This paper describes a practical approach in teaching control engineering topics. A simplified helicopter model is introduced as an example. A controller design stabilizing the simplified helicopter around the yaw-axis is presented. It is used in a flipped classroom concept, that allows students to gain hands-on experience in the field of control engineering. Moreover, a helicopter test-bench for the simplified helicopter is described, that uses a Raspberry Pi as a Matlab Simulink target. The test-bench can be used in classrooms to test the above mentioned controller design. From a education point of view, first experiences with the students show that the test-bench is well accepted and arouses curiosity about the underlying technical problems.


Objective To investigate the effect of astragalus polysaccharide,a component of an aqueous extract of Astragalus Membranaceus roots,on differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells in vitro. Methods 30 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups,normal control group,100,200 mg/kg APS intraperitoneal injection groups. After one week,weight the mouse spleen,account the splenetic index. Collect the mouse bone marrow cell,induced and cultured with rmGM-CSF and rmIL-4. With inverted microscope to investigate the morphous of DC cell. The phenotypes of DC were detected by flow cytometry and the expression of the GM-CSF protein in serum was tested by ELISA. Results Astragalus polysaccharide injection had obvious effects on the spleen weight of mice. The degree of CD11c and MHC-Ⅱ expression in 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups on flow cytometry were advanced significantly compared with that in normal control group,but the degree of CD80 and CD86 was not increased. And the expression of the GM-CSF protein in serum in 100 mg/kg group and 200 mg/kg group were both not increased significantly compared with nomal control group. Conclusion The intraperitoneal injection of astragalus polysaccharide could stimulate the proliferation of the pre DC in bone marrow. The angtigen presentation of DC might be enhanced,but this effects was not positive correlation with concentration of GM-CSF.


Background:
 Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), is a chronic inflammatory disease involving pathological activation of multiple cell types, such as immunocytes (e.g., macrophage, T cells), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), endothelial cells, etc. Multiple lines of evidence have suggested that SMC "phenotypic switching" plays a central role in atherosclerosis development and complications. Yet, how SMCs and SMC-derived cells (SDCs) modulate atherosclerosis progression and clinical CVD remains poorly understood.

 Methods:
 We applied SMC lineage tracing mice and implemented comprehensive molecular and cellular biology, histological, computational, and pharmacological studies to reveal how tumor cell-like activities of SDCs drive the development of atherosclerosis.

 Results:
 Oxidative DNA damage occurs during SMC phenotypic switching and increases with the progression of atherosclerosis. Extensive DNA damage-induced genomic instability accumulates in both mouse and human atherosclerosis, especially in SDCs. Indeed, SDCs in atherosclerosis harbor multiple tumor cell-like features, including escape of replicative senescence, clonogenicity, invasive capacity, and
 ex vivo
 formation of three-dimensional (3D) spheroids like cancer stem cells. Multiple cancer-associated signaling pathways (e.g., p53, TNFa, NFkB, VEGF) are activated in SDCs. SMC-specific expression of oncogenic

 Kras
 G12D

 accelerates SMC phenotypic switching and exacerbates atherosclerosis. Moreover, we provide proof of concept in mouse models that niraparib, an anti-cancer drug targeting DNA damage repair, attenuates atherosclerosis progression and regresses lesions in advanced disease.

 Conclusions:
 Our studies in human and mouse models provide the first systematic evidence that SDCs in atherosclerosis share extensive commonalities with tumor, which deepens our understanding of the disease and opens prospects for novel targeted strategies to prevent and treat atherosclerotic CVD.


There is a growing interest in the fluorinization of resist materials in improving pattern formation efficiency for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The increased polymer absorption coefficient obtained through this resist platform is expected to enhance acid production and in effect improve pattern formation efficiency. Based on this, a EUV resist which was synthesized by co-polymerizing tetrafluoroethelyne (TFE) and functional norbornene derivative was investigated. Relatively high sensitivity of 6.3 mJ·cm-2 for half-pitch (hp) 45 nm and satisfactory resolution limit of hp 40 nm was achieved. However, at present, line width roughness (LWR) was measured at comparatively large values of more than 8.4 nm at hp 45 nm. Further material and process optimizations may be necessary to improve its present lithographic capability. However, these initial results have shown the potential of fluorinated-polymer based platform as a possible solution for high sensitivity, high resolution and low LWR EUV resists.


The present invention discloses a method and a network device for TRILL network multicast root node selected when the highest absolute priority RB, where RB and the TRILL network, and the number of RB having the same priority level as RB n the case, it is determined whether n is less than or equal to m number of the root node is set in advance, and if yes, the number of RB TRILL network to advertise multicast root node where the RB is n. The present invention allows the TRILL network where RB is always or most important business process by RB best performance, the ability to avoid poor RB was elected multicast root node affect the TRILL network where RB performance.


Based on the pre-research results show that the ability to understand the mathematical concepts of students VII SMPTaman Siswa Teluk Betung Bandar Lampung still low, it is important for students to have the ability to understand mathematical concepts. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Flipped Classroom learning model to improve the ability to understand students' mathematical concepts. This research is a type of quasi experimental design. The population in this study were grade VII students of Taman Siswa Teluk Betung, Bandar Lampung. The sampling technique uses cluster random sampling. Cluster random sampling is the random sampling of members from the population regardless of the strata in the population. The instrument to be used in this study is an instrument in the form of a test instrument. The test is given in the form of a description item (essay) which is intended to determine the ability to understand the concepts of students in mathematics learning. The mean similarity test uses a one-way analysis of variance intended to determine whether the sample group has the same average or not statistically. To test the similarity of the average experimental class and control class, the two-party t test was used. Based on the final test hypothesis or posttest ability to understand students' mathematical concepts in the comparison material can be seen that t = 2.2617> t table = 2.0024 means that at the significance level α = 0.05 H0 is rejected, thus it can be concluded that the ability to understand mathematical concepts increases through learning with Flipped Classroom models than those using conventional learning models.


Objective To explore the diagnostic value of specific antiheart autoantibodies in children with myocardiac disease. Methods The plasma autoantibody against myocardiac adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) and anti-myosin in children with myocardiac diseases, 30 cases with viral myocarditis (VMC) and 14 cases with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), were detected by western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorben assay. Results The plasma levels of anti-ANT and anti-myosin in the VMC and DCM group were significantly higher than those in the healthy group (P0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity and specifity of anti-ANT and anti-myosin for VMC and DCM were 72.73%, 100% and 54.55%, 96%.Conclusions The anti-ANT and anti-myosin can be taken as specific markers of diagnosis for VMC and DCM . They have important value for differential diagnosis in children with cardiomyopathy, and can be extended to primary hospitals.


The AA2014/SiC/Gr hybrid metal matrix composites are developed with addition of 0.5% to 1.5% SiC particles (weight fraction) in 0.5% weight fraction interval and the graphite (Gr) is 1% weight fraction constant for all composites were prepared by stir casting method. The effects of SiC and Gr on the microstructural and mechanical properties of the base cast and hybrid composites were studied by SEM, hardness, and impact tests. The results indicate that mechanical properties of the aluminium hybrid metal matrix composites (AHMMCs) change according to their increment of SiC and Gr particle. The hardness and impact strength of base cast and hybrid composites increased during the addition of SiC and Gr particle. The hardness and impact strength of base cast and hybrid composites increased during the addition of SiC and Gr particle. The maximum hardness is observed in the fourth sample with 1% Gr and 1.5% SiC with 7% increment which is 102.4 VHN. The high impact strength was observed for base alloy of 24% than hybrid composite. The composite of 1% SiC and 1% Gr is given less wear loss and coefficient of friction. The Corrosion resistance is better in the composite of 0.5% SiC and 1% Gr and the optical micrographs shows that the composite with 0.5% SiC and 1% Gr shows good texture.


Endotracheal tube (ETT) is commonly used to provide positive pressure ventilation. ETT cuff pressure is maintained within a range of 20 to 30 cmH2O. High pressure affects micro-circulation and integrity of the tracheal mucosa, resulting in complications. The cuff pressure is measured by connecting a pressure gauge device to pilot balloon. Two variety devices are available; analog or digital manometers. Present study is used to study the efficacy of AG CUFFILLL (Digital) compared with standard PORTEX Cuff inflator/pressure gauge (Analog) for the measurement of ETT cuff pressure.This study was conducted after obtaining institutional ethical clearance and written informed consent.100 patients between the age of 18-70yrs who fulfilled inclusion criteria. We measured ETT cuff pressure using AG CUFFILL (Digital) and standard PORTEX Cuff inflator/pressure gauge and compared the pressure recording of the two equipment and we studied ease of use for both.Out of 100 patients between the age of 18-70yrs, 61 patients (61%) were male and 39 patients (39%) were female. Mean cuff pressure of ETT using AG CUFFILL was 36.29±6.36 cmH2O and in PORTEX was 33.97±6.16cm H2O. Mean difference in the values between the cuff pressure measured by AG CUFFILL and PORTEX was ± 2.67. Comparing the two devices, it was noticed that in 05 (5%) patients measuring ETT cuff pressure using AG CUFFILL was difficult as the values were fluctuating. Based on results, authors recommend AG CUFFILL for ETT cuff pressure measurement owing to its accuracy, non-bulky, and ease to carry.


The present invention relates to an exposure LED light source apparatus, which comprises: a plurality of LED light source modules including a plurality of LED light source units; a control unit for controlling magnitudes of currents supplied to the plurality of LED light source units of the plurality of LED light source modules, respectively, to determine the intensity of light which reaches an exposure area and controlling supply and termination of current; a power supply unit for supplying current to the plurality of LED light source modules under a control of the control unit; a display unit for displaying an operation state and a supplied current value of each of the plurality of LED light source modules to a user; and a key operation unit for inputting an external command of the user to the control unit so as to control magnitudes of currents supplied to the plurality of LED light source modules.


