Geopolitics Flattering the Passions ‐ Or, the Bomb and Britain's Bid for a World Role. By Hugh Beach and Nadine Gurr. IB Tauris, London, 1999, 279 pp., £29.50, ISBN 1–86064–168–7. Superpowers in the Post‐Cold War Era. By Ken Aldred and Martin A. Smith. Macmillan, London, 1999, 205 pp., £42.50, ISBN 0–333–76069–7. The Balkans 1804–1999: Nationalism, War and the Great Powers. By Misha Glenny. Granta, London, 1999, xxvi + 726pp., £25.00, ISBN 1–86207–050–4. Conventional war Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance: A Resource Book. By Rae McGrath. Pluto, London, 2000, 256 pp., £17.99, ISBN 0–7453–1259–4 (pbk), £55.00, ISBN 0–7453–1264–0 (hbk). Fluid Resuscitation ‐ State of the Science for Treating Combat Casualties and Civilian Injuries. Edited by Andrew Pope, Geoffrey French and David E Longnecker. National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1999, 195pp., £21.95, ISBN 0–309–06481–3. Population Beyond Malthus: Nineteen Dimensions of the Population Challenge. By Lester R. Brown, Gary Gardner and Brian Halweil. Earthscan, London, 2000, 167 pp., £12.50, ISBN 1–85383–656–7. The Reverend Thomas Malthus. AM. FRS. Demi‐devil, Saint or merely Great Benefactor?. By Jack Parsons. Sir David Owen Population Centre, Cardiff University, 2000, 63 pp., no price given. Evolution Lucy's Legacy: Sex and Intelligence in Human Evolution. By Alison Jolly. Harvard University Press, Boston and London, 1999, 518 pp., $29.95/£l8.50, ISBN 0–674–00069–2.


Regulation of skeletal muscle growth has been of interest to the meat production industry for a number of years. Early studies into the enhancement of muscle growth centred on breeding for increased body weight under the assumption that greater body weight was indicative of an increased muscle mass as well as an increased fat content (Fowler, 1958; Bailey, Kitts & Wood, 1960; Biondini, Sutherland & Haverland, 1968; Harbison et al. 1976). Subsequently, investigators have focussed on muscle characteristics (fibre number and fibre size) as they relate to muscle growth and development (Smith, 1963; Robinson & Bradford, 1969; Hanrahan, Hooper & McCarty, 1973; Ezekwe & Martin, 1975; Martin, White, Herbein & Ezekwe, 1979; Fowler, Campion, Marks & Reagan, 1980). For the most part these studies have supported the concept that muscle fibre number is highly correlated with muscle size (Aberle & Doolittle, 1976; Luff & Goldspink, 1970); whereas muscle fibre size is not as highly correlated to muscle size (Hooper, 1978; McCarty & Shiel, 1975). In almost all cases where the relationship between fibre number and muscle size has been studied, the muscle(s) used in the experiment has been a small muscle that is relatively insignificant in terms of the total muscle mass of the body. The assumption is that fibre number of one muscle is indicative of the fibre number in other muscles of the body. This concept of an 'indicator muscle' has been suggested by Stickland & Goldspink (1973); however, it has been largely ignored by most investigators. An understanding of the relationship of fibre number among muscles within an individual animal is important to the interpretation of the current literature on the relationship between fibre number and muscle size. The interpretation of this relationship is important in the selection of animals for meat breeding potential. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fibre number relationship among muscles within an animal. Specifically we were interested in determining whether or not a high fibre number in one muscle of an animal, relative to the same muscle in other animals, would be indicative of a high fibre number in other muscles of the same animal relative to other animals. The term 'relative fibre number' is utilised throughout this manuscript to indicate fibre number in a given muscle of an animal compared to the fibre number of the same muscle in a different animal. The rat was chosen for this study because of the relatively small number of fibres in the muscles of this species.


Wild animals can be considered as important source of a number of emerging and re- emerging parasitic diseases, which are posing serious threat to the life of human beings and domestic animals. Changing habitats and environmental conditions have rendered wildlife more prone to diseases due to excessive stress, exposure to new vectors and increased interaction with humans and domestic fauna. Emergence and epizootics of new parasitic diseases have prompted researchers to understand disease ecology, parasite dynamics and important role of humans, domestic animals and wild animals acting as hosts of these diseases. In the past, there was easy contraction of the parasitic disease due to absence of reliable methods and information about the identification of wild animal parasites and inappropriate surveillance tools. But, with the advances in technology, especially molecular techniques, surveillance models and advance monitoring systems are enabling easy diagnosis and study of the flow of the parasites between the hosts, which surely will enhance our knowledge of host specificity, particularly the host targets/ range of the novel parasites introduced in the ecosystem, their vectorial capacity and transmission.


Integrating computer games into existing CS courses may help attract students to the field, but there are guidelines to be considered.


Objective To explore the mode of cultivation of nursing quality management awareness and capacity of backbone nurses. Methods Under the guidance of humanity spirit,backbone nurses were encouraged to participate in the nursing management. A highly efficient nursing quality management body was established to ensure the target nursing of administration-management group-head nurse-backbone nurses. The mode of research oriented checking was established,and the patient oriented mechanism of rectification and sustained improvement was set up. The people-oriented full-length mode of cultivating the backbone nurses aimed at moulding,selecting,cultivating,practicing and improvement. Results The 238 patients' satisfaction in the nursing before the carrying out of the Mode and 266's after the Mode were statistically significantly different,pointing to the fact that emphasis on the backbone nurses' nursing quality management awareness and capacity helped increase patients' satisfaction. And the self-assessments by 120 nursing backbones before the implementation of the Mode were also statistically significantly different from those before,speaking for the fact that the Mode improved the nurses' work philosophy and mentality. Conclusion This Mode brings into full play the role of nursing backbones in the nursing quality management. It enriches the connotation of nursing management,creates a practical way of nursing management,improves the nursing quality,and at the same time,improves the nursing cultural atmosphere,thus conducive to the creation of a secure,humanistic,convenient and pleasant medical environment.


: The condition of an eco-system greatly depends on the different biotic and abiotic factors. The area along the river "Tisza" is highly imperiled by random appearance of heavy metal pollutants originated from mining accidents or other sources. Heavy metals are dangerous because of the bioaccumulation and they could be toxic or poisonous even at low concentration. The aim of our research was to test the reaction of a simplified soil-plant pot experiment, consists of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) for metal pollution close to the sanitary limiting value. Garden cress is considered one of the most important agricultural vegetables and its short reaction time for various treatments makes this plant ideal object of eco-toxicological tests. Based on the results it is realistic assumption to expect decrease the above-mentioned flexibility character. Garden cress (Lepidium Sativum) was chosen as a test plant to simulate the accessible pollutant uptake. Additionally, Lepidium Sativum is a possible carrier of heavy metals in food chain, since it is a many-sided green vegetable consumed by humans and animals as well. The present study is undertaken to examine the level of accumulation as it is modified by a plant, if the plant growing up under other conditions. It appears how for each factor as in mobilizing heavy metals, the plant laboratory water will affect the special nutrient solution or soil pollution. Responsive changes are relevant for all of the different conditions relevant for mobile heavy metals. The accumulation levels may undergo variations in function of them. In the present study, such change is characterized by the cress garden.


The authors present a detailed study on the rectum-adductor syndrome, describing etiopathogenesis, physiotherapy, medical clinical and surgical treatment. They point out the importance of a wide knowledge of this syndrome commonly occurring to football players but occasionally found in players of other sports.


The debates on disarmament and attempts to control arms exports reached their peak in the two decades following WWI. The fear of the European powers that the armaments trade could put control over ...


A plastic coil was inserted surgically on Day 3 of an oestrous cycle into one uterine horn of each of ten heifers. Sham-operations were performed on five additional heifers. The oestrous cycles in which the cl was on the operative side were significantly shorter than the cycles in which the cl was on the non-operative side or the cycles of the sham\x=req-\ operated controls. The average cycle length when the cl was on the non-operative side was not significantly different from the cycle length of the sham-operated controls. These results indicate that a plastic coil in the cranial portion ofone uterine horn of the heifer results in a unilateral `inhibitory' influence on the cl.


The weather derivatives market.- Introduction to Stochastic Calculus.- Handling the data.- Pricing approaches of temperature.- Modeling the daily average temperature.- Pricing temperature derivatives.- The use of meteorological forecasts.- The effects of the geographical and basis risk.- Pricing the power of the wind a. Introduction to wind derivatives.- Precipitation Derivatives a. Introduction.- Rainfall Derivatives.- Snow Derivatives.- Appendix A.- Appendix B.- Index.- References.


Culture has an important influence on personality,and vice versa.However,earlier cultural studies often ignored the relationships between them,and confused the concepts of culture,ethnicity and race.This essay focuses on the processes of cross-cultural studies conducted by Western researchers.


This paper argues that the rise and success of community action on climate change opens a space for critical reflection on current ENGO efforts to secure effective public policy outcomes on climate change. The current lack of success of ENGO campaigning efforts across contemporary liberal democracies has happened against the backdrop of majority public support for stronger government action on climate change. Beyond the clear conclusion that governments and ENGOs are failing to convert citizen sentiment into effective outcomes, politically disengaged publics are disillusioned with both formal politics and civil society. Community action on climate change provides some hope in this scenario – both for a reinvigoration of the environment movement'sapproach to campaigning on climate change and for a reinvigoration of an active democratic public.


