Natural products with insecticidal activities could be a valuable resource for the discovery of new insecticides.The Chinese bittersweet,Celastrus angulatus,is a traditional insecticidal plant which is widely distributed over the Yellow River and Yangze River basins in China.Since 1985,we have studied on the bioactive compounds in the plant.By the activity-guided fractionation,51 compounds have been isolated from the extract of the root bark and leaves.All the compounds belong to sesquiterpene ployol esters and pyridine alkaloids with the β-dihydroagarofuran skeleton.A series of new dihydroagarofuran analogues were synthesized using difurano-β-dihydroagarofuran and celangulin V as the starting materials,some of these derivates had higher insecticidal activity than celangulin V.The results of primary toxicology research indicated that the main action mechanism of the narcotic active component celangulin IV might be to block the conduction of insect neuromuscular excitatory junction potentials and inhibit the Ca2+ channel of the insects,and that the main action mechanism of the insecticidal component celangulin V might be to bind with the receptor in the midgut of the insect,change the structure of the cell membrane,and disturb the normal function of the membrane.Three formulations(0.2% celangulin emulsifiable concentrate,0.15% celangulin microemulsion and 0.15% celangulin micropowder)were conferred patent right,and 0.2% celangulin EC has been produced commercially.


Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the open reduction internal fixation and total hip arthroplasty directions, results and complications associated with internal fixation in managing these fractures. Methods: In 8 years at 4 centers, 61 patients with associated acetabular fractures (Letournel classification) were treated. The patients were divided into two groups. The total hip arthoplasty (THA) group consisted of 30 patients, while the open reduction internal fixation group had 31 patients. The average age of the patients was 74.7 years. The following parameters were compared: the duration of surgery and hospitalization, the international unit of red blood cell concentrate transfusion, the time for the verticalization of the patient, perioperative complications, Harris hip score, and the short form (12) health survey. The clinical and radiographic follow-up was performed at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months and annually thereafter. Patients with post-traumatic osteoarthritis formed the third comparison group. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant according to the analytical Student's t-test. Results: The P < 0.05 in favor of the THA group was: surgical time, length of stay, number of the international unit of red blood cell concentrate transfusions, verticalization, quality of life and hip function, a reduction of perioperative complications and reinterventions. Conclusions: Our experience shows that the THA treatment for acetabular fractures in the elderly is to be preferred.


The room temperature reflectivity spectra of Cd1-xMnxTe mixed crystals for x up to 0.4 in the energy range from 1.5 to 14 eV have been investigated. A smearing out of the reflectivity maxima with growing x has been observed and attributed to manganese-induced chemical disorder. An additional structure at 4.6 eV interpreted as due to the transitions from the valence band to the Mn 3d6 states has been found. These results, together with previously published photoemission data, lead to the band picture of CdMnTe similar to the Adler-Feinleib type model proposed for transition metal chalcogenides with the correlation energy for d electrons of 9.6 eV.


ESTs of ubiquitin conjugating enzyme was obtained from mycelia cDNA library of Chaetomium cupreumby inducement of chitin through BlastX search with Non-redundant database of NCBI.CcE2was cloned by RT-PCR. CcE2was hydrophilic protein with full length of 600bp with an open read frame of 444bp and encoded 147amino acids with 16.6ku protein molecular weight.The BlastP results showed that CcE2had significant amino acid sequence similarity with E2sfrom other fungi.Tertiary structure of CcE2contained a functional structural domain. An active site of cysteine residue was located in the middle of functional structural domain.


It was investigated the influence of a diet supplemented with PUFA omega-3 ("Eiconol") on dynamic of basal and postprandial glycemia, blood pressure, lipid levels, parameters of lipid peroxidation in 60 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Fish oil ("Eiconol") was used as a dietary supplement of PUFA omega-3. The results of investigations indicated that a diet supplemented with "Eiconol" (8 g/day) increased the effect of dietary therapy in correction of essential hypertension and atherogenic lipids. It was not the worsening of the glycemia and activation of lipid peroxidation.


INTRODUCTION Treatment of primary epiglottis collapse (EC) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) still represents a challenge. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) has allowed assessment of the prevalence of EC in 10% to 40% of patients suffering from OSHAS. In order to treat this condition, we developed a minimally invasive technique called "Epiglottis Stiffening Operation" (ESO). By the time, ESO has shown to be a safe and easy-to-perform procedure, with great efficacy and very short surgical training required. Herein, we propose standardization of this technique by describing the surgical procedure in detail, including some tips and tricks.


Abstract : This report defines the various categories of Operational Test and Evaluation (OT and E) and related activities and explains how they support the defense acquisition process. It summarizes the historical evolution of operational testing by the Air Force since World War II and organizational responsibilities for OT and E within the Air Force, other armed services, and the Department of Defense. It discusses changing policies, basic procedures, and political influences. After mentioning the contribution of OT and E to Operation Desert Storm, the history concludes with details on the reorganization of Air Force OT and E during 1992.


Dr. Mendlowitz: I would like to ask Dr. Laragh a question. As I ulnderstand it, with anagiotensin infusion, there is a difference between the response of the normal kidney and that of the hypertensive kidney. There is more constriction in the normal than in the hypertensive. This observation is in contrast to what one finds with smooth muscle of the digit, where there is less constriction in the hypertensive than in the normal. Dr. Peart found that when he gave an intravenous infusion of angiotensin in the intact kidney, there was an antidiuresis in the normal and a diuresis in the hypertensive. Now, do you mean to imply that these results were due to an uncontrolled sodium intake in his experiments ? Dr. Laragh: All I wished to demonstrate was that both norepinephrine and angiotensin can produce natriuresis, and that you don't have to have a hypertensive subject to get it. It seems that the natriuresis is easier to produce after salt is depleted. Various pressor agents can produce natriuresis, and the subject need not be a hypertensive if you have the right conditions. I don't think that I am disagreeing with Peart's findings. All I question is whether this is a unique phenomenon in hypertension and whether it is unique for angiotensin. Dr. Tuttle: What was the duration of the infusions in your studies? Dr. Laragh: The ones that we showed were most often from 5 to 14 hours. Dr. Tuttle: I ask this question because we 've done several 48-hour infusions of norepinephrine and 1 using angiotensin. The rather striking thing was that there was a diphasic response to norepinephrine. There was an initial vasoconstriction and depression of renal plasma flow. Glomerular filtration rate was diminished, and there was an acute drop in sodium excretion in all cases during the first 3 or 4 hours. Subsequently, in both those on hiah sodium intake and those on low sodium intake, there was a sodium diuresis above the control level. If the infusion was prolonged into the second 24-hour period, the negative sodium balance in the second 24 hours was greater than the negative sodium balance in the first period because there was not an initial period of sodium retention. We can summarize our results as follows: In a patient on a sodium intake of 75 mEq. per day, with the infusion of norepinephrine, there was very little sodium diuresis in the first 24 hours, but in the second, the sodium excretion went up by about 50 per cent. There was a drop in potassiunm excretion concomitant with the sodium diuresis. A patient on 3 mEq. per day sodium intake likewise showed a rather marked sodium diuresis on the second day of infusion. In absolute values, this was not a very great increase, but percentage-wise, it was a tripling of his sodium excretion. In this patient, there was a drop in potassium during this 24-hour period. In a third patient, when angiotensin was infused for 48 hours, the pattern was somewhat different. The peak of the sodium diuresis was during the first 24 hours, and by the end of the 48 hours, the sodium excretion had fallen virtually to zero. I think even more significant was the fact that at all times during the angiotensin infusion, there was an accelerated rate of potassium excretion rather than potassium retention. While it is obvious that there are both hemodynamic factors and hormonal factors operative in these cases, I would interpret this set of experiments as showing that the norepinephrine infusion diminished aldosterone secretion, and this effect ultimately overrode the hemodynamic effect and led to sodium diuresis and potassium retention. With angiotensin, aldosterone secretion is probably stimulated, leading to potassium diuresis, but there are hemodynamic factors in the first 24 hours that do cause some sodium to be excreted in excess. I think this would agree with Dr. Laragh's overall formulation. Dr. Laragh: I'm very pleased to hear Dr. Tuttle 's results because he has already answered my plea for more definitive data. I


Micro, small and medium enterprises is a vibrant, dynamic and fastest growing sector of Indian economy in complementary withthe large industries. They are enormously contributing towards the socio-economic development of the country. The MSMEsector contributes about 8% to GDP besides 45% to total manufacturing output, 40% to exports from country and providesemployment to over 80 million people. In this background a need for a bank which exclusively supports the micro units wasinitiated and introduced which can support entrepreneurship and fulfill the financial needs of these units. MUDRA is an effort to'fund the unfunded' like how microfinance has been to 'bank the unbanked'. The paper aims to understand the Mudra yojana andits significance; to examine the progress of Mudra and to analysis the pattern and amount of loans advanced to Tamil Nadu. Toconclude this PMMY which is a good initiative from the part of government to encourage entrepreneurs is going to bring about adramatic change in the MSME sector. It not only promotes MSME sector but also other aspects such as employment generation,reduction of poverty, economic development, financial inclusiveness and also social inclusion.