An HTML hybrid application is a type of application running on mobile devices. It is popular but may have Cross Site Scripting(XSS) vulnablitiy risks. Content Security Policy(CSP) is a security mechanism that can prevent XSS attacks. Developers can only apply CSP to applications, therefore user's safety depends on them. In this paper, we propose Mocha, automatically applying CSP to applications on the Android device. Mocha uses static analysis to automatically infer CSP policies, and modifies HTML and JavaScript source code for applying CSP. Mocha can protect users and their HTML hybrid applications from XSS. We confirmed that Mocha is effective with real applications.


New color Doppler sonography with high resolution improves the detection of liver tumors and provides better information on the hepatic vessels. Echo contrast agents which pass through the lungs open up new fields of application in the investigation of blood flow.


Nowadays, the endless stream of unauthorized login incidents that were thought to use a list of user IDs and passwords continued to leak in ID incidents. As a result, there is a growing awareness of the dangers of authentication methods that use only IDs and passwords, and new identity management technologies that incorporate other authentication methods are drawing attention [1]. Consequently, there is a wide variety of specifications related to the management and coordination of IDs used on the Internet. Because each is developed based on different concepts, it is necessary to select the one most appropriate for the environment it will be used in. It also encompasses an extremely diverse range of approaches, such as user authentication, issuing, and usage of credentials, management and circulation of attribute information, access control for various resources [2], and delegation of authority [3], as well as technology for coordinating this information between different entities. This paper discusses simple authentication methods with pseudo IDs and derivative passwords and we also organize the Identity technology, propose a new concept called derivative Tokens and IDs.


We show that the dc Josephson effect with ultracold fermionic gases in the Bose-Einstein-condensate (BEC) regime of composite molecules can be described by a nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation (NLSE). By comparing our results with Bogoliubov--de Gennes calculations [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 040401 (2007)] we find that our superfluid NLSE, which generalizes the Gross-Pitaevskii equation taking into account the correct equation of state, is reliable in the BEC regime of the BCS-BEC crossover up to the limit of very large (positive) scattering length. We also predict that the Josephson current displays relevant beyond-mean-field effects.


Magnesium phosphate cements (MPC)/graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) composites were fabricated by combustion synthesis and acid-base reaction. MgO/GNPs mixture powders were obtained by the combustion reaction between Mg powders and CO2 gas. The composites were prepared by mixing MgO/GNPs mixture powders with potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) using borax as retarder. The effect of GNPs content on mechanical and functional properties of the prepared MPC/GNPs composites was investigated. The results show that this MPC/GNPs cements mainly consisted of MgO and KMgPO4•6H2O. Moreover, the crystallinity of KMgPO4•6H2O in lower surface is better than the upper surface due to the difference of temperature. With incorporating small amounts of GNPs into MPC, the spectral absorptivity of the composite was improved to 0.95 in most spectral regions. Nevertheless, the compression strength shows little change with changing the GNPs content, which may be attributed to use coarse MgO powder as reactant. In virtue of short processing time and homogeneous distribution of GNPs, the novel fabrication provides a new route for preparing GNPs-cement based composites.


The EPHIN instrument (Electron Proton Helium INstrument) forms a part of the COSTEP experiment (COmprehensive SupraThermal and Energetic Particle Analyzer) within the CEPAC collaboration on board of the SOHO spacecraft (SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory). The EPHIN sensor is a stack of six solid-state detectors surrounded by an anticoincidence. It measures energy spectra of electrons in the range 250 keV to > 8.7 MeV, and hydrogen and helium isotopes in the range 4 MeV/nuc to > 53 MeV/nuc. In order to improve the isotopic resolution, the first two detectors have been segmented: 5 sectors form a ring enclosing a central segment. This does not only allow to correct the energy-losses for particles with different path-lengths in the detectors, but allows also an estimation of the arrival direction with respect to the sensor axis. For that purpose we developed a method that allows for inferring the angle of incidence and angular distribution for ions. Here we describe the method and apply it to the November, 3, 2011 event. Due to the lack of magnetic field measurements and the restricted view cone of 83°, it is not possible to derive a real pitch angle distribution during this event. However, we can show that the particle distribution is anisotropic for several hours with a symmetry axis that deviates by about 20° from the sensor axis.


Candida albicans is an important human pathogen that causes systemic infections, predominantly among populations with weakened immune systems. The morphological transition from the yeast to the hyphal state is one of the key factors in C. albicans pathogenesis. Owing to their location at the host–pathogen interface, the cell wall and associated proteins are of interest, especially with respect to the yeast to hyphal transition. This study entailed the proteomic analysis of differentially regulated proteins involved in this transition. The protein profiles of C. albicans DTT/SDS‐extractible proteins and the cyanogen bromide (CNBr)/trypsin‐extractable proteins of a cell wall‐enriched fraction from yeast and hyphae were compared. In total, 107 spots were identified from the DTT/SDS‐extractible cell wall‐enriched fraction, corresponding to 82 unique proteins. Of these DTT/SDS‐extractible proteins, 14 proteins were upregulated and 10 were downregulated in response to hyphal induction. Approximately 6–9% of total cell wall‐protein‐enriched fraction was found to be resistant to DTT/SDS extraction. Analysis of the DTT/SDS‐resistant fraction using a CNBr/trypsin extraction resulted in the identification of 29 proteins. Of these, 17 were identified only in the hyphae, four were identified only in the yeast, and eight were identified in both the yeast and hyphae.


The original designers of Transmission Control Protocol-Internet Protocol (TCP-IP) never imagined that one day wireless mobile devices may roam, changing location or paths in the middle of a communication session. During roaming, data communications break down and must be reestablished once the user reestablishes a single network pathway – a process completed once a device leaves one wireless area network and connects to another. The original designers also did not imagine that a mobile device might be connected to multiple wired or wireless networks simultaneously. To address this opportunity, the Multi-Path TCP standard was established in an ongoing effort of the Internet Engineering Task Force's (IETF) Multi-Path TCP working group, which aims at allowing a TCP connection to use multiple communications paths, known as inverse multiplexing. This technical insight report suggests that devices and networks may soon incorporate wireless inverse multiplexing standards like Multi-Path TCP-IP and/or possibly other schemes in large numbers. This report describes the momentum behind these technologies, and some of the technical and operational challenges to widespread adoption. The report also suggests that if these challenges are overcome, widespread adoption of standards such as Multi-Path TCP may positively influence the evolution of the vehicle-infrastructure communications architecture as envisioned within the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Connected Vehicle program. In 2014, USDOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated a rulemaking process that may result in a rulemaking proposal to create a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) which would require vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication capability for light vehicles.


An attempt was made to separate the secular fluctuations created by external sources, according to the observatories Nur Miyar Vee, Lervik, Leningrad, Nimek, Belsk, Hart Land, Kiev, Lviv, "Sham Bon-la-Foret", "Odessa", "Surlarly", "Coimbra". It is shown that there are three types of secular oscillations associated with external sources. Short-period oscillations (about 2 years) and fluctuations in the average periodicity (about 11 years) are well known. It is assumed that there is a long-term modulation of secular oscillations with a period of 80 years, which occurs in connection with changes in solar activity.


Materials in Tibetan and materials in the comparison between Chinese and Tibetan show that, in terms of tone types, the paronyms in Chinese of the Tibetan words ending with"-s" can be pronounced either in falling tone, the fourth tone in the Chinese language, or in the other tones. In the paronyms of the two languages, the Tibetan words relevant to the Chinese falling tone may be either words ending with "-s" or words not ending with "-s". The Chinese falling tone does not completely correspond to the Tibetan end "-s". In terms of tone styles, the end"-s" influences the tone to create a falling tone, and so does the other ends. The end"-s" does not correspond completely to falling tone. Hence, the hypothesis that the falling tone in Chinese originates from the end"-s" is doubted.


The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making melt-spinning a tow and cut to produce short fibers. By means of a spinning apparatus where a plurality of spun filaments made and combined into a tow. After treatment in the plurality of processing means a plurality of times, the tow was cut to staple fibers in a continuous process after the manufacturing of the spinning. In one tow guide means and the drawing processing by a plurality of rollers stretching, in this case the distance between the processing rollers forming a drawing said tow treatment fluid. In order to improve the problem in particular in a single stage process in the non-uniform physical properties of the fibers, according to the present invention, the tow is treated with steam. For this purpose the tow passes through the distance between the draw rolls processing a steam chamber, a nozzle into the steam chamber, the steam introduced into the nozzle chamber in a steam overpressure.


Plots were two 50-foot rows separated by a single buffer row. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Liquid treatments were applied on 15 Aug with a CO2 sprayer calibrated to deliver 22 gal/acre through 2 nozzles on a 30 inch boom. Granular treatments were applied through a hand-held 7 inch spreader. Treatments were evaluated on 12 Sep by dissecting 10 plants/plot and counting live larvae. The field was center pivot irrigated and had received Lorsban 4E 0.75 lb (AI)/acre on 25 May for control of alfalfa webworm and Lorsban 4E 1.00 lb (AI)/acre on 5 Jul for control of first generation European corn borers.


An idea may be got on the properties of the vaccine by applying a specific gamma-globulin against swine fever in pigs, mixed in definite amounts with lapinized K-vaccine and this mixture is injected to rabbits. By studying the mixture of sera from pigs, vaccinated against swine fever prior to a fixed period of time, and the K-vaccine, applied to rabbits, an idea may be obtained on the tension of the immunity and re-vaccination requirements may be assessed.