This research aims to investigate the effects of perceived sustainability on tourist trust and word-of-mouth (WoM) intention. A survey was carried out on 450 international tourists visiting Bali during the MayAugust 2018 period. The measuring scale used was the Likert's scale, and the analysis instrument used was WarpPLS. The research results indicate that perceived sustainability had a significant effect on tourist trust, that perceived sustainability had a significant effect on WoM intention, and that tourist trust had a significant effect on WoM intention. The results contribute to the closing of the gaps in previous research studies, especially those on the effects of perceived sustainability on tourist trust and WoM intention at culture and naturebased destinations. Based on the results, it is recommended that tourist destination management maintain sustainability by conserving nature, preserving local cultures, and appreciating tourists' value of money so that the tourists have a trust in the tourist destinations' future and have a strong intention to recommend to others.


The reaction of [RuCl2(PPh3)3] and [NMe4][7,8-(SPh)2-7,8-C2B9H10] in ethanol yields [RuCl(7,8-(SPh)2-7,8-C2B9H10)(PPh3)2]·CH2Cl2 (1). The structure of 1 has been determined by crystallographic studies. The crystal contains the two isomers 1a and 1b in a ratio of ca. 3:1. In both isomers the metal has an octahedral geometry and the carborane ligand tricoordinates the Ru(II) center by means of S−Ru, B(11)−H−Ru, and B(2)−H−Ru bonds. Two PPh3 groups and a chloride ligand fulfill the coordination sphere of the metal. The two isomers arise from two different dispositions of the [RuCl(PPh3)2]+ fragment with regard to the carborane cluster. The preference for two agostic B−H−Ru bonds rather than a second S−Ru bond appears to be due to steric factors. The reaction of [RuCl2(PPh3)3] and the cesium or tetramethylammonium salts of [7-(SPh)-8-R-7,8-C2B9H10]- (R = Me, Ph) yields [RuCl(7-SPh-8-R-7,8-C2B9H10)(PPh3)2] (2, R = Me; 3, R = Ph). NMR spectroscopic analyses of 2 and 3 also indicate the presence of isomers analo...


Investigation of orbital disease is challenging and in many emergency situations rapid recognition of signs of orbital disease and instigation of appropriate management are critical to the final outcome for the patient. Familiarity with the anatomy and physiology of the region facilitates an understanding of the basic principles of orbital disease pathogenesis. This chapter considers anatomy and physiology; clinical signs; investigation of disease; canine and feline conditions; enucleation.


The use of Genetic Algorithms to design both FDNR and Leap-Frog Active Filters is described, where resistor and capacitor values are constrained to be chosen from a set of preferred values. It is found that the LeapFrog configuration generally produces more successful designs and this is explained. For the realisation of higher order active filter structures on LC ladder prototypes are often used because of low component tolerance. There are various methods to do this, and two f the most commonly used are FDNR [2] and Leap-Frog [3] structures. Because they are based on the same prototype, these methods lead to similar sensitivity properties to component olerances. A relevant question is, does this similarity also apply when GAs are used to the component design circuits using preferred values, or in general does one type of structure yield better designs that better fit the specifications? This question is considered here. It is shown that one structure does in general produce better designs and the reason for this is explained.


Acute otitis media(AOM) is the most common indication for antibiotics in children. The primary pathogens that cause AOM have changed since the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine(PCV). The clinical failure rate of amoxicillin for treatment of AOM post-PCV is unknown.We aimed to determine the clinical failure rate of amoxicillin for the treatment of uncomplicated AOM in children.
 Organisms identified on culture and amoxicillin treatment failure from nasopharyngeal specimens of children age 6-35 months with uncomplicated acute otitis media at Denver Health, Denver, CO from April 2019-March 2020.

 Children age 6-35 months seen at Denver Health, Denver, CO with uncomplicated AOM and prescribed amoxicillin were prospectively enrolled. An interim analysis of patients enrolled from April 2019-March 2020 was completed. Patients completed surveys that included the AOM-SOS©(UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA) at enrollment, days 5, 14, and 30 and had chart abstraction completed. Treatment failure was defined as: (1) requiring a new antibiotic within 14 days; (2) AOM-SOS© score on day 5 or 14 not improved by a relative reduction of ≥ 55% from baseline. Recurrence was defined as requiring a new antibiotic within 15-30 days. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained and bacterial culture was completed.

 In total,110 patients were enrolled. Rates of treatment failure defined by AOM-SOS© were 28.4%(37; 95%CI:25.5-33.6%) at 5 days and 15.5%(27; 95%CI:17.5-24.5%) at 14 days. However, only 4.5%(5; 95%CI:2.0-4.5%) required a new antibiotic. Recurrence occurred in 5.5% (6, 95%CI:2.5-5.5%) of patients. Of patients who had not received antibiotics before enrollment(82), culture yielded no organism in 17.0%, one organism in 42.7%, and multiple organisms in 40.0% (Table). M.catarrhalis was the most frequently identified organism (53.7% of children). Of H.influenzae isolates 52.9% (9/17) produced beta-lactamase, resulting in no treatment failures or recurrences requiring a new antibiotic. Failure rates were similar between organisms.

 Despite the change in otopathogen prevalence post-PCV, preliminary data suggest that while early subjective treatment failure was common, the 14 day treatment failure and 30 day recurrence rates was low when measured by need for a new antibiotic. Failure was low even among patients with organisms that would not be expected to be treated successfully with amoxicillin, such as those with beta-lactamase producing H.influenzae and M.catarrhalis.

 Samuel Dominguez, MD, PhD, BioFire (Consultant, Research Grant or Support)


A method of assembling a mechanical module comprising a plurality of tracks, each track module comprises a part of a track, the track number of modules can be connected to form a continuous circuitous track, the bypass track for accommodating a continuous dispensing head, the dispensing head for rotation about a continuous circuitous track, and at least partly fitted unfinished. The machine comprises a feed attached to the first module on the first length of the continuous circuitous track for the element to the dispensing head, and attached to the first module disposed on the second track of the length of the continuous circuitous, for accommodating the unfinished. The dispensing head for placing the components on the unfinished. The mechanical assembly is reconstructed by attaching or removing a plurality of track modules, a first module and the first feed arrangement or a plurality of modules.


In his 1987 presidential address to the American Political Science Association," One Soul at a Time: Political Science and Political Reform," Samuel P. Huntington (1988, 3–10) argued at some length that "political science … is not just an intellectual discipline (but) also a moral one," and that "the impetus to do good in the sense of promoting political reform is … embedded in our profession." Therefore, "it is impossible to have political scientists in the absence of political participation, and political science has only developed with the expansion of political participation. In a society in which there is no participation—no competition for power—political scientists would have nothing to do." It logically follows that "the connection between democracy has been a close and continuing one."


Objectives: Th‐2 type cytokine production (inter‐leukin‐4 [IL‐4] and interleukin‐5 [IL‐5]) has been demonstrated to play a significant role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis (AR), and the treatment of AR with topical corticosteroids has been shown to reduce the expression of Th‐2 type cytokines in vivo. However, the contribution and expression of Th‐2 type cytokine receptors in AR and their response to corticosteroid treatment remain to be clarified. Objectives of the current study are 1. To examine the expression of the cytokine IL‐4 and IL‐5 receptors (IL‐4R and IL‐5R) in a nasal allergen challenge model and to contrast this with the expression of the receptor for the Th‐1 type cytokine, interferon‐gamma receptor (IFN‐γR), and 2. to examine the effects of pretreatment with topical corticosteroid before allergen challenge on the expression of these same receptors. Study Design: Randomized prospective study involving 14 ragweed‐allergic subjects evenly divided between placebo and corticosteroid pretreatment. Methods: Immunocytochemistry (alkaline phosphatase‐antial‐kaline phosphatase labeling [APAAP] technique) was used to stain nasal biopsy specimens before and after allergen challenge. Antibodies used included anti‐CD3, CD4, CD8, MBP, IL‐4R, IL‐5R, and IFN‐γR. Results: Following allergen challenge, we observed a significant increase in the Th‐2 type cytokine receptors (IL‐4R and IL‐5R; P < .05), as well as a significant decrease in the expression of the Th‐1 type cytokine receptor (IFN‐γR; P < .05). Pretreatment with topical corticosteroids before nasal allergen challenge resulted in decreased expression of IL‐4R (P < .05) and IL‐5R (P < .05) and increased expression of IFN‐γR (P < .05). Further, IL‐4R and IL‐5R expression correlated with eosinophil infiltration in the tissues. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that in AR, cytokine receptors for IL‐4, IL‐5, and IFN‐γ follow a similar pattern to their ligands. In addition, pretreatment with topical corticosteroids was shown to alter the cytokine receptor expression pattern from a Th‐2 profile more toward a Th‐1 profile. Laryngoscope, 108:1528–1533,1998


Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of rubber dam usage among endodontists, other specialized practitioners, general practitioners and undergraduate final year students in Tirgu-Mures, Romania. Material and method: A questionnaire was distributed among 250 subjects. Final year students and dentists were surveyed in relation to their prevalence of rubber dam usage. Results: Overall response rate was 72,4. While 84,07% of the subjects knew about the advantages, only 49,72% used it during their practice, mostly endodontist (90%) and other specialized practitioners (53,84%). The use of this system on pediatric patients was lower compared to adult patients. The frequency of the rubber dam usage during endodontic treatment was higher (71,11 %) compared to dental restorations (35,55%), and 84,49% of the subjects were are willing to gain further knowledge about this system. Conclusions: The results were similar to other reports originally from Eastern-European countries. The low percentage of the rubber dam usage presents quality issues, safety and medico-legal concerns for both the patient and the dentist. Greater emphasis should be placed on the advantages of rubber dam. Perception of final year dental students needs to be improved and continuing dental education for practitioners should be necessary to update their knowledge.


In vehicular visible light communication (VLC), the reliable communication distance may be relatively short due to its dependence on many factors including the weather condition. This necessitates the use of relay-assisted systems to extend the transmission range. In this paper, we investigate experimentally the performance of vehicular multi-hop VLC systems in outdoor environments. Particularly, we first examine the effect of ambient noise on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during a whole day. Then, we conduct two multi-hop experiments, i.e., one at daytime and one at nighttime. We measure the bit error rate (BER) for each individual hop and then obtain the overall performance of the multi-hop system. We further compare experimental BER with theoretical BER to confirm our results.