Objective To evaluate the association between ventriculomegaly and brain structural anomalies (BSA) at 11 -13 weeks of gestation. In this single Centre prospective study, the ultrasound measurement of the fetal ventricles was obtained on the axial view of the fetal head at 11 13 weeks' gestation using three different methods. We selected a non-consecutive series of fetuses with a BSA detected in the first trimester, excluding neural tube defects, and a group of normal fetuses as controls. On this view, the ratio between the choroid plexus (CP) and ventricle lengths (CPVLr), areas (CPVAr) and the ratio between CP areas and head area (CPHAr) were measured for both groups. Measurements obtained from the two groups were compared, and the association of each parameter with brain anomalies has been also investigated. and


Results: A total of 302 clinical isolates of S. aureus were isolated from different clinical samples including wound, blood, urine, trachea, catheter, swabs. Of 302 isolates, 123 were methicillin resistant and 73.53% and 75.7% of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin and penicillin, respectively. The incidence of resistance genes among among methicillin resistant S. aureus isolates were as follows: bbp (10 isolates: 6.89%), cna (6 isolates: 13.4%), eno (28 isolates: 19.31%) and ebpS (19 isolates: 13.1%),. There was a significant correlation between the antibiotic resistance patterns and the frequency of adhesion factors (P≤0.05).


The paper gives analysis and introduction to hydro-pneumaticsuspension, which is key technique of engineering vehicles, about itsbasic performance and special application.


Abstract. The widely used polychaete names Dorvillea Parfitt, 1866, and consequently Dorvilleidae Chamberlin, 1919 (Annelida, Errantia) are threatened by a senior homonym Dorvillea Leach, 1852 (Mollusca, Bivalvia). The latter is a junior synonym of Abra Lamarck, 1818 and it has not been used as a valid name since 1899, while the former has been used as a valid name in over 25 publications by more than 10 authors in the last 50 years. Therefore, under Article 23.9.2 of the Code, Dorvillea Parfitt, 1866 must be regarded as a nomen protectum and Dorvillea Leach, 1852 must be regarded as nomen oblitum. This act will also protect Dorvilleidae Chamberlin, 1919, which is in prevailing usage for this family of marine annelids.


Working with digital video technologies, particularly advanced video tools with editing capabilities, offers new prospects for meaningful learning through design. However, it is also possible that the additional complexity of such tools does not advance learning. We compared in an experiment the design processes and learning outcomes of 24 collaborating participant pairs (dyads) using 2 contrasting types of video tools for history learning. The advanced video tool WebDIVER supported segmenting, editing, and annotating capabilities. In the contrasting condition, students used a simple video playback tool with a word processor to perform the same design task. Results indicated that the advanced video editing tool was more effective in relation to (a) fostering student understanding of the topic and acquisition of cognitive skills, (b) the quality of student design products, and (c) the efficiency of dyad interactions. The implication of our experimental findings for constructivist design-based learning is that mediating functions of video tools may be used as cognitive and social supports, for example when students learn by solving design tasks in school.


Introduction: The development of tourism economy depends on air quality to a large extent, and good air quality is conducive to promoting the development of tourism economy. And it is crucial to understand the coupled and coordinated relationship between them. However, few studies have explored the coupling relationship between tourism and air quality. Therefore, it is necessary to further study the coupling relationship between tourism and air quality. Methods: In this study, an index system was constructed to evaluate the development status of tourism economy and air quality system, and the entropy value method was used to weight the indexes. Using panel data of Chinese provinces from 2014 to 2020, a coupled coordination model was established, focusing on the degree of coordination between tourism economy and air quality. Results: The empirical results show that during the sample period, China's tourism economic index is decreasing, and the regional development is unbalanced, showing the gradient of eastern region > central region > western region. The air quality index, on the other hand, fluctuates and increases, showing a spatial distribution pattern of "weekly high, high and low" of western region > eastern region > central region. The coupling coordination level of both regions shows an increasing trend, with the eastern region having the highest coupling coordination level and always in the stage of barely balanced development; the central region has the second highest coupling coordination level and the coupling coordination level is steadily increasing; the western region has the worst coupling coordination level and the coupling system tends to decline. The main type of coupling coordination effect is tourism economy lagged type, and the overall performance shows that the ambient air quality condition is better than the tourism economy development. Discussion: This study clearly reveals the evolution, degree and types of coupling coordination in the tourism economy and air quality of the two systems, which contributes to the understanding of coupling and synergy of industrial development and ecological environment. This research also expands the application field of the CCDM model, and has a certain methodology contribution for further exploring the synergy and symbiosis mechanism of tourism economy development and environmental change.


This paper explores the conflicts engendered during the artist's formation due to repeated submission to assessment in formal creative arts education. In a comparative qualitative study of two visuals arts practice undergraduate curricula, the underlying interpretative approaches to intentionality were uncovered to comprehend the impact of the hidden curriculum at those higher education institutions. Across both sites, nominal authenticity emerged consistently as the most valued criterion which artist-students referenced in their self-assessments of the success and quality of their artworks, and of their identities as members of the professional community of practice. This criterion for self-assessment ran parallel to, and at times against, the persistent disregard of the artist-students' actual intentionality as a valid referent within the summative assessment practices of both the academic institutions studied. Within this paper, constructions of creativity, authorship and the relationship of these to interpretation, set the scene for exploring the traces, slippages and nuances


Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element which accumulates in fish and other aquatic organisms from various sources and poses potential risk to the consumers. Methylmercury (MeHg), the common organic species of mercury, usually forms in aquatic environments and is known for neurotoxicity. In this study, the concentration of total Hg and MeHg in 12 commercial species of fish, shellfish, prawn, and crab from coastal areas of Goa were investigated. The total Hg contents varied between 18.5 -260 μg/kg; while the concentration of MeHg had a range of 7.2 -129 μg/kg. Both the ranges were well below the values recorded at other polluted coastal sites and also meet the permissible limits for human consumption. The interspecies comparison shows species from pelagic and benthic habitats with different food habits have significant difference in body loads of total Hg and MeHg, which increases across the trophic levels. The exposure to higher level of Hg in sediment is likely responsible for enhanced bio-concentration of Hg in benthic species as compared to the values in pelagic fishes.


The utility model provides a safety locomotive driving assistance system, relates to a locomotive control technology, and in particular relates to a system capable of utilizing the self physiological characteristic information of a drive to monitor the state. Accurate judgment can be finally worked out by collecting data on facial characteristic images, physiological characteristic information and alcohol concentration of exhaled breath, and the like, especially on heart rate, respiratory rate, head movement distance and standard change difference and the like of the driver and conducting comprehensive processing on the data, thus achieving the purposes of recognizing and monitoring the driver. The safety locomotive driving assistance system can be used for monitoring designated drivers, vehicle theft prevention, fatigue driving of drivers and the like, and has the characteristics of being accurate to judge and convenient to use.


Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a rare but catastrophic hematological cancer with a poor prognosis, high mortality, and relapse rates. Several new agents targeting specific genes or cell survival pathways have been recently approved by the FDA. AML treatment with single agents often results in resistance; therefore, combination therapies may provide more durable and effective responses. Rho kinases (ROCK1/2) are aberrantly expressed in AML patient cells, and ROCK1 has emerged lately as a potential therapeutic target for AML treatment. Previously, our group developed a new ROCK inhibitor DJ4 as an effective inducer of AML cell death. Our initial screening of DJ4 with AML standard therapy (cytarabine, daunorubicin, azacytidine, venetoclax) showed promising synergy between DJ4 and the BCL2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) inhibitor venetoclax (VEN). Enrichment of ROCK pathway in recent CRISPR drop-out screening after VEN treatment in MOLM-13 cells further validates the synergistic cooperation between ROCK and BCL2 pathways. Though VEN is widely used in hematological malignancies, its clinical efficacy is limited due to the development of resistance. Thus, we sought to investigate the novel strategy of combining VEN with ROCK inhibitors (ROCKi) for AML treatment. The combination of VEN with ROCKi (Fasudil, Y-27632, GSK269962A, DJ4) exhibited synergetic cytotoxicity in naïve (MOLM-13, MV4-11) and VEN-resistant (MV4-11/VENR, HL-60, OCI-AML3, U937) human AML cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis of Annexin V and cellular ROS levels in MV4-11 (naïve and VENR) cells upon co-treatment with sub-lethal doses of VEN and ROCKi demonstrated a significant (p<0.05) increase in the apoptosis and oxidative stress compared to single agents. Treatment of MV4-11 cells with VEN+ROCKi enhanced the activity of several caspases in the MultiCaspase assay. Furthermore, the colony-forming ability of AML cell lines and primary AML patient cells was significantly reduced with the combination treatment, while single agents exhibited minimal effects. MV4-11 (naïve and VENR) cells displayed alterations in the levels of critical apoptosis regulators (Bcl2, Bax, Mcl1, cleaved caspase-3) upon co-treatment in immunoblotting analysis. Additionally, MV4-11-Luc xenograft mice exhibited a significant reduction in the average leukemic burden after combination therapy relative to single agents (p<0.05). Altogether, our in vitro and in vivo findings established a synergetic interaction between VEN and ROCKi to effectively inhibit AML cell progression and overcome the VEN resistance (inherent or acquired). These results indicate that therapy co-targeting BCL2 and ROCK pathways exerted antileukemic activity by inducing apoptosis and may be particularly effective for AML treatment. Further studies are ongoing to explore the precise molecular mechanism of action of the VEN+ROCKi combination and its efficacy in pre-clinical animal models.
 Citation Format: Upendarrao Golla, Satyam Patel, Diwakar B. Tukaramrao, Jeremy Hengst, Juliana Restrepo, Shantu Amin, Dhimant Desai, Sinisa Dovat, David Claxton, Arati Sharma. ROCK inhibitors synergize with the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax for treatment of AML [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2677.