E-government is a course of interdisciplinary and combining theory with practice.Since college examination tends to separation of teaching and examination,and E-government laboratory has its innate advantage of equipments and places,so it is trend to try non-paper online examination in the course of E-government.According to network equipment layout of E-government laboratory,it is confirmable that B/S should be selected to develop E-government examination and scoring system.The paper preliminarily discusses the basic idea,design function,development platform,pivotal part solutions and development prospect of E-government examination and scoring system.


The C-banding patterns of Aphis craccivora and Lipaphis erysimi are investigated by the C-banding technique, and the chromosome C-banding patterns are analysed. A comparison of the karyotypes of the two species of aphids reveals slight difference in the 4th pair of chromosomes. But there are obvious differences in their band patterns. Lipaphis erysimi have two pairs of holocentric chromosomes, which are absent in Aphis craccivora. When the 4th pair of chromosomes of Aphis craccivora are compared with those of Lipaphis erysimi, the latter has a C-band in each terminal of the 4th pair chromosomes which is lacked in the former. But the band pattern of the 2nd pair of chromosomes of Lipaphis erysimi is similar to that of the 2nd pair of chromosomes of Aphis craccivora. According to the C-bandin patterns of the two species of aphids, their phylo-genetic relationship is discussed.


AIM To evaluate therapeutic effectiveness of function bandage for soft tissue injury. METHOD In a randomized triblind controlled trial, 123 recruits of all soft tissue injury in basic training on 1998/1999 years were separated into two groups: A( n =62 sites) and B( n =65 sites). The course of treatment was 1 week. After therapy it was told that Awas non function bandage and B was function one. RESULTS A and B groups showed that symptoms were improved. Moreover, detumescence and acesodyne effect of bandage B was better than that of A, and it was statistically significant. The effective rate of bandage A and B was 58% and 77%, respectively ( P 0.05). CONCLUSION B bandage has significant effect in treatment of soft tissue injury, and it is better than A bandage in detumescence and acesodyne.


Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), ibrutinib, and Bcell lymphoma 2 inhibitor, venetoclax, have revolutionized the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Compared to prior chemoimmunotherapy regimens, ibrutinib improved progressionfree survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in both treatmentnaïve and relapsed/refractory (R/R) settings. Similarly, venetoclax in combination with antiCD20 monoclonal antibodies has shown excellent PFS outcomes. While the phase 3 MURANO trial showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 92.3% to venetoclax– rituximab in patients with R/R CLL, almost no participants had previously received a BTKi. A study of venetoclax in patients previously treated with ibrutinib showed a more modest ORR of 65%. To address the need for alternative therapy in relapsed CLL after BTKi, we performed an investigatorinitiated, singlecentre, openlabel phase 2 study of duvelisib, a dualinhibitor of PI3Kδ and PI3Kγ, in patients with progressive disease (PD) or BTK or PLCG2 mutations on ibrutinib. This study was designed with a leadin period of combined therapy with duvelisib and ibrutinib to minimize the risk of tumour flare syndrome, commonly seen upon discontinuation of BTKi, and to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination. Duvelisib 15 mg twice daily was given in 28day cycles. Ibrutinib was continued at the patient's dose prior to study entry for the first six cycles, followed by duvelisib monotherapy until progression or intolerance. Additional protocol details are provided in the Supporting Information . The primary endpoint of the study was ORR. Secondary objectives included the safety of duvelisib– ibrutinib combination therapy and of duvelisib monotherapy. The study was approved by the NIH intramural institutional review board (IRB) (Clini calTr ials.gov NCT04209621). All patients provided written informed consent. A total of three patients enrolled between 31 July 2020 and 28 August 2020 (Table 1). Shortly after beginning enrolment, the study was stopped due to a sudden death and development of significant burden of ventricular ectopy in a second patient. These events are described herein. Patient #1 was a 68yearold male with CLL PD after treatment with ibrutinib for three years. Baseline electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram were normal. After completing cycle 1 of duvelisib– ibrutinib, he reported nighttime palpitations. Subsequent EKG showed sinus bradycardia (heart rate of 58 beats per minute) and premature atrial complexes, at which time ambulatory EKG was planned. Prior to completion of the prescribed monitoring, the patient was found unresponsive in bed on cycle 2 day 16. He was pronounced dead by emergency medical services. Received: 22 September 2022 | Accepted: 30 October 2022


It is in this era where so-called new constitutionalism emerges with a specific order to guarantee fundamental rights and limit the exercise of powers by the effect to materialize the first, and separation, but harmonic functionality among the latter. So, is the Constitutional Court, the closure member of this court, boasting supreme power by the value of the regulatory policy letter in the Colombian state, labeled by the same text as the supreme law, which is supposed to ensures the preservation and integrity of the Constitution of Colombia 1991, and is in this sense that through the various failures, product of the deliberations of this court has determined the character of fundamental rights, according to different criteria for the same.


In recent years, the wide use of electrical automation changes people's work and life pattern greatly. Electrical automation is the electronic engineering and its automation, and all kinds of electrical appliances have a close relationship with electrical automation.Electrical automation has been widely used to all types of industries and plays an increasingly important role. The development of electrical automation effectively promote the development of China's social and economic levels, and all kinds of new theories and technologies are also used in electrical automation. This article mainly analyzes the concept and characteristics of electrical automation and its application in electrical engineering.


The concentration and accumulation of total mercury (THg) in relation to size, diet and trophic position of the fish have been investigated in three fish species, i.e., Barbus intermedius, Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus, from Lake Koka and Lake Ziway, Ethiopia. Stomach content analysis and stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ 15 N, ‰) and carbon (δ 13 C, ‰) were used to determine the diet and the trophic position of the fish. The fish species studied represented different trophic positions in the food chain of the lakes. The THg concentrations in each of the three fish species, B. intermedius, C. gariepinus, and O. niloticus, ranged between non-detectable (ND) and 0.9 mg kg -1 (ww) in Lake Koka, and between ND and 0.5 mg kg -1 (ww) in Lake Ziway, respectively. Significantly a higher concentration of THg was found in B. intermedius than in C. gariepinus and O. niloticus, in Lake Koka, whereas in Lake Ziway, B. intermedius had significantly higher THg concentrations than O. niloticus only. Species variation in total THg accumulation is attributed to size, diet and trophic position of the fish.


Official information about the outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan City, the capital of Hubei Province (China) was first announced on December 31, 2019 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in China. The paper analyzes the issues of responsibility in Russia for dangerous acts associated with the pandemic. In particular, the responsibility for the public dissemination of knowingly false information about the circumstances that pose a threat to the life and safety of citizens (Fake news). They performed the analysis of socially dangerous situations associated with the spread of a new coronavirus infection. The authors of the article state that the criminalization of individual compositions considers short-term interests and is not thought out, or systemic in nature. Given the current situation, it is proposed to introduce a new corpus delict into the criminal law of Russia - "The use of violence against a person providing medical care".


Recent work has demonstrated that allopolyploid speciation in plants may be associated with non-Mendelian genomic changes in the early generations following polyploid synthesis. To address the question of whether rapid genomic changes also occur in allopolyploid cotton (Gossypium) species, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was performed to evaluate nine sets of newly synthesized allotetraploid and allohexaploid plants, their parents, and the selfed progeny from colchicine-doubled synthetics. Using both methylation-sensitive and methylation- insensitive enzymes, the extent of fragment additivity in newly combined genomes was ascertained for a total of ap- proximately 22 000 genomic loci. Fragment additivity was observed in nearly all cases, with the few exceptions most likely reflecting parental heterozygosity or experimental error. In addition, genomic Southern analysis on six sets of synthetic allopolyploids probed with five retrotransposons also revealed complete additivity. Because no alterations were observed using methylation-sensitive isoschizomers, epigenetic changes following polyploid synthesis were also mini - mal. These indications of genomic additivity and epigenetic stasis during allopolyploid formation provide a contrast to recent evidence from several model plant allopolyploids, most notably wheat and Brassica, where rapid and unex- plained genomic changes have been reported. In addition, the data contrast with evidence from repetitive DNAs in Gossypium, some of which are subject to non-Mendelian molecular evolutionary phenomena in extant polyploids. These contrasts indicate polyploid speciation in plants is accompanied by a diverse array of molecular evolutionary phenomena, which will vary among both genomic constituents and taxa. Resume : De recents travaux ont demontre que la speciation via l'allopolyploidisation chez les plantes s'accompagne parfois de changements genomiques non-mendeliens au cours des premieres generations. Afin de determiner si des changements genomiques rapides surviennent chez des especes allopolyploides du cotonnier (Gossypium), une analyse AFLP (polymorphisme de longueur des fragments amplifies) a ete faite pour evaluer neuf jeux d'hybrides synthetiques allotetraploides ou allohexaploides, leurs parents et la progeniture obtenue par autofecondation suite au doublement chromosomique induit par la colchicine. A l'aide d'enzymes sensibles ou insensibles a la methylation, le degre d'additivite des fragments a ete evalue chez les genomes nouvellement combines pour environ 22 000 locus genomi- ques. L'additivite des fragments a ete observee dans presque tous les cas et les quelques rares exceptions refletaient vraisemblablement une heterozygotie parentale ou une erreur experimentale. De plus, des analyses Southern sur six jeux d'allopolyploides examines a l'aide de sondes constituees de retrotransposons ont egalement revele une complete additivite. Comme aucune alteration n'a ete observee a l'aide des isoschizomeres sensibles a la methylation, les chan - gements epigenetiques decoulant de la synthese des polyploides sont egalement peu nombreux. Ces evidences d'additivite genomique et de stabilite epigenetique lors de l'allopolyploidisation contrastent avec les resultats recents chez plusieurs especes modeles vegetales, notamment le ble et Brassica. Chez ces dernieres, des changements rapides et inexpliques ont ete rapportes. De plus, les donnees presentees contrastent avec celles obtenues avec des ADN repetes chez le Gossypium dont certains sont sujets a des phenomenes d'evolution moleculaire non-mendelienne chez les poly- ploides existants. Ces differences montrent que la speciation via allopolyploidisation chez les plantes s'accompagne de divers phenomenes evolutifs moleculaires, lesquels peuvent varier parmi les composantes genomiques et les taxons. Mots cles : polyploidie, evolution genomique, cotonnier, Gossypium, AFLP. (Traduit par la Redaction) Liu et al. 330