This article considers the literary network of anti-colonial literary narratives, short stories, and poems, by Indian, Goan, and Portuguese writers which appeared in the 1950s and 1960s in the left-wing Goan journal Free Goa, published in Bombay (now Mumbai) at a time when Goa's freedom fighters were seeking India's support in order to attain their independence from Portuguese colonial domination. Following Jean-Paul Sartre (1949) and Benoît Denis (2000), we claim that these literary works can be read as engaged literature since in elaborate or straightforward literary styles they urge Goans to look for inspiration in India's independence from British domination (1947) and to free themselves from the Salazarist regime.


Submitted paper is focused on dynamic analysis of the footbridge structure, which is represented by the simply supported beam. The continuous beam model was discretized by the FEM to MDOF system and loaded by pedestrians, walking across the structure. Three states of loading are considered in this paper. Firstly, it is the mathematical description of pedestrian's ordinary traffic, where each pedestrian is randomly generated by the Monte Carlo method. Secondly, the movement of single pedestrian, simplified by viscoelastic models, is introduced. Thirdly, the DLF model of stochastic vandals is investigated as well.


Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of once-daily 10 mg rivaroxaban for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after ClosureFast radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of saphenous veins. Method The medical records of patients, who had a Caprini score of ≥3, underwent RFA, received prophylactic rivaroxaban for five days, and completed follow up at one month were reviewed for efficacy (a combination of endovenous heat-induced thrombosis [EHIT] grade of 2–4, any symptomatic or asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis [DVT], and symptomatic pulmonary embolism [PE]) and safety (a combination of major and clinically relevant non-major [CRNM] bleeding) outcomes. Results The results of RFA for 248 great saphenous and 24 small saphenous veins with the concomitant miniphlebectomy (63.8%) and sclerotherapy (16.5%) were analyzed. The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 5 of 218 (2.3%; 95%CI, 1.0–5.3%) patients: three EHITs and two symptomatic DVTs. The CRNM bleeding was reported in two patients (0.9%; 95% CI, 0.2–3.3%). No difference was observed in comparison with 79 similar patients who received 40 mg of subcutaneous enoxaparin during the same time period. Conclusion Once-daily 10 mg rivaroxaban is suitable for VTE prophylaxis after RFA of saphenous veins.


Brome grass is a serious threat to crop productivity on sandy textured soils in southern Australia. As a consequence of the project UA00060, vital information has been obtained on the seedbank ecology and population dynamics of brome in response to various management strategies developed through on-farm research. Rotations that incorporate broadleaf crops with ClearfieldTM wheat and barley were found to be effective in driving down the populations of this weed. The studies showed that the brome seedbank can persist for three years, which would make it necessary for growers to prepare a longterm management strategy for this highly aggressive weed species.


Deborah Dash Moore's At Home in America, published in 1981 as the first entry in the "Columbia History of urban life" series, edited by Kenneth t. Jackson, offered a startling look at a subject that might have seemed out of place. It focused on religion in a notoriously secular city during the decades when religious leaders almost ubiquitously worried about religion's future. It centered not on the original eastern european Jewish immigrants, whose arrival transformed American and new York City Jewish life, but on their children, who often were described as more spiritually marginal than their parents. Finally, in a time when social histories were booming and institutional histories declining, At Home in America stressed the importance of institutions in the second generation's reconstruction of modern Jewish life. At Home in America thus implicitly—if not explicitly—confronted Max Weber's argument that institutions, plus bureaucratization and rationalization, had been prime movers in the "disenchantment of the world" and the modern decay of religion.1 Coming back to At Home in America after 35 years may not be quite like attending one's fiftieth high school reunion, but it conveys a similar sense of familiarity jarred by distance. It is familiar because At Home in America was widely read and appreciated, and it still is. Its facts are now comfortably familiar, at least to historians of American Judaism. But At Home in America also was quite different from most American religious histories. American Protestant histories typically treated the twentieth century as one of decline. twentieth-century Protestantism, and new York City Protestantism in particular, nourished remarkable theologians—most notably, reinhold niebuhr and Paul tillich. But Protestantism's loss of cultural influence and its modern urban and suburban failures loomed over its histories. American Catholic and Jewish histories


The ever-increasing Internet data demand imposes stringent requirements on wireline transceiver speed, jitter, and power. A low-noise, multi-phase clock generator (MPCG) is a crucial building block in both forwarded-clock and clock-data-recovery (CDR) based clocking systems (Fig. 11.4.1). In CDR-based systems, a global phase-locked loop generates a low-noise, differential clock and distributes it to each lane, where a local phase adjuster, consisting of a multi-phase clock generator and phase interpolators (PIs), compensates the frequency and phase errors between the incoming data and quadrature clocks; while in a forwarded-clock system, the forwarded clock from the transmitter is adjusted by a delay line for phase deskew and the MPCG generates multiple phases for the ADCs. Multi-phase injection-locked ring oscillators (MPILOSCs) [1], [2] provide accurate, low-noise, multi-phase clocks thanks to their wide locking range and symmetric structure, but generating the multi-phase injection signals with a poly-phase filter [1] or from a double/quadruple frequency [2] is power-hungry. Also, the circuits in [1], [2] lack calibration for ROSC free-running frequency (fOSC) variations over PVT. Two-phase (0° and 180°) IL-ROSCs with a quadrature-locked loop (QLL) are low-power, low-area MPCGs for PIs [3] –[5]; differential clocks are injected into the ROSC, while the QLL adjusts the ROSC biasing to suppress the 10 output error, assuming that when the $f_{OSC}=f_{inj}$, the injection frequency, the smallest 10 output error and the widest ROSC noise suppression bandwidth are obtained for a given injection strength. However, simulations (Fig. 11.4.2) show that the smallest IQ error occurs when fOSC is near the lower edge of the locking range due to the imbalance introduced by two-phase injection, while the optimum jitter point remains at $f_{OSC}=f_{inj}$. As a result, when using a QLL, the injection strength has to be increased to get a sufficiently large noise suppression bandwidth. However, the stronger injection degrades the amplitude and slope balance between stages with injection, and stages without injection, which degrades the phase accuracy. In a QLL-based architecture, there is a tradeoff among IQ accuracy, jitter, and power consumption.


The objective of this research is to evaluate the operational efficiency of logisticsservice providers (LSPs) on transportation routes between Thailand and the Republic of theUnion of Myanmar. The study was based on quantitative method study, based on exploratoryresearch design. The questionnaire is used to collect data from 65 LSPs and 10 logisticsservice users. The service quality assessment theory (SERVQUAL) and SWOT analysis areused for analyzing Thai LSPs.The results found that 5 factors (tangibles, reliability, response, assurance, andempathy) of operational efficiency of logistics service providers in service quality assessmenttheory (SERVQUAL) were at a high level. For SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunitiesand threats) analysis, it found that Thai have more experience in routing. Staff, however, haveno language skills, especially English. International trade, moreover, is likely to expand. Theundeveloped rail transport model causes a high overall logistics costs. Thai LSPs can take theresearch results as a guideline for improving and developing more efficient management byfocusing on service reliability in regard to increasing value, accuracy, punctuality, applyinginformation technology system, emphasizing customer's special needs, and supportinglogistics service flexibility.


This paper focuses on analyzing SH-wave scattering around a circular nanoinclusion using the complex variable function method. The surface elasticity theory is employed in the analysis to account for the interface effect at the nanoscale. Considering the interface effect, the boundary condition is given, and the infinite algebraic equations are established to solve the unknown coefficients of the scattered and refracted wave solutions. The analytic solutions of the stress field are obtained by using the orthogonality of trigonometric function. Finally, the dynamic stress concentration factor and the radial stress of a circular nanoinclusion are analyzed with some numerical results. The numerical results show that the interface effect weakens the dynamic stress concentration but enhances the radial stress around the nanoinclusion; further, we prove that the analytic solutions are correct.


Background. Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) represent a special cohort of patients with chronic somatic pathology, characterized by severe damage to the musculoskeletal system and other vital organs and systems, which is associated with immune and metabolic changes in the body. Data regarding the provision of vitamin D (VD) in patients with JIA and the significance of its deficiency in the initiation, activation of the autoimmune process, the prognosis of the course of the disease, the risk of developing complications and the effectiveness of protocol therapy are contradictory.
Objective. To investigate the body's supply of vitamin D in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis with the determination of the trigger factors of its deficiency, the assessment of the immune status and changes in the nucleotide sequence in the genes of innate immunity.
Materials and methods. Research was conducted during 2016-2021 at the Institute in 119 patients with JIA aged 6 to 12 years. The concentration of 25OHD was determined in blood serum using commercial Vitamin D3 kits (Screeningkit, Switzerland). Immunological studies were performed by flow cytofluorimetry and enzyme immunoassay. For panel sequencing of 407 genes regulating immune functions, high-throughput panel exome sequencing was used on Illumina's HiSeq machine (made in the USA) at the Invitae laboratory (USA). The obtained digital data were processed by methods of statistical analysis using the Microsoft Excel computer package.
Results. A high frequency of low supply of vitamin D in patients with JIA was revealed: vitamin D insufficiency was diagnosed in 96 (80.6 %), and its deficiency - in 38 (31.9 %) children. The lowest levels of 25ОНD concentration in blood serum (less than 15 ng/ml) are observed in patients with stage II–III disease activity, especially at the beginning of the pathological process. Vitamin D deficiency (DVD) was associated with the activity and severity of the clinical course, frequent exacerbation of the joint syndrome, the expressiveness of changes in the humoral and cellular immunity of patients. The main risk factors for reducing the body's supply of WD in patients with JIA have been determined, which must be taken into account during their observation and treatment.
High activity of JIA in patients with VD deficiency in the body was associated with a significant increase in the number of CD3+ T-cells, CD3+CD4+ helper-inducer T-cells, activated HLA-DR+/CD3+ T-cells, ESR, C-reactive protein concentration (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), circulating immune complexes (CIC), immunoglobulins, which allows considering DWD as a likely predictor of severe and prognostically unfavorable course of rheumatic disease.
Nucleotide sequence changes in the NOD2 gene were detected in 18.1 % of patients with JIA: c.2104C>T (p.Arg702Trp), c.3019dupC (p.Leu1007Profs*2). The of variable changes in patients with JIA is statistically significantly different from the population [VSh = 11.39; 95 % CI (2.39-54.22)]. DVD was detected in all children with mutations in the NOD2 gene – (17.2 ± 3.29) ng/ml, and in children without changes in the nucleotide sequence - in 23 (85.1 %) children [SS = 0.097; DI (0.03-0.31)], the concentration of VD is significantly higher - [(26.68 ± 2.34) ng/ml, p = 0.026].
Conclusions. The conducted studies confirm the presence of a decrease in the body's supply of vitamin D in patients with JIA, which is associated with a high activity of the pathological process and pronounced immunological changes in the body, which allows us to consider its deficiency as a likely predictor of a severe and prognostically unfavorable course of the disease. It has been proven that the concentration of vitamin D in JIA is higher in patients without changes in the nucleotide sequence in the NOD2 gene, which must be taken into account when predicting and evaluating the body's response to the treatment of juvenile arthritis.
Key words: juvenile idiopathic arthritis, vitamin D, immunological status, genetic sequencing, children.