Since people around the world have gradually attached importance to resource conservation, various countries are actively taking measures to promote environmental protection and sustainable development. Green supply chain management (GSCM) have emerged in this context. Thus, in this essay, a novel intuitionistic fuzzy multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) method is designed to tackle this issue. First of all, CRITIC (Criteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation) method is utilized to determine the weights of criteria. Later, the conventional Taxonomy method is extended to the intuitionistic fuzzy environment to compute the value of development attribute of each supplier. Then, the optimal one can be determined. Eventually, an application about green supplier selection in steel industry is presented, and a comparative analysis is made to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method. The main features of the proposed algorithm are that they provide a practical solution for selecting GSCM and presents an objective weighting method to enhance the effectiveness of the algorithm.


Lived experience is increasingly viewed as an important means of informing mental health practice. In this case, the lived experience narrative comes from a father who experienced postnatal depression (PND). Yet, whilst men are increasingly sharing their experiences of PND in the public sphere, there have been limited advances in their quality of care and support during the perinatal period. Services for perinatal mental health problems are targeted towards mothers, with fathers not traditionally being seen as experiencing perinatal mental health problems. Despite a recent growth of paternal mental health scholarship, this has not translated into universal practice, although NHS England (2018) have stipulated that, in England, partners (fathers) should be supported if the mother of their child is mentally unwell. This disparity is arguably due to numerous factors, which are discussed here.


Stability of functional devices such as light-emitting devices and chemical or biological sensors is an important issue nowadays. Nanostructured silicon made using top-down methodologies is being employed as a material to develop such systems, but surface stability to external ambient conditions is still an open question. One of those important conditions is oxidation. Although there exist models accounting for the role of oxide layers on semiconductor systems, experimental data is still required to provide further useful information. In this paper, we perform oxidation processes to light-emitting nanostructured silicon and study the contribution of quantum dots and quantum wires to photoluminescence as surface oxidation evolves. Cross-correlations with infrared spectroscopy are also included.


In a note entitled "End of the Death Penalty in Britain" published in the Social Service Review of March 1970, it was stated that France and the United States are the two Western countries in which the death penalty remains.1 However, this is not accurate, as the Republic of South Africa, which prides itself on its Western, Christian heritage, also falls within this category. In fact, while France and the United States are engaged in consideration of the abolition of capital punishment, South Africa has increased the number of offenses for which a punishment of death by hanging may be imposed. In 1957 there were three such offenses?murder, rape, and treason. Since that time the number of separate offenses potentially incurring the supreme penalty has more than quadrupled. It now totals thirteen, although there is a certain amount of overlap between them. The ten offenses added to the list include actual or attempted robbery and housebreaking with aggravating circumstances and sabotage. For these offenses fifty-one persons were executed between 1958 and 1966. The other crimes that have been made capital offenses in recent times are terrorism, kidnapping, child-stealing, and certain offenses specified in the Suppression of Communism Act, but up to the present the death penalty has not been imposed for any of these. Furthermore, the South African legislature recently showed itself to be virtually unanimous in its acceptance of the status quo. In March 1969 the sole representative of the Progressive party in Parliament, 1 [It is indeed true that other Western countries ?Spain and Gibraltar, for example?still have the death penalty in their laws, though they may use it rarely. For comparative data see United Nations, Capital Punishment (2 parts; New York, 1968).?Editor.] Mrs. Helen Suzman, the member for Houghton, one of the wealthiest suburbs in


Abstract Myxofibrosarcoma or myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma is one of the most common sarcomas of the limb. It is usually treated multimodally. Most frequent sites of metastasis are the bone, lung and lymph nodes. The present paper is a case report of a 65-year-old male with myxofibrosarcoma of the fibularis longus muscle, for which he first underwent surgery - tumor resection with appropriate margins. The tumor was staged pT2b cN0 cM0. Postoperative PET-CT revealed metabolically inactive pulmonary nodules. Two months after surgery, he underwent adjuvant radiotherapy, a total dose of 60 Gy and 6 courses of chemotherapy (doxorubicin and ifosfamide). Pulmonary nodules have been stationary on all subsequent imagistic studies. He is free of recurrence on long-term follow-up.


As China's urbanization has shifted from high-speed to high-quality development, Urban Land Use Efficiency (ULUE) has become an important scale for evaluating urban connotative development. However, existing research has paid less attention to errors caused by different urban environmental factors and random disturbances in ULUE. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to eliminate the impact of environmental factors and random disturbances on ULUE measurement results by placing different cities under the same environmental conditions. First, a three-stage DEA envelopment analysis (T-DEA) model is introduced to calculate the ULUE of 16 prefecture-level cities in Anhui Province from 2001 to 2020. On this basis, the kernel density estimation model, gravity center model, and geographic detector models are used to study the spatial and temporal evolution and driving factors. The results show that (1) the ULUE increases nonlinearly with time, with an increase of 12.74%; (2) the overall peak of ULUE is on the rise, and changes from a single peak to a multi-peak, indicating that ULUE is constantly improving and that there is multi-level differentiation between different cities; (3) during the study period, the center of gravity of the ULUE value moved 22.66 km to the northwest; the overall moving distance was small, and the moving rate was slow; and (4) the influence of the interaction of double driving factors on ULUE is significantly greater than that of a single driving factor, and the factors of urban built-up area and degree of openness, as the key driving factors affecting ULUE, also have a degree of duality. In addition, to achieve efficient urban land use and to coordinate the environmental differences faced by different cities, the government must formulate systematic policies and development strategies considering the spatial characteristics of urban land use efficiency and the complexity of the driving factors.


May 2012 Volume 6, Number 3 CASEtools is an electronic publication of the Center for the Advanced Study of Excellence in Early Childhood and Family Support Practices, Family, Infant and Preschool Program, J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center, Morganton, NC. CASE is an applied research center focusing on the characteristics of evidence-based practices and methods for promoting utilization of practices informed by research.


The aim of the research is to compare the reaction times of kata and kumite athletes participating in national and international competitions in karate. A total of 108 male competitive athletes, including 40 kata competition athletes between the ages of 18-32 and 68 kumite competition athletes between the ages of 18-29, participated in the research voluntarily. In the research, some physical characteristics of kata and kumite athletes and right-left hand visual and right-left hand auditory reaction time tests were performed. T-Test was applied to determine the difference between groups at the α=0.05 significance level in all independent groups. A statistically significant difference was detected in training age, height and right hand visual reactions (p<0.05) among male kata and kumite athletes participating in the competitions. It can be said that these differences are due to the differences in kata and kumite training methods.


The couple can decide their identity and property rights by arrangement divorce.The nature is to change status and property relationship.The common property should be handled based on the agreement reached by two parties in the divorce.While the common property which they forget to handle usually lead to disputes in practice.This kind of situation should be treated in different ways.


Passive coherent location (PCL) radars employ noncooperative transmitters for target detection. The major issues for the PCL radars are the noise presence in the reference signal and the static clutter contribution in the surveillance signal. This paper examines the static clutter suppression methods for the DVB-T based PCL radars. Precisely, it evaluates the impact of the reference signal noise on the existing static clutter suppression methods and it proposes an improved method. Real-data results are employed to demonstrate the proposed method and its efficiency.


MOST available methods for converting pulse height to pulse width use high-amplitude pulses requiring linear amplifiers, but its size and economy make the low-level, 2-transistor circuit used here most desirable. It achieves linear rundown, and a conversion from pulse height to pulse width can be achieved by adding a differentiating circuit. The circuit forms a linear rundown activated by a constant current generator discharging a capacitor. Because the rundown length is directly proportional to pulse height, it can convert pulse height to width efficiently.


In Chapter 13, it was shown that the complexity of the LBE collision operator can be cut down dramatically by formulating discrete versions with prescribed local equilibria. In this chapter, the process is taken one step further by presenting a minimal formulation whereby the collision matrix is reduced to the identity, upfronted by a single relaxation parameter, fixing the viscosity of the lattice fluid. The idea is patterned after the celebrated Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) model Boltzmann introduced in continuum kinetic theory as early as 1954. The second part of the chapter describes the comeback of the early LBE in optimized multi-relaxation form, as well as few recent variants hereof.


A method combining Green's function retrieval theory and sign coherence factor (SCF) imaging is presented to detect near-surface defects in rails. The defects are close to the ultrasonic phased array and near-surface acoustic information of defects is obscured by the non-linear effects
 of the initial wave signal in directly acquired responses. To overcome this problem, cross-correlations of the diffuse field signals captured by the array transducer are performed to reconstruct the Green's function. SCF imaging is used to further improve the spatial resolution and signal-to-noise
 ratio (SNR) of near-surface defects in rails. Experiments are conducted on two rails containing two and four defects, respectively. The results show that these defects can be clearly identified when using the reconstructed Green's function. However, the images of near-surface defects are masked
 and cannot be distinguished when using directly captured signals and total focus imaging. The proposed method reduces the background noise and allows for effective imaging of near-surface defects in rails.