Interpretation of the geometry of the structural hydrocarbon trap continues to be one of the fundamental risks in exploration for, and production of, hydrocarbons. New geometric and computer tools are being developed to improve those interpretations by allowing the incremental restoration of structures in three dimensions. This adds powerful constraints on the structural interpretation because it requires that the interpretation be rational and consistent not only for the structure in the line of one cross section at the present time, but also for all moments during its development in 3 dimensions. It is possible to gather information, such as juxtaposition of different reservoir units through time to evaluate the development of seals or leaks with respect to trap formation and to maturation and migration of hydrocarbons. In addition, software is available to produce interactive 3D images of the data that allow the interpreter to see the 4D restoration as it proceeds, but also to change the viewing orientation. This allows the interpreter to {open_quotes}move{close_quotes} through the restoration and examine areas critical for the interpretation as the restoration proceeds while viewing in 3D. While some of these tools are still under development, we have applied them successfully to model and realmore » data sets.« less


Abstract The new bridge across the deep gorge of the Chenab River in the remote mountains of Jammu and Kashmir is a key component of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The bridge is 1315 m long in total. Its main arch with a span of 467 m and land pier heights of up to 131 m place the bridge at an imposing 362 m above the river water level, making it the World's tallest railway bridge. Although the site location has been carefully chosen, yet the terrain itself is the most difficult from an engineering design and construction point of view. The slopes of the bank are very steep and consist of highly jointed dolomite strata. Extensive slope stabilization analysis was carried out and optimum measures were adopted and implemented successfully for slope stabilization works. The steel superstructure was erected using the incremental launching method. The report briefly highlights the various challenges faced in the project implementation and presents the most salient design aspects.


It would appear that in a society which claims to have set its ideology, laws and government on Marxist precepts there should be fertile ground for economic education for both the citizen and the professional alike. Economic determinism in Marxist philosophic propositions and economic determinants of socialist-communist type societies are well known. Taking this ideological and political climate for granted, one would expect that economic education for basic economic literacy should be given prominence in Soviet-type nations. But even a perfunctory examination of Soviet sources, and casual conversations with Soviet citizens show that economic education in the USSR is really quite weak. Do the Soviet schools really teach economics? The answer is not simple. It depends in the first place upon what is meant by "economics." If we postulate that economics is a social science which deals with


Absolute chemiluminescence and quenching (beam attenuation) cross sections were measured for the title reactions in a beam/gas experiment. In the Ca* + NO2 system, both quantities are about twice as large as in the N2O reaction. The chemiluminescence quantum yields, corrected for infrared emission from the A1Σ+ and A′ 1Π states, are of similar magnitude YCL(Ca* + N2O) = 7.2 ± 1.1% and YCL(Ca* + N2O) = 8.0 ± 0.9%. The quenching cross sections are στ(Ca* + N2O) = 153 ± 32 A2 and στ(Ca* + N2O) = 73.2 ± 5.7 A2, consistent with a long-range harpooning process in the former and an electron transfer at closer range for the latter system. The partial resolution of CL spectra was aided by lifetime-separated spectroscopy. The principal emitter in both systems is the long-lived CaO(A′ 1Π), next to minor yields of CaO in the short-lived A1Σ+, B1Π, and "orange and green arc band" states. The results are discussed in light of adiabatic correlations. The arc states are argued to arise in nearly coplanar collisions from ...


Al-Biruni's foremosteffort on astronomy is mainly a blend of observational diagram and mathematical context. In his astronomical work, the Qanun-i Masoodi (al-Qanun al-Masudi, fi al-Hai'a wa al-Nujum), he uses his observational facts to challenge Ptolemy's steady solar 'apogee'.. Al-Biruni's eclipse facts was used by Dunthorne to supportcontrol the 'acceleration of the moon' and his observational facts has entered the more astronomical accounts and is still used today. The present paper aims to explore the major contributions of Al-Biruni to geophysics and astronomy as well as to identify the impacts of his works on the modern astronomy. Major findings indicate that Al-Biruni's key concern in astronomy was for calculations. He paid devotion to theoretical problems that had and have still been contributing to the development and critical analysis of both applied (in the procedure of solving problems), and theoretical (in the process of thought formulations) astronomy. This paper concludes that Al-Biruni's contributions must be seen in the comprehensiveness of his work, and in his continual attempts to formulate astronomical thoughts.


The invention discloses a structure for improving idling knocking abnormal sound of an ISG hybrid power car. The structure comprises a dual mass flywheel, an ISG motor rotor assembly and a CVT input shaft. The dual mass flywheel, the ISG motor rotor assembly and the CVT input shaft are connected in series through two pairs of spline structures to transmit power of an engine to a CVT. Diaphragm springs are arranged between the dual mass flywheel and the ISG motor rotor assembly, one ends of the diaphragm springs are welded to an ISG motor rotor end face, the middles of the diaphragm springs abut against a dual mass flywheel end face and can slide relative to the dual mass flywheel, and the other ends of the diaphragm springs abut against the ISG motor rotor end face. The structure can lower the knocking abnormal sound of idling splines on the premise of not affecting other properties.


The purpose of this experiment is to study the influence of different nutritional level rations to the hybrid beef cattle production performance and the meat quality,and compare the fattening effect among Simmental,Angus and Charolais hybrid beef cattle.This experiment on the intense fattening used Simmental,Angus and Charolais hybrid beef cattle for materials based on American NRC beef cattle nutrition requirement as the feeding standard and analyzed the quality of slaughter and beef quality.The daily gains,carcass weight,dressing percentage,the contents of fatty acid,crude protein and amino acid were compared among three kinds of hybrid cattle.The result showed that the daily gains,carcass weight and dressing percentage in Angus hybrid were highest among three kinds of hybrids,and the fattening effect in Angus hybrid is better than that of Simmental and Charolais hybrids.But the differences is not remarkable,showing under the test condition,ration's nutrition level only play certain role to the different hybrid beef cattle's fattening effect.


In rate-distortion (RD) problems one seeks reduced representations of a source that meet a target distortion constraint. Such optimal representations undergo topological transitions at some critical rate values, when their cardinality or dimensionality change. We study the convergence time of the Arimoto-Blahut alternating projection algorithms, used to solve such problems, near those critical points, both for the ratedistortion and information bottleneck settings. We argue that they suffer from critical slowing down - a diverging number of iterations for convergence - near the critical points. This phenomenon can have theoretical and practical implications for both machine learning and data compression problems.


Based on population data from the United States, the estimated prevalence of congential heart disease among infants is between 7 and 47 cases per 1000 live births.[1][1] Antenatal diagnosis enables multidisciplinary patient counselling and referral to a tertiary care obstetrical centre.

First- or


In the article essence of conception of steady development, going near determination of external public charges of transport and principle of creation of mechanisms of motivation of steady development of public transport, is considered on makroand microlevels.


In this laser-plasma experiments, technique of simultaneous optical measurement using Jamin interferometer, Schlieren method and shadowgraph was developed. The spatial and temporal resolutions of these methods were 5 µm and 30 psec, respectively. The existence of a shock wave propagating into the target was confirmed. The energies of shock waves in the target and in air were estimated by using the blast wave theory.


In this study, we examine the impact of the 2008 Global Crisis on the Human Development Index (i.e. HDI) values of Developed versus Developing Countries. We have a comprehensive sample of 174 countries. Over the 1980 to 2013 period, while there has been a gradual and consistent improvement in the index values, this improvement has slowed down sharply after the 2008 crisis. Our tests for the overall sample confirm that there is a significant slowdown in the rate of improvement in HDI values after 2008. When we divide our sample into "Very high HDI", "High HDI", "Medium HDI", and "Low HDI" country groups, and run our tests, we are seeing that for all subgroups, there has been a significant slowdown in the improvement rate. Our findings show that while the slowdown is sharper for "Very high HDI", "High HDI", and "Medium HDI" groups, for "Low HDI" group the slowdown is relatively softer. We conclude that it is essential for both developed and less developed countries to take precautions regarding human development issues before a crisis hits.


Key Points Question What are the prevalence of and reasons for misrepresentation and nonadherence regarding public health measures against COVID-19? Findings In this national survey study of 1733 US adults, nearly half of participants reported misrepresentation and/or nonadherence regarding COVID-19 public health measures. The most common reasons included wanting life to feel normal and wanting to exercise personal freedom. Meaning These findings suggest that misrepresentation and nonadherence regarding COVID-19 public health measures constitute a serious public health challenge.


Wideband characterization of mobile communication systems requires the determination of scatterers in the real three dimensional terrain. This determination is done either by measurements using channel sounder techniques or by 3D wave propagation models applying ray-tracing techniques. The principles of these techniques are described briefly. Furthermore, the paper stresses the methodology of comparison. Results from a hilly terrain gained with these two methods at a frequency of 275.75 MHz conclude the paper. This frequency is selected with respect to a digital audio broadcast application, which is scheduled to be operated in this frequency range.