Matana University collaborated with Indonesia Qualitative Researcher Association (IQRA) held a 2019 Indonesian Qualitative Seminar & Workshop (SLKI) 2019. The organizer required a seminar management information system (SIM) to run this event smoothly. However, seminar SIM was not available at that time, and needed to be built according to the needs of 2019 SLKI. The methodology to build seminar SIM is study literature system development with prototyping model which has the stages of user requirement, system / sub system prototyping, prototype evaluation, prototype improvement, system testing, system implementation, system maintenance. SIM 2019 SLKI consists of 2 (two) main applications, namely a web-based data management application and mobile based attendance application. QR Code was used for the attendance of participants. This seminar SIM successfully has been built and implemented in this event. This seminar SIM helped the participants and the committee to share data and information that can be done anytime and anywhere as long they are connected to the internet. In the future, it is necessary to develop several features such as article management, QR code generator, automatic certificate generation, digital payment, and more complete reporting & webinar implementation.


This paper presents a path-based mixed integer quadratic programming (MIQP) formulation of distribution feeder reconfiguration (DFR) for loss minimization and reliability enhancement. Analytical expressions for standard reliability indices like SAIFI and EDNS are obtained by adopting standard assumptions regarding component failures. A path-based modeling framework is adopted to allow for easy evaluation of the reliability indices. The proposed path-to-branch incidence matrix results in linear expressions for the reliability indices and power flow equations. These linear models are suitably deployed in a flexible DFR optimization framework wherein reliability can feature in either via objectives or constraints. The proposed MIQP formulations are applied to different test systems to optimize network losses or reliability or both. Numerical results showcase the wide range of capabilities of the proposed formulations.


Since their inception foundation courses have had an uneasy relationship with s ixth forms. While on the one hand both groups have been competing for the sam e calibre of student, Art Colleges have often required students to have completed two years in the sixth form, but have been unable to offer any incentive for the student to stay at school until eighteen. On the contrary it has meant an extra year at least before he is qualified. If the Report is implemented it will remove this anomaly. "; Four years in an art college course after a good general education of sixth form s tandard is and will remain for most students necessary in order to maintain the hi g h s tandard which is looked for in the Dip.A.D. "; All Diploma cours e s should have a minimum age of entry of 18. "; The minimum general education requirements for admission to Diploma cours e s should be retained at five GCE passes at '0' level (or an approved equivalent) but s p ec ific r e quirements for other qualifications may be adopted for individual courses. E xe mption f r om the minimum requirements should continue to be permissible in cases of stud e nts of marked creative promise. Colleges are asked to keep this e x c e ptional clause in mind";. The two types of Dip.A . D. proposed, 'A' and 'B' are to recruit in different way s, th e 'A' courses from 18 + foundation courses and the 'B' direct from sixth forms. "; Four -ye ar Diploma cou rses (Group B) may be preceded by a one- y ea r foundation co ur se but i s ex pe c t e d the y wi!!frequently be entered direct from th e si x th form o r th e e quivalent. ";


In this article, we propose a new model based on mixed linear programming to determine a composite web service (structured by a workflow) minimizing a QoS measure while satisfying some QoS constraints. The proposed mixed linear program is solved using a standard solver (CPLEX). Our experiments show that big-size instances can be exactly solved. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that a linear program with a polynomial number of variables and constraints is proposed for QoS-driven web service composition based on complex workflow with interlaced patterns.


Studies on organic preservation in fossil tissues have been a contentious topic, as fossils have been thought to preserve little, if any, organic content after diagenesis. Several studies have previously reported the presence of collagen in fossils from deep time including in Cretaceous dinosaur bones (e.g.: Schweitzer et al., 2007, Science v. 316, 277-280). These findings have also been the subject of criticism with respect to the reproducibility of their results (e.g.: Buckley et al., 2017, Proceedings of the Royal Society B v. 284: 20170544). In the present study, we analysed a turtle shell from Eocene to ascertain a suitable proxy for the preservation of collagen, by using comprehensive pyrolysis gas chromatography – time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Py-GCxGCTOFMS) and comparing the pyrolytic products obtained to those of modern turtle shell and collagen standard.


Members of the UTA Libraries' Faculty Creative Works 2017 Committee are Evelyn Barker (chair), Alexander Brown (reception, monograph display), Morgan Chivers (exhibit curation and design), Kyle Givens (monographs), Ava Nell Harris (monograph acquisitions and display), Andy Herzog (bibliography data collection), Kathleen Houston (reception coordination), Andrew Leverenz (website creation direction), Kyle Pinkos (bibliography design and layout), Donald Quarles (monograph display and reception), and Dwayne Warren (facilities). Website credit: Candy McCormic and Krystal Schenk.


This paper describes our on-going theoretical research into the design of computer music instruments. Traditionally, an acoustical instrument is used as an extension of the body. We feel the importance of this tight relationship between musician and instrument has traditionally been underestimated in the design of computer music controllers. In this paper, we will show the benefits of a cybernetic approach to the man-instrument system, in which we specify relationships between body-parts, different types of transducers, feedback, and the musical function performed. Matching these different requirements is a first step into bringing computer music instruments into reach of the skilled musician.


Recently described by Walsh et Al. (2) midline anterior neck inclusion cyst is a superficial developmental anomaly of the midline lower neck; it is clinically reminiscent of a giant milium and pathologically of an infundibular follicular cyst. To date, there are 8 cases reported. Thanks to its superficial location and clinical appearance MANIC can be differentiated from thyroglossal duct cyst, which present as a subcutaneous mass moving upwards with swallowing, from midline cervical cleft with its characteristic linear atrophy and from bronchogenic cyst characterized by a subcutaneous nodule (1). The diagnosis is clinical; however, ultrasound can help to differentiate other entities. Although spontaneous regression may sometimes occur (2), surgical removal is usually performed.


This research work aim at investigating the behavior of the real estate market of the city of Porto Alegre, through the use of multiple variable statistical models, which explain the value formation of housing rents. The models developed were based on a sample of 504 apartments, from several different areas of the city, offered in the market during July 1992. The universe is all properties offered in that period. The models developed were based on a sample of 504 apartments, extracted of the total of 1819. In that apartments, a number of variables had their influence in the value of rent investigated, like building condition and proximity conditions, completed by information of public institutions. The data were tested by factor and regression analysis, with the compilation of econometric models (hedonic). in various aggregation levels. The analysis demonstrated what the market can to be explicated by this models, what present significative differences, according to data collection, but permit the obtainment of models for all dwellings and a best understanding of working of real estate market


In cardiac cells, depolarization of the external membrane and its infoldings, the T-tubules, opens voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels/dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs), allowing a small influx of extracellular Ca2+ (the inward Ca2+ current, I Ca). In mature cardiomyocytes, I Ca is insufficient to elevate myoplasmic [Ca2+] to fully contracting levels; however, I Ca triggers the opening of Ca2+ release channels/ryanodine receptors (RyRs), which produce a rapid and massive release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). This amplification process, termed Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR),1 may be graded by endogenous effectors, hormones, and neurotransmitters to regulate the intensity and duration of ventricular contractions.2

RyRs are homotetramers of more than 2 megadaltons endowed with more than a fair share of structural elements to produce a bona fide ion channel. They contain a high-conductance Ca2+-selective pore, Ca2+ activation and inactivation sites, several phosphorylation sites, and multiple binding sites for a myriad of endogenous regulators that include ATP, Mg2+, and calmodulin.3 4 Still, as if this huge structural assembly were not sufficiently complex, RyRs are also capable of protein-protein interactions that allow them to bind, in some cases steadily and in other cases in a time- and Ca2+-dependent manner, to small and independently regulated accessory proteins.5 Therefore, although the RyR homotetramer with its intrinsic regulatory domains seems to be the central processor of effector signals, its association with cytosolic (FKBP12, sorcin, and calmodulin) and lumenal (calsequestrin, junctin, and triadin) proteins seems to add another layer of versatility (and complexity) to modulation of CICR in the heart. But how extensive is the level of involvement of these accessory proteins in CICR? Are they indispensable components of Ca2+ release during excitation-contraction coupling? If not, do they play …