Philosophers like to talk about propositions. There are many reasons for this. Perhaps the most common is that philosophers are sometimes more interested in the content of a thought or utterance than in the particular sentence or utterance that might express it on some occasion. Propositions are offered as these contents. Like many philosophical notions, this one has been the subject of extensive debate. For instance, it has been challenged on the basis of Quinean queasiness about intensional objects, and Chomskian qualms about the explanatory value of truth-conditional semantics. These are foundational worries about the notion of proposition. But there is another kind of worry about propositions, which leads to the topic of this essay. The notion of proposition has been used to make some highly contentious philosophical claims. In particular, strong claims have been made by declaring that particular utterances, or whole classes of utterances, do not express propositions. Consider the following classes:


For the purposes of manipulation, we would like to know what parts of the environment are physically coherent ensembles, that is, which parts will move together, and which are more or less independent. It takes a great deal of experience before this judgement can be made from purely visual information. This paper develops active strategies for acquiring that experience through experimental manipulation, using tight correlations between arm motion and optic flow to detect both the arm itself and the boundaries of objects with which it comes into contact.


Objective To investigate the expressions of growth associated protein (GAP) mRNA and to explore the regeneration characteristics of GAP 43 +nerves after splenic autotransplantation in rats. Methods A total of 108 healthy Wistar rats (both sexes, weight: 100~120 g) were randomly divided into two groups: splenectomy and splenic autotransplantation group and sham operation group. The expressions of GAP 43 mRNA were detected on days 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 by RT PCR and quantitatively determined with image analysis. Results Expression of GAP 43 mRNA was found in splenic autograft on day 30, reached the peak on day 90 and nearly reached the level of the normal splenic tissues on days 120~180 after operation. Conclusion There is expression of GAP 43 mRNA in the splenic autograft. The expression is closely associated with the regeneration of nerve fiber in the splenic autograft.


Having (57) Abstract: resistance gas sensor a gas detection layer is covered as a layer on the array of electrodes having unequal gaps (22, 24) therebetween (12, 14) (11). Signals from different electrode represents the resistance of the different regions of the detection layer. Layer is applied as Aso a series, the application of each sub-layer to modify the microstructure of the previous Aso. Change in microstructure of the resulting detection layer (11) is no, is used for identifying a reactive gas and low reactive gas. This sensor may be used in the home for the detection of carbon monoxide.


In radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, intraprocedural assessment of treatment efficacy relies on indirect measures of adequate tissue destruction. Direct sensing of diffuse reflectance spectral changes at the ablation site using optically integrated RFA catheters has been shown to enable accurate prediction of lesion dimensions, ex vivo. Challenges of optical guidance can be due to obtaining reliable measurements under various catheter‐tissue contact orientations. In this work, addressed this limitation by assessing the feasibility of monitoring lesion progression using single‐fiber reflectance spectroscopy (SFRS). A total of 110 endocardial lesions of various sizes were generated in freshly excised swine right ventricular tissue using a custom‐built, irrigated SFRS‐RFA catheter. Models were developed for assessing catheter‐tissue contact, the presence of nontransmural or transmural lesions and lesion depth percentage. These results support the use of SFRS‐based catheters for irrigated lesion assessment and motivate further exploration of using multi‐SFRS catheters for omnidirectionality.


In aid of a zoogeographical survey of the mammals of Transvaal, Republic of South Africa, the National Parks Board of Trustees kindly allowed the author to study the reference collection of small mammals from the Kruger National Park, during August 1974. This collection at Skukuza formed the basis of a checklist for smaller mammals of the Kruger National Park (Pienaar 1964, 1972).


Many countries in East and South East Asia have erected trade barriers at various times since 1945. Many retail markets have therefore been closed to outside influence and investment. In the 1990s however such measures are being reversed and markets in East and South East Asia are becoming increasingly open. This openness is both a willing embrace of outside investment and a less willing acceptance of external pressures. This paper reviews the changes taking place and concludes that those retailers taking advantage of the opportunities are faced with a variety of problems. Indeed, it would seem that the removal of international trade barriers simply leads to their replacement with more difficult domestic market policies.


With the continuous development of computer big data technology, the form of artistic expression is constantly changing, and the expression form and content of art are increasingly diversified. In the era of big data, traditional element design is gradually broken, new design innovations have penetrated people's lives, and visual communication design has also changed accordingly. Traditional elements play an irreplaceable role in visual communication design. How designers can better adapt to the requirements of the era of big data, designers innovate the application value of visual elements, and designers design more accurate communication of visual information has become one of the hotspots focus of the current people. From the perspective of visual communication information, this paper systematically studies the characteristics of visual communication design under the background of big data fusion and discusses its application innovation inspired.


In order to obtain cover and pump body of tin bronze Tonghai pump that is dense and good pressure resistance,the casting mold of the cover of Tonghai pump is metal mold. The casting method of Tonghai pump is vacuum counter-pressure casting.The method of casting pump body of Tonghai pump is vacuum investment casting. This research is about reasonable casting process parameters of vacuum counter-pressure casting and vacuum investment casting.Finally qualified castings of cover and pump body of Tonghai pump can be obtained.


Abstract In the progression from fetus through childhood to adulthood, important physiological differences and changes are seen in thermoregulation, control of breathing, pulmonary mechanics, fluid homeostasis, bilirubin metabolism, haemoglobin and cardiovascular physiology. Babies are especially prone to losing heat, and the smaller the baby, the greater this loss. Heat production is by non-shivering thermogenesis and the ideal environmental temperature for the neonate is known as the neutral thermal environment. In the kidneys, by 34 weeks' gestation, glomerulogenesis and nephrogenesis are complete. However, even at term, the glomeruli are much smaller than in adults, and tubular function does not reach adult levels until 12 months of age. Cardiovascular physiology and anatomy also change with age. In the newborn baby there is right ventricular dominance and these anatomical changes are reflected in the neonatal ECG, which has some important differences to paediatric and adult ECGs. Interpretation is therefore age related. Fetal red cells contain a unique haemoglobin (haemoglobin F) that has a higher affinity for oxygen and the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve is shifted to the left of the adult curve. From birth, haemoglobin concentrations fall and this physiological anaemia of the newborn is a normal adaptation to extrauterine life. In babies there is an increased rate of bilirubin production due to an increased red blood cell mass and shortened erythrocyte half-life. Bilirubin metabolism pathways are immature and a rise in unconjugated bilirubin in the first 2 weeks of life is almost universal.


Within the context of creative information communities in general, fiction writers remain a relatively understudied community. This article seeks to rectify that gap by highlighting the information behaviors of fiction writers, including the ways in which they network, as well as the processes they use when writing. In doing so, it reveals that fiction writers of all genres have many experiences in common, such as the "seed incident" that serves as the starting point when writing fiction. In addition, it examines fiction writers' impact on readers, with the implication that everyone--writers and non-writers alike--would benefit from understanding fiction writers' information behaviors. Most importantly, this literature review argues that further research on writers' authorial archives would greatly enhance our understanding of this group's information behaviors. These archives are arguably the single most valuable tool to understanding both fiction writers themselves and the writing process in general.


This paper stems from two assertions. The first is that of John Downing who, on the occasion of a keynote address for the 2006 Media Democracy Day in Montréal, stated that what radical media truly needed to catch more of an audience than the already-converted was to start reporting more than just the cycle of protest and repression, to be more aware of what radical media forms do for the subjects that consume them, and to not be imbricated in the notion that the "counter-informational model" is the beginning and end of radical media production.1 What he meant by these statements is that rather than assume (and rail against) the dominance of mainstream media, radical media should self-consciously take part in building an alternative public sphere that could then grow to rival the mainstream. In mediating more than just reports on protests or oppressive, hegemonic forms of governance, and by including aspects that addressed humour and emotion (for example), a radical public sphere (as Downing considers it) could catch the attention of the general public, who would then be exposed to the more significant radical messages therein. In short, his suggestion is that perhaps the way to real change is through a radical alternative world-building that, in its breadth and subtlety, might have the force to shake an oppressive media system to its foundations more effectively than the blunt force of oppositional media incursions alone.


AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of duloxetine and venlafaxine in the treatment of depression and anxiety comorbided disorder.METHODS Seventy-six patients with depression and anxiety comorbided disorder were chosen into the 8-week open-label study.The initial doses of duloxetine versus venlafaxine were 20 mg versus 50 mg bid daily,and increased to 60 mg versus 200 mg daily in 7-10 days.The efficacies were evaluated with Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and the safety profiles were assessed with the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS).RESULTS Seventythree effective patients were completed,37 patients (age 52 ± s 14) in duloxetine group and 36 patients (age 47 ± 13) in venlafaxine group.Consistent with the Per-protocol sets at the end of 8 wk,the total effective rate was 89% in the duloxetine group (reduced rate ≥ 50%) and 94% in the duloxetine group,with no statistically significant difference.At 2,4,8 wk of the treatment,the total scores of HAMD and HAMA and factor scores of two groups were both significantly decreased (P 0.01).The reduction of the total scores of HAMD and factor scores of cognitive impairment factor in the duloxetine group were lower than that of the venlafaxine group at the end of 4 wk and 8 wk (P 0.05,P 0.01),while the reduction of factor scores of psychosomatic anxiety and retardation were statistically lower than that of the venlafaxine group at the end of 2,8 wk (P 0.05),respectively.The total scores of HAMA and factor scores of somatic anxiety were higher than that of the venlafaxine group at the end of 2 wk (P 0.05).According to the Safety Analysis Set,the incidence of sleepy drowsiness,dry mouth,and constipation in duloxetine group were significantly higher than that in venlafaxine group (P 0.05,P 0.01) and other adverse reactions had no significant difference (P 0.05).CONCLUSION Duloxetine and venlafaxine possesse similiar effectiveness and safety in the treatment of depression and anxiety comorbided disorder.