Lipid peroxidation has received considerable attention because of its possible contribution to the potential damage of biological systems.The study on the mechanism and the protection of lipid peroxidation are concerned to our living and health.The methods of determination and evaluation of peroxidation and antioxidant activities in biological systems were reviewed,including consume of oxygen、electronic spin resonance、ultraviolet spectrum、determination of decomposed product of lipid oxidation.All the methods have their advantage and disadvantage.It is impossible and inaccurate to determine the mechanism of lipid peroxidation by one method,so the method should be selected according to experimental aim and conditions,and many methods (not one method)should be used to determine and evaluate the lipid oxidation.


Michael Ignatieff is well known as a journalist and broadcaster of a distinctly intellectual kind. He has written movingly on the trauma of modern warfare and Europe following the Cold War. His CV also boasts of studies on the Scottish Enlightenment and nineteenth century penal policy. Additionally, his Booker short listed novel Scar Tissue is one of the most interesting studies of medicine and the human consequences of disease of the last decade.


Zn0.92Co0.08O thin films annealed in hydrogen atmosphere have been prepared on Si (100) and quartz glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition using a ZnCoO ceramic target. The structural and magnetic properties of the films were investigated. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscope and room-temperature UV-visible transmission spectrum analyses indicate that Co2+ substitute for Zn2+ without changing the wurtzite structure. Magnetic properties measurements reveal that the hydrogenized film show room-temperature ferromagnetism with a saturation magnetic moment of ∼13 emu/cm3 and the Curie temperature is above 350 K. Our systematic studies show that oxygen vacancy constituted bound magnetic polarons is a promising candidate for the origin of room temperature ferromagnetism in this system.


The existence of a helical flow pattern in the aortic arch and descending aorta has received interest recently, as CFD and new imaging tools and protocols allow researchers to more fully observe, model, and predict complex 3D flow structures in the human body. The combination of the twisting of the left ventricle, the nonplanar curvature of the arch, and the dynamic environment of the beating heart and compliant vessels seem to act in concert to produce these secondary flows. This raises questions about the rationale for the presence of such patterns. Do they occur from evolutionary or developmental biology as pure coincidence or do they possibly have a role in disease mitigation or cardiac efficiency? Our aim in this study is to examine how helical flow might augment the well studied phenomenon of wall shear stress patterns in geometries commonly found in large arteries. Rigid, pulsatile 3D models were constructed using ANSYS CFX to represent the behaviour of 20mm diameter vessels. Helical flow was induced with the inclusion of a series of 5mm deep fins upstream of the studied vessel sections. The vascular geometries investigated included a straight tube, a tube with a 30 degree curvature, a bifurcation, and a nonplanar, arch-like curvature. There was a significant difference in the distributions and values of wall shear stress between models with and without a helical flow inducing geometry but similar inlet conditions and downstream geometry. Oscillating shear index measurements further suggest this may translate into a modified net effect imparted to the vessel wall. The talk will discuss the extent to which helical flow can change spatiotemporal patterns of haemodynamic forces acting on the wall within large arteries, including in areas already subject to asymmetrical patterns due to vessel geometry.


Objective Scheduling a new model to explore the continuity of APN in the pediatric clinical effect.Methods Before and after the implementation of the new model of continuity of APN scheduling continuous random shifts of 120 patients admitted to our department issued questionnaires to parents of children,questionnaire designed on the basis of the relevant literature.Patient satisfaction questionnaire,including attitude of nurses,communication skills,the ward environment,the business level,nurses Instrument and other conditions of satisfaction instrument.Results Before and after the implementation,patient satisfaction questionnaire construction,including attitude of nurses,communication skills,the ward environment,nurses Instrument and other conditions of satisfaction instrument,patient satisfaction improved significantly,P 0.05,there was significant difference.Conclusion The new model of continuity of APN scheduling contributes to improve patient satisfaction,harmonious doctor-patient relationship,and better services for children,definitely worthy of further promotion.


Bauhaus, founded in 1919 laid the foundation for modern design education, now is the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Bauhaus school of design. After a century of social development process, the spirit of the Bauhaus and design education concept have become the symbol of pioneer and free exploration of design. However, in the era of rapid development of science and technology and the coexistence of diverse cultures, the education of art design must keep pace with the times. It is necessary to express reasonably the cultural value in the design practice and give consideration to the interdisciplinary characteristics of art design major. Therefore, it is imperative to set up a scientific and reasonable training system for postgraduates' practical ability and establish a corresponding system evaluation standard for postgraduates' education.


We discuss the micro-integration of an optical write-read head for disk-based volume holographic data storage. A particular approach based on the design principle of planar-integrated free-space optics and on photopolymer storage materials is proposed. Numerical construction parameters are calculated and initial experimental results concerning the performance of the photopolymer are presented.


An economical dispatch model has been expanded to include combined cycle cogeneration plants, which comprise steam turbine generators. The extended model was simplified into a spread sheet exercise. Both models are examined against practical considerations in running combined cycle cogeneration plants.


It is estimated that cancer affects approximately 40% of the population at some time and is responsible for 20% of deaths. Recent years have witnessed substantial advances in the treatment of many malignancies. Targeted molecular therapies have improved outcomes for many cancers including HER2-positive breast cancer, EGFR and ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, BRAFV600E-positive melanoma, and a growing number of hematologic malignancies, among others. More recently, checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy has dramatically changed the fortune of some patients with melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and a rapidly growing list of other cancers (7 FDA approvals in 2016 alone). However, as therapies for cancer improve and patients live longer, relapse within the nervous system is increasing. Additionally, prolonged survival has exposed more cancer survivors to the long-term neurologic sequelae of radiation therapy and systemic therapies. Finally, newly approved antineoplastic therapies bring new neurologic complications, as seen with immunotherapy. These neurologic complications detract significantly from patients' quality of life. The diagnosis and treatment of neurologic complications of the nervous system are shared among neuro-oncologists, medical and radiation oncologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons. While neurologists and neurosurgeons have expertise in the diagnosis and management of neurologic complaints, they are generally less familiar with the biology, behavior, and management of cancer. Conversely, medical and radiation oncologists have expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer but are less familiar with the diagnosis and management of neurologic complaints in cancer patients. The purpose of this Third Edition of Cancer Neurology in Clinical Practice is to provide clinicians from various backgrounds and levels of training with information that will allow them to optimally diagnose and manage neurologic complications of the nervous system. This volume begins with an overview of diagnostic studies for neurologic complications involving the nervous system. That is followed by parts on metastatic and non-metastatic complications of cancer involving the nervous system, and the interpretation, diagnosis, and management of common neuro-oncologic symptoms. The next part reviews the neurologic complications of cancer therapy, including corticosteroids, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted molecular therapies, immunotherapies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and infections involving the nervous system. The final part focuses on the most important neurologic complications in cancers arising from specific organs. We hope that this volume will provide clinicians from varied backgrounds looking after cancer patients with readily accessible, relevant information that will allow them to optimally diagnose and manage neurologic complications in these patients. Prompt diagnosis and effective interventions will ameliorate neurologic outcomes of most of the complications discussed in this volume, translating into improved quality (and in some cases quantity) of life for patients suffering from cancer.


To estimate the region from which phase II I of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) originates and to establish the role of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in the initiation of this phase, chronic experiments were performed in eight sheep with bipolar platinum electrodes attached to the antral and small intestinal wall. Myoelectric activity was recorded by means of a multichannel electroencephalograph before and after slow intravenous injections of cholinergic agonists and antagonists as well as erythromycin, an agonist to the hormone motilin. MMC phases were identified according to the criteria proposed by Code and Marlett. A total of 263 MMC cycles was observed with a duration of 103±24 and 91 ±26 min in fasted and non-fasted animals, respectively. In fasted sheep, 8.7% of phases III MMC originated from the pyloric antrum, 50.5% from the duodenal bulb, 29.7% from the duodenum, 8.7% from the jejunum and 2.3% from the ileum. In non-fasted sheep these values were: 10.3, 31.3, 39.4, 15.5 and 3.5%, respectively. Neither cholinergic agonists nor erythromycin markedly changed the site of phase I I I MMC start. Following administration of anticholinergic drugs phase II I MMC was not observed in the antrum. In fasted sheep following hexamethonium administration, 33% of phases II I MMC originated from the duodenal bulb, 33% from the duodenum and 33% from the jejunum; in non-fasted sheep these values were equaled 50% each in the duodenal bulb and jejunum. When atropine was injected into fasted sheep, 20% of phases I I I MMC originated from the duodenal bulb and 80% from the duodenum while in non-fasted animals 37.5, 37.5, and 25% of phases I I I started from the duodenal bulb, duodenum and jejunum, respectively. Following pirenzepine injection, 20% of recorded phases III MMC were induced from the duodenal bulb and 80% from the duodenum; in non-fasted animals 40% started from the duodenal bulb, 40% from the duodenum and 20% from the jejunum. The time lag from anticholinergic drug administration until the start of phase III MMC was dose-dependent and was the longest following hexamethonium administration. Thus, the ectopic pacemaker appears to be the most important in generation of phase II I MMC and choli638 MIGRATING MYOELECTRIC COMPLEX IN SHEEP nergic control of phase I I I origin from the gastrointestinal region is important in sheep. The role of nicotinic receptors seem to be greater than that of muscarinic receptors in this area.