In Jacob Neusner: An American Jewish Iconoclast, Aaron Hughes has written an engaging and informative biography on the life and career of Jacob Neusner (late Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of the History and Theology of Judaism; Senior Fellow, Institute of Advanced Theology, Bard College). Neusner individual genetic information—as paternalistic but also as corresponding to the dread with which genetics can fill its subjects. This book, by contrast, draws on a cultural analysis of public documents: doctors' medical reports of Tay-Sachs since the first case was documented in 1881, YouTube videos of children with Tay-Sachs, and medical malpractice suits since the test for the disease became available. The actual participants, doctors and laypeople, community leaders and members, are not given a voice but rather a secondary reading and critical interpretation. The bottom line, according to the author, is rather critical: "To join, as an individual, in the drive to health by being genetically tested is to behave rationally and socially responsibly as is required of biocitizens. But to resist the will to screen is thought to be irrational, unreasonable, and immoral; it is a decision that demands a good explanation." The debate on choice in genetic testing is important, but it needs contextualization. It appears futile to blame the Haredi community for lack of choice in terms of genetic screening for Tay-Sachs when, from a secular-liberal perspective, it lacks choice in the majority of daily activities. The modern Jewish community is another thing. Unlike Dor Yeshorim, the intended aim of the National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association (NTSAD) program is to identify carriers and provide them with a full range of options and services. This reader was left in the dark as to why resisting the screen for Tay-Sachs should be seen as rational, reasonable, and moral. "What might the history of this disease have looked like had it surfaced in a culture of inclusion and pluralism?" The author asks in the conclusion, and responds: "In such a context, the dying and disabled, for example, would no doubt be looked after rather than swept to the margins of society." This is indeed a worthy ideal to aspire to in general, but I was left unconvinced of its actual relevance to Tay-Sachs.


With the application of wide band gap devices in power electronics, planar transformers are preferred to further reduce the profile and manufacture cost. As a critical factor affecting the reliability, the temperature of the planar transformer is unevenly distributed and should be considered in the design phase. In this regard, a detailed thermal model enabling the temperature prediction for both the core and windings is imperative. In this paper, a thermal impedance network of the planar core is proposed considering the thermal coupling of the ambient, the core and the printed circuit board (PCB) windings. With the time-efficient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, the parameters of the network are extracted and the matrix-based model is obtained. Moreover, the model can be well coupled with the electric circuit model to perform the multi-physics optimization and simulation of the planar transformer. Finally, the proposed model is verified by both simulation and experiment results on a MHz prototype.


Background: attending to continuing medical education (CME) activities in Kerbala health directorate affected by different motivations & barriers; individual, structural and organizational. So assessment the attending rate will be helpful to highlight on these factors. Objectives :(1)Assessment the attending rate into CME activities in Kerbala health directorate. (2) barriers & motivations to physicians acquiring the skills and engaging in the CME. (3) identify a general suggestions to improve the attendance and propose solutions to better prepare physicians for ongoing self-assessment and lifelong learning. Method : semi-structured descriptive cross sectional study carried out from 22 nd of June to 30 th of December 2013 at kerbala health directorate, the study sample was 203 specialist doctors, from 6 hospitals &6 administrative departments. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program version 17 and chi square test used for data analysis, and p-value= 0.05 considered statistically significant. Result :94.1% was regular & irregular attending rate, males more regular than females, hospital working more regular attending, as long as the physicians were approached CME activities with; different strategies, external motivations, uses multiple new technologies to learn,  setting curriculum, presence of assessment & evaluation, fixed policy, budget, minimize structural & organizational barriers the attending rate would be increased. Conclusion: high attendance rate with poor efficiency & competence of specialist doctors in Kerbala health directorate into CME, participation need mixed external & internal motivating factors, different approaches, well organized planning activities by setting curriculum,  assessment, evaluation, budget, fixed policy, minimize managerial barriers with suitable timing, place & provide incentives. Key words : assessment, attending rate, motivations & barriers, postgraduate, CME, policy, lifelong learning, medical educator


This research aims to determine the relationship of: anxiety towards job satisfaction, self-efficacy towards job satisfaction, anxiety and self-efficacy towards job satisfaction of Bintara Personnel Brimob Unit of The North Sumatra Regional Police. This research uses a descriptive method with a quantitative approach. The population in this study was all personnel who served in the Brimob Unit of the North Sumatra Regional Police. The samples in this study were determined using the total sampling technique so that the number of samples in this study was 444 personnel Brimob Unit of the North Sumatra Regional Police. This research instrument uses a Likert scale where all items of the research instrument with a total of 16 items are declared valid and reliable. The data analysis used in this study used parametric statistics through multiple linear regression analysis, partial t test, anova test and coefficient of determination test. The results of the research obtained are: (1) work anxiety has a relationship with job satisfaction, (2) self efficacy has no relationship with job satisfaction, (3) anxiety and self-efficacy together or simultaneously have a relationship to job satisfaction.


The polarizations of the transitions to the lowest n—π* and three π—π* singlet states of 9,10‐anthraquinone have been measured relative to that of the phosphorescence by the method of photoselection. Assuming that the n—π* and two π—π* transition moments lie in the molecular plane and utilizing the previous result that the T1←S0 transition moment is parallel to the carbonyl axes (Z), the n—π* absorption is found to be polarized along Y and the first three π—π* transitions along Y, Z, Y, respectively. Y is the axis in the molecular plane perpendicular to the carbonyl axis. The ordering of the π* states is compared with the predictions of the two available SCF calculations and with the predictions of the Platt spectroscopic moment theory.


Writing up a product isn't something we normally undertake at without prejudice. It would need to be something really special or unusual - and that's exactly what happened when we were confronted with a pen accompanied by the claim "Never Miss A Word."


Adolescents of today are part of the first generation of the post-modern era. Since the modern era ended stunning transformations in technology, communications, and knowledge have accelerated the abrupt transformation that began with Hiroshima. One result of this enormous increase in technological efficiency has been unprecedented social change. All social change challenges existing value structures, but in America the rapidity of the transformation has posed monumental challenges to society's values in all areas and on all levels.


On the basis of the CNC glass-carve machine works,the particular way was presented to deal with three-dimension tool compensation.It is proved that complex milling operation is achieved with the technique of three-dimension tool compensation when the glass carve is equipped with a fully controlled C axis.


The present invention relates to a method of controlling the production of filler-containing paper. Both retention agents and fillers, is fed to the paper manufacturing system in such a paper making process. The amount of filler in the paper, as with the total concentration of filler concentration or white water or in the raw material, is measured. Filler is fed in an amount sufficient to render the system is reduced by the filler until roughly scheduled concentration levels (control value), but the amount can be determined by the measurement process. When the continuous addition of retention agent exclusively on the basis of the amount of filler measured in the paper just right moment, a measured amount of filler present is lower than the desired level, while the amount of retention agent is Masa, when measured amount of filler present is higher than the desired level, no such amount of retention agent is reduced, continuous addition of filler, as viewed in at least a long period of time, measured in the white water or in the feed exclusively on the basis of the concentration level of filler, when the measured level is lower than the control value, but the addition is masa filler, when the measured level is higher than the control value, filler amount reduced to be added It is.


The development of 3D numerical methods enables the estimation of flow parameters in any section of the channels and in this way the complex phenomenon of generation of losses can be investigated. Application of 3D solver helps in better understanding of flow behaviour in turbine stages, while basing on the results of calculations of stages of different geometries, it is possible to show the effect of different design parameters on the turbine stage output and its efficiency. The paper presents the examples of application of modern computer programs for teaching turbomachinery problems, for research flows in turbine stages and for solving design tasks. Some examples of students' projects are also included.


Image hashing is a useful multimedia technology for many applications, such as image authentication, image retrieval, image copy detection and image forensics. In this paper, we propose a robust image hashing based on random Gabor filtering and discrete wavelet transform (DWT). Specifically, robust and secure image features are extracted from the normalized image by Gabor filtering and a chaotic map called Skew tent map, and then are compressed via a single-level 2-D DWT. Image hash is finally obtained by concatenating DWT coefficients in the LL sub-band. Many experiments with open image datasets are carries out and the results illustrate that our hashing is robust, discriminative and secure. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve comparisons show that our hashing is better than some popular image hashing algorithms in classification performance between robustness and discrimination.


The purpose of this paper is to identify the integrative role of awareness of individual gender characteristics of the athletes that specialized mainly in masculine, feminine or androgynous sports. The author uses the following material such as a diagnostics complex program of individual gender characteristics of athletes. Athletes specializing in calisthenics, boxing and athletics took place in our investigation. As a result we have found that most of the athletes of each group who took part in the experiment have an intuitive awareness level of individual gender characteristics. A slight predominance of the heuristic level is observed in the group of male boxers that can be explained by the fact that this kind of sport traditionally brings up qualities which can be stereotypically understood as masculine. We can make the following conclusions. The obtained data about the complex integrative role of awareness of individual gender characteristics in athletes allow to identify the gender characteristics of athletes specializing primarily in masculine, feminine or mixed (androgynous) sports. The knowledge of their own gender peculiarities will help them expand the boundaries of self-identity of the athlete and will open up opportunities for self-realization and self-actualization not only in sports but also in everyday life.


The management problems especially in the financial aspect of medium or small-sized enterprises have been increasingly prominent in the course of their rapid development.Their financial management is incommensurate to their own development and market economy.Starting with the characteristics of the financial management of the said enterprises,this paper analyzed the problems and their causes,and proposed the measures they should take to strengthen their financial management.