Based on single factor fermentation study, L9(34) orthogonal experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of the addition level of Eucommia powder and wine yeast, the prior fermentation temperature and the late fermentation temperature on flavonoid (efficient ingredients in the wine) content. Single factor experiment results showed that the best conditions were as follows: 0.3 % addition level of wine yeast, 8 % addition level of Eucommia powder, prior fermentation temperature at 20~25 ℃, and late fermentation temperature at 15~20 ℃. Besides, the orthogonal experiment results indicated that the effects of the main factors on flavonoid content ranked in decreasing sequence as follows: prior fermentation temperature, addition level of wine yeast, addition level of Eucommia powder, and late fermentation temperature. The most suitable technical conditions for fermetation was A1B2C2D2 , that is, the addition level of wine yeast was 0.2 %, the addition level of Eucommia powder was 6 %, prior fermentation temperature was at 25 ℃, and late fermentation temperature was at 20 ℃. Through validation experiments, the total content of flavonoids was 222.8 μg/mL and alcohol content was 12.6 %. The variance analysis indicated that all the factors did not significantly influence flavonoids content in Eucommia rice wine .


Studies of war published in the last twenty years by distinguished historians who are not military specialists represent a call to military historians to engage these studies on the common ground of war itself, in effect working to bridge the gulf that has kept military historians on the margins of the historical profession. None of these studies is flawless, but at the same time their great value calls for constructive help from military historians who study the same wars, and who can build on these works to achieve more satisfactory syntheses.


Today, cesarean section rates are increasing worldwide for varied and complex reasons. To examine this more closely, several countries have adopted the 10-group classification of cesarean sections, also known as the Robson classification. This classification aims to monitor and compare cesarean section rates in a standard, reliable, and indication-based way. In the vision of improving the quality of care and especially rationalizing cesarean section rates, this descriptive and retrospective study, which lasted ten months, considered a population of parturients who had given birth by cesarean section at the maternity ward of the Cheikh Khalifa Hospital in Casablanca. Using Robson's classification system, data on deliveries can be compared between different regions of Morocco or between different time periods. This allows assessment of trends, geographic outcomes, and temporal variations in environment-related obstetric outcomes, which can help identify specific maternal health issues and develop targeted policies. We first listed all cesarean deliveries and then classified them into ten groups (Robson's classification) to highlight the contribution of each group to the overall cesarean rate and to explain the discrepancies for which we proposed recommendations. This study considered 890 cases, of which 541 required a cesarean section, a 61% rate higher than that recommended by the WHO (15%) and the national rate (21%). Robson's classification identified group 10 as contributing most to the overall cesarean rate (43.4%). Namely, this group included singleton pregnancies with a cephalic presentation, gestational age < 37 weeks, and a scarred uterus. This group's relative size and cesarean section rate were 68% and 63%, respectively. Cesarean section should be considered a surgical procedure, considering the potential maternal and neonatal risks involved and ensuring that the indication for cesarean section is tangible, based on the Robson classification, among other things.


Abstract : The U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, operates Richard B. Russell (RBR) Dam and Lake which is located on the Savannah River approximately 16 miles southeast of Elberton, Georgia. RBR Lake is located between two other Federal projects: Hartwell Dam and Lake on the upstream side, and J. Strom Thurmond (JST) Dam and Lake on the downstream side. The RBR powerhouse contains four conventional generation units, and four reversible pump-turbines. The pump-turbines can be used to generate power, or they can be reversed and used as pumps to move water from JST Lake to RBR Lake during periods of low power demand to replenish upstream storage for subsequent peak generation needs. Potential environmental concerns associated with pump storage include entrainment of fish from the afterbay (JST Lake) during pumping, an increase in entrainment of fish from the forebay (RBR Lake) during generation resulting from generating with eight units versus four, and changes in the water quality regime of both RBR and JST Lakes. In view of these potential environmental concerns, the Savannah District initiated an exhaustive study in 1986, the Richard B. Russell Fish Entrainment Study. The major objectives of this study were to provide baseline data on the fish community of JST Lake, predict entrainment and fish mortality, develop fish protection measures, and monitor entrainment through the units. Ongoing water quality studies in JST and RBR Lakes were modified and expanded to supplement the fishery studies and address water quality concerns. No study identified any factor which indicated that commercial operation of the pumpback units at RBR would produce irreparable impacts to the aquatic ecosystems at RBR and JST Lakes.


Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combined therapy with entecavir( ETV) and adefovir dipivoxil( ADV) in patients with lamivudine( LAM)-resistant chronic hepatitis B( CHB). Methods A total of 45 patients who were diagnosed with LAM-resistant CHB and admitted to the Kunshan People's Hospital from May 2011 to May 2013 were recruited in this study and randomly divided to two groups. The treatment group included 23 CHB patients who received the combined therapy with ETV and ADV. The control group included 22 CHB patients who received the combined therapy with LAM and ADV. The changes in levels of HBV DNA,alanine aminotransferase( ALT),aspartate aminotransferase( AST),total bilirubin( TBil),albumin( Alb),and HBV serum markers before and after 4,12,24,and 48 weeks of treatment,as well as the rate of mutations other than that at rtM204 I after 48 weeks of treatment,were measured in both groups. Comparison of continuous data between groups was made by t test,and comparison of categorical data by fourfold table chi-square test. Results The levels of ALT and AST in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment( t = 3. 124,5. 271,4. 476,5. 125,all P 0. 01),as well as 24 and 48 weeks of treatment( t = 2. 240,2. 307,2. 886,2. 908,all P 0. 05). The serum HBV DNA clearance rates in the treatment group after 4,12,24,and 48 weeks of treatment were73. 9%,86. 8%,95. 7%,and 100%,respectively,all of which were significantly higher than those in the control group( χ2= 11. 79,5. 75,10. 29,5. 89,respectively,all P 0. 05). However,there was no significant difference in the HBeAg seroconversion rate among HBeAg-positive patients between the two groups. No mutations other than that at rtM204 I were found in the treatment group,while four new mutations were detected in the control group( χ2= 4. 59,P 0. 05). Conclusion The combined therapy with ETV and ADV has good therapeutic effect in treating LAM-resistant CHB patients,and the clinical application is highly recommended.


Klingmuller made the first description of two brothers with this dysmorphic pattern in 1956 and it was Giedion who, a decade later, used the name tricho-rhino-phalangeal for this syndrome. Phenotypically, three types are described with different clinical gradations. Type I or Giedion syndrome is the one that shows the highest incidence worldwide, has a lower severity in the clinical phenotype. It is transmitted with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. The case of a 10-year-old patient is reported. The patient had a dysmorphic pattern and typical radiological findings that led to the clinical diagnosis of this syndrome. A detailed delineation of the clinical and behavioral phenotype of the patient is conducted, as well as the differential diagnosis with other genetic syndromes with a similar dysmorphic pattern.


1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ONT, Canada N6A 5B9 2 Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA 3 Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07307, USA 4China Electric Power Research Institute, No. 15, Xiaoying Road, Qinghe, Haidian, Beijing 100192, China 5 School of Computer Science, University of Windsor, Windsor, ONT, Canada N9B 3P4


Abstract The following is an essay of reflections from a veteran academic of her lived experiences in the academy resulting in an unearthing of underlying principles for developing and communicating one's professional identity. I discuss the role of passion and authenticity; the need to seek, give, and lead support; and the essence of collective creativity for continuous professional growth. This article is useful to new academics working to seed purposeful professional lives and for colleagues and faculty professional developers working to support their efforts.


The ubiquitous coverage/connectivity requirement to wireless cellular networks has shifted mobile network operators' (MNOs) interest toward dense deployment of small cells with coverage areas that are much smaller as compared to macrocell base stations (MBSs). Multi-operator small cells could provide virtualization of network resources (infrastructure and spectrum) and enable its efficient utilization, such as: uninterrupted services to users and opportunity to avoid under-utilization of resources. However, a MNO with exclusive ownership to network resources would have little incentive to utilize its precious resources to serve users of other MNOs. In this regards, considering network resources scarcity and under-utilization, this paper provides mechanism for multi-operator small cells collaboration through negotiation that establishes mutual agreement acceptable to all involved parties, i.e., a win-win situation for the collaborating MNOs.


The recent advances and present status of magnesium alloy after micro-arc oxidation were described.And the effects of electrolyte constituents and electric parameteron properties of micro-arc oxidation ceramic coating were introduced.The development trends of micro-arc oxidation on magnesium alloy were pointed out.


In this paper we addressed the difficult problem of key management in mobile Ad Hoc networks. A self-organized public-key management scheme is proposed that does not rely on any trusted third party, not even in the network initialization phase. To distribute keys to the neighboring nodes we have taken help of inherent properties of DSDV routing algorithm. To exchange the keys of each node with other node in network, by checking the chain appended with entry & based on trust relationship. We also implemented fault handling strategy. New DSDV results are shown with help of X-graph, NS-2. General Terms: Ad-hoc Network Security, Public Management system for Ad Hoc network Key-Words: Ad-hoc Network, DSDV, keymanagement, simulation Ns-2, self-organized.