Intrathymic T cell differentiation is a multi step process. In spite of the research progress on the ontogeny of T cells, we know little on the age related changes in T cell developments. By fluoresence activated cell sorting analysis and fetal thymic organ culture, we studied T cell differentiation in aging. Our results showed that in the thymus of old, compared to young C57 mouse, there were higher proportion of CD4, CD8 double negative (DN) cells and lower double positive (DP) cells, as well as higher proportions of Pgp 1 (CD44) + and lower MEL 14 + cells. Although there were consistent and significant differences in the percentage of DN vs. DP cells, there was no difference in CD4 + and CD8 + thymocytes. In addition, our data showing high proportion of Pgp 1 + thymocytes in the old mouse suggest that down regulation of Pgp 1 expression is blocked. In order to elucidate whether in the same microenvironments there were different Pgp 1 expression between the young and the old, we followed the development of T cells from their early progenitors. Hence, thymocytes, or bone marrow (BM) cells depleted of mature T cells, from young and old donors, were seeded onto individual lymphoid depleted fetal thymic lobes (FT). After 7 day culture there were significant more DN cells in cultures containing cells from old, compared to young donors. Pgp 1 expression in experimental groups of old donor cells was higher than that in the young. This was noted in cultures containing either thymocytes or BM cells. Furthermore, even when the BM was depleted of mature T lymphocytes before culture, there was a significant difference in Pgp 1 expression between the old and young donor cells. These findings conform to the idea that high expression of Pgp 1 expression in thymocytes that developed from old donor cells represents a block in down regulation in early immature cells. Further experiments were carried out to examine whether the early thymocyte progenitors manifest any aging effects. We prepared bone marrow derived stromal cell culture with thymocytes from either young or old donor thymocytes, and examined the patterns of cell cycle and apoptosis. The results showed no significant difference between the young and old experimental groups in all of these parameters.In summary, our results suggest that down regulation of Pgp 1 expression in the course of T cell differentiation is blocked, and it may have an influence on T cell generation during aging and on thymus involution.


While dealing with the main principle of trellis code, this paper presents a new scheme to implement the digital power line carrier transmission system with TCM technology. Using TCM technology to rebuild the traditional power line carrier transmission system will greatly enhance its capacity and performance.


Method of identifying a compound that binds to a biological target, said method comprising the steps of (a) contacting the biological target with a compound library comprising at least about 102 distinct compounds, said compounds comprising a functional moiety it comprises two or more basic components which are operably linked to an oligonucleotide which identifies the structure of the functional moiety under conditions suitable for at least one member of the compound library to bind to the target, wherein the compound library consists essentially of a multiplicity of compounds of Formula ** ** wherein: X is a functional moiety comprising one or more basic components; Z is an oligonucleotide attached at its 3 'terminus to B; Y is an oligonucleotide which is attached at its 5 'terminus to C; A is a functional group that forms a covalent bond with X; B is a functional group that forms a bond with the 3'-end of Z; C is a functional group that forms a bond with the 5 'end of Y; D, F and E are each, independently, a bifunctional linking group; and S an atom or a molecular scaffold; wherein Y and Z are covalently bonded; and wherein one or both of Y and Z comprises a sequence endcap, said sequence comprising capping a nucleotide sequence comprising Degenerate nucleotide; (B) separating the members of the library which do not bind to the target; (C) amplifying the encoding oligonucleotide of at least one member of the library of compounds which binds to the target; (D) sequencing the encoding oligonucleotides of step (c); and (e) using the sequences determined in step (d) to determine the structure of the functional moieties of the members of the compound library which bind to the biological target; thereby identifying one or more compounds that bind to the biological target.


We present a 38-year-old Guatemalan patient who presented to our hospital with new onset dementia and confusion of 2 months duration. A diagnosis of neurocysticercosis was made based on neuroimaging, patient's demographic information, and ELISA results. While dementia has been reported in 12.5% of cases with neurocysticercosis, rapidly progressive dementia as the sole presenting symptom is rare. Our patient was treated with Dexamethasone, Albendazole, and External Ventricular Drain (EVD) followed by Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to reduce his Intracranial Pressure (ICP). Eventually, resection of the cyst was performed. His mental status and cognition improved dramatically, and he was discharged from our hospital on a 2-week course of Albendazole. Neurocysticercosis patients with dementia and increased ICP should receive early aggressive medical and surgical intervention, which has been to improve outcome.


The connection rotation-CaII emission flux-lithium abundance is analyzed for a sample of bona fide subgiant stars, with evolutionary status determined from HIPPARCOS trigonometric parallax measurements and from the Toulouse-Geneva code. The distribution of rotation and CaII emission flux as a function of eective temperature shows a discontinuity located around the same spectral type, F8IV. Blueward of this spectral type, subgiants have a large spread of values of rotation and CaII flux, whereas stars redward of F8IV show essentially low rotation and low CaII flux. The strength of these declines depends on stellar mass. The abundance of lithium also shows a sudden decrease. For subgiants with mass lower than about 1.2 M the decrease is located later than that in rotation and CaII flux, whereas for masses higher than 1.2 M the decrease in lithium abundance is located around the spectral type F8IV. The discrepancy between the location of the discontinuities of rotation and CaII emission flux and log n(Li) for stars with masses lower than 1.2 M seems to reflect the sensitivity of these phenomena to the mass of the convective envelope. The drop in rotation, which results mostly from a magnetic braking, requires an increase in the mass of the convective envelope less than that required for the decrease in log n(Li). The location of the discontinuity in log n(Li) for stars with masses higher than 1.2 M, in the same region of the discontinuities in rotation and CaII emission flux, may also be explained by the behavior of the deepening of the convective envelope. The more massive the star is, the earlier is the increase of the convective envelope. In contrast to the relationship between rotation and CaII flux, which is fairly linear, the relationship between lithium abundance and rotation shows no clear tendency toward linear behavior. Similarly, no clear linear trend is observed in the relationship between lithium abundance and CaII flux. In spite of these facts, subgiants with high lithium content also have high rotation and high CaII emission flux.


Abstract  This investigation reports analysis of fracture by splitting a car's front wheel drive shaft into two parts, which ruptured at a very early stage (<10 cycles) of its endurance/driving test. Besides computations for shear stress and shear strength, a number of experimental techniques, e.g. non-destructive testing (ultrasonic flaw detection), chemical and metallographic analyses, hardness measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) techniques, are used to determine the cause of the drive shaft's fracture. Non-destructive testing results showed the absence of any internal crack or flaw in the failed component, thereby excluding possibility of fast fracture due to propagation of crack. Scanning electron microscopy fractographs showed cleavage fracture at the outer surface of the shaft, whereas chemical analysis results showed that the steel used in the drive shaft conforms to mild steel. On the basis of the design calculations, it is concluded that failure of the shaft occurs due to shear overstressing. On the basis of hardness profile, it is concluded that the shaft has been casehardened by induction hardening. It is recommended that the steel of 25CrMo4/27CD4 type should be selected in the manufacturing of drive shaft, which should be casehardened by carbonitriding for application in modern cars.


The abstractness of certain chemistry concepts demands the use of appropriate teaching strategies to enable students to construct mental images of the concepts. The concepts include understanding the effects of concentration and catalyst on the rate Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 19, Issue 2, Article 3 (Dec., 2018) Mageswary KARPUDEWAN and Kumareson MATHANASEGARAN Exploring the use of context-based green chemistry experiments in understanding the effects of concentration and catalyst on the rate of reaction Copyright (C) 2018 EdUHK APFSLT. Volume 19, Issue 2, Article 3 (Dec., 2018). All Rights Reserved. of reaction. The reactions at the molecular level are not visible to human eyes and the use of hazardous chemicals to teach the reactions further had made the learning irrelevant to the students. As an alternative to the existing curriculum, through this study, context-based green chemistry experiments (CBGCEs) were introduced as a laboratory curriculum. Teaching using CBGCEs began with unfolding a relevant context and followed with an investigation using benign green chemistry experiments. The qualitative interviews and responses to the issue-based open-ended questions show that students exposed to CBGCEs and existing curriculum attained better understanding about the effects of concentration and catalyst on the rate of reaction. However, the themes emerged from the responses of students learned with CBGCEs portray that this group of students has attained more specific and scientifically adequate understanding. The quantitative findings substantiated the findings obtained from the qualitative data.


It is well know that nanoscale rare earth compounds can increase luminescent quantum efficiency and display resolution. To improve luminescent properties of nanocrystalline phosphors and obtain the nanocrystals with different morphology, many preparation methods have been used, such as hydrothermal approach, sol-gel technique and ultrasonic method, etc. In this paper, the LaPO4: Eu3+ nanocrystals were prepared via the ultrasonic method. There were two series prepared, by changing ultrasonic time, using polyvinglpyrrolidone (PVP) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as template, respectively. The morphology, structure and spectra properties of the products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and fluorescence spectrum (FS). The results show that all the LaPO4 nanocrystals have a hexagonal structure, and without other impurity phase appearance. All the samples obtained are nanoparticles in the range of 50-120 nm, which indicates that there are almost no effectives on the morphology of the nanocrystals with the change of template kinds and ultrasonic time. But their luminescent properties depend on the kinds of template. When the ultrasonic time is 1h, the luminescent intensity of the obtained sample using PVP as template is much stronger than that using CTAB, but the 5D0 energy level fluorescence lifetime of the Eu3+ in the sample using PVP template is shorter than that using CTAB. In addition, in the two series, luminescent intensity increases at first, then decreases with the growth of ultrasonic time, but the 5D0 energy level lifetime of Eu3+ shows no regulation.


ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to identify biopsychosocial factors predicting primary care chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) patients' risk of being heavy health care users. Methods: Patients reporting moderate to severe CNCP for at least 6 months with an active analgesic prescription from a primary care physician were recruited in community pharmacies. Recruited patients completed questionnaires documenting biopsychosocial characteristics. Using administrative databases, direct costs were estimated for health care services used by each patient in the year preceding and following the recruitment. Heavy health care users were defined as patients in the highest annual direct health care costs quartile. Logistic multivariate regression models using the Akaike information criterion were developed to identify predictors of heavy health care use. Results: The median annual direct health care cost incurred by heavy health care users (n = 63) was CAD (Canadian dollars) 7627, versus CAD 1554 for standard health care users (n = 188). The final predictive model of the risks of being a heavy health care user included pain located in the lower body (odds ratio [OR] = 3.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–7.65), pain-related disability (OR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03–1.48), and health care costs incurred in the year prior to recruitment (OR = 17.67; 95% CI, 7.90–39.48). Variables in the model also included sex, comorbidity, patients' depression level, and attitudes toward medical pain cure. Conclusion: Patients suffering from CNCP in the lower body and showing greater disability were more likely to be heavy health care users, even after adjusting for previous-year direct health care costs. Improving pain management for these patients could have positive impacts on health care use and costs.


Objective A modified incision was used in parotidectomy to reduce the visible scar. Methods 16 patients with benign parotid gland tumor were included in this study(10 cases with pleomorphic adenoma,6 cases with Warthin tumor). A modified incision was applied to parotidectomy for aesthetic effects and preservation of facial nerve as well as great auricular nerve. One year follow-up was conducted with focus on the cosmetic effect of this incision and the clinical outcome. Results The modified incision healed well in all patients without salivary fistulae. Two patients underwent temporary facial nerve paralysis after the procedure and recovered 1 and 2 months respectively. 12 patients complained of earlobe numb after operation, but recovered 2 months postoperatively except for 4 patients whose great auricular nerves were cut off during operation. All the patients were highly satisfied with this modified incision. No recurrence was founded in all patients. Conclusion The modified incision can be applied to parotidectomy with adequate exposure during operation and ideal postoperative aesthetic effect.


In the study, in the context of restructuring of Turkish higher education, we studied existing issues of Turkish higher education, general trends of higher education in the World, and have tried to suggest basic principles and proposals for the restructuring. In this context, especially, we analyzed different dimensions of higher education (such as legislation, university, society and business relations, the vision of higher education, training of teaching staff, competition and cooperation, social capital in universities, academic freedom and university autonomy etc.) that should be taken into account when higher education is structured.


Patients, who lost hearing after the period of development of speech, indicate that their greatest problem in daily life is the impossibility to communicate with hearing people. In the rehabilitation process (e


Abstract : This article addresses some issues and solutions for ballistic impact computations. A discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of existing computational techniques is presented, and this is followed by a description of a new computational technique that is well suited for ballistic impact computations. This new approach uses both finite elements and meshless particles. The initial grid is composed entirely of finite elements. Then as the solution progresses, the highly strained finite elements are automatically converted into meshless particles. Generally, most of the grid remains as finite elements, and this allows for an accurate and efficient solution for the less distorted portion of the problem. Only the highly distorted regions of the problem are converted into meshless particles, and these meshless particles can accurately and robustly represent the high distortions that the finite elements are not able to represent. Several examples are provided to illustrate this approach. Included is the capability to compute the formation of Behind Armor Debris (BAD) and to track it through large distances.


Part 1 Paradigms in crisis: Pedro Vilanova the new landscape of European security - Dan Smith the siren of nationalism - Fred Halliday military intervention in the third world in the 1990s - Mariano Aguirre third world conflicts - Jochen Hippler. Part 2 Towards sustainable development in the 1990s - Robin Broad, John Cavanagh and Walden Bello managing the global house - redefining economics in a greenhouse world - Susan George participatory peace policies - Michael H. Shuman from Cold War to drug War - Narco-politics in the Americas - Peter Andreas and Eva Bertram the Berlin fence between north and south - third world labour and the cold war - Saul Landau and David Pedersen.


Metabolic regulation occurs to a significant extent at the level of gene expression. We study the Mediator complex, a conserved multiprotein transcriptional coregulator. Interestingly, several Mediator subunits regulate lipid biology. We previously showed that the Caenorhabditis elegans Mediator subunit MDT‐15 is required for normal fatty acid distribution and for ingestion‐associated stress responses. Here, we show that loss of mdt‐15 leads to increased ER stress, as shown by upregulation of HSP‐4/BiP and of spliced XBP‐1 mRNA. We observed similar changes in worms with depleted fat‐6/Stearoyl‐CoA desaturase, suggesting that lack of monounsaturated fatty acids causes ER stress. However, although dietary complementation with oleic acid rescued ER stress in fat‐6 worms, it only partially rescued the ER stress in mdt‐15 animals, suggesting that additional defects cause excess ER stress. Interestingly, we find that mdt‐15 is also required for oxidative stress responses, suggesting that disturbed redox balance contributes to ER stress in mdt‐15 worms. Our data provide evidence for broad cytoprotective actions of MDT‐15, which maintains normal lipid profiles and assures a favorable redox environment.


Abstract We develop a model in which firms choose which technologies to adopt as well as the timing of such adoptions. In between adoptions, a firm accumulates expertise in its technology which allows it to operate the technology more efficiently. Thus, there is firm-specific learning-by-doing. For certain parameterizations of the model and appropriate initial distributions of technologies and expertise, equilibria are characterized by positive and constant growth of per capita output and positive but nonconstant growth of each firm′s output. We find firms′ adoption decisions and output growth depend upon the efficiency of capital markets. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: O41, O33.


A postal questionnaire survey of quality circles in the UK service sector has been completed. It was revealed that there are no major differences in the characteristics of circle programmes in the service and manufacturing organisations. However, service industries need to be aware of the individuality of each organisation before adoption of programmes.


The proposed "Beyond Bureaucracy" workshop aims to outline and discuss challenges along the boundaries of society, technology, and governance, which reach beyond established e-governance research paths and priorities. Where well-established e-government / e-governance research ambitions focus on providing technology that supports the work and mission of government agencies and governmental agents, the "Beyond Bureaucracy" initiative addresses the question how technology can empower citizens and the conceptual sovereign-body to actively control (rather than passively observe) government agencies and governmental agents. This workshop outlines the pending technological (design science) challenges, promotes the economic potentials of new technological ecosystems, and serves as a platform for pro/con deliberations on Beyond Bureaucracy thought and knowledge.


Air-turbine dental handpieces (ATDH) are used in most of dental practices as the main cutting tool. However, the speed of these handpieces is reduced while cutting a tooth; because no speed controller has been provided for them. This speed-reduction decreases the cutting efficiency of air-turbine handpieces. A review of literature indicated no study concerned with designing a speed controller for ATDH. Thus, in this paper, a control scheme is proposed for regulating the speed including `measurement', `actuation', and `controller-design' stages. An accelerometer was employed to capture vibrations of the handpiece; and the frequency associated with the first peak in the spectrum was indicated to represent the speed. An on/off solenoid valve with pulse-width modulation (PWM) technique was employed to regulate the speed through controlling the input pressure to the handpiece. Changing the duty-cycle of the PWM pulses could vary the speed. A process model from the applied duty-cycle to the measured speed was obtained. This process model includes a linear dynamic and a nonlinear static part. Then, a proportional-integral- (PI) controller was selected, and the gains were tuned. The practicality and efficiency of the proposed control scheme with the PI controller was confirmed by experimental results.


The B case describes the response by MSN Hotmail and Yahoo! to Google's introduction of Gmail as of winter 2004. See also the A case (UVA-QA-0642).


The main goal of this study was to examine the structure equation modeling of grit, resilience and perceived school organizational culture and creative teaching behavior. This study analyzed the mediation effects of resilience and perceived school organizational culture. Participants were 264 middle school teachers. Results showed that hypothesized model 2 the direct and indirect effects of grit on creative teaching behavior were mediated by resilience and perceived school organizational culture. The mediating effect of perceived school organizational culture was shown to be relatively higher than that of resilience. In addition, the correlation coefficients of vertical individualism and vertical collectivism and grit, or creative teaching behavior, appeared lower than those of the observed variables for resilience and horizontal individualism, and horizontal collectivism and grit or creative teaching behavior. These findings suggest that a school organizational culture that emphasizes the value of autonomy and horizontal individualism and collectivism may encourage teachers to practice creative teaching behavior. We also should consider teachers' individual characteristics such as grit and resilience for the development of teaching strategies to improve creative teaching behavior.


t | ЛНЕ inquiring musician of today finds himself again and I again confronted by the same insistent question. Where JL is one to look for a vital and progressive form of composition? The main line of development seems closed: contemporary operas and symphonies do not have any sure and lasting value, and many observers go so far as to say that the great days of Western art are over. Certainly the only creative artists of high remark are lone figures like Stravinsky or Picasso who seem to have scaled some faraway mountains of the imagination, only to bring back treasures of such refinement and complexity that few can appreciate their achievement. Since this rarefied art can obviously do little to give expression to the ideas and feelings which are struggling in the world about us one is forced to look elsewhere. There have come to my attention from time to time various essays in folk music-drama, attempts to resurrect or recreate the old morality plays, efforts also to stage oratorios no definite movement as yet but something that will bear investigation if only for the vital popular element that it contains in the shape of carols and folk dances and also for the tentative solution it affords to that vexing question of art's relation to society. For there is no getting away from the fact that social theories are upsetting the normal practice of every branch of art: not that theorizing artists are a novelty, but that the emphasis on theory has entirely changed. Verdi for instance, when asked about some problem of musical construction answered simply, "Oh! I would write a little music! " and even that arch -theorist Wagner is remembered for his operas and not for his flatulent disquisitions about them. Schoenberg on the other hand is as famous for his atonalism as he is for his compositions, and the


Through the research and investigation on the relationship between sports and sports tourism and the concepts and characteristics of sports tourism,this paper puts forward the imagination of developing the sports tourism during post Olympic era,and probes into the development direction of the future sports tourism.


