of high-dose IVIg and could serve as a potential biomarker of disease activity and treatment efficacy was assessed recently in a large cohort of patients with GBS 8. All patients had participated previously in two randomized controlled clinical trials (n = 174) and were treated with the same regimen of IVIg (0·4 g/kg of body weight for 5 consecutive days) 10,11. IgG1 and IgG2 glycosylation in pretreatment (n = 150), as well as 2 weeks post-treatment serum samples (n = 150), was assessed by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). MS is an extremely reliable method to assess IgG glycosylation and allows for unambiguous determination of the specific glycoforms 8,9. The study showed that, prior to IVIg treatment (n = 91), the IgG Fc galactosylation level in GBS patients was slightly lowered compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 91; IgG1: P = 0·013 and IgG2: P = 0·001). The pretreatment IgG Fc glycosylation was not associated with disease severity. Two weeks after the start of the IVIg (n = 150), the total serum IgG Fc glycosylation was increased compared to IgG Fc glycosylation in pretreatment samples (n = 150, P < 0·001). The total serum IgG at that time-point consists presumably of a mixture of both endogenously produced IgG and exogenous IgG derived from the IVIg. The latter reflects the IgG Fc glycosylation profile in blood from the normal healthy population. The increase in galactosylation was more pronounced than the increase in sialylation. However, not all patients showed an increase in serum IgG Fc glycosylation post-IVIg. Indeed, some patients showed a decline in serum IgG glycosylation compared to pretreatment, despite infusion of high-dose IVIg 8.

The PK of total serum IgG in GBS was investigated in a previous study, and it was shown that the serum IgG levels are elevated after IVIg but with a large interpatient variation 3. No correlation was found between the change in total serum IgG levels and Fc glycosylation 8. This finding may imply that the different IgG glycoforms after IVIg have a similar PK, although in that study endogenously produced IgG and IVIg-derived IgG could not be discriminated. It has been shown that where IgG glycoforms bind differentially to the Fcγ-receptor family, the binding to FcRn is not influenced 7. Scavenging by other receptors, mainly of the C-type lectin family, is not ruled out 7. Increased vulnerability to proteolytic degradation might also occur, as the extent of glycosylation is known to influence stability of the protein 12.

Interestingly, the IgG Fc glycosylation in serum 2 weeks after the start of IVIg therapy was associated with disease severity and outcome of the patients with GBS. This was shown for the two predominant IgG subclasses (IgG1 and IgG2) for galactosylation and, to a lesser extent, sialylation. A higher level of glycosylation was associated with a decreased chance of respiratory failure (P < 0·01), less severe muscle weakness after 4 weeks (IgG1: P < 0·01 and IgG2: P = 0·02) and more patients regaining the ability to walk unaided at the end of follow-up (IgG1: P = 0·01 and IgG2: P = 0·02) 8. The finding that Fc galactosylation, more than Fc sialylation, reflects disease activity was also shown recently for RA 13. In the study on patients with GBS, a more anti-inflammatory glycoprofile (increased glycosylation) of serum IgG after IVIg therapy was associated with a more favourable outcome, independent of age and gender (known to influence IgG Fc glycosylation). While total serum IgG Fc glycosylation might portray a role as indicator of IVIg treatment response, it might not reflect the state of inflammation of peripheral nerves and nerve roots seen in this disease. Accordingly, patients with the acute phase of GBS, in general, show no increase in acute phase proteins or cytokines 1.

Further studies are required to determine the value of serum IgG Fc glycosylation as a potential biomarker for disease activity and response to IVIg. A limitation of the current studies is that they were unable to discriminate between endogenously present IgG and those derived from IVIg. It is therefore unknown whether the administration of IVIg influences the endogenous IgG production and glycoforms. A second limitation is that the study measured only the Fc glycosylation of the total pool of serum IgG. Performing Fc glycosylation analysis on pathogenic antibodies in GBS may reflect disease activity and treatment response more accurately. Such studies could have a major impact on IVIg-treated disorders. GBS is an excellent model disease to address these research questions, as GBS is an acute and monophasic disorder, most patients have no co-morbidity and all are treated with the same regimen of IVIg.


The performance of undoped NaI crystal of a high purity of 7 N grade, developed by Saint-Gobain Crystals for a dark matter search, was studied at liquid nitrogen temperature using avalanche photodiode. The measured quantities covered the light output expressed in the electron-hole (e–h) pair number, non-proportionality characteristics, energy resolution and finally the intrinsic resolution of the studied crystals. In contrast to the previous study, the new crystals showed comparable non-proportionality curves to that known for NaI(Tl) at room temperature and a poor energy resolution of about 8% for 662 keV gamma rays from 137Cs source. The performed study highlights a role of undoped NaI crystals in a better understanding of limitations of energy resolution in scintillation detectors. A high sensitivity to traces of doping may help to find the way of a modification of non-proportionality of other scintillators by a selective doping or co-doping. A further study of slow components of the NaI light pulses and their influence on energy resolution may clear up its possible deterioration by defects in the crystal structures.


In order to further understand the quality control of graduation thesis of the graduates, This paper takes2010-class graduates of four subjects of Economic Management College of Shanghai Ocean University as the research objects to conduct a questionnaire survey surrounding the selected topic information, teacher's guidance situation, student's writing situation and teaching management situation as well as academic norm, and consultation of opinions and suggestions, etc., points out that Shanghai Ocean University has made certain achievements in quality control of graduation thesis, but there are still some problems to be solved, and in the light of the results of the questionnaire survey, puts forward some corresponding reform ideas and policy suggestions.