Decreasing the Primary Cesarean Delivery Rate by Lena Marie Fabian MSN, University of Cincinnati, 2008 BSN, Norwich University, 2004 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice


The objective of the present titration work was to develop a product belonging to the bakery industry based on a commercial formulation with the addition of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) as a protein and ferric enhancer for children from one to eight years old. Three formulations with different concentrations of spirulina of 1 percent (MS1), 2 percent (MS2) and 3 percent (MS3) were carried out. The effect of this incorporation in the nutritional and sensory characteristics of the muffin was evaluated by means of proximal and bromatological chemical analysis, performing acceptability analysis for attributes of flavor, color, odor and texture by means of a five-point facial hedonic scale and significant differences were found for the analyses (Tuckey at 5 percent). As a result, it was concluded that chocolate muffin with a concentration of 1 percent spirulina (MS1) had a greater acceptance. A proximal chemical analysis of the muffin was also carried out, obtaining nutritional information of each type of formulation, as a result a percentage of iron and gradual protein was obtained between the 1 percent, 2 percent and 3 percent treatments with the addition of spirulina, the treatment (MS3). It was concluded that it is the one that has the greatest amount of iron and protein due to the fact that the highest percentage of the algae was incorporated, that is 3 percent of spirulina, it was the best with respect to the amount of macro and micronutrients. Finally, a cost-benefit analysis was carried out in which it was proven that muffin production is feasible, given that the IRR is 32 percent, to reach the equilibrium point it must generate income of USD 87808.07, which represents 146346.78 units with a variable cost of 0.20 cents and finally a retail price of 0.60 cents.


With the research methods of literature study,video observation and statistics,the paper analyzes the skills and tactics of the three competitions,ZHANG Kai-ying vs. Wehad in Tailand,CAO Yao-min vs. Wehad and LIU Ceng-ceng vs. Wehad. The research reveals that fists and kicks are used the most in the three compeititons and the use of whip-leg is apparent;there is no significant difference between the physical ability of the two opponents; CAO Yao-min and LIU Ceng-ceng have less experience than Wehad;Wehad can inflict heavier losses on the opponents while the three Chinese athletes lack this effect in the wrestling skills.


A grid generation and adaptation procedure based on the method of transfinite interpolation is incorporated into the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method of Bird. In addition, time is advanced based on a local criterion. The resulting procedure is used to calculate steady flows past wedges and cones. Five chemical species are considered. In general, the modifications result in a reduced computational effort. Moreover, preliminary results suggest that the simulation method is time step dependent if requirements on cell sizes are not met.


Composting is a low-cost option and a relatively simple process for organic solid wastes stabilization. In this sense, the aim of this study was to evaluate the textile sludge bioestabilization process disposed with napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) using swine wastewater (SW) as a microorganisms inoculation source and to correct moisture. The treatments with SW used were: 60% textile sludge + 40% napier grass (T1); 50% textile sludge + 50% + napier grass (T2); 40% textile sludge + 60% napier grass (T3); 100% textile sludge (T4); with four replicates in a completely randomized design. The parameters that characterize the compost quality obtained in each plot (pH, U, OM, C, N, P, K, Ca +2 , Na + , C/N) after the biostabilization process, were submitted to normality test and after, to analysis of variance and mean comparison test, using the Scott-Knott test at 5% significance level. From the CO 2 emission results and the Mineralized Carbon Percentage obtained, regression curves were adjusted and comparison curves tests were made in order to compare the bioestabilization dynamics between treatments. From the results and the experimental conditions was possible to conclude that the treatments with 60% textile sludge + 40% napier grass, 50% textile sludge + 50% napier grass and 40% textile sludge + 60% napier grass presented similar biostabilization final rates and different from treatment 100% textile sludge; the degradation percentages found for treatments 60% textile sludge + 40% napier grass + SW, 50% textile sludge + 50% + napier grass + SW, 40% textile sludge + 60% napier grass + SW and 100% textile sludge + SW were 16.28%, 15.93%, 14.85% and 11.53%, respectively.


The invention discloses a control method on the basis of a discrete incremental distribution-order PI (proportion and integration) controller. The control method includes steps of 1), analyzing a distribution-order integrator in a time domain; 2), establishing a continuous mathematical model G (s) of a controlled object and analyzing the continuous mathematical model G (s) in a frequency domain; 3), establishing a distribution-order PI controller C(s) and analyzing the distribution-order PI controller C(s) in the frequency domain; 4), acquiring a system open-loop transfer function L(s)=G(s)XC(s) according to the steps 2) and 3), and then determining parameters of the controller according to design rules of the robust distribution-order PI controller; 5), digitally implementing the discrete incremental distribution-order PI controller; 6), enabling the distribution-order PI controller to perform self-adjusting; 7), operating a genetic algorithm on the distribution-order IC controller. The control method has the advantages that merits of a fraction-order method are inherited by a distribution-order operator of the control method, and the distribution-order operator has a large amount of unique characteristics.


Films of EVA/ZnO composites prepared to be piezoelectric active elements for ultrasonic transducers. These films are prepared by solvent casting technique. Different ZnO percentages were used (1, 2, 3 and 4%). The EVA/ZnO composites were characterized using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The mechanical properties were studied by both ultrasonic measurements and a tensile testing machine. By TGA, thermal properties of EVA/ZnO composites were determined. The piezoelectric properties of films investigated. To evaluate the films as piezoelectric material: acoustic impedance, frequency, sensitivity, ultrasonic attenuation coefficient and quality factor measured. The results deduced that the most suitable composite was EVA/ZnO 3%; It almost met the criteria of the highly sensitive ultrasonic transducer of high frequency. In addition, the prepared films of different ZnO concentrations could operate under high temperatures. Therefore, they could be used in high-temperature transducers.


The purpose of this article is to present a short model-theoretic proof of the valuation property for a polynomially bounded, o-minimal theory T . The valuation property was conjectured by van den Dries [1], and proved for the polynomially bounded case by van den Dries– Speissegger [4] and for the power bounded case by Tyne [11]. Our proof uses the transfer principle for the theory Tconv (theory T with an extra unary symbol denoting a proper convex subring) which — together with quantifier elimination — is due to van den Dries–Lewenberg [2]. The main tools applied here are saturation, the Marker–Steinhorn theorem on parameter reduction [8] and heir-coheir amalgams (see e.g. [6], Chap. 6). The significance of the valuation property lies to a great extent in its geometric content: it is equivalent to the preparation theorem (which says, roughly speaking, that every definable function of several variables depends piecewise on any fixed variable in a certain simple fashion). This theorem originates in Parusinski [9, 10] for subanalytic functions, and in Lion–Rolin [7] for logarithmic-exponential functions. Van den Dries–Speissegger [5] have proved the preparation theorem in the o-minimal setting (for functions definable in a polynomially bounded structure or logarithmic-exponential over such a structure). Also, the valuation property makes it possible to establish quantifier elimination for polynomially bounded expansions of the real field R with exponential function and logarithm (see [4, 3]). 2001 Mathematics Subject Classification: 03C64, 12J25, 14P15.


ABSTRACT Organic seston was studied in a 3rd-4th order impounded river in southwestern Virginia, U.S.A. the hypolimnetic release reservoir had an area of 67-ha and was located in a 4860-ha watershed (90% forested). the objective of this study was to determine reservoir effects on seston quality by measuring microbial activity (respiratory electron transport) and chlorophyll a on river and reservoir seston. Seston was significantly more concentrated upstream of the reservoir than at other sites due to lentic sedimentation. Chlorophyll a associated with reservoir seston was significantly higher than either imports or exports suggesting that reservoir seston was of higher quality than riverine seston. Seston microbial activity data supported this conclusion to some extent, being higher in the reservoir than at upstream sites and immediately below the dam. Five km downstream however, chlorophyll a levels were still low but seston microbial activity increased. We believe this to be a result of both greater num...


This article describes a new concrete armour unit called the CORE-LOCTM. The armour units are primarily intended for the protection of coastal and shoreline structures exposed to high wave energy, but the efficiency of the unit makes it suitable for a broad range of applications. The core-loc units interlock in a random matrix to form a highly stable, highly porous armour layer. Stability tests are described which show the core-loc to be one of the most stable randomly-placed armour units ever tested. Stability tests are also described which show that the unit is an improved repair unit for dolos armour layers. Structural numerical simulations show the maximum tensile stress in unreinforced core-locs to be below those of dolos and tribar units and similar to those in accorpode units, resulting in no need for steel reinforcement. Finally, the core-loc armour layer volume is shown to be less than that of layers comprised of other commonly used armour units. Three-dimensional stability tests of the proposed Noyo, California, Harbour breakwater are summarized.


We propose an improved channel estimator for reuse-1 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) cellular systems. The proposed channel estimation technique exploits delay subspace structure in reducing the interference on channel estimation. The proposed pilot-based channel estimation technique initially estimates the multipath delay locations of both the desired and interference channels. In estimating multipath delays, we assume that the time-of-flight difference between the desired and interfering signals ensures that the multipath delay locations of the corresponding channels are distinct. This information is used to suppress interference in the multipath-delay domain, and define a channel interpolator with a lower normalized mean squared error (NMSE) when compared to the conventional modified least-squares technique (mLS). We also derive the analytical expression for the bit-error-rate of a zero- forcing (ZF) receiver based on the proposed channel estimator. In particular, we show that for uncoded OFDM, the match between the estimated BER and analytical BER is very good and the proposed estimator can outperform mLS by more than a order of magnitude in BER if the interference on the data subcarriers is significantly lower than the interference seen on the pilot subcarriers. Simulation results are also presented with turbo-coded OFDM which further demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed algorithm.