The article has a two goals: first, investigation of the types of workaholic that exist, and second, examination of why they work too much, taking into consideration their motivational characteristics. We examined the differences in motivation between two types of workaholic identified among a sample of 137 Polish managers. Workaholism was evaluated using questionnaires that assessed behavioural, cognitive, and affective dimensions of workaholism. The criteria for the distinction between functional and dysfunctional types of workaholic were based on a subjective assessment of quality of life. On the basis of the Self Determination Theory of Deci and Ryan, and other conceptualizations that cover motivational variables, such as goals, values, and value crisis, we expected to discern differences between types of workaholics. We used ANOVA to compare the two types of workaholic. Contrary to expectations, the type of motivation (autonomous vs. controlled) did not differ between the two types of workaholic. However, functional and dysfunctional workaholics differed in their values (hierarchy of values and value crisis), and were driven by different goals. The present study emphasises the importance of differentiating between functional and dysfunctional workaholics. The present study has three main limitations. First, only self-report methods were applied. Ideally, information should be collected from other sources to supplement and verify the data from primary respondents. Second, the use of a cross-sectional approach made it difficult to take the developmental perspective that is encouraged strongly in the investigation of processes. Third, the ability to generalise the conclusions to different occupational groups is limited.


The effect of specimen thickness on fracture toughness JIc has been investigated with compact tension specimens using the multispecimen R-curve method. HT-9 and A533B-1 steel specimens with thicknesses of 25(1TCT), 10(0.4TCT), 3, and 0.5(0.2TCT) mm were tested. Some of them did not satisfy the ASTM E 813 size requirement for valid JIc. The through-thickness distribution of the plastic energy dissipation or work done within the intense strain region at the crack tip was measured by using a recrystallization-etch technique. Fractographic examinations of the variation of stretch zone width and fracture modes along the specimen thickness were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), where flat fracture and shear fracture regions have been distinguished. A new JIc evaluation procedure for invalid specimen size is proposed using rigid plastic analysis and shear fracture measurements with recrystallization-etch or fractographic observations. Predicted JIc values are compared with the JIc values obtained from valid specimen size. This miniaturized specimen technique may be applicable to post-irradiation fracture toughness testing.


Objective To investigate the significance of standard deviation of blood glucose in the continuous glucose monitoring of the subjects across a range of glucose tolerance from normal to overt type 2 diabetes.Methods Totally 220 subjects were recruited in the study,including 47 with normal glucose regulation (NGR),52 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT,20 with isolated impaired glucose tolerance,and 32 with IGT and impaired fasting glucose),61 with diabetes diagnosed by isolated 2 h plasma glucose (DM2h),and 60 newly diagnosed diabetes by both fasting and 2 h plasma glucose (DM).All subjects were monitored by using the continuous glucose monitoring system for consecutive 72 hours.The multiple parameters of glycemic variability included the standard deviation of blood glucose (SD),continuous overlapping net glycemic action calculated every 1 h (CONGA1),mean of daily differences(MODD),and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE).Results Glycemic variability parameters,including SD,CONGA1,MODD,and MAGE,all increased from NGR to IGT,DM2h,DM group (P<0.05).However,MAGE/SD,MODD/SD,and CONGA1/SD were comparable in the NGR,IGT,DM2h,and DM groups(P=0.988,0.320,and 0.350,respectively).The ratios of MAGE,MODD,and CONGA1 to SD in the entire data set were 2.24 ± 0.43,0.94 ± 0.17,and 0.89 ± 0.24,respectively.Conclusions There were direct linear proportionalities between MAGE,MODD,CONGA1,and SD for each glucose tolerance group or the entire data set.MAGE,MODD,and CONGA1 can be calculated according to SD.

Key words:
Glycemic variability ;  Continuous glucose monitoring ;  Standard deviation of blood glucose ; Diabetes mellitus, type 2


This paper describes the modelling of end uses of water from a number of households in Greater Melbourne logged by Yarra Valley Water in Melbourne in 2001 and 2004. A Residential Indoor Water Use Estimation computer program is developed based on the end use models and other information from logged households. The computer program estimates the total indoor use and the water use per major end uses per household and per zone level in Melbourne. The computer program is designed to run within a Web-browser either online or off-line for household use, for community and planning purposes. The program could be further developed into computer software that would simulate end uses of water per household within Metropolitan Melbourne as updated water demand data and other information such as population-household dynamics, rainfall, temperature and day of the week are collected. The result of the study will improve understanding on end uses of water and will provide information on where to focus water conservation efforts. The residential water demand estimates in each of the Greater Melbourne suburbs will assist in planning future infrastructure.


Rice husk ash (RHA) was recently employed as stabilizer, for municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash. Indeed, this ash contains large amount of heavy metals, as Pb and Zn. MSWI fly ash contains also soluble salts (mainly NaCl) in 10-20% mass amount. These salts can be recovered after inertization procedure, by material washing. RHA, that is combined with other by product materials, as flue gas desulfurizing residues and coal fly ash, shows good capability in heavy metals inertization, and the technology transfer was financed by EU Commission, in the frame of LIFE+ project (LIFE11 ENV/IT/000256). The obtained composites are characterized by using chemical and structural techniques. In this work first results about the employ of the obtained composites in the field of absorption of Methylene Blue are reported and discussed.


A humidifier apparatus for operating at an air pressure is disclosed for use with a respiratory therapy breathing apparatus that provides a breathable gas supply to patients requiring higher concentrations of liquid vapor and gas pressure. The humidifier apparatus includes a feed liquid supply bag in fluid communication with a humidifier cartridge via a conduit. The conduit enables air to flow therethrough to equalize air pressure between the humidifier cartridge and the feed liquid supply bag in response to liquid being supplied to the humidifier cartridge.


We study a dilute dispersion of magnetic microparticles in mineral oil when it is simultaneously under a static magnetic field and an alternatingmagnetic fie...


The development of university perfected the construction of its libarie.The matters that libraries faced are short of funds,slow develop speed,irrational structure and indecisive direction.The topic put forward suggestions base on development and research of libraries at home and abroad.


An Advanced Outer Divertor is being developed for the Alcator C-Mod to study D retention at reactor temperature with high power long-pulse discharges. The divertor will be operated at elevated temperature up to 600°C. To achieve this goal, the divertor will be structurally and electrically continuous along toroidal direction, requiring it to expand radially as temperature increases. This paper describes the finite element analysis and results of heat transfer simulations of the outer divertor. There are four aspects, with focus on the AFrame assembly. First of all, a 1/20th module of the full divertor is composed of divertor tiles, tile mounting plate, heaters, divertor gusset, A-Frame support, spherical bearings, bracket, halo current shunt, vessel gusset, etc. By adjusting the power of each of the seven toroidal divertor heaters, the tiles achieve a uniform temperature poloidally with toroidal temperature variation within allowables. The temperature of each component is evaluated, and results are used to support the design changes. Secondly, radiation simulation of the diverter heater itself is done to understand more details of heat transfer from the heater to the surrounding tiles and support plates. Thirdly, heat transfer analysis is performed with a model including a tile and its mounting plate, to predict the effect of plasma heat load on divertor tiles. Finally, radiation simulation on multilayer thermal shields is presented. All the heat transfer simulations are completed by COMSOL, commercial finite element analysis software.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the 2014 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference held at Technische Universitat Munchen, Munich. Design/methodology/approach – The report is based on delegate observations, notes and audience reactions to papers presented on research conducted. Findings – The papers presented new boundaries on diversity research. This included research on the importance of cultural diversity in the outcomes in the hotel industry by being led by foreign managers in Cyprus; how skilled Romanians construct and understand their identities as skilled professionals and members of stigmatised European migrants and how a diverse workforce experiences power utilising a Foucauladian understanding of power. Originality/value – This report integrates a number of themes from diversity research across the world, highlighting progress and the suggested direction for future diversity research.


Performance management is a key strategy tool for a hospital to achieve its planned goals, and performance negotiation plays a key role in performance management which consists of performance planning, execution, evaluation and feedback. The negotiations emphasize differently in the negotiations, as short of which effective performance management is out of the question. To cultivate an incentive-oriented negotiation culture and build a negotiation system make a great difference in solving problems of performance management and promoting efficacy of hospital performance management.

Key words:
Negotiation; Performance management


Talented personnel resources is the most important one for the development of institutions of higher learning. Constructing a highly qualified faculty is the foremost need for building a high leveled college. In order to realize the spurning-on development in the college's scale, level and quality, training a group of excellent talented personnel and building up a highly qualified faculty are of vital importance.


Computational modeling using boundary element techniques has been proposed for design and evaluation of shipboard impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems. LaPlace's equation, the governing differential equation for electrochemical corrosion, is well suited for solution by the boundary element method. There has been much work performed in this field during the past two decades. Computational modeling efforts designed to validate boundary element procedures are reviewed. U. S. Navy ship systems discussed are CG-59, CG-66 and CVN-68. Computational analysis accuracy is determined by comparison with physical scale modeling experimental results. Lessons learned from the analyses described are summarized. Advantages and disadvantages of boundary element modeling are discussed.


Asymmetric scattering of extreme ultraviolet light is observed from Mo/Si multilayers at normal incidence. The observed asymmetry is shown to depend on the geometry of the multilayer film deposition. However, atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of the top surface were isotropic, and there was no indication of columnar film growth either in the AFM or in TEM cross-sectional measurements. The scattering asymmetry is instead found to result from a skewed propagation of roughness within the multilayer. A modified film growth model is developed which describes this, and is also used to calculate the nonspecular scattering. The results of the model are in excellent agreement with the measurements. The scattering asymmetry can be used to determine the average deposition angle during the film growth. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}


Partially-ordered spaces (A; A) and (B; B) that may be mutually embedded via Galois embeddings are not generally isomorphic | as was previously assumed. Even the additional assumption of the ascending and descending chain conditions (ACC and DCC) does not imply isomorphism. A counterexample proves this. However, we illustrate on the counterexample that A and B may be extended such that the resulting spaces are isomorphic. We call such extensible partially-ordered spaces consistent. We prove that two partially-ordered spaces with isotone functions in both directions are consistent if ACC and DCC hold: a theory of zigzags enables the construction of partial isomorphisms on subsets of A and B giving rise to a general construction of extensions A and B of the relations A and B such that the combination of the partial isomorphisms proves (A; A) = (B; B). Consistency in the presence of isotone functions implies consistency for Ga-lois embeddings. In the remainder of the paper we illustrate that the result is best possible and discuss the impact of Galois embeddings on isomorphism. A und B, was die allgemeine Konstruktion von Erweiterungen A und B der Relationen A und B erlaubt, so daa die Kombination der partiellen Isomorphismen (A; A) = (B; B) beweist. Konsistenz in Gegenwart von isotonen Funktionen impliziert die Konsistenz f ur Galois-Einbettungen. Im Rest des Papiers illustrieren wir, daa das Resultat bestmm oglich ist und disku-tieren den Einnuu von Galois-Einbettungen auf Isomorphismus.