This article considers the twin problems of testing for autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) and generalized ARCH disturbances in the linear regression model. A feature of these testing problems, ignored by the standard Lagrange multiplier test, is that they are onesided in nature. A test that exploits this one-sided aspect is constructed based on the sum of the scores. The small-sample-size and power properties of two versions of this test under both normal and leptokurtic disturbances are investigated via a Monte Carlo experiment. The results indicate that both versions of the new test typically have superior power to two versions of the Lagrange multiplier test and possibly also more accurate asymptotic critical values.


Within-community species-area relationships were examined for vascular plants and epiphytic lichens on Populus spp within 100 treed patches in an area of less than 4 km2 in the aspen parkland of south-central Alberta, Canada. Both plants and lichens were sampled on three scales (patch-scale and two within-patch scales). This study is one of the few to demonstrate scale-dependent species-area relationships at a small scale and highlights the importance of multi-scale sampling in ecology. At the larger patch scale, the relationship between plant species richness and area was positive for both the full plant dataset and the forest habitat specialist subset. For lichens, the species-area relationships were positive at all scales. However, for plants, at small scales, the species-area relationship was negative for all plants, but non-significant for forest habitat specialist species when considered separately. This difference reflects the different mechanisms behind the species-area relationships for the two taxa. For vascular plants, small-scale species richness decreased with patch size due to an edge effect within patches. The species-area relationships for the forest habitat specialist species were unaffected by this edge effect because these species were more common in larger patches. The distribution of lichens within patches was not significantly different from random. Therefore, the positive species-area relationships observed for this taxon reflect a passive sampling effect; where there are more individuals, there are more species.


The work presented in this article is registered in the context of the preparation of a diagnostic platform for the industrial diagnosis of a photovoltaic plant. To do this, we are modeled the photovoltaic field for saving the evolution (that is to say the traces) of the IV characteristic and power of the photovoltaic field to take as benchmarks in the rest of this work. Then we selected to model the photovoltaic field malfunction difference four types of electrical faults: short circuit, open circuit, impedance and reverse polarity of the PV module, bypass diode, connections and blocking diode and see for each default its influence on the IV characteristic and the power of the photovoltaic field. So with this application, the controllers of control room can by the comparison of the (IV, P) field in normal functioning, and (IV, P) field simulated malfunction and (IV, P) field experienced to making the decision (make the diagnosis) adequate at the right time.


Haemoglobins of chicks, yearlings and known-age sub-adults of the royal penguin were investigated by starch-gel electrophoresis at pH 8·6. Two haemoglobin components were observed in yearlings and sub-adults. These were assumed to be the haemoglobins of adults. Another three haemoglobin components were observed in 3-week-old chicks. In seven out of eight fledging chicks, these chick haemoglobins had disappeared. The existence of other haemoglobin components in royal penguin embryos is predicted.


Applying the method of spectral interferometry we analyze amplitude and phase of reflected light at a ZnSe-ZnS x Se 1-x heterostructure. Beside the Is-heavy hole (hh), the 2s-heavy hole and the Is-light hole (lh) excitons a series of peaks are found in the amplitude caused by interfering polariton modes propagating through the ZnSe layer. The phase shows pronounced changes at the corresponding energies. A strong increase by 2ir appears for lower hh- and lh-polariton modes. The behavior can be explained considering spatial dispersion in the dielectric model, Pekar's additional boundary conditions for the polariton propagation and a penetration of the excitonic polarization into the cladding layers.


A procedure is developed for selecting design criteria for the berthing energy fender systems at ferry landings. In particular, end berthing arrangements are considered. A sample of 568 landing events are reviewed to find the distribution of approach velocity for kinetic energy calculations. An upper bound for the berthing coefficient is also identified. The design procedure is developed that involves 1) identification of the upper limits of the approach velocity by analyzing a sample of berthing events, 2) selection of a safety factor by making systematic judgements, 3) selection of a berthing coefficient based on experimental results, and 4) selection of design berthing energy using the kinetic energy formula. Further research is recommended to improve the placement of landing aids and to develop design criteria for other landing structures. The contents of this final technical report are presented in the following sections: Summary; Introduction and Research Approach; Findings; Interpretation, Appraisal and Application; Conclusions and Recommendations; and Implementation. There are eight appendices: (A) State-of-the-Art Survey; (B) Inventory of Fender Systems; (C) Fender Facilities for Ro/Ro Shipping and Ferry Berths; (D) Fender Design; (E) Description of Equipment; (F) Calendar of Dates of Operation; (G) Baseline Data Set of 568 Events; and (H) Data Set of 102 High Deflection Events.


The article reviews the book "The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger," by Marc Levinson.


Abstract : This project was directed at evaluating the feasibility of using ultrasonics, coupled with a unique microprocessor signal analysis and processing system, to determine rebuilt roadwheel quality. A series of roadwheels were ultrasonically tested, with the data recorded for subsequent computer analysis. The wheels were then either peel, drum, or road tested. A subsequent comparison between certain ultrasonic signal characteristics (signal amplitude and % circumferential phase change) and roadwheel disposition allowed accept/reject limit selection which provided 80% correct prediction of road failures by ultrasonics, with an 86% overall correct prediction of road tests results. When compared to peel results on the same set of roadwheels (60% and 50%), the ultrasonic results are encouraging. Limitations on conclusions, due to sample size and related assumptions, are severe. However, further work is indicated, directed at establishing the viability of the described ultrasonic test procedures for both manufacturing quality control and on-vehicle readiness evaluation. The former is already underway. An approach to the latter is suggested.


ABSTRACT Public sector employees with responsibility for purchasing are under increasing pressure to implement small and medium enterprise (SME)-friendly policies. Such policies are intended to make it easier for SMEs to compete for and win public sector contracts. In spite of the socio-economic importance of this issue, there remains a dearth of evidence on what is happening in practice. Using primary survey data from 271 public buyers in Ireland, this paper examines the extent to which SME-friendly procurement policy is being implemented and the individual and organization factors that affect implementation. The findings reveal a gap between what government policy recommends public buyers and their organizations should do to facilitate SMEs versus what they are actually doing. Policy familiarity, procurement involvement, organization size and the maturity of the procurement function are shown to be positively associated with the implementation of SME-friendly policy. For managers and legislators, the findings underline the need to invest in the human capital dimension of public procurement if policy implementation rates are to improve.


We derive the complete set of off-shell nilpotent (s(a)b = 0) and absolutely anticommuting (sbsab + sabsb = 0) Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) (sb) as well as antiBRST symmetry transformations (sab) corresponding to the combined Yang-Mills and nonYang-Mills symmetries of the (2 + 1)-dimensional Jackiw-Pi model within the framework of augmented superfield formalism. The Curci-Ferrari type of conditions, which ensure the absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-)BRST transformations, emerge very naturally in this formalism. The existence of these conditions enable us to derive the coupled but equivalent Lagrangian densities. We also capture the (anti-)BRST invariance of the coupled Lagrangian densities in the superfield formalism. One of the novel observations of our present endeavor is the derivation of the (anti-)BRST transformations of the auxiliary field ρ which can neither be generated by the nilpotent (anti-)BRST charges nor by the requirements of the nilpotency and/or absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-)BRST transformations. Finally, we provide a bird's-eye view on the role of auxiliary field for various massive models and point out the similarities and differences among them. PACS numbers: 11.15.-q, 03.70.+k, 11.10Kk, 12.90.+b


Chemical reaction engineering—the discipline whose goal is to move chemical transformations from the laboratory to industrial production—encompasses issues that range from the molecular level to the design of huge production plants. The chemical engineers who design industrial processes need to consider the minute details of how reactions proceed, the grand overview of energy and materials flow into and out of plants, and everything in between. At the 14th International Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering (ISCRE-14) in Brugge, Belgium, last month, 500 attendees from industry and academia in 33 countries pondered the many aspects of these concerns. For example, a new multiscale approach to process design is being pursued by industry, which is also exploring the concept of microscale plants. Researchers are employing surface science to acquire the fundamental information for commercial catalytic reaction schemes. Others are coming to grips with the intractable compositional description of petroleum. ...


Over a quarter of a century ago i was privileged to receive an invitation to contribute an article on South African politics to the first number of this journal. I recall dismissing the thesis that 'economic forces, together with the emergence of an African middle class, will provide a long term solution to the country's problems…' I argued that even if we assume a lessening in international pressure, and an indefinite coqtinuation of the Republic's economic expansion, the [black] elite thrown up by this process may present the South African government (and the opposition parties) with their most fundamental challenge. In these circumstances — the most favourable South Africa can legitimately expect — the choice will still lie between yet more authoritarian methods of social control and a widening of the area of participation in the political process on terms distinctly more radical than those currently envisaged by the two major opposition parties in the Parliament based on the present electorate.


After one enterprise in Anhui province restructured from a state-owned enterprise to a private enterprise,its labor union turned into a "four no's" agency facing new and old difficulties.Behind the drop of the work disputes,there are the staff members who confess their weaknesses and the managers who monopolize the evaluation.The staff members are lack of organization guarantees and the function of labor unions to protect workers' rights should be strengthened.The main measures for labor unions to open the working situation: training staff the awareness of the modern enterprise;creating vivid image of labor unions;establishing clear functions of labor unions;paying attention to the flexibility of work.