Summary Introduction Very few epilepsy phenotypes have been associated with causative genes; nevertheless, it is becoming possible, for some epilepsy phenotypes, to predict the most efficacious anti-epileptic drugs for patients based on their genetic makeup. The development of individualized medicine based on genetic information and the genetic diagnosis of epilepsy are expected to greatly improve the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Here, we developed a DNA array (resequencing array) for the genetic diagnosis of epilepsies in which 14 epilepsy – related genes (SCN1A, SCN1B, CHRNA4, CHRNA7, CHRNB2, GABRA1, GABRD, GABRG2, CACNB4, CLCN2, KCNQ2, KCNQ3, CACNA1A, and CACNA1H) have been mounted. Aim The aim of the present study is to evaluate the performance of our custom array in detecting the SCN1A mutations in patients with severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy. Material and methods We compared mutation data generated by DNA array sequencing of DNA samples from patients with severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy to the data generated by capillary sequencing. Results Heterozygosity was detected in 44 of 48 patients (92%). We successfully identified epilepsy mutations, and the results of DNA array analyses were largely consistent with the results of capillary sequencing analysis. Conclusion These findings indicate that this DNA array is likely to be a useful tool in clinical settings.


Industrial briquette coal has a broad market demand and opens up the way for the efficient use of pulverized coal and peats.Some problems in the civilian use of briquette coal are analyzed.


It is well known that regenerating axons enter Schwann cell (SC) columns, within which they grow to reinnervate the appropriate targets. The current study detected a marked induction of a 27‐kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) in the SC columns of crush‐injured rat sciatic nerves. Immunohistochemical studies showed the first appearance of strong HSP27‐immunoreactive linear structures in the proximal stump near an injury site 7 h after an operation. The HSP27‐immunoreactive linear structures crossed the injury site to the distal stump 2 days after the operation. They then extended in a more proximal and more distal direction and were found to have propagated through the entire length of the nerve 1 week after the operation. This pattern of expression was maintained until 3 weeks after the operation. Double‐immunofluorescent labeling and confocal laser microscopy confirmed that the linear structures consisted of SC columns and associated multiple axons. The HSP27‐immunoreactive SC columns expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein, but not S‐100 protein. Electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that reactive Schwann cells (SCs) and the associated axons with an outgrowing profile exhibited a strong immunoreactivity to HSP27, with the former containing a greater number of bundles of intermediate filaments. It is suggested that HSP27 may play an essential role in axonal outgrowth, especially by contributing to cytoskeletal dynamics in SCs. GLIA 42:1–11, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Numbers: 51772081, 51807167, 51837009, 51922090, U19A20105 Abstract As common electric contact materials, copper‐carbon electrode pairs are widely used in the field of electric contact such as in high‐speed railways, motor collector rings and grounding brushes. They play a key role in energy transmission in the above‐mentioned systems. Arc erosion has become a key issue threatening system safety. In this work, a dedicated arc erosion platform was built to study the polarity effect of copper‐carbon electrode pairs. It was found that arc dynamics and electrodes erosion behaviours were significantly different under different polarities, which could be understood from the mechanism of heat transfer, cooling and electron emission of the electrode. Then, when the carbon material was used as an anode, the arc caused carbon transfer: the carbon material sublimated quickly due to electron condensation and thermal conduction and quickly condensed on the low‐temperature metal electrode, while the carbon material transfer could partly inhibit the oxidation of the cathode metal electrode. In addition, the rapid sublimation of the carbon material produced high‐temperature airflow, which would make the arc impedance fluctuate and cause the arc voltage to jump. Finally, the anode heat transfer and cathode cooling mechanism directly affected the material state, and the erosion of the anode material was more serious.


Simple Summary Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects over 80% of old, non-castrated male dogs. In many cases, the severity of the symptoms means that treatment is required. The treatment of choice is surgical castration, which is unacceptable for the owners of stud dogs who are interested in therapy that does not exclude their animals from breeding. In those cases, treatment with deslorelin acetate or osaterone acetate offers an alternative to surgery. The aim of our study was to compare the changes in semen parameters over time. The deslorelin acetate implant gradually, during the course of its action, led to a full prevention the stud dogs from mating. However, in the first week following implant placement, in some individuals we observed an increase in sperm concentration (flare up effect), offering the possibility to obtain sperm in valuable dogs before the action of deslorelin acetate is completely established, precluding semen collection. On the other hand, osaterone acetate allowed for the continuous reproductive use of a stud dog, as it only affected some semen parameters, and mainly caused a temporary reduction in semen volume with the subsequent increase in semen concentration without altering the libido. Abstract Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common problems in older male dogs that often has a huge impact on their health and welfare. This article presents a comparison between osaterone acetate (Ypozane®; Virbac®)(OA) and deslorelin acetate (Suprelorin®; Virbac®)(DA), medications that are the main therapeutic alternative to castration in dogs with BPH. Forty dogs were divided into four groups: I—negative control (five dogs without BPH); II—positive control (10 individuals diagnosed with BPH); III—15 dogs treated with DA, and IV—10 individuals treated with OA. Semen fractions were collected on days 0 (day of treatment), 7, 14, and 21, and weeks 8, 12, 16, and 20. Macroscopic, microscopic and CASA analyses were performed. Both DA and OA significantly affected the properties of the canine ejaculate. The DA lead to the lack of libido and had lesser effects to the sperm function before it caused azoospermia, whereas OA had no effect on libido and only temporary reduction in seminal plasma volume was observed, which resulted in temporary deterioration in the percentage of motile and progressive spermatozoa.


: This paper aims to evaluate the profitability and expense ratio of the insurance business conducted by commercial insurance companies operating in the Czech insurance market from 2004 to 2019. The evaluation shall apply computations such as the return on assets (ROA), the ratio of underwriting profit to assets (UPA), and the expense ratio indicator (ER). Calculations shall be performed for non-life insurance. The value of the UPA indicator was stable during the whole period. By contrast, the ROA indicator fluctuated from 2004 to 2011. The ROA indicator stabilized between 2012 and 2017 and then between 2017 and 2019 ROA grew significantly. The value of both indicators (ROA, UPA) decreased from 2015 to 2017 and increased from 2017-2018. The operating expense ratio of insurance operations (ER) showed a growth tendency. When the average values of the selected indicators were compared to the Czech market, it was determined that the insurance companies Allianz, Česká pojišťovna ZDRAVÍ and PNP Paribas Cardif had achieved the best result and were the most efficient. (1.11%) is also than in 2004 values of both indicators decreased from to


The marketing concept is an effective tool by which college administrators can improve their educational product. This study portrays the class selection process as a consumer choice situation, and suggests that colleges can become more responsive to students' needs by considering factors which influence class selections. Students' preferences were found to be for small classes scheduled during the morning hours, offered two times a week, and taught by full-time faculty. These findings were based on a conjoint analysis which measured the relative importance of four classroom situation variables.


The purpose of this investigation was to study the relationship between the lesions produced in the lung by tuberculous infection on the one hand and coal dust inhalation on the other, by the scrutiny of a large number of chest radiographs of coal miners


Objective: Despite declines in Australian alcohol consumption, youth alcohol related harms remain prevalent. These alcohol‐related consequences appear to be driven by a subset of risky drinkers who engage in 'high intensity' drinking episodes and are underrepresented in national health surveys. This project aims to investigate high risk drinking practices and alcohol‐related harms amongst young people not otherwise recorded in existing data.


The new pandemic, caused by the corona viral disease 2019 (Covid-19), has brought with it a series of restrictive measures that have drastically altered people's way of life and which restrict freedom of movement, behavior and social engagement. At the time of pandemia, almost all aspects of each individual lifestyle have been impaired, especially in members of vulnerable groups, particularly women in postpartum women. Acute psychological reactions to a pandemia may include insomnia, fear of infection, anxiety, frustration, panic attacks, loneliness, but also depressive episodes. Non-psychotic postpartum mood and anxiety disorders can occur as an inability to adapt to stressful life situations. A comprehensive understanding of the impact of the pandemia on the mental health of women in the postpartum period is needed, in order to devise adequate approaches to recovery from such a major disaster as the Covid-19 pandemic.


This scientific article studies methods of transferring full word-formation affixes in the National Corpus of the Kazakh language. Affixes play an essential role in the forming of word formation and semantics of a language, and the study of their transmission is crucial for linguistic theory and practice. The purpose of the study is to analyze and systematize approaches to word-forming affixes in the corpus of the Kazakh language.The main areas of research include the analysis of the morphological features of affix transfer, as well as the identification of contexts in which various transmission options for transfer are possible.A short description of the scientific and practical significance of the work: the study allows us to better understand the proc esses of word formation in the Kazakh language and develop effective methods for automatic processing of texts in this language. It is also of practical importance for the creation of linguistic resources and the development of language applications. Brief description of the research methodology: the research methodology includes the analysis of textual material from the national corpus of the Kazakh language, as well as the use of linguistic tools and data analysis to determine the features of the transmission of affixes. The main results and analysis of the research work, conclusions: the study revealed various ways of transmitting wordforming affixes, including morphological constructions, in the corpus of the Kazakh language. The analysis made it possible to identify the features and frequency of these methods. Value of the conducted research: this study contributes to the linguistic theory, and enriches our knowledge about the mechanisms of word formation and ways of transmitting linguistic elements in the language corpus. In addition, the results obtained can be useful for the development of language technologies and resources for the Kazakh language. Practical significance of the results: the study can be used in the creation of automatic systems of text processing systems in the Kazakh language, and the development of language applications, such as in linguistic training and translation. The obtained results and conclusions can become the basis for further research in the field of linguistics and computational linguistics.