The method—cold atom absorption spectrophotometry(NCG-1 cold vapor atomic absorption mercury analyzer)was discussed for measuring content of mercury in sodium hydroride as food additives.The relative standard deviation was 6.80%~7.79% and the maximum relative deviation was 17.7% in the linear range 1ng/ml~5ng/ml.The method is simple,its precision and accuracy can meet requirements.


Generally, sample surveys are multivariate in natur e where multiple response are obtained on every uni t selected in a sample, that is, more than one charac teristics are defined on each and every unit of the population. While dealing with a multivariate stratified popula tion, to workout an allocation that is optimum for all characteristics is almost impossible unless the cha racteristics are highly correlated. Some compromise must be allowed to obtain an allocation that is optimum, in some sense, for all the characteristics. Since suc h allocations are based on some compromise criteria they are know n as compromise allocations. This paper deals with the problem of obtaining an optimum allocation in multi variate stratified sampling design.


ABSTRACT This paper intends to test and find out the accuracy or the deviation information latitude longitude coordinates (λ, φ) or UTM which is informed on the Google-Earth image. The research is started by conducting registry longitude-latitude coordinates and UTM at some points in the Google-Earth, then it is overlaid with visual map coordinates of the earth scale 1: 25 000 Bakosurtanal publish. Both coordinates are plotted in the ArcView program in the form of theme-point. Subsequently both these themes in overlay can be seen visually for deviations from these coordinates and distance can be measured as well as its deviation from the second point with a magnification of up to show the level of detail scale 1: 1000. Conclusions can be drawn that the longitude-latitude coordinates or UTM on Google-Earth can not be used for technical maps in large scale, but it was enough for making the planning maps in scale 1: 25.000.


Culvert aqueduct is the main form of river-graff-cross building in Mid-route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project,and reliability analyse mothod was seldom seen used on aqueduct structure.The failure mode of the primary structures of culvert aqueduct is analyzed and the corresponding reliability indices is achieved.Based on the interdependent effect of each structure,system reliability of culvert aqueduct structures is calculated.


Based on the panel data of the major 13 banks in China from 1996 to 2003, this paper analyzes the change of the banks' profit, which was affected by the development of the security market. Low-level competition was found between the banks and the security market. They did not have a good interaction, and the development of direct financing squeezed the profit of indirect financing. This conclusion is constructive to the current reform of the financial structure and the trend of multiple businesses.


ON the northern border of the Black Hills of Dakota, and situated partly in Wyoming, there are about a dozen hills of igneous rock, which not only add variety and beauty to the picturesque region where they occur, but are unique topographic features and furnish examples of a type of igneous intrusions that does not seem to have been clearly recognized. The hills referred to, are known in the general order of their occurrence from east to west, as Bear Butte, Custer Peak, Terry Peak, Black Butte, Crow Peak in South Dakota, Inyan Kara, the Sun Dance hills, Warren Peaks, Mato Tepee or Bear Lodge, and the Little Missouri buttes in Wyoming. Only a few of these hills have been examined by me, but such observations as I was able to make together with the descriptions given by N. H. Winchell' and Henry Newton2 of those not visited, show that they all have a common history and may be classed in a single group. Each of these hills owes its existence to the injection from beneath of a column of molten rock into stratified beds, and the subsequent removal of the enclosing sedimentary strata so as to expose, with one exception, the inner core of plutonic rock. They differ from the laccolites described by G. K. Gilbert3, in the fact that the molten rock did not spread out horizontally among the stratified beds so as to form "stone cisterns," 1 Geological Report. In report of a reconnoissance of the Black Hills of Dakota made in the summer of 1874, by William Ludlow, Washington (Engineer Department, U. S. A.), 1875, 4to, pp. 21-66. 2 Geology of the Black Hills (edited by G. K. Gilbert). In report on the geology and resources of the Black Hills of' Dakota, by Henry Newton and Walter P. Jenney, Washington (Department of the Interior), 1890, 4to, 1-222. 3 Reporton the Geology of the Henry Mountains; Washington (Department of the Interior), 1877, 4to, pp. x.+I60, Plates I.-V.


Inverted ("flipped") pedagogical models are rapidly increasing in prevalence within language education. These models are particularly relevant for language learning given that they promote learner agency and encourage the use of artifacts to mediate cognition. However, the specific methods used in these models are often not anticipated by learners who expect a more instructor- or grammar-focused approach in class. Such expectancy violations can be detrimental because learner expectations may impact motivation and learning (Chang, Wall, Tare, Golonka, & Vatz, 2014). The current study explored the use of a video to (re)mediate students' expectations and understanding of the inverted classroom. Research questions explored the extent to which the use of an instructional video that explained this pedagogical model impacted learners' expectations and affective orientation to the course structure and whether individual differences moderated this impact. Results showed that the video adjusted students' expectations, particularly in the area of second language prevalence in the classroom. In addition, there was a significant pre-post increase in students' comfort with the inverted model. Finally, significant differences among learner subgroups at the beginning of the semester were no longer present at the course's end. These results support the use of an introductory video for mediating learners' conceptualization of language pedagogy.


Li and colleagues (3) report the synthesis and properties of a cephalosporin that releases the antimicrobial agent triclosan when the β-lactam bond is enzymatically hydrolyzed and describe this concept as a "novel prodrug strategy to overcome drug resistance." This claim of novelty must not be allowed to go unchallenged. As long ago as 1976, scientists from Glaxo in the United Kingdom (4) described a precisely analogous compound, the cephalosporin MCO, that ejected the antimicrobial compound pyrithione ("Omadine") when an organism producing β-lactamase was encountered. Since then, there have been several other compounds synthesized with this antimicrobial strategy in mind, based on cephalosporins, carbapenems, and penems, as detailed in reviews (1, 2). A more recent development has been to harness this property of the cephalosporin nucleus as a potential targeting mechanism for anticancer drugs (5).


A steam control valve causes vibration of the piping when the opening is in the middle condition. For the rationalization of maintenance and management in the plant, the valve should he improved, but it is difficult to understand the flow characteristics in detail by experiment because the flow around the valve is complex 3D stlacture and becomes supersonic (M>1). In this report, a high-precision 3D CFD code for compressible flow is developed. After validating the code by comparing with experiments, the detailed flow characteristics around the valve are studied. At only the middle opening condition, a circumferentially propagating spike-type pressure fluctuation caused by asymmetric flow around valve can be seen. As this fluctuation causes cyclic side load on the valve body, it is thought to be the cause of vibration.


During the 1980's, very high spectral resolution solar X‐ray spectra were obtained from a number of Bragg crystal spectrometer experiments on orbiting spacecraft. Taken together, these instruments covered the solar X‐ray spectrum from about 1.8 A up to about 25 A. Inner‐shell transitions in highly ionized ions were observed for several solar abundant elements, such as iron and calcium. Most of the spectra were obtained from solar flare plasmas at temperatures of about 1–3.5 keV. It was possible to study the time‐behavior of line intensities and line profiles for all phases of a solar flare. From these spectra, the accuracy of certain atomic physics calculations can be determined, and parameters in the solar flare plasma such as electron temperature and density can be measured.The most significant results from these space missions are reviewed, and a new Bragg crystal spectrometer experiment is described. The solar spectra will also be related to some recent laboratory measurements involving tokamak spectr...


In the past decade the developing countries have tried much harder to achieve macroeconomic stability than they have to eliminate inefficiencies from microeconomic distortions. The author has pursued a relatively new line of inquiry in examining measurement of the social income losses induced by the reduction of the investment efficiency caused by trade distortions. Empirical findings of the study suggest a strong negative effect of trade distortions on the social efficiency of investment. The social income losses caused by the reduced investment efficiency are considerable. Countries that have a moderate investment ratio (about 20 percent of GDP) can experience social income losses in excess of 18 percent in 30 years, if tariffs are about 50 percent. This study confirms earlier findings about the relatively modest efficiency losses caused by the independent effects of specific distortions. The author alsofound a significant synergistic effect when trade and wage distortions coexist and lead to larger efficiency losses. The key issue is the combination of price distortions favoring capital-intensive activity with wage distortions that cause unemployment and underemployment. This pattern is pervasive in developing countries.


tant ingredient you can bring to making a hiring decision effectively is humility&dquo; (p. 256). This book recognizes the limits of human understanding and knowledge. Here, the goal of an effective hiring process is merely to increase the probability of making a good selection. The authors dismiss the oft-heard charge to go out and hire the &dquo;best person&dquo; for the job. &dquo;The lesson to be learned is that one of


(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to bipolar gripping instrument with two clamping jaws which can be moved towards each other. The clamping jaws may be respectively connected to the electrodes of the high-frequency voltage source with electrically insulated from each other. The clamping jaws are each, two clamping elements each clamping element has a clamping surface with a two clamping elements arranged in mutually spaced relationship to form a longitudinal slot between 該挟 lifting elements provided. The grip device further comprises a cutting device with a cutting element having a cutting blade with a displaceable within the longitudinal slot of the clamping jaws. Object of the invention is to improve the operability of the structural design aspects and such device drive mechanism. For this purpose, the cutting element, the cutting blade in a direction toward the other clamping jaw the one with is accommodated in the longitudinal slot of between the sandwiching elements of one clamping jaw beyond clamping surface of the clamping jaws so as not to extend, it is disposed within the longitudinal slot of one clamping jaw. Each clamping element of the clamping jaw relative to the cutting element, the cutting elements of the cutting blade is resiliently movable in the closing movement in the opposite direction of the clamping jaw until projects beyond the clamping surface is there.