. Design and verification of control strategies for floating wind turbines often makes use of aero-hydro-servo-elastic modeling tools. Aerodynamic loads calculation in these tools has been recently validated against experiments not including active wind turbine control. This work investigates the aerodynamic response of a floating wind turbine scale model with active control and platform pitch motion. This is done in wind tunnel testing and with modeling of the scaled system in the offshore tool OpenFAST. A control design framework is developed to include the reference wind turbine controller ROSCO in the 5 wind tunnel experiment. With platform pitch motion, the turbine aerodynamic response is predicted by the numerical model with different accuracy depending on the turbine control regime. Below rated wind, oscillations of aerodynamic torque in simulations are of lower amplitude than in the experiment, also when dynamic inflow is considered in the aerodynamic model. Above rated wind, where the turbine is controlled with collective blade pitch actuation, the response is not quasi-steady, and differences between the experiment and simulation are larger than in below-rated wind, in particular for phase with respect to 10 motion.


This thesis investigates the research question; 'how does environmentalism influence the export performance of export ventures exporting hardwood woodchips from Australia to Japan?' The Australia-Japan hardwood woodchip export industry is used as the focus of the study because it is an interesting exemplar of the influence of environmentalism on export activity. It also facilitates the use of a number of research design features that enhance the contribution of the research to the development of new knowledge and, it is an economically and socially important industry to both Australia and Japan. Environmentalism is presented as a useful construct to consider the influence of a wide range of 'environmental' related issues across a broad spectrum of business activities. In this thesis, environmentalism is defined as 'the social movement concerned with the pursuit (through political and social influence) of perceived improved preservation and/or conservation conditions of the natural state of selected environs and the inferred benefits to human welfare'. A two-stage approach is used to address the research question. The first stage involves the synthesis (from reviews of industry issues and related theory) of a conceptual framework of the export performance of Australian hardwood woodchip export ventures exporting to Japan. The second stage then uses this export performance framework to identify and discuss how environmentalism influences the export performance of export ventures. The research technique used is grounded theory. Data is collected from case studies of five export ventures that export hardwood woodchips from Australia to Japan (out of a total of nine such ventures in existence) and interviews with 18 industry participants who are senior managers of export ventures that export hardwood woodchips to Japan. Analysis of results reveals that assessments of venture level export performance vary between Australian-owned export ventures and Japanese-owned export ventures. Analysis also reveals that export ventures, regardless of ownership type, assess their export performance as a mix of financial and non-financial measures. The notion of 'License to Operate' is found to be the most prominent non-financial consideration. Analysis of results also reveals that the influence of environmentalism on the export performance of export ventures is particularly expressed via three features. Firstly, the preferences of Japanese buyers for hardwood woodchips sourced from plantations and/or forests certified as being sustainably managed. Secondly, the impact that changes to the forest resources available as wood supply to export ventures have made on the cost-competitiveness and export reliability of those export ventures. Thirdly, aspects of the license to operate of export ventures including the requirements of regulatory compliance and how environmentalism shapes stakeholder sentiment regarding the sustainability of export ventures and related forest management activities. The discussion highlights that the strategic outlook for Australian-owned export ventures is one characterised by their diminishing bargaining power. This diminishing bargaining power is a consequence of the likely oversupply situation in the Pacific Rim market and the transfer pricing strategies of the Japanese pulp and paper industry expressed. In this context, the transfer pricing strategies of the Japanese pulp and paper industry are expressed via their longer term supply policies and their investment in overseas hardwood plantations and woodchip export ventures. It follows that the search for feasible alternative markets is a critical strategic consideration for Australian-owned export ventures. Analysis reveals that environmentalism can act as an impediment to the realisation of some of these alternative markets (e.g. as opposition to a pulp mill development proposal) or as a catalyst in others (e.g. as support for the emergence of environmental markets such as carbon trading). It is also surmised that, in general terms, environmentalism has contributed to the enhancement of the sustainable governance of export ventures that export hardwood woodchips from Australia to Japan.


Effects of short-term sedimentation on common coastal coral species, Goniastrea aspera, Porites lobata and Pavona frondifera, from the reef flat southeast of the Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, Japan were investigated in laboratory experiments using oxygen uptake respirometers. The O2 consumption rate was significantly different among species and between sediment treatments (20 and 200mg l-1 red soil suspension, P<0.05). In dark experiments, Goniastrea showed higher respiration rates (0.020±0.002ml O2 cm-2h-1) than did Pavona (0.017±0.003mL O2 cm-2h-1) and Porites (0.010±0.001ml O2 cm-2h-1). In light experiments, Goniastrea also showed higher O2 consumption rates (0.021±0.003ml O2 cm-2h-1) than did Porites (0.010±0.004ml O2 cm-2h-1) and Pavona (0.007±0.001ml O2 cm-2h-1). Zooxanthellae densities were 6.53±0.13, 3.12±0.05, and 4.37±0.07 (×106cells cm-2; mean±SE, n=8) in Goniastrea, Porites, and Pavona, respectively. Coral respiration rate increased proportionally with zooxanthellae density in Goniastrea and Pavona. High zooxanthellae density may increase the O2 production that contributes to colony respiration; however, in Porites, the relationship between zooxanthellae density and coral respiration rate was not clear. The massive corals, Goniastrea and Porites, are more resistant to sediment stress than is the plate-like coral, Pavona. Goniastrea showed high tolerance and adaptation to stress conditions in all experiments, at all times (12h), with similar trends in both dark and light conditions. Porites was affected only within the first 3h under light conditions, while Pavona was the most affected species. These results help us to understand coral damage caused by red soil sedimentation, as well as coral mortality and potential shifts in community structure related to prolonged or repeated elevated levels of sedimentation on coastal reefs.


This text studies notions that are common to Somatics and Scientific Ecology. After defining the scientific notion of Ecology, this essay studies three key-notions in Ecology: the concept of potential, which allows an innovative description of the relationship subject/environment in Somatics, and the notions of diversity and reciprocity, with which this essays suggests that Somatics could be integrated into the Ecological paradigm, and calls the Somatics actors to transform their practices according to Environmental ethics.


In this paper, we study the properties of the derived operator induced by classical topology, and show the decomposition theorem of this derived operator. In addition, by using the induced derived operator, we give some of equivalent conditions of lattice-valued upper semi-continuous mappings.


since the days of journeyman Brooklyn Dodger outfielder Gene Hermanski, who reportedly stormed into Branch Rickey's office after a particularly good season fully expecting a raise. When, upon emerging, he was asked if he got the deserved salary increase, he replied, "No, but at least I didn't take a pay cut!" Miller continually stresses the crucial importance of unionization to the players in transforming their once monopsonistic labor market into one in which competition became much more prevalent. He succeeds ably in demonstrating this point. The reader will enjoy his discussions of maligned Angel Alex Johnson, the Curt Flood case, baseball's various strikes and lockouts, and above all, the fascinating characters Miller had to deal with over the years. Consider, for example, Miller's depiction of former baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. One sentence epitomizes Miller's characterization of Kuhn: "Kuhn must be singled out as the most important contributor to the successes of the Players Association" (p. 91). As an aside and for an eye-opening exercise, read Bowie Kuhn's own account of these same labor relations issues in his book Hardball: The Education of a Baseball Commissioner (Times Books, 1987). These two accounts of many of the same situations are so vastly different as to make one wonder whether these two men ever agreed on anything! I found two distracting elements in this otherwise engrossing book. First, Miller is constantly patting himself on the back for a job well done and criticizing others for not living up to his own standards of excellence. For example, Miller has this to say about his replacement as head of the players' union, Ken Moffett: "Ken Moffett started on the job on January 2, 1983. Let me correct that: He started on the payroll on that day. He never really started on the job" (p. 324). And then there is Miller's statement about the 1985 compromise the players made on salary arbitration and pension contributions by the owners. Don Fehr had by this time taken over as head of the union. Miller comments: "By 1985 the players had lost touch with their own history. This was the union's fault-Don Fehr's fault" (p. 338). Second, Miller has an extremely negative view of player agents, and his repeated criticism of players for not understanding their situations and for not realizing how much he and the union had done for them becomes tiresome. That Miller and the union helped these players tremendously is so obvious that the point does not need to be reiterated. Despite the enormous gains he had won for players, Miller apparently felt unappreciated, and, I believe, he considered himself underpaid for all his efforts. In the end, I wound up feeling a bit sorry for Marvin Miller. Having noted these irritating flaws, I nevertheless strongly urge anyone interested in baseball's labor relations to read and reread Miller's book. It has a great message for all of us who practice, study, and teach industrial relations. That message is a simple one. Hard work can pay off, and the process of collective bargaining can effectively restore the balance of bargaining power between labor and management.


As a heterogeneous catalyst for producing an oxirane compound by reacting an olefin type compound and the organic hydro-peroxides, it is substantially insoluble in the reaction mixture, containing titanium combines chemically with the silicon compound is selected from the group consisting of solid silica and inorganic silicates and, (1) impregnating the silicon compound with a titanium compound in a solvent for impregnation, (2) After evaporation of the impregnation solvent, 3, the cleaning by the cleaning solvent, and then distilling off the solvent for washing, (4) a catalyst which is obtained by firing.