The seventh SOLEIL Users' Meeting took place on January 18–19, 2012, at the Ecole Polytechnique and SOLEIL in France. It was attended by 347 participants from 10 different countries. Two satellite ...


Provided is a motor support of an air conditioner outdoor unit and the air conditioner outdoor unit. The motor support of the air conditioner outdoor unit is used for installing a fan motor of the air conditioner outdoor unit. The motor support comprises longitudinal beams, a top installation plate arranged at one ends of the longitudinal beams, a base arranged at the other ends of the longitudinal beams, and motor installation plates arranged in the middle portions of the longitudinal beams. The base is used for being fixed with the bottom of the air conditioner outdoor unit. The motor installation plates are used for installing the fan motor of the air conditioner outdoor unit. The motor support of the air conditioner outdoor unit is characterized in that the two ends of the longitudinal beams are bent towards a front panel, provided with an air outlet, of the air conditioner outdoor unit in a rounded corner mode, one end of the top installation plate is used for being fixed with the front panel of the air conditioner outdoor unit, and the other end of the top installation plate is used for being fixed with a heat exchanger of the air conditioner outdoor unit. According to the motor support of the air conditioner outdoor unit, the strength of the motor support can be improved under the condition of not increasing the wind resistance of the windward surface of the motor support.


Abstract INTRODUCTION THE effect of seasonal changes in light and temperature is apparent in the reproductive cycle of birds such as coturnix, also referred to as Japanese quail. The corresponding changes in feed consumption related to gonadal development, however, has been a neglected area of investigation. Light has been considered the prime factor in hastening sexual maturity in coturnix and other bird species, but temperature has also been implicated. The unraveling of this complex relationship of light and temperature effects on reproduction requires a controlled environment facility, and a close examination of reproductive capacity and energy intake. The objectives of these experiments were to determine the effects of light-temperature interactions on the gonadal function and energy consumption of old and young adult coturnix, and further to determine the amount of feed intake associated with egg formation. METHODS Two experiments with very similar protocol were completed in the avian bioclimatic chambers at…


Justifying information technology (IT) projects is desirable but challenging. Given the unprecedented level of functional integration in e-business environments, the way to link IT projects to business benefits is by capturing interactions in the business process in which they are embedded. Because the application of IT will alter the physical and information flows of a business process, the benefits of an IT project can be estimated by rigorously representing these flows. A system dynamics approach for this purpose is proposed, and, using a call center application as an example, the way this approach links an IT project to its business benefits is demonstrated. Simulations show how the model can be used to make trade-offs among important project parameters. In addition to linking IT projects to business performance, this approach offers insights into the timing of anticipated benefits.


Frugivorous vertebrates play a critical role as seed dispersers of many tropical fruiting plants. In Madagascar, lemurs are the principal dispersers of fruit-bearing plants. This study aims to highlight the potential ecological role of the red- ruffed lemur ( Varecia rubra) in the regeneration of a degraded forest, based on the quantity and size of passed seeds, their viability and germination, and seedling growth. In Masoala National Park, V. rubra groups were followed daily from dawn to dusk to collect fresh fecal samples containing seeds. We determined seed viability by immersion, and created an on-site nursery to compare the germination and growth of emerged seedlings from egested versus non-egested seeds. V. rubra dispersed a diverse group of plant species with mainly large-sized seeds, which remained undamaged by gut passage. De - fecated seeds were viable and had a higher germination success than control seeds. There was also increased growth among seedlings of defecated seeds, suggesting V. rubra may play an important role in the regeneration of a degraded habitat through seed dispersal.


One of the increasing concept nowadays in ecommerce is social commerce. Social commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services through the use of social networking sites. In addition, social commerce primarily affects the millennials composed mostly of college students. This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of students in terms of age and sex and their relationship to the factors affecting the acceptance of social commerce. The factors were based on the User Acceptance of Technology: Towards Unified View. Facebook was considered as the platform of social commerce in this study. The questionnaire was answered by 100 respondents composed of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Descriptive statistics was used such as frequency count, percentage and mean to determine the characteristics of the participants and factors affecting social commerce acceptance. Pearson correlation was used to find the relationship between the characteristics and factors affecting social commerce acceptance of students in a State University.


The aim of this research is to evaluate future retail developments in a medium-sized town and the indirect effects of individual behaviour on the local economy. Therefore we combine a spatial microsimulation model with a conditional logit model estimating the spatial shopping behaviour of households to simulate the effect of future retail developments. Then, we estimate the macro effects of these developments, mainly the effects on the retail sector, with help of an interregional SAM on town level. This analysis shows how different locations for retail developments have different impacts on households and firms in the local economy. Copyright (c) 2010 the author(s). Papers in Regional Science (c) 2010 RSAI.


The study was designed to ascertain the socio-demographic profiles of patients suffering from co-morbid Alcohol Use Disorders and Depression, attending the General outpatient Clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Consenting subjects recruited by a systematic sampling procedure between February and July 2011 were enlisted in the study. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to each. Additional information was obtained through a self-designed socio-demographic questionnaire. Fifty nine (12.6%) of the cohort were diagnosed with Alcohol Use disorders (AUD), one hundred and thirty four (28.5%) with major depression and twenty seven (5.7%) with both AUD and major depression. The female and male genders were shown to be significantly associated with co-morbid depression and AUD respectively. The notion that women alcoholics are more vulnerable to drink in response to negative effect than male alcoholics may further explain the statistically significant higher prevalence of depression among females with AUD in comparison to males with the same co-morbidity. Formal education should be intensified in the developing world, and the need to protect the vulnerable segment of our population especially women cannot be overemphasized.


Purpose: The number of prescribed drugs increases with age, and resulting polypharmacy bears the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDI). We assessed the prevalence and type of cytochrome P450 (CYP) associated pharmacokinetic DDI that were considered as clinically relevant in elderly psychiatric patients under conditions of every day pharmacotherapy. Methods: For retrospective analysis a large therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data base was used. Patients included were elderly in- and outpatients, aged ≥ 65 years with a psychiatric disorder for whom serum level measurements of a psychotropic drug had been requested. Medication data were examined for co-prescription of clinically relevant CYP inhibitors or inducers and drugs that are substrates of these enzymes (victim drugs). Results: Data from 1243 patients (65.3% female) with a mean (± standard deviation) age of 73 ± 6 years were available for analysis. Mean number of prescribed drugs was 5.3 ± 3.4 per patient. Moderate (n=189, 73.8%) or strong (n=67, 26.2%) CYP inhibitors or inducers were prescribed in 18.9% of all patients. Most frequently prescribed CYP inhibitors were duloxetine (CYP2D6 inhibitor, n=73, 31.7%), melperone (CYP2D6 inhibitor, n=63, 27.4%) and omeprazole (CYP2C19 inhibitor, n=20, 8.7%). Carbamazepine was the most commonly prescribed CYP inducer (primarily CYP3A4 inducer, n=25, 96.2%). Taken inhibitory, inducing and substrate properties of combined drugs together, CYP-mediated DDI considered as clinically relevant could be detected in 133 (10.7%) of included patients. Conclusions: CYP-mediated DDI are common among elderly psychiatric patients. To avoid potentially supra- or sub-therapeutic concentrations of victim drugs, physicians should be more aware of these preventable interactions and adjust the dose.


Stress corrosion cracking(SCC)of 3Cr17Ni7Mo2SiN and 00Cr22Ni5Mo3N(2205)stainless steels in acidic hydrogen sulfide solutions was investigated by slow strain rate tensile test and U-bent specimen immersing test.The time to SCC failure of 2205 stainless steel was much longer than that of 3Cr17Ni7Mo2SiN stainless steel.2205 stainless steel was highly susceptible to SCC at a lower pH level in saturated H2S solution,and its SCC susceptibility sharply decreased with increasing pH value or decreasing H2S concentration in solution.3Cr17Ni7Mo2SiN stainless steel showed a high susceptibility to SCC in solution with a H2S concentration higher than 103 mg·L-1 and pH≤4.5.However,the susceptibility varied slightly with the change of pH value and H2S concentration.SCC of 3Cr17Ni7Mo2SiN stainless steel initiated in an intergranular mode,which transformed into transgranular cracking as the SCC propagated further.For 2205 stainless steel,SCC originated at the place where hydrogen-induced cracking(HIC)occurred along the ferrite/austenite matrix boundaries firstly,and then propagated transgranularly.


Based on GPS technology, this study monitored the movement of the landslide that impacted Taiwan's Formosa Freeway. Two monitoring systems and two data-processing software programs were employed. Auxiliary data were obtained from the GPS, raingauges, inclinometers, and water table meters for landslide analysis. The goal of multi-sensor monitoring was to construct an automatic early warning system for driver safety. Analytical results indicate that the landslide moved on average 1 cm/month in the southeast direction; that is, it moved slowly toward the Formosa Freeway, thereby posing a potential safety hazard for drivers. The positioning precision of the multi-antenna GPS (0.18, 0.25, and 0.57 cm in the north, east and vertical directions, respectively) was better than that of static relative positioning (0.29, 0.44 and 1.01 cm) and that of e-GPS technology (1.69, 1.35 and 2.45 